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 195

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 195
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 195

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).

M. E. CHURCH-BLOOMFIELD.

This church, located at Bloomfield, was organized about 1828- 30. In 1842 the first church building was erected, which is still occupied by the congregation. It is a briek edifice, 42x32, and cost some $1,200. There were forty original members ; the pres- ent number (1879) is ninety. A Sunday school was established about 1844, with an enrollment of forty scholars. The present number is fifty. It has a library in connection with it.

M. P. CHURCH-BLOOMFIELD.

This church was organized October 10, 1871, in the Presbyte- rian Church, by the Rev. J. A. Morrow. Thirty-five members united with it on the occasion, David Hervey, Joseph Hervey and Samuel McCoy were chosen the first elders. Ebenezer Her- vey, J. B. Hervey, William H. Hervey, James Keys and Samuel McCoy were appointed trustees. In 1871-72 they built a house 32x52 at a cost of $4,000. On the completion of it, the trustees were discontinued, and the deacons performed their duties.

The new house was dedicated November 14, 1872, by Rev. Kennedy, of Steubenville. Rev. Jamison was their first pastor, who served them until April 10, 1876, since which time there has been only supplies. There is a Sabbath school, with fifty scholars, connected with the church.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM FERGUSON .- Mr. Ferguson was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1778. In 1802 he came to Wayne township and pur- chased land in section five, but returned to his native state and remained until 1803, when he came again and made a perma- nent settlement. After clearing some land and building a cabin, his next step was to purchase a still for making whisky, as that was the only staple article that would bring money at all times. This enterprise was continued for but a few years. Mr. Fergu- son then engaged in farming and followed that for the balance of his life. In 1818 he was elected justice of the peace, and re- mained in office until 1836. He died in 1868, on the farm he set- tled in 1803.

JAMES FERGUSON, a son of William Ferguson, was born on the old homestead in Wayne township, March 26, 1809. He was reared a farmer and received his education in the log school house of his time. At the age of twenty-eight years he mar- ried Miss Sarah Woods, by whom he has four children. Mr. Ferguson had two sons in the late war. John was captain of Company G., 43d O. V., and William was sergeant of the same company. Mr. Ferguson has represented the township in var- ious offices, and is one of the trustees at present.

SAMUEL FERGUSON was born on the old homestead in 1815. He was reared a farmer, and during his boyhood attended a subscription school during a few months in the winter, and in this way received a fair education. In 1840 he married Miss Martha Boyd, of Wayne township. They have nine children- seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Ferguson is the present owner of the old Ferguson homestead and resides there.

JOHN MOORE .- The subject of this sketch was born in Sa- line township, Jefferson county, in 1820, and is a descendant of one of the pioneers of that township. John was reared on the farm and received a good practical education. He is engaged in his chosen profession, that of farming and stock raising, and is devoting a great deal of his time to the raising of fine sheepand cattle, in both of which he aims to excel, and may be called one of the model farmers of this township, or rather of Jefferson county. His farm is finely improved and shows a good cultiva- tion. It is located near what is known as the Dorsey Flats.

GEORGE MAXWELL was a son of James Maxwell, one of the pioneers of Wayne, and a native of Pennsylvania. George was born near Bloomfield, February 24, 1826. He was reared a farmer and received a good common school education. He mar- ried Miss Mary Howard, January 1, 1867. They have one child, who was born December 29, 1867. On the morning of December 26, 1877, Mr. Maxwell left home to go to Steubenville, and while passing a train standing on the side track near Bloom- field, the engine of which train was blowing off steam, making a noise so great that he could hear nothing else, an eastern bound train, running at great speed, struck him and caused in- stant death. The news was soon carried to his family and friends, casting a gloom over the whole neighborhood, as Mr. Maxwell was a person highly respected by all who knew him. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and belonged to the Masonic order. His loss was felt by his brother members, both in the church and the lodge.

ROBERT PARKS .- Mr. Parks was born in Wayne township, March 26, 1800. Labon Parks, father of Robert, was a Vingin- ian and first came to Ohio as a soldier, being stationed at Fort Carpenter for some time, and was present there when the Jobn- son boys came in after their escape from the Indians. He came to Steubenville in 1797 and remained until 1800, when he moved to Wayne township. Robert married Miss Mary Hedges, daughter of John Hedges, of Wayne township. They have seven children-two sons and five daughters.

JOHN BELL, SR., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1804, and came to Jefferson county, Ohio, with his parents when a boy. They located in Wayne township, where Mr. Bell has re- mained ever since. He was brought up on the farm and re- ceived a limited education, as there was too much bard work to be done to allow of much schooling. In 1829, he married Miss Nancy Merryman, daughter of Nicholas Merryman. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living-five sons and two daughters. Mr. Bell is a farmer, and a very active man for his age. He resides ncar Bloomfield.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

JAMES REED,-Mr. Reed was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., April 14, 1816. He went to Richland county, Ohio, with his father, but after a time came to Jefferson county and located. He married Miss Mary Mansfield, daughter of Thomas Mans- field. They have three children. Mr. Reed's occupation was that of a farmer. He served as a justice of the peace for a num- ber of years, and in 1875, was elected county commissioner, and served with eredit to himself and to his county. He died De- eember 20, 1878. His son occupies the old homestsad at Union- port.

SAMUEL BLACKBURN Was born in December, 1813. His father was Anthony Blackburn, who came from Pennsylvania in 1800. Mr. Blackburn was brought up on the farm on which he now lives. In 1839. he married Miss Rachel Rolen, daughter of John Rolen, of Wayne township. They have had six children -- four sons and two daughters. Mr. Blackburn is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been for a number of years, and is a citizen well liked by all who know him.

JOHN COLE .- The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson county, in 1812. His father, Joshua Cole, eame from Pennsyl- vania in 1800, and first located at Richmond, this county. After remaining there for twelve years, he moved to Wayne, and en- tered section 19, where he built a home and brought up his family, consisting of eight children. John was the third son, and was brought up on the farm, and received a good common school education. In 1837 he married Miss Mary Merryman, daughter of Nicholas Merryman. They have had six children, but two are now dead. One son, Joshua P., was in the late war. Mr. Cole is a member of the Baptist Church ; he is one of the directors of the National Bank at Smithfield, and owns a part of the old homestead in Wayne township.

WILLIAM J. STARR .- Mr. Starr was born on the Starr home- stead, in Wayne township, in 1844. His father was one of the early settlers in Jefferson county, William was reared a farmer, and received a common school education. After the death of his father he took charge of the old homestead, and has remained there ever since. He is a very enterprising farmer and good citizen,

WILLIAM MERRYMAN was born in Wayne township, May 25, 1820. His father was Nicholas Merryman, who came from Ma- ryland in 1801, and located in Wayne township. William was raised on the farm, and has followed the occupation of farming all his life. In 1840 he married Miss Nancy Bell. They have had eight children, of whom five are living-Mary, Nicholas, Charles, Patterson and Sarah.

JARET MERRYMAN, son of Nicholas Merryman, was born in Wayne township, June 10, 1811. He was brought up on the farm, and educated at the subscription school of early times. Nov. 19, 1829, he married Miss Mary Jones. They moved to Harrison county and remained there eight years, when they returned to their native county, where they have lived ever since. They have eight children living-two sons being in the late war. Mr. Merryman is a member of the Baptist Church, and a respected citizen,

THOMAS McFERREN was born September 5, 1843, He is a son of Thomas and grandson of James McFerren, who came from Scotland in 1783, and first located in New York, but came to Jefferson connty in 1802, and located in Wayne township on land now owned by the subject of this sketch. Thomas is a farmer, and has a fine improved farm.

JAMES P. HOPKINS-Mr. Hopkins was born on the farm on which he now resides, August 8, 1820. In 1843 he married Miss Cordelia Devall, who died May 21, 1849. In 1851 he mar- ried Miss Isabel Nelson of Belmont county, and by that mar- riage has cight children, six sons and two daughters, all resid- ing in Jefferson county.

GEORGE W. STRINGER, was born in Pease township, Belmont county, in 1824, and came to Jefferson county with his parents in 1836. The Stringers were a pioncer family of Belmont county, coming there in Indians times, and their descendants remained in the vicinity ever since. George W. was reared a farmor and still follows that honorable occupation, and has a fino improved farm,

I-71-B. & T. Cos.

ANDERSON VERMILLIN was born in Smithfield township, Jet- ferson county, in 1849, and is a son of Charles Vermillin, an old citizen of Smithfield township. Mr. Vermillin is a married man and follows farming as an occupation. His postoffice ad- dress is Smithfield.

JOHN G. HAMMOND was born in Wayne township in 1844. He is a son of Thomas Hammond who was also born in Wayne on the Hammond homestead. John was reared a farmer and received a good education. He married Miss M. Armstrong, daughter of Robert Armstrong of Bloomfield, in 1872. They have four children-Thomas O., Robert W., Cordelia M., and Frank W.

ROBERT SNODGRASS was born in Salem township in 1813. His father, James Snodgrass, eame from Laneaster county, Pa., in 1810, and settled in Salem. Robert received his education in the common schools, and was raised a farmer. He married Miss Hannah McFerren, daughter of James McFerren. They have two children living-Isabel and James L., both married.

JOSHUA ROWLAND -- Mr. Rowland was born in Maryland, May 4, 1803, and came to Jefferson county with his father, Thomas Rowland, in 1807, and located on the farm on which he now lives. He married Miss Rebecca Tipton, daughter of Luke Tipton, a pioneer of Wayne township. They have one son, Shadrach, who lives with his parents. Mr. Rowland is a farmer and lives near Bloomfield station.

JAMES MATHER was born in Scotland, June 2, 1812, and eame to America with his father's family in 1822, and located in Wayne township. James was reared a farmer and received a fair education. In January, 1837, he married Miss Nancy Cope- land, daughter of James Copeland. They have five children- three sons and two daughters. Mr. Mather is a farmer and fine stock raiser, and has a fine farm near Bloomfield.

JOSEPH MONARY, son of John McNary, was born in Wayne township in 1845. He was raised on the farm and educated in the common schools. In October, 1866, he married Miss Nancy Mclaughlin, daughter of James McLaughlin. They have two children : Margaret, born September 2, 1867, and Frank, born January 1, 1879.

. HENRY RALSTON .- Mr. Ralston was born on the Ralston homestead, in Wayne township, March 10, 1833. He was brought up on the farm and received a common school edneation. In 1858, he married Miss Eliza MeNary, who lived until she had two children and then died. He then married Mary Vorhees, who has also bore him two children. Mr. Ralston is a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Baptist church.

R. P. MANSFIELD was born in Wayne township, August 9, 1835, and is a son of Edward and Mary Mansfield, and grandson of Thomas Mansfield, one of the pioneers of Wayno township. Mr. Mansfield was raised on the farm and received his educa- tion at the common schools of the township. At the outbreak of the war ho enlisted in Company E, 52d regiment, O. V., and remained during the war. In 1874, he married Miss Susan Long, daughter of James Long. Mr. Mansfield is a farmer and stock raiser, and occupies the Thomas Mansfield homestead, near the eastern boundary of Wayne.

R. J. MANSFIELD. - Tho subject of this sketch was born in Wayne township, June 2, 1839, and is a son of Edward and Mary Mansfield. Ho received his education in the common schools and in starting out in life for himself chose farming as the best means of earning a livelihood. In 1867, he married Miss L. Black, of Harrison county. They have four children- two sons and two daughters. Mr. Mansfield ocenpies a portion of the old homestead of his father, in Wayne township.

JOHN W. MANSFIELD, son of James Mansfield, was born in Wayne township, September 18, 1848. He was brought up on the farm and received his education at Hopedale Academy. Ho married Miss Sarah J. Moores, daughter of Col. John Moores, March 8, 1872. They have three children-Mattie, John and James, Mr. Mansfield is engaged in farming.

JAMES R. MANSFIELD, son of James and grandson of Thomas Mansfield, was born in Wayno township, June 20, 1831, Ho

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

was reared a farmer andeducated in the common schools. April 22, 1853, he married Miss L. Coe, daughter of Moses Coc, of Island Creek township. They have four children-Ida C., Els- worth E., Larretta E., and James C.

JACOB MANSFIELD, is a son of Samuel Mansfield, and was born in Wayne township, October 19, 1844. He was reared a farmer and received his education in the common schools. October 19, 1869, he married Miss Sarah C. Burriss. They have four chil- dren-three sons and one daughter.

THE HERVEY FAMILY.

The geneaology of the Hervey family, or at least one branch of it, is as follows : Taking it as a basis, Robert Hervey, of Ire- land, father of William Hervey, Sr., who was born in County Down, Ireland, in the year 1740, near Lisburn. In 1770, he took passage in the ship, " East of Donegal," from Belfast to Amer- ica, as per certificate of passage dated May 17, and landed at Philadelphia, July 24, of the same year. After his arrival ho lived with his uncle McCormic in Chester county, Pa. In 1773 he was married to Sarah Hudson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Hudson. Shewas born the 14th of May, 1753. Date of death not recorded. William and Sarah Hervey had a family of nine children, six boys and three girls, Elinor, the oldest, was born Jannary 15, 1774, and died in her infancy. William, the second child, was born October 9, 1775, and at this date his father came from Chester county, Pa., over the mountains to Washington county, Pa., and located and moved his family in the fall of the same year. William married Susannah Hawthorn, near Taylorsville, Washington county, and moved out to Jeffer- son county, Ohio, in the year 1807, and located on section 27 in Wayne township, where he encountered all the trials and hard- ships and dangers of a pioneer settler. There was born to him nine children-five boys and four girls: James, Joseph, Wil- liam, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Robert, John and Susannah. James has long been a resident of Kansas, and has a family of five boys and two girls. Joseph lives on the old homestead and has a family of five boys and three girls. William H. lives in Unionport, Wayne township, where he purchased a farm and mill property in 1838. About 1852 a survey for a railroad was made through this property. He then erected a store building, and in association with his brother John, laid out and surveyed the town plot of Unionport; William is still a resident here, and resides on the old farm; he married Mary MeNary, daughter of Judge Samuel MeNary, in the year 1838, and had a family of two boy's and one girl ; the oldest son, Samuel A., was a soldier in the late war, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison, and has never been heard of since, but is supposed to have died from prison cruelty. George W., the other son, mar- ried Laura J. Campbell, of Harrison county, Ohio, September, 1878, Mary, the daughter, married J. Ross Reed, and lives in Unionport. Sarah married Hugh Hervey, of Pittsburgh, and moved to Logan county, Ohio, where they reared a family of four girls and two boys; she died May 12, 1878. Hannah died at the age of nineteen, unmarried. Mary married Daniel Mc-

Kee, of Harrison county, Ohio. Robert C., died at the age of twenty-six, unmarried. John married Ann Parkhill, and had a family of two boys and seven girls, and now resides in eastern Virginia. David, Sr., another son of William, Sr., was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1794; he married Elizabeth Archer, of Washington county, and came to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1817, and located on section 15, in Wayne town- ship, near the town of Bloomfield; he lived on this farm for fifty- four years, and then removed to Bloomfield, where he lived a retired lite until his death, May 12, 1879. He was an active and zealous worker in the church, and held the office of elder in the United Presbyterian church, of Piney Fork, for forty years, and was in the same official position in the United Presbyterian church, of Bloomfield, from its organization until his death. His careful and mature judgment marked his course through life, and established him a prudent and safe council. The issue of his marriage was seven boys and four girls: Ebenezer, John, Da- vid, Robert, Joseph, James, Susannah, Esther, Nancy and Mary. Of these, Ebenezer, John, David, James, Esther and Mary, re- side in Jefferson county, and have families. Ebenezer married Margaret McNary, and had a family of two girls and one boy ; the son was a soldier in the 126th O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. John resides in Wayne township, and owns the old homestead ; he has a family of eight children. Da- vid and James own property adjoining the old homestead, and have large families, of whom none are married. Mary resides

in Bloomfield, and has one ehild. Esther resides in Harrison county ; she married John Leeeh, and has a family of five girls and one boy -- one daughter married Mr. H. Braden, of Missouri. Susannah married N. M. McCoy, died and left one child. There is now of these two pioneers, William and David Hervey, of tho third generation-as traced in family history -- a representation of more than fifty children and grand-children, all residents of the same township, where they first settled. The following ac- count of the reunion of the Hervey family, held at Bloomfield, November 19, 1878, was taken from the Steubenville papers :

FAMILY REUNION.

On the 19th inst., at Joseph Hervey's, near Bloomfield, was held the second annual reunion of that branch of the Hervey family known to be descendants from Robert Hervey, of Scot- land. The occasion was one of unusual interest, combining with it all the requisites of an enjoyable season, both for old and young. At a very early hour began tho arrival of friends and invited guests, and so continued until the assemblage numbered nearly one hundred persons, At ten o'clock the meeting was called to order by appointing John B. Hervey chairman, and G. W. Hervey, secretary. According to the arranged programme, Rev. David Hervey, of West Va., conducted the devotional exer- cises, after which the president, Mr. John B. Hervey, delivered the opening address-"A Welcome"-which was calculated to make all feel that they were for the present, at least, one nation, one kindred, one family. David Hervey, Sr., of Bloomfield, was assigned family history, and spoke at some length, giving a pretty concise and full history of his ancestors as learned from his father, which carried us back to near the close of the sixteenth eentury, when Robert Hervey, the progenitor used as the basis of this family, is supposed to have emigrated from Scotland to the North of Ireland during some of the Scotch persceutions. A number of ancient papers were produced, among these church certificates and his father's certificate of passage on the ship " East of Donnegal" from Belfast, Ireland, to Philadelphia, in the United States, dated April 17, 1770, and signed by Captain James Blair. He also related many incidents of pioneer life of the tomahawk and scalping knife, so familiar to those of the carlier settlements of Pennsylvania and Ohio. This, the young- est of a large family, and the only living representative of the third generation can stand but a short time at the head of this family. His mind is sound, and reasoning-power good, though far advanced in years and frail in body.

Rev. David Hervey, of West Virginia, the oldest representa- tive of another branch of the Hervey family, and second consin of David, of Jefferson county, Ohio, was by invitation present, accompanied by one of his daughters. He read quite a lengthy history of the family and state, which he had prepared for pub- lication in a work soon to be gotten up in the interest of West Virginia. His extempore speech on the war history of Virginia and his association with it while amusing, was at the same time caleulated to aronse a spirit of patriotism in the breast of every loyal citizen. At this juncture of the proceedings the chairman of a committee that had been in session in another part of the house was introduced, and announced dinner.

The afternoon meeting was opened by an address from Wil- liam H. Hervey, Superintendent of the City Hospital in Cin- einnati, showing what would become of the honest and indus- trious youth thrown upon the cold charities of the world. Joseph Hervey, of Bloomfield, was the next speaker and gave a brief rehearsal of modern history. Communications from the follow- ing persons were read by the Secretary : William Hervey, of Chicago; John Hervey of Virginia : James O Hervey of Lexing- ton, Kentucky and W. R. Hervey, of Louisville, Kentucky. The latter being an extended history, introducing a link which had for many year been lost sight of. W. R. Hervey commenced the practice of law in 1836 ; at a later date, through the solicitations of a number of leading Whigs, Mr. Clay among the number, he assumed the editorial management of the Lexington Intelli- gencer. He enjoyed the entire confidence of Mr. Clay, and was honored with his warmest friendship to the close of that illus- trious statesman's life. He is now in the possession of the most valuable relic of that great man-the original manuscript of a speech delivered by him, and the only speech which Mr. Clay ever wrote out in full, and which Mr. Clay presented to him a short time before his death as a mark of his personal friendship and esteem. In 1848 when General Taylor received the nomi- mation for the Presideney over Mr. Clay, he withdrew from the press and accepted the tellership in the Northern Bank of Ken- tucky. In 1856 he was elected Clerk of the Louisville Chancery

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Court ; at the breaking out of the rebellion he was appointed a member of the board of enrollment for the 5th Congressional District of Kentucky, at the close of the war he was tendered the position of cashier of the United States Depository at Louis- ville, which he accepted and held for ten years, when he was. appointed Special Agent of the Treasury Department for the examination of all the Sub-Treasuries and Depositories in the United States. Rev. Jamison, of Hopedale, was called upon and made some very appropriate remarks, touching his rela- tionship as minister with the majority of those present. Fol- lowing this was a cane presentation by the little boys to their grandfather, David Hervey, Sr. William Hervey of Cincinnati represented the boys in a neat and well-timed speech. "Build on your own foundation," a charge to the youth, by David A. Her- vey. This hewed the corners off the eulogies on name. The Valedictory by Miss Nannie Leech, was wellreceived and spoke highly of her literary culture. The Bloomfield U. P. Choir conducted by N. M. McCoy, furnished some very appropriate and well rendered selections of music. There were other exer- cises meritorious and worthy of mention, but time and space for- bids. COMMITTE.

UNIONPORT, November 29th, 1878.

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

ERECTED JUNE 3, 1807.

This township contains thirty six square miles, and is iden- tical with township 10, range 3 of the Steubenville congres- sional land district. It is bounded on the north by Ross town- ship, on the east by Island creek, on the south by Wirne town- ship, and on the west by Springfield township and Harrison county. It is drained on the north by town fork of Yellow creek, and on the south by Cedar Lick, Clay Lick, Burks and Lease's runs, tributaries to Grass creek. Water is abundant and the soil generally good, although subject to numerons deep ravines.

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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 195

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