| Page 215 The settlements in
this township were made at quite an early period in the
history of the territory now within the limits of the
county. The time is fixed by the fact that Samuel
McEldowney now deceased, was born on Buckhill bottom, in
1794, and was four years old when his father, Robert
McEldowney, moved to Fishing creek bottom, in Wetzel
county, West Virginia, then Ohio county, Virginia. The
next settlement was made on what is known as the Frail
farm, below Baresville. This was an improvement
there with a log cabin upon it, into which Abner Martin
moved about the year 1802. Buckhill bottom is so
called in the United States surveys, made in 1801. A
very large buck was killed near a mound on this bottom, at
an early date, by Wm. Henthorn and a Mr. Twible
reported to have weighed 387 pounds - hence the
name, as is believed, Buckhill. Jacob Ollomis
thought to have been the next settler, followed soon after
by Bailey, Scott, Starritt, Smith, Knight, Bare,
Nicholson, Hicks and others; but the order in time of
settlement is not known. The names of these settlers
were obtained from Mrs. Anne Howell - herself one of
the first settlers in the county - who died several years
ago at the advanced age of 106 years. The history of
the first German settlements is given elsewhere herein, to
which the reader is referred.
No information is at command by or from which any
extended history can be given of the churches in the
township. There are three or four Methodist Episcopal
churches, two or more Lutheran, and one Mennonite, or
Baptist Church. The first German Sabbath school was
organized by Father Jacob Tisher, in 1825, and in
1837 he organized the first English Sabbath school in
Baresville. He was the first missionary for the German
work of the Methodist church, and traveled in this and the
adjoining counties. His circuit was nearly two hundred
miles in extent, which he made, on foot, once every four
weeks. He was very successful in organizing societies,
and laid the foundation of a work now embraced for many
circuits and stations. He died some years ago, at the
advanced age of 86 years.
It may be here added that Samuel McBride settled
on the Baresville bottom in 1802; Jacob Bare, Henry
Harter and James Starritt, from 1806, to 1808;
after whom the following persons, in the order named:
James Johnston, Earl Sprot, Christian Staley, Humphrey
Finch, James Hepburn, Jere. Wilson, and Jacob and
Abram Fisher.
After Jacob Ollom became
a settler, about the year 1800, he engaged in the business
of packing salt over the Allegheny mountains, on
pack-horses. He went to Williamsport, on the Potomac
river, a distance of about 200 miles, taking with him skins
and furs, and returning with salt - camping whereever night
overtook him. He thus continued supplying the settlers
with salt, and some other articles, for several years,
receiving for his salt from three to four dollars per
bushel.
Near where Abner Martin settled, now on the
Albert Bridgman farm, was a large flat rock, near the
base of the hill, upon which were impressions or prints of
human feet - large and small - tracks of deer, bears,
turkeys, birds, squirrels, raccoons, etc. The tracks
were very plain and distinctly shown in the rock. Our
informant supposes them to be the work of Indians.
Some years ago, a Mr. John Henthorn needing some
building stone, used up the rock for that purpose.
Opposite the Frail place, on the Virginia side
of the river, several years ago, two sons of Samuel
McEldowney found a brass crucifix, about six inches in
length. It was in a good state of preservation, and
was found on the river bank where a mound had caved in.
How came it there?
Ohio township was organized Oct. 18, 1818, and is
composed of parts of original townships 1 and 2, of range 3,
and parts of townships 2 and 3, of range r. Sections
22, 23, and 24, in township 1, of range 3, and sections 8,
9, 14, 19 and 20, in township 2, of range 3, are tractional
- lying on the Ohio river. It is bounded on the north
by Salem township on the east by the Ohio river. It is
bounded on the north by Salem township, on the east by the
Ohio river, on the south by Lee township, and on the west by
Lee and Greene. Along the river border it has a large
area of rich, alluvial valley land. The hills back
from the river are very high. The north-western
portion of the township is drained by Opossum creek, which
flows in a general northeastern direction, and empties into
the Ohio in Salem township. A large proportion
of the population are Germans, who are excellent farmers,
and the cultivation of the soil receives careful attention.
The production of cheese is an extensive business - larger
than in any other township in the county. For the year
1881, this product amounted to 177,924 pounds.
The town of Baresville was laid out in 1846, by
Jacob Bare, and lies on the Ohio river. It is the
only town in the township, and in it is located the only
posoffice, called Hannibal. The population of
Baresville is reported for 1880, at 341, and the township,
including the town, 1,905. The present justices of the
peace are A. G. W. Potts and T. G. Allen
The school statistics for the
township for the year ending Aug. 31, 1881, are as follows:
Total amount of school money received within the year,
$5,080.04; amount paid teachers, $2,379.40; paid for sites
and buildings, $520.00; paid for interest and in redemption
of bonds, $343.61; fuel, etc., $218.19; balance on hand
Sept. 1, 1881, $1,618.84; No. of sub-districts and
subdivisions of separate districts, 9; No. of school houses,
9; No. of school rooms, 12; value of school property,
$9,500;
[Pg. 216]
No. of teachers necessary, 12 - gentlemen 10, ladies, 2;
average wages of teachers per month, gentlemen, $34.00,
ladies, $32.00; total number of pupils enrolled, 452.
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