Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-04-16

nat we would smut our eyes ana
pick one. Not having all the names
we start and will continue as the
names and facts appear. ar.
In conversing with some of the
men of the village who did not look
old, we learned they had been cow
boys-not the western variety, but
right here in Stockport, which
makes us feel that we are not so
far away from the beginning.
We find there seems to be some
question as to what family has the
honor of being the first settlers in
the village. It seems wise that we
should wait and get more opinions
as to the first folks, but let us tell
you about the cowboys. At ] that
time there were no fences and these
boys were employed to herd the
cows. They were, employed on sal
ary-15 cents per week. OF course
there was no income tax and so on
to be paid.
We did not expect to be correct.
We hope that there may be no mis-
takes in dates of important events.
We find that the Wootton family
has been in business here con-
tinuously longer than any other.
They have been in business since
1852. Eldridge Wootton and his
wife, Martha Bailey, came from
Sussex county, Virginia to Sharon
Noble county. From there they
came to Penn township, where they
followed farming. A son Thomas
started in the mercantile business
in Stockport, as we have said, In
1862. He sold to his brother John
p, in 1864. Their first location
was where the B. & o. railroad sta
tion is now located. From there
they moved where Fred Rollison is
now located on Broadway. From
there they came to the present loca-
tion on Main street, where John P.
continued in business until his
death in 1895, after which his son
William E. took over and is con-
tinuing. He is, at present, the only
, general merchant in the village.
Will, as he is known to many
friends, had the present building,
which is residence and store, built
in 1902. With him sister, Mrs.
Minnie Mcdonald. widow, and a
brother Leslie Fl. and wife. They
had one daughter Evelyn D'Ziamba
of London, O..
While the Woottons have carried
on so many years, and Will has
carried on tip top not only as a
business man, county official, he, so
far has failed to make arrange
ments that the business may con-
tinue in the WoottOn name. An
other sister, Miss Ethel, is at pres
ent at ST. Petersburg, Fla.
Those who have followed us
through the years know we have no
set rule, only to be different. So
we want to stop here to tell you
story we heard one of the good men
of the village, who long since has
entered rest. He was teacher of
a Sunday school class of boys. One
Sunday when school opened some
&c
your class" when the teacher re-
piled II am sorry to say they are
all in Jail" They had unthinking-
ly infracted some of the laws. 1t
seems to us the rules were not only
more strict but officials were very
alert to apprehend infractors. One
of the boys has been pointed out to
us. We find he has been head man
of the village for many years,
which leads us to remark that we
have noticed that those who never
did anything wrong never did any
thing worth while.
In our hunt for facts we find
that one family who came from
our old home township. (BristoD
have left their impression not only
on this community through the
church and schools, but on other
parts Of our land. We are hoping
to hear from members of this fam
lily soon.
It seems Stockport folks of the
present have funny idea regarding
thirst quenchers. Some years ago
a majority of the voters decreed
that anything that smelled or SPELL
ed like intoxicating liquors should
go out of the village. The PROPOSE
tion carried and instead of the res
taurants in the village dispensing
the fluids under watchful eyes of
the mayor and marshal, there We're
new buildings erected just over the
corporation line-one west on the
Turkey run road, one east across
the river. So far folks from north
and south have to go east, or west,
to get their drinks. At the same
time the vote was taken in the viii
lage, an attempt was made to have
a vote in the township, but the pc
tition was insufficient. AS to wa
ter we find we are midway between
beer and water, they charge for
beer, water comes for the pump
ing.
Schools