Isaacs, D. (1915). The above photo was retrieved from Facebook Group: Huntington WV You Grew Up In H-Town If… https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4522072481150719&set=gm.2885255305031867
Chesapeake Was Called Many Names
Chesapeake is one of the youngest villages in Lawrence County, but its beginning starts early in our county’s history. As we know it today, Chesapeake is the result of several settlements joining together.
Before naming the town of Chesapeake, this small community was labeled by several names. Those are Washington, Frampton, Kounston, Symmes Run, Lawrenceburg, Lawrence City, Rockwood, and Flemingsburg.
West Chesapeake and East Chesapeake
To understand the history of Chesapeake, think of it as two separate communities: Lawrence City [West] and Rockwood [East]. These two names are what early deeds and court records referred to as what we now call “Chesapeake.” To explain it more plainly, the names of Washington, Frampton, Kounston, Symmes Run, Flemingsburg, and Lawrenceburg were never recorded as actual towns, villages, or cities.
For example, Kounston was only used in newspaper ads that A. P. Kouns ran trying to sell lots in the” town of Kounston.” I found one deed named Kounston when Andrew P. Kouns sold the property to the Chesapeake Board of Education in 1875. That property was the same land he had claimed as “Kounston.” Unfortunately, that name was never recorded. The local newspapers only ran his ads from around 1871 to 1873.
The early names of Frampton and Symmes Run were Post Office names. You may notice that many early Post Offices were named for the individual who owned the home or property where the early Post Office was located. Lawrenceburg was the name of the area where the end of the Chesapeake – Huntington Bridge is located.
Regarding the name of Flemingsburg, the only record I located was in the Lawrence County, Ohio, History Book in which John L. Jones had written his story about Chesapeake but lacked any references for sources.
Washington [see below document] was another name used to describe the area around Chesapeake. I will go into more detail about these areas in the other chapters.
Town of Washington
While reviewing some old records from Gallia County, Ohio, our “parent county,” I stumbled upon the original plat map drawn out for Edward Miller, called the “Town of Washington.” This is a copy of that plat map, [Gallia County, Ohio, Deed Book 5, pages 412-413] showing where it was located, which was at the forks of the Ohio River and Symmes Creek!
Edward had his “Town” surveyed and laid out into 87 lots!! This was in 1815, and Lawrence County did not become an “official” county until 22 Dec. 1818. The next chapter will be about Edward Miller and how he became the earliest landowner of what is now called Chesapeake.
| The transcription of the following deed was written exactly as it was written; it may have errors, so please read the deed and make your conclusions. I will be happy to correct any spelling errors if found. – mjmk |
Union Township, Gallia County, Ohio, Deed Book 5, pages 412-413, 2 Sep 1815
The annexed plan of the Town of Washington is handsomely situated on the lower point of Symmes Creek in the County of Gallia, State of Ohio.
The Public Square in the above Plan contains 80 poles being 10 poles by 8 – The Point lot No. 1 contains 44 poles it contains 8 poles by 5 1/2 – The rest of the numbers contain 40 poles each, the whole of which is bounded as follows, the (viz) At Number one and running down the Ohio River South, 72 W. 5 poles to a stake in North 18 degrees W. 8 to a stake – North 72 East 5 1/2 poles to a stake South 18 degrees E. 80? poles to the beginning – The reso of the — lots is 8 poles by 5
State
State of Ohio, Gallia County
Union Twp.
2 Sep 1815
This day, Edward Miller, the Proprietor of the within-described town, personally appeared before me, a J.P. in said county, and acknowledged the within Plat and description of the Town of Washington in said County to be his free voluntary act and deed and requested the same to be recorded.
Wm. Miller, JP
Recorded 4 Sep 1815
The above document can be found at FamilySearch.org, Court records, 1817-1856 film #8198783 , page 10, March Term 1818
Kounston
| In future Chapters, I will share my research about the events that caused Kounston to become a dream and why it never materialized into a town. Unraveling this puzzle has a lot of twists and turns, finally resulting in Andrew P. Kouns’s decision to donate his property. |
The above deed can be found at Lawrence County, Ohio, Recorders Deed Book 33, pages 340 – 341
The town of Kounston – Lot A is 76 feet on Third St., 85 8/12 ft on School Lot W, 62 feet on the main line, Lot L is 134 10/12 ft on the main line, 39 4/12 ft on Second St., Lot T is 88 8/10 ft on Second St. 84 ft on Washington St; Lot S is 63 2/12 ft on Third Street, 106 ft on Washington.
And all the estate, title, and interest of the said A.P. Kouns, either in Law or Equity, of into the said premises, together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging and all the rents, issues, and profits thereof. To have and to hold the same to the only proper use of the said Board of Chesapeake School District and their successors and assigns forever.
And the said A.P. Kouns, for himself and his heirs, executors, and administrators, do hereby covenant with the said Board of Education of Chesapeake School District and assigns that he is the true and lawful owner of the said premises and has full power to convey the same; that the time so conveyed is clear, free and unincumbered; and further, that he will warrant and defend the same against all claim or claims of all persons whatsoever.
In witness, the said A.P. Kouns and Hannah Kouns, said wife of A.P. Kouns, hereby release their right and expectancy of dower in the said premises, have hereunto set their hand and seal this 30 day of May 1874.
Signed A.P. Kouns and Hannah Kouns in the presence of James J. Halliday and Nannie Lundy.
Signed by Isaac Booth, JP
Received 21 Oct 1875
Recorded 26 Oct 1975, Harrison Riggs, Recorder
[typed as transcribed by author, please check for human errors. – mjm]
1820 Union Township residents in Lawrence County, Ohio.
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Welton, D. (2019). The above photo was retrieved from the Facebook Group: Vintage Chesapeake Proctorville South Point. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1388891797915302&set=g.381004402439103
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