--- BATESVILLE is a thrifty and prosperous village, situated on Beaver Fork of Will's Creek, in the midst of one of the best agricultural regions in southeastern Ohio.  The town is neatly built and contains a far greater number of good buildings than are often seen even in much larger places.  The main street is the Summerfield and Batesville turnpike, with good sidewalks on each side.  The general appearance of the place betokens that the people have good taste and an enterprising disposition.
     Batesville was formerly called Williamsburg.  It was so named from its founder William Finley, who settled in the township as early as 1818.  The name Batesville was first used to designate an early post office, kept at Timothy Bates'* mill, near the present line of Wayne and Seneca Townships.  The location of the office was afterward changed to Cornelius Bryan's, where Lewis Groves now lives, and thence to Batesville after the latter had become something of a village.
     The town was platted as early as 1827, Lebbeus Fordyce, surveyor, but the some years there were no stores or houses of importance.  The first house was built by Nathaniel Piles, who also kept the first tavern.  His house stood on the lot now occupied by Elias Wehr's residence.
     The first store was established about 1828, by Richard Elliott and James Reed, who came from Pipe Creek, near the Ohio River.  Abraham Brown had a small store in 1830.  He remained but a short time.  After Elliott & Reed, the next mercantile establishment of importance was that of Abner Johnson, who for several years did a prosperous business.  Johnson first kept store on the creek about four miles below Batesville, serving as clerk for a man named Blackstone†, who owned the establishment, but lived at Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County.  At Batesville he carried on business for William Shankland, of Barnesville.  Besides conducting the mercantile business, he bought and packed large quantities of tobacco.  Prior to 1835 Benjamin Davenport and Frederick Biedenhorn, in partnership, started another store.  They had a good trade and remained many years.  They also bought tobacco and carried on the business of pork-packing on quite an extensive scale.  Davenport was from Barnesville, Biedenhorn was a German.  Among later merchants have been the Hochspringer brothers and the Atkinsons.  The latter are still among the prominent business men.
     Thomas Winteringer, a bachelor and a hunter, who was not fond of work, but had a penchanat for trading and "swapping," was among the early settlers of the village, and lived in a hewed log house which he erected.  He had previously lived on a farm below the town.
     Peter Cline was the first blacksmith.  He sold out to Samuel Gebhart, who followed the business many years.
     "Jerry" Brown, a large, fat, good natured fellow, famous as a squirrel hunter, was the first shoemaker in the village.  He was better at hunting than in his trade.
     One of the earliest industries of the village was a tannery, started about 1830, by Adam Wiemer.  After a few years he sold out to George and John Dillon, who carried on a prosperous business for many years, finally selling out and removing to Missouri.
     Reuben Carpenter, who worked at carpentry and cabinet-making, erected the first brick house in Batesville, about 1837.  It is now owned by Frank Clucas.  The present residence of Harrison Wendall - at the lower end of Main street, almost in the village - was erected by his father, Daniel Wendall, in 1830, and was among the first brick structures in the township.
     Henry Wehr, a tailor by trade, settled in the place in 1834.  For some years he ran a horse-mill, which was liberally patronized.  It was no usual thing to see twenty farmers there at a time, a waiting theirs turns with their grists.  Mr. Wehr erected the second brick house in the town.  It is still standing, and is now owned by Daniel C. Goodhart.  Elias Wehr, son of Henry, is the oldest resident of the village.
     Michael Hendershot, a hatter, came to the town in 1835, and is still a resident.  He followed his trade a number of years.  He is now an aged man, but still remarkably active.
     The town grew very slowly, and made but little progress during the first twenty years.
     James M. Robinson, was the first cabinet maker.   He died in the town.
     Batesville is among the largest of village in Noble County.  In 1870 it had a population of 213; in 1880, 369.  The present population is nearly 500.
     The First National Bank of Batesville was organized in December, 1874, with the following board of directors:  F. M. Atkinson, W. E. Gibson, Hiram Hastings, H. F. McVickar, J. C. Israel, W. H. Atkinson and B. F. Carter.  Capitol, $60,000.  The first officers were F. M. Atkinson, president; and A. P. Spencer, cashier.  W. H. Atkinson succeeded Mr. Gibson as vice president; and on the death of F. M. Atkinson was chosen president, in which capacity he still serves.  J. C. Israel succeeded W. H. Atkinson as vice-president, and holds that position at present.  W. W. Elliott, the present cashier, succeeded A. P. Spencer.   The present board of directors consists of W. H. Atkinson, G. R. Atkinson, H. Hasting, H. F. McVickar, W. K. Cooper, B. F. Carter and J. C. Israel.
     The flouring-mill in Batesville, one of the best in this region, was built in 1874 by a joint stock company, at a cost of over $12,000.  It is first-class in all respects.
     In 1877 a telegraph line was built from Batesville to Spencer Station, and has since been operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company, a special arrangement with that corporation.  It was a private enterprise of the citizens of Batesville.  The principal capitalists interested were the Atkinson brothers, Henry Miller and the First National Bank.
     About the time the town was laid out, a log school-house was built.  Lebbeus Fordice was the first teacher in the school, and in 1856 the present school-house, a two-story frame building, was erected at a cost of about $1,500.  This is now too small for the wants of the school, and the lower floor of Temperance Hall is now being used as an additional school-room.  The schools of the town are well conducted.
     The business interests of Batesville early in the year 1887 were as follows:
     General merchants:  Carter & Atkinson, D. C. Goodhart, Shively Bros., M. E. Powelson.
     Tin and hardware:  G. R. Atkinson (postmaster)
     Cigar manufacturers:  Gallagher Bros., Dickerson Bros.
     Grocer:  H. M. Roach
     Harness-maker:  S. T. Van Meter.
     Shoemakers:  J. H. Morgan, Thomas Morgan
     Blacksmiths: Alfred Shepard, T. P. Doudan, W. H. Goodhart.
     Wagon-maker:  T. P. Osler.
     Flouring-mill:  Beaver Mill Company
     Bank:  First National; A. H. Atkinson, president.
     Physicians:  Dr. T. S. Rosengrant, Dr. Frank James.

SOCIETIES:

     Sons of Temperance - The oldest temperance society in Noble County is the Williamsburg Division, No. 234, of the Sons of Temperance.  It was instituted June 10, 1847, and since that time no regular meetings have been missed excepting two or three.  Michael Hendershot is the only charter member, holding an undisturbed membership since 1847.  In 1858 a two-story hall was built at a cost of $1,500.  The society is still flourishing, with a membership of thirty.  The charter members of this division were A. Simmons, W. B. Stotler, M. Hendershot, John Conner, John C. Alton, James Watkins, J. K. Casey, J. M. Joseph, Carolus Judkins, David Mercer, B. Davenport and Joseph Stillwell.  The present officers are Lucy A. Cooper, W. P.; James Roach, W. A.; W. C. Atkinson, P. W. P.; G. W. Roach, F. X.; Flora Atkinson, treas.; Capitola Roach, R. S.; Maggie Cooper, A. R. S.; Mattie Roach, C.; Frank Wendall, A. C.; T. P. Osler, O. S.; Sallie Atkinson, I. S.; W. K. Cooper, chaplain.
     Odd Fellows. - Batesville Lodge, No. 382, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 23, 1866, with the following charter members and first officers; W. G. Duffy; Noble Grand; Chalk Mercer, Vice-Grand; P. A. Petty, recording secretary; W. K. Cooper, T. D. Petty, V. T. Mercer, J. T> Mercer, G. H. Cline, Isaac Hay, I. H. VanMeter, E. Wehr, Isaac Eagon, George Wyscarver, Isaac Kaylor and W. Miller. The lodge room, over the First National Bank, is valued at $1,000.  The present officers are John M. Dickerson, Noble Grand; Edward Douglas, Vice-Grand; G. W. Cooper, recording secretary; W. K. Cooper, permanent secretary; Hiram Hasting, treasurer.
     Sons of Veterans. - William C. Simmons camp, No. 136, Sons of Veterans, was organized September 20, 1886, with ten charter members:  G. R. Carter, captain; John H. Morgan, first lieutenant; J. E. House, second lieutenant; Thomas Morgan, John House, Frank House, W. A. Cline, A. E. Cline, H. M. Roach and David Watson.  In November, 1886, there were thirteen members.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodists here, as elsewhere in the pioneer settlements, were among the first religious denominations to organize and hold regular services.  For many years there was preaching at private houses.  Near where Jacob Wyscarver now lives a log meeting-house, free for all denominations, but oftenest used by the Methodists, was erected prior to 1825.
     Soon after 1834, the Methodist church edifice was erected.  A class had been formed many years earlier.  The Methodist church is still prosperous, with a good membership.
     Lutheran. - Mt. Hope Episcopal Lutheran church, of Batesville, was organized by Rev. William G. Keil, in 1828.  The original members were John Cline, Samuel Hastings, Isaac Cooper, William Finley, Robert Stewart, Daniel Wendall, George Peters, Abraham Weimer, William Gladfelder, Peter Gladfelder, Samuel Colliflower, George Cline and Daniel Finley.  The first church edifice, a log building, 24x30 feet, was erected in 1833.  The present church (frame, and 36x46 feet), was erected in 1858 at a cost of $1,800.  The pastors have been Revs. William G. Keil (until 1842), Peter P. Lane, I. Sells, Thomas Corbett, Logan Gilbreath, G. W. Elser, J. W. Hower, E. Minter and J. B. Miller.  Present membership, 24; Sabbath school scholars, 30.
     St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. - The first congregation (called St. Dominic's) was organized about 1819 by Rev. Edward Fenwick, a native of Maryland, who was one of the first priests who labored in this section.  Among the original members were Edmund Gallagher, Colonel John De Long, John S. Jeffries and others.  In 1825 a log church was erected, being 26x36 feet in size.  In 1853 a brick building, 45x85 feet, took its place.  Its cost was about $8,000.  The pastors have been Revs. James Reid, James Quinlan, William Murphy, Edward Brummer (who built the present church), J. M. Jacquet, Joseph Laffen, T. Howe, C. M. Erry and J. G. Montag (1886, present pastor).  The church has four hundred members; Sabbath school, eighty scholars.
     In 1810 the Dominican fathers bore the cross into Ohio, near the present town of Sommerset, where mass was said by Bishop Flaget in 1812.  He found them already projecting a church.  The Catholics of Beaver Township were attended in their spiritual wants from Somerset for a long time.
     Wesleyan Chapel. -  This church is located in the northeast part of Beaver Township, and was organized in 1822 with the following members; Jacob Arick and wife, James Reid and wife, John Stewart and wife, Daniel Mead and wife, Mary O. Potter, L. Petty, Sidney Petty, Cloe A. Arick, John Arick, Mary Reed, Joseph Stewart and Cyntha Stewart.  James Reed was the first class-leader.  The first sermon was preached by Ludwell Petty in 1828.  The first church was of logs.  It was erected in 1828 by volunteer labor.  The present edifice was built in 1857, and cost about $2,000.  The succession of pastors has been Revs. Green, Rucker, Waddle, Drummond, Brown, Murray, Graham, Tipton, Callender, Dempsey, McLeany, Mills, Cook, Taylor, Peter Taylor, Athey, Minor, Taylor, Leaper, Hair, Wharton, Devina, Magee, Petty, Cross, Worthington, Hamilton, Jackson, Mapple, Watters, McGinnis, Cowen, Dallas, Cortright, Ellison, Perahing and others.
     Present membership, eighty; Sabbath school attendance, forty.
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* Timothy Bates was a Whig.  After Jackson began turning Whigs out of office and appointing Democrats, he became indignant, and sent in his resignation as postmaster.
† Probably the firm of Blackstone & Price, listed as merchants on the tax duplicate of 1830.