The Evolution of Perry County
On July 27, 1788, Arthur St. Clair established the County of Washington, with Marietta as the seat of government. Washington County comprised the whole eastern part of the state. Its western boundary line began with the Cuyahoga River, which it followed to its source, thence by the portage between that river and the Tuscarawas to the forks of the latter with the Muskingum. From this point a line was drawn82
to the source of the Scioto, then along that river to its mouth. Perry County was wholly in Washington County. On the ninth of December, 1800, the county of Fairfield was organized. A part of Washington was used in the erection of the new county. The present townships of Thorn, Hopewell, Madison, Reading, Clayton, Jackson, Pike, Mondaycreek, Saltlick, Coal, the four western sections of Pleasant and the four western sections of Harrison, were incorporated in Fairfield, while Monroe, Bearfield, the twelve eastern sections of Pleasant and the eighteen eastern sections of Harrison remained with Washington. The county of Muskingum was established January 7, 1804. It was formed from Fairfield and Washing- ton. The Perry County townships, taken from Fair- field were Madison, Clayton and the four western sec- tions of Harrison. The remainder of Harrison, which belonged to Washington was also added to Muskin- gum. It will be seen that the present county of Perry was divided among three counties---Fairfield, Mus- kingum and Washington. Fairfield had Thorn, Hope- well. Reading, Pike, Jackson, Saltlick, Mondaycreek, Coal and the four western sections of Pleasant. Mus- kingum had Madison, Clayton and Harrison. Wash- ington had Bearfield, Monroe and the twelve eastern sections of Pleasant. December 26, 1817, is the date of the organization of Perry County. It was fifty-second in order of for- mation and was erected from the counties of Washing- ton, Muskingum and Fairfield. With but one exception the present boundaries of the county were then estab- lished. The house of Thomas Mains in Somerset was designated as the place for holding court. The excep-83
tion alluded to in the foregoing refers to the attaching of a part of Licking to Perry. Most of the maps do not show this. The northern boundary of Perry is usually considered as a straight east and west line. On Feb- ruary twentieth, 1837, the following act was passed by the Ohio Legislature: "That the south half of sections seventeen and eighteen, in township number seventeen of range number seventeen, refugee, be, and the same is hereby attached to Thorn township, in the county of Perry, and shall from henceforth, be considered for all purposes whatever, a part of said county." The object of this transfer was on account of cer- tain lands that lay north of the township line and south of Buckeye Lake. Because of the body of water between this land and the main part of Licking County, as a matter of convenience to the owners, it was given to Perry.84