USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 57
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
MARION.
Elwood R. Worrall was born in Harrison County, Ohio, June 15, 1832, and came with the family to Morgan County in 1837. He was reared upon the farm of his father and for fifteen years was engaged with him in the nursery business. After the dissolution of their copartnership he engaged in merchandising in Chester Hill. While a resident of Marion Township he filled all the offices in the gift of his fellow- townsmen, and in 1880 was elected to the responsible position of county treasurer, the duties of which he dis- charged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people until 1885, when he was succeeded by A. P. Whit- taker.
1
Jonathan and Ann Pierpoint came from Columbiana County, Ohio, to Morgan in 1826. They settled on Wolf Creek in Penn Township, seven miles south of McConnelsville. He was a miller by trade, and the following year 1827, he built a sawmill on the creek. and in 1828 erected a gristmill. They had a full share of the toil, privations and hardships. Both lived however, to ripe ages. Mr. Pierpont died at the age of seventy-two in 1846, his wife in 1850 at the age of seventy-three years. Both were exemplory members of the Society of Friends, and in their daily lives practiced the teachings of their church. John Pierpoint, a son now liv- ing in Marion Township, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1812, and came to Morgan County with the family in 1826.
Elijah Elliott and wife came from Belmont County in 1831, and settled near Elliott's Cross Roads, Homer Township, on the farm where they still live. William Elliott, born in this county in 1836, married Lucinda Strode
in 1859. They have had seven chil- dren, six of whom are now living, viz .: Dora, William T., Elijah, Elizabeth. Anna M. and Emmett F. Mr. Elliott enlisted in 1862 in Co. I, 62d O. V. I., and served until mustered out. He was present at the taking of Morris Island, and at the charge on Fort Wagner.
Stephen Todd, son of William and Rebecca Todd, with his wife Sibbilla. came from the State of Georgia to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1803, and from thence in 1837, to Chesterfield. Marion Township. Sibbilla Todd died May 29, 1838. She was a daughter of Daniel and Mary Williams. Stephen Todd died near Chesterfield, March 31, 1849.
Asenath Todd, daughter of Stephen and Sibbilla, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, April 6, 1814.
Burwell Peebles, son of Mordecai and Abigail Peebles, was born in Prince George County, Virginia, Oct. 7, 1805. Moved to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1827. Married Asenath Todd, April 27, 1831. They moved to Pennsville in 1834, and to Chesterfield in 1835. Ile died Jan. 24, 1884, at their residence on section 3, Marion Township. She died Sept. 8. 1885. They were both consist- ent members of Friends' Church.
Sibbilla Peebles, daughter of Bur- well and Asenath Peebles, was born in Chesterfield, May 9, 1836. Married E. J. Hiatt, May 31, 1860. Their family ! consists of three daughters and one sou.
The Male family were from West Virginia. They were among the early settlers of Marion Township and identified with its pioneer history. Isaac Male was born in Randolph County in 1828. He is a farmer and a member of the Methodist Church.
Renben MeVey was born in Lan-
444
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
caster County, Pa., Oct. 30, 1800. In whom. William and Melbourne, are liv- 1826 he came to Morgan County and ing. settled on Section 23, Marion Town- CHESTER HILL. ship. He was married in the same vear to Betsey Kennard, who was born in York County, Pa., in 1811. Both died in 1882.
Joseph Jones and wife came to Morgan County from Greene County, Pa. The father retired from business in 1881, and resides in Columbus, Ohio. The mother is deceased. They were members of the Wesleyan Church. Wilbur B., born in Greene County, Pa., in 1855, conducts the home farm. He has served as school trustee.
J. W. Myers was born near Balti- more, Maryland, in 1809. Came to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1825, and to Morgan County in 1848. He is a farmer and a Methodist. In 1832 he mar- ried Mary Ann Kelly.
John G. Jackson was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1827. In the spring of 1853 he came to Morgan County and purchased a small farm of sixty acres. running in debt for a part of the pur- chase money. In 1861 his house and contents were destroyed by fire, entail- ing a loss of over one thousand dollars. Despite his losses he has added to his original purchase until he now owns a fine farm of 226 acres, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the township.
Joseph and Hannah Jones came from Greene County, Pa., and settled in Marion in 1865.
This pretty little village, located a little southeast of the center of Marion Township, contained, in 1886, about 450 inhabitants. It is an important trading point for a rich agricultural country, and is as prosperous a place of its size as can be found in Sontheastern Ohio. Its pions Quaker founders have reason to be proud of their work. The village contains no saloons or drinking places, no low resorts of any kind. The population is intelligent, progress- ive and moral. A good schoolhouse, in which a school of three grades is maintained, was erected in 1881 at a cost of about $8,000. Three churches amply suffice for the accommodation of worshipers.
Chester Hill, or Chesterfield, as orig- inally named, was laid ont in 1834. The land on which the greater part of the town is situated was owned by Exum Bundy and Elijah Hiatt. Bundy lived on the lot east of what is now known as lot 16 of the Williams addi- tion ; Hiatt lived near the forks of the road on the farm known as the Dr. Parker place, but afterwards moved to Marion street, to a site opposite where Charles Penrose's store now stands. The first plat of forty-eight lots, was laid off for Exum Bundy, by J. B. Pru- den, surveyor. In the following year (1835), the first addition-lots 49 to 80 -was made by Elijah Hiatt. The intended addition being partly on Bundy's land. Bundy deeded Hiatt sufficient land to complete the lots, and Hiatt returned the favor.
Letitia Hilton, whose maiden name was Letitia McPherson, was born in London County. Va .. and resided there until about thirteen years of age. Set- tling in Belmont, she came thence to Zanesville and to Morgan County. In Additions were made a little later by others as follows: By Exum Bundy, 1855 she married George Hilton, by whom she had three children, two of ; lots 81 to 97; by Dempsey Boswell,
445
MARION.
lots 98 to 105 ; by William Crew, lots 106 to 115 ; by Nahum Ward, a num- ber of outlots, lying south of Bundy's addition. These additions were all made very soon after the town was platted. The last addition was made in 1867, by Caleb Williams, and lies west of the original town.
The name of Bundyville was sug- gested for the new town. Others wanted to call it Boswell, in honor of Dempsey Boswell. Boswell himself preferred Chester, and that name would have been adopted but for the fact that there was already a Chester to the southward. So Chesterfield was chosen as being nearest to the desired name. But a little later, when a postoffice was established, it was found that still an- other name must be assumed, as there ! was already a Chesterfield postoffice in the State. Therefore the place became Chester Hill, though locally the old name is more commonly used.
One of the first settlers of the infant village was Dempsey Boswell. In partnership with Jesse Beck and Elijah Hiatt, each of them contributing $250, he started the first store, in a small frame building back of the spot where Joseph Funk's house now stands, on lot 13. The stock was purchased in Pittsburgh, and the store was managed by Boswell alone. Ilis customers usu- ally settled in the spring and fall, when he had to purchase new goods, and ob- tained credit the rest of the year.
Jesse Beck built a cabin on lot 17 (the old Pierpoint property) and soon afterward started a horsemill and cardingmill.
Samuel Ilampton, in 1835, built a house about where George King now lives, and afterward a brick house at the lower end of the town. He was
a carpenter. Robert Way, also a car- penter, became a resident of the village about the same time. Jesse Boswell. son of Dempsey Boswell, was another early arrival. William Boswell and family moved in 1836 to leased land and lived in a cabin near where W. Hamilton Smith now resides.
Chandler Lee arrived and began preparations for starting a tannery in 1836. Hlis father. Samuel Lee. also came from Pennsylvania in the same year.
George G. King arrived in the spring of 1836, bringing his family, which formed the seventh in the town. The "men of families" who had preceded him were Samuel Hampton, Robert Way, Elijah Hiatt, Dempsey Boswell, Jesse Boswell and Jesse Beck. King was the first blacksmith, and set up his shop immediately after his arrival. It was not long until he was elected just- ice of the peace. The rest of the vil- lagers being Friends and unwilling to hold that office, Mr. King filled the position for eighteen successive years. and in 1884 he ended his thirty-third year in the office. lle is the oldest male resident of Chester Ilill, and has seen it, as well as the surrounding com- try, transformed from a wild and prim- itive to a rich and prosperous condition.
The first mill in the village was built by Jonathan Bundy and was a very primitive establishment. It was a horse- mill. and the burrs were supported by a crosspiece placed between two trees. Jesse Beck afterward had a mill with " tramp wheel," which was something of an improvement over Bundy's.
Thomas and Moses Bundy were among the first settlers in the village. Moses, a bachelor, was a harness-maker. James South, an early settler, lived on
446
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
lot 62, in a house which was sometimes used for a schoolroom and sometimes as a place of worship for the Method- ists. Here James Hopkins occasion- ally preached.
Esther (Lee) Huestis and Am (Lee) Chambers, daughters of Samuel Lee, are now living in Chester Hill, and rec- ollect plainly the dismal scene which the village presented when they first saw it. They came from a well-settled portion of the country-forty-eight miles from Philadelphia .- and having journeyed the long distance into the wilderness, were overwhelmed with loneliness and cried from homesickness at the dreary sight which the settle- ment presented. They lived with their brother, Chandler Lee. the tanner.
William Doan located early on lot 92; Thomas Crew and family, on the lot opposite, where the Central Hotel now is: Isaac Haines on the Samuel Phipps property : Stephen Todd lived abont a quarter of a mile east of the village, and William Smith about a half mile east.
Arnold Patterson and family moved to Chester Hill in the fall of 1837. Pat- terson's was the first log house in town. All the buildings previously erected (with the exception of Boswell's frame store) had been of the log-cabin style. Before coming Patterson had contracted with Samuel Hampton to build a two- story log house. Robert Way assisted in the work. When the building had been raised to the height of one story. work had to be suspended on account of the scarcity of help. After Patter- son's arrival, he with Isaac Deems, Jesse John, who settled here. John Monroe and Amos Coppie, succeeded in finishing the job. Mr. Patterson kept tavern for some time.
Reece Cadwallader, the second mer- chant of the place, began business not long after the settlement of the town, on the corner of Coal and Marion streets. He was the first postmaster, being recommended for that position in what was then a novel manner. The different candidates were voted for, and the candidate who received most votes was, accordingly, reasonably sure of appointment.
The postoffice was established not later than 1840. "Squire King was in- strumental in obtaining it. To facili- tate matters and get the office speedily established, the citizens raised by sub- scription enough money ($50) to pay the cost of transporting their mail once a week from Plymouth to Pennsville. William Williams was the first mail carrier on this ronte, which afterward became a through route of the govern- ment's, instead of a private affair. Chester Hill postoffice, for the first quarter, yielded 40 cents revenne to the government. Cadwallader was suc- ceeded as postmaster by Geo. G. King, who had the office and a small grocery in one end of his blacksmith shop. King was succeeded by Thomas E. Van- Jaw.
Probably the first school in the vil- lage was taught by Mary Dewees. Rebecca Kirby and Esther C. Lee were also early teachers. The educational interests of the place have always been carefully looked after.
Dr. Isaac IIuestis, the first resident physician, came to the town in June, 1837, and still resides here. At the time of his arrival, or soon after, there were among the inhabitants of the place the following men, some of whom have not yet been mentioned : Zebulon Wor- rall, the first tailor; Asa Hampton, shoe-
447
MARION.
maker; Samuel D. Hampton and Amos Vernon. carpenters ; Burr Gregg. the first and only hatter: William C. Lee, tanner; Allen T. Lee. cabinetmaker : Elias Dyke and Nelson Gray, wagon- makers; John Engle, a non-resident, did most of the chimney-building. Jon- athan Naylor and Asa Hampton had a pottery about where William Moore now lives.
Isaac Haines came to the village about 1838. He was a prominent man and served as State senator. Ile was a man of venerable appearance, very de- vout, and a constant reader of the Bible. By trade he was a weaver.
An idea of the appearance of the vil- lage in its infancy may be formed from the following incident : A stranger tray- eling along the road came to Elijah Iliatt's cabin and inquired the way to Chesterfield. "Thee is in the midst of the city," was the answer.
Tamar Hiatt, now Mrs. David Pier- son, is supposed to have been the first white child born in the village.
The first adult buried in the Friends' burying-ground was Isaiah Williams' wife.
A correspondent of the Chester Hill Beacon* for March, 1880, names the following persons as being residents of the village in 1840: Thos. Bundy, Sr., Jonathan Naylor, James South, Morde- cai Worrall, William Boswell, Dempsey Boswell, Arnold Patterson. Thomas Penrose, Samuel Lee, JJesse Beck, George G. King, Joel Garretson, Win. Doau, Samuel B. Hampton, Peter Vore, Nel- son Gray, Reece Cadwallader, Robert Way, Benjamin Way, Isaac Haines, Henry Doudna, Elijah Hiatt (probably ), Moses Bundy. Dr. Isaac Huestis and Elias Hodgin. Asa Hampton, John
Hampton, William Crew and Thomas Crew were householders of the village about that date. The nearest farmers were Zebulon Worrall, Exnm Bundy. William and Joseph Smith and Philip Leake.
Among the early hotel-keepers of the village were William Boswell, Arnold Patterson, Samuel Hampton, Nathan Dodd and Samuel Lee. Boswell kept in what is now known as the Amy Jolin property ; Patterson, a little north of Marietta street, on Marion street : Hampton, at the lower end of the vil- lage; Dodd's house, with a green tree painted on the sign, was on the south- east corner of Marion and Marietta streets ; and Samuel Lee's, on the north- east corner of Marion and Coal streets.
In 1845, according to the recollection of an old resident, the inhabitants of the village were Isaac Haines, Thomas Penrose, blacksmith, William Milhouse. druggist. Dr. Hnestis, Jesse Beck, John D. Wright, merchant, Thomas Crew, Elias C. Dyke. T. E. Vaulaw, Ira Pat- terson, Peter Vore. Asa Holloway, James Melchi, Samuel Lee, Burr Gregg, Thos. Bundy, James Vernon. Jesse John. Prudence Hodgin, Joseph J. Parker, Oliver Livezey, Enoch Parker. Eli Swayne, Mordecai Worrall, Israel Purviance, Wm. Boswell (three last were tanners), Jolm P. Wood, merchant, C'aleb Williams, merchant, Arnold Pat- terson, tavern-keeper, Watson Harris, Nathan Dodd, tavern-keeper, Zebulon Worrall. Eli Hodgin, tailor, Dr. George Michener. George G. King, blacksmith and justice, Nelson Gray, wagon-maker. Elisha Holloway, Samuel B. Hampton. tavern-keeper, Henry Doudna.
In 1852 the merchants were T. E. Vanlaw, John D. Wright, Elisha J. Holloway and Caleb Williams. The
* A local sheet, whose existence was evanescent.
448
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
town has grown slowly, but its increase in wealth has been constant. As it is to-day, its citizens have just reason to be proud of the village.
The principal mercantile and indus- trial interests of Chester Hill were Smith, John Worrall. Watson Harris, represented by the following names in ! Dr. Isaac Parker, John Doudna, Job S. 1886 :
General Stores: Charles Peurose, Smith & Dewees, George John.
Hardware: Clark Patterson, Samuel Johnson.
Furniture and Cabinet-making : Charles Patterson, J. W. Doudna.
Druggists : F. L. Smith, Dr. Parker & Co.
Clothing: O. W. Williams.
Merchant Tailor: G. W. Mulks.
Groceries : Thos. Wood, Thompson Worstell.
Jeweler : Robt. Dutton.
Boots and Shoes : G. B. Gilbert.
C'entral Hotel : W. W. Johnson.
(Fristmill : Henry Bowman.
Sawmill and Planingmill : Henry Funk.
Physicians : Drs. Isaac Iluestis,
Isaac Parker, Smith Branson, A. J. Parker.
Dentist : Geo. Patterson.
SOCIETIES.
was the first Worshipful Master of the lodge ; Job S. King, S. W. ; and John Worrall, J. W. The list of masters of the lodge from 1347 to 1886 is thus given by Dr. Isaac Parker: S. W.
King, George Patterson, Abner L. Fawcett. The lodge now has over 40 members and is in good financial con- dition. The lodgeroom is furnished tastily and well. The property of the lodge is worth about $600. The officers in 1886 were A. L. Fawcett, W. M .: George Worrall. S. W. ; John Doane, J. W. ; George Patterson, S. D. ; John Fisher, J. D. ; Eli S. Fawcett, Treas. ; Geo. G. King, Jr., Secy .; Fred L. Mercer, Tiler.
Grand Army .-. G. J. Mercer Post, No. 529, G. A. R., was organized at Chester Hill, August, 1885, with R. G. Maynes commander. There were 22 charter members. In April, 1886, the post had 30 members.
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first permanent society of this denomin- ation at Chester Hill was formed in 1844 under the ministration of Rev. Philo Matthews. a talented, eloquent and earnest local preacher. The first class consisted of but few members. For a time services were regularly held in Elias Dyke's wagon-shop. Then the church edifice of the Methodist Protest- ants (since disbanded) and the Masonic hall each served as a meeting place. Not until 1868 did the society have a house of worship of its own. The present edifice, completed in that year, cost about $2,400. It is a neat frame building. Among the early members
Masonic Lodge .- Mount Olive Lodge, No. 148, F. and A. M., was instituted at Plymouth, Washington County, in 1847 chartered Oct. 31, 1847-and con- tinued to meet at that place until May 15, 1853, when Chester Hill became the seat of the lodge. The charter men- bers (1847) were Samuel W. Smith, Job S. King. David Willis, John Worrall (still living). George King (still living). William Hodgin. William Calvert. Will- nam Cogill, Horace Dunsmoor, William White. Levi Heald. Samuel W. Smith | were Thomas Mercer, Elias Dyke,
.
449
MARION.
James Melchie, David Mercer, George G. King, William Calvert, Fletcher Calvert and Thomas Hiatt. William Calvert was the first class-leader, suc- ceeded by David Mercer, Thomas Hiatt, and others. The church has been reasonably prosperous, and now has 130 members. A good Sabbath-school is maintained. In 1886 the church officers were: Trustees-Henry Bow- man, Dudley Larkins, Edward Ham- mond, Edward Worrall, Osborn Smith. Stewards-Osborn Smith, J. A. Stone, Eli S. Fawcett. Sabbath-school super- intendent-A. J. Parker.
The Society of Friends .*-- This soci- ety had their origin in England about the middle of the seventeenth century and for a time were subjected to the most vindictive persecutions on account of their rigid adherence to some of the cardinal tenets of their faith, one of which was the scriptural injunction, "Swear not at all," "Neither by any other oath." Upon their refusal to testify (under oath) their allegiance to the government, they were often im. prisoned and not infrequently had their personal estates confiscated, and forfeit- ed for life their landed interests. As they could not conscientiously take off their hats in honor to man, they were fre- quently fined when appearing in court. They believe that civil government is a divine ordinance and that it is the duty of all to yield obedience in everything which does not interfere with that allegiance they owe to God, but deny that government can by legislation make anything right which in itself is morally wrong. Believing it is not the will of the Creator that Christians should engage in war, they have always preferred to suffer the penalties rather
than place themselves in opposition to what they believe to be the will of the Almighty.
The "meetings" of this society in Morgan County are branches of the Ohio Yearly Meeting, which was origi- nally composed of Friends west of the Alleghany Mountains. In 1813 it was set off from the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, and since 1878 the meetings have been held at Stillwater, Ohio, "commencing on the last first-day of the ninth month." All branches are accountable to the Yearly Meeting and are subject to its discipline and regula- tions in the organization of meetings.
The first Friends' Meeting for wor- ship in Morgan County was held in 1819 at Pennsville (then called Deer- field). Pennsville monthly meeting was established in 1827. The Chester- field monthly meeting was organized in 1837. These monthly meetings were originally accountable to the Stillwater Quarterly Meeting, which held one session in each year at Pennsville. In 1855 the Pennsville Quarterly Meeting was established and since that time the meetings in Morgan County have been subordinate to it.
This society has no ordained ininis- ters, believing that silent worship may be acceptably performed without the aid of instrumental means. They value highly, however, a ministry exercised under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit.
The Society of Friends believe in the light of Christ revealed in the secret of the soul as God's gift for man's salva- tion, which William Penn (one of the founders of the society) said " was the cornerstone of their fabric, their dis- tinguishing point, or principle, and goodly tree of doctrine from which all
*By Isaac Huestis. 29
450
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
others spring." This light of Christ, or inward manifestation of the Holy Spirit, as obedience is vielded to its dictates, enables its humble followers clearly to see their proper places and stations in the church. By it those called to the work of the ministry, both male and female, are enabled to give convincing proof that they are rightly qualified for the service; they are then recorded by their respective meetings as ministers of the gospel in unity with the body of Friends, and until so acknowleged are not permitted to travel abroad in the exercise of their gifts, nor until they obtain certificates from the meetings to which they belong for the particular service they believe required of them. No compensation is given to ministers as an equivalent for their services in the ministry. If any such are in limited circumstances, they are assisted the same as other members. None are suffered to become a public charge; and Friends settle differences among themselves in regard to property by arbitration instead of going to law.
The first meeting-houses of Friends in Morgan County were temporary structures.
In 1840 a brick meeting-house was built at Pennsville, at a cost of about $1,100. The present meeting-house was built in 1882, at a cost of about $1,400.
A frame meeting-house forty feet square was built at Chesterfield about the year 1840.
At each meeting-house a lot of ground is appropriated as a burying place for the members, Friends being cautioned to avoid all extravagant expenses in the interment of the dead, and enjoined to maintain a testimony against affixing monuments to graves,
The present number of members of Pennsville meeting is about 100; pres- ent number of members of Chesterfield meeting. 150; Pennsville quarterly meeting, including Plymouth monthly meeting in Washington County, numbers about 350.
Bethel Church .- Bethel Church, in the southeastern part of Marion Town- ship, was organized in 1848 by Rev. Levi Cunningham. The first church trustees were Henry Barnes, S. Denny and John Walter. The first church edifice, erected in 1856, was 28x36 feet in size and cost about $300, of which only about $40 was paid in money. The present church, a frame building 36x40 feet, was erected in 1874 at & cost of $1,000. The pastors, as nearly as can be remembered, have been as follows: Revs. Cunningham and Mann, Robt. Anderson, James Hopkins, Josiah Forrest and Gifford, M. Sheets, Mc- Sibley and Pilcher, Samuel Rankin and Glenn, Wilson, Gardner and George Murray, S. Rilen, J. Calvert, James Hopkins, Ricketts, Jacob Hathaway, Milton Cooley, J. Payne, J. Steele, R. Callaher, Thomas Sayers, Robt. Mor- grain. W. Mock, J. Sollers, George Copeland, Lewis Haddox, Thomas Gardner, Chas. O'Neal, J. W. Ricketts, J. L. Durant, M. Winsor, T. Halcon, T. Monroe.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.