LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - History of Mason Township (published 1882, 1887) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman July 14, 1999 *********************************************************************** From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio Hardesty 1882 From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio 1887 D.J. Lake & Company The first settlement in this township was made in 1810, on Buck Creek. Covington Biven, Uriah Vermillion, Jacob Powell, Robert Rucker, William Payne, Elias Payne and Daniel Nance were the first settlers. But soon after, from time to time, came John Rapp, John Alesesser, William Launsford, John Launsford, John Hegan, John Wilson, James Corn, Samuel Corn, Jesse Corn, William Corn, Harry Corn, William Rose, Thomas Tagg, Tom Higgins, John Sampson, John Hally, Elliott Payne and John Payne. Greasy Ridge, Arabia, Rappsburg and Wilgus were once post offices. There are no post offices in the township now. James Helversay taught the first school in the township, in 1822, on Buck Creek There were about twenty pupils The log cabin school building had paper pasted up as a substitute for windows. At this time there is one Brick School in the Township. once there were ten frame school buildings, five of them on Greasy Ridge. The first sermon was preached by Blake Strait. in 1822, and the same year the first church of the Methodist denomination was organized by George Griffith The first Baptist church was built on Mount Pleasant There are now several Baptist churches in the township,one Methodist Episcopal. one Campbellite,one United Brethren. and a Mission. The township has 36 Sections. The soil is sandy, with a clay sub-soil, and formations of limestone, iron ore, and stonecoal. The timber is poplar, black walnut, white oak, black oak, buckeye. The streams are Symmes Creek. Long Creek, Buckeye Creek. Buck Creek and Sandfork Creek. Early Settlers are: ALESSER, John BIVEN, Covington CORN, Harry CORN, James CORN, Jesse CORN, Samuel CORN, William GRIFFITH, George HALLY, John HELVERSAY, James HIGGINS, Tom HOGAN, John LAUNSFORD, John LAUNSFORD, William MASSIE, Robert NANCE, Daniel PAYNE, Elias PAYNE, Elliott PAYNE, John PAYNE, William POWELL, Jacob RAPP, John ROSE, William RUCKER, Robert SAMSON, John STRAIT, Blake TAGG, Thomas VERMILLION, Uriah WILSON, John Name Post Office Occupation Nativity Date of Settlement Brumfield, R.B. Greasy Ridge Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1843 Brumfield, William Greasy Ridge Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1837 Brumfield, Geo. Saundersville Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1829 Boldman, W.L. Arabia B.S. & Carriage Maker Scioto Co., OH 1882 Bradshaw, W.S. Aid Teacher Meigs Co., OH 1868 Clarey, S.J. Saundersville Farmer Monroe Co., OH 1852 Ellcessor, Rufus Rappsburgh Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1844 Ellsworth, L.W. Rappsburgh Physician & Surgeon Guernsey Co., OH 1851 Fox, Rees Arabia Farmer Gallia Co., OH 1868 Lunsford, Bail Arabia Farmer & Road Contractor Lawrence Co., OH 1851 Massie, Jas. B. Greasy Ridge Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1860 Massie Brothers Greasy Ridge Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1840 & 1847 Massie, R.L. Greasy Ridge Farmer Jackson Co., OH 1830 Massie, Robt. B. Arabia Farmer Giles Co., VA 1832 Marcum, James Arabia Farmer Logan Co., VA 1837 Phillips, Wm. Saundersville United Brethren Clergyman Taylor Co., WV 1876 Powell, W.A. Arabia Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1825 Powell, Thos. H. Arabia Farmer & Teacher Lawrence Co., OH 1856 Payne, T.F. Aid Farmer & Justice of the Peace Lawrence Co., OH 1846 Robinson, R.N. Rappsburgh Farmer Washington Co., OH 1861 Rapp, Abner Rappsburgh Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1838 Rapp, Augustus Rappsburgh Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1827 Slone Brothers Arabia Millers Lawrence Co., OH 1855/1860 Vermillion, Logan Arabia Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1832 Vermillion, D. Arabia Farmer & Carpenter Lawrence Co., OH 1836 Wiseman, W.W. Arabia Farmer & County Commissioner Monroe Co., WV 1837 Warren, J.M. Aid Farmer Athens Co., OH 1866