The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 67

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

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Kennedy's Methodist Episcopal Meeting-House is situated in the western part of the township, near the north line of Section 17. Thomas Rankin, N. B. Kennedy, David Kennedy and Mr. Hitchcock were among the earlier members. The first church structure was erected about 1832. It was occupied about fifty years, and in 1882 gave place to the present house of worship, which cost about $1,800. Rev. John Beetham is pastor. The membership is not so large as formerly.

The Presbyterian Church, in the southern part of Section 25, near Still- water, was built about 1869. It is a large, handsome and well-finished frame structure. The Disciples, or Christians, formerly occupied a building upon the same lot. Among the early members were John Laurie, Silas Porter, John Hitchcock and Andrew Sproul. Rev. Cook, from Moorefield, Harrison County, was the first minister. He was succeeded by Rev. Grimm, Rev. I. N. Newcomb and others. Rev. Samuel Patterson, of Deersville, is the present Presbyterian minister. He has served the congregation for many years.

In the western part of Section 19, on Crooked Run, stands the Christian Union Church. A house of worship was first built in this locality by the neighboring settlers for a Baptist society, a somewhat feeble organization, among whose early members were Stephen Losey and John and William Crum. Rev. Gitchell, from Harrison County, was the first Baptist minister. He was followed by Revs. Wood, Thomas Jones, George Jones, Mayberry, and others. This society became very weak, and regular services were discontinued. By permission, a struggling band of Disciples occupied the house for a brief period, under the ministrations of Revs. White, Grimm, and others. The mem- bership was small, and included Brice Cochran and John Denning. Nearly twenty years ago a Christian Union society was formed, mainly through with- drawals from the Kennedy Methodist Church. David and N. B. Kennedy, John Linard, Matthew Kennedy, Mary Crum, the Vasbinders, besides others, were included in the early membership. Soon after organization, the society constructed the meeting-house, in which they have ever since maintained reg- nlar services. The society is not strong numerically. Rev. Shane was the last minister in charge.

The first election was held at the house of James Moore, in the spring of 1829. The Judges were N. B. Kennedy, Lewis Sanders and Prettyman Con-

Digitized by Google

630

HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

well. Michael I. Bennett acted as Clerk. The Justices of the Peace from that year to the present have been as follows: Joshua Davis, 1829; Lewis Sanders, 1829; Lewis Sanders, 1832; William C. Kennedy, 1832; William C. Kennedy, 1835; Lewis Sanders, 1835; William C. Kennedy, 1838; Lewis Sanders, 1838; Patrick Archbold, 1841; Lewis Sanders, 1841, resigned 1842: William C. Kennedy, 1842; James Milliken, 1844; Lewis Sanders, 1844; William Kennedy, 1845; Ezra Brainerd, 1847; Charles Turner. 1848; Lewis Sanders, 1847; Ezra Brainerd, 1850; James D. Buff, 1850; Joshua Davis, 1851; Hiram F. Bennett, 1852; Ezra Brainerd, 1853; Joshua Davis, 1854; James D. Huff, 1855; Ezra Brainerd, 1856; Hiram F. Bennett. 1856; Peter Heller, 1857; John Q. White, 1859; William C. Kennedy, 1859; Ezra Brain- erd, 1860; John Schooley, 1860; William C. Kennedy, 1862; Peter McCur. dy, 1864, resigned 1865; Andrew J. Wagstaff, 1865; W. H. McLaughlin, 1866; Laffer Caples, 1866; Isaiah Thompson, 1867; Wesley Kennedy, 1869; Wesley Kennedy, 1872; Thomas B. Rankin, 1874; Elza Parrish, 1875; James Barkley, 1877; Thomas B. Rankin, 1878; James Galbraith, 1880; Thomas B. Rankin, 1881.

Digitized by

Google .

MICHAEL EVANS

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

633

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XIV.

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES -- TOPOGRAPHY - SALEM -- MILLS - SETTLEMENT - MAGIS- TRATES -- WOLF'S STATION -- CHURCHES -- THE GLASGOW FURNACES- PORT WASHINGTON -- ITS GROWTH. INCORPORATION. SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, SOCIETIES AND INDUSTRIES.

ALEM was the name of a township of Muskingum County, and it included a large portion of the territory which was fashioned into Tuscarawas County in 1808. Immediately following the erection of this latter county, four townships were formed, of which Salem was one. It embraced the north half of Township 6 and Township 7, of Ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4, or all of present Bucks, Jefferson and Warwick, and fractions of Auburn, York, Mill, Rush, Clay and Salem, and of Adams Township, Coshocton County. The southern half of present Salem was then a portion of Oxford. As at present consti- tuted, the township includes all of Township 6, Range 3, besides the Salem Moravian tract and the west side of Township 6, Range 2. The first, second and third, or northeast, northwest and southwest quarters of Township 6, Range 3, are Congress land. The Salem tract occupies most of the territory, which would otherwise have been the fourth quarter of this township; the balance, however, is surveyed into 100-acre military lots. Of the two frac- tional quarters of Township 6, Range 2, embraced within Salem, the northern is part of a quarter consisting of 3,662 acres, which was entered by Godfrey Haga in 1800, and the southern a part of a quarter divided into 100-acre lots. The Salem tract was occupied by lessees until 1824, when it was surveyed into lots, some of which were sold at public sale by Judge Patrick, and returns of the balance made to the United States land office at Zanesville, where it was entered like Congress land.

The Tuscarawas River crosses the southeast portion of the township and supplies it with a broad, fertile valley. Buckhorn Creek courses through the western part of the township, and with its small tributaries pierce in all direc- tions the ranges of hills, and relieve their continuity of slopes with vales and valleys. The soil of the hill lands is sometimes clay and again of a sandy nature. The valleys are coated with a rich soil of dark loam. The entire surface was heavily wooded when the white race first entered. In the valleys were sugar-maple, oak, hickory, chestnut, beech, sycamore, black and white wal- nut, spice-wood and sassafras, and all varieties of timber common in these parts, while on the ridges, chestnut, oak and hickory predominated. The Cleveland & Marietta Railroad follows the valley of Buckhorn through the township, while the Pan Handle road and the Ohio Canal cross side by side along the Tuscarawas.

The ancient Moravian village Salem, occupied more than a century ago by Christian Delawares, was located in the Salem tract, Lot 12, about a mile southwest from Port Washington, near the west bank of the canal.

A grist mill stands on the Ohio Canal, about a fourth of a mile northeast from Port Washington. It was built thirty or more years ago by J. and J. Bremer. John Hartley in early times had a small "wet weather " mill in the W

Digitized by Google

634

HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

western part of Salem on Buckhorn, which was quite serviceable to the pio- neers of that vicinity. Milligan and Gaskill built a saw mill on Buckhorn in 1831 or 1832. Jonathan Wood, it is said, attempted to dam the Tuscarawas River, but the enterprise proved a disastrous financial failure.

The earliest settlements in what is now Salem Township was made in the Salem tract, and in the 4,000-acre tract northeast of it. The former, like the Gnadenhutten tract in Clay Township, was first occupied by a few Moravian emigrants from Pennsylvania, who leased farming lots on the tract usually for a term of thirty-three years. Isaac and Peter Good, two brothers, were here in 1804. They were from Virginia. Isaac, who was a blacksmith, first set- tled a short distance below Port Washington, and Peter on Buckhorn. David Williams and Aaron Cory were living on the Salem tract as early as 1802. the latter on the south side of the river. In 1804, Horatio Pettycoart arrived from North Carolina. Peter Weiland was a resident in 1804. David Sell was here in 1801, Anthony in 1802, Benjamin and his brother early, and Henry Sell in 1804 and probably earlier.

On the second quarter of Township 6, Range 2, entered by Godfrey Haga Conrad Bremer had located as early as 1802. He had been a Hessian soldier during the Revolution, but was captured by the Americans, and later in the struggle served under Washington. From Haga he received a title for ser- eral hundred acres of land about half a mile north of Port Washington, where he remained an industrious farmer till his death in old age. His descendants are still found in the township.

Godfrey Haga, Jr., was a nephew of the landed proprietor of the same name, who donated him several hundred acres of land in what is now Salen, and made him agent for the remainder. He was born in Virginia in 1783, and came out when quite a young man to attend to his own and his uncle's property. He possessed great intelligence, and was much given to medita- tion. One Sabbath he became insane on religion, and was taken to Philadel- phia in hopes of a restoration of his mental powers, but this availing nothing he was returned to the Tuscarawas Valley in the hope of improvement amid the quiet of the wilderness, and was cared for by an attendant until his death, which occurred in Clay Township, April 17, 1824. Elizabeth Cherry Holmes and John M. Rebstock, Sr., relatives of Godfrey Haga, owned and occupied farms in the same quarter in Salem Township. The latter was born at Esslin- gen, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1767, and died March 21, 1822. He is de- scribed as a clever, good-natured, easy-going man, with alcoholic proclivities.

Jesse Hill, a Virginian, emigrated to the Tuscarawas Valley in 1806, and leased land in the southern part of the Salem tract, east of the river. In 1824, he purchased Lot 13 of this tract, where he lived till his death in 1844. A son, Isaac, dwells on the home place, and two other sons reside in the township. Charles Hill, brother of Jesse, came about the same time, leased and settled Lot 8 of the Salem tract, and remained a life-long resident of the township.

The Carrs were among the foremost pioneers of the county. The ledger of David Peter of Gnadenhutten indicates that Thomas and John Carr were in the county in 1800. The tax duplicate of 1809 for Salem Township includes the following Carrs: Aquilla, Sr., Aquilla, Jr., John, William, Joshua, Thomas, James and Benjamin. Aquilla Carr was not only an early, but he was a prominent pioneer, serving as one of the first Associate Judges of the county. He hailed originally from Maryland, lived for a while on the Ohio at Wellsville, then journeyed to the Tuscarawas, and purchased land in the sec- ond quarter of Township 6, Range 2, about a half mile north of Port Wash- ington. After a pioneer life of several years, he sold his property and removed

Digitized by Google

635

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

to near Wooster, Ohio. Returning to Dover, he bought land on Sugar Creek, which he exchanged with Judge James Clark, and settled, prior to 1820, on Lot 35, adjoining Port Washington on the east. His children were William, a great hunter; Richard and Thomas, both of whom died in Port Washington; Mary, wife of Jacob Good, and Susan, wife of Charles Hill. Aquilla Carr was a zealous Methodist. He was a farmer, and died in this township. His grandson Aquilla, now one of the oldest settlers of the township, resides oppo. site Port Washington. James Carr, son of Joshua, who was a brother of Aquilla and lived on Sugar Creek, died at Port Washington, after a long resi- denco in the primitive forest, a short distance northeast of Port Washington.

James Worth, who came from Cadiz, and was only a leaser of land, was here as early a: 1804. Richard Worth, his brother, came in 1805, or before, and settled on Buckhorn. He entered and occupied the northeast quarter of Section 24. Joseph Hartley was also one of the earliest settlers on Buckhorn Creek. Joseph and Barbara Walgemuth came in 1805, or sooner, and settled about two miles north of Port Washington. They were Methodists. Benja- min Iler was one of the early settlers in the eastern part of the township south of the river. He died there, and his family is widely scattered. Barney Rile, was one of the first in the southern part of the Salem tract. David Johnson, John Pearce and William Henry settled in the river valley. Judge James Clark was here among the earliest, but he soon after removed elsewhere and little is known of his history. He was a zealous Methodist, and the first camp meeting in the county was held on his farm.

John Orwig, from Pennsylvania, bought and dwelt on the farm of James Carr, northeast of Port Washington, prior to 1820, and afterward moved West. Jacob Romig, also from Pennsylvania, lived on his farm in the same locality, and he, too, came before 1820. Andrew. Christian and Adam Stocker, brothers, from Northampton County, Penn., emigrated in 1816 to the fine farming lands in the valley northeast of Port Washington, and there passed the re- mainder of their lives. Daniel, a brother to them, settled about a mile south- west of the village, but later in life, migrated with his family to Iowa, where he soon after died.

The western part of the township was sparsely settled until after the canal was built. Among the early comers were a few Germans, and that nationality is now strongly represented in the township.

The following list of Township Justices is not complete for the first few years. Names of officers are also included who resided in territory which at the time of their service belonged to Salem, but is now a part of some adjoin- ing township: Boaz Walton, 1808; Boaz Walton, 1811; Boaz Walton, 1817; Boaz Walton, 1823; Joshua Davis, 1823; Richard B. Carr, 1828, resigued same year; George W. Fankboner, 1832; Lewis Roberts, 1832; John Knight, 1834; George W. Fankboner, 1835; John Knight, 1837; George W. Fankboner, 1838; Dorsey Wilson, 1839; Thomas Moore, 1840; George W. Fankboner, 1841; Dorsey Wilson, 1842; Thomas Moore, 1843; Albert T. Cross, 1846; Thomas Moore, 1846; George W. Dingman, 1847; William B. Henton, 1849, resigned 1850; Allen Gaskill, 1847; George W. Dingman, 1850; Dor- sey Wilson, 1850, resigned 1850; Uriah T. Cross, 1850; John S. Newton, 1852, resigned 1853; John Buchanan, 1853; George W. Dingman, 1853; Ben- jamin Ross, 1853; Uriah T. Cross, 1855; Adam Ross, 1856; George W. Ding- man, 1856; Francis Cunningham, 1856; John A. Roenbaugh, 1858; Francis Cunningham, 1859; George W. Dingman, 1859; John A. Roenbaugh, 1861; G. W. Dingman, 1862; L. A. Cornett, 1862; John A. Roenbaugh, 1864; L. A. Cornett, 1865; John A. Roenbaugh, 1867; E. Blampied, 1868, resigned 1869; H. H. Porter, 1869; John A. Roenbangh, 1870; H. H. Porter, 1872;

Digitized by Google

636

HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

John Roenbaugh, 1873; Wilson J. Haskinson, 1875; John A. Roenbangh 1876; W. J. Haskinson, 1878; Louis A. Cornett, 1879; L. A. Cornett, IS:

Wolf's Station, on the Cleveland & Marietta Railroad, as laid out by Enoch G. Wolf in 1874, consisted of twenty building lots on Buckhorn stres: and twenty-one small business lots on Center street, with a square in the cen- ter, an addition of twenty-two lots, located on the north and south extension: of Buckhorn street, was made by the proprietor in 1875. As yet the village consists of but half a dozen dwellings. Dr. Enoch G. Wolf is the store-keep- er and station agent. 'Two churches are situated here-the Salem Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Protestant.

The Salem Methodist Episcopal society has a membership of about seventy. five, in charge of Rev. W. C. Endly, of Newcomerstown. The present church building was erected about 1869, and has recently been repaired. The society is an old one, Peter Gaskil being an early member. The old meeting-house stood a short distance south of Wolf's Station.

Wolf's Methodist Protestant Church is a new frame building, 32x46 fex erected in the summer of 1883. The society was organized with about thirty members soon after the village was laid out, and meetings were held in : large building in the village, used as a hall, until the completion of the church. Enoch G. Wolf, Thomas Porter, Casper Hosfelt, Leonard Hart ani Jacob Baringer were early members. The membership is at present about fifty. Rev. I .. Boman is pastor.

Several Methodist Episcopal societies flourished in a former day in the northwestern part of the township, but all are now defunct. Among them were Bethel Church and Hopewell. The latter had a large membership, in. cluding, among its earliest, John and Samuel Miller, Thomas Nelson, Mr Daugherty, John Early and Mr. Lukens.

In the southeastern part of the township, in the extreme southwestern corner of Military Lot 31, is the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church. a frame structure, erected in 1868, at a cost of about $2,200. The society of this edifice is a very old one, and for many years met at the houses of Isaac Hill and others. A log sanctuary was then constructed, preceding the present edifice. Hubbard and Isaac Hill and Mr. Norris were early members. Rews Parker Williams, John W. Minor and Mills were among its pioneer preachers. The society is a member of Liberty Circuit, which includes besides, this Liberty appointment in Guernsey County, People's Church in Oxford Township and Wesley Chapel in Washington Township. Rev. W. L. Timberlake is the present pastor. About seventy names are enrolled on the membership of Centenary.

An unsuccessful attempt at village making was made in 1836 by Peter Everhart. In that year he laid out the plat of Rockingham in the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 6, Range 3. It included twenty lots, four streets and numerous alleys.

Perhaps the most costly enterprise that has ever been undertaken in Tus- carawas County was the erection of the Glasgow blast furnaces twelve years ago. The failure of the works resulted in an enormous pecuniary loss, which was borne, however, not by citizens of Tuscarawas County, but by Scotch cap- italists. Fifteen or more years ago, about eight residents of Mansfield, Obio. organized the Port Washington Coal Company, and purchased from Dr. Hugh Nelson, of Port Washington, 550 acres of coal lands, situated in the southern part of Salem Township. They commenced mining coal on an extensive scale. but the coal proved to be of an inferior quality, and in consequence the mines could be operated only at a loss. A Mr. Cherry was sent to Scotland to sell the lands. Taking with him samples of iron ore, he interested a number of

Digitized by Google

637

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

Glasgow gentlemen, and sold to them the tract of 550 acres for £22,000. These gentlemen, in the winter of 1871-72, organized the Glasgow & Port Washing- ton Iron & Coal Company, with a capital stock of $25,000, £10 shares, for the purpose of erecting and operating iron furnaces. An additional tract of 315 acres was purchased from Dr. Nelson for $50,000. In the winter of 1871, three men were sent from Scotland to the field to prepare the works-Andrew Croxton as draughtsman, Archibald Baird as furnace manager, and William B. Rennie, now a resident of New Philadelphia, as mineral manager. Mr. Rennie spent ten months in drilling for ore, and in the fall of 1872 the work of cutting stone for the foundation of the furnaces was commenced. Two years were required for their completion. The works were formally opened August 14, 1874, with great eclat, and the furnaces commenced blowing Sep- tember 2 following. Mr. Croxton returned home on the completion of his labors, Baird was recalled, and William B. Rennie placed in charge of the works. The total cost of the two furnaces, including the canal bridge and about one and one- fourth miles of standard railroad track, was $750,000. Over 2,000,000 bricks were laid in the walls; the bosh breadth was 17} feet, the height of the stack was 70 feet, and of the flue 125 feet. There were two steam engines of 84-inch cylinder, put in motion by two batteries of four boilers each. The water was conveyed through pipes from the canal, three-fourths of a mile distant, and a reservoir of 125,000 gallons of water was constructed.

Under the management of William B. Rennie, the works were operated about two years, only one of the two furnaces being used, and during that time 25,000 tons of iron were produced. The principal ore used was the black-band, mined by the company. Some Lake Superior and some mountain ore, the latter obtained chiefly from Buckhorn Creek, were also utilized. No coal was used, and the coke was brought from Connellsville, Penn. The qual- ity of the iron may be surmised from the fact that at the Centennial Exposi- tion it was awarded the premium over many competitors as the best iron made in Ohio. Owing to the general depression in the irou market, all the products of the furnace were not sold, and in consequence of the failure of the works to yield sufficient dividends on the large capital invested, they were suspended in the autumn of 1876. Twice afterward, the furnaces were again placed in operation, but each time under a different management, and each time for a few months only. In the winter of 1880, they closed permanently, and the works were sold to Pittsburgh iron men for $67,000, and removed from the county. The company owned in all about 1.200 acres of land, having made several small purchases after organization. It also had leased at one time about 1,000 acres of land in addition. The land was sold in small tracts and at various times at an immense sacrifice, usually at from about $25 to $30 per acre.

The furnaces were situated in the eastern part of Lot 26, of the Salem tract. Adjoining them, on Lots 7 and 8, Robert Hill, in 1873, laid out the village of Glasgow. , It consisted of forty lots, ranged in two tiers, on the north side of Main street. In 1874, the proprietor made an addition of thirty- nine lots, and the year following one of twenty-two lots. In 1875, Hill & Porter also laid out Lots 101 to 120 inclusive. The village prospered as long 88 the works were carried on, and at one time contained two stores and a popula- tion of probably 450. It has since dwindled into complete insignificance.

The ill success of the furnaces may be attributed, at least in part, to the enormous price paid for the land, the unfavorable location of the works, and mismanagement in Scotland. At one time about 350 men were employed, most of them being miners and laborers. Some ore is now mined on the land formerly owned by this company, and is shipped to furnaces at Youngstown, Ohio.

Digitized by Google

638

HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

Port Washington is situated in the eastern part of the township and in the northeastern corner of the Salem tract. It is a very pleasantly located vil- lage, and in 1880 contained a population of 634. In 1840, it had but 116 ir- habitants; in 1850, 260; and in 1870, 425. Like a number of other villages its origin was due to the construction of the Ohio Canal. John Knight. its proprietor, came to the township from Antrim, Harrison County, for the pru- pose of constructing a mill, it is said, across the river, just above the bridge. near Port Washington. He was stricken with fever and gave up the project. Soon after, he laid out the town, calling it Salisbury. He opened a store and built a warehouse, purchased and finished a tavern that had been commenced by Thomas Moore, was inn keeper for many years, and then removed to the "Stark patent," Oxford Township, where he engaged in farming. Charles Hill and Richard Carr built the first houses in the newly-started village. The former had been a farmer, but moved to the village site and opened in his dwelling house the first store in the place. He engaged in the grain and prod. uce trade until he failed in business. He built a canal boat on the street. was afterward a canal contractor, removed to Cincinnati and died in Tennes- see. His family now reside at Terre Haute, Ind. Richard Carr, son of Aquilla Carr, first started a store at the lock, about a half mile above the vil- lage, and afterward kept a station for the canal men at Port Washington. where he died of cholera. Benjamin Carr, son of James Carr, kept the first tavern. It stood near the tow-path of the canal on the corner, west of Main street. Thomas J. Gibbings was the first blacksmith. John Allen taught one of the earliest schools.

Port Washington, or Salisbury, as it was originally called, was laid out in 1827 on Lot 21 of the Salem tract. The plat covered land on both sides of the canal and included fifty-two lots. Two years later, the plat of Salisbury was materially altered, and after revision contained sixty- five lots. In 1832. the plat was again remodeled, and the number of lots became seventy-three. In 1838, Mr. Knight made an extensive addition. Lots 74 to 124, fifty-one in number, were laid out to the northwest, and eleven lots, 125 to 135. to the southeast of the village. Lewis H. Fromm's Addition was surveyed in 1867. It comprised nineteen lots, situated on High and St. Clairsville streete. Charles Boss, in 1868, made an addition of twenty-seven lots north of St. Clairsville street and partly without the Salem tract. Adam Stocker made an addition of forty-four lots in 1873, on Furnace, Canby and Arch streets. William Armstrong added thirty-seven lots in the same year on St. Clairsville. Reno, High and Railroad streets, Samuel Slade and Benedict Gross, in 1874. laid out an addition of thirty-six lots on Main and Arch streets.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 67

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

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