Organization of the Townships

Bearfield Township is so named because of the numerous bears found there at an early date. It was settled in 1812 by James Black and was organized in 1818 as an original township of Perry county. Clayton Township is so called from one of its first 93

settlers. It was settled in 1806 and organized in 1810 under Muskingum county. Coal Township is the youngest in the county. It was organized in 1872 by striking off thirteen sections from Saltlick. It derives its name from the abundance of the mineral of that name to be found in the hills. Harrison Township was formerly a part of Clayton. Hence it belonged to Muskingum county. It was organized in 1820. It was named for General Harri- son the Hero of Tippecanoe, The township was set- tled about 1806. Hopewell Township was organized in 1810. It was settled early in the century by one Ridenour. Origin of its name is unknown. But no doubt it was significant of the feelings of the early settlers who were mostly Germans. It was a venture, this settling in a wilderness, but they "hoped well." Jackson Township was organized as a part of Fair- field county. The only authority that we have says that it was organized about 1805. There is some doubt about this. There can be no question why it was called Jackson. But at that time (1805) General Jackson was unknown to fame. It is true that he was a favorite in Tennessee, and that he had been in the United States Senate where he neither made a speech nor voted. At this time he was living the quiet life of a farmer and listening to the schemes of Aaron Burr, who tried to draw him into the net, into which the unfortunate Blennerhassett fell. There is one thing certain. If Jackson township was organ- ized in 1805 it was named for another Jackson. If it was named for the Hero of New Orleans it must have been subsequent to 1805. Very few people settled

in that township prior to that time. From then, how- ever, to 1820 the growth was rapid. Madison Township is an original one in this coun- ty. It was settled about 1800 or a little later by Wil- liam Dusenberry. It is named after James Madison and was organized soon after the county. Mondaycreek Township was settled in 1815 by Timothy Terrell. It was a part of Fairfield county. It was organized in 1823. It is named from the two principal streams flowing through it. Monroe Township was also organized in 1823. It is named from the then President of the United States. It was previous to this, a part of Bearfield for politi- cal purposes. It was settled in 1814 by John Mc- Donald and James Dew. Pike Township was organized in 1814 by Fairfield county. It was named for General Pike of the Revolu- tionaly War. The first settler was John Fowler who came from Maryland in 1811. Pleasant Township was organized in 1850. It contains sixteen sections, taken as follows : Nine from Bearfield, three from Pike, three from Monroe, and one from Saltlick. The origin of its name is manifest. Reading Township was christened by Peter Over- meyer, who came from Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1801. It was a part of Fairfield county and was or- ganized in 1807. But when Perry county was organ- ized, two rows of sections were taken off of Richland township, Fairfield county, in order to give the new county the requisite area. Saltlick Township was so called from the "salt- lick" at McCuneville. It was settled by John Hazel- ton and organized in 1823. 95

Thorn Township was organized in 1804 or little later by Fairfield county. It was named from the numerous thorns that grew about the Great Swamp. It was settled in 1801 by George Stinchcomb and others. 96

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