Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township

the trouble of building fences and keeping them in repair. All the early settlers did more or less hunting. Deer and wild turkeys were abundant, and wolves were occasionally seen. The land along the creek wiis timbered with a heavy, dense grow^th of large trees.

Henry Enochs, son of Elisha Enochs, one of the pioneers of the East Fork, was an early settler south of Middleburg. He died in Lawrence County in 1886. His son, William H. Enochs, a brigadier-general in the late war, and now a prominent lawyer of Ironton, Ohio, was born on the farm south of Middleburg.

John Hall, from Ncav England, settled on the East Fork soon after the War of 1812. He had served as a teamster in that war. He married a daughter of David Ales and lived in the same neighborhood. James S. Hall, his son, is among the oldest residents, having lived on his present farm since 1836. At that date there were very few^ settlers on the ridges. Mr. Hall, in his younger yeai*s used to go to mill in Marietta and Lowell. Marietta was the nearest trading point for all the early settlers, and there they traded maple sugar, deer skins, venison, etc., for salt and groceries. Most of the travel was on horeeback. Pack-saddles were used in place of wagons for carrying goods. Except the State Road from Barnesville to Marietta which led via Carlisle, Middleburg and Salem, there were no early roads through the township.

among the very first settlers. His wife was Rachel Archer, one of the Archer family who settled in the vicinity of Carlisle about 1810. They had two children when they moved to this locality. One of the characters w^ho frequented this part of the country in early years was an old hunter know as Mull Ryan. Indians had not entirely left the country when Hupp came, and on one occasion Ryan terrified the family by approaching the cabin in the night and giving a loud w^ar-w^hoop. Hupp seized his gun, and would have soon ended the fun had not Ryan made himself known and begged him not to shoot. George Hupp died early. His children were Nancy, John, Philip and Elizabeth, deceased ; Mary, Cynthia, Henry, Rachel and George, living ; Daniel, deceased. Henry and George still live in this township. Mrs. Hupp married Peter Karns after the decease of Mr. Hupp, and had several children.

George Hupp was born in 1821 and brought up amid the scenes of pioneer life. He was married in 1843 and located on his present farm in the same year. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Grove, and she was born in West Virginia. They have reared eight children, six of whom are Hving: Susannah C, George W., Harriet J. (deceased), Alfred O., Nancy E., Daniel D. (deceased), John B. and Rachel A. Mr. Hupp has served as township trustee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which his father was an exhorter.

man in the township, and one of the few early settlers who are still living. He was born in Scotland, January 1, 1793. After coming to Sumnierfield and living some years in that vicinity, he came to his present farm about 1832. Mr. Heiddleston says this was then the most thinly settled region between Summerfield and Marietta. In early years he drove a team to Zanesville, Wheeling and Marietta, hauling goods for the merchants of this section of country. The roads were very bad, and he always took an ax along in order to cut out fallen trees from the track, and frequently found a use for it. He married Martha McClintock, whose father, William McClintock, was an early settler neiir Summerfield. For his second wife he married Miss Cowles. He is the father of fifteen children, ten of whom his first wife bore. Mr. Ileiddleston is a remarkably well preserved old man and is still strong both mentally and physically.

An old log school-house stood on the present William Heiddleston farm about fifty years ago, and was the earliest in the neighborhood. Alfred Ogle was an early teacher. The early schools were few, owing to the scattered condition of the settlement, and the children of the pioneers generally grew up with limited educational advantages.

Hezekiah Cousins, who lived to be upward of ninety years of age, was an early settler on the creek. Wesley Luke lived in the southern part of the township. James Clark came quite early. The western part of the township had few early settlers. There were many transient squatters, who abandoned their locations after a year or two, and left in search of more promising fields.

Thomas Morris and family came from England in 1830, and settled on the farm which John F. Morris, Esq., now owns. Here he had one of the early grist-mills run by horse-power. Andrew Morris, a brother of Thomas, came a little later.

John Hesson, who now lives in Lawrence County, settled in this township quite early. Benjamin Ilinton lived north of George Hupp, in 1843. Peter Gray was an early resident upon the present Shafer place. James Whitmore and Thomas Turner settled about 1840 on the farms where they died.

George Hupp, Sr., was one of the early hunters. He killed several elk, many deer, and once shot a panther. He also tanned and made powder, which he sold to the early settlers.

Philip Craig, an easy-going, honest man, somewhat peculiar in his ways, was among the early settlers. He was something of a hunter, and left the county after it became too thickly settled to suit him. In the same neighborhood lived two early settlers, each by the name of Samuel Dugan. David Ward lived and

Philip Kitts cleared the Watson farm above Middleburg. He owned the land on which the village is, and sold it to Church Tuttle and Liberty Curtis.

Henry Woods, an Englishman, was the first blacksmith of the township, and was an unusually good workman. He lived on Ales' Run, in the southern part of the township.

Church Tuttle, the founder of Middleburg, was a Yankee and a most excellent man. He was shrewd, intelligent and possessed excellent judgment. He was an early abolitionist, and was identified with the Underground Railroad, being one of its most active agents in this section. He served as justice of the peace a number of years. From here he went to Washington County, and recently died in Marietta.

Wesley Neptune came to Middleburg in 1845. For over forty years Mr. Neptune has been a resident of this section, and has been one of its prominent and progressive citizens.

Samuel S. Neptune was one of the pioneers of this part of the township. He located a farm near Middleburg, obtaining his deed from the government. He was a worthy citizen. He married Miss Mary Pickering, a Quakeress, and reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Elias P. Neptune, a son, was born in Monroe County, and is one of the thrifty farmers of the township; he owns the Andrew Morris homestead.

this chapter, was a native of England, and came to this country' with his family, which consisted of his wife and four children : Andrew, Margaret, John F. and Jane, in the early part of 1830. For a few months they stopped in Virginia, where a daughter, Ann, was bom to them. Christmas day, 1830, witnessed their arrival in Jefferson Township, then a new and sparsely settled region. Mr. Morris had entered a quarter section of land, the deed of which, signed by Andrew Jackson, is now in possession of his son, John F. On this farm the elder Morris lived until his decease in 1864. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and a leader in ull matters. He served in many minor official positions, and was very generally esteemed. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Fairbrother, was the mother of ten children, six boys and four girls. John F. was born in England in 1826. He and a brother, Arius, are the only sons residing in the county. John F. resides in the old homestead. He is thought to be one of the oracles of the township, having been a resident for over a half century. He married Miss Cynthia Carmichael, a native of the township. They have eight children living.

Andrew Morris was born in Lancashire, England, in 1797 and emigrated to this country in 1829, and first settled near Germantown, Pa., where he found employment at his trade, that of a weaver. He came to Jeflferson Township in 1836, and settled on the farm now owned by Elias Neptune, on which he was the first settler, and where he lived until his decease. lie married, in 1827, Miss Jane Hampson. She was born in Lancashire in 1807. They reared a family of five children, three sons: John, William and Thomas, and two daughters: Mary A. and Elizabeth. The pioneer life of Mr. and Mrs. Morris wjis replete with privations and hardships.

About 1833 Christian Huflfman, a native of Germany, settled on Middle Creek, where he died. His children were Henry, Charles, John, William, Louisa and' Lovina. Charles, William and Louisa (Pryor) are still living in the county. Mr. Huffman was the first of the native German settlers in Jefferson and Enoch Townships. The immigration to the latter township did not begin until 1880.

T. B. Tarleton is one of the old soldiers of Noble County. He was a memter of Company T, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with credit until his muster out. He is one of the reputable citizens of Middleburg and a worthy man.

A. A. Clymer, one of the prominent business men of Dexter City, was a native of Muskingum County, and came to Noble County when a young man, settling near Caldwell. In 1876 he removed to Dexter City, and in com})any with Mr. McKee opened a store of general merchandise. In 1878 the co-partnership was dissolved, Mr. Clymer continuing the business until his decease in 1884. Since this time his sons, Charles and G. W. Clymer, have successfully conducted the business and are considered to be among the most extensive and prosperous merchants in this section of the count3\ Charles, the senior member of the firm, was bom in Washington County, Ohio, and is a young man highly esteemed as a correct and successful business man.

One of the conspicuous and familiar names in this section of the county is that of Samuel Ilussey, who for many years was known as one of the most successful farmers and stock growers in the valley. He was born in Maine, in 1803, and came to Washington County with his parents when a lad. The elder Hussey was a small farmer and Samuel remained with him, as was the custom in those days, until he had attained his majority, when he commenced life for himself as a farm hand. For a time he was engaged in boating on the Ohio between Marietta and New Orleans. After he abandoned the river he came to Jefferson Township, and bought the farm on which he die<L He was a worthy citizen and a successful farmer. He was twice nuirrie<l; his first wife, Miss Elmira Warren, died in 1843. In 1844 he married Miss Marrilla, a sister of his first wife. By the first nuirriage there were two children, Joseph and Elmira, by the second a son and daughter, Oscar and Jane, both of whom are deceasetl.

John J. Corj) was one of the pio neei*s of this region. He was of English parentage and birth, and came to this State with his parents when a lad of nine years, and settled in ifarietta. In 1835 he came to what is now JeflFerson Township. While he was not the pioneer on the farm on which he lived so many years, he was in reality the first settler. A man by the name of Doan had entered the land and made some slight improvements, but being unable to " pay out," Mr. Corp purchased his interest and improved the property. Mr. Corp was a reputable citizen and a man of strong religious proclivities. For over a half century he was a local preacher; he died in 1884. A daughter, Mrs. Hutchinson, resides on the homestead.

Dexter W. Sullivan, whose identification with Dexter City is given in this chapter, and after whom the place takes its name, was one of the first settlers and a conspicuous person in its history. He is one of those brave, self-sacrificing men who periled their lives to preserve what the pioneers had won. In 1862 he became a member of Company H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Winchester he was taken prisoner and confined at Libby and Belle Isle for two months, where he contracted disease which rendered necessary his discharge on June 13, 1863.

The life of Richard S. Deal presents an excellent illustration of what can be accomplished by perseverance and economy under adverse circumstances. In 1834 he came to Bamesville, found employment on a farm, where he worked for three years, his compensation for the time being $20 per year. From Bamesville he came to Summerfield, where he ultimately became a dealer in tobacco. Thence he removed to Colorado, Noble County, where he engaged in merchandising and tobacco. In 1869 he came to Dexter City, where he built the first mill, which he operated for ten years. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years; has officiated as class-leader and steward.

The Morgareidge family were among the early pioneers of the county. They came from the State of Maine and settled on a farm adjoining the present site of Dexter City, in 1814. Burnham Morgareidge, who was four years of* age at the time the family came to Ohio, died on the farm where he settled. His widow is still living. Their family consisted of nine sons and four daughters.

Parley C. Morgareidge was born November 18, 1837, and has followed railroading and other occupations. He first married Elizabeth Davis, who died in 1874, leaving five sons and two daughters. His second wife was Charlotte B. Magee, who died in 1885, leavmg one child. Flora Belle, who died in infancy. January 19, 1887, he was again married to Mrs. Maria Yoemans, of Washington County. In 1861 Mr. Morgareidge entered the service in Company K, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; wjis mustered out as sergeant at Atlanta, Ga., September 20, 1864. Among other battles, he was in the following noted engagements: Second Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. At the latter place he was detailed as sergeant, in charge of Divi- sion Commissary, where he remained until mustered out. lie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Masonic and Independent Order Odd Fellows organizations, also the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Republican, and assistant inspectorgeneral of the Grand Army of the Republic in Koble County.

S. S. Morgareidge, son of Burnham Morgareidge, was born in Noble County, in 1847, and hjis followed various occupations. In 1876 he married Cora M., daughter of E. P. Sullivan. They have one child, Mary A. Mrs. Morgareidge is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Morgareidge is an Odd Fellow, a Mason and a Democrat.

Frederick N. Morgareidge, son of Burn ham Morgareidge, was born in Noble County, October 18, 1831. He followed farming until 1802, and in February of that year entered the service in Company K, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in the second battle of Bull Run. October 25, 1868, he was discharged on account of physical disability, occasioned by sickness. He is a Republican, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is at present a tinsmith in Dexter City; wtis postmaster eight years and nine months. Mr. Morgareidge married Rachael Cunningham. Children : Robert M., Salome A., Maggie P., and George W., (deceased), Ohio C, William A., Rosilla C, Rece F., Charles II. and Mary R., living.

Cincinnati, and eventually to Noble County, where he engaged in oil production. He enlisted in Company I, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was chosen second lieutenant and promote<l to captain. He was shot in battle, and died five days later.

Ilalsee Williams, born April 3, 1848, is a machinist by trade. In 1871 he married Asenath Webl>er, who died in 1878, leaving one child - Henry Burton. He married for his second wife Emma Farley. Children : Julia A., J. W. and J'rank Howard. Mr. Williams is classleader in the Methodist Episco|>al church, is a Republican and an Odd Fellow.

In 1827 I. F. Wilson, a native of Virginia, settled near Summerfield. He died March 6, 1883. His son, W. M. Wilson, was born in Noble County, September 16, 1843, and has followed farming and milling. In 1862 he joined Company B, Ninth Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. He served under Burnside at Knoxville, and under Kilpatrick from the battles of Atlanta and Savannah until the close of the war. He marrietl, in 1866, Mary F., daughter of Judge Jonathan Dilley. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wilson has been marshal of Dexter City, and is now a member of the town council.

to Washington County when nine years of age. He worked at farming and also taught vocal music until August 16, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was discharged on account of physical disability January 10, 1865, after participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and other engagements. In 1858 he married Rachel A., daughter of Vincent Worstell, of Elk Township. They have three children: William Irwin, Edward Orville and Agnes Loella. The elder son is a teacher, and the younger, the agent of the Standard Oil Company at Macksburg. Mr. Bower is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. They keep the well-known and popular hotel at Dexter City.

S. J. Donaldson, of Dexter City, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1831. His parents, John H. and Delilah (Johnson) Donaldson, both natives of Pennsylvania, removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1836, and to Noble in 1866. Came to Dexter City in 1875. Mr. Donaldson enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He was in the battles of Port Gibson and Raymond, and in several skirmishes. At Raymond he was wounded and taken prisoner; was removed to Libby Prison, and after his release therefrom was never fit for full service. He is a Republican, a member of the Grand Array of the Republic, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as town marshal. In 1851 he married Nancy Callendine, who died in 1884. For his second wife he married Nan Dyer. Three boys and three girls were born to the first wife, and one boy and one girl to the second.

Minor M. Dye was born in Lawrence Township, Washington County, in 1844, and is a stock dealer by occupation. He enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventyfifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, September 6, 1864, and was discharged July 10, 1865.

Daniel N. Brown, merchant at Dexter City, was born in Washington County in 1838. He enlisted in September, 1861, in Company L, First Ohio Cavalry, and was honorably discharged in March, 1863. He married Phebe Cay wood in 1864, and is the father of two children.

The town site of Dexter City was laid off into lots August 5, 1870, by R. W. St. John, surveyor, for Hiram Flanders, proprietor. David McKee's first addition (hits 20 to 33), was surveyed by George Bell, February 11, 1871; his second addition (lots 33 to 41), March 12, 1875; John Smithson's addition (lots 41 to 49), April 18, 1876; J. J. Shriver's addition (seven lots), surveyed by William Lowe, December 29, 1877; U. J. Cheshire's addition, surveyed April 20, 1882, by R. W. St. John. A part of the land on which the town

The town was named after one of its well-known residents, Dexter W. Sullivan. Prior to the location of the town there were two houses here - the residences of R. S. Deal and Dr. T. M. McVay, and a steam grist-mill owned by R. S. Deal. The mill was built by James Rowland, Sr., about 1853.

The first building was a dwelling erected by Dexter W. Sullivan, in 1871. Mr. Sullivan afterward built another house and in it kept hotel for seveml years. He was the first hotel-keei)er in the place.

The first store was opened by David McKee, in 1871, in the building now E. P. Sullivan's store. The second store was Campbell & Brown's, and the third, Thomas La Mott's hardware store. The first postmaster was Oscar W. Ilussey. The office was established in 1872.

The town was built up by the railroad, which was completed to this point in the summer of 1871. Dexter had a rapid growth, attaining nearly to its present size within three yeai*s of its origin. The town is now an incorporated village, having one church, a good school building and a population of about 850. It is pleasantly situated, well built, and is a good business place. In the fall of 1886, the principal establishments of the town were as follows:

Odd FeUows, - Dexter City Ixxlge No. 496, Independent Order Odd Fellows, was instituted August 22, 1871, with the following charter members: G. J. Lund, Albert Tilton, Aaron Haines, L. I). Webber, W. P. Warren, James Burton, O. W. Ilussey and John B. Sammons. The lodge now has a good membership and is prosperous. It owns a good hall and the building in which it is located, the whole being worth at least $1,500. The present officers are R. B. Warren, Noble Grand ; J. H. Renard, Vice-Grand ; E. M.Johnson, recording secretary ; E. A. Davis, permanent secretary ; G. W. Clymer, treasurer.

Dexter Methodist Ejnscopal Church, - The Methodist Episcopal church at Dexter City was organized in 1872. The first service was conduct ed by Rev. Luther Timberlake in the school-house. The first class was small and Nathan B. Wharton was its leader. The church edifice, a frame building 30x45 feet, w^as erected about the year 1874, at a cost of about $1,200, during the pastorate of Rev. A. D. McCormick, and dedicated under Rev. N. C. Worthington. The church now has ninety-eight members. Its present officers are Rev. B. F. Forsythe, pastor; T. D. Mooney and II. D. Williams, leaders ; E. P. Sullivan, steward; Adam Shri_ ver, E. P. Sullivan and Niuiman Archer, trustees.

Mhldlehuig Methodist Kpiscopal Church, - As early as 1840 the Methodists erected a hewed log meetinghouse, where the old cemetery is, south of Middleburg. Prior to that time a class had been formed which met in private houses and schoolhouses. Henry Enochs was the first class-leader. Other early raeml)ers were Samuel Dugan and wife, Amos Spencer and wife, McCaffrey and wife, Alfred Ogle and wife, and Samuel S. Neptune and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Neptune are now the oldest members. The first ministers were Jacob Miller and Ludwell Petty. In 1861 a frame church was built in Middleburg and the log church abandoned. There are now about fifty members.

Middlehurg Christian Church, - A meeting-house was erected by the Christian denomination near Middleburg in 1879. Meetings were held in the neighborhood some years earlier. The church is now without a pastor. Owing to the its leading members, has now only a small The house was erected during the ministerial labors of Revs. Cash and Singer. The Morrison family were among the most active in organizing the church.

Middleburg, a small but enterprising village, is situated on Middle Creek, in the northei'n part of Jefferson Township. It was laid out about 1844, by Church Tuttle. The southern part of the village was laid out by Joseph Moredick. Church Tut-

Hi8Toby Of Noble County, Ohio

Among the early settlers of the village w^ere Jesse Reinard, who worked for Tuttle; Irvin McKinney, who erected one of the first houses, and worked at shoemaking; William Miller, also a shoemaker; Eli Pickering, a carpenter, and others. Reinard afterward worked at blacksmithing, and was succeeiled by Samuel Marshall.

Church Tuttle was the first merchant and the first postmaster, a |K)st» office being established soon after the village was founded. He was justice of the peace for several years. Tuttle engaged quite extensively in tobacco packing, which finally resulted unprofitably. Charles lleidlebach was also a tobacco merchant for seveml years, and after him Alfred and Felix Ogle. Over four hundred hogsheads |)er year were once packed in Middleburg.

Alfred Ogle, who represented Monroe County in the legislature in 1856-8, in partnership with Felix Offle, succeeded Church Tuttle in the mercantile business. Alfred Ogle was a very prominent citizen and a kxial preacher of the Methodist church. He was also one of the early school-teachers in this vicinity. He and his brother Felix died in Middleburg.

Middleburg has been a good trading point from its earliest years. In 1846 Wesley Neptune started a tannery here, which was continued by him and his sons until 1885. He did a good business. Shoemaking was carried on quite extensively by Edward P. Sullivan, who employed several hands, working up the products of the tannery.

Wesley Neptune, an old resident, first visited the site of Middleburg in 1834. A sugar grove then covered the ground on which the village now stands, and all the surroundings were of the wildest sort. Settlers in the adjoining country were few and the improvements small.

Middleburg has long been noted for the excellence of its schools. It has a fine large two-story schoolbuilding, erected in 1873, which would do credit to a much larger place. The first school-house, also a two-story building, was erected about 1858 and was then the best in the county. It was destroyed by fire and replaced by the present house. William II. Pickett, now a minister of the Methodist church, organized the graded school and taught very successfully for several years, both in the public and in a select school. Leroy D. Brown, present State commissioner of schools, also taught in

Biographical

Edward P. Sullivan, one of the representative business men of the county, was born near Clarksburg, Harrison County, Ya., September 22, 1829. His father, Straw ther Sullivan, was an industrious mechanic. By two marriages he had a family of ten children, whom he supported by daily labor. At the age of eleven years Edward met with that irreparable loss, the death of his mother. After her death he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. His master was exacting and severe, and the apprenticeship of the boy was attended with many hardships and struggles. At the age of sixteen, having acquired his trade, he began life as a journeyman shoemaker in his native town. About 1848 his father died, and the support of the family devolved upon him, and for four yeai^s he was their entire support. His stepmother marrying again, he was relieved from his position as head of the family. Up to this time his life had been replete with poverty and privation, without education, except what he received in the school of observation and experience, and with little prospect of either social or business preferment, life seemed to be shorn of its pleasures, but despite the obstacles which beset his way, he was determined to better his condition in life and to conquer success at any cost. Soon an opportunity was offered to engage in business. A gentleman by the name of Joseph L. Robinson, an uncle of John W. Robinson, of Louisville, Ky., proposed to furnish the capital ($100) for the establishment of a shoe store, Edward to take charge of the business. The offer was eagerly accepted, and from this time he began to prosper. The co-partnership existed for about three years, in which time he accumulated $750, a sum that seemed to him a competency. With his little fortune he came to Middleburg, where a brother, Dexter W., had already settled. Deeming it a good location he returned to Virginia, closed up his business and returned to Middleburg, where he remained for seventeen years. By industry and close attention to business he soon became forehanded, and he began to take a conspicuous position among the business men of the county. In 1872 he came to Dexter City, where he engaged in merchandising, in which he has since been successfully engaged. The life of Mr. Sullivan can justly be termed a successful one. Reared in poverty, without education, his way was so obstructed that one less resolute would have given up in despair. His career evidences the inevitable result of perseverance, industry and integrity. While Mr. Sullivan has obtained a well-won competency he has also been successful in the building of an enviable reputation, and it is but just to say that but few, if any, stand higher in the public esteem. He has been called at different times to the occupancy of positions of trust and responsibility. In