THIS township was organized by order of the County Commissioners, Oct. 5, 1818.  Jacob Kiefer, one of the earliest pioneers of this township, went to Wooster to see about having it named, and suggested to the Board, then in session, to have it styled "Center Swamp Township," from the fact that there was a large swamp in the center of it.  Commissioner George Bair objected to this name, saying it would induce odium upon the township, whereupon, at the suggestion of Mr. Bair, it was called Milton township.  The population in 1870 was 1,524.  The following is the list of township officers from the records: 

     Justices of the Peace - Michael Kiefer, Apr. 23, 1831; Stephen Oviatt, Aug. 15, 1832; Michael Kiefer, Sept. 11, 1834; Michael Dague, Jul. 4, 1836; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 30, 1838; Michael Dague, Apr. 13, 1839; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 16, 1841; Michael Dague, Apr. 13, 1842; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 25, 1844; Michael Dague, Apr. 16, 1845; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 14, 1847; Michael Dague, Apr. 12, 1848; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 11, 1850; Michael Dague, Apr. 19, 1851 Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 19, 1853; Michael Dague, Apr. 13, 1854; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 28, 1856; Michael Dague, Apr. 22, 1857; Wiseman Cotton, Apr. 19, 1859; Michael Dague, Apr. 17, 1860; Jacob Knupp, Apr. 21, 1862; Apr. 13, 1866; Edward F. Keeling, Apr. 11, 1868; George Mellinger, Apr. 13, 1869; Edward F. Keeling, Apr. 10, 1871; George Mellinger, Apr. 9, 1872; J. S. Hann, Apr. 14, 1874; George Mellinger, Apr. 12, 1875; H. S. Elliott, Apr. 12, 1877.
 

     The first settler in the township was Isaac De Courcey, perceptibly possessed of Indian blood, who, with his wife and two children, was living on the Knupp farm as early as 1813.  In seven or eight years he removed to Allen county. H devoted much of his time to hunting and fishing.
     The first deaths in the township were Sarah Fritz and her little boy Adam.  They were buried in what is now the Knupp graveyard.  They died in 1817.  David Trump was the third person who died.  The first school teacher in Milton township was William Doyle, who taught in a log shanty where the Knupp church stands, in the year 1817.  The school-house was 20x24, built of round logs, scutched inside.  Mr. Fritz, who attended the school, says:  "In the winter it was so cold that the ink would freeze in the bottles while they were writing."  To this school went the children of John Coleman, David Trump, John Lance, Jerry Johnson, James Carnahan, William Chambers, James Law, Mr. Riggleman and the widow Johnson.  It was a subscription school.
     The old Baptist church at Lancetown was the first built in Milton township, and Elder Freeman and James Newton were the pioneer preachers.  Elder Freeman was a Revollutionary soldier, and a sort of missionary, conducting his ministry at private houses.  Rev. Newton was the first regular minister, however, in the township.  The first saw- and grist-mills were built by Thomas Huffstetter, on the Little Chippewa.  Philip Fritz built the second gristmill on River Styx.  Huffstetter also built the first saw-mill on the Little Chippewa.  The first Doctor was a Mr. Donahue, a cat-whipper at tailoring, as well as a medicine man.  The first Squire in Milton township was William Doyle, founder of Doylestown; and the second was John Dawson, the commission of both bearing date Apr. 27, 1819.  Hartshorn, Gilmore and John Lance had the first distilleries.  The first postoffice in Milton township was at Christian Knupp's, and was called New prospect.
     The first election was held at William Doyle's, and after that at Samuel Slemmon's for twenty years; then at the Oak Grove school-house until the town-house at the Center was built.  At the first election held in the township old man Trump had to be carried to the polls to make the necessary amount of votes to hold the election.

     Martin Fritz was born in Alsace in 1757 and immigrated to America in 1771.  On his arrival at New York, not having had the necessary funds to pay his passage he was sold, according to an old custom, to a Mr. Ray, for whom he worked three years, the pro quid exacted for the transit money.  At the close of this period of servitude and soon thereafter, the ball of the Revolution was put in motion, and Mr. Fritz enlisted under Washington for five years, being engaged in several battles, prominent among which was Brandywine.  After serving out the full term of his enlistment he removed to Pennsylvania, and in Cumberland county married Catherine Wilt.  He next went to Venango county and then removed to Milton township in June, 1814, there being but one settler in what now constitutes that township - the quarter-breed, De Courcey.  He had twelve children, John, Jacob, Martin, Peter, Samuel, Philip, Jeremiah, Betsey, Catherine, Sarah, Anna and Susan, but six of whom are living at this time.  He died in 1851, aged ninety-four years, his wife dying twelve years thereafter.  He was a member of the Methodist church.

     Thomas Pittinger, his son, is a native of Venango county, Pa., where he first saw light, June 29, 1804, and with his father came to Milton.  He was married July 27, 1831, to Mary A. Long, of Pennsylvania, having had six children, Catharine, Jacob, John, Michael, Elmore and Margaret Jane Fritz.  His occupation has been that of miller and farmer, and he has lived longer in this township than any man in it now.

     Reminiscences of Phillip Fritz.  When my father removed to Milton township, in 1814, he had to cut out the road to where I now live.  Bears, wolves, wildcats, porcupines, wild hogs, deer and turkey were plenty.  We often shot the wild hogs, as they made good meat.  Porcupines were numerous; the dogs would attack them and we would pull out their quills with bullet moulds.  We made sugar by the barrel in our camps, took it to Canton and sold it.  The wolves on one occasion chased us all out of the camps.  Times looked pretty blue when we came here.  We had to go fourteen miles, to Rex's mill, in Coventry, to get our grinding done.  I helped to grub out and clear up the Knupp graveyard, and build the schoolhouse, in 1817, where the Knupp church now stands.  In the early days I hunted a good deal, and often with the Indians.  They would come to our house and get corn, and bring venison to exchange for it.  They weighed it themselves, the corn in one hand and the venison in the other.
     Samuel and John Fritz, Isaac De Courcey, John Huffman and myself went up to Chippewa lake to hunt, and took our provisions with us.  I was left in charge of the eatables, and the balance went to the woods to hunt.  While I was watching the provisions eight Indians approached me, and I was terribly frightened.  They at once commenced laying oft their knives, guns and tomahawks, and advancing to where I had a large fire built, one of them, who could speak English, said, "White man foolish; makes big fire and sits away oft; Indian makes little fire and sits up close."  They then went to the edge of the lake and began jumping on the muskrat house, and just as fast as the inmate popped out they popped him, and so they kept on until out of one of these largest mud-houses sprang a beaver, which was instantly killed, and then they whopped and danced and drank.  Its hide was worth $16.  When our hunting party came in the Indians wanted to buy their dogs.  An Indian squaw went into a marsh in Canaan township to pick cranberries.  She had her papoose along with her, and tying it to a board set it down.  While she was in the marsh a large hog came along and killed it.  She lamented and yelled fearfully.  When we came here there were a good many Indians about - called themselves Delawares, Shawanese and Wyandots.  They had quite a town on the south side of Chippewa lake, probably thirty families.  I used to go to the settlement often, saw the little Indian boys roasting gammons of meat and gnaw at them; saw them shoot pieces of silver out of split sticks, with bows and arrows, and never miss.  They captured a good deal of wild honey and carried it in deer-skins turned inside out.  They would cut down a tree, carve out the stump, crush their corn in it, and then put it in pots and boil it, and then put in the meat.  An Indian never uses salt.  Within about ten rods of where River Styx - the north branch of the Chippewa - empties into Big Chippewa, an Indian was found in teh drift, shot through the waist, and it seems about this time the Indians got scared and very suddenly disappeared.

     Christopher Lance, it is supposed, was a native of Germany.  After making the passage to America, he located in New Jersey, where he married Samuel Johns, and where for many he continued to live and raised a family of eleven children - six boys and five girls.  He settled in Ohio as early as 1795, buying, on his arrival, sixty acres of land, five miles from Steubenville.  After his removal to Ohio, he came to Wayne county, and lived on the farm of James Lance, in a house he caused to be built for him, but he coming dissatisfied, he returned to Jefferson county, where he death took place Nov. 2, 1824.  His wife died with her daughter, Sarah Lee, Mar. 10, 1833.

     John Lance was born in New Jersey, Aug. 18, 1782, and removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, with his father, and there married Sarah Johnson, Aug. 15, 1809, raising there a family of four boys and girls.  He arrived in Milton township, Wayne county, Apr. 5, 1820, with his brother James, and settled on the farm which he owned until his death, Mar. 16, 1852.  His wife a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, survived until Aug. 28, 1870, aged eighty-one years.

     William Lance was born in New Jersey, Feb. 5, 1788, and removed to Milton township in 1818-19 with his brother Henry.  He was married in Jefferson county to Clara Johnson, and raised a family of eleven children - eight girls and three boys.

     Henry Lance, also a native of New Jersey, where he was born, Feb. 4, 1791, moved with his parents to Jefferson county, and there was married to Lucinda Lee, a native of Milton township, in company with his brother James to enter land, then went back to Jefferson county, returning in the spring with his family, his brother William coming with him.  He brought with him three children, two daughters and his son Christopher, who is still living.  He was twice married, the second time to Betsey Hoostoden, in December, 1834, and by both marriages had ten children.  His first wife died Oct. 16, 1831; the second still survives him, and lives in Medina county.

     Henry Lance was born in New Jersey in 1780, and was married in 1801-2 in Jefferson county.  He removed to Chippewa township in 1821, settling upon a farm, which he improved, and where he died, Jan. 25, 1860, aged 80 years.  He was twice married, and was the father of ten children.

     James Lance, the youngest of six brothers, was born in the State of New Jersey, Jan. 28, 1794, and with his parents removed to Jefferson county in 1795.  He was married to Fanny Holmes, Sept. 5, 1815, a lady of Scotch descent, born July 3, 1797.
     He came to Wayne to make search for lands, his brother Henry with him, and entered the two quarter sections joining on the west and north-west, on what is called the Chestnut Ridge.  He then returned and offered the brothers their choice, and they took the lands on each side of him, leaving him in the middle.  James then returned to Wayne county, in the fall of 1819, and put up a log cabin, and in the latter part of March, 1820, removed to Milton township with his wife and son, three years old.  James Lance had three children born in Milton township by his first wife, one son and two daughters, all of whom are living.  His first wife died Aug. 5, 1827.  He was again married Oct. 20, 1828, to Mary Johnson, of Jefferson county, born Oct. 10, 1810.  By this union there resulted thirteen children, ten boys and three girls.  He died may 19, 1866, in his 73d year, his second wife surviving him until May 17, 1875, dying in her 65th year.

TOWNS IN MILTON TOWNSHIP.

     Johnson's Corners, called Amwell, was named after Abner Johnson, who made the first improvements in it.  John Scoby, of Truxton, N. Y., was the first doctor in the place, and Goodsill Foster was the first postmaster.  Where Isaac Bessey lives stood a log house in which Oliver Houghton sold groceries - the first store of the kind in Amwell.  Adna Bessey named it Amwell.

     Russell was named after the Russells of Massillon, who purchased the property there and gave it name.  Here he postoffice is located, though the name of the office is Amwell.

     Milton Station - In 1869 the first house was erected at this place by David Shook.  In July, 1870, C. M. Murdock started the first business, and in the same year the postoffice was removed here from Shinersburg (New Prospect).  First was Solomon Hann; the present incumbent is C. M. Murdock, appointed Mar. 26, 1872. 

     Shinersburg - This village got its name in this way:  Michael Hatfield bought the first lot in what is now Shinersburg, from Philip Fritz, and built a house on it, starting a grocery, selling drugs, beer, whisky, etc.  One day Michael, Noah-like, got drunk, and in one of his more ecstatic moods was heard exclaiming, "When I get to heaven I will shine as bright as anybody;" hence Shine-rsburg.  Lancetown, called after the Lances, exists only as a memory.

     Andrew Waggoner was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1793, and came to Wayne county in 1818, settling in Milton township.  He settled in section 33, one-half mile south of where his son, John Waggoner, now lives, entering a quarter section of land.  He made the passage from Pennsylvania to Wayne county in a wagon, bringing with him his wife and six children, and landing on his premises May 2, 1818.  He built a cabin, cleared up some land, and planted some potatoes, turnips, etc.  Forks driven into the ground, with green poles crossed, constituted the bedsteads.  He was married to Susannah Feightner, of Pennsylvania, and died Jan. 3, 1851, his wife dying February, 1854.  He had nine children, John, Elizabeth, Mathias, Catharine, Sarah, Andrew, Jacob, Anna and Rebecca.

     Thomas Dawson a native of Virginia, was born in Monongahela county, May 22, 1790, where he was married to Miss Jemima Barress.  His ancestry was Irish on his father's side and English on his mother's.  He immigrated to Wayne county in 1814, with his wife and three children, John, Bridget and Mary.  He first settled in Greene township, about two and one-half miles east of Smithville, upon a farm which he had entered.  Here he lived four years, when he removed to Milton township, Feb. 2, 1819, having entered the farm upon which he settled in 1818, and which is now occupied by his son, Eugenius B. Dawson, and where he died Oct. 14, 1865.  His wife died Apr. 30, 1869.  He was the father of the following children: John W., Bridget, Mary, Archibald, Castilla, George B., Sarah, Emily, Thomas, Jemima, Eugenius B. and Hiram Dawson.  All of them grew to manhood and womanhood, and eight of the family are still living.  George, Bridget, Mary and Emily are dead..  Of the eight surviving members but four reside in the county.

     Abner Johnson, a native of Southwick, Hampden county, Mass., emigrated to Wayne county in 1826 and located in Milton township.  Johnson's Corners, now known  as Amwell, is situated upon the farm upon which he settled and which he entered from the government.  He was married to Elizabeth Gates, of Hartford, Mass., by which marriage he had six children, all of whom are dead save Daniel Johnson.  He was married a second time to Jerusha Nelson, of Connecticut formerly, but at the time of the union a resident of Seville.  Mr. Johnson sold off the two first lots, in what is Amwell now, to Benjamin Ellsworth and a man named Hartshorn, who built upon them.  Hartshorn started a distillery upon his lot, and here was the nucleus of this village in Milton township.  Adam Peckinpaugh was Mr. Johnson's nearest neighbor.

     Fatal Boiler Explosion - Friday afternoon, Mar. 11, 1870, the steam boiler in the saw-mill of Knupp & Co., near Shinersburg, Milton township, exploded, killing seven men.  On the day of the accident the mill was run by Jacob Knupp, John Fritz, Lewis Hoover and his brother David.  Robert McConnell and his son Frank, and David Shook, were at work on the house as carpenters a few rods west of the mill, and a rain coming on they sought shelter in the mill.  In less than ten minutes afterwards the explosion took place, and all were instantly killed, except David Hoover, who lingered a few hours.

     Samuel Slemmons was in Washington county, Pa., Sept. 21, 1790, and in May, 1819, emigrated from there to Wayne county.  Prior to his removal he was, on Mar. 18, 1819, married to Miss Ann McKee, by whom he had the following children:  Thomas, Elizabeth, Samuel M., Mary Ann, Jane, Margaret, William, John, Martha and David.  He died Sept. 8, 1877, aged 87 years, preceded to the grave by his wife on Aug. 12, 1874, aged 80.  They lived all their lives on the farm in Milton township, where they first settled in 1819.  He was an excellent man and reared a fine family.

[By Rev. J. C. Elliott, of Milton Township.]

     The Elliotts were pioneers in this neighborhood, and were sons of "Honest Tommy Elliott," of Jefferson county, Ohio..  After his death his heirs exchanged a small farm in Jefferson county for three adjoining quarter sections of wild land in Milton, which became the property of John, William and Andrew.
     About 1827 John began improvements upon the portion he had selected, but was taken sick and died.  About two years later Andrew married  and settled on his portion, and there remained all his life.  There were five boys and girls in this family.  One died in infancy.  Thomas and Elizabeth removed to Hardin county, Ohio, and died.  Jonas Denton entered the army in 1862.  
     Henry S. has always remained on the old farm, is grain dealer at Milton station, and Justice of the Peace.  Lee is an attorney in Akron, and Alice lives with her mother in Seville.  The quarter section belonging to William was transferred to his brother Thomas in 1829, for $350.  The village of Milton Station is platted upon the corner of this quarter.
     Thomas settled upon his claim in 1832, and remained upon it all his life.  In this family were four boys and one girl.  William Warren was killed at school by a club which slipped from the hand of a large boy who was trying to knock a snag from a log they were rolling down hill.  Simon and Mary both died when just entering upon life.
     Austin W. and John C. entered the ministry of the Presbyterian church; the former is now in Marshfield, Mo., and the latter is living upon the old homestead and preaching each Sabbath to the Presbyterian church of Seville.  The quarter section owned by John Elliott was sold to William McConnell, who improved it and lived upon it till his death.  The farm was then bought of the heirs by Thomas, and again sold to his nephew, so that, singular enough, after forty years it again was owned by a member of the Elliott family.

     CHURCHES.

     German Reformed Church - This church is situated in the south part of the township, and was built about 1851.  Rev. Vermley was among the first preachers.  The church edifice was constructed by Dennis Sommers, and the grounds on which it was located were donated by Joseph Feightner.  Philip and John Hoff and John Young were the contractors in behalf of the church.

     Union Church - This is a frame building south of Amwell.  The lands were donated for the church by Amos Bessey, and when not so used, go to the donor.  The contract for the building of it was let, according to the statement of 'Squire Keeling, Sept. 15, 1871.  The church is now occupied by the Baptists and the United Brethren, services alternating every Sunday.  Rev. Dunn, of Seville, supplies, at present, the Baptist appointments.

- pg. 637

     Other Churches - The Catholic church was built in 1858, the corner-stone having been laid July 26, 1858.  The first Menonite church was erected in 1855, though the congregation was organized as early as 1825.  Another, named the New Baptist Menonites, has been established.  Of this neophytic organization Rev. Christian Stiner thus said to the writer:  "About twenty years ago some eighteen members dropped from the original church and joined with the New Baptists, and about two years ago built a church.  They have a membership of 40 or 50.  Daniel and David Stiner are the preachers.  These people think they are the only people that are converted, and  nobody is saved but them.  They run the Christian machine themselves, own the engine, etc., and claim it is impossible to sin after conversion."  The Shinersburg church, free to all, was built by different deonominations in 1862, the first preacher being Rev. Excel.

     Benjamin Cotton, grandfather of Wiseman Cotton, was an Englishman and to relative of the distinguished divine,  John Cotton, who died in 1652.  His son, Benjamin Cotton, was born in Boston, Mass., May 14, 1758.  When but two years of age his parents died, when he was bound out, but from which bondage, when the war between the Colonies and Great Britain commenced he sought the opportunity of escape.  He immediately entered the military service as a soldier of the United States, in which capacity he served for nine years.  He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was in the fight when Burgoyne was captured.  His rank was that of Sergeant-Major.  Once he was shot through the neck by an Indian, another time through the leg.  On one occasion he was left, with a companion, both of whom had the smallpox, to die in the woods.  To the terrible malady his comrade succumbed, Mr. Cotton barely escaping death from the disease and starvation.  He emigrated to Milton township in 1836, and died July 13, 1846.  He was married to Dolly Smith in Wentworth, New Hampshire in 1785.  His wife died in March 1852.  His family consisted of fourteen children:  Hannah, Benjamin, Solomon, Dolly, Lydia, Abigail, Jonathan, George, David, Theodore, Wiseman, Elizabeth, Joseph and William for of whom, Jonathan, David, William and George Cotton, removed to Wayne county.

      Isaac Bessey, son of John Bessey, is a native of Bucks county, Pa., where he was born May 31, 1810.  He accompanied his father to Wayne county in 1834, since which time he has resided here.  His occupation has been that of a farmer, and at present he resides in Amwell.  He was married May 3, 1837, to Barbara Hoover, of Milton township, and has four children, Amos, S. A., C. and C. A. Bessey.

     William Keeling was born in Potton, Bedfordshire, England, in 1787, July 28.  He was married in 1811, on Holy Thursday, in the land of his nativity, to Miss Lucy Fullard, of Huntingtonshire.  In October, 1833, he came to America, bringing with him his wife and only child, Edward.  After landing at New York he remained there a week, then went to Poughkeepsie, tarrying there till the spring of 1834; when emigration opened up, he took the canal to Buffalo, thence, to Cleveland, and old Portage, on the Ohio canal.  He soon purchased a farm and continued to cultivate his lands until 1857, when, growing old and tired of work, abandoned it to his son.  Mr. Keeling is now past ninety, and we believe is claimed to be the oldest man in the township.  His wife died Oct. 3, 1864.  He is yet in possession of his faculties, and is an excellent specimen of the old English gentleman, and lives a blameless Christian life.  During his residence in Bedford he lived in sight of Bunyon's prison, and sat in the chair of the allegorical dreamer.

     Edward F. Keeling, Esq., only son of William Keeling, was born in Woodhurst, Huntingtonshire, England, and came to America with his father in 1833, following his fortunes until he reached Wayne county, since which time, with slight exception, he has lived there.  He was married Apr. 5, 1843, to Miss Mary M. Johnson.  He is a farmer, and a prominent citizen of Milton township; has served six years in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, holds a Notarial commission, and transacts considerable legal business; is a contributor to the public press, a man of thought and action, whose accessible and generous nature, combined with his literacy and historical attainments, make him a most interesting companion.  He introduced the first sewing machine into his own family that was ever bought or owned in the township, and built the first saw-mill on the Big Chippewa, in Wayne county.  Sept. 28, 1877, he began boring for water at the bottom of a well forty feet deep, and at the depth of fifty-two additional feet the auger sank, the water gushing to the top of the well, and the result is he has finest artesian well in the county, or perhaps the State.

------------------------------
NOTES:
* A number of these would be in Ashland county now.

-----------------------------------------------

< BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS >