Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 65

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927
Publication date: 1973
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th > Part 65

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).

There were numerons thrilling incidents at Shanghai during the "dark and bloody days" of its early history, but the occur- rence which attracted more attention than any other, owing to the prominence of the parties, was the shooting of Joseph Me-

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Donald by Lewis K. McCoy on Saturday evening, April 6, 1867, at 6:30 o'clock. There had been an old feud between the parties, and on the day named McDonald, who was a resident of New Cumberland, across the river, had been to Steubenville on business. He started for home on the C. & P. evening train, and when it arrived at Shanghai McCoy was there with a car- bine. McDonald started towards the ferry landing but had not gone far when some words ensued, and MeCoy fired his gun, killing MeDonald almost instantly. He at once surrendered to the authorities, and was tried for murder in the first degree at the November term of court following. The best legal talent. both local and foreign, was engaged in his behalf. The trial lasted a week, and the jury, after an all night ses- sion, brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. McCoy was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned a few years after, and lived quietly at home until his death. He had been a wealthy man, but the expense of his trial and subsequent mismanagement dissipated most of his for- tune. It is worth noting that notwithstund- ing some of the happenings at Shanghai and Newburg during their earlier history these hamlets became among the most law- abiding places in the county with a popula- tion above the average type: a position they have since maintained. Empire was one of the first places in the county to be voted "dry."

Fraternal orders have been represented in Empire by Knights of Pythias No. 352, Heptasoph Conclave No. 184, and Junior American Mechanics No. 38.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

School was held at Sugar Grove nbout 1800, but records of pioneer schools are scarce. There was also a school at Shelly's farm near Osage about the same time, and there is a graveyard here supposed to be older than the school. The first schoolhouse nt Empire was built in 1858, Casterman Quinn being the teacher. The village now

has two good school buildings with six rooms, one of which is the high school. At Knoxville there is a good two-story frame building, containing, with one exception, the only township high school in the county. The other schools are located as follows: Section two, Warren farm; seven, Camp- bell; ten, Berry; nineteen, Shelly; twenty- one, Edminston ; thirty-four, Yellow Creek. Also a large school at Ekeyville.

Sugar Grove M. E. church justly claims to be the pioneer religious organization of the township. It stands very near the Saline Township line, four miles below the mouth of Yellow Creek, and two miles from Empire. The society was organized by James B. and John Finley between 1800 and 1802, the first class including Jacob Nessley, Randall Hale, John Hale, Charles Hale, James Pritchard, Nathan Shaw, Joseph Elliott, Benjamin Elliott, Robert Maxwell, John Sapp, John Clinton, Jacob Buttenberg and John Herrington, with Charles Hale as leader. The first services were held in a house of round logs, 20x25 feet, which in a few years was replaced by a hewn log building, 25x30. This was burned in 1841, and replaced by the brick structure still standing. The burying ground which was in use before the church was built is one of the oldest in the county, and contains the graves of numerous pi- oneers whose records have been obliter- ated. Many of the stones have sunk be- neath the surface, and have themselves be- come entombed while vegetation flourishes luxuriantly above. Preachers were sup- plied from New Somerset and Knoxville.

One of the oldest religious organizations not only in the township but in the county is the Good Hope Lutheran Church at Bowling Green or Osage in Section twenty- five. It was organized by Rev. John Stanch, a Lutheran missionary, on September 12, 1806. For six years he looked after the Germans of that locality, preaching in their own language from house to house, and had thirty-five baptisms and thirty-five con- firmations. He was succeeded by Rev. John Rheinhart, another traveling mission-

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ary, in 1812, preaching from house to house for four years, this charge being part of quite a large circuit which he supplied. In 1816 the sum of $371.25 was raised with which a frame church was built on the pres- ent site, among the early communicants be- ing the Reinharts, Stonebrakers, Easter- days, Grimes, Smiths, Culps and others. Rev. Rheinhart remained until 1836, the preaching meanwhile being changed from German to English, and was succeeded by Rev. James Manning, who also had charges at Jefferson, Annapolis and Yellow Creek. Rev. Alexander Pope served from 1838 to 1848 and was succeeded by Rev. Amos Bartholomew, and he in turn by Rev. J. Sparks in 1849, who remained ten years. In 1852 a new church was built, costing $500. The old building was dragged to an adjoining lot and used for awhile as a stable. The new one was placed on the same foundation, and with some alterations still stands. Mr. Manning returned in 1859, but the Civil war coming on he seems to have been too ardent to suit some of his congregation, so he did not remain long. Rev. J. Singer served from 1865 to 1867, when there was a vacancy for eleven years, during which time Rev. J. K. Melhorn and others acted as temporary supplies. While Rev. Dr. Geberding was in charge of Jew- ett congregation he proposed separating Bowling Green and Bethel from Salem and Jefferson, which was done, and on June 30, 1878, Rev. A. HI. Kennard accepted the double charge, the services being held part- ly in German and partly in English. Hle left in 1882 and Rev. J. N. Wolfly supplied the next year. Rev. C. S. Halloway was installed July 1, 1884, and left October 7. 1886. The congregation at Bethel or Yellow Creek had become so small that services were abandoned, and the church was used for a number of years by a l'nion Sunday School, which also died ont, and the building is now an abandoned wreck, with Mr. and Mrs. J. Culp sole survivors of the congregation. On March 1. 1887. Osage was united with Annapolis, but shortly after was transferred to Jewett.

Rev. J. F. Booker served two years, then Rev. Kimerer supplied until Rev. O. Reber took charge December 14, 1890, and re- mained until 1892. Supplies were fur- nished until 1903 when Mr. Groff, a student of the Chicago seminary, held regular serv- ices; Rev. Methorn in 1905. and J. J. Myers the next year. C. E. Read, from the sem- inary, served the next year and into 1907, and received a permanent call in the spring of 1908, taking charge on May 31. He also has a mission at Wellsville, and the two places now have regular services. The centennial of the church was observed Sep- tember 10-12, 1906, by a meeting of the Western Conference of the Pittsburgh Synod and a general reunion with a most interesting programme.

The Knoxville M. E. Church started in 1830 with services in a schoolhouse, Henry Cooper, class leader. Shortly they removed to an unfinished brick building occupied by the Presbyterians. The building was destroyed by a storm, when services were discontinued, but were revived in 1857. using a honse built by the joint efforts of the Methodists, Presbyterians and United Presbyterians. Differences arose, ending in a lawsuit, and the building was aban- doned. The Methodists then built a frame .church. 32x53 feet, which has since been occupied when there were services, which have been irregular.

New Somerset M. E. Church was organ- ized by Rev. Joslma Monroe about 1836, J. B. Finley probably preaching the first sermon. The original class was composed of Mary Hartman, Susan Hartman, Cath- erine Saltsman, Martin, Jane, Philip and Delila Saltsman, Solomon Hartman, Wil- liam and Hannah Bareus. A schoolhouse was used for a place of worship until the building of a frame church, 30x40 feet. It is at the north end of the village, fourteen miles from Steubenville. The first minis- ters were Joshua Monroe, John Minor, Dr. Adams. Philip Green, David Merryman. Simon Lock, Harry Bradshaw, J. C. Kent. Thomas Winstanly, Walter Athy, George MeCaska, William Divinna, Edward Tay-

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lor, William Knox, A. H. Thomas, Sammuel Longden, J. E. McGaw, J. Shearer, Wil- liam Tipton, S. F. Minor, Theophilus Nean, Chester Morrison, George Crook and R. L. Miller. After them came R. Boyd, W. H. Tibbetts and John Chrisman in 1856-7; John Wright, J. F. Nessley, 1858-9; J. M. Bray, S. N. Nesbitt, T. M. Stevens, 1860- 62; P. K. McCue, J. Hollingshead, 1863; W. S. Blackburn, 1864-5; S. H. McCall, W. B. Grace, R. M. Freshwater, 1866-8; G. D. Kinner, J. R. Keyes, 1869-71; J. Q. A. Miller, 1872; G. W. Dennis, 1873-5; A. J. Lane, 1876; J. H. Rogers, 1878; J. E. Hol- lister, 1878; . F. Huddleson, 1886-8; M. J. Ingram, 1889; since supplied from other points.

Rev. Samuel Taggart and John Donald- son organized the Knoxville United Pres- byterian Church in 1837 with seventeen members. Isaac Grafton, Samuel White and Gilead Chapman were chosen ruling elders, and Dr. Watt, J. Stokes and Isaac Grafton, trustees. Rev. Wm. Larrimer became pastor on April 1, 1838, and con- tinued until 1848, when he was sueeeeded by Rev. C. Campbell, who remained until 1854. Rev. J. H. Peacock took charge in September, 1859, and remained until April, 1867. On July 1, 1871, Rev. J. B. Borland began serving it along with his Richmond charge until 1887. It was separated in 1888 and was served by J. W. Best to 1891; J. B. Gondy, 1894-8: L. L. Gray, 1898-1906; R. B. Fulton, 1907-9, and now by R. A. Kingan. The present church edifice was erected in 1875 at a cost of $3,600 and was dedieated by Rev. S. J. Stewart, of Steub- enville. It is a frame building, 32x48 feet.

The 'Disciples Church of New Somerset was organized September 19, 1840, by Eld- er John Jackman, with the following mem- bers: Joseph Marshall and wife, Matthias Swickard and wife, G. H. Puntins and wife, Daniel Householder and wife, Jolin Bill- man and wife, Hannah Leatherberry, Jean- ette McGhee, Emily Coffman and Mary Householder. The first officers were Joseph Marshall, G. H. Pantions and Matthias Swickard, elders; and Daniel and Peter

Householder, deacons. Chas. E. Von Vorhis was the first regular preacher at $37.50 for one-fourth of his time. His immediate successors were Jolm Jackman, Marlow Martin, Eli Regal, Cornelius Finney, Thomas Dyal, J. M. Thomas, J. D. White, Mason Terry, J. A. Wilson, Robert Ather- ton, D. O. Thomas, A. Skidman, M. P. Hayden and others. A brick clinreh, 28x40 feet, was erected in 1841, which was re- placed by a larger strnetnre about 1890.

Although Rev. J. M. Bray held M. E. services at Empire many years ago the Methodist Protestants had the first organ- ization, Rev. F. A. Brown having formed a class in June, 1873, composed of James Stone and wife, Levi Henry and wife, M. O. Peters and wife, Geo. H. Hinkle and wife, Bernard Herron and wife, John Adams and wife, Margaret Mushrush, Le- titia Atkinson, Namey J. and Elizabeth Hin- kle, Lena Bell, Jennie Wherry, Nancy Max- well and Wm. H. Jones. Trustees, J. C. Maxwell, Bernard Herron, Geo. H. Mush- rush, James Stone, John Adams, M. O. Peters and Win. Jones. A frame church was erected, 32x50 feet, and dedicated Decem- her 28, 1873. The first pastors were F. A. Brown, J. B. McCormick and John Daker; later, Rev. J. W. Rice.

The M. E. congregation organized abont 1890 and built a neat frame church, hold- ing 300 people. It is served in connection with Sugar Grove. The recorded pastors are S. B. Salmon, 1893-5; H. F. Patterson, 1896-9; A. H. Loomis, 1900; N. B. Stewart, 1901-2; W. W. Burton, 1904-5; C. E. King, 1906-7 ; Ellwood D. Scott, 1908-9.

There is a good sized congregation of Free Methodists at Ekeyville, which meets in MeGaffrick's Hall.

Reference has already been made to Tunnel mill, one of the old landmarks in the northwest corner of Knox Township. The tunnel by which this mill was fed was dug in the year 1815 by Abner Moore. It is seventy yards in length, cut through a solid rock with a decline of fourteen and one-half feet, equal to abont twenty-five horsepower. The creek from where the

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tunnel starts makes a bend in horseshoe neers toiled in the van, hewing their way shape of one mile, coming round and pass- ing within thirty yards of the mill.

William Maple came to Ohio on June 15, 1797, landing on the Ohio shore at a point between Elliotsville and Empire. He emi- grated from Fayette County, Pennsylva- nia, where he resided only a short time, coming there from Trenton, N. J., where he lived at the time of the Revolution and at which place he enlisted in the American army. After coming to Ohio he settled on the hill above Port Homer. Benjamin Maple, son of William, bored one of the first salt wells in the northern part of the county, on Hollow Rock run, the boring being done by spring pole, after which he started to build a mill, but sold it unfinished and then bought produce which he took down the river on a keel boat and traded for furs, which were brought back on mules and transported eastward to market.

SALINE TOWNSHIP.

Saline township, so called from its salt wells, which lies immediately north of Knox, and occupies the extreme northeast- ern section of Jefferson County, shares with Steubenville Township the honor of being early historic ground. As early as 1764 Bouquet and his army of 1,500 sol- diers marched through here into the heart of the Indian country, taking the lower part of the Yellow Creek Valley, whose march is thus described by Parkman :

"Early in October the troops left Fort Pitt and began their westward mareli into a wilderness which no army had ever be- fore sought to penetrate. Encumbered with their camp equipage, with droves of cattle and sheep for subsistence, and a long train of packhorses laden with provisions, their progress was tedions and difficult, and seven or eight miles were the ordinary measure of a day's march. The woodsmen of Virginia, veteran hunters and Indian fighters, were thrown far out in front and on either flank, scouring the forest to detect any sign of lurking ambuscade. The pio-

through woods and thickets; while the army dragged its weary length behind them through the forest, like a serpent creeping through tall grass. The surrounding coun- try, whenever a casual opening in the mat- ted foliage gave a glimpse of its features, disclosed scenery of wild primeval beauty. Sometimes the army defiled along the mar- gin of the Ohio, by its broad eddying eur- rent and the bright landscape of its shores. Sometimes they descended into the thicket gloom of the woods, damp, still, and cool as the recesses of a cavern, where the black soil oozed beneath the tread, where the rough columns of the forest seemed to ex- ude a clammy sweat, and the slimy mosses were trickling with moisture; while the carcasses of prostrate trees, green with the decay of a century, sank into a pulp at the ·lightest pressure of the foot. More fre- quently the forest was of a fresher growth ; and the restless leaves of young maples and basswood shook down spots of sunlight on the marching columns. Sometimes they waded the clear current of a stream with its vistas of arching foliage and sparkling water. There were intervals, but these were rare, when, escaping for a moment from the labyrinth of woods, they emerged into the light of an open meadow, rich with herbage, and girdled by a zone of forest; gladdened by the notes of birds, and en- livened it may be, by grazing herds of deer. These spots, welcome to the forest traveller as an oasis to a wanderer in the desert,

· * On the tenthi day the army reached the River Muskingum."

Hutchins, the historian, supplements this by the following: "Friday, the 12th, the patlı led along the banks of Yellow Creek, through a beautiful country of rich bottom lands on which the Pennsylvanians and Virginians looked with covetous eyes, and made a note for future reference. The next day they marched two miles in view of one of the loveliest prospects the sun ever shone upon. There had been two or three frosty nights, which had changed the whole aspect of the forest. Where a few

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days before an ocean of green had rolled away there now was spread a boundless carpet, decorated with an endless variety of the gayest colors, lighted up by the mel- low rays of an October sun."

Just below where Yellow Creek enters the Ohio, the present site of the old Me- Collough mansion, is the reputed location of the camp of Logan's relatives, who were inveigled to the Virginia shore and slaugh- tered. An Indian trail extended np Yel- low Creek for five miles, at the end of which there was a spot used regularly for en- campments, and stones have been un- earthed there still bearing the marks of fire. The same trail was used by American soldiers traveling to and from Fort Lan- rens, and it became one of the earliest wag. on roads in the county. Nature wasespecial- ly homitiful here, the stremms crowded with fish and the forests with game. Martin Saltsman, one of Knox Township's early settlers, declared that in a few days' Imnt on Yellow Creek he would kill more than fifty deer. No wonder the Indians parted from these hunting grounds with re- luctanee. Prehistorie remains are found on the De Sellem farm near Port Homer, so-called fortifications and monnds. from which numerous relies have been collected, a carved stone column about two feet long and fifteen inches in diameter. On Yel- low Creek are remains of white pine for- ests destroyed by Indians who tapped the trees for rosin, which they used as salve and to aid in kindling fires. A fair amount of hemlock yet clothes the rugged hillsides, but the other evergreens have practically disappeared.

While Jacob Nessley, Sr. (coming from the German settlements of Lancaster Com- ty, Pennsylvania), did not settle on the Virginia side of the river until 1784, he was in this region much earlier, and of this fact he left an enduring momment. On the river bank, a short distance sonth of the mouth of Yellow Creek and in sight of the MeCullongh mansion, is an overhang- ing rock, upon which is carved "Jacob Nessley-1776." The tradition is, as re-

lated by William G. MeCullough (a great grandson), that Jacob was prospecting in Virginia, and crossing the river to the Ohio side (Indian country) was chased by the Indians. Reaching this overhanging rock, he jumped into the river; he then dived and coming to the surface under the rock, he remained in hiding, and the Indians sup- posing him drowned, left him to his fute. As soon as the way was clear, he returned to Virginia, obtained a tool and cut his name and the date upon the surface of the rock as noted.

Samuel Vantilberg settled in what is now Saline Township, near Port Homer, in 1796. Joshua Downard came in 1785, and returned permanently in 1796, living more than one hundred years; Willinm MeCul- longh at the mouth of Yellow Creek about 1800; Jacob Nessley, Jr., a little earlier, buying large traets of Yellow Creek land from the government, also Jeremiah Hick- man and James Rogers. Joshua Downer was here by 1800, prospecting among the hills and valleys, being the first to discover salt in this township abont 1806. Samuel Potts and his brother Henry came about 1803. and preceding them were William and Henry Maple, the father of Andrew Down- er, the Crawfords, Jacob Groff, Charles Hammond, who gave his name to Ham- mondsville, the Householders and others whose names are lost.

William Wells, one of the first justices, bought land in February, 1798, from Rob- ert Johnson, of Franklin County, Pennsyl- vania, being lots four and five in the ninth township, second range, at the mouth of Little Yellow Creek. The same year Wells sold to James Clark. There was a formid- able blockhouse on a point immediately sonth of the creek's mouth, erected, per- haps, by squatters previous to 1784. While the site has been washed away, the fonnda- tion was seen by persons now living. This blockhonse, unti! very recently supposed to have been west of the creek's mouth, on Blockhouse Run, was so constructed on the first river bank that it was surrounded by water, and had command not only of the

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river, but likewise of a vast expanse of ter- ritory, the most natural point in all this region for defensive works.

The country developed very rapidly. As we have seen, the land was good, and Yel- low Creek with its tributary streams fur- nished water power for numerous flour and other mills that were among the last in the county to succumb to the new order of things. The knowledge of the complete mineral resources of Yellow Creek was yet in the future, but there was progress.

A stone hotel was built at the mouth of the creek, and when destroyed by fire in 1897 the date of its erection (1803) was discovered carved in a chimney stone. The first road in the county was made from a point opposite Charles Town ( Wells- burg) to Yellow Creek in 1804. It is pos- sible that the masons who built the hotel also built the two stone-arch bridges, one over the mouth of Wilis Creek, the other over the mouth of Island Creek, both doing service until recently. They were of the architecture of the bridges afterwards adopted for the National Pike.

IRONDALE AND HAMLETS.

Joshua Downer's discovery of salt water on Yellow Creek in 1806 was on the present site of Irondale, and a well was put down by Samnel Potts. It furnished sufficient brine to make six barrels of 'salt per day, and soon after James Rodgers sunk two more wells, cach yielding five barrels per day. This infant industry naturally built up a hamlet around it, and soon there was in existence a village, to which was given the name Pottsdale. A bank was opened by the Potts brothers, and as salt was in good demand at $16 a barrel the little com- munity assumed quite a business-like as- pect. The salt was hanled to the mouth of the creek by carts or wagons and then shipped by boat. In a few years the com- petition from larger wells in other parts of the county compelled a discontinuance of the salt industry here, and Pottsdale reverted to a rural community. Thus it re-

mained until 1861 when coal mining was begun here, with Jolin Hunter as manager, the railroad now furnishing transportation. A new village was laid ont, taking the name of Huntersville. The advent of the Pioneer Coal Company in 1869, with its rolling mill employing 150 hands, gave a boom to every class of business. The town was enlarged and renamed Irondale. It first appears in the census of 1870 with 751 inhabitants. The same year a store was started in the village by Morgan and Hunter, with R. G. Richards as manager, who was also the first postmaster. Mr. Richards served about two years, and was succeeded by C. P. Evans, Geo. Burnside, James Dennis, Burnside second time, John F. Gilson and T. A. Hoyt. The erection of the large blast furnace by the Morgan Coal and Iron Company in 1870, a large hotel built by Mrs. Mary Crans, and other im- provements, made Irondale the most flour- ishing community in the county, and when the panic of 1873 came it had an estimated population of 1,500. When that panie came, however, the mills shut down and the declension was nearly as rapid as its rise. The census of 1880 showed a population of only 399, but with the inauguration of new enterprises noted in our chapter on manu- facturing, the village began to pick up, and in 1890 there were 694 inhabitants, who had increased to 1,136 in 1900. Its perma- nent prosperity is now assured.

Linton at the mouth of Yellow Creek was a small hamlet for several years prior to 1831, the old hotel building dating back to 1803. Jacob Groff kept a small store. In the year first mentioned William H. Wal- lace, then twenty years of age, a native of the province of Quebec, came there from New Lisbon, and entered into partnership with Groff, and became the first postmas- ter. He left there in 1839. Although there never was much of a town here yet coal mining, the ferry, railroad station, and the fact that it was the entrance to Yellow Creek Valley gave it some importance. But the mines were worked out, the old hotel burned, the postoffice was discontinued, and

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the place is now simply a railroad junction under the name of Yellow Creek station. The electric road along the river shows some good engineering work in under- grade crossing beneath the C. & P. railroad.

When Mr. Wallace left Yellow Creek he opened a store and postoffice three miles below, and called the place Port Homer in honor of his son Homer. It soon became a prominent shipping point for all that sec- tion. The product of the numerous distil- leries, flour mills and salt wells hauled to Linton and Port Homer created an active trade that was surprising. Although steam- boats were in operation flathoats were still favorite carriers for down river shipments. They were comparatively inexpensive, and time was not an important item. Boat building, milling, salt boiling and distilling employed a large force of men. and the river warehouses would be filled with the products mentioned, their handling giving employment to hundreds of men. All this has passed away and the flood of 1884 prac- tically annihilated the few remaining ware- houses, leaving nothing but the foundation stones, and sometimes not even them. Mr. Wallace sold out his Port Homer business in 1851. The place is still somewhat of a center for shipment of apples from the ex- tensive orchards in that vicinity, with prob- ably a dozen families in residence.

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Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 65

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927 Publication date: 1973 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 584

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927
Publication date: 1973
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584