OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS


A Part of Genealogy Express

 


Welcome to

Monroe County, Ohio
History & Genealogy
 


SUNSBURY TOWNSHIP

Source:
History of Monroe County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
A Condensed History of the County;
Biographical Sketches: General Statistics; Miscellaneous Matters &c.
Publ. H. H. Hardesty & Co, Publishers
Chicago and Toledo
1882

Page 216

     This township was organized June 24, 1819, and contains 28¼ sections, twelve of which are in original township 4, of range 4, and sixteen and one quarter in township 5, of range 5.  It is bounded on the north by the Belmont county line, on the east by Switzerland township, on the south by Adams and Centre, and on the west by Malaga.  It lies on the high ridge dividing the waters of Captina creek, on the north, and those of Sunfish creek on the south.  The land on the summit of the broad ridge is smooth and comparatively level, and is in a high state of cultivation, while the southern slope is roughened by the tributaries to Sunfish creek, which, in places, have scoured for themselves deep and rocky channels.  One of the branches of the Piney fork of Sunfish creek has its source at Beallsville, and the other in the northwest part of the township.  There are several perpendicular falls on this stream, of from ten to twelve feet, bounded by overjutting rocks, in some places fifty feet high, which, with the towering pines, renders the scenery very wild and picturesque.  Atkinson run drains the eastern portion of the township, and Death's fork, both branches of the Sunfish, the western.  Prof. Andrews, in the Geology of Ohio, says:  "In the geology of this township little of economic importance and value could be found.  The Chief scams of coal of Belmont county are far beneath the surface.  In Wayne township, Belmont county, which lies directly north of Sunsbury, the Upper Barnesville, or Cumberland seam, is near the bed of Captina creek.  If the Evans coal, on Sunfish, north of Woodsfield, is the same seam, it is evident that it must be far below the general surface in Sunsbury.  *  *  *  *  Near Beallesville is a thin seam of coal, perhaps 120 feet below the level of the village, which is sometimes stripped for local use."
     The first settlers in this township were Abner Barrett, John Linn, Citizen Beall, George Stewart, Robert Wilson, John Nelson, George Decker, John Palmer, Elias Pitman, Samuel Melott, Henry Smith, Samuel Starr, Noah Stewart, Jesse Morris, and the Tremblys.  The first settlement was made about three-quarters of a mile south of Beallsville, about 1812, probably two or three years earlier, and the first cabin was built about that time by John Linn and Abner Barrett.  The name of the first child born in the township was Joshua Barrett, son of Abner and Anna Barrett.  No information is at hand of who were the parties to the first marriage.
     The first election was held on John Linns farm, about one mile west of where Beallsville now stands, in 1819 or 1820, at which, it is said, eleven votes were cast, ten of whom were John Linn, Caleb Linn, John Nelson, Robert Wilson, Benjamin Truex, Jacob Truex, Abner Barrett, John Wink, Citizen Beall and George Stewart.  The first township officers were:  John Linn, township clerk; Abner Barrett, justice of the peace; David Palmer, constable; John Linn treasurer; Casper Hendershot, George Stewart and John Smith trustees.
     It is said that Wm. Green built a water grist mill on the Piney fork, in 1816, but of this the writer has no definite information.  Henry Balding built a horse power grist mill in 1820.  The horses were hitched to a sweep and traveled in a circle, giving motion to the mill gearing overhead.  The mill was of round logs, with a story of ten or twelve feet, and clapboard roof, held in place by weight poles.  It is said that Joseph Dillie
built, in 1819, a water saw-mill, that was of little service, but where located is indefinitely fixed.  John Truex, in 1820, built a saw-mill on the Piney fork.
     The first school was taught in 1815, about one mile south of where Beallsville now stands, by a Mr. Rodgers; the scholars numbered about eight.  The house was one of those primitive buildings so frequently described.  The school houses now in the township number seven, all good, substantial and comfortable frame structures, except the building in Beallsville, which is of brick, two stories high.
     The first postoffice was at Beallsville, and the only postoffice in the township is at Ozark.  The offices are of the same names as the villages.
     The first sermon was preached in 1813, about a half-mile south of the present site of Beallsville, where the first society was organized by the Baptists, about the same time.  The first ministers were Revs. Philip Skinner and Elias Conger.  Amongst the first members were Richard Truex, Polly Truex, John Wink, Ivy Wink, Sally Linn, Rachel Linn and Wm. Green.  The second church organized was the Methodist Episcopal Church; the building was the first frame church built in the township.  Our informant has failed to give its location, but says the society organized with six members.  The third church to organize was the Presbyterian, with twenty members.  Their building was a low, plain, brick house, about 20x30 feet in size.  There are now eight churches in the township.  In Beallsville the M. E. Church is a plain, brick structure, 25x42 feet, 14 foot ceiling; membership about 125.  Pleasant Grove M. e. Church, south of Beallsville, is a plain, frame building, in size 28x35 feet; membership 60.  Asbury Chapel, M. E., is a plain, frame building, 28x35 feet; membership 40.  Present pastor of these churches, Rev. W. Bedall.  The Baptist Church,, in the east part of the township, is a plain, frame building, in size 30x40 feet; membership 57; Rev. R. H. Lyons, pastor.  The Baptist Church, one mile south of Bealsville, is a plain structure, in size 28x45 feet, with 12 foot ceiling; membership 35; Rev. R. H. Lyons pastor.  The Christian Church, in Beallsville, is a plain, frame building, 35x40 feet, with 14 foot ceiling; membership, 85; Rev. A. Linkliter and Rev. H. W. Willison, ministers.  In the northeast part of the township there is a small church of the Christian denomination, in which the Rev. John Secrist preached the first sermon at an early date; no minister at present.  The Presbyterian Church, in Beallsville, is a frame building, in size 44x62 feet; membership 100; Rev. George McDonald, pastor.
     The first Sabbath school was organized in 1832, by Ebenezer Coe, with about forty scholars.  There are now eight in the township - three Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian, two Baptist, one Christian and one Union.  Robert Clary is superintendent of the Beallsville M. E. Sabbath school; Pleasant Grove, Leander Wiley superintendent; Asbury Chapel, John Hobbs, superintendent; East Middle Sunsbury Union School, Christian Blattler superintendent; East Sunsbury School, Mr. McDougal, superintendent; Christian Church, Beallsville, Ellsworth Thornberry,; Presbyterian, Beallsville, Rev. George McDonald, superintendent.
     In 1824, Citizen Beall laid out the town of Beallsville, to which Smith and Hess made an addition, in 1833.  Since then what are called Linns addition, Beall's addition, Hudson's addition, Daniels' addition and Miller's addition, have been made.  It was incorporated in 1850, and its officerss for 1881 were:  James R. Arnold, mayor; John W. Black, J. W. Reed, J. E. Dixon, E. W. Truex, G. W. Carpenter, and Mordecai Carpenter, councilman; W. F. Thornberry, recorder; John M. Martin, treasurer, and G. W. Miller, marshal.  The town is located in sections 6 and 12, in township 5, of range 5, about three-quarters of a mile south of the north boundary line of the township.
     Where the Ozark postoffice is located there is a small village, though  never platted as a town.  Within it is a Methodist Episcopal Church, and not far from the village is a Roman Catholic Church.
     The population of Beallsville, in 1880, was 391; Ozark, 57.  Population of the township, including villages, 1,660.  The school statistics for the year ending Aug. 31, 1881, are, for the township, as follows:  Total amount of school moneys received within the year, $2,346.25; paid teachers, $1,446.00; paid for fuel, etc., $190.92; balance on hand, Sept. 1, 1881, $709.33; No. of school sub-districts, 6; No. of school houses, 6; No. of rooms, 7; No. of teachers, 7; value of school property, $3,500; average wages of teachers, per month, gentlemen, $30.00, ladies $22.00; total number of pupils enrolled within the year, 318.  School statistics of Beallsville, for the same period; Amount of school moneys received, $1,420.19; paid teachers, primary, $296.00; high, $450.00; paid for fuel, etc., $94.61; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $579.68; No. of school  houses, 1; No. of rooms 3; value of school property $2,500; No. of teachers, ladies, primary, 2, gentlemen, high, 1; average wages of teachers, per month, ladies, $19.00, gentlemen, $56.00; total number of pupils enrolled, 151.
     The present justices of the peace for the township are:  John Jeffers, J. J. Roberts and T. J. Griffith.  Beallsville and Ozark are on the Bellaire, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad.

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to TABLE of CONTENTS >

CLICK HERE to Return to
MONROE COUNTY, OHIO

CLICK HERE to Return to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights