History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 39

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins
Number of Pages: 709

USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 39

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Not long after McKee's store was started, a postoffice, doubtless the first in Noble County, was established at Olive and supplied with a weekly mail from Marietta. Robert McKee was postmaster. The old office is now discontinued.

The town of Olive, Robert McKee, proprietor, was surveyed and platted by John F. Talley, surveyor of Mor-

- Olive has been as steadily and as . gan County, in February, 1839. The constantly declining, Two small plat was recorded July 17, 1841. stores and a blacksmith's shop Robert Mckee's addition (lots 13 to 21) was made in 1857, and Jasper McKee's addition (lots 21, 22 and 23) in 1871. are all that remain in the way of commercial and industrial interests. And the streets of the village, which once resounded with the tread of able lawyers, editors and politicians, are now as silent as those of Gold- smith's " Sweet Auburn."

Among those who first located in the village were Dr. William McKee, John Headley and Frisby Davis. James Davis, from Washington County, started the first blacksmith shop, and in a few years nearly every variety of business usually carried on in country villages had its represent- ative.

Long before any town started here -as early as 1820 -- Robert McKee opened a store and engaged in the mercantile business, at first in a very small way. Prior to that time all the settlers of the vicinity had been The buying of tobacco and hauling it to the river for shipment became an important business in Olive. Rob- ert McKee was the first shipper. A second store was opened by John and Joseph Wehr, the third by James Mel'une; Joseph Wehr sold out accustomed to go to Marietta for the few articles of merchandise used in their families. McKee's goods were brought from Barnesville. through the woods, on pack horses, a distance of thirty-one miles. Benjamin Thorla. who frequently made the : to J. W. Tipton. The business

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of the place was very large. com- pared with its population, as with the exception of Sharon there was no important trading point any- where in the territory now form- ing the western portion of Noble County.

The first tavern was started by Benjamin Thorla, where he now lives. He continued the business many years. Another tavern was started a little later.

The only mill ever in the place was a steam flouring mill, erected by James Mcl'une. It is still standing but disused.

The old Methodist church, in which the first court was held. in 1851, is still standing, now degraded to the use of a cow stable. Plainly, the glory of Olive has departed.

The village of Matrom was laid out by George Bell, surveyor. for Joseph Schofield, proprietor. March 25, 1846. This place never grew to magnificent proportions, and only a few dilapi- dated houses mark its site. Even its name has passed away ; and. instead of high-sounding " Matrom," plebeian "Socum " has taken its place. "So- cum " is supposed to have been de- rived from Souk 'em. which title was fastened upon the place on account i of the bibulous and whisky-selling habits of its inhabitants.

late Socum has been going down hill, and it now appears not far from the bottom.

Moundsville was laid off into twelve town lots by Isaac Davis. The plat was recorded May 21, 1861. The place never attained to the rank of a village. It was best known as " Fid- dier's Green," from Rufus Hall, now in Indiana, who lived here, had a small mill on the creek, and whiled away all his spare time drawing a "concord of sweet sounds " from his violin.

Moundsville has now barely a half- dozen houses, scattered along the road for such a distance that some have suggested "Stringtown " as an appro- priate name. The building of the railroad, and the consequent trans- fer of business to South Olive, effect- ually blighted its prospects. The first store in the place was started by Abraham Young in 1865, and in the following year W. P. Warren became his partner. They were succeeded by W. D. Guilbert, who removed to South Olive on the com- pletion of the railroad to that point.

The village of South Olive was surveyed and platted August 15, 1871. by David Miller, surveyor, for Welton B. Ostrander, proprietor. The original plat contained thirteen lots. Four additions have since been made by William Kirkbride, increas- ing the number of lots to forty-five.

Socum once had stores and whisky shops and some other kinds of busi- ness. The first mercantile establish- The first building erected was the railroad depot, and in it W. D. Guil- bert opened the first store. The next was erected by Rice & Martin and occupied as a grocery store. The ment was opened by Henry Wolf soon after the town was laid out. From 1850 to 1858 Sidney Glidden kept store there. Wilson F. MeIn- tire was another early merchant. Of ; postoffice was established with W.

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D) Guilbert. as the first postmaster. Guilbert. Gouchenour & Moore and l'eter Taylor are among the ex-mer- chants of the village.

The present population is about twenty families. The business is rep- Presented by O. J. Wowl. E. A. Davisand William Kirkbride. general stores: Leslie Crooks, sawmill and planing mill; Richlieu Belford, black. smith.

In 1883 the grist-mill at this place was burned, involving a loss of ser- eral thousands. The building was first erected as a tobacco packing house by Gouchenour & Guilbert. It was converted into a mill by Jacob Purcell in 1880. The stopping of the salt works. the dying out of the oil excitement. and the burning of the mill, all have had an injurious effect upon the prosperity of the vil- Jage.

A new industry has just been started -- the first organized effort of the kind in the county - and bids fair to be successful. The South Olive Creamery Company was organ- ized September 16, 1886, with a Ver Harmony Baptist Church .- capital of $5,000, and the erection ' This congregation is an old one. the of a building at once begun. The first organization having been in stockholders are David Gouchenour. 1825. In 1843 the church was reor- John Stevens, J. K. Haines, Charles : ganized and called New Harmony. Huffman and John Swayne. Simi- lar enterprises are very successful in other parts of the country, and it is to be hoped that this industry will prosper here.

Dudley, a flag station on the C. & M. railroad. is a hamlet of modern growth, containing about a dozen buildings. The first store was started here in the railroad depot in 1871 by

J. P. Arnold. About six years later village lots were laid off. William Graham, who succeeded Arnold in the mercantile business. built the first house. excepting that owned by Sylvester Cunningham, which has been standing for years. The next building erected was the Universalist church. The grist-mill and sawmill of Edgar Morgareidge was built by him in 15-5. At present C. I. Harris carries on the mercantile busi- ness here : William Tuttle has a blacksmith shop. and Sylvester C'un- ningham a cabinet-maker and wagon- maker's shop.

CHURCHES.

South Olive Methodist Protestant Church .- This church was organized by Rev. George Willis. The house of worship was erected in 1881 at a cost of about $600, on a lot donated by William Kirkbride. The mem- bership was small at first. but there is now a large congregation. The pastors have been Revs. Schuman. Orr. Wert and Baker.

Elder William Davis was chairman of the first council and G. W. Drake of the second. The organizing mem- bers were: Rev. Joseph S. Clark, pastor ; Hollis Hutchins, clerk ; John Hutchins, John Morgareidge, Robin- son Sanford, Joseph Davis, Joanna Hutchins. Betsey Davis, Jane San- ford, Rhoda Hutchins and John Cun- ningham were members of Harmony

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church, and Joseph Davis, Levi Da- vis, Betsey Davis, Dorothy Tuttle, Rhoda Ann Davis and Susan Tol- man, original members of New Har- mony church in 1843. The present church, a frame building thirty-five by forty-five feet, was erected in 1856, at a cost of about $1,200. The church now has 112 mem- bers, and the Sabbath school fifty scholars. The pastors have been : Revs. Joseph L. Clark, B. B. Blake, John Skinner, G. W. Glass, Henry Lyons, L. McPherson, II. Lyons, W. A. Blake, J. S. Covert, Jesse Lieur- ance, J. Hurlbert, William McPeek, J. G. Whittaker, H. M. Prince, William McPeek and J. G. Whit- taker.

Universalist Church. - The Uni- versalist church at Dudley was built in 1878, and dedicated August 25 of that year. It is a frame building thirty by forty feet. Among the leading members who assisted in building the church were: William Cunningham, Alden Tilton, William Spear, Moses Blake, J. L. Rowlands, Ansel Blake, James Ogle, James Warren, W. P. Warren, Samuel Ack- ley, David Radcliff and David Rad-

cliff, second. At the time of the or- ganization there were about one hun- dred members, but the number has been considerably reduced since, owing to various causes. Rev. J. W. Mc Masters, who has preached for many years in the neighborhood, has been the only regular pastor.

There were many who favored the Universalist faith among the early settlers. Conspicuous among these were Gilman Dudley, John Allen, Israel Blake, Aurelius Clark, Joseph Clark, Daniel Tuttle, Ilebron Tuttle and David Radcliff. Joseph Clark preached in the woods on Daniel Tuttle's farm (where William Spear ! now lives), as far back as 1840, and the Universalists have had preach- ing more or less regularly ever : since.

United Brethren Church .- The Olive Chapel United Brethren church, in the western part of the township, was erected in 1879. It is a neat and commodious frame build- ing. There was preaching in this neighborhood for some years before the meeting-house was built. The congregation is not large, but good interest is manifested.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CENTER.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP, 1851 - FIRST ELECTION -CHANGES OF BOUNDARY - PIO- NEER SETTLERS - FIRST ENTRY OF LAND -- BATES' MILL -- HORSE MILLS - REMINIS- CENCES BY LEVI DEVOLL OF THE COUNTRY IN 1814 - FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - UNION TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED IN 1822 - TAX-PAYERS IN 1833 -OLD-TIME HUNTERS-OXEN AS WHISKY-DRINKERS-CORN HUSKINGS- FAMILY SKETCHER- THE TOWNSHIP WAR RECORD -THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY -SARAHSVILLE, THE OLD COUNTY SEAT - FOUNDED IN 1829 - ORIGIN OF THE NAME -- THE GROWTH OF THE TOWN - MER- CANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL - FIRE AND ACCIDENTS - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES - LODGES.

YENTER TOWNSHIP was erect- . 20, 1851, for the purpose of choosing C ed by the county commissioners May 1, 1851, "so as to include and : Pettay was elected to the office, and be composed of the following terri- tory, to wit :

"Commencing at the southeast corner of section thirty-eight .* in township number seven. of range eight; thence north along the section line to the northeast corner of sec- tion four, in said township seven, range eight: thence west along the township line to the north west corner of section two, in township number seven, and range number nine; thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of section thirty-five, in said township number seven, and range number nine; thence east along the township line to the place of beginning, contain- mg thirty sections."

The first election in Center Town- ship was held on the 12th of July, 1851, m obedience to an order of the common pleas court, passed June

one justice of the peace. Daniel was duly qualified on the 23d of July.

Sections 32 and 33 of Enoch Town- ship formerly belonged to Center, from which they were set off June 6. 1855. And on the 3d of September. 1855, the northern half of section 31, in township 7, range 8, was taken from Enoch and attached to Center.

The following may be reckoned among the early settlers of the town- ship, though some came much later than others: Arthur Morrison, John Bryan, James Watson, Isaac Hayes, John Keller, William Davidson, Samuel Anderson, Jonathan King. William Shields, Jeremiah B. Brown. Ephraim Bates, Daniel Bates, Isaac Bates. John MeGarry, Jonas Ball, James Noble, and James Dye. James Watson died in Gallia County, Isaac llaves died in the West, John Keller in Iowa, Jonathan King in the west- ern part of the State; Daniel and Isaac Bates moved to Indiana, James , Noble and James Dye died in the

* No doubt intended for section 28; but section 3x it stands upon the record, and there is no such section.

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West. All the others, so far as is known, died in Noble County.

The first entry of land in the town- ship was made in 1809, on section 12, by Ephraim Bates. James Dye made the next entry of land. He came from Greene County, Pa., and also settled in the township in 1809. Ile removed to Illinois.

Ephraim Bates and his sons were among the earliest settlers of Noble County. Ile was born in New Jer- sey May 24, 1744. He served in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the first settlers west of the Allegheny Mountains in Fayette County, Pa. He died in Sarahs- ville January 2, 1834. His wife, Susannah, lived to an advanced age. Their children were Isaac, who lived many years near Sarahsville, but died in Indiana ; Polly, who married Jolin Vorhies, and lived in Noble County ; Wilham, who settled in Guernsey County, and thence went west ; Anna, who married Wilham | Dilley, and lived in Cleveland, Ohio ; Timothy, one of the pioneer settlers of Seneca Township; Ephraim, also lived in Seneca Township; Daniel and Ezekiel, who lived in Center Township.

Ephraim Bates, Sr., had one of the earliest orchards in this part of the country, and some of the trees planted by him are yet standing. He built the first mill in the township-a "corn-cracker" of a rude sort, but a great convenience to the settlers nevertheless. The mill was in opera- tion in 1814. Ezekiel Bates, son of Ephraim, was the founder of Sarahs- ville.

John and Amos Bates, sons of Ephraim, were drafted into the serv- ice. in the war against Great Britain. soon after their arrival.

Before Bates' mill was erected the people of the township depended mainly for their flour and meal upon two horse mills, owned respectively by Elisha Fogle and Thomas Barry, and situated only a short distance apart, in the southwestern part of the township.

Isaac Bates erected a mill upon his farm, which was so arranged that it could be operated by horse-power when there was a scarcity of water. After the early mills had all fallen into ruin or disuse, a steam mill was erected at Sarahsville by a company of citizens at a cost of $4,000. The company sold out to Frederick Se- crest and the mill was burned. Mr. Secrest then erected a grist-mill and sawmill, which he still owns.

Jacob Bates was born in what was then Guernsey County, in 1810. In 1815 his father, Isaac, removed to the farm now owned by William Mc Williams, where he was the first settler. He died in the township in 1883. He was a very reputable man and reared a family of eight children. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Davidson, was a native of West Virginia. Her parents were among the pioneers; four of the family reside in the township.

Shortly after the Indian war Dan- iel Devolld and family emigrated from Washington County, Pa., to Belmont County, Ohio. In 1814 the family, consisting of wife and six I children -John, Isabella, Nancy,

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Betsey, Richard and Rachael, came to what is now Noble County, and settled in Center Township. Here he purchased from government 160 acres of land for which he paid $2 per acre, that being the price of government land at that time. On this farm the elder Devolld died at the extreme old age of ninety-two. Levi Devolld was born in York Township, Belmont County, Ohio, in 1804, and came to Noble County with his parents. At the time of his father's emigration he states that the nearest neighbor in the north was Mr. Ephraim Bates, who came about the year 1812 and settled where the fair grounds now are . which were established the year that in Sarahsville. Mr. Devolld further he came. The Devollds were fond of hunting and were successful woods- men. Levi Devolld, soon after be- coming of age, made a trip through the wilderness to the lake, finding few whites and many Indians in that region. states that in 1814 there was only one road in the township, called at that time (1814) the Federal Road; all points north or south from this road had to be cut through. Marietta and Zanesville were the nearest pla- ces from which supplies could be obtained. In 1819 Mr. Devolld says that he packed flour to Marietta on a horse for which he obtained $1.50 1 per hundred. In 1828 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Smith, who settled in the township about 1814.

Levi Devolld is probably the old- est resident of the township, having resided here continuously since 1814. He has been one of the pushing, energetic citizens, and has prospered accordingly. He has always been a farmer, and for a time was also engaged in buying and selling live stock, carrying on the tanning bus- iness, etc.

When the Devollds located here,

their nearest neighbor on the west was James Lowe, about where Olive now is: on the east, James Archer. at East Union; on the northwest Benjamin Thorla, at Belle Valley, and other pioneers of Duck Creek Val- ley ; and on the south, Elisha Harris. According to the personal recollec- tion of Mr. Levi Devolld, in the fall- of 1814 all that portion of Guernsey County which now forms the town- ships of Noble, Olive, Sharon and Brookfield, voted together in one election precinct. Daniel Devolld brought the kettles which were used in Thorla and McKee's salt works,

A tannery was started by Levi Devolld, in the southwestern part of the township about 1846, and was in operation for about eight years. In connection with it Mr. Devolld man- ufactured boots. shoes, harnesses, etc. Some rascals stole about $500 worth of stock, and caused him to abandon the business.

In the southwestern part of the township were the following early settlers : Ambrose Merry, David De- volld, Thomas and Benjamin Barry.

The McGarrys were among the most prominent early families. The father, John McGarry, was an Irish- man, who moved to Ohio from the vicinity of Philadelphia. ITis sons were Samuel, David, Reed and

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John. Samuel read law, became probate judge and was a prominent man in the early history of the county. David died on the old homestead.

David McGarry, one of the best known citizens of Center Township, was born October 19, 1819, within the present limits of Center Town- ship. He passed his early life amid the scenes of pioneer days, clearing land and farming. Ilis educational advantages were very limited, yet through self-cultivation he became well informed. In 1843 he married Catharine Richey. Seven children were born of this union - John C .. Thomas R., Andrew, Jane, George M., Margaret and Frank. All are living except Jane, who died in in- fancy. Mr. McGarry was one of the foremost men in bringing about the organization of Noble County, and spent much time and labor in effecting that result. Ile was an active Democrat until the formation of the Republican party, then joined that organization and remained a firm supporter of its principles. In 1847 he was elected treasurer of Union Township, an office which he held nine years. In 1871 he was nominated to represent Noble County in the legislature. B. F. Spriggs, Democrat, was his opponent. The result of the contest was a tie vote. In March, 1872, a special election was held and Mr. Spriggs was elect- ed. In 1880 Mr. McGarry was ap- pointed census enumerator for Center Township. He died March 7, 1881. George M. McGarry is a prominent farmer of Center Township.

Township 7 of range 8 of the original survey was organized as Union Township in April, 1822, by order of the county commissioners of Monroe County.

Prior to the formation of Noble County the territory now included in the limits of Center Township belonged to Noble Township, Mor- gan County, and to Union Township, Monroe County. Union Township was the seventh township of the eighth range, and its territory now forms portions of Center, Marion, Stock and Enoch.

James Archer was lister of Union Township in 1822, and the amount of its county tax, together with that of Enoch, was only $28. In 1823, the total tax for Union was $37.34. Daniel Bates was collector. In 1824 the tax was $40.29, Oren Lane, col- lector.

In 1833 the following persons were owners of real estate in the eastern portion* of Center Township, then Union Township, Monroe County.

John Clevenger, section 19, 83 acres, value $104, according to the tax duplicate for that year; William Capell, section 17, 82 acres, $103; John and James Lanam, section 21, 81 acres, $101; Lemuel Anderson, section 8, 85 acres, $48; same, 50 acres, $70; Daniel Ackley, section 31, 60 acres, $65; Jeremiah Brown, section 5, 80 acres, $105; Isaac Bates, section 7, 122 acres, $167; same, section 8, 31 acres, $42; John Ball, section 18. 166 acres, $190;

*The names of early taxpayers in the western part of Center will be found in the chapter devoted to Noble Township.

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Jonas Ball, section 18, 166 acres, 8227; Matthew Ball, section 5, 40 acres, $46; Daniel Ball, section 7, 127 acres, $173; same, section 5, 40 acres, 845; Eli Curtis, section 7, 81 acres, $101; same, section 8, 83 acres, 8104 ; David Davis, section 20, 82 acres, $102; James Gibson, sec- tion 18, 166 acres, $206; Thomas Gourley, section 19, 165 acres, 8200; David Jennings, section 6, 10 acres, $12; John Keller, section 9, 82 acres, $93; Levi Keller, section 9, 82 acres, $93; Jesse Lanam, section 31, 30 acres, $32; Philip Mc Williams, grist-mill and saw-mill, $200; Elisha Morris, section 29, 82 acres, 8103; Jacob McCollum, section 28, 163 acres, $200; Sanford Morrison, sec- tion 6. 70 acres, $80; Ambrose Merry, section 30, 83 acres, 895; Andrew Nicholson, section 18, 160 acres, $218; John Roberts, Jr., sec- tion 28, 81 acres, $103; John R. Stone, section 18, 82 acres, $123; James Stranathan, section 17, 80 acres, $100; Andrew Secrest, sec- tion 19, 165 acres, $206; William Stretchberry, section 7, 40 acres, $56: Nathan Wickham, section 31, 55 acres, $60; William Willey, sec- tion 7, 160 acres, $200.

At that date Union Township was one of the richest and most popu- lous townships of Monroe County. Its valuation was as follows: Real estate, $10,300; personal property, $6,958 ; town property, $423; total, $17,681; total tax, $198 91.

Among the owners of personal property in township 7, range 8, in 1833, were the following, in addition to those already named :

Thomas Bolis, John Byant, George Chinch, Robert Crawford, William Davidson, Benjamin Kain, Cramlin Ferens, Henry Haughton, Jonathan King, Meshack King, Adam Kindel (Kendall?), Robert Large, Nathan Lincicum, James Lemmax, Brooks Lanam, John Lanam, Andrew Mill- slagle, Balaam Merrow, Arthur Por- ter, Daniel Pettay, Thomas Young, William Roberts, George Ross, John Stewart, - Weakfield, John Sni- der, Benjamin Street, John Stone. Benjamin Teachenor, Thos. Walker, Ilugh Waybrandt, Benjamin Wolf.

The early settlers in the immediate vicinity of Sarahsville were Ephraim Bates, John JJones, Isaac Bates and Daniel Bates, all prior to 1820.

Jonas Ball, from Alleghany Coun- ty, Md., settled in 1818 west of Sarahsville on the farm adjoining that on which his son, James Ball, now lives. Jonas Ball was a soldier in the War of 1812. James Ball, an ex-county commissioner and a promi- nent citizen, has lived all his life in the township, and has a vivid recol- lection of the pioneer scenes among which he was reared. He recalls the time when the country was so full of wolves that sheep had to be penned up securely every night, or some of the flock was almost sure to be miss- ing in the morning. In the neigh- borhood where Mr. Ball lives were the following early settlers: James Noble, James Dye and Levi Lyons.

Matthew Ball, entered 160 acres near Sarahsville, and settled upon the tract in 1818. He died a few years later. Ile was a man of means, hav- ing been successfully engaged in the

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tanning and milling business in Mary- land before he came to Ohio. His son Jonas died here. Two other sons, Daniel and John, also settled here. The former died in Iowa and the latter in Illinois.

James and George Dye were early settlers. George had a mill on the old McCleary farni on the road from Hiramsburg to Sarahsville. It was a small affair, and was erected by John Farley, millwright, as early as 1833. Dye sold to Cramlett and he to James McCleary.

James Dye originally owned the farm on which the Children's Home is located. He became quite wealthy, sold out and moved with his sons to Illinois. Dye and his sons were all hunters. In the winter they made enough money on the furs which they captured to enter 160 acres of land where Rochester now is. They always kept about a dozen hounds, and hunted and trapped throughout the surrounding country. James Noble was also a trapper, and a very successful one. In some way he incurred the enmity of the younger Dyes, who committed many depreda- tions upon his property, and on one occasion fired bullets through his door. After years of lawing he suc- ceeded in lodging some of them in jail. Elias Gilpin, a Marylander, who married a sister of Jonas Ball, and Jonas Gilpin, his son, were also among the noted hunters.

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History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 39

Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins Number of Pages: 709

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins
Number of Pages: 709