Bellville's History

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The Beginnings of Bellville Old B&O Railroad Bellville's First Church The Start of our Schools Businesses Moved In Information Resources Click here for History Photos

The Beginnings of Bellville

  In 1808, two men James McCluer and Jonathan Oldfield
blazed a trail from Fredericktown to Bellville. That route is 
now Ankneytown Road. They built a cabin, the first one in 
the township. They began to make necessary improvements 
to the land, with the help of a tornado that leveled some 
of the land. James then went to Canton Land office to register  
the land in their names. So began the development of Bellville. 
In 1812 a blockhouse was built near the Bellville Depot. In 
1815, Robert Bell purchased a quarter section from McCluer 
and laid out the original plat of Bellville. Fourty-eight lots 
were proposed between E. Main Street, North to Ogle Street 
and South to the first alley North of Durbin. Enoch Ogle 
bought lot #1 and established a tavern. The first post office 
was established in 1824 with Isaac Hoy the postmaster.

 Old B&O Railroad

  The location of this old railroad is found at 
Side Street W. of SR13 (The North edge of town.) 
Its current use is civic. It is now a bike path, 
and rest stop area. It did belong to B&O railroad. 
The date it was built is unknown. 

Bellville's First Church

  Bellville was incorporated on March 25, 1841. 
James C. Lee was the first mayor. As the village 
grew, homes were used as churches and schools. 
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first
organized church in 1814. Robert Bell and William 
Oldfield, a Revolutionary Soldier, helped to organize 
the church. Samuel Oldfield was one of the circuit 
preachers that held services. The church building 
was constructed on Bell Street in 1835.

The Start of Our Schools

  Samuel McCluer started the first school in 
1816-1817, in his own cabin. Timothy Evarts 
taught the first term of three months. The school
was supported by a subscription rate of $ 1.50
per pupil for the term, which could be paid in any 
kind of provisions-clothing or work. Young men 
rode 5 or 6 miles to attend. Young women stayed 
home to do housework. By 1880, schools were 
developed to be 2 miles apart, so no student should 
have to walk more than one mile twice a day. In 
1857, a school was put into operation in the present 
Clear Fork Administrative Building and Elementary 
buildings are located.

Businesses Moved In

  As Bellville grew, other utilities and businesses 
were set up. An electric plant was located near 
the bike trail. ( near present Alta's Greenhouse) A 
flour mill began business on route 97, Riverside Drive. 
It was owned and operated by D.L. Baker and Roller 
Mills. Two hotels, Hotel Lefevre was developed, on 
northwest corner of Main and Ogle, and Hotel Norris, 
on the southeast corner of Main and Ogle. Two livery 
stables were located nearby, filling the need for the 
travelers. The town hall was built in 1877-78 at a 
construction cost of $6,000. The brick structure was 
built to have a place for town meetings and to
create a jail.
   Our bandstand was completed in 1879, with 
the support of O.B. Rummel, I.K. Moody was chosen 
manager. The band members met and
pursued the project. Mr. Abraham Lash was the 
architect. It was rededicated on July 4th, 1975.
A drug store business started between the present 
Wishmaker house and the one next to the north. A
tin and carriage shop set up on Bell Street near Stoodt's
Grocery of today. Keiths sanatorium was developed
to provide care for tuberculosis patients. (located 
in front of the current Stoodt's Grocery.)
   Two wagon and blacksmith shops, two hardware 
stores, two tin shops, one stove store, one printing 
shop, one bakery, four groceries, two saloons, one 
wallpaper store, two harness shops, two barber 
shops, and two dentists came to Bellville to start
business.
  A fire department was formed. Their equipment 
included with one cart, 650 feet of two and one 
half inch hose, fifty men, and one Waterford engine.
In 1880, Bellville had one bank the Exchange Bank,
organized in 1872, with Frederick Fitting, H. Alexander,
 John and David Zents as stockholders. It began with 
a capital stock of $12,000. The safe weighed 8,800 
pounds and cost $1400.
  The first fair held in Bellville , was a county fair in 
1850. The next year the county fair was moved to 
Mansfield. an agricultural society was formed in 
Bellville and in 1860, developed their own Bellville 
Agricultural Fair. ( now known to locals, as the 
Bellville Worlds Fair.)
  Newspapers have long been a part of the village. 
In 1842, the Rainbow and Repository started as a
weekly at the cost of one dollar a year. J.C. Potts 
and Thomas Faus were its proprietors. Later, the 
Garber Brothers published the Richland Star, a 
monthly paper. In 1872, Garber and Aaron Leedy 
began a weekly newspaper, possibly the forerunner
to the Bellville Star.

  Information condensed and compiled by Ruth Ann Dearth, 
from many sources, including:
"Bellville Sequicentennial Celebration 
1839-1989" A tour pamphlet. By Darlene Smith Lee.

Information Resources

A Short History of Ohio Lands:
A Short History 1987-Thomas E. Ferguson, 
(Auditor of the State of Ohio)

Bellville & Jefferson Township History, 
Compiled and written by Maude Schaefer 
for the Bellville Bicentennial Commission. 
September 1975 The Bellville Star Press.
"The Oldenfield's Family Thread Woven into 
Fiber of Bellville History"  By Martha Palm, 
written for the Bellville Star, September 16,1992.

"Memories of Long Ago", by Anna Andrews 1917 booklet.
Rededication of The Bandstand, Bellville Ohio, July 4,
1975 A limited edition book written by Commission 
Chairman James Beal, Vice Chairman, Don Palm, 
and members, Mrs. Walter, Mrs. Maude Schaefer and 
Mrs. Gloria Yarger.


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