USA > Ohio > Gallia County > Illustrated historical and business review of Meigs and Gallia counties, Ohio, for the year 1891. > Part 21
USA > Ohio > Meigs County > Illustrated historical and business review of Meigs and Gallia counties, Ohio, for the year 1891. > Part 21
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desirable in the line of personal or home adornments, for our country merchants take pride in coping with the city merchants in the quality and variety of goods carried, and not being burdened with high rates of taxation, rent, clerk hire and other expenses connected with city life, they can un- dersell them every time. Mr. Martin, the proprietor of this house is a native of Athens county O., born near Alba- ny, in 1843. He came to this county with his parents when quite small. His early life was devoted to working in a mill. In Sept. 1864, he enlisted in Co F 18th O. V. I. and served about one year. At the close of the war he went into business in Vinton county, O. and came here in 1882 and took charge of the depot. He was instrumental in getting the Post-office moved here and received the appointment of Post- master, and for several years conduct- ed a general store in the depot build- ing, at the same time acting as agent for the company and Postmaster of the village. In the Spring of 1889 he built this present store room and moved his stock of goods into it. He was appointed Postmaster in 1889. In 1868 he married Miss Julia Hurley. He is assisted in his business by his wife, who is well qualified. He enjoys a liberal patronage by the people of this community and is perfectly hon- est and trustworthy in all his dealings with the public.
CARPENTER.
T HIS little village has a population of twenty-five and is situated on the line of the K. & M. R. R. It was laid out in 1883, and has one public school building and one good general store, that of Mr. Noah Stout mentioned below.
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Noah Stout, General Store.
IT was formerly the case that when we desired anything fine or very desirable in home comforts or person- al adornment we were compelled to make long journeys to large commer- cial centers to obtain them, but now in every village we find one or more large general stores which compare favorably with the first-class estab- lishments of our large cities. Such is the case with the above named firm. The different line of goods embraced by this immense stock includes the following viz: dry goods, clothing, hardware, glassware, stoneware, tin- ware, boots, shoes, hats, caps, trunks, valises, groceries, confectioneries, fur- niture, farming implements, undertak- ing goods, ladies' and gents' furnish- ing goods in fact everything belong- ing to a first class house of this kind. In the dry goods department we no- tice all the latest varieties in ladies', misses' and children's dress goods. In the clothing department may be found men's and boys' neat fitting business and dress suits cut and made by the leading clothiers of the country. In furniture he carries parlor, bed-room
and office suits in cherry, antique oak and walnut. In the hardware depart- ment may be found blacksmiths' and carpenters', tools and supplies, table and pocket cutlery, hardware, etc., we notice the Oliver and Bissel chilled plows, also the Malta plows and riding cultivators. He also keeps in stock vehicles, among which we noticed the Anchor buggy and several makes of road carts. His undertaking goods embrace plain and cloth covered buri- al cases, caskets etc. The premises occupied is a large frame structure 50x50 feet in dimensions and two stories high. He uses four large rooms, including the ware room in stowing away this immense stock of goods. He was born in this township in 1839, spent his boyhood on a farm. He started in business for himself as huckster, his only capital being five dollars in money and a broken leg, but by earnest efforts and close applica- tions to business he has to-day one of the most extensive firms in the county. He came here in 1884, having been in a similar business at Bolins Mills, Vin- ton county, Ohio. He owns a fine farm near this village and is consider- ed among Meigs county's most promi- nent farmers and business men.
PEET. DEL.
THE COUNTY OF GALLIA.
C NE of the first acts of the "First General Assembly of the State of Ohio" which met at Chillicothe, March 1, 1803,-about three months after the State was admitted into the Union-was the creation of eight new counties, of which Gallia was one of the first, from a vast territory known as Washington county territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, which then comprised a tract covering nearly half of the present area of the State, and including what is now divided into forty separate counties.
THE NAME.
Gallia, the ancient name of France, was given it in honor of the French settlers, who for thirteen years previous had been located in Gallipolis, within its borders, and it was made a separate and distinct county, April 30, 1803. It originally included the lands comprising the present counties of Gallia, Jack- son, the greater part of Lawrence, about three-fourths of Meigs, and a part of Vinton county, which tract was covered partly by the "Congress lands" and the balance by the "Ohio Company" purchase, the western limit of the latter being a line running north and south through Gallia county, a short distance west of Gallipolis. This company was organized in Boston, on the first day of March, 1786, for the purpose of purchasing lands and making settlements in the western country, and all the titles of real estate in the city and western part of the county came from them, they having formerly purchased the lands of Congress and opened their office in Marietta.
Physical and Geological Features of Gallia County.
T HE county as now defined, is situated in that geological division desig- nated as Coal Measures; bounded on the north by Meigs, Vinton and Jackson, east by the Ohio river, south by Lawrence and the Ohio river, and west by Lawrence and Jackson. Its area is about 430 square miles ; sur- face, hilly, excepting a tract bordering upon the Ohio river and bottom lands along various other streams, where it is more level, and the soil is fertile. A
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great part of the county is covered with a black, sandy loam, well adapted to the growth of wheat and corn, which are quite extensively raised. The staple crops are wheat, corn, oats, rye, buck-wheat, and recently the cultivation of tobacco has been assuming prominence. Much of the land is excellent for grazing purposes, and a great deal of attention is paid to the raising of cattle, sheep and hogs, and much interest is being developed in the introduction of blooded stock. The northern, western and southern parts of the county are underlaid with valuable, easily worked veins of iron ore, coal, limestone and fire-clay, which since the advent of the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo railroad, in the spring of 1880, is being rapidly developed. This railroad has an incline side track to the river at Gallipolis for the convenient transfer of freight with the Ohio river boats.
GALLIPOLIS
One of the Most Enterprising and Live Cities in Southern Ohio.
ALLIPOLIS, the seat of justice of Gallia county, is beautifully located Ton the Ohio river, 200 miles above Cincinnati, and 267 miles from Pitts. burgh. The situation and surroundings rival in beauty any city we have ever seen. Located in a beautiful valley which is so high as never to be reached by the highest water ever known in the Ohio river, overlooking a long reach of La Belle Riverie, and a vast expanse of the West Virginia river lands having a back ground of picturesque and beautiful hills, exceedingly well laid off and built up with elegant business houses, stately mansions and magnificent public buildings ; all combine to make Gallipolis one of the most beautiful cities in the Ohio valley.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
On June 8, 1790, a party of forty men landed at the site of Gallipolis, cleared ground, erected forts and cabins, and made preparations for a colony of five hundred French emigrants that arrived here during the last week of October, 1790, and took possession. At an early meeting of the settlers the town was named Gallipolis (town of the French.) On what is now the public Square had been erected eighty log cabins, twenty in a row. At each of the corners were block-houses two stories in height. In front of the cabins, close by the river bank, was a small log breast-work, erected for defense while build- ing the cabins. Above the cabins on the square, were two other parallel rows of cabins, which, with a high stockade fence and block houses at each of the
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upper corners, formed a sufficient fortifications in times of danger. These up- per cabins were a story-and-a-half in height, built of hewn logs and furnished in better style than those below, being intended for the wealthier class, and for those appointed to superintend and manage the interests of the colony. In one of these was a room used for a council chamber and a ball room, in which balls, soriees, etc., were regularly given, at which the etiquette of St. Cloud was observed.
The occasional loss of cattle was about all the colonists suffered at the hands of the Indians, excepting the killing of one French settler, and one man and woman made prisoners, who had ventured some distance from the town, al- though there were frequent losses sustained by the American troops, in their encounters with them in the vicinity. In 1791, flat boats, loaded with troops, descended the Ohio river in an expedition against the Indians, which met with signal defeat. The Indians were encouraged to greater depredations by their success in this encounter, but their efforts were directed mostly against the American settlements and the Gallipolis colony was nearly free from their dep- redations, for the reason, no doubt, that being almost wholly French, the hos- tile tribes fortunately imagined them to be from the French settlers of Can- ada, with whom they held the most friendly relations. In six years from the time of the establishment of the colony at Gallipolis but three hundred of the settlers were left, these however resolved to make a memorial of their grievances and send it to Congress. The memorial claimed no rights from that body, but was a detail of their wrongs and sufferings, together with an appeal to their generosity, and they did not appeal in vain. Monsieur Jean G. Gervais started with the petition, and at Philadelphia met a lawyer, M. Duponcean, through whose aid he obtained from Congress a grant of 24,000 acres of land, known by the name of the "French Grant" located opposite Little Sandy, for those peo- ple, who were still residents at Gallipolis. The act annexed the condition of settling on the lands for three years before the deed of gift would be given. M. Gervais received 4,000 acres of this land for his services in the transaction, by previous agreement. Each inhabitant had thus a tract of 217} acres of land: but before the surveys and other arrangements could be made, some time elapsed, during which those who had reclaimed the wilderness and im- proved Gallipolis, being reluctant to lose all their labor, and finding that a company, owning the lands of Marietta, had met to divide lands which they had purchased in a common stock, the colonists sent a deputation with a pro posal to sell to them the tract where Gallipolis is situated, and to be valued and paid for in proportion to the improvements made, which was accepted. When at last a distribution of the lots of the French grant was achieved, some sold their shares, others went to settle on it, while many sent tenants. In fact, but few of them had the courage and hardihood to enter again into the trials, difficulties and dangers, after their previous experience, attending the estab- lishment of a new home in the wilderness; but few, also, of the original set- tlers remained at Gallipolis.
INCORPORATION.
The first act of the legislature to incorporate Gallipolis was passed Feb. 17, 1804, which vested the corporate powers in five trustees, a president and re-
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corder. In 1838 the office of president was changed to Mayor. Having a pop- ulation exceeding 5,000 inhabitants, Gallipolis was on Feb. 10, 1865, advanced to a city of the second class, and elected a mayor and council. In 1873, they elected as additional officers, auditor, marshal, treasurer, commissioner, civil engineer and solicitor. The officers elected for the incorporated village in 1808, were J. P. R. Bureau, president; Francis LeClercq, recorder ; Thos. Rodgers, John Miller, Christopher Enienne, Jos. Devachl and C. R. Menager, trustees ; The following is a list of the present city officials : Mayor, Horace R. Bradbury ; Clerk, C. H. D. Summers; Marshal, Jos. F. Martin ; Auditor, E. Lincoln Neal ; Civil Engineer, J. R. White; Councilmen, E. W. Vanden, C. C. Mack, Jno. Pep- ple, C. A. Clendinen, J. M. Kerr, Thos. W. Hayward, Aaron Frank, Henry Beall.
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
Gallipolis is located on the bank of the Ohio river, 200 miles above Cincin- natti and 267 miles from Pittsburgh, and as will be seen from the following extracts taken from "The Great Flood of 1884" is situated where it is high and dry at all times.
"The city of Gallipolis, not being a sufferer by the flood, and being but little inconvenienced thereby, has no tale of cruel devastation and loss to be told. Her part in that thrilling and never-to-be-forgotten drama was that of the 'Good Samaritan'-'The Angel of Mercy'-hence, what we shall say of her comes appropriately here. Being one of the oldest and most favorably known towns on the river, and with her sons and daughters scattered over every state and territory in the Union, it is the ONLY REALLY HIGH WATER TOWN OF NOTE IN THE OHIO VALLEY. Providence so decreed, and so it is. It is simply the state- ment of a cold and solid fact in this connection. She did not survey the sit- uation, however, with a cold and unsympathizing heart, nor turn deaf ears to the wailing cries of the distressed ones around her. The first acts of kindness began with those closest and most immediately related, Point Pleasant, Addi- son, Cheshire, Chambersburg, Middleport, Athalia, and extending up and down the river as far as her arms could reach. Private subscriptions enabled her to do this, until aid from the interior began to flow in for her use. The City Council made an appropriation of $500 immediately, and the Board of Health and Township agreed to take care of any of our people living in the bottoms around us, who were suffering or being discommoded, or in need of assistance. But it is not our purpose to go into details of the work of the Relief Committee."
"W. R. White, Esq., surveyor for the county, at our request, took his in- struments and collected the following facts related to our position here above highest waters : The Betz Opera House, corner of Second and State streets, above high-water mark, one foot five and three-quarters inches; first floor of Park Central Hotel, opposite corner, one foot eight and one-half inches; first floor of the block owned by John Sanns, P. A. Sanns and Son, and Capt. Jas. McClurg, on Second, fronting the Park, three feet one-half inches; first floor of the Ohio Valley Bank, on Second, fronting the Park, first floor of Fred Dage' stove foundry, corner of Second and Grape, two feet eight inches ; first
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HISTORY OF
floor Eureka Mills Morgan Bros., corner of Third and Grape, seven feet five inches ; first floor of Geneva Hotel, opposite Eureka Mills, seven feet five inches ; Wmn. C. Miller's block, corner Third and Court Streets, five feet four inches; first floor Buckeye Mills, Lawson and Bell, north-west end of State street, eight feet; first floor of Union School Building, corner Fourth and Locust, eight feet five and one-half inches ; lowest step of Court House, between Front and Second, eight feet three and one-half inches ; first floor of the M. E. Church corner Second and Cedar streets, two feet five and one-half inches. The gene- ral average of the twelve points taken above, which represent neither the low- est and not the highest points in the town by several feet, is five feet and one- half inches, Surveyor White says: 'The foregoing points taken are a very fair average elevation of the greater portion of the city. The grade of some of the streets having been cut down from two to eight feet below the general surface, having caused slight overflows on Front or River street, at its inter- section with the cross streets; yet the buildings are almost all from three to six feet above the highest marks of February 11, 1884-they having been built before the grading was done, and the lots on which they stand all being high- er than the streets. Thus it will be seen that it would have taken at least five feet above the highest mark to have caused any damage.' We might add, in this connection that though no part of the plateau of the city is on a hill or hill side, yet there is a very large portion of the city in Upper or East End, where the level of the street is much higher than any point taken. It is there- fore seen by the reader that when we say that Gallipolis is a 'high and dry' town, above the highest water ever known, it is not idle boast, but a literal fact of which we should be justly proud.
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GALLIA CHILDREN'S HOME.
In April, 1883, the question of an appropriation for the building of a Children's Home, was submitted to a vote of the citizens, and the contract
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awarded in June, 1884. The building was duly completed and is located in Section 1, Springfield township about three miles from Gallipolis. It is a beautiful structure and the farm which is in good repair and located in a good neighborhood, contains 115 acres of fine land. The present superintendent and matron are Mr. and Mrs. Lafayette Gaston. The number of children are about sixty.
THE LODGES AND THEIR EARLY HISTORY .- BY WM. NASH.
Gallipolis has the usual number of secret and benevolent organizations, which are doing good work in their spheres.
Morning Dawn Lodge No. 7, F. & A. M., is the oldest. It secured a Dis- pensation in 1810, General E. W. Tupper was the first Master. General An- drew Lewis, of Point Pleasant, W. Va .. its first S. W., and Col. Robt. Safford of this county its first J. W. The present membership is large and flourishing. Its first meetings were held in an upper room of the Fairchild house, on the corner of 3d and Locust Streets, since torn down. Subsequently their meetings were held in the second story of the Academy building, then situated on the lot now occupied by the Regnier and Fenner buildings. The Academy build- ing was destroyed by fire in July, 1847.
The second organization was that of the Odd Fellows, which occurred in 1850. Only one of its charter members is now living-James Harper, Esq. It has a large membership and is in a flourishing condition. It has recently or- ganized Canton, Sanns, Patriarchs Militant, with a fair membership.
Then we have the K. of P., National Union, Knights of Honor, the B. P. O. E., the G. A. R., W. R. C., S. of V., and sundry other associations, partaking more of a moral than benevolent character, all of which have a tendency to strengthen the social and moral features of our city.
The town organized its first Fire Department in 1845, and bought a small hand engine. It was a volunteer organization and Capt. Alexander Vance was Chief. From that small beginning has grown up our present efficient Fire De- partment with its two steam engines, one of the very best organizations of its kind in the State.
About 1833, some of our leading citizens organized the Gallipolis Lyceum and built a hall for its accommodation on the lot occupied then and now by the Presbyterian church. This organization lasted for many years, the talent of the town gathering there and discussing the leading questions of the day. Among the members were Dr. C. L. V. Bureau, Hon. Judge Simeon Nash, Hon. J. J. Coombs, General Lewis Newsom, Alonzo Cushing, Esq., Hiram Fisher, and many others not remembered. These person are all dead. After the death of the organization, the building was removed across the street and is now used by the McCormick Bros., in connection with their livery stable.
. CHURCHES AND RELIGION.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The first Methodist preaching in this vicinity was by the Rev. Henry Baker, about the year 1817. There being no house of worship, the meeting was held at the residence of Ahaz S. Morehouse. In 1821 the first Methodist church building was erected; the building was oc- cupied for twenty-eight years, when it was so badly damaged by a storm that
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HISTORY OF
it was abandoned, and in 1849, they erected another edifice at a cost of $1,675. The new church which they now occupy, was begun in the summer of 1875, and dedicated by Bishop R. S. Foster, June 25, 1876. This structure is 70x86 feet with a lecture room 45x50, six class rooms and a vestibule below. The up- per room is equal to about seventy feet square ; comfortable seating capacity, 700, with a gallery seating 150. The church has a membership of 666 and is presided over by Rev. P. A. Baker who is a native of Jackson county, has been in the ministry for the past six years and was appointed to fill his present posi- tion in September, 1889.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-This church is an outgrowth of the first religious society of the township of Gallipolis, it being formed on March 15, 1815. Prominent among the founders of this society were General Edward W. Tupper, Jonas Safford, Lewis Newsom, Nathaniel Gates, Thomas Rodgers and Nathaniel Cushing. On Sept. 16, 1828, the corner stone of the Presby- terian church was laid, with appropriate ceremonies. At this time Gallipolis had a population of about 700. In 1873, extensive improvements were made on the church edifice, a new tower being constructed, new sittings furnished, new windows put in and the interior remodeled. This society is in a flourishing condition, having a membership of 234. The pastor, Rev. R. H. Coulter, has been officiating in this church for the past six years.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH .- By reference to the preceding history of the settlement of Gallipolis, we find the Catholic region, the first observed. One or more priests came with the first settlers from France, arriving with them in October 1790, and mass was held every Sunday morning in the Council room, within the stockade upon the public square. After the above date no perma- nent organization seems to have been attempted until 1852, when Bishop Pur- cell came here and purchased a site on Grape street, between Second and Third. A new edifice was erected on this lot and has since been used as a place of wor- ship. December 25, 1887, Father J. B. Oeink took charge of this diocese and since successfully conducted it. The church has a membership of 150.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- The Universal doctrine was preached in Gallipolis as early as 1830, by Revs. Sweet, Waldo, and others, services being then held in the Court House. This was continued until 1850, when funds were raised by public subscription and largely through the energy of the late Charles Creuzet, (who also donated a lot for the purpose) a commodious church was erected, dedicated in October, 1860. In 1877, the church was organized, officers elect- ed, and a presiding elder installed, since which time the church has grown and prospered.
BAPTIST CHURCH .- About the year 1852, the first society of Baptists was organized in the city. They erected a neat church on Third Street, but through some mismanagement they were compelled to dispose of their building and it was sold to the German Lutherans. From that time they met in various places to worship until 1884, when they reorganized and erected the building they now occupy. C. A. McMannis, the presiding pastor has been here since Feb. 1889. Membership 111.
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- In 1840-41, Rev. James B. Goodwin, a mission- ary of the Episcopal church of the Diocese of Virginia, held occasional ser- vices in the Court House. The first parish organization was effected Decem- ber 22, 1841, and members of the vestry chosen. In May, 1858, the vestry purchased of the Board of Education, city lot No. 217 with the school house thereon, paying $700. A building committee was appointed to erect a church edifice on this lot which was accordingly done, and the new building was open- ed for public worship Sunday, December 19, 1858. The church was consecrat- ed April 12, 1859, by Bishop Chas. P. McIlvaine. The total cost of lot and structure was $2,341.
GALLIPOLIS IN THE WAR-BY JAMES HARPER. The war history of Gallipo- lis would fill a volume of interesting reading if space would permit. This city was a depot of supplies for the army almost from the firing of the first gun in 1861. Exposed as we were upon the southern border of the State, with tons of ammunition housed in the old market space, several immense warehouses filled with commissaries, that covered a large space of our public Park, and a military hospital, for the accommodation of large fields of operation, Gallipolis was rendered a point of magnificent attraction to the enemy, and our citizens felt the responsibility and were equal to the times and occasion. Several military companies were organized for border service, composed of young men, middle- aged and gray-beards, respectively, who were vigilant, resolute and daring, giv- ing their time and service for months without compensation or reward. The first company organized was officered by Capt. Henry Grayum and Lieuts. Jas. Harper and H. N. Ford. Upon reorganization it was commanded by Capt. Jas. Harper Lieuts. H. N. Ford and John A. Vanden, ordered into general ser- vice and co-operated with companies A and B of the 31st O. V. I. in the pro- tection of the immense government stores of this place. These companies were afterwards superseded by the Trumbull Guards, who served at this post until the close of the war.
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