PART I
CHAPTER XII
NOTE: I will pick things out of
this chapter for now and detail it later. ~ SW
PUBLIC ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS
p. 114
The First Public Highway - The Kyte Fork Road - The
Roads to Ellis' Ferry - The
Whiskey road -
Zane's Trace from
Treber's Tavern to Tod's Crossing.
Kyte Fork Road
The Roads to Ellis' Ferry.
Whiskey Road.
In the early
day as the very necessary commodity, whiskey, was
scarce, and to secure plenty of it, in about 1807, a
party from New Market started out to cut a road through
the woods to near Winchester, where a German named
*Hemphill
had a still-house, the fame of which had spread to the
early settlers.
It was on New Year's day,1807, that a party started
from the tavern of George W. Barrere, in
New Market, headed by that gentleman with his compass
and Jacob-staff to locate the route for the new
road. He was followed by thirty men with axes, and
a barrel of Jacob Medsker's best whiskey on a
pole sled drawn by a horse. Several tin cups were
hung on one side of the sled and a side of bacon on the
other. A boy rode the horse and for a saddle sat
on a bag, the ends of which were filled with corn
dodgers. A few of the force carried rifles, with
which to procure any game which they should be fortunate
enough to meet. Mike Moore had charge of
the barrel and provisions, and carried with him his
fiddle with which he made the camp lively during the
evening. The whiskey barrel was nearly empty in
the morning, which proved an incentive to the force to
be expeditious with their work and reach a new base of
supplies, where a fresh drink could be taken. On
the return a greater, the larger portion of it returned
to New Market. Thereafter the New Marketers had a
sure road for the transportation of their favorite
beverage.
At the June session, 1800, William Sprigg, for
whom Sprigg Township was named, and who
afterwards became a Supreme Judge of Ohio, as attorney
for Israel Donalson and others, presented to the
Court a petition for a road from the crossing of Elk Run
to intersect the Limestone road at or near the residence
of George or Isaac Edgington (near Union
Church, south of Bentonville). This petition is
subscribed by George Rogers, Nathaniel Rogers, John
Austin, Wm. L. Kenner, I. Donaldson, William Morrison,
John Morrison, Joseph Morrison, John Goodin and
Daniel Henderson.
The following petition for
a road from Shoemaker's Crossing of Brush Creek
to Zane's road discloses the fact that Zane's road was
as has heretofore been suggested, so "straightened and
amended" as to lose its identity within a few years
after the trace was blazed through Adams County.
This accounts for the many conflicting claims as to its
original location, by the descendants of those who lived
in the county about the time of the opening of the
trace, and who rely upon tradition as the foundation of
their knowledge "Your petitioners pray that a road
may be established from Shoemaker's Crossing of Brush
Creek (near Sproull's) on the nearest and best
course passing Mr. Chapman's, till it intersects
Zane's road and thence with the said road
straightening it in many places and making such
amendments thereon as may be thought necessary, to the
county line. Your Petitioners further pray that a
road may be established from the termination of a road
established by the county of Ross, leading from the Pee
Pee town on the line of this county to intersect the
first road asked for at the most convenient place.
James Boyd, Jesse Weatherington, Abram Boyd, Joseph
Van Meter, Absalom Van Meter, Seth Van Meter, Peter
Shoemaker, Simon Shoemaker, John Sample, Jonathan Boyd,
Samuel McDermitt, John Shirley, David McDermitt, Daniel
Collier, William Ogle, Enoch Ogle, Thomas Ogle, Henry
Moore, Jesse Eastburn, Joseph Collier, C. Williamson,
Hosea Moore, Thos. Kirker, William Peterson,
Abraham Neff, John Chapman, Adam Hatfield, Robert
Ellison, James Ellison, Job Denning.
Joseph Eyler, Daniel Collier and Peter Shoemaker,
viewers.
This latter road, nine miles in length, was ordered
opened two rods wide at the March session, 1801, and the
former, Shoemaker's ford road fifteen miles in
length and four poles wide.
At the September session, 1800, the road from the
twenty-mile tree to the Sinking Spring, was surveyed.
The road leading from the court house in Washington to
intersect the Manchester and Chillicothe road was
surveyed by Hosea Moore and return thereof to
court made and same read a second time. Whole
distance sixteen miles, and road established four poles
wide.
At the December session, 1800, the following petition
was presented to the Court praying for a road from
crossing of Eagle Creek at Logan's Gap to the Red Oak
settlement:
"The Court of General Quarter Session of the Peace, at
Washington, in and for the county of Adams, Territory of
the United States northwest of the river Ohio , before
John Beasley, Moses Baird, Noble Grimes, Joseph Kerr,
Thomas Kirker, and John Russell,
Esquires, justices assigned to keep the peace and to
grant orders for highways, etc., in the county
aforesaid, we, the undernamed subscribers considering
the disadvantages attending those who travel through
Massie Township, and the utility resulting from a good
road through said county and township, unanimously
solicit your approbation and commands in appointing
William Stephenson, James Espey, and Mills
Stephenson, Esquires, to view and make out from the
crossing of Eagle Creek at Logan's Gap, the ground that
shall be thought best and highest to pass over Red Oak
as nigh the river as high water will permit. Pass
over our informality unnoticed. Our country is
young, therefore our petitions cannot be polished by the
hand of formality. Dec. 5, 1800. Ignatius
Mitchell, William Gregory, Thos. Espey, Wm. Stephenson,
Gabriel Cox, Mills Stephenson, James Cresswell, John
Thomas, Robert McBride, George McKiney, Samuel Creswell,
John Redmond, Richard Roylston, Newell Redmond, Daniel
Redmond, James Stephenson, Elza Redmond.
Survey granted. At the June session, 1801, said
survey was returned by John Smith, Surveyor, and
road ordered established from Eagle Creek at Logan's Gap
to crossing of Red Oak; distance two and one-tenth
miles.
At this session was read the first time, survey of the
road from Holmes' Mill on the east fork of Eagle Creek
to the eight tree on the highway from Thomas' Run
to Edwards' Ferry.
There was also granted at this term of the court a road
from George Edwards' mill on Fishing Gut Creek, passing
Col. Gutridge's settlement, and intersecting Zane's road
at a white ash marked three and one-fourth miles to
Ellis' Ferry. James Edwards, Willim
Rains, John West, Francis Jacobs, John Gutridge, Sr.,
John Gutridge, Jr., Robert Miller, William Hamilton,
John Dillon, George Swisher, William Petterson, Thomas
Roberts, Asahel Brookover, George West, Thomas Justice,
Simon Reeder, John Simpson, William Cornell, William
Gollshar, Nathan Ellis.
A petition for a road to be laid out form
Washington to intersect the road from Manchester to
Chillicothe, at or near Killinstown, was filed at this
term subscribed by the following Petitioners:
John Brown, John Brown, Jr., Simon Shoemaker, Peter
Shoemaker, Thomas Grimes, Laz'l Swim, James Collins,
Jesse Witherington, Stephen Bayless,
Patrick Killin, Joseph Eyler, William Boldridge (Baldridge),
Samuel Boldridge, Ben Piatt, John Boldridge, James
Allison, Davison C. Clary, Thomas Mason, Job Denning,
John Killin, Henry
Smith, James Miller, Alex. Barber, Thomas Brown, Laid
Ferguson.
At the March session, 1801, a petition was filed
for alteration of road from John Treber's to the
twenty-seven mile tree on Zanes' road.
December session, 1801. Road from Washington to
William Dunbar's landing opposite Sycamore Creek.
James Barritt, Surveyor; James Nailor,
David Lovejoy, and Hector Murphy, viewers;
John Barritt, surveyor; David Bradford, John
Ellison and David Leitch, security for costs.
At same session the road from Robert Ellison's
trace to John Treber's granted. "Beginning
in the road already laid from Manchester to Adamsville
where Robert Ellison's trace leaves the said road
at the forks of Island Creek, thence through the western
part of James Collins' plantation to intersect the
Limestone road (Zane's) three miles and fifty poles from
Treber's, the whole distance being five miles and two
hundred and thirty-nine poles." John Beasley,
surveyor.
Zane's Trace from
Treber's Tavern to Tod's Crossing.
Zane's road
from John Treber's to top of Brush Creek hill was
changed as follows: from Treber's on the
highlands to the old Indian ford of Brush Creek, and
thence on nearest and best grounds to intersect main
road at the twenty-seven mile tree.
The survey of this road was granted upon the petition
of Peter Wickerham, John Treber, Joseph Horn, Nathan
Ellis, Abraham Shepherd, Samuel Swan, William Murfin,
James Boyd, Abraham Boyd, Jonathan Boyd, William Boyd,
Peter Platter, David Honsell, John Milligan, David
Bunnell, James Bunnell, at September session, 1801.
The return of the survey was made on the eighth day of
December, 1801, by John Beasley, surveyor;
Jacob Treber and John Sample, chainmen.
The road began at the twenty-one-mile tree near
Treber's and thence as follows: North 60 east
60 poles; north 120 poles; north 20 east 734 poles;
north 47 east 66 poles; north 82 east 60 poles; north 42
east 106 poles; north 54 west 34 poles at Tod's
old crossing of Brush Creek; north 34 east 194 poles;
north 69 east 46 poles; north 33 east 510 poles; to the
said road again at or near the twenty-seven-mile tree.
The whole length of the above mentioned road is six
miles; width established, thirty feet.
The Court order and appoint David Edie, John
Mehaffey and Benjamin Grace, viewers, and
Nathaniel Beasley, surveyor, of a road from
Limestone to county (Clermont) line. James
Edwards, John West and Seth Foster, for
costs.
James Naylor, Zed Markland and
Zephaniah Wade, reviewers, and John Barrett,
surveyor, of road from Donalson's Creek to Washburn's
Mill. Adam Pennywait, David Lovejoy, and
Zeph Wade, for costs.
Charles Osler, Joseph Stewart and
William Middleton, viewers: James
Stephenson, surveyor, of road from opposite
Sutton's Ferry at Limestone to the Buffalo
crossings. James Edwards, John West and
George Edwards, for costs.
David Edie, Joseph Washburn, and Parmenus
Washburn, viewers, and Israel Donalson,
surveyor, of a road from Manchester to New Market.
Joseph Darlinton, Nathaniel Beasley, and Needham
Perry,
security for costs.
---------------------------------
* The Hemphill farm was near the
present village of Newport, on George's Creek, near its
junction with west fork of Ohio Brush Creek.
The above is taken from William History of
Highland County, and the George W. Barrere
mentioned was the father of the late Nelson Barrere,
a notice of whom appears in this volume under the
chapter devoted to the Judiciary and Bar of Adams
County.
James W. Finley, afterwards a noted divine and
missionary to the Wyandotte Indians, was an associate of
Barrere and a frequenter of the bar room in his
tavern about the period mentioned, and was known
throughout the settlement, as the "New Market Devil."
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