I will preface this history with the beginning of the article from the Enterprise: Twenty years ago when the Barnesville Enterprise was in its infancy the editor conceived the idea of gathering and printing the history of Barnesville. At that time there was not a printed line on record, except files of the old Barnesville Intelligencer, extending from 1857 to 1861. It was no light labor to go back and delve in the debris of the past and gather facts for this important work. But the man was found who was by nature fitted for this labor of love, and in R. H. Taneyhill, Esq., the town secured a chronicler whose work was crowned with remarkable success. His articles of local history extended through several numbers of the Enterprise, and formed the basis of his brilliant contributions to the “History of Belmont County,” published by J. A. Caldwell in 1880. So excellent were those sketches of the Enterprise that they attracted the attention of the well know publishing house of Robert Clark & Co. of Cincinnati, who republished some of the matter, as revised by Mr. Taneyhill. No town in Ohio has so complete a record of its history. Mr. Taneyhill is a born antiquarian, with a wonderful affection for the old town and he has left a monument in these historical sketches that will live long after their author has passed away. Whatever of history is published; now or hereafter will be mainly founded on the work done by Mr. Taneyhill and the Enterprise. Feeling assured that no other man could do the subject justice, we have secured his services in writing the following _____ sketch of early times in Barnesville, which is not a mere reprint of old matter, but fresh and warm from the mind of the author. We could readily have copied the article in the “History of Belmont County,” but prefer to be original and moreover there are scores of facts and incidents in this new sketch that have never before been published. We take pleasure in presenting this history to our readers, feeling that they will full appreciate the time and talent devoted to the work. It is a condensed, yet complete history of Barnesville and its people from the past until the present with no important event omitted and it appropriately crowns the literary labors of its gifted author. (I will list the Sketch Title and then the names of the people mentioned or in some cases events-if you are interested, email me and I will send you a scan. Remember this fills an entire spiral notebook and then some, about 90 pages…)

I also have a book, called THE STORY OF BARNESVILLE OHIO 1808-1940, but this one is by Dempsey Sheppard. There is an index and I'll be happy to look ups any names sent me...but please include a full name, both given and surname, and some sort of date, even if approximate. Sandra