History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 43

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 43

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The churches of the village are four, viz. : The Methodist Episcopal, a direct descendant of the first organization of Methodism in Bel- pre township, effected by Rev. Mr. Morris in 1816. Their present place of worship-Lewis Chapel-was dedicated February 24. 1867, and was remodeled in 1896. The present men- bership is 200.

The Congregational Church-with 120 members-tracing its origin to a mission of the First Congregational Church of Marietta, was organized in 1802, at what is now Rock- land. The first service held in the village lim- its was in 1858. The church building, in which they still worship, was erected in 1869.

The Catholic Church, for many years an ? outer mission of the Marietta Church, and later assigned to the Little Hocking Church, always holding its services once a month at the home of some of its members, now worships in a lit- the church of its own-St. Ambrose Church- donated by P. W. O'Connor of Columbus, Ohio, in 1901, with 35 communicants.

The .A. M. E. Church with 20 members dates back to 1877.

Politically. Belpre has always been Repub- lican.

-Bertha G. Ballard.

DECATUR TOWNSHIP.

There are four villages in Decatur town- ship: Fillmore, Decaturville, Hope and Prosperity.

Decatur township was established Novem- ber 30, 1820. The first settler, Joseph Lov- dell, came in 1816, soon followed by the John- sons, Dufer, Fairchild, Bachelor, Dunn, Gid-

dings and Ballard families who formed the "Lower Settlement" now known as Fillmore P. O. on the State road. The "Upper Settle- ment" Decaturville P. O., was made soon af- ter. The Methodist Episcopal Church first entered Decatur township, a log cabin being built in the eastern part of the township about 1840. The United Brethren began a society here before 1850, two classes holding services in the abandoned Methodist Episcopal build- ings at Decaturville and west of Fillmore. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847, a building being erected in 1849 and rebuilt in 1856. A Baptist church (colored) was erected in 1856. The first flouring mill was erected by Hiram Fairchild about 1821, south of Fillmore. In this township lived Pe- ter M. Garner. Creighton J. Loraine and Mor- decai E. Thomas, whose abduction by Virginia officers in 1845 almost caused a war between the States of Ohio and Virginia. A history of this celebrated case is found in Chapter VI.

DUNHAM TOWNSIIIP.

Dunham township has four villages : Dun- ham, Veto, Briggs and Constitution.

Dunham township was formed June 5. 1855, and changed to its present form on the petition of William P. Cutler, Dean Briggs, and others, October 19th, of the same year. It was first settled by Elihu Clark, Benjamin and Hezekiah Bickford and Lemuel Cooper in the first half decade of the century. . The first tavern was kept by Nathan Cole near the head of Neil's Island in 1805. The first postoffice was established at Veto with William Chevalier as postmaster in 1850. The Dunham office was opene I seven years later with Jasper Need- ham as postmaster. Briggs P. O. was estab- lished in March, 1875. The first religious society to build a church in Dunham was the Methodist : a frame building was erected on the Little Hocking in 1830 but was removed be- fore 1860. A Universalist Church was organ- ized in 1845 but soon united with the Belpre organization. The United Brethren were given Cutler Chapel by William P. Cutler, op- erator of the principal quarries along the Lit-

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tle Hocking, in 1871. The first school house was erected on the Goddard farm in 1814. \ town house was built in 1871.

The fine stone quarries in Dunham were first opened by Messrs. Harris, Schwan and Newton about 1820. The quarries along the Little Hocking were operated extensively in 1870-71. The stone for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge at Parkersburg came largely from Dunham.

Dunham township was named in honor of Jonathan Dunham who began work on his land in 1804. He was a descendant of Rev. Jona- than Dunham of Martha's Vineyard. Mr. Dunham's daughter was married to Asahel Hollister, an emigrant from Litchfield County, Connecticut, and many of their descendants still live in this county. One of their sons, W. B. Hollister, lived in Harmar about 50 years.

Thomas and Amos Delano came from Con- necticut to Belpre about 1804. but in 1808 came to Dunham.

Benjamin Ellenwood, of Maine, with his three sons,-Benjamin, Daniel, and Samuel,- came from Pennsylvania to Dunham in 1811. The family is still well represented in the county.

Benoni Lewis, an officer in the American army and navy of the Revolution, went from Rhode Island to Virginia in 1802, and in 1807 come to Dunham.

Ilapgood Goddard, of New Hampshire, was in Dunham as early as 1814. He after- ward lived in Fairfield.

Dunham township was fortunate in receiv- ing a number of good settlers from Scotland. among whom may be named James Harvey. Daniel Shaw, William Fleming, Samuel Drain of Argylshire, Edward Henderson ( who was employed by the pioneers as a scout ) and Hugh Mitchell.

FAIRFIELD TOWNSIIIP.

Fairfield township has six postoffices, namely: Qualey. Cutler, Layman, Dunbar. Virgin and Napier.

Fairfield township was organized in Decem- ber. 1851. The first trustees were Peter B. Lake, John Burfield and James Smith ; town- ship clerk, Charles H. Goddard; treasurer, Pe- ter B. Lake: assessor, Torrens Gilmore; con- stable. Augustine Stephens. The first justices of the peace were Torrens Gilmore and Augus- tine Stephens.

The earliest settlers in Fairfield were Da- vid Ewell, Joshua Shuttleworth, William Dun- bar: all these came in from Virginia about 1814. The path afterward followed by the "State Road" was the first passageway into this district. Other settlers were Walter Kidwell, Daniel Dunbar ( a soldier of the Revolution), both from Fairfax County, Virginia: Carmi Smith of New York, Phineas Dinsmoor of Townsend, Massachusetts, William Moore from Pennsylvania, Moses Campbell from Ire- land. Joseph H. Gage from New Hampshire, William Thompson from Guernsey County, Ohio, and Owen Clark from Ireland. For a picture of early scenes in this township the reader is referred to the "Grand Circus Hunt" described in Chapter IX.

The first school house near the Lake farin, known as Lake's school house, was opened about 1819. The next school, near the Dun- bar farm, was built in 1840. The first church was erected by the ME thodist Episcopal society on the site of their present church at Fishtown. about 1824. About 1863 a new church was built by general subscription but was burned within a year. The present Methodist Epis- copal Church was built in 1804. The Centen- ary Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1867. In the same year the building now owned by the Universalists was erected: this denomination has a building at Fishtown erected a year later.

Cutler on the Marietta, Columbus & Cleve- land Railway was laid out in 1857, being first named llarshaville in honor of Dr. John M. Harsha, whose cabin was the first built at this place. The name was later changed to Cutler in honor of William P. Cutler. The first store was kept by Harvey Smith. In 1857 the first hotel was erected by .A. A. Campbell.

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Dunbar is on the line of the M., C. & C. Ry., and has a postoffice.

Wesley P. O. is one of the old offices in the township.

James Lake kept the first store in Fish- town ( Layman P. (.) in 1837, in the store of Carmi Smith.

FEARING TOWNSHIP.

Fearing township, named in honor of Hon. Paul Fearing, was established March 8, 1808. In 1809 and 1861 its boundary lines were changed slightly.

On the fourth day of April, 1808, the elec- tors met at the house of Henry Maxon and elected the following officers: Henry Maxon, clerk ; Thomas Stanley, John Porter and Re- solved Fuller, trustees; Simeon Wright and Joel Tuttle, overseers of the poor; Solomon Goss and John W. White, fence viewers ; Will- iam Stacy, Jr., and John Miller, appraisers ; Didier Gevrez, Isaac Hill, Daniel Dunchew, Henry Maxon, John Porter and Ebenezer Nye. supervisors; Daniel G. Stanley and George Nye, constables ; Solomon Goss, treasurer.

Much of the early history of this township, as is true with all the rest, has been described in the history of the Ohio Company. A public school was in existence as early as 1804.

One extraordinary bit of history, which characterizes the early inhabitants of Fearing as exceptionally enterprising and educated, was the formation of a township library as early as 1812. The library was incorporated in 1816. The articles of incorporation limit the property besides books, maps, charts, and the like, to $3,000. As officers until an election could be held : Thomas Stanley, Robert Baird and Elisha Allen were made directors: John Miller, treasurer; and Daniel G. Stanley, li- biarian. In time the association dissolved, the books were distributed among the share- holders and many yet remain in private libra- ries of their descendants. Many books are of a religious nature, and all are of the weightier class of reading. The latest date noticed on the title 'page as date of publication is 1813.

In the back fly-leaves of many books are the notes of damages and fines written by the li- brarian on the return of the book. The prin- cipal disasters to the works are from grease spots-suggesting the light of other days.

A Presbyterian Church was erected in Stanleyville on land given by Thomas Stanley, in 1814. The Fearing Religious Society was incorporated in 1813 and reorganized ( for business purposes) in 1853, a dispute over property having arisen. A Congregational Church was organized in 1851 and a building erected in 1856. A Methodist Church came into existence in 1820 and a building was com- pleted in 1847 and a parsonage 16 years later. A branch of the Congregational Church at Stanleyville was organized near Cedar Nar- rows and a church was erected in 1873. A sec- ond Methodist Church was built east of Stan- leyville in 1839, and was replaced by the pres- ent church 20 years later. The first Protes- tant Evangelist Church was erected near Whip- ple's Run in 1872 and St. Jacob's Church was erected a mile west of Stanleyville in 1858-59.

Among the early settlers were: Levi Chapman, from Saybrook, Connecticut ; Thom- as Stanley, from Marietta; Joel and Simeon Tuttle, from Connecticut ; Simeon Blake, from Rhode Island; John Amlin, a native of Ger- many; Patrick and Daniel Campbell, Charles Daugherty, John Forthner, Andrew and Dan- iel Galer, Seth Jones, Henry and Richard Maxon, Allen Putnam, Conrad Rightner, Abraham Seevers, Charles H. Morton, Eph- raim True, John Widger, William Caywood, Robert McKee, Nathaniel Kidd from Pennsyl- vania : Walter Athey from Virginia; William Price, Reuben McVay from Pennsylvania; James Dowling from New York; Thomas Ward, John P. Palmer, Dr. Hicks, John Young, and William Brown from Loudoun County, Virginia.

Of the German emigrants who after 1830 settled in Fearing and aided in its material de- velopment, we have the names of the Donakers, the Seylers, Conrad Biszantz, Jacob Zimmer, Theobald Zimmer, Dietrick and Henry Pape,

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Theobald Boeshar, Lewis Motter, John Bules, Rev. F. C. Trapp, and Conrad Leonhardt.

The following petition from the Hildreth manuscripts is interesting on account of the names and topography :

To the Honorable Court of General Quarter Ses- sions of the Peace of the County of Washington:

Your petitioners request that a road may be laid out from Marietta to the forks of Duck Creek and on to Mr. Tolman's in the most eligible situation to be taken past Pott's Mills, so called, or any other place that should be found more convenient hereafter, from thence on to a ridge, keeping the same ridge to the Cedar Narrows, so called, thence following the creek by Mr. Widger's then past Mr. Levi Chapman's, and crossing the creek and on to the forks of Duck Creek. from thence to the mouth of Pawpaw and on to Mr. Tolman's.

Which your petitioners, as in duty bound, request a committee may be appointed for that purpose. Signed. Samuel Nash, John Campbell,

Levi Chapman, Joseph Chapmar,

Dudley Davis, Levi Dains,

Amos Porter,

Seth Tones,

Lovi Chapman,

Toel Tuttle.

Levi Chapman, Jr.,

Ezra Chapman,

Linus Tuttle, Simeon Tuttle,

John Widger, Isaac Chapman.

Tomas Stanley, Surveyor. June. 1797.

GRANDVIEW TOWNSHIP.

Villages and population of the different places in the township.

New Matamoras

Population, 817

Grandview,

West.

Ward,

Glass.

Dawes.

Riggs and John Collins, overseers of the poor ; Nathan Parr and Henry Dickerson, apprais- ers of houses.

The first settlers in Grandview were fami- lies by the name of Dickerson, Shepherd, Mitchell, Whitton, Riggs, Sheets, Ellis, Bur- ris, Jolly and Collins.

The proprietor of Matamoras was Henry Sheets, who made the survey of the first plat on his land lying along the Ohio River. Be- ginning with the big road, which extended along the banks of the river, the original plat extended west three blocks to Third street, and north three blocks from Merchants street, to the first alley above the flour mill now belong- ing to Samuel Shannon. The only houses within the boundary of the original plat were the store and dwelling house, also the flour mill of the proprietor. The streets were, begin- ning at the river, Water street, which has now almost disappeared beneath the encroachments of the river; the next was First, then Second and Third streets, all running north and south; then those extending east and west were Mer- chants and Ferry. The first addition was made by Stinson Burris, and extended from Merchants down to Vine, including two lots beyond; and from Water back to Third, thus extending Water, First, Second and Third streets, and adding two new streets,-Main and Vine. The second addition was made on the north. extending Water, First and Second streets three blocks, and adding another street -Togler-and 18 new blocks, which in 1849 included the full dimensions of the town. . Af- terward many other large additions were made on the southwest.

The picturesque Ohio and the hills which stand sentinels beside it make Grandview a fit name for a river township. The first election for township officials of Grandview was held The town began slowly to improve and houses, one by one, began to appear along First street of the old plat, then on Main and Sec- ond, until 1861 the incorporation was made, and at the election James Me Williams was elected mayor. the first Monday in April, 1804, the township having been "struck off from Newport in 1803." The election resulted as folows: Sam- uel Williamson, Philip Witten and David Jackson, trustees; Arthur Scott, clerk ; Nathan Parr, William Ramsey, and John McBride, su- Grandview village was surveyed at an ear- ly day but the original plat was annulled by | Hannibal Williamson in 1848, who made a new plat of the same grounds. The Presby- pervisors ; Alexander Mayers, constable. In the following year the list was increased ; Philander B. Stewart and William Cline, con- stables ; Arthur Scott, lister of property ; James | terian Church was organized two years later

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

and in 1852 the house of worship was dedi- cated. The society declined until a new so- ciety, which erected a church at Matamoras in 1877-78, was formed. Itinerant Methodists came early to the township but the first perma- nent organization was effected about the mid- dle of the century, when the present church was erected. The Methodist Episcopal Church ( Bell's Chapel ) was first a log meeting house built in 1855; in 1879 the present church was erected. The German Methodist Episcopal Church was built about 1860. The United Brethren worshiped first in a log meeting house erected in 1860. The Fairvew Christian Church originated in revivals in 1819: the church in the western portion of the township was built in 1880. The Baptist Church at Matamoras was the earliest in the field at that point but was not organized until 1859. The first officials were: Andrew Snider. Zacha- riah Cochran, H. G. Hubbard, trustees : Thom- as Reynolds, treasurer: Jasper Bonar, clerk.

The first school was built early in the cen- tury at the mouth of Mill Creek. The old school building in Matamoras was erected about 1852. The first mill was known as "Buck's Mill" on Mill Creek about one mile north of Matamoras. The new school house is of modern type, two stories high, built of brick.

NEW MATAMORAS IN 1902.

New Matamoras is a village of 1.200 in- habitants, situated in the extreme northeastern part of Washington County. It is beautifully located on the right bank of the Ohio River. The highest recorded watermark, that of the great flood of 1884, did not food the town. which adds greatly to its desirable location.

The memorable "Long Beach of the Beau- tiful River," together with the two islands which lay in front of the fine stretch of fertile valley, occupied by the town and its beautiful suburbs, not only enhance its desirableness as a place for beautiful homes, but makes the whole seem highly picturesque also.

This town has never had any spasmodic growth : its development has been a necessity to accommodate its environment. t is the *

youngest village in this section of Ohio, com- pared with others of about the same popula- tion : within the last 12 years, or since the rich discoveries of oil in this locality, it has taken on new life and growth ; many new residences have made their appearance, older ones have been remodeled and modernized; a number of new business firms have sprung up, and the capacity of others greatly enlarged to accom- modate the increased trade, and a flourishing national bank speaks unmistakably of pros- perity.

For years the citizens could justly be proud of their excellent public schools, and they have never been in better condition than at the pres- ent time. Onward has been the record; the present fine brick school building certifies to the educational enterprise of an intelligent community. The school has a 12-years' course of study, with an excellent curriculum which qualifies its high school graduates to enter our best colleges.

Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Presby- terian are the religious denominations repre- sented ; these pulpits are invariably occupied i by ministers who are abreast of the times and command the esteem and respect of their par- ishioners and community at large. These dif- ferent organizations are markedly in harmony with each other in Christian unity.

The foregoing shows well for New Mata- moras, but the whole truth could not say less. Few towns, if any, in the State of its size, have so many complete and excellent systems of wa- ter works and sewerage, and with an abun- (lant supply of natural gas now in sight for 20 or more years, and hundreds of acres of gas territory to be developed, give the denizens the assurance of the continued comfort and luxury, at a minimum cost, of the best fuel and the best lighting material in existence, and must be a tempting invitation to the manufac- turer and enterprising stranger to seek such a location.

-. A. D. Hopper.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

The act establishing Independence town-

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ship is dated June 3, 1840, and reads as fol- lows :

"On the petition of sundry inhabitants of the township of Newport, praying to be set off into a new township separately and apart from said Newport, on consideration of said peti- tion, the commissioners do hereby agree to constitute a new township in the county of Washington, to be known and designated as the township of Independence, and to be con- stituted of the following territory, to-wit: Sections No. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 24. 25. 26, 27, 28. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. 36, and fractional sections No. 1, 7 and 13.'

The sketch of the history of this district will be outlined where it belongs under New- port township. The leading events since the establishment of Independence are noted here.

About 1836 the "old settlement" of the township which was soon to be made had given way largely to a German element. The lead- ers of this new element were the Huffmans, Kinsels and Berletts. It was in 1843, as the story goes, that a four-wheeled wagon was first seen in this township. The earliest phy- sicians were Drs. Little, Wilson and Taylor. In 1835 a log-hewn meeting house was erected which saved a Sabbath day's jour- ney to Newport. Three denominations, Pres- byterians, Methodists and Baptists. In 1858 the Methodists built a church on Rea's Run and in 1867 the Baptists found another place of worship in a newly-built school house. The district known as the Little Muskingum set- tlement was settled early in the century, the first families being the Flemings, Dickersons, Devols and Meads. Archer's Fork was set- tled early by a Mr. Archer : the Cadys, Bur- rises, Treadways and Parrs were early set- tlers. The wave of German immigration rachel Archer's Ford about 1835. the Gut- berlets, Iloppels and Yosts being the forerun- neis of these worthy colonists.

The Methodists first erected a log meeting house, on the land of David Cline. in 1847 : the United Brethren and Christian Union church organizations used the building. About 1848

the German Lutheran Church was erected on land given by Messrs. Yost and Holstein. Mount Hope Church was built by the Disciple Church in 1873 on the ridge at the head of Coal Run on land presented by Alfred Eddy. The Christian Union society built a church on the site of the log meeting house in 1874. The Little Valley Church was erected by this soci- ety in 1873 on land given by George Tice. In the Scotch settlement, a Baptist Church was organized in 1864 and a building erected in 1871 which has been known as Davis Run and as Deutcher's Chapel.

The township has five post offices : Wade, Archer's Fork, Dencher, Leith and Lawrence. Many years ago T. N. Barnsdall developed a good oil field on Archer's Fork and since that time producing wells have been opened in other parts of the township.

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.

.A petition was laid before the commission- ers at their June session, 1815, signed by Na- thaniel Mitchell, John Mitchell, Elisha Rose, John Sharp and others, "praying that a new township may be laid out and set off from the township of Newport." It was resolved by the board "That the whole of the original sur- veyed township number three, range seven, to- gether with sections 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34. 35 and 36 in the second township, lange seven, be and hereby is established into an incorporated town, to be called and denom- inated Lawrence, and the inhabitants within said district are entitled to all the immunities and privileges of incorporated towns within the State. The elections in said town will meet at the house of John Mitchell on the sec- ond Saturday of July, at Io o'clock A. M., for the purpose of electing township officers." The Court of Quarter Sessions directed that an election for two justices of the peace should be held at the same time and place. The elec- tion which was held agreeably to this order resulted in the choice of the following officers : Trustees, William Hoff. John Newton and Elisha Rose; clerk, John Sharp; constables, James Hoff and Elijah Wilson : fence viewers,

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Jonathan Dye and James Mitchell; treasurer, John Dye; superivisors, George Nixon and Nathaniel Mitchell; justices of the peace, Sam- uel Dye and John Mitchell. The township of- ficers were sworn in by Samuel Dye, Justice of the Peace.

On the first of April, 1816, the electors met at the house of Nathaniel Mitchell to elect township officers. Jolin Dye was chosen chair- man, and Elisha Rose and John Newton, judges of the election. John Sharp was clerk. At this second election 18 votes were cast. The following is the list of voters: John Sharp, William Hoff, James Hoff, David Mckibben, Isaac Wilson, Nathan Davis, Nathaniel Mitch- ell, Jonathan Dye, Jolin Newton, Elisha Rose, John Dye, Samuel Dye, Henry Chamberlain, John Mitchell, Isaac Hill, Ezekiel Dye, James Mitchell, and Alderman Johnson.

Nearly half of this list of voters resided in that part of the township which has since been set back to Newport. James Hoff was elected first "lister of taxable property," and John Mitchell, appraiser of houses. The first grand jurors from the township were Nathaniel Am- lin and Nathaniel Mitchell. John Dye was the first petit juror.

The election of 1820 and subsequent elec- tions for many years were held in a school house on John Dye's farm near the mouth of Cow Run. In 1827, section 32 of township two was reannexed to Newport, and at the June session, 1840, Lawrence was reduced to its present limits.

The first school was opened in 1810 near the mouth of Cow Run. In 1838 when the public school system went into effect. Lawrence was divided into eight districts and a log school house built in each. The first church was a log school house covered with clapboards lo- cated on the Little Muskingum and used by all denominatons. The Presbyterian form of government was instituted in the "forties" and in

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 43

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490