CHAPTER XVIII.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS-UNDISCOVERED ORE MINES-THE POPULATION-THE FIRST ELECTION-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-THE TOWNS: GLENCOE, LOYDSVILLE AND STEWARTSVILLE-ST. CLAIRSVILLE, THE COUNTY SEAT-THE INCORPORATION AND FIRST OFFICIALS-THE FIRST TAVERNS AND MARKET HOUSE-THE FIRST BUSINESS HOUSES-THE FIRST COURT HOUSE AND THE ^"OLD COURT HOUSE"-THE POPULATION, AND MUNICIPAL OFFICERS-THE GREAT FIRE-SOME OLD CITIZENS-THE OLDEST BUILDING-ST. CLAIRSVILLE'S RAILROAD FACILITIES —THE POSTMASTERS-THE BANKS-THE ST. CLAIRSVILLE SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT-THE CHURCHES-THE ST. CLAIRSVILLE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION'-BELMONT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-SECRET SOCIETIES-DRUMMOND POST, G. A. R.—THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.

Richland township is perhaps the largest township in the county. It is bounded by Wheeling and Colerain townships on the north, Pease and Pultney on the east, and Mead and Smith townships on the south, and Union on the west. As its name implies, the soil is rich and the land throughout the township is underlaid with a wealth of coal and limestone. As heretofore indicated the township was erected from parts of Kirkwood and Pultney townships in 1802.

SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS.

The first settler was probably Richard Hardesty who located on Wheeling Creek in 1795 and a number of his descendants live in the neighborhood of the old homestead today. The same year William Boggs settled on section 10 where he opened the first coal mine. After the lapse of a century Boggs' extensive coal mines are in operation north of St. Clairsville. Isaac Cowgill was the first emigrant tocross Wheeling ferry where he located on section 16 and built the first hewed-log cabin in the county and the name is a familiar one among the farmers of Richland township today.

Among the first settlers whose descendants are still living on or near the old homesteads after the lapse of a century were: Joseph and Andrew Anderson, Abraham and Frederick Amrine, John Arrick, Valentine, Peter and Philip Ault, Isaiah Allen, William Askew, David and Samuel Barnes, George and Elizabeth Beam, John Berry, Jacob Brown and Nicholas Brown, Alexander Boggs, Rees Branson, James Barnes, William Bell, M. C. Carroll, Sarah Coleman, Henry Close, Adam Kaufman, Jacob Clevinger, Joseph Craft, Isaac Cowgill, Lamb Clark, Richard Copeland, James Caldwell, Andrew Dickey, Robert Duncan, Daniel Dillie, Robert Dent, Andrew Foreman, Alexander Gaston, Isaac Hogue, David Hutchinson, Michael Groves, Zachiel Hays,

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John and Joseph Henderson, John Jepson, Joseph R. Johnson, Sterling Johnson, Abram Lash, Abner Lodge, David Neiswanger, Thomas Mitchell, Samuel Muchmore, William McMillan, William McFarland,James Murdock, James Morrison, Richard Meek, Joseph Marshall, Jesse McGee, John and James Martin. Jacob Merritt, John Norris, David Newell, Henry Neff, Mathew Patterson, William and John Warnock, Isaac and Samuel Wilson, Hance Wiley, Isaachar Foulke, Crawford Welsh, Joseph Patton, Levi Pickering, Jonas Pickering, William Porterfield, Robert Porterfield, John Pickett, John Patterson, George Paull, Richard Riley, John Shepherd, Jonathan Sutton, William and Francis Smith, Samuel Stonebreaker. Thomas and John Smith, John Simpson, Robert Thompson, John Thompson, Israel and Joseph Updegraff and John Taggart.

The preceding are familiar names in Richland and adjoining townships today. Many of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the county are lineal descendants of these pioneer settlers, and are prominently identified with the commercial and manufacturing, as well as the agricultural, industries of the county.

Mrs. Priscilla Baldwin says when her grandfather Isaachar Foulke above mentioned came of the county in 1810 he located upon a farm three miles east of Newellstown (St. Clairsville) and on the road then leading to Flushing. She said that at that time the old Indian trail passed by her father's home and over this trail Indians traveled between Monroe and Guernsey pausing at the trading post at the foot of the "big hill" to exchange their copper, lead and furs.

UNDISCOVERED ORE MINES.

These Indians were always accompanied by an interpreter who told Mr. Foulke that there were silver, copper and lead mines in Monroe and Guernsey counties and the evidence of the truth of these statements was the ores they carried with them for trading.

These bands of Indians would always camp at Bear Camp just east of Belmont going one way, and at the Indian Springs now owned by William Clark's heirs near St. Clairsville going the other. Mrs. Baldwin's father always expressed the belief that these mines would ultimately be discovered.

THE POPULATION

Of Richland township in 1804 was the largest in Belmont County and in 1820 it was 3,379, with but one voting precinct, located at St. Clairsville. The census of 1900 shows a population of 4,367, a gain of 988. Because of the fact that Richland township is a purely agricultural township, the increase in population has not been as marked as in the townships along our river front. The assessor's returns however for 1902 show an increase over last year of $28,444 while the tax levy in the township has been increased from 1.49 in 1901 to 1.56 in 1902.

THE FIRST ELECTION

Was held in St. Clairsville in 1802,it is said at the house of William Congleton, but as the records were lost for a period of seven years the first records available today reveal the fact that Isaac Cogle, Isaac Hatcher and John Carter were serving as trustees in 1809 and Josiah Hedges was clerk.

By order of the trustees, William Dent was appointed constable, and an election was called for the second Tuesday in August at which Robert Griffith, James Cloyd, Sterling Johnston and William Sinclair were elected justices of the peace.

The township officers elected in those early days were justices, constables, supervisors, overseers of the poor, fence viewers, township treasurer, and township clerk, and the highest vote cast in the spring of 1810 was 154.

In 1900 there were four voting precincts, namely : Glencoe, Loydsville and precincts 1 and 2 in St. Clairsville. The total vote was : Glencoe precinct, 232 ; precinct 1, 231; precinct 2, 271; precinct 3, 367; or a total of 1,101.

240 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

The township officers for 1902 are: Trustees,—Henry Morgan, Robert E. Giffen and J. T. Knox; township clerk, John Nichols; treasurer, Harry Boroff ; assessor, William McBride; justices of the peace,—D. M. Davies, John Sidebottom and John C. Michner.

There are 20 township schools in Richland township under the supervision of R. G. Hogue.

The old Zane Road, the first in the county, which was constructed under an act of government, and afterwards changed to the National Road, passes through Richland township from east to west.

THE TOWNS-GLENCOE, LOYDSVILLE AND
STEWARTSVILLE.

In addition to the county seat there are four villages in Richland township, namely : Glencoe, Loydsville, East Richland and Stewartsville.

GLENCOE was established along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in February, 1855, by John B. G. Fulton. Today it contains a population of about 200, which is increasing rapidly because of the accession of many miners in the employ of the Belmont Coal Mining Company. There are also a number of stores and a good flour mill. The school has an enrollment of about 120 and is conducted by C. A. Henry, superintendent, and Miss Ella Meek, assistant.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is the only place of worship in the village. It is included in the Demos circuit with Rev. M. W. Bevington, pastor. The officials are: Trustees,—Dr. J. H. Meek, C. A. Henry, William Barrett and P. W. Helpbringer ; stewards,—Dr. J. H. Meek and Miss Kate Henry.

The postmaster is G. K. Phillips.

The oldest citizen is Henry Neff who is now in his 92nd year. Mr. Neff is spending his closing years with his children who reside in Glencoe and the vicinity. Another octogenerian is John McNiece, who notwithstanding he is past 84 makes a daily visit to Glencoe and is hale in body and clear in mind.

One of the oldest families in this section of Belmont County are the Aults. Michael Ault, Sr., settled where Glencoe now stands and engaged in the milling business. His son Michael Ault followed in the pursuit of his father and purchased the mill property in 1836. In the prosecution of his business he ground and shipped 10,000 barrels of flour from October, 1846, to the following May, which were forwarded to different points down the river.

LOYDSVILLE is on the National Road five miles west of St. Clairsville. It has two general stores, two blacksmith shops and a wagon shop, with a population at the last census of 125. The town was laid out by Joshua Loyd in 1831.

It was upon the old Loyd homestead that the eminent statesman and financier, Hon. William Windom, was born, and some old citizens recall the fact that they witnessed the future statesman when a child making mud pies by the roadside.

Loydsville is also the western termination of rural free delivery of mail.

About one mile south of the town the Society of Friends built the old Plainfield Meeting House in 1844. This was for 50 years the church home of the Friends in Richland township. Gradually the members of the Society lessened by removal and death until the church has been abandoned and the building is now occupied by the Farmers' Grange. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Loydsville built a small frame church in 1837. For two years previous, however, they had worshiped in the school house. In 1866 a more commodious brick church was erected, the church society then having a membership of 60. In 1879-80 the pastor was Rev. W. D. Starkey, with Rev. J. M. Carr, presiding elder. The membership of the church in 1902 is 100, and the pastor in charge is Rev. J. L. Dawson. The church officials are : R. W. Palmer, A. J. Taylor, Celia Pickering, F. O. Bowles, William Shepherd, John Michner, James Nibleck and Frank Bentley.

There is one school in the Loydsville dis-

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trict, conducted by G. O. Bowles. Mr. Bowles' predecessor, W. S. Wright, taught in this district for eight or ten successive years. The present School Board consists of John Michner, C. P. Clark and F. O. Bowles.

The Loydsville Grange was organized a few years ago with a membership of about 30. The present officers are: Grand master, Thomas Bentley ; secretary, Fred Daniels ; overseer, William Lewis; steward, A. J. Taylor; treasurer, Lida Lantz; gatekeeper, W. S. Milner; chaplain, Mrs. William Lewis; and lecturer, R. G. Hogue.

The postmaster of the town is William George.

STEWARTSVILLE is a railway station and coal mining town on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, between six and seven miles west of Bellaire. It was named after John Stewart, of the late firm of Stewart & Mehan, and one of the proprietors of the Franklin mines which were organized in 1868. While the struggling mining towns of Stewartsville and St. Clairsville Junction, the latter in Pultney township, are not incorporated they have an aggregate population of 2,500, largely miners employed at the Troll, Franklin and Empire coal mines.

Near Neff's there is a neat Presbyterian Church with a membership of 100, that is ministered to by Rev. W. A. Alexander and near the Troll mines there is a new Methodist Church with a membership of 130, that is conducted by Rev. M. Strahl.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, THE COUNTY SEAT.

David Newell, the founder of the county seat, migrated from Pennsylvania in 1795 and 1796 and effected a settlement upon the summit of the most picturesque hill country in the county, and there laid out the village of Newellstown at an elevation of 1,284 feet above the sea level. It was known as Newellstown for several years, but was subsequently called St. Clairsville in honor of Gen. Arthur St. Clair at that time Governor of the Northwest Territory. The court records designatedit as St. Clairsville as early as 1802-03, and in the contest with Pultney and Franklin (now Martin's Ferry) for the county seat it won the prize in 1804 and was thereafter known as St. Clairsville. The original town contained 65 acres, but an addition of eight acres was made by William Mathers in 1803.

Some of the first lot owners were Abraham Lash, Valentine Ault, James Caldwell, Jacob Holtz, John Thompson, William Irwin, Absalom Martin, Noah Zane, Sterling Johnston, Alpheus Ferren, John Israel and Daniel Peck. The above-named purchases were made between 1800 and 1802.

St. Clairsville being on the line of the Zane Road, then the. leading thoroughfare in the county, it became the foremost trading town in Eastern Ohio, and as early as 1807 had shipped 2,000 pounds of snakeroot and ginseng in a single year to Eastern markets and hundreds of barrels of flour were wagoned to Wheeling and floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans.

F. Cummings in his tour through Belmont County heretofore mentioned has this to say of St. Clairsville in 1807: I awoke at an early hour well refreshed and pushed on 11 miles to St. Clairsville through a fine well improved. well inhabited country which was still hilly but the ridges were neither so steep nor so high as they are in general at this side of Chillicothe. I stopped at Thompson's Stage Inn where Mrs. Thompson who was very civil prepared me a good breakfast.

"St. Clairsville, or Newellstown as it is more frequently and more properly called, is the capital of Belmont County and is pleasantly situated on the point and top of the highest hill within sight and from whence 12 or 14 miles of ridges and woods may be seen in every direction, some of them across the Ohio, which I was now again approaching. The town is only about four years old and already contains 80 good houses including several stores and taverns. It has a Court House and gaol and altogether it has the greatest appearance of wealth and business of any town between Chillicothe and itself. There are several Quakers

242 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

settled in the neighborhood who are snug, wealthy and industrious people and who have enhanced the value of real property to a wide extent around the focus of their settlement."

THE INCORPORATION AND FIRST OFFICIALS.

In 1807 the town was incorporated by the election of John Patterson, president; Sterling Johnston, recorder; Samuel Sullivan, marshal; and Michael Groves, William Brown, John Brown and Josiah Dillon, trustees ; with William Congleton, collector; and James Caldwell, treasurer. The population of the village before its incorporation was 400.

A few years after the town was incorporated, the dense forests began to disappear and pioneers crowded the trails in every direction, upon horseback, in wagons and on foot. For some reason the corporate authority was permitted to lapse, and now as the town began to improve and brick and frame buildings supplanted the log structures, public safety demanded a renewal of incorporate powers for public protection. Accordingly corporate powers were again granted by the General Assembly during the winter of 1818.

THE FIRST TAVERNS AND MARKET HOUSE.

Before the town was incorporated, St. Clairsville had become quite a business center. Among the early tavern keepers we note first the name of Jacob Holtz who was granted a license in 1802; the May following, two additional taverns were opened, one by John Thompson and the other Basil Israel.

On the 17th day of December, 1833, the commissioners of Belmont County appropriated $100 to build a Market House in St. Clairsville and gave an order to John Patterson, grandfather of John Patterson now one of St. Clairsville's druggists, to superintend the work. This old building was constructed in the middle of the street just south of the present Court House and between the Clarendon Hotel and the opposite side of the street and is remembered by all the old citizens.

THE FIRST BUSINESS HOUSES.

There were also two schools, five taverns, eight stores. seven carpenters, three masons, two blacksmiths. two tanneries, four cabinet-makers, a brickmaker, two saddlers, one pottery, one tinner, one manufacturer of nails, two clock and watchmakers, four shoemakers, three tailors, and two turners in wood, spinning wheel makers, two distilleries, three physicians and two attorneys.

One of the distilleries was operated by Michael Groves and the other by Dillon & Thompson. John Copeland was the first blacksmith; Reese Branson was the first clock-maker; Joseph Morrison and Samuel Sullivan were the first hatters ; Ira Robinson was the first tinner; Jacob Leech was the first barber; Jesse McGee, a familiar name in Richland township today, was the first cabinetmaker; Robert Dent, an active Methodist, was the first school teacher ; Joseph Patton and Henry Mitchell were the first shoemakers ; John Long and Smith & White were the first tanners ; and John Marcus was the first tailor.

THE FIRST COURT HOUSE AND THE "OLD COURT HOUSE."

Colonel Charlesworth says that the first Court House was a strong substantial log structure two stories high that occupied the first lot directly west of the more pretentious and costly stone structure of today ; while the old log jail was east of and not under the same roof as some writers have claimed. The second Court House, best known to the people of this generation as the "Old Court House" was built of brick and stone in 1813 at a cost of $56,040. The Court House building was a square, two-story building with a hip roof facing each point of the compass and surmounted by a tall spire in the center. This historic old building was supported on the south by an immense stone wall 150 feet in length and about 14 feet high at the east end. This building remained in use for a period of 72 years, when it was removed to give place to the present handsome public buildings elsewhere referred to.

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The second jail was built six years later at a cost of $3,040, and among other apartments constructed were two debtors' rooms.

In 1842 because of the increased demand for more prison room, the third county jail was built by Bailey and Collins of brick and stone at a cost of $3,902.

THE POPULATION, AND MUNICIPAL OFFICERS.

The population of St. Clairsville in 1900 was 1,210. a small gain over the census of 1890; however, the tax levy for 1902 is less than that of the year following. The municipal officers are : James B. Ryan, mayor ; John Ferren, marshal; John C. Nichols, clerk; John H. Boroff, treasurer. The members of the Council are: D. H. Milligan, Albert Lawrence, Isaac H. Gaston, A. L. Bumgarner, J. M. Reese and A. W. Beatty.

THE GREAT FIRE.

One of the memorable events of the history of St. Clairsville was the great fire of 1866. The fire originated in the property of John Jepson on May 22nd, and practically burned the entire square from Market street west to the alley between Market and Marietta streets.

There was no fire department or fire extinguishers that could he made available, and the citizens in their excitement worked without plans or system, hence the great loss. The properties destroyed were the store room and residence of John Jepson, the drug store and residence of I. H. Patterson, the dry goods store of John Patton, the jewelry store of George Brown, the tailoring establishment of L. P. Hoffner and Henry Meyer, the boot and shoe store of John Bickham, the saddlery of John Crymble, the law office of Judge Chambers, the Gazette printing office and the dry goods store of Watson & Gressinger.

The flames also communicated with the Methodist parsonage on Market street, nearly opposite the present livery stable south of the hotel, and it was also destroyed. The total loss was estimated at upwards of $50,000.

SOME OLD CITIZENS.

There are still residing in St. Clairsville many worthy old people whose mental faculties are unimpaired and who yet enjoy a fair degree of health. Perhaps the oldest native-born citizen is Judge C. W. Carroll, who at the age of 67 occupies the house in which he was born.

The oldest resident of the village is Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, who has attained her 95th birthday. Mrs. Altissa Hutchison, now temporarily residing with her daughter Mrs. Clark in Bridgeport, has also entered upon her 95th year. Mrs. Hutchison has lived in St. Clairsville nearly all her life.

Among the ladies that have attained to or past the allotted three score years and ten we might mention Miss Jane Edgerton, Mrs. Robert Thompson, Mrs. Caroline V. Groves, Mrs. William Frazier, Miss Ann Edgerton, Mrs. Ruth Eaton, Mrs. William Lee, Mrs. Amos Fawcett and Mrs. Henry Meyer.

We could not obtain the names of all the gentlemen who are beyond their "seventies." The following is perhaps only a partial list : Col. J. F. Charlesworth, Judge St. Clair Kelley, Hiram Boroff, Isaac Davis, James Davis, Thompson Butcher, H. R. Bumgarner, Alfred Lake, Reuben Rose, Alexander and Robert Anderson and James Carlile.

THE OLDEST BUILDING

In St. Clairsville today is the home of Editor McMillen of The Belmont Chronicle. This historic old building with recent additions and improvements is still in a good state of preservation. It is located at the northwest corner of Sugar and Main streets.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE'S RAILROAD FACILITIES.

As heretofore referred to in the story of the county seat contest, St. Clairsville has built two short railroads at a cost of $65,000, one that intersects the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Qunicy and the other that intersects the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railway at a

244 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

point near Boston. In addition to the above, a branch of the great Wabash system enters Belmont County at a point near Adena in Harrison County and passes through St. Clairsville from north to south near the old Neiswanger homestead, pursuing its course down Ault's Run eastward to McMechen's Creek and running parallel with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for several miles, thereby opening up the extensive coal fields recently purchased by Eastern capitalists for shipment to the great manufacturing centers. Of these mines The Gazette in a recent article says:

"On the Bellaire and Adena branch of the Wabash road which is expected to be ready for business from St. Clairsville to Adena by the first of the year, there will be mines every mile or so of the route, and the operators are getting ready to start. Near the Maynard end of the line in Belmont County, two companies are ready now to operate on an extensive scale.

"Purseglove Brothers have two openings made above Maynard. They wanted the C., L. & W. to give them a switch for their cars, but were refused any concessions along that line so they propose to wait for the opening of the new road. They will be right on the new road and at their two mines expect to employ between 500 and 600 men when in full operation.

"Along the same railroad Troll Brothers have two big mines almost ready for business. It is expected they will be ready to load coal as soon as the new railroad is in operation. Both openings are to have modern equipment and the tipples will be of the latest model. They will employ not less than 500 men, possibly many more inside of a year."

THE POSTMASTERS.

It was impossible to obtain a record of the postmasters from the organization of the town. The following is a list of those who have served the people from 1826: viz.: William Booker, Henry Kennon, Benjamin F. Thomas, Wilmuth Jones, William Darrah, Mrs. Rebecca Ramage, Rev. J. B. Johnson, J. B. Longley, J. B. Ryan, W. A. Hunt, James F. Charlesworth and C. W. Carroll, the present incumbent.

THE BANKS.

St. Clairsville, being the center of a rich agricultural community, sustains three banks, namely : The First National Bank, the Second National Bank, and the Dollar Savings Bank Company.

The first bank established in the county and one of the first in the State was the Belmont Bank at St. Clairsville, a corporation organized in 1816, with a capital of $500,000 of which $150,000 was paid in. Among the original stockholders and officers of the old bank were : William Booker, Steel Smith, Hugh McNeely, John Winter, Jacob Neiswanger, John Ramsey and Ezar Ellis.

Some old citizens have thought it was a branch of the old State Bank of Ohio, but Colonel Charlesworth insists that it was a private bank and ante-dated the State Bank many years. When it failed, Mr. Booker was appointed receiver and was given the old bank building with its peculiarly constructed safe elsewhere referred to, if he would redeem the outstanding notes. The building was subsequently sold to the Lists of Wheeling. After this old building was sold, a period of 20 years elapsed before another bank was established.

The First National Bank was probably the second in order of establishment in the county. It was organized January 1, 1864, and began business on March 1st following. The capital stock at the time of organization was $60,000, which was subsequently increased to $100,000 with a surplus in 1902 of $40,000. The first directors were : D. D. T. Cowen, Joseph Woodmansee, Ross J. Alexander, John Darrah and David Brown. The first officers were : D. D. T. Cowen, president, and H. C. Welday, cashier.

The present officers are : George Jepson, president; A. C. Darrah, vice-president; E. G. Amos, cashier : W. V. Sutton, assistant cashier ; and J. P. Frasier, second assistant cashier.

The Second National Bank occupies a room especially constructed for banking purposes in the handsome and substantial Troll Block. It was organized in January, 1896, by the election

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 245

of N. K. Kennon, president; H. M. Davies, vice-president; Isaac H. Gaston, cashier; and Albert Troll, assistant cashier.

The original board of directors was made up of the following named gentlemen: N. K. Kennon, H. M. Davies, Alexander Neff, W. E. Clark, N. J. Hatcher, Henry Morgan, Charles W. Troll, Samuel Campbell and T. E. Johnston.

The capital stock fully paid in is $50,000. The officers in 1902 are : Charles W. Troll, president ; Henry Morgan, vice-president ; Albert Troll, cashier; Otto Giffen, assistant cashier. John Troll, N. J. Hatcher, Samuel Campbell, Charles W. Troll, Albert Troll, Henry Morgan, Alexander Neff, W. J. Giffen and W. L. Patton constitute the board of directors.

The Dollar Savings Bank Company was organized June 17, 1895, by the election of Capell L. Weems, president ; J. B. McMechen, vice-president ; M. M. Scott, cashier ; and L. M. Sutton, assistant cashier. John Stewart, William J. Clark, Walter Darrah, W. J. Thompson, Albert Nichols and James T. Bentley were the first board of directors. The paid-up capital amounted to $25,000. L. M. Sutton was subsequently chosen cashier, a position he held until September, 1898, when failing health compelled him to resign. Wilson Mitchell was selected as his successor.

The building occupied by the Dollar Savings Bank Company was formerly the building in which the old Belmont Bank was established, and for upwards of a quarter of a century thereafter it was the county treasurer's office. The safe is in the shape of a bakeoven with stone walls 55 inches in thickness and built upon a foundation of stone sunk eight feet in the ground. Within this great, stone vault is a movable modern steel safe.

The officers and directors in 1902 are as follows: Capell L. Weems, president; J. B. McMechen, vice-president; Wilson Mitchell, cashier; directors, Walter Darrah, W. J. Thompson, J. T. Bentley, P. W. Dickey and A. E. Nichols.

THE ST. CLAIRSVILLE SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT.

The St. Clairsville schools have ever been esteemed among the best in the county. While the present commodious three-story brick building was constructed nearly 34 years ago, it is regarded as one of the most substantial as well as one of the best equipped schools in the county today. At this time it is taxed to accommodate the pupils seeking admission and a new room was created in 1902 in order to more equally distribute the work. The number of scholars that took the high school course last year from rural districts numbered 64, and they came from homes within a radius of seven miles, and the revenues derived from this source added $1,100 to the district school fund. The school library contains 745 volumes and is perhaps one of the best libraries in the county, while the chemical laboratory and instruments for scientific demonstration are probably not surpassed in any other township in the county. The total enrollment of scholars in 1902 is 340.

The first superintendent after the reorganization of the schools in 1869 was J. J. Burns; he held the position until he was elected State School Commissioner in 1878. His successors were: John G. Black, 1878-80; C. E. Stitchcock, 1880-84 ; L. H. Waters, 1884-89; Walter Mitchell, 1889-91; and George Rossitter, 1891-1900.

The present corps of teachers is constituted as follows : Prof. W. R. Butcher, superintendent ; Miss Maggie Davies, principal of the High School: W. D. Porterfield, assistant principal ; Miss Margaret Moore, primary teacher; and Miss Fannie Ryan, Miss Sadie Giffen, Miss Margaret Mellor and Miss Irene Ferrel, intermediate teachers.

The Board of Education for 1902 consists of : Albert Lawrence, president; H. M. Davies, secretary; B. S. McBride, A. W. Beatty and D. H. Milligan.

St. Clairsville claims to have erected the second school house in the county in 1802. This was an old-time log cabin built on the Judge

246 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

Ruggles homestead, south of town and not far from the residence of Albert Johnston. The chinks between the logs were daubed with mud. Rough split-board benches served as seats, and greased paper was used in place of glass for windows. William Fleeharty is said to have been the first teacher and for several years gave satisfaction, but petty jealousies between town and country scholars caused a quarrel that resulted in the school's demolition.

The next paid school was conducted by the Presbyterians, in 1806-07, but it only continued for a few years.

In 1809 the Methodists established a school in the little brick building in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery northeast of the present Methodist Episcopal Church. This school was maintained for a period of 31 years. The first teacher was Professor Dent, heretofore referred to. While this denominational school existed, there were several select schools conducted in different parts of the town. One was held on Mariettta street in a building on the corner southwest of the Presbyterian Church ; another in a building back of the old Market House, which was afterwards used as a colored school ; and another on east Main street in the brick building, now the residence of the Misses Armstrong.

Among the teachers of that early day who afterward achieved prominence we mention : Judge Davy, Gen. G. W. Hoge, Judge Robert E. Chambers, and Miss Jane Edgerton, all of whom have passed away but the last named. After a long and useful life devoted to the cause of education and temperance, Miss Edgerton is peacefully closing her days in the old home and in the enjoyment of the high esteem and respect of the whole community.

The first graded school was taught by David Moore. However, there were a number of seminaries conducted at different periods,—one by Professor Wilkinson in 1837 or 1838 on the top of Seminary Hill and in the building now occupied as the home of Prof. W. R. Butcher. The other was conducted by Professor Brooks in 1836 in the historic old building now the residence of John Troll.

Since the above was written, the old building has been removed and concealed among the rafters was found an old catalogue of the seminary, printed in 1837, containing the following announcements, viz.

Franklin H. Brooks, superintendent; Mrs. Sarah M. Brooks, principal ; Miss Sophia S. Cooly, assistant teacher. Fifty-one students were in attendance, as follows : Nancy M, Anderson, Rebecca W. Askew, Sarah Askew, Martha Askew, Louisa I. Alexander, Lucy M. Atkinson, Bethann Boggs, Mary Beazle, Sarah Butcher, Rachel A. Blackston, Margaret J. Craft, Ann M. Caldwell, Betsey S. Cowen, Ann Chamberlin, Sarah J. Connelly, Sarah Dilworth, Jane Dilworth, Ruth Ann Ellis, Elizabeth Ann Eyer, Mary Faris, Elizabeth Fleming, Mary Jane Gill, Mary N. Hubbard, Elizabeth A. Lockwood, Letitia Hayze, Sarah J. Lippincott, Ann H. Maxwell, Mary McCartney, Martha Elrick, Priscilla Montgomery, Lucinda Mitchell, Elizabeth McMahon, Amelia S. Nelson, Martha Patterson, Letitia Patton, Ann Rodgers, Tirzah Ruggles, Mary M. Ramsey, Elizabeth Smith, Elizabeth H. Smith, Margaret W. Smith, Eliza A. Shannon, Mary W. Sutton, Sarah J. Sutton, Mary A. Steenrod, Susanna Thomas, Sidney W. Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Elizabeth Vail.

Three years were required to complete the course of study, which was as follows :

Primary—Reading, spelling and defining, writing, mental and written arithmetic, English grammar, modern and ancient geography, history of the United States, modern and ancient history, improvement of the mind, geography of the heavens, Sullivan's political class book, natural philosophy and botany.

Junior year—English grammar, rhetoric, human physiology, Euclid's geometry, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy of natural history, intellectual philosophy, algebra.

Senior year—Outline of geology, eccleciastical history, logic, natural theology, moral philosophy, Butler's analogy, evidences of Christianity.

The Latin, Greek and French languages and

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painting and drawing were taught, but were optional to the student.

The terms to the student were liberal enough, as is shown by the following:

Board for quarter of eleven weeks...$26.50

Tuition per quarter 6.00

Drawing and painting per quarter 4.00

Washing per dozen .37 1/2

Mr. Brooks also conducted a school for young men on the hill west of town. It was called the St. Clairsville Institute and Teachers' Seminary. The teachers were Franklin H. Brooks, superintendent, and Alvah G. Dunning, A. B., assistant teacher. It had no connection with the female seminary. The following is the list of students for 1837 :

Thomas M. Alexander, . Samuel Askew, Samuel F. Armstrong, Henry A. Booker, Samuel F. Booker, Samuel Caldwell, Foster W. Carroll, Robert W. Carroll, D. D., Tompkins Cowen, Thomas Cummings, Rankin Dilworth, Francis G. Eaton, Thomas Faris, William A. Ferrel, David Gleaves, William Hutchison, Boyd M. Kerr, Wilson Kennon, Jobes Lake, Horatio McCune, Edwin G. Morgan, James Elrick, Joseph N. Milner, Henry Mulvaney, Alonzo P. Miller, William McCartney, David Neiswanger, Simeon Pickering, Miller Pennington, Isaac Patterson, Theodore Parish, William V. Sutton, John Smith, Mahlon W. Smith, Lebeus A. Shaw, W. R. Shannon, Christopher Thomas, Terrell Thomas, Jeremiah Tingley, Joseph P. Wood, Yarnal Wilson, David Welsh and Peter Woodmansee.

It was announced that the young men would study and sleep in the rooms in the school building, four students in a room, and would take their meals at the dining room in the village. Students were required to furnish their own rooms. They were also to strictly observe the following rules :

1st. To rise every morning before 6 o'clock.

2nd. Alternately to make his bed and sweep his chamber before breakfast.

3rd. To apply himself diligently to study and to make no communications, by whispering or otherwise, during study hours.

4th. To retire to bed every night before 10 1/2 o'clock.

5th. To cease from all conversation or noise before 10 1/2 o'clock.

6th. To be at his meals at the appointed hour or lose them.

The necessary expenses to the young men were as follows :

Boarding per quarter, eleven weeks....$14.00

Room rent per week .06 1/4

Washing, per dozen .37 1/2

Tuition $5 to $6

These were familiar names in the shire town a half century ago, but the majority of them have passed away.

In the prospectus the managers of the Institute say, "As a rigid adherence to study and a neglect of physical labor would greatly endanger health, we have determined next spring to open a manual labor establishment in connection with the Institute."

THE CHURCHES.

The Protestant Episcopal Church.—Dr. Doddridge, the great Episcopalian divine and author, whose notes have long been recognized as authority on all matters pertaining to pioneer history in West Virginia and Eastern Ohio, extended his missionary operations into Eastern Ohio in 1800 and established congregations at St. Clairsville, Morristown and Zanesville.

St. Thomas' Church in St. Clairsville was brought into existence in 1813 by the removal of some of Dr. Doddrige's former parishioners to that place and the parish was represented in the first convention of the Diocese of Ohio by John Carter. In 1822 a church was built opposite the Methodist Church and for some years was in a flourishing condition, but the congregation becoming scattered the church was abandoned and the ground was sold in 1862.

The Society of Friends.—Before this religious society had erected a church, they met at private residences, notably the home of William Mosely, where preaching services were conducted by a lady named Mitchell, but as

250 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

the membership increased in numbers a brick meeting house was built in 1809-10 on a half acre of ground on the North Commons, where it intersects the Cadiz Pike.

This old building was removed in 1875, since which time the organization has been extinct. Included in this lot was an old time Friends' Cemetery. There was also another Friends' Meeting House of the opposite persuasion in the little house near the present home of Dr. Hewitson.

The Methodist Episcopal Church.—In the Methodist Episcopal Church, Ohio circuits were formed as early as 1787, and in 1793 the circuit riders, who visited Washington, Pennsylvania, with regularity, also visited the Methodist homes west of Wheeling in Belmont County, Ohio, and conducted class meetings and prayer meetings at and near Kirkwood (Salem), Scott's and Newellstown (St. Clairsville). The first circuit riders mentioned were Jesse Stoneman and Thomas Hammond, who served on the Ohio circuit in 1799, Mr. Hammond dying while thus employed, when but 35 years of age. In 1809, St. Clairsville was connected with the West Wheeling circuit, with Jacob Young as pastor; and that year the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery was purchased, and a large frame Methodist Episcopal Church was built, with a gallery in the rear, facing the pulpit. The trustees, who supervised the work, were Vachel Hall, Henry Mozier, Henry Johnson, Robert Dent and Joseph Hedges.

In 1813, and for several years previous, there were such noted local preachers at this appointment as Jesse Parks and Jacob Meyers; and the preacher in charge was the famous James B. Findley, who was untiring in his efforts in building up the new civilization.

Ten years later St. Clairsville was connected with the Barnesville circuit, with Cornelius Springer and Bennett Dowler as preachers. In 1824 the Pittsburg Conference was organized, and St. Clairsville was included in that conference for a half of a century. Among the appointments on the circuit were : St. Clairsville, Mount Pleasant, Harrisville, Cadiz, Liston's,

Kinsey's and Scott's. In 1827 the preachers were John Walker and John McMahon, with James Roberts, W. B. Evans, Edward Mercer and David Mercer, local preachers, and among the members of the quarterly conference we find the names of Matthew Thoburn, Matthew Simpson (each the father of a celebrated bishop in the church), Ebenezer Liston, John Warfield, George Brown, Philip Darby and R. E. Carothers.

Some of the noted men who have served these people as presiding elders, we might mention William Lambdin, Wesley Browning, Samuel R. Brockunier, Robert Hopkins, Silvester Burt, Joseph M. Carr, Dr. Paine, James R. Mills, D. L. Osborne and James M. Slutz. In 1834 St. Clairsville was set apart as a separate congregation at the conference held in the Pipe Creek Church, and Rev. Francis Dighton was appointed pastor. Four years later he died, and was buried in the old Methodist Episcopal Cemetery.

It was in 1834 that the second church was built. This structure was a substantial brick, erected under the supervision of Matthew Thoburn, Peter Hulse, Michael Carroll, James Arrick, R. E. Carothers, Eli Wells, Robinson Baker, William Wilkins and George Shipman.

Thirty-eight years later, the present brick church was built at a cost of $11,500. The work was inaugurated during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Grant in 1870, and completed during the administration of Rev. Mr. Lauck, in 1872. Five years later, and during the ministry of Rev. B. F. Beazelle, a neat parsonage was purchased from Hon. Lorenzo Danford at a cost of $1,800.

The church officials during this period of improvement were: Stewards,—George Brown, H. C. Welday, Joseph Young, Joseph Close, John Close, Thomas Fawcett, W. W. McMonies and A. T. McKelvey ; trustees,—W. A. Hunt, W. J. Thompson, Benjamin Barkhurst, Amos Fawcett, Robert Pogue, Israel Lewis, Cephas Carroll, F. D. Bailey and A. H. Mitchell. It will not be an invidious distinction to say that because of the labors and liberality of H. C. Welday and George Brown

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were the improvements above mentioned largely accomplished.

Several memorable revivals have taken place in the history of the church that profoundly stirred the whole community; one was conducted by Rev. Mr. Smith in 1835, resulting in over 100 accessions. Thirty years later, a great revival was conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. C. Taylor, assisted by Rev. Dr. James Thoburn, who was upon a vacation from India, and Rev. Mr. Marshall, of Bellaire. Again over 100 accessions were received. In 1879-80 Rev. Mr. Conkle conducted a series of meetings that resulted in 136 accessions to the church. A few years later, another great awakening took place during the ministry of Rev. Dr. Haskell, that resulted in upwards of 50 accessions to the church.

The pastors that have served this people since 1823 are: William Lambdin and William Knox; 1824, John Chandler; 1825, Simon Lock, 1826, Daniel Limerick and James Moore; 1827, Samuel Brockunier and Thomas M. Hudson; 1829, Thomas Taylor; 1830, William Knox and Thomas Drummond; 1831, P. M. McGowan and James Mills; 1832, James Kent ; 1833, David Merryman and W. C. Henderson; 1834, Edward Smith; 1835, C. D. Battelle; 1836, James C. Merryman; 1837, Dr. James Drummond ; 1839, S. R. Brockunier ; 1840, Charles Thorn; 1841, Edward Berkett; 1842, I. N. Baird; 1843, David Trueman; 1845, James Montgomery and James Ruter; 1847, L. Petty and C. H. Jackson ; 1849, Pardon Cook and W. A. Davidson; 1851, James Henderson and J. J. Mcllyer; 1853, J. M. Rankin; 1854, W. C. P. Hamilton; 1855, Joseph Woodruff ; 1859, S. Y. Kennedy and A. D. McCormack ; 1860, J. L. Deen ; 1861, James M. Carr ; 1863, W. K. Foutch ; 1864, J. C. Taylor; 1865, Edward Ellison; 1866, John Grant; 1870, W. F. Lauck; 1873, J. D. Vail; 1876, B. F. Beazelle; 1878, J. D. Conkle; 1881, W. H. Haskell; 1884, J. F. Minor; 1887, J. H. Hollingshead; 1890, Ezra Hingley; 1893, H. C. Webb; 1896, D. W. Chandler; 1899, J. S. Secrest; 1900, J. K. Grimes.

Of the many pastors who have served thispeople, three are buried in the old Methodist Episcopal Cemetery; viz.: Francis Dighton, David C. Merryman and J. C. Taylor. The present official board consists of R. P. Rose, J. W. Hollingsworth, A. T. McKelvey, W. F. Smith, E. L. McMillan, Mrs. Ollie Lowe, Prof. W. R. Butcher, Mrs. C. L. Weems, Mrs. A. H. Mitchell, Mrs. Ellis Wilson, W. S. Mitchell, Z. Fawcett, John Wilson, Dr. Greitzner, E. E. Shepherd, W. W. Cowen, W. J. Thompson, F. D. Bailey and J. M. Aultman. The Sunday-school superintendent is A. T. McKelvey. The present membership is about 300.

The Presbyterian Church of St. Clairsville was originally known as "the Congregation of Richland," its organization being effected in the fall of 1798 through the influence and zeal of that good and great man, Rev. John McMillan, D. D., once pastor of the old Chartiers or Hill Church, near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, for over half a century and founder of the school which afterward became the nucleus of Jefferson College. He died November 16, 1833, in the 82nd year of his age and the 60th of his ministry in the Presbyterian Church, and the thousands of enlightened and Christian homes in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio are today our grandest monument to his devoted memory.

On the 17th of October, 1798, what was then known as the Presbytery of Ohio licensed and ordained Joseph Anderson to the work of the Gospel ministry, and committed to his care the scattered congregations of Scotch-Irish people, who were at that time pouring into Eastern Ohio. As a result of his labors in this district, Rev. Mr. Anderson was presented with a joint call by the congregations of Richland and Short Creek, now Mount Pleasant, in the fall of 1799. The call was brought before the Presbytery of Ohio on the 15th of April, 1800; and, having signified his acceptance of the call, Mr. Anderson was installed pastor of the said congregations August 20, 1800. This is the first recorded ordination of a Presbyterian minister west of the Ohio River.

In the meantime, in the fall of 1798, David McWilliams, William McWilliams and James

252 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

McConnell were elected and ordained ruling elders of the congregation of Richland. Two years later William Ramage and Arthur Irwin were elected, ordained, and added to the session; and, after a few years more, Robert Laughlin, John Perry, Matthew Anderson, John Marquis and, at still a later time, Robert Bell, William Faris, Sr., and Robert Morrison. In 1826, George Anderson and John Rankin were added to the session; and Andrew P. Happer, Franklin Bell, John Culbertson, Joseph Laughlin and Andrew Work some years later. These were the office bearers and co-workers with Rev. Mr. Anderson in erecting the cabin church in 1798, and the second log building on the same spot, near the Presbyterian Cemetery, half a mile north of town, in 1808, and which in 1822 was relinquished for a more commodious brick building, conveniently located within the limits of the town at the west end, at a cost of about $3,000-a large sum for that day.

For nearly 30 years the congregation bore the name of "Richland," but on the 19th day of January, 1827, it was incorporated under the name of "The First Presbyterian Church of St. Clairsville," with William Bell, Andrew P. Happer and Dr. John McCracken as the first trustees.

On the first, Tuesday of October, 1830, Rev. Joseph Anderson at his own request was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the congregation to the Presbytery of St. Charles in Missouri, where he resided until his death in Monticello, Missouri, in 1847, in the 80th year of his age, much beloved and remembered for his labors.

After the resignation of Rev. Mr. Anderson, the church was supplied by Revs. Alexander Rogan, William Fuller and others until July, 1834, when a call was made for the pastoral services of Rev. Joseph Smith, who having accepted it was installed pastor in October of the same year. Three years later Dr. Smith became president of Franklin College, having resigned the charge of St. Clairsville. He died December 4, 1868, after an extended ministry of 47 years. Dr. Smith was the authorof "The History of Jefferson College," and "Old Redstone."

During the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Revs. Thomas Gordon, Churchill and others ; until in October, 1839, Rev. James Alexander accepted a call from the congregation and was installed pastor December 19, 1839. It was during this pastorate that the third church building was totally destroyed by fire October 15, 1841, and a fourth building erected on a new site, Marietta street, in the spring of 1843, at an expense of about $7,000. Rev. Mr. Alexander's ministry terminated as pastor of St. Clairsville June 9, 1846, and, having labored efficiently and successfully in Martin's Ferry, Wheeling Valley and Bridgeport in this presbytery, and in Allen Grove, Wolf Run and Moundsville in the Presbytery of Washington, he ceased from his labors and entered the reward of the faithful, July, 1879. The next pastor was Rev. John Moffat, who was ordained and installed in June, 1848; for more than 13 years he labored successfully as a faithful pastor and eloquent preacher of the Gospel of Christ. He resigned in 1861 to become pastor of Rockhill and Bellaire, and in 1863 he was transferred as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Wheeling. He died December, 1875.

Rev. John Moffat was succeeded in St. Clairsville by Rev. David R. Campbell, D. D., in 1861, who labored with great success until February 18, 1866, when he resigned to accept the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church, Steubenville, Ohio. Dr. Campbell's ministry is still fragrant with the memory of a glorious revival of religion in which the membership was raised to a higher plane of spiritual activity. He died at Steubenville in March, 1873.

The next pastor was Rev. Robert Alexander, D. D., who was called September 22, 1866, and began his labors on Christmas Day of the same year. His ministry in the congregation extended over a third of a century, during which the fourth church building was destroyed by a terrific tornado, April 15, 1887, and the present beautiful and substantial stone edifice was

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erected in 1888 at a cost of over $25,d00. Dr. Alexander was born in Belmont County, June 15, 1887. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1855, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1858; he was licensed by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville January 6, 1858, and, having studied a year in the Free Church College, Edinburgh, Scotland, was ordained pastor of Little Britain Church, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1860, from which he was called to St. Clairsville and installed here in April, 1867. He was honored with the title of Doctor of Divinity from Franklin College in 1879, and after a long and influential ministry resigned the pastorate to edit The Presbyterian April 26, 1899. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1901,lovingly "remembered by what he has done."

The present pastor, Rev. J. Burns Eakins, Ph. D., received the invitation of the church June 22, 1899. He was born in Ireland and received his collegiate training at the Magee College, Royal University, and Princeton Theological Seminary, from which he graduated May 9, 1899. He entered upon his work at St. Clairsville August 1st, and was ordained and installed October 3, 1899. The story of this pastorate is still to be recorded.

Besides the elders mentioned in connection with the first pastorate, the following were ordained and installed :

During the pastorate of Rev. James Alexander, D. D.: John Jepson, James McConnell, Robert Smiley, F. H. Brooks, H. H. Fisk, A. C. Work, John Tate, Sr., and John Porter.

During the pastorate of Rev. John Moffat : Samuel Ramage, James Hutchison, John Tate, Jr., Thomas T. Thompson, Samuel B. Work, Samuel Cunningham ; and on January 12, 1861 : Dr. Henry West, William Chambers and William H. McBride.

During the pastorate of Rev. Robert Alexander, D. D.: June 4, 1874, Joseph J. Taggart, and Robert A. Anderson; June 20, 1878,—Henry Daniel, Samuel R. Finney, William Lee, John A. Grove and George Jepson; June 1, 1890,—William F. Schumaker, George V. Brown, John W. Riley and John Elliott; April, 17, 1898,—John D. Hays, Addison E. Rusk, Elbridge G. Amos, Lewis M. Sutton and James 0. Dixon.

The following are the office bearers at the present date, October 1, 1902: Elders,—William Chambers, George Jepson, John D. Hays, Elbridge G. Amos, Robert H. Anderson, J. J. Taggart, J. W. Riley, A. E. Rusk and J. O. Dixon; trustees,—Samuel Campbell, R. M. Eaton and D. H. McBride; Sabbath-school superintendent,—A. W. Beatty; Women's Missionary Society president,—Mrs. Elza T. Clark; Y. P. S. C. E. president,—Miss Nellie Jepson ; president Robert Alexander Missionary Band,—Miss M. Gray McBride.

The church celebrated its first centennial in .1898, and rejoices in the fact that never in its history was it better able to be of service in the cause of God and humanity. It is free of all debt, with a membership of 320 active workers and worshipers, contributing last year $2,913 for the support of the Gospel; the outlook for pastor and people is bright and encouraging.

The United Presbyterian Church of St. Clairsville, Ohio, was organized June, 1830. The exact date of the organization is unknown. A charter was granted the congregation by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, February 14, 1835. The charter members were David Wallace, William Denham, John Patterson, Hugh Parks, Sr., John McMechen, John Nichol, Matthew Nichol, Thomas Duff, William Chambers, John Stitt, Joseph Woods and William Templeton.

For the 72 years of its existence, it has had but four pastors, viz.: Rev. Hugh Parks, who was pastor from 1831 to 1838; Rev. Alexander Young, D. D., pastor from 1842 to 1857; Rev. J. B. Johnston, D. D., pastor from 1859 to 1874; Rev. Thomas Balph, D. D., pastor from 1875 and still continues after a pastorate of more than 27 years. It is a tribute to the worth of these men and also to the stable character of the people of the congregation that they have had but four pastors and yet have not been altogether five years without a pastor.

254 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

Of these pastors, all have passed over the river except the present incumbent, but it is worthy of note that when the congregation celebrated its semi-centennial in 1880, all four of these men were on that day in the bounds of the congregation, three of them being present at the exercises, Rev. Mr. Parks alone not being able to be present.

The following men have served the congregation as ruling elders, viz.: David Wallace, William Templeton, John Patterson, John Nichol, Robert Stitt, William L. Duff, John Brown, Joseph Meholin, Thomas M. Nichol, Isaac Taggart, John Stewart, Thomas Duff, Solomon Bentley, Samuel Giffen, William Stewart, Humphrey Alexander, Robert Kerr, James Gordon, Samuel M. Thompson, Andrew J. McFarland and Thomas Johnson. These have all passed away except Andrew J. McFarland, who is still living at a good old age and a member of the congregation, but not now a member of the session. The following are the present members of the session : John A. Clark, Robert E. Giffen, John V. Sutton, S. U. Clark, A. H. Hewetson, M. D., James A. Stewart, James T. Bentley and John B. McMechan.

How many united with the congregation at the organization or who they were is unknown. The following signed the call for Rev. Mr. Parks in 1831, viz.: Hugh Parks, William Chambers, Alexander H. McCormick, Alexander McMillen, Joseph Taggart, William Calderhead, James Woods, James Taggart, John Patterson, John McMechan, Robert Ross, John Nichol, Andrew King, Thomas Duff, Matthew Nichol, Joseph Woods, Andrew Paul and Isaac Taggart. The growth of the congregation has been steady, but slow. It has reached its highest number during the present pastorate, and is now 210. They have been in moderate circumstances. Nearly all of them have been small farmers.

The congregation has always been fairly liberal, and has manifested a missionary spirit from the beginning. As far back as 1841 and 1842, we find single collections for missionary purposes, ranging from $7.60 to $15.15,and these were taken monthly. A Woman's Missionary Society was organized in August, 1856, and has had a continued existence to the present time, the second one, perhaps, that was organized in the denomination. At the semi-centennial celebration in 1880, one in a position to know estimated the contributions of the organization to that date at $50,000. Since that time they have contributed a total of $70,534, making a grand total of over $120,000. During the past year they have contributed $2,385, an average per member of $11.80.

There has been sent out from this congregation the following foreign missionaries, viz.: In 1868, David R. Johnston, M. D., and his wife, Margaret J. ; in 1869, Miss Eliza F. Johnston (now Mrs. Dr. Stewart) ; in 1875, Rev. John Giffen, D. D.; in 1881, Rev. John Kelley Giffen; in 1889. Rev. E. Morrison Giffen,—in all six. Dr. Johnston is deceased, and his wife is in this country ; all of the others are still at their work in the foreign field,one, Rev. J. K. Giffen, being the pioneer missionary of the United Presbyterian Church in the Souclan, being located on the Sobat River in the heart of Africa.

The following ministers of the Gospel were reared in this community and are accredited to this congregation : Revs. H. Parks, William Wallace. D. D., E. C. Calderhead, Samuel Wallace, A. D. Clark, D. D., Thomas Love, D. D., David Paul, D. D., Thomas Drennen, T. P. Dysart, John S. McConnell, S. R. Frazier, R. B. Stewart, D. A. Duff, John Giffen, D. D., D. C. Stewart, J. R. Frazier, William McKiraban, D. D., M. F. McKirahan, J. A. McKirahan, J. K. Giffen, E. M. Giffen, J. P. Giffen, Boyd Johnson, J. K. Knox, James Gordon and W. J. Grimes,—a total of 26. This is believed to be the greatest number of ministers furnished by any other one congregation in the denomination, and perhaps more than has been furnished by one congregation of any denomination in Eastern Ohio.

Their first house of worship stood upon the lot on South Commons, where Auditor Beatty's residence now stands. It was erected in 1835 at a cost of $2,600. The stone and brick work

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were done by Charles H. Bailey of St. Clairsville and after standing 50 years the walls were still true and without a crack.

This house was completely demolished by the tornado which visited St. Clairsville April 15, 1887.

Upon its destruction the congregation immediately set about rebuilding. The lot on the corner of Main and Marietta streets was purchased and the present house was erected in 1888 at a cost of $20,000, and in this new house the congregation meets regularly for the worship of God and are quietly doing their work and endeavoring to serve God in their day and generation.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Clairsville was organized about 1840. Up to that time the colored Methodists had worshiped with their white brethren in the same place of worship, but (luring the ministry of Rev. Samuel Brockunier some trouble occurred at a communion service, and the colored Methodists withdrew and established a "meeting house" of their own. As the records have been destroyed, it is impossible to give the names of the first preachers and church officials or the location of the various church buildings.

The little church at present in use is on Market street. It was built at a cost of $600. The present pastor is Rev. C. L. Young, and the senior member is Father Goins. The official board consists of Samuel Cochran, S. Lewis, H. Swenigen, T. Davis and D. Hawkins : the last named is also superintendent of the Sunday-school. The present membership is between 45 and 50.

THE ST. CLAIRSVILLE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

Was organized July, 1871. A few philanthropic citizens, realizing the great need of a suitable resting place for the dead, met together in the spring of 1871 and by liberal contributions purchased the beautiful grounds now known as the Union Cemetery. The majority of these original stockholders have already been laid to rest within the grounds.

The first officers were : Trustees,—George Brown, David Brown, William Chambers, Samuel Thompson, George Jepson, Robert E. Chambers; president, David Brown; clerk, Robert E. Chambers.

The purchase consisted of five acres of land, lying north and east of the old Presbyterian Cemetery and formerly owned by R. M. Wilkins, and four and one-half acres, lying south of the old burying ground, from M. Overbaugh, the whole costing about $2,000. The improvements since added amount to upward of $5,000.

The present officers are: D. M. Sutton, president; George Jepson, secretary; John Pollock, treasurer ; trustees,—D. M. Sutton, J. B. McMechan, James Frasier, George V. Brown and George Jepson.

BELMONT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The grounds of the Belmont County Agricultural Society are located within the incorporated limits of St. Clairsville, and consist of 15 1/2 acres of land purchased in 1859, and peculiarly adapted to fair purposes. It. is in fact a beautiful park, with enough old forest trees growing over the grounds to afford ample shade to the patrons of the fair. The grounds are valued at $2,000, and the Society has a surplus of several hundred dollars in the treasury. The great cyclone destroyed its main buildings in 1887, since which time the Society has been crippled in its facilities to accommodate exhibitors. It is expected that new buildings will be constructed in 1903.

The first Society was organized in 1838, but suspended in 1843 for want of encouragement. It was reorganized again in 1848. The presidents who have served the Society since that time are as follows : Solomon Bentley, Christopher Hoover, Isaac Neiswanger, Hiram Pennington, Robert Alexander, William Hardesty, Isaac Welsh, Jonathan Scofield, Henry West, Joseph M. Mitchell, Jesse Barton, David Brown, Charles H. Arrick, James F. Charlesworth, A. T. McKelvey, A. C. Darrah, R. H. Eaton and John Sidebottom .

256 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Masonic Organizations.—Belmont Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., was the first Masonic society formed in the county, and one of the first in the State. Its charter is dated January 8, 1812, and its charter members were James Carothers, Josiah Dillon, Thomas Thompson, Joseph Patton, Ezra Ellis, Moses Morehead, Ezra Evans, Henry Evans and Benjamin Ruggles. The opposition to Masonry in those days was so widespread that the growth of the order was necessarily slow. Notwithstanding, nearly all the Masonic lodges in Belmont County are branches of this old lodge. The officers at the date of organization were: James H. Kelse, W. M.; Ezra Ellis, S. W.; and Benjamin Ruggles, J. W.

The first lodge meeting was held in a room in the old Fink Hotel building, on the ground now occupied by the United Presbyterian Church. It was subsequently moved to the jury room in the old Court House, where it remained until the construction of the new Masonic hall on South Market street, in 1857. In 1859, the building was destroyed by fire, and all the lodge records were destroyed. Returning to the former lodge room in the old Court House, the fraternity remained there until the large and commodious school building was constructed in 1869, which was built by the School Board and the Masons conjointly. The third story of this new building is devoted to Masonry.

The officers of this old lodge 23 years ago were : J. F. Charlesworth, W. M.; Jesse Meyers, S. W.; Jesse Pratt, J. W.; W. D. Bumgarner, S. D.; Edgar Meek, J. D.; M. T. Coffland, secretary; C. W. Carroll, treasurer; and Alfred Lake, tyler.

It was the custom of the lodge for some time after the completion of the new building to hold an annual banquet and reunion for the entertainment of the Masons and their wives, and these social occasions were looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation.

The officers of the lodge in 1902 are : J. B. Ryan, W. M.; J. B. Meyer, S. W.; M. E, Wilson, J. W.; Isaac H. Gaston, treasurer; C. B. Ryan, secretary; Frank Bailey, S. D.; William Gummere, J. D.; and John Wilson, tyler.

St. Clairsville Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., was chartered in 1829. Its present officers are : J. W. Hollingsworth, H. P.; A. W. Beatty, king; J. B. Ryan, scribe; C. W. Carroll, captain; F. D. Bailey, P. T. J.; C. D. Ryan, R. A. C. ; M. E. Wilson. G. M. 3rd veil ; J. H. Boroff, G. M. 2nd veil ; Frank Bailey, G. M. 1st veil; Isaac H. Gaston, treasurer; J. B. Meyer, secretary; and J. H. Wilson, guard.

Belmont Council, No. 54, R. & S. M., was chartered in 1867. The present officers are : C. W. Carroll, T. I. M.; Thomas Burtoft, D. M.; James B. Ryan, P.. C. W.; Isaac H. Gaston, treasurer; J. B. Meyer, recorder; F. D. Bailey, C. of G.; Madison Aldredge, C. of C.; W. C. Bergundthal, steward; and J. H. Wilson, sentinel.

Hope Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar, was chartered September 27, 1871. The present eminent commander is A. W. Beatty; secretary, J. B. Ryan. The past eminent commanders are : Ross J. Alexander, Francis D. Bailey, Andrew J. Baggs, Chandler W. Carroll, H. R. Bumgarner, C. F. Strahl. W. C. Bergunthal, Isaac H. Gaston, Thomas H. Burtoft, J. A. Greenfield, James B. Ryan, John R. Gow, T. W. Hollingsworth and J. V. Meyer.

St. Clairsville Lodge, No. 698, Knights of Pythias.—Pursuant to a warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias of Ohio, a meeting of the petitioners of the St. Clairsville Lodge, No. 698, K. of P., was held Monday, March 30, 1896, in St. Clairsville and called to order by Deputy Grand Chancellor W. W. Boggs, and April 3, 1896, was designated as the day for institution. The officers of the lodge were named : P. C., Conrad W. Troll ; C. C., C. C. Carroll ; prelate, C. W. Finch ; M. at A., G. E. Furboy; M. of W., Frank Roscoe; V. C., T. C. Ayers, K. of R. and S., A. L. Bumgarner; M. of E., Albert W. Troll ; M. of F., P. W. Dickey.

In accordance with this order, M. A. Bridge, Grand Chancellor of Ohio, and W. W. Boggs, D. G. C., assisted by Black Prince Lodge of

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Bellaire, and Belmont Lodge, of Bridgeport, with the petitioners, met at the lodge room in St. Clairsville and proceeded with the institution.

The following named persons were charter members : C. W. Troll, W. C. Kunkel, Charles Troll, W. S. Balliet, P. W. Dickey, H. T. Shepherd, Charles Steger, Charles Frink, B. R. Johnston, R. M. Collins, John M. Taylor, E. A. Sidebottom, W. G. Moore, Alvin Vancuren, Frank Troll, L. Murdaugh, J. A. Horner, Ed. Singer, Albert Troll, Frank Roscoe, J. H. Boroff, R. H. Thompson, T. C. Ayers, C. C. Carroll, A. L. Bumgarner, G. E. Furboy, C. W. Finch, A. E. McBride, Jesse Barnes, C. S. Lochary, John Lochary and M. M. Scott.

According to the annual report, the number of members in good standing in 1902 were 17 and there was a surplus in the treasury of $13.95. The presiding officers are : A. L. Bumgarner, C. C.; J. P. Hall, keeper of records ; J. W. Riley, D. G. C.

DRUMMOND POST, G. A. R.,

Was organized in St. Clairsville April 20, 1882. Its charter members were J. F. Charlesworth, Samuel Hillis, Leroy Sedgwick, W. S. Kennon, James A. Barnes, W. S. Colby, J. R. Mitchell, J. W. Riley, Simon Jones, W. S. Hobbs, C. W. Carroll, W. A. Hunt, B. R. Johnson, Henry Meek, Alexander Barrett, J. E. West, H. M. Davies, Thomas Malone, B. S. McBride, W. H. Roscoe and G. P. Schick.

Eight of these charter members have been mustered out and have united with the comrades on the other side. This lodge was named after Lieutenant Drummond, a gallant young officer of the regular army, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion. The officers of the post in 1902 are as follows : J. M. Rees, post commander; Henry Adams, senior vice commander ; J. J. Rennard, adjutant ; J. A. Stewart, chaplain ; and B. S. McBride, quarter-master. The total membership is 65.

THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.

Before the erection of the present costly and commodious Infirmary, the poor and infirmwere cared for in a "Poor House." This institution was an unpretentious brick dwelling, located upon the farm of William Campbell, in Richland township, four miles west of St. Clairsville. The farm contained 150 acres, and was purchased for $2,800. The purchase was made in 1828 by County Commissioners Isaac Barton, David Smith and Joseph Morrison. As the demands made upon the house exceeded its capacity, the building was subjected to numerous repairs and additions, until, in 1870, the county erected the present large Infirmary, with all modern appliances for the economical and comfortable care of the poor and infirm. This building was erected at a cost of $63,000, and the work was done under the supervision of Commissioners H. Frasher, James Alexander and William Armstrong. Subsequently a separate building was erected for a jail, and this structure was destroyed by fire in January, 1901, at which time one of the inmates was burned to death. The building was rebuilt at a cost of $10,000. It contains 26 cells. The present acreage of the farm is 176, and furnishes the institution with all the vegetables and fruits required for the institution, and likewise supplies the hay and grain necessary for the support of the live stock, and a portion of the grain needed for the inmates. Commissioner George M. Wise thinks the total cost of the Infirmary will be about $80,000. The number of inmates in 1902 is 157, and the cost of keeping, per capita, is $62.50.

The present board of directors are Otto Rottmeier, J. A. Brown and J. H. Heed, and the superintendent is Orlando Cope. In chapter IV is given a list of Infirmary directors from

1842.

THE PRESS.

The St. Clairsville Gazette was the pioneer newspaper of Belmont County. Some time prior to 1812, Alexander Armstrong, a man of scholarly attainments, came from one of the Eastern States and settled in St. Clairsville, then a straggling town, consisting of two rows of cabins. Recognizing the possibilities of the

258 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

county, Mr. Armstrong conceived the idea of starting a newspaper. The field was a wide one, for in all the territory bordering on the Ohio River, from Steubenville to Marietta, and as far west as Zanesville, there was not a newspaper. Yet Mr. Armstrong's project was not without its difficulties. The population was yet sparse, with poor roads and poor mail facilities. Mr. Armstrong visited the settlements, soliciting aid for his project and offering his paper to subscribers for $3 per year, which in those days was a large sum, and often had to be paid in the products of the farm. He seemed to have received substantial encouragement, for in January, 1812, he began the publication of a weekly paper at St. Clairsville, called The Belmont Repository. It was a four-column paper, printed after the manner of that time, with wide columns and on coarse heavy paper, the four columns in the aggregate being about the width of five columns of the paper of today. The paper was devoted almost exclusively to a chronicling of the general news of the nation, and even of the world, as the editor gleaned them from his exchanges, this being long before the day of Associated Press dispatches, telephones, etc., and local items of less importance than a murder or a hanging were not considered worthy a place in the publication.

For some reason, about August, 1818, Mr. Armstrong changed the name of the publication to The Belmont Journal, but the form of the paper remained about the same. Five years later, Robert H. Miller, who afterward became a noted veteran editor, was associated with Mr. Armstrong in the publication of the paper. It seemed to have been their design to give it wider scope and influence than it had before enjoyed under its local name, and the former name was dropped and Western Post substituted. How well their expectations were realized is not recorded, but the partnership continued until January 1, 1825, when Mr. Armstrong, after a service of 13 years, retired from the firm, and Mr. Miller became the sole editor and proprietor. He had apparently discovered that the paper succeeded better as a local publication and again changed its titlehead, calling it The St. Clairsville Gazette. By this name it has ever since been known, except for a brief time after it was consolidated with another local paper, when it was called The Gazette and Citizen. Among the improvements added by Mr. Miller was to add another column, making it a five-column paper. In those days, currency was scarce, and Mr. Miller gave notice that he would accept corn, tobacco and other farm products in lieu of money in payment of subscriptions, the same to be delivered at points in the county designated in the notice. Mr. Miller continued the publication alone until 1829. when George NV. Manypenny, who afterward became a distinguished editor and politician at Columbus, Ohio, became Sassociated with him. This partnership had a brief duration, being terminated in August, 1830, by the retirement of Mr. Miller, and seems not to have been a brilliant financial success, for in July, 1830, publication was suspended until Mr. Manypenny took sole charge in August of the same year. In his initial number, Mr. Manypenny states that the suspension was due to lack of funds to buy materials necessary for the publication of the paper. Mr. Manypenny, however, took up the work, enlarged the paper to a six-column, and conducted it with marked ability until March 2, 1833, when he sold The Gazette to John Y. and Jacob Glessner, who afterward became distinguished as politicians and editors of the Mansfield (Ohio) Shield and Banner and the Zanesville Signal.

In the latter part of 1837, the Glessners sold the plant to Maj. John Irons, a blunt old gentleman, who had seen military service, and had had editorial experience in Pennsylvania. His administration was brief, and in March, 1838, The Gazette passed into the hands of its greatest editor, Dr. John Dunham. He was a small man and a cripple, but a man of brilliant attainments, an iron will and a superb courage. A year later the paper was again enlarged to a seven-column folio and under Dr. Dunham's management it obtained a wide influence, it being the only Democratic paper in the Congressional district, and. still the only one in the Ohio River counties between Steubenville and

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Marietta. By reference to the files of that time, we find that the paper was printed by Gill, Heaton & Company, a firm of practical printers, and later, from 1841 to 1847, it was printed by Heaton & Gressinger, but Dr. Dunham had editorial charge during the whole of this time.

Whether, up to this time, any of the editors of The Gazette had possessed a printing outfit or not is not certain, probably none of them had, but, in 1847, Dr. Dunham bought a press and became both the editor and publisher, with Alexander Patton, one of the most incisive writers of his time, as associate editor.

In February, 1847, the printing firm of John H. Heaton and Stephen Gressinger started another paper in St. Clairsville, called The Citizen, but in two years it was merged with The Gazette and the consolidation called The Gazette and Citizen. With the merger, Mr. Heaton retired from the firm, and the paper was published by Dunham & Gressinger. Dr. Dunham retired from the firm and closed his long and able editorial career March 15, 1850. From that time until February, 1856, The Gazette and Citizen was edited by Stephen Gressinger. In that year, Mr. Gressinger retired and was succeeded by John H. Heaton. In January, 1862, Mr. Heaton dropped the name of Citizen from the title of the paper, and ever since it has appeared under the name it now hears. In February, 1862, Mr. Heaton sold the paper to Stephen Gressinger, and on February 11, 1864, bought it back again, retaining possession of it and editing it with signal ability and success until his death August 23, 1873.

After the death of Mr. Heaton, the paper was published for the benefit of his heirs by 0. J. Swaney, Esq., his administrator, until its sale to C. N. Gaumer, November 1, 1873. During this time it was under the editorial management of Stephen Gressinger. With his retirement, Mr. Gressinger closed a long editorial career, during all of which he maintained universal respect, even of those who had felt the force of his caustic pen.

Mr. Gaumer had been an editor of theZanesville Signal, was a young man of capacity and great executive ability. . He enlarged the paper to eight columns and greatly enlarged its circulation and put it upon a paying basis. He was an expert party manipulator, and during the most part of his ownership of The Gazette nearly all of the county officials were of his party. He sold The Gazette to purchase the Mansfield (Ohio) Shield and Banner, and afterward served Richland County in the lower house of the General Assembly of the State. Isaac M. Riley, Esq., was the purchaser of The Gazette from Mr. Gaumer, February 1, 1883. During his management, the building in which the paper was published was destroyed by a cyclone and the material of the office severely damaged. Mr. Riley removed the office to the present site, which except for a few months, while rebuilding, has ever since been its home.

September 1, 1889, Mr. Riley sold The Gazette to David H. Milligan, Esq., and George E. Steenrod, who conducted it under the firm name of Milligan & Steenrod. They enlarged the paper to a nine-column folio, and reduced the price of subscription from $2.00 to $1.50 per year. Later, about August, 1894, they further reduced the price of subscription to $1.00 per year, which it has since remained and now is. During their ownership, July 10, 1894, the office, with all the presses, type and other materials, was almost totally destroyed by fire. But by the generous assistance of friends the paper did not lose an issue. Within a few hours after the fire, plans were drawn for the erection of a new office, and in a few days ground was purchased and the erection of the present beautiful Gazette Building commenced. After occupying temporary quarters, The Gazette was removed into its present home December 1, 1894, and was published from an entirely new outfit of materials. On April 1, 1896, Mr. Milligan sold his interest in the paper to his partner, Mr. Steenrod, who at the same time sold a one-half interest to Arthur A. Clark, and the firm name became Clark & Steenrod. January 1, 1900, Mr. Steenrod retired from the paper, selling his interest to his partner, Mr. Clark, who conducted it alone

260 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

until April 1, 1901, when it was purchased by D. H. Milligan. September 1, 1901, Mr. Milligan sold a one-half interest to D. S. Creamer, and he, with Mr. Milligan, are the present proprietors, under the firm name of Milligan & Creamer.

During the past to years, much new material has been added to the office of The Gazette, until today it is one of the best equipped job and general work offices in the county. Today, it enjoys a large and growing circulation and an increasing patronage in all its departments.

Politically, it has always advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and has long been recognized as the principal organ of that party in Belmont County. During the 90 years of its existence, The Gazette has had its seasons of adversity and prosperity. Some of its editors have been men of business ability, while others have failed for lack of such ability. Some have been men of national renown as politicians and statesmen. Of these many interesting incidents might be told were it not beyond the scope of this article. The history of the paper is a creditable one, and its files show it to have done its part in leading the way in the development of this great county and Eastern Ohio.

The Belmont Chronicle.—The newspaper of the present day, whether a country weekly or a metropolitan daily with a half dozen editions, is a modern institution. Each is the outgrowth of something vastly different from that which we know. The great daily had its inception at the period of the Civil War, and the country weekly as a purveyor of local news came into existence at near the same time. The history of the newspaper business of Belmont County is a record of the country weekly and its evolution from being an exclusively political sheet to the point where local news is made the primary object and political discussion but incidental to its publication.

In 1813, Charles Hammond published in St. Clairsville a paper which he called The Federalist, and from this date is reckoned the life of The Belmont Chronicle. What The Federalist was like or how long it was published isnot now known. In fact the record of its existence is nothing more than a tradition. It probably was a small sheet published at infrequent intervals and taken up wholly with the expression of the political views of the editor. Such was the early newspaper, so called, but it was nothing more in fact that a political leaflet. Hammond was one of the able and gifted men of early Ohio history, and in those days when men expressed their views in ultra terms,

The Federalist, doubtless, was virile and caustic. Hammond later went to Cincinnati and founded the Cincinnati Gazette.

While probably something in the line of a newspaper was published at times following The Federalist, yet we find nothing definite until along in the "twenties," when The National Historian was published by Horton J. Howard. This publication was devoted to Whig principles and as such was the predecessor of The Chronicle. Howard had at an earlier day published a paper at Mount Pleasant. He was a printer and carried on an extensive business in the publication of school textbooks. How extensive his business was is shown by the fact that as early as 1837 he used upwards of $10,000 worth of paper a year. How long The Historian survived is not known, but in 1835 its successor was known as The Journal and Enquirer, and the latter was published by John Duffey for a time.

In those days it was nothing unusual for there to be a break of a week or a few weeks, even a few months, in the publication. When such a break occurred, it was usually explained by saying the editor was sick, the patronage did not amount to sufficient to warrant publication or the paper was out of supplies. When the difficulty, whatever it was, was overcome, publication was resumed. Thus we find what was really the continuation of the same publication under different names and appearing at irregular intervals.

In July, 1836, the paper appeared under the name of The Belmont Chronicle and, with the exception of some additions made to the name and later dropped, it has remained The Belmont Chronicle for more than 66 years. The

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first publishers of which there is record were Benjamin S. Cowen and Thomas S. Reid. Early in 1837, Cowen withdrew from the firm, and in July, 1833, Reid sold the paper to John A. Hutchison and J. S. Thomas, but the latter remained in the firm but a few months. Hutchison continued in control until 1842, when he disposed of the property to William Brown. In August, 1847, Foster Carroll and B. Gill became the owners, but in October of 1848 they disposed of the property to Horton Howard, mentioned previously as having published The Historian. Howard evidently thought the name not long enough, and for several years under his management the paper was known as The Belmont Chronicle and Farmers', Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Advocate. May to, 1850, notice is given that B. S. Cowen had become a partner with Howard in the publication of The Chronicle, and that while Mr. Howard would remain editor of the paper, Benjamin R. Cowen, then a very young man, would be associated with him. The firm name appears as Horton J. Howard and B. R. Cowen, but not until March, 1853, did B. R. Cowen's name appear in the paper as one of the editors. September 30, 1853, Howard retired, and Cowen—B. R.—became sole owner and editor and continued as such for more than three years. Howard, after disposing of his interest, moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he died a few years since. He is said to have been a man of business ability and of more than ordinary intellect.

Cowen continued to publish The Chronicle until January 1, 1857, when he sold it to David Thoburn. Thoburn kept it until 1861, when Col. C. L. Poorman became the editor. Colonel Poorman published the paper for about nine years, and in 1870 sold it to Clark Wilkinson and Joel Nichols. The latter did not remain in the firm long, but Wilkinson conducted it until September, 1872, when William A. Hunt became the owner and continued as such for more than 18 years, or until April 1, 1891.

On the latter date Charles C. Carroll and Edwin L. McMillen became editors and owners by purchase, and this firm continued until January 1, 1895, when Mr. Carroll retired and Mr. McMillen became sole owner and still remains editor and proprietor.

Of the editors of The Chronicle a number attained distinction and honor. B. R. Cowen was Assistant Secretary of War under President Grant and is at the present time clerk of the United States courts at Cincinnati, a life position of honor and responsibility. Thoburn was of the widely known Thoburn family of this vicinity. but died young. Poorman went into the volunteer service at the opening of the Civil War as a captain and came out of the service in command of his regiment. He is now living in retirement at Bellaire. W. A. Hunt, who edited the paper longer than any other man, has retired from active labor.

The Chronicle has always been a newspaper that exercised a strong influence in Belmont County. It has usually been outspoken and its editors throughout its history have been given to vigorous expression. At first it was a political sheet exclusively. Now it deals principally with the news and interest of Belmont County. Under B. R. Cowen's management in the "fifties," it first became a local newspaper and this feature has been constantly added to until today it claims to be a local newspaper only. Its life is the span of more than two generations, and it is more vigorous and more widely read today than ever before.