Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 73

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 73

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).

ken, Adley Calhoun, Jacob Leas, Christian Albaugh, James Rutledge (from Pennsyl- vania, and of the same family as the signer of the Declaration of Independence, the latter's people moving to South Carolina, and his remains lie at Charleston), Isaac Shane, Aaron Allen, Robert Douglas (pot- ter), Thompson Douglas (gunsmith), Thomas Calhoun, John McCullough, David Watt, David Rogers, George Hont, Henry Morrison (first settler on Mingo Bottom in 1793, and was in the War of 1812 with Colonel Duvall), William MeCarel, Dr. An- derson Judkins, William Bahan, Charles Leslie, Thomas George, Thomas Orr, Will- iam Blackiston, Samuel Bell, David Sloane, Richard Jackson (the grandfather of Baron R. Mason Jackson), Levi Miller Stewart McClave, Richard Mccullough, John Collins, John Stutz, John Wolf, Will- iam Dunlap, William Davidson, William Alexander, John Markle (an early school teacher), Adam Winklesplech, - Stout (storekeeper), William Leas. Henry Ham- mond settled near East Springfield before 1804 and caught a land turtle and cut his initials on its shell; in 1850 he found the same turtle with 1804 and the initials dis- tinctly visible.

RICHMOND VILLAGE.

Joseph Talbott in the year 1799 bought of Bezaleel Wells the northeast quarter of Section 10, for which he paid $2.50 an acre, on $400 for the tract. He settled there the next year, and in 1815 employed Isaac Jenkinson to lay out a town, with streets sixty feet wide and lots 60x160 feet. The work was completed on September 20 aud the new town named Richmond. B. Hartman built the first dwelling, a log house 18x28 feet, who also kept a hotel and followed blacksmithing. His house was lo- cated on the corner of Sugar and Main Streets, diagonally opposite the old Free- man Torrance place. Allen Farquhar was the first storekeeper, and by 1817 there were five families in the town, those of William Talbot, Benjamin Hartman, Will- iam McCarrell, William Bahan and Ander-

son Judkins, the latter being the first phy- sician. Richmond was incorporated Jan- uary 27, 1835, and the first election held on April 25. The judges were John C. Tidball and Samuel Hanson ; James W. Ball, clerk. At this time there were forty-seven voters in the place, indicating a population of about 200. The officers elected were: Mayor, Adam Stewart; recorder, James Riley; trustees. William Farmer, Thomas Burns, Henry Crew, John McGregor, E. M. Pyle. On May 23 an election was held, at which Samuel Hanson was chosen mar- shal, William Frazier treasurer, Robert Gray and Joseph MeCarel, street commis- sioners. Local industries were lively to- wards the middle of the century, plain pot- tery, milling, pork packing and wool deal- ing, with an established college, together with its location on the state road from Stenbenville westward, made Richmond a local center which contrasted decidedly with the quiet of later days. It had an- other little spurt when the construction of a railroad down Island Creek was begun, and later, when there was a mild oil excite- ment, but both died out without any marked results. The census of 1850 showed a popu- lation of 514; that of 1860 gave 692, which in 1870 had dropped to 405, in 1880 in- creased to 491, in 1890 dropped to 444, and in 1900 to 393. the present population being about 400. The town has a commodious hall, suitable for public gatherings, and Harry Hale Post, No. 447, G. A. R., was organized a few years ago.

NEW SALEM OR ANNAPOLIS.

The second village to be settled in the township, in fact, the first to be laid out, was New Salem, platted by Isaac Helmick on November 9, 1802. It is directly on the Harrison County line, about one-fourth of the inhabitants living in that county. There were seventy-four inlots 60x132, and seven- teen outlots. John Sunderland built the first house and John Wilson kept the first store. The first regular hotel was kept by William Mngg, and the first sermon in the village was preached by Rev. John Rhine-

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hart, a Lutheran, Jacob Vantz and Will- iam Smith, who came from Maryland, were the first hatters. William McGowan and son David, the latter afterwards establish- ing a grocery in Stenbenville, located here in 1820, and manufactured woolen goods. Adam Winklesplech, grandfather of the late D). W. Matlack, of Steubenville, was an early merchant, coming here in Indian times. The land on which the village stands had been entered by Henry and Adam Miser, whose descendants still live in the neighborhood. Mr. Harrison was a pio- Deer storekeeper, also a Mr. Hutchinson, and Mr. Simmons a tavern keeper. There was quite a settlement of Germans here, and the town flourished so that there was an effort to locate the county seat here. It must be remembered that parts of Co- lumbiana and Tuscarawas and all of Harri- son and Carroll Counties were still a part of Jefferson. Steubenville was an insig- nificant village, with a sparse population in the river and central townships, while west was a fine rolling country, suited to a large farm population, and New Salem being near the geographical center, the claim probably did not seem so preposterous as it would now appear. When the building of a new courthouse was projected in 1869, Richmond put in a similar claim, with far less foundation. Shortly after the town was laid out James Kelly built a large flour mill and laid out a new addition, and during the financial craze between 1815 and 1819 two banks were organized in what was now called Salem, the title "New" being dropped. Of one we have no recard, and the other ended in a tragedy. Dr. G. W. Duffield was president of the Salem bank, and when it went down in 1818 suits were brought against him to recover on the circulating notes, which every bank issned in those days at its own sweet will, without government supervision or guar- anty, a period which some agitators seem anxious to restore. During the hearing be- fore Jacob Vantz, justice of the peace, on July 9. 1818, hot words passed between Duffield and David Redick. the attorney for

the prosecution. The trial adjourned and Redick followed Duffield to the street, and, throwing his weight upon him, bore Duffield to the ground. Duffield, feeling his life in danger, stabbed his antagonist in the neck with a doctor's lance. Redick died as the result of the wound while being conveyed to Steubenville in a wagon. Duffield was in- dieted and tried during the Angust term and was acquitted. The form of indictment in 1818 was the same as that used in the ter- ritory in 1798, and related that the accused, "not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and sedneed by insti- gation of the devil," committed the crime. Like in most cases of the suspended "wild eat" banks the only asset remaining of the Salem bank was a table, which after- ward became the property of John M. Goodenow. The only asset of one of the banks in the county was a keg filled with nails, having a mere covering of gold and silver coins!

John Andrew, whose grave in the Salem Cemetery is marked by a small sandstone, with the inscription, "John Andrew, a na- tive of Marseilles, in the south of France: a soldier of the Revolutionary War and of the War of 1812." came to America with Lafayette, and was with Wayne in storm- ing Stony Point, on the night of July 16, 1779, and was one of the eighty-three pa- triots wounded in the bold attack on the British stronghold, he receiving a bayonet thrust entirely through his abdomen, and, strange as it may seem, he lived, none of the intestines being seriously injured. In the same battle he received a sabre stroke across the temple and cheek, leaving a sear which he carried to his grave. He came here about the beginning of the Nineteenth century and when the Jefferson County troops were called ont to fight the British in the War of 1812 John Andrew was made first lientenant (colonel) of the regiment, and he served with honor and distinction until peace was declared. The date of his death is supposed to be 1835. Gen. George A. Custer, who was killed with his entire command of 277 cavalrymen at Little Horn

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River, Montana, June 25, 1876, was born near New Salem and within the bounds of the original township, out of which Salem was constructed on December 5, 1839. His brothers, Thomas and Boston, and a broth- er-in-law met the same fate.

Salem was made a postoffice in 1815 under the name of Annapolis, with Robert Baird postmaster. He probably served until 1823, when President Monroe ap- pointed William Vantz, then twenty-one years of age, who had emigrated with his father ten years before, to be postmaster. Being a bachelor, he located himself and his office at the east end of the village, where for some fifty-six years or more he handed out the mail. Fifteen administra- tions came and went, the country passed through two wars, children grew to youth and middle age, the young men of his time became parents and grandparents, and most of them passed to the great beyond, but he continued at his post away from the madding crowd and unaffected by steam- boats, railroads or telegraphs, for none reached the little town. He was a Demo- erat in polities and a Lutheran in religion, but not obtruding his views on those dif- fering from him. He was elected justice of the peace in 1836, and served twenty- four years, and although left handed kept books that were models of neatness. Fi- nally, in 1880, on account of the increasing infirmities of age he laid down the eares of office, and before his death that same year he received from the Postoffice De- partment a commendatory letter in recog- nition of his long and faithful service. He was spoken of as the oldest postmaster in the United States, and so he was at the time of his death, and the honor can still be awarded to him if we have regard only to the fact that his term was consecutive without interruption in a single office. W. H. Wallace, who died at Hammondsville in 1897, could claim more years of service, but they were given at three different places, with intervals of time between. However, we regard it, Jefferson County is entitled to the honor of having the old-

est postmaster in the United States; in fact, two of them. Robert Baird, Flora Grimes, Ada Swan and Amos L. Myers were his successors. Salem's location off the main thoroughfares of travel prevented a realization of early hopes. The popula- tion was 158 in 1850, dropping to 155 in 1860, to 139 in 1870, after which it dis- appears from the census, but the quiet little town is still there.

EAST SPRINGFIELD.

East Springfield, in the northeast quar- ter of Section 35, about five miles west of Richmond, was laid out by John Gillis, Jr., in February, 1803. The lots were 60x132 feet and the streets fifty-five feet wide. It is directly on the edge of the township, the Springfield Township line being at the west end of the village. It grew slowly, and in 1809 had but three houses. Among the first residents were Francis Douglas (sheriff from 1797 to 1804), William Leslie, David Lyons, John McComb, Thomas and Patrick Hardenmadder (the two latter in the War of 1812), Richard Jackson (clock and sil- versmith). The first tavern was kept by John Hogue; Charles Leslie kept the first store in 1813, opposite Shane's Hotel. Will- iam Dunlap, for many years a merchant of Steubenville, was also an early merchant of East Springfield. Rev. Dr. William David- son's father was an early resident. David Lyons and Daniel Markham were the black- smiths who manufactured all the axes, chains and nails needed in the neighbor- hood, the former making nails and the lat- ter saddle tacks. John Wolf was one of the first justices. John Hague kept the first hotel, near where the Porter residence afterwards stood, and afterwards built, in 1810, the brick structure long known as the Edgington-McCullough House and subse- quently kept by A. Calhoun, Isaac Shane and his widow. The town being on the mail route between Steubenville and Canton, af- ter roads were opened it became of consid- erable importance and much business was transacted. Here the stage horses were changed and hotels flourished, and these

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were prosperous days for the village. Gen- eral musters of the militia of all this region under command of Gen. Samuel Stokely, were held here with all the pomp and cir- cumstance, excitement and turmoil usually attendant on such occasions, and attracted crowds from miles around. Isaac Shane, writing of these occasions, says: "We boys had fine times during the general mus- ters. Here alone we got gingerbread, which, to our taste, was next to ambrosia, the food of gods. Whisky, too, was plenti- ful-a good kind, that Tom Corwin called the great leveler of modern society, not that indescribable compound of our times, that violates law and fills jails." Are we much happier than our forefathers with all our modern improvements, which, what- ever else they have done, have intensified the struggle for existence? The question is at least an open one. The town had 216 inhabitants in 1850, and 170 in 1870. Neigh- boring developments have since caused a considerable increase.

The geographical center of the township is about a mile south of the little hamlet of Fairfield, which is also about equidistant from Richmond, Salem and East Spring- field. Consequently, for many years, it was the voting place for the entire town- ship, and in February, 1816, Thomas Potts concluded it would be a good place to lay out a town, which was done, the plat con- taining seventy-six lots. A postoffice was afterwards established under the name of Roberts, there being another Fairfield in the state. There was the usual store, black- smith shop, etc., and on election day there was some activity. But there was no ex- pansion. On September 5, 1873, the town- ship was divided into two precincts, the eastern one at Richmond, and subsequently Annapolis, East Springfield and Shelley precincts were set off, leaving only about sixty voters in Salem precinct proper, and the establishment of rural free delivery took all the business away from the post- office and it was discontinued. Barely half a dozen houses now mark the site of the

little town, which has reverted to a strict- ly rural community.

John Hammond, on November 29, 1815, laid out a suburb about a mile west of Rich- mond, under the title of Ausburn, but it seems to have gotten no farther than the plat, and the lots were soon after vacated.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

Probably the first school in the township was at New Salem, Nicholas Wheeler and Mrs. Leslie being the first teachers. East Springfield built a schoolhouse soon after the village was laid out, and the teachers were supported by subscription. The names of the teachers are lost, but John Gillis taught there at least as early as 1814, followed by Dr. Markle, Mr. Byers from New England, Isaac N, Shane, Charles Mc- Gonnigal, Benjamin F. Gass, Daniel Lang- ton (storekeeper), John Bell and James Foster. The last named wore an old red cap, something like a Turkish fez, and when a pupil was recalcitrant he was com- pelled to don this head covering, a punish- ment which caused disgust to the offender and amusement to his associates in the school.

The township, however, was destined soon to have a higher institution of learn- ing. About the year 1830 Rev. John C. Tidball had a small academy on the Steu- benville and Knoxville road, about three miles from the latter place. Deeming Rich- mond a more available location, he decided to remove there. It is stated that he also had a select school in Richmond as early as 1832-33, but if so, it was operated in con- nection with this academy, which appears to have been removed to Richmond about 1835, just when the founding of a larger institution was agitated. On January 22 of that year an act was passed by the legis- lature by which Thomas George, Isaac Shane, William Blackiston, Henry Crew, Stephen Ford, Thomas Orr, David Sloane, Nathaniel Myers, John Cook, William Far- mer. Samuel Bell, A. T. Markle and James HI. Moore were created a body corporate

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styled the "Board of Directors of the Rich- mond Classical Institute," the object being to "afford instruction in the liberal arts and sciences." Nothing very definite was done until July 31, 1843, when a committee was appointed to secure quarters and a competent teacher. The basement of the old M. E. Church was leased for two years, and on October 1, Rev. John Dundass was chosen president of the institution and D. D. MeBryer professor of languages and natural science, who began their duties the first Monday of November following, and remained until June, 1845, when Mr. Mc- Bryer resigned. At a board meeting on January 6, of that year, committees were appointed to collect subscriptions and pro- cure a building site. Two lots were pur- chased from Joseph Talbott and a half acre adjoining was given by Thomas Ham- mond. They were numbered 91 and 92 on the east side of Sugar Street, and cost $60. The building committee, consisting of Thomas Burns, E. M. Pyle and Henry Crew, erected a brick structure 32x45 feet, two stories high. It was completed that year and in June, 1845, John Comin was elected professor of languages and moral science, and William Sarver was chosen professor of mathematics and natural sci- ence. In March, 1846, D. D. MeBryer was chosen president and on January 15, 1847, several chairs were added and filled, as fol- lows: Hebrew and evidences of Christian- ity, Rev. William Lorimer; ancient and Modern history, Rev. B. F. Sawhill; chem- istry, geology and belle lettres, Dr. Jolin Cook.

On November 15, 1847, the board re- quested the legislature to change the name of the institution to Richmond College, which was done the next year. In Septem- ber, 1848, J. R. W. Sloane, father of Prof. Sloane, of Columbia College, whose "Na- poleon" and other works have made him famous as a historian, was elected presi- dent. In March, 1849, Prof. Sarver re- signed the chair of mathematics and nat- ural science and Alexander G. Farquhar was chosen to succeed him. In July, 1849,

Rev. John C. Spencer superseded Rev. Prof. Sawhill, and in August, Prof. Far- quhar was succeeded by James Orr. In 1850 the Steubenville Presbytery, desirous of having an academy, took the college un- der its control, and Rev. Cyrus C. Riggs was appointed president, with Rev. Wil- liam Eaton and Prof. Sloane in the fac- ulty. The graduating class that year was composed of William H. Pyle, A. F. Tor- rance, Lewis Weaver, Thomas McFarran and Josiah Wagner. Profs. Sloane and Eaton resigned in February, 1851, and Rev. Joseph White was appointed on the fac- ulty. The Presbytery gave up the college the latter part of 1851, and the old board again took charge. Rev. Riggs resigned and S. L. Coulter was elected his successor, and he in turn was succeeded in January, 1853, by Joseph Lindley. Rev. Archbald was chosen professor of languages, and J. W. Lindley mathematics and natural sci- ence. In 1854 the Pittsburgh M. E. Con- ference assumed control, with M. S. Bonna- field and C. R. Slutz the faculty, who began their work November 5, 1855, and resigned in June, 1856, when Rev. S. B. Nesbit was chosen president and Rev. S. M. Hickman professor of languages. The latter was succeeded in May, 1857, by John Z. Moore. A movement was then started to endow the institution, but failed. J. T. Holmes was elected president in the beginning, remain- ing until the spring of 1862, when he raised a company of volunteers and entered the Union army. Later in the year Revs. Pea- cock and Marquis took charge, but were succeeded by Lewis Rabe in the latter part of 1863. Rev. G. W. Baker became presi- dent in the spring of 1864, but was shortly succeeded by Mr. Peacock, who, in turn, was succeeded by L. W. Ong in the latter part of 1866, with M. B. Riley, assistant. Mr. Riley resigned in 1869, and in 1871 A. R. Ong and S. S. Simpson were placed on the faculty.

In 1872 the property was conveyed to L. W. Ong, with the proviso that it should be used for educational purposes only. A new departure was made at this time in the

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way of securing new buildings and a new site. Subscriptions were secured and a site was secured a short distance east of the village by the donation of one acre from Lewis Ong and the purchase of eleven acres adjoining. Here, on a beautiful knoll, which makes the institution a conspicuous object in approaching Richmond from the east, were erected a two-story brick college building and three-story frame boarding hall, capable of accommodating fifty stu- dents. The cornerstone of the new college building was laid on Angust 8, 1872, with addresses by J. R. W. Sloane, J. B. Dickey, James Marvin and W. B. Watkins. On Au- gust 28 next year the building was dedi- cated and occupied. Prof. Ong remained president until his death on June 5, 1877. A monument has since been erected to his memory near the college by alumni of the institution. Rev. W. J. Brugh was the next president, who resigned in 1878 and was succeeded by S. S. Simpson and A. C. Ong. On September 6 the property was pur- chased by a number of individuals, includ- ing B. J. Crew, Rev. I. Price, Thompson Douglass, S. II. Ford. Joshma Moores, Benjamin Shelly, William Waggoner, F. J. Frederick, Rev. J. B. Borland, Robert Mar- tin, George MeCausland, A. J. Crawford and William Ford. Mr. Simpson gave up the college about 1880, and the buildings were closed until Angust 23, 1886, when Rev. S. C. Faris, having become pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was chosen presi- dent and reopened the school. He retained it for two years, when Rev. George W. MacMillan came from the East and took charge on July 1, 1888. He purchased the property and infused new life into the in- stitution, the attendance reaching over 100. He still has charge, although the attend- ance has been small of late years, and gives thorough instruction in the different branches. The old college property on Sngar Street was sold to the district for public school purposes and was occupied for about ten years, when it was torn down to make room for a substantial two-room building, which is still in use.

There are also good school buildings in Salem and East Springfield. The country schoolhouses are located in Sections 7, Ford farm; 16, Union; 18, Frazier; 20, Kirkpatrick; 28, Copeland; 30, Johnston; 35. Ellis.

Rev. Joseph Hall, a young Methodist Episcopal preacher, came to Ohio in 1800, and married Miss Delila, danghter of James Moores, of Salem Township, and settled on the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 2, on what was afterwards the Burch- field property, about a mile and a half south of the site of Richmond. He preached sometimes at the house of Mr. Moores and later at Stephen Ford's and Henry Jack- man's, ntil a small log church was built on the land of the latter. A class was formed about 1808, which included James Moores, leader, and wife Elizabeth, Jack. man and wife, Christina. Hall and wife De- lilah, Ford and wife Ruth. George Hout and and wife Christina, A brick church 40x44 was built at Richmond in 1832, which stood with some alterations until 1861, when it was replaced by a new brick struc- ture 45x66, costing $5,000. It is on the east side of South Sugar Street. The charge was formerly a part of Cross Creek cirenit, but it is now Richmond circuit, in- elding Mt. Hope, Mt. Tabor and Mt. Zion. The pastors have included John Graham, 1828; Edward Taylor, 1828-30, William Knox, 1830-31; David Merriman, 1831-32; S. R. Brocknnier, 1832; Walter Athey. 1833; Simon Lank, 1833-34; Athey and Taylor, 1835; John P. Kent, Henry Whar- ton, 1836; Thomas Thompson, 1837; John W. Miner, 1837-38; P. K. MeCue, 1838; J. M. Bray, Harvey Bradshaw, 1839-40; J. M. Bray, 1840; George MeCaskey, Jolin Murray, 1841-42; John Moffit, Isaac Me- Claskey. 1843; J. C. Taylor, C. E. Weirich, 1845; W. C. Henderson, B. F. Sawhill, 1847; J. L. Williams, John Hare, A. J. Blake, 1849; J. Spencer, George Crook, 1850; Thomas Winstanley, 1850-51; S. F. Miner, 1851; M. W. Dallas, 1852; J. H. White, 1852-53; S. F. Miner, 1853; T. C MeClure, 1854; Alexander Scott, 1854-55:

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COLLEGE, RICHMOND

MAIN STREET, RICHMOND

POST OFFICE, RICHMOND

LOG CABIN NEAR RICHMOND (Residence of James Gray)

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Lud Petty, 1855-56; Geo. MeKee, 1856; S. Smithfield, had a settlement of Friends Nesbitt, S. M. Hickman, 1857; G. A. Low- man, 1857-58; W. H. Tibbles, 1858; R. Boyd, S. H. Nesbitt, 1859; L. J. Higgins, P. R. McQue, 1860; A. L. Petty, Jolin Shearer, 1862: E. B. Griffin, 1862-63; John Stephens, 1863-64; G. W. Baker, 1864; John Grant, 1865; J. Q. A. Miller, 1867; T. H. Wilkinson, 1869; Edward Ellison, 1872; J. B. Uber, 1875; J. R. Keyes, 1877-80; A. J. Hiatt, 1886-88; W. D. Stevens, 1889-90; S. P. Lloyd, 1891-94; JJ. S. Eaton, 1895; W. H. Haverfield, 1896-97; E. R. Jones, 1898; G. T. Humble, 1899-1901; J. F. Ellis, 1902-5; R. E. Meyers, 1906-7; A. E. Yeager, 1908; W. A. Kinney, 1909.

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Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 73

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