Washington County

Dunham township has four villages: Dunham, Veto, Briggs and Constitution.

Dunham township was formed June 5, 1855, and changed to its present form on the petition of William P. Cutler, Dean Briggs, and others, October19th, of the same year. It was first settled by Elihu Clark, Benjamin and Hezekiab Bickford and Lemuel Cooper in the first half decade of the century. The first tavern was kept by Nathan Cole near the head of Neil's Island in 1805. The first postoffice was established at Veto with William Chevalier as postmaster in 1850. The Dunham office was opened seven years later with Jasper Needham as postmaster. Briggs P. O. was established in March,1875. The first religious society to build a church in Dunham was the Methodist; a frame building was erected on the Little Hocking in 1830 but was removed before 1860. A Universalist Church was organized in 1845 but soon united with the Belpre organization. The United Brethren were given Cutler Chapel by William P. Cutler, operator of the principal quarries along the Littie Hocking, in 1871. The first school house was erected on the Goddard farm in 1814. A town house was built in 1871.

The fine stone quarries in Dunham were first opened by Messrs. Harris, Schwan and Newton about 1820. The quarries along the Little Hocking were operated extensively in 1870-71. The stone for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge at Parkersburg came largely from Dunham.

Dunham township was named in honor of Jonathan Dunham who began work on his land in 1804. He was a descendant of Rev. Jonathan Dunham of Martha's Vineyard. Mr. Dunham's daughter was married to Asahel Hollister, an emigrant from Litchfield County, Connecticut, and many of their descendants still live in this county. One of their sons, W. B. Hollister, lived in Harmar about 50 years.

Thomas and Amos Delano came from Connecticut to Belpre about 1804, but in 1808 came to Dunham.

Benjamin Ellenwood, of Maine, with his three sons,—Benjamin, Daniel, and Samuel,—came from Pennsylvania to Dunham in 1811. The family is still well represented in the county.

Benoni Lewis, an officer in the American army and navy of the Revolution, went from Rhode Island to Virginia in 1802, and in 1807 came to Dunham.

Hapgood Goddard, of New Hampshire, was in Dunham as early as 1814. He afterward lived in Fairfield.

Dunham township was fortunate in receiving a number of good settlers from Scotland, among whom may be named James Harvey, Daniel Shaw, William Fleming, Samuel Drain of Argylshire, Edward Henderson (who was employed by the pioneers as a scout) and Hugh Mitchell.

 Source: History of Marietta and Washington County, by Martin R. Andrews, MA, 1902, Transcribed by C. Anthony