- 9 -
130 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
BOUNDARIES OF THE COAL FIELD.
The coal basin in Ohio is bounded on the west by a continuous but irregular line running from
the Ohio River in Scioto County, to the Pennsylvania line near Sharon, within a line running
from that place to Ravenna, Akron, Wooster, Dover, Brownsville, Logan and flanging Rock. The
general course is southwesterly from the northern boundary of Mahoning County to the interior
of Licking County, with the exception of two well-defined narrow spurs extending into Geauga
and Medina counties. From the southern part of Licking County it passes near the line between
Fairfield and Perry counties, with a deep indentation at the Hocking River Valley, extending to
the west line of Athens County ; thence westward and southwest to include the southeast part of
Hocking County, three fourths of Vinton, nearly all of Jackson, and the eastern part of Scioto
County.
IRON SMELTING COALS.
Below is the analysis of the best iron-making coals in the State, taken from the records of the
State Chemist, Prof. Wormley:
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 131
HOCKING CANAL.
This was the first public improvement which opened up the retirees of the Hocking Valley. The
short lateral canal, or, as it then called, the Side Cut," proved of so mach value that the lard of
Public Works concluded to purchase it for the State and tend it down the Hocking Valley. This
information gave intense joy to the people, and in March, 183S, the news was corroborated by an
Act passed by the Legislature, authorizing the hen Canal Commissioners to purchase the " Side
Cut." This was effected Dec. 22, 1838, and the canal purchased for the sum of $61,241.04. The
Hocking Valley Canal, which had been projected n 1836, and a portion put under contract, being
some sixteen and one-half miles from Lancaster to Bowner's lock in July, 1837, was low rapidly
pushed forward, and the work completed as per contract in 1839. A further contract was also let
the same year, October, 1837, to build from Bowner's lock to Nelsonville, a further distance of
sixteen and one-half miles, the same to be completed within two years. This last, however, was
not finished until 1840. In September of this latter year it was opened for business, and the first
canal boat, loaded with coal, came out of the Hocking, and the canal was a veritable fact. The
boat and its load was a great curiosity to the people along the line and in the upper valley of the
Hocking. There were but few of them at that time who knew much about stone coal. Early in
1841 the canal had reached Monday Creek, and later in the same year to Athens. Boats then
commenced running the entire length of the canal, from Carroll to Athens, some sixty miles. The
canal has thirty-one locks, eight dams, thirty-four culverts, and one aqueduct, with a span of
eighty feet.
The total cost of construction was $947,670.25.
At this time the canal from Nelsonville to Athens had been abandoned.
STATE SENATORS FROM THE HOCKING VALLEY.
ATHENS COUNTY.
Washington, Gallia, Muskingum and Athens Counties-1805-'6, Joseph Buell and Hallem
Hempsted; 1806-'7, Hallem Hempsted and Leonard Jewett; 1807-'3, Leonard Jewett and John
Sharp. Washington and Athens Counties-1808-'9, John Sharp; 1809-'11, Leonard Jewett;
1811-'14, Wm. Woodbridge; 1814-'15,
32 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
Wm. Woodbridge (resigned, Wm. R. Putnam, successor); 1815'17, John Sharp; 1817-'21,
Sardina Stone. Washington, Morgan and Athens Counties-1821-'23, Sardina Stone; 1823-'24,
Ephraim. Cutler. Washington and Athens-1824-'25, Ephraim Cutler; 1825-'27, Ebenezer Currier;
1827-'28 Wm. R. Putnam. Washington, Athens and Hocking 1828-'29; Wm. R. Putnam;
1829-'31, Calvary Morris; 1831-'33, Arius Nye. Washington, Gallia, Meigs, Hocking and
Athens-1833-'35, Calvary Morris; 1835-'36, Andrew Donnally. Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence and
Athens-1836-'37, Andrew Donnally; 1837-'39, James Rogers; 1839-'41, Simeon Nash. Meigs and
Athens-1841-'45, Abraham Van Vorhes; 1845-'47, John Welch; 1847-'49, Horace S. Horton.
Jackson, Gallia, Meigs and Athens-1849-'51, Horace S. Horton.
NEW CONSTITUTION.
Hocking, Fairfield and Athens, 9th District-1852-'56, Lot L. Smith; 1856-'58, John T.Brazee;
1858-'62, Newton Schleich; 1862-'64, Alfred McVeigh; 1864-'66, John M. Connell ; 1866-'70,
Win. R. Golden; 1870-'74, Michael A. Dougherty; 1874-'78, Robert E. Reese; 1878-'82, B. W.
Carlisle.
HOCKING COUNTY.
Pickaway and Hocking Counties-1821-'23, John Barr; 1823-'25, David Shelby; 1825-'27, John
Barr; 1827-'28, Joseph Olds: 1828-'36, In Athens District. Fairfield and Hocking-1836-'40,
Samuel Spangler. Jackson, Pike, Ross and Hocking-1840-'41, John Hough; 1841-'43, Allan
Latham; 1843-'45, John Crouse, Jr. Ross and Hocking-1845-'47, John Maderra; 1847-'49, Wesley
Claypool. Fairfield, Perry and Hocking-1849-'50, Henry C. Whitman; 1850-'51, Andrew Faust.
NEW CONSTITUTION.
1852 to 1883, in Ninth District, composed of Athens, Fairfield and Hocking counties; names will
be found in Athens list.
VINTON COUNTY.
Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs and Vinton Counties, Eighth District-1852-'54, Alonzo Cushing;
1851-'56, Lewis Anderson; 1856-'58, Chauncey G. Hawley; 1858-'60, Patrick Murdock;
1860-'62, T.
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 133
Stanley; 1862-'66, Henry S. Neil; 1866-'68, Joseph Bradbury; 1868-'70, Homer C. Jones;
1870-'72, H. C. Jones and T. C. ch; 1872-'74, Win. Nash; 1874-'78, J. R. Filson; 1878-'80, sey
Kelly; 1880-'82, L. Kelly and W. C. Cline.
REPRESENTATIVES IN STATE LEGISLATURE FROM THE HOCKING VALLEY.
ATHENS COUNTY.
Athens, Washington, Gallia and Muskingum Counties- 1805-'6, Elijah Hatch; 1806-'7, Lewis
Cass, Levi Barber and Wm. Puthoff; 1807-'8, John P. Bureau, James Palmer and John
Matthews. Athens and Washington Counties-1808-'9, William Woodbridge and Leonard Jewett;
1809-'10, Wm. R Putnam and eon Pool; 1810-'11, Win. R. Putnam and Samuel P. Hildreth;
1811-'12, Samuel P. Hildreth and Jehiel Gregory; 1812-'13, ,liel Gregory and Sardina Stone;
1813-'14, Sardina Stone and jah Hatch; 1814-'15. Jehiel Gregory and John Sharp; 1815-'16,
Henry Jolly and Robert Linzie; 1816-'17, Sardina Stone and Robert Linzie; 1817-'18, Nathaniel
Hamilton and Sylvanus Ames; 1818-'19, Sylvanus Ames and Joseph Barker; 1819-'20, Ephraim
Cutler and Elijah Hatch. Athens County-1820-'23, Elijah Hatch; 1823-'24, Ezra Hull; 1824-'25,
Edmund Dorr; 1825-'27, Robert Line; 1827-'28, Calvary Morris. Athens and Hocking
Counties-1828-'29, Calvary Morris; 1829-'30, John Gilmore; 1830-'31, Andrew Crockett;
1831-'33, Ebenezer Currier; 1833-'34, Isaac Lottridge and Andrew Crockett; 1834-'35, Elijah
Hatch; 1835-'36, Calvary Morris. Athens and Meigs Counties-1836-'38, David Jones; 1838-'40,
Andrew Donnally; 1840-'41, A. Van Vorhes; 1841-'42, J. B. Ackley and Stephen Titus; 1842-'43,
J. B. Ackley; 1843-'45, Columbia Downing; 1845-'46, Thomas Irwin; 1846-'47, Horace S.
Horton; 1847-'48, Robert G. McLean; 1848-'50, Joseph K. Will, 1850-'52, N. H. Van Vorhes.
NEW CONSTITUTION.
Athens County-1852-'54, N. H. Van Vorhes; 1854-'56, Sam-el B. Pruden; 1856-'60, N. H. Van
Vorhes; 1860-'62, A. B. i onahan ; 1862-'64, J. W. Bayard ; 1864-'70, Wm. P. Johnson; 470-'74,
N. H. Van Vorhes ; 1874-'78, C. H. Grosvenor ; 1878-'80, harles Townsend ; 1880-'82, Charles
Townsend, elected Secretary of State, C. L. Kurtz, successor; 1882-'84, C. L. Kurtz.
134 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
HOCKING COUNTY.
Hocking and Pickaway Counties-1820-'21, John Barr, Satnnel Lybrand; 1821-'22, Caleb Atwater,
Valentine Keifer; 1822-'24, Samuel Lybrand, Valentine Keifer; 1824-'26, Joseph Olds, Jacob
Lindsey; 1826-'27, Jacob Lindsey and Guy W. Doan; 1827-'28, Francis S. Muhlenburg, Valentine
Keifer. Hocking and Athens -1828-'29, Calvary Morris; 1829-'30, John Gilmour; 1830-'31,
Andrew Crockett; 1831-'33, Ebenezer Currier; 1833-'34, Isaac B. Lottridge, Andrew Crockett;
1834-'35, Elijah Hatch; 1835-'36, Calvary Morris. Hocking and Fairfield Counties-1836-'38,
Wm. Medill, John Graybill; 1838-'39, John Brough; 1839-'40, Lewis Hite, James Spencer.
Hocking, Ross, Pike, and Jackson Counties--1840-'41, James T. Worthington, John Stinson,
*Jos. Kayler; 1841-'42, Le Grand Byington, John James, Daniel Kooshner; 1842-'43, Le Grand
Byington, Elihu Johnson, Wm. Nelson; 1843'44 Wesley Claypool, Joseph Kayler, A. R. Cassidy.
Hocking and Ross Counties-1844-'45, Joseph Kayler; 1845-'46, James Gibson; 1846-'47, Joseph
Kayler; 1847-'48, J. A. Green. Hocking, Perry, and Fairfield Counties-1848-'49, Isaac Lorimer;
1849-'50, N. P. Colburn. Hocking and Perry Counties-1850-'51, C. W. James.
NEW CONSTITUTION.
Hocking County-1852,-'54, C. W. James; 1854-'56, Reuben Hesten ; 1856-'60, George Johnson;
1860-64, Manning Stiers; 1864-'68, Wm. S. Dresbach; 186S-'72, Wm. T. Acker; 1872-'76,
Oakley Case; 1876-'78, W. M. Bowen; 1878-'82, S. S. Wolf; 1882-'84, Wm. A. Wright.
VINTON COUNTY. NEW CONSTITUTION.
Vinton and Jackson Counties-1852-'54, D. T. D. Hurd; 1854-'56, Wm. J. Evans; 1856-'58, Ed. F.
Bingham; 185826,-, Robert B. Stephenson, resigned, succeeded by Win. L. Edmundson;
1860-'62, Alex. Pierce; 1862-'64, John Fee; 1864-'66, E. A. Bratton; 1866-'70, Andrew J. Swaim;
1870-'72, Almond Soule; 1872-'76, Thos. M. Bay ; 1876-'80, A. J. Swaim; 1880-'82, Columbus
P. Wood.
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 135
HOCKING VALLEY RAILROADS.
MARIETTA CINCINNATI.
The project of building a railroad westward through Southern Ohio to Cincinnati was first
discussed about 1840, and finally took shape in the organization, in 1844, of the Belpre &
Cincinnati Railroad Company. It was designed to build the road from Cincinnati to Belpre,
opposite Parkersburg, Va. (now West Virginia). The company, organized without funds,
proceeded to raise the necessary means for prosecuting the work by soliciting subscriptions to its
stock from the localities through which the road was to pass, $100,000 being, asked of Athens
County. The State Legislature, by an act passed March 20, 1851, authorized the Athens County
Commissioners to subscribe $100,000 of stock, provided the necessary majority of the legal
voters gave their consent. A special election was .held August 26 of the same year, resulting
favorably to the subscription, and on the 30th day of August the County Commissioners (John
Elliott, James Dickey and Zibo Lindley) subscribed for 2,000 shares of $50 each, in the Marietta
& Cincinnati Railroad Company. Some years afterward, when the railroad company and the
citizens of Athens County were not on the best of terms, an attempt was made to test the legality
of the subscription. Some thought the commissioners had transcended their powers in
subscribing to the Marietta & Cincinnati, when the people had voted to sub-. scribe to the Belpre
& Cincinnati. The question was agitated for some time through the county, meetings being held
in several of the townships. All the prominent lawyers were ranged on one side or the other. The
county commissioners at one time refused to levy the tax to pay time interest on the bonds, but
after some months of discussion they replaced the tax on the duplicate.
ARRIVAL OF THE IRON HORSE.
The company soon began the construction of the road, which was continued in the face of all
obstacles until it was completed to Athens in the spring of 1856. There was general rejoicing, not
only in the city of Athens, but in the country round about, for they now had communication with
the outside world, and a trip to Cincinnati was but a few hours' ride instead of as many days.
Tuesday, the 29th day of April, 1851;, witnessed the arrival in
136 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
Athens of the first railway passenger train over the road, or which had ever reached the city. The
citizens turned out en masse to give it a welcome with three hearty cheers. Congratulatory
speeches were made by several distinguished persons, and the arrival of the "Iron Horse" proved
a gala day for the city of Athens.
HOSTILITIES COMMENCED.
Daily passenger trains were at once run between Athens and connecting at the latter point with
trains for Cincinnati. James D. Foster was appointed ticket and freight agent at Athens. Not long
after, the road was completed to Marietta. Through bad Management, however, the road lost
money from the start. It was unfortunate in many things, and the people of Athens and vicinity
lost confidence in it. This gradually developed into a decided hostility on the part of many of our
prominent citizens, which culminated in tearing up their track, Jan. 1, 1S58. It seems that in 1856
the company decided to abandon, temporarily, the tunnel through the hill above Athens, and
obtained a lease from some of the citizens for the ground on which to lay a track south of
the-village, making a kind of circumbendibus, as the people said, and again getting upon the old
line below town. The lease for this tract expired Dec. 31, 1857, and some days prior to that time
the owners of the land gave notice to Mr. Wilson, in writing, to comply with the terms of the
lease by vacating the land. This the company failed to do, and on New Year's day, 1858, a
number of citizens repaired to the track in question and proceeded to remove some of the rails
and ties.
This course was condemned in severe terms by many, particularly by the friends of the road. The
Marietta and Chillicothe papers were especially bitter, accusing the Athenians of being blind to
their own interests, of being influenced by malicious motives, and even of having committed an
offense against the laws of the State. It was, perhaps, a question as to whether the action was
politic, or was the best mode of dealing with the company, which of course became only
exasperated, and imbued with a decided hostile spirit toward the citizens. The company had
never paid any rent for the use of the land; the lease was to expire Jan. 1st, and the company was
duly notified in writing several days in advance, by the owners of the land, to remove the track.
The company taking no action whatever in the matter, it was clearly the
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 137
right of the citizens to take quiet possession of their property, and to remove as many of the rails
as they pleased.
Soon after this Mrs. Curtis, over whose land the railroad passed, had a portion of the tract
removed. The company, however, procured the condemnation of the land by a jury appointed by
the Probafe Court, and were thus enabled to re-lay their track, and once more run regular trains
through to Marietta. The company claimed that in their embarrassed financial circumstances it
was impossible for them to complete the expensive tunnel above the town, and that if time was
given them they would " make all things right;" but that they would not be enabled to do this if
crippled by such opposition as that manifested by the people. The citizens claimed, on the other
band, that they had recognized the straitened condition of the company's resources, and had
leased them this temporary right of way merely as an accommodation, it being clearly to their
interest to have the road follow the line originally designed; but that the company had neither
paid any rent, according to agreement, nor showed any disposition to regard the rights of the
owners of the land.
The hostile feeling toward the railroad company was doubtless partly due to the latter's
abandoning the original plan of building the road down the Hocking Valley to Belpre, where it
could connect with the Northwestern Virginia Road, terminating at Parkersburg, on the other side
of the Ohio River. Influenced by the offer of subscriptions from Marietta, Wheeling and Pittsburg
to the amount of $1,500,000, time management had turned the road northward toward Marietta
instead of toward Belpre, and thus had totally disregarded the interests of the Hocking Valley.
The excitement consequent upon the tearing up of the track was of short duration, and after its
subsidence Athens and the railroad resumed gradually their former friendly relations.
The original blunder of building the road across the hills to Marietta was rectified at last, after
twenty years. The old line had four tunnels between Athens and Marietta, one 1,660 feet long,
another 1,400 feet, and two others 300 feet each. Besides, it had a number of high, long and
expensive trestles, that made the cost of maintaining the road a constant drain. "Worse than all, it
had sharp curvatures and heavy grades that made its operations slow and expensive.
In February, 1871, the Baltimore Shortline Company was formed, for the purpose of constructing
the short line to Parkers-
138 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
burg. It was composed of parties interested in the B.& 0. and the M. & C. roads. The contracts
were let in AuguSt, 1872, and the last rail was laid Oct. 2-1,1574. The line, as built, leaves the
old line at Warren's, seven miles east of Athens, and follows the Hocking River for a, distance of
seven miles, to the valley of Skunk Run, passing through Canaanville, Guysville and within two
miles of Coolville. From Skunk Run the road takes an easterly direction, up the valley of that
stream, to the summit at Torch; thence striking the valley of Knowles's Run it follows in an
easterly and northeasterly direction, coming to the valley of the Ohio River at the mouth of
LitOhio Riverg; thence along the OhioLRiver it passes to Belpre, where it joins the old line.
Athens County has spent considerable money for this railroad, but it has been a good investment.
The county took $200,000 of capital stock, but the company pays annually many thousands of
dollars to the county as taxes, and the valuation of property in the county has increased by
$6,000,000, much of which increase is due to the presence of the road.
COLUMBUS, HOCKING VALLEY & TOLEDO.
The Hocking Valley, as a field for railroad enterprise, early attracted the attention of capitalists
and public men, and many projects were started in an early day for building a Hocking Valley
railroad to connect with that pioneer of railroads, the Baltimore & Ohio. The State Legislature
passed an act as early as March, 1834, authorizing the construction of a railroad from Lancaster
to a point on the Ohio River, opposite Parkersburg. Section second of the bill was as follows:
"Tile capital stock of the Hocking Valley Railroad Company shall be $1,000,000, and shall be
divided into shares of $50 each. These shares may be subscribed for by any corporation or
individuals; and it shall and may be lawful for said corporation to commence the construction of
the said railroad, and enjoy all the powers and privileges conferred by this act, as soon as $50,000
shall be subscribed to said stock." The idea of building the Flocking Valley Canal soon after
supplanted this project of building a railroad, and nothing was done under the act.
NEW PROJECT.
It was not until 1854, some twenty years after the above charter was granted, that active steps
were again taken to secure a railroad through the valley of the Hocking. It again fell through, and
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 139
active work did not commence until 1856. The former chief engineer of the B. & 0. Railroad, B.
H. Latrobe, Esq., had examined the route, and was so favorably impressed that he urged the
formation of a company and the building of the road. His advice was taken, and a company
formed for the prosecution of the enterprise, which was prosecuted with vigor, though active and
open opposition was made against it by the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Company. The city of
Marietta, opposed and personally, undertook to secure legislative action to prevent its
construction. This action of its enemies aroused the people of the Hocking Valley, and although
the obnoxious legislation passed, it in no way altered the determination of the people of the
valley to secure the prosecution of their cherished plans. However, if they could not secure a road
to Parkersburg, they could build down the valley, as far as Athens, and let time and
circumstances control the extension of the work. Meetings were held, and every effort made to
carry forward the work. At the next session of the Legislature, in 1858, the obnoxious act above
spoken of as having passed was repealed, and the way for active operation again opened. But the
financial crash of 1857 was still severely felt the following year, and although opposition had
ceased, the monetary situation prevented further progress. The war then came on, and it was not
until the year 1865 that the project was again resurrected. In that year the Mineral Railroad
Company was organized, its incorporators being: W. P. Cutler, E. D. Moore, M. M. Green, John
Mills and Douglas Putnam. Every effort was made to start the enterprise by arousing the people
and showing them the value of the work. The result was, meetings were held along the line, from
Columbus to Athens, in the winter and spring of 1866. It was necessary to raise $750,000, and
this sum was divided along the route as'follows: Columbus, $400,000; Groveport and.
Winchester, $50,000; Lancaster, $75,000; Logan, $75,000; Athens, $100,000. Athens raised
$120,000, and Columbus, $480,000, making, $800,000, which was enough to secure the success
of the enterprise, and the people to rejoice. The name of the company was afterward changed, to
the Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad Company. In the spring of 1867, the entire line of
seventy-six miles from Columbus to Athens was let to contract. the contractors, Dodge, Wood &
Co., receiving for their work $800,000 cash, and the company's bonds for $850,000, or about
$21,715, per mile. The ground was broken at Columbus, July, 1867, and on Nov. 7, 1868,
twenty-five miles of
140 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
the road was completed to Lancaster, and the first train of cars arrived at that town at that date,
amid the rejoicings of the people. The road reached Nelsonville, June 30, ISO:), and Athens in
the summer of 1870.
The road is well equipped, and has been a prosperous one front the start. Three passenger trains
run each way daily, and thus by affording prompt means of transportation to the coal fields of the
Hocking Valley the road has been of untold benefit to both consumers and producers, as well as
the welfare of its own excheq. uer. The Straitaville branch of the Hocking Valley Railroad was
constructed at the same time with the main line, which it leaves at Logan; thence running in a
circuitous course through the coal beds east of Logan, it returns to the main line at Nelsonville.
The Columbus & Hocking Valley, Columbus & Toledo and Ohio & West Virginia railroads,
were consolidated in the summer of 1881, under the present name, Columbus, Hocking Valley &
Toledo Railroad. The capital stock of this company was fixed at $20,000,000, divided into shares
of $100 each. At the rate paid for the three roads by the syndicate which effected the
consolidation, the Hocking Valley stock cost them $4,000,000; Toledo, $1,250,000, and the Ohio
& West Virginia, $600,000. The bonded indebtedness of the Toledo road was $2,600,000;
Hocking Valley, $2,400,000; Ohio & West Virginia, $1,600,000, a total of $6,600,000, and a
total for both bonds and stock of $12,:. 50,000. The new company issued $15,000,000 of bonds,
which, with the stock, makes $35,000,000.
OHIO CENTRAL.
The Ohio Central Railroad is a new one, having beets built through Athens County within the
past two years. It has received no ad from the county and but little from the citizens. It passes
through Trimble, Millfield, Jacksonville, Chauncey. Athens, Hebbardsville and Albany, in this
county. The road extends from Toledo to Middleport, Ohio, and is being rapidly pushed through
Virginia. The line has already proved a valuable auxiliary to the transportation facilities of the
valley, and when completed to its terminus on the Ohio and beyond will he still more so. So far
as Athens County is concerned its railroad transportation may be said to be completed. Perhaps in
the future some few miles of local road may be added, but the prospects are not flattering.
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 141
HOCKING COUNTY RAILROADS.
It was as early as 1851 when the railroad fever first showed its symptoms in Hocking and
culminated into a violent attack the following year. What caused this first outburst of railroad
progression was called the
SCIOTO & HOCKING VALLEY RAILROAD.
On Sept. 2, 1852, the largest railroad meeting ever held in the Hocking Valley came off at Logan.
A grand barbecue was given, and the air fairly shook with railroad eloquence. It was a
memorable day in the history of Hocking County. The line of route was from Portsmouth, on the
Ohio River, running to Jackson, in Jackson County, through McArthurstown, in Vinton County,
Logan in Hocking, to Somerset in Perry County,thence to Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, as its
terminus. It was computed that 5,000 people were in attendance that day, coming from Jackson,
on the south, to Newark, on the north. Perry County turned out the banner delegation, being over
a half mile long, accompanied by a band of music. The people of Logan and surrounding country
were awakened at sunrise by a Federal salute. Up to that time it was the largest railroad meeting
ever held in the State, and few since have exceeded it. It was decided that Perry County should
raise E;150,006, Hocking County $80,000, and Vinton County $50,000. The road was completed
to the town of Jackson in 1853 and the grading completed to Somerset, in Perry County, with the
exception of a tunnel at Maxwell and a heavy cut at Union Furnace. Then there was a collapse;
the road bed and right of way having been mortgaged, the same was foreclosed and the whole
forfeited to the land owners. The most of the stock was held by persons living along the line of
the contemplated road. This ended that project and a calm settled over the valley.
THE NEXT MOVE.
A decade had passed, and the white-winged angel of peace, which had soared aloft, again settled
upon our distressed country, when another railroad project was being whispered in the ears of the
people of Hocking County. This time the connection spoken of was a line to Parkersburg on the
Ohio River, to Columbus and Athens, instead of McArthur, the route from Logan. The route is
here described, taken from a Northwestern Ohio paper, the Lima Gazette. It said :—
142 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
"A project for a new railroad that may ultimately be of immense benefit to the people of Lima,
Allen County, is now being discussed. It is now, and has been for a year past, proposed (and the
route has been surveyed) to construct a road from Columbus, southeast, through Lancaster,
Logan and Athens, to Parkersburg, on the Ohio. This the Columbus people and those along the
line dream of immense importance, because it opens up the extensive coal and iron deposits of
Southeastern Ohio, which are now comparatively cut off, and affords a short cut connecting with
the Baltimore & Ohio Road, at Parkersburg. This road will be built, and there necessarily form
other combinations in connection with that, of which we propose to speak ."
Just what other combinations it had in view, or whether it spoke about them, is immaterial to this
history. The route above described is now known as the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo
Railroad, which, in this year, 1883, and a few previous ones show a larger net profit per mile than
any other road in the State.
The first public meeting to consider the project was on Feb.16, 1866, and it was reported a
success; and the right of way through Hocking and Athens counties was a free gift to the
company with but few exceptions. Matters went along, all in good shape, during the summer, and
on Dec. 19, 1866, $754,000 had been subscribed and the following Board of Directors elected:
Peter Hayden, B. E. Smith, William G. Dishier, W. B. Brooks, William Dennison, Isaac Eberly,
George M. Parsons and Theo. Comstock, of Columbus ; D. Tallmadge, of Fairfield County ; J. C.
Garrett, of Hocking County ; E. H. Moore and M. M. Greene, of Athens County; and W. P.
Cutler, of Washington County.
It was at that time known as the Hocking Valley Mineral Railroad. Logan's contribution was $75,
000, and the road was completed through Hocking County to the Athens County line, June 29,
1869, reaching Nelsonville, as previously stated, June 30 of that year. As this was the first
railroad to reach Hocking County it was welcomed with loud rejoicing.
OHIO & WEST VIRGINIA RAILROAD.
This was the new name for the "old love," the Scioto & Hocking Valley Railroad, of 1852, with
the exception of its terminal point, which was changed from Portsmouth to Gallipolis; the route
from Logan through Hocking and Vinton counties was the same.
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 143
Work was commenced on this road in the spring of 1879, and the new company followed the old
line and grade as far south as Dundas, where it crosses the M. &. C. R. R., and then turns from
the direction of Portsmouth toward Gallipolis. It was finished the following year so that trains ran
from Logan to the Ohio River in December, 1880. The principal owners were residents of
Columba:, but they had bonded the road, and Eastern persons held the bonds. The contractors ran
the road a short time, then Mr. M. M. Green, of the Hocking Valley Road, was elected its
President, which meant that the latter road was in control. This proved true, the road being sold
to the Cleveland Syndicate in September, 1S81, and re-organized under the name of the River
Division of the C., H. V. & T. R. R. By securing this road the Columbus, Hocking Valley &
Toledo Railroad secured a line to the Ohio River, their main line terminating at Athens. The road
runs through a very rich and inexhaustible mineral region for many miles, which is to a great
extent yet undeveloped. It has already a heavy freighting business from the Vinton County ore
shipped to the iron furnaces of the Hocking Valley, but this, while considerable, is not a tithe of
what the future promises, when the production of coal and iron shall receive, from capital that
assistance which is required to uncover its hidden wealth and bring it forth for the use of man.
Two passenger trains each way run daily.
STRAITSVILLE BRANCH
of the C., H. V. & T. R. R. leaves the main line at Logan, and has some fourteen miles of its
length within the limits of Hocking ounty, but in a circuitous course reaching again the main line
at Nelsonville. It touches some of the largest mining country in the valley, and freighting is its
principal business.
VINTON COUNTY RAILROADS.
Vinton County has the benefit of a north and south railroad running almost through the center of
the county, rather east, perhaps, passing through three townships. This is the River Division of
the C., H. V. & T. Railroad, referred to in the previous pages, commencing at Logan and running
to the Ohio River at Gallipolis. It has also a portion of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, which
enters the county at the southwest corner of Clinton Township, and, running a general
northeasterly course for some twenty miles,
144 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
passes into Athens County. This gives its central and eastern portion good transportation
facilities, the western portion of the county of which the western portion is still void.
The River Division Road was opened for business at McArthur, Aug. 17, 1880, and an account
of its freight and passenger traffic at that print will be found in the history of McArthur.
WALKER'S HISTORY OF ATHENS COUNTY.
Charles M. Walker, the oldest son of A. B. Walker, is now editor-in-chief of the Indianapolis
Times. He was prepared for the legal profession and admitted to the bar, but did not incline to
make that his life pursuit. He is somewhat of a politician, and under Lincoln's administration was
appointed by Secretary Chase Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, a position which he held for two
years. He then entered upon the work of journalism which he has followed since. He was for a
number of years connected with the Indianapolis Journal. While at Washington he conceived the
idea of compiling a history of his native county, and he corresponded with some of the principal
citizens concerning the matter. Receiving much encouragement, he proceeded with the work,
intending at first to make a book of about 200 pages. The scope of the history enlarged as, he
progressed, and when completed the History of Athens County appeared as a work of 600 pages.
It was well printed and neatly bound. While a few have criticized some features of Walker's
History, it is generally conceded to be a well-written and valuable work. A considerable amount
of valuable information in this work has been taken from Walker's History by permission, for
which our sincere thanks are hereby tendered.
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE VALLEY.
This society was organized April 28, 1866, at the court-house in the city of Athens. The
following physicians were present:
Drs. A. H. Burrell and A. A. Shepard, of Nelsonville; James Moore, of New England; Hiram G.
Witham, of Shade; E. B. Pickett, of Marshfield, James Howe, I. B. Harper, W. P. Johnson, and
C. L. Wilson, of Athens; Win. S. Bell, of Amesville; John Earhart, of Lee, and W. W. Feirce, of
Chauncey. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the association then proceeded to elect
its first officers. These were as follows:
President, Dr. W. P. Johnson ; Vice-Presidents, John Earhart
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 145
and I. B. Harper; Secretary, C. L. Wilson; Treasurer, Win. S. Bell. Monthly meetings were
decided, and the association started out with twenty-five members. The same officials were
re-elected the following year.
1868, for two years—President, E. G. Carpenter; Secretary, C. L Wilson. 1870, for two
years—President, C. L. Wilson ; Secretary, R. W. Erwin. 1872, for two years—President, I. P.
Primose; Secretary, R. W. Erwin. One year a blank. 1875, for two years—President, I. P.
Primrose; Secretary, H. M. Lash. 1877 President, H. C. Rutter; Secretary, H. M. Lash. 1878—President, W. E. W. Shepard; Secretary, Chas. F. Gilliam. 1879--President, Jas. Little;
Secretary, Chas. F. Gilliam. 1880—President, H. M. Lash; Secretary, Chas. F. Gilliam.
1881—President, G. W. Pullen; Secretary, E. De Steiger. 1882—President, David Little;
Secretary, W . N. Alderman. 1883—President, I. P. Primrose; Secretary, K. Tinker; First
Vice-President, H. M. Lash; Second Vice-President, G. W. Pullen; Treasurer, S. E. Butt.
The following are the present members of the society, 1883:
Athens County—H. M. Lash, G. L. Gorslene, A. B. Richardson, B. H. Pickering, E. G.
Carpenter, Athens; A. H. Shepard, S. E. Butt, C. W. Cable, I. P. Primrose, D. B. Elder, W. E. W.
Shepard, W. N. Alderman, C. F. Gilliam, K. Tinker, Nelsonville; W. A. Adair, Huestis,
Amesville; H. T. Lee, T. C. Armstrong, Buchtel; James M. Kittrick, Chauncey; H. D. Danford,
Trimble; G. W. Blakely, Guysville; H. D. Witham, Shade; B. C. Voris, Albany. flocking
County—David Little, James Little, G. W. Pullen, W. I. Bright, J. H. Dye, E. C. De Steiger, II. G.
Campbell, Logan; A. B. Lyons, Sand Run; C. F. Aplin, Carbon Hill; J. C. Wright,
Haydenville;--Irwin, South Perry; W. G. Dawson, George Marshall, Gibesonville. Vinton
County—J. V. Rannels, Andrew Wolfe, C. 0. Dunlap, J. E. Sylvester, McArthur; W. R. Moore,
Swan. Perry County—H. C. Allen, W. J. Jones, G. Newton, New Straits
The association is a progressive one, where deep and studious thought, combined with
experience, is interchanged in the cause of humanity.
CHAPTER VI.
ATHENS COUNTY HISTORY-FROM THE WILDERNESS TO AD-
VANCED CIVILIZATION.
ORGANIC—ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE—ORGANIZED FEB. 20, 1805AREA—FIRST
SESSION OF COURT—FOUR TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES—FIRST JAIL AND
COURT-HOUSE—TAXATION AND LICENSE—SOME SHINING LIGHTS—NEW
COURT-HOUSE, 1818—SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL MONEYS-1840 TO
1850—RISE AND PROGRESS 1850 TO 1860—WAR AND PEACE—COURT- HOUSE
TALK—OLD FATHER TIME—COUNTY OFFICIALS—FLOODS—DEVASTATION AND
RUIN BY THE RUSHING WATERS—FLOODS OF 1847, 1858 AND 1873—DAMAGE
COMPUTED—DESTRUCTION OF THIRTEEN MILES OF THE HOCKING CANAL—IT IS
ABANDONED—THE SWELLING WATERS OF 1875—
ORGANIC.
The county of Washington covered a very extensive territory, so much so that for the
convenience of the people who had settled in extreme points of the county, other counties were
organized. from it. Washington County was organized in 1789, and Athens County was taken
from it in 1805.. The Athens County of to-day, however, is not the Athens County of 1805, for
she, like Washington, has been somewhat curtailed of her former population. The question of
organization came up before the third session of the General Assembly, and on Dec. 4, 1804,
Governor Tiffin, in reference to the subject of schools and education, referred to the Ohio
University and its valuable gift of land, and that these lands might become more valuable if a
new county was organized. His message on this point was as follows :
" It is further thought, that it would greatly increase the demand for those lands and town lots, as
well as prepare the way for the accommodation and comfort of the youths who may be sent to the
university, if a new county were erected and its seat established at Athens. This may conveniently
be done without injury to the counties adjacent, and, in my opinion, the convenience of that part
of the county imperiously demands it."
- (146) -
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 147
These favorable words placed the matter in its proper light before the members of the General
Assembly, and before the session closed it was acted upon by them.
Political considerations also hastened this step. The first few years of Ohio's existence as a State
were marked by strong political feeling, the advocates of " federalism " being arrayed against
those of " democracy."
The act of the Legislature creating the county of Athens, reads as follows.
" An act establishing the County of Athens.
"SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the county of Washington as is contained in the
following boundaries be, and the same is, hereby erected into a separate county, which shall be
known by the name of Athens, viz.; Beginning at the southwest corner of township number ten,
range seventeen; thence easterly with the line between Gallia and Washington counties, to the
Ohio River; thence up said giver to the mouth of Big Hockhocking River; thence up the said
Hockhocking River to the east line of township number six, of the twelfth range; thence north on.
said line to the northeast corner of the eighth township, in the said twelfth range; thence west to
the east line of Fairfield County; thence south on said county line and the line of Ross County to
the place of beginning.
“SEC. 2. That from and after the first day of March next the said county of Athens shall be
vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of a separate and distinct county: Provided
always, That all actions and suits which may be pending on the said first day of March next shall
be prosecuted and carried to final judgment and execution, and all taxes, fees, fines and
forfeitures which shall then be due shall be collected in the same manner as if this act had never
been passed.
" SEC. 3. That the seat of justice of said county is hereby established at the town of Athens, any
law to the contrary notwithstanding.
" SEC. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the first day of March next."
Passed Feb. 20, 1805.
148 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY.
AREA.
The area within the boundary above described, contained 1,053 square miles, or about thirty
congressional townships of six miles square. This territory not only included the present county
of Athens, but three townships, Ward, Green and Starr, now in Hocking County; seven
townships, Brown, Swan, Elk, Madison, Knox, Vinton and Clinton, in Vinton County; five
townships now a part of Meigs County, viz.: Columbia, Scipio, Bedford, Orange and Olive; and
two townships, Homer and Marion, a part, at this time, of Morgan County; and a strip of land ten
miles long and one mile wide, which was afterward made again a part of Washington County.
Two years later an act passed the Legislature alter ing the boundary line between Athens and
Gallia counties, and by that act Athens took a strip off of that county ten miles long and one
wide. At the same session, about one month later, or Feb. 18, 1807, an act was also passed
altering the line between the counties of Washington and Athens, which gave to Athens the
portion of Troy Township lying east of the Hocking River, and gave to Washington County a
strip fifteen miles long and one mile wide, taken from Athens.
Following up the acts of Legislature, numerous other changes were made, some adding to and
others taking territory from Athens. One act making a change was dated Feb. 10, 1814. Then the
organization of Jackson County, Jan. 12, 1816, and the creation of Hocking County, Jan. 3, 1818,
and a further act dated March 12, 1845, all curtailed the dimensions of Athens County, and added
them to the new counties formed. Meigs County, organized Jan. 21, 1819, took off another slice
of her territory, and finally by the erection of the county of Vinton, which act was passed March
23, 1850, took the remainder of our outlying possessions in that direction, and the same act
detached Ward Township from Athens and gave it to Hocking, thus reducing our boundaries all
around to their present limits. The present boundaries of the county include about 430 square
miles.
An act of the Legislature was passed Feb. 13, 1804, establishing boards of commissioners,
providing that the election for commissioners should be held on the first Mondays of April. The
first election in Athens County resulted in the choice of Silas Dean, William Howlett and John
Corey, Commissioners.
The first session of the Board of Commissioners took place a
HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 149
Athens on April 16, 1805, and the records show the follo wing proceedings:—
"Agreeably to all act entitled an act establishing boards f commissioners,' passed February the
13th, 1804,
"We, Silas Dean, Wm. Howlett and John Corey, being elected Commissioners for the County of
Athens on the 13th day of April, 1805, Silas Dean and John Corey, aggreeably to appointment,
met this day in order to proceed to business, and have made choice of John Corey for Clerk, and
then proceeded to divide the county into the following townships:
"The township of Ames begins at the northeast corner of the county; thence running west to the
northwest corner of said county; thence south to the southwest corner of township No. 12 in the
16th range; thence east to the southeast corner of township No. 7 in the 12th range; thence north
to the place of beginning.
"The township of Athens begins at the northwest corner of town ship No. 12 in the 17th range;
thence south to the southwest corner of township No. 12; thence east to the southeast corner of
township No. 5,in the 13th range; thence north to northeast corner of the aforesaid township No.
5; thence west to the place of beginning.
" The township of Alexander begins at the northwest corner of township No. 11 in the 17th
range; thence south to the southwest corner of township No. 10 in the aforesaid 17th range;
thence east to the southeast corner of township No. 3 in the 13th range; thence north to the
northeast corner of township No. 4 in the 13th range; thence west to the place of beginning.
" The township of Troy begins at the southwest corner of township No. 4 in the 12th range;
thence east on the south line of the county until it intersects with Shade River; thence down
Shade River to its junction with the Ohio; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of the Great
Hockhocking; thence up the Hockhocking to where the eastern line of the 12th range crosses said
river; thence north to the northeast corner of township No.6, in the 12th range; thence west to the
northwest corner of the aforesaid 6th township; thence south to the place of beginning."
After dividing the county into four townships as stated above they next appointed Alvin
Bingham, County Treasurer, who produced his bond which was accepted and filed. They also
made an order for the erection of a jail, to be built of logs, dimensions to be twenty-four feet long
|