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 127

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 127
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 127

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).

About the year 1832, the Ohio state school law was passed providing for the payment of teachers from a public school fund, which was divided into state, county and township and collected by the county treasurer. Section sixteen was also set apart in each township for school purposes. Among the leading teachers in sub-district No. 12 (Sewellsville) from 1847 up to the present date, were : D. McMoore, Charles Gordon, Mary Penn, Anna R. Livingston, L. A. Davidson, Eliza J. Kennon, Michael Crouse, Mary Rosemond, Howard Anderson, Lina Hamilton, N. M. Crawford and Simeon Rosengrant. T. M. Sewell, also taught a select school in 1869, in the old building used by Dr. Dallas for an office. In 1869, a more commodious school house was built by the township, on the same spot where the old one stood, and furnished with patent writing desks. The room is 22x38 feet, with ten-foot story, finished in handsome style, with a good bell. Cost of building, $1,400. The school now enumerates eighty scholars.

In 1830 Mr. Wiley kept a small store in a howed log house, on the lot now owned by John Sheppard. In 1831 Hugh McMahon bought and carried on the store in same building, un- til September, 1832, when he died of cholera. Having been to Wheeling lor goods, he was taken sick on the way home, and died soon after his arrival. He was buried with his bed and clothing on the same lot, and a plain sand stone slab marks his grave.

Mead and William Jarvis also sold dry goods and groceries from 1835 to 1843, during which time William Jarvis kept the postoffice. Joseph Wheat, of Wheeling, Va., also sold goods here in 1810-1-2, and in March, 1843, moved his goods back to

I-26-B. & J. Cos.

364

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Wheeling in sleds, there being about eighteen inches of snow at that time. William Jarvis was killed in May, 1844, hy a log falling on him at a tobacco honse raising on the lands of Thos. Beeks, abont a mile from the village. He was affable and cour- teons toward his neighbors, and was sadly missed by his friends and the community at large.

Dillon Pickering, Carron & Alexander, John Widdoes, Isaiah Mitchell and Joshua Young were the dry goods merchants from 1843 to present date. Philip Lykes and Solomon Shearo were the first blacksmithis in the place. Shearo worked in a small shop on the lot, since known as the Alexander fall property. Dykes first occupied a cabin opposite Shearo, on the lot after- terward known as the Dallas property. The smithing business was handed down to the third generation in the Lykes family. From 1820 to 1850, they occupied a shop on the lot cast of where Shearo worked. Samuel Cavender, William and Joseph Garven. Jeremiah Sheppard and Joseph Junkins were the blacksmiths from 1850 up to date. Cavender was a No. 1 blacksmith, and perhaps worked here at an carlier date than 1850. Obediah Miller, Maline Odell, William Akers, David James and J. B. Widdoes were shoemakers in the village, Dr. James Hood, of Fairview, was the principal physician in this part of the coun- try up to 1841, when his son in-law, Dr. L. J. Dallas, settled in the village and commenced and continued the practice of medi- cine (old school) until the spring of 1859, when he sold out and moved to Douglas county, Kansas.

Dr. H. C. Davies also practiced the celectic system in Sewells- ville and vicinity from 1845 to November, 1851, when he died of typhoid fever in the twenty-ninth year of his age. A handsome marble monument marks his last resting place in the village cemetery. Dr. Davies was a very promising physician, and it is one of the mysteries of Providence that he was called away from carth in the midst of his usefulness. Dr. William Lindsey, a student of Dr. Davies, and who was attending the medical lec- tures at Cincinnati at the time of Davies' death, was called home and took Davies' practice, and has been a practicing physi- cian up to present time.

The writer of this brief sketch of Sewellsville has endeavored to give the main facts regarding the rise and progress of the vil- lage. If, however, any errors may appear with regard to names or dates, it is expected that a generons public will make a rea- sonable allowance for the imperfection of finite memory. The present population of the village is 150. S. S.

SALEM M. E. CHURCH.

This society was organized in about 1810 or 1812, with eighteen or twenty members. They held their meetings in private residences until in 1813 or 1814, they erected a hewed log church building near the western line of section ten, in Kirk- wood township. Their benches in the house were small logs split in halves, the flat side shaved smooth, holes bored, and sticks pnt in for legs, which they used for seats for several years, then made seats of hoards. Their fire place was a box set in the middle of the house with dirt in, on which they made the fire. This they used until in 1816, when they made a fire place, and built a stone chimney in the center of the house. This house they used as a place in which to worship, until in 1840; then they erected the present frame structure, situated near where the old log building stood, in which they hold their ser- vices. The society has been very prosperous. The member- ship at present is cighty. In 1846, on account of their number being great it was divided into two classes, and continues so at present.

EARLY MEMBERS.

Mr. Honnold and wife, John Clark and wife, Mrs. Thos. Major, Mrs. Waddell, George Waddell, John McFadden and wife, Hen- ricetta Murphy, Sarah Moore, Eleanor Waddell, John Fox, and many others.

MINISTERS.

Revs. Knox, Thorn, Archibold, Springer, Wolfe, C. Waddell, Geo. Waddell, Worthington, MeIllyar, Huston, Vertican, Feitt, Coil, Shaw, Rhodes, Slutz, and many others have been ministers in the circuit. Rev. Strahl is the present pastor.

CLASS LEADERS.

The first class leader was John Fox; 2d, Isaac Midkiff, who acted in that capacity for about twenty-five years; 3d, Alex. Carr

Skadden, for ten years; 4th, Samnel Douglass for six years ; 5th, Earl Donglass for three years; 6th, Jonathan Perkins fifteen years. William G. Major has been leader of class No. 2 for ten years, and is still filling the position. John T. Grove is leader of class No. 1 at present.

BURYING GROUND.

Near the church is the hurying ground. In 1815, there was but one grave, and that was the grave of a man by the name of Dallas. But since that time many of the first settlers, or those that suffered at the hands of a pioneer life, have been laid in their long resting place in this cemetery. In passing by the ground it is plain to be seen that the monster death has been do- ing its work in that vicinity. In this burying ground can be be seen a monument, erected by the citizens of the neighborhood in memory of Louisa C. Fox, who was murdered hy Thomas Carr in 1869.

SEWELLSVILLE M. E. CHURCH

Was organized in ahout 1813 or 1814, with fifteen or twenty members. They held their meetings in private houses until in 1815 or 1816, they built a hewed log house near where the pres- ent brick structure stands, which they used for church purposes for several years, and on account of the increase in membership, they were compelled to erect an addition to their church build- ing to accommodate all. The society has been very prosperous. During one revival, over one hundred persons connected them- selves with the church, making their membership over two hun- dred at that time. They used their log church until in 1830 or 1831, then they erected the present brick structure, which they have used since that time. Their membership at present is about one hundred.

EARLY MEMBERS.

Basil Ridgeway and wife, Mead Jarvis and wife, William and John Jarvis, Zacariah, Edward, Moses, John, Jr., and Charles Marsh, John Davies and Mrs. Davies, Philip Lykes, Rob- ert Frizzell and wife, Nathan Frizzell and wife, and many others were among the early members of the church. The minis- lers that were pastors of the Salem M. E. Church, were preachers for this church society.

HENDRYSBURG M. E. CHURCH.

This church society was organized in 1835, by Rev. Thomas Buckle, with twelve members, viz : Andrew Barnett and family, John Gilbert and wife, Andrew Foreman, Jonathan Dunn, Dan- iel Renner, James Hutchison and John Casey and family. They met in an old log cabin one-fourth of a mile cast of town, for a few years. In March, 1836, Price Murphy deeded the society a lot, on which the present frame church stands. In 1837, they began the crection of a brick church building 30x40, which was finished and dedicated in 1838. This church edifice was used hy them until in May, 1869, by which time they had erected and dedicated the frame strneture which is used by the society at the present time. The society has been very pros- perous, many have been brought into the church, who have long since passed away. Their membership at this time is 116.

MINISTERS.

Revs. S. Y. Kennedy, John R. Cooper, Charles Edwards, John S. Nesley, Andrew Huston, F. W. Vertican, John Coil, C. J. Teitt, Daniel Rhodes, Joseph Shaw, M. J. Slutz. R. S. Strahl is the present pastor.

CLASS LEADERS.

Robert Ralston, Absalom Butler, Andrew Rolston, Samuel Keifer, Lewis Jones, John Anderson, Allen Floyd, Robert P. Major and L. D. Jones, have been class leaders in the church.

STEWARDS.

John Anderson, Roht. P. Major, L. D. Jones, David Hill and A. S. Taylor. At present the Hendrysburg M. E. Church, the Salem M. E. Church and the Sewellsville M. E. Church, belong to one circuit, known as the Hendrysburg eircuit, which belongs to the East Ohio Conference.

365

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. .

CONCORD M. P. CHURCH.

In 1830 Rev. George Waddell and wife, James Waddell and wife, Richard and William Shoars, Richard Palmer, Moses Mil- ligan and some others, withdrew from the Salem M. E. Church Society, and organized a society known as the M. P. Church So- ciety. . In 1832 they erected a hewed log church on section 17, Kirkwood township. Others connected themselves with the church after its organization, They continued as a church 80- ciety until in 1850, then they ceased to exist as an organization. Revs. Henry Heberling, James Winn, Rev. Linder and Rev. Brown, were ministers for this organization.

SEWELLSVILLE M. P. CHURCHI

Was organized by John Sheppard in February, 1856, with twelve members. During the summer of the same year they erected the present frame church building, 30x40, which was used by them for church purposes while the society continued to be an organization. For a number of years it was properous, and their membership numbered about sixty. But on account of their membership becoming so small, it has not been considered an organization since the winter of 1877-8, then they held their last meeting. And since that time the church building has not been in nse. Revs. Henry Heberling, J. W. Case, B. T. Law- son, Joseph Edwards, Wm. L. Baldwin, John M. Woodward, J. P. King, Thomas Scott, Thomas Orr, Samuel Lancaster, E. S. Hoagland and F. W. Link, were ministers for the organization.

HENDRYSBURG DISCIPLE CHURCH.

In 1862 Elder E. A. Mires, a minister of this denomination, preached an occasional sermon in the school house in Hendrys- burg. At that time there were but five or six members of this organization in the village, and no organization nearer than Morristown. By the occasional sermons preached, the number of members were increased, and continued in that manner until in the winter of 1866-7, when Rev. Mires, assisted by other minis- ters, held a series of meetings in the M. E. Church, by which their membership was greatly increased. Then they organized into a society, and steps were taken to bring about the erection of a church for their own use, in which they succeeded, and dur- ing the year 1869, their honse, which is a frame structure, was completed, at a cost of $3,500, and dedicated by Elder A. E. Mires.

The society was organized by A. E. Mires, assisted by Elder Carlton, of Bellaire, Ohio.

LEADING MEMBERS.

Charles Smith, W. Carter, Daniel Carrol, H. R. Fowler, James Mclaughlin, Sr., Margaret Heaney, Nancy Heaney, Ln- cinda Murphy, Vina Carter, Mary Wilkins, and many others.

MINISTERS.

Elder Ridge was their minister for eighteen months, Elder E. J. Gantz for a period of six months, and Andrew Linkletter their pastor for one year. Others have preached for them occasion- ally, and held protracted meetings, through which means many have been taken into the church. Their church building is a frame structure located in the western part of the village. At this time the church is not in a very flourishing condition, their membership being considerably reduced in numbers.

EGYPT UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CILURCH.

This church society was organized in 1842 or 1843 by Rev. David Finley. John McCormick, the Mc Williams', the Scotts, the Hoods, and some others were among the first members of the society. Shortly after the organization they erected a church building on section ten in Kirkwood township. It is a frame structure, and is still standing. Rev. David Finley was their minister for several years, Revs. Clark, Boyd, Reed and Love have been regular ministers for this society. Others have preached for them occasionally as supplies, At one time in the past this was a strong organization, but has been made weak by its members moving from the neighborhood, and thus its mem- bership has become so small that they have no more regular preaching in this church, The church building is still allowed to remain and mark the place where God's people did meet and worship.

Near the church building is the burying ground used by the society where the bodies of many of its first members were in- terred.

REFORMED DISSENTING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCII,

This society was organized in 1809, by Rev. Alexander Me- Coy. Among the early members were Robert Griffin and wife, Geo. Buchanan and wife, Andrew Dougherty and wife, Thomas Griffin, John Thompson and others. It was the first organization of the kind in the township of Kirkwood. They held their meet- ings in private residences until 1815, then they built a hewed log honse 20x22 feet for church purposes near the southeastern corner of Kirkwood township, in which they held their meet- ings until in 1836, then they erected a stone church building near where the old one stood, that was used by them for church pur- poses until in 1855, then they abandoned the old stone strneture and connected themselves with the U. P. Church society at Fair- view, Ohio. Revs. John Patterson and John Anderson were ministers for the society. The old stone structure has since been torn away, and nothing remains to mark the spot except the burying ground where some of the pioneer members were buried,

THE MURDER OF LOUISA C. FOX, A BEAUTIFUL GIRL ONLY FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE .- THOMAS D. CARR THE MURDERER .- HIS TRIAL, CONVIC- TION AND EXECUTION.

No little excitement prevailed amongst the people of Belmont county, upon the announcement of the murder of Lonisa C. Fox, daughter of John Fox, of Kirkwood township. She was a beau- tiful girl ofonly fourteen summers. On the 21st day of January, 1869, the cold-blooded murder was committed by the hand of Thomas D. Carr, who had become infatuated with her beauty and graceful manners. Because she refused giving him her hand in marriage he took her life. He was a notoriously wicked fel- low, being engaged in all manner of vices; confessed to have taken fourteen lives in cold-blood, and had attempted to mur- der five other persons, but in which he was unsuccessful. He was born in Sugar Hill, West Virginia, in 1846, and was the fourth son of a family of five children. At an early age he lost all respect for his parents, and they no longer had power or in- fluence over him. He grew from bad to worse-from one de- grec of sin to another-until finally he was swung off into eter- nity on the gallows.

Soon after the perpetration of this last murder, he was arrest- ed and lodged in the county jail at St. Clairsville, to await his trial. At the March term of 1869, the grand jury found a bill against him for murder in the first degree. On the 6th of March, he was arraigned at the bar of the court and entered a plea of "not guilty." Esquires D. D. T. Cowen and O. J. Swaney were assigned by the court as his counsel, and Lorenzo Danford, Esq., assisted the prosecuting attorney, J. W Shannon. At the sum- mer term, Thursday, June 17th, the canse came on to be tried- Judge John S. Way, on the bench. The jury was composed of the following gentlemen: Solomon Hogne, Samnel F. Davis, Lee Evans, John A. Grove (Goshen township) William Patter- son, Thomas Pyle, Allen Bond, John A. Neff, James Kerr, Isaac Meek, Alexander McElravy and John A. Work-good and law- ful men of Belmont county. Three days were occupied in tak- ing evidence. At noon on Tuesday the jury came into court with a verdict of murder in the first degree. It is said his con- sel managed the case with great ability, and it was no fault of theirs that he was not acquitted. On Thursday, June 29th, he received his sentence. After being asked by the court if he had anything further to urge why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced upon him, he replied in the negative : whereup- on the judge directed that the prisoner should be taken hence to "the jail of the county, and there safely and securely be kept until Friday, the 20th day of August, A. D., 1869, and that on that day he be taken to the place of execution, and between the hours of nine o'clock in the morning and four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, that he be hanged by the neck until he be dead." The execution did not take place, however, until March 21, 1870, owing to exceptions being taken and a writ of error granted. When the death warrant was read, Carr langhed loudly. and said he did "not care a den if it was to be to-morrow."

On the 8th of March, 1870, Carr signed a confession, which he had dictated to an amannensis, relating the details of his ac- quaintance and intimacy with his victim, and all the circum- stances connected with the murder, which was published in pamphlet form. The substance, in brief, of this confession was, that while he was digging coal for Mr. Alexander Hunter, the girl came to live at his brother-in-law's house (Robert Wallace). that there he began a courtship with her ; that they frequently vowed that " nothing but death should separate them." and that she promised to marry him ; that her parents also gave their consent, notwithstanding her age ; that he had provided cloth .

366

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

ing for her and the wedding day had been fixed ; that Mrs. Hunter had interposed good advice to the girl ; that her parents broke their promises and compelled her to reject him; that he then became desperate, and that while she was going from Mr. Hunter's to her father's, he overtook her and murdered her, cut- ting her in a dreadful manner with a razor. He then skulked about the neighborhood until the next day, when he tried to kill himself, first by shooting himself with a gun and then cut- ting his throat, The citizens then captured him. His wounds were afterward dressed by physicians, and as soon as he was able to be conveyed, he was taken to St. Clairsville and lodged in the county jail.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THOMAS PERKINS was born in Prince George county, Mary- land, in 1742. He married Casander Castell, of the same county, and reared a family of four children-Franeis, John, Samuel and Rebecca. In 1805, Mr. Perkins, with his wife and two of his children, Samuel and Rebecca, came to Belmont county, Ohio, and entered one quarter of section seventeen, in Kirkwood town- ship. They lived in a little shanty a few weeks until a log cabin could be erected, in which they lived a number of years, then built a hewed log honse, in which Mr. and Mrs. Perkins passed the remainder of their days. Our subject died in 1837, at the age of ninety-five years, and his wife in 1820. In 1809, John Per- kins, second son of the above, came to Belmont county, Ohio, and located in Kirkwood township.

SAMUEL PERKINS, third son of Thomas Perkins, was born in Prince George county, Maryland, in 1788, and came with his parents to Belmont county in 1805. He was reared a farmer, which occupation he followed throughout his life, He served eight months in the war of 1812. In 1810, he married Eliza- beth Hart and settled on his father's farm, where he resided un- til his death. There were nine children born to them-Rebecca, Delila, Maria, Casander, Nelson, Jonathan, William, Lethe and Moses, four of whom are still living-Rebecca, Jonathan, Wil- liam and Moses. The other five died during the winter of 1842-3, of scarlet fever. Mr. Perkins and his wife were consistent mem- bers of the M. E. Chureb, and esteemed by all who knew them. Mr. Perkins died, April 27, 1861, and his wife, April 13, 1875.

JONATHAN PERKINS, a son of Samuel Perkins, deceased, was born in Kirkwood township, Belmont county, Ohio, June 15, 1820. Hlis education was acquired by what could be obtained in the cabin school houses of his minority days and close ap- plication to his books at home. He married Rebecea Major, February 8, 1846. They settled on a farm owned by his father, remained six years, and in 1852 purchased and moved on the farm, where they are now living. They reared a family of five children, two sons and three daughters. Mr. Perkins connected himself with the M. E. Church in 1843; was ordained deacon ; a local preacher in 1864, and since then has been engaged in the ministry a part of his time. He served as justice of the peace from 1859 to 1871.

JAMES MCLAUGHLIN was born in Fayette county, Pa., August 1, 1808. He was reared a farmer. In 1826, at the age of 18 years, lie commenced work in a stillhouse, and followed distill- ing until in 1831. He made several trips down the Ohio river to New Orleans when a young man as a boatman. He married Elizabeth Peirsel May 1, 1831. He, with his wife and one child, whose name was John, migrated to Belmont county, Ohio, and settled in Kirkwood township on section 17, where they re- mained until in 1846, when they purchased and moved on the farm where they are now living, in section 16. Six children were born to them in Belmont, two of which are deceased. Mary, James, Jane and Jasper W. are living.

MATTHIAS GROVES, deceased, was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1784. He was reared a farmer, and followed that as his occupation through life. He married Sarah Coblin, of the same county, in 1804. He migrated to Belmont county, Ohio, with his family, and located in Kirkwood township, one half mile east of where Hendrysburg is now situated, in 1808. He and his wife died many years since. He reared a family of six chil- dren-Lovina, Susan, William, George, Margaret and James, all of whom grew to be men and women, married and reared

families. At present only three of the number are living, George, Margaret and James,

ELI TAYLOR was born in Chester county, Pa., October 13, 1793. He came to Belmont county, Ohio, and located in Kirk- wood township in 1815. He married Lydia Sheppard, (born June 24, 1795,) daughter of John Sheppard, deceased, in 1817. He settled on the farm now owned by James Sheppard, section 23, Kirkwood township, and followed farming during life. They reared a family of six children-Barnet, Guly M., Abijah F., Silas, Talithacumi, and Mary J,, all of whom grew to be men and women, married, and reared families. They were members of the M. E. Church. He died in November, 1852, and his wife died in February, 1872.

ROBERT GRIFFIN, a native of Ireland, settled in Kirkwood township with his wife and five children near where Sewells- ville is now located, in the spring of 1807. He leased a farm, on which he lived eight years, and in 1816 he purchased land on which he settled and remained the rest of his life. He fol- lowed farming, and reared a family of six children-James, Wil- liam, George, Henderson, Robert and Margaret, all of whom are deceased, except Henderson, who is living in Kirkwood town- ship. Our subject died October 14, 1819, and his wife died in 1837.

JAMES McCOY .- In 1801, James McCoy, a native of Ireland, settled in Wheeling township, Belmont county, Ohio, four miles northwest of St. Clairsville. He married Miss Rnhannah Phil- lips, daughter of Evan Phillips, of West Virginia, in 1802. (Her father lived in the fort at Wheeling during the Indian troubles, and afterwards moved with his family to Belmont county, Ohio.) They reared a family six children : two sons, David and Hugh, and four daughters, Jane, Hannah, Margaret and Mary. Jane, Hannah and Margaret are dead. In 1809 or 1810, Mr. McCoy, with his family, moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he re . mained until his death, which occurred in 1827. His wife sur- vived him until in 1836.

DAVID McCor, a son of the above named James McCoy, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 5, 1804. He was taken to Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1809, by his father, where he re- mained and followed farming as his vocation until in 1842, when he came to Hendrysburg and engaged in the groeery business for one year, then manufactured fanning mills until in 1849, and since that time has followed various occupations, merchandising, keeping hotel, &c. At present he is postmaster at Hendrysburg and engaged in the grocery business. He married Margaret Ralston, nee Casay, in 1864, and settled in Hendrysburg, where they are now living.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 127

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