Belpre Township (part 1 of 3)

Belpre Township

As BELPRE township stood prior to the year 1856 so was it established December 20, 1790, by act of the court of quarter sessions, expressed as follows:

Resolved, That townships numbered one and two in the tenth range, and township numbered one in the ninth range, be and they are hereby incorporated and included in one township by the name of Belpre.

In 1797 the court declared that all the territory south of the townships of Waterford and Marietta and north of Gallipolis, be known as Belpre township, embracing parts of the present counties of Athens, Vinton, and Ross, together with fractions of Hocking, Meigs, Jackson, and Pike as they stand to-day.

The lines marked out in 1790 were bounded north by territory now embraced in Warren, Barlow and Fairfield, east and south by the Ohio river and west by what became Athens county, Decatur and a section of Fairfield township.

In 1856, by an act of the county commissioners, town one, range nine, and town two, range ten were bisected from east to west and the northern division incorporated into a new township, known as Dunham.

The general form of Belpre is similar to that of Washington county, of which it is the most southern township. Resembling a triangle, it has about eight miles of northern line and nearly seven miles on the west, while the Ohio river as an irregular hypothenuse meanders in a southwesterly direction. North and west, with a general tendency toward the south, are ranges of hills which alternately approach toward and recede from the valley of the Ohio. These hills have no special geological features. They are in many respects similar to their sister hills in the eastern part of the county, save that there are no large deposits of coal or petroleum. Towards the southern portion of the township there are slight indications of oil, and their seams of coal have occasionally been worked, but the labor is unremunerative. All along the line of the ridge which determines the course of the streams and extends from northeast to southwest, may be found in the out-croppings of the rocky sides an excellent quality of sandstone, especially adapted for building purposes, and in many places affording an excellent grind-stone grit. The principal quarry is a short distance above Little Hocking, and stone is taken from the vicinity of Belpre village.

The streams naturally seek the Ohio river, whose principal tributary in Belpre township is the Little Hocking, whose eastern and western forks, with their numerous branches, converge in the western part of the township, directing the enlarged stream towards the Ohio. Congress and Crooked creeks, in the eastern part of the township, Davis run in the centre, and Sawyer's and Big runs toward the southern extremity, are the only considerable streams independent of the Little Hocking. The hillsides rising from the glens and valleys bordering on these streams are covered with an abundant growth of forest trees, principally oak. Of late years the hill country has, in a measure, been cleared and cuitivated. As in the other hilly portions of the county the hill-tops are especially adapted to the growth of apple trees, and numerous orchards are found back of the valleys.

Descending the hills by winding and almost circuitous routes the traveller soon reaches the valleys which nature with bountiful hand has distributed throughout the length and breadth of the township. The valley of the Little Hocking is limited, although it has its ferlile tracts. The land along the Ohio is a vast stretch or fertility. By a natural division there are three principal areas where the valley broadens into a plain, and with adjoining second bottoms affords a farming country unsurpassed by any in Washington county. Beginning at the northern boundary of the township the Ohio river flows directly south three miles until it reaches the mouth of the Little Kanawha and the opposing hills of West Virginia, when by an abrupt turn it takes a westerly course thus embracing the first of the areas of rich land. About a mile below this bend the river, as if hesitating which way to turn, has impartially divided, leaving in the centre a rich alluvion, afterwards made an object of national attention by the misfortune of the Blennerhassetts. A little below the head of the island the river is confronted by a precipitous bluff which crowds the valley into the river and continues westward about half a mile. This bluff, which is over thirty feet high, is an extension of the plain land and acting as a spur from the ridge to the north separates the valley. This plateau or peninsula of the hill country is still made beautiful by evergreens, principally cedar, thus giving to the vicinity the name of Cedarville. As will be seen hereafter, this was an attractive spot to the early settlers. Leaving the bluff as the eastern boundary, the Ohio, by a graceful inward curve, has marked out the second and central alluvion from a quarter to a third of a mile wide and about three miles long, being contracted in the narrows just above the mouth of the Little Hocking. The bottom lands gradually lose themselves in adjoining plain land which is thirty or forty feet higher than the alluvial land, and varies in width from a third of a mile to a mile. This upland soil is of a rich and very productive sandy loam. Higher up on the hills the soil is of red clay for the most part, and is not of great value for farming purposes.

The opposing hills and plains on the Virginia shore complete the beauty of the scene. Especially broad and fertile is the plain below Blennerhassett island, and it isnot much wonder that General Washington, during his trip down the Ohio, was induced to purchase its broad expanse, and there is but little doubt but that he would have added to his purchase the bottom land opposite, concerning which he speaks in his journal, had this land not been on the "Indian side" of the river.

Along the river bottoms there was a heavy growth of beech, maple, and sycamore trees, while the higher land was shaded by native poplar and oak. In the spring time there was a multitude and endless variety of flowers, and the scene was well nigh enchanting. This garden spot was appropriately named, for there is a beauty and poetry in the name - "'Belle Prairie on the Belle Rivier."

Before the advent of the white man this fair land was the dwelling place of wild beasts. The invasions of strong and warlike Indian tribes kept sister tribes from locating villages along this part of the Ohio. It was a common hunting ground, and long ago the buffalo fed in the meadows. As late as the time of the coming of the first white men, the clumsy bear might have been seen galloping into the hills or scaling some neighboring tree; the timid deer ran startled from the water courses, and at night the harmony of the place was interrupted by the howling of the wolves, or the screaming of the panthers. But the Indians while waiting at Harmar to make the treaty of 1788 had pretty effectually driven out the game in the vicinity of Belpre. Deer became scarce, and a bear was not acommon sight. Wild turkeys continued to be abundant, and wolves made sheep raising hazardous.

Before The Indian

There is now but one mound of considerable size remaining in Belpre. This is located near the river, just east of Cedarville, on the land now owned by Stephen Druse. The mound was undoubtedly of conical shape, but has gradually been worn and flattened until now it is not more than four or five feet high with a circumference at the base of twenty-five or thirty feet. It is surrounded by a circular ditch which appears to have been several feet deep. This ditch is surmounted by a parapet three or four feet high extending all the way around, and having a diameter of nearly one hundred feet. The whole is laid out with mathematical exactness. This mound has not been opened.

There are several smaller mounds in the same neighborhood that are plainly artificial, but are without the circular ditch and the parapet. There is a small mound of this kind on the property of Charles Ames, and another in the garden of Cyrus Ames, west of Cedarville. Mounds are also found on the land of E. W. Petty and J. Ollum a short distance north of the Druse mound.

Until a few years ago, there stood on the land of J. M. Farson, just below Cedarville, a mound of large proportions. Like its smaller neighbors it was without surrounding ditch or parapet. It stood on the left of, and partially in the road opposite the residence of Mr. Farson. It was shaped like a sugar-loaf, save that at some early day there had been made an excavation in the top which gave it the appearance of an extinct volcano. At the time of its removal it was fourteen feet high and had a circumference of one hundred feet at the base. There was no attempt to ascertain its contents until 1874. During this and the subsequent year Mr. Farson decided to remove it, and while engaged in the work made some very interesting discoveries. As had been surmised, the mound proved to be one of the tumuli with which the surface of the whole country is dotted. The excavation at the top was renewed. After digging downward a short distance the first skeleton was discovered. It was in a fair state of preservation, in fact so sound that the doubt at once arose as to its antiquity. A closer examination of the skull indicated that it was that of an Indian, and a bullet hole in the forhead just above the eye at once suggested the probability that the death and burial took place less than an hundred years ago, although there is no history or even tradition concerning such death and burial.

Toward the centre of the mound a skeleton was found which upon being exposed to the air at once proved its great age by crumbling to dust. As the work proceeded there were found, at different depths, eight more skeletons, irregularly arranged. Exposure soon reduced these bones to their original element. With each skeleton was found a stone pipe, beads, buttons, and balls of muscle-shells, and an occasional collection of arrowheads. A remarkable harpoon with a bone-bearded point was among the relics found. With one skeleton there was found a pair of horns. This suggests that the builders of the mounds believed in a post mortem combat with an evil one, and that weapons were selected with reference to the homeopathic principle "'sémilia similibus curantur." One of these horns is artificial and was carved from the bone of some animal, the outside only being finished; the mate to this rough and hastily made counterpart was a real horn over six inches in length.

In the centre and a little below the base of the mound there were found the remains of a skeleton mingled with burned charcoal and calcined bones. It was evident that the body had been cremated. The lower extremities evidently had not been subjected to the intensity of a flame, and there is evidence that the body prior to cremation had been placed in a sitting posture, so that the head and trunk speedily consumed, leaving unburned the rest of the body.

twenty-two arrow-heads from three to five inches in length ; numerous stone axes, pipes, and harpoons; nine hollow cylindrical tubes, eight of which were found together away from the skeletons, and the ninth was with the remains of the burned skeleton and was much smaller than the others. These tubes were made of soapstone and the first mentioned are about a foot in length. The maker of these tubes was thoroughly acquainted with the art of glazing, as their polished surfaces attest. As many of these relics as would bear exposure to the air were preserved. The mound was entirely taken away and furnished nearly two thousand cubic yards of earth.

There are several small mounds farther down the river. On the more elevated plains and hilltops have been found heaps of stone which bear evidence of orderly arrangement. There was until a few years ago such a structure on the hillside on the farm of Edwin Guthrie. One was also erected on the adjoining farm of C. W. Oakes. They were constructed of large flat stones, piled up loosely until ten or twelve feet high. Ashes and other indications of fire were discovered.

The Settlement

Belle Prairie was naturally adapted to the wants of the pioneers in the Ohio company, and was quickly selected by the committee sent out to explore, and which reported to the company as the most suitable place for the establishment of the first community separate from the one at the mouth of the Muskingum. The natural beauty of the fair land, combined with the knowledge of the great fertility of the soil, made the place desirable for farmers; and, above all, the good land was,close joined by the river, thus enabling the settlers to form a continuous chain of farms and farm-houses, thereby making communication easier. The settlement was composed of more than twenty-five of the original proprietors of the land, and a number of others who had either purchased land of the original proprietors, or else secured it soon after the first settlement. For the most part this was a settlement of Revolutionary officers, brave men and wise, who had struggled for independence with their leader, Washington.

As will be seen, the settlements were made at Belpre in the years 1789 and 1790, principally. Few came during the Indian troubles. After the war a number of additional settlements were made. The fact, however, is that Belpre township was settled, prior to the year 1800, almost as thickly as it is today. Now and then, during the intervening years, there is a record of a settlement. The country back of the river was principally owned by those living on the bottom land, and hence the back settlement is of recent date, and even to-day is very sparse. The first houses were built near the river, and of necessity very close together, as the lots were very narrow, some of them being less than forty rods wide. The first business of the settler was to build a log house and make a clearing for the first crop. A rapid method of freeing the land to be cultivated from the overhanging shade was _ to girdle the trees, letting them stand until a more convenient season for felling them. Many of the first houses were hastily constructed of unhewn logs, and in later years gave way to the more substantial hewed log or frame houses which were usually built farther back from the river. The cattle grazed in the woods back of the clearings, which were generally surrounded by ''stake and rider" fences. There was a continuous path from field to field, whereby the settlers kept up the strong feeling of friendliness and sociability which has ever characterized these families, many of the descendants beiag residents of Belpre township to-day. It will be noticed that the first settlen.ents were made in the upper part of the township, and quickly extended toward the southwestern corner. In the survey of lands they were platted in three divisions, known as the upper, the middle, and the lower settlements. The upper settlement extended down the river to the land drawn by A. W. Putnam; the middle, thence to the mouth of the Little Hocking; and the lower included the remaining portion of river land, afterwards known as the Newbury settlement. The farms of the pioneers will be noted as parts of one of these three divisions. THE UPPER SETTLEMENT,

From time to time, during the days of early settlement, transient people "squatted" on the Congress section, north of the site of Belpre village, but these soon gave way to permanent settlers, and went further down the river.

Captain William Dana settled on the land now occupied by his grandson, George Dana, a short distance below the present village of Belpre. He was born at Little Cambridge, now Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1745. His ancestors were French Huguenots. In 1770 he married Mary Bancroft, who was born in 1752, and died in 1823, surviving her husband fourteen years. After Captain Dana's marriage he resided in Charleston, but just before the battle of Lexington removed to Worcester. He became a captain in the army, and did good service, but having sold his property for worthles continental currency, he was obliged to quit the army, and for a time worked on a farm near Amherst, New Hampshire, working during the winter at the carpenter trade that he might supply his family with the necessities of life. Leaving his family at Amherst, he came to the Ohio country with his two oldest sons in 1788. He made some money in Marietta by burning brick, the first known to have been made in the territory. In the spring of 1788 he built a log cabin on land in Belpre, a short distance below the present village. In the autumn of 1789 he arrived with his family at Marietta, and there being no accommodations there, proceeded down the river with the intention of living in the log house which he had built in the previous spring, but unfortunately it had burned in the interim, and it was necessary to hastily erect what is known among the pioneers as "'salt box." So small was this abode that two of the boys had to sleep in the covered wagon during the winter. Notwithstanding this first misfortune Captain Dana was elated at the thought of having reached such a goodly land, and immediately set about to clear the surrounding forest. In the following year he built a more comfortable hewed log house. There were nine children - Luther, William and Stephen settled in Newport township; Edmond, Augustus, Elizabeth, Mary and George (married), and settled in Washington county. Edmond built the present Dana residence. Mary and Fanny were born in the garrison. George Dana, sr., was bornin1790. By his wife, Deborah A. Fisher, he had five children, three of whom are living, viz: Mrs. E. W. Dodge, of Avondale, Cincinnati; Mary W. Linn, of Zanesville; and George Dana living on the old place in Belpre township. He was born in 1821. He married Licia Byington, by whom he has had eleven children, nine 0. whom are living.

John and Rebecca Rouse, with their farrity, arrived at Belpre in 1789, having came from Massachusetts in 1788, accompanied by Major Jonathan Haskell and Captain Jonathan Devol, An interesting circumstance is related concerning their departure from their Massachusetts home. A neighboring farmer boy was in love with Bathsheba, the oldest daughter of Mr. Rouse, and just before the family left for the west, the boy's father urgently begged Bathsheba to remain, offering as an inducement to marry his son, the deed for a fine farm. But the faithful daughter would not desert her father and mother. She became very useful .in the community at Belpre, and for a number of years taught school, she being the first female teacher.in the Northwest Territory. The other children were: Cynthia, who married Hon. Paul Fearing; Betsy, wife of Colonel Levi Barber; Michael, Ruth, Stephen, Robert and Barker, the two latter being twins. Robert died of scarlet fever, and the others married and settled in the county, some of the descendants being on the old place in Belpre township.

Colonel Ebenezer Battelle, of Massachusetts, joined the Belpre associates, and early in the spring of 1789 went to Belpre and proceeded to clear his farm, which was located partially on and just east of the site of the Castle. He cleared quite a patch of land, and proceeded to erect a stout block-house for the reception of his family. On the day after Captain King had been killed by the Indians, Colonel Battelle, with his two sons, and Esquire Greene, set forth from Marietta in a large canoe loaded with provisions and farming tools. Betore they reached Belpre they were informed of the death of their friend, and for a time they consulted with each other on the river bank, as to the advisability of proceeding, but concluding that they should run the risk they proceeded, and that night, with the assembled settlers, kept guard at their block-houses, which being near together supplied the lack of a fort.

Early in April, before any families had moved on to the grounds, a party of officers and ladies from Marietta visited Belpre. Colonel Battelle accompanied their barge on the return trip up the Ohio. A bear was seen swimming in the river, and the escort that was proceeding by land banged away at him without touching him. The canoe containing Colonel Battelle approached, and he forthwith got a "tail hold" of bruin, whom he immersed every time he tried to bite the hand of his captor. The bear was finally killed with an axe. He weighed over three hundred pounds.

Colonel Battelle soon afterwards removed his family to Belpre. He had three sons and one daughter. Cornelius and Thomas became wealthy merchants in the West Indies ; Thomas married the daughter of Governor Livingston, of New York, and Cornelius the daughter of a wealthy planter; Louisa married Rev. Joseph I. Foot, and lived in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, where he was pastor of the Presbyterian church from 1827 to 1829.

Colonel Battelle was the first religious instructor appointed for Belpre. During the Indian war his blockhouse, which formed the northeast corner of Farmer's castle, was used as a place for public worship. Further particulars of the early life of this good man are narrated in the history of Newport township.

Major Jonathan Haskell was one of the first settlers in Belpre, and built his cabin on land a short distance east of the site of the castle. He commenced clearing his farm, and was getting his home in order when the Indian war broke out, and he left Belpre to accept an appointment in the regular service. He went to Rochester, Massachusetts, and returned in December, 1791, to Marietta, where he was stationed for the defence of the settlement. He received his commission as major in 1795. After the war he returned to his home at Belpre, where he remained until his death in 1814. He was born in Massachusetts in 1775. After coming to Belpre he married Phoebe Greene. Some of the descendants are living in Washington county, the daughter of Major Haskell, Mrs. Lawton, being a resident of Barlow township.

Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, the original proprietor of lot twenty-seven on the site of Farmer's castle, moved to his land in 1789. He was born in Massachusetts in 1753, and in 1775 married Elizabeth Heath, by whom he had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. The family has representatives in this county, in the Goodnos, who are grandchildren of Colonel Cushing.

Colonel Cushing achieved military renown in the war of the Revolution. After the close of the war he lived in Boston, whence, in 1788, he removed to Marietta. In August after his arrival he was, by Governor St. Clair, appointed captain in the First regiment of territorial militia, and in 1797 was made colonel of the regiment. After the capture of Major Goodale by the Indians, Colonel Cushing was chosen to command the garrison at Farmer's castle. He was one of the most active men in the affairs of the garrison. He was highly esteemed by Blennerhassett, and both Colonel and Mrs. Cushing were treated with marked attention, and were put in charge of the island when Blennerhassett left.

Colonel Israel Putnam, the eldest son of General Putnam, was born in Salem, Massachusetts. in 1739. In 1764 he married Sarah Waldo, When his father heard of the battle of Lexington, and hurried from the plow to the army, Israel immediately followed with a com- pany of volunteers which he had raised. Though naturally brave and strong, he was unsuited to the army, and after doing good service for three years, retired to the farm. When the Ohio company was formed he became an associate, and started for the west with two of his sons, crossing the mountain with a wagon loaded with farming utensils. While crossing North river the raft on which his son Waldo and the yoke of oxen were crossing began to sink. But Waldo was equal to the emergency, unyoked the oxen, and being unable to swim, seized one of the oxen by the tail and launched him into the river. The astonished ox, after considerable effort, landed his passenger, and the journey proceeded without further incident. The Putnams passed the winter at Marietta, in the Campus Martius, and in the spring of 1789, they proceeded to their lands at Belpre, Colonel Putnam being opposite the mouth of the Little Kanawha, and Waldo's in the middle settlement. Colonel Putnam put up a log house, and remained clearing and fencing his land until the fall of 1790, when he returned to Pomfret, Connecticut, for his family, and owing to the Indian war did not return until after the peace of 1795. Soon after bringing his family to Belpre he erected a large frame house, which, in those early days was considered to be quite a mansion. This house is now known as the Benedict house. Colonel Putnam was a practical agriculturist, and gave an impetus to the growth of the farming interests of Belpre, and was an influential man in the settlement. He frequently led the religious meetings during the absence of the preacher. He had five sons and three daughters. Israel settled in Muskingum township; William Pitt was a physician and located in Marietta in 1792; David also settled in Marietta, in 1798; the fifth son was George W.; Aaron W. located in the middle settlement. Sarah married Samuel Thorniley; Mary, Daniel Mayo; and Elizabeth Joel Craig. The two latter settled in Newport, Kentucky.

Captain Jonathan Stone, one of the Belpre pioneers of 1789, was a settler at Marietta the year before. A full biography appears at the close of this chapter.

Colonel Alexander Oliver, of Massachusetts, and a yaliant soldier during the Revolutionary war came to Belpre in 1789 and settled on lot No. 19, just below what is now known as Cedarville. There were eleven children, all of whom settled in Ohio. Two of Alexander's sons became ministers; David became a physician in western Ohio; Launcelot and John were the other sons. The daughters were: Lucreta, wife of Levi Munsel, who lived several years in Marietta; Betsy, married Hon. Daniel Symmes, of Cincinnati; Sally, married Major Austin, United States army, and settled in Cincinuati; Lucreta, wife of George Putnam, son of Colonel Israel Putnam; Mehala, married Calvin Shepherd, of Marietta; Electa, wife of O. M. Spencer, of Cincinnati; and Mary, married Oliver Wing, who settled in Washington county. During the Indian war the family took shelter in Farmer's castle.

William Browning came to Marietta from Massachusetts in 1789, and married Abigail, the daughter of General Rufus Putnam. He settled in Belpre on the land now a part of the village. Here he continued to live until his death which occurred in 1823. There were four children, three of whom lived to maturity, viz: William R., George, and Samuel M. William R., was born in 1792, and in 1819 married Sophia Barker, who was born in 1797 and is still living. Mr. Rufus Browning was at one time county surveyor, and was one of the early justices in the township. In the early days he kept a ferry and his wife kept a tavern. The seven children were: Joseph, Abigail, William, Cynthia, A. H., R. P., and E. P. Browning, and Sophia. A. H. Browning was the original proprietor of the town plat of the village of Belpre. The second son, William, was born in 1824; he married Mary Parker. Their five children survive. Mr. George Browning, son of William Browning, sr., went to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he lived and died. His brother, Samuel, was a lawyer and died at Burlington, in Lawrence county, Ohio. He married Miss Lucy Dana, of Newport, Washington county, Ohio.

Nathaniel Little, a native of Massachusetts, was among the first to make settlement in Belpre. During the Indian troubles he and his wife and son, Charles, took refuge in the castle. Afterwards he lived in the Middle settlement, and in a few years removed to Newport where he died. He had five sons and one daughter. His wife was Pamelia Bradford, whose ancestors came from England in the May Flower.

Griffin Greene, esq., located in Belpre in 1790, building his house near the Ohio a little over a mile below the present village of Cedarville, and just below the site of the castle. He was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, in 1749, and was bred in the smith and anchor business. He married Sarah Greene, of a family not connected by blood with his own. She was a sister of Colonel Christopher Greene, who, during the Revolution, commanded the noted black regiment. There were four children by this marriage - -Richard, Philip, Griffin, and Susan, all of whom lived to years of maturity, and came to Belpre with their parents. Phoebe Greene, a niece, lived with them and married Major Jonathan Haskell, who settled at Belpre. Richard, Philip, and Susan Greene married and settled in Ohio. Griffin died in Marietta. Esquire Greene early became an important personage in Belpre. He was perhaps the first squire in the neighborhood, and by him were some of the earliest marriages solemnized, and some of the first disputes settled. But he was particularly noted for his inventive genius. He assisted Captain Devol in the invention of the floating mill, and he ingeniously contrived a machine for perpetual motion, which, though it would stop, would run for several hours in a wonderfulmanner. In 1795 he turned his attention to the feasibility of applying steam to the moving of boats on the western streams, and invented an engine, and in company with Elijah Backus went to Philadelphia, and after an expenditure of about a thousand dollars in a vain effort to construct the engine the project was dropped. In 1794 Squire Greene was active in the formation of the company which discovered the Scioto salines. In 1801 he removed with his family to Marietta. He was faithful to his country during the Revolution, and be- cause he took part in the war was, with his illustrious cousin, General Nathaniel Greene, excommunicated from the Friend's society. He lived in Marietta, after leaving Belpre, until his death which occurred in 1804.

Among those who came to Belpre about 1790 was the family of Colonel Daniel Bent, of Massachusetts. He was accompanied on the journey from Rutland to the Ohio by his family and Silas, in whose name the share of land was drawn. Colonel Bent was the father of several children. Nahum settled after the war near Centre Belpre, eventually becoming the first postmaster at Bent's Post Office, as the Centre Belpre office was once called. Silas Bent, with his wife and several children, located in the upper settlement. He became one of the most prominent men in the township. He was one of the judges of the court of common pleas appointed by Governor St. Clair. After the purchase of Louisiana he removed to St. Louis, and was there engaged in the survey of United States lands. His son, Silas, lived for a time just above Foster's tavern, where Belpre village now stands, and he afterwards removed to the far west, becoming the head of a fur company, and establishing a fort and trading post up the Arkansas river. Of the other children of Colonel Bent, Dorcas married William Dana, of Newport township; Susan married Joel Oakes, of Newbury; and there was another son, Daniel by name, who lived on the old home place and died there.

Captain Isaac Barker removed from New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1788, and journeyed westward with the family of Captain William Dana. On the way across the mountains an amusing incident occurred. The oxen that Captain Barker was driving, becoming footsore, were exchanged for a fresh yoke at a Dutch tavern at which they stopped. They had scarcely got out of sight of the tavern when the new team balked on a rough place in the road, and all efforts to coax them to go on were futile. The boys sagely concluded that the oxen could not understand English, and quickly sent for the Dutch tavern-keeper, who scared the oxen over the rough place by a rapid flow of Dutch swearing. On arriving at Marietta the family spent several months with the family of Paul Fearing. Early in 1790 they moved to their farm in the upper settlement at Belpre, just below that of Captain Devol. There were eight children - Michael, Isaac, Joseph, William, Timothy, Anna, Rhoda, and Nancy. During the war they lived in Farmer's castle and at Stone's stockade. The Barkers continued on their farm until 1798, when they removed to Athens county, where the sons became prominent.

Captain Jonathan Devol, of Rhode Island, was one of the passengers on the May Flower, which he constructed for the use of the first company of emigrants to Ohio. He erected a house in the Campus Martius in 1788, and was joined by his wife and children in December of that year. Being a skilful builder, and in fact ingenious in any work, he was detained from taking possession of the lot which he had drawn in Belpre. He was one of the committee of three appointed to explore the country in search of suitable places for the location of mills and farming settlements. His lot in Belpre upper settlement was numbered seven, and thither in February, 1791, he repaired with his family. He succeeded in clearing a patch of land, and built a log cabin not far below the house of Captain William Dana, his next neighbor. The news of the Big Bottom massacre reached him while attending court at Marietta, and he hurried home, fearing that his family would be murdered. Mrs. Devol, upon hearing that the Indians were on the war path, ordered the children to lie down with their clothes on, ready to run at a moment's notice. But, fortunately, Captain Devol found his family safe. He at once prepared the plans and directed the building of Farmer's castle, where he and his family remained during the dangerous period. He became famous by building the wonderful "floating mill." For the gratification of Squire Greene, he constructed the perpetual motion machine. He also constructed a cane mill for the use of the inhabitants of the garrison. In 1792 he built a twelve-oared barge, of about twenty-five tons burthen, for General Putnam. The red cedar, of which it was built, was procured at the hazard of Captain Devol's life, on the' Little Kanawha, a few miles above its mouth. The barge was a model of ° beauty, and was said to have excelled any boat ever seen on the Ohio. After the war Captain Devol moved to Marietta, and in 1797 to Wiseman's bottom, in Muskingum. Belpre was a great loser by his removal.

Noah Sparhawk was born in New Hampshire in 1730. He married Miriam Greene, who was born in 1752, and died in 1847, surviving her husband forty years. They settled in Belpre shortly after the Indian war, and secured land of Captain George Ingersoll, who had made some improvement on the lot below Cedarville, of which he was the orignal proprietor, and after the war returned to his home at Boston. Nathan, son of Noah Sparhawk, was born in 1803. In 1834 he married Susan Stone, who was born in Belpre in 1802, and died in 1873. Two children. resulted from this union: George W. resides in St. Louis, and Caroline resides with her father in Belpre village. In his younger days he took an active part in all good enterprises.

Edward Henderson, who acted as a ranger at Marietta during the war, at its close settled in Belpre. He was the first man that received pay from the Government for military duty performed at Marietta. He was born in Connecticut in 1761. He married Sarah Lufkin, who was born in 1770 and died in 1832. Mr. Henderson died at Philadelphia in 1800. That same year his son Josiah was born, on the same day that Mr. Blennerhasset moved to his island home. Josiah lived with his mother until he arrived at the years of maturity, and in 1827 married Catharine Hutchison, who was born in 1806. There are three children surviving, viz: George W., in Oakland, California; Lucy Spencer; and Fanny Cay- Wood, in Belpre. Captain Henderson has been on the river during the most of his life, and is now living in honored retirement in the village of Belpre.

Peregrine Foster and Mary his wife settled in the township about 1796, coming immediately from Morgan county, Virginia, whither they had gone for refuge during the war. Mr. Foster was born in New England in 1749, and was one of the forty-eight who came to the Ohio country in 1788. As narrated above, he soon went to Virginia. After his arrival in Belpre he started a ferry, the first concerning which anything is known, and erected a frame house, in which he kept tavern until his death, in 1804, when the business was conducted by his wife, who in after years became the wife of William Browning, and died in 1823. Mr. Foster served as one of the judges of the territorial court of common pleas prior to 1802, He was also one of the surveyors for the Ohio company, and went back to New England for his family. On his way back to Ohio, he and his family stopped in Morgantown, Virginia, on account of the Indian war. His early decease was a great loss to the community in which he dwelt.

Zadoc Foster, a native of Maccachusetts, moved with his family to the Northwest Territory in.1796. He came with an ox team as far as Olean point, on the Allegheny river, and thence by raft to Marietta, where he remained until the spring of 1797, when he settled in Belpre, and remained there until he went to Athens county in 1809, where his descendants are living.

Josiah Whiting, a soldier from Boston, was present at St. Clair's defeat. After the Indian war he came to Belpre and settled just above the Putnam place in the upper settlement, afterwards removing back from the river. He was a shoemaker by trade.

Daniel Ellenwood, of Massachusetts, came to Belpre in 1795 and settled just below the Howe farm in the upper settlement. He had three sons and three daughters, none of whom are living in the township.

Cyrus Ames, sr., emigrated from Massachusetts in 1798, and after the usual journey by wagon and boat arrived at Belpre and made settlement a short distance below the present village of Cedarville. He married Polly Rice by whom he had the following children, viz: Cyrus, residing in Belpre, as does also Abigail, widow of Charles H. Brough; Susan C. (McKibben), who settled in Kansas; William, in Illinois; and Azuba, of Belpre. Cyrus, the eldest son, was born in Belpre township in 1812. He married Sarah Porter in 1844. They have had five children, four of whom are still living, viz: Emma, Charles B., living near his father; Frank P., and Mary E. Their oldest son, Edward L., born in 1847, died in 1863. Mr. Ames is a large land owner, he haying three hundred and twenty acres of land, mostly of second bottom. He makes a specialty of sheep raising. The father of Cyrus Ames, st., was an Episcopal clergyman, a graduate of Harvard, and a chaplain in the Revolutionary war. He died at Valley Forge in the hard winter of 1777-8.

Daniel Fisher landed on Blennerhassett Island on New Year's day, 1800. He lived on the Island a few years and then bought land of Colonel Battelle. Hehad in all a family of ten children, two sons and two daughters remaining at the old home in Dedham, Massachusetts. The other children were William, who became quite prominent; Seth; Andrew, a hatter by trade, died in Athens county, Elizabeth, married Bartholomew Gilman; Hannah, married Seth Fuller, and Deborah, the wife of George Dana.

Joseph Newbury, a native of New York State, settled at Cedarville at an early day. He had a large family and was a strict Methodist. Believing in the strict adherence to biblical admonition, he refused to be called anything but "dad," because the Bible says "call no man father." His son Joe was a scriptural prodigy and could recite cuapter after chapter and understand not a word.

Sherabiah Fletcher was one of the first settlers in Belpre township. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was present at the taking of West Point, Afterwards coming to Belpre he settled on the back part of the lot upon which Cyrus Ames settled. His second wife was a Bellows and is still living near the mouth of the Little Hocking. As an instance of the integrity of Mr. Fletcher it is related that his father, who lived at Lowell, Massachusetts, died and left property to his children, a part of this property being the land on which Lowell was built. Sherabiah told his brothers that he would forego his share of the property if they would assume the responsibility of caring for their aged mother. This they did. In the course of time Mr. Fletcher was informed that according to law he had a right to the land on which Lowell is. This was technically true, but Mr. Fletcher honorably refused to make any effort to reclaim what others had paid for. The citizens of Belpre made the old gentleman a present of three hundred dollars as a token.

John Breck settled just below Major Haskells' place about the year 1800. He married a daughter of Judge Foster, of Belpre, and afterwards removed to the Duck creek settlement. His father was a prominent member of the Ohio company. He preached the first sermon in the settlement.

Joseph O'Neal, sr., emigrated from old Virginia in 1812, and settled a short distance north of the present village of Belpre. He was born in 1770, and died in Belpre in 1807. His two sons, Joseph and Colbert, continued to live on the home place. The latter, who is still living, was born in Virginia in 1805. He married Sarah Dana, born in 1808. These two have had three children, viz: Foster, Amanda, and Russel.

Joseph O'Neal, jr. was born in Virginia in 1800, and died in Belpre in 1840. He married Eunice Cole, who died February 27, 1881. Thechildren are J. L. O'Neal, of Belpre; Ezra H., of Colorado; and J. C. O'Neal, of Belpre. The former, born in 1829, married Jennie Rardin, by whom he has had five children. For the last five years Mr. O'Neal has been justice of the peace, with his office in Belpre village, where he resides.

Joseph Cook was born in Virginia in 1785, andin 1813 with his family emigrated to Ohio, and settled 'in Beipre township, locating near where the village now stands. His nouse was a very popular resort for travellers, and was known far and wide as the Cook house. Mr. Cook's wife, Clarissa Devol, was born in 1791, and died in 1859.

in what is now West Virginia, and in that same year was brought by his parents to Belpre. He married Mary Curtis, who was born in Belpre township in 1825. Four of the five children born by this marriage are living, viz: Ada, wife of E. P. Cook; Clara L., wife of Alfred Williams; Mary V., and Ella B.

In 1816 Ebenezer Benedict, a native of Connecticut, removed to Belpre from Trumbull county, Ohio. He lived in a frame house about one hundred yards above the ferry landing, near the present village of Belpre. This house was carried away in the flood of 1832, and was wrecked on the head of Blennerhasset island. Mr. Benedict remained in Belpre until 1866, the time of his death. His widow, Irenea (Barnum) survived him seven years. They had three children: Polly, deceased; George, residing in Marietta; and Irenea (Allen), living in Hamilton county, Ohio.

Dr. G. N. Gilbert emigrated from Vermont to Ohio in 1817, and settled in Waterford, and in 1821 located in Belpre middle settlement, where he lived until his death, in 1870. His professional career is noted elsewhere in this work. When he first came to Belpre he boarded at Dr. Beebe's house, and afterwards became a member of the family of A. W. Putnam, whose daughter, Lucy E., he married in 1825. They lived together just forty-five years, the doctor dying on the anniversary of their marriage. They had ten children, of whom eight are living. In 1835 Dr. Gilbert was appointed to take charge of the post office at Cedarville, which he kept at his house a short distance below the old Congregational church. In 1864 he met with a severe runaway accident which deprived him almost entirely of his eyesight. After this death was appointed postmistress, which office she held until in 1873, when the office was discontinued. Mrs. Gilbert, who was born in 1804, is still living, and is one of the few survivors of the early days of Belpre settlement.

The Middle Settlement

In April, 1789, Major Nathan Goodale and family arrived at Belpre, he being a leading associate in the colony. His land was that now occupied by the hamlet of Center Belpre. He was conceded to be one of the most honest, industrious, and intelligent farmers in the settlement, and he went at the heavy task of clearing and making ready for cultivation his land, in such a way as to prove his capabilities for sermounting every difficulty. He was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, in 1743. He learned the trade of a bricklayer, and received a fair education. He married Elizabeth Phelps, and lived for a time in Rutland, where his three oldest children, Betsy, Cynthia, and Sally, were born. These daughters married and settled in Ohio. The sons were Lincoln, who studied medicine in Belpre, with Dr. Jewett, but afterwards became a merchant in Columbus, where Goodale park keeps his memory green. Timothy was a grown min during the Indian war and done did as a ranger. He located on the lot just below that on which his father settled, and died a short time after the return of peace. Major Goodale was a soldier in every respect. He was a minute-man, and then a gallant officer in the Revolution. After coming to Marietta in 1789 he was appointed captain of a company of militia which he drilled in view of the approaching war. He was one of the most active in the planning and erection of Farmer's castle. When the building was ready for occupancy what better man than Major Goodale could they get to command the garrison? He was in command in the winter of 1793, when, for convenience, the branch forts were built. Stone's stockade above and Goodale's stockade below. Mayor Goodale had been in the new garrison'scarcely a week when he was ruthlessly seized by savages and carried away to die a captive, a fuller account of his seizure being given elsewhere in this work. He left a vacancy hard to fill. His family, overwhelmed with grief, remained in the neighborhood several years and finally scattered. None of the descendants are living in the county at present.

Daniel Loring, of Massachusetts, with his family took refuge in Farmer's castle during the Indian war. His farm was just below what is now Centre Belpre. His first wife was Miss Howe, of Sudbury, Massachusetts. The children by this marriage were Israel, Charlotte, wife of A. W. Putnam, and Ezekial. His second wife was the widow of a brother of Oliver Rice. The children by the second marriage were Bathsheba, married Mr. Washburne, of Marietta; Daniel, removed to Chillicothe; Polly, wife of Dr. William Beebe; Oliver Rice, who held the office of associate justice of the court of common pleas; and Jesse, who was sheriff of Washington county fora number of years. The two latter remained on the homeplace in Belpre. Rice married Fannie Warren, by whom he had three children, viz: Warren, Lucy, and Jesse. By his second wife Orinda Howe, he had five children: Francis H., and Corwin, who died in the army; a daughter married a Mr. Ford; Delia, married Rev. Mr. Morris; and one child died in infancy.

Jesse Loring married first Deborah Gray, and afterwards Maria Fisher, who lives now in Belpre village. Five children died in early childhood.

Major Oliver Rice, of Massachusetts lived for many years in the middle settlement. He was a widower and generally had a family in his house with whom he boarded. He was an ex-Revolutionary soldier and a man of sterling worth.

Cornelius Delano came to Belpre with Major Goodale, whose daughter he married. He came from Massachusetts and acted as a Spy two or three years. He finally settled on lot number ten hundred and twenty, in the northern part of the township, on land now owned by S. McPherson. There he and his wife lived and died. Their only surviving child is living at Columbus, Ohio, where most of the family settled. A grandson is living in Ross county.

"tors of the Belpre land, was Major Robert Bradford, who drew lot numbered thirty-seven in the middle settlement, a little over a mile below Farmer's castle. He came to Belpre in 1789, and almost immediately erected on the upland, a short distance back of the river, a twostory hewed log house, which is still standing in a good state of preservation, and is undoubtedly the oldest house in Belpre township. In later years it was weatherboarded, and to-day it presents quite a modern appearance, although there are evidences of age in the tumbled down stoop and general deserted appearance. Major Bradford came to Belpre via Marietta from Plymouth, Massachnsetts, where he was born in 1750. He wasa lineal descendent of Governor Bradford. He married Keziah, the daughter of Captain Nathaniel Little. He was actively engaged in nearly all the battles of the Reyolution. A sword which he received from the Marquis Lafayette, is still in possession of the Bradford family. Lafayette, while on a visit to Marietta in 1826, upon learning that his old friend, Major Bradford was dead, was deeply moved. The most prominent enterprise in which Major Bradford engaged during his residence at Belpre, was his association with Esquire Griffin Green on the discovery of the Scioto salines. During the prevalence of the putrid sore throat in Belpre in 1792, the Bradford family was the most sorely afflicted in the settlement, all of the children, who were then born, dying but one. The children born 'afterwards were, Sarah, in 1794 in the stockade; Robert, 1796; Samuel A. and Otis L. The latter was born in 1799, and is the only survivor, and is living at a ripe old age at Parkersburgh, West Virginia. Major Bradford was struck down by the fearful fever of 1822, and died in his seventy-second year.

Aaron Waldo Putnam, whose journey to Belpre is noted with that of his father, Colonel Israel Putnam, located in the middle settlement on the land now occupied by his grandson, I. W. Putnam. He immediately commenced a clearing, and the erection of a small log cabin, after some years putting up a frame house back from the river, which is the oldest frame in the township, having been built in 1800. His land lay about half a mile below the garrison. While in the garrison, he went down daily to feed his cattle and milk the cows. While at this work on two different occasions he had exciting experiences with the indians. The first incident is related in connection with the opening of Indian hostilities. Not long afterwards, when Mr. Putnam was on a stack in his fodder yard throwing down hay for his cattle, he heard the click of a gun-lock, and turning, saw an Indian behind the fence in the act of recocking his gun, which had failed to go off the first time. Mr. Putnam jumped and ran for life. 'The Indian fired and missed, and being joined by two others, pursued their supposed victim, who, fortunately crossing the log bridge over the ravine before the Indians reached it, was saved. Mr. Putnam alarmed the garrison but the Indians were not caught. On the return of the Indians from the pursuit of Mr. Putnam, they spitefully shot a yoke of oxen belonging to Captain Benjamin Miles.

the continued absence of Mr. Putnam, who had gone into the hills in search of stray cattle. On_ his safe return it was learned that he had traced the cattle to Fort Harmar, fifteen miles distant, and had found the lost animals at Waterford. He returned by the rangers path leading from Waterford to the mouth. of the Little Hocking. All this journey was made alone and on foot at a time when Indians were hostile and numerous. During his sojourn in the castle, he was married to Charlotte Loring, who was born in 1773. Both died in 1822, during the fever epidemic. Mr. Putnam, at the time of his death, was: fifty-five years old. He was the father of nine children: William P., Charlotte L., Julia H., Albigience W., Israel, Lucy E., Catharine, Bathsheba and Elizabeth. Of these, Lucy E. and Catharine are living. William Pitt was born in Farmer's castle in 1792, and died in 1871. He married Lorena Nye, who is still living. Of their ten children, five are living. Of these, the oldest, Israel W., was born in 1825. He married Harriet Ripley, by whom he has had six children, five of whom survive. He resides on the old homestead. He, like his father, has been prominent as a township officer and leading citizen.

Captain Benjamin Miles, who early became one of Belpre's most prominent citizens, came to Ohio from Rutland, Massachusetts. He came to Belpre in 1789, and located on the farm which he had drawn in the middle settlement. His land is now occupied by S. R. W. McFarland. Captain Miles built a log house near the river, and soon after the war erected a brick twostory house, the first in the township. Here he kept tavern, and here the first town election was held. He was the proprietor of the first mill on the Little Hocking. During the war the family took refuge in the garrisons. At the beginning of hostilities the Indians, mad because they couldn't catch Waldo Putnam and Nathaniel Little, forthwith killed Captain Miles' five yoke of oxen, the pride of the settlement. The old records, religious and civil, show that Captain Miles, during his residence at Belpre, was eminently a public man. He died in 1817, aged sixty-three, and his wife, Hannah, died in 1825, aged sixty-nine years. The children were: Benjamin Buckminster and Hubbard (twins), William, Tappan and Polly. Benjamin B. became a merchant in Athens county; Solomon S. became a minister of the gospel; Hubbard settled in Illinois; and William and Polly remained in Belpre township, and their descendants are still living.

Among the first families in the middle settlement was that of Isaac Pierce. His farm was the next above Major Bradford's, and it was on the line between their farms that the pioneer school-house was built. The family of Mr. Pierce consisted of his wife and three children - Samuel, Joseph and Pheebe. They took refuge first in Farmer's castle, and afterwards in the Goodale stockade, during the war. After coming to years of maturity, the children scattered. Joseph became a prominent citizen of Dayton; Samuel followed the sea; and Phcebe married Judge Steele, and settled in Dayton.

Oliver Rice, on the west branch of the Little Hocking. He came to Belpre in the early days of settlement. He afterwards, in 1817, sold his land to Benjamin Robbins, who came with his family from Massachusetts. Mr. Tilton removed a short distance farther up the Little Hocking. His wife was Azubah, daughter of Daniel Durham, who died in.1791.

Daniel Goodno came to Belpre after the Indian war. He was born in Massachusetts in 1770, and lived in Belpre township at the time of his death in 1832, In 1802 he married Sallie, daughter of Nathaniel Cushing. She was born in Massachusetts in 1784, and dicd in Belpre township in 1864. Three of the children born of this union are still living, viz: Adaline, born in 1803, living in Belpre township; Daniel H., born in 1805, residing in West Virginia; and James, born in 1817, residing in the old home place. The latter married Elizabeth Mathers, who was born in West Virginia in 1824. Their only child, Daniel, is dead. Mr. Goodno is a general farmer. He served three years as township treasurer, and is a prominent citizen of his community.

Bial Stedman, of Vermont, was among the first to locate in the middle settlement. He married Mary Miles. His second wife was Betsy Beebe. He had a large family, many of whom removed to Athens county. He, for a number of years, operated the mill north of Centre Belpre. His father, Alexander, lived on the Goodale farm until 1802, when he removed to Athens county.

Reuben Robbins settled on the Stedman place in 1814. The family remained in the township a few years and then returned to their friends in New York State.

Prior to 1815 Daniel Goss, a native of New England, settled near Miles' mill. He had a tan-yard. He was a leader in the Methodist chuch, and helped organize its first society.

John Bartlet, a native of England, emigrated to Ohio from Mary!and, and about 1820 came to Belpre township and settled above Little Hocking. His wife was Eleanor Felcon. Of the surviving members of the family William, Polly (Miller), and Caroline (S'Keen), live in Belpre, and Elizabeth (Johnson) is in Marion county. William, who was born in 1812, married Elizabeth Allen, who was born in Virginia in 1803. Eight of their eleven children are living: John in Parkersburgh, Reuben in Missouri, Caroline (Walker) in West Virginia, Elizabeth (Dunfee), Adalaide (Collins), and Ann (Dalzell) in Belpre, and Francis (Davis), and William in Virginia.

Newbury Settlement

Truman Guthrie made the first permanent settlement in Newbury, coming to Belpre in 1790. He proceeded to clear and erect a cabin on the land which his father, Joseph Guthrie, had drawn, he being one of the original proprietors in the Ohio company. Truman, who was born in Connecticut in 1765, came on in advance of his father, as above narrated. He arrived at Marietta on the third of July, 1788, and remained in the vicinity of Fort Harmar for nearly two years. He it was who planted the first wheat in Ohio, near Harmar, with seed that he had obtained on his way west while harvesting in

Pennsylvania. He is also supposed to have put out the first wheat crop in Newbury. During the war he took shelter in Farmer's castle, and for a time in the Newbury stockade. After the war he married Elizabeth, daughter of Israel Stone, who settled in Rainbow. He had returned to Connecticut in 1789 and had brought to Belpre his farming tools, together with chains, shovels, crowbars, etc. This load was brought to Brownsyille, Pennsylvania, in an ox-cart, and thence by flatboat down the river. He became the father of eight children. The eldest child, who died in infancy is thought to have been the first born in the lower settlement. The other childred were named as follows: Truman, Augustus, James H., Charles L., Benjamin F., Edwin, and David Q. All these children eventually settled in Gallia county, except Edwin, who remained on the home place, where he still resides. He was born in 1810, and has been twice married; first to Amelia Knowles, by whom he had two children, and after her death he was married to Charlotte Bent, by whoin he had two children.

Nathaniel Sawyer was the original proprietor of the land on which the post office at Little Hocking now stands. He was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and it is he who gave the lower settlemerit the name of Newbury. He built his house near the mouth of the Little Hocking, about the time of the first settlements in the township. He was reckless of danger, and frequently exposed himself to the attacks of the Indians. At one time while plowing in a field not far from the house the Indians shot one of his oxen, thus, as he expressed it, spoiling his day's work. He built the first "corn cracker" mill in Newbury settlement, locating it on what was afterwards known as Sawyer's run, about a mile from the Ohio. In 1801 his son Nathaniel was drowned in the Ohio river, and he was buried in what is now the Little Hocking cemetery. Mr. Sawyer married Lydia Porter in Massachusetts.

Joel Oakes, who acted as a scout for the settlements at Belpre and Waterford during the Indian war, after the peace made his permanent residence in Newbury, not far from the old stockade. His exploits as a ranger are elsewhere related. He was born in Massachusetts in 1766, and in 1790 came to Washington county. He married Susan, the daughter of Colonel Silas Bent. She died in 1865, aged ninety-three years. There were seven children in the Oakes family, viz.: Susan, Elizabeth, William, Daniel, Sumner, Charlotte, and Lucy. All except Charlotte, who removed to Gallia county, lived in the neighborhood of Newbury, and there died. Daniel Oakes, who is represented in this township by his son, S. B. Oakes, was born in 1801. He married Julia Clough, who was born in 1807. 'Their three children are living, viz.: Cynthia C., Wiliam, and Silas B. The latter, who lives on the old homestead, was born in 1848, He married Elizabeth Wells, of Bellville, West Virginia. They have two children - Julia and Lizzie. Mr. Oakes is a farmer and stock raiser.

In 1791 Captain Eleazer Curtis and family settled in lower Newbury. Captain Curtis, who died in 1801, was born in Connecticut in 1759. His wife, Eunice Hoyt, died in 1814, aged forty-nine years. There were eight children - Eleazer, Walter, Benajah, Jason, Horace, Polly, Clara, and Lucy. Eleazer moved to Gallipolis. Jason, who was a pilot on the Ohio, died in Marietta in 1833, the first victim of cholera in that city. The daughters married 2nd removed to Athens county; and Walter and Horace always lived in Newbury. Walter, afterwards Judge Curtis, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1787, and died in Belpre township in 1876. He married Almira, daughter of Stephen Guthrie. She was born in 1800, and died in 1880. There were four children - Caroline, Austin L., Augustus S., of Harmar, and Marion (deceased). Caroline and Austin L. live in Newbury settlement. Their father served as associate judge from 1824 to 1837. During the years 1834 and 1835 he represented the county in the legislature. His son, Austin L., was in the legislature of 1866. Horace Curtis, brother ofthe judge, was born in 1793, and died in 1871. In 1819 he married Lydia Cole, born in 1796, and died in 1863. Ten children were born by this marriage. Eight of these children are living, viz.: Daniel W., of Pomeroy; Harvey G. and Mary J. (Cook), of Belpre township; Eunice S. (Reed), of Pomeroy; Henry C. Co. lumbus B., and Leroy R., of Little Hocking; Roland L., of Marietta. Harvey G., who was born in Belpre town. ship in 1823, married Augusta Fuller, who was born in Athens county in 1834. Seven of their eight children survive. Mr. Curtis was for twelve years postmaster at Little Hocking. His brother, the present postmaster, Leroy R., was born in 1838. He married Amanda Minor, by whom he has had four children, all of whom are living. He has been in the general store business for twenty-two years.

Daniel Coggeshall and family settled on the lot just below Nathaniel Sawyer. He emigrated from the eastern States and came to Belpre about the time of the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and remained during the subsequent war in the castle, settling in Newbury directly after the peace. His first house was built near the river, but a house was subsequently erected farther back. He was an eccentric genius, and a great lover of fun. He was the father of five children, viz.: Job, Daniel, David, Jehn, and Abigail. county. Abigail married Peter Stephens, and died near Newbury. Job remained on the home place until his death, where his widow and surviving, children are now living.

The ministerial section number twenty-nine is located in Newbury settlement. As early as 1795 there were two families who had squatted on this land, although they had no legal right to remain thereon. One of these early pioneers of section twenty-nine was a man named Littleton, who afterwards removed to Gallia county with his son James. His daughter married Benjamin Bellows, and remained in Newbury.

Anthony Spacht built a cabin on ministerial land in 1789. It was located just north of Truman Guthrie's place. During the war with the Indians, he with his wife Catharine, took refuge in the Newbury stockade, and in the castle up the river. They both died at a very early day, and are buried in the pioneer graveyard on the

Soon after the war Aaron Clough settled on the Ohio, opposite Newbury island, on the farm now in possession of his son Seymour. He was born in Connecticut in 1765, and died in Belpre township in 1823. He married Sarah Delano, who was born in 1781, and died in 1844. Five of the nine children survive, viz: Sarah A. (Greene), Julia (Oaks), Seymour and Mary E., all in Belpre township, and Cynthia A. (Knowles), residing in California. Seymour B., born in 1815, married Mary A. Hitchcock who was born in 1830, and died in 1860. 'There were no children,

Joseph Guthrie, the father of Truman and Stephen, came to Belpre from Connecticut in 1796, accompanied by his wife and son Stephen. The old gentleman made his home with his son Truman, and while in Newbury, his wife, Hannah Guthrie, died, and was buried in the pioneer cemetery. In 1801 or 1802 he removed to Athens county, where he became a prominent citizen.

Stephen Guthrie who came from Connecticut with his father, married Sallie Chappell, and settled on the land just above the Curtis residence in the southwest corner of the township. He was the father of nine children, viz: Laura, who married Amos Dunham; Almira, wife of Walter Curtis; Julius, Erastus, Austin, and Sheldon living in New Orleans; Stephen and George in Zanesville; and Columbus.

Ebenezer Porter, wife, and children settled on the next lot below Coggeshall's in 1796. Mr. Porter was born in 1732, and on account of his age was familiarly called Grandsir Porter. He lived to the ripe old age of over ninety-four years. He emigrated to Ohio from Massachusetts. None of the children now survive: Cummings lived on the old place at Little Hocking until his death; John moved to Athens county; Samuel lived, and died in Newbury; and Polly married Amos Knowles, of Newbury. The descendants of the Porters are some of them in the neighborhood.

About the year 1801 James Bellows, with his wife and children, settled below Little Hocking at the mouth of Sawyer's run. They emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio, coming down the Ohio in a flat-boat. There were five children, none of whom are now living. Benjamin and James remained on the home place for many years. The other children were: William, Simon and Elias. These died in Meigs county. The land on which the elder Mr. Bellows settled, was drawn by Asa Coburn who lived on it a short time, and then sold it to Mr. Bellows.

Reuben and Magdalene Allen came to the lower settlement in 1807, having emigrated from their native State of Virginia. They settled at the mouth of the Little Hocking, buying the Sawyer farm, where they remained until their death. Mr. Allen died in 1821, and his wife ten years later, both aged sixty-four at the time of their death. The old stock is represented by Davis Allen, their son, who lives on the old homestead. He was born in Virginia in 1801. His wife, Parmelia Barrows, was born in Athens county in 1812. They have had eight children, of whom seven are living, viz: Harvey G.,

Parker L., Corwin D., Viola (McPherson), and Waldo E. in Belpre, and Eunice S. (King) in Morgan county, Ohio, and Mary L. (Boswell) in Kentucky. Mr. Allen is the founder of the hamlet of Little Hocking.

John Cole came from New York State to Ohio in 1808 and settled on the upper part of section twentynine. His wife was a Miss Townsend, and by her he had children as follows, viz: Sally, Dolly, Polly, Cynthia, Lydia, John, Henry, and Samuel. Of these John is living on the homeplace and Henry is in the neighborhood. The rest of the family are scattered.

James and Martha Knowles emigrated to Ohio from New Jersey in 1810 and located in Belpre township in the lower settlement, on the ridge, on the land now occupied by Samuel B. Knowles. The old people were originally from Connecticut. They had eight children, as follows, viz: Reuben, James removed to Meigs county, Jesse, Samuel, who removed to Athens county; Amos, William, Esther, who married Eleazar Curtis, jr., and removed to Gallipolis; and an older daughter who remained in the east.

Jeremiah Van Gilder came to Belpre township about 1S10, and settled in the back part of Newbury, on the farm now occupied by his son Jesse H. He married Asenath Hubbard, by whom he had six children, viz: Hubbard, Amasa, Jesse H., Asenath, Clarissa, and Louisa. Most of the family removed to Gallia county. The only survivors of the old 'stock are Amasa, in Gallia county, and Jesse H., who resides on the old homestead farm. y

About 1815 Caleb and Alice Barstow settled in Newbury neighborhood, coming to Belpre from Rhode Island. They hau eight children, viz: Russel, Richmond, Israel, Lydia, Salvina, Maria, Cornelia, and Abbie. Part of these children lived and died in this township, and the remainder scattered into Gallia and Meigs counties.

1818, and in later years removed to Athens county where he died. He was born in New Jersey in 1772. He married Elizabeth Johnson, who was born in 1775 and died in 1845. They haa eleven children, seven of whom are still living, viz: William, Thomas, David, George -B., Ludlow, Maria, and John. None of these children 'are in Washington county save George B., who has a hotel at Little Hocking. He was born in 1816, and was two years old when his father came to Belpre township. In 1837 he marriéd Nancy Tipton, by whom he has had eight children, seven of whom survive, viz: Jonathan and William, in Decatur township; Mary (Brown), in Athens county; Caroline (Self), in Athens county; Francis, in Athens county; Nancy V. (Curtis), in Belpre township, and George W., in Decatur township.

Amos Fisher came from New Hampshire in 1819 or 1820. He settled below Little Hocking, on the Ohio, on what is now the Coalhause farm. He had three sons - Gustavus, Daniel, and Theodoric. In 1833 the whole family emigrated to Kentucky.

The settlement of the lots below the Curtis farm was made by transient persons who remained but a short time, and it was not until a comparatively recent date that permanent settlements have been made thereon.

The First Death

that occurred in the new settlement was that of Captain Zebulon King, who was assassinated by the Indians May 1, 1789. While busily engaged in clearing his lot in the middle settlement, he was shot and scalped, it is supposed by two Indians who had escaped from Fort Harmar, where they were confined by reason of their treacherous conduct towards the whites during the previous summer at Duncan's Falls. The news of the murder cast the first shadow of the troublous events to follow, and already was the hope of the pioneer mingled with fear. Captain King was universally esteemed. He was from Rhode Island, and at the time of his death was preparing a home in Belpre for the family.

The Famine

An unlooked for and painful experience awaited the colonists. In the land of plenty there was great want. This anomaly was the result of a combination of unavoidable circumstances. Although settlements were begun in the early spring of 1789, so great was the task of clearing the farms that it was late in June before the ground was ready for corn planting. Even then the land was trimmed rather than cleared, and the thick branches of the girdled trees robbed the fields of solar nourishment, thus greatly retarding the growth of the young corn. However, the crop would have matured had not an early October frost blasted the hopes of harvest. Nearly three hundred acres of corn was destroyed in a night. Having lost their bread the anxious pioneers turned to the surrounding forests for meat, but the hunters found little game in the whole region around. The envious Indians, powerless to prevent the coming of the white man had determined to make his subsistence precarious by killing the wild animals. While on their way to witness the treaty at Harmar in 1788, they had almost literally carried out their malicious design.

There were few hogs and cattle in the country, and consequently but little meat had been salted down for winter use. However, they vigorously strove to make the best of discouraging circumstances.

The moldy corn was carefully preserved and ground in the hand-mills. The meal thus obtained, as poor as it was, readily sold for nine shillings, or a dollar and fifty cents a bushel. Those having money succeeded in "keeping the wolf from the door" a little longer than did their less fortunate neighbors, but there was no display of selfishness. Hunters were lured to scour the woods in search of game, the principal supply being obtained from the settlement at Belleville, on the Virginia side of the Ohio..

At a time during the fore part of the winter when the people were well nigh perishing for lack of bread, Isaac Williams came to them asa benefactor. Three years before this good man had settled opposite the mouth of the Muskingum, and during the first summer of his resi- dence there, had put out a large crop of corn, several hundred bushels of which he still possessed when the land was visited by famine. He made an equitable distribution of the corn to the people of Belpre at a moderate price, and those absolutely unable to pay received subsistence gratuitously, with the understanding that the corn might be paid for when plenty made it convenient.

Thus the inhabitants of the colony managed to live for a time, but by spring they were reduced to extremities of want. The corn of Isaac Williams' was gone, and so scarce had the moldy remains of the blighted crop become that it was necessary to dole out the supply, grain by grain. Strong men were appalled and mothers wept at the cries of their children for bread. So great was the suffering that in one family the children were allowed but one potato a day, and afterwards had to subsist on half of one.

In the latter part of winter sugar water began to run, and had there been kettles enough an abundance of nutritious sugar could have been made. As it was, however, it was only possible to collect small quantities of the saccharine juice of the maple, and by mixing it with musty meal make a sap porridge which was not unpalable, and was very nutritious.

In the spring the scant supply of animal food was eked out by the liberal use of esculent plants that made their appearance in abundance, springing up in the patches of ground cleared the year before. Of these the nettle furnished the earliest supply. The tender plants of the celandine were very palatable, and the luxuriant purslane springing up in the newly broken patches of cleared ground was used as a salad and gave relish to the scanty allowance of meat.

By the middle of July the signs of returning plenty were abundant. The new crop of corn was in the milk and fit for boiling or roasting. Before the grains of corn fully formed they were boiled with. salt, forming a very nourishing soup. The very dogs devoured the young crop in the night time, and had to be tied up until the corn became too hard for them. The scarcity of animal food was still great. But the following fall brought corn and meat in abundance, and the famine was over. Wild turkeys came into the settlement by the hundred and the men and boys easily killed them with clubs.

As has been previously noticed, the inhabitants of Belpre were scattered along the banks of the Ohio, so that while commurication was easy, defence was difficult. Scarcely had the famine been driven out before the ominous cloud of war obscured the horizon of peace.

The murder of two boys at Neil's station, a point up the Kanawha about a mile above the present village of Belpre, indicated the hostile spirit of the Indians, but for the time no serious apprehensions of danger were felt. But the storm was approaching, and on the memorable second of January, 1791, it burst in a shower of innocent blood upon the settlement at Big Bottom, and had it not been for timely warning the settlement at Belpre would have shared the same fate. An examination of the old record of the court of quarter sessions reveals the fact that nearly all the men of Belpre able to bear arms were in Marietta attending court on the Monday that the news was carried to their homes. The consternation of the defenceless women and children can with difficulty be imagined. Their fears were in a measure allayed by the speedy return of their absent loved ones, and all turned their attention to the immediate provision of a place of safety. Monday night the women and children were gathered into the small block-house dwelling which Captain Jonathan Stone had erected in the upper settlement.

Tuesday morning there was held a council of war, and it was decided that the families of the colony, more than thirty in number, be temporarily assembled in the two large log houses which had been erected by Colonels Battelle and Cushing. These block-houses formed the nuclei for the building of the famous stronghold appropriately called

Farmer'S Castle

The site was naturally adapted to purposes of defence. It was situated on the river about half a mile below the bluff, and nearly opposite the centre of Backus', now Blennerhasset island. With the river in front and a swamp a few rods to the rear, the place could only be approached by the natural roadways on either side along the river bank.

The work of erecting this stronghold was commenced immediately, and was vigorously pushed, inasmuch as the lives of the people depended upon their expedition. The block-houses were occupied as fast as they could be erected. Dr. Hildreth thus describes the buildings:

These were thirteen in number, arranged in two rows, with a wide street between them. 'The basement story was in general twenty feet square, and the upper about twenty-two feet, thus projecting over the lower one, and forming a defence from which to protect the doors and windows below in an attack. They were built of round logs a {pot in diameter, and the interstices nicely chinked and pointed with mortar. The doors and window shutters were made of thick oak planks, or puncheons, and secured with stout bars of wood on the inside. The corner block-houses on the back side of the enclosure were provided with watch towers running up eignt feet above the roof, where a sentry was constantly kept. The spaces between the houses were filled up with pickets, and occupied three or four times the width of the houses, thus forming a continuous wall or enclosure, about eighty rods long and six rods wide. The pickets were made of quartered oak timber, growing on the plain back of the garrison, and formed from trees about a foot in diameter. They were fourteen feet in length, and set four feet in the ground, leaving a wall ten feet high, over which no enemy could climb without aladder. The smooth side was set outwards, and the palisades strengthened and kept in place by stout ribbons or wall pieces, pinned to them with inch tree nails on the inside. The palisades on the river side filled the whole space, and projected over the edge of the bank, leaning on rails and posts set to support them. Gates of stout timber were placed in the east and west ends of the garrison, opening in the middle, ten feet wide, for the ingress and egress of teamsand stock. A still wider gate opened at the centre of the back wall, through which wood was hauled.

The military regulations were of the most perfect order. Major Nathan Goodale was put in charge of the garrison, and maintained the position until 1793, when he removed to his own garrison further down the river, and his place was taken by Colonel Cushing. There were seventy able-bodied men mustered for military duty. Absence at roll-call at sunrise was punished by compelling the offender to cut out one of the many stumps within the stockade. It is said that the stumps rapidly disappeared.

A point a few yards west of the back gate, and not fax from the block-house of Colonel Cushing, was well named the "place a' armies" of the castle. Over this place floated the stars and stripes, and here was planted the howitzer whose loud reports caused the Indians to keep their distance.

More than two hundred people found homes within the walls of the castle during the first year of its history. There were twenty-eight heads of families, with numerous small children, besides many young men and women. The following is a list of the occupants of the several houses which, as has been stated before, were arranged on either side of the passage way, six on the north side, and seven on the south: In No. 1, the northeastern, were Colonel Ebenezer Battelle, wife, and four children; in No. 2, going westward, Captain William James, wife, and ten children, also, Isaac Barker, wife, and eight children, and Daniel Coggeshall, wife, and five children; in No. 3, Captain Jonathan Stone, wife, and three children; in No. 4, Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, wife, and six children, also Captain Jonathan Devol, wife, and six children; in Nu. 5, Isaac Pierce, wife, and three children, Nathaniel Little, wife, and one child, and Joseph Barker, wife, and one child; in No. 6, Major Goodale, wife, and seven children; in No. 7, in the southwest corner of the garrison, A. W. Putnam, wife, and one child, Daniel Loring, wife, atid seven children, also Major Rice, and Captain Benjamin Miles, wife, and five children; in No. 8, Squire Griffin Green, wife, and four children; in No. 9, John Rouse, wife, and eight children, and Major Robert Bradford, wife, and four children; in No. 10, Captain John Levins, wife, and six children, and Captain William Dana, wife, and eight children. Between No. 10 and No. 11, in a building called the barracks, the soldiers were quartered; in No. 11, were Mrs. Dunham, widow of Daniel Dunham, with one son and two daughters, also, Captain Israel Stone, wife, and ten children, afterwards removed to Rainbow settlement; in No. 12, the families of Benjamin Patterson and Benoni Hulburt, the rangers; in No. 13, Colonel Alexander Oliver, wife, and eleven children, afterwards removed to Waterford, also Colonel Daniel Bent, wife, and four children. Joshua Fleehart, the hunter, with his family, lived in a small cabin east of house No. 3.

Of the single men in the castle may be mentioned Jonathan Waldo, of Pomfret, Connecticut; Daniel Mayo, of Boston; Jonathan Baldwin, Cornelius Delano, spy from Massachusetts; Joel Oaks, spy from Connecticut; James Caldwell, from Wheeling, also a spy; Wanton Casey, married Betsy Goodale and returned, after the war, to Rhode Island; Stephen and Truman Guthrie; Captain Ingersoll, returned to Boston; Ezra Philips, Stephen Smith and Howell Bull; Samuel Cushing, moved to Natchez, Mississippi; William and John Smith, of Rhode Island; Jonas Davis; Dr. Samuel Barnes, from

Massachusetts; and last but not least ''Kitt" Putnam, the colored boy who had been the body servant of General Israel Putnam during the latter years of his life, and was brought to Marietta in the fall of 1798 by Colonel Israel Putnam. 'Kitt" was a universal favorite. After the war he lived on the Muskingum with Captain Devol. He was probably the first black voter in the country, inasmuch as he helped elect the delegates, under the territory who met to form a constitution for Ohio.

The rangers who served from time to time were Cornelius Delano, Joel Oaks, Benjamin Patterson, Benoni Hulburt, Joshua Fleehart, George Kerr, John Shepherd, and James Caldwell. These spies served the country every day, making a circuit of twenty-five to thirty miles, with a radius of eight or ten miles. Their circuit in Belpre was over the hills on to the waters of the Little Hocking river, and up the easterly branches across to the Ohio, striking this stream a few miles above the entrance of the Little Kanawha, and thence down the Ohio to the garrison. These men received five shillings or eightyfour cents a day, as appears from the old pay rolls. Prowling Indians were sure to be caught by these wary rangers, and hence to a great extent the woods were kept clear of the foe, and the inhabitants were permitted to cultivate their farms in comparative safety. However, as subsequent events proved, this mode of defence, though measurably effective, was not sufficient. It was on the morning of the twelfth of March, 1791, that Aaron W. Putnam, accompanied by Nathaniel Little, visiting his farm, a half mile below the garrison, for the purpose of milking and feeding his cows, was attacked by Indians and had a very narrow escape from death.

The second attack by the Indians resulted in the death of one of the spies, Benoni Hulburt, on the twenty-eighth of the following September. Hulburt, in company with Joshua Fleehart, went with a canoe to the mouth of the Little Hockhocking to examine some traps they had set. On the way down the Ohio they were tempted to land by what they had supposed were the "gobbling" of wild turkeys, a sound probably made by the Indians to lure them on. The two scouts on reaching the Little Hocking steered their canoe up the stream, and Hulburt, on landing, was immediately shot down by the Indians who were in ambush. His body was recovered the next day and buried near "the Castle."

It was not infrequently that the cattle and hogs of the settlers were stolen by the Indians or lost in the woods, and it was owing to this fact that a Mutual Assurance company was organized in the first part of the war. Each one was accountable for his losses in proportion to his property. This equalization of losses subsequently proved its wisdom, as is shown by the following incident. Late in the fall of 1791 the fat hogs were slaughtered and hung up in a house near the garrison during the night. Before morning the building caught fire and the whole winter supply of meat for the inhabitants of the garrison was destroyed. The few remaining hogs were driven into the woods by the Indians, and there was, consequently, a great scarcity of meat during the winter. Two men were sent to the headwaters at Redstone to buy pro-

On the twenty-fourth of April, 1794, a band of marauding Wyandots, while proceediug up the river on the Virginia shore, came to the cabin of John Armstrong, who had but recently moved to a point nearly opposite to the castle that he might be nearer a little floating mill which he anda man named Peter Misner had built. The Indians at once prepared for an assault upon the defenceless inhabitants of the cabin. Mrs. Armstrong and her two youngest children were killed and three others taken prisoners. They were subsequently restored to freedom. A broken monument in the old cemetery at Cedarville, erected by Mr. George Dana, marks the last resting place of Mrs. Armstrong and her two children. The captive children all lived to be restored to the whites.

Indians At Newbury

As is more fully stated elsewhere in this work, one of the points of settlement was at Newbury, on the Ohio, six miles below Farmer's castle. At the first Indian alarm the inhabitants of this lower settlement sought protection in the castle. But early in the following spring, finding it very inconvenient to go so far to cultivate their fields, the brave men of Newbury built a stockade opposite the point in the river known as Newbury bar, and for a time lived with their families in this place in safety. There were three or four families in this little community, and the seeming safety from attack made the people careless. "Among the settlers there was a man by the name of Brown, who had recently come from Pennsylvania with his family, which consisted of his wife and four children. On Sunday, March 15th, his wife went with him to see him set out some fruit trees, and the place being near the stockade, she took with her the children, one of whom was but an infant in arms. A young girl named Persis Dunham, a sister of Mrs. Tilton, accompanied them, taking care of the two older children. Just as they approached the spot where Mr. Brown was, two Indians sprang from an ambush near by, and ere flight could be thought of, one of the savages had brained Mrs. Brown with his tomahawk, while the other Indian killed the young girl. The child Mrs. Brown was leading was also killed, and a cruel blow at the baby in its mother's arms it was supposed at first had killed it. The baby, however, after careful nursing by the matrons of Farmer's castle, finally recovered, and the bereaved husband and father soon afterwards took the remnant of his family back to their old home in the east. The spot in which the victims of this massacre are buried afterwards became the burial place of the neighborhood, and near the bank of the river may be seen the plain marble shaft which preserves their names and memory. The people of the Dunham neighborhood, after this occurence, went up to Goodale's stockade and Farmer's castle for protection.

The Extension Of The Defences

many inconveniences incident to confinement in such close quarters. For the accommodation of those whose land was further up the river, Stone's garrison was built on the land of Jonathan Stone, a short distance below the present site of Belpre village; and, for the same reason, a similar stockade was erected a half a mile down the river, on Major Goodale's land, and named Goodale's garrison. 'The upper stockade enclosed four blockhouses, a school-house, and a number of log cabins, accommodating in all ten families; the lower garrison consisted of two Llock-houses, and was the rendezvous of safety for six families. Scarcely had Major Goodale moved to his new abode when, on the first day of March, 1793, he was kidnapped by Indians while he was working not more than sixty rods back of the garrison. The details of this occurrence have already been given in chapter X. The community at Stone's garrison was also visited by the crafty savages, and thereby lost one of the most promising young men, Jonas Davis, who was killed the last of February, 1795.