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 215

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 215
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 215

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"THE ENGINE ROOM,"

where a fine 60-horse power stationary engine, the pink of cleanliness, is noiselessly revolving an immense fly-wheel in response to the promptings of a cylinder with a 24-inch stroke. Robert McCulloch, to whom this department is entrusted, is a time-tried and most efficient servant, having been with the company over eighteen years. Now entering what is termed

" THE TOOL ROOM,"

the same system and good order that governs every department again suggests itself-"a place for everything and everything in its placc." Here are carefully arranged to view, on shelves, reamers, bits, machine and hand taps, dies, &c., without end- a full set of templets for duplicating standard parts of loco- motives, and, in fact, everything the mechanic can call for. A window is provided, whereat applications are made for whatso- ever is wanted, near to which a book bears witness of whatever goes out-whence it went and to whom. Adjoining this de- partment, we step into

" THE STORE ROOM,"

measuring 30x40 feet, and from the variety of its contents it could not be more appropriately named unless styled "a multum in parvo"-for there is literally everything, piled up or arranged around, in systematic order, from flues, springs, bar iron, buck- ets, brooms, lamps, lamp chimneys, down to matches, spriggs and even tacks. And this brings us to what is termed

"THE OIL ROOM,"

a solid brick structure, semi-detached and designed especially for the purpose to which it is applied. Here, in the cellar, are stowed ten large tanks with a capacity of ten barrels each, con- taining lard oil, carbon oil, paraphine and black oil, the con- tents being drawn off by a cyphon in a room above-hence, the whole of the combustibles are cut off perfectly from any- thing likely, or even possible, to ignite them. The upper room is used for the storage of waste, tow, &c .- the whole is perfectly heated by steam, and is kept under special lock and key. From here we were introduced to

THE ROUND HOUSE OFFICE,

a convenient and tastefully fitted room for the special use of engineers. It is attached to, or connected with, the "Round

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APPENDIX.

House," and as the men alight from their "iron steeds," this cozy reception room is at their elbows. It contains a series of wardrobes, desks, time cards, bulletin boards, mirrors, pictures, and in fact everything to be desired for their comfort. Here they can make out their reports at leisure, and indulge social intercourse among themselves without interference-and from appearances, the boys regulate the order of their apartment with a taste and neatness that would excite crimson to the cheeks of full many a materfamilias who is so want to exclaim, "Oh ! that husband of mine!"

THE BRASS HOUSE,

or what might be consistently put as the brass casting hall, is a semi-detached structure on the premises, presided over by Mr. Isaac Denmead, than whom, in his specialty, there are few more competent mechanics. On entering we were received with a good natured smile of welcome that flit over as jolly and frank a countenance as man could desire to greet-the worthy "disciple of shining metal" being up to the elbows fash- ioning moulds for the boiling composition, while around were crucibles innumerable, and a "slack air furnace" was noise- lessly performing its part in the work on hand. Adjoining the casting hall is Mr. D's office and finishing room-or perhaps, we should say store room, for there were castings of every size, shape and make packed around, that suggested the proportions of a wholesale warehouse, while hundreds of patterns were hung around. Employing only a very limited number of hands under him, the excellent order displayed in the conduct of this shop may be said to redound all the more to Mr. Den_ mead's personal exertions, as he conducts the whole of the brass castings and car bearings for the company's shops. On our continued ramble we next came in contact with

THE COMPANY'S ICE HOUSE.

This we found to be a substantial, tall frame building, 50x60 feet, in which, every season, an immense quantity of the purest ice to be obtained is stored for the purpose of replenishing ice coolers in the cars, through the heated summer months, as trains are delayed at the depot. Though a somewhat hum- ble looking structure, as compared with the others among which it is associated, the good offices to which it is employed far more than compensate for its appearance-suggesting to us that "we should never take a bird by its feathers." After this we were taken through

THE SAND HOUSE,

where we found a worthy son of the "Emerald Isle" to be "officer and high private on duty." "Matthew O'Donnell," re- marked Master Mechanic Kells, as we entered-and the affable humor that flowed with the good-natured smile put on by Mat. left little doubt that we were introduced to the right "gintle- man." Surrounded with huge bins of sand-each containing that commodity in a process of drying or refinement-and with three stoves, or ovens, at command for drying, we found Mat's responsible duty was to keep up a constant and sufficient supply of fine dry sand for the use of locomotives in wet weather, to prevent them from slipping-"an' faith he's the boy phat kin do it." Adjoining is also the hostler's house, where several animals are kept for transient light work around. Happening to speak about their water supply, Mr. Kells remarked that the Company had established

THEIR OWN WATER WORKS,

which we subsequently found to be a most efficient institution, consisting of a very fine reservoir on a lofty hill. Its capacity is 450,000 gallons, and it supplies the whole shops and Com- pany's premises contiguous. There is an engine-house connected therewith, containing a fine Knowles' pump that throws 350 gallons per minute.

THE CAR REPAIR SHOP.

Proceeding to the east end of the yard we found yet another important branch department, as above. It is a wooden struc- ture, 240 feet long, and employs quite a large number of men, being under the foremanship of Mr. D. F. Andregg. The ease and alacrity with which the ponderous cars and their several heavy parts are here handled by the mechanics is something marvelous, and the expeditious manner in which repairs are conducted only excites one's surprise that this department is never run out of a job, were it not a pretty generally conceded fact that for wear and tear a railroad has few equals short of an army train in active service. And finally we come to

THE OFFICES AND OFFICERS OF THE MOTIVE POWER DEPARTMENT.

The offices are located in the western end of the wing run- ning from the main building and form a continuation from the store room. The chief clerk of motive power is Mr. Charles Peirce, son of a former master mechanic at these shops, and who has himself been in the company's service since 1872, he filling his present position with the utmost attention and effi- ciency. The Master Mechanic-Mr. Ross Kells-is strictly what his title implies-a thorough master of mechanics-one who has worked his way up from the vise by sheer perseverance and integrity. He engaged with this company in 1856 at their Steubenville shops, and was removed here as a foreman in 1865. A few years later he became general foreman of the shops, and subsequently (at the death of his predecessor, Mr. Elbridge Peirce, who had previously succeeded the late Mr. Thomas Denmead) he, in turn, received his present appointment, and in that capacity remains still, one of the Company's most valued and faithful servants. Mr. W. A. Stone, at present the general foreman under Mr. Ross Kells, has been with this com- pany over thirteen years, and from the bench has preeminently fitted himself for his present responsible position, which he fills so efficiently. Indeed, old servants is the rule in this Com- pany's employ, and a very desirable one, too, which may be said to largely conduce to the proverbial safety of the road and its rolling stock. Taking the shops and yards as a whole, for orderly appearance, systematic working and completeness, the most uninitiated could not fail to recognize ample reason to extend hearty congratulations to the management of the road, whose privilege it is, we again repeat, to control one of the finest and best regulated, if not largest, locomotive shops to be met with in the country.

DENNISON TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.

OUR THROUGH TRIP ON THE MAIN LINE CONTINUED.

Having passed a pleasant half day in Dennison, meeting with the utmost civilities and attentions of the railroad officials, sweetened in no measured degree by the generous hospitalities and accomplished entertainment of host Bovey, of the Railroad Hotel, we resumed our seat with a resolve now to accomplish our journey through. Half a mile, and we find ourselves

AT URICHSVILLE.

This is a much older and larger town than Dennison, being divided therefrom, on the east (as we have said), by "Little Still Water Creek," and on the west it is divided from the village of Edgefield by "Big Still Water Creek." Urichsville was laid out in 1833, by one Michael Urich, then residing in an old log hut which still stands at the head of the town. A Mr. Welch was the first post master and Michael Urich opened the first hotel. Down to 1864-5 the growth of the town had been but very slow, and in those days a whole block is said to have been sold for $500, which now could not be purchased for

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APPENDIX.

less than $6,000 to $8,000. It was the opening of the P. C. & St. L. C'y shops at Dennison that gave life to this town and enhanced its property in a superlative degree. The town has now two good hotels (the "United States" and the "Central"), both of which run omnibusses to meet every train from the East at Dennison. A small weekly paper is published here- "The Tuscarawas Chronicle"-owned and edited by Mr. James Graham. There are two capital banks and three places of pub- lic worship. The Methodist Church is a fine building, at which the Rev. Jas. Rogers officiates-the Moravian Church is under the spiritual direction of the Rev. J. M. Levering, and the Disciples' place of worship is in charge of the Rev. J. H. Dodd. The population of Urichsville is about 2,300, and in addition to receiving a large amount of support from the railroad shops it is favored with the trade from a large and wealthy agricul- tural district around. Captain Paris is Mayor, and is to be congratulated on the business like appearance of the town over which it is his privilege to preside. There are perhaps as fine public schools in Urichsville as in any portion of the State- the magnificent structure being put up in 1874 at a cost of $30,000. The architect was a Mr. Mosher, of Columbus, and the board of trustees at the time, whose names worthily adorn a tablet on the building-for they engineered the project with indomitable perseverance and ingenuity-were: Messrs. E. A. Parish, W. A. Bovey. F. McCauley, C. Forney, B. Wilkins and A. Holmes. The present superintendent is Professor Ray, who has been in charge for two years, and is assisted by a staff of ten competent assistants-the total enrollment of the school being from 700 to 800 pupils. The building is internally fitted to perfection, having ten class rooms, and three play rooms in the basement, while the entire grounds upon which the build- ing stands, yards included, is three acres. Not far distant we also observed a fine fair ground, to all appearance, but which is known as "Dennison and Urichsville Driving Park." It was recently opened by a private company, and though there has only, as yet, been one meeting thercon, that occasion proved most conclusively what a popular enterprise had been floated. The track, which is half a mile round, is one of the finest to be found anywhere-solid, even and smooth-while the stand, stables, floral or refreshment hall and other buildings are sub- stantial, neat and convenient. For a country town Urichsville is very pleasant to reside in; business is not subject to serious fluctuations, and as a rule the tradesmen are shrewd, solid and enterprising. The next station we find to be.

EDGEFIELD,

the point at which we make connection with the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railway, at present running from Edgefield to Black River, though the company are ac- tively engaged in cutting a section between Edgefield and Bridgeport, Ohio. To the left, from the car window will be seen the Magraw planing mill and lumber yard, as also an engine shed belonging to the C. T. V. & W. Ry. Co.,-but with these exceptions this stopping point is simply a railroad track cross- ing. Nevertheless, Edgefield, as a farming district, is thickly populated and represented by agriculturists of means and wide experience. Leaving Edgefield, a distance of some half mile affords magnificent scenes of rich woodlands on the sides of lofty hills, while the soft, pure air wafted therefrom, over mantled fields of rich herbage or waving grain, suggests that

"To live among such charming scenes A "round old age" would win."

Next we come to

TRENTON,*

(a depot and siding) after passing which, it will soon be seen

*Some two miles hence, (Trenton being the nearest station) is found the following inter- esting relict : Among the earliest and most zeal us workers as a Moravian missionary in this section was Davld Zeisberger, who with bis co-worker, one Edwards, terminated their earthly pilgrimage here, and their graves are still kept green-that of the former bearing a small mar-

from the right, that we first strike the Tuscarawas river, which we continue to view for three-quarters of a mile. To the left we pass Trenton mines, now fallen into disuse, while the dis- tant woodland scenery, from the left side of the cars, appears even to intensify in beauty and extent, until we strike what is termed "Gravel siding," where the Railroad company get most of their excellent ballast. Then we approach

GNADENHUTTEN,

a rural station with a name of decided Indian derivation, and located in a prominent historical section. It was near here, during the last century that some ninety Moravian Indians were enticed into huts and massacred innocently for supposed blood thirsty depredations, and to the memory of the red skinned martyrs a magnificent monument has of late years been erected, which is a noble shaft, standing sixty feet high-procured by public subscription, and supplied by a prominent Chicago firm .* At the same point, a nice public park has also been laid out with pleasant walks through it, but it is to be regretted that in late years local residents have seen fit to appropriate part thereof to a burial ground. In the fall and winter seasons, when the trees are divest of foliage, a sight of this memorial monument is obtained from the car windows, as the train is crossing the railway bridge spanning the river near the depot. Gnadenhutten is a village of probably 300 to 500 inhabitants, whose residences are scattered, and, of course, agriculture is the exclusive occupation, while every year brings quite a large number of visitors to the monument and park. Leaving the depot, a distance of about two hundred yards brings us to a very fine bridge crossing the Tuscarawas river, from which it is only a little over half a mile till we arrive at

"LOCK 17,"

originally a great grain shipping point on the Cleveland and Portsmouth Canal, which water course-popularly known as the "poor man's highway"-we here first observe from the right side of the car, as it is called into requisition to propel the "Clay Flouring Mills," run by Mr. John Heck. Behind will also be observed a small brick structure used for a church and school house, nestled, as it were, in a bunch or cluster of trees. From here the canal runs, within half a mile of the track, all the way to Newark, though frequently being unob- servable from the cars. There is a scattered population of

ble slab, on which may yet be very imperfectly traced-" David Zeisberger, wbo was born 11th April, 1721, in Moravia, and departed this life 7th November, 1808, aged 87 years, 7 months and 6 days. This faithful servant of the Lord lahored among the Moravian Indiaus, as a missionary, during the last 60 years of his life." Some friendly hand, perhaps a relative, placed the stone there many years after the good man's death. Those acquainted with the history of the Moravian muissions will readily recognize the deeply interesting associations with the ahove names, while others, less fortunate, will find a perusal of the samue, as set fortb in "Caldwell's History of the Pan Handle"-or " History of Behuont and Jefferson counties," published this year, yield thein a feast of the mnost intensely interesting historical lore.

*Howe's History informs us that " The first white inhabitants of Tuscarawas county were the Moravian missionaries and their families. They had their stations on the Tuscarawas, or either, Indian stations-Shoenbrun, Gnadenhutten and Salem. The site of the first is about two miles of New Philadelphia ; seven miles farther south was Gnadenhutten, in the immedi- ate vicinity of the present village of that name; and ahout five miles below that was Salem, a sbort distance from the village of Port Washington. The first and last mentioned were on the west side of the Tuscarawas, now near the margin of the Ohio canal. Gnadenhutten is on the east side of the river. It was here that the massacre took place on the 8th of March, 1782, which for cool harbarity is perhaps unequalled in the history of Indiau wars. The Moravian villages on the Tuscarawas were situated about midway between the white settlements neartbe Ohio,and some war-like tribes of Wyandots and Delawares on the Sandusky. There was a British station at Detroit and an American one at Fort Pitt, (Pittsburgh) hence the Moravians were situated, and held nentral grounds, between the two fires. In the autumn of 1781, an English officer, named Elliott, two Delaware chiefs and 300 warriors visited Gnadenhutten and com- pelled the Indian christians, (or Moravian settlers) to proceed west for safety. After suffering from cold and hunger during the winter, about 150 Moravian muen, women and children re- turned to Gnadenhutten to recover their corn left the preceding fall on the stalk. Several Indian depredations being reported at this time, from Pennsylvania and Virginia a company of 100 men formed under Col. Williamson, as a corps of militia. Under false pretexts, they induced the Moravian Indians to surrender their arms, subsequently securing them in two houses, males in one and females in the other. A council was held forthwith, and upon taking a vote, only eighteen were disposed to show mercy and the balance voted to slaughter the whole lot, which was promptly carried out in the most merciless manner; only two boys miraculously escaping to bear witness to the barbarous cruelty of the white men toward their unfortunate race. After perpetrating the henious deed, Williamson and his followers set fire to tbe houses containing the bodies, and marched to Shoenbrun, the upper Indian town."

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APPENDIX.

about 200 inhabitants, and the admirable cultivation of the productive river bottom lands leaves little doubt that farming is profitably and extensively carried on. Having passed "Lock 17" about a mile, or a mile and a half, from the rear of the train a splendid view is obtained, as the track runs between the canal and river for some half mile, within fifty or sixty feet of each, while the backgrounds of thickly wooded hills contrib- utes in no measured degree to enhance the richness and beauty of the scene. The Tuscarawas river abounds in fish-princi- pally pike, salmon, bass and perch-its banks being frequently lined with disciples of "Isaac Walton." The two water courses subsequently branch away from the track in opposite direc- tions, after which, from the right side, will be seen a saw mill and the flouring mill run by Messrs. Barney, Demoss & Co., when we come to

FORT WASHINGTON.

This is an incorporated village of 500 or 600 inhabitants, with Mr. B. Ross for its Mayor. It was laid out by a Col. Knight, and by him named. There are a few stores, good schools, and everything essential to a growing agricultural dis- trict's "own little head center" for supplying daily necessaries. This place, too, in canal boating times, was a noted point for the shipment of grain, and to-day fully realizes the advantages accruing from the dawn of the iron track. It will be noticed from here, on, that the track on this division is remarkable for its straight, level road-bed, a direct run frequently being made of two or three miles without any curves. From a half to a mile distance from the depot we pass the splendid farm and build- ings owned by the Stocker Bros., and soon after come to a side track leading to the Glasgow and Port Washington Coal and Iron Company's furnaces and mines, an enterprise of excep- tional magnitude. The company make their headquarters in Glasgow, England, and employ about a million and a quarter in their enterprise, operating some 200 acres of coal and black band iron ore. They have a splendid furnace, a number of other buildings, and run their own locomotive for hauling between their works, mines and the main railroad track. Their side track runs around a high hill, and by a careful look out from the main line, after passing their switch and the small platform depot, called

"GLASGOW,"

a glimpse of their furnace stack may be obtained in the dis- tance, between the hills. Beyond "Glasgow" the diversified scenery on the left side of the car even increases in interest as we near

NEW COMERSTOWN STATION.

Wc pass a remarkably neat frame residence, with fine barn standing near, on 200 acres of ground, and once owned by Col. John Knight, known as "The Knight property," but where a Mr. E. K. Anderson at present lives, but whether as the owner we are unable to state. Some two hundred yards and a small school house is observed, a branch only of the chief school in the town. From the left also is seen a woolen mill on the banks of the river and amid the trees-it belonging to the estate of the late Mr. James Peeling. And still further will be particularly noticed a very attractive frame residence owned and occupied by the widow of the late Hon. R. H. Nugent. New Comers- town has a population of 1,100 and its mayor is Mr. S. F. Tim- mons. A very neat cemetery is also scen near the track, whichi has been open about seventeen years, in which the fine monu- ments to the memory of the late Mr. John Miskimen and wife, originally wealthy property owners in the neighborhood, and the late Col. R. H. Nugent are most conspicuous. A little fur- ther on will be seen a newly-erected foundry, built by Mr. T. Furgeson, and then on thic right of the car we come to saw and planing mills, run by Wilson, Benton & Co. Near by is the

public school, Mr. Joseph Rey, superintendent, and the Lu- theran church, conducted by the Rev. U. J. Knisley. There are here also a Protestant Methodist church, under the Rev. Dibble; an Episcopal Methodist, under the Rev. Harrold, and a Presbyterian church in charge of the Rev. Riggle. There are three or four hotels, the "Commercial," at the depot, by T. Lybarger, who also controls a refreshment stand called "The Lybarger House," on the opposite side of track, where the Ma- rietta and Cincinnati Railroad crosses, while the "Shields House" is conducted by Mr. W. H. Mayberry, at the depot, and the "Globe House" is located in the town. There is a sprightly little paper published here called "The Eye," edited by Messrs. Kent & Furgeson, and which is quite a compliment to the town. The name of New Comerstown is said to have originated among the Indians, one of whom took unto himself a white woman who happened to cross their path, when a second white woman, straggling into their tents, was named, for distinction, "New- comer"-hence "New Comerstown."* It is a very old town, and claims a population in the neighborhood of 1,100 inhabi- tants. Just after leaving the depot, on the left, will be observed a fine brick residence, probably the largest in this part of the county, owned by Mr. James M. Burt, a retired farmer, who also owns about 1,000 acres of land in West Lafayette town- ship. Still further we observe, on the left, a branch of the Tuscarawas river gracefully winding its way through scenes of rural magnificence until we reach a very fine iron railroad bridge, where the main river and its branch unites. At this point the rural scenery on both sides of the car is something grand, presenting almost every country feature of interest that eye could desire to rest upon. The next station is

"OXFORD,"

at which, opposite the depot, stands the attractive farm resi- dence of Mr. Daniel Leighnenger, while the district around abounds in specially fertile farms. From here it is about four miles to

WEST LAFAYETTE,

which township being formed about the time of the famous General Lafayette's death, it was called after him. But a mile before we reach this depot, on the left is seen a small cluster of houses known as "Loos' Corners," being at the crossing of the Coshocton and Jacobsport pike roads, while west of that is what is known as "Hickory Flats." As we approach West La- fayette the grounds are very flat but splendidly cultivated and present a glorious scene. To the left is a neat brick school house, under the superintendence of Mr. H. Gorsline, as also the pretty residence, surrounded with trees, wherein resides the widow of the late Mr. Samuel Ketcham. The village has probably 400 inhabitants and supports two comfortable hotels;

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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 215

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