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 117

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 117
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 117

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FIRST SETTLERS,

The first settlers within the limits of Warren township were : John Grier, George Shannon, and John Dougherty, with their families. They all removed from Fayette county, Pennsylvan-

Prom Barnesville Enterprise at 1569-R King Bennett Article ,

336

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

nia, and arrived almost at one time in the township in the fall of 1800. John Grier settled on the north end of section 9, and erected his cabin, the first one ever built in the township. about one hundred yards northeast of where Robert Smith, Sr., now resides. George Shannon settled on section 12, and built his cabin on the farm now owned by Mrs. Thomas Moore, a fourth of a mile north of Mt. Olivet. John Dougherty settled on section 18, near the residence of Mr. Vansyoc.

In the fall of 1801 Robert Plummer arrived and settled on a part of section 10, about half a mile north of John Grier's cabin. Plummer was the first " Quaker" that settled in the township. His first cabin was built of poles, chinked with moss, and cov- ered with bark. In it he passed the first winter in the town- ship. His descendants still run the old farm. During the year 1802 Phimmer set apart an acre of ground on the south edge of section 10 as a burial ground, with the intention of donating it to the " Friends" as a site also for their meeting-house. They once contemplated building their church on this ground, but ultimately built it where the Friends' Stillwater Church now stands. On this acre was the first burial ground in the town- ship, and was called "The Township Graveyard" or "Ceme- tery"-a name which it still bears.

Emigrants now began to crowd into the township, settling along its eastern and northern portions, and so unmevous were their numbers that I cannot notice them in detail. Among them was Otho French. He came with his family from the state of Maryland, and settled on the south side of section 10 in the fall of 1802.

In the winter of 1802-3, in the month of January, George Shannon perished in one of the severest snow storms that ever visited the township of Warren. He went out early in the morning on a hunting excursion: "The morning," said Otho French, the informant, "was clear and calm, with the sun shin- ing brightly. About noon the sky was overspread by clouds, and rain began to fall. The air chilled and it began to snow. And such a snow I never saw before nor since. It fell so fast that I could not tella cow from a horse twenty steps from me. The very clouds seemed to be falling down in snowflakes. When nearly sundown it became bitterly cold, but remained calm. By daylight the next morning the snow was nearly waist deep. I was out of all heart, and told Betsey that if we lived till spring we'd go back to old Maryland. (But when spring came on, and the ground settled so that I could venture on my journey, the country had got to be so pretty and enticing that I concluded to stay.)

Shannon did not get home that night, so search was made for him the next day, and his body found about six hundred yards dne east of Chaneytown, now Mt. Olivet, and only about a half mile from his cabin. From the appearance of his tracts, he had become bewildered and lost. He had walked around and around as men always do when lost. He had gathered some dry sticks and had got out his tow and knife to strike a fire, but the flint had been lost from his gun. Flint, tow and knife were his only means to strike a fire. So in despair he seated himself at the roots of a tree in the centre of his beaten circle, and was found sitting up, frozen stiff. His remains were buried in the " Town- ship Graveyard," and were the first ever consigned to the grave in Warren township. He was only a lease holder, but although his children were left orphans and poor, they became conspien- ous among their countrymen-filling the offices of governor, congressmen, minister to foreign courts, and members of the state legislatures."

Until the year 1806, the pioneers of Warren township were nearly all Quakers from the states of North Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania. In the year 1803, a cabin was erected by James Vernon, a few rods from the Township Graveyard, and in it convened during that year a " Friends' meeting." It was the first gathering for religious worship in the township. Ruth Boswell preached a sermon, and other business was transacted.

FIRST MEETING HOUSE.

In the spring of 1804, the Quakers built a log meeting house about the middle of section (9) nine, near where the "Stillwater Church" now stands. This was the first house erected for Christian worship in Warren township, and Ruth Boswell preached the first sermon within its walls. The first person buried at " Stillwater Graveyard" was Eupherma Mendenhall, in the pear 1804. The brick church was erected in the year 1812, and the aged and venerable Hosea Doudna. Sr., was its first steward, which office he held worthily for many years.

This church ground has been occupied by the "Friends "

since 1804, and over seven thousand meetings for worship have been held there by that religious denomination. Out from its influence has come the greater part of the moral dignity of the township, and throughout the west its power for good has been felt.

FIRST SETTLERS WEST OF BARNESVILLE,

The first settler in Warren township, west of Barnesville was Henry Grier, brother of John Greer, aforementioned. He came to the township with his family from Fayette, county, Pa., and located on a section west of Barnesville, in the year 1804. He erected his cabin on the south side of the Puliney road, at the foot of the hill just west of Mr. Vance's residence.

His son Thomas was then a boy in his fifteenth year and ro- sided till his death upon the lands then taken up by his father. At the time of his decease he was the oldest pioneer resident of the township.

In the spring of 1806, Alexander Campbell, with his family, removed from near Winchester, Va., and settled on what is now known as the Wilson farm, in Guernsey county, just over the Warren township line. At the house of Henry Grier he had to leave the Pultney road to reach his lands, and so was compelled to cut a road through the woods to them. Arriving at his farm still in a state of nature, he camped in the woods, putting his most valuable articles, for safety, in a large hollow elm.

Beyond his camp about half a mile west, was a party of In- dians. A large number of these Indians came to Campbell's tent to pay their respects to him and afforded much amusement by their wild pranks to the Campbell youngsters.

The same spring, John Kennon, father of Judge Kennon, Sr., camped for settlement on an adjoining tract of land, a little north of Campbell. The Judge was then a little fellow, only a few years old. Campbell, a few years later, moved into Warren township on the farm subsequently owned by his son Robert. It was on this farm that Judge Kennon, when a young man, grubbed and cleared lands for money with which to educate himself.

A GOOD TRICK,

Mr. Alexander Campbell, who died in Barnesville in 1868, was the son of Alexander Campbell aforementioned. Aleck, as he was called throughout life, was, when a young man, a noted bee hunter. Hle had a private mark which he put on all the bee trees he happened to discover. Judge Kennon and Gov. Sban- non by some means became acquainted with Aleck's private mark and telled the trees just as fast as he marked them, getting all the honey and then twitting Aleck about the robbery. Aleck saw the game being played and determined to turn the joke on them.

He had an extraordinary power to conceal his real feelings and convictions ; so appearing not to suspicion either of them as the disturbers of his trees, he changed his mark the next season for his real bee trees, and hunting out the largest and toughest trees to be found in the surrounding woods, he put his old mark on them and awaited events, Kennon and Shannon suspecting no cheat, proceeded to cut down about a dozen trees having Aleck's old mark, finding no honey, nor even a bee on any of them. It was now Aleck's time to langh-but his bee trees were never afterward interferred with by Kennon and Shannon. They always after that occasion, called him "cute Aleck "-too onte indeed for them that time,

FIRST MILLS.

Anterior to the year 1806, the pioneers of Warren township had to grind their corn in hand mills, or crack it on hominy blocks. What little flour they had-and it was then a luxury- was purchased at Wheeling, and transported home on paek horses. Salt, for which six dollars per bushel were paid, " had to be gone for " to St. Clairsville, and blacksmithing was " done " for them on the old Wheeling road, near Morristown. And the two days' work upon the roads were performed on ways from six to eight miles distant. In the summer of 180G, a horse mill was put up by Joseph Middleton, on the Thomas Liste farm, in section fifteen, about half a mile southeast of the site of Barnes- ville. It stood near where the old orchard on that farm is sit- uated about one hundred yards northwest of the dwelling honse.

So completely did its machinery operate, that one horse could easily grind a grist of corn or wheat upon it. The first water mill was erected in 1807 by Camm Thomas, on section one, near

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE P. CLARK, P.O. MT PLEASANT, JEFFERSON CO O.

RESIDENCE OF I. M. RILEY, ESQ. ST CLAIRSVILLE, 0.

RESIDENCE OF J. H. COLLINS ESQ, BARNESVILLE, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO.

337

HISTORY. OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

where Slabtown now stands, and three and a half miles south- east of Barnesville. It was moved by an overshot wheel, and did good work. This was for eight years the only water-mill in the township. All traces of it have long since passed away, except the race, which conducted the waters of Captina creek to the wheel. This still remains, well defined. In connection with this mill, was a saw-mill, the first in the township.

FIRST CHILDREN.

The first child born in Warren township, was Wilson Shan- non, son of George Shannon, whose birth ocenrred in the year 1802, ou the Moore farm, near Mt. Olivet. He, too, when a young man, grabbed, cleared lands, dng ginseng, and hunted fnrs to acquire means to prosecute his education. He subse- quently rose to eminence as a lawyer, practicing that profession for over twenty years in Belmont county. He was twice elect- ed a governor of Ohio, once to congress, was minister to Mexi- co, and was also governor of Kansas. Subsequently he prac- ticed his profession in Atchison, in the latter state. He was the most eminent of all the native born sons of Warren township, and the only one who achieved national reputation. The first child born, and still living in the township, is Edmund Hays, who resides a few miles north west of Barnesville.

FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE.

The " Friends" erected the first school house in the town- ship. It was erected in the year 1806, and was on section one, on the ridge between the Hezekiah Baily farm and the present school house in district number one. Samuel Berry was the tirst teacher thereat, and hence was the first person who fol- lowed that profession in Warren township.

WARREN TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED.

Warren township was made a voting place in the winter of 1806-7. Before that time the resident voters had to go to Kirk- wood township to deposit their ballots. The first election in Warren was held at John Grier's cabin, and took place in the spring of 1807. At that election John Grier was elected justice of the peace-the first ever elected for the township. He was not sworn into office until 1809. Three snecessive elections were held at John Grier's cabin-one in the spring of 1807, an- other in the fall of that year, and the last in the spring of 1808.

FIRST JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The first five justices of the peace were: John Grier, Jacob Myers, David Smith, John Dongherty, and Jesse Bevau, who were elected in the order named. Warren, had but one jus- tice-Jobn Grier-until 1811, when by order of court she be- came entitled to two, and Jacob Myers was elected to the station. The township continued to have only two justices until 1818, when, at the March term of the Common Pleas, it was ordered "that Warren township be entitled to an additional justice of the peace."

AN OLD RESIDENCE.

An event occurred in Warren township in the winter of 1806-7 which presents the privations of the pioneer in so strong a light that we are constrained to present it to our readers.

Jesse Bailey, a Quaker, from the state of North Carolina, ar- rived in the township late in the fall of that year. He had not. time to build a cabin before hard weather would set in; so look - ing about for some place in which to winter, he found, situato

on the lands now owned by Jesse Judkins, in section 27, a rock, the upper ledge of which projected out beyond its fellows, from fifteen to twenty feet. He immediately determined to turn it to his advantage. Splitting ont some puncheons be placed them upright, enclosing a space even with the edge of the out-crop- ping rock. In one corner, the rocks were so formed as to make

· the part of a natural chimney. Topping this out with four puncheons, like a funnel, and daubing its sides with clay mud. formed a fine ontlet for the smoke. In this structure, he and his family passed the winter, Timid deer, frightened, bounded away from its ungainly front by day. At night wolves howled around his humble mansion, bears came and clawed at the door, and wild cats, on the limbs of the adjacent trees, screamed at the unwelcome intrusion, but Bailey, secure witin, lived through the winter in comparative comfort.

43-B.&J.Cos.

DRAFT OF 1814.

Omitting for the present a period, the record of which more properly belongs to the history of Barnesville, we invite atten- tion to events ocenring during the war of 1812. There were no volunteers from the township in that war. Drafts were resort: ed to, however, to fill up the depleted ranks of the national army. The quota for thetownship in the call of 1814, was eight men. To raise the men a draft took place, and the following persons were chosen, to-wit: Thomas Grier, a son of Henry Grier : John and William Douglas, (brothers of George Dong- las) ; Thomas and Robert Grier, sons of. John Grier; John Dongherty, Jr. ; and John and Thomas Shannon. They were assigned to a company which formed a part of a regiment raised in the connties east of the Muskingum river, and south of the Harrison county line, and which was commanded by Colonel Thomas DeLong, late of Guernsey county. Thomas Shannon . was elected captain, Robert Grier was appointed ensign, and Thomas Grier orderly sergeant of the company. The regiment . did duty at and about Lower Sandusky, and was honorably dis- charged at the close of the war.

THE WAR FEELING IN 1832.

As illustrative of the war spirit, we will give an incident which although appearing out of the proper chronological ar- rangement, is indicative of the patriotism of the citizens of nearly fifty years ago. . In 1832, Michigan setup a claim to three counties, rightfully belonging to Ohio, at hei northwest corner, and actually marshaled some cowardly militiamen to enforce her claims, Ohio's governor, Robert Uneas, resolved to meet force with force, and so issned a call for volunteers, inti- mating that if they were not forthcoming, a draft would ensue. The military authorities of Warren determined on a day to ob- tain, if possible, her proportion.

There resided in this township a well-to-do farmer named Robert Ogg, who had two sons liable to do duty. Everybody predicted that the Ogg boys would not volunteer, and if drafted. the old man would hire substitutes. The day of trial came. The men liable to duty were put in ranks, and the governor's call read. Captain Farley walked to the front, with drawn sword glistening, glazed hat shining, and a gay plume waving, dressed the company, demanded attention, and called ont : "All who are willing to volunteer will step three paces to the front of the company." . Noue moved to the front save the Ogg boys. The old man, who stood by, with deep emotion cried ont : "Come, men, let there be no draft in old Warren!" With a hurrah, the whole company sprang into line with the Ogg boys, and the township had her men ready.

WILD TURKEYS AND OTHER GAME.

Bears were numerous within the limits of Warren township, and a large number of them were killed by the pioneers. Deer: were very plenty, and wild cats; panthers and wolves were abundant. The wild turkey, if the narratives of such men as Otho French and Thomas Grier, can be relied upon (and who ever doubted them), existed here in almost incredible unmbers. Otho French and a fellow hunter, once saw a flock of turkeys wandering about the base of the hill now known as the "Knob field," north of Barnesville, which they estimated to contain fully two thousand turkeys.

Thomas Grier, at another time, saw a flock of them at least a mile long, and so thick along the concave ridge on which they were assembled, as to make the hillside black with them. At another time, Otho French was returning home from a hunt with his horse loaded with turkeys. Their noise attracted the attention of a large flock in the woods. They crowded around his horse in such numbers that he could scarcely make headway through them, and came up so close to the horse's sides that he conld readily knock them over with a stick.

THE FIRST CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO.

The cultivation of tobacco in Ohio, was begun in Warren township, in the year 1819, by Rev. John D. Price. Mr. Price was born in Calvert county, Maryland, and belonged to that class called in the slave states, the "poor whites." In 1817, he concluded to seek a home in the west for himself and family. where they would no longer be cursed by the blight of slavery. He made a choice of Warren township, and arrived there in the fall of the same year.

He passed the first winter in a house which is still standing

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

on the farm of Mr. Broomhall, in section (16) sixteen, then school lands. During the winter he purchased a lease of a part of this section, of a Nathaniel Caperell, and in the spring of 1818 removed to it. Mr. Prices observations for that year led him to the conclusion that tobacco could be grown on his lands, and that too with profit. He sent to Calvert county, Maryland, for Need, and in the year 1819, planted the first tobacco crop raised in Warren township, it being also the first in the state. It grew on the field north of the residence on the Joseph Bond farm. Mr. Price himself packed this crop, being assisted by John Da- veuport, shipped it to Baltimore, and received a large price for it. His two sons, Wesley and Nelson, who still reside in the town- ship, assisted in tilling this crop of tobacco. Wesley, with the exception of the year 1832, has annually raised a crop of tobacco since the pioneer crop afore mentioned.

Mr. Price was soon able to enter a quarter section (160 acres) in section (31) thirty-one, upon which he resided till the time of his death, which occurred in 1850. Before his migration to Ohio, he was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, and though he changed his place of residence, did not waver in his religious opinions, or modify his relations to that denomina- tion. In the year 1825 or 1826, he was ordained an older in the church by Bishop McKendree, which office he filled while he lived. As soon as Mr. Price had located on his new farm in sec- tion (31) thirty-one, he began a movement to erect a honse of worship for the Methodists of the neighborhood. His efforts, united with those of John Reed, also one of the pioneers of Methodism in this part of Ohio, resulted successfully. The house was built and called

BETHEL CHURCH.

Mr. Price donated a half acre of his farm for a church site and graveyard. This meeting honse was erected in the year 1832. Peter Hamilton and John Hays performed the entire work of its construction, and the first sermon was preached in it in the fall of 1832, by the Rev. Avery West, at the special invitation of Mr. Price. (These notes apply exclusively to the old log church.)

Before the erection of this church, the Methodists of that part of the township held their meetings for worship at the dwelling of John Reed, almost on the very spot where the residence of Isaac Reed now stands in section (31) thirty-one. The first person buried in the Bethel graveyard, was Thomas Price, son of Rev. John D. Price, and his remains were deposited there in 1832.

ZANE'S RIDGE.

In a short time after the treaty of Greenville, the Zanes' of Wheeling, who were sportsmen of a high order, with some as- sociates of the merry class, began to make hunting excursions into the wilds of Belmont county. Game at that time was plenty everywhere within its limits, but being led on by a desire for the adventurous, they pushed there expiditions into Warren township, and made a permanent camping ground on the top of the hill, overlooking the valley of the Leatherwood, a few hundred yards southwest of the present residence of Hugh Dou. glas, in section (26) twenty-six.

Here bear, deer and turkeys, together with all other animals native of the country, were very abundant. Being fully remun- erated for their labors, and at the same time completely gratifying their ambition for the hazardous, they continued their visits to this location for many years, always pursuing the same road in their approach to it. After the "Old Wheeling" road was opened out, they followed that to a point a little east of Hen- drysburg; here deflecting to the south, they continued up a branch of the Stillwater, to the point of the ridge close to the dwelling of John B. Phillips, in section (22) twenty-two ; thence winding with the top of the ridge to the permanent camping grounds previouly mentioned

The latter still retains traces of their fires and wanderings, and their pathway to it was well marked until a few years ago, bnt cultivation of the lands over which it passed has almost wholly obliterated it. The repeated comings and goings of this party, gave in very early times a local celebrity to the ridge along which they passed, and on which they camped. This ephemeral fame is fast disappearing out of the public memory, and but few were observers of the exploits of the daring hun- ters who have stamped there names upon this ridge.

SHANNON'S RUN,

After the death of George Shannon, the support and cares of his family fell upon his oldest sons, Thomas and John, and they

proved equal to the charge. Although mere boys, they were industrions, economical and good managers. The family was well supported, and its younger members reared with commen - dable circumspection. They were stout boys, most excellent choppers, and for the times made money rapidly. They cleared lands for their neighbors, and devoted their energies to what- ever would bring them gains, and in a short time had lands of their own. They still continued to clear lands for others in addition to managing their own farmis, devoting all their leisure time to hunting and securing furs.

With John, hunting became a passion. As Warren township beeame settled, game retired southward, seeking safety along the margin of Leatherwood, and among the rough hills beyond, but he followed them into their retreats. At night, and on all days unfit for work, he was vigilantly on the hunter's path. But after he entered the lands on which his family now reside, he was too remote from the game territory, to carry on hunting with success ; so he put up a shanty on the Nuzum farm, in sec- tion (33) thirty-three, in which to pass the nights, and as a shelter from storms. He afterward cut out a road for a horse and sled from his house to the shanty. This horseway is still visible at many points between the two places. He con- tinued these hunting operations for over twenty years, and though all remains of his shanty have long since passed away, yet this circumstance has firmly fixed his family name on that branch of the Leatherwood, which heads on the Barnes' farm, in section (33) thirty-three, and empties into the main stream above Spencer's Station.

AN ESCAPE.

Immediately after the war of 1812, Mr. Shannon got, on a December morning, on the track of a deer, near his house. He made pursuit, and in the afternoon killed it, about a mile or so below the shanty above named. Having skinned the animal, and swung up its body on a sapling, to keep it safe, he went home to obtain a horse and sled to convey it thence. Very late in the afternoon, he and a neighbor boy started for the deer. Wilson Shannon was then a little youngster, and he insisted on going with them, and after much coaxing obtained permission so to do. The little fellow clapped his hands and darted away on the horsepath in a hurrah of delight.

About midway between the shanty previously mentioned, and Mr. Shannon's dwelling, and in the very centre of the old Indian fort on the James Nuzum farm, in section (22) twenty- two, he had put up of poles another shanty, as an intermediate resting place.

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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 117

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