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 161

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 161
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 161

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).

"This charter, however, was ultimately subject to considerable revision, as given in Chase's Statutes, chapter 1.831, we find an act to amend an act entitled an net to incorporate the town of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson, as passed February 11th, 1805 -- see Post Ohio Local Laws, chapters 1,837. 1,889, 1,912 and 2,010, Chapter 1,857 is an amendment passed Feb. 9th, 1813, chapter 1,859 is a supplementary act passed Jan. 9, 1817, chapter 1,912 is an act to further amond the original act, and passed Dee. 29th, 1821, while chapter 2,010 is an entire new set to incorporate anew the town of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson, passed Feb. 23, 1830, which will be found quoted in our " General History of the City " at about the date named.

TA far simile of this building still slands at $1. Clairsville, Belmont county. Subsequent to the one being built her . it was so strongly approved of that the same architeel and buildler was called upon to ereet one at St. Clairsville, nud a second at Cadiz, Harrison county. The Jatter, however, has just been sacrificed for a finer building.

59-B. & J. Cos.

466

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

STEUBENVILLE IN 1814.

He says: " Arriving in Steubenville, from Pittsburgh, by keelboat, with my father and family, on Saturday, October 22, 1814, after a pleasant voyage of seven days, we were met by ' uncle' Abe Moore, (colored) with his cart, who removed our household goods to the west end of Market street. The town, in that day, contained some eight or nine hundred inhabitants. On Water street, John Moody, father of David Moody, Esq., had located from Burgettstown, Pa., in 1797, and settled in a log house below Washington street. He built the ' Yarnel ' House, on Third street, and moved into it in the fall of 1798. John Ward located on the corner of Market and High streets, in March, 1798, and he it was who that year built the first brick chimney in this place. He also built the old part of the 'United States' House in 1800. On Water street, the old ' Armstrong ' House was north of Market street, while south of Market street was the 'Dundas' House. On the corner of High and Market, Tom Hamilton kept the sign of the " White Horse," and on the corner of Market and North Third streets stood a two-story log house, 'Tarleton' Store, James Wilson's store, and a two-story frame, where McGowan & Bros. have now a wholesale grocery. Next was Isaac Jenkinson's tavern, the ' Red Lion.' On the west side of Third, corner of Court House Square, Hans Wilson had a store, then came Hale's store, another one run by James Means, James Dick's tavern, sign of the 'Ship,' and then Thomas Kells' tavern, the sign of the ' Green Tree.' South of Market, corner of Third, was Samuel Hunter's store, and John England ran a new store on the south corner of Market square. On Market street was Hartford's tavern under old Washington Hall, and further up Market street John Gal- braith ran a store. On the east side of North Fourth street Charles Porter's tavern stood, and opposite was John Moreland's tavern. Joseph Beatty's store stood on the northwest corner of Fourth and Market streets. On the corner was Henderson's store, then Thomas Norton's tavern, sign of the " Black Bear." Up Market street was John Ward's store, corner of Bank alley, above Fourth. James Ayres kept store on the south side, and Col. Todd had a tavern, sign of the " Cross-Keys," on the north side. Above Sixth was Da- vis' tavern, sign of the " Indian Queen." On a line north and south of Elliott's tannery property, and west thereof, there were no houses in the corporate limits except the factory building and Viers's house. The taverns were licensed, and the stores contained dry goods, groceries, apple and peach brandies, whisky and rum. There were but four wells in the town-at McKin- ney's saw mill, Jake Ricart's (near Kenyon's shop), the " Tom- my Gray " well (now under Louden's saloon), and the " Titus" well (corner of Market and Eighth streets). Prior to 1812, the town was supplied with water through hollow logs, that con- veyed it to different parts of the town from springs west of Sev- enth street, between Market and Washington streets, the logs being laid southeasternly around Elliott's tannery to Market street. Under the pavement in front of the tannery, and at other points, were also stone cisterns; and by these primitive methods was the town supplied until 1820, when they gave out, and hauling water from the river in large barrels was the chief method down to the establishment of the water works in 1836. At that day there were no street crossings on Market street west of Fourth, but as additions were made to the town, first Fifth street was opened, followed by Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth-the latter being the last street west in the corporation limits. The only houses still found on Market street, built be- fore 1814, are the U. S. (old part) House, Bazaleel Davis's, (op- posite corner to the Hanch house) ; Munker's corner, McAlpin's, (corner of Fourth); the " Watson House," (corner of Market and Bank alley) ; the east part of Dr. Johnson's, (corner of Market and Fifth) ; Jimmy Cooper's cigar store, same street ; John B. Mandel's meat store-a two-story frame on the east side of Gar- rett's Hall-Sutherland row, built in 1814, and Long's drug store."

A limited showing with the present, sure enough, yet as re- gards taverns, probably equal, if not in excess of the percentage of to-day. With the exception of two flour mills already run- ning, and the woolen factory and paper mill getting into full operation this year (1814), but little of material commercial in- terest transpired. Neither does our list of chronological events speak much more flattering of the succeeding year. But with the year 1816 dawned much more substantial satisfaction. A snitable market (for those days) was erected, Phillips and Car- roll's foundry was established and the Farmer's and Mechanics' Bank came into existence-building was in an active state of pro-

gress, and already an eye was being cast at the progress of nav- igation on the Ohio, which lead to the establishment of a boat- yard the next year when the instigators of the pioneer foundry and machine shop concentrated their best talents and energies in the production of marine engines. This latter new develop- ment inspired additional confidence in Steubenville's prosperity and gave rise to increasing enterprise on every hand. Up to this time the country had exceedingly poor roads and convey- ances were of but little use. This year, however, we are told that public roads were opened more freely. Hon. John C. Wright, district attorney for the state, made his tours to Colum- bus, Cleveland, etc., on horseback, not only enduring hardships, but dangers. John McMillan was the first to carry the mail from Steubenville to Pittsburgh in a wagon. George A. Dohr- man, who came to the state in 1809, increased the facilities of travel by starting a coach to Wheeling, and afterwards to Wells- ville and New Lisbon. Mathew Roberts extended stage lines to Pittsburgh, Cadiz, Canton and New Philadelphia. These were the great thoroughfares of the country, and Steubenville, Jefferson county, was a place of great attraction for whole coun- tries west; people would stand around where they changed horses or the mail, as the next best thing to a ride in the stage, with four prancing blacks or greys. Elsewhere we refer to the old stage coaching days more fully, hence we will proceed to notice that while fortune favored our good people, their patriot- ism grew apace with their success. In 1818, a movement was inaugurated to form a local militia company, which twelve months later was accomplished most satisfactorily, and assuming the style of "Steubenville Guards," they were officered as fol- lows: Nicholas Hutchins, captain ; W. Spencer, first lieutenant ; Samuel J. De Haff, second lieutenant. Some two years subsequently, however, Captain Hutchins was elected to the colonelcy, whereupon First Lieutenant Spencer was promoted to captain. The company attained quite a flatter- ing degree of efficiency, and made an excellent showing when mustered out to parade or on public festive occasions. But as all things must have an ending, so with the " Steubenville Guards." In the absence of the remotest prospect that their services would be required, the last time, (prior to disbanding) that they appeared together in public, was in the capacity of a body escort to General Harrison, during his visit to Steubenville on one of his canvassing tours for election to the Presidency in 1840. In 1819, St. Paul's Episcopal church, was organized, the Rev. Intrepid Morse being appointed rector, and Steubenville was also created a station in the M. E. church with Cornelius Springer as the first preacher. During 1820 the old Washing- ton Hall was erected on Market street, where Mosgrove's Uni- ted States hotel now stands. The city water works gave out, and for some years, subsequently, water had to be carried round the city in barrels. February 15, was noted for

A SEVERE STORM,

though such weather freaks were by no means infrequent in "ye olden times." Speaking with' Squire McFeely on the subject of this storm, he kindly gave us the following points from his diary :- " The weather on the 15th day of February, 1820, was remarkable, being sultry, with clouds rolling up in the south- west. In the afternoon, a rift in a heavy cloud lifted the dark mass, and a volume of wind came howling down on the brick- yard shed between Sixth and Seventh streets, and scattered the boards like dry leaves. The cyclone (for it was nothing less) then took a northern direction, toward Market street, and crossed where the railroad crossing is now located. On the north side of Market street stood a blacksmith shop, which the storm de- molished, and continued rushing down Market street, changing its course on the corner of Fourth street. On that street it struck Porter's tavern, now McGregor's drug store, knocked off the roof and demoralized the gable. Continuing up Fourth to the Conley house, now Kilgore's, at the corner of Fourth and Washington streets, it stove in the gable and hurled the roof into a vacant lot further up Fourth. It wrecked Luke Malber's new frame house, proceeded to the "Smiley House," and at- tacked Abraham's board yards, took the roof and gable off the house, and then made a bee line course across the fields to the paper mill. The first story of the mill was brick, and the second story frame lattice work. The storm tore off the second story and hurled it over into the river, when the wind again changed at right angles. The steamboat "B. Wells" was below the mill, when the wind lifted her chimney out and hurled it into the river. The storm then crossed the river. On the river bank were three fishermen, Jack Mitchell, John Trump and

467

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Beany, who left the bank and ran for the rock, but a tree fell on Trump and killed him in his track. This year it was, also, that a special celebration was carried out on the 4th of July, and as a keel boat load of Wellsburg soldiers were passing the wharf on their way to Holiday's Cove, where a grand military review was to take place, they fired a salute from a swivel gun, in front of which, the youthful son of Major Coughton happened to pass, and he was blown to atoms. The sad event, as a matter of conrse, cast a shocking gloom over the entire community. In 1821 a publication was started here under the title of " The Genius of Universal Emancipation," and the popular taste for the drama growing apace with the increasing interest manifest in literary enterprises, the famous

THESPIAN_CLUB

was inangurated, for winter evening entertainments and amusements, the company consisting of the following :- Ephraim Root, August Culp, J. D. Slack, Arundel Hill, Dr. Ackerly, Thomas Cole, James Henry, John Bray, Robert Jollie, E. H. McFeeley, Jas Wilson, Wm. Campbell, P. S. Campbell, Thos. Armitage, Sam'l McFerren, Francis A. Priest, Fletcher Wampler, Eliphalet Steele, Daniel Viers and Wm. Hazlet. A. Culp was stage manager; J. D. Slack, prompter; A. Hill, treas- urer and Thomas Cole, scene painter, The following plays were enacted: "Jane Shore," "Pizarro," "Norvel," "Iron Chest," " Foundling of the Forest," " The Miller and His Men," "She Stoops to Conquer," "Speed the Plow," "Fortune's Frolic," &c. Of the twenty performers but two survive at this day, J. D, Slack and E. H. McFeeley. At each performance the house was filled, particularly at the play given for the benefit of the suffering Greeks, during their war with the Turks, but subsequent developments disclosed that the proceeds were rather applied for the benefit of the "Young Turks" forming said company .

GENERAL OCCURRENCES.

In 1821, an African church was established here and the col- ored brethren lost no time in erecting a sacred edifice, In 1824-5, as will be seen on reference to our article on manufac- tures, two cotton mills, by D, Larimer and Wm. Gwyer, were put into operation, and in 1826, the 4th of July was observed with excessive festivities,* while the Steubenville Ledger was this year first published, but subsequently changed in title to the American Union, under which name it appeared for many years. Up to this time, though a strict eye had been kept to the advancement of educational facilities, there was yet an apparent want of some more efficient institution for the education of fe- males. The Rev. C. C. Beatty, D. D., LL. D., observing this, founded the present important female seminary on the 13th of April, 1829, which institution has matured to an importance at once a compliment to the state. From 1830, manufacturing grew with rapid strides in this community, all subsequent reference to which will be given elsewhere under the head of " Steuben- ville's Manufacturers." This year it was found that the city had so far exceeded its original limits in point of growth, that a new charter was applied for and obtained, of which the follow- ing is a copy :

" An act to incorporate the town of Steubenville :

"SECTION 1, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, that so much of the township of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson, as is comprised in the original town plat of the town of Steubenville, on record in said county, and in any addition thereto, platted and recorded, and so much as lies east of said town, to low water mark in the Ohio river, and the lot of ground on which the Methodist Episcopal church is now erected, is hereby erected into a town corporate, to be hereafter known by the name of ' The Town of Steubenville,' and any addition to said town that shall hereafter be laid out and recorded, by whatever name called, shall, from the time of the record, be added to, and become part of, said town corporate, and be sub- ject to the laws thereof. Section 2. That for the convenient gov- ernment of the inhabitants of said town thero shall be a town

council, to be composed of a mayor, recorder and eight council- men, who shall be chosen and sworn in as hereinafter provided, and be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, to be known by the name of Town Council, Section 3. That said town shall be divided into four wards: and that part lying south and east of a line run through the centre of Market street and the road leading from the west end thereof, and a line running through the centre of the alley between Third and Fourth streets, shall be called the First ward; that part lying west and south of said lines, shall be called the Second ward; that part lying north and west of said lines, shall be called the Third ward; and that part lying north and east of said lines, shall be called the Fourth ward : Provided, that the town coun- cil shall have the power, not oftener than once in three years hereafter, to alter the boundaries of said wards, when it shall be necessary for the more equal division of said town."

INCIDENTS FROM 1830 TO 1850.

This year (1830) was it, also, that the fine Jefferson National Bank building was erected, as also the " Imperial Hotel " block. In 1832 St. Peter's Catholic congregation was organized under the administration of the Rev. Father McCreedy, and a church building was erected on the corner of Fourth and Logan streets, the land being donated by James Ross, Esq., of Pittsburg. This year (February 11), it was, also, that a most severe frost was experienced, and during 1832-3 the first regular Episcopalian Church was crected on the corner of Fourth and Adams streets ; a fine substantial building, that stood until 1879, when it was sacrificed for a much more suitable and attractive edifice. In 1833 the admirable results from tuition obtained in the Female Seminary made themselves apparent in the holding of its first graduate exercises. This was also the year that cholera was so prevalent, and Steubenville got its share .* The succeeding year (1834), May 15, 16 and 17, we experienced probably one of the most severe frosts on record, by which all vegetation from California to Maine was destroyed or seriously damaged. It was this year, also, that a new stone jail and county offices were erected, which were substantial and thoroughly cemented, with a fire-proof roof, the work being chiefly executed by David Cable, who still lives, and is one of Steubenville's oldest living inhabitants. But it subsequently turned out that the jail was too damp for any purpose, which defect proved beyond remedy and the premises were of little or no use down to 1870, when they were rebuilt and differently located. In 1836 regular waterworks were established, at a cost of $35,000, and the same proved themselves of inestimable valuc, having continued and frequently been improved from that time on to the present. The United Presbyterians, who first gathered under the minis- trations of the Rev. George Buchanan, in 1809, and were at this time in a prosperous condition, in 1837-8 put up a new and larger building, which is still used. The first Board of Education was also organized in 1838, and the public school system introduced. And when we look, in this day, at the magnificent educational facilities in onr midst, how could we over estimate this last grand departure from primitive customs ? In 1841 the Campbell church was erected, and in 1844 the pres- ent Hamlin chapel, The difficulties between this country and Mexico having assumed serious proportions, in 1846, on the 4th day of June, the Steubenville Grays left for actual service (a tull account of which appears elsewhere ) returning home on the 21st of June the following year. In 1847, the town having assumed considerably the proportions of a city, it could no longer get along without its daily paper, when the enterprising propietors of the old Herald, issned that excellent paper daily, to meet the demands ofits numerous readers. Manufacturies almost weekly increased. In 1850 the cholera once more appeared, but was soon stamped ont .; The next import local step resolved upon was to get

STEUBENVILLE INCORPORATED A CITY,

which was duly accomplished in 1851, as will be found on peru- sal of the following charter :- An act to incorporate and estao- lish the City of Steubenville, in Jefferson county : Section 1 .- Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of Steubenville township, in the county of Jefferson, as is comprised and included in the following boundaries, to-wit :

*Cholera at this time ravaget fearfully all along the river, from Pittsburg to New Orlenns, its ravages at many points bring fearful, but from its healthful character, Sten- benville did not lose more thin eight or ten of its citizens, though quite a number took the epidemic.

fThis year the cholera was rather more severe on life than during its visitation in 1833, for probably fifteen to twenty were carried off by it, but this was an extraordinary low per ceninge to other places.

* The 4th of July, 1826, was observed in Steubenville with extraordinary festivities, it being the 50th year of America's independence. Every building was decorated and a large procession was formed, representing every kind of trade and calling, which presented a most imposing sight. Nick. Hutchings was chief marshal, with Col. A. Doyle and P. C. Camp- bell for aids. Marshal music, consisting of Francis Priest and James Russell with drums and John Buchanan, ffer, took part, asalso did the Steubenville Grays, under command of Captain W. Spencer. The carly settlers were heutel by Bazaleel Wells and four, six nud eight-horse wagons conveying accurately improvised representations of the various crafts in trade, while Mr. Dickins m's famous imported ram, " Bolivar," was honored with a position in the grand parade. Banners, music, speeches and the eustomary shooting and fireworks incident to an old-fashioned Independence Day reigned on every hand-the then universal opinion being that the like had never been seen in Steubenville.

I-59-B, & J. Cos.

468

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Beginning at the northwest corner of Viers' first addition to the town of Steubenville; thence in an easterly direction, to a point where the north line of Washington street intersects the west line of the alley, or the western boundary of the original plat of Steubenville; thence northwardly along said western line of said alley, to the northwest corner of North street; thence eastwardly. along to the north line of said North street, to the southwest corner of Joseph C. Spencer's lot; thence with said lot northwardly, to the northwest corner thereof; thence east- wardly to the northwest corner of Wm. Collins' lot running thence north nineteen degrees east, across the lands of Jephtha L. Holton, James Frazier, Daniel Kilgore, M. M. Laughlin, Jo- seph M. Mason, and R. S. Moody, into the lands of S. D. Hunter, to a point thirteen perches from said Hunter's house ; thence north seventy-one degrees west, eleven perches; thence north nineteen degrees east, parallel to seventh street, to Wm. Mc- Laughlin's line ; thence along said Mclaughlin's line, between him and Eberlein, to a point where said Mclaughlin & Eber- lein's lands corner on Stony Hollow tract; thence north, fifty- one and a half degrees east, forty perches, to an elm tree, on the west side of the river road, corner to land of Wm. Kilgore and the Stoney Hollow tract; thence with said Kilgore's line, to the river ; thence down the river to a point in Samuel Stokely's line, twenty and cight-tenth perches from the southeast corner of J. Bond's lot ; thence west by said Bond's line, to the Fourth street road ; thence with the line of said road to the southeast corner of the grave yard lots ; thence with said grave yard lots, west- wardly, to the Fifth street road ; thence, so as to include the land of Thomas Horsefield, to the line of the Wells tract ; thence with said Wells' line to the land of A. H. Dohrman ; thence along said Dohrman's and Wells' line six perches; thence north nineteen degrees east to the line of B. Tappan Jr.'s out-lot ; thenee with the outer boundary of said town, according to the original plat and the several additions, to the place of begin- ning ; shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a city ; and the in- habitants thereof are created a body politic, with perpetual suc- cession, by the name and style of the city of Steubenville, and by that name shall be capable of contracting and being contrac- ted with, suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered, in all courts and places, and in all matters whatsoever, and with power to purchase, receive, hold occupy and sell, and convey real and personal estate; and may have and use a corporate seal, and change the same at pleasure; and shall have and exercise all the rights and privileges, and be subject to all the duties and obligations appertaining to a muni- cipal corporation ; and for the better ordering and governing of said city, the government and direction thereof shall be vested in a board of councilmen, consisting of two members from each ward, to be denominated the city council, together with a mayor, city clerk, treasurer, marshal and such other officers as are hereinafter mentioned and provided for."

SECTION 2 .- "That said city shall be divided into four wards, as follows : The part lying south and east of a line running through the centre of Market street, and the road leading from the west end thereof, and a line running through the center of Fourth street, shall be called the first ward; that part lying south and west of said lines shall be called the second ward ; that part lying north and west of said lines shall be called the third ward; and that part lying north and east of saidline shall be called the fourth ward; provided the city council may change the foregoing boundaries, and create additional wards whenever the same may be necessary ; but in no case shall such change or ad- dition be made without giving at least ten days previous notice in the newspapers of the city of the time and place when any proposed change or addition will be decided upon by council."

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 161

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