abeth Higby, in 1878; three children of this union are living. In 1880 he married Sarah McCune; they have three children. Mr. Wells is a Democrat and a member of the United Presbyterian church.

An early log school-house stood near what is now the south end of the village of Batesville. A man named Reinhart and Cookson Murray were early teachers there. Matilda Wendall was among the early female teachers.

Beaver is the best and richest agricultural township in Noble County. The surface is drained by Beaver Fork and its tributaries. The bottom lands are wide, rich, and productive. Away from the streams the surface is hilly, but every where the soil is good and under a high state of culti vation. It bears every appearance of being a thrifty agricultural region; yet a dark cloud has been thrown. over the prosperity of the township. Many of the wealthy citizens are financially embarrassed, and some have become bankrupt. In 1869-71 the wealthy farmers living within two miles (on either side) of the Summerfield and Batesville turnpike were taxed heavily for the building of that road. This drain was met, though not always uncomplainingly. | But there came before the people a greater project-the building of a railroad; the extension via Batesville of the old Eastern Ohio, or "Calico," road; the heaviest property holders invested largely; the railroad enterprise was a failure, and the affairs of the company are still in confusion. Many rich and promi

nent farmers were also interested in a grange co-operative store, which failed, causing serious losses. These have been serious blows to the progress and prosperity of the town and township. But with such a soil and such an intelligent, enterprising popu lation as Beaver has, it requires only time to adjust the difficulties and restore a healthy financial condition.

George T. S. Patterson enlisted in the Twenty-second Ohio Battery of Light Artillery, and was mustered into the service June 6, 1863, and remained on duty constantly with the battery until July 15, 1868, when he was mustered out of service. When he enlisted he was fifteen years of age, and was a resident of Batesville. He entered the West Point United States Military Academy July 1, 1868, and graduated June 14, 1872; assigned as second lieutenant in the Fourteenth United States Infantry; regimental quartermaster from April 23, 1879 to June 30, 1886; promoted first lieutenant March 15, 1883. At the present time he is first lieutenant Company A, Fourteenth Infantry, stationed at Fort Townsend, W. T.

H. M. Roach enlisted in Company G, Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Batesville, in November, 1861. He was in the engagement at Fort Donelson, Tenn., and participated in all the battles in the South, under Grant, Sherman, McPherson and Logan, up to the 4th of September, 1864. He was then made a prisoner of war and sent to Andersonville, Ga., where he remained in prison for eight months, being released at the close of the war. There

are inscribed on the banner of his regiment thirty-six battles and skir mishes, among which the following are the most noted, and in all of them Mr. Roach participated: Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Kenesaw Mountain; Atlanta, July 22 and July 28, 1864.

On the 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, the Seventy eighth Ohio was engaged, the Rebels being massed in their front and making repeated charges, determined to cut through and annihilate the Seventeenth Army Corps; but they were repulsed and driven back just as many times as they made assaults. The regiment's loss in this one engagement was 125 men.

BATESVILLE.

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 for 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. 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

At

*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.

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 penchant 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.

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 unusual thing to see twenty farmers there at a time, awaiting their 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

first twenty years.

James M. Robinson was the first cabinet-maker. He died in the town.

Batesville is among the largest of the villages 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. II. Atkinson and B. F. Carter. Capital, $60,000. The first officers were F. M. Atkinson, president; W. E. Gibson, vicepresident; and A. P. Spencer, cash

ier. W. II. 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 firstclass 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 village. Next a small frame building, containing but one room, was erected. It was soon found too small for 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 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 Com

pany.

Bank: First National; W. II. 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.

ERECTION MILEYS

IT

T is recorded in the journal of the commissioners of Guernsey County that, on the 5th of June, 1810, "a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county was presented, praying for a new township to be set off, to be called Buffalo Township." The petition was granted and the township erected, an election being ordered at the house of Jacob Jordan (who lived near Hiramsburg), on the 23d of June, for the purpose of choosing two justices of the peace and other township officers. Buffalo Township, as then constituted, included a large territory, besides a part of Guernsey County, Buffalo, Brookfield, and Noble, part of Center, and the northern half of both Sharon and Olive Townships were included within its limits. Andrew Wolf was lister for the township in 1811, and James Dillon in 1812. By the formation of Morgan County in 1819 the extent of the township was much reduced, and the erection of new townships in Guernsey County still further curtailed its fair proportions," so that in 1830 Buffalo embraced only township 8 of range 9 of the original survey. The township remained a full congressional township until Noble County was formed in 1851, which left the first

twelve sections of the township in Guernsey and the remainder in Noble.

As a subdivision of Noble County, Buffalo Township was erected by the county commissioners May 1, 1851, with boundaries as follows:

"Commencing for the same at the southeast corner of section 36 in township number 8 of range 9; thence north along said township line to the northeast corner of section 13 in said township and range; thence west along the section line to the northwest corner of section 18 in said township and range; thence south along said township line to the southwest corner of section 31 in said township and range; thence east along the said township line to the place of beginning: containing twenty-four sections."

June 19, 1851, the common pleas court, then in session at Olive, ordered that an election for two justices of the peace be held in the new township of Buffalo on the 12th of July, 1851. If two justices were elected in accordance with this order, but one qualified, as only one name appears recorded, that of John Stevens, July 26, 1851. He, therefore, was the first justice of the peace in the new township.