Stories

About the Stories: Bringing History to Life

Below, we are sharing various historical stories about Lawrence County, Ohio.  Each section is organized by the subject of the story. They tell the hardships of establishing this county and what it meant to settle in a new country.

Some stories will show their heartaches, and early survival methods, while other stories will bring you joy and happiness.  It’s important to learn about history as told to us by our ancestors, and how they learned to avoid pitfalls they encountered.

Accidents, Fires, Floods & Disasters

Newspaper Clippings, photos, and stories about Accidents, Floods, Fires, and Disasters within Lawrence County, Ohio. We even had an earthquake in Southern Ohio in 1901. Many other facts concerning Lawrence County, Ohio, you never knew will be found here.

Floods
1937 Flood Stories
Earthquakes, Fires  & Other Natural Disasters

Accidents

African American History

African American History in Lawrence County, Ohio, played an essential part in the Underground Railroad. Due to our proximity to the Ohio River, (West) Virginia, and Kentucky, there were many stories about slavery, abolitionists, and escapes. Sadly, as with the history at that time, there was also violence and crimes. These are some of those stories:

Note from the staff at The Lawrence Register: Unfortunately, our county’s history is not free of blemishes. The language used in some of these articles is outdated cultural depictions (sometimes even racist) and does not reflect the views of this website. We remove specific language altogether and will note with a “. . .” to indicate such.

Bootleggers, Moonshiners and Illegal Liquor

Since the early founding of the United States, there have been intense debates about liquor and the “sins” that followed its consumption.  Everything was blamed on the strong drink of liquor, and those beliefs are documented in old books, sermons, and newspapers.

This series is a product of researching old newspapers for countless hours to tell the story about illegal liquor making in southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, and West Virginia.

To make it easier to research, I have indexed the stories by the years the accounts were printed in the newspapers.

Most of the following stories happened in Southern Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, and West Virginia, with the focus being on the area of Lawrence County, Ohio, and the surrounding counties.

  • Introduction to Bootleggers and Moonshiners
  • 1853 – Guyandotte, [West] Virginia
  • 1871 – Illegal crime of selling liquor
  • 1874 – 1896 Stories about moonshiners and more
  • 1903 – Mr. Stamper Moonshiner Elliott County, KY
  • 1904 – Murder of a Moonshiner Huntington, WV
  • 1907 – Whiskey Leads to Murder Jackson County, Ohio
  • 1915 – Bootlegger Convicted at Waverly, Ohio
  • 1916 – Distillery Found in State Pent. from Scioto County, Ohio Inmate
  • 1920 – Notorious WV Moonshiner Caught
  • 1921 – Moonshine Liquor Plant Seized in Scioto County, Ohio
  • 1921 – Minnie Still Tossed Out of Car in New Boston, Ohio
  • 1921 – N&W Train Demolishes Copper Still
  • 1921 – Two Moonshine Arrests
  • 1921 – Wife Turns in Husband for Making Moonshine
  • 1921 – Seventy-Five Gallon of Mash Found near Bradrick, Ohio
  • 1921 – Five Men Shot After Whisky Trial in Proctorville, Ohio
  • 1921 – Whitman Accused of Copper Still in Portsmouth, Ohio
  • 1921 – Lowdenback Raid for Moonshine in Portsmouth, Ohio
  • 1921 – Valentine Home Raid for Making Liquor Wheelersburg, Ohio
  • 1921 – John Miller Charged for Selling Liquor
  • 1922 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1923 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1924 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1925 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1926 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1927 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1928 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1929 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1930 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1931 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1932 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1933 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1935 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1936 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1937 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1938 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1940 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1951 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1953 – Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH
  • 1959– Moonshine Stories covering KY, WV and OH

 

Note from the staff at The Lawrence Register: Unfortunately, the history of our county is not free of blemishes. The language used in some of these articles is outdated cultural depictions (sometimes even racist) and does not reflect the views of this website. We remove certain language altogether and will note with a “. . .” to indicate such.

COPYRIGHT……AND DISCLAIMER
The people in these articles were taken from newspapers of that period.  As to their guilt, or innocence, we do not know unless the conclusion was apparent.  No official court records were obtained for this research.

Counterfeit Stories

In the late 1880s, there was a band of counterfeiters who were operating in Southern Ohio for some time. Abram Culver, Calvin Stephens, and Wm. Shepard was arrested and held on $600 bail, at Ironton, Ohio, on Thursday, charged with counterfeiting. Their business consisted of manufacturing nickels. About half a bushel of the coin was molded on Wednesday morning. – Belmont Chronicle Saint Clairsville, Ohio 25 Nov 1875 p3

The above story is a look into the crimes occurring in Lawrence County, Ohio, and the surrounding areas involving counterfeiters. This page is a combination of stories we found in newspaper clippings and other sources that mentions Southern Ohio being involved in early counterfeiting. This is a growing file, so please check back often for updated stories.

Crimes 1800's - 1950's

These are miscellaneous stories about crimes committed in early Lawrence County, Ohio. From revenge to organized crime syndicates, this county was full of mischief.

This collection is listed either by the criminal’s last name or the victim’s last name or in the event there were multiple persons involved, we indexed it by the place the crime occurred. You can use our search feature at the top of the page for easier access.

If it is not listed below, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, we just don’t have access to that record.

Diaries and Journals

This section links early letters written by early Lawrence County, Ohio residents. You will also find Civil War Diaries. We hope to add to this page as we find more material. If you have a submission you would like to add, please let us a comment in the section below so we can contact you. These old diaries, letters, and journals are priceless to anyone researching their family history or curious about what life was like during the Civil War.

 

Luke Kelley's Stories

Table of Contents for Luke Kelley’s Stories

Submitted by Bob Davisson

IRONTON REGISTER JULY 27, 1854

A few days since we called upon Rev. John Kelley, just below Union Landing, for a talk, knowing that he was one of the early settlers of Lawrence County, and in our rambling conversation, drew out some facts that may not be without interest to our readers, and some of which are worthy of record.

We will premise that Mr. Kelley is now in his 75th year, is hale and hearty for a man of his years, and seems to have a vivid and accurate recollection of past events.

The Kelley Family
Early Settlers of Lawrence County, Ohio
Indians
Hunting
Mills
Early Manners, Customs, Etc.
Facts, Incidents, Etc.
Mary Bush & William Dorton
Mr. and Mrs. Music
Richard Deering
The Van Bibbers
A Few Facts
Harmon’s Battle
A Few More Facts
Luke Kelley Cemetery Inscriptions

 

NOTE FROM SUBMITTER: These Reminiscences were read to tape from old Ironton Registers in the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library on December 27, 1974, by Robert Davisson, formerly of Union Landing, Ohio, currently living near Delaware, Ohio. He is a descendant of the Davissons mentioned in this transcript.

Dedication

This compilation of John Kelley’s Reminiscences is dedicated to the Kelley family, both past and present, and to all pioneers whose endurance made possible the comforts we have become used to. But particularly, it is dedicated to the Indians, who met with dignity, bravery, and honor the injustice and upheaval they were powerless to prevent.

Lois Davisson Scherer compiled this book, a lineal descendant of Luke and Mary Keyser Kelley through their older daughter, Elizabeth, who was married to Judge Nathaniel Davisson on October 5, 1802, by Kimber Barton, Justice of the Peace, at Haverhill, French Grant, Ohio–the first marriage of record in what is now Scioto County. The text was checked against the original newspapers by Phyllis Hamner of Briggs Library.

[Lois D. Scherer passed away in 1986. This electronic version was compiled from the printed booklet in the Summer of 1999 by Robert Davisson.]

Material that appears in square brackets, [xxxxx], was added to the document by transcribers to clarify words and give alternate spellings of names. These alternate spellings were obtained from sources contemporary with or earlier than the newspaper accounts transcribed here.  

Native Americans
These are stories about the indigenous people of the area in and surrounding Lawrence County, Ohio. Sadly, there is a lot of tragedy surrounding the history of our Native Americans due to the way pioneers and settlers treated them.

Note from the staff at The Lawrence Register: Unfortunately, the history of our county is not free of blemishes. The language used in some of these articles is outdated cultural depictions (sometimes even racist) and does not reflect the views of this website. We remove certain language altogether and will note with a “. . .” to indicate such.

Old Time Series of Stories

These are stories about the Old Times in Lawrence County, Ohio. Written by various authors for The Ironton Register Newspaper series.

Old Times in Windsor, Rome, and Union  and the early navigation on the Ohio River

Old Times Story About Mr. Moss at Burlington, Ohio

Old Times Incidents of Pioneer Life at Burlington, Ohio

Old Times with General Fuller and other stories

Old Times by Captain Gillett 

Old Times by Charles Wilgus 

Reminiscences

Reminiscences or memoirs were written to the local editor of early newspapers, these stories were then published in the next edition, as space permitted.

Some recollections will make you chuckle, while others were bittersweet.  Without these early accounts, we wouldn’t have first-hand knowledge about Lawrence County, Ohio.

Soliloquy Stories

The noun soliloquy comes from the Latin roots solus (“alone”) plus loqui (“speak”) — so the word literally means “an act of speaking to oneself.” A soliloquy is a dramatic speech that reveals a character’s inner thoughts and reflections. Some of the most famous lines in drama are taken from monologues. Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” speech is a soliloquy, for example.
Source: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/soliloquy

    Charles Collett ran a series of stories over several years published in the Huntington, WV newspaper in the 1960s and beyond. Below you will find the title of each soliloquy that he chose, but most of the stories had other topics in the article. Whether all that he wrote is true, would be determined by other resources to the readers.

    Townships

    Lawrence County Ohio Furnace MapMap Designed by Ken Clark 1999 for The Lawrence Register website.

     

    Lawrence County, Ohio, is sectioned into fourteen Townships, it was a common occurrence that early residents would move from one township to a different location, or the boundaries would change.

    When tracing your ancestors, we encourage you to follow the waterways, early churches, schools, and cemeteries.  The links and map will help you do that.

    Aid Township was so named because of a dispute and was decided to get the shortest name possible.

    Decatur Township was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, who served bravely as a naval officer in the War of 1812.  

    Elizabeth Township was named in honor of Robert Hamilton’s wife.

    Fayette Township was named in honor of Marquis Lafayette, a popular hero of that time who visited Burlington in 1826.

    Hamilton Township was named in honor of Robert Hamilton, a pioneer iron master in that section.

    Lawrence Township, named in honor of Capt. James Lawrence, for whom the county is also named.

    Mason Township was named in honor of the Masonic fraternity and in contradiction to the Anti-Masonic Party of that day.  

    Perry Township was named in honor of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, who defeated the British on Lake Erie in 1814. 

    Rome Township was named because of the seven hills that covered Belle, like Rome on Tibet. Read about the early families written by R.C. Hall.

    Symmes Township was named in honor of John Cleves Symmes, in whose honor Symmes Creek was named. The ‘Early Days of Symmes” gives many historical stories written by John T. Irwin.

    Union Township was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson, who saved the Union from rebellion by promptly putting down the nullification of South Carolina. 

    Upper Township, so named because it was the uppermost township in Adams County when that county extended to this section.

    Washington Township was named in honor of the father of the Country. 

    Windsor Township was named in honor of Windsor, Connecticut, from whence its early settlers came.  

    Editor’s Note: This historical sketch of Lawrence County, was written by the late Attorney H.M. Edwards, one of the county’s leading history students, and was presented to the Tribune by him shortly before his death on Feb 19, 1939.

    Much could be said about the early political situation, the slavery question, and many other interesting incidents. Still, space at this time forbids it, but to give you an insight into the living conditions of the early days, I quote from a diary record kept by a grandfather who settled in this county shortly after it was first settled.

    “I was born in Eastern Va in 1812, and when a very small lad, my father decided to move west. He disposed of all his goods and chattels, except some bed clothing and some necessary articles, which he packed on a bay mare; then we started for Ohio, my mother riding the mare, father and I walking accompanied by a dog and father carrying a gun.

    We crossed the Allegheny and Sewell Mountains and stopped at Carnfax’s Ferry, Nicholas County, Va, now WV, for the Winter. Ours was the fourth family in that neighborhood and was several miles from the nearest settlement.

    We all lived in common and passed the Winter very pleasantly. Bear and game of all kinds were plentiful, and I had the pleasure of accompanying the men to dig a bear out of his den. When they killed the bear, it was divided into four parts, each family taking a quarter.

    We remained at this place the following Summer, raised a small crop which was disposed of, then proceeded on our journey down the Kanawha Valley and crossed the Ohio River near the mouth of the Big Sandy. Finding the people along the river all shaking with ague, we moved into the hill country where it was said it was healthier and the game was more plentiful.

    Here we settled on the middle fork of Ice Creek in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Here we built our log cabin on the public lands and began clearing the forests while our flocks and herds roamed in the woods. In my memory, things were in a very primitive state. People threshed their wheat with a flail or trampled it out by horses on the ground and blew the chaff out with a sheet.

    The farming tools consisted of a shovel, plow, mattock, scythe, cradle, and hoes. Hand rakes gathered hay, and forked sticks were used as pitchforks. There were a few, if any, wagons, and a man with a light running sled was considerably well-fixed. There were a few wagons in the county along the river, but a wagon at that time was rather a curiosity. When it was known that one passed the road, the youngsters would gather at the roadside and follow it at some distance to see its great wheels roll on the ground. It was said that they expected to see the big rear wheels catch up with the front ones.

    Women made most of the clothing through every process, from the raw material to the finished product. A smart woman was reckoned with the amount of work she could do. Our only neighbors were the Bruce’s and Sperry’s. The Bruce and Sperry were stone masons, and as there was not much stone masonry to do, they had to go long distances from home to get work to do. After the log jail burned down, John Sperry built the stone jail at Burlington.

    There was a man who lived in that vicinity by the name of William B. Morrison, a cabinet maker by trade and an undertaker. He also practiced the medical profession, mainly bleeding the patient. This was the first step in medical treatment and between a pint and a quart of blood was the amount taken from the arm, usually for only slight ailments.

    Another pioneer was Jonathan Melvin, who, when coming down the river in a small boat, stopped for the night on the bank of the Ohio River, just above what is now Coal Grove. After landing, they had a small daughter, built a temporary shed, and went into camp for the night. A panther sprang upon the bed and took the child during the night. They made it drop the child a short distance from the shack with slight harm.

    A few days later, the panther was killed by Poagues Negroes from KY. Mr. Melvin remained and built a log cabin on the river bank and, being a cooper by trade, made pails, churns, and another vessel from cedar trees groaning near, which the people very much needed. He later settled in the vicinity of Rock Camp, where many of his descendants still live.

    Getting the milling done was the one great chore, and a man who had a boy large enough to go to the mill felt relieved of quite a burden. Many a boy was put at the business very young. He encountered many mishaps, often having to go long distances across rising streams and over long hills, where the sack of grain thrown across the horse would slip back, and he would have to turn the horse around and roll the sack back to its place.

    There were not many systems for milling in those days. It depended a great deal upon one’s strength and ability to argue the case as to who gets his milling done first, and if a boy was lacking in either of these, he usually found his sack in the bottom of the grist and was very late at night in getting home. Mill boys had their ups and downs in those days, but they usually proved equal to any emergency.

    In the early days, there were no cooking utensils, except the pot and skillet, and the cooking was done in the open wood fire, the pot hanging from a crane above the fire and the skillet covered among the live coals.

    However, very early in the county’s history, a man named Davis came to this county to live, and his household effects was a wood cook stove. The family had many callers from near and far that they might get a peep at the stove. The subject was one of the neighborhood gossip. Some thought you would have to take lessons before you could cook upon it, while others said that food cooked on it would not be fit to eat, and the general conclusion for all was that it was just calculated to burn up the house.

    Wood was the staple fuel, and it was more than plentiful while clearing the virgin timber ground. Fireplaces were wide and high. A huge log two or three feet in diameter was used as the backlog, while a smaller log was the forestick, and the smaller wood was burned in the center. Some houses had a door on each side of the house and would hitch a horse to the backlog and drag it into the house, and while the log was being rolled to the fireplace, the horse would go out at the other door.

    Most houses were built of hewn logs cut from virgin timber, and many still stand after more than a century of wind and rain had beaten upon them. The roofs were of clapboards riven from oak trees, and the fences were built of rails split from the trees cut in the clearing.

    In those days, not more than one person in a community took a newspaper, and people would congregate at the county store or post office, and one man read the paper aloud. Later, however, roads were laid out, and while none had hard surfaces, settlers began to move in, and by the time of the Mexican War, things had taken a great step forward.”

    At the close of the Mexican War, this county had a population of 15,246, and ten years later, when the Civil War began, the population was 23,176, of which 4,000 lived in the city of Ironton.

    In the great war between the states, this county stood loyal to the Union as it had when Andrew Jackson was President and sent 3,357 soldiers to fight for the Union cause, of whom over 500 were from Ironton.

    Another subject that has always been a part of the history of the county situated on the plain of the Ohio River is floods. A flood in the Ohio Valley is a calamity when the river rises to 55 feet, and is a major calamity when it rises to 60 feet. The great floods of 60 feet or more are as follows:

    1832 63 feet
    1847 62 feet
    1883 63 feet
    1884 66 feet
    1913 67 feet
    1937 70.6 feet

    While all the things enumerated were being enacted in the lower end of Lawrence County, fruit culture in the upper end was making great strides, and the original Rome Beauty Apple tree was grafted in Rome Township. Spraying was tried and tested for the first time in America by Ohio State University on the Nelson Cox farm in Windsor Township on Greasy Ridge.

    During Ironton’s life history of 86 years, many great institutions have come and gone, playing a large part in the history of the age which is served. Most of those that began when the city was founded is now passed away, but at least three remain:

    • The First National Bank
    • The Gold camp Mill Co.
    • The Tribune Publishing Co.

    Much could be said about some of the great industries that have come and gone, the early public schools, the early churches, and many more things of interest in and about the community. Still, in the limited time, we have been able to touch on a few of the things I deemed of local interest.

    Walton Stories

    T.A. Walton wrote many stories about the early residents and historical facts concerning Lawrence County, Ohio, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These stories were printed almost every week in early newspapers, and thanks to our wonderful volunteers are painstakingly typed these newspaper clippings to make available for The Lawrence Register website.

     

     

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