Jackson County, Ohio

History and Genealogy


Jackson County History


Coal Township


The rapidly growing mining interest of this part of the county suggested the formation of a new township. In the fall of 1882, requisite measures were taken, and in the following winter, the new township was established. The two northern rows of sections from Lick Township, and the southern row with the two western from the next, of Washington, twenty in all, make up the new township, which, from the great object of its intrinsic wealth, was appropriately named Coal. The mining of the coal is the all-absorbing industry of the inhabitants, and is also largely entered into by capitalists from abroad.

The topography of the township is very rough and furrowed by numerous little streams, but none of any size, the largest being what is known as Pigeon Fork of Salt Creek. The water in many of the streams is slightly mineral. The rough surface renders it unsuitable for agriculture, which is followed only meagerly.

The township is bounded on the north by Milton, south by Liberty townships. Its landed area is 12,800 acres. Since its organization, the first assessment of its property has been made. Of this the real estate is valued at $180,717 and its personal or chattel property $117,475; total $298,192.


Settlement

The territory now forming Coal Township was, like the remainder of the county, settled by emigrants from Virginia and Pennsylvania in about 1810-1816. Among the first was the Starr family, to which Andrew Starr, for many years a well-known citizen, belonged. The Starr family started from Virginia in a wagon in 1809. On the way the father died and was buried by his children in the unbroken forest. After this sad halt the family again took up their journey through the boundless wild, frequented on every hand by treacherous Indians and wild beasts. The first stopping place was at a place known as Buffalo Skull. They afterward moved to Middle Fork, and from there to the old Starr farm, in Coal Township. The Winfaugh and Darling families were also among the first settlers.

Two railroads pass through the township: The T.C. and Saint Louis and Ohio Southern. On the line of these roads, between Wellston and Coalton, only four miles apart, are situated four small villages, which come nearly making one continuous town. They are crude mining towns, and, outside of their mining interests, of but little importance. Being at Coalton, the metropolis of this mineral township, the first is Altoona, laid out by M.D. Jones; the next is Glen Roy, laid out by Hon. Andrew Roy in May 1883. Goldsrow was also laid out in the spring of 1883, and the last, Comet, was laid out by Adam Scott about the same time.


Coalton

In 1877, John F. Shook and Adam Scott laid out a town on the southern border of Washington Township, which they called Eurekaville. The site chosen was on the line of the Ohio Southern Railroad, which was then being constructed, and was also one favorable to the operation of coal mines. The first train passed over the new road at this point 7 Oct 1878. Very soon after its founding, Eurekaville became an active mining town, and is now one of the most important mining centers in Southern Ohio. Mining was the chief industry from the start.

The limit of this town extended to the line of Lick Township opposite section 4 of the latter. A portion of this township was purchased by J.H. Wilson and Joseph Gooding in 1879, who laid out a town plat also bordering on the township line and the southern line of the town plat of Eurekaville. They insisted on calling their town Coalton, and as there was another post office in the State the name of which resembled Eurekaville, the name of the office was changed to Coalton, and as the two towns have merged into one, the name of Eurekaville has been abandoned. 11 Aug 1880, the entire village was incorporated under the name of Coalton.

As incorporated, the town includes 560 acres, bounded as follows:

Beginning at the northwest corner of section 33, in Washington Township, running thence three-fourths of a mile south, thence one-half mile east, thence one-fourth mile south, thence one-half mile east, thence one mile north, thence one mile west.

It has about 1,500 inhabitants, the majority of whom are laborers connected with the mines, and their families. There are eight mines within the town limits. Since the town was incorporated, Darling's Addition was laid out in the southeastern part, and is now the most presentable portion of the town.

The development of the mines at Coalton was greatly accelerated in 1879 by the extension of the T.C. and Saint Louis Railroad through the place.


Businesses

Besides mining, which is the all-absorbing interest of Coalton, there is one planing mill, which stands alone as a manufacturing enterprise. It is the Coalton Planing Mill, built in June 1881 by A.B. Leach. The mill has been added to and improved, and the business of the proprietor, which includes a lumberyard and a stock of sash, shingles, etc., greatly increased.

The stores are as follows: S.D. Morgan, general store; Miners' Supply Company, general store; Robert Harper, general store; Thornhill Brothers, general store; W.M. Lockwood, general store; Stevenson and Clare, general store; J.M. Waterman, notions; Stenmetz Brothers, groceries; John F. Friedland, drugs; C.W. Haslett, restaurant; Peter Phrank, bakery. Besides these, most of the operators run supply establishments, from which their miners are paid. The leading operators are J.H. Wilson and Sons, the Kelly Coal Company, Pimlot and Hale, Jones and Morgan, Sterling Coal Company, and the Western Coal Company.

There are three physicians in the town: Drs. R.M. Steele, W.M. Drake and Hays.

The leading mining corporations are: Pimlot and Hall, Western Coal Company, Garfield Coal Company (successors to Rittenhouse and Company), Southern Ohio Coal and Iron Company, J.H. Wilson and Sons, Sterling Coal Company (successors to Thornhill Coal Company), Mohler and Kessinger Coal Company, Jones and Morgan Coal Company and the McKittrick Brothers. All these companies have begun operating within the last few years. The hill mines are principally worked, although the shaft vein is thicker. The coal is of first-class quality.


Schools

The village school district was formed 04 May 1882. A graded school was formed and R.U. Wilson, a graduate of the Ohio University, was employed as Superintendent. Mr. Wilson has remained constantly in charge of the schools with a corps of assistant teachers, the school being divided into four departments. The number of pupils is 490; the attendance in 1882 was about 135.


Post Office

The post office, established in 1877, was called Eureka Post Office until 1879, when it was changed to Coalton. Adam Winfaugh was appointed Postmaster and the establishment of the office, holding it until 1879, when he resigned. J.H. Wilson was then appointed and still holds the position. It was made a money-order office 01 Jul 1883.


Valuation

The valuation of the special school district real estate is $12,453, and the chattel property at $16, 809, for the year 1882. The landed area of the village is 675 acres, with a chattel property valuation of $52,363, and a real estate valuation of $30,920 for the above-named year.

The township is thickly settled, but as no census has been taken since its organization no number can be given. At the first election Allen McGhee, George Reese and Marion Walters were chosen Trustees. The township is Republican by about 100 majority.


Churches and Societies

The Methodist Episcopal Church was established at this place as early as 1823, or thereabout. The meetings at that time and for many years were held in an old log schoolhouse which stood near the cannel coal bank. Among the first members were the Antonys, Steeles, Winfaughs, Darlings and a few others. Mr. Jacob Antony was one of the first preachers. The church building which had succeeded the log schoolhouse was replaced in 1871 by the present edifice. The membership is about eight. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. McGhee; Trustees, B.F. Scott, W. Scott, J.K. Darling and Adam Winfaugh.

The Free-Will Baptist Church was organized here 07 Sep 1882 by the General Conference with thirty initial members. Half of the old school building was bought for $254.25, to be used as a place of worship. Rev. H.J. Carr was employed as pastor, who has been succeeded by Rev. John A. Oiler. The membership has increased to about forty; Trustees John G. Farrar, J.A. Oiler, and Taylor Branschum.

The Missionary Baptist Church was founded here in January 1882 by Rev. J.E. Thomas. Their church is the other half of the old schoolhouse, for which they paid $254.25. At first there were eleven members; now there are forty-nine, which shows good work on the part of the beginners. The present pastor is Rev. C.A. Price.

The Welsh Methodist Church was established by Rev. David Jenkins 25 Sep 1881. The organization consisted of twenty-five persons from the Welsh settlement. In 1882 they built a meeting house 28 x 36 feet in size, costing about $1,100. A good Sabbath-school is conducted in connection with the church, the attendance of which is about fifty-five. The church membership is about thirty-six. Preaching is held every Sabbath, generally furnished by some member of the congregation. The Trustees are S. Llewellyn and George Rodgers, who are also Elders.

On section 30 is situated Evergreen Church. It was founded in 1855 by Rev. H. Adams. The building was erected in 1867 at a cost of $1,200. It has a membership of about eighty-five. Pastor, Rev. C.A. Price.

Colonel Dove Post, No. 301, G.A.R. This organization was formed 09 Mar 1883 with thirty charter members. Regular meetings are held in the Baptist church. The officers elected at the organization were as follows: Samuel Llewellyn, P.C.; T.J. Evans, S.V.C.; Newton Kessinger, J.V.C.; Calvin Courtney, O.D.; Job Davis, O.G.; R. Griffith, Q.M.; Joseph Smith, Adjutant; J. Dunningberger, S.M.; Daniel Darling, Q.M.S.; Nicholas Oaks, Chaplain; A.J. Larned, P.S.


From History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio (1884)