CHAPTER XXVII.
YORK TOWNSHIP.
THE FIRST ELECTION-THE BATTLE OF CAPTINA-THE FIRST SQUATTERS-AN INDIAN VILLAGE--ANOTHER INDIAN MASSACRE-THE EARLY MILLS AND DISTILLERIES-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION-POWHATAN-TOWN OFFICIALS-THE FLOUR MILLS-THE SCHOOLS-THE CHURCHES-FREE MASONS-THE FERRIES.
THE FIRST ELECTION.
The first court of Belmont County, which was held at Pultney (the first county seat), appointed a commission, consisting of Michael Moore, John Dillie and Ephraim Bates to act as supervisors of York township, and this commission ordered the first election to be held in 1802.
The court had in the meantime defined the boundaries of York, which have been elsewhere described, and appointed Samuel Dillie as constable, and the first township election was held in the home of James Smith.
York township has been the scene of some of the bloodiest conflicts in Indian warfare. Before the occupation by the whites, a cruel massacre of the Indians at the mouth of the Captina was one of the causes of the disastrous war of Governor Dunmore in 1774.
THE BATTLE OF CAPTINA.
Twenty years later occurred the disastrous and bloody battle of Captina, as related in "Howe's Historical Collection :"
"One mile below the mouth of Captina, on the Virginia shore, was Baker's fort, so named after Martin Baker, from whose lips the author obtained this narrative.
"One morning in May, 1794, four men were sent over, according to the custom, to the Ohio side to reconnoiter. They were Adam Miller, John Daniels, Isaac McGowan and John Shoptaw. Miller and Daniels took up stream and the other two down. The upper scouts were soon attacked by Indians and Miller was killed. Daniels ran up Captina about three miles, but, being weak from the loss. of blood issuing from a wound in his arm, was taken prisoner and carried into captivity and subsequently released at the treaty of Greenville.
"The lower scouts having discovered signs of the enemy, Shoptaw swam across the Ohio and escaped, but McGowan going up toward the canoe was shot by the Indians in ambush. Upon this he ran down to the bank, and sprang into the water, pursued by the enemy, who overtook and scalped him.
"The firing being heard at the fort, they beat up for volunteers. There were about 50 men in the fort. There being much reluctance among them to volunteer, my sister exclaimed that she wouldn't be a coward. This aroused the pride of my brother, John Baker, who before had determined not to go. He joined the others, 14 in number, including Capt. Abraham Enochs.
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"They soon crossed the river, and went up Captina in single file, a distance of a mile and a half, following the Indian trail. The enemy had come back on their trail, and were in ambush on the hillside awaiting their approach.
"When sufficiently near, they fired upon our people, but, being on an elevated position, their balls passed harmlessly over the latter. The whites then treed. Some of the Indians came behind, and shot Captain Enochs and Mr. Hoffman. Our people soon retreated, and the Indians pursued but a short distance. On their retreat my brother was shot in the hip. Determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, he drew off to one side and secreted himself in a hollow, with a rock at his back offering no chance for the enemy to approach but in front. Shortly after two guns were heard in quick succession. Doubtless one of them was fired by my brother and from the signs afterward it was supposed he had killed the Indian.
"The next day the men turned out and visited the spot. Enochs, Hoffman and John Baker were found dead and scalped. Enoch's bowels were torn out and his eyes and those of Hoffman screwed out with a wiping stick.
"The dead were wrapped in white hickory bark and brought over to the Virginia shore and buried in their bark coffins. There were about 30 Indians engaged in this action and seven skeletons of their slain were found long after, secreted in the crevices of rocks."
McDonald in his biographical sketch of Governor McArthur, who was in the action, says that after the death of Captain Enochs, McArthur, although the youngest man in the company, was unanimously called upon to direct a retreat.
The wounded who were able to walk were placed in front, while McArthur with his Spartan band covered their retreat. The moment an Indian showed himself in pursuit he was fired upon and generally, it is believed, with effect. The Indians were so severely handled that they gave up the pursuit.
The Indians were commanded by the Shawnee chief, Charlie Wilkie. He told the author of this narrative that the battle of Captina wasthe most severe conflict he ever witnessed, and, although he had the advantage of the ground and the first fire, he lost the most of his men, half of them having been either killed or wounded.
THE FIRST SQUATTERS.
Soon after the battle of Captina, squatters began to pour in and build rude cabins. These settlers were unstable and removed farther into the interior as the country opened up. It was only those who purchased tracts of land that were stable and industrious. Many of the squatters were indolent and careless. Among the first permanent settlers we might mention the Brices, the Hoffmans and Lemleys, in 1801. The DeLongs and Okeys in 1802. McVey, Bakers, Doteys, Swaneys, Bristers, Collins and Aldredge in 1803. Brewer, Minse, Davis, Rouble and Gates, in 1804. Stackhouser, Neffsinger, Cree, Browns, Thomas, Hoffman, Gilkesons, in 1805. Waller, Baker, Way, Vanschoup. Mills, Stokey, in 1806; and Shepherd, Moore, Gray. Powell, Dillon,, McKnight, Green, and Woods in 1815.
AN INDIAN VILLAGE.
In early days, an Indian village was located in section 32, some miles back of the river. On the banks of the Captina and on the settlement of the Brysons an unusual number of grape vines were discovered, and the soil was beaten hard in places, as if formerly the homes and streets of an Indian village. Skeletons, Indian arrows in great numbers, Indian pipes and engravings on rocks were found in abundance. General Washington in his trip down the Ohio in 1770 makes mention of this village as a trading post.
ANOTHER INDIAN MASSACRE.
McDonald in his biography of Governor McArthur has this to say of the killing of six men by the Indians in 1795 :
"Lieut. Duncan McArthur and a posse of men, numbering in all a dozen, were stationed at the block-house on the lands of Robert
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Kirkwood, near the mouth of Indian Wheeling Creek.
"One morning they noticed a young Indian dodging along not far from the fort among the trees. He had been sent by a body of Indians who had ambushed about three miles below, on the banks of the Ohio River, to decoy the soldiers from the fort. As soon as he was discovered, Lieutenant McArthur and his men started out to catch him.
"They followed him as he ran down the river about three miles to where the Indians had secreted themselves, when 15 of the redskins fired into their company, killing six of their number instantly. So unexpected was the attack that the remaining six, completely bewildered, turned and retreated, McArthur behind.
"As he turned his head, to take in the situation, his foot caught in a grape vine, and he was sent sprawling on his face just as the Indians fired a volley of bullets after him, and the limbs and leaves dropped all around him. He regained his feet and started at full speed following the course of his men. He was closely pursued by the savages, but he being very_ swift of foot, they soon gave up the chase, and he reached the block-house in safety.
"Later in the day the soldiers returned to the spot in stronger numbers, and buried their dead."
THE EARLY MILLS AND DISTILLERIES.
The first grist mill was erected as early as 1804 upon Cat's Run by George Gates. In 1822 Judge Dillon built an improved mill about five miles above the mouth of the Captina and in connection with the grist mills he operated a sawmill. These were probably the first mills operated in the township. This mill is today known as the Potts' Mills, with a capacity of 50 barrels per day, and is reported as the only water mill in the county. The mill-race, through which flows the water for the operation of the mill, passes through a hill tunnel, 300 feet in length.
In early days York township was noted for the number of its distilleries. As early as 1818a distillery was erected on section 15 by a Mr. Shepler, and a number were erected at a later period, but in 1880 all the distilleries in the county were abandoned except one conducted by John Ramser in York township, which is still in operation.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION.
The earliest record we have of township officials in York is in 1808, and is as follows : Clerk, Ed. Bryson; treasurer, Joseph Martin; trustees,—Uriah Martin, Abel Brown and Ed. Bryson; constable, William Atkinson; fence viewers,—John Brown and James Barrett; lister, Uriah Martin.
The township officers in 1902 are : Trustees,—David McIntire, William Johnson and George Gillespie; clerk, George Boner; treasurer, H. J. Zink; assessor, Everett Balieu; justices of the peace,—A. A. Caldwell and John Eggerman.
The population of the township in 1900 was 1,400, a loss of 58 in the last decade. However, the value of personal property on the tax duplicate for 1902 is $193,270 as against $155,584 in 1901, revealing a gain of $37,686, while the tax levy has been reduced from 2.11 in 1901 to 1.89 in 1902.
SOME INFLUENTIAL CITIZENS.
Some of the influential men of York township of modern times are the Disques, Swifts, Days, Ramseys, Craigs, Brices, Warrens, Trimbles, Carles and Givens.
POWHATAN
Is the leading village in the township, and is located on the Ohio River at the mouth of the Captina. The village was surveyed by Dr. DeHaas in 1849. Thirty years previous, however, the first building was erected by a grandson of Archibald Woods, one of the pioneer settlers. The building was used for a store.
The first hotel was a log house built in 1825, and known as the "Point House." The first brick buildings were built by the Roger
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Brothers and were afterward known as the "Powhatan Flour Mills and Woolen Factory."
Twenty years ago, the village was quite a shipping point for grain and produce, and contained a population of 300. In 1890 the village was incorporated and in 1902 it had a population of about 600.
The present postmaster is Jacob Boger, who was preceded by H. J. Zink.
TOWN OFFICIALS.
The following are the officers of the town : mayor and attorney, George Arnold ; town clerk, J. A. Fish; councilmen, — G. W. Wright, Ed. Thomas, Frank Ricker, Thomas Stewart, J. W. Ramsey and Albert Sauer.
THE FLOUR MILLS.
The Powhatan Mills as heretofore referred to was the first brick building constructed in the town by the Boger Brothers. It has since passed through various hands and been remodeled until it is today owned and operated by Ferdinand Dorsey, with a capacity of loo barrels daily, and employs four men.
THE SCHOOLS.
There is no record of the first schools established, but the first log structure especially constructed for school purposes was erected at a very early day on section 16.
In Powhatan the school building is of brick with four rooms and an attendance of about 150. The superintendent is Henry Briggs; assistant superintendent, Miss Mary Cox; assistant, Charity Myers; primary department, Eula Fish. The School Board consists of R. L. Bowman, president ; S. S. Reamer, treasurer ; Lou Ruble, clerk ; and James Richison and John K. Goodhue.
There is mention made of another school building erected in 1836-37 near Powhatan Point and it is said to have been a small frame structure.
There are in the township seven school districts and one special district all of which are frame buildings save the one in Powhatan.
THE CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church.—The first church of this denomination at Powhatan was started early in the Civil War under the pastorate of Rev. David Trueman. The society was weak and for a time met in the Presbyterian Church. In 1862 Rev. Josiah Dillon was appointed pastor in charge and during his pastorate the church continued to worship in the Presbyterian Church. The next pastor was Rev. Mr. Gregg, during whose administration a neat brick church was erected and the society worshiped in their own building.
Rev. Mr. Gregg was blessed with a gracious revival during his ministry, and many were added to the church.
In the construction of the new church, Mrs. McMurry who still resides at Powhatan and Mrs. Baer solicited funds to the amount of $1,000, and Joseph Green supplemented that amount with a personal contribution of $800. Mr. Green was an active and influential supporter of the church, and Sunday-school superintendent for many years. The present pastor is Rev. Lee LePage, and the Sunday-school superintendent is John Eggerman. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 100.
The Powhatan Presbyterian Church was organized in 1850. The pastor in 1901 and 1092 was Rev. W. A. Williams, formerly of Franklin College. It is at present without a pastor and we were unable to obtain a list of the officials.
FREE MASONS.
Moriah Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M., was organized at Jacobsburg October 20, 1840, and is consequently one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the county. The date of the charter was 1842. The charter officers were : John A. Weyer, W. M.; John W. Calvert, S. W ; and Isaac S. Hoopes, J. W.
The membership today is 38 and the officers for 1902 are : J. E. Gibson, W. M.; Dr. S. S.
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Reamer, S. W.; A. B. Ricker, J. W.; A. G. Bonar, treasurer ; F. A. Gibson, secretary ; J. E. Bennett, S. D.; C. E. Green, J. D.; and John Ricker, tyler. Among the past masters are : W. C. Bergundthall, Dr. S. S. Reamer and J. E. Gibson.
THE FERRIES
Of Powhatan are owned and operated by E. R. Potts, and are constantly in operation when navigation will admit of it. Mr. Potts is likewise the postmaster at Captina.