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Gc 977.101 B41m 1968008
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02399 4715
BEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00mcke
CENTENNIAL HISTORY
OF
BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO,
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
EDITED AND COMPILED BY
HON. A. T. MCKELVEY
"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples."
1801 -1901.
PUBLISHED BY BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. GEORGE RICHMOND, PRESIDENT, C. R. ARNOLD, TREASURER.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 1903.
Preface.
HE aim of the publishers of this volume has been to secure for the historic portion thereof full and accurate information respecting all subjects therein treated, and to present the data thus gathered in a clear and impartial manner. If, as is their hope, they have suc- ceeded in this endeavor, the credit is mainly due to the diligent and exhaustive researches of Hon. A. T. McKelvey, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, whose high character and recognized ability, together with his public services to his State and County, have brought him prominently before the people of this section. Mr. McKelvey has devoted himself to this important task as a labor of love, and his patient and conscientious efforts are conspicuously manifest in every page of the historical narration. Although the purpose of the author was to limit the narrative to the close of 1901, he has deemed it proper to touch on some matters over-lapping into the succeeding year. The wide range and circumstantial thoroughness of this history are readily discernible by a perusal of its table of contents.
1968008
In its preparation, the editor desires to express his acknowledgments to the many friends in every township in the county for valuable assistance rendered, but in an especial sense to Drs. A. H. and Elizabeth Hewetson for the history of the Belmont County Medical Society, to Edwin and Sarah D. Sears for their aid in preparing the account of the Friends' Settlement, and to Ellis B. Steele for his instructive sketch of the operation of the "Underground Railroad."
The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives, which make up the biographical department of the volume, and whose authorship is independent of the history, are admirably adapted to foster local ties, to inculcate civic virtue, and to emphasize the rewards of industry, dominated by intelli- gent purpose. They constitute a most appropriate medium of perpetuating personal annals, and will be of incalculable value to the descendants of those therein commemorated. These sketches, replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences, have been carefully revised by friends or relatives; they will naturally prove to many of the readers of this book a most attractive feature, and will increase in value as the years pass by.
In the aggregate of personal memoirs, thus collated, will be found a vivid epitome of the growth of Belmont County, which will fitly supplement the historic statement; for the development of the county is identified with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable. The publishers have endeavored in the preparation of the work to pass over no feature of it slightingly, but to give heed to the minutest details, and thus to invest it with a substantial accuracy which no other treatment would afford. They have given especial prominence to the portraits of representative citizens, which appear throughout this volume, and believe they will prove a most interesting feature of the work. To all who have kindly aided in the successful production of the book, by voluntarily contributing most useful information and data, are tendered most grateful acknowl- edgments. THE PUBLISHERS.
Chicago, Ill., January, 1903.
30.00
.
-NOTE- -
All the biographical sketehcs published in this volume were sub- mitted to their respective subjeets, or to the subseribers, from whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press; and a reasonable timc was allowed in caeh ease for the return of the type-written copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised; and these may therefore be regarded as reasonably accurate.
A few, however, were not returned to us; and as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot voueh for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more val- uable for reference purposes, we have indieated these uncorrected sketeles by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will all be found on the last pages of the book.
BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.
Table of Contents.
DAWN OF CIVILIZATION IN THE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. 11 The Northwest. Territory-Gen. George Rogers Clark-A Revolutionary Hero-Indian Occupation of the County -The Tragedies at Yellow Creek and Captina-The Disastrous Dunmore War-The Foremost American Heroine-Siege of Fort Henry-" Whistling to Start the Tunes"-Killing of William Cochran-The Tragedy near Kirkwood's Block-House.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN TRAGEDIES, AND LIFE OF THE EARLY PIONEERS. 28 The Indian Summer-Anecdotes of Lewis Wetzel-" Hunting the Cows"-" The Gobbler Indian " -- The Early Settlers-Gathering the Pioneer's Crops-The Pioneer's Dress-Diseases and Remedies of the Pio- neers-Business Methods-Law and Morality-Amusements and Games-The Mechanic Arts-Superstitions of the Pioneer Age-Changes in the Weather-The Horrors of Slavery.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. CHAPTER III. 16
Organization of the County-Proclamation of Governor St. Clair-The First County Seat -The First Conrt -- The First Election Precinets-The First Constables and Election Supervisors-A Unique Way of Raising Mon- cy- The First Meeting of the Supreme Court in Belmont County --- A Bit of Unwritten History-A Tribute to Governor St. Clair-County Scat Removed to St. Clairsville-The First Murder Trial-Bounties-The First Court House and Gaol -- The Evolution of the Townships.
CHAPTER IV.
GROWTH OF BELMONT COUNTY 55
Population of Belmont County for a Century-The " Old Court House"-TheSecond Jail -- The Third Jail New County Projects-The County Seat War-The New Court House and Jail . - List of County Officials for a Century -- Representatives in Congress-State Senators-Representatives to General Assembly-Sheriff's- Treasurers-Clerks of the Courts-County Commissioners-Auditors-Prosecuting Attorneys -- Probate Judges- Recorders-Coroners-Infirmary Directors -- Vote for Governor.
CHAPTER V.
THE ROADS OF BELMONT COUNTY. 68 Early Thoroughfares-The National Road-Conestoga Wagons-The Old Taverns-The Old Stage Coach -- Passing of the National Road-Telegraph and Telephone Lines-Other Pikes.
CHAPTER VI.
THE RESOURCES OF BELMONT COUNTY. 71 Agricultural Resources-Grain, Live Stock and Farm Products-Fruit Culture-A Unique Character-A Remarkable Apple Tree-Fruit Yield --- Price of Farm Products in 1902-Value of Farms and Live Stock Mining Resources -The Depth of the Several Coal Veins-The Pioneer Coal Shipper-The Mines in Operation in 1902 -- The Undeveloped Coal Lands -Manufacturing Industries.
CHAPTER VII.
SOME MEMORABLE STORMS AND FLOODS. 83 The Cyclone of 1887-A Remarkable Hail Storm-The Hardesty Flood -- The Floods of 1866, ISS1 and IS88- Floods along the Ohio-The Great Flood of 1884.
CHAPTER VIII.
PEN SKETCHES OF SOME PROMINENT BELMONT COUNTY MEN AND WOMEN. . The First Abolitionist, Benjamin Lundy- Isabella Thoburn- Senator William Windom William Dean Howells- Gen. Benjamin Rush Cowen-Gen. Thomas Thompson Eckert-Gen. David A. Hollingsworth Rev. Dr. James Moffat-Bishop James M. Thoburn
6
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BENCH AND BAR OF BELMONT COUNTY. 100
Charles Hammond-Gov. Wilson Shannon -- Senator Benjamin Ruggles-Judge William Kennon, Sr .- Hon. Benjamin S. Cowen-Judge D. D. T. Cowen-Hon. Lorenzo Danford -- Other Lawyers of Distinction -- The . Justices and Judges of the Courts of Belmont County -- The Attorneys Admitted to Practice.
CHAPTER X.
THE SOLDIERY OF BELMONT COUNTY. 110
The War of 1812-The Mexican War -- A Remarkable Military Career -- The Civil War-A Laughable Incident -- The 15th Ohio at Chickamauga -- The Soldiers of Belmont County in the Civil War -- The Duty of Belmont. County to Her Soldiers, Living and Dead.
CHAPTER XI.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 138
CHAPTER XII.
SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 111
CHAPTER XII. 143
HISTORY OF THE BELMONT COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Organization of the Society-The Original Members -- Some Eminent Physicians of Pioneer Days-Nature of the Organization Changed-Present Membership- Some of the Physicians of Later Days.
CHAPTER XIV. 151
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP.
The First Settlements-Organization of the Township-Township Officers-Schools-The Towns: Farmington, Colerain, Pleasant Grove, Maynard and Barton -- The Settlement of Friends-The Mining Industry Pikes-Churches. CHAPTER XV. 159
PULTNEY TOWNSHIP
Population and Township Officials-Organization of the Township and the First Settlers-The Mining Industry -Rock Hill Presbyterian Church- High Ridge United Presbyterian Church-The Towns: Steel, West Wheel- ing and Shadyside-The City of Bellaire-Increase in Population -- City Officials-The First Settlers -- 1 Tribute to Colonel Sullivan- Change from Bell Air to Bellaire-The City's Growth -The Post Office ---- The Town Incorporated -The First Mayor and His Successors -- The Waterworks and Electric Power -The Banks and Loan Companies-The Manufacturing Interests- - The Railroads Entering the City- The Schools-The Churches-Secret and Fraternal Organizations-Spangler Post, G. A. R .- The Newspapers of Bellaire-The Bellaire Cemetery Association.
PEASE TOWNSHIP. CHAPTER XVI. I87
. .. Township Organization-Increase in Population and Wealth-The First Settlements-The Old Mills and Meeting Houses-Coal Mining -- Fruit -- Township Officers-The City of Martin's Ferry-Is Population 1 Sketch of Ebenezer Martin -- The Post Office- Incorporation, and List of Mayors and Officials -The Churches - The Schools-The Banks -- The Manufactories-Secret Societies -- Thoburn Post, G. A. R .- The Press-The Bridge Over the Ohio- - A Notable Character -- The City of Bridgeport -The First Bridge -The Incorporation - The Mayors and City Officials . The Postmasters The Aetnaville Bridge -- The Manufacturing Interests- - The Banks-Dr. Affleck and Dr. Todd -The Churches -The Schools-Secret Societies-Branum Post, G. A. R.
CHAPTER XVII. 216
WARREN TOWNSHIP.
The First Settlers-The First Mills-The First Child-Wild Game-The Society of Friends-The First Churches and Schools- Organization of the Township-Tobacco and Berry Culture-The Population and Township Officers - The City of Barnesville -A Sketch of the Founder-Municipal Officers -The Post Office -The Man- factories -The Banks - Dr. Carols Judkins. Hon. John Davenport -- The Churches -The Schools -Secret Societies- - Robert Hilles Post, G. A. R. The Press The Cemeteries The Belmont County Children's Home - The Board of Charities.
CHAPTER XVIII. 238
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
Some of the First Settlers -Undiscovered Ore Mines - The Population -The First Election Township Oflie- ials- The Towns: Glencoe, Loydsville and Stewartsville - St. Clairsville, the County Seat The Tem poration and First Officials -- The First Taverns and Market House -The First Business Houses The First court Hon and the " Old Court House" -The- Population, and Municipal Officers -The Great Fire Some OFl Citizens . The Oldest Building- St. Clairsville's Railroad Facilities-The Postmasters. The Banks -The St. Clair-vill . Schools, Past and Present - The Churches-The St. Clairsville Cemetery Association Belmont County Agn cultural Society Secret Societies- Drummond Post C. A. R. - The County Infirmary.
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIX.
UNION TOWNSHIP. 262 The Soil -- The First Settlers-The First Company from the County in the War of 1812-The Population and Township Officials-Morristown-The Militia Muster-The Town Officials-The Postmasters-The Churches -The Schools-Secret Societies. CHAPTER XX.
KIRKWOOD TOWNSHIP. 267
The First Settlers- The Stillwater Valley-Distinguished Citizens-The Only Execution in a Century-The Population and Township Officials-Kirkwood Coal Lands-Hendrysburg-The First Mills-The Schools- The Methodist Episcopal Church-Secret Societies- Sewellsville-The Kirkwood Methodist Episcopal Church -School No. 11. CHAPTER XXI. 272
FLUSHING TOWNSHIP.
Township Organization-Township Officials and the Population-The Eearly Settlers-Reminiscences-The Churches-The Village of Flushing- Village Officers- The Schools-The Banks-The Churches-Secret So- cieties -- The Flushing Hospital-The Press.
WHEELING TOWNSHIP CHAPTER XXII. 279
Township Organization-Population and Tax Levy-Numerous Mills of the Pioneer Days-Some of the Early Settlers-The First Elections-Township Officials- Fairpoint-Coal and Off Development- Uniontown- The First Tavern and Foundry-The Process of Threshing Fifty Years Ago-The Schools-The Churches.
CHAPTER XXIII. 283
SMITH TOWNSHIP
The Highest Point in the County-The Early Settlers-Township Officials and Population-Jacobsburg - Reminiscences of Pioneer Days -- The Schools -- The Methodist Episcopal Church- Centreville -- The Schools and Churches-Free Masons-Some Distinguished Sons -- Warnock's Station-The First Settlements and Mills -- Knights of Pythias-The Churches and Schools -An Old Time Temperance Resolution-Lamira or Lewis' Mills.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP 290
Capture of Lewis Wetzel and His Brother-The First Settlements-Spinning in the Olden Time-Early Set- thers-Township Officials and Population-Goshen Township in the Civil War-Belmont Village-The School -The Industries-Natural Gas Developments-Odd Fellows -The Banks-The Churches -Bethesda -- The Epworth Assembly- The Chautauqua Assembly -- The Growth of the Village -- The First National Bank- The School-The Bethesda Methodist Episcopal Church.
CHAPTER XXV. 298
1
MEAD TOWNSHIP
Col. David Lockwood-The First Settlers-The Mining Industry -- The Milling Industry -- The Population and Township Officials-Bethel-Mount Summit Park -- The Bethel Presbyterian Church-Businessburg-Old Citizens-The Great Flood of 1881 -- The Schools and Churches-Canning Factory-Reminiscences-A Bloody Tragedy-An Incident of Pioneer Days-An Anecdote of Lewis Wetzel.
CHAPTER XXVI. 303
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The First Settlements-Deprivations of the Pioneers -- The First Settlers -- The Population-The Industries -- The Mineral Resources-The First Mills -- Township Officials-Armstrong's Mills - The Churches and School Eminent Citizens, Hon. Isaac Welsh and Leroy Welsh.
CHAPTER XXVII.
YORK TOWNSHIP 307
. . The First Election-The Battle of Captina-The First Squatters -- An Indian Village-Another Indian Mas- sacre-The Early Mills and Distilleries -Township Officials and Population-Powhatan-Town Officials --- The Flour Mills-The Schools-The Churches-Free Masons-The Ferries.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
314
SOMERSET TOWNSHIP. The First Families-The Industries-The First Mills -- Township Officials and Population-Somerton -Some Old Citizens -- The Schools-The Belmont Bank-The Churches - Secret Societies . Taylor Post, G. A. R. - Boston and Temperanceville-The Churches- - The Oil Field -The Warrick Murder. CHAPTER XXIX. 319
WAYNE TOWNSHIP .. The First Settlers-Some Old Citizens-The Soil - Coal bands- New Castle and Hunter -- The ( \ R. Hall The New Castle Methodist Episcopal Church-The Hunter Disciples' Church-Noted Hunters.
BIOGRAPHICAL 323
1
HON. A. T. McKELVEY.
Centennial history Of
Belmont County.
CHAPTER I.
DAWN OF CIVILIZATION IN THE COUNTY.
THE
NORTHWEST TERRITORY-GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK-A REVOLUTIONARY HERO -- INDIAN OCCUPATION OF THE COUNTY-THE TRAGEDIES AT YELLOW CREEK AND CAPTINA-THE DISASTROUS DUNMORE WAR- THE FOREMOST AMERICAN HERO- INE-SIEGE OF FORT HENRY-" WHISTLING TO START THE TUNES" -KILLING OF WILLIAM COCHRAN-THE TRAGEDY NEAR KIRKWOOD'S BLOCK-HOUSE.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
History inspires patriotism. It gives a classic character, a romantic value to the scenes of sacrifice and bloodshed enacted by the pioneers in opening up the primeval forest to civilization.
No people of any country or age made greater sacrifices for the benefit of posterity than the first settlers of the great North- west Territory. Virginia's claim to the Northwest Territory, of which Ohio was a part, was based on charters granted by James I of England, bearing date April 1, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1611, but for 158 years, while not relinquishing her claim, Virginia made little or no effort to exercise authority over it, until Gen. George Rogers Clark, an eminent Virginia
soldier during the War of the Revolution, while floating down the beautiful waters of the Ohio, remarked the fertility and wealth of its western bank.
Repairing immediately to the old colonial capital of Virginia, he interviewed Gov. Patrick Henry and said a country that is not worth defending is not worth claiming, and thereupon laid before the Governor a com- prehensive plan for capturing the whole Northwest Territory from the British and their savage allies. Patrick Henry approved the scheme and the Virginia Legislature ap- propriated ť12,000 for its execution.
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
Thus 25 years before Belmont County was organized Gen. George Rogers Clark of Virginia with less than 300 courageous Vir-
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I 2
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
ginians had captured every British fort in the Northwest Territory, and floated the stars and stripes over their battlements. When the Northwest Territory was thus thrown open to immigration, hundreds poured across the Ohio to occupy the land. Permit me to digress for a moment to speak of the sad fate of this gallant young Vir- ginia soldier, who achieved so much for the people of the Northwest Territory.
Judge Burnett, in narrating a visit to Gen. George Rogers Clark before his death, found him poor and broken in spirit, his private property sold for supplies furnished to the needy comrades that followed him to vic- tory.
He was a pauper and a bankrupt depend- ing upon his brother's bounty. Then it was that Virginia sent him a sword in recogni- tion of his gallantry. To his friend Judge Burnett he said: "When my country was in danger I furnished her a sword; when she is in peace and plenty and I am in need of bread, she sends me a sword." And this Revolu- tionary hero, the conqueror of the North- west Territory, died in poverty.
In 1888 through the efforts of Senator John Sherman, a national monument was placed above Gen. George Rogers Clark's humble grave.
It was not until the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain that Great Britain would admit the claim of the United States to the Northwest Territory However, the American commissioners in- sisted upon their claim upon the grounds of its capture by General Clark, and that claim after much contention was admitted by the conference. Previous to this, how- ever, Virginia had organized the Northwest Territory into the county of Illinois, a county lieutenant was appointed by Gov. Patrick Henry to regulate the unoccupied lands and. following the precedents of the French com- manders in the Northwest Territory, the court granted the settlers 48,000 acres of land and this continued until the cession of the territory to the United States by Vir
ginia in March, 1784, when land grants were forbidden by Congress.
Prior to the recovery of the Northwest Territory by General Clark, there had been a long and stubbornly contested war between France and England for the possession of the Ohio lands within the territory, a conten- tion in which the Indian tribes were divided, part being on the side of each contestant England finally conquered, and France by the treaty of 1763 ceded all these Ohio lands to England, who was in turn obliged to cede them to the United States in the treaty of 1783. because of their conquest by General Clark in the War of the Revolution.
After the cession of the Northwest Terri- tory by Virginia to the United States, Con- gress continued to pursue the policy of dis- couraging and preventing settlements within its limits until the Indian titles had been extinguished, and the lands were regularly surveyed and ready for sale.
As early as 1785 a number of settlement's were again attempted to be made on the west side of the Ohio, especially along the river front of Belmont County. The gov- ernment at once took action in the matter to prevent them, and finally resorted to force to expel the squatters and destroy their im- provements. The extent and location of these attempts at settlement at that early period within the present limits of Belmont County are shown by the report of Ensign Armstrong, who was sent down the river with a detachment of soldiers for the pur- pose of enforcing the government's order.
In 1785 Congress passed an ordinance for the survey and sale of certain lands in the Northwest Territory, included in which was the territory now known as Belmont County Previous to this, however, many squatters' claims were effected, cabins built and lands occupied from the Muskingum River cast to the Ohio and much trouble was antici pated, not only with the Indians, who still laid claims to the territory, but because of the conflicting claims of settlers.
Doddridge in his notes says: "Our people
-
I3
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
had become so accustomed to the mode of getting land by taking it up, that for a long time it was generally believed that the land on the west side of the Ohio would ultimately be disposed of in that way." Hence, almost the whole tract between the Ohio and Muskingum was parceled out in "tomahawk" improvements, but these latter improvers did not content themselves with a single 400-acre tract. Many of them laid claim to a greater number of tracts of the very best land, and thus in imagination were as wealthy as a "south sea dream." Many of the land jobbers of this class did not content themselves with marking the trees at the usual height, but climbed up the large beech trees, and cut their initials in the bark from 20 to 40 feet from the ground. In con- sequence of the refusal of the settlers along the west banks of the Ohio to remove in obedience to the orders issued by Congress Colonel Harmar was instructed to send a detachment of troops down the river to eject them by force, and destroy their improve ments. But many of the cabins were re built, and many of the claims re-occupied when the troops departed. This was notably true at Norristown, now Martin's Ferry, in 1785. Indeed at Norristown there had been formed a little colony consisting of 40 or 50 souls in opposition to Congressional orders and this society had elected Charles Norris and John Carpenter, justices of the peace It was here in 1788 that Capt. Absolem Mar- tin was granted by patent the land upon which Martin's Ferry now stands, and in 1795 he laid out a town and called it Jeffer- son, but, disappointed in his efforts to secure the county seat, he abandoned the town, be- lieving it could not succeed as a rival of Wheeling. Notwithstanding there were many squatters' claims established as early as 1780-85 and little colonies had been estab. lished at many points, perhaps the first legal claim was 2,000 acres of land granted Cap- tain Kirkwood by the government of Vir- ginia in appreciation of his gallant services in the Revolutionary War.
Of this hero Judge G. L. Cramer in a recent contribution to the West Virginia Historical Magazine, says:
66
REVOLUTIONARY HERO."
"During a recent visit made by the writer to the rooms of the Delaware Historical So- ciety at Wilmington in that State, among many other interesting curiosities which claimed his attention were the shoulder straps and military sash which were worn by Maj. Robert Kirkwood on that fatal field where the army of General St. Clair was de- feated by the Indians in the month of No- vember, 1791.
"The sight of these mementoes suggested the idea of collecting such data as bore upon the revolutionary life of this worthy and distinguished soldier and patriot in whichi we have not been altogether unsuccessful, but have secured enough to give a general idea of the deeds and character of the man upon which as upon a firm foundation rests his enduring fame and reputation.
"Robert Kirkwood was born in Mill Creek Hundred on a farm near to White Clay Creek Church in the State of Delaware.
"At the outbreak of the Revolution he was living with a married sister in Newark, Dela- ware, and was engaged in mercantile pur- suits.
"He abandoned his business before the formal declaration of war which at the time was threatened and enlisted as lieutenant in Col. John Haslet's regiment, which was mainly composed of members from the coun- ties of Newcastle and Kent. This was in the month of January, 1771.
"A few days after the reception of the news of the passage by Congress of the Dec- laration of Independence, orders were re- ceived for his regiment, then at Dover, Dela- ware, to march and report at the headquar- ters of the army, which were then located at New York. Upon its arrival there. it was brigaded with four Pennsylvania regiments and Smallwood's Maryland regiment.
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