Waterford Township (part 1 of 3)

Waterford Township

most of whom had families. On the twentieth of April nineteen left the garrison at Marietta in a pirogue, and that evening arrived at the mouth of Tuttle's run, a small stream about one mile below Beverly. Here they pitched their tents, and began life in the woods.

The scene which on the following morning was presented to these adventurous pioneers furnishes food for the imagination. The alluvial bottom, both up and down the river, was heavily timbered with sugar, oak, and beech, and with a thick undergrowth of sapplings. About eighty rods back lay an extensive plain, which had at one time probably been an Indian clearing. Annual fires had prevented the growth of timber, and the whole area, about one mile long and half a mile wide, was covered with a matting of briers and underbrush. The forest on the fertile bottom on the opposite side of the river was unbroken. The bold cliff farthur up, beyond the bend, towered above the tall trees intervening. The settlers industriously plied their axes, and in a few days each family was living in a comfortable log cabin, and within a month each had cleared and fenced a small lot for a garden. Early in May another party came up from Marietta, and the settlement then consisted of the following families and single men: Those with families were Gilbert Devol, William Gray, William Sprague, Jonathan Sprague, Major John White, Noah Fearing, Major Coburn, Joshua Sprague, Henry Maxon, Andrew Story, Benjamin Beadle, Allen Devol, David Wilson, William Wilson, Wanton Devol, and Nathan Kinny. The single men were Asa Coburn, Nicholas Coburn, Phineas Coburn, Andrew Webster, Jonathan Devol, Samuel Cushing, Wilbur Sprague, Daniel Convers, Joseph Kitchen, and Andrew McClure.

The whole area of Waterford township lies within the tract donated by the Ohio company to encourage settlement, as has previously been explained in the general history of the county. But the presence of Indians of uncertain disposition, made it necessary that the settlement should be compact, so that the inhabitants might be able to give each other assistance in case of danger. A tract beginning where the town of Beverly now stands and extending about two miles down the river, was laid out in ten and fifteen acre lots. These lots were drawn by holders of titles to full lots lying further back.

On the west side of the river, Wolf creek bends around a gentle elevation which flattens out towards the west, leaving an irregular tract so nearly surrounded by watter, as to be called "the peninsula." This tract was laid off in five acre lots on the plan of the New England villages; one street running through the centre, another at right angles, and a third around the outside.

After providing plans of residence, the first work which engaged the attention of the associates, was prepairing for the spring crop. It was a fortunate circumstance, not only for the Waterford settlers, but also for those of Marietta and Belpre, that the plain was, already cleared. Ona dry day in May, while a strong wind was blowing, fire 'was applied to the accumulated covering of leaves and decaying logs, and in a few hours the surface was ready for the planters' hoe. About. eighty acres were planted in corn which grew rapidly in the mellow mold, and, aided by a favorable season, ripened early, thus escaping the destructive frost early in October, which threatened famine in Marietta and Belpre. Those settlements received considerable assistance during the following year from Waterford, where about three thousand bushels of sound corn was produced. The Waterford associates were saved at least one month's labor by the happy circumstance of this plain being already cleared. The soil having long been exposed to the sun, was warm and ready to receive the crop, and there were no trunks of deadened trees to retard its growth. The first block-house was built early in the summer of 1789 on the east side of the river. This was done in obedience to an order from General Putnam, notifying them of the murder of Captain King, of Belpre. <A military company was organized, with William Gray captain, David Wilson sergeant and Andrew Webster corporal. Although the associates took these precautions and prepared themselves for an emergency, they had little fear of danger. Indians frequently visited them and traded with them, and Allen Devol says in his written statement, all worked at clearing, sowing and planting, without much fear, until the news of the massacre of Big Bottom.

The "Peninsula" was mostly cleared during the first season. Dean Tyler, Jarvis Cutter, and John Gardner owned lots on that fertile point. A block-house was built on the river bank just east of the road now leading to Watertown. It was occupied by Dean Tyler, and known by his name. In the latter part of September of this year, John Gardner was taken prisoner by the Indians while working on his lot on the '' Peninsula.."

The winter was passed quietly by the settlers in their clearings and improving their homes. They had no fears of an attack on their settlement by the Indians, many of whom spent the winter in the neighborhood and traded at the settlement. Game was plenty. Allen Devol, in 1841 wrote: "We, in general, had plenty of provisions, wild meat in abundance, - turkeys, deer, and some bear. Deer were as plenty as sheep are now. We fattened some pork. Salt was hard to get in sufficient quantities. The inhabitants were healthy and in but little need of a doctor, or his medicines." There were yet no mills, Wolf Creek mill not being in operation until the spring of 1790.

The spring of 1790 brought to Waterford a number of families from the east, and a few from the other settlements. The abundant crop of corn of the previous summer gave some idea of the agricultural resources of the Muskingum bottoms, and donation lots were eagerly sought.

The clearings on both sides the river were being rapidly extended. Eighty acres had been sown in wheat, and preparations were going on for a large corn crop. Domestic animals and ground meal from the mill on Wolf creek greatly improved the table fare. Everything seemed propitious for a prosperous and happy year. In the fall a good crop of corn was harvested; wheat looked promising. At the opening of the winter of 1790-91 the two settlements of Plainfield - as the east side of the

The principal events of the next four years have already been detailed in the history of the Indian war. To narrate them here would be simply a repetition of what has been said. Millburgh was evacuated, the neat little cabins by the riverside were left empty, and all were compelled to live together in the garrison, which stood oppoposite the nigh cliff east of Waterford village. The following are the names of the occupants of Fort Frye, as the garrison was called, during the war. Captain William Gray, wife and two children; Major Phinehas Coburn, wife and three sons, young men, Phineas, Nicholas and Asa; Judge Gilbert Devol, wife and two sons, Gideon and Jonathan, also one daughter; Wanton Devol wife and one child; Allen Devol, wife and three or four children; Andrew Story, wife and five children; widow of B. Convers, and eight children, James, a young man, and Daniel, a lad of fifteen years old; George Wilson, wife and two children; Jeremiah Wilson, two sons and two daughters; Benjamin Shaw, wife and two sons and two daughters; Nathan Kinny and wife; Joshua Sprague, wife and two children; Major John White and wife; William Sprague, wife and two children; Noah Fearing, wife and several children; Andrew Webster and son; Harry Maxon and wife; David Davis, wife and two sons, William and Daniel; David Wilson, wife and one child; Benjamin Beadle and wife. Single men, William Mc- Cullock, Neal McGuffy, Andrew McClure, William Newell, who served as rangers for the garrison; Samuel Cushing, William Lunt, Jabez Barlow, Nathaniel Hinkley; Dr. Thomas Farley (physician); Dr. Nathan McIntosh was surgeon's mate, appointed by the Ohio company for the soldiers. The spring after the war began eight or ten soldiers were sent up from Fort Harmar to assist in defence of the settlement.

During the Indian war the settlers always went out to work in parties. Two or more men were detailed to walk around the field and report signs of danger. This duty was considered the most perilous. The guns were stacked near the centre of the field under charge of a sentinel. When work had been done on one lot the party went-to the next, and so on until all had been planted. The settlers were annoyed most by the Indians driving away their cows. This was the common device for decoying the men away from the garrisons.

The donation act of 1794, spoken of in the general history, brought many emigrants from the east, and the garrison at Waterford became too small to accommodate all. During the spring the Indians gave the settlement but little trouble, their attention being attracted by Wayne's army, then assembling on the frontier. The crowded condition of the garrison at Waterford, and the anxiety on the part of emigrants and settlers to improve and cultivate their lands, led to the formation of the Olive Green Creek colony in the spring of 1794.

The seventh of April was regularly celebrated by the associates with games of ball, foot races and other favorite masculine sports. We are told that "old and young zealously engaged." But there were also amusements in which the ladies could participate. Dancing was a diversion much encouraged by the elders and eagerly participated in by the younger members of the colony.

The establishment of peace in 1795 found the settlement in a very flourishing condition. 'They had become expert in dealing with their savage foes, and knew when danger was at hand and how to meet it. Their clearings and cultivated fields had been enlarged, the soil brought under a good state of cultivation, and abundant crops produced. In the fall of 1794 two hundred bushels of corn were marketed at the army posts at Fort Washington and Cincinnati. They received for this forty cents per bushel. This handsome income from the fall crop was a great relief, for home-spun linen and deer skin was their only materal for making clothing. Deer skin was much worn for pantaloons and jackets for a long time after the first settlement of the country. Sheep were not yet introduced, but hogs were fattened on the great crops of acorns and beechnuts, but little corn being required. Their table fare was all that could be desired, but the most important article for seasoning was wanting - salt. It could very seldom be obtained, and then only at an immense price.

The news of the permanent establishment of peace with the Indians was glad tiding of great joy to the inhabitants of the garrison. Clearings were opened and cabins erected on every bottom. Garrisons were abandoned, and the settlement, which had hitherto been compact, now scattered. The fertility of the soil had already become celebrated. Every week added new arrivals, and but a few years elapsed before every lot, with few exceptions, embraced within the present limits of the township, had been improved.

The donation of one hundred acre lots to actual settlers performed no unimportant part in the rapid progress of the settlement and development of the superior agricultural resources of the township. The township, as at present constituted, embraces a territory four miles wide and eight miles long, in the northwest corner of the county. The Muskingum river divides it into two approximately equal parts. The river flowing northward constitutes the western boundary. Thence, with many a curve, it flows in a southeast direction through the centre of the township. Along most of its course on one side or both fertile alluvions extend back to considerable distance. There is, therefore, in this township an unusual area of river bottom land. No part of Ohio can show richer soil or finer farms. No township in the county disputes the supremacy of Waterford in agricultural 'resources. Her tax per capita is higher than that of any other township. Two large tributaries empty into the Muskingum within its boundary. Wolf creek, the two branches of which unite just outside the township line, empties from the west opposite Beverly. Olive Green creek flows from Morgan county, and empties into the Muskingum two miles above Beverly. Along the courses of these streams are narrow and fertile bottoms, The extensive level tract on the west side of the river, east of the village of Beverly, is known as "Federal Bottom ;" many things of interest are connected with its history, and are narrated further on. In the lower part of the township, on the east side of the river, is the extensive level tract known as "Round Bottom." It receives its name from its shape, the bow of the river being opposite to the bow of the range of hills. "Dana Farm."

The Plain

Further up is the From near the mouth of Olive Green creek a ridge extends in an easterly direction, familiarly called, by the early settlers, 'Tick Ridge," because of the unusual number of pestiferous wood-ticks. On the west side of the river the ridge, in the western part of the township, is commonly known as "Righteous Ridge," but contrary to what might be expected, it is said to have been so named because of the wickedness of a former class of settlers. THE PLAIN.

From Tuttle's run, above the ''Dana Farm," the narrow alluvion rises gradually to an extensive plain, already spoken of as the place of the first settlement. As has been explained, this tract was divided into small lots of ten or fifteen acres each. When the war closed, these lots had been cleared, and commanded the highest price. Many lot holders of "Plainfield" traded for lands in the other districts of settlement, and gradually these small portions were grouped together into large farms.

Joshua and William Sprague lived at the lower part of this tract for a short time. George Wilson had a cabin near the garrison which he afterwards sold to Ephraim Cutler, esq. Gilbert Devol owned the farm further down now owned by some of his descendents. Wanton Devol owned an adjoining farm. The Convers family, Captain William Gray, Captain Daniel Davis, George Wilson, William Wilson, and Nathan Kinney lived in this neighborhood. William Gray originally owned the sixty-eight acre lot, on which most of the town of Beverly now stands. It was transferred by him to Exphraim Cutter and by him, in turn to John Dodge in exchange for about six hundred acres on Federal creek, Athens county. 'Two stores were kept on the east side of the river at an early day. The first was opened by Ephraim Cutter, esq., who continued to do a general mercantile business till the Amestown colony was organized in 1799. This was probably the first store in the township. He was succeeded by a Mr. Allen. A Mr. Hart was in merchantile business in 1806, but on which side of the river is not remembered.

Work on the Muskingum river improvements, from 1837 to 1841, brought to the community a great many laborers, for whom houses and stores had to be provided. The want of a village had long been felt by a populous and wealthy community. But something out of the ordinary current of affairs was needed to draw capital into a business channel. The impetus was furnished by the Muskingum river improvements in two ways; first by attracting laborers; second, by furnishing means of transportation, and water power for mills and factories. John Dodge saw his opportunity and laid out a portion of his land in town lots. Aside from the advantages of water-power, the site for a town is very favorable. The river flows on three sides and affords excellent drainage.

The subject of this sketch was born at Hartford, Connecticut, August 15, 1796. While yet in youth, his father, Consider Bowen, removed to Pittsford, Vermont, and here George received the benefit of the earlier district school education and training. In 1818 he came to Ohio and stopped at Waterford, to visit his brothers, and was advised by Dr. Ebenezer Bowen, at that time in full practice, to study medicine. He was without money, but the services of efficient men were in demand to supply the schools. Too many of the schools of that period were taught by shabby pedagogues, of which class of individuals there was an overplus; but a young man of good training and strong character had no difficulty in getting a situation, although the wages wére not a great temptation. Mr. Bowen taught a school and studied medicine for a period and then attended medical lectures. He began practice in partnership with his brother, Ebenezer Bowen, during the sickly season of 1822-3. His success in treating fever during that distressing period gave him a deservedly high reputation for tact and skill as a physician, which he maintained during the whole of his long and useful life. He continued in partnership with his brother until the latter removed to Rochester, New York, in 1835. As long as he was able to attend to professional calls - until a few years before his death - Dr. Bowen was the favorite family physician and was counseled in all difficult or serious cases in the community. He was a man of unusual tact, being peculiarly happy in his ability to cheer the patient and encourage the family. In this particular his large soul and happy disposition werea positive professional benefit. His wife was Mary J. Wheeler, of Bridgeport, and his family consisted of three sons and two daughters, whose names and addresses are given in the body of this chapter.

Dr Bowen's political affiliations were with the Whig party in Whig days, but he became a Republican when that party was organized. His love of country and respect for the constitution moulded every act of his life. During the Rebellion he supported actively the cause of the Union, giving the weight of his influence to the raising of troops, and generously handing out his money for their snpport in the hour of suffering. He showed his faith in the cause of our armies and his confidence in their final triumph, by freely buying Government securities when half the north assisted the Confederacy, by hesitation and doubt.

Dr. Bowen was a man of strong religious convictions, although a member o no religious organization, He sought an intelligent knowledge of the Bible and Christian doctrine. Distinguished for his upright and honorable disposition, few have merited or received more fully the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens, and few have discharged the duties imposed upon them with greater fidelity. He was a business man of rare sagacity, but used his accumulated capital for the benefit of the community.. In later life he was an extensive lender of money, but his leniency in dealing with honest and industrious young men, is remembered with gratitude by many who have been the recipients of such favors. He was one of the founders of the First National bank of Beverly, and was for many years its president.

Dr. Bowen's personal appearance was commanding and dignified. He was thoroughly democratic in feeling, associating freely with the masses, attending all who desired his professional services, whether rich or poor, and whenever money was wanted for a needy charity he responded with a free hand. He never failed to meet a professional engagement, was methodical in his habits, and diligent in the performance of every duty. Dr. Bowen was widely known as a practitioner. Had he devoted himself less assiduously to practice and given more attention to writing, his fame might be wider- He devoted his life to the service of a community which recognized in him a personal friend. He died in Waterford, May 24, 1874.

The late Charles Bowen, of Waterford, was born in or nar Hartford, Connecticut, September 25, 1798. His parents were Consider and Sabra (Hosmer) Bowen. When the subject of our sketch was very young, the family removed to Pittsford, Vermont, and it was from that place that Charles Bowen emigrated to Ohio. He came out as a young man some time prior to 1820, with his brother, Ebenezer. The journey, as far as Rochester, New York, was made in a sleigh, from thence to the Allegheny by wagon, and from thence to Marietta by a flatboat or raft. The location at Waterford was influenced by the fact that an older brother, James, had already settled there. No sooner had Charles Bowen reached his destination than he began the exercise of that remarkable industry which made his career one of marked success. His employment was carding and fulling. He was first engaged with his brother James, at the old Creek mill, known as the Dodge mill. The brothers was being fitted up, Charles Bowen went to Sistersville and worked for a year or so fora Mr. Greer. The Federal bottom mill did not long occupy the attention of the brothers, but they returned to the mill at Waterford, on Wolf creek, which they conducted until 1831. They added saw-mill machinery, and carried on the business of making lumber in connection with the carding and cloth fulling. On coming to Waterford, Charles Bowen knew nothing of the trade upon which he entered, and relied at first upon the experience and skill of his brother James, who had learned the trade in Vermont. Charles, however, soon became familiar with the work, and, in addition, developed considerable general business ability.

In 1831 the Bowen brothers bought the store at Waterford, owned by Abigal Brooks, and some years previous by A. T. Nye, of Marietta. Charles Bowen gave his attention to this store until 1866, when he sold out to General H. F. Devol. The last fifteen years he conducted the business alone, having bought out his brothers in 1851. He increased the business to proportions, which, considering the small size of the place, were immense. The business consisted largely in the handling of produce and Mr. Bowen became so popular as a buyer, that he received the grain and pork from many farmers to whom Marietta, Zanesville, or other points would have been more convenient markets. His reputation for liberality and just dealing, and the fact that he always paid cash, gave him a great advantage, both in buying from the farmers throughout the country, and in purchasing goods from the New York merchants whom he went on to see regularly twice a year, as was the common custom. Mr. Bowen seemed to have a feeling against going into debt which was so strong that it amounted to an abhorence. He refused to avail himself of his credit which was as good as that of any man in Washington county, and invariably refused to make purchases unless able to pay cash for them. Beginning with absolutely nothing except his energy and industry, he accumulated a large fortune. Nearly the whole of it was made in his mercantile business. Mr. Bowen had few business interests outside of his store. He was, however, as long as he lived after its establishment, a director of the First National bank of Beverly. He had no taste for speculation, and upon the other hand evinced no disposition to hoard money. His interest in money and gain was only that of the conservative business man. He was liberal of his means toward worthy causes, and did much to advance the interests of the community in which he dwelt, and of the country around about. In early times when most of the improvements upon roads were made by personal donations, he probably did as much as any man in the county to keep them in good condition, and was a frequent and generous subscriber to funds for building bridges, etc. Although not a member of any church, he was a supporter of religious organizations all of his life, after he became able, and when he died he left bequests to the Methodist Episcopal church of Waterford, and the Presbyterian church of Beverly. He was aman of exemplary morals, and of blameless life. His integrity was of the strictest kind. With what may be called his business and moral characteristics were combined fine social qualities. He was very pleasant in intercourse with his fellow men; treated every one with kindly consideration, and was a warm friend. He was very widely known and everywhere liked for his sterling qualities and genial, cheery ways. Politically he was affiliated with the Whig and Republican parties. Mr. Bowen never married. He made his home with his brother, Dr. George Bowen, in the brick house in Waterford built in 1824, and latterly the home of General H. F. Devol and family. Mr. Bowen died suddenly, either from heart disease or apoplexy, April 7, 1874, in his seventy-sixth year.

There are in the village four churches, - Presbyterian, Methodist, Universalist, and Baptist; an academy, which has always enjoyed a good reputation; a variety of stores for all kinds of trade, and a variety of manufacturing establishments.

Incorporation And Officers

That so much of the township of Waterford in the county of Washington as is comprised within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the Beverly dam in the middle of the Muskingum river, thence down the river to the southwest corner of the parsonage residence of the Cumberland Presbyterian church (lot now owned by V. Adams), thence north to the northeast corner of the college lot on which the college building stands, thence northwest to the place of beginning; is hereby created a town corporate to be designated and known by the name of Beverly, and by that name shall be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, but all lands, town and out-lots within said boundary not numbered as town lots shall be exempt from taxation for incorporation purposes until the same be laid out and numbered as town lots.

An election was held for corporation officers March 7, 1845, which resulted in the choice of Samuel Anderson, mayor; Thomas Hodge, recorder; and John McCane, William McIntosh, Ellis Slater, Leroy B. Harwood, and Joseph Nickerson, council.

At a subsequent meeting of the council, ordinances of a general character were passed. A marshal was appointed and a tax of two mills on the dollar for corporation expenses levied. The town government was now fully organized.

Business Development

The first store of any considerable size was opened in 1837 by Colonel E. S. McIntosh, in the brick building on Canal street, now known as the "Danley hotel." Mr. McIntosh had built this house for the purpose the previous year. Mr. McIntosh disposed of his business to S. F. Seely, who held a large patronage till 1871, when he died.

Oliver Tucker began the hardware business in the large frame building on the corner of Fourth and Canal streets in 1855. The house had been built about five years before by Samuel McConnel and John Buck. In 1866 Lycurgus Tucker started a dry goods store in the other room of the building. The two stores were consolidated in 1869 and have since been owned and managed by Oliver Tucker. Both stores are stocked with goods varying in both price and quality. General produce is purchased. Mr. Tucker has for a number of years held the leading trade in the village.

In 1864 Richards & Brother opened a store on the corner-of Fifth and Canal streets. In 1868 it was purchased by J. A. Wood, who, in 1861, sold to C. M. Devol.

J. B. Bane opened the first shoe store in Beverly, about 1850, on the south corner of Fifth and Canal streets. D.C. Staley began business with him in 1865. Mr. Staley established a business of his own in 1872. He now has a neat and extensive store and a flattering trade. He also owns a store in Athens, and an interest in one in Boston.

C. R. Stull opened a large double store on Fourth street, in 1873. He deals in books, stationery and notions, also fire-clay, piping and casing.

Mills And Factories

The first mill in Waterford township (as the lines now run) was built at the first rapids on Wolf creek, on the neck of the peninsula, by Jonathan Devol. This mill had a good run of custom in seasons of high water, but in dry weather the water power was insufficient to run the machinery. At such times the whole neighborhood, for miles around, were dependent upon the Featherston mill, on the Muskingum, which is mentioned under the head of 'Federal Bottom." Jonathan Devol sold his mill to John Dodge, about 1814, and, in 1816, connected with it a carding machine, which he placed in charge of James Bowen. Bowen afterwards moved the machinery to the Featherston mill, down the river, where the business was carried on for several years.

The manufacture of cloth was a slow and tedious process. Machinery was used for carding alone. The spinning and weaving belonged to the women's list of duties.

Charles Bowen, after a few years, associated with his brother James in the business of wool manufacturing. Fulling the cloth, after it had been spun at home, became a part of the work of the factory.

The Muskingum improvements changed the location of the milling industry. The Lowell dam destroyed the water-power at Dana's Island, but made it applicable at Beverly.

E. S. McIntosh built the first grist-mill on the east side, below the Beverly dam, in 1843. This mill is now owned by Whissen & Worstell. } Its capacity is about seventy barrels a day.

In 1849 S. G. Hodge and Thomas Irwin leased from the State water-power, and built a woollen factory, known as the Beverly woollen mills. William McIntosh purchased this establishment in 1859. It was transferred by him to D. T. Brown, in 1863, and has been conducted by him since that time. Two improved sets of machinery were put in by Mr. Brown, who has engaged extensively in the manufacture of cassimeres, jeans, blankets and yarns. He also does a jobbing and retail trade, and custom work. In 1880 Mr. Brown connected with his factory a saw-mill. He manufactures wagon and carriage

In 1856 Dodge, Bane & Co. built a grist-mill on the island, between the canal and river, known as the Island mills. They are the largest in the township, having a capacity of about eighty barrelsa day. The property was purchased by Higens, Whissen & Co., in 1860. In 1862 Whissen, Green & Co. became the name of thefirm. In 1867 they connected with it a woollen factory, known as the Island factory, which cost twenty-two thousand dollars. The firm of E. Lindner & Co. purchased the entire establishment in 1876, and failed in 1878. Clark & Stull purchased the grist mill in 1880, from the receiver, C. R. Stull, for three thousand and fifty dollars. It originally cost sixteen thousand dollars. In May, 1880, W. H. Bush purchased the woollen factory for two thousand six hundred and sixty-sixdollars. The machinery in the woollen mill is of the best quality, enabling the proprietor to manufacture all kinds of woollen goods. The capacity of this establishment is about one hundred and forty yards per day.

The next mill was operated by H. C. Baldwin, and was called the Novelty mill. The machinery was afterwards sold, and the building is now used by Denny & Spooner as a saw-mill and grain cradle factory. The manufacture of grain cradles is made a specialty by this firm.

The saw-mill on Canal street, owned by A. Pomeroy, has been operated since 1856. Mr. Pomeroy has had connected with it a lumber yard, and during Beverly's years of prosperity, had a large trade.

It is to these mills and factories that Beverly has owed her prosperity in past years. Excellent water power, superior shipping faculties, and a productive farming territory attracted capital and trade. But the completion of an immense system of railroads has left Beverly behind with regard to shipping faculties, and not until an ample connecting link with the outside world is furnished will there begin a new era of prosperity.

Foundry And Machine Shop

The first foundry in Beverly was built by John Dodge in 1852, at the foot of Second street. It was operated and owned by Sidney and Patterson Dodge until 1857, when it was purchased by Mathew Patterson and W. F. Robertson. The manufacture of stoves and plows and general repairing was the class of work done by the Dodge brothers. In 1859 W. F. Robertson sold his interest to Dr. James Little. The firm name was Patterson & Little until 1863, when Dr. Little purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business until May, 1864, when the firm of W. F. Robertson & Co. was organized and rented the shops from Dr. Little for a period of five years. The members of this firm were W. F. Robertson, W. Preston, Benjamin McAtee, and Robert Clark - all trained mechanics except Mr. Robertson, who took charge of the business office. In 1868 the firm built the shop on Fourth street, and in January of the following year the new building was occupied. J. D. Lashley was made a meinber of the firm in 1872. In January, 1881, the firm purchased the property of the Marietta Lock works, at Harmar. They manufacture plows, cook and heating stoves, hollow ware, etc., and do general machine work.

Banking

By 1863 Beverly had become a flourishing village, and her business men felt the want of a banking institution. The matter was discussed, but no definite action was taken until the National banking act opened up the prospect of a profitable investment.

First National Bank

A meeting of citizens was called in Union hall, September 19, 1863, at which it was decided to establish a National bank, and books were opened for subscription of stock. At the same meeting the following named gentlemen were elected directors: George Bowen, P. O. Dodge, E. S. McIntosh, H. C. Fish, J. B. Bane, Charles Bowen, and C. M. Devol. Ata subsequent meeting of the directors Dr. George Bowen was elected president, and William McIntosh, cashier. The capital stock was at first seventy-five thousand dollars, which was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, and afterwards to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. George Bowen subsequently resigned the presidency, and William MclIntosh was elected to fill the vacancy. S. R. McIntosh became cashier. In 1871 E. S. McIntosh was elected president in place of William McIntosh, deceased, and C. W. Reynolds became cashier. In 1874 the bank went into liquidation.

In March, 1875, the Citizens' bank was organized. E. S. McIntosh was elected president, and C. W. Reynolds, cashier. This organization continues to the present time. Business has been conducted since the organization of the first bank in the same room, on the corner of Fifth and Ferry streets.

Post Office

Beverly post office was established in 1838, John Keyhoe, postmaster. It was kept in Reil Darfris' tavern, near the foot of Second street. It was afterwards moved to Fifth street. Mr. Keyhoe died in 1857, and was succeeded by his wife, and after her death by his son, Ephraim. J.C. Preston was in charge of the office from 1861 till 1877, when A. J. Spooner succeeded and remained in charge till December, 1880. S. G. Hough has been postmaster since that time.

Olive Green Colony

Olive Green creek, one of the principal streams of Morgan county, empties into the Muskingum about two miles above Beverly. For about one mile up from the Waterford curve, a bold hill of unusual height rises from the eastern bank, presenting to the river a fine cliff of sandstone, shale and limestone. From the summit of this hill a view of unusual beauty is obtained. Above this ridge the river flows through a rich bottom about two miles in length. The alluvial belt on the easf side is from a quarter toa half mile wide, and is divided into two almost equal parts by Olive Green creek. In this fertile bottom, which is all included in Olive Green allotment, Ezra Shermrn drew lot No. 1, Aaron DeLong, 2; Abel Sherman, 3; Nicholas Hoyt, 4; George Ewing, 5; Josiah Sherman, 6; Mathew Gallant, 7; John Coulter, 8.

These men were all heads of families. Abel Sherman built a block-house on DeLong's lot, and the other families built around it and the whole collection of houses was picketed in, thus forming a garrison. The inhabitants of this garrison numbered thirty souls, one of whom - Thomas Ewing - Ohio remembers as one of her greatest men.

The Sherman family is particularly interesting on account of the melancholy fate of the head of the family. An account of the murder of Abel Sherman will be found in the General Indian History, in this volume. About 1789 the Sherman family, consisting of Abel Sherman and wife, two sons - Ezra and Josiah - and one small daughter, Amy (since Mrs. Samuel Beach), removed from Connecticut to Short Creek, Virginia. At a later period, probably about 1793, they came to Waterford and remained in Fort Frye until the next spring, when the Olive Green colony was organized and Sherman station established. The murder of Mr. Sherman occurred August 14, 1794, near a small stream one mile above Beverly, which to this day bears the name of "Dead Man's Run." The body was first buried on his own land, then on his son's - the lot now owned by John Nulton. In 1877, Joseph and Jackson Beach, grandsons, removed the remains to the cemetery at Waterford. The lower jaw-bone was found in a perfect state of preservation. The teeth are all sound and clear. A peculiarity of the skull, too, seems to confirm a tradition of the death of 'Silver Heels," a noted Indian warrior, who after the peace lived neara ripple inthe Muskingum called "Silver Heels' ripple." About four years after peace with the Indians Silver Heels chanced to visit one of the salt furnaces in Muskingum county, and while there imbibed freely of the whiskey offered him. He soon lost his discretion and began to boast of the great things he had done during the war. He had taken seyenteen scalps. One was of a man, he said, who had two crowns on his head. He had shot him in the evening below the mouth of Olive Green creek. He made two scalps by carefully dividing it, and received fifty dollars for each. He further related that the man was gathering May apples and had the bosom of his shirt full of them at the time. He described the gun which had been set against a tree while engaged in picking fruit, as a musket with iron bands around it. He said he had placed it in a hollow log a few rods up the creek.

The story corresponded so well with the known facts of the tragedy that a son of Mr. Sherman, who happened to be present, was induced to make search for the gun, which he found near the spot where he had four years before found the dead body of his father. Silver Heels was found a few days after this night's revel lying in a by-path in the woods, pierced by a rifle bullet.

Most of the families of Sherman station, after the country was cleared and became quiet, sought homes elsewhere. The fertile bottom which they cleared has always been preferred land, and is now in a well improved condition.

Round Bottom

The settlement of "Round Bottom" began early in 1795. Some of the heavy timber had been cut before that time, but property owners were not willing to risk the dangers of a residence so far away from the garrison before permanent peace with the enemy was established. Some of the most worthy of the settlers improved farms on this extensive alluvian - Samuel Cushing, Allen Devol, David Wilson, Benjamin Shaw, Andrew Story, and ata later period Samuel Beach. Boylston Shaw next came into possession of the Shaw farm. It is now owned by William Shaw.

A cemetery was laid out at an early period on the Cushing farm, which has since borne the name of "Round Bottom cemetery." A school-house was also built at an early period of the settlement. The bottom proper is an exclusively agricultural district, and in fertility of soil is equal to any part of the township or county. The farm residences are nearly all large and in good repair, showing a healthy condition of worldly prosperity.

Coal Run

At the lower end of Round Bottom is situated the thriving little village of Coal Run. It sprang into existence upon the completion of the Muskingum improvements, and until the building of the Duck Creek railroad was one of the best shipping points on the river. The produce of the eastern part of Morgan and southern part of Noble was marketed here. This trade made a village which coal mines continue to support.

The first store was opened in 1837 by Elijah Stephens, in a log building which stood on the Marietta & Beverly road. Successive merchants after him were Andrew Oliphant, W. R. Sprague, and Wilson & Brown. At present there are two general stores and one drug store. The Rose Brothers began business in 1878, and have since been favored with a large patronage.

George Hughes was the pioneer wheat merchant at this point. Silas Thurlow followed him in the business, and in 1857 Alonzo Hall engaged in the trade and continued twenty years. He has probably handled more grain than any one man between Marietta and Mc- Connellsville. J. C. Farnsworth and Rose Brothers are now engaged in the trade.

Samuel Beach built a distillery in the neighborhood, and operated it by horse power for a number of years. In 1831 he purchased steam fixtures and connected with ita mill. This was the first mill on Round Bottom, and the first steam mill in the township. He sold both distillery and mill in 1837.

Coal Mines

The most valuable feature in the economic geology of Waterford township is in the heavy seam of coal, cropping out at the foot of the hill just back of the village. This seam is about four feet thick. The coal is of fine quality and easily mined.

The seminary bank, now operated by the same company, is situated in Adams township on land owned by Beverly college. It was opened by J. N. Henry and I. R. Rose in 1876. This bank gives regular employment to fifteen or twenty men.

In 1874 an unsuccessful attempt was made to opena coal mine on the Dana farm. Good coal was found, but the expense of operating was too great to justify the continuance of the mine.

The geology of the region around Coal Run may be worthy of attention. The upper rock stratum is heavy white sand, selected portions of which would be fine enough for glass making. Other portions might be profitably used for hearthstones for furnaces. There isa seam of coal lying under this sandrock, but it is too thin for profitable mining. There is also a stratum of limestone which is of proper quality for making excellent cement.

In 1852 the growing village felt the need of a church; money was raised by subscription among all classes of citizens, anda neat frame house, called the Union church, was built. It was intended for the use of all denominations, but the church-going people were nearly all Disciples and Methodists, so that its use was confined to those two denominations. " The old adage "that two families cannot live in the same house" is, perhaps, also true of churches. In 1858 the Methodist congregation, which, through the labors of Rev. George Willis, had perfected its organization the year previous, decided to build a house for its own use. The Methodist congregation has had the services of a regular pastor since the date of organization. A list of ministers will be found in connection with the Beverly church, with which Coal Run has been connected since 1858. The most prominent of the first members were Silas Thurlow and wife, John Flag, Martha Thurlow, Elijah Sprague, Lewis Pyle, Thomas Hilton and wife, Ann P. Wilson, Mrs. Henry, Erastus Eddy and wife, and John Sprague and wife.

The Disciple church was organized in 1852, and was for many years a flourishing congregation. Of late years, _ however, its strength has declined. Its ecclesiastical connections have always been with Adams township, where the reader is referred for a list of ministers. Services are now held only occasionally.

Grange

Adams Grange No. 260 was instituted at Coal Run December 23, 1873. The charter members were W. A. Devol, Joseph S. Sprague, W. W. Mason, Miles Humiston, H. O. W. Ross, Sylvester Mason, J. W. Frye, Philip Trapp, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Devol, and Mrs. Sprague. This society is yet in a healthy condition. Meetings are held in the room over Rose Brothers' store.

Coal Run post office was established in 1839, with Hiram Beach in charge. Successive postmasters since have been J. D. Beach, Benjamin Wilson, Jeremiah Wilson, Alonzo Hall, James Morrison, F. M. Hilton, Josiah Johnston, and Manning Rose.

The first physician established at Coal Run was William Henry, who opened an office in 1879, and remained in the community one year. He is now located at Lowell.

The Dana Farm

The large estate, lying within the bow of the river, below Tuttle's run, containing more than fourteen hundred acres of excellent bottom and plain land, was accumulated by a single individual - Benjamin Dana. The Dana family are descended from a French Huguenot family, which left France in 1629 and settled in England. Richard Dana was born in England in about 1640. He emigrated to America and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he married Ann Bullard. From them all the Danas in this county are descended. Benjamin, third son of Richard Dana, was born in Cambridge in 1660; he married Jane Buckminster. Isaac, third son of Benjamin, was born in 1698, and lived in Pomfret, Connecticut, where he married Sarah Winchester. His son, John Winchester Dana, married Hannah Pope Putnam, daughter of General Israel Putnam. We now come to the generations in whom we have a local interest. Benjamin Dana, third son of John Winchester, was born in Pomfret, Vermont in 1770, where he received a farmer's training. He came to Ohio in 1794 and engaged to clear four acres of heavy timber in Wiseman's bottom for his cousin, Israel Putnam, for which he received a yoke of oxen. In 1796 he purchased two lots (one hundred acres each) from Charles Mills, opposite the island now known as Dana's island. The whole reach of fertile bottom was then a dense forest of heavy timber, mostly sugar. Mr. Dana built a cabin near the centre of his farm, and continued to add lot after lot on all sides, until he owned thirteen hundred acres of land, equal in quality to any land in the county. In 1818 he erected the farm house which is still standing.

Mr. Dana was at that time perhaps the most energetic and progressive farmer along the Muskingum. He made the most of all the resources of his land. Sugar making was an industry in which he engaged very extensively. Improved methods of refining were adopted and the productions of his camp found a ready market.

Mr. Dana was the pioneer shepherd of the Muskingum valley. He stocked his farm with sheep at an early period, and was largely instrumental in securing to the early settlers of the county a market for their wool. One other fact bearing on his farming economy is worthy of tory of its leading men. Mr. Dana was cool in temperament and decided in his opinions, which were the product of mature deliberation. In religion he held strongly to the school of Free Thinkers, and it was not until after he had spent several months in New England visiting the pious Deacon Fitch Pool, at Danvers, Massachusetts, that he was convinced of the truth of Christian doctrine. During the latter years of his life he was an orthodox believer.

In 1801 Mr. Dana was married to Sallie Shaw, daughter of Benjamin Shaw, one or the forty-eight who came to Marietta in April, 1788. A family of six daughters and one son was the result of this union, viz: Mary, wife of Benjamin Putnam; Eliza, wife of Henry Fearing; Eunice, died single; Charlotte, wife of Dr. Joseph Allen; Hannah, wife of Joseph Chambers; Caroline, wife of D. Edward Dawes; and John Winchester Dana, into whose possession the farm came after the death of his father, July 22, 1838. Mrs. Dana died August 22, 1842. All the members of this old family are now dead. John Winchester, the only son, married Catharine 'Devol, by whom he had two children: Marietta, wife of J. H. Hubbell, and Caroline, both living in Boston. They own the estate, which is probably the finest in Washington county.

There were squatters on the bottom at a very early day, but among the first land-holding settlers was James Convers, in whose name lot number six was drawn. He had a little grocery near the run at the upper end of the bottom, probably for the accommodation of the settlers going over to the floating mill. He afterward went down on the Mississippi. The distillery mentioned further along probably had the same line of customers. The seasons being a week or two earlier, and the bottoms more ample on the left bank, determined the earliest settlers to that side of the river.

Early in his career Benjamin Dana was undecided on which side to settle. He had a small clearing made and an orchard of grafted trees (probably obtained from General Putnam's nursery at Marietta) planted on the right bank of the river, a short distance above the bend. A two-story log house was built about one fifth of a_mile above the bend, and sometime between 1800 and 1802 it was occupied by Stephen Devol and his mother. In 1802 Theophilus H. Powers, of New Canaan, Fairfield county, Connecticut, came out and settled at a point somewhat further up the river. But he soon came down to the bottom, married a sister of Stephen Devol, and built a log house, with a cellar under it, close to the river, about one hundred and fifty yards below Still brook. He and his wife soon separated, and she eloped with a man named McAtee.

Still brook (now known as Hanford's run) derived its name from the circumstance that a distillery was built on its banks at a very early day by some person unknown. It did not remain long; it was destroyed by a cloudburst which was so heavy that cattle were swept by it down into the river; not a timber of the structure was left on the foundations.

Another incident of very early times was the death of Gideon Devol, November 21, 1795. He had been out gunning, and wandered about until be became hungry and exhausted, when, on his return home, he sat down at the foot of an immense sycamore in the sugar-camp, about a half mile above the mouth of Congress run, and froze to death.

In 1805 Andres Powers followed his brother to Ohio. The two seemed to have bought together the upper third of the bottom; and November 20, 1805, Andres bought of Benjamin Dana the lower portion, two hundred and thirty-five acres, for one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars. The brothers now owned the entire bottom. Their neighbor on the east was Cushing Shaw, on the south, ''lands unknown."

Andres settled first in a log house at the mouth of Still brook. He lived here a year or so, then moved down into the house occupied by Stephen Devot and his mother, who moved down the river about Lowell, I believe. In this house William H. Powers was born in 1807. After this time Stephen Devol returned, married Betsy Gray, a daughter of Captain William Gray, and took up his abode in the house at the mouth of Still brook. A few months after her second child was born she was crossing the river with the babe in her arms in a canoe propelled by her brother, William Gray. He being unskilful drove the canoe on a snag within three rods of the shore, and Mrs. Devol and the babe were thrown out and drowned. Gray sank to the bottom and crawled ashore. The body was not recovered for some days, when Theophilus Powers, standing in the mill, chanced to see it go over the dam. This was April 11, 1811.

For his second wife he married, in 1815, a daughter of Deacon David Wilson. In 1812 he bought of Theophilus Powers, for four hundred dollars, twenty acres of land, on which stood the two-story house. After several removes Andres Powers finally built a plank house on the brow of the second plateau, a little below the bend, with a cellar under it, and provided with the first well on the bottom.

The orchard mentioned above was just coming into bearing in 1805. It yielded a large amount of fruit. A good deal was shipped to Zanesville in canoes and pirogues, where it frequently sold as high as fifty cents for a dozen apples. One early Chandler tree finally attained the remarkable height of sixty feet and upward, and some of the yellow russets had a diameter of over two feet. Having grown with great rapidity in the rich virgin soil, it decayed with corresponding rapidity, and the remaining trees, being nearly useless, were cut down about 1860.

was to have two crops from it. little above the bend. About 1812 Andrew McClure took, on similar terms, another lot, two hundred yards above the mouth of Congress run, on which he also built a log house. Andrew had been a scout in the Indian war, and was somewhat unsteady and inclined to drink too much. He married Polly Devol, sister of Gideon. She was a notable housekeeper and an exemplary woman. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, a useful member of society, and reared seven children, most of whom turned out well.

Phineas Palmer is mentioned in Andres Powers's account-book as early as 1811. He built a log house on the plain about 1814. He made shoes for the settlers, of buckskin and rawhide, and took his pay in corn, potatoes, and whiskey.

The pioneers had little variety in their bill of fare except what they procured with the gun. The deer frequently came in and ate their pumpkins all hollow for the sake of the seeds Theophilus Powers used to shoot them from his door. Wild turkey abounded; when scared from the corn-field they would run out of it ina long string, single file. Taking advantage of this habit, Theophilus once killed seven at one shot. For weeks together ttiere would be no bread on the table but 'Johnny Constant," as the Virginians called it. It was baked in a thin cake on a board set slanting on a block before the fire. The blackened board and block were a staple article of household furniture, being generally seen lying in the corner of the huge fireplace. One Pliny Danielson, who came to learn the cooper's trade of Andres Powers, after being on a straight Johnny-cake regimen for several weeks, on coming in one day and seeing the corn-cake going to the table, stopped short and pulled a doleful face as he exclaimed: 'I wish the man who invented Johnny-cake had died in his infancy!"

There was a floating mill on the other side of the river, opposite the upper end of the bottom, which was run in connection with the post, and owned by Truman Peet and Asa Davis. They afterwards sold it to James Mann. It had a wide run of custom, even from this side of the river. But the inconvenience in crossing was considerable, and the back country on this side was now filling up with settlers as early as 1810.

Andres Powers threw a dam diagonally nearly across the river at the head of Dana's island, and built a gristand saw-mill at the mouth of Congress run. The people came to this mill from places twenty-five or thirty miles distant, long lines of pack-horses wending their way through the forest. The grinding went so slowly, that the men sometimes had to wait for their grists several days, subsisting the while on raw wheat, pawpaws, apples and nuts. Methodists coming to the mill, were frequently entertained while waiting by Stephen Devol.

My father remembers that the children from the other side crossed the river to school a whole three months' term on the ice. Another winter, when the ice broke up, partly demolished Benjamin Knott's house, and bent numbers of the young apple trees down stream - a position which some of them still retained when two feet in diameter. The first school on the bottom was probably taught by Reuben Culver, in the little log house at the mouth of Still brook. An old school-bill for 1818 shows the following number of scholars: A. Powers, eight; T. H. Powers, three; S. Devol, three; T. Featherston, two; P. Palmer, two; William Crawford, one. The teacher got ten dollars a month. All the sons of Andres were like him in character, - quiet, hard-working, God-fearing - except Stephen. He loved his gun, and loved the girls - a jolly soul, and when a boy, he was sometimes set to plowing corn with an old man named Lyons, who kept him at it early and late. In passing a stump, he would slip down off the horse on the stump, and take to his heels, the old man in hot pursuit.

Among the early inhabitants of the bottom was the widow Bolls. During the Indian. war she was in the fort on the other side of the river. Going out for some green corn one day, in company with her father and younger sister - both girls then - they fell into an Indian ambuscade, the father was killed, and the girls captured. After a march of some days the Indians halted and went out foraging, leaving the girls in charge of an old Indian. The Indian fell asleep, whereupon the elder of the girls dispatched him with an axe, and they escaped, and after a fatiguing and perilous journey of several days they arrived at the fort.

Theophilus Powers, was a noted politician, a keen observer, a great reader of the Bible, and a heated controversialist, always defending Calvin in religion (notwithstanding his loose practice), and the Federalists, in politics. During the War of 1812 political discussion waxed hot. There were some noted Democrats at Waterford - Captain James Leget, Robert Leget and John Patterson among them - and Theophilus would frequently stay up there until long after midnight, waging a wordy battle with them and others. His delight knew no bounds when he could worst them, which he generally did, for he was a man of large information. His prominence and the number of other Federalists on the bottom procured for it its present name. Congress run was named by the surveyors.

Keel-boating was much followed in these early days. About 1815 two men named Pedingale and Dutton, built and launched one a little below the bend, named her the Dutton, freighted her with hoop-poles, and ran them down to the Kanawha salt-works. The keel-boats were constructed much after the fashion of a canal-boat nowadays, handsomely trimmed and painted, and having a '"'race-board" on each side for the crew to walk on in pushing. These race-boards were supported by rows of "knees," which were pieces of timber sawn or hewn from a stump, forming right angles. They were firmly pinned to the sides of the craft, and afforded a strong basis not only for the crew, but also for barrels and other heavy freight to be tumbled about on. The regular crew was six men and a captain. On the ponds all the crew set their poles at once; but in ascending ripples,|they had to 'break hands," as it was termed. The captain (always at the helm) would cry out 'Up at the head!" when the two nearest the bow would go forward and set. Then he would cry out again "Seconds, two!" when the two next would goup. Then "Up behind!" when the two nearest the stern would go up and set. In this way there would always be at least two poles set, so that the boat could not get the advantage of them. 'They were sometimes half a day in foraging up in this laborious way by Dana's island. Sometimes they would come up on this side, when they would probably fall foul of Andres Powers' dam, and then would ensue much cursing, and they would get out and rip up the dam. This caused considerable trouble, but still the dam was maintained.

Andres was not a miller (he was a cooper by trade), so he did not make head with his mills. He left his farm to be carried on by his boys, and they did, as boys will, and he became involved in debt. May 15, 1817, he sold the two mills and thirty acres of land adjoining to Thomas Featherston for four hundred and {ifty dollars. John Featherston, a son of Thomas, and subsequently Abner Fish, a son-in-law, were the principal millers. From about 1816 Andrew McClure attended the saw-mill, what little work it did.

the bottom. He held meetings in his little house by the mill, and many hearers were gathered, some of whom were greatly moved. He sang, shouted, and prayed; some of them were seized with "the power;' women laid off their bonnets and shawls that they might not injure them when pirouetting about over the benches. Bill Cooey, a notorious counterfeiter and thorough-paced rascal, shouted loudest of all; but the sound of his shouting was not orthodox, he "could not get the hang of it," and the brethren received him not. The meetings were subsequently adjourned to the little log schoolhouse which was built a few rods up the river. It was here the writer first went to school, and sat on backless slab benches through which the wooden legs protruded in an inconvenient fashion.

A very different character was Isaac Childs - Old Daddy Childs' - a Revolutionary soldier, who strayed on to the bottom about 1819. He was a queer old cock; would eat only two meals a day; fond of his grog; fond of a good horse; delighted to boast of the soldier days when he lived on quarter rations. Still he contrived to do a good deal of work for Andres Powers. He cleared a patch at the first fork of Congress run, stig known as Childs' place, where he built a log hut and "took up" with a strolling woman. To make him a suit of clothing she would lay him down on the fluor, on the cloth, and cut it out by his figure. They had two children, but their paternity was involved in obscurity. Finally the neighbors interfered and had them married in due form.

As early as June 27, 1814, Andres Powers had a carding machine in the garret of his mill, and it was managed by one Samuel Andrews, who carded wool at ten cents a pound. It did not continue many years in operation.

it and put up a carding- and fulling-mill. The saw-mill stood close to the shore, the fulling-mill next beyond, and the grist-mill quite out over the water. The three were propelled by two long undershot wheels. James subsequently erected much the best dwelling which had yet appeared on the bottom. Mrs. Bowen was an excellent woman; and the genial, liberal hospitality of herself and husband, together with the hearty manner in which they entered into the celebration of the holidays, etc., rendered their house the delight of children.

In 1825, worn out with his many and arduous labors, Andres Powers went to his premature death. He was a simple, sincere Christian; one of those plain, strong men who are builders of the States. Deborah, his wife, was a worthy helpmate to him, a genuine type of the Puritan wife and mother. She ruled her house in the strictest fashion; she never would allow but one cooked meal to be eaten on the Sabbath, that was breakfast; the remaining meals must be bread and milk lunch. When she came to live with us my mother never ventured to transgress this tradition of the house; and even when my wife ascended the throne, long after grandmother had gone to her grave, although she gradually introduced a cooked dinner, she never dared wholly to break over this family usage; and to this day the pitcher of milk standing on the table at our Sunday dinner bears silent but eloquent testimony to the strong will and the rigorous creed of this revered mother in Israel.

A little hamlet grew up about the mills. Benjamin Knott had built a log house at the mouth of the run about 1807. Featherston's house was close to the mill. William Wilson, a chair-maker (about 1829), David Mc- Neal, a blacksmith (about 1833), John Ormiston, a wagonmaker (about 1839), established their trades here. As yet Beverly had not even a beginning. Featherston had sold a part or the whole of the grist-mill to Abner Fish and Robert' Leget (two sons-in-law), and in 1833 Daniel Gage bought it of them for eight hundred dollars, and thirty acres of land from Featherston for two hundred dollars.

In 1828 Stephen Devol sold to the trustees of the Methodist church, for one dollar, a lot near the river, on which, largely through his efforts, a church was erected. During quarterly meetings forty guests would sometimes be quartered on his hospitality. His excellent wife labored unceasingly to provide for them. The church was built close to the land of Theophilus Powers, who chose to consider it an affront; and he assailed it in eccentric ways, with profane and bitter hostility, boasting to his dying day that he never had entered it.

Daniel Gage and his large family of daughters were of the more genial New England type - genuine money-loving Yankees, but fond of gaiety, and several of them artistically and poetically gifted. The arrival of so many blooming girls in a new country was very refreshing to the young men, and they straightway laid siege to them. They furnished an even half-dozen of the best wives and housekeepers in the whole country-side.

day. In keeping an account with him Andres Powers makes this quaint entry in his book: 'August 3d. Commenced pasturing oxen at one-half gallon of whiskey per week." Jacob Proctor, a pioneer schoolmaster, is charged with a barrel of whiskey at eight dollars. Andres and an ex-clergyman named Shattuck, or Chadwick, laid the foundation for a distillery on the plain, but abandoned the enterprise. Notes of hand in those days often read, "to be paid in wheat, rye, corn, beef, pork, whiskey, or neat stock."

The dead were at first buried at the upper end of the bottom, but a cemetery was afterward established on the high ground back of the mound, and the dead were removed to it.

The completion of slack-water navigation rendered the dam and the mills useless, and the hamlet gradually went down. Daniel Gage received from the State nine hundred and fifty dollars as compensation, and James Bowen, one thousand dollars.

The Peninsula

The only building on the "Peninsula" during the Indian war was the block-house occupied by Major Dean 'Tyler. At the close of the war these lots, like those on the "plain," were grouped together in small farms. One lot had been set aside for a cemetery, and is still used for that purpose.

John Patterson, after the War of 1812, opened a tavern at the ferry. For a long time his was the only house of entertainment in the neighborhood.

Jonathan Devol built a mill on the rapids of Wolf creek, which he afterwards sold to John Dodge, who connected with it a carding machine and fulling apparatus, under the management of James Brown.

It appears from deeds and transfers that the greater part of the peninsula farms was at one time owned by Dr. Seth Baker. Jonathan Sprague, Thomas Featherston, and Dr. Pardee, owned individual lots. Rotheus Hayward afterwards purchased the lower part and Joseph Chambers the upper part.

Waterford has always been a good trading station. Joseph Chambers was probably the pioneer in business at this point. He opened a general store on the Watertown road before 1814, and continued in trade until the year 1839.

Ichabod Nye established a store on the opposite side of the street in 1817. A. T. Nye took charge of this establishment in 1819, and continued in business till 1828, when Abijah Brooks bought him out. About 1833, Charles Bowen began merchandising on this corner, and may be said to have built up the large concern now owned and managed by H. F. Devol. General Devol purchased this establishment from Mr. Bowen in 1866, since which time he has been engaged in general produce and mercantile trade.

Other Settlements

Captain William Burnham was one of the first to make an improvement on the ridge on the west side of the river. Reuben Culver was the pioneer on the ridge south of Waterford village.

Thomas Seely made the first improvement on the ridge on the east side of the river. During the Indian troubles he lived in the garrison at Marietta. In 1795 he removed to "Tick Ridge," where he lived until his death, in 1829. He wasa native of Stanford, Connecticut, and was one of a family of twenty children. His wife, whose maiden name was Holcraft, also had nineteen brothers and sisters. Other early settlers of this ridge were Benjamin McAtee, Oliver Shoot, Peter Keath, Mr. Gibbs, Peter Sachel, Jesse Davis, Abram Stevens, and Elias Boudinot. E. S. McIntosh carried on merchandising near the county line from 1823 to 1835. He also had at his store a post office called "Ludlow," from 1827 to 1835. He then moved down the river below the mouth of Olive Green, where he had a post office called "McIntosh," for about eighteen months.

"Tuke Chute" is the name of a post office, and also of a trading-post, on the Muskingum river, on the western border of the township. A. Nickerson has for a number of years had a store at that point, and was in 1880 commissioned postmaster. The tradition for the origin of this name is that during the early settlement a father and his young hopeful son, whose name was Luke, were out hunting. The boy, of course, had the gun. Ina deep thicket both were startled to see a bear walking upright towards them. Luke took steady aim but hesitated to fire. The father trembled for a moment and then screamed in impatient fright: "Luke shoot or give up the gun." Luke shot and the bear dropped dead.

The cemetery on the hill west of the site of the old Wolf Creek mills is one of the oldest in the township. It is known as the "White burying-ground." It was laid out and first used by the Haffield White family.

The soil on the ridges of this township produces fair crops but is inferior to the river alluvions. The population is rather sparse and the farms are large.

Leaf From An Account Book

The index of E. Cutter's ledger, which was opened at Waterford in 1795, and closed in 1800, gives an aproximately accurate list of persons who traded at this point during that period. Then as now all the neighboring settlements made this a centre of trade, it is therefore probable that many whose names are given lived without the present limits of the township; we know some of them did. Attention is called to the peculiar arrangement of names, The fact that they stand in alphabetical order with reference to the first name, seems to indicate that people were known more by their Christian than their family name. The index is as follows: Andrew Webster, Abraham Stevens, Abigail Dye, Andrew Story, Andrew McClure, Asa Coburn, Amos Harvey, Aaron Delorg,

An outline of the Devol family is given at another place in this history, but our subject was so widely and favorably known and characterized by so many interesting eccentricities, that a fuller sketch is demanded.

Stephen Devol, jr., was born at Tiverton, Rhode Island, March 2, 1786. He came to Ohio with the family and was seventeen years old at time of the death of his father. His educational facilities were necessarily very limited, but he became inured to hard, patient labor, and until the beginning of the sickness which terminated his life, Mr. Devol rarely sought rest. He married for his first wife Betsy Gray, December 5, 1808. She was a daughter of Captain William Gray, of the Waterford garrison. Two children were the fruit of this marriage - Tillinghast, the oldest, born 1809, followed flat-boating and steamboating and acquired considerable money. He died at St. Louis. While Hiram, the second child, was yet a. babe, Mr. Devol was bereaved of both wife and child. April 10, 1811 was muster-day, and Mrs. Devol desired to cross the river to witness the drill of the militia company of which her husband was a member. While crossing, the skiff which was in charge of her little brother Willie Gray, became unmanageable and upset near the shore. Mrs. Devol and her child were drowned; her brother escaped by crawling to the shore on the bottom of the river, and she was born in Connecticut, June 23, 1795. By her first husband, Mathew Buell, she had three children - William, Louisa and Helen, the last of whom married James Sheldon, and resides in Zanesville. By this marriage Mr. Devol had five children, viz: Theodore, born February 28, 1820; Hiram, born February 7, 1824, died September 6, 1829; Emily (Hayward), born September 1827; Hiram F., born August 6, 1841; Betsy (McCaddon), born January 12, 1835, and Louisa (Shaw), December 29, 1836.

Mr. Devol's industry has already been spoken of. He owned about fifty acres of land on Federal bottom, which was in an excellent state of cultivation and produced remarkable crops. He was methodical in his agriculture as in other things, 'doing all his work with regularity and according to system.

One of his most interesting characteristics was his hospitality. Early in life he joined the Methodist church, and from that time on his house was made the stopping place of preachers and members. During the early days of Methodism in this county, churches were supplied entirely by circuit preachers, "who had no home but the back of a horse." They visited each preaching place periodically, and the membership being widely scattered people came great distances to church. The quarterly meeting services were particularly well attended. The meeting-house stood on one corner of Mr. Devol's farm, and his doors were always open to all who came. Circuit preachers, local preachers, and laymen with their families, made themselves at home at his house, but not always at the farm, for the even temper of the boys was not dence. But Methodists were not the only class who were benefitted by his hospitality. Farmers who came to the Featherston mill and waited for their grists also found comfortable entertainment here. The Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Devol was a member, were sometimes given a banquet.

munity was built and service mainly supported by him. He was unable to pray or speak in public, but performed his part of the service by leading the singing. His usual seat was at the side of the pulpit, and no service could proeeed until he had concluded two or three songs. Mr. Devol's inability to speak or pray was probably owing to his naturally retiring disposition, although he sometimes made feeble efforts.

With all his peculiarities Mr. Devol was a good neighbor, a good Christian, and a good man. He was crippled by disease late in life and compelled to resign his labors, which had been performed as regularly as clock-work all his life.

Mrs. Devol was a woman well fitted for the trying duties of her position. Always cheerful, always kind, a murmur or complaint rarely escaped her lips. She was

Mr. and Mrs. Devol spent the last years of their life at the house of their daughter, Mrs. Hayward. They lived to see their children all comfortably situated in life, and the burdens of invalid old age were lightened by the sympathetic care of an affectionate daughter.

Allen Devol, Aden Waterman, Benjamin Beadle, Benjamin Carter, Benjamin Shaw, Benjamin Dana, Benjamin Rogers, Charles H. Martin, Charles Williams, Charles Coleman, Conrad Sherman, Captain Daniel Davis, Dean Tyler, Daniel Convers, David Wilson, Daniel Walsworth, David Stephens, Daniel McCulloch, David Randal, Daniel Davis, jr., Eben Cony, Ezra Sherman, Eben Sproat (lived at Marietta); Francis Pearce, George Wilson, Gilbert Devol, esq., George Ewing, Hezekiah Davis, Major Haffield White, Ensign John White, Jesse Gibbs, Joseph Pierce, Joseph Parker, vers, Joseph Frye, Jonas Ward, Jonathan Devol, Joshua Sprague, James Mann, Colonel Joseph Thompson, John Brown, James Vaughn, John Green, John Leget, Jesse Brown, Levi Allen, Matthew Gallant, Moses Davis, Nathan Hinkley, Nehemiah Sprague, Nicholas Hoyt, Nathan Kinny, Nathan Abbot, Nicholas Coburn, Phinehas Coburn, Peter Shaw, Peter Van Cliep, Peter Noblaise, Richard Woith, Robert Oliver, Simon Nott, Sylvanus Olney, Samuel Cushing, Simon Convers, Samuel Sprague, Samuel Baker, Samuel Baker, jr.. Timothy Boothby, Titan Kimble, Thomas Seely, William Davis, William Whitten, William Gray, Wilbur Sprague, William Smith, Captain William Burnhans, Wanton Devol, William Wilson, William Sprague.

Religious Societies

The Waterford settlers had a deep regard for religion and the Sabbath. The Ohio company had provided for regular preaching, but the state of the country prevented the perfect working of the system. Dr. Story, during the whole period of the war, occasionally came up from Marietta, by water, and attended by guards and scouts. These visits were highly appreciated by the settlers, who nearly all attended the services. Major Dean Tyler, who was a deeply religious man and fine scholar, regularly held service in his block-house, except on the Sabbaths when Dr. Story was present. The settlers united in the songs, and the venerable major read a sermon from the works of one of the old standard divines. In this way, while the settlement was fo: che most part without a preacher, they had the benefits of preaching and the privilege of participating in religious worship.

First Presbyterian Church Of Beverly

In 1795 the country rapidly filled up, churches being organized and society rapidly improving. Between this time and 1804 the Presbyterian church of Waterford was organized, and in September of that year Rev. Jacob Lindley was installed pastor. The services, which were very impressive, were held in a meadow. Many people came fifteen or twenty miles. A few years later a church was built on the east bank of the Muskingum, at the lower edge of the town of Beveily. It was built on the general plan of country churches of that day, being two stories high, with spacious galleries. The pews were rented, and several wealthy members rented several of them, which they generously gave up to those who had none. Many years afterward it was remodelled after a modern fashion. It was finally abandoned, and the present commodious brick edifice, in the centre of the town, was occupied.

The church remained Presbyterian, as organized, until 1833. Rev. Jacob Lindley had become president of the Ohio university, at Athens, and had changed his church relation and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The pastors, up to this time, were Revs. Jacob Lindley, Chadwick, Boise, and John Pitkin. In December, 1832, Mr. Lindley, in company with Revs. Sparks, Donald, and John Morgan, came to Beverly and held a protracted meeting, resulting in a great revival and many conversions and additions to the church, As another result of this memorable occasion, on the first Sabbath of January, 1833, by a unanimous vote of the congregation they became the First Cumberland Presbyterian church of Beverly, and continued as such until April, 1878, when they were received into the Presbytery of Athens, and are now known as the First Presbyterian church of Beverly. During their connection with the Cumberland Presbyterian body the pastors were Revs. Lindley, McCollum, Barclay, Martin, Thomas, Moore, Brice, and Tenny. In June, 1878, the Rev. W. M. Grimes was chosen pastor, and entered upon his labors the first Sabbath of August, and is faithfully laboring to build up and increase the influence of the church.

In the earlier years of this church the observance of the Sabbath was a peculiar feature. At sundown on Saturday all labor was suspended, and until sundown of the Sabbath the time was strictly kept sacred, no secular duty being performed, and all light reading and conversation strictly forbidden. After sundown on Sabbath evening all who chose might engage in their ordinary avocations.

It is recollected that some fifty years ago, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Moore he preached many sermons four hours long, commencing at nine o'clock A. M., and closing at one o'clock p. M. Then came an hour of intermission followed by another sermon of three hours in delivery. Many families came from five to twenty miles and attended these services with remarkable regularity. Not only so, but the matter of each sermon was carefully digested and fully studied and discussed the week following by those zealous Christians and their households. The house is said to have been greatly crowded, and the attentive audience could not all be seated. The character of the preaching was doctrinal, homilitical in great part, though occasional exhortatory sermons were preached. 'The singing was remarkably good. In the church were several persons who had received a careful training in vocal music during their youth in New England. The choir was composed only of those who were regarded as proficient in the art of singing. The chorister, Colonel Simeon Deming, used an old-fashioned wooden pitch-pipe with which to find the key note. The old church-goers assure us that, assisted by his chosen choir he performed Bridgewater, Easter Anthem, Mortality, St. Marlins, etc., with a style and grandeur quite unapproachable by modern singers. Instrumental music was early introduced, and with little interruption has always continued.

God has signally blessed this church. The pastors have been superior mea, both as students of the Bible and as teachers, and consecrated their time and talents to the service of God and the church with that cheerful zeal which God has promised to bless.

In addition to the great meeting in 1832, during the winter of 1836-7, under the preaching of Revs. Thomas Squier and Baird, occurred a wondrous revival. The meetings continued several weeks and about one hundred professed religion, many of whom united with the church. During the pastorate of Rev. S. McCollum, more than forty persons made profession of religion and united with the church in a single season, and in the winter of 1866, under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Brice, there were nearly forty accessions. Since that time accessions have been made which more than balance the losses by deaths and removals.

The following are the present officers and societies: Rev. W. M. Grimes, M. A., pastor; Stephen Powers, D. C. Aikin, H. *. Devol, Oliver Tucker, L. Skipton, ruling elders; Oliver Tucker, H. S. Clark, J. R. Sheldon, trustees; Mrs. C. W. Reynolds, organist; Miss Hattie Devol, assistant; Mrs. A. P. Clark, chorister.

Saving Fund society- - Mrs. L. Seeley, president; Mrs. J. B. Devol, vice-president; Miss Alice Tucker, secretary; Mrs. Jane Tucker, treasurer.

Woman's Foreign Missionary society - Mrs. C. F. Hayward, president; Mrs. L. Seely, vice-president; Mrs. C. W. Reynolds, secretary; Miss Georgie Shaw, treasurer.

Methodist Churches

Methodist meeting was held in the vicinity of Waterford soon after the establishment of the church in this county in 1800. Methodism at Waterford, as at Marietta, was at first unpopular, but vigorous preaching and untiring missionary work soon prepared the people for the organization of a class. The first meeting-house in this part of the county was on the west branch of Wolf creek, in Watertown township. Waterford was a preaching station in 1815, and may have been earlier. The first church stood in Federal bottom. Stephen Devol was the leading member. The present building is the third house of worship. Waterford was connected with the Barlow circuit until September, 1879, when the Waterford circuit was instituted.

At the time of the organization of the Waterford class it belonged to Marietta circuit. Leroy Swomstedt's preaching greatly strengthened the cause, but two years later Jacob Young says he found the church very weak. This was about 1829. ''Methodism, in the earlier history of Waterford, had to stem a current of popular

The first Methodist Episcopal class in Beverly was formed with three members in 1837, by Revs. E. L. Miller and Chester Morrison. William H. Preston, of Ludlow, was appointed class leader. The society met and held its services in a small school-house on the corner of what is now Seventh and Center streets. It was made one of the preaching places of the McConnelsville circuit, Barnsville district. The society grew rapidly, and in 1844 began the erection of a house of worship on the corner of Sixth and Centre streets. This house was built of brick, but was defective in its masonry, and was never finished. It was, however, used for the services of the church uniil.1858, when the present commodious edifice was built on the same site, and near the close of the year was dedicated by Rev. Dr. D. W. Clark (afterwards bishop). Rev. G. G. Walters was pastor at this time. The congregation has enjoyed a steady growth in membership from the date of its organization, and is now strong and prosperous. It belongs to Cambridge district, East Ohio conference. The Sunday-school is well attended, and the Woman's Foreign Missionary society has been highly praised for the efficiency of its work. The following is a list of ministers who have served the society since its organization: Chester Morrison, William Athey, Abner Jackson, Pardon Cook, John Mercer, A. D. McCormick, James Means, George G. Walters, A. Ward, John Grant, Edward Ellison, J. Crisman, A. Huston, J. Keagle, David Cross, H. B. Edwards, F. W. Veitican, J. E. Hollister, D. C. Knowls, E. B. Edywell, A. R. Chapman, Theodore Finley, W. H. Piggot, F. D. Fast, J. C. Feitt, and T. F. Phillips:

Universalist Society

In the summer of 1841, G. T. Flanders, who was at that time editing a Universalist paper at Zanesville, stopped at Waterford on his return from a trip to Marietta and preached in the school-house at Beverly. The families in the neighborhood who at that time held to the faith of the church were: The McIntosh family, Beach family, Ezekiel Emerson's family, and G. L. Chamberlain and sister Mrs. Lucy Hough. The orthodox churches refused admission to Universalist preachers, but services were occasionally held in the school-house until January 1, 1843, when the church in the upper part of the town was completed and dedicated. The society was organized the following year. In 1845 Mr. Flanders was engaged as regular preacher. He was followed by Mr. Eaton. After his resignation the pastorate was vacant for several years till the services of J. W. Mc- Master were secured. He preached regularly at two different periods, and occasionally the remainder of the time till 1878, when T. C. Dooley became regular preacher, and services were held once a month for one year. The society is at present without a settled pastor.

Baptist Church

The Baptist society at Beverly was formed through the influence and labor of Job T. Cook, who moved from Newport to Beverly, and naturally desired a religious home of his own faith. Other citizens had been members of the Baptist church at other places, and welcomed Rev. J. H. Barker when he came, in 1856, as a missionary of the Meigs Creek association. Mr. Barker, from this time, preached regularly, and on January 15, 1857, the church, with fifteen members, was reorganized by the association. The members were: Job T. Cook, Sarah A. Cook, J. H. Barker, Juliet Barker, Joseph and Lavina Wood, William and Isabella Glass, Rachel Devol, Elvira Harwood, Robert Vaughan, Nancy Whissen and three others. Mr. Barker served the church until 1859. Succeeding pastors were: William Mears, a short time; G. W. Churchill, two years; J. D. Leonard, till August, 1854; S. Seigfried, one year; vacancy till January 1, 1868; E. Stillwell served for a time, but the membership was small and the field of labor was considered difficult. J. H. Barker and J. W. Riddle have since acted as supplies, but the congregation has been without a pastor since Mr. Stillwell left. In 1860 the church seemed on a fair way toward getting a foothold in this territory. During that winter twenty-seven were received by baptism, and the members were greatly encouraged.

Benevolent Society

It appears from the books of Captain Rotheus Hayward that a society known as the Washington benevolent society, was organized in Novembér, 1815. Captain Hayward was treasurer, and his accounts are the only data at ourcommand. It was a branch of the county society, but seems to have been operated on an independent basis. Members were assessed and the money spent for clothing, caring for the sick, meals, etc. The organization was carrying on its work in 1821.

Secret Societies

Mount Moriah Lodge No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons, was established at Waterford, in accordance with a dispensation issued by Henry Brush, grand master, to Ebenezer Bowen, master; Eli Cogswell, S. W.; and Obediah Scott, J. W., to hold a lodge of Ancient York Masons. This-dispensation was issued September 28, 1816, and on the fourth of the following November a meeting was held at the residence of John Dodge, at which officers were elected as follows: Ebenezer Bowen, master; Eli Cogswell, S. W.; Obediah Scott, J. W.; William Ripley, secretary; William Rand, treasurer; William White, S. D.; Elias Woodruff, J. D.; John Dodge and Andrew Story, stewards; and Samuel Andrews, tyler. R. Culver was also present at this meeting.

Lodge meetings were held thereafter at 3 o'clock on the Thursday preceding every full moon, at the residence of John Dodge. 'The first initiations were Jeremiah Wilson and Samuel Beach, November 28, 1816. Stephen Devol was received at the next meeting.

At the celebration of St. John's Day, 1817, the following members were present: E. Bowen, William Ripley, Jesse Davis, J. K. Cooledge, James Bowen, William Rand, R. Culver, Samuel Andrews, Stephen Devol, J. Wilson, E. Martin, Cook Devol, Samuel Cushing, M. Story, Samuel Beach, J. Greenman, Conrad Thurman, John Dodge, R. Hayward, and three visitors - Nathaniel Hinkley, Dr. Spooner and Thomas Rawson. bers paraded to the church with music. common practice of the time. James Bowen acted as marshal of the ladies. The rites of the order were at that tfme observed with the greatest precision. The periodical performance of ceremonies threw around the order an air of mystery, which affected both those within and those without the mystic circle.

The first death was that of Samuel Cushing, October g, 1823. The members, as a token of regard, wore a blue ribbon about the left arm from the time of his death to the next regular communication.

In the winter of 1825 the lodge changed its place of meeting to the residence of Ebenezer Bowen, on the west side of the river. In 1827 a charter was issued by the Grand lodge ranking Mt. Moriah lodge in precedence from February 4, 1819. During the year 1828 the lodge met at the house of Bazillia Coburn; in 1829 in a room in the building in Waterford which stood where the store of General Devol now is. During the year 1831 but three meetings were held, this being the year of the anti- Masonic movement which swept over the country in consequence of the reported murder of John Morgan. In June, 1831, eight members met at the hall and decided to defy popular feeling by celebrating St. John's Day with a public procession. The members who participated in this demonstration were: Benjamin Soule, James Bowen, Adelpha Webster, Charles Bowen, Stephen Devol, George Bowen, Jeremiah Wilson, and Barzillia Coburn. The procession organized at the hall and marched with music to the church, where they organized a meeting and pledged each other to stand by the order, regardless of popular clamor.

It became necessary during this year for the lodge to give up their room, and no suitable place of meeting could be found. Work was suspended and no meetings were held until October, 1843. On that date John Keyhoe, William Wilson, Ambrose Elliott, William Kearns, Jeremiah Wilson, Charles S. Cory, John Dodge, Charles Bowen, Charles Story, Atkinson Hill, and George Bowen met and memorialized the Grand lodge. That body instructed Mt. Moriah lodge to resume its labors. The first regular meeting was held January 4, 1844. Officers were duly elected, and from that tithe regular meetings have been held.

The lodge, after reorganization, met in the building on the corner of Fifth and Canal streets until July, 1845. Owing to a sale of the property another room had to be sought, and no suitable place for meetings could be found in Waterford or Beverly. Samuel Beach, of Coal Run, opened his house for the use of the lodge, and meetings were held there until the close of the year. The lodge then removed to Beverly and held its meetings in the building then used by Samuel Hammontree as a cabinet shop. A resolution had long before been passed discarding whiskey from the list of refreshments.

Meetings were held in the Hammontree building till 1846 (this building is now known as the Central house). The lodge then rented and furnished in a very attractive stvle a room in the building on the corner of Canal and Fifth streets, now occupied by J. M. Truesdell. Meetings were held in the college building, in a room in the third-story, which they rented in connection with the Odd Fellows until 1857. A room in the third-story of the Tucker building was occupied from 1857 until the completion of Masonic block in 1879.

In 1878 the lodge began, what had long been contemplated, the erection of a building dedicated to its own use. The corner-stone was laid according to Masonic regulations, June 24, 1878, by Special Deputy Grand Master W. M. Shinnick. On that occasion an address was delivered by Rev. A. B. Brise of the Presbyterian church. The first lodge meeting was held in the building June 18, 1879.

The structure is a credit to the lodge, being the largest and finest building in the village. The walls are brick with stone columns and arched doors and windows. In size it is forty by seventy-two feet. On the ground floor are two store rooms, the second story is a commodious hall, and the third floor is arranged for the use of the lodge, with reception and private rooms, and a hall for the use of the lodge and chapter. The whole cost was six thousand and twenty-one dollars.