Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/433

 HISTORY or RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��CHAPTER XLV.

��JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

��Organization — Name — Topographical Features — Hunting Grounds — Arch^ological — First Settlements — Judge McCluer — First Road — Uriah Matson — First Cabin — White Hunters — Early Settlers — Mills — Public Meetings — Town Hall — Schools — Churches.

��JACKSON was among the last townships organized in tlie count}", belonging to Sharon until March 2, 1847, the date of its organiza- tion. Its early histor}- is, therefore, connected with that of Sharon. The first election of Sharon was held April 7, 1819, within the pres- ent limits of Jackson, at the house of Mrs. Rockwell. Giles Swan, John Bennett Tay- lor and James Rockwell were elected Trustees ; Almon Hayes, Clerk, and Giles Swan, Justice of the Peace. Upon its erection into a sepa- rate township, an election was ordered by the Commissioners, April 3, 1847, at which Anthony Hershiser, Robert Leach and John Leppo were chosen Trustees ; Abraham Bushe}', Treasurer ; Alexander Barr, Assessor; Samuel Rockwell, Town Clerk, and Delanson Rockwell and David McKinney, Constables. May 3, 1847, Abraham Bushey and John Ackerman were elected first Justices of the Peace.

Robert Cairns claims the honor of suggesting the name, calling it after that much-abused idol of the Democracy, Gen. Jackson.

Topographicall}', it is four by six miles in extent, generall}' level or gently rolling ; was once •densely covered with timber of a sturdy and vig- orous growth, and, before white man set foot on the soil, was partially covered with swamps. Since its cultivation and drainage, it proves to be among the best townships of land in the county for agricultural purposes. It is well- watered, and yet there are no streams of any considerable importance within its limits. The

��head-waters of the Black Fork pass across the southwest corner, flowing west, and a tributar}- of the Black Fork, Bear's Run, rises in the cen- tral part, flowing north, and leaving the town- ship near the northwest corner of Section 3. These are the- principal streams, but several brooks are found in various parts. Three small tributaries of the Black Fork — Leatherwood Run, Lick Run and Richland Run, water the eastern and northeastern part.

The Mansfield, Coldwater, & Lake Michi- gan and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads pass across its southwestern part. It is now well- settled with a mixture of Connecticut Yankees and Pennsylvania Germans.

In its primitive condition, it contributed its full share to the extensive hunting-grounds of the Northwestern tribes. No permanent Indian villages appear to have l^een located within its limits, but their camps, for hunting purposes, were frequently located on the higher gi-ounds in various places. That it was extensively oc- cupied for this purpose is evident, from the quantity of Indian relics, such as arrow points, stone axes and wedges, and various other imple- ments of war and the chase, as well as domes- tic implements, known to have been used by the Indians for various purposes, found in dif- ferent parts. John S. B. Matson, a son of one of the first settlers of the county, Uriah Matson, has a large and valuable collection of these reUcs.

The first settlers in Jackson came from two directions— those settling in the northern part

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