KEENE TOWNSHIP.
Geo. Bible is recognized by many as the first settler in what is now Keene township. He came from Virginia very early in the century; was a good example of the Daniel Boone type of pioneer; loved the solitude of the woods, and was happiest roaming them, with no companion save dog and rifle, or sitting by his cabin fire "far from the haunts of busy men." James Oglesby was a very early settler in the township, some say the earliest. He also came from Virginia, and is said to have traveled up the Muskingum and Walhonding rivers, in true Indian style, in a canoe. Bartholomew Thayer and Samuel Wiley were Revolutionary soldiers-taking up lands with their land warrants. Mr. Thayer and his wife were buried on their farm, near Keene. He died in 1826-about seventy years of age; she in 1825, at same age. A son, over ninety years of age, is reputed as still living at Elyria, O. Jesse Beal, the founder of the town of Keene, was from Nelson, Cheshire county, N. H. He died about 1835, being some forty-five years of age.
Adam Johnson (father of Dr. M. Johnson, of Roscoe) and Dr. Benjamin Hill were born in Cheshire county, N. H.; came to Keene about 1820. The doctor returned to New England and died, after burying his wife, who lies in the Keene burial-ground. Mr. Johnson was a good representative of Continental days; strong in body and mind; dignified in manner; wore a queue; had knowledge of the Latin language; was a student of the philosophies. James Pew was a soldier of 1812, still living in the township. The Farwells came in about 1825, from Cheshire county, N. H. Benton and Farwell built the first grist and saw-mill in the township. Robert Farwell kept hotel for many years in Keene. William Livingston was a justice of the peace, shrewd in judgment, but keeping such a docket that it was nicknamed "Bulwer's Novels." He died in 1840, aged seventy-two years. Andrew and Elisha Elliott and Henry Ramsey were well-known resdents of Keene township, all immigrants from Ireland. Ramsey kept store in Keene about 1885. All three are dead.
Timothy Emerson was a citizen of Keene township from 1818 until 1878; came from Ashby, Mass. He reached the good old age of ninety-six; was a farmer; died October 80,1873, just as arrangements were about being carried out for removal to Granville, where two children resided. He was greatly beloved-" a good man."
Jonas Child, Chancery Litchfield, Calvin Adams, Samuel Stone, and Jacob Emerson were early and active citizens of Keene township, and long dwelt in it. They were all from New England.
John Sprague, born in Cheshire county, N. H., in 1796, came to Keene in 1884; recently removed to Illinois.
It will be observed that many of the early settlers of  Keene township were from Cheshire county, N. H., the
county-seat of which is Keene, and hence the name of the township.
The oldest man now living in the township is doubtless John Crowley, a Virginian by birth, who came into the county about 1816. He is verging on to a century in years; was for some time sheriff, and held other offices, including that of member of the legislature.
John Daugherty lived fifty odd years on the farm near Keene, where he died about ten years ago. George Beaver is also a very old man, full of memories of the pioneer times.
The death of two "centenarians," Mr. Humphrey, aged one hundred and three, and Mr. Oglesby, about one hundred, is reported as having occurred in one day.
The claim is that Keene township can show the longest roll of very old people. Still people do sometimes die even in Keene.
 

* See" Biographical Sketches."

Historical Collections of Coshocton County Ohio 1764-1876 

William E Hunt, 1876

CHAPTER IV  NOT'ICES OF SOME OF THE EARLIEST SETTLER8, AND OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST PERTAINING TO EACH TOWNSHIP.

Transcribed by: Sandy Payne 

© copyright 2004 Sandy Payne