Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/554

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��animals was $34.20, or less than 18 cents per head.

In the. spring of 1817, the first election was held, and John Gr. Peterson, William McLaugh- lin and David Ellis were elected Trustees ; David Crawford, Treasurer.

• At the election held the succeeding fall, Thomas Pope and Andrew Richey were elected Justices of the Peace. The clerks of this elec- tion were Solomon Gladden and David Ellis. The election was held in a ca1)in on the farm afterward owned b}- Daniel Beasor, and which is yet in possession of a member of that family. Solomon Gladden was the third Justice of the Peace, and held the office fifteen years. At this first election, the candidates found much diflBculty in getting together enough voters to hold a legal election, ten being the required number. Up to 12 o'clock only nine had voted, and matters began to look serious ; the candi- dates were alarmed ; the fate of two Justices of the Peace was held in dreadful suspense. Nothing was impossible to a politician, however, even at that early day, and, after a solemn coun- cil, it was suggested by a brilliant wire-puller that the woods be searched for another sove- reign. Frederick Sweitzer was the man who was dispatched on this mission, and soon re-appeared with Mordecai Williams, who cast the tenth vote and thus saved the country. It is \&cy evident that thej' had not then learned the art of stuflfing ballot-boxes, else they would not have taken the trouble to send for another voter.

The religious sentiment of the township is better developed than in most other townships of the county ; one of the earliest churches in Richland Count}' having been established here — Mount Zion. That friend of humanit}', Johnny Appleseed, was probably instrumental in or- ganizing one of the first, if not the first relig- ious societ}-. AVhile scattering apple-seeds, he also scattered religious tracts, and these, like his seeds, took root in the soil of this township

��and gi'ew. Mr. John Tucker, one of the oldest of Monroe's pioneers, concluded that Johnnys tracts contained as much religion as any man needed, and succeeded in organizing a society, of which David Crawford, Joseph Applegate, Henry Wyrick, John Ej'ler, George Shambaugh, their wives, and some of their children, were members. This society did not flourish, how- ever, and after a time, ceased to exist.

The Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first established in the township, and among the first in the county, having been or- ganized by a man named Ridenour soon after the war of 1 81 2. Ridenour was the first preacher, and held meetings in private houses, barns, and in the open air. It is believed the first organi- zation was effected, and first meetings, held in the house of Michael Shinnebarger. Some of the first meml^ers were Michael Shinnebarger and wife, Michael Culler, Jacob Koogle, Adam Wininger and wife, Gerhart Sheets, a carpenter, John Ernsberger, Henry Smith, the Messrs. Keifers, Mrs. Bonenberg, John Swigart and wife. The Cullers, of which there are many families now living, both in Mifflin and Monroe, were influential in this church, as well as in the organization and building up of other Lutheran churches in this part of the county. They have been ready, it appears, with their money and influence to assist in this work. Adam Win- inger, above mentioned, was the first blacksmith in the township, and located his shop on the Rocky Fork, a short distance east of Lucas. After Ridenour's time. Michael Schuh arrived, took charge of this organization, and assisted materiall}' in strengthening it. It was during his pastorate that the first church in the town- ship was erected near the spot where Mount Zion Church now stands. It was a log church, and was erected in 1818, on a fine elevation overlooking the valley of the Black Fork. This elevation probably suggested the name of Mount Zion. This organization has always been a live, active and numerovis one. The old church

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