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 88

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 88
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 88

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).

Mr. S. Davis, our informant, and who at this time was but eighteen years of age, says that it was rather a comical sight to see Mr. Isaac Ruby following that bear on a gray horse yelling at the top of his voice at every leap his steed made : "Bear ! Bear !" at the same time flourishing his hat above his head with his left hand.

It is claimed there were about about a hundred and twenty persons in the chase.

THE OLD BAPTIST CHURCH.

The earliest church organization effected in now Richland township was by the Baptists. Along in 1798 this congrega- tion, few in number, erected a small log church on the ancient looking graveyard a mile and a quarter west of St. Clairsville, There are now no signs of a building visible. The fact ofits ever existing is like a dream in the memory of the oldest living in- habitants. Its worshippers, like the church structure, have long since yielded to time's corrosive power.

FIRST BURIAL GROUND.

The first burial ground used by the pioneer settlers, in Rich- land township, is the half acre enclosed with a stone fence, situ- ated abont a mile and a quarter west of St. Clairsville, near the national road and on the farm now owned by Joseph Bent- ley. The first person interred there, which the tombstones point out, was as early as the year 1797. It is the resting place of

Mrs. Grizzy, wife of Wm. Boggs. Many indeutations occur in the lot, but if the graves were ever marked, the slabs have fallen down and lost sight of. Other old looking slabs are found here and there irregularly arranged; but time with its decaying power has so completely defaced them that their inscriptions are now nearly indecipherable. The oldest person buried here is Mrs. Jane, wife of Wm. Woods. She died at the advanced age of 102 years.

THE SECOND CABIN CHURCH.

Very early, near the close of the last century, a log cabin church was erected a short distance from the mouth of Vance's run, now called Jug run, on the farm in the possession of Major Thompson, who says the Seceders or Unionists first held ser- vices there. This church only lived a short time. The Preshy- terian denomination used it awhile.

About 1800, the Presbyterian Church, which was also a log structure, was built on the grounds known as the Union Ceme- tery, quarter of a mile north of St. Clairsville. It was occupied until 1808, when a larger and more comfortable log building was erected on the same spot. A short time prior to the erection of the one just mentioned, the congregation was looking up anoth- er site. Few, however, were willing to have the building kept on the same place, whilst a few wanted to change the locality in town. Judge Josiah Dillon offered them a site in St. Clairs- ville ; but after some little parleying, refused to accept the liber- ality extended by the judge. The serious objections raised by the good, honest worshippers were, that if the church stood in town, their children might form a habit of loitering about the place on the Lord's day, and thus be contaminated with evil communications. They worshipped here until 1822, when the congregation erected in the town of St. Clairsville, a large brick building, which was destroyed by fire in 1841. In 1843 the present church building was crected.

Rev. Joseph Anderson, the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was installed in 1800, and occupied the pulpit for thirty years. He was the first Presbyterian minister ordained west of the Ohio river. He died at Monticello, Missouri, in 1847.

TAXABLES IN 1807.

On June 8, 1807, Robert Griffin listed the taxable property of Richland township, and from his book it is ascertained that there were, at that time, six hundred and six taxables in the township. He was seventeen days listing the property.

ELECTIONS.

The first election held in the township was in the spring of 1802, at the house of Wm. Cougleton, in St. Clairsville. Its first officers cannot now be ascertained, owing to the fact that the early records have been lost. The oldest book now extant dates June 6, 1809. From that record the historian learns that Joshua Hatcher, John Carter and Isaac Cowgill were acting as trustees of Richland township. Josiah Hedges' name appears as clerk. The business before them was the calling of an election. Said election was directed by them to take place on the second Tues- day in August, 1809, for the purpose of electing four justices of the peace.

On December 16, 1809, Joshua Hatcher and John Carter met at the house of the latter named, and appointed Robert Dent to act as constable until the election in April. Dent took the oath of office under Zebulor Warner, a justice of the peace. Robert Griffith took the oath of office as a justice of the peace, having been elected to that position at the August election. Zebulon Warner received his commission as justice and was also sworn into office. Likewise James Cloyd, Sterling Johnston and William Sinclair, who were elected in August, were commis- sioned.

On December 21, 1809, John Brown was appointed constable. The trustees met on Jannary 6, 1810, and appointed Henry Hardy a constable for said township.

THE SUPERVISORS FOR THE YEAR 1809.

James Starr, Samuel Spriggs, Robert Thompson, Reese Boggs, Alexander Young, Obediah Hardesty, Andrew Dickey, Joseph Morrison and Thomas Smith.

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR FOR 1809.

Thomas Smith and Moses Morehead. Expenditures for the year 1809, as appear on the records, $78.00.

251

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

VOTE FOR 1810.

The following shows the vote for 1810 for the township offi- cers of Richland, names of candidates and the office. Election- Second Monday of April :

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. No. of Votes.

Joshua Hateher. 96

William Bell 126

William Brown 79

CONSTABLES.

Henry Hardy 154

Samuel Kinkead. 109

John Brown ... 104

SUPERVISORS.

George Barchus 10

Caleb Dillie. 8

Joseph Roberts

Richard Hardesty 7

Adam Johnston

Reese Boggs

Robert Laughlin

George Keller .. James Cloyd.

Joseph Vanlaw 1

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.

Moses Morehead 18

Thomas Smith 12

FENCE VIEWERS.

Notley Hays. 17

Sterling Johnston 12

TOWNSHIP TREASURER.

James Caldwell

TOWNSHIP CLERK.

Mahlon Smith. 25

Judges-Joshua Hatcher, Isaac Cowgill, Nathaniel White. Clerks-Edward Wilson and John Martin.

A stovepipe hat was used for a ballot box.

SCHOOLS.

Richland township contains at present eighteen substantial brick school buildings (not including St. Clairsville.) These schools are kept open on an average of eight months in the year. Twenty teachers are employed at an annual cost of $5,000. Sixteen of these school honses have been erected within the last ten years.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (1879).

Justices of the Peace-J. C. Pratt, H. M. Davies, J. S. Smith, W. J. Stitt.

Trustees-J. J. Taggart, Marshall Thompson, John Giffin. Clerk-R. R. Barrett.

Treasurer-A. P. Blair.

Assessor-W. H. McBride.

FIRST GRAFTED ORCHARD.

Sometime in 1810 or 1811, Judge Ruggles sent to Marietta, Ohio, for about five hundred fruit trees. These trees were pur- chased from General Putnam's nursery, the only one of the kind at that time in the State. The trees were brought up the Ohio river in a canoe, and was the first grafted fruit planted in Belmont county.

RAILROADS.

The Baltimore & Olrio railroad passes through sections 19, 35, 29, 23 and 24 of this township. The Narrow Gauge leaves St. Clairsville and intersects the road at Quincy.

GLENCOE.

This village is situated in the southeastern portion of Rich- land township. It was laid out by John B. G. Fulton, Februa- ry 26, 1855. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad passes through this place. It contains a population of about one hundred, and

has one dry goods store, one grocery, two shoeshops, two black- smith shops, one flouring mill and one church.

LOYDSVILLE

Was laid out in 1831, by Joshua Loyd. It is situated in the ex- treme western part of the township, on the national road and contains a population of about seventy-five. Has one dry goods store, one wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, one grist mill. two cabinet shops, one shoe shop,one doctor, postoffice and one (M. E.) church.

In 1858 Vail & Pittman opened out a store. These gentlemen were the first merchants to do business in the village. Isaac Gleave started a hotel stand the same year in a brick house which still remains standing.

M. E. CHURCH.

The M. E. Society of Loydsville was organized in 1835. Meet- ings were held in the school house until 1837, when the congre- gation built a small frame. In 1866 the present brick edifice was erected, which is 50x36. Membership, sixty. This church belongs to the Morristown circuit and Barnesville district. Rev. J. M. Carr is presiding elder. Rev. W. D. Starkey is the minis- ter.

EAST RICHLAND

Is situated on the National road, about five miles west of St. Clairs- ville. It has a population of about sixty and contains a steam grist mill, two hotels, one grocery, one blacksmith shop, one dry goods store, one shoeshop, postoffice, and about seventeen dwelling houses.

STEWARTSVILLE

Was laid out by John Stewart in 1868, and most of the town has been built by him. It contains about twenty houses and nearly one hundred inhabitants. The postoffice was established here in 1874, John Stewart appointed postmaster. The village con- tains one store, one school, one blacksmith shop and the Frank- lin Coal Works, which were started under the firm name of Stewart, Ball & Mechan, May 31, 1866. In opening the bank only six men could be employed for three months. This firm continued until 1873, and employed on an average abont 35 men. The estimated products were 12,000 tons per month. In January of the year mentioned Ball withdrew, and the com- pany assumed its present name, Stewart & Mechan. For two years following this change business was carried on more ex- tensively than before. They gave employment to 45 men and produced many thousands of tons. But since that time busi- ness has somewhat decreased. Now only 25 men are employed. The coal is the lower stratum, and is five feet ten inches in thick- ness. Most of the products of this bank are consumed by the B. &. O. R. R. The coal was formerly shipped to Chicago, Mil- waukee, Detroit, Toledo. Sandusky, and as far west as Fort Madison, Iowa. It was used extensively for blacksmithing in the west, owing to its superior qualities.

MELLOR BROS.' FLORAL WORKS AND NURSERY.

This business was first begun by James Mellor, a native of England, about one mile from St. Clairsville, in 1846. He rented ground upon which to carry on. But his business stead- ily increased, so that he soon became enabled to purchase prop- erty. In 1853 he bought the present location, which is situated one mile cast of St. Clairsville, on the National pike. Here he erected a green-house 55 feet in length and 20 in width, and did a good business. He was the first florist in eastern Ohio, and if not the first, one amongst the primitive florists in the State. He was widely known as " Mellor, the English gardner." He sold the first tomatoes in the Wheeling market. Ex-Governor Shannon bought the first lot of shrubbery sold from this murs- ery. Mr. Mellor purchased his trees at Pittsburgh. He died in August, 1858, after which time he was succeeded by his two sons, when the firm received its present title : J. & J.T. Mellor. At present they have two green-houses, cach 55 feet in length and 16 feet in width. Eleven aeres are occupied by nursery and floral works, three acres of which are in evergreens.

252

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ANDREW J. FULTON, son of John Fulton, was born in Mead township, Belmont county, November 8, 1837-received a com- mon school education, and was reared on the farm till the age of 17 years, when he learned the blacksmith trade with William Litton of Monroe county. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Union army, company A. 25th regiment, O. V. I., and served till the end of the war. He was in the battle of Cross Keys, Virginia, Slaughter Mountain, Virginia, Bull Run, Fred- cricksburg, Wilderness, Gettysburg, Fort Sumpter, and many others of less importance. He was in 36 battles in all, never re- ceived a wound, was never a prisoner, and never under guard for misconduct. On October 17, 1867, he was married to Miss Mattie Powell, of Belmont county. He came to Glencoe in the year 1870, where he has ever since resided, working at his trade.

HENRY BEEM, is the second son of Benjamin Beem, who was of German descent, migrated from Pennsylvania to Belmont county, in an early day, and served in the war of 1812. Our subject was born in Richland township, February 10, 1818. He was reared on the farm, and on July 25, 1853, was married to Miss Mary J. Powell. He has one son living, John W. Beem, who was born July 23, 1854. Mr. Beem resides one and one- fourth miles southeast of St. Clairsville.

JAMES MELLOR, SR., was born in Lancashire, England, in 1796, and was educated as a florist, which business he followed all his life. In the fall of 1826, he migrated to America, stopping at Philadelphia one month, for the purpose of visiting the botancial gardens, preparatory to engaging in the floral business. He came to Ohio the same year, locating in Belmont county. In 1839, he removed to Virginia, where he remained five years, at the expiration of which he returned to Ohio. In 1825 he married Miss Hannah Kershaw. Their union resulted in seven children, of whom are living, John R .. Elizabeth A., James, Joseph T. and Mary M. In the fall of 1858, our subject died, his widow still survives him, in her 78th year.

JAMES MELLOR, a son of James and Hanna Mellor, was born in Richland township, June 27, 1836. Received a common school education, and was reared a nursery-man and florist, remaining with his father till his death, when he and a brother took charge of the business, and continued it until the opening of the rebellion. He then stepped to the front and was the first to enlist in com- pany A. 25th O. V. I., Colonel Charlesworth's company, which was the first to offer itself in the three years service from the state of Ohio. Our subject served till August 18, 1864, when he returned to his former business. On December 23, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary McKelvey. His brother John R. served six months in the war, took sick and was discharged.

JAMES FINNEY was born in Ireland, August 18, 1827, and when about nine months old his parents emigrated to America and located in Morristown, Belmont county, Ohio, where they remained but a short time and then caine to their present loca- tion, three and one-half miles east of St. Clairsville. They set- tled on 240 acres, on which there were no improvements but an old log house and a very small piece of land cleared. There were seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are living. In September, 1851, our subject was married to Miss Martha Hinkle. On December 23, 1874, he was left to monrn the loss of his wife. In 1843, his father died, aged sev- enty-nine years. His mother still lives and is in her 90th year.

CHARLES H. ARRICK was born in Richland township, May 9, 1825. His father was a native of West Virginia, came to Bel- mont county about 1810-12, locating in Richland township, and in August, 1822, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Dixon, an adopted daughter of Charles Hammond. In 1826 he located on the northwest quarter of section 21, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. In the year 1845, while ont in the field at his work he suddenly expired, aged forty-five years. His wife died in 1837. Our subject was reared a farmer and was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Collins of St. Clairsville, on June 2, 1846. After his marriage he lived in St. Clairsville for a few years, then returned to the farm where he was born, and yet resides. He owns 285 acres of the Charles Hammond entry. His principal business is sheep raising. His father was one of the first dealers in fine sheep in the country. Had the pure

saxons, and at the time of his death owned 800 head. This breed has been kept by them for fifty years. Mr. A. has thirty acres on which grow a great variety of fruit trees, 1,000 apple, 200 crab apple, 150 cherry, 200 pear, 150 peach trees and a va- riety of small fruits. In a vineyard of nine acres he has 17,500 bearing vines. His greatest crop was in 1875, from which he realized 82,500.

EDWARD S. ARRICK was born in Richland township, February 26, 1836. Was educated in common schools and reared a farm- er. November 17, 1857, he married Miss Jerusha J. Bell, daughter of Jolin Bell. After his marriage he lived for one year on the farm where he now resides. He afterwards removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he remained five years, then return- ed to the old homestead. This farm was first settled by William Bell, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1784, and in 1794 bought 114 acres in Richland township. The brick house in which Mr. Arrick resides was built in 1825. It was one of the first built in that locality.

JESSE B. MAGEE, was born in Richland township, November 15, 1819. His father was a cabinet maker by trade, and in 1801 located in St, Clairsville, being the first one in the town of his occupation. Married Miss Elizabeth Coleman of Richland township, who was a native of Kentucky. They were the par- ents of twelve children, of which our subject was the third son. In about 1808, Mr. Magee located on the farm where our sub- ject yet resides. There was then a small cabin, and small tract of land cleared. Our subject received a common school educa- tion, and on September 30, 1847, he was married to Miss Catha- rine S. Lank of Brooke county W. Wa. He has always resided on the farm where he was born.

CHARLES W. SCHUMACHER, son of Christopher Schumacher, was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, April 29, 1831. He attended school until fourteen years of age when he began the trade of butchering; emigrated to America with his parents in September 1848, and located in Wheeling, W. Va. Here he did an extensive business at butchering, stock dealing, &c., till 1855, when he removed to Belmont county, Ohio, and located on little McMahon's creek, and in 1867 came to his present location, two miles east of St. Clairsville, on the national pike. Married Christine Bayha, April 2, 1850. His son Jacob is a corporal in the regular army, in which he has served for four years, In 1855 he planted three acresin a vineyard. This was the third one in the county of any importance; and he was therefore one of the first to begin the grape culture in this locality. He makes a considerable quantity of wine of su- perior quality. His house is a great resort for market people on their way to Wheeling.

DR. WILLIAM T. MITCHELL, son of Edgar and Delilah Mitch- ell, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, March 5, 1847. He was reared a farmer, and attended Franklin College, at Athens, O., for three years. In 1864 he began as a day laborer on the farm in Belmont county, and taught school for eight winters. In 1872 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Piper, of Glen- coe. He attended both the Starling and Columbus Medical Col- leges of Columbus, Ohio, graduating at the latter in 1876, and began his practice in March of the same year as a partner of his old instructor. On June 6, 1878, he married Alice M. Ault, of Belmont county, Ohio.

JOHN STEWART was born near Washington, Washington county, Pa., October 7, 1827. His education was obtained at common schools; and he was brought up as a farmer, which occu- pation he still pursues. Married Mary Cochran, of Belmont county, October 19, 1854. In April, 1864, Mr. Stewart removed to Belmont county and located in Richland township, where he yet resides. His residence is near the small town that he laid out on a portion of his farm in 1868, and which bears his name. Mr. Stewart began operating in coal in 1866, and at present has a half interest in the Franklin Coal Works.

GEORGE W. BARNES was born in Smith township, Belmont county, November 20, 1827. His father, John Barnes, was born near Frederick, Maryland, June 3, 1788, and migrated, with his parents, to St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, in 1799. David Barnes, the grandfather of our subject, was a brother of James, the founder of Barnesville. John Barnes, father of George W., remained in St. Clairsville one year, then leased a quarter section of land two miles west of town, on

253

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

which he moved and made improvements. His educational ad- vantages were superior to most young men of that day, having attended school in the eastern and southern states. When a young man he clerked for several years in the stores of Cald- well and Thompson, of St. Clairsville. In 1817 he married Ann Thompson, danghter of John and Sarah Thompson, and resided in Richland township until his death, excepting the year he lived in Smith, where he cast the only Whig vote polled in that township. His principal occupation was farming. He died in 1865; his companion followed in July, 1870, aged 78 years. Our subject received a common school education. On January 14, 1892, he was married to Isabella Ferrel. His wife died May 8, 1866, and on the 24th day of December, 1868, he was again united in marriage to Martha Price, who died January 14. 1872. On the 11th of March, 1873, he made his third choice in Lucre- tia G. Hamilton. He has always been a citizen of St. Clairs- ville or vicinity, moving where he now lives, near the County Home, in 1877, and erected the dwelling in which he resides.

WILLIAM H. McCLEARY, was born in Wheeling township, Belmont county, Ohio, December 13, 1852. In 1869 he com- menced working at the blacksmith trade with his father in Lloydsville, where he continued for six years, then began business on his own account, in East Richland, where he is carrying on the business. He married Mary E. Milner of Mor- gan county, Ohio, October 11, 1877.

E. J. CARMAN,-son of William Carman, was born in War- renton, Jefferson county, Ohio, October 15, 1829. In 1832, his parents moved to Belmont county, Ohio, and located near where our subject now resides in the vicinity of East Richland. He obtained a common school education. He has followed the wholesale notion business for a number of years, and travels over the same territory his father traveled in that business. He married Lucretia N. Wineman, March 31, 1857. He has traveled for forty years, and transacted business in every state from the Atlantic to the Mississippi river. His father owned the land and laid out the town of East Richland.

OWEN MEEHAN, was born in the county of Monchean, Ireland, March 20, 1833. When fourteen years of age he emigrated to America, remained in western New York for one year, and came to West Virginia and engaged as a common laborer on the B. & O. R. R. His uncle had a contract of building the first bridge west of Bellaire, on the Central Ohio railroad, and oui subjeet was employed as superintendent and time keeper. When the work was about half completed the contractor died and Mr. Meehan finished the job. After the completion of the road he was employed as a shop hand at Bellaire, cleaning en- gines, &c. About 1857, an incident occured worthy of notice, The shops where he was laboring took fire. There was but one engine ready for service, and with this he passed through the flames of the burning building, secured six locomotives, ten coaches and four baggage cars, and in this perilous operation he was so badly burned that he lay unconcious for one month, and was unable to work for five months. He saved the com- pany property valued at $160,000.00, for which he never was remunerated. After he had sufficiently recovered he began as fireman on the B. & O. R. R. While acting as such on the locomotive Antelope, and when six miles west of Barnesville on an eastern bound train, the engine exploded, scalding the engineer severely and breaking one of his legs. Mr. Mechan was thrown a distance of twenty-five yards, and alighting on his left shoulder fractured his collar-bone. Shortly after this oc- currence he began as engineer and continued the same till 1866. On the 4th day of June of that year, he embarked in the coal business in the firm of Stewart and Mechan, proprietors of the Franklin Coal Works. Married Margaret Douglass, of Rich- land township, February 19, 1873. His residence is in Stewarts- ville.

JOHN B. McMECHAN, was born in Richland township, No- vember 18, 1847. His education was obtained at common schools and at Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. Mar- ried Rose Frazier of St. Clairsville, Ohio, September 28, 1876. John McMechan, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Ire- land, emigrated to America in 1810, and located in Richland township, where John McMechan, Jr. yet resides, on the old In- dian springs farm. There was then but a small lot cleared and very few improvements. He resided on this farm till the date of his death in 1859, being 97 years of age. William McMechan, our subject's father, was born in Ireland in 1806, and married

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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 88

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