THE FIRST SETTLERS - SOME OLD CITIZENS - THE SOIL - COAL LANDS - NEW CASTLE AND HUNTER - THE G. A. R. HALL - THE NEW CASTLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - THE HUNTER DISCIPLES' CHURCH - NOTED HUNTERS

     Tradition says Wayne township was named after "Mad Anthony" Wayne - then at the pinnacle of his glory and fame.  The township contains 36 sections, and like Smith township is in the form of a perfect square.
     The first division was made in 1811, and in 1819 and 1831 divisions were again made for the completion of Washington and Somerset townships.
     The first settlements were made along the banks of the Captina, whose branches traverse the township from east and west.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

     Among the first settlers were the Houstons, Moores, Umsteads, Halls, Milhorns, Barretts, Martins, Skinners, Coons, Stanleys and Woodses.
     George Hall effected a settlement in 1798 in section 10 with no neighbors or associates but the hunters who traveled the Indian trails and sought his cabin for a shelter upon the approach of night.
     Mr. Hall's wife was a beautiful and cultured Irish woman, from teh city of Belfast in the north of Ireland, who excited the admiration of all who visited her humble home.  Henry Milborn another old citizen erected the first water-power grist mill on the banks of the Captina.  Since writing the above we have learned of his recent death, in his 81st year.  The mill has been reconstructed and is still in operation.

SOME OLD CITIZENS.

     Some of the oldest citizens of Wayne township are Harvey Danford, aged 84, Lee Evans, 79, Ham. Murphy, 75, Henery Milhorn, 81, Samuel Stonebraker, 65, and Mrs. Plummer of New Castle who is 92 years of age, with mental faculties unimpaired.  On  the 29th of October, 1902, and since writing the above, Mrs. Plummer passed away.

THE SOIL.

COAL LANDS.

THE POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

     The present population of Wayne township is 1,415 against 1,704 in 1890, and 1,500 in 1880, showing a loss of 289 in the last decade.
     The returns of personal property as shown by the tax duplicate is $81,309 for 1902 as against $88,649 in 1901.  The tax levy, however, is reduced from 1.95 in 1901 to 1.77 in 1902.
     The township officers for 1902 are as follows:  Trustees, - John Phillips, W. J. Davis and John Shry; clerk, John Creighton; treasurer, V. A. Danford; justices of the peace, - A. B. Warfield and Charles Love.
     The first township trustees of which we can find a record are, - Ambrose Danford, Isaac Barrett and Philip Skinner.  The earliest justices of which mention is made are Thomas Williams, J. N. Evans, Isaac Moore, Joseph Moos and Elisha Harris.  The service of these officers probably go back to the erection of the township.
     The township officers 22 years ago were: Trustees - George Powell, A. R. Wilcox and B. Starkey; justices of the peace - D. Okey, P. King, and S. F. Davis; clerk - S. F. Davis; treasurer. - Lee Evans; constables - J. H. Morrison and J. W. Craig.

THE SCHOOLS.

     The first school was a combined school and Methodist meeting house.  It was a typical log house, built in 1805.  Five years later a new school house was built in its stead.  Today there are 14 neat well-conducted schools in the township.  The Board of Education for 1902 consists of G. L. Miliman, Harvey Danford, E. P. Frost, John Hinton, W. J. Davis, M. D. Craig, N. H. Warfield, J. E. Duvall, John Shry, J. S. Wilcox, John Phillips, I. Phillips, A. H. Jenewine and Leander Davis.

NEW CASTLE AND HUNTER.

     New Castle adn Hunter are the two principal villages of Wayne township.

NEW CASTLE.

     Is situated near the center of the township with a population approximating 100.  There are two stores, a small sized cigar factory, G. A. R. Hall and Methodist Episcopal Church.  The postmaster (Pilcher P. O.) is Isaac H. Pittman.  The school at New Castle is conducted by Miss Emma Turner, and at this time has an enrollment of 35.
     A tragedy occurred near here in 1901 that stirred the whole community.  William Montgomery, crazed by drink, shot his wife with murderous intent, and then killed himself. (See NOTE 1 below)

THE. G. A. R. HALL.

     In 1885 the Civil War veterans of Wayne township determined to possess a hall of their own, and uniting their efforts erected a neat frame building in the center of the town and fitted it up with all the necessary paraphernalia.  Of the original post but 25 members survive.
     The officers for 1902 are: Post commander, Ambrose G. King; vice commander L. Davis; senior vice commander, Seth Williams; chaplain, J. A. Budd; and quartermaster, S. M. Stonebraker.
     Colonel Charlesworth of St. Clairsville says: "Wayne township contributed more soldiers to the service of the Union in proportion to its population than any other township in the county."
     Among the veterans yet living many comrades tell thrilling stories of their perilous escapes.  Ambrose G. King, the post commander, was shot in the mouth and received a bullet wound on the front of his head deep enough to conceal a finger of the hand if placed in the indenture.
     Mr. Shepherd, of the 3rd Ohio Regiment, was struck by a shell at the battle of Perrysville and thrown heels over head, smashing his canteen, bursting his belt, breaking his gun and stretching him upon the battlefield senseless for a long time, but he providentially escaped death.
     In the same battle of Perryville, Joseph Creighton was shot through the hips in the heat of the conflict, leaving him a helpless cripple for life.

THE NEW CASTLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE HUNTER DISCIPLES' CHURCH.

NOTED HUNTERS.

     Among the noted hunters of early days was John Adams, who was a veteran soldier, and fought under General Wayne in the battle of the "Fallen Timbers."  His attire was a blue hunting shirt, not unlike that of an army overcoat, and a showy cape fringed with yellow in front and at the bottom.  Although a giant in stature, Adams was quick of foot and of herculean strength.  After Wayne's treaty of peace, he was hunting upon the banks of Captina where the forest was thick, and came across an Indian who had refused to abandon his wigwam and hunting ground.  When this Indian beheld Adams, he immediately concealed himself behind trees and brush with a view evidently of taking the latter's life.  Adams also concealed himself and waited for an advantage.  At last when a part of the Indian's body was exposed, Adams took deliberate aim, fired, and the Indian fell.  As Adams expressed it, "That was the last time that Indian watched for a white man."
     An old settler that it was customary with hunters to rub assafoetida on the soles of their shoes in order to attract wolves into unoccupied cabins.  The wolves would follow the scent of the drug and would enter the cabins, when the hunters would crawl up from the outside of the cabin into the loft and shoot them at leisure.
     It is related of two old settlers named Newell and Hall, who were detained on their business at the county seat longer than they had anticipated, that they were actually surrounded with wolves on their return home.  When they reached Bend Fork, a den of wolves attacked them and it was only by the utmost cunning and care that they escaped with their lives.  Bend Fork was a veritable haunt for wolves in the pioneer days and it was perilous to travel that way alone at any time.
     In this instance death would inevitably have ensued but for the skill and courage of the old settlers.