The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 41

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 41

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RAILROADS.

The Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company was incorporated by the Ohio Legislature February 24, 1848. The line of road it was authorized to K

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construct was from Steubenville either by way of Conotten or Stillwater Creek to Mount Vernon, Ohio; thence to the Indiana State line at any point between Willshire and Fort Recovery.

The above act was amended March 12, 1849, authorizing the company to construct a branch road from Coshocton to Columbus by way of Newark or Mount Vernon. This amendatory act further authorized towns, townships and counties along the route to subscribe stock and levy a tax to pay it, the question of subscription to be determined by a majority vote at an election held in the district which it was proposed to tax. Under this amendment a convention of the friends of the project met at Steubenville April 26, 1849, and committees were appointed to solicit subscriptions along the route. A railroad convention of the Tuscarawas County citizens was held at New Phil- adelphia June 2, 1849, which made a warm demonstration in favor of the enter- prise. It was resolved, among other things, that the Commissioners of the county be requested to give notice to the voters that a vote would be taken on the second Monday of August next for or against the subscription by the county of $100,000 to the road and to determine whether the road should pass through New Philadelphia or Uhrichsville. June 26, the Commissioners issued the necessary notice for an election to be held on the second Saturday of August for the above stated purpose.

Under the fear of an adverse result and from the averred fact that the surveys were not complete, the Commissioners on request postponed the day of election to the first Saturday of November. They afterward withdrew that part of the notice relating to the route and submitted only the question of subscription. The vote resulted adversely-for subscription 890; against sub- scription, 1094. The whole number of votes polled was 2,457; but several hundred had conditions attached. The remote townships were mainly op- posed to the subscription.

This vote having failed, the township of Goshen next held an election for or against a township subscription, which resulted as follows: For a subscrip- tion of $50,000, 320 votes; for a subscription of $20,000, 2 votes; against subscription, 20 votes.

The Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company was organized early in the spring of 1850 by the election of a President-Hon. Daniel Kilgore-a Board of Directors and other officers. At this time, $500,000 of available funds had been subscribed, which was afterward increased. The Directors promptly em- ployed a corps of engineers, at the head of which was Jacob Blickensderfer, Jr., and during the following year the necessary surveys were made.

The Steubenville Messenger, of May 31, 1851, contained this announce- ment: "The route of the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad, after careful sur- veys, has been determined upon. Its location ,was decided at the last meeting of the Board of Directors. It leaves Steubenville through the Cross Creek Valley, thence by way of Uhrichsville to Coshocton."

The citizens of New Phila delphia, or a part of them at least, having lost the road, desired a branch. A public meeting was held at the court house,

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July 5, 1851, at which Col. E. Janes presided. It was resolved that the Trustees of Goshen Township be requested to call an election at which the electors should vote for or against the subscription of the stock $50,000, pre- viously subscribed to the road, to the construction of the branch. The Steu- benville Herald said in its issue of November 3, 1851: " The entire road from Steubenville to Newark, a distance of 116 miles, has been contracted for. The necessary turnouts and branch roads to Cadiz, New Philadelphia and Dresden are also provided for. The entire work from Steubenville to Newark is to be in complete and full operation in two years from the first day of Jan- uary next."

Will, Salem, Clay and Oxford Townships subscribed largely for its con- struction. The road from Steubenville to Newark was opened for traffic in April, 1855. " The delay in building the road to Pittsburgh, the want of proper connections east and west and the unfinished and poorly-equipped con- dition of the road gave insufficient earnings to pay current expenses; the company became greatly embarrassed and fell in arrears to laborers and for supplies, and was annoyed and perplexed with suits and judgments which it was unable to fund or pay, and finally proceedings were commenced in the Court of Common Pleas of Harrison County, Ohio, for the foreclosure of mortgages and sale of the road, and Thomas L. Jewett was appointed Re- ceiver on the 2d day of September, 1859. On the 1st day of October, 1864. the Receiver in behalf of the company purchased an undivided half of that part of the Central Ohio between Newark and Columbus for $775,000, thus giving the company an independent outlet and direct communication with railroads running west from Columbus. Meanwhile the work on the Steuben- ville & Pittsburgh road was rapidly pushed forward to completion, and on the 1st of October, 1865, the Receiver concluded an arrangement with the lessees of that road for opening the whole line from Columbus to Pittsburgh. The road received the name of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis, and Decem- ber 28, 1867, it was re-organized under the name of Pan Handle Railroad. Upon completion, it was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, by which it is now operated. The construction and equipment of this road cost in round numbers $20,000,000."

The Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad Company was first chartered March 14, 1836, but so little was done under this act that an act of revival and amendment was passed March 11, 1845. An act was passed February 16, 1849, authorizing the company to construct branch roads within the limits of any county through which the road passed, and March 9, 1850, an act was passed which contained this clause: " And said Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad Company are hereby authorized to extend an arm of said Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad down the valley of Sandy so far south as to intersect the Steubenville Railroad." Under this authority, the Tuscarawas branch was built, extending from Bayard, Columbiana County, to New Philadelphia, a distance of thirty-two miles.

A public meeting was held at New Philadelphia June 27, 1851, to con-

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sider the ways and means best adapted to secure the branch. Judge Patrick was Chairman and B. B. Brashear, of Dover, Secretary. Mr. Farmer, ex- President, and Mr. Prentiss, President of the road, were present and ad- dressed the meeting. Committees were appointed to solicit subscriptions. Dover, too, held enthusiastic meetings, and within a short time subscribed $20,000.

The completion of the main line from Cleveland to Wellsville was cele- brated at the latter place March 4, 1852, and early in that year the survey of the Tuscarawas branch was made, and during the summer, work on the branch was commenced and pushed vigorously. The excavation of the tunnel twelve miles north of New Philadelphia delayed the completion, and it was not un- til December, 1854, that trains were running from New Philadelphia.

The Ohio Democrat of Thursday, December 7, 1854, said: " The long ex- pected event of the final completion of this road to our beautiful town has at last arrived. On Monday last the regular daily passenger and freight train commenced its trips between New Philadelphia and Bayard. The occasion was not signalized by any formal demonstration, yet a large and respectable crowd of our citizens congregated at the depot to welcome the iron horse on this, bis first regular visit. The company have erected a fine depot building and engine house here, which give a new and animated appearance to the east side of North Broadway street."

The Advocate of December 8, in noticing the event, said: "We can now take the cars and visit Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or any other of our principal towns and cities, East or West, without being exposed to the inclemencies of the weather at this unpleasant season of the year. The completion of this road will be of great advantage to the farmers in the Tuscarawas Valley. During the winter season, they will hereafter have an outlet for their agricult. ural products. Already we feel the benefits of this road. Wheat, flour and corn are now being shipped in large quantities-in fact, it has so far been impossible to get cars enough to take away the freight. A large number of hogs has also been sent East to be slaughtered. Although we expected this road to be completed ere this, yet we have no right to complain because it was not finished at an earlier period. The tightness of the money market is a sufficient apology for the company. When we find railroad bonds tumbling from $1 to 51 cents, and when money is worth two per cent a month in New York, it is evident that it is almost impossible for railroad companies to procure money to complete their works. This extensive road cost not less than $250,000- the tunnel alone cost $90,000. The amount realized along the road was, per. haps, not more than $50,000, leaving $200,000 to be raised by the main road."

The Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway Company organized by tiling the required certificate with the Secretary of State, July 2, 1870, to build a road from or near Berea to Mill Township, Tuscarawas County, on the line of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, with a branch from Elyria to a convenient point on the main line in Medina County. The

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road was constructed from Elyria via Grafton, Massillon and New Philadel- phia, to Uhrichsville, and completed in August, 1873. October 30, 1872, the company purchased the Elyria & Black River Railroad, eight miles in length, thus forming a continuous line from Uhrichsville to Lorain on Lake Erie.

March 5, 1873, the Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway Company filed a supplementary certificate to extend its line from Uhrichsville to and into Washington Township, Harrison County.

Owing to a failure to pay interest coupons, in July, 1874, suit was brought for foreclosure of the first |mortgage, and E. B. Thomas was appointed Re- ceiver. Under suit brought for foreclosure of the second mortgage, the road was sold January 26, 1875, subject to the first mortgage of $2,000,000, and the mortgage of $180,000 on the section from Elyria to Lorain. The sale was made for $1,000,000.

February 5, 1875, the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad Company filed its certificate of incorporation, as purchasers after judicial sale of the above road. It was completed to Wheeling and operated by this com- pany until 1882, when it again went into the hands of a Receiver, Oscar Townsend, of Cleveland, and was afterward sold to the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad Company, now in possession.

The Marietta & Pittsburgh Railroad Company was organized September 29, 1868, to build a road from Marietta to Dennison, through Washington, Noble, Guernsey, Harrison and Tuscarawas Counties. A supplementary cer- tificate was filed August 7, 1872, to construct five branches, one from a point near Liberty Township, Guernsey County, to Mansfield; a second from Point Pleasant, Guernsey County, to McConnellsville; a third from Salem Township, Washington County, to near Stafford, Monroe County; a fourth from near Dexter Station, Noble County, up Buffalo Run to Enoch Township; and a fifth from Marietta Township, Washington County, to Harmar, same county. These branches have not been constructed.

In June, 1871, twenty-five miles had been constructed from Marietta, north- ward, and two years later nearly ninety miles. A decree of the Washington County Common Pleas Court, at the October term, 1873, filed in the Secre- tary of State's office, December 9, 1873, changed the name of the company to the Marietta, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Railway Company. The original route of the road had been changed, and June 30, 1874, the company reported the main line laid from Marietta to Dover, a distance of ninety-eight miles. This line was in operation during the year ending June 30, 1875. The traffic was light and damages caused by floods embarrassed the company so that Au. gust 5, 1875, Gen. A. J. Warner, the President of the company, was appointed Receiver. The road was sold by him for $20 1,00), June 13, 1877, to a party consisting of bondholders of the road. May 1, 1880, it was transferred by deed to the Cleveland & Marietta Railway Company, a corporation composed of certain bondholders of the Marietta, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Railroad. The road has recently been sold, and is now operated by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company.

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The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Company filed its certificate of or- ganization April 6, 1871, to build a road from a point in Pease Township, Belmont County, to the corporation line of Wheeling, W. Va., to Toledo, Ohio, a distance of 198 miles. By a supplementary certificate, filed March 26, 1874, a partial change of route was made, so as to pass through Lorain Coun - ty in order to avoid difficult curves, grades, etc., the distance being 210 miles. The right of way over most of the line has been donated, together with neces- sary grounds for depots, shops, side tracks, etc. A charter for constructing a branch from near Milan, Erie County, to the Government pier at Huron, same county, was dated December 16, 1878. This road is still in process of construction. It was completed from the north to Zoar Station in the summer of 1882, and in August of that year trains began running (over this part of the road. The road is graded from Zoar Station eastward a consider- able distance, and at this writing it is believed work will soon be resumed and rapidly pushed to completion as far as Wheeling.

Upon reaching the Tuscarawas branch of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh road at Zoar Station, a lease of the right of way over this road from Zoar Sta- tion to Dover, a distance of eight miles, was effected, and the Wheeling & Lake Erie road about the same time purchased the Cleveland & Marietta road, extending from Dover to Marietta, and now operates this road with the eight-mile lease, from Zoar Station to Marietta, as a branch of the Wheeling & Lake Erie.

The Valley Railway Company was organized by filing its certificate of in- corporation August 21, 1871, to construct a road from Cleveland to Bowers- ton, Harrison County, through the counties of Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, Tuscarawas, Carroll and Harrison. The line, by a decree issued from the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in May, 1873, was authorized to be extended to Martin's Ferry, Belmont County, a proposed length of 130 miles. The road was completed from Cleveland to Minerva City in Sandy Township, and thence to Zoar Station or Wheeling Junction in the summer of 1882. Regular passenger trains commenced running in July, 1882.

The Connotton Valley Railroad (narrow gauge), which has been constructed through the western portion of Tuscarawas County during the past year, and is now completed to Coshocton, is the outcome of many railroad enterprisea The Carroll County Railroad Company was chartered by an act passed March 9. 1850, and was authorized to build a railroad from Carrollton to a point on the Sandy and Beaver Canal. The road was constructed from Carrollton to Oneida, Carroll County, a station on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh road, twelve miles, laid with strap iron, and was opened for business in 1854. It was sold in 1859, and after operating it several years the purchasers per- mitted it to run down until 1876, when they organized the Carrollton & Oneida Railroad Company, taking these two points as the termini. In 1872, the Ohio & Toledo Railroad Company was organized to construct a road from St. Clair Town ship, Columbiana County, to Toledo. August 1, 1873, it acquired the Carrollton & Oneida road, and in consequence of this acquisition changed

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its course entirely by proposing to build a road from Cannonsburgh, Carroll County, to Youngstown. It was completed from Oneida to Minerva, Stark County, a distance of five miles, and grading was done a considerable dis- tance further toward Youngstown. The Youngstown & Connotton Valley Railroad Company was incorporated to build a road from Bowerston, Carroll County, to Youngstown. It purchased the Ohio & Toledo road, then con. structed from Dell Roy to Minerva, after it was sold at judicial sale and changed its route and terminus, making Canton the northern terminus instead of Youngstown, and by decree of court the name was changed to the Connotton Valley Railroad Company. The Connotton Northern Railway Company was incorporated to build a railroad from Canton north to Fairport Harbor, but the northern terminus was afterward changed to Cleveland. When the Con- notton Valley road was completed from Minerva to Canton and the Connutton northern road partially constructed, these two roads consolidated, October 25, 1880, assuming the name of the Connotton Valley Railroad Company.

The Massillon & Coshocton Railroad Company was incorporated in 1874 for the construction of a road from Massillon to Coshocton. Subsequently its name was changed to the Cleveland, Canton, Coshocton & Straitsville Railway Company, and its route was changed so as to pass through Canton, and Cleve- land was made its northern terminus. In June, 1881, Athens was made its southern terminus and the name changed to Connotton Valley & Straitsville Railroad Company. This road and the Connotton Valley Railway Company have consolidated under the name of the Connotton Valley Railway, and the road from Canton to Coshocton, through Tuscarawas County, is known as the Straitsville Branch.

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CHAPTER XI.

AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FIRST DOMESTIC ANIMALS-EARLY CROPS-TOBACCO CROP STATISTICS-ORGANIZA- TION OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-FIRST FAIR-GROWTH AND PRESENT CONDITION.

THE Moravians, in 1772, brought with them to the Tuscarawas Valley seventy-one head of horned cattle, the first domestic kine in Ohio. They were derived originally, it is said, from the Dutch breed, which had been in- troduced into New York by the Hollanders many years before. The distinct- ive strain of this breed may still be seen occasionally in this county in the black and brown spots. For butter and cheese this breed is equal to any other. The first improved sheep were introduced into the county by Dicken- son and Wells, and were pastured on the plains in Franklin Township. Will- iam Patterson, who had them in charge, afterward became the owner of the flock. Cattle, horses, sheep and swine of various improved breeds have been introduced from time to time, until now the county is well supplied with good breeds of all kinds of domestic animals.

Most of the earliest entries of land were made on the slopes of the hills in the valleys of the smaller tributaries of the river. The heaviest timbered por- tions-lands that it would require a quarter of a century to clear-were most sought after; for the pioneers judged the fertility of the soil by the size of the timber growing upon it.

The first crop raised by the pioneers was corn, but in a few years wheat, oats and other cereals were introduced, and the farm products became about what they now are. When the lands were new, and the soil stronger than at present, tobacco was raised in considerable quantities. For a period of per- haps fifteen years-say from 1825 to 1840-many agriculturists devoted much time and attention to the production of this commodity; but other crops proved more remunerative to the farmer, and the culture of tobacco was soon abandoned entirely. Prior to the construction of the Ohio Canal, the tobacco raised was packed in hogsheads and hauled by team to Baltimore.

Although the returns of the Assessors from the various townships are usu- ally imperfect and inaccurate, yet the aggregate statistics compiled from them are approximately correct, and fairly indicate the relative productions of the counties in the State. In 1880, 43,837 acres of land in Tuscarawas produced 853,420 bushels of wheat. The county stood eighteenth in the State in the number of acres sown, and sixteenth in the amount of wheat produced. The same year, the acreage of corn was 23,505; the product, 907,594 bushels. In this product, it was the fifty-third county in point of land, and fiftieth in the

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amount of grain produced. In 1881, the acreage of wheat was 37.443, the product, 482,013 bushels; corn; 21,286 acres, 624,172 bushels; oats, 15,238 acres, 432, 702 bushels; rye, 183 acres, 1,052 bushels; buckwheat, 153 acres, 637 bushels; barley, 85 acres, 1, 768 bushels; potatoes, 1,274 acres, 90,365 bushels; flax, 6 acres, 31 bushels; 25,771 acres of meadow produced 29,325 tons of hay; 12,461 acres of clover produced 13,086 tons of hay, 11,944 bush- els of seed, and 336 acres were plowed under.

Very few farms are devoted exclusively to raising stock, yet all have a fair number of the different kinds. Sheep-growing is on the increase. Many fat sheep are annually shipped to Eastern markets. In 1880, there were in the county 108,582 sheep, from which 463,906 pounds of woul were shorn. In the number of sheep, Tuscarawas was surpassed by twelve counties in the State, and in the wool clip by fourteen counties. This county was credited with 23,123 cattle in 1880, a number exceeded by fifteen counties. It had 8,281 horses, 186 males and 16,852 hogs.

Of its 360,000 acres of land, the Assessors returned in 1880 but 316, 292 acres, apportioned as follows: Cultivated, 121,015; pasture, 118,589 acres; wood, 66,018 acres; waste lands, 9,973 acres. Good timber is becomig scarce. Black and white walnut and poplar, formerly quite abundant, have been culled out wherever accessible. Some fine tracts of oak and chestnut, how- ever, yet remain, and with judicious care will last many years.

The Tuscarawas Agricultural Society was organized at Dover November 10, 1849, at which place and date a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected: George W. Slinguff, President; John McElder- ry, Vice President; Joseph Welty, Treasurer; H. T. Stockwell, Secretary: George Welty, Martin Mumma, Joseph Slinguff, James Sewell and Charles Deardorff, Managers. The constitution provided that the annual exhibitions of the society should be held alternately in Dover and New Philadelphia

The first fair was held at Dover, in what was then known as Hayden's Grove, now the primary school property, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 15 and 16, 1850. A fine display of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs was made, and in the Dover Schoolhouse the exhibition of flowers, needlework, fruits and grain surpassed the expectation of all, and aroused a deep interest in the mind of all who attended.

The officers elected the next year were E. Janes, President; Joseph Sling -. uff, Vice President; Charles F. Deardorff, Treasurer; John English, Secretary; David Judy, Richard Powleson, William Helmick, Joseph Brown aud Flem- ing Bukey. Managers. The fair for 1851-October 16 and 17-was held at New Philadelphia. The vegetables and manufactured articles were exhibited in the court house and Clerk's office. It was estimated that 5,000 persons were in attendance.

The need of a fair ground became urgent, and it was proposed to purchase permanent grounds between New Philadelphia and Dover. This project was finally deemed inexpedient, and a proposition was submitted to the people of Dover and New Philadelphia that each purchase grounds, in which to

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hold the fair alternately, erect buildings and keep the same in repair, and receive the admission fees until their expenditures are repaid with 8 per cent interest, when the property was to come into possession of the society. The proposition was not accepted on the part of New Philadelphia, and permanent grounds were located near Dover on the site of the present fair grounds, and the fairs have been held there annually since, except in 1861, when the grounds were occupied as a recruiting camp for volunteers, and the fair, in consequence, was at first postponed a month, then dispensed with entirely that year.

The President of the society, Jacob Blickensderfer, in his report to the State Board for the year 1851, said of the agricultural resources and condition of Tuscarawas County: " The principal crops raised are wheat, corn, oats and hay, with a much smaller quantity of potatoes, rye, barley, buckwheat and clover and timothy seeds. Fruit is receiving a good deal of attention in our county. The oldest settlers frequently brought apple seeds along, gathered at the cider mills of older settlements, from which they raised their orchards, without troubling themselves about grafting or budding. As may be expected, these lots brought poor fruit. At the same time, they raised a desire for something better, and for many years past great attention has been paid both to apples and other fruit. Two years ago we had our first fair. The subject was new, and not so well attended to as since. Last year the fruit failed generally, and almost totally in this part of the State. This year, for the first time, there was a general collection and exhibition of the fruit of the county at the fair. It may be safely said all found a greater variety and better quality of all kinds of fruit than was expected to exist in the county. Within the last six or seven years our cattle have been, in a small degree, improved by the intro- duction of foreign breeds, nearly all Durham. The improvement, though very limited compared with all the cattle in the county, is beginning to find favor with the many. Horses appear to draw the most attention and create the greatest interest at our annual fair, but no marked improvement, by the introduction of foreign blood or otherwise, has been made."

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 41

Author: Warner, Beers & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017