USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 26
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John Mehaffey, son of Samuel, was born in Ireland in 1801, emigrated to this county in 1812 and to Guernsey county in 1819. In 1826 John mar- ried Nancy Murphy, who died here in 1864. He then moved, with his two daughters, to Cambridge.
William Speer, fifth child of Stewart and Jane Speer, was born in 1818 and in 1841 married Jane McKinney and settled on the old homestead in this township. Their family and descendants are well known in the county today.
Stewart Speer, born in Pennsylvania in 1783, married Jane Scott. They kept hotel and farmed in Adams township from 1808 to 1812. In the war of 1812 he was a lieutenant, and later became an associate judge. He died in 1850 and his good wife in 1866; they had eight children.
John Work was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1785, and after his marriage to Nancy McDoll moved to Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, where he died in 1850 and she in 1873. One of their three children, John Work, born in 1834, married Mary Morrison in 1860. In 1867 they settled in Spencer township, this county, and after living in Westland town- ship for a number of years, in 1875 went to Adams township.
Alexander Neely was born in Ireland in 1828. He and two sisters and a brother left Ireland in 1849, and settled in Adams township, this county, where he was married in 1860. They reared a large and highly respectable family.
John Sunnafrank was a native of the island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, born in 1777. He was of German parentage, and left his home for Virginia, where he remained until 1804, when he moved to near Cam-
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bridge, this county, where he resided eleven years, after which he bought a farm in Adams township, four miles from Cambridge, on the pike, and there remained until his death in 1850. The children and grandchildren became well-to-do citizens of this county and township.
Alexander Leeper was born in Pennsylvania in 1773 and his wife in 1777; they came to Adams township in 1831, locating on the pike, near Cambridge. Their numerous family are scattered here and there, through- out the United States.
William Calhoun, born in Ireland, in 1796, emigrated to Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1818 and four years later moved to Washington county, where he married Ruth Clark. In 1845 they commenced a five-years resi- dence in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but in 1850 settled in Adams township, this county, where he died in 1871 and his wife ten years later. They reared and educated a family of eight children.
David Thompson, another early settler in Adams township, was born in Ireland in 1774, and six years after his marriage the man and wife left their native land for America and resided in Allegheny county eighteen years. From there they moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, near New Concord, and from that place went to Adams township, Guernsey county, in 1817. The wife died in 1847 and he in 1859. They had five children, all of whom grew up and settled in homes in this county.
Other pioneers were Benjamin Reasoner, Valentine Shirer, William McCulley, Ellis Kelly and James Milligan.
CHAPTER XX.
CAMBRIDGE TOWNSHIP.
This is the sub-division of Guernsey in which the city of Cambridge and the seat of justice is situated. It was one of the five original townships to be organized in this county. It dates its precinct history, therefore, from April 23, 1810. It has had its boundary lines changed several times, but at present it comprises about thirty-five sections of land; is five miles wide from east to west by seven miles north and south. Wills creek, the prin- cipal stream of Guernsey county, meanders its way through the township from north to south, with two large ox-bow bends to the north of the city of Cambridge. Crooked creek also forms a junction with this stream in Cam- bridge township. Other streams are tributaries to Wills creek, including Leatherwood creek, of some historic fame as to its name. What are now the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore & Ohio railroads cross each other at Cambridge, the former running north and south and the latter about east and west, bearing somewhat to the south. The old National road, or pike, crosses this township on its course through Guernsey county, with toll bridges at Cambridge.
Coal mining is the principal industry of the township, but agriculture, horticulture and gardening are also carried on with fairly good success, as is also stock raising. Its educational, religious and social features, having been treated in the chapters including the city of Cambridge, will not be referred to in this connection. The early settlement of this township has also been mentioned in various general chapters, including the city chapter. It may be stated in passing, however, that Cambridge township had the honor of being the home of the first white man to locate within Guernsey county-a Mr. Graham who invaded the wilds of this section in 1798. His was the only dwelling between Wheeling and Zanesville.
CHAPTER XXI.
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
As its name indicates, this is the central sub-division of Guernsey county. It was organized in 1822 as a separate township. In extent of territory, it contains about twenty-three sections. It is four miles from east to west and six miles from north to south. It is surrounded by five townships, Cam- bridge, Jefferson, Wills, Jackson and Richland. Centerville is a platted place within the township's limits, but never has been of much importance. The National pike runs from east to west across this township in a diagonal course.
Concerning the early settlement of this township, it might be considered that the list of the aged persons living there in 1876-Centennial year-was a good index of the early families and hence will here be inserted :
Hugh Miller, Joseph Eagleson and wife. James Eagleson, Katherine Eagleson, John Luzadder, Nero Gilson, Benjamin Simpson, Nancy McCul- lum, James Spence, Joseph Griffith, James Dungan, Martha Patterson, Mary Kendall, Elizabeth Boyd. These persons had in 1876 reached the age of seventy-six years and many upwards of that. Many of their children and grandchildren still reside in this township and are the farmers, stockmen and business factors of today.
William Norris, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born in 1805, removed to Ohio with his young wife in 1834, settling in the north part of Centre township, Guernsey county, where he soon after died. He had a son, William, Jr., who became a well known citizen of the township.
John Thompson emigrated to this county at a very early day and lo- cated on the banks of Leatherwood creek, in Centre township. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1807, and died here in 1859. Of their six children, four survived to manhood and womanhood.
Among those brave souls who braved the dangers of this then new wild country in 1820, were William and Mary (Robinson) Thompson, born about 1787 in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In 1819 they came to Centre town- ship and were delighted with the country and its promises for the future as a home-building place for them. After making a preliminary trip, he brought
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his family on and erected a cabin. The trip was made, with great danger, in a wagon all the way from Pennsylvania. Within a few years he had cleared up a hundred and sixty acres and purchased more land and built a saw and grist-mill on Leatherwood creek, the first within Centre township.
Alexander Egleson was born in Ireland in 1783 and came to Pennsyl- vania in 1819 and to Centre township in 1830. He and his family became substantial and well-to-do farmers of this county.
In 1841 came Samuel Nelson and wife from Pennsylvania, their native state, and located in Centre township and here they reared a worthy and industrious family.
Thomas and Ann (Pursely) Warne emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio in 1802 and located in Wills township first, then moved to Muskingum county. but in 1812 returned to Guernsey county, settling in Centre township. Their log cabin home was once surrounded by water during a flood and the family were removed on horseback. Mr. Warne was drowned while on a trip to Stillwater, where he had gone to procure funds with which to prosecute his claims for a large estate in the East. He reared a large and highly re- spected family of sons and daughters.
Ireland furnished another sturdy son for the settlement of Centre town- ship, in the person of John Boyd, born in Antrim, 1818. His parents and sister left for America in 1832 to seek a home in free America, and after two weeks in the city of New York, landed in Centre township as soon as they could well make the trip. The father was James Boyd.
Stout Patterson was among the hardy pioneers of this township. He was known as Sr. Patterson and his son as Stout, Jr. The father was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, as was his good wife. They bought and paid for forty acres of land in this township and there they reared a family, lived and finally died. They came here in 1808, hence were truly "first settlers" in Guernsey county.
William Clippinger is another pioneer who must not be omitted in Cen- tre township settlement. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1781 and his wife in 1779; both died in 1835. He and his son William erected a rude log house and partly cleared up a small farm tract before moving the family here. At the time of his death, he had bought and paid for one hundred and fifty-seven acres.
Isaac McCollum was born in New Jersey in 1802, moved to Centre town- ship in 1819 and lived here until overtaken by death. A son of this gentle- man, Grey McCollum, served in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during two years of the Civil war and was twice wounded and finally taken prisoner
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and laid in Libby prison pen for six months, but later came home and be- came a good farmer and held the old homestead.
Craig is a hamlet midway between Cambridge and Washington, and consists of about a dozen houses and a general store. It had a postoffice at one time, but it is now discontinued.
CHAPTER XXII.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson township is the second from the northern and the third from the eastern line of Guernsey county. It is five miles square, contains twenty- five sections and is in an excellent part of the county. Its history dates from June 3, 1816, when it was cut off from territory formerly included in Madison township. It is without town or village.
Its early settlers included the following persons, who in 1876 were re- ported as still residing within the confines of the township, and had passed the seventy-sixth year mark of life's journey :
Edward Bratton, Thomas Brown, James Clark, Caleb Cannan, John Leeper, Henry McCleary, John Martin, Stephen Stiles, Andrew Stiles, Robert Speers, Samuel Stewart, Joshua Smith, Harris Wiley, Jane Adams, Mrs. Brown, Margaret Culbertson, Hannah Cannan, Mrs. Fairchild, Delight Gunn, Mrs. Kimble, Elizabeth Lanning, Mary McClary, Nancy McMillen, Fanny Stiles, Eve Taylor and Mrs. Taylor.
George Linn was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1768, and taught school there until 1813, when he settled here on a farm. He married Pamelia Matthews and they reared eight children. Their son, Cyrus, was born here in 1837 and was educated at Athens College and to him and his wife were born five children, well known in this county.
John S. Fordyce was born in 1808 and left his native town in Pennsyl- vania fifteen years later for Harrison county, Ohio, where his parents de- cided to locate. He married Margaret Shipman, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1812. They remained in Harrison county eight years and then settled in this township, where he died some years later. They had eight children, John, one of the sons, being born in Harrison county, in 1837. In 1867 he married Hannah Allen, a native of Guernsey county. They first lived two years in Madison township and then came to Jefferson township.
Jesse Thomas was born in Pennsylvania and lived at home until 1813, when he married and finally died on the west branch of the Susquehanna river in 1822. His wife then lived in Winchester, this county, until 1849. Their children were Samuel, Lewis, Charles and Jesse. Samuel Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, in 1815, and came to Ohio with his mother in 1823.
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He married and resided at various places in this county, until 1843, when he settled in this township and operated a mill many years. He resided on one place more than forty years and was infirmary director and trustee of his township.
James Gillispie was born in Ireland in 1787 and emigrated to this coun- try when eighteen years of age, working on a farm in Pennsylvania. In 1809 he married. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and in 1831 removed to Belmont county, Ohio, and ten years later to this township. He died in 1847 and his wife in 1841. His family consisted of wife and nine children.
The above represent a large majority of the early settlers in this goodly township. Their descendants are scattered throughout this and adjoining counties.
FIRST ACTUAL SETTLERS.
After having given a number of the earlier pioneers of this township it now becomes the duty of the historian to give something concerning the first actual settlers, who were William Lautz and Martin Stull. These emi- grated from Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1805 and located, Stull on lots 14 and 15, and Lautz on lots I and 2, in the military land district. Stull soon died there. John Tidrick, from the same county and state, settled on lot 3. William Allen located on lot 28 and owned at one time seven hundred acres of land. He came to this township in 1806, and later married Mr. Stull's widow. He reared a large family and was trustee in 1815, when Madison and Jefferson composed one civil township. He died in 1845.
Rev. John Graham, in 1824, organized a Methodist Episcopal church, with eight members. They met for worship at Mr. Allen's house for six- teen years, but in 1839 built a church on Mr. Allen's land. This was the first religious society formed within the township.
Jonathan Stiles, of English descent, came in 1806, locating in the south- east quarter of section 17, third quarter township.
Adam Linn built a house and kept tavern on the old Steubenville road in 1809. Abraham Mathews came in the same year, as did John Bird and his eight sons and daughters. William Bratton effected settlement in 1815, on section 25. It was in 1810 when William Moore and family settled, as did this aged couple's son-in-law, John Henderson. William Moore was justice of the peace in 1816, and John Henderson served from 1819 to 1846 as his successor, two terms being excepted. Both were devout Presbyterians.
In 1810 came James Waddle; in 1812 came Nathan Kimball and James
(19)
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Strain and Samuel Paxton. The first great improvement in mills in the county was by John Armstrong and his son, Abraham.
John Lake, who was constable in 1815, settled in 1812 on section 13. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1815 John McCulloch settled on section 5, and built a saw mill.
Andrew Clark built a grist and saw mill combined in one, near Sugar Tree fork postoffice. In 1818 James Wilson settled on lot 34 and he followed blacksmithing many years. In 1819 Richard Cornell settled on section 25. In 1820 Thomas Whitehill and son, Thomas, from Scotland, settled on section 6.
In 1820 also came James Willis, of Ireland; in 1821, came Isaac Lan- ning, who settled on section 3. John Speers, from Ireland, settled in the same neighborhood about the date last mentioned. Robert Kirkwood located here in 1825 and in 1849 bought the Armstrong farm. He was an elder in the Pleasant Hill United Presbyterian church.
CHAPTER XXIII.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Second from the west and south line of Guernsey county is Jackson civil township. It was organized in 1824 and was named for the illustrious General Andrew Jackson. It contains about twenty-three sections. Its gen- eral size and shape is three miles in width from north to south, by seven east and west. Wills creek meanders its course to the north through this town- ship, being formed by Seneca creek and other lesser streams. The Pennsyl- vania railroad passes through the township from north to south, with a station point at Byesville.
This part was early in the permanent settlement of the county and many of the hardy pioneers still remained here to enjoy the fruits of their labors, as late as 1882, when the following were registered as being resi- dents and as being seventy-six or more years of age: Henry Woodrow. Lawson Rogers, Isaac Hoopman, John Fox, James Arbuckle, Joseph Davis, Bethnel Ables, Isaac Meek, Elizabeth Wilson, Mrs. De LaRue, Mrs. Reiney, Mary Wright, Thomas Wilson, Solomon Peter, Simon Dickerson, William Rainey, Benjamin Wells, Daniel Masters, Mary Woodrow, Prudence Selby, Elizabeth Wheatly, Jane Clark and Mrs. Whalon.
Of the Newnom family and their settlement, it is related that John New- nom, a native of Talbot county, Maryland, born in 1787, with his wife, sought the West for a home. They went to Muskingum county, Ohio, by means of horse cart, in which the wife rode, while the husband went over hill and dale and called out the many beautiful and romantic scenes as they traveled along. Soon after their arrival in Jackson township, the good wife sickened and died, in 1833, and the same year he married again. They had six sons, including Eusebius H., who was born in Talbot county, Maryland, in 1819, and married Margaret Arbuckle in 1844. They had a large family of sons and daughters. Mr. Newnom had a farm of two hundred and eighty acres and raised many sheep.
John Weirs, a native of Harrison county, Virginia, in 1816, emigrated to this county with his parents, Benjamin Weirs and wife, and settled in Jackson township. When they located here there were but twelve houses in the township as now defined. The one hundred and twenty acres which Mr.
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Weirs entered and purchased was all heavily timbered. Here the pioneer went to work and succeeded in clearing up sufficient land to raise a living and subsequently had a beautiful farm and reared an intelligent family of sons and daughters, members of which still honor the family name as influ- ential citizens of today.
John Frye was another man who assisted in bringing the township to its present state of improvement. He was born in this county in 1828, and was married in 1854. In 1860 Mr. Frye was elected justice of the peace and held the office for twenty-one successive years. He was a long time clerk and treasurer of Jackson township.
David Williams emigrated from Scotland to this county, in company with his brother-in-law, Robert Nicholson, in 1818. He was a weaver by trade and did work for his neighbors. In this way he obtained money suffi- cient to get his farm, consisting of a hundred and twenty acres, and cleared it up. The son, Robert N. Williams, was born in 1830 and married in 1831. He bought the old homestead and added thereto.
The Nicholsons came originally from Scotland to Maryland and in 1821 came to Guernsey county. He bought three hundred acres of military land and, besides farming, worked as a carpenter. Andrew W. Nicholson was born in 1833, in Jackson township, and became an extensive farmer and coal operator. He had four hundred acres of land, which produced in 1882 from five hundred thousand to a million bushels of coal. These mines are two or three miles south of Cambridge and were worked on the royalty plan by the Ohio Coal Company.
Others whose names should not be omitted in this account of the per- sons who have developed this township are: Elijah Hoopman, Nathan Burt, Mrs. Nancy Nicholson, John F. Trenner, Martin E. Robbins, Thomas S. Shriver, Solomon Peters and sons, Wesley M. Gorsuch, Jonathan S. Gander, David Gander, Benjamin Trenner, Lawson W. Rogers, George Cale, John A. Bliss. Another settler was William M. Grany, of Byesville, a native of Bal- timore, born in 1809, who settled in Jackson township in 1856. From 1857 to 1872 he was treasurer of the township. For twenty years he kept a general store at his residence, being postmaster at the same time.
Elijah Shriver's birth was among the first in Guernsey county, born as he was in 1810, son of Adam Shriver and wife. The Shrivers left Pennsyl- vania in 1809 and located in Jackson (then Buffalo) township, this county. Elijah Shriver held various positions here, and was credited with being the richest man in the township in 1880.
William Rainey, Sr., left Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1837,
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with Andrew Whittier, his wife's step-father. The couple constructed a rude cabin on lots 28 and 29 of the military lands. Whittier was a German by birth, born in 1716, and emigrated to Maryland before the Revolutionary war. He died at the exceptional old age of one hundred and twenty-four years.
BYESVILLE.
Byesville is the only platted town, or village, in this township. It dates its platting from July 1, 1856, but as an incorporated place, November 26, 1881. It is situated on section 6, township I, range 2. A number of citizens joined in the platting of Byesville.
Of recent years this has grown to be an excellent business place. The mining and other near-at-hand industries, together with the farming com- munity, makes it a desirable location for lively business interests. The street railway from Cambridge and the Pennsylvania railroad line, afford a speedy mode of transit to and from the outside world.
In the fore part of 1866 a new industry commenced to be developed in Guernsey county-that of coal mining-to any considerable extent, through the efforts of W. H. Williams, state pay agent, on the Central Ohio railroad line, a few miles to the east of Cambridge, and following this the opening of mines near present Byesville. The Marietta & Pittsburg road was constructed through this section in 1873, promoted by "General" A. J. Warner. Here, on the east side of where the village of Byesville was platted, the first cap- tain of industry located without bonus or free site, erecting a saw mill; also a general store was opened for business and the foundation for commerce and industry was established. The man who accomplished all this and much more was Jonathan Bye, for whom was named Bye's Mills and later the town itself. The first store of the town was conducted by Dr. Francis Walker, the first physician of the village. The old mill was the drawing card here for several years, but it was destroyed by fire a few years ago.
Among the earliest settlers of this community were these: The Mc- Clusky, Meek, Sayre, Forbes, Shriver, Linkhorn, Secrest, Sears, Gorsuch, Conner, Seals, Selby and Smith families. These pioneer families all have numerous descendants here today.
INCORPORATION HISTORY.
The incorporation of Byesville dates from February 7, 1882, when the village was duly incorporated and the first municipal election held April 24th.
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that year. The first officers were: T. J. Lee, mayor; James Selby, clerk; L. W. Smith, treasurer. The first marshal of the village was George H. Dudley and the first president of the council was Joseph Allman. The first ordinance passed was restraining the use of fire arms. The following have served as mayors of Byesville :
T. J. Lee, E. Sears, Lloyd Selby, John Holbrook, Thomas M. Davies, Dillon Marsh, E. W. Smith, Elmer Green, C. A. Bonom and W. A. Chals- fant, the present incumbent. Elmer Green is the present efficient clerk.
The village offices are in a two-story building, purchased in 1907 and now valued at five thousand dollars. It contains rooms for the council meet- ings, a jail, etc.
The village has an efficient volunteer fire department, with an equip- ment of fine apparatus, including a fire engine and plenty of hose. Water is obtained from seven street cisterns, located at various points in the village. The company consists of about sixty-five members. The streets are lighted by natural gas. Recently a contract was let to the Midland Company to supply this natural gas for so much a month.
In 1881 the village possessed but a little more than three hundred souls, but it has grown wonderfully. Board walks were first used, but long since, cement and brick have taken their place and now the mileage of such walks exceeds three miles. The electric line from Cambridge was completed sev- eral years ago and the natural gas is used universally for street and domestic use. About twenty coal mines blow their whistles daily to call the hundreds of workmen. The paved streets and general appearance of the place indi- cates thrift and enterprise.
FACTORIES, ETC.
Byesville is fast coming to be a factory town. The people have given several concerns a bonus to locate in their midst and such concerns have brought much wealth to the place. Among these may be named the tile works, for which eight thousand dollars was raised; the Byesville Glass and Lamp Company was operated seven years successfully and employed over two hundred workmen, paying out six thousand dollars each two weeks for some time. This cost the village twenty thousand dollars and the cost of the plant itself was sixty-five thousand dollars. The coal mining interest is the life of Byesville today.
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