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 181

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 181
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 181

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).

JOHN MCCLINTON is a native of county Antrim, Ireland ; was born in 1814, and came to this country when two years of age, with his parents. His father's name was William McClinton, a farmer, and his mother's maiden name was Martha Dowling. also of Ireland. The old couple arrived in this country in July, 1816, and first settled at Pittsburgh. They had a family of five children-John, Nancy, (deceased), Nathaniel, (deceased), Jane, (still single), and Martha; the latter being now Mrs. W. Ander- son, of Beaver county, Pa., with a family of five children. Our subject took a plain education in Allegheny county and spent his early days on a farm with his father. He, however, es- poused the trade of a nailer when seventeen years of age and learned his trade in Pittsburgh, where he worked from 1833 to 1859, that year coming to Steubenville. Having an interest in the La Belle Iron Works, Wheeling, which was and is asso- ciated with the Jefferson Iron Works, of this city, it was in the latter institution he employed himself and has remained asso- ciated ever since, at present simply as a director. Mr. McClin- ton was married the 25th of March, 1852, to Margaret, daughter of Mr. Wm. Nesbitt, of Pittsburgh, and they have had issue six children-five of whom are living, as follows: William, born in Allegheny City, December 25, 1852, and the 4th of October 1876, was married to Mary, danghter of Hugh and Catharine Cald- well, of Steubenville, they having one son living, Charles, born the 20th of August, 1877. Annie Maria was born the 3d of No- vember, 1854, and is still living at home. George Albert, born on the 26th of April, 1857; died the 17th of April, 1862. John Edwin was born September 20, 1859, in Steubenville, and is en- gaged in the Jefferson mill-living at home. Samuel Hamil- ton, born the 25th of February, 1862, at Steubenville; also lives at home. Charles Florence was born October 30, 1864. Mr. Mc- Clinton resides at 311 South Fourth street, his residence being among the most attractive on our prominent thoroughfares.

WALTER C. ONG, the present prosecuting attorney for Jeffer- son county, is a native of Smithfield township ; was born in No- vember, 1850, and is a son of Moses H. Ong, born in 1812. His mother's maiden name was Mary, daughter of Walter Cain, of German descent, who had a family of thirteen children. Our subject was educated at Richmond College and the University of Ann Harbor, being admitted to the bar in Columbus, at the supreme court of April 28, 1874. He commenced practico here in the fall of 1875 ; was elected prosecuting attorney for the county, and re-elected in 1878. He was married on the 8th of April, 1875, to Annie E., daughter of Mr. Sammel Mansfield, farmer, of Wayne township, born in 1853. They have an inter- esting family of two children-Edna May, born in 1876, and Wallace Engene, born August, 1877.

RICHARD GREIG is a native of New Brighton, Pa., born Feb. 21, 1846, and is the son of James M. Greig. He carly learnt the coopering business, worked in Pittsburgh, Oil City and Baton Rouge, arriving in Wheeling about nine years ago. He worked there and at Martin's Ferry six years, and then came to Steu- benville, and for three years past has been engaged at Win-

522

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

ning's keg factory. He was married in 1871 to Agnes, daugh - ter of Benjamin F. Brook, of Martin's Ferry, and has a family ot four children-Martha Ellen, born 1872; Kate Olive, born 1874; Richard Lee, born 1876. and George, born 1879. He served six months, during the late war, in the Pennsylvania Independent Cavalry, an unattached company under Captain Cummins.

R. G. RICHARDS is the only son of Wm. Richards, of South Wales, and at the age of ten years arrived in this country. He at first resided in Pennsylvania, where he took a plain educa- tion, completing his studies at an academy, in 1861. He also employed himself at wagon making, but during the late war volunteered in Company G., 45th Pa. Infantry, and within a month was made orderly sergeant. In less than a year, for mer- itorious conduct, at South Mountain, he was made captain of his company. He served with his regiment through the differ- ent engagements in which the ninth army corps took part, until carried from the field on account of sickness. After some con- siderable absence he rejoined his company, and while in com- mand, in front of Petersburgh, and what was known as the " Mine Explosion," he was captured with some three hundred others. Mr. Richards was in varions southern prisons from July 30, 1864, until Feb. 16, 1865, when he made bis escape- fled through North Carolina and ultimately arrived, sadly ex- hausted, at Knoxville, Tennessee. From that time until he was mustered out, August 31, 1865, he served as brigade inspector on the staff of Col. Curtin. On the 22d of November, 1865, he was married to Caroline C. Rees, of Pa., and proceeded to Youngstown, Ohio, where he became a merchant for some two years. In March of 1867, he moved to Jefferson county, Ohio, where he now resides in the practice of law. In 1873 be was elected to the General Assembly, and re-elected in 1875, At the expiration of the latter term he was elected State Senator, and at present writing thus represents the twenty-second senatorial district, composed of Jefferson and Columbiana connties.

JOHN W. GRAY is a native of Stenbenville, and was born in 1820. He is son of David Gray, a Wesleyan Methodist preach- er, who came here so early as 1817 and died in 1866. Our sub- ject's mother's name was Sarah, daughter of the Rev. James Gardner, of Baltimore, who had five daughters and four sons- Elizabeth, Mary, Dorcas, Eliza and Margaret are all deceased. David was married to Mary Young, of this city, and has two danghters and one son living. George died near New Orleans in 1836, and Oliver C. was married first to Virginia Reddick, of this place, and after her death he took unto himself Miss Mary Sutfun, of Ottowa, Ill. Oliver was a man of exceptional po- etic genius and rare reasoning faculties, whose ability and ster- ling worth as a citizen and subject are admirably set forth in a most interesting sketch of his life by his nephew, David Gray Ficks, to which further reference is made elsewhere. John W. Gray, our present subject, early learned the plastering business in this city, and worked.at his trade here for some twenty-two years, once in company with Mr. A. Doyle, and subsequently with Mr. Chas. H. Ficks. He also opened a grocery on his own account in 1859, on the corner of Sixth and Adams, where he still continues an excellent business in partnership with his son, Mr. J. Welty Gray. Our subject was first married March, 1846, to Kesiah S .. daughter of Mr. Isaac Welday, of Cross Creek, by whom he had two sons and two daughters-these were Oliver (now deceased ), 1 Welday (in partnership with his father), Florence, now Mrs. W. D. Dally, of this city, who has two sons and one daughter, and Georgiana, now Mrs. Hngb Patterson, of this city, who has one son named Oliver. Our subject's wife died April 14. 1876, and he was married a second time to Ellen, daughter of Mr. John Jones, late of this city, who died in 1872. As the result of the latter marriage they have a most interesting daughter, Nellie Myers Gray, born the 18th of September, 1879. Our subject has served in the city council ten years, has ever been a prominent business man, a bank, insurance and building association director, and a faithful Odd Fellow for many years.

HENRY OPPERMAN is a native of Germany-born 1829-and came to this country in 1847. He early took to the manufacture of iron, and has been engaged on the Allegheny river, in Illi- nois, Pittsburgh, &c., coming to Steubenville in 1863, when he engaged with the Jefferson Iron Works Company, with whom he still remains superintendent of the blast furnace. He was married in 1852 to Annie Krawshauer, of Germany, and has a family living of one son and seven danghters, born as follows :

Catharine, April 26, 1853; Mary, March 18, 1857 (in Illinois) ; Lizzie, January 19. 1861 ; Maggie, May 27, 1862; Annie, April 13, 1865; Emma, August 27, 1867; John, August 6, 1870; Attie, March 26, 1874; and Carrie, March 22, 1878. Catharine was married September, 1871, and has two chileren, Annie and Hen- ry. Lizzie was married May 29, 1879, and the rest of the fami- ly is single. Our subject also conducts quite a prosperous and well stocked grocery near the works, and is, withal, quite an in- ventive genius, as we find him the inventor and patentee of "Op. perman's safety catch for elevators," a most simple yet excellent contrivance that though only patented in 1874 is rapidly grow- ing in public estimation.

DR. ABRAHAM M. BLACKBURN, a native of Steubenville, was born in 1842, graduated in 1846 at Cincinnati Medical College, and immediately entered upon practice. His family first came to this country from the north of Ireland in 1767, his grand- father, who was a quaker, locating in Pennsylvania, where he was a justice, appointed under the King of England. Hisgrand- mother, nee Jane Blackburn, came to this country in 1798. In 1862 the doctor entered the 84th regiment, O. V, I , company F., for the three months service, and served also 100 days in com- pany B., 157th regiment, and was mustered out second sergeant at Columbus, O. He has resided in Steubenville ever since, prac- ticing medicine, being married in 1865 to Sarah, daughter of Mr. Orr Lowe, of this city, and has bad a family of six children, five of whom are still living. He was city police surgeon for several terms, and is a member of the board of education. His residence is 614 West Market street.

WM. B. JONES is a native of Monroe county, O .- born 1847 -- and is the son of Samuel Jones, who died some twenty-five years ago. Our subject came to this county in 1867, having previously learned the trade of a cooper, at Martin's Ferry. He immediately engaged at the keg factory of Winnings & Smallwood at that time, but now run simply by Mr. Winnings, where he is still en- gaged. He was married in 1870 to Jane, daughter of Elijah Horner, of Steubenville, and has an interesting family of three girls and one boy. During the late war he served one year in Company C., the 92d regiment, having to retire from service on account of impaired health.

GEORGE B. SUNDERLAND, a native of Steubenville, was born in 1830, and is the son of Michael Sunderland, of Baltimore-born 1797 -who came here about 1818. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Fisher, of Virginia-born Oct. 30, 1800. The old conple were married in Steubenville, Nov. 16, 1821. Michael's family was of English descent, and he had two brothers in the war of 1812, while his wife's family date their origin from Germany. They bad four daughters and one son, as follows : Snsan, born 1827, died Nov. 27, 1828; George B., was born in 1830; Ann Maria, Aug. 4, 1832, now Mrs. W. H. Beatty, with a family of three living, and residing in Mississippi; Margaret Jane, born May 4, 1836, was married Feb. 14, 1867 to Mr. James Horner, of Steubenville, and has one danghter, Elizabeth ; Isabel Fisher, born May 3, 1838, was married Oct. 13, 1867. to Mr. Robt. M. Cummings, at present in the county auditor's office, but they have no family Our subject, Geo. B. Sunderland, has always been associated with commercial pursuits, and is at present with Mr. Mandel, wholesale grocer and commission merchant, never having filled a situation outside of this city. He was married Oct. 16, 1855, to Mary L., daughter of Mr. Theodore Clifton, who came to Steubenville in 1812, and by her has had an inter- esting family of five children-Mary Elizabeth, born Sept. 14, 1856, now Mrs. J. W. Ferguson, has one child, Ethel May, born Feb. 17, 1879; Wm. F., born Nov. 26, 1858, was married to Miss Leah Curry, April 1, 1879, and is living in Pittsburgh ; Lavenia, born July 28, 1861; Theodore, born July 26, 1870; and Geo. E., born January 12, 1874.

JOHN IRWIN, the present mayor for the city of Steubenville, is a native of that place, born in 1835, and is a son of Robert Ir- win, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1795, first locating in Maryland, next in Pittsburgh, and coming to Steu- benville in 1802. Our subject carly learned the trade of a pat- tern maker and worked at that trade for twenty years with his father, at Means & Bro.'s. In 1869, be was appointed U. S. In . ternal Revenue storekeeper for this district, which office he filled for three and a half years. In 1873, he was appointed U. S. government gauger, and resigned in 1875, when he was elected mayor, to which office he was re-elected in 1877 and again in

523

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES

1879. He was married in 1861, to Attie, daughter of Mr. John Patton, of Pittsburgh, and has two daughters. His residence is 607 North Fifth street.

SAMUEL H. BICKERSTAFF is a native of Steubenville; was born in 1831, and a son of Augustine Bickerstaff, one of Steubenville's oldest settlers, who died in 1867. Our subject first learned the carpentering and wheelwright business and for the past fifteen years has been engaged at that craft at the Jefferson Iron Works. an institution singularly successful and fortunate in retaining old servants. He was married in 1853, to Julia Ann, daughter of Mr. John Fisher, also a pioneer resident here, and they have a family of three children-Ella Virginia, born on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1857 ;. John Augustine, born on the 15th of April, 1859, and Ernst Franklin, born on the 6th of August, 1868. Our sub- ject was out in the one hundred day service during the late war, in 1864, serving in Company D, 157th regiment, under Captain S. Boals, and was stationed most of the time at Fort Delaware.

WILLIAM D. LEWIS is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and was born in 1825, being a son of Levi Lewis, a native of Con- necticut, who died in 1838. Our subject has filled various occu- pations in his early life, but ere he was twenty, became a " worthy son of Vulcan " and has attained quite a proficiency as a skilled mechanic. He came to Steubenville in 1866, and en- gaged at the Jefferson Iron Works, where he still remains as foreman of the smithshop. In 1846, he married Mary, daughter of Mr. Thomas Crosby, of Maryland, and by her has two chil- dren living-Levi, who is engaged in the same works as a nailer, and who by the way, is quite a skilled musician-and Mary Louisa, now Mrs. Wm. Ford, of Martin's Ferry, having a family of five children. In 1864, our subject joined Company K, Zd Va. veterans, and served to the close of the war. He at one time lived in Wheeling and was a member of the "Nail City " coun- cil, and is at present a member of Steubenville's city council. He is also an Odd Fellow, a K. of P., a Druid and what else we know not; suffice to say that he is one of those versatile, yet competent citizens, whose geniality, enthusiasm and faculty of comprehension would seem to qualify him as indispensable in any live community.

ORLANDO P. CLIFTON, at present shearsman, engaged in the Jefferson Iron Works, is a native of Wheeling, W. Va., born Nov. 7th, 1842, being the son of Mr. Theodore Clifton, at pres- ent residing near Steubenville. His early experience was in coal mining, but when about twenty-one years of age he es- poused the calling of a worker in iron, and has remained in the present employ ever since. He was married in 1865 to Clara, daughter of Charles Hout, of Germany, and has a family of five daughters-Emma, Maggie, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Allie. Our subject further served four months in Company A, 157th regiment, under Captain Burgess, and was chiefly located du- ring that period, at Fort Delaware.

JOHN B. MANDEL, butcher, of this city, at 503 Market street, is a native of Germany, born in 1822, and came with his parents to America when a child. He previously resided in Beaver county and Pittsburgh, Pa., arriving in Steubenville in 1841. He opened up his present business here in 1843, and in the same year was married to Leo, daughter of Mr. David Hottel, also a butcher, and a native of Virginia. Our subject is the father of three children, one of whom, Mary Jane, born in 1845, is now Mrs. Oscar Barsbeer, of Steubenville, who has an interesting family of six children.

CALVIN B. DOTY is a native of Plymouth county, Mass., and is a son of Nathaniel Doty, of the same place. He has spent a life time in the iron trade, and is a gentleman experienced in every department of iron manufacture. He came to Steuben- ville in 1859, to take the management of the working depart- ments of the Jefferson Iron Works, which position he has held ever since, being also a large stockholder and director. He is further a trustee for the Steubenville water works, and a bank director in the city, beside which he has filled a seat in the council for several years, and is generally looked upon as one of Steubenville's most prominent citizens. He was married in 1840 to Lucinda, daughter of Mr. Arthur Carr, formerly of Maryland, by whom he has been blessed with a family of four children : Kate, now Mrs. John G. Johnson, of Detroit; Mary; , (still single,) Harry and Charles. The latter, familiarly known as Captain Charles Doty, a most promising and highly esteemed gentle- man, died on the 3d of March, 1879.

I-66-B. & J. Cos.

WALTER POOLE, engaged at Winning's keg factory, is a na- tive of South Carolina, was born in 1835, and is a son Zoring A. Poolo, of the same state, who died September 10, 1872. His mother was originally named Lucinda Horsey, daughter of John Horsey, of South Carolina. Our subject was the oldest in a family of nine sons and two daughters. He came to Steuben- ville in 1865, and has worked for his present employer some six years. He was married on the 28th of December, 1865, to. Mary Gassaway, of La Grange, and has a family of four children-Ira Allen, born January 17, 1869; Alvin, born June 2, 1871 ; Lu- cinda Mary, born October 3, 1873, and Howard, born May 29, 1878.

ANTHONY BLACKBURN is a native of Guernsey county, Ohio ; born in 1830, and son of James Blackburn, born in Westmore- land county, Pa., in 1793. The old gentleman moved to this state in 1800, and settled in Wayne township. The mother of our subject, before marriage, was named Mary Lyle, of Wayne township, and subsequently had a family of two girls and four sons. Anthony Blackburn took his education in Hocking county and served his time to shoemaking with Mr. R. H. Hal- stead, of Steubenville. In 1854, he began business on his own account and has always remained a master tradesman to the present, his excellent and reliable store being located at 122 South Fourth street. He was married March 27, 1851, to Mar- garet M., a daughter of W. Hood, highly respected in Steuben- ville, but who died here in 1844. They have had a family of three children-James M., born March 6, 1872; Charles E., born May 6, 1858, and George, born December 27, 1860, but who died March 6, 1861. Mr. Blackburn is among Steubenville's many old stand-by residents-a fair trader, and highly respected citi- zen.

CHAPTER XXIV.

HISTORY

OF THE

TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,

STEUBENVILLE TOWNSHIP.

ITS EARLY HISTORY DOWN TO THE PRESENT, INCLUDING AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF ANCIENT MINGO TOWN.

Among the several townships in Jefferson county, though at present possessing much the smallest civil township area, Steu- benville ranks about the foremost in importance. Not alone from its containing the county seat and the largest town, but by virtue, also, of its growth, enterprise, facilities and popula- tion. We learn from the old township minute book that

STEUBENVILLE TOWNSHIP WAS ERECTED

May 30, 1803, then embracing also what is now Island Creek, Cross Creek and Salem townships-the two former being taken away June 4, 1806, and the latter June 3, 1807 .* The fol- lowing minute (the first recorded) will be read with interest: " Agreeable to an act of the legislature in general assembly for the state of Ohio, met on the 18th of January, 1802, in order to regulate township meetings, an election was held at the court house, in the town of Steubenville, for the township of Steuben- ville, when the following township officers were elected ; Zac- cheus Biggs in the chair, and then proceeded to elect by ballot as the law directs : John Black was chosen as township clerk

* The first government survey was made in 1801, by Alexander Holmes, under author- ity of the United States authorities, when only sections were laid out. In 1802, however, Benjamin Hongh, for the government, laid it off in quarter sections, and these are the only surveys made of it by order of the authorities.

524

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

and Zaccheus Biggs, James Dnnlevy and James Shane were elected as trustees or managers for said township, as also Rich- ard Johnston and Jonathan Nottingham overseers of the poor. Thos. Hitchcock, Wm. Engle and Richard Lee were elected fence viewers, and Matthew Adams and Samuel Hunter as appraisers of houses, and Andrew Mccullough as lister of taxable property. Thos. Gray, Geo. Friend, Daniel Dunlevy and Thos. Wintringer, supervisors of highways or roads; and Anthony Black and An- drew Mccullough constables-the whole of whom have legally qualified for this term of office, before me, John Black, clerk for Steubenville township. Signed and attested June 21st, 1803." The next minutes in the same book read as follows : "At a meet- ing of the subscribers, trustees of the township of Steubenville, on the 11th October, 1803, ordered that the aforesaid township be divided in the following manner : Beginning at the Ohio river at the mouth of Will's creek; thence up said creek to the bead gate of Josiah Johnston's saw mill; thence north to the township line; thence with said line to the river, allotted to George Friend. Also, all from the Obio river up said Will's creek till opposite Benjamin Doyle's; thence south to Cross creek, a straight course ; thence down said creek to the mouth, with the town of Steubenville, to be in the district of Thomas Gray. Also from the mouth of Cross creek, up said creek on the south side of the township line west; thence south to the township line; thence east to the river Ohio, deeded to 'Dan'l Dunlevy. As also from Will's creek, a south course to Benja- min Doyle's ; thence south to Cross creek ; thence up said creek to the extreme of the township in a west corner to the place of beginning, to be in the district allotted to Thomas Wintringer. Signed. John Black, clerk. Zaccheus Biggs, James Shane and James Dunlevy." The list of officers for the succeeding year (1804) we find to have been : Trustees, Brice Viers, John Eng- land and Thos. Patton. Overseers of the poor, Jonathan Not- tingham and Samuel Thompson. Constables, Anthony Beck and Andrew Mccullough. Supervisors of highways, Daniel Tread- way, Jacob Arnold, George Friend and Joseph Porter. Fence viewers, Richard Cox and Philip Smith. House appraiser, Jo- seph Day. Treasurer, Samuel Hunter. The sudden splitting up of the township, by which it was largely reduced, seems to have been a matter of small concern, as no special minutes oc- cur to note the fact, except one of the 30th of June, 1806, which reads : " The trustees understanding that in consequence of a division of Steubenville township, David Powell, late trustee, has fallen into the township of Cross Creek, in consequence thereof deem it expedient to make an appointment in his place, and, therefore, do appoint Philip Cable, Esq., trustee for said township in the room of David Powell."

A PEEP INTO THE PAST,

Before closing the old minute book, it may not be uninterest- ing if we note a few old-time minutes. For instance, we find an entry of $4.32 allowed for conducting a pauper funeral. Un- der the "squirrel act" of December 24th, 1807, requiring certain taxable residents to produce so many squirrel scalps annually, in view to destroy those animals, we find a return crediting Hans Wilson with 30, Phillip Cable with 60, and Godfrey Richards 22 -in all 112 scalps. In the matter of marking animals, every conceivable brand seems to have been adopted, not the least con- spicuous design reads-"a crop of the right ear with a small balf- penny bit out of the under side of the rear ear." "April 1, 1811, we do certify that Mordecai Bartley had received 132 votes, John Adams had 28 votes, and John McGraw 27 votes, for justice of the peace." "July 10, 1813, Jacob Ficks produced his receipt from treasurer for payment of $2 for refusal to serve as trustee." "Allowed for making two shirts and a pair of pantaloons, $1.50." "October 30, 1812,-on counting votes for the election of a presi- dent and vice-president, it was found that seven electors of the Madisonian tickets were elected by two votes of a majority, and the 8th was two votes behind. The two tickets stood thus- Madison, 7 electors, 78 votes, ditto 1, do. 74 do .; Clintonians, 6 do., 76 do .; ditto, 1 do., 71 do .; and ditto 1 do., 48 do." No doubt perfectly accurate, but slightly too primitive in expression for modern comprehension.

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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 181

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