Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1935-10-24
HISTORY OF ROWLAND
(By C. B. Ray)

We have often heard folks re-
mark that when we begin to look
back into the past, it is sign that
we have crossed the meridian of
life. Some would try to make us
believe it is up hill until we reach
the meridian, and then we simply
coast toward the sunset. Much of
this teaching was formulated, pro-
mulgated, and unified before you
and I came on the stage of action
Allow us to say that we know the
above words do not mean what we
are saying. We only used them to
show you we have a bunch of that
cached away behind one ear.
Now what we want TO say is one
does not have to be old and on
crutches, or in wheel chair to en-
| JOY and appreciate the early history
of our township. In our old tab
| lets scattered about our home is
scribbled much of the early history
of Bristol township, as related by
folks who had lived much of it, and
some that their elders had related
Only few days ago friend asked
about Rowland.
So while we wait for Will Yauger
to come to take us to the county
seat, we will put it in shape for thG
Democrat force to put in shape for
you to read. If Rowland was ever
plated as a village, we have failed
to find the plat. While we have nc
doubt some of the inhabitants have
had visions and dreamed dreams
that some time they would be sur
rounded by a city, with paved
streets, electric lights and all the
blessings-and curses, that go with
a city, it was not to be. But Row
land has been nervy little village
and hung on. Not very big, but
enough that we feel it deserves 4
place in our work. Being located
in our original manuscript we said
about three hops from an improved
road, but some four or five years
| have changed this, so We can say
the streets are paved-not with
pure gold, but with lime rock.
1t was hard fight with nc
| blood shedD. Geo. M. Garrett by a
| liberal donation got the county
| commissioners and trustees to i'm.
prove the road to the store Later
the road was improved to the Gar.
rett home.
The village is situated in the val
ley of Big Meigs creek. A genera
store has been doing business here
| for many years. We are not able tC
give the merchants in their proper
rotation The first was Mr. Ayers
| Our informant was not able to re
| call his Christian name. He started
in a building opposite the Wilson
house, now the Walter Blackledgt
| home. Later he had built the pres
ent building, which is a residence
and store room combined. Oul
| friend and historian, the late G. p
Roberts, was one of the carpenters
who later became a minister of the
M. P. church; Jas. Logan, w. H
Hardesty, Geo. M. Foster, w. M
Gorrell, w. H. (Tope) Lawrence, P
G.. Lawrence and the present owner
W. E. Lawrence, have, and are car
rying on here. John Coalman, th'
younger generations of this family
have changed the spelling to "Cole
man." We presume Johns folk!
| back somewhere were miners, or a
least in the coal business, but Joh1
was a harness maker. Our friend
the late Jimmy McGregor, used tt
| show us some of his work and al
ways stated he used good leather
and did honest work. Like all coun
| try stores it afforded a place for thu
men and boys to meet and spend
rainy days and evenings in the dis
cussion of events of the neighbor
hood, state and nation.
For many years the justice of the
peace lived close to this village. We
| find we have written of the courts
under another chapter, but we fint
| in perusing some of the old dock
cts that "Tope" Lawrence was con
stable.
| In conclusion, we might say that
we can see no reason why Rowland
| should get smaller-nor anything tG
| make it larger.