MIILL CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Richard Babcock purchased a quarter section of land in this township, and settled on it in 1812 with his family. They came originally from Vermont, but had stopped for a time in Harrison county. Mr. Babcock was killed by a run-away team about 1823. His widow died a few years later. His youngest son resided upon the home farm until his death, in 1874. His grandson, Daniel, now lives upon the place.
Solomon Vail purchased and settled on a tract immediately south of Babcock, in 1815. He removed to Illinois, and there died. His widow still lives-probably the only one of the parents among the first settlers. Vail had a hand-mill, on which a few of the settlers did their own grinding. He afterward, assisted by his brother-in-law, built the first mill on the creek. It was a primitive affair, truly, grinding only Indian-corn, which was about all there was to grind for several years. The stones for the mill were hauled from Mansfield by Thomas Elliott, who was to receive for his labor a pair. of shoes, which Vail, who was a sort of "jack of all trades," was to make for him.
In March, 1816, Moses Thompson, from Jefferson county, but originally from Ireland, took possession of his Mill creek "cabin," which he had built after the most approved "back-woods" style of the day. He died in 1862 on the same place. He was the first clerk of the township. His son S. T. Thompson resides near Keene. In 1817, there was quite a number of settlers came in. Henry Grimm (afterward associate judge), Thomas Moore, Joseph Beach, and John P. Wilson-these, as the former, came from Eastern Ohio. With the exception of Babcocks and Mrs. Bible (whose father's name was Tipton), now eighty-five years old, none of the descendants of settlers prior to 1820 are now in the township. The Sheplons and the Mitchells came in somewhat later. The township is largely peopled by those coming from Jefferson and Harrison counties.
The township was originally very heavily timbered, and most of the early settlers were poor and had "Very hard work to get their lands. Wolves and other wild animals were numerous, and sheep could be raised only by the closest attention. Many of the people wore deer-skins, others linsey. Still, there, as elsewhere, those who made due exertion soon had enough to eat and wear. As to drink, as soon as grain was raised, whisky was at hand and freely dispensed. The first "gathering" of men without whisky was at the raising of John Shannon's barn, say about 1835.
The first school in the township was taught by David Grimm, son of Henry. The pupils came from remote points, and had nothing scarcely but bridle paths to come by. The first church built was the Protestant Episcopalian at the Knob. Among the earlier settlers of this township was John Williams. He was a brother of Colonel Charles Williams, and the father of Wm. G. Williams, a former county treasurer, and of Joseph Williams, now of Coshocton. He was in the Revolutionary War. At its close he settled near Wheeling; was in the Moravian campaign (the cruel ties of which he always condemned); also was in the Coshocton campaign. He moved to Coshocton about 1812; came into Mill Creek about 1817, and there died in 1833, when about eighty years of age.

* 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