History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 75

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 75

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Mrs. Noel says of the Pigeon Roost massacre : "On the 3d of September, 1812, when twenty- four were killed, mostly women and children, the neighborhood of Utica was thrown into the wild- est excitement." Many people crossed the river to Kentucky, but returned within a few weeks. "Another alarm was in the spring of 1813, when a party of Indians came within nine miles of Charlestown, concealed themselves behind a bluff bank of Silver creek, and shot into the house of old Mr. Huffman, killing him and wounding his wife."

The issue of the marriage of James N. Wood and Miss Margaret Smith was thirteen children, eight of whom died under seven years of age. Miss Wood says of her father that he was "a great hunter, and for a long time supplied the family with all their meat. Buffalo, elk, deer, and bear were numerous in Indiana and Ken- tucky at this time. He once killed seven deer in four hours within the sound of his rifle from his house. He killed many bear and buffalo, and at one time was in great danger of losing his life from a wounded buck." Wood made three trips to New Orleans, the first in 1805, when the whole country from Louisville to Natchez was an unbroken wilderness. On returning he walked

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through the country of the Choctaw and Chicka- saw nations. The second trip was made in 1806, and the third in 1807. James Noble Wood was present when most of the treaties were made with the Indians at Vincennes. He saw Tecum- seh and his brother the prophet, Tuthnipe, and the chief Meshecanongue. In 1805 he met Aaron Burr at Jeffersonville, and with him was much pleased.

In 1795 Judge Wood established the first ferry near Utica. The boats were made by lashing two canoes together. Horses and cattle would stand with their hind feet in one canoe and their fore feet in the other. Wood kept a ferry here for a considerable time, so as to es- tablish this place as a crossing point from Ken- tucky and the Grant, there being none nearer than eight miles in both directions. "James M. Woods [or some would have it Wood] set out the first orchard in Clark county in 1790." Where the orchard was, his daughter does not say. If in the region of Utica, he must have visited the place four years before he removed here, which is very likely ; but whether or not the orchard was planted in 1790 is quite another question. Miss Wood, perhaps, is correct in her statement, though it is hardly supposed the orchard was planted in the neighborhood of Wood's future home.

Judge Wood (or Woods) died near Utica March 25, 1826. He was a fine historian, a faithful citizen, a devoted husband, and withal a man of many excellent parts. Margaret Wood was of fine physique and very handsome. She had musical talents of no ordinary degree; she was also a fine swimmer. Her heart seemed to overflow with kindness and generosity, and in the world she had no enemies.

Samuel McClintick, a soldier in the battle of Tippecanoe, built the first brick house in Utica, which he occupied till 1823. He sold out and removed to Polk county, Indiana, where he died in 1826. His wife was Nancy Wood, whom he married in 1815.

Robert George Wood was born in 1803, just below Utica. He died in 1876, having lived all his life in the vicinity of his native place. He married Miss Juliett M. Chunn in 1827, daugh- ter of Major John Thomas Chunn, who com- manded in the battle of Tippecanoe, and who also took an active part in the War of 1812. In-

diana Wood was born in 1806, and married a daughter of Noah C. Johnson, of this county, in 1824. Mr. Johnson took an active part in the Indian wars, and also represented Scott county in the Legislature. Margaret Wood married John Potter, a pilot on the river, now dead. She was born in 1811, and is now a resident of Louis- ville. Napoleon Bonaparte Wood was born at the old homestead in 1813. He married Miss Lucinda Hay, a daughter of Samuel Hay, the first sheriff of this county, in 1836. Mrs. Wood died in 1873. N. B. Wood has lived most of his life in sight of his birth-place.

The character of Judge Wood is evidenced by the active part he took in the affairs of his time. It is impossible for any careful reader to go through these short biographies without de- ciding that the Woodses were a family of many unusual qualities. It was this family, and those who were brought around them through that power which we all feel but cannot see, that real- ly made Utica a place of some importance.

Whether it was a blacksmith-shop, a store, a tavern, a school, or a church, which followed first after the town was laid out, no one can tell. It is pretty certain, though, that Wood kept a kind of store, or rather produce exchange, while preparing for his trips down the river. But stores were radically different then from what they are now. The greater bulk of the trade was in a few articles-first, last, and all the time, powder and ball; then a little sugar and coffee, tobacco and whiskey; and the post-office was also kept there. . Judge Wood was probably the first tavern-keeper also. Indeed, it seems that he was the embodiment of all there was in the village for ten or a dozen years. People had grown up about the judge, and respected and expected of him much as the people of Floyd county did of Judge Shields.

Jonathan Clark was, without doubt, the first . man in the village who made store-keeping a vocation. He kept a regular country store. His place of doing business was on the corner of Ash and Fifth streets. One man says, "he had a No. I store, but no whiskey." A few years after he had secured considerable trade, he built a large house down nearer the river, moved into it and opened up business on a more ex- tended scale. He also supplied boats with wood, which at that time was a large business.

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The flood of 1832 drenched his house with from four to six feet of water. This discouragement induced him to sell out to Mr. Jeremiah Keys, of Kentucky. The latter acted the part of com- mercial man for several years, at the expiration of which he sold to House & Tyler, who were in possession for some time. The building was finally vacated, on account of its unfavorable situation, and is now standing idle.

Samuel Starkworth was also a very early store- keeper. He did business on the corner of Lo- cust and Front streets, and was also prominently engaged in pork-packing. The old store build- ing is yet standing, as the dwelling house of John Mackey. Since Mr. Starkworth have been vari- ous men. The town is now specially active in commercial pursuits.

The first blacksmith in Utica was Abram Ash- ton, whose shop.stood on the corner of Fourth and Ash streets. Ashton was one of the early settlers, and probably Ash street had its name- sake in this gentleman. He came here about the year 1816. He was the father of one child, Philip. After following his trade in the village for eight or ten years, he died in 1827.

In the spring of 1832 there were no shops nearer than Charlestown and Jeffersonville.

The Indiana Gazetteer for 1833 gives the place this notice:

UTICA, a pleasant, thriving post-village in Clark county. It is situated on the bank of the Ohio river, about eight miles south of Charlestown. It contains about two hundred in- habitants, three mercantile stores, and a variety of me- chanics.

William J. Tyler, who came from Jefferson county, Kentucky, in 1828, found Robert Mc- Gee carrying on the trade of a blacksmith here. He made arrangements at the age of sixteen to learn his trade with McGee, who had been here since 1823. McGee's shop stood on Fourth street, lot number one hundred and twenty-four. The house was a log structure. It burned, but was replaced after a few years by a frame house. In 1841 McGee sold out to William J. Tyler, who sometime in 1851 or 1852 put up a new and larger shop, a frame 48 x 50 feet. The business in the new shop was very extensive. People came for miles around in all directions with their work. Wagons and plows were made and shipped to Jackson and the other counties.

John Hazzard learned his trade with Mr. Tyler. He afterwards opened a shop on Fifth

street, where he has remained for twenty.odd years.

The old Black Horse tavern was one of the first places of entertainment in the village. This house took its name from the fact that on the sign was displayed the picture of a large black horse in all the elegance of backwoods art. The tavern stood at the upper end of the town, and was kept by Peter Mann, of New York State. Artistically, the house was a sight of itself. It was a log structure, with double porches. The stairs went up on the outside through the upper porch, leading to one room, where all travelers slept, unmindful that each was surrounded by a score of other sleepers. The Black Horse tavern is one of the early features of Utica, which the old settlers recall with a smile. It is one of those things that are 'connecting links be- tween the past and the present, the reminder that all things must pass away.

The Traveler's Home, another place of public entertainment, had a reputation for good cook- ing, good whiskey, and a good place for dancing. It was kept by William Brindle, and was a frame building two stories high. It is yet standing. Like the Black Horse tavern, it had a horse dis- played on the sign.

One of the most modern taverns in its mode of entertainment was that kept by Mr. Benjamin Taff, on the corner of Ash and Second streets. For a sign was displayed a set of crossed keys. The house was of brick, and one of the best in Utica. It is yet standing, and is occupied as a dwelling.

Peter B. Dorsey was about the last of a fa- mous list of tavern-keepers. His house was on the corner of Fourth and Locust streets, and was also of brick. At present there is no public place of entertainment in the village.

Ashton's mill, above Utica in 1832, where whiskey was made, sawing done, and flour and meal were ground, was one of the most prosperous enterprises ever in this locality. After a success- ful existence, the buildings were torn down. A part of them is now used in the village as a mill for grinding corn in a limited way.

John Lentz was a miller here in 1834. He had two sets of buhrs which were run by steam power. Mr. Lentz sold out to a gentleman who afterwards moved the milling machinery to Louisville.

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Three years after Utica was laid out, in 1819, a school-house was erected at the head of Fourth street. Mr. Guernsey, a name familiar in the school history of Monroe township, was the first teacher. After six or seven years of use the house was abandoned, another taking its place, a hewed-log, opposite the Black Horse tavern. Mr. Samuel Morrison, a gentlemanly person, was the first teacher here. He also taught school in various other places, and is now a resident of Indianapolis. Among the pupils under Mr. Morrison were George Schwartz, Thomas Pra- ther, Joseph Ashton, Jacob Lentz, and Joseph Brindle.

In 1826 was built a brick house, which served the double purpose of church and school. The house was one story high, had one room, a pulpit in one end and a fire-place in the other. This house was used for at least twenty years. In 1845, or thereabouts, it was torn down and a better one erected, 20 x 40 feet. The terms of the contract were that the old brick 'should be used, and that three hundred dollars additional should be paid to the contractors. The teachers here were Messrs. Spillman, Guernsey, Morrison, Lane, Symms, and Keyton.

The new school building erected about eight years ago, consisting of four rooms, and two stories high, is one of the handsomest structures of the kind in the county. The three acres of land, on a part of which the building stands, cost $r,ooo. Before the contract was taken, the specifications called for about $7,000. After the contract was taken and the workmen set to work, an additional amount of $6,000 or $8,000 was claimed by the trustees. In the erection of this building there were expended nearly $20,000 -a sum, to say the least, far beyond what was expected.

Religious services were held in the neighbor- hood of Utica at first in a shanty, built out of a flat-boat torn to pieces. Rev. Enoch G. Wood was one of the first preachers. The house was situated on Fourth street and was owned by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Calvin Ruter, the Ashtons, and the Clarks were active members. Rev. Mr. Hamilton was one of the early presiding elders. The next house occupied was the school building on the public square. This place of worship belonged to the Utica circuit, and had for preachers those

given in the history of New Chapel. In 1847 the present brick house was erected, through the efforts of Elijah Whitten. This now has services in it every fortnight, but the class is not in a very prosperous condition. It has connected with it a good parsonage and Sunday-school. Their present minister is Rev. W. W. Reynolds.

As in many other places, the Universalists early began to have preaching in this locality. They soon formed a class and conducted ser- vices regularly. Now they seldom have preach- ing.

In 1847 the present Presbyterian church was erected. During the first few years after the class was organized services were conducted in the school-house on the public square. The or- ganizers of the church were Robert McGee and wife, Theopolis Robinson and wife, with Revs. Messrs. Cobb, Remley, Martin, Cambrun, and Josiah Crawford as preachers. John Lentz gave all the churches in Utica lots on which to build houses. This church stands near the public square, and is a frame, with a belfry and bell, and makes quite a respectable appearance.

The Baptists held their first preaching in the public square school-house. Among the first members were Robert Tyler and wife, and Mer- riett Alloway and wife. For preachers there were Rev. Messrs. Mordecai Cole, of Charles- town, Mr. Porter, and William McCoy. This denomination, several years before the late war, erected a frame house capable of seating four or five hundred people. It also has a good bell and belfry. There is now no regular service in this church. The Christian church stands on a lot in Oliver's addition, and was erected in 1877. It is a brick structure, and cost $7,000. This class was organized about the year 1857, with Elder Eli Rose and wife, Eli Burtt and wife, Larkin Nicholson and wife, and John Coombs and wife as members. Rev. Messrs. Eli Rose, Absalom Littell, and his brother were first preachers. This organization never held services in the school-house. Their first house of wor- ship was a little frame dwelling converted into a church, now standing opposite the post-office. The membership numbers seventy-five, and the class is flourishing; Rev. Thomas Wil ds is their pastor.

The Utica burying-ground was given for this purpose by James Noble Wood, and it dates

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from the beginning of the town in 1816. It comprises about four acres, additions having been made to it by various purchases.

An Odd Fellows lodge was organized in Utica thirty-five or forty years ago. Four of the charter members were M. H. Tyler, Samuel Bushfield, Fred Trindell, and Joseph McRaymond. Their first place of meeting was in the old Washing- tonian temperance hall, which they afterwards bought. There are now about thirty members, but the society seems to be rapidly falling into decay.

The Masonic lodge is of more recent date. It was organized in the Odd Fellows' hall. There are few members, and the condition of the lodge is not very prosperous.

In the way of secret orders the later Knights of Pythias are the most flourishing of all. The Utica branch was organized in November, 1874, with Stephen Belknap, John R. Tyler, Leroy Canter, M. H. Tyler, W. T. Tyler, as a part of the charter members. Officers: Stephen Bel- knap, P. C .; Jesse Grimes, C. C .; J. T. Guntner, V. C .; John Worthington, P .; James Snider, K. R. S .; John Tyler, M. E .; J. E. Deark, M. A. There are now thirty members on the roll, every- thing is in good order, and the future is prom- ising.

Abram Ashton, in 1820, was the first postmas- ter in Utica. The office was in a little brick house on Ash street. In 1827 Mr. Ashton's son came in charge of the office, and then 'Squire Johnson, who held the position only for a short time. Samuel Starkweather and William Tyler were next in succession, both before 1845. The- opolis Robinson came next, but the office under him was tended principally by deputies. Wil- liam Henry Snider served the people well for fifteen years or more. The present postmaster is Stephen Belknap, the office being kept on Fourth street, between Ash and Locust.

Utica had for its first outlet the Ohio river. After Charlestown was laid out in 1808, connec- tion was soon made with that town, by the road already described. The Jeffersonville road was soon established, perhaps as early as 1818. In the shape of roads or ferries, the latter was by far the most important of all public concerns. Judge John Miller, of Utica, New York, was very prominently engaged in ferrying people across the Ohio. It was after the former home

of Judge Miller that the village, and subsequently the township, was named. The growth of Louisville caused in later years many emigrants to cross at that point; hence Utica gradually fell into the rear ranks. Jonathan Clark, one of the early settlers, was the last man who had charge of the ferry, which was about twenty-five years ago.

The oldest houses in Utica are on Second street. One is an unoccupied log-house, weather- boarded; another stands on the river bank, owned and occupied by Frank Flight. Samuel McClintick built the first brick house in Utica in 1818, on lot number nineteen. It is yet stand- ing.

Among the store-keepers in Utica not before mentioned were Charles Murphey, in 1847; Horatio Schriver, who kept in a little house op- posite Starkweather's, soon after; and then fol- lowed Rose & Symms, Holman, and Belknap. Whiskey has always been obtainable here. The first drug store was kept by Joseph Ashton. The druggists in town now are J. Holman and Dr. Williams.

We sum up the present status of Utica in these words: The general appearance is one of in- activity. Streets are in a poor condition, without care. Sidewalks are hedged in by weeds and woodpiles, and the gutters are full of rubbish and grass. Houses look old and timeworn; many fronts show signs of old age; gates bow ungainly as you pass back and forth. A dilapi- dated sign-post in the eastern part of the town reads, "Salem blacksmith shop," and all houses of a public nature are in keeping with this one. Utica has many of the features of Charlestown, and both are of about the same age. Both have passed through seasons of prosperity and adver- sity. Their past glory, however, is unimpeacha- ble-nothing tarnishes their luster. We leave Utica in the enjoyment of a record full of many golden results. May she live long and enjoy life ; may her vices be few and her virtues many !

WATSON.

This village was laid out in 1876 by J. B. Speed, W. W. Ferris acting as surveyor, who at that time was county engineer. The plat was never recorded. Watson lies in tract number thirty-six of the Grant, is on land owned by the Louisville Cement company, and lies on both

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sides of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad. The first enterprise in this vicinity of any importance was the Louisville Cement mills, erected in 1871. It was this mill which brought the town into being. Workmen were gathered here employed by the firm engaged in manufacturing cement. There sprang up the necessity for a town, some place where the laborers could go and call it their home; hence this result. Mr. W. H. Snod- grass superintended the building of the mills, since which time he has been continually in the service of the company. They have a capacity of three hundred and twenty-five barrels per day. Forty hands are steadily engaged about them, and they have four kilns and two buhrs. The property is valued at $75,000. There are about two hundred inhabitants in the village within a radius of a quarter of a mile, many of whom are but temporarily settled.

Thomas J. Gilligan was the first storekeeper in the village. He was here in 1873, and his place of business was near the railroad, on the west side. A Dane by the name of Peter Christensen followed, dealing in groceries and dry goods generally. At present (1882) there are three general stores and one drug-store in the village. Mr. Henry Struckman, now of Jeffersonville, was the first blacksmith. After him came Messrs. Dawson and Fox. For their present smith they have John M. Williams.

Watson has two schools, one white and one colored. The former stands on the Charlestown and Jeffersonville road, is a good brick building, erected in 1875 under the trusteeship of Mr. William Goodwin, cost $1,000, and has sixty pupils in regular attendance. The colored school has about forty regular scholars.

There is here a lodge of the Knights of Honor, organized in 1877. The number of the lodge is 749; membership, 35. Its hall is 20 x 40 feet, and was erected in 1873.

Originally there was an Odd Fellows' lodge in Watson, organized in 1875. On account of the membership being held mostly at Gibson, the place of meeting was taken there, and is now at Prather's. There were also formerly two other orders, viz: The Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Independent Order of Working- men. Both have disappeared.

An Odd Fellows' lodge is maintained by the colored people ; also an African Methodist Epis-

copal church. There are two Sunday-schools in Watson-white and colored. Both are con- tinued throughout the year.

Watson post-office was established in 1872, with Mr. James W. Stewart as postmaster.

The second officer was W. H. Snodgrass, who also is the incumbent. Mr. Snodgrass is one of the storekeepers, many of the cement-mill hands dealing at his store.

What Watson has been, is, and perhaps will be, depends greatly on the excellent gentleman who superintends the cement-mill. Through his efforts saloons have been kept away, churches erected, Sunday-schools established, and every laudable scheme calculated to foster and encour- age the good of society carried into execution. We bespeak for this little place a very happy existence.

OLD SETTLERS.

Utica township has had a score or more of the oldest settlers in the county. Their names are somewhat familiar to attentive readers of pre- ceding pages. The Prathers, the Schwartzes, the Lemons, the Crums, the Robinsons, the Bottorffs, all have taken a prominent part in peopling the township with good citizens. We give short sketches of the older ones :

Basil R. Prather, the father of all the Prathers in the township, came here from North Caro- lina in 1801. His sons, Thomas, William, Wal- ter, Basil R., Jr., Judge Samuel, Lloyd, John, and Simon, were all married when they came here, except the last-named. They settled throughout the township, and formed a class of men possessed of many admirable qualities.

Jeremiah Jacobs came here with his family from North Carolina in 1800, and settled near the old fort. His family was large, and its in- crease steady. A goodly number of his descend- ants are now living in this vicinity, respected. and hospitable citizens.

William Patrick was a North Carolinian, com- ing here in 1800. He settled on Six-mile creek. His family all disappeared from the township. Mr. Patrick was a man of many excellent quali- ties. He had no enemies among his neighbors. He testifies : "What one knew, all knew, and our lives here were the happiest in my experi- ence." Says an old pioneer : "I have the most distinct recollection of our first neighbors. They were men and women who worked long

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and hard, and who brought up around them the best class of boys and girls I ever knew."

In the fall of 1802 Matthew Crum, fron Vir- ginia, settled within one half-mile of the Union Methodist Episcopal church. He married his wife, Miss Margaret Spangler, near Louisville in 1800, who bore him one child, William S., born October 28, 18or, before coming to this township. William S. Crum is now a citizen of Charlestown township, just over the line from Utica. The marriage of Matthew Crum and Margaret Spangler resulted in a family of ten sons and two daughters, viz: Polly, who is now dead; Christian, James, David, who is also dead; Gordan, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth, Abra- ham, John. When Mr. Crum settled in the township, there was not a half-acre cleared on the land which he owned. He immediately be- gan the work of clearing, and lived to see great advancement in the pursuits of the people. He died at sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Crum lived ten years longer than her husband.

William S. Crum, the oldest of the family, is one of the pioneers of the county. He asso- ciates with the Methodist Episcopal church, and walks in the paths of truth and sobriety. He is now apparently on the decline, and must soon pass away.

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 75

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680