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 108

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 108
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 108

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We here subjoin a copy of the petition, and some names of the petitioners. The state road spoken of in the petition, was the old Wheeling road, whose course was nearly identical with the National road, and very near to it. Not over twelve of the petitioners are now living.

THE PETITION, ETC.

"To the Honorable, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, the petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of parts of the counties of Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe, respectfully showeth :

"That your petitioners are situated at a considerable distance from their respective seats of justice, that they labor under many inconveniences in attending courts as jurors, witnesses, etc. Aud that it would be a great convenience to them to have a new county erected out of part of the connties aforesaid, so as to establish the seat of justice in the town of Barnesville. Your petitioners presume not to dictate to your Honorable Body, but are well convinced that the said counties of Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe, contain a sufficiency of territory for four counties, without making either less than the Constitution of the State requires.

"Your petitioners are well convinced that such a measure would much increase the population, greatly enhance the value of lands, and render general satisfaction to this part of the State. "Your petitioners therefore pray that a new county may be erected to comprehend the following boundaries: Beginning on the seventh (7th) range line at the northwest corner of the old Belmont county ; thence with the (7th) seventh range line south to the northeast corner of township number (1) one, in range number (1) one; thence west with the township line to the northwest corner of said township; thence sonth with said township line to the southwest corner of said township ; thence west to the northwest of the eighth (8th) township, in (8th) eighth range; thence south with the (8th) eighth range line to Washington county. line; thence east with said line to the south range line; thence south to the southwest corner of township number (6) six, in the (7th) seventh range; thence east to the sontheast corner of said township; thence north to the southwest corner of township number (7) seven, in the (6th) sixth range ; thence east to the (5th) fifth range line, thence north to the Belmout county line; thence west to the place of beginning.

"Comprehending in said boundaries a territory of npwards of (400) hundred square miles, with a very considerable population. and leaving at the same time, in each of the aforesaid counties of Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe, a sufficient number of con- titutional square miles to form a county. Your memorialists are well aware that there is a considerable opposition to the crec- tion of this new county by a part of the inhabitants thereot; who reside on that part of the state road and its vicinity, which passes through the county hereby petitioned for.

"But your petitioners reposing the fullest confidence in your honorable body, have little doubt that in your deliberations on the subject. you will be led to think that the benefits arising to thispart of the county will not more than counterbalance the many advantages which onr opponents have. and do derive from the benefits resulting from the said state road; andwe further beg leave to inform your honors that we have in the town of Barnes- ville, a considerable woolen factory, merchant mill and saw mill just ready to go into operation, all of which are to be propelled by steam power, which in some degree, we think, will no doubt. claim the fostering care of your honorable body.

"Taking the whole of the aforesaid considerations into view, beg leave to submit the propriety thereof to your honorable de- liberations, and as in duty bound will ever pray, &c."

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Joel Judkins, John M. Lacey, Thomas, Emory, Wm. G. Shank- land, Thomas Landon, Andrew Campbell, George Wilson, Henry Doudna, John J. Moore, Ralph Heath, Pearson S. Moore, Wm. Galloway, Sam'l Starr. John Starr, John Ball, Alfred P. Welden, Sam'l Fordice, Thos. Plummer, Isaac Patterson, Thomas Hunni- cut, Ibriah Pennington, Pantor Laws, Solomon Morris, Philip Sheplon, Edward Thornbrough, Henry Howard, Jas. Gallaway, Thos. Cochran, James Acherson, John Penington, Mahlon Patten, Lewis Peters, Otho French, Win. Bailey, Thomas Durnel, Joseph Gardner, Joseph Taylor, Adam Pully, Henry Stanton, James Harper, Joseph Middleton, Jethro Starbuck, Robert Stewart, Henry Deems, William Patterson, Exum Patterson, Reuben Watkins, Simeon Taylor, David Patterson, Jamos Lingo, John Hyde, John Sidwell, Wm. Hodgin, Jr., Isaac Wilson, Robert Lappan, Aaron Headly, Thos. Barnes, John Hall, Avery West, Thomas Slade, James Riggs, William Weir, Abel Barnes, Henry Barnes, Robert Price, Edmond Bailey, William Campbell, David Ayles, Abraham Peters, Abraham Peters, Jr., Nicholas Morgan John Wilson, Hugh Wittson, Joseph Alexander, Jr., John Evi- sizar, William Newnam, Jesse Pool, Caleb Wilson, Wm. Vance, Nathan Kiley, Jobu Hurdle, John Strahl, James Hutchison, Laban Hix, Aaron Williams, Edmond Hayes, Josoph King, Wm. C. Anderson, Isaac Patterson, Tho. Carpenter, Robert Martin, Levi Cox, Thomas Bundy, Jacob Crew, Jonathan Pat- terson, Barak Bailey, James Edgerton, William Lingo, Samuel Stewart, John Cattle, David Carpenter, John Bevan, Archibald Cole, Robert Mills, David Smith, Benjamin Bowen, Lewis Butcher, John Douglas, John Beck, Thomas Shotwell, William Barnes, Robert Miller, Alexander Linton, Morris Hilton, John Robison, Solomon Coles, Frederick Ault, Benajah Parker, Car- olus Judkins, Otho Barnes, Benjamin Lindon, John Ensminger, Wm. Galliway, Wm. Bundy, Richard Andrews, Zachariah Bai- ley, Robert Weer, David Penington, Samuel Douglas, Micajah Bailey, Wmn. Armsley, Robert W. Ogg, Daniel Wyon, John T. Smith, Asa Hix, Robert Makerson, Jno. Watson, Asabel Thomas, Joseph Dode, John Carpenter, Thomas Patterson, Wm. Haw- kins, Camm Thomas, Thos. Robbins, John Patterson, Herman Davis, Andrew McIlvain, Jesse Bailey, Sr., Mynus Pepper, Joseph Carpenter and many others.

FIRST_BURIAL.

As before recited, the old graveyard and church site were donated to the Methodist Episcopal church by Mr. Barnes, and this gift was made in pursuance of a proviso made to his part- ner in trade, Rev. Round, before the latter settled in Barnes- ville.

The first person whose remains were there buried, was Daniel Davis, a youth who died in the summer of 1808. The Rev. Round preached the funeral sermon under a large sugar tree that stood about the center of the burial ground. The day was clear and hot, and not a breath of air in motion. The woods were dressed in their richest foliage, but the leaves stirred not on their drooping branches, The reverend gentleman took his station at the roots of the tree, with a little stand-table covered with a white cloth, before him, and on the table lay a large family Bible, with brass clasps to the lids-while around him were seated, among the plants and flowers of the wild woods, the friends and relatives of the departed boy. After singing and prayer, he read the first ton verses of the ninth Psalm, and then his clear solemn voice, pronounced the first funeral sermon delivered in the township.

OLD LOG CHURCH.

From the time Rev. Round located in Barnesville, the Metho- dists held their worship at the residence of that gentleman. In the summer of 1810, so many members had accumulated that they could not be accommodated in any dwelling house. So, in that. summer, the old log church was erected of logs materially con- tributed by the members. It stood a little west of the old brick . church, with its ends to the east and west-the door being at the east end. The first sermon preached in it, was delivered by Rov. Round. After the old brick church was erected, the log house was pulled down, and the sound logs were purchased by Rev. Z. Barnes, a local preacher of the M. E. Church, and used by him in the construction of his old residence on No. 31. That has been torn away, and the logs were used as fuel.

OLD BRICK CHURCH.

In 1822 the old brick church was built, the contract for its erection being made by the Methodists with Rev. Charles Scurr and Ezekiel Chapman, both of whom were bricklayers by trade. They put up their brick kiln on the grounds on which the Union school house is situated. A few steps in front of the old meet- ing house, and on the ground now occupied by the old brick church and its coal house, there were two mounds, each about fifteen (15) feet high, and sixty feet in circumference at the base. the bases nearly touching.

In looking around for clay suitable for brick one of the hands, in a joke, made an opening in the mounds, and found that they were composed of the purest clay. A kiln of (200,000) two hundred thousand bricks were made of the clay obtained from them.

The church and Beardmore's residence, the brick part of the National house, and several other small houses were constructed of these brick. The brick were moulded by William Piper, and were the first sand-made brick moulded in the town. Previous to them, all the brick used in the town were water-made-that is the moulds were wet with water instead of sprinkled with sand to prevent the adhesion of the clay.

At the bottom centre of each of these mounds, were little heaps of charcoal and ashes, from which fact we deem them, in our opinion, the receptacles of the bodies used in their sacrifi- cial ceremonies.

LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

FEMALE SEMINARY.

In the winter of 1837-8, a Mr. Hines, a school teacher. put in agitation a proposition to erect a female seminary in Barnes- ville by private contributions. The proposition was discussed with great warmth, and was finally adopted. In 1838, a wooden structure thirty-two by twenty-five feet in dimensions, and one story high, was erected on what is now ealled Chestnut street. Only a few sessions of school were held in it, the first having been taught by Miss Herrington, now the widow of Jesse Cow- gill, deceased.

ACADEMY.

In 1838, the question of building an academy was started, and in 1839-40, resulted in the erection of the old academy building on the hill at the east end of Main street, and south side of same. It is now the "Masonic Hall." In the fall of 1842, Messrs. Mer- rill and Johnson, two graduates of Athens College, began and taught a fourteen weeks' terin, being the first academic term in the town.

In the fall of 1843, Johnson withdrew, leaving Merrill sole teacher. He continued in charge of it till the fall of 1844, when it passed into the hands of Prof. N. R. Smith, who presided over the school until the year 1847, when it ceased to be an academy, and was sold to the "common" school of the town.

In 1849, Prof. John I. Thompson revived it into academic proporptions, and with the assistance of a Mr. Alder began to give it some celebrity. During the years 1851-2-3-4-5, thero was no better academy in the state than the Barnesville Acade- my under the supervision of Prof. Thompson. His health fail- ing, it came under the management of Profs. Samuel Davenport and Adler. It had a sickly career of a few year's duration and finally ceased. to bein 1858.

LAWYERS.

WILLIAM S. TANEYHILL, brother of R. H. Taneyhill, was the first lawyer in Barnesville. He was born in Calvert county, Maryland, and came to Barnesville in 1835. In 1837 he re- moved to Millersburg, Holmes county, O., and died in that place in the spring of 1863. He was for several years state's attorney for lohnes county, and in the years 1860-61 represented that conuty in the house of the Ohio legislature.

JOHN DAVENPORT WAS the second attorney. He was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, and removed to Barnesville in 1838.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

While in Virginia he represented Berkeley county in the house of delegates. In 1860 he was one of the senatorial electors on the Bell and Everett presidential ticket for Ohio. As a lawyer, his erndition was broad and deep ; as advocate, he was polished and classical : and in the trial of the petty suits of an Ohio prae- tice, his pleas to the court and jury were often as elegant, as elo- quent, as profound and as resistless as the very best efforts of those masters of the forum-Erskine and Burke. As a conver- sationalist, he never had a superior.

Hle died in 1862, and was buried in North Cemetery, and there now lies this great unknown, without even a slab to mark his burial place.

LITERATURE.

The first effort at "periodical literature" at Barnesville, was made by the lady students of Davenport and Adler's "Classical Institute," then held in the old academy building. It was a lit- tle paper of four pages, 8x10 to the page, and was published weekly during the terms of the Institute for the years 1856 and 1857.

It was printed at Zanesville. Ohio. and was published by the ". Philliphonian Society" of the Institute. At first it was called " The Gleaner," and the editress was changed every term. Finally it was called the " Literary Casket " and had " Excelsior" for its motto, and Miss M. L. Talbott, now Mrs, M. L. Walton, as permanent editress.

That little paper crowns with honor every one connected with its career. Judging by the editorials, it were a pity that Mrs. Walton did not continue to wield the pen.

The Cleaner and Literary Casket were supported by the talents and purse of the lady students of the institute, and were circu- lated gratis.

THE "INTELLIGENCER."

The first adventure at a public newspaper in Barnesville was made by E. R. Bartleson and son of Wheeling, in June, 1857. It was called " The Intelligencer," and was a small "24 column" jour- nal, and dealt in everything but politics. After the issue of two numbers, the office was sold to George McClelland and Thomas Nichols, who continued its publication one year, at which time the Intelligencer died for lack newspaper breath-money.

In September, 1858, Mr. McClelland resumed its publication, and till June, 1861, the Intelligencer was the cery mirror of affairs occuring in this porfion ofthe state. It was well edited, and at the time of the abandonment of its issue, was occupying a prom- inent place in the ranks of country journals.

THE "ENTERPRISE."

On the 28th of May, 1866, the first number of the Barnesville "Enterprise"-a seven column folio-was published by George McClelland. In October, 1870, the paper was enlarged to twenty- eight columns. In January, 1875, it was changed to a quarto, and enlarged to 31x45 inches. Samuel Price became a partner at this time, and the paper was conducted by McClelland and Price until October, 1877, at which date the latter retired, and Mr. McClelland resumed the management. The files of the Enterprise are replete with interesting matter. To them we are indebted for the major portion of the history of Warren town- ship and other portions of Belmont connty. It has to-day a cirenlation of about twenty-five hundred copies, and is, withont. doubt. the ablest conducted country newspaper in Ohio.

THE TOM YOUNG GUARDS OF BARNESVILLE.

The Tom Young Guards, now Company F. of the 2d Regi- ment Ohio National Guards, was organized in the summer of 1877, with eighty-one members and the following officers : Captain, J. T. Moore : 1st lientenant, G, W. Shephard : 2d lien- tenant, Jacob Hance and orderly sergeant, Wm. T. Evans. In November, 1877, Captain Moore was promoted to the position of major of the regiment, and Lientenant Shephard became cap- tain, and George E. Hilles first lientenant, the remaining posi- tions being the same as above noted. At the second election the number of members on the roll were eighty, and the officials last mentioned were re-elected.

A CONDENSED HISTORY OF FRIENDSHIP LODGE NO. 89, OF FREE AND AC- CEPTED MASONS, OF BARNESVILLE, FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION, A. D. 1827, UNTIL THE PRESENT TIME, BY AN OLD PIONEER, COL. BENJAMIN MACKALL, WHO ASSISTED IN ITS INSTITUTION.

During the spring and summer of 1826, a proposition for a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was very freely discussed among the Free Masons of Barnesville and vicinity. The first important matter was a suitable room or house in which to meet; the house now occupied by Robert Hopper was offered them, and thereupon Samuel P. Hunt. (then a clerk for John Davenport) was appointed to arrange the necessary papers. A petition was drawn and signed by the following Master Ma- sons, to-wit : William Clark, Benjamin Bloomfield, Samuel P. Hunt, Zadoc Davis, Charles Scur and John Hance, of Barnes- ville, James Gilleland and Henry Tillett, of Fairview ; William Mason, Cornelins Okey, Daniel O'Conner, and Levi Johnson, of Monroe county. Also a recommendation from Belmont Lodge No. 16, of St. Clairsville, was obtained. These with ($40) forty dollars, the then dispensation fec, were forwarded to the Grand Master, Samnel Wheeler.

After waiting four or five weeks, a letter was addressed to Grand Master Wheeler, who in a brief time informed them that no such petition ever came to hand. that some anti-Mason post- master had probably appropriated the money to his own use, and destroyed the papers.

Not willing to relinquish or withdraw from an object so much desired by all the brethren, a second petition was written and signed as before, and a second recommendation was obtained from Belmont Lodge, and these, with one-halt of each of two twenty dollar bills, were sent to Grand Master Wheeler, who presently informed them of the receipt of the documents and the money, and thereupon the second half of said bank notes was forwarded to him.

"But "O, mirabile dictu !" he informed them "that owing to the 'Anti-Masonic raid' that was sweeping like an avalanche throughout the whole United States, and was then raging in northern Ohio, 'setting brother against brother, father against son,' etc., he preferred not to act npon the petition, but to refer the whole subject to the Grand Lodge, which would meet on the second Monday of January, 1827."

In the fall John Davenport, a Mason, was elected to the Leg- islature, and immediately thereafter Mr. Carothers, the W. M. of Belmont Lodge, was requested to give Mr. Davenport his proxy to the Grand Lodge, so as to have a "friend at court," believing that Mr. Davenport being a member of the Senate, represent- ing Belmont Lodge No. 16, and residing in the town of Barnes- ville, would have an influence in the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Mr. Carothers readily granted the request, and forwarded his proxy to Mr. Davenport, at Columbus,

The R. W. Grand Master, Mr. Wheeler, hailing from Geanga county, they came to the conclusion that as he was living in the very hot-bed of anti-Masonry in Ohio, it might have some in- fluence on him and his actions ; so they sent Mr. Davenport an order on Mr. Wheeler for all the papers in reference to the case.

We give the following extract from the Grand Lodge reports in reference to the further progress of the petition :

" January 8, 1827, Brother Davenport presented a petition from sundry Masons in the county of Belmont, praying for a dispensation to hold a lodge at Barnesville, under the name of Friendship Lodge, which was referred to the committee on char- ters and dispensations.

"Jannary 9, 1827. Brother Sherman, from the committee on charters and dispensations, to whom was referred the petition of William Clark and others, praying for a dispensation to hold a lodge in Barnesville, to be called Friendship, reported that they had had the same under consideration, and on examination they find the petition signed by the requisite number of Master Masons ; that they have been regularly recommended by Belmont Lodge, No. 16, and your committee are of opinion that it is ex- pedient to grant the petitioners a dispensation as by them prayed for.

" They therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution : Resolved, That a dispensation be granted to Benja- min Bloomfield and others, to hold a lodge in the town of Barnesville, to be called Friendship Lodge, and that the first of- fices be filled by the brethren nominated in said petition. Which report was accepted and the resolution agreed to.'

The Grand Lodge then in session elected John M. Goodnow R. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. On or about the 16th of February, 1827, Benjamin Bloomfield received a let-

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

ter from Grand Master Goodnow, stating that "no preventing providence," he would be in Barnesville on or about the 27th of February, 1827, for the purpose of instituting the new lodge and urging him to make all necessary arrangements ; stating for- ther, that, "owing to the badness of the roads, it would take him two days to get here ; he would try to reach St. Clairsville the first day, and bring the jewels of Belmont Lodge, and per- snade as many of the brethren as he could to accompany him, to assist in the organization of the new lodge."

An invitation was sent to the brethren of Cambridge Lodge No. 66, requesting as many as could conveniently attend, to be present and participate in the ceremonies of instituting a new lodge. On the appointed day, Grand Master Goodnow, with about six or eight brethren from St. Clairsville, came carly in the afternoon, and about one hour thereafter, General James Bell with six or eight brethren from Cambridge, arrived from the west.

After an early supper, the brethren repaired to the room se- lected for the meeting of the lodge, and Grand Master Goodnow with the assistance of the brethren. instituted a new lodge to be called Friendship, with Benjamin Bloomfield as worshipful mas- ter; Samuel P. Hunt, senior warden : Zadoc Davis, junior war- den; John MeCone, treasurer ; Benjamin Mackall, secretary ; John Hance, senior deacon ; Charles Seur. junior deacon; and Nathan Riley, tyler, with the full power to initiate, pass and raise.

The lodge soon appeared to be in a prosperons condition, in- itiating such members as R. Hopper, R. Hodin, Vachel Barnes, Wm. G. Shankland and others. About the 1st of January, 1828, the secretary was directed to transcribe a copy of the entire minutes of the lodge, from its first institution to January 1. 1828 ; after the same were copied, signed by the master, and at- tested by the secretary, it was forwarded to W. B. Hubbard, delegate from Belmont Lodge to the Grand Lodge, who on the first day of the meeting (January 14, 1828), presented the same, which was referred to the committee on charters and dispensa- tions.

"January 15, 1828, brother Fielding, from the committee on charters and dispensations, made the following report: The committee on charters and dispensations, to whom was referred the by-laws and proceedings of Friendship Lodge at Barnesville, working under the anthority of a dispensation from the Grand Lodge, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report that they find the by-laws to be in perfect accordance with the principles of Masonry; its proceedings neatly and regularly kept, and therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution :

" Resolved, That a charter be granted to Friendship Lodge No. 89, held in Barnesville.

"Report accepted and resolution agreed to."

At the February communication in 1828, Mr. Hopper notified the Lodge that he would like to have the rooms occupied by the order as soon as the members could find a suitable place in which to move. In April, 1828, the Lodge furniture was re- inoved to a brick building (since torn away ) east of the resi- dence of B. Davenport.

In a short time, a motion was introduced and passed for the appointment of two committees, one to select a suitable location for a lodge room, and the other to procure subscriptions for building a Masonic Hall. The committee to select a location recommended the southwest corner of James Barnes' orchard. The committee to procure subscriptions made their report, and handed in the subscription papers, and although the subserip- tions were less than expected, the Lodge decided to build on the lot recommended.

The contracts were let and when the building was finished the lodge found itself in debt and somewhat annoyed by credit- ors. The lower story, minus the entrance hall to the second story of the building, was sold to the school. directors for a school room, for the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars, and the lodge borrowed ($300) three hundred dollars more, six or eight mem- bers signing the notes and several refusing to sign any note.

In the fall of 1828, John Kuntz was elected W. M., and Va- chel Barnes, S. W., and the remainder of the old officers were re-elected.

About this time anti-Masonry was increasing to such an ex- tent that many members were afraid to attend the meetings of the lodge. Some were fearful of their personal popularity, oth- ers on account of their customers or church membership, and for several years little or no business was accomplished and there was not a sufficiency of dues collected to pay those due the Grand Lodge.

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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 108

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