By Rev. Paul Harris
Freeport Press
August 5, 1960

Recapturing the serenity of a time long-ago, when the tiny rural sequestred village of Rock Hill located in the breeze-way mid-way between flushing and Holloway was humming with activity.

With that nostalgic feeling that grips our hearts so frequenty and a yearning to journey back to the old stomp’n grounds after a span of many years, I traveled back, and visited among friends and relatives, Laura Arter, and Bertha (Pracht) Arter, who reside in the modest cottage, just on the corner, where County Road No. 74 meets No. 72–the oldest living citizens, along with T.E. Morris. My visit was most interesting and richly rewarding.

Relatives Laura and Bertha have resided at Rock Hill for 70 years. Their mother was Priscilla (Clenden) Arter, and their father was John D. Arter. John D. Arter was 78 at the time of his death, and had served in the Civil War 4 years. He was a deacon, and taught the Bible class in the old Rock Hill Church for over 25 years.

There were some 10 children born to this family in this cottage on the corner.

Our reminiscence of the yester-years were fragrant with memories, recalling to mind scenes from out the past. Especially did we recall that Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day) was a big red letter day at old Rock Hill Church.

We could almost viualize the band marching and hear the strains of the music. The bandmaster was the writer’s father, Thomas S. Harris.

Red, white, and blue bunting decorated the somewhat quaint and narrow street.

Flags and more flags decorated the homes of the friendly and patriotic citizens.

Following the band were dozens of little children waving flags and citizens marching–marching to the church, where memorial services were conducted annually. This was indeed an impressive service.

The Rev. W. G. Todd of Flushing generally was the speaker–and how he could read the Scriptures so sacredly, and with his tremulous voice would read; “Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.”

His prayer was touching, and scarcely was there a dry eye in the congregation.

The Rev. Mr. Todd was widely known, and was the most popular funeral sermon preacher in that
area.

My father also played the trumpet and conducted the congregation singing.

My three singing sisters, Loretta (Harris) Shipley, Verns (Harris) Wagner, and Vinnie (Harris) Johnson, always added much to the services of the church with their musical and vocal selections. Sister Vinnie played the old-fashioned peddle organ.

Many other splendid young folk who attended services were: the three Melchori sisters, Rose, Emma, and Christina, and strangely enough, some very handsome young fellows in the persons of Earl Ridgeway, Fred Nolan, Clarence Merritt, all who were later destined to become husbands of the Melchori girls. There were three members of the Ellsworth Bennington family: Floyd, Bennie (who later became Flushing’s popular sax player and barber), his sisters Leona and Verna, Anna Millwood and her brother John, and Mary Doudna. This is only a partial list, but I must add the group of youth that attended Rock Hill Church were rated the “tops.”

The James M. Kirk family were in demand as singers, and what a musical group they were. Sons Don and Carl sang bass and tenor respectively. Daughters Nellie and Lillian sang alto and contralto along with Mr. and Mrs. Kirk. None could excel their quality of singing.

My cousins, Jay Carnes and wife Vera, were special singers too. One can recall especially one song that was requested so much, “There Will Be No Night There.”
At the close of the memorial services held in the church, the large group would then go to the cemetery to decorate the graves. This sacred scene I will long remember: the grave yard in simple language had the appearance of a beautiful flower garden.

The band reunited for two closing selections, “Abide With Me” and “We Shall Meet Beyond the River.” A benediction was then pronounced.

There were Arters and more Arters living on the “Hilltop,” relatives of the writer. I must honestly and humbly confess, I have never been able to unscramble this relative situation. It seems that all the men folk were uncles and the ladies were aunts.

When we children asked father why everyone was aunt and uncle, he replied, “This is a good way to feel about it: This sort of attitude binds us very close together. I like it this way.” And so did the children; everyone was so kind, good aunts and uncles!

Charles Arter, cemetery sexton who was 85 at the time of his death, was laid to rest here March 3, 1960. He served as sexton for over 22 years. He was beloved by all.

Charles donated his plot in the cemetery to the Post of the Holloway and Flushing American Legions.

In memory of the “war dead,” Charles had these lines inscribed on a beautiful bronze plaque: “What we keep in memory is ours unchanged forever.”

The writer’s grandfather was John Harris. He was a shoe cobbler and toll-gate keeper. Both grandparents, John Harris and Sarah Jane (Arter) Harris, are buried in this ancient cemetery.

The writer’s grandmother’s brother was one Isaac Arter; Mary Belle (Arter) Bigley was a daughter, and Susanne Arter was Mrs. Bigley’s mother.

Will Arter, father of W.E. Arter, will also be remembered because of his attractive physique. He stood some six feet high and wore a foot-long beard.

Prof. W. E. Arter was born in Cambridge. His father moved his family there when W.E. was a boy.

Ed was an outstanding educator, and served for many years as school superintendent in Cambridge, St. Clairsville, and Scio.

W. E. Arter’s companion Elta Arter, age 86, was laid to rest here Feb. 11, 1965. The writer served as pallbearer upon this sad occasion.

Mrs. Eva (Arter-Cole) Porter was a sister of Prof. W. E. Arter.

Here goes the often repeated aunt and uncle phrase again: Frequently, my father would say,  We’ll hitch Old Maud (a retired mine mule) to the buggy tomorrow and drive up Rock Hill to visit Aunt Eva Arter.” Up the two mile long winding Rock Hill road (no black-top then), we would clip along at a snail’s pace compared to today’s lightning speed! Rock Hill was well-named said father, rocks and more rocks.

Cousin Bill Arter of Columbus is a writer and artist for the Columbus Dispatch. He is a son of Prof. W. E. Arter.

Bill rates high in the fields of journalism and artistry.

Bill had two brothers, Wood and Ed, both living. Ed lives in Worthington, and Wood resides in New Jersey.

This church has a fascinating and interesting history, dating back some 130 years and standing at 1,388 feet above sea level. She has stood as a religious citadel, a true symbol of the American tradition.

The church was first a frame house and was dedicated to the worship of God November 22, 1835.

The Rev. R. H. Sedwick, being called to the pastorate, labored successfully with the church for five years, adding large numbers to its little band of disciples.

Mr. L. L. Sedwick, who served as Belmont County’s sheriff 75 years ago, founder of the Martins Ferry Daily Times, was the son of the Rev. R. H. Sedwick.

Some other pastors who followed the reverend were, namely, Rev. R. H. Sedwick, Rev. Wm. Stores, Rev. S. C. Bush, Rev. Tom Jones, Rev. P. McCollins, Rev. W. J. Dunn, Rev. M. Squibbs, Rev. T. M. Erwin, Rev. G. C. Sedwick, Rev. M. Barnes, and Rev. S. Siegfried. Rev. G. C. Boyd was pastor in 1880.

An outstanding feature and attraction of the Rev. Mr. Boyd, was that he wore a long black beard to his waist.

The Rev. Mr. Boyd’s widow lived to the ripe age of 100, having died about 10 years ago, and was laid to rest in Antrim Cemetery.

There were 5 ministers ordained by the church congregation, and the following ministers were licensed by the church: Thomas Jones and G. T. Jones.

The church was, for some, 5 years without a pastor, but the flock continued to grow, and there were some 500 members received into its fellowship by confession of faith and baptism.

Since its organization, some of the chartered members later moved to Corinth, Enon, and Moorefield churches, as their farming professions demanded their attention there.

The present structure was built in 1850, for the most part from native lumber. At the time of this construction, the membership numbered about 150.

55 years ago, the steeple was added, and the huge bell, weighing 800 pounds, was installed.

(On a clear day, this bell can be heard for many miles.)

T. E. Morris’ grandfather, with his team of horses and pulleys and huge rope, pulled the bell to its present location.

The post office, where Minnie McDonough served as postmistress, was called Kennon, and was named after Abner Kennon, one of the old settlers of Rock Hill. The coal town at the foot of Rock Hill was named after Kennon, too.

Some of the following old-time citizens were also members of the Rock Hill band: Luther Carpenter, a hunter and trapper, James McElwain, Will Glass, Watson Glass, Elsworth Bennington, Walter Hess, Bill Hines, and Joe Colletti, a beloved Italian citizen who operated a store here for many years.

The original one-room (frame building) school was destroyed by fire. The school was located near the Thomas F. Morris residence.

Mr. Albert Brown of St. Clairsville, who was later destined to become Attorney Albert Brown, taught school here to some 70 students. Attorney Marguerite Brown of St. Clairsville is a daughter of Albert Brown, as well as Gertrude Brown.

Mr. Otis Bethel also taught in the old school. Mr Bethel later became a prominent banker in St. Clairsville.

The present school house at the top of the hill was once destroyed by lightning and rebuilt some time in 1930.

Jay Walters converted the school into a modest dwelling. Walters also operated a grocery here.

There were Bethels and more Bethels at Rock Hill.

Frank Bethel, some years later, operated a general store.

The original Bethel farm of 170 acres was located west of Rock Hill. Mr. Morris states that, in 1880, quarter sections of the farm were sold for $2.25 per acre, and some original deeds were signed by Thomas Jefferson.

Hanna Coal Co. has stripped many acres of farm land, and Mr. Morris predicts that within ten years most of Flushing township will be stripped.

The huge mountaineer shovel is hard at labor near the old rankin school house on State Route 22 north of Moorefield.

Cake walks and box socials were among the main amusements held in the school houses at Rock Hill and nearby communities.

Some of the present day citizens tell us that they still love the beauty and quietude of old Rock Hill. They are: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hickenbottom, Mrs. Edna Hickenbottom, Tommy Morris’ family, Mr. and Mrs. James Van Fossen, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Green, Mrs. Carrie Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Deselm Russell, Mr. Joe Colletti and son Frank Colletti and family.

I close with fragrant memories of those golden days.

William (Hill) Arter, Bill Glass, and Wm. (Bill) Fowler, “the three Bills,” were carpenters, and donated labor to the construction of the church and installation of its bell.

Revival services were conducted (then called protracted meetings). The meetings last sometimes for 5-6 weeks.

No one seemed to tire of the big meetings. The pastor was generally his own evangelist, and congregational singing was enjoyed by all.

Recalling some of those old hymns sung here: “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” “At the Cross”–Sunday school favorite, and “Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart.”

The Rev. Loreny Dow (who was rated as an “eccentric itinerant” preacher), riding horseback, frequently preached from the doorstep of the church. He preached to the top of his voice, “Repent ye!”

He only did a one night stand and then, kicking up the dust, hurried to another town. “The stars will witness against you,” he shouted.

Camp meetings were conducted in the Morristown area in 1809.

Youthful Rev. Merritt is the present pastor of the church. Preceding Rev. Merritt were Rev. Mr. Fellinger and Rev. Mr. Murphy.

Rock Hill was thriving with business in the 1870s, having two blacksmith shops operated by Billy McDonough and one Chas. Wright respectively. These men were rated as specialists in the making of tools and horse shoes.

Who would ever recall the old-fashioned tin-type photo gallery? Rock Hill had one, and it was doing a fabulous business, too. It was located some several hundred feet west of the church, on the same side of the street.

Dave Humphrey and McElland Hayes were skilled carpenters and built many homes and huge barns in the area.

The Thomas Edison Morris descendants were English and Welsh, as states Mr. Morris. So were a great percentage of the citizens of Rock Hill and surrounding areas, who migrated to the communities to labor in the coal fields, as there were many mines in the area.

Mr. Morris states that his grandmother informed him that the old . . .

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