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History of Athens County, Ohio - 143 CHAPTER V. Athens County. The county of Athens was established by the following act: "An act establishing the County of Athens. SECTION I. Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the county of Washington as is contained in the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, which shall be known by the name of Athens, viz : beginning at the southwest corner of township number ten, range seventeen; thence easterly with the line between Gallia and Washington counties, to the Ohio river ; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Hockhocking river ; thence up the said Hockhocking river to tbe east line of township number six, of the twelfth range ; thence north on said line to the northeast corner of the eighth township, in the said twelfth range ; thence west to the east line of Fairfield county ; thence south on said county line and the line of Ross county, to the place of beginning. SEC. II. That from and after the first day of March next, the said county of Athens shall be vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of a separate and distinct county : provided always, that all actions and suits which may be pending 144 - Athens County. on the said first day of March next, shall be prosecuted and carried into final judgment and execution, and all taxes, fees, fines, and forfeitures, which shall be then due, shall be collected in the same manner as if this act had never been passed. SEC. III. That the seat of justice for said county, is hereby established in the town of Athens, any law to the contrary not withstanding. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the first day of March next." [Passed February 20th, 1805.] The county as thus established in 1805, contained one thousand and fifty-three square miles, or about thirty regular surveyed townships, and included five townships now belonging to Meigs county, viz: Columbia, Scipio, Bedford, Orange, and Olive townships; two now belonging to Morgan county, viz : Homer and Marion ; three now belonging to Hocking county, viz: Ward, Green, and Starr ; and Seven now belonging to Vinton, viz : Brown, Swan, Elk, Madison, Knox, Clinton, and Vinton townships ; and a Strip of land about ten miles long and one mile wide now belonging to Washington county. By an act passed January 30th, 1807, entitled " an act to alter the boundary line between the counties of Athens and Gallia," a strip about ten miles long and one mile wide, was added to the southeast corner of Athens county as it then existed. By an act passed February 18th, 1807, entitled "an act altering the line between the counties of Washington and Athens," the boundary History of Athens County, Ohio - 145 of Athens was changed so as to take in the portion of Troy township lying east of the Hockhocking river ; and the same act detached a strip one mile wide and fifteen miles long, lying along the eastern border of Rome, Bern, and Marion townships, from Athens county, and added it to Washington. By an act passed February loth, 1814, Sections thirty-one and thirty-two in township number six, range eleven (Rome) were detached from Washington and added to Athens, and Sections eleven and twelve in township number eight, range twelve (now Marion township, Morgan county), were detached from Athens and added to Washington. The creation of the county of Jackson by act of January 12, 1816, took township number ten, range seventeen (now Clinton township, Vinton county), from Athens. The creation of the county of Hocking by act of January 3, 1818, took parts of three townships (Green and Starr, of Hocking, and Brown, of Vinton county), from Athens; and by an act of March 12th, 1845, entitled " an act to attach part of the county of Athens to the county of Hocking," the residue of those townships was stricken off. The creation of the county of Meigs, January 21, 1819, took five townships from Athens and reduced our Southern boundary to its present limits. By an act passed March 11, 1845, the townships of Homer and Marion were detached from Athens and added to Morgan county. Finally, the erection of the county of Vinton by act passed March 146 - Athens County. 23, 1850, took the remainder of our outlying possessions in that direction, and the same act detached Ward township from Athens and gave it to Hocking, thus reducing our boundaries all around to their present limits. The present boundaries of the county include about four hundred and eighty-four square miles. An act of the legislature, passed February 13th, 1804, entitled "an act establishing boards of commissioners," provided that the election for commissioners should be held on the first Monday of the next April. The first election in Athens county resulted in the choice of Silas Dean, William Howlett and John Corey, commissioners. We quote from the record of the first board of commissioners: " County of Athens, State of Ohio, April 16th, 1805. Agreeably to an act entitled ' an act establishing boards of commissioners,' passed February the 13th, We, Silas Dean, Wm. Howlett and John Corey, being elected commissioners for the county of Athens on the 13th day of April, 1805, Silas Dean and John Corey, agreeably to appointment, met this day in order to proceed to business, and have made choice of John Corey for clerk, and then proceeded to divide the county into the following townships : The township of Ames begins at the N. E. corner of the county, thence running W. to the N. W. corner of said county ; thence S. to the S. W. corner of township No. 12 in the 16th range; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 7 in the 12th range ; thence N. to the place of beginning. The township of Athens begins at the N. W. corner of township No. 12 in the 17th range, thence S. to the S. W. corner History of Athens County, Ohio - 147 of township No. 12; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 5 in the 13th range ; thence N. to the N. E. corner of the aforesaid township No. 5 ; thence West to the place of beginning. The township of Alexander begins at the N. W. corner of township No. 11 in the 17th range, thence South to the S. W. corner of township No. 10 in the aforesaid 17th range; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 3 in the 13th range ; thence N. to the N. E. corner of township No. 4 in the 13th range; thence W. to the place of beginning. The township of Troy begins at the S. W. corner of township No. 4 in the 12th range, thence East on the south line of the county until it intersects with Shade river ; thence down Shade river to its junction with the Ohio ; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Hockhocking ; thence up the Hockhocking to where the eastern line of the 12th range crosses said river; thence N. to the N. E. corner of township No. 6 in the 12th range ; thence W. to the N. W. corner of the aforesaid 6th township; thence S. to the place of beginning. By a majority of the board of commissioners Alvan Bingham was appointed treasurer for the county of Athens. April 17th. said Bingham's bonds executed and accepted." [Here follow proposals and specifications for the building of a log jail and jailor's house, the jail to be 24. feet long in the clear and 13 feet wide, with minute descriptions of every part; but our space does not allow their insertion.] " The board of commissioners have appointed John Armstrong's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of Alexander township ; John Havner's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of Athens township ; Ebenezer Buckingham's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of 148 - Athens County. Troy township, and Sylvanus Ames' house as the first place of meeting for the electors of Ames." [This session of the board lasted from the 16th to the 19th of April. William Howlett joined the other commissioners on the 17th. Their compensation was $1.50 per day, and the expense of this, the first meeting of the board, was $19.25. They adjourned till the Second Monday of June, 1805.] "The board met agreeably to adjournment on the second Monday of June and proceeded to levy the county tax, and made out one duplicate for the township of Ames, one for Athens and Alexander, and one for Troy. In conformity to the 11th section of an act for granting tavern licenses, ferriages, &c., passed at Chillicothe the 1st day of February, 1805, Resolved by the Board of Commissioners, That the price of licenses for ferries crossing the Ohio within this county shall be two dollars. The rates for crossing said river shall be as the law prescribes in the aforesaid 11th section. Resolved, That the license for ferries crossing the Great Hockhocking river shall be two dollars. The rate of ferriage of the same shall be as follows, viz : For each foot passenger, three cents ; for man and horse, ten cents; for loaded wagon and team, fifty cents; for every other four-wheeled carriage, or empty wagon and team, thirty-seven and one-half cents; for every loaded cart and team, thirty-seven and a half cents ; for every loaded sled, or sleigh, or empty cart and team, twenty-five cents ; for every empty sled, or sleigh and team, twelve and a half cents; for every horse, mare, mule, or ass, and every head of neat cattle, six cents; for sheep and hogs, three cents. Resolved, That all other ferries within the county shall be one History of Athens County, Ohio - 149 dollar for license, and the rates of ferriage shall be as above prescribed on the Hockhocking. Resolved, That the license for taverns in the town of Athens shall be eight dollars ; for the township of Ames, four dollars; for the township of Troy, five dollars; and for the township of Alexander, four dollars and a half. For the township of Athens, the price of a tavern license shall be six dollars. The tax assessed on the township of Ames is thirty-nine dollars, as appears by the duplicate ; the tax assessed on the townships of Athens and Alexander is ninety-six dollars and forty cents, as appears by the duplicate ; the tax assessed on the township of Troy is twenty-two dollars and twenty cents, as appears by the duplicate. The total amount of all the taxes assessed in the county of Athens is one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and sixty cents. The petition of David Watkins and others for a road, after being read, was rejected, it not being according to law. The petition of William Young and others for a road, after being read, was rejected, it not being according to law. The petition of H. Castle and others praying for a road, after being read, was rejected, not being according to law. The petition of Daniel Weethee and others for the division of the township of Ames was not acceded to. The petition of Elijah Hatch and others praying for the erection of a new township in this county was not acceded to. County of Athens to Josiah True. Dr. For services by him done in the township of Ames, listing tax - able property in the year 1805,---- $5.30 County of Athens to Stephen Buckingham. Dr. For services done in listing taxable property in the township of Troy, in the year 1805,---- 5.00 County of Athens to George Shidler. Dr. For services done in listing taxable property in the townships of Athens and Alexander, in the year 1805, — 8.00 The total amount for listing and returning is $18 30. 150 - Athens County. Resolved, by the Board of Commissioners, that John Corey shall receive twelve dollars for his services as clerk for this board during the time the said board elected him for. WHEREAS, It appears by a more mature deliberation to the board, that the resolution passed by them the 19th of April last, fixing the place for the first meeting of the electors of the township of Ames, is a grievance, and that the same should be changed, and for that purpose it is Resolved, by the board, that the place for the first meeting of the electors of the aforesaid township of Ames, is the dwelling house of Nathan Woodbury. The County of Athens. Dr. To William Howlett, Silas Dean, and John Corey for four days' services, each, as commissioner, seven dollars each, - $28 00 Adjourned till the second Tuesday of July. July 9th, 1805.—William Howlett and John Corey met, pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded, after a more mature deliberation, to strike out the price of license for the town plat of Athens. WHEREAS, It appears on more mature deliberation by the Board of Commissioners that the petition of David Watkins and others praying for a road to be laid out from Asahel Cooley's to Henry Cassel's mill was done according to law, the said board have appointed George Shidler, Henry Shidler, and Charles Weeks to view said road. The petition of William Young and others praying for a road to be laid out from Athens toward Lancaster, that was rejected, is now considered according to law, and the Board of Commissioners have appointed Arthur Coates, George Shidler, and Robert Ross to view said road. It appearing to the board on more mature deliberation that the petition of Henry Cassell and others praying for a road to be laid out from Athens toward Salt Lick, which was rejected. was done agreeably to law, they now appoint Robert Linzee, Samuel Moore, and Joel Abbott to view out said road. History of Athens County, Ohio - 151 Resolved, by the Board of Commissioners, that Daniel Stewart be appointed collector for the township of Troy, in the room of Stephen Buckingham, delinquent. This day, George Shidler came forward, and gave his bond as collector for the townships of Athens and Alexander. Adjourned. November 4th, 1805.—[An election having occurred in October.] Agreeably to an act entitled an act establishing Boards of Commissioners,' passed February 13th, 1804. We, William Howlett, William Barrows, and Samuel Moore, being elected commissioners for the county of Athens, have met this day in order to do business. A petition, bearing date May 30th, 1805, having been presented to the board by David Watkins and others, of the township of Alexander, praying for a road beginning at the range line between the 12th and 13th ranges, thence onward to the Salt Lick, and George Shidler, Charles Weeks, and Henry Shidler having been appointed to view said road, now report the same useless. The County of Athens to Ebenezer Barrows. Dr. For carrying the returns of the election for the town of Athens to Marietta, - $3,00 County of Athens to Henry Shidler. Dr. For carrying returns of election for the township of Alexander to Marietta, - $3.50 County of Athens to Henry Bartlett. Dr. For services rendered in attempting to get a list of nonresidents' lands within said county, -$5.00 We, the Commissioners, at our first meeting, cast lots, as the law directs, and drew as follows, viz: Samuel Moore to stand three years, William Howlett to stand two years, and William Barrows to stand one year. County of Athens to Alexander Stedman. Dr. For carrying the returns of election for the township of Troy for the year 1805. to Marietta $2 00 152 - Athens County . County of Athens to .Abel Miller. Dr. To two days' attendance as judge of the court of common pleas at November term, 1805, $6.00 To Alexander Stedman. Dr. To two days' attendance as judge, etc. (as above). - 6 00 To Silvanus Ames. Dr. To one day's attendance, and going and returning, - 6 00 Adjourned. December 21, 1805.—Josiah True came forward and gave bonds as collector of the township of Ames. County of Athens. Dr. To postage on letter taken out of the postoffice and paid 12 ½ cents by A. Stedman and 12 1/2 cents by Samuel Moore - 25 cts. May 19th, 1806.—We agreed with Joel Abbott for vacant house for a temporary prison to receive the body of John Fleehart for the present. June 2d, 1806.—William Barrows and Samuel Moore met in order to do business at the house of Silas Bingham. Silas Dean and Samuel Brown presented a petition for a road beginning at the Twenty-five mile tree on the state road, and ending at or near the Thirty-four mile tree on the Lancaster road. Robert Linzee presented a petition for the road to be altered from Samuel Moore's to Stroud's run. Alvan Bingham, Arthur Coats and Jehiel Gregory are appointed to view said road the third Saturday in July, and Abel Miller is appointed surveyor. County of Athens to Joseph Guthrie, Jun. Dr. To services done in listing and making out duplicates for the township of Troy, eight days, 8 00 To Martin Boyles. Dr. To services in listing, appraising, and making out duplicates for the township of Ames—seven days and a half, - 7 50 To Robert Fulton. Dr. To services as lister and making out returns—six days, - 6.00 To Thomas Armstrong. Dr. To services as lister and making out returns, - 6 00 History of Athens County, Ohio - 153 Resolved, by the Board of Commissioners, that the bounty on wolves' and panthers' scalps for this year shall be as follows, viz: For any wolf or panther under six months old, three dollars, and for all above that age, four dollars per scalp. June 5th.—We have appointed William Harper treasurer for this year, and this day he came forward and gave bonds as the law directs. We have received Robert Linzee's bond as sheriff as the law directs. Athens township licenses for taverns for this year, i. e., from the State road toward the Salt works are fixed at six dollars and fifty cents, and license on the State road, in said township, at four dollars each. Tavern licenses for the township of Ames are five dollars and fifty cents each. Tavern licenses for Troy and Alexander are five dollars each. Ferry licenses on the State road, for this year, are two dollars, and other ferries on the Hockhocking, one dollar and fifty cents. Rates of ferriage across said river for man and horse twelve and a half cents ; and all the other rates the same as last year. Athens County to Henry Bartlett. Dr. For services done the county,- $27.75 For making out duplicates for state and county taxes, - $6.00 Athens County to Jehiel Gregory. Dr. services done said county as an associate judge by notifying an election for sheriff, coroner, and county commissioners, and receiving and making returns thereof; also for time spent with Judge Ames appointing and making bonds with Henry Bartlett as clerk pro tem. for the court of common pleas, - 4.50 Athens County to Abel Miller. Dr. To laying out jail bounds - .75 To chainmen - .75 To Athens County to Silas Bingham. Dr. For a room for one session of commissioners, June, 1806, - $4.00 Athens County to Samuel Beaumont. Dr. To one wolf scalp, - 4.00 154 - Athens County. To Joseph Guthrie. Dr. To one wolf scalp, - $4.00 To Robert Linzee. Dr. To viewing a road from Athens toward the Salt Lick, twelve days and a half, - $12.50 To pack horse twelve and a half days, for the use of the company, - 3.12 1/2 Athens County to Alvan Ogden. Dr. To viewing a road from near Asahel Cooley's, in Troy township, through Alexander, to intersect with the Salt Lick road at or near Wheelabout—nine days, - 9.00 To Charles Weeks. Dr. To viewing above road—nine days, - 9.00 To Daniel Mulford. Dr. To boxes for grand and petit juries, - 1.50 To William Howlett. Dr. To panther scalp, over six months, 4.00 To William Barrows. Dr. To three days' services in reforming (planning ?) a jail and forming a courthouse, and advertising the same, $5 25. [Ordered by the associate judges that this amount be docked down and carried out, - 3.50] September, 1, 1806. A petition being presented by William Green and others, praying for a road from John Brown's to Reuben Davis's, and from thence to Moses Hewitt's, the board appoint Ephraim Cutler, Joshua Wyatt, and Jason Ric.! viewers for said road, to meet the 9th day of September, at the house of John Brown ; and they appoint Thomas M. Hamilton surveyor of said road. A petition being presented by Eliphaz Perkins and others, praying for a road from the town of Athens to the house of Frederic Foughty, in Ames township, John Corey, Abel Mann, and Nicholas Phillips are appointed viewers, and Abel Miller surveyor of said road. Athens County to Ebenezer Carrier. Dr. To one quire of paper, - 45 cts History of Athens County, Ohio - 155 Athens County to Azel Johnson. Dr. To three wolf scalps, over 6 months old, - $12.00 Athens County to Henry Bartlett. Dr. To posting the commissioners' books, - $2.00
Athens County to Abel Miller. Dr. To surveying a road from Athens to the county line, towards Scioto Salt Lick, and his chainmen and markers, 21.00 To surveying a road from No. 5, in Troy, through the township of Alexander to intersect the Salt Lick road, on the waters of Wheelabout, and his chainmen and markers, - 22.50 Athens County to Joseph Guthrie. Dr. To one wolf scalp, - 4.00 To Stephen Buckingham. Dr. To one day's service in returning poll-book of election held in Troy township, 1.00 The acc'ts in this book audited to this date, Nov. 13, 1806 SILVANUS AMES, ALEXANDER STEDMAN, ABEL MILLER, Associate Judge County of Athens to Silvanus Ames. Dr. To five days' service as judge at November term, - $15.00 To Alexander Stedman. Dr. To five days' service as judge,- 15.00 To Abel Miller. Dr. To four days' service as judge, - 12.00 To Silas Bingham. Dr. For a court house one year, - 12.00 December 1, 1806. At a meeting of the County Commissioners on Monday, the 1st day of December, 1806, present Alvan Bingham and Samuel Moore, commissioners, the board appointed Henry Bartlett clerk for the term of one year, and agreed to pay him thirty dollars for his services, payable quarterly. Personally appeared before me Abel Miller, one of the 156 - Athens County. ciate judges of the court of common pleas for the county of Athens, the above-named Henry Bartlett, who was sworn according to law, for the faithful discharge of his duties as clerk to the commissioners. (Signed) ABEL MILLER, Asso. judge. December 2. Present as yesterday, and William Howlett. who also appeared and took his seat as commissioner. Ordered by the commissioners that their clerk sign all orders issued by them, as clerk of the commissioners. Notice issued to the trustees of Athens township to open a road, leading from Samuel Moore's to Stroud's run, agreeably to law. Also, to open a road leading from the town of Athens to the county line toward the Scioto Salt Lick, i. e., so much of said road as lies in the township of Athens, as surveyed by Abel Miller. Notice issued to the trustees of the township of Alexander to open a road, leading from Athens toward the Scioto Salt Lick, i. e., so much of said road as lies in the township of Alexander. Also, to open a road leading from the line of the township of Alexander to the waters of Wheelabout, toward the Scioto Salt Lick. Adjourned to 25th December. December 25, 1806. The board met agreeably to adjournment, at the house of Leonard Jewett ; adjourned to the house of Joel Abbott. Ordered by the commissioners that the sum of ten dollars be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing blank county orders, stationery, paying postage on letters, etc., and that an order be given to Henry Bartlett, as their clerk for that purpose. County of Athens to Robert Linzee. Dr. To summoning grand jury July and November terms - $ 4 00 County of Athens to Thomas Armstrong. Dr. To collecting taxes and delinquencies - 6 57 History of Athens County, Ohio - 157 Ordered that Joel Abbott receive orders to the amount of $65.50, being the balance of his contract for building a jail. Adjourned to the loth of January next, at the house of Joel Abbott. County of Athens to Asahel Cooley, Jun. Dr. To three wolf scalps, - - - - - - $12 00 To Milton Buckingham. Dr. To two wolf scalps, - - 8.00 To Hiram Howlett. Dr. To one wolf scalp, - - - - 4.00 Want of space forbids further extracts ; we append, however, a Statement of the tax assessed in 1808. Tax assessed in the County in 1808. June 16, 1808. The Board of Commissioners appointed the following persons collectors for the present year, viz: For Athens township, Michael Barker ; for Ames township, John Brown, 2d ; for Troy township, Asahel Cooley; for Alexander township, Amos Thompson. Amount of duplicates of taxes assessed for the year 1808 : Athens.— Land, - $37.85 - - Taxable property - 90.47 Ames.—Land, - 58.80 - - Taxable property - 49.67 Troy.— Land - 62.38 - - Taxable property, - 51.20 Alexander.—Land. - 6.46 - - Taxable property, - 59.60 Total : $426.43 158 - Athens County. County Commissioners from, the Organization, of the County |
1805 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 |
Silas Dean, William Barrows, Alvan Bingham,“ “ Asahel Cooley, “ “ Ebenezer Currier, “ “ Daniel Stewart, Caleb Merritt, “ George Walker, “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ Joshua Hoskinson, “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ Silas M. Shepard, “ “ “ “ James Dickey, “ “ “ |
William Howlett, “ “ Caleb Merritt, “ “ Zebulon Griffin, “ “ Caleb Merritt, “ Levi Stedman, Asahel Cooley “ Stambro P. Stancliff “ “ Edmund Dorr “ “ “ Daniel Stewart “ Henry Henshaw “ “ Absalom Boyles “ “ David Jones “ “ Alfred Hobby “ “ Elmer Rowell “ “ Arnold Patterson “ “ Ziba Lindley “ “ “ “ “ “ |
John Curey—( At special election.) Samuel Muore—(At regular election.) Samuel Moore—(At regular election.) Samuel Moore—(At regular election.) Ebenezer Currier. “ “ Seth Fuller “ “ Robert Linzee “ Daniel Stewart Levi Stedman “ James Gillmore “ “ “ “ “ “ James Reynoolds “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ Frederic Abbott “ “ William R. Walker “ Benj. M. Brown “ “ “ Alfred Hobby “ “ “ “ “ Pearley Brown, John Elliott |
History of Athens County, Ohio - 159
1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 |
L. D. Poston, “ “ John Brown, “ “ “ John T. Winn, “ John Brown, “ “ “ “ “ “ Thomas L. Mintun |
Ziba Lindley, “ William Mason, “ “ Joseph Jewett, “ “ John Dew, “ “ Hugh Boden, W. F. Pilcher, “ “ “ “ |
John Elliott. “ “ Daniel B. Stewart. “ “ “ John E. Vore. “ “ G. M. McDougall “ “ “ “ “ “ |
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County Auditors. The first constitution of Ohio provided for the election by the people of only two county officers, viz.: sheriff and coroner; other county officers were, during the first eighteen years of the state's history, appointed by the county commissioners or by the associate judges of the respective counties. The office of county auditor was created by act of the legislature, at the session of 1820-21. Before that time the principal duties of the auditor were performed by the county clerk, who was appointed by the commissioners. Henry Bartlett, So long known in the county as " Esquire Bartlett," was clerk, and ex-officio auditor, from 1806 till March 1821. From this time the successive auditors were: Joseph B. Miles, appointed by commissioners in 1821, and served nine months. Gen. John Brown, appointed and served till March, 1827. Norman Root, elected 1827 “ 1839 Leonidas Jewett, “ 1839 “ 1843. Abner Morse, 1843 “ 1845. 160 - Athens County. Leonidas Jewett, elected 1845 and served till March, 1847. E. Hastings Moore, “ 1847 “ ” 1861. Simeon W. Pickering, " 1861 present time. County Sheriffs. Robert Linzee, appointed April, 1805 ; Silvanus Ames, appointed November, 1807 ; Robert Linzee, appointed November, 1809; Thomas Armstrong, elected October, 1813 ; Isaac Barker, elected October, 1817; Jacob Lentner, elected October, 1821 ; Calvary Morris, elected October, 1823 ; Robert Linzee, elected October, 1827; John McGill, elected October, 1829; Amos Miller, elected October, 1831 ; Joseph Hewitt, elected October, 1835 ; Joseph H. Moore, elected October, 1839; William Golden, elected October, 1843; J. L. Currier, elected October, 1847; Joseph L. Kessinger. elected October, 1851; Leonard Brown, elected October, 1855; H. C. Knowles, elected October, 1857; Frederic S. Stedman, elected October, 1861; John M. Johnson, elected October, 1863 ; William S. Wilson, elected October, 1867, and is still in offrce. |
County Recorders. Dr. Eliphaz Perkins, Chauncey F. Perkins, A. G. Brown, Robert E. Constable, A. G. Brown, Enos Stimson, John Boswell, A. J. Van Vorhes, W. H. Bartlett, Frank E. Foster, George H. Stewart, Norman Root, Daniel Drake, Josiah B. Allen |
In office. 1806 to July 1819, July 1819 to May 1826, May 1826 to Aug. 1833, Aug 1833 to Nov. 1835, Nov 1835 to Oct. 1841, Oct1841 to " 1844, “ 1844 to " 1847, “ 1847 to " 1850, “ 1850 to Dec. 1854, Dec 1854 to Nov. 1855, Nov 1855 to June 1861, June 1861 to Jan. 1862 Jan 1862 to " 1868, “ 1868, still in office. |
Recorded what volumes. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. " 4, 5. " 5, 6. “ 6, 7. “ 7, 8, 9, 10, “ 10, 11, 12. “ 12, 13, 14. “ 14, 15, 16. “ 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, “22. “ 23, 24, 25, 26. “ 26, 27. “ 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. “ 33, 34, 35 |
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County Treasurers. Alvan Bingham, appointed April, 18o5 ; William Harper, appointed June, 1806 ; Ebenezer Currier, appointed June, 1807 ; Eliphaz Perkins, appointed March, 1808 ; William Har- History of Athens County, Ohio - 161 per, appointed June, 1809 ; Eliphaz Perkins,* appointed June, 1811 ; Amos Crippen, appointed June, 1815 ; Isaac Barker, appointed June, 1825, elected October, 1825 ; Amos Crippen, elected October, 1829 ; Isaac Barker, elected October, 1831 ; Isaac N. Norton, elected October, 1835, died in December, 1836. Abram Van Vorhes acted first year, and Isaac Barker, second year, by appointment. Isaac Barker, elected October, 1837 ; Amos Crippen, elected October, 1839; Robert McCabe, elected October, 1841 ; William Golden, elected October, 1847 ; Samuel Pickering, elected October, 1853 ; Leonard Brown, elected October, 1857 ; Joseph M. Dana, elected October, 1859 ; Leonard Brown, elected October, 186r ; A. W. S. Minear, elected October, 1863 ; George W. Baker, elected October, 1867, and is still in office. County Court. The first court of common pleas, July 8, 1805, consisted of Robert F. Slaughter, president judge, and Silvanus Ames and Elijah Hatch, associate judges. Henry Bartlett was appointed clerk. Since that time the following judges have acted: 1806-Levin Belt, president judge, and Silvanus Ames, Alexander Stedman, and Abel Miller, associate judges. In 1807, Judge Ames became sheriff, and Elijah Hatch became judge. * Extract from county records : " June 9, 1809. Completed the settlement with Eliphaz Perkins, county treasurer Amount of money received by him, as per his book .$1,622 36 Received of him in county orders - - - - - $1,619 16 His commissions on same, at 3 per cent. - - - 48 58 Balance due E. Perkins - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - 45 38 Totol - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1,667 74 - -$1,667 74 162 - Athens County. 1807 to 1812—William Wilson, president judge, and Alexanander Stedman, Abel Miller, and Elijah Hatch, associate judges. 1813—William Wilson, president judge, and Jehiel Gregory, Silvanus Ames, and Elijah Hatch, associate judges. 1814—William Wilson, president judge, and Jehiel Gregory, Silvanus Ames, and Ebenezer Currier, associate judges. 1815 to 1818—William Wilson, president judge, and Silvanus Ames, Ebenezer Currier. and Elijah Hatch, associate judges. 1819—Ezra Osborne, president judge, and Robert Linzee, Ebenezer Currier, and Silvanus Ames, associate judges. 1824—Alvan Bingham, associate judge, vice Silvanus Ames, deceased. 1825—Amos Crippen, associate judge, vice Robert Linzee. 1826—Edmund Dorr, associate judge, vice Ebenezer Currier, and Thomas Irwin, president judge, vice Osborne. 1827—Elijah Hatch, associate judge, vice Amos Crippen. 1838—George Walker, associate judge, vice Alvan Bingham. 1833—Ebenezer Currier, associate, judge, vice Edward Dorr. 1834—David Richmond, associate judge, vice Elijah Hatch. 1840—John E. Hanna, president judge, vice Thomas Irwin. 1840—Samuel B. Pruden, associate judge, vice Ebenezer Currier. 1841—Isaac Barker, associate judge, vice D. Richm0nd. 1845—Robert A. Fulton, associate judge, vice George Walker. 1847—Arius Nye, president judge, vice John E. Hanna. 1847—Samuel H. Brown, associate judge, vice S. B. Pruden. 1850—Norman Root, associate judge, vice Samuel H. Brown. 1850—A. G. Brown, president judge, vice Arius Nye. 1852—Simeon Nash, elected first judge under new constitution, when associate judges were dispensed with. 1862—J0hn Welch elected. 1865—Erastus A. Guthrie, appointed, vice John Welch, elected supreme judge. 1866—E. A. Guthrie elected, and is still in office. History of Athens County, Ohio - 163 County Clerks. Henry Bartlett, appointed December 1, 1806 ; served till February 8, 1836. Joseph M. Dana, appointed February 8, 1836 ; elected February 22, 1843 ; served till 1857. Louis W. Brown, elected 1857, and is still in office. Probate Court (Organized in 1852). Jacob C. Frost, elected 1852. Nelson H. Van Vorhes, elected October, 1855; resigned September, 1855; Daniel S. Dana, appointed September, 1855. Calvary Morris, elected October, 1855, and is still in office Prosecuting Attorneys. 1806 to 1809, E. B. Merwin; 1809 to 1810, Benjamir Ruggles ; 1810 to 1812, Artemas Sawyer ; 1812 to 1813, Alex. ander Harper ; 1813 to 1815, Artemas Sawyer ; 1815 to 1816 J. Lawrence Lewis ; 1816 to 1817, Thomas Ewing ; 1817 to 1820, Joseph Dana, sen.; 1820 to 1822, Samuel F. Vinton 1822 to 1824, Thomas Ewing ; 1824 to 1826, Thomas Irwin 1826 to 1830, Dwight Jarvis ; 1830 to 1835, Joseph Dana jun.; 1835 to 1839, John Welch ; 1839 to 1841, Robert E Constable; 1841 to 1843, John Welch ; 1843 to 1845, Tobia A. Plants ; 1845 to 1847, James D. Johnson ; 1847 to 1851 Lot L. Smith ; 1851 t0 1855, Samuel S. Knowles ; 1855 to 1857, George S. Walsh ; 1857 to 1861, Erastus A. Guthrie 1861 to 1863, Lot L. Smith ; 1863 to present time, Rudolp de Steiguer. Population. By the census of 1800, Washington county (the including Athens, etc.) had 5,427 inhabitants. 164 - Athens County. Through to bottom of page 173 Population and other statistics Not scanned. History of Athens County, Ohio -173 Post Offices. Prior to the year 1794, there was no mail route to the northwestern territory, nor any post office north of the Ohio river west of Pittsburg. The only communication the Ohio Company’s settlers had with the east 174 - Athens County was by private hands, and the receipt of letters or papers was a rare and interesting occurrence. In the year 1794, a route was established from Pittsburg, via Washington, Pennsylvania, West Liberty, Virginia, and Wheeling, to Limestone (now Maysville, Kentucky), and Fort Washington (Cincinnati). From Pittsburg to Wheeling the mail was carried by land, and from Wheeling down the Ohio river in Small boats, about twenty-four feet long, built much like a whale-boat, and steered with a rudder. Each boat was manned by five persons, well armed and provided against attacks by the Indians. Though not covered, each of the little craft was furnished with a large tarpaulin, which, in case of storm or other necessity, was used to cover the arms, mail bags, etc. The boats, ascending and descending the river, met and exchanged mails at Marietta, Gallipolis, and Maysville. The time consumed was about twelve days from Cincinnati to Wheeling, and about half that time from Wheeling to Cincinnati.* By this route, the inhabitants of * Though not strictly germane to the subject, we may be excused for presenting some facts concerning the early postal operations of the government, showing the very small beginnings of our present vast and beneficent system. On the 1st of January, 1790, there were only seventy-five post offices in the United States. There are now more than twenty-four thousand. For the quarter ending December 13, 1789, the total receipts of the post office at New York were $1,067 08; the emoluments of the post master amounted to $327 32, and the incidental History of Athens County, Ohio - 175 Washington county, and afterward those of Athens received their mail matter once in two or three weeks. In the year 1800, the only post route in southern Ohio was from Zanesville to Marietta. In 1802, a route was established from Marietta, by way of Athens and Chillicothe, to Cincinnati; and in 1804, the route from Marietta to Zanesville was discontinued. The first post office in the county of Athens, was established at Athens in January, 1804, and the first post master was Jehiel Gregory. The office was kept at his house, across the river, east of Athens, where D. B. Stewart's woolen factory is now situated. The office changed hands in the Spring of the same year, and Dr. Eliphaz Perkins was appointed post master, expenses of the office were $36 89. At the Philadelphia post office, the receipts for the same period were $1,530 73; post master's emoluments, $315 28, expenses of office, $77 84. The mail was carried from Philadelphia to Pittsburg once in two weeks. The contracts for carrying the mail to the southward of New York city, for that amounted to $14,973 75; and to the eastward of the same place tp $6,003 15. From New York to Albany, the contractors received all the postage for carrying the mail. The route from Boston to Providence, New London, and New Haven, was an expense to the department of $520, for that year. The route from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, was an expense of $800. The department fell in debt $34.84 for the quarter. In the year 1825, the mail was carried from Wheeling to Zanesville, Ohio, three times a week ; from Zanesville to Lancaster, three times a week ; from Lancaster to Cincinnati, twice a week; from Marietta to Zanesville, once a week ; from Marietta to Chillicothe, twice a week, and from Marietta to Lancaster, once in two weeks. [American State Papers.] 176 - Athens County. and kept the office for a short time, on State street, near D. M. Clayton's late residence, and afterward, for many years, in the brick building now known as Ballard's corner. The Second post office established in the county was in Ames township, in the year 1821. Loring B. Glazier was the first post master there, and the office received the name of Amesville. Previous to the establishment of this office, Judge Ames, Judge Walker, Doctor Walker, Abel Glazier, Judge Cutler, and other citizens of the neighborhood, taking the Marietta paper, received their papers from the mail carrier, who brought them in a way-bag for distribution, for which Service each person was required to pay fifty cents a year to the carrier. During the early years of this century, Several copies of the National Intelligencer were taken in the Ames Settlement. It was received every two weeks, and was at once the great news bringer from the outer world to the little community, and the political gospel of all its readers. The writer has heard an aged relative, herself a Staunch adherent of the Jeffersonian school of politics, relate with what eagerness the Intelligencer was awaited during the war of 1812, and how its narratives of events, political and military, were devoured by those who could read, and read aloud to those who could not. The following is a list of the post offices now in operation in the county, in the order of their establish- History of Athens County, Ohio - 177 ment, with the names of those who have acted as masters, from the first to the present: post from to Hocking City. |
Athens. Established in 1804. Jehiel Gregory, post master Eliphaz Perkins John Perkins Amos Crippen John Perkins Amos Crippen Wm. Loring Brown R. DeSteiguer Lot L. Smith David M. Clayton E. C. Crippen John F. Mahon William Golden |
1804. - 1 quarter. 1804 - till 1821 1821 - 1839 1839 - 1841 1841 - 184.5 1845 - 1849 1849 - 1853 1853 - 1858 1858 -1861 1861 - 1865 1865 - 1866 1866 - 1867 1867 -present time. |
Amesville. Established in 1821. Loring B. Glazier, post master Robert Henry Hiram Cable N. Dean Loring B. Glazier Hiram Cable Evert V. Phillips Lorenzo Fulton A. W. Glazier Lorenzo Fulton |
from 1821 - till 1829 1829 - 1834 1834 - 1837 1837 - 1841 1841 - 1842 1842 - 1846 1846 - 1849 1849 - 1861 1861 - 1862 1862 - present time. |
Coolville. Established in 1822. Jacob S. Miller, post master Alfred Hobby In 1840, name changed to Hocking City R. B. Blair Eps Story James M. Miller John Pratt In 1844, name changed back to Coolville. Joseph K. Davis W. F. Pilcher |
from 1822 - till 1824. 1824 - 1840 1840 - 1841 1841 - 1842 1842 - 1843 1843 - 1857 1857 - 1862 1862 - present time |
178 - Athens County
Nelsonville. Established in 1825.
Daniel Nelson, post master James Knight John Lillabridge Henry Parkson L. D. Poston John H. Tucker Charles Cable Alfred Couden C. A. Cable M. A. Stuart Joseph Brett T. L. Mintun John F. Welch |
from 1825 - 1834 1834 - 1836 1836 - 1839 1839 - 1840 1840 -1848 1848 - 1850 1859 - 1852 1852 - 1855 1855 - 1857 1857 - 2 quarters 1857 - 1862 1862 - 1866 1866 - present time |
Federalton. Established in 1829.
Elijah Hatch, post master Alexander Stewart Peter Beebe Sydney S. Beebe Blanford Cook |
from 1829 -till 1835 1835 - 1837 1837 - 1846 1846 - 1858 1858 -present time. |
Lee. Established in 1829.
Jacob Lentner, post master James Wilson Lucius R. Beckley J. McCully Jonathan Winn John V. Brown John Earhart Peter Morse J. M. Gorsline Peter Morse W. W. Kurt Augustus Palmer |
from 1829 - till 1836 1836 - 1837 1837 - 1840 1840 - 1841 1841 - 1846 1846 - 1847 1847 - 1849 1849 - 1853 1853 - 1861 1861 - 1865 1865 - 1866 1866 - present time. |
Canaanville. Established in 1834.
Stephen Pilcher, post master Nehemiah O. Warren J. Warren Baird |
from 1834 - till 1839 1839 - 1866 1866 - present time. |
History of Athens County, Ohio - 179
Hebbardsville. Established in 1834.
|
| A. Stearns, post master Abraham Van Vorhes Samuel Earhart Peter Morse Samuel Earhart Almus Lindley Samuel W. Crabbe George Six N. L. Wilson John J. Coe |
from 1834 - till 1835 1835 - 1839 1839 - 1843 1843 - 1845 1845 - 1848 1848 - 1853 1853 - 1858 1858 - 1861 1861 - 1865 1865 - present time |
Millfield. Established in 1834
John Pugsley, post master Josiah True William Larue David Nesmith Joel Sanders Henry Brown Chester Woodworth |
from 1834 - till 1836 1836 - 1837 1837 - 1841 1841 - 1848 1848 - 1851 1851 - 1862 1862 - present time. |
Calvary. Established in 1838.
Sylvanus Howe, post master William Watson George Curfman |
from 1838 - till 1863 1863 - 1865 1865 - present time. |
Chauncey. Established in 1838.
Henry Clark, post master Eli House Benjamin P. Hubbard G. S. Williams Charles R. Smith Robert Sharp Thomas Anderson, jr William M. Edwards Robert Sharp William M. Edwards |
from 1838 - till 1841 1841 - 1842 1842 - 3 quarters>/p> 1842 - 1844 1844 1845 1845 - 1849 1849 - 1851 1851 - 1853 1853 - 1855 1855 present time. |
180 - Athens County
Guysville. Established in 1839.
Guy Barrows, post master Elvira Barrows Edward D. Dalbey Abraham Farrell Aratus Buckley E. R. Minear L. C. Heath David M. Burchfield |
from 1839 - till 1847 1847 - 1852 1852 - 1855 1866 - 1859 1859 - 1862 1862 - 1864 1864 - 1866 1866 - present time |
Hockingsport. Established in 1839.
(Big Hocking from 1836 till '39.) Ferdinand Faulk. post master Erastus H. Williams David P. Scott Erastus H. Williams |
from 1836 - till 1846 1846 - 1861 1861 - 1865 1865 - present time. |
Shade. Established in 1839.
J. M. Waterman, post master John Cather Charles D. Martin Nathan Axtell James C. Burson Asbury Cremer John Burson |
1839 - till 1841 1841 - 1845 1845 - 3 quarters. 1845 - 1847 1847 - 1853 1853 - 1863 1863 - present time. |
Trimble. Established in 1841.
Samuel Porter, post master John S. Dew Lewis W. Russell George A. Russell |
from 1841- till 1849 1849 - 1851 1851 - 1866 1866 present time. |
Hulls. Established in 1851.
Isaac B. Dudley, post master F. R. Stacey Isaac B. Dudley B. R. Pierce John Kinney S. W. Hull Windell Shott |
from 1851 - till 1853 1853 - 1855 1855 - 1857 1857 - 1860 1860 - 1861 1861 - 1866 1866 - present time. |
|
181 - History of Athens County, Ohio.
. -
Lottridge. Established in 1851. Edward Lawrence, post master - from 1851 - till present time.
Pleasanton. Established in 1851.
Franklin Burnham, post master from 1851- till 1855 Nelson Lord 1855 - 1862 D. Drake 1862 - 1865 Henry Logan 1865 - present time.
Torch. Established in 1851.
Nicholas Baker, post master from 1851- till 1861 Sherman Brewster 1861 - 1866 Edgar Hallet 1866 - present
Woodyards. Established in 1851. Robert Figley, post master from 1851- till 1855 Leven Oliver 1855 present time.
Garden. Established in 1853. John O. Fox, post master from 1853 - till 1855 Daniel S. Johnson 1855 - 1847 J. R. Evans 1857 - 1859 John Buck 1859 - 1861 A. H. Brill 1861 - 1865 N. F. Woodworth 1865 - present time
Hartleyville. Established in 1853. Martin Shaner, post master from 1853 - till 1855 Benjamin Norris 1855 - 1866 Samuel Banks 1866 - present time
182 - Athens County.
New England. Established in 1857. T R. Rider, post master from 1857 - till 1859 L. R. Jarvis 1859 - 1865 Daniel F. Wyatt 1865 - present time.
Rock Oak Established in 1857. S. D. Workman, post master from 1857 - till 1866 Joseph Miller 1866 - present time.
Marshfield. Established in 1859. Hugh Baden, post master from 1859 - till 1865 A. G. Patterson 1865 - 1866 David Mayhugh 1866 - present time.
Salina. Established in 1866. George T. Gould, post master from 1866 - till present time.
Big Run. Established in 1866. Thomas Lucas, post master from 1866 - till present time.
Kings. Established in 1866, Irwin R. King, post master from 1866 - till present time.
History of Athens County, Ohio - 183
Agricultural Society.
The earliest legislation in Ohio relative to the organization of agricultural societies, and designed to encourage that branch of industry, was an act passed February 25, 1832, entitled "an act to authorize and encourage the establishment of agricultural Societies in the several counties of this State, and for other purposes therein set forth." The farmers of Athens county had, however, already perceived their interests in this regard, and a society had been formed and a fair held Some years before the passage of this act. The Society was organized May 19, 1828. The preamble to the constitution recites that,
" We, whose names are annexed, convinced of the benefits resulting to communities from the operations of well regulated agricultural societies, in the means and facilities afforded by them for the attainment and diffusion of useful practical information, and the spirit of emulation and improvement in the culture of tbe soil, and the domestic manufacture of its products ; do form ourselves into an association for the above mentioned purposes, to be called the ilthens County Agricultural Society, of which the following shall be the constitution."
The constitution provides for the government of the society, by the usual officers and a board of Six directors; for terms of membership, annual meetings, and the awarding of premiums "to members and their families for distinguished merit, exertion, discovery, or
184 - Athens County.
improvement in the various branches of husbandry and agricultural economy, household manufactures, etc." At the first meeting, the following persons were appointed and requested to act as agents in soliciting subscriptions to the constitution:
Athens.—S. B. Pruden, R. J. Davis, Charles Shipman. Alexander.—Ziba Lindley, jr., Asa Stearns, Daniel Dudley Ames.—Col. A. Boyles, Geo. Walker, Jacob Boarman. Bern.—James Dickey, Wm. T. Brown, Robert Henry. Canaan.—Parker Carpenter, Martin Mansfield, Harry Renshaw.
Carthage.—Francis Caldwell, B. B. Lottridge, Milton Buckingham. Dover.—Josiah True, Daniel Herrold, John Pugsley. Elk.—Thomas Johnson, James Bothwell, Edward Dodge. Homer.—R. S. Lovell, Selah Hart, Wm. Hyde. Lee.—Jacob Lentner, Michael Canny, Wm. Brown. Lodi.---Joseph Thomson, Rufus Cooley, Elam Frost. Rome.—Elijah Hatch, Daniel Stewart, John Thompson. Troy.—Charles Devol, Alfred Hobby, Wm. Barrows. Trimble.—Wm. Bagley, Samuel B. Johnson, James Bosworth. Vinton.—Daniel H. Horton, Isaac Hawk, Samuel Zinn. Waterloo.—Joseph Hewitt, Nathan Robinett, Alexander Young. York.—James Knight, Joseph J. Robbins, Robert Terry.
The next meeting of the society was held at Athens, in July, 1828, and arrangements were made for an exhibition, which was accordingly held, in October of that year, and which was the first agricultural fair held in Southern Ohio.
History of Athens County, Ohio - 185
The next annual meeting of the Society, for the choice of officers, etc., was announced by A. G. Brown, Secretary, to be held "at the court house in Athens, on Thursday, April 16th, at one o'clock, P. M." The Secretary, then editing and publishing the Athens Mirror, accompanied the call with Some judicious remarks as to the importance of sustaining the movement, which would, however, "assuredly flag and fall into disuse, without the frequently renewed and strenuous efforts of those who were convinced of its utility, and friendly to its objects."
In the Mirror of April 18, 1829, we are informed that,
"The meeting, though not large, was respectable, and made up in zeal what it wanted in numbers. The peculiarity of this season, by which the advance of vegetation, and, consequently, of the farmer's labor, has been delayed, doubtless prevented the attendance of many who would have wished to be present. The meeting was, notwithstanding, very interesting, and hopes are now entertained of the most beneficial results."
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year, each of whom was requested and expected "to take an active part in promoting the objects of the Society."
President, Ziba Lindley, jr.; vice presidents, Christopher Wolf, Athens ; Samuel McKee, Alexander ; Abel Glazier, Ames ; James Dickey, Bern ; Joshua Hoskinson, Canaan: Fr. Caldwell, Carthage ; John B. Johnson, Dover ; Justus Reynolds, Elk ; H. Alderman, Homer ; Jacob Lentner, Lee J. Thompson, Lodi; Daniel Stewart, Rome ; Wm. Barrows
186 - Athens County.
Troy ; Wm. Bagley, Trimble ; Geo. Utsler, Vinton ; Joseph Hewitt, Waterloo ; James Knight, York ; treasurer, Thomas Brice; secretary, A. G. Brown ; directors, Levi Booth, Col. Absalom Boyles, Robert Linzee, Calvary Morris, S. B. Pruden, Isaac Baker.
A week later, April 25th, the directors met at the same place, and resolved that " seventy-five dollars be appropriated, to be awarded as premiums for the encouragement of industry, enterprise and skill, during the present year," and made out their premium list. The premiums were of course small. The largest was for the best Stallion, owned and kept by a member of the society, four dollars. The next largest, for the best pair of working oxen and yoke, three dollars. For the best six merino ewes, two dollars; best beef animal, two dollars, etc. In the list were the following:
"To the person producing evidence of having killed the greatest number of wolves, two young ones to be counted as one old one, three dollars.
Best specimen of sewing silk - $1.00 Best five yards fulled cloth, 3-4 wide - 1.00 Best ten yards linen - 1.50 Best straw or grass bonnet - 1.00 Best grass scythe - .50
On motion, it was
"Resolved, That the next annual exhibition be held on the last Thursday in October next (1829)."
History of Athens County, Ohio - 187
Several annual exhibitions were held after this, but in the course of a few years the interest began to flag, local dissensions crept in, and finally the fairs ceased to be held. A lapse of nearly twenty years occurred before the Society was revived. In December, 1850 the county commissioners issued a call for a meeting of citizens, to be held on the 13th of January, 1851, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural Society. A that meeting, a constitution and by-laws were adopted and Sabinus Rice was chosen president ; Ziba Lindley vice president ; George Putnam, recording Secretary A. B. Walker, corresponding Secretary; Joseph M Dana, treasurer ; and Henry Brawley, Eleazur Smith. Hiram Stewart, P. W. Boyles, and James Dickey managers. Since that time, several annual fairs have been held, and there has been a Steady and gratifying growth of interest in the Society. The present office: are, Charles L. Wilson, president; Peter Long, president; Nelson H. Van Vorhes, treasurer; A. V Glazier, Secretary; and Joseph Higgins, George Putnam, A. W. Glazier, A. S. Tidd, A. N. Vorhes, N. Warren, Cyrus Blazer, and Charles R. Smith, directors
Topography and Minerals.
The county contains about four hundred and eight four square miles of land, some portions of which a admirably adapted for grazing and agricultural purposes, while others are rich in minerals. It is well
188 - Athens County.
watered by the Hockhocking river and its tributaries, Sunday creek, Monday creek, Margaret's creek, Federal creek, Shade river, etc. The Hockhocking, entering at the northwestern corner of York township, traverses the county diagonally for a distance of about fifty miles, flowing into the Ohio river in Troy township. The average width of the stream throughout the county is about fifty yards. The region drained by its numerous tributary streams, and which may be called its valley, will average about twenty miles in width. The whole extent of the valley (in Athens county) is hilly and broken, the hills rising from two hundred to three hundred feet above the beds of the neighboring streams, which, in times past, appear to have worn their way through the strata, So as to give the surface of the country, once a plain, the features which we now observe. The alluvial lands of the Hockhocking and its tributaries are very rich, though liable to occasional overflow from the sudden floods that take place in all the Streams of this region. The hill lands are covered with a fertile soil, and clothed with a heavy growth of forest trees.
Coal.
Of this wonderful product of nature—So mysterious in its origin, and so incalculably useful to the comfort and industries of men—vast deposits exist within the
History of Athens County, Ohio - 189
county, there being at least eight or ten beds, or veins, varying in thickness from a few inches to Several feet.
It is probable that the most valuable vein is that one which, as it has been most extensively worked in the vicinity of Nelsonville, has been called the "Nelsonville coal." This bed is unquestionably one of the most, if not the most, valuable in the state; not on account of its Superior quality and its proximity to canal and railroad facilities, but also for the comparative ease with which it can be obtained. The average thickness of the vein may be rated at Six feet, but it varies from five to nine. As we descend the river from Nelsonville, it gradually dips and finally disappears below the bed of the Hockhocking, about five miles below Nelsonville, on section eight, in York township. Taking into account the fall of the river the dip between the two places is between twenty and twenty-five feet per mile, in a south or southeast direction. West of Nelsonville, it extends up the river, gradually becoming more elevated until it runs out on the tops of the hills, three or four miles above the town. The same vein has been traced over to the head waters of Raccoon, in Waterloo township.
About a mile and a half northeast from the point where the vein above described dips below the river, occurs a bed of coal about forty feet above. It is found in the eastern part of Dover township. This vein, sometimes called the "Denman vein," has been
190 - Athens County.
opened in Several places east of this point, as far aS Sunday creek, at the mouth of which it is found near the bed of the stream. North of this it extends into Trimble township. Another bed, Sometimes designated as the " Federal creek coal," occupies an area, from north to south through the county, of from Six to ten miles in width, embracing the townships of Lodi, Carthage, Rome, Canaan, Ames, and Bern. Several shafts have been opened near Big run, in Rome township, and from seven hundred to a thousand bushels of excellent coal have been Shipped from that point daily during most of the last year. This vein is best disclosed along Federal creek and its branches, and from a point about two miles above the mouth of Federal, it can be found upon almost every Section to the north part of the county, varying in thickness from four to eight feet, while its average is not perhaps over five. This vein has not been so extensively worked as the Nelsonville, but of its existence in vast quantities, of its good quality, and of the potent influence which at some future day it will exert on the wealth and prosperity of this Section of country, there can be no doubt. The aggregate amount of coal that may be mined within the county has been estimated, by competent authority, at two thousand five hundred millions of tons.
Thus the Creator, working through the agencies of
History of Athens County, Ohio - 191
nature, has deposited, where the industry of future generations will make it available, this incalculable store of fossil fuel which will not only supply, for ages the region it pervades, but will form an article o extensive commerce with other Sections and states. Heretofore only about one hundred thousand tons of coal have been annually mined in the county ; but the greatly increased railroad facilities which the coal region will Soon enjoy, must give a powerful impetus to this important branch of industry. The Minera railroad, now nearly finished, from Mineral station, or the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad, northerly, Some five miles into the coal region, commands access to very extensive deposits, and ample preparations are making for placing the coal in market. The Hocking Valley railroad, also, extending from the capital of the State to Athens, Seventy-three miles, will soon be completed, thus opening up the central and northern part of the State, and even the great northwest, to be supplied with cheap fuel from the hills of Athens county Already, and more and more each successive year, the industry of the county feels the healthful effects of the growing coal business. But who can say — what imagination shall dare to conceive—the influence which will probably be exerted by these exhaustless coal field: on the Society of a hundred years hence? Then, whet the population of the State of Ohio may be twenty million souls; when the commercial metropolis of
192 - Athens County.
the state may exceed in population the present city of New York; when the smoke of many great manufacturing cities shall roll over the land; when almost every acre shall support its family, and the ground shall be tilled up to the edges of the railroad tracks, then this rich mineral region of Southern Ohio, will have taken its proper place in the march of progress.
Iron.
In natural sequence to coal, without which it can not be utilized, comes iron—the weapon, the utensil, the lever, the support of modern civilization. Of this metal, which, in its countless uses, enters so largely into the demands of agriculture, commerce, Science, and art, there are very extensive deposits in the county. Though, as yet, the manufacture of iron has never been undertaken in the county, excellent iron ore exists here in great abundance, and in close proximity to the great coal mines in the northwestern part of the county. The most continuous and probably the most valuable deposit, is a few feet below the Nelsonville coal. This is a heavy, compact ore, of a bluish color, and the vein varies in thickness from eight to twelve inches. In explorations for this ore, the Nelsonville coal affords a sure guide. It is found on the head waters of Monday creek, in Trimble township; on Meeker's run, in York township, and along the branches of Raccoon, in Waterloo. The vein is well
History of Athens County, Ohio - 193
exposed at other points, and probably extends through the southeast part of the county. There are also exposures of other veins in different parts of the county, affording conclusive evidence that iron ore, suitable for smelting, exists here in large quantities.
Salt.
The production of salt in the county, has been long and successfully tested. For more than twenty years about fifty thousand barrels of excellent salt have been annually produced in the county. Salt water, varying in strength from six to nine per centum, is found in Several localities, by boring from six hundred to eight hundred feet; and the brine thus obtained is speedily reduced to Salt by the use of coal, which is generally conveniently at hand, and is found to be the cheapest fuel known for the purpose.
The principal operators are M. M. Greene & Co., at Salina; Messrs. Ewing & Vinton, in Chauncey; Mr. Joseph Herrold, near Athens; and Pruden Brothers, at Harmony, two miles below Athens, in Canaan township.
During the War of the Rebellion.
During the terrible four years, from 1861 to 1865, in which the government waged a tremendous war to preserve its own existence, and the union of the states, Athens county was not behind any portion of the loyal
194 - Athens County.
north, in the promptness and zeal of her responses to every call. According to the United States census report of 186o, the number of male inhabitants of the county in that year, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, both inclusive, was five thousand and eighty-nine. The county furnished to the government during the war, in all, two thousand six hundred and ten Soldiers,* or more than fifty per cent of her men able to bear arms. In other words, of the able-bodied men in the county, every other one left his business and his family to assist in suppressing the rebellion. This is a record of which the county may well be proud—a record which no county in the state of Ohio, and, we dare Say, few counties in all the northern States, can surpass. And it Should be added that no draft was ever made in the county. What She did was done voluntarily, and stands as a lasting monument of her patriotism. During this trying period, the mass of her people, women not less than men, were profoundly Stirred, and a loyal zeal pervaded all. For directing that zeal and organizing it into acts, for keeping up the patriotic fervor, and giving it practical, constant, and continuous expression, great credit belongs to the military committee of the county. During nearly the whole of
* This is the number that served in the army, and does not include one thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven men who volunteered and served in repelling the " Morgan raid," in 1863, nor one hundred and sixty "squirrel hunters," who hurried to the defense of Cincinnati, in 1862.
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the war that committee consisted of Henry T. Brown, M. M. Greene, James W. Bayard, Lot L. Smith, Simeon W. Pickering, Joseph M. Dana, E. H. Moore, and W. R. Golden.
But even far more deserving than these of lasting remembrance and perpetual honor, were the men of the county who volunteered and served the country in the field. If it were possible, we should have liked to record here, as a Small tribute to their patriotism, the name of every Athens county volunteer, officers and privates. It would have been a list of heroes. Our efforts, however, to obtain Such a complete list have proved unavailing, and we can only present the following exhibit, which is accurate. * These figures furnish but a bald outline of the stirring and tragic history of the war period. It is easy to write that Athens county contributed two thousand six hundred and ten men to fight for the Union, but this statement conveys not even a suggestion of the events that were transpiring in her borders during those years. Meetings were held by day and night in all parts of the county, local
* The materials for such a perfect list probably exist in the war department, at Washington, and among the state records, at Columbus, but at present in such a scattered and confused shape, as to render it entirely out of our power to present a complete list, and a partial one would have been worse than none. Some of the states have published a complete list, giving the name of every volunteer furnished by them during the war, with his county and residence. It is to be hoped that Ohio will eventually do this.
196 - Athens County.
committees appointed in every township, christian commission and aid societies organized, and all these appliances again and .again started, with renewed energy as the government repeated its calls for help. Scarcely a family but contributed its quota, and the vacant places in many a one remain unfilled to-day. Some families gave all their men; one widow gave five sons,* and grim-visaged war crossed nearly every threshold, claiming the services of the bravest and best. All these thing, with many others, and the names of those who enlisted, would properly appear in a history of the county during the rebellion ; but that would form a volume of itself.
Abstract of Soldiers in the United States and State Service, furnished by Athens County, in the War of the Great Rebellion. |
Townships. |
No. in U. S. army. |
No. of 100 days men. |
Total |
Athens Alexander Ames Bern Carthage Canaan Dover Lee Lodi Rome Trimble Troy Waterloo York Total |
267 162 142 108 112 117 154 117 143 156 143 181 162 226 2,190 |
96 58 10 30 68 39 54 27 38 420 |
363 220 142 108 112 127 184 185 182 210 170 181 162 264 2.610 |
* Mrs. Anna Barrows, of Rome township.