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BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 461 CHAPTER III. BY COL. C. L. POORMAN. CIVIL HISTORY-FIRST TOWNSHIPS-EARLY ELECTION PRECINCTS-FIRST PUBLIC BUILDINGS - COUNTY SEAT REMOVED-COURT HOUSES AND JAILS - ROSTER OF OFFICERS, ETC. SEPTEMBER 7, 1801, Arthur St. Clair, governor of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio. Whereas, in my proclamation erecting the county of Belmont, out of territory belonging to the county of Washington formed in 1788, and the county of Jefferson formed July 29, 1797. A slight error being found in that proclamation a second one was issued November 13, 1801, of which the following is a copy: " TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES, " Northwest of the Ohio. By Arthur St. Clair, governor of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio. Whereas, in my proclamation erecting the county of Belmont, bearing date the 7th day of September last, a mistake, to-wit: the word north instead of west, in the description of one of the boundaries, crept into the press copy. To rectify the same and remove all doubts about the boundaries of the said county of Belmont, I have issued this, my present proclamation, hereby declaring that the lines of boundary shall begin (as in the aforesaid proclamation is declared) on the Ohio river to the middle of the fourth township, of the second range, of townships in the seven ranges, and running with the line between the third and fourth sections of the said township counting from the township line, but which are numbered sixteen and seventeen upon the map, produced west to the western boundary of the said seven ranges; thence south with the said western boundary to the middle of the fifth township in the seventh range; thence east to the Ohio river where the line between the ninth and tenth sections of the third township in the third range intersects the same, and thence with the Ohio river to the place of beginning; and the said lines, as above described, are hereby declared to be the lines and limits of boundary of the county of Belmont; and 462 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. are the same which were intended to be established by the aforesaid proclamation. " Given under my hand and the seal of the territory at Cincinnati, the thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one, and of the Independence of the United States, the twenty-sixth. "AR. ST. CLAIR." By the formation of Guernsey county, by act of the general assembly, dated January 31, 1810, and by the formation of Monroe county, by a similar act, dated January 29, 1813, the original boundary lines were materially changed on the west and south sides, and the territory reduced to the present limits, with which this article will chiefly deal. When the county was established, the seat of justice was fixed at "Pultney," located about a mile below the present city of Bellaire on Pultney Bottom, one of the finest on the river, being what is termed a " second bottom," and many feet above the highest floods ever known in the river. The town was laid out by Daniel McElherron, August 22, 1799, and was the first town laid out within the present limits of the county, unless it was the town of " Concord," in Colerain township, and both alike have long since disappeared. The first court of quarter sessions of the peace, clothed with pretty large powers, met here, November 24, 1801, David Lockwood, Daniel McElherron and Jacob Repshire, composing the court, which divided the county into four townships, as follows: First Division into Townships. - The first, beginning on the Ohio river at the northern boundary of the county with that line due west to the western boundary of the county, thence south nine miles to the northwest corner of the ninth township in the seventh range, thence east with said township line to the cross-line between the thirteenth and nineteenth section of the south township in the third range; thence east to the Ohio river and up the river to the place of beginning, to be called and known by the name of Kirkwood township. " The second, to begin on the Ohio river at the southeast corner of Kirkwood township, thence with the southern boundary of said township to the western boundary of the county; thence south with said western boundary six miles to the northwest corner of the eighth township, in the seventh range; thence east with said township line to the Ohio river; thence up the river to the place of beginning, to be called and known by the name of the township of Pultney. " The third, to begin at the Ohio river at the southeast corner of township of Pultney; thence with said township line west, to the western boundary of the county, thence south with said western boundary six miles, to the northwest corner of the seventh range; thence with said township line east to the Ohio river; thence up the river to the place of beginning, to be called and known by the township of York. " The fourth, to begin on the Ohio river at the southeast corner of York township; thence with said township line west to the western BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 463 boundary of the county; thence south fifteen miles to the southern boundary of the county; thence east with said boundary line to the Ohio river; thence up the river to the place of beginning, to be called and known by the name of the township of Salem." The county was thus divided into four parallel townships extending clear across the county. This division lasted only until the February session of the court, when Kirkwood township was divided " by a line running with the range line north and south between the fourth and fifth range; the western part to retain the name of Kirkwood township, the eastern part to be called and known by the name of Richland township." Other division of the territory of the townships of Kirkwood, Pultney and York, Salem township going to Monroe county in the following order: Union township, August 15, 1804; Pease township, 1806; Warren township, January, 1807; Colerain township, June 14, 1808; Wheeling township, June 14, 1808; Goshen township; Wayne township, March 5, 1811; Mead township, January 13, 1815; Flushing township, March 14, 1817; Smith township, January 2, 1819; Somerset township, March 16, 1819; Washington township, 1830. These, with Richland and the three original townships of Kirkwood, Pultney and York, constitute the present townships of the county. Early Election Precinct's. - There were but two election precincts in 180r for the entire county. Kirkwood township composed one of them and ,the election was held at the house of Bassil Israel in Nowelstown, afterward changed to St. Clairsville. The townships of Pultney, York and Salem constituted the other, the place of election to be in the town of Pultney at the house of Jacob Repshire. This division would indicate that at that early date the greater number of settlements were being made along the line of the Zane or Indian trail, following pretty closely the line of the great National road. In 1803, at the May term the court made each township an election precinct, elections to be held in Pultney at the house of Jacob Repshire, occupied by the court; Kirkwood to vote at the house of James Nowles; Richland to vote at the house of John Thompson, at Nowelstown; York to vote at the house of William Congleton, and Salem to vote at the house of Robert Latte. The number of election precincts was increased as new townships were formed and population increased until in 1890 there are thirty- four in the county: seven in Pultney, five in Pease, two each in Colerain, Flushing, Goshen, Kirkwood, Mead, Richland, Warren and Somerset, and one each in Smith, Union, Wayne, Washington, Wheeling and York townships. The First Grand jury. - The following persons constituted the grand jury at the November term of court 1801, the first in the county. Notley Hayes, Patrick White, John King, Anthony Riger, Joshua Martin Sherry, Thomas Duffield, William Bush, George Barnet, Peter Buzzard, John Wall, Abraham Emerine, Richard Hardesty, John Lamb, Robert Giffin, Henry Leep, Samuel Barnes, Andrew Miller, Archibald Smith and Andrew . According 464 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. to the records of this court during its sessions in 1801, it appointed " Charles Hammond to act as Prosecutor until he should be legally appointed by the Attorney General," which was done in 1802. The court also ordered that a road should be opened from the town of Pultney to Nowelstown, Jacob Coleman, surveyor. A license was also granted for the " Zane's road " from the river at the north of Indian Wheeling creek through the county on nearly the site of the present National road. At the February term, 1802, an indictment against Jacob Repshire, one of the magistrates the preceding year, for " assault and battery " was quashed, two such indictments having been formed against him in the fall of 1801. Constables and Supervisors Appointed. - At this term of the court, the following persons were appointed to act as constables and supervisors: Kirkwood Constables: William Congleton and Thomas Richards. Supervisors: Thomas Richards, William Boggs, Joshua Hatcher and James Knowles. Pultney Constables: Philip Dover and Joseph Lashley. Supervisors: Jacob Repshire, Esq., and David Wherry. York Constable: Samuel Dille. Supervisors: John Dille, Ephraim Bates and Michael Moore. First Public Buildings. - The November, term of the court for 1801, was held at the house of Jacob Repshire, one of the judges. Upon the court journal for this session, there is the following entry as to a new court house: " That there be built on the public grounds in the town of Pultney, a brick house 35 feet square, two stories high. The first story to be 12 feet in the clear and the second, 8 feet in the clear. The same to be occupied as a court house for this county." Jacob Repshire, David Lockwood (two of the judges) and Samuel Dille, were appointed to purchase materials to the amount of $500.00 for court house. In the following February, they were empowered to make additional purchases of material and employ additional workmen, if necessary, for the speedy completion of the building and complete the same. They were also ordered to erect a house 24x15 feet, of hewn logs, with shingle roof, strongly built, with a large partition across the center, to be occupied as a " goal." The latter was built by Richard Buttler, and on May 26, 1802, he was given an order for $165.00, for building it. August 25, 1802, the court ordered to be erected in the town of Pultney, a pound, 66 feet square. " To be built of posts and rails, of good oak timber, and have a sufficient gate hung on good iron hinges, and fastened with a good lock and key." Pound to be used for the safe keeping of estrays. Proceedings for the Removal of the County Seat. - The work upon the court house did not seem to be pushed as vigorously as that upon the " goal " and " pound," and early in 1803 a movement was commenced to secure the removal of the seat of justice to Richland township. The name of Nowelstown was changed to that of St. Clairsville, in honor of the governor and in hope of securing his interposition. The first general assembly under the state constitution, at Chillicothe, on April 1, 18o3, passed an act appointing John Matthews, James Brown and Robert Speer, as commissioners " To examine and report whether BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 465 a removal of the seat of justice in said county of Belmont be necessary for the convenience and accommodation of the citizens thereof," and to " certify their opinion thereon, under their hands and seals, and make out duplicates of such certificates, one copy of which shall be left with the clerk of the county court for the inspection of the citizens and the other copy they shall enclose in a letter addressed to the speaker of the senate." There are vague reports of a hilarious time at and around St. Clairsville on the occasion of the visit of these commissioners, at which time it is also said Gov. St. Clair made it convenient to be present at the town named in his honor. The report of the commission was favorable to the removal and a copy was promptly transmitted to the " speaker of the senate," and at the meeting of the second general assembly the following act found in Vol. 2, Ohio laws, was passed: "AN ACT to establish the seat of justice in the county of Belmont " WHEREAS, John Matthews, James Brown and Robert Speer commissioners for Belmont county, in pursuance to the powers delegated to them by an act entitled, An act to provide for a permanent seat of justice in the county of Belmont, passed at Chillicothe, the 1st day of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, have reported to this general assembly that on examination they do find, that St. Clairsville is the most proper place for the seat of justice in the county of Belmont, therefore, " SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Ohio, that St. Clairsville, in the county of Belmont, be and the same is hereby declared the seat of justice for the said county of Belmont, and that all courts hereafter to be holden in and for said county shall be held in the town of St. Clairsville, and all officers are required to conduct themselves accordingly." " Passed 19th January, 1804. ELIAS LANGHAM, " Speaker of House of Representatives. " NATHANIEL MASSIE, " Speaker of the Senate." The only thing to mar this apparently regular and fairly defined title is the omission by the general assembly to provide as required by the constitution of 1802, to submit the question to a vote of the people of the county. Seat of justice Removed. - In April, 1804, the seat of justice was removed from Pultney to St. Clairsville. The first court of general quarter sessions, and the county court with Calvin Pease, presiding judge, held three sessions at the house of William Congleton, on the 16th day of April, 1804, and Mr. Congleton was paid the sum of $3 for preparing rooms for the court. First Public Building. - In history there is little said about the first public buildings erected at St. Clairsville, and little is known of them by those now living. On the journal of the county commissioners at their September session, 1804, there is this entry in relation to that subject: 30 - B 466 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. " The commissioners met agreeable to adjournment, present Levin Okey, John Williams and Robert Griffin, Esquire. " The public buildings was left to the lowest bidder and struck off to Alexander Young, who, according to law, entered into bond with Sterling Johnson, his surety, for his performance of his contract whose bonds are filed with the clerk. The building was struck off at one thousand dollars for the goal and goalor's rooms, together with the roof, and seventy dollars for raising an upper story on the same for a court house, the expense of which is to be paid by donations, for which Sterling Johnson and Robert Griffin give their bonds. Likewise Sterling and William Congleton entered into bond for the furnishing the same with bench and seats, all to be done by donation." This " public buildings" was constructed of hewd logs and stood about where the present jail stands. Payments were made upon it by the county commissioners commencing with $100, December 15, 1804, and as the work progressed until December 5, 1805, when this entry appears: " Ordered, that Alexander, Young be paid out of the treasury of the county the sum of five hundred and sixty-nine dollars and eighty-three cents in full of all demands that the said Alexander Young has on the part of the county for work done to the goal and court house." There seems to be no entries during this period of any " money raised by donation" being paid into the treasury. This log public buildings" was used for jail, jailor's rooms and court house until 1814, on the completion of the brick court house and jail, when it was sold and removed and put up as a one-story house on the lot where John Frint now lives, where a part of the. logs and the old double plank door riveted together may still be seen. The Second Court House. - In February, 1813, a contract was let to build a court house. It was to be a square building, built of brick, two stories, high, with cupola or spire in the center of a roof facing each point of the compass, with the court room below and the jury rooms above, similar to the one previously erected at Steubenville, and the one still in use at Cadiz, Harrison county. Sterling Johnson had the contract for grading the ground, "the banks to be dug ten feet deep on the cross street, at the southwest corner of the present court house, to be leveled with that throughout the public ground," the sum named being $270. The building was let to William Brown, at $5,640, and to be ready for use by the first of April, 1815, but was completed eight months before the time specified, and on July 16, 1814, Peter Tallman, the father of James Tallman, now living in Bellaire, and Alexander Boggs (Joseph Morrison, not present) commissioners, met and appointed a committe of mechanics to examine the work. James Marshal, of Steubenville, a carpenter, and Nicholas Brown, of Steubenville, were apppointed and met at the court house in August, and after examination, reported that said court house was complete in all respects. The Second Tail in St Clairsville. - The construction of the second jail was let to the parties who built the court house, on the 19th of March, 1819, Sterling Johnson to do the grading, and William Brown to build BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 467 the jail " of brick like those used in the erection of the court house, and to be two stories high," the first story to be nine feet with an entry six feet wide through the middle, and to contain four rooms -two for dungeons and two for jailor's rooms. The second story was to be eight feet high, and divided as the first floor — two for debtor's rooms and two for jailor's rooms, to be completed by January 1, 1821, at $95 for grading, and $3,040 for the erection of the building. The work was completed and paid for according to contract. The Third Tail and Tailor's Residence. - The third county jail was built in 1842 on contract with Baily & Collins, of brick and stone, at a cost of $3,902.00, as gathered from payments in the treasurer's books, in the absence of any record of the contract upon the commissioners' journal. The Present Splendid Buildings. - The present court house, sheriff's residence, and jail (we have ceased to build " goal and goaler's rooms") are among the finest in the state, and the people, while they complain at the large sum expended in their construction, are justly proud of them. The old buildings, particularly the court house, was looked upon as unworthy of a large, wealthy, populous county like Belmont, but new ones were not built because a fierce county seat controversy, beginning in 1857, when railroads began to change the channels of trade, and continuing almost incessantly, increasing each year in intensity, between the friends of the present location, and those who thought that the county seat should be returned to Pultney township, because in later years under Changed methods of communication, the majority of population being upon the railroads and river, would be better and more economically accommodated with the county seat at Bellaire. Any movement, under these conditions, for a new court house, was antagonized by both sides and frequent repairs were ordered to keep the old one in passable condition. The republican county convention in 1883, passed a resolution to the effect that there was to be no agitation of the county seat question durthe next two years, and nominated Samuel Hilles, of Barnesville, who had served four years as sheriff, for representative on that platform. The legislature was democratic, and having been carefully impressed with the idea that it would make this county permanently democratic, a bill was introduced by a member from Cleveland, and rushed through against the protests of both our senator and representative, and without giving the people of the county an opportunity to be heard, the bill was rushed through under a suspension of the rules, authorizing the construction of the new buildings at a cost not to exceed $100,000. When this law was enacted Owen Mehan, Nathaniel Taylor and Morris Cope were county commissioners. Several plans were submitted of structures that the architects thought might be contracted for within the limits of $100,000, fixed in the law. The plan prepared by J. W. Yost, architect of Columbus, was adopted and after advertising as required, for bids, the contracts were let to William J. McClain, Bellaire, for stone work; Doarzbach & Decker, for wood work and 468 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. plastering; Simon Cain, of Cleveland, for brick work; Lane Bros., of Newark, for iron work; and John V Fisher, of Columbus, for painting and glazing; the agregate bids amounting to $97,000. The law provided for a committee to approve plans and specifications, which was composed of Thomas Cochran, probate judge, Leroy C. Sedwick, sheriff, William P. Cash, clerk 0f the courts, and William Alexander, appointed by the judge of the court of common pleas. Work had but fairly commenced upon the foundation when it was discovered that the ground selected was bad, and additional work in securing a substantial foundation cost about $20,000 more than the estimates. The plans were changed, cut-stone was substituted for brick in the body of the building and other changes made adding greatly to the cost. Additional legislation was secured, authorizing the borrowing of an additional $50,000, and the levying of taxes to be used in the construction, and the work went on under the watchful eye of Mr. T. E. Clark, the superintendent, until completed and dedicated. Sherriff's Residence and Tail. - As soon as the new court house was completed, the old one, on the site of which the sheriff's residence was to be built, was torn down and a unique, modern two story brick building was erected as a sheriff's residence. The old jail was torn down and a new one, on modern plans, erected in a substantial manner, and with the court house present an imposing appearance that the citizens may well feel proud of. Official Statement of Cost of Present Buildings. - ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio, June, 1889.—The following statement exhibits the cost of the new public buildings at St: Clairsville, Ohio. Total cost of buildings, including net cast of site, $272,484.52. The following items show the purposes for which the above sum was paid: Net cost of site - $3,952.00 Surveyor - 58.00 Advertising - 462.23 Arbitrators - 124.00 Building committee - 263.00 Grading, curbing, paving, etc - 4,976.75 Extra depth stone foundation - 14,500,00 Stone work superstructure - 57,135.41 Boiler house and stack, brick in tunnel - 12,391.2i Iron work - 53,686.69 Furniture - 13,270.33 Gas machine and gas fixtures - 5,327.59 Roofing and galvanized work - 14,103.59 Sheriff's residence - 11,090.27 Carpenter work - 18,112.73 Steam heating - 17,443.98 Filing - 3,998.05 Brick work - 17,730.02 Painting and frescoing - 5,212.20 Amount paid other contractors, cisterns, etc - 3,278.54 Clock, - $1,436.10; carpets, $707.26 - 2,143.36 BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO- 469 Architect's percentage - $7,310.47 Architect's fee, extra trips - 325.00 Superintendent's wages - 4,400.00 Attorney's fee, McClain vs. Commissioners - 300.00 Treasurer's fees - 888.19 Total - $272,484.52 Deduct from total cost bonded indebtedness - 155,000.00 Amount paid by annual levy - $117,484.52 We have deducted amount received from sale of public property and premium on bonds, viz., $7,448.00, from the amount paid for new site, viz., $11,40000, which leaves the above net amount as cost of site to county. The cost Of sheriff's residence, as stated above, includes a considerable amount which properly belongs to cost of jail, but cannot be separated, as it was contracted for with the residence, MORRIS COPE, Commissioners W. C. Berry, of J. C. ISRAEL,) Belmont Co. List of Officials Elected to Various Positions. - We append a list of public officials elected, in whole or in part, by the voters of Belmont county since the organization of the county, as far as they can now be ascertained. Representatives in Congress. The following persons have been representatives in congress from the district in, which Belmont county was situated, from the time of its organization as a county: Jeremiah Morrow, of Warren county, five times elected representative at large for the state from 1803 to 1813, serving in the Eighth to Twelfth congresses; James Caldwell, Belmont county, from 1813-17; Samuel Herrick, Muskingum county, 1817-21; John Chright,* and David Chambers, Muskingum county, 1821-23; John Patterson, Belmont county, 1823-25; David Jennings, + and Thomas Sherman, Belmont county, 1825-27; John Davenport, Belmont county, 1827-29; Judge William Kennon, Belmont county, 1829-33; Judge M. Ball, Guernsey county, 1833-35; Judge William Kennon, Belmont county, 1835-37; James Alexander, Jr., Belmont county, 1837-39; Isaac Parrish, Guernsey county, 1839-41; Benjamin S. Cowan, Belmont county, 1841-43; Joseph Morris, Monroe county, 1843-47; William Kennon, Jr., Belmont county, 1847-49; W. F. Hunter, Monroe county, 1849-53; William Shannon, Belmont county, 1853-55; Charles J. Albright, Guernsey county, 1855-57; William T. Lawrence, Guernsey county, 1857-59; Thomas C. Theates, Belmont county, 1859-61; James R. Morris, Monroe county, 1861-63; J. W. White, Guernsey county, 1863-65; John A. Bingham, Harrison county, 1865-73; Lorenzo Danford, Belmont county, 1873-79; J. T. Updegraff, ++ Jefferson county, 1879-84; Joseph D. Taylor, Guernsey county, 1884-91. * John Chright resigned; + David Jennings resigned. ++ J. T. Updegraff died in 1884. 470 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. Slate Senators.-Under the constitution of 1802 senators and representatives were elected every year, and under the constitution of 1851 once in two years. 1803, William Vance and Thomas Kirker; 1804, William Vance; 1805-6, Joseph Sharp; 1807-8, Joseph Dillon; 1808-11, James Caldwell; 1813-14, Charles Hammond; 1815-18, James Caldwell; 1819-24, David Jennings; 1825-26, John Davenport; 1827-28, William Hubbard; 1829-30, Thomas Shannon; 1831-32, William Dunn; 1833-34, James Alexander, Jr.; 1835-36, George Sharp; 1837-40, Thomas Shannon; 1841, Chancy Dewey; 1842-44, Robert H. Miller; 1845-46, Benjamin Backall; 1847-48, Edward Archibald; 1849-52, William P. Simpson; 1854, David Allen; 1856, Charles Warfel; 1858, Isaac Holloway; 1860, Marshall McCall; 1862, Isaac Welsh; 1864, John C. Jamison; 1866, Henry West; 1868-70, James B. Jamison; 1872-74, Samuel Knox; 1876-78, David Wagoner; 1880-82, D. A. Hollingsworth; 1884-86, Solomon Hogue; 1888, George W. Glover; 1890, J. W. Nichols. Representatives.- Representatives elected to the general assembly from Belmont county: 1803, Joseph Sharp and Elijah Woods to the general assembly, at Chillicothe, March 1, 1803, and Josiah Dillon and James Smith to the one that convened in December, 1803; 1804, Thomas Wilson and John Stewart; 1805, John Stewart and James Smith; 1806, Josiah Dillon and John Stewart; 1807, William Vance and John Patterson; 1808, Joseph Sharp, Edward Bryson and Isaac Vore; 1809, Joseph Sharp, Isaac Vore and Josiah Dillon; 1810, Elijah Woods, Moses Morehead and William Smith; 181 i, James Smith, Thomas Mitchell and Joseph Sharp; 1812, Josiah Dillon, Jacob Myers and Peter Yarnel; 1813, Moses Morehead, Ambrose Danford and William Sinclair; 1814, Joseph Sharp, Edward Bryson and Thomas Majors; 1815, David Wallace, James Smith and Thomas Majors; 1816, Charles Hammond, Thomas Townsend and Edward Bryson; 1817, Charles Hammond, George Paull and William Dunn; 1818, Charles Hammond, George Paull and William Dunn; 1819, William Dunn, Thomas Shannon and John Smith; 1820, William Dunn, Thomas Shannon and Charles Hammond; 1821, William Dunn, Thomas Shannon and Alexander Armstrong; 1822, William Dunn, Thomas Shannon and Alexander Armstrong; 1823, William Perrine, Isaac Atkinson and John Scatterday; 1824, John Davenport and Thomas Shannon; 1825, William Perrine and William Dunn; 1826; William Dunn and Eli Nichols; 1827, James Weir and Crawford Welsh; 1828, William Dunn and Crawford Welsh; 1829, Crawford Welsh, James Weir and Andrew Patterson; 1830, John Davenport and James Alexander; 1831, John Patton, William Workman and William B. Hubbard; 1832, John Patton and William Workman; 1833, Joseph A. Ramage and John Thompson; 1834, Joseph A. Ramage and Solomon Bentley; 1835, Solomon Bentley and William Chambers; 1836, James Weir; 1837, Ephraim Gaston and Isaac H. Green; 1838, Henry West; 1839, Henry West and Thomas A. Way; 1840, Crawford Welsh and John Koontz; 1841, William Workman and Samuel Dunn; 1842, Thomas Pitcher; 1843, Samuel Dunn and Will- BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 471 iam R. Carle; 1844, Benjamin S. Cowan and Peter Tallman; 1845, Benjamin S. Cowan; 1846, John C. Kerr and William Hogue; 1847, Miller Pennington; 1848, Samuel Bigger; 1849, John A. Wayer and Hugh McNeely; 1850, Archibald C. Ramage and James J. Grimes; 1851, Archibald C. Ramage and Price Cornwell; 1853, Eli V. Cleaver and Samuel Findley; 1855, James A. Turner and Robert Hamilton; 1857, Isaac Welsh; 1859, Isaac Welsh; 1861, Wilson S. Kennon; 1863, Robert E. Chambers; 1865, Coulson Davenport; 1867, Coulson Davenport and John Patterson; 1869, John W. Kennon and Thomas M. Nichol; 1871, John A. Wayer; 1873, Thomas H. Armstrong; 1875, Eli V. Cleaver and William Bundy; 1877, Ross J. Alexander and Harvey Danford; 1879, David Wagoner; 1883, Samuel Hilles; 1885, Samuel Hilles and C. L. Poorman; 1887, C. L. Poorman and A. T. McKelvey; 1889, A. T. McKelvey. Sheriffs.-1801-03, Jacob Coleman (appointed) ; 1803-09, Josiah Hedges; 1809-12, James Hedges; 1812-13, Anthony Weir; 1813-19, David Moore; 1819-24, William Perrine; 1824-26, Solomon Bentley, Sr.; 1826-30, Ezer Ellis; 1830-32, Solomon Bentley, Sr.; 1832-36, William H. Johnson; 1836-38, John Lippencott; 1838-44, William P. Simpson; 1844-48, Hugh McNeely; 1848-50, James McConaughy; 1850-56, J. C. Nichols; 1856-60, John S. Anderson; 1860-64, Patrick Lochary; 1864-66, George H. Umstead; 1866-68, Samuel B. Piper; 1868-70, William H. Hays; 1870-76, William C. Cochran, 1876-78, William G. Kinney; 1878-82, Samuel Hilles; 1882-86, Leroy. C. Sedwick; 1886-90, E. 0. Foulke. Treasurers. -1801-04, Daniel McElherren (appointed) ; 1804-07, Andrew Marshall (appointed) ; 1807-12, Josiah Hedges (appointed) ; 1812-14, Jeremiah Fairhurst (appointed) ; 1814-25, Solomon Bentley; 1825-27, James Kelsey; 1827-33, John McElroy; 1833-39, Jacob Neiswanger; 1839-43, John Eaton, Jr.; 1843-45, J. M. Mitchell; 1845-49, Lycurgus Jennings; 1849-53, John Kelley; 1853-57, Thomas Johnson; 1857-59, John Twinan; 1859-61, Isaac H. Patterson; 1861-63, Amos Glover; 1863-67, Barkley Cooper; 1867-71, James Irwin; 1871-73, Andrew Porterfield; 1873-77, William J. Kelley; 1877-81, Hamilton Eaton; 1881-85, A. L. Feeley; 1885-89, George Robinson; 1889, Frank Archer. Clerks of the Court.- 1801-6, Elijah Woods, appointed; 1806-10, James Caldwell, appointed; 1810-13, Josiah Hedges, appointed; 1813-26, Ezer Ellis, appointed; 1826-34, Peter Tallman, Sr., appointed; 1834-46, John C. Tallman, appointed; 1846-50, R. H. Miller, appointed; 1850-51, John H. Heaton, appointed; 1851-52, St. Clair Kelley, appointed; 1852-55, John H. Heaton; 1855-56, William R. Carroll; 1856-57, David S. Adams, appointed; 1857-60, S. W. Gaston; 1860-63, David S. Adams; 1863-66, J. F. Charlesworth; 1866-69, Joseph R. Mitchell; 1869-72, James B. Campbell; 1872-78, Joseph R. Mitchell; 1878-84, Alexander C. Darrah; 1884-90, William B. Cash; 1890, Samuel F. Davies. County Commissioners.- 1804, Leven Okey, John McWilliams and Robert Griffin; 1806, Leven Okey, John McWilliams and Alexander 472 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. Boggs; 1808, Leven Okey, John McWilliams and Sterling Johnson; 1810, John McWilliams, Sterling Johnson and Peter Tallman; 1811, John McWilliams, Peter Tallman and Alexander Boggs; 1818, Peter Tallman, Alexander Boggs and Joseph Morrison; 1821, Joseph Morrison, David Neiswanger and John Nichols; 1824, Joseph Morrison, David Neiswanger and John Nichols; 1829, David Smith, Isaac Barton, and David Neiswanger; 1830, David Smith, Isaac Barton and David Neiswanger; 1833, David Neiswanger, Isaac Barton and Thomas Heaney; 1836, Thomas Armstrong, Isaac Barton and Thomas Heaney; 1837, Thomas Armstrong, Isaac Barton and Isaac Patton; 1838, William Workman, William Cook and Isaac Patton; 1839, William Workman, John Cook and Isaac Patton; 1840, Peter A. Dallas, John Cook and Thomas Pilcher; 1842, Peter A. Dallas, Robert B. Green and Thomas Pilcher; 1843, John Lisle, Robert B. Green and William Workman; 1844, John Lisle, Robert B. Green and David Harris; 1845, John Lisle, Robert B. Green and Stephen C. Gregg; 1846, David Harris, Jacob Coleman and Stephen C. Gregg; 1847, David Harris, Jacob Coleman and Stephen C. Gregg; 1848, David Harris, Jacob Coleman and Stephen C. Gregg; 1849, David Harris, James Norman and Stephen C. Gregg; 1850, S. C. Vance, James Newman and Stephen C. Gregg; 1851, S. C. Vance, James Newman and Ira Lewis; 1852, S. C. Vance, James Newman and Ira Lewis; 1853, Thomas Majors, James Newman and Ira Lewis; 1854, Thomas Majors, Hatcher and Michael Danford; 1855, Thomas Majors, Hatcher and Michael Danford; 1856, John Majors, John Johnson and Michael Danford; 1857, John Majors, John Johnson and Michael Danford; 1858, John Majors, John Johnson and Harrison Massie; 1859, J. T. Scholfield, George C. Bethel and Harrison Massie; 1860, J. T. Scholfield, George C. Bethel and William Wilkinson; 1861, J. T. Scholfield, James Alexander and William Wilkinson; 1862, Jesse Barton, James Alexander and William Wilkinson; 1863, Jesse Barton, James Alexander and William Wilkinson; 1864, Jesse Barton, James Alexander and William Wilkinson; 1865, Dennis Kemp, James Alexander and William Wilkinson; 1866, Dennis Kemp, James Alexander and W. M. Campbell; 1867, Dennis Kemp, James Alexander and James. Campbell; 1868, H. Frasher. James Alexander and James Campbell; 1869, H. Frasher, James Alexander and William Armstrong; 1870, H. Frasher, James Alexander and William Armstrong; 1871, H. Frasher, William Armstrong and James Kinney; 1872, B. E. Dugan, William Armstrong and James Kinney; 1873, B. E. Dugan, James Alexander and Solomon Hougue; 1874, William Barber, James Alexander and Solomon Hougue; 1875, William Barber, I. J. Potts and Solomon Hougue; 1876, William Barber, I. J. Potts and A. W. Anderson; 1877, H. Frasher, I. J. Potts and A. W. Anderson; 1878, H. Frasher, I. J. Potts and A. W. Anderson; 1879, H. Frasher, I. J. Potts and Owen Mehan; 1880, Owen Mehan, I. J. Potts and William Alexander; 1881, Owen Mehan, William Alexander and Morris Cope; 1882, Owen Mehan, William Alexander and Morris Cope; 1883, Owen Mehan, Nathaniel Taylor and Morris Cope; 1884, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 473 Owen Mehan, Nathaniel Taylor and Morris Cope; 1885, W. J. Berry, Nathaniel Taylor and Morris Cope; 1886, W. J. Berry, John C. Israel and Morris Cope; 1887, W. J. Berry, John C. Israel and Morris Cope; 1888, W. J. Berry, John C. Israel and Morris Cope; 1889, W. J. Berry, John C. Israel and Morris Cope; 1890, W. J. Berry, John Israel and Miles Hart. County Auditors.-- 1823-25, Peter Tallman; 1825-36, William McNeely; 1836-38, G. S. Nagle; 1838-40, William Anderson; 1840-42, T. Hoge: 1842-44, William Dunn; 1844-48, William Pancost; 1848-52, David Allen; 1852-54, David Trueman; 1854-56, J. F. Charlesworth; 1856-58, Stephen Gressenger; 1858-62, C. L. Poorman; 1862-66, R. S. Clark; 1866-71, R. M. Clark; 1871-73, John B. Longley; 1873-77, W. E. Stamp; 1877-81, W. N. Coffland; 1881-84, R. R. Barrett; 1885, D. H. Darrah, appointed; 1886-89, R. R. Barrett; 1889-92, Joseph Henderson. Prosecuting Attorneys.- 1801-1804, Charles Hammond, appointed; 1804-08, Jacob Nagle, appointed; 1808-15, George Paull„ appointed; 1815-25, David Jennings, appointed; 1825-33, W. B. Hubbard, appointed; 1833-37, Wilson Shannon; 1837-41, William Kennon; 1841-45, R. J. Alexander; 1845-49, Carlo C. Carroll; 1849-51, Joseph A. Ramage; 1851-55, Isaac E. Eaton; 1855-59, D. D. T. Cowan; 1859-61, Lorenzo Danford; 1861-65, John A. Work; 1865-67, Robert H. Cochran; 1867-71, John W. Shannon; 1871-77, Wilson S. Kennon; 1877-81, Robert M. Eaton; 1881-87, N. W. Kennon; 1887-90, Jesse W. Hollingsworth. Probate judges.-1851-57, David Harris; 1857-63, Robert Claudy; 1863-66, C. W. Carroll; 1866-69, A. W. Anderson; 1869-78, C. W. Carroll; 1878-84, Thomas Cochran; 1884-90, Isaac H. Gaston. Recorders.* -- 1804, Sterling Johnson, William Faris, G. S. Nagle, Peter Tallman, William Faris, Robert Griffin, M. J. Ward, George Anderson; 1843-49, S. M. Howey; 1849-55, Felix Martin; 1855-64, John Bickham; 1865-74, John C. Bolon; 1874-77, William Barnes; 1877-80, James Barnes; 1880-86, W. B. Hobbs; 1886-90, John M. Beckett. Coronors.-1801-06, John Dungan; 1806-14, Joseph Morrison; 1814-23, William Stevenson; 1823-28, Wilmeth Jones; 1828-30, John S. Nagle; 1830-32, John Scatterday; 1832-34, Robert McMasters; 1834-36, William Kinney; 1836-38, Moses Rhodes; 1838-40, Joseph Moore; 1840-41, Joseph Hargrave; 1841-43, James Smith; 1843-45, H. Ferguson; 1845-49, Oliver Cunningham; 1849-53, James Nichol; 1853-59, Patrick Lochary; 1859-63, George Creswell; 1863-65, William Wilkinson; 1865-66, Andrew Grubb; 1866-70, George Creswell; 1870-72, E. B. Kenneday; 1872-78, Thomas Garrett; 1878-82, E. B. Kenneday; 1882-84, Thomas Garrett; 1884-86, J. Creswell; 1886-87, Samuel Martin; 1887-90, A. M. F. Boyd. Infirmary Directors, when elected: 1842, William Lemon, Alexander Hannah and J. C. Anderson; 1843, Henry West; 1844, Stephen Pancost; 1845, Reuben Miller; 1846, George * Served in the order named. 474 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. Vanlaw; 1847, Stephen Pancost; 1848, A. Lodge and F. R. Phillips; 1849, George Vanlaw; 1850, Jacob Gosset; 1851, Abner Lodge; 1852, Baalam Nichols; 1853, Hugh Ferguson; 1854, Baalam Nichols; 1855, F. R. Phillips; 1856, Hugh Ferguson; 1857, F. R. Phillips; 1858, Hugh Ferguson; 1859, Abner Lodge; 1860, Oliver Taylor; 1861, William Caldwell; 1862, John Taggart; 1863, R. J. Pollock; 1864, William Caldwell; 1865, Baalam Nichols; 1866, Nathaniel Taylor; 1867, William Cal-dwell; 1868, William Parkinson; 1869, Nathaniel Taylor; 1870, Jacob Gosset; 1871, William Parkinson; 1872, William Ramage; 1873, Thomas Lodge; 1874, John Alexander and N. Taylor; 1875, William Parkinson; 1876, Laban Lodge; 1877; Nathaniel Taylor; 1878, William Parkinson: 1879, J. B. Ritchey; 1880, Joseph Bailey; 1881, Levi W. Jones; 1882, J. B. Ritchey; 1883, Joseph Bailey; 1884, John Sidebottom; 1885, William Lodge; 1886, B. McConaughey; 1887, J. A. Clark; 1887, B. McConaughey; 1888, William Lodge; 1889, J. A. Clark. Political Conditions.- In the earlier years there was but little political contention, and in Ohio parties were not well defined until after the divisions growing out of the presidential election of 1824, in which Jackson, Clay, Adams and Crawford were all candidates and all professing to be republicans, and neither was elected, but a union of the friends of Clay and Adams in the house of representatives resulted in the election of Adams, although Jackson had much the largest following. From that date the democratic party appears as a distinct factor, and its first national convention was held in 1830, since which time the parties have been known, at different times as democratic, whig, republican, free soil, know-nothing, American and greenbacker, labor reform and prohibition. Arthur St. Clair, the territorial governor, was appointed July 13, 1788, and served until the close of 1802, when he was removed by Thomas Jefferson, and Charles W. Byrd, of Hamilton county, secretary of the territory, acted as governor until March 3, 1803. He was succeeded by Gov. Edward Tiffin, who received 571 votes in Belmont county, and resigned March 3, 1807, to accept the position of United States senator. Subsequent elections for governor, with vote cast for each candidate and the party each represented, are here given: Vote for Candidates for Governor: 1807 - Return J. Meigs, 705; Nathaniel Massie, 174. 1808 - Samuel Huntington, 451; Thomas Worthington, 816; Thomas Kirker, 1. 1810 - Return J. Meigs, 448; Return J. Meigs, Jr., 39; Thomas Worthington, 495. 1812 - Return J. Meigs, 1,393; Thomas Scott, 73. 1814 - Thomas Worthington, 000; Othniel Looker, 00. 1816 - Thomas Worthington, 000; James Dunlap, o0; Ethan - A. Brown, 00. 1818 - Ethan A. Brown, 1,592; James Dunlap, 21. 1820 - Ethan A. Brown, 1,842; Jeremiah Morrow, 15, 1822 - Jeremiah Morrow, 000; Allen Trimble, 00; W. W. Irwin, 00. BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO - 475 1824- Jeremiah Morrow, 1,268; Allen Trimble, 1,191. 1826 - Allen Trimble, 1,937; John Bigger, 113; Alexander Campbell, 395; Benjamin Tappan, 574. 1828 - Allen Trimble, 1,975; John W. Campbell, 1,892. 1830 - Duncan McArthur (Repub.), 1,822; Robert Lucas (Democrat), 1,468. 1832 - Robert Lucas JD.), 2,370; Darius Lyman (Whig and Anti-Mason), 2,19(. 1834 - Robert Lucas (D.), 2,107; James Findlay (W.), 2,230. 1836 - Joseph Vance (W.), 2,666; Eli Baldwin (D.), 2,358. 1838 - Wilson Shannon (D.), 2,670; Joseph Vance (W.), 2,220. 1840 - Thomas Corwin (W.), 3,195; Wilson Shannon (D.), 2,806. 1842 - Thomas Corwin (W.), 2,770; Wilson Shannon (D.), 2,865; Leicester King (Abol.), 171. 1844 - Mordecai Bartley (W.), 3,081; David Todd (D.), 2,867. 1846 - William Bebb (W.), 2,475; David Todd (D.), 1,857; Samuel Lewis (A.), 194. 1848 - John B. Weller (D.), 2,797; Seabury Ford (W.), 3,169. 1850 - Reuben Wood (D.), 2,456; William Johnston (W.), 2,834; Edward Smith (A.), .69. 1851 - Reuben Wood (D.), 2,562; Samuel F. Vinton (W.), 2,747; Samuel Lewis (A.), 196. 1853 - William Medill (D.), 1,964; Nelson Barrere (W.), 1,478; Samuel Lewis (A.), 1,288. 1855 - William Medill (D.), 1,853; Allen Trimble (Know-Nothing), 1,003; Salmon P. Chase (Rep.), 1,750. 1857 - Salmon P. Chase (R.), 1,572; Henry B. Payne (D.), 2,417; Phil. Van Trump (Am.), 950. 1859 - William Dennison (R.), 2,280; Rufus P. Ranney (D.), 2,591. 1861 - David Todd (R.), 3,025; Hugh J. Jewett (D.), 3,138. 1863 - John Brough (R.), 3,979; Clement L. Vallandigham (D.) , 3,257. 1865 - Jacob D. Cox (R.), 3,363; George W. Morgan (D.), 3,289. 1867 - Rutherford B. Hayes (R.), 3,412; Allen G. Thurman (D.), 3,971. 1869 - Rutherford B. Hayes (R.), 3,248; George H. Pendleton (D.) , 3,764. 1871 - Edward F. Noyes (R.), 3,899; George W. McCook (D.), 3,681; Gideon T. Stewart, (Pro.), 38. 1873 - Edward F. Noyes (R.), 3,614; William Allen (D.), 3,394. Gideon T. Stewart (Pro.), 230; Isaac Collins (Lib.), 16. 1875 - William Allen (D.), 4,588; Rutherford B. Hayes (R.), 4,514. 1877 - William H. West (R.), 4,055; Richard M. Bishop (D.), 4,632; Stephen Johnson, 13; Henry A. Thompson, 19. 1879 - Charles Foster (R.), 0,000; Thomas Ewing (D.), 0,000; Gideon T. Stewart (Pro.), 000; A. Saunder Pratt, 000; John Hood (G. L.), 000. 1881 - Charles Foster (R.), 4,671; John W. Bookwalter (D.), 4,527; A. B. LudlQw (Pro.), 102; John Seitz (G. L.), 68. 476 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. 1883 - Joseph B. Foraker (R.), 5,532; George Hoadley (D.), 5,426; Charles Jenkins (Pro.), 41; E. Schumaker (G. L.), 26. 1885 - Joseph B. Foraker (R.), 5,765; George Hoadley (D.), 5,131; A. B. Leonard (Pro.), 335; J. W. Winthrop (G. L.), 7. 1887 - Joseph B. Foraker (R.), 5,991; Thomas E. Powell (D.) , 5,507; Morris Sharp (Pro.), 441; John Seitz (G. L.), 15. 1889 - Joseph B. Foraker (R.) , 5,820; James E. Campbell (D.) , 5,601; John P. Helwig (Pro.), 598; John H. Rhodes (G. L.), 4. |