conference, and voluntarily took up the life of an itinerant in the backwoods. A preaching appointment was established in the southeastern part of the township, which accommodated people from adjacent territory in other townships, east and south. Meetings were held for some years in a log cabin on the Arrowsmith farm, also in a schoolhouse, later established. Finally a hewed log house was erected for church purposes, and this served the people until 1827, when a brick church was erected, which was superseded by a neat frame church, in 1871. The society grew in interest and spiritual strength, and numbered among its members, representatives of nearly all the pioneer families in that locality. Among these were the Delays, Crouches, Annos, Arrowsmiths, Ritters, Littles, Browns, Beatties, Bunns, Senffs and others.

In connection with the church, a burying ground was established in a very early day, and in this repose the remains of most of the early members, as well as a liberal representation of their posterity. The organization is still maintained, and the church is remembered with feelings of reverence as one of the pioneer landmarks indicating christian progress.

Crouse's chapel, another representative of the Methodist faith, is located in the eastern part of the township, and was first known as Lakin's chapel. Rev. Benjamin Lakin was one of the earliest pioneers of the township, coming in 1802. To his zeal and energy was due the organization of this church, about 1807. It prospered as a pioneer beacon-light in the wilderness, and bore the name of its founder until a new church became a necessity. Largely through the instrumentality of Mr. John Crouse, a zealous and active Methodist and early pioneer, the present fine brick chapel was erected, and, in deference to one of the most influential members of the church in the county, it was named Crouse's chapel. This honor is about equally divided between John Crouse and his brother David, who was also a worthy and zealous Methodist. Both these brothers served in the Ohio legislature, and were prominent and wealthy citizens of the township.

The educational interests of Kingston have ever been a paramount consideration; and no town of its size in the State has a better system of public schools, or more appreciative and helpful patrons.

Of the social orders, the Odd Fellows are the pioneers. Pearson lodge, No. 372, was organized July 14, 1864. The charter members were A. Reedy, W. H. Patrick, O. P. Goodman, I. N. Asbury, H. L. Myers, J. C. Allen, and J. W. Allen. The first elective officers were O. P. Goodman, N. G.; A. Reedy, V. G.; William Patrick, treasurer, and J. C. Allen, secretary. The lodge is in a prosperous condition financially, having sufficient funds to meet all obligations in a beneficial way, and also own their lodge building and extensive paraphernalia.

Ruth lodge, No. 108, Daughters of Rebecca, was instituted June 17, 1878; charter members: A. L. Ellis, Hattie M. Ellis, W. L. Zimmerman, Simon Holderman, Joseph Smith, Mary E. Smith, Albert Raub, Emma Raub, J. Ranck, Margaret Ranck, D. W. Leasure, Laura Leasure, C. W. Myers, Hattie M. Myers, U. Kitzmiller, A. M. Lamaster, M. J. Lamaster, David Bell, George B. Leasure, D. D. Whitsel and A. C. Whitsel. The charter list represented many of the most prominent ladies and gentlemen of the town and surrounding country, and the organization at once entered upon a successful

career.

Scioto grange, No. 160, Patrons of Husbandry, is another society of both sexes, which has had a career of prominence, usefulness and popularity. It was organized under a dispensation granted October 8, 1873, with the following named charter members: O. P. Goodman, J. D. Mundell, Simon Orr, David Crouse, Nelson Long, Edward Wright, Joseph Wright, Nelson Kellenbarger, William Dreisbach, J. M. May, M. A. Mundell, Belle Kellenbarger, Lizzie Kellenbarger, L. R. Wright, Dorcas Goodman, Hannah Orr, and Mrs. J. M. May. The society has survived the period of depression and waning interest in grange matters, and maintained its early prominence as a social organization from the first to the present. Prominent farmers' families in the vicinity of Kingston have been very generally represented on the membership roll, and the society is in a flourishing condition at present.

Last, but not least, in the consideration of social and benevolent societies in Kingston is Maxwell post, No. 176, Grand Army of the Republic. As is well known, every honorably discharged Union soldier of the civil war is eligible to membership in this fraternal organization; and very few of the survivors of that great struggle deny themselves the benefits and social privileges, unless prevented by religious scruples or enfeebled health. But the lapse of thirtyseven years since the close of the war, and more than forty years since the beginning, has devastated the ranks of that once proud and unconquerable army, and left the remnant in the "sere and yellow leaf" of declining years. But with the thinning ranks, as one falls here and another there, the "boys" of 1861 proudly and reverently "close up to the right," maintaining and ever cherishing a kindly regard for their late comrades in arms, and their dependent widows and orphans. This is the dominant feature of the Grand Army of the Republic, and right royally do the survivors and their devoted wives, sons, and daughters fulfill the mission. This is the only fraternal organization with a "time limit" as to its existence. In the very nature of things, it must soon become only a memory. Maxwell post musters within its ranks a large majority of the survivors of the war now residing in Green township, and its "camp fires" and social gatherings are a source of pleasure to old and young. Auxiliary to its beneficial and

social features, the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps perform an important part, as necessity demands.

In the town of Kingston the various business and mechanical industries are carried on, and the handsome little village bustles with busy life. The only monetary institution is the Scioto Valley bank. In 1883, a number of prominent local capitalists effected the organization of this popular concern, which has steadily grown in public favor. The capitalization was thirty thousand dollars, though the institution is backed, through individual responsibility, with many times that amount. The original officers have remained in control from the incorporation to the present. These are J. M. May, president; Nelson Long, vice-president, and Nolan L. Gartner, cashier. The institution transacts a general banking business, and gives special attention to collections and buying bankable paper.

. Besides the general representation of all phases of mercantile life, there are also quite extensive mechanical interests, of which the wagon factory is the most prominent. The town affords an excellent market in the grain, lumber and stock interests. There is but one hotel and livery in the town, these being operated by Mrs. J. J. Waite & Sons.

II-16

CHAPTER XV.

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COLERAIN TOWNSHIP.

OLERAIN was set off from Green township on June 11, 11, 1804. There is some speculation as to the origin of the name, the most plausible account of which is, that through the influence of George Renick, a prominent early-time stock raiser and surveyor in Ross county, who came from Coleraine, in the north of Ireland, this township was named in perpetuation of the name of this native town in the Emerald Isle. This is the northeast corner township in Ross county. The surface of the country is quite varied. The northwestern portion is generally level, partaking somewhat of the character of the prairies of Pickaway county, which bounds the township on the north. South and east of this portion, the surface becomes elevated and rugged, culminating in a divide along the center line of the township, extending in an easterly and westerly direction. This divide marks the southern limit of the glacial deposit. The hills to the north are worn and rounded, and numerous deposits of sand and gravel are found, evidently in the nature of terminal moraines. To the south of the divide the nature of the surface is very different. The hillsides are steeper, and show no marks of rounding and wearing. The native rock is exposed in the valleys of the streams flowing southward, and waterworn pebbles and boulders are found north of the divide in abundance, but few are found to the south. At least seven streams of some size have their beginning in the township. Flowing to the northwest is a branch of the Kinnickinnick. Two streams take a northerly direction, and find their way into Salt creek, in Pickaway county. The most easterly of these is Beech fork. Patrick's branch rises to the east of the center of the township, flows in a northeasterly direction, and passes out of the township to the south of Adelphi, entering Salt creek in Hocking county. South of the divide are three streams, one flowing southwesterly, another takes a southerly course, while the third runs southeasterly until they unite and form Walnut creek. Springs are abundant in all localities, enhancing the value of the lands for grazing purposes. The soil is mostly clay, or

clay loam, with a subsoil of gravel. The valleys and level portions are very fertile, while the hill soil and uplands are moderately so.

Colerain was originally covered with heavy timber, mostly of the hard-wood varieties, as walnut, butternut, hickory, the various kinds of oak, chestnut, beech, maple, yellow poplar, whitewood, white ash, elm, cottonwood and locust. These were abundant, while the buckeye, sycamore, wild cherry, ironwood and dogwood were less generally distributed. The shrubs were the hazel, blackberry, huckleberry, Juneberry, hockberry, spice and paw-paw. On the hills to the south were some yellow pine and spruce. Most of the varieties of timber and shrubs are still represented, though the best has long since found its way to the mills and markets, if not to the pioneer "log heaps."

The township was noted in early times for its abundance of wild animals, and was a favorite hunting ground for the Indians for many years after the cession of the land to the whites. By the terms of the treaty, they were permitted to make annual visits, which they seemed to greatly enjoy. There were bears, panthers, wolves and wildcats in the hilly districts, in great numbers, while deer and wild turkeys furnished the principal meat foods to the early settlers. The larger wild animals were for many years a great source of annoyance and danger to the early settlers.

There are not so many mounds of past ages in Colerain township as there are in other localities in the county. Neither are those which do exist so fully defined or generally interesting in character as some of those in other localities. A mound once stood on the farm of Jonas Dreisbach which was utilized for the manufacture of brick, to which purpose the clay was found to be specially adapted. A house was built in Kingston by Doctor Prettyman from this brick, which is all that remains to perpetuate the recollection of this ancient work. During the disintegration of the mound six or seven human skeletons were discovered which crumbled to dust on exposure to the air. Another and fair sized mound is located near the Hocking county line on land formerly owned by Frank Cryder. It is now about four feet high, but is said to have been at least ten feet in height at the time of its first discovery by white men. It has a diameter of sixty feet. South of this, and near it, were a dozen or more hillocks a few feet in diameter and about three feet in height, but these have been leveled by the successive plowings of a hundred years.

Colerain township was settled nearly as early as any of the townships of Ross county. In 1797 Zedekiah and Thomas Dawson, brothers, emigrated from Virginia and located east of the present town of Hallsville. Thomas Hinton settled near them on the northeast quarter of section nine. Here, and by these people, the first improvements were made and the first crops raised. Isaac Dawson came to Colerain as early as 1800. He was born in Hampshire county, Va., in 1773. Previous to this he had sought a home in