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Washington lies east of
Circleville, and along the eastern line of the county, with Walnut
township adjoining on the north, and Pickaway on the south.
Its surface is quite rolling, except in the southern part, where it
is comparatively level. The principal water course is Hargus
creek, which rises in the northeast part of the township, flows
southwest, and unites with the Scioto, west of Circleville.
Scippo creek flows through a part of sections twenty-five and
thirty-six. Besides these, there are several other smaller
streams, of not sufficient importance to require description.
The soil of Washington is principally a mixture of gravel and sand,
with a smaller proportion of low, or good corn lands, than are found
in some of the other townships of the county. The native
varieties of timber did not differ materially from those of
neighboring townships, being chiefly oak, of all kinds, ash, beech,
maple, hard and soft, walnut, hickory, butternut, hackberry and elm.
The township is highly improved, the farms being generally smaller
than those of other townships, and containing, in most cases, good
dwellings and barns.
SETTLEMENT
[PICTURE OF PICKAWAY COUNTY INFIRMARY]
THE FIRST ROAD
EARLY SCHOOLS
The first school attended
by the children of the pioneers of Washington township, was kept in
Clear Creek township, Fairfield county, by a teacher by the name of
Hump. The school-house was a very rude structure, with
stick chimney and fireplace, the back of which was made of
hard-heads. The first school within the township was kept in
the old cabin of George Hoffman, and Samuel Gensell
was one of the earliest teachers. The cabin was afterwards
moved about a mile and a half farther west, and fitted up for a
school-house. A school was kept, at an early date, in a log
house on the farm then owned by Jacob Greenough. A man
by the name of Horn taught the first school. In 1835 or
1836 the township was divided into six school districts, the same
that it now contains.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
THE PONTIUS UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
BETHANY UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
BURIAL PLACES.
The first burying ground in
the township was the Zion's church graveyard, laid out as early as
1809. The first burial in it was that of a child of Andrew
Leist. There are now four other cemeteries in teh
township, one in connection with each church.
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