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EAGLE, HARRISON AND RICHLAND TOWNSHIPS -
IN AGRICULTURE, POOR - IN MINERAL DEPOSITS, FAIR.
EAGLE - When Organized - Divided by Hocking - First
Election, May 9, 1818, and in 1850 Gave Remainder to Vinton
- Area and Location - The Old Pioneer - Religion and
Education - Stock and Valuation.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP - A Part of Ross Township in 1798 -
Topography - Well Watered - A Part of Jackson in 1818 - Then
Again of Ross - Population - Rapid Gain - Churches, Schools
- Stock and Valuation.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP - The Largest Township - Some Good Land -
Its Assessed Valuation - Stock Report - North Part Good
Farming Land - South Part, Minerals, Iron Ore and Coal - A
Partial List of Settlers - Churches, Schools and Military -
BIOGRAPHICAL. EAGLE
AN INDEPENDENT MUNICIPALITY
LOCATION, AREA, ETC.
FIRST SETTLERS.
CHURCHES. SCHOOLS.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP. IT ONCE BELONGED
TO ROSS. Harrison
Township lies in the southwest corner of the county, and is
in area six miles square, with the exception of two sections
in the northwest corner, which belong to Eagle Township.
The surface of Harrison is very hilly and broken. It
is well watered by Middle Fork of Salt Creek and Pigeon
Fork, also by numerous branches in the different parts of
the township, which, taken together with its excellent
grazing land, afford ample resources for sheep-raising,
which is one of the industries of the township, together
with general farming.
Harrison Township is bounded on the north by Eagle, on
the east by Richland Township, on the south by Jackson
County and on the west by Ross County and Eagle Township. PIONEERS.
Among the Pioneers of Harrison Township were: James
Brady, Morris Humphrey, Solomon Wilkinson, Joseph and
William Dixon, Joseph Baker and John Nicholas.
These early all settled on Middle Fork of Salt Creek and on
Pigeon Fork.
In 1840 the population was 631; in 1850, 580; in 1860,
780; in 1870, 782, and in 1880, 1172. Thus it will be
seen that Harrison has not been behind her sister townships
in her growth. The citizens of Harrison Township
depend entirely upon the agricultural products for their
sustenance as there are no other business interests in the
township with the exception of two small stores, one kept by
Mr. Gibson and the other by H. H. Thacker, the
latter at Raysville.
There are in Harrison Township eight school districts,
each provided with comfortable school-houses.
CHURCHES. Harrison
Township has only two churches, one Disciples and one United
Brethren. The Disciples were the first to erect the
church, which is known as Corinth, in 1870. It is
located on section 35, a short distance from Raysville.
The first preacher was Rev. A. J. Waltz.
At the present time the membership numbers about 100,
including many of the best citizens of Harrison Township.
The United Brethren built their church soon after, and have
a good membership, and are in a flourishing condition. STOCK AND
ASSESSED VALUATION.
The assessor's returns for June 1, 1883, gives 229 horses,
495 head of cattle, 1,554 head of sheep and 329 hogs.
Of the two latter the farmers should have quadrupled the
number. Its assessed valuation of personal property is
the smallest in the county, and foots up only $32,025.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. IN RESPECT TO
SIZE AND QUALITY.
Richland Township is the largest in area of all the
townships in the county. It contains forty-two full
sections, or 26,880 acres, most of which is excellent land.
It is drained by various small streams, of which the most
important is the Middle Fork of Salt Creek. This
enters the western edge of section 7, and meanders through
sections, 7, 6, 8, 5 and 4, leaving the township from the
northern side of section 4. The land is adapted both
for grazing and for agriculture, and there is also a good
store of minerals, both coal and iron, especially in the
southern part. Richland Furnace, in the southern part,
on section 4, produces iron in large quantities and of a
good quality. Richland is bounded on the north by
Jackson Township, on the east by Elk and Clinton townships,
on the southside of Jackson County, and on the west by
Jackson County and Harrison Township, of this county.
No railroad runs through the heart of Richland, but the
Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore (formerly the Marietta &
Cincinnati) touches its southern border.
The assessed valuation of the township, June 1, 1883,
that is of personal property, footed up the snug amount of
$96,530. Its stock as returned by the assessor
numbered in horses 384; there were 695 head of cattle, 5,
256 head of sheep, and of hogs 324. It ranks fourth in
sheep and fifth in cattle, and the first in horses.
The northern part is better for agricultural productions
than the southern part which, while grasses seem to thrive
and it would be an excellent cattle range, is too rough and
broken except in small patches of valley to do any large
amount of farming work. The iron and the coal,
however, will fully make up what it lacks in agricultural
facilities.
Richland Township was organized in about the year 1824,
as a portion of Ross County, to which it then belonged.
Upon the organization of Jackson County it became a part of
that county, and when in 1851 Vinton County was formed
Richland was cut off from Jackson County and attached to the
new county.
The following is a partial list of the old settlers of
Richland Township: Henry, John, Abraham, Job, William
and Joseph Cozad and their families; John A.
Swepston, James and Solomon Redfern, Robert Clark,
Levi Davi, Samuel Darby, Enoch Dixon, John Loving, George
Claypool, Philip Waldron, George Waldron, Nathan Cox,
Jeremiah Cox, Samuel Cox, Samuel Graves, James Graves,
William Graves, Henry Graves, Nathan Graves, Jonathan
Graves, Joseph Graves, Thomas Graves, William Graves, Jr.,
John Graves, Eli Graves, William Hutt, Charles Hutt and
Lemuel Hutt.
Henry Cozad entered land adjoining Allensville,
which he laid off in 1837 and named in honor of William
Allen. Mr. Cozad was the first merchant in
Allensville, and also the first Postmaster. The second
merchant was Marcus Miller. The postoffice was
established in 1839, before which time there had been an
office one mile east of Allensville, called Riley.
James Redfern was the first Postmaster at this point.
The first school-teachers were: Thomas Johnson
and Solomon Redfern, who were followed by Britton
Stephen and John Darley.
The first preachers were: Solomon Redfern
and ___ Harvey, of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and Noah Clark, Jonathan Bryan and John Swim,
of the Christian church.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was built about the
year 1848. The first members were: Solomon Redfern
and wife, Archibald Drake and wife, and William
Clark and wife.
The Christian Church was built not long after the
Methodist church. Before the erection of church
buildings meetings were held in the school-house, and before
that in private dwellings.
Pleasant Chapel was organized in 1867 with fourteen
members. They commenced the erection of a church the
following year, which was completed about the close of the
year. It cost $1,200 and was dedicated Feb. 22, 1869.
Its first Pastor was the Rev. Sollers.
The church is an off-shoot of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The first
and only mill in the township - a grist-mill with saw-mill
attached - was built in 1843 or 1844 by Benjamin Rains.
In the early days of Richland Township a military
company was maintained, composed of members from Harrison
and Richland townships. The company consisted of 100
men, with Nathan Graves as Captain. They had
regular "training days," and many interesting reminiscences
of those meetings were often recalled by the older
residents.
BIOGRAPHICAL
EAGLE
ERASTUS H. BENNETT
SAMUEL G. DARBY
ROBERT KIDNOCKER
NELSON LEE
WILLIAM RATCLIFF
JOSHUA J. SPEAKMAN
[ J. G. McCORMICK]
WILLIAM R. YAPLE
HARRISON
I. H. McCORMICK
BENJAMIN W. THACKER
RICHLAND.
W. W. BELFORD
ROBERT CLARK
ABRAHAM N. COZAD
HENRY COZAD
JAMES HAWKINS.
JAMES A. MARTINDILL
MOSES MARTINDILL |
