Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/675

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��the township, the ascents and descents are reg- ular, in places level, the soil generally fair for farming purposes, but cla^x}'. It must have been a good hunting-ground for the Indians, as large quantities of their hunting implements and war weapons are found — stone axes, stone wedges, arrow-points, etc. Some of these evince great skill in workmanship.

The Atlantic & Great Western Railroad passes diagonally through the township, the di- rection being northeast and southwest.

The following extract from the official record of the organization of Milton is given as some- what of a curiosity, being a little out of the usual way of performing that operation :

" Now, it came to pass when men began to multiply on this side of the river westward to- ward the lake, even the great Lake Erie, and the inhabitants of Milton Township became numerous and strong, that they said one to an- other, Gro to, let us separate ourselves from Mifflin Township, to which we aforetime had been attached ; for why should we be oppressed by our brethren, and costs multiplied on us in carrying us before strangers ?

" Let us select a goodly number from among our brethren that shall bear rule over us. And they prayed the court at Mansfield, and their request was granted. Milton was formed, and became a free and independent township. This happened in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen."'

This curious document was signed by Robert Nelson, one of the township pioneers.

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��The earliest settlers came in 1814, mostly from Pennsylvania. In that year, Mr. Alexander Reed settled on land adjoining the old Hope- well Church, Section 1?>. His farm contained 80 acres, which he sold, in 1821, to Joseph Marklay for 550 gallons of whisky.

James Andrews came in 1816. He was a man of superior ability and influence, having served in the war of 1812 as Captain in the Ohio militia, and was afterward Justice of the Peace in Milton for twenty-seven years. Alira- ham Doty also came in 1816; William Lock- hart, in 1818 ; John Woodburn, in 1825. Other early settlers were Peter Brubaker. Joseph Bechtel, Joseph Charles, John Clay. John Hazlett, Henry Keever, John Neal and Michael Smettzer.

This is essentially a farming community, no town existing within its limits. Before it be- came a part of Ashland County, Olivesburg belonged to it. Its early reminiscences are similar to those of other townships whose history has already been written, and need not be repeated. The same may be said of the struggles and triumph of its early set- tlers, who came to it a wilderness, and have, after years of toil, hardship and danger, dressed it in the garb of civilization. Its earliest set- tlers worshiped at the old Hopewell Church, erected in 1819, but organized several years be- fore. This church stood very near the line be- tween Milton and Montgomery. Its history is noticed in the history of the latter township.

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