USA > Ohio > Adams County > A history of Adams County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the country's growth > Part 53
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The first petition for initiation was that of Andrew B. Ellison, who will be remembered by many of our readers as one of the principal mer- chants of Manchester at that time, and who long since laid down the working tools of life after a long, honorable and praiseworthy career. The second petition was from Captain William Kirker.
The first death among the members was that of Benjamin Bowman, which occurred April 1, 1860, and he was buried by the Order in the old cemetery at Manchester.
The records of the lodge show that the good old custom of visiting was practiced to a great extent during the early years of its existence. West Union, Aberdeen, Ripley, Winchester, Locust Grove, and Concord, Ky., often being represented at the same communication. And this same custom is, we are happy to note, like Masonic landmarks, kept regularly and is one of the social ties of Free Masonry which has ever characterized Manchester Lodge.
Among the bright Masonic lights who have sat under the sound of the gavel in Manchester Lodge, are noticed the names of Cornelius Moore, who so ably edited the Masonic Review for so many years at Cin- cinnati. Also, John M. Barrere, one of the best informed Masons in the State in his day, and many others of prominence and note in the councils of the Order, each of whom in his own peculiar way contributed to the edification of the brethren.
The lodge when first organized met in the J. N. Kirker building at the corner of Second and Pike Streets. It afterward moved to the frame building on West Front Street, now owned by James Taylor. The first meeting of the lodge in its present quarters, the Ellison Building, at the southwest corner of Second and Pike Streets was held on the evening of December 22, 1866, and the records show that on February 23, 1867,
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the hall was formally dedicated under the personal direction of Howard Mathews, then Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ohio, ably assisted by Robert Gwynn, of Kentucky, an eminent Mason and Masonic author. Alfred Pennywitt had the honor to be Master of the lodge on this inter- esting occasion. At the time of the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion, the lodge was in its infancy and when the call for troops was her- alded over the land, many of its members not forgetting one of the first charges to a Free Mason upon his initiation to be a good and true man, obeyed the teachings of the Order, laid down the implements of a peace- ful life, and the Masonic working tools, and went forth to battle and in some cases to die for the country they loved, reflecting high honor upon themselves and their mother lodge. Among those of the members of this lodge who served the country most gallantly in her hour of peril were Maj. Ephriam J. Ellis of the 33rd O. V. I., who fell at Stone River ; Capt. D. R. Shriver; Capt. N. W. Foster ; Capt. Wilson Foster; Col. Henry I .. Phillips; Capt. John Taylor ; Gen. A. T. Wikoff; Capt. Lafayette Foster ; John W. Pownall and J. W. Rogers. The names of all the members of Manchester Lodge who served in the army were published in the Masonic Review of Cincinnati. The brethren of the lodge appreciating their services remitted all their dues during their term of services. After the war closed and the boys came home crowned with honors, they received a royal welcome from their brethren.
Who can best work and best agree is a virtue which has always act- uated the members of Manchester Lodge, and their labors were not in vain, as the records show there have been one hundred and eighty-three initiations, to say nothing of those who affiliated from other lodges; and, after deducting all who have died, been suspended, and expelled or with- drawn, the report to the Grand Lodge in the fall of 1898 showed a mem- bership of one hundred and two in good and regular standing. Man- chester Lodge is up to date in every particular. The work is placed on the floor in a masterly manner which is evidenced by the large number of visiting brethren from other lodges who always find a cordial welcome and much favorable comment is expressed on the number of skilled work- men among the membership of Manchester Lodge. Of the original charter members only four are living: George W. Sample, aged 92; James N. Brittingham, 80; David Dunbar, 79 and William A. Shriver, 72 years The following is a list of Past Masters: Henry W. Copple, James N. Brittingham, E. J. Ellis, Thomas D. Parker, A. B. Ellison. J. W. Pownall, Alfred Pennywitt, David Dunbar, Lafayette Foster, John F. Games, Henry Collings, John K. Dunbar. S. N. Greenlee, J. W. Jones, W. N. Watson, A. J. McIntire and Frank F .. Reynolds ; James E. Mott, now presiding. All of the above are living at this writing except Copple, Parker, Ellis, Ellison and Foster.
The first regular communication under its charter was held on the evening of November 7, 1859, whereupon an election of officers was had and the following named brethren were elected as the first regular officers : James N. Brittingham, W. M .; George W. Sample, S. W .; Andrew B. Ellison, J. W .; William A. Shriver, Treas .; David Dunbar, Secy .; John W. Pownall, S. D .; Thomas D. Parker, J. D .; Perry T. Connelly, Tiler. The first visiting brother named in the records was Rev. John C. Maddy who ably filled the pulpit of the M. E. Church in Manchester at
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MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP
that time. Nathaniel Massie was also a frequent visitor. He was the son of Nathaniel Massie, the founder of Manchester. Manchester Lodge made a handsome contribution to the Masonic Home at Springfield and a private contribution was raised among the members sufficient to furnish a room in elegant style and the room named in honor of the lodge; and, one of the oldest members of Manchester Lodge, Jason McDermod, is now one of the inmates of the Masonic Home. The foregoing history of Man- chester Lodge though brief should cause the present members to feel that loyal pride with which its excellent founders were imbued when
"Each felt a weight of care A solemn charge o'erspread, Each toiled in earnest there With busy hand and head."
MANCHESTER CHAPTER, NO. 129, ROYAL ARCH MASONS. By JOHN K. DUNBAR.
During the spring of 1871 an effort was made by a number of Royal Arch Masons in and around Manchester to further the growth of Capit- . ular Masonry, whereupon a formal application was made for a dispensation to institute a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Manchester, signed by the following named companions hailing from different Chapters, to-wit: A. T. Wikoff, W. B. Cole, R. A. Stephenson, A. P. Pownall, Harrison Warner, E. C. Pollard, R. S. Daily, Thomas P. Foster, Jno. P. Bloom- huff, G. G. Games, John Sparks, John M. Freeman, M. S. Jeffries, R. M. Owens, Thomas M. Games, Nathaniel Massie. The application was for- . warded to the Most Excellent High Priest together with maps showing location and distances of Blue Lodges in the jurisdiction. The applica- tion received favorable consideration and on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1871, a dispensation was granted by Charles C. Keifer, Grand High Priest, empowering them to open a Chapter and confer the degrees of Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch.
Being now fully empowered to work, the first regular convocation was held on the evening of July 12, 1871, and on the same evening five petitions were received, namely : Junius N. Higgins, David Dunbar, L. L. Edgington, William Kirker and H. B. Gaffin.
The first three officers appointed by the Grand High Priest were Thomas P. Foster, High Priest; Thomas M. Games, King; and Robert A. Stephenson, Scribe.
Under their dispensation the companions worked along until the con- vocation of the Grand Chapter on the twenty-sixth day of September, 1871, at which convocation they were regularly granted a charter. The companions of Manchester Chapter worked with fervency and zeal and as a reward have the satisfaction to know that Manchester Chapter No. 129 sends the names of more members in their annual report to the Grand Chapter than any other Chapter between Cincinnati and Portsmouth. David Dunbar has been the Secretary of Manchester Chapter for twenty- eight consecutive years.
HAWKEYE TRIBE NO. 117 IMP. O. R. M .- This lodge was instituted May 27. 1887, with W. V. Cooley. Sachem ; J. H. Brawner, Prophet : J. W. Guthridge. Senior Sagamore : D. B. Phillips, Junior Sagamore; H. C. Doddridge, Chief of Record; and William Charles, Keeper of Wampum.
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY
Manchester Public Schools.
It is said that the first schoolhouse stood near the southeast corner of the plat of ground now known as the old cemetery, and that Israel Donalson, a pioneer schoolmaster, accountant and surveyor, was the first tcacher. The date of this building has been fixed by some writers as early as 1794, but the writer is of the opinion that the first school building was not erected before 1796. Mr. Donalson wielded the rod there for several terms when he was succeeded by John Barritt, another pioneer school- master and once Sheriff of Adams County. He was followed by William Dobbins, a son of Rev. Robert Dobbins, whose biography appears else- where in this volume.
This house was constructed of logs with one door and two windows, the latter made by cutting out a log from each side of the building. One of the spaces was filled with a row of glass and the other with oiled paper. There was an old-fashioned fire-place in one end of the room, where fire- wood, six feet in length, could be used. The floor and seats were of puncheons. In that time, there was a practice of having "loud" schools. All study and any communication were aloud, and the lessons were some- times sung in concert, The text books used in that building were Web- ster's Spelling Book, the English Reader and Pike's Arithmetic. Gram- mar was not introduced until 1818 when Lindley Murray's celebrated work was used. Geography was never taught in the log schoolhouse.
In 1828, the log schoolhouse was replaced by a brick building. The furniture consisted of a few long desks adjoining the walls for the use of the larger pupils, while the seats of the smaller ones were made of rough slabs without any backs. James Smith, afterward a member of the Ohio Legislature, taught the first term in the new building. He was succeeded by J. T. Crapsey who had edited an Anti-Masonic newspaper at West Union, and he by William Robe, afterward a noted surveyor in the Vir- ginia Military District. The following are among the persons said to have taught in this building: Jane Dickinson, Jane Williamson, Andrew Crawford, George Burgess, Robert Buck, David and John Pennywitt, Edward Burbage, Thomas Hayslip, R. R. Case, Andrew Mannon, Wil- liam McCalla and Parker Douglas. Judge James L. Coryell, Jesse and Jeremiah Ellis obtained their first lessons in surveying from Willian Mc- Calla. The use of the rod as a means of discipline was general. It was used indiscriminately without regard to age or sex, and yet the discipline was not good.
On October 17, 1853, it was determined by the School Board of Man- chester to have two schools. At that time there were two hundred and eighty-three pupils and William McCalla was the teacher.
On the fourth of May, 1855, the Board, having purchased the west end of out-lot number eighteen, contracted to place a schoolhouse thereon, of brick, fifty feet long by twenty-four feet wide, two stories high, and it was estimated to cost eight hundred dollars. It was opened at the be- ginning of the year 1856.
The question of a graded school was voted on at a special election held August 11, 1856, under the Act of February 1, 1849, known as the Akron Law. The proposition of graded schools carried by a majority of thirty-nine votes. John B. Enness, Lacy Payton, David Gillespie, Dr. Joseph Stableton, David Dunbar and John Parks were elected to carry out the determination of the voters. John McClung was the first teacher
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UNION SCHOOL BUILDING, MANCHESTER
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MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP
employed by this Board at fifty dollars a month. However, it was only a graded school, in name, and not in reality. The course of study was de- termined by the teachers. From 1856 to 1875, there were no less than fifteen principals, during which the average term of service was less than one and one-third school years. The following were among the prin- cipals : John McClung, M. J. Lewis, W. W. Ramsey, James Williams, J. Gregg, J. L. Craig, G. W. Herrick, William Coleman, J. B. Jones, S. T. Kenyon, J. P. Norris, A. N. Stowell, A. L. Mehaffey, James McColm, J. H. Compton, J. F. McColm and William Tugman. In the fall of 1875, it was determined by the Board of Education that the schools should be graded in fact as well as in name, and Hon. L. J. Fenton, Superintendent of the Schools, was authorized to outline a course of study, which was adopted, and the course was made twelve years, three of which were in the High School. In the year 1877, the first senior class was organized in the High School and graduating exercises were held on the first of May, 1878, at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1880, the citizens decided to erect a new building. It was com- menced in July and the work was finished on the twenty-ninth of Novem- ger, 1880. In December of that year, Mr. Fenton resigned as Superin- tendent, and was succeeded by Mr. W. A. Clark, who resigned in 1881. . H. G. Pollock was Superintendent in 1882 and 1883. In 1883, T. J. Cur- rey was elected Superintendent. On the seventh of May, 1885, J. W. Jones was elected Superintendent and served ten years. His administra- tion markd a new era in the history of the Manchester schools. The course of study was modified to meet the demands of the schools. With- out neglecting the required branches, he introduced new subjects of study, and infused a new spirit into the modes of learning. In 1895, he resigned and Franklin E. Reynolds, who had served as principal of the High School during the last three years of Mr. Jones' administration, was elected Superintendent. Mr. Reynolds was well qualified for the place and dis- charged his duties most admirably. He resigned in 1899, and was suc- ceeded by Prof. D. S. Clinger, the present Superintendent of the Schools. Mr. Clinger, in his work, has kept it up to the high mark started by Prof. Jones, and the school has been fully maintained as it was under Prof. Jones.
The present Board of Education consists of M. F. Crissman, A. J. McIntire, R. A. Stephenson, M. D., F. C. McColm, W. H. Pownall, and John G. Lindsey.
The teachers are as follows: D. S. Clinger, Superintendent; H. E. Dening, Principal of High School; Miss Lizzie Lang, Assistant Prin- cipal High School; Nannie Kimball, Grammar Department; Winona Naylor, Third Intermediate; Edna Lee Hines, Second Intermediate; Eliz- abeth Walden, First Intermediate; Lucy Hayslip, Primary Intermediate; Maud Pownall, Third Primary; Cora Phillips, Second Primary; Edith Puntenney, First Primary, male; Allie Trichler, First Primary, female.
From 1880 until the present time, the school has increased from six to twelve departments. There are now two large two-story brick build- ings, well equipped with apparatus, and a well selected library. In 1881 the commodious building shown in the engraving was erected.
The following is the enumeration in Manchester Special District for the current year: White males, 332; females, 271. Colored males, II ; females 13.
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY
REMINISCENCES.
The first mill erected in the county was a little "tub-wheel" built by Nathaniel Massie on Island Creek about two miles from Manchester, Before the completion of this mill, the settlers at Manchester went to Limestone to have their grinding done, or used a small hand-mill at the Stockade. Some of the pioneers pounded their corn into a coarse meal on a block, sifting the larger particles out for hominy. The younger members of the family were kept busy shelling, drying, and pounding, or sometimes grating on the cob, corn for meal, as both processes were slow and laborious.
Ellison's Brick "Hoose."
In 1807 John Ellison built the first brick house in Manchester down near the river bank where the old St. Charles Hotel used to stand. It was the wonder and admiration of all the country round, and Mr. Ellison, re- cently from the "Emerald Isle," was so pleased with his new dwelling that he took his wife, Mary, in a canoe and paddled over to the Kentucky shore to get the enchantment that distance lends; and the view was so sat- isfactory that he exclaimed: "Mollie, it looks more like a palace than a hoose !"
The First Steamboat on the Ohio.
The first steamboat to ply the waters of the Ohio, was the "New Orleans" built at Pittsburgh, and which came down past Manchester in December, 1811. The next was the "Aetna," early in the spring of 1812. Before. this date pirogues and flatboats were "cordelled" on the waters of the Ohio when ascending the stream. It took four weeks to go by one of these pirogues from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh. Jacob Myers, who owned a fleet of four pirogues, advertised in The Centinel of the North- west Territory, in 1793, that he would insure passengers on his boats against harm from the Indians, as his crafts were armored and pro- vided with portholes.
Lynching of Old Bill Terry.
On Saturday morning, November 22, 1856, a negro named William Terry, committed an outrage on Mrs. Morrison, of Manchester, whose husband at the time was absent. Terry was promptly arrested and lodged in jail at West Union. When Mr. Morrison returned and learned the facts as to the conduct of the black fiend, the better citizens of the town decided that summary punishment ought to be inflicted on the offender, and on Tuesday the 25th, arrangements were completed to go to West Union to secure Terry to mete out to him deserved punishment. Citizens to the number of over one hundred on horseback accompanied several persons in a wagon to the county seat where court was in session trying Milligan for the murder of the Senter family. They broke down the jail door and secured Terry and returned to Manchester by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After giving the offender a little time to arrange his worldly affairs, he was taken over to Manchester Island, which is under the juris- diction of. the State of Kentucky, and hanged him to a limb of a large sycamore that stood at the west end near the water's edge next the Ohio shore. His body was cut down and buried at the foot of the tree from which he was hanged, but it is said the remains were exhumed by med- ical students that night.
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CHAPTER VII.
MEIGS TOWNSHIP
As will be seen in the chapter devoted to Reorganization of the Ter- ritorial Townships, Meigs Township was formed at the December session of the Board of County Commissioners, in the year 1806, and was named for Return Jonathan Meigs, the second Governor of Ohio. The elections were ordered to be held at the house of Peter Wickerham who then con- ducted a tavern in the present brick residence of Jacob Wickerham at Palestine.
Surface and Soil.
The surface in the west is undulating with here and there compara- tively level tracts of poor white oak land. In the east and southeast it is rough and hilly, and in places mountainous, as southeast of the old Steam Furnace and in the vicinity of Mineral Springs. Here as is stated in the chapter on Geology and Mineralogy, are some of the most elevated knobs in the county. The soil varies from the rich alluvial bottoms of Ohio Brush Creek and its tributaries to the barren shales of the slate and sandstone capped knobs. The ferruginous soil of the cliff limestone stratum is very productive, as also the covelands in the marl stratum.
Villages and Postoffices.
JACKSONVILLE, on the Limestone and Chillicothe turnpike at the top of Brush Creek hill, was laid out by William Thomas in 1815, and named in honor of "Old Hickory," then the military hero of the country. A postoffice was established there about the above date with James Dun- bar as postmaster. The postoffice was discontinued in 1827, but after- ward re-established and called Dunbarton. The village is now rapidly declining in population and commercial importance from its proximity to the new town of Peebles, on the C. P. & V. Railroad.
NEWPORT, at the junction of the West Fork and the East Fork of Ohio Brush Creek, was laid out by James Kirkpatrick in 1819. At that time the Marble Furnace, a few miles from Newport, was flourishing and the postoffice for the locality was located there. In 1869 a postoffice named Wilson, in honor of Hon. John T. Wilson, then in Congress from Adams County, was established at Newport with William R. Rodgers as postmaster. The commercial importance of the village has improved with the building of the C. P. & V. Railroad.
MINERAL SPRINGS is a postoffice and health resort in the southeast- ern portion of the township, four miles from Mineral Springs Station on the C. P. & V. Railroad. A postoffice was established there in 1872 with B. Salisbury as postmaster.
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HISTORY. OF ADAMS COUNTY
PEEBLES, in the north part of the township on the Cincinnati, Ports- mouth and Virginia Railroad, sprang up with the completion of this rail- road through Meigs Township, in 1881. It was named, at the sugges- tion of N. W. Evans, for John G. Peebles, of Portsmouth, who sub -. scribed liberally toward the completion of the railroad from Winchester to Portsmouth. It is now one of the thriving, bustling, villages of the county with a population of about 1,000 inhabitants.
Schools.
The village school at Peebles is the largest in the township. The enumeration for the present year is: Males, 107; females, 122. There are four departments sustained and the schools are in a flourishing con- dition. There are fourteen sub-districts in the township with the follow- ing enumeration of pupils :
No.
Males.
Females.
No.
Males.
Females.
I
25
32
8
24
17
2
26
27
9
27
32
3
34
15
IO
30
28
4
25
14
JI
31
28
5
34
38
12
19
18
6
27
19
13
28
36
7
IO
5
14
31
34
The Mineral Springs.
These celebrated Springs are situated nineteen miles north from Rome on the Ohio River, and four miles south from Mineral Spring Sta- tion on the Cincinnati, Portsmouth and Virginia Railroad, in a delight- ful valley, and flow from the base of a mountain, surrounded by scenery the most picturesque and beautiful.
The chemical analysis of these waters show them to be very highly charged with gas, and to contain 205.35 grains of solids to the gallon. These are composed of chloride of magnesia, sulphate of lime, carbonate of lime, chloride of calcium, chloride of sodium, oxide of iron and iodine.
There is a large and commodious hotel with hot and cold baths, and numerous rustic cottages for the accommodation of guests. These Springs afford a sequestered retreat to those seeking respite from the cares of business, or in need of the refreshing influence of mountain scenery and climate. The buildings are located with a view to the health and comfort of visitors, at the base of Peach Mountain or "Grassy Hill," which casts a shadow over them at four o'clock in the evening, making the nights cool and pleasant, so that when it is too warm to sleep elsewhere, the tired and careworn can enjoy a refreshing night's rest at this resort.
There is a beautiful chapel on the grounds for the church-going guests, and a commodious amusement hall for the entertainment of those seeking diversion in bowling, billiards, dancing and such recreation.
There are telegraph and telephone connections with the hotel. The present proprietor, S. R. Grimes, a scion of one of the prominent pioneer families of Adams County, is a most affable and accommodating host.
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MEIGS TOWNSHIP
REMINISCENCES.
*In the vicinity of the Sproull bridge over Ohio Brush Creek in this township was the pioneer home of Peter Shoemaker, a brother of Simon Shoemaker, a pioneer, also, of that vicinity. In the summer of 1796, a daughter of Peter Shoemaker's was stolen by a band of Indians and car- ried away to their village on the Little Miami in the vicinity of the present town of Xenia. In after years this daughter, who had grown up and mar- ried an Indian, was discovered by some whites and returned to her kin- dred on Brush Creek, where she afterwards married and reared a family.
U. S. Mail Robbed.
In May, 1827, in the palmy days of the old stage coach line from Maysville to Chillicothe, the mail was robbed between West Union and Sinking Springs. As the bag was never recovered it was supposed that it had been thrown into Ohio Brush Creek after being rifled of its con- tents. Suspicion pointed to a prominent resident of Jacksonville as be- ing concerned in the robbery, and who fled the country, and William Mc- Colm, then postmaster at West Union, offered a reward of fifty dollars for his apprehension and confinement in any jail in the United States so that he might be brought to answer to the charge. The robber was never apprehended.
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