Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 30

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).

Belmont Lodge, K. of P. of Bridgeport has a membership of 175 in 1902. Its officers are : Frank Stone, P. C .; Thomas Hill, C. C .; F. Neininger, V. C .; George Smith, prelate; John Morris, M. F .; Fred Coss, W. M., and L. H. Harrison, I. G.

BRANUM POST, G. A. R.

Branum Post, No. 22, G. A. R., of Bridge- port was named after a brave comrade who gave his life in the defense of his country dur- ing the War of the Rebellion. The post now numbers about 40, and the officers for 1902 are: Post commander, A. E. Fortney ; senior vice commander, B. McConnanghy ; adjutant, R. Il. Clayland; chaplain, Rev. J. A. Wright, and officer of the day, Robert Giffen.

CHAPTER XVII.

WARREN TOWNSHIP.

THE FIRST SETTLERS-THE FIRST MILLS-THE FIRST CHILD-WILD GAME-THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS-THE FIRST CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN- SHIP-TOBACCO AND BERRY CULTURE-THE POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFI- CERS-THE CITY OF BARNESVILLE-A SKETCH OF THE FOUNDER-MUNICIPAL OFFICERS-THE POST OFFICE-THE MANUFACTORIES-THE BANKS-DR. CAROLUS JUDKINS-HON. JOHN DAVENPORT-THE CHURCHES-THE SCHOOLS-SECRET SO- CIETIES-ROBERT HILLES POST, G. A. R .-- THE PRESS-THIE CEMETERIES -- THE BELMONT COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME-THE BOARD OF CHARITIES.

Seven years before the organization of War- ren township, emigrants began to enter into the territory from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and large caravans of Quakers arrived from the Southern States.

The country was almost an unbroken wil- derness, and the labors and hardships and dan- gers to which these early emigrants were sub- jected are scarcely understood by their descen- (lants today.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

Among the first settlers are mentioned the names of George Shannon, father of Governor Shannon, John Dougherty, Jolin Grier, who emigrated from Maryland in 1800, and built their rude cabins on section 9 and 12.

The year following, Robert Plummer, the first Quaker to settle in the township, built his humble cabin of poles on section 10, not far distant from the settlers above mentioned. Mr. Plummer was a devoted Friend, and set apart land at the very outset for the establishment of a Friend's Meeting House and graveyard. In- deed until 1806 the pioneers of Warren town-

ship were largely Quakers from the States above mentioned.

The winter of 1802-03 was remarkable for the intensity of the cold, causing the pioneers the utmost distress. It was during a violent snow storm in January that Governor Shan- non's father, who had gone off upon a hunt- ing expedition to supply the family with game, was buried in a snow drift and perished be- fore his body was recovered.

In 1804 Henry Grier located west of Barnes- ville, near the line, and John Kennon, father of Judge William Keimon, Sr., camped upon a tract adjoining Alexander Campbell's, who had settled on the land just over the line in Guernsey County.

THE FIRST MILLS.

In 1806 Joseph Middleton erected the first horse mill for grinding grain. Prior to that time the corn was ground on hand mills or cracked on hominy blocks. A year later Cam. Thomas built the first water mill, three and one-half miles south of Barnesville, and in connection with this grist mill a sawmill was

217

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

operated, the first in the township. Between grinding grain and sawing lumber, this mill was kept constantly employed.

Some of the deprivations of the early settlers are little understood today. As only small tracts of land were open to the cultivation of wheat, white flour was a luxury, and what little was used was carried upon pack horses from Wheeling. Salt that today is worth but 25 or 35 cents per bushel was then sold for $6 per bushel, and like flour was also trans- ported on pack horses from the East.

Blacksmithing was then hard to obtain, and shops were frequently six or eight miles apart. The few nails used in early days were ham- mered ont by the blacksmith and sold at 35 or 40 cents per pound.

Numerous children composed the pioneer families, and these hardy boys and girls spent much time in digging ginseng, which, when dried, was hauled to St. Clairsville and ex- changed for groceries wherewith to support the family.

THE FIRST CHILD.

The first child born in Warren township was Wilson Shannon, afterward Governor of Ohio, and Governor Shannon thought it not un- worthy of him in after years, to boast of hav- ing spent his childhood days in digging and drying ginseng wherewith to aid in the sup- port of his widowed inother.

WILD GAME.

All kinds of game were plentiful, and the pioneers killed large numbers of bears, deer, wild cats, panthers and wolves. And, incredi- ble as it may seem, wild turkeys were so abun- dant that flocks containing as many as a thiou- sand turkeys were not an uncommon sight.

A noted hunter in those days was a pioneer named Otho French, whose skill in trapping wolves, fighting wild cats, killing bears and deer, and gathering wild honey, are still lis- tened to with entire credulity `and enthusiasm by the younger generation.

French was a zealot in the cause of tem-

perance, and in those days of universal indul- gence in the strong drink, refused to enter- tain in his cabin those carrying liquor about their persons, or shelter the drovers' hogs that were fattened at a distillery.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

We are indebted to Edwin and Sarah D. Sears of Warren township for this interesting history of the Society of Friends in the west- ern section of the county. As one of the mold- ing influences in the early history of Warren, Wayne and Somerset townships, we give a brief acount of the settlements made by the Society of Friends, some of the improvements with which they have been connected and items of history thought worthy of preservation as being of general interest, together with some of the characteristics of that people.

The eastern half of Warren township was settled mainly by Friends, who came princi- pally from the South, leaving comfortable homes, to become pioneers in the forest wilds north of the Ohio. "Their main object was to remove their children and themselves from the blighting influences of human slavery, against which their religious principles re- quired them to bear a faithful testimony."

Robert Plummer and family, from Maryland -ancestors of the Plummers now living near the Children's Home-were the first "Friend" settlers and were the fourth family in the town- ship, coming about 1801. There was then no open road from the site of Morristown to these parts and it required five days to make the road before them and perform the journey-about six miles. In 1802, William Hodgin and Will- iam Patten came prospecting, from Georgia, and were so favorably impressed with Belmont and Jefferson counties that they arranged with Jonathan Taylor to secure a section of land for each of them-that being the smallest amount then subject to entry. As they re- turned to Georgia, they had to swim their horses through all unfordable streams this side of Cincinnati.

In 1803, they came again, accompanied

218

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

by Stephen Hodgin, Joseph Stubbs and daughter, Deborah, and others. After this, the settlers came in companies, so in the next five years the exact date of arrival of certain families is not now known ; but (glean- ing from a list very carefully prepared by Jonathan T. Scofield for the Belmont and Jefferson County History, to which able ar- ticle recourse has been had for valuable in- formation) we find many in that time and later, whose descendants remain in this and adjoining neighborhoods as useful and hon- ored citizens. There were the Vernons, Wil- liamses and Thomases from Georgia; the Starbucks, then but recently from Nantucket; the Pattersons, Bundys, Stantons (ancestors of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton), Edger- tons, Doudnas, Boswells, Outlands, Halls, Mid- dletons and Hansons from North Carolina ; the Baileys from Southeastern Virginia, and the Smiths from Pennsylvania. Soon after came Mary Hicks, Peter Sears, Sr., the Parkers, Wilsons, Joel and Carolus Judkins, Joseph Gar- retson, the Crews and Nicholsons, Abisha Thomas, James Barnes ( the founder of Barnes- ville), Issachar Scofield, William Dewees, Daniel Strahl, and later the Kennards, Francis Davis, Samuel Walton, James Steer and many others.

Dr. Ephraim Williams-for many years one of Barnesville's ablest physicians-was of Welsh descent, and came here when but eight years of age. Ile was for more than 40 years a resident of Barnesville.

Friends assembled for divine worship at the home of Robert Vernon, until a meeting house could be built, which was in 1803 or 1804. This was, and still is known as "Still- water Meeting," and was a branch of Concord Monthly Meeting in Colerain township. The house was a single "log pen," to which an ad- dition was made in 1805. This was the first house built for religious service in Warren township, and Ruth Boswell preached the first sermon there. It served as both meeting and school house for a number of years and was replaced by a larger, better one in 1812, which, in turn was enlarged about 1823 and stood,

serving the meeting well till 1878, when it was replaced by the Yearly Meeting with a plain, substantial brick building, 60 by 100 feet, at a cost of $9,000. Its seating capacity is 500. The Yearly Meeting convenes there each autumn and is composed of subordinate meet- ings in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa and Cali- fornia, from all of which places menibers at- tend, beside many visiting Friends from other Yearly meetings. We quote the words of one, not a Friend, who, in referring to these grounds having been thus occupied for nearly 100 years, and to the meetings held there, said : "Out from its influence has come the greater part of the moral dignity of the township and throughout the West its power for good has been felt."

Other settlements were soon made; one in Wayne township in 1808, another at Leather- wood in Guernsey County in 1809 (where a meeting is still held), one at "Ridge," near three miles south of Barnesville, in 1811, one at Somerton and one at Jerusalem in Monroe County,-all being branches of Stillwater Meeting. David and Christiana Grey, parents of Elisha Grey, inventor of the telephone, were members of Ridge Meeting and Warren town- ship is glad to claim him as one of her sons. The first religious services in Somerset and Goshen townships were held by Friends,-the former near Somerton in 1818, the latter in Belmont in 1818, where they also built the first school house in the township, Joseph Wright being the first teacher. In Warren also the first school was established by Friends in 1806; it was on the farm now owned by Daniel E. Stanton, three miles southeast of Barnesville. Sammel Berry was the first teacher. As a people, the Society has always maintained a zealous care on the subject of education-it being one of their religious tenets to "assist pecnniarily those members who are unable to defray the expenses of their children's tui- tion." Thus we find them establishing schools in the different neighborhoods soon after their settlement ; sometimes in buildings for the pur- pose, sometimes in the meeting house or part of a dwelling, until other arra gements could

219

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

be made, and always, then as now, maintained by private subscription-no part of the public funds being used to defray their expenses.

When the Boarding School was built in 1875, the necessary funds-approximately $45,000-were raised by subscriptions of the members composing the Yearly Meeting, to- gether with a generous donation from Philadel- phia Friends. Addison Hutton of that city planned the building, Francis Davis was ap- pointed general superintendent of the work, and different divisions were assigned to care- ful, experienced foremen. Three-fourth of a million brick, burned on the farm ( which had just been bought for the location of the School) were used in the walls; as evidence of the care exerted that the work be of good materials and thoroughly done, these bricks were three times carefully selected before being used. The School was opened New Year's Day, 1876. It is located a short distance south of the Yearly Meeting House and is composed of a center building, 120 by 68 feet, and two wings, each 40 by 58 feet-all four stories high. It will accommodate 75 to 80 pupils ; one term opened with 108, but the usual number is from 60 to 70 in winter, while the spring term is quite small, owing largely to the fact that a large per cent of the pupils are farmers' children who wish to be at home during the spring and sum- mer. An observatory, containing a telescope, is located on the grounds, and, together with some chemical, physiological and other appar- atus, greatly aids in thoroughness of work, which is aimed to be one of the chief charac- teristics. Necessary improvements have been made from time to time; at present we note the installation of a new "low-pressure" steam heating plant, at a cost of $1,Soo. Barclay and Hannah Stratton were the first superintendents and Jesse and Susan Edgerton are the present incumbents. In the history of the institution, only two deaths have occurred there. A regular course of study was adopted some years ago, and there is now a small class of graduates each winter session-the total number being 121. During the 26 years the Boarding School has been in successful operation, many hun-

dreds of pupils have obtained a portion of their education there, and it is rare to find any who do not in after years regard the lessons there learned, both from books and the larger school of life, as some of its best discipline.

As illustrations of the hardships of pioneer life, we give two authentic incidents. George and Elizabeth Starbuck, who came to Warren township ni the spring of 1805, erected a tent, covered it with canvas, drove forked stakes in the ground, upon which they fixed their beds, to protect themselves from rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles, and lived in this way until four acres were cleared and planted in corn, after which they built a cabin. Jesse Bailey and family arrived too late in 1806 to build before winter set in. He found a pro- jecting rock, along whose outer edge he stood puncheons upright, enclosing a space 15 to 20 feet wide. In one corner the rocks formed a natural chimney ; four puncheons made a fun- nel-shaped top; he daubed the sides with clay mud. Here, in comparative comfort, they win- tered, while by day, timid deer bounded away, and by night, wolves howled, bears clawed at the door and panthers screamed from trees near-by. Before 1806, the pioneers ground their corn in hand-mills or cracked it on hom- iny blocks. In that year, Joseph Middleton built the first horse-power grist mill in War- ren township, where also the first water mill and sawmill were built by Camm Thomas,- the former in 1807, and it was for eight years the only one in the township. The first fulling mill in Wayne township was built in 1824 by Samuel Berry. Throughout the dark days of slavery, Friends felt and manifested warm sympathy for the slaves; it found expression here in making some of their homes stations on the "Underground Railroad," and in helping them in their escape by night to the Northi.

On the subject of temperance, Friends' dis- cipline requires its members to abstain from "the unnecessary use of spiritnous liquors." and it is rare to find any who make use of them. .

The Society in this and other sections has suffered from two divisions-one in 1828.

220

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

known as the "Hicksite Division" and one about 1850, known as the "Guerney Separa- tion," caused respectively by teachings of Elias Hicks and Joseph John Guerney at variance with the principles of early Friends.

The last official statement as to the number now in this section is 400. The question may arise why so many of the early settlements have decreased in numbers or entirely disap- peared; in addition to the "Separation," this is in part explained by the fact that Friends, although not an unsettled people, are enterpris- ing, industrious, and, owing to simplicity in manner of living, well adapted to pioneer life, very many emigrated to Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and California, where they are now thriving communities. The zeal of these early pioneers in establishing and attending their religious meetings is worthy of imitation by all. Un- der adverse circumstances as to distance and modes of travel, they were faithful in attend- ance twice a week. Their meeting houses were humble structures, warmed by charcoal fires, built on a raised hearth near the center of the room. As they had no matches, the fires were sometimes kindled by means of a flint and steel, powder and tow. At other times a chunk of fire was carried from some dwell- ing ; an instance is recorded of one woman who frequently rode horseback, with a little child behind her, and carried fire nearly two miles.

Orthodox Friends believe in the use of the Scriptural language, thee and thou. They do not feel it right to uncover the head as a mark of respect or superiority to fellow men, realiz- ing that "One is our Father, even Christ," to whom alone such deference is due. Their min- isters preach without compensation from the learers, remembering the example of Him who said: "Freely ye have received, freely give," and that the apostle wrote : "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

The following are some of the prominent ministers of the Society who have resided here a part or all of their lives : Ruth Boswell, Eliza-

beth Patterson, Ilugh Judge, Jared Patterson, Jeliu Middleton, James Edgerton, William Flanner, Sarah Mott, Joseph Edgerton, Mary Jones, Ann Langstaff, William Kennard, Rachel E. Patterson, Benjamin Hoyle, Eliza- beth Smith, Asenath Bailey, Hanna H. Strat- ton, James Henderson and Jesse Edgerton.

While fully believing that the principles of the Society are primitive Christianity revived, and that for them this way is best, still with the broad-mindedness that should characterize all followers of Christ, Friends believe there are good people in other religious denomina- tions as well, and that the Fatherhood of God extends to all His faithful children and will at last gather into His fold of rest and peace "all the children of God, who are scattered abroad."

THIE FIRST CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS

In the township were erected outside of Barnes- ville. The first church was built in 1804 on section 9. It was a Quaker meeting house, and the first sermon was preached by a woman, Ruth Boswell.

The first school house was likewise built by the Friends on section 1, on the ridge, near the present school house in District No. 1, and the teacher was Hezekiah Bailey.

There are II district schools and 12 teach- ers employed in Warren township, outside of Barnesville.

The following teachers for Warren town- ship schools have been elected for 1902: Dis- trict No. 1, Elmer Hoge; No. 2, E. Grace Por- terfield ; No. 3, HI. G. Finley ; No. 4, Nora Bai- ley; No. 5, Charley Dew; No. 6, Katherine Murphy; No. 7. Cleve E. Warrick; No. 8, J. H. Chaney; No. 9, Mary E. Udell; No. 10, Sadie Frashier ; No. 11, Lucinda Nabb; No. 4, primary, Dessie Galloway.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Warren township was organized in 1806-07, and the first justices were John Grier, Jacob Myer, David Smith, John Dougherty and Jesse Bevan. These gentlemen were elected in the

22I

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

order named. The first election was held in the cabin of John Grier, at which time Mr. Grier was chosen the first justice of the peace.

TOBACCO AND BERRY CULTURE.

While the soil of Warren township is adapt- ed to farming, it is peculiarly adapted to to- bacco and to berry culture.

The cultivation of tobacco in Ohio was be- gun in Warren township, Belmont County, in 1819, by a Methodist preacher named John D. Price, who, desirous of escaping the baneful influences of slavery, removed to Ohio and lo- cated in Warren township, near what is now known as Bethel. Persuaded that the soil which surrounded him would successfully grow to- bacco, he sent back to his old home in Calvert County, Maryland, for seed, and planted the first tobacco grown in the State in 1819.

The yield was so profitable that thenceforth tobacco culture became a specialty in that sec- tion of the county. Since 1820 Barnesville has been one of the principal centers of the tobacco trade in Ohio.

Beause of the exhausting nature of the crop upon the soil, tobacco is not grown to the same extent today it was 25 years ago, though Mr. Bradfield of Barnesville, who is perhaps one of the largest purchasers of tobacco, says the annual output of Barnesville and vicinity is a thousandl hogsheads per annum.

Berry culture for years was the leading in- lustry with the farmers residing near Barnes- ville, and the fame of the Barnesville straw- berry became national. Today, because of un- satisfactory returns, the business is practically abandoned and the farms are largely devoted to grain growing and stock raising. One of the foremost Jersey cattle stock farms in Eastern Ohio is conducted by L. P. Bailey, near Ta- coma. Here annual sales are held that attract large gatherings from all parts of the country. In connection with stock raising, Mr. Bailey also conducts an extensive creamery.

THE POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

The population of Warren township, as re-

vealed by the roth census, is 5,881, an increase of 425 over the census of 1890.

However, the tax duplicate for 1902 shows a loss of $2,366, as compared with the returns of 1901. The falling off is largely in the rural districts. In one ward in the city of Barnes- ville there is an increase of $33,293.

The tax levy for 1902 in the township is 1.67, as against 1.92 in 1901, and 2.84 in Barnesville corporation, as against 3.02 in 1901.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

The present township trustees are Smiley Bernard, Otho Duval and John Howard; town- ship clerk, S. B. Piper; township treasurer, F. L. Harrison; township justices,-Joseph W. Chappell, James A. White and W. F. Out- land.

THE CITY OF BARNESVILLE.

Barnesville is the only city in the township, and, in fact, is the foremost city in the western section of the county. Built at an elevation of 1,265 feet above sea level, the air is salubrious and the surrounding country is attractive and pleasing. The business streets are well paved, and bordered by many modern business blocks, and the residence districts are veritable gar- dens.

The population of the city at the roth census was 3,721, viz .: First Ward, 1,006; Second Ward, 940; Third Ward, 845; Fourth Ward, 930.

Since the census was taken, however, it is estimated that upwards of 500 new residents have come to the city and are employed in the new Eastern Ohio Glass Company's works and other new industries, so that it would be safe to place the population in 1902 at up- wards of 4.000.

The city was incorporated as a village by an act of the General Assembly in 1835 and 1836, and its first mayor was Isaac Barnes, a son of the founder of the town.

222

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

A SKETCH OF THE FOUNDER.

James Barnes, the founder of Barnesville, was a notable man. Like the majority of the early settlers, Mr. Barnes was a member of the Society of Friends, who emigrated from the South in 1803, locating at St. Clairsville.

In 1812 he removed to Barnesville, where he had previously entered large tracts of land, then entirely in forest. In 1806 he associated himself with Rev. James Rounds in the tan- ning business, and in 1808 he laid out the town, reserving one block on Chestnut street, fronting on Main and Church streets, for his family.

Mr. Barnes was active and enterprising in advancing the business interests of the com- munity, and was personally engaged in clear- ing lands, planting orchards, cultivating farms, buying and clarifying ginseng, shipping as high as 3,000 pounds of the root in a single year.

In 1814 he organized companies for build- ing flour mills, woolen mills and sawmills, and in 1823-26 he engaged in the tobacco trade very extensively and built an immeense packing house on the site of the old Presbyterian Church.

While Mr. Barnes was engaged in multifa- rious pursuits, he was never nervous or con- fused, but always calm and deliberate.

In personal appearance he was tall and port- ly, and always attired in the simple garb of the Quaker.

He was generous to a fault, and ever help- ful to the poor. While in the pursuit of the tobacco business, he sustained heavy losses, from 1828-38, from which he never recovered.

In an effort to regain his lost fortunes, his overtaxed body and brain collapsed, and lie dropped dead in the mountains of Pennsyl- vania, while returning to his home.

MUNICIPAL OFFICERS.

The municipal officers for 1902 are : Mayor, J. A. White; solicitor, Hon. C. J. Howard; marshal, C. E. Fogle; clerk, E. W. Wilkies; and treasurer, J. W. Nichols. The members

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490