SUNFISH TOWNSHIP
Pages 838 - 840

SOMETHING OF ITS EARLY DAYS.

     Prior to 1798, Sunfish Township was a portion of Paxton, as first organized by the county Commissioners of Ross County.  Paxton was afterward shorn of all its southwestern territory and the name of Mifflin Township given to it, and when Pike County was formed Sunfish became one of the first townships; yet the creek by that name does not lie or flow through or within its limit is, barely touching its northeastern corner.  The only streams with names within the township the Chenoweth, Branch or fork of Sunfish Creek and Carter's Run.

TOPOGRAPHY.

     The township is very hilly and in a large measure rough and broken.  The small valleys, are fairly productive, the soil being good, and easily worked.  There are also some good upland farms which yield well.  In the valley of the Chenoweth Branch are found quite a number of productive farms, and here and there are valleys, hardly large enough to be called such, yet not exactly ravines, which form some of the best corn and grass land in the township.  Thus the township may well be called hilly and the crests of these hills are not productive.  Of timber, the township has a vast quantity, and it is of every description, the oak, hickory and locust leading.  The township came near being a triangle in shape, running to a point in the northeast and spreading out, its east line running due south, while its west line runs southwest.  Its south line runs due west until it reaches about half of its width where there is a bend to the northwest.  This gives it an area of about thirty-one and a half square miles, or an acreage of 20,109 acres.  This is given a valuation of only $69,627, or a little over $3.40 per acre on the assessment roll, the smallest land valuation in the county.  The assessed valuation of the township in 1882 was: On real estate, $69,627; on personal property, $69,559; hamlet of York, $4,743; total, $143, 929.  Its business interest, in a

[Page 839]
mercantile view, is conducted by Messrs. Garman & Moorhead, on the Chenoweth Fork, and a postoffice is located there, Enoch Steadman, Postmaster.  It was established in 1871 and called Elm Grove postoffice, Mr. Steadman, Postmaster.  It was established in 1871 and called Elm Grove postoffice, Mr. Steadman remaining the only Postmaster.  The other postoffice within the township is Poplar Grove, established in May, 1872, and Sampson Shanks appointed Postmaster.  It is in the northwestern part of the township and the present Postmaster is Wm. Reno.

OLD SETTLERS.

     The township was settled in about 1817 to '18.  The settlers came mostly from Virginia, some few from North Carolina, and some from Pennsylvania.  They located along the Chenoweth Fork or branch of Sunfish, and in the small valleys, which were found cosy homes, with lofty hills and rugged outlines as their daily view.
     The names of some of the early pioneers are:

BOUNDARY LINE CHANGES.

     Sunfish had few changes in her history, but when Newton Township was formed some re-arrangement of the line between the two townships was desired on both sides and made as follows:  "Commencing where said line crosses the county road leading to Brush Creek; thence to run in an easterly direction to the bridge across Sunfish Creek; thence up the creek to the mouth of Chenoweth Fork, and with the north line of P. Adams's farm to the aforesaid township line, taking about five eighths of a mile from Newton, and adding it to Sunfish."

POPULATION.

     The township had a population, in 1840 of 325; in 1850, 371; in 1860, 495, in 1870, 628; in 1880, 976.

CHURCHES.

     White Oak Chapel Christian Church was organized Dec. 25, 1878, by Presiding Elders Winfield S. Beckman and Allen Smalley.  The following were the original officers; Deacons, Newton F. Beekman and Charles C. Beekman; Treasurer, Winfield S. Beekman; Secretary, William S. Beekman.  The church, a log structure, was built the same year, and is located in the northwest portion of the township.  The present pastor is Rev. A. J. Watts; Elders, William G. Beekman, Thomas Moler and Newton F. Beekman;  Deacons, Charles C. Beekman and Aaron A. Beekman.  Membership, fifty-six.  Services are held once a month.

     A Christian Church was organized at Victory School-house, in Sub-School District No. 6, in 1880, by Rev. William J. Allison, with about thirty members,,,,, The present pastor is Rev. Cunningham, holding services once a month.  In 1881 Rev. William J. Allison organized another class in the Marvin School-house, in District No. 5, and is now the pastor.  At present they have about twenty members.  Services are held there once a month, and Sabbath-school every Sunday.

     The Mount Zion Christian Union Church was organized July 18, 1867, by Rev. Uriah Milburn and a church was erected the same year.  The Elders were:  William Reno, James Ferguson and James Satterfield.  The membership was thirty-six, and Rev. Alfred

[Page 840]
Moore was the first pastor.  The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Shoemaker.  Services once in two months, and Sabbath-school every Sunday.

     The Mead School Christian Union Class was organized Aug. 17, 1879, by Rev. John Treat, with thirty-five members, the Elders being Howell Humphreys, William Humphries and Jackson Riley.  The present pastor is Rev. John Newland; Elders, Jackson Riley, William Humphreys and John W. Satterfield.  There is a membership of sixty-four.  Regular service is held once a month, and Sabbath-school every Sunday.

SCHOOLS.

     There are six school districts in the township, as follows:  Sub-district No. 1, Henry School - Teacher, Milton Steadman; scholars, sixty-one.  Sub-district No. 2, Smith School - Scholars, twenty-one.  Sub-district No. 3, Combs School - Teacher, Howell Reno scholars seventy-seven.  Sub-district No. 4 has been dropped.  Sub-district No. 5, Marvin School - Teacher, Wilford Payne; scholars, seventy-one.  Joint sub-district No. 6, Victory School - Teacher, Mathew Beekman; scholars, fifty-seven.

SUNFISH OFFICERS.

     The officers for 1838 were:  Trustees, Samuel Henry, James Henry and Samuel Mustard; Treasurer, Christopher Beekman; Clerk, Samuel Mustard; Constables, Washington Henry and Thomas McGhee;  Supervisors, Benj. F. Henry, John Shanks and Daniel Jones; Overseers of the Poor, Timothy Allen and Jovan Beekman; Fence Views, Peter Cartwright, James Henry and Samuel Mustard; Justice of the Peace, 1883, are:  Trustees, James W. Current, Joseph Williams and John H. Davis; Treasurer, Milton Rankin; Clerk, George E. Beekman; Constables, Cyrus N. Murphy and Wm. Henry; Assessor, Wm. J. Allison; Justices of the Peace, J. Q. Jacobs and Peter Mea

BIOGRAPHICAL