Does anyone know, or know of the History of Businessburgh.......Mead Twp ? When I visited the area this June, I talked to a gentleman up Pipe Creek from the townsite, and he said it (the town) was washed out in a flood in about 1921....What was the reason for its founding? Was it a coal town.....how long was it there? My G-G- Grandfather, John Lewis, came to Pipe Creek near Businessburgh in 1811 and died there in 1888....He was a Carpenter there in 1853 or so....We asked a couple of antique dealers in Barnsville, about Businessburgh, and they said they had never heard of it!! Is their a book I might buy giving a history of various towns in Belmont County? Any help would be much appreciated! John Lewis in Modesto, Ca

John, In "Centennial History of Belmont Co. by A. T. McKelvey, pub. 1903 there is this: Businessburg is a little village located on Pipe Creek, hemmed in by hills that are almost as precipitous as mountains. It contains an old-time water mill, erected in 1848 by Archibald McGREW and Robert HAMMOND. In those days Pipe Creek supplied ample water power and for seven years the mill was thus operated. In 1855 staeam was introduced, and thereafter the mill was successfully operated for a period of 25 years by Allen RAMSEY, James SHIPMAN, Sylvester CREAMER, David McGREW, Isaac RICHNER and Thomas McNIECE, respectively. The great flood of 1884 nearly destroyed Businessburg. The waters of Pipe Creek rose to a height of 15 feet, and the town was practically submerged. Many houses were carried away and the loss was very heavy. There are three churches in and near Businessburg, namely: The Methodist Episcopal Church of Businessburg which is included in the circuit of Rev. Mr. BEVINGTON, with a membership of 30. About one and a half miles down Pipe Creek there is another Methodist Episcopal Church in charge of Rev. Thomas McGUIRE. In Businessburg there is also a Christian Church, with a membership of 25 or 30, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. LUCAS. -- Bonnie Burkhardt <burkhard@flash.net> <bburkhardt@juno.com>