This book is still being completed! I will be adding one chapter at a time as I complete them. Some chapters may take longer to complete than others, so please be patient as I am doing additional research before publishing. My primary purpose is to have everything documented and sourced before publishing it online. If any mistakes or corrections are found and proven, please contact me as soon as possible so I can make sure this ‘History of Chesapeake, Ohio’ is factual for future use.
Introduction
This online book, which was published out of necessity, was about the History of Chesapeake, Ohio. Chesapeake was incorporated in 1907 and is one of the newest villages in Lawrence County, Ohio.
For over thirty years of research, I have explored everything available. I wanted to understand how, who, and why the village was established. In doing so, I found a lot of “lost history” about this community and the persons involved in its hardships, disappointments, tragedies, and triumphs.
Like many history books, you may have some discrepancies in stories, dates, names, and places. Verifying evidence in the 19th and the early 20th Century is sometimes tricky. But, with great confidence, I have done my due diligence to prove the facts published in this book.
The Village of Chesapeake was first developed into several small communities. I focus on Frampton, Lawrence City, Rockwood, Kounston, and North Huntington, [later named North Huntington Heights]. Some small towns, such as Washington [see Figure 2], were vacated and never established. This book will be divided into those sections, giving the history of each one and then documenting how those areas were combined into one village named Chesapeake.
Small settlements around Chesapeake are Sybene, Bradrick, Coryville, Getaway, Bartramsville, and even a little history of Quaker Bottom. I did not go into much detail about the history of these small villages but touched on their importance in the development of Chesapeake.
1926 Map of Chesapeake
The 1926 map above shows that Chesapeake is split into two communities where the Ohio River and Symmes Creek meet. Going west of Symmes Creek was Lawrence City, [a small section of this area was Kounston], going east of Symmes Creek was Rockwood, [a small section of this area was Frampton], and finally, going north was North Huntington Heights.
I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed collecting photos, reading stories, researching old documents, and listening to older residents.
Please be courteous when reprinting any part of this online book. Please contact me if you have any questions or want to use any portion of this book, which is fully copyrighted by Martha J. Martin (Kounse) for The Lawrence Register website at www.lawrencecountyohio.com.
I owe a lot of people gratitude for supplying photos, stories, newspaper clippings, and much more. All images I have used in this book will be given the common courtesy of giving credit to where I found them and with the owner’s permission, when possible. If any photo included doesn’t have the proper ownership, don’t hesitate to contact me so I can rectify any mistakes or misunderstandings.
I want to thank David and Joyce Hager, who rekindled my enthusiasm to write and finish this book. The moment they allowed me to take home the scrapbook, filled with Chesapeake history, I knew I had to finish it. Along with the maps David and Joyce allowed me to copy and use for this book, I want to say personally, “Thank You!”
My most significant contributor to helping me with my research, taking photos, and just listening to me talk about the history of Chesapeake is my son, ‘Matt’ Bice. I couldn’t have finished this project without his constant help. “Thank you, Matt!” And lastly, “Thank You” goes to my daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Earl Strohmeyer, for their encouragement, proofing, and editing of this book and other stories on the Lawrence Register.
Union Township Early History
What would eventually become Ohio, was surveyed as part of a large region of Washington County, Territory Northwest of the Ohio River. In 1803, Ohio became the 17th State admitted to the Union, and in the spring of that year, eight new counties were created, including Gallia County.
On 21 Dec. 1815, Lawrence County claimed all of Gallia County’s present-day townships except most of Rome Township. On 22 Dec. 1818, Lawrence County finally claimed the northern part of Rome Township taken from Gallia County. This completed the newly formed Lawrence County, Ohio, including Union Township, where Chesapeake is currently located.
Early Names of Chesapeake
Chesapeake is one of the youngest villages in Lawrence County, but its beginning starts early in our county’s history. Chesapeake is the result of several small settlements joining together.
To understand the history of Chesapeake, think of it as two separate communities: Lawrence City and Rockwood. These two names are what early deeds and court records referred to as what we now call “Chesapeake.”
To explain it more plainly, the names of Washington, Frampton, Kounston, Symmes Run, Flemingsburg, and Lawrenceburg were never recorded as actual towns, villages, or cities.
Edward Miller
Edward Miller was one of the first families listed in the 1820 Union Township Census for Lawrence County, Ohio. His family came from Germany and settled in Virginia.
In 1779 Edward Miller enlisted in the Revolutionary War in Augusta Co., Va., and in the Spring of 1780, he was taken by the British as a prisoner of war, until June of 1781. He was exchanged and landed by the British near Williamsburg on James River in Va.. Edward Miller was soon discharged on 13 July 1781.
On 1 Sep 1787, Edward Miller married Rebecca in Shenandoah County, Va., and moved from Virginia to Ohio. By the time Lawrence County, Ohio, was formed, he owned Sections 32 and 33, now the present-day village of Chesapeake, Ohio.
Lawrenceburg
Lawrenceburg was an early name chosen for the area east of the mouth of Symmes Creek and the Ohio River, located in Section 32.
In 1819, the first account of this property was found. Edward Miller produced his Treasurer’s Receipt for his Tavern License, at ‘his stand’ on the Ohio River at the mouth of Symmes Creek. (FamilySearch.org, Court records, 1817-1856 film #8198783, 1819).
Miller paid the annual fee of $6.00, for a Tavern License on the 2nd day of the August Term in 1819. On a motion of the Court, it was approved and Edward Miller was able to keep his Tavern. Let’s find out why Edward Miller was important in the founding of Chesapeake in the next Chapter.
Kounston
Andrew P. Kouns, the son of Christian Kouns, had a vision for Chesapeake, to form a new town called “Kounston.” In 1873, he placed ads in the Huntington, WV, newspapers announcing his new town by offering to sell lots he owned.
He was placing a huge bet that the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was going to build a bridge spanning “Kounston” with the new town of Huntington.
Read how and why “Kounston” was never established, but became the property of the Chesapeake Board of Education. A. P. Kouns’s legacy is now in the hands of the Chesapeake School Board, who built some of the most useful and beautiful schools in Ohio.
Frampton
In the 1850 industrial schedule, Martin claimed he was earning a living being a lumberman and employed eight employees. But about five years later around the years of 1854-55, Martin Frampton’s health started to decline and soon his eyesight was failing him.
By the time he reached age 67 years old, he was nearly blind and Martin fell into deep depression.
He was a man who owned hundreds of acres of property, was a successful businessman, and built one of the most luxurious homes in Lawrence County, Ohio.
COMING SOON!