Harrison County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1900 (part 2 of 2)

At the meeting of Presbytery held at Cross Creek, Washington county. Pa., on Wednesday, June 27th, 1804, John Eea, as the name appears on the records, was licensed to preach. On the following day, Mr. Eea was appointed to preach at Beech Spring on the first Sabbath in August, at Crabapple on the second Sabbath in August, at "Stillwater" (this may have been ^Nottingham or Cadiz), on the fourth Sabbath of September, and at Crabapple again on the fifth Sabbath of September. On the same day, Eev. William McMillan (afterwards president of Franklin College), was appointed to supply at Beech Spring on the third Sabbath of September. At the meeting of Presbytery at Eaccoon, on October IG, 1804, applications for further supplies were received from Beech Spring and Crabapple. On Thursday, the 18th, Eev. Joseph Patterson and Eev. Elisha Macurdy were appointed to preach at Beech Spring on the second Sabbath of November, and to administer the Lord's Supper. Mr. Anderson was also appointed to preach there on the fourth Sabbath of November, and at Crabapple, on the first Sabbath of the following April. Mr. John Brice was appointed to preach at Crabapple on the third Sabbath of November. "Mr. Eea, being appointed by Synod to itinerate as a missionary, no appointments are to be made him prior to next meeting of Presbytery." The next meeting was held at Cross Creek on Christmas Day, 1804, and Mr. Eea was appointed to supply at Beech Spring on the first and third Sabbaths of February, and at Crabapple on the second and fourth Sabbaths of the same month.

Presbytery met at West Liberty again in April, 1805, and on the 16th instant, "a call was presented for Mr. Eea from the united congregations of Crabapple and Beech Spring, which being read, was put into his hands for consideration." Mr. Eea having signified his acceptance of the call, the Presbytery, on Thursday, April 18th, "agreed to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Rea in August next, provided the way be clear, and appointed him to prepare and deliver a sermon on Isaiah, Iv., 7, as part of trial. Mr. Brice was appointed to preach the ordination sermon, and Mr. Macurdy to preside and give the charge." The Presbytery met at Crabapple on Tuesday, August 20th, 1805, and on the 22d of the same month, "the Presbytery proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Rca, and did with fasting and prayer, and the laying on of the hands of ihe Presbytery, solemnly ordain him to the holy office of the Gospel ministry, and installed him. as pastor of the united congregations of Crabapple and Beech Spring. Mr. Brice preached on the occasion, and T\rr. Macurdy presided and gave the charge."

The size of Mr. Eea's congregation at the time of his installation, and for some years thereafter, may be very closely approximated from the reports preserved in the records of Ohio Presbytery. On April 16th, 1806, less than eight months after the beginning of his pastorate, the Presbytery, having met at Upper Buffalo, "called on each member to report the number of existing communicants in the congregation, and the number of persons baptized." Mr. Rea reported that Beech Spring and Crabapple had 131 communicants, and that ten infants had been baptized by him since the beginning of his ministry. The next report, under date of Dec. 20th, 1808, shows but 109 members in communion, fxfteen having been added during the past year, and thirty-five infants baptized. On January 9th, 1810, the total communicants were 191, fourteen having been added during the past year, and twenty-five infants baptized. At this meeting of Presbytery, Mr. Rea reported that the congregation of Crabapple was in debt to him in the sum of sixty dollars, which became due on the 16th instant. On October 17th, of the same year, the report shows 146 communicants, fifteen having been added since last report, and eighteen infants baptized. On April 21st, 1812, there were 119 communicants, twenty-seven having been added during the year, and one adult and twenty-nine infants baptized. April 19th, 1814, the number of communicants was 185, twenty-five having been added, and four adults and thirty-two infants baptized. April 18th, 1815, there were 201 members, sixteen having been added, and twenty-three infants baptized. On April 16th, 1816, the total number of members was 222, of whom thirtvthree had been added during the year, and fifty-five infants baptized. April 15th, 1817, the report showed a total communion of 239, thirtythree having been added during the year, and three adults and thirtythree infants having been baptized.

I have come here to-day, in somewhat feeble health, to discharge what I deem a solemn duty; to take my leave of, and bid a final adieu to a church that has been imder our care, and where we have lived and labored for nearly half a century - a church where we have lived to see one generation pass all away, and another rise in its room.

That justice, m some measure, may be done thereto, reference must be had to her early history, and to some of the changes that have shaped her destiny thus far.

This church was organized some time in the fall of the year 1803, by two Rev. Fathers, Patterson and Macurdy, who are now no more. Three persons were chosen, and set apart at the time as ruling elders, and a communion followed. This appears to have been the beginning, the mornins; of the existence of what has since been called Beech Spring, a name said to have been given to it by Mr. [Daniel] Welch, and took its rise from a group of beech trees that enclosed a large spring of water on a lot of fiveacres he had generously donated for the use of the church, on the west corner of his section.

The year following another young man and myself, of the first class of students that graduated at Jefferson College, having finished a course of Theoloo-ical studies under the direction of Rev. Dr. McMillan, were licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Ohio, June, 1804. After a tour of three months through the interior of this State, and another up the Allegheny towards the Lakes, the winter following I supplied here, and at Crabapple, by order of Presbytery. In April, a joint call was prepared by these two congregations, then in union, and forwarded to Presbytery signed by the following persons, viz: John Miller, S. Dunlap, W. Watt, Henry Ferguson, Jesse Edgington, D. Welch, Esq., and William Harvey. You will readily excuse me in the mentioning of these names, when it is remembered that these were the men who founded the Church of Beech Spring; these were the men who called me, who first gave me the hand of fellowship, and welcomed me to these woods; most of whom I remember with affection, and would gladly visit were they living; but they are no more; the last died the other day. This call being acce'pted, I was accordingly ordained and installed pastor of the united conoregation of Crabapple and Beech Spring by the Presbytery of Ohio, Au'nist' 1805. [The first elders of Crabapple were Robert McCullough, WiHiam McCullough, and David Merritt. ]

The field covered by these two societies, at the time of our settlement, was very extensive, and the labor proportionably great. Crabapple claimed as being within her bounds, the whole extent of country between the south fork of Short creek and the farthermost part of Nottingham. Beech Spring was equally, if not still more extensive, including the entire region of country from the Piney Fork and the Flats, on west to Stillwater. All passed under the general name of Beech Spring. There was no Smithtield, nor Bloomfield, nor any other field, whereby to fix our limits. All was Jefferson county, and Steubenville, the seat of Justice.

Over all this extensive field, claimed by both churches, we had to travel. Wherever one was found, or whenever we heard of one in our connection, him we must visit; day and night, summer and winter, all seasons of the year, without a road in most places, save the mark of an axe or the bark of a tree, or the trail of an early Indian. ISTo man that now comes in among us at this distant day, and highly improved state of the coimtry, can so much as conjecture the labor and fatigue of the primitive pioneers of the Ohio forests, out of which the savage had just begun to recede, but continued still in large encampments in some places, near the skirtings of little societies, where the few came together to worship under the shade of a green tree.

The two churches under our care lay nearly twelve miles apart. ]\rany Sabbath mornings, in the dead of winter, I had to travel ten miles to the place of meeting in Crabapple, having no road but a cow-path, and the underwood bent with snow over me all the way. Worn down by fatigue, and frequently in ill-health, I was more than once brought near the confines of the grave.

In all the region around, there were but two clerical brethren who could afPord me any assistance, where now there are two Presbyteries and well-nigh thirty preachers. Notwithstanding all this, I must say of those early times, as Jehovah once said of Israel, eight hundred years after, "I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thy espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." Those were the best times, and that generation, that Israel, as a nation, ever saw. During the first years of these two congregations, a great and good Providence was evidently seen over them. They prospered exceedingly. Their increase was unprecedented; within our knowledge, we have seen nothing like it; without anything very special that could be called a revival (though something of the effects of the great western, revival still remained, and appeared at times in our meetings), yet so rapid was their growth, that in less than five years each became able to support a minister all his time.

Accordingly^, in April, 1810, the union existing between these churches was by mutual consent dissolved, and the way opened for each to employ a pastor. Shortly after, a call was prepared by this congregation for the whole of oar time, and received through the same Presbytery as before. About this time there were several small societies forming at some distance from us, and appeared to be promising. From one of these societies an earnest request was forwarded to the session at Beech Sjiring, that some part of their pastor's time might be granted them. With tliis request the congregation complied, and for some years the fourth of our time was spent in laying the foundation of what has since

After the division of Jefferson county had taken place, and a new county formed out of it, Cadiz, then a small village, became the Seat of Justice of Harrison county. This village lay within our limits, and was considered a part of our congregation. Here we organized a church, at the request of the villagers, and labored a part of our time for three years; since which our ministry has been chiefly confined to this place alone.

For several years after, this church continued still more to increase, until she became, as was generally supposed, the largest in the State of Ohio. Out of this congregation, at different periods, there have been formed not less than six contiguous organized chiirches. Still, she continued to maintain her standing entire, until April, 1848, when age and infirmity made it necessary that I should resign, and the pastoral relation of forty-three years was at length dissolved.

Having thus briefly outlined the history of this church, - for "Why should the wonders He has wrought. Be lost in silence and forgot." some notice is due to its officers.

In the Presbyterian Church the membership of elder is recognized in all her courts. The interest this class of men take, or the course of conduct pursued by them, Avill go far in shaping the destiny, the wellbeing, or ill-being of any church. In the organizing of this church at first I had no concern; it took place before my settlement. But in the course of years, as the congregation increased, frequent additions had to be made, until at one time we had not less than ten members in session. All were chosen by the people, and ordained by myself, with the exception of three, viz: James Kerr, Sr., John McCuilough, Esq., and Dr. Thomas Vincent. These were valuable men, and useful members of the session. They obtained their ordination elsewhere, and were received as such here.

Ghaptee Viii

Harrison county was erected from parts of JeflFerson and Tuscarawas. As at first constituted, tlie county included the southern portion of Carroll county; while the western half of Franklin and nearly all of Monroe townships were retained by Tuscarawas county. Carroll county was erected in 1833, from parts of Jefferson, Harrison, Columbiana, Stark, and Tuscarawas, which left the northern boundary of Harrison as it is to-day. The original townships of Jefferson county, which covered nearly all of the present territory of Harrison, were Short Creek and Archer. As organized in 1803, Short Creek township included all the present townships of Nottingham, Moorfield, Cadiz, Athens, Short Creek, and the south three-sevenths of Green, besides three tiers of sections in Jefferson covmty; while Archer included the eastern halves of Monroe and I'ranklin, all of Xorth, Stock, Eumley, Archer, and German, and the north four-sevenths of Green, besides the southern tier of sections in Carroll and the northwestern portion of Jefferson counties.

Harrison county was organized under an act of the Legislature passed January 2, 1813, to take effect January 1, 1814. On January 12, 1813, the Legislature amended the act, making it take effect February 1, 1813, which, accordingly, is the date of erection of the county. On January 14, 1813, the Legislature appointed three commissioners, to loc;;te the county-seat for the new county, and named Messrs. Jacob Myers, Joseph Eichardson, and Eobert Speer for this purpose. On the fifteenth of the following April, these commissioners made their report to the

While Harrison county was still included within the territory of J efferson, the second war with Great Britain broke out. Jefferson county furnished at least one full regiment, consisting of thirteen companies and 1065 men, and contributed to the formation of others. The officers of the regiment were as follows :

Lieutenant-Colonel, John x\ndrew; majors, Thomas Glenn, James Campbell, George Darrow, Jacob Frederick; adjutant, Mordecai Bartley; surgeon, Thomas Campbell; quartermaster, Jacob Van Horn; sergeantmajor, John B. Dowden; quartermaster-major, John Patterson; drummajor, John McClintock; fife-major, John Niel; captains, (1) Aaron Allen, (2) Thomas Latta, (3) John Alexander, (4) John Allen Scroggs, (5) .Tames Alexander (6) Nicholas Murray, (7) William Faulk, (8) Jacob Gilbert, (9) Joseph iiolmes, (10) James Downing, (11) Joseph Zimmerman, (13) David Meek, (13) William Stoakes; lieutenants (in same relative order with captains, as to their companies, (1) John Vantillburg, (2)

Nathan Wintringer, (7) John Berkdell, (8) John Teeton, (9) William Thorn and John Ramsay, (10) Peter Jackson, (11) James Kerr, (13) Joseph Davis, (13) Thomas Orr; ensigns (in same relative order with captains and lieutenants, as to their companies), (1) William Mills, (2) William Pritchard, (3) David Jackson, (4) John Caldwell, (5) John Myers, (6) John Carroll, (7) Jacob Grauss, (8) Abraham Fox and Conrad Myers, (9) Gavin Mitchell, (10) Thomas Smith, (11) Conrad Myers, (12) Jacob Sheffer, (13) John Caldwell.

Of the companies enumerated in the foregoing list, at least three were enlisted wholly or in part within the territory of Harrison county. The first was that of Cajitain Joseph Holmes. Follov,dng is a muster-roll of this Company, taken from the records of the Adjutant-General's office at Columbus, under date of August 36, 1813:

Cahill, James Cliaffin, i'indley Elliott, Thomas Elliott, Isaac Edgington, John Ferguson, Thomas Ferguson, Benjamin Foster, Thomas Glass, Samuel Gilpin, John Guttery, William Harper, Isaac Henry, Joseph Hughes, John Harriman, John Hawthorne, Khesa Kendall, Matthew Kelly, Samuel Kerr, William Kyle, Jacob Lanning, Kichard Logan, John Leach, James Long, Benjamin McClery (also written McClay), James Minnis, George McElroy, Patrick H. Madden, James McCullough, Charles McMillan, Iiobert_Maxwell, Thomas McDonald, James Moore, William McClintock,''john'McCoi-mick, Thomas McFadden, Jacob Meek, Jacob Osburn, Jacob Osier, John Parks, Hugh Porter, Richard Ross, Jeremiah Roach, Ebenezer Roach, Isaac Skeels, Charles Smith, James Sankey, Henry Snider, Joseph Strahl, George Sullivan, David Stevens, Luke Tipton, William Tipton, Jonathan Tipton, Isaac Van Bibber, Joseph White. Most of these privates re-enlisted for the spring campaign of 1813, as \^ ell as the following in addition (enlisted to serve from Jan. 1, to April 13, 1813) : David Potts, Johnston RoSlins, John Robertson, Charles Robertson; (enlisted to serve from Jan. 1, to Feb. 28, 1813): John Scholes, Jonathan Wist (or West), Edward Yealdhall.

Captain Aaron Allen's 'company was also largely recruited in Harrison county, and the adjoining townships of Jefferson and Belmont, the most of the company enlisting for six months' service, from September, 1813, to March, 1813. The roll of this company is as follows:

A third company was that of Captain Allen Scroggs, enlisted September 21, 1812, to serve until November 30, 1812. The roll of this company is as follows:

It will be observed that many of these names are repeated on the rolls of two or three of the companies given above. This may have been caused by the transference from one company to the other, or by a tour of service in each one of the companies.

Another Company was organized in Harrison county, before its separation from Jeirerson, and took the field against Great Britain. This was the Company of Captain Baruch Dickerson, in service in 1814,

Before giving its muster-roll, the following account of its organization and record may be repeated, the same having been dictated by the a«i-ed Joshua Dickerson, in two interviews had with him in the fall of 1896. Mr. Dickerson spoke as follows :

"I was but six years old, or thereabouts, when the Indians living along Lake Erie made frequent marauding excursions through this part of the State. This was about the year 1810 or 1811. There were no incidents of cruelty in this immediate neighborhood, but apprehendinowell the danger that might be, the settlers sought to prevent further trouble. Although I was but a child, I remember well the occurrences; perhaps my memory of this is strengthened somewhat by having heard my father relate the matter repeatedly.

"David Barrett, a Quaker, came to my father, and asked what he advised doing, to prevent trouble with the Indians. Father said, 'in time of peace, prepare for war,' and on election day a Militia Company was formed. After the election, the Company numbered sixty, and in a short time reached a hundred. David Barrett having organized the Companv was chosen its first captain; Samuel Gilmore, first lieutenant; John Jamison, second lieutenant. Two years later, Baruch Dickerson, havinosucceeded David Barrett as captain, the Company was called out to serve against the British,

"The Company was to serve nine months, but was out only six. They went from Cadiz, first, to Steubenville, then north to Sandusk\r. During the whole six months there was no actual engagement; onlv on two or three occasions were any shots fired. The camp life was very disagreeable. At Sandusky, they camped in a swamp, where they\vere obliged to cut down cedar trees, roll the logs together, and cover them with cedar branches. These cedar branches formed their bed, and covering.

"Samuel Gilmore was sick when they started home. He lived where Samuel Cochran now lives; he was a broad-shouldered, well-made man of about forty years, and had three or more children. Gilmore, two days before his discharge, being on the way back to Cadiz, took the fever, and not at that time having a horse, was in bad cDndition; and refusino- assistance from his comrades, walked thirty miles. Then the officers contributed sufficient money to purchase a horse, and Gilmore rode the remainder of the way to Cadiz, for the last two days of his march being held (m the horse by his companions. The Company reached Cadiz on a Saturday, where a large assemblage was waiting to welcome their return.

Gilmore was able to recognize only his wife among the crowd; was at once conveyed to his home south of the village; and during the following vreek [Sept. 8, 1814], he died."

The roll of Captain Baruch Dickerson's Company, as shown on the records of the Adjutant-General's office at Columbus, is given below, the Company forming a part of Lieutenant-Colonel William Cotgreve's (or Colgrove's) Second Eegiment of Ohio Militia. It will be observed that the titles of some of the officers diifer from those given in Mr. Dickerson's account. This may possibly be accounted for by the fact that it was customary for the militia companies of that day to elect new officers every year or so. The Company as made up to fight the British numbered but thirty-six men, and was enlisted March 12, 1814, for service until September 13, 1814, as follows:

While on the subject of the war with Great Britain, it will not be out of place to record in this place the names of some of the surviving soldiers of the Eevolutionary War, who afterwards located and lived in Harrison county. So far as known there are no printed records of these \eterans in existence, save the names of those who were pensioners, and as such enrolled on the pension lists of the Government. The first of these pension rolls was published by Congress about 1820, in volume four of Executive Papers, No. 55, first session of the Sixteenth Congress. In this roll, Avhich is very length}^, the pensioners are classified as to residence only by States, and it is not possible to determine to what counties they then belonged. In 1835, a second roll was printed by Congress, showing the pensioners then living, or whose heirs were drawing pensions, with their place of residence, and age. xo Harrison county at that time were credited the following:

In the Government Census for 1840, a list of pensioners was prepared, and printed in the Census Eeport. This gave the names of all then drawing pensions for Eevolutionary, or other military service, which included pensioners of the War of 1812 and of the various Indian Wars. Harrison county then contained the following pensioned veterans:

The following letter, written by Walter B. Beebe, then a young lawyer, who had but recently emigrated to the West from his home in Massachusetts, gives an interesting description of the settlers and conditions which he found in the newly organized county, where he had determined to seek his fortune. It will be observed the letter bears a date scarcely two weeks later than the date of organization of the county:

February 14, 1813. Honored Parents: - I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well and in good spirits. Since I left home, I have become tolerably well acquainted with the science of traveling. I started from St. Clairsville (the place from which I wrote you), on or about the 1st of December, and took a convenient route through the middle section of this State, a route of about 500 miles. The more I get acquainted with this part of the country, the better I like it. It is certainly the best land I ever beheld. Judge Euggles went with me to Chillicothe, the seat of Government, at which place the Legislature was then sitting. I got acquainted with Governor Meigs, and many of the members, who all appear to be very friendly to young men emigrating to this part of the country! Governor Meigs is a Yankee, from Middletown, Connecticut. At Clliillicothe, I was examined by the Judges of the Supreme Court of ihis State, and admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor at law in the several courts of record in this Staate. I found a good many counties in my route, which I thought would be good places for an attorne}^ but was induced to settle in this, the county-seat of Harrison county, from the following considerations, to-wit : Notwithstanding this county w^as set off and organized when I was in Chillicothe, yet it is an old settlement, and the settlers are generally rich. The inhabitants of this county, and counties adjoining, have but few Yankee settlers, but settled by Virginians, Pennsylvanians, Germans, Scotch, and Irish, who are more litigious and quarrelsome than the Yankees are, and pay their money niore freely. There is no lawyer in this county, and I have the assurance of being appointed State's attorney, which will be worth eighty a vcar, and will be attended with but very little trouble and very little incon- Venience to other business, being only barred in criminal prosecution from appearing against the State of Ohio.

This county is so situated that there are five other counties within one day's ride of it, and it is the practice in this State for lawyers to ])ractice in adjoining counties. It is the healthiest part of the State, and the water is good. These, together with other considerations, have induced me, after having been a bird of voyage for three months, to pitch on this place for my pexmanent home.

This town is about twenty miles from the Ohio river, about seventy miles from Pittsburgh, and sixteen miles west of St. Clairsville. It is the shire-town of the county, and will soon be a populous town. I think my prospects are as good as a young man can reasonably expect, and I have no fear, if I have my health.

I am in a land abounding in very many of the good things of this life. I have seen good pot-turkeys, weighing twenty pounds, sell for twenty-five cents; hens and chickens, six cents. Money is very plentiful in" this State, probably more plentiful than usual, owing to its being near the N. W. army. I remain, your dutiful son.

It is to be regretted that somj3 of our eastern writers of American history, who have never been west of the Allegheny mountains, cannot have the advantage of a visit to Ohio, and learn as General Beebe did, that Yankees were exceedingly scarce there, outside of the Marietta and Western Reserve settlements.

missioners held April 12, 1813, they entered into an agreement with the trustees of the Associate Eeformed congregation of Cadiz, leasing the meeting-house helonging to that society for the term of three years, for the purpose of h Iding the courts of the county. On October 24, 1815, this lease was extended for a second term of three years, or until the newly begun court-house of the county should be completed. The first terra of court was held in the house of Thomas Stokes on May 3, 1813. Very little business was transacted at this term. The second term was held August 24-26, 1813. Judges Benjamin Kuggles, President, and James Eoberts, Samuel Boyd, and Ephraim Sears, Associates, occupied the bench. The court appointed Walter B. Beebe as prosecuting attorney for Harrison county, and allowed him the sum of $33.33, as salary for his services during the August term. The first grand jury was composed of Andrew McISTeely, foreman, William Smith, Zachary Baker, William- Mercer, William Hamilton, Samuel Gilmore, William Moore, Thomas Hitchcock, John McConnell, William Conwell, Eichard McKibben, and John Taggart. On motion of Mr. Beebe, Eev. William Knox, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was licensed to officiate at marriages within the State of Ohio. The Court also licensed John Adams to keep a tavern at his place of residence in Nottingham township, for the term of one year; and likewise, William Grimes and Messrs, Middle, Niel and Maholm, to keep taverns in the village of Cadiz. The first empanelled jury was composed of Messrs. John Paxton, Samuel Osburn, Jonathan Seers, Eobert Croskey, Samuel Dunlap, James McMillan, Siimuel Huff, David Barrett, John Clark, Andrew Eichey, James Porter, and Benjamin Johnson. The grand jury returned one indictment for larceny, four for riot, and seven for assault and battery; thus apparently _ vindicating Lawyer Beebe's judgment as to the quarrelsome character of some of the Ohio pioneers.

Prominent Attorneys, who have been or are now members of the Harrison County Bar - Walter B. Beebe, Edwin M. Stanton, Chauncey Dewey, Thomas L. Jewett, Samuel W. Bostwick, Samuel A. Russell, Samuel G. Peppard, Josiah Scott, Joseph Sharon, Jesse H. McMath, Lewis Lewton, Josiah M. Estep, David Cunningham, David A. Hollingsworth, John S. Pearce, Walter G. Shotwell.

I\atives or residents of Harrison county who have attained a National reputation - Edwin M. Stanton, Bishop Matthew Simpson, General George A. Custer, John A. Bingham, Thomas L. Jewett, Frank Hatton.

Cadiz was platted by Zaccheiis A. Beatty and Zaccheus Biggs. Oct. 29, 1804; plat filed in JelTerson county, Oct. 29, 1804; in Harrison county, May 24, 1813.