A history of Belpre, Washington County, Ohio

Front matter

Class _r:4^i3-

Book

Cof^TightN".

Foreword

The history of a township bears a similar relation to the history of a nation that the biography of an individual bears to the record of human affairs.

Occasionally an individual accomplishes a work which becomes an essential and abiding influence in the history of the world. Such persons however are rare, although a considerable number represent events which are important in the minds of relatives and friends. The story of only a few townships represents great historic events, but accounts of the transactions in many localities are of importance to the present and future residents of the place. Belpre township is only a small spot on the map of Ohio and a smaller speck on the map of the United' States. Neither is this locality celebrated for the transaction of many events of world-wide importance; at the same time the early history of Belpre exerted an influence on the well being of the State which makes an interesting story for the descendants of the pioneers and other residents of the township. Within a very few months of the arrival of the first settlers at Marietta, they began to look for the most favorable places to locate their homes. A considerable number of influential families discovered special attractions in this locality and as a result the first branch settlement was made here early the following Spring. Probably there is not a township in the west which had so large a proportion of Revolutionary War officers among its pioneers as Belpre. The early history of this township was considered so important by that eminent local historian Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth that in his valuable Pioneer History he devoted eighty pages to the history of Belpre, and as many more to the lives of the early settlers here.

These two books, of rare value to students of the early history of Ohio, were published eighty years ago and are now found in only a few public libraries and as rare books in a few homes; and they will probably never be republished. These facts led the present writer to copy a substantial portion of Dr. Hildreth's account of Belpre for the purpose of publishing it in a convenient Brochure. While engaged in this work we resolved to make to this early record such additions as would continue the history to the present time. This must be our apology for adding a modest volume to the list of books of "the making of which there is no end." When Dr. Hildreth prepared these books he expended a large amount of labor and time in collecting material from the few pioneers then living and from children of pioneers. His books are not only reliable they furnish nearly all the reliable history of Belpre during the first quarter of a century. For this reason it has seemed best to us to copy the language in which the history was originally written with only such omissions and editorial changes as would adapt it to present readers. In collecting material for the remaining portion of the book we are indebted to Mrs. Laura Curtis Preston for permission to copy freely from her excellent history of Newbury (a part of Belpre). Also to Dr. Frank P. Ames for an account of the Kidnapping Case in 1845 and other important facts and for his generous legacy of one hundred dollars which made it possible to publish the History at the present time, notwithstanding the large increase in cost. We are also indebted to Mrs. Sophia D. Dale for valuable facts respecting the Temperance Reform and other matters To Charles L. McNeal for the account of Farmers Lodge of Masons and to Mrs. C. L. McNeal for the story of the Methodist Church, list of soldiers from Belpre, and other valuable assistance. We have quoted freely from both Williams and Martin R. Andrews Histories of Washington County.

The Roll of Honor of our Civil war, which we have copied from these Histories, was the work of S. J. Hathaway, Esq. who also furnished the account of "The Belpre Guards."

Our research has led us to examine histories, records, letters, newspaper articles and diaries as well as the memories of the living. We would thank the Officers of the Belpre Historical Society and other friends who have encouraged us in the prosecution of the work. Also all those who have aided us, and added to the attractions of the book by furnishing illustrations.

(The first seven Chapters are a reproduction of the portion respecting Belpre of "Pioneer History" by Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth with a few unimportant omissions and editorial changes. Chapter Eight is condensed from Dr. Hildreth's "Lives of the Pioneers.")

Character of the Settlers. — Assassination of Captain Zeb-

ulon King. — Famine. — Abundance of food. — Two boys

killed at Neal's Station. — Mill on Little Hocking.

CHAPTER II— Indian War 1791-1795

Page 18 Beginning of the War. — Farmers Castle built and occupied. — A list of Families and Persons in Farmers Castle.

CHAPTER III— Continued Hostilities Page 26 Loss of Pork. — Young Men Sent to Red Stone for Provisions — John Shaw's Escape. — Attack on Waldo Putnam and Nathaniel Little. — Murder of Benoni Hulburt. — Two Letters by Mrs. Mary B. Dana.

CHAPTER IV Page 35 Mutual Insurance. — Floating Mill. — Murders at Newbury. — Scarlet Fever. — Schools. — Religious Services. — Spies and Rangers. — Small Pox.

CHAPTER V Page 43 Domestic Manufacturers. — Experiments with Crops. — Stone's and Goodale's Forts Built and Occupied. — Kidnapping of Major Goodale.

CHAPTER VI

Page 48 Amusements in Farmers Castle. — Joshua Fleeharts Winter Hunt. — Discovery of a Salt Spring. — A Night Alarm. — A Providential Escape.

CHAPTER VII Page 56 Murder of James Armstrongs Family. — Murder of James Davis. — Close of the War. — Return of Families to their Farms.

Vll

CHAPTER VIII Page 60 Extracts from Lives of Early Settlers.— Captain Jonathan Devol.— Griffin Greene.— Captain William Dana.— Colonel Nathaniel Cushing.— Mapor Jonathan Haskel. Colonel Ebenezer Battelle.— Colonel Israel PutnanL— Aaron Waldo Putnam.— Captain Jonathan Stone.— Major Nathan Goodale.— Mapor Robert Bradford. Captain Benjamin Miles.— Captain Perly Howe.— Guthrie Brothers. — James Knowles. — Captam Eleazer Curtis.— Bull Brothers.— Aaron Clough.— Peregrene Foster.

CHAPTER IX.— After the Indtan War.

Page 83 Conditions at that time compared with the present.— Harman Blennerhassett and His Island Home.

CHAPTER X.— War of 1812.

Page 99

CHAPTER XI.— After the War of 1812.

Page 104 Wolf Hunt— Ao-ricultnral Fair and Prizes.— Transportation — Stor»k Raising and Driving.— Little Hockmg Bridge.— Moving Captain Stones House. — Mexican W^ar. — Temperance Reform.

CHAPTER XII. — Underground Railroad.

Page 116

Slavery.— Tncreasin Of Anti-Slavery Sentiment in the Northern States.— Origin of the Term "ITnderground Railroad " Passinp- Fugitives from Station to Station.

The kidnappincr Case in 1845.— Case of Moses Davis. —Escape of Harrv and his Wife.— Company of Fugitives on Farm of Mr. Hovey and Their Escape.— Speaker Treated to Rotten Eggs.

CHAPTER XIII— The Civil War.

Page 135

Presidential Election 1850.— Secession of States.— Failure of Efforts for Pease.— Aid for Soldiers.

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CHAPTER XIV Page 144 Belpre's Roll of Honor.

CHAPTER XV— After the Civil War.

Page 160

Railroad Building. — Vilj^ge Incorporated. — Suspension Bridge. — Improvements.

CHAPTER XVI.— Education Page 166

Early Schools. — Belpre Avademy. — Belpre Seminary. — High School. — First Commencement. — Libraries.

CHAPTER XVII— Religious History.

Page 178

Early Services. — Congregationalists. — Methodists. — Universalists. — Baptists. — Colored Methodists. — Roman Catholics. — Girls Missionary Society. — Sunday Schools — Ladies Aid. — Burial of the Dead.

CHAPTER XVIII.— Organizations.

Page 194

Womans Reading Club. — Rockland Reading Club. — Belpre Historical Society.

CHAPTER XIX— Fraternal Organizations. Page 202

Early Masonic Lodge. — Belpre Lodge 609. — Odd Fellows. — Colored Odd Fellows. — Knights of Pythias. — Little Hocking Grange.

CHAPTER XX— European War.

Page 212 Brief Outline. — Belpres Roll of Honor.

CHAPTER XXI.

Page 222 Personal Mention. — Closing Reflections.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Mrs. Mary Uancrol't Uana Fronting- Page 32

Old Brick Meieitinghouse Fronting- Page 33

Curtis Home Fronting Page 48

Loring Home Fronting Page 49

Wirt Shcppard Home Fronting Page 64

Putnam Home Fronting Page 65

Porterfield Aleetinghouse Fronting Page 80

Universalis! Meetinghouse Fronting Page 81

Ames Home Fronting Page 104

C. C. Hale Home Fronting Page 105

Howe Home Fronting Page 112

Dana Home' Fronting Page 113

Stone Home Frontinig Page 128

John Dana Home Fronting Page 129

Congregational Meetinghouse, Village Fronting Page 144

Methodist Meetinghouse, Village Fronting Page 145

Schoolhouse, Village Fronting Page 160

Judge O. R. Loring Fronting Page 161

Dr. Franklin P. Ames Fronting Page 176

Hon. A. W. Glazier Fronting Page 177

George A. Howe Fronting Page 192

George Howe Bower Fronting Page 193

Mrs. William Armstrong Fronting Page 208

Mrs. Susan W. Dickinson Fronting Page 209

Corporal John Kenneth Christopher Fronting Page 224

Dr. Plerbert S. and John A. Curtis Fronting Page 225

Old Church Orsfan Fronting Page 232

Memorial Stones Fronting Page 2^^

INTRODUCTION

,a^ "Ax

S^^X\\^ wish we might give as an introduction to the % XU- %) history of Belpre the story of an important "^ ^ and interesting race of men who occupied this ^^^s— region at an unknown period in the past, but left no record of themselves except the mounds of earth which they erected. Marietta was an important center of these monuments where the pioneers found the elevated squares, the great mound, and the Covert Way. The latter was destroyed many years ago, the others are still visible. There were several small mounds in Belpre at the time of the settlement. Many of these have been leveled through cultivation of the soil, a few are still visible. The one which is most complete is situated on the ridge in the east part of Rockland on land now owned by Jesse Pride, Esq.

This Mound was evidently conical though now only a few feet high. This is surrounded by a depression or ditch now easily distinguishable and was doubtless several feet in depth. This is encircled by a parapet with a diameter of about one hundred feet. Like the much larger mound at Marietta, it is laid out with mathematical precision. This is the only one in Belpre with the ditch and parapet. Another mound much larger than this stood in the middle settlement and partly in the street. In 1874 the owner of the farm at that time, Mr. Joseph Farson; determined to examine and remove this mound which was then fourteen feet high and about one hundred feet in circumference at the base.

In Williams History of Washington County, we have a description of the contents of this mound as follows.

"After digging down a short distance the first skeleton was discovered. It was in a fair state of preservation, in fact so sound that doubts at once arose as to its antiquity. A closer examination of the skull indicated that it was that of an Indian and a bullet hole in the forehead just above the eye at once suggested the probability that the death and burial took place less than a century ago, although there is no history or even a tradition concerning such death and burial.f Toward the center of the mound a skeleton was found which upon being exposed to the air, at once proved its great age by crumbling to dust. As the work progressed there were found at different depths, eight more skeletons, irregularly arranged. Exposed to the air these bones were soon reduced to their original elements. With each skeleton was found a stone pipe, beads, buttons, and balls of mussel shells, and an occasional collection of arrow heads. A remarkable harpoon with a bone bearded point WPS among the relics found. With one skeleton was a pair of horns. This suggested that the builder of the mound believed in a post mortem, combat with an evil one, and the weapons were selected with reference to the homeopathic nrinrinle 'SimUm SimHihvs c/xrantvr.' One of the horns is artificial and was carx^ed from a bone of some animal the outside only being finished. With this hastily made counterfeit was a real horn over six inches in length. In the center and a little below the base of the mound were found remains of a skeleton mingled with burned charcoal and calcinized bones. It was evident that the body had been cremated, the lower extremities evidently had not been subjected to the intensity of the flame and there is evidence that the body, prior to cremation had been placed in a sitting posture so that the head and trunk were speedily consumed, leaving the rest of the body unburned. In various parts of the mound twenty-two arrow heads were found from three to five inches in length, numerous stone axes, pipes and harpoons: nine hollow cylindrical tubes eight of which were found together away from the skeletons; the ninth with the remains of the burned skeleton, and very much smaller than the others. These tubes were made of soapstone and the first mentioned were about one foot in length. The maker of these tubes was thoroughly acquainted with the art of glazing as their polished surfaces attest. The entire mound when taken away furnished two thousand cubic yards of earth."

From this description it is evident that at least this particular mound was a burial place and the same was probably true of others. The large mounds to honor powerful chiefs. In this respect these pyramids of earth are analagous to the granite pyramids of Egypt. On this ac-

fMay It not be roBslble that this was the skeleton of either Captain Zebulon. King or Benonl Hulburt who were early killed by bullets and the localities of their burial are unknown.

count some scholars have found evidence that the mound builders came to this continent from Egypt. It is however not altogether improbable that these mound builders may have had an intuitive inspiration to honor their dead by a pyramid without any suggestion from Egypt.

These silent monuments reveal very little to us beyond the fact that this anti-historic race were neither man-like apes nor ape-like men but human beings in some ways at least superior to the Indians who immediately preceded the settlement by white people. We will commence our narrative with the first connection of this valley with Europeans. The French commenced settlements in Canada in 1608 taking possession of the country by the right of discovery. During the following century and a half they traveled inland along the chain of great lakes to the Mississippi vallev, discovered the great river and sailed down that river to the Gulf of Mexico. They laid claim by this right of discovery to the whole valley, though outside of Canada they established only a few posts for trading with the natives. In 1749 they took formal possession of the Ohio valley. This they did by erecting wooden crosses and burying leaden plates at the mouths of the principal tributaries. An expedition started from Lake Erie and passed do^\^n the Allegheny and Ohio rivers under the leadership of Captain Celeron. One of the plates buried at the mouth of the Muskingum was found by a company of boys in 1798. These boys supposed the principal use for lead was to make bullets and had used a part of the plate for that purpose when they were discovered and the remainder of the plate was preserved. A similar plate was found at the mouth of the Kanawha in 1845. The following is a translation of the inscription on this plate and is probably similar to that on all the plates : "In the year 1749, in the reign of Louis XV, of France, M. Celeron, commandant of a detachment sent by the Marquis De La Galessoneire, Captain General of New France, in order to re-establish tranquility among some villages of savages in these parts, and buried this plate at the mouth of the river Chi-no-da-e-the, (Kenawha) on the 18 August near the Ohio, and of all lands of both sides to the source of such rivers as have enjoyed, or ought to have enjoyed, the preceding named King of France and they have maintained themselves by force of arms and by treaties especially by those of Resabach, Ulback and Auxle-Chapelle."

By the treaty of Paris in 1763 the title of all the Mississippi Valley east of that river and so including all the valley of the Ohio was transferred to Great Britain.

The people of Virginia soon became interested in the fertile lands in this valley and the Ohio Land Company was formed to survey and dispose of these lands. The Revolutionary war interfered with the work of this company but meanwhile George Washington made a trip down the valley and became owner of some of the best land. Mrs. Laura Curtis Preston, in her excellent history of Newbury, describes this journey as follows:

"George Washington made a journey down the Ohio river in 1770. The following is from his journal. About six or seven miles below the mouth of Little Canawha, we came to a small creek on the west side which the Indians called the Little Hockhocking.***the lands below the Little Canawha appear broken and indifferent but opposite to the Little Hockhocking there is a bottom of exceeding good land. The lower end of this bottom is opposite to a small island of which I dare say little is to be seen when the river is high. (The land referred to is now called Newbury Bar.) On his return journey they camped opposite the Little Hockhocking which may be distinguished by a large stone just at its mouth (Ohio Arch and History Quarterly Oct. 1908.) That stone still remains, just as it was when Washington saw it, firmly imbedded in the banks of the stream, Washington was induced to purchase this "bottom of good land" now called Washingtons Bottom in West Virginia, and would have purchased the bottom land opposite, of which he speaks in his journal, had this land not been on the Indian side of the river."

After the public lands, which were originally claimed by the states, had been transfered to the General Government, it was a policy of Congress to keep the lands vacant until they had been surveyed and provisions made for their sale.

In 1785, two years before the Ohio Company purchased this land, (^en. Richard Butler was sent down the Ohio river for the purpose of warning any squatters he might find to vacate their claims. He says in his journal. "Oct.

8. Found settlers on the head of the first island below the Little Hockhocking and also on t^e Ohio shore further down the river." "To the people on the island who seemed to be very reasonable people and the women appeared clean and neatly dressed, he sent some proclamations warning them off the island but sterner measures were resorted to in the case of the settlers below. (Craigs olden times 1847.) Gen. Butler also refers to the large stone at the mouth of the Little Hockhocking. The island mentioned was doubtless Mustapha."

The army officers who settled in Marietta and Belpre had very high esteem for the French, who had aided us in the dark days of the Revolution both with money and men and without this aid we might have failed to secure our independence. This esteem is preserved in the names given to these places. The principal city in the settlement was honored with the name of the beautiful Queen Mane Antionette shortened to Marietta, and the first out station was Belle prairie (beautiful meadow) contracted to Belpre.

BELPRE.

This township was first authorized by the following action of the Court of Quarter Sessions in 1790. "Resolved that townships number one (1) and two (2) in the tenth (10) range and number one (1) in the ninth (9) range be and they are hereby incorporated and included in one township by the name of Belpre." As thus constituted this township, was bounded on the north by territory in Warren, Barlow and Fairfield townships. On the east and south by the Ohio river and on the west by what is now Athens County, Decatur and a fraction of Fairfield townships. Williams History of Washington County states that "in 1797 the court of Quarter Sessions declared that all the territory in Ohio Company's purchase south of the townships of Waterford and Marietta and north of Gallipolis be known as Belpre township, this embraced parts of the present counties of Athens, Vinton and Ross, together with fractions of Hocking, Meigs, Jackson and Pike." This territory was divided and incorporated into counties and townships from time to time until in 1855, it included only the territory now embraced in Belpre and Dunham townships. A territory somewhat irregular on account of its river boundary, but embracing only a little more land than a regular congressional township of six miles square. During that year petitions were presented to the County Commissioners from citizens of Warren and Belpre for the erection of a new township composed of territory embraced between the following boundaries, viz : "commencing on the Ohio river three miles south of the north line of township one (1) range nine (9) and running west to the west line of range ten (10) and south of the north line of township two (2) range ten (10) and township one (1) range nine (9) except section thirty-six (36) of township two (2) range nine (9).

Parties were heard in favor and against said township and on examination of the petitions, it was found that a majority of householders residing within the boundaries of said change were in favor of the same, and it was resolved that the said territory as described above be considered a new township. Ordered that the township now formed be called Dunham." By this action of the commissioners the township was virtually bisected, leaving but little more than half the territory of a township of six miles square. The shape on the east and south conforms to the direction of the river so that there are nearly fourteen miles of river frontage. The lands embraced within the two river terraces are among the most fertile and productive farming and gardening lands in the Ohio valley while the hills in the background are well adapted to pasturage and fruit raising. The scenery in various parts of the town is somewhat monotonous although there are several high points from which quite extensive views of the surrounding country are obtained, and there are several romantic ravines among the hills. One of these a little back of the village, on Congress Creek, has been known as "Low Gap." This has been a favorite resort for parties of young people and Mrs. Kate Browning Foutz a daughter of Belpre has honored it by the following poetic gem.

"Low Gap, the place where fays and fairies dwell, Search far and wide, there is no sweeter dell. There dawns come later and twilight early falls, There silence reigns unbroken save the birds low calls. The hum of insects or drone of bees, The murmuring brook or rustling trees,

And where the interlacing branches meet Above some pool, pellucid, sweet, The flashing minnows sport and turn Beneath the mirrored greenness of the fern."

This brief description of Belpre, may help us to appreciate the early history as given in detail by Dr. S. P. Hildreth.

The first eight chapters are a republication from Dr. Hildreth's "Pioneer History" and "Lives of Pioneers."t

■fDr. ruidretli lived and practiced medicine several years in Bolpre.

CHAPTER I

SETTLEMENT

!> <^r ^ ^ the winter following the landing of the first ^ ^ ^ pioneers at Marietta, the directors of the Ohio ^ ^ ^ Company sent out exploring parties to examine -^^6«r- their purchase, which was as yet a terra incognita. The main object of these committees was to select suitable places for the formation of their first settlements. Among the earliest and most desirable locations reported was a tract on the right bank of the Ohio river, commencing a short distance above the mouth of the Little Kanawha, and extending down the Ohio four or five miles, terminating at the narrows two miles above the Little Hocking. About one mile below the outlet of the latter stream, the river again bent to the south enclosing a rich alluvion extending two or three miles in length and one mile wide, where was formed another settlement called Newbury, or the lower colony, but included within the boundaries of Belpre. The main body of the New Colony's tract was divided into two portions known as upper and middle settlements. The lands on the river were of the richest quality; rising as they recede from the Ohio on to an elevated plain thirty or forty feet higher than the low bottoms, and extending back to the base of the hills. The plain was in some places more than half a mile in width, forming, with the bottoms, alluvions nearly a mile in extent. The soil on the plains was in some places a fertile loamy sand; in others inclined to gravel but everywhere covered with a rich growth of forest trees, and producing fine crops of small grains.

About one mile below the Little Kanawha this plain came into the river presenting a lofty mural front of eighty or one hundred feet, above the surface of the water. This precipitous bank is continued for half a mile and on its brow and for some distance back is stocked with evergreens, chiefly different varieties of cedar. That portion of the plain is known as the bluff and is located near the head of Blennerhassett's Island, close by the landing and the crossing place to the mansion erected a few years later by this celebrated man. The bluff divides the upper settlement from that below. The upper lay on a beautiful curve of the river which formed nearly a semicircle, the periphery of which was about one and one-half miles, and rose gradually from the banks of the river on to the second bottom by a natural glacis, the grade and beauty of which no art of man could excel. From the lower end of the bluff the plain gradually receded from the river leaving a strip of rich bottom land about three miles in length and from one-fourth to one-third of a mile in width. This distance, like the preceeding, was laid off into farms about forty rods wide, and extending back to the hills, which rise by a moderate slope to an elevation of one hundred feet above the surface of the plain and were clothed with oak and hickory to the top. This charming location was named Belle Prairie, or Beautiful Meadow, but is now generally written Belpre. The settlement was composed of about forty associates, who formed themselves into a Company and drew their lots, after they were surveyed, and platted in the winter of 1788-9.

CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS

The larger portion of the individuals who formed this association had served as officers in the Revolution, and when the army was disbanded retired with a brevet promotion. To a stranger it seemed very curious that every house he passed should be occupied by a commissioned officer. No settlement ever formed west of the mountains contained so many men of real merit, sound practical sense, and refined manners. They had been in the School of Washington and were nearly or quite all personally acquainted with that great and good man. A contemporary writes : "In this little community were found those sterling qualities which should ever form the basis of the social and civil edifice, and are best calculated to perpetuate and cherish our republican institutions. Some of them had been liberally educated, and all had received the advantages of common New England schools in early life. They were habituated to industry and economy, and brought up under the influences of morality and religion. These men had been selected to lead their countrymen in battle and to defend their rights, not for their physical strength as of old, but for their moral standing and superior intellect. In addition to these advantages they had also received a second education in the army of the revolution where they heard the precepts of wisdom and witnessed the examples of bravery and fortitude; learning at the same time the necessity of subordination to law and good order, in promoting the happiness and prosperity of mankind."!

The Belpre associates who had passed the winter in Marietta commenced moving on to their farms early in April ; several families however did not occupy their farms until the following year. Log houses, mostly small, were built near the bank of the river, for the convenience of water and a free circulation of air; into these the families moved.

Then commenced the cutting down and girdling the immense forest trees which covered the rich bottoms and lifted their lofty heads towards the clouds. A fence of rails was built on the back side of their fields, next the woods to protect their crops from the cattle, but the grounds were left open on the river bank. Paths between the neighboring houses ran through their fields or on the outside of the fence in the margin of the woods. In several places springs of pure water gushed out under the banks of the river and ran in gentle rills to the Ohio, affording a rich treat to the fortunate neighbor in the heat of summer, when compared with the warm and often turbid water of the "Belle Riviere."

CAPT. ZEBULON KING KILLED.

Soon after the pioneers had commenced laboring on their lands their ardor was for a while paralized, and their hope of undisturbed and quiet possession of their new homes greatly weakened, by the murder of Capt. King by the Indians. His land lay in the middle settlement and while he was busily engaged in chopping on May 1st he was shot and scalped by two Indians. It was thought at the time they were Indians who had escaped from confinement in Fort Harmar, where they had been detained since the outrage, at Duncan's Falls the previous summer.