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 145

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 145
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 145

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).

"Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams,"

so he passed away on the 7th of July, 1872, aged thirty-nine years. He was a good citizen, kind, affectionate husband and father, and beloved by all who knew him. His widow still sur- vives him, aged forty four years. She is a member of the Chris- tian church of Belmont Ridge. .

WILLIAM M. ARMSTRONG, farmer, was born January 18, 1830. He was feared a farmer, assisting his father until he began to do for himself. He was early habituated to industry. In 1856, he was nnited in matrimony to Miss Lanra Jane Bonar. She was born in Washington county, Pa., March 12, 1838. Their union resulted in nine children-six of whom are living. In the fall of 1869, he was elected county commissioner, serving for three years with complete satisfaction to the people. Our subject re- sides upon the old homestead, which was entered by his father in 1812, and is living in the house erected by his father in 1813.

It is built of hewed logs. He was one of the incorporators of the Bellaire and Southwestern railway, and is now vice president of the same.

JAMES GROVES, farmer, was born in West Virginia, on the 11th of March, 1799; was brought to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1805. His father in 1808, removed to Belmont county and settled in Goshen township. He subsequently located in Washington township, on the waters of Captina,. In 1825, James married Nancy Danford, who was born in 1806. Their union resulted in eleven children -- eight sons and three daughters, nine of whom are living. Soon after his marriage he settled on section 23, which was then owned by Peter Danford. In 1866, his family was called to mourn the loss of a kind husband and parent. He was sixty-eight years of age. His widow, now in her seventy- third year, still survives. They both carly united with the Christian church.

JAMES CALDWELL, farmer, migrated from Pennsylvania to Belmont county in 1832, locating near Bridgeport, where he re- mained but a short time, and then removed to St. Clairsville, Richland township, thence to Mead township and thence to Fair- field county, Ohio, where they both died. They were exempla- ty members of the Presbyterian church. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

JOHN CRAWFORD, farmer, was born in Belmont county, De- cember 9, 1838. He remained with his father until he reached the age of twenty years. In 1858, he married Miss N. J. Battin. She was born February 8, 1844. They reared a family of five children-two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living.

JOSEPH ASKEW, farmer, was born in Richland township, near St. Clairsville, in 1817. In 1840, he married Miss Agnes Dillon, who was born in 1831. They reared a family of two children- one son and one daughter. In 1837, two years prior to his mar- riage, he learned the harness trade with his brother Isaae, with whom he served an apprenticeship of six years. Soon after his marriage he started a shop in Flushing, on his own account, and carried on the business successfully for several years, then sell- ing out moved to the town of Belmont, continuing there for a short time. In 1848, he moved to Barnesville and started a shop, remaining until the fall of 1850. In that year, after disposing of his stoek, he moved to Washington township and settled on a farm. Since that time he has turned his attention to agricul- ture in connection with his trade. His wife died February 19, 1846, and on May 16, 1848, he married Sarah Ann Watt. She gave issue to a family of five children-two sons and three daughters, four of whom are living. William T., a son of his second wife, was a very brilliant young man, with a promising future had he lived. But " death loves a shining mark," and on September 30, 1877, he died, Mr. A. and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE ATKINSON .- The subject of this sketch is of English descent and was born on the 8th of February, 1834. He learned the weaver's trade with his father when quite young. In 1856, he migrated to America and first located in New Jersey, where he resided a number of years. He was married to Miss Cath- arine Woods, who was born in Ireland, March 17, 1835. In 1869, he migrated from New Jersey to Belmont county, and located in Barnesville. From thence he removed to Armstrong's Mills, in 1871, and commenced working in the Woolen Factory at this place, where he has resided ever since. He and wife are members of the M. E. church at Armstrong's Mills. In 1878 he paid a visit to his father in England, where he spent a few months and returned home, March 5, 1879.

ALBERT MCVEIGH, was born in Virginia, Angust 8, 1803. He learned milling which occupation he has followed the greater part of his life. In 1826, he emigrated to Belmont county and located on Captina creek, York township. He married Miss Emily Dillon, April 17, 1828. She was born near St. Clairs- ville, September 25, 1806. By her he reared a family of nine children-six sons and three daughters, five of whom are living. In 1843 he bought a farm in Monroe county, upon which he moved and resided until the spring of 1860, when he re- turned to Captina ereck, near Armstrong's Mills, in which Mills he has been pursuing his trade. Ile has had large experience as a miller, and is one amongst the best as well as the oldest millers in the county.

FREDERICK STONEBRAKER was born in Maryland, March 3d, 1799. Lle was brought to Belmont county by his parents in

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

1801, locating in Richland township on a farm. Frederick re- mained with his father until 1830, when he married Miss Fran- eis Bare, and removed on a farm in Washington township. This union resulted in seven children-four sons and three daugh- ters, three of whom are living, Eli, Josiah and Samuel. He re- sided on this farm until his death, which occurred January 13, 1864, aged 65 years. Mrs. Stonebraker died February 7, 1844, aged 47 years. Both were exemplary members of the Chris- tian church.

DAVID CALDWELL was born in Pennsylvania, in 1818. He came to Belmont connty with his parents at the age of 14, and was brought up on a farm. At the age of 21 he left home and engaged in various pursuits at which he made and lost money. In 1845 he was married to Miss L. Taylor, who was born Octo- ber 21, 1822. By her he had four sons, all of whom are living. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Monroe county, where he resided one year, and then returned to Belmont county. He made a number of changes in the county, and finally in 1857, he located on a farm in Washington township, in section 27, where he is now living. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.

SAMUEL STONEBRAKER was born July 8, 1830. Lived with his father on the farm until twenty years of age. He married Miss Catharine A. Barrett, and moved on a farm which had formerly been owned by his father, in section 30. His wife was born October 17, 1832. Had a family of three sons and three daughters, three of whom are living. He united with the Chris- tian church, and she with the Presbyterian church.

JOHN SHIPMAN was born in Pennsylvania in 1798. He was brought to Belmont county by his parents, who located near St. Clairsville, where they remained a short time, then moved on McMahon's creek, and there remained for a number of years. John was reared a farmer. His father entered a tract of land on Pipe creek, which was given to our subject by his father. He (John) settled on the land and began improvements on the same. He soon had his farm under a pretty good state of culti- vation. In 1827 he married Miss Hannah Neff, who was born in 1801. Their union resulted in seven children-five sons and two daughters, three of whom are living: Mrs. M. J. A, Lind- sey, James W. and John; the latter lives on the old homestead. The subject died June 5, 1865, aged sixty-five years. His wife survives him in her eighty-seventh year. Both united with the M. E. Church in their younger days. The deceased's father was a soldier of the war of 1812.

MORGAN PUGH, JR., was born in Belmont county, June 3, 1832. He was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty-five he mar- ried Miss Hannah Noffinger, who was born May 9, 1839. They had but one child-a son, who died at the age of two years. Shortly after his marriage he settled on a farm in section 20, where he has remained ever since engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

R. W. LINDSEY was born in Virginia, March 25, 1825, and was brought by his parents to Belmont county, when less than a year old. His father located in section 36, Washington town- ship, upon a farm which had been partially cleared, Here our subject grew up to manhood, assisting his father on the farm. In 1849 he married Miss M. J. A. Shipman, who was born De- cember 9, 1830. They reared a family of eight children-six sons and two daughters. Immediately after his marriage he removed to Noble county, where he remained nntil the fall of 1850, when he returned to Belmont county, and located in Washington township, on a farm in section 16. In 1872 he built a new brick residence, in which he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the M. E. Church.

JOHN SIDEBOTTOM, a native of Jefferson county, was born near Mount Pleasant in 1843. Left home at the age of ten years to live with a man named H. C. Welty, a farmer, with whom he lived about three years. He then hired to work in a brick-yard for Morrison brothers. In the summer he worked in this way, and when winter came, he would stop with some farmer, work for his board, and attend school. This was repeated for several years until he obtained sufficient education to transact his business. In 1862 he acted as wagonmaster in the army. In 1863, he re- turned home and started a incat market in Mount Pleasant, Jef- ferson county, where he followed that business till 1865. In November of this year he married A. Danford, who was born

53-B. & J, Cos.

June 18, 1846. They reared a family of one son and two daugh- ters, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Christian church.

ELIAS PERKINS-This venerable old pioneer, who died on the 10th of August, 1860, was born on Ten-mile creek, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1791. Came with his parents to the Northwestern Territory when but seven years of age. He took up the cooper trade, working at it during bad weather. He mnade cedar buckets and carried them to St. Clairsville, where he disposed of them for half a crown apiece. He was a natural mathematician and did his calculating mentally most of the time. How he acquired such information without books was a great wonder to those of his acquaintance. Like the pioneers generally, he was a fine marksman. In the fall of the year 1828, a neighbor of his, Isaiah Shepard, wanted a "mess" of squirrel, which were very plenty and doing great damage to the corn. Our subject told him to follow him and he would soon get all he wished for. They went to a cornfield and Perkins shot forty- five squirrels without moving from the spot. He was a hard worker and a successful farmer. He lived in what is now Wash- ington township, from 1805 to his death. On the 5th of Octo- ber, 1815, he married Elizabeth Wilson, who was a native of Maryland, born January 17, 1792. Her father settled in the southern part of Belmont county in 1806, and died in 1833. Soon after our subject's marriage he entered forty acres of land at Marietta, walking through the woods and along the river, a distance of eighty miles, all in one day. The cabin in which he first went to housekeeping is still standing. In 1831, he united with the Christian church and kept the faith until his death. His widowed wife is still living in his old mansion, aged 87 years.

HISTORY OF YORK TOWNSHIP.

York was one of the original civil townships and erected November 25, 1801, as follows :

" The third to begin on the Ohio river at the southeast cor- ner of the township of Pultney ; thence with said township line west to the western boundary of the county ; thence south with said western boundary six miles to the northwest corner of the seventh township; thence with said township line east to the Ohio river ; thence up the river to the place of begin- ning, to be called and known by the township of York."

In 1811 a portion of the township was cut off for the erec- tion of Wayne. In 1815 the northern part was taken off, when Mead was established. Smith township took off a number of sections of York, and again, in 1831, twenty-four sections were added to Washington in the erection of said township, leaving York with its prosent limits-about five miles square. Its boundary is as follows : On the north by Mead, east by the Ohio river, south by Monroe county, and west by Wash- ington.

York is watered by Captina creek and its branches. The surface is hilly, but the soil rich and farms productive.

This township has been the scene of several Indian depreda- tions, prominent among which was the battle of Captina, which is given in another portion of this work. This battle occurred in 1794, on section 8, at the mouth of Cove run.

SETTLEMENT.

John and Edward Bryson settled on section 33, about 1801, and Henry Hoffman, on section 27; George Lemley, on see- tion 14, in 1801; George De Long settled May 16, 1802 ; Leven Okey, settled May 16, 1802; John Dille, 1802 (Mead) : Benja- min MeVey, 1803; Joseph Baker, April 13, 1803; John Doley, June 21, 1803; William Swaney, March 30, 1803; John Bris- ter, May 14, 1803; Elisha Collins, May 14, 1803 ; John Aldruge, May 14, 1803; David Lockwood, July 23, 1802 (Mead) ; Val- entine Lowheber, May 16, 1802 ; Jacob Brewer, April 30, 1804 ; John Minu, July 3, 1804; John Davis, August 10, 1804; David Rnble, August 24. 1804; George Gates, September 28, 1804; John Stackhouse, January 5, 1805; Matthias Neffsinger (now Washington township), March 5, 1805; James Cree, June 25, 1805; Nancy Cree, October 31, 1805 ; Abel Brown, December 21, 1805; William Brown, 1805; Daniel Thomas, December 23, 1805; Henry Huffman. 1805: Robert Gilkisou, January 16, 1806; Jesse Waller, March 3, 1806; Jacob Baker, March 3, 1806; Joseph Way, June 21, 1806; Francis Vanschoup, June

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

21, 1806; Thomas Mills, December 20, 1806; Joseph Stokey May 21, 1807 ; Cornelius Okey, May 22, 1807; John Shepherd, July 27, 1807 ; Isaac Bilyen, March 7, 1808; Isaac Moore, March 7, 1808; John Gray, June 5, 1808; Barnabas Powell, September 23, 1808; Jacob Brock, November 3, 1808; James Barrett, March 6, 1809; Jaeob Keesey, March 20, 1809 ; Addey Brock, July 26, 1809; E. Dillon, February 22, 1810; Thomas Harmison, March 7, 1814; Thomas Mcknight was an early settler ; Josiah Dillon, 1815; Ashel Green, 1817. Bergy Hunt and Archibald Woods were land agents in York township.

It is said there were quite a number of squatters in York township who migrated from different sections of the east and erected cabins, remained for a short time, then removed else- where, claiming the society didn't suit them. Many of the

squatters in that day were an indolent and careless set of men, never remaining long at any one place. Those that came pur- chasing lands were usually of a different character, being indus- trions and making good citizens. Some of the log cabins which were occupied by " squatters " afterward became the first school houses of the township.

MOUNDS.

In this township are found evidences of a race anterior to the Indian. Mounds occur in different places throughout York, in which, perhaps, celebrated personages of that people have been buried centuries ago. The mound builders, as they are styled, occupied these lands, where, peradventure, they dwelt for ages, erecting their monuments of earth over the remains of their kindred.

THE ANCIENT INDIAN VILLAGE CALLED "GRAPE VINE TOWN "-INDIAN RELICS-INSCRIPTIONS ON THE ROCKS.

The valley of Captina, judging from the number of Indian relics and landmarks that have been found within its recesses and along its borders, must have been at some time a noted rendez- vous for the red man. Of the Indian character, it is an original peculiarity, that he has no desire to perpetuate himself in the memory of distant generations, by the erection of monuments or other structures fabricated by the art and industry of man. The race would have passed away, without leaving a vestige or memorial of their existence behind, if to them had been entrust- ed the preservation of their name and deeds. A verbal language, a people without a city, a government without a record, a sys- tem of customs and habits without a written history, are as fleeting as the deer and the wild fowl upon which the Indian himself subsists. The flight of time lays waste unregistered events. It is thus that the incidents of untold ages upon this continent have been scattered like the sunlight under which they were enacted, leaving no ray behind to light up the eye of research. The social habits and transactions of the Red Man in his primative state, are as easily enveloped in the mist of ob- senrity, as his footsteps through the forest are obliterated by the leaves of autumn. With the departure of the individual, every vestige of Indian sovereignty vanishes. He leaves but the arrow-head upon the hillside, fit emblem of his pursuits ; and the rude pipe and ruder vessel, emtombed beside his bones -at once the record of his superstition, and the evidence of his existence. He entrusts his fame to the unwritten remembrance of his tride and race, and no monument marks the spot of his resting place.

From the number of flint arrow heads found along Captina valley, we conclude it must have been a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, where they had killed deer for ages. The number of rude weapons, pipes, implements, and polished relics that have been found, and the many hyeroglyphics, foot prints, and pictographs that were to be seen upon the rocks, when the first whites made their settlement, all bear evidence that at some period this valley was their dwelling place. Its rich bottoms, being so easily cultivated, furnished the Indian a natural facility for his little patches of corn, the stream afforded an abundance of fish, and the wild region around was ample for the existence of large quantities of game.

An Indian village called " Grape Vine Town," in the Captina valley, consisting of a few huts, or wigwams, was a place visit- ted by white traders from 1764 to 1770. In the fall of the lat- ter year, Gen. Washington, while making his tour down the Ohio, makes mention of it in his journal, and describes it as be- ing eight miles up the stream (Captina) from its mouth. Of course his distance was estimated, and was taken by the mean- derings of the stream. We have made considerable investiga- tion to find the most probable site where this village must have

located. If the town was not a permanent abode for the In- dians, it was at least a favorite hunting camp. The Indians withidrew from the borders of the Ohio in 1774, and it was twenty years afterwards before any settlements of consequence were made by the whites, consequently, in such a wild region, where bushes and vegitation grew so rank, all visible traees of the wigwam would disappear. After a dilligent search, we have arrived at the conclusion that the village was most probably situated on the farm settled and enteredby John Bryson, in York township, now owned by Isaac Ramsey. An unusual number of grape vines were found on this tract by Mr. Bryson when he first settled, and a place or two in the bottom was found to be tramped hard when it was first plowed. This is considered one of the surest indieations of where the Indian wigwam stood.

Skelletons of two Indians were found at one time under rocks in the vicinity. Mrs. I. J. Potts, a daughter of John Bryson, recollects of numbers of arrow heads, pipes, and various Indian relics being plowed up on her father's farm. In this immediate vicinity was also found the numerous inscriptions on the rocks, consisting of bird and animal tracks, foot prints, &c., that have become somewhat famous in this valley. Many of the old set- tlers describes one of these inscriptions as being a rude repre- sentation of an animal now unknown. Mrs, Potts recollects of pictures of two Indians that were inscribed on a rock on her father's farm that were plainly to be seen when she was a child, but which have disappeared by the influence of the atmos- phere and the lapse of time. Some of the rocks in the valley bearing these inscrptions were quarried and used by thought- less people, and only a few, comparatively, of these ancient pictographs are yet legible. One of the plainest to be seen at the present day in this part of the valley is a bear track, an im- pression of which we saw at the residence of the late Hon. Isaac Welsh.

"L. W., 1790."

In the year 1865, I. J. Potts, Esq., and Isaac Jones found be- low a projeeting ledge of rocks up Cove run, about a half a mile from its month, and near where the battle of Captina was fought, a stone about two feet square, bearing these initials carved legibly upon it-"L. W., 1790." The stoue was after- ward removed by Aaron Ramsey, and now lies in his yard, but not cared for as a relic of this kind deserves. Part of one of the letters, unfortunately, has been knocked off. Of course the con- clusion to be arrived at is that the initials stand for Lewis Wetzel, and at that time (1790) the place where the stone was found was doubtless one of the great hunter's hiding places and favorite resorts.

THE FIRST SUPERVISORS.

In 1801 the court of Belmont county, which was then held at Pultney, appointed John Dille, Ephraim Bates and Michael Moore to act as supervisors of York township. At the same session of the court Samuel Dille was appointed a constable. And the first election was ordered to be held at the house of James Smith, in 1802.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR 1808.

The following is a list of the township officers who were elect- ed and served in 1808 :

Township Clerk-Edward Bryson. Trustees-Uriah Martin, Abel Brown and Edward Bryson. Treasurer-Joseph Martin. Supervisors-Joseph Cox and George Lemley. Constable-William Atkinson. Fence Viewers-John Brown and James Barrett. Lister-Uriah Martin.

LARGEST LAND OWNERS.

The largest land owner in this township is A. F. Ramsey. He owns 1,174 acres ; Isaac Ramsey owns 600 acres; Samuel Ramsey 590 acres; John G. Owens, Martin Caldwell and D. Neff, have farms of 300 each.

FIRST MILLS.

George Gates located in 1804, and erected a grist mill on Cat's run in a very early day, and, it is thought by some, to have been the first one built in the township. Judge Dillon built a grist mill in about 1822, about five miles above where the village of Powhatan now stands, on the waters of Captina. A race, from

419

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

which the mill is operated, is tunneled through a hill a distance of about three hundred feet. This is an excellent mill, and has always done good work. After making several changes, it at last fell into the hands of I. J. Potts, who is at present operating it. Judge Dillon also built a saw mill in connection with the mill at the same time, which is still in nse.

DISTILLERIES.

In about 1818, a man named Shepler erected a small distillery on section 15, on Little Captina creek. There were a few smaller ones built by other parties a little later.

THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.

One among the first school buildings erected expressly for school purposes, was a hewed log structure which stood near where Joseph Carle now lives. In 1836-7, a frame house was built near Powhatan Point.

STEINERSVILLE

Is situated on the Powhatan Point and Green Fording macad- amized road, along the waters of Captina. It was laid out by John W. Steiner, September 28, 1831. Isaac Green erected the first store house, and was the first merchant. He also erected a hotel, which is now occupied by Dorsey as a dwelling. There are two groceries and one blacksmith shop in this village.

POWHATAN POINT.

This village is situated in the southeast corner of Belmont county, immediately below the mouth of Captina creek, on the . Ohio river. In January, 1849, the village was surveyed by De Hass, and laid out by Franklin W. Knox. The principal trad- ing street is Water, which runs north and south. The first build- ing erected in what is now Powhatan, was on the ground now occupied by Green & borsey, in 1819. It was erected by a man named Woods, and was used by Mallery as a store. The store was a very small one, but the trade at that time did not demand much. In 1825 a log house was erected for a hotel, styled the Point House, and was kept by a Mr. Reed. A few years later an addition was built to it of frame. At this time there were only a few log houses in the neighborhood, and the forest was unbroken, save here and there where small clearings had taken place, and the pioneer had set his stakes. The founder of this village was a grand son of Archibald Woods. G. T. and J. Boger erected the first brick building in the village. It is now known as the "Powhatan Enterprise Flouring Mill and Woolen Fac- tory." The summary of trade is as follows: Four stores, two hotels, one wagon factory, three blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, one cabinet shop, one harness shop, one drug store, two saloons, three groceries, one physician, one graded school, the building being a large fine brick, Charles Muhleman principal ; two churches-Presbyterian and Methodist. In 1837 Benjamin Cole was appointed the first postmaster. Peter Giffin is acting as postmaster at present.

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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 145

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