450 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY tone, William Stiff, F. D. Draper, J. W. Darly, J. W. B. Smith, J. L. McDonald, J. Hunt Beard, B. H. Johnston. A Greek Catholic church and parsonage were built in the upper end of the town in 1902. Its material is fire brick and the cost was about $5,000. Revs. Emil Leregally Biscaha and Alexander Dudinsky each represents a pastorate of two years. Basil A. Volasin is the present pastor, with a membership of 110. In 1893, Rev. H. L. Grabau, rector of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, started a mission in Toronto under the name of St. Jude's. Services were held in a hall and at a subsequent visitation of the bishop fourteen were confirmed. Rev. C. P. Cogswell had charge for a while, and after his departure lay reading was maintained for some months, when the mission was discontinued. A small legacy has since been left for the benefit of the mission should it be revived, of which there has been some talk. The fraternal organizations are well represented in Toronto, including the Junior American Mechanics, organized August 26, 1888, 175 members ; Ancient Order of Hibernians, March 10, 1904, 125 members ; Eagles, December 19, 1906, 85 members ; Red Men, March 27, 1908, 75 members. The Lodge No. 583, F. & A. M., was organized in 1900, and has 135 members. James McFarland was the first W. M. The 1. 0. 0. F. also have a good organization, and at one time had a large building, with hall, which has since passed into private hands. G. W. Shuster Post, No. 239, represents the G. A. R. and there is a lodge of Jr. U. A. M. At one time there was a Protected Home Circle, No. 129. The first bank organized in Toronto was the Toronto Banking Company, in 1889, Jefferson Saltsman, president; John Logan, vice president, and J. M. McClave, cashier; capital $25,000. They went out of business in 1893. Their home was in the I. 0. 0. F. building. The Citizen's Bank purchased this property in September, 1896, and continued in business until Feb ruary, 1902, when it was purchased by the Bank of Toronto. The Bank of Toronto was started in 1894 by L. H. Hilsinger and others and was changed into the National Bank of Toronto in August, 1907, with L. I. Hilsinger, president; Guy' Johnston, vice president, and J. C. Hilsinger, cashier, with a capital of $50,000. Its last published statement, September 1, 1909, showed resources of $321,321.02, and aggregate deposits of $218,735.59. The First National Bank of Toronto was organized in the spring of 1907, with a capital of $50,000, with W. B. Stratton, president; W. B. Goucher, vice president, and T. J. Collins, cashier. Its last statement showed resources of $215,885.80, and aggregate deposits $110,106.28. Both banks do a large ousiness, and have the full confidence of the community. During the nineties there was a Home Building and Loan Company, with a permissible capital of $300,000, but its business was wound up and absorbed by a company in another city. ISLAND CREEK TOWNSHIP. Island Creek Township, which was separated from Steubenville on June 4, 1806, and joins the latter on the north, contains thirty-six sections of Township 7, Range 2, and four full and seven fractional sections of Township 3, Range 1, of the original seven ranges. Its name is taken from Island Creek, which cuts through the middle of the township from west to east, emptying into the Ohio at Costonia, opposite Brown's Island. Wills Creek drains the township on the south, and the river front is rugged and hilly, developing westward into an excellent farming country. Wheat, corn, oats and fruit of all kinds, and sheep and cattle are the principal products. White oak, sugar maple, walnut, locust,' beech and other woods were once plentiful, but the portable sawmill has made sad havoc among the groves in the last twenty years. Among the early settlers were Isaac and James Shane, Andrew Ault, Daniel Viers, Nathan Palmer, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 451 Michael Castner, William Jackman, Jacob Cable, Richard Lee, James Ball, William Jackson, John House, Daniel Arnold, John Simpson, Richard Brisbane, James Patterson, Charles Armstrong, Adam Hout, John Moore, Charles Porter, Thomas Fleming, Andrew Huston, Joseph Howells, James Crawford, Abel Crawford (the latter owning the Red Mill, near Mt. Tabor, early in the century), John Rhinehart, Moses Arnold, John Frederick, George Watson, Samuel Hanna, James Ekey, Rutherford McClelland. The fathers of Judge William Day and Judge Phillips of Iowa, the father of the late Judge William Lawrence of Ohio, and father of Hon. Joseph Fowler, ex-United States senator of Tennessee, were early settlers of this township. Joseph Howells was the grandfather of William Dean Howells. Philip Cable, who was a judge of the Territorial Court as early as 1798, and afterwards a justice of the peace, was somewhat eccentric, but nevertheless a very popular man, so popular in fact that he officiated at most of the marriages. He had such an extensive practice along this line of his profession that he adopted a short service so that waiting couples would not be delayed by much ceremony. The service usually ended with the words : "Give me a dollar, kiss your bride, and go about your business." Having no one present on one occasion he called in his wife and colored servant, saying, "In the presence of my wife, Dolly, and Black Harry, I pronounce you man and wife—give me my dollar." Mr. Cable settled below the mouth of Island Creek in 1785, where Ephraim Cable was born the same year, and at one time was claimed to be the first white child born in the county, but we have seen that Absalom Ross, of Mingo, has the prior claim, in addition to another noted later. Cable, Sr., built a blockhouse, where he lived, and reared the elder children of a family of twelve. His name has been perpetuated by a bend and eddy in the Ohio River, at the foot of Brown's Island. Ephraim Cable was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife was Sarah Clemens, who bore him fourteen children. Michael Castner, grandfather of Thomas P. Spencer, Esq., who built a mill at the head of Wills Creek at the beginning of the century, was on the site of Steubenville while it was a wilderness—before the place was considered as a town-site. He owned a store on the Monongahela River and one in Kentucky, riding on horseback from one to the other, and going through this region, he frequently stopped on the site of Steubenville. He bought a thousand acres of land in what is now Island Creek Township, and he was one of the pioneer merchants of Steubenville. He built the large brick dwelling near Two Ridge Church, now occupied by Dr. John Kilgore, and his remains are interred in the graveyard nearby. The first election for township officers was held at the residence of Daniel Viers, but there is no record of the same. Flour and saw mills were numerous in early days, of which an account is already given. Ephraim Cooper and William Campbell built the first cabin on the line now the state road between Wills Creek and Yellow Creek, in 1795. Andrew Ault came to this township in 1797 from Pennsylvania. He was the son of a privateer during the Revolution, who was captured while bringing prizes into the port of Philadelphia, he not knowing the British were in control, and was sent to England as a prisoner. He escaped and returned to America, building near Redstone the first linseed-oil mill in the West. Descendants still own the land in this township upon which Andrew settled. Andrew Huston, of the blood of Gen. Sam Houston, of Texas fame, came from the Cumberland Valley in 1809, locating at the mouth of Wills Creek, the house being on the site of the present Steubenville water works. He afterward removed to the central part of the township, where was born John Andrew Huston, father of Sam Huston, the late county engineer, the homestead still standing. Sam Huston had in 452 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY near Richmond, in Salem Township. Outside of Toronto extension, Alikanna and Pekin are the only hamlets in Island Creek Township, it being especially a farming community. At the former place is located the pumping station of the Steubenville water works, and adjoining is Stanton Park, a popular amusement resort. About a mile above is the Country Club, overlooking Brown's Island and the famous King farm. There is quite a settlement at Alikana extending up Wills Creek. A small hamlet named Millvale was platted by Joseph Beatty in 1873, but this has become a part of Stanton Park. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. The first intimation we have of schools in the township is the statement that the first religious services were held in schoolhouses as well as in the woods and private houses. Mt. Tabor school was held in a log house, first built for a dwelling in 1812, the first teacher being William Jackman. Marks of the foundation are still visible. In 1814 a log structure was erected in the Mt. Tabor district. Destroyed by incendiary fire four years later, a brick house his possession an iron tomahawk found in Wills Creek and an iron Indian axe found was erected, in which school was taught during the earlier days by Lancelot Hearn, John Hawhey, John Beebout, George Armstrong, James Mitchelltree. The late Judge William Lawrence, who was born in Smithfield Township, attended this school. There are now twelve schools in the township outside of Toronto, located on or adjacent to the following farms : Moreland, in Section 33; Johnson (Island Creek), Section 35 ; Grafton, Range 2, Section1 ; Ford, 9 ; Morrina, 16 ; Smith, 18 ; Porter, 19 ; Taylor, 20 ; Kilgore, 27 ; Mt. Tabor, 30 ; Welday, 32 and 33. The first religious organization in the township seems to have been what is known as the Island Creek Presbyterian Church, organized by Rev. James Snodgrass, of Steubenville, who was installed pastor on November 24, 1800. Preaching was held at Pittenger's, near Bowling Green, Carr's Ridge and on the present site of the church, a large tent being used in summer. The first church edifice was built of round logs in 1802 on land donated by Ephraim Cooper. This was displaced by a hewn log house in 1810, which lasted until 1825, when it burned down. That year Mr. Snodgrass resigned and was succeeded by John C. Sidball, who served until 1835. During his administration a brick church was built, which was occupied until 1856, when it was partially destroyed by a storm. A larger and better building took its place in 1858, which still stands. Rev. Thomas F. Magill was pastor from 1835 to 1840 ; John K. Cunningham, 1841-53 ; Samuel Forbes, 1876-79 ; Rev. M. A. Parkinson, 1880. The next organization formed by Mr. Snodgrass was the Two Ridge Presbyterian Church, on the Steubenville and Richmond Pike, about nine miles west of the former place. The congregation was formed about 1802 or 1803, the people meeting in various places until 1810, when the first place of worship was erected. Mr. Snodgrass was succeeded by Rev. William McMillan, who continued pastor of this and Yellow Creek Church, afterwards Bacon Ridge, for six years. The first session was composed of James Cellars and James Bailey, to whom Samuel Thompson, Andrew Anderson, George Day and Thomas Elliott were added. A new house of worship was erected in 1816, and afterwards on May 21, 1819, Rev. Thomas Hunt became pastor of this and Yellow Creek Churches, which arrangement continued until 1828, when he devoted his entire time to Two Ridges and remained until October 4, 1836. During this time James Torrance, Benjamin Coe, Henry Shane, William Winters, James Milligan and David Gladden became elders. Rev. Joseph Kerr succeeded Mr. Hunt, and he by Rev. William 'Eaton on October 21, 1844. John Leech, John McGregor and David Johnston were elected elders during this time. Mr. Eaton retired in April, 1853, and the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 453 following summer a new house of worship was erected, which about twenty years after was considerably enlarged and improved. After an interval of two years Rev. David R. Campbell became pastor, and Philip W. Coe and John Huston elected elders. On March 19, 1856 William Plummer and James G. Allen were elected. Mr. Campbell retired in October, 1861, and after a vacancy of a year and a half Rev. George Fraser was installed, in the summer of 1836. Thomas Hunt, John Rex, George D. Rex and T. P. Ross were installed as elders on April 24, 1864, and on November 19, 1865, Robert Stark, Richard Wright and Samuel Kirk were elected deacons. Rev. J. B. Dickey succeeded Mr. Fraser in 1867 and on December 19 Robert Stark and Richard Wright became elders. During this period twelve feet were added to the building. Mr. Dickey, after three years' service, was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Lawbaugh, who remained but eight months. On September 3, 1871. John Leech and Thomas Robertson became deacons, and in April, 1873, Rev. Israel Price became pastor for two-thirds of his time. On February 7, 1874, William Stark and John Leech became elders and Samuel Huston, Simon B. Warren and William Gilkinson deacons, later Darwin Rex. A women's foreign missionary society was organized in 1874. Mr. Price retired in the fall of 1877, and the church was without a pastor until January 9, 1879, when he was succeeded by J. C. McCracken. His successors were W. A. Williams and Rev. Mr. Clark. The place is now vacant. Pleasant Hill congregation, in Section 9, was organized on March 27, 1866, with twenty-four members. John Morrison, John M. Robertson and Beatty McFarland were elected trustees; John C. Robertson, treasurer, and Thomas Sanders, secretary. A good brick church was erected in 1876, Hiram Cope, the contractor, and Thomas Frith, of Steubenville, doing the stone work. The pastors have been the following: R. H. Van Pelt, beginning in 1868; J. F. Boyd, in 1870; Robert Herron, in 1876; J. C. McCracken, in 1878; S. C. Faris, in 1885; J. P. Leyenberger, in 1893; T. W. Hine, 1904. Mr. Sanders is still clerk. The present ruling elders are C. R. Shane, D. S. Carr; deacons, Thomas Sanders, John M. Robertson; members, forty-three. Rev. James B. Finley began preaching in the neighborhood of what is now Mount Tabor in 1814, and organized an M. E. class at the home of Adam Jackman, composed of Richard Coulter and wife, Adam Jackman, Mary Jackman, Margaret Jackman, Jane Patterson, Isabel Whittaker, George Alban, Garrett Albertson, Stuckland, William Nugent, Richard Jackman, Jane Jackman, Jane Armstrong, John Crawford, James Crawford, Martin Swickard, Margaret Swickard, Jacob Vail and others. Swickard was with the Crawford expedition and died at the age of ninety-six. Richard Coulter was leader and preaching was continued at Jackman's house for twelve years. A brick building was then erected and occupied for thirty years. In 1856 a neat frame structure was erected, which is still occupied. Except during a brief interval, this charge has been supplied from Richmond, the present pastor being W. A. Kinney. The next M. E. congregation, known as the Island Creek, was organized by Rev. James M. Bray in 1837. The class included John Bray and wife, William Taylor and wife. Fleming and wife, John Fleming and wife, William Fleming and wife, John Dobbs and wife, Mrs. John Nixon and daughter, and two others, making sixteen in all, which number was increased to thirty-eight before the year was out. A church 30x40 feet was erected during the summer of 1838, and dedicated by Rev. P. K. McKue. It was made a part of Richmond circuit and John Bray was the first class leader. Center M. E. Chapel and cemetery adjoin the Winters farm in Section 16. Rev. J. Williams and Dr. Hare were the first preachers here, and formed a class in 1847. It included Alexander Glenn and .wife, Thomas Glenn, Charlotte Morrow, Richard 454 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY Morrow, Washington Nicholls and wife, Mary and Sarah Nicholls. Alexander Glenn was leader. It was a part of Richmond circuit until 1849, when it was made a part of Wintersville circuit. A frame church, 32x42, was built in 1849 and dedicated in 1850 by Rev. Nicholson. The other early ministers were John E. McGaw, William Tipton, R. Cunningham, William Devinney, S. F. Miner, George Crook, R. L. Miller, Chester Morrison, Robert Boyd, W. H. Tibball, _____ Chrissman, James Bray, S. H. Nesbitt, _____ Blackburn, John Huston, J. Conn, Alexander Scott, D. K. Stevenson, J. R. Keyes and J. Weaver. An M. E. organization was effected at Alikanna in 1873, with the following members: Samuel. Speaker and wife, Eli Albright and wife, David Blackmore and wife, John Nixon and :Mrs. William McElroy. Private houses were used for meetings until 1880, when a small frame building was erected. This lasted until 1895, when the increased membership necessitated larger quarters, and the present church, seating about 250, was built. Rev. A. J. Culp was the first pastor, and after that the congregation was served regularly in connection with Thomson and Finley Chapels, the present one being J. E. Miller. KNOX TOWNSHIP. Knox Township, named after the first secretary of war, was one of the original five into which Jefferson County was divided, its boundary beginning at the northeast corner of Steubenville Township (Island Creek) ; thence west to the western boundary of the county ; thence with the county line until it strikes the line of Columbiana County; thence east with the line of Columbiana County to the Ohio River ; thence with the meandering of the river to the place of beginning. Two justices ; election at the house of Henry Pittenger. This took in all the northern end of Jefferson County, including the present townships of Saline, Brush Creek, Ross and part of Springfield. It is now composed of twenty-four sections of Township 13, of Range and seven fractional sections of Township 4, Range 1. It is drained on the north. by Hollow Rock and Carter's Run, on the east by Jeremy's and Croxton's Runs, and on the west by Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Like the other townships fronting on the river, the eastern portion is very rugged, becoming less so towards the west. The limestone soil is good, and the township rich in fire clays, coal and formerly timber, white oak prevailing. Its territory is historic and was the scene of many a struggle between settler and Indian. James Alexander, who came in 1796, was one of the first, if not the first, white settler in the present township. Isaac White came in 1798, James McCoy in 1799, Baltzer Culp at New Somerset in 1800, and there were Thomas McLean, John Edminston, Charles Watt, Robert McClellan, James Alexander, George Culp, John Bray, Martin Swickard and others, of whom we have no record. Michael :Myers, Sr., settled on the west bank of the Ohio below the mouth of Croxton's Run in 1800, and John Johnson settled on Jeremy's Run in 1801. Michael Myers established a ferry opposite Gamble's Run, and built a large stone house on the Ohio side, where he kept a hotel for at least forty years. As already intimated, Myers had a previous reputation as a. scout and Indian fighter. As early as 1774 he had killed two Indians on Carter's Run, at the present intersection of the roads from Knoxville Sand New Somerset to the Hollow Rock camp meeting grounds. This, was shortly after he had aided Cresap to kill the two Indians in a canoe through the machinations of Dr. Connelly, the British. agent at Fort Pitt, who was anxious to embroil the colonists with the redskins to check the rising spirit of independence, thus bringing on the Dunmore War. In a statement made by Myers in 1850, he gave an account of The affray to Lyman C. Draper, he then being about 105 years of age, but in full possession of his mental faculty. In May 1774, he crossed the Ohio River to a point near the mouth of Yellow AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 455 Creek, in company with two other men, for the purpose of looking at the country. They went up the creek two or three miles and stopped at a spring (Hollow Rock), where they camped for the night. Having span-celled their horse they turned him loose to graze, and kindled a fire. Soon after they heard the horse's bell tinkling as though he were running rapidly. At first Myers suspected that a wolf had scared the horse, and, taking up his rifle, ran to the point of the hill, where he saw the horse standing still and an Indian stooping at his side, trying to loosen the spancels. Myers, without further investigation, shot the Indian, and as soon as he reloaded ran up the side of the hill and discovered a large number of Indians encamped. One Indian with a gun ran toward him, but kept his eyes on the horse. Myers immediately discharged his gun at the second Indian, and without knowing the result of the shot, wheeled and ran toward the spring, but he found his companions had left the camp. Myers returned to the Virginia side, where he found them. The next morning several Indians crossed to Virginia and inquired at the Baker cabin (where Logan's relatives were afterwards murdered) as to who had killed the two Indians' the previous evening, but Greathouse (by whose name the Baker cabin is often called to this day) would not permit any one to give the Indians the least satisfaction. This, of course, added fuel to the fire. The encampment discovered by Myers, no doubt, was a part of the Logan camp. Myers always claimed that he was one of the party firing on the boatload of Indians who crossed the river to investigate the murder of Logan's people. The scene of this incident was very near the place where Henry Pittenger afterward settled—where Rev. William Pittenger, author of "Daring and Suffering," one of the most thrilling narratives of the Civil War, was born, and within a mile of Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, in whose graveyard are buried the remains of one of the historically noted men of this county. The grave is marked by a very pretentious marble stone : MICHAEL MYERS, DIED AUGUST 11, 1852, AGED 107 YEARS. Soldier, rest, thy warfare o 'er ; Dream of battlefields no more. All thy conflicts now are past ; To thy home thou 'rt gone at last. The remains of Katherine Stickler, his wife, are at his side, Mrs. Myers having died in 1861, at the age of ninety-six years. A son, William Myers, died in Toronto, April 19, 1899, aged eighty-eight years, and his wife, Cynthia Myers, died two months later. The Myers estate possesses the very venerable long rifle which did much execution in the hands of its owner. This rifle is a prototype of the weapon used not only by the Indian fighters, but by the riflemen who won distinction in the Revolutionary War. This weapon was unknown in what was, and what is now, called the "tidewater" regions, where the inaccurate musket and shotgun were employed. The long rifle was brought to the Pennsylvania frontier by the Swiss Germans, and of course found its way to Virginia, and Carolinas ; and the bold men of the mold of Myers who ventured into the Indian country previous to the Revolutionary War, coming, as they did, from Pennsylvania. or the Virginia Valley (including Maryland), had this most effective arm. While the long rifle was very heavy, the physical training of the pathfinders enabled them to handle it as readily as the light breechloader of today. The great advantage of the rifle to the pioneer was its accuracy, thus saving ammunition, which was of vast importance. Even the young sons of the pioneers learned to bring in a piece of game for each bullet discharged so unerring was the aim demanded. This was the effective weapon which gave the Americans more than one victory in the Revolutionary War. The Myers rifle, which was called "Limber Jennie," is six feet in length. The ancestor of the McClellan family, 456 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY Robert McClellan, a cousin of Robert, the noted scout who was with Wayne, was among the first settlers of Knox Township, coming from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1808. Descendants still occupy the land. On Monday, April 3, 1802, the electors of the township met at the house of Henry Pittenger, at which James Pritchard was chosen chairman, and the following officers elected : Township clerk, John Sloane overseers of the poor, Thomas Robertson, Jacob Nessley ; trustees, William Campbell, Isaac White, Jonathan West ; fence viewers, Peter Pugh, Henry Cooper, Alexander Campbell ; appraisers of houses, John Johnston, J. F. McMillen ; lister of taxable property, Isaac West supervisors of roads, John Robertson, Calvin Moorehead, Richard Jackman ; constable, Joseph Reed. On April 4, 1803, sixty-four voters being present, an election was held. Sloan was reelected clerk; trustees, William Stokes, Thomas Bay (who was with Williamson at Gnadenhutten, and a squatter on Yellow Creek territory in 1785), and Henry Pittenger; fence viewers, Joseph Reed, William Campbell, William Sloan ; appraisers of houses, Robert Partridge, Thomas Robertson ; lister of taxable property, Isaac West ; supervisors of roads, Peter Pugh, James Latimer ; constable, David Williamson ; justices, J. L. Wilson, James Ball. In dividing the county into civil townships little or no attention was paid to the township surveyed lines, Smithfield Wayne, Cross Creek and Salem being the only civil townships identical with those numbered by the government surveys, and consequently several of the civil townships embraced fractional parts of the numbered townships. As already indicated, Toronto, as first laid out, was entirely within the boundaries of Knox Township, occupying the southern corner. New Somerset, however, is the oldest hamlet in the township. It is in the northwest corner of the township and was laid out by Baltzer Culp in February, 1816. The lots were 60x150 feet and the streets fifty feet wide. It never grew yond the proportions of a hamlet, showing a population of seventy-seven in 1870, the only year it obtained separate mention in the census reports, and is no larger now. Knoxville, in the center of the township, was laid out by Henry Boyle in March, 1816, with lots 60x120 and the main street sixty feet wide. Located back from the railroad, like New Somerset, it has remained stationary, showing 168 inhabitants in 1850, 131 in 1860, and 165 in 1870. Like New Somerset, the only public buildings in the town are the churches mentioned below. EMPIRE. When we come down to the river front, a different state of things exists, and we find a recent development of marked activity. Three miles above the Toronto rail- way station stands the village of Empire, an old settlement, but a young town, which has had a greater variety of names than any other place in the county. It is located at the mouth of Jeremy's Run, the origin of whose name is forgotten. In 1821 Alexander Stewart, Sr., bought from a man named Buttenburg all that part of Empire lying above Stewart Street, while Lewis K. McCoy subsequently, through a lucky investment in a lottery ticket, secured a large tract on the south side. A fine grove of sugar maples furnished one of the most famous camps in the county, and when this was cleared away the place was named Stumptown. Capt. James Young, a sailor, came here in 1850, bringing with him a collection of Shanghai chickens, probably the first in the county, from which the little hamlet took the name. Shanghai. His house stood close to the present C. & P. depot, and was surrounded by a spacious yard, but was moved east a short distance, when the railroad came, and has since been extensively altered. W. Stanley occupied it as a dwelling, followed by Abraham Peters as a tavern keeper, in 1855. The town was called Olive City for a while, in honor of the youngest daughter of Lewis K. McCoy, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 459 who afterwards laid out the place. Capt. James Young kept the first store and Alexander.Zook had the first blacksmith shop. Reference has been made to an early boatyard operated by Frank Shane, and a sawmill owned by Moses Campbell. The fall of 1856 brought the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, and for some reason the railway officials, not fancying the name Shanghai, or perhaps desiring to compliment McCoy, who had given them a right of way through his property, named the station after him. The next year Mr. McCoy laid out a town with lots 50x100 feet and streets sixty feet wide, which was afterwards Made an election precinct, under the old name Shanghai. Samuel Henry was the first to build on the new town plat. The introduction of fire brick making brought business to the place, and it being also the railway station for New Cumberland and the territory across the river, made it a place of some importance, but its marked growth came after 1885, mainly as a result of the establishment of the Empire sewer pipe plant. That company offered the town sufficient bricks to erect a public building on condition that it be renamed Empire City. This suited the people, and steps were taken to incorporate it into a hamlet under that name, with the following officers : Trustees, Samuel P. Berry, president, A. P. Culp and B. Whitcomb clerk and treasurer, James Stone, Jr.; marshal, Henry Chambers. The hamlet first appears in the census of 1890 with a population of 441, which had increased to 509 in 1900. The increasing population calling for advancement from hamlet to village, on December 4, 1896, a petition was presented to the trustees asking that this be accomplished. An election held on December 26 resulted favorably, and on June 7, 1897, the secretary of state officially proclaimed Empire as a village, the word "city" being dropped. The first village officers elected on April 4, 1898, were as follows : Mayor, E. S. Minor; councilmen, M. O. Gillespie, George Knisely, T. R. Griffith, Frank' Culp, E. H. Vandyke, H. H. Beardsmore treasurer, James Stone clerk, F. W. Stone marshal, Gus Whitcomb. Mayor Minor was succeeded by Birch Whitcomb, and he by Thomas Griffith, the present incumbent. The present population of the place is about 800. Immediately above Empire is the flourishing suburb of Ekeyville, laid out and named by James Ekey about twenty-two years ago. It has a population of about 400 people, and there has been more or less talk of consolidating it with Empire. A feature of the latter place is the neat municipal building in a small park full of flowers and shrubbery, the ground being the gift of Mr. McCoy. Previous to 1862 the residents of this place had to go to Port Homer, two miles above, for their mail and it is not so very many years when they, as well as the Sloane's people voted at Knoxville, three miles distant. In the year named, however, a postoffice was established here and named McCoy's, to correspond to the railway station. Prior to the opening of the railroad Shanghai was a relay station for stages carrying the mail, but this does not seem to have given any postal facilities. John Atkinson was the first postmaster, but enlisting during the War of the Rebellion, he was killed in battle and was succeeded by his deputy, M. O. Peters. Mr. Peters, after a long service, was succeeded by Mrs. L. S. Atkinson, widow of the first postmaster, who served until early in 1899, when she was succeeded by George Johnson, who, in turn, was succeeded by Pharaoh Bell and R. Whitcomb, the present incumbent. When the name of the town was changed to Empire, the postoffice and railroad station were changed to correspond, so that uniformity now prevails. Between here and Toronto are the hamlets of Calumet and Freeman's. There were numerous thrilling incidents at Shanghai during the "dark and bloody days" of its early history, but the occurrence which attracted more attention than any other, owing to the prominence of the parties, was the shooting of Joseph Mc- 460 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY Donald by Lewis K. McCoy on Saturday evening, April 6, 1867, at 6:30 o'clock. There had been an old feud between the parties, and on the day named McDonald, who was a resident of New Cumberland, across the river, had been to Steubenville on business. He started for home on the C. & P. evening train, and when it arrived at Shanghai McCoy was there with a carbine. McDonald started towards the ferry landing but had not gone far when some words ensued, and McCoy fired his gun, killing McDonald almost instantly. He at once surrendered to the authorities, and was tried for murder in the first degree at the November term of court following. The best legal both local and foreign, was engaged in his behalf. The trial lasted a week, and the jury, after an all night session, brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. McCoy was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned a few years after, and lived quietly at home until his death. He had been a wealthy man, but the expense of his trial and subsequent mismanagement dissipated most of his fortune. It is worth noting that notwithstanding some of the happenings at Shanghai and Newburg during their earlier history these hamlets became among the most law-abiding places in the county with a population above the average type a position they have since maintained. Empire was one of the first places in the county to be voted "dry." Fraternal orders have been represented in Empire by Knights of Pythias No. 352, Heptasoph Conclave No. 184, and Junior American Mechanics No. 38. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. School was held at Sugar Grove about 1800, but records of pioneer schools are scarce. There was also a school at Shelly's farm near Osage about the same time, and there is a graveyard here supposed to be older than the school. The first schoolhouse at Empire was built in 1858, Casterman Quinn being the teacher. The village now has two good school buildings with six rooms, one of which is the high school. At Knoxville there is a good two-story frame building, containing, with one exception, the only township high school in the county. The other schools are located as follows : Section two, Warren farm; seven, Campbell; ten, Berry ; nineteen, Shelly ; twenty-one, Edminston ; thirty-four, Yellow Creek. Also a large school at Ekeyville.. Sugar Grove M. E. church justly claims to be the pioneer religious organization of the township. It stands very near the Saline Township line, four miles below the mouth of Yellow Creek, and two miles from Empire. The society was organized by James B. and John Finley between 1800 and 1802, the first class including Jacob Nessley, Randall Hale, John Hale, Charles Hale, James Pritchard, Nathan Shaw, Joseph Elliott, Benjamin Elliott, Robert Maxwell, John Sapp, John Clinton, Jacob Buttenberg and John Herrington, with Charles Hale as leader. The first services were held in a house of round logs, 20x25 feet, which in a few- years was replaced by a hewn log building, 125x30. This was burned in 1841, and replaced by the brick structure still standing. The burying ground which was in use before the church was built is one of the oldest in the county, and contains the graves of numerous pioneers whose records have been obliterated. Many of the stones have sunk beneath the surface, and have themselves become entombed while vegetation flourishes luxuriantly above. Preachers were supplied from New Somerset and Knoxville. One of the oldest religious organizations not only in the township but in the counts' is the Good Hope Lutheran Church at Bowling Green or Osage in Section twenty-five. It was organized by Rev. John Stanch, a Lutheran missionary, on September 12, 1806. For six years he looked after the Germans of that locality, preaching in their own language from house to house, and had thirty-five baptisms and thirty-five confirmations. He was succeeded by Rev. John Rheinhart, another traveling mission- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 461 ary, in 1812, preaching from house to house for four years, this charge being part of quite a large circuit which he supplied. In 1816 the sum of $371.25 was raised with which a frame church was built on the present site, among the early communicants being the Reinharts, Stonebrakers, Easterdays, Grimes, Smiths, Culps and others. Rev. Rheinhart remained until 1836, the preaching meanwhile being changed from German to English, and was succeeded by Rev. James Manning, who also had charges at Jefferson, Annapolis and Yellow Creek. Rev. Alexander Pope served from 1838 to 1848 and was succeeded by Rev. Amos Bartholomew, and he in turn by Rev. J. Sparks in 1849, who remained ten years. In 1852 a new church was built, costing $500. The old building was dragged to an adjoining lot and used for awhile as a stable. The new one was placed on the same foundation, and with some alterations still stands. Mr. Manning returned in 1859, but the Civil war coming on he seems to have been too ardent to suit some of his congregation, so he did not remain long. Rev. J. Singer served from 1865 to 1867, when there was a vacancy for eleyen years, during which time Rev. J. K. Melhorn and others acted as temporary supplies. While Rev. Dr. Geberding was in charge of Jewett congregation he proposed separating Bowling Green and Bethel from Salem and Jefferson, which was done, and on June 30, 1878, Rev. A. H. Kennard accepted the double charge, the services being held partly in German and partly in English. He left in 1882 and Rev. J. N. Wolfly supplied the next year. Rev. C. S. Halloway was installed July 1, 1884, and left October 7, 1886. The congregation at Bethel or Yellow Creek had become so small that services were abandoned, and the church was used for a number of years by a Union Sunday School, which also died out, and. the building is now an abandoned wreck, with Mr. and Mrs. J. Culp sole survivors of the congregation. On March 1, 1887, Osage was united with Annapolis, but shortly after was transferred to Jewett. Rev. J. F. Booker served two years, then Rev. Kimerer supplied until Rev. O. Reber took charge December 14, 1890, and remained until 1892. Supplies were furnished until 1903 when Mr. Groff,. a student of the Chicago seminary, held regular services Rev. Methorn in 1905, and J..J. Myers the next year. C. E. Read, from the seminary, served the next year and into 1907, and received a permanent call in the spring of 1908, taking charge on May 31. He also has a mission at Wellsville, and the two places now have regular services. The centennial of the church was observed September 10-12, 1906, by a meeting of the Western Conference of the Pittsburgh Synod and a general reunion with a most interesting programme. The Knoxville M. E. Church started in 1830 with services in a schoolhouse, Henry Cooper, class leader. Shortly they removed to an unfinished brick building occupied by the Presbyterians. The building was destroyed by a. storm, when services were discontinued, but were revived in 1857, using a. house built by the joint efforts of the Methodists, Presbyterians and United Presbyterians. Differences arose, ending in a lawsuit, and the building was abandoned. The Methodists then built a frame church, 32x53 feet, which has since been occupied when there were services, which have been irregular. New Somerset M. E. Church was organized by Rev. Joshua Monroe about 1836, J. B. Finley probably preaching the first sermon. The original class was composed of Mary Hartman, Susan Hartman, Catherine Saltsman, Martin, Jane, Philip and Delila Saltsman, Solomon Hartman, William and Hannah Barcus. A schoolhouse was used for a place of worship until the building of a frame church, 30x40 feet. It is at the north end of the village, fourteen miles from Steubenville. The first ministers were Joshua Monroe, John Minor, Dr. Adams, Philip - Green, David Merryman, Simon Lock, Harry Bradshaw, J. C. Kent, Thomas Winstanly, Walter Athy, George McCaska, William Divinna, Edward Tay- 462 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY lor, William Knox, A. H. Thomas, Samuel Longden, J. E. McGaw, J. Shearer, William Tipton, S. F. Minor, Theophilus Nean, Chester Morrison, George Crook and R. L. Miller. After them came R. Boyd, W. H. Tibbetts and John Chrisman in 1856-7 ; John Wright, J. F. Nessley, 1858-9 ; J. M. Bray, S. N. Nesbitt, T. M. Stevens, 1860- 62 ; P. K. McCue, J. Hollingshead, 1863 ; W. S. Blackburn, 1864-5 ; S. H. McCall, W. B. Grace, R. M. Freshwater, 1866-8 ; G. D. Kinner, J. R. Keyes, 1869-71 ; J. Q. A. Miller, 1872 ; G. W. Dennis, 1873-5 ; A. J. Lane, 1876 ; J. H. Rogers, 1878 ; J. E. Hollister, 1878 ; . F. Huddleson, 1886-8 ; M. J. Ingram, 1889 ; since supplied from other points. Rev. Samuel Taggart and John Donaldson organized the Knoxville United Presbyterian Church in 1837 with seventeen members. Isaac Grafton, Samuel White and Gilead Chapman were chosen ruling elders, and Dr. Watt, J. Stokes and Isaac Grafton, trustees. Rev. Wm. Larrimer became pastor on April 1, 1838, and continued until 1848, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. Campbell, who remained until 1854. Rev. J. H. Peacock took charge in September, 1859, and remained until April, 1867. On July 1, 1871, Rev. J. B. Borland began serving it along with his Richmond charge until 1887. It was separated in 1888 and was served by J. W. Best to 1891 ; J. B. Goudy, 1894-8 ; L. L. Gray, 1898-1906 ; .R. B. Fulton, 1907-9, and now by R. A. Kingan. The present church edifice was erected in 1875 at a cost of $3,600 and was dedicated by Rev. S. J. Stewart, of Steubenville. It is a frame building, 32x48 feet. The Disciples Church of New Somerset was organized September 19, 1840, by Elder John Jackman, with the following members : Joseph Marshall and wife, Matthias Swickard and wife, G. H. Pontius and wife, Daniel Householder and wife, John Bill-man and wife, Hannah Leatherberry, Jeanette McGhee, Emily Coffman and Mary Householder. The first officers were Joseph Marshall, G. H. Puntious and Matthias Swickard, elders ; and Daniel and Peter Householder, deacons. Chas. E. Von Vorhis was the first regular preacher at $37.50 for one-fourth of his time. His immediate successors were John Jackman, Marlow Martin, Eli Regal, Cornelius Finney, Thomas Dyal, J. M. Thomas, J. D. White, Mason Terry, J. A. Wilson, Robert Atherton, D. O. Thomas, A. Skidman, M. P. Hayden and others. A brick church, 28x40 feet, was erected in 1841, which was replaced by a larger structure about 1890. Although Rev: J. M. Bray held M. E. services at Empire many years ago the Methodist Protestants had the first organization, Rev. F. A. Brown having formed a class in June, 1873, composed of James Stone and wife, Levi Henry and wife, M. O. Peters and wife, Geo. H. Hinkle and wife, Bernard Herron and wife, John Adams and wife, Margaret Mushrush, Le- titia Atkinson, Nancy J. and Elizabeth Hin- kle, Lena Bell, Jennie Wherry, Nancy Maxwell and Wm. H. Jones. Trustees, J. C. Maxwell, Bernard Herron, Geo. H. Mush-rush, James Stone, John Adams, M. O. Peters and Wm. Jones. A frame church was erected, 32x50 feet, and dedicated December 28, 1873. The first pastors were F. A. Brown, J. B. McCormick and John Daker; later, Rev. J. W. Rice. The M. E. congregation organized about 1890 and built a neat frame church, holding 300 people. It is served in connection with Sugar Grove. The recorded pastors are S. B. Salmon, 1893-5 ; H. F. Patterson, 1896-9 ; A. H. Loomis, 1900 ; N. B. Stewart, 1901-2 ; W. W. Burton, 1904-5 ; C. E. King, 1906-7 ; Ellwood D. Scott, 1908-9. There is a good sized congregation of Free Methodists at Ekeyville, which meets in McGaffrick's Hall. Reference has already been made to Tunnel mill, one of the old landmarks in the northwest corner of Knox Township. The tunnel by which this mill was fed was dug in the year 1815 by Abner Moore. It is seventy yards in length, cut through a solid rock with a decline of fourteen and one-half feet, equal to about twenty-five horsepower. The creek from where the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 463 tunnel starts makes a bend in horseshoe shape of one mile, coming round and passing within thirty yards of the mill. William Maple came to Ohio on June 15, 1797, landing on the Ohio shore at a point between Elliotsville and Empire. He emigrated from Fayette County, Pennsylva- nia, where he resided only a short time, coming there from Trenton, N. J., where he lived at the time of the Revolution and at which place he enlisted in the American army. After coming to Ohio he settled on the hill above Port Homer. Benjamin Maple, son of William, bored one of the first salt wells in the northern part of the county, on Hollow Rock run, the boring being done by spring pole, after which he started to build a mill, but sold it unfinished and then bought produce which he took down the river on a keel boat and traded for furs, which were brought back on mules and transported eastward to market. SALINE TOWNSHIP. Saline township, so called from its salt wells, which lies immediately north of Knox, and occupies the extreme northeastern section of Jefferson County, shares with Steubenville Township the honor of being early historic ground. As early as 1764 Bouquet and his army of 1,500 soldiers marched through here into the heart of the Indian country, taking the lower part of the Yellow Creek Valley, whose march is thus described by Parkman "Early in October the troops left Fort Pitt and began their westward march into a wilderness which no army had ever before sought to penetrate. Encumbered with their camp equipage, with droves of cattle and sheep for subsistence, and a long train of packhorses laden with provisions, their progress was tedious and difficult, and seven or eight miles were the ordinary measure of a day's march. The woodsmen of Virginia, veteran hunters and Indian fighters, were thrown far out in front and on either flank, scouring the forest to detect any sign of lurking ambuscade. The pio iieers toiled in the van, hewing their way through woods and thickets ; while the army dragged its weary length behind them through the forest, like a serpent creeping through tall grass. The surrounding country, whenever a casual opening in the matted foliage gave a glimpse of its features, disclosed scenery of wild primeval beauty. Sometimes the army defiled along the margin of the Ohio, by its broad eddying current and the bright landscape of its shores. Sometimes they descended into the thicket gloom of the woods, damp, still, and cool as the recesses of a cavern, where the black soil oozed beneath the tread, where the rough columns of the forest seemed to exude a clammy sweat, and the slimy mosses were trickling with moisture ; while the carcasses of prostrate trees, green with the decay of a century, sank into a pulp at the lightest pressure of the foot. More frequently the forest was of a fresher growth ; and the restless leaves of young maples and basswood shook down spots of sunlight on the marching columns. Sometimes they waded the clear current of a stream with its vistas of arching foliage and sparkling water. There were intervals, but these were rare, when, escaping for a moment from the labyrinth of woods, they emerged into the light of an open meadow, rich with herbage, and girdled by a zone of forest; gladdened by the notes of birds, and enlivened it may be, by grazing herds of deer. These spots, welcome to the forest traveller as an oasis to a wanderer in the desert, * * * * On the tenth day the army reached the River Muskingum." Hutchins, the historian, supplements this by the following : "Friday, the 12th, the path led along the banks of Yellow Creek, through a beautiful country of rich bottom lands on which the Pennsylvanians and Virginians looked with covetous eyes, and made a note for future reference. The next day they marched two miles in view of one of the loveliest prospects the sun ever shone upon. There had been two or three frosty nights, which had changed the whole aspect of the forest. Where a few 464 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY days before an ocean of green had rolled away there now was spread a boundless carpet, decorated with an endless variety of the gayest colors, lighted up by the mellow rays of an October sun." Just below where Yellow Creek enters the Ohio, the present site of the old McCullough mansion, is the reputed location of the camp of Logan's relatives, who were inveigled to the Virginia shore and slaughtered. An Indian trail extended up Yellow Creek for five miles, at the end of which there was a spot used regularly for encampments, and stones have been unearthed there still bearing the marks of fire. The same trail was used by American soldiers traveling to and from Fort Laurens, and it became one of the earliest wagon roads in the county. Nature was especially bountiful here, the streams crowded with fish and the forests with game. Martin Saltsman, one of Knox Township's early settlers, declared that in a few days' hunt on Yellow Creek he would kill more than fifty deer. No wonder the Indians parted from these hunting grounds with reluctance. Prehistoric remains are found on the De Sellem farm near Port Homer, so-called fortifications and mounds, from which numerous relics have been collected, a carved stone column about two feet long and fifteen inches in diameter. On Yellow Creek are remains of white pine forests. destroyed by Indians who tapped the trees for rosin, which they used as salve and to aid in kindling fires. A fair amount of hemlock yet clothes the rugged hillsides, but the other evergreens have practically disappeared. While Jacob Nessley, Sr. (coming from the German settlements of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania), did not settle on the Virginia side of the river until 1784, he was in this region much earlier, and of this fact he left an enduring monument. On the river bank, a short distance south of the mouth of Yellow Creek and in sight of the McCullough mansion, is an overhanging rock, upon which is carved "Jacob Nessley-1776." The tradition is, as re lated by William G. McCullough (a great grandson), that Jacob was prospecting in Virginia, and crossing the river to the Ohio side (Indian country) was chased by the Indians. Reaching this overhanging rock, he jumped into the river; he then dived and coming to the surface under the rock, he remained in hiding, and the Indians supposing him drowned, left him to his fate. As soon as the way was clear, he returned to Virginia, obtained a tool and cut his name and the date upon the surface of the rock as noted. Samuel Vantilberg settled in what is now Saline Township, near Port Homer, in 1796. Joshua Dow nand came in 1785, and returned permanently in 1796, living more than one hundred years; William McCullough at the mouth of Yellow Creek about 1800 Jacob Nessley, Jr., a little earlier, buying large tracts of Yellow Creek land from the government, also Jeremiah Hickman and James Rogers. Joshua Downer was here by 1800, prospecting among the hills and valleys, being the first to discover salt in this township about 1806. Samuel Potts and his brother Henry came about 1803, and preceding them were William and Henry Maple, the father of Andrew Downer, the Crawfords, Jacob Groff, Charles Hammond, who gave his name to Hammondsville, the Householders and others whose names are lost. William Wells, one of the first justices, bought land in February, 1798, from Robert Johnson, of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, being lots four and five in the ninth township, second range, at the mouth of Little Yellow Creek. The same year Wells sold to James Clark. There was a formidable blockhouse on a point immediately south of the creek's mouth, erected, perhaps, by squatters previous to 1784. While the site has been washed away, the foundation was seen by persons now living. This blockhouse, until very recently supposed to have been west of the creek's mouth, on Blockhouse Run, was so constructed on the first river bank that it was surrounded by water, and had command not only of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 465 river, but likewise of a vast expanse of territory, the most natural point in all this region for defensive works. The country developed very rapidly. As we have seen, the land was good, and Yellow Creek with its tributary streams furnished water power for numerous flour, and other mills that were among the last in the county to succumb to the new order of things. The knowledge of the complete mineral resources of Yellow Creek was yet in the future, but there was progress. A stone hotel was built at the mouth of the creek, and when destroyed by fire in 1897 the date of its erection (1803) was discovered carved in a chimney stone. The first road in the county was made from a point opposite Charles Town (Wellsburg) to Yellow Creek in 1804. It is possible that the masons who built the hotel also built the two stone-arch bridges, one over the mouth of Wills Creek, the other over the mouth of Island Creek, both doing service until recently. They were of the architecture of the bridges afterwards adopted for the National Pike. IRONDALE AND HAMLETS. Joshua Downer's discovery of saltwater on Yellow Creek in 1806 was on the present site of Irondale, and a well was put down by Samuel Potts. It furnished sufficient brine to make six barrels of salt per day, and soon after James Rodgers sunk two more wells, each yielding five barrels per day. This infant industry naturally built up a hamlet around it, and soon there was in existence a village, to which was given the name Pottsdale. A bank was opened by the Potts brothers, and as salt was in good demand at $16 a barrel the little community assumed quite a business-like aspect. The salt was hauled to the mouth of the creek by carts or wagons and then shipped by boat. In a few years the competition from larger wells in other parts of the county compelled a discontinuance of the salt industry here, and Pottsdale reverted to a rural community. Thus it re- mained until 1861 when coal mining was begun here, with John Hunter as manager, the railroad now furnishing transportation. A new village was laid out, taking the name of Huntersville. The advent of the Pioneer Coal Company in 1869, with its rolling mill employing 150 hands, gave a boom to every class of business. The town was enlarged and renamed Irondale. It first appears in the census of 1870 with 751 inhabitants. The same year a store was started in the village by Morgan and Hunter, with R. G. Richards as manager, who was also the first postmaster. Mr. Richards served about two years, and was succeeded by C. P. Evans, Geo. Burnside, James Dennis, Burnside second time, John F. Gilson and T. A. Hoyt. The erection of the large blast furnace by the Morgan Coal and Iron Company in 1870, a large hotel built by Mrs. Mary Crans, and other improvements, made Irondale the most flourishing community in the county, and when the panic of 1873 came it had an estimated population of 1,500. When that panic came, however, the mills shut down and the declension was nearly as rapid as its rise. The census of 1880 showed a population of only 399, but with the inauguration of new enterprises noted in our chapter on manufacturing, the village began to pick up, and in 1890 there were 694 inhabitants, who had increased to 1,136 in 1900. Its permanent prosperity is now assured. Linton at the mouth of Yellow Creek was a small hamlet for several years prior to 1831, the old hotel building dating back to 1803. Jacob Groff kept a small store. In the year first mentioned William H. Wallace, then twenty years of age, a native of the province of Quebec, came there from New Lisbon, and entered into partnership with Groff, and became the first postmaster. He left there in 1839. Although there never was much of a town here yet coal mining, the ferry, railroad station, and the fact that it was the entrance to Yellow Creek Valley gave it some importance. But the mines were worked out, the old hotel burned, the postoffice was discontinued, and 466 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY the place is now simply a railroad junction under the name of Yellow Creek station. The electric road along the river shows some good engineering work in under-grade crossing beneath the C. & P. railroad. When Mr. Wallace left Yellow Creek he opened a store and postoffice three miles below, and called the place Port Homer in honor of his son Homer. It soon became a prominent shipping point for all that section. The product of the numerous distilleries, flour mills and salt wells hauled to Linton and Port Homer created an active trade that was surprising. Although steamboats were in operation flatboats were still favorite carriers for down river shipments. They were comparatively inexpensive, and time was not an important item. Boat building, milling, salt boiling and distilling employed a large force of men, and the river warehouses would be filled with the products mentioned, their handling giving employment to hundreds of men. All this has passed away and the flood of 1884 practically annihilated the few remaining warehouses, leaving nothing but the foundation stones, and sometimes not even them. Mr. Wallace sold out his Port Homer business in 1851. The place is still somewhat of a center for shipment of apples from the extensive orchards in that vicinity, with probably a dozen families in residence. Hammondsville, lying between Irondale and the river, was laid out on the property of Charles Hammond in 1852. W. H. Wallace came from Port Homer the same year and started the first store and postoffice. A hotel was built by Joseph Russell, and building generally was quite lively that year. The Hammondsville Mining and Coal Company was organized with Mr. Wallace as manager, who also began making fire brick in 1856 but sold out to Lacey and Saxton in 1858. There were steam saw mill, merchants, blacksmiths, wagon makers, etc., but no church, although the Roman Catholics bought a schoolhouse and held services in it. The panic of 1873 of  the town seriously, but its effects were somewhat counteracted by the four large stores of W. H. Wallace & Sons, which carried on trade in every branch of business only since emulated by the extensive department stores in the larger cities. Among other evidences of their enterprise they published a newspaper whose main object was to advertise their business. Mr. Wallace continued to be postmaster until his death, September 10, 1897, hay- ing served sixty-seven years in the three offices named, for a ,longer period than any other postmaster in the United States. 'He was succeeded by his son, R. G. Wallace, then by George Crook and John Madden, the present incumbent. Hammondsville appears in the census of 1870 with 504 inhabitants, and after that is counted with the township generally. The fraternal societies are pretty well represented in Saline Township, Irondale Lodge No. 533 having been formed in 1869. A lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was formed in Hammondsville in 1873, and on March 1, 1906, removed to Irondale. A Knights of Pythias Lodge was formed at the latter place about ten years ago, and to these have been added the Junior Order United American Mechanics and United Clay Workers of America. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. An Irishman named McElroy taught a school in a log cabin at the mouth of Yellow Creek in 1800, and at about the same time there was a school on Pine Ridge in 1804 there was one on Yellow Creek, above the site of Hammondsville. A stone schoolhouse was erected by the Nessleys and McCulloughs on the McCullough farm, at the mouth of the creek, and the supposition is, it was built by the masons who built the hotel and bridges. In a few years it rose to the dignity of an academy. Here Jacob Nessley McCullough was educated, and in material success he rivaled Senator Sharon, his railroad and other interests at his death being valued at about $10,000,000. At present the most imposing school house in the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 467 township is the two-story seven room brick structure at Irondale, built about twelve years ago, with a capacity of 400 children. The present enrollment is 317. Hammondsville has a two room frame structure, the lineal successor of the old school of 1804. Port Homer has a comparatively new building. The other township schools are located in section five near De Sellem place, section seventeen, " Tarburner," and section seven, McCullough. The first religious services in Saline Township were held at the mouth of Yellow Creek, and in 1800 an M. E. Society was organized at the cabin of Jeremiah Hickman. It was many years, however, before there was a church within the township boundaries, Sugar Grove and other churches over the line being convenient. When Irondale began in 1869 to grow into a good-sized hamlet union services were held in the school house, which were continued with more or less regularity until about 1872, when the Methodists formed a separate organization and built a neat frame structure. Among the early pastors were Revs. G. B. Smith, A. W. Gruber, J. R. Keyes and W. I. Powell. This place with Hammondsville was served from other points for several years, but since 1890 has had the following pastors : W. C. Meek, 1890-92 A. C. Girdefield, 1893-4 ; W. J. Powell, 1895-7 S. A. Peregoy, 1898- 1900 ; J. H. Conkle, 1901; M. C. Grimes, 1902-4 ; P. C. Peck, 1905-7 ; J. F. Rankin, present incumbent: Shortly after the M. E. organization the Presbyterians formed a separate organization and built a neat brick church. Rev. Mr. Brown was a pioneer pastor, and there was a good congregation. The place has been vacant, however, for the last nine years, Rev.. K. P. Simmons having been the last incumbent. Shortly after this the Disciples organized a congregation and built a neat brick church. Subsequently the Free Methodists, most of whom came from Empire, formed a congregation and built a place of worship. On December 4, 1873, thirty persons who had attended the Disciples Church at New Somerset organized a congregation at Hammondsville with William McConnell and J. R. Maple, elders, and Isaac Iddy and D. Z. Maple, deacons. J. W. Kemp was pastor for several years, but the place is now vacant. The Roman Catholics also established a church here, but no services are now held. Subsequently an M. E. Church was organized, of which Rev. J. A. Young was an early pastor. The later have been M. J. Ingram, 1890 ; H. W. Westwood, 1891 ; D. Davies, 1892 ; R. O. Payne, 1893-4 ; J. A. Young, 1895-7 ; E. S. Smith, 1898-9 J. F. Ellis, 1900-1 ; J. G. Gamble, 1902-3 ; E. E. King, 1904-5 ; P. N. Phillips, 1906-9. In Section 17, adjoining the Taylor farm near the Klinoxownship line, is a tract of about seventeen and one-half acres which has become famous as the Hollow Rock camp-meeting ground. These meetings were inaugurated about seventy years ago, and each summer have attracted crowds from all quarters. 'At times they have been conducted by the Methodists, and then by branches from that organization, but at present the institution is conducted by an incorporated company which is undenominational in character. At present the ground is held on a twenty-year lease, of which eleven years have expired. CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP. Cross Creek Township, within a mile and a half of the river and joining Steubenville on the west, was separated from the former on June 4, 1806. It is the sixth township of the second range and contains thirty-six full sections. It was surveyed into sections by Alexander Holmes in 1801 and into quarter sections by Benjamin Hough in 1802. Among the first settlers were : William McElroy, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, William Whitecraft, George Mahon, James and Daniel Dunlevy, Mary McGuire and family, Augustine Bickerstaff, John Johnson, Eli Kelly, John Rickey, George Halliwell, John McConnell, John Long, 468 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY John Scott, Moses Hunter (1797-1800), John Ekey, James Thompson, John Permar, James Scott, Thomas White, Jacob Welday (a German), Hugh McCullough, John Foster, John Williams, Joseph Dunn, Nathan Caselaer, Alexander Smith (who laid out New Alexandria in 1831, and was the first to introduce horse-mills in this country), George Brown, William Moore, John McCann, Aaron Fell, William Hanlon, J. A. J. Criswell, John Lloyd, James Maley, Jonathan Hook, Peter Ekey, David Powell, Robert Hill (just over the line in Steubenville Township, in 1798), Thomas Johnson, William Cassell, John McConnell, William McConnell, William Woods, Charles Maxwell, the Stokes and the Dinsmores (1800-9). Robert McConnell came about 1811, and settled on land later occupied by Joseph and Robert H. McConnell; Thomas Elliott, Andrew Anderson, John Wright, Samuel Irons, John McDonald. Most of the settlers were Protestant Irish, and brought with them the vigor and steady habits incident to that people. The country was favorable to agriculture, and after the forests were depleted the Pittsburgh or No. 8 coal veins furnished plenty of fuel. The township is drained by Cross Creek and tributary streams, from which it .derives its name, with Wills Creek on the north. It has always contained some of the best farms in the county, and was among the leaders in wool growing industry. Its location was better. suited to agricultural development than to the growth of large towns or cities, and consequently there are none within its borders, and manufacturing is practically non existent, although, as we have seen, this was not the case in former days when every stream furnished power to grind the grain, saw the wood or make textile fabrics. The cotton factory built on Cross Creek about half a mile above the mouth of McIntire in 1814 and afterwards changed to a woolen factory by John and James Elliott, and then run by George Marshall, was the most extensive affair of the kind in the county outside of Steubenville. Accounts have already been given of the early distilleries in which Cross Creek played a prominent part, and the last distillery in Jefferson County had its home on this classic stream. The first election for township officers was held at the home of John McCullough. Mary McGuire occupied what afterwards became the birthplace of the celebrated orator, William Gibson, and subsequently the County Infirmary, the new buildings of which were completed in the fall of 1905 at a cost of over $1'00,000. It is one of the finest and best equipped institutions of the kind in the country. The views from there and other points along the pike, disclosing three states, and a wonderful array of hill and valley, forest and stream are such that the proprietors of many summer hotels might envy. VILLAGES. New Alexandria, the principal village in the township, was laid out by Alexander Smith in 1831; it is on the south side of the township, Wells Township line being its southern boundary. There was a collection of houses here prior to 1831, and Matthew Thompson kept a hotel as far back as 1820. The place was then called Tempo from the fact that Mr. Thompson kept a temperance hotel, something quite uncommon in those days. Mr. Thompson also kept the first store, and was also the first postmaster. Mr. Smith started a hotel and store in 1831. Distant from rail or water transportation the growth of the town was necessarily hampered, but it was quite a local center of trade for the rural community surrounding it. The village was incorporated in 1871, and the first officers were elected in that year as follows : Trustees, John Johnson, Charles Fellows and Charles Wallace ; marshal, J. D. Golden. The census of 1850 gave a population of 198 ; of 1860, 228 ; of 1870, 167 ; of 1880, 175; since which there has been but little change. Wildewood Lodge No. 590 was instituted here on July 25, 1874, with the following charter members : W. J. McCann, J. T. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 469 Puntney, D. M. Long, D. :M. Scott, C. Branfass, D. F. Harrah, Isaac Martin, Martin Solesby, Geo. W. Fellows, Win. D. Fell, N. B. Buckingham, Nathan McGrew, James Hyndman, with Mr. Puntney, N. G., and D. M. Long, recording secretary. This lodge is still in a flourishing condition. Idlewild Encampment No. 199 was instituted on September 17, 1875, but after several years' operation was dissolved. A society of United American Mechanics No. 50 was also organized but dissolved soon after 1897. David Freelin built the first house at what was afterwards the village of Wintersville, laid out by John Winters, about five miles west of Steubenville in 1831. Mr. Winters built a hotel, and opened the first store, James McCoy doing the carpenter work on the building. Frank Reynolds kept the second hotel, and a man named Lyle the third. A short distance west of the town where the road "forked" to Richmond and Cadiz respectively was also a hostelry which was quite a resort for driving parties from Steubenville and elsewhere, especially sleighing companies on winter nights. The number of these caravansaries here and elsewhere gives an idea. of the style and volume of the old interurban travel. The hotel at The Forks" was the terminus of the old plank road from Steubenville. As elsewhere related, it was noted during the Morgan raid where Maggie Dougherty was wounded while looking out of a window, and near where Henry Parks was killed. Robert McCoy was the second storekeeper and first postmaster. Valentine Priest was an early merchant and postmaster for many years. Eliza Priest succeeded him, but the diminishing importance of the village and the establishment of rural delivery has since abolished the postoffice. The population is given at 107 in 1840, at 121 in 1850, 127 in 1860, and 113 in 1870, and is now about 100. On the opening of the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Thomas Holmes started a small store and postoffice about ten miles west of Steubenville, and built a saw and grist mill, from which the postoffice took the name of Holmes' Mill. He was postmaster until 1873, when he was succeeded by A. McManus. The rural delivery also put this out of business, the only postoffices in the township now being Fernwood, Reed's Mills and New Alexandria. The developments of the Gould oil field a few years ago made some industrial excitement in the southern part of the township, but like all movements of that kind it was transitory. There has lately been some oil and gas development about New Alexandria, and the Steubenville field extends into the eastern side of the township. The Pan Handle and Wabash systems give a rail outlet to the central and southern sections, and the projected Steubenville and Canton electric line will traverse the northern end. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. There were said to be schools in Cross Creek Township as early as 1800, but the first authentic record of such is one which. was standing in 1804 near what is known as. No. 4 school house on land afterwards owned by Mrs. Usher Stark, the first teacher being an Irishman named Green. It is worth while to note here the extent to which the Irish schoolmaster figured in the educational development of the northern and central sections of the county as the Quakers or Friends did in the southern. A schoolmaster named Evans held forth in a log cabin in District No. 1 in 1807. A subscription school was taught in the Long settlement in 1809, Mr. Morrow being the first teacher. The ox gad was used freely on the pupils as a persuader to industry and good behavior. David Boyd was the second teacher. The subscription price was $1.50 for three months. Richard McCullough taught in District No. 5 in 1806. After these dates schools were common, and no township in the county is now better supplied. The present school houses in the township include one at New Alexandria, high and elementary school near 470 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY the old Hukill school, new two-story school west of Wintersville, one in Section 1 southeast corner of township, Ekey in Section 9, England in Section 11, Lyle in 14, George in 22, White in 26, and Reed in 29. The first record of religious services in Cross Creek Township was the result of the agreement with Dr. Joseph Doddridge, who was then holding monthly services at Steubenville, to also conduct services according to the Book of Common Prayer at the house of Mary McGuire about four miles west of the city. This agreement is dated December 1, 1800 and provided that Dr. Doddridge should hold service here every third Saturday. Just how long these services were held at Mrs. McGuire's we are not informed, but that they grew into the parish of St. James by the year 1814 we learn from Dr. Doddridge, he remaining rector until 1823, when he was succeed- ed by Rev. Intrepid Morse, then in charge of Steubenville. It was probably about the (late first named above that an acre of ground was secured in the southwest corner of Section 33 near the Wayne Township line, as affording a more central location for the country members, while those living near the city could be accommodated at St. Paull. A commodious frame building was erected for those days, and we find on December 1, 1816, a petition from the St. James congregation to the general convention, asking leave to form a diocese in the western country. This petition was signed by William McConnell, Robert Maxwell, John Cunningham, Samuel Tipton, Alexander Cunningham, James Cunningham, George Malian, Widow Mahan, Andrew Elliott, Gabriel Armstrong, John McCullough, James Foster, Benjamin Doyle, William White, Thomas White, John McConnell, James Strong, Hugh Taggart, Richard White, John Foster, James Dugan, William Graham, Daniel Dunlevy. When the diocese of Ohio was organized in 1818 St. James reported fifty-two communicants and over one hundred baptisms within two years. After Dr. Doddridge gave up the charge, the congregation, which met for worship at White's school house was in charge of Rev. Mr. Seaton until about 1817. He was a man of ability, but drank freely, in which respect, however, he did not differ materially from the community generally, which had a distillery on nearly every farm. He retired, however, from the ministry and purchased a farm near Olivesburg, Richland County, at an advanced age. Rev. Intrepid Morse, the new rector at St. Paul's, Steubenville, then took charge of the infant congregation, and infused new spirit. Under his direction a frame house of worship was erected, probably in the fall of 1820. On July 7, 1821, Andrew Elliott and wife, on whose farm the church had been erected, conveyed the acre tract to Robert Henderson, Tom Mconnell and Daniel Dunlevy, trustees, for the nominal consideration of $15, the deed reciting that the church had been already built. On May 10, 1825, the parish was incorporated under the name of "St. James' Church, Cross Creek," with Edward Lewes and Gabriel Armstrong, wardens, and William Cunningham,. James Dugan and Daniel Dunlevy, vestrymen. The church was consecrated the same year by Bishop Chase. To the few living who have personal recollections of Father Morse it is not necessary to say that he had the courage of his convictions, and with the kindest heart in the world, literally obeying the injunction of his Master and dividing his goods with the poor, whenever and wherever he found a wrong he combatted it with all his fervor and ability. Intemperance had become a crying evil, fashionable in society, ignored by the church, and allowed to the fullest extent by public sentiment. He set his face firmly against it, both in city and country, and we find the following in a book of notes preserved by the late Robert A. Sherrard, father of the late R. Sherrard, Jr.: "It was during the time while Rev. Mr. Morse was pastor of St. James' Church that he formed the first temperance society in it, that was to be found anywhere in Jefferson County, except in Steubenville, which AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 473 last mentioned society was the first in Steubenville or the county, and was gotten up under the vigilance of Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty, Rev. Mr. Morse and others. I. R. A. Sherrard, signed the pledge of both societies the fall of 1830." At first Dr. Morse seemed to nave received little encouragement in his temperance work, either from his own flock or from other bodies. But the leaven was at work, and in a few years other societies were formed, and finally distilling, if not drunkenness, became an extinct industry in Cross Creek Township. He continued in charge of St. James' until 1837, after which the parish was served by the following rectors : Rev. Richard Grey until 1851 ; Humphrey Hollis until 1855 ; Charles Flams until 1857 ; Edmund Christian until 1863 ; Henry Lewis until 1866 ; W. E. Webb until 1868 ; T. K. Coleman until 1870; Joshua Cowpland until 1875 ; James Hillyer until 1880. For awhile services were somewhat irregular, service being rendered from St. Paul's, Steubenville, and by Rev. T. A. Waterman, Clive Benedict and C. P. Cogswell. There were 401 baptisms to 1874, eighty-one marriages to 1875, and 200 confirmations to 1863. The loss of the records by fire prevents an accurate statement later. At present the parish is in charge of Rev. E. B. Redhead, of St. Stephen's Church, Steubenville. Rev. Wray, originator of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, appears to have preached at the house of Thomas Elliott as early as 1816, and Rev. Obediah Jennings came from Steubenville in 1820 and preached at the house of Judge Anderson, later the residence of Joseph Potter. Meetings were also held occasionally at the old log .school house, later the site of Stark school house. Rev. C. C. Beatty preached sometimes at the house of Walter Hanlon, and meetings were also held at the homes of Stephen Riggs, William Dinsmore and George Day, where Rev. Thomas Mint also preached. In 1835' the erection of a permanent building was agitated and in 1837 a substantial brick structure was built in Section 17 about two miles from present Fernwood station. George Day gave an acre of ground for church and graveyard. The following spring a petition was presented to the Presbytery, asking for organization, and Rev. C. C. Beatty was appointed to attend to the matter, when the church was organized with twenty-five members, fifteen from Two Ridges; seven from Steubenville, two from Richmond, and one from Beech Spring. George Day, Allen Hanlon, James Stark, Alexander Morrison and James McCoy were elected ruling elders. Rev. Joseph H. Chambers became the first pastor on February 27, 1839, and remained over eleven years. In 1845 a parsonage was built costing between $500 and $600, and in 1870 additions were made costing $350. In 1873 the chureb caught fire on a Sunday morning, probably from a defective flue, and was entirely destroyed, with no insurance. The erection of a new building was begun at once, and dedicated on December 14, 1873, with sermon by Rev. A. M. Reid. The new structure is of brick, and cost $3,946. Rev. J. F. Boyd became pastor on May 9, 1870. Jacob Long settled in Cross Creek Township in 1802 and had a class on the head of Slab camp, a branch of McIntyre. The exact date at which Long's M. E. Church was organized is uncertain. Meetings were possibly held as early as 1807, and Rev. J. B. Finley and A. McElroy preached here in 1813. An accession from St. James' Church strengthened the congregation, and a substantial brick structure was erected. It is on Bloomingdale circuit, and pastoral services are provided from that point. Wintersville M .E. Church was organized in 1835 at the residence of Wm. Roberts, about a mile from town, and in 1841 he built at his own expense a house of worship near his residence. Soon after it was sold to the Richmond circuit for $600, and was dedicated in 1842 by Rev. George Holmes. Among the first members were Jacob Vail, Henry Oliver, William Roberts and Samuel Martin. In 1868, the old structure becoming dilapidated and too small for the 474 - HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY congregation, a new edifice was decided upon, and a location selected at the west end of Wintersville. The new structure, a two-story brick with auditorium above and Sunday school room below, 62x42 feet, was completed in June, 1869, at a cost of $10,000. It was dedicated by Samuel Nesbitt. Rev. J. Weaver was one of the first ministers after the place became a station, and among his successors have been the following: M. J. Ingram, 1886 ; Jas. A. Rutledge, 1887-9 ; A. W. Newlin, 1890-2 ; J. C. Smith, 1893-6; T. H. Taylor, 1897-9 ; S. P. Lloyd, 1900-02 ; J. S. Hollingshead, 1903-4 ; E. S. Bowers, 1905-7 ; E. 0. Morris, 1908-9. New Alexandria M. E. Church was organized in 1838, the ground being deeded by Nathan Thompson. The first trustees were John Thompson, James Holmes, John Casey, Sr., Andrew Scott, William Elliott, John Moore, William Fields, John George, Matthew Thompson. A small brick structure served for many years, but this has recently been replaced by a fine new edifice, also of brick, up-to-date in every particular. It was dedicated on Sunday, September 19, 1909, and preparations are now being made to install a new organ. It is on Brilliant circuit with Ekey's and George's Run, and served by the same pastor. Ekey M. E. Church was organized in District No. 3, in 1850, and the first burial in the attached graveyard was David, son of Andrew and Nancy Ekey, on November 23, of that year. Revs. Wharton and Kent were the first ministers, and the first members were James Elliott (class leader), Andrew and Nancy Ekey, Andrew Elliott, Rev. Tipton and Rev. C. A. Holmes. The first meeting was held at Andrew Ekey's residence and subsequent ones in the school house until the erection of a neat frame church, which is still standing. Among the early residents of this township was one "Billy" McConnell, who circled about McIntyre Creek, professing to be a witch doctor. When butter failed to collect in the churn, or cows had the hollow horn or other troubles his powers were called into requisition. Prof. Christie wrote a book concerning him about 1830 (which is now out of print. There was no doubt plenty of superstition among the pioneers of this township as well as elsewhere, but all stories about killing of witches by shooting silver bullets through a dummy intended to represent them may be set down as apocryphal so far as they apply to this locality. Joseph McConnell on September 17, 1816, laid out a small town near Fernwood, called McConnellville, but no residents ever came to infuse in it the breath of life WELLS TOWNSHIP. Wells Township lying immediately south of Steubenville was originally a part of Warren, and was not made a separate township until 1823, when twenty-three full and five fractional sections were cut off from Warren and named after Bezaleel Wells. It was a sort of enchanted land in those days, a rich soil covered with sugar maples, elms, white and black walnut, oaks, hickory, cherry, hackberry, spicewood, paw paw, wild plum, wild grape, with intervals of wild rye, pea vines, and all sorts of wild vegetation. The streams were not large, Salt nun and Blockhouse Run emptying into the Ohio, with parts of McIntyre, Rush Run and other minor streams. Its locality naturally attracted hunters if not settlers at a very early date, and tradition places a blockhouse at the mouth of the run of that name about a mile and a half below Brilliant. In fact, it was in this locality that Sam 'Huston found the flint instrument before described, which indicated the presence of man in this valley possibly 10,000 years ago, but that does not come within the. scope of ordinary history. Be all this as it may it seems determined that in September, 1792, Henry Nations and Daniel Scamehorn crossed the Ohio River hunting a location in the northwest territory. They landed opposite Charlestown (Wellsburg) and proceeding down the river camped on Blockhouse Run, where they erected a