Belpre Township (part 2 of 3)

Belpreans Discover The Scioto Salines

Only those who have suffered the privation know how important it is to be well supplied with salt. Not only the inhabitants of Belpre but in fact all who resided in the territory of the Northwest, had great difficulty in maintaining the supply of marine salt which of necessity was brought in small quantities across the mountains on pack-horses and thence conveyed down the river. In various parts of the country it was noticed that the deer were wont to congregate in particular localities where they would gnaw and lick the clay banks which investigation proved to be impregnated with saline particles and were hence called "'salt licks." Inasmuch as eastern salt retailed in the west at between eight and ten dollars a bushel, the value of the salt licks became of great general interest. A white man who had escaped from captivity by the Indians had reported that while he was with his captors he had seen them make salt from the waters of a spring on a tributary of the Scioto at a point presumably not far from the present town of Jackson. 'Squire Griffin Greene, of Farmer's castle, learned of this report and immediately organized a company to proceed with the search. He associated with him in the enterprise Major Robert Bradford and Joel Oakes; he taking half the risk and his partners guaranteeing the remainder. A large pirogue was provided with provisions for ten to twelve men for ten days, and with a number of men from the neighboring settlement at Bellville, Virginia, the company started from Farmers' Castle in the fall of 1794. Proceeding down the Ohio until they reached the mouth of Leading creek, where they landed, and after hiding their boat continued their journey on foot. After several days' travel they came to a stream which led in the direction in which the salt springs were supposed to be. This conjecture proved to be correct. Paths or trails leading to the springs were soon discovered, and the remains of fires were seen along the banks of the creek. After a toilesome search a hole was found scooped out in the sand rock, and filled with blackish water, which proved the presence of the long sought for and much coveted salt. A small quantity was made, but fearing the approach of Indians from the neighboring village of Chillicothe they only remained a day and a half, and then started home with the good news. Just as the party had launched their boat at the mouth of Leading creek, and had got it out into the middle of the Ohio, a large party of pursuing Indians appeared on the bank but the whites were fortunately out of range. A party of Indians while hunting had discovered the men while at work boiling the salt water, and being too weak in numbers to make an attack had hurried to Chillicothe for assistance. The party with Squire Green soon reached the garrison, much to the relief of those who awaited their coming. The right of the discovery of the salines was sold by the exploring company to a Philadelphia merchant named John Nicholson, for fifteen hundred dollars. So valuable was the land of salt springs, however, that the State of Ohio long continued to own them, and during the earlier years of Ohio's history these springs furnished almost the entire supply of the southern and middle portions of the State.

The Theory Of Perpetual Motion

'Squire Griffin Greene had an ingenious and inventive mind. Having suggested the idea of the floating mill, and seeing its success, his ever busy mind turned toward something new. He thought of a plan to propel boats up and down the streams. His theory as finally developed was given to his brother mechanic, Captain Devol, to materialize. The latter with his more practical mind at once saw the fallacy in Squire Green's reasoning, and thinking to prove its absurdity set about the construction of the machine, whose mechanism was as follows: It consisted of a large wheel with numerous projecting arms; along the side of each of these arms there was a groove containing a leaden ball of one or two pounds weight. out to the extremity of the descending arms, while on the opposite side, as the arms rose, the balls descended to the foot of the arms, thus lessening the weight on the ascending, and increasing it on the descending. The machine worked for some time and then stopped - for lack of force to overcome the resistance offered.

The Grinding Of The Grist

early occupied the attention of the settlers. During the period of the famine the hand-mill could easily furnish the miserable dole which barely sufficed to sustain life. But with returning plenty the hand-mills were unable to supply the necessary breadstuff, and the erection of a regular grist-mill became a necessity. The Little Hocking was naturally selected asa suitable stream on which to locate this first mill, and the eastern branch being near the central point of Belpre it was decided to build thereon. The spot chosen was on the extreme southwestern corner of section nine, on the land now occupied by A. Fish, a mile and a half north of Centre Belpre. A broad, low gap in the line of hills promised an easy access. A number of the enterprising men of the settlement undertook the erection of the building, necessary machinery was purchased, and two millwrights employed - Baldwin and Applegate - who had recently assisted in the construction of the Wolf Creek mill at Waterford settlement. The Ohio company, ever anxious to increase the prosperity of the colonies, donated one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the site. The dam was built, and the timbers for the building were being made ready, and by the first of January, 1791, were ready for raising. But the dangers of the Indian war forbade further work, and the people, bitterly disappointed, once more labored at the hand-mill. The mill on the Little Hocking thus commenced was never finished,* not because the builders had neglected .to count the cost, but because they had not counted the Indians.

The Floating Mill

Early in the summer of 1791, says Dr. Hildreth, the settlers being disappointed in completing the mill commenced on the Little Hock-hocking, by the Indian war, concluded to build what might be called a 'floating mill." This could be anchored out in the river and be safe from destruction by the Indians. 'The labor of grinding corn with a hand-mill, for a community of more than one hurdred and fifty persons, was a task only known to those who have tried it. Esquire Griffin Green had travelled in France and Holland three or four years before, and in the latter country had seen a mill erected on boats and the machinery moved by the current. He mentioned the fact to Captain Devol, an ingenious mechanic of ardent temperament and resolute to accomplish anything that would benefit his fellow men; and although Squire Green had not inspected the foreign mill so as to give any definite description, yet the bare suggestion of such a fact was sufficient tor Captain Devol, whose mechanical turn of mind immediately devised the machinery required to put it in operation. A company was formed and the stock divided into twelve shares, of which Captain Devol took one-third; the remaining stock being divided among five other persons. When finished it cost fifty-one pounds eight shillings, Massachusetts currency, according to the old bill of expenditures now in the Devol family. The mill was erected on two boats; one of them being five, the other ten feet wide and forty-five feet long. The smaller one was a pirogue made of the trunk of a large hollow sycamore tree, and the larger of timber and plank like a flat-boat. The boats were placed eight feet apart and fastened firmly together by heavy cross beams covered with oak planks. The smaller boat on the outside supported one end of the waterwheel, and the larger boat the other, in which was placed the millstones and running gear covered with a light frame building or mill-house for the protection of machinery, meal, and miller. The space between the boats was covered with planks, forming a deck fore and aft of the waterwheel. This wheel was turned by the natural current of the water and was put in motion or stopped by pulling up or pushing down a set of boards, similar to a gate in front of the wheel. It

Colonel John Stone

Among the worthy and honorable men who formed the Belpre colony was Captain Jonathan Stone. Captain Stone first came to Marietta in the fall of 1788, and made preparations for the reception of his family. He located his farm in Upper Belpre in the fine bottom, a short distance below the mouth of the Little Kanawha. He returned to Massachusetts, and in the summer of 1789 left Brookfield, his former home, with his family, and finally located in Belpre, in December of that year. Two two-ox teams with a large wagon, cows for family use, and a horse for each of the ladies, composed the outfit. After crossing the mountains he procured a flatboat, in which they came down the river. The boards of this boat were used for the doors and floors of the first house which Captain Stone built at Belpre.

Captain Stone was born at Braintree, Massachusetts, in the year 1751. His father, who had been a soldier in the king's service, died in 1859, leaving him with limited opportunities for obtaining an education, but he acquired a knowledge of surveying, which became useful to him. He served as an apprentice in his father's tannery, and afterwards went on a whaling expedition. On his return he enlisted in the Revolutionary army with the rank of orderly sergeant. He served with credit in the northern army under General Rufus Putnam and General Gates, and was commissioned captain in 1781, in which capacity he served till the end of the war. He was afterwards employed by General Putnam in the survey of lands on the coast of Maine and assisted to put down Shay's rebellion in 1786. On the formation of the Ohio company Captain Stone purchased two shares.

When the Indian war broke out Captain Stone removed his family to Farmer's castle, but after the garrison known as Stone's fort was constructed, they removed into it and remained there until the close of the war. Captain Stone was second to none in courage and ability, and he was one of the most useful defenders of the Belpre garrisons. He was appointed treasurer of Washington county in 1792. After the war he was engaged with Jeffrey Mathewson to complete the survey of the Ohio company's lands, and in 1799 was appointed with General Rufus Putnam and B. I. Gilman to lay out the uni- versity lands at Athens. He died before this work was completed, March 24, 1801. Captain Stone was a man highly esteemed, and his early death much regretted. In politics he was a Federalist, as were all the efficient men at Belpre.

Mrs. Stone (Susannah Mathews), was a niece of General Rufus Putnam. She survived her husband many years, her death occurring November 3, 1833. 'I heir children were: Grace, wife of Luther Dana, of Newport; Benjamin F., of Belpre; Rufus Putnam, removed to Morgan county; John, Belpre; and Melissa W., wife of Joseph Barker, Newport.

Colonel John Stone, of Belpre, is the only member of the family yet living. He was born June 23, 1795. He married, in 1819, Charlotte P. Loring, daughter of Ezekiel Loring. The marriage occurred at the residence of Daniel Loring, in Belpre. He has always lived on the homestead. The house in which he resides originally stood near the river, but was removed to its present position with thirty-eight yoke of oxen in four hours. This was one of the memorable frolics in early times.

In 1826 Mr. Stone was made colonel of militia and has always since been known by that title. He is a man of strong character and convictions based on intelligent ideas. During the days of slavery he was an Abolitionist from principle, and took an active part in some of the stormy incidents along the Belpre shore of the Ohio. He took an active interest in negroes who sought homes in Ohio. He watched with impatient interest the trial at Parkersburgh which involved the boundary line controversy, and once ironically told Caleb Emerson as the ferry was pushing for Virginia, to ask General Jackson what objection there would be to him watering his horse in Virginia's river.

Colonel Stone's family consisted of eight children, six of whom are living, viz: Samuel, Melissa Barker, Simeon Boliver, Lydia Loring, John Loring, Augustus Dana, Jonathan Franklin and Bradley Burgess. Four of the sons were in the late war: Bradley B. was a volunteer in the Ninety-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and when discharged, wearing a captain's commission; Simon Boliver, Augustus D., and Jonathan F. were out over one hundred days at City Point and Bermuda Hundred when Boliver died with malarial fever.

from twenty-five to fifty bushels of grain in twenty-four hours. The larger boat was fastened by a chain cable to an anchor made of timbers and filled with stones, and the smaller one was fastened by a grapevine to the same anchor, and thus independent of the shore could the mill operate. It was placed in a rapid portion of the Ohio about the middle of Backus', now Blennerhassett Island, a few rods from the shore and in sight of the castle. The current here was strong and the position safe from the Indians. With the aid of a bolting-cloth in the garrison very good flour was made. This doating mill was a great relief to the settlers and was visited by all the settlers on both sides of the Ohio for the distance of twenty miles, in their canoes, the only mode of transportation at a period when there were neither roads nor bridges in the country,

The First Stationary Mills

During the enforced stay in the castle the floating mill sufficed, but as soon as the settlers returned to their farms, the necessity for a centrally located stationary mill became even more urgent than it was before the war. Captain Miles erected his saw- and grist-mill on the Little Hocking, at a point about a quarter of a mile below the dam that had been erected in 1790 for the mill that was never built. The mill put up by Captain Miles commenced operations shortly prior to the year 1800, and there has been a mill on the same site ever since.

Before its erection the people of Belpre had most of their grinding done at Captain Devol's mill, on the Muskingum; but the long journey of twelve miles up the Ohio and five miles up the Muskingum, was wearisome, and right glad did they avail themselves of the privileges of Captain Miles' mill. It passed into the hands of Bial Stedman, and for many years was known as Stedman's mill. Afterwards the mill was owned by A. Fish, and is now operated by Counsel & Flowers.

Nathaniel Sawyer put up a "corn cracker" in the Newbury settlement, prior to the year 1800. He located it on what is now known as Sawyer's run, about a mile above the entrance into the Ohio. One of the mill stones used in this mill is still preserved as a relic in the neighboring town of Hockingport, Athens county. The people of Newbury patronized the Steadman mill, and the mill on the west branch of the Little Hocking, in what is now Decatur township, until 1877, when a steam flouring mill was erected at Little Hocking by J. T. Seyler.

In the summer of 1792, the inhabitants of Farmer's castle were visited with a malignant form of scarlet fever, and putrid sore throat. It was especially fatal among children, and the light of many a household was put out in aday. Major Robert Bradford lost his four children, their deaths occurring within a short time of each other. The disease, which was confined to the settlement at Belpre, continued for several weeks, and then gradually subsided. Bilious and intermittent fevers were also prevalent.

In September, 1793, that dread disease, the small-pox, was brought into the garrison by Benjamin Patterson, one of the spies. He had become alarmed while at as the surest way of escaping danger, had himself and family inoculated by Dr. Barnes, who at that time was in Marietta. Patterson rashly came to Belpre, thus spreading the disease. Few except the old soldiers and officers of the colony had undergone the terrors of the loathsome plague. A meeting was immediately called, and it was decided that, inasmuch as it would be impossible to prevent the spread of the contagion, the people be innocculated by Dr. True, of Marietta. Thus the castle was turned into a hospital, but out of over one hundred patients, not one died. The disease also prevailed in the Goodale garrison, where Dr. Barnes was located. Several cases occurred in Stone's garrison. Dr. Barnes lost several patients, because of partial and tardy innocculation.

During the sickly seasons of 1821-3, many died of fever. The fever was of a low, lingering type, and numbered among its victims many prominent citizens of the township.

First Roads And Bridges

The pioneers came to Belpre down the Ohio river, and for a time after their settlement were too busy in the clearing of their land and erection of their houses to be concerned about their ways. of inland communication.

However roads soon became a necessity, and they were constructed at a very early day. The first important road was from the mouth of the Little Hocking along the Ohio river to the line of Marietta township, whence there was a continuation to the mouth of the Muskingum. The construction of this road was ordered by the court of quarter sessions convened in 1792. There were two separate petitions, each signed by twelve citizens of Belpre township, the first petition praying that a road be constructed from the Congress lot, so-called, to the settlement on the bluff; and the second petition asking that a road be built from the bluff to the mouth of the Little Hocking. The court ordered Jonathan Stone as surveyor and Nathan Goodale and Oliver Rice as his assistants to construct the upper road; and Richard Greene as surveyor and Jonathan Stone and Wanton Casey as assistants to lay off the lower road. This road was constructed close by the river bank, and to-day there is little of it that has escaped being washed away by the steadily approaching river. This first road was not macadamized, and at times became very muddy, but in general it was a delightful and most useful thoroughfare, by means of which a journey to Marietta could be readily accomplished. The emigrants from Virginia on their way south were in the habit of crossing the river at Parkersburgh that they might travel over this road. Although sixty feet wide, there was room for it to pass between the river and the old burying-ground. So rapidly has the river been wearing away the Ohio shore that not only the road but a part of the burying-ground has been destroyed, and the only vestige of the road in the upper settlement is a piece extending about fifty rods,

This road from Marietta was continued across the mouth of the Little Hocking to Chillicothe, and the whole was known as the old Chillicothe road. At first it was customary to ford the Little Hocking near its mouth, but this was both inconvenient and dangerous. In 1804 the citizens of Belpre appointed Dr. Leonard Jewett, Truman Guthrie, and. Benjaman Miles, a committee to petition the county commissioners for a grant of three hundred dollars, to assist them in building a bridge. The money was given and the bridge built, but unfortunately the timbers used in its construction were far too heavy, and its strength was impaired to such an extent that it became dangerous to cross on it. There is a common story that the last crossing was made by a drove of cattle on the run. However this was, a new bridge afterwards took the place of the first bridge in the township.

At the time of the construction of the first road there was a bridge built over Davis run, in the vicinity of Waldo Putnam's place. Some of the timbers used in the construction may still be seen at the mouth of the run.

Fruit Growing In Belpre

Both apples and peaches have been plenty in the township since the -earliest days. The fresh, rich soil along the Ohio was especially adapted to the rapid growth of fruit trees. The early settlers brought with them apple seeds and planted them at the first opportunity, and it was not long before each man had a little nursery of seedlings,

In May, 1794, Israel Putnam, son of Colonel Israel Putnam, arrived at Belpre, bringing with him many scions of the choicest apple trees, which scions were afterwards grafted on the seedlings. This was the first grafting done in the Territory of the Northwest, and the fact is generally admitted among fruit growers. The following is the list of the first scions introduced into Ohio: Putnam Russel, Early Chandler, Gilly Flower, Naturalings, Yellow Greenings, Long Island Pippin, Honey Greening, Kent Pippin, Striped Gilly Flower, Juneings, Green Pippin, Seek-no-Further, Late Chandler, Pound Royal, Rhode Island Greening, Golden Pippin, Tollman Sweeting, Streaked Sweeting, Cooper Apple, Beauty, English Pearmain, Blue Pearmain and Spitzenberg, in all twenty-two varieties. These scions were carefully distributed, and fruit raising was for the time a leading industry.

The first orchard of any pretentions to size was planted by A. W. Putnam in 1798, although a number of the trees had been previously set out. Several of the old trees are still standing west of the old homestead. There may be seen of these first trees three or four of the Putnam Russets, two Rhode Island Greenings, and one Prolific Beauty. These trees are all still bearing, although one would think that the time of their fruitfulness had passed.

still standing on the farm which was planted in 1792, and engrafted about 1796, when it was about five feet high. In six or eight years time the young apple trees were loaded with apples. The peach trees often bore the second year after being set out, producing fruit of a size and quality not now seen in Ohio. The depredations of the peach insect were not known for mere than twenty years, and the climate was much less changeable than it is to-day. On this account peach raising was a very important industry. This fruit was usually taken to market in a liquid form, for along the lower Mississippi, and even in foreign ports, the peach brandy and apple jack of Belpre were in demand, and no small quantity was consumed at home. Every well to-do farmer had a still of his own before the days of temperance reform, and then one by one did these manufactories close, and to-day there 1s little strong drink sold and none made in the township.

The fruit growers found a ready market down the river for their apples and peaches, and it was customary to take them down in flat-boats. The peach crop has become very uncertain, and nearly the whole attention is given to apples.

The township has become well known as a fruit township, and of late years George Dana has been drying fruit. very successfully, doing the work by evaporators since 1880. The principal market for the apples raised in the neighborhood is at the

Vinegar Worrs

The vinegar works of Mr. Dana, were started by his father, in 1834, they being located where they now are on the Dana farm, below Belpre village. They were continued by George Dana, jr, after the death of his father. The present building was erected in 1872. Thousands of gallons of pure cider vinegar are made here annually.

The First Library Association In The Northwest

Until a few years ago it was supposed that the old "Coonskin Library," of Ames township, Athens county, was the first library established in the Northwest Territory. Examining the history of this library, as prepared by the most thoroughly informed men in Athens county, it is found that there is no claim to a priority earlier than 1804, when a valuable collection of books was purchased in Boston for the use of the literati of the townships of Ames and Dover in Athens, then Washington, county. Other libraries formed shortly afterwards were the Dayton Library society incorporated February 21, 1805; a library at "Granville in the county of Fairfield," January 26, 1807; one at Newton, Hamilton county, February 10, 1808. The "Coonskin library" was incorporated under the name of the 'Western Library Association," February 19, 1810, and hence the claim of the Ames people is not to priority of incorporation but to priority of existence and it is this claim that the people of Belpre are enabled by positive proof to overthrow.

The library in Belpre was a part of the family library of General Israel Putnam, who, during his life, collected a large library of useful books, embracing history, travels, belles-lettres, and the like for the benefit of himself and children, and called it the Putnam Family library. At General Putnam's death in 1790, this library was divided among the heirs, and quite a number found their way to Ohio, being brought out by his son, Colonel Israel Putnam. It is supposed that the books were brought to Belpre upon Colonel Putnam's second arrival, in 1795, at the close of the Indian war, when the Colonel returned from Pomfret, Connecticut, with his family.

There is abundant evidence that stock in this library was sold at a very early day. The worth of the books and the intellectual cravings of the highly cultured and educated settlers of Belpre would not permit that this library be exclusive, and the generous nature and sound sense of Colonel Putnam would not deprive the community of its wanted mental nourishment. There was formed a regular organized company of shareholders in this, the first public library northwest of the Ohio river, and for aught that is known the first west of the Alleghanies. The shares were ten dollars, as is shown by the following receipt now in possession of Colonel John Stone:

MARIETTA, twenty-sixth October, 1796. Received of Jonathan Stone, by the hand of Benjamin Mills, ten dollars, for his share in the Putnam family library. W. P. PUTNAM, Clerk.

In the records of the probate office of Washington county, among the items in an inventory of the estate of Jonathan Stone, dated September 2, 1801, there is found "One share in the Putnam family library, ten dollars."

This library, managed by the stockholders, was a source of great benefit, not only to the people of Belpre, but to settlers for miles around. In the Ohio Historical Collections, under Meigs county, there is an account of this library, by Amos Dunham, who settled in Belpre township, in what was then Washington county, in 1802. He says, "in order to make the long winter evenings pass more smoothly, by great exertion I purchased a share in the Belpre library, six miles distant. Many a night have I passed (using pine knots instead of candles) reading to my wife while she sat hatcheling, carding or spinning."

Soon after its establishment, the library was known as the Belpre Farmers' library, and later as the Belpre library. For a number of years the books were kept at the house of Isaac Pierce, the librarian. Colonel John Stone remembers attending meetings at Pierce's, near Centre Belpre, for the drawing of books, and distinctly recollects that in 1815 or 1816 the association was dissolved by mutual consent. The books were distributed among the shareholders, and many of these old volumes are still preserved.

Colonel Stone selected The Travels of Jonathan Carver. Captain George Dana has in his possession six volumes as follows: John Locke's Essays Concerning the Haman Understanding, London, 1793, and has on the fly leaf "Putnam Family library, No. 5," which is erased, and "Belpre library, No. 29," substituted; the Practical Farmer, dedicated to Thomas Jefferson in 1792, and marked "Putnam Family library, No. 5," changed to library, No. 24;" and Johnson's Lives of the English Poets, in three volumes, inscribed "Belpre Farmers' library, No. 10." These last two books were published in 18r1. Mr. I. W. Putnam has in his library several relics of the old library, viz: The History of Vermont, 1794, one volume; Bassett's History of England, four volumes; Hume's History of England, six volumes; and Goldsmith's Animated Nature. In the family of Mrs. O. H. Loring there are four volumes of Gibbons' Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published in England in 1783. There are then in these three families twentythree volumes belonging to the original Belpre library. One of the books is numbered eighty, which would indicate that at least that many volumes were in the library. The books remaining are solid and well preserved and will be handed down as valuable relics of the olden time as proofs of the literary tastes and enterprises of the early pioneers of one of the oldest settlements in Ohio.

When the geographical limits of Belpre were determined in 1790, the court of quarter sessions named the following township officers: Town clerk, Colonel Ebenezer Battelle; overseer of the poor, Wanton Casey; constable, Colonel Nathaniel Cushing. The court made annual appointments of officers for Belpre and exercised a general supervision over it as late as 1802.

In the records of the first town book of Belpre there may be found an account of the first election. The first town meeting was held on Monday, May 2, 1802. Colonel Cushing was chairman and Daniel Loring, clerk. After due deliberation the qualified electors chose the following officers for the ensuing year, viz: Colonel Israel Putnam, Colonel Cushing, Isaac Pierce, Benajah Hoyt, and Asahel Cooley, trustees; Major Jonathan Haskell and Dr. Leonard Jewett, overseers of the poor; Captain Benjamin Miles and Aaron Clough, fence viewers; Captain William Dana and Isaac Pierce, appraisers of houses; Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, lister of taxable property ; Colonel Cushing, Stephen Guthrie, and Pearley Howe, constables; Aaron W. Putnam, Dr. L. Jewett, Benjamin B. Stone, Truman Guthrie, Asahel Cooley, and Joseph Tilton, supervisors of highways.

This the first town meeting adjourned to meet again on the first Monday of the following April, at the house of Captain Benjamin Miles. It is probable that the first election was held at Captain Miles' residence. His house continued to be the voting place for many years. Elections were sometimes held in the old treadmill at A. W. Putnam's, and sometimes at the meeting house on the bluff, at the pine meeting house two miles north of Centre Belpre, at the house of Bial Stedman, and afterwards at the brick school-house at Centre Belpre. Here the elections continued to be held for many years. 'The present town house was afterwards built on the hillside, less than a mile north of Centre Belpre. This was the only voting place in the township prior to 1870, at which time a second precinct was established in Belpre village.

The first justices of the peace in the township were Daniel Loring and Isaac Pierce. The old marriage records show that these 'squires tied many a hymenial knot.

Early Schools

From the very first the people of Belpre have been devoted to education, and the results of this long continued interest are seen in the flourishing schools of the present time. While the parents were busily engaged in establishing homes they did not forget the intellectual needs of their children. Money was scarce and teaching at first was little more than a labor of love. ' Bathsheba Rouse, the daughter of John Rouse, one of the emigrants from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was employed in the summer of 1789 to teach the small children, and for several subsequent summers she taught a school in Farmer's castle. She is believed to have been the first female who ever kept a school within the present bounds of Ohio. During the winter months a male teacher was employed for the larger boys and young women. Daniel Mayo was the arst teacher in Farmer's castle. He came from Boston, a young man, in the family of Colonel Battelle, in the fall of the year 1788, and was a graduate of Cambridge university. The school was kept in a large room in Colonel Battelle's block-house. Jonathan Baldwin, another educated man, also taught school during a part of the confinement in the garrison.

At the time of the erection of Stone's stockade in 1793, a school-house was among the log cabins enclosed in the stockade. Of the twelve families within this place of refuge there were no less than forty children.

Joseph Barker taught the school during the first winter. He had been educated in Exeter academy in New Hampshire, and made an excellent teacher. Shortly afterwards another school-house was built a short distance west of the stockade. Peregrine Foster was the first teacher of this school. Among subsequent instructors may be mentioned Pearley Howe and Caleb Emerson.

In 1811 another log school-house was built in the same neighborhood, a short distance from the river, not very far from where the Belpre hotel now stands, Deacon Howe set the first copy and wielded the first rod in this school.

The first school-house located in the middle settlement was not far from what is now known as Centre Belpre, and was located on the line between the farms of Esquire Isaac Pierce and Major Robert Bradford. A few years afterwards the brick school-house at Centre Belpre, near by, was built. It was used for school purposes for many years, elections and church meetings being frequently held therein. It is now used as a dwelling house. Among the prominent teachers of this

The pioneer school at Newbury was just above and in sight of the stockade. It was built about the year 1800. A man by the name of Mahes was the first teacher.

The first teachers of these schools were thoroughly educated, many of them being college graduates of classical institutions. They consented to teach at very reasonable rates, as there was at that early time no other convenient field in which to employ their talents. In July 1790, the Ohio company appropriated one hundred and fifty dollars for the support of schools in the three settlements in the territory, and in December of the same year Belpre received a share of the money distributed. But the burden of these pay schools fell principally upon the people, many of whom being in moderate circumstances, were obliged to stint themselves that they might keep their children in school.

Religious History

The first sermon in Belpre was preached in the early summer of 1789, by Rev. Daniel Story, the chaplain of the Ohio company. In February, 1790, the agents and proprietors of the company decided that Mr.. Story "preach three Sundays at Marietta, and two Sundays at Belpre and Waterford, in rotation." This gave Belpre preaching every four weeks. During the other three Sundays meetings were held. By common consent, Colonel Battelle, a man of fine education, usually presided. It was customary to have a sermon read from the writings of some eminent divine, and prayers read or extemporaneously offered by leaders who were regularly appointed. In March, 1791, it is recorded that twenty dollars were voted to Colonel Battelle for religious instruction at Belpre. In the following April, at a meeting of the agents of the Ohio company, out of one hundred and sixty dollars appropriated for religious instruction in the settlements, it was resolved that Belpre receive fifty dollars, provided that a suitable teacher be supported for seven months. Rev. Daniel Story's visits to Belpre were made in a canoe down the Ohio. During the war, the blood-thirsty savages made a trip from Marietta to Belpre very dangerous, but, nevertheless, Mr. Story came whenever he could, always accompanied by an armed guard of soldiers. Religious sevices were regularly kept up at Farmer's castle in the residence of Colonel Battelle, who still continued to be the religious instructor. When the time for service arrived, Ebenezer Battelle, jr., then a youth of about sixteen, was accustomed to beat the drum, the church bell of war, and thus call the people together.

The Congregational Church The First Society

The record of the organization of this, the first religious society in Belpre, has not been preserved. It is probable, however, that the organization was not effected until shortly after the evacuation of Farmer's castle in 1796. The same people, who, during the war had been wont to listen to the reading of the Word in the blockhouse of Colonel Battelle, now united in hearty thanksgiving for the long prayed for peace. The members of the society were by no means all Congregationalists, nei- ther were many of them professing Christians, but a glance at the earliest record, dated 1802, reveals the fact that many of the more prominent members, and the succession of early ministers were of the Congregational church.

After the establishment of peace, Rev. Daniel Story preached once a month at Belpre. On the occasions when the minister was not present, the people did not "forsake the assembling of themselves together," but regularly held "meeting" on the three Sundays on which there was no preaching. Prominent among the first members were, Colonel Ebenezer Battelle, Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, Perley Howe, Benjamin Miles, Judge Peregrine Foster, Judge Loring, Israel Putnam, and William Browning. It was customary to select some leading member to direct the religious services during the absence of the minister. Ata business meeting of the society, held March I, 1802, it was resolved "that the society meet every Sabbath at ro o'clock, and that the preacher perform foreand afternoon service, with one hour's intermission, and that persons be appointed to read the sermons and prayers, also that the singers be earnestly invited to atttend; also, that a contribution be taken on the first Sabbath of every month, to enable us to pay for regular preaching." The above resolution is the first of importance which was passed in the then new meeting-house on the Bluff. A glance at the earliest record, shows that at a meeting held February 24, 1802, Perley Howe, Judge Foster and William Browning were appointed a committee to collect subscriptions, and te appropriate the amount towards the building of a school or meeting-house on the Bluff, and to adjust all accounts relative thereto. A sufficient amount must have been raised, for it is recorded, that at the next meeting held in the ''meeting-house on the Bluff," as it was ever afterward known, the building committee reported an excess over the amount expended of twelve shillings, nine pence, which sum was laid aside for current expenses. Perley Howe was appointed the first sexton, and continued in that office for a number of years. There is now no vestige of the old house which stood just east of the old burying-ground. 'The early settlers of Belpre came, some of them, from homes seyeral miles away, and in this, the first sanctuary, worshipped the God of Sabboath.

Rey. Samuel P. Robbins was preaching at Belpre in 1805 coming from Marietta. At a meeting held April 4th, of the above named year, it was voted that Rev. Samuel P. Robbins be paid four dollars by Benjamin Miles, who is supposed to have been the treasurer. It is not known how many sermons this money paid for, but at the time the preacher's salary was nominal, and his work was purely a labor of love. At this same spring meeting Colonel Cushing was appointed a committee to manage the prudentials of the society during the next year, and measures were taken to have the meeting-house repaired and the burial-ground cleared. In 1806, Mr. Robbins was hired to act as the regular preacher of the congregation. It was voted, October 27th of the same year, that Isaac Pierce, Daniel Loring, and Nathaniel Cushing, be requested to read sermons, alternating, during the three Sundays of the month when Mr. Rotbins would be absent. It was further voted, that Deacon Miles and Colonel Putnam be appointed to pray at these meetings. In 1809, Decon Miles, Perley Howe and Benjamin F. Stone were appointed to read and pray, and in 1810, this duty devolved on Isaac Pierce, B. F. Stone and Colonel Cushing. At a meeting July 29th, Rev. Mr. Langdon was hired for one year.

As early as 1808 there was a motion made to see if the people were willing either to build a new meeting-house or to repair the old building. It was decided to repair the old house; and it was not until 1819 that there was made another strong effort to build a new church, A committee was appointed to draft plans for the new meeting-house, but owing to some inexplicable reason the report of the committe was not accepted. However, in 1822 a brick church was built and a lot secured for a burying ground at a point a little over half a mile from Cedarville. The building was made perfectly square with a pyramidal roof, and in this modern day presents a quaint appearance, as it stands solitary and deserted, a faithful sentinel over the graves of the members who built it. For some time after the building had been enclosed and roofed it was not finished. In 1831 the house was complete, and the fact was recognized by appropriate services.

The Organization Of The Church

During all these years of the history of the society the Congregationalists at Belpre were nominal members of the church at Marietta. Gradually, however, had the society been assuming the prerogatives of a regularly organized church. As early as 1818 there is found the record of the dismission of a member as from a regular Congregational church. On Friday, November 25, 1826, it was stated at a meeting in the brick church that twenty-four members would request dismission from the Marietta church, deciding that each receive an individual letter of dismission. Deacon Perley Howe, Benjamin Miles, and Stephen Guthrie were appointed to present the petitions for dismission and request that the pastor and two delegates from the Marietta church assist in forming a church at Belpre on the first of January, 1827. The following resolution passed by the Marietta church was sent to Belpre: "That the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and that they be formed into a distinct church, enjoying all the privileges and immunities of the same." Accordingly. on New Year's day, 1827, the organization was effected through the instrumentality of Rev. L. G. Bingham, of Marietta. The covenant and articles of faith were adopted and subscribed to by the following named persons: Irene Benedict, Sophia Browning, Hannah Stone, Susan Stone, Deborah Dana, Abijah Wedge, Deacon Perley Howe, Lucy E. Gilbert, Josiah and Sarah Whiting, Elihu and Deborah Clark, Rowena Putnarn, Charlotte L. Putnam, Sally Goodno, Benjamin H. Miles, P. Maria Miles, Elizaketh Bell, Priscilla and Hannah Miles, Amos and Huldah Fisher, and Stephen Guthrie, Of these twenty-four original members only three are living, viz.: Mrs. Browning, Mrs. Gilbert, and Mrs, Putnam. In March, 1827, William R. Browning was received into the church - the first member after the organization, Rev. Jacob Little, the first minister, remained about one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Augustus Pomeroy. In 1829, in connection with the Presbyterian church at Warren, a call was made out for, and accepted by, Rev. Addison Kingsbury. He was instailed pastor October 3, 1829, by a delegation sent from the presbytery. Ina brief minute of the services it is noted "that Rev. Calvin Ransom charged the people. Rev. John Spaulding preached the sermon from the words "What is truth?" found in John, xviii, 38; that Rev. R. G. Wilson charged the pastor elect, and Rev. L. G. Bingham delivered the charge to the people." Dr. Kingsbury preached his farewell sermon November 10, 1839, having been in the pastorate just ten years. Professor D. H. Allen, of Marietta college, preached at Belpre during 1840; Rev. Tenney served in 1841; Rev. Dyar Burgess, during 1842 and 1843; and Rev. Joseph Edwards until the first of January, 1845. There were temporary supplies until in 1847 Rev. W. A. Smith came. In 1849 he was installed pastor. February 17, 1853, on account of the continued ill health of Mr. Smith, his resignation was accepted. There was no regular preaching until 1854, when Rev John Williams became the supply. May 27, 1857, Rey. Francis Bartlett, the third and last pastor of the two churches, was installed and remained until the close of 1861. Rev. C. D. Curtis, who came in the spring of 1862, acted as pastor until the fall of 1866, when by mutual consent, the union previously existing between Belpre and Warren churches was dissolved; and here begins the history of the church entirely independent of any other organization.

In February, 1867, Rev. J. A. Bates became the first pastor, whose whole time was devoted to the Belpre church. He continued until May, 1872. From the fall of 1872 to the fall of 1874 the minister was Rey. D. I. Jones. Rev. E. Janes was called in February, 1875, and continued for two years. In the spring of 1877, the church secured the services of Rev. M. K. Pascal, and since 1879 has been without a regular minister. During the union with the Warren church preaching was held at Belpre every two weeks, and on each alternate Sabbath there was a reading service as of old. Weekly prayer meetings have always been kept up, and thanksgiving day has always been faithfully observed.

Perley Howe was deacon at the time of the organization of the church, and at an election held May 3, 1827, Benjamin H. Miles became deacon. At this same time William R. Browning became the first clerk. The present officers of the church are: A. W. Glazier, William Armstrong, George Dana, George A. Howe, and Milton Pelton, trustees; A. W. Glazier and George Dana, deacons; Edward B. Dana, clerk; and John M. Stone, treasurer.

The brick church was located centrally to accommodate a wide circle of members living in the surrounding country, but the springing up of the village of Belpre made it necessary that meetings be held there. About 1862 services for prayer and occasional preaching were held in available rooms in the village, and a Sundayschool organized. Finally there was permanent preaching every Sunday in the academy building, and the old brick church was gradually abandoned, the congregation down the river holding services in the school building near the town-house.

The erection of a church in Belpre village had become a necessity, and without delay the work proceeded. The site chosen is on Main street, just north of the railroad bridge. A. Walker was the architect of the building, which is of brick, forty feet wide Ly sixty long, with basement story, the whole surmounted by a spire one hundred and twenty-seven feet high, in which swings a good bell. The building was commenced in the fall of 1868 and was not completely finished until the fall of 1869, although the basement was occupied late in the summer.

From the earliest days the Sunday-school has been maintained, both at the old brick church and in adjoining neighborhoods. Deacon Benjamin Miles was the first superintendent. The system of catechetical instruction, which was in vogue before the days of Sundayschools, has, in a measure, been adopted by the several schools: The first library was secured in 1827, at the organization of the church. This library was well selected, and formed the nucleus for the present full library. During the year 1880 there was an average attendance of about one hundred scholars. A prominent feature of the church is its active sympathy with all the great religious movements of the world, especially is this the case in the work of missions. The church is now repaying with interest the aid which, when she was weak, was granted to her by the board of home missions. Throughout the whole history of the church one meeting in each month has been set apart for prayer for missions. The people not only pray that the gospel may fly to the corners of the earth, but very sensibly furnish the wings by liberal contributions. There has always been an active interest in all objects of benevolence; a_ bitter warfare against slavery was waged, and the battle is: still fierce against intemperance. The old brick church was sold in 1878.

The Centre Belpre Church

was formed in October, 1880, by thirty-one members, who were dismissed from the church from the village, which was too far away for this portion of the congregation to attend regularly. The new congregation has not as yet been able to build a house of worship, but assembled regularly in the school building, near the townhouse, at Centre Belpre. They are supplied by the minister who may be preaching for the Belpre church, -

Methodist Episcopal

In 1799 Rev. Robert Marley, of the Baltimore circuit, preached in the Belpre settlement, which at first was under the supervision of the Kanawha, and in 1800 became a part of the circuit known as the Muskingum and Little Hocking. But there was no regular Methodis preaching in Belpre until 1820. At this time Rev. Jacob Young was the presiding elder, and Rev. John McMahon was preacher of the Little Hocking circuit. During the fall and winter of 1820-21 a society was organized, there being in the first class books thirteen names, as follows: Daniel Goss and his wife Lydia, Samuel Hooper, Clarissa Ackley, William P. Howe, A. Gridley, Elizabeth Howe, Leroy Gridley, Susan Oaks, Susan O'Brien, Chester and Caroline Gridley, and Louis Bradford. Daniel Goss, who was one of the most energetic of the early Methodists, whs appointed class leader. Among his papers there was found the old subscription paper for the building of the church:

We, the undersigned subscribers, believing that it would be of importance to the Methodist society in Belpre to build a house of worship, not only for their own convenience but for all those who may be willing to attend; that it is desired by all those who are acquainted with the form of Methodist meeting-houses that the seats are free for those who do not belong to the society, in (ime of worship - we, the undersigned, do hereby agree to pay the amount to our respective names to the trustees of the Methodist church in said township, who may be appointed to superintend the building of said meeting-house, to be applied as they may think proper:

A log church was built near the forks of the Little Hocking north of Centre Belpre, of which church there is now no vestige. The quartesage paid in 1821 and '22 was twelve dollars and thirteen and one-fourth cents, and was subscribed in the following sums:

In 1823 Joseph O'Neal was aarti class leader, and there were in all twenty members. The following year a second class was formed and given to the care of Samuel Hooper. During the winter of 1826, a two days meeting resulted in the conversion of a number of people. Seventeen members were added during the next winter, and Methodism in Belpre began to be strong. The ministers up to this time had been as follows: 1823, Cornelius Springer and W. J. Kent; 1824, Philip Greene; 1825, Daniel Limerick and John Steward; 1826, John W. Kinney and Curtis Goddard; 1827, Leroy Swormstedt; 1828, Leroy Swormstedt and James Callahan;

1829, Samuel Hamilton and-William Herr; 1830, Jacob Young and Samuel Hamilton; 1831, John W. Gilbert and Gilbert Blue. These latter received twenty-seven dollars and eighteen and three-fourths cents quarterage for their services.

The Cedarville Church

By the year 1832 the Methodists in Belpre decided to build a house of worship at Cedarville, on the Ohio. Daniel Goss and Daniel Ellenwood were among the first trustees and members of the building committee. The house is frame, much of the lumber having been floated from Little Hocking in the back water caused by the flood of 1832. The church prospered, and became the local centre of Methodism. During the first year of its history the pastor's salary amounted to one hundred and twenty dollars and seventy-five cents. In 1836 there were fiftyfive members. In the following year the church was incorporated into a new circuit known as Belpre circuit. At this time there were in the circuit six Sunday-schools. Mission stations were established at Barlow and other points. In 1838 there was a committee appointed to build a parsonage for the circuit. There were seventyfive members in 1842, and the name of the circuit was changed to Barlow. Nine years later there were one hundred members and four classes. Thus the Cedarville church prospered until 1867, when Belpre was set off as an independent station with three appointments, viz: Cedarville, Belpre village church known as Lewis chapel, and the Centenary church, both of the last named churches having been organized in 1866. The ministers at the Cedarville church, since its building in 1832, have

1832, Absalom Fox and Joseph Carper; 1833, Nathan Emery and William Young; 1834, Adam Poe and E. Roe; 1835, E. Roe and William H. Lawder; 1836, David Lewis and M. P. Kellog; 1837, Dudley Woodbridge and M. P. Strickland; 1838, James D, Webb and Joseph Gosner; 1839, Matthew Scoville and Sheldon Parker; 1840, Joseph Morris and Martin Wolf; 1841, James B. Austin and Samuel Maddox; 1842, James B. Austin and John W. Devilbiss; 1843, John W. Dillon and J. Barringer; 1844, A. Murphy and Richard Arthur; 1845, A. Murphy and Charles Warren; 1846, A. Brown and J. W. Fowble; 1847, D. D. Matherand L. Cunningham; 1848, D. D. Mather and J. McCutchen; 1849, J. McCutchen and J. F. Given; 1850, J. Barringer and S. C. Frampton; 1851, A. Cartlick and J. R. Prose; 1852, A. Cartlick and C. Benjamin; 1853, Isaac Reynolds and David Mann; 1854, Isaac Reynolds and Michael Sheets; 1855, W. W. Cherrington and W. C. Filler; 1856, W. W. Cherrington and A. C. Kelly; 1857, Levi Munsell and J. W. Lewis; 1858, Levi Munsell and E. Frost; 1859, Pardon Cook and E. Nichols; 1860, Pardon Cook and E. Nichols; 1861, Stephen Ryland and J. P. Calvert; 1863, F. S. Thurston and George Murray, 1864; F. S. Thurston and F. S. Davis; 1865, W.S. Benner and F. S. Davis; 1866, W. S. Benner and J. S! Davis; building of the church. The house, a neat frame structure, was erected in the year 1866-7, at an expense of about six thousand and five hundred dollars. Six persons gave five hundred dollars each, and the remainder was raised by subscription. Captain Josiah Henderson presented the bell which cost four hundred and forty dollars. The house was dedicated February 24, 1867, the dedi~ catory sermon being preached by Rev. J. M. Reed, D.D., the editor of the Western Christian Advocate. At this service the debt of the church was cleared. The membership of the church has gradually increased until 1881, and there are two hundred and fifty members.

The organization of the Sunday-school was effected at the time of the dedication of the church. E. E. Cunningham continued to be superintendent until 1871, since which time N. B. Adams has held the office.

Centenary Church

This church branched from the Cedarville church in 1866. Robert Bess's daughter was a prime mover in the work of organization. The first and present stewards are: James Dunlevy, R. C. Menzie, John Berry and Thomas McFarland, sr. The building of the frame meeting-house was commenced in 1866, and the church was dedicated in 1867. There were twenty members at first, and there are now over thirty. About the year 1876 the Centenary church was transferred from the Belpre to the Newbury station. The minister for 1880 - 1801 is Rev. W. H. Gibbons.

The Newbury Church The Universalist Church

was formed about 1811 or 1812, in the Newbury settlement. 'The first meeting was held at a school-house just west of the cemetery. There were less than a dozen members at first, among them being Mrs. Joel Oakes, Truman, and Elizabeth Guthrie, John Wetherby, and others. The organization was effected by Rev. Marcus Linsey, of Kentucky. Services were held at the schoolhouse until 1829, when a frame church was erected, which was occupied for fifty years. Since 1879 the meetings have been held in the school-house at Little Hocking, where a church building is to be built. There were at one time about thirty-five members, but changes in population have reduced the number to nineteen. The pastor of the church is Rev. W. H. Gibbons. The stewards are A. S. Tidd, Sheppard. Humphrey, James Palmer, and N. Coggeshall. The trustees are Edwin Guthrie, Nicholas Baker, C. W. Oakes, and L. R. Curtis. THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The first Universalist society of Belpre was organized May 23, 1823, in the old brick school-house at Centre Belpre. Many of the first members had previously been members of the society at the meeting-hotse on the bluff. William Pitt Putnam, chairman, and Daniel Loring, clerk of the first meeting, were appointed to draft articles of association, which were adopted at the second meeting, held, January 17, 1834. There were seventeen members at first, as follows: Daniel Loring, Hobson Beebe, Oliver Rice, Perley Eastman, O. R. Loring, Beal Stedman, Robert and Otis L. Bradford, William Pitt Putnam, Jesse Loring, R. Gridley; John Birkenshay, sr., John Birkenshay, jr., Julius Chappell, Jasper Needham, Sylvester Haynes, and Joseph C. King.

The history of the society is brief. When there was no preaching, reading meetings were held. The society had occasional preaching from the Rev. Asa Stearns, of Athens ,county, and Elder Croy, of Galia county. In 1826 the Rev. Eliphath Case preached the thanksgiving sermon, and continued for some time as supply. <A number of the members in the society deeming it advisable to form church relations, was organized in the brick school-house March 1, 1827. There were, besides the membership of the society, twelve additional members at the time of the church organization. The names of these new members are: Luke Reynolds, Jacob Springer, Jonathan Root, Mary Blizzard, Fanny Loring, Anthony Robinson, John Brown, Renssalaer Johnson, Stephen Needham, Susanna Gilbert, and Philip Cole. Sylvester Haynes and William Pitt Putnam were chosen deacons, and the bond of union. and profession of faith adopted.

Soon after the organization of the church, Rev. Case left for New Hampshire. In 1829, Rev. Alpheus Sweet became the pastor. Since that time there has been a numerous succession of ministers, viz: Revs. Waldo, W. H. Jolly, Francis H. Johnson, D. S. Morey, Timothy Crow, L. L. Saddler, M. L. Edwards, H. P. Sage, George Rodgers, T. C. Eaton, George Flanders, G. S. Weaver, - - Bartlett, Paul Kendall, Thompson Barrow, Benard Peters, Hicks, J. W. McMaster, T. C. Druley, and Rey. Earl, who came in 1880. Rev. J. W. McMaster was pastor for nineteen years.

For several years after the organization of the church the meetings were held in the school-house. The first meeting of the Universalist association was held in the old treadmill on Putnam farm. The church, a frame building, was built in 1835, on a lot presented by Jesse Loring. It stands on the river road, midway between Cedarville and Centre Belpre. It was dedicated August 30, 1835. Elder W. H. Jolly preached the dedicatory sermon, and was assisted in the service by Father Truman Strong.

The Sunday-school, which is in a very properous condition, was organized in 1835, and William P. Putnam and O. R. Loring among the first superintendents. S. H. Stone is the superintendent for 1880, and James Howser, librarian. The library consists of four hundred volumes, and is very valuable.

In 1876 a missionary school was organized in Belpre village. . The first meetings were held in Odd Fellows' hall, and are now held in the school hall. Preaching services are held in Belpre once a month. The church has been very appropriately called "the old hive," from the fact that no less than five churches have been formed of members of the first church, viz: Newbury, Dun- ham, Barlow, and Fairfield in this county, and one church in Illinois. In all, there have been two hundred and nine members of the old church, there being at the beginning of 1881, fifty-seven active members. The officers of the church are as follows: Moderator, J. B. Mawhinney; clerk, J. W. Putnam; treasurer, Mrs. A. W. Brough; trustees, B. B. Stone, Emma Ames, and J. B. Mawhinney; stewards, S. H. Stone, and James Houser; deacons, Nathan Sparhawk, and William P. Cole. The church is ever active in missionary effort, and contributions are made to every good cause.

as has been already remarked, is a branch of the First Universalist church. It was established in 1852. The building is located in the southwestern part of Belpre township, about three miles below Little Hocking. In the year above mentioned nine members applied for a dismission from the mother church in order that they might organize a church in their immediate neighborhood. The nine original members are - Mrs. Elvira Curtis, John Cole and wife, Seymore Clough, Cynthia Clough, Caroline Curtis, J. H.and M. G. Van Gilder, and Marion Curtis. The pulpit is supplied regularly by the pastor of the upper church, this arrangement for preaching having been made at the time of the new organization.

This church is located at Little Hocking. It was organized in 1878 by the first pastor, Rev. M. M. A. Hartnedy. The house is a neat frame structure, and was built in the same year that the church was organized. The dedicatory services were held June 9, 1878. The membership of the church is quite large, it being comprised of people that come from miles around, and it is probable that about two hundred and fifty people worship at St. Mary's. The priests from Athens have been supplying the church since its organization. After Rev. Father Hartnedy the congregation enjoyed the ministrations of Father T. I. Lane. The present pastor is Father I. C. Madden.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

This is the oldest colored church in Belpre. It commenced in a humble way and has since become quite strong. In 1868 a little band of ten met in the room of Henry Baker and organized the church through the instrumentality of Rev. James McTerry, of Marietta. He left the class in charge of Henry Baker, who is a local preacher, and came to visit the flock every alternate Sunday. About two years after the organization the people were able to build a little board house, which, though far from being comfortable, served as a place for worship for some time. Afterwards the school board permitted the people to meet in a wing of the colored school-house. In 1876 they put up a neat and commodious building on Florence street, in North Belpre, at a total cost of nearly seven hundred dollars, which sum is about all paid. Inthe second year of Rev. McTerry's service to this people he was called away by death. His place was supplied by Rev. John Lee. Since then the ministers haye been Revs. Isaac Bell, Jacob Cole, Jacob Whitman,

Arthust, and the present pastor, Elder Davis. The officers of the church are: Trustees, John Turner, Robert Sawyer, Henry Baker, and Dow Robinson; stewards, John Roody and james Williams.

Jackson Chapel

In 1870 there were twenty-five members of a little church that was organized in Belpre by John Jackson, sr., then a local preacher of the Methodist faith. He effected the organization of the church, and after considerable effort a little frame house of worship was erected on North Walnut street, and was dedicated as Jackson chapel. The first regular pastor was Rev. A. Posey, who served the people for two years, and was succeeded by Rey. E. Henderson, who also remained two years. Jacob Skinner and A. A. Price were the pastors during the next two years, being succeeded by Rev. D. Tucker, and by the present pastor, Rev. S. R. Cattrell, who is serving out his two years. This church has lived one decade, and during that time has more than doubled its membership, there being now on the roll over fifty names of active members. In 1870 the officers of the church were: Trustees, H. C. Miller, Henry Baker, and Stroter Thomas; stewards, Douglas Taylor and Charles Burns, In 1880 the trustees were Aaron Williams, John Jackson, jr.. Harrison Williams, Esquire Thomas, and James E. Atkins. The stewards are John C. Austin, Adams Patterson, and Samuel M. Taylor. 'The leaders are H. Williams, John Jackson and Nannie Simms.

Items Of Interest

The first white child born in Belpre township was Joseph Barker. He was born February 28, 1790, at the house of his grandfather, Captain William Dana, where Mrs. Barker had been residing since the breaking out of the small-pox at Marietta, early in January. The little boy became a great man, and held high office in the State. He died in Newport township in 1859, and was the first buried in the new cemetery at Lower Newport.

The first brick house erected in the township was the tavern of Deacon Benjamin Miles, in the middle settlement. This was also the place at which the first town election was held. For years it was a popular hostelrie.

The first frame house was built by Colonel Israel Putnam, and is still standing on the old site at Belpre village, and is now known as the "Benedict House." It was a house of two stories, and in the early days was considered to be quite a mansion.

The first sheep were introduced in the year 1797, the first lot coming from Pennsylvania. During earlier years much of the clothing worn was home-spun. However, the raising of sheep has never been a specialty. During

The shrewd Yankees of the settlement tried to raise everything at first. For the first few years cotton was raised in small quantities, and the genius of Captain Devol quickly invented a "gin," or machine with rollers, which separated the cotton from the pods in a very satisfactory manner. _

Judge Barker, in his MSS., says that, in the spring of 1790, Captain William Dana sowed a piece of flax, pulled it early in June, while it was yet in blossom, water-rotted it in a swamp near the river, had it dressed out and spun, and woven into substantial cloth by his son William. It was made into shirts and trousers for the boys, and worn at the celebration of the Fourth of July in Belpre that year.

was organized by the Free Masons of the settlement. The records have been lost, but there is every reason to believe that the organization was effected prior to the year 1800. The following are known to have been members, viz.: Daniel Loring, Nathaniel Cushing, Oliver Rice, W. P. Putnam, Major Bradford, Cyrus Ames, sr., Dr. Gilbert, Major Haskell, Deacon Howe, Dr. Pier, Dr. Webb, George Dana, Edmond Dana, Judge Joseph Barker, Rufus B. Stone, William Leabody, Hezekiah Lewis, Andrew Fisher, and Elias Gates, a resident of Virginia. 'The lodge meetings were held at the house of Major Haskell. Gradually, by the death of the old members, the lodge decreased in numbers and finally expired.

Belpre Lodge Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

This lodge was instituted August 10, 1875, by Joseph Dowell, grand master. There were seven charter members, viz: John Brown, David Oliver, J. R. King, B. W. Compton, John B. Badger, A. F. Downer and A. T. Shahan. At the first meeting John F. King and I. H. Henderspn were admitted by card, and George Dunberger, L. M. Cunningham, Joseph Richards, and I. B. Kinkead were initiated. The following is a list of the first officers elected; John Brown, N. G.; David Oliver, V. G.; J. R. King, secretary; B. W. Compton, permanent secretary; A. F. Downer, treasurer; I. H. Henderson, warden; James King, conductor; John F. King, inside guardian; I. B. Kinkead, right supporter to noble grand; C. E. Ames, left supporter to N. G.; Joseph Richards, R. S. V. G.; John G. Waterman, L. S. V. G.; A. T. Shahan, R. S.S.; L. M. Cunningham, L. S, S.; John B. Badger, J. R. King, and A. T. Shahan.

The first meetings were held in Browning's building, on Main street, just north of the railroad. In August, 1880, the lodge removed to the present commodious hall on South Main street. Since the first meeting up to 1881 there have been forty initiations, ten admissions by card, five withdrawals by card, and one death. So that the present number of members is fiftyeight. The lodge has been only once visited by death, when in August, 1880, James Williams was called away. Obstacles thrown in the way have only increased the prosperity of the lodge. At times public entertainments are given and are always followed by an accession of new members. The hall is tastefully furnished and handsomely equipped with regalia. The is the rather high sounding title which the lodge of colored Odd Fellows in Belpre has inscribed upon its banners. The lodge was organized in 187-, by the Naomi Lodge of Pargersburgh, West Virginia. There were thirty-one charter members. 'There are now eighteen members, and it is hoped the decrease of quantity has improved the quality of the'membership. The first officers were as follows, viz: H.C. Miller, N. G.; R. G. Whiteman, permanent secretary; David Tucker, noble father; George Williams, elective secretary; J. W. Scott, treasurer; Robert Williams, chaplain; Harrison Boggs, P. N. G. The meetings are held every Wednesday in the hall over the colored school-room. The present officers are as follows: S, T. Jackson, N. G.; Thomas Blake, P. N. G.; H. C. Miller, permanent secretary; John Turner, V. G.; C. W. Posey, elective secretary; Adams Patterson, N. F.; Ezekial Fry, P. N. F.; John Washington, treasurer; John Jackson, chaplain.

Ever since the first plow entered the virgin soil and the first grain took root, farming in Blepre township has been a science. True, in the earlier days this knowledge was not formulated and issued as law, but it is evident that an intelligent appreciation of a thorough argricultural education' was the basis of the practical knowledge of the early farmers. However, it has been reserved to the modern day to effect the organization of the farmers. July 19, 1879, the people of Belpre township received a visit from the Muskingum Farmers' club, which had been flourishing for five yearsand more. The accounts which were given of the objects and work of this organization awakened an earnest desire that a similar society be formed in Belpre. On motion of Hon. A. L, Curtis it was decided that a meeting be held in the yard of Mr. Cyrus Ames to effect the organization of a Belpre Farmers' club. This meeting was held July 26th, and, after discussion, it was resolved that a club be organized. Accordingly the constitution was adopted and signed by twenty-four members, which number has since increased to sixty-three. The first officers elected were: Hon. A. L. Curtis, president; J. M. Farson, vice-president; Miss Emma Ames, recording secretary; E; B. Dana, corresponding secretary; S. H. Stone, treasurer. The present officers are the same as at first, save that S. R. W. Mc- Farland is the president. The object of the club is the promotion of farming, gardening, afd agriculture, together with the social and intellectual enjoyment of its members. The membership of the club is not confined to Belpre township, and persons in all townships are invited to attend with their families. The meetings are held once a month at the houses of members of the club. The annual meeting is held on the first Saturday of January of each succeeding year. The exercises consist of readings, recitations, music, and an essay and discussion, the discussion being generally concerning some farm topic. There is always time left for sociability, and a dinner is a part of the programme.

Dr. Samuel Barnes was the first physician who practiced in Belpre township. The humane policy of the directors of the Ohio company suggested the appointment of men to act as physicians and surgeons of the respective garrisons. The committee selected for Belpre Dr. Barnes, who had but recently come to the neighborhood from Massachusetts. He received his instruments and medicines, his board, and a small sum of money from the company. He remained with the family of Major Goodale, whose daughter he married. After the division at Farmer's castle he made his headquarters at the Goodale stockade, and during the plague of the smallpox in 1793 he devoted himself more especially to the people in this garrison. Soon aiter the close of the war he removed with his family to Athens county, locating not far from the town of Athens.

In 1802, shortly after Dr. Barnes' departure, Dr. Leonard Jewett became the physician of Belpre. He lived in the middle settlement, near the Ohio, and about halfa mile below what is now Centre Belpre post office. His practice extended for many miles up and down the river, and in'the adjoining country. He was a gentleman of fine intelligence and professional ability. He was born in Massachusetts in 1770. In 1792 he graduated from the Boston Medical college. In 1796 he married Mary Porter. He afterwards served four years as assistant surgeon in a New York hospital. About the year 1805, after remaining at Belpre nearly three years, he removed to the town of Athens, where he died in 1816, from the effects of blood poisoning.

Dr. S. P. Hildreth located in Belpre December 10, 1806, on the very day that Blennerhasset left his fairy island. Dr. Hildreth's professional career is more particularly noticed in the history of the early physicians of Marietta. When twenty-three years old he started on horseback from New Hampshire, September 29, 1806, arriving at Marietta October 4th, whence, on the invitation of leading citizens, he removed to Belpre, where he remained until March, 1808, when he returned to Marietta. In 1807 he married Rhoda Cook, whose mother kept the hotel opposite the mouch of the Little Kanawha. At this place the doctor made his headquarters, practicing up and down and on both sides of the river.

Dr. Ira W. Pier was among the early physicians of the township. He came at a very early day, when he was quite a yourg man. He married a daughter of Major Bradford. From Belpre he went to Circlevelle, thence to Indiana, and thence to Cleveland, where he died a few years ago.

Dr. Erastus Webb located in Belpre township prior to 1810. He studied medicine in New York State, whence he came to Ohio. He married a Miss Cook, and after practicing in Belpre several years removed about 1815 to Circleville, Ohio, where he died in 1848.

Dr. William Beebe was the successor of Dr. Webb and Dr. Pier, and came to Belpre about 1816. He located in the Middle settlement, his house being the first west of Davis' run, at its entrance into the Ohio; buying the property of Squire Pierce. He served during the War of 1812 as the assistant of Dr. Jewett, who was the surgeon in General Tupper's command at the time of the expedition to the Maumee river. After the war Dr. Beebe spent some time in the vicinity of the Kanawha salt works, and then came to Belpre as above stated. He married Polly Lorin. His son, Dr. William Beebe, is living in Barlow township, and his daughter, Mrs. Booth, is in Marietta. Dr. Beebe's life as a physician was very vigorous, he being almost constantly in the saddle. There are those living who still cherish the memory of their old family physician. He died in 1821 aged fiftyone. He is buried in the old burying-ground by the river. Dr. Beebe was a pupil of Dr. Jewett.

After Dr. Beebe's death for a time the people of Belpre were without a physician, and were very much perplexed that a suitable man did not offer his services. Acting on the principle that they should help themselves in the emergency, they immediately got up a petition, which was signed by the representative citizens of the community, and forthwith expressed it to the young physician who had settled at Waterford in 1817, Dr. Gilbert. After due deliberation he decided to locate at Belpre, although there was a strong effort made to keep him at Waterford. His first office was that of Dr. Beebe. He afterwards had his headquarters at Major A. W. Putnam's, whose daughter he married. After his marriage in 1825 he located half a mile below Cedarville, where he resided during 'the remainder of his life. He was - always hard worked, he being the only physician in the neighborhood for many years. Hardly had he located in Belpre when the sickly season of 1823 kept him unceasingly busy. His practice, large from the first, gradually widened until his circuit of professional duty was widespread. He continued to practice until 1864, when an accident at once put an end to his professional career. His horse threw him to the ground and dragged him some distance, severely injuring his head and causing an almost entire loss of eyesight. Dr. Gilbert died in 1870.

Dr. Norval Pinnell located in Belpre village in 1863, he being the first physician who settled inthe town. He was a graduate of the Cleveland Medical college. After remaining in Belpre one year he removed to Barlow township, and returned in 1865, remaining in practice at Belpre until the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1870.

Belpre Village

For more than sixty years after the first settlement there was no village of considerable size in Belpre township. The stores up and down the river sufficed to an swer the demands of trade, and Parkersburgh and Marietta were easily accessible. The multiplicity of farm houses along the river front of the township made, as it were, a village long drawn out,

As early as 1796, Peregrine Foster had established a ferry and tavern opposite the mouth of the Little Kanawha, and the first post office was also at this point. As early as 1800, Cook's tavern, in what is known as the old Benedict house was the rendezvous for einigrants who had crossed from Virginia and were enroute down the Ohio river roads. Close by the river, in what is now the southern part of the village, was the house of William Browning, on whose land the first town plat was surveyed. Thus we see at a very early day there were several houses on the present village site, but there would have been no village to this day had it not been for outside influences. Until the building of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the point opposite Parkersburgh was simply a farming community. The building of the railroad suggested the laying out of the village,-and accordingly the plat of Belpre was surveyed by L. W. Chamberlain, December 29, 1852, on lots ten, eleven and twelve, for A. H. Browning, the proprietor. The plat was acknowledged before esquire B. F. Stone, March 8, 1853. It contained eighteen town lots, and was bounded on the north by Second street, on the east by the Ohio river, on the south by Cunningham, and on the west by Main street. There have been no less-than fifteen additions since 1853, by Messrs. A. H. Browning, Stephen Druse, Colbert O'Neal, L. E. Stone, C. Cole, C. D. Cook, and L. Johnson. The village did not grow rapidly at first. The post office _ was then in the Benedict house. About this time B. F. Stone, jr., erected a building for a store, near the corner of Mairnand Cunningham streets. About 1860 E. E Cunningham built the store now kept by J. D. Browning. and thither was the post office removed. At this time there was less than a dozen houses in the village proper, and it was little more than a hamlet until 1865. Then was ushered in a decade of prosperity. The oil discoveries in the adjoining territury in West Virginia, gave the impetus to the rapid growth of Belpre. Property increased in value so that lots eighty by one hundred and sixty feet, sold for five hundred dollars. The owners of the oil region sold their land at an enormous price, and many of them desiring to locate in a good village, purchased lots and built residences in Belpre. The line of growth extended along the whole extent of Main street. Stores multiplied, and manufactories promised to succeed. It was at this time that the academy was built. A flouring mill was erected and operated by Leseur, Hadley & Co. This mill, located near the ferry, is now operated by L. E. Stone, who has added a planing mill and lumber yard. In 1866, C. H. Johnson opened a drug store in the building on south Main street now occupied by A. S. Combs. In 1868 or 1869, Barkley & Downer opened a tannery in the northern part of the village, on the premises now owned by Kuhn Brothers & Co. A pump factory was owned by Messrs. Porter, Rathbone, and Hale. Alderman & Scott established a pottery, which is not now in operation. Boat-building has been engaged in to some extent. In 1874, the Building asociation that had been formed erected many new houses. Inthe same year the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company began building the "Short line" from Athens 'to Parkersburgh. In the summer of 1874, the Baltimore & Ohio company purchased of Mr. George Dana twelve acres of land lying just northwest of the village, and immediately proceeded to construct the stockyards. For the accommodation of passengers and stockmen, a commodious three-story frame hotel was built near by* and Belpre station established thereon. For a time there was a prospect that the railroad carshops would be located on the Belpre side of the river, but the hope was not realized.

There were about one thousand inhabitants in 1874, and accordingly one hundred and ten citizens presented a petition to the county commissioners urging the immediate incorporation of the village. A remonstrance from seventy leading citizens induced the commissioners to suspend judgment until the December meeting, at which meeting it was decided not to grant the petition for the reason that the boundaries of said proposed incorporation embraced farm lands, which, in justice ought not to be incorporated within said village.

No less than three newspaper enterprises have struggled to gain a foothold in Belpre, but they were shortlived. In 1875, J. B. Kinkead became the editor of the Courant, 'The next paper was the /Vews, by Mrs. Mary J. Adams,in 1878. David Goshorn published the Herald during the years 1879 and 1880.

Although lack of capital has greatly crippled enterprise, the business interests of the place are well represented, as follows: Groceries, J. M. Stone, C. A. Brown, J. D. Browning, G. N. Pinnell. Dry Goods, J. Alderman. Hardware, O. L. Davis. Drugs, N. B. Adams, Guthrie Brothers, and A. S. Combs. Egg packers, S B. Kirby & Co. Books, C. A. Brown. Flouring and planing mill with lumber yard, L. E. Stone. Tannery, Kuhn Brothers & Co. Bakery, Henry Gettel. Undertaking, John Brown. Insurance agencies, J. M. Stone, D. R. Rood, and J. L. O'Neal. Physicians, C. J. Guthrie, C. W. Goodno, C. W. Reed, and G. N. Pinnell. Hotels, Belper hotel, S. J. Stribbling; Belpre House, Mrs. S. Williams; attorney D. R. Rood.

The Graded Schools

Too much cannot be said of the good influence of the schools of Belpre village upon the character of the citizens. The good name of the high school attracted intelligent people, many of whom removed to the village that they might educate their children.

On the twenty-third of March, 1872, a special school district was established in the village. W. W. Northrup was the prime mover in the work of securing and form-

Oliver Rice Loring

Daniel Loring, the father of the Loring family of this county, emigrated from Massachusetts to Ohio during the early period of settlement. He had married at Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 'Wayside inn," a Miss Howe, one of the family which for generations had presided at that historic place, now celebrated in American poetry. She died before the settlement at Marietta, leaving three children, who accompanied their father to the west, viz: Israel, Charlotte (wife of A. W. Putnam) and Ezekiel. He married for his second wife Mrs. Rice, of Belpre township, and by her had four children, the youngest of whom was Oliver Rice, whose portrait appears above. Daniel Loring was the head of the church at Sudbury, and after coming to Belpre was commonly known as "Priest Loring." He was one of the founders of Universalism in Belpre, and was also prominent among the early Masons. He held the office of justice of the peace for nearly two decades. This was at a period when the best and most intelligent men were elected to the magistracy. The death of Daniel Loring occurred during the sickly seasons of 1822-3.

Oliver Rice Loring was born June 17, 1790. During his youth he received the best instruction the neighborhood afforded, which at the present day would not be considered more than a secondary school. He was sent to Athens a short time to "'complete his course" in grammar, arithmetic, geography, and other common branches. He married tor his first wife Fanny Warner, and settled on the homestead. She died in 1827, and the following year he married Orinda Howe, who was born in 1799 and still survives.

Mr. Loring held the office of associate judge of the court of common pleas, and was highly complimented by older members of the bar as an officer. He once held the office of ensign of militia, and, at various times, local township offices. He was for many years a Whig leader in that end of the county, and was one of the council which frequently met in Joseph Holden's store in Marietta, and was sardonically designated by John Brophy and his Democratic friends as 'Joe Holden's sinate."

Judge Loring was a man of strong sense, and always had a certain influence in the community. He was reserved in his manners, and never sought notoriety.

ing the district. The formation was completed by the election of the first board of education, which was composed of the following gentlemen, viz.: N. B. Adams, W. W. Northrup and C. A. Brown. Mr. Northrup was the first president of the board. 'The officers in 1880-81 are: President, John C. O'Neal; clerk, R. T. Moore; and treasurer, C. A. Brown.

The two-story frame school-house on Main street became the educational home of the united districts. The building was enlarged by the addition of a one-story wing on either side, thus making four rooms, which accommodated as many departments or grades. J. P. Hulburt was the first principal of the high school department, with Mary E. Barkley, Edna Hibbard and Park S. Browning, assistants in the grammar, intermediate and primary grades.

In 1873, E. S. Cox became the superintendent. He systematized the course and thoroughly organized the several departments. L. D. Brown was elected in 1874, and was followed in 1875 by Rev. W. U. Spencer, who, in turn, was succeeded in 1876 by C. K. Wells. J. G. Schofield was superintendent during the year 1878-9, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, C. E. Keyes.

Shortly after the organization of the school, the rapid increase of scholars and the consequent need of more commodious quarters, caused the subject of a new school building to be agitated. The question was decided by a large majority when put to vote, in the spring of 1875, and immediate preparations were made for the construction of the new house. The vote authorized an appropriation of ten thousand dollars for the building, and eight hundred for the purchase of a lot in the northern part of the village, at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. The contract was awarded to M. J. O'Connor, who, for nine thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, agreed to furnish a complete house, with the exception of the seats. The building was constructed from plans designed by A. C. Nash, and is a brick structure that would do credit to larger towns than Belpre. Both the first and second floors are divided from east to west by a hall twelve feet wide. On the first floor there are two rooms on either side of the hall. The south side of the second floor has two rooms, and the other side is left in one large room, which is used as a public hall, which, on suitable occasions, is rented for the benefit of the school fund. There are two stairways, one in the front and the other in the rear of the building. Through the central part of the house there is a large stack, to be used for heating by means of a furnace in the cellar, but so far the rooms have been heated by stoves. In due time the hall was handsomely furnished with a stage, chandeliers and comfortable seats. In 1880 a piano was bought far the school, and placed in the hall where the morning exercises are held. The school grounds are well supplied with shade trees, set out through the instrumentality of Mr. Northrup.

The first commencement took place in June, 1877, at which time there were four graduates, viz.: Anna B. Paden (deceased), Anna Guthrie, David P. Guthrie and

The Colored School

At the time of the organization of the special district there were about fifteen colored children of school age, and a separate school was established for them. The school now numbers about thirty-five members, and is held in the frame building made vacant by the removal of the white school. Mrs. Martha T. Wattaker taught until 1873, and was succeeded by J. H. Cole and C. W. H. Bell in 1874; W. W. Kinkead, the first white teacher, taught until 1875, when H. C. Day was appointed. From 1877 to 1879 Daniel Tucker taught, and the teacher for 1880 and 1881 is Anna Stephens.

During the summer of 1880 the building was thoroughly overhauled and refitted, and the wings taken off, so that it now presents a very neat appearance.

The Post Office

Mail was received and distributed at the tavern of Peregrine Foster as early as 1798. William Browning became the first postmaster, and in 1812 Colonel John Stane became his deputy. Squire Browning held the office until 1821, the time of his death, at which time Pardon Cook was appointed. He was successively followed by Colonel Stone, Ebenezer Benedict, Josiah Henderson, E. E. Cunningham, John Fisher, and in 1865 by John M. Stone who is still in office.

Smaller Villages

There are groups of houses below the village of Belpre, which are named respectively, Blennerhassett, Cedarville, Center Belpre and Little Hocking.

Blennerhassett is just opposite the head of the famous island whence the name is derived. It was laid out June 28, 1876, by William and Mary C. Mullen, the proprietors.

Cedarville was laid out by John Ball, John B. Day, Prashel Bailey, Peter Voshel, Cyrus R. Ames and William Clark. The plat was surveyed April 22, 1837. The village is located about two miles below Belpre, on the Ohio river. There are two groceries, a Methodist Episcopal church, and about a dozen houses. The post office, known as Rockland, was established in 1873. The first postmaster, Mr. Mawhinney, is still in office.

The Centre Belpre post office was also established in 1873, and the present incumbent, Parker Lewis, was appointed postmaster. Ata very early day what was known as the Bent post office was established with Nahum Bent as postmaster. The office was removed in 1836 or 1837, to the house of Dr. Gilbert, and was known as Centre Belpre post office until discontinued in 1873, at which time the new offices of Rockland and Centre Belpre were established. In connection with the latter office Mr. fewis keeps a general store.

Little Hocking is situated on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at the mouth of the Little Hocking, whence the village took its name. The plat was surveyed March 8,

1875, for the proprietors, Davis and Permelia Allen. However, the village was begun years before this survey. About 1824 a post office and store were established by Horace Curtis, first at his residence, and soon afterwards in the store-room now occupied by Leroy R. Curtis, the present postmaster. Until October, 1879, the name of the office was Little Hockhocking, and for convenience the reduplication was dropped. 'The second postmaster was Jacob King, who held the office from 1854 to 1856. Eli Davidson, his successor, remained in office until 1858, at which time H. G. Curtis was appointed, holding the position until 1866, when he was succeeded by Leroy R. Curtis, who is still in charge of the office, and is the proprietor of the store. In 1848 S. M. Skeen opened a general store, which, since 1878, has been exclusively a drug store. There is also a hotel in the village. The only church is St. Mary's Catholic. The physicians are: Drs. J. W. Quarles and B. F. Price. In 1876 Selden McGirr erected a planing mill and sash factory, and in 1877 J. T. Seyler built a steam grist- and saw-mill now owned by Frank McGirr. CEMETERIES.

There are no less than six places for burial in the township. Death and the narrow house were contemporaneous with the settler and his cabin. War and insidious disease soon made the "'first house" a necessity, and too rapidly have the silent cities been established.

The oldest burying-ground in the township is located on the bluff at Cedarville, and was set apart for this purpose by the Ohio company. The pioneers were buried almost within the shadow of the old meeting-house. When the lot was laid off, it was a short distance from the river high up on a site, upon which nature smiled. In the river beneath with its accompanying stretches of scenery, and in the many evergreens on every side there were suggestions of peace and immortality.