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Monroe County, Ohio
History & Genealogy
 

 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Source:
History of Monroe County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
A Condensed History of the County;
Biographical Sketches: General Statistics; Miscellaneous Matters &c.
Publ. H. H. Hardesty & Co, Publishers
Chicago and Toledo
1882

Page 220

     This township was organized June 5, 1832; is eight miles long, from north to south, and four wide, from east to west, and contains thirty-two sections, less the north half of section 6, in township 4, which forms a part of Wayne township.  The eight sections at the south end of the township were added to this county in 1851, when Noble county was organized, and lie in original township 3, of range 6.  The 23½ sections are in township 4, of range 6.  It is bounded on the north by Wayne township, on the east by Perry and Benton, on the south by the Washington county line, and on the west by Bethel and Franklin.  Crane's Nest creek flows through its northwestern corner; the straight fork from its northwest corner, and runs in a general southeastern direction and empties into Muskingum creek, near the township line; the Clear fork enters the township near the middle of its western boundary, and flows in a general southeastern direction, and empties into the Little Muskingum in the southwest quarter of section 6, in township 3, and the Whitten creek has its source in Bethel township, flows into Washington in its southwestern part, and empties into the Clear fork in section 13.  Of its geology, Prof. Andrews, says: "The Cumberland seam of coal is found in this township, but so far as could be ascertained is in limited development.  Very little coal has been mined in the township.  The village of Graysville is supplied from Indian fork, in Bethel township.  Lime stones are found in the hills, which tend to fertilize the soil."  The number of streams flowing through this township renders the surface quite uneven, but on the top of the ridges and land is comparatively smooth, and the soil good.  In the valleys the soil is very productive.
     Among the first settlers of the township may be named Joseph Cline, and other members of the Cline Family, Philip, David and Joseph Allen, James Scott, Abner Powell, Ezekiel Blair, James and Isaac Rinard, Jacob Flint, the Knowltons, Daughertys, Bevers, and others, whose names the writer cannot now call to mind.  The first settlements were made along the valley of Clear fork, where Joseph Cline built the first cabin in 1816.  There may have been some improvements made prior to this, by squatters, but no actual settlements.  The first child born in the township was Joseph Cline to Mary Cline.
    
The first grist-mill is reported to have been built by Isaac Rinard, in 1818, and a saw-mill the same year, on the Little Muskingum; Baldwin Cox, builder.  Philip Allen
built the first saw-mill on the Clear fork, (date unknown); Baldwin Cox, builder.
     James
Scott, built the first saw-mill on the Clear fork, in 1825, and a school house is said to have been built about 1820, but who was the first teacher, and where it was located, has not been reported to the writer.  The first church organized was by members of the M. E. Church, at the house of Joseph Cline, when and where the first sermon was preached, in 1817, by Rev. Robert C. Hatten.  Among its first members were Joseph and Sarah Cline, Isaac and Nancy Brown, Thomas W. Groves and wife, and a Mrs. Dailey.  The second church organized was the Baptist church, at Graysville.
     The present churches in the township are the following:  Low Gap Christian Union Church, plain, frame building, in size 28x38 feet; Thomas Cline, minister; membership, 35.  Methodist Protestant Church, frame building, size 26x36 feet; membership, 52; pastor, Rev. Donnelson.  Graysville Christian Church, frame, size 25x35 feet; membership, 65;  A. A. Bunner, minister.  Graysville Baptist Church, frame, size 25x35 feet; membership, 20; Henry Lyons, minister.  The first Sabbath school  was organized in 1841, by Peter McGowen, with twenty-five scholars.  The Sabbath schools now in the township are the following:  Low Gap Sabbath school, Isaac Cline, superintendent; Methodist Protestant Sabbath school, in the southwestern part of the township, Ezra Massie, superintendent; Graysville Christian Sabbath school, John McCarty, superintendent; Graysville Baptist Sabbath school, Thomas Hickenbottom, superintendent.
     Graysville, the only town in the township, was laid out by Daniel Gray, in 1835, and the postoffice there is of the same name.  It is located in the northern part of the township, in the southwest corner of section 11, and the southeast corner of section 17, in township 4.  It is a point of considerable trade, and has four dry goods and grocery stores, two drug stores, two blacksmith shops, one furniture store, two shoe shops, one saddle and harness shop, and two physicians.  The
only other postoffice in the township.
     The present justices of the peace are:  W. J. Crawford and J. Beardmore.
    
The population of Graysville, which is an incorporated village, by the census of 1880, was 174, and the population of the township, including the town, 1,815.
     The school statistics for the township, for the year ending Aug. 31, 1881, were as follows:  Total school moneys received within the year, $4,669.07; paid teachers, $1,819.00; paid for sites and buildings, $949.00; paid for interest on redemption of bonds, $28.49; paid for fuel, etc., $368.47; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $1,504.11; No. of school houses, 11; value of school property, $3,000; No. of teachers, 11; average wages paid to teachers, per month, gentlemen $27.00, ladies $23.00; No. of pupils enrolled, 482.
     School statistics for Graysville, for the same period: School moneys received, $609.41; paid teachers, primary, $200.65, high, $177.16; for fuel, etc., $38.67; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $192.93; No. of school houses, 1; No. of rooms, 2; value of school property, not reported; No. of teachers, 2; average wages of teachers, per month, primary, $27.00; high, $35.00; No. of scholars enrolled, 99.

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