USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th > Part 74
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Rev. Joseph Hall preached in the vicinity of East Springfield at the houses of Henry Hammond and William Davidson, who with the Rileys, Rutledges, Johnsons and Mi- nors formed the first Methodist class. After the building of St. John's Church in 1826, the only house of worship then in the vil- lage, they held services there with more or less regularity until 1846, when they erected a building for themselves. F. I. Swaney was pastor in 1886, followed by M. J. Ingram, 1887-8; M. J. Slutz, 1889; James Walls, 1890-3: T. H. Taylor, 1894-6; S. P. Lloyd, 1897-9; E. S. Smith, 1900-3; J. F. Rankin, 1904-7; Ross Sullivan, 1908-9. Mount Hope Church in Section 20 was or- ganized about 1830 with James Cowden as class leader. From 1833 to 1841 preaching was had at the house of James Rutledge, when a log church was built, which stood until 1860, when it was replaced by a frame. It was supplied from Richmond. Salem M. E. Society was organized in 1838 by Rev. Patrick MeCue with the following class: Eli Mckinney, leader; Margaret Miller. Martha Thompson, John Lawson, John Lacey, Elizabeth and John Ferrell and Saralı A. Myers. Meetings were first held in the school house, but a log church was built in 1844, replaced by a frame in 1848. In 1879 the church was rebuilt and dedi- cated on July 13 with a membership of fifty. It is on the East Springfield circuit.
Salem Township, like Mt. Pleasant and
among its pioneers, but in smaller num- bers, among them being William Farquhar and wife Elizabeth, Joseph Hobson and wife Ann, Joseph Talbott and wife Mary, Benjamin Talbott and wife Susannah. Jacob Ong and wife Mary. Gatherings took place at William Farquhar's house until 1815 when they built a log meeting house. In 1820 it was replaced by a brick structure 30x40 in Section 9, south of Rich- mond. Jacob Ong and John Watson were the first approved ministers. The old buikling still stands in its quiet graveyard, but silent and deserted. The society dis- solved many years ago, and B. L. Crew, of Richmond, is the sole living representative.
Rev. Alexander Calderhead organized the Associate Reformed, now United Pres- byterian Church, of Richmond, in 1805 at the residence of Col. Jolm Andrews in the northeast corner of the township, with. John Collins, John Johnson and John Walker, elders. A structure six feet long, five feet wide and seven feet high was built of clapboards on the farm of James MeLain in 1806, and moved from place to place on a sled to suit the convenience of preacher or congregation. Of course this would only accommodate the pulpit with other ministerial furniture, the congrega- tion gathering in the open air. On April 11, Rev. George Buchanan took charge, and in 1816 a hewn log house 24x28, called Union Church, was erected on the land of David Andrews, afterwards the R. H. Kerr property. Rev. Hugh Parks succeeded Mr. Andrews in 1831, and during his pastorate a new brick church, 35x45, was built in Richmond. This was replaced by a larger building 42x60 in 1851, which stands in the Shelley Addition, east of the original plat. Rev. Win. Lorimer became pastor in Oc- tober, 1838, and remained nntil 1858, dnr- ing which time the membership rose to 146, its maximum number. Rev. J. H. Pea- cock became pastor in July, 1859, remain- ing eight years. Rev. J. B. Borland was installed on July 1. 1871, and remained in connection with Knoxville and Grant's Hill
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until June 14, 1887. J. M. Dinsmore served from 1889 to 1893, W. T. Brownlee from 1898 to 1902, and W. R. Lawrence from 1903 to 1905. The charge is now vacant.
It is not certain that Rev. Dr. Doddridge held services according to the Book of Common Prayer in Salem Township, as in his notes as published he was singularly reticent concerning his own personal work. Isaac Shane writes that what was known as the Protestant Episcopal Comounion, under charge of Rev. Intrepid Morse, was the first service of that form to be held in East Springfield. But Dr. Morse did not come to this section until 1819, so if "Episcopal" serv- ices were held there previous to that date it was by some minister, who could have been none other than Dr. Doddridge, or Mr. Seaton. This is not improbable, as the majority of the inhabitants of that com- munity were of this faith. Nevertheless it is clear that under Dr. Morse regular serv. ices were instituted, and steps were taken soon thereafter for the erection of a chinreh building, a substantial brick structure, seating 200 people, the first house of wor- ship in the village. About this time the organization was incorporated under the title of St. Jolm's Church as follows:
"To the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Jefferson, State of Ohio: This certifies that at a meeting held this day in the town of Springfield, Jefferson County, In pursuance of public notice duly given according to the art in that case made and pro- vided by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, upward of twenty persons formed and organized them- selves in a religious society under the name and style of 'St. John's Church, Springfield,' and the following persons were then and there elected officers of the same for the ensuing year, viz .: John Mccullough, John Scott, wardens: Jacob Stull, William W. Kinley. Charles Hun. ter. vestrymen. Springfield, April 5, 1826." Attexted: William W. Kinley, Clerk, Int. Morse, Prest., Minister of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, and St. James, Cross Creek."
After Mr. Morse gave up his outside charges and confined himself to Steuben- ville the parish had the same ministers as St. James', Cross Creek, by whom services were maintained until about the close of the Civil War. By that time deaths and re- movals had reduced the congregation to
such a small fraction of its former size that services were discontinued.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salem was organized by Rev. John Rine- hart in 1814, with Jacob Vance and Andrew Strayer, elders. Among the pastors have been Rev. James Manning, from 1825 to 1839; Benjamin Pope, 1839-43; Amos Bar- tholomew, 1843-8; George Banghman, 1849-50; Dennis Sweeney, 1850-3; David Sparks, 1853-9; James Manning, 1859-64; Jacob Singer, 1864-9; Joseph A. Roof, 1870-77: D. M. Kemerrer, 1877 and after- wards Rev. John Cook. The original place of worship was about a mile east of the village, but in 1870 a frame church 22x46 was built in the town.
On March 27. 1847, a number of Presby- terian residents of East Springfield held a meeting and appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions to build a place of wor- ship. On May 21 the committee reported $825 subscribed and Stewart MeClave, William Palmer, George Hammond, John Calhoun, Joseph Clemmons and Caleb Waggoner were appointed trustees and directed to proceed to the erection of a building, which was dedicated on August 25, 1848, Rev. C. C. Beatty preaching the sermon from the 93d Psalm. The church is the largest in the village, and stands at the east end of town. On June 1. 1850, the elirch was formally organized by Rev. C. C. Riggs and John Knox with the follow- ing members: Henry Pittenger, Joseph Clemens and Alexander Porter, ruling eld- ers; Mrs. and Mary Ann Pittenger, Benja- min, Elizabeth, Agnes A. and Mary E. Mickey, Henry Hammond, Stewart Me- Clave, John and Margaret Culp. Jacob and Violet Allensworth, Mary C. Riggs, Alex and Catherine Morrison, Rebecca Clem- ens, Rebecca Freeborn, Joseph HInston, Amelia Porter, Pamelia Paliner, James and Lucinda Beatty, Martha J. Lindsay, Elizabeth MeCullough. Jane Reynolds, George and Hermit Berresford. Elizabeth Scott, Mrs. Murray. Sarah J. and Eliza- beth Mylor, Icinda Scott. Rev. C. C. Riggs continued the first pastor until 1852
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when Rev. John Watson served as a sup- ply for six months. Then came Rev. L. Grier from January 1, 1853, to December, 1860; J. S. MeGuire, from 1862 to 1864; Rev. C. W. Wycoff, from April, 1866, to April, 1873; W. M. Eaton, 1874 to August 27, 1878, afterwards Joseph Patterson, and at present Rev. Mr. Fowler.
The Richmond Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. Cyrus Riggs on Septem- ber 3, 1852, with the following members : John McGregor, Benjamin S. Bailey and William Patterson, elders; Mary MeGreg- or, Mary J. Chaplain, Hannah Percival, Martha Duncan. Samuel Beebont, Mary A. and Phoebe Beebont, Michael, Catherine and Jane Vangilder, William and Mary Waggoner, Elizabeth Rabe, Jane Cunning- ham, Mary, Ebenezer and Polly McGowen, Dorothy, Matilda and Rebecca Bailey, Joseph Gilkinson. Prof. Riggs served two years and Lafferty Grier one-third of his time for six years; Rev. Marquis from 1860 to 1865; Revs. Messes, Wykoff and J. B. Diekey for two years; Rev. Israel Price from 1869 until about 1880, who after an interval was succeeded by S. C. Faris, and he in turn by Rev. Geo. W. McMillan, who recently gave up the charge. Soon after its organization the congregation erected a substantial brick building at the end of Sugar Street, which is still in use. Rev. Charles Holliwell is the present pastor.
A Presbyterian congregation was or- ganized at Salem about seventy-five years ago, and at present occupies its second building, erected about thirty-five years since.
During the political campaign of 1880 a preacher in the M. E. Church at East Springfield, in discussing certain phases of that campaign, took occasion to animadvert on the Morey letter forgery. Some of the members took offense at this as savoring too strongly of partisan polities, and with- drew from the church. They formed a new organization, under the name of United Brethren, and procuring the old St. John's
Church property, rebuilt it, where services have since been conducted.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
A glance at a county map of Ohio would seem to indicate that Springfield Township geographically should form a part of Car- roll County, if much attention were paid to symmetry, as it appears as a projection of Jefferson into the other county, consist- ing of three rows of nine sections each, and one additional row of three sections lying directly west of Salem and Ross Town- ships, bounded on the north by Columbi- ana County, on the south by Harrison, and on the west by Carroll. It was the first civil township carved out of the original five and was set off by the county commis- sioners on December 6, 1804. It then in- cluded Brush Creek, Ross and half of Salem Township, about one-seventh of Harrison County and half of Carroll, large enough to make a small county in itself. The first election was held at the house of David Lyon in East Springfield, commonly called Gillis settlement. The creation of other townships in Jefferson County nat- urally reduced the size of Springfield, and when Carroll County was organized in 1813 it was proposed to incorporate the township into that county, but the people in the eastern sections protested, and it was left in its present form attached to Jefferson. Wolf and Lick Runs and Elk Fork of Yellow Creek drain the southern part of the township, the middle and north- ern parts being drained by the middle and north fork of Yellow Creek. The town- ship is rugged but has good farms, while the coal and limestone have caused a large development, especially in the western and northern parts. It is claimed that the first salt made on Yellow Creek was manufac- tured in this township by Philip Burgett and John Tucker. While out hunting they found a spring of salt water, and procuring a kettle they boiled enough to make about three bushels of salt. This was a great
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boon as salt had to be brought for a great distance and was very expensive. Solomon Miller, from Fayette County, Pennsylva- nia, was the first settler (1800) within the lines of the township as now constituted. He took up Section 10 and made improve- ments, but being unable to pay for an en- tire section, and nothing less could be en- tered, he was dispossessed, and this sec- tion was entered in 1802 by Henry Miser. He began anew, however, on Section 11. Stewart McClave settled on Section 6 in 1801, and was the grandfather of John Me- Clave, Esq., of the Jefferson Bar. Follow- ing these came John Stutz, Joseph Gordon, Jacob Springer, Thomas Peterson, James Albaugh, James Ruttledge, James Alhnan, Henry Isinogle, Robert Young, Adley Cal- houn, William Jenkins, James Campbell, S. Dorance and others.
The rugged character of the country brought settlers slowly, and the deep, dark ravines furnished convenient lairs for wild animals, after they had retired pretty gen- erally from other parts of the county. Johu Kirk, who came here about 1813, related that wolves would approach within a few steps of the farm houses and make night hideous with their howlings. One evening after dark as he was coming home he heard a noise in a thicket, and started his dogs in that direction. A pack of wolves started up, and the pursuers became the pursned. He reached his cabin, which fortunately was close. but never found a trace of the dog, which was evidently devoured by his wild projenitors. At another time when coming up the Long Run branch of Yel- low Creek he heard what appeared to be cries of a woman in distress. But they did not deceive him and he crept stealthily into a fence corner. Directly a large panther appeared and passed so near him that he could hear its strong breathing. It passed by withont discovering him, possibly be- cause he was on the windward side. Full details of the Morgan raid in this township are given elsewhere, and this was about the only event in recent years to disturb the even tenor of events, until later, railroad
and coal development imparted new life to affairs.
AMSTERDAM.
For many years after Springfield Town- ship was created it could elaim no town or village within its borders as finally defined. In 1828 David Johnston laid out a small fragmentary village on the western side at the junction of Lick Run and Yellow Creek, which he named Amsterdam.
In 1850 it had a population of 168, which in 1870 had fallen to 89, when it disap- peared from the census. The town was in- corporated in November 20, 1903, when the petitioners gave the population at 600. The cause of this increase was the advent of the L. E. A. & W. Railroad and the opening of coal mines, which gave the town a ver- itahle boom. The People's Banking Com- pany was organized with a capital stock of $15,000, but whose statement of Sept. 1, 1909, shows resources of $150,122.45. The individual deposits subject to check were $68,689,90; demand certificates, $1,575.93; and time certificates, $56,585.70, making a total of $127,390.76. George G. Hess is cashier. Nothing conld better indicate the change from an insignificant rural hamlet to a bustling business community. A $25,- 000 hotel was started but the project ran out of funds before the foundation was completed. Paved streets were next in order, and arrangements were made to put down a fire brick pavement on the main thoroughfare. This condition of affairs naturally brought in its train a number of local industries, including the Cattrell plan- ing mill and machine shops, Hess & Com- pany's flour and feed mill. Myers & Cret- ser's saw mill, Workman & Son, carriage makers, most of which are still in opera- tion. A Masouic Lodge was organized, and there has been added recently a branch of the Improved Order of Red Men.
The innnunity which Jefferson County enjoyed from any serions mine disaster for over forty years was broken on the night of Thursday, April 21. 1910, at Am- sterdam on the western border of the coun-
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ty. The night shift of the Youghiogeny and Ohio mine, consisting of twenty-five men, had been at work but a short time when, about 9:30 o'clock, an explosion oe- curred, which shook the entire surrounding country. Seven men, more or less injured, succeeded in escaping from the mine, while eigliteen of their comrades were entombed. Rescuing parties were promptly organized but they were greatly hampered by the poisonous gas with which the mine was filled. As one corpse after another was brought to the surface the conviction be- came general that all of the eighteen left in the mine had perished. But the rescuers continued their work, and at 1 a. m. on Saturday reached the back part of the mine, where Melio Porcella, Paul Tobacco and H. Benedict were found in a semi-con- scious condition. They were brought out and revived. The other fifteen were all dead, some of the bodies being blown to fragments. Somebody had doubtless ig- uited the deadly fire damp with a naked night. Three of the victims were taken to Dillonvale for services in the Roman Catlı- olie Church there.
The other twelve were buried in Am- sterdam cemetery on Sunday in one big grave. Services were held by Rev. R. L. Houston, of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Sullivan, of the M. E. Church, at East Springfield.
The survivors of the disaster were: Ed. Jones, night boss; Tom Smith, Lee Dewdz, Ross Seott, John Golder, Joe ZimDsk, John Sonter, Melio Porcilla, Louis Benedict, H. Benedict.
The dead were: Joe Zempedros, Robert MeMasters, Herbert Hays, Panl Roseoe, Andy Rosco, Joe Jacob. Charles Howarth, James Lockhart, Ed Tarcia, Lewis Ja- comillio, Lewis Colaker, Joe Daring, John Daring. Reed Dealocko, Joe Debola.
BERGHIOLZ,
Up in the northern end of the county on Yellow Creek John C. Allman located the hamlet of Nebo, where were built a flour mill owned by Mr. Allen, a
small store later kept by William Ruddicks, a postoffice and three or four dwellings. By 1876 the postoffice had disappeared, only the mill and store kept a semblance of life about the place. But a little railroad, the Lake Erie, Alliance & Southern, was creeping down that way, and coal operators and speculators were at work. A large mine was opened on the op- posite side of the creek named after Mrs. Bergholz, one of the owners. The railroad after passing varied financial stringencies was extended through the territory to Am- sterdam and Dillonvale, and on October 24, 1883, James Kelly, Morin J. Hess and Christiana Hess platted a town on the op- posite side of the creek, containing 156 lots 60x100 feet, and called it Bergholz. In 1906 forty additional lots were made, and the town was incorporated on August 6 of that year. Old Nebo was absorbed and the petitioners gave the number of inhab- itants in the new town at 1,200. Ham Saltsman started a wagon maker shop and the Bergholz State Bank was organized with a capital of $15,000. The last state- ment, September 1, 1909, showed resources $121,563.36 and aggregate deposits $101,- 941.48. A. G. MeBane is cashier.
Wolf Run is a streamlet having its source in the range of hills upon which East Springfield is bnilt (most of the old interior towns were built on ridge roads) and makes its way by a meandering north- west course to Yellow Creek. The exten- sive coal field on the western side of the county having extended across this run, a mine was opened abont a mile and a half from East Springfield, around which grew np a hamlet lively in more senses than one. It has never gotten beyond that stage.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
As may be supposed from the character of the conntry and small population, rec- ords of early schools in Springfield Town- ship are practically non-existent, No doubt those living on the east side found accom- modations at East Springfield, and it is probable there was a school at Amsterdam
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soon after that village was platted. As soon as the township was generally settled school districts were formed and the edu- cational standard brought up to what it had been in the older communities. The rapid increase of population at Amsterdam and Bergholz in recent years caused those two communities to be set off as special school districts. The former has a good six-room school house costing $8,000 and Bergholz has a four-room building costing $4,000. The other school houses in the township are located in Section 5, David- son farm; 22, Thompson; 1, MeIntyre; 5, Hess; 6, Elliott; 9, Elk Fork ; 17, Griffith.
What was known as Rutledge M. E. Church was organized in 1809 by Rev. Wil- liam Knox. The usual meetings were held for awhile in private houses, but soon after the organization the erection of a hewn log structure was begun, each man contributing a certain member of days' labor, so there was very little cash ontlay. The charter members included James Rutledge, wife and children, John, William, James, Ed- ward, Simeon and Jane; John Kirk and wife, W. Taylor and wife, William Scarlot, wife and children, William, George, Rich- ard, Mary and Ann; Alexander Johnston and wife and daughters, Hettie and Rachel; Francis Johnston and wife, James and Henry Forster and wives. The old log church was used for twenty years when a larger structure of frame took its place. At this time Robert Young and Thomas Rut- ledge gave half an acre each for church and burying ground, which was deeded to John Kirk, W. Taylor and William Rutledge, trustees. About 1850 the name was changed to Circle Green, the congregation at one time having one hundred members. Fire destroyed the second building, and in 1877 a third structure was erected at a cost of $1.200. It was formerly in the East Spring- field cirenit with Amsterdam, Mooretown and Salem, but in 1908 Mooretown and Circle Green were transferred to Bergholz circuit.
Amsterdam M. E. Church was organized abont 1840, and for many years the con-
gregation was small, but it has grown with the increase of population. A new church was built here about 1888-9.
An M. E. Church was organized at Berg- holz about eighteen years since, which was first served from Wintersville and Harlem, but in 1907 it was set off as a circuit, to which Mooretown was added the next year. Among the earlier supplies were Rev. Thomas Taylor, Thomas Hanson and Samuel Lowrie. E. M. Hughgart was the stated minister in 1907-8, and D. F. Norris, 1909. A neat frame building was erected about twenty years ago.
Amsterdam Presbyterian Church was organized and a building erected in 1840, which has been in use ever since. Berg- holz Presbyterian Church was organized about a year after the town was laid out. Rev. Homer Sheely was among the first pastors.
The United Presbyterian Church of Bergholz was organized about eighteen yearsago by Rev. H. Y. Leeper, who served it in connection with Yellow Creek until July 8, 1902. W. C. Work acted as supply for one year when Rev. J. Walter Liggitt took charge in connection with Yellow Creek Church until 1908, when he came to Steubenville.
A Disciple Church started about 1903 made the fourth religions society in the town.
It may be noted here that Gen. James M. Shackleford who commanded the Union forces during the Morgan raid through this township in 1863, died September 7, 1909, at his summer home near Port Huron, Mich., aged eighty-two.
Nebo or Bergholz Presbyterian congre- gation is served by Rev. Frank Bozard.
ROSS TOWNSHIP.
Ross Township, named in honor of James Ross, was laid off by the county commissioners in 1812, with thirty-six sec- tions, but later the upper tier was taken off to form part of Brush Creek, leaving it with an area of thirty square miles. It
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lies to the north of Salem and east of Springfield, the northern half being ronglı and hilly, and the southern part a good farming section. Before 1800 and as late as 1805, "squatters" built cabins on Yel- low Creek, subsisting on game and fish, and as salt was a product of this region, these "squatters" had little trouble in obtain- ing such merchandise needed by them in barter for this mineral. Among these squatters were: William Castleman, Mark Dike, John Bruce, John Davis, Jacob Drake and William Roach. Among the first permanent settlers (1798-1813) were: Thomas George, Allen Speedy, Arthur Latimer, Stephen Coe, Ludowich Harden- brook, Joseph Elliott, William Scott, John Farquhar, Henry Crabbs, Joseph Reed. Isaac Shane, Thomas Bay, a participant in the Gnadenhutten tragedy; Mordecai Moore, "Daddy" Dixon, Robert Barnhill, John McEldery, Alexander Johnston, Wil- liam Grimes, Captain Allen ( War of 1812), Henry Gregg (grandfather of Richard Henry Gregg, Esq., of the Steubenville bar). coming from Redstone with his broth- er Richard in 1802, the latter attaining the age of 105 years; Robert George and Thomas George, his son (from what is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania), came to Jefferson County in 1805, and settled on Section 28, in what is now Ross Township; Andrew Griffin, Benjamin Shane, John Shane. James Shane came to Washington County, Pennsylvania, from New Jersey in 1794, and in 1798 crossed the Ohio River at Cable's Ferry and located on Wills Creek. Here he married Hannah Rex, of Greene County, Pennsylvania, and in 1810 moved to Island Creek Township, and then to Ross Township. The widow of his son, Isaac Shane, is now keeping a hotel in East Springfield. Mordecai Moore, Sr., who was with Capt. William Harbaugh in the War of 1812, settled in Ross Township in 1815. Moore was stolen by slave-drivers on a street in London when a small boy and brought to Philadelphia, where he was sold to a Quaker, who held him in bondage until he reached his majority, when he was given
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