A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 52

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 52

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).

The Baptist Church was organized in 1879 by J. N. Clark, The first minister was J. A. Roberts. For the past ten years there have been no regu- Iar services.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.

Among the first settlers in the Ohio valley between Ironton and Ports- mouth, there were a number of Catholics. The work about the iron furnaces of Scioto County, attracted Catholic immigrants from Germany. The Catho- lies of Wheelersburg were attended in the early days by priests from Cin- cinnati, who made regular trips up the Ohio Valley as far as Steubenville. Among those whose names are known are those of Rev. Emmanuel Thien- pont and Rev. Father Hengehold. Religious services were held in private houses. When a church was built at Portsmouth, Catholics of Wheelersburg attended services there.

By 1850 eleven Catholic families had gathered at Lick Run. The names of some of the pioneer Catholics were Eberhard Frische, Henry Lipker, Michael Delabar, John Mossman, Christopher Flanagan, Louis Deutremont, Mrs. Abi- gail Cranston, Gerhard Rolf, John H. Riepenhoff and John Kundel. With the aid of these men, the Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont built a log church on Lick Run, It was placed on the top of a hill on the farm of Eberhard Frische. Ser- vices were held at intervals by priests who came from Portsmouth or Pine Grove.

Rev. D. M. Winands erected a parsonage in the autumn of 1863 and in November of the same year, the Rev. Louis J. Schrieber arrived and became the first resident pastor.

Father Schrieber remained three years. After him there came the fol- lowing pastors: Rev. H. H. Mayrose, Charles F. Schelhamer, John B. Gamben Aloysius Nonnen, F. Karge, Alexander Istwann, F. Albert, J. Neumayer, Pet- er J. Weisenberger, Philip Kuemmert and P. F. Thurheimer, who lived at Lick Run for shorter or longer periods ranging, from a few months to several years.

When Rev. John B. Ritter assumed charge in March, 1880, he found the log church too small, the location bad and the road to it impassable. He took measures to build a new church on a better site. A frame church costing $3,000.00 dollars was built on the turnpike on Dogwood Ridge, a mile from Wheelersburg. It was dedicated by Bishop Watterson in November of 1885. The old parsonage at Lick Run was removed to the new location.

Rev. Joseph M. Wehrle succeeded Father Ritter in 1889. He was pas- tor for six years and improved greatly the parsonage and church yard. In January, 1895, Rev. T. A. Goebel assumed charge. During the seven years of

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his administration the interior of the church was much improved and beauti- fied. In January, 1902, Rev. James T. Banahan was appointed to succeed Father Goebel. He is the present pastor.

Schools.

The first school house in Wheelersburg was built in 1822 and John Young was the first teacher. When the township system of schools was inau- gurated, Wheelersburg was sub-district No. 6 of Porter Township. Jesse Y. Whitcomb was elected teacher in 1845. He was a New Englander and had ad- vanced ideas regarding education and the management of schools. He thor- oughly organized the Wheelersburg District and so stimulated the people that two years later they built their present brick building of four rooms. It is now a special district. The teachers at present are W. S. Dean, Superintend- ent, $80 per month; W. H. Grady, Grammar, $50; Miss Anna Stout, interme- diate, $45; Miss Jennie Camp, primary, $45.

Lodges.

The Western Sun Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M. located here is the oldest Masonic lodge in the County. In 1901, it erected a fine two story brick build- ing at a cost of $4,500.

A Knights of Pythias Lodge was organized in 1890 with 26 charter mem- bers.

Sciotoville.

This is the largest town in the county outside of Portsmouth, and lies just west of the Little Scioto on the Ohio river. The Norfolk and Western and Baltimore and Ohio South-western railroads pass through it. The first house built on the present site of Sciotoville was by William Brown in the year 1835. The town was laid out in 1841 by Joseph Riggs for Madison Price, James Taylor and Charles Moore. The plat consists of 25 lots covering 712 acres.

Additional Plats.

In 1841, Madison Price platted an addition of 23 lots, numbered from 26 to 148, consisting of eight acres. In 1851, John Shoemaker platted an addi- tion of 34 lots, consisting of eight acres. April 10, 1868, the Wilcox addition of 26 lots was platted. December 19, 1868, Wm. Corwine platted an addi- tion of 5 lots, containing 11/2 acres. In 1870, Samuel McConnell and H. A. Towne platted an addition of 35 lots containing six acres. On January 28, 1871, William Corwine platted an addition of 41/2 acres, sub-divided into 23 lots. June 13, 1889, C. W. Turner and wife, John S. Mann and wife, Ira S. Farney, W. L. Hitchcock and wife, Thomas Brock and wife, Andrew Daum and wife, Adam Ault and wife, Melvin Moore and wife platted an addition containing 6.44 acres, sub-divided into 12 lots.

Manufactures.

The manufacturing interest of Sciotoville began in 1847 when Taylor, Decker & Co. operated a foundry on the present site of the Scioto Fire Brick Works. This was destroyed later by fire. In 1881, Elias Marshall erected and operated a flour mill and edge-tool factory. Sciotoville has always been a busy town, having had at different times a number of mills, all of which have been destroyed by fire, but the different manufacturing industries and the one on which it has largely depended for the past thirty years and for which it has held more than a national reputation is that of its clay industry, which had its inception about 1863. That year Reece Thomas took from Powers Hill two barrels of fire clay. It was taken to Ashland and converted into fire brick as an experiment. The clay proved to be of an excellent quality for this purpose, and shortly after, two men by the name of Taylor, brothers, from a brick manufactory at Ashland, came to Sciotoville and opened clay mines, the output of which was shipped to Ashland to be manufactured into fire brick. In 1864 or the Spring of 1865, Thomas & Taylor moved their brick plant from Ashland to Sciotoville and began at once the manufacture of fire brick. This plant stood where the Blast Furnace Fire Brick yard now stands. In 1866, the name of this firm was changed to Taylor, Connell & Company.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

In 1865, McConnell, Porter & Company erected a brick yard where now stands the plant of the Scioto Fire Brick Company. In 1869, Farney, Murray & Company built a yard near where the Baltimore & Ohio depot now stands. This was generally known as the Salamander yard. In 1873, the three compa- nies above mentioned were consolidated and incorporated into the Scioto Fire Brick Company with Daniel F. Connell as manager. In 1873, W. Q. Adams was chosen in Mr. Connell's place, and served until 1876, when C. P. Lloyd was made President and Superintendent. No change was made until 1888, when Mr. C. W. Turner was elected Superintendent. Mr. Lloyd was retained as president until his death in 1893. Mr. Theodore Doty was elected to fill the vacancy, but resigned in 1894, and was succeeded by John Peebles, who was succeeded by C. W. Turner in 1901. Mr. Turner has been Treasurer of the Company since 1894, and is now superintendent. The other officers are: Ira C. Farney, Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Reed, Secretary. This company manufactured fire brick exclusively until 1894, when they erected a plant for the manufacture of paving brick. They employ about 100 men and make all shapes, styles and sizes of fire brick. The capacity is 16,000 fire brick per day, and the paving brick plant has about the same capacity.

In 1871, the Scioto Fire Brick Company was organized by Samuel Mc- Connell, Judge H. A. Towne, R. A. Mitchell, M. B. Williams and T. J. Pursell, for the manufacture of fire brick. It built what is known as the "Star Yard", one mile west of Sciotoville. Samuel McConnell was the first president and treasurer, R. A. Mitchell the first superintendent. The capacity of this yard at present is 20,000 per day. It also manufactures paving brick in the same plant for two or three months in each year. The capacity of the paving plant is 16,000 per day and it employs 100 men. This company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio recently, with Simon Labold, President and Treasurer, Addison Taylor, Secretary.

In 1898, the Blast Furnace Fire Brick Company was organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio, with J. W. Bannon, President; D. B. Hutchins, Vice-President and Treasurer, William L. Hitchcock, Superinten- dent. It put in operation what was known as the old Blast Furnace Brick Yard. The capacity of this plant is 12,000 per day. It manufactures fire brick exclusively.

Churches.

The Christian Church was organized in 1867 and during the first fifteen years of its existence services were held in the old Marshall Hall. The present church edifice was erected in 1881 and dedicated in September of that year. S. S. Doyle was one of its early ministers. The present minister is Rev. T. P. Degman. Its membership numbers 125, and the Sunday School has an average attendance of 85. Ira C. Farney is the Superintendent.

The Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1878 by Isaac Fullerton and Uriah Chabot. The first minister was Rev. Isaac Fullerton. The first meetings were held in the Marshall Hall. There are 68 members at present under the pastoral care of Rev. Reissinger. The Sunday School numbers 30.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1840 and soon after- ward the church building was erected. In 1838, a revival was held in Scioto- ville, in which 200 persons were converted to the Methodist faith, which re- sulted in the above organization. The lot upon which the church stands was donated by Madison Price. In 1866, this house was removed to a lot in the rear of where it was then standing and is now known as Marshall's Hall. A new church edifice was erected in 1868 and consecrated by Bishop Merrill. The old circuit embraced Wheelersburg, Sciotoville, Howard Furnace, Wait's Station, Olive Furnace, Vernon and Webster, with the parsonage at Webster. Some of the early members were Uriah and Jacob Bonser, Garrett Kirkendall, Ephriam Yost and Rev. Taylor. Their present minister is Rev. Patrick Henry. There are 90 members and the Sunday School averages 100.

The United Brethern Church was organized in the year 1851. This church is one mile east of Sciotoville. Its present minister is Rev. William Wegner.

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PORTER TOWNSHIP.

The Porter Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1817. Rufus Chaney was the leading spirit in the organization and was also the first minister. The present minister is Rev. T. S. Arthur.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church on Dogwood Ridge, was organ- ized in 1855. Its first minister was Rev. John Phetzing. Their first church was built in 1858 and was dedicated the same year by Rev. John Bier, Its mem- bership numbers about 100, with an average attendance at Sunday School of 60. It has also an Epworth League.

Schools and Lodges.

The Township has long terms of school, has the best teachers and pays them good wages. There are at present, seven districts outside of Wheelers- burg Special District. District No. 1, includes the schools of Sciotoville. The building is a two story brick structure containing six rooms, situated on Market street. The principal of this school, and principal of the Porter Township High School, is Thomas Sikes. There are five other teachers. The

first school house erected within the limits of the district was a one story frame, which is still in existence, and is used as a dwelling. The next building was one of two rooms, and was built of brick. Both of these buildings stood near the present school house.

Sub-district No. 2, is on the Powellsville Pike two miles southeast of Wheelersburg; Sub-district No. 3, is situated on the Ohio river and is known as the Hayport School. Fred Brown is the teacher; Sub-district No. 4, is near Wait's Station, on the Webster Turnpike. John A. Stout is the teacher; Sub-district No. 5, is on Dogwood Ridge, about one mile from Wheelersburg. M. G. Chandler is the teacher; Sub-district No. 7, is about two and a half miles from Wheelersburg on the Chaffin's Mill turnpike. L, Finney is the teacher; Sub-district No. 8, is one mile west of Sciotoville and known as the Star Yard School. Everett Ault is the teacher.

The I. O. O. F. Lodge now situated at Sciotoville, was organized at Wheelersburg in 1858 and was removed to Sciotoville in 1890,

The K. of P. Lodge was instituted May 1, 1890, with 30 charter members.

Cemeteries.

Porter Township being one of the oldest townships in the county, and one of the first settled has many old burying grounds in which are interred some of the earliest pioneers.

Price's Cemetery is situated near Wait's Station, It is sometimes known as the old Marshall burying ground. Some of the burials are: Jesse Marshall, died December 17, 1866, aged 82 years, 6 months; Mary G., wife of Jesse Mar- shall, died August 24, 1855, aged 64 years; Clinton Marshall, died September 16, 1862, at the age of 38 years; Julia Ann, wife of Clinton M., died January 15, 1856 at the age of 31 years,

Slocum's Cemetery is near Slocum's Station. Some of the interments are Mary Slocum, died Nov. 15, 1832 at the age of 40; Lydia Slocum, died September 8, 1834 at the age of 13; Cyrus Slocum, died July 16, 1851 at the age of 35; Archibald Slocum, died Nov. 27, 1842 at the age of 24 years; Joseph Turner, died in 1898 at the age of 74 years; Clarissa Jones, died April 5, 1885 at the age of 61 years.

In Dogwood Ridge Cemetery at the German M. E. Church, lie the remains of many persons who were born in Germany.

St. Peter's Cemetery at St. Peter's Church is one-half mile east of Wheel- ersburg, and was laid out in 1886.

Another Catholic Cemetery is about two miles east of Wheelersburg. The principal cemetery of the township is at Wheelersburg, and is located on a low hill one-eighth of a mile north of the village.

The Hartley Cemetery is in the northeast part of the township in which are buried the older Hartleys.

There is also a small cemetery on the Hasting's farm about half way between Wheelersburg and Sciotoville, known as the Rowley Cemetery.

On the farm now owned by Mr. Egbert is the Beloat Cemetery, in which are buried the members of the Beloat family and the McNeal family.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Perhaps the oldest buring ground in the township is just above the mouth of the Little Scioto river. This cemetery contains the graves of some of the pioneers of the township.

RARDEN TOWNSHIP.

Organization and First Settlers.

The youngest of all the townships was organized from a portion of Brush Creek, January 10, 1891, and contains 19,688 acres, ranking ninth in area out- side of Wayne. Although the last organized, it received its first inhabitants shortly after 1800. Among those who settled on Rarden Creek were John Smith, James and Oliver Jones, Charles Ross, Isaac Gifford, John and Matthew Williams and Enos Mustard. Among those on Mt. Joy were: Willis Bull, Nathaniel Newman, Hugh Brown, Jonathan Boyd and James Scott. On Dunlap were: Isaac Newman, Benjamin and Joseph Walker. The first settler to take up land near the town of Rarden, was Jesse Edwards. His brother came at the same time and Christopher Newman settled near the line in Adams County. Others who settled in and about Rarden were: William and Thomas Thompson, Thornton Kendall, John McCann, Joshua Armstrong, Paul K. Stewart, Thomas Rarden, Thomas Brown, Aaron Armstrong, James Nelson and Shelton Ken- dall.

Boundary and Valuation.

Rarden Township is bounded on the north by Pike County, on the east by Morgan and Brush Creek, on the south by Brush Creek, and on the west by Adams County. No changes of any consequence have been made in the bound- ary since its organization. The assessed value of its personal property in 1900 was $61,798, and it ranked 10th; value of real estate, $80,470; rank 15th; the total valuation of property of all kinds was $142,268, and its rank was 14th.

Surface, Drainage and Products.

It is watered by Brush Creek which enters from Adams County and cross- es the southwest corner, and by its tributaries: Rarden Creek which rises in the northern part of the township and joins Brush Creek west of Rarden; Dunlap, which flows from the southwestern part and joins Brush Creek at Rarden; Dry Run, which courses along just west of the southeastern boundary and joins Brush Creek near Young. Besides these there are numerous other small affluents.

The surface is very much broken and much of it is very stony. The northeastern portion known as Mt. Joy, is a high table land of about 2,000 acres, well situated for agricultural purposes. The soil is rather gravelly and of aver- age fertility. Large quantities of corn, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, etc., are raised. This region is admirably adapted to fruit growing and the annual crop is very large. Being high and dry, it is well fitted for stock raising, especially for sheep raising. In the southern end of the township is another region similar to the Mt. Joy region, much smaller in extent, but similar in most other respects.

There are many small, narrow valleys that are farmed and would prob- ably produce well if properly cared for and improved; but the most produc- tive portion of this township lies along Brush Creek and extends throughout its course through the township. It is from a quarter to a half a mile in width. Many of the slopes of this valley are farmed also. Much of the valley is flooded each year, and where the current is not too swift, a liberal deposit of sediment is left to enrich the land. This valley produces well in cereals and tobacco.

Progress and Development.

Prior to 1850, there seems to have been but little progress among the in- habitants of all the region west of the Scioto Valley. In fact if we are to be-

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lieve the stories told us by persons who lived in this section at that time, and by persons who travelled through it, there must have been a decided retrograde. The country was one vast expanse of forest with foot paths and bridle paths leading through it. Small farms were cleared up here and there and log cab- ins housed the inhabitants. Churches and schools were very scarce; yet there were a few log school houses prior to 1830. A "dirt road" lead from north- ern Adams County and southern Highland County down Brush Creek to Ports- mouth which was the nearest market for this region. Over this road, since converted into a turnpike, were hanled great loads of corn, wheat, and other farm prducts from Adams and Highland Counties in the large old fashioned wagons, pulled by four strong horses. This farm produce was exchanged at Portsmouth for groceries, dry goods and the thousand and one things that add to the comfort of man, and these articles were taken back to stock up the country stores and to be used by the farmers and tradesmen. From northern Adams County to Portsmouth was two days' travel and at Moses Freeman's brick farm house on the site of Otway was the middle point and stopping place for the night.

When the early settlers from Pennsylvania began coming into this re- gion along in the forties, they found a people, who, partly from their isolation, and partly from necessity, had adopted primitive ways of living and had pat- terned much after the Indians, in their mode of dress. They farmed in a way and hunted much more, getting much of their living in this way. The men wore moccasins of buckskin, and hunting shirts, such as the Indians had worn. They carried their rifles with them when they went abroad, that they might take a shot at any game they might see. Whiskey was sold at houses here and there and on special occasions a crowd of natives would collect in on horseback from the surrounding country and after a thorough carousal, would gallop off to- gether yelling and howling like a mob of Indians. For all these peculiar traits the Pennsylvanians called them "Pottawattomies," and the region about Rarden they called "Moccasin." Progress in this region was slow until the advent of the railroad, which opened up its resources and gave op- portunity for mingling with the outside world. With the railroad, came sa- loons, and following saloons, as a natural sequence, came fights and drunken brawls in which a large number of fatalities occurred.

The past fifteen years have witnessed the disappearance of much of this eruptive influence. The people have entered upon a life of real progress, and to one who had travelled in this country fifty years ago and had beheld the rude manners and customs, it would seem that the day of miracles had not yet passed. He would gaze upon a country all but stripped of its wealth of timber, the destruction of which gave employment to its people and added comfort to their homes, and all the tillable portion converted into productive and well kept farms. He would see its small settlements grown to good sized villages alive with enterprise and industry. He would contemplate that of which the most optimistic had never dreamed, the lifting from its hills of their mighty blocks of stone to be transported to foreign parts and transformed into massive walls and beautiful homes for the abode of man, a great industry but now in its infancy and a Golconda for future capitalists.

Officers.

The first officers of this township were: Trustees, S. S. Blosser, Milton Mustard and William Keese; Clerk, D. A. Gardner; Treasurer, William New- man; Constables, William M. Burnett and William Hackworth; Justices of the Peace, A. B. McBride and J. N. Kates; Assessor, T. F. Freeman. The present officers, 1902, are: Trustees, Martin B. Wharff, T. S. Riley and Charles Freeman; Clerk, George B Coakly; Treasurer, D. T. Blackburn; Constable, John W. Newman; Assessor, William J. Thompson; Justices of the Peace, J. N. Kates and O. E. Foster.

Rarden.

As above stated this place was given the name of "Moccasin" by the early Pennsylvania settlers. It is located on the north side of the Brush Creek Valley near where it receives the waters of Rarden and Dunlap Creeks, and about one and a half miles from the Adams County line. The first store

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

was opened by Asa L. Williams about 1846. Later came Aaron Moore, William Brooks, Eli Rigdon and Philip Leighly. Orville Grant, brother of Ulysses S., Andrew Montgomery and Milton Morrison built a tanyard here before 1850. During the war they made cavalry saddles for the government. Grant and Williams became the owners, about 1865. After four or five years they sold to S. S. Jones, who operated it until 1878 when it was turned into a pump fac- tory. It burned about 1885.

Orville Grant gave the place the name of "Galena" for his former home in Galena, Illinois. This name was adopted when the first plat of the town was made October 10, 1850. This plat contained 12 acres, taken from surveys, 7,808, 2,850 and 2,345, owned by B. Edwards, Aaron Moore and the heirs of Jesse Edwards. There were forty-five lots in the plat numbered from 1 to 45. Four additions were made July 5, 1883: lots 46 and 49 to 59, by Thomas New- man; lots 47 and 48, by John Williams; lots 60 to 65, by E. D. L. Morgan; lots 66 to 73, by Grafton Windle. These additions aggregate a little over ten acres. On April 14, 1891, Amos and Ella Jenkins platted an addition contain- ing 7 acres. The lots were numbered 74 to 79 and were part of Survey 7,808. The town was incorporated in 1886 and the first officers were Michael Free- man, Mayor; D. A. Gardner, Clerk; R. W. McNeal, Solicitor; and Scott Fos- ter. Marshall. Its present officers are: J. J. Forsythe, Mayor; J. M. Wikoff, Clerk; D. T. Blackburn, Treasurer. The members of the couneil are: L. A. Scott, John W. Newman, Bert Scott, William Burnett, Clark W. Waller and F. W. Ballangee.

The assessed value of real estate in Rarden Corporation in 1900 was $20,990; personal property, $21,522; total, $42,512. The value of real estate in the Special School District outside of Rarden Corporation was $18,390; per- sonal property, $10,064; total, $28,454.

The town received the name Rarden after Thomas Rarden, one of the earliest settlers in that vicinity.

The business is at present done by the following: L. Taylor, D. T. Black- burn & Son, William T. Hackworth, General Merchants; Bert Scott, Black- smith; Ed. Abbott, Livery and Feed Stable; Sarah Abbott and Mrs. D. M. Stewart, Hotels; Doctors, J. H. Windle and H. F. Clark.

The Rarden Stone Company.

This is one of the representative firms of stone industry of the county. Their quarries are located about one mile west of Rarden on the Norfolk and Western Railway, and are equipped with all the latest improved machinery for handling earth, quarrying and handling stone rapidly at a minimum expense. It uses a Barnhardt Steam Shovel and a large traveling crane designed by Kaltenbach and Greiss of Cleveland, in uncovering stone. It uses the Inger- soll-Sergeant Drill Company's steam drills and the Knox system of drilling and blasting in quarrying stone. Its machinery is so far perfected that it splits stone either with or across the grain, as evenly as wood.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 52

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