Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/621

Rh own the land divided by these roads. A round log schoolhoUse was the first building erected in the place. It stood on the site of the present Congregational Church.

David Coulter was the first teacher in this house, and his pupils were the Smiths, the Barneses, Conwells, Sirphsses, Armstrongs and Pollocks. Mark Finnicum started the first store, soon after the town was laid out; and Emilus Day the first blacksmith-shop. Rev. James F. McGrraw, who, in addition to his ministerial labors, obtained something of a literary reputation, kept store here after Finnicum. There is no business at present in the village, except what is transacted at the blacksmith shop of Elias Hiser. Thirteen families yet reside in the town. It is hardly likely, judging from present appearances, that it will ever equal its namesake of the District of Columbia, either in proportions or importance.

=CHAPTER LXL=

WELLER TOWNSHIP
ORganization — Topography — Improvements — Early Settlers — Incidents and Reminiscences of Pioneer Life — The Englishman's "Castle" — Soldiers in the Late War — The County Infirmary — Schools and Churches — The Railroad — Olivesbubg — Superstitions.

WELLER TOWNSHIP was organized in the year 1846, from the original townships of Milton and Franklin, after Ashland County had been organized. That part of Milton Township lying east of the Black Fork remaining in Ashland County, and retained its original name as possessing the largest amount of territory. Two miles was then taken from the east side of Franklin and added to what was left of Milton, and erected into a new township and called Weller, and was subsequently' divided into six school districts.

The township contains within its limits a very fine body of land, embracing every variety of soil, and well adapted for the production of grass or grain, as well as every variety of fruit and vegetables. The Black Fork is the principal(sic) stream of water and traverses the township from west to east, entering at the northwest corner, near Urick's mill, and continuing an eastward course to Linn's mill, then turns south to the bridge, on the Wells farm, in the southeast corner of the township. The Whetstone, coming in from the north, and the Brubaker Run from the south, are important branches. The land on these streams is extremely fertile, producing fine crops of corn and other cereals. The " Big Hill," as it is called, forms a prominent feature in this department. It rises about one hundred and fifty feet high, and is four miles in circumference, more or less abrupt on its several sides, to a uniform altitude, and then drops to a level surface on the top, forming a table-land of great beauty and value for agricultural and horticultural purposes. There are about one houndred and fifty springs emitting pure, soft water which flows from its sides ; the geological formation being sandstone. A number of valuable quarries are in operation on different sides. There are also heavy deposits of potter's or fire clay. Specimens on the farm of John Ward were sent to Akron, Ohio, and to Lansing, Mich., for testing purposes, and pro- nounced at both factories to be first-class material for stoneware. Some indications of coal have been found cropping out at several points, but not sufficient to justify a heavy venture. About ten years ago, Thomas Clingan, living on the north side of the hill, employed men to bore for coal. They went down about one