Stovertown School

From the book "Muskingum County Schools"

BRUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP

There were children being taught in a log cabin even before Brush Creek Twp was formed. The township was annexed from Harrison Township in 1817; however, David Woodruff taught several children in a log cabin beginning in 1814. the first school building was located on Adam Baughman’s farm and was built by George Swingle, who according to J. F. Everhart’s MUSKINGUM COUNTY HISTORY was the first settler of the township.

Mr. Swingle arrived here in 1810 with his son, Nicholas. He settled and improved the long on the farm where Solomon Swingle was reared and lived with his wife, Grace. Solomon Swingle was the superintendent of schools at Roseville for several years. His wife, Grace Swingle, was a teacher in the county schools for many years. James Swingle, one of the sons of Bennett Swingle, a descendent of George Swingle, now resides on this farm with his wife, Gail, and their two children. James’s mother Dorothy, now deceased, was also a teacher in the Muskingum County Schools.

The first school was replaced by what is now known as the Stovertown School. It is now a pretty home located on a hill overlooking the little village of Stovertown Ohio. This building was remodeled by Dalton and Genevieve Jenkins Swingle, who are now deceased. The family contributed very much to our present school system, as Mr. Swingle was a successful farmer in the township, and Genevieve was a teacher in several of the township’s one room schools and in the Philo Elementary building for many years. Members of the first class held in 1814 were: James Bridger, Thomas Davidson, John, Mary and Margaretta Swingle, Ruth Wittaker, and Nathan and Hannah Woodruff.

Among the students of this school you will find these family names: Anders, Anderson, Baumgardner, Baughman, Butt, Brown Cummings, Dean, Dietrich or Dietrick, McConnell, Miller, Morrison, Plantz/Plants, Pletcher, Ross, Roush, Shook, Shattuck, Showers, Schuck, Simms, Stover, Swank, Swingle, Thomas, Tyo, Wentworth, Whittaker, and Woodruff.