Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 41

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 41

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).

THIE MINERAL RESOURCES

Of Washington township have never been fully developed, though the hills are underlaid with profitable veins of bituminous coal and numer- ous quarries of valuable building stone.

The Welsh mines at Armstrong's Mills have been in operation between 20 and 22 years, and not only supply the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cin- cinnati Railway with all the fuel they require, . but all the towns touched by that railroad are supplied with coal from these mines.

The company at present employs 31 hands that mine from 2.000 to 2,500 bushels of coal daily. The coal mined is the No. 8 or Pitts- burg vein.

Practically all the undeveloped coal in the township has been purchased and Messrs. Welsh and Armstrong, representing the Inter-

national Coal Company, have bought and paid for 60,000 acres of coal at prices ranging from $S to $20 per acre.

If the narrow-gange road, which now tra- verses the township and which has been re- cently purchased by the Ohio & Western Rail- road Company, is changed to a broad-gauge road in the near future, it is believed that this great coal field will be developed at an early day.

THE FIRST MILLS.

One of the first grist mills erected in the township was at Armstrong's Mills in 1828 by Thomas Armstrong, one of the pioneers, and the old water mill remodeled and repaired is still in operation after the lapse of 75 years. The present splendid steam mill has adopted the universal bolter system, with a capacity of 40 barrels per day. An extensive sawmill is also operated in connection with the flour mill. The first mills erected in the township were on Bend Fork and Crab Apple Creek, the former by William Frost, Walter Ring and Robert Lindsey, and the latter by the Patterson Brothers.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

The township officers in 1902 are: Trustees, -J. M. Wright, W. R. Carle and John Dan- ford; township clerk,-T. H. Stoffel; treas- urer,-C. E. Welsh; justices of the peace,- E. B,, Armstrong, David Brown and Winfield Moore.

ARMSTRONG'S MILLS.

The foremost village in the township is Armstrong's Mills, which was settled by Thomas Armstrong in 1811. It is one of the principal stations on the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati Railway, with a post office, tele- graph office and telephone exchange attached. In 18446 a woolen. factory was operated by Alexander Armstrong, who with his brothers owned and operated practically all the stores and mills in the village, Alexander Armstrong alone owning 1,000 acres of land in addition to his mill. The village has a population in

305

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

1902 of upwards of 100 and supports three stores, a flour mill, sawmill and coal mines.

THE CHURCHIES AND SCHOOL.

There are two churches at Armstrong's Mills, namely: The Methodist Episcopal Church and Christian Church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was estab- lished in 1843 in the old cemetery, and the first minister in the church, and it is believed the first in the Captina Valley, was Rev. Mr. Fordyce, who preached near the old graveyard at a very early day. In 1868 the church was removed from the cemetery to the village, where it now stands in charge of Rev. W. B. West.

The present board of stewards consists of : Lizzie C. Welsh, T. D. Boston, Mrs. Emma Shipman and J. W. Taylor; trustees,-Silas Durig, William Rankin, C. W. Armstrong, John McKim, John W. Taylor and Richard Shepherd; class leaders,-J. R. Taylor and L. W. Armstrong.

The Christian Church has a membership of about 30, with three elders, namely: A. W. Burkhart, D. P. Meyers and J. W. Hless. The church at presentis without a pastor.

The Belmont Ridge Christian Church .- The first meeting of the primitive organization was held June 28, 1856, at the residence of Lewis Mechem. The house of worship was built in 1857, the carpenters being Erastus and A. T. Moore. The present edifice was erected in .1885, with a seating capacity for 350 or 400 people. The present membership is 199. The first officers were: Elders,-Lewis Mechem, Jennings Perkins and Elihu Duvall; deacons, -Jacob Stukey, George Dawson and Erastus Moore.

The present officers are: Elders,-Jennings Perkins, Harvey Danford and Erastus Moore; deacons,-J. J. Phillips, Clark Phillips and A. T. Moore. The present pastor is Rev. John A. Armstrong.

Mr. Reed says: "The first school teacher that I ever heard of in this country was old Josiah Rogers. He taught in a log house, not far from where the people of Washington

township now do their voting. He took his pay in anything he could get to cat, and board- ed in his own cabin.

"People used to make fun of him for being so lazy. He never chopped any wood, but made a hole in his chimney and poked in the end of a log.

"The water he used was taken from a hole where the clay had been gotten to daub his cabin. He was a very exact man. I recollect his whipping some boys for snow balling. For some reason he struck each one of them just four times."

There is a village school conducted by Luther Perkins, with an enrollment of 40. The pres- ent School Board is composed of Z. Armstrong, R. Shepherd and J. W. Iless.

EMINENT CITIZENS,-HON. ISAAC WELSH AND LEROY WELSIL.

Hon. Isaac Welsh of Washington township deserves to be classed with such statesmen as Shannon, Cowen and Danford.

He was closely identified with the political and literary affairs of the day. Mr. Welsh was a farmer by choice, but found time to pursue a study of the political issues of the day. In 1855-59 he was elected for two terms as mem- ber of the Ohio General Assembly, and at the expiration of his term was chosen State Sen- ator from the Belmont and Harrison district. Mr. Welsh was a Whig in politics, but strongly opposed to the extension of slavery.

In 1868 he was chosen as presidential elector of the 16th Congressional District to carry the vote of Ohio to Washington, D. C.

In the hard fought political contest of 1871, Mr. Welsh was elected Treasurer of Ohio, a position he filled with great acceptability for two terms, and died near the close of his term of office. He was an author of ability and contributed to the press many political and eco- nomic essays that gave him a wide reputation Ile was also an able and convincing public speaker, because of the sincerity and fairness of his remarks.

His son, Leroy Welsh, was appointed Treas- uver of Ohio by Governor Allen on the occa-

306

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

sion of his father's death in November, 1875.

Leroy Welsh was a promising young man of broad culture, who was cut off at the outset of a useful public carer. He was an historian of no mean ability and had collected a valuable store of local historic matter that unhappily fell into the hands of one who selfishly refuses to make it public.

In speaking of the death of Leroy Welsh, The Belmont Chronicle says: "The tidings of the death of Mr. Welsh were received with feelings of sincere regret, not only by the friends of the family, but acquaintances throughout the State.

"The subject of this sketch, after receiving a common school education, entered college at

Delaware, Ohio, where he completed the six years' course. The next year he spent in the study of the law, after which he entered the Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in the summer of 1871.

"At the beginning of the following year, he entered the office of the Treasurer of the State of Ohio, as the chief assistant of his father, Hon. Isaac Welsh.

"At the close of his term, he opened an of- fice for the practice of law in Columbus, Ohio.

"Mr. Welsh was a young man of fine intel- lect and broad culture; combined with these, his excellent social qualities made him one of our best and most esteemed citizens."

CHAPTER XXVII.

YORK TOWNSHIP.

THE FIRST ELECTION-THE BATTLE OF CAPTINA-THE FIRST SQUATTERS-AN INDIAN VILLAGE -- ANOTHER INDIAN MASSACRE-THE EARLY MILLS AND DISTILLERIES- TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION-POWHATAN-TOWN OFFICIALS-THE FLOUR MILLS-THE SCHOOLS-THE CHURCHES-FREE MASONS-THE FERRIES.

TIIE FIRST ELECTION.

The first court of Belmont County, which was held at Pultney (the first county seat ), ap- pointed a commission, consisting of Michael Moore, John Dillie and Ephraim Bates to act as supervisors of York township, and this commission ordered the first election to be held in 1802.

The court had in the meantime defined the boundaries of York, which have been elsewhere described, and appointed Samuel Dillie as con- stable, and the first township election was held in the home of James Smith.

York township has been the scene of some of the bloodiest conflicts in Indian warfare. Before the occupation by the whites, a cruel massacre of the Indians at the mouth of the Captina was one of the causes of the disas- trous war of Governor Dunmore in 1774.

THIE BATTLE OF CAPTINA.

Twenty years later occurred the disastrous and bloody battle of Captina, as related in "Howe's Historical Collection:"

"One mile below the month of Captina, on the Virginia shore, was Baker's fort, so named after Martin Baker, from whose lips the an- thor obtained this narrative.

"One morning in May, 1794, four men were sent over, according to the custom, to the Ohio side to reconnoiter. They were Adam Miller, John Daniels, Isaac McGowan and John Shoptaw. Miller and Daniels took up stream and the other two down. The upper scouts were soon attacked by Indians and Mil- ler was killed. Daniels ran up Captina about three miles, but, being weak from the loss of blood issuing from a wound in his arm, was taken prisoner and carried into captivity and subsequently released at the treaty of Green- ville.

"The lower scouts having discovered signs of the enemy, Shoptaw swam across the Ohio and escaped, but McGowan going up toward the canoe was shot by the Indians in ambush. Upon this he ran down to the bank, and sprang into the water, pursued by the enemy, who overtook and scalped him.

"The firing being heard at the fort, they beat up for volunteers. There were about 50 men in the fort. There being much reluctance among them to volunteer, my sister exclaimed that she wouldn't be a coward. This aronsed the pride of my brother, John Baker, who be- fore had determined not to go. He joined the others, 14 in number, including Capt. Abraham Enochs,

308

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

"They soon crossed the river, and went up Captina in single file, a distance of a mile and a half, following the Indian trail. The enemy had come back on their trail, and were in am- bush on the hillside awaiting their approach.

"When sufficiently near, they fired upon our people, but, being on an elevated position, their balls passed harmlessly over the latter. The whites then treed. Some of the Indians came behind, and shot Captain Enochs and Mr. Hoffman. Our people soon retreated, and the Indians pursued but a short dstance. On their retreat my brother was shot in the hip. Determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, he drew off to one side and secreted himself in a hollow, with a rock at his back offering no chance for the enemy to approach but in front. Shortly after two guns were heard in quick succession. Doubtless one of them was fired by my brother and from the signs afterward it was supposed he had killed the Indian.

"The next day the men turned out and vis- ited the spot. Enochs, Hoffman and John Baker were found dead and scalped. Enoch's bowels were torn out and his eyes and those of Hoffman screwed out with a wiping stick.

"The dead were wrapped in white hickory bark and brought over to the Virginia shore and buried in their bark coffins. There were about 30 Indians engaged in this action and seven skeletons of their slain were found long after, secreted in the crevices of rocks."

McDonald in his biographical sketch of Gov- ernor McArthur, who was in the action, says that after the death of Captain Enochs, McAr- thur, although the youngest man in the com- pany, was unanimously called upon to direct a retreat.

The wounded who were able to walk were placed in front, while McArthur with his Spar- tan band covered their retreat. The moment an Indian showed himself in pursuit he was fired upon and generally, it is believed, with effect. The Indians were so severely handled that they gave up the pursuit.

The Indians were commanded by the Shaw- nce chief, Charlie Wilkie. He told the author of this narrative that the battle of Captina was

the most severe conflict he ever witnessed, and, although he had the advantage of the ground and the first fire, he lost the most of his men, half of them having been either killed or wounded.

THE FIRST SQUATTERS.

Soon after the battle of Captina, squatters began to pour in and build rude cabins. These settlers were unstable and removed farther into the interior as the country opened up. It was only those who purchased tracts of land that were stable and industrious. Many of the squatters were indolent and careless. Among the first permanent settlers we might mention the Brices, the Hoffmans and Lemleys, in 1801. The DeLongs and Okeys in 1802. Mc- Vey, Bakers, Doteys, Swaneys, Bristers, Col- lins and Aldredge in 1803. Brewer, Minse, Davis, Rouble and Gates, in 1804. Stackhous- er, Neffsinger, Cree, Browns, Thomas, Hoff- man, Gilkesons, in 1805. Waller, Baker, Way, Vanschonp, Mills, Stokey, in 1806; and Shep- herd, Moore, Gray. Powell, Dillon, MeKnight, Green, and Woods in 1815.

AN INDIAN VILLAGE.

In early days, an Indian village was located in section 32, some miles back of the river. On the banks of the Captina and on the settle- ment of the Brysons an unusual number of grape vines were discovered, and the soil was beaten hard in places, as if formerly the homes and streets of an Indian village. Skeletons, Indian arrows in great numbers, Indian pipes and engravings on rocks were found in abund- ance. General Washington in his trip down the Ohio in 1770 makes mention of this village as a trading post.

ANOTHER INDIAN MASSACRE,

McDonald in his biography of Governor Mc Arthur bas this to say of the killing of six men by the Indians in 1705 :

"Lieut. Duncan Me Arthur and a posse of men, numbering in all a dozen, were stationed at the block-house on the lands of Robert

BELMONT COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME.

清潔

...

仙一一

3II

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Kirkwood, near the mouth of Indian Wheeling Creek.

"One morning they noticed a young Indian dodging along not far from the fort among the trees. He had been sent by a body of Indians who had ambushed about three miles below, on the banks of the Ohio River, to decoy the soldiers from the fort. As soon as he was discovered, Lieutenant McArthur and his men started out to catch him.

"They followed him as he ran down the river about three miles to where the Indians had secreted themselves, when 15 of the redskins fired into their company, killing six of their number instantly. So unexpected was the attack that the remaining six, completely be- wildered, turned and retreated, McArthur be- hind.

"As he turned his head, to take in the situa- tion, his foot caught in a grape vine, and he was sent sprawling on his face just as the Indians fired a volley of bullets after him, and the limbs and leaves dropped all around him. Ile regained his feet and started at full speed following the course of his men. He was closely pursued by the savages, but he being very swift of foot, they soon gave up the chase, and he reached the block-house in safety.

"Later in the day the soldiers returned to the spot in stronger numbers, and buried their dead."

THE EARLY MILLS AND DISTILLERIES.

The first grist mill was erected as early as 1804 upon Cat's Run by George Gates. In 1822 Judge Dillon built an improved mill about five miles above the month of the Captina and in connection with the grist mills he operated a sawmill. These were probably the first mills operated in the township. This mill is today known as the Potts' Mills, with a capacity of 50 barrels per day, and is re- ported as the only water mill in the county. The mill-race, through which flows the water for the operation of the mill, passes through a hill tunnel, 300 feet in length.

In early days York township was noted for the number of its distilleries. As early as 1818

a distillery was erected on section 15 by a Mr. Shepler, and a number were erected at a later period, but in 1880 all the distilleries in the county were abandoned except one con- ducted by John Ramser in York township, which is still in operation.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION.

The earliest record we have of township officials in York is in 1808, and is as follows : Clerk, Ed. Bryson; treasurer, Joseph Martin; trustees,-Uriah Martin, Abel Brown and Ed. Bryson; constable, William Atkinson; fence viewers,-John Brown and James Bar- rett; lister, Uriah Martin.

The township officers in 1902 are: Trus- tees,-David Melntire, William Johnson and George Gillespie; clerk, George Boner; treas- urer, Il. J. Zink; assessor, Everett Balieu; justices of the peace,-A. A. Caldwell and John Eggerman.

The population of the township in 1900 was 1,400, a loss of 58 in the last decade. How- ever, the value of personal property on the tax duplicate for 1902 is $193,270 as against $155,- 584 in 1901, revealing a gain of $37,686, while the tax levy has been reduced from 2.11 in 1901 to 1.89 in 1902.

SOME INFLUENTIAL CITIZENS.

Some of the influential men of York town- ship of modern times are the Disques, Swifts, Days, Ramseys, Craigs, Brices, Warrens, Trimbles, Carles and Givens.

POWHATAN

Is the leading village in the township, and is located on the Ohio River at the mouth of the Captina. The village was surveyed by Dr. Dellaas in 1849. Thirty years previous, however, the first building was erected by a grandson of Archibald Woods, one of the pioncer settlers. The building was used for a store.

The first hotel was a log house built in 1825, and known as the "Point House." The first brick buildings were built by the Roger

312

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

Brothers and were afterward known as the "Powhatan Flour Mills and Woolen Factory."

Twenty years ago, the village was quite a shipping point for grain and produce, and con- tained a population of 300. In 1890 the vil- lage was incorporated and in 1902 it had a population of about 600.

The present postmaster is Jacob Boger, who was preceded by 11. J. Zink.

TOWN OFFICIALS.

The following are the officers of the town : mayor and attorney, George Arnold; town clerk, J. A. Fish; councilmen, - G. W. Wright, Ed. Thomas, Frank Ricker, Thomas Stewart, J. W. Ramsey and Albert Sauer.

THE FLOUR MILLS.

The Powhatan Mills as heretofore referred to was the first brick building constructed in the town by the Boger Brothers. It has since passed through various hands and been re- modeled until it is today owned and operated by Ferdinand Dorsey, with a capacity of 100 barrels daily, and employs four men.

THE SCHOOLS.

There is no record of the first schools estab- lished, but the first log structure especially constructed for school purposes was erected at a very early day on section 16.

In Powhatan the school building is of brick with four rooms and an attendance of about 150. The superintendent is Henry Briggs; assistant superintendent, Miss Mary Cox; assistant, Charity Myers; primary de- partment, Eula Fish. The School Board con- sists of R. L. Bowman, president; S. S. Reamer, treasurer; Lou Ruble, clerk; and James Richison and John K. Goodhue.

There is mention made of another school building erected in 1836-37 near Powhatan Point and it is said to have been a small frame structure.

There are in the township seven school dis- tricts and one special district all of which are frame buildings save the one in Powhatan.

THE CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first church of this denomination at Powhatan was started early in the Civil War under the pastor- ate of Rev. David Trueman. The society was weak and for a time met in the Presbyterian Church. In 1862 Rev. Josiah Dillon was appointed pastor in charge and during his pas- torate the church continued to worship in the Presbyterian Church. The next pastor was Rev. Mr. Gregg, during whose administration a neat brick church was erected and the society worshiped in their own building.

Rev. Mr. Gregg was blessed with a gracious revival during his ministry, and many were added to the church.

In the construction of the new church, Mrs. McMurry who still resides at Powhatan and Mrs. Baer solicited funds to the amount of $1,000, and Joseph Green supplemented that amount with a personal contribution of $800. Mr. Green was an active and influential sup- porter of the church, and Sunday-school superintendent for many years. The present pastor is Rev. Lee LePage, and the Sunday- school superintendent is Jolin Eggerman. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 100.

The Powhatan Presbyterian Church was organized in 1850. The pastor in 1901 and 1092 was Rev. W. A. Williams, formerly of Franklin College. It is at present without a pastor and we were unable to obtain a list of the officials.

FREE MASONS.

Moriah Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M., was organized at Jacobsburg October 20, 1840, and is consequently one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the county. The date of the charter was 1842. The charter officers were: John A. Weyer, W. M .; John W. Calvert, S. W; and Isaac S. Hloopes, J. W.

The membership today is 38 and the officers for 1902 are: J. E. Gibson, W. M .; Dr. S. S.

313

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Reamer, S. W .; A. B. Ricker, J. W .; A. G. Bonar, treasurer; F. A. Gibson, secretary ; J. E. Bennett, S. D .; C. E. Green, J. D .; and John Ricker, tyler. Among the past masters are: W. C. Bergundthall, Dr. S. S. Reamer and J. E. Gibson.

THE FERRIES

Of Powhatan are owned and operated by E. R. Potts, and are constantly in operation when navigation will admit of it. Mr. Potts is like- wise the postmaster at Captina.

€

CHAPTER XXVIII.

SOMERSET TOWNSHIP.

THE FIRST FAMILIES-THE INDUSTRIES-THE FIRST MILLS-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION -- SOMERTON-SOME OLD CITIZENS-THE SCHOOLS-THE BELMONT BANK-THE CHURCHES-SECRET SOCIETIES-TAYLOR POST, G. A. R .-- BOSTON AND TEMPERANCEVILLE-THE CHURCHES-THE OIL FIELD -- THE WARRICK MURDER.

'About 1809 a few squatters had built rude log cabins and cultivated land along the banks of Captina but had not entered land. These wandering squatters were superseded by per- manent settlers who had purchased and occu- pied government lands, between 1809 and 1814.

THE FIRST FAMILIES.

Among the first families were the Englishes, Gibbonses, Stantons, Williamses, Bishops and Edgertons.

The township, like Wayne, is in the form of a square, and contains 36 sections. Its boun- daries have been previously given and we need only add that it occupies the southwest corner of the county. This township being off the leading lines of travel was among the last to be settled, wherefore one of the leading improvements is the Barnesville & Somerton Pike which was built about 25 years ago and extonds to the county line, a distance of 11 miles. The road is supported in main by tolls. It traverses a rich agricultural country some- what hilly in places but susceptible of the highest cultivation.

THE INDUSTRIES

Of the township as a whole are strictly agri- cultural, producing fine crops of wheat, corn,

wool and tobacco. Because of prevailing high prices, tobacco is at present the leading crop, and for a number of years has yielded the principal revenues.

Twenty years ago tobacco was grown to such an extent, that the total product amounted to 700,000 pounds, and the average yield per acre was 1,000 pounds. In 1902 the acreage is lessened but the price of tobacco ranges from $6 to $12 per hundred.

THE FIRST MILLS.

The township is well watered by Leather- wood, Beaver and Captina creeks, along the banks of which many grist mills were erected. The first was built in 1819-20 near Somer- ton by Jonathan Pogue.

Two years later, Abraham Packer built one farther up the creek. This mill was rebuilt about the outbreak of the Civil War, and con- ducted by Thomas Smith. There is said to have been a hand mill conducted by a man by the name of Joseph Davis, which served the people in the early times when the creeks were dry.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION.

The present township officers are: Tris- tees,-Simon Howell, William Dewer and P. S. Butler; clerk, II. W. Pakavi; treasurer,

315

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

T. P. Rhinchart; justices of the peace,-D. J. Ewers, M. Malone and J. C. Hampton.

The population of the township at the last census was 1,862, while in 1890 it was re- corded at 2,045, showing a loss of 183.

The tax duplicate for 1901 shows an assess- ment in Somerset precinct of $163,365. In 1902 it is recorded at $158,182, showing a loss of $5,183. In Boston precinct, the assess- ment of personal property in 1901 is placed at $75,273. In 1902 it is recorded as $72,153, revealing a loss of $3.119, or a total loss in the township of $8,302. However the tax levy for 1902 is only 1.61 as against 1.63 in 1901.

SOMERTON.

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 41

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