USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > Portrait and biographical record of Guernsey County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 70
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In 1806 William Gibson settled on Wills Creek, three miles above. In 1807 came Philip Shoff, from
Maryland, Edward Wilson and Joseph Cowgill from Belmont County, also seven families from Yellow Creek, in Jefferson County, namely, William Ma- ple, Thomas Dennis and Thomas Fuller and his four sons, and the settlement was called Fullerton for many years.
In 1810 three families came from Virginia, as follows: Paul Dewitt, who settled on section 19; John Hedge on section 11, and Abraham Furney on section 9. At this time the eastern end of the township was a dense wilderness. A number of Indians hunted and fished along the streams and lived in huts. They left about the time of the breaking out of the War of 1812, when they be- came fearful of the whites.
In 1814 the settlements were but few, and, with the "exceptions already named, were confined to the valley's along Wills Creek and Bird's Run, and consisted of the Atkinsons, Hedges, Fullers, Fur- neys and others.
One of the carly weddings was that of John Gibson and Hannah Douglass in 1815.
Until 1815 or 1816 land could not be taken up in less than quarter-sections, but about that time it was surveyed into half and half-quarter sections, when settlements began to be made along the ridges.
The first school established in the township was near to what is now Bridgeville. The next was known as Bell's, on the ridge near where an old graveyard may now be seen.
The first church organization in the township was by the Baptists in 1820. It was near Bridge- ville, and the first preachers were Rev. John Meek and Rev. William Spencer, from somewhere on the Muskingum River.
OXFORD TOWNSHIP.
Oxford Township was organized in 1810, but there is no record until 1813. The following is a verbatim copy of the first entry:
. "At a township meatin held on the 5th of April, 1813, in Oxford township, guernsey county, state of Ohio, at the house of David Wherrys, for the
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purpose of Election the several township officers as follows; Namely Justises of the peas 2, Thomas Henderson, John Kennin; clerk, Samuel Dillon; Trustees, Michael King, William Dillon, Enoch Marsh; supervisors, Enoch Marslı, Henry Cleary, Elijah Bell, William Scroggan, James McCoy; fence Viewers, John and long Tom Henderson; Over- seers of the poor, Jacob Gitshell, William Hender- son; Treasurer, David Wherry.
" The Supervisors, Trustees, Clerk, Treasurer, fence Viewers and Overseers of the poor Met on the 10th day of april and were severely sworn into there Respective offices a Cording to law.
" SAMUEL DILLON, CIK."
When Benjamin Borton emigrated to this town- ship from New Jersey in 1804 and settled on the line of the old Wheeling Road, leading from Wheel- ing to Zanesville, said road having previously been marked out by Colonel Zane, he noticed that pen- nyroyal, for which this township is particularly noted, being of a spontaneous growth, soon made its appearance upon the newly cleared lands. Mr. Borton, having learned the art of distilling it in New Jersey, commenced the art here, and his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons have kept it up ever since.
Middletown was laid out in 1827 by Benjamin Masters, and was so named because it was midway between Wheeling and Zanesville. Benjamin Mas- ters as early as 1805 built a horse-mill near where Middletown now stands, and in 1810 built a water- mill. About the same time salt-works were erected at Seneca. When Oxford Township was organized there were not enough men in it to fill the offices. It was soon settled by soldiers of the War of 1812. The Second Regiment of the War of 1812 was made up in this region, the Second Regiment in the War of 1846 was filled from here, and the Sec- ond Regiment in the last war had many from this neighborhood.
Fairview was laid out in 1814. James Gilliland was the original proprietor.' In 1845 it was incor- porated. The first schoolhouse in the township was built on section 3, in 1814.
The first church was built in Fairview in 1816, and it was a union church.
John Kennon came here in 1806. His son James
was the first white child boru in the township, his birth occurring in 1806.
Early settlers were:
John Kinnon and family, 1806; Benjamin Giffee, Sr., 1816; William Morton, Sr., 1816; William Smith and Joseph M. Morrill, 1818; Joseph Fer- rell, 1815; Edward Morton, 1821; Andrew Scott, 1829; Moses Morton, 1825; Benjamin Penn, 1829; William Henderson, Sr., 1806; David Wherry, 1801 (the first settler in the township); Benjamin Bor- ton and Benjamin Masters, 1804; Christian Wine, Ezekiel Vance, Thomas B. Kirkpatrick, Jolın Bur- nett, Jacob Getchell, John Cranston, William Coch- ran, Samuel Marlow, James Gilliland, William Orr, James Hall, John Ables and Philip Rosemond.
Tbe early elections in the township were held at the house of A. D. Taylor.
David Wherry named the township Oxford.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
The village of Kimbolton was founded by John Gibson in 1829. The first settlers in Liberty Town- ship were William Gibson, John Philipps and a Mr. Harper, who came to the county in 1806, via an Indian trail. Following is the language of William Gibson: " We began to keep house in a shanty at the upper end of Liberty. We soon got a cabin; that was better."
Naphthali Luccock settled in Liberty in 1831, and when the people petitioned for a postoffice they were notified that no more postoffices named Liberty, as the village was then called, would be allowed in the state of Ohio. Mr. Luccock there- fore suggested the name Kimbolton (after his na- tive Kimbolton in England), and by mutual con- sent it was adopted, and the postoffice was granted. The name of the village remained unchanged, however, until the advent of the Cleveland & Marietta Railroad, but is now known as Kimbol- ton.
The first merchant in the village was a Mr. Shannon, who was succeeded by N. Luccock, who continued the business until 1853, when he was succeeded by his son.
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Naphthali Luccock was the first Postmaster, and also the first Justice of the Peace. The township of Liberty was organized in 1820. The first teacher in the township was a New England man named Austin Hunt, who believed in the rod as a neces- sary instrument of persuasion and enlightenment. But to better illustrate the ideas of our pioneer teachers we quote the language of the venerable James Gibson, of Kimbolton: "I went to keeping school, and kept school here in Liberty. Some of the boys from over the creek began to run off and stay around the creek and hunt mussels and craw- fish. I found it out and brought them up and gave them a tannin'. They went home and told their folks I had whipped them. The next day their fathers rode up to the schoolhouse, called me to the door and said they had come to give me a tannin' for whipping their boys. I replied: . What color are you going to tan me ? If you have any business you can attend to it, but if you come into this schoolhouse I will do the tannin'." There was no tannin' done. I think a good tannin' never hurt a boy when he needed it."
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
In Jackson Township are combined the elements of agricultural and mineral wealth. Extensive valleys hemmed in by bills full of coal abound.
BYESVILLE.
Jonathan Bye, after whom Byesville was named, was of Quaker parentage and proprietor of Byes- ville. He built there the flouring-mill, long known as Bye's Mill, and operated a country store. In his milling business he built many flat and keel boats, and boated down Wills Creek his surplus flour to southern markets on the Ohio and Missis- sippi Rivers. He also built boats that were used on the Ohio Canal. One of these, the "Maria Bye," named after a daughter, did service a long time on the "raging canal." Jonathan Bye left Guernsey County in the '50s, and located in Sterling, White- side County. Ill., where he built extensive mills, which proved a financial failure, resulting in a wreck
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
We are indebted to Robert Thompson, now a resident of Greenwood, for many bits of in- formation relative to early days.
Mr. Thompson was born September 24, 1808, in Fayette County, Pa., and came to the vicinity of Senecaville with his parents' family in the spring of 1811, and he has lived within a short distance of the place of first settlement ever since. At the date last mentioned there were only two or three log cabins on the present site of Senecaville. David Satterthwaite and William Thompson, Rob- ert's uncle, were perhaps the first settlers. Satter- thwaite owned a great many acres of land in this region.
Ephraim Dilly was also a very early settler.
James Richardson was proprietor of the first taveru here. Abram Dilly was the first black- smith.
The first church in Senecaville was the Presby- terian, which stood in the cemetery at the north end of town.
The first store stood on the lot where the Meth- odist Church now stands.
The first building used as a schoolhouse stood on what is now the strect between Brown's store and the new store of Campbell & Co. It was built of logs and was about twenty -feet square. The first building erected for school purposes stood on what is now the cemetery at the north end of the town.
Robert Thompson says in the Richland Monitor of May 18, 1886:
"Senecaville was laid out in 1814 or 1815, and in 1816, when his father moved to town, its streets were lined with stumps and brush. He said there was a salt spring on the edge of the ercek near the Greenwood bridge, from the water of which his brother William made salt at a furnace containing about thirty-six kettles, which he leased from the owners. It does not seem that at that time there was any other salt furnace on this side of the Ohio River. People came from distant points and con- veyed it away. It sold at from $2.50 to $3 per bushel. These works consumed a considerable quantity of wood, and furnished employment to many choppers, salt-boilers and others, and were
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the principal, if not the only, manufacturing feat- ure of the village.
"Many rough characters were in the community then, and election day was a favorite time to settle grudges and animosities. The couple hent on punishing one another would get toned up by drinking whiskey, choose seconds, throw off their outer clothing, and go into the conflict. The battle was ended when one of the men cried "enough," or, if he was not able to do so, when his second did; then the foes, having had satisfaction, took a drink together, and got down to cbat.
"When a farmer sold stock he had to deliver it, the nearest points being Barnesville and Wash- ington, and to those places one had to go for farm implements and some articles of household use. I once took a horse and went to Barnesville, and slid a plow home, the point being covered with a wooden shield.
"Coffee then was fifty cents a pound, but it was only used when the preacher called and on other notable occasions. A pound might last six months. Pork was worth $1.25 to $1.50 a hundred, and calico was twenty-five to thirty-seven and one-half cents per yard.
"As there was no communication by rail, the produce collected was taken to Baltimore in huge covered wagons drawn by six horses. The journey took about three weeks each way." Mr. Thomp- son's father, Robert, came to Ohio in 1811, and settled in the vicinity of this town.
SENECAVILLE
Owes its name to canses that were working long before this part of the Union was settled. Ages before petroleum became known to the white raee by that name, it was in use among the Seneca In- dians who occupied a portion of the present state of New York, and of the famous oil belt of Penn- sylvania. This oil rose to the surface of springs and creeks, and was used by the redmen as a cure for rheumatism, burns, sprains and many other ailments. Through the Indians it became known to the white settlers, and by them was called from the name of the Indians Seneca Oil, and it became as popular among the people of civilization as it was among the children of the forest, and large
quantities of it were sold in small bottles at prices that now would buy barrels. Explorers and early settlers found this oil in a spring and the waters of the creek into which it discharged and, recogniz- ing the substance, promptly named this branch of Wills Creek Seneca Creek, on account of its ole- aginous feature. Later, when a town was built on this creek and in the immediate vicinity of the famous spring, it took the name of Senecaville.
Senecaville was laid out in September, 1814. In the fall of 1815 William Thompson went to Phila- delphia on horseback, and purchased some dry goods and groceries, paying $11 per hundred for carriage. This was the first store in the township. While there he employed Isaac Woodard, a lame man, to teach school for twelve months. William Thompson and Robert Thompson agreed to pay the teacher in full for his services. The salt works were now running, and as the fuel used was wood it re- quired a number of men to chop wood and boil the salt water, the works running day and night. The children of these men and those of the few neighbors around the village made quite a respec- table little school. The men were told to send all their children and it would not cost them a cent. Joseph Dilley and Abraham Dilley having large families, had small means to send their children to school, but said they were unwilling that two men should pay the teacher, and in time they would (and did) pay a small sum. This may he called the first free school of which we have any knowledge.
Following is a copy of a document now in the possession of Mrs. Jolin R. Finley that brings forcibly to mind the state of affairs sixty-five years ago, and the great changes since that time. The paper, now stained by age and time-worn, is an unruled leaf from a record book, and is written in a clerkly hand. It was found among the papers of William Thompson after his death. The first page reads as follows:
"Records of the Senecaville Colonization Society of Guernsey County, Ohio, Auxiliary to the Ameri- can Colonization Society of Washington.
"Pursuant to public notice a number of the citizens of Senecaville and its vicinity in the coun- ty of Guernsey and state of Ohio convened at
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the Presbyterian meeting-house in Senecaville, July 6, 1829.
"The meeting was organized and chose Rev. William C. Kiel President for the time being, and the Rev. Daniel Pettay Secretary pro tem. and Dr. David Frame Treasurer pro tem.
"The object of the meeting being stated by the President, William Thompson, Esq., arose and pre- sented a constitution for the society, which was adopted with amendments:
"Resolved, That there be a committee of three members appointed to draft rules for the govern- ment of the society and to make report at the next meeting of said society." (William Thompson, Esq., David Satterthwaite, Esq., and Dr. David Frame were duly appointed.)
"Resolved, That the constitution of the society be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer to re- ceive members.
"Resolved, That the Chairman pro tem. deliver an address at our next meeting.
"Resolved, That the meeting adjourn until four o'clock, P. M., on Monday, the 3d day of August next.
[Signed]
"DANIEL PETTAY, Secretary pro tem.
"WILLIAM G. KIEL, Chairman pro tem."
Out of the Colonization Society grew the or- ganization known as the "Undergound Railroad," by which the Abolitionists helped many of the slaves to liberty. The home of Dr. Baldridge was a depot on this line, and many a slave found lodgment and comfort there while on his way to Canada and liberty. Among the most promi- nent Abolitionists of this place during the thirty years following were Rev. William C. Keil, who left Virginia, his native state, on account of his hatred of slavery; Dr. John Baldridge, Dr. David Frame, Dr. Noah Hill and Judge William Thompson.
HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SENECA- VILLE.
" From the History of the Presbytery of St. Clairs- ville in the Synod of Ohio," kindly furnished by Dan- iel Riggs.
In 1810, this church was organized by Rev. Jolin Boyd, whose labors were divided between Leather-
wood and Seneca, continuing one year. After a vacancy of four years a call was accepted by Rev. James Smith in 1815, who gave all his services to the same field. ITis death occurred in 1819. Rev. Thomas B. Clark was the next pastor, beginning his labors in 1821, and remaining nine years. The church remained vacant a number of years, during which time a great revival took place. But with- out a pastor the people became scattered, and a Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized which almost absorbed the former church, and laid claim to the property and held it two years. In 1835 Rev. David Polk came to this field, and dur- ing the two and one-half years of his labors the scattered congregation was brought together, the church property recovered and much good done. Rev. John Arthur supplied the pulpit eighteen months, and after a short vacancy the Rev. John E. Alexander became pastor in 1842, and contin- ned until 1853. During this time there were steady growth and increase of strength in the congrega- tion.
Rev. William Ferguson accepted a call to this church in 1854, and gave to them onc-fourth of his time until 1862, after which he devoted all of his time to the church of Washington. . During his ministry a new house of worship was crected, . and precious revivals were experienced. At the expiration of the pastorate of Mr. Ferguson the relationship between Senecaville and Washington which had existed from the first was dissolved and a new one formed with the church of Beulah, at Claysville. Rev. W. R. Miller took charge of this field, dividing his time equally between them until he resigned in 1867. Rev. C. W. Court- wright became pastor in 1868, and resigned in the year 1870. In May, 1874, Rev. R. B. Porter was in- stalled, and continued the pastor of this church and Beulah until 1876. After the resignation of Mr. Porter the old relationship with Washington was re-established, and Rev. A. G. Eagleson, pastor of the church of Washington, supplied this church two years. In 1879 Rev. J. P. Stafford, D. D., be- gan his labors as stated supply, and continued one and a-half years. Rev. Dr. Miller also supplied for a brief time. In 1883 Rev. Newton Donald- son, pastor of the church at Washington, became
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pastor at Senecaville, and continued in this rela- tion nearly five years. Shortly after his coming, a new church was organized at Lore City, composed of members from both Senecaville and Washing- ton. These three churches constituted the charge of Mr. Donaldson, and his ministry there was very successful. Rev. Charles MeCracken succeeded Mr. Donaldson and continued the work three years. Following this was a year in which the church had no pastor. Then Rev. Mr. MeMaster became pastor here, and has served in that capacity for three years.
The Lutheran Church of Senecaville was found- cd in 1827 by Rev. William G. Keil, born at Stras- burg, Va., August 7, 1799, and died January 18, 1892, at Senecaville, Ohio. Ile was a preacher for many years, and liis labors were spread over a large territory in southeastern Ohio. Among the well known old settlers who were constituent or early members of the organization were Judge David Tullis, James Gordon, Joseph Riggs, Con- rad Shafer, John Wiley, James Thompson, Madi- son Thompson, William Lowry and Charles Stew- ard. Mr. Keil preached nearly forty years here, but during the last twenty-two years of his life age and affliction (rheumatism) rendered it im- possible for him to carry on active work. The church is not strong, and since Mr. Keil's active labors ceased it has not flourished.
The greatest religious revival in this place was conducted by Rev. Luke De Witt and occurred in the winter of 1833-34, many prominent citizens becoming converts.
The first white child born in Richland Town- ship is said to have been Edward Ward. The first Class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church was probably Benjamin Rogers, a blacksmith.
WILLS TOWNSHIP."
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WASHINGTON.
This enterprising village is near the center of the county, and is situated upon the National Pike, about eight miles east of Cambridge. Its nearest
railroad station is Morgan Junetion, distant about four miles, but a new road noticed elsewhere, it is hoped, will brighten the future and give to this place the prestige it once enjoyed as one of the leading towns of the county. It has a population of about six hundred, and is among the most wealthy towns of the county. It has many fine and substantial private residences, a town hall and benevolent societies. It has a good briek school building, two stories in height, giving employment to four teachers. The officers of the town are S. B. Clemens, Mayor; Alfred Skinner, Jr., Marshal; D. E. Patterson, Treasurer; James Mason, Clerk.
A LOST TOWN.
The first town ever laid out in what is now Guernsey County was located on the Zane Trace, five miles east of Washington, on the northwest half of section 19, township 2, range 1. The proprie- tor, Joseph Smith, ealled the town Frankford, but the records of Muskingum County, to which the lands at that time belonged, show that the plat of a town called Frankby or Frankley was received for record September 13, 1805; this makes the place twenty-three days older than Washington. Who Joseph Smith was, where he came from, or when he settled there, is not known. There being no record of the patent, it can not now be told wheth- er he entered the tract, but he evidently had some expectations that his town would have a future, for lot No. 5 was reserved for a court house, No. 13 for a gaol, and "north spring on lot 29 for the free use of the publie, and all the commons on the south side of the same." But Smith's expectations were never realized. The liberal terms offered did not form much attraction for settlers. The first eabin erected became a tavern, and whiskey was so cheap that the advantages of a free spring were not duly appreciated, and there was so much unoe- eupied land that even the cows paid little regard to the commons, and wandered at will. Smith, however, got what he never intended, the name, as the place was always known as Smithtown. But that was about all there was in it, for as late as 1807 a traveler by the name of Cummings, who kept a journal, says therein: "August 8. The stage being only to go fifteen miles, I left Cambridge on
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foot; the first five miles were excellent road, over a long, but not very high, range of hills, withi- out a house, to Beymerstown-twelve cabins, four being taverns, and one blacksmith shop. Four and one-half miles further no inhabitants; the road is still good, but is leading over several high, short and steep ridges, which generally run from north to south. Then passing a cabin and farm, in half a mile I came to Frankford or Smithtown, where I breakfasted. This is a small village or hamlet of eight or ten houses and cabins, some of which, as well as several in the neighborhood, are inhabited by families from Peekskill, N. Y."
March 5, 1807, Smith and wife conveyed lot No. 20 to John D. Seiman; and again in 1815 con- veyed to Henry Gilbert, of Belmont County, lots 34 and 60, the consideration being $27.50. Feb- ruary 2, 1819, they conveyed to William Viers lots 41 and 56, the consideration being $41.50.
In 1809 or 1810 Andrew Moore, of New Castle, Del., became a resident of the town and the pro- prietor of the tavern, which became somewhat noted as a place of entertainment for travelers, and it was to this place that Gen. Robert B. Moore, in 1819, having married a daughter of Jacob Gom- ber, took his bride to her new home, a large com- pany of young friends from Cambridge accompa- nying them on horseback. Mrs. Colonel Bushifield was the only member of those two prominent and well remembered families now surviving when this was written by William M. Farrar.
April 4, 1810, Andrew Moore gave to Charles Ilammond and Samuel Spriggs a mortgage "on my house, stable and lots in the town of Frankford." June 17, 1814, Smith and wife, in consideration of $2,000, conveyed to Jacob Gomber a quarter-see- tion, upon which the town was laid out, and also lots 49, 35, 16 and south half of lots 29, 12 and 4.
August 10, 1819, Jacob Gomber conveyed the same to Andrew and Robert Moore for $2,000. Upon the death of Andrew Moore his administra- tors, under an order of court made at the June term of 1837, sold the land and lots 4, 12, 16 and 45 to William Moore, who, in August, 1838, sold the same to Gilbert Stewart for $2,200; and Stewart conveyed the same, together with lots 36, 44, 52, 43, 57, 53, 17, 18, 33, 34, 37, 49, 54, 20, 27, 28, 29
and 19, to Joseph S. Kugler, who, after having secured title to the remaining town lots, filed an application to have the town vacated, and at the October term, 1846, obtained an order to that ef- fect; and thereupon the original town of Guernsey County ceased to exist. Its once noted hostelry, that fed and rested many a traveler, has disap- peared; its streets and alleys have been converted into cow pasture, and its court house and gaol sites appropriated to the growing of corn and potatoes.
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