USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 26
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The officers for 1902 are: George E. Mor- gan, M. E. H. P .; Will Doherty, excellent king; Chalkley Dawson, excellent 'scribe; James T. Kelley, treasurer; J. A. Greenfield, secretary ; Il. A. Thompson, C. of Il .; Will Parks, P. S .; C. S. Starkweather, R. A. S .; E. C. Goodman, G. M. third veil; W. E. Nel- son, G. M. second veil; W. H. Burrows, G. M. first veil; J. T. Rowles, guard ; finance commit- tec,-J. W. Overman, C. H. Strahl and W. S. Carroll.
I. O. O. F. Lodges .- For a number of years there had been considerable interest manifested by members of the I. O. O. F. residing in Bel- laire, relative to the organization of a lodge here.
Finally, Ralph Heatherington, Christian Bippus, Joseph Mercer, George Kern, Thomas
Archibald, Wilbur Kriter, John Muth, and Iliram M. Ingler effected a preliminary organ- ization on July 10, 1865, by electing Joseph Mercer, chairman; John Muth, secretary; and George Kern, treasurer. This organization took immediate action toward organizing a lodge of I. O. O. F., but it was not until the spring of 1866 that they were successful in se- curing a charter.
On Tuesday, April 26, 1866, their efforts were crowned with success and Bellaire Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F., was instituted with broth- ers John Muth, Christian Bippus, D. K. San- ford, H. M. Ingler, George Kern, Joseph Mer- cer, George H. Muth, W. II. Thurber, Ralph Heatherington and Elias Dew as charter mem- bers; and John Muth, noble grand; Christian Bippus, vice grand; D. K. Sanford, secretary ; and George Kern, treasurer. The lodge was at once popular with the public, soon taking a leading place among the fraternal societies of the city.
In the spring of 1869 the German members decided that they would prefer to have a lodge which used a German ritual, accordingly they withdrew from Bellaire Lodge. On the 8th of July, 1869, they instituted Kern Lodge No. 428, I. O. O. F. This lodge thrived from its start, enlisting as it did Germans who have ever taken a just pride in their lodge. This lodge meets every Saturday evening at 7:30 in the 1. O. O. F. Hall.
About the year 1872, Bellaire Lodge pur- chased two lots on the corner of 33rd and Bel- mont streets on which they erected a two-story frame business house. This building remained until the spring of 1890 when it was torn down and a fine three-story brick building, 40 feet front and 110 feet depth, was erected at a cost of $20,000. The first and second stories are rented as business rooms and the third story is fitted up as a lodge hall, making one of the finest halls for lodge purposes in Eastern Ohio. Here Bellaire Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F., meets every Tuesday evening at 7:30.
Since its organization, over 500 members have been initiated into Bellaire Lodge, and it now has a membership of over 150. The dnes
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
are $6 per year with no assessments and a funeral benefit of $1oo is paid.
In 1869 the members decided to organize a higher branch of the I. O. O. F. and on the 14th of July, 1869, they instituted Bellaire En- campment No. 122, 1. O. O. F., with patriarchs J. D. Sumers, C. S. S. Baron, W. S. Lane, W. C. Cochran, William A. Lilly, John B. Gorby, E. H. Williams, A. L. Baron, William Hip- kins, A. Grafton, J. W. Janes and 1. N. Graf- ton as charter members. This proved to be very popular with the members of the order and it is today in a most flourishing condition. It meets the first and third Fridays of each month at 7:30 p. m., in the I. O. O. F. Hall.
About 1880 a ladies 1. O. O. F. lodge was organized known as the Daughters of Rebekah, but for some unexplained reason was allowed to lapse. Nothing further was done in the matter of Rebekah Lodge until the spring of 1902, when a new Daughters of Rebekah lodge was organized with 42 members, which will be instituted the first or second week of October, 1902.
Black Prince Lodge, No. 57, Knights of Pythias, was chartered March 12, 1874. Names of charter members: J. B. Darrah, E. F. Satterfield, W. A. Mclaughlin, C. Bippus, Alex. Clohan, A. Roeder, J. H. Hahn, J. J. Powell, F. Bickle, J. S. Carter, O. T. Black- burn, A. Schick, R. Criswell, William Wheel- er, Thomas S. Cooper, D. S. Criswell, A. John- son, F. 1 .. Feeley, W. S. Carroll, T. M. God- frey, O. C. Bray, A. Ault, A. S. Feeley, II. Landkrohn, H. Ulrich, J. Dunning, J. Hipkins, P. O. Criswell, A. McClain, Henry Ditwiler.
The present officers are: C. C., Clarence Simpson; V. C., Will McClellan; P., E. E. Workman; M. A., Miles T. Carnes ; 1. G., Ed Althar; O. G., George Odbert; M. of W., Ed- gar Luke; M. of F., J. W. Obermann; M. of E., C. W. Dickens; K. of R. and S., R. W. Mc- Vay; D. G. C., Charles Culbertson. The pres- ent membership is 307.
When the foundation of the new city build- ing at Bellaire was completed, an invitation was extended the order of Knights of Pythias of Bellaire to perform the ceremony. When
this fact became known, some citizens of Bel- laire who did not approve of such proceedings asked the court through Father Wehrle of the Catholic Church to enjoin the Knights of Pythias until the case could be tried. This the court granted, but regardless of the injunction the Knights of Pythias proceeded with the cor- ner stone laying.
After the ceremonies were completed, the parties who took active part in the ceremonies were arrested for contempt of court. The Knights. however, asked for a hearing before another court. This request Judge Hollings- worth granted and the case was heard by Judge Frasier of Lanesville, who dismissed the de- fendants upon technical grounds.
With regard to this celebrated case, the sec- retary of the Knights of Pythias, R. W. Mc- Vay, makes the following statement :
"In regard to the corner stone matter, Black Prince Lodge had nothing to do with it. The honor of laying the stone was accorded to the Arlington Company, No. 92, U. R., K. of P., of Bellaire ( which is a military company com- posed of Knights of Pythias, most of its mem- bers also belonging to Black Prince Lodge, but some belonging to other lodges) by the City Council, on May 13, 1902. Some time after- ward Arlington Company found that they could not lay the stone because they had no ritual for that kind of work. They then visit- ed the grand chancellor of the State, and after consulting with him they turned the matter over to the Grand Lodge, K. of P., of the State of Ohio. This was on May 25, 1902. On the night of the 29th, the Arlington Company was enjoined from laying the stone or permitting it to be laid. On the next day the Grand Lodge laid the stone. Shortly afterward the parties who had been enjoined were cited to appear and show cause why they should not be pun- ished for contempt. After a hearing, they were found not guilty and dismissed. Black Prince Lodge had no part in the matter other than that some of their members acted as Grand Lodge officers at the layng of the stone, being specially deputized by the grand chancellor.'
Bellaire Ilive, No. 292, Ladies of the Mac-
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
cabees, was organized May 9, 1900. The chiar- ter officials were : Commander, Flora DuBois; lieutenant commander, Lucinda Jackson; past commander, Penelope Dean; record keeper, Lida Heatherington; finance keeper, Luella Jeffers; mistress at arms, Maude Rofelty ; sergeant, Mabel Long; chaplain, Alice J. Wil- son ; sentinel, Lottie Hart; picket, Annie Strong. The number of charter members was 46.
The present officials are : Commander, Nel- lie LaRoche; past commander, Penelope Dean; lieutenant commander, Mary A. Wagoner; record keeper, Alice J. Wilson ; finance keeper, Ora Z. Weeks; mistress at arms, Luella Jef- fers; sergeant, Sarah Buress; chaplain, Louisa LaRoche; sentinel, Regina Meyer; picket, Margaret Strahl. The number of members at present is 82.
This organization is one of the best of the assessment societies in the State, and the order is the only independent order of ladies in the world, at present controlled entirely by women from the highest to the lowest official.
Bellaire Lodge No. 2, Shield of Honor, was organized in 1899, the date of its charter be- ing November 2nd. The following were the charter members: J. M. King, D. Robinson, T. C. Ward, W. C. Joseph, C. W. Swisher, E. A. Shoen, F. Morgan, T. J. Murphy, J. M. Swartz, William Johnson, Sr., T. Eberling, W. S. Anderson, S. Keindlar, H. A. Shukman, W. B. Kimes, L. W. Franke, D. Gulley, S. Haney, M. W. Johnston and W. C. Howard. The first officers of the lodge were as follows: S. M., J. Joseph; W. M., D. Gulley; J. M., T. Eb- erling ; recording and financial secretary, J. M. King; treasurer, D. Robinson; chaplain, Wil- liam Jolinston; conductor, T. B. Murphy ; trus- tees, \V. B. Anderson, W. B. Kimes and J. M. Swartz.
The officers of the lodge for 1902 are as fol- lows: S. M., Henry Smith; W. M., Gus. A. Stephens; J. M., Walter Smith; recording and financial secretary, William Lockwood; treas- urer, D. Robinson; conductor, J. A. Malone ; chaplain, H. Burkhart; trustees, E. Pickett, J. M. King and W. Smith.
Junior O. U. A. M. Band, Ohio Valley Council, No. 21 .- This organization, which has 87 members, was organized April 30, 1867, and is open for concerts, excursions, chautau- qnas, parades, etc. Its charter members were as follows: James Moorehouse, George W. Bell, S. Ames, John Best, Samuel Brown, A. L. Thomas, W. E. Love, George Miller, Thomas Clegg, Alexander V. Smith, John Lappart, F. Schick, William H. Fry, Joseph B. Cheeseman, Thomas Fay, J. E. Moorehouse, Charles Ambler, A. Steubenrach and L. Pang- ratz.
The present officials are: Councilor, Ross Logan; vice councilor, H. Dunfee; recording secretary, Gus. A. Stephens; assistant record- ing secretary, T. G. Monroe; financial secre- tary, John Thurn; treasurer, A. Grafton; con- ductor, James Moffat; warden, D. D. Ogle; inside sentinal, James Hadley ; outside sentinel, Samuel Leach; chaplain, S. Workman; trus- tees, Gus. A. Stephens, C. A. Keyser and E. J. Day; representative to State Council, J. E. Moorehouse ; junior past councilor, E. J. Day.
SPANGLER POST, G. A. R.
Spangler Post, No. 99, G. A. R., of Bellaire, was organized July 9, 1881. Two preliminary meetings were held to make all the necessary arrangements. On May 30th preceding, a meeting was held in the Loan Exhibition Building and Comrade Frederick Eberle was called to the chair and Comrade S. H. Lee was appointed secretary. At this meeting 83 ap- plications were made for membership. On June 13th, the executive committee, consisting of Levi Cassell chairman, J. M. Richardson, S. 11. Lec, W. IT. Little and Thomas Keyser re- ported the methods of procedure to effect an organization and on July 6th at a meeting held in the City Ilall the following officers were duly elected : Post commander, Frederick Eb- erle ; senior vice commander, S. H. Lee; junior vice commander, W. C. Grafton; quarter- master, P. S. Osborne ; surgeon, S. C. Gerrard ; chaplain, J. M. Richardson ; officer of the day, Levi Cassell; officer of the guard, Henry Crim- miel.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
On July 9th, Comrade C. E. Irwin of Tho- burn Post, No. 72, of Martin's Ferry, formally mustered in these officers and likewise 33 mem- bers. Comrades Irwin and Meek of Martin's Ferry and Lee of Bellaire made appropriate remarks and the officers being duly installed Spangler entered upon its work,-a work that has continued for 21 years.
The past commanders at present connected with the Post are: W. D. Jones, H. C. Kem- ple, James Lancaster, August Haas, J. W. Morrell, W. H. Thompson, J. B. Gibson and A. Porterfield. The present officers ( Novem- ber 1, 1902) are: Post commander, A. Port- erfield; adjutant, August Haas; quarter- master, W. H. Thompson; chaplain, Jomm King; officer of the day, H. C. Kemple; of- ficer of the guard, James Lancaster ; surgeon, A. Roeder; guard, L. Schram. The trustees for 1902 are H. C. Kemple, August Haas and Henry Rolls.
The following is a list of the members upon the roster in 1902:
Abbott, Jacob.
Mason, F. S.
Bickell, Fred.
Morrell, J. W.
Baker, Martin.
McFarland, W. W.
Beck, John.
Mclellan, Thomas.
Beverage, John.
McGrath, John.
Bennington, Samuel.
Kramer, Lewis.
Brown, James.
Norce, William.
Bennington, Martin.
Porterfield, Alonzo.
Criswell, P. O.
Paul, J. M.
Petticord, J. A.
Copito, Jacob. Carr, Edward. Criswell. Isaac.
Patterson, William.
Rolls, Henry.
Dorsey, Robert.
Readerer, Andrew.
Fulton, James.
Robertson, Francis L.
Gibson, James B.
Strong, James H.
Gorby, Isaac.
Schram, Lewis.
Hadley, John.
Sager, Harvey. Shuckman, John.
Heatherington, John T.
Stotsherry, Wm.
Haas, August.
Upperman, Henry.
Huffman, Joseph.
Larr, Benjamin F.
Hagerman, Joseph.
Thompson, W. H.
Heath, Isaac K.
Wise, George M.
Kemple, Henry C.
Wyrick, Joseph.
King, John.
Yanke, Charles.
Long, Robert.
Wilks, J. W.
Lancaster, James L.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF BELLAIRE.
A half century has elapsed since the first newspaper enterprise was launched in Bellaire.
The editor and proprietor was Robert Duncan, and The Times was conducted under his man- agement for a year, when two prominent phy- sicians,-Dr. Milton W. Junkins and Dr. Joseph Gaston,-assumed control. These gen- tlemen sought to make The Times pre-eminent- ly a local paper.
Between 1857 and 1859, two other news- paper organizations were formed, viz :- the Bellaire Intelligencer, and the Democratic Era. The latter paper is said to have been a newsy, spicy sheet that met with much public favor ; but all these enterprises failed for want of suf- ficient patronage, as did also The Advertiser, issued in 1870.
The Independent was first issued in 1870 by a joint stock company with J. B. Longley as manager and editor. Subsequently Mr. Long- ley obtained entire control of the paper, a posi- tion he held until 1871 when he was elected county auditor.
Upon entering the auditor's office, Mr. Longley temporarily sundered his connection with the paper, and Dr. Junkins and James F. Anderson acted as editors and managers. Aft- er a few months Dr. Junkins retired from the paper, and Mr. Anderson assumed the editorial chair.
In 1873 Mr. Longley's term of office ex- pired, and he again took editorial charge of the paper for three years, when Mr. Anderson as- sumed entire control, a position that he has filled with great acceptability for a quarter of a century.
In 1879 a daily edition was first published and has been issued regularly until this day.
As its name implies The Independent has been "independent in all things but neutral in none" and while advocating the doctrines of the Republican party it is free in its criticisms of public men and public measures of all parties, if in the editor's judgment they are unworthy of public support. It is an earnest advocate of retrenchment and economy in the management of public affairs.
Mr. Anderson wields a trenchant pen and his ably conducted paper is devoted to the de- velopment of the material interests of the
Holland, James.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
whole county and it is liberally supported by the people.
The Democrat issued the initial number March 23, 1888. W. C. Warnock was its founder and he continued as editor and pub- lisher until April, 1901, when he disposed of the plant to Prof. D. W. Shields, the present proprietor.
The paper was originally a five-column eight-page journal but was in a few years en- larged to its present size,-eight pages of six columns each.
The paper is Democratic in politics. Under its present management, it is one of the most influential papers in the county in advocacy of the political principles of the party it espouses. It has always been courteous and manly in its treatment of men and measures and has main- tained the respect of its political opponents.
Mr. Warnock says: "Home news has been its special feature. It does not advocate pro- hibition of the liquor traffic as a political meas- ure, yet a line of whiskey advertisements nev- er appeared in its columns."
The Bellaire Daily Herald-Tribune is the only Democratic paper ever published in Bel- mont County. The Weekly Herald was estab- lished in 1885 by E. M. Lockwood and was purchased from him January 1, 1890, by R. C. Meyer. The Tribune was established by Col. C. L. Poorman in 1879.
Colonel Poorman had been prominent in county affairs for many years previous to and after his service in the army. He was for 10 years editor of the Belmont Chronicle, and to this fact was largely due his success in the management of The Tribune. In 1879-81, he started the daily edition of The Tribune. Upon October 1, 1899, R. C. Meyer purchased The Tribune from Colonel Poorman and combined the two papers as the Herald-Tribune and since then it has been successful in the publica- tion of the daily and weekly Herald-Tribune.
The Tribune during the administration of Colonel Poorman was intensely Republican, but in the Greeley campaign it supported the veteran editor of the New York Tribune for
the Presidency and for a time thereafter lost the support of the Republican organization. Ilowever, in 1885, Colonel Poorman was elect- ed to represent Belmont County in the General Assembly of Ohio, a position that he filled with marked ability for two terms.
Subsequently The Tribune supported W. J. Bryan, the Democratic candidate for President upon the "silver" issue, but always claimed to be Republican.
Under the management of R. C. Meyer, the Daily Herald-Tribune is regarded as the fore- most Democratic daily in the eastern and southeastern sections of the county. Its editor, R. C. Meyer, is one of the most practical and promising newspaper men in Eastern Ohio. lle is familiar with the work in all its details and while earnest in the support of the political faith which his paper advocates he will resort to no unfair or dishonest means to achieve party success. He is a young man of upright- ness and integrity and the success which his paper has achieved attests the appreciation of the public. Mr. Meyer is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and especially interested in the religious welfare of the young people.
Other newspaper enterprises .- In addition to the three papers at present published in Bel- laire there have been issued at various times other newspaper enterprises that were short lived; viz.,-The Standard in 1870 by Leet & Nuzum; The Belmont City Commercial in 1872 with Miss Mary Hoover as editor. Dur- ing the administration of Miss Hoover, W. S. Faris served as local editor and there began his short but brilliant career as a journalist.
In 1875 J. J. Clarkson purchased The Com- mercial, but in a few months disposed of his interests to Miss Cochran and Gow. In 1876 John R. Gow assumed control and added a new press and other material improvements and called the new paper the Weekly Leader.
In 1875 The Bric-a-Brac was issued for a few months.
In 1878 W. S. Faris edited a spicy paper called The Phonograph, but discontinued it in 1879.
I86
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
THE BELLAIRE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
Greenwood Cemetery was set apart as a burying ground in 1859. Previous to this, the "Daris Burying Ground," located near the Sul- livan coal mines, had been used as a graveyard since 1810. After the establishment of Green- wood Cemetery, many of the dead buried in the old graveyard were removed there.
Greenwood Cemetery is only about a half mile from the city and is beautifully located. The property originally consisted of but four acres that was purchased for $800. The first officers were: President, James Nicoll; clerk, E. G. Morgan; treasurer, Alex. Hammond; trustees, B. R. Cowen, Joseph McMurray, R. H. Long, George Criswell and John Hattery. The cemetery continues a joint stock associa- tion and is maintained with great care. Today it is veritable garden spot. As to the value of the property held, a stockholder says :
: "Each purchaser of a lot in the cemetery be- comes a member of the association and is en- titled to a vote at the annual meeting of lot owners. The by-laws provide that trustees shall be elected by the lot owners at their an-
nual meeting. The only source of income is from the sale of lots, and, up to the present time, it is said, the money received has all been applied in the purchase of grounds, improve- ments, and the salary of the sexton; so that the association has no assets except the unsold portion of the cemetery grounds. The best part of the grounds have already been sold and the value of the remainder would be very diffi- cult to determine. I would guess that it would be worth, at least, $10,000; that is, for ceme- tery purposes it would ultimately bring that amount. If sold at public sale and for other purposes, it would not bring one-quarter of that amount. The cost of the entire cemetery, in- cluding all the improvements, public and private, would probably run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"I had a talk with some of the trustees and the above was as near as they could inform me as to the values you enquire about. The board of trustees, as at present constituted, is as fol- lows: Thomas Ault, William S. Carroll, Jacob Rietz, George S. Jennings, C. M. Wy- rich and A. J. Norton. Thomas Ault is presi- dent of the board and A. J. Norton is secre- tary."
CHAPTER XVI.
PEASE TOWNSHIP.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-INCREASE IN POPULATION AND WEALTH-THE FIRST SET- TLEMENTS-THE OLD MILLS AND MEETING HOUSES-COAL MINING-FRUIT- TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-THE CITY OF MARTIN'S FERRY-ITS POPULATION-A SKETCH OF EBENEZER MARTIN- THE POST OFFICE-INCORPORATION, AND LIST OF MAYORS AND OFFICIALS-THE CHURCHES-THE SCHOOLS -- THE BANKS-THE MANUFACTORIES - SECRET SOCIETIES-THOBURN POST, G. A. R .- THE PRESS -THE BRIDGE OVER THE OHIO-A NOTABLE CHARACTER-THE CITY OF BRIDGE- PORT-THE FIRST BRIDGE-THE INCORPORATION-THE MAYORS AND CITY OFFI- CIALS-THE POSTMASTERS-THE AETNAVILLE BRIDGE-THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS-THE BANKS-DR. AFFLECK AND DR. TODD-THE CHURCHES-THIE SCHOOLS-SECRET SOCIETIES-BRANUM POST, G. A. R.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
The first legal settlement in what is now known as Pease township was made by Captain Kirkwood in the village of Kirkwood adjoin- ing Bridgeport, in 1789. There were some tomahawk claims, made as early as 1785, on ground now embraced in Martin's Ferry, but these could not be held after the bloody attack upon the Kirkwood home, by the Indians in 1791, as heretofore related. Immigration was suspended for a few years. After the treaty of 1795, the Indians were peaceful for a time, and immigrants began to pour in from all sections of the country. The township was organized in 1806, and was called after Judge Pease, of the early courts.
It borders on the Jefferson County line on the north and the Ohio River on the cast, with Pultney township on the south and west, and Colerain and Richland on the north and north- west.
INCREASE IN POPULATION AND WEALTHI.
Its population in 1900 was 15, 158, as against 12,994 in 1890, a gain of 2, 164 in the decade.
The increase of personal property upon the tax duplicate in 1902 over the returns in 1901 was $18,052 in the First Ward of Bridgeport, $7,600 in the Second, and $2,949 in the Third, making a total gain of $28,691 in the city alone, while the corporation tax levy was re- duced from 2.94 in 1901 to 2.92 in 1902.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS
Were made near the Jefferson County line by the family of Joseph Tilton in 1796.
In rapid succession cames the Moores, Clarkes, Mitchells, Alexanders and Pickens, all of whom had effected settlements before 1800 on what is now known as Scotch Ridge, so named because the early settlers were from Old Scotland. William Wiley came from Pen-
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,
sylvania in 1801, and Benjamin Steel from North Carolina in 1800; William Brown from Maryland in 1802, and Robert Finney from Pennsylvania in 1803. The Griffins, Johnsons, Scotts, Yosts, Worleys and Allens came be- tween 1800-05, and an old soldier of the War of 1812, named James Smith, located in the township in 1815.
THE OLD MILLS AND MEETING HOUSES.
Wheeling Creek and Glenn's Run furnished excellent water power for the first grist mills, some of which are substantial stone structures, in a fair state of preservation. This is notably true of the great Oglebay stone mill, about three miles west of the river, and the old Kin- sey mill at the foot of the "big hill," which only recently disappeared. The Oglebay mill has served as a landmark for half a century. Its crumbling stone walls and bastions look like an old world fortress in decay.
The Scott's meeting house is probably the old- est Methodist meeting house in the county, and one of the oldest of any denomination. The date of its establishment is not clearly known, but preaching was held at the house of Andrew Scott, where the church organization was ef- fected, over a century ago. The first church building was erected in 1834, but previous to. that the circuit rider visited it regularly, hold- ing divine service. Among some of the dis- tinguished ministers who filled appointments in this old charge were Bishop Simpson, James B. Finley, Archibald McElroy, Wesley Browning and David Merryman.
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