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CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 451 CHAPTER XXX MOOREFIELD TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES-TOPOGRAPHY - ORGANIZATION - POPULATION - RAILROAD-EARLY SETTLEMENT-VILLAGES OF PIEDMONT AND MOOREFIELD. Moorefield is one of the large subdivisions of Harrison County. It is four miles from north to south and seven miles from east to west. It was named for the pioneer family of Moores in that vicinity. It is bounded on the north by Nottingham and Cadiz townships, on the east by Athens Township, on the south by Belmont County and on the west by Freeport and Washington townships. Stillwater Creek, Rush Run, Plum Run, Beggs Fork and scores of smaller streams flow through the various sections of this township. Farming, lumbering and stock raising comprise the chief business of the citizens of this goodly township. Its only railroad line is the Baltimore & Ohio line running through the southwestern corner, with a station at Piedmont—see village history. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP Since December 6, 1824, the boundaries of this township have been about the same as they stand today. During the passing years the citizens have sought to be law-abiding and support schools, churches and other societies for the upbuilding and betterment of the whole county. General chapters of this work will give an account of many things connected with the history of this township. The educational chapter and church chapter treats on those topics and they can be found by consulting the index. POPULATION In 1890 the population of this township was, according to the census returns 1,150 ; in 1900 it was 1,222; in 1910 it stood only 1,116. The 1920 enumeration gives the township 1,059 including village of Piedmont. EARLY SETTLERS Before 1814 these had settled in what is now Moorefield Township: Robert Baxter, 1812; Robert Bell, 1811; John Cadwallader, Jr., 1812; Thomas Crabbtree, 1812; Robert Hurton, 1811, from Ohio County, West Virginia ; Henry Johnson, 1812, from Allegheny County, Maryland; Joseph and Lemuel Johnson, 1812; William Johnson, 1810, from Allegheny County, Maryland; John Kennedy, 1811, from Scotland and the District of Columbia; John Knight, 1812; 452 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES from Washington County, Pennsylvania ; Matthew Kennedy, 1811, Edward Lafferty, 1810, from Washington County, Pennsylvania ; James Lamb, 1810; John Lamb, 1806, from Washington County, Pennsylvania ; Peter John Lance, 1812 ; Anne Mifflin, of Philadelphia, 1807; William Ramage, 1808; Thomas Rankin, 1805, from Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania ; Rachel Titus, 1812 ; Alexander Wilson, before 1810; Israel Wilson, 1811 ; James Wilson, 18I2 ; Jonathan Wright, 1811. THE VILLAGE OF PIEDMONT Piedmont is situated in Moorefield Township, Harrison County, Ohio. It is on what is now styled the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It is within civil township 10, range 6, as will be observed in the Moorefield Township history. The United States census reports gave the population of Piedmont and Moorefield townships at 1,150; in 1900 it was 1,222 ; in 1910 was placed at 1,016. The best estimates of the population of the village alone in 1920 is 275. From J. J. Sears and other citizens of Piedmont, the following historic facts have been gleaned: The first building (aside from the farm home of Lewis Bethel) was built in 1879 by George H. Collins who later occupied it as a general store room. The first family to remain over night here was J. J. Sears who came from Barnsville, Ohio, on April 29, 1880. Mr. George H. Collins above mentioned, began setting up a stock of goods in April, going home to the farm over night and was married during that season and then occupied his dwelling built in connection with his store room. What was called the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley and Wheehng Railroad was constructed through the place in 1880; the first passenger train arrived during the month of February. The name of the railway was changed to Cleveland, Loraine & Wheeling and is now owned by the Baltimore & Ohio Company. The Baptist church was built during 1881 ; the first pastor was Reverend Temple, followed by Reverends Cross, Boyd, Wilson and present pastor Reverend Golf. The Methodist Episcopal church was built during 1890, was dedicated in November. Reverend Davidson officiated, Rev. S. F. Wood being the pastor. Then followed Reverends Anderson, Rowland, Ulman, St. John, Martin, Wyrick, McCarty, Piggott, Bright, Rose, Miller, Staufer, Danford, Hanson, Raines, Coss, Calfee, Harrison and Albright the present pastor. A fine Sabbath school and Epworth League are maintained. The first general store was conducted by George H. Collins before mentioned, then Greenfield, Goodmen, Hibbs & Co., E. G. Frezzell & Co., T. S. Beatty, Martin & Adams, Compher & Barclay, besides numerous groceries by J. M. Davis, Ben Huff, John Dadisman, William McClelland, Isaac Vickers, J. E. Moon, Emma Reynolds, G. F. Jackson, S. B. Randolph. Among the various butchers of the village have been Isaac Vickers, Hughe, G. F. Jackson, J. E. Moore, Abe Heins, S. B. Rudolph, Clark Harney, Bert Huffling, I. L. Crossley. CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 453 The pioneer blacksmith was John Boswell in 1880, then followed Adolph Johnson, Wallace Harding, Nat Harding, T. S. Beatty, J. W. Nichols, John Green, Mr. Thompson and I. T. Arter, the present "village blacksmith." The first furniture store was opened by John Dadisman, then came J. R. Hibbs and Morton Shepherd. The livery business was first conducted by John Latham, after which came Clark Harney, Samuel Lantz, D. N. Reynolds, I. L. Crossley, F. A. McCoy, and John Tarbert. The first postmaster was W. T. Martin, followed by George H. Collins, Samuel Smith, George H. Collins, Samuel Smith, Simeon Compher and T. B. Coulson, the present efficient postmaster. This village was at first called Butler in honor of Harvey Butler who owned the land and gave away the depot grounds and right-of- way. There was much confusion for a while on account of goods going to Butler, Richland County, this State, so our station and village was changed to Piedmont. All of that part of this village lying north of the Cadiz and Cambridge road or street and west of the railway is known on the records as Collinsport in honor of Zachariah Collins who formerly owned the land. The first planing mill was built by Briggs, Sears & Co., in ma.. then it was owned by Wilkins Brothers, Close Brothers, Jo Morton,, J. W. Moore, George P. Collins, David McClellan, Talbott Brothers,, Harvey Moore, W. M. Corban, W. A. Clay and J. W. Vickers & Son who also operate a handle factory, giving employment to a large number of men and teams; they also operate a saw mill and lumber business on a large scale. J. W. Goodman engaged in the produce business in 1884, then the firm of Goodman, Heibbs & Co. was formed which business has been continued and is now conducted by R. S. Heibbs in the firm name of Goodman, Heibbs & Co.; also Isaac Vickers and others. The first hotel was in 1880 and was conducted by Shaw Sproul ; later landlords were Joseph Davis, Nat Harding, Wallace Harding, T. J. Rickey, H. B. Gray, McSheppard, T. A. McCoy, Charles Robinson. In I886 Nat Harding built a flouring mill, sold to Love Brothers and they to Martin & Adams, they to Heaston & McConnell, which is now being operated by McConnell & Curtis. A large hardware and implement house was built by Carothers & Hutchinson and was well stocked and ready for big trade, but was burned, the same being the first in the village. Following came J. R. Hibbs who did an extensive business in farm machinery and implements ; after his death he was succeeded by his son, Oscar Hibbs, who conducted the business until his death and since then the business is conducted by E. G. Frizzell. O. E. Hall also conducted a hardware store and continued until May, 1920. Banking was first established at Piedmont about January, 1900, by Goodman, Heibbs & Co.-See banking chapter. The undertaking business was carried on for a time by both J. R. Hibbs and Martm Sheppard. 454 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES In 1885 the public school building was erected, in which a progressive school has since been conducted. Among the teachers here were N. B. Collins, Miss Barclay, Miss Bethel, Miss Holliday, Miss Reynolds, Miss Niblock, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Walker, Mr. Hammill, Miss Sears, Miss Rowland, Miss Guthrie, Mr. Mong, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Deselves, Miss Burney, Miss Smylie and Miss Nichols. Miss Miller is the present efficient instructor. The physicians of Piedmont have included the following: Doctor Trueman, then came Doctor Copeland, Doctor Cole, Doctor Keenan, Doctor Long, Doctor Dow and Doctor Curtis. The barber business has been in the hands of these : The first was a Mr. Crim, then Anderson, McClelland, Copes, Stine, Tedrick and the present barber, Mr. Moerz. The first child born on the village plat was Ross Sears. The first death was an infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Crebbs. VILLAGE OF MOOREFIELD In section 23 of this township is the village of olden times known as Moorefield. It was platted by Michael Moore and Gabriel Cane, December 15, 1815. So it will be seen that it is one of the oldest village sites within the county and one hundred and five years old. During the century and more of its existence there has been many interesting events transpiring in the community which called this its center. Its commercial interests, of course, were never large, but many pioneers .appreciated the stocks of goods carried there ; also the shops, etc., which accommodated the surrounding farming section. The Civil war days also took many brave young and middle-aged men from its environments. Had the interesting events of the long ago been preserved what a valuable article could be penned for the now defunct village. Julius M. Schreiber was for forty years a leading man—a merchant and suffered by reason of the famous Morgan raiders. He recovered his fortune by handling wool and pork. He was the local "banker." His son, J. M. Schreiber became the first cashier in the Fourth National Bank at Cadiz at its organization. |