USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 23
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BARTON is a village of a few hundred inhabi- tants on the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railway, near the junction of the St. Clairs- ville branch. It sustains a school, two churches and post office. One of the churches is a branch of the Methodist Protestant with Rev. B. L. Murphy as pastor. The other as elsewhere stated is a Catholic Church, conducted by Rev. Mr. Weigand of Bridgeport. The school, which is largely attended, is conducted by Wilson Dungan assisted by Olive Mitchell. The pop- ulation is largely mining and the new mines now being opened at Barton by the Osborn people will employ 800 men when they are in full operation. The tipple will be located up the Run about half a mile from the station and special tracks will have to be run to it. This will increase the population of Barton very
greatly. The Maple Hill mines have already given contracts for 35 new houses for the use of the men and many more will be built in the near future.
PIKES.
There are three pikes maintained in Colerain township, viz: the Bridgeport & Colerain Pike, Martin's Ferry & Colerain Pike and the National Road. The two pikes first named extend from the river front to the center of the township and the latter to the southern part of the township. The township pikes are main- tained by tolls.
CIIURCHIES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- Two years after the erection of Farmington, a Methodist Episcopal Church was established and among its zealous ministers we might number Revs. Scott, Jones and Lovman.
Seceders' and Covenanters' churches .- This church organization was preceded by a small congregation of Seceders whose meet- ings were held on the farin of Rev. Hugh Parks. But it disbanded in 1835. In 1842 a church of Covenanters was organized 011 Sloan's Run, which existed less than a quarter of a century.
The Methodist Protestant Church .- Ten years after the establishment of the Covenant- ers' church, the Methodist Protestants organ- ized a church at Pleasant Grove, that was for years presided over by Rev. Slater Brown. It is now under the pastorate of Rev. B. L. Mur- phy, who also ministers to the churches at Barton and Maynard. The stewards at Pleas- ant Grove are B. S. Boyd and Katherine Simp- son.
The Presbyterian Church of Farmington was organized in 1872 through the efforts of Rev. Robert Alexander of St. Clairsville. There was a membership of but 14 at the or- ganization with Rev. James Day as pastor.
The elders were John Theaker and James Wiley. The membership was subsequently increased to upwards of 150. At present the congregation is without a pastor. The present
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bench of elders are David Cowen, G. A. P. Theaker and Washington Kennedy.
There are two Catholic churches in the township, one located at Barton, and the other at Maynard.
Church of "Our Lady Queen of Angels," Barton .- This congregation was first organ- ized in the year 1893 by Father Weigand of Bridgeport with about four families of a mem- bership. From that time on until the fall of 1901 services were regularly hield once a month in the private houses of one of these families. On acount of the constant growth of the little flock, it was then decided that larger and better quarters must be provided for divine service, and accordingly in September of 1901 a neat frame church was begun which was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Henry Moeller, Bishop of Colum- bus, Ohio, on the 15th of June, 1902. The congregation of Barton numbers now about 250 souls, about 150 of whom are men enjoy- ing the right of franchise. In order that these people might have services every Sunday, an assistant priest has been placed at St. Anthony's Church in Bridgeport since August, 1001, Rev. Father R. A. McEachen, who in July. 1902, was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Wittmann.
St. Stanislaus' Church, Maynard .- This congregation was organized about the same time as that of Bridgeport by Father Touhy of Martin's Ferry, but its progress was not quite as rapid. Until September, 1901, it had ser- vices only once or twice a month in a hall rented for this purpose, though as early as September, 1898, a parochial school with an attendance- of about 60 children had been or- ganized there by the pastor of Bridgeport. Two Sisters of Charity go from Bridgeport daily to Maynard to teach the pupils of this school. The same hall that served for divine worship was also used during the week days for school purposes. But now a handsome frame building is under way of construction, with a large auditorium for church purposes and two spacious school rooms. The new building will be ready for occupancy by the spring of 1903. Services are held here every Sunday, and the parish is now in a very prom- ising condition. It numbers about 350 mem- bers with about 200 voters. A new congrega- tion is also about to be organized in Flushing with a membership of about 150 souls under the title of "St. Mary's Help of Christians."
CHAPTER XV.
PULTNEY TOWNSHIP.
POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND THE FIRST SETTLERS-THE MINING INDUSTRY-ROCK HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -- HIGH RIDGE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE TOWNS : STEEL, WEST WHEEL- ING AND SHADYSIDE-THE CITY OF BELLAIRE-INCREASE IN POPULATION-CITY OFFICIALS-THE FIRST SETTLERS-A TRIBUTE TO COLONEL SULLIVAN -- CHANGE FROM BELL AIR TO BELLAIRE-THE CITY'S GROWTH-THE POST OFFICE-THE TOWN INCORPORATED-THE FIRST MAYOR AND HIS SUCCESSORS -- THE WATER- WORKS AND ELECTRIC POWER-THE BANKS AND LOAN COMPANIES-THE MANU- FACTURING INTERESTS -- THE PHYSICIANS-THE RAILROADS ENTERING THE CITY -THE SCHOOLS-THE CHURCHES-SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS- SPANGLER POST, G. A. R .- THE NEWSPAPERS OF BELLAIRE-THE BELLAIRE CEM- ETARY ASSOCIATION.
POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The population of Pultney township at the Ioth census was 13,833 as against 12,857 in 1800, showing a gain of 976 in the decade.
The tax duplicate for 1902 shows a gain of personal property amounting to $103,586 in Bellaire alone, while the tax levy in the town- ship is 2.08 as against 2.18 in 1901 and 2.48 in Bellaire as against 2.66 in 1901.
The township officers in 1902 are as follows : Trustees-William M. Moore, J. M. Paul, Irwin Baker, Jolin W. Morrell, J. M. Richard- son and Frank S. Mason; clerk,-B. W. Hop- kins; treasurer,-George Pracht.
Pultney is one of the original townships of Belmont County and before its divisions and subdivisions was one of the largest. Its pres- ent boundaries are as follows: On the north by Pease township, on the east by the Ohio River, on the south and the west by Richland township.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSIHIP AND THIE FIRST SETTLERS.
The township was organized in 1801, and the first election was held at the house of Jacob Repsliire, one of the judges of the court in the same year, and this same court had Joseph Lashley and Philip Dover as constables for Pultney township.
One of the first settlers was Andrew Dixon, who came from West Liberty, ( West) Vir- ginia, in 1796, and his son, James Dixon, born in 1797, was the first male child born in the township.
Following Mr. Dixon were Charles Eckles, in 1800; Abraham Workman, George Neff, Andrew Neff, Samuel Morley, Matthew How- ell, James Hutchinson, John King. Jacob Wor- ley, Jacob Davis, William Merritt, James Mc- Quirk and Robert Alexander. Mr. Alexander at that time had no neighbors nearer than Bridgeport.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
The first place for public worship was built on McMechen's Creek, a short distance south of the tunnel, and the preacher was Rev. John Scott.
The first grist mills were Eckles,' Neff's and Wallace's on McMechen's Creek, a few miles from Bellaire.
THE MINING INDUSTRY.
For years the coal works north and south of Bellaire and the great limestone and sandstone quarries on Indian Run west of the city were leading industries. Today the coal industry is paramount.
The Empire Company, which owns the 30,000-acre tract south and west of Bellaire, contemplates opening three new mines to be as large or larger than the three they already have. While no definite statement regarding the new mines has been made by officials, it is presumed the additional openings will be some- where along the river front, for it is evidently their purpose in time to do a great deal of shipping by the river. More than likely the most important development by the company in the near future will be from mines to be opened below Wegee.
The leading churches of the township out- side of Bellaire are the Rock Hill Presbyterian Church and the High Ridge United Presby- terian Church.
ROCK HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
The following interesting history of the Rock Hill Church is furnished the author by P. A. Wise :
According to the best information now at hand, Rock Hill Presbyterian Church was or- ganized in the summer of 1812, the actual date being unknown. As the early records are lost we must draw from the most approved tradi- tion for the story of 29 years of the church's existence. The place of organization was un- der the spreading branches of an elin tree near the north bank of MeMechen's Creek on the farm then owned by John Cunningham. The same authority gives us the following persons
as charter members, viz. : John Moore, William Moore and wife, John Cunningham and wife, William Merritt and wife, John Simpson and wife, Mrs. McKimmons, Mrs. Paxton, Mrs. Elizabeth McAllister, Mrs. Kelsey, James Simpson, and there may have been others whose names are forgotten. Two men, John Moore and John Cunningham, were chosen to the office of ruling elder. The minister in charge was Rev. Abram Scott, an evangelist of the Presbytery of Ohio, who served the church for eight years until he saw it com- fortably housed in a neat, hewn-log church 30 by 40 feet in size, built in 1817. This build- ing was a fine one for that time, but was said to possess neither floor nor ceiling at first. But these proofs of advancing civilization were afterward added, as was also a stove for heat- ing the house. The pews were each the work of its owner and were of various lengths and shapes, those of George Wise, Sr., and James McMillen being the best, as cabinetmakers could turn out better work than an ordinary farmer with only an augur and ax to work with. But aside from appearance, the occu- pant of the slab pew could enjoy the sermon of the preacher as well as his better provided neighbor.
This log church served as the gathering place of the Presbyterians for the eastern part of Belmont County for 29 years as the nearest Presbyterian churches were at St. Clairsville and at Mount Pleasant, in Jefferson County. There are only two older Presbyterian churches in the county than Rock Hill,-St. Clairsville, founded in 1798, and Crab Apple in 1800.
Our Scotch and Scotch-Irish fathers builded better than they knew, for they founded a church that has lived 90 years and has had an unbounded influence in molding the char- acter of the people who have lived within its bounds in all these years. The sons and daugh- ters of the Rock Hill Church have traversed much of the world and in many occupations seem to be first and best. She has given 12 manly sous to the Gospel ministry and has one more in training for the same sacred calling.
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In 1845 the second church building was erected, and here the church saw its maximum growth. But its growth was seriously checked by the rapid formation of other Presbyterian churches in its original field; beginning with Martin's Ferry in 18.41 and following rapidly were founded Wegee, Kirkwood, Bethel, Bel- laire Ist, Farmington, Coal Brook, Bellaire 2nd, and last, Pleasant Valley. Each have drawn on the territory or population of Rock Hill until only a small part of the lordly her- itage of the fathers remains to the old church. Notwithstanding the forming of these new churches and the constant stream of emigrants going forth, the old church yet retains 117 communicants, slightly more than the average for the Go years past.
In 1890, finding that the church building was almost beyond repair, the congregation decided to tear it down and erect a new one near the old site. This was done and the new church was dedicated June 3, 1891. The building was cruciform in shape and cost $7,000 when complete, being the neatest coun- try church in Eastern Ohio. It was solidly built and might have lasted a century had no mishap befallen it. But during a severe elec- trical storm on the evening of June 25, 1902, it was struck by lightning and burned. When the pastor saw the fire, he started for the scene rousing the people on the way. Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, and the stranger within our gates made heroic efforts to put out the fire, but the means were not sufficient and the beautiful sanctuary was consumed. Within a few days the congregation decided without dis- sent to rebuild and we hope in the fullness of time to see a new church, the fourth temple to the Lord our God, rise upon the sacred hill.
Rock Hill has been served by the following supplies and pastors: Revs. Abram Scott, eight years; Dr. McMillen, Jacob Lindley, James Arbuthnot, Joseph Anderson, Benjamin Mitchell and Mr. Reed. The first pastor served 23 years. R. II. Holliday organized Bellaire First Church, to which Rock > Ilill gave 41 menibers. John Moffat, J. D. Fitzgerald, D. 11. Laverty and John Jay Lane, who organized
Coal Brook Church, giving it half the territory and many members, served it years; John G. Black, six years; J. A. Bower and Walter L. Alexander, the present pastor, 12 years.
The following persons served the church as ruling elders : John Cunningham, John Moore, William Keyser, James Milligan, John Rankin, James Greenlee, Joshua Keyser, Robert Mer- ritt, A. W. Anderson, J. S. Cratty, J. W. Milli- gan, Matthew Wallace, William Thomas, John Giffin, John S. Keyser, P. A. Wise, E. E. Tar- bet. It has also given for the evangelization of the world the following sons as ministers of the Gospel : Revs. William Wallace, Richard Mer- rill, Thomas Merrill, James Merritt, Robert Alexander, James Alexander, George W. Mc- Millan, Robert A. Criswell, J. W. Allen, A. G. Lane, Edgar S. Robinson; together with these we may associate two others who began their life's work here,-Rev. James Moffat, now president of Washington-Jefferson College, and Bishop James Thoburn, Methodist Epis- copal missionary to India, taught their first schools here.
Rock Hill is not and has not been a large church, the largest membership being 174 and the average for 60 years since 1842 is 110. Neither has it been a wealthy church as the public has believed. The great bulk of its membership is and has been for many years composed of the tillers of small farms and laborers, yet the average gifts per member for the Go years of which we have account is $7. 19 per annum. This certainly is an excellent showing for a strictly rural church, as country churches are supposed to be very poorly organ- ized for work.
During the past year this church of 117 members has given for benevolences $-150, and for congregational expenses $655. a total of $1,115 or $9.53 per member.
HIGH RIDGE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
The following history of the High Ridge Church is furnished by Isaiah Nichols :
The United Presbyterian congregation of High Ridge formerly belonged to the Re- formed Dissenting Church.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
In the year 1851 the Reformed Dissenting Church united with the Associate Church and in 1858 the Associate Church united with the Reformed Associate Church, thus forming the United Presbyterian Church.
The High Ridge congregation was organ- ized at Flat Run, Belmont County, Ohio. The earliest records are obtained from the minutes of the Reformed Dissenting Presbytery. From these we learn that in 1809 the meeting place was "the tent at Flat Run," while in 18If the records mention the "meeting house of Flat Run." This meeting house was a log building located a little south of the present village of Farmington.
In the minutes of the Presbytery of 1825 we find "The Presbytery adjourned to meet at the High Ridge meeting house, McMechen's Creek in 1826." This is all the available in- formation in reference to the change from Flat Run to High Ridge.
The house of worship at High Ridge was a small brick, built perhaps in 1824 or 1825. The date of the deed conveying the property from John and William Feeley to Christopher Hlinkle, Robert Alexander and George Giffen was December 7, 1825. This building served until about 1846 when the walls were taken down and replaced by a frame, the roof, foun- dation, and even the seats and pulpit being the same as in the former house.
In 1874 a new building was erected on the site of the former building at a cost of about $3,000. On the 19th of April. 1893, this building was destroyed by fire. The church members had collected in large numbers with a view of giving the church building a thor- ough cleaning when in some unaccountable way a fire was started and the building was completely destroyed. Nothing daunted by the loss, a movement was inaugurated for rebuild- ing and on May 1, 1894, the present comfort- able church edifice was dedicated.
This new building is but a short distance from the site of the old one.
. The first record we have`of a pastor was that of Rev. John Patterson at Flat Run in
1815. He served until 1851 and was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Anderson.
Since that time the congregation has been served by the following pastors: Rev. Josiah Alexander, 1853-55, in connection with Bel- mont. Rev. William Grimes, 1858-71. Rev. Mr. Grimes resigned to give all his time to Belmont. Rev. Thomas Love, 1876-84; Rev. W. R. Thompson, 1887-98; and Rev. Morris Watson, -who has been pastor since 1900. The following persons have served as elders : Christopher Hinkle, Robert Alexander, George Giffen, William Giffen, John Johnson, John Eckles, Andrew J. Keyser, James Johnson, John DuBois, and John McFarland. The present elders are: William Nichol, James Hinkle, Samuel Gordon and James Wise.
THE TOWNS,-STEEL, WEST WHEELING AND SILADYSIDE.
STEEL P. O. or St. Clairsville Junction is a village of a few hundred inhabitants, princi- pally miners employed in the coal mines of Troll Brothers. It has two large stores and a church.
WEST WHEELING in Pultney township is midway between Bridgeport and Bellaire. The old town was laid out in 1838 by Martin S. Todd, and contains a population today of 574. The principal industry is the paper mill of David Wagner, but many of the employees of the mills and factories in the city of Wheeling opposite make their homes in West Wheeling, crossing and recrossing the river upon the old ferry that was established in the early history of the village. For years the leading industry of West Wheeling was coal mining and flat- boat building as conducted by Redick McKee. It was a profitable industry.
West Wheeling was the home of one of Pultney township's oldest citizens, the vener- able 'Squire Kelsey, who served as squire for nearly half a century.
SHADYSIDE, a suburb of Bellaire, is about one and a half miles south of the city, upon a high plateau beyond the reach of high water,
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and has thereby become a safe, healthful and pretty site for homes.
It has grown rapidly within a few years, and now contains 110 houses with a population of over 618.
A successful canning factory is conducted by C. W. Rodefer & Company that, at this writing, is in full operation. Harvey Broth- ers also conduct a profitable soap factory, and John Futhy is the proprietor of the largest Jer- sey dairy in the county.
This enterprising people have established a Board of Trade with Col. C. L. Poorman as president and J. B. Milhoan as secretary. The right of way for the new motor line between Bellaire and Marietta is now being secured and a franchise for an electric light plant is also being applied for. Recently a movement was inaugurated to unite Shadyside with the cor- poration of Bellaire, but the movement is not as yet successful.
THE CITY OF BELLAIRE
Is the commercial and manufacturing metro- polis of Belmont County and has entered upon an era of prosperity unsurpassed in its history.
INCREASE IN POPULATION.
The population of the city at the toth cen- sus was 9,912, viz. :
First ward 1,649
Second 2,170
Third
. 1,534
Fourth
.2,461
Fifth 2,098
This population, because of the introduction of several new factories, has been increased within the past year to a figure exceeding 10,000, and the industrial enterprises have never been established upon as substantial a basis.
The assessor's returns for 1902 show a net gain in the wealth of the city of $103,586. The tax levy for the corporation is 2.48, a reduc- tion of 18 cents on the year previous.
CITY OFFICIALS.
The present city officials are as follows :
Charles W. Rodewig, mayor; F. A. Jackson, city clerk; C. W. Dickens, city treasurer; Cook Danford, city solicitor; A. J. Norton, city en- gineer; Albert Mahone, city marshal.
The members of the City Council are: Emil Shmidt, president; Dr. Joseph Piersol, vice- president ; L. W. Gilcher, Thomas Powers, Clarence Simpson, Charles H. Wise, L. G. Bat- telle, J. H. Murray, H. C. Fuhr and T. C. Nicholson. .
The commercial advantages of Bellaire are not surpassed by those of any city on the Ohio south of Pittsburg.
In addition to its fine harbor, and facilities for river transportation, Bellaire is the ter- minus of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling, the Cleveland & Pittsburg, the Bellaire, Zanes- ville & Cincinnati and the Ohio Valley rail- roads, and is likewise on the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad east and west, thus affording double connection with the lakes and the seacoast and the great railway system con- trolled by the Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio companies, east, west, north and south.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
The first settlement was effected by Jacob Davis, Sr., who emigrated from Maryland in 1802. However, the old town was not laid out until 1834.
Five years previous, Jacob Davis, Jr., built a log house with the aid of the militia who had collected there to muster, and this building was only removed in 1870 to give way to an imple- ment and machine factory.
The land upon which the city proper was built was a government grant to Johin Duer in 1792.
Duer sold to John Buchanan and Buchanan's sons in turn sold to Davis as above narrated. John Rodefer in 1832 also purchased from Buchanan's sons 133 acres just south of Indian Run.
The same year Capt. John Fink purchased all the tract south of the creek from Jacob Davis for $r,400; this included the land sub- sequently owned and operated for mining pur- poses by Jacob Heatherington, and from which
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
thousands of bushels of coal were shipped an- mually by Captain Fink and others to Southern markets.
In April, 1834, Mr. Davis laid out six acres of the remaining land, on the beautiful plateau embraced in his purchase, in town lots, calling the place Bell Air, after his home town in Maryland.
A TRIBUTE TO COLONEL SULLIVAN.
The town made but little progress until after the completion of the Central Ohio Railroad, which was built largely through the tireless efforts of Col. J. HI. Sullivan.
The city of Bellaire owes a debt of gratitude to this invincible spirit which it can never re- pay.
With a tact and courtesy that few possess and a command of words that was positively irresistible, Colonel Sullivan overcame what to others would have been insurmountable diffi- culties in obtaining rights of way and promot- ing every scheme looking to the upbuilding of the town.
He was connected with every new enterprise, and indefatigable in his day and generation in promoting every effort for the prosperity and growth of the city.
Yet today Bellaire does not associate his name with that of an avenue or park.
CHANGE FROM BELL AIR TO BELLAIRE.
In 1852 Colonel Sullivan with others laid out the new city by the purchase of that portion of the Davis farm owned by Harris, and on the 14th day of November the first sale of lots occurred. About the same time the name Bell Air was changed at the suggestion of Moses Sarchett, one of the directors of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, to Bellaire, in order, primar- ily, to avoid confusion in the distribution of freights and mail, and, secondly, as more de- scriptive of the site occupied.
THE CITY'S GROWTH.
As illustrating the rapid growth of the city the following additions are noted in the order
made. In January, 1856, Rodefer made his first addition, and in the July following his second addition, and in November, 1859, his third addition. Sullivan, Barnard & Cow- en's first addition in 1866. Butte's addition in 1868; Fink's addition in 1868, his second addi- tion in 1869. Sullivan, Barnard & Cowen's second addition in 1869 and Mrs. Sullivan's Rose Hill addition, and Cummins' first addition in 1870, his second addition in 1872, his third addition in 1873 and his fourth addition in 1874. Heatherington's first addition in 1871; Bates' in 1871 ; Barnard, Cummins & Ham- mond's in 1871; Carroll, Armstrong & Com- pany's addition in 1872; Fink's third addition in 1872; Heatherington's second and third ad- ditions in 1872; Barnard's first addition in 1873; Austin's addition in 1873: Horn's addi- tion in 1874: Austin's second addition in 1874; Barnard's second addition in 1876; Cummins' addition in 1878: Sullivan, Barnard & Cowen's addition in 1878 and Sheets' addi- tion in 1879.
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