LINTON TOWNSHIP.
Among the earliest and best-known settlers in Linton township may be mentioned the following: The Addys, the Bakers, the McCunes, the Meskimens, the Heslips, Thomas Johnson, George Magness, the McLains, R. Fowler, and George Smith. "
The Addys were from Delaware. One of the family (the mother of Rev. John Baker) is perhaps the oldest person now resident in the township, being in her eighty- eighth year. They came to Ohio in 1806. The Bakers were from Pennsylvania. Rezin (father of Rev. John and Lane) came into the county as early as 1802, and remained until his death, in 1842, in his sixty-second year. The family removed from Pennsylvania to Harrison county, and Rezin, just as he had fairly attained his majority, passed on out west, and hired out with John Fulton, living near Coshocton until he had earned enough to buy a farm in what is now known as the north bend of "Will's creek, of which tract he took possession in 1808. His wife was in Harrison county, and she and two children were removed by death, he afterward marrying Miss Addy. Three other families bearing the name of Baker (Charles and Esaias and Basil), relatives of the above, came in at a very early day, and were recognized as of the "bone and sinew" of the township. The McCune were also from Pennsylvania, and came in about 1806. The Meskimens were from Virginia (Potomac valley), and were originally quite large landholders. James Meskimens was a man of more than ordinary force, and was of the first board of county commissioners. Joseph Heslip, now living at an advanced age, in his youth had a passion for a life on the ocean wave. His father thought "the wilderness" would afford as much variety and spice, and prevailed upon him, after he had made a voyage or two, to settle upon a large tract, on part of which has since been built "the Linton mills" and the little circumjacent village. The elder Mr. Heslip was a minister, and was much observed in the neighborhood because of his regard for the Sabbath, in a day when the chief use made of it was to hunt and fish.
As early as 1808 Andrew Tairare built a little mill on Wills creek, about fifty rods above where the mill now stands, but a freshet soon swept it away. A few years later Mr. Loose built a mill near the mouth of Bacon run, making, with the volunteered help of the neighbor's, a race some eighty rods long. But that was the day of hard toil. A walk of ten or twenty miles for a quarter of tea by a boy was nothing unusual, and a journey to Cambridge or Zanesville for a little flour was a common thing. Of Thomas Johnson an extended account is given in the "Biographical Sketches."
George Magness was from Maryland; was in the war of 1812. Of the McLains, mention is made in Lafayette. Fowler and Smith were from Virginia; both in war of 1812. These all died at an advanced age in the township, and are still represented therein by descendants.
Among the more prominent families of later date have been the Shafer, Sibley, Bassett, Love, Glenn, and Herkett.

* 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