Belmont County, Ohio

Belmont County Townships

History of Colerain Township

Colerain was erected June 14, 1808, by the board of county commissoners, being taken from Richland and Pease townships. It derived its name from a town in the north of Ireland.

In early days it was heavily timbered, but at the present time, three-fourths of it is cleared land and used for agricultural purposes.

This township contains 15,360 acres. The surface is rolling, and at points deep ravines are found. It is drained by, Indian Wheeling creek on the south and west, on the north by the south branch of Short creek, and on the east by Glenn's run. The township is underlaid by several veins of bituminous coal, the thickest of which is five and one-half feet. It also contans strata of lime and sand stone, and a very valuable strata of cement.

The land is very fertile and produces all kinds of grain, and vegetables which are grown in this climate. The population is about 1,500. In a moral point of view, there is less committed in this township than in any other in eastern Ohio

The National turnpike runs through the southern part; the Bridgeport and Colerain, and Martin's Ferry and Colerain turnpikes through the central and eastern part. The W., T. V. & C. R. R. extends along the valley of Indian Wheeling creek, and three stations are located within its borders-King's Mills, Steep Run and Sloan's Run.

First Voting Place

The commissioners ordered that the election of this township should be held at the residence of Robert Wright, Pctpber. 1808. David Marshall was elected Justice of the Peace; Britain Oxley with David Marshall, trustees; John W. Mains, clerk.

Township Expenses for 1818

The following are the expenditures of Colerain township for the year 1818, which is the earlies account found on the records now extant:

March 2, 1818.—For service done by Abner Wells, as trustee, $2.00; George Atkinson, for same, $2.00; Abner Barton, for same, $2.00. For commission due Francis Cooper, as treasurere, $2.61. For service as township clerk, William McFarland, $2.00. For supervisor of the public highway, Jesse Finch, $4.05; John White, for same, $3.32; Alexander Smith, for same, $4.00. For service as overseer of the poor, Jesse Pyle, 37½ cents. Total Expenditures, $22.35½.

Township Expenditures for 1878-9

Expenditures of Colerain township from March 5, 1878, to March 3, 1879, as taken from the treasurer's report:

Amount paid township trustees	$33.50
Amount paid township clerks	$42.00
Amount paid township treasurer	$32.57
Amount paid road supervisors	$143.55
Amount paid from bridge funds for materials, &c.	$108.74
Amount paid from township funds for paupers	$31.38
Paid for registration and judges and clerks of elections	$6.00
Paid for other incidental expenditures	$23.12
	_________
Total	$420,86

The First House

The first house was built near the present site of the town of Farmington in 1785, two years before the government surveys.

Early Indicent—Killed by Indians

At a spring on the west side of the farm owned by Archibald Major, Captain Williams was overtaken and killed by the Delaware tribe in 1780. He belonged to the fort at Wheeling, and was among the brave defenders of Fort Henry when it was besieged by the Indians in 1777.

The First Farm

Put on record in Belmont county, known as the Barton farm, in section 24, is owned at present by Jesse Barton. It was bought from the government by Wells and Satterthwaite, in 1788, and came into the possession of Abner Barton, Jesse Barton's father, in 1814.

Improvements

The first tannery was established in 1799, in section 18, by Hugh Parks, who continued the business for fifty years.

John Harris built the first flouring mill in 1804, in section 24, and it was used as a mill for sixty years. It stood near where the present iron bridge, that spans Wheeling creek, is located.

The second mill was built by L. Houghs, in section 30, in 1810.

The third was built by Emerson Baily, on the south branch of Short creek, in section 9. It was known as the Braken Mill, and built in 1820.

In 1821, Peter Peroine erected the fourth grist mill on Wheeling creek, in section 36, and it is still in use.

The fifth mill was built by Sloan on Barr's run, in section 32, in 1828.

Kinsey and Sharpless erected a mill in section 16, now known as Kinseys's mill, which was the sixth mill built in the township. These gentlemen also built a woolen factory in 1831.

The seventh was built by Isaac Lloyd on the south branch of Short creek in 1828, being located in section 9.

In section 7, Joshua Maul, in 1833, erected a factory for manufacturing edge tools, which was carried on for several years.

Gamble Town

Was built in 1803, two years after the county was erected. It was situated in section 8, on the land now owned by James G. Theaker and Nathan Steer. In 1833 the town was almost depopulated by cholera epidemic, and it soon afterward ceased to be a town. The foundation stones are still to be seen.

Farmington

The town of Farmington was founded in 1815, and the plat put on record in St. Clairsville, the county seat of Belmont county, on the 9th day of April, 1816. Daniel McPeak, its founder, came to Colerain township from the state of New Jersey, in the year 1800, and purchased a large tract of land around the present site of Farmington. In 1814 and 1815 the Congress of the United States was proposing to build a great National thoroughfare to the west, and it was supposed, at that time, that it would be built through this section of the country. Acting upon this supposition, McPeak layed off a part of his land in town lots, which met with ready sale at high prices from people in the vicinity, who expected the road would make the town quite a business place; but when the National road came to be established it left Farmington very near three miles to the north, nipped its growth in the bud and prevented it from becoming a Chicago.

The first house was built by McPeak and is now known as the old Bundy property. The next by Daniel Berry, for /akexabder & Mitchell, who were wholesale and retail merchants. The first hotel was kept by James Morton in the year 1815; the next by Adam Dunlap. The first blacksmith shop was built by Andrew Manning in the year 1818. The first postoffice was kept by Anthony Pitman. What the future may have in store for Farmington we cannot certainly say, but we believe it will never become a great metropolis.

Pleasant Grove

Pleasant Grove—better known as Hole in the Ground is situated nine miles west of the Ohio river, on the Bridgeport and Colerain turnpike.

The first house built in the town was in 1825, by John Anderson. He built it for the purpose of keeping a hotel and saloon. Since that time it has passed through different hands and it still stands to-day as a hotel, the march of progress and civilization having done away with saloon keeping. Anderson afterwards laid out a town, and at the present time it contains a few good houses. It has two stores, the largest of which is owned by James W. Stillwell, who has been a resident of that town for many years and has an extensive trade. It also has a blacksmith shop, two shoemaker shops, wagonmaker and a cooper shop, and a very good school house and church.

Peter Babb came to this settlement about the year 1800, and purchased section 27, southwest of the present site of Pleasant Grove. He distinguished himself as a hunter and slayer of bears, wolves and other wild animals. He killed the last black wolf that was known to be slain in this township, in the year 1810. When he found the den he pinched the cubs ears; the cries of the young brought the old ones to the entrance of the den and he shot them as they were about to enter.

Church Organization

The first church built within the present limits of this township was in 1801, on the farm then owned by Hugh Parks. The denomination of Seceders built it. It was never a very flourishing organization, and was disbanded in 1835. The cemetery still remains and quite a large poplar tree has since grown up among its antique grave stones, overshadowing them with its graceful branches.

The second church was erected in the town of Farmington, in 1817, by the Methodists. It was a good congregation, for many years under the charge of various ministers. Among those most noted for their zeal and unswerving rectitude we find the names of Revs. Robert Scott, Andrew Jones, and Eli Looman. In the course of time the organization was abandoned and the church edifice was sold at public sale.

The third church was built by Covenanters on Sloan's run in 1842. It ceased to exist in 1865.

The fourth church was built in Pleasant Grove by the Methodist Protestant denomination in 1852. It still exists as a church. The Rev. Slater Brown may be named in connection with this organization as a minister of untiring zeal, whose influence will be remembered by those in connection with the congregation.

The next church was erected in the town of Farmington by the Presbyterians in 1872. The organization was perfected through the influence of the Rev. Robert Alexander of St. Clairsville. John Theaker and James Wiley were elected elders. There Was a membership of but fourteen at the time of its organization. The Rev. James Day was then called as its minister, and is a living evidence of a kind and devoted pastor. His whole ministerial course has been fraught with the greatest degree of success, during which time one hundred and fifty-two names have been added to the roll of the church. Mr. Archibald Major, Jesse Barton, John Theaker, John Barker and David Cowen, now constitute its eldership.

Education

The first school house was built lling before this was erected into a township. It was built on section twenty on the farm now owned by Archibald Major, in 1799. In those days the country was Very thinly settled. Some of the scholars had to come a considerable distance, and were at a great risk of being killed, either by straggling Indians or wild animals.

Colerain township at the present day comprises seven sub-district schools, which are in a very flourishing condition, and rank second to none in the county. Among those prominently connected with the free school system, and who labored earnestly for the general diffusion of intelligence, may be mentioned the names of Pervin Wright and Dr. C. H. Cope. Those who are prominenly connected at the present time as teachers of the Schools of Colerain, and residents of the same are as follows: Miss L. B. Brown, Miss Kate Oxley, J. H. Cope, R. F. Allender, G. Miller, O. Cope, P. H. Job, William H. Cope, George Theaker and Charles Malin.

The Literary Societies

Have ever been a source of general instruction, and have been one of the most prominent features in connection with its history. It is generally conceded that the first literary society organized within the limits of the county, was in this township, (1828). Such institutions have always been looked upon with pride by her most prominent citizens. Among those who in early days instituted this great source of instruction, and who coming generations will ever regard as the apostles of intelligence, we may mention the names of Charles Dungan, Thomas Pyle, B. E. Dungan, Dr. Caleb H. Cope and Jesse Barton.

Anti-Slavery Society

Among the early advocates of the anti-slavery cause may be mentioned the names of Thomas H. Servin, of St. Clairsville, and Thomas White and Israel French, of Colerain township. They organized the first regular anti-slavery society of the county.

Source: History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio by J.A. Caldwell, 1880