Population and Township Officials - Organization of the Township and the First Settlers - The Mining Industry - Rock Hill Presbyterian Church - High Ridge United Presbyterian Church - The Towns: Steel, West Wheeling and Shadyside- The City of Bellaire - Increase in Population - City Officials - The First Settlers - A Town Incorporated - The First Mayor and His Successors - The Waterworks and Electric Power - The Banks and Loan Companies - The Manufacturing Interests - The Railroads Entering the City - The Schools - The Churches - Secret and Fraternal Organizations - Spangler Post, G. A. R. - The Newspapers of Bellaire - The Bellaire Cemetery Association.

POPULATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND THE FIRST SETTLERS

     The township was organized in 1801, and the first election was held at the house of Jacob Repshire, one of the judges of the court in the same year, and this time court had Joseph Lashley and Philip Dover as constables for Pultney township.
     One of the first settlers was Andrew Dixon, who came from West Liberty, (West) Virginia, in 1796, and his son, James Dixon, born in 1797, was the first male child born in the township.
     Following Mr. Dixon were Charles Eckles, in 1800; Abraham Workman, George Neff, Andrew Neff, Samuel Moreley, Matthew Howell, James Hutchinson, John king, Jacob Worley, Jacob Davis, William Merritt, James McQuirk and Robert Alexander.  Mr. Alexander at that time had no neighbors nearer than Bridgeport.
     The first place for public worship was built on McMechen's Creek, a short distance south of the tunnel, and the preacher was Rev. John Scott.
     The first grist mills were Eckles,' Neff's and Wallace's on McMechen's Creek, a few miles from Bellaire.

THE MINING INDUSTRY

     For years the coal works north and south of Bellaire and the great limestone and sandstone quarries on Indian Run west of the city were leading industries.  Today the coal industry in paramount.
     The Empire Company, which owns the 30,000 acre tract south and west of Bellaire, contemplates opening three new mines to be as large or larger than the three they already have.  While no definite statement regarding the new mines has been made by officials, it is presumed the additional openings will be somewhere along the river front, for it is evidently their purpose in time to do a great deal of shipping by the river.  More than likely the most important development by the company in the near future will be from mines to be opened below Wegee.
     The leading churches of the township outside of Bellaire are the Rock Hill Presbyterian Church and the High Ridge United Presbyterian Church.

ROCK HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

     The following interesting history of the Rock Hill Church is furnished the author by P. A. Wise:
     According to the best information now at hand, Rock Hill Presbyterian Church was organized in the summer of 1812, the actual date being unknown.  As the early records are lost we must draw from the most approved tradition for the story of 29 years of the church's existence.  The place of organization was under the spreading branches of an elm tree near the north bank of McMechen's Creek on teh farm then owned by John Cunningham  The same authority gives us the following persons as charter members, viz.: John Moore, William Moore and wife; John Cunningham and wife, William Merritt and wife, John Simpson and wife, Mrs. McKimmons, Mrs. Paxton, Mrs. Elizabeth McAllister, Mrs. Kelsey, James Simpson, and there may have been others whose names are forgotten.  Two men, John Moore and John Cunninghamn, were chosen to the office of ruling elder.  The minister in charge was Rev. Abram Scott, an evangelist of the Presbytery of Ohio, who served the church for eight years until he saw it comfortably housed in a neat, hewn-log church 30 by 40 feet in size, built in 1817.  This building was a fine one for that time, but was said to possess neither floor nor ceiling at first.  But these proofs of advancing civilization were afterward added, as was also a stove for heating the house.  The pews were each the work of its owner and were of various lengths and shapes, those of George Wise, Sr., and James McMillen being the best, as cabinetmakers could turn out better work than an ordinary farmer with only an augur and ax to work with.  But aside from appearance, the occupant of the slab pew could enjoy the sermon of the preacher as well as his better provided neighbor.
     This log church served as the gathering place of the Presbyterians for the eastern part of Belmont County for 29 years as the nearest Presbyterian churches were at St. Clairsville and at Mount Pleasant, in Jefferson County.  There are only two older Presbyterian churches in the county than Rock Hill, - St. Clairsville, founded in 1798, and Crab Apple in 1800.
     Our Scotch and Scotch-Irish fathers builded better than they knew, for they founded a church that has lived 90 years and has had an unbounded influence in molding the character of the people who have lived within its bounds in all these years.  The sons and daughters of the Rock Hill Church have traversed much of the world and in many occupations seem to be first and best.  She has given 12 manly sons to the Gospel ministry and has one more in training for the same sacred calling.
     In 1845 the second church building was

CONTINUED ON PAGE 161

HIGH RIDGE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE TOWNS:  STEEL, WEST WHEELING AND SHADYSIDE

THE CITY OF BELLAIRE

INCREASE IN POPULATION

CITY OFFICIALS

THE FIRST SETTLERS

     The first settlement was effected by Jacob Davis, Sr., who emigrated from Maryland in 1802.  However, the old town was not laid out until 1834.
     Five years previous, Jacob Davis, Jr., built a log house with the aid of the militia who had collected there to muster, and this building was only removed in 1870 to give way to an implement and machine factory.
     The land upon which the city proper was built was a government grant to John Duer in 1792.
     Duer sold to John Buchanan and Buchanan's sons in turn sold to Davis as above narrated.  John Rodefer in 1832 also purchased from Buchanan's sons 133 acres just south of Indian Run.
     The same year Capt. John Fink purchased all the tract south of the creek from Jacob Davis for $1,400; this included the land subsequently owned and operated for mining purposes by Jacob Heatherington, and from which thousands of bushels of coal were shipped annually by Captain Fink and others to Southern markets.
     In April, 1834, Mr. Davis laid out six acres of the remaining land, on the beautiful plateau embraced in his purchase, in town lots, calling the place Bell Air, after his home town in Maryland.

A TRIBUTE TO COLONEL SULLIVAN.

CHANGE FROM BELL AIR TO BELLEVUE

THE CITY'S GROWTH

THE POST OFFICE.

THE TOWN INCORPORATED.

     Because of the rowdyism and intemperance prevailing in 1856-57, the good citizens of Bellaire petitioned the county commissioners that the village be incorporated, but lacking a majority of citizens in support of the measure the whole project was overthrown.
     Three years later, however, another petition was presented, signed by a large majority of the citizens and the village was permanently incorporated.

THE FIRST MAYOR AND HIS SUCCESSORS

THE WATERWORKS AND ELECTRIC POWER

THE BANKS AND LOAN COMPANIES

[BELLAIRE STEEL WORKS]

THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS

THE RAILROADS ENTERING THE CITY

THE SCHOOLS

[BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL]

THE CHURCHES

SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

SPANGLER POST, G. A. R.

     Spangler Post, No. 99, G. A. R., of Bellaire, was organized July 9, 1881.  Two preliminary meetings were held to make all the necessary arrangements.  On May 30th preceding, a meeting was held in the Loan Exhibition Building and Comrade S. H. Lee was appointed secretary.  At this meeting 83 applications were made for membership.  On June 13th, the executive committee, consisting of Levi Cassell chairman, J. M. Richardson, S. H. Lee, W. H. Little and Thomas Keyser reported the methods of procedure to effect an organization and on July 6th at a meeting held in the City Hall the following officers were duly elected:  Post commander, Frederick Eberle; senior vice commander, S. H. Lee; junior vice commander, W. C. Grafton; quarter-master, P. S. Osborne; surgeon,  S. C. Gerrard; chaplain, J. M. Richardson; officer of the day, Levi Cassell; officer of the guard, Henry Crimmel.
     On July 9th, Comrade C. E. Irwin of Thoburn Post, No. 72, of Martin's Ferry, formally mustered in these officers and likewise 33 members.  Comrades Irwin and Meek of Martin's Ferry and Lee of Bellaire made appropriate remarks and the officers being duly installed Spangler entered upon its work, - a work that has continued for 21 years.
     The past commanders at present connected with the Post are: W. D. Jones, H. C. Kemple, James Lancaster, August Haas, J. W. Morrell, W. H. Thompson, J. B. Gibson, and A. Porterfield.  The present officers (November 1, 1902) are:  Post commander, A. Porterfield; adjutant, August Haas; quarter-master, W. H. Thompson; chaplain, John King; officer of the day, H. C. Kemple; officer of the guard, James Lancaster; surgeon, A. Roeder; guard, L. Schram.  The trustees for 1902 are H. c. Kemple, August Haas and Henry Rolls.

     The following is a list of the members upon the roster in 1902:

THE NEWSPAPERS OF BELLAIRE

     A half century has elapsed since the first newspaper enterprise was launched in Bellaire.

The Times

Bellaire Intelligencer

Independent

The Democrat

The Bellaire Daily Herald-Tribune

The Tribune

Daily Herald-Tribune

     Other newspaper enterprises - In addition to the tree papers at present published in Bellaire there have been issued at various times other newspaper enterprises that were short lived; viz., - The Standard in 1870 by Leet & Nuzum; The Belmont City Commercial in 1872 with Miss Mary Hoover as editor.  During the administration of Miss Hover, W. S. Farris served as local editor and there began his short but brilliant career as a journalist.
     In 1875 J. J. Clarkson purchased The Commercial, but in a few months disposed of his interests to Miss Cochran and Gow.  In 1876 John R. Gow assumed control and added a new press and other material improvements and called the paper the Weekly Leader.
     In 1875 The Brick-a-Brac was issued for a few months.
     In 1878 W. S. Faris edited a spicy paper called The Phonograph, but discontinued it in 1879.

THE BELLAIRE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

     Greenwood Cemetery was set apart as a burying ground in 1859.  Previous to this, the "Daris Burying Ground," located near the Sullivan coal mines, had been used as a graveyard since 1810.  After the establishment of the Greenwood Cemetery, many of the dead buried in the old graveyard were removed there.
     Greenwood Cemetery is only about a half mile from the city and is beautifully located.  The property originally consisted of but four acres that was purchased for $800.  The first officers were: President, James Nicoll; clerk, E. G. Morgan; treasurer, Alex Hammond, R. H. Long, George Criswell and John Hattery.  The cemetery continues a joint stock association and is maintained with great care.  Today it is a veritable garden spot.  As to the value of the property held, a stockholder says:
     "Each purchaser of a lot in the cemetery becomes a member of the association and is entitled to a vote at the annual meeting of lot owners.  The by-laws provide that trustees shall be elected by the lot owners at their annual meeting.  The only source of income is from the sale of lots, and, up to the present time, it is said, the money received has all been applied in the purchase of grounds, improvements, and the salary of the sexton; so that the association has no assets except the unsold portion of the cemetery grounds.  The best part of the grounds have already been sold and the value of the remainder would be very difficult to determine.  I would guess that it would be worth, at least, $10,000; that is, for cemetery purposes it would ultimately bring that amount.  If sold at public sale and for other purposes, it would not bring one-quarter of that amount.  The cost of the entire cemetery, including all the improvements, public and private, would probably run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
     "I had a talk with some of the trustees and the above was as near as they could inform me as to the values you enquire about.  The board of trustees, as at present constituted, is as follows:  Thomas Ault, William S. Carroll, Jacob Rietz, George S. Jennings, C. M. Wyrich and A. J. Norton.  Thomas Ault is president of the board and A. J. Norton is secretary."