CHAPTER XXI.
History of the Towns and Townships
of Belmont County

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
pg. 248

ITS FORMATION AND EARLY SETTLERS

     Richland was erected on the 24th day of February, 1802, from parts of Kirkwood and Pultney townships.  The lands embraced within it were settled upon very early, but at the date of hits organization its inhabitants were very few in number.  Over two thirds of its land was covered with the primeval forests, under whose branches clustered impenetrable underbrush, and around which was found the meanderings of the wild grapevine.  But soon the woodman's ax echoed from many a hilltop and valley, breaking the solemn stillness of nature, and doubtless, cheered the footsore traveler as he wended his way along the dim and narrow paths which led by steep embankments and across where many streamlets strayed in their wild beauty.  But when the ax denuded the lands, fields were seen spreading out in carpets of green, rich enough to yield abundantly to the husbandman.
     This is the largest township in the county, is of a decangular shape and bounded as follows:  On the north by Wheeling and Colerain; on the east by Colerain, Pease and Pultney; on the south by Mead and Smith, and on the west by Union townships.
     In 1804 a number of sections were taken off to form Pease, and on June 14, 1808, part was again taken from Richland in the formation of Colerain, and also in the same year several sections were cut off to form Wheeling.  In 1819 Smith township was erected from Richland and York.  Since that time its boundary has remained as above given.
     In 1819 Richland township contained 513 families including the town of St. Clairsville, and 3,251 inhabitants.  In 1820 contained 3,379 inhabitants.  At present Richland has two voting precincts, St. Clairsville and Glencoe.  It is the wealthiest farming district in the county, and underlying its surface is found different strains of coal running from three to six feet in thickness.

EARLY SETTLERS.

     Amongst the pioneer settlers of Richland, are found the following named persons.  They were living here in 1809, although some located as early as 1798-9:  (Alphabetized by SHARON WICK)
 

- Ady, James - Akins, Robert - Alben, George - Allen, Isaiah - Amerine, Abraham - Amerine, Frederick - Anderson, Joseph - Anderson, Mathew - Arick, John - Armstrong, Theo. - Asbell, James - Askew, William - Ault, Andrew - Ault, Jacob - Ault, John - Ault, Peter - Ault, Philip - Ault, Valentine - Ayers, William - Barchus, George - Barnes, David - Barnes, James - Barnes, Samuel (he was a Rev. Soldier) - Beam, Elizabeth - Beam, George - Belanga, James - Bell, William - Belman, Henry - Berry, John - Biggs, Robert - Boggs, Alex. - Braddock, Benjamin - Branson, Reese - Brewer, John - Broderick, Isaac - Bromfield, Ezekiel - Brown, Jacob - Brown, John, Jr. - Brown, Nicholas - Brown, William - Bryan, Amos - Burns, Zachariah - Burris, Elisha - Caldwell, James - Carroll, M. C. - Carrothers, James - Carter, John - Clark, Lamb - Clavenger, John - Clifford, Wm. - Close, Henry - Cloyd, James - Coffman, Adam - Coleman, Sarah - Coles, Jeremiah - Congleton, Wm. - Connell, Samuel - Copeland, Richard - Coulter, John - Cowgill, Joseph & Isaac - Craft, Joseph - Craig, Mathias - Craig, William was a Rev. Soldier; he claimed to have been one of Gen. Washington's body guard; he was fine looking, resolute and determined; made splendid appearance as a soldier. - Crawford, Archibald - Crawford, James - Daily, John - Danfield, Benedick - Deford, Manchester - Dent, Robert - Devan, Leonard & Henry - Dickey, Andrew - Dillie, Caleb, David & Daniel - Dillon, Asa & Job - Dillon, Jonah & Ezra - Dint, John - Dowler, Wm. - Dunkin, Robt.

- Elerick, Geo. - Elexander, John - Elliott, John & Richard - Elles, Jonathan - Evans, Henry, Dr. - Fanhurst, Jeremiah - Ferguson, John - Finefrock, Andrew - Fora, Joseph - Foreman, Andrew - Foreman, John - Forrest, Dennis - Forrest, John - Fritz, John - Frost, John - Fry, Henry - Fryman, Frederick - Gamble, James - Gaston, Alex - Gibson, James - Gill, Barnabas - Gill, John - Gill, Joseph - Gough, Wm. - Grant, James - Gregg, Samuel - Griffith, Joseph - Griffith, Robert - Grimes, Wm. - Grover, Michael - Grube, Robert - Gundy, Abraham - Hagerman, James - Hanel, Jacob - Happer, Robert - Hasket, Benjamin - Harris, John - Harris, Joseph - Hardesty, Robert - Hardesty, Samuel - Hardy, Henry - Hatcher, Joshua - Hatcher, Mahlon - Hays, Notley - Hays, Zachariah - Haynes, James - Haynes, John - Haynes, John - Haynes, Joseph - Haynes, Joshua - Haynes, Nathaniel - Heath, Ralph - Hedges, Josiah - Henderson, Wm. - Hessan, John - Hines, John - Hogue, Abner - Hogue, Isaac - Holtz, Jacob - Holmes, Charles - Holmes, George - Horn, Valentine - Hultz, Joseph - Hultz, Wm. - Hutcheson, David - Ingle, Abraham - Ingle, Caleb - Inskip, John - Ireland, George - Ireland, James - Ireland, Robert - Ireland, Thomas - Irwin, Sarah - Johnston, Adam - Johnston, Henry - Johnston, James - Johnston, Joseph - Johnston, Josiah - Johnston, Sterling - Johnston, Wm. - Jones, Gabriel - Joy, Peter

- Keller, George - Kenney, Eliazer - Kinkaide, Samuel - Koomes, Benjamin - Lane, David - Lash, Abraham - Laughlin, Robert - Lawson, Thomas - Lease, Jacob - Lewis, John - Linder, Joseph - Loop, John - Loy, Jacob - Lucas, Samuel - Lyan, Hugh - Mahan, Neal - Marchus, John - Marshall, Joseph - Martin, Jas. - Martin, John - Martin, John - Martin, Joseph - Maxwell, John - McClelland, David - McFarland, Wm. - McGee, Jesse - McGougan, Alexander - McGraw, Philip - McMillan, Wm. - McNabb, George - McNabb, John - McWilliams, David - Meek, Richard - Mellot, Joseph - Miller, James - Miller, John - Miller, Jonathan - Mitchell, Henry - Mitchell, John - Mitchell, Samuel - Montgomery, Thomas - Moon, Isaac - Moore, Abner - Moore, David - Moorehead, Moses - Morrison, Joseph - Morrison, Solomon - Mowell, George - Murdoch, Joseph - Mutchmore, Samuel - Neal, Moses - Neff, Henry - Nevil, Joseph - Newel, David - Norris, John - Nicholson, Joseph - Parris, Joseph - Parrish, James - Parrish, Joseph - Parsel, Rudolph - Patterson, John - Patterson, Matthew - Patton, Joseph - Paull, George - Perrine, Wm. - Perry, John - Phillips, Enoch - Phillips, Evan - Phillips, John - Pickering, Jonas - Pickering, Levi - Picket, John - Plummer, Eli - Porterfield, Gabriel - Porterfield, Hugh - Porterfield, Robert - Porterfield, William - Posey, Joseph - Powers, Walter - Pryer, John - Pryer, John, Jr.

- Reed, Ernis - Reed, Hezekiah - Riley, Richard - Roberts, Joseph - Robertson, Ira - Robertson, Sarah - Robertson, Thoams - Roland, Jacob - Saucerman, George - Savley, George - Scatterday, John - Sharp, Samuel - Shearer, Vanentine - Shephard, John - Shreak, Frederick - Simmons, Isaac - Sinclair, George - Sinclair, Wm. - Sipmson, John - Smith, Aaron - Smith, Francis - Smith, John - Smith, Mehlon - Smith, Thomas - Smith, Thos. - Smith, Wm. - Snyder, George - Sparks, Jesse - Spencer, Nethan - Sprigg, Samuel - Stackhouse, Ernis - Starr, James - Stephenson, Thos. - Stockdon, Horace - Stonebreaker, Samuel - Sullivan, Samuel - Sutton, Jonathan - Swank, Philip - Taylor, Joseph - Thomas, S. - Thompson, John - Tipton, Solomon - Tipton, Absalom - Tipton, Thos. - Travis, George - Truax, Richard - Updegraff, Israel - Updegraff, Josiah - Vance, Wm. - Vanlaw, Joseph - Vennan, Ralph - Vore, Isaac - Welsh, Crawford - Warner, Haddock - Warner, Henry - Warner, Zebulon - Warnock, John - Warnock, Wm. - Waters, John - Waters, Peter - Weakly, Wm. - Welsh, James - West, Jane - Weyer, Anthony - Wiley, Hance - Wilkinson, John - Williams, George - Wilson, Edward - Wilson, Isaac - Wilson, Isaac, Jr. - Wilson, John - Wilson, Richard - Wilson, Samuel - Wilson, Wm. - Winters, John - Woods, James - Woods, William - Work, David - Work, David, Jr. - Worman, Isaac

     HENRY JOHNSTON

     GEORGE WESTLAKE

      WM. BOGGS

     JOSEPH COGWELL

     ALLEN STEWART settled upon the other half of section fifteen which Cowgill settled, but soon after entering it Major Thompson says, sold his interest, thinking of doing better by buying land elsewhere, left the county and afterward failed, losing all he had

     HENRY OWENS settled in Richland Township near the close of the last century.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

     JOHN TAGGART settled in Richland township in section 35 in 1807.  He was of Irish descent and migrated to Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1773.

     RICHARD HARDESTY

     ABNER LODGE settled in section 35 in 1802.  He migrated from Loudon county, Virginia.  He resided on this section but a short time then returned to his former home and about 1829 he returned to his land and lived there until his death.

     DAVID NEISWANGER migrated from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Richland township in the spring of 1801, locating on the land now owned by his son, Isaac Neiswanger, Esq.
 
     HENRY CLOSE settled about one mile north of St. Clairsville in 1804.

     ROBERT VANCE settled about three miles north of St. Clairsville.  He located in the township near the close of the last century.

     OBEDIAH HARDESTY

INDIAN SPRINGS.

     This spring is located on the McMechan's farm about two miles east of St. Clairsville.  Here in 1782 about forty Indians met Thomas Mills and Lewis Wetzel in deadly conflict.  Wetzel, after shooting an Indian, retreated so rapidly that he soon made his escape, but Mills was captured, massacred, scalped and left lying on the ground.  He was afterwards found and buried near the spot upon which he was killed.  See sketch of Wetzel.

REMINISCENCES
pg. 249

     In the early history of the first church built near the Union Cemetery grounds at St. Clairsville, a circumstance occurred which is worthy of having a place among other facts in this work:
     One beautiful Sabbath day, in the spring of 1800, the people gathered at this log house for the purpose of attending divine service.  Among the number was a man named Robert Thompson and wife, who lived about four hundred yards from the church.  They left the children in the care of their oldest daughter, only six years of age, whilst they attended meeting.  Soon after the services begun the little child came running into the church, and up to its papa, somewhat excited, and, elated over its discovery, said, in a sweet tone of voice:
     "O! papa, come; the biggest cat; the biggest cat!"
     The father, as he drew the little child near him, whispered to her to not "talk out loud, she would disturb the meeting.  But still the six-year old repeated:
     "O! papa, come; the biggest cat; the biggest cat!"
     The mother who was sitting close by, becoming somewhat alarmed, and in fear that something might have gone wrong, told her husband he had best go and see.  He left the church and started in the direction of his home, but hadn't taken many stops when he was so little astonished at seeing a large ferocious-looking panther gazing at him from a limb of a broken sugar tree, not more than twenty yards from his cabin door, evidently intending an attack upon the children.  He hastened to the house and secured his rifle, came out and taking fair aim, pulled the trigger of his gun, bringing the animal to the ground.  The report of the gun so frightened the people in the church, that it instantly brought the congregation to their feet, and, without the benediction, dismissed themselves, making a stampede for the door and rushed to the spot where Mr. Thompson stood with rifle in hand.  Many thought Indians were scouting about, but, upon learning the cause, they soon became tranquil.

THE LAST WOLF SEEN IN THE TOWNSHIP.

THE LAST WILD BEAR CHASE IN RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

THE OLD BAPTIST CHURCH

FIRST BURIAL GROUND.

     The first burial ground used by the pioneer settlers in Richland township, is the half acre enclosed with a stone fence, situated about a mile and a quarter west of St. Clairsville, near the national road and on the farm now owned by Joseph Bentley.  The first person interred there, which the tombstones point out, was as early as the year 1797.  It is the resting place of Mrs. Grizzly, wife of Wm. Boggs.  Many indentations occur in the lot, but if the graves were ever marked, the slabs have fallen down and lost sight of.  Other old looking slabs are found here and there irregularly arranged; but time with its decaying power has so completely defaced them that their inscriptions are now nearly indecipherable.  The oldest person buried here is Mrs. Jane, wife of Wm. Woods.  She died at the advanced age of 102 years.

THE SECOND CABIN CHURCH.

TAXABLES IN 1807.

     On June 8, 1807, Robert Griffin listed the taxable property of Richland township, and from his book it is ascertained that there were, at that time, six hundred and six taxables in the township.  He was seventeen days listing the property.

ELECTIONS.

THE SUPERVISORS FOR THE YEAR 1809

     James Starr, Samuel Spriggs, Robert Thompson, Reese Boogs, Alexander Young, Obediah Hardesty, Andrew Dickey, Joseph Morrison and Thomas Smith.

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR FOR 1809

     Thomas Smith and Moses Morehead.  Expenditures for the year 1809, as appear on the records, $78,00.

VOTES FOR 1810

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

CONSTABLES

SUPERVISORS.

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.

FENCE VIEWERS

TOWNSHIP TREASURER.

TOWNSHIP CLERK.

SCHOOLS.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (1879).

FIRST GRAFTED ORCHARD.

RAILROADS.

GLENCOE.

     The village is situated in the southeastern portion of Richland township.  It was laid out by John B. G. Fulton, Feb. 26, 1855.  The Baltimore and Ohio railroad passes through this place.  It contains a population of about one hundred, and has one dry goods store, one grocery, two shoeships, two blacksmith shops, one flouring mill and one church.

     Was laid out in 1831, by Joshua Loyd.  It is situated in the extreme western part of the township, on the national road and contains a population of about seventy-five.  Has one dry goods store, one wagon ship, two blacksmith shops, one grist ill, two cabinet shops, one shoe shop, one doctor, postoffice and one (M. E.) church.
     In 1858 Vail & Pittman opened out a store.  These gentlemen were the first merchants to do business in the village, Isaac Gleave started a hotel stand the same year in a brick house which still remains standing.

M. E. CHURCH

EAST RICHLAND

     Is situated on the National road, about five miles west of St. Clairsville.  It has a population of about sixty and contains a steam grist mill, two hotels, one grocery, one blacksmith shop, one dry goods store, one shoeshop, postoffice and almost seventeen dwelling houses.

STEWARTVILLE

Was laid out by John Stewart in 1808, and most of the town has been built by him.  It contains about twenty houses and nearly one hundred inhabitants.  The postoffice was established here in 1874, John Stewart appointed postmaster.  The village contains one store, one school, one blacksmith shop and the Franklin Coal Works, which were started under the firm name of Stewart, Ball & Mechan, May 31, 1866.  In opening the bank only six men could be employed for three months.  This firm continued until 1873, and employed on an average about 35 men.  The estimated products were 12,000 tons per month.  In January of the year mentioned Ball withdrew, and the company assumed its present name, Stewart & Mechan.  For two years following this change business was carried on more extensively than before.  They gave employment to 45 men and produced many thousands of tons.  But since that time business has somewhat decreased.  Now only 25 men are employed.  The coal is the lower stratum, and is five feet ten inches in thickness.  Most of the products of this bank are consumed by the B. & O. R. R.  The coal was formerly shipped to Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Toledo, Sandusky, and as far west as Fort Madison, Iowa.  It was used extensively for blacksmithing in the west, owing to its superior qualities.

MELLOR BROS.' FLORAL WORKS AND NURSERY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES