Porter Township

Porter Township

This township has the honor of being the first settled in Scioto County. In the month of February, 1796, Samuel Marshall came from Manchester, Adams County, and built a small cabin just above where New Boston now stands, and within the present limits of Porter Township. In the following month John Lindsey also moved from Manchester, to a point on the Ohio near the mouth of the Little Scioto river. The first white person born within the limits of Porter Township, as well as the first in Scioto County, was Fanny Marshall, one of the younger daughters of Samuel Marshall; and the first person married within the County and township was a daughter of Mr. Marshall to John H. Lindsey, son of John Lindsey. John H. Lindsey afterward became Captain of the first rifle company organized in the county and was afterward known as Captain John Lindsey. The graves of these two pioneers, Samuel Marshall and John Lindsey, are side by side near where Scioto Furnace formerly stood. In the previous year, 1795, came Isaac Bonser, who had been sent out by a number of persons living in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, to select a site for a home in the North-west Territory. The next Spring, five families, those of Isaac Bonser, Uriah Barber, John Beatty, William Ward and Ephriam Thomas set out to settle on the site selected by Mr. Bonser, the year before. It is claimed by some to be the first attempt at settlement in Porter Township for the reason that Mr. Bonser selected his place of settlement before Marshall and Lindsey came from Manchester in Adams County.

Porter Township was organized December 6, 1814, the part east of the Little Scioto was taken from Green, and the part west, from Wayne Township. The order for forming it is as follows: "Ordered that the petition for a new township by sundry persons of Wayne and Green Townships be granted and that the following be the bounds: To begin at Ira Hitchcock's upper corner; thence on the river up the Ohio to the mouth of the creek; thence up Hale's Creek so far that a due west line will strike the lower back corner of the Grant; thence with the line of Bloom Township and Madison Township so far as to strike a due north line drawn from the place of beginning, called Porter Township." mouth of Hale's Creek; thence up the creek with the meanders to where it strikes the French Grant, lots Nos. 54 and 66; thence a northeast course on the line of the French Grant to lots 78 and 90 to the southeast corner of fractional section 21, range 20 in township 2; thence north with the originai surveyed township line to the northeast corner of section 36, range 20 and township 3; thence west with the original section line to the northwest corner of section 36, range 21 township 2; thence south to the Ohio River; thence up the Ohio River with the meanders to the beginning of the boundaries of Porter Township." attached to the township of Porter, upon examination of the said application and upon due consideration of the same, it is ordered, that the said William Montgomery be attached to the township of Porter beginning on the line between sections 23 and 26 in township 2, range 20 where Hale's Creek crosses said line; thence up the creek with the meanders thereof until it strikes said line mentioned so as to include within the limits of Porter Township the said William Montgomery." December 7, 1836.

Porter received its name from Porter Wheeler, son of Major Porter Wheeler. Porter Township ranks as follows among the townships outside of Wayne; twelfth in area; first in population; second in real estate; first in personal property; second in total of both real and personal property; the valuation of real estate in 1900 was $382,800; personal property, $315,292; of both $698,092. The area is 15,709 acres.

The surface of Porter Township is very diversified. Most of the lowlands lie between the Portsmouth and Haverhill Free Turnpike and the Ohio River. This belt of lowlands in the west portion of the township is about one-fourth of a mile in width, while in the south it is almost a mile wide and constitutes the most fertile agricultural region in the township. About two thousand acres of the fertile valley of the Little Scioto lie within the limits of Porter Township. The portion southeast of the Portsmouth and Webster free turnpike and included in sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, and parts of sections 3, 9 and 12, comprise what is known as "Dogwood Ridge," and is one of the best wheat producing sections in the county. Considerable attention is given to dairying on Dogwood Ridge, and many of the farmers own cream separators.

The hills about Sciotoville contain valuable clays for the manufacture of fire' and paving brick. Some coal is found in the eastern part of the township though not in paying quantities. The principal streams of Porter Township are Pine Creek, which flows in a tortuous course across the southern portion and the Little Scioto River, which enters the township from the north and flows in a southeasterly direction through to the Ohio at Sciotoville. The smaller streams are Lick Run, Wheeler's Run, Ward's Run and Munn's Run All of Porter Township except the hilly region about Sciotoville is well adapted to farming and dairying. The Pine Creek and Little Scioto valleys are each very wide. They are easily cultivated and yield a bountiful harvest. Considerable attention is given to fruit growing and gardening. Many herds of fine Jersey cows may be found on Dogwood Ridge, where dairying is an important industry. Much of the milk supply of Portsmouth comes from Dogwood Ridge.

is located near the center of the township and is the oldest village within its boundary. It was first settled in 1820 and was called Concord. It was laid out by Rev. Dan Young and John Young, October 8, 1824, and the survey was made June 15, of the same year by Samuel Cole. The plat consists of fortytwo lots covering an area of 14 acres. After two years the name was changed to Wheelersburg in honor of Major Porter Wheeler, an early settler, a noted Indian fighter and a soldier of the war of 1812.

On March 21, 1842, Reizin Enslow platted an addition of seven lots containing 1 4-5 acres. On August 23, 1859, Wheelersburg was re-platted for the purpose of taxation into 105 lots and the total number of acres in the whole was 30 1-2. On March 26, 1898, J.- B. and Ella McCoy platted an addition of nine inlots, numbered from 2 to 10 and covering three acres.

The machinery for a cotton factory was removed from Greenupsburg, Kentucky, to Wheelersburg in 1822 by Dan and John Young. They erected the factory on the southwest corner of Broadway and Center streets. This factory was sold by the Youngs to Edward Cranston in 1835 and removed to where the flour mill now stands, and changed to a woolen mill. Here it was operated by the Cranstons until 1897 when Benjamin Cranston removed the machinery and put in a flour mill. This flour mill has a daily capacity of 50 barrels.

Another important industry at Wheelersburg is the Fertilizer Factory. A drain tile factory was in operation here from 1871 to 1902, when it was removed to Wellston, Ohio.

Wheelersburg has three churches, three general stores, one drugstore, one undertaker, one blacksmith, one shoemaker, one harness dealer, two physicians and one contracting carpenter.

Merrill and wife, John Hurd and wife. Services were held at the homes of the members until 1838, when the first church was erected. In 1844 this building was replaced by a new one at an expense of $4,000. Rev. Dan Young was the first minister. Rev. Patrick Henry is the present pastor. The membership is 175. The church auxiliaries are the Epworth League and Junior League. The trustees are J. N. Hudson, Thomas Hartman, William Duis, J. C. Cadot and George Reif.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1879 by J. N. Clark. The first minister was J. A. Roberts. For the past ten years there have been no regular services.

Among the first settlers in the Ohio valley between Ironton and Portsmouth, there were a number of Catholics. The work about the iron furnaces of Scioto County, attracted Catholic immigrants from Germany. The Catholics of Wheelersburg were attended in the early days by priests from Cincinnati, who made regular trips up the Ohio Valley as far as Steubenville. Among those whose names are known are those of Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont and Rev. Father Hengehold. Religious services were held in private houses. When a church was built at Portsmouth, Catholics of Wheelersburg attended services there.

By 1850 eleven Catholic families had gathered at Lick Run. The names of some of the pioneer Catholics were Eberhard Frische, Henry Lipker, Michael Delabar, John Mossman, Christopher Flanagan, Louis Deutremont, Mrs. Abigail Cranston, Gerhard Rolf, John H. Riepenhoff and John Kundel. With the aid of these men, the Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont built a log church on Lick Run. It was placed on the top of a hill on the farm of Eberhard Frische. Services were held at intervals by priests who came from Portsmouth or Pine Grove.

Rev. D. M. Winands erected a parsonage in the autumn of 1863 and in November of the same year, the Rev. Louis J. Schrieber arrived and became the first resident pastor.

Father Schrieber remained three years. After him there came the following pastors: Rev. H. H. Mayrose, Charles F. Schelhamer, John B. Gamben Aloysius Nonnen, F. Karge, Alexander Istwann, F. Albert, J. Neumayer, Peter i. Weisenberger, Philip Kuemmert and'P. F. Thurheimer, who lived at Lick Run for shorter or longer periods ranging, from a few months to several years.

When Rev. John B. Ritter assumed charge in March,' 1880, he found the log church too small, the location bad and the road to it impassable. He took measures to build a new church on a better site. A frame church costing $3,000.00 dollars was built on the turnpike on Dogwood Ridge, a mile from Wheelersburg. It was dedicated by Bishop Watterson in November of 1885. The old parsonage at Lick Run was removed to the new location.

Rev. Joseph M. Wehrle succeeded Father Ritter in 1889. He was pastor for six years and improved greatly the parsonage and church yard. In January, 1895, Rev. T. A. Goebel assumed charge. During the seven years of his administration the interior of the church was much improved and beautified. In January, 1902, Rev. James T. Banahan was appointed to succeed Father Goebel. He is the present pastor.

The first school house in Wheelersburg was built in 1822 and John Young was the first teacher. When the township system of schools was inaugurated, Wheelersburg was sub-district No. 6 of Porter Township. Jesse Y. Whitcomb was elected teacher in 1845. He was a New Englander and had advanced ideas regarding education and the management of schools. He thoroughly organized the Wheelersburg District and so stimulated the people that two years later they built their present brick building of four rooms. It is now a special district. The teachers at present are W. S. Dean. Superintendent, $80 per month; W. H. Grady. Grammar. $50; Miss Anna Stout, intermediate, $45; Miss Jennie Camp, primary, $45.

The Western Sun Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M. located here is the oldest Masonic lodge in the County. In 1901, it erected a fine two story brick building at a cost of $4,500.

This is the largest town in the county outside of Portsmouth, and lies just west of the Little Scioto on the Ohio river. The Norfolk and Western and Baltimore and Ohio South-western railroads pass through it. The first house built on the present site of Sciotoville was by William Brown in the year 1835. The town was laid out in 1841 by Joseph Riggs for Madison Price, James Taylor and Charles Moore. The plat consists of 25 lots covering 7% acres.

In 1841, Madison Price platted an addition of 23 lots, numbered from 26 to 148, consisting of eight acres. In 1851, John Shoemaker platted an addition of 34 lots, consisting of eight acres. April 10, 1868, the Wilcox addition of 26 lots was platted. December 19, 1868, Wm. Corwine platted an addition of 5 lots, containing iy2 acres. In 1870, Samuel McConnell and H. A. Towne platted an addition of 35 lots containing six acres. On January 2S, 1871, William Corwine platted an addition of 4 y2 acres, sub-divided into 23 lots. June 13. 1889, C. W. Turner and wife, John S. Mann and wife, Ira S. Farney, W. L. Hitchcock and wife, Thomas Brock and wife, Andrew Damn and wife, Adam Ault and wife, Melvin Moore and wife platted an addition containing 6.44 acres, sub-divided into 12 lots.

The manufacturing interest of Sciotoville began in 1847 when Taylor, Decker & Co. operated a foundry on the present site of the Scioto Fire Brick Works. This was destroyed later by fire. In 1881, Elias Marshall erected and operated a flour mill and edge-tool factory. Sciotoville has always been a busy town, having had at different times a number of mills, all of which have been destroyed by fire, but the different manufacturing industries and the one on which it has largely depended for the past thirty years and for which it has held more than a national reputation is that of its clay industry, which had its inception about 1863. That year Reece Thomas took from Powers Hill two barrels of fire clay. It was taken to Ashland and converted into fire brick as an experiment. The clay proved to be of an excellent quality for this purpose, and shortly after, two men by the name of Taylor, brothers, from a brick manufactory at Ashland, came to Sciotoville and opened clay mines, the output of which was shipped to Ashland to be manufactured into fire brick. In 1864 or the Spring of 1865, Thomas & Taylor moved their brick plant from Ashland to Sciotoville and began at once the manufacture of fire brick. This plant stood where the Blast Furnace Fire Brick yard now stands. In 1866, the name of this firm was changed to Taylor, Connell & Company.

In 1865, McConnell, Porter & Company erected a brick yard where now stands the plant of the Scioto Fire Brick Company. In 1869, Farney, Murray & Company built a yard near where the Baltimore & Ohio depot now stands. This was generally known as the Salamander yard. In 1873, the three companies above mentioned were consolidated and incorporated into the Scioto 'Fire Brick Company with Daniel F. Connell as manager. In 1873, W. Q. Adams was chosen in Mr. Connell's place, and served until 1876, when C. P. Lloyd was made President and Superintendent. No change was made until 1888, when Mr. C. W. Turner was elected Superintendent. Mr. Lloyd was retained as president until his death in 1893. Mr. Theodore Doty was elected to fill the vacancy, but resigned in 1894, and was succeeded by John Peebles, who was succeeded by C. W. Turner in 1901. Mr. Turner has been Treasurer of the Company since 1894, and is now superintendent. The other officers are: Ira C. Farney, Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Reed, Secretary. This company manufactured fire brick exclusively until 1894, when they erected a plant for the manufacture of paving brick. They employ about 100 men and make all shapes, styles and sizes of fire brick. The capacity is 16,000 fire brick per day, and the paving brick plant has about the same capacity.

In 1871, the Scioto Fire Brick Company was organized by Samuel Mc- Connell, Judge H. A. Towne, R. A. Mitchell, M. B. Williams and T. J. Pursell, for the manufacture of fire brick. It built what is known as the "Star Yard", one mile west of Sciotoville. Samuel McConnell was the first president and treasurer, R. A. Mitchell the first superintendent. The capacity of this yard at present is 20,000 per day. It also manufactures paving brick in the same plant for two or three months in each year. The capacity of the paving plant is 16,000 per day and it employs 100 men. This company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio recently, with Simon Labold, President and Treasurer, Addison Taylor, Secretary.

In 1898, the Blast Furnace Fire Brick Company was organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio, with J. W. Bannon, President; D. B. Hutchins, Vice-President and Treasurer, William L. Hitchcock, Superintendent. It put in operation what was known as the old Blast Furnace Brick Yard. The capacity of this plant is 12,000 per day. It manufactures fire brick exclusively.

The Christian Church was organized in 1867 and during the first fifteen years of its existence services were held in the old Marshall Hall. The present church edifice was erected in 1881 and dedicated in September of that year. S. S. Doyle was one of its early ministers. The present minister is Rev. T. P. Degman. Its membership numbers 125, and the Sunday School has an average attendance of 85. Ira C. Farney is the Superintendent.

The Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1878 by Isaac Fullerton and Uriah Chabot. The first minister was Rev. Isaac Fullerton. The first meetings were held in the Marshall Hall. There are 68 members at present under the pastoral care of Rev. Reissinger. The Sunday School numbers 30.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1840 and soon afterward the church building was erected. In 1838, a revival was held in Sciotoville, in which 200 persons were converted to the Methodist faith, which resulted in the above organization. The lot upon which the church stands was donated by Madison Price. In 1866, this house was removed to a lot in the rear of where it was then standing and is now known as Marshall's Hall. A new church edifice was erected in 1868 and consecrated by Bishop Merrill. The old circuit embraced Wheelersburg, Sciotoville, Howard Furnace. Wait's Station, Olive Furnace, Vernon and Webster, with the parsonage at Webster. Some of the early members were Uriah and Jacob Bonser, Garrett Kirkendall, Ephriam Yost and Rev. Taylor. Their present minister is Rev. Patrick Henry. There are 90 members and the Sunday School averages 100.

The United Brethern Church was organized in the year 1851. This church is one mile east of Sciotoville. Its present minister is Rev. William Wegner.

The Porter Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1817. Rufus Chaney was the leading spirit in the organization and was also the first minister. The present minister is Rev. T. S. Arthur.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church on Dogwood Ridge, was organized in 1855. Its first minister was Rev. John Phetzing. Their first church was huilt in 1858 and was dedicated the same year by Rev. John Bier. Its membership numbers about 100, with an average attendance at Sunday School of 60. It has also an Epworth League.

The Township has long terms of school, has the best teachers and pays them good wages. There are at present, seven districts outside of Wheelersburg Special District. District No. 1, includes the schools of Sciotoville. The building is a two story brick structure containing six rooms, situated on Market street. The principal of this school, and principal of the Porter Township High School, is Thomas Sikes. There are five other teachers. The first school house erected within the limits of the district was a one story frame, which is still in existence, and is used as a dwelling. The next building was one of two rooms, and was built of brick. Both of these buildings stood near the present school house.

Sub-district No. 2, is on the Powellsville Pike two miles southeast of Wheelersburg; Sub-district No. 3, is situated on the Ohio river and is known as the Hayport School. Fred Brown is the teacher; Sub-district No. 4, is near Wait's Station, on the Webster Turnpike. John A. Stout is the teacher; Sub-district No. 5, is on Dogwood Ridge, about one mile from Wheelersburg. M. G. Chandler is the teacher; Sub-district No. 7, is about two and a half miles from Wheelersburg on the Chaffin's Mill turnpike. L. Finney is the teacher; Sub-district No. 8, is one mile west of Sciotoville and known as the Star Yard School. Everett Ault is the teacher.

Porter Township being one of the oldest townships in the county, and one of the first settled has many old burying grounds in which are interred some of the earliest pioneers.

Price's Cemetery is situated near Wait's Station. It is sometimes known as the old Marshall burying ground. Some of the burials are: Jesse Marshall, died December 17, 1866, aged 82 years, 6 months; Mary G., wife of Jesse Marshall, died August 24, 1855, aged 64 years; Clinton Marshall, died September 16, 1862, at the age of 38 years; Julia Ann, wife of Clinton M., died January 15. 1856 at the age of 31 years.'

Slocum's Cemetery is near Slocum's Station. Some of the interments are Mary Slocum, died Nov. 15, 1832 at the age of 40; Lydia Slocum, died September 8, 1834 at the age of 13; Cyrus Slocum, died July 16, 1851 at the age of 35; Archibald Slocum, died Nov. 27, 1842 at the age of 24 years; Joseph Turner, died in 1898 at the age of 74 years; Clarissa Jones, died April 5, 1885 at the age of 61 years.

Perhaps the oldest buring ground in the township is just above the mouth of the Little Scioto river. This cemetery contains the graves of some of the pioneers of the township.

Source changes here: from History of Scioto County, Ohio, Together with a Pioneer Record of Southern Ohio, by Nelson W. Evans A.m, published 1903; 3,716 words in this source stream.

Porter Township

This township has the honor of being the first settled in Scioto County. In the month of February, 1796, Samuel Marshall came from Manchester, Adams County, and built a small cabin just above where New Boston now stands, and within the present limits of Porter Township. In the following month John Lindsey also moved from Manchester, to a point on the Ohio near the mouth of the Little Scioto river. The first white person born within the limits of Porter Township, as well as the first in Scioto County, was Fanny Marshall, one of the younger daughters of Samuel Marshall; and the first person married within the County and township was a daughter of Mr. Marshall to John. H. Lindsey, son of John Lindsey. John H. Lindsey afterward became Captain of the first rifle company organized in the county and was afterward known as Captain John Lindsey. The graves of these two pioneers, Samuel Marshall and John Lindsey, are side by side near where Scioto Furnace formerly stood. In the previous year, 1795, came Isaac Bonser, who had been sent out by a number of persons living in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, to select a site for a home in the North-west Territory. The next Spring, five families, those of Isaac Bonser, Uriah Barber, John Beatty, William Ward and Epbriam Thomas set out to settle on the site selected by Mr. Bonser, the year before. It is claimed by some to be the first attempt at settlement in Porter Township for the reason that Mr. Bonser selected his place of settlement before Marshall and Lindsey came from Manchester in Adams County.

Porter Township was organized December 6, 1814, the part east of the Little Scioto was taken from Green, and the part west, from Wayne Township. The order for forming it is as follows: "Ordered that the petition for a new township by sundry persons of Wayne and Green Townships be granted and that the following be the bounds: To begin at Ira Hitchcock's upper corner; thence on the river up the Ohio to the mouth of the creek; thence up Hale's Creek so far that a due west line will strike the lower back corner of the Grant; thence with the line of Bloom Township and Madison Township so far as to strike a due north line drawn from the place of beginning, called Porter Township."

Later a petition for a change was presented to the County Commissioners and the following order was made as to boundaries: Beginning at the mouth of Hale's Creek; thence up the creek with the meanders to where it strikes the French Grant, lots Nos. 54 and 66; thence a northeast course on the line of the French Grant to lots 78 and 90 to the southeast corner of fractional section 21, range 20 in township 2; thence north with the original surveyed township line to the northeast corner of section 36, range 20 and township 3; thence west with the original section line to the northwest corner of section 36, range 21 township 2; thence south to the Ohio River; thence up the Ohio River with the meanders 'to the beginning of the boundaries of Porter

The Commissioners ordered another change made in the boundaries in 1836: "Whereas William Montgomery having made application to be attached to the township of Porter, upon examination of the said application and upon due consideration of the same, it is ordered, that the said William Montgomery be attached to the township of Porter beginning on the line between sections 23 and 26 in township 2, range 20 where Hale's Creek crosses said line; thence up the creek with the meanders thereof until it strikes said line mentioned so as to include within the limits of Porter Township the said William Montgomery." December 7, 1836.

Porter received its name from Porter Wheeler, son of Major Porter Wheeler. Porter Township ranks as follows among the townships outside of Wayne; twelfth in area; first in population; second in real estate; first in personal property; second in total of both real and personal property; the valuation of real estate in 1900 was $382,800; personal property, $315,292; of both $698,092. The area is 15,709 acres.

The surface of Porter Township is very diversified. Most of the lowlands lie between the Portsmouth and Haverhill Free Turnpike and the Ohio River. This belt of lowlands in the west portion of the township is about one-fourth of a mile in width, while in the south it is almost a mile wide and constitutes the most fertile agricultural region in the township. About two thousand acres of the fertile valley of the Little Scioto lie within the limits of Porter Township. The portion southeast of the Portsmouth and Webster free turnpike and included in sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, and parts of sections 3, 9 and 12, comprise what is known as "Dogwood Ridge," and is one of the best wheat producing sections in the county. Considerable attention is given to dairying on Dogwood Ridge, and many of the farmers own cream separators.

The hills about Sciotoville contain valuable clays for the manufacture of fire and paving brick. Some coal is found in the eastern part of the township though not in paying quantities. The principal streams of Porter Township are Pine Creek, which flows in a tortuous course across the southern portion and the Little Scioto River, which enters the township from the north and flows in a southeasterly direction through to the Ohio at Sciotoville. The smaller streams are Lick Run, Wheeler's Run, Ward's Run and Munn's Run All of Porter Township except the hilly region about Sciotoville is well adapted to farming and dairying. The Pine Creek and Little Scioto valleys are each very wide. They are easily cultivated and yield a bountiful harvest. Considerable attention is given to fruit growing and gardening. Many herds of fine Jersey cows may be found on Dogwood Ridge, where dairying is an important industry. Much of the milk supply of Portsmouth comes from Dogwood Ridge.

is located near the center of the township and is the oldest village within its boundary. It was first settled in 1820 and was called Concord. It was laid out by Rev. Dan Young and John Young, October 8, 1824, and the survey was made June 15, of the same year by Samuel Cole. The plat consists of fortytwo lots covering an area of 14 acres, After two years the name was changed to Wheelersburg in honor of Major Porter Wheeler, an early settler, a noted Indian fighter and a soldier of the war of 1812.

On March 21, 1842, Reizin Enslow platted an addition of seven lots containing 1 4-5 acres. On August 23, 1859, Wheelersburg was re-platted for the purpose of taxation into 105 lots and the total number of acres in the whole was 30 1-2) On March 26, 1898, J. B. and Ella McCoy platted an addition of nine inlots, numbered from 2 to 10 and covering three acres,

The machinery for a cotton factory was-removed from Greenupsburg, Kentucky, to Wheelersburg in 1822 by~-Dan and John Young. They erected the factory on the southwest corner of Broadway and Center streets. This factory was sold by the Youngs to Edward Cranston in 1835 and removed to where the flour mill now stands, and changed to a woolen mill. Here it was operated by the Cranstons until 1897 when Benjamin Cranston removed the machinery and put in a flour mill. This flour mill has a daily capacity of 50 barrels.

Another important industry at Wheelersburg is the Fertilizer Factory. A drain tile factory was in operation here from 1871 to 1902, when*it was removed to Wellston, Ohio.

Wheelersburg has three churches, three general stores, one drugstore, one undertaker, one blacksmith, one shoemaker, one harness dealer, two physicians and one contracting carpenter.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1822: Among its original members were: Rey. Dan Young, John Young, Hannah Gould, Josiah Merrill and wife, John Hurd and wife. Services were held at the homes of the members until 1838, when the first church was erected. In 1844 this building was replaced by a new one at an expense of $4,000. Rev. Dan Young was the first minister. Rey. Patrick Henry is the present pastor. The membership is 175. The church auxiliaries are the Epworth League and Junior League. The trustees are J. N. Hudson, Thomas Hartman, William Duis, J. C. Cadot and George Reif.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1879 by J. N. Clark. The first minister was J. A. Roberts. For the past ten years there have been no regular services.

Among the first settlers in the Ohio valley between Ironton and Portsmouth, there were a number of Catholics, The work about the iron furnaces of Scioto County, attracted Catholic immigrants from Germany. The Catho- | lics of Wheelersburg were attended in the early days by priests' from Cin-} cinnati, who made regular trips up the Ohio Valley as far as Steubenville. Among those whose names are known are those of Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont and Rev. Father Hengehold. Religious services were held in private houses. When a church was built at Portsmouth, Catholics of Wheelersburg attended services there.

By 1850 eleven Catholic families had gathered at Lick Run. The names of some of the pioneer Catholics were Eberhard Frische, Henry Lipker, Michael Delabar, John Mossman, Christopher Flanagan, Louis Deutremont, Mrs. Abigail Cranston, Gerhard Rolf, John H. Riepenhoff and John Kundel. With the aid of these men, the Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont built a log church on Lick Run. It was placed on the top of a hill on the farm of Eberhard Frische. Services were held at intervals by priests who came from Portsmouth or Pine Grove. : Rey. D. M. Winands erected a parsonage in the autumn of 1863 and in November of the same year, the Rey. Louis J. Schrieber arrived and became the first resident pastor. f

Father Schrieber remained three years. After him there came the following pastors: Rev. H. H. Mayrose, Charles F. Schelhamer, John B. Gamber, Aloysius Nonnen, F. Karge, Alexander Istwann, F. Albert, J. Neumayer, Peter J. Weisenberger, Philip Kuemmert and P. F. Thurheimer, who lived at Lick Run for shorter or longer periods ranging from a few months to several years.

When Rey. John B. Ritter assumed charge in March, 1880, he found the log church too small, the location bad and the road to it impassable. . He took measures to build a new church on a better site. A frame church costing $3,000.00 dollars was built on the turnpike on Dogwood Ridge, a mile from Wheelersbure. It was dedicated by Bishop Watterson in November of 1885. The old parsonage at Lick Run was removed to the new location.

Rev. Joseph M. Wehrle succeeded Father Ritter in 1889. He was pastor for six years and improved greatly the parsonage and church yard. In January, 1895, Rev. T. A. Goebel assumed charge. During the seven years of his administration the interior of the church was much improved and beautified. In January, 1902, Rev. James T. Banahan was appointed to succeed Father Goebel. He is the present pastor.

The first school house in Wheelersburg was built in 1822 and John Young was the first teacher. When the township system of schools was inaugurated, Wheelersburg was sub-district No. 6 of Porter Township. Jesse Y. Whitcomb was elected teacher in 1845. He was a New Englander and had advanced ideas regarding education and the management of schools. He thoroughly organized the Wheelersburg District and so stimulated the people that two years later they built their present brick building of four rooms. It is now a special district. The teachers at present are W. S. Dean, Superintendent, $80 per month; W. H. Grady, Grammar, $50; Miss Anna Stout, intermediate, $45; Miss Jennie Camp, primary, $45.

The Western Sun Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M. located here is the oldest Masonic lodge in the County. In 1901, it erected a fine two story brick building at a cost of $4,500.

. Sciotoville. This is the largest town in the county outside of Portsmouth, and lies just west of the Little Scioto on the Ohio river. The Norfolk and Western and Baltimore and Ohio South-western railroads pass through it. The first house built on the present site of Sciotoville was by William Brown in the year 1835. The town was laid out in 1841 by Joseph Riggs for Madison Price, James Taylor and Charles Moore. The plat consists of 25 lots covering 7% acres. Additional Plats.

In 1841, Madison Price platted an addition of 23 lots, numbered from 26 to 148, consisting of eight acres. In 1851, John Shoemaker platted an addition of 34 lots, consisting of eight acres. April 10, 1868, the Wilcox addition of 26 lots was platted. December 19, 1868, Wm. Corwine platted an addition of 5 lots, containmmg 1% acres. In 1870, Samuel McConnell and H. A. Towne platted an addition of 35 lots containing six acres. On January 28, 1871, William Corwine platted an addition of 4% acres, sub-divided into 23 lots. June 13, 1889, C. W. Turner and wife, John 8. Mann and wife, Ira S. Farney, W. L. Hitchcock and wife, Thomas Brock and wife, Andrew Daum and wife, Adam Ault and wife, Melvin Moore and wife platted an addition containing 6.44 acres, sub-divided into 12 lots.

The manufacturing interest of Sciotoville began in 1847 when Taylor, Decker & Co. operated a foundry on the present site of the Scioto Fire Brick Works. This was destroyed later by fire. In 1881, Elias Marshall erected and operated a flour mill and edge-tool factory. Sciotoville has always been a busy town, having had at different times a number of mills, all of which have been destroyed by fire, but the different manufacturing industries and the one on which it has largely depended for the past thirty years and for which it has held more than a national reputation is that of its clay industry, which- had its inception about 1863. That year Reece Thomas took from Powers Hill two barrels of fire clay. It was taken to Ashland and converted into fire brick as an experiment. The clay proved to be of an excellent quality for this purpose, and shortly after, two men by the name of Taylor, brothers, from a brick manufactory at Ashland, came to Sciotoville and opened clay mines, the output of which was shipped to Ashland to be manufactured into fire brick. In 1864 or the Spring of 1865, Thomas & Taylor moved their brick plant from Ashland to Sciotoville and began at once the manufacture of fire brick. This plant-stood where the Blast Furnace Fire Brick yard now stands. In 1866, the name of this firm was changed to Taylor, Connell & Company,

In 1865, MeConnell, Porter & Company erected a-brick yard where now stands the plant of the Seloto Fire Brick Company, In 1869, Farney, Murray & Company built a yard near where the Baltimore & Ohio depot now stands. This was generally known as the Salamander yard. In 1878, the three companies above mentioned were consolidated and incorporated into the Scioto Fire rick Company with Daniel F, Connell as manager. In 1878, W. Q. Adams was chosen in Mr, Connell's place, and served until 1876, when C. P. Lloyd was made President and Superintendent. No change was made until 1888, when Mr, ©, W, Turner was elected Superintendent, Mr, Lloyd was retained as president until his death in 1893, Mr. Theodore Doty was elected to fill the vacancy, but resigned in 1894, and was succeeded by John Peebles, who was suceeeded by C, W, Turner in 1901, Mr, Turner has been Treasurer of the Company since 1894, and is now superintendent, The other officers are: Ira C. Varney, Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Reed; Secretary. This company manufactured fire brick exclusively until 1894, when they erected a plant for the manufacture of paving brick. They employ about 100 men and make all shapes, styles and sizes of fire brick, The capacity is 16,000 fire brick per day, and the paving brick plant has about the same capacity.

In 1871, the Seioto Fire Brick Company was organized by Samuel Mc- Connell, Judge H, A, Towne, R, A, Mitchell, M. B. Williams and T. J. Pursell, for the manufacture of fire brick. It built what is known as the "Star Yard', one mile west of Sciotoville, Samuel McConnell was the first president and treasurer, It, A, Mitchell the first superintendent. The capacity of this yard at present is 20,000 per day, It also manufactures paving brick in the same plant for two or three months in each year, The capacity of the paving plant is 16,000 per day and it employs 100 men. This company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio recently, with Simon Labold, President and Treasurer, Addison 'Taylor, Secretary,

In 1898, the Blast Furnace Fire Brick Company was organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio, with J. W. Bannon, President; D. B. Hutchins, Vice-President and 'Treasurer, Willlam L. Hitchcock, Superintendent, It put in operation what was known as the old Blast Furnace Brick Yard, The capacity of this plant is 12,000 per day. It manufactures fire brick ° exclusively, '

The Christian Church, was organized in 1867 and during the first fifteen years of its existence services were held in the old Marshall Hall. The present chureh edifice was erected in 1881 and dedicated in September of that year, 8, 8. Doyle was one of its early ministers, The present minister is Rev. T. P. Degman, Its membership numbers 125, and the Sunday School has an average attendance of 85, Ira ©, Warney is the Superintendent.

The Mree-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1878 by Isaac Fullerton and Uriah Chabot, The first minister was Rey. Isaac Fullerton. The first moetings were held in the Marshall Hall, There are 68 members at present under the pastoral care of Rey, Reissinger, The Sunday School numbers 30.

The Methodist Mpiscopal Church was organized about 1840 and soon afterward the church building was erected, In 1888, a revival was held in Sciotoville, in whieh 200 persons were converted to the Methodist faith, which resulted in the above organization, The lot upon which the church stands was donated by Madison Price, In 1866, this house was removed to a lot in the rear of where it was then standing and is now known as Marshall's Hall. A new chureh edifice was erected in 1868 and consecrated by Bishop Merrill. The old cireult embraced Wheelersburg, Sciotoville, Howard Furnace, Wait's Station, Olive Murnace, Vernon and Webster, with the parsonage at Webster. Some of the early members were Uriah and Jacob Bonser, Garrett Kirkendall, Mphriam Yost and Rev, Taylor, Their present minister is Rev, Patrick Henry. There are 90 members and the Sunday School averages 100,

The United Brethern Church was organized in the year 1851. This chureh is one mile east of Sclotoville, Its present minister is Rey, William

The Porter Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1817. Rufus Chaney was the leading spirit in the organization and was also the first minister. The present minister is Rev. T. S. Arthur.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church on Dogwood Ridge, was organized in 1855. Its first minister was Rev. John Phetzing. Their first church was built in 1858 and was dedicated the same year by Rev. John Bier. Its membership numbers about 100, with an average attendance at Sunday School of 60. It has also an Epworth League.

The Township has long terms of school, has the best teachers and pays them good wages. There are at present, seven districts outside of Wheelersburg Special District. District No. 1, includes the schools of Sciotoville. The building is a two story brick structure containing six rooms, situated on Market street. The principal of this school, and principal of the Porter Township High School, is Thomas Sikes. There are five other teachers. The first school house erected within the limits of the district was a one story frame, which is still in existence, and is used as a dwelling. The next building was one of two rooms, and was built of brick. Both of these buildings stood near the present school house.

Sub-district No. 2, is on the Powellsville Pike two miles southeast of Wheelersburg; Sub-district No. 3, is situated on the Ohio river and is known as the Hayport School. Fred Brown is the teacher; Sub-district No. 4, is near Wait's Station, on the Webster Turnpike. John A. Stout is the teacher; Sub-district No. 5, is on Dogwood Ridge, about one mile from Wheelersburg. M. G. Chandler is the teacher; Sub-district No. 7, is about two and a half miles from Wheelersburg on the Chaffin's Mill turnpike. L. Finney is the teacher; Sub-district No. 8, is one mile west of Sciotoville and known as the Star Yard School. Everett Ault is the teacher.

Porter Township being one of the oldest townships in the county, and one of the first settled~-has many old burying grounds in which are interred some of the earliest pioneers.

Price's Cemetery is situated near Wait's Station. It is sometimes known as the old Marshall burying ground. Some of the burials are: Jesse Marshall, died December 17, 1866, aged 82 years, 6 months; Mary G., wife of Jesse Marshall, died August 24, 1855, aged 64 years; Clinton Marshall, died September 16, 1862, at the age of 38 years; Julia Ann, wife of Clinton M., died January 15, 1856 at the age of 31 years.

Slocum's Cemetery is near Slocum's Station. Some of the interments are Mary Slocum, died Nov. 15, 1832 at the age of 40; Lydia Slocum, died September 8, 1834 at the age of 13; Cyrus Slocum, died July 16, 1851 at the age of 35; Archibald Slocum, died Nov. 27, 1842 at the age of 24 years; Joseph Turner, died in 1898 at the age of 74 years; Clarissa Jones, died April 5, 1885 at the age of 61 years.

Perhaps the oldest -burine ground im the ip is just above the mouth of the Litile Scioto river. This cemetery contains graves of some of the pioneers of the township. :