Washington County Ohio Genealogy Trails A part of the Genealogy Trails History Group

Washington County

Watertown township is the largest in the county, containing an area of 42 1/2 square miles.

At the date of its establishment, June 4, 1806, Watertown, then Wooster, included only the fourth township of the tenth range. The commissioners at a subsequent meeting set off of Waterford and attached to Wooster that part of the town of Waterford lying in the third township of the tenth range, and the eleventh range, and so much of the eighth township of the eleventh range as lies south of the west branch of Wolf Creek.

At the September session of the commissioners, 1813, six sections, 31 to 36, of Union, were set off and annexed to Wooster. The name of the township was changed from Wooster to Watertown, December 6, 1824, the object being to avoid the annoyance of having two Woosters in the same State, there being a town and township bearing that name in Wayne County. The name "Watertown" was selected in honor of the Waterman family, one of whose members lost his life in the early settlement.

Watertown received an important addition of territory in 1877 when Union township was partitioned. Union township, when originally established in 1812, included the whole of township three, range nine, and sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, of township three, range nine. This tract had previously been a part of Marietta and Adams. Watertown as it existed before 1813 had originally been a part of Waterford.

The territory of Union had grown smaller by annexations to Watertown, Adams and Muskingum, and finally the town. December, 1877, lost its identity entirely. The part bounded by a line beginning at the southwest corner of section 26, and running due east to the southwest corner of section eight, then north to the south line of "Wiseman's Bottom allottment," then west to the southwest corner of Wiseman's Bottom, then north to the southeast corner of lot number five, in Rainbow Creek allottment, then west to the southwest corner of lot number 10, in same allottment, then north to the northeast corner of lot number 16  then west to the line of Watertown township, then south to the place of beginning, was annexed to Watertown township. The territory constituting Watertown was originally embraced in Marietta and Waterford. Legal divisions generally became smaller as the population grew more dense, but every change of boundaries but one (when Palmer was established) has resulted in the enlargement of this territory.

Much of the earlv history of Watertown is embraced in the history already given of the expansion of the Ohio Company. The valley above Wolf Creek was settled in 1797 by an English family named Mellor; soon followed by Mathew Corner, John Bacon and James Quigiey. Two servants of the Blennerhassetts came into Wolf Creek after the ruin of their master.

The first school in Watertown was taught in 1799 by Nathaniel Gates. Schools were in existence on West Branch and in the Starline neighborhood at an early date. Several mills have been erected on the site of the original Wolf Creek Mills previously described. A mill at Watertown was erected as early as 1825 by John Paine.

The village of Watertown sprang up at the intersection of the Marietta-Lancaster road and the county road from Waterford. The first store here was opened in1828 by Abijah Brooks, who was also first postmaster. Churchtown P. O. was established in 1875 with M. Jurdan as postmaster.

A meeting house of the Methodist denomination was the first to be erected in Watertown township. It was called Wolf Creek Chapel and was built in 1802 on the west branch. The "First Methodist Society of Wooster" w'as incorporated in 1819. A Methodist Church was built on the North Marietta road in 1830 and the Salem Church in 1871. The Watertown Church was organized in 1880. The First Presbyterian Church of Wooster was incorporated in November 1821. Ten years later the church in Waterford was organized. In 1848 a village Presbyterian Church was organized. In 1853 the two Presbyterian churches united. The First Universalist Church was built in 1835 and reorganized and rebuilt, after destruction by fire, in 1870. In 1845 a Lutheran society purchased the Methodist Church but built a new church in 1855. A Catholic Church was organized about 1850. Two churches were built in 1866,—the Ave Maria Church on Rainbow Creek, the other on land donated by Mr. Judson. The Catholic Church in Watertown is one of the finest in the county. The United Brethren society built Pleasant Grove Chapel in 1871.

The following sketch, kindly furnished us by Deming L. Breckenridge, of Watertown, will be read with interest by many who livein other parts of the county.

THE BRECKENRIDGE FAMILY.

During the times of commotion when Bruce and Baliol were contending for the throne of Scotland, many emigrated from the Lowlands to the Highlands, some taking up their abode in the mountain region and others occupying the fertile glen near the sea-shore. Among the latter, settling in Argyleshire in the Highlands, were the ancestors of the Breckenridges of this county.

John and Andrew Breckenridge were grandfathers to those of the name first coming to Washington County. The children of John were-Hugh, John, Andrew, Isabell, William, Thomas, Peggy, Mary, and Jane. Of these only four ever came to this country. Isabell married John Clark and settled in Virginia. Thomas came to this country in 1830 and settled in Belpre, where he died a few years since. His family have mostly moved to the West. John and Mary came at a later date. Andrew Breckenridge. Esq., of Belpre and the late John, David and George Breckenridge, of Barlow, were sons of Hugh. "Deacon" John and Rev. Thomas Breckenridge, of Indiana, were sons of John. Thomas Breckenridge, of Barlow, and his several brothers, some of whom have moved from the county, were sons of David Breckenridge a descendant of Andrew,—brother of John referred to, and a son of Hugh Breckenridge.

The children of Andrew Breckenridge, who married Nancy Brown, were: Robert, bom February 24, 1794; Isabeil, January 7, 1796; John and Hugh, who were twins. May 12, 1798; Edward, January 25, 1803; William, December 10, 1805; Elizabeth, March 30, 1808; and Nancy, October 10, 1815. All were born in Argyleshire. All of these became residents of Washington County and their descendants with few exceptions have remained here, really comprising the Breckenridge family solid of the county.

Robert, who came first, was married to Catharine Harvey, April 25, 1818. They left Greenock for America June 1st, landed in New York, September 1st, and walked the greater part of the way from there to Philadelphia and from there to Pittsburg, whence on keelboat they journeyed to Marietta, arriving in October, 1818. They first settled in Wesley township removing to Barlow in 1828, where Mr. Breckenridge died October 2, 1871. By his death the Barlow Presbyterian Church lost not only its senior elder, but also one of its main supporters. His wile survived him a number of years. Their family of six children were: Nancy, Catharine, Isabell, Elizabeth, James H. and Mary Ann. Catharine died December 21, 1839: Isabell died May 21, 1865; Nancy died in September, 1893; and Elizabeth, who married James Milligan, is also dead.

Isabell, daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Brown) Breckenridge, married James Colville in 1814. They came to America in the fall of 1837. Their family of eight children were: Nancy, Isabell, Robert, Andrew, James, Martha, John and Ann,—three of whom have died—John in October, 1853. Andrew in the spring of 1863, and Nancy in July, 1864. Mr. Colville was born in Scotland, 1791 and died April 2, 1877. His wife died February 2, 1870.

John and Hugh came to this country in 1820, settling in Watertown (now Paimer). John was married December 6, 1821, to Agnes Fleming who died July 7, 1838. Their family numbered three sons and three daughters; Andrew F., John, Robert, Jane, Nancy and Martha. John died December 13, 1862. The others settled near the old homestead, excepting Martha the wife of C. A. Brown. Mr. Breckenridge was elected County Commissioner in 1849. serving a term of three years. He was married again, in 1852, to Mrs. Margaret Breckenridge, who died February 5, 1871.

Hugh married Martha Harvey, January 23, 1824. Their five daughters were: Ann, who died April 14. 1862; Nancy; Elizabeth, who died June 7, 1846; Jane; and Isabell. Mr. Breckenridge was killed April 8, 1838. at a barn raising on the farm of Nathan Bell of Barlow, his brother John receiving severe injuries at the same time. Mrs. Breckenridge, who survived her husband over 30 years, died March 11, 1869.

Edward. William, Elizabeth and Nancy in company with 15 others came to the county in 1830. Edward married Jane Fleming in 1832 and settled in Watertown township. Their family of nine children were: Andrew, John, William, Edward, James F., Agnes, Jane C, Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth died July 12, 1848, and John, July 25 1857. James as a member of the 148th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., died at Baltimore, Maryland, while in the service of his country, September 10, 1864. Mrs. Breckenridge died December 19, 1865, and Mr. Breckenridge. January 20, 1892.

William settled in Barlow and married Margaret Harvey in the spring of 1831. She died February 12, 1846, leaving an only son Harvey, who is a resident of Marseilles, Illinois. Mr. Breckenridge was married again in 1847 to Ellen Reed, of Wheeling, West Virginia. Their three children are: Andrew W., Oliver, and Maggie E. Mr. Breckenridge died September 20, 1893, and his wife. May 7, 1894.

Elizabeth married David Reed in 1838. Their family consisted of Hugh, David, Nancy, and Isabell. Nancy married David Greenlees in 1833. Mr. Greenlees came from Scotland to this county in 1832 and settled near Watertown village on the farm where he lived 59 years. He died October 4, 1891, and his wife, July 7, 1890. Their family of two sons and three daughters, Sarah, Andrew, Thomas, Jane, and Agnes, are all residents of Washington County.

THE HARVEST HOME PICNIC.

Which is held in August, has for the last twenty years been one of the pleasant social events in Watertown. The first picnic, of which we have any record in the county papers, was held Saturday, August 19, 1882, in Curry's Grove. The speakers were Rev. G. W. Wesselius, J. M. Murdock, George B. Quinn, Gen. Rufus R. Dawes, Gen. A. J. Warner and Judge F. J. Cutter. Music was furnished by the Watertown Band and a glee club. Messrs. Roscoe Wolcott, James Dunbar, and Eli Gingham are named among the promoters, but no official record, is given. The reporter for the Marietta Register closes his account by saying,—"The day ended pleasantly and the picnic was inaugurated as an institution to stand and to hold annual reunions." From this sentence we suppose that the meeting of 1882 was the first. At the last meeting held (August 9, 1902), it was estimated that 8,000 people were in attendance. A. W. Ramsey was elected president, and J. A. Palmer, secretary and treasurer.

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