LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - History of Washington 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 It is most noted for the name Blackfork. Thecentral community of the township, Blackfork was named for the main stream, Black fork of Symmes Creek, that runs through the area. At one time part of the Hanging Rock Iron Region, Olive. Pioneer, and Washington iron furnaces, operated within the township. Since the loss of the iron industry, about 1900, timber production and mining have been the chief industries. First to settle were James Burt and David Wolf, followed by W.S. Ferrell, John Worthington, Charles Worthington, and John Bruce. The first cabin was built at Washington Furnace in 1828 by James Bruce. The first birth was Mary Burt, daughter of James. The first marriage was that of William K. Sturgill and Miss Rhodie Ferrell. The first grist mill was built in 1840 on Brady`s Fork of Hales Creek by David Griffith, in connection with a saw mill. A log school house was built there the same year for about 25 students, taught by Lyman Daniels. Schools were built to serve the fumace armmunities. A high school was built at Blackfork that operated during the years of the 1930's to 1960's. The 1960's saw a new high school built close by at Oak Hill, in Jackson County, and marked the end of a high school at Blackfork. A new grade school was built at Blackfork for the younger students. Poke Patch, a black community, was a refuge and destination for many run-away slaves who escaped, with the aid of the underground railroad prior to the Civil War. Early Settlers are: BRUCE, John BURT, James DANIELS, Lyman FERRELL, W.S. GRIFFITH, David WOLF, David WORTHINGTON, Charles WORTHINGTON, John Name Post Office Occupation Nativity Date of Settlement McGugin, W.H. Olive Furnace Manager Wooster, OH 1851 McGugin, W.N. Olive Furnace Manager Ohio 1851