OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 50 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 03 : Issue 50 Today's Topics: #1 [OH-FOOT] Ch 10 part 1b - Hamilton [Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030326200033.0162a558@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Ch 10 part 1b - Hamilton county Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Part 1b Trancribed by Dorothy Wiland *********************************************************************** Chapter X Progress of Hamilton county - pgs 70-75 *********************************************************************** History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Compiled by Henry A. Ford, A.M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, L.A. William & Co., Publishers; 1881. The population of Hamilton county, in 1820, footed up thirty-one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, divided among the townships as follows: Cincinnati, nine thousand six hundred and forty-two; Columbia, two thousand eight hundred and fourteen; Mill Creek, two thousand one hundred and ninety-eight; Springfield, two thousand one hundred and ninety-seven (Springfield vil- ~pg72~ lage two hundred and twenty); Sycamore three thousand four hundred and sixty-three; Whitewater, one thousand six hundred and sixty-one; Anderson, two thousand one hundred and twenty-two; Colerain, one thousand nine hundred and six; Crosby, one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one; Delhi, one thousand one hundred and fifty-eight; Green, one thousand four hundred and fifty-six; Miami, one thousand four hundred and twenty-six. The population of Springfield and Sycamore townships this year, which appears larger than their respective populations by the census of 1830; but the formation of new townships from them sufficiently accounts for that, since they had then to part with a portion of their people, thenceforth to be enumerated in the new divisions. This decade was signalized by the laying-off (or at least recording the plats) of an extraordinary number, for the period, of town and village sites. In 1813, by the date of record, Harrison was founded; in 1815, Carthage; 1816, New Burlington and Miamistown; 1817, Elizabethtown and "" 1818, New Haven, Cheviot, Sharon, and "" and, in 1819, New Baltimore. Most of these have survived, at least as local post offices and hamlets; but others, several in number, have made little more figure in history or in actual existence than the countless " towns" that studded the prairies and the banks of western rivers (in imagination and speculation description and platting) twenty years later. THE FOURTH DECADE The Ohio State Gazetteer of 1821 notes: " has been an uncommonly rapid increase of emigrants from other States into this county during several years past; and, the land being of a peculiarly good quality for the production of grain, one of the principal articles necessary for subsistence, this county has, therefore, become an important section of the state." The thickening of population in parts of the county made the size of some of the old townships inconvenient for a part of the voters and residents therein; and the new townships of Fulton and Symmes were presently created. There were fourteen townships in 1826; Georgetown, Lockland, Lewistown, Madison, Nassau, and Prospect Hill, were added during the decade to the list of villages whose plats were recorded; and the suburb of " Liberties" was laid off adjacent to the city of Cincinnati. The population of the county was estimated that year at forty-four thousand, about one-eighteenth of all the inhabitants of the State, while the year before the aggregate value of taxable property in the county, assessed on the ad valorem system, was six million eight hundred and forty-eight thousand four hundred and thirty-three dollars, or more than one-eighth of the entire valuation of the State. A very satisfactory and father remarkable increase in the wealth of the county, both absolute and relatively to population, as compared with other parts of the State, is thus shown. The convictions for crime in Hamilton county during 1826 were: Murder in the first degree, one; rape, one; perjury, one; assault with intent to murder, one; assault with intent to commit mayhem, two; stabbing with intent to kill one; burglary, two; uttering counterfeit money, three; horse-stealing, three; grand larceny, four; petit larceny, four; total convictions, twenty-three. So the county was making progress, unhappily in the accumulation of a crime record, as well as in more reputable and honorable affairs. The census of 1830 exhibited the handsome total of fifty-two thousand three hundred and eighty, an increase of twenty-one thousand six hundred and sixteen, or sixty-six per cent, upon the count of ten years before. Much of this increase, of course, was in the city, which had jumped from nine thousand six hundred and forty-two to twenty-four thousand eight hundred and thirty-one increasing fifteen thousand one hundred and eighty-nine people during the decade, or one hundred and fifty-seven per cent. The remaining townships of the county had now population as follows: Anderson, two thousand four hundred and ten; Colerain, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight; Columbia, three thousand and fifty-one; Crosby, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five; Delhi, one thousand five hundred and twenty-seven; Fulton, one thousand and eighty-nine; Green, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-five; Miami, one thousand five hundred and forty-nine; Mill Creek, three thousand three hundred and fifty-six; Springfield, three thousand and twenty-five; Sycamore, two thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine; Symmes, one thousand one hundred and fifty-eight; Whitewater, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-four; total in the townships, twenty-seven thousand four hundred and eighty-six. This was the last of the Federal censuses in Hamilton county in which the country population outnumbered the city, as it now did, but by only two thousand six hundred and fifty-five. At the next census Cincinnati was nearly thirteen thousand in advance of all the county besides. It had this year twenty-four thousand eight hundred and thirty-one inhabitants. The total for the county was fifty-two thousand three hundred and seventeen. THE FIFTH DECADE The enumeration of 1830 showed the population of each of four of the townshipsColumbia, Crosby, Delhi, and Symmesto be somewhat greater than it proved to be at the next censusa falling off to be accounted for in one case by the erection of a new township (Storrs), which took place in this decade. The country' growth in most parts continued hopefully and satisfactorily; and when the county of 1840 was made, it displayed an increase of twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, or nearly fifty per cent within ten years. Cincinnati had, as ever in this county since 1810, the lion' share of the spoils, all the new immigration and natural increase, so far as represented by the figures upon their face, going to the city, except six thousand three hundred and twenty-one. About three-fourths of the total grown of the county in population was claimed by the city, which now had forty-six thousand three hundred and thirty-eight people. The townships were assigned the following numbers: Anderson, two thousand three hundred and eleven; Colerain. Two thousand two hundred and seventy ~pg 73~ two; Sycamore, three thousand two hundred and seven; Columbia, three thousand and forty-three; Fulton, one thousand five hundred and six, Mill Creek, six thousand .two hundred and forty-nine; Crosby, one thousand-eight hundred and seventy-six; Symmes, one thousand and thirty-four; Delhi, one thousand four hundred and sixty- six; Storrs, one thousand and thirty-four; Green, two thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine; Miami, two thousand one hundred and eighty-nine; Springfield, three thousand and ninety-two; Whitewater, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two. Nearly two-fifths of the increase in the county during this decade belongs to Mill Creek township, about one-sixth to Green, one-tenth to Miami, and the rest is pretty nearly divided between the townships which show any increase Mill Creek, being very favorably situated next the city, had, and retains, so much of it as is left from the annexations, special advantages for growth. It nearly doubled its population, as may be seen by comparison of previous summaries of the census, between 1820 and 1830, and again in the decade 1830-40. The entire population of the county was now eighty thousand one hundred and forty-five-an average of a little over two hundred and five to the square mile, or, leaving out the city's area and population, an average of nearly eighty-nine to the mile. The assessed valuation of property in the county in 1836, as exhibited by the tax duplicate, was nine million, seven hundred and one thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven dollars, an increase of nearly fifty per cent since 1825. The tax paid the former year was one hundred and fifty-nine thousand six hundred and seventy- eight dollars. During this decade were founded, according to recorded plats, the villages of Carrsville and Walnut Hills, Vernon Village, and the suburb of "Northern Liberties." THE SIXTH DECADE The increase in valuation during this period was very rapid. In 1841 the valuation of the county was ten million, seven hundred and sixty thousand, four hundred and ninety-four dollars, but one million and fifty-nine thousand, one hundred and seven dollars more than it had been for years before. For Cincinnati; however, now set in an era of great prosperity and growth in manufactures, trade, and commerce; and the valuation in- creased forty-five millions in nine years. In 1850 it was fifty-five million, six hundred and seventy thousand, six hundred and thirty-one dollars; and we may anticipate the course of this narrative a little by saying just here, while surprising figures are in hand, that the valuation of 1855 was one hundred and twelve million, nine hundred and forty-five-thousand, four hundred and forty-five dollars; that of 1860 was one hundred and nineteen million, five hundred and eight thousand, one hundred and seventy dollars; that of 1868, one hundred and sixty-six million, nine hundred and forty-five thousand, four hundred and ninety-seven. The increase in nine years (1841-50) was over four-fold, and was three-fold in the nineteen years 1850-69. From 1860 to '69 the increase was thirty-two per cent. The increase of population in the city of Cincinnati was not less surprising. In the ten years 1840-50 the number of its inhabitants had jumped, from forty-six thousand three hundred and thirty-eight to one hundred and fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty-eight-an absolute increase of sixty-nine thousand one hundred, or very nearly one hundred and fifty per cent.-an average of fifteen per cent., or six thousand nine hundred and ten persons every year. . Nineteen immigrants, on an average, arrived in this city every day, Sundays and all, during the ten years. The country, however --the town-ships--increased but four thousand six hundred and five, or less than fourteen per cent., during the decade. The population of the city, by the canvass of 1850, was One hundred and fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty-eight; of the townships, forty-one thousand four hundred and twelve;--total, one hundred and fifty-six thousand eight hundred and fifty. The Mexican war, which occurred during this decade, had no appreciable effect in retarding the growth and prosperity of Hamilton county. THE SEVENTH DECADE At the expiration of this (in 1860) the population of the county had mounted to the high figure of two hundred and fifteen thousand six hundred and seventy-seven, of which Cincinnati, with its now seventeen wards, had nearly three-fourths, or one hundred and sixty-one thousand and forty-four. The remainder of the population was dispersed as follows: Columbia township, two thousand nine hundred and thirty-one;. Sycamore, three thousand four hundred and twenty-seven; Anderson, three thousand four hundred and thirty-nine; Green, four thousand four hundred and twenty-six; Mill Creek, thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty-four; Springfield, four thousand eight hundred and forty; Colerain, three thousand nine hundred and thirty-three; Delhi, two thousand seven hundred; Miami, one thousand six hundred and eighty-three; Crosby, one thousand one hundred and eighty-two; (Reading village, one thousand two hundred and thirty); Whitewater, one thousand four hundred and twenty-one; Harrison, one. thousand three hundred and forty-three; Symmes, one thousand one hundred and seven; Storrs, three thousand eight hundred and sixty-two; Spencer, two thousand five hundred and fifty-two. Total, fifty-four thousand six hundred and thirty-three. In this decade the village of College Hill was incorporated, and several other towns were surveyed and their plats recorded. The township of Harrison was also formed. THE EIGHTH DECADE In 1870 the population of the county was two hundred and sixty thousand three hundred and seventy. The chief productions of the year, according to the census, were one hundred and sixty-two thousand six hundred and seven bushels of wheat, one million two hundred and twenty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-six of Indian corn, two hundred and sixty-eight thousand and eighty-nine of oats, ninety-six thousand ~pg74~ nine hundred and seventy-nine of barley, one hundred and sixty-two thousand five hundred and seventy-seven of potatoes, seven hundred and seventy-three thousand three hundred and eighty-seven pounds of butter, one hundred and twenty-six thousand four hundred of cheese, and twenty-five thousand three hundred and four tons of hay. The county possessed eight thousand five hundred and thirty-one horses, twelve thousand four hundred and thirteen milch cows, three thousand two hundred and fifty-four other cattle, three thousand six hundred and forty-seven sheep, and twenty-one thousand one hundred and sixty-five swine. The manufactories of all kinds numbered two thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, with a total capital of forty-two million six hundred and forty-six thousand one hundred and fifty-two dollars, and an annual product of seventy-eight million nine hundred and five thousand nine hundred and eighty dollars. The value of real and personal property in the county in 1870 was three hundred and forty-one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Not withstanding the great civil was during nearly half of this decade, the grown of the county was very satisfactory. Lockland, Mt. Airy, Cumminsville, Woodburn, Avondale, Riverside, Mt. Washington, and Carthage, were incorporated and the foundations of other flourishing villages were laid. THE NINTH DECADE The earlier part of this was marked by numerous annexations to the city, which rapidly grew from seven to twenty-four square miles, and corresponding losses to the townships. The census of 1880, in consequence of the financial crisis and industrial prostration which characterized nearly all the years of this decade, did not exhibit surprising growths of population for either city or county. Still, the increase was healthy, and on the whole satisfactory, being fourteen thousand one hundred and thirty-one for the townships, or about thirty-two per cent for the decade; and in the city thirty-nine thousand three hundred and sixty-nine, or about eighteen per cent. The totals of population for the townships were fifty-eight thousand two hundred and sixty-two; for the city, two hundred and fifty-five thousand six hundred and eight; aggregate for the county, three hundred and thirteen thousand eight hundred and seventy. Most of the townships showed a good increase, and Columbia had nearly trebled its population. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:45:50 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030327034550.01640490@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Baptisms: Weiler & Koch - Auglazie County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" St John's Lutheran church on Pusheta Rd. Wapak. Anna Barbara - Born 11/24/1861 Baptism 12-02-1861 Parents Ehrhardt Weiler & Maria Kerler Sponsors - Barbara Uetter Ottilie Louisa - Born 05-24-1876 Parents Ehrhardt Weiler & Maria Stang Sponsors Ottilie Wiermane and Conrad Lunz Jacob Adam Born 05/21/1870 Baptism 06/12/1870 Parents Johann Kock & Christina Kochammer Sponsors Jacob Schneider & Katharina (Jacob Schneider born 01/10/1847 died 04/27/1866 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:06:09 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030326220609.0162e884@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Bio: Myers, A.J. - Belmont Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html A. J. MYERS was born in Mead township in 1838. He was raised on a farm and followed farming until 1864 when he came to Bellaire and started a boot and shoe business, which is now on Belmont street. He married Cornelia WORKMAN of Belmont county, in 1861. Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt >From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880 page 275 Bellaire Bios. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:04:52 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030326220452.0163cc20@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Bio: J.M. Lockwood - Belmont Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html JACOB M. LOCKWOOD was born in Belmont county, September 15, 1805, was brought up on a farm ,and received a common school education. On October 15, 1829, he married Miss Caroline C. COLMAN, who was born May 6, 1811. This union resulted in 5 sons. After his marriage he located on section 6, in Dille's Bottom, near the Ohio river. August 9, 1869 he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, and March 27, 1873 he married Miss Sarah L. CARBON who was born in 1832. He and his companion are members of the M. E. Church of Wegee. Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt >From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880 page 394 Mead Township Bios. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:05:38 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030326220538.01649bdc@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Bio: B. Lockwood - Belmont Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html BENJAMIN LOCKWOOD, a son of David LOCKWOOD, was born on or near Wheeling creek, Va., April 13, 1797. Was brought to Belmont county by his parents in 1800. They located in Dille's bottom. Benjamin worked with his father on the farm till twenty-three years of age, and in the meantime he received his education, in the old log school house of that day. On April 11, 1820, he married Miss Annie BELL, who was born in Washington county, Pa., October 2, 1801. Their union resulted in thirteen children, as follows: Annie B., Elizabeth A., David B., Jacob E., Benjamin F., Mary A., Alfred, Eliza J., Lavina A., Ephraim C., Elizabeth R., Sylvanus L., William T., George W., and Emily E., four of whom are living. William, the youngest son, was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, being the seventh engagement in which he participated. Mr. Lockwood, after his marriage located in Dille's bottom on section 16. In 1822, he erected a grist mill on section 18 and in connection run a distillery. In 1826, he moved near the Ohio river where he engaged in several pursuits - farming, merchandizing and boat building. In 1827, he was appointed postmaster at Dille's Bottom, which office he held for 40 years. At present he resides on a farm near the falls of Pipe creek, in section 18 about one mile from the Ohio river. He and his companion are members of the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church. The following description of the celebration of his 80th birth day which occurred on the 13th of April, 1879 is herewith appended. "A very pleasant family reunion was held at the residence of Benjamin LOCKWOOD, at Dille's Bottom, on the 13th on the occasion of the celebration of his 80th birth day. A large number of relatives and friends were present, among whom were two younger brothers, Col. J. H. LOCKWOOD, of Moundsville and J. M. LOCKWOOD of Dille's Bottom; two married daughters and their husbands, M. M. FOWLER, of Moundsville and Wm. W. FERRELL; eleven grand children and two great grandchildren; Mrs. Jacob LOCKWOOD, a daughter-in-law, of Belpre, Ohio; W. H. SEYMOUR and wife of Chicago; Sarah ANSCHUTZ, wife of a deceased brother; Mrs. SWEENEY of Washington, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. McCORMICK, of Allegheny, sisters of Mrs. LOCKWOOD and Col. John THOMPSON of Moundsville. The day was spent pleasantly in recounting family history and in reviewing and strengthening old family ties; in listening to some excellent music; in giving and receiving gifts, and partaking of a sumptuous dinner. After the good things had been properly discussed, Mr. W. H. SEYMOUR read the following acrostic: Beneath the weight of eighty years that o'er thy head hath rolled; Endeared to us who know thy heart is pure as virgin gold. No longer in the spring-time of thy boyhood's lightsomness, Joyous as the wind that woos the powers with soft caress. Afloat upon time's ocean are those days too sweet to last. Mourning alone, oftimes recalls the blithe and blissful past; It lingers wistfully around that happy time Noting the years which in their train bring manhood's glorious prime. Linger, sweet memories, while you may, for time must softly roll Onward and onward until we reach our goal. Cheerful, open-handed, energetic, staunch and true, Kind of heart, to others doing as he would wish them to do. We honor thee, old patriarch, a good race hast thou ran O'er nature's time allotted as the period of life's span. Our voices greet thee lovingly, on this thy natal day. Dear to us all, long may it be ere thou art called away. The reading over, appropriate short speeches were made by the host, Benjamin LOCKWOOD, Col. J. H. LOCKWOOD, Col. John THOMPSON and W. H. SEYMOUR. Next was the presentation by the children of W. H. SEYMOUR, great grand children of Mr. LOCKWOOD, of a beautiful inlaid box with plate engraved and portraits of the donors; also a silver shaving cup and apparatus complete. His grandchildren presented him with a handsome 6x8 photograph of his mother, enlarged from an old daguerreotype, in walnut and guilt [my note: sic] frame." Mr. LOCKWOOD is yet quite hale and hearty for one of his years. Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt >From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880 page 394 Mead Township Bios. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #6 Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:27:56 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030326222756.016373b0@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Belmont #11 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Deb Murray. --------------- "Historic Collections of Ohio" by Henry Howe. The first settlement was made and called Norristown in 1785, but, upon complaint of the Indians that the whites were encroaching on their hunting-grounds, the settlers were dispossessed and driven to the other side of the river by Col. Harmer, acting under the orders of the United States government. In 1788 the ground upon which the town is built was granted by patent to Absalom Martin, and in 1795 he laid out a town and called it Jefferson. But, having failed in his efforts to have it made the county-seat, Mr. Martin purchased such town lots as had been already sold and vacated the town, supposing a town could never exist so near Wheeling. In 1835 Ebenezer Martin laid out and platted the town of Martinsville, but afterwards changed the name to Martin's Ferry, there being another town in the State named Martinsville. As no point on the Ohio presented better facilities for manufacturing, it grew and prospered and in 1865 was incorporated as a town. Martin's Ferry is on the line of the P. C. & St. L. R. R. Newspapers: Ohio Valley News, Independent, James H. Drennen, editor and publisher; Church Herald, religious, Rev. Earl D. Holtz, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Presbyterian, 1 United Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Lutheran, I Catholic, 2 Methodist Episcopal, 1 African Methodist, 1 Episcopal. Banks: Commercial, J. A. Gray, president, Geo. H. Smith, cashier; Exchange, John Armstrong, president, W. R. Ratcliff, cashier. Manufactures and Employees. - Novelty Glass Mould Works, 9 hands; Elson Glass Works, tableware, etc., 330; F. McCord & Bro., brick, 25; Laughlin Nail Co., 375; Martin's Ferry Stove Works, 27; Spruce, Baggs & Co., stoves, 26; Dithridge Flint Glass Works, tumblers, etc., 194; L. Spence, steam engines, etc., 25; Martin's Ferry Keg and Barrel Co., 65; Buckeye Glass Works, 200; Branch of Benwood Mills, pig iron, 55; J. Kerr & Sons and B. Exley & Co., doors, sash, etc.; Wm. Mann, machinery, 24. - State Report 1887. Population in 1880, 3,819. School census in 1886,1,813; Chas. R. Shreve, superintendent. The cultivation of grapes is an important and growing industry of Martin's Ferry, the warm valley and sunny eastern slopes west of the town being especially adapted to their perfection; not less than 350 acres are devoted to their cultivation. The grapes are made into wine by the Ohio Wine Co., which has recently erected a large building for this purpose. The dwellings at Martin's Ferry are mostly on a second plateau about 600 feet from the Ohio and 100 feet above it. The river hills on both sides rise to an altitude of about 600 feet, making the site of the town one of grandeur. On the West Virginia side the hills are very precipitous, leaving between them and the river bank but little more than sufficient space for a road and the line of the P. C. & St. L. Railroad. The upper plateau at Bellaire is a gravel and sand bed. The gravel is about eighty feet deep in places, cemented so strongly that the excavation for buildings is very expensive, being impervious to the pick and often from the porous nature of the soil blasting fails; the cost of excavating for the cellar of a building often exceeds the price of the lot. The west part of the upper plateau is depressed, and it is supposed was once the bed of the Ohio. The country back is very fertile and rich in coal, iron and limestone. Annexed is a view of the cottage at Martin's Ferry in which, March 1, 1837, was born WM. DEAN HOWELLS, who is considered "America's Leading Writer of Fiction." The structure was of brick and was destroyed to make way for the track of the Cleveland and Pittsburg railway. It was drawn at our desire from memory by the venerated father of the author, who built it and is now living in a pleasant old age at Jefferson, Ashtabula county. The Howells away back were of literary tastes, of Welsh stock and Quakers. When the boy was theee years of age the family removed to Butler county, where his father published the Hamilton Intelligencer, and William while a mere child learned to set type. >From thence they removed to Dayton, where the elder Howells purchased the Dayton Transcipt and changed it into a daily. His sons aided him in the type-setting, William often working until near midnight and then rising at four o'clock to distribute the paper. The enterprise illustrated industry agaist ill fate. After a two-years' strggle Mr. Howells one day announced to his sons the enterprise was a failure, whereupon they all went down to the Big Miami and took a good swim to freshen up for another tug with fate. In 1851, when fourteen years of age, he got a position as compositor on the Ohio State Journal at Columbus. His pay was four dollars per week, which was the first money he earned and received as his own. This he turned into the uses of the family to help fight the wolf from the door. While there, conjointly with a brother compositor, John J. Piatt, he put forth a volume of poetry. Later he contributed poems to the Atlantic Monthly, was a newspaper correspondent, wrote a campaign life of Lincoln: from 1861 to 1864 was consul at Venice; from 1866 to 1872 was assistant editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and then until 1881 editor-in-chief. Mr. Howells works in a field which is pre-eminently his own - that of social life. He has a happy home, wife and children in Beacon St., Boston, where he devotes his mornings to writing, usually completing at a sitting a trifle more than what would make one-and-a-half pages as this in which our printer sets these lines - say 1500 words a day. Flushing and Morristown are villages, containing each from sixty to eighty dwellings, in this county. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V03 Issue #50 ******************************************