Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/540

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

��CHAPTER LII.

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

Location, Organization and Boindary — Physical Features — Crawford's March — Home of the Red Men Indian Relics, etc. — Settlers and Settlements — Daniel Hoover and his Bear Stories — James McDermott — Robert Bentley — Surveyed — Schools and Churches — Bridges on the Black Fork — Mills — Villages — Population.

��SEPTEMBER 5, 1814, Vermillion Township, Ijeing then eighteen miles long from north to south, and twelve miles wide, was cut in two parts by a line drawn through the center north and south. The western half received the name of Mifflin, and was six bj' eighteen miles in extent. Two years later (1816), this territory' was again divided, and the portion six miles square, l3'ing directly east of ^Madison, was called Mifflin. It is very probable the name came from Pennsylvania with the settlers — from Mifflin Township, Allegheny County. When Ashland County was created in 1846^ the township was again divided, the east line following the general course of the Black Fork, crossing and recrossing it ; but as the history includes all of Richland Countj^ as originally created, so in this sketch of Mifflin, it will be treated as if the latter division had not taken place, the divisions, both in Ashland and Richland, being still called Mifflin. It is bounded on the north hj Weller and Milton, on the east by Vermillion, south by Monroe and west by Madison.

The surface is broken and hilly, especially along the Black Fork, where there are deep, dark ravines and high, rocky bluffs which are for the most part still heavily timbered. For beauty and picturesqueness, the scenery can hardly be excelled in the State. Be^^ond these hills, the township is gently roUing, and is cov- ered with fine farms and formliouses. The farmers are generall}- well and comfortably set-

��tled, prosperous and healthy. Occasionally, along the Black Fork, a level bottom pushes back the hills, and some of the finest farms in Richland County are here situated. It is well watered. The Black Fork runs across it from northwest to southeast, and the Rocky Fork passes across the southwest corner. Empt3ing into these are various smaller streams flowing from every part of the township. In addition to these, numerous springs, many of which are large, beautiful and valuable, burst from the grovmd at various points ; some of them near Petersburg, forming a ver}'^ pretty lake aljout a half mile in diameter, and forty feet in depth at its deepest point. It is the focus of many pleasure excursions, furnishing good fishing, boating and beautiful scenery. It is on the farm of Mr. John P. Culler.

In 1782, Col. William Crawford's command passed through this township, marching across from the site of the Indian village of Green- town to the Rock}- Fork of the Mohican, up which the}- traveled to Mansfield. This was twenty-seven years before a permanent settle- ment was made, and, so far as history informs us, these were the first white men to press the soil of Mifflin. Long before this, however, there is abundant proof that this was the favorite hunting-ground of the red men. Any one who understands the Indian character, his fondness for roaming and hunting, and his love of nature, can readil}' understand what a para- dise this must have been for him. These open

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