CHAPTER XXIV.

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GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.

CAPTURE OF LEWIS WETZEL AND HIS BROTHER—THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS —SPINNING IN THE OLDEN TIME—EARLY SETTLERS—TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION —GOSHEN TOWNSHIP IN THE CIVIL WAR— BELMONT VILLAGE— THE SCHOOL—THE INDUSTRIES—NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENTS

—ODD FELLOWS—THE BANKS—THE CHURCHES— BETHESDA— THE EPWORTH ASSEMBLY—THE CHAUTAUQUA ASSEMBLY —THE GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE—THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK—THE SCHOOL--THE BETHESDA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Goshen township was probably named after a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, from whence many of the early settlers migrated, and its history is replete with many stirring incidents.

CAPTURE OF LEWIS WETZEL AND HIS BROTHER.

It was at a point midway between Burton and Bethesda in this township, and on the farm formerly owned by Hendly Gregg, that one of the most stirring events in Indian warfare occurred.

Lewis Wetzel and his brother Jacob had been captured by the Indians near Wheeling and carried from their homes east of Wheeling, across the river. The boys were only 12 and 14 years old, respectively.

The second night they camped on the Big Lick, 20 miles from the river on McMechen's Creek, as above mentioned.

The Wetzels as well as the Indians were footsore and weary, and the Indians fell into a sound sleep without tying the boys. When the Indians were asleep, Lewis whispered to his, brother, "We must now run."

Jacob at first demurred, but yielding toLewis' importunities, he arose and they slipped away quietly. When they had run a hundred yards, Lewis said, "Well, we can't go home barefooted. You stay here and I will go back and get a pair of moccasins for each." And he accordingly did so. Then remembering he had left his father's gun behind he again slipped back cautiously and secured the gun. However they had not proceeded far on their return until they heard the Indians following them. It was a moonlight night and they were obliged to travel with caution. When the Indians approached they stepped aside into the bushes, and then fell into the trail behind them. On the return of the Indians they pursued the same tactics. They were then pursued by the Indians on horseback, whom they also successfully dodged, and reached the river, opposite Wheeling the next day, which they crossed upon a raft of their own construction. Lewis Wetzel had in the meantime become much exhausted by the loss of blood from the wound he received when captured.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

It is believed that the first settlement was

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made by a squatter, named John Adams, and his family about 1797 and that they lived in the most primitive way. About the same time three squatters, flamed Christian Wyaman and a man named Keeler and John Dunlap, settled on government land and tradition reports these pioneers as living in log houses, chinked with mud and covered with coarse clapboard roofs. The chimneys were of stone and mud at the base, with a frame work of sticks narrowing to the top. The floors were made of puncheons and a quilt sometimes answered the purpose of a door. The clothing was equally plain, but serviceable and all homemade.

SPINNING IN THE OLDEN TIME.

John S. Williams, an old pioneer, in an article published a half century ago, said:

"One of our employments upon winter evenings, after we had raised flax, was the spinning of rope yarn from the coarsest `swingling' tow to make bedcords. The manner of spinning rope yarn was by means of a drum which turned upon a horizontal shaft driven into a hole in one of the cabin logs near the fire.

"The yarn was hitched to a nail on one side of the circumference next to me; by taking an oblique direction and keeping up a regular jerking or pulling of the thread, the drum was kept in constant motion and thus the twisting and pulling went on until the length of the walk was taken up.

"Then by winding the yarn first on my forearm and from that on the drum I was ready to spin another thread.

"A finer kind of tow was used as filling for trousers and aprons.

"A warp still finer was used for shirts and frocks and a still finer thread for sheets and frocks.

"Linen shirts. especially 700 thread, were counted 'dandyish': but that animal was yet unknown. Pioneers found it to their advantage to wear tow linen and eat skimmed milk and sell their flax, linen and butter.

"Frocks were a short shirt, worn over thetrousers, and we saved our shirts by pulling them off in warm weather and wearing nothing but our frocks, trousers and a straw hat.

"These things took place before the days of suspenders, when everyone's trousers lacked about two inches of reaching up to where the waistcoat reached down.

"The girls then had forms without bustles, and rosy cheeks without paint, and this was the children's employment on winter evenings in the old pioneers' cabins.

"At a later period, and when the wolves had been in a measure exterminated, the pioneers began to grow wool. Previous to that time, the wolves were almost as numerous as sheep today, and the farmer's flocks could only be protected by housing them with other young animals at night.

"When wool became a part of the farmer's stock in trade, the good wife would card and weave it, and spin it into cloth, and with copperas water the cloth was colored and striped and checkered, for those who would be gay.

"The principal food of these hearty pioneers was cornmeal and pounded hominy, and the meat was mainly wild game."

EARLY SETTLERS.

Probably the first land entered lawfully was that of Joseph Wright. Associated with him was Ralph Heath and William Philpot. Then in the order of time came John Gregg, Darling Conrow, Ezekiel Smith, Joseph Danner, George and John Ewers, David Fawcett, Nathan McNichols, George Burns, William Phillips and Stephen Gregg.

At the earliest period land could only be entered by the section and was sold at $2 per acre.

The forests of Goshen in that pioneer period were dense groves of hickory, chestnut, white and black oak and poplar, and the ground was fairly carpeted with wild peas.

The soil is a clayey loam, and the chief product years ago was tobacco. Today wheat, corn and grasses are grown, with large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep.

292 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

There is little coal for commercial purposes mined in this township. The four-foot vein is abundant, but only used for domestic purposes.

It is not known definitely the year the township was organized, as the records do not extend back beyond 1835, but it is supposed to have been organized about the time Wrightstown was laid out, namely : 1808-09.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND POPULATION.

In 1900 the township officers were as follows : Trustees,—R. B. Lawrence, R. F. P. Patterson and John I. Lewis; justices of the peace,—David E. Ault, Archibald Cole and A. W. Wilcox; clerk,—Charles Seylaws; treasurer,—R. S. Burriss.

The population of the township in 1890 was 2,645; according to the census of 1900, it was 2,893, a gain of 248 in the last decade.

The assessor's returns for 1902 reveal an increase upon the tax duplicate of $9,483, while the tax levy in the township is reduced from 1.77 in 1901 to 1.46 in 1902 and in Belmont corporation it is reduced from 2.60 in 1901 to 2.42 in 1902.

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP IN THE CIVIL WAR.

Goshen township in the War of the Rebellion was very patriotic and furnished a whole company of soldiers for service in the 98th Ohio Regiment, under command of Captain Cordner. Dr. Schooley says that at the battle of Perryville this company was in an exposed position, but heroically maintained it until the company was practically annihilated.

BELMONT VILLAGE.

Belmont or Wrightstown was laid out by Joseph Wright in 1808. The name Wrightstown ought to have been perpetuated in honor of the enterprising and intelligent Irish gentleman who first settled there. Mr. Wright was the first school teacher and taught in the old. round-log school house for years. He wasalso the first postmaster. One of the oldest citizens in Belmont today is George Ewers, aged 75 years.

The population of the village in 1880 was 350. In 1900 it is returned at 422. The village was incorporated December 17, 1897, with W. H. White, mayor, and W. D. Strahl, clerk.

The village officers in 1902 are : Mayor, J. M. Gordon; clerk, J. E. Davis; treasurer, Ira Vail; councilmen,—A. P. Stewart, C. W. Upham, Michael King, C. C. Lynn, Mix Netzel and James Burson.

The regularly appointed postmaster having resigned, John E. Davis is holding the office by appointment until a successor is nominated and confirmed.

THE SCHOOL.

The first log-cabin school house was built in 1807. The second was a hewed-log house, date not given. The third was a frame structure in 1836.. The fourth, a brick structure in 1861, and the last a three-room brick house in 1875.

The present superintendent is J. W. Jeffries, with Tompkins Dillon and Miss L. Griffith as assistants. The enrollment is 168 and the school house is too small to accommodate the increasing numbers. The members of the School Board are: Elmer Kinney, president; J. M. Gordon, secretary; W. A. DeLong, Leonard Hart, Fred Wright and J. W. McClellan. Since the above was written, Mr. Dillon, the assistant superintendent, was thrown out of his buggy in some mysterious way and killed. The accident occurred upon his return from the polls at Morristown.

THE INDUSTRIES.

There is one large modern steam flour mill, that is kept constantly employed in Belmont today. It has a capacity of 30 barrels of flour daily.

There is also an overall and glove factory conducted by Carmen & Taylor that gives employment to 60 women and two or three men. Recently the factory was destroyed by fire, but

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the company has sought new quarters and the work is again in operation.

The fire referred to also destroyed the Odd Fellows' building with all their valuable regalias, entailing a total loss of about $5,000.

NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENTS.

Belmont is to be supplied with natural gas. A company is now laying mains. Some time ago a well was put down a little way north of town. A considerable flow of gas was found at a depth of about 900 feet. The well was closed up and nothing done with it until a few months ago, when parties purchased the farm on which the well is located and began arrangements to carry the gas into town. Other wells will be put down and the supply will, it is thought, be equal to the demand.

ODD FELLOWS.

Belmont Lodge, No. 257, I. O. O. F., contains a membership of 80, but the records were all destroyed in the late fire. The present officers are : W. Smith, N. G.; Elmer Colley, V. G.; L. D. McKisson, secretary; W. D. Strahl, recording secretary; and H. L. Hoge, treasurer.

THE BANKS.

The First National Bank of Belmont, which was only in operation a few years, failed in 1902. A receiver was appointed by the government and its affairs are now in course of settlement. It is believed depositors will be reimbursed in part, but the stockholders will sustain heavy losses. At this writing it is feared a levy will be made upon them equal to double the amount of their stock.

The failure was a great blow to the town and surrounding country and the bitter feeling engendered has been a menace to the town's prosperity, but a better feeling prevails today, and a speedy recovery is hoped for.

The (New) First National Bank.—After the failure of the First National Bank, a new First National Bank was organized, September 2, 1902. Many of the stockholders in the newbank were formerly connected with the first bank as officers or stockholders. The capital stock of the new bank is $25,000 and its officers are : Dr. L. Schooley, president; William Nichols, vice-president; J. F. Neff, cashier; directors,—J. A. Bryson and Jonas Perkins.

THE CHURCHES.

The Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1868, and in 1869 a new church was erected at a cost of $3,210. The work was done under the supervision of Rev. Josiah Dillon. At the dedicatory exercises, over $1,000 was raised to meet the indebtedness. Some of the members active in the organization of the church were A. P. Miller, Sarah Schooley, Jacob Mays, Alice Wright, William A. Dowdell, Jane Calhoun, J. A. Grove, Margaret Dillon, J. B. Hollingsworth, Nancy Lowry, P. E. McKisson and David Perry.

Some of the pastors who have served the people are : Revs. Sweeny, Hollister, Cooper, Robb and Darby.

The present church is a neat frame structure on the Belmont and Bethesda circuit, and the pastor is Rev. Mr. Patterson. The official members are Harry Wright, O. C. Weir, Nathan Barnes, Mrs. Fred, E. P. McMurry, Ira Vail, William McClellan, John Wright, C. S. Dunn and William Nichols.

The Methodist Protestant Church was organized about 1831, though the present church was erected in 1838. Previous to that time, services were conducted in the the school house.

The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Murphy, and the official board is as follows : Trustees,—Herman L. Hoge, Thomas Orr and W. W. Gregg ; stewards,—Elma Gregg and Rhoda Green; janitor,—Clyde Gregg.

The pastors who have served this church in the past have been : Revs. G. W. Hissey, John Woodward, H. T. Lawson, Patrick Kink, T. H. Scott. Thomas Orr, J. B. McCormick, S. Lancaster, E. Hoagland, E. Looman, J. D. Murphy, Dr. Link, E. S. Dollison, M. Lee, E. M. Hougland, John Cooper, J. M. Wells and W. S. Murphy.

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The Christian Church of Belmont was organized in 1889, and the members worshiped in a neat frame church. The membership in 1902 numbers 80 and the elders in charge are Joseph Burson, Joseph Bolon and Alonzo Orrison. They have no stated pastor.

BETHESDA

Is a town of 850 population and is situated about six miles east of Barnesville.

It was named after Bethesda Church and P. O., which were located a mile or more south. When the post office was removed to the railroad station, the postmaster, Mr. Patterson, carried the name of the post office with him. The railroad station, however, was called Burr's Mills, after the gentleman who erected a mill on the railroad at that point. Mr. Burr subsequently laid out a little village, which was established in 1855. This village, because of its high and beautiful location, was called Fairmount. Thus the village and railroad station and post office had each different names. Eventually the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad adopted Bethesda as the name of the station, when by common consent the other titles, Burr's Mills and Fairmount, were dropped, and the village is now known as Bethesda.

THE EPWORTH ASSEMBLY.

On August 31, 1870, the Barnesville District Camp Meeting Association met at the Shirer Methodist Episcopal Chapel, adjoining the village, and after discussion determined to purchase the beautiful grove adjoining for camp meeting purposes. These grounds contained 18 acres, well-watered, with bountiful shade, and capable of accommodating 10,000 people. Subscription papers were circulated by William Dowdell, William Davis, Frank McMillan, John Walker and J. B. Shipman. Soon thereafter the sum of $1,410.58 was realized and the grounds were purchased.

Forty or fifty neat cottages were built and immense assemblies thereafter collected annually for a period of 20 years.

And thus the camp meetings continued until 1890 which was the last one held.

CHAUTAUQUA ASSEMBLY.

At a business meeting held November 11, 1890, three ministers of the Barnesville district were appointed a committee to arrange for Chautauqua Assembly for the year 1891, the committee being Rev. T. W. Lane, Dr. C. E. Manchester and Rev. C. M. Hollett. May 21st, at a meeting of the board of managers held on the Epworth Park grounds, the said committee submitted their plans and program, which was approved and the sum of $500 appropriated for the purpose and placed at their disposal. J. Melvin Richards and A. Gregg were added to the committee. It was ordered that an auditorium be built in the square at a cost not to exceed $500. The first Epworth Park Assembly was held in July, 1891, and proved a grand success. The work has continued without interruption and has long since passed the experimental stage. Among the many improvements added is a beautiful lake for boating and bathing. The 12th Annual Assembly held this year (1902) was the most satisfactory of any yet held.

The present officers are: J. A. Judkins, M. D.. chairman; G. E. Hunt, treasurer; J. Melvin Richards, secretary and superintendent of grounds ; J. A. Judkins, J. L. Woodward, C. H. Dankworth, J. W. Garber, J. H. Hoffman and M. Aldredge; Dr. M. J. Slutz, superintendent of instruction; Revs. A. J. Hiatt, D. W. Knight and J. A. Judkins, M. D., and J. Melvin Richards, committee on program.

THE GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE.

The population of the village in 1880 was but 150 and there were but a few stores. Today the population is nearly 900 and there are in successful operation to cigar factories that yield an annual output of 20,000,000 cigars and give employment to 250 hands, and there are in addition 11 business houses and one box factory.

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The assessor's returns reveal a gain of $14,216 in the personal property upon the tax duplicate, while the tax levy has been reduced to 1:60. The postmaster in 1902 is T. F. Thompson.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

Of Bethesda was organized May 25, 1900. and commenced business December 16, 1900. The original board of directors consisted of H. H. Gregg, J. E. Lucas, T. M. Kildow, H. R. Wilson, J. T. Patterson, A. L. Kemp, J. W. Wilkinson and John Shepherd, with T. M. Kildow, president; J. E. Lucas, vice-president; and E. F. Barnes, cashier. There have been added to the board of directors since organization C. O. Kelly and A. E. Hogue.

The capital stock is $25,000, with a surplus of $2,500 and deposits amounting to $135,000. The bank has enjoyed the entire confidence of the community from the beginning.

THE SCHOOL.

The village school has kept pace with the town in growth. Twenty years ago it was a little brick building near the Shirer Church. Today it is a commodious school building, with five rooms and an enrollment of 183, namely : Male, 101 ; female, 82. The school is in a prosperous condition and furnished with all modern appointments. The instructors are A. H. Rummel, superintendent ; F. L. Mavis, grammar department; Effie Berry, intermediate department; and Elsie Langle, primary department.

THE BETHESDA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

As heretofore stated, was organized in 1834-35 at a point nearly two miles south of the present village. When in 1860 a new building was required to accommodate the increasing numbers, it was decided to erect the building in the village and adjoining the camp grounds. This little frame church was called Shirer Chapel, after an esteemed pastor.

Some of the ministers who have served this people are: Revs. S. Y. Kennedy, D. M. Hollister, Gideon Martin, A. G. Robb and W. D. Starkey. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Patterson and the official board consists of Arthur Gregg, president; J. Melvin Richards, secretary; J. A. Latham, treasurer; Dr. J. W. Piper. W. W. Gilmore, John Hatcher and E. S. McMillen.

The building committee for the new church in course of construction is composed of Arthur Gregg, Dr. J. W. Piper and J. Melvin Richards.