News From Rutland Township

These pages contain transcriptions of news items published in Meigs County newspapers. They were transcribed from microfilm copies of the originals or from the originals themselves.

Further contributions would be most welcome.




Meigs County Telegraph
April 18, 1867

The residence of Mr. H. C. MAGUIRE in Rutland township was consumed by
fire on Thursday last, together with its entire contents.  In addition
to the usual household effects, Mr. Maguire had one hundred and forty
bushels of corn burned, which was stored in some part of the house.  We
are informed that the fire caught from a barrel in which he was smoking
meat, and spread with such rapidity, that to save anything of much value
was impossible.  This loss falls heavily on Mr. Maguire, and we bespeak
for him the generous sympathy of the public. [Middleport Press.
 
Transcribed by Cheryl Hartley



Meigs County Telegraph
May 2, 1867

     The principal business, outside of farming, carried on in Rutland
Township in this county, is that of the manufacture of reeds for hand
looms.  New Lima, a pleasant little village of about twenty houses, is
given up wholly to the business.  Mr. Horace HOLT, who is the patriarch
of the concern, has been engaged in the business at his present stand
for some thirty or forty years, and has accumulated quite a fortune
thereby.  In the town of Rutland, Mr. J. E. STANSBURY is also quite
extensively engaged in the same business.  Since the close of the war,
quite an extensive trade in the article has sprung up with the South;
the manufacturers generally shipping their goods to Evansville, Indiana,
and Paducah, Kentucky, from which places they are distributed throughout
the South.  We have been told that the Rutland and New Lima
manufactories are the only establishments of the kind in the United
States.
 
Transcribed by Cheryl Hartley



Meigs County Telegraph
June 20, 1867

Mr. W.W. HUBBELL, of New Lima, Rutland Township, Meigs County, has
probably the best fruit farm in this region of the country.  He has
4,000 apple, 3,000 peach, and 400 pear trees, most of which are in
bearning (sic) condition, and four miles of Osage orange hedge.  He has
taken extraordinary pains in selecting his peaches, and is said to have
trees from every State east of the Rocky Mountains.  It is estimated
that his peach crop this year (the first bearing year) will amount to
2,000 bushels.  He has varieties that will ripen by the middle of July,
and others that will not ripen until November.
 
Transcribed by Cheryl Hartley



Meigs County Telegraph
July 25, 1867

     FIRE IN RUTLAND TOWNSHIP.-- About 1 o'clock, Friday morning, the
family of Ira NOBLES, Esq., of Rutland township, were awakened with the
roaring of fire, and discovered the rear of their dwelling house in
flames.  The family, with assistance of neighbors, succeeded in saving a
portion of the furniture from the front of the building, although a
portion of the furniture, wearing apparel, and all their family supplies
were lost.  The origin of the fire is unknown, as there had been no fire
in any part of the premises after an early tea.
     Mr. N's granary and storehouse, together with farming implements
therein, were also lost.
     Total loss, about $3,500. Insured in the North America of
Philadelphia, James RALSTON's agency for $1,800.
 
Transcribed by Cheryl Hartley



Meigs County Telegraph
August 1, 1867

MARRIED
July 28, in Rutland, by Alex Hogue, Esq., Mr. George BROWN and Miss
Sophia SAXTON, all of Rutland Township.
 
Transcribed by Cheryl Hartley



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, February 20, 1889

Rutland News (Excerpts)

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: Mrs. Wm. CAMPBELL, of School Lot, went to your city last Monday, 
to get an introduction to that little grandchild of hers at Mell. SNIDER'S.

Mrs. Maria FOUTS, who has been stopping at the Walnut Street House, in Middleport 
the past winter, came out to Pleasant Valley last Monday, and spent the week with 
friends.

Mrs. Dennis SMITH arrived from the west the first of last week.

One of the little twin daughters of Charley PRICE, this side of Pomeroy, was severely 
burned in its face about ten days ago.  It is rapidly improving, and it is thought will 
be disfigured little, if any.  Its mother was taken ill the next day from excitement 
and over exertion, and has been very sick since.

Jolly Jap FORREST, of Mason county, West Va., was with his parents here a few  days 
the first of last week.

The roof of the colored church took fire Sunday night of last week.  They have let their 
meetings cool down since.

If the ground hog is responsible for all this horrid weather, we hope the boys will 
kill the last one of them.

E. GARDNER made a business trip to McArthur and returned a week ago.

There was a dance at Longstreth Hall in the village, Thursday night, the 14th.  The 
house was full.

Mrs. D. B. PECK expects to start today for her home in Kansas.  Nora leaves a host of 
old friends who will wish her a safe journey home.

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, November 27, 1889

Rutland News (Excerpts)

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: Wm. RIGHTMIRE has bought him another dog, not a hound, but 
one that smells for quails, and when it smells one, it just sits right down, and 
acts as shamed as if it had been caught killing sheep.  But it never kills sheep.  
Will goes along with the dog to drive the quails out of the dog's path.  It is 
thought that this dog is worth $50, but we don't state it for a fact that it is.

E. FALOON, of Athens, stopped off of the K. and O. Railroad last 

Friday morning, and made friends a short visit and went on home Saturday.

V. F. SHEPHERD, of New Lima, who moved over to Zion last fall to board the hands 
who were to drill the oil well there, moved back to his home last week, a little 
wiser, but no richer.  He boarded himself and family all fall for nothing.

Mell. MUSSER, whose house burned last summer, after waiting all this time for a 
settlement with the Insurance Company, has moved into the old BELLOWS house, on 
his father's farm.  He lost all his household goods by the fire, and needed the 
money the Company owed him to go to housekeeping with. 

Mrs. Wm. ATHEY, of near Kygerville, is making a week's visit with her daughter, 
Mrs. Wm. HUBBELL, of New Lima.

The hunters with their guns and yelling hounds keep up a most everlasting din, and 
are scaring the poor rabbits and quails into spasms.

Mrs. Melzer STANSBURY is in Boston being treated by eminent physicians.

There were several wagon loads of dressed turkeys shipped by river from here last 
week to the Pittsburg market for Thanksgiving dinners for the good people of that city.

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, August 28, 1889

Rutland News (Excerpts)

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: Last Wednesday John PIERCE, a miner, was injured by a fall of 
slate while working in Sanford RUSSELL'S bank on Hysell Run.  His shoulder was 
thought to be dislocated, but Dr. BEAN found it not to be so bad as expected.

On Thursday, Wm. WRIGHT, a colored man, was hurt in the Larkin bank by a fall of 
slate striking him on the forehead, knocking him backward, and cutting a terrible 
gash to the bone on the back of his head.  He was badly bruised, and will be laid 
up some time.  Dr. BEAN dressed his wounds.  

Monday Afternoon. -We received to-day a telegram from Grand Island, Nebraska, dated 
the 25th, that reads: "We have a nine pound girl.  Jessie is doing well." Signed, J. E. DILL.

A young man named BOWEN, of the West Side, created quite a stir the fore past of 
last week by running after and scaring a girl named KENNEDY.  He claimed to have 
been only in play.

Frank PAGE, one of the owners of the mill here, started the next day after the 
assignment for Dakota, to accept a position as agent and telegraph operator for a 
railroad.  Frank thinks that a better paying business than milling in Rutland.

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, May 7, 1890

Rutland News

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: It is settled that there will not be over a half of a crop 
of strawberries.  The late frost although but light, killed all the earliest 
variety, the "Charles DOWNING."  There is not one of them left.  Then the 
continued extreme wet damaged other varities on heavy clay soils.  Only new 
beds on lightly sandy soils will have anything like a full crop, except perhaps 
the Mt. Vernon, a late variety, that looks promising.  Many say they will not 
have over a one-third crop; and continued wet now in the midst of the picking 
season makes it look gloomy.  But there were a few shipped Thursday, Friday, 
Saturday and Sunday.  Prices are likely to keep up, especially if the weather 
continues wet.  

All may now put butter on their bread; it is only five cents a pound here now.  
Mitt. RATHBURN shipped 300 pounds to Columbus and received nine dollars for the 
lot.  The problem now is what is a cow worth?

Frank BOLTON, of the city Bank, Pomeroy, was out on School Lot here Sunday, 
eating strawberries with his country cousins.

Miss Orie VINING, of Dexter, is visiting relatives about New Lima.

Dr. BEAN is now swallowing his own pills.  He now knows how it is himself.

Little Golda, daughter of Mell. MUSSER, has been quite ill for several days past.

Mell PRICE is getting up a patent wash board to be made of fire clay; and 
A. J. GRIMES is up in Pennsylvania booming it.

Mr. Seth PAINE and Mrs. PAINE have both been on the sick list in the past week.

Our Township Trustees set men at work last week, and fixed a few rods of the 
worst road between here and Middleport.  It was near the Barton cross roads, 
below the village.  This proves that any and all other bad places can be repaired 
if the supervisor were not too busy to attend to it.

Another young man was accidentally shot in the west side of this township last 
Monday by the careless use of the accursed pistol.  Why men and even boys are 
allowed to carry a pistol is difficult to determine.  There is absolutely no 
excuse for one pistol in Meigs county, and on nearly half the men and boys to be 
met, if searched, one would be found.  It is a crime that should be severely 
punished.  The shooting was purely accidental.  The Republican gave an account 
of the affair last week.  Young WARD was a really good young man, and his 
parents are nearly heart broken.

The colored people are ahead this time.  They had a strawberry supper last 
Tuesday evening.

James [ ]ellie, of Columbus, is here in the interest of a commission house of 
that City.  James is well known of our people, and his house made a good hit 
in his selection for this place.

The widow of the late Abner BICKLE, of Monkey Den, lost her only cow last week.  
Steps were taken to raise by subscription money to buy her another cow.

Miss Gertie, daughter of H. Clay SMITH, was quite sick several days the first 
of last week.

The heavy rain Sunday prevented the holding of memorial services.  Neither the 
Rev. TIPTON nor the people were able to get out.

Mrs. A. J. GRIMES, of near New Lima, spent Saturday night with her brother, 
Charley PRICE, in Rockville.

Henry FOX, a native Rutlander, who now lives in Athens county, has been visiting 
about here for several days past.

You made a mistake on the Hogue ad.  It should read Langstreth, and not Longstreth.  Correct.

There are three of the sons of our old friend Julius HIGLEY here to-day.  They are 
A. J., D. B., and S. W., all native Rutlanders, and true sons of a noble sire.  
They are prominent business men of Southern Kansas, and doing well.  No old Rutland 
boys meet a more hearty greeting from their former friends than do these HIGLEY boys.

The Ladies' Aid Society of the M. E. Church is going to have refreshments for the 
hungry on Decoration Day.  -They will have ice cream, cakes, &c., or a square meal 
for those who desire it.

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, October 8, 1890

Rutland News

Andrew BARTON, of below the village, had a sudden and severe sick spell 
Thursday evening.  He retired to bed as well as usual, but was soon 
attacked with a pain in the region of the chest, and soon became 
unconcscious.  All possible restoratives were speedily applied, and a 
physician sent for, and Mr. BARTON is now convalescent.

Mrs. Meek SHERROD, of Pawpaw, Michigan, is here on a visit to her many 
old friends.  Mrs. SHERROD'S maiden name was BRYNE, a daughter of the 
late Luman BRYNE.  This is her first visit to her native heath for many years.

Wallie LONGSTRETH and wife, of Racine, are visiting her brother, Andrew BARTON.

R. R. LYMAN and wife, of Salem, were the guests of Nial BRYNE Saturday night.

The family of the late Alex. HOGUE move to-day to the house on the 
Rathburn farm, above the village.

Miss Mary L. BROWN, of your city was in our village Saturday.

Mr. MILLER moves to-morrow into the Alex. HOGUE house, vacated by the 
HOGUE family.

The infant daughter of Harve GARDNER has been quite ill with a severe 
cold, bordering on croup, the past five days.

Rev. Mr. WHITE, of the M. E. church, preached his first sermon of the 
year to his flock in our village Sunday afternoon.

The saloon side of the Reunion was a complete success, judging from the 
visible results.

John Brough MCGUIRE, of Happy Hollow, got so overjoyed at the Reunion, 
that he let his mouth go off too “previous” and the Marshal took John to 
the refrigerator to cool him off.  It cost the namesake of the old Governor 
$6 to control his appetite and tongue.  

Lewis HYSELL, of the Run, near Cook's Gap, moved to Pomeroy last Friday 
and got work in the Rolling Mill.

Charley GARDNER of Pleasant Valley, has two small children quite ill.

Charley Gardner, of New Lima, is still bedfast, apparently no better.

The public roads are quite good where the supervisors have kept the chuck 
holes filled up.

Gossip and news items are at a high premium.  The Reunion the past week 
absorbed all the time and energy of our people.

The case from here of the State vs. Thaddeus ROMINE will be tried before 
Mayor DONNALLY, of Pomeroy, on the 15th inst.

Sam. KARR has instituted suit in the Common Pleas Court against T. ROMINE 
for personal damages.

The leaders of the Free Will Baptist church will furnish meals and lunch 
on election day, at the residence of Clara BENEDICT; proceeds for the 
benefit of the church.  The patronage of the public is cordially solicited.

Miss Clara BENEDICT goes to day to Utica, Licking county, to visit her 
brother Art.

Dennis HOLT has bills up for Dakota.  He will take a car, and take all his 
goods.  He will start in about ten days.

Alex. FOX moves from the Elselstein farm this week to Gallipolis, to go 
into the dairy business.

We had a heavy rain yesterday morning.

G. GARDNER

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech



The Meigs County Republican
Wednesday, December 3, 1890

Rutland News

EDITOR REPUBLICAN: The first snow of the season, worthy to be called snow, 
came on Thanksgiving.  It blustered all day, and some of it lay on the 
ground the next forenoon.  The mercury went down to 22 degrees above zero.

Hon. John WINN, of Albany, Athens county, was here to his sister's funeral.  
He and his good wife remained over till Sunday.  We had a pleasant visit 
with our friend John.  It is a rich feast to talk over old times with such 
a well stored memory as Mr. WINN possesses.

A. HUMPHREY, David GARDNER, and Ad. BECKLEY returned Friday from Pittsburg, 
where they had been with turkeys for the people of the smoky city, to eat 
and express their thankfulness over.  They report a good fair market.

Born, on Sunday, the 30th of November, a daughter to Frank GARDNER and wife, 
of New Lima.  The parents are jubilant.

Pat. HEARRY and wife, of Vinton Furnace, Vinton county, were visiting friends 
in Pleasant Valley last week.  Mrs. HEARRY was formerly Miss Kate SILDGERS, 
of your city.  Mr. HEARRY is the railroad agent and telegraph operator at the 
Furnace.

Mrs. Rosella FORREST is in Gallipolis on a visit to her parents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Herrlman PLUMMER.

There was a social dance at J. B. HOLT'S, of New Lima, Thursday night.  A fine 
time was reported.

The Thanksgiving meeting Thursday was a splendid social good time.  All were 
well pleased with the discourse of Elder Murel[s?}.  The idea of union 
Thanksgiving is a good one.  It should be followed hereafter.

The stone work on the road is finished.  It is a fine improvement.

The wife of Pearl STEVENS, of Langsville, was quite sick all of last week.

J. D. MILLER, the present owner of the HOGUE property in the village, had a new 
roof put on his dwelling house last week.

Little Guy LARKINS was quite sick most of last week.  He is better at this writing.

Transcribed by Shari (Little) Creech

Return to the Resources page.