This section is taken from the book "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio" by Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1892, Columbus, Ohio. It is a wonderful source for Muskingum history. I have found some errors and contradictions 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.

    This township was taken from Jefferson township by an order of the county commissioners dated July 2, 1819. It was originally bounded on the north by the county line, on the east by Monroe and Salem townships, on the south by Washington township and on the west by the Muskingum river. The boundaries are thus described in the commissioners' journal under the above date: "Beginning on the county line, on the line dividing the sixth range, then west with the county line to the northeast corner of Jefferson township, then down the Muskingum river and with meanders thereof to the line dividing the southwest and northwest quarter of the second township in the seventh range, thence east to the line dividing the sixth and seventh ranges, thence north with the said line to the southwest corner of the third township in the sixth range, thence east to the line dividing the sixth range, thence northwest with the said line to the place of beginning." Adams township was created in December, 1826, and Madison township was thus reduced to its present limits. The township was named in honor of President James Madison. Its first election was hold at the house of Martin Wheelen July 31, 1819. Elections were held at the schoolhouse on the land of William Minner, mostly, until 1848, when the townhouse was built. The first road in the township crossed the Muskingum at Bainter's ford, and ran along Symmes creek toward Adams township. George Stoner and Elizabeth Shirer were the first couple married in the township, in 1810. The first births were in the Bainter, Stoner and Shirer families. The first death was that of Godfrey Bainter in 1805, aged sixty years. He was buried there in the woods on the farm of his son. John Bainter, afterward known as the W. B. Carter place. The first schoolhouse is thought to have been that built on the land of Alexander Struthers, near the forks of Symmes creek. The primitive school was taught in the German language. A Mr. Decker, in 1811, was the first to teach in English. About 1813 Alexander Struthers built a gristmill on the south branch and near the forks of Symmes creek. About five years later he added a sawmill. His successors were J. N. Ingalls, William Mapes, Frederick Minner and Peter Varner. The latter was operating the gristmill, which bad been enlarged and improved, as late as 1866. Valentine and David Shirer built a sawmill near the center of section 20 on the north fork of the stream about 1832 or 1833. A pair of buhrs was later put in by John Bench, thus adding a gristmill. Subsequent managers were William Gaumer and Thomas Pharis. At the state dam, in 1837, Thomas Pierce built a gristmill, the first on the Muskingum thereabouts. Later owners were Jared Cone, Charles Love, Elias Ellis and Napoleon Reinaman. Under Reinamen's proprietorship it was burned and rebuilt, and later was owned successively by George Adams and William Bice. From Bice it passed to A. G. Plummer, and then took the name of the Plummer mill. The D. F. McKinney mill, just above the mouth of Symmes creek, was built by James John and James Gibbons as a sawmill. They added a gristmill and sold the property to Lloyd Dillon. A distillery was started below the mouth of the Wakatomaka, on the river, before 1812, and a "tramp mill" for crushing, grain is said to have been attached. Wood & Eberts had a furnace in operation on Symmes creek, half a mile above its mouth, about 1814-16. It was soon abandoned, however. In 1816 Daniel Milton had a blacksmith shop near the furnace. Copeland & Parmalee kept the first regular store about 1840, as is claimed by some; others say the store of Thomas Pierce, at his mill, was the first. The William Minner pottery was established at the forks of Symmes creek in 1869. Ten years later the King & Swoope pottery was put in operation a mile above the mouth of that stream. Postoffices were established at the mouth of Symmes creek and at the residence of Thomas Armstrong in 1850, with Charles Love in charge of the first; Mr. Armstrong in charge of the last mentioned. Mr. Mapes began to make salt just below the mouth of Wills creek in 1810. James Tingle came into possession of the springs and works in 1852, and operated them until about the close of the war.

    Jacob Swigert settled on the river in this township in 1800 and sold his claim to J. S. Copeland, who transferred it to John Bainter early enough so that the latter may be called one of the pioneers. In 1801 Bainter moved to the higher land on the J. G. Stump place. The southwest quarter of section 19 on Symmes creek was entered by Wyllis Silliman, who sold it to James Sprague, a Nova Scotian, who settled on it in 1802. Valentine Shriver, a Swiss, located two years later on the northeast quarter of section 23. In 1808 George Adams, from Fauquier county, Va., settled on the southeast quarter of section 18. About this time Charles Copeland located near the mouth of Symmes creek. Adams built the first hewedlog house in the town. Some years later he added a frame building to it, which was the first frame construction. In 1817 Charles Copeland built the first brick house here.

    The first church erected in the township was the Wheelon Methodist Episcopal church in 1823. It was a hewed-log structure 24x36 feet. There is a statement in print that the Methodists bad a house of this description two or three years earlier. This church organization, which was composed of many of the pioneers and their families, ceased to exist at least half a century ago. Prospect Methodist Protestant church was organized from the membership of this old church in 1831 by Rev. Mr. Gilbreath. Leonard Hurdle was class leader, and meetings were held at John Walkers, until 1838, when a log church was built on land given by Mr. Hurdle. On an adjoining lot, donated in 1861 by John Stoner, a frame building was erected which was dedicated by Rev. J. C. Hazlett. Salem Methodist Protestant church was organized in 1834 by Rev. William Marshall. The class leader was John Mahan, A hewed-log church was built in 1838 a mile southeast of the mouth of Symmes creek. In 1868 a frame structure was built on the same site. As early its 1835-36 Judge Daniel Stillwell, a Presbyterian, built a church on his land in Madison township, first for the use of Christians of his own denomination, but open to any other when not so occupied. Rev. William Baldwin organized a Methodist Protestant class in 1868, which has worshiped here since. The first class leader was Samuel Hammond. St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal church had its inception in meetings held in 1837 by Rev. William A. Smallwood, of Zanesville, in the church building first referred to. St. Matthew's parish was organized October 22, 1838, at the house of John C. Stockton. A house of worship was erected on land given by Evan James. The corner stone was laid August 4, 1839. The cost of this building was $900. It was not completed until May, 1846, the congregation worshiping in meanwhile in the old church. The Symmes Creek class of United Brethren was formed in 1846. Zachariah Adams deeded an acre of land to this organization for church purposes in 1861. A frame church was built in 1864.