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 80

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 80
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 80

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).

the payment of the money, were exhibited. It was, however, still insisted that as the transaction was an old one and had taken place before the burning of the war office in Philadelphia, the lapse of time furnished satisfactory evidence that the claim must have been settled and the vouchers destroyed in that con- flagration.

"The pride of the old veteran was deeply wounded by the ground on which his claim was refused, and he was induced, from that consideration, as well as by the pressure of poverty and want, to persevere in his efforts to maintain the justice and equi- ty of his demaud ; still hoping that presumption would give way to truth. For the purpose of getting rid of his solicitations, Con- gress passed an act purporting to be an act for his relief; but which merely removed the technical objection, founded on lapse of time, by authorizing a settlement of his demands, regardless of the limitation. This step seemed necessary to preserve their own character ; but it left the worn out veteran still at the mercy of the accounting officers of the department, from whom he had nothing to expect but disappointment. During the same ses- sion a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives granting him an annuity, which was rejected on the third read- ing by a vote of 48 to 50.

"After spending the principal part of two sessions in useless efforts, subsisting during the time on the bounty of his friends. he abandoned the pursuit in despair and returned to the Ligo- nier valley where he lived several years in the most abject pov- erty in the family of a widowed daughter as destitute as him- self. At length Pennsylvania, his adopted state, from consider- ations of personal respect and gratitude for past services as well as from a laudable feeling of state pride, settled on him an au- nuity of three hundred dollars, which was soon after raised to six hundred and fifty dollars. That act of beneficence gave to the gallant old soldier a comfortable subsistence for the little remnant of his days which then remained. The honor resulting to the state from that step was very much enhanced by the fact that the individual on whom their bounty was bestowed, was a foreigner, and was known to be a warm opponent in politics to the great majority of the legislature and their constituents.

"He lived, however, but a short time to enjoy the bounty. On the 31st of August, 1818, that venerable officer of the Revolution, after a long, brilliant and useful life, died of an injury occasion- ed by the running away of his horse, near Greensburgh. in the eighty-fourth year of his age."

BUILT IN THE WOODS.

At the time Newell laid out the village of St. Clairsville, its site was covered with a dense forest. In a few years log buildings or cabins had sprung up like a mushroom. Immigrants came in on horseback and afoot. The trails were alive with pioneers bring- ing their small stores of household goods, packed on their beasts, which made them appear as broad as long, and among stumps, trees and bushes, they spread out their goods and erected their habitations.

FIRST PROPERTY HOLDERS,

Below is snbjoined a list of the first owners of town lots in St. Clairsville, and the dates of their purchase. David and Benja- min Newell were the grantors :

To James Caldwell, October 29, 1800.

To David Russell. January 20, 1801.

To Enoch Rush, November 4, 1801.

To John Francis, December 21, 1801.

To John Woodburn, December 22, 1801.

To Jacob Holtz, November 28, 1801.

To Philip Windle, December 22, 1801.

To George Michael, December 19, 1801.

To Samuel Harbert, December 28, 1801.

To Nicholas Stener, January 8, 1802. To Christian Rose, Jannary 8, 1802. To John Clause, Jannary 8, 1802. To Abraham Lash, January 8, 1802.

To John Thompson, January 29, 1802. To Joseph McConald. April 17, 1802. To Valentine Ault, February 16, 1802. To James Bell, February 27, 1802. To Lydia Allie, February 27, 1802. To Jacob Houth, Jannary 29, 1802. To James Brian, Jannary 14, 1802. To Jacob Devore, March 28, 1801. To Christopher Clouse, April 29, 1802. To James Woods, April 30, 1802.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

To Mary Nowls, April 27, 1802. To James Finley, March 3, 1802.

To David Kirkpatrick, April 27, 1802.

To William Brown, April 27, 1802. To John Bly, April 20, 1802. To Israel Irwin, April 27, 1802. To William Irwin, May 8, 1802. To David Trimble, June 29, 1802. To Nancy Newell, April 29, 1802. To Daniel Peck, June 29, 1802. To William Young, July 3, 1802. To William Vance, July 31, 1802. To William Mathers, August 4, 1802. To Sally Thompson, August 13, 1802. To Absalom Martin, August 13, 1802. To Robert Griffith, August 17, 1802. To Thomas Conly, August 22, 1802. To Thomas Thompson, August 23, 1802. To Joseph Irwin, September 2, 1802. To Elijah Woods, August 7, 1802, To Noah Zane, September 17, 1802. To Magdaline Piper, September 11, 1802. To William Cougleton, September 16, 1802. To Joseph Martin, August 7, 1802. To William Bell, September 23, 1802. To Samuel MeElroy, October 9, 1802. To William Frost, October 5, 1802. To John Dugan, October 9, 1802. To John McClain, October 29, 1802. To Samuel Buchanan, October 27, 1802. To William Gibson, October 11, 1802.

To William Frost. October 11, 1802. To Robert Griffin, October 11, 1802. To Thomas Hellems, December 6, 1802. To William Gibson, December 9, 1802. To George Myers, February 3, 1803. To John Long, February 3, 1803. To Josiah Hedges, January 7, 1803.

To Robert Johnston, April 4, 1803.

To Robert Thompson, April 15, 1803,

To William Cook, May 6, 1803. To Mahlon Smith, May 6. 1803. To Enoch Rush, May 6, 1803. To John Woodburn, May 14, 1803. To Sterling Johnston, October 1, 1803.

To William Newell, September 28, 1003,

To A. S. Woodrow, November 9, 1803. To Bazil Israel, November 9, 1803. To Abraham Barnhart, November 17, 1803.

To James Barnes, January 7, 1803. To Moses Morehead, February 25, 1804.

To Alphens Ferren, February 25, 1804.

To John Israel, February 26, 1804. To Win. Gibson, February 25, 1804. To Robert Johnston, April, 8, 180-4.

To Nathan Updegraff, April 13, 1804.

To Daniel Church, April 13, 1804.

To Thomas Ireland, May 6, 1803.

To Jonathan Quigley, February 19, 1801.

INCORPORATED.

In 1807, Newell's plat with an additional part on the south side of town, laid out by William Mathers, was incorporated by the name of St. Clairsville. By said act of incorporation the follow- ing officers were appointed :

President-John Patterson.

Recorder-Sterling Johnston.

Trustees-Michael Groves, William Brown, John Brown and Josiah Dillon.

Collector -- Wm. Cougleton,

Treasurer-James Caldwell.

Town Marshal-Robert Griffeth.

How long this corporation was kept up is unknown ; but by dereliction of duty it died out, and perhaps, soon too, after the act passed. As time grew on and the town improved by the erection of frame and brick buildings, many of the log houses (for they were all log then) began to recede or diminish, the sub- ject of incorporation commenced to be again agitated. A num- ber of log hamlets which were unsafe from fire and otherwise, endangering new ones built alongside of them, proved to be a great annoyance to the citizens. By having the village incor- porated these could be removed. Accordingly on the 19th day

of December, 1818, the following act of incorporation was et- fected :

LETTERS OF INCORPORATION.

"Whereas the householders in the town of St. Clairsville, in the county of Belmont, having complied with the provisions of the act of the General Assembly, entitled 'An act to provide for the incorporation of towns ;' and having filed in the office of the Secretary of State, the documents required by the above recited act; therefore,

" To all to whom these presents shall come .- Be it known, that the tract of land described in the following boundaries, beginning at a stake on the northwest corner of the commons of said town adjoining lands formerly of William Boggs (now Andrew White's out-lot); thence south 19 degrees east, fifty-eight poles to a stake on the southwest corner of the commons of said town; and thence north 714 degrees east, one hundred and eighty-one poles and six hundredths to a stake, a corner at the southeast corner of the commons of said town; and thence 19 degrees west, fifty-eight poles to a stake at a corner on the north east corner of the com- mons of said town ; and thence south 71} degrees west, one hun- dred and eighty-one and six hundredths poles to the stake, the place of beginning. Also an addition to said town laid out by one Wm. Mathers, bounded as follows, to wit : Beginning for a corner at a stake on the southwest corner of the same, and on the south line of the commons of the town plat herein first de- scribed, and thence south 19 degrees cast, thirty-seven poles to a stake in the southwest corner of the commons of said 'addi - tion : ' and thence north 713 degrees east, forty-six and forty-two hundredths to a stake on the southeast corner of the said ' addi- tion,' and on the south line of the commons of the town plat herein first described, and thence south 712 degrees west, to the last place of beginning, as by the plat of said town and the ad- dition thereto will more fully appear, and situate in the county of Belmont; is hereby declared a town corporate and shall hence- forth be distinguished by the name of St. Clairsville. * *

* "In testimony whereof, and in conformity to law, I, Jeremiah McLene, Secretary of State, have caused these letters to be made patent, and have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Columbus, this 19th day of December, A. D. 1818. "JEREMIAH McLENE."

"Owing to the length of the rules and regulations governing said town they are here omitted. The officers of town were president, recorder and trustees. These were empowered to ap- point a town marshal, a collector and a treasurer.

OFFICERS FOR 1879.

Mayor-H. M. Davies. Clerk-R. R. Barrett. Treasuer-A. P. Blair.

Councilmen-Robert M. Eaton, Benjamin S. McBride, Cyrus H. Kirk, W. S. Kennon. John E. West and John Carlisle. Marshal-William Rice. Deputy Marshal-L. C. Neiswanger.

EARLY MERCHANTS.

James Caldwell was the first person to open out a dry goods store in St. Clairsville. He came from Wheeling and start- ed in the mercantile business in 1801. He erected a small cabin on the lot where Welday's bank now stands. He carried on the trade for a number of years and grew quite wealthy. Was the first president of the Belmont Bank of St. Clairsville, in about 1816. Died about 1837.

Joun Winters was the second party to engage in the store business. He commenced in 1802. These gentlemen were fol- lowed by James Barnes, in 1803; Peter Yarnald, John Patter- son, and John Thompson, in 1806. Yarnald kept until 1813, when he sold out and removed from the village. The latter continued in the trade until 1824. Josiah Dillon kept in 1807. Samuel Sharp also started the same year. In 1813, Josiah Hedges started a store, and continued until 1819. He then sold out and removed to Seneca county, where, in 1821, he laid out the town of Tiffin, and named it in honor of the Hon. Edward Tiffin, of Ross county, president of the convention which formed the con- stitution of Ohio, and the first Governor of the State in 1803. John Carter & Co. opened out a store on the lot where the Na- tional hotel building now stands, along in 1806-7. Joseph Har- ris and Richard Freeman started stores in 1808. In 1819 Rich- ard Charlesworth started in the dry goods business. He drove an extensive business in shipping produce to New Orleans, and dealt largely in furs and such like. He carried on the business for a number of years.

227

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

FIRST TAVERN KEEPERS.

Jacob Holtz received the first license to keep a "house of pub- lic entertainment" in St. Clairsville, February 23d, 1802. He kept hotel until about 1806, when he removed into now Union township, and kept a tavern west of Morristown. On the 25th of May, (1802,) licenses were granted to John Thompson and Bazil Israel. James Barnes kept in 1803; the same year Wm. Gibson received a license to keep tavern. Michael Groves and Sterling Johnston in 1804; Andrew Moore, in 1805 ; Andrew Marshall in 1805; Absalom Martin, in 1807; Jacob Lease, in 1807, and John Brown, same year ; Zebulon Warner, in 1808, &c., &c.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

The first physician to begin the practice of medicine in the town was Dr. Herron, He located here in about 1804. It is said he ent the letter "M" out of the hand of Peter Sunderland, who had been branded by the sheriff for the murder of John Holtz. He was followed by Dr. Hughes, who practiced here a great many years. Dr. Quigley succeeded him, who remained until about 1822. He subsequently lost his eyesight, and died blind.

MISCELLANEOUS VOCATIONS.

In 1803, Joseph Morrison began the manufacture of hats in St. Clairsville. A lively business was the hatter's trade in early days.

Ralph Heath was the first silversmith. He opened out a shop on Marietta street, continuing for a number of years.

The first tannery started was in 1803-4, by John Long. Smith & White started in 1808. Moses Morehead began, per- haps, a year earlier. Long's tannery was located in the south- west part of town, Smith and White's in the east end, and More- head's in. the southeast part of town.

John Marchus carried on tailoring in St. Clairsville as early as 1803 or 4, and was the first man in that business in the town. He continued for a number of years.

Joseph Patton started a shoe shop in 1801, and Henry Mitch- ell also began shoemaking near about the same time. These gentlemen were among the first.

Ira Robertson opened the first tin shop in 1806.

Samuel Sullivan was a hatter. He started in the town in 1806. Had his shop where George Jepson now lives. His son, John Sullivan, was made the first president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Ohio division).

A man by the name of Jesse Magee opened out, it is believed, the first cabinet shop. He was followed by Joseph Marshall.

Jacob Leash, a Hessian, was the first barber who shaved and dressed hair in St. Clairsville.

Reese Branson was the earliest clock-maker in his section of the county, and the first in St. Clairsville, He located here as early as 1806. He also made buttons out of pewter, with brass eyes. In that line he had quite a run. That was the style of buttons worn by the early settlers, and appropriately used with their linsey-woolsey habiliments.

John Copeland was the first person to carry on blacksmithing. His shop was situated on or near the present site of Major Thompson's residence.

Robert Dent was the first school teacher in St. Clairsville. He was a member of the Methodist church.

A Rev. Mr. Colderhead was the first itinerant minister in the village.

It is believed by a few persons now living, that Andrew Mar- shall was the earliest postmaster of St. Clairsville, and that he received his appointment from the second President of the United States, John Adams. In 1805-6, he took the contract to carry the mail, by wagon, from Wheeling to Lancaster. The mail prior to that time had been carried on horseback.

There was a horse-mill on the lot where afterwards was built the Friends' church. A stillhouso stood on the same lot. It was quite small-only having one still. Messrs. Josiah Dillon and John Thompson were the operators there for a short time. The distillery burnt down, and the land was sold by Thompson to Taylor, who sold part to the Friends, in 1807, for a church site.

Michael Groves also had a distillery on the lot owned by Mr. King, in a very carly day.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE IN 1808.

From a lettor written by a citizen of St. Clairsville to Mr. F. Cuming, dated December 30, 1808, the following is obtained :

I-29-B & J. Cos.

"St. Clairsville, a post town, and seat of justice for Belmont county, was so called in honor of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, late gov- ernor of the Northwest territory; was laid (in the woods) by David Newell in the year 1801, on the great western post road from the city of Washington to Chillicothe, then called Zane's road, and at that time was scarcely passable for wagons. It is pleasantly situated on a rising ground, eleven miles west from Wheeling, in Virginia, sixty-seven southwest of Pittsburgh, two hundred and eighty-five on the usual route and two hun- dred and thirty-four in a straight line from Baltimore and the city of Washington, and one hundred and fifty E. N. E. of Chil- licothe. On the south side of Newell's plat and the Marietta road, is an additional part laid out by William Mathers, which, by an act of the legislature, was incorporated with Newell's plat on the 23d of January, 1807, by the name of St. Clairsville, and is governed by a president, recorder and five trustees, and a town marshal, with power to create inferior officers to execute their ordinances. There are seventy-nine dwelling houses and four hundred inhabitants. The houses, with the exception of three two-story dwellings and a one-story brick school house, are all wooden, principally two stories high, mostly weather- boarded and neatly painted, which gives the town a new and thriving appearance. On the most elevated spot, and near the centre of the town-plat, north side of Main street, in the public square, stands the court house and goal under the same roof, a strong log building of two stories high. Within seven miles of this place are seven grist mills, two of which make merchant work, eight saw mills, one oil mill, and two carding machines erecting. Our lands are rich and heavily timbered with walnut, sugar maple, poplar, (a tree of which in sight of this place is eight feet four inches in diameter) white oak, ash, hickory, &c., and peculiarly adapted to the growth of fruit trees. The last season a young tree, whose trunk was 1} inch thick, third years' transplanting, blossomed and had fifty-six apples ; but being too prolific, the tree died before the fruit came to perfection.

"The produce collected for the Atlantic ports, are flour (for the New Orleans market) hemp, flax, bees-wax, and in the fall of 1807, 12,000 weight of snake-root, and 6,000 weight of ginseng (3,000 wt. of which being clarified) was sent from this place to the ports of Philadelphia and Baltimore.

"Inexhaustable coal banks surround this place in almost every direction, and coal is delivered here at 6} cents per bushel. Notwithstanding the variableness of the weather, there is per- haps no place in the western country that can boast of a greater share of uniform health. The diseases most prevalent are rheu- matisms, and a species of bilious fever that prevails most in dry seasons. Few places perhaps can boast of a greater population since the time of first settlement. Here are horses of a tolerable breed, mostly from Virginia, cattle not excellent, sheep of good quality and fine fleeces.

"Here are two schools, five taverns, eight stores well assorted with goods, seven carpenters, three masons, two blacksmiths, two tanners or curriers, four cabinet makers, one brickmaker, two saddlers, one pottery, one tinner, two manufacturies of cut nails, two clock and watch makers, four shoemakers, three tailors, two turners in wood, one spinning-wheel maker, (a very useful manufacture in a new country, and especially at this time when every family is a dollar the richer for every cont laid out in buying a spinning wheel, and pounds for every shilling's worth in home made garments,) one cart wright, two windsor chair makers, and one maker of split bottom chairs, two distil- leries, one victualler, three physicians and two attorneys,"

EXTINCT CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS.

Immediately opposite the present Methodist church stood the Episcopal church building; built 1822. The congregation be- coming scattered it was used for some years by the Associate Reform church, and after that remained unoccupied; and about 1862 it fell down and the ground was sold.

The Associate Reform, now the United Presbyterian church building, was erected about 1833, on the south side of the town. In 1874 the building was removed and repaired, with modern improvements.

The Friends or Quakers, at one time numerous, have almost entirely disappeared. The meeting house was taken down in 1875. It stood on the lot now owned by Col. Thompson. The building was erected in 1809-10. A half acre of ground was purchased from a Mr. Taylor, of Steubenville, in 1807, by the Friends. Several years later they put up a church. Prior to holding services in their church they met at the house of Mr. William Mosley. His house stood on the present site of Mr. Sin-

228

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

clair's residence. An old lady named Mitchell used to preach for them.

INITIAL ATTORNEYS.

The first lawyer to locate in St. Clairsville was Jacob Nagle. He, it is said, was a brilliant scholar and an excellent lawyer; but was addicted to strong drink to such an extent that his pro- fession suffered thereby. He defended Peter Sunderland, the first person indicted in the Belmont county courts for murder, in 1804, and through his fine management and stirring eloquence induced a jury of twelve persons to bring in that singular ver- dict, (see early judiciary) thus saving his client from being hanged. He was followed by Charles Hammond, Moses More- head, Col. George Paull, Daniel McElherron, Samuel Sprigg and others.

SCHOOLS.

Major Thompson says: The first school house erected in or near St. Clairsville, stood on the property now owned by Mr. Benjamin Barkhurst. It was built of logs in regular cabin fashion, about 1802. The door of this cabin swung on wooden hinges. What light reflected into the small room was transmit- ted through a solitary window of greased paper. The seats were made of split timber, with flat side up, resting on wooden pins and at such a height from the the floor that the teacher seldom ever was annoyed by shuffling of feet on the same. Wm. Flee- harty officiated as teacher. Books were not numerous in those days. One often supplied the whole school. The pupils, when called up to recite, stood in a row and the book from which they read was passed from the head of the class down, each reading such portion assigned them by their teacher.

School was taught several years, when petty jealousies sprang up between the country and town, the former accusing their mas- ter of partiality. One night a party of the dissatisfied gathered at the cabin and completely demolished it, searcely leaving one log on another. Thus ended the first school and building, so the historian has been informed.

The next school house was built at the west end of town along in 1803-4. It was a step farther on in improvement above the first. It is not positively known who taught there.

Another school was started in 1806-7, near the present resi- dence of Mrs. Ferren, which, Major Thompson says, was con- ducted under the influence of the Presbyterian congregation and continued for a number of years.

In 1809, the Methodists, having by this time grown more nu- merous, in this place, started a school in a brick house on the sontheast corner of the M. E. graveyard. This school was looked upon by some as an innovation. School was carried on here until about 1840. The first teacher who taught in this house was Prof. Dent. He was followed by Wm. Limberlake, Sterling Johnston and Zadoc Masters. He taught in about 1822, and John Taylor taught along in 1826-28; a Mr. Glasco in 1828-9 and W. Y. Ellis in about 1832, when others followed.

In 1822 or '3 Miss Ann Leech taught a school for several terms in a house which stood on the lot where is situated the residence now occupied by Jesse Burley.

A school was carried on on the lot now owned by Miss Me- hala Hutchison. William Sims taught here in 1824-5.

The building now used by the colored people was built for a school in 1830, and occupied as such for a number of years. Mr. G. W. Hoge taught in this building several years and Miss Jane Edgerton taught here from 1855 to 1864.

William Nettleton, Gregg and White taught a school on the lot owned by Mrs. Armstrong.

On Samuel Taylor's lot, Marietta street, school was conducted for a number of years.

David Moore taught the first graded school in St. Clairsville. Prior to June 1st, 1831, schools were mostly select. After this date a certain fund by the state was set apart for the sup- port of common schools.

In 1868, the present large and elegant brick building was erected. It measures 74x77, three stories high, and cost $36,000 irrespective of ground. The first and second floors are occu- pied by the schools, The third floor is used as a hall by the Masonic Fraternity. The high school is on the second floor; Grammar, Intermediate, Secondary and Primary on the first floor. First faculty was composed of Prof. J. J. Burns, (the present Commissioner of Public Schools in the State,) Miss --. Egelson, Miss M. C. Ryan, Miss Rebecca Billingly, Miss A. Adams.

The teachers for 1879 are Prof. J. G. Black, Miss M. C. Ryan, Miss M. Davies, Miss M. Griffin and Miss A. Adams. This is an excellent corps, as well as those who preceded them in the new school building.

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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 80

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