MANCHESTER Township was organized in 1822, and then embraced a complete congressional township with an area of thirty-six square miles.  In 1851 the eastern half of Manchester became a part of the new county of Noble, leaving the township with only eighteen sections, and thus making it the smallest township in Morgan County.
     The timber growth of the township gives the character of the soil, being black and white walnut, white and yellow poplar, hickory, sugar tree, etc.  In the western side of the township are Brannon and Dye's Fork of Meig's Creek, and on the east, the head waters of Olive Green.  The last few years have developed facts in regard to the mineral wealth of the township that were not ascertained when the detailed report of the geological survey of the county was published in 1873.  Iron ore, both black-band and hematite, is said to abound n great quantities in different parts of the township; while along the valley of Meig's Creek are to be found very extensive veins of bituminous coal averaging a little more than four feet in thickness.
     The first settlement in Manchester Township was made by Charles Harwood in section 8, on the farm now owned by H. R. Wilson.  Mr. Harwood moved from Washington County, Ohio, in the year 1806.  The only representative of his family now residing in the township is Mrs. Matilda Hop-

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kins, who has passed her four score years and has resided in the township longer than any one now living within its boundaries, she being only a few months old when her father located there.  Following the settlement made by Mr. Harwood were those of Samuel Sprague and George Conkle in section 5.  Wm. Sherman in section 8, and Richard Elliott near Reinersville.  Jonathan Rex also settled on Meig's Creek at quite an early day.  Wm. Sherman erected the first sawmill on Dye's Fork of Meigs Creek on the farm now owned by Wm. Rex.

     Thomas Sawyer located on the farm where his son James M., now resides (section 19) in the year 1816, and the original patent written on parchment is still in possession of his son.  There were many other settlers who came into the township at an early day; but owning to the death and removal of their descendants it is impossible to procure any data in regard to the time of their settlement.  Robert Bell, who claims to have been voting in Manchester longer than any other man now residing in the township, came from Ohio County, West Va., in 1829.  John Maxwell, the oldest man now living in Manchester, and who was born at West Liberty, Va., Dec. 27, 1800, moved upon the farm where he now resides in 1824.

     The first settlement with the Township treasurer of which record is to be found occurred on Mar. 7, 1831, the trustees being David Fulton, John Gregg and Mahlon Wilson.  The following bills were allowed: "For receiving and paying out the funds of said township, $1.29.  For township book, $1.62½; for warning township officers, William Brown, $3.00."  "At the township election held at the house of Mahlon Wilson, Esq., Apr. 4, 1831, the following persons were elected to office:  Trustees, Israel Nichols, John Gregg and William Merrit; Clerk, Robert Bell; Treasurer, Ebenezer Dimick; Constables, William E. Brown and James Gregg; Overseers of the Poor, Archibald Gregg and Daniel Wilson; Fence Viewers, Nathaniel Essex and Palser Keith."
     The inhabitants of Manchester Township having lived together from the organization of the county in 1819 without law, legal organization, justice or anything else indicating a political existence, in the summer of 1822 petitioned the court of common pleas to place them in a different position.  The court, therefore, on Monday, July 15, 1822,with a full bench of judges, made the following order: "WHEREAS, it appears that no justices of the peace have been allowed for Manchester Township, it is, therefore ordered that said township be entitled to two justices of the peace, and that the qualified electors of said township meet at the usual places of holding elections, in said township, at such time as the trustees may direct, and proceed to elect two justices for said township."  Without delay an election was ordered to be held Aug. 3, 1822.  Accordingly on that day the pioneer voters met and organized by selecting Nathan Smith, John Eddy and Benjamin Dean judges, and David Fulton and Lewis G. Harding clerks.  At this election there were forty-five voters, viz.: David Devore, Andrew Matheney, Enoch Deen, William Ellison, Thomas Gregg, William Sherman, Nathan Dimick, Ephraim Eckerman, Charles Harwood, Peter Mohler, Samuel Sprague, James Matheney, John Skiv-

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ington, Joseph Eckerman, David Fulton, Jonathan Rex, Henry Mohler, Jacob Teters, Lewis G. Harding, Nathan Smith, Samuel Sailors, John Gregg, John Sears, John Eddy, James Gaddis, William Sprague, William McNabb, Sr., Michael Kuntz, John Tope, Aaron Sprague, Jonathan Sprague, Philip Swank, Enos Dean, Robert Caldwell, Alexander Eckerman, Archibald Gregg, William Brown, Cyrus Eckerman, Nathan Essex, William Swank, John Swank and James Conn.  John Sears and John Gregg were elected justices.

     Edward O'Hara, whose name appears in the list of early pioneers of this township, was a well-known character, "Character Ned," as he was called, is no doubt still remembered by many of those now living in the townships of Manchester and Sharon, Noble County.  Old Ned was prominent at all kinds of gatherings common at that day among the early settlers.  One incident used to be related by General Alexander McConnel, as going to show the character of the man, and strong evidence that he had once in his life kissed the "blarney-stone"; General McConnel was a candidate for the State Senate, and attended the general muster at Sharon, as was the custom among all candidates for office at that day.  O'Hara was there, noisy and boisterous as was his way, selling sweet cider from a barrel placed in the tail end of his wagon.  The General, in passing along near O'Hara, in company with two or  three friends, was hailed by old Ned, and invited to walk up and partake of his cider.  After partaking of cider from old Ned's tin cup, the General, being a candidate, could not do anything better than offer to pay for the same, and handed Ned a five-dollar bill, expecting some change in return.  Old Ned put the bill in his pocket, remarking, "Just the change, Gineral!  We shall all vote for ye, Gineral.  Old Character Ned will see to it, Gineral, that all in our corner shall be till the election.  Success attend ye, Gineral!   What spalpeen is it that is no mane as to run fornenst ye?  We want his name, so as to make no mistake.  We hope ye will be elected.  Good day, Gineral, good day~  Jist the change, Gineral!"  General McConnel was elected; but what influence O'Hara's cider had upon the result is not known to this day.

     Frederick Wood, the father of ex-Judge F. W. Wood, bought the farm in the northwest corner of the township, and settled there in 1832, and died at that place in 1835.  When Mr. Wood came to the township there was only one postoffice in the township - that at Reinersville, five miles distant from Mr. Wood's residence.  His house was on the post-route from McConnelsville to Cumberland, and the mail passed his door once each way every week, with a postoffice on each side of him six miles distant.  Mr. Wood had the Wood Grove postoffice established at his house, and he served as postmaster till his death in 1835, when his wife was appointed and served as postmistress until her removal to McConnelsville in 1847.  When Wood Grove postoffice was established there was not a newspaper taken in the neighborhood.

     John S. Wood, a son of Frederick Wood, was born in Manchester Township.  Was Lieutenant and Captain in the 25ht O. V. I., and Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 17th O. V. I., serving during the whole war in the army.  He now resides in Kansas.  W.

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W. McCarty, who married Sarah E. Wood, was a captain in the 78th O. V. I.; his son Arthur, a lieutenant in same company, and a son-in-law of Cyrus M. Roberts was captain in same regiment.  A grand-daughter of Frederick Wood, Miss Eberlein, was postmistress of McConnelsville until her marriage to Hon. W. P. Sprague, of the Malta Plow Works.

     John H. Conn, a prominent citizen, is an old resident of the county, and the son of an early settler.  He was born in Manchester Township in 1828.  In 1858 he married Miss Catherine Hastings.  They have no children.  Mr. Conn formerly resided in Meigsville Township, where he served as township trustee for two years.  He is a democrat in politics.

     The first mill in the township was known as Cobb's Mill and ground corn only.  It was located on the east branch of Meigs Creek, and was in operation as early as 1810.  This was among the very first mills in the county, and very probably the first.

     Isaac Drummond came at quite an early date from Harrison County, Ohio, and located on the farm where he now resides.  He married Jane Ross of Harrison County, and is the father of four children, living.  Mr. Drummond has served several terms as township trustee.

     William Crisman, postmaster at Seeleyville, was born in Meigsville Township.  He married Miss Lizzie Maxwell, and has been engaged in the mercantile business in his present location for several years.

     Benjamin T. Arrick was born in what is now Beaver Township, Noble County, and came when young to Manchester Township with his parents.  He married Miss Lizzie Lukens, and they have one child.  Mr. Arrick has been successfully engaged in the mercantile business at Reinersville for some years.

VILLAGES.

     In 1848 the village of Reinersville was laid out by and named in honor of Samuel Reiner, a native of Pennsylvania and a man of more than ordinary business capacity and enterprise.  The original plat consisted of nineteen lots, but in 1855 the Juniper addition was annexed to it.  The present population (1886) is about one hundred and fifty.  It contains two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one saddle and harness shop, one shoe shop, one hotel, two churches (Methodist Protestant and Christian), one schoolhouse and one Masonic hall.  There is also a resident physician, L. P. Culver, M. D., who has been engaged in practice there over twenty years.  The location of Reinersville is very favorable for mercantile pursuits.
     There is no record as to the time when Seeleyville laid claim to the title of village, but as a place where traffic in merchandise and financial and political speculations were attended to it antedates Reinersville some twenty years.  The first store in Seeleyville was kept by John Seeley.  The village now has one general store (Wm. Crisman, proprietor), one blacksmith shop, one saw and planing mill, two wagon shops, one undertaker and one lodge of I. O. O. F.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

     Masonic - There is a Lodge of F. & A. M. at Reinersville, whence it was removed from Unionville Dec. 19, 1874, and is called Clemente Amitie Lodge, No. 285.  It was organized under the dispensation at Unionville, Nov.

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22, 1855, with James S. Reeves, V. M., and Jefferson Shaw, S. W., and William H. Cool, J. W.  Subordinate places were filled by the election of John Sammons, Sec'y; Benj. Wells, Treas.' John T. Searight, S. D.; John P. Gaston, J. D., and John T. Turner, Tyler.  The charter of the Lodge is dated Oct. 22, 1856, the charter members being James S. Reeves, John T. Searight, Jefferson Shaw, Wm. Coole, John Sammons, Benj. Wells, John P. Gaston, John T. Turner and Thomas Fulkerth.
     The present (1886) officers are: L. P. Culber, W. M.; B. F. Foster, S. W.; Wm. P. Smith, J. W.; B. T. Arrick, Treas.; P. M. Walters, Sec'y; George Arrick. S. D.; Charles Rodebach, J. D. and James Lyle, Tyler.

     Odd Fellows - The Wood Grove Lodge, No. 288, I. O. O. F., located at Seeleyville, was chartered Feb. 22, 1855, the charter members being Wm. H. Officer, D. M. Wadsworth, Oliver H. Smith, Ezekiel J. Dye and James Harper.  The present (1886) officers are: David Danfield, N. G.; J. P. Rex, V. G.; Samuel Little, Sec'y. and F. A. Gallatin, permanent Sec'y.

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