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CHAPTER XXX.
MOOREFIELD TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES - TOPOGRAPHY - ORGANIZATION - POPULATION -
RAILROAD -
EARLY SETTLEMENT - VILLAGES OF PIEDMONT AND MOREFIELD.
Moorefield is one of
the large subdivisions of Harrison County. It is four miles
from north to south and seven miles from east to west. It was
named for the pioneer family of Moores in that vicinity. It is
bounded on the north by Nottingham and Cadiz townships, on the east
by Athens Township, on the south by Belmont County and on the west
by Freeport and Washington townships.
Stillwater Creek, Rush Run, Plum Run, Beggs Fork and
scores of smaller streams flow through the various sections of this
township. Farming, lumbering and stock raising comprise the
chief business of the citizens of this goodly township.
Its only railroad line is the Baltimore & Ohio line
running through the southwestern corner, with a station at Piedmont
- see village history.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Since Dec. 6, 1824, the
boundaries of this township have been about the same as they stand
today. During the passing years the citizens have sought to be
law-abiding and support schools, churches and other societies for
the upbuilding and betterment of the whole county. General
chapters of this work will give an account of many things connected
with the history of this township. the educational chapter and
church chapter treats on those topics and they can be found by
consulting the index.
POPULATION.
In 1890 the population of
this township was, according to the census returns 1,150; in 1900 it
was 1,222; in 1910 it stood only 1,116. The 1920 enumeration
gives the township, 1,059 including village of Piedmont.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Before 1814 these
had settled in what is now Moorefield Township: Robert
Baxter, 1812; Robert Bell, 1811; John Cadwallader, Jr.,
1812; Thomas Crabbtree, 1812; Robert Hurton 1811, from
Ohio County, West Virginia; Henry Johnson, 1812, from
Allegheny County, Maryland; Joseph and Lemuel Johnson, 1812;
William Johnson 1810, from Allegheny County, Maryland;
John Kennedy 1811, from Scotland and the District of Columbia;
John Knight, 1812; from Washington County, Pennsylvania;
Matthew Kennedy, 1811, Edward Lafferty, 1810, from
Washington County, Pennsylvania; James Lamb, 1810; John
Lamb, 1806, from Washington County, Pennsylvania; Peter John
Lance, 1812; Ann Mifflin, of Philadelphia, 1807;
William Ramage, 1808; Thomas Rankin 1805, from
Philadelphia, 1807; Willialm Ramage, 1808; Thomas Rankin,
1805, from Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania;
Rachel Titus, 1812; Alexander Wilson, before 1810;
Israel Wilson, 1811; James Wilson, 1812; Jonathan
Wright, 1811.
THE VILLAGE OF PIEDMONT.
Piedmont is situated in
Moorefield Township, Harrison County, Ohio. It is on what is
now styled the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It is within civil
township 10, range 6, as will be observed in the Moorefield Township
history. The United States census reports gave the population
of Piedmont, and Moorefield townships at 1,150; in 1900 it was
1,222; in 1910 was placed at 1,016. The best estimates of the
population of the village alone in 1920 is 275.
From J. J. Sears and other citizens of Piedmont,
the following historic facts have been gleaned:
The first building (aside from the farm home of
Lewis Bethel) was built in 1879 by George H. Collins who
later occupied it as a general store room. The first family to
remain over night here was J. J. Sears who came from
Barnesville, Ohio, on April 29, 1880. Mr. George H. Collins
above mentioned, began settling up a stock of goods in April, going
home to the farm over night and was married during that season and
then occupied his dwelling built in connection with his tore room.
What was called the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley and
Wheeling Railroad was constructed through the place in 1880; the
first passenger train arrived during the month of February.
The name of the railway was changed to Cleveland, Loraine & Wheeling
and is now owned by the Baltimore & Ohio Company.
The Baptist church was built during 1881; the first
pastor was Reverend Temple, followed by Reverends Cross,
Boyd, Wilson and present pastor Reverend Golf.
The Methodist Episcopal church was built during
1890, and dedicated in November. Reverend Davidson
officiated, Rev. S. F. Wood being the pastor. Then
followed Reverends Anderson, Rowland, Ulman, St. John, Martin,
Wyrick, McCarty, Piggott, Bright, Rose, Miller, Staufer, Danford,
Hanson, Raines, Coss, Calfee, Harrison and Albright the
present pastor.
A fine Sabbath school and Epworth League are
maintained.
The first general store was conducted by George H.
Collins before mentioned, then Greenfield, Goodmen, Hibbs &
Co., E. G. Frezzell & Co., T. S. Beatty, Martin & Adams,
Compher & Barclay, besides numerous groceries by J. M. Davis,
Ben Huff, John Dadisman, William McClelland, Isaac Vickers, J. E.
Moon, Emma Reynolds, G. F. Jackson, S. B. Randolph.
Among the various butchers of the village have been
Isaac Vickers, Hughe, G. F. Jackson, J. E. Moore, Abe Heins, S.
B. Rudolph, Clark Harney, Bert Huffling, I. L. Crossley.
The pioneer blacksmith was John Boswell in
1880, then followed Adolph Johnson, Wallace Harding, Nat Harding,
T. S. Beatty, J. W. Nichols, John Green, Mr. Thompson and I.
T. Arter, the present "village blacksmith."
The first furniture store was opened by John
Dadisman, then came J. R. Hibbs and Morton Shepherd.
The livery business was first conducted by John
Latham, after which came Clark Harney, Samuel Lantz, D. N.
Reynolds, I. L. Crossley, F. A. McCoy, and John Tarbert.
The first postmaster was W. T. Martin,
followed by George H. Collins, Samuel Smith, George H. Collins,
Samuel Smith, Simeon Compher and T. B. Coulson, the
present efficient postmaster.
This village was at first called Butler in honor of
Harvey Butler who owned the land and gave away the depot grounds
and right-of-way. There was much confusion for a while on
account of goods going to Butler, Richland County, this State, so
our station and village was changed to Piedmont.
All of that part of this village lying north of the
Cadiz and Cambridge road or street and west of the railway is known
on the records as Collinsport in honor of Zachariah
Collins who formerly owned the land.
The first planing mill was built by Briggs, Sears &
Co., in 1880, then it was owned by Wilkins Brothers, Close
Brothers, Jo Morton, J. W. Moore, George P. Collins, David
McClellan, Talbott Brothers, Harvey Moore, W. M. Corban, W. A. Clay
and J. W. Vickers & Son who also operate a handle
factory, giving employment to a large number of men and teams; they
also operate a saw mill and lumber business on a large scale.
J. W. Goodman engaged in the produce business in
1884, then the firm of Goodman, Heibbs & Co. was formed which
business has been continued and is now conducted by R. S. Heibbs
in the firm name of Goodman, Heibbs & Co.; also Isaac
Vickers and others.
The first hotel was in 1880 and was conducted by
Shaw Sproul; later landlords were Joseph Davis, Nat Harding,
Wallace Harding, T. J. Rickey, H. B. Gray, McSheppard, T. A. McCoy,
Charles Robinson.
In 1886 Nat Harding built a flouring mill,
sold to Love Brothers and they to Martin & Adams, then
to Heaston & McConnell, which is now being operated by
McConnell & Curtis.
A large hardware and implement house was built by
Carothers & Hutchinson and was well stocked and ready for big
trade, but was burned, the same being the first in the village.
Following came J. R. Hibbs who did an extensive business in
farm machinery and implements; after his death he was succeeded by
his son, Oscar Hibbs, who conducted the business until his
death and since then the business is conducted by E. G. Frizzell.
O. E. Hall also conducted a hardware store and continued
until May, 1920.
Banking was first established at Piedmont about
January, 1900, by Goodman, Heibbs & Co. - See banking
chapter.
The undertaking business was carried on for a time by
both J. R. Hibbs and Martin Sheppard.
In 1885 the public school building was erected, in
which a progressive school has since been conducted. Among the
teachers here were N. B. Collins, Miss Barclay, Miss Bethel, Miss
Holliday, Miss Reynolds, Miss Niblock, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Walker, Mr.
Hammill, Miss Sears, Miss Rowland, Miss Guthrie, Mr. Mong, Mr.
Wallace, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Deseles, Miss Burney, Miss Smylie and
Miss Nichols. Miss Miller is the present efficient
instructor.
The physicians of Piedmont have included the following:
Doctor Trueman, then came Doctor Copeland, Doctor Cole,
Doctor Keenan, Doctor Long, Doctor Dow and Doctor Curtis.
The barber business has been in the hands of those:
The first was a Mr. Crim, then Anderson McClelland, Copes,
Stine, Tedrick and the present barber, Mr. Moerz.
The first child born on the village plat was
Ross Sears. The first death was an infant child of Mr.
and Mrs. Crebbs.
VILLAGE OF
MOOREFIELD
In section 23 of this township is the
village of olden times known as Moorefield. It was platted by Michael
Moore and Gabriel Cane, Dec. 15, 1815. So it will be seen that
it is one of the oldest village sites within the county and one hundred and five
years old. During the century and more of its existence there ahs been
many interesting events transpiring in the community which called this its
center. Its commercial interests, of course, were never large, but many
pioneers appreciated the stocks of goods carried there; also the shops, etc.,
which accommodated the surrounding farming section. The Civil war days
also took many brave young and middle-aged men from its environments. Had
the interesting events of the long ago been preserved what a valuable article
could be penned for what is the now defunct village.
Julius M. Schreiber was for forty years a
leading man - a merchant and suffered by reason of the famous Morgan
raiders. He recovered his fortune by handling wool and pork. He was
the local "banker." His son, J. M. Schreiber became the first
cashier in the Fourth National Bank at Cadiz at its organization.
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