This section is taken from the book "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio" by Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1892, Columbus, Ohio. Some errors and contradictions have been found but that is to be expected especially since the author seemed to have gotten much of his information from the residents of the county as well as documented records.

The northwest corner township of the county, Jackson is bounded north by the county line, east by Cass Township, south by Licking township, and west by the county line. It was organized in 1815 and is said to be named in honor of General Jackson, the "Hero of New Orleans" of the day. The first addition for township officers was appointed to be held at the house of Thomas Blizzard June 6, 1815. Of those who, prior to 1816 by virtue of commissions as justices of the peace, settled controversy and punished offenders, may be named Clark Hollenback, Robert Selbes, and Nathan Baker. Among the well-known settlers of the township were Col. Wm and Thomas Blizzard, the Fairalls, David Evans, and Hezekiah Bonham. Thomas Wilkins and his son Daniel located it the southeast, were old-time settlers from Maryland. Clark Hollenback entered land north of Frezeysburg. William McClintock entered a tract adjoining the present village in the summer of 1814 and made improvements, and moved in with his family in the fall of 1815. As late as 1813 much land lay wild and untenanted. On the hills were no settlers, and there were but few in the valleys. Habitations were rude in character, and present civilization seemed far remote and barely possible. The first frame house is thought to have ben built for Joshua Bennett, and the first brick house was erected about 1830 by Mr Blizzard. The Mendenhalls were settlers, Joshua Bennett, Samuel Mendenhall's son-in-law, came in 1816. A German named Tushman came early; also Joseph Chaney, who located north of Frazeysburg. Level lands soon obtained roads; these hilly regions were impassable, and the saying of a road was an asset like the survey of a railroad. The road from Owl Creek to Zanesville via Frazeysburg was laid out in 1822 by John Adams and Samuel Frazey, commissioners appointed by the state.

The first mill was put up on the "Tomaka" Creek, about two miles west of the village, in 1819 and was a combined grist-and- sawmill, run by Samuel Mendenhall. The dam was washed away in 1830. George Stanetts, who lived in the mill with his family, was miller for some time. Richard Griffin was miller at a later date. The last one was John Norris. The following year James McClintock built a saw-mill down the creek, and along in 1837, Ira Belknap erected a grist-mill on the same dame. In the spring of 1833 the copper stills were put in operation by a man named Blood, but the enterprise mailed within the year. In 1827, Frazeysburg was laid out by C Hollenback; it was originally known as Knoxville. Hollenback built a sawmill in 1820-1822, and William McClintock had an early sawmill on Wakatomaka Creek. There was a rude saw-mill and grist-mill in the extreme northwest cornr of the township in 1825 which had many owners and disappeared entirely about twelve years ago. Samuel Mills built the first house, and used it as a tavern. John Walker repaired the farmers tool and shod their horses.

The Methodist built the first church in 1820. Revs. Smith and Cunningham were preachers for the Presbyterian as early as 1818. The first bridge was built over the creek in 1832; it was of hewed timber on trestles, and the work of the neighboring settlers. Squire McCann recalls an old log shanty used for school, church, and singing, which stood two and a half miles from Frazeysburg. Philip Shaffer was an early singing teacher, having taught in 1831 and 1832. The people of Jackson are healthy and contented; they love their fine sill-side scenery, and the traveler winding his way up the slopes in long stretches sees at each summit a new and pleasant landscape. The early settlers of this township were allured hither by the fertility of the lands in the valley of Wakatomaka Creek, like those who settled nearest to the valley of the Muskingum. It is true that the area of perhaps twenty- five miles on either side of the latter stream is included in the term "Valley of Muskingum" and yet the smaller valleys have afforded special attractions to the settler. Actuated by the motive to make a paradise wherever nature invited them, the settlers, therefore, selected sites as near to the streams of importance as seemed good to them. Jackson is undulating in its surface, and occasionally broken. The soil is rich limestone, clay being plentiful on the uplands, and sand loam in the lower lands and bottoms. Iron and coal of fair quality, are found in various localities. The latter is consumed at home, while the former is shipped to Zanesville via Frazeysburg.

Among the early physicians who practiced in this township for a longer or period were Dr Elmas Wheaton of Irville, Licking township, and Drs Black, Pearce,Bartley and Philander Byram. Mordecai Bartley, afterwards governor of Ohio, is thought to have been the only lawyer here in tghe early days. The first tavern at Frazeysburg was kept by Samuel Mills, who was also an early carpenter. Other of the pioneer knights of the chisel, saw and plane were John Ruckle and Charles Morrow. Among the first surveyors were the Robertses, John and Charles. They came in . Charles Roberts surveyed many of the farms in this and John Roberts laid out Frazeysburg . Among early and old justices of the peace Robert Selder, Clark Hollenback and Richard Griffee. Henry Shephard opened the first blacksmith ship in 1827 in a log building of the old style. James Morgan taught a subscription school ib a log house half a mile north of Frazeysburg, in 1822. This is thought to have been the first regular school in the township. John Bowen was a school teach in Jackson in 1831, Samuel McGinnis in 1832. Samuel Mills' pioneer tavern, opened about 1817, was a log building on the site of the Hamilton store in Frazeysburg. He was succeeded after a number of years by Stephen Cessna. Later "landlords" were William English, Thomas Foster and Jonah Campbell. This old hostelry was later torn down.

Frazeysburg is not only one of the leading and most prosperous villages of the county but is situated in the midst of a rich agricultural wool-gathering and stock-producing section. In close proximity is found excellent stone quarries, while the soil supplies the best quality of potter's clay, moulding sand, white and gray clay for the manufacture of tile and pottery, and brick. The village os on the line of the Pan Handle railway and Ohio canal, and contains many handsome private residences and business houses, which would do credit to larger tows and cities. Its citizens, as a class, are intelligent, enterprising and progressive, as will clearly appear in a notice of its public institutions. There are three churches, viz: Disciples' Elder J.S. Bonham, pastor, with seating of three hundred. Presbyterian Church, with Rev C.C. Downs, pastor, seating capacity of about four hundred. M.E. church, Rev R.H. Griffith, with seating of four hundred. /the district has a fine two story brick public school building, with four rooms. The enrollment is 201, with an average attendance of 189. The Frazeysburg Library association was organized April 15, 1890 with thee library at the store of C.M. Bell. Its officers are K Corn, President; Mrs T.J. Trembley, vice president; Miss Mamie Cochran, treasurer; and C.M. Bell, librarian. The Frazeysburg Building and Loan Association was organized April 1888. In 1890 town officers were Geo C Adams, mayor; John Debolt, marshal; A Mendenhall, M O'NEILL, Joshua Bennett, Chas W Fleming, Henry Host, H Night, councilmen; M.D. Packard, town clerk; Jasper Corn, town treasurer; A Mendenhall, street commissioner; V.Z. Norris, Dr J Corn, H.L. Stamets, T.C. Pierson, Wm Hamilton, school board. Frazeysburg has a good two story town hall, a good band and a well conducted weekly paper.

Frazeysburg was platted June 6, 1827 by Clark Hollenback and named Knoxville. As has been stated, the actual survey was made by John Roberts. Numerous additions have been made. In 1828, Mr Hollenback sold the original town to Samuel Frezey, who changed the name to Frazeysburg. The village was incorporated in 1868, and L.W. Doene was the first mayor. The post office was established in the winter of 1828-29. Samuel Frazey was the first postmaster. Richard Griffee is credited with having opened the first grocery store in the township. Another early store was Whitney's. Col. Blizzard opened a store in 1828. Samuel Frazey had a store near the southeast corner of the present canal bridge in 1828-29, the largest opened in the township to that time.

The Frazeysburg Mill company was organized in 1885, and is controlled by some of the loading citizens. The building, exclusive of office and engine room, is three stories and basement in height, and 36 x 48 feet in dimensions. The engine room is 20 x 36 feet, and the office is 12 x 18 feet in size. In all departments the mill is equipped with new and improved appliances for the rapid and efficient manufacture of the highest standard grades of bakers' and family flower. The mill is a complete roller mill, with the best purifiers and is propelled by a 30-horse power engine and a boiler, and has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day. The staple brand for which this mill has secured more than local celebrity, is known as "Pure Gold" which bears the highest standard of excellence in all markets into which it has been introduced, and enjoys a high degree of popularity both with the trade and consumers. The individual members of this company are John A Evans, Jus Stitt and J.W. Frazier, gentlemen whose enterprise and business ability give vitality to this section of the county, and who are recognized as prominent in public affairs. They do merchant grinding and exchange, and deal in grain, flour, meal and mill feed. They are also engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile, noticed everywhere.

Thomas Brother and Co's Frazeysburg Planing Mills and Lumber Yard, is one of the most important industrial enterprises associated with this section of the county, and was established here by Messrs. Thomas Brother and Co., in 1889. The present building was competed about the first of June 1889, and equipped with the necessary machinery for planing, matching and scroll work, and for the execution of every description of of planing mill and job work. The individual members of this firm are A.S. and C.W. Thomas and Wm L Phelps, gentlemen who bring into requisition that mechanical skill and executive ability which cannot fail to meet the most liberal consideration. The machinery is propelled by a twenty-horse power engine and boiler and the building, which is two stories in height and 40 x 50 feet and the engine room 14 x 40 feet in dimensions, gives ample capacity for prompt and efficient work. This firm is prepared to enter into contract to supply doors, sash, blinds, dressed/undressed lumber, lath, shingles, pickets, post, and for the execution of the entire wood work of public or private buildings.

The Frazeysburg Title and Brick works were erected in 1884, and the concern comprehends a ground space of 30 x 120 feet in dimensions which are equipped with the best machinery and appliances for the rapid and efficient manufacture of the best building and paving brick and the most substantial drain tile from three inches to twelve inches in dimensions. Contracts are taken for special sizes or quantities, and stock will usually be found on hand for prompt shipment. The concern also manufactures the best hollow building blocks whose construction supplies strength and solidity to buildings.

The first journalistic venture in Frazeysburg was the Federalist, published by C.E.F. Miller, in 1875- 76. The editorial work was done in Frazeysburg, where the paper was really issued, but the mechanical work was done in Dresden. The Midland is the title of a vigorous spicy and reliable family and local newspaper, which was started here August 29, 1889, a five-column eight-page paper devoted to literature, news and local matter, with Rev. C. B. Downs as managing editor, and A.B. Clark, of Newark, associate editor; general business manager, D.H. Lewis. Jasper Corn, M.D., physician and surgeon, druggist and pharmacist, is a native of Jackson County in this state, and was born in 1847. Dr Corn is a graduate of the O.W. of Delaware, and read medicine with Dr A Combs of Thurman Ohio. He graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College, at Cincinnati in the class of ‘73, and located in Keystone, Jackson county, for one year. In the spring of 1874 he came to this place, where he has devoted his attention to the duties of his profession, to which he still gives his attention and connection with his business interests. Here he started his drug store. The individual members of the firm of Dr J.S. Trembley and his son, T.G. Trembley. The senior member of this firm is a native of this county born in 1819. Early in life he devoted his attention to the study lf medicine and surgery, and has been in active practice for over thirty-six years. He located in this place in 1868. Mr T.G. Trembley is a native of this county and was born in 1850. After completing his early education he became connected with railroad work, in which he was chiefly engaged up to the time of formation of the present partnership in 1878. This is now the post office store Mr T.G. Trembley having received his appointment to this place April 27, 1889. J.D. Fleming, M.D., resident physician and surgeon, is a native of this county, born in 1857. He was reared upon the farm, and after completing his literary education, read medicine with Dr C.F. Wilkins of Irville, now of Columbus. He graduated from the Columbus Medical College, March 8, 1887 and first opened his office at Adams' Mills, but after one year located in this place March 8, 1888. The canal was completed in 1831-32; the "Reindeer," a small pleasure boat, made the trip from Newark to Coshoction. The "Union" of Dover was the first regular freight boat to pass through. The Pan Handle railroad was completed through this township in 1855. The first agent at Frazeysburg was E.L. Lembert.

Some time before 1820 a small cabin was erected for church purposes, north of the site of school- house number three. David Evans donated the land upon which it stood, in consequence of which it was known as Evans' Church. Frazeysburg Methodist Episcopal Church was is=organized at the house of Zachariah Bonham in 1815. Meetings were held at Mr Bonham's, at R.C. Mendenhall's, at John Wimmer's and at other houses, and later at a schoolhouse near the north side of Frazeysburg. In 1840, a church building was erected at a cost of $1,000. In 1878 it was succeeded by the present edifice, a frame building that cost $1,800. The Frazeysburg Presbyterian Church was organized with 34 members in 1876. Its brick church, which cost $2,370, was dedicated September 8, 1877 by J.W. Tenney, and the first pastor, Rev S.D. Smith. Mount Zion Christian Church was organized with eight members in 1832. The first meetings were held at the house of George McDonald. In 1845 the society built its present frame, which cost about $500, about two miles north of Frazeysburg. The Disciple Church was organized in 1843. The first pastor was Rev Lewis Corner. A church was built soon after 1880 at Frazeysburg.