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 184

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 184
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 184

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530

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

JOHN LOYD, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1782, where he remained till coming to Jefferson county in 1806, where he settled on the farm now owned by his son, Jobn. He married a daughter of John Miller, Miss Mary, in 1809, and bonght his farm from Mr. J. Miller about 1812. He reared a family of six children of whom only two are now living. He was a member of the Baptist church. He died in 1857, in the 75th year of his age.

JOHN LOYD, JR., son of John Loyd, Sr., was born in 1817, on the farm where he now lives and where he has always lived. He was married in 1840, and has raised a family of ten children, all of whom are living.

JAMES WILSON was born January 23, 1843, in Jefferson county, where he grew to manhood or until he went to the army. He went out at the first call with Capt. D. Cable in the three months' service. He enlisted April 22, 1861, and was discharged August 23, 1861. Re-enlisted in the spring of 1862, in Company G., 30th regiment, O. V. I., and served until his death, February 18, 1863, at Gayaso hospital, of consumption, at the age of twenty years.

JOHN WILSON was born in county Down, Ireland, in the year 1808, and emigrated to America when he was about ten years of age, in company with his mother, sisters and brothers, and settled in Steubenville township, on the farm now owned by the Wilson heirs. His father died previous to the family leaving Ireland. His mother died at the age of forty-eight years. Our subject was married to Miss Susannah Loyd, April 25, 1842, and they reared a family of four children, all boys, two of whom are deceased. John Wilson died in 1851; his wife died in 1850, May 19th.

HENRY WILSON was born September 10, 1846; was married to Miss H. Adams, daughter of Henry Adams, November 28, 1878.

JAMES HILL, residing at "Walnut Hill" farm, is a son of the late Robert Hill, who came from Pennsylvania to this county in 1806 and died in 1845. The old gentleman located on the farm at present occupied by our subject, and conducted by his son. Our subject is a native of Jefferson county, was born in 1809, and succeeded to the old farmstead and still resides there. Our subject was married in 1838 to Maria, daughter of Benjamin Kneff, of Mingo Bottom, who came here about 1811, from Frank -. lin county. Pa. Their son, Benjamin, at present residing at home, takes charge of the farm ; while they have an accomplished daugh- ter, Miss Rose Hill, who also lives at home, though they had a larger family of whom the balance are scattered. The late Jo- seph W. Hill, brother to our subject, born 1817, and who died in 1877, was married to Miss Mary Ann Sherrard, and resided ad- joining the old family farmstead, where his widow still lives. A sister of our subject, born in 1799, and who came here with her father in 1806, was married in 1817 to James S. Irwin, who died in 1850, and the old lady still lives hale and hearty, having had a family of sixteen children, and never experienced a day's sickness in her life beyond such incidental to her increasing fam- ily. Mr. James Hill's farm is one of the most desirable and well cultivated in the county, and presents all the attractions of the most desirable country residence.

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

Was organized March 3, 1807, from Short Creek township. This township is high rolling land with an almost inexhaustible limestone soil that produces well all kinds of grain and grass. It is underlaid with the coal strata of this part of the state. This coal is almost exclusively used both for domestic and me- chanical purposes. The sample articles of revenue to the far- mers in the earlier years were wheat, which was manufactured into flour and shipped down the river to New Orleans and inter- mediate towns for a market, and pork which was made into bacon and sent in wagons over tho mountains to Baltimore, Richmond and other points for a market.

For the manufacture of flour, mills were erected at every available spot along Short creek ; no less than twenty-three mills were at one time in operation along that little stream. But changes in the methods of transportation by railroads, have brought changes in the agricultural pursuits in different sections

of the country. In this locality wool growing and stock rais- ing have largely taken the place of grain growing, and the mills have mostly disappeared from the creeks.

EARLY SETTLERS.

It is probable that Robert Carothers and Jesse Thomas were the first settlers in Mount Pleasant township. They came from Pennsylvania and settled the land on which the village now stands in 1796-Carothers on the castern part and Thomas on the western side. They together laid off the village on this land in 1804.

Adam Dunlap also came in 1796, settled on the land now owned by John Weatherton, east of the village.

Col. McCune came in 1798, and settled about three and a half miles southeast. This property is now owned by John Weath- erson.

John Tygart came also in 1798, and settled on adjoining land to McCune. It is now the property of John Parke and Isaac Radcliff.

Col. Joseph McKee came about the same time, and settled northeast of Col. McCune, on the farm now owned by Richard Hope.

William Finney and Adam Dunlap abont 1798 or 1799; set- tled between Robinson and Dunlap. Aaron Schemerhorn now owns the Finney farm, and Sarah E. Jenkins the Dunlap farm.

David Robinson settled in 1798 or '99 on the land now owned by William Bowles and Elnathan Pettitt.

John Pollock settled in 1798, on Irish Ridge, one mile east of town, on the land now owned by Hon J. T. Updegraff.

William Chambers came in 1799, and settled on the Pollock section. The farm is now owned by Mr. Lazier.

Benjamin Scott came from Ireland to Washington county, Pa., and from there to Mount Pleasant, where he settled in 1798. He settled where the town stands, and kept the first hotel in the place.

Jonathan Taylor came in the spring of 1800, and settled near Trenton, on the farm now owned by D. B. Updegraff.

Joseph Dew came from North Carolina July 6th, 1800, and settled in what is now the western part of the village. The property belongs to Joseph Walker.

John Hurford came about 1800, and settled about four miles west of Mt. Pleasant. Robert Smith now owns the farm.

Robert Blackledge came from Washington county, Pa., in 1801, and located one and a half miles west of the village. His farm is now owned by Mary Michener.

James Jesse and Aaron Kinsey came in 1802-settled one mile west of Trenton.

Amasa Lipsey, from North Carolina, settled about half a mile west of Mount Pleasant, near where the Friends meeting house at Short Creek stands, in 1800. He remained on this farm until 1853, when he sold it to Samuel Griffith, to whose heirs it still belongs.

Jeremiah Patterson, from North Carolina, settled in 1805, 13 miles west of Mt. Pleasant. The farm is now the home of his grandson, Asahel H. Patterson.

In 1802 Mahlon Patterson came with his parents, Jeremiah and Faith Patterson, and settled on the land now owned by bis son, Mahlon Patterson.

Aaron Thompson came from Chester county, Pa., in 1802 or '3 and located some three and and a half miles northwest of Mt. Pleasant. The old homestead is now owned by his son, John Thompson.

David McMasters came from Virginia, and settled in the vil- lage in 1810. He was a Methodist minister, and resided in the first house ever built in that place. It was a log cabin, and stood on the lot now occupied by Thomas Horton's store, but a little cast of it.

Elisha Harris came from North Carolina, and located in Mt. Pleasant, July 6, 1804. He settled at the west side of the vil- lage. His son, Enoch, then a young man, came with him. They soon became prominently identified with the carly business in- terests of the place. Enoch brought with him apple seeds from North Carolina, which he planted, and therefrom grew the trees that made the first orchard in the township. This orchard was immediately south of the residence of William Humphreyville. The land on which it grew now belongs to Joseph Walker. The orchard is now cut down and cleared away.

NATHAN UPDEGRAFF.

Nathan Updegraff was a native of York county, Pa., but came to Ohio, with his wife, Ann Updegraff, in 1802, from Winches-

531

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

ter, Va., and settled ou Short creek, some two and a half miles northeast of where Mount Pleasant now stands.

On this creek he built the first mill in Mount Pleasant town- ship. The old mill still stands, but a new stone building has since been erected near it. He also started a paper mill and for many years manufactured paper, but finally it was converted into a flouring mill, and while thus used it was burnt down in 1866 or 1867. Its place, however, was soon supplied by a new stone building, which is now owned by John L. Barkhurst, who is doing a successful milling business.

The business enterprise and energy of Mr. Updegraff, was of incalculable benefit to the community in opening up and devel- oping the resources of this new section. He was a member of the constitutional convention that met in Chillicothe in 1802, to frame a constitution for the new state of Ohio.

He was one of the earliest and foremost of the Friends in Short creek Monthly meeting, and was for a long time its clerk. His family of children was large and most respectable, and their descendants are to be found in many states of the Union.

DANIEL UPDEGRAFF,

Son of Nathan Updegraff, was born in Virginia in 1789, and came with his parents to Ohio, when he was a lad. He was married in 1812, to Rebecca Taylor, only child of Jonathan and Ann Taylor. By this union they reared eight children, but three of whom now survive, viz: Mrs. Sarah E. Jenkins, widow of the late Prof. G. K. Jenkins, A. M., Hon J. T. Updegraff, now member of Congress, and D. B. Updegraff, the revivalist minis- ter of the Friends' church, all of whom with their families, live in Mount Pleasant. Mrs, Mendenhall, wife of the Hon. C. Men- denball and Mrs. Cattell, wife of Hon. I. D. Cattell, were also sisters, but both deceased some years ago.

David Updegraff, some time after his marriage, removed to Sinithifield township and located where the village of York now stands, which he laid out in 1815. In 1823, he removed with his family to his late residence, one mile west of Mount Pleasant, where he spent the remainder of his life.

He was a man of eminent ability and probity of character in his various business engagements of life and responsible finan - cial trusts. He was an esteemed elder in the church, and his sound judgment, clear convictions and executive abilities were of incalculable service to it. He was not a man of many words, and was most unassuming in his deportment. He carly espoused the cause of the oppressed, and was one of the first out- spoken anti-slavery men in the land, and voted with the first liberty party from conscientious convictions of duty.

Beloved by his friends, honored by the church and highly re- spected by all who knew him, he lived to the good old age of seventy-six. He died in Dec., 1864.

His wife, Rebecca T. Updegraff, was born in Loudon county, Va., in 1790, and was a minister of the gospel for fifty years, and as such was widely known, having traveled on missions among Friends in every part of the Union. She was a woman of supe- rior abilities, remarkable amiability and attractiveness of person and eminently devoted to the services of the christian cause. She survived her husband nearly four years.

SCHOOLS OF MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

There are in this township, four sub-districts for white and one for colored children, besides the union school in the village, and two fractional districts, one attached to Smithfield and the other to Warren township. The whole enumeration of youth of school age, for 1878, was 216; of these 31 were colored.

In 1850 a bachelor gentleman, named Rix Patterson, died, and by his will left a bequest of $5,012.17 to be invested as a perma- nent fund, to remain forever, the yearly interest of which was to be applied to the support of the common schools of the town- ship. This fund is managed by a duly appointed trustee.

The sehools of the township are in a high state of efficiency.

MOUNT PLEASANT VILLAGE.

The village of Mount Pleasant was laid out in 1804, by Robt. Carothers and Jesse Thomas, the eastern part being on the land of Carothers and the western part on the lands of Thomas. For the first few years its growth was slow, only a few log cabins being built, but during the war of 1812, it began to advance rap- idly for those days ; business and manufacturing establishments sprung up on every side. A bank was incorporated with a cap- I-G7-B. & J. Cos.

ital of $50,000, that managed its business honorably and suc- cessfully and promoted the general prosperity of the place.

There have been three additions made to the village since it was laid out in 1804. First, by Caleb Dilworth ; second, by Enoch Harris; third, by Israel French.

FIRST BUSINESS HOUSES IN MOUNT PLEASANT.

STORES.

The first store in the town was probably started by Enoch Harris in 1804. It was in a small log building at the west end of Main street, near where Alexander D. Humphreyville's cabi- net shop is situated. The house has long since been removed and the property is now owned by Joseph Walker.

The second store was started by Joseph Gill in 1806. It was located between Chambers' tin shop and the drug store. Mr. Gill was an enterprising, energetic business man, who besides carrying on the mercantile trade, ran a tannery, packed pork, farmed extensively and dealt largely in wild lands. His enter- prise aided greatly in developing the resources and business of the community. This old property now belongs to Frank Mitchell.

The third store was started by John Hogg in 1812. Mr. Hogg was a man possessed of great business abilities, and besides con- ducting a large mercantile establishment, he packed pork on a large scale, carried on a tannery and barness shop, &c. The property now belongs to his daughter, Mrs. Fogle.

HOTELS.

The first tavern was opened by Benjamin Scott in 1806. It stood opposite the Burriss House. The building has been long since removed and no other taken its place. The property now belongs to Charles McGonigal.

About the same time a Mr. Buchanan started another tavern in the building now occupied by David N. Milner as a harness shop. The bar-room is of hewed logs and is the part now used by Mir. Milner for his shop. In this room soldiers were enlisted and their bounties paid them in the war of 1812. The cupboard in which the bottles of liquors were kept is there yet, with the shelves and wooden doors, just as they were in 1812. It after- wards became the practice of hotel keepers to have glass doors to their liquor cupboards, perhaps that the bottles with their tempting contents might be in sight to sharpen the desire to taste. It was, however, not so with this.

PHYSICIANS, 1

The first physician was Dr. William Hamilton and the second one Dr. Isaac Parker.

BANKS.

The first banking institution was established in 1816, and called the Mount Pleasant Bank. Joseph Gill was president and Lewis Walker cashier. Enoch Harris sometime afterwards succeeded Mr. Walker as Cashier. This institution carried on a successful banking business until 1846, when it decided to wind up its business, and measures taken to that end; and by 1850 its affairs were all honorably settled. Its capital stock was $100,000, and Mr. Gill continued as its president from its com- mencement to its close.

MOUNT PLEASANT BRANCH OF THE STATE BANK OF OHIO.

This institution was organized in 1848, with a capital of $100,000. John Watkins was the first president, James II, Gill, member of the board of control, and Jonathan Binns, cashier. Mr. Watkins died in 1855, and was succeeded by John Hogg as president, who served as such until 1856, when by reason of ill health, he was succeeded by James H. Gill. Mr. Gill served until 1859, and was succeeded by Joseph Cope. Mr. Binns served the bank as cashier during the whole period of its exist- once.

After the passage by Congress of the National Banking Law, this bank ceased its general banking operations, and in 1865, adopted measures to close up its affairs, which is to be tiually completed January 1, 1880.

532

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK.

This bank was organized in 1866, with a capital of $175,000. The establishing of this institution immediately after the decision to close up the affairs of the Branch Bank, leaves no doubt that this was only a reorganization of that establishment on a basis to meet the requirements of the National banking law just passed by Congress. William Price was chosen president, and Jonathan Binns, cashier. In 1872, Dr. J. T. Updegraff snc- ceeded Mr. Price as president, and Isaac K. Radcliff succeeded Mr. Binns as cashier, which position he still holds. In 1877, Dr. Updegraff resigned his position as president, and was suc- ceeded by James H.Gill, who still retains the place.

All these banking institutions were under Quaker manage- ment, and honorably and successfully conducted the whole pe- riod of existence, a well merited tribute to the integrity and skill of that people in financial affairs,

BUSINESS HOUSES.

Mount Pleasant in 1879 contains 4 dry goods stores, 5 grocery stores, 1 drug store, 3 dress maker shops, 3 milliner stores, 1 hotel, 1 harness shop, 4 shoe maker shops, 3 blacksmith shops, 1 flouring mill, 5 churches, 1 cabinet and undertaker's shop.

THE SILK FACTORY OF MT. PLEASANT.

In 1841, about the time when the morus multicaulis fever pre- vailed, the highest in this vicinity, a Mr. Thomas White, an itinerant dentist, contemplating silk culture, received permission from John W. Gill, Esq., an extensive land owner, residing in the village of Mt. Pleasant, to set out a mulberry orchard, contain- ing twenty-five acres. As soon as the trees were large enough attention was turned to the propagation of silk worms.

In 1842 Mr. Gill erected a frame building for a cocoonery. This building was 18x40, and two stories high. A small brick, 20x30, which had been built some time prior, was also brought into requisition for the same purpose. In these houses the silk worm was hatched, nursed and allowed to spin its cocoons.

INTERIOR STRUCTURE.

In the interior of these cocooneries were found shelves about two feet apart along the walls, and reaching from the floor to the ceiling. The shelves were made by stretching retienlated cotton goods over wooden frames, which resembled a mosquito bar. The arrangement was such that these shelves could be slid back or forth, or removed from their places at pleasure. After the silk worm had grown to be about oue-halt inch in length they were laid on these stretchers and fed on the leaves of the mulberry, which were thrown or spread out over them for their consump- tion. The eggs were purchased in France. The silk worm is a fast breeder, generating twice a year. It was customary to al- low those that first appeared in the season to lay their eggs. With regular temperature of heat, the eggs, if undisturbed, will bring forth their kind. As soon as the proper time arrived they would be placed on these shelves as above described. When fully matured they instinctively climb for the purpose of spinning cocoons, in which, if left alone, they undergo the pupa or chys- alis change. At this particular season they were carefully watched, and as soon as a disposition of spinning was evinced, oak branches were thrown in upon the shelves. Upon these limbs they spun their cocoons. With five days spinning by them they would completely encase themselves.

HOW REELED.

As soon as they had finished their cocoons they were picked from the branches and deposited within a kettle containing boil- ing water. This process is followed for the purpose of killing or destroying the larvac. After this there is picked from these what is called the floss, which was done by hand, and then they were ready for reeling. There were two copper kettles, one placed within the other. The outside kettle being filled with steam, and the other containing liot soft water, occasioned by the steam surrounding its outer surface. These cocoons were then again inserted into the kettle and stirred about with a small broom, and in this manner they were enabled to secure the threads and draw them from the vessel to the reel. Great skill and care was necessarily exercised to make the threads even. When it had been recled and dried it was then ready for wind- ing on spools, after that was accomplished it underwent the double and twisted process, from three to five strands together. In this condition, or at this stage of the work, it was ready for

weaving into silk handkerchiefs, and was what is styled the raw silk. Silk noils were made from the floss into the article known as the knickerbocker woolens.

THE STYLES OF SILKS MADE AT THE FACTORY.

Silk velvet, hat flush, dress silks of various colors, ribbons and figured silks were woven here. The first figured silk made in the United States was manufactured in this establishment.

"DRAW-BOY LOOM."

These silks were woven by the old process, known as the "Draw-Boy Loom," the Jacquard loom not having been intro- dued as yet into this country. The first pattern made was the buckeye-burr, the color being a light buff. The figures in the piece were woven about an inch apart and a quarter of an inch in diameter. Henry Clay, who was the Whig candidate for Presi- dent in 1844, received a vest pattern off this very piece, from John W. Gill. It is also said that the voters of this factory, du- ring that election, all voted the Whig ticket printed on white silk manufactured in the establishment.

DESCRIPTION OF LOOM AND WEAVING.

The loom was three yards long and one yard wide, and was operated in the following manner :- By cords passing overhead from the heddle to a frame at the side of the loom, where the shed was made by a boy drawing the cords in regular succession. There were seventy-eight cords, which kept the draw-boy busy whilst the weaver threw the shuttle. They usually wove three yards, then stopped to clean off the warp or chain ; the weavers styled this "picking the parry." It was a season highly enjoyed by the draw- boys, who were relieved from their work for about an hour, and were permitted to recreate, amusing themselves by turning somersaults, wrestling, etc., while the weavers were engaged in cleaning the chain. In this way the figured silk was manufactured.

VELVET SILK.

The loom upon which the velvet was woven resembled the one above described, differing only in gearing. The warp used for silk was cotton, and immediately above the cotton chain was a silk warp. A brass wire was introduced between the silk and the cotton warp, after which four picks were thrown in to bind the cotton and silk chains. This process was repeated until three small wires had been thus introduced, then a thumb gauge knife was placed against the last wire inserted, so that the knife would rest on the centre of the first wire, after which it was drawn across the same, cutting the chain, and the wire pulled out. So in this way the process was continued until the warp was all consumed. The silk ends protruding from the cotton warp forms the fine plush found on the velvet.

HAT PLUSH

Is woven in the same manner as the velvet, with the exception of the use of heavier wires.

RIBBONS.

The ribbon looms then in use at this factory were nearly the same as the present style. The operation of them at that time was made entirely by hand ; since, steam has been applied. The loom was built nearly square. Eight distinct warps in the same loom ; the shuttles, which also numbered eight, were all thrown at the same operation with bnt one weaver. The shuttle more resembled the shape of a sunfish than anything else.

CONCLUSION.

The building used for the factory had been erected in the first place for a "salt house" for salting pork and stowing the same away. It was built by John W. Gill, who used it for that pur- pose several years prior to the morus multicaulis fever taken by himself and Thomas White. In the year heretofore mentioned it was converted into a silk factory. All the machinery for manufacturing the silk was made in the establishment. Three weavers were constantly employed and sometimes four. About twenty laborers, male and female, found employment here. John Fox, Jr., was foreman: In the fall of 1846 the factory was re- moved to Wheeling, and the silk culture excitement died out at Mount Pleasant. In a conversation with Mr. A. C. Hogue, the author obtained the above information.

533

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS.

There have been at various times several enterprises set on foot for the establishment and publication of newspapers and periodicals of one kind or other, which have been started here. but after a period of existence more or less brief, they have all ceased to exist, and no periodical has been published here for many years. From the want of care in preserving files of these papers, but a very imperfect history of their duration and the object of their mission can be obtained at this late day.

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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 184

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