KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XLII] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dave Ketterer Ketterer@empireone.net September 1, 2002 ************************************************ A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and incidents of men connected with the county from its first settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other officers of the county, also of those who have served in a military capacity from its first organization to the present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and other institutions of learning and religion within the county. By A. Banning Norton. Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862 Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern District of Ohio. ____________________________________________ CHAPTER XLII. JACKSON TOWNSHIP. IN honor of General Andrew Jackson, the Commissioners, on the 4th of September, 1815, erected this township. John Mills, Jacob Lepley, and Joseph Kerr were the first judges of elect ion, James Thomas and David Melick the clerks. In 1816, there were 35 voters, Jacob Lepley was the first ,lister, and Abrabam Carpenter first appraiser. This, the south-eastern township of the county, is watered by the Wakatomika ; the ground is generally rolling, but quite productive. In 1830 the inhabitants numbered 626; in 1840 994: in 1850. 1,080: in 1860, 960. The only town and post- office is Bladensburg; it contains 200 inhabitants. Washington Houck kept the first tavern, in 1833, and continued it, with short intermission, till the present date. Thomas Axtell kept the second house of entertainment, about 1838 ; he was a good citizen, and emigrated to Indiana. James Loveridge for a short time kept tavern; and John Hannah now keeps the hotel. The first goods sold in this town were by John Wheeler, who was for many years engaged in merchandising at Bladensburg. He took great delight in the militia training's, being a captain; in the Christian church, being an elder; in the Whig party, being a committee-man. In all respects, long was John Wheeler a good citizen; he now lives, at an advanced age, in Iowa, The second store was carried on by W. Houck, who for twelve years sold goods. T. Axtell, Peter Berry, James Loveridge, Alphonso Byam, T. & C. L. Marquand, have also sold goods there. the present merchants are, Mark Hammond and Samuel Richard. The first Disciple Church in the State was gotten up by John Wheeler, W. Houck, Elijah Harris, and their wives, about 1833. They have a neat Church edifice, of which the Rev. Van Voris is minister. The Presbyterians have also a church building, in which Rev. Brough officiates The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was the first house of worship built in the township. Thos. Axtell was the most active in getting up the church. James Elliott was mainly instrumental in building the O. S. Presbyterian meetinghouse, the Methodists worship in the Presbyterian Church. The present mechanics are, John Upfold, tailor ; Thomas Hilman, wagon—maker ; Lew. Husser and Wilson Hartupee, blacksmiths ; the Baltzells. Andrew, John and Joseph, and James Ross, shoemakers ; Lemuel Hall, carpenter ; Richard Mavis, cabinet-maker, A good school is kept up in the village, of which Mr. Campbell is teacher. A grist-mill is in the town, formerly carried on by Houck, now by James Gaub. Within a half mile, another mill is carried on by Mr. Schooler. About 1852, James Harris started a pottery, which is now owned by James Green. The clay is excellent, and some very good ware has been turned out at this manufactory, which is sold in adjoining towns. Among the old citizens whose names should appear in this sketch are Adam Earlywine, Jacob Stricker, G eorge James Melick, William and Robert Wilson, Daniel Blue, John Hammel, Wm. Braddock, the Hills, the Horns, The McCammets, the Halls, the Dennys and Stephensons, Washington Houck, of Huntington county, Pa., moved to Knox county, Clay township, in 1805, where he resided until 1833, when he moved to Jackson. Joseph Scott, Wm. Rawdon, David and Daniel Stricker, Daniel Mossholder Peter Miller, Philip Dennis, George Holt and Christian Baughman, have been citizens of long standing. Col. James Elliot, long a resident of Clay, who has oficiated as Justice and Representitive, now resides in Bladensburg. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. April 15, 1815, two justices were allowed this township. to be chosen at the house of Joseph Kerr. January 13, 1816 . Jacob Lepley and David Melick were elected, and Lepley was re-elected in 1819 and in 1822. 1821. Thomas Hall 1838. W. K. Corbin. 1823. Thomas Hall 1836. S. C. Porterfield. 1824. David Melick 1847. James Myers. 1827. David Melick 1847. A. C. Scott. 1829. John Stephenson. 1850. W. H. Blue. 1829. R.C. Davis. 1850. James Myers. 1832. R.C. Davis. 1853. Daniel Gault. 1835. R.C. Davis. 1853. W.K. Corbin. 1838. R.C. Davis. 1856. J.S. McCammen. 1831. A. Darling. 1859. J.S. McCammen. 1832. W. K. Corbin. 1857. James Blunt. 1835. W. K. Corbin. 1860. Wm. Darling.