Beaver Township

Beaver Township

Pioneer Bettlers - Laroely from Maryland - Their Condition and Characteristics - Adventures with Hearb and Pantherh - How ** Whisky Kun" got fre Name - ** Frolics" - John Hoise's Mn,L - Mention of Early Settlers - Anecdotes - OroANizATioN OF Beaver Township, 1816 - Tax-Li8T IN 1830 - TuE Boundaries of the Township as Established in 1851 - Change of Boundary - Early Merchants- Family Sketches - Early Schools - Batksville - Its Origin and Growth - A Neat AND Thrifty Town - Churches, Schools, Lodges, etc.

THE first settlement in the township was made by the Ileed family, elsewhere mentioned, and by Thomas, John and Joseph Carjienter and John Tyrrell as early as 1810. The Carpenters came from Virginia. They reared families and died in the township. In early years they were noted hunters. Tyrrell afterward moved east. Richard and Matthias (-roy were among the first settlers. The family In^came widely scattered.

Nearly all the pioneers came from the old States of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania - by far the greiiter number from Maryland. Few of them were blessed with a surplus of this world's goods. They had their own way to make, their own fortunes to achieve. Their experience did not differ from those of the generality of Ohio pioneers, and no remarkable events marked the history of their lives. They were honest, worthy people ; neighborly, kind-hearted and obliging; generally men of strong religious convictions but of limited education.

abundant. There were turkeys and deer in plenty; many wolves and a few beurs and panthers. Samuel Caq>ent«r, crossing within a mile of Batesville, heard a sound which he at first took to be the cry of a human l>eing in distress. He answered ; the cry was repeated several times, and the sound came nearer. Then he understood that it was not a man but a panther that was approaching him, and made all haste to his home. At another time John Joy, on his way to the home of the Carpenters, saw peculiar tracks on Whisky Run. They led into a cave or cleft in the rocks, and he - bold even to rashness - crept in to see what was there. Discovering nothing, he came out and proceeded on his way. The (Carpenters and John Tyrrell, on being told of the tracks, went with Joy to examine them. Tyrrell at once pronounced the tracks to be those of a panther. They also discovered that new tracks, leading away from the rocks, had l)een made since Joy left, and the wide spaces between them showed that the animal had made tremendous leai)S in leaving the spot. The settlers of the neigh- . borhood gathered, and with their guns followed the panther a long distance, but did not succeed in killing him.

Whisky Run is very appropriately named. In early years Jacob Clinedinst, George Peters and Michael Upmeyer each had distilleries along the stream a short distance apart. Farther down James Eagon had a distillery. John House, on Beaver Fork, also had an early distillery. Whisky came nearer being a legal tender than almost any other article except money, and the latter was very scarce. The price of whisky was from 25 to 37^ cents per gallon, and a gallon of whisky was the equivalent of a bushel of corn. Though whisky was almost universally used as a beverage, yet habitual intoxication was rare. A man who would not offer to treat a neighbor who called at his house was at once set down as mean and stingy.

In early years almost every species of labor was performed by " frolics " - gatherings of the neighbors for raising, grubbing, log-rolling, chopping, splitting rails, harvesting, etc. On these occasions there was great rivalry to see which man would j>erform the most labor. The women also had their gatherings for preparing flax for spinning, for quilting, carding, etc. These gatherings were always most enjoyable for all the participants.

cutting their own road from Leatherwood Creek. James Eagon had settled in 1811 on the farm next below where House located. John House served as justice of the peace for eighteen years. Prior to this, Edward Bell, who lived on Leatherwood Creek within the present limits of Guernsey County, had held the same oflSce for the township. John House built a log-mill upon the creek as earl}^ as 1816, and afterward erected a saw-mill. The grist-mill was afterward twice rebuilt, and the last one erected' is still standing. Mr. House died in 1856. Nathan House, born in Greene County, Pa., in 1810, has lived in Beaver Township since 1812, and has a vivid recollection of the hardships and experiences of pioneer life.

Some years after James Eagon came to the township, his brother, Jesse and Bernard, came out from Pennsylvania and settled, bringing also their father, Bernard Eagon.

John Delong was among the first settlers, coming prior to 1812. He located at the forks of the creek. His sons, Thomas, William and Nathan, lived here after him.

Nathan Mills, from North Carolina, came about 1812, and lived in the township many ye<ars. Some of his children went to the western part of the State ; he made them a visit and died while coming home.

John Starr settle<l in the township in isil, and remained until his death. He was an upright and honorable man and a leailing Methodist. His sons, John and James, also lived here.

John Joy and his sons, Absalom and Amos, were among the pioneers of the township. They came from the vicinity of Wheeling, and before coming to Beaver lived a short time in Seneca Township. After a number of years they remove<l to Federal Creek, in Morgan County, where the village of Joy was named for them.

John Cline, an early settler on the creek l>elow Batesville, was the first blacksmith in the settlement. His son Peter afterward worked at the same trade in Batesville.

In 1824 Isaac Cooper came from Virginia, bringing his family and his household goods in a twowheeled cart drawn by two horses hitched tandem. His son, W. K. Cooper, is now a carpenter in Batesville. -

In 181*8 William W. Finley came from Belmont Count}' with his family and bought a farm, on which his sonin-law, James Re^, laid out the village of Batesville, which for many years was known as Williamsburg.

He had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. He died in the township in 1836, his wife in 1874, at the age of eighty-five. The second daughter, Margaret, was ! bom in Belmont County, Ohio, in ' 1811. She married James Ree<l, ! who came to the county about 1827 I or 1828. He followed teaching for : a livelihood. He was the first store- I keeper of Batesville; his stock ($ir>o) was hauled from Wheeling, Va., in a one-horse wagon. He did business for about five years, when he bought a farm in BuflFalo Township, where he lived until 1832, when he removed to Senecaville. In 1852 he purchased the farm now owne<l by his son, Sylvester, in Center Township. Here he lived until his decease, in May of 1872. He had a family of six children : Lovina (Rich), Ellen A. (Yorhies), Isabella (Williams), Caroline (Arndt), Kebecca A. and Sylv^- ter. Mr. Reed was a good citizen and an exemplary man in all respects. In politics he was a Republican; he belonged to the Methodist church.

Jacob Brown, a native of Virginia, came from Belmont County to this township in 1819. His son, Squire Brown, born in 1807, is among the old residents of Batesville.

William Williams, Robert Smith, George Whetsel, Thomas and Moses Ball, l^athan Beals, John House, Phillip and Daniel Wendall, John Joy, William Finley, John Cline, John Starr, George Morgan, Francis Miller, William Murray, John Delong, Edmund Gallagher, John Jeffries, settled in the township as early as 1820.

Beaver

Timothy Cleveland, an enterprising, intelligent, honest Yankee, came from Maine, and settled north of Batesville prior to 1820. He raised apple trees from the seeds. Some of the trees he distributed among his neighbors, who set them out. Many of them are still producing fruit. Mr. Cleveland removed to the vicinity of Summerfield.

It is related of John House, the early magistrate of the township, that he kept no docket, but recorded his transactions on slips of paper, which he stuck into the cracks in the walls of his dwelling. He Avas a very honest and worthy man - and the same may be said of his son, Nathan, who is still living.

John S. Jeffries was born in 1792. In 1815 he emigrated from Chester County, Pa., and settled on the farm on Beaver Creek, where he died in 1872. He was a man greatly esteemed in the community, where he spent the greater part of his long life. He left a large number of descendants.

Beaver Township was established June 3, 1816, from part of Seneca and Oxford Townships, Guernsey County. The township was reorganized on the formation of Noble County in 1851.

On the petition of twenty-two inhabitants of township 8 in range 7, on the 2d of June, 1817, the commissioners of Guernsey County ordered an election to be held at the house of Philip Wendell for the purpose of choosing trustees for the school section. This record probably shows nearly the whole number of male citizens then residents of the township.

July 20, 1818, David Gray applied to the commissioners of Guernsey County for a lease of the school section in township 8 of range 7. Mi,- chael King, William Thompson and Samuel Rogers were - appointed appraisers.

On the tax duplicate of Guernsey County for the 3^ear 1830 (the oldest now on record), are the names of the following owners of real estate in Beaver Township, with the number of acres owned by each and the valuation of the same. The list may therefore be regarded as an authentic record of the early settlers of the township: Thomas Arnold, section 6, 40 acres, value $55 ; Isaac Atkinson, section 15, 79 acres, $100; same, 79 acres, $100; Jesse Bailey, section 6, 64 acres, $87 ; Timothy Bates, section

History Of Noble Oouxty, Ohio

''Beaver Township, altered so as to include and be composed of the following territory, to wit: Commencing for the same at the southeast corner of section 1, in township number 8 of range 7 ; thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of section 6 in said township and range; thence Avest along said township line to the northwest comer of the east half of section 30 in said township and range; thence south through the center of said sections 30, 29, 28, 27,26 and 25, to the south west corner of the east half of said section 25 in said township ; thence east along the township line to the place of beginning: containing 27 sections."

Samuel Gebhart was the first justice of the peace in the township after the organization of Noble County. He entere<l upon the duties of his oifice November 11, 1851.

On petition of William II. Eagon and twenty-four others, on the 3d of March, 1852, the county commissionei*s ordered that the following territory be taken from Wayne Township and attached to Beaver: The west half of sections 25, 26 and 27 ; and the east half of sections 31, 32 and 33.

kept store on his farm near the present hne of Guernsey County. He came from one of the Southern States and was in comfortable circumstances. After Quaker City was founded, the store was removed thither by his son Isaac, who became wealthy and prominent. Isaac Hall died in 1886.

James B. Reed lives on the farm entered by his grandfather. His father was born on the same farm in 1808 and died in 1869. He was thrice married and was the father of seventeen children.

James B. ReeW was born April 6, 1837, and has followed farming and stock-dealing. He was married in 1858 to Harriet C. Fowler of Belmont County. Their children are Mary Arilla and Clara Alice. Mr. Reed and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Democrat and has held several township offices.

Joseph Carpenter, the pioneer, was a native of Virginia, and for two years served in the Revolutionary War. He lived near Moundsville, and he and his family encountered many dangers from hostile Indians. He came to Belmont County, Ohio, about 1806, and a few j^ears later removed to this township, where he died in 1849. His son Robert was born in Virginia in 1796, and came to Ohio with the family. He was a pioneer settler on the farm now owned by his son.

J. Wesley Car|)enter. He died in 1881. He was a member of the Methodist church for thirty -five years. lie was prominent as a farmer and stock-raiser, and excelled in raising tobacco.

J. W. Carj>enter was born in Beaver Township, August 31, 1848, and is among the leading farmers and breeders of fine stock. Since 1883 he has been engaged in breeding fine Merino sheep and graded Poland-China hogs. Mr. Carpenter is a lemling member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary M. Garvey, of this county, in 1873, and has three sons and three daughters.

Daniel Wendall was a Virginian, of German descent. Ue moved from Shenandoah County, Va., to Ohio in 1819, settling with his family on the farm now occupied by his son Harrison. Philip Wendall, an older brother of Daniel, had settled in the township some years previously. Harrison Wendall was born in Virginia and came to this county with his })arents. He aided his father in clearing up the farm on which he now lives. He married Melissa E. Hopkins, of Batesville, in 1841. Children: Lucy, Daniel, William and Mary (deceased), Joseph, John K., Charles, Franklin and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Wendall belong to the Lutheran church.

Samuel Wyscarver, from Greene County, Pa., settled in this township in 1828, and his son Jacob in 1830. The latter is one of the leading farmers of the county. He made his first purchase of land (seventy-three acres) in 1843. To this he has made additions, so that he now owns about one thousand acres of the best land in the county. He has upon his land five dwelling houses and the best of improvements. In 1839 Mr. Wyscarver married Rhoda, daughter of Daniel Wendall, an early settler. They have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living.

Samuel Hastings, from Frederick County, Va., was of Irish descent. He came to Belmont County in 1822, and two years later entered the land on which his son Hiram now lives, and removed to it in the fall of 1824 cutting his way through the wilderness. Having built a cabin, the family moved in before there was any floor or chimney ; afterward he made a floor of puncheons and built a chimney of sticks and mud. When Mr. Hastings entered his land at Marietta he had only $1.50 left, and with this he purchased three bushels of wheat. Until a crop could be secured the family lived chiefly on com bread. In spite of hardships and difficulties he succeeded in securing by his labor a comfortable home. Mr. Hastings died in 1863 in his sixty-sixth year. He was one of the organizers of the Lutheran church at Batesville and was a friend of public improvements. He was the father of two sons and two daughters.

Hiram Hastings, a well-known and prominent citizen, was born on the farm where he now lives, April 23, 1829. He has held several township and church offices, and is an active, energetic and respected citizen.

County, M(L, about 1835, and settled on the farm now owned by John II. Deal. He was the father of two sons and eight daughters. Nine of his children are still living. Mr. Deal died in 1880 in his eighty-fourth year, lie was a leading Methodist and an anti-slavery man. John H. and William are his sons. The former was a captain of militia during the Morgan raid.

James Lowrey was born neai* Winchester, Va., in 1811, and came in 1845 to the farm on which he now resides. He is a blacksmith by trade and for many years had the only shop in his neighborhood. In 1831 he married Sarah Hall of Belmont County. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living. He is a Republican and has held sqveral township offices.

Lewis Hunt, a prominent farmer, is the son of Henry Hunt, and was born in Belmont County in 1844. He came to the farm he now occupies in 1845. He has followed farming and stock-raising and dealing in stock and wool. In 1865 he married Julia A., daughter of James M. Griffin, of this township. They have had three children. Mr. Hunt is a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William Douglas was born in Ireland in 1792, and died in Koble County in 1871. He settled in Pennsylvania and there served in the War of 1812. He came to this township in 1883. He held several township offices and was justice of the peace. He was elected to the legislature in 1842. He was an earnest friend of churches and schools, and a leading Methodist. He was the father of twenty-one children by two wives. Seven are still living. Vaehael Douglas, a prominent farmer, was born in Beaver Township in 1833. He married Sarah A., daughter of James P. Reed, in 1856, and has three children living. Mr. Douglas is a Methodist. He has served in several township offices.

William Douglas, son of William, Sr., was born in this township in 1840. In 1863 he married Sidney A. Finch of Belmont County. They have four sons and eight daughters, all living. Mr. Douglas has held several township offices and is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Richard Coultas came to this township in 1828, from Pennsylvania. He died in 1872 at the age of eighty -two. His son Robert is one of the successful farmers of the township. He married, in 1847, a daughter of William Dement, one of the pioneers of Monroe County, who carried the mail from Wheeling to Cincinnati in 1810-15.

John Hague, from Fayette County, Pa., settled in Wayne Township about 1812, and died about 1842. His son, Joseph, came to this county when about eight years old, and has since resided here. He is now eighty-one years old. Taylor Hague, of Beaver Township, was born in Wayne Township in 1831. He married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Marlow, and they have four children living.

State, settling in Beaver Township in 1821. T. D. Petty is one of a family of eight children, two of whom are deatl. He was bom February 14, 1832, and is still living on the farm entered by his father. In 1858 he married Eleanor D. Harris, of this township, who died in 1876. They had one child: Mary Emma, who is living. Mr. Petty is a Kepublican. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Kev. Ludwell Petty, well known in this county as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, was his brother. His mother was a cousin of General Robert E. Lee.

Isaac Cooper, a native of Virginia, settled in this township in 1824. He w^as born in the Shenandoah Valley in 1799. He died in Vinton County, Ohio, in 1882. He was a substantial farmer and a worthy citizen. He was the father of Sarah (Hastings), William K., Isaac N., Azariah C. and Francis R., two of whom, Azariah C. and William K., reside in this county.

Azariah C. Cooper was born in Beaver Township in 1841. He was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Forty -second Ohio Volunteer Infantr}'^, in which he served four years. In 1883 he Avas elected county treasurer, and was reelected in 1885. He married Miss Lucy Gebhart, and is the father of eight children.

Hon. Abraham Simmons was for many years a prominent citizen of this township and county. He was born on the. eastern shore of Maryland in January, 1816. In 1833, Avhen a lad of seventeen, he came to Barnesville on foot, and after remaining there a short time, he became a resident of Batesville and followed the tobacco business. He was afterward quite extensively engaged in the mercantile business.

Mr. Simmons was a thoroughly self-made man. At the age of seventeen he had never attended school ; but by his own efforts he became well informed and a good man of business. He was a Republican and took an active part in politics. In 1856-7 he represented Guernsey County in the legislature and was regarded as an able and efficient member. In 1868-9 he was State senator from the Fourteenth District, composed of Washington, Morgan and part of Noble Counties. From 1861 to 1865 he was treasurer of Noble County. Every w^orthy public interest found in him a zealous friend. He was one of the most prominent and active meml^ers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and took a deep interest in religious matters. He married Nancy, daughter of William Anderson, of Beaver Township, in 1839, and reared seven children. Two of his sons gave their lives in defense of their country: William C, the elder, died at Bolivar, Tenn., in 1862; Thomas V. was captured near Cumberland Gap, and di^ at Belle Isle prison in 1864. Soon after the death of Thomas, a daughter, Rachel, was thrown from a horse and killed. The loss of these children was a severe blow, from the effects of which he did not recover.

George Robert Atkinson, merchant, is the second of a family of seven children bom to Mr. and Mrs. George B. Atkinson, who were natives of eastern Virginia. George R. came to Ohio with the family in 1836, settling near Morristown, Belmont County. lie taught school in early life, but since arriving at manhood has been engaged in the mercantile business. In 1879 he was elected to the legislature from Belmont County. In 1881 he removed to Batesville, his present location. He is a Democrat, and has recently been appointed postmaster. In 1874 he married Mary Wendall, of Batesville, who died in 1877. In 1882 he married Viola M. Reed, of this township. They have two children: Mary C. and Carrie L.

Frank M. Atkinson was the third son of George B. Atkinson, who came from eastern Virginia. He was born in Boston, Belmont County, Ohio, in 1837. In 1882 he married Josephine Sharkey, of Batesville, who died in the same year. Mr. Atkinson was a man of rare ability as a speaker, and of the most agreeable social qualities.

Hon. F. M. Atkinson, for many years one of the most prominent and enterprising business men of the county, was a native of Belmont County. He came to Batesville in 1869, and built up a flourishing business as a merchant. He was one of the principal organizers of the

Batesville bank, and was its first president. For several years he was greatly interested in railroad matters. He served as president of the Cincinnati, Wheeling & New York Railroad, and secured the extension of that road to Campbell's Station. He was a Democrat in politics, and in 1880-1, served as State senator from the Nineteenth District.

D. C. Goodhart, merchant, is of Virginia parentage. His father and mother were born and married in Loudoun County, Va. His father settlecl in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1835. D. C. Goodhart came to Batesville in 1846. He has followed tailoring and the mercantile business, and is at present engaged in the latter. He mari'ied, first, Mary A. Van Horn, of Monroe County, who died in 1853. By this union he had two children, both of Avhora are deceased. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary A. Sullivan, of Batesville. Children: Willeann,wife of Jerome Shively ; Emma L., and Jerome Henry Clay.

R. A. Powelson, merchant, of Batesville, was born at Sarahsville in 1854. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, settled here in 1850, coming from Guernsey County. R. A. Powelson taught school previous to entering the mercantile business. In addition to his business he is also studying law. He married Maria E. Douglas in 1873, and they have three sons and one daughter.

History Of Noble Oounty, Ohio

abeth Iligby, in 1878; three children of this union are living. In 1880 he married Sarah McCune; they have three children. Mr. Wells is a Democrat and a member of the United Presbyterian church.

An early log school-house stood near what is now the south end of the village of Batesville. A man named Ileinhart and Cookson Murray were early teachers there. Matilda Wendall was among the early female teachers.

Beaver is the best and richest agricultural township in Noble County. The surface is drained by Beaver Fork and its tributaries. The bottom lands are wide, rich, and productive. Away from the streams the surface is hilly, but everywhere the soil is good and under a high state of cultivation. It bears every appearance of being a thrifty agricultural region; yet a dark cloud has been thrown over the prosperity of the township. Many of the wealthj'^ citizens are financially embarrassed, and some have become bankrupt. In 1869-71 tlie wealthy farmers living within two miles (on either side) of the Summerfield and Batesville turnpike were taxed heavily for the building of that road. This drain was met, though not always uncomplainingly. But there came before the people a greater project - the building of a railroad; the extension via Batesville of the old Eastern Ohio, or " Calico," road ; the heaviest property holders invested largely; the railroad enterprise was a failure, and the affairs of the company are still in confusion. Many rich and prominent farmers were also interested in a grange co-operative store, which failed, causing serious losses. These have been serious blows to the progress and pros{)erity of the town and township. But with such a soil and such an intelligent, enterprising iK)pulation as Beaver has, it requires only time to adjust the difficulties and restore a healthy financial condition.

George T. S. Patterson enlisted in the Twenty-second Ohio Battery of Light Artillery, and was mustered into the service June 6, 1863, and remained on duty constantly with the battery until July 15, 1868, when he was mustered out of service. When he enlisted he was fifteen years of age, and was a resident of Batesville. lie entered the West Point United States Military Academy July 1, 1868, and graduated June 14, 1872; assigned as second lieutenant in the Fourteenth LTnited States Infantry; regimental quartermaster from April 23, 1879 to June 30, 1886; promoted first lieutenant March 15, 1883. At the present time he is first lieutenant Company A, Fourteenth Infantry, stationed at Fort Townsend, W. T.

II. M. Roach enlisted in Company G, Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Batesville, in November, 1861. He was in the engagement at Fort Donelson, Tenn., and participated in all the battles in the South, under Grant, Sherman, McPherson and Logan, up to the 4:th of September, 1864. He was then made a prisoner of war and sent to Andersonville, Ga., where he remaine<l in prison for eight months, being released at the close of the war. There are inscribed on the banner of his regiment thirty-six battles and skirmishes, among which the following are the most noted, and in all of them Mr. Roach participated : Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, luka, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Kenesaw Mountain; Atlanta, July 22 and July 28, 1864.

On the 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, the Seventy eighth Ohio was engaged, the Rebels being massed in their front and making repeated charges, determined to cut through and annihilate the Seventeenth Army Corps; but they were repulsed and driven back just as many tunes as they made assaults. The regiment's loss in this one engagement was 125 men.

Batesville is a thrifty and prosperous village, situated on Beaver Fork of Will's Creek, in the midst of one of the best agricultural regions in southeastern Ohio. The town is neatly built and contains a far greater number of good buildings than are often seen even in much larger places. The main street is the Summerlield and Batesville turnpike, with good sidewalks on each side. The general appearance of the place betokens that the people have good taste and an enterprising disposition.

Batesville was formerly called Williamsburg. It was so named from its founder, William Finley, who settled in the township as early as 1818. The name Batesville was first used to designate an early postoflBce, kept at Timothy Bates'* mill, near the present line of Wayne and Seneca Townships. The location of the office was afterward changed to Cornelius Bryan's, where Lewis Groves now lives, and thence to Batesville after the latter had become something of a village.

The town was platted as early as 1827, Lebbeus Fordyce, surveyor, but for some years there were no stores or houses of importance. The first house was built by Nathaniel Piles, who also kept the first tavern. His house stood on the lot now occupied by Elias Wehr's residence.

The first store was established about 1828, by Richard Elliott and James Reed, who came from Pipe Creek, near the Ohio River. Abraham Brown had a small store in 1830. lie remained but a short time. After Elliott & Reed, the next mercantile establishment of importance w^as that of Abner Johnson, who for several years did a prosperous business. Johnson first kept store on the creek about four miles below Batesville, serving as clerk for a man named Blackstone,t who owned the establishment, but lived at Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County. At Batesville he carried on business for William Shankland, of Barnesville. Besides conducting the mercantile business, he bought and packed large quantities of tobacco. Prior to 1835 Benjamin Davenport and Frederick

liates was a Whijr. After Jackson be^an turnInK Whigw out of office and appointing Democrats, ho became indigrnant, and sent in his resignation as postmaster.

Bieclenhorn, in partnership, starte<l another store. They had a good trade and remained many years. They also lx>ught tobacco and carried on the business of |)ork-packing on quite an extensive scale. Davenport was from IJarnesviUe,Biedenhom was a German. Among later merchants have been the Ilcxihspringer brothers and the Atkinsons. The latter are still among the prominent business men.

Thomas Winteringer, a bachelor and a hunter, who was not fond of work, but had a penchant for trading and "swapping,'' was among the early settlers of the village, and livetl in a hewed log house which he erected. lie had previously lived on a farm below the town.

" Jerry " Brown, a large, fat, goodnatured fellow, famous as a squirrelhunter, was the first shoemaker in the village. lie was better at hunting than in his trade.

One of the earliest industries of the village was a tannery, started about 1830, by Adam Wiemer. After a few v^'irs he sold out to Georgre and John Dillon, who carried on a prosperous business for many years, finally selling out and removing to Missouri.

Keuben Cari>enter, who worked at carpentry and cabinet-making, erected the first brick house in Batesville, about 1S37. It is now owned by Frank Clucas. The present residence of Harrison Wendall - at the lower end of Main street, almost in the village - w^as erected by his father, Daniel Wendall, in 1830, and was among the first brick structures in the township.

Henry Wehr, a tailor by trade, settled in the place in 1834. For some years he ran a horse-mill, which was liberally patronized. It was no unusual thing to see twenty farmers there at a time, awaiting their turns with their grists. Mr. Wehr erected the second brick house in the town. It is still standing, and is now owned by Daniel C. Goodhart. Elias Wehr, son of Henry, is the oldest r^ident of the village.

Michael Hendershot, a hatter, came to the town in 1835, and is still a resident. He followed his tnide a number of years. He is now an aged man, but still remarkably active.

Batesville is among the largest of the villages in Noble Countv. In 1870 it had a population of 213; in 1880, 369. The present ix)puLition is nearly 500.

The First National Bank of Batesville was organized in December, 1874, with the following board of directors: F. M. Atkinson, W. E. Gibson, Hiram Hastings, H. F. Mc^ Yickar, J. C. Israel, W. H. Atkinson and B. F. Carter. Capital, S60,(.K»0. The first oflBcers were F. M. Atkinson, president; W. E. Gibson, vicepresident; and A. P. Spencer, cash-

Be Aver

The flouring-mill in Batesville, one of the best in this region, Avas built in 1874 by a joint stock company, at a cost of over $12,000. It is firstclass in all respects.

In 1877 a telegraph line was built from Batesville to Spencer Station, and has since been operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company, asi)ecial arrangement with that corporation. It was a private enterprise of the citizens of Batesville. The principal capitalists interested were the Atkinson brothers, Henry Miller and the Fii^st National Bank.

About the time the town was laid out, a log school-house was built. Lebbeus Fordice was the first teacher in the village. Next a small frame building, containing but one room, was erected. It was soon found too small for the school, and in 1856 the present school-house, a tW(vstory frame building, was erected at a cost of about $1,500. This is now too small for the wants of the school, and the lower floor of Temperance Hall is now being used as an additional school-room. The schools of the town are well conducted.

S&fis of Tempei'ance, - The oldest tem|)erance society in Noble County is the Williamsburg Division, No. 234, of the Sons of Temperance. It was instituted June 10, 1847, and since that time no regular meetings have been missed excepting two or three. Michael Ilendershot is the only charter member, holding an undisturbed membership since 1847. In 1858 a twostory hall was built at a cost of $1,500. The society is still flourishmg, with a membership of thirty. The charter members of this division were A. Simmons, W. B. Stotler, M. Ilendershot, John Conner, John C.Alton, James Watkins, J. K. Casey, J.

M. Joseph, Carolus Judkins, David Mercer, B. Davenport and Joseph Stillwell. The present officers are Lucy A. Cooper, W. P. ; James Roach, W. A. ; W. C. Atkinson, P. W. P.; G.W. Roach, F.S.; Flora Atkinson, treas. ; Capitola Roach,. R. S. ; Maggie (^oo|>er, A. R. S. ; Mattie Roach, C. ; Frank Wendall, A. C; T. P. Osier, (). S. ; Sallie Atkinson, I. S. ; W. K. Cooper, chaplain.

Odd Fellows, - Batesville Lodge, No. 882, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 23, 1860, with the following charter members and first officers; W. G. Duflfy, Noble Grand ; Chalk Mercer, Vice-Grand; P. A. Petty, recording secretary ; W. K. Cooper, T. D. Petty, V. T. Mercer, J. T. Mercer, G. H. Cline, Isaac Hay, I. H. VanMeter, E. Wehr, Isaac Eagon, George Wys carver, Isaac Kaylor and W. Miller. The loilge room, over the First Na tional Bank, is valued at $1,000. The present officers are John M. Dickerson, Noble Grand ; Edward Douglas, Vice-Grand ; G. W. Roach, recording secretary ; W. K. ( -ooper, permanent secretary ; Hiram Hasting, treasurer.

Sons of Vet4>rans, - William 0. Simmons camp. No. 130, Sons of Veterans, was organized September 20, 1880, with ten charter members: G. R. Carter, captain ; John H. Morgan, first lieutenant; J. E. House, second lieutenant; Thomas Morgan, John House, Frank House, W. A. Cline, A. E. Cline, II. M. Roach and David Watson. In November, 1880, there were thirteen members.

The Methodists here, as elsewhere in the pioneer settlements, were among the first religious denominations to organize and hold regular services. For many years there was preaching at private houses. Near where Jacob Wyscarver now lives a log meeting-house, free for all denominations, but oftenest used by the Methodists, was erected prior to 1825.

Soon after 1834, the Methodist church edifice was erected. A class had been formed many years earlier. The Methodist church is still pros- I)erous, with a good membership.

Lutheran. - Mt. Hope Evangelical Lutheran church, of Batesville, was organized by Rev. William G. Keil, in 1828. The original members were John Cline, Samuel Hastings, Isaac Cooper, William Finley, Robert Stewart, Daniel Wendall, George Peters, Abraham Weimer, William Gladfelder, Peter Gladfelder, Samuel CoUiflower, George Cline and Daniel Finley. The first church edifice, a log building, 24x30 feet, was erected in 1833. The present church (frame, and 30x40 feet), was erected in 1858 at a cost of $1,800. The pastors have been Revs. William G. Keil (until 1842), Peter P. Lane, I. Sells, Thomas Corbett, Logan Gilbreath, John K. Booker, William Gilbreath, G. W. Elser, J. W. Hower, E. Minter and J. B. Miller. Present membership, 24 ; Sabbath school ^scholars, 30.

by Rev. Edward Fenwick, a native of Maryland, who Avas one of the first priests who labored in this section. Among the original members were Edmund Gallagher, Colonel John De Long, John S. Jeffries and others. In 1825 a log church was erected, being 26x30 feet in size. In 1853 a brick building, 45x85 feet, took its place. Its cost was about $8,000. The pastors have been Revs. James Reid, James Quinlan, William Murphy, Edward Brummer (who built the present church), J. M. Jacquet, Joseph Laffen, T. Howe, C. M. Ileery and J. G. Montag (1886, present pastor). The church has four hundred members; Sabbath school, eighty scholars.

In 1810 the Dominican fathers bore the cross into Ohio, near the present town of Somerset, where mass was said by Bishop Flaget in 1812. He found them already projecting a church. The Catholics of Beaver Township were attended in their spiritual wants from Somerset for a long time.

located in the northeast part of Beaver Township, and was organized in 1822 with the following members: Jacob Arick and wife, James Reid and wife, John Stewart and wife, Daniel Mead and wife, Mary O.. Potter, L. Petty, Sidney Petty, Cloe A. Arick, John Arick, Mary Reed, Joseph Stewart and Cyntha Stewart. James Reed was the first class-leader. The first sermon was preached by Ludwell Petty in 1828. The first church was of logs. It was erected in 1828 by volunteer labor. The present edifice was built in 1857, and cost about $2,000. The succession of pastors has been Revs. Green, Rucker, Waddle, Drummond, Brown, Murray, Graham, Tipton, Callender, Dempsey, McLeany, Mills, Cook, Taylor, Peter Taylor, Athey, Minor, Taylor, Leaper, Hair, Wharton, Devinna, Magee, Petty, Cross, Worthington, Hamilton, Jackson, Mapple, Watters, McGinnis, Cowen, Dallas, Cortright, Ellison, Perahing and others.