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

This is one of the smaller townships of the county: it is bounded north of Newton, east by Brush Creek and of and west by the county line. The following record, copied from the county commissioner’s journal, is that of the erection of Clay Township, December 9, 1841: “Pursuant to the adjournment the commissioners met. Present: John Goshon, Robert Boggs, and Littleton Moore. A petition was presented by William Wann, signed by a majority of the householders residing within the boundaries of the proposed now townships, at the last June session, which was this day taken up, and the commissioners being satisfied that the necessary notice of such intended application had been given by advertisements, as required by law, proceeded to take the matter into consideration. The petitioners set forth that they labor under many difficulties and disadvantages in consequence of the distance and other difficulties the have to labor under, in going to and from elections, etc., and also praying that a new township may be set off of the part of Brush Creek township, and the commissioners, believing the prayer of the petitioners necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township to be set off, according to the following boundaries, to wit: Sections Nos 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, in township 14, range 14 being part of Brush Creek, Muskingum county, which said new township to be called Clay township. Also ordered by the commissioners that an election be held at the house of Adam Rider, Sr., in said township.” It is said tha tat this date the entire population of Clay did not exceed 100 souls.

Roseville is a stirring village located southwest of Zanesville, from which it is distant then miles, is on the Perry county line, a part of the corporation being Perry county. It is on the C. & M. V. railroad, and is chiefly noted for its pottery industries, which have gained a national reputation. The clays found here are as diversified as they are superior in quality, and not only household vessels are manufactured, but high art and antique patterns, embracing flower pots and urns, oriental vases, umbrella stands, cuspidors, etc. This industry has caused in the last few years in the increased demand for these goods, which has added much to the importance of Roseville and promises to become a large manufacturing center. Her school population is 265, occupying a new school house completed last year at a cost of $11,000. It is a modern structure throughout, containing six rooms. Employment is given to five competent teachers. There are five churches here, viz.: Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Methodist, Christian and Lutheran. The corporate officials in 1890 were: J. N. Lowry, mayor; C. A. Cann, clerk; J.N. Owens, treasurer; J. A. Williams, solicitor. William Dunn, J. H. Snoots, T. H. McAdoo, John Sagle, Henry Combs, R.B. Williams, councilmen. The principal business and other important local interest may be thus mentioned: Adams Express, J.B. Barbee, agent; William J. Allen & Sons (William J. and Howard E.), proprietors; Roseville House, and livery and feed stable. Baughman & Paco (John Baughman and George Paco), stoneware manufacturers. Solomon Baughman, groceries, etc. George W. Brown Sr., pottery. John Burton, stoneware manufacturer. George E. Capewell, jewelry, musical merchandise and pictures. Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railway, J. B. Barbee, agent. Henry Combs, flouring and sawmill. Abram Goodlive, boots and shoes. G. A. R., Axline Post No. 290, William Lowry, P. C.; G. H. Stull, adjutant; Alfred Ransbottom, quartermaster; meets first and third Tuesdays of each month. Guy Bros. (Charles C. and Henry), miners and shippers of coal. Rev. W. T. Harvey, pastor M.E. church. I. O. O. F., David Encampment No. 217, W. H. Brown, C. P.; J. W. Stoneburner, Sr W.; Oliver King, treasurer; G. W. W. Walker, scribe; meets every second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. I. O. O. F., Jonathan Lodge No. 356, B. Stoneburner, N.G.; James W. Stoneburner, permanent secretary; C. C. Guy, recording secretary; L. D. Stine, treasurer; stated communications every Saturday evening. Kildow, Dugan & Co. (L. S. Kildow, B. A. Dugan, C. L. Williams and J. W. McCoy), manufacturers of pudding pans, frying pans, cooking crock, coffee pots and general hollow superior stoneware. Austin Lowry, manufacturer of stoneware, plaster dies. Lyman Lowry, manufacturer of stew pots, lawn vases, chimney flues, and tops. T. Henry McAdoo, general store. James W. McCoy, manufacturer and jobber of Ohio stone ware, also general store. W. A. Melick, physician. Peter Moore, pottery. Oswald M. Norman, druggist and physician. Owens & Brown (Jacob N. Owens, Ellensworth L. and Walter B. Brown), general store. George W. Owens, groceries, etc. John B. Owens, manufacturer of flower pots, cuspidors, umbrella stands, etc. J. D. H. Parrott, manufacturer of steam and horse clay crushers for potteries and all clay products, also manufacturer of carriages, buggies, wagons, and general repair work. People’s Building and Loan Co., J. B. Owens, president; G. W. Walker, vice president; G.W. Brown, treasurer; J. W. McCoy, secretary; meets every Tuesday night of each month. Rechabites, Lone Star Tent No. 109, Charles Patch, S.; B. A. Eby, P. C. R.; J. N. Dunnington, R. S.; W. S. Mayers, treasurer; meets every Monday evening. J. P. Richards, Lehigh mines (coal). Alvah Rider, pottery. Edward Rider, pottery, Roseville House. J. H. Snoots, coal pick manufacturer and agent Grims coal drill. J. Cyrus Sowers, pottery. William B. Sowers, pottery. Standard Coal Company, miners, main office, Columbus, Ohio. L. D. Stine, stoneware manufacturer. Noah Tanner, hotel and feed stable. “The Independent,” issued Thursday evenings; George H. Stull, editor and proprietor. The Roseville Bank, George W. Brown, president; Thomas Brown, cashier; general banking business. U. A. M., Jr. O., Clay Council No. 50, J. W. Sagle, C.; B. A. Eby, recording secretary; Richard Jeffries, treasurer; meets every Thursday evening. G. W. W. Walker, druggist and physician. John F. Weaver, groceries, confectionery, cigars, tobacco; postmaster. Western Union Telegraph, J. H. Barbee, manager. J. C. Wigtom, dealer in fertilizer. J. A. Williams & Co., real estate and collection agency. Wilson Bros. (George N. and T. Arthur), general store. Samuel P. Zehrung, stoves, tinware, and roofing.

Roseville was platted by John Rose in 1812, and was known was New Milford until 1830, when the post office was established, with John Allen in charge. For many years following this important event, the mail was carried to and fro on horseback, weekly. In those days the postage was from six and one fourth to the twenty-five cents on each letter, payable in silver the recipient. The first cabin here was that of Mr. Rose, built, it is said, in 1814. An early addition to Roseville was that platted by James Littleton in 1837. Robert Allen, who was deputy postmaster, was the first merchant. He was succeeded by Allen & Copeland. John Laughlin kept the first tavern in a log cabin. Zadoc Wilson was the first blacksmith. The first shoemaker was a man named Forgran. Elisha Kennedy taught the first school in a log house, with puncheon floor. The second schoolhouse of the same construction was built as late as 1840 and gave place to the present modern frame building. Roseville was incorporated in 1840 and Dr. James Little was the first mayor. The population was then about 300.

Chauncey Ford and David Stokeley were the first settlers in this vicinity. They were brothers-in-law. Among the early comers was the Rose family, from which the place took its name. An old woman lived in a little cabin a few rods east of Spurgeon’s and owned a small tract of land. It was “all in the bush” then, and little better than a frog pond, containing about twenty acres; it included all the space north of Noah Tanner’s tavern to the spring. Dr. Little purchased it and laid it out into town lots, and thus North Roseville was started. The first bricks ever produced in Roseville were made by Thomas Moody.

Sixty-five years ago Roseville was a pretty “tough” place and it is stated that it was a very poor Saturday when three or four fights did not occur. But the people of Roseville and the whole community adjoining were generous and kindhearted. They comprised for the most part the hardy elements of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York, and there was a slight sprinkling from New England. The “roughs” had mostly disappeared in 1845.

In the spring of 1844 Robert Alley, F. W. Howard, Ezra Bailey and others organized themselves into a committee to solicit subscriptions for a fund with which to build a horse bridge across the creek at Roseville. Enough cash and work were pledged to build a wagon bridge across a narrow part of the creek of the Brush Creek road, which was the first bridge at or near Roseville and proved a great convenience. After the Maysville pike was constructed a bridge was built by the county at James’ mill. In the later years Roseville made efforts to build a plank road to connect with the pike at that point. The scheme was afterward revived under the name of the Roseville and Malta Plank Road company, but failed for want of popular support. The first house of worship in this part of the country was a free-for-all-denominations edifice, and was probably erected about ten years after settlement began. Lory Ford in the reminiscences of his childhood, said the meetings were held in the private houses about 1810, and gave an account of a Presbyterian preacher dressed in the old continental style of long stockings, short clothes and shoe buckles, who held forth at his father’s house. In 1837, the “Old Ironsides Baptists,” so called, held services in the Hill church monthly. The Methodists also worshiped there occasionally until they built a log church on Goshen hill, named after their early preacher of that name. The Presbyterians began to make their influence felt in 1849, and in 1850 built a church at Roseville. The Lutherans worshiped in the township quite early. The present churches here have been referred to.