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Monroe County History and Information

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Monroe Co., Ohio
Township Map

Monroe County was created on January 29, 1813 (Organized in 1815) and was formed from Belmont County. The County was named for United States Secretary of State James Monroe, who was later President of the United States. Monroe County is situated on the Ohio River where the land is generally hilly. One of the state's largest coal mines is located in the county. The 1890's saw a temporary boom in oil and gas wells. Because the county is scenic and sparsely populated many riding clubs have been formed and stable horses are raised.

Woodsfield is the county seat of Monroe County, Ohio. Founded in 1814, residents named Woodsfield after Archibald Woods, who established the community. See also County History for more historical details.

The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1908-Present, see the Vital Records section for more details. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.

Counties adjacent to Monroe County are Belmont County (north), Marshall County, West Virginia (northeast), Wetzel County, West Virginia (east), Tyler County, West Virginia (southeast), Washington County (south), Noble County (west).

Monroe County Municipalities Include Antioch, Beallsville, Clarington, Graysville, Jerusalem, Lewisville, Miltonsburg, Stafford, Wilson, Woodsfield. Townships Include Adams, Benton, Bethel, Center, Franklin, Green, Jackson, Lee, Malaga, Ohio, Perry, Salem, Seneca, Summit, Sunsbury, Switzerland, Washington, Wayne. Other localities Include Cameron, Hannibal, Laings, Malaga, Rinard Mills, Sardis, Sycamore Valley

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Records at the Monroe County Courthouse

Monroe County Vital Records

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Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $16.50 required fee. Walk-in address is Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Phone: (614) 466-2531. You can also obtain the birth/death record from the city or county health department office where the event occurred, provided there is no court or legal action. You may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

Order By Mail:

Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $16.50 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

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Below is a list of online resources for Monroe County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Monroe County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Monroe County Census Records

Monroe County Maps & Atlases

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Monroe County Military Records

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

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County History

Early Settlements

The first permanent settlement of which there is authentic history was made in 1791. Settlements were made across the Ohio River at Sistersville, West Virginia, and at this point, a ferry was established in 1804.

Philip Witten, a brother-in-law of the noted scouts and Indian fighters, Kinsey and Vachel Dickenson (having married their sister), settled along the Ohio River in what is now Jackson Township.

The next settlement was on Buckhill Bottom in 1794 and was made by Robert McEldowney, who was soon followed by Jacob Ullom and others. Settlements were made at and near the mouth of Sunfish and Opossum Creeks by the Vandevanters, Henthorns, Atkinsons, and others at about 1798-1799. A settlement was made in 1802 where the Town of Calais now stands.

A settlement was made at about the same time by Michael Crow and others on Clear Fork Creek, Cline's settlement, on the Little Muskingum River, was begun about the year 1805. The settlement where Beallsville now stands and Dye's settlement in Perry Township were made at about the same time,

Few of its present inhabitants can realize the hardships endured by the early settlers of the county. Being without mills, they were compelled to resort to grating corn for bread in the early fall and, when too hard for that, to hominy, pounding it in large wooden mortars called "hominy blocks" with iron wedges on the ends of round sticks of wood for a pestle. "Hog and hominy", "johnny cake", wild game, mush, and milk constituted their chief diet. When hand mills were introduced, they were, indeed, a great acquisition but the horse mills were a still greater acquisition. At that time, every farmer had his own flock of sheep and a patch of flax. The wool was carded with hand-cards, spun and woven at home, and made into garments. Nice suits were made of "fulled cloth" and nice gowns for women were made of "pressed flannel". The flax was pulled, spread out in rows on the ground, "rotted", and then "broken and swingled" -- thus preparing it for combing and the "little wheel" as the machine was called on which the flax was spun to distinguish it from the larger machine for spinning wool. It was woven into cloth for table covers, toweling, sheeting, and shirting.

First Germans And Swiss

In April, 1819, ten German and Swiss families embarked on a flatboat on the Aar River at Berne under the leadership of Jacob Tisher. They descended the Aar River to the Rhine River and continued to the city of Antwerp where they boarded a French ship, Eugenius, for New York. After traveling 48 days, they landed at Amboy, New Jersey, where they purchased teams -- six of the families starting to travel to Wheeling, Virginia, The little colony now consisted of Father Jacob Tisher, Abraham Tisher, Jacob Tschappat, Daniel Fankhauser, Nicholas Fankhauser, Jacob Marti (together with their families), and Jacob Nisperli, single. After a tedious journey , they reached Wheeling and again embarked on a flatboat -- their destination being the Great Kanawa River.

Upon landing at the mouth of Captina, they found two Pennsylvania Germans, George Goetz and Henry Sweppe, who told them that there was plenty of Government land in Monroe County. Part of the colony were induced to stay. Housing room was not available for everyone.

On September 15, Father Tisher and part of his little band continued further down the River to Bare's landing, a distance of sixteen miles. Jacob Bare, an early settler from Maryland, could speak German and received them kindly -- persuading them to settle there. Thus, the two bands, at the same time, began the first German-Swiss settlements in Monroe County -- one party being in Switzerland Township and the other party being in Ohio Township. On the hill in Salem Township (now Switzerland Township), Daniel Mallett built a log cabin. This improvement was purchased by Jacob Tschappat, Sr., who moved the same fall. The other band settled on Congressional land the following spring. At that time, the Township was almost a wilderness -- only a few small improvements had been made. The Blares, Hendershots, Lemleys, and the Smiths had settled on Big Run.

In Ohio Township, settlements were made back from Buckhill Bottom on French Hill by Mozenette Harrison, on Opossum Creek by Jacob Dennis, and on the hill South of Bare's Run by James Ferrell. Shortly thereafter, Christian Regsegger, a native of Switzerland, settled on the hill back of Baresville. The rest of the Township was an unbroken forest. Immigration from Germany and Switzerland had now set in and these fertile hills had become the happy homes of an industrious and a prosperous people. Improvements were mostly confined to the river bottoms prior to these settlements.

The County Seat

The commissioners, appointed by the Legislature in 1814 for the purpose of establishing a seat of justice for the County, decided upon Woodsfield as the place. Prior to the time the County was erected, Archibald Woods of Wheeling, West Virginia; George Paul of St. Clairsville, Ohio; and Levi Barber of Marietta, Ohio, owned land in the territory which is now comprised of the County. They sought to have a new County organized and, accordingly, in 1812, selected the site where Woodsfield now stands. It was in that year that the Town of Woodsfield was surveyed and platted. At that time, Woodsfield was nothing but a wilderness. Woodsfield was properly named -- whether from its location in the woods or from one of the properties is a matter of opinion -- but it was named for a man named Mr. Woods.

In examining a Post Office guide, no other Woodsfield can be found in the United States, while there are twenty-six states having a Springfields; ten states having a Woodstock; eleven states having a Woodlawn; four states having a town by the name of Wood; eight states having a Woodland; and nine states having a Woodford.

Older citizens disagree as to the location of the first house in the village of Woodsfield and as to who built the first house. It is agreed, however, that it was built on the East side of Main Street or on the North side of Main Cross Street. The first building was thought to have been a tavern owned by Spencer Biddle -- being the first tavern in Woodsfield.

The following was read before the Monroe County Historical Society by the Honorable William F. Hunter on January 4, 1860 (being 82 years ago):

"Woodsfield, forty years ago (that's 122 years ago now), consisted of 18 houses -- 6 of which were hewed log houses -- the rest being cabins. The householders of Woodsfield, in the fall of 1818, were Patrick Adams; James Carrothers, whose son, George W., was the first child born in Woodsfield; Joseph Driggs; Ezra Driggs; John Snyder; Anson Brewster; James Phillips; Messrs. Sayes, Michael, and Davis; John Coll; Henry H. Mott; Stephen Lindley; John King; Henry Jackson; Amos B. Jones; David Pierson; and Mrs. A.G. Hunter.

Early in 1819, Nicholas and Daniel Frankhauser and their families left their home near Trub, Switzerland, to begin a long journey. They first went to Bern where they, together with eight other Swiss families, embarked on a flat boat and moved down the Aar River to the Rhine River and continued thence to the City of Antwerp.

After some delay, they set sail from Antwerp during the third week of May, taking passage on a three-masted French vessel, the Eugenius. A few days after their departure, Mrs. Daniel Fankhauser gave birth to a baby boy. Due to the circumstances surrounding his birth, he was named Jacob Ocean Fankhauser. Mrs. Fankhauser received many presents of provisions from the captain and from other members of the crew.

Near the forty-sixth parallel, the ship encountered much rain, snow, and stormy weather. After this experience, Nicholas remarked that he would not be a sailor for all the wealth in the world although he would rather cross the ocean twice than sail down the Rhine River once. After experiencing several days of fog, land was soon located on the morning of July 20.

After landing at New York, the Fankhauser family and five other Swiss families went to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where they purchased four oxen and two wagons. They loaded baggage on one wagon and they put the women and children on the other wagon. On August 6, they began their 600 mile journey westward -- passing through Bethlehem, Reading, Lebanon, Bedford, Sonerset, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Wheeling, West Virginia.

Upon arriving at Wheeling, West Virginia, they took a boat down the Ohio River and landed approximately twenty miles down stream near what is now known as Powhatan Point, Ohio. It was here that they were informed that there was plenty of government land in Monroe County. The two Fankhauser families and several other members of the party decided to settle in what is known now as Switzerland Township."

The above summary was taken largely from "Lest We Forget", which is a translation of a letter which Nicholas Fankhauser wrote to his relatives in Switzerland a few years after he came to the United States. The translation was published in 1915 by his great-grandson, F.A. Scherzinger, of Nelson, Nebraska.

Nicholas Fankhauser had sixteen children: Nicholas, Warner, Andrew, William, Louis, Susanna, and Marve (all of whom were born in Switzerland and being children of his first wife); and Elizabeth, Louisa, Charlotte, Magdalena, Justina, Margaret, Caroline, Rosina, and Philip (all of whom were children of his second wife, Sophia Splittler).

Daniel and Nicholas Fankhauser also had a brother, John, who may have come to the United States at a later date.

The Town of Graysville was settled in 1835 by Daniel Gray. In 1880, there was a post office and there was a population of 174. At this time, Graysville was a point of considerable trade having four dry goods and grocery stores, two drug stores, two blacksmith shops, one furniture store, two shoe shops, one saddle and harness shop, two doctors, and two justices of the peace -- being W.J. Crawford and J. Beardmore. There were eleven school houses. The average wages paid to the eleven school teachers were $23.00 to ladies, per month, and $27.00 to the men, per month. There were 482 pupils enrolled, making an average of 44 pupils per teacher. There were two rooms in the school at Graysville with 99 pupils attending. A primary teacher earned the sum of $27.00 per month and the high teacher earned the sum of $35.00 per month.

Abram Mann, a farmer, was born in Malaga Township on June 26, 1817, a son of Peter and Elizabeth Barnhard Mann. It is not known when he moved to Washington Township. He was married to Julia A. Leck on December 30, 1841. She was born in Maryland on August 14, 1823, a daughter of Elisha and Margaret Garwood Leck. Nine children were born to Abram and Julia Mann. They were as follows: Henry, born on March 21, 1844; Clarkson, born on May 8, 1845; Clarissa J., born on October 10, 1847; Thomas Flanders, born on February 21, 1850; Oliver P., born on September 21, 1852 (he died at the age of four years); Harriet E., whose birthdate is unknown (she died on December 2, 1856); Vachael, born on September 9, 1858; Makel M., born on May 4, 1861; and Ross L. born on January 15, 1865. Abram Mann served as Trustee and Treasurer of Washington Township, serving three terms for each position.

This family was interested in race horses and, at one time, they owned, Ida Mae, a sorrel mare of the Old Hillman stock -- being the fastest half-mile horse in this part of the country.

Makel, familiarly known as M.M. Mann, served as Clerk of the Courts of Monroe County, Ohio. Thomas Flanders was a farmer and the father of C.R. Mann, who served two terms as Monroe County Commissioner. Ross was a teacher and a postmaster at Graysville, filling this position for 20 years. Vachael was in business in Graysville for several years. Members of this prominent family are now scattered over many states -- some as far as India.

Floyd Mann, Woodsfield, Ohio, and Denver C. Mann, Graysville, Ohio, are grandsons of Abraham and Julia Mann who, 100 years ago, built a 10-room house with high ceilings. This house, like many others in the county, was a center of community activities.

Monroe County's Patriotic Part In The Civil War
Monroe County was ready with volunteers for the Civil War. When President Lincoln made his first call for 75,000 young men to serve for a period of three months, two companies were formed here. Before they could be mustered in, Ohio's quota was full. These two companies, B and C, were then mustered into the 25th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment for a term of three years per each man.

William P. Richardson was the first major of this regiment. Later he became a brigadier general. Jere Williams became Lieutenant Colonel and Dr. William Walter was surgeon.

Officers of Company B were James Washburn, Captain; Charles B. Jones, First Lieutenant; and John D. Merryman, Second Lieutenant.

Officers of Company C were Jere Williams, Captain; William P. Richner, First Lieutenant; and Frank M. Sinclair, Second Lieutenant.

The regiment was organized at Camp Chase on June 28, 1861. It was mustered out on June 18, 1866, having served five years.

The first officers of Company E of the 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry from this county were Milton Wells, Captain; J.W.M. Brock, First Lieutenant; and Matthew Brown, Second Lieutenant. This regiment was discharged in July of 1865 after four years of service.

The first officers of Company H of the 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment were William Dougherty, Captain; Henry R. West, First Lieutenant; and Samuel D. Hooper, Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant West later became a Colonel and, when the 62nd Regiment and the 67th Regiment consolidated (retaining the name of the 67th Regiment), he became a Brigadier General.

The first officers of Company A of the 77th Ohio Volunteer Infantry were William E. Stevens, Captain; Harvey Anderson, First Lieutenant; and Joseph S. Steenrod, Second Lieutenant.

An attempt was made to organize another company but, at the time the organization procedures were ready to begin, most of the man were assigned to other companies.

Captain Stevens later became a Colonel. Dr. James W. Warfield served as Surgeon and Pardon Cook served as Assistant Surgeon.

The first officers of Company C of the 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment were John C. Morris, Captain; and Milton Patton, First Lieutenant.

The first officers of Company K of the 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment were Thomas Wilson, Captain; A.G. Hughes, First Lieutenant; and John D. Smith, Second Lieutenant.

The first officers of Company D of the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment were Warren Hollister, Captain; William R. Ford, First Lieutenant; and Jonathan N. Patton, Second Lieutenant. Other officers of this Regiment were Simpson Hollister and Hamilton B. James.

The first officers of the two companies of the 7th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment were Solomon Spangler, Captain; John A. Fleahman. First Lieutenant; John W. Denny, Second Lieutenant; and Isaac B. Fisher, Captain; James Watson, First Lieutenant; and John W. Eddington, Second Lieutenant.

The first officers of Companies A, C, D, E, and F, of the 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment were James Washburn (commissioned Colonel), W.T. Morris (Major), Charles W. Ridgeway, Robert Wilson, William M. Kerr, Frederick H. Arkenee, James P. Mann, David M. Lupton, William Myers, Henry Okey, Richard Chaney, John Varley, Peter Dillon, John C. Henthorn, Matthew Brown, Henry McElfresh, and Wilson F. Martin,

The first officers of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry were Thomas Neal, Captain; Jeremiah Boyd, First Lieutenant; and William Church, Second Lieutenant.

James S. Algeo was an officer of the 4th Virginia Cavalry. The names of other officers of this unit are not known.

Henry H. Lohmire was an officer of the 12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

The 186th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in March of 1865, but it was disbanded in September. This unit had volunteers from Graysville and Beallsville.

Monroe County's Patriotic Part In The Revolutionary War
A four-page newspaper, "The Report," is published by the Ohio Genealogical Society in Mansfield. This paper is devoted to Monroe County. Catherine Foreaker Fedorchak, whose ancestors are natives of Monroe County, wrote practically the entire paper, Monroe Countians are grateful to her for spending considerable time collecting this information and for preserving it. Some of the biographies of Revolutionary War pensioners are listed below.

Nathan Hollister was a Revolutionary War pensioner. He is buried in the Woodsfield Pioneer Cemetery. His grave is marked with a rather pretentious monument. His family built a beautiful home, known as "The Parry House", on Eastern Avenue. This home is now occupied by the Saffle family.

Other Revolutionary War soldiers who applied for pensions while being residents of Monroe County were Adam Crum, William McClain, Henry Weaver, Robert Welsh, Benjamin Pearsall, Henry Smith, Anthony Evans, John Hicks, William Smith, Carl Headley, James Ferrell, Lemuel Rucker, John Pratt, John Walters, John Edge, Thomas Jordan, John Carmichael, Robert Wilson, William Gadd, William Eddy, John Hendershot, James Craig, Charles Atkinson, James Atkinson, Richard Talbott, James Henthorne, Ephriam Bates, Joseph Fulkerson, James McVay, Thomas Forshey, Pardon Starkes, Basil Morris, Ebenezer Tingley, Joseph Tomilson, Phillip Wiggins, Thomas Hammond, Enoch Enochs, Zadock Casteel, Arthur Hazzard, Stephen Atkins, Elijah Hixon, John Lisk, Alexander Sands, James Porter, Anthony Smith, Levin Okey, George Miller, James McCalliste, Earl Sproat, John Turner, and Isaan Stackhouse, There are several members of the Rucker family who are members of the DAR.

Nancy Edge, widow of John Edge, died on November 12, 1855. It is believed that she was 105 years old at the time of her decease. Her maiden name was Nancy Cummings. She is buried in the Greenbrier Cemetery near Graysville.

William Atkinson, a brother to Charles and James Atkinson, also served in the War. Their father, Cornelius, is a war veteran, too. Cameron, on Route #78, was at one time named Jamestown after James Atkinson.

John Cummings was with George Washington when Benedict Arnold deserted. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Beallsville.

Early History Of Oil
The Monroe County History would not be complete if we neglected to write about the oil boom in Monroe County.

Reports of the oil boom in Monroe County were written by an Ohio State University professor as early as 1903.

At the turn of the century, the principal pools in Monroe County were Sistersville (on both sides of the Ohio River), Jackson Ridge (Griffith Post Office), Graysville, and Moose Ridge.

The minor pools in Monroe County at that time were Clear Fork, Clift, Whitacre, Rinard Mills, Benwood, New Castle, Lewisville, Sycamore, and Jerusalem. Other areas in the county were developed after 1903.

A well was begun in April, 1891, on the Ohio side of the Ohio River, opposite Sistersville. This marked the opening of one of the largest pools discovered in this country.

Salt brine was a big headache in the early fields along the Ohio River. It was hoped that some day big chemical companies would develop the extensive salt beds. The quantity of salt brine from one well, at that time, was 3,500 barrels per day for a period of weeks. Upon solving the salt brine problem in one well, the production increased a total of 500 to 600 barrels per day.

Salt was less of a problem around the Trail Run farms. On one farm containing 125 acres, five or six strings of tools were working at one time. One of the wells which was drilled produced 2,400 barrels over a period of 24 hours -- making an average of 700 to 800 barrels per day for a month.

There was oil well activity in Perry Township, in Benton Township, and in the Jackson Ridge area near Woodsfield. According to the Buckeye Pipe Line Company, there were 300 producing wells here which produced 55,000 barrels of oil per month during the summer of 1901. The wells produced an excellent quantity of oil but the price per barrel, at that time, is not known. It is believed that the price of oil, in the boom of 1907, was $3.97. During the war years, as much as $6.10 was paid per barrel.

The first well was drilled very near the village of Graysville in the winter of 1895-1896. There was a showing of oil but there was not a sufficient quantity to shoot. Two more wells were drilled with the same results.

Another well was drilled in 1900. This well was shot with nitroglycerin. Oil began to flow with a production at first of 100 barrels per day.

Oil was discovered in Green Township in 1890 but the amount was small. Another try was made in 1894 when the largest well produced 1,400 barrels.

Another well was produced in the Lewisville area which was said to have been a "remarkable producer". On July 3, 1901, a well was completed. This well started producing 300 barrels per day, producing 900 barrels the first month, and producing 60,000 barrels the first year.

Transportation On The Ohio River
Transportation was much different one hundred years ago when the main traffic artery for Monroe County was the Ohio River and its packet boats carried freight, passengers, and everything else that was to be transported -- although there were special rules for storing gunpowder. Believe it or not, Woodsfield merchants of the day received their goods at Clarington where there was a wharfboat to store the merchandise from the time it was unloaded from the boats until wagons appeared to carry it to Woodsfield, Round Bottom, Oak and the various other general stores in the eastern half of the Country.

Henry Howe, the famous Ohio historian, arrived in Clarington by steamboat and walked out over the hills to take a look at Woodsfield. Some people say the United States Mail service was as good by boat prior to 1884 when the Ohio River Railroad was completed as it is today. Anyway, there were two fine side-wheel boats, the "Courier" and the "Express", which carried the mail between Wheeling and Parkersburg. One boat left each terminal daily.

Monroe County goods went to market by boat, too. Livestock, dried apples, eggs, fruit, hay, grain, and almost everything the county produced went to market. Later, the creameries sent out an unbelievable amount of butter.

Clarington was also a boat building center. The Mozena Brothers Boatyards built all sorts of famous steamboats. The "Avalon" owned by the Cramer family, later appeared on the Tennessee River and was a great success there. The "Ruth No. 2" fared far afield and later ran on the Chattohoochee River in Georgia. Its most famous trip was around Florida on the open sea and up to South Carolina where it ran on the Congaree River. The crew reported their only difficulty out on the ocean waves with this fragile river boat was that the boilers foamed when they pumped salt water into them. The "Ruth No. 2" was in existence until 1918 and its whistle still blows today on a Columbia, South Carolina brickyard.

The "City of Wheeling" was a notable boat built in Clarington and it once ran between Cincinnati and Louisville where it was not afraid to try its speed along with the fast side-wheel packets that ran there. Probably the most famous boat ever built at Clarington was the "Liberty" being the last in the line of packets of that name. This boat was built in 1912 to run from Clarington to Wheeling. It made a round trip a day and whistled each morning about 5:00 AM so that prospective passengers would get up and board the craft for a day's shopping. The "Liberty" remained in Wheeling several hours each day and brought its passengers back home in the evening.

A change in the "Liberty's" route marked the decline of packet boating. As people travelled more by rail, then by motor car, the vessel's route was lengthened from this short daily run to a weekly trip between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Charleston, West Virginia. At the last, it towed a showboat with the Major Bowes Amateur Hour aboard. It also served as a rescue boat on the lower Ohio River in the famous flood of 1937. Oddly enough, Captain Walter C. Booth was aboard the "Liberty" when it came out as a brand new boat and he also rang the last bell to the engineer when it ended its career as a packet boat.

The only powered vessel still in existence that was built by the Mozena Yard is the "Louise", a small diesel towboat which was first known as the "J.A. Cresap" owned by the late Captain Joe Cresap, Moundsville, West Virginia. It towed coal and other things and later was known as the "Skipper". This wooden boat started with a gasoline engine, later used a more modern oil engine, and today has a diesel engine as the ones used on buses, trucks, and modern towboats.

Possibly the most noted steam boatman from Monroe County was Captain Charles Muhleman of Hannibal, Ohio, who owned the famous packet "Andes". This boat did something no other boat ever did. In one year, it completed 51 round trips between Wheeling and Cincinnati out of 52 possible trips and did this before the days of locks and dams when it was usual for a boat to be laid up at times because of low water or ice conditions. Captain Muhleman also operated the "Major Anderson", a fine side-wheeler, and many other famous crafts.

The river front towns of Monroe County produced many famous river men who served on boats far and near. Captain Mack Gamble built the 200-foot steamer "Sunshine" in 1892, and it was one of the first boats to have complete electric light equipment. It attracted a lot of attention on its first trip with the headlight flashing around the Clarington bend. Captain Walker Litton of Clarington was a master pilot and his four sons, Captain Grover Litton, Captain Homer Litton, Captain Hazel Litton, and Captain Charles Litton, followed in his footsteps. Only Captain Charles Litton of Coal Center, Pennsylvania survives.

Rivermen from Hannibal and Fly served on boats that made the great "mountain trip" up the Missouri River to bring out furs and gold. This trip took them to Fort Benton, Montana, which was famous as being the greatest number of miles from the sea to be reached by river boats. Some of them served with distinction on the river boats during the Civil War. Many Monroe County men worked on the coal towboats which moved a vast tonnage of coal from the Pittsburgh district as far south as New Orleans.

Ferryboats were the means of crossing the river at Clarington, Hannibal, Duffy, Sardis, and Fly. Hannibal once had a steam ferryboat. These have been largely replaced by bridges, save the ferry from Fly to Sistersville which Gilbert Harmon operates today with steel boats equipped with radio. One of the interesting small boats was the "Tom" which carried people and freight from Hannibal to New Martinsville and back to Hannibal in the days when there were no good roads. This boat made several trips each day and one of its important freighting items was fresh vegetables produced in the Hoskins Brothers Greenhouse at Hannibal.

Entertainment came to Monroe County by river, too, and showboats such as the "Water Queen," "Sensation," "Hollywood," "Golden Rod," "Cotton Blossom" and a host of others were features of each summer. Their calliopes heralded the news that the showboat was in town and people came from far and near.

Today there is more tonnage moving on the Ohio River but it is carried in barges pushed by powerful diesel towboats and apparently does not attract as much attention as the luxurious packets did. Coal, oil, gasoline, steel, molasses, and bulk commodities of all types move up and down the river. The Hannibal Locks and Dam, now under construction, will help move this traffic more expeditiously. River Local High School carries out the river theme by calling its athletic teams "The Pilots" and the building is decorated with a pilot wheel from a real towboat.

The county still provides many well-known rivermen to help keep the boats going. Among them are Chief Engineer Reuben M. Thomas, Captain Wilson Fry, Captain Leroy Hyer, Captain Marlin Chaplin, Captain John Carson, and many more. It used to be said that the Village of Clarington could provide a full crew for any boat -- be it master, pilot, engineer, mate, deckhand, cook, etc. Monroe County can still do this. Boats are still owned in this County, too. Captain W.F. Potts of Duffy is part owner of the 730 H.P. towboat "Mack Gamble". Ray B. Potts of Sardis has a brand new towboat named "White House". Many county people own fine pleasure boats on the River. One example is the power houseboat "Jennie Len" owned by E.J. Woolf of River Local High School at Hannibal, Ohio.

Monroe Countians still enjoy visiting Locks 14 and 15 -- perhaps the most impressive structures in the County -- to watch the boats lock through. This may be an even more popular pastime when the Hannibal Locks and Dams are completed. An "overlook" will be provided where visitors may park their cars and have a good view of what is taking place on the river.

The Valley Boat Docks, operated by Larry Geisler of Duffy, is not only a haven for local pleasure craft, but is visited each summer by large houseboats and cruisers which arrive from ports ranging from Pittsburgh to St. Louis.

Condensed From "Railroad Magazine" and "Train Magazine"
The great and dramatic end of Ohio's Last Narrow Gage took place on Memorial Day, 1931. The company was, at this time, owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad but was still called the OR & W. The consolidation engine #9669, 2-8-0, and a red wooden passenger car and a baggage car of the same type pulled out of the station at 9:10 AM. In the switch yard beside it, a switch engine was placing cars never to be used again. By the side of the road stood Sam Heath, who saw the first train start out and the last train start its last run. It slowly chugged down the center of Main Street in Shadyside, which it shared with the towns one trolly, a broad gage, at that. Here a Mogul type #967, 2-6-0, joined in with five dead head cars for a siding in the hills for there was no room in Bellaire or Shadyside for them. At Gravel Junction with the Mogul in front followed by the five cars and the regular train they joined the broad gage track running to the Weegee mine. Upon leaving Weegee, it entered the "Switzerland of Ohio." Finally nine miles out of Vallonia, it left the valley, to start up by way of Hey Trestle which was 500 feet long and contained 82,000 board feet of lumber, which was also one of 64 on the 42 mile line, to Jacobsburg, 600 feet above Bellaire.

It stopped and backed into position for a picture that appeared in newspapers all over America. At Captina mine the dead head cars were left and at Armstrong Mills it took on water from Captina Creek. Here it seemed to jump from hill to hill making its way to Beallsville. All along the Railroad, whenever a highway crossed it, it was jammed with cars tooting their horns. Leaving Beallsville for Woodsfield, the terminus, it entered upon Sunfish Valley and there the line's lone tunnel which was 200 feet long was located at Standing Stone Run. The train arrived 1 hour and 40 minutes late because at every flag stop someone wanted aboard and it was all up hill. Hart starts on the hills were done thus: the head engineer whistled twice, the others answered then the throttles were thrown wide open and with a shower of cinders on the bystander, it spun its way into motion. Every person was on hand at Woodsfield to see the train for the train was the very life of the town. The Legion fired a volley salute and the band played. The mayor and the first conductor were the speakers. The engine turned in the turn table west of town, and the last run returned to Bellaire, in three hours. It was to be placed for the torch the next day.

From The Spirit Of Democracy Newspaper

Other information about the railroad in 1931: there were 84 pieces of rolling stock. O.C. Schaad, Division Superintendent; Fred Carpi, Division Freight Agent; D.W. Weldon, Assistant Train Master; A.W. Lombard, Freight Representative; 4 locomotives; 5 passenger and baggage cars; 75 freight cars; Double header load limit 250 tons. Trains had to be broken on the steep parts and brought over part at a time. There were 53 crossing, 64 bridges, and 59 wooden trestles. Vice President Charles Daves is said to have helped survey Hey Trestle. Crew on the last run: Rex Armstrong, Engineer; Alma Morris, Conductor since 1892; Harry Nowell, Fireman; C.W. Orr, Brakeman; H.C. Nowell, Engineer since 1901; C.C. Vandyne, Fireman; R.C. Hackley, Brakeman; Two other important men on the railroad were B.D. Pennington, who served since 1882, and J.R. Nowell who served since 1897.

Woodsfield is the county seat of Monroe County, Ohio. Founded in 1814, residents named Woodsfield after Archibald Woods, who established the community. Woodsfield has been Monroe County’s only seat of government. According to legend, to clear the town’s main street of trees, in 1814, Archibald Woods purchased a keg of brandy, offering drinks to any man who would help him clear the street. Reportedly, after a single afternoon of work, the street was clean of trees.

Woodsfield grew slowly. In 1830, only 157 people resided in the community, and in 1840, the number of inhabitants had only grown to 262 people. In 1846, only two churches, six stores, one newspaper office, and one private school existed in the community. By 1880, 861 people lived in Woodsfield. Completion of a railroad through the community helped to spur the town’s growth, but Woodsfield remained small. In 1886, the town did boast three newspapers. Two of these newspapers ranked among Woodsfield’s largest employers, with four workers apiece. Four churches and one bank also existed in the community. Most local businesses provided services or products for farmers in the surrounding countryside.

In the last decades of the nineteenth century, Woodsfield experienced some tremendous growth in population. This was principally due to the discovery of oil, natural gas, and coal in the surrounding area. This boom period ended by the early 1900s, and most Woodsfield residents returned to businesses that provided materials to Monroe County’s farmers. With a population of 2,598 people, Woodsfield was the county’s largest community in 2000.

Jackson Township

The first settlement of the County was made in this Township. In 1791, Philip Witten and his family settled on the Ohio River bottom (opposite what is now known as Williamson's Island) -- having moved there either from Short Creek, Virginia, or Wheeling Creek, Virginia. He had five sons and one daughter: Thomas, Joseph, John, Peter, James, and Virginia. Thomas married Sarah Buchanan of Virginia early in the 19th century and, soon afterward, settled in Guernsey County near what is now Byesville. Joseph married Nancy Scott, the daughter of Arthur Scott who was an early settler. John married Susan Ruby of Salem Township. Peter married Rachel Bowen of Salem Township. James married Margaret Scott, a sister of Nancy Scott, Virginia married Nicholas Wells of Virginia. For many years prior to the erection of Monroe County, Philip Witten was a Justice of the Peace for the township in which he lived, then situated in Washington County. John and Joseph both lived and passed away on Fishing Creek bottom, Wetzel County, West Virginia. When the family came to this territory, they brought their slaves with them. The last survivor of them, Sol. Hooper, was an old fiddler. He furnished music for the dances held in the rude cabins of the early days.

A man by the name of Mr. Ramsey, in 1801, settled on an improvement which had been made prior to that date below the mouth of James Run, settled opposite of Sistersville (then Ezeklielton) which had been settled several years prior to 1800.

Soon after Philip Witten settled, his brother-in-law, Henry Dickson, and Mr. Abbot settled in Section 23 -- later known as the Russell and Trippet (Tabbott) farms. A man by the name of Mr. Stanley settled on what was known as the Stewart farm and a man by the name of Mr. Kimple, from Ezekielton, started a store in 1804. Around 1800, Azariah Hoskinson, Arthur Scott, Baziel Barnett and others settled on this bottom. John Bridgeman and his son, John H., came from New England in 1818 and settled on the River above Witten's. A man by the name of Mr. Barnes, for whom Barnes Run was named; David and James Harrison; Thomas and David Evans; John Knight; Felix Sigler; the Applegates; and the Vargesons were very early settlers. James Hissom, at the age of 103 years in 1881, was a pensioner of the War of 1812. At that age, he rode horseback to Woodsfield (a distance of about 16 miles) to cash his pension check.

Jackson Township was organized on July 19, 1815. It is one of the four townships into which the County was first divided. A post office was established on the Witten farm in 1833 and was called Witten's. James Witten was the first postmaster. He filled this position until his decease around 1865. The Village of Cochransville was named after Thomas Cochran in 1846.

As far as is known, the first schoolhouse was on the Bridgeman farm as early as 1831. John A. Musser was among the first teachers. Religious services were held in this schoolhouse by Reverend Joseph DeWitt and Reverend Dunham of the Presbyterian Church. At an early period, Reverend Joseph Junior Smith of the Baptist Church, ministered to congregations in the Township.

In Jackson Township, sixty-five years ago, there were three Methodist churches -- Stewart Chapel, the German Methodist Church on Trail Run, and the M.E. Church at Cochransville. There was also a United Brethren Church about two and one-half miles behind the Stewart Chapel.

Center Township

The points at which the first settlements in this Township were made cannot be ascertained. The first settlement is believed to have been made on Sunfish Creek by John Baker. It is believed he settled on the farm owned so long afterward by Isaac Barrett and later owned by Hayes Burkhead. Several improvements were made between the years 1805 and 1812. These improvements were made by John Baker, John Winland, Levin Okey, Peter Palmer and other settlers such as Elias and Joseph Jeffries, Jessie and Abraham Jackson, William Griffith, and Martin Baker. The descendants of Levin Okey held a prominent place in the political and social histories of Monroe County since Levin Okey was, for many years, a Justice of the Peace of Belmont County and a member of the first Board of Commissioners of Belmont County under the Constitution of 1802. After moving to this County, his sister, Sara, passed away in 1812. She was buried in Woodsfield -- this being the first interment in Woodsfield and, in all probability, the first in Center Township. Since there were only a few inhabitants, there were only seven people at the funeral besides the immediate family. In marked contrast was the funeral of her father, Levin Okey, who passed away on Jun 21, 1829. There were over 200 persons at his funeral. Elizabeth Okey, mother of Levin Okey, died on February 7, 1824, at 103 years of age. His wife passed away on February 7, 1829. Cornelius Okey (father of Judge William Okay and Judge John W. Okey) and Hannah Wiler were married on February 6, 1805 in Belmont County.

Due to the burning of the Monroe County Court House in 1867, there are no records in the Probate Court Office regarding early marriages. Among the first marriages were: Joseph Gadd, one of the first Auditors of the County, and Miss Henthorn; Daniel O'Connor and Rebecca Carrothers; and Elijah Patterson and Sarah Minor. It is probable that the first child born in Center Township was Sarah Jefferies, daughter of Elias and Deborah (Jackson) Jefferies, said birth being on September 25, 1816.

It is probable that the first grist mill erected in Center Township was built by Jacob Winland and afterward known as Minor's Mill. Mr. Winland built a mill on a site known as the Clingan Mill and he built another mill on a site known as the Pfalzcraft Mill. The Stephen Cisne Mill was a short distance below the Minor Mill. Further down the Creek, John Winland erected the first saw mill to which he attached a grist mill later, all of said mills being on Sunfish Creek. Jesse Jackson built a grist mill prior to 1820 on Crane's Nest Creek-- later known as Steed's Mill. Jeremiah Hollister had a horse power carding machine in Woodsfield around 1830.

Woodsfield was settled in 1812. The first Court House was built by James Carrothers, His contract with the Monroe County Commissioners was made in 1816 -- being for One Hundred Dollars for all the woodwork and Thirty-seven Dollars for the stone and other work costs. The Court House was located on the West side of the public square, The lower story was a jail and the upper story was used for a Court room-- the first Court being held in 1820. The Court Room afterwards was moved to the back of the upper story.

The second Court House was built of brick in 1828. David Scott was one of the principal contractors. A fire destroyed this Court Houst on the night of June 13, 1867. All records of the Probate Court were destroyed but most of the records of the Recorder's Office, the Treasurer's Office, the Auditor's Office, the Clerk's Office, and the Sheriff's Office were saved. On the morning of January 1, 1840, the Recorder's Office (then in a private residence) was burned and many of the records were lost.

In the year 1868, another Court House was built in the same location -- costing $40,000.00 and being credited to the County. While it was thought to be a heavy burden on the taxpayers, it was almost paid for when it was finally completed. The Court House was 66 by 88 feet and the height, to the square, was 39 feet and 90 feet to the top of the spire. All of the offices had fire-proof vaults.

The present Court House was built 50 years ago. The second jail was built of stone and brick in 1853. The third jail was built on the same ground in 1878, costing $10,000.00. This building included the Sheriff's residence.

The Infirmary Farm is located about one mile North of the County seat. It contains 120 acres upon which a substantial brick building was built in 1854. The main building contains two stories (40 feet by 80 feet) with two wings of one story each (22 feet by 50 feet).

Benton Township

Benton Township was organized on March 27, 1851. This was the last township organized by the Board of County Commissioners. Some of the earliest settlements in Monroe County were made in this township.

Washington Township

Washington Township was organized on June 5, 1832. Among the first settlers were Joseph Cline; other members of the Cline family; Philip, David, and Joseph Allen; James Scott; Abner Powell; Ezekiel Blair; James and Isaac Rinard; Jacob Flint; the Knowlton family; the Dougherty family; the Bever family; and Baldwin Cox.

The first cabin was built in 1816 by Joseph Cline along the valley of Clear Fork. There may have been some improvements made prior to this time by squatters but there were no settlements made prior to this time.

The first child born in Washington Township was Joseph Cline, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Linn) Cline. The first couple married in this Township was Isaac Cline and Mary Cline.

The first grist mill was built by Isaac Rinard in 1818. A saw mill was also built in 1818 by Baldwin Cox on the Little Muskingum. The first saw mill on Clear Fork was built by Philip Allen (date unknown).

A school house was built around 1820. The location of the school house and the first teacher is unknown. It is known, however, that James Scott taught school on the Clear Fork in 1825.

The first church was organized at the house of Joseph Cline by members of the M.E. Church in 1817. The first sermon was preached by Reverend Robert C. Hatten. Among its first members were Joseph and Sarah Cline; Isaac and Nancy Brown; Thomas W. Groves and his wife; and a woman by the name of Mrs. Dailey. The second church was organized at Graysville by the Baptists.

The population of Washington Township in 1849 was 533. The churches in the township at that time were as follows: Low Gap; Christian Union, Thomas Cline being the minister with a membership of 35 persons; Methodist Protestant Church, Reverend Donnelson being the minister with a membership of 52 persons; Graysville Christian Church, A.A. Bunner being the minister with a membership of 65 persons; and the Graysville Baptist Church, Henry Lyons being the minister with a membership of 20 persons.

The first Sabbath School was organized in 1841 by Peter McGowen with 25 scholars attending. The Sabbath schools in the County in 1880 were as follows: Low Gap, Isaac Cline being the Superintendent; the Methodist Protestant, Ezra Massie being the Superintendent; the Graysville Christian Sabbath school, John McCarty being the superintendent; and the Graysville Baptist Sabbath, Thomas Hickenbottom being the Superintendent.

Isaac Brown, Joseph Cline, and William Cline settled in this township in 1804. John Cline lived in Virginia, about three miles above Sistersville, in 1804. He had raised a large crop of hemp and sold it at Marietta. With the proceeds of this sale, he made his first payment on the land which he entered as Congress land in Section 25 in 1805.

George Cline, the father of the above named Cline's, and his wife came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the settlement of Marietta, he moved West and settled near what is now known as Grandview in Washington Township. The first cabins were built by Isaac Brown and Joseph and William Cline in 1804.

The first child born in this settlement was Mary Cline, born on April 5, 1805, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Cline. The second child born on this settlement was another daughter, also named Mary Cline, to George and Christina Cline on April 6, 1805. The first marriage was performed in 1806 uniting Solomon Tice and Rosa Cline. The first person to pass away was Johnny Cline, the son of William and Polly Cline, who passed away about two years after the first settlement. He was supposed to have been bitten by a poisonous snake in the night and he died the next morning.

The first election in this township was held on September 7, 1851 in Brownsville. The first officers elected were as follows: John Hensell, Trustee; Jacob Cline, Trustee; Jonathan Harris, Trustee; Major B. Ray, Clerk; Charles Algeo, Treasurer; Simon Whitney, Assessor; Israel McWilliams, Constable; and Samuel H. Cline, Constable.

The first grist mill was built by John Cline in 1810 at the mouth of Big Lick Run. It was destroyed by fire in 1816. In 1817, Mr. Cline built a saw mill where Ring's Mill later stood and, in connection with this mill, built his second grist mill.

The first school was taught in a small log cabin by Henry Bower in 1813. Another school session was taught in 1815 by William Knight in a log cabin. William Knight was the father of Lemuel and Valentine C. Knight, who lived many years in Wayne Township. Lemuel, Valentine C., and another brother were printers.

The first post office was established on September 10, 1839, and was called Pleasant Fountain with George Gray serving as postmaster. On May 20, 1840, he was succeeded by George Cline, Sr. and, on December 28, 1843, the post office was discontinued. The post office was on the route from Wittens to Cumberland, a distance of 53 miles, The mail was delivered once a week by Jesse Hildebrand, contractor, for $300.00 per year.

The Post Office at Brownsville was called Jolly and was established on July 8, 1842, with W.E. Ayers serving as postmaster. The postmasters up until 1880 were as follows: B. Amos, appointed on January 12, 1843; F. Simon, appointed on December 31, 1843; Francis Wilson, appointed on February 3, 1848; A. McWilliams, appointed on April 8, 1848; G.S. Filliland, appointed on July 27, 1848; V. Barnes, appointed on November 8, 1849; L. Chalk, appointed o n February 24, 1853; George S. Algee, appointed on December 19, 1855; and Christian Sander, appointed on January 30, 1864.

Reverend Robert C. Hatten of the Methodist Episcopal Church preached the first sermon at the home of John Cline in 1812. A society of this denomination was then organized and services were held at private homes until a hewed-log church was built in 1828. This building was also used as a school house. In 1852-3, they built a new frame meeting house (28 x 30) on the same site. This meeting house was known as the Jericho Meeting House and there was a membership of 60 persons and no minister.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized one mile South of Brownsville in 1833 and services were held at the Frank Linn home. His home was known as Linn's Appointment, being one of twenty-one appointments of the Woodsfield circuit. They built a log meeting house in 1834 when Wesley Browning was the presiding elder. The first preachers were R. Armstrong, H. Bradshaw, C.D. Battelle, G. Smith, J.W. Minor, D.C. Merryman, W. Athey, and W.J. Tuttle. In 1838-9, the congregation built a log meeting house (22 x 24 feet) in the Town of Brownsville and, in 1856, another frame building (26 x 40 feet) was dedicated on October 12. Reverend J. Henderson was the presiding elder and Reverend A. Bell and Reverend T. Stephens were the preachers. At one time, Reverend W.H. Piggott served the church. Christian Sander served as Recording Steward for 18 years.

The third church which was organized was the German Evangelical St. Paul's Church on Trail Run in 1841. Reverend C. Bahrenz was the first pastor. The congregation built a meeting house in 1848 and a new frame house (32 x 46 feet) in 1871. There was a membership of 36 families and Reverend R. Luesher served the church in 1880.

The fourth church which was organized was the Reformed Presbyterian in 1851 at Brownsville. Reverend Thomas Hannah preached the first sermon and Reverend Wylie was the first settled pastor. The church edifice was built in 1861, being 33 by 45 feet in size.

The fifth church which was organized was the United Presbyterian Church in 1852 at Brownsville. Reverend Alex Young was serving as pastor. In 1853. the society built a frame edifice, being 26 x 36 feet in size.

The sixth church which was organized was the German Evangelical Church on August 30, 1856 at Brownsville.

In 1880, there were the following Sabbath schools in this township: the Methodist Sabbath school at Brownsville with 60 scholars; Christian Sander being Superintendent since May 1, 1859; the United Presbyterian with 45 scholars, S.C. McWilliams being Superintendent; the Jericho Christian Unity Sabbath School with 40 scholars, G.W. Cline being the Superintendent; and The Trail Run Evangelical Sabbath School with 50 scholars, Michael Lohr being the Superintendent.

Brownsville was settled by Israel Brown in 1834. The officers of the township were as follows: Christian Sander, Notary Public since 1869; Rosebetty M. Cline, Justice of the Peace; August Meyer, Justice of the Peace; August Meyer, Clerk (in addition to being Justice of the Peace); S. Ferguson, Treasurer; J. McCaslin, Trustee; T.P. Cline, Trustee; and E. Steward, Trustee. These positions were filled as to January 1, 1882.

In 1882, Brownsville had two stores of general merchandise, one tine and stove store, one shoemaker shop, one blacksmith shop, and one physician and one dealer in leaf tobacco.

Salem Township
Salem township was organized on July 19, 1815. Although not at an earlier date, the larger settlements were made in this township. This is attributed to the fact that Sunfish Creek, the largest creek in the county, was in Salem Township and furnished a great attraction to the settlers.

Below the mouth of Opossum Creek, a settlement was made by Cornelius Vandevanter prior to 1802. At about the same time, John Vandevanter and the Hurd's settled on the farm owned by Vachel Gamble in 1880. Thomas Howell settled on the farm owned by Levi Baldwin in 1881. A few years later, Grancis Martin settled about a mile up the creek. His son, John Martin, Esquire, still owned the land in 1881. William McLain, Aaron Howell, and Martin Boughner also settled along the creek.

In 1798 or 1799, James Henthorn settled at the mouth of Sunfish Creek after moving there from the old fort on Wheeling Creek. His children were as follows: James; John; Henry; William; Adam; Ann; and Mary. He made improvements where Clarington now is located. At the same time, Charles Atkinson cleared 15 acres which later was known as the W.H. Mallory farm. In 1802, Alexander Newlen cleared 10 acres on the Joel Yost farm. Other settlers includes Elijah Johnson; James Scott; Robert Baldwin; James Walton; and Jonathan Rutter. William Powell settled at the mouth of Sunfish Creek and kept the ferry. The following persons settled along the valley of the creek in the order given: John Vandevanter; Peter Vandevanter; Andrew McKee; William McCoy; Joseph Blare; Matthew Brown; Richard Cain; and Samuel Buskirk. David Howell, Reuben Redman, and Reuben Sturgeon lived on the hills near the mouth of the Creek. Other large settlements were made by the Bowen family; the Roby family; the Twible family; the Preble family; the Gillmore family; the Davis family; the Ross family; the Watson family; the Jones family; and the Kyger family. These settlements furnished settlers for many other parts of the County -- especially further up the creek and on Will's Creek.

Most of the first settlers were squatters -- families who moved into the County and settled on Congressional land and, when the head of the family was able, entered the land upon which he had squatted or settled. It was considered a very mean trick in those days for another person to "enter-out" a settler who was doing his best to raise enough money to pay for the home he was making for himself and his family. Hardly anyone would "enter-out" a settler without the consent of the squatter when he found he was unable to enter the land himself. At the time the early settlements were made, the Indians were generally peaceful.

The following story is told of two settlers. "One Sunday in the summer of 1801, a bear was seen swimming the river opposite Sunfish Creek. William Henthorn and John Hilmore, both young men, decided to capture it. They got into a boat and rowed out to halter it with a chain and tow it to shore. Just as William was throwing the chain over the bears head, it put its paws on the side of the boat and deliberately crawled in. No sooner was the bear in the boat than the young men were out and were swimming to shore. The bear took a seat on the seat-board and, quite contentedly, floated down the river. William's Uncle, John Henthorn, and a man by the name of Mr. Twible, hastened down the river, paddled out into the river on a hurriedly constructed raft, and shot the bear. For a long time after that, whenever the young men felt like bragging, their companions would tell them that they had better capture another bear. That was quite sufficient to stop the bragging."

Doctor N.E. Henthorn (who died around 1880), in a letter to John B. Noll, Esquire, says: "In 1831, I was returned home from Cincinnati by land. I stopped overnight in the Town of Reading, 12 miles from the city, and stayed at Jackson's Tavern. When the landlord asked where I was from, he said his father and an old Indian would like to talk to me. I went to their room and Mr. Jackson, Sr. said he knew my Grandfather at the old-block house in Wheeling. He further stated that, at the time Boggs was killed at Bogg' Island, the Indians were pursued by the white men. He said he had wounded this Indian and, when about to kill him with his tomahawk, the Indian told him that he was a medicine man of his tribe and that if he would spare his life, he would cure the cancer on Mr. Jackson's nose -- which he did. He said that the Indian had lived with him ever since and that he was with him in the War of 1812 under General Harrison. The Indian told me that the Indian name for Sunfish Creek was Buckchitawa and the Indian name for Opossum Creek was Eagle Creek. He further told me that a big Indian was killed at Buckchitawa at about the same time Marietta was settled in 1788. The Indians had a white prisoner whom they forced to decoy their boats to the shore. A small boat was descending the river carrying white people when the prisoner was placed under the bank to tell those in the boat that he had escaped captivity and to come to the shore and take him in. The Indians were concealed but the big Indian stuck his head out from behind a large tree and, as a result, it was pierced by a bullet from the gun of the steersman of the boat. The Indians cried out "Wetzel, Wetzel" and fled. The prisoner was never seen again. The Indians returned the next day and buried the big Indian.

When Chester Bishop was digging a cellar for Asahel Booth in Clarington many years ago, he came across a skeleton. The bones were carefully removed by Dr. Richard Kirkpatrick. From his measurements, the height of the man would have been eight feet and five inches when he was alive. It is probable that these were the bones of the big Indian. The Indian at Mr. Jackson's further told me that there was lead on Opossum Creek, on Sunfish Creek, and on Captina Creek but that the 'veins were thin'."

Around 1860, an image of hard grey stone was found by Clarington where the river bank had caved in. The body was that of a wild animal resembling a lion with a human head and face. It was on a stone pedestal about eight inches by ten inches in size, eight inches tall, and smoothly finished.

The farm, where the Village of Clarington now stands, was willed by James Henthorn to his son, William Henthorn. He sold it to David Pierson who, in 1822 settled the territory and named it after his daughter, Clarinda. She became the wife of Thomas Ford of Woodsfield. The first store was operated by Elam Patterson and David Pierson in 1815. The first and only post office in the Township was established in Clarington in 1824. For many years, it was known as "Sunfish" and Asahel Booth served as the postmaster. The population of Clarington, in 1880, was 915 and the population of the Township, in 1880, was 2377.

The first church in Salem Township was built one mile from the mouth of Opossum Creek in 1820 by the Baptists. Reverend Joseph Junior Smith, a pious, zealous, and somewhat eccentric minister, officiated at this church and at all the other churches of the same denomination in Monroe County for many years.

The Methodists preached as early as 1802 but they did not build a church until 1842 when they built a church at Clarington. The Christians also built a church at Clarington in 1841. For many years prior to that, however, they held services at various places in the township.

Jonathan Rutter and John Vandevanter built the first mill in Salem Township about 200 yards below the old Jones Mill on Sunfish Creek in 1805-6. The mill stones were of blue rock from the adjacent cliffs. John Jones used burrs which were brought from Cheat Mountain, West Virginia, by John Henthorn for mill stones.

The first school was taught in a cabin on the farm of Charles Atkinson in 1804 or 1805 by his brother, Mitchell Atkinson. Soon after that time, he moved to Seneca Township and taught the first school there. The first school house in Salem Township was built two and one-half miles up the creek on the lands of Daniel Kyger (later owned by William Cochran) in 1815. The name of the first teacher is unknown but the second teacher was Robert F. Naylor. The second school house was built two miles up Sunfish Creek on the Walton farm. The first teacher there was a man by the name of Mr. Littlefield

There were ten schools in Salem Township 70 years ago. Teachers were paid a salary of $29.00 per month. A total of 381 pupils were enrolled within the year.

There was one 3-room school with four teachers in Clarington. Each teacher earned $31.00 per month. High school teachers earned $55.00 per month. A total of 190 pupils were enrolled during the year.

The first married couple in Salem Township were James Henthorn, Jr. and Nancy Boman (or Bowen) in the spring of 1800. William Henthorn married Susan Parrott in 1807. There is no record of the first child born in Salem Township.

The following facts have been gleaned concerning the first burial in Salem Township. In 1870, Mr. Goodhue was excavating a barn cellar and, while doing so, disintered the bones of a woman. Research disclosed that, at about the time of the first settlement, a family by the name of Grimes was moving further West when it stopped to rest a few days with a family of settlers at the base of the hill between Ward's Run and the gravel plane. During their stay, their daughter became ill and died. She was buried in the woods on the level above around 1804.

The records of Belmont County show that, between the years 1803 and 1808 , John Vandevanter was paid the sum of $3.00 for a panther scalp. The records further indicated that Charles Atkinson, David Bowen, James Archer, and Seth Ward were paid for wolf scalps.

The Mayor of Clarington, in 1881, was R.E. Tilford. A total of 88,910 pounds of cheese were manufactured in Salem Township in that same year.

Sunsbury Township
Sunsbury Township was organized on June 24, 1819. It lies on a high ridge dividing the waters of Captina Creek on the North and Sunfish Creek on the South. The following were among the first settlers of Sunsbury Township: Abner Barrett; John Linn; Citizen Beall; George Stewart; Robert Wilson; John Nelson; George Decker; John Palmer; Elias Pitman; Samuel Mellott; Henry Smith; Samuel Starr; Noah Stewart; Jesse Morris; and the Trembly family. The first settlement was made around 1812 about 3/4 mile South of Beallsville. It is believed that two or three years earlier, the first cabin was built by John Linn and Abner Barrett. The first child born in Sunsbury Township was Joshua Barrett, the son of Abner and Anna Barrett.

The first election was held on John Linn's farm about one mile West of Beallsville in 1819 or 1820. It is said that eleven votes were cast -- ten of the votes being those of John Lin; Caleb Linn; John Nelson; Robert Wilson; Benjamin Truex; Jacob Truex; Abner Barrett; John Wink; Citizen Beall; and George Stewart.

The first officers of Sunsbury Township were as follows: John Linn, Clerk; Abner Barrett, Justice of the Peace; David Palmer, Constable; John Linn, Treasurer; Casper Hendershot, Trustee; George Stewart, Trustee; and John Smith, Trustee.

It is believed that William Green built a water grist mill in 1816 on the Piney Fork. In 1820, Henry Balding built a horse-power grist mill. The horses, hitched to a sweep, traveled in a circle giving motion to the mill gearing overhead. The mill was made of round logs with a height of ten or twelve feet, The clapboard roof was held in place by weight poles. It is believed that Joseph Dillie built a water saw mill in 1819. Its location is not known but it is known that the mill was of little service. John Truex built a saw mill on the Piney Fork in 1820.

The first school, about one mile South of Beallsville, was taught by a man named Mr. Rodgers in 1815 with a total of eight scholars. The school was a primitive building. There were seven good, substantial, and comfortable frame school houses in Sunsbury Township on 1880. The school house in Beallsville, however, was made of brick and was two stories high.

The first post office of Sunsbury Township was located in the village of Beallsville and the second post office of Sunsbury Township was located at Ozark.

The first sermon was preached about one-half mile South of Beallsville where the first society was organized by the Baptists in 1813. The first ministers were Reverend Philip Skinner and Elias Conger. Among the first members of the church were Richard Truex, Polly Truex, John Wink, Ivy Wink, Sally Linn, Rachel Linn, and William Green. The second church which was organized was the Methodist Episcopal Church. This was the first frame church which was built in Sunsbury Township. Although the exact location is unknown, there were six members. The third church which was organized was the Presbyterian Church with 20 members.

There were eight churches in Sunsbury Township 70 years ago. They were as follows: The M.E. Church in Bealsville with a membership of 125 persons; the Pleasant Grove M.E. Church located South of Beallsville with a membership of 60 persons; the Asburg Chapel M.E. Church with a membership of 40 persons -- Reverend W. Becall being the pastor; The Baptist Church located in the Eastern part of the Township with a membership of 57 persons -- Reverend R.H. Lyons being the pastor; the Baptist Church located one mile South of Beallsville with a membership of 35 persons -- Reverend R.H. Lyons being the pastor here also; the Christian Church in Beallsville with a membership of 85 persons-- Reverend A. Linkliter and Reverend W.H. Willison Being the pastors; a church of the Christian denomination located in the Northern part of the Township -- Reverend John Secrist preaching the first sermon at an early date; and the Presbyterian Church in Beallsville with a membership of 100 persons -- Reverend George McDonald being the pastor in 1881.

The first Sabbath school was organized by Ebenezer Coe in 1832 with 40 scholars. In 1881, there were eight Sabbath schools in Sunsbury Township as follows: the Beallsville M.E. Sabbath School, Robert Cleary being the Superintendent; the Pleasant Grove Sabbath School, Leander Wiley being the Superintendent; the Asbury Chapel, John Hobbs being the Superintendent; the East Middle Union School, Christian Blattler being the Superintendent; the East Sunsbury Sunday School, a man by the name of Mr. McDougal being the Superintendent; the Christian Church in Beallsville, Ellsworth Thornberry being the Superintendent; and the Presbyterian Sabbath School in Beallsville, Reverend George McDougal being the Superintendent.

Citizen Beall organized the Town of Beallsville in 1824. Mr. Smith and Mr. Hess made additions in 1833. Since that time, these additions have been called Linn's Addition; Beall's Addition; Hudson's Addition; Daniel's Addition; and Miller's Addition.

Beallsville was incorporated in 1850 and the officers for the year 1881 were as follows: James R. Arnold, Mayor; John W. Black, Councilman; J.W. Reed, Councilman; J.E. Dixon, Councilman; E.W. Truex, Councilman; G.W. Carpenter, Councilman; Mordecai Carpenter, Councilman; W.F. Thornberry, Recorder; John M. Martin, Treasurer; and G.W. Miller, Marshall.

In the small Village of Ozark, there is a post office and a Methodist Episcopal Church. A short distance from Ozark, there is a Roman Catholic Church.

In 1880, Bealsville had a population of 391 people and Ozark had a population of 57 people. At this time, the population of Sunsbury Township, including the villages, was 1,660 people.

The school statistics for the township, for the year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $2,346.25; Amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $1,446.00; Amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $190.92; Amount of money on hand as of September 1, 1881 -- $709.33; Number of schools -- 6; Number of rooms -- 7; Number of teachers -- 7; Value of school property -- $3,500.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $30.00; Average wages per month for ladies -- $22.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 318.

The school statistics for Beallsville for the same period were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $1,420.00; Amount of money paid to primary teachers within the school year -- $290.00; Amount of money paid to high school teachers within the school year -- $450.00; Number of schools -- 1: Number of rooms -- 3; Number of lady primary teachers -- 2; Number of gentlemen high school teachers -- 1; Value of school property -- $2,500.00; Average wages per month for ladies -- $19.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $56.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 151.

In 1881, John Jeffers, J.J. Roberts, and T.J. Griffith served Sunsbury Township as Justices of the Peace. Beallsville and Ozark were on the Bellaire, Zanesville, and Cincinnati Railroad.

Malaga Township
Malaga Township was organized on December 15, 1820, containing 30-3/4 sections. The Western part of Malaga Township is drained by the various tributaries of Wills Creek and the Eastern part of Malaga Township is drained by the Baker's Fork and the Grassy Fork of Sunfish Creek.

Malaga Township is located on the high, broad ridge which begins in Summit Township on the South and extends North through Malaga into Belmont County. Professor Andrews said, in 1880, "Traces of thin seams of coal were found from Miltonsburg to Calais. Similar seams were seen about 300 feet below Miltonsburg on the road to the deep valley of Sunfish Creek in Center Township. None of the seams had been opened and are probably too thin, at any rate, to be worked -- except for neighborhood use by the rude method of stripping. They are all high in the geological series but nowhere are they found to be of much practical value. Limestone strata, which aids in fertilizing the soil, were seen."

The first settlements were begun around 1815 by John Hendershot; Stillwell Truex; Matthew Rogers; Martin Fogle; Frederick Hays; William Kennard; Peter Mann; David Lupton; David Mann; and James Graham. It is believed that John Hendershot built the first cabin around 1815 or sooner. The first child in Malaga Township was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchem.

The first election was held at the home of Peter Mann in Malaga in 1820. Twenty-two votes were cast and among the voters were John Hendershot; Peter Mann; William Kennard; Isaac Beardmore; Matthew Rogers; David Lupton; David Mann; Stillwell Truex; James Graham; William Lawrence; Stephen Sloan; Henry Crum; David Sampson; John Strahl; Jonathan Hendershot; Andrew Love; and George Kinney. The first officers of Malaga Township are as follows: Stephen Sloan, Trustee; Henry Crum, Trustee; David Sampson, Trustee; Jonathan Hendershot, Clerk; John Strahl, Treasurer; George Kinney, Constable; and Andrew Love, Justice of the Peace.

It is believed that the first water grist-mill was built by Abner Carleton on Baker's Fork and that the first sawmill was built by Abraham Landis on the same stream around 1817. Mr. Landis lived to be almost 100 years old.

The first school was taught on the farm of David Mann, located on the line between the farms of David Mann and Peter Mann, by David H. Craig in 1818 with 22 scholars in attendance. A school house was built at an early date on the farm of Philip Lawrence near Jerusalem.

Laurenz Schaub and John J. Dorr were among the large German population in Malaga Township. They were among the first to settle around Miltonsburg.

The first meeting house was built in Malaga around 1819. It was free to all denominations. A church was built at an early date East of Malaga and it was known as the Bush Meeting House. The Society of Friends had a meeting house in the same neighborhood at about the same time. The second church which was built was a Baptist church and the third church which was built was a Presbyterian church. A Roman Catholic church was built South of Miltonsburg in either 1835 or 1836. This church was demolished and another Roman Catholic Church, larger than the first, was built on the North side of Miltonsburg. A Methodist Episcopal Church and an Evangelical church was also located in Miltonsburg in 1880.

Miltonsburg was organized in 1836 by David Pierson of Woodsfield and it was named after Mr. Pierson's son, Milton.

There was considerable trade in Jerusalem in 1880. East Jerusalem, a short distance from the Village of Jerusalem, was on the Bellaire, Zanesville, and Cincinnati Railroad.

T.S. Fowler and Samuel Groux served as Justices of the Peace for Malaga Township in 1880.

Summit Township
Summit Township was organized on June 4, 1850, containing 23 acres. It is bounded on the North by Seneca Township and Malaga Township. It is bounded on the East by Center Township. It is bounded on the South by Wayne Township and Franklin Township. It is bounded on the West by Franklin Township and Seneca Township.

Professor Andrews, in the Geological Survey of Ohio, says, "This township is well named. It is located upon a very high ridge from which the water flows into Will's Creek on the northwest and west, into Sunfish Creek on the east, and into various tributaries of the Little Muskingum on thesSouth. A hill on the land of George Feiock, which is located one-half mile Southwest of the Village of Lewisville, is one of the highest points in Monroe County. It is 130 feet above the upper seam of coal and it is about 350 feet above the lower seam of coal which is found on the South fork of Will's Creek. Some coal has been mined on the land of William Smith in 1880 and had been taken to Woodsfield.

A stratum of iron ore, nine inches thick, was found on the land of J.R. Fisher on Sunfish Creek -- said land being located North of the land of William Smith. It is believed that it is about 50 feet above the Woodsfield Evans seam of coal."

Ephraim Rucker and Mollie McBrides were the first settlers in Summit Township. Mr. Rucker came from Virginia and Miss McBrides came from Pennsylvania. Mollie McBrides settled North of Lewisville and this settlement was known as Mollie's Garden. Mr. Rucker settled in the Western part of Summit Township. These first settlers built the first cabins around 1814 in Summit Township. Other early settlers were as follows: James Benson, Michael Crow, William Craig, Philip Cline, Edward Coulter, John Hamilton, Jacob Wise, David Ayers, Ephraim Dearth, Thomas Scott, James Allen, Robert Smith, Thomas Allen, Henry Benson, Barak Fisher, Alexander Ferrel, Robert Stewart, John McBrides, Robert Hannahs, and Hugh Henderson, These early settlers came from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

The first election was held in Lewisville on September 7, 1850. There were as many voters in the township at this time as there were in 1880. The first vote was cast by Lemuel Rucker. Michael Crow and George W. Watson were elected as the first Justices of the Peace for Summit Township although Mr. Watson had been elected as a Justice of the peace in Center Township before Summit Township was organized. Other officers which were elected for Summit Township at this time were as follows: Barnet Mann, Trustee; John H. Ayers, Trustee; Jacob H. Hamilton, Trustee; Isaac Barnhart, Assessor; William Milligan, Treasurer; and Philip Weber, Constable.

Francis Allen built the first grist mill about one and one-half miles North of Lewisville in 1830 -- being a horsepower draft mill. A man by the name of Mr. Miller built a water grist mill (known as Baker's Mill) about two miles Northeast of Lewisville on Sunfish Creek in 1835. Ephraim Rucker built a sawmill thereabouts three miles West of Lewisville on the headwaters of Will's Creek in 1835.

A school was taught by Philip Cline in 1825. This school was located about two and one-half miles Northwest of Lewisville and there were 30 scholars in attendance. The school was a subscription school and it was of primitive style. The subscription rates were as follows: For a term of three months -- $1.50; For a term of 26 days to one month -- the rate, generally paid with corn, was 18 cents per bushel of corn.

The first postoffice, called the Shannon, was located in the Southwestern part of Summit Township. The name of the postoffice was later changed to Lecompton. The only other postoffice in Summit Township was located in Lewisville.

The Baptists held the first religious services at the home of John Hamilton in the Northwestern part of the Township. The Presbyterians organized the first society in 1830. They erected a log building in 1853, later tore it down, and then erected a frame on the same site. This structure was remodeled in 1881. This church was known as the Buchanan Presbyterian Church and Reverend McCandlas was the first minister. Among its first members were Mr. and Mrs. William Buchanan, Mr. and Mrs. William Pickens, Mr. and Mrs. James Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cooper, and Mrs. and Mrs. Archibald Cooper. The Episcopal Methodists organized the second church on the headwaters of Will's Creek. Reverend Leeper was the first minister and among the first members of this church were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wise, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. James Wise, and John Dearth. This church was known as the Wise M.E. Church. There were five churches in Summit Township in 1880. They were as follows: The Presbyterian Church, two Evangelical churches, one German Methodist church, and one English Methodist church.

Lewisville was organized by Barak Fisher and John Burton in 1837. The population of Lewisville was 120 people in 1880 and the population of Lewisville and Summit Township combined in 1880 was 914 people. Alexander Buchanan and Henry J. Bender were serving as Justices of the Peace at that time for Summit Township.

The school statistics for Summit Township, for the year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $2,987.78; Amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $1,600.75; Amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $178.66; Number of schools -- 6; Number of rooms -- 7; Value of school property -- $4,500.00; Number of teachers -- 7; Average wages per month for ladies -- $22.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $36.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 243.

Adams Township
Adams Township was organized on March 6, 1826, containing 23 square miles. It embraces parts of Townships 3 and 4 of Range 4 as originally surveyed and parts of Townships 4 and 5 of Range 5 as originally surveyed. It is bounded on the North by Sunsbury Township and Switzerland Township. It is bounded on the North by Sunsbury Township and Switzerland Township. It is bounded on the East by Salem Township. It is bounded on the South by Green Township. It is bounded on the West by Center Township. Adams Township is watered by Sunfish Creek and its various branches. Sunfish Creek passes through the middle of Adams Township, running from West to East. The Piney Fork of Sunfish Creek, located in Sunsbury Township, drains the Northeastern part of Adams Township and empties into the main stream located in Section 31. One of the first grist-mills in Adams Township was built near the mouth of the main stream. Many years ago, John Sinclair and Alexander Sinclair built an oil mill further up the stream near the line between Adams Township and Sunsbury Township. This was the only oil mill ever located in Monroe County. It was destroyed by fire after a few years of successful operation. Oxley's grist-mill above the mouth of the Piney Fork and Sinclair's sawmill below the mouth of the Piney Fork were washed away by high waters.

Atkinson's Run drains the Northeastern part of Adams Township and Hurd's Run drains the Southern part of Adams Township -- both of them emptying into Sunfish Creek at Cameron.

It is not certain who the first settlers of Adams Township were. It is known, however, that five brothers, Charles Atkinson; James Atkinson; Mitchell Atkinson; William and Isaac Atkinson settled at the mouth of Sunfish Creek at the beginning of the century. Charles and James soon moved further up the Creek -- James moving to Cameron and Charles, the father of Stephen Atkinson, Sr., moving to a farm previously owned by Michael Boughner. Mitchell and Isaac moved to Seneca Township. It is believed that at one time William was a resident of Adams Township but that he later moved to Green Township on a farm previously owned by Christian Roth. Among other early settlers in Adams Township were Gilbert McCoy; Mitchell McCoy; Elias Conger, Sr.; Christian Hartline; Philip Noland; Robert Norris; Samuel Bracy; the Mellott family; and the Powell family.

The Disciples, as they were generally called, built the first church in Adams Township in 1825 near Cameron. The ministers for this church were Reverend John T. Criss and Reverend John Sicrist. The Pleasant Grove M.E. Church and the Bracey Christian Church were located in the Northwestern part of Adams Township. The United Presbyterian Church was located in the Southern part of Adams Township and the Goudy Christian Church was located in the Southwestern part of Adams Township.

Cameron was organized by James Atkinson in 1837 and, at that time, was called Jamestown. It is located near the Eastern border of Adams Township along Sunfish Creek. An addition to Cameron, next to the creek, was made by Stephen Atkinson, the postoffice, known as Rocky Narrows, was located here. The name of the town and the name of the post office were subsequently changed to Cameron at a later date.

There was a post office located at the mouth of Piney Fork years ago and it was called Young's Mill. The location was changed to Taylor's Store and the name was changed to Irish Ridge. In 1880, the population of Cameron was 170 people and the population of Adams Township and Cameron combined was 1,317 people.

The school statistics for Adams Township, for the year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $1,921.75; amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $981.10; the balance on hand -- $839.55; Amount paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $96.10; the number of schools -- 5; Value of school property -- $2,000.00; Number of teachers -- 5; Average wages per month for ladies -- $20.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $28.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 235.

The school statistics for Cameron, for the year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $1,262.40; Amount of money paid to primary teachers within the school year -- $200.60; Amount of money paid to high school teachers within the school year -- $346.05; Amount paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $37.52; the balance on hand -- $678.23; Number of schools -- 1; Number of rooms -- 2; Value of school property -- $800.00; Number of teachers -- 2; Average wages per month for ladies -- $34.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $34.00; and number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 117.

Cephas Hart, C.M. Blowers, and J.M. Boughner served as Justices of the Peace for Adams Township in 1881.

Switzerland Township
Switzerland Township was organized on January 1, 1827, containing 28 square miles. It embraces 12 stations of original Township 4 of Range 4 and 12 sections 15, 21, 27, and 33 and parts of other sections. It is the Northeastern Township of Monroe County.

Big Run and Johnston's Run empty into the Ohio River and drain the Eastern part of Switzerland Township. Cumming's Run empties into the Ohio River in Salem Township but has its source in Switzerland Township. Negro Run and Payne Run, branches of Sunfish Creek, drain the Southern and the Western parts of Switzerland Township. Cat's Run, a branch of Captina Creek, drains the Northern part of Switzerland Township.

The soil in Switzerland Township is formed largely of disintegrated shale and sandstone. It is naturally less rich than most limestone soils but the German and the Swiss farmers did wonders with the cultivation of the land, making it the best farm land in the State of Ohio. In 1880, almost every farm had a small vineyard of fruits. In contrast with the slovenly character of much of our native American farming, there is an air of neatness and thrift.

Early settlements of Switzerland Township were made in the Valley of Big Run and along the Ohio River. John Keller was engaged in opening an improvement on the head waters of Big Run soon after settlements were begun in this Township. At that time, he lived in Belmont County which was some distance from his place of employment. His two daughters, aged eight and ten, carried his dinner to him. One day, they missed the right path and became lost in the forest. People from the surrounding settlements searched for them and, after three days, found them on Negro Run, not far from Sunfish Creek. In their terror upon finding they were lost, they dropped the basket containing the dinner and lived on roots for three days.

The Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first church erected in Switzerland Township. Reverend J.J. Bidman was serving as its pastor in 1880. The German M.E. Church, situated in Section 5, West of the Center of the Township, was the second church erected. Reverend Charles Koch was serving as pastor of this church in 1880. Both of these churches had neat parsonages and cemeteries with a large membership.

Bigham Postoffice was located in the Northwestern part of the Township on Cat's Run. Switzer Postoffice was located in the Northwest corner of Section 35. The Township of Switzerland manufactured 52,485 pounds of cheese in 1880. At that time, there was a population of 1,226 people in Switzerland Township.

The school statistics for Switzerland Township were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $3,875.38; Amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $2,016.35; Amount paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $267.80; Balance on hand -- $1,591.23; Number of schools -- 11; Value of school property -- $4,474.00; Average wages per month for ladies -- $33.00; Average wages for gentlemen -- $30.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 367.

Frederick Zessiger, George Schafer, and Aaron Headley were serving as Justices of the Peace for Switzerland Township at that time.

Perry Township
Perry Township was organized on December 30, 1823, containing land in Sections 33, 34, and 35 in Township 2 of Range 4 and containing land in sections of Township 3, Range 5. It is bounded on the North by Wayne Township, Center Township, and Green Township. It is bounded on the East by Green Township and Jackson Township. It is bounded on the South by Jackson Township and Benton Township and it is bounded on the West by Washington Township and Wayne Township. Perry Township relies completely upon the waters of the Little Muskingum. The Crane's Nest Fork drains the Southwestern and Southern parts of the township. Witten's Fork and its branches drains the Northern and Eastern parts of the township.

Considerable limestone is found in many of the hills and the soil is good. Coal has been found in several spots and on Crane's Nest in Section 21, the seam of coal is unusually thick (about four feet) for this area.

Jesse Fleming built the first cabin in 1800 but it was not until 1812 that permanent settlements were made. In that year, Daniel Dye, Sr. and his sons, Daniel, Vincent, David, Reuben, Enoch, and John R., settled about one and one-half miles Southeast of Antioch. It was known as "Dye's Settlement" for many years.

Other early settlers were Jesse Brown, Thomas Mitchell, Sr., Thomas Mitchell, Jr., a man by the name of Mr. Vandevanter, Jacob Huffman, Abraham Huffman, Michael Stine, Samuel Bottenfield, Darlan Long, John Miller, Ephraim Headlee, Thomas Rhinehart, Samuel Swartwood, and Jacob Drum, Sr. -- all of whom settled around 1820-1827.

It is believed that the first child to be born in Perry Township was either born to a man by the name of Mr. Fleming or to a man by the name of Mr. Vandevanter. Israel Lentz settled on a farm which had been formerly owned by his son, David Lentz, in 1880. Joseph Morris settled in Perry Township in 1829. John R. Dye and Daniel Dye, Jr. were the first persons to be married in Perry Township but the names of their wives is unknown.

The first election was held on a farm owned by George Foraker, located on the Creek, in the spring of 1824. The first officers of Perry Township were as follows: Peter Hought, Trustee; Samuel Kincaid, Trustee; James Okey, Clerk; Tobias Haught, Constable; and Jacob Drum, Sr., Justice of the Peace.

Thomas Mitchell, Sr. built the first water mill on Witten Fork in 1826. It was a two-story frame building about 30 feet by 40 feet in size and it had two runs of stone. Mr. Mitchell also built the first saw mill at the same site in 1824. James Alexander owned the property at a later date.

The first school house was built in Dye's Settlement at an early date but it is not known who the first teacher was. It is known, however, that Henry Johnson taught school there in 1824. There were nine schools in Perry Township in 1880 -- all of them being good, plain, and comfortable buildings.

The first sermon was preached at the home of Daniel Dye, a Baptist minister. The Baptists built the first church, known as the Unity Baptist Church. The second church was organized in Antioch and was named the Christian Church. Ministers of the Christian Church preached for many years before any church buildings were erected. There is a church of this denomination on the East side of Perry Township, near Eddy's Mill. The Christian Church at Antioch is a frame building about 30 feet by 40 feet in size with a membership of 200 people. There were two M.E. churches in Perry Township in 1880. In 1881, Reverend J.A. Wright was the pastor for the M.E. Church with a membership of 116 persons.

The first Sabbath school in Perry Township was organized in 1827 by Daniel Dye, Jr. at his own home near the Unity Church. There were approximately 20 schools in Perry Township. In 1880, Robert Haythorn was the Superintendent of the Pleasant Grove Sabbath School; Simeon Skill was the Superintendent of the Green Brier Sabbath School; T.L. Twinem was the Superintendent of the Antioch M.E. Sabbath School; and E.L Lynch was the Superintendent of the Christian Church Sabbath School.

Henry Johnson, who had the adventure with the Indians in early Monroe County history, died in Antioch.

William Jarvis organized Antioch in 1837. In 1881, Antioch was a place of considerable business having three stores of general merchandise, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, two physicians, one wagon-maker's shop, one steam grist and woolen mill, millinery shops, and other places of business. There was a population in 1881 of 210 people. At this time, Antioch and Green Brier were the only two postoffices in Perry Township. A town by the name of Mechanicsburg was organized at the coal banks on the Creek in 1882. At that time, the population was 1,124 people.

Statistics for the school for the year ending August 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $2,317.83; Amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $1,564.00; Amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $149.94; Balance on hand -- $603.80; Number of schools -- 8; Number of school rooms -- 9; Value of school property -- $2,400.00; Number of teachers within the school year -- 9; Average wages per month for ladies -- $23.00; Average wages per month for gentlemen -- $27.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 352.

W.H. Hawkins, G.S. Foreaker, and E.L. Lynch served Perry Township as Justices of the Peace in 1881.

Seneca Township
Seneca Township was organized on July 19, 1815 and it is the Northwestern Township of Monroe County. It is watered by several branches of Will's Creek. These branches rise in the highlands of the East and of the Southeast in Summit Township and in Malaga Township. The valleys are beautiful and are very fertile. The hills have enough limestone to make the hillsides very productive.

Among the first settlements in the County were settlements at Calais. The first improvement was made by Andrew Dilley from Dilley's Bottom in Belmont County around 1798. He cleared a small field and built a log cabin at Calais but he left Monroe County and returned to Belmont County. In March, 1802, John Dailey, from the mouth of Captina Creek, moved into Andrew Dilley's cabin and became a permanent settler. Among other early settlers were James Dailey, the father of John Dailey; Robert Carpenter; Mitchell Atkinson; Isaac Atkinson; William Dement; Christopher Haines; Barnabus Crosbay; Samuel Danford; the Rucker family; the Brister family; the Rufus Hall family; Vincent Dailey; Joseph Baker; Samuel Pryor; Elijah Stephen; Samuel Stephen; David Watson; George Miller; Daniel Bean; Jesse Bean; William Kent; and William Cousins. The dates on which these people settled is unknown.

An obituary notice which was published at the time of Mr. Dement's decease stated that he came to Monroe County in 1802 from Ohio County, Virginia, where he had been Clerk of the Court. It also stated that he carried the first mail from Pittsburgh to Marietta in a canoe.

Many of the settlers were first squatters on Congressional land but they soon became the owners of their improvements.

It has not been settled as to where the first election was held. Some people believe that it was held on the farm of William Danford and that William Danford, Mitchell Atkinson and William H. Philpot were elected as the first Trustees of Seneca Township. Others believe that the first election was held at the home of John Dailey -- which property was later the location of the M.E. Church in Calais.

On April 2, 1805, Elijah Stephen and Mary Dearth were united in marriage by David Ruble, Justice of the Peace. It is not known whether or not they lived in Seneca Township at the time of their marriage. If they did, however, their son, John Stephen, may have been the first child born in Seneca Township. It is believed, however, that Margaret Dailey, the daughter of James Dailey and the wife of James Brister, was the first child born in Seneca Township. It is also believed that the first child was born to George Miller.

The first marriage in Seneca Township united Jacob Dailey and Mary Watson in 1812 or 1813. The first death was that of Christopher Haines in 1810.

It is believed that William Dement and Cornelius Bryant were the first Justices of the Peace for Seneca Township.

The first grist mill was built by Philip Allen and Abner Wing in 1814. It was located on Fort's Fork of Will's Creek about two miles from its mouth. It later became the property of William Kent. It was made of hewed logs and it was about 25 feet by 30 feet in size. Mr. Kent also built the first sawmill which was attached to the grist mill.

The first school was taught on the land of Daniel McVicker. The first teacher was Mitchell Atkinson and the second teacher was Michael Danford. The building was similar to other primitive schools with the exception that this school had five corners. The first school in Seneca Township was located near Calais and the first teacher was Mitchell Atkinson. The second teacher was Barnabus Crosbay.

Calais was organized by John Dailey in 1837. There was once a post office on the farm which was later occupied by Lewis Groves, called Batesville. Timothy Bates was the post master.

The first sermon was preached at the home of William Dement in 1810 by Reverend Samuel Dement. A society of the M.E. Church was organized in 1818 and services were held at the homes of William Kent and Samuel Danford. Reverend Jacob Young, Reverend Thomas M. Cleary, Reverend David Walker and Reverend Charles Elliott (Who had been a missionary among the Indians) were the first ministers. Among the first members were Mr. and Mrs. William Kent; Mr. and Mrs. John Fowler; Mrs. Nancy Danford; Rebecca Danford; Mary Danford; Rachel Danford; Sally Kent; Marietta Kent; James Danford; Sidney Roe and others. John Fowler was the leader of the first class followed by Joseph Stewart, Thomas Donahue and Julius Rucker.

The Roman Catholic Church was one of the first church buildings in Seneca Township. The Calais M.E. Church was organized by John Stephen, as a first class leader, in 1841. Among the first members were Mr. and Mrs. John Stephen; Mr. and Mrs. William Runnells; Noah Runnells; Elizabeth Runnells; Jane Runnells; Z. Johes; Sarah Oglebay; and others. Reverend Jacob Miller was the first minister in charge. This society built a church in 1876, being 32 feet by 42 feet in size and having a seating capacity of about 500. It was dedicated by Reverend Pershing from Pittsburgh on November 18, 1876. Another early pastor was Reverend Garrett.

The Union Chapel M.E. Society built a church edifice in 1867. This church was dedicated by Reverend E. Ellison. The class leader was Christian Weinstein.

Services were held by ministers of the Christian Church as early as 1823. One of the preachers at that time was Reverend Caleb Nice. A society of this denomination was organized by Reverend Jones of Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1875.

Glady M.E. Church was built in 1869 and Reverend James was the pastor in 1881. Alexander Porter organized a Sabbath school in 1820 and Hiram Danford organized a Sabbath school in 1840.

A carding machine was in operation as early as 1820. The population of Calais in 1880 was 159 and the population of Seneca Township and the Village of Calais combined at that time was 1,302.

Statistics for the school year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money paid to teachers within the year -- $1,672.00; Total amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $130.00; Number of schools -- 6; Total value of school property -- 3,000.00: Average wages paid to teachers within the school year -- $36.00; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 293. There were two teachers in one school located in Calais in 1880. Lady teachers received a salary of $20.00 per month and the gentlemen teachers received a salary of $40.00 per month.

In 1880, the officers of Calais were as follows: J.J. Burton, Mayor; Thomas McCoy, Marshal; Joseph Hodge, Treasurer; C.L. Eberle, Recorder; G.W. Coultas, Councilman; Josian Miller, Councilman; James Hannahs, Councilman; J.B. Craig, Councilman; J.H. Goodhart, Councilman; Elijah Stephen, Councilman; James W. Warner, Justice of the Peace; and J.H. Hamilton, Justice of the Peace.

Bethel Township
Bethel Township was organized on March 5, 1832, containing 20 square miles. It is located in the Southwestern corner of Monroe County. The Northeastern part of Bethel Township is watered by the Clear Fork of Little Muskingum. The middle part and the Western part are watered by Indian Creek. The Southern part is watered by Witten Creek and the branches of Clear Fork.

The Cumberland seam of coal was found in Bethel Township. It is readily traceable from Elk Township, Noble County, Ohio. Part of this seam of coal has been extensively mined.

Among the first settlers in Bethel Township were Frederick Crow; Michael Crow; Martin Crow; Jacob Miller; Robert Martin; Adams Davis; Jacob Lindemood; Thomas Masters; Jonathan Conners; Stephen Conner; Seth Adams; Henry Hall; Thomas Hall; Thomas Martin, Jr.; and others. Among the first settlers along the Clear Fork Bottoms in Bethel Township were the Lindemood family, the Dearth family, the Hupp family, the McVay family, the Martin family, the Miller family, the Conner family, and the Davis family -- all of which were large families.

Jacob Milller built the first cabin in Bethel Township in 1817. His son, John, was the first child born in Bethel Township. Jacob Miller was married to Rebecca Martin.

The first election was held at the home of Woodman Okey. The following officers were elected for Bethel Township: Robert Martin, Trustee; Jacob Miller, Trustee; Woodman Okey, Trustee; Jonathan Hendershot, Clerk; Robert Martin, Treasurer; Thomas Martin, Justice of the Peace; and A. Mackey, Constable.

The first grist-mill was built by Henry Winland in 1830. It was 20 feet by 30 feet in size, had one run of stone and a "corn crackers", and the bolt was run by hand, Mr. Winland added a sawmill to this grist-mill at a later date.

The first school was taught on the farm of Woodman Okey by Samuel Casey. The first postoffice was located at Lebanon around 1845-1846. The postoffice was called Masterton. It was named after Thomas Masters, the proprietor of the town. Mr. Masters organized Lebanon around 1842 and, in 1880, it had around 100 inhabitants. It is situated on the County line in the Southwestern part of Bethel Township. Another postoffice, called Marr, is located at the mouth of Indian Creek. A third postoffice, called Sycamore Valley, was located on Clear Fork in the Northern part of Bethel Township. Another postoffice, called Quarry, was established in Bethel Township in 1880. It was located in the Southeastern corner of Bethel Township.

The Methodist Episcopal Society was organized near Lebanon by Reverend Mordecia Bishop in 1839. Reverend Bishop preached the first sermon there. Among the first members were John Hannah, Elizabeth Hannah, Paren Pierce, C. Masters, Phebe Masters, Thomas Merridith, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Masters. Thomas Merridith was the first class leader. There was a membership of about 50 people in 1880.

The Christian Church was located in the Northwestern Part of Bethel Township. There was also a Free Methodist Church in Bethel Township but its location is unknown.

The population of Bethel Township, in 1880, was 1,165. M. Warwock and W.J. Allen were serving the Township as Justices of the Peace at that time.

Statistics for the school year ending on August 31, 1881, were as follows: Total amount of money received within the school year -- $1,844.80; Total amount of money paid to teachers within the school year -- $1,240.00; Total amount of money paid for fuel and other utilities within the school year -- $281.38; Balance on hand -- $323.42; Number of schools -- 7; Number of school rooms -- 8; Value of school property -- $2,100.00; Number of teachers -- 8; Average wages paid to teachers within the school year -- $27.00 per month; and the total number of pupils enrolled within the school year -- 308.

Green Township
Green Township was organized on July 9, 1824, containing about 27 square miles. Early settlers were Ephraim Jones, Samuel Jones, Abraham Jones, John Knight, William Knight, Stephen Knight, Andrew Sprowls, Isaac Mitchell, senior, Baldwin Cox, John Dunn, Zadcock West, Barnet Adamson, John Bowie, William Hurd, John Reed, Edward Reed, Isaac Cowley, William Hickman, James Seals, Conrad Duval, William Bailey, Jacob Dennis, Henry Dennis, Bennett Coen, Frederick Myers, Adam Myers, and David Honnell.

It is claimed that Ephraim Jones built the first log cabin around 1815 on Crane's Nest Fork, a mile Northeast of where the Town of New Castle is now located.

The first child born in Green Township was Nancy Hurd, daughter of William Hurd and Mary Hurd. John Henderson was the first person to be married in Green Township although his wife's maiden name is unknown. The first election was held about one-half mile West of where New Castle is now located on the land of Isaac Mitchell.

The first grist mill was a horse power mill which was built around 1823 by Baldwin Cox. Around 1834, William Ullom built a saw mill on Crane's Nest Fork. A subscription school was taught by Jacob Miller in 1825. A writer concerning this school wrote the following: "The terms of subscription were one dollar per scholar for a term of three months. The teacher, boarded round among the scholars, that is, he boarded in the families of the scholars, free, for the length of time warranted by the number of pupils sent to school by or from each family." Before the holy days, the teacher was compelled to sign an article that on Christmas or New Year's Day he would treat the scholars to gingercakes and apples or they would bar him out of the school house, or, if he got in first, they would smoke him out. If he still refused to sign the article, they would take him to the nearest creek, and duck him.

The first postoffice was located at the house of Randolph Laing, Southeast of New Castle, and it was called Laings. Later it was moved to New Castle.

The first sermon was preached by Reverend John Secrist in 1821 at the house of Conrad Duval. The first society was organized around 1826 at what is known as the Ott M.E. Church. The Presbyterian church was the second church organized in Green Township. Reverend Alex McCandlas was among the first ministers.

Newcastle was organized around 1836 by Frederick and William Myers.

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