Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-13
0H1n YElRIY NEETING

Friends which was neiU al mount
pleasant jefferson county, Ohio, short
+ime since. was attended by quite q
~1mber OF citizens Of Wheeling and
-,icinitv. The OuaSers OF this neigh
borbood are a thrifty, prosperous peo-
NE and a history Of their location,
rom the pen OF one OF the most
Dromiuent of their sect, Sam
mel TomllnSon, who now resides
near Mount Pleasant makes very inter-
esting reading. The writer is about 81
years OF age, and among his people has
attained a reputation as writer OF
Toetrv and prose. lie is we'll known in
wheeling. The following is the history
referred 20: A very significant feature
in the history of she early settlement
~ what was then called Short
Creek Township, afterwards named
Nount Pleasant In Jefferson
county Ohio, is the fact that previous
IN the opening OF the land Office for the
eptree Of land, assignments had been
made by number OF families Of the So
cfety Of Friends, of Trent river, ia
North Carolina, 20 emigrate In a body,
procure h0meSteadS and settle in that
rart of the State. Among these were
Tine Dews, StantOns, Towards, Williams,
Hodeius, and many other families, a
number of whom became very distn-
ruished citizens, rendering import
amt aid, not only in converting
me wilderness into an Eden,
so 20 speak, but also in formulating its
institutions and facilitating 10 various
WAYS a growth in every achievement
within their reach that would rebound
90 the highest Interests OF the people,
one of their first efforts being accom-
modations for gathering together for the
rurpose of divine worship, which was
looked upon rs a paramount duty, and
second, the institution OF schools for
-be education of their children. These
North Carolina Friends had real
rzed in their own experience
something Of the terrible con-
sequence likely to ensUe from the dire
mi Institution Of human slavery and
had resolved TO brave the hardships and
invitations incident 20 the settlement OF
d new and wild country rather than
risk a continuance In that sin-stricken
land, and in 1899, after completing their
society business and issuing certificates
pfremoval for themselves and families 20
The monthly meeting nearest 10 their
proposed place of settlement, made their
way 10 Washington and Eayette counties
fnWestern Pennsylvania, where previous
ARRANGEMENTS had teen made for their
accommodation until the government
had cousummated It's plans for the legal
sale OF lands through the land office at
Steubenviue, which was opened ia the
rorf 81 ha va0r 1902
The desire OF these COlOniSts appears
20 have been to procure land and settle
ln the eastern part Of the State, near
the Ohio river Therefore, their next
step, after arriving ct their temporary
home, was 20 secure q delegation in
whom they could cOnfde, TO visit the
country and fix upon suitable and
contiguous tracts for entree and settle
ment, and tradition furnishes the names
of Joseph Dew, Borden stanton and
VIM. Hodgin (the two former were min
isters), as three Of the number select
ed for this purpose. They crossed the
river at Zane's Island (Wheeling) and
pnrsued their way some six miles over
the hills to the neighbOrhOOn where
the village of COleraine, Belmont coun-
". now stands. Here the country was
explored and number Of tracts decld-
ed upon as adapted 10 the wants OF the
c0IOnists, and I'm this vicinity cOnSld-
cradle settlement was founded. A meet
inc OF the Society OF Friends called
Concord was soon the result OF this
settlement. From this point they
moved forward about five miles 10
where the village OF Mount Pleasant,
jefferson county, was soon after located.
This beautiful rolling country en-
listed their attention, and when they
came 10 an attractive knoll, where the
Short Creek meeting house was soon
after erected, we are told that Joseph
Dew, falling a little behind, stuck up
his staff and exclaimed, Here will be
great gathering of Friends" The
prediction was true, tor on this romantic
spot was erected the first meeting house
of the society, and though only q log
cabin, IL served their purpose as place
of worship, and I'm IL the buSinesSOf the
society was transacted for several years.
In 1907 q brick building took It's place.
Short Creek Monthly and Quarterly
Meetings and the three first Yearly
Meetings OF Ohio were held on this spot,
In portion OF the grounds set apart as
d burial place sleep the remains OF
large number OF early settlers and many
OF their descendants. Remains OF those
who. by the exhibition OF so much en-
ergy, perseverance, aud loyalty 70 the
principles of right and duty and were
conspicuous IN the religious as we'll as
the physical achievements Of that early
day.
Tn the years 1914 and 1915 the Yearly
Meeting House al Mount Pleasant was
erected 40 a cost Of tride over twelve
thousand dollars, the dimensions OF the
building being 90 by Go feet. II is ca
pable OF seating a very large number,
and In the early days was often filled 10
0yerd0wing.
In 1916 10 was occupied for the first
time for the transaction of the business
Of OhiO'S yearly meeting of Friends,
and from that time 20 the present, 1892,
has accommodated annually one or more
OF the branches into which the Society
is divided. by the action Of Baltimore
yearly meeting In the year 1872, the
yearly meeting OF Ohio was established,
composed Of an the members Of the So
CleIy west or the Allegheny MOUNTAINS,
and this arrangement continued until
the year 1921, when the Indiana yearly
meeting was established by the action
OF Ohio, thus forming two yearly meet
ings of very conspicuous size, mainly
from the immigration that had taken
place from the South and East, in little
oyeS twenty years.
I'm tracing some Of the events con-
nected with Ohio yearly meeting in the
D-r--ar Na.r. nl b.. nNLstannn mnmOrY