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 209

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 209
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 209

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).

JAMES DEAN .- Mr. Dean was born February 6, 1831. He is a son of Sammel Dean, who came to Jefferson county prior to 1812, and was of Irish origin, like most of the settlers in this county. Mr. Dean was brought up a farmer and received a common school education. On arriving at the age of manhood he married Miss Ralston ; they have no children. Mr. Dean is an active member of church to which he belongs, and is a highly esteemed citizen.

604

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

J. H. EVERSON was born in Wells township in 1850, and is a son of James Everson, one of Wells' best citizens. He was reared a farmer and educated in the schools of his native county. During his boyhood he expressed a strong desire to study law, and as he was a natural orator, his father concluded to gratify his wishes. In 1876 he entered the law office of Jolin MeClure, a prominent attorney of Steubenville, and by close ap- plication and hard study, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and now takes his stand among the mostpromising young attorneys of Jefferson county.

LEVI ROE .- Levi Roe was born in Wells township in 1819. His father, William Roe, was one of the pioneers of this town- ship, coming to the county very early. Ile met his death by an accident, being on board of the steamer Virginia when she exploded at Rush run in 1838. Levi was reared a farmer and attended the common schools of the county. He is a promi- hent citizen and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is one of the oldest members living, connected with the Olive M. E. Church.

NATHANIEL DAWSON was born in Wells township in 1839, and was a son of Nathaniel Dawson, an early settler in Wells town- ship. Mr. Dawson, Sr., was a representative man in Wells township, as we find his name frequently among the early records of the township officials. Nathaniel was reared a farmer and received a limited education. He now occupies the old homestead, and is a prominent citizen and a thorough and suc- cessful farmer.

JOHN V. McCULLEY .- The subject of this sketch was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1821, and came to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1840, and located on the farm now owned by Mrs. Gra- ham. He remained there four years, when he moved to bis present home. He is one of the leading farmers in the town- ship and is a breeder of fine Spanish merino sheep and fine hogs and cattle. Mr. McCulley has probably the best improvements of any farmer in the township, and persons wanting fine stock will do well to give him a call. Mr. McCulley is one of the pres- ent trustees of Wells township.

WILLIAM OLIVER, EsQ., was born in Jefferson county in 1832, and was a son of Charles Oliver, being the youngest of six chil- dren, He was reared a farmer and received a common school education, and being of a roving disposition, upon reaching man- hood, went West to seek his fortune in the gold fields of Color- ado, but left there before the country was fully developed and returned to his native state, when he located on the Oliver home- stead. In 1866, he married Miss Mary Jones, daughter of John Jones, of West Union, Fayette county, Pa. They have three children-one son and two daughters. In 1877, Mr. Oliver was elected a justice of the peace, which office he still holds.

W. W. LouIss, JR .- The subject of this sketeh was born in Wells township, December 15, 1855. His father was a pioneer of the township and a man of intelligence and enterprise. Wil- liam, Jr., was reared a farmer and received a good education, Upon reaching manhood he started out to make his living at his chosen profession, that of a farmer. He built a fine residence on Scull Bone Ridge, near his father. He is now married and prepared to enjoy the comforts of a good home.

ROBERT SHEARER .-- Mr. Shearer was born in Pennsylvania, January 29, 1808. and came to Jefferson county with his father, when a boy. His mother was a sister of Rev. George Brown, a pioneer Methodist minister, and the family were well known in Jefferson county. Robert learned the blacksmith trade with a Mr. Doyle, in Steubenville. In 1829, he married Miss Jane Sheppard, who was born December 2, 1809. They have had six children, of whom but two are living at present. Mr. Shearer still carries on the blacksmith trade in New Alexandria, where he has been for a number of years. His father, Robert Shearer, was born in 1773, and died in 1850.

JOSEPHI HOYLE, son of John Hoyle, was born in Jefferson county, in 1827. He was reared a farmer'and received a liberal education. His parents were Quakers and he has inherited their belief. He married Plebe Watson, of Jefferson county, and has been blessed with a large family of children. Mr. Hoyle is a farmer and fine stock raiser, and imported the first thorough- bred short-horn cattle ever brought into the township, and has a fine lot of them on his farm. His postoffice address is Smith- field.

JAMES A. HOBSON,-Mr Hobson was born in Jefferson coun- ty. He was raised a farmer and educated at the common schools; he is a very active business man and has been elected to the position of township elerk twice, and judging from his records, should hold the position for many years to come. Mr. Hobson, is a farmer. His posoffice address is New Alexandria.

MARK WILLETT, was a son of E. Willet, and was born in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, but the exact date of his coming to Jefferson county, we failed to learn. He located the farm now owned by his heirs, and built the first cabin and made the first clearing in this section. Mr. Willett was raised in the Quaker faith and brought up his family to believe as he did. He was a good citizen and neighbor, living a christian life, and finally when his mission on earth was filled, he passed to his home above, leaving a family and many friends to mourn his loss.

JOHN SIXSMITH was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, and came to Jefferson county with his parents when ten years of age. Hc was reared a farmer and received a fine education. He has a fine farm in Wells township, on the line of Smithfield, and is an enterprising citizen and a good neighbor.

ANDERSON WOOD .-- Mr. Wood was born in Smithfield township, in this county, August 21, 1825. His father was a native of Maryland, but came to this part of the country many years ago. Anderson was raised a farmer, and received a good common school education. In 1864 he married Miss P. Hall, daughter of Richard Hall. They have no children of their own, but have four adopted ones. Mr. Wood is a farmer and stock raiser. Postoffice address is Smithfield.

JOHN PUNTNEY was born in Brooke county, W. Va. He came to Jefferson county in 1832, and purchased one hundred and thirty-two acres of land in what is known as the Kirkwood sec- tion. This property is now owned by his son, J. L. Puntney, and is one of the finest improved farms in Wells township, and shows that it has been managed by experienced farmers.

HISTORY OF WARREN TOWNSHIP.

SETTLEMENT AND EARLY INCIDENTS.

Very soon after the termination of the memorable revolu- tionary war the first settlements in what is now Warren town- ship began. Although the lands yet being fresh, as it were, with the tracks of its native inhabitants-the Indians-the whites ventured across the Ohio from the cast and attempted a settlement here. The attractiveness of the situation, the rich- ness of the soil, and the prospectiveness of a healthy climate, apparently satisfied the pioneer's "fairy dreams" of his western home. The Indian was so hostile to the new comer that every conceivable strategy the barbarous mind could conjecture was by him brought into requisition that he might make sure of his pale- faced intruder's scalp. Nothing but the most determined pur- pose of man would have endured the hardships, privations and dangers that the earliest pioneers experienced. It is true that the first settlers were several times driven back across the river by the Indian, but returned again and again, and many made here their permanent home; cleared, improved and culti- vated their lands, and to their posterity bequeathed pleasant homes and plenty of land after old age and infirmity incapaci- tated them for toil.

To gnard against the treacherous and inhuman depredations of the redskins, the early settlers were obliged to secure them- selves in some manner, and so they erected

BLOCK HOUSES.

A number of these were built not far from the river's edge, into which the settlers would gather during the night when In- dians were known to be prowling about the neighborhood. As to the exact spot these houses stood is not positively known. Tradition, upon which the author, at this late day, can only rely, fixes one of these block houses on the present ground upon which the stone house of Mr. Joseph Stringer is situated. Mrs. Bayless, the widow, and third wife of John B. Bayless, says that one of these forts was located here, and there are several other old persons, with whom we have had interviews, who corrob- orate her statement. This was built a short time after what is

605

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

known as Carpenter's fort. It is believed that there were a conple more block houses in this township, but as to their exact location the author cannot definitely conclude. The oldest and the most important was that of

CARPENTER'S FORT,

"Which was originally nothing more than an ordinary settler's cabin, stood some distance above the mouth of Short creek, and less than one hundred yards from the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad, above Portland station.

"It was built in the summer of 1781, by John Carpenter, who resided at the time on Buffalo creek, some miles east of the Ohio river. In his hunting expeditions he was in the habit of cross- ing to the west side for the purpose of hunting game along the Short creek valleys. when he determined to be the first to get possession of these lands, which everybody believed would, in due time, belong to the United States. He determined to take the risks, which he did by building a cabin and clearing off a piece of ground ready for planting in corn the next season.

"But not thinking it safe at that time to remove his family across the river, he took a couple of horses and started back to Fort Pitt, for the purpose of getting a supply of salt, which they were obliged to carry across the country on pack horses. On the way he was captured by a band of Wyandotts, taken to the Moravian towns, where his dress was changed for an Indian outfit, when he was carried back to Sandusky, where he was kept a prisoner nntil the following spring, when he escaped and made his way to Fort Pitt, from whence he returned to his fam- ily, which he removed across the Ohio to the improvement he had made the previous summer.

"One day, while at work in his own patch, he was fired on by an Indian from the adjoining woods and severely wounded, when the Indian attempted to scalp him but was driven off by his wife, a stout, resolute woman, who went to his assistance and made such a vigorons resistance that her husband escaped into their cabin, when the Indian fled.

"After Colonel Williamson's unfortunate expedition which re- sulted in the massacre of the Moravian Indians and the destruction of their towns on the Tuscarawas, a court of inquiry was called at Fort Pitt to investigate his conduct. John Carpenter was summoned as a witness on behalf of the acensed and identified his own clothing among that found by Williamson in the possession of the Moravians, proving a valuable witness for that officer.

"Other families soon followed Carpenter across the Ohio into the Short creek neighborhood, and as the Indians became trouble- some his cabin was strengthened and converted into a kind of fort, into which the settlers and their families fled for safety in cases of alarm."

J. C. MeCleary, Esq., says : "George Carpenter, a noted In- dian spy, established a blockhouse below the mouth of Rush run, in abont 1785. The next year Enos Kimberly, Robert MeCleary, Benedick Wells, John McElroy, John Humphrey and some others, made a settlement at the mouth of Short creek, where the town of Warrenton is now situated. About the year 1784 or 1785 John Tilton, Charles Kimball and two or three others, crossed the Ohio river with their families, and settled on the present site of the village of Tiltonville. In a blockhouse at this point, Caleb Tilton was born, and is believed by some to be the first white child born west of the Ohio river. These persons are long since deceased, but quite a number of their descendants are still living and residing upon the lands purchased by their an- cestors."

Robert MeCleary was born in York county, Pa., in 1760, and at the age of thirty years migrated to what is now Jefferson county.

Joseph "Tilton was born in 1766, and died on the land upon which he settled, in Warren township, in 1860.

Solomon Scamehorn, was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, and emigrated from said state to Jefferson county, and settled in Warren township, in 1797.

The Lisby's emigrated to Warren township from Maryland and located in now Portland, in 1801.

Willian Lewis, settled in Warren township in 1801-2. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1796.

James McCormick came from Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, ( where he was born,) and located in Warren township.

The Maxwells emigrated to Warren township, in 1810. They wore natives of Ireland, and came to America in 1782, first set- tling near Winchester.

The lands in this township were first located by the early set- tlers, along the Ohio river, between what is now known as

Yorkville and Rush Run, and then they gradually penetrated the forests westward. The author would like very much to have given a larger list of the pioneers, but is unable to get their names traditionally and is necessarily obliged to omit many, no doubt, of other prominent setttlers besides those given.

ELECTION OF WARREN TOWNSHIP.

The following is from J. C. MeCleary, Esq., an old citizen of the township :

"This township was organized soon after the organization of the territorial government. John Humphrey, John McElroy and Benedick Wells were the first trustees elected, and Robert McCleary, the first justice of the peace, in said township, he having received the appointment by Governor St. Clair, under the territorial government. The state of Ohio having formed a constitution, and having been admitted into the Union as a state, the first election for township officers under the state govern- ment, was held at the mouth of Short creek, on the first Mon- day, in April, 1803. At said election, Robert McCleary and George Humphrey were elected justices of the peace; Joseph McKee, James Reilly and John Patterson were elected trustees and the township organized under the new Constitution."

The township officers for 1879 are as follows :

Justices of the Peace-A. M. Keith and and William Medill.

Trustees-John Medill, John A. Chambers and W. A. Baker,

Clerk-T. O. Betton.

Treasurer-J. M. Kelly.

Constables-W. S. Hatheway and M. M. Neely.

Warren lies in the south east corner of Jefferson county and is bonnded as follows :

On the north by Wells township, on the east by the Ohio riv- er, south by Belmont county, on the west by Mt. Pleasant and Smithfield townships.

The principal streams, besides the river which bounds War- ren's, eastern limits, are Short Creek and Rush Run. There are a number of runs and rivulets which course through the township forming tributaries to the above alluded streams.

Warren township contains five churches, namely : Presbyte- rian and M. E. Church, located in Warrenton ; Presbyterian church at Portland ; the M. E. Church at Tiltonville and the Hopedale M. E. Church. We would have been pleased to give an account of these churches, but was disappointed in receiving the history promised by the different parties connected with the several congregations.

From 1785 to 1808 emigration continued to flow into this township until the public lands were all taken up and the town- ship well settled with an enterprising and industrious popula- tion,

Warren township is probably the best agricultural and min- eral township in Jefferson county, Ohio. About one-half of the lands are river and creek bottoms, which, for fertility of soil, cannot be surpassed in the state, while the other lands are bean- tifully rolling, producing fine crops of wheat, corn, barley, oats, potatoes, &c. The uplands have a six-foot vein of superior coal, easy of access, and the whole of the township is underlaid with a seven-foot vein, which, for manufacturing purposes excels any other coal in Jefferson county, by some manufacturers said to be equal to coke. This under strata is now being successfully mined by shaft at the mouth of Rush run at a distance of two hundred feet below the surface. The New York Coal Company largely operates the Yorkville mines in this township, near the Jefferson and Belmont county lines. Employment is given by these two mines to quite a number of miners. From 10,000 to 20,000 bushels of coal are mined here per day.

Coke is also manufactured in this township to some consider- able extent.

WOOL GROWING.

Wool growing has become an extensive business here. The fine breed sheep of Jacob Creamer, Jolin Medill, J. C. MeCleary and E. M. Norton cannot be surpassed in the state.

MILLS.

The township is dotted all over with flouring mills, perma- nent and portable saw mills, manufacturing establishments, &c., and is destined to become one of the leading townships of the county.

THE MASSACRE OF FOUR INDIANS.

Sometime near the close of the eighteenth century four In. dians journeyed into the small village of Warrenton, where

606

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

whisky was sold, and bought and drank until they became very much intoxicated. Whilst in this condition they left the place and started for their wigwam. They were followed by a party of whites who intended massacreing them, and did. On what is known as the point, above Portland, the Indians laid down to rest, and, we suppose, fell into a drunken stupor. In this con- dition they were attacked by the party that followed them and all killed on the spot. A short time after this massacre they were buried where they lay by a number of the pioneers. The point is now owned by Mr. J. D. Stringer, who says he plowed up some of the bones a number of years ago on the very spot where it is said they were buried. Whether these Indians had ever committed any depredations on the settlers, or whether they were quiet, peaceful and harmless is not exactly known, but the supposition is that they were not regarded as safe per- sons to run around loose among the settlers, and for that reason were dealt with in that manner.

JOHNSTON BOYS.

In this township is where the Johnston boys were carried off by the Indians, a full and complete account of which is given elsewhere in this volume.

MOUNDS.

Warren township, like some other ones in this and Belmont counties, bears traces of once being the home of the mound builders. Several mounds are found here, small, of course, but very beautiful.

KILLED BY INDIANS.

Noah Tilton says that sometime between 1789 and 1794 an uncle of his was captured and killed by the Indians. He was known as Jack Tilton, and at the time of his death was a lad of twelve or fourteen years old; and, being sent after the cows, was run down by a party of Indians, then shot and scalped by them. His dead body was found near the banks of Short creek, about half a mile west of Portland, and not far from where the house of Shannon Bigger now stands.

SCHOOLS.

Warren township is sub-divided into nine school districts, and from the gentlemanly clerk of the township we learn that in 1860, there was expended for continuing schools $1,556 00. The average wages of the teachers in that year was $28 29, at that time there being but eight school houses and but eight teachers ; now there are nine school houses and ten teachers employed, with an average of $30 per month, The amount of money ex- pended this year (1879) for educational purposes was $2,455 92, and for building and repairs $1,102 60. The whole number of youth of school age in the township is 519; and the number who have attended such school within the year is 419.

The schools of Warren township are in a flourishing condition, and have been for a number of years. As a general thing, so we are informed, the directors of the several schools have showed great wisdom in the selection of teachers who were well quali- fied for the position and always maintaining the best of discip- line.

What a vast improvement has taken place from the old damp, dim and uncomfortable log school houses and the homespun teacher to the fine frame and brick school houses with good teach - ers well qualified to instruct our children. There was a time, perhaps, in the history of Warren township, when there was an excuse for illiteracy, but now there is none. The child who does not improve with the advantages he now has, can blame no one but himself. Every school is now thrown wide open for all of whatever degree or whatever color. Whilst a majority of the oldest settlers had no such opportunity, they rejoice to see their children and grand children so happily situated.

WARRENTON.

The village of Warrenton was surveyed and a public sale of lots was made by Enos Kimberly, Esq., in 1805. It is situated on the river bank, immediately above the mouth of Short creek. Mr. Silas Hatheway says that the third house ever built in this place is still standing, and is the one now owned by W. S. Hatheway. It was erected in the fall of 1800, and completed in the spring of 1801. The oldest house in the town is situated on the river bank, which was built by one Tilton, and is now owned and occupied by the widow Chamberlain. There has been two

additions made to Warrenton. It is the oldest town in the town- ship. It is populated by retired capitalists and church going people; and has an independent school district, containing one of the best schools in the township. Among the early merchants were John and Thomas Shannon. The summary for 1879 is, one dry goods store, one grocery, one shoe shop, three doctors, two churches-U. P. Church and M. E .- one blacksmith shop and contains about 300 of a population. The freshet of 1832 did great damage to property at this place, and the flood again in 1852 cansed some destruction to property.

PORTLAND.

Portland is situated on the C. & P. R. R., and is the head cen- tre of the township, having all the accommodations and conven- iences of a first-class town. It has one physician, two dry good stores, one shoe shop, one livery stable, one restaurant, two black- smith shops, one telegraph office, one hall and one church.

TILTONVILLE.

This small village which is situated in the south-eastern part of the township and on the banks of the Ohio river, was laid out by John Tilton, in 1806, in two streets running parallel with the river. It was laid off into seventy-two lots. Mr. S. J. Thery says he came to this village in 1833, and at that time there were seventeen houses. At the last census in 1870 there was a population of 214. The number may have increased a little since. The village contains one church, (M. E.,) one school house, two blacksmith shops, two stores, one carpenter shop, one shoe shop, one physician. Its situation is fifty feet above low water mark, and is not subjected to overflow. In 1832, the highest the river was ever known to be, it was ten feet above the flood. During the days of flat-boat building this was quite an active little place. Among the flat-boat builders who carried on the business here was James Allis, Nathaniel Sisco, Charley Wilson, Thomas Liston, John Driant and Joseph Hall. These gentleman continued the business about twenty-five years, and employed a great many hands. The M. E. Church association of the place was organized in about 1825. Services were first held by this society in the school house, but in about 1850 a church building was erected. Tiltonville has both marine and railroad advantages.

YORKVILLE.

Yorkville is a station on the C. & P. R. R., with a store and a few houses. An excellent coal shaft is sunk here and large quantities of coal is shipped up and down this road by the pro- prietors of this bank, known as the Yorkville Coal Shaft.

RUSH RUN.

Is a station on the C. &. P. R. R. and contains a few houses.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ROBERT MCCLEARY, the father of the subject of this sketch was born in York county, in the state of Pennsylvania, in the year 1760. He was one of the brave prioneers, who came to Ohio and settled in Jefferson county, in the year 1790, and as- sisted in organizing the state government, and was the first justice of the peace, in Jefferson county, Ohio. He died on his farm in Warren township, in the year 1815, leaving a family of four sons and three daughters.

JOSEPH C. MCCLEARY, the youngest of the family was born January 8, 1815, on the old " homestead farm " near Portland station, C. & P. R. R., in Jefferson county, Ohio, where he now resides. Heattended a common school until he was fifteen years of age at which time he indentured himself as an apprentice, to Samuel J. Miller, of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, to learn the bricklaying business. He worked as an apprentice for five years. At the age of twenty he left his master and " lit out," and made a tour throughout the United States, working at his trade in nearly all the principal cities and towns in the Union, and also in Quebeck, Montreal and Kingston in Canada. At the age of twenty-five he quit his trade and retired to his old homestead, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. At the age of thirty-four he read law in the office of O. C. Gray the celebrated Ottowa lawyer, and was admitted to the bar October, A. D., 1846. In the year 1857, he was elected a senator to represent the 21st district, composed

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 209

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