A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 47

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 47

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

[NOTE-This article was submitted to Gerard Fowke, author of "Ar- chaeological History of Ohio," for suggestions and corrections. The Editor is indebted to him for the following:

"The Temple mound is still about 15 feet high, though much reduced by cultivation. The graded way to the top seems to have gone directly up on the south side of the mound."

"The terms 'Citadel,' 'Pleasure Ground,' and the like are to be consider- ed only convenient terms. Archaeologists are not ready, yet, to assign such names as indicative of known usages."

"The so-called 'mounds' at Hygean, Kinney's Hill and Bittersweet Hill, are entirely natural formations, though they may have been slightly dress- ed off at the summits to subserve some purpose of the builders of the mounds and walls in the vicinity. Stratified rock is to be found in all these hills; that is, if they are hills which have been pointed out to me as bearing these

names. The largest mound in Ohio, at Miamisburg, measures 68 feet high."

"The embankment at Turkey Creek is a natural formation; the two "indentations" are artificial, however, as is the mound mentioned."-Gerard Fowke.]

CHAPTER XI.

The Townships-A Separate and Complete History of Each from its Organization to the Present.

BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

was organized August 25, 1812. It was formed from Green, Lick and Madison Townships, but no part of the French Grant was to be included in it. The origin of the name cannot be learned.

The boundary of the township at first was as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of township No. 3, range 18; thence running north to the northeast corner of township No. 3, range 18; thence west to the southwest corner of township No. 3, range-19; thence south to the southwest corner of township No. 3, range 19; thence east to the place of beginning. A portion of Lawrence County's Territory was added to Scioto County, and the territory thus received was given to Bloom Township, to-wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 29, township 4, range 18: thence west to the southwest corner of section 6, in township and range aforesaid.

Among the first settlers, were Samuel Baker, Samuel Bennett, Ben- jamin Bennett, Jr., Joshua Gilman, Edgar Malone and others.

Bloom township has an area of 30,786 acres. It ranks third in area, sec- ond in population, outside of Wayne, fifth in value of real estate, fourth in personal property, and fifth in the total of both real estate and personal prop- erty.

Surface, Drainage and Products.

The surface in general is hilly, but most of it is tillable. The bottom land farms of Hale's and Pine Creek are very productive. The hills are used for grazing and for orchards.

This township is well watered by small streams. The most important ones are Hale's Creek which rises in Jackson County and flows in a general southerly direction and empties into Pine Creek which waters the Eastern part of the Township. Frederick Creek waters the western part of the Township and empties into the Little Scioto river. There is not much bottom land in the Frederick Valley, but the hills bordering on its banks are famous the world over for the immense banks of fire clay in them.

Large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes, oats, hay, and pumpkins are rais- ed and small crops of all things raised in Southern Ohio. The hills in partic- ular afford fine orchards of peaches and apples. Some cherries are grown as well as small quantities of other fruits. The farmers keep their farms well supplied with stock,-horses, cattle and sheep.

The people are of mixed origin, but most of them are of German extrac- tion. Irish, Welsh and English are numerous, however.

Industries.

The Lime Coal Works at Eifort employ about 100 men; the brick plant at South Webster near 200 men and the Clay mines on Frederick 75 men; the Buckeye brick yard at Scioto Furnace 75 men and Bloom Furnace 100 men.

Bloom Furnace located in the northwestern part of Bloom Township was built in 1830 by Christian Benner and two sons, Joshua and John. It was operated by different parties till 1874, when it went out of blast. In 1879, J. H. Simmons and Oliver Lyons bought the property and started the furnace. Simmons sold his interest to Clare and the Furnace has since been run under the name of The Clare Iron Company. It is now in a prosperous condition

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BLOOM TOWNSHIP.

for a charcoal furnace. Thomas McConnell is assistant manager and book- keeper for the Company. Eugene H. Clare is chief owner and manager.

Scioto Furnace was erected in 1828 by General William Kendall. It went into blast that year and was run by him for twelve months. He sold it to Salter and Dempsey, and they sold it to Harkness & Voorhees of Cincinnati. The last named firm kept it in blast till 1846. In that year Voorhees sold his interest to J. M. G. Smith. Harkness & Smith ran it till 1852 when Smith sold to J. W. Glidden and J. V. Robinson. The firm was called Robinson, Glidden & Company. This firm ran it until 1862 when the name was changed to Robinson & Company. The next change was to L. C. Robinson & Company, at the death of J. V. Robinson. Later Robinson sold a part of his share to Andrew Crawford and George S. Williams. This Company operated it until 1890 when Robinson failed and his interests went to Crawford. Williams and Wells A. Hutchins. In 1883, Crawford and Charles Leonard came into possession of the furnace and continued to operate it till 1892, when it made its last blast. The furnace lay idle from 1884 to 1886. It was dismantled in 1896 and A. T. Hol- comb is owner of the site.

Churches.

The Bloom Baptist Church located at South Webster was organized in 1830 at Bloom Switch, Ohio. Its present structure was built in 1859 on the corner of Tyrrel and Pearl streets. Its present pastor is Rev. R. R. Denny of Bidwell, Gallia County, Ohio. The building is worth $600.00. The member- ship is 75.

The M. E. Church was organized in 1826 by Rev. John R. Turner and Asa Ballinger. In 1853, its first building in South Webster was erected. its large new building cost $2,000.00. The pastor is Rev. H. K. Wishon, who is traveling this circuit for the third year.

The German Evangelical Church was organized in 1879 and its building was erected in 1880. Its first pastor was Rev. T. H. Yeager. Its pastor in 1902 is Rev. E. Kuensler.

The South Webster United Brethern Church was organized with 30 mem- bers and its building was erected in 1880. Its present pastor is Rev. Hauffman and its first pastor was Rev. G. W Tuttle.

Schools.

The Township schools are divided into 11 districts. The first school in the Township was taught by Lyman Daniels in a small house near the South Webster Cemetery. He was from New England and had twelve or fitteen pu- pils.

There is but one Special, District, that of South Webster, which is mention- ed under that topic. Bloom Township has had seven months schools for many years and has paid each teacher $35.00 per month. The enumeration of the Township is close to 1,000.

South Webster

was one of the first places settled in the Township. It was platted by John Bennett anI surveyed in 1853 by George S. Walton and William Tyrrell. Its population by census in 1900 was 441. Its manufactures are the Webster Fire Brick and Coal Company, as it was originally called, but now a part of the Portsmouth and Kentucky Fire Brick Company; and a Flour Mill owned by H. Pieper & Company. The Webster Fire Brick Company was organized in the fall of 1869.

BRUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Organization and Boundary.

Though formerly next to the largest it has been curtailed until it, at present, takes fourth rank among the townships in size, cantaining 30,766 acres. It was organized in 1820 from a part of Union Township. There have

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

been a number of minor changes in its boundary, but the most sweeping changes were made in 1878 and on January 10, 1891. On the former date all that part of Union, west of a line following the meanders of the East Fork of McCul- lough, Brush Creek and Bear Creek was cut off from Brush Creek and included in Union. On the latter date Rarden Township was organized from its terri- tory. It is the most irregular township and from the southwest to the north- east corners is a distance of fifteen miles. The narrowest place is about two miles. The records of the township have twice been destroyed by fire, the first time in 1867 and the last in 1883.

Officers.

Trustees, John Walsh, T. H. B. Jones, Taylor Cook; Clerk, John Hockaden; Treasurer, Thomas Breslau; Justices of the Peace, J. G. Freeman and R. K. Day.

The valuation of its property in 1900 was: Real estate, $109,580; personal, $10,699; total, $180,329. Its ranks among the townships outside of Wayne was: Real estate, 12th; personal, 9th; total, 11th.

Brush Creek received its first inhabitants probably before 1800. Among the first settlers were Christopher Oppy, John Liston, Perry Liston, Henry Caraway, James Jones, James Wilson, William White, Joseph and James Walker, Zanthus Kennedy and Peter Randall. Other of the early settlers may be found under Rarden Township. All that might be said about the charac- ter of its surface and its products has already been said under Rarden and Un- ion Townships and will not be repeated here. It is drained by Brush Creek and its tributaries, the principal of which is Rocky Fork, which has its begin- ning in the northwest part of Nile Township and enters this township at the southwest corner. Most of the township lies within its basin.

Otway.

Otway is a village of 274 people situated on the Portsmouth and Galena turnpike and on the line of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Brush Creek flows immediately west of it. The first house built in Otway was a log house, since removed, which stood just north of the brick house still standing, built by Moses Freeman in 1841. A post office was established in 1847, and Moses Freeman was the first postmaster. The office was abolished about 1850 and re-established about 1858. Freeman's house was a midway point between north Adams County and Portsmouth and many persons stopped there for the night.

Up to the time of the building of the Cincinnati and Eastern Railroad there was not even a hamlet here. But on the advent of the railroad, it be- came a station, and soon after a shipping point for the lumber products. Mar- garet and James Freeman platted the town and the plat was recorded March 29, 1884. It included 4.87 acres and contained twenty-one lots. July 30, 1886, Millie E., Margaret and James G. Freeman platted a new addition of nine lots, numbered from 22 to 30. This addition contained 1.38 acres and is known as Millie Freeman's Addition. September 27, 1887, the same parties platted a second addition containing 2.25 acres and known as the Margaret and Millie E. Freeman's Addition. It contained ten lots numbered from 32 to 41. The next addition was platted by James Oursler, E. K. Walsh and Levi Barker and is known as the Oursler Addition. The plat was recorded March 11, 1895 and contains nine-tenths of an acre, sub-divided into 9 lots, numbered from 42 to 50. The next addition was platted by Margaret and Millie E. and James G. Freeman, and is known as Margaret and Millie E. Freeman's Second Addi- tion. The plat was recorded February 28, 1890 and contained 2.26 acres sub- divided into 12 lots numbered from 51 to 62. The Ralstin Addition was platted by George and Joanna Ralstin. The plat was recorded February 13, 1890, and contained 3.15 acres sub-divided into 9 lots, numbered from 63 to 71.

The plat of Incorporation was made and recorded October 31, 1890, and included besides Otway proper, 106.49 acres of farm land.

The first officers of the place were Mayor J. G. Hazelbaker; Clerk, John S. Smith. The present officers are: Mayor, R. K. Day; Clerk, Charles Nort; Marshal, Simon Crow; Council, James Walsh, George Ralstin, John Pieper, J. F. Gordon, G. W. Chabot, Levi Plummer; Treasurer, Thomas Breslau.

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BRUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Mills.

L. Pieper & Co., Flouring Mill, was built in 1896 by Pieper and Whistler. This mill is fitted up with four double stands of Barnard and Lease rollers and has the Plan Sifter and bolting system. It has a grist-mill attached and all is run by steam.

Pieper and Paeltz own and operate a large saw-mill which they built in 1900. It stands on the same site as the stone mill formerly stood and the same building is used. They manufactured all kinds of quartered and plain lumber, rim strips, chair and table stuffs, etc. The only lodge in this place is Smith Lodge, K. of P. No. 387.

Churches.

The Methodist Church was organized in 1896 and a tasteful edifice was erected in 1898 at a total cost of $2,200. The first pastor was Rev. Wayne Runyan. The present trustees are: J. J. Pieper, Joel Gillett, Dr. J. F. Gordon, Jamies Moon, Joseph Smith and Vance Davis. It has 90 members and an aver- age attendance of 45 in the Sunday School. J. J. Pieper is Superintendent. Rev. Mitchell Phillips is the pastor.

The Christian Union Church was organized in 1867, and held its meetings in the Dry Run school house. In 1869, a church was erected. This stood until 1899, when a new and modern structure costing $2,500 was erected. The church has grown from 12 to 125 members. The Sunday school averages 70. The pastor is Rev. R. A. M. Johnson.

Holcomb City,

situated on the line of the Norfolk and Western Railroad and midway be- tween Rarden and Otway, was platted April 17, 1894, by M. O. Maddy. Thir- ty-one acres were included in the plat and there were 151 lots numbered from 1 to 151. A great effort was made to boom the place but it has not succeeded. The postoffice is Young.

What is known as the Dry Run Church stands about three hundred yards east of this hamlet. The organization has been in existence for probably sev- enty-five years. The present frame structure was erected in 1888. The membership numbers 35 and the Sunday School averages 25. Miles P. Thompson is Superintendent and Rev. Mitchell Phillips is the pastor.

Other churches in this township are the Oswego Baptist and the Oswego Methodist churches and the Berea Methodist Church near Pink postoffice on Rocky Fork.

Schools.

The first school house in the township stood one mile south of Otway where George Hazelbaker's dwelling now stands. It was a log house and was abondoned about 1830. Before the division of Brush Creek to create Rarden Township there were thirteen sub-districts. At present there are eight. A uniform salary of $30 per month is paid to the teachers. The term of school is five months in the year.

The first school in Otway was taught by James G. Freeman in 1870 in a small building owned by him. It later became sub-district No. 12, in Brush Creek Township and finally a special district in 1890. A new two room build- ing was erected that year at a cost of $1,200. In 1900 another room was added. The teachers in 1902-3 and their salaries were R. K. Day, $45; Lora Sprad- dling, $35; Mattie Boynton, $35.

Cemeteries.

One of the oldest cemeteries in this locality is the Dry Run Cemetery near Young Station. It dates back to 1818 and contains the remains of a number of the early pioneers. It is a part of Survey No. 2,802 owned by Thomas Rarden. When he sold his land he reserved this spot for burial pur- poses.

The Garvin Cemetery is located one and a half miles from Otway on the road to Henley.

The Smith Cemetery is one and a half miles from Otway on the bank of Rocky Fork.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

Organization and Boundary.

This township was organized June 7, 1826, and was cut off from the north and east parts of Wayne township. The original boundary was as fol- lows: Beginning at the northwest corner of section 17, in township 1, and range 21; thence east with the line of Massie's original surveys to the north- west corner of William Lawson's survey; thence south with Lawson's line to the run called Lawson's Run; thence with the meanders of said run to the Ohio; thence up said river to the southwest corner of fraction 12; thence north with Porter township line to the southwest corner of section 13, in township 2 and range 21; thence east one mile; thence north one mile; thence west with the section line to the Scioto river; thence down said river, with the meanders thereof, to the place of beginning. The boundary was changed June 7, 1832, so as to include all of section 13, township 2, range 21, which formerly consti- tuted a part of Harrison. There have been seventeen additions to the city of Portsmouth taken from the territory of Clay township, and the boundary line between Portsmouth and Clay at present is approximately as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of section 17, township 1, range 21; thence east with the section line to the southwest corner of the Wilson addition; thence north and east with the lines of said addition to the Chillicothe turn- pike; thence north with said turnpike to Kinney's Lane; thence with Kinney's lane to the northeast corner of the German Catholic Cemetery in the section line between sections 8 and 9 of township 1, range 21; thence south with said section line to the southwest corner of section 9; thence east with south line of said section to the northeast corner of William F. Lawson's 15.80 acre tract near Lawson's run; thence southerly following the east line of Mary A. Young's farm and the meanders of said run by straight lines to the north side of the Portsmouth and Haverhill turnpike; thence west along the north line of said turnpike to Vinton Street; thence crossing to the south side of said turnpike; thence east with the south side of said turnpike to the west line of the Peebles' farm; thence south with said west line of said farm to what was formerly known as Queen's Run; thence with the meanders of said run to where it joins with Lawson's Run; thence with Lawson's Run to its mouth.

Rank, Officers, Etc.

The township lies just north of Wayne and the eastern two thirds bord- ers on the Ohio. The Scioto bounds it on the west. Valley and Jefferson border it on the north and Harrison and Porter lie on the east of it. It is eleventh in size and contains 17,585 acres. The population by the census of 1900 was 1,764 and its rank is fourth. It takes first place among the town- ships in the valuation of its real estate; second place in the valuation of its personal property; and first in the grand total of valuation of property of all kinds. The valuation of property as taken from the Auditor's duplicate for the year 1901 is as follows: real estate, $555,620; personal property, $225,294; total of real and personal, $780,914. In pursuance of the call for an election for the choosing of officers, the voters of the township assembled at Clough's Mill, June 23, 1826, and elected the following officers: Trustees, Gabriel Feurt, Asa A. Andrews and Enoch Lawson; Clerk, Turner M. Mastin; Treasurer, Dennis Smith; Justice of the Peace, Jacob Noel; Constable, Jonathan Cutler. The present officers are: Trustees, Peter Somer, John Hogan and Philip Emmert; Clerk, Albert C. Feurt; Assessor, George McDaniel; Constable, William Alber- son; Justices of the Peace, Thomas C. Lantz and William Harper. The town- ship is divided into two precincts for voting purposes. The voting place in Precinct A is at the school house in Sub-district No. 3 near the residence of Philip Bobst. Precinct B is at New Boston and a building was erected here in 1896 at a cost of $174.50, for voting purposes and township use.

Surface, Drainage and Products.

From the location of this township, bordering as it does on the Scioto and Ohio rivers, it possesses much good farming lands. The Scioto bottoms

Mrs. Rachel Bickley. Mrs. Sarah A. Renshaw. Mrs. Eliza Cady. Mrs. Margaret Hall. Mrs. Nancy Walker. Mrs. Maria Tracy. Mrs. Elizabeth Gates. THE SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF AARON KINNEY.

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

extend entirely along its western side and are from one half to two miles wide. Each year the Ohio floods inundate much of this territory and a deposit of rich sediment is left upon its surface, renewing its fertility annually. Nothing but corn is grown in these lowlands and they are admirably adapted to this product. No richer corn land could be found in the state. Back from the riv- ers, the land is hilly, yet it affords some excellent upland farms. The original timber has almost disappeared, and a scant second growth has taken its place. On the south hill sides peach and apple orchards are planted and much small fruit is raised, such as strawberries, raspberries, grapes, etc.

The mineral wealth of the township is mostly in its shale which is used in the manufacture of paving brick. The Portsmouth Paving Brick Company has a mine about two and a half miles north of Portsmouth and a new mine is being opened about two miles east of Portsmouth by the Peebles Paving Brick Company. At New Boston this stratum of shale is about 150 feet thick and the supply is unlimited. It increases in thickness going west and under- lies the whole township. Above this there is some little fire-clay but not in paying quantities. A very thin layer of coal can be traced along the face of the Ohio river hills but it is not of any value. About one mile north of Portsmouth on the farm of W. R. Kinney, there is a bank of red sand of very fine quality for moulding purposes. Much of this is shipped to Waverly and Columbus and there is an almost inexhaustible quanity of it. The township is well water- ed by small tributaries of the Ohio and Scioto rivers. Munn's Run and Long Run have their sources in the northeastern part of the township. The former flows to the southeast and empties in the Ohio just above New Boston, and forms a narrow but productive valley which is inhabited principally by Germans and their descendants. The same may be said of Long Run which flows to the northeast and leaves the township west of the northeast corner. Lawson's Run takes its rise in the river hills and courses down just east of Portsmouth and forms a part of the boundary between the corporation of Portsmouth and Clay township.

Schools.

As soon as the township was organized provisions were made at once for schools. The township was sub-divided into four sub-districts and were numbered serially from 1 to 4, commencing on the north along the Scioto and following down the valley, thence up the. Ohio. No. 1 school building is lo- cated on the George Davis farm. No. 2, on the farm of M. J. Noel. No. 3, on the Hannah Briggs farm, and No. 4, on the Jacob Offnere farm east of Portsmouth. The first three are on the Portsmouth and Columbus turnpike. No. 4, was commonly known as the "Red School House." In 1855, a new dis- trict was added and numbered 5. The same year new houses were erected in Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5. The first three cost $500 each, and the cost of the building in the newly constituted district was $350. In 1855 the township ap- propriated $100 to purchase bookcases for each sub-district and each school had a collection of from 20 to 30 volumes. A new school house was built in sub- district No. 5, in 1875, at a cost of $459.95. Sub-district No. 6, wes established from a portion of the territory in sub-district No. 4. A building was erected at a cost of $525. In 1881, a new building was put up in sub-district No. 4. cost, $737. A new school house was built in sub-district No. 3, in 1885, at a cost of $700. In 1887, a new building was erected in sub-district No. 2. The Board of Education established sub-district No. 7, in 1892, from sub-districts Nos. 3 and 4, and erected a house at a cost of $660. A new building was furnished for sub-district No. 1, in 1889, cost $645. Sub-district No. 8, or what was known as the Lawson Heights district was set apart in 1893 and was formerly parts of sub-districts 4 and 7. A new school house was constructed, costing $753. The growth of this suburb of Portsmouth made it necessary in 1897 to rent a build- ing for school purposes and three' teachers were employed and the schools were graded into three departments. Another building was rented in 1899. The schools were transferred to and became a part of the Portsmouth school system, April 19, 1901. The rapid growth of New Boston made it necessary to establish a school there in 1895. A room was rented for school purposes. on May 9, 1896, a new building was ordered for New Boston and the "Red School House" was ordered moved to Earlytown. A new sub-district, No. 9, was instituted for Earlytown in 1897 and New Boston became No. 4. The build-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

ing at New Boston is a frame structure and was built strong enough to support a second story. Three teachers were employed here for a year or two, and rooms were rented for school use. At present there are two schools. A second room was rented in Earlytown in 1898, to accomodate the increased number of school youths, and two teachers were employed. The Earlytown schools or sub-div- trict No. 9, were transferred to Portsmouth with the Lawson Heights schools, April 19, 1901. The teachers in the schools of the township are among the best best in the county. A uniformi salary of $42 per month is paid in all sub- districts, and the term of school lasts from eight to nine months. Pupils passing the Boxwell examinations are sent to the Portsmouth High School.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 47

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612