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448 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES CHAPTER XXIX MONROE TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY-TOPOGRAPHY-RAILROADS-POPULATION-EARLY SETTLEMENT- VILLAGE OF BOWERSTON-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- ORGANIC. Monroe Township is the northwestern civil township in Harrison County and is geographically bounded as follows : On the north by Carroll County, on the east by North Township, on the south by Franklin and Stock townships and on the west by Tuscarawas County. Its territory is four miles wide from north to south and six miles from east to west. There are the usual number of small creeks coursing through this township, but no streams of any considerable size. The surface is broken by hills and valleys, but there remains much good farming land and sheep and other stock have for many years been "paying propositions" to the many farmers within the border of this township. RAILROAD FACILITIES The railway facilities in this section of Harrison County are effected by the great lines of the Pennsylvania and the Wheeling and Lake Erie. The former extends across the entire township from section 13 on the western line to section 21 on the northeastern part of the territory with stations at Philadelphia Roads (Station Fifteen) and Bowerston Village. The Wheeling & Lake Erie coming down out of Carroll County enters Monroe Township in section 27, at Bowerston and parallels the "Pennsylvania" through several Harrison County townships. Its only station in this county is Bowerston. POPULATION The United States census for 1920 is not completed and the number of people living in various townships has not been made public since 1910 but the population of this township in 1890 was 1,882; in 1900 it was 1,481 and in 1910 it was 1,479. In 1920 it is 1,223—Bowerston is 500. SCHOOLS, CHURCHES The general chapters on the public schools and the various churches found within Monroe Township will give the history of such topics m common with others of the county-See index. CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 449 EARLY SETTLERS Prior to 1814 the following had effected permanent settlement in Monroe Township : William Baun, 1801 ; Bernard Bower, 1812; John Bower, 1809 ; Jacob Easterday, 1811 ; John Fry, 1813. ORGANIC Monroe civil township was formed, with a number of other subdivisions of the county, on March 24, 1833, since which time its citizens have vied with the neighboring townships of Harrison County, in making a good local government. The chief business of its people has been farming, stock-raising and seeing that the schooling and church life of their families have not been neglected. A number of county officials have come from this part of the county. VILLAGE OF PHILADELPHIA ROADS Philadelphia Roads, in section 13 of Monroe Township, is a small hamlet postoffice, with a railroad station named "Station Fifteen" near by. It is situated on the Pennsylvania railroad, is a convenient stopping place but of no considerable commercial importance. THE VILLAGE OF BOWERSTON Bowerston is an enterprising, up-to-date business point—a station on the "Pennsylvania" system and also the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad. It is within the civil township of Monroe, not far distant from the Harrison and Carroll county line. It's population is now about five hundred. It has a Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren, Presbyterian and an Evangelical church—see church chapter of this work for particulars concerning these various churches. The lodge chapter for Harrison County gives an account of these secret orders : Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Maccabees and Sons of Veterans. Bowerston was platted by David Bowers, Henry Hoover and Nathaniel Bowers August 21, 1852 and at first was platted and known as "Bowersville." BUSINESS INTERESTS The oldest mercantile establishment is the Penn department store, under the name of the W. B. Penn Company, established in 1878—forty-two years ago and is now an incorporated concern of much financial importance. The waters of the rapid running Conotton furnishes power sufficient to propel a flouring mill, now operated by the Bowerston Milling Company, with J. E. Molesiworth as its manager. A paying vein of coal is mined at this point. The "drift" was commenced in 1918 and now runs fully four feet in thickness. Among the highly prized home factories is the Mining Safety Device Company, now manufacturing and assembling together all sorts of safety devices for mining, the same having been invented and 450 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES patented by J. A. Nolan. The product of this plant goes to all coal mining districts in the United States, to Canada and to South America. 1920 BUSINESS DIRECTORY General Dealers—The W. B. Penn Company, J. N. Dunlap. Grocers and Meats—J. C. Borland. Meat Market-Price & Holmes. Confectionery-W. H. Scott, L. D. Holmes and G. C. Archer. Exclusive Hardware—S. B. Boor. Hotel—Jennie Porter. Creamery-The Co-operative Creamery Company, now operated under a lease of the stockholders. Lumber-G. H. Johnson. Garage-Gordon Brothers, now employing five men constantly. Auto Livery-C. R. Birney. Ice Dealer-Price & Moreworth. Blacksmithing-L. G. Newell. Shoe Shop—J. J. Cotter, with all modern appliances. Banking—The First National Bank-see bank chapter. Farm Implements—S. B. Boor, in connection with hardware. The Penn Company also handle such goods. Physicians--Dr. W. E. Masters, Dr. H. A. Mackaman. Barbers-E. G. Bishop, Clifford Hart. Undertaker-W. D. Boor. Insurance and Real Estate—W. B. Law. POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS This is a third class postoffice with two rural deliveries, twenty- four and twenty-seven miles in length. The carriers in the autumn of 1920, are: J. E. Mehaffey and Claire S. Tate. The following have served as postmasters at Bowerston: Charles McKean, about 1870, W. B. Penn, D. R. Phillips, J. A. McKean, D. R. Phillips, L. D. Price, Olive Price, C. D. Royer, J. H. Brooks and present postmaster C. A. Bower who commenced to serve January 21, 1919. VILLAGE INCORPORATION Bowerston became an incorporated village in 1881. Its present town hall is in fact a township hall, erected in 1904. The village improvements are not extensive, but the government is good and order and quiet usually obtain. The present (1920) officers of the corporation are as follows : Mayor, R. E. Talkington ; marshal, A. E. Kerby; clerk, W. B. Masters ; councilmen, E. B. Milliken, S. W. Price, L. G. Newell, William Host, G. H. Johnson, Frank Quinn and the village treasurer is J. C. Lyons. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1914 for high school purposes at a cost of $25,000. It is a two story modern, eight room building where six female teachers care for the instruction of the village's pupils. |