Coshocton County Ohio Townships

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TOWNSHIPS - COSHOCTON COUNTY OHIO
BEDFORD TOWNSHIP

By 1887 the railroad from Dresden north through the township was completed by the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus railroad. The tunnel was built of bricks and wooden beams which were 1492 feet long. Places were provided for safety to anyone walking through the tunnel who found an unexpected train approaching. It was situated a little north of the center of the township and connected the northern Simmons Run valley with the southern Wakatomica Creek valley. It opened new avenues for marketing farm products: cream to Orville creamery, livestock, lumber and coal. High school pupils were transported from as far south as Wakatomica to Warsaw until the early 1930's.
Trains were discontinued about that time. Today the tunnel has fallen in ruin.
In 1873, Thomas Thompson was Tunnel Hill's first postmaster and storekeeper. George E. Thompson became postmaster January 20, 1886. Joseph Treadway, the next postmaster, built the store later owned by Thomas Ramsey Sr. and son Thomas. About 1907, E. H. Sproull and Clyde Sproull became the owners. The post office as well as the store remained in their family for many years.
Lemuel Holmes was the first store-keeper in West Bedford. The village boasted a blacksmith shop, a mechanic and several tanners. Threshing machine, windmills and revolving hay rakes have been made in West Bedford. It was noted for its very fine academy and High School.
In 1881, Dr. Litten and Dr. J. W. Heskett were both practitioners. Dr. Litten practiced medicine for sixty-six years and was present at three thousand births.
Union Methodist Church was begun by preaching in cabins in the southern part of the township. About 1832, Smith's Hill church, later known as Union M. E. church, was built from hewn logs by William McCoy. About 1856 a frame structure was built. It was a part of Chalfant circuit. The Rev. Adams and Rev. Perry were ministers. About 1823 it became a part of West Bedford Circuit. The parsonage was at West Bedford. The Revs. Hale, McFarland, Bradford, Trotter, Sipes, Goodhart, Narramore, MacLaughlin, Ashburn, Alkire, Langford, Lambert and Chalfant were ministers. During the 1960's the members scattered and in 1984 the building was sold. A memorial now stands where the Union (Smith's Hill) M. E. Church stood.
Bedford Township

Bedford Township, Range 8, township 5, lies in the western part of Coshocton County. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson township, on the east by Jackson township, south by Washington and west by Perry. It is slightly more than five miles from east to west unlike most townships. The north-east quarter was in the military district and surveyed in one hundred acre squares by William Cutbush in 1803. The remaining three-fourths of the township was congress land and opened for settlement after being surveyed into sections in 1803 by Silas Brant Jr. The township was a part of New Castle Township until 1825 when it was organized by the commissioners into a separate township. Township officers were elected at the cabin of Henry Haines.
Small streams cut the land into many hills and narrow valleys. The land was covered with forests of oak, hickory, poplar, walnut and maple. When the land was cleared, crops of corn, wheat, oats, hay, fruit trees and berries of various kinds were grown. The progress of railway, roads and machinery has determined the progress in farming, schools and economics. Population in 1880 was 920 and 1973 was 344.
The township received its name from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, from which fifteen or eighteen families came. Settlers started coming in 1808 and each year a few more came. By 1815 a tide of immigration set in and before ten years had passed, all the land had been entered. By this time, Indians were no trouble, but man wrestled with forces of nature, huge forests and wild animals. Saw mills, grist mills and looms were needed and built. A brick kiln on the land now owned by Ethel Metz furnished bricks for early homes. Cannel coal was mined and distilled into burning oil for a short time.

Contributed by:
Nola

Transcribed by:
Villate McKitrick

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