A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 55

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 55

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The area of the township is 22,026 acres. The value of real estate is $114, 930, the value of personal property is $43,015, and the total valuation is $157,- 945. It ranks eighth in area, fourteenth in population, eleventh in real es- tate, thirteenth in personal property and twelfth in total value of both.

Schools.

Amazah Welcher taught the first school in Vernon Township in a log school house near Chaffin's Mill before 1817. The school house had slab seats, puncheon floors and greased paper windows. Vernon Township has at pres- ent six schools with an average attendance of forty pupils, and the term of school is six months, and the salary of the teachers is $35 per month. The schools are as follows :- District No. 1, Chaffin's School; District No. 2, Vernon School; District No. 3, Clinton Furnace School; District No. 4, Empire Furnace School, District No. 5, 6 and 7 are abandoned; District No. 8, Kettle's School; District No. 9, Upper Lick Run School.

Churches.

Rufus Chaney preached at Vernon in December, 1818. Eli Chesley also preached there the same winter. Cadot Church, (the old Howard Furnace M. E. Church) was orgainzed by Henry Berkstresser in 1880. It has a membership of about twenty-five. The pastor is Rev. H. K. Wishon.

The Chaffin's Mills Free Will Baptist Church (Antioch Chapel) was or- ganized in 1875 by Revs. Searl, Chabot and Swain. It has a membership of about seventy-five. Rev. John Sheppard is the pastor.

The Union Free Will Baptist Church was organized September 19, 1857, by Revs. David Topping and Jordan Nye. It has a membership of about fifty. The pastor is Rev. John Sheppard.

The Vernon Regular Baptist Church was organized in 1841 by Rev. John Kelley and J. Bennett. It has a membership of about twenty-five. Rev. Wil- son is the pastor.

The Mt. Hope Free Will Baptist Church was organizeed in 1864, by Revs. Jordan Nye and Isaac Fullerton. It has a membership of about 100. Rev. Isaiah Smith is the pastor.

St. John the Baptist Church. The Catholic people, who lived at Harri- son, Scioto and Bloom Furnace, with Rev. Father Karge of Portsmouth as pastor, in 1861, built a frame church costing $800.00. It was located on Tick Ridge on the farm of Mr. Philip Dill. Ten years after, a parsonage was built beside the church. The members of the building committee were Xavier Shepherd, Benedict Seidel, Lawrence Karl and Josph Spitznagel. This Church

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which is called that of St John the Baptist, Lilly, P. O., had a resident pastor a few years. It has been and is now attended by the priest from Wheelers- burg.

Mills and Furnaces.

John Shope built the first mill in 1816, which remains standing to the present time. It was owned by Henry Summer in 1819, by Thomas Burke in 1820, by Timothy S. Hayward in 1823 and Reuben Chaffin in 1830 and remain- ed in his possession for thirty-three years, hence its name. It passed to Dear- born Emory, Willis Newland, Aaron Hollenshed, Jacob Newland, J. C. Cadot, and is now owned by the widow of Dearborn Emery.

The old Clinton Furnace Company started the first store in 1832. There are no public works or factories in the township,

Cemeteries.

The Turkey Foot Township Cemetery is well cared for. The first inter- ment here was Mrs. Lucinda Perry, died April 27, 1840, aged 35 years, 7 months.

The Cadot private Cemetery lies west of the Cadot homestead, while south of it are five cemeteries, (Clinton, Patton, Mt. Hope, Duteil and Cable.) The Newland Cemetery also lies near the Cadot farm. This farm alone has four cemeteries.

Mt. Hope Cemetery contains about one acre. It is public, but not a township cemetery.

Duteil Cemetery contains one acre and is about one-half mile from Mt. Hope Church.

Patton Cemetery contains aboue one acre, and is in sight of Duteil and Cable cemeteries.

Cadot Cemetery. Some of the burials are: Cinthian, wife of Claudius Cadot, died May 21, 1841, aged 25 years; Nancy, died August 25, 1827, aged 5 years; Nancy B. wife of Claudius Cadot, died June 9, 1835, aged 36 years; Juliet Cadot, daughter of Claudius Cadot and Nancy Cadot, died November 6, 1858; Sophronia Cadot, died August 26, 1827; Claudius Cadot a soldier of 1812, died May 16, 1875, aged 82 years, 4 months.

Newland or Hayward Cemetery is abandoned, but many graves are to be seen and some of the stones are standing. Several old pioneers are buried here. The only records are: Moses Hayward, died Nov. 30, 1838, aged 39 years, 1 mo; Moses Hayward, senior, died October 2, 1862, aged 94 years, 4 days; Moses Hay- ward, died 1840, aged 1 year, 5 months; Lucy Hayward, died November 21, 1835; Hannah, wife of Moses Hayward, died August 2, 1834, aged 63 years, 3 months, 3 days; Horace, son of Moses Hayward, died October 6, 1882, aged 15 years 2 months; Orange Hayward died October 1, 1822; Elizabeth, wife of Philip S. Hayward, died January 21, 1827, aged 20 years, 1 month.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Organization and Boundary.

Though not organized until 1814, Washington was one of the first town- ships settled. Alexandria was one of the first three settlements in the county and among the first along the Ohio. There is only a few months between the settlements at the mouth of the Little Scioto, the French Grant settlement and this one.

A petition for a new township to be formed from parts of Nile and Union came before the Commissioners in August, 1814. The petition was granted and it was ordered that the new township be bounded as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of Turkey Creek; thence up the Ohio river with the meanderings thereof to the mouth of the Scioto River; thence up the Scioto riv- er to the mouth of Pond Creek; thence a westerly course with Thomas Wil-

HON. RODNEY M. STIMSON. [Page 1298.]

E. E. WHITE, LL. D. Page 498.]

MARTYN TAYLOR, M. D. [Page 1158.]

MICHAEL STANTON [Page 1146.]

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coxon's line to the dividing line between Pond Creek and Carey's Run and fol- lowing said ridge to the head of Stony Creek; thence down said creek to Tur- key Creek; thence down Turkey Creek to the Ohio river; and it is further ordered that said township be called Washington."

When the Ohio canal was constructed it was found necessary to change the mouth of the Scioto up the river about a mile. This alteration threw a part of Wayne Township on the west side of the Scioto and there being no bridge between the two parts, the land owners so cut off, asked to be included in Washington Township, which was granted by the following order of the County Commissioners:

"It is therefore ordered that the boundaries of Washington Township be so changed that all the portion of territory lying west of the present termi- nation of the Ohio canal and east of the old mouth of the Scioto river, and be- tween the old bed of said Scioto river and the present course of said river. be stricken off from the township of Wayne, and attached to the township of Washington, and that the Auditor of this county issue a copy of this order to the Clerks of each of the townships aforesaid, and make the necessary record thereof in his office." December 6, 1842.

Valuation, Area and Rank.

Though the smallest among the townships outside of Wayne, it takes eighth rank in the separate valuation of its real and of its personal property, and holds ninth place in the aggregate of both. The value of the real estate in 1901, was $223,460; of personal property, $77,234; total, $300,694. It in- cludes within its territory 14,235 acres, with a population of 1,269, the same as Harrison Township, which has almost twice the area.

Surface, Drainage, Productions, Etc.

Situated as it is, at the juncture of the Scioto with the Ohio, it contains a large expanse of valuable bottom land. There are no streams of any consider- able size in the township, except Carey's Run, which has its source in the northwest corner, and flows in a southeasterly direction down a narrow valley to the Ohio.

The Ohio and Scioto valleys are from a mile to two miles broad and much of the land is inundated each year by the annual floods which leave a heavy deposit of alluvium. The hilly portion of the township is very rough and stony and not suited to cultivation. Some terrace land along the border of the Scioto valley affords good upland farms and a pleasant locality for resi- dences. The whole Scioto valley is planted with corn each year and when the flood does not come at the wrong time the harvest is bounteous. The Ohio valley is not flooded so much as the Scioto and excellent wheat crops are grown as well as corn. For several weeks each winter and spring the "west side," as this is commonly called, is cut off from the east side of the Scioto, by an expanse of water reaching from hill to hill, from two to three miles wide and twenty to thirty feet deep. During these times the inhabitants of the west side, who make many and frequent trips to Portsmouth, are compelled to take to boats.

The first tract of land entered in the township was by Larkin Smith, number 475, August 3, 1787. The survey was made November 21, 1787. The tract lay just above the mouth of Turkey Creek and was afterward owned by Major John Belli.

Alexandria.

The tract upon which Alexandria was platted was Survey Number 508, containing six hundred acres, located by Alexander Parker for his brother, Col. Thomas Parker, of Frederick County, Virginia, August 3, 1787. The sur- vey was made by John O'Bannon, Deputy Surveyor, John Williams and Syl- vester Murroney, Chainmen; Thomas Parker, Marker. It is said that a part of the land on which Alexandria was laid out had been partly cleared and cul- tivated in corn by the Indians. The site seems to have been chosen for a town some time before the town was platted and named Alexandria for Alex- andria, Va. Benjamin Feurt said that when his father landed there it was called Alexandria. Just when the lots were surveyed and sold is somewhat un- certain. All we find of record on that point is in the following:

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

"I hereby certify that this plat contains the in and out lots in the town of Alexandria, laid out by me, and laid down by a scale of twenty poles to an inch, done by order of Col. Thomas Parker of Frederick County, Virginia .- E. Langham. Alexandria, June 3, 1799."

We find on the same plat the following: "} do hereby certify that the plan contains the in and out lots in the town of Alexandria, which I sold as such, for Col. Thomas Parker, of Frederick County, Virginia, situated in the County of Adams in the Territory northwest of the Ohio .- A. Parker."

"Sale of the lots in Alexandria will commence at 12 o'clock, at the cor- ner on the river, of Thomas Street, lot No. 19.

"Filed in the Recorder's office, June 4, 1799 .- John Belli, Recorder."

When and by whom the first settlements were made by permanent in- habitants here is uncertain, but that it was settled before the above dates is beyond all doubt. There were eighty-eight lots, numbered serially from 1 to 88 and 35 out-lots numbered from 1 to 35. A copy of this plat is recorded in Plat Book 1, page 33, Scioto County Record of Plats. The streets running back from the river ran north 58 degrees westand were named, beginning on the north- east side and going down the river: Scioto, Thomas, Middle and South Streets. Those running at right angles and with the Ohio river were Water, Second. Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. There was a tier of twenty lots along the river front and another tier of lots numbered from 69 to 88 back ot Sixth street. The remaining lots were arranged in a double tier on the northeast side of Thomas street, with an alley between them, and another double tier on the southwest side of Thomas street, with no alley between them. This last group was in the eastern corner of the town and between Second and Fourth streets. All the rest of the town was outlots.

First Inhabitants.

Among the first inhabitants in Alexandria were Judge John Collins, Wil- liam Russell, John Russell, Joseph Parrish, John Logan, William Lowry, Stephen Smith, James Munn and William Brady. These settled in the town and James Edison, James Hamilton, John Worley, Anthony Worley, John West, Philip Moore, Peter Noel and Martin Funk landed at Alexandria and located within eight miles of the place.

Between 1801 and 1804, David Gharky, John Simpson, Elijah Glover, Wil- liam Jones and Samuel G. Jones settled in the place. Dr. Thomas Waller, John Simpson, Stephen Carey, William Carey, Patrick Timmonds, and Samuel Gunn, settled in the township between the same dates.

Growth and Decay.

When the town flourished at its height those who owned houses were: David Gharky, who owned a two-story house with a cabinet shop attached; Fletcher had a dwelling house and blacksmith shop; this was burned in 1806; Stephen Smith built and owned a stone house completed in 1815; E. Langham owned a one-story frame house afterwards converted into a warehouse; Judge John Collins kept a place of entertainment and accommodated travellers; Si- las Cole owned a two-story double log house; Captain Samuel Gunn owned a two-story frame dwelling. The school house stood back of Alexandria at the foot of the hill. Barlow Aldrich owned a two-story wooden building; Patrick Timmonds lived in a large two-story house, before which he hung out a sign with a green tree painted on it. Here he kept a hotel. There were a few other buildings but these were the most prominent.

Up to the time Portsmouth was laid out and for some time after, Alex- andria held the undisputed claim of being the business center of the county. Here the first court was held. The first county-seat and the first postoffice were here. The post office was established in 1805 and William Russell was the first postmaster. His first report was dated June 30, 1805. Three years after- ward, the post office was abandoned and one was established at Portsmouth. John Collins, one of the first Associate Judges, lived here. The last Indian was killed by John McDonald, or his brother, near John Craig's, a mile below this place. One of the first, if not the" first, grist mill built and put in service was built by Stephen Carey on Carey's Run. Vats were afterward sunk and some tanning was done. This was the first tannery in the county.

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The first ferry was established across the mouth of the Scioto in 1809 by Stephen Smith. On Christmas Day, 1808, the water was 37 inches deep in the houses, making two floods in that month.

From the first and in the very nature of things the fate of the place was sealed, its destiny was manifest. The floods came up each year and invaded the settlers' houses, compelling the inmates to flee to the hills. After a few repetitions of this ordeal, it was seen to be impossible for a town to grow and prosper under such conditions and one by one, they moved over to Henry Mas- sie's town, now Portsmouth, a mile above the mouth of the Scioto, until by 1810, Portsmouth had gained the ascendancy and Alexandria gradually · dwindled away, until not a vestige of it is left at the present day.

Mill and Distillery.

The grist mill at Union Mills was built in 1834 by Lemuel Moss; William Waller and Samuel Coles rented it and operated it until 1838 when it was de- stroyed by fire. They rebuilt it near the old site and continued to manage it until about 1851, when it was sold to L. N. Robinson, who conducted the busi- ness until 1860. Then George Davis became proprietor and owned and operated it till his death. Since then it has been destroyed.

The distillery at this place was built in 1857 by David Gibson, L. N. Robinson, Louis Robinson, Joshua Robinson and Joseph Cheesman, who operated it until 1859, when it was purchased by George Davis. He owned and operated it, in connection with the mill and cooper shops, until the organiza- tion of the Cattle Feeders' Trust.

Stone Industry.

The site of the first stone quarry is disputed. From a quarry on the land originally owned by Levi Moore, but now owned by Michael Gazele, was furnished stone for the construction of the canal. Soon afterwards another was opened on Hygean Run, the stone from which was used for the same purpose. Another early quarry on the land owned by W. C. Brouse furnished stone for building a dam in the Licking River. From the same stone quarry. stone was used in the construction of one of the court houses in Cincinnati. It was opened by Joshua and Silas Phillips. At present the Carey's Run Free- stone Company supplies building and paving stone for a good portion of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. In the years 1898 and 1899 about 50,000 cubic yards of stone were sent from these quarries to be used in the construc- tion of the Cincinnati Water Works. The quarries are situated up Carey's Run and yield as good stone as is found in the County. Their flagging and dimen- sion stone are sawed at the Reitz Mill in Portsmouth, Ohio. The whole town- ship is underlaid with this sandstone.

Tempevale

is more of a name than a town, although there have been two additions made to it. It is located on lower Carey's Run and was first platted by Roswell and Ora Crain January 28; 1834. The plat contained 38.1 acres, sub-divided into eight lots and three outlots. The first addition was platted by Roswell Crain February 25, 1848. This plat contained 3.23 acres sub-divided into eight lots. The third addition was platted by Crane, April 14, 1851, and contained 4.9 acres sub-divided into 12 lots. There are a few houses here but no business is car- ried on.

The Davis and Nauvoo Tract

was platted May 8, 1895, by A. T. Holcomb, Administrator of George Davis, de- ceased, by an order of the Probate Court of Scioto County. The plat contained 29 lots. This is a little hamlet of about seventy-five souls, and lies just back of Bertha postoffice. Cornelius H. Barbee is the post-master.

An addition called Rapp's Addition was platted by John S. and Eliza- beth Rapp December 31, 1900. The plat contains 60 lots and 1.39 acres.

The Portsmouth Dry Dock and Steamboat Basin Company.

The Portsmouth Dry Dock and Steamboat Basin Company opened its books at No. 5, Pine street, New York, May 20, 1839, at 11 a. m. The Ports-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

mouth directors were John Craighead, John Glover, Thomas Gibbons, James lodwick and E. Hamilton. It was organized for trading purposes and a large warehouse was built near the Cotton Woods, which stood until the war. A town was platted containing 7.1 acres sub-divided into 83 lots. The company built a wooden bridge across the Scioto which was later blown down.

The Great Fraud of Scioto Heights.

Platted June 3, 1890, by George A Slough, consisted of two plats. The first consisting of 911 lots numbered serially from 1 to 911. The second con- tained 351. The land platted is a part of Survey No. 13,513 and contains 166.9 acres. The name "Scioto Heights" has become proverbial and synonymous with the word "swindle." A veritable Eden for "suckers" and "land sharks," and an inevitable disappointment to the purchaser in good faith. The site is a wilderness and so high that those who should so far lose their mental equilibrium as to ever build there would be compelled to use' a balloon and parachute to get to and away from their retreat! Both sides of the town could be farmed, as it stands on edge-the economy of nature! A house built there would have to be anchored to prevent its tumbling down the hill. Many per- sons from other parts have been induced to buy here by unprincipled land agents.

Churches.

The Old Town M. E. Church organization dates its existence back to 1837 when the first edifice was erected. The first board of trustees were: George Graves, John D. Smith, Philip Moore, Isaiah Smith, Charles Hunt, Thomas Williamson and Isaac Williams. The building was destroyed by fire in 1853, and a new building was erected that year an dedicated by Bishop Clark. The church was remodeled in 1897. John M. Chandler is the pastor and the board of trustees is as follows: George Williamson, Leroy Smith, George Salladay, Dr. G. W. Osborne and David Lewis.

The Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church dates its beginning in 1870, and the first pastor was Rev. William Bateman. A new edifice was constructed in 1897 and dedicated by Rev. H. S. Alkire. The pastor is John M. Chandler. The trustees are John M. Vaughters, W. C. Brouse, John R. Foster, Charles H. Morris, and Frederick Becker.

Morris Chapel is a Mission Station of the First Baptist Church of Ports- mouth and was built in 1894. It is situated at Union Mills and cost $1,500. It was remodeled in 1902 and has a seating capacity of 225. It is a model country church building with excellent baptistry and disrobing rooms. Sunday School and church services are held on Sunday afternoons. The membership num- bers fifty and the Sunday School averages 75. Rev. W. C. Stevenson, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Portsmouth has charge of it.

Schools.

The Washington Township schools are among the best in the county. It employs the best teachers and pays them well. The term of school aver- ages eight months in the year. The township enjoys the distinction of having had a school within its borders so early as 1800. This was taught by one Wil- liam Jones. Capt. Samuel Green taught a school back of Alexandria, at the foot of the hill, shortly after this. Other early teachers who followed them were Andrew McClaren, Samuel Williamson, Traverse Reed, Joshua Nurse and Abraham Barnes.

Sub-district No. 1 is known as the Dry Run school. The first building erected here was about 1839 on a lot purchased of Joseph Williamson. This lot was exchanged for a new one and a two-roomed building was constructed on it in 1890. There are two teachers with salaries of $45 and $40 per month respectively. Enrollment 75.

Sub-district No. 2 is known as the Hygean School from its location. This is a commodious two-room building erected on land purchased from George Davis in 1869. The teachers have salaries of $45 and $40 per month. Enrollment 75.

Sub-district No. 3 is on Lower Carey's Run. A school lot was was pur- chased of Roswell Crane in Tempevale, March 7, 1834. The present building

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recently erected stands on a lot bought of Anna Becker, August 3, 1895. The teacher has a salary of $45 per month. Enrollment 31.

Sub-district No. 4, commonly known as "Sugar Grove" is in the lower end of the township near the river The first house was built in 1854 on land donated by Andrew Brouse. A new and modern structure was built in 1895. Thomas L. Bratten was the first teacher in this building. The teacher has a salary of $45 per month. The enrollment is 35.

Sub-District No. 5, known as Upper Carey's Run erected a building on land purchased of James Andrews in 1839. A new stone house was construct- ed in 1893 on land bought of Chris Grumme. This is the only stone school house in the county. The salary of the teacher is $45 per month.

Cemeteries.

This locality being the most ancient in the county naturally contains some of the most ancient burial grounds. There are three township cemeteries. all of which have some of the early notables interred in them, as a glance over the following will show.

The Carey's Run Cemetery was given to the township by Alexander Parker April 8, 1816, and it is situated on a point near the Infirmary. The following are some of the inscriptions: William Pyles, born Sept. 27, 1802, died March 11, 1853; Roswell Crain, born Oct. 3, 1816, died March 2, 1853; Hor- ace Crain, Born Oct. 3, 1816, died May 15, 1892; John G. Gharky, born May 27, 1808, died April 26, 1889; David Gharky, born February 13, 1775, died Aug. 9, 1850; William Journey, died August 1, 1883, aged 73 years, 2 months, 2 days; Thomas Waller, born September 17, 1774, died July 19, 1823; John F. Smith died August 21, 1846, aged 53 years, 6 months, 2 days; Stephen Smith died October 22, 1861, aged 43 years, 6 days; Otho D. Foster, born August 18, 1836, died December 16, 1894.

Vaughters' Cemetery. The Vaughters Cemetery was bought of William Vaughters August 15, 1878. It is located near the residence of J. M. Vaughters. The following are some of the inscriptions: James Edison, died January 21, 1828, aged 87 years; Aaron Hall, died Oct. 16, 1845, aged 53 years, 7 months; Isaac Worley, born April 16, 1792, died March 29, 1839; John Worley, died Jan- uary 16, 1840; aged 72 years, 4 months; Joshua Nourse, died August 10, 1823. aged 79 years; Samuel R. Nourse, died July 29, 1845, aged 75 years; John A. Brouse, died May 10, 1858; aged 68 years, 3 months, 1 day; William H. Vaugh- ters, born August 9, 1817, died July 26, 1880.

Turner's Cemetery near Union Mills was a private burial ground until 1884, when it was bought of William Turner for $110. The following are some of the inscriptions: Hugh B. Calvert, born June 22, 1808, died August 1, 1879; Caleb Wilcoxon, died July 9, 1849, aged 59 years, 3 months, 13 days; Philip Moore, died September 4, 1823, aged 62 years. On this grave stands a twenty inch locust tree; Jemima Moore, died December 26, 1826, aged 62 years.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 55

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