JACKSON TOWNSHIP

The 91- and 95-year-olds have firsthand knowledge of the township's history.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NORTH JACKSON -- Jackson Township residents celebrated the township's 200th birthday Saturday, leaving many homes here empty as the celebration took to the streets and Liberty Park.
A small table at the rear of a tent in the park held the story of what the day was truly about. An historical display with newspaper clippings and photos, some more than 100 years old, of churches, businesses, the high school and residents of long ago gave a quick glimpse at what 200 years of township life has produced.
Some residents, though, did not need a table of antique pictures, clippings and artifacts to understand the township's history -- they had lived through a good portion of it.
A lifetime in township
Eugene Moherman, 91, has been a resident of the township his entire life. Eight generations of the Moherman family have called Jackson Township home.
Moherman said his great-great grandfather came to the township in the early 1800s in search of land. A thousand acres, some of which is still owned by the family, was purchased at that time to start a livestock farm and the family grew. Saturday, 20 members of the Moherman family marched in the parade.
Despite his nine-plus decades, Moherman is still not the oldest lifelong township resident. His friend Earla Smith, 95, has also been a member of the community his entire life. The Smith family has called the township home for six generations.
Smith recalls taking a horse and buggy to school and the flood that wiped out Mahoning Avenue for three days in 1913. Both men are a living testament to the history of the town.
Members of the Smith and Moherman families say they stay in the township for same reason most residents stay here -- "It's just a nice place to live."
The township was founded in 1803. Saturday's Founder's Day celebration was the first in the township in more than four decades.
What events took place
During the morning hours, township residents lined the sides of Mahoning Avenue to watch floats, emergency vehicles with sirens blaring and marchers move slowly by. Those living in the residential section of Mahoning Avenue moved lawn chairs to the edge of the street under lampposts from which American flags waved in the breeze to take in festivities.
After the last of the nearly 300 parade units had passed, the last siren had been quieted and children grabbed the last piece of candy thrown from parade vehicles, most residents headed over to the park to continue the celebration.
There they enjoyed an antique car show and participated in a lumberjack contest, karaoke, a baseball tournament and a beard contest offering prizes to the longest and most unique beards.
Lessons on local wildlife were also a part of the festivities.
Representatives of the Lake Milton Raptor Education Center were on hand with seven live birds of prey. For a small donation, residents could pose for a picture with the owls, hawks, vulture and American Kestrel, which were all rescued after having been injured in the wild.
All of the birds except a Harris Hawk are native to the area.
The tent with the historical display also housed an art contest.
Event organizer Peg Leonard said the celebration was about the township's history, but also the residents' ability to keep it as a small town.
"Two hundred years is something to celebrate. And even though the town has grown, it's still maintained its small-town flavor," she said, adding, "This is a place where your neighbor is your friend."
jgoodwin@vindy.com