Salt Creek Township is named for the saline deposits near the area that would eventually become the village of Chandlersville. Native Americans gathered salt there long before the appearance of White settlers, and it might have been from them that the settlers in Marietta heard of the salt deposits, for which there was a desperate need. In 1795, Marietta had grown so much, that salt had become a scarce commodity. A company was formed to go north to locate the Salt Creek deposits, "mine" them, and ship much-needed salt back to Marietta and other river towns. It was a lucrative enterprise because everyone needed salt, primarily to preserve food.
John Chandler's grave marker in Chandlersville Cemetery |
In December, 1808 the residents of the area sought to form a township. Although the record states this was accomplished at that time, apparently it wasn't, and it took seven more years (March 8, 1815) before Salt Creek Township was officially recognized.
Salt Creek Township saw several "firsts." It was the site of the first salt works in the Northwest Territory east of the Scioto River. It boasted the first brick schoolhouse in Muskingum County. The first circulating library (150 books) in Muskingum County was established here.
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