The State of Virginia, during the progress of
the Revolutionary war, in order to engage the
native services of her citizens, and give ample
compensation to those hardy officers and
soldiers, who were devoting their lives and
fortunes to their country, by several acts of
her legislature, granted them liberal bounties,
in now, unappropriated lands, for their
services. To satisfy these bounties, a
large tract of land was reserved in the Kentucky
territory, which then belonged to Virginia.
Shortly after the close of the war, in order to avoid
the confusion heretofore attendant on the
careless locations of lands, and also to do
ample justice to those interested, an act of the
legislature was passed, authorizing certain
deputations of officers, therein named, or a
certain number of them, from both the
continental and State lines, to appoint
Superintendents on behalf of their respective
lines, and also nominate two principal
surveyors, and to contract with them for their
fees, who were authorized to select their own
deputies, with the consent of the
Superintendents. By a further provision of
this act, the holders of warrants were required
to place them in the hands of surveyors of the
respective lines by a specified day, and then
the priority of the location of their warrants
should be decided by lots.
The surveyors, after these preliminary arrangements,
were authorized to proceed to survey all the
good lands in that tract of country lying
between Green and Cumberland rivers, as set
apart by law for the officers and soldiers, and
then proceed to survey on the northwest side of
the Ohio river, between the Scioto and Little
Miami rivers, until the deficiency of lands to
satisfy all military bounties should be fully
and amply made up.
Pursuant to this act of the legislature, the deputation
of the officers of the continental line,
consisting of Major General
Charles Scott, Brigadier
General Daniel Morgan, Col. William Heth,
Lieutenant Col. Benjamin Tempte, and
Capt. Mayo Carrington, elected Col.
Richard C. Anderson to the office of
Principal Surveyor of the bounties of land to be
entered for the officers and soldiers of that
line. A contract dated ___ 17, 1783, was
also entered into between Col. Anderson
and the deputations of officers, regulating the
fees of the surveyor, and other matters
contracted with the business.
In the spring or summer of 1784, Col. Anderson
moved to Kentucky, and, purchased a farm near
___sville, where he finally established his
residence, and gave ___ the appropriate name of
"Soldiers' Retreat." On the 20th of July,
of the same year, he opened his office for the
purpose of having entries and surveys made of
the lands in the Kentucky reservation.
Previous to this, however, on the 1st day of
March, 1784, Virgiia, by her delegates
has ceded to the United States, her territory
northwest of the Ohio, as a common fund for the
benefit of all the States, reserving, however,
the country lying between the Scioto and Little
Miami rivers to be appropriated for the purpose
of satisfying the continental line warrants, in
case the land reserved in Kenctucy should
not be sufficient for that purpose. The
deficiency of good land in Kentucky was soon
discovered, and the attention of the holders of
land warrants and the land speculators was
turned to towards the reservation northwest of
the Ohio.
This portion of our State, known and called as before
stated, by the name of the Virginia Military
District, was supposed from its position and
situation to possess many advantages, and the
holders of warrants and land speculators, were
anxious to locate their warrants on the Ohio
side of the river.
In the winter and spring of 1787, Major John
O'Bannon and Authur Fox, two
enterprising surveyors of Kentucky, passed over
into this district to obtain a knowledge of the
country, so soon as the office should be opened
for that purpose. They explored with their
companies the whole extent of country along the
Ohio, and passed some distance up the Scioto and
miami rivers, and some of their tributary
streams.
On the 1st day of August, 1787, Col. Anderson
opened the office for receiving the entries of
lands in the district, at which time entries of
the bottoms of the Ohio were made, and also a
large portion of the Scioto and Little Miami
rivers. About that time, or shortly
before, several expeditions from Kentucky made
excursions into the district, for the purpose of
destroying the Indian towns. Simon
Kenton, a name celebrated among
backwoodsmen, was along in almost all of these
expeditions, and returning home attempted some
entries of lands, in which he was not
successful, on account of his want of sufficient
skill in making them.
So soon as it was known to Congress, that entries had
been made in the district northwest of Ohio, by
virtue of the continental warrants, an act was
passed in July, 1788, by which it was resolved,
that Congress would consider all locations and
surveys made on account of the troops, between
the Scioto and Little Miami, as invalid,
until the deficiency on the southeastern side of
the Ohio should be ascertained and stated to
Congress; and the Executive of Virginia was
requested to inform Congress of the deficiency,
if any, and the amount of it. This act,
together with the danger apprehended from
Indians, obstructed further entries and surveys
in the district until an act of Congress, passed
in August, 1790, repealed the act of July 1788,
which removed all difficulties as to the entries
and surveys, previously or subsequently made.
This act also regulated the mode of obtaining
patents, and which was also further amended by
the act of 1794, and further subsequent acts.
A difficulty about the early locations of lands
northwest of the Ohio in this district, arose
from the ignorance of those engaged, as to the
extent of jurisdiction acquired over these lands
1873. This is shown from the fact that the
Governor of Virginia issued patents on a number
of surveys in the district. These patents
were of course void, and were subsequently
cancelled, and patents issued by the President
under the seal of United States.
For some time, during the prohibition made by the act
of Congress of the lands of this district,
Massie was engaged in writing in Col.
Anderson's office, in order to acquire a
complete knowledge of the business of locating
and surveying. His character for dispatch
in business and enterprise gained him the
friendship and confidence of Col. Anderson,
who had control of the warrants placed in his
hands by his brother officers and soldiers.
A very large amount of these, so soon as the act
of Congress of August, 1790, removed all further
obstructions, he placed in the hands of
Massie, to enter and survey on such terms as
he could obtain from the holders of them.
As the risk of making entries was great, and as
it was desirable to obtain the best land, the
owners of warrants in most cases, made liberal
contracts with the surveyors. One-fourth,
one-third, and sometimes as much as one-half,
acquired by the entry of good land, were given
by the proprietors to the surveyors. If
the owners preferred paying money, the usual
terms were ten pounds, Virginia currency, for
each thousand acres entered and surveyed,
exclusive of chainmen's expenses. These
terms will not appear extravagant, when we
consider that at that time the danger
encountered was great, the exposure during the
winter was severe, and the price of first rate
land in the west was low and any quantity in the
market.
The location of land warrant in this district prior to
1790, were made by stealth. Every creek
which was explored, every line that was run, was
at the risk of life from the savage Indians
whose courage and perseverance were only
equalled by the perseverance of the whites to
push forward their settlements. It was
boldness displayed by the Indians in executing
their plans, could only be equalled by their
fearless onsets in attacks and their masterly
retreats when defeated
The Indians at this time had among them a number of
master spirits and it is greatly to be regretted
that the history of their exploits is lost
forever. The patient resolution and
fortitude with which they contended against
superior discipline and numbers, the wiles and
strategems displayed by them during their
long and bloody wars, proved that they possessed
intellectual qualities of the first order.
Their fortitude in enduring pain, fatigue and
starvation, was unequalled, except by such of
the whites as were long disciplined in the
Indian school.
Besides exposure to the Indians, while surveying, ,the
surveyors in the district had other difficulties
to encounter. By passing the Ohio, they
placed that river between them and their place
of retreat, in ase they were defeated and
pursued. The season of the year, too,
chosen by them for surveying was the depth of
winter, as they were then more secure from
interruption; as the Indians were at that tiem
of the year in their winter quarters, and when
hunting were found in small bodies.
With such as these hardy, robust, daring men in the
situation of the district as described,
Massie, in the fall of 1790, determined to
make a settlement in it, that he might be in the
midst of his surveying operations and seure his
party from danger and exposure. In order
to effect this, he gave general notice in
Kentucky of his intention, and offered each of
the first twenty-five families that would join
him, as a donation, one in-lot and one out-lot,
and one hundred acres of land, provided they
would settle in a town he intended to lay off at
his settlement. His proffered terms were
soon closed in with, and upwards of thirty
families joined him. After various
consultations with his friends, the bottom of
the Ohio river opposite the three Islands, was
selected as the most eligible spot. Here
he fixed his station, and laid off into lots a
town, called Manchester. This name is
supposed to have been chosen in remembrance of
Manchester, England, the old home of his
ancestors.
This little confederacy, with Massie at the
helm, went to work with spirit. Cabins
were raised, and by the middle of March, 1791,
the whole town was enclosed with strong pickets,
firmly fixed in the ground, with block houses at
each angle for defense.
Thus was the first settlement in Adams county, and the
third settlement effected in the bounds of the
State of Ohio. Although this settlement
was made in the hottest Indian war, it suffered
less from the depredations from Indians, than
any one previously made on the Ohio river.
This was no doubt owning to the watchful care
and precautions of the brave spirits who guarded
the place.
As soon as the station was completed for defense, the
whole population went to work and cleared the
lower of the three Islands and planted it in
corn. [There are but two Islands now, one
having been washed away by the waters.]
This Island contained 100 acres, was very rich,
and produced heavy crops. The woods with a
little industry, supplied a variety of game;
deer, elk, buffalo, bears and turkeys, were
abundant, while the river furnished a variety of
fish. The wants of the inhabitants, under
these circumstances, were few and easily
gratified. Luxuries were entirely unknown,
except old Monogahela whisky. This article
was in great demand in those days, and when
obtained, freely used. Coffee and tea were
rare articles, not much prized or sought after,
and only used to celebrate the birth of a new
comer. The inhabitants of the station were
generally playful as kittens, and as happy in
their way as their hearts could wish. The
men spent most of their time in hunting and
fishing and almost every evening the boys and
girls footed it merrily to the tune of the
fiddle. Thus was their time spent in that
happy state of indolence and ease, which none
but the hunter or herdsman's state can enjoy.
They had no civil officers to settle their
dispute nor priests to direct their morals; yet
among them crimes were rare occurrence, should
and one who chanced to be amongst the prove
troublesome, or disturb the harmony of the
command his expulsion forthwith would be the
consequence; and woe him if he again attempted
to intrude himself upon them. T__ there
"are riches above wealth," was evidenced in the
lives the citizens of the frontier stations.
There were no rival grad or castes in these
small communities, to create envy; in their
so___ ty all were equal. Their hands were
buoyant with hope; and when danger was not
apparent, they were the happiest, and of course
the richest people on earth.
The names of the frontier men among themselves were
affectionate and familiar. They addressed
each other by their christian names only, which
custom still appears to them the most friendly
and courteous mode of intercourse. When
one looks back on what the world was then, it
seems as if money-making and selfishness had now
frozen up the avenues of the heart. That
frank, friendly intercourse, which was the
delight and honor of this land, is gone forever,
and the cold, calculating spirit of __emulation,
or the worthless emm__tion of show and splendor,
has succeeded.
The exact date when Massie laid off his town into lots
is not known, but as his contract with those who
joined his colony, was executed Dec. 1, 1790,
and their removal made, the stockade built and
cabins erected therein, by the middle of March,
1791, it is probable the lots were, laid out by
that time. The court records however give
the date as Apr. 28, 1802. The original
town was laid off with 108 in-lots and 53
out-lots. It included that part of the
present Manchester above Pike street. The
stockade included some three acres and was the
only part
[Page 32] -
occupied for some years.
The land on which it stood now
belongs to Harvey McMahan.
This part of the town, in which
all the historic interest of the
early settlement centers, was
almost wholly consumed by the
disastrous fire of Apr. 5, 1860.
MANCHESTER.
This
town was laid out by
Nathaniel Massie in 1791,
called after Manchester,
England, the home of his
ancestors.
These in-lots contain a little over one-fourth of an
acre, and the out-lots four
acres.
WEST
MANCHESTER
- Which is more
properly, only an addition to
the original town, was laid out
by John Donaldson,
Stephen W. Compton and G.
W. Donaldson, as
proprietors, Sept. 16, 1839.
It contains 48 lots, extending
west from Pike street, fronting
on the river and extending back
to Main street.
Another addition, called the first addition to West
Manchester, was made by John
Donaldson, May 9, 1849.
It contains 23 lots, lies west
of Pike and north of Main street
- opposite, and north of the
eastern portion of West
Manchester.
YATE'S ADDITION
- Was made
May 16, 1848, contained 16 lots,
lies immediately east of Pike
street - north of the Western
portion of the old town.
John Yates, proprietor.
It was made from out-lot No. 6,
in Massie's original plat.
REAL
ESTATE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY'S ADDITION - This company
bought up as many of the
original four acre out-lots,
that Gen. Massie laid
out, as it could, then cut them
up into small lots, and by its
trustees, Matthew McColm,
,John Brookover, A. B.
Ellison, D. W. Stableton and
William Stevenson, as
proprietors laid out an
addition, known by the above
name.
There were several of these out-lots, that they were
unable to buy, which leave
vacant squares promiscuously
scattered through this part of
the town.
This addition was made Nov. 22d, 1855, and contains452
lots, 196-643.
HILL'S ADDITION - This
addition was laid out at the
west end of West Manchester.
It fronts the Ohio river and
contains 4 lots, surveyed and
platted June 2d 1856.
Manchester therefore contains 651 lots, as follows:
Massie's original plat |
108 |
West Manchester, by John Donaldson, Stephen W. Compton, G. W. Donaldson, Sept. 16, 1839, numbered 108 - 156 |
48 |
Yate's Addition, May 16, 1843, 157-172 - 16 |
16 |
John Donaldson's Addition to West Manchester, May 9, 1849 numbered 173-195 |
23 |
Real Estate Improvement Company's Addition, Nov. 22, 1855, numbered 196-647 |
452 |
Hill's Addition, June 2d, 1858, numbered 648 - 654 |
4 |
|
____ |
Total number of lots |
651 |
651a |
|
EARLY HOUSES.
The first settlers, as before
stated, located within the
stockade, and their houses were
only a few rude cabins.
Fear of the Indians prevented
them improving the lands
adjoining on the outside of the
fort. The late Andrew
Ellison, who was captured in
1793, while working on his
out-lot adjoining the stockade,
attests the danger. They
therefore cleared off the lower
of the three Islands, which from
its isolated position - rendered
it a place of greater security.
Even with its advantages of
situation, guards were kept to
watch the approach of any enemy
that might attempt to cross over
to the Island. Fortunately
the unsurpassed fertility of the
soil produced sufficient
abundance to supply the garrison
with all the necessaries of
life. But few additions
were made to the population or
business of Manchester, or
settle___ made in the country,
back from the river, until the
crushing __teat of the Indians
by Gen. Wayne, in 1794.
After the ___ of Greenville,
which relieved the settlements
from appre___sion of further
trouble from the, settlements
began to be made in the interior
portions of the county.
Manchester did not improve very
rapidly for some years.
EARLY BUSINESS OF MANCHESTER
The names of the early business
men or the dates of their
establishments have not been
preserved. The old
landmarks here mostly
disappeared, as well as the
early buildings and houses which
were destroyed by the great fire
of 1860, so that only a few
fragmentary remains of its early
history fan now be
collected.
It appears however, that the
FIRST STORE,
In the
place was kept by Andrew Boyd.
The property on which it stood
is now owned by Isaac
Laporte. It is
believed the store was started
previous in 18_2
THE SECOND STORE
Was
started by Peter Cooley,
at an early date. It was
kept in a hewed log building
that was weather-boarded.
This house was situated near the
old stockade on the land now
owned by Hammond Tolle.
This Mr. Cooley appears
to have been long and favorably
known as a business man and
closely identified with the
interests of the town. The
store was carried on until his
death in 1843.
THE FIRST TAVERN.
Was
kept by a Mr. McGate, but
when he started, or how long he
continued it, cannot now be
ascertained. It was
perhaps as early as 1804 or 5.
Other similar institutions no
doubt followed, for taverns were
more numerous in early years
than any other class of business
houses.
FIRST MILLS
On
account of danger from the
Indians, the early settlers, for
a few years did not
venture out far enough from the
stockade, to avail themselves of
the facilities of the streams
for building mills.
The first machinery of the kind was a hand mill put up
within the stockade. With
this primitive mill was ground
most of the breadstuff used by
the inhabitants at first.
The burrs used in it still
remain in the village, and are
now utilized in making the
pavement for the side walk at
the upper end of Second street.
How little do these descendents appreciate the labors
of our faithful and patient
forefathers, who have borne the
burden and heat of the day of
trial; who have removed every
obstacle from our path, and left
every laudable object of
ambition with our reach, that
they thus desecrate these
mementoes of their early but
useful labors?
Manchester being the third place settled in Ohio makes
its early history a subject of
peculiar interest, not only to
the citizens of Adams county,
but of the whole nation.
It is interesting, in reading
the history of nations, cities
now communities, to be able to
begin at the starting point,
with the name of the first
settler, the time when he made
it, the exact spot where he
located, the kind of cabin or
hut in which he first dwelt,
then in like manner to trace the
business houses and their
general history down. Many
of our larger cities, are
to-day, able to do this, and it
is to be regretted that
Manchester, around which centers
so much of historic interest to
the student of history, as well
as to the citizens and general
reader, is unable to do the
same. At least the writer,
after all his researches, has
not been able to establish these
points with that definite
certainty he so much desired.
He finds but few written records
to guide him with their unerring
certainty, while the traditions
that are preserved, are dim, and
more or less contradictory.
His conclusions are drawn, many
times, inferentially, as given
to the reader, who is left to
judge of their correctness.
THE FIRST HOUSE
The
manner in which the first
settlement was made, by a
colony, the inference that
naturally arises, under the
circumstances and the situation
in which they were placed, is
that their efforts were united,
as a single individual, or
family, that worked for the
common good of all - with no
separate individual interest in
the matter.
There is little doubt, as their first primary object
was protection against outside
dangers, particularly the
savages that prowled through all
the forests round, that their
houses were the most primitive
kind of cabins, constructed
hastily, as they must have been.
Then these cabins were, for
still better protections, as
horridly enclosed by a stockade
of pickets. Under the pressue
of the hurry, not knowing at
what moment the Indians might
pounce upon them, there was no
thought of first, or second or
last house, or note or memory of
it left.
Once enclosed with this stockade, the inmates must
still have had to exercise the
greatest vigialnce
against the sudden attacks of
the savages who lurked in the
adjaceht forest ready by
day or night to pick up any of
the inmates that might venture a
few rods outside its barricades
as was experienced by the
capture of Ellison, who,
in the spring of 1793, was taken
almost under the very walls of
the fort, as he ventured outside
in the early morning.
As the savages maintained their unabated hostility
until they were defeated by
Gen. Wayne, in 1794, it is
most likely there were no houses
built outside the fort until
after that event.
There is a tradition that Cornelius Washburne
built the first house in
Manchester.
James McGoveney says his father came to
Manchester in 1795, and there
were then four or five houses in
the town, occupied by the
following families or men:
John Ellison, Andrew Boyd, John McGate, Gen. Massie,
Israel Donaldson, Isaac, Joseph
and George Edgington, Seth
Foster and John Kite.
(Quere
- Were these houses outside of
the stockade?)
Duncan McArthur in a letter in 1796 or '97
speaking of the rapidity with
which the town was then growing
up, says: "We now have
forty buildings, many of them
have hewed logs, some of them
with shingle roofs."
FIRST BRICK HOUSE
The
first brick house in Manchester
- in fact the first one in Adams
county, and the third one in
Ohio, was built by John
Ellison, in 1807. It
stood near the river, somewhere
above the St. Charles Hotel, and
was the subject of general
conversation as well as the
admiration of her citizens -
perhaps the envy of some whose
means did not permit them to
make so aristocratic a display.
Mr. Ellison himself, who
was an Irishman, who so
delighted with his beautiful
house, that he "paddled" his
canoe over the river and climbed
one of the highest hills on the
Kentucky side, to see how it
looked at a distance from such a
commanding position. He
was perfectly enchanted with is
appearance. He returned
home, and eagerly accosting his
wife as he met her, he
exclaimed,
Mary! it looks more
like a heaven on earth!"
But alas, Mr. Ellison and his beloved Mary,
are both now sleeping their lat
long sleep, in narrow houses of
clay, their bones mouldering
into dust, while their beautiful
house of brick, that once caused
their hearts to throb with such
emotions of delight and
happiness, has fallen beneath
the destroying flames and it
too, has returned to its
elemental dust - an impressive
lesson upon the transitory and
fleeting happiness, of all the
joys that earth affords.
FIRST MILL
The
first mill - perhaps in the
county, was built by General
Massie, on Island creek, two
miles from town, and was what he
called a "Tub Mill." A
year or so afterward another one
was built, about two hundred
yards above the first one.
This was a pretty good mill, and
ground both wheat and corn, and
was considered quite an
institution. It is said
that when grinding was to be
done, the men would arm and go
in a company, and while the
grinding was being done, part of
them would stand out as pickets
or guards, to watch the approach
of Indians. There was a
saw mill in connection with this
mill, but both have long since
disappeared.
FIRST CARDING MILL
About
1893, Israel Donaldson,
started the first carding mill
ever built in the county.
It was first started on Front
street, S. E. corner of
Washington street, in a building
owned and occupied by John
Fisher a grain and produce
dealer, as a warehouse.
Mr. Donaldson afterwards
built a new house, on the corner
east of Washington street, on
the opposite side, to which he
moved his carding machinery.
The lower story was for an oil
mill, the upper one was used for
carding. The oil mill was
only run a few years; the
carding ceased in 1832 or '33.
It was this building in which the great fire of 1860
originated.
Manchester was incorporated in 1850, by the following
act of the legislature, to-wit:
AN ACT
To Incorporate the town of
Manchester, in the county of
Adams.
SEC. 1. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly
of the State of Ohio, That
so much of the township of
Sprigg, in the county of Adams,
as is included within the
following boundaries, to-wit:
Beginning at the southeast
corner of John Donaldson's
land, on the Ohio river; thence
with his lie northwardly about
one hundred poles, to Isaac's
creek; thence up said creek to
the northwest corner of the
original survey and plat of the
town of Manchester; thence with
the north line of said town plat
eastwardly, to the west line of
Thomas W. Means' land;
thence with said Means'
line southwardly, to the Ohio
river; thence down the river
with the southerly boundary of
the State of Ohio, to the river
with the southerly boundary of
the State of Ohio, to the
beginning, be, and the same is
hereby declared to be a town
corporate, by the name of
Manchester, and by that name
shall be a body corporate and
politic, with perpetual
succession, and as such shall
have all the privileges and be
subject to all the limitations,
provisions and restrictions of
the "Act for the regulation of
incorporated towns," passed
February 16, 1839, and the acts
amendatory thereto.
SEC. 2. That the town council of said town, in
addition to the powers and
privileges granted and conferred
by the "act for the regulation
of incorporated towns" as
aforesaid, shall have power and
authority to make, keep in
repair and regulate all public
buildings, grades and wharves,
and wharf-boats belonging to
said town; and to fix and
regulate the price of landing
and wharfage thereto; to require
by ordinance the owner or owners
of any lot, or parts of lots, to
pave the side walks, or to alter
amend and keep the same in
repair in front of their
respective lot or lots, or parts
of lots, upon any street within
said town, and of such width and
in conformity with such grade as
of said council shall direct.
SEC. 3. That said town shall be a road district,
and the labor required by law,
to be performed by the
inhabitants thereof upon the
public roads, and also any tax
which may be levied or assessed
by, or under the authority of
the laws of this State, within
the corporate limits of said
town, shall be performed and
expended upon the streets,
alleys and highways within the
said town, in such manner and
under such regulations as the
town council shall direct.
Abraham Perry was the first Mayor, and Jos.
Shriver, first Marshal.
At that time there were probably
not more than a half-dozen
business houses within the
corporation. Manchester
now has a population of 1486,
with three churches, six school
departments, one bank, one
printing office, one telegraph
office, three drug stores, one
boot and shoe house, two boot
and she manufacturers, four
millinery stores, two merchant
tailors, four physicians, four
lawyers, one stove and tin
store, one sewing machine
establishment, two furniture
stores, two undertakers, two
soldiers, three photographic
galleries, two warehouses,
three jew-
[Page 33] -
elers, one planing mill, one saw
mill, two flouring mills, one
furniture factory, two
potteries, two marble works,
four cooper shops, one chair
factory, two hotels, one bakery,
two confectionaries, two livery
stables, four blacksmith shops,
one broom factory two wagon
shops, but not least, three
saloons.
Manchester is the principal business place in Adams
county. It is the main
shopping point, to which the
farmers take their stock and
produce to sell, which gives
life and spirit to the business
of the place.
The Manchester gain dealers make an annual purchase of
one hundred and fifty thousand
bushels. The yearly
shipment of tobacco from that
point exceeds five hundred
thousand pounds. A leading
dry goods house sells $80,000
worth a year. Last year
the stock dealers shipped twelve
thousand logs. One of the
druggists sold to the amount of
$12,000, while the grocery sales
amounted to $70,000, and a
saddler sold $15,000. The
sales of stoves and tinware are
$15,000, and boots and shoes
$13,000 annually.
|
POST OFFICE.
It is
believed that Manchester was the
first Post Office in the county.
It was established April 14,
1801.
The following is a complete list of Postmasters, with
the dates of their several
appointments:
1801, |
April 14, |
Israel Donaldson |
Appointed |
1813, |
Sep. 27, |
John Ellison,
Jr., |
" |
1815, |
June 13, |
John Fisher |
" |
1822, |
March 29, |
Joseph McClain, |
" |
1826 |
April 10, |
John Fisher, |
" |
1827, |
Oct. 13, |
Joseph McClain, |
" |
1829, |
Oct. 20, |
David Ellison, |
" |
1831, |
Sept. 22, |
William Ellison, |
" |
1833, |
Dec. 14, |
Josiah Stout, |
" |
1838, |
Dec. 20, |
Henry Coppel, |
" |
1841, |
July 10, |
Andrew
Livingston, |
" |
1846, |
Nov. 4, |
John C. Scott, |
" |
1847, |
Nov. 4, |
Cyrus Ellison, |
" |
1853, |
Jan. 27, |
Richard B. Case, |
" |
1853, |
Sept. 1, |
William
Stableton, |
" |
1854, |
Feb. 7, |
James McColm, |
" |
1854, |
Oct. 27, |
Alexander M.
Lang, |
," |
1855, |
Mar. 23, |
David Dunbar, |
" |
1866, |
Sept. 27, |
William L.
Vance, |
" |
1867, |
Mar. 28, |
Mrs. Martha A.
Phillips, |
" |
|
Mrs. Phillips is
the present
incumbent. |
BANKS - MANCHESTER
The
first bank in Manchester, was
started in 1857, by John
Ellison, as a private
institution, which he conducted
until the establishment of the
present National Bank, in June,
1872.
While Mr. Ellison carried on his private bank,
he had associated with him in
the institution, R. H.
Ellison and Peter Shiras.
The capital stock of the present National Bank, is
$50,000, in shares of $100 each.
J. P. Ellison, Cashier;
W. A. Blair, President;
L. Pierce, Vice
President.
Since writing the above, this bank has resolved to
close business and wind up its
affairs.
HISTORY
OF THE LEADING BUSINESS
HOUSES
DRY GOODS STORES
W. L. VANCE.
This is perhaps the largest dry
goods store in Adams county, a
proprietor commenced selling
goods in 1859, in a small way.
His sales have increased until
they amount to $80,000 a year.
He deals exclusively in dry
goods.
H. M. PALMER
The house deals in drygoods,
boots and shoes. It has a
large trade. Mr. Palmer
commenced business November 12,
1877.
MANCHESTER MILLS - ASHENHUST,
ROUSH & CO., PROPRIETORS
These splendid mills were built
by Ashenhust & Foster, in 1869,
commencing to grind September 9.
The building is a substantial
frame, 40x60, three and a half
stories high, furnished with all
the modern improvements in
machinery, with a 40 horse power
_I____ built at a total cost of
$12,000.
T_____ ___ two run of wheat and one run of corn burrs,
with _____ __ manufacture
65 to 70 barrels of flour per
day.
Ashenhust & Foster run it until March, 1874,
when Mr. Ashenhust' son
John Franklin, bought out
Foster, and it was run by
Ashenhust & Son, until
December 6, 1875, when
Alexander Roush bought
one-fourth interest in the
establishment, ____ which, it
has been run under the name of
Ashenhust, Roush & Co.
OLIVE FLOURING MILLS - RICE &
SOY PROPRIETORS
These mills were originally
commenced in 1840, by John
and G. W. Donaldson, sons of
Israel Donaldson.
The progress of the work was
interrupted by the death of
G. W. Donaldson, who lost
his life while trying to remove
the goods from the burning house
of his brother John.
It was then leased to Walter
Scott, who completed it, put
in the machinery and run it two
years, when Ellison & McColm,
bought it. They run it
three years and sold to
Bently. After passing
through several hands it was
finally bought in 1877, by
Ebenezer Rice & Son, the
present proprietors who do a
general merchant flouring
business. It has a
capacity of forty barrels a day.
NURSERY.
JOHN BIGGAR.
Mr. Biggar has been
engaged all his life in the
nursery business, raising and
selling fruit and ornamental
trees of all kinds. He
commenced business on his own
account, across the river in
Kentucky, in 1855, removed to
Manchester in 1877, where he has
the most extensive nursery in
the country.
POTTERIES
JOHN PARKES
This establishment was started
by Parkes & Chamberlain
in May 1846. It was
carried on Twenty-two years
under this firm, when Mr.
Chamberlain retired, Mr.
Parkes becoming sole
proprietor, erected the
buildings he now occupies, in
which he has continued to the
present time, making
thirty-three years in all, that
he has followed the business.
He has experienced the fact that
steady perseverance will build
up any legitimate business.
When he commenced, he could
make, alone, more ware than he
could sell. After twelve
years, ten men cannot
manufacture enough to supply and
demand.
FURNITURE.
D. D. CLINTON
Was born in Adams County, in
1827; has been engaged in the
furniture trade since 1847.
He has been a leading dealer in
the business for thirty-two
years, and has made it a
success. He has been an
active, energetic man,
interested in all public
enterprises.
BLACKSMITH SHOPS,
J. D. WHITE
Came here in 1876, and carries
on a general blacksmithing
business. He resides on
Front street, and is a member of
the city council.
G. W. CURRY
Carries on the blacksmithing
business in all its branches.
He commenced business here in
1876.
HOTELS.
ST. CHARLES - DAVID CHARLES,
PROPRIETOR.
This house was commenced in
1838, by John McNary, who
died before its completion.
It remained in an unfinished
condition for ten years, then
passed into the hands of
Charles Stevenson, who
completed it and started a
tavern in it, which he carried
on for some years, then sold to
Nathan Ellis.
Daniel Denning was the next
proprietor. He sold to
William Walker.
Walker entered the army and
died of small pox in 1832, at
Louisville, Kentucky.
While Walker was in the
army, the house was run by his
son-in-law,
Jesse
Kimball. After Walker's
death
David Charles became the
owner and has since continued it
as a hotel.
McDAID HOUSE
The first building was a frame
house which was burnt down when
completed. The proprietor,
M. V. Cropper, then
(1858) built a brick on the same
foundation. Mr. Cropper
afterwards sold to Samuel
Woodland G. W. Sample, who
conducted the hotel untl
1862, when Robert McDaid
became proprietor, since whose
death it has been run by the
widow and
John McDaid.
J. W. & S. J. TRENARY,
Manufacturers of lumber, lath,
lining, tobacco hogsheads, & C.;
also, buyers of walnut, hemlock
and poplar lumber. All
kinds of seasoned lumber for
building purposes, sawed to
order.
LODGE NO. 317 OF F. AND A. M.
OF MANCHESTER
The Lodge was organized May 16,
1859, by dispensation.
Officers appointed by the R. W.
Grand Master, May 16, 1859;
Henry Y. Coppel, Worshipful
Master; Benjamin Bowman
Senior Warden; James
Brittingham Junior Warden.
OFFICERS UNDER DISPENSATION,
APPOINTED BY W. M.
William L. McCalla,
Treasurer; David Dunbar,
Secretary; William A.
Shriver, Senior Deacon;
George W. Sample, Junior
Deacon; Perry T. Connelly,
Tyler.
A charter was granted Oct. 20, 1859, and under that
instrument an election was held
Nov. 7, 1859, and the following
officers elected: James
N. Brittingham, W. M.; G.
W. Sample S. W.; A. B.
Ellison, J. W.; W. A.
Shriver, Treasurer; David
Dunbar, Secretary; J. W.
Pownall, S. D.; T. D.
Parker, J. D.; P. T.
Connelly, Tyler.
MANCHESTER CHAPTER NO. 129
Dispensation granted June 29, 1471.
Charter granted September 26,
1871.
ORIGINAL MEMBERS
A. T. Wikoff, W. B. Cole, R.
A. Stephenson, A. P. Pownall,
Harrison, Warner E. C. Pollard,
R. S. Daily, Phomas* P.
Foster, J. P. Bloomhuff, G. G.
Games, John Sparks, John M.
Freeman, M. S. Jeffries, R. M.
Owens, Thomas M. Games,
Nathaniel Massie.
OFFICES UNDER THE
DISPENSATION
Thos. Foster, H. P.; R.
A. Stephenson, S.; E. C.
Pollard, P. S.; J. P.
Bloomhuff, M. e. V.; R.
S. Daily, M. 2 V.; G. G.
Games, Treasurer; T.
M. Games, K.; H. Warner,
C. of H.; A. P. Pownall,
R. A. C.; R. M. Owens, M.
w v.; N. Massie,
Secretary; J. M. Freeman,
G.
OFFICERS ELECTED NOV. 30,
1871
T. P. Foster, H. P.;
R. A. Stephenson, S.; E.
C. Pollard, P. S.; D.
Pennywitt, M. 3 V.; H.
Warner, 1 V.; H. J.
Kimble, T.; T. N. Games,
K.; L. Foster, C. of H.;
D. D. Cluxton, R. A. C.;
J. N. Higgins, M. 2 V.;
D. Dunbar, Secretary; E.
M. Carey, G.
DE KALB LODGE NO. 138 I. O.
O. F. - WEST UNION, O.
Charter
granted by Grand Lodge of Ohio,
July 19, 1849, to David
Greenlee, John Harsha, Joseph
Hayslip, William M. Meek,
and Francis Shinn, and
was instituted by Grand Master,
Alexander E. Glenn
October 13, 1849.
The Lodge continued in good standing until July 20,
1855, during which time there
were admitted by card and
initiation, thirty members.
There were withdrawn by card,
twelve; died, three; expelled,
one; leaving at the time of its
removal to Manchester nineteen
members.
For some cause not known to the writer, the Grand
Lodge, at its February session,
1856, resolved to remove the De
Kalb Lodge from West Union to
Manchester.
In accordance with this resolution, it was instituted
at Manchester, by George B.
Baily, special D. D. G. M.,
July 31, 1856, with nineteen
members, removed from West
Union.
The following officers were elected at the first
meeting:
Henry Oursler, N. G.; Joseph W. Hayslip,
V. G.; Isaac Eakins,
Secretary; C. C. Cooley
Treasurer.
From the institution of this
Lodge to date, there have been
initiated...... 124 members.
Admitted by card |
27
members |
Withdrawn by card |
47
members |
Expelled |
3
members |
Died |
15
members |
Dormant members |
37 -
102 members |
This
Lodge is in good financial
condition, having considerable
of money loaned and in the hands
of the Treasurer. It also
owns a beautiful Odd Fellows
Cemetery, valued at $1,000.
Present officers: John Kenton Dunbar, N.
G.; J. Phillips Hundly,
V. G.; John McCutcheon,
R. Secretary; D. Robinson
Shriver, Per. Secretary;
J. W. Allison, Treasurer.
MANCHESTER ENCAMPMENT, 203,
I. O. O. F.
Charter
granted May 3, 1876, by the
Grand Encampment of Ohio.
The Lodge was instituted June
13, 1876 by W. R. Marshall
Grand Patriarch of Ohio.
The charter members were
George Lowery, D. R. Shriver. J.
W. Ebrite, I. K. Russell, John
McCutcheon, Washburn Trenary, L.
L. Conner, J. W. Eylar, J. H.
Stevenson, S. J. Lawwill, J. W.
Bunn, Washington Kimble.
The
following officers were elected
at the first meeting:
D. R. Shriver, Chief Patriarch; George
Lowery, high Priest; John
McCutcheon, S. W.; J. H.
Stephenson Scribe; S. J.
Lawwill, Treasurer; I. K.
Russell, J. W.
PRESENT CONDITION
Charter members |
___ |
Initiated |
1__ |
|
_____ |
|
3__ |
Withdrawn by car |
10 |
Died |
1 |
Expelled |
1 - 12 |
|
_____ |
May 31st, 1880 |
18 |
The
Lodge is in good financial
condition - no debts.
PRESENT OFFICERS
W.
P. Peyton, C. P.; W. H.
Cooper, H. P.; W. G.
Frow, S. W.; D. R.
Shriver, Scribe; John
McCutcheon, Treasurer; J.
P. Duffy, J. W.
MANCHESTER SCHOOLS.
By Lucien J. Fenton
The
first settlers of Manchester
were not unmindful of the fact
that education is a necessary
concomitant of civilization, and
thus we find them taking means
immediately after founding the
village, to secure its benefits
for their posterity.
The first building for school purposes was erected
about the year 1794, near the
southeast corner of the old
cemetery lot, some distance from
where the Presbyterian church
now stands. It was truly a
primitive structure, built of
logs, having one door and two
windows. The latter were
made by cutting out a log from
[Page 34] -
each side of the building, thus
having two long, narrow spaces,
one of which was filled with a
row of eight by ten glass, and
the other with oiled paper.
The fire-place occupied the
greater portion of one end of
the house and was of sufficient
capacity to admit logs of wood
five or six feet in length.
The floor was composed of
puncheons, so were the seats,
also, by putting in logs of
sufficient length; (backs were
not in use.) It is
impossible to ascertain who was
the first to wield the ferule in
this log seminary, but it is not
improbable that Israel
Donaldson was one of the
earliest Instructors of the
youth of our forest primeval.
The names of but few of the
teachers of the log school house
period are known, and
comparatively little is known
touching the character of the
instruction given; but the fact
is pretty well established, that
the instructors of this time had
an abiding faith in the virtue
of the hickory sprout as a
mental stimulus, as well as an
instrument of moral
regeneration. Indeed it
would seem that corporal
punishment was regarded as a
kind of necessary branch of
physical education by our worthy
ancestors. Some teachers
of this period taught what were
called "Loud schools" in which
all study and communication were
carried on aloud. The din
and confusion this caused,
especially by the "big boys"
studying the spelling lesson,
can be better imagined than
described. The text books
of the time include Webster's
Spelling Book, the English
Reader, and Pike's Arithmetic,
which was used to "cipher" in,
generally, so far as the "rule
of three." About the year
1818, it seems that Murray's
Elements of English Grammar, a
small volume, was studied by a
few of the more ambitious
pupils. There is no
evidence that Geography was ever
taught in the old log building.
Far be it from the purpose of the writer to cast the
least obloquy upon the labors of
our pioneer teachers. They
were, many of them, nature's
noblemen; they wrought a best
they could and their works do
follow them.
Wm. Dobbins taught the first term in the log
school house. It is
related of him, that on giving
to school one morning he found
himself "barred out," in common
parlance, on account of
his failure to treat the pupils
to candies, etc., but with the
aid of a rail Mr. Dobbins
son effected an entrance, and
then proceeded to thrust the
refractory boys into the open
air through the paper window
before mentioned. After
having restored order he
supplied them with the coveted
sweetmeats. About the year
1828, the log school house was
replaced by a small brick
building, which, although an
improvement on its predecessor,
was by no means an imposing
specimen of architecture.
The furniture consisted of a few
long desks adjoining the walls,
for the use of the larger
pupils, while the seats for the
smaller children were made of
rough slabs, and were without
backs. James Smith,
afterward a member of the Ohio
Legislature, taught the first
term in the new building.
He was succeeded by J. T.
Crapsey, who in turn was
followed by Wm. Robe,
afterward a noted surveyor.
The following named persons are
said to have taught in
Manchester while this building
was in use: Jane
Dickenson, Jane Williamson,
Andrew Crawford, George Burgess,
Robert Buck, David Pennywitt,
John Pennywitt, Edward Burbage,
Thomas Hayslip, R. R. Case,
Andrew Mannen, William McCalla,
also, a man named Clark, another
by the name of Parker Douglass.
There were many others, but
their names are unknown.
Mr. McCalla was connected
with the schools of Manchester
for several consecutive years,
and is spoken of in kindly terms
by his former pupils as a
faithful and efficient teacher.
He certainly labored under great
disadvantages, since it is said
that he sometimes had from
eighty to one hundred
pupils under his immediate
tuition at the same time,
variously advanced from the
elapsing abecedarian to the
ambitious student of surveying.
To give a detailed account of
the growth and character of the
schools during the period of the
little brick house is beyond the
province of this sketch, but a
few points will be briefly
noticed. Many of the
teachers of that time were by
nature endowed with superior
intellectual faculties, which
were reasonably well developed
by culture, yet their labors
were not crowned with that
degree of success which their
untiring zeal and unselfish
motives deserved. Teachers
seldom remained more than a
single term in a place at that
time, and it is presumed that
Manchester is no exception to
the rule, but changed teachers
so often that any systemized
plan of school work was rendered
impossible. As in the
former period, so in this, the
rod seems to have occupied a
conspicuous place in the
enforcement of discipline.
It was used indiscriminately,
without regard to age or sex, as
the offense seemed to demand.
Yet with all this, the
discipline was far from being
good. Many amusing
anecdotes are told concerning
the pranks of the mischievous
youths of that time; but no
doubt the cause was a lack of
the moral support of public
opinion, rather than the fault
of the teachers. Y__ __
____ be admitted that some of
these teachers were f___es ____
may have been employed
to teach because the stood in
___ __ the little money it
brought them; others because
they were of so little account
in this or any other capacity
that they could be got for
almost nothing.
The only official record of this period is from the
year 18_3 to 1856, its close.
The record of the meeting of the
Board of Education, of which
John Parks was Chairman and
A. M. Long, Clerk,
Oct. 17, 1853, shows that it
was then decided to have "two
schools" or departments in the
district after said date.
The record of the first meeting
for 1854, shows that an order
was drawn on the Treasurer in
favor of Wm. McCalla
for seventy-eight dollars
for services rendered as teacher
during the period of three
months. About the same
time it is shown that the whole
nuber of pupils in the school
studying arithmetic, was
twenty-one; number studying
geography, was sixteen; number
studying grammar, seven.
No higher branches were taught,
at least according to the
records. The entire
enrollment of youths of school
age in the district at this time
was two hundred and
eighty-three. The record
of the Board meeting of Feb. 28,
1854, shows that I. J. Jones and
others conveyed to the School
Board, in consideration of the
sum of one hundred and fifty
dollars, one acre from the west
end of out-lot number eighteen.
At the meeting of May 8, 1854,
it was decided to levy a tax of
eight hundred dollars for the
erection of a new school house.
On the 4th of May, 1855, the
Board entered into a contract
with various parties to do the
stone work, brick work, and
carpenter work of a new school
house, to be fifty-feet long,
twenty four feet wide, and the
lower story to be eleven feet
high and the upper to be ten
feet high. It appears that
said building was completed and
received from the contructors
some time during the latter part
of the year 1855, or the
beginning of the year following.
At a meeting of the Board of
Education, June 16, 1856, of
which J. B. Evans was
Chairman, and
Wm. Stevenson, Clerk, the
following resolution was
adopted: "That the school
be suspended at the end of the
present session, and that
measures to be taken to procure
a first rate teacher, to
bead the school, to
commence with the fall term."
At a meeting June 23, 1856,
orders were issued on the
Treasurer in favor of A. J.
Mannen, A. W. Hempleman and
Miss L. Gates, the teachers
who closed the period of the
little brick building.
As a preliminary step toward a reorganization of
the schools, the following
notice was given to the citizens
of Manchester, Aug. 11, 1856:
"The qualified voters of
Manchester Special School
District, will convene at the
school house in said district,
on Saturday, Aug. 23, 1856, at 6
o'clock P. M., and then and
there take into consideration
the propriety of establishing a
graded or Union School in said
district, and voting on the same
as authorized by an "act" passed
Feb. 1, 1849, for the better
regulation of schools in cities,
towns and villages. Signed
by D. M. McConaughy, J. N.
Wood, S. R. Wood, A. M. Lang, J.
N. Brittingham, James Mott
and L. Pierce.
On
the day specified in the notice
a meeting was held, and a vote
taken, which resulted in favor
of the proposed change by a
majority of thirty-nine votes.
After due notice, an election
was held Sept 6, 1856, to choose
six directors, as provided by
the law of 1849, at which time
John B. Enness and
Lacy Payton were elected for
three years; David Gillespie
and Dr. Joseph Stableton
for two years; and David
Dunbar and John Parks,
for one year. The first
meeting under the "new
dispensation" was held Aug. 9,
1858, and organized by electing
J. B. Enness, Chairman,
and David Danbar, Clerk.
At this meeting the "first rate
teacher to head the school," as
per former resolution, was
employed in the person of
John McClung, whose salary
was fixed at fifty dollars per
month. Son after this time
the Board appointed Dr. D. M.
McConaughy, Dr. D. W. Stableton
and Dr. Martin, as local
examines for the district.
Although the schools, after the reorganization of 1856
were known as graded schools,
there is no evidence that any
measures were taken to establish
a course of instruction, or to
reduce the general school work
to any special system, by which
a standard might be fixed for a
pupil to reach in one room or
department, in order to be
transferred to the next higher,
until a period of almost twenty
years had elapsed. The
so-called grading was left to
the principals and teachers from
year to year, and as the many
different persons who acted in
said capacities entertained
various opinions as to the
standard of scholarship
necessary for promotion of
pupils from department of
department, and, also, had
different views as to what
branches should be should not be
taught, it is not strange that
the schools of this time,
notwithstanding the fact that
many excellent teachers had been
connected therewith, did not
reach that standard of
proficiency which the projectors
had so fondly aaticipated.
There can be no doubt that one
of the chief hindrances to the
success of the schools was the
frequent change of teachers,
especially principals.
From the year 1856 to 1875, the
Manchester schools had fifteen
different persons acting in the
capacity of Principal, during
which period the average term of
service was less than one and
one-third school years.
Within a period of nineteen
years, (1856 to 1875) the
following named persons had
charge of the schools: John
McClung, M. J. Lewis, W. W.
Ramsay, James Williams, J.
Gregg, J. L. Craig, G. W.
Herrick, Wm. Coleman, J. B.
Jones, S. T. Kenyon, J. P.
Norris, A. N. Stowell, A. L.
Mahaffey, James McColm, J. H.
Compton. Lewis served
three years, Ramsay, Herrick
and McColm, each two
years, while one year or less,
covered the term served by each
of the others. It was
scarcely possible that any
special system could have been
adhered to under such
unfavorable circumstances, had
it even been inaugurated; yet
some of these teachers did
excellent work, while others
merely "put in the time" without
attempting to arouse any
enthusiasm on the part of the
pupils. It was in the fall
of 1875, that the Board of
Education, then consisting of C.
Flanagan, D. R. Shriver, C. E.
Kirker, W. T. Peyton, R. H.
Ellison and J. P. Ellison,
determined, that if possible,
the schools be graded in
fact as well as in name.
They accordingly caused a course
of instruction to be arranged
nominally covering a period of
twelve years; nine in the
primary and grammar grades, and
three in the High School.
This course of instruction was
formally adopted January 3d,
1876. In the grades below
the High School the common
English branches are taught,
including United States history.
The Studies of the High School
included Algebra, Physical
Geography, Latin, General
History, Plane and Solid
Geometry, Natural Philosophy,
Physiology, Botany, Chemistry,
English Literature, Rhetoric,
and a review of common branches.
This curriculum went into effect immediately, and was
found to inspire such a zeal for
knowledge among the pupils as
had never before been known.
Two classes have graduated from
the High School. The class
of 1878 consisted of John K.
Stableton, Edward E. Hopkins,
Dudley B. Phillips, Mary Lang,
Cora Phillips and Anna B.
Peyton. The class of
1879 consisted of Wm. W.
Stableton, Cordulia Scott,
Nettie Peyton, Fannie Phillips
and Ella McCutchen.
The
present Board of Education
consists of A. J. McIntire,
D. R. Shriver, W. T. Peyton, J.
P. Ellison, Dr. R. A. Stephenson
and S. B. Charles.
Lucien J. Fenton has been
Principal from the year 1875 to
the present time, (1880).
Since the grading of the schools
in 1876, the following named
teachers have served acceptably
in the different departments:
Thomas M. Games, J. H.
Thomas, Mary M. Wilson,
Lucinda E. Stableton, John Rea,
Julia Trent, Sallie Billings,
Mary Lang, Anna Peyton and
Cordulia Scott.
There are now six departments in
the school numbering in all 380
pupils. In conclusion it
may be added that the Manchester
schools have done a good work in
the past, and promise well for
the future, if wisely managed
and property supported by an
intelligent public.
The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to Captain
James Little, Mr. C. C. Cooley
and Mr. Calvin Montgomery,
for valuable data in
preparing this brief sketch.
CHURCHES
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH - MANCHESTER
This is one of the oldest
churches of the county, but the
date of its formation cannot be
ascertained with any
approximation to certainty.
It is probable that the first
preaching , which led to its
organization was held by Rev.
William Williamson, under
the spreading branches of some
elm trees, that stood at the
lower end of town, previous to
1806. It is inferred that
a church building was erected
prior to 1814, as the church was
incorporated by an act of the
Legislature, on the 19th day of
January, 1814, with William
Williamson, Israel Donaldson,
William Means, Richard
Rounsaville?? and John
Ellison, Sen., as
incorporators.
The next church building of which we can find any
record, was erected in 1845, at
a cost of $1,100. Reynolds
& Daugherty were the
contractors.
Rev. William Williamson, the first pastor,
continued his labors twenty-five
years. He was followed by
the following list of ministers,
some of whom were only temporary
supplies, while others served
from two to six years. Rev.
S. C. Rutter, five
years; Rev. John McDonald,
two years; Revs. T. S.
Williamson, Joseph
Chester, William Kephart, Dyer
Burgess, John P. Vandyke, Jesse
Lockhart, W. H. Rodgers and
John P. Hills, six
years; E. Brainard, three
years; A. Thompson, six
and a half years; David
Vandyke, _____ Urmston, William
Coleman, R. B. Herron, two
years; R. T. Drake, two
years; D. s. Anderson,
two years; I. R. Gibson,
three and a half years.
Augustus Taylor present
pastor, who commenced his labors
in November, 1875, now in the
fifth year of his pastorate.
The following have been the ruling elders in the church
William Ellison, Charles
Stephenson, James Kirker,
Nathaniel Montgomery, Israel
Donaldson, John Anderson, Robert
Strong, John Means, ro_
Campbell, Ralph Voris, William
Cunningham. C. M. Keith,
Dr. G. W. Martin, George Pettitt,
Davis D. Clinton, John Ellison
and
William Stevenson.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
This
church was organized January
19th, 1869, with twenty-six
members, by Rev. George
Brown, D. D., officiating
minister, David Pennywitt,
leader, and W. H. Pownall
assistant. Stewards,
Reuben Pennywitt, L. L.
Conner, Joseph Stableton.
Trustees, Joseph Connell,
Edwin Butters, Isaac H. Hill.
The members organizing this church were D.
Pennywitt, Tamor Pennywitt, W.
H. Pownall, D. W. Stableton,
Mary Stableton, D. J. Stableton,
Lucinda Stableton, R. Pennywitt,
Jane Pennywitt, Joseph C.
Pownall, Mary Pownall, Martha A.
Pownall, L. L. Connell,
Elizabeth Connell, Ruth A.
Vaughn, James R. Vaughn, Joseph
Connell, Jane C. Connell, Joseph
Stableton, Julia A. Chamberlain,
John Parkes, Sarah Parkes, Isaac
H. Hill, Edmund Butters,
Margaret Edgington, Harriet
Clark, Jozella Naylor, Harriet
B. Collings, Alexander Fleming,
Alvira Flemming, Tillie
Flemming.
In 1870 they built a frame house, 37x60, at a cost
of $2,400. It was
dedicated by Rev. M. V. B.
Ewing, assisted by Rev.
George Brown, D. D.
Ministers:
1st, Rev. J. C. Caddy, from March to the fall of
|
[Page 35]
1879?.
James Litten,
_____ McFarland.
A. M. Ravenscraft,
T. D. Horn,
John W. Spring,
W. F. Dickerman.
Present pastors:
A. M. Ravenscraft,
A. A. Manson.
Present number of members, 135
M. E. CHURCH
After
diligent search, we are unable
to gather anything of the
history of this church.
The pastor was engaged to
continue the research, and after
a lapse of over two months,
writes:
"I have made diligent inquiry concerning the early
history of the M. E. church in
Manchester, and I cannot find
any one who knows enough about
the matter to give a meager
sketch."
BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES.
OLIVER
ASHENHUST
This
gentleman is of Irish descent.
His grandfather, William Ashenhust,
was born in the county Tyrone, Ireland, where he married.
He emigrated to America at an early day, and settled in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, where his children grew up,
and most of them married. He reared a family of five
children, two sons and three daughters, all of them born in
Ireland but the youngest one, Oliver, who was born on
their passage to this country. Mr. Ashenhust,
finally moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he lived and died
at the age of ninety-five, his wife dying at the age of
ninety-six years. Mr. Ashenhust's children all
came with him to Brown county, and settled near him.
John the eldest son of William Ashenhust, married
Mary Young. They were the parents of eight
children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom grew up
to the years of maturity and married. Oliver,
the youngest of these children, is the subject of this
sketch. He married Susan Parker in November,
1846. By this marriage, he had one daughter, named
Samantha, who married John Clinger. They
live on Island creek, Monroe township. Mr.
Ashenhust's wife died, and he married for a second wife,
Amy Phibbs. By this marriage he has reared a
family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, named
John F., Julius Melancthon, James Oliver, Mary Margaret,
Elizabeth, Ella, Myrtle, Lulu Maud, and Minnie May.
Of these children, John F. married Clara Leedom,
and is engaged in the milling business in Ironton.
Julius M. married Alice Charles, and is also
engaged in the milling business in Ironton. The others
are unmarried, and remain at home. Oliver
Ashenhust's father died in Wayne county, Ohio, aged
eighty-five. His mother died in Chase city,
Mecklenburg county, Va., aged ninety. Of his four
grand parents, his parental grandfather and grandmother died
aged ninety-five and ninety-six, respectively, while his
maternal grandfather was one hundred and ten his maternal
grandmother was ninety-three, at the time of their decease,
the average age of the four grandparents being ninety-eight
and one half years.
PETER COOLEY
was born in Winchester, Va.,
about the year 1788; removed
with his step-father, John Lodwick, when about six years old,
and settled on Eagle creek, Adams county, in 1794 or '95.
Here he lived until he was fifteen years of age, when Mr.
Lodwick bound him to a man in Washington, Ky., to learn
the saddle and harness trade. There he remained until
he was twenty-one, when he came to Manchester and opened the
first saddle and harness shop in the county. He
carried on the business several years, when he commenced the
dry goods and grocery business, his store being the second
one opened in Manchester. He remained in the dry goods
business until his death in 1843. In March, 1812, he
raised a company of volunteers, was elected Captain, and
marched his company with General Harrison's army
against the British and Indians. He was married in
1810 to Miss Nancy Perry, by the Rev. William
Williamson. They commenced housekeeping as soon as
married in the same room he used for his harness shop.
Their cooking utensils consisted of a skillet and two lids,
both broken. Every Sunday they indulged in the luxury
of a cup of coffee which was made in a tin cup. In the
course of time they had nine children. At the time of
Mr. Cooley's death he had accumulated enough property
to give his seven surviving children a good start in life.
Five of his children are yet living. Three sons and
one daughter are in Manchester - one son is in the West.
JAMES CONNER
The subject of this sketch is of
Irish descent. His father, Peter Conner, came from
Ireland and settled in Manchester in 1791. In 1798, he
settled a farm on the Maysville and Chillicothe road, three
miles west of Manchester, where he lived to the time of his
disease in 1826. His son, James Conner, was
born and grew to manhood, on this farm. In 1832, he
married Miss Margaret Boyles and in 1834 bought the
old homestead on which he lived until 1874, when he sold it
and removed to Manchester, where he now resides. He
reared a family of four children, one son and three
daughters, all of whom survive and are married. The
son, James H. Conner, is the present treasurer of
Adams county.
ISRAEL DONALDSON
whose history is so intimately
connected with the early
business of Adams county, was
born in Greenwich, Cumberland
county, New Jersey, Feb. 2,
1767. In 1684 he
removed to Ohio county, West Virginia, where he remained
until 1790, engaged in farming and teaching school. In
May of that year, he took passage on a flat boat for
Kentucky, arriving in Limestone - now Maysville - June 1.
He taught school at that place during the summer, and early
in 1791 came to Manchester and joined Gen. Massie in
surveying. For many years of his life, Mr.
Donaldson appears to have been engaged in various
business enterprises in and about Manchester, and did much
to aid in developing the material resources and building up
the prosperity of the place. He was a man of the
strictestintegrity - endowed with greata business
capacities, and commanded the confidence and respect of his
fellow citizens everywhere. When the call for a
Convention, to frame a Constitution for the new State of
Ohio was made, he was elected by his fellow-citizens as a
delegate from Adams county, which trust he discharged with
credit to himself and honor to his county. He
served in General Wayne's army in the campaign
against the Indians in 1794, wintering with it near where
Greenville now stands. He volunteered under the
general call in the war of 1812; but as more men answered to
that call than were needed, he was one of the number sent
back after an absence of three or four months. He was
a member of the Presbyterian church for upward of sixty
years, and a ruling elder for many years. Through
a long life he was always governed by the religion he
professed and was a consistent christian. He died Feb.
9, 1860,and lies buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at
Manchester. He married Miss Annie Pennywitt,
Nov. 15, 1798. There being no marriage laws in Ohio at
that time, these parties had to go over to Kentucky to have
the ceremony performed. These parents reared a family
of seven children, three sons and four daughters: Sarah
B., born Aug. 11, 1800; Mary B., born Aug. 6,
1802; Harriet, born Nov. 17, 1804; Joseph,
born June 6, 1807; John, born Aug. 10, 1810;
George W., born Aug. 9, 1814; Eveline B., born
July 7, 1817; Sarah B. died in early years; Mary
B. married Robert Herron, and is now living
a widow in Eckmanville; Harriet A. married S. W.
Compton, and now lives in Rome, Adams county, Ohio;
Joseph, married Caroline Bagley in 1828, and
removed in 1836 to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, and
engaged in the practice of medicine and died there in 18___;
John, married Clarinda Ellis in 1844, and
lives in Brown county, Ohio, is engaged in farming;
George W. lost his life Aug. 30, 1847, in attempting to
remove the goods from the burning house of his brother
John in Manchester; Eveline, married George B.
Clark, Apr. 19, 1841. She died in 1851.
W. T. PEYTON
The Peyton family is of Scotch
origin. The ancestors of W. T. Peyton, came at
an early day, and settled in Loudon county, Virginia, but
the first reliable account we get, is of the grand-father,
who lived, married and died there. He reared a family
of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Four
of these children, three sons and one daughter, came West,
and settled in different parts of Ohio. One of the
sons, named Lacey, who was born May 5, 1816, married
Eliza Jones in 1838, and a few years afterwards moved
to Adams county, O., and settled at Louisville, a little
village near Marble Furnace. After remaining there a
few years, he removed to North Liberty, where his wife died.
By this marriage he raised four children, three sons and one
daughter, William T., Townsend, Margaret and
Charles. For a second wife, Mr. Peyton
married Nancy Purcell by whom he had a daughter named
Jennie. His second wife died, and he married
for a third one, a lady named Catharine Monroe of
Allegheny City, Pa. He then moved to Manchester, where
he remained a few years, but finally settled in Harrison
county, Iowa, where he yet resides. By this last
marriage, Mr. Peyton has reared a family of eight
children, seven sons and one daughter. Of Mr.
Peyton's children by his first wife but two now survive,
William T. and Charles. William T., who
is the subject of this sketch, was born in Loudon county,
Va., Jan. 13, 1838. He received his education
mostly at North Liberty. In 1855, he commenced the
study of medicine with the Drs. Stableton of
Manchester, but before finishing his full course of studies,
he commenced selling drugs and medicines in a small way at
first, but the sales increased so rapidly, that it soon
engrossed his whole time he has devoted his whole attention
to the business of druggist. He trade has continually
increased, until he now has the largest establishment of the
kind in the county. William T. Peyton married
Jennie Gates, Dec. 31, 1857. They are the
parents of five children, two sons and three daughters,
to-with: Edwin Harold, born Apr. 20, 1850; Nettie
Bianche, born Aug. 27, 1860; Frank Ray, born June
1, 1863; Ada May born July 19, 1865, and Kate
Leonora, born May 5, 1868; all living but the oldest.
Harry as Edwin was called, was drowned, while
bathing in the Ohio river, July 27, 1879, aged 20 years, 7
months and 3 days. He was a devotee of science; was
specially interested in the subject of archeology, and had
gathered one of the best collections of the mound -builders
remains to be found in the State. His untimely death
is a loss to the country and world, as well as to his
relatives and friends.
ABRAHAM PERRY
The subject of this sketch was
born in Washington county, O.,
Feb. 3, 1808; was married Nov.
4, 1830, to Elizabeth Ellis. They were the
parents of eighteen children, but two of whom survive - one
son and one daughter. He came to Adams county in 1825,
and kept wharf boat, forward carried on the mercantile
business; was extensively engaged in the flour trade, doing
a commission business. He has frequently been called
to fill important public trusts. He was elected the
first Mayor of Manchester; has filled the office of Justice
of the Peace for a number of years; was appointed by
President Lincoln, Deputy United States Marshal for the
Southern District of Ohio, which position he held two terms.
J. A. LOUGHRIDGE
The father of our subject, William Loughridge, was born in Tyrone,
county, Ireland, in 1771, and emigrated to America in 1803,
and settled in Carlisle, Pa., where he remained until 1807,
when he removed to Adams county, and settled in Monroe
township, on the head waters of Island creek, on the farm
now owned by M. F. Wade, where he lived and died, in
1851. He reared a family of nine children, five sons
and four daughters. Only two of those children now
survive. W. B. Loughridge, who lives in
Indiana, and J. A. Loughridge, who lives in
Manchester.
ALEXANDER
ROUSH
The
subject of this sketch was born in Sprigg township, June 27,
1847. His ancestry is given in the biography of
William Roush, of that township. He was married to
Miss Olivine Pence, November 16, 1871. By this
marriage there were born unto him two children:
Henry, born Sept. 16, 1872, and Lillie born ___.
Mrs. Roush died July 15, 1878. Mr. Roush
married for a second wife, Caroline Ellison, Oct. 21,
1879. He is now engaged in the milling business, for
which, see history of Ashenhurst, Roush & Co.'s Mills,
Manchester.
DR. R. A. STEPHENSON
The subject of this sketch is of
Scotch descent, his ancestors
emigrating to this country from
the North of Ireland, prior to
the Revolutionary War, and
settled in Sussex county,
Delaware. In the year
1790, his great grandfather, William Stephenson, with his
family,
moved to Limestone, (Now Maysville) Kentucky, and remained
in that State until 1800, when he removed to Brown county,
Ohio, near Ripley, where he resided until his death.
His grand-father, Mills Stephenson, married Miss
Fitzpatrick, and raised a family of seven children, five
sons and two daughters: Robert, Ephraim, John, Charlotte,
Elizabeth, Young and Lemuel, all of whom
are now dead, except Robert P. Stephenson, who
married Mary Wallace, in September, 1819, and raised
a family of ten children: Mills, Ephraim, Jane, Thomas,
Lemuel Young, Mary Ann, Robert A., Catharine J., and
William R., all of whom survive except Mills, Ephraim
and Jane. Dr. Stephenson was born on the
11th of August, 1838, near Ripley, O., and received his
education at the Ripley High School; he commenced the study
of medicine with Dr. E. R. Bell of Ripley, O., on the
third day of October, 1859, and attended his first course of
lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia,
Pa., in the fall and winter of 1800 and '61. In the
month of August, 1851, he applied to the regular army board
of medical examiners for permission to be examined for the
position of Medical Cadet U. S. Army; passed the required
examination, and was assigned to duty at Union Hospital,
Georgetown, D. C., in the latter part of August, 1851;
remained there until 1st of May, 1862, when he was ordered
to Indiana Hospital - then in the west wing of patent office
building - remained there until July 4th, when he was
ordered to Point Lookout, Maryland, where a hospital was
established under the supervision of Dr. Clinton
Wagner. He remained on duty at this point until
mustered out, 1st of October, 1862. Attended second
course of lectures at Jefferson Medic College, and graduated
with the class in March, 1863. Son after graduating,
made application to the state board of medic__ examiners,
passed the required examination for the position; Assistant
Surgeon, and was assigned to duty with the 69th Regt. O. V.
I., where he remained as Assistant Surgeon until Jan. 1854,
at Savannah, Ga.; was then promoted Surgeon until January
1865, at Savannah, Ga.; was then promoted Surgeon, and was
finally mustered out at Camp Dennison, July 25th, 1865.
Lacat__ and commenced practice at Bentonville, Adams county,
O., in October, 1865, and was married to Miss Kate
Hopkins, on the 27th of November, 1867, and has a family
of three children, two sons and one daughter; Wm. P.,
Mary and Robert, all of whom are now living.
He removed to Manchester, his present location, June 1st,
1873.
---
NEGRO HUNG
On Saturday morning Nov. 22,
1856, a Negro, named Terry,
committed an outrage on Mrs.
Morrison, whose husband, at
the time was absent.
Terry was promptly arrested
and lodged in jail. When
Mr. Morrison returned and
the circumstances became fully
known, the indignation of the
citizens knew no bounds.
They adopted measures to inflict
summary punishment on the
offender.
Accordingly, about 10 o'clock, A. M. Tuesday, Nov. 25,
they assembled to the number of
two or three hundred, and in
wagons and on horseback,
proceeded to West Union, where
court was in session, and there
in the presence of the numbers
usually gathered during court,
they deliberately went to the
jail, broke it open, took out
the prisoner, placed him in a
wagon and returned To
Manchester, where they arrived
about 3 o'clock, P. M.
Here a little time was given the
prisoner to arrange his worldly
affairs and bid his wife a last
farewell. These ceremonies
over, they
[Page 36] -
took him over to the
Island, which is Kentucky
territory, and there suspended
him from the branch of a tree,
till he was dead. He was
then buried on the Island near
the waters edge, about dark,
when the assembled crowd
returned to their homes.
DEATH
OF MORRIS EDMONTON.
In the forenoon of August 30,
1873, an affray occurred in
Manchester, that resulted in the
death of Morris Edgington.
Mr. Edgington owned the
pottery establishment on Front
street, now the property of
Thomas McCann. While
engaged in the ware room in
which the pottery is dried
preparatory to burning and where
the burnt ware is also deposited
for sale, two men, named John
Warden and James
Daugherty, with whom Mr.
Edgington had had some
misunderstanding, came in.
they were apparently intoxicated
and becoming troublesome, Mr.
Edgington undertook to put
them out by force, when
Daughterty drew a knife
which he had somewhere about,
with which he stabbed him.
Edgington died within
twenty-four hours.
The parties implicated in this affair were arrested,
indicted at the January term of
court. John Warden
was tried, found guilty of
murder in the second degree, and
on the 27th of January, 1874?,
was sentenced to the
penitentiary for life.
Daugherty was kept in jail until July 27, 1874,
on the night of which day he
made his escape and was heard of
no more until the 17th or 18th
of November following, when he
was found in Louisiana, brought
back and again lodged in jail.
He was tried on the 25th of
January, found guilty of murder
in the second degree and on the
26th sentenced to the
Penitentiary for life.
After serving in that institution until November, 1879,
Warden was pardoned by
the Governor, but Daugherty
still remains.
DEATH OF
WILLIAM MONROE
WILLIAM MONROE, a farmer,
living near the junction of
Beasley's Fork and Moore's Run,
was a stout muscular man, noted
for his ruffianly, quarrelsome
disposition when drinking,
frequently getting in rows and
fights, though in his sober
hours, he was a
hardworking and rather thrifty
business man and owned a good
farm or two. Some years
before, he had had a difficulty
on a boat with some of the
Greenlee family who lived near
Bradyville. On Saturday
Sept. 2, 1876, Samuel
Greenlee, William Greenlee,
Thompson Frame and Monroe
were all in Manchester and as
usual had indulged too freely.
Sometime in the afternoon they
met at the McDaid House,
the old quarrel was easily
renewed and Monroe and
Samuel Greenlee soon engaged
in combat in front of the hotel.
In the struggle, Monroe
was stabbed and immediately
expired.
Samuel Greenlee and William Greenlee,
were at once arrested, while
Thompson Frame who was
implicated in the affair made
his escape.
The case against William Greenlee was nollied
for want of sufficient evidence,
but Samuel Greenlee, was
tried, found guilty and
sentenced to three years
imprisonment in the Ohio
penitentiary, which he served
out, except a few months
commuted for good behavior.
EARLY
RECOLLECTIONS OF CAPTAIN JAMES
LITTLE.
James Little was born in
Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, Dec. 4, 1793, came
with his parents to Maysville
where they landed May 19, 1803,
and soon after settled in
Aberdeen, Brown county, Ohio.
His
father, Thomas Little,
was born in county Tyrone,
Ireland, and when a young man
came to America. He came
to this country just at the
commencement of the Revolution,
landed at Philadelphia and the
next day enlisted in the
Continental army and served
throughout the war. He was
at the battle of Monmouth and
Cowpens, as well as many other
places. Capt.
Little's mother, whose
maiden name was Mary Nieper,
came with her mother from
Ireland to this country, in a
ship Prosperity, and landed at
New Castle, Del. This was
the last vessel that arrived
before the commencement of
hostilities in the Revolutionary
war.
After the close of the war,
Thomas Little came to
Ohio, first to Aberdeen, then to
Adams county. He also
served in the war of 1812.
A
son named James, now
everywhere known as "Capt.
Little
seems to have been a
"natural born" boatman.
He, from his earliest years,
took to the water as naturally
as a duck does. He
commenced his career as a
boatman as soon as he was large
enough to "paddle" a canoe.
From the canoe he went to the
flatboat, then the keep boat and
to the Steamboat, starting as a
common hand and working his way
up to Captain, in which capacity
he has spent a good part of his
life.
He remembers all the early steamboats that ran on the
Ohio. The first one that
ever came down the river, was
the "New Orleans," built at
Pittsburgh in 1811. It
passed Manchester in December of
that year. A crowd of
people lined the banks of the
river to see it pass. This
was the year in which so many
earthquakes occurred in the
southwest and which were visibly
felt even in this region.
Capt. Little was on a
keel boat on the river about
three miles above Maysville when
one occurred. It was on
Monday morning a little before
day, and was so severe felt
chimneys of homes about
Manchester were toppled down and
fences shattered. These
shocks continued at irregular
periods for many months.
The next boat was the Etna, also built at Pittsburgh,
in 1812; then the Vesuvlus?, the
next year. These boats all
piled on the western rivers and
never came back again.
The Dispatch, built on the Monongahala, near
Bridgeport, was the next.
This was the first boat that
ever returned up the Ohio.
It was built by James
Tumbleston and his
son-in-law, and commanded by
Elderry Perry. On an
upward trip from New Orleans, it
sank at the falls at Louisville,
and was lost.
The Buffalo on an up trip from New Orleans lost all its
passengers by yellow fever.
The first steamboat built at Manchester was the
Tuckkaho in 18_5. It was
built by John McNary for
Hance? Ireland.
The
next was the "Casket" also built
by the same person, in 1836, for
John Moore, of
Ripley.
Capt. Little was in the war of 1812, walked over
the ground of Dudley's
defeat the next day after the
battle; was at the siege of Fort
Meigs in 1813 and was at the
battle of the Thames which
resulted in the utter defeat of
the British and Indians, by the
forces under
Gen. Harrison.
THE ELLISON
FAMILY
This
family is of “Irish origin.
As early as 1791, John
Ellison and four sons,
Andrew, John,
James and Robert
Ellison and a daughter,
Margaret Ellison came
from Ireland and settled at
Manchester. It is believed
the mother never came to this
country, but died in Ireland,
before the family left there.
John Ellison, the
father of this family, died in
1806 and is buried in the
Nixon graveyard, two miles
south of West Union. The
four brothers soon became
prominent business men in the
county and performed a
conspicuous part in developing
its resources. They all
married and have left a numerous
race of descendants, that still
constitute a considerable
element in the population of the
county. They arc noted for
their business enterprise and
influence in public affairs.
These descendants arc also found
scattered over different
sections of the country and in
many of the States of the Union.
Andrew Ellison,
the oldest brother was married
in Ireland and came over with
his wire and infant son, named
John, before the others
did. He finally settled on
Lick Fork and built the stone
house now owned by Simon
Fields, where lie lived
and died. He was captured
by Indians in 1793, while living
at Manchester and was detained
among them some six or eight
months. He was twice married and
raised a family of five
children, named John,
Isabella, Margaret,
Jane and Andrew.
He and his second wife both died
on the Lick Fork farm and are
buried on the bottom over the
creek, not far from the old
stone house. Mr.
Ellison died June 5, 1833,
aged seventy-five years. Mrs.
Ellison died July 2,
1824, aged sixty- eight years.
John, the oldest of these
children became a prominent
citizen of Adams county. He
served as Sheriff two terms and
officiated at the hanging of
David Beckett.
He was several times elected a
member of the Legislature where
lie served with distinction, he
died April 10, 1829. He
married Anna Barr
daughter of Samuel Barr.
They were the parents of eleven
children, named Andrew B.,
Sarah, Mary, John, Esther, Jane,
Margaret A., Ann, William,
and two sons that died young.
Of these children, Andrew B.
Ellison, became a prominent
business man of Adams county.
He was actively engaged in the
mercantile business in
Manchester for forty years,
retiring only at the age of
seventy. He was married to
Rachel A. H. Enness,
of Cincinnati, October 22, 1833,
by the Rev. Dr. J. L.
Wilson of the Presbyterian
church. Mrs. A. B. Ellison
died of typhoid pneumonia, at
her residence in Manchester in
the sixty-second year of her age
and was buried in the old
cemetery there. She was
esteemed and beloved by nil who
knew her for her amiability and
goodness of heart. She had
long been a member of the
Presbyterian church and died in
the hope of a blessed
immortality. Mr. A. R.
Ellison is now living in
Manchester with his second
daughter, Mrs. Susan B. E.
Dream, now in the evening
of life, calmly awaiting the
summons to call him hence. A.
B. Ellison and Rachel
Ellison had born unto
them four children, Anna
Eliza, Susan B,
John and Rachel
Means. Anna
Eliza, the eldest daughter
married Rev. R. B. Herron, of
Hillsborough, Highland county,
O. She was married in the
old Presbyterian church in
Manchester, by the Rev. D. M.
Moore, died in Manchester,
Jan. 23, 1870, while on a
visit to her father’s, leaving
two children, Andrew G.
and Anna E. Herron.
She was buried in the family lot
in the old cemetery. She was a
devoted Christian and a good
woman. Susan B. Ellison,
the second daughter, married
Samuel D. Drenan, of
Drenan’s Landing, Rev. J.
R. Gibson was the
officiating clergyman, assisted
by Rev. R. B. Herron.
Rachel Means
Ellison, the youngest
daughter, married Peter
Shiras of Cincinnati, who
was then engaged in the banking
business in Manchester.
They now live in Ottowa, Kansas,
where Mr. Shirks
is engaged in banking.
They have a family of eight
children. John
Ellison, the only son, died
when young. Sarah,
the second in the family, of
John and Anna
Ellison, married T. W.
Means. She is dead.
There arc by this marriage six
living children. Mary K.,
the third child, married
William Ellison. They reared
a family of four children.
Robert H., Sarah J., Mary A.
and Julia. Of
these children,
Robert H. Ellison, the first
in the family, is a leading
business man of the county, and
now county Auditor.
He married Isabella
Harris, of Xenia, Ohio.
They are the parents of two
children, May Margaret
and Francis Harris
Ellison. Sarah
J. Ellison, the second
child, married Archibald
Means. They have
four children, William
E., Archibald L.,
Robert and Sadie.
Mary A. Ellison, the third
child, married D. M. Moore.
They have three children,
Emily, William and
Edwin M. Ellison.
Julia Ellison
married John A. Murry, of
Manchester—no children living.
John Ellison,
fourth child, was twice married,
first to Mary Baldwin,
next to Caroline.
There were born unto him by
these marriages three children,
J. P. Ellison, Esther M.
and Louisa B.
Esther Ellison was the fifth
of those children. She
married Hugh Means.
They were the parents of two
children, John and
Anna. They both died
of consumption aged about 18
years. Jane
Ellison, the sixth child,
married D. S__ton.
They raised a daughter, Anna,
who married Taft, son of
Judge Taft, of Cincinnati.
Margaret Ellison,
the seventh, married R. B.
Lampton. They reside
in Kentucky; have a family of
children. William
Ellison, the youngest,
never married. John
Ellison, the second brother,
in 1786, with his wife,
emigrated to the United States,
settled in Philadelphia, where
they remained until about 1794,
when they came to Manchester. To
them were born, James
Ellison, married to Miss
Williamson; William
Ellison, married to
Miss Mary K. Ellison;
Robert Ellison, never
married, died in Manchester;
Elizabeth Ellison,
married to James
Kirker; Margaret
Ellison, never married, died
in Manchester; David
Ellison, married Miss
Lucinda Livingston;
Mary Ellison,
married James Clark.
Robert Ellison commonly
called Robin Ellison
married Rebecca Lockhart.
They had born unto them ten
children. John
Ellison never married, died
in Ironton; Margaret
Ellison, never married,
lives in Ironton; Cyrus
Ellison, married
Elizabeth Stevenson.
He is still living in Ironton,
in his second marriage, to
Mrs. Tomlinson, of
Portsmouth, O.; Moses
Ellison, married Miss
Loughridge; Thomas
Ellison, married Miss
Wilson; Robert
Ellison, married a lady from
Pennsylvania; Elizabeth
Ellison, married
Thomas Huston;
Catherine Ellison,
married Mr. Newell,
of Maysville, Ky.;
Mary Ellison, married
James Hood, she
died. Isabella
Ellison, married James
Hood, a second wife; she
is also dead. James
Ellison, the fourth
brother, married _____
____ ____. They
reared a family of three
children ; Johnson Ellison ;
Margaret Ellison, married to
Baldridge; James Ellison, not
married, still living in Coles
county, Illinois, with his
sister, Mrs. Baldridge.
Margaret Ellison,
the sister, married John
Clark. They
were the parents of thirteen
children: Isabel,
Nancy, Robert, Mary,
John, James, Andrew, Jane,
Sarah, Margaret, Susan, William
who died when a young man,
and one that died in infancy.
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