History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 48

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

Harmon's Creek, where the 'Panhandle' Rail- road now crosses the river, there ferried his horses over, and thence packed it to and from the mill, in all a distance' of about 64 miles. He made many trips over the mountains with pack-horses to Winchester, Virginia, taking with him cargoes of ginseng, and bringing back salt, which sold sometimes as high as $16 per bushel."

NOVEL SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT.

W. S. Potts, in an article in the "History of the Upper Ohio Valley," relates the follow- ing : "Shortly after Mr. Wells had been com- missioned as justice, a great feud had broken out between two of the early settlers. Mutual friends on both sides had sought the counsel and advice of the peace-loving justice, who had done all in his power to bring about an amicable adjustment, but all to no purpose. Prepara- tions were accordingly made for a grand trial before the justice. A day was appointed. Wit- "nesses were summoned, and all the county, it seemed, at the proper time, had come together to hear the trial. Things looked unfavorable, but an unexpected turn of fortune was at hand. The season was far advanced. A light snow had fallen during the night preceding the day set for the trial, by means of which a person attending the suit, and who had come across the hills of Big Yellow Creek, reported that he had observed fresh bear tracks in the snow on his way to court that morning, and added that he believed the bear could be treed without much trouble. On this information being com- municated, it was immediately proposed that the lawsuit be turned into a bear hunt. This proposition was too great a temptation for the company to resist. The proposition was no sooner made than carried, as if by assault, and all hands immediately started in pursuit of bruin. They retraced the man's tracks and followed the bear in his wandering, to a hollow tree on McQueen's Run. The tree was cut down, and three fat bears secured, as the result of their day's labor. And now all the parties returned to the primitive temple of justice. But the day was far spent, and nobody appeared

to be in the proper mood for enjoying a law- suit. It was therefore proposed that the diffi- culty be made up, and the proposition for the first time met with favorable consideration by the parties interested. It was not the day of temperance pledges, nor yet of strychnine whisky ; but a bottle of good old rye, manu- factured by an honest man at a neighboring distillery was brought out and freely circulated from hand to hand and from mouth to mouth. The litigating parties were introduced, and. cordially shook each other by the hand, and all the parties dispersed, well pleased, to their re- spective homes, and the suit, though it might afterwards have been thought of, remains in statu quo to this day. And thus pleasantly ended one of the first lawsuits before one of the first justices in Ohio."

James Wells, the son of William Wells, after he became a man, followed the river for some years, and then until late in life, he farmed a portion of his land. He lived to be about 94 years of age. Alexander, another son, was a merchant, and was still living and quite active at the age of 95, in the year 1905.

The first store in Wellsville was kept- from 1814 to 1819-by Sanford C. Hill, after- ward a prominent citizen of East Liverpool, and father of Col. H. R .. Hill, for many years a leading attorney at the Columbiana County bar, and Rev. W. E. Hill, a well-known Pres- byterian minister, both of whom were still liv- ing in 1905, in East Liverpool. The next store was opened by Feehan & Shearman, who came from Pittsburg, and each of whom were afterward postmaster of Wellsville. The first. lumber-yard in Wellsville was opened by Allen McDonald, and the first tavern by Jonathan Whitacre. That was in the year 1800, and it was located on the line of the old State road (now Third street ). The first blacksmith shop in the township, and the second one in the county, was that of John Robbins, and stood on Robert Dobbins' farm. The first blacksmith in Wellsville was Jared Long, whose shop was at the east end of town.

Wellsville, as has been related in another chapter, because of the river trade and fine wharf and shipping facilities : was a great ship-

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ping point. There was during almost all the time between 1832 and 1852-before the days of railroads-a daily line of packets plying to Pittsburg, and after 1834 a daily stage connec- tion with Fairport, on Lake Erie. And the Wellsville Patriot, of January 2, 1849, contains a card announcing the arrival and departure of the steamers in the Pittsburg and Wheeling daily line, viz. : the "James Nelson," "Consul" and "St. Anthony," and of the Bridgeport and Sunfish packet "Wellsville." The same paper contains the advertising cards of H. & S. Cope, saddlery, harness, etc .; J. M. Jenkins, attor -. ney-at-law; Fulton Foundry & Machine Works of Phillip F. Geisse; W. Wells, dry goods; A. Rogers & Company, wagon and carriage-mak- ers; George Wells, warehouse; A. Mckenzie, marble-yard; Walker & Kirker, drug-store; Geisse & Fogo, new warehouse; and the pro- fessional cards of the following physicians : Drs. Mackenzie & Buchanan; J. Stephenson, J. B. Hill, W. S. Mackintosh and G. W. Luty. Dr. N. K. Mackenzie, who is the first men- tioned in the foregoing list, represented his senatorial district in the Ohio State Senate for two terms, and in 1905 was still living, though quite feeble, having retired from practice but a few years previous

THE "FOURTH" IN THE EARLY '60S.

The paper already quoted, of date of July 3, 1860, tells something of the preparations to celebrate the following day-the Fourth of July. It says : "The following merchants agree to close on the 4th of July, 1860: A. Denham, Prosser & Wells, James Stewart, John Gaddis, Henderson & Bleakly, B. Evans, Lawson & Wells, Nicholsen & Robinson, Will- iam Lawrence, H. S. Wilson, C. M. Hamilton, H. & S. Cope, H. Van Fossan, T. W. Riggs; Geisse & Fogo, Stevenson, Haley & Company, T. H. Prosser F. R. Vantyne, H. Koontz, Rogers & Smith, W. M. Hamilton, W. M. Bright, A. Wells & Son, J. H. Coleman, O. M. Stevens, P. F. Geisse, Stewart & Hibbetts, Mrs. Burns, H. H. Laverty, John Atkinson." The Patriot goes on to say: "The big gun with which the patriotic citizens design to

herald the dawn of tomorrow (the Fourth), we take pleasure in stating, is the work of the operatives in the Fulton Foundry & Machine Works of our enterprising fellow-townsman, P. F. Geisse, Esq. The gun is four feet long, II inches across the breech, with a 3-inch bore. It was constructed expressly for the occasion Mr. Geisse furnishing gratuitously the requis ite machinery, tools, etc., and his employees giving their time and labor, free of charge, while the material was furnished by the con- tributing citizens." This "big gun" was used on similar occasions for many years afterward. At the Fourth of July celebration referred to, John S. Bleakly read the Declaration of In- dependence and addresses were made by "Revs. Messrs. Sears and Endsley and Mr. Ogle; there were odes sung, and in the evening a musical entertainment.'

The number of the paper referred to gives these "census results :"

1860 1850 Decrease Population of Columbiana County. . 32,845 33,621 776

The publisher of the Wellsville Patriot, William L. Clarke, was even thus early sus- pected of sympathizing with those who would disrupt the Union. And so, as though he would "straddle" the entire subject of politics, at least until he might decide upon which side of the fence he had better alight, he printed at the head of his editorial column all of the four presidential tickets nominated in 1860, as fol- lows :

A. Lincoln and Hanibal Hamlin John C. Breckinridge and Gen. Jos. Lane. John Bell and Edward Everett. Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson.

The vote for President in Columbiana County at that memorable election of 1860 was: Lincoln, 3,846; Douglas, 2,132; Breck- inridge, 307; Bell, 103. So that, in a total vote of 6,388, Lincoln received a majority over all the other candidates of 1,304.

The Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad car shops, since their erection in 1856, always rep-

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

resented an important element in Wellsville's industries. These, however, have been referred to in an appropriate chapter.

WELLSVILLE'S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Wellsville has always had solid financial institutions, since the first of the kind in the town's history, in 1848, when D. & D. McDon- ald organized a private bank in connection with their general store. McIntosh & Company, in early '50s kept a private bank, and still later 'McIntosh & Mccullough and Mccullough & Company. In 1863 the Wellsville Savings Bank was organized, with the following di- rectors: E. S. Taylor, Alexander Smith, Alexander Denham, J. A. Riddle, Alexander Wells, George Wells, William Bleakly, Don- ald Davidson and Laughlin McLean. The bank carried a deposit account of about $80,- 000. It closed its business in 1865, its stock- holders organizing the First National Bank, May Ist of that year. During the greater part of the bank's period of existence, Gen. James W. Reilly was president; James Henderson, cashier and H. B. Nicholson, teller or cashier. The capital stock of this bank was $50,000. The People's National Bank was organized August 6, 1902, with a capital of $100,000. Directors : President, P. F. Smith; vice-presi- dent, D. S. Brookman; cashier, H. B. Nichol- son; H. C. Desellem, C. E. McKim, C. G. Stevenson and F. L. Wells. In August, 1905, the bank's condition was: Surplus and profits, $16,000; deposits, $458,000; loans and dis- counts, $383,600; U. S. and other bonds, $110,000; total resources, $686,239.74. The bank had been made one of the State deposito- ries. In June, 1903, the First National Bank went into liquidation, the stock, deposits and entire business being taken over by the Peo- ple's National Bank. In 1905 the bank moved into its own new building, which was one of the finest in Eastern Ohio.

· The Silver Banking Company was estab- lished in 1884, with a capital of $50,000. In 1905 the bank was doing a good and safe busi- ness. Thomas H. Silver was president and T. R. Andrews, cashier. The company occupies its own building.

The Central Building & Loan Company of Wellsville was organized in 1892, In 1905 its assets were $400,000. President, P. M. Smith; vice-president, A. D. Forbes; secre- tary, W. A. Snediker.

The Perpetual Savings & Loan Company of Wellsville was organized about the same time as the Central. The statement of March 5, 1905, showed total resources, $693,987.69. J. C. Catlett, president ; D. S. Brookman, vice- president ; F. L. Wells, secretary; H. B. Nich- olson, treasurer.

The Wellsville Building Company, the first association of the kind in the town, was or- ganized back in the '6os, William Bleakly be- ing president and W. G. Wells, secretary. Later came the Citizens' Building & Loan Company and the Mechanics' Building & Loan Company. These were what were known as "terminating companies," and ran their course. from II to 12 years.

WELLSVILLE'S CHURCHES.

The pioneers of what is now Wellsville en- joyed religious services as early as 1800. Among the first Presbyterian preachers to visit the section was Rev. George Scott. He and several others preached at the house of George Wilhelm, on the Virginia side of the Ohio, opposite Wellsville, and at a later date Rev. Thomas E. Hughes, Rev. Mr. Hale and others preached occasionally at Wellsville, in the woods and tents during the summer season, and in the winter in the schoolhouses. A brick schoolhouse built on Main street about 1829 was used in common by several denominations. In 1832 the First Presbyterian Church was or- ganized with about 26 members. The first elders were Alexander McBeth, John Mitchell and George Johnston., The first house of wor- ship was erected on the river bank, near the cite of the old sawmill. In 1852 a new house was built on Front street, which building was burned August 27, 1869. On the following day work was commenced on the fine brick building, which in 1905 was still occupied by the congregation. The building cost $18,000 and there is a parsonage adjoining which is

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valued at $4,500. The pastors of the church were : Revs. Thomas E. Hughes, William Orr, Thomas McGill, John M. Lowry, Thomas B. Gordon, W. W .. Lafferty, Thomas Mc- Curdy, J. Wickoff, J. C. Meloy, S. M. Davis, H. W. Lowry, L. F. Lafferty and William J. Hutcheson. The last named was the incum- bent in 1905, when the members of the ses- sion were: Angus Noble, John D. Roberts, G. McGregor, J. W. Quinn, R. B. Parke and J. L. McDonald.

The United Presbyterian Church of Wells- ville, or the Associate Reform Church as it was then, was organized May 29, 1848. The meet- ing was held in the Methodist Protestant Church building, and Alexander Rose, Wal- lace Fogo and Robert Ralston were chosen elders. The first pastor was Rev. J. C. Camp- bell, who began his labors in 1848 and served the congregation until 1855. The subsequent pastors have been: Revs. Joseph Andrews, 1859-69; James Day Brownlee, 1870-75; John A. Bailey, 1877-82 ; Joseph G. Kennedy, 1884- 93; William A. Littell, 1895-98; William M. Glasgow, 1899-April, 1905 .. Rev. Frank D. Lindley, of Mansfield, Ohio, had accepted a call, and was expected to enter upon the work of the pastorate September 1, 1905. The first house of worship, a modest structure, was built in 1849, this building being replaced in 1872 by the one still in use in 1905, at a cost of $16,- 000. The session in 1904 was composed of these persons : H. B. Andrews, S. G. Connell, Philip Fraser, J. L. Junkin, D. H. Harper, J. R. Stoakes and F. M. Hawley. The congrega- tion owns a handsome parsonage valued at $8,000.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Wells- ville had its beginning in a class organized about 1800 by Rev. John Callahan. The or- ganization was effected at the house of William Wells, among the original members being Will- iam and Ann Wells, Robert and Jane Dobbins, Samuel and Eliza Flowers and William and Margaret Richardson. This class is supposed to have been the first ever organized in Ohio. Among the early preachers were: Revs. Es- sex, Stoneman, Askins, Reid, Charles, Church, Watts, Baker and Seisel. The earliest class

leaders were William Wells and Robert Dob- bins. Preaching was for some years held in William Wells' residence and in a log house built by James Clark. In 1826 and 1827 ser- vices were held in the little shop of Joseph Wells. After that date the Methodist class, in common with other denominations, occupied a brick schoolhouse built by the village. In 1833 a plain building was erected on a lot do- nated by William Wells. The second building was erected in 1877, being dedicated October 25th of that year. In 1884 the church was en- larged and remodeled at a cost of $3,000, and again in 1900, at a cost of $7,000. In 1888 a parsonage was built at a cost of $7,000. The: pastors who have served the congregation since": 1833 are as follows: Revs. Young, Mahon, .. Ruyler, David Sharp, John White, J. J .. Swazee, Lewis Burton, John Spencer, Thomas McGrath, N. Callender, C. Jackson, M. P. Jamison, J. Gibson, F. McCleary, G. A. Low- man, E. T. Fletcher, A. L. Petty, A. J. Eusly, Edward Burkett, Samuel Babcock, Stephen. Minor, James Henderson, J. M. Carr, J. H .. Hollingshead, J. Conkle, Lewis Payne, J. W .. Toland, H. Miller, W. H. Rider, G. F. Oliver, J. M. Carr, S. Burt, J. S. Rager, E. D. Holtz,. C. E. Clark and J. W. Toland, who was in his second year in 1905. The membership in the latter year numbered 567.

The Methodist Protestant Church of Wells- ville was organized in 1829, in the house of Joseph Wells, by Rev. George Brown, with the following members: Joseph and Hezekiah Wells, Christopher and Sarah Murray, N. Murray, William Seuter and George and Sarah Gibbons. In 1833 a building was erected,. which was enlarged and remodeled in 1878. The pastors who served the church while it was a part of a circuit were: Revs. William Reeves (whose wife occupied the pulpit once. each month during her husband's ministry), Rufus Richardson, Edward Paulton and Jere- miah Browning. After that the church was a mission point for a number of years, among the pastors being Revs. W. W. Arnot. W. Maynard, Thomas Cullen, Joseph Ray. W. Hastings, C. Callahan, William Case, J. B. Wilkin, D. Truman, E. S. Hoagland, M. L.

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Jennings, S. S. Fisher, W. O. Scott, J. A. Barnes, L. C. Wells and C. H. Beck. The membership in 1905 was about 300. The church building was burned in 1891, and a new and handsome building was dedicated Octo- ber 9, 1892.

The Church of the Ascension (Episcopal) organized in 1863, although an informal mis- sion and Sunday-school organization had ex- isted some years prior to that date. The first vestry of the parish was composed of E. H. Ayer, A. M. Haley, J. T. Smith, C. E. Gor- ham, William Haley, J. R. Bagley, and R. W. Ransom. In 1864 C. E. Gorham removed from Wellsville, and John Thomas, having located in Wellsville, as superintendent of the Cleve- land & Pittsburg Railroad, was chosen to fill the vacancy thus caused, and during the years that Mr. Thomas remained in Wellsville he continued to be one of the main-stays of the little church. In 1869 and 1870 a church edifice and rectory were built. The rectors of the church since its organization have been Revs. Lee, Gilbert, Hubbell, McMurphy, Coleman, Butler, Long, Badger, Burke, Cogswell, Will- iams, Edwards and R. K. Caulk. The mem- bership of the church in 1905 was a little less than 100.

The Christian Church was organized in 1843 with a membership of about 50. The first building was a log house built about 1844. In 1845 William Wells donated a lot on Main street to the congregation and a brick house of worship was built. In 1896 the handsome structure still in use in 1905 was built at a cost of $10,000. In the latter year the mem- bership numbered 350. The ministers who had served the church were: Revs. Reagle, Lam- phear, Beaumont, Henry and John White, Hil- leck, Cohen, Baxter, Young, VanHorn, Hay- den, Jones, Tilcock. Lytle, Bower, Miller, Barnes and W. C. Prewett (in 1905).

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1834 by Rev. James Conlin ; but less than a dozen families formed the nu- cleus of the parish until 1858, when the Rev. D. Tighe began monthly visits. which he con- tinued for seven years. Rev. P. J. McGuire was pastor for nine years. During his pastor-

ate the brick edifice of later years was built. The succeeding pastors were Fathers Cullen, Cahil, Carroll,; Drohan, Halligan and Crotty. During Father Halligan's pastorate a beauti- ful site, with parochial residence upon it, and sufficiently large for church and school build- ings, was purchased, at a cost of $14,000. A large and handsome parochial school building was completed in 1905.

The Second Presbyterian Church of Wells- ville was organized May 5, 1896, a handsome frame church building being erected on Nich- olson avenue. The first pastor was Rev. C. L. McKee, who served the congregation from the organization until March, 1904. Rev. B. M. Price was called soon after the vacancy oc- curred, accepted, and was installed June 19, 1904. The membership in 1905 was about 100 and increasing steadily, the members of the session being J. S. McLean, Benson Peeples, H. H. Sproul, G. W. White, John H. Lewis and E. S. Mills.

The Wellsville A. M. E. Church was or- ganized in 1887, a small building on Broadway purchased and transformed into a house of worship, and Rev. J. H. Mason settled as pas- tor. Other pastors have been Revs. W. T. Artis, B. M. Carson, Eaton and Rev. L. A. Upshaw. The membership in 1905 was about thirty.

The First Evangelical Church, with a neat and comfortable building on Third street, erected about 1896, had in 1905 started upon what seemed to give promise of an era of pros- perity. Rev. W. A. Vandersall was the pastor.

The Swedish Lutheran congregation of Wellsville was organized January 7, 1903, with a membership of 30. Rev. Philip Andreen was the pastor, coming from Pittsburg to hold serv- ices, and preaching to the congregation once a. month.

The Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, lo- cated in Yellow Creek township about four miles west of Wellsville, was organized in 1852 by members of the Yellow Creek church, and of the First Presbyterian Church of Wellsville. A church building had been erected in 1850, two years prior to the organization, the orig- inal idea being to have a convenient house of

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worship, without immediate reference to organ- ization. The organization was affected by a session composed of Rev. John Price as moder- ator, and Elders John Mckenzie and John Huston. There were about 25 members, orig- inally, of whom James Martin, William C. Smith and William Workman were chosen elders. The first settled pastor, in 1852, was Rev. John Price, who was succeeded by Revs. John Arthur, Brown, David Hargest, N. K. Crowe, W. E. Sloane, T. V. Milligan, and David Hargest again since 1904 as stated sup- ply. The elders in 1905 were A. G. Smith and A. G. McGarvey.

EARLY SCHOOLS OF YELLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Second only to the church in importance in Yellow Creek township was the public school. The first in the township was taught in 1800 by Richard Boyce, in a log schoolhouse, built by William Wells, Robert Dobbins and Ed- ward Devore, the latter a colored man and one of the early settlers of Liverpool township. Mr. Wells agreed to contribute the compensa- tion for five pupils, and Devore agreed to send and pay for four pupils. This was the begin- ning of the school which was located on Rob- ert Dobbins' farm, which for some years was taught by Richard and Timothy Boyce, broth- ers. The next teacher in this school was Wil- liam Marsh, a Welshman. Soon after this, two log schoolhouses were built, one on the site of Wellsville near, the river and one on Henry Aten's farm. In the latter Alexander Brown was an early teacher. Richard Boyce taught in a schoolhouse on William Foulk's farm, and in 1815 he taught in a schoolhouse on. the farm afterwards owned by John Mc- Donald. Andrew Smith, the justice of the peace, who has been mentioned as teaching in the "Scotch Settlement," also taught in a schoolhouse on Smith's farm (afterward owned by T. B. Kerr) in Yellow Creek town- ship .. The Union school building, erected in Wellsville in 1850, was the first built in the State after the passage of the "Union School Law." It was a brick structure, contained seven rooms, accommodated 550 pupils and

cost $7,000. The splendid Central school building on Ninth street was erected in 1879- 80, at a cost of $40,000, was and is one of the best in Eastern Ohio. Since then a smaller building has been erected in the west end and one in the east end. Professor Parsons was the first superintendent of the Wellsville union schools, and remained a number of years. Prof. J. L. McDonald, who began his service as superintendent of the Wellsville schools in 1870, and had entered upon his 35th year in 1905, made a record in Ohio educational affairs which was an enviable one.

WELLSVILLE GRAVEYARDS AND CEMETERIES.

The first graveyard in Wellsville was the Wells burying-ground on Main street, which by 1870 was about the geographical center, of the city: The first burial was that of a little child, and the grave was never marked. In his will Mr. Wells provided that the ground should be used as a burial-place chiefly of his blood-re- lations, and that it should be a burial-place for- ever. Surrounding the graveyard was a stone wall, the following inscription surmounting the entrance : "Erected by William .Wells in 1842, at a cost of $750." From about 1870 no burials were permitted in the place, and some 15 years later it was vacated by the heirs of the Wells estate, and the ground occupied by pri- vate residences. In 1825 Mr. Wells donated to the town an acre of land, near where the railroad shops were afterward located, to be used "as a burying-ground forever." This served the village as a cemetery until 1865, and about 20 years later it too was condemned, the graves removed and the land sold for secu- lar purposes.

In 1866 the town of Wellsville purchased a tract of land, comprising II acres, on the hill west of the corporation, and commenced the laying off of Spring Hill Cemetery. In 1890 38 acres additional were purchased and by 1905 the town could boast of one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Eastern Ohio. It is under control of the Board of Public Service of the town.

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CITY OFFICIALS.

In 1890 Wellsville had a population of 5,247; in 1900, 6,146. In 1905 the city gov- ernment of Wellsville was as follows. Mayor, Wallace L. Fogo; city solicitor, Charles Boyd;

president of council, A. B. Crubaugh; auditor C. R. McGregor; board of public service,- W. G. Stewart, O. P. Bowers and. H. A. Her- bert; councilmen,-William O'Grady, W. J. Gloss, C. V. Shoub, John Joseph, Frank Black- burn, Robert Anderson and James Bissett.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 48

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 912

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912