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 207

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 207
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 207

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 church was organized prior to 1837 at the house of John Winters, and in 1837 Mr. Winters donated a lot for the purpose of building a church, and the same year a small frame house was erected. The dimensions of the house are 18x20 feet. The congregation soon grew too large for the building, and in 1847 it was resolved to build a larger and more commodious place of worship, so an addition was built, making it about 36x40 feet, but unfortunately the congregation soon took the back ward track, and the church became deserted, and now all that remains of the once flourishing congregation is one member, and the old church edifice only serves as a landmark of the past.

LONG'S M. E. CHURCH.

This probably was the first Methodist Church organized in Cross Creek, and the organization was effected between 1803 and 1807. This church was an offspring from the Episcopalian Church in the neighborhood. Rev. J. B. Finley preached here in 1813, and also Rev. A. Mcilroy the same year. It is impos- sible to obtain any reliable records of this church, as such a thing has never been kept. The members have worshiped here for nearly three-quarters of a century, and in that time but lit- tle progress has been made. The church is now in a more pros- perous condition than it has been for years. The building is of brick.

SCHOOLS.

The first settlers of Cross Creek were men who appreciated the value of knowledge, and were disposed to gratify the desire of their children in obtaining it. We therefore find schools among the earliest institutions in the township, and one of the rude log buildings stood in 1804, near where No. 4 school house now stands, on land now owned by Mrs. Usher Stark. The first teacher was an Irishman by the name of Green.

In District No. 1 a school was taught by a man named Evans, in a log cabin, in 1807. In 1809 a subscription school was taught in the Long settlement, and a Mr. Morrow was the first teacher. Here the ox-gad was used on the pupils instead of moral suasion. David Boyd was second teacher. The subscrip- tion price was one dollar and a half for three months. About 1806 we find a school taught by Richard Mccullough in district five. As the township became settled schools sprang up in dif- ferent parts until the entire township was dotted with school- houses of the latest architecture and modern improvements, and to-day Cross Creek can boast of the best school buildings in Jef- ferson county, outside of Steubenville. We failed to get the school statistics for the present year, as the record has been so badly kept.

NEW ALEXANDRIA.

This place derives its name from the former proprietor, Alex- ander Smith, who laid out the town in 1831. He was the father of Alexander Smith, the present sheriff of Jefferson county. The town is situated on the south side of Cross creek township, Wells township line making its southern boundary. First . hotel was kept by Matthew Thompson, in 1820.

The first church erected was the Methodist Episcopal. This place has never been noted for its manufacturing or merchantile pursuits, but has commanded a fair trade. In 1871 it was in-

corporated, and in April of that year held the first election, with the following results : For Trustees, John Johnson, Charles Fellows and Charles Wallace ; for Marshall, J. D. Golden. The present business of the place consists of three stores, three black- sinith and wagon shops, one shoemaker; there is also one attor- ney-at-law, J. W. McCann, one physician, two churches and one school ; there is no hotel at present. The town contains about one hundred inhabitants. Matthew Thompson kept the first store, and was also the first postmaster, Alexander Smith star- ted a hotel and store in 1831. Prior to 1831, Alexandria was known by the name of "Tempo, " called so from a temperance hotel being kept here by Mr. Thompson, such a thing being very unusual in those times.

WINTERSVILLE.

Wintersville was laid out by John Winters about 1831, although the first house in the place had been built by David Freelin, some time before. Mr. Winters laid out the town and built the first frame house, for a hotel, James McCoy doing the carpenter work. Mr. Winters also kept the firststore. The sec- ond hotel was kept by Frank Reynolds, and the third by a man named Lyle. Robert McCoy kept the first postoffice, and also kept the second store in Wintersville. Mr. Priest was also among the early inerchants. In 1840, Wintersville had a popu- lation of 107, and to-day it will not run over 75, and is going downwards. The present business consists of three small gro- ceries, two blacksmith and wagon shops, and has one doctor, one preacher and a postmaster. Its close proximity to Steubenville renders it unfit for business. There is one 'Methodist church in the vicinity.

HOLMES MILL POSTOFFICE.

This place was almost unknown until the railroad was com- pleted, when Thomas Holmes started a small store and post- office, he being postmaster. The railroad station here is called Smithfield Station. Mr. Holmes kept the position as postmas- ter until 1873, when Mr. A. McManns was appointed. The business consists of a grist mill, blacksmith shop, and one small store.

IDLEWILD ENCAMPMENT NO. 199, I. O. O. F,

This was instituted at New Alexandria, on the 17th of Sep- tember 1875, with the following named Patriarchs as charter members : William D. Fell, W. J. McCann, David N. Long, David T. Harrah, David M. Scott, Thomas Starter, Benjamin F. Matthews, and their successors legally and duly elected, with W. J. McCann, C. P .; and D. M. Long, scribe.

WILDWOOD LODGE, NO. 590, I. O. O. F.

This lodge was instituted at New Alexandria on the 25th of July 1874 with the following charter members. W. J. McCann, J. L. Puntney, D. M. Long, D. M. Scott, C. Branfass, D. F. Harrah, Isaac Martin, Martin Solesby, Geo. W. Fellows, William D. Fell, N. B. Buckingham, Nathan McGrew, James Hyndman, and their successors duly elected, with J. L. Puntney, N. G .; and D. M. Long, recording secretary. Present membership forty-five. This lodge meets every Saturday evening.

TOPOGRAPHY. .

The surface of this township is diversified, and affords fine scenery in nearly every part.

The soil is good, and the water facilities unsurpassed. Cross creek, with its tributaries, flow through the central portion of the township and affords power for running numerous mills,

The health of the township is generally good, and persons who have lived sixty or seventy years within its bounds, bid fair to live many more, and go to sleep peacefully at last as much from sheer old age as any other cause. As has been stated, the first set- tlers here were almost entirely sturdy Irish immigrants, and they were, at least as is far as known at present, the first to explore the then almost trackless wilderness, and brave the dangers and hardships of pioneer life, in a country abounding only in savage beasts, and still more savage men ; pioneers, in every sense of the word, who pushed forward and opened up to future genera- tions the beautiful country now settled by a prosperous and en- lightened people, and have gained for themselves names in his- tory, such as will ever be gratefully remembered by their de- scendants, who to-day occupy the very ground on which they endured so many hardships, braved so many perils, and finally

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

triumphed over all, and lived to see their rude log cabins give place to more pretentious structures, and themselves and chil- dren happy and prosperous in the land of their adoption.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

RICHARD EVANS .- Mr. Evans was born in Wales in 1829, and came to America in 1857. He located in Steubenville, where he went to work as a common laborer, and by his industry ac- cumulated sufficient means to buy himself property on Market street. He then went into the butchering business, which he carried on with success long enough to enable him to purchase a farm; his health failing him, he moved to the farm he now oc- cupies. Mr. Evans was married in his native country, but his wife died after bearing him two children, who both died also, with scarlet fever. October 31, 1864, Mr. Evans married Miss Warren, of Wintersville, and they have two daughters. Mr. Evans is a very enterprising farmer, and does more toward pro- moting agricultural interests than any man in Cross creek. He has a beautiful farm, and devotes much attention to the raising of fine stock, and has the finest herd of Alderney cattle in east- ern Ohio.

WILLIAM MCELROY .- William McElroy was a native of Ire- land, but came to this country when only six years of age, with his father, who located in Pennsylvania. When the war between the colonies and England commenced, William was a very young man, but he enlisted and remained during the entire war. After its close he settled in Virginia, and remained there until the whites began to cross over into the northwestern terri- tory, when he too crossed the Ohio river and made his way out to section twenty-four in Cross Creek townsbip, cutting his way through the woods from Steubenville. He remained on his first · clearing for a few years, when he moved on the farm which is now owned by his grandson. He had but one child, a son, James, who moved to Mederia county, Ohio, where he reared a large family. William, son of James McElroy, lived with his grand-, father, and now occupies the old homestead. He married a Miss Patterson, and has a family. He is an enterprising man, and the only one in the family remaining in the country. William, Sr., lived to be one hundred years of age.

WILLIAM MCELROY, son of James, and grandson of William McElroy, who were pioneers of Jefferson county, was born in Cross Creek townsbip, April 15, 1815. He was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools of the township. He mar- ried a Miss Patterson, of Jefferson county. The McElroys were of Irish origin, and came to America before the Revolutionary

war. William, the grandfather ot the subject of this sketch, served as a soldier during the war, and after its close lived for a while in Virginia, before settling in Jefferson county ; he was a neighbor of David Greathouse, who tried to persuade him to ac- company the party who murdered the Logan family, but this Mr. McElroy refused to do, greatly to his honor. The McElroy family have always been good citizens and highly esteemed by their neighbors.

JACOB H. BICKERSTAFF was born in Cross Creek in 1828. He is a son of A. Bickerstaff, and grandson of the pioneer Bicker- staff, of wbom mention is made in another part of this work. Mr. Bickerstaff learned the trade of a plasterer, and follows it for a livelibood. He married Miss Hukle, of Cross Creek town- ship.

THOMAS ROBERTS was born in Harrison county, in 1822, and came to Jefferson county with his father, William Roberts, in 1827. He was raised on the farm, and edu- cated in the common schools of the county, and attended Richmond College two terms. In 1850 he married a Miss Mar- tin, who died November 12, 1864. In January, 1866, he married Miss Jane Watt ; he has five children. Mr. Roberts is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church and and a very enterprising man. He is a farmer and coal dealer.

DAVID ENGLAND .- David England was born in Cross Creek township in 1809. His father, Isaac England, was a pioneer in this county. Mr. England was reared on the farm that he now owns and occupies, and received a fair education in his boyhood. In 1839, be married Miss McGrew. They have four children

living and three dead, Mr. England is one of the oldest native born citizens in Cross Creek township and is a man highly es- teemed by all who have any acquaintance with him.

WILLIAM WHITE was born in Cross Creek township in 1825. He is a son of Thomas and Nancy White, who came from Fay- ette county, Pa., in 1801 and located in Cross Creek, and there remained until their death. They were of Irish descent. Wil- liam was brought up on the farm and received a fair education. February 4, 1861, he married Mary S. McCoy, daughter of James McCoy, of Cross Creek. They have four children : Thomas T. H., Fannie F., Nannie A. and Maud B. Mr. White is a farmer, occupying the old homestead, and a member of St. James' Epis- copal Church.

ANDREW HERALE,-Mr. Herale was born in Germany in 1832, and came to this country in 1859. He first located in Connecti- cut, and lived there about a year, when he came to Steubenville and went to work at common labor in the rolling mill, where he accumulated enough to purchase the farm on which he now re- sides. He is an enterprising man and has a fine farm, and is always ready to interest himself in any enterprise by which he or his family may be benefited.

JOHN CASSEL was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1809, and came to this country with his father, William Cassel, when a small boy. His father was one of the representative men of this county, and served as commissioner for several years with honor to himself and credit to the county. John, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on the farm and received a fair edu- cation. He is now engaged in farming, and has a finely im- proved farm, and, we may say, is one of the leading farmers in the township.

ANDREW HUTTERLY .- Mr. Hutterly was born in Switzerland in 1824, and emigrated to America in 1854, and located in Steu- benville, where he carried on the wholesale liquor trade until 1875, when he moved to Cross Creek township, where he now resides, and is engaged in the cultivation of grapes and the man- ufacture of native wines. He bas fifty acres of a vineyard and all the facilities for making good wines. He is an enterprising citizen, and has his place finely improved.

L. R. ARMSTRONG .- Mr. Armstrong was born in Wood county, . Ohio, June 24, 1834. He was reared a farmer, and received bis education at the common schools. In 1859 he married Miss Kirk, of Wintersville. Mr. Armstrong has been superintendent of the county infirmary two terms, and during his time of ser- vice managed the institution with entire satisfaction to the cit- izens of Jefferson county. He is now engaged in farming in Cross Creek township, and is a very enterprising man.

JOSEPH PORTER was born in Cross Creek township in 1830, and is the son of John Porter, one of the carly settlers here. He was brought up on the farm, and received a fair education. During the late war he enlisted and served his country for some time. On his return home he engaged in farming, which occu- pation he is still engaged in. He is an energetic farmer, and has a good improved farm.

CAPTAIN GEORGE D. STONE was born in Cross Creek township, October 10, 1829. He was reared a farmer and educated at home. At the commencement of the late war he enlisted in company HI, 40th O. V. I., October, 1861. He was elected second lientenant and was mustered on November 19, 1861. He was engaged in some of the hotest battles, and was promoted to the captainey for gallant conduct, and served through the entire war with honor to himself and bis country.

WILLIAM STONE was born in Cross Creek township in 1834. He was brought up on the farm and received a good education. In 1861 he married Miss Sarah E. Dantz ; they have four chil- dren. Mr. Stone enlisted in the one hundred day's service, dur- ing the late war, in company E., 157th regiment. He enlisted May, 1864, and was mustered out September, 1864. He is now engaged in farming in Cross Creek township.

ARMSTRONG MALEY .- Mr. Maley was born in Steubenville, and is the son of James Maley, and old settler in this county. He received a good education, and not liking city life, con- cluded to engage in farming, so moved out to the farm he

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

now occupies. He is one of the most extensive farmers in Jef- ferson county, and owns about six hundred and forty acres of improved land.

JOHN FOSTER was a native of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, came to this county in 1808, with his family, which con- sisted of his wife and eight children, six sous and two daughters. Mr. Foster departed this life in 1832. David, one of his sons, was an early manufacturer of woolen goods in this county, and carried on that branch of enterprise for several years ; he went to California during the gold excitement, and died at sea while returning home. His wife, whose name was Johnson, still sur- vives him.

ROBERT STARK was born in Jefferson county, and is of a pioneer family, Mr. Stark was reared on the farm and received a good education. He is an energetic farmer, and one of the representative men of the county. He has held several offices, and is at present infirmary director, which position be fills with entire satistation. Mr. Stark has a fine farm, which is one of the best in the county.

JOHN STARK .- Mr .Stark was born in Cross Creek township in 1825. He was brought up on the farm, and received a good common school education. He married Miss U. Sproule of Sa- line township, October 21, 1858; they have four children living and one dead. Mr. Stark was a good citizen, and all who knew him appreciated his good qualities. He died November 21, 1870, leaving his wife and family to mourn a loss felt by the whole community.

JOSEPH MCCONNELL was born in Cross Creek township in 1824. His father, Robert McConnell, came from Chester county, Pa., in 1811, and settled near where Joseph now lives. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared a farmer and received his educa- tion at the common schools. In 1858, he married Miss Mary Thompson, who died in 1868. In 1873, he married Rebecca Mc- Clure, of Wintersville. Mr. McConnell is an enterprising farmer and a very good citizen.

NATHANIEL PORTER .- The subject of this sketch was born in Cross Creek township in 1827. His father was John Porter and a soldier in the war of 1812. Nathaniel was brought up a farmer, which occupation he is now engaged in. He learned the carpen- ter trade, but did not follow it to any extent. He married, in 1857, Sarah Ekey, daughter of Samuel Ekey. She died and he afterwards married Mrs. Margaret McFarlin. During Morgan's raid through this section, Mr. Porter was taken prisoner by Morgan, but was released without injury after one day's cap- tivity.

THOMAS THOMPSON was born in Jefferson county and is the son of one of the early settlers here. He received a good prac- tical education and was brought up on the farm. At the out- break of the late war he enlisted and served his country until it closed. He then engaged in the mercantile business with Mr. Graham, of New Alexandria, where he still continues. They are an enterprising firm and do a large business.

THOMAS STRAND is a native of Jefferson county and the son of one of the pioneers. He was reared on the farm and has spent his entire life as a farmer. He is now living in Steuben- ville township, but was formerly a citizen of Cross Creek, in which township he still owns a fine farm. He is an energetic farmer and a very congenial man, liking nothing better than to talk over old pioneer times. He was born in 1811, and has never lived outside of his native county.

JOSEPH DUNN .- Mr. Dunn was born in Cross Creek township in 1826, and is the son of Joseph Dunn, one of the old pioneers of this county. He was reared on the farm and received his ed- ucation at the common schools of his native county. He is now engaged in farming on the old homestead of his father, and living in the same house in which he was born. Mr. Dunn is a gentle- man highly respected and esteemed by all who .come in contact with him.

WILLAM EKEY was born in Crosss Creek township, December 24, 1824; and was a son of Samuel, and grandson of John Ekey. He was raised on the farm and received his education at the common schools. He married Miss Hook of his native town-

ship ; they had one child, a son. Mr. Ekey died July 20, 1878 much regretted by all who knew him; he was a devoted chris- tain and a good citizen.

MATTHEW EKEY was born in Cross Creek township, and is a son of Peter Ekey, a pioneer of this township, who is probably the oldest settler now living in the vicinity. Mathew was brought up on the farm, and received a liberal education, and like his father is energetic and enterprising. September 3, 1863, he married Miss L. McCullongh ; they have three children, Dora, Emma, and Frank, Mr. Ekey is engaged in farming near Alexandria Station.

ROBERT EKEY, son of Samnel and grandson of John Ekey, was born in Cross Creek township in 1823. He was reared a farmer and educated at the common schools. In 1852 he married Miss Nancy Hanlon, daughter of Allen Hanlon; they have two children, a son and daughter; the daughter married James Stark. Mr. Ekey is engaged in farming and resides on the old Ekey homestead.

REV. JOHN EKEY. - Mr. Ekey is a son of Andrew and Nancy Ekey. He was reared on the farm and received a good educa- tion. When young he manifested a great desire to become a minister of the M. E. Church, he having been raised in that faith. His desire was gratified, and he was educated and or- dained as a minister of the Gospel. His parents were devoted members of the church and the founders of the Ekey M. E. Church.

RUDOLPH HOOK .- Mr. Hook is a son of Jonathan Hook, who came from Maryland in 1814, and located on the farm now owned by his son Rudolph. Mr. Hook was reared a farmer and received a good common school education. He has spent his entire life on the farm now occupied by him. He has a very interesting family, most of whom are grown up to be men and women.

SAMUEL DINSMORE was born in Fayette county, Pa., March 17, .1801, and came to Jefferson county with his father in 1817, and located on the farm now owned by his son William. Mr. Dins- more was reared a farmer and educated at the common schools. He married Miss Francis Leonard. They had eleven children -- seven sons and four girls. His wife died in December, 1869, and he followed her March 1, 1879. He was a citizen highly es- teemed and respected.

O. J. WILLIAMS was born in Cross Creek, July 30, 1820. His father, John Williams, came from Lancaster county, Pa., in 1803, and purchased land and located here Mr. Williams was brought up on the farm and received a liberal education. In 1861, he married Miss Eliza Decker ; they have a large family of children. Mr. Williams has a good farm lying near the city limits of Steubenville, and is a man much thought of by all who know him.

MRS. MARY OLIVER, daughter of Thomas Mansfield, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Feb. 17, 1794. Her parents came to Ohio when she was about two years of age, and located in Wayne township, where she was brought up. Her father, like most of the early settlers, was poor. and consequently unable to give his children much education. In 1818 she married Henry Oliver, a farmer and very respectable gentleman. They had two children, but both are now dead.

JOHN MARLIN was born in Germany in 1828, and came to America in 1852. He learned the stone-mason trade, and worked at it until he accumulated sufficient means to buy him a fine farm, joining the city limits of Steubenville. Hc has his farm under good cultivation, and is the owner of several houses and lots in' the city, all carned by honest industry and econ- omy.

WESLEY PERMAR is a son of John Permar, who came from Washington county, Pa., in 1806, and purchased the land now owned by Wesley. He was a machinist, and it is said built the first threshing machine that was built in Jefferson county. He was a man of great enterprise and ambition, and done great good among the early settlers; he died in 1846. Wesley, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1823, and is much like his father, aiming to be among the leading farmers, in trying to promote the interests of agriculture,

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

DAVID JOHNSON was born in Smithfield township in 1837. His father, Thomas Johnson, was a native of Ireland, and emi- grated to America in 1809. David was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of Jefferson county. With the exception of fifteen years that he was engaged in the mercan- tile business, Mr. Johnson has been on the farm.

THOMAS LANTHER .- Mr. Lanther was born on the farm on which he now resides, December 25, 1814. He is a son of G. and E. Lanther, who emigrated from Ireland, and first located in Washington county, Pa., but came to Jefferson in 1808. They had seven children, of whom but three are living. Thomas was roared a farmer, and educated in the common schools. He resides on the old Lanther homestead in Cross Creek township.

J. W. McCANN (attorney-at-law) .- Mr. McCann is a native of Jefferson county and is a gentleman of fine education, having spent a number of years teaching school. He studied law and was admitted to the Steubenville bar in 1877. He practices his profession in New Alexandria and is also a justice of the peace.

JOHN Ross was born in Jefferson county in 1806. His father was Moses Ross, an carly settler in the county. Mr. Ross was reared on the farm, and in 1834, married Miss Sarah Davis. They have eight children and had five sons in the late war.

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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 207

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