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Hopkinsville, situated on the Montgomery & Hopkinsville pike, is the oldest village in the township, dating back to about 1808. In its early days, it was the center of trade for the whole township, and enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. It was also for a long time the legal place for holding township elections, and headquarters for general musters and all public gatherings; but in course of time new places sprung up and trade was diverted into other channels. The village now contains one store, a blacksmith shop, shoe shop, schoolhouse and church. At one time, it contained three stores and three taverns. Col. John Hopkins, Matthias Rapp and Boss Erwin were the merchants.
Zoar—This place was also settled at an early day, but the year cannot now with certainty be given. It at one time gave promise of being quite a manufacturing place. About the years 1844 to 1847, there were two blacksmith shops and two wagon-makers' shops located here, working some eight to ten hands. Ferdinand Dugan was one of the proprietors and enjoyed quite a large Southern trade in plows and wagons. He also manufactured wagons for service in the Mexican war. A wheelwright shop, by Matthew McNeely, was also, at this time, in full operation. But this prosperity was destined to be only transitory. The building of railroads and establishment of large manufactories changed all this, and the streets of Zoar became long ago deserted and the sound of the hammer is no longer heard within her borders.
Cozaddale, situated on the Marietta Railroad in the extreme southern part of the township, was laid out by John J. Cozad in the year 1871.
Mr. Cozad spent money very liberally in putting up buildings and improving the place, hoping to make a permanent manufacturing town, but his hopes were not fully realized, as evidenced by the many tenantless houses. There are now in the village two stores and one shoe shop.
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