This section is taken from the book "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio" by Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1892, Columbus, Ohio.

This township was organized December 3, 1810, from Salt Creek township, and is bounded north by the mother township, east by Meigs township, south by Morgan county and west by Harrison township. The first election of which there is any record was held January 6, 1814, at the house of Lewis Allwine. Following is a list of first things of their kind in this township: Mail through the township carried by Daniel Convers, in 1779, on the Muskingum river by canoe. Local mail carried by Timothy Gates, on horseback, from Zanesville to McConnelsville; mail coach, Zadoc Burdick's, between the two towns just mentioned; frame house, Caleb Hall's, near Rural Dale; brick house, Caleb Butler's, on section 28; stone house, Thomas McLees's, now occupied by James R. S. McLees; orchards, those of Levi Reeves, the Silveys, Dutros, Findleys and Newkirks; marriage, that of Stephen Reeves and Mary Briggs, in 1803; tavern, that kept by Laurence Allwine, above Gaysport in 1810; graveyard, that on the property of Tobias Dilley; blacksmith, John Bird; wagonmaker, David Dutro; shoemaker, Robert Silvey; wheelwright, Jesse Thomas; wooden plowmaker, J. Revenaugh, Jr.; stone-mason, John Davis; chairmaker, James Burroughs; distiller, Absolom Roberts; tanner, Thomas White; cabinetmaker, Joshua Crumbaker; ,grocery, by John P. Farrell; general store, Rufus Putnam; store and warehouse, built by Moses Reeves, at Gaysport; physician, Dr. Baker, in 1805; salt well, that put down by Nathaniel Ayers, at Gaysport, in 1822; school, on the river, as early as 1815; sawmill, John Trimble's, below the site of Rural Dale, in 1820; steam sawmill, Samuel W. Culbertson's, in 1827; steam grist-mill, Worstall Brothers, Gaysport, 1872; hand mill, Levi Reeves, 1816. Other early physicians were Dr. Sears, Dr. Flanders, about 1830; Dr. Clapp, about 1836; Dr. McNeal. Dr. McCall came to Gaysport, 1844; Dr. Coverdale practiced at Ridgeway, 1836; Dr. Wilson was at Rural Dale, 1837; Dr. James Hull was early at Keifer; Dr. Smith was at Rural Dale, 1853-1865, Dr. Lewis Haworth came later; Dr. Macomber in 1858, and later, Drs. Cooper, Kennedy, Jennings, Axline and Leeper; Dr. Carlow came to Gaysport in 1850, and Doctors Hatfield, Ward and Baughman also practiced there. The salt interest was more or less important in this township until 1869. Timber, coal, sandstone and fire-clay were also abundant and have contributed their part toward the development and prosperity of the township. The first school has been mentioned. A union school, for Blue Rock, Meigs and Salt Creek townships was located on the land since owned by Frederick Wion, and the school house was built in 1821. The next was a union school for Blue Rock and Meigs townships, on land owned by David E. Mitchell. The school house was built in 1824. There was a school on George Stewart's land, taught by Joseph Webster, as early as 1824. In 1828 a school house was built on James Starrett's land. There was a school on Enoch Harlan's place in 1830. Perhaps as early as 1830, there was a school in connection with the Blue Rock church. The most important early school, the parent of the three schools in the northeastern part of the township, was on Joseph Starrett's place, near Kiefer, where a pretentious school house for those days was built by John Ward, in 1833.

For many years the inhabitants of Blue Rock paid attention chiefly to wheat culture, but at length stock raising began to assume importance. The first thoroughbreds were introduced by John Trimble in 1828. Wool growing, however, is a leading interest. The improvement of sheep was begun here about 1828. Fruit growing is quite important. In 1858 an agricultural society was organized, with E. J. Trimble as president and E. Hillis Talley as secretary and treasurer. The first fair was held at the farm of W. T. Talley, the second at James Trimble's, the third at James Findley's. They were useful and successful and were broken up only by the War of the Rebellion. Petroleum was taken from a spring in the northeast corner of the township in 1819, by Martin Smith, and the first oil well sunk in the township was put down on Smith's farm in 1861, near this spring. The second development was made in January, 1866, on the Nathaniel McDonald farm. The Woodberry well was sunk here, and others were put down in the vicinity. The well mentioned produced sixty barrels of oil per day for six months, another well yielded two hundred and forty barrels per day. Great excitement and wild speculation followed. The oil was of slight illuminating power and the small wells were abandoned and in time the larger ones gave out. In this abandoned condition the territory remained with the exception of two wells, which yielded steadily in paying quantities for twelve years, when in 1878, the "Carr Oil Company of Muskingum county" was organized to develop this field; but little practical progress followed.

Rural Dale was laid out by J. B. Milhous in 1854, though there had been a settlement there since 1816, when George Gibbons built the first house. Rockville was the original name of the place, but Milhous changed it when the village was platted. The first store was opened there by Briggs & Kearns in 1836; the first tavern about the same time by William Kisk. Kiefer is an attractive hamlet and was originally known as Ridgeway. When the postoffice was established it was named thus in honor of Gen. Kiefer. The land including Gaysport was originally owned by Jacob Ayers. Asa Gay, Sr., purchased it and laid out the village, naming it in his own honor, in 1880. The telegraph line from Zanesville to McConnelsville was constructed in 1867, but it was not successful and was re-established in 1880 on a better plan. An office was established at Gaysport in 1877. There are three postoffices in the township--one at Gaysport named Blue Rock, one at Kiefer, and one at Rural Dale.

Rural Dale lodge No. 157, 1.0.0.F., was organized under a charter granted in February, 1850, to J. P. Smith, W. A. Hawley. J. B. Millious, Abram Morrison and C. H. Trimble. It was instituted June 13, 1850, with 13 charter members. The first officers were J. P. Smith, N. G.; W. A. Hawley, V. G.; J. B. Mithous, secretary; C. H. Trimble, treasurer. Rockville Division No. 585 Sons of Temperance flourished 1849-52. Blue Rock Grange No. 359 Patrons of Husbandry was organized at Rural Dale, in 1873, and existed for some time.

The first Baptist who resided in Blue Rock township, was Sister Joanna John (wife of Jesse John), who came from Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1819. The first Baptist minister who preached in Blue Rock township, was Elder Henry Pringle, at the house of Jesse John in the year 1822, and who traveled all through this region of country, preaching the Gospel, which resulted in bringing many souls to Christ. Elder George Russell, was the second minister to preach in the township. He came to Jesse John's and preached for the first time, on "Easter Sunday, 1823," and continued once a Month for several years, and baptised several persons at different points where he preached. Elder Levi Culver was the next minister to visit the neighborhood. He came here in the year 1827, and preached sometimes at the aforesaid place, and other places in the township. He was one of the first missionaries of the Ohio Baptist State convention. After he had baptized a number of persons, a council of ministers was called to consider the propriety of constituting a church. The council meet at the house of John Revenaugh, on the 25th day of July, 1828. The ministers present at the council were Elder Courtland Skinner, Elder Wm. Reece, together with Elder Culver, who advised the importance of constituting a church, which they did at the time. Sister Jane Roberts was the first person baptized in the township, and her husband, Wm. Roberts, was the first deacon of the church. The church was constituted with thirteen members, and called "the Regular Baptist church," of Blue Rock. The names of the constituent members are as follows: Samuel Revenaugh, Catharine Revenaugh, Wm. Roberts, Jane Roberts, Lorena Roberts, Mary Roberts, Thos. Wear, Catharine Wear, Nancy Blair, John Revenaugh, Jane Revenaugh, Elizabeth Wion, Lydia Mace. In a short time after this, they built a house of worship, in the north-eastern part of the township, about four miles from where the Baptists commenced their labors. It was built of logs, 30 by 30, and in this they held their meetings for over twenty years. Elder Levi Culver was their first pastor. He continued until his death, having the care of the church eight years and four months. Rev. Enoch Rector was called to supply the church at the death of Bro. Culver, and continued to preach for them until they called to the charge of the church Elder Reuben Burkley, about ten months later. Mr. Burkley began his labors May 1st, 1836, and died at his post while away from his home, on a preaching tour in Salt Creek township. Elder Benjamin Blake was their next pastor, who remained with them two years. Elder Abel Johnson commenced his labors Mav 1st, 1844. While he had charge of the church seventeen members received letters to constitute a church in the southern part of the township, where the first efforts were made by the denomination. The church is now known as the Rockville Baptist church, which is a large, flourishing church. This church has since had a successful career. Rev. James B. Sinclair was the first pastor after the division.

The Regular Baptist church, called Rockville, was organized on the 13th day of August, 1844, under the shade of a large forest oak, on the summit of the hill directly south of the village of Rural Dale, and near the place where the meeting house now stands. An ecclesiastical council of the Regular Baptist denomination was present, being previously invited from the churches of Blue Rock, Windsor, Rich Hill, Bristol and Four Mile. A sermon was preached on the occasion by Elder William Stone, of Columbiana county, Ohio, from Daniel, 2d chapter and 44th verse, after which sixteen brothers and sisters who had previously received letters of dismissal from Blue Rock church were duly organized to constitute said church. The names of the constituted members are as follows: James Burris, Elizabeth Burris, John Gossage, Loreno Gossage, Geo. Bird, Jesse John, Joanna John, Lettitia John, Eleanor Burris, Sarah Scott, Maria Scott, Sarah Harlan, Phebe Briggs, Rebecca Frame, and Hannah Bird. Of this little band, James Burris, Elizabeth Burris, George Bird, Jesse John, Joanna John, Sarah Scott and Rebecca Frame, have been called home to their heavenly Master, and are now reaping the joys of their reward. After the regular organization of this church, it was immediately received into the Meigs Creek association, which was to convene on the next day (August 14th), with the Duncan's Falls church. The first messengers from this church to the association were Jesse John and George Bird. Elder Abel Johnson was chosen first pastor of the church immediately after its organization, In 1845 a meeting house was erected, and dedicated November 22. In 1859 the church withdrew from the Meigs Creek association and it united with the Zanesville association in August, 1860. Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal church, situated on the George Stewart place, was built in 1830. The churchyard was opened in 1828, and Mrs. Catharine Wear was the first one buried there. The members about that time were Jeremiah Argo, Samuel Nicholson, Roderick Aston, John Coverdale, Michael F. White and "Father" Winrod and their wives. Jeremiah Argo was a licensed classleader and exhorter. The first local preacher was Levi Reeves. This society moved to Rural Dale and there has since flourished. The third church organized in the township was the Radical Methodist church, its house of worship on land owned by William Betts. Among its prominent members were Mr. and Mrs. Betts, Peter Clapper and wife, Hiram Sherman and wife, Henry Crawford and wife, Margaret Barber and daughter and Elizabeth Gibbons. Dr. Coverdale, was exhorter, and Mr. Betts classleader. Revs. Linder and Whitney were the first regular preachers. A good frame house was after a time erected on the land of Henry Crawford and the congregation met there from that time on. Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal church had its inception in a class which met at John Grindslaff's house in 1817. In 1826 this class numbered eighty members. It was divided and in a way reunited at a later date by the organization of the Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal church of Salt Creek township. There was once an organization of Presbyterians that met in a stone house on land owned by Joseph Wallace, Sr.

Contributed by Denny Shirer