USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 59
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Among the pioneer class-leaders were Hugh Nixon, Alex. McKittrick and Andrew Vest. The present leaders are ! a brief visit to his old home, he returned
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the following year and commenced the improvement of his property. August 15, 1819, he married Miss Mary, daugh- ter of Thomas Rees, one of the early settlers of Muskingum County. Both were residents of the township until their deaths-the former in 1871, the latter in 1885. They reared a family of three daughters-Mary J., Hannah and Snsan B. Mary J. became Mrs. James Southard, Hannah married Thomas Holcomb, and Susan B., James Cunningham. Mr. Edwards was a man of strong religious convictions. He identified himself with the Protestant Methodist Church, and for many years he was a minister of that faith.
WILLIAM MASSEY.
The genealogy of the Massey family in America dates back to the advent of William Penn, at which time the first of the name is supposed to have come from England. Levi, the father of William Massey, was born in Chester County, near Philadelphia, and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed as his principal occupation through life. He married Catherine Evason, who was of Welsh descent, but born near Philadelphia. Seven children were born of this union-George, Thomas, John, Mary, Sarah (Baker), Phebe (Mellon) and William. The parents were members of the Society of Friends and the children were reared in the faith of that society.
William Massey was not only one of the pioneers, but also one of the best known citizens of Morgan County. Ile was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 28, 1785. He learned his father's trade and pursued it until nearly twenty years of age. Ile then engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits. But fail-
ing health warned him that he needed employment which would give him more exercise in the open air, and he wisely decided to become a farmer. As the field of his future labors, he looked to the new and remote West, and decided upon locating in the " Ohio' Country." Sending on his goods by wagon, he came on horseback, and in the year 1816 arrived in Deerfield Township, Morgan County, where he entered three quarter-sections of land. He at once entered upon the work of the pioneer settler, erected his cabin and began his clearing on the farm now owned by William Kent. The following winter he taught school, hay- ing pupils who came from far and near, some of them residing as far away as Triadelphia. Working earnestly at his clearing, he made considerable prog- ress, and each season saw his fields extending wider. January 14, 1819. he married Miss Sarah Gay. She was born in the State of Maine and came to Ohio in 1813. settling at Brownsville, Muskingum County. William Massey and wife led the quiet, uneventful life of pioneer settlers, bravely doing their duty, though oft encountering hard- ships, but, on the whole, prospering reasonably well. They had seven chil- dren : Levi, Nancy, Mary, Asa, JJohn. Caroline and Sally. Levi married first. Harriet Stanbery ; second, Abigail Cope; he resides in Malta Township. Nancy died at nine years of age. Mary is the wife of Joseph Nixon and resides in Deerfield Township. Asa was in the army and died at Lake Providence. He married Abigail Craw- ford. John married Mary Crawford and lives in Deerfield Township. Car- oline (Vest) resides in Worthington. Ohio. Sally (Cope) is dead. Mrs.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
Massey died Nov. 3, 1853. She was reared in the Society of Friends, but early united with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and continued a consist- ent member of that denomination through life. Her husband, though reared in the faith of the Friends, did not publicly connect himself with any church until after her decease. He then joined the Friends, and during the last twenty years of his life he was a faithful and active member of the Hopewell Meeting. He was one of the early temperance workers of the county. taking a prominent part in the Wash- ingtonian movement. As is attested by his success in life. William Massey was a man of systematic and method- ical habits. He was charitable and always ready to assist the deserving. HIe was hospitable and generous in his treatment of strangers, and jovial, good-natured and courteous toward all. His mind was strong and active, and he was unusually well-informed upon matters of current interest. Hle was a republican in politics and was always warmly interested in the success and welfare of his party. The last five years of his life were spent in Malta, where, on the 5th of October, 1876, at the age of ninety-one, his earthly jour- ney ceased.
JOSEPH W. NIXON.
Hugh Nixon was born in Ireland about the year 1785, whence he came with his parents at about ten years of age, locating in Pennsylvania. Thence he removed to Ohio County, Va., where he married Miss Rachel Wood. They had six children, two of whom, Robert and Eliza Ann, were born in Morgan County. Their names were Frances Shutt (dead); Ann Jane (Hopkins) re-
sides in Deerfield Township; Joseph W. resides in Deerfield ; John resides in Zanesville; Robert, in Wisconsin, and Eliza in Deerfield. Mr. Nixon served as justice of the peace in Deer- field Township nine years. He was a very prominent member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church from the time of his marriage.
He held several prominent positions in the church during his membership, which lasted during his lifetime. He was a devout, sincere and consistent Christian. IIe died at fifty-nine years of age.
Joseph W. Nixon was born in Ohio County, Va. (now West Virginia), Au- gust 9, 1811, where he resided until about eight years of age, coming with his parents into Deerfield Township in the year 1819. He married Miss Eliza Hopkins May 12, 1835. Three children were born of this union : James II. and John E., residents of Deerfield Town- ship; William H. (dead).
Mrs. Nixon united with the Method- ist Episcopal Church when only fifteen years of age, her future husband joining the same day. She lived a consistent Christian life until called to higher usefulness July 24, 1879. He married for his second wife Miss Mary Massey, daughter of the venerable pioneer, William Massey. Mr. Nixon being one of the pioneers, his education was nec- essarily limited, but by industry and perseverance he acquired a fair educa- tion, and we find him now in the even- ing of life well posted on current topics. By industry, honesty and frugality he has acquired a competency and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor. Mr. Nixon has been a stanch republican ever since the organization of that party. On all questions of public im-
Joseph, M. Nixon
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port he has always been found on the- side of right and justice. The nobler traits of character, such as generosity, magnanimity and Christian forbear- ance, are innate with him. He is gen-
erous almost to a fault, courteous to- ward strangers, and evinces the most cordial Christian forbearance toward those who cherish opinions different from his own.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MEIGSVILLE.
AN EARLY SETTLEMENT-HISTORY MADE BUT SLOWLY-CHARACTER OF THE PIONEERS -- FIRST SETTLEMENTS ALONG THE MARIETTA ROAD AND ON MEIGS CREEK-WATER-COURSES- SOIL -- THE FIRST ELECTION IN THE TOWNSHIP, 1819-NAMES OF VOTERS AT THIS ELECTION- OTHER EARLY SETTLERS-JOHN DUFFY AND THE LAWYER-SCHOOLS-EARLY MILLS AND STORES -FAMILY SKETCHES -- PIONEER PICTURES -- CHURCHES.
M EIGSVILLE Township, although one of the earliest settled in the county, has led a very quiet and un- eventful life, and its history is not marked by anything startling or exceed- ingly interesting, aside from the experi- ences of the early pioneers. The first settlers of Meigsville were a sturdy race of men and women, and a history of their lives, properly depicted. would furnish interesting and valuable reading for the present generation and would teach many lessons of thrift, persever- ance and industry not readily obtained elsewhere.
The main creek, which runs across the township from its northern boundary. entering Centre Township at its south- east corner, " Four Mile," is a consider- able branch of the main creek, so called from the fact that it enters the creek just four miles from its mouth. Dye's Fork is named after Thomas Dye, who at a very early day, prob- ably about 1798, settled high up on this branch in what is now Brookfield Township, Noble County, but a portion of Morgan up to 1851. Meigs Creek, which enters the Muskingum in Centre Township, waters the township of Meigsville in nearly all portions. It was so called in honor of Governor R. J. Meigs. the first governor of Ohio after its admission into the Union.
For a long time the settlements were confined to the water-courses and along the line of the Marietta and Zanesville road, which was cut out in a very early day. Meigs Creek, in this township, Upon Meigs Creek and its branches the land is excellent and very product- receives " Dye's Fork," which runs through and along its eastern border. Live. It was several years after the
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
first settlements upon the creek and its branches that the congress lands upon the ridge were entered and settled upon. These uplands in the early days were excellent hunting-ranges for the pioneers, and this may have been one of the causes that retarded the growth of the township. The area of Meigs- ville was at one time quite extended. While one of the subdivisions of Wash- ington County, it embraced all of what is now Bristol, Bloom and Morgan Townships. In 1805 Robert McConnel, in company with a party of prospect- ors, while passing through the woods at Meigsville, camped one night upon " Four Mile Run," at a prominent point now known as " Cave Rock," upon the lands of John Harman. At that period wolves were numerous, and the party were entertained during the night with their unceasing howls. Mr. McConnel was at that time sixty-eight years of age, and before taking his de- parture in the morning wrote his name in a bold hand upon the smooth side of the rock with a piece of red stone picked up in the run near by. This sign-manual of the old pioneer might have been seen by the inquisitive visitor only a few years since.
No record is extant of the first organization of Meigsville, but there is on file a poll-book of an election held for two justices of the peace on the 12th day of October. 1819. No men- tion is made of the place where the election was held. but the pioneers came together and proceeded to hold the election by selecting Samuel Mur- ray, William Laughery and Andrew Welsh, judges; Thomas and William Murray, clerks. Only twenty-five votes were cast for the two justices of the peace; John D. Rutledge and Will-
iam Horner were elected. Following are the names of those who cast their votes at this, the first election held in the township :
Andrew Blinn, William Laughery, John Taylor, Sr., Robert Welsh, Joseph Kidd, Henry Hoover, William Perry, John Murray, Thomas Murray, John W. Taylor, David Welsh, Andrew Welsh, Isaac Counsil, Samuel Murray, William Murray, Henry Nichols, Thomas Taylor, William Horner, John Jones, John D. Rutledge, Joseph Kelly, Robt. Welsh, 2d, John Heskett, John Wilson, John Wickham.
Judging from the election returns, only two accessions were made to the voting population in the following year, as only twenty-two votes were cast for the election of a magistrate. In 1822 at an election for a justice of peace, only twenty-six votes were polled, of which Robert Welsh, 2d, received six- teen and was declared elected. From 1822 to 1825 there seems to have been considerable immigration, as there were forty-six votes cast for the election of a justice of peace in 1825.
About this period the most promi- nent families in Meigsville were the Rutledges, Murrays, Counsils, Taylors, Pattersons, Welches, Ballards, Heads, Morrisons, Berrys, Kidds, Martins, Horners, Kellys, IIesketts. Harmans, Joneses and others.
In addition to the list given for 1819 the following names appear on the record previous to 1825 :
John Dickson, James Patterson Zephaniah Tyson, Lewis Ramey, Ebe- nezer Barkhurst, Simeon Elliott, David Welsh, Harrison Nichols, Samuel Dar- nell, Samuel Ferry, Thomas Harper, William Durbin, Robert Martin, Robert Brown, John Hughes, Thomas McCoid,
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James Boller, Christopher Mummey, Josiah Kennison, William Patterson, Nicholas Durbin, Samuel Fouts, John Patterson, John Duffy, Samuel Morri- son, Andrew Welsh, Levi MeCarty, Alex. Boller.
Among the earliest settlers of the township, most of them, prior to 1808. were Henry Nichols, John Wilson, a wheelwright by trade; John Murray, Isaac Counsil, Andrew and Robert Welsh.
Judge Gaylord, in his " Historical Reminiscences," relates the following anecdote of John Duffy, whose name can be found in the pioneer list of 1825:
vez want to know what he said about yez. Mr. Goddard ? Well. sir. he said that vez were the -- est rascal he had ever anything to do with, and I think he was about half right, do ye know.' 'Take your seat, Mr. Duffy,' was the gruff order of the General. The audi- ence was convulsed with laughter, while a grim smile might have been seen upon the visages of the bench of dignified judges."
John D. Rutledge, a native of Mary- land, came to Ohio from Brooke County, W. Va., in 1817, settling on the farm where his son John now lives. The journey was made by wagon, bringing the entire family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge and nine children. John, who was then in his seventh year, re- calls the journey plainly, and remembers distinctly the fact that he walked nearly all the way. Ilis father had previously entered a piece of unimproved land in Section 6. After the arrival of the fam- ily, they remained with John Kirk on Meigs Creek until a cabin could be built and prepared for their reception. Jolm D. Rutledge was a blacksmith by trade. but worked only at farming after coming to Ohio. He was the first just- ice of the peace of the township, and held the office twenty-one years. He died in 1852, aged seventy-eight years. His children were William, Ann, Eliza- beth. Sarah (Tavenner), Susan, John, Elijah, Jacob and Mary (Strong). Sa- rah, John, Elijah. Jacob and Mary are still living, all in this townshp. except Jacob, who resides in Muskingum County.
"John was by birth an Irishman, and possessing all the ready wit and shrewd- ness of that people, he was conspicuous at all the gatherings of the people and never backward in taking a prominent part in the broils and fights that would sometimes spring up among the best of the inhabitants at Meigsville. At that time John was an attentive visitor to our early courts, either as a witness, suitor or spectator. On one occasion he was called to the stand. and after he had been thoroughly examined as to what he knew of the case, was handed over to General Goddard, then a young attorney of considerable practice in our courts. He took Duffy in charge and plied him with questions to elicit some- thing favorable to his client, or have lohn eross himself in his testimony in chief. In this undertaking he seemed to have failed and was about to give him up, when it occurred to him to ask Duffy another question, . Well, Mr. Duffy. John Rutledge, one of the few sur- viving early settlers, was born in West Virginia in 1810, and has resided in this township since 1817. He has fol- you have told us all about what he said about Taylor, Lupardis and others, will you please tell us what he said about me?' 'Phat's it vez are axin'? Does ' lowed farming and lives on the ok
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
homestead. He is unmarried ; has shire in 1815, and first located in served nine years as justice.
Christopher Mummey and family came to Meigsville Township about 1818. He was a native of Maryland. He settled in the northern part of the township, and continued to reside here as long as he lived. His son John, a successful farmer and reputable citizen, died in 1863 on the farm where his son Jacob F. now resides. Another son, David, resides in Kansas.
Isaac Counsil, one of the early set- tlers of Meigsville Township, was born in the State of Delaware in 1785. . When a child, his parents removed to Pennsylvania, and from thence, in 1811, in company with a family by the name of Murray, to Ohio. He married Miss Anna Murray, and shortly after their marriage removed to Meigsville Town- ship, then a very sparsely settled region. Their pioneer life was replete with hard- ships and privations. A few years after his immigration they had the misfort- une to lose their house and its contents by fire. He was without money with which to rebuild and furnish his home; but through the kindness of a neighbor he was enabled to ereet a new house and furnish it. Zanesville and Marietta were the nearest points from which household goods could be obtained, and he had to transport them on the back of a horse.
1
The Wilsons are of Scotch-Irish ex- traction. Benjamin Wilson, the pro- genitor of the family in this country, emigrated from Ireland in 1718, and settled in New Hampshire, where they founded a town which they named after the city of their adoption in Ire- land, Londonderry. John Wilson was ' the son of Benjamin and father of John, Jr. The latter came from New Hamp-
Guernsey County, where he remained until 1818, when he came to Meigsville Township, where he bought a quarter- section of land. He made chairs and spinning-wheels, which vocation le followed for a livelihood for many years. He died August 16, 1848, aged eiglity-one years ; his wife died February 28. 1879. aged ninety years and six months. J. D. Wilson, a son, was born in Guernsey Connty, Ohio, December 29, 1817. He was one of a family of twenty-one children.
John Boden was born in Ireland and came to Meigsville from Belmont County in 1829 and bought a new farm in the south part of section 21. The fam- ily were in extremely limited circum- stances. During the summer Mr. Boden was employed on the National Pike, then being built, while the wife and the children attended to the farm. In 1844 he removed to Athens County, where he died. As an illustration of pioneer times and to show the condition of the township at that time, the follow- ing incident is given : One Sabbath afternoon Mrs. Boden attended a re- ligious meeting at the schoolhouse near where is now the McKendrie Church, two and one-half miles east of McCon- nelsville, about five miles from her res- idence, which was within about a mile of where is now Hooksburg. During the services a rain came on and its con- tinuance induced her to tarry, so that soon after starting it became very dark, and she became bewildered and finally lost her way.
From this unpleasant dilemma she was aroused and warned of a more im- mediate danger by the fearful, inde- scribable howl of wolves, only in time to take refuge in a tree beyond their
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reach, where she remained until morn- ing, while the wolves "their vigils kept." She had left her home in charge of her small children, her husband be- ing absent.
George A. Vincent, a native of Penn- sylvania, came from Brooke County, Va., with his family of six children, and settled in Meigsville Township in 1830. He was a mechanic and built a saw- mill upon his farm. He died in McConnelsville in 1861. He was prom- inent in ante-bellum days as an anti- slavery man, and for many years was one of the magistrates of the township.
William Harman and his wife Diana came to this township in 1819, settling near where the Mckendrie Church now is. ,While on their way hither they met with a great loss, being robbed in Zanesville of money and sil- verware. The Harmans were English.
Jolın Harman, son of William, was born in England in 1806, and came to this country with his parents, who first settled near Philadelphia. John Har- man was one of the successful fariners of this township, where he died in 1884. The other children of William and Diana Harman were Ann, Elizabeth and Diana.
John and Mary Jones, who were Welsh people, came at the same time with the Harmans. They afterward moved to Licking County.
As early as 1825 a log schoolhouse was erected where the McKendric Church now is. James Patterson was the first teacher there, and Sarah Rus- sell the second. Other carly teachers were John B. Jones, William Johnson and Charles McCarty.
The first store in the township was kept by Jeremiah Ford at Unionville. With slight intervals there has been a
store there ever since. The first store at Mill Grove was kept by Edward Holly.
William Perry was the first black- smith. His shop was on Perry's Run, near Mill Grove.
The first mill in the township was John Taylor's, a gristmill and sawmill. It was erected near where Unionville now is, as early as 1820. Prior to that time, the early settlers went to mill at Olive Green.
The early elections were held at the house of Thomas Murray, grandfather of Edward Murray.
Peter Hanson was born in Maryland, February 24, 1795. He came to Bel- mont County, Ohio, when young, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1817 he married Amelia Israel, born in Belmont County in 1793. About 1829 he settled on the farm in this township where he remained until his death, August 30, 1882. His wife died March 23, 1878. Their children were : Rachel, William, Nancy, Sarah A., Mary. Reuben, Robert, Samuel, Leander and Hamilton. Of these, William, Sarah A., Robert, Samuel and Hamilton are dead.
The following picture of pioneer life in Meigsville is furnished by an old resi- dent : "Every family raised flax from which the summer clothing of the fam- ily was manufactured, the spinning, weaving and making being done by the women. Sheets, towels and grain-sacks were also made in the same way. In winter, woolen goods were worn. The wool was carded, spun and woven by hand. Grain was harvested with sickles, thrashed with flails, and the grain separated from the straw by dropping it through a wooden sieve into a sheet held below : a windy day
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
was usually chosen for this work. Going to mill was thought to be one of the hardships. In portions of the town- ship they were obliged to go to Luke Chute, on the Muskingum River. The grists were packed on horses, and go- ing to mill often required two or three days, as each was obliged to wait his turn."
James and Mary Patterson were among the early pioneers of Meigsville. and their names are associated with many of the initial events in its history. Their settlement was in the spring of 1819. At that time this section was destitute of roads, mills, and in fact was ahnost an unbroken wilderness. Here and there a pioneer had carved a hole in the woods and erected a cabin, but settlers were few and far apart. They were obliged to go to Zanesville to mill. Mr. Patterson and his wife were sub- jected to all the hardships of pioneer life. a description of which is given in another chapter. They were intelligent people, and appreciating the value of educational and religions advantages, they aided in the construction of the first schoolhouse and first church, and it is said that Mr. Patterson was the first teacher. Ile died in 1879 at the age of eighty-seven. Ilis wife is still living. James S .. a son, was born in 1825. He has served the township in several minor positions, and is a worthy member of the M. E. Church.
In the antmnn of 1829 John and Mary Sillions emigrated from London County. Va .. and settled in Muskingmm County, Ohio. The following spring he came to Morgan County, and settled in Meigsville Township, where the elder Sillions purchased a farm, on which he resided until 1850, when he went to Cass County, Indiana, where he died in
1855. He was a very reputable gentle- man and during his residence in Morgan County was one of its best citizens. Stephen Sillions, a son, was born in Loudonn County, Va., in 1817, and came to Morgan County with his parents. Ile has been a resident of the township over half a century. He follows the vocation of a carpenter and has served his fellow-townsmen as treasurer.
William and Melinda Ethell came from Londoun County, Va., in 1826, to Belmont County, and from thence to Meigsville in 1834. They were reput- able people and resided in the county until their deaths, the former in 1868. Mrs. Ethell died in 1834. A son. Fenton, is one of the well-to-do farmers of the township, and was born in Vir- ginia.
Samuel Spencer settled in Meigsville in 1829. Ile was born in Belmont County, Ohio. But few men have been identified with the township's history for a longer period than he, or have made a more honorable record. David Spencer was born in Belmont County in 1829, and is one of the prominent and successful farmers of the county. He has served the county as magistrate and clerk, and has reared a family of twelve children.
Thomas Richardson was a native of Baltimore, Md .. where he was born in 1798, and where he spent his early life ; from thence the family emigrated to Jefferson County, Ohio, where they re- mained for some time, when Thomas went to Wellsburg, W. Va., where he engaged in distilling: here he met his destiny in the person of Miss Sarah R. McDowell, whom he married about 1827. Shortly after his marriage he came to Morgan County and settled where his daughters, Leah A. and Sarah
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