FAIRFIELD COUNTY OHIO BIOS,CHANEY part 2
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	Personal recollections of Judge Chaney

"There was another method of bridging the low, marshy, or swamp lands. These 
were called "pole bridges" or "corduroy bridges". They were common all over 
the West. The following was the manner of constructing them: Poles or logs 
were cut from the woods, of the length of ten or twelve feet, and laid down 
side by side across the raod for the distance to be corduroyed. Then on top 
of this ground-structure was placed a foot or more of earth dug up along the 
sides, it it were not under water, or hauled in on wagons. This bed of earth 
filled the space between the logs or poles, and when suffifciently packed 
made a passably good road. And it was a part of the work of the Supervisor to 
repair these roads by adding additional earth when the logs became too much 
exposed by wearing or the washing rains."

"On the north were the Indians; and west, in Indiana, the county was still 
newer and less promising, much of it still in a condition of nature. We 
therefore concluded to remain in Bloom Township; for, however much we might 
have desired to re-cross the mountains back to my native and older State, we 
were too poor to do so."

"At the time of my settlement here, I mention the following names, who, with 
their families, were my predecessors in Bloom, and my neighbors: Abram 
PLUMMER, Henry TUMLINSON, Henry DOVE, Chaney RICKETS, Charles RICKETS, Rev. 
Geo. BENNADUM, Rev. Elijah SPURGEON, Isaac MEASON, Martin FELTNER, the 
COURTRIGHTS, Zebulon LEE, Dorsey MEASON, Henry HIMEBAUGH, Major BRIGHT, the 
GLICKS, and the ALSPAUGHS. "

"In Violet Township I mention; Abram PICKERING, Jacob PICKERING, Samuel 
McCOLLUM, George WELLS, George LONG, Jonathan LOOKER, Mordecai FISHBAUGH, the 
CRAMERs and the KRANERs, the DONALDSONs, Frederick BAUER. All the foregoing, 
and others, were residing here in 1812. Not over two or three of them are 
living now."

"In the early years of my residence in Bloom Township, I bought a mill on 
Spring Run, near me (Spring Run is fed by three or four springs), where for 
several years I run a grist-mill, a saw-mill, and a distillery, which enabled 
me to form the acquaintance of a pretty wide circle of citizens."

"At the time of my settlement, the Lutherans and German Reforms were the 
principal religious denominations of the neighborhood. The Betzer Church was 
their place of meeting in common. The church is situated four miles 
north-east of Lithopolis. There was also a church south of Lithopolis, know 
as the Glick Church. Both are still meeting places."

"I was elected Justice of the Peace in 1821, 1824, and in 1827, serving in 
all three terms, or nine years. I served as Township Trustee twenty-three 
years. In the Ohio Militia, old system, I served at various times as Major, 
Colonel, and Paymaster."

"In the years 1828, 1829, and 1830, I was elected to the Legislature as 
Representative of Fairfield County. In the spring of 1831, the legislature 
elected me as one of the Associate Judges of Fairfield County."

I"n the fall of 1832 I was elected to the Lower House of Congress, from the 
district composed of Fairfield, Perry, Morgan and Hocking counties. Was 
re-elected from the same district in 1834 and in 1836. In 1842 I was again 
returned to the Ohio Legislature, Lower House, and was at that session 
elected Speaker. In 1844 I was elected to the Ohio Senate, the term being two 
years; and again in 1855 returned to the Lower House." 

"In 1832 my friends placed my name on the Presidential electoral ticket, and 
I had the honor of helping to make Andrew Jackson President of the United 
States. In 1851 I was a member of the constitutional Convention that framed 
the present Constitution of the State of Ohio. I am now within a few days of 
the close of my eighty-eighth year, and in the enjoyment of good health."

>From the friends and long acquaintances of Judge Chaney, I have received the 
information, that never once during his public life did he solicit office.  
But, when placed in nomination by his political friends, he entered into the 
spirit of the canvass, and helped the ticket through.

In parting with the venerable Judge, as he grasped my hand cordially, he 
remarked,while his voice swelled up in volume and animation, that, whatever 
his life may have been, there was one thing that he was proud of, and that 
was the good opinions of his neighbors and constituents. That good opinion 
has been merited. and how blessed it would be, if every one could say at the 
close of life,that he, or she, was proud of the good opinions of their 
acquaintances.

jNest the Statement of B. W. Carlisle