USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 40
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Alfred Morrison and his brothers, George, Arthur and Sanford, and their father, John Morrison, came to this township about 1818, from Mary- land. George removed to Illinois.
The others remained here, and left numerous descendants.
Abraham Miley and Andrew Nich- olson were early settlers in the west- ern part of the township. Two of Andrew Nicholson's brothers, John and Thomas, also settled in the county.
Andrew McCollum, one of the early justices of the peace, a man of prominence and ability, lived in the eastern part of the township. His descendants are still here.
Joseph Davidson, a Virginian, came in 1819, and was the pioneer on the farm now owned by William Arnold. Ile married Jane Cooper, who came from Maryland. They had a family of nine children, all of whom were born in this county.
Elisha Fogle, a native of Pennsyl- vania, came with his father Jacob to Center Township about 1818. He married Miss Miranda Merry and reared a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. The elder Fogle entered a farm on section 26. Ile was by trade a miller, and for a time operated a horse mill which was one of the first. Elisha entered land adjoining his father's where he lived until he died, aged seventy-three years ; he was a millwright and farm- er, and an honest, worthy citizen. Thomas Fogle, was born in Center Township in 1830. He married Miss Matilda Peggs. Mr. Fogle is a pros- perous farmer and an enthusiastic pisciculturist. He breeds the Ger- man carp, and is the pioneer in this industry in the county.
Andrew Secrest, where Hugh Cox now lives, was an early settler, and
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
manufactured gunpowder which he sold to the pioneer hunters for miles around. He reared a large family, all of whom moved west.
Thomas Gourley settled near Se- crest and died here. Ile was a Chris- tian and a good citizen. He was twice married and reared a large family.
In early years Isaac Bates had a distillery and a saw-mill. He had also a yoke of large oxen which he used to draw logs to his mill. He taught the oxen to drink whisky, using a coffee-pot to pour it down their throats. When the roads were muddy and the load seemed to go hard. Bates would bring out his coffee-pot, the oxen would eagerly elevate their heads, receive their dram, then pull with courage and strength renewed.
At the old-time huskings it was customary to divide the corn-heap into two parts, and the huskers into two parties, each of which chose a ' "captain." Whichever party first finished its task would hift their leader upon their shoulders and at- tempt to carry him around the heap, the other side at the same time at- tempting to prevent this. The vic- tors also challenged men from the other side to wrestle, and frequently there was an interesting contest, which sometimes terminated in a fight. Whisky was always furnished freely and abundantly at these gath- erings.
The Salladays, who bought out James Dye, on the Children's Home farm, were a prominent family. Elias settled in Guernsey County, and Joseph and George in Center Town-
ship. None of the name now live here. George resides in Illinois.
James Stranathan, now living in Senecaville, settled quite early on the Henry J. Young farm. While at work clearing on that place he was severely injured in handling heavy logs, and has never entirely recovered.
Calton Merry, youngest child in the family of Ambrose Merry, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Sep- tember 27, 1817, and died June 27, 1878. The elder Merry immigrated from the State of New York to Bel- mont County in the spring of 1817. The journey was made by wagon. The family consisted of nine chil- dren - Rufus, Rouse, Benson, Calton, Samantha, Maranda, Amanda, Bet- sey, and Hannah -all born in New York State excepting Calton. For a time he was employed upon the national pike, then being constructed, and in 1819 came to this township, settling south of Perryopolis, where he lived until his decease, which oc- curred in 1864, at the age of ninety- four. Ile was a typical pioneer, and it is said that he had the first bear- ing orchard in what is now Noble County. The Merry family are noted for longevity; his father-in- law died at the age of one hundred and six ; his second marriage occurred at the age of one hundred and two. Calton Merry entered his first tract of land on section 29, in 1837. Ile erected his cabin, and, like many other pioneers, found, when his land was surveyed, that his house was on the wrong side of the line. On this farm he lived until he died, experi- encing the trials and privations inci-
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dent to life in a new country. He was obliged to find other employ- ment, in order to support his family and pay for his land. The Mus- kingum River improvements were then being constructed, and upon the locks he worked until the farm began to yield a return for the labor invested. Although his education in books was limited to four days in a subscription school, still, by reading and observation he acquired a fund of valuable knowledge. He was a consistent member of the Christian church, which he joined at the age of twenty five. In political belief he was originally a Whig. His last presidential vote was cast for Hayes. August 11, 1836, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Benja- min Weekley. By this union there were eleven children - Mary, Mar- garet, Sally, Josephus, Andrew J., Abby, Levi D., Ada, Maria, Jacob M., and Benjamin H. February 21, 1863, Mrs. Merry died, and in 1864 he married Mrs. Isabella Mc Williams. Two children - Rufus E. and Wil- liam D .- were the children by this marriage. Of the children, five were teachers - Levi .D., Ada, Maria, William D., and Jacob M. Andrew J. was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died June 23, 1865. Levi D., the present county surveyor, was first elected in 1881, and re-elected in 1884. He married Sue L. Neyman, of Seneca- ville : three children, all boys.
Sarahsville. He was the father of Dr. Anderson, of Sarahsville. Will- iam Stretchberry, and Jacob Daily were early settlers in the same neigh- borhood.
Arthur Morrison came to this county about 1830. He was born in Loudoun County, Va., 1790. He went to Cumberland, Md., about 1815, and in 1830 settled in what is now Noble County, where he bought a farm and remained until his death in 1875. Ile was a prominent citizen, and reared a family of six sons and two daughters. Only one of the children - Andrew -is now living in this county. IIis son Joseph married Jane, daughter of John McGarry, one of the pioneers, and reared two sons -David M. and Charles. The father was a thorough and successful farmer. He took a deep interest in political matters. He served as justice of the peace for many years. Ile died in 1883. Of his sons, the elder is the present probate judge of Noble County. Charles is a farmer of Center Township. Both are enter- prising men and good citizens.
James N. IIedge, one of the sub- stantial farmers and prominent citi- zens of Center, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 12, 1830. In 1862 he came to this township and bought the farm where he now resides, and which attests his skill and thrift. For thirteen years he has served his fellow townsmen as trustee, besides officiating as infirm- ary director one term. Ile married Moore, of Indiana: five children - three sons and two daughters. He
Samuel Anderson, from Virginia, | Miss Hannah, daughter of IIenry cune to Belmont County, and thence in 1817 to a farm two miles east of
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
is a worthy member of the Christian church.
In 1826 Samuel Stewart and fam- ily (consisting of wife and three boys William, Allen and Phillip), came from Belmont County and settled on a new farm in the township of Sharon, where the elder Stewart resided until his decease, which occurred in 1845. His wife, ner Rebecca MeGrew, is still living at the advanced age of ninety-two. In 1842 William came to Sarahsville, and is at this time the oldest living resident of the village. Hle was born in Belmont County in 1821. Ile has been a successful business man, a reputable citizen, and a worthy member of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal church. He has been twice married. His first wife was Matilda Boyd; his present wife, Mrs. Mary E. Day, he married in 1882: Two children - Norton ()., and Ilarry C.
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In 1833 David Gray, with his family of eight children, removed from West Virginia to Noble County. and settled on Dog Run, Noble Township, where he purchased one hundred acres of unimproved land. On this farm he remained until his death, which occurred in his eighty- first year. He was in every respect a worthy citizen. The old - home- stead is owned by his son, Clark E., the present efficient superintendent of the County Infirmary.
Joseph Russell, a native of Fred- erick County, Va., came to Belmont County, Ohio, where he died in 1820. Ilis widow. Elizabeth Russell, came to what is now Noble County in 1823. She died in 1837. The fam- |
ily consisted of nine children. Mrs. Russell not only assisted in clearing the farm, but worked at weaving and spinning. Frequently the food of the family consisted of "roasting ears" of corn ground on a grater. The hand-mill and " hominy block " were also brought into use to furnish a substitute for meal. John Russell, who was born in Belmont County. February 2. 1813, has lived in this county since he was ten years old. Ile has been a deacon in the Baptist church several years.
Elijah Phelps was one of the pioneers of Guernsey County. John II., a son, was born in Maryland in 1828. and when a child, removed with the family to Harrison County, Ohio; thence to Tuscarawas and to Noble County in 1850. In 1862 he enlisted in Company HI, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war.
Robert Robertson, from Loudoun County, Va., settled in Belmont County in 182%. The family con- . sisted of the parents and ten children. In 1837 they settled in Center Town- ship, where Daniel Robertson now resides. IIere the elder Robertson died. Daniel was born in 1814 and has been a resident since 1837. He married Elizabeth Haves, whose parents were early settlers in Bel- mont County.
Frederick Secrest was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1824. and came to Noble County in 1855. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was made
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second lieutenant. He was honor- ably discharged at Columbus, Sep- tember 2, 1864. He built the mill at Sarahsville. In political and relig- ious belief he is a Republican and a Methodist.
Perry Kemp was born in Morrow County, and came to Noble County in 1850. In 1864 he enlisted, and was assigned to the One Hundred and Thirty second Indiana Regiment. He served until the close of the war and was mustered out at Indianapolis May 8, 1865. He is now proprietor of the Sarahsville mill.
Francis R. Perry was a member of Company F. Thirtieth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. IIe enlisted in 1861 ; became a veteran in 1864; was taken prisoner at Atlanta, Ga., and confined in Andersonville. After his release he rejoined his regiment. He participated in many of the promi- nent battles of the war, among them the second battle of Manassas, Antie- tam, South Mountain, Mission Ridge and Vicksburg, beside fifteen other minor engagements. Ile was dis- charged August 13, 1865, at Little Rock, Ark.
Ilugh Cox was born in Ireland, from whence he emigrated to the State of Maine, where he lived until his removal to this county. HIe bought the farm on which his son Hugh now resides and there resided until his decease in 1875. Ile was a successful and prosperous farmer and accumulated a well won competency. His son Hugh owns one of the largest farms in this section and is one of the thrifty and successful agriculturists of the township.
Abijah Rossiter came from Penn- sylvania to Guernsey County about 1813, where his father, Samuel, entered a tract of land. Abijah was a soldier of the War of 1812. In 1843 he came to Noble County and settled where James now resides. Here the old people died at advanced ages, the father aged seventy-two, the mother, sixty-five. Thomas was born in Guernsey County, in 1821, and has been a resident of the county forty- three years.
Daniel Pettay, a native of the province of Quebec, was born in 1796. In 1825 he came to Belmont County, where he remained six years, when he removed to what is now Noble County. IIe settled near Sarahsville. The senior Pettay was a minister, and was beside a lawyer and teacher, which vocation he frequently followed. Possessed of varied attainments, he was regarded as an oracle in most matters. He was an ardent politician, and at- tached himself to the Whig party, and was one of the prominent lead- ers in the anti-slavery cause, and one of the projectors of the underground railroad in Noble County.
John Miller was from Pennsyl- vania, and in an early day settled near Lexington, Noble County. He died at the age of eighty-six. Isaac, one of the sons, married Miss Jane Moore, and reared a family of four children.
William, John and Henry Miller were in the service. William and John were in the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Henry was a member of Company I,
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try. John was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, and died at Tyler, Tex., in 1863.
Philip Mc Williams was one of the early settlers of Center Township. HIe was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1794. He first set. tled near Wheeling, but in conse- quence of the destruction of his crops by storms, he remained but a short time, removing to Richland Town- ship, Guernsey County, in 1808, when he entered land near Gibson's Sta- tion. In 1833 he came to Center Township, and bought the farm now owned by his son, William McWill- iams, upon which he lived the re- mainder of his life. He was the father of twelve children. The elder Mc Williams was a representative farmer and a prominent citizen. He was the first treasurer of the county. and in every respect a Christian gen- tleman. William McWilliams was born in Guernsey County in 1826, and came to Noble with his parents. Ile is one of the leading farmers, and has held the office of county commissioner. He married Miss Louisa McComb They have five children.
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Allen Rutherford came from New York in 1837, and settled in Marion Township, whence he removed to the place where he died. Ile had a family of seven children. Two of his sons, Robert and James, were members of the Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; the latter never returned.
William Davidson came from West. Virginia in 1826, and settled on sec-
tion 16. Two sons, Robert and Joseph, came with him. The latter still resides in the township. He has been identified with the county for sixty years.
S. C. Rogers was born in Wash- ington County, Ohio, December 19, 1838. His father, John W. Rogers, came from Pennsylvania in early life, and settled on the Muskingum River. He reared a family of ten children. He was a soldier in the Mexican war. After his decease his widow moved to Noble County, where she died in 1885. S. C. Rogers en- listed in Company I, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. and served five years, lacking five days. Among other engagements. he was in the battles of Bull Pasture Mountain, Cross Keys, second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Greenbrier, Look- out Mountain, Chancellorsville, Cheat Mountain, etc. While he was in the service he was wounded in the right arm. Mr. Rogers has served as class-leader in the Methodist Protest- ant and United Brethren churches.
The conduct of the citizens of Cen- ter Township during the war of the Rebellion was such as to demonstrate fully their unswerving patriotism and strict fidelity to principle. After the first draft, in which a small number were conscripted, the citizens, by organized efforts and the raising of bounties, managed to fill their quota every time. Many of the best young men of the township volunteered and fell martyrs to their country's cause. Many more were spared and returned to their homes after years of hard service.
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TUDE FOUNDATIONS
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Center Township has long been prominent in the tobacco industry. Commencing about 1835, the raising of tobacco attracted more attention year by year, becoming most import- ant and most profitable in the war times. Those who engaged in the business and stuck to it generally made it pay, if they were good man- agers. Sarahsville was quite a center for the tobacco trade, and large quantities are still shipped from there.
SARAHSVILLE.
Sarahsville, in addition to the dis- tinction of having been the first county seat of Noble County, can also claim the honor of being one of the oldest villages in the county. It was surveyed and platted June 19. 1829, by Benjamin Thorla, for the proprietors, John Devolld and Ezekiel- Bates, and the plat was recorded in Morgan County, September 28, 1829. Additions have since been made as follows : By Samuel Aikens, in 1841, and by James M. Rownd, in 1851 - surveyed by George Bell, June 25, 1851. The latter addition, consist- ing of nearly seventeen acres, was made to provide for the expected immigration to the place consequent upon the location of the county seat there.
Sarahsville was named by John Devolld in honor of his wife. John Devolld was the oldest son of David Devolld, an early settler in the town- ship. Hle was the first merchant of Sarahsville, keeping a small stock of goods in a cabin which stood near the site of G. W. Taylor's store. Devolld's cabin was the first building
erected in Sarahsville, excepting only the two-story brick house in the lower part of the town, which was erected by Ezekiel Bates as early as 1825.
Devolld was not very successful in the mercantile business and discon- tinued it after a few years. The second merchant was James Rownd. who had a store on the lot now occu- pied by W. R. Kirk. In partnership with him was a man named Shank- land. Henry J. Rownd succeeded his father in business. Both did a large business. Next came Henry Taylor, and later Benjamin F. Young and G. W. Taylor, the latter still in business.
George Richey had an early store and for a time was in partnership with Henry Taylor. Other merchants have been, Jonathan Dilley, Jonas antl Samuel Danford, Thomas and William Young, and others, most of whom did a large business.
The first tavern in the town was kept by John Beamer, and not long afterward another was started by George McWilliams. Whisky was sold freely and a bar was considered an indispensable necessity.
William Stewart, who is still a resi- dent of the place, came to Sarahsville in 1842 and began work at his trade, blacksmithing. According to his recollection, eight families then com- prised the population of the town. These were the families of James Rownd, Henry J. Rownd, merchant; George Richey, minister; James F. . Capell, physician ; John Beamer, tav- ern keeper; Richard Beamer, shoe maker; William Kirkpatrick, black- smith ; Ezekiel Bates, farmer.
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
In 1854, according to Lippincott's Gazetteer. Sarahsville had a popula- tion of 800 and was a thriving busi- ness place, with four general stores and a variety of shops representing various industries. There were then two hotels; the county officials and nearly all the lawyers of the county, as well as several doctors, resided in the town. A few years later wit- nessed the transfer of the county records to Caldwell, and immediately the town began to decline in popula- tion. But it remained a good busi- ness place, and its merchants probably transacted a greater amount of busi- ness than those of Caldwell until after 1871, when the building of the C. & M. railroad further diverted business toward the county seat. Sarahsville is surrounded by a fine country and its merchants are still prosperous. The population of the town was 256 in 1870, and 249 in 1880.
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A small school-house was erected in the village about 1843, afterwards replaced by the building destroyed in the fire of 1884. The present school building was erected in 1885, and cost about $2,000. The school, in two departments, is in charge of II. B. Williams, principal.
At about five o'clock on the after- noon of the 20th of August, 1884, fire broke out in the heart of the business portion of Sarahsville, and before its progress could be stayed, nearly every place of business in the town was destroyed, with the excep- tion of G. W. Taylor's store. In all, about thirty-five buildings were burned, including stores, dwellings, stables, etc. Among the most val-
uable structures destroyed, in most cases with nearly their entire con- tents, were one dry goods store. one grocery, Hester's hotel. two drug stores. the school-house and the Ma- sonic hall. At least $25,000 worth of property was burned, and there was only about $6,000 insurance on the whole. This fire was a serious blow to the business interests of the town, and the people have not yet fully recovered from its effects, though new buildings are constantly rising to replace the old.
Sarahsville has also been the scene of several painful accidents in recent years, and one occurrence in partic- ular was startling and terrible. May 14, 1886, the boiler of the engine in James Herron's saw-mill exploded, killing Mr. Herron, Edward Hill, Nathan Butler and Lewis Bates, all men with families. Lafayette Tut- tle had a leg broken. and was other- wise badly injured.
Following are the names of the principal business men and firms of Sarahsville in 1886:
General merchants : G. W. Taylor, Mrs. E. Danford, C. R. Snyder, gro- cers; J. W. Smith, C. L. Hellyer.
Druggist: Joseph Johnson.
Planing mill: T. II. Bunting.
Grist-mill and saw-mill : Frederick Secrest, proprietor; Kemp & Son, lessees.
Shoemaker: L. Weaver.
Blacksmiths: W. R. Kirk, A. N. Dilley
Wagonmaker and undertaker: W. Pettay.
Ilotels: Joseph Mercer, Mrs. Will- iam Van Meter.
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Physicians: W. S. Spriggs. J. D. Aldridge.
Milliner: Fannie Robinson.
CHURCHES.
Sarahxville Methodist Episcopal Church .- This church was probably founded as early as the town of Sarahsville, if not earlier. The first meeting-house erected by the con- gregation stood at the old Nicholson cemetery, south of the town. Later the congregation met in the town in a church (erected for the Presbyter- ian denomination, about 1845 or 1846, but never occupied by them) which served for its accommodation until 1873. Then the present house of worship, a neat frame building with steeple and bell, was erected. Among the early members of this church were Thomas Barry and William Shaw, leaders; John Iker, Ander- son Jearls, Thomas Gourley Andrew Nicholson, Daniel Bates, Jeremiah Brown, Alfred Morrison, Philip Mc Williams. Thomas Large, James Rownd, George Richey, IIenry Tay- lor, and their families. The church now has a membership of 10S, and there is in connection an interesting Sabbath school having about one hundred pupils.
The Free Methodists of Sarahs- ville have recently organized and are about to erect a church.
Wesleyan Methodist Church .- The Wesleyan Methodist Church at Sarahsville was organized in 1842, and the house of worship, a small frame building, erected the following year. Among the earliest members were Philip McWilliams and wife,
Alfred Morrison and wife, and George Richey and wife. The first preach- ers were George Richey and Joseph Markee. Other early preachers were Richard Horton and Evan Thompson. The church has maintained regular preaching ever since it was organized. Formerly it had quite a large mem- bership, but death and removals have so reduced the number that at present there are only about thirty members.
Pleasant Hill Methodist Protestant Church .- Near the county infirmary in the northwestern part of the town- ship, a church belonging to the Cum- berland Presbyterian denomination was erected as early as 1845 through the efforts of George and Joseph Salladay. For a number of years preaching was maintained by that denomination; but the church having become reduced in members, the United Brethren next organized and occupied the building. Recently the Methodist Protestants have organ- ized, and in 1885 they erected a neat and commodious frame building to take the place of the old church. They have about seventy members. The present pastor is Rev. Salisbury Dollison.
The Methodist Church .- There is a Methodist church near the line of the western part of the township. The original organization was Meth- odist. Protestant, and by that denom- ination the house was built about 1861. Thomas W. Barry was the chief organizer of the church. Recently the church has dropped a part of its name, becoming simply "Methodist." The membership is small.
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Fredericksdale United Brethren Church .- The United Brethren of Fredericksdale have maintained an organization for a number of years. In 1884 they erected a neat frame building in which the congregation now worships. The membership is small. The congregation was organ- ized about 1838, and among its lead- ing members were the Kessner, Byers, Burton and Bates families.
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