The Early Years of Tomlinson Run

Preface

    The following pages are an attempt to provide the reader with an accurate account of Tomlinson Run and the mills which depended upon its water. All possible effort has been made to cross reference written historical accounts with legal documents, records, and verbal stories.

    It is not my intent to embarrass anyone living or deceased. Some errors have been encountered in written historical accounts, as well as, popular beliefs. In some instances legal action was necessary to provide clear ownership of the mills. To omit such accounts would be a distortion of  history. Economic conditions, then as now, had an effect upon the prosperity of these small businesses.

    Above all, please consider everything in historical context. Some may think my findings are incorrect. But do remember, that what was true and factual for a generation of people living in the 1850's had changed for their grandchildren. Burned records and mills, mistakes in history books, changes in agricultural practices, and oral family histories are just a few obstacles to a historian. But, there is truth to find in all accounts. Finally, I doubt that this article is the last word.

The Early Years

    Any society, community, or nation needs a foundation on which to build and prosper. Tomlinson Run and its surrounding communities are no exception. The early colonial and European settlers, who arrived here over two hundred years ago, were looking for land of their own and a chance at a new found wealth of raw materials and freedom.  What they found here must have been favorable. Our many varied life styles and standards of living are proof of their successful completion of a broad and sturdy way of life.

    Very little of their accomplishment remain to be seen today. But in all of Hancock County, Tomlinson Run State Park is the best place to view what remains. If one takes their time while traveling through Tomlinson Run State Park or while walking along the streams, they just can not miss the hand cut sandstone blocks. These sandstone blocks are laying in silent testimony to the stories of those early settlers and their mills.

    To actually take a walk through the park, one has to start about one half of a mile from where Tomlinson Run empties into the Ohio River. Then you will have to travel up stream for nearly three and a half miles. The stream then splits into a North and South fork at the lake. The North Fork leaves the park boundary as it enters Shepherds Valley and the South Fork leaves the park boundary about a half mile up steam from where it goes under Route 8, near the front entrance of the park. Keep in mind that in spots the park is nearly a mile in width and contains almost fourteen hundred acres. It is going to be a long walk so wear comfortable shoes and pack a good lunch.

    If you take your time and hike through a section of the park each day, while alternating between the stream bed and trails or old roads, you should notice some old foundations, wells, and bridge abutments. Most of these will be made of cut sandstone. If you have any curiosity at all, you should be asking yourself, who lived here, what type of building was here, and why the cut stone dams?

    Maybe the best way to start answering some of these questions is to go back into history, to the end of the Revolutionary and the French and Indian Wars. Our new government was trying to settle the problem of its war debt. Money was owed to the soldiers that had served during these wars and one way of paying them was to give the soldiers land.

    The following is a list of land grants made by Lord Fairfax prior to the creation of the Virginia Land Office, from the Sims Index of Land Grants.

    All of the preceding grants were made on ground somewhere along Tomlinson Run. But, as far as Tomlinson Run State Park is concerned, most if not all of the park's present property can be traced back to a tract of land for which the Commonwealth of Virginia granted a patent to Benjamin Johnston for seven thousand acres of land bearing the date 7th of March 1785. Later on when this tract of ground was resurveyed it was found to contain eight thousand one hundred acres. I could not find any evidence that Benjamin Johnston ever lived on any of this land.

    The two thumbnails to the right  are what I believe to be the survey of Benjamin Johnston's 7000 acres containing Tomlinson Run State Park. They were found at the Brooke County Clerks Office, survey book A,  pages 140 and 141. Benjamin Johnston has a total acreage of 22,515 acres recorded in deed book A. I also believe this map and deed record are before the resurvey.

    This thumbnail is from a deed book located at the Brooke County Court House. It is a map of the eighty one hundred acres of Benjamin Johnston, dated June 25, 1812.

    The original seven thousand acre patent was in the name of Benjamin Johnston Jr., but was owned for use and benefit and held in trust for Benjamin Johnston, a surveyor of Yohioganey Co. Pa. In researching Benjamin Johnston, the surveyor, I notice that he obtained many patents along the Ohio River. Do you think he surveyed them as accurately as the plot that now contains Tomlinson Run? I bet the land speculators of that time period made a tidy sum of money.

    Oh well, back to the picture. Please notice the column of names on the right side. These were names of people who had already purchased some of his land. Lines 6, 7, 10, 14, and 15, were plots of land to be deeded to people who had befriended Johnston. Two of those people were Peter Peterson and John Ray. These names will be mentioned later. Also, the word PLANTATION is used. At this time in history this area was under the southern influence of the state of Virginia. The reason for the map was the death of Benjamin Johnston. His heirs drew lots to decide upon how the land was to be divided. The numbered rectangular plots show how and to whom the land was divided, plus the acreage. In this deed his heirs sold most of the land to John Hunter and Robert Bowland for fifty cents per acre. By the way, this map is not correct geographically. I believe that it was a matter of convenience, trying to fit certain information onto one page of a deed book.

    Tomlinson Run is named after one of the earliest settlers of this area, Benjamin Tomlinson. There is a good chance that he arrived here in the year 1770. He probably left the Fort Cumberland, Md. area the same year with other members of his family. At least three members of the Tomlinson family settled at what is now Moundsville, WV. Their names are Joseph, Rebecca, and Samuel. Their land claim included what is now known as the Grave Creek Mound. Benjamin, Nathaniel ( brother of Benjamin), and Elizabeth "Lucy" settled near Baker's Bottom in 1770. Baker's Bottom is now known as Mountaineer Park.

    Benjamin Tomlinson received a land grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia for one thousand and twenty-five acres on the twentieth day of March, 1785. He later sold this land to Jacob Nessly on July 2, 1787. According to Phyllis Slater, a descendant of Joseph Tomlinson, Benjamin and other members of his family returned to Allegany County, Maryland after the events of April 30, 1774, "Logan's Massacre".

  This thumbnail  to the right is also from the Brooke Co. Clerk's Office and shows Benjamin Tomlinson's land grant. 

    Joshua Baker was an Indian trader and owner of Baker's Bottom. He was married to Elizabeth "Lucy" Tomlinson, the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Tomlinson. Logan's Massacre and the start of Lord Dunmore's War occurred at Baker's Bottom on April 30, 1774.   

     The thumbnail to the right is from the Brooke Co. Clerk's Office. It shows  the location of Joshua Baker's property and his fort. When I state Joshua Baker was the owner of this land, I'm only referring to the era of 1774. It would be difficult claiming Baker did not exist and Logan's Massacre did not occur! Baker's Fort, Baker's Bottom, the two Baker's Islands are a part of Hancock Co. history. Capt. Andrew Swearingen's Survey (thumbnail to the right) is from the mid to late 1780's.  How Swearingen enters the picture, I don't know. Did Baker ever file a written claim for this property? A good guess, Logan's Massacre changed Baker's intent and the rest is history. On to the grist mills.

                                                       

    The following is a list of some of the early settlers of Tomlinson Run.                       

    Samuel Baxter settled in what is now Grant district in 1798. John Nesleroad settled about 1795. Jacob Nessly settled near Tomlinson Run in 1785. In 1800, or near that time, George Baxter, old Mr. Corey, and George Wilmhelm migrated to the county. William Murray settled here in 1818. Robert Glass settled in 1813, one mile east of Fairview. Hugh Pugh settled on a four hundred acre tract where Fairview is situated, in 1800. James Allison settled on the farm owned by Jonathan Allison, the grandson of James, on the road leading from Fairview to East Liverpool, in 1800. John Johnson settled on the north branch of Tomlinson Run in 1802. Samuel Caruthers settled on the head waters of Tomlinson Run in 1800 and erected one of the first still-houses in what is now Hancock County. David Pugh also had a small still-house on the same run from about 1804 to 1812. J. Bailey settled on the north branch of Tomlinson Run in 1800. Mr. Pittenger located here in 1798, settling on the road from Fairview to East Liverpool.

    To answer the question, who lived here, a couple short biographies should give us a better understanding of their lives. We must remember these people were self sufficient. They had to raise their crops, grain, and fruit. If they wanted meat on the table for dinner they either hunted or had livestock. One had to make their own clothes. A twenty mile trip in the family car to the local shopping mall is still over one hundred years away.

    The following biographies are from an old county history book, " History of the Pan-Handle; Being Historical Collections of the Counties of Ohio, Brooke, Marshall and Hancock West Virginia", printed in 1879. I have included any information that might prove to be of interest. My intent is to neither distort what little is known, nor omit anything which could be of value to those who do not have access to that history book.

    Jacob Nessly settled on Tomlinson Run in 1785, and owned all the land along the Ohio River for a mile back, and extending as far up as opposite Wellsville, Ohio, a distance of five miles. His first improvement was on the farm later owned by Jacob N. Brown. The fight between Andrew Poe and Big Foot was on Nessly's land at the mouth of Tomlinson Run. Nessly built a block house on his land for protection against the Indians. The government's block house was built on his grounds, which was used as headquarters for the guards and spies who were engaged in watching the movements of the Indians. Isaac Mill, James Downing, and George Folks were spies. Folks was captured and held as a captive by the Indians for a number of years and then escaped. Nessly also built a distillery on his property about the year 1803.

    Jacob was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. He married Miss Elizabeth Groff, also a native of the same county. They reared a family of eight children. His wife paid nearly the entire expense of the stone building known as the Nessly Church, which was erected in 1820. His children married as follows: Barbara married Richard Brown, and reared a family of nine children. Jacob married Nancy Myers and reared a family of five children. Judith married John Groff. Alice married Abraham Groff and reared a family of four children. Lucy married Rev. DeSelems and reared a family of six children. Elizabeth married Christian Brenneman and reared a family of six children. John married Elizabeth Fawcet and reared a family of eight children. Nancy died unmarried. Jacob Nessly died in 1832.

    About the year 1795, a man named John Nesselroad started a small blackpowder factory on the farm later owned by George Baxter. Here he built a log cabin and produced blackpowder for nearly six years. At that early date, powder and lead were very  scarce. Being in great demand by the settlers they brought a nice price. Game abounded in the forest in large quantities, and in order to provide food the settlers needed the ammunition. Worse yet, to be with out would put them in danger of attack from Indians. It is said that Nesselroad received about one dollar per pound for the blackpowder. His process for making it was a very slow one, because he had to make his own ingredients; those being saltpetre, charcoal, and sulphur. He then had to grind each one by hand with what was known to the early settlers as a hand-mill. The ingredients were then combined, wetted, dried, and reground even slower. At this time in history, making blackpowder with a water powered mill was out of the question, at least under the primitive conditions of the 1800's. Today there are no remains as to where Nesselroad's cabin was located.

    John Newell, a native of Washington County Pennsylvania, was born on the 9th of June 1796. His education was obtained in the common schools of his youth. In 1819 he married Miss Rachel Elder. They migrated to Hancock County and settled in Fairview where John worked as a tanner for fourteen years. About 1822 his first wife died and in a few years remarried Lydia Edie, daughter of John Edie. John and Lydia's marriage resulted in the birth of seven children. Lydia died and in 1853 John married Joanna Frazier. It appears that in 1836 John started working at Murray's Mill and remained there learning the milling trade until 1839. He then purchased what was then known as the Coulter's Mill.

    William Murray was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He married Jane Mill and in 1818, with his wife and two son, William C. and James, settled in what was the Poe district. In 1819, he built what was to be called Murray's Mill. His wife died in 1833 and he sold the mill to his son, William C. Murray. He then moved to Jefferson County, Ohio and later married Margaret Latimer.

    William C. Murray was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1809. He was brought to Hancock County by his father. William C. married Emily Abraham of Steubenville, Ohio. Their marriage resulted in four children, two sons and two daughters. He purchased his father's property, including farm, grist mill, and saw mills in 1833. Both of the sons died in the Civil War. William A. died at Richmond Virginia as a prisoner of war and John R. became ill while in camp, was brought home, and died a few days later.

    When William Murray settled here in 1818, there stood an old saw mill which was still in running order and a log grist mill that was worn out. In the following year he built a frame grist mill and continued grinding wheat for the neighborhood until 1833, when his son purchased the mill. In 1852 the mill caught fire and was destroyed. By 1853 the mill was rebuild by William C. and continued as a water driven grist mill until 1878.

    In the spring of 1878 William C. drilled a gas well at the mill site. After six weeks of work he obtained gas at the depth of 715 feet and in sufficient quantities to run the mill, plus light and heat two dwellings and to illuminate his place and its surroundings.

    The fact that prompted William C. in the first place to sink an oil well was from what occurred during the great oil excitement. He, in company with others, sunk a well at the mouth of Deep Gut Run for the purpose of obtaining oil, but instead struck a strong vein of gas. This, of course, led him to conclude that there was gas on his land, and the conclusion did not prove fallacious.

    John Brobeck, miller and proprietor of the Eureke Mill, formerly known as the Fairview Mill, was born in the Shenandoah Valley, near Strasburg, Va., in the year 1837. John worked as a farmer in Virginia for several years and then moved to Hancock County. In 1859, he married Miss Rebecca Pugh. Then in 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 12th Regiment West Virginia Infantry. He served three years and was under Gen. Milroy when he was driven from Winchester, and was in a charge made near Petersburg. John bought his mill in 1873. This mill was erected in 1828 by Henry Silverthorn.

    Before we move along to where some of these sites are located in the park and how to find them, I would like to mention of one particular stretch of road: The New Manchester Turnpike. The following is an account of the turnpike.

    An act establishing a turnpike passed the general assembly on February 18, 1828. A survey in accordance with the act was made, starting from Hamilton's Ferry, opposite Wellsville, Ohio. by New Manchester (then in Brooke County), to the Pennsylvania line, on the lands then owned by Thomas Wilcoxon, in Clay district. Only a part of this road at that time was constructed, and that had been done by private contributions. In 1848 another act was passed by the assembly, that the state might contribute for its completion.

    John Mayhew, John Witherspoon, Thomas J. Hewitt, William H. Grafton, George W. Chapman, Jonathan Allison, and George Baxter were appointed by the Commonwealth as commissioners to open books at New Manchester for receiving subscriptions. The subscriptions were not to exceed $5000, in shares of twenty-five dollars each, to constitute a joint stock company, for the purpose of constructing and completing the road.

    Shortly after this act had been reestablished, Mr. James Stevenson received the contract to grade and construct the road from Fairview to Wellsville, and John Cavinor from Fairview to the Pennsylvania line. The road was resurveyed by James G. Marshall. This however did not take place until 1852, when the road was completed.

    It led through Grant, then Poe, and Clay districts. A few alterations took place on the original road, constructed in 1828, such as changing the course and making a more even grade. The citizens subscribed about $2000 and the Commonwealth appropriated about $1000.

    The road only continued as a turnpike for nearly three years. After which it was turned into a public highway.

    If one were to retrace the turnpike today starting at New Manchester going toward Pennsylvania, just follow Florence Road, cross Hardin's Run Road, and then follow Tope Road to the Pennsylvania line. Going the other way toward Wellsville, start on Market Street by the Presbyterian Church. Go past the Flats Cemetery one hundred yards and on the right side of the road is a trail with a few old brick dynamite shacks. This is part of the old Wellsville Road and part of the turnpike. Stay on this trail until reaching the blacktop again. This is Washington School Road. Follow the road down the hill until coming to the Scout Camping Area. Here, the old turnpike is now the upper section of Laurel Trail. Following this upper section of Laurel Trail all the way down to White Oak Trail and then on down to White Oak Run, will keep you on the old turnpike. Arriving at White Oak Run, turn right and follow White Oak Run and the old road bed a few more miles until finding a maintained dirt road. This is Welton Road. Continue on straight ahead. Do not take the next right hand road. Cross Route 208 and follow the two old concrete tire paths. From now on bear to the left and if my instructions have been followed, you will be on the Congo Arroyo Road. This will lead to Congo, once known as the town of Hamilton.

    This thumbnail is a portion of the "Map of the 'Panhandle', Embracing counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall." It is a landownership map that was published in 1871 by F.W.Beers and James Lathrop.

    Can you find the following: New Manchester and Fairview? Now look real close and find Rocky Point, G.H.Pugh G. Mill, Sulphur and W. Flanegin. W.C.M. and W.C. Murray coal are where the North and South forks of Tomlinson Run meet. How about the J.E. Stevenson Woolen Mill, can you locate it? G. Baxter had large land holdings at this time. Can you find his G. Mill, his coopersmith, or his house, or Sugar Camp? Thomas Hudson's steam saw mill is on the map. Do you know where to find Yellow Creek and Baker's Fort? Good Luck?

Back to the Entrance or  Pugh's Grist Mill