Guernsey County, Ohio - Chapter 28, 1911

Chapter 28

The southeastern township in Guernsey county is known as Millwood and it was organized about 1834. ft contains twenty-four sections of land and is four miles north and south by six east and west. It is rich in agricultural and mineral resources. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad passes through this township on its east and west course, with three station points, which are described later in this article. There are many small streams running through the territory now being described as Millwood township. The township is bounded on the north by Oxford township, on the east by Belmont county, on the south by Noble county and on the west by Wills township. It is a well developed section of Guernsey county and was settled by a class of industrious, enterprising and religious people who have certainly left their imprint on the present dwellers of the southeastern portion of Guernsey county.

No better record of its first settlement can now be given than to name the aged persons - those exceeding seventy-six years of age - who were living within its borders in 1876. These names include men and women who were the first settlers and who were the parents and grandparents of many of the present population and will recall to the citizens of the township many a scene of early days in Millwood and Quaker City. This list is as follows: Mary Hall, Henry Hall. John D. Hall, Noah Hartley. Sarah Hartley, Michael Creighton, Samuel Ruth, Isaac Spencer, William Rose, James R. Johnson. Priscilla Johnson. George Emerson, Hannah Hague. Jesse Coles, Washington Clary, Nathan" Hall, George Falmer, Thomas Mills, Elizabeth Mills. Josiah Outland. Francis Linn. William Crouse, James Fillett, Jacob S. Brill, Albina Say re. John Rimer. Isaac Webster, James Hart, Mary Wolfonl, William Hyde, Joseph Dunlap, Elizabeth Brill, John Hague, James Whitcraft. John Stotts, George F. Fox, Ann F. Harvey. Susannah Arnold. Michael Aubmire, Sarah Perego, Clarissa Shuman. John Shuman. Samuel Carter, John Addison, C. McCormick and Hannah Scott.

The Hartley family deserves special mention in this connection. William P.. the eldest, was born in Berks county. Pennsylvania, in 1786 and when he reached manhood he moved to Warren county. Xew Jersey, and there f. .11. .wed school teaching for thirty years. He married, in 1817, a daughter of Jonas Parke and in 1837 they moved to Guernsey county, Ohio. They had eight children. James, their eighth child, was first lieutenant in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment and was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. William P. Hartley, Jr., was born in New Jersey in 182 1 and lived nearly all of his days in this township. He was sheriff of Guernsey county in the seventies, was a Democrat and in church affiliations was of the Christian faith. The Hartleys are still numerous and influential in these parts of Ohio.

Of the Hall family, it may be said that Isaac Hall was the second son of John Hall, who came from North Carolina in 1805, and purchased a tract of land near where now stands the village of Quaker City. He married in 1807 and they were the parents of eight children, of whom Isaac \V. was one. He was born in 1810 and educated in the common schools of his county. In 1839 he engaged in mercantile business at Quaker City, then styled Millwood. He married three times and was the father of three children, two of whom matured. Mr. Hall was the originator of the National Bank at Quaker City. In religion he was a Friend and in politics a Republican.

John P. Hall, another son of the old pioneer John Hall, was born and brought up to farm labor in the old-fashioned way of bringing up children. In 1 84 1 he married in Belmont county and raised a family. In 1880 he owned a fine farm of about three hundred acres in Millwood township.

Of this numerous Hall family, there were, Eli, John D., Cyrus, Amos and other prominent members, who made each a distinct history here for themselves.

John Smith, son of William and Elizabeth Smith, of Yorkshire, England, where he was born in 1814, when an infant came to this country. His father was a mason and worked on the Capitol at Washington. The family consisted of seven children. John was reared on a farm and in 1840 married Margaret Temple, who became the mother of eleven children. Mr. Smith was a Democrat in politics and in religious belief of the United Presbyterian church faith. His homestead was two and a half miles north of Quaker City.

The Cowden family were also representative citizens here. W. N. Cowden was the only son of David Cowden, who came to America with his father, William Cowden, from Ireland in 181 o. David upon his arrival purchased a tract of land a mile and a half northeast of Quaker City, and in 1835 mar' ried Margery Kennon, sister of Judge William Kennon, of Belmont county. Among: the children born of this union was William Newell Cowden, who entered Muskingum College. He was, in 1882, largely interested in sheep raising and wool producing. He owned over five hundred acres of land in Millwood township and for several years was president of the Quaker City Fair Association and vice-president of the Quaker City National Bank. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church and a very pronounced Democrat in his politics.

Thomas McFarland, another one of the quite early settlers in Millwood township, came from Ireland with the father's family in 1835. He resided at various places until after his marriage, when he settled here. He married Mary Ann Graham in 1840 and reared a family.

Jesse Doudna, eldest son of Noas and Hannah (Webster) Doudna, was born in 1808. in Belmont county, Ohio. He purchased a six-hundred-acre tract of land. In [862 he married Rachel L. Benson, who was born in Maryland in 1827. Mrs. Rachel (Lancaster) Benson was the daughter of Jesse and Mary Lancaster, of England, a minister to the Society of Friends, after whom Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was named. Jesse Doudna died at Spencer Station. He was an extensive farmer and stock raiser.

Robert McCormick, son of Robert and Catherine (Brill) McCormick, of Tyrone, Ireland, became prominent here. His father landed in Philadelphia in 1800 and clerked in a store five years. In 1805 he moved to Somerset, Pennsylvania, and there taught in the district schools. He married and reared a large family of children. He came to Guernsey county in 1815. and bought land here and farmed during the summer seasons, teaching school in the winter. Robert, Jr., was brought up on his father's farm and educated in the common schools. He married Sarah Brill, by whom several children were born. He became a large land owner in this township.

True Pioneer Hall, Etc

To speak more specifically of Mr. Hall, the first settler in this now well developed township, it may be stated that he came from North Carolina in 1805, with his father's family, and located three miles west of Barnesville. On August 4, 1806, having reached his majority, he took up the grubs on a tract of land preparatory to erecting a cabin, on the northwest quarter of section 13, in what is now Millwood township. He spent the first night by the root of a white oak tree, near his building site. He erected a scaffold near by, on which he kept his provisions and cooking utensils, which consisted of a knife and fork, a pewter plate, one spoon, a pot and skillet. He also had some salt and pepper, a flitch of bacon, a loaf of bread and a sack of corn meal. He had a tray that was of an oblong shape, about twenty inches cross the smallest way, made out of the half of a buckeye log split in two, that answered to lay provisions in, and was covered for safe keeping. The balance of his provisions were made up of game, killed as needed, which could be had in abundance at almost any time. Sometimes he slept on a scaffold under the sturdy boughs of an oak. His nearest neighbor was John Reed, to the east, who lived by the old high trestle on the Central Ohio railroad of later years. His next nearest neighbor was Joseph Williams, five miles westward down the Leatherwood valley.

The land office, then at Steubenville, included in its sales the lands of this township. John Webster and family came on August 10, 1806, and entered ten half sections of land, - Congress lands. - being eighty acres for each of his ten children. The present Baltimore & Ohio road runs precisely along where Webster's double log house stood.

In the summer of 1807. John and William Webster built a mill on Leatherwood creek, above the present Quaker City depot grounds. John Webster died in eighteen months after his settlement, aged fifty-seven years.

A certain species of wild nettle grew in great abundance about this locality, and at an early day from it was spun material that took the place of linen threads and with this a fabric was woven and finally made into clothing.

The first settlers near Quaker City were from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey and Maryland, and were Friends, or so-called Quakers. In 181 1 there were of this class fifty-nine persons. The Friends' first meeting house was erected in about 1812. Services were at first held at private houses, but the church later built stood on the hill east of Quaker City. William Mott, in 1 82 1, taught school there.

Shroud And Coffin

Jesse Cole, of Millwood township, has a reputation in his community, that should, in honor to the old gentleman, be extended beyond the bounds of Millwood township. He was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, and is in his eighty-fourth year. He claims that he has yet sixteen more years to live, as it is his intention not to shuffle off this mortal coil until he reaches the even one hundred. Mr. Cole settled in Millwood township in 1823. In due time he was married and raised a large family of boys and girls. After the death of his first wife, he removed to the neighborhood of Sarahsville, Noble county, where lie built a cabin and kept bachelor's hall. This was necessary because his children had all married and had homes of their own. While there he got along very well, until he was taken with a bad spell of sickness. It would have gone hard with him, he says, Were it not for an excellent old maid who lived within "hollerin' " distance of his cabin. This kindhearted creature took the best care of the widower, and finally brought him through all right. During the worst of his sickness he thought his time had come, and that the right thing to do was to prepare himself for burial. To this end, he got the old maid to prepare his shroud and hang it away in a convenient place, and on his recovery he tenderly cared for it, and when he married his second and present wife, he handed the garment over to her for safe-keeping. About eight years ago, he made further preparation for his last journey on earth. While in a good state of health, he went to Quaker City, and gave orders to one of its citizens to take his measure for a plain but substantial walnut coffin, to be ready at a certain date. At the appointed time, in company with a son, he took the coffin home on a sled. On its arrival, it was carefully raised to the loft of the loom house, where it now sets safely, beyond the gaze of the curious, patiently awaiting the time when its owner will be laid therein for an eternal rest. An evilly disposed person some time since circulated the report that the family had made kindling wood of the coffin, and also that it was a receptacle for dried apples, but we are glad to be in a position to state positively that there is not a vestige of truth in either rumor. May the years be many and happy before the old gentleman shall need either the coffin or the shroud. - Jeffersonian, August 20, 1885.

Towns And Villages

Millwood township has had several village plattings. including old Millwood (now Quaker City), Spencer's Station and Salesville. The first village platted was Millwood, by Jonah Smith, on section 20, township 9, range 7, in what was then styled Beaver township. The date of filing this plat was February 18, 1835. It retained this name many years, but before it was incorporated, in 1 87 1, it was changed to Quaker City, it being in the midst of a very large and thrifty settlement of Friends (Quakers).

Salesville was platted in 1835 by George Brill, on section 32, township 9, range 7. It was on the "Clay Pike," as then known. It was incorporated in 1878. as a village.

in 1806 - one hundred and four years ago. The pioneers there were for the most part from the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania, with now and then a family from the Old World. The lands in this section of Guernsey county were found to be of great richness and fertility. Through them flowed the waters of the Leatherwood creek, skirted by wide, beautiful bottom lands. The waters of this and other streams flowed with enough fall to furnish an abundant power for water mills and factories. Springs of water gushed out from hillsides here and there, all of which made the surroundings attractive to the home-seeker of that long-ago day. Prominent among the first settlers may be now recalled the Brills, Pulleys, Frames, Williams and kindred. The religious sentiment was here divided among many creeds and church polities. But all had a deep religious feeling and all wanted a place in which to worship the true and living God, hence agreed to erect a large log meeting-house, which was accomplished and designated as the "Temple," by which it was always known. Here, in 1816, when this house was erected, of hewed logs on the hill overlooking the present village of Salesville, a quarter of a mile from the banks of the Leatherwood creek, settlers met regularly to worship, in their own chosen method. This was the beginning of church life and activity in this part of Guernsey county. Some were Methodists, some United Brethren and other denominations were well represented.

Today (October, 1910) this place has a population of about two hundred and fifty. The postoffke was at first held in the depot, since which time it has been on the move. It has, however, been at the present location, in the store of S. C. VanKirk, for ten years. Three rural routes run from this postoffice, averaging twenty-four miles each. The annual office receipts are seven hundred and fifty dollars at this time. Five mails are daily received here. In an early date of this office mails came by stage lines, on the old pike. As far back as the memory of the oldest residents can reach the following have served as postmasters, in their order: Louis Turnipseed, thirty to forty years ago; W. R. Gardner, G. H. Bates, Thomas Durbin, M. R. Perry, George W. Brill, S. C. VanKirk.

The history of the Salesville municipal incorporation dates back to 1878 and is classed as a village. The mayors have included these: Louis Tu'rnipseed, W. A. White, J. A. Perry, Jasper Dollison, W. H. Long, Sumpter Long, R. D. St. Clair.

There is no organized fire department, but a hand pump is kept in readiness for emergencies. The churches of Salesville are the United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal.

Business Factors Of I9Io Quaker City

Quaker City, originally Millwood, was incorporated in 1836 as Millwood, and as Quaker City between 1864 and 1870. It now has a population of approximately one thousand. The postoffice being established, and then the name changed to Quaker City, has since made the place better known to the world. The postoffice has been in its present location since 1890, before which date for many years it was on the opposite side of the street, just before that date in the B. J. Johnson building, and still earlier in the old Lochary building. There are six rural routes extending out from this postoffice, all of which are over twenty-four miles long. There are seven mails daily now at this office. The record of postmasters is not fairly clear, but it is known that the following have held the position in about the order given here : Patrick Lochary-, Millard Marsh, A. H. Hamilton. H. B. Cox, J. M. Gallagher and W. W. Dowdell.

The city is protected fairly well from fires by a volunteer fire company and a hand apparatus consisting of wagon, hand-cart, three pumps, etc. Natural gas is used here, the same being pumped in from Noble county from the Dudley field. The surrounding country is devoted largely to sheep raising. The schools of the place are a high and grammar school, mentioned in the educational chapter of this volume.

The only newspaper at Quaker City is the Independent, established in 1875 by J. D. Olmstead & Sons. The present proprietors are J. W. and A. B. Hill, who took charge in 1882 and have never missed an issue since that

The lodges of the town are the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. The churches here worshiping are the Christian, Methodist Episcopal and Friends.

It will be observed that Mr. Lydick served longer as mayor than any other man, M. L. Hartley and J. B. Hartley coming next in point of length of service. Among those serving as clerks during the period from 1871 to 191 1 were T. M. Johnson, J. A. McEwen, I. P. Steele. M. C. Hartley, Robert Boyd, J. G. Moore. A. H. Hamilton, C. A. Bowles and Ross Hay.

The length of service as corporation clerk and also as township clerk, is perhaps unprecedented in the case of Robert Boyd, who has served twentyone years as clerk of the corporation in Quaker City, and his term ending December 31, 191 1, as township clerk, gives him twenty-five years in that office. The village officers in 1910 are: Frank Reed, mayor; Ross Hay, clerk, and H. B. Garber, treasurer.