Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1939-06-15
Morgan County MConnesvle Ohio

thus preventing floods, as we hav
: at the present time.
We remember of hearing ou
father tell of the bottom east of tht
creek at the old Campbell bridgt
being in orchard When our grand
father bought the farm in 1892, ant
we remember even III our time, O
eating apples off one of those trees
a Rhode Island Greening. We alst
remember the old water well in tht
same bottom, where dwelling
house had stood. The house nov
used as a poultry house on the III
G. Henderson, formerly the Thoma!
Campbell place, and before tha
owned by Matthias Sang, stood close
to the Barnesville road, but as the
floods increased the house was NOV.
ed back to the high ground, where
it now stands Speaking of floods
the runs and creeks overflow often
The record food for the valleys
drained by Meigs creeks was July
IA. 1913, when thousands of dollars
worth of crops were destroyed, be-
sides the destruction of fences.
Bridges were swept away entailing
a great loss to the taxpayers of the
county. The old time bridges were
built of wood, covered, being rooted
with shingles. Many of these old
time bridges have given way to iron
bridges and they with others to con-
crete. Many a farmer has raced his
team that he might gain shelter in
these bridges, out OF the rain, to
save not only themselves, but their
milling, and other goods which the
rain would injure or destroy. At
this time there are seven of these
bridges doing service in the town
ship.
Roads
We remember in the early days
of farm institutes, at meeting held
at Cloud they were discussing the
good roads question. Mr.. Roude-
bush, one of the state speakers,
was called on to express himself, on
the subject Coming from the level
country of one of the northern
counties, his statement is the more
easily understood, when he said Il
have seen no reads, nor any place
to put any" In spite Of this Bristol
township has a total mileage of 81
miles. The Barnesville which is
known in S. III. d. records and au-
tomobile maps as route rs, and
which runs through the township.
On account of the crooks and wind
ings of the distance, it is likely
eight miles, and is not only hard
surfaced through the township, but
miles have been improved under the
secondary system, with some four
miles being improved this year, and
if the supply Of gasoline holds out
it will not be many years until all
the main roads will be improved
We feel that this writing would
be incomplete without further note
of the Barnesville road. This road
runs from McConnelsville to Barnes
Vile, Belmont county. The means
of travel has changed almost
entirely since our childhood, when
we first remember. All travel was
by horse, spring wagons, and that
recalls the wagons made by James
Balm, now deceased. These Wag-
ons were the next step from the old
farm wagon, which for many years
was used to haul leads Of various
kinds, but served as the family
carry-all on Sundays and gala days.
In our minds eye we can see that
army of various peoples and convey
ances passing over this road and
through the old Campbell bridge.
Our Quaker folks from Pennsville
and acknowledgements" as
it was then known, passed this way,
coming and going to yearly meet
ing at Barnesville. They always
drove large fat horses. The shows
went this way and it was always
glad time for we boys as We took
our places to see them pass by. by
the way, small show after giving
an exhibition in McConnelsv1lle,
travelled this way, to Caldwell,
where they were billed to show the
following day. The elephants ford
ed the creeks, apparently being
afraid of the bridges. A large part
of travel was on horse back. Fol-
lowing the vehicles named, came the
skeleton and swinging bed carts.
The young man who sported a good
horse and skeleton cart always had
lady friends. Then came the buggy.
Well do we remember the buggy
owned by the late Sarah Sprague.
In it's early days it was a thing OF
beauty, and very strong vehicle.
Mrs Sprague held the record during
many years of being the largest
woman in the county She was not
only a big woman, but fine cook.
But we must hurry on to the light
buggies, phaetons, surreys, then the
Model T Ford, until today, while we
watch the throrgs go by, we note
the closed cars of all kinds and
makes, but every little while a.
Model T still goes by
(To be continued)