Blue Rock and Salt Creek Townships have a shared history, and so Capt. John Chandler (1757-1829), for whom the Salt Creek town of Chandlersville is named, is regarded as Blue Rock's first settler. In fact, all the "firsts" of Salt Creek, such as early industries, post offices, and churches, are the "firsts" of Blue Rock. The histories of the two townships are so identical that the chapter on Blue Rock Township in the Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio contains little more than a long list of early settlers and their occupations, and a rehashing of the founding of early churches from the Salt Creek chapter. (See Salt Creek Township)
Around 1819, the discovery of oil in the northeastern part of the township held the promise of prosperity for the township. A second field was developed in 1866. In 1878, the Carr Oil Company of Muskingum County was created to take over production. However, the oil, intended for use in oil lamps, was of a poor quality, and enterprise was soon abandoned.
The steel Gaysport Bridgewas replaced in 2021 |
Although there are no municipalities* in Blue Rock today, there were three population centers in the 1800's that each merited a U.S. Post Office. The township's earliest population center was located on the Muskingum River, and dates from at least the 1790's. The original name is not known, but it was eventually named Gaysport for Asa Gay (1774-1854) who migrated to the area from Massachusetts around 1830. Another settlement, Rockville, was established around 1816. J. B. Milhous platted Rockville in 1854, and renamed it Ruraldale, although its post office was known as Rural Dale. The small settlement of Ridgeway became the village of Kiefer. Like the village of Opera in Newton Township, Kiefer no longer exists.
*A municipality is an urban area locally administered and separate from township government.
Thanks Mari , my 4 th great grandfather William Echelberry lived in Blue Rock Twp. He served in the war of 1812 .
ReplyDelete