Belmont County, Ohio

Belmont County Townships

History of Pultney Township

Pultney is one of the original townships of Belmont county. It was erected on the 25th of February, 1801, with the following boundary, beginning:

"On the Ohio river at the southeast corner of Kirkwood township, thence west with the southern boundary of said township to the western boundary of the county; thence south with said Western boundary six miles to the northwest corner of the eighth township in the seventh range: thence east with said township line to the Ohio river; thence up the river to the place of beginning to be called and known by the name of the township of Pultney.”

In 1801 Philip Dover and Joseph Lashly were appointed by the Court of Belmont county as constables for Putney township. The first elections were ordered, for this, York and Salem townships, to be held at the house of Jacob Repshire. In 1802, the elections were ordered to be held at the house occupied by the court, for Pultney.

The present boundary is as follows: On the north by Pease, east by the Ohio river, south by Mead and west by Richland township.

It is “admirably located with reference to railroad and river accommodations, being in close proximity to the city of Wheeling, W. Va., and is rich in agricultural and mineral resources. The land is of excellent quality—watered by numerous streams—and underlying nearly the entire township, are veins of sandstone, limestone and coal. Many of these veins are being successfully worked at the present time. Among those mines and quarries that deserve especial mention are the coal mines of J. Heatherington and Rockenshousen & Steritt—located about three-fourths of a mile south of Bellaire—the Sullivan, Kelley, Morgan and Barnard mines, in Bellaire, and the Kidd mines, on McMahon's Creek, four miles west of Bellaire. Among the many limestone quarries, those of A. McLain, located on Indian Run, one mile west of Bellaire, are the largest. Mr. McLain is working these quarries on the same plan as that of operating a coal mine.

The vein of this quarry averages about six feet of first quality of limestone, and underlies the entire hill.

Mr. McLain has had for the last six years the contract for supplying the furnace connected with the Bellaire Nail Works with limestone, they using from fourteen to fifteen thousand tons per year.

This quarry gives employment to an average of twenty-five men. Its monthly pay-roll amounts to nearly one thousand dollars.

Early Settlers

One of the first settlers of Pultney township was Andrew Dickson, who came from West Lliberty, Va., in 1796, and settled on the forks of Big and Little McMahon's creek.

Mr. Dickson purchased his land some five years before moving on it, on account of the hostile character of Indians in the neighborhood.

Among the other early settlers in the township were Charles Eckles (who came in 1800), Abraham Workman, George Neff, Andrew Neff, Samuel Morley (the celebrated deer hunter), Matthew Howell, James Hutchinson, John King, Jacob Worley, Jacob Davis, William Merritt, James McKirk and robert Alexander, who settled near where Mr. Samuel Alexander (his son) now lives in 1796. At this time he had no neighbors nearer than where Bridgeport now is.

The first place for public worship was built on McMahon's creek, a short distance south of where the tunnel now is on the "Central Ohio Divison" of the B. & O. R. R. Rev. John Scott was the first preacher that officiated in this church.

Mills

On McMahon's creek, near Quincy, is Neff's flour and saw mills, and on the same stream, two miles west of Bellaire, is Wallace's floour mill. All of these mills are located in a fine section of the township, and are doing a good business. Bell's woolen mill and carpet manufactory are also on this creek.

Curiosities

On John R. Roinson's farm, situated two miles west of Bellaire, is a sandstone quarry. Whilst gettin gout the stone Mr R. found three petrified fish, one of which is in the collection of minerals at Washington. In quarrying, the fish fell out perfect in form, just as though chiseled out of solid rock. Other curiosities have been discovered in this quarry, such as leaves, sakes, &c., in a perfect state of petrifaction.

Cemetery

In a little cemetery on the hillside, on the farm owned by S. Alexander, lays the remains of Samuel Worley and wife, Andrew Dickson and wife, James M. Kirk, Elizabeth, wife of James Dixon. George Neff, Sr., and wife, and others.

The Pittsburgh Coal Works, Owned by Rockenshousen & Sterritt

These works are among the substantial enterprises of Belmont county. They are situated on the west bank of the Ohio river, about three-fourths of a mile south of the B. & O. R. R. bridge at Bellaire. They were opened by Mr. Robert Hutchinson in the spring of 1866. Mr. Rockenshousen purchased of him a half interest. Since 1870 the works have been controlled and worked by the present owners, Messrs. Rockenshousen and Sterritt. The works have two chutes for loading barges on the river—one for pea and nut coal and the other for lump. The latter is what is called a “slide," which is adjustable to any stage of water in the river. The firm own about thirty-five barges, with a wharf boat below the lump chute for the loaded barges, and a well constructed ice abutment stands in the river above for the protection of empty barges. A chute is also erected over the tracks of the Bellaire and Southwestern railway for loading cars, which can be shipped to all points along the line of that road. The mine is entered by a “slope” 175 feet long, with a grade of forty-eight feet. The vein is six feet in thickness, is known as seam No. 4, and the quality of the coal is excellent for manufacturing, steam and domestic purposes. An analysis has shown it to be richer in gas than Pittsburgh coal; only a very small percent of sulphur is found in it after being prepared for market, and it makes coke of a fine quality. The tract of land which the firm owns has a front on the river of about 700 yards and extends back a distance of nearly a mile. The property embraces about 400 acres of coal in a solid body. The length of the main entry is fully one mile, with a good track of Trail. In the mine is one of the best furnaces in the state. An average of 5,000 bushels is mined per day and employment is given to about seventy-five men. On the property are veins of hydraulic cement, limestone and fire clay. The former of these is a vein six feet in thickness, and is evidently destined to be of great value.

The Kidd Mines

On the property of Joseph F. Hutchinson, on McMahon's creek, four miles west of Bellaire, were opened in 1866. In 1873, Mr. John Kidd purchased the entire interest in these mines, and their capacity as they are now being worked by him, is from thirty-five to forty thousand bushels per month, and employing about twenty-five men.

There are many other valuable mines of excellent quality of coal in this township; among them is Sullivan's, Kelley's, Morgan's and Barnard's, in Bellaire.

History of the Presbyterian Church of Rockhill

The Presbyterian Church of Rockhill is located on a high point of land about two miles west of Bellaire. Its organization took place in 1812, with John Moore and John Cunningham as Ruling Elders. At different times subsequently there have been added to the eldership, Wm. Keyser, James Milligan, James Greenlee, John Rankin, Joshua W. Keyser, A. W. Anderson, John W. Milligan, Robt. Merritt, Wm. Thomas, John S. Cratty and Matthew Wallace. The present Board of Elders consists of J. W. Keyser, Robert Merritt, Wm. Thomas and Matthew Wallace.

The church depended on Stated Supplies from her organization in 1812 to 1834. Of these the following ministers labored through periods of different length. Rev. Abraham Scott, Rev. John McMillan, D. D., Rev. Jacob Lindley, Rev. James Arbuthnot, Rev. Joseph Anderson and Rev. Samuel Reed. The first who was called in 1834, entering on his work the same year, continued pastor till 1857. He was born and educated in York county, Pa., and came to Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, in 1829, where he settled as pastor of that church. After 1834 his time was divided betwen Mt. Pleasant and Rockhill, each receiving one-half of his services, during a period of Twenty-three years. Over a distance of more than twelve miles of rough roads, he came through heat, or cold, or rain, with the greatest regularity on his great errand of good to thispeople. His ministry was a very faithful one and greatly blessed to the people among whom he labored. After he resigned his charge of Rockhill he continued at Mt. Pleasant, giving the whole of his time to that church, till increasing age led him to resign in 1876. He hods the position still of Pator Emeritus. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by Franklin College in 1859.

The Rev. R. H. Hollyday was installed pastor in June, 1858, and resigned in 1860. He was a laborious and faithful minister, and during his brief labors the church of Bellaire was formed and became a part of his charge. Mr. Hollyday is now a member of the Presbytery of Lima, Ohio.

The Rev. John Moffat became pastor of Rockhill in connection with Bellaire in January, 1861, and resigned in 1863 to take charge of the Second Presbyterian Church of Wheeling.

The Rev. J. D. Fitzgerald served the same charge as Stated Supply for six months from October, 1863.

The Rev. D. H. Laverty became pastor of Rockhill as a separate charge in 1865, and resigned in 1867.

The Rev. John Jay Lane began his ministry in 1868, which has just closed in May, 1879. Declining health compelled Mr. Lane to give up the active work of the ministry. He has removed to York county, Pa.

The first place of worship was a tent, which was used for a number of years, and in 1817 gave place to a log house. This house served the congregation nearly thirty years, and in 1846 a commodious brick church was built on the same site. It is 44x60 feet in size, and so well was the building of it managed that the total cost in cash was only $1,100. A neat and comfortable parsonage was built by the congregation in 1866 on land donated for that purpose by James Alexander.

Two churches have been formed from this parent church. Bellaire church, which was organized in 1860, drew off a colony of forty-one from Rockhill and again in 1874, another colony became the nucleus of the church of Colebrook. But with all this depletion the old church has still a good measure of vitality.

The following members of Rockhill Church have entered the ministry, and are now engaged in its active duties:

Rev. W. W. Milligan, Cambridge, Ohio.

Rev. Robert Alexander, D.D., St. Clairsville, O.

Rev. James L. Merritt, West Los Animas, Col.

Rev. John W. Allen, D. D., St. Louis, Mo.

Rev. James M. Alexander, Minpurie, India.

In all active Christian work this church has always been among the foremost in the Presbytery, and her people have always given liberally to all objects of benevolence, as well as generously supporting those who served them in the Gospel.

Villages

QUINCY, on the line of the B & O. R. R., four miles west of Bellaire, is a thriving little village, containing about one hundred inhabitants. It has one store, one woolen factory and one church. It is the junction of the Bellaire and St. Clairsville Narrow Gauge railroad. Kidd's coal mines are located at this point.

WEST WHEELING-This village of about 350 inhabitants was laid out by Martin S. Todd, July 30, 1838 into three tiers of lots, running parallel with the river and containing one hundred and one lots. Soon after an addition of five lots were made. Andrew Woods owned all the land upon which the town is built and Squire Kelsey says, he thinks he owned all of the land in the fractional sections 19, 20 and 21. He came in possession of it about the time of the first sale of Congress land made by the government at New York.

The first improvement made in the place was the ferry house, a frame building which stood in the street leading to the river, opposite the old hotel stand. It stood until 1839, when it was removed by Squire Kelsey, who purchased the lot south of it. He erected a brick house upon it, which is still standing. He kept a hotel there for two years. It was rented by him to a man named Dietrich, who occupied it for about a year and then it was rented to one Loe. The Squire subsequently sold the stand to Mr. McMaser. This gentleman occupied it from 1844 to 1864. It then passed into the hands of W. H. Resler, From him the presnet proprietor, James Comeford, secured it.

The first ferry was kept at the mouth of Whisky run and afterward removed to the present point. It was kept by Thomas Reynolds, and in about 1826 it was changed.

In about 1830, Andrew Woods built a grist mill and it was operated by his two sons, Alfred and Robert. It was sold to Andrew Woods, Jr. and R. McKee by those gentlemen. It was operated by this firm a short time when McKee purchased his partner's interest and continued for a number of years. The mill property finally fell into the hands of T. H. Genin, who willed it to his nephew, J. N. Genin, and now belongs to his heirs. McKee was quite a prominent and extensive coal dealer and was also engaged in building flat-boats, and continued in these several occupations until 1840. McKee also built a saw mill, which stood on the land now in possession of the Genin heirs. It was operated by Smith and Boyles. Fowler and Tuttle erected the first brick house in the place. It is a double one and is the one now owned by George Davis. Fowler was a gunsmith and drove quite an active trade in early days. A man named Arbutnot was among the first to purchase lots in the village. He built a small frame now owned by Barrett, of Wheeling. John Smith was an early settler and followed coopering. Wilson Stinger built a brick residence on the street facing the river. He owned a large warehouse and store on the river bank, which was carried away with all its contents during the flood of 1852. He is still engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. Mr. Benedict built a brick house below Stringer's. It is now owned by Rhodes, of Bridgeport, who has since remodeled it. Loe built a brick house south of this. It is now owned by a widow lady named Torbet. Laird built a brick house owned by G. W. Davis. Forbes built a frame, which is still standing and is in the possession of Mary Moore. Seth Lewis built a frame now owned by W. A. Dieters. Robert Stewart built a frame house. David Wagoner built a house now owned by William Whitney, George Davis built a frame, at an early day. Wilson Smith built the brick now owned by D. Wagoner. Agnes Boyles built the brick house now owned by Alexander Lisle. John Johnston erected the brick house owned now by Isaac Wise. George Otto put up the stone house now belonging to his heirs. Samuel Hardesty built the frame now owned by Dieters. John Johnston kept a store on the river bank, which was carried off by the flood of 1852.

For a number of years in the early history of West Wheeling the coal trade formed the business of the village. Since that has ceased the town has improved but little. The following comprises the business to-day: Two grocery stores, one, dry goods and grocery store, one saloon, one church of the M. E. denomination, one school building, one blacksmith and wagon shop, one paper mill, one shoeshop.

West Wheeling is situated on the C. & P. R. R., one mile from Bridgeport and about three from Bellaire.

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