History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 104

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 104
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 104

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).

The first pastor was Rev. D. G. Bradford, who assumed its care in conjunction with West Alexander, Pa., with a support paid him by this congregation for half his labors, of three hundred dollars. This pastorate lasted about one year and a half, when Mr. Bradford removed to the Third U. P. Church, Allegheny City, Pa., in the latter part of 1857.

For two years after the church waded in deep waters, and was without a pastor, It dwindled to almost nothing-one elder and a few dispirited members. It seemed as if they must sell the property and dissolve their organization. Their church build- ing however gave them a home and kept them together, when otherwise they must have, humanly speaking, been scattered and dissolved. In three years but two persons were added to the church-some years witnessed not a single accession.

Rev. R. G. Campbell was second pastor, being settled some time in the latter part of 1863. At this time the congregation was connected with Centerville, Ohio, and Buchanan Hill, West Va. Mr. Campbell resided in Martin's Ferry and remained as pastor until some where in 1867, when he accepted a place in Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio. Under his eare the church revived and grew moderately.

Again the church saw days of deep discouragement and trouble, not a single soul being added from the time of Mr. Campbell's departure until after the coming of the third pastor, Rev. J. R. Slentz, who took charge in the latter part of 1869.

Mr. Slentz remained with the church nearly four years and it grew under his ministry, although he was a man of little phys- ical health and therefore restricted in labor. Early in Septem- ber, 1873, whilst returning from a visit to the West he fell dead from heart disease in the railroad station in St. Louis, Mo. His body was brought home and buried by his congregation in Mar- tin's Ferry cemetery.

The present pastor, Rev. W. Weir, began his labors on the first day of November, 1874. The present membership of the church

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES

is sixty-three. The present officers. pastor, Rev. W. Weir: cl- ders. Messrs. James Kerr, A. G. Campbell, David Thoburn ; deacons, J. M. Blackford, M. D., Robert Kerr, J. P. Crowl ; treas- urer, A. G. Campbell ; secretary, J. M. Blackford, M. D. The church has a good Sabbath-school, whose teachers meet each Monday evening for prayer, consultation and study of the lesson. It has two missionary societies. one, of the ladies of the congre- gation, the other of the children of hoth sexes under the care of the ladies' society. The adult society meets and contributes monthly, the juvenile semi-monthly. The weekly prayer meet- ing is well attended, the children often outnumbering the adults. Its contributions during the past two years have averaged fourteen dollars per member.

Believing that reform movements, such as temperance, the preservation of the sanctity of the Sabbath, &c , demand the care and labor of the Church of Jesus Christ, this congregation sceks to give her aid to all such. Believing that peace and brotherly love are essential to any church's welfare she endeav- ors to seenre these with sister churches and amongst her own membership. With the great work before her in common with other churches, may she and they humbly, trustingly and reso- Intely " go in the strength of the Lord God."

SECRET ORDERS,

OHIO CITY LODGE NO. 54, K. OF P.

This society was organized on the 30th of May, 1873, with the following named gentlemen as initiatory members: L. W. In- glebright, J. T. Hanes, J. C. Hanes; O. J. Callihan, James Calli- han, James McCahan, Jacob Watson, Stanton Aldridge, William Vance, Charles Odenbaugh, Andrew Fleming, Harrison Bettis, G. W. Thomas, Samuel Heaton, Fred Ralston, Ebenezer Clark, Thomas Chasliston, George Snodgrass, Theo. Snodgrass, Benj. Rennard, William Tarbet and Richard O'Bernie. After the cus- tomary ceremonies were performed in the organizing and insti- tuting of the Lodge, the following persons were chosen as its primitive officers :

L. W. Inglebright, C. C. J. T. Hanes, P. C. James McCahan, K. of R. & S. Stanton Aldridge, F. S. George Snodgrass, M. E ..

Their hall, which is a comfortable one 21x60, is in Medill's block. Since the formation of this Lodge in this place, it has had remarkable success. At their last election night this society elected the present officers, who were dnly installed into their respcetive offices soon after :

Stanna Gobbons, C. C. Charles Odenbaugh, V. C. J. T. Craig, K. of R. & S. M. R. Smiley, F. S. Theo. Snodgrass, M. E. S. C. Robinson, Prel.

This Lodge meets every Tuesday evening in regnlar sessions. It has a membership of thirty-five.

BELMONT CITY LODGE NO. 221, I. O. O. F.

This institution was chartered January 20, 1853, upon the ap- plication of the following named persons :

"Daniel Morgan, W. H. Pratt, John Fisher, C. C. Brice, Hen- ry Snodgrass, Charles Swartz, E. Drake, E. Marquiss, Zane Smith, James Hanes, Robert Cottrell, Fidell Metzer and Shan- non Bigger."

On March 30 following, this society was instituted in West's Hall, corner of Walnut and Third street. The first elective offi- cers were :

Noble Grand-James Bain. Vice Grand-Daniel Morgan. Secretary-J. H. Watkins. Treasurer-James Hanes.

Since its organization there has been initiated into the mys- teries of its workings one hundred and sixty persons. Present membership, ninety-nine. Nights of meeting-Every Monday evening. Hall in Commercial Block.

ONIO CITY LODGE, NO. 486 OF F. & A. M.

From April 14, 1874, to October 21st of the same year, this I .- 38-B. & J. Cos.

society worked under a dispensation. At the session of the Grand Body in October a charter was granted them. They or- ganized and held their first meetings in West's block, on the corner of Third and Walnut streets, where they continued to meet until the fall of 1874, when they removed to Medill's block. In September, 1877, they moved into Wallace's block. Hall 23x45 feet and tastefully furnished. The charter members are as follows : Potter Jordan, L. W. Inglebright, Hiram Fra- sier, L. C. Sedwick, L. C. Wells, F. Wright, S. Young, G. W. Medill, A. M. Shipman, L. L. Smith, A. J. Alexander, Jesse M. Ruggles, Alex. Rose, J. A. Majors, McGruder Selby, J. A. Cross- ley, G. C. Sedwick, J. Z. Cochran, George E. Rider, James Dean and Edward Williams.

The officers elected and installed after the formation of this society were :

Potter Jordan, master. L. W. Inglebright, S. W. Hiram Frasier, J. W. L. C, Sedwick, secretary. Frank Wright, treasurer. At the last election night held by this body for the selection of officers the following persons were chosen :

L. W. Inglebright, master. J. L. Vanpelt, S. W. W. S. Dillworth, J. W. J. T. Hanes, secretary. E. C. Boyd, treasurer.

The present membership is about 50. The lodge is in an ae- tive, growing and healthy condition. Number initiated since its organization, 32.

CARROLL LODGE, No. 23, A. A. OF I. & S. W.

This association was chartered March 8. 1879. It is an asso- ciation of workers in iron, tin, &c., &c. The main object of this society is for the improvement and protection of the several branches represented, and for the mutual aggrandizement of its members. Its charter members and officers are as follows : Frank Kline, president. Humphrey Williams, V. P. Timothy Connelly, R. S. George Venum, F. S. Charles Fetty, treasurer. Adam Werring, guide. George Wattles, I. G. Daniel Walters, O. G. Nights of meeting. every Saturday evening. Hall in Medill's building.

PEASE TOWNSHIP.

This division of Belmont county was laid off and organized for judicial purposes in 1806. It derived its name from the quanti- ty of wild pea vines that grew here at an carly day. It is also claimed by some of the old settlers that it derived its name from Judge Pease, a prominent man in carly times.

It will be impossible to give the names of those who first set- tled here, as we find an account of a settlement at what is now known as Martin's Ferry as carly as 17-5, and by referring to the article on Premature Attempts at Settlement in Ohio, it will be seen that this was probably the first settlement made in Bel- mont county. The settlement of Captain Joseph Kirkwood, who came to this township and erected a cabin on a knoll overlook- ing what is now known as Kirkwood, a part of Bridgeport, in 1789, and the attack upon him by the Indians in 1791, is given on page 164 of this work.

This affair was a check to immigration into what is now Pease township, and it was not until after the treaty of General Wayne in 1795, that settlements in this part of Belmont occurred to any extent. In 1796 and '97, however, immigrants from all parts of the country poured in and cabins were put up in every direc- tion. This immigration continned for several years.

In 1796, we find Joseph Tilton, from Virginia, located in Pease township, near the Jefferson county line, in the vicinity of what is now Tiltonville .. The Tilton family became quite numerons in after years, and several of them remain in the neighborhood yet. Soon after the settlement of the Tiltons, came that of the Moores. Joseph Moore, the oldest of the family, came in 1799,

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

and located on the land now owned by his son Joseph. The Moore family grew to be quite extensive, and a number of the descendants are now living in the vicinity of the old homestead.

The Alexanders, Mitchells, Clarks and Pickens all came before 1800 and located on what is called Scotch Ridge, called so from the fact that the settlers were all Scotch, Benjamin Steel, a na- tive of North Carolina, came in 1800 and built a cabin and made a clearing near where his son Joshua Steel now lives. William Wiley came from York county, Pa., in 1801, and located where his son James G. Wiley now lives. William Brown and his fam- ily came from Maryland in 1802, and located near where his son William lives at present. Robert Finney came from Pennsylva- nia in 1803 and purchased the farm now owned by his grandson, R. J. Finney. James M. Smith, an old soldier of the war of 1812, came to Pease township in 1815, from London county, Va. John Allen, a Scotchman, located the land now owned by his son John, in the year 1805. The Griffins came about 1800, also the John- sons, Scotts, Yousts and Worleys. This is but a partial list of the first settlers in Pease township, outside of Bridgeport and Martin's Ferry. There were many others of whom but little is now known.

EARLY MILLS.

The first mill in the township was a hand mill owned by a man named Clark, and was in operation as early as 1800. It was af- terwards run by horse power. The date of the erection of the mill run by water power, we failed to get, as there were a num- ber of them built on Wheeling creek and Glenn's run at a very early day. There are at present a number of steam mills in op- eration in the township; one owned by Mr. Burley, on Wheel- ing creek, one owned by Goodhugh & Brother at Burlington, and one owned by Thomas Mitchell.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The topography of this township is varied, and affords eligible sites for building or farming, suitable to almost any taste. The rich bottom lands cover an extensive area, and offer many in- dncements to the gardener; the more rolling and gently undu- lating portions are suitable for a variety of purposes, while the higher hills afford fine building sites, commanding views of a large scope of country.

The streams furnish abundant water power, and there have been, at different times, a number of mills in the township. Those which were operated in early days have all been discon- tinned, and there remains nothing to tell of their whereabouts, save a few old rotten timbers, and the traces of a mill dam.

In portions of the township may also be seen ancient log dwellings and barns, that have had their day, and now serve only as land marks of the past, when white settlers were few in the country, and their habitations situated far apart. The growth of the township has been steady and marked with prosperity, and the sons and grandsons of the pioneers, behold with pride the development of the territory opened up for their benefit so many years ago. Schools, churches, dwellings, farms and every- thing bear the stamp of improvement, and the inhabitants can "stand on memory's golden shore" and gaze backward into the dini long aisles of the past and trace, step by step, the changes from past to present, and be content to live in the present with all its advantages.

SCHOOLS.

The interests of education were not overlooked in the busy life of the carly settler; and dne attention was given to the maintenance of good common schools. They were of course be- hind the schools of the present day, but were as good and even better than could be expected in those times ; consequently as soon as their homes were made and some of their indispensable comforts secured, we find them looking about for some means of instruction for their children, and if regular school-houses were impracticable, the children met at private houses and received the first rudiments from some of the older members of the family.

The first house built for regular school purposes was that on Scotch Ridge in 1803. This was soon followed by others until the township has attained a high degree in educational facilities, and can boast of having schools equal to any in the county.

SCOTT M. E. CHURCH.

This church was organized at the house of Andrew Scott, but at what date we failed to learn. Mr. Scott was the first class leader, and James B. Finley and Archibald MeElroy were

among the first ministers. As to the date of the first church building our information is somewhat confused, but in 1834 a house was built, and dedicated on October 9, the same year, by Wesley Browning, the presiding elder. Rev. David Maryman was on the circuit that year. This is one of the oldest churches in Belmont county, and has been in a prosperous condition for over seventy-five years. The present building is of briek, and is a very fine one for a country church. It was built by Joseph MeConnanghey, of Bridgeport.

COAL.

In this township Coal No. S is extensively worked along the Ohio river, on Wheeling creek and near Kirkwood, and Nos. 11 and 12 attain extraordinary thickness in the central portion of the township. In the deep eut, on the road leading from Mar- tinsville, is a coal nearly six feet in thickness, but evidently a very inferior article. On Captain Crawford's place, at two hun- dred and forty-five feet above Coal No. S, a bed three feet six inches thick is worked. The development of this coal is local. The ore overlying the coal is worthless, owing to the large pro- portion of sulphur. The coal itself is good, and yields a very compact and handsome coke.

Coal No. 8 is mined for shipment by Mr. W. J. Rainey, in see- tion 13. He mines 30,000 tons annually, the quantity being limited only by the opportunity to ship. Mr. Rainey states that the coal is in demand for gas manufacture, and brings with- in thirty eents per ton as much as the Connellsville coal.

On Glen's run there are several deserted openings, in which the main coal averages five feet ten inches. At Mr. Sedgwick's the coal is five feet four inches. At Mr. McConnaughey's the sec- tion is the same, with the exception of the lower coal being two inches thicker. At Mr. Koehlein's works, near Bridgeport, the coal sometimes becomes seven feet.

South of the National road eoal is worked by Messrs. Allen, Nicholson & Thompson, Iron ore has been found in some local- ities over Coal No. 13, and was formerly taken out for use at the Martinsville furnace. On property belonging to Mrs. Harrison there is found, above Coal No. 8, a limestone which seems to disintegrate readily on exposure, for at this elevation a similarly disintegrated rock can be found on nearly every farm in the vicinity. It is of a yellowish color, and can be taken out with a pick. Some persons have used it as a marl and found it very beneficial. On Mr. D. Allen's property there is a fire clay, ten feet below Coal No. 8. Samples of this clay have been sent to New Cumberland, W. Va., to be tested. The brick which was made is an excellent one, and the clay proved very refractory.

Many persons have mines in operation in this township, among whom may be mentioned Mr. Brown, Mr. Lyle, Mr. Handel and others too numerous to mention. On Mr. McKin's property openings have been made by Bracken and Lomax, and near the Jefferson county line we find an opening made by Mr. M. F. Sterling.

FRUITS.

There are a great variety of excellent apples grown in this township. Extensive orchards are found on almost every farm. Peaches are not cultivated to any great extent, but pears, cher- ries and plumbs of different kinds are common. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants and goosberries are cultivated in sufficient quantities to supply the demand.

THE GRAPE.

The first introduction of the vine was made by Mr. Noah Zane, who planted a vineyard abont twenty-five years ago on the lands now in the possession of the Messrs. Newland. The vine has been extensively cultivated, the soil and climate are well adapt- ed to its growth. The Newlands have made large additions to the former plantings. They have erected a press and have every facility for pressing the grape.

About the same time Thomas White planted a vineyard on the lands now owned by Prof. C. R. Shreve. T. B. Rice made an addition to this vineyard and cultivated it with success for several years previous to its passing into the possession of the present owner. Some years subsequent to the above, Mr. A. D. Rice made an extensive planting on the hill south of the plank road, now owned by Mr. L. Spence.

There are several larger vineyards in the immediate vicinity of Martin's Ferry, all of which have been cultivated with grati- fying success on the hill slopes, and also on the run bottoms, The Catawba, Isabella, Concord and Virginia Seedling are the

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

principal varieties that have been raised in this section of coun- try. The vines are planted in rows eight feet apart cach way, some train to stakes others to wires. Posts are placed from for- ty to fifty feet apart, to which two or three strands of wire are fastened. To these the vines are trained in any way so that they may spread the most canes over the greatest surface, and the light and heat of the sun will reach the greatest number of leaves.

The following estimated acreage planted and in cultivation in Pease township has been made by Mr. John Lee Vanpelt, who has been engaged in the culture of the grape for a number of years :

No of Acres

Henry Glass. 6

Henry Zimmerman. 3

Capt. Crawford 42

A. McSwords ..

Mrs. Vesey. .12

Thomas Gow ..

A. D. Newland 40

J. L. Vanpelt

C. Seabright ..

S. B. West. 2

John Hughes

O. Vanpelt 4

R. Marshall ..

Henry Helling. 4

George Dorch. 12

John Cochran. 4

John Woods ..

John Kochuline 6

Etna Co.

Mrs. Cillis

-4

Delbrugge 8

C. Hess Reed

C. R. Shreve

L. Spence.

Mrs. Rice ...

Wiley Werks 3

Joseph Finney. 4

C. Swartz . 3

William Clark 4 Schuhle and Reherer 35

David Donovan

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES OF MARTIN'S FERRY, BRIDGEPORT AND PEASE TOWNSHIP.

BENJAMIN HOYLE .- Ofthe representative men of Eastern Ohio, who within a late period have passed away, few, if any, were so intimately associated with the material development of this part of the state as Benjamin Hoyle, the well-known inventor of improved agricultural machinery and pioneer manufacturer of threshing machines, reapers and mowers. Mr. Hoyle not only witnessed the transition of a few scattering houses into an active manufacturing town; of a thin settlement into a busy and populons community ; of a semi-wilderness into a highly fertile and productive region, but in his own person typified so ad- mirably the agencies which wrought these changes, that no his- tory of Belmont and Jefferson counties would be complete with- out some sketch of his life, labors and character. Though now removed from the field of his successful exertions and interest- ing experience, the impress of his enterprise, activity and inven- tive genius will long remain in the memory of those with whom he mingled. Mr. Hoyle was born in England, December 19, 1811. In 1815 his parents emigrated to America. On their voyage the vessel on which they embarked met the British fleet on its return from the war with the United States known as the war of 1812. They first settled near Philadelphia, but in 1823. removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, and purchased quite a large traet of land near Smithfield. At so early a date the facilities afforded by the common schools for an education were limited ; our subject having to walk a distance of two and three miles over rough, dreary and almost impassable roads, and these he could attend only in winter, when released from the labors on the farm. But these he diligently improved, and by so doing

acquired sufficient education to teach, which he did for some . three winter sessions. On the 19th day of March, 1834, our sub- jeet married Julia Ann Willits, daughter of Ellis Willits, of Jef- ferson county, Ohio, by whom he became the parent of nine children, six of whom are living-Ellis J., Hannah, Rachael, Lydia, Sarah and John. As early as 1836, Mr. Hoyle took the Farmer's Cabinet, an agricultural journal, in which he saw a no- tice of a reaping machine, made by O. Hussey, of Baltimore, Maryland. Being of an inven tive nature, and eager to learn all possible in any way to his advantage, he began a correspond- ence with Mr. Hussey. After a great deal of communication he resolved to obtain one of Hussey's reapers. Accordingly in the ensuing winter, 1837, he started to Baltimore in a two horse wagon, and procured the first reaping machine brought to east- ern Ohio, and the first successful one of the state. A deserip- tion of which is something like the following: It had drive- wheels without cogs, and a third wheel fastened to the axle mid- way between the drive-wheels, notched in a zig-zag form, so as to give the sickle motion. The sickle was attached to a lever which extended to the above named wheel, and by the revolu- tion of the same, gave the lever motion by the working of a small wheel, attached at the end of said lever, in the indenta- tions of the zig-zag wheel. Instead of a tongue it had shafts like a dray, in which one horse was hitched, and two worked in front of this one. The grain was raked from the machine by hand. The raker rode on the machine, and the driver rode the horse in the shafts and drove the two in front. Mr. Hoyle made many improvements on this machine, causing it to work with two horses and giving it altogether a different gearing. He did more toward improving and perfecting agricultural implements than any one in this portion of the state, yet he never applied for a patent on any of the many worthy inventions and im- provements which were the fruits of his genins. Many have obtained great merit and profit by taking advantage of his inven- tions and procuring patents, thereby deriving both the credit and benefit which rightly belonged to Mr. Hoyle. In 1843, a Mr. Ralston, patentee of the Ralston thresher, called on Mr. Hoyle. From this gentleman he obtained instructions and drafts, by means of which he was enabled to construct a thresher for his own use. This caused great excitement in that vicinity, and thousands came eager to see it operate. In 1844 he erected a shop for the purpose of manufacturing threshers and reapers. His neighbors, realizing by this time the value of labor saving machinery, encouraged him in his enterprise, notwithstanding the sport they had made of him when he started to Baltimore for his reaper. In 1845 his trade had so increased, and there being continued demand for reapers and threshers, he deemed it expedient to remove to some more convenient point. Ile therefore removed his shop to Martin's Ferry, a part of which is still occupied by L. Spence, and began his labors in earnest. making him the first successful manufacturer of the reaper and the separator in the state, save at Canton, where there was a factory begun about the same time. His machinery was run by horse-power for several years, Mr. Hoyle made frequent improvements on his machinery and kept apace with the de- mands of agricultural progress. He increased the size of his shop from time to time nntil it was 100 fect front by 35 feet in depth, and a portion of it three stories high, with the necessary outbuildings for such an establishment. In ten years from the time that he erected his first little shop, through his exertions and constant activity, it was transformed to the one just men- tioned. In 1851 he invented the double-cleaning apparatus for his thresher, on which he applied for a patent, but being opposed by many different companies that had sprung up in the mean- time, he did not obtain it till 1861. His trade grew rapidly until 1855. About the year 1854, he became a director of the Martin's Ferry and Cadiz plank road. The former directors of the road had borrowed large sums of money of the Mt. Pleasant Bank for the completion of the road, and Mr. Hoyle eventually become personally responsible, which so involved him that he was compelled to sell his establishment, and he disposed of it to 4 Griffith & Co. He started again in a small way, and in the fall of 1857 he built the establishment now owned by Medill & Co., with which he was connected until his decline in health com- pelled him to close business, and his sons E. J. and J. W. snc- ceeded him. He died on the 14th of December, 1878.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 104

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728