of the painter. The final upshot of the whole matter was that the peach-blow member retired from the unappreciative church, and the color of the church changed to white, but the name of peach-blow still adheres to the church. A few members of this denomination were settled about Alum Creek Post Office, and, previous to 1860, held meetings at the residence of O. R. May. About this time the project of building a church was inaugurated, and, with the earnest support of such men as Mr. May and Nathaniel Roloson, soon became an accomplished fact. The church is known as the North Berlin U. B. Church, although it was one of the conditions of Mr. Roloson's aid that it should be open to the use of all denominations. This gentleman gave the land on which the building stands. The first Pastor was Rev. William Davis. They maintain Sunday schools in the summer.

The Universalists, in 1820, made a short-lived attempt to gain a foothold for their doctrines. They held a camp-meeting in a grove near the bridge, south of Cheshire, a Mr. Rogers conducting the services. The effort created some little excitement among the evangelical organizations, but produced no permanent results. An incident is related in connection with this effort, which, for the time, created quite an animated discussion in church circles. One Sunday morning as the people assembled it was discovered that there was no pulpit. Of course, one must be had, and tools and axes were brought out to supply the missing enginery of the church. It is said that some from the evangelical churches aided in this work on Sundry, much to the scandal of the Christian community. Some ten years later a Mormon missionary made a visit and held a few meetings, but made no impression on the steady-going people.

In the matter of temperance, the first agitation was begun in public in 1832. A meeting was held in the brick schoolhouse across the street from where the Presbyterian church now stands, just south of Cheshire. A pledge had been proposed with two or three names attached, and at the meeting some eighteen more names were secured. A society was formed, and many more united. This pledge, however, did not exclude vinous or fermented liquors. About 1840, the movement in favor of total abstinence became general throughout the country, and the result in Berlin was to drive a good many out of the temperance society here. With the progress

of

thought, the sentiment of this community has advanced, and Berlin is abreast with the rest of the world in matters of temperance. Not a drop of liquor is offered for sale within her borders. About 1840, the proslavery sentiment in Berlin was very pronounced. No discussion of this absorbing question could be calmly carried on, and the presence of an "Abolitionist" created more excitement than the passage of a show now does among the children. Later, when antislavery sentiments had reached a larger growth, the flight of fugitive slaves was only conducted in safety when the darkness of night afforded concealment. But, notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, the underground railroad" passed right through the village of Cheshire. From Orange along Alum Creek the fugitive from bondage made his way with the friendly aid of earnest men to Cheshire, thence to the Quaker settlement, and then on to Oberlin, or some other outlet. But all that has long since changed, and every honest man now goes his way without let or hinderance.

Sunday schools were early established, though not of the form we know in these days. The first effort in this respect was probably in 1815, by Mr. Goodhue, in the cabin occupied by the Widow Byxbe, sister-in-law of Col. Byxbe. There is no tradition in regard to its character or its results. Later, James and Paul Ferson, of Orange, taught a Sunday school. Mrs. Gregory, who lived at Berkshire, had an occasion to go East about the time when the interest in Sunday schools was at its highest there, and became greatly interested in the subject of introducing them in the West. On her return home, she communicated her enthusiasm to the Ferson brothers, who became prominent in Sabbath-school work, establishing at various places schools on the plan inaugurated at the East.

The first school in this township was taught by Joseph Eaton, in a cabin which stood west of Alum Creek, and a half or three-quarters of a mile north of the old Baptist meeting-house. The second was taught by Lucy Caulkins, in a cabin near where the block-house stood, about 1810. The first schoolhouse was built just south of the block-house, on a ridge of land which overlooks the creek, but was not much used. It was of the rudest sort, built of round logs, with paper windows, bark roof and puncheon furniture. A school was taught in a cabin near the bridge, opposite the place of John Jones. After this, the block-house furnished good accommodations for school as well as church, and was used for some years. There

were, in 1818, but four schoolhouses in the township, with an enumeration of about 100. They were distributed as follows: one in the northwest quarter, two in the northeast quarter-i. e., one in the Durham settlement, and the other in the Eaton neighborhood—and one in the southeast quarter, situated across from the Presbyterian church, south of Cheshire. Peletier Morgan, an old Revolutionary soldier, was one of the early teachers in this latter schoolhouse. He carried his whisky in a wooden bottle regularly to school, and divided his attention between that and his pupils. A brick schoolhouse was substituted for this old one in 1826, with Joseph P. Smith as first teacher. The children of that day were not different from those of to-day. Full of mischief, they watched the teacher's eye, and were on furtive mischief bent at all times. An anecdote is told of Thomas Scott and Harry Hoadley getting bumped against the logs of the block-house by the teacher for punishment. The justice of the punishment they neverquestioned, but they sought to evade it in the future by having their heads literally shaved. At another time, a boy of eight years was observed weeping bitterly, and leading a youngster of some four years, who evidently did not comprehend the disturbance. On being asked the cause of his grief, the boy blubbered out that his brother "didn't seem to feel the importance of business, and he was afraid he never would." What solace could be offered to a mind thus stricken with grief, it is hard to conceive, but of such were the boys of the pioneers. Spelling-schools and singing-schools were engaged in at that time with far more zest than has come down with those institutions to us. And in the part not laid down in the programme -the going home with the girls-there was a zest which shows itself in the very stories of the time. Milton Sackett relates an incident which pictures forth the society of that day in a vivid manner.

As is often the case nowadays, two boys had their hearts and attentions set upon one girl, and both proposed to himself to escort her home. While one of the contestants was lighting his torch of hickory at the old block-house fire-place, his rival, who had been quicker than he, just placed his torch in close proximity with the other's coat-tail. Of course there was a sudden hurrying about to extinguish the blazing coattail, but, in the mean while, the shrewd incendiary had gone off with the girl, leaving his rival to grieve over the lacerated state of his feelings, as well as that of his coat-tail.

Since the earliest authentic data at command1837-the yearly increase in school population has been from 10 to 12 per cent. In 1837, the enumeration was 340; in 1858, about 530. The number in the last enumeration has fallen to 288. In 1837, there were seven schoolhouses; in 1845, there were ten; in 1853, there were thirteen; now there are but ten. Of these ten, all but two are good, substantial brick structures, furnished with improved school furniture. Ladies are largely employed as teachers, receiving from $18 to $25 per month. Gentlemen receive $35 per month. These prices are without board.

In compiling the above pages we have been greatly indebted to the manuscript of Mrs. Ripley, and to an historical sermon by the Rev. J. W. Thompson. These papers were written during the life of some of the original settlers, and clothe the scenes of long ago with a romantic interest that can be felt but not copied. To those whose ancestors came here as early settlers, as they trace their history in these pages, there must come as to no one else a feeling that

"Something beautiful is vanished,
Which we sigh for now in vain ;
We behold it everywhere,
On the earth, and in the air,
But it never comes again."

THE

HE historian called upon to record the history of Orange Township from the earliest settlement, finds his duty a pleasure not unmixed with difficulties, For him no record exists, and only vague tradition, with here and there a fragment of personal reminiscence, serves, like a "will-o'-thewisp," as an uncertain guide through the obscurity which the shadows of seventy years have brought about the early men and times. The early settlers were men and women of heroic mold. Though coming simply to find more room, cheaper lands, and to found a home, they met the trying experiences of the new country with a spirit that exhibited such characters as make the world's heroes. "The applause of listening senates to command, The threats of pain and ruin to despise, To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land,

And read their history in a nation's eyes,
Their lot forbade."

Slowly and laboriously they toiled through the unbroken wilderness, and here reared their first cabin. Here they dispensed their frugal hospitality, spread around their humble charities, and, with heroic patience and fortitude, endured the stern fate of the pioneer, unknown and unsung of fame. And yet,

"Let not ambition mock their useful toil,

Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile,

The short and simple annals of the poor." What is now called Orange Township, was, before the pioneer's ax disturbed the native quiet of the woods, an unbroken forest of heavy timber. Oak, ash, beech, elm and hickory abounded, indicating a generous variety of soil. Sloping up, on either hand, from the Alum Creek on the east, and from the Olentangy on the west, the land forms a ridge of some elevation, nearly in the middle of the township, and is now traversed by the track of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati

& Indianapolis Railway. The soil along the river bottoms, for the most part, is a rich alluvial deposit. The ridges which rise immediately back of these bottoms, are covered with beech timber principally, indicating a clayey formation. The same is largely true of the central southern portion of the township. In the northern portions existed, in the early times, a considerable extent of elm swamp, which, under the influence of clearing and tilling, has proven fine farming land of black, rich soil. Geographically, Orange Township lies next south of Berlin; is bounded on the east by Genoa, on the west by Liberty, and has for its southern line the southern line of Delaware Town 3, Range 18. County, and was known in the early survey as Town 3, Range 18. Alum Creek, rising in the northern part of this and Morrow County, passes through the eastern portion, and the stream, variously called Whetstone and Olentangy, runs just west, but curves eastward enough to cut off the lower western corner of the township. It would seem, from the configuration of the ground, that these streams would afford fine drainage for the whole township, but it is complained that the higher portion of the township is most in need of artificial draining. In looking on the map, it will

be observed that the southwest corner of the township is cut off by the Olentangy River, and is annexed to Liberty Township. Thereby hangs a tale. Somewhere about 1824, Ebenezer Goodrich, living on this little point of land, was elected Justice of the Peace, by the citizens of Liberty Township. There seems to have been no suspicion on his part, or on the part of any one else, that he was not a citizen of Liberty Township, and he went on performing the ordinary duties of a Township Magistrate. Finally, it dawned upon some mind that Mr. Goodrich was not a citizen of Liberty, and, therefore, not eligible for the office he held. Here was a dilemma not easily evaded. All the business of an official nature that he had done up to this time was found to be void, and there seemed to be no escape from confusion worse confounded. A remedy was found, at last, in a

petition to the Legislature, in 1826, and the Olentangy was made the boundary line of Orange, in that corner.

Three places have, at different times, endeavored to concentrate the leading interests of the township within themselves, viz., Williamsville, on the Columbus and Sandusky pike; Orange Station, and Lewis Center. In this case the Bible rule of precedence has been observed, the last is now first. East Orange Post Office, more popularly known as Africa, though, perhaps, not aspiring to metropolitan distinction, should be mentioned as a marked cluster of dwellings, whose community exercises a decided influence upon the township.

Orange Township was a part of the United States military lands, and in the survey of those lands was known as Township 3, Range 18. When the first settlers came into this township they found Sections 2 and 3 a part of Liberty Township, and Sections 1 and 4 a part of Berkshire Township. On September 3, 1816, a petition headed by Alpha Frisbey, asking that the original survey of Township 3, Range 18, be set off as a separate township, to be known as Virgil, was granted by the Commissioner's Court. This severely classical name was endured by the plain settlers just six days, when another petition praying for a change of name to the more prosaic one of Orange was granted on September 9 of the same year.

It was in Section No. 2, then a part of Liberty Township, that the first cabin of the Orange settlement was built. Hither, Joab Norton, with his little family, came in 1807, and built his home near the house now owned by Mr. Abbott. His motive for moving into the wilds of the West seems to have been to please others rather than himself. His wife's father, John Goodrich, had become interested in the emigration movement, through a colony which had left his native town, Berlin, in Connecticut, and, possessed with the spirit of emigration, he sold his property and prepared to join his former neighbors in Worthington, Franklin Co., Ohio. Mrs. Norton, seeing her father's family about to go, at once urged her husband to accompany them. Mr. Goodrich and James Kilbourn, an agent for Section 2 of this township, added their influence, and won him over to the project. It is not unlikely that he was easily persuaded that the West offered advantages to him which he could not hope for in the East. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and the natural demand for the services of such a man in

a new colony seemed to warrant his removal. The journey was at once undertaken. Getting together his worldly effects, he placed them with his family, a wife and three children, one scarcely a year old, in a wagon and started for the West. The start was made in September with an ox team, and it was not until the cold days of November warned them of the fast approaching winter that they reached Worthington. Here they prepared for the winter. Not content to be idle, Mr. Norton soon sunk one or two vats, and prepared to realize some of the brilliant promises of business which had dazzled his eyes in the East. His was not an unusual experience for that day. The business was not forthcoming. Nothing larger or better than woodchuck skins, and an occasional deerskin, could be had. Tired of this prospect, he at once set about finding a new business and a new home. He struck north, probably influenced by Kilbourn, who had land to sell, and bought some 150 acres, where he built his home. At this time the township adjoining on the west, had been somewhat settled, and named Liberty, a name that expressed the feelings of the early settlers, and was broad enough to take in the future township of Orange." Dr. Delano, the owner of Section 3, a resident of Woodstock, Vt., sought to give the name of his native town to the new township, and this name of Woodstock did gain a local popularity which disputed supremacy with that of Liberty, until both gave way before the present name of Orange. So late as 1812-13, commissions were dated at Liberty, and letters were directed to Woodstock, both names meaning the same place.

After rearing a shelter for his family, Mr. Norton's first care was to establish a business to gain a livelihood. While not neglecting the manifest duty of a pioneer, true to the instincts of his trade, he sunk vats, and prepared to do a little tanning "between whiles." About this time, 1808, Eliaphlet Ludington came from Connecticut, and, buying land in Section 3, of Dr. Delano, built a cabin just south of Mr. Norton, their lands adjoining. A little later in this year came William and Joseph Higgins, with their families, and their mother with the younger part of her family, consisting of Josiah, Elisha, Irving, David and two girls. The older boys were well educated, and possessed a high degree of culture for those days. Joseph was especially gifted as a penman, and it is said did marvelous things in counterfeiting others' writing. Such dexterity soon gave rise to a suspicion that he signed the counterfeit bills which

were issued for the South. There was no apparent ground for this suspicion, and the family was ostensibly as much respected as ever. A cloud did, however, come over them, and, as they soon left the township, not to be heard of again, it may be related here. It appears, that, before leaving Vermont, the father of the boys had left his family, running off to Canada with a younger, if not handsomer, woman. About 1812, he came to Orange with a desire to "make up." He seems, like a prudent general, not to have omitted in his arrangements to prepare for d feat, for he brought his companion in sin as far as Berkshire, and then went forward to spy out the land. He came to the house of McCumber, and, finding the latter's stepson, young Elsbre, about to go for an errand, persuaded him to take a token to Mrs. Higgins. Old Mr. Higgins knew his wife's weak point, doubtless, and sent his pocket-book with the simple instruction, "to hand it to the old woman." This young Elsbre, in passing, did, but, while Mrs. Higgins was contemplating the well-known relic of her husband, Mrs. Eaton rushed in on her, telling her her long-lost husband was at hand. The result was a reconciliation, which operated disas trously to the family. The change was soon inarked by the little community. The former high estimation changed gradually to suspicion, then to distrust, and finally culminated in the arrest of the old man, together with the three younger boys, Josiah, Elisha and Irving, for counterfeiting. Dies, metal and a large quantity of finished counterfeit coin were captured, together with some paper money. Through some irregularity in the papers, the boys escaped, and, later, through some means, the old man escaped the just deserts of his doings. The family at once left the township, and were lost to view.

But to return to 1808. In this year Mr. Norton decided to return to the East on business, the importance of which was, doubtless, greatly enhanced by his longing to get a glimpse of the civilization left so far behind. Mr. Norton never became thoroughly reconciled to his new home, and it is a family tradition, that, had he not been cut off so early in life, the family would have returned to Connecticut. A letter written home, from Shippenburg, on the Alleghany Mountains, while on his way East, gives some idea of the magnitude of his undertaking. He writes that the weather was oppressively hot, that he had ridden fifteen miles before break fast, and that, though the letter is dated July 26, 1808, he does not

expect to see them again before the last of October, or the first of November. He also conveys the unwelcome news of the loss of his pocketbook, containing $25 in bank notes, a note of hand for $300, and sundry memorandum papers. This was no small loss for those days, and he notes in his letter the painstaking search he makes as he turns back to seek the lost property. Unfortunately, he found only the memoranda, and learns from some children, who saw the book hanging out of his pocket, the probable spot of its loss. He concludes that it has been picked up by some traveler westward, and adds, " God knows whether I shall ever see it again." He made this journey twice, riding a large, strong bay horse which bore the name of Sifax. This horse was a marked member of the family, and was especially valuable on the frontier. At this time horse-thieves were somewhat troublesome, but Sifax was not to be won, wooed they never so wisely. With a toss of the head and a parting kick, if molested, he would rush to the cabin, arousing the family with the noisy clatter of the bell he wore.

On his return from the East, in the fall of 1808, attracted by the new town, Mr. Norton went to Delaware, where he established the first tannery in that place. He bought a house built on a sidehill in the south part of the town, on the north part of the grounds where the university now stands. The front of the house had two stories, but the back part, from the necessities of the situation, had but one. The tanyard was immediately adjoining. Here business began to brighten, but the Nemesis of the early settler, the ague, laid its hand of ice upon him and shook him until he surrendered unconditionally. No inducement of gain could make him brave such terrors, and, selling out to one Koester, he returned to his farm. It was in this year, 1810, that Mr. Ludington lost his wife by death. She left an infant boy a few weeks old. This was the first birth and death in the settlement. Mr. Ludington, his home thus broken up and his courage gone, left for Connecticut with his infant son, and was never heard of by his neighbors in the settlement save through some vague rumors which are too indistinct to furnish data for history. In this year, the families of Nahum King and Lewis Eaton joined the settlement. These families lived and died here, and their descendants are still to be found in the township. In the following year, 1811, came James McCumber, with his third wife, and two sons by his former wives. Collins P. Elsbre, then a lad of