HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER XXXI.

BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

This township was laid off in 1805. The early settlers were the Hushors, Meyers, Glicks, Clarks, Hoys, Courtrights, Scott, Crites, Messmores, Swartzes, Honinghouses, Lambs, Granels, Alspaughs, Williamsons, and a few others. Abraham,Van Courtright came from Pennsylvania in 1801. He married a Miss McFarlan of Greenfield township. Her brother, William McFarlan, came to the county in 1799. Mr. Courtright settled first near what has long been known as the Betser church, two miles south of Lockville. He afterwards moved in the vicinity of Greencastle, where he died in 1825. His three sons, John, Jesse D. and Abraham Courtright (now dead), became the heads of large families. The Courtright homestead was where Zephania Courtright now lives. Jesse D. Courtright laid out Greencastle in 1810, and had it surveyed by John Hamilton. He lived where his daughter Mrs. Sarah Green now resides, and in this house kept hotel several years. This was the first house in the town and Mrs. Green is the oldest woman now living who is native-born of Bloom township. Samuel Weisser came from Pennsylvania in 1818, and kept the first blacksmith shop. He followed his trade continuously until he died, or for a period of forty years. He was the second Justice of the Peace, and held that office thirty-five years, was township treasurer many years, and an official member of the church fifty years. The Presbyterian church was built in 1861. Abraham, John and Jacob Courtright and J. A. Whitzel were among the founders of this society. The present elders are F. H. Courtright, G. B. Courtright and J. A. Whitzel, and the trustees Samuel Benson, Samuel Weisser, H. R. Roller, L. C. Friebley and William Swayer. Rev. John W. Woods was the first pastor. Under the ministration of Dr. A. B. Brice thirty-eight accessions were added to the church. Christian Crumley came in 1802 and settled at the head of the Hocking, one mile south of Greencastle. He lived here till he died in 1856. Daniel Glick and Daniel Hoy came from the same State and settled west of Greencastle. Daniel Hoy settled where Isaac Hoy now lives, and with his son, Isaac, founded the society of the Evangelical Association and built the church on that place just before the late war. Daniel Glick settled where Michael Hickle now lives. He came to the county at an early day, and when he heard of the coming of some of his relatives, met them at the State line, going the entire distance on foot but took sick and was hauled back on a sled. When the sled arrived where the Glick church now stands it stopped, and he remarked that the place would make a good burying ground. He died in this spell of sickness 210

and was the first buried in that yard. The first log church was built soon after this event in 1807. The church is German Lutheran and the third house was erected in 1870, and is known as the "Salem Church." The ground---eight acres---was donated by Daniel and Philip Hoy, Peter Woodring and Mrs. Hoy. The Rock mill was built in 1799 and was the first of the kind in the township. The building was low down among the rocks and the grists were taken in at the gable window, and let down to the hopper with ropes. The first still-house was at the Stump Spring and was owned by J. D. Courtright. Messrs. Loveland & Smith owned the mill and the same Loveland entered a large tract of land in the township and this land was afterwards taken up by the Alspaughs, Wllliamsons, Granels and others. The Alspaughs, now a numerous family, are descendants of John, Michael, Jacob and Philip, Pennsylvanians, who came before the State was admitted. Jacob settled where Paul Alspaugh now lives ; Michael above Greencastle ; John where Henry Meason lives, and Philip near Winchester. John D. Alspaugh, now an old man, lives south of Jefferson and is a grandson of Jacob Alspaugh. Theodore Williamson was the head of that now numerous family. He settled where Silas Williamson now lives. His children George W., Jacob, Newton and Elizabeth Holderman all became the heads of large prominent families in this township. The Otterbein church was built on Newton Williamson's place near the present school house and just west of the road. Mr. Theodore Williamson, Mr. Granel, John Bolenbaugh and others were its founders. The new frame was erected prior to the late war. It is the Mt. Zion church. Lithopolis is the principal town of the township. It is a thriving place, having a population of 480, several stores, a good graded school, a hotel, and a good weekly paper---edited by the Kramer Brothers. Frederick Baugher laid out this town in 1815, and an addition was afterwards made by Solomon Baugher. It was first called Centerville, but in 1836 it was chartered and called Lithopolis. Elias Perry was the first mayor, and Isaac Cade the first clerk. Dr. E. L. Miner, W. W. Hite, father of Talman Hite, (the violinist,) Isaac McPhadden, Louis Huber and William Cater were the first councilmen. John F. Killils is the present mayor, and John F. Stallsmith is clerk. Dr. E. L. Miner was prominent among the early settlers, of the town. He was born June 9, 1797, in Middletown, Vermont, graduated in Castletown College in 1818, removed to Royalton in 1820, and to Centerville in 1825, and there spent forty-five years of his professional life. He, with Mr. George Custer, the Browns and others, sixteen in all, founded the Presbyterian society in 1834. Rev. Mr. Leonard was the first pastor in charge, and was succeeded by Rev. S. M. Wilson, who remained twenty years. Dr. Miner's wife was the first to be carried into the church. His little daughter Mary died the year before, and was the first to be buried in the cemetery. This beautiful piece of ground lay in the middle of Dr. Miner's farm, and was intended first as a private yard for his own family, but was afterwards donated by him to the town. Dr. Miner 211

also established the Sabbath school, and after his death his second wife has carried on the good work with a zeal worthy of the cause. In 1876 she organized her mission band of young ladies and children who send about $30 annually to India; the proceeds, principally, of needle work. Mrs. Miner is a graduate of Troy, New York, and is a highly educated lady, and was at one time the teacher of French in Dr. Williams' Academy of this place. After this church was erected, in course of time the Methodist's and Lutherans each built houses. The first tanyard was kept by Mr. Reiley, after whom Joseph Brown owned it for many years. The Lithopolis Lodge, No. 169, was chartered September 29, 1848. William Reiley was the Worthy Master. The Old Bester church, German Reformed and Lutheran, was built on land owned by John Fellers. Andrew Meyers, Judge Chaney and John Fellers were some of the founders. The hewed-log building was erected in 1809, but Father Kemp and others preached to this society some two or three years before this building was erected. Peter Meyers helped to raise one corner of the house. His death occurred not long after. His burial was the first in this grave yard. The church has always been a prosperous one, and has had a good membership. Peter Meyers came to this vicinity in 1805, and settled on land now owned by Joshua Fellers. Father Bennadum was also an old settler and preached here. The land was donated and sold in part by John Fellers in 1814 for the church. The new building erected in 1882, and the new cemetery, shows a flattering view of the prosperous condition of the society. The church remained union in its character for many years. Father Wise, of the Reformed Church, served the congregation over thirty years, while Father Stake, a Lutheran, remained in charge for twelve years. He was followed by Revs. John Wagenhals, Bruce and others. Austin Henry, a Presbyterian, has been called at this writing. Joshua Fellers, Jesse Brant and John C. Alspaugh are among the leading members now. The Fellers' Hill, upon which this church is situated, commands one of the most picturesque views to be seen in the county. From this point, and with the naked eye, field after field, crossing vale, stream, hill and wood-land, a vision of beauty opens up until Newark and the heights above Granville can be seen, though the latter place is twenty miles distant. The country through here is undulating, but the soil is rich and the farmers are prosperous. Jefferson is a small town, laid out before the war of 1812, by George Hoshor, who had Hamilton to survey it and laid off sixty-four lots. It was on the military road from Wheeling,Virginia, to the lakes, through this point. John Fisher, the saddler, kept the first store. It also had a hotel, but the building up of canals and railroads, at other points, took away its prestige, and now it is but a mere collection of houses. Dr.Talbot, born in Maryland, in 1798, came here in 1830, since which time he has been the leading physician. Lockville, named from the number of locks on the canal at this point, is a town no longer of any commercial importance, although formerly, the Mithoffs and Hoshors carried on trade in grain quite briskly after the town was first laid off. It is partly in Bloom and partly in Violet, and was platted out at the time of the opening of the canal. 212