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 211

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 211
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 211

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Mr. Norton did not long debate as to duty, but unhesitatingly declared for the latter. The sympathy of the Virginia delega- tion was with Mr. Seward, but notwithstanding the seduetive at- tempts of the most adroit New York politicians, Mr. Norton with others, remained true to their convictions and succeeded in gaining over to the support of Mr. Lincoln, sixteen or seventeen of the Virginia delegates. Having committed himself, he did not stand idle, but entered into the contest, encouraging the doubtful and wavering, and by his eloquent addresses mado con- verts to bis cause, doing great service in gaining for his party a status in Virginia. At the opening of the civil war, he opposed with all his force the secesion of his state from the Federal Union, and after the passage of the ordinance of secession at Richmond, he was among those men who took the ground that the state had not seceded, that the ordinance was unauthorized and void, that the constitution and laws of the state were still in force, that its officers had simply abdicated their powers, and that the people of the state who still acknowledged allegiance to the United States, had done no act to deprive themselves of selt gov- ernment. At the great mass meeting held at Wheeling, May 14, 1861, be declared to the people that it was their right, and their duty, acting in their undelegated capacity, to provide safeguards for their own security. This assemblage called upon the voters of the state to send delegates to meet in the city of Wheeling on the 11th of June following, to provide a state government, by the election of state and judicial officers.

Then was called into existence a new state government by the action of the people. Money was necessary, and Colonel Nor- ton, recognizing the situation, immediately set himself to work, and with other friends improvised a state treasury, by supply- ing funds from their own private resources.

In recognition of his services, President Lincoln appointed him United States Marshall for West Virginia. This he ac- cepted, and devoted himself to the preservation of social order in the state government, he had been so instrumental in tound- ing. This is the only political office he ever held.

After his removal to Ironton, Ohio, he did not take any active part in politics, until 1872, when he advocated the election of Mr. Greeley, upon the stump and with his pen. The Democrats and Liberals of his district, composed'of the counties of Lawrence, Sciota, Jackson, Gallia and Vinton, tendered him the nomina- tion for Congress, but at that time he was engaged in projecting his great enterprise at Ashland, Ky., and was compelled to de- cline it.

In whatever situation Mr. Norton has been placed, whether in combining labor, intelligence and capital. to enlarge the field of industry or as an emancipationist, an industrial reformer and agitator, he involuntarily stood at the front,

" He asked no leader in the fight. Nor times, nor seasons sought to know, But when convinced his cause was right Ho struck the blow."

610

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Notwithstanding the fact of his early disadvantages and the nature of his occupation, he found time to study many anthors in science, history and civil polity. Few trained in the nniversi- ties are better versed in the great lessons of life. Destitute of dead letter literature, no one shares more largely in the living ideas of this wondrous age. Whether in the department of busi- ness or politics, he seldom takes a position until he has carefully examined all the facts and conditions. In business, bis plans formed, he moves forward in their execution with ease and con- fidence, thus accomplishing great undertakings without embar- rassment. Self reliance, inflexible honesty, with a firmness which no danger could shake or opposition subdue, a sagacity which no artifice could elude, untiring energy in business and enthusiasm in a cause are qualities which have been eminently displayed in the varied events of his remarkable career.

Colonel Norton was married to Miss D. Kneeland, niece of Ab- ner Kneeland, the celebrated preacher of New England. They have reared a family of five children-three sons and two daughters.

CAPTAIN S. NORTON, his oldest son, graduated at West Point academy and has served several years in the regular army.

ED., his next son, is proprietor of the McLure House, Wheel- ing.

FRED is in the lumber business in Cincinnati, Ohio. His old- est daughter is the wife of Joseph Campbell, owner of the Sarah furnace (stone coal) at Ironton, Ohio. His youngest daughter was married to Wm. L. Keepers, who was for a number of years secretary and manager of the Lawrence iron works at Ironton, Ohio.

Colonel Norton now resides on his farm, near Portland station, on the Ohio river. Jefferson county, Ohio, surrounded by all that is required for happiness and comfort.

A. J. CARPENTER was born in Lancaster county, Pa., March 8, 1819. He was a son of Daniel and Hannah Carpenter. His father, when a small boy, came with his parents who emigrated from Germany, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa., where our subject was born. A. J. Carpenter emigrated with his father from Lancaster to Washington county, Pa., about 1829, where they remained fifteen years. They then came to Wells town- ship, Jefferson county, and settled. His father followed farm- ing until 1851, then lived retired till his death in 1871, aged eighty-one years. A. J. Carpenter, in 1840, commenced farming on his own responsibility, occasionally taking trips down the river with J. Bond, James Logue and P. Curran. He was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Marshall, daughter of Thomas and Susannah Marshall, June 23, 1843. They have had born unto them four- teen children, only seven of whom are now living. He was ed- ucated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and now re- sides on his farm on Short creek. It is a beautiful farm of 320 acres, choice land ; several acres of it good bottom land. He keeps five hundred head of fine sheep, the land being well adapted to grazing as well as grain raising. He raised last year 750 bush- els of wheat and 2,000 bushels of corn. In 1877, he raise 3,000 bushels of corn and 1,500 bushels of apples. His oldest son, Jerome Bonaparte, served three years in the late war in Com- pany D, 98th regiment. He went out under Capt. Eckerhart. A year after he came home from the army he was kicked by a horse and died in three days thereafter.

JOHN A. CHAMBERS .- The subject of this sketch was born in Smithfield township, Jefferson county, June 30, 1827. His grand- father, Joseph Chambers, was born in Ireland about 1760, and while young emigrated to this state. The father of our subject, Benjamin Chambers, was born in Smithfield township, and was married to Mary Blackburn in 1821. They have had born to them four children, three of them still living. Byron Chambers, the deceased son, contracted his disease while in the Mexican war and died April 1, 1849, on the farm now owned by John A. Cham- bers. He died in his twenty-fourth year. John A. Chambers was married to Miss Jane Joyner, March 10, 1847. They never had any children born to them. Mr. Chambers received his ed- ucation in the " Buckeye" school houses of the neighborhood, and is a Democrat in politics. He now lives on his nice, neat little farm, on Little Fork of Short creek, in Warren town- ship. Mrs. Chambers was born in Jerusalem, Southampton county, Va. She was a daughter of Bridgeman Joyner, a native of that county, who died there in 1835. She came to this county in 1839, with Osborn Ricks after the death of her father and re- sided in his family until her marriage in 1847. Mr. Chambers and his wife were both raised orphans and that consequently

leads them to sympathize with orphan children. They now have two at their home, one a young lady, the other but eight years old. These children regard this as their own home, and well they may, as they have every comfort that kind friends and willing hands can offer.

JAMES T. HODGENS-The subject of this sketch, was born in Warren township, October 10, 1811. He followed boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from an early age until 1866. He then commenced the mercantile business in Portland, and now has the largest store in the place and does most of the business there. Besides his extensive store he does a large business in buying and shipping produce. He has built up his heavy busi- ness by his own unaided efforts. In 1866 he commeneed with a capital of only $300, and by his indomitable energy has built up a trade that amounts to $75,000 a year. When a post office was established at that place in 1869, he was appointed the first post master, which position, with an intermission of a year, he has had ever since. He was married in 1870, to Miss Annie Burkett, of Pleasant Hill Seminary, Pennsylvania.

S. B. McMANNIS, EsQ., was born December, 1829, in Guernsey county, Ohio. He is a son of Daniel and Ruth McMannis. His father was a native of old Virginia, and was born in 1797; emi- grated in 1818, to Mount Pleasant. There were about twenty houses in the village when he came. He married Miss Ruth Hardin in 1818, the same year he moved to this county. They reared a family of seven children. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. R. Jones in 1841, by which marriage he reared two children. S. B. McMannis is the third in the family by the first marriage. He was married to Miss Sarah Jane Al- loway, October 29, 1861. They have had born to them ten chil- dren-seven of this number now living. Mr. McMannis was ed- ueated in the schools of the neighborhood. He removed from Guernsey county when six months old. His father, David Mc- Mannis, is now in his 83d year, and is one of the oldest settlers now living in Mt. Pleasant township. He resides part of the time with his son in Warren township.

JAMES MCCORMICK was born in Cumberland county, Pa., near Shippensburg, October 8, 1801. His father was born in the same county about the year 1777. They emigrated to Mercer county, Pa., in 1802, where they remained until 1810, when they re- moved to Warrenton, Ohio. The father, Adam McCormick, fol- lowed the hotel business in that place until the death of his wife. He then went to Mississippi and engaged in trading. He died in 1839. About this time the family became scattered ; one brother went to Washington county, Pa., and a sister and brother to Cumberland county, Pa. Two sisters remained in Jefferson county until they married. One of them then went to Indiana, the other to Minnesota. James, the subject of this sketch, remained in this section and is still living on his farm near Warrenton. In 1824, he married Miss Mary Caughey, and by her had eight children. She died in 1846. He then married a sister of his first wife. His third and last wife was Miss Amanda Welch, whom he married July 14, 1867. By this union they were blessed with two pair of twins, first two boys, next two girls. He is now in his 78th year, hale and hearty. He followed the rivers fifteen years, but has followed farming since 1844. His resi- dence is known as the river view farm. The first vote he cast for president was for Henry Clay.

JOHN WEATHERSTON .- John Weatherston, a native of Scot- land, was born June 10, 1824; emigrated in 1850, to Maryland; remained there two years and then came to Wheeling Island in 1852. He followed gardening in company with William Clark. He has plowed and cultivated the land that is now used as the fair ground, then moved to Scotch Ridge, Pease township, Bel- mont county, and there followed gardening about ten years, sell- ing his products in the Wheeling market. He also had charge of the plank road from Martin's Ferry to Mount Pleasant four years, and finally after a few more changes wound up by buying a fine farm of 110 acres in Warren township, which he has put in good repair and improved by underground draining, and still continues to cultivate. Mr. Weatherston was married to Miss Mary Shipley, in Maryland, in 1852. They were blessed with five children-four boys and one girl. He is a member of the U. P. Church, having united with that church in Scotland when eighteen years old. In politics he is a Democrat.

C. D. KAMINSKY, the father of the subject of this sketch, John C. Kaminsky, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, Germany.

611

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

He was a descendant of Polish parents, who were exiled from Poland. He came to America in 1802, and settled in Baltimore, where he resided twenty years, and was at the battle of North Point, where the British commander, General Ross, was killed. While residing in Baltimore he married, and afterwards migra- ted to Louisville, Kentucky. On the journey C. D. Kaminsky was born in a flatboat on the Ohio river, between Pittsburgh and Steubenville, on the 10th of November, 1818. The mother of our subject died in 1824, and in 1827 his father, with asister and brother, left Louisville for Germany. They took passage on the steamboat Phoebus to Wheeling, from there they crossed the mountains to Baltimore in a Dearborn wagon, no steel springs being in use in that day. At Baltimore they took passage on a vessel to Rotterdam, and from there up the Rhine to Frankfort- on-the-Maine. Here he went to school some four years. The family returned to America in 1831. They landed at Baltimore,

and from there came to Portland, Ohio, on Short ereek, in about two weeks after their arrival from Germany. His father died at Charles Well's, twenty-five miles below Wheeling, W. Va., and C. D. Kaminsky lived with his uncle, John Bayless, and learned the trade of a miller. In 1841 he married Miss Elizabeth P. Wat- ters, of Harford county, Maryland, and in 1846 moved to Rush Run, where he commenced business for himself, buying the Sherman mill, with thirty-one acres of land. Since then he has bought nearly six hundred acres more, making a farm where he now resides of over six hundred aeres. He also had a good store house and nice dwelling at the mouth of Rush Run, and is actively engaged in the lumber trade. He is also connected with the First National Bank of Smithfield, being the president of that institution. He has reared a family of five children- Mary V., Sophia I., John, Charles E, and Louis C.

HISTORY

OF THE

Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway,

FAMILIARLY KNOWN AS THE FAMOUS "PAN-HANDLE ROUTE."

ITS PROGRESS FROM ITS INCEPTION, AND PRESENT VAST IMPORTANCE.

FACTS, FIGURES AND OBSERVATIONS SHOWING ITS LEASED LINES, CONNECTIONS, PROMINENT OFFICIALS, ROLLING STOCK, EX- CEPTIONAL FACILITIES TO INSURE SAFETY OF TRAVEL, EFFICIENT CONDUCT AND STATISTICS OF BUSINESS.

Interesting Sketches of Trips Along its Main Stem and Branches -- Visits to its Principal Offices, and a Graphic Description of its Extensive Locomotive and Car Shops, with Significant Reference to the Matchless PULLMAN PALACE, PARLOR, HOTEL and SLEEPING CARS, as constantly Running on this Road.

YNONYMOUS with the title of this work, the style of " Pan Handle " has somehow become, as it were, inseparably asso- ciated with the important Railroad system named in the above caption. Though really, as the following history will abun- dantly demonstrate, there exists neither legal or other warrant- able excuse (beyond the crude theory of common usage) to justify such a departure. To trace, however, the details, in extenso, associated with each and all the several important rail- way lines now merged into, and operated under the corporate title of the "Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway Com- pany," would be about as useless an occupation as the result would prove uninteresting to the general reader. Suffice it, if we take only a general retrospect of facts and figures as ample for historical preservation and future reference. The compre- hensive system referred to may be said to have perfected itself "piece-meal "-extending over a period of several years-result- ing in its present main stem, operating direct between Pitts- burgh and Columbus, a distance of 193 miles, from the former of which cities it is our intention to take the initiative to our subsequent remarks. So far back as March 24th, 1849, an act was granted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, char- tering what was styled the "Pittsburgh & Steubenville Rail- road Company," authorizing the construction of a track com- mencing on the Monongahela river, near Pittsburgh, and run- ning in the direction of Steubenville, on the bank of the Ohio river, to a point on the Virginia state line. Subsequently, un- der the provisions of a supplement to this act, passed April 21, 1852, the company received further authority to extend its road

into the city of Pittsburgh-thus enabling them to make imme- diate connection with the Pennsylvania railroad. The work was commenced in June, 1852, and completed in October, 1865, when Steubenville became in direct communication with the east. This line, however, the Pittsburgh & Steubenville, would seem to have experienced difficulty in retaining the approving smile of "Dame Fortune," for we find under date of November 6th, 1867, its franchises and property were brought to the ham- mer under a decree of foreclosure at the suit of the trustees of its first mortgage. The persons for whom, and on whose account, it was then bought in, immediately organized a new corpora- tion, to-wit, December 28th, 1867, under the name and style of the Pan-Handle Railway Company.

Now, the good people of Pennsylvania and West Virginia (then simply Virginia) desiring rail communication from the Pennsylvania state line to the Ohio river, so early as 1847, en- countered all kinds of opposition in the construction of a road, which, however, a private company ultimately got into opera- tion on a very limited scale, but only to witness its failure in 1854 .* We next find, under date of March 30th, 1860, the Gen- eral Assembly of Virginia incorporated what was known as the "Holliday's Cove Railroad Company," for the purpose of constructing a road from the Pennsylvania state line, to-or near-the city of Steubenville, Ohio, which ultimately took in the abandoned road bed originally laid by the private company already referred to. The first election of directors took place May 26th, 1860, when Thos. S. Clarke was made president, with

* In 1847 a petition was presented to the Virginia Legislature for the right of way, to build a Rail Road from the Ohio River, opposite Steubenville, across the Pan-Haudle of Virginia, to the Pennsylvania State line, to fill a gap then existing in the present P. C. & St. L. Ry. line. The petitioners' prayer was not granted. A similar petition was presented to cach succeeding Legislature till 1852, with the same result. Further effort in that direction seeming useless Messrs. Jesse Edgington and Col. Nathaniel Wells, two energetic, enterprising citizens, in 1853, undertook to build it as a private enterprise, and to that end bought from the land-owners along the line of the road, one hundred feet wide of land, the entire width of the Pan-Ilandle- seven miles,-and received a title in fee simple for it. The contract for, building the road was given to John W. Geary in June, 1853. Mr. Geary subsequently played a conspicuous part in the history of the country, being appointed govornor of the territory of Kansas, -was a promincut general in the war of the rebellion, and was afterwards elceted Governor of Penu- sylvania. On the 4th of July 1854, the first train ran over the road from the Ohio to the Penn_ sylvania state line, where a large concourse of people assembled and had a grand celebration and a public dinner. Edgington and Wells were bitterly opposed by the Virginia authorities, while engaged in the prosecution of the work. In the fall of 1853, the Governor directed the Attorney General to filo in the Ohio county circuit court, a bill for an injunction enjoining them in its further prosecution. Tho defendants promptly met the issue. The State failed to appear and the case was dismissed. Immediately thereafter, however, the prosecuting at- torney of Brooko county commeneed anothor suit in tho cirenit court thore, charging the de- fendants with a conspiracy against the laws of the State. The case was promptly met again, and after ablo argument, was decided against the State. Not satisfied yet, the enemies of the road snceeerted in getting a bill introduced into the Legislature of Virginia in the session of 1853-4, declaring it a misdemeanor, punishable by tine and imprisonment in the penitentiary, for any person or persons, without a grant of way by the Legislature, to build a Railroad within the limits of the Stato. Messrs. Edgington and Wells promptly repaired to Richmond, and the result was the bill failed to pass. They run a passenger car daily each way over their road for abont six months, when they discontinued their trains and the road remained idle.

1-APP.

ii.

APPENDIX.

Isaac Jones, Thos. A. Scott, J. Edgar Thomson and Edmund Smith, directors; Jos. D. Potts, secretary. In pursuance of this act and amendments, together with a special act of the Gen- eral Assembly of Ohio, and an act of Congress-this railroad and the magnificent bridge, crossing the Ohio river at Steu- benville, were constructed, between the years of 1861-5. The Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company was chartered Feb. 24th, 1848, by a special aet of the General Assembly of Ohio, au- thorizing the construction of a railroad-single or double track- by way of Connotten, or "Still Water Creek," to Mount Vernon, Knox county, and thence by the most eligible route to the In- diana state line, at any point between Willshire and "Fort Re- covery." And it was further authorized by provisions of an act passed March 12th, 1849, amendatory of the foregoing law, to construct a branch road from Coshocton to Columbus, by way of Newark or Mount Vernon, and connect with any other rail- road. The election of directors took place March 6th, 1850, when Daniel Kilgore was made president, with Dr. John Andrews, Jas. Means, Wm. McDonald, Thompson Hanna, W. K. Johnson and James Parks, directors; R. S. Moodey, secretary; D. L. Collier, treasurer; J.' Blickensderfer, jr., chief engineer, and T. L. Jewett and Thos. Means, solicitors. In December, 1851, however, Mr. Kilgore becoming deceased, was succeeded in the presidency by Mr. James Means, while Mr. J. G. Morris was appointed secre- tary and treasurer to fill the vacancies caused by the resigna- tion of Messrs. Moodey and Collier. Mr. W. B. Hubbard suc- ceeded Mr. Means as president in 1855, and on his resignation, that position fell into the able hands of the Hon. Thos. L. Jewett, June 7th, 1855, and he acted in that capacity, and as receiver, down to the consolidation of the "Pan-Handle Co." with the "Holliday's Cove Company," and the "Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company." The work on this line was com- meneed in 1852, and the road was completed from Steubenville to Newark April 11th, 1855. In consequence of financial diffi- culties, however, this organization became embarrassed, and September 2d, 1859, the Hon. Thos. L. Jewett became receiver. October, 1865, arrangements were made with the "Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad Company," and others, for operating the entire line from Pittsburgh to Columbus as the "Pittsburgh, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad," and it was so operated until the consolidation referred to was effected. We should also state that the "Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Co." under date of April 17th, 1857, had consummated arrangements with the "Central Ohio Railway Company" to convey its traffic over its section, then in operation from Newark to Columbus, Ohio, but in March, 1864, the former company effected the purchase of an undivided half interest in the said line, thus completing the line of the "Steubenville & Indiana Railroad," to last named point. And now comes

THE GENERAL CONSOLIDATION.

Under date of May, 1868, the "Pan-Handle Railway Co." of Pennsylvania; the "Holliday's Cove Railroad Company," of West Virginia; and the "Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Com- pany," of Ohio, entered into articles of consolidation under the name and style of the "Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway Company," thus forming a through line from the terminus of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Pittsburgh, Pa., to the city of Colum- bus, Ohio, a distance of 193 miles, under the one management. This is exclusive of the Cadiz branch, from the main stem, run- ning eight miles into an extensive agricultural and stock rais- ing section of country, which virtually gives the corporation in question the ownership of at least 201 miles. The new com- pany immediately organized by the election of Thos. L. Jewett, president; George B. Roberts, vice president; J. G. Morris, secretary and treasurer; A. J. McDowell, auditor; W. W. Card, superintendent; M. J. Becker, engineer; S. F. Scull, general ticket agent; James Means, general freight agent; George D. Whitcomb, supply agent. Mr. Jewett was succeeded in the

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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 211

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