The information presented here is from the book History of Hocking Valley - 1883.  This wealth of information can be found in its full length at the Logan-Hocking Public Library.  It should be noted at this point that the text has been taken verbatim from the book, as well as all spelling and grammar.  Additionally, any mention of the present and future are from the standpoint of the book's publication.
     If additional information is available beyond the publication date (or even adjacent to the book's text), please contact us!  The ultimate goal is to have a clear, concise history leading up to the present day.  Thank you very much for your help!

CHAPTER XXXIX
WASHINGTON AND BENTON TOWNSHIPS--A COMBINATION OF HILLS AND VALLEYS, CAVES AND RAVINES

WASHINGTON

   Hocking also commemorates the name of the immortal father of our country in the shape of a full-sized congressional township, perfectly formed; that is, perfectly square, six miles each way, and on the high road to a healthy future.  The hills and vales of this township are not too high nor too deep for cultivation, but just enough so to give good drainage.  But little can be said of its general productiveness as its mineral wealth, if it has any, has not yet been discovered; its soil is neither remarkably good nor remarkably poor, and cities it has none.
   It belongs to the southern tier of townships in the county, bounded on the north by Falls, on the east by Starr Township, on the south by Vinton County, and on the west by Benton and Laurel townships.  The drainage of this township finds its way to the Ohio River from the southern portion through Raccoon Creek; from the northern, through Scott's Fork into the Hocking, and from the western, through Queer Creek into the Scioto River.  Settlements began to be made in this township about 1822, and the following ten years many families settled here, among them a number of German families in the northern portion of the township.

SETTLERS, SOIL AND PRODUCTION

   Among the early settlers are found the following names:  Adam Engle, Frederic Higley, Henry Iles, Wm. Lashley, Jonathan Kimbal, Samuel Johnson, George Garrett, Wells Garrett, Rev. Mr. Poland, Wm. Buzzard, and 'Squire Watts, the two latter being especially adepts in hunting bears, deer and other wild game.  The most fertile and tillable portion of the township, as well as the best timber, was to be found in the valley of Scott's Fork, which penetrates it from the north nearly to its center, and consequently the earliest settlers were drawn to this portion.  Although the valleys were the most fertile, the uplands were not barren nor very steep, and they were also taken possession of by some among the first within the township.  The soil is of a sandy nature, fairly adapted to the production of grass, wheat and corn, which, to the present time, are the principal cereals raised.  All the other grains common to this portion of the State are raised, as are also vegetables.  The raising of live stock is one of the leading pursuits of the township, and has added greatly to its wealth.  Cattle of improved breeds and wool from fine sheep are especially noticeable among the products.  Corn is grown less extensively than wheat, and consequently not a great number of hogs are raised.  The orchard products of the township are good.  The land is well cleared up, but where the wood remains some very good timber may still be found.  The mineral productions, as before stated, are not extensive, although considerable iron ore has been taken from the hills in the southern part of the township and hauled in wagons to the Logan and Union furnaces.  This ore is found near the top of the hills.  A thin layer of coal lying several yards below the iron has been worked in several parts of the township, by stripping, and coal thus secured for local purposes.

BACKWARD MOVEMENT

   As far back as records show, in 1840, the population of this township was 1,124, and for the next ten years the increase was very rapid, the population in 1850 numbering 1,640.  From that time to the present the township has had the remarkable experience of going backward with a slow but steady step.  The figures following the above are, for 1860, 1,629; for 1870, 1,534; for 1880, 1,268.  This singular result is not due to a decrease in attractiveness of this township so much as to the great development of minerals in the surrounding localities, and the increased activities. . . [last line of text missing].

SCHOOLS AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS

   The schools of this township are ten in number, all supplied with good houses in good repair, and many of them new.  The township tax for the school fund in 1882 was $2,000.87.  The assessed valuation of this township in 1882 was:  Real-estate, $282,655; personal property, $94,867.
   The first township records to be found are for the year 1857, when the officers were:  Trustees, M. B. Cherry, R. L. Allard and Jacob Nelson; Clerk, J. H. M. Houston; Treasurer, John Conaway.  The present officers (1883) are:  Trustees, J. M. Lane, George Marks and J. H. Price; Clerk, John A . Ferguson; Treasurer, H. H. West.

POSTOFFICES

   In 1850 the very important event of establishing the overland mail route from Logan to McArthur was completed, and in that year the mail began to be carried regularly over the line which extended through the full length of the township.  It passed through the little hamlets of Ilesborough and New Mt. Pleasant, and the point where Ewing now stands.  The establishment of the postoffice at this latter place, which was then (1850) designated only by a tannery, has doubtless been the chief cause of its existence.

CHURCHES

   In devotional matters this township has not been neglected.  Besides the church on the southern line of the township in New Mt. Pleasant, and the two just over the northern line, to which many inhabitants of Washington belong, the township contains within its bounds three strong and active church societies.  They are the Fairview church, the Methodist Episcopal church at Ilesborough, and the German Lutheran at Ewing.  A Union church also existed for a number of years situated on section 11, which was torn away in 1877; and a United Brethren society existed at Ilesborough for a number years between 1850 and 1860.  A church stood also on section 5, which was burned down before the late war and never rebuilt.

ILESBOROUGH

is a hamlet of about fifty inhabitants, situated on a high piece of ground almost exactly in the center of the township.  It was laid out into town lots by Henry Iles, who owned the land in 1835.  Among the first to buy lots and settle here were:  John Ramsey, William Vanhorn and James K. Johnson.  It has averaged about fifty inhabitants for many years, and has never had more than one store.  It has now one small store, a blacksmith shop and a cabinet shop.  The district school-house is in the village and a large frame church.  The postoffice is kept by Jerre Harden.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church at Ilesborough was founded about 182.  Two young traveling preacher, John R. Prase and Wesley Tibbets, had frequently visited this locality and preached to the people in the houses of some of its members.  After the organization of the society, they came alternately each every four weeks, giving them regular preaching every two weeks.  Some of the original members were:  Eli Bainter and wife, Lewis Tatman and wife, Henry Iles and wife, Mathias Worthman and wife, Frank Allen and wife, Thomas Underwood and wife, George Vanhorn and wife, William Vanhorn and wife, John Crawford and wife, John McDaniel and wife and George Pherson and wife.  The first house of worship erected by this society, and perhaps the first in the township was built in 1845.  A new church was built on another lot in 1860, which afterward was sold to the township for a school-house, and the present fine frame church was built in 1877.  This church throughout its career has been very prosperous, and numbers now in its society about eighty members.  The present Pastor is Rev. W. C. Holliday.  A good Sabbath-school is kept up by the church throughout the year, superintended at present by M. T. Ferguson.

EWING POSTOFFICE

is on section 3, one-hailf mile from the northern border of the township.  It is on the old mail route, and has sprung up since it was established.  Ewing is pleasantly situated on the brow of a hill, as it rises from the valley of Scott's Fork.  At the time the postoffice was established, October, 1850, at Chapman's store, Warren Chapman, Postmaster, a tannery was the only enterprise beside the store which marked the spot.  Since that time a town has been laid out, and from fifty to sixty people have resided here most of the time.  A store has been kept here throughout most of the village's existence, but none at the present time.  It contains a blacksmith shop, a cabinet and cooper shop, a church, and about a dozen families.
   The German Lutheran Church at Ewing was established as early as 1842 or 1843, by a few German families living in this and Falls Township.  For awhile they held meetings in a school-house in the southern part of Falls Township.  In about 1845 the present church at Ewing was erected.  The pastor at that time was F. W. Richman.  Some of the earliest members of the church were:  Adam, John and Jacob Keller, Peter Miller, Lawrence Beusenhaver, John Hengst, William Finky, Lewis Snyder, and Christopher Marks.  Between 1850 and 1860 the society split.  A part of the members joining together built a new church a little over half a mile north of the old one, in Falls Township.  The old society has since maintained its standing, and has had regular preaching all the time.  It has now about twenty-five members.  The present Pastor is Lewis F. Mitler.

NEW MT. PLEASANT

is situated on the southern line of the township, the postoffice, church and several other buildings being across the line in Vinton County.  In 1832 a road was cut through the woods by the early settlers, from Uriah Linton's place near the center of the township, to the McArthur road, and at this junction the town of New Mt. Pleasant has since sprung up.  A tannery was built here soon after the completion of this road and a store was started a month or so later.  It now has three stores, two of which are in this county.  It has a blacksmith shop, cooper shop and wagon shop, and a school-house in this county, the Methodist Episcopal church being across the line.  The postoffice, also being in Swan Township, Vinton County, is called Swan postoffice.

POINT PLEASANT

was designed for a village, but never fairly attained that dignity.  It is on section 19, near the eastern border of the township.  It was laid out into town lots, and at one time had a blacksmith shop and a postoffice, but now has neither.  It was never inhabited by more than one or two families at a time.
   Fairview Church, the only United Brethren society now in this township, is situated on section 32, near the southern border of the township.  Very soon after the advent of the Methodist Episcopal missionaries into this wilderness active men of this denomination made their appearance, earnestly preaching the gospel of Christ and securing converts to their own doctrine.  The firsts meeting were those of a few pioneers, already followers of this faith, at the house of Aaron Hanesworth, Sr.  This was a very active and devoted society, having such able preachers as Bishop Edwards, then a young man, and a Mr. Bright, also an enthusiastic worker.  These were also traveling preachers, but they visited this society only irregularly.  The meetings began as early as 1840, but a permanent organization was not effected until about 1845.  Among the members at this time were Aaron Hanesworth, Sr., and wife, George Mauk and wife, Barney Eidson and wife, and James Reed and wife.  They built their first church, a log building, 28 x 36 feet in size, and situated on the site of the present one, in 1850.  The present church, a frame building, was built in 1867, the dedicatory sermon being preached on the 12th of the following April.  The present Pastor is J. M. Canter, the membership numbering about ninety.  The house was repaired and ten feet added to it in 1881, making now 30 x 46 feet in dimensions.  It has regular Sabbath-school year around, superintended at present by J. R. West.

CEMETERIES.

   There are cemeteries at each of the churches described in this township besides one on section 5, at the site of church which was burned there, one on the site of the old Union Church on section 11, and a few private cemeteries on farms.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

   James Blackstone, born Jan. 27, 1822, in Guernsey County, Ohio, son of James and Nancy (Dennis) Blackstone, both natives of Chester County, Penn.  The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone settled in Guernsey County on adjoining farms where they grew up and married, making that county their home until the time of their death.  Mr. Blackstone died when James was about two years of age.  Mrs. Blackstone afterward married her brother-in-law, Thos. Blackstone.  Both are now dead, Mrs. Blackstone dying in 1876.  The children of her first marriage were--James and William.  By the second there were seven children--Harriette (deceased), Elizabeth, Thomas, Christiana J. (deceased), Vinston (deceased), Eben and Isaac.  James Blackstone, the eldest, grew to manhood in Guernsey County.  Although the educational facilities were limited, he received a fair education.  During the greater part of the time he helped his father on the farm.  He was married July 4, 1842, to Maria E. Sheley, who was born in Guernsey County, April 15, 1821.  Previous to this he began working at the cabinet trade which continued after he was married.  Then he turned his attention to carpentering, which occupation he followed in the vicinity of Claysville for nineteen years in succession.  In 1861 he came to Hocking County where he had eighty acres, a part of the farm on which he now lives.  He moved into an old log cabin not three rods from where his residence now stands.  In connection with his work on farm he also kept at his trade during the summer months, having erected a number of buildings in this and Vinton counties.  At two different times he made additions to his farm, having at present 226 acres under good cultivation.  The land has large veins of iron ore, also some coal running through it.  Mr. Blackstone has been connected with the United Brethren church since 1862.  He was reared a Methodist, and has been a member of the church since he was sixteen years of age.  He has been School Director of Washington Township for the last three years.  They have had seven children, five of whom are now living, two sons and three daughters--Nancy Jane, Charlotte C. (deceased), Mary Maria, William Brown, Joseph H., Martha Ellen, and one dying in infancy.  Mr. Blackstone has always been a hard-working man, and although he has shared all the hardships common to the times on which he lived he is now, at the age of sixty-one years, enjoying remarkably good health.  He is still full of that force and energy which have all along marked his life.  He has been a devout man, being a constant reader of the scriptures.  Taking Christ for his example, he has tried to live in accordance with His teachings.  For the last fifteen years he has been Class-leader in his church, and has lived to see all of his family brought within its protecting folds.  As a citizen, he has many friends, and is honored and respected by them all.  In 1861 he enlisted in the Ohio National Guards, and, on the first of May, 1863, was mustered into the regular army at Columbus for 100 days.  He served out his time and returned home.  In the fall of 1864 he was drafted into the army and served till the close of the war.  He was mustered out of the service at Richmond, Va., June, 1865, and returned home in July, 1865.  He was in Company G, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
   John Griffin was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Aug. 2, 1816, a son of John Griffin, a native of the same county, born July 26, 1768.  His grandfather, Patrick Griffin, was a native of Ireland, born in 1746, and came to America when a young man.  He died in 1834.  His wife, Margaret (Allgire) Griffin, died in 1840, aged eighty-six years.  John Griffin, Sr., was married when twenty-six years of age to Susan Herring, a daughter of John and Christia Ann Herring.  She was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Dec. 8, 1798.  They had a family of eleven children, all but one living to maturity.  Three sons and two daughters are still living.  Mr. Griffin died Nov. 11, 1854, and Mrs. Griffin, Aug. 24, 1868.  John Griffin, Jr., lived on a farm till he was eighteen years old, and then went to learn the blacksmith's trade, working two and a half years for George Albert, of Youngstown, Pa.  He was then variously employed till his marriage.  In 1839 he came to Ohio and bought eighty acres of land in Salt Lick Township, Perry County, but did not settle in Ohio till 1848.  May 27, 1849, he married Catharine Sowers, daughter of John and Catharine Sowers.  She is a native of Frederick County, Md., born March 14, 1819.  The summer after his marriage Mr. Griffin worked on a farm and the next winter at his trade.  In the spring of 1850 he settled on his farm, moving into a little log cabin, where he lived for five years.  April 3, 1855, he came to Hocking County, and bought the farm of 165 acres where he now lives.  In August, 1878, he had his barn and all its contents destroyed by fire; value, $1,200, insured for $700.  Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have had five children--John Alexander, born Oct. 21, 1854; James Augustus, April 17, 1856; Susan Agnes, and Mary Ann (twins), Nov. 7, 1857; Peter Franklin, Oct. 30, 1860.  Mrs. Griffin's mother died when she was four years old and she with a younger sister was reared by her grandfather, Michael Lutz.
   John Hansel.--The grandfather of the subject of our sketch, Henry Hansel, was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved from there to Fairfield County, Ohio, at an early date.  In 1818 he moved his family to Hocking County , and settled on Scotch Creek, in Falls Township.  He reared a family of seven children, all now deceased.  George Hansel, the eldest son, was born in Fairfield County in 1806.  He was married in 1829 to Anna Mary Punsey, whose parents were from Pennsylvania, early settlers of Fairfield and Hocking counties.  She was born Feb. 5, 1805.  After his marriage he entered 160 acres of land three miles east of Logan where he resided till his death.  At the time of his death he had between 400 and 500 acres of land, and had also given each of his children $1,000.  He also had some town property in Logan.  He was a prominent member of the Lutheran church.  He died in August, 1870.  His widow is now living on the old homestead, aged seventy-eight years.  She is the mother of ten children, three sons and four daughters now living.  John Hansel was born Aug. 27, 1831.  He was married Dec. 23, 1853, to Emily Harden, a native of this township, born March 29, 1834, and a daughter of Even Harden.  After his marriage he bought 181 acres of wild land, only a small portion being cleared.  On this place he lived seventeen years, and in 1870 purchased his present residence of 167 acres, having now 348 acres.  Feb. 1, 1879, his house was destroyed by fire.  He immediately erected his present house, which is a large two-story frame.  Politically Mr. Hansel is a Democrat.  Mr. and Mrs. Hansel have had ten children, only six now living--Ephraim, married Mary Armstrong; William, married Wilmina Corter; Mary Ann, wife of C. F. Brandt; Almeda Jane, Sarah Cora and Benjamin Ruggles.  George Riley died at the age of seventeen years; Evan aged fourteen; Eliza Jane, aged one, and one died in infancy.  They have one adopted child--Jacob Hansel, the son of a brother of Mr. Hansel.
   Ephraim Harden, son of Even and Eliza Harden, was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 29, 1831.  In September of the same year he came with his father to Hocking County, where he was reared.  He was married March 30, 1854, to Susan Stiveson, born in Hocking County, May 18, 1835, and daughter of John and Elizabeth Stiveson.  They have four children--Joel, born July 8, 1855, married to Rachel Campbell; Eliza Jane, born Oct. 29, 1856, wife of Aaron Zeller; Lucinda, June 24, 1858, and Elmer, Sept. 8, 1865.  In June, 1856, he purchased eighty acres of land but did not reside on it till 1862.  In April, 1878, he purchased eighty acres, now having in one tract of land 160 acres, where he resides.  Politically Mr. Harden is a Democrat, having always voted that ticket.
   Even Harden, son of Ignatius and Rachel (Griffith) Harden, was born near Pleasantville, Fairfield Co., Ohio, March 12, 1805.  He was reared in Perry County, and remained with his father till his death.  In 1831 he moved to Washington Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, where lived nine years.  He bought his farm near Ewing in October, 1840, where he still resides.  He was married Sept. 20, 1827, to his cousin, Eliza Harden, born in Bedford County, Penn., May 10, 1810, and died Jan. 5, 1880.  They have had six children, three of whom are living--William E., married to Lucetta Harsh; Ephraim, married to Susanna Stiveson, and Emily, wife of John Hansel.  Politically Mr. Harden is a Democrat, he having cast his first Presidential vote for General Jackson.  Ignatius Harden was born in 1710, and was an old Revolutionary soldier.  In the fall of 1800 he moved to Fairfield County, and in 1805 he located in Perry County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1827, he having lived to be 117 years of age.  His wife died in the fall of 1856.  They reared a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters.
   Enos Knipe, born in Montgomery, Penn., April 20, 1820, son of John L. and Margaret Knipe.  In 1842 he came with the family to Muskingum County, Ohio, where his father died two years later.  He was married in Muskingum County, in December, 1846, to Eliza, a native of Loudoun County, Va., and daughter of Samuel Amick.  They have two children--John W., born Sept. 22, 1847, and Maria Jane.  John W. was married to Angeline Linton in 1870, and has two children--Charlie G. and Albert C.  April 1, 1849, Mr. Knipe moved to Hocking County and has now 236 acres of land.  He has been connected with the Lutheran church for the past twenty years, his wife having joined when she was sixteen years old.  In politics Mr. Knipe is a Democrat.
   Elijah Lee was born Dec. 10, 1829, in Hocking (now Swan Station, Vinton) County.  His grandfather, James lee, was a native of Ireland and when a young man came to America and lived seven years in Pennsylvania.  He then put all his earnings into flaxseed and started back to Ireland.  On the was over there was a storm and the seed with all the other cargo was thrown overboard to save the ship and passengers.  Mr. Lee soon after returned to Pennsylvania and settled in Germantown.  He married Elizabeth Krickburn, a German lady.  They had four children, two sons and two daughters.  George Lee, the youngest of their family, was born in 1798, and in 1816 came to Ohio with his father and brother James, locating in what is now Starr Township, Hocking County.  He was married in 1820 to Martha O'Neil, a native of Portage County, Ohio, born Oct. 8, 1800.  They had a family of six children--Samuel, Nancy, George W. (died March 6, 1874), Ross, Elijah and Julia A.  Mr. Lee died Sept.14, 1831, and his wife, Aug. 12, 1866.  Elijah Lee was married Nov. 8, 1860, to Eliza A. Bartlett, a native of La Porte County, Ind., born Dec. 20, 1838.  After his marriage he located on seventy-eight acres of land near his present residence, which he bought in 1865, having now 268 acres, lying in Hocking and Vinton counties.  Mr. and Mrs. Lee have had six children, five now living--Vernon W., Martha J., Homer M., Elijah E. and Emmet S.  Lida died Aug. 16, 1878, aged eight years, one month and twenty-six days.  Mrs. Lee's father, Cephas Bartlett, was born in Massachusetts, June 11, 1794, and when twenty-one years of age came to Ohio and settled in Hocking County.  He was by trade a stone mason and made the first burrs in the Falls Mill at Logan and in the mill at McArthur.  He married in March, 1821, Louisa Evarts, a native of Castleton, Vt., born Sept. 22, 1795.  Her father, Ambrose Evarts, and his family were one of the seven families who first settled Athens County, and her brother, G. A. Evarts, was the first white male child born in Athens County in 1797.  In 1837 Mr. Bartlett went to La Porte County, Ind., but in June, 1839, returned to Hocking County, and resided here till his death, Aug. 25, 1847.  Mrs. Bartlett died Jan. 10, 1871.
   Silas Nixon, youngest of twelve children