In this entry I will explore some information about the earliest schools in the area. Names and locations of the schools are pretty much a mess because researchers have had to record some details that were nearly illegible, and alternate spellings and different titles also contribute to the confusion. Corrections and additions are encouraged. Please include sources if you find additional information.
Despite the lack of print, I find looking into facts that exist about these old places of learning fascinating. In fact, I have never heard of some of the places where the schools were located or the titles of the facilities. I guess time has taken a toll. We should resurrect the beautiful memory of the schools before all local color fades from reference.
One note readers: the individual history of present districts in the county is sorely lacking – at least in online records. The proud traditions of these schools demand both accurate recollection and preservation. Oral accounts are often sketchy and inaccurate. I know the Lucasville Historical Society is currently working feverishly on a comprehensive history of Lucasville and Valley schools. Let's attempt to build a greater understanding of the past for all of the districts. Our children and our children's children can only benefit from the efforts.
The First School
Verifying a “first” is often a matter of semantics and qualification of sources. Online, one can find two references to the first schoolhouse in Scioto County as a log structure near Sciotoville.
(1) “The first log school-house built outside of Alexandria was in what is now Porter Township, near Sciotoville; school taught in it by a Mr. Reed, from Virginia, in the winter of 1805-'06.”
(History of Lower Scioto Valley CHAPTER IX. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884)
And …
(2) The first schoolhouse built in the Scioto County stood on the place where the widow Yost lived (1873) near Sciotoville, about one-fourth of a mile from the Ohio River.
The Portsmouth Times reported ...
“The house was put up in 1805 or 1806. It was a log building, of course, the heavy door hanging on the cumbersome wooden hinges, cracks covered with greased paper for windows. The chimney was composed of sticks and mud, the jambs of wood, with a few rocks thrown in to protect the wooden back wall.
“The first school was taught by an old reed maker, named Reed, a Virginian, of pretty good education, who had fifteen scholars, for which he received one dollar per scholar for three months’ tuition. At noon and at morning and evening he plied his trade vigorously. Some scholars walked from the mouth of Munn’s Run to the school.
“The next teacher, one Ayers, a lame man, (Samuel Bonser said) was “as cross as the devil.” He had a block four feet long and one foot in diameter, which afforded him amusement. A disobedient scholar was compelled to mount the block, the teacher meantime rolling it with his foot. If the scholar fell or stepped off he was soundly thrashed. Mr. Bonser and Peter Lindsey were so well practiced on the block that it was very difficult to get them off.”
(“Early Settlers of Scioto County, Ohio.” BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES EARLY SETTLERS OF SCIOTO COUNTY. Number Nine. The Portsmouth Times. https://lawrencecountyohio.com/stories/early-settlers-of-scioto-county/. July 12, 1873.)
Baccus School
The Baccus School-house, the first in the central portion of Porter Township, away from the river, was erected in 1816. Walter Beloat was its first teacher.
John Smith Baccus Sr. (1773 - 1845) was born in 1773 in German Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, and died November 5, 1845 in Fairfield, Ohio. John Baccus is buried in Old Wheelersburg Cemetery, Porter Township, Scioto. (It should be noted that the spelling of John's name changed to Bacus and so did the names of all his and Mary's children.)
John “Bechus” Baccus (John Smith Baccus's Father)
John “Bechus” Baccus was the father of John Smith Baccus Sr. John “Bechus” was born in 1745 in Germany and was killed in 1783 in the Revolutionary War (DAR records – March issue of the D.A.R. Magazine, page 154, 1984. Research was submitted by Lillian Frances Brunelle Lowrance.).
John
“Bechus” Baccus was married to Catherine Franks in Maryland. In
1765. They journeyed to what is now called German Twp., Fayette Co.,
Pennsylvania with Catherine's father, Michael Franks I, his two sons,
Jacob and Michael, Jr., and their families from Frederick Co.
Maryland.
The following paragraphs are excerpts from the Michael Franks Family History.
"They came across the Allegheny Mountains the summer of 1765 settling in the vicinity of what is now the Jacob's Lutheran Church in September or October of 1765. At once they erected a block house for their comfort and protection against the depredations of Indians and wild beasts which prowled around the cabin at night."
"This was the first white settlement in what is now known as German Township. Here the Franks, or rather, the two sons and a son-in-law, 'tomahawked' themselves each a large tract of land, for which they later received a patent of deed."
"Prior to opening
of the land office in Fayette County in 1769, settlers west of the
Allegheny Mountains held their claims which they occupied by
'tomahawk' right. These were called 'tomahawked improvements' claims.
To record his claim, a settler had to deaden a few trees near a
spring and cut his initials in the bark of other trees. This marking
of trees indicated his intentions to hold or occupy the lands
adjacent to or surrounded by these marked trees. This was the Franks'
way of recording their land. Although these claims were not
sanctioned by law, they were respected by the other settlers."
The
Franks and Baccus (Bechus) families had barely gotten settled and
their land cleared sufficiently when the Revolutionary War broke out.
Both John and his brother, William, served in the war. Although John
paid taxes to Pennsylvania, he fought with his neighbors in the
Virginia Militia. The Monongahela area where the Bechuses lived was
claimed by both states for many years.
John “Backus” (sic) was listed under the command of Capt. William Harrod, at the Falls of the Ohio, in May 1779. (Vol. 17 in the George Rogers Clark Papers: Series J in the Draper Collection). Both the Pay Roll and Muster Roll contain the name, John “Bechus.”
John “Bechus” Baccus was apparently dead in 1783 (killed in the battle at Cowpens) at the age of 43, when Catherine's name was listed as head of family in the tax list for Fayette County. John was on the assessment rolls 1773-1784 and the roster of Revolutionary Soldiers. The 1773 tax assessment rolls of Springhill Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania shows John Baccus as a renter of land.
John Bachus from Redstone
in Yohogania County, is listed as one of the Monongahela County
Regulars in service at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in
1781. He never came back – presumed killed there.
The five
sons of John and Catherine Baccus appear to have been born in the
following order: Peter, Michael, John, Christian, James. Little
information has been found about their two daughters. One daughter,
Sarah Baccus, married William Snyder. From Fayette Co., PA Deed
Records---William Snyder and wife, Sarah, signed a release (Quit
Claim Deed), together with Christian Baccus and wife, Sarah, May 24,
1806. It is believed there was another daughter, but her name is
unknown.
Leland Johnson 1/31/2004:
"Information
about our Rev. War ancestor John Baccus (1740-1783) and husband of
Catherine Franks is slim. Just found this additional tidbit: Virginia
Magazine of History, Vol. 10, p.230, prints list of slaveowners
in Virginia in 1782, and on this list is John Bacchus who owned one
slave and lived in Westmoreland Co., Virginia (which in 1783 became
Fayette County, PA.)"
Father: Peter Bechues b: 1725 in
Germany (prob. Palatine area) Germany
Mother: Sarah Bales b: 1725
in Germany (prob. Palatine area) Germany
Marriage: Catherine
Franks b: 1747 in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany
Married: ABT 1765 in
probably Frederick Co., Maryland 3
Children:
Peter Baccus
b: 16 MAY 1769 in Fayette, Pennsylvania
Michael Baccus b: 4 MAR
1771 in Fayette, Pennsylvania
John Baccus b: ABT 1773 in Fayette,
Pennsylvania
James S. Baccus b: ABT 1775 in Fayette, Pennsylvania
Sarah Baccus b: Abt 1777 in Fayette, Pennsylvania
Christian
Baccus b: ABT 1780 in Fayette, Pennsylvania
Daughter Baccus b: Abt
1782 in Fayette, Pennsylania
(“John “Bechus” Baccus.” Ancestry DNA. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74259240/john-baccus.)
The first public school in Porter Township was built was on the property of Daniel Young. Jesse Y. Whitcomb and John Young were teachers.
Franklin Furnace
Franklin Furnace, located in Green Township in Scioto County, Ohio, was built in 1826-27 by Daniel and John Young, Jesse Y. Whitcomb, Josiah Merrill, John Hurd, and Martin Ruter of New Hampshire. Daniel Young had formed the Ohio Iron Company a few years earlier to operate an iron business, which was sold circa 1831 to John Young and Van Horn.
Franklin Furnace featured a 28-foot stack with a 9½-foot bosh, 5 with a daily production capacity of ten tons of iron. 2 The furnace was converted to hot blast in 1836. The furnace partly burned down shortly after the conversion but was rebuilt.
The furnace was later sold to the A.J. Rogers & Company, who then sold it to Jefferson W. Glidden and John Blair in 1841. Glidden acquired Blair’s interest in the furnace in July 1842 and became its sole owner. Later, John Gould and Jesse and Jacob Hurd acquired Glidden’s interest. Because of domestic relations, Gould purchased the furnace outright and later made a fortune because of the Mexican War. Gould sold his interest in the operations to his brother, Orin B. Gould Sr. in 1850.
At its peak, Franklin Furnace kept three steamboats along the Ohio River busy as they hauled pig iron from the Franklin Furnace to Portsmouth where it was used in local rolling mills and foundries. Some were shipped by the Ohio & Erie Canal to other markets.
Franklin Furnace was in operation until 1860. During its run, approximately 60,000 tons of pig iron worth $1.5 million were produced.
Sandstone blocks from the furnace were removed by Charles Goddard in 1888 to repair locks at Three Locks along the Ohio & Erie Canal. Only a few stones were left remaining and used as the foundation for a schoolhouse that was later built on the furnace site.
(Frank H. Rowe. “Franklin Furnace.” History of the Iron and Steel Industry in Scioto County, Ohio. Columbus: F.J. Heer, 1938. 80-82.)
The last bits of information for my blog entry today are bare-bones but very revealing of change. I am including the information in its entirety in hopes a few of the facts will hit home and generate much more detail. Please help and put out feelers in your individual communities for accounts that may add to the stories of these people and places. Education and children are the hopes of the future. We should do everything we can to encourage citizens to support them. It will be among the best investments we ever make.
1879-1880 School Year
[Source: Portsmouth Daily Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) 30 Aug 1879, p2; tr by KT]
NOTE: The newspaper
type was very degraded and hard to read.
The following is a list of the teachers of Scioto county, with the place where they will teach the coming school year:
Ella U. Bainer, Flatwoods (New Boston)
G.W. Lee, Clapboard
W.H. Martin, Varnon (sic “Vernon”? Minford)
A.J. Kellogg, Buckeye
J.B. Dason(?) Dry Run
Luella Faust, Baker District
Ira B. Wood, Scioto Furnace
Blanche Williams, Scioto Furnace, assistant
E.A. Bridwell, Hyguan
Mat Williams, Millar Reb.(sic “Miller's Run? Lucasville)
M.H. Shumway, Glades (sic “Glade”? Stockdale)
Wm. Littlejohn, Ball'n (sic “Ball”? Wheelersburg)
C.B. Harfiede(?) Link Run (sic “Lick Run”? Wheelersburg)
W.W. Wilkins, Hag
C.H. Searl, Dogwood Ridge (Wheelersburg)
Cynthia Martin, Hardscrabble
W.W. Nye, Upper Bear Creek
J.C. Montavon, Duck Run
S.S. Ferguson, Webster
N.L. Searl, Webster, assistant
Laurs Ferguson, Jackson Furnace (South Webster)
J.L. Parks, Dodges
J.S.T. Lavender, Upper Turkey Creek
G. Frank Gray, Bloom Furnace
Oliver Oakes, Bacchus (Porter Township)
Henry Brown, Sunshine
David McCull, Lower Turkey Creek
T.W. Jones, Kirkendall's
F.W. Harrison, Lawrence county
L.A. Crull, Moore's
Chas. Wyatt, Powellsville
Waltman Wilson, Pond Creek
James A. Wilkins, Lower Bear Creek
Minnie Wilkins, Unionville
F.C. Atkins, Honear(?) Run
John Ross, Harrisonville
Wm. JOhnson, Monn's (sic “Munn”? New Boston)
W.H. Jenkins, Somers
Chas. Rios, Munn's Run
Frank Price, Star Brick Yard
Jno. H. Wyatt, Blue Run (Lucasville)
G.L. Dodge, Moshat
S.S. Littlejohn, Kittles (sic “Kettle”? Minford)
Geo. Osborn, Pries's
Frank Stewart, Springville, Ky
Henry Sherborne, Fallen Timber (Lucasville)
G.L. Bricker, Back Run
J.F. Darlington, Simpson's
C.H. Frowans, Tick Ridge
T.L. Collett, Maple Grove
S.A. Steadman, Galena
J.C. Harner, Vogle's Mills
(History Note)
George Vogel, miller, was born in Germany in 1825, and was married to Miss Frances Schwab, also a native of Germany. He learned the miller’s trade and followed it in Germany till 1849, when he emigrated to America. He landed in New York, and immediately went to Harrisburg, Pa., where he worked at his trade a short time, when he moved to Portsmouth and engaged in milling till 1869. He then bought a farm and mill on Brush Creek, where he was successfully engaged till 1880, after which he moved his machinery to Lucasville and built his present mills known as the Valley Mills, being the first built in Lucasville. The mill has a capacity for grinding 125 bushels of wheat daily, besides a large amount of corn. It is a two-story building, having two run of burrs and everything in good repair. Mr. Vogel is one of the practical millers of the Scioto Valley, having devoted his whole life to the business.
(Page 406 - History of Lower Scioto Co., Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co. 1884.)
F.M. Slavens, Johnson's David Bennett, Shuppon
G.H. States, Haverhill
Les Sikes, Franklin Furness (sic “Franklin Furnace”?)
Fillmore Mumser(?) Hamden
I.C. Littlejohn, Ohio Furnace
J.M. Cockrell, Owl Creek, Pike county
D.T. Blackburn, Holt
F.W. Allard, Pleasant Valley (Wakefield)
Geo. Morgan, Mt. Carmel (Stockdale)
Dora Coburn, Harrison Mills
F.P. Shoemaker, Sugar Grove
R. M. Vaughters, Sugar Grove
Ida Orenton(?), Ky
Robert Dodge, Allen's
Allen Vaughters, Friendship
Rosa Brose, Leatherwood (Pond Run)
A.J. Williams, Caray's Run (sic “Carey's Run”? Friendship)
W.W. Me)ehon, Lower Carey's Run
Maggie McDrmot, Buena Vista
Wm. Sullards, Bate's Creek
T.J. Burks, Empire Furnace
Miss Luella Staton, Junior Furance
Frederic Monks, Pine Creek (sic “Pine Flat”? Otway)
B.F. Harwood, Davis'
Applegate, Dist. No. _,
Clay township
Marion Pool, Mstam's
Hannah Darlington, Adams (Lucasville)
Mary Darlington, Noel's (sic “Noel”? New Boston)
Mary Wallace, Marah's
Amanda Funk, Gordon Pike county
H.C. Claypool, principal, J.A. McFarland, Frankie Belost(?), Vene Allard – Sciotoville
Aaron Grady, principal, Jennie Camp, Emma Honast(?) - Wheelersburg(?)
J.W. Mougay, principal, R.H. Dodds - Lucasville
(“Scioto County Ohio Genealogy and History
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