The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 61

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

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 61

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longs to Mill Township, having entered the northeast quarter of Section 1, Township 6, Range 1, close to Newport. He remained in the township through life, and his descendants still abide here.

As mentioned in Chapter VI, of the County History, the twelve sections con- stituting the eastern part of Mill Township is a part of the Dohrman Township granted by Congress to A. H. Dohrman for services rendered during the Rev- olutionary struggle. It also embraced six sections in Mill Township and eighteen in Harrison County. As this land was not subject to entry, it was not occupied as soon as other parts of the county. It includes a considerable amount of beautiful land in Stillwater Valley, which did not long remain un- tenanted. The exact order of its settlement is not known, but in 1820 the following resident land-owners were here, and some had arrived many years before 1820: Perry Andrews owned the northeast quarter of Section 24; James Banister, an old man, the northeast quarter of Section 23, where he died; James Barnes, the southwest quarter of Section 36, where he remained till death; Henry Bidinger, who afterward moved West, the southeast quarter of Section 30; Arthur Cheneworth, who also went West, the west half of Section 24, and the northwest quarter of Section 23: Samuel Caldwell, & New EL- glander, who subsequently migrated farther West, the southeast quarter of Section 23; John and Griffith Cahill, brothers, who removed afterward to Union County, the former owning the north half of Section 27, the latter, land in the north part of Section 33; James Crabtree, a Marylander and former resident of Harrison County, who afterward went to Union County, the south- west quarter of Section 34; John Creagh, the southwest quarter of Section 23; Robert Caples, who died recently in this township, son of William Caples, 145 acres in the north part of Section 33; Charles Caples, another son of William Caples, later removing West, seventy acres in the same section; James Edes, a life-long citizen of the township, the northwest quarter of Section 22; Henry

--- : Foster, from Ireland, and a resident of the township through life, the south- west quarter of Section 30: Peter Frederick, a German and a shoe-maker from Pennsylvania, the northwest quarter of Section 36; James Gray, seventy acres in Section 30; Harmon Gatchell, from Harrison County, the northeast quarter of Section 28; James Murkey, the northeast quarter of Section 22; Jacob Middleton, who later in life removed to Port Washington and there op- erated a saw-mill, the northeast quarter of Section 30; Jacob Mills, the north.

1 west quarter of Section 21 and southeast quarter of Section 22; Aquilla Mof. fit, a life-long citizen, the northwest quarter of Section 35; Connel O'Donnell, the northwest quarter of Section 34, Elijah Preston, the southwest quarter of Section 22; Caleb Perry, who removed to Illinois, the southeast quarter of Section 33; William Ross, later a resident of Uhrichsville, the southeast quar- ter of Section 36, and William Turner, the northeast quarter of Section 35.

On the southeast quarter of Section 30, in very early days, stood a log Methodist meeting house, the first religious edifice in the township. The so- ciety which worshiped here has long since been dissolved, and a graveyard i remains to mark the site of the church.

The following are the township magistrates, with their several dates of elec- i tion: Philip Laffer, 1833; William Ross, 1834; John E. Cahill, 1836; Will- iam Ross, 1837; William Logan, 1839; William Ross, 1840; William Logan. 1842; George Tennant, 1843; William Logan, 1845; George Tennant, 1846: Joshua Howard, 1848; Mathias Collier, 1851; Alfred Lester, 1851; Isaiah Thompson, 1852; Mathias Collier, 1854; Isaiah Thompson, 1855; Mathias Collier, 1857; Joshua D. Howard, 1858; John Milone, 1860; Joshua D. How- yard, 1861; John Milone, 1863, resigned 1865; Joshua D. Howard, 1864, re- | signed 1866; Charles Gantzman, 1865; John Milone, 1865; John W. Lytle, 1

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1866; John Milone, 1868; Thomas H. Mozena, 1869; John Milone, 1871; Thomas H. Mozena, 1872; John Milone, 1874; Charles Borgar, 1874; J. T. McCullough, 1875; John Milone, 1877; Charles B. Willoughby, 1877; Thomas H. Mozena, 1878; John Milone, 1880; Joseph Healea, 1881; Thomas H. Mozena, 1881.

The year 1833 was an eventful one to Mill Township. It marks not only the foundation of the township, but also the establishment of three villages. Eastport, Waterford (now Uhrichsville), and Newport. One of these has since lapsed into its primitive state; another is a quiet country place of 200. while the third has become a populous. active town.

Eastport, as laid out by Beebe, Kilgore, Olmsted and Dewey in 1833, on the east bank of Big Stillwater, two miles north of Uhrichsville, contained sixty six lots. The proprietors erected a hotel, which was kept for a few years by Mrs. Thompson, a widow lady from Steubenville. The village be- came the head of navigation for a time for canal boats, and a large business was transacted. Great quantities of wheat were bought at the two warehouses of the Eastport company. Richard Lyons was the first store keeper. John Minnich also owned a store here. For a little while Eastport thrived, but Uhrichsville had a stronger growth, and absorbed its business. Only three or four houses mark the site of the village.

Two miles south of Uhrichsville, nestling in the beautiful valley of Still- water, lies the little village of Newport. It was laid out in 1833 by Philip Laffer, and in the contest with Uhrichsville for precedence, it, too, was worstel The land upon which it is located was entered by William Caples; he sold i' to the proprietor of the town. The original plat embraced fifty-five lots, and the streets thereon appearing were Water, Second, Third and Fourth extend- ing north and south, and Main and Wood extending east and west. James Tracy in 1875 made an addition of seventeen outlots on Tracy street. Williaz Caples resided in a dwelling-house which stood upon the town site many years before the plat was surveyed. Philip Laffer kept the first store, which contained, however, a very limited amount of merchandise. Eli Westhafer was the first Postmaster. : He received the appointment many years after the village was founded, and had not held it long when the rebellion commenced. and soon after that event the office was given to Robert Caples, who had it but a short time when it was abolished; the name of this office was Brady. The village was then without a post office until the spring of 1882, when Jacob Welch secured the establishment of Tracy Post Office here, and became the Postmaster; he was succeeded in about a year by Mrs. Jane Beemer, who now holds the appointment.

Newport has a population of about one hundred and fifty. It contains tw) general stores, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, a good district schel of two departments, a church, a creamery and two potteries. The first potte !! was started by Andrew McChesney about 1843. Thomas Reed succeeded him: he sold to Nelson Tracy, whose son, John B., now operates it. The other was started about 1845 by Laban H. Warbs. Subsequent owners were Joseph Figley. Thomas Reed, Nelson Tracy, T. A. Packer, and Lambright & We hafer, the present proprietors. The potteries are operated about eight months in a year, and each burns about two thousand gallons of stoneware per monts

The creamery was started by Beemer & Ward in the spring of 1883. and soon after was sold to John Bukey, who now operates it. Cream is purchase from the neighboring farmers for nearly as much as they would receive fr.a the butter churned from it. The butter is then churned in a revolving barrel by steam power each morning, the proprietors depending chietly for the profit on the greater market value of creamery butter.

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The present Methodist Episcopal Church at Newport was erected about 1869, at a cost of $1,500, during the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Dennis. It is a commodions frame, surmounted by cupola and bell. An old frame house of worship preceded it, built about 1840. The class, from which the present congregation sprang, was organized before the town was laid out. Its earliest meetings were held at Wallace's house, two miles distant up Stillwater; James Tracy, Capt. John Brady, Samuel Smith, Abijah Robinett, John Cahill and William Ross were early members. The present membership is about 150; the present minister, Rev. J. Beetham.

UHRICHSVILLE.

Uhrichsville is the largest town of Mill Township, and is the second in size in Tuscarawas County. It is located in one of the earliest settled and most important localities of the county. Uhrich's Mill, on Big Stillwater, one of the first built in pioneer times, was patronized by the settlers for many miles around long before the town was laid out in 1833. The name, with which the proprietor, Michael Uhrich, dedicated the village, was Waterford, but about six years later it was changed to Uhrichsville. The history of the village may be divided into three distinct periods. The first or canal period was one of activity and vigorous growth, culminating with the construction of the Pan Handle Railroad about 1850. Then followed a period of general depres- sion for about fifteen years; business was extremely dull, property greatly de- preciated in value and the increase in size scarcely perceptible. The erection of the railroad shops at Dennison proved an invaluable boon to Uhrichsville, for the population was rapidly augmented and a bustle and activity developed which was theretofore unknown. In 1840, seven years after the village was founded, it contained 229 people; in 1850, the population had increased to 577. During the next decade, the increase was only sixty nine, and few, if any, additional inhabitants were residents here in 1865. Affairs then took a turn; in 1870, the census returns indicated a population of 1,541, and in 1880 of 2,790. During the past three years, this has materially increased.

The town of Waterford was laid out on the east side of Big Stillwater in the fall of 1833, by Michael Uhrich. The plat was of goodly dimensions, embracing 94 lots, 1 to 94 of present Uhrichsville, extending from First to Sixth street, and from Stillwater eastward to and including the lots on the east side of Main street. The streets are 66 feet in width. All lots east of Water street are 66x160 feet in size. Those west of Water are 66 feet wide, but of various lengths. Robert M. Dawson in 1845 made an extensive addition to Uhrichsville, formerly called Waterford, south and east of the original plat. It extended from Sixth street to South, and contained 122 lots, 95 to 216 inclusive. The lots were 66x160 feet; the streets 66 feet wide, and the alleys 16 feet.

Peter Hoopengarner's Addition to Uhrichsville is located on East First street. It was made in 1867, and includes 28 lots, 217-245 inclusive. Will- iam Thompson's Addition of 5 lots, 246-250, was made in 1867, and is situated on East Fourth street. Mary McManus the same year laid out an addition of 10 lots. 251-260, on an extension of Third street. Scott's Addition of 25 lots, 261-285, on High and Cross streets, was made in 1868, and modified four years later. In the same year, Bell's Addition was laid out. It included 10 lots, 286-295, located on Little Stillwater, between the Deersville road and First street. Parrish's First Addition, comprising 24 lots, 296-319, between Sixth and Seventh streets, and immediately west of the Eastport road, was surveyed in 1868.

Carr's Addition of 13 lots, 1-13, located west of Sixth and Fifth streets,

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HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

was made in 1869; a subdivision of Lots 5 and 6 into 6 lots, was made in 1871. Parrish's Second Addition, consisting of 49 lots, 320-368, on Water and Main streets, and the Eastport road, between Seventh and Ninth, was laid out in 1871. E. G. Helwig and George W. Dawson in 1871 made an addition of 71 lots, 369-422 inclusive, and 441-457 inclusive, between Ninth and Eleventh streets, on and west of Main street.

Joseph Thompson's Addition of 18 lots, 423-440, on Second, Third and Thompson streets, was mad . in 1871. Huston's Addition was laid out in 1871. It included 15 lots, of irregular shape, located on Little Stillwater, west of Bell's Addition. Alexander Huston's Second Addition, comprising 33 lots, was laid out in 1872. He laid out a third addition, consisting of 16 lots located on Bank street, in 1874. Helwig & Dawson's Second Addition, including 64 lots, located on Main, Water and Eleventh streets, was made in 1872. Their third addition was made the year following, and comprised 49 lots, situated on and between Tenth and Eleventh streets. William Ray in 1872 laid out an addition of 10 lots north of Fair street. Parrish's Third Addition was made in 1874; it consisted of 12 lots, 458-469, located on Parrish street, between Seventh and Eighth.

William W. Porter in 1873 laid out an addition west of Big Stillwater, on First, Second and Third streets. It included 61 lots. The same year, he made a second addition, which consisted of 81 lots. Sebastian Schon in 1872 made an addition of 16 lots between East and West streets. Mary A. Mohr in 1873 subdivided into 7 lots out-lot 18, of Porter's Addition of out-lots. In 1874, Elizabeth Cohall and Theodore Packer subdivided a portion of out-lot 4, of Chalfant's Addition of out-lots. into 30 lots, situated on Packer street. The same year, Alexander and William McConnell subdivided a portion of the same out-lot into 30 lots on McConnell street. Abigail A. and David B. Mur- phy in 1874 made an addition of 27 lots, on and near Little Stillwater and Murphy street. Monroe and Alexander laid out in 1875 an addition consist- ing of 29 lots, and situated on the Gnadenhutten road, and High and South streets. John Mckinley in 1877 made an addition of 139 lots, situated on the Gnadenhutten road, Second. Third, Center and West streets. by subdividing out-lots 2, 3 and 4, of Chalfant's Addition of out-lots. The several additions of out-lots to Uhrichsville have been omitted.

When the plat was surveyed in 1833, several buildings had already been erected in the vicinity. At the south end of Water street stood the large hewed-log dwelling of Michael Uhrich, the proprietor. In this building, which was erected about 1804, Mr. Uhrich kept the first tavern in Mill Town- ship. John Welch, who came from Harrison County, kept the first store in this locality. It stood west of Big Stillwater, but after the town was laid out he built a store and warehouse on Lot 1 and moved across with a stock of goods worth $1,500. He bought wheat extensively, and about 1844, through the fluctuations of the Eastern market, he lost heavily and soon after retired to his farm, upon which Dennison now stands, where he died quite recently at a ripe old age. About the time the town was laid out, or shortly before, John I. Moore came from Moorefield, Harrison County, and in company with Michael Uhrich built a store and sold goods on Lot 86, northeast corner of Water and First streets. They also bought and shipped wheat. Mr. Moore remained in business here only two or three years. He then returned to Moorefield, where he subsequently died of cholera. John Sterling was an- other early and a prominent merchant. He was Irish born, had farmed near Albany, N. Y., and in 1835 came to Waterford, opening a store the ensuing year. Dealing in wheat resulted in his financial ruin, and, after a residence elsewhere for a time, he returned to Uhrichsville and passed his declining

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years in this place Jonas Haskins came from Moorefield in the autumn of 1835. He was a merchant and died in the spring of 1837, leaving a wife and eight children, several of whom still reside in this vicinity.

Mordecai Wheatley, a Virginian, is said to have built the first dwelling house within the plat, after it was laid out, and to have been the first black- smith. His house stood on Lot 81, east side of Water, between Second and and Third streets; he afterward moved West. Aaron Robinet, from Harrison County, was also among the foremost settlers of the village. He, too, was a blacksmith and pursued that avocation. He is still living in Uhrichsville. Barleen Myers was here before 1835. He built a tannery on the southeast cor. ner of Main and Second streets and lived on an adjoining lot. He removed to Iowa and died in that State. Joshua Lock, a carpenter, was here in 1835. He afterward emigrated to Iowa. John Cahill, an aged man, came with his three sons -- Dennis, Alexander and Thomas-about 1835. He died in 1837. William Ross built a house on the northeast corner of Main and First streets in 1836. He was a Justice of the Peace for several terms and until his death at an advanced age. Samuel Warfel came from Cadiz in the spring of 1836. In partnership with Michael Uhrich, he erected on the southwest corner of Third and Water streets a steam saw and carding mill. About a year later the mill came into the possession of Thomas Benner, and its subsequent own- ers were Nelson Poulson and Philip Uhrich. Mr. Warfel then engaged in tavern keeping for some time and was afterward variously engaged. He pos- sessed great mechanical genius. and died in this village a fow years ago.

Besides most of the above, Richard Morris, Robert McClintick, Charles Andreas, Jacob Huston, John Meese and Thomas Ramsour were here in 1838. Richard Morris was a Yankee and a carpenter; he remained here but a few years, then went West. Robert McClintick pursued various occupations, oper- ating a carding machine for awhile. Charles Andreas was a shoe-maker; moved West and now resides in Kansas. Jacob Huston was a tavern-keeper on Water street, near the old bridge; later in life he farmed, and died near Uhrichville · while so engaged. John Meese was a merchant and horse-dealer. remaining here several years. Thomas Ramsour was a laborer, met with ill success in life, and his career terminated in a benevolent county institution. The above are believed to include, with very few exceptions, if any, the earliest residents of Waterford or Uhrichsville.

John Welch was the first Postmaster. He retained the office but a short time, and was succeeded by Samuel Warfel. Subsequent Postmasters were Marcus Haskins, Samuel Haskins, Thomas Shaw and John Milone, the present incumbent.

Wheat buying and shipping was the chief business of Uhrichsville prior to the construction of the railroad. When the town was laid out, the Ohio Canal was in operation, and transported all the surplus grain of the West to an Eastern market. Uhrichsville commanded the whole trade of the valley of Stillwater. Wheat was hauled to this point from a distance of thirty or more miles, from a large portion of Harrison and Guernsey, and even a part of Carroll, County. In 1836, there were two grain warehouses at Uhrichsville, and the number afterward increased to five, each doing an extensive business. At first the grain was taken by boats, the flour by flat-boats, down the Still- water, Tuscarawas and Muskingum as far as Dresden, where a lock connected the river and canal, but about 1838 a lock was constructed at Trenton, and the commercial facilities of Uhrichsville thereby greatly increased. A number of canal boats were built here by George Wallick, and the village enjoyed all the advantages of a canal town, but the construction of the Steubenville & Indiana, now Pan Handle Railroad, completely sapped the vigor of the vil-

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lage hy depriving it of its trade. Numerous stations along the line became shipping points, and business at Uhrichsville ceased almost entirely. Property depreciated rapidly, and could be purchased for a mere fraction of its former value. The town had developed as a grain port, and when this was gone it was left a stranded, overgrown country town. Its growth was slight till the hum of the railroad shops was heard across Little Stillwater, when a new era of its existence began, which has rapidly advanced it in size, population and impor. tance. The construction of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad has assisted greatly in building that portion of the town which lies west of Still- water, and which was formerly called Edgefield, but is now included in the Uhrichsville incorporation.

A petition signed by John Milone and seventy-five other citizens of Uhrichs- ville, and dated June 5, 1866, was presented to the County Commissioners two days later, praying for the incorporation of the village. On the 13th of Au- gust, the day appointed for a hearing, the petition was granted, and the vil- lage as named and described was ordered to be organized. The first election was held November 10. 1866. John G. Price, William McCollams and David Hanley were the Judges on this occasion, and William V. Keepers and Will- iam H. Dempster, Clerks. One hundred and seventy-seven votes were cast. which for Mayor, Clerk and Council were divided as follows: For Mayor, John Milone, 114; John P. Brisbon, 61; for Clerk, Charles Ganzman, 98; Thomas J. Forbes, 71; W. A. Bovey, 4; William Wagstaff, 1; Councilmen, H. A. Redfield, 102: W. V. Keepers, 105; John C. Williams, 104; Elias Johnson. 91; John G. Price, 92; William Wagstaff, 69: G. W. Venblarcun, 71; Will iam McCollams, 77; William B. Thompson, 65; M. V. B. Haskins, 72; W H. Dempster, 15; George M: Warfel, 9; S. R. Thompson, 1; five councilmen were elected. The Mayors of the village, with terms of service, have been as follows: John Milone, from November, 1866, to April, 1867; W. B. Thomp- son, 1867 to 1869: John Milone, 1869 to 1870; M. Collier, 1870 to 1872; L. C. Ball, 1872 to 1874; E. A. Parrish, 1874 to 1880; L. C. Ball, 1880 to 1882; William Johnson. elected in 1882, now serving.

When Uhrichsville was laid out, a little district schoolhouse stood in that part of the present corporation called Edgefield, near the present schoolhouse, and here the first youth of the infant village received their instruction in the rudiments of education. William Russell, among others, wielded the ferule in this building. A few years later a small one-story frame schoolhouse was built on the east of Main street between Second and Third. Peter Mooney and Miss Melissa Myers were among the instructors who taught here. In 1852, this building was destroyed by fire, and for four years schools were kept in rooms leased for the purpose in different parts of town. In 1856, a large frame structure was erected at a cost of about $3,000 on the east side of Uhrich street, between Second and Third. Amos Warford was the first teacher here and taught until his death, which occurred about 1861. George Campbell was Principal three years later, and was succeeded by Mr. Poulson, who remained one year.

The Uhrichsville School District became an organized institution by the election of the following School Board in April, 1867: George M. Warfel and John Milone for one year; William Wagstaff and E. A. Parrish for two years; H. A. Redfield and George Hoffman for three years. The improved school system began its course with six departments. W. S. Poulson was elected Principal for one term at $60 per month; the remaining tive teachers received $33}. They were Miss Jennie Harris of the grammar school; Mrs. Smith, intermediate; Mrs. Warford, secondary; Miss Alma Johnson and Mrs. Myers, primary. W. T. Fry was elected Superintendent in the summer of 1867, at

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$60 per month. He was re-elected the following year at a salary of $80 per month. Dennison was then within the school district, and in 1868 the board took the necessary action to construct a school building there, 30x 52 feet in size, at a cost of about $4,500. The contract for its erection was awarded to John W. Baily. The enumeration of September, 1868, was as follows: White male children, 301; white female children, 333; colored male children, 9; colored female children, 9; total, 652. The records are imperfect, but as nearly as can be ascertained Mr. Fry continued Superintendent until 1870, when he was succeeded by John Tucker, who remained in charge several years. J. J. Rockwell served from 1873 to 1875, when Horace G. Welty was elected at a salary of $900, and superintended the schools for two years. W. H. Ray, the present Superintendent, was chosen in 1877 at a salary of $1,000 per year, and has since occupied this position. In May, 1874, the question of erecting a new building, at a probable cost of $25,000, was submitted to the voters who favored the proposition by a vote of 203 to 114. It was further decided to build on a new site by a vote of 160 to 133. At the same time a proposition to erect a schoolhouse on the west side prevailed by a vote of 116 to 96. It is a two-story brick, and cost about $4,000. For the main building a lot was selected on the northeast corner of Main and Sixth streets. The bid of W. F. Bricker to erect the new schoolhouse for $23,215 was accepted. Including the furnishing and other expenses the total cost has considerably ex- ceeded this amount. It is a large and handsome brick structure, containing twelve apartments. The present corps of teachers numbers fourteen, including the Superintendent. The School Board is constituted as follows: E. S. Col- lier, President; J. E. Groves, Secretary; T. D. Healea, Treasurer; D. C. Fos- ter, R. A. Allen and T. A. Packer.

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 61

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

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