GUERNSEY COUNTY OHIO - ROADS AND RAILROADS *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MMacmurph@aol.com February 19, 2000 *********************************************************************** Stories of Guernsey County Ohio, by William Wolfe 1943 Pg 196-197 Chapter: Roads and Railroads Section: The Steubenville Road Some of the roads leading out of Cambridge have been known by the names of the places that they reach; as, Coshocton road, Newcomerstown road, and Steubenville road. The one named last is better known to modern travelers as Route No. 22, or the William Penn highway, but to many people in Guernsey county it will always be the Steubenville road. This road held a place second only to Zane's Trace as a way for travel in the early days of the county. Settlers came into this section by both routes. Building the Road -- The path through the forest, that afterwards became the Steubenville road, was cut in 1801, four years later than Zane's Trace. However, it was not extended as far as Cambridge until sometime between 1803 and 1805. It was opened as a good wagon road through to Steubenville in 1811. Edward Carpenter was the pathfinder. For the sum of three hundred dollars he agreed to cut a trail from Big Stillwater creek in what is now Harrison county to a point within seven miles of Cambridge. Having completed the work, he moved to Londonderry township, becoming its first settler. The seven miles leading from the end of the Carpenter contract to Cambridge was completed by Zaccheus Biggs. Used much in Early Days.-- As a pioneer route of travel the Steubenville road was better than Zane's Trace. It was an open path through the forest, while the latter was but little more than a blazed trail. When Zane's Trace had been made into a fairly good route of travel it was called the Wheeling road. That name was dropped upon the completion of the National Road. Likewise, Carpenter's open trail the Steubenville road, and later a part of the William Penn highway. Entering the northeastern corner of Guernsey county from Harrison county, the Steubenville road follows a southwestern course to Cambridge, a distance of twenty-two miles. The villages platted on it were Londonderry (1815), Antrim (1830) Winchester (1836) and Centreville (1842). As it was a shorter route to Pittsburgh than was the old Wheeling road, it was used much in the early part of the last century. Cattle, sheep and hogs were driven over it. Footmen, horseback riders and emigrant wagons were constantly traveling the road. Taverns on the road-- Taverns were opened for the accommodation of the travelers. The proprietors were required to procure licenses, which were issued by the court at a cost of from five to eight dollars. The rates varied in accordance with the location. In each tavern was a bar where liquors were sold. The selling was legal if the tavern keeper held a license. At the first court session held in Guernsey county in 1810, licenses to keep taverns on the Steubenville road were granted to Edward Carpenter, Joseph Dean, and Robert Wilkin. At the same session Robert Wilkin was found guilty of selling whisky without a license and was fined six and one-fourth cents and costs. Joseph Dean neglected to renew his license three years later and was fined five dollars. -------------OH-FOOTSTEPS MAILING LIST-----------------------