DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/historyofmiamico21ster ERRATA * In the sketch of Charles Henry McCullough, on page338, para- graph 1, line 1, the word grandson should be substituted for nephew. In the sketch of Frank C. Roberts, on page 458, his mother’s name was originally written Diantha, instead of Darantha. In the sketch of Addison Thorndyke Jacques, the birthday of Charles F. Jacques should have been written Oct. 22, instead of Oct. 17, and the death of Mrs. Amanda Jacques should have been dated Feb. 1, 1907, instead of 1901. On page 220, second column, the letter signed F. W. Sterrett, should have been S. W. Sterrett, as written. On page 373, in sketch of Charles W. Tobey, the date of the Bible should have been printed 1534, instead of 1634. In the sketch of Dr. Joseph W. Means, on page 495, the press pulled out the figure "1” in the year 1916 in the fifth line, and the letter “n” in the seventh line in the word "in.” Page 338, paragraph 1, lines 3 and 4, in the sketch of Charles Henry McCullough, instead of Elisabeth it should be Elizabeth. On page 473, second column, line seven, the figures 1786 should be su bstituted for 1876. Note — My friends are especially , requested to inform me of any errors they may discover in Parts I. and II. of this history to the end that the proper correction be made in Part III. Unspar- ing criticism is invited to the same end. Note — I was determined from the beginning, as set lorth in the prospectus, to keep the portraits of cheap men, for purely monetary considerations, from becoming a feature of this work. I have decided, however, to place very a few portraits of living men whose character and work give guarantee that they will not figure in transactions of an unsavory character. The only excep- tion made to our first rule, in our first 520 pages, is that of C. W. Cookson, on page 518. \ J V » >-5 CHAPTER IX. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES— 1787 We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, es- tablish Justice, insure domestic Tranquil- ity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Article I Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requis- ite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. Sec. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Rep- resentatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators. Sec. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifica- tions of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may ad- [ 161 ] journ from day to day, and may be au- thorized to compel the Attendance of Ab- sent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. Sec. 6. The Senators and Representa- tives shall receive a Compensation for their services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their at- tendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same ; and for any Speech or De- bate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. Sec. 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Represen- tatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other bills. Sec. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Wel- fare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States ; Section 9. The Migration or Importa- tion of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hun- dred and eight, but a Tax or Duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceed- ing ten dollars for each person. Sec. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque or Reprisal ; coin 162 HISTORY OP MIAMI COUNTY Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts ; pass any Bill of At- tainder, ex post facto Law, or Law im- pairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. Article II Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, to- gether with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows : Each State shall appoint, in such Man- ner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representa- tive, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. Sec. 2. The President shall be Com- mander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may re- quire the Opinion, in writing, of the prin- cipal Officer in each of the executive De- partments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeach- ment. Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Con- sideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on ex- traordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may ad- journ them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers ; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States. Sec. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeach- ment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Mis- demeanors. Article III Section 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one su- preme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Con- tinuance in Office. Sec. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their author- ity; — to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; — to all Cases of admirality and maritime Jur- isdiction; — to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; — to Con- troversies between two or more States; — between a State and Citizens of another State ; — between Citizens of different States ; — between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of dif- ferent States, and between a State, or the Citizens therof, and foreign States, Citi- zens or Subjects. Sec. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their En- emies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason un- less on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 163 Article IV Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other tSate. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect therof. Sec. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Con- gress. Sec. 4. The United States shall guar- antee to every State in this Union a Re- publican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature can not be convened) against domestic Violence. Article V The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amend- ments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legisla- tures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Con- gress ; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thou- sand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner effect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. Article VI All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. Article VII The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Es- tablishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same. Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seven- teenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousands seven hundred and Eighty seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, G° : WASHINGTON— Presidt. and Deputy from Virginia New Hampshire John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. Connecticutt Wm. Sami. Johnson, Roger Shermau. New York Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey Wil: Ligingston, David Brearley, Wm. Paterson, Jona: Dayton. Delaxvarc Geo: Read, Gunning Bedford, Jun., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jaco: Broom. 164 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Pennsylvania B. Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt. Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos. Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv Morris. Maryland James McHenry, Dan of St. Thos. Jenifer, Danl. Carroll. Virginia John Blair, James Madison, Jr. North Carolina Wm. Blount, Richd. Dobbs Spaight, Hu Williamson. South Carolina J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia William Few, Abr. Baldwin, Attest: WILLIAM JACKSON. Sec’y. Articles in addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and rat- ified by the Legislatures of the several States pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. Article I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit- ing the free exercise thereof ; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to assem- ble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Article II A well regulated Militia, being neces- sary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Article III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the con- sent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Article IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seiz- ures, shall not be violated, and no War- rants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and par- ticularly describing the place to be search- ed, and the persons or things to be siezed. Article V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any Criminal Case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due pro- cess of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just com- pensation. Articli VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 165 and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining Wit- nesses in his favor, and to have the Assist- ance of Counsel for his defence. Article VII In suits at common law, where the value of controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be pre- served, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Article VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Article IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparge others retained by the people. Article X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Article XI The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prose- cuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. Article XII The Electors shall meet in their respec- tive states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballot the person voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate ; — The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate' and House of Representatives, open all the cer- tificates and the votes shall then be counted ; — The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons hav- ing the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as Pres- ident, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the Presi- dent. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the repre- sentation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitu- tional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice- President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Sena- tors, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Article XIII Section 1. Neither slavery nor involun- 166 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY untary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legis- lation. Article XIV Section 1. All persons born or natural- ized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or en- force any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States ; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appor- tioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, ex- cluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice Presi- dent of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State leg- islature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Consti- tution of the United States shall have en- gaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in sup- pressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave ; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Article XV Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate leg- islation. I CHAPTER X. THE ORDINANCE OF 1787 Section 1. Be it ordained by the United States in Co?igress assembled, That the said territory, for the purpose of tempo- rary government, be one district, subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may, in the opin- ion of Congress, make it expedient. Sec. 2. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the estates both of resi- dent and non-resident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, shall de- scend to, and be distributed among, their children and the descendants of a deceased child in equal parts, the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to take the share of their deceased parent in equal parts among them ; and where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to be next of kin, in equal de- gree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the inte- state shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parent’s share; and there shall, in no case, be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood ; saving in all cases to the widow of the intestate, her third part of the real estate for life, and one-third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descents and dower, shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her in whom the estate may be, (being of full age), and attested by three witnesses; and [ 167 ] real estates may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed, and delivered by the person, being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and at- tested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers, shall be appointed for that pur- pose ; and personal property may be trans- ferred by delivery, saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, Saint Vin- cent, and the neighboring villages, who have hertofore professed themselves citi- zens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them, relative to the descent and conveyance of property. Sec. 3. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a gover- nor, whose commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner revoked by Congress; he shall re- side in the district, and have a freehold es- tate therein, in one thousand acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. Sec. 4. There shall be appointed from time to time, by Congress, a secretary, whose commisison shall continue in force for four years, unless sooner revoked ; he shall reside in the district, and have a free- hold estate therein, in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and preserve the acts and laws passed by the legislature, and the public records of the district, and 16S HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the proceedings of the governor in his ex- ecutive department, and transmit authen- tic copies of sucn acts and proceedings every six months to the Secretary of Con- gress. There shall also be appointed a court, to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form a court, who shall have a common-law jurisdiction, and reside in the district, and have each therein a free- hold estate, in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions shall continue in force during good behavior. Sec. 5. The governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be neces- sary, and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Con- gress from time to time, which laws shall be in force in the district until the organ- ization of the general assembly therein, unless disapproved of by Congress; but afterwards the legislature shall have au- thority to alter them as they shall think fit. Sec. 6. The governor, for the time be- ing, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general offi- cers ; all general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress. Sec. 7. Previous to the organization of the general assembly the governor shall appoint such magistrates, and other civil officers, in each county or township, as he shall find necessary for the preservation of the peace and good order in the same. After the general assembly shall be organ- ized the powers and duties of magistrates and other civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said assembly; but all magistrates and other civil officers, not herein otherwise directed, shall, during the continuance of this temporary govern- ment, be appointed by the governor. Sec. 8. For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted or made shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the execution of process, criminal and civil, the governor shall make proper divisions thereof ; and he shall pro- ceed, from time to time, as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the dis- trict in which the Indian titles shall have been extinguished, into counties and town- ships, subject, however, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the legis- lature. Sec. 9. So soon as there shall be five thousand free male inhabitants, of full age, in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the governor they shall receive authority with time and place, to elect representa- tives from their counties or townships, to represent them in the general assembly: Provided, That for every five hundred free male inhabitants there shall be one repre- sentative, and so on, progressively, with the number of free male inhabitants, shall the right of representation increase, until the number of representatives shall amount to twenty-five; after which the number and proportion of representatives shall be regulated by the legislature : Pro- vided, That no person be eligible or quali- fied to act as a representative, unless he shall have been a citizen of one of the United States three years, and be a resi- dent in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the district three years ; and, in either case, shall likewise hold in his own right, in fee-simple, two hundred acres of land within the same : Provided also, That a freehold in fifty acres of land in the dis- trict, having been a citizen of one of the States, and being resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years’ resi- dence in the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a represen- tative. Sec. 10. The representatives thus elected shall serve for the term of two years ; and in case of the death of a repre- sentative, or removal from office, the gov- ernor shall issue a writ to the county or township, for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue of the term. THE^ORDINANCE OF 1787 169 Sec. 11. The general assembly, or legis- lature, shall consist of the governor, legis- lative council, and a house of representa- tives. The legislative council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress ; any three of whom to be a quorum ; and the members of the council shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As soon as represtatives shall be elected the governor shall appoint a time and place for them to meet together, and when met they shall nominate ten persons, resident in the district, and each possessed of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress, five of whom Congress shall appoint and commis- sion to serve as aforesaid; and whenever a vacancy shall happen in the council, by death or removal from office, the house of representatives shall nominate two per- sons, qualified as aforesaid, for each va- cancy, and return their names to Congress, one of whom Congress shall appoint and commission for the residue of the term; and every five years, four months at least before the expiration of the time of service of the members of the council, the said house shall nominate ten persons, qualified as aforesaid, and return their names to Congress, five of whom Congress shall ap- point and commission to serve as members of the council five years, unless sooner re- moved. And the governor, legislative council, and house of representatives shall have authority to make laws in all cases for the good government of the district, not repugnant to the principles and arti- cles in this ordinance established and de- clared. And all bills, having passed by a majority in the house, and by a majority in the council, shall be referred to the gov- ernor for his assent; but no bill, or legis- lative act whatever, shall be of any force without his assent. The governor shall have power to convene, prorogue, and dis- solve the general assembly when, in his opinion, it shall be expedient. Sec. 12. The governor, judges, legisla- tive council, secretary, and such other officers as Congress shall appoint in the district, shall take an oath or affirmation of fidelity, and of office; the governor be- fore the President of Congress, and all other officers before the governor. As soon as a legislature shall be formed in the district, the council and house assembled, in one room, shall have authority, by joint ballot, to elect a delegate to Congress, who shall have a seat in Congress, with a right of debating, but not of voting, during this temporary government. Sec. 13. And for extending the funda- mental principles of civil and religious lib- erty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions, are erected ; to fix and establish those prin- ciples as the basis of all laws, constitu- tions, and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said terri- tory; to provide, also, for the establish- ment of States, and permanent govern- ment therein, and for their admission to a share in the Federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as early periods as may be consistent with the gen- eral interest: Sec. 14. It is hereby ordained and de- clared, by the authority aforesaid, that the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact, between the original States and the people and States in the said territory, and forever remain unalter- able, unless by common consent, to wit : Article I No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship, or religious sentiments, in the said territories. Article II The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writs of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature, and of ju- 170 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY dicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offences, where the proof shall be evident, or the presump- tion great. All fines shall be moderate; and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judg- ment of his peers, or the law of the land, and should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person’s property, or to de- mand his particular services, full compen- sation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and prop- erty, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made or have force in the said territory, that shall, in any manner whatever, interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud previously formed. Article III Religion, morality, and knowledge be- ing necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be en- couraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights, and liberty they never shall be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall, from time to time, be made, for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them. Article IV The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever re- main a part of this confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the Articles of Confederation, and to such al- terations therein as shall be constitution- ally made; and to all the acts and ordi- nances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. The in- habitants and settlers in the said territory shall be subject to pay a part of the Fed- eral debts, contracted, or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government to be apportioned on them by Congress, according to the same common rule and measure by which apportion- ments thereof shall be made on the other States ; and the taxes for paying their pro- portion shall be laid and levied by the au- thority and direction of the legislatures of those districts, or new States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress as- sembled. The legislatures of those dis- tricts, or new States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States; and in no case shall non- resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and Saint Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor. ARTICLE V. There shall be formed in the said terri- tory not less than three nor more than five States; and the boundaries of the States, as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of cession and consent to the same, shall be- come fixed and established as follows, to wit : The western State, in the said terri- tory, shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Wabash Rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post Vin- cents, due north, to the territorial line be- tween the United States and Canada ; and by the said territorial line to the Lake of THE ORDINANCE OF 1787 171 the Woods and Mississippi. The middle State shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by a direct line drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami to the said territorial line, and by the said territorial line. The east- ern State shall be bounded by the last- mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsyl- vania, and the said territorial line: Pro- vided, however, And it is further understood and declared, that the boundaries of these three States shall be subject so far to be altered, that, if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michi- gan. And whenever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on an equal feeting with the origi- nal States, in all respects whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State government: Pro- vided, The constitution and government, so to be formed, shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles, and, so far as it can be con- sistent with the general interest of the con- federacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand. Article VI. There shall be neither slavery nor invol- untary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted : Provided always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid. Be it ordained by the authority afore- said, That the resolutions of the 23d of April, 1784, relative to the subject of this ordinance, be, and the same are hereby re- pealed, and declared null and void. Done by the United States in Congress assembled, the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth. CHAPTER XI. CONSTITUTION OF OHIO We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our free- dom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Con- stitution. Article I Bill of Rights. Section 1. All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalien- able rights, among which are those of en- joying and defending life and liberty, ac- quiring, possessing, and protecting prop- erty, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety. (See Cont. 1802, Art. VIII, § I.) Sec. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same, whenever they may deem it necessary; and no special privileges or immunties shall ever be granted, that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general assembly. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § I.) Sec. 3. The people have the right to as- semble together, in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good; to in- struct their representatives; and to peti- tion the general assembly for the redress of grievances. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII. § 19.) Sec. 4. The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security ; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up ; and the military shall be in strict sub- ordination to the civil power. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 20.) Sec. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate, ecxept that, in civil cases, [ 172 ] laws may be passed to authorize the ren- dering of a verdict by the concurrence of not less than three-fourths of the jury. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 6. There shall be no slavery in this State; nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, §2.) Sec. 7. All men have a natural and in- defeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own con- science. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of wor- ship, or maintain any form of worship, against his consent; and no preference shall be given, by law, to any religious society; nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required, as a qual- ification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, §§ 3, 25.) Sec. 8. The privilege of the writ of ha- beas corpus shall not be suspended, unless, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety require it. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 12.) Sec. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital of- fences where the proof is evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 173 not be required; nor excessive fines im- posed ; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, §§ 12, 13.) Sec. 10. Except in cases of impeach- ment, cases arising in the army and navy, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, and cases involving offenses for which the penalty provided is less than imprisonment in the penitentiary, no person shall be held to answer for a capital, or other infamous, crime, unless on presentment or indict- ment of a grand jury; and the number of persons necessary to constitute such grand jury and the number thereof necessary to concur in finding such indictment shall be determined by law. In any trial, in any court, the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a copy thereof ; to meet the witness face to face, and to have compulsory process to procure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an im- partial jury of the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed ; but provision may be made by law for the taking of the deposition by the accused or by the State, to be used for or against the accused, of any witness whose attendance cannot be had at the trial, always securing to the accused means and the opportunity to be present in person and with counsel at the taking of such deposition, and to examine the witness face to face as fully and in the same manner as if in court. No person shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself ; but his failure to testify may be considered by the court and jury and may be made the subject of comment by counsel. No per- son shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 11. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of the right ; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech, or of the press. In all criminal prosecu- tions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury, that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. See Const. 1802, Art VIII, § 6.) Sec. 12. No person shall be transported out of the State, for any offense committed within the same; and no conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate. ( See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, §§ 16, 17.) Sec. 13. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner; nor, in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 22.) Sec. 14. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue, but upon prob- able cause, supported by oath or affirma- tion, particularly describing the place to be searched and the person and things to be seized. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 5.) Sec. 15. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil action, on mesne or final process, unless in cases of fraud. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 15.) Sec. 16. All courts shall be open and every person, for an injury done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and shall have justice administered without denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the State, in such courts and in such manner, as may be provided by law. (As Amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 17. No hereditary emoluments, honors, or privileges, shall ever be granted 174 HISTORY OP MIAMI COUNTY or conferred by this State. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 24.) Sec. 18. No power of suspending laws shall ever be exercised, except by the Gen- eral Assembly. ( See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 9.) Sec. 19. Private property shall ever be held inviolate, but subservient to the public welfare. When taken in time of war or other public exigency, imperatively requir- ing its immediate seizure or for the pur- pose of making or repairing roads, which shall be open to the public, without charge, a compensation shall be made to the owner, in money, and in all other cases, where private property shall be taken for public use, a compensation therefor shall first be made in money, or first secured by a de- posit of money; and such compensation shall be assessed by a jury, without deduc- tion for benefits to any property of the owner. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 4.) Sec. 19a. The amount of damages re- coverable by civil action in the courts for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another, shall not be limited by law. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 20. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people ; and all pow- ers, not herein delegated, remain with the people. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, § 28.) Article II Sec. 1. The legislative power of the State shall be vested in a General Assem- bly consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, but the people reserve to themselves the power to propose to the General Assembly laws and amendments to the constitution, and to adopt or reject the same at the polls on a referendum vote as hereinafter provided. They also re- serve the power to adopt or reject any law, section of any law, or any item in any law appropriating money passed by the Gen- eral Assembly, except as hereinafter pro- vided, and independent of the General Assembly to propose amendments to the constitution and to adopt or reject the same at the polls. The limitations ex- pressed in the constitution, on the power of the General Assembly to enact laws, shall be deemed limitations on the power of the people to enact laws. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. la. The first aforestated power reserved by the people is designated the initiative and the signatures of ten per centum of the electors shall be required upon a petition to propose an amendment to the constitution. When a petition signed by the aforesaid required number of electors, shall have been filed with the secretary or state, and verified as herein provided, proposing an amendment to the constitution, the full text of which shall have been set forth in such petition, the secretary of state shall submit for the ap- proval or rejection of the electors, the pro- posed amendment, in the manner herein- after provided, at the next succeeding reg- ular or general election in any year occur- ing subsequent to ninety days after the filing of such petition. The initiative pe- titions, above described, shall have printed across the top thereof: “Amendment to the Constitution Proposed by Initiative Petition to be Submitted Directly to the Electors.” (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. lb. When at any time, not less than ten days prior to the commencement of any session of the general assembly, there shall have been filed with the secre- tary of state a petition signed by three per centum of the electors and verified as herein provided, proposing a law, the full text of which shall have been set forth in such petition, the secretary of state shall transmit the same to the general as- sembly as soon as it convenes. If said proposed law shall be passed by the gen- eral asembly, either as petitioned for or in an amended form, it shall be subject to the referendum. If it shall not be passed, or if it shall be passed in an amended THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 175 form, or if no action shall be taken there- on within four months from the time it is received by the general assembly, it shall be submitted by the secretary of state to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next regular or general election, if such submission shall be demanded by supplementary petition verified as herein provided and signed by not less than three per centum of the electors in addi- tion to those signing the original petition, which supplementary petition must be signed and filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after the pro- posed law shall have been rejected by the general assembly or after the expiration of such term of four months, if no action has been taken thereon, or after the law as passed by the general assembly shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state. The proposed law shall be submitted in the form demanded by such supplementary petition, which form shall be either as first petitioned for or with any amendment or amendments which may have been incorporated therein by either branch or by both branches of the general assembly. If a proposed law so submitted is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall be the law and shall go into effect as herein provided in lieu of any amended form of said law which may have been passed by the general assembly, and such amended law passed by the general assembly shall not go into effect until and unless the law proposed by supplementary petition shall have been rejected by the electors. All such initiative petitions, last above de- scribed, shall have printed across the top thereof, in case of proposed laws: “Law Proposed by Initiative Petition First to be Submitted to the General Assembly.” Ballots shall be so printed as to permit an affirmative or negative vote upon each measure submitted to the electors. Any proposed law or amendment to the consti- tution submitted to the electors as pro- vided in section la and section lb, if ap- proved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, shall take effect thirty days after the election at which it was approved and shall be published by the secretary of state. If conflicting proposed laws or con- flicting proposed amendments to the con- stitution shall be approved at the same election by a majority of the total number of votes cast for and against the same, the one receiving the highest number of affirmative votes shall be the law, or in the case of amendments to the constitution shall be the amendment to the constitu- tion. No law proposed by initiative peti- tion and approved by the electors shall be subject to the veto of the governor. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. lc. The second aforestated power reserved by the people is designated the referendum, and the signatures of six per centum of the electors shall be received upjon a petition to order the submission to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection, of any law, section of any law or any item in any law appropriating money passed by the gen- eral assembly. No law passed by the gen- eral assembly shall go into effect until ninety days after it shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secre- tary of state, except as herein provided. When a petition, signed by six per centum of the electors of the state and verified as herein provided, shall have been filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after any law shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state, ordering that such law, section of such law or any item in such law appro- priating money be submitted to the elec- tors of the state for their approval or rejection, the secretary of state shall sub- mit to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection such law, section or item, in the manner herein provided, at the next succeeding regular or general election in any year occurring subsequent to sixty days after the filing of such peti- tion, and no such law, section or item shall go into effect until and unless approved by a majority of those voting upon the 176 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY same. If, however, a referendum petition is filed against any such section or item, the remainder of the law shall not thereby be prevented or delayed from going into effect. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. Id. Laws providing for tax levies, appropriations for the current expenses of the state government and state institu- tions, and emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, shall go into imme- diate effect. Such emergency laws upon a yea and nay vote must receive the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each branch of the general assembly, and the reasons for such necessity shall be set forth in one section of the law, which sec- tion shall be passed only upon a yea and nay vote, upon a separate roll call there- on. The laws mentioned in this section shall not be subject to the referendum. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. le. The powers defined herein as the “initiative” and “referendum” shall not be used to pass a law authorizing any classification of property for the purpose of levying different rates of taxation thereon or of authorizing the levy of any single tax on land or land values or land sites at a higher rate or by a different rule than is or may be applied to improvements thereon or to personal property. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. If. The initiative and referendum powers are hereby reserved to the people of each municipality on all questions which such municipalities may now or hereafter be authorized by law to control by legislative action ; such powers shall be exercised in the manner now or hereafter provided by law. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. Ig. Any initiative, supplementary or referendum petition may be presented in separate parts, but each part shall con- tain a full and correct copy of the title and text of the law, section or item thereof sought to be referred, or the proposed law or proposed amendment to the constitu- tion. Each signer of any initiative, sup- plementary or referendum petition must be an elector of the state and shall place on such petition after his name the date of signing and his place of residence. A signer residing outside of a municipality shall state the township and county in which he resides. A resident of a munici- pality shall state in addition to the name of such municipality, the street and num- ber, if any, of his residence and the ward and precinct in which the same is located. The names of all signers to such petitions shall be written in ink, each signer for himself. To each part of such petition shall be attached the affidavit of the per- son soliciting the signatures to the same, which affidavit shall contain a statement of the number of the signers of such part of such petition and shall state that each of the signatures attached to such part was made in the presence of the affiant that to the best of his knowledge and be- lief each signature on such part is the gen- uine signature of the person whose name it purports to be, that he believes the per- sons who have signed it to be electors, that they so signed said petition with knowl- edge of the contents thereof, that each signer signed the same on the date stated opposite his name; and no other affidavit thereto shall be required. The petition and signatures upon such petitions, so verified, shall be presumed to be in all re- spects sufficient, unless not later than forty days before the election, it shall be otherwise proved and in such event ten additional davs shall be allowed for the filing of additional signatures to such peti- tion. No law or amendment to the consti- tution submitted to the electors by initia- tive and supplementary petition and re- ceiving an affirmative majority of the votes cast thereon, shall be held unconsti- tutional or void on account of the insuffi- ciency of the petitions by which such sub- mission of the same was procured; nor THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 177 shall the rejection of any law submitted by referendum petition be held invalid for such insufficiency. Upon all initiative, supplementary and referendum petitions provided for in any of the sections of this article, it shall be necessary to file from each of one-half of the counties of the state, petitions bearing the signatures of not less than one-half of the designated percentages of the electors of such county. A true copy of all laws or pro- posed laws or proposed amendments to the constitution, together with an argument or explanation, or both, for, and also an argu- ment or explanation, or both, against the same shall be prepared. The person or per- sons who prepare the argument or explana- tion, or both, against any law, section or item, submitted to the electors by referen- dum petition, may be named in such petition and the persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, for any proposed law or proposed amendment to the consti- tution may be named in the petition pro- posing the same. The person or persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, for the law, section or item, sub- mitted to the electors by referendum peti- tion, or against any proposed law sub- mitted by supplementary petition, shall be named by the general assembly, if in ses- sion, and if not in session then by the gov- ernor. The secretary of state shall cause to be printed the law, or proposed law, or proposed amendment to the constitution, together with the arguments and explan- ations, not exceeding a total of three hun- dred words for each, and also the argu- ments and explanations, not exceeding a total of three hundred words against each, and shall mail, or otherwise distribute, a copy of such law, or proposed law, or pro- posed amendment to the constitution, to- gether with such arguments and explana- tios ^or and against the same to each of the electors of the state, as far as may be reasonably possible. Unless otherwise ^provided by law, the secretary of state shall cause to be placed upon the ballots, the title of any such law, or proposed law, or proposed amendment to the constitu- tion, to be submitted. He shall also cause the ballots so to be printed as to permit an affirmative or negative vote upon each law, section of law, or item in a lav/ appro- priating money, or proposed law or pro- posed amendment to the constitution. The style of all laws submitted by initiative and supplementary petition shall be: “Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Ohio,” and of all constitutional amend- ments: “Be It Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio.” The basis upon which the required number of petitioners in any case shall be determined shall be the total number of votes cast for the office of gov- ernor at the last preceding election therefor. The foregoing provisions of this section shall be self-executing, except as herein otherwise provided. Laws may be passed to facilitate their operation, but in no way limiting or restricting either such provisions or the powers herein reserved. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 2. Senators and representatives shall be elected biennially by the electors of the respective counties or districts, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next thereafter, and continue two years. (As amended October 13, 1885: 82 V. 446.) Sec. 3. Senators and representatives shall have resided in their respective counties, or districts, one year next pre- ceding their election, unless they shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state. ( See Const. 1802, Art. I, §§ 4, 7.) Sec. 4. No person holding office under the authority of the United States, or any lucrative office under the authority of this state, shall be eligible to, or have a seat in, the general assembly; but this provision shall not extend to township officers, jus- tices of the peace, notaries public, or offi- 178 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY cers of the militia. ( See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 26.) Sec. 5. No person hereafter convicted of an embezzlement of the public funds, shall hold any office in this state ; nor shall any person, holding public money for dis- bursement, or otherwise, have a seat in the general assembly, until he shall have ac- counted for, and paid such money into the treasury. (See Const. 1802, Art. 1, § 28.) Sec. 6. Each house shall be judge of the election, returns, and qualifications of its own members; a majority of all the members elected to each house shall be a quorum to do business; but a less num- ber may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members,- in such manner, and under such penalties, as shall be prescribed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. /, § 8.) Sec. 7. The mode of organizing the house of representatives, at the commence- ment of each regular session, shall be prescribed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art . 7, § 8.) Sec. 8. Each house, except as other- wise provided in this constitution, shall choose its own officers, may determine its own rules of proceeding, punish its mem- bers for disorderly conduct ; and, with the concurence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not the second time for the same cause ; and shall have all powers necessary to provide for its safety and the undis- turbed transaction of its business, and to obtain, through committees or otherwise, information affecting legislative action un- der consideration or in contemplation, or with reference to any alleged breach of its privileges or misconduct of its members, and to that end to enforce the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the pro- duction of books and papers. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 9. Each house shall keep a correct journal of its proceedings, which shall be published. At the desire of any two members, the yeas and nays shall be en- tered upon the journal; and, on the pas- sage of every bill, in either house, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays, and en- tered upon the journal ; and no law shall be passed in either house, without the con- currence of a majority of all the members elected thereto. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 9.) Sec. 10. Any member of either house shall have the right to protest against any act, or resolution thereof, and such protest, and the reasons therefor, shall, without alteration, commitment, or delay, be entered upon the journal. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 10.) Sec. 11. All vacancies which may hap- pen in either house shall, for the unex- pired term, be filled by election, as shall be directed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 12 .) Sec. 12. Senators and representatives, during the session of the general assembly, and in going to, and returning from the same, shall be privileged from arrest, in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace; and for any speech, or de- bate, in either house, they shall not be questioned elsewhere. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 13.) Sec. 13. The proceedings of both houses shall be public, except in cases which, in the opinion of two-thirds of those present, require secrecy. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, §15.) Sec. 14. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, Sundays excluded; nor to any other place than that, in which the two houses shall be in session. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 15.) Sec. 15. Bills may originate in either house; but may be altered, amended or rejected in the other. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 16.) Sec. 16. Every bill shall be fully and dstinctly read on three different days, THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 179 unless in case of urgency three-fourths of the house in which it shall be pending, shall dispense with the rule. No bill shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, and no law shall be revived, or amended unless the new act contains the entire act revived, or the section or sections amended, and the section or sections so amended shall be repealed. Every bill passed by the general assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor for his ap- proval. If he approves, he shall sign it and thereupon it shall become a law and be filed with the secretary of state. If he does not approve it, he shall return it with his objections in writing, to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and may then reconsider the vote on its pas- sage. If three-fifths of the members elected to that house vote to repass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections of the governor, to the other house, which may also reconsider the vote on its pas- sage. If three-fifths of the members elected to that house vote to repass it, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the governor, except that in no case shall a bill be repassed by a smaller vote than is required by the con- stitution on its original passage. In all such cases the vote of each house shall be determined by yeas and nays and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered upon the journal. If a bill shall not be returned to the governor within ten days, Sundays ex- cepted, after being presented to him, it shall become a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the general assembly by adjournment prevents its return; in which case, it shall become a law unless, within ten days after such adjournment, it shall be filed by him with his objections in writing, in the office of the secretary of state. The governor may disapprove any item or items in any bill making an appro- priation of money and the item or items, so disapproved, shall be void, unless re- passed in the manner herein prescribed for the repassage of a bill. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 17. The presiding officer of each house shall sign, publicly in the presence of the house over which he presides, while the same is in session, and capable of transacting business, all bills and joint resolutions passed by the general assem- bly. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 17.) Sec. 18. The style of the laws of this state shall be, “Be it enacted by the Gen- eral Assembly of the State of Ohio.” (See Const. 1802, Art I, § 18.) Sec. 19. No senator or representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, or for one year there- after, be appointed to any civil office un- der this state, which shall be created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during the term for which he shall have been elected. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 20.) Sec. 20. The general assembly, in cases not provided for in this constitution, shall fix the term of office for the compensation of all officers ; but no change therein shall affect the salary of any officer during his existing term, unless the office be abol- ished. Sec. 21. The general assembly shall determine, by law, before what authority, and in what manner, the trial of contested elections shall be conducted. Sec. 22. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, except in pursuance of a spe- cific appropriation, made by law; and no appropriation shall be made for a longer period than two years. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 21.) Sec. 23. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment, but a majority of the members elected must concur therein. Impeachments shall be tried by the senate; and the senators, ISO HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY when sitting for that purpose, shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice ac- cording to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 23.) Sec. 24. The governor, judges, and all state officers, may be impeached for any misdemeanor in office; but judgment shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office under the authority of this state. The party impeached, whether convicted or not, shall be liable to indictment, trial, and judgment, according to law. ( See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 24.) Sec. 25. All regular sessions of the general assembly shall commence on the first Monday of January, biennially. The first session, under this constitution, shall commence on the first Monday of Janu- ary, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. (See Const. 1802, Art. /, § 25.) Sec. 26. All laws, of a general nature, shall have a uniform operation throughout the state; nor, shall any act, except such as relates to public schools, be passed, to take effect upon the approval of any other authority than the general assembly, ex- cept, as otherwise provided in this consti- tution. Sec. 27. The election and appointment of all officers, and the filling of all vacan- cies, not otherwise provided for by this constitution, or the constitution of the United States, shall be made in such man- ner as may be directed by law ; but no ap- pointing power shall be exercised by the general assembly, except as prescribed in this constitution, and in the election of United States senators ; and in these cases the vote shall be taken “viva voce.” Sec. 28. The general assembly shall have no power to pass retroactive laws, or laws impairing the obligation of contracts ; but may, by general laws, authorize courts to carry into effect, upon such terms as shall be just and equitable, the manifest intention of parties, and officers, by curing omissions, defects, and errors, in instru- ments and proceedings, arising out of their want of conformity with the laws of this state. (See Const. 1802, Art. VIII, §16.) Sec. 29. No extra compensation shall be made to any officer, public agent, or contractor, after the service shall have been rendered, or the contract entered in- to; nor shall any money be paid, on any claim, the subject matter of which shall not have been provided for by pre-existing law, unless such compensation, or claim, be allowed by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the general assembly. Sec. 30. No new county shall contain less than four hundred square miles of territory, nor shall any county be reduced below that amount; and all laws creating new counties, changing county lines, or re- moving county seats, shall, before taking effect, be submitted to the electors of the several counties to be affected thereby, at the next general election after the passage thereof, and be adopted by a majority of all the electors voting at such election, in each of said counties; but any county now or hereafter containing one hundred thousand inhabitants, may be divided, whenever a majority of the voters residing in each of the proposed divisions shall ap- prove of the law passed for that purpose ; but no town or city within the same shall be divided nor shall either of the divisions contain less than twenty thousand inhabi- tants. (See Const. 1802, Art. VII, § 3.) Sec. 31. The members and officers of the general assembly shall receive a fixed compensation, to be prescribed by law, and no other allowance or perquisites, either in the payment of postage or other- wise ; and no change in their compensation shall take effect during their term of office. Sec. 32. The general assembly shall grant no divorce, nor exercise any judicial power not herein expressly conferred. Sec. 33. Laws may be passed to secure THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 181 to mechanics, artisans, laborers, sub- contractors and material men, their just dues by direct lien upon the property, upon which they have bestowed labor or for which they have furnished material. No other provision of the constitution shall impair or limit this power. (Adopted Sep- tember 3, 1912.) Sec. 34. Laws may be passed fixing and regulating the hours of labor, estab- lishing a minimum wage, and providing for the comfort, health, safety and general welfare of all employes ; and no other pro- vision of the constitution shall impair or limit this power. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 35. For the purpose of providing compensation to workmen and their de- pendents, for death, injuries or occupa- tional disease, occasioned in the course of such workmen’s employment, laws may be passed establishing a state fund to be created by compulsory contribution there- to by employers, and administered by the upon which payment shall be made there- from, and taking away any or all rights of action or defences from employes and em- ployers; but no right of action shall be taken away from any employe when the injury, disease or death arises from fail- ure of the employer to comply with any lawful requirement for the protection of thelives, health and safety of employes. Laws may be passed establishing a board which may be empowered to classify all occupations, according to their degree of hazard, to fix rates of contribution to such fund according to such classification, and to collect, administer and distribute such fund, and to determine all rights of claim- ants thereto. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 36. Laws may be passed to en- courage forestry, and to that end areas de- voted exclusively to forestry may be exempted, in whole or in part, from taxa- tion. Laws may also be passed to provide for converting into forest reserves such lands or parts of lands as have been or may be forfeited to the state, and to au- thorize the acquiring of other lands for that purpose ; also, to provide for the con- servation of the natural resources of the state, including streams, lakes, sub- merged and swamp lands and the develop- ment and regulation of water power and the formation of drainage and conserva- tion districts ; and to provide for the regu- lation of methods of mining, weighing measuring and marketing coal, oil, gas and 1912 r ) mmeraIS ' (Adopted September 3, Sec. 37. Except in cases of extra- ordinary emergencies, not to exceed eight hours shall constitute a day’s work and not to exceed forty-eight hours a week’s work, for workmen engaged on any public work carried on or aided by the state, or any political sub-division thereof, whether done by contract, or otherwise. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) p Sec. 38. Laws shall be passed providing for the prompt removal from office, upon complaint and hearing, of all officers, in- cluding state officers, judges and members or the general assembly, for any miscon- duct involving moral turpitude or for other cause provided by law; and this method of removal shall be in addition to impeachment or other method of removal authorized by the constitution. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) P Sec. 39. Laws may be passed for the regulation of the use of expert witnesses and expert testimony in criminal trials and proceedings. (Adopted September 3, 10 12. ) Sec. 40. Laws may be passed providing for a system of registering, transferring insuring and guaranteeing land titles by the state or by the counties thereof, and for settling and determining adverse or other claims to and interests in, lands the titles to which are so registered, insured or guaranteed, and for the creation and collection of guaranty funds by fees to be 182 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY assessed against lands, the titles to which are registered; and judicial powers with right of appeal may by law be conferred upon county recorders or other officers in matters arising under the operation of such system. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 41. Laws shall be passed providing for the occupation and employment of prisoners sentenced to the several penal institutions and reformatories in the state ; and no person in any such penal in- stitution or reformatory while under sen- tence thereto, shall be required or allowed to work at any trade, industry or occupa- tion, wherein or whereby his work, or the product or profit of his work, shall be sold, farmed out, contracted or given away ; and goods made by persons under sentence to any penal institution or reformatory with- out the State of Ohio, and such goods made within the State of Ohio, excepting those disposed of to the state or any political subdivision thereof or to any public insti- tution owned, managed or controlled by the state or any political subdivision thereof, shall not be sold within this state unless the same are conspicuously marked “prison made.” Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the passage of laws providing that convicts may work for, and that the products of their labor may be disposed of to, the state or any political sub-division thereof, or for or to any public institution owned or man- aged and controlled by the state or any political sub-division thereof. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Article III Executive Section 1. The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant gov- ernor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and an attorney gen- eral, who shall be elected on the first Tues- day after the first Monday in November, by the electors of the state, and at the places of voting for members of the gen- eral assembly. (As amended October 13, 1885; 82 v. 446.) Sec. 2. The governor, lieutenant gov- ernor, secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general shall hold their offices for two years; and the auditor for four years. Their terms of office shall com- mence on the second Monday of January next after their election, and continue until their successors are elected and qualified. (See Const. 1802, Art. 11, §§ 3, 16.) Sec. 3. The returns for every election for the officers named in the foregoing election shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, by the return- ing officers, directed to the president of the senate, who, during the first week of the session, shall open and publish them, and declare the result, in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of the general assembly. The person having the highest number of votes shall be de- clared duly elected ; but if any two or more shall be highest, and equal in votes, for the same office, one of them shall be chosen by the joint vote of both houses. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 2.) Sec. 4. Should there be no session of the general assembly in January next after an election for any of the officers aforesaid, the returns of such election shall be made to the secretary of state, and opened, and the result declared by the governor, in such manner as may be pro- vided by law. Sec. 5. The supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in the gov- ernor. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § |.) Sec. 6. He may require information, in writing, from the officers in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices; and shall see that the laws are faithfully executed. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 7.) Sec. 7. He shall communicate at every THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 183 session, by message, to the general assem- bly, the condition of the state, and recom- mend such measures as he shall deem ex- pedient. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 4.) Sec. 8. The governor on extraordinary occasions may convene the general assem- bly by proclamation and shall state in the proclamation the purpose for which such special session is called, and no othef business shall be transacted at such spe- cial session except that named in the proclamation, or in a subsequent public proclamation, or message to the general asembly issued by the governor during said special session, but the general assem- bly may provide for the expenses of the session and other matter incidental there- to. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 9. In case of disagreement between the two houses, in respect to the time of adjournment, he shall have power to ad- journ the general assembly to such time as he may think proper, but not beyond the regular meetings thereof. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 11.) Sec. 10. He shall be commander-in- chief of the military and naval forces of the state, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 10.) Sec. 11. He shall have power, after con- viction, to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, for all crimes and offenses, except treason and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions as he may think proper; subject, however, to such regula- tions, as to the manner of applying for pardons, as may be prescribed by law. Upon conviction for treason, he may sus- pend the execution of the sentence, and re- port the case to the general assembly, at its next meeting, when the general assem- bly shall either pardon, commute the sen- tence, direct its execution, or grant a further reprieve. He shall communicate to the general assembly, at every regular session, each case of reprieve, commuta- tion, or pardon granted, stating the name and crime of the convict, the sentence, its date, and the date of the commutation, pardon, or reprieve, with his reasons therefor. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 5.) Sec. 12. There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the governor, and used by him officially; and shall be called “The Great Seal of the State of Ohio.” (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 14.) Sec. 13. All grants and commissions shall be issued in the name, and by the authority, of the state of Ohio ; sealed with the great seal ; signed by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary of state. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 15.) Sec. 14. No member of congress, or other person holding office under the au- thority of this state, or of the United States, shall execute the office of governor, except as herein provided. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 13.) Sec. 15. In case of the death, impeach- ment, resignation, removal, or other dis- ability of the governor, the powers and duties of the office, for the residue of the term, or until he shall be acquitted, or the disability removed, shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 12.) Sec. 16. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate, but shall vote only when the senate is equally divided; and in case of his absence, or impeach- ment, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall choose a pres- ident pro tempore. Sec. 17. If the Lieutenant Governor, while executing the office of Governor, shall be impeached, displaced, resign or die, or otherwise become incapable of per- forming the duties of the office, the presi- dent of the Senate shall act as Governor, until the vacancy is filled, or the disability removed; and if the president of the Sen- ate, for any of the above causes, shall be rendered incapable of performing the du- ties pertaining to the office of Governor, the same shall devolve upon the speaker of the House of Representatives. (See Const. 1802, Art. II, § 12. 184 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Sec. 18. Should the office of auditor, treasurer, secretary, or attorney general, become vacant, for any of the causes speci- fied in the fifteenth section of this article, the Governor shall fill the vacancy until the disability is removed, or a successor elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election, at the first gen- eral election that occurs more than thirty days after it shall have happened ; and the person chosen shall hold the office for the full term fixed in the second section of this article. Sec. 19. The officers mentioned in this article shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation to be estab- lished by law, which shall neither be in- creased nor diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected. (See Const. 1802, Art. I, § 19.) Sec. 20. The officers of the executive department, and of the public State insti- tutions shall, at least five days preceding each regular session of the general assem- bly, severally report to the governor, who shall transmit such reports, with his mes- sage to the general assembly. Article IV Section 1. The judicial power of the state is vested in a supreme court, courts of appeal, courts of common pleas, courts of probate, and such other courts inferior to the courts of appeals as may from time to time be established by law. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 2. The supreme court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of a chief justice and six judges, and the judges now in office in that court shall continue therein until the end of the terms for which they were respectively elected, un- less they are removed, die or resign. A majority of the supreme court shall be nec- essary to constitute a quorum or to pro- nounce a decision, except as hereinafter provided. It shall have original jurisdic- tion in quo warranto, mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition and procedendo, and appellate jurisdiction in all cases involving questions arising under the constitution of the United States or of this state, in cases of felony on leave first obtained, and in cases which originated in the courts of appeals, and such revisory jurisdiction of the proceedings of administrative officers as may be conferred by law. It shall hold at least one term in each year at the seat of government, and such other terms, there or elsewhere, as may be provided by law. The judges of the supreme court shall be elected by the electors of the state at large for such term, not less than six years, as may be prescribed by law, and they shall be elected, and their official term shall begin, at such time as may now or hereafter be fixed by law. Whenever the judges of the supreme court shall be equally divided in opinion as to the merits of any case before them and are unable for that reason to agree upon a judgment, that fact shall be entered upon the record and such entry shall be held to constitute an affirmance of the judgment of the court below. No law shall be held unconstitu- tional and void by the supreme court with- out the concurrence of at least all but one of the judges, except in the affirmance of a judgment of the court of appeals declar- ing a law unconstitutional and void. In case of public or great general interest the supreme court may, within such limitation of time as may be prescribed by law, direct any court of appeals to certify its record to the supreme court, and may review, and affirm, modify or reverse the judgment of the court of appeals. All cases pending in the supreme court at the time of the adop- tion of this amendment by the people, shall proceed to judgment in the manner pro- vided by existing law. No law shall be passed or rule made whereby any person shall be prevented from invoking the orig- inal jurisdiction of the supreme court. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. One resident judge of the court of common pleas, and such additional resi- dent judge or judges as may be provided THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 185 by law, shall be elected in each county of the state by the electors of such county; and as many courts or sessions of the court of common pleas as are necessary, may be held at the same time in any county. Any judge of the court of common pleas may temporarily preside and hold court in any county; and until the general assembly shall make adequate provision therefor, the chief justice of the supreme court of the state shall pass upon the disqualifica- tion or disability of any judge of the court of common pleas, and he may assign any judge to any county to hold court therein. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 4. The jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas, and of the judges thereof shall be fixed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. Ill, §§ 3, 4, 5, 6.) Sec. 5. [ Repealed October 9, 1883; 80 v. 382.] Sec. 6. The state shall be divided into appellate districts of compact territory bounded by county lines, in each of which there shall be a court of appeals consisting of three judges, and until altered by law the circuits in which the circuit courts are now held shall constitute the appellate dis- tricts aforesaid. The judges of the circuit courts now residing in their respective dis- tricts shall be the judges of the respective courts of appeals in such districts and per- form the duties thereof until the expira- tion of their respective terms of office. Vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of office of the judges of the courts of appeals shall be filled by the electors of the respective appellate districts in which such vacancies shall arise. Until other- wise provided by law the term of office of such judges shall be six years. Laws may be passed to prescribe the time and mode of such election and to alter the number of districts or the boundaries thereof, but no such change shall abridge the term of any judge then in office. The court of appeals shall hold at least one term an- nually in each county in the district and such other terms at a county seat in the district as the judges may determine upon, and the county commissioners of any county in which the court of appeals shall hold sessions shall make proper and con- venient provisions for the holding of such court by its judges and officers. Each judge shall be competent to exercise ju- dicial powers in any appellate district of the state. The courts of appeals shall con- tinue the work of the respective circuit courts and all pending cases and proceed- ings in the circuit courts shall proceed to judgment and be determined by the re- spective courts of appeals, and the su- preme court, as now provided by law, and cases brought into said courts of appeals after the taking effect hereof shall be sub- ject to the provisions hereof and the circuit courts shall be merged into, and their work continued by, the courts of appeals. The courts of appeals shall have original juris- diction in quo warranto, mandamus, ha- beas corpus, prohibition and procedendo, and appellate jurisdiction in the trial of chancery cases, and, to review, affirm, modify or reverse the judgment of the courts of common pleas, superior courts and other courts of record within the dis- trict as may be provided by law, and judg- ments of the courts of appeals shall be final in all cases, except cases involving ques- tions arising under the constitution of the United States or of this state, cases of felony, cases of which it has original jur- isdiction, and cases of public or great gen- eral interest in which the supreme court may direct any court of appeals to certify its record to that court. No judgment of a court of common pleas, a superior court or other court of record shall be reversed except by the concurrence of all the judges of the court of appeals on the weight of the evidence and by a majority of such court of appeals upon other questions ; and whenever the judges of a court of appeals find that a judgment upon which they have agreed is in conflict with a judgment pro- nounced upon the same question by any other court of appeals of the state, the 186 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY judges shall certify the record of the case to the supreme court for review and final determination. The decisions in all cases in the supreme court shall be reported, together with the reasons therefor, and laws may be passed providing for the re- porting of cases in the courts of appeals. The chief justice of the supreme court of the state shall determine the disability or disqualification of any judge of the court of appeals and he may assign any judge of the courts of appeals to any county to hold court. (As amended Sep- tember 3, 1912.) Sec. 7. There shall be established in each county, a probate court, which shall be a court of record, open at all times, and holden by one judge, elected by the electors of the county, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, and shall receive such compensation, payable out of the county treasury, as shall be provided by law. Whenever ten per centum of the number‘of the electors voting for govei^ior at the next preceding election in any county having less than sixty thousand population as determined by the next pre- ceding federal census, shall petition the judge of the court of common pleas of any such county not less than ninety days be- fore any general election for county offi- cers, the judge of the court of common pleas shall submit to the electors of such county the question of combining the pro- bate court with the court of common pleas, and such courts shall be combined and shall be known as the court of common pleas in case a majority of the electors voting upon such question vote in favor of such combination. Notice of such election shall be given in the same manner as for the election of county officers. Elections may be had in the same manner for the separation of such courts, when once com- bined. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 8. The probate court shall have jurisdiction in probate and testamentary matters, the appointment of administra- tors and guardians, the settlement of the accounts of executors, administrators, and guardians, and such jurisdiction in habeas corpus, the issuing of marriage licenses and for the sale of land by executors, ad- ministrators, and guardians, and such other jurisdiction, in any county or coun- ties, as may be provided by law. Sec. 9. A competent number of justices of the peace shall be elected by the electors in each township in the several counties, until otherwise provided by law. Their term of office shall be for four years and their powers and duties shall be regulated by law: provided that no justice of the peace shall be elected in any township in which a court, other than a mayor’s court, is, or may hereafter be, maintained with the jurisdiction of all causes of which jus- tices of the peace have jurisdiction, and no justice of the peace shall have, or exercise jurisdiction in such township. SCHEDULE. If the amendment to article IV, sections 1, 2 and 6, be adopted by the electors of this state and become a part of the consti- tution, then section 9 of article IV of the constitution is repealed, and the foregoing amendment, if adopted, shall be of no effect. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 10. All judges, other than those provided for in this constitution, shall be elected by the electors of the judicial dis- trict for which they may be created, but not for a longer term of office than five years. Sec. 11. [Repealed October 9, 1883; 80 v. 382.] Sec. 12. The judges of the courts of common pleas shall, while in office, reside in the county for which they are elected; and their term of office shall be for six years. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 13. In case the office of any judge shall become vacant, before the expiration of the regular term for which he was elected, the vacany shall be filled by ap- pointment by the governor, until a suc- cessor is elected and qualified; and such THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 137 successor shall be elected for the unexpired term, at the first annual election that oc- curs more than thirty days after the vacancy shall have happened. Sec. 14. The judges of the supreme court, and of the court of common pleas, shall, at stated times, receive, for their services, such compensation as may be provided by law, which shall not be dimin- ished, or increased, during their term of office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor hold any other office of profit or trust, under the authority of this state, or the United States. All votes for either of them, for any elective office, ex- cept a judicial office, under the authority of this state, given by the general assem- bly, or the people, shall be void. (See Const. 1802, Art. Ill, § 8.) Sec. 15. Laws may be passed to in- crease or diminish the number of judges of the supreme court, to increase beyond one or diminish to one the number of judges of the court of common pleas in any county, and to establish other courts, whenever two-third of the members elected to each house shall concur therein ; but no such change, addition or diminution shall vacate the office of any judge; and any existing court heretofore created by law shall continue in existence until otherwise provided. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 16. There shall be elected in each county, by the electors thereof, one clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall hold his office for the term of three years, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified. He shall, by virtue of his office, be clerk of all other courts of record held therein; but, the general assembly may provide, by law, for the election of a clerk, with a like term of office, for each or any other of the courts of record, and may authorize the judge of the probate court to perform the duties of clerk for his court, under such regulations as may be directed by law. Clerks of courts shall be remov- able for such cause and in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. Ill, § 9.) Sec. 17. Judges may be removed from office, by concurrent resolution of both houses of the general assembly, if two- thirds of the members, elected to each house, concur therein; but, no such re- moval shall be made, except upon com- plaint, the substance of which shall be entered on the journal, nor, until the party charged shall have had notice thereof, and an opportunity to be heard. Sec. 18. The several judges of the su- preme court, of the common pleas, and of such other courts as may be created, shall, respectively, have and exercise such power and jurisdiction, at chambers, or other- wise, as may be directed by law. Sec. 19. The general assembly may es- tablish courts of conciliation, and prescribe their powers and duties; but such courts shall not render final judgment in any case, except upon submission, by the par- ties, of the matter in dispute, and their agreement to abide such judgment. Sec. 20. The style of all process shall be, “The State of Ohio;” all prosecutions shall be carried on, in the name, and by the authority, of the state of Ohio ; and all in- dictments shall conclude, “against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio.” (See Const. 1802, Art. Ill, § 12.) Sec. 22 [21]. A commission, which shall consist of five members, shall be ap- pointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, the members of which shall hold office for the term of three years from and after the first day of Feb- ruary, 1876, to dispose of such part of the business then on the dockets of the su- preme court, as shall, by arrangement be- tween said commission and said court, be transferred to such commission; and said commission shall have like jurisdic- tion and power in respect to such business as are or may be vested in said court ; and the members of said commission shall re- ceive a like compensation for the time be- ing, with the judges of said court. A ma- jority of the members of said commission shall be necessary to form a quorum or 1S3 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY pronounce a decision, and its decision shall be certified, entered, and en- forced as the judgments of the supreme court, and at the expiration of the term of said commission, all busi- ness undisposed of shall by it be cer- tified to the supreme court and disposed of as if said commission had never existed. The clerk and reporter of said court shall be the clerk and reporter of said commis- sion, and the commission shall have such other attendants not exceeding in number those provided by law for said court, which attendants said commission may appoint and remove at its pleasure. Any vacancy occurring in said commission shall be filled by appointment of the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, if the senate be in session, and if the senate be not in session, by the governor, but in such last case, such appointment shall expire at the end of the next session of the general assembly. The general assembly may, on application of the supreme court duly en- tered on the journal of the court and cer- tified, provide by law, whenever two-thirds of such [each] house shall concur therein, from time to time, for the appointment, in like manner, of a like commission with like powers, jurisdiction and duties; provided, that the term of any such commission shall not exceed two years, nor shall it be cre- ated oftener than once in ten years. Article V Section 1. Every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been a resident of the state one year next preceding the elec- tion, and of the county, township, or ward, in which he resides, such time as may be provided by law, shall have the qualifica- tions of an elector, and be entitled to vote at all elections. (See Const. 1802, Art. IV, §§ 1, 5.) Sec. 2. All elections shall be by ballot. (See Const. 1802, Art. IV, § 2.) Sec. 3. Electors, during their attend- ance at elections, and in going to, and re- turning therefrom, shall be privileged from arrest, in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace. (See Const. 1802, Art. IV, § 3.) Sec. 4. The general assembly shall have power to exclude from the privilege of vot- ing, or of being eligible to office, any per- son convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime. (See Const. 1802, Art. IV, § 4.) Sec. 5. No person in the military, naval, or marine service of the United States, shall, by being stationed in any garrison, or military, or naval station, within the state, be considered a resident of this state. Sec. 6. No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector. Sec. 7. All nominations for elective state, district, county and municipal offices shall be made at direct primary elections or by petition as provided by law, and pro- vision shall be made by law for a prefer- ential vote for United States senator; but direct primaries shall not be held for the nomination of township officers or for the officers of municipalities of less than two thousand population, unless petitioned for by a majority of the electors of such town- ship or municipality. All delegates from this state to the national conventions of political parties shall be chosen by direct vote of the electors. Each candidate for such delegate shall state his first and sec- ond choices for the presidency, which pref- erences shall be printed upon the primary ballot below the name of such candidate, but the name of no candidate for the presi- dency shall be so used without his written authority. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Articles VI EDUCATION. Section 1. The principal of all funds, arising from the sale, or other disposition of lands, or other property, granted or en- trusted to this state for educational and religious purposes, shall forever be pre- served inviolate, and undiminished; and, the income arising therefrom, shall be faithfully applied to the specific objects of the original grants, or appropriations. THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 1S9 Sec. 2. The general assembly shall make such provisions, by taxation, or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and effi- cient system of common schools through- out the state ; but no religious or other sect, or sects, shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state. Sec. 3. Provision shall be made by law for the organization, administration and control of the public school system of the state supported by public funds ; provided, that each school district embraced wholly or in part within any city shall have the power by referendum vote to determine for itself the number of members and the organization of the district board of edu- cation, and provision shall be made by law for the exercise of this power by such school districts. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 4. A superintendent of public in- struction to replace the state commissioner of common schools, shall be included as one of the officers of the executive department to be appointed by the governor, for the term of four years, with the powers and duties now exercised by the state commis- sioner of common schools until otherwise provided by law, and with such other pow- ers as may be provided by law. SCHEDULE. If the foregoing amendment be adopted by the electors, it shall take effect and become a part of the constitution on the second Monday of July, 1913. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Article VII PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. Section 1. Institutions for the benefit of the insane, blind, and deaf and dumb, shall always be fostered and supported by the state; and be subject to such regula- tions as may be prescribed by the general assembly. Sec. 2. The directors of the penitentiary shall be appointed or elected in such man- ner as the general assembly may direct; and the trustees of the benevolent, and other state institutions, now elected by the general assembly, and of such other state institutions, as may be hereafter created, shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate ; and upon all nominations made by the gov- ernor, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journals of the senate. Sec. 3. The governor shall have power to fill all vacancies that may occur in the offices aforesaid, until the next session of the general assembly, and, until a suc- cessor to his appointee shall be confirmed and qualified. Article VIII PUBLIC DEBT AND PUBLIC WORKS. Section 1. The state may contract debts to supply casual deficits or failures in rev- enues, or to meet expenses not otherwise provided for ; but the aggregate amount of such debts, direct and contingent, whether contracted by virtue of one or more acts of the general assembly, or at different periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and the money, arising from the creation of such debts, shall be applied to the purpose for which it was obtained, or to repay the debts so contracted, and to no other pur- pose whatever. Sec. 2. In addition to the above limited power, the state may contract debts to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, de- fend the state in war, or to redeem the present outstanding indebtedness of the state ; but the money, arising from the con- tracting of such debts, shall be applied to the purpose for which it was raised, or to repay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever; and all debts, incurred to re- deem the present outstanding indebtedness of the state, shall be so contracted as to be payable by the sinking fund, herein- 190 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY after provided for, as the same shall ac- cumulate. Sec. 3. Except the debts above speci- fied in sections one and two of this article, no debt whatever shall hereafter be cre- ated by or on behalf of the state. Sec. 4. The credit of the state shall not, in any manner, be given or loaned to, or in aid of, any individual association or cor- poration whatever ; nor shall the state ever hereafter become a joint owner, or stock- holder, in any company or association in this state, or elsewhere, formed for any purpose whatever. Sec. 5. The state shall never assume the debts of any county, city, town, or town- ship, or of any corporation whatever, un- less such debt shall have been created to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or defend the state in war. Sec. 6. No laws shall be passed author- izing any county, city, town or township, by vote of its citizens, or otherwise, to be- come a stockholder in any joint stock com- pany, corporation, or association what- ever ; or to raise money for, or to loan its credit to, or in aid of, any such company, corporation, or association : provided, that nothing in this section shall prevent the insuring of public buildings or property in mutual insurance associations or com- panies. Laws may be passed providing for the regulation of all rates charged or to be charged by any insurance company, cor- poration or association organized under the laws of this state or doing any insur- ance business in this state for profit. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 7. The faith of the state being pledged for the payment of its public debt, in order to provide therefor, there shall be created a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the accruing interest on such debt, and, annually, to reduce the principal thereof, by a sum not less than one hundred thousand dollars, increased yearly, and each and every year, by com- pounding, at the rate of six per cent, per annum. The said sinking fund shall con- sist, of the net annual income of the public works and stocks owned by the state, of any other funds or resources that are, or may be, provided by law, and of such further sum, to be raised by taxation, as may be required for the purposes afore- said. Sec. 8. The auditor of state, secretary of state, and attorney general, are hereby created a board of commissioners, to be styled, “The Commissioners of the Sink- ing Fund.” Sec. 9. The commissioners of the sink- ing fund shall, immediately preceding each regular session of the general assembly, make an estimate of the probable amount of the fund, provided for in the seventh section of this article, from all sources except from taxation, and report the same, together with all their proceedings relative to said fund and the public debt, to the governor, who shall transmit the same with his regular message, to the general assembly; and the general assem- bly shall make all necessary provision for raising and disbursing said sinking fund, in pursuance of the provisions of this article. Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners faithfully to apply said fund, together with all moneys that may be, by the general assembly, appropriated to that object, to the payment of the in- terest, as it becomes due, and the redemp- tion of the principal of the public debt of the state, excepting only, the school and trust funds held by the state. Sec. 11. The said commissioners shall, semi-annually, make a full and detailed re- port of their proceedings to the governor, who shall, immediately, cause the same to be published, and shall also communicate the same to the general assembly, forth- with, if it be in session, and if not, then at its first session after such report shall be made. Sec. 12. So long as this state shall have public works which require superintend- ence, a superintendent of public works THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 191 shall be appointed by the governor for the term of one year, with the powers and duties now exercised by the board of public works until otherwise provided by law, and with such other powers as may be provided by law. (As amended Septem- ber 3, 1912.) Sec. 13. [Repealed September 3, 1912.] Article IX MILITIA. Section 1. All white male citizens, resi- dents of this state, being eighteen years of age, and under the age of forty-five years, shall be enrolled in the militia, and perform military duty, in such manner, not incompatible with the constitution and law's of the United States, as may be pre- scribed by law. Sec. 2. Majors general, brigadiers gen- eral, colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, and subalterns, shall be elected by the persons subject to military duty, in their respective districts. (See Const. 1802, Art. V.) Sec. 3. The governor shall appoint the adjutant general, quartermaster general, and such other staff officers, as may be pro- vided for by law. Majors general, brig- adiers general, colonels, or commandants of regiments, battalions, or squadrons, shall, severally, appoint their staff, and captains shall appoint their non-commis- sioned officers and musicians. (See Const. 1802, Art. V .) Sec. 4. The governor shall commission all officers of the line and staff, ranking as such; and shall have power to call forth the militia, to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrection, and repel inva- sion. (See Const. 1802, Art. V.) Sec. 5. The general assembly shall pro- vide, by law 7 , for the protection and safe keeping of the public arms. Article X COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS. Section 1. The general assembly shall provide, by law, for the election of such county and township officers as may be necessary. (See Const. 1802, Art. VI, §§ 1, 3.) Sec. 2. County officers shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, by the electors of each county in such manner, and for such term, not exceeding three years, as may be pro- vided by law 7 . (As amended October 13, 1885; 82 v. 446.) Sec. 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of sheriff, or county treasurer, for more than four years, in any period of six years. (See Const. 1802, Art VI, § 1.) Sec. 4. Township officers shall be elected by the electors of each township, at such time, in such manner, and for such term, not exceeding three years, as may be pro- vided by law; but shall hold their offices until their successors are elected and qual- ified. (As amended October 13, 1885; 82 v. 449.) Sec. 5. No money shall be drawn from any county or township treasury, except by authority of law. Sec. 6. Justices of the peace, and county and township officers may be removed, in such manner and for such cause, as shall be prescribed by law. Sec. 7. The commissioners of counties, the trustees of townships, and similar boards, shall have such power of local tax- ation, for police purposes, as may be pre- scribed by law 7 . Article XI APPORTIONMENT Section 1. The apportionment of this state for members of the general assembly shall be made every ten years, after the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty- one, in the following manner ; The whole population of the state, as ascertained by the federal census, or in such other mode as the general assembly may direct, shall be divided by the number “one hundred,” and the quotient shall be the ratio of repre- sentation in the house of representatives, 192 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY for ten years next succeeding such appor- tionment. Sec. 2. Every county having a popula- tion equal to one-half of said ratio, shall be entitled to one representative; every county, containing said ratio, and three- fourths over, shall be entitled to two repre- sentatives; every county containing three times said ratio, shall be entitled to three representatives ; and so on, requiring after the first two, an entire ratio for each addi- tional representative. Provided, however, that each county shall have one repre- sentative. (As amended November 3, 1902; 95 v. 967.) Sec. 3. When any county shall have a fraction above the ratio, so large, that be- ing multiplied by five, the result will be equal to one or more ratios, additional rep- resentatives shall be apportioned for such ratios, among the several sessions of the decennial period, in the following manner : If there be only one ratio, a representative shall be allotted to the fifth session of the decennial period ; if there are two ratios, a representative shall be allotted to the fourth and third sessions, respectively; if three, to the third, second, and first ses- sions, respectively; if four, to the fourth, third, second, and first sessions, respect- ively. Sec. 4. Any county, forming with an- other county or counties, a representative district, during one decennial period, if it have acquired sufficient population at the next decennial period, shall be entitled to a separate representation, if there shall be left, in the district from which it shall have been separated, a population suffi- cient for a representative; but no such change shall be made, except at the regular decennial period for the apportionment of representatives. Sec. 5. If, in fixing any subsequent ratio, a county, previously entitled to a separate representation, shall have less than the number required by the new ratio for a representative, such county shall be attached to the county adjoining it, having the least number of inhabitants; and the representation of the district, so formed, shall be determined as herein provided. Sec. 6. The ratio for a senator shall for- ever, hereafter, be ascertained by dividing the whole population of the state by the number thirty-five. Sec. 7. The state is hereby divided into thirty-three senatorial districts, as fol- lows: The county of Hamilton shall con- stitute the first senatorial district; the counties of Butler and Warren, the second ; Montgomery and Preble, the third; Cler- mont and Brown, the fourth ; Greene, Clin- ton, and Fayette, the fifth ; Ross and High- land, the sixth; Adams, Pike, Scioto, and Jackson, the seventh; Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, and Vinton, the eighth; Athens, Hocking, and Fairfield, the ninth; Frank- lin and Pickaway, the tenth ; Clark, Cham- paign, and Madison, the eleventh; Miami, Darke, and Shelby, the twelfth; Logan, Union, Marion and Hardin, the thirteenth ; Washington and Morgan, the fourteenth; Muskingum and Perry, the fifteenth; Delaware and Licking, the sixteenth ; Knox and Morrow, the seventeenth ; Coshocton and Tuscarawas, the eight- eenth; Guernsey and Monroe, the nine- teenth; Belmont and Harrison, the twen- tieth ; Carroll and Stark, the twenty-first ; Jefferson and Columbiana, the twenty- second ; Trumbull and Mahoning, the twenty-third; Ashtabula, Lake, and Ge- auga, the twenty-fourth; Cuyahoga, the twenty-fifth ; Portage and Summit, the twenty-sixth ; Medina and Lorain, the twenty-seventh; Wayne and Holmes, the twenty-eighth; Ashland and Richland, the twenty-ninth ; Huron, Erie, Sandusky, and Ottawa, the thirtieth; Seneca, Crawford, and Wyandot, the thirty-first ; Mercer, Auglaize, Allen, Van Wert, Paulding, De- fiance, and Williams, the thirty-second; and Hancock, Wood, Lucas, Fulton, Henry, and Putnam, the thirty-third. For the first decennial period, after the adoption of this constitution, each of said districts shall be entitled to one senator, except the THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 193 first district, which shall be enttitled to three senators. Sec. 8. The same rules shall be applied, in apportioning the fractions of senatorial districts, and in annexing districts, which may hereafter have less than three-fourths of a senatorial ratio, as are applied to rep- resentative districts. Sec. 9. Any county forming part of a senatorial district, having acquired a pop- ulation equal to a full senatorial ratio, shall be made a separate senatorial dis- trict, at any regular decennial apportion- ment, if a full senatorial ratio shall be left in the district from which it shall be taken. Sec. 10. For the first ten years, after the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, the apportionment of representa- tives shall be as provided in the schedule, and no change shall ever be made in the principles of representation, as herein es- tablished, or, in the senatorial districts, except as above provided. All territory, belonging to a county at the time of any apportionment, shall, as to the right of representation and suffrage, remain an integral part thereof, during the decennial period. Sec. 11. The governor, auditor, and sec- retary of state, or any two of them, shall, at least six months prior to the October election, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and, at each decen- nial period thereafter, ascertain and deter- mine the ratio of representation, according to the decennial census, the number of rep- resentatives and senators each county or district shall be entitled to elect, and for what years within the next ensuing ten years, and the governor shall cause the same to be published, in such manner as shall be directed by law. JUDICIAL APPORTIONMENT. Sec. 12. For judicial purposes, the state shall be apportioned as follows : The county of Hamilton shall constitute the first district, which shall not be sub- divided; and the judges therein may hold separate courts or separate sittings of the same court at the same time. The counties of Butler, Preble and Darke shall constitute the first subdivi- sion ; Montgomery, Miami and Champaign, the second; and Warren, Clinton, Greene and Clark, the third subdivision of the sec- ond district ; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Shelby, Auglaize, Alien, Hardin, Logan, Union and Marion shall constitute the first subdivision; Mercer, Van Wert, Putnam, Paulding, Defiance, Williams, Henry and Fulton, the second ; and Wood, Seneca, Hancock, Wyandot and Crawford, the third subdivision of the third district; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Lucas, Ottawa, San- dusky, Erie and Huron shall constitute the first subdivision ; Lorain, Medina and Sum- mit, the second ; and the county of Cuya- hoga, the third subdivision of the fourth district; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Clermont, Brown and Adams shall constitute the first subdivi- sion ; Highland, Ross and Fayette, the sec- ond; and Pickaway, Franklin and Madi- son, the third subdivision of the fifth dis- trict; and, together, shall form such dis- trict. The counties of Licking, Knox and Dela- ware shall constitute the first subdivision ; Morrow, Richland and Ashland, the sec- ond ; and Wayne, Holmes and Coshocton, the third subdivision of the sixth district ; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Fairfield, Perry and Hocking shall constitute the first subdivi- sion; Jackson, Vinton, Pike, Scioto and Lawrence, the second; and Gallia, Meigs, Athens and Washington, the third subdivi- sion of the seventh district; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Muskingum and Morgan shall constitute the first subdivision ; Guernsey, Belmont and Monroe, the sec- ond ; and Jefferson, Harrison and Tus- 194 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY carawas, the third subdivision of the eighth district; and, together, shall form such district. The counties of Stark, Carroll and Co- lumbiana shall constitute the first subdi- vision; Trumbull, Portage and Mahoning, the second; and Geauga, Lake and Ashta- bula, the third subdivision of the ninth district; and, together, shall form such district. Sec. 13. The general assembly shall attach any new counties, that may here- after be erected, to such districts, or sub- divisions thereof, as shall be most con- venient. Article XII FINANCE AND TAXATION. Section 1. No poll tax shall ever be lev- ied in this state, or service required, which may be commuted in money or other thing of value. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 2. Laws shall be passed, taxing by a uniform rule, all moneys, credits, invest- ments in bonds, stocks, joint stock com- panies, or otherwise; and also all real and personal property according to its true value in money, excepting all bonds at present outstanding of the state of Ohio or of any city, village, hamlet, county, or township in this state or which have been issued in behalf of the public schools in Ohio and the means of instruction in con- nection therewith, which bonds so at pres- ent outstanding shall be exempt from tax- ation; but burying grounds, public school houses, houses used exclusively for public worship, institutions used exclusively for charitable purposes, public property used exclusively for any public purpose, and personal property to an amount not ex- ceeding in value five hundred dollars, for each individual, may, by general laws, be exempted from taxation ; but all such laws shall be subject to alteration or repeal ; and the value of all property, so exempted, shall, from time to time, be ascertained and published as may be directed by law. (Amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. The general assembly shall pro- vide, by law, for taxing the notes and bills discounted or purchased, moneys loaned, and all other property, 1 effects, or dues, of every description (without deduction), 2 of all banks, now existing, or hereafter cre- ated, and of all bankers, 3 so that all prop- erty employed in banking, shall always bear a burden of taxation, equal to that imposed on the property of individuals. 4 Sec. 4. The general assembly shall pro- vide for raising revenue, sufficient to de- fray the expenses of the state, for each year, and also a sufficient sum to pay the interest on the state debt. Sec. 5. No tax shall be levied, except in pursuance of law ; and every law imposing a tax, shall state, distinctly, the object of the same, to which only it shall be applied. Sec. 6. Except as otherwise provided in this constitution the state shall never con- tract any debt for purposes of internal im- provement. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 7. Laws may be passed providing for the taxation of the right to receive, or to succeed to, estates, and such taxation may be uniform or it may be so graduated as to tax at a higher rate the right to re- ceive, or to succeed to, estates of larger value than to estates of smaller value. Such tax may also be levied at different rates upon collateral and direct inheri- tances, and a portion of each estate not exceeding twenty thousand dollars may be exempt from such taxation. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 8. Laws may be passed providing for the taxation of incomes, and such tax- ation may be either uniform or graduated, and may be applied to such incomes as may be designated by law; but a part of each annual income not exceeding three thou- sand dollars may be exempt from such taxation. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 9. Not less than fifty per centum of the income and inheritance taxes that may THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 195 be collected by the state shall be returned to the city, village or township in which said income and inheritance tax originate. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 10. Laws may be passed providing for excise and franchise taxes and for the imposition of taxes upon the production of coal, oil, gas and other minerals. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 11. No bonded indebtedness of the state, or any political subdivisions thereof, shall be incurred or renewed, unless, in the legislation under which such indebtedness is incurred or renewed, provision is made for levying and collecting annually by tax- ation an amount sufficient to pay the in- terest on said bonds, and to provide a sink- ing fund for their final redemption at ma- turity. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Article XIII CORPORATIONS. Section 1. The general assembly shall pass no special act conferring corporate powers. Sec. 2. Corporations may be formed under general laws ; but all such laws may, from time to time, be altered or repealed. Corporations may be classified and there may be conferred upon proper boards, commissioners or officers, such supervis- ory and regulatory powers over their or- ganization, business and issue and sale of stocks and securities, and over the busi- ness and sale of the stocks and securities of foreign corporations and joint stock companies in this state, as may be pre- scribed by law. Laws may be passed regu- lating the sale and conveyance of other personal property, whether owned by a corporation, joint stock company or indi- vidual. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. Dues from private corporations shall be secured by such means as may be prescribed by law, but in no case shall any stockholder be individually liable oth- erwise than for the unpaid stock owned by him or her; except that stockholders of corporations authorized to receive money on deposit shall be held individually re- sponsible, equally and ratably, and not one for another, for all contracts, debts, and engagements of such corporations, to the extent of the amount of their stock therein, at the par value thereof, in addition to the amount invested in such shares. No cor- poration not organized under the laws of this state, or of the United States, or per- son, partnership or association shall use the word “bank,” “banker” or “banking,” or words of similar meaning in any for- eign language, as a designation or name under which business may be conducted in this state unless such corporation, person, partnership or association shall submit to inspection, examination and regulation as may hereafter be provided by the laws of this state. (As amended September 3. 1912.) Sec. 4. The property of corporations, now existing or hereafter created, shall forever be subject to taxation, the same as the property of individuals. Sec. 5. No right of way shall be appro- priated to the use of any corporation, until full compensation therefore be first made in money, or first secured by a deposit of money, to the owner, irrespective of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation ; which compensation shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men, in a court of record, as shall be pre- scribed by law. Sec. 6. The general assembly shall pro- vide for the organization of cities and in- corporated villages, by general laws, and restrict their power of taxation, assess- ment, borrowing money, contracting debts and loaning their credit, so as to prevent the abuse of such power. Sec. 7. No act of the general assembly, authorizing associations with banking powers, shall take effect until it shall be submitted to the people, at the general election next succeeding the passage thereof, and be approved by a majority of all the electors voting at such election. 196 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ARTICLE XIV. JURISPRUDENCE. Section 1. The general assembly, at its first session after the adoption of this con- stitution, shall provide for the appoint- ment of three commissioners, and pre- scribe their tenure of office, compensation, and the mode of filling vacancies in said commission. Sec. 2. The said commissioners shall revise, reform, simplify, and abridge the practice, pleadings, forms and proceedings of the courts of record of this state; and, as far as practicable and expedient, shall provide for the abolition of the distinct forms of action at law, now in use, and for the administration of justice by a uniform mode of proceeding, without reference to any distinction between law and equity. Sec. 3. The proceedings of the commis- sioners shall, from time to time, be re- ported to the general assembly, and be subject to the action of that body. Article XV MISCELLANEOUS. Section 1. Columbus shall be the seat of government, until otherwise directed by law. (See Const. 1802, Art. VII, § 4.) Sec. 2. The printing of the laws, jour- nals, bills, legislative documents and pa- pers for each branch of the general assem- bly, with the printing required for the executive and other departments of state, shall be let, on contract, to the lowest re- sponsible bidder, or done directly by the state in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. AH stationery and supplies shall be purchased as may be provided by law. (Amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. An accurate and detailed state- ment of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, the several amounts paid, to whom, and on what account, shall, from time to time, be published, as shall be prescribed by law. Sec. 4. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this state, unless he possess the qualifications of an elector. Sec. 5. No person who shall hereafter fight a duel, assist in the same as second, or send, accept, or knowingly carry, a challenge therefor, shall hold any office in this state. Sec. 6. Lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, for any purpose whatever, shall forever be prohibited in this state. Sec. 7. Every person chosen or ap- pointed to any office under this state, be- fore entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take an oath or affirmation, to support the Constitution of the United States, and of this state, and also an oath of office. (See Const. 1802, Art. VII, § 1.) Sec. 8. There may be established, in the secretary of state’s office, a bureau of sta- tistics, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Sec. 9. License to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall be granted in this state, and license laws operative throughout the state shall be passed with such restrictions and regulations as may be provided by law, and municipal corporations shall be authorized by general laws to provide for the limita- tion of the number of saloons. Laws shall not be passed authorizing more than one saloon in each township or municipality of less than five hundred population, or more than one saloon for each five hundred population in other townships and munic- ipalities. Where the traffic is or may be prohibited under laws applying to coun- ties, municipalities, townships, residence districts, or other districts now prescribed by law, the traffic shall not be licensed in any such local subdivision while any pro- hibitory law is operative therein, and noth- ing herein contained shall be so construed as to repeal, modify or suspend any such prohibitory laws, or any regulatory laws now in force or hereafter enacted, or to prevent the future enactment, modification or repeal of any prohibitory or regulatory laws. License to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall not be granted to any person who at the time of making application THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 197 therefor is not a citizen of the United States and of good moral character. Li- cense shall not be granted to any applicant who is in any way interested in the busi- ness conducted at any other place where intoxicating liquors are sold or kept for sale as a beverage, nor shall such license be granted unless the applicant or appli- cants are the only persons in any way pecuniarily interested in the business for which the license is sought, and no other person shall be in any way interested therein during the continuance of the li- cense ; if such interest of such person shall appear, the license shall be deemed re- voked. If any licensee is more than once convicted for a violation of the laws in force to regulate the traffic in intoxicating liquors, his license shall be deemed re- voked, and no license shall thereafter be granted to him. License to traffic in in- toxicating liquors shall not be granted un- less the place of traffic under such license shall be located in the county in which the person or persons reside whose duty it is to grant such license, or in a county ad- joining thereto. The word “saloon” as used in this section is defined to be a place where intoxicating liquors are sold, or kept for sale, as a beverage in quantities less than one gallon. INTOXICATING LIQUORS. For License to traffic in intoxi- cating liquors. Against License to traffic in in- toxicating liquors. The voter shall indicate his choice by placing a cross-mark within the blank space opposite the words “For License” if he desires to vote in favor of the article above mentioned, and opposite the words “Against License” within the blank space if he desires to vote against said article. If a cross-mark is placed opposite both phrases or neither phrase, then the vote upon the subject shall not be counted. If the votes for license shall exceed the votes against license, then the article above mentioned shall become section 9 of article XV of the constitution, and the present section 9 of said article, also known as section 18 of the schedule, shall be re- pealed. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 10. Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the state, the several counties and cities, shall be made accord- ing to merit and fitness, to be ascertained, as far as practicable, by competitive exam- inations. Laws shall be passed providing for the enforcement of this provision. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Article XVI. AMENDMENTS. Section 1. Either branch of the general assembly may propose amendments to this constitution; and, if the same shall be agreed to by three-fifths of the members elected to each house, such proposed amendments shall be entered on the jour- nals, with the yeas and nays, and shall be submitted to the electors, for their ap- proval or rejection, on a separate ballot, without party designation of any kind, at either a special or a general election, as the general assembly may prescribe. Such proposed amendments shall be published once a week for five consecutive weeks pre- ceding such election, in at least one news- paper in each county of the state where a newspaper is published. If the majority of the electors voting on the same shall adopt such amendments the same shall be- come a part of the constitution. When more than one amendment shall be sub- mitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment separately. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 2. Whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the general assembly shall think it necessary 19S HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY to call a convention, to revise, amend or change this constitution, they shall recom- mend to the electors to vote on a separate ballot, without party designation of any kind, at the next election for members to the general assembly, for or against a con- vention; and if a majority of all the elect- ors, voting for and against the calling of a convention, shall have voted for a conven- tion, the general assembly shall, at their next session, provide, by law, for calling the same. Candidates for members of the constitutional convention shall be nom- inated by nominating petitions only and shall be voted for upon one independent and separate ballot, without any emblem or party designation whatever. The con- vention shall consist of as many members as the house of representatives, who shall be chosen as provided by law, and shall meet within three months after their elec- tion for the purpose aforesaid. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. At the general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hun- dred and thirty-two, and in each twentieth year thereafter, the question : “Shall there be a convention to revise, alter or amend the constitution,” shall be submitted to the electors of the state ; and in case a major- ity of the electors, voting for and against the calling of a convention, shall decide in favor of a convention, the general assem- bly, at its next session, shall provide, by lav/, for the election of delegates, and the assembling of such convention, as is pro- vided in the preceding section; but no amendment of this constitution, agreed upon by any convention assembled in pur- suance of this article, shall take effect until the same shall have been submitted to the electors of the state and adopted by a majority of those voting thereon. (As amended September 3, 1912.) Article XVII. ELECTIONS. Section 1. Elections for state and county officers shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in Novem- ber in the even numbered years; and all elections for all other elective officers shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the odd numbered years. [As adopted November 7, 1905; 97 v. 640.] Sec. 2. The term of office of the gov- ernor, lieutenant governor, attorney-gen- eral, secretary of state, and treasurer of state shall be two years, and that of the auditor of state shall be four years. The term of office of judges of the supreme court and circuit courts shall be such even number of years not less than six (6) years as may be prescribed by the general assembly; that of the judges of the com- mon pleas court six (6) years, and of the judges of the probate court four (4) years, and that of other judges shall be such even number of years not exceeding six (6) years as may be prescribed by the general assembly. The term of office of justices of the peace shall be such even number of years not exceeding four (4) years, as may be prescribed by the general assembly. The term of office of the members of the board of public works shall be such even number of years not exceeding six (6) years, as may be so prescribed; and the term of office of all elective county, town- ship, municipal and school officers shall be such even number of years not exceeding- four (4) years as may be so prescribed. And the general assembly shall have power to so extend existing terms of office as to affect the purpose of section 1 of this article. Any vacancy which may occur in any elective state office other than that of a member of the general assembly or of gov- ernor, shall be filled by appointment by the governor until the disability is removed, or a successor elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first general election for the office which is vacant that occurs more than thirty (30) days after the vacancy shall have occurred. The person elected shall THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 199 fill the office for the unexpired term. All vacancies in other elective offices shall be filled for the unexpired term in such man- ner as may be prescribed by law. [As adopted November 7, 1905 ; 97 v. 641.] Sec. 3. Every elective officer holding office when this amendment is adopted shall continue to hold such office for the full term for which he was elected, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified as provided by law. [As adopted November 7, 1905 ; 97 v. 641.] Article XVIII. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. Section 1. Municipal corporations are hereby classified into cities and villages. All such corporations having a population of five thousand or over shall be cities ; all others shall be villages. The method of transition from one class to the other shall be regulated by law. (Adopted Septem- ber 3, 1912.) Sec. 2. General laws shall be passed to provide for the incorporation and govern- ment of cities and villages ; and additional laws may also be passed for the govern- ment of municipalities adopting the same ; but no such additional law shall become operative in any municipality until it shall have been submitted to the electors thereof, and affirmed by a majority of those voting thereon, under regulations to be established by law. (Adopted Septem- ber 3, 1912.) Sec. 3. Municipalities shall have au- thority to exercise all powers of local self- government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sani- tary and other similar regulations as are not in conflict with general laws. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 4. Any municipality may acquire, construct, own, lease and operate within or without its corporate limits, any public utility the product of service of which is or is to be supplied to the municipality or its inhabitants, and may contract with others for any such product or service. The acquisition of any such public utility may be by condemnation or otherwise, and a municipality may acquire thereby the use of, or full title to, the property and fran- chise of any company or person supplying to the municipality or its inhabitants the service or product of any such utility. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 5. Any municipality proceeding to acquire, construct, own, lease or operate a public utility, or to contract with any person or company therefor, shall act by ordinance, and no such ordinance shall take effect until after thirty days from its passage. If within said thirty days a petition signed by ten per centum of the electors of the municipality shall be filed with the executive authority thereof de- manding a referendum on such ordinance, it shall not take effect until submitted to the electors and approved by a majority of those voting thereon. The submission of any such question shall be governed by all the provisions of section 8 of this article as to the submission of the question of choosing a charter commission. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 6. Any municipality, owning or operating a public utility for the purpose of supplying the service or product thereof to the municipality or its inhabitants, may also sell and deliver to others any trans- portation service of such utility and the surplus product of any other utility in an amount not exceeding in either case fifty per centum of the total service or product supplied by such utility within the munic- ipality. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 7. Any municipality may frame and adopt or amend a charter for its gov- ernment, and may, subject to the pro- visions of section 3 of this article, exercise thereunder all powers of local self-govern- ment. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 8. The legislative authority of any city or village may, by a two-thirds vote of its members, and upon petition of ten per centum of the electors, shall forthwith provide by ordinance for the submission to 200 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the electors of the question, “Shall a com- mission be chosen to frame a charter?” The ordinance providing for the submis- sion of such question shall require that it be submitted to the electors at the next regular municipal election, if one shall occur not less than sixty nor more than one hundred and twenty days after its passage ; otherwise it shall provide for the submission of the question at a special elec- tion to be called and held within the time aforesaid. The ballot containing such question shall bear no party designation, and provision shall be made thereon for the election from the municipality at large of fifteen electors who shall constitute a commission to frame a charter; provided that a majority of the electors voting on such question shall have voted in the af- firmative. Any charter so framed shall be submitted to the electors of the munic- ipality at an election to be held at a time fixed by the charter commission and within one year from the date of its election, pro- vision for which shall be made by the leg- islative authority of the municipality in so far as not prescribed by general law. Not less than thirty days prior to such election the clerk of the municipality shall mail a copy of the proposed charter to each elector whose name appears upon the poll or registration books of the last regular or general election held therein. If such proposed charter is approved by a major- ity of the electors voting thereon, it shall become the charter of such municipality at the time fixed therein. (Adopted Sep- tember 3, 1912.) Sec. 9. Amendments to any charter framed and adopted as herein provided may be submitted to the electors of a mu- nicipality by a two-thirds vote of the legis- lative authority thereof, and, upon peti- tions signed by ten per centum of the elect- ors of the municipality setting forth any such proposed amendment, shall be sub- mitted by such legislative authority. The submission of proposed amendments to the electors shall be governed by the require- ments of section 8 as to the submission of the question of choosing a charter com- mission; and copies of proposed amend- ments shall be mailed to the electors as hereinbefore provided for copies of a pro- posed charter. If any such amendment is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part of the charter of the municipality. A copy of said charter or any amendment thereto shall be certified to the secretary of state within thirty days after adoption by a referendum vote. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 10. A municipality appropriating or otherwise acquiring property for public use may in furtherance of such public use appropriate or acquire an excess over that actually to be occupied by the improve- ment, and may sell such excess with such restrictions as shall be appropriate to pre- serve the improvement made. Bonds may be issued to supply the funds in whole or in part to pay for the excess property so appropriated or otherwise acquired, but said bonds shall be a lieu only against the property so acquired for the improvement and excess, and they shall not be a liability of the municipality nor be included in any limitation of the bonded indebtedness of such municipality prescribed by law. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 11. Any municipality appropria- ting private property for a public improve- ment may provide money therefore in part by assessments upon benefited property not in excess of the special benefits con- ferred upon such property by the improve- ments. Said assessments, however, upon all the abutting, adjacent, and other prop- erty in the district benefited shall in no case be levied for more than fifty per cen- tum of the cost of such appropriation. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 12. Any municipality which ac- quires, constructs or extends any public utility and desires to raise money for such purposes may issue mortgage bonds there- for beyond the general limit of bonded THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 201 indebtedness prescribed by law; provided that such mortgage bonds issued beyond the general limit of bonded indebtedness prescribed by law shall not impose any liability upon such municipality but shall be secured only upon the property and rev- enues of such public utility, including a franchise stating the terms upon which, in case of foreclosure, the purchaser may operate the same, which franchise shall in no case extend for a longer period than twenty years from the date of the sale of such utility and franchise on foreclosure. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 13. Laws may be passed to limit the power of municipalities to levy taxes and incur debts for local purposes, and may require reports from municipalities as to their financial condition and trans- actions, in such form as may be provided by law, and may provide for the examina- tion of the vouchers, books and accounts of all municipal authorities, or of public undertakings conducted by such author- ities. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Sec. 14. All elections and submissions of questions provided for in this article shall be conducted by the election author- ities, prescribed by general law. The per- centage of electors required to sign any petition provided for herein shall be based upon the total vote cast at the last pre- ceding general municipal election. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) Schedule If the foregoing amendment to the con- stitution be adopted by the electors and be- come a part of the constitution, it shall take effect on November 15, 1912. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) SCHEDULE Section 1. All laws of this state, in force on the first day of September one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, not inconsistent with this constitution, shall continue in force, until amended, or re- pealed. (See Const. 1802, Sched. § 4.) Sec. 2. The first election for members of the general assembly, under this con- stitution, shall be held on the second Tues- day of October, one thousand eight hun- dred and fifty-one. Sec. 3. The first election for governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, treasurer, and secretary of state and attorney gen- eral, shall be held on the second Tuesday of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one. The persons, holding said offices on the first day of September, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue therein, until the second of January, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two. Sec. 4. The first election for judges of the supreme court, courts of common pleas, and probate courts, and clerks of the courts of common pleas, shall be held on the second Tuesday of October, one thousand eight hunlred and fifty-one, and the official term of said judges and clerks, so elected, shall commence on the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty -two. Judges and clerks of the courts of common pleas and su- preme court, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office with their present powers and duties, until the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. No suit or proceeding, pending in any of the courts of this state, shall be affected by the adop- tion of this constitution. (See Art. IV, § 7, note 2; § 13, note.) Sec. 5. The register and receiver of the land office, directors of the penitentiary, directors of the benevolent institutions of the state, the state librarian, and all other officers, not otherwise provided for in this constitution, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office, until their terms expire, respectively, unless the general assembly shall otherwise provide. Sec. 6. The superior and commercial courts of Cincinnati, and the superior court of Cleveland, shall remain, until otherwise provided by law, with their present powers and jurisdiction; and the 202 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY judges and clerks of said courts, in office on the first day of September, one thou- sand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office, until the expiration of their terms of office, respectively, or, until otherwise provided by law; but neither of said courts shall continue after the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty -three ; and no suits shall be commenced in said two first mentioned courts, after the second Monday of Feb- ruary, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, nor in said last mentioned court, after the second Monday in August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two ; and all business in either of said courts, not disposed of within the time limited for their continuance as aforesaid, shall be transferred to the court of common pleas. Sec. 7. All county and township officers and justices of the peace, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office until their terms expire, respect- ively. Sec. 8. Vacancies in office, occurring after the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall be filled, as is now prescribed by law, and until officers are elected or ap- pointed, and qualified, under this constitu- tion. Sec. 9. This constitution shall take effect, on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one. Sec. 10. All officers shall continue in office, until their successors shall be chosen and qualified. ( See Const. 1802, Schecl. § 3.) Sec. 11. Suits pending in the supreme court in bank, shall be transferred to the supreme court provided for in this consti- tution, and be proceeded in according to law. Sec. 12. The district courts shall, in their respective counties, be the successors of the present supreme court; and all suits, prosecutions, judgments, records, and proceedings, pending and remaining in said supreme court, in the several counties of any district, shall be trans- ferred to the respective district courts of such counties, and be proceeded in, as though no change had been made in said supreme court. Sec. 13. The said courts of common pleas, shall be the successors of the pres- ent courts of common pleas in the several counties, except as to probate jurisdiction; and all suits, prosecutions, proceedings, records and judgments, pending or being in said last mentioned courts, except as aforesaid, shall be transferred to the courts of common pleas created by this constitution, and proceeded in, as though the same had been therein instituted. Sec. 14. The probate courts provided for in this constitution, as to all matters within the jurisdiction conferred upon said courts, shall be the successors, in the several counties of the present courts of common pleas; and the records, files, and papers, business and proceedings, apper- taining to said jurisdiction, shall be trans- ferred to said courts of probate, and be there proceeded in, according to law. Sec. 15. Until otherwise provided by law, elections for judges and clerks shall be held, and the poll books returned, as is provided for governor, and the abstract therefrom, certified to the secretary of state, shall be by him opened, in the pres- ence of the governor, who shall declare the result, and issue commissions to the per- sons elected. Sec. 16. Where two or more counties are joined in a senatorial, representative, or judicial district, the returns of elections shall be sent to the county, having the lar- gest population. Sec. 17. The foregoing constitution shall be submitted to the electors of the state, at an election to be held on the third Tuesday of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the several elec- tion districts of this state. The ballots at such election shall be written or printed as follows: Those in favor of the constitu- the; constitution of ohio 203 tion, “New Constitution, Yes”; those against the constitution, “New Constitu- tion, No.” The polls at said election shall be opened between the hours of eight and ten o’clock a. m., and closed at six o’clock p. m. ; and the said election shall be con- ducted, and the returns thereof made and certified, to the secretary of state, as pro- vided by law for annual elections of state and county officers. Within twenty days after such election, the secretary of state shall open the returns thereof, in the presence of the governor; and, if it shall appear that a majority of all the votes, cast at such election, are in favor of the constitution, the governor shall issue his proclamation, stating that fact, and said constitution shall be the constitution of the state of Ohio, and not otherwise. Sec. 18. At the time when the votes of the electors shall be taken for the adoption or rejection of this constitution, the addi- tional section, in the words following, to- wit : “No license to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall hereafter be granted in this state; but the general assembly may, by law, provide against evils resulting therefrom,” shall be separately submitted to the electors for adoption or rejection, in form following, to-wit : A separate bal- lot may be given by every elector and de- posited in a separate box. Upon the bal- lots given for said separate amendment shall be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, the words : “License to sell intoxicating liquors, Yes” ; and upon the ballots given against said amendments, in like manner, the words: “License to sell intoxicating liquors, No.” If, at the said election, a majority of all the votes given for and against said amendment, shall contain the words: “Li- cense to sell intoxicating liquors, No,” then the said amendment shall be a sepa- rate section of article fifteen of the con- stitution. Sec. 19. The apportionment of the house for representatives, during the first decennial period under this constitution, shall be as follows : The counties of Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Lake, Law- rence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Sandusky, Scioto, Shelby and Union, shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session of the decennial period. The counties of Franklin, Licking, Montgomery, and Stark, shall each be en- titled to two representatives, in each ses- sion of the decennial period. The counties of Ashland, Coshocton, Highland, Huron, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Miami, Portage, Seneca, Summit, and Warren, shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session ; and one additional representative in the fifth session of the decennial period. The counties of Ashtabula, Brown, But- ler, Clermont, Fairfield, Guernsey, Jeffer- son, Knox, Monroe, Morgan, Richland, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Washington, shall, severally be entitled to one repre- sentative, in each session; and two addi- tional representatives, one in the third, and one in the fourth session of the decen- nial period. The counties of Belmont, Columbiana, Ross and Wayne, shall .severally, be en- titled to one representative, in each ses- sion ; and three additional representatives, one in the first, one in the second, and one in the third session of the decennial period. The county of Muskingum shall be en- titled to two representatives, in each ses- sion; and one addtional representative, in the fifth session, of the decennial period. The county of Cuyahoga shall be en- titled to two representatives, in each ses- sion; and two additional representatives, one in the third, and one in the fourth ses- sion of the decennial period. The county of Hamilton shall be en- 204 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY titled to seven representatives, in each ses- sion ; and four additional representatives, one in the first, one in the second, one in the third, and one in the fourth session, of the decennial period. The following counties, until they shall have acquired a sufficient population to en- title them to elect, separately, under the fourth section of the eleventh article, shall form districts in manner following, to- wit: The counties of Jackson and Vinton, one district; the counties of Lucas and Fulton, one district ; the counties of Wyan- dot and Hardin, one district ; the counties of Mercer and Van Wert, one district; the counties of Paulding, Defiance, and Wil- liams, one district ; the counties of Putnam and Henry, one district; and the counties of Wood and Ottawa, one district; each of which districts shall be entitled to one representative, in every session of the de- cennial period. Done in convention, at Cincinnati, the tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, and of the independence of the United States, the seventy-fifth. WILLIAM MEDILL, President. Attest: Wm. H. Gill, Secretary. S. J. Andrews, Edward Archbold, William Barbee, Joseph Barnett, David Barnet, Wm. S. Bates, A. I. Bennett, John H. Blair, Jacob Blickensderfer, Van Brown, A. G. Brown, R. D. Cahill, F. Case, L. Case, David Chambers, John Chany, H. D. Clark, George Collins, Friend Cook, Otway Curry, G. Volney Dorsey, Thos. W. Ewart, John Ewing, Joseph M. Farr, Elias Florence, Robert Forbes, H. C. Gray, H. N. Gillett, John Graham, John L. Green, Jacob J. Greene, Henry H. Gregg, V/. S. Groesbeck, C. S. Hamilton, D. D. T. Hard, A. Harlan, William Hawkins, James P. Henderson, Peter Hitchcock, G. W. Holmes, Geo. B. Holt, John J. Hootman, V. B. Plorton, Samuel Humphreville, John E. Hunt, B. B. Hunter, Reuben Hitchcock, John Johnson, J. Dan Jones, James B. King, S. J. Kirkwood, Thos. J. Larsh, William Lawrence, John Larwill, Robert Leech, D. P. Leadbetter, John Lidey, James Loudon, J. McCormick, H. S. Manon, Samson Mason, Matthew H. Mitchell, Isaiah Morris, Charles McCloud, Simeon Nash, S. F. Norris, Chas. J. Orton, W. S. C. Otis, THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO 205 Thomas Patterson, Danl. Peck, Jacob Perkins, Sami. Quigley, R. P. Ranney, Chas. Reemelin, Adam N. Riddle, Edward C. Roll, Wm. Sawyer, Sabirt Scott, John Sellers, John A. Smith, George J. Smith, B. P. Smith, Henry Stanbery, B. Stanton, Albert V. Stebbins, E. T. Stickney, Richd. Stillwell, Harman Stidger, James Struble, J. R. Swan, L. Swift, James W. Taylor, Norton S. Townshend, Hugh Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Joseph Vance, Elijah Vance, Wm. M. Warren, Thomas A. Way, J. Milton Williams, Elzey Wilson, Jas. T. Worthington, E. B. Woodbury, Schedule to Constitutional Amendments Submitted on September 3, 1912 (Sec. 20.) The several amendments passed and submitted by this convention when adopted at the election shall take effect on the first day of January, 1913, except as otherwise specifically provided by the schedule attached to any of said amendments. All laws then in force, not inconsistent therewith shall continue in force until amended or repealed ; provided that all cases pending in the courts on the first day of January, 1913, shall be heard and tried in the same manner and by the same procedure as is now authorized by law. Any provision of the amendments passed and submitted by this convention and adopted by the electors, inconsistent with, or in conflict with, any provision of the present constitution, shall be held to prevail. (Adopted September 3, 1912.) (Sec. 21.) The several proposals duly passed by this convention shall be sub- mitted to the electors as separate amend- ments to the constitution at a special elec- tion to be held on the third day of Sep- tember, 1912. The several amendments shall be designated on the ballot by their proper article and section numbers and also by their approved descriptive titles and shall be printed on said ballot and consequently numbered in the manner and form hereinafter set forth. The adoption of any amendment by its title shall have the effect of adopting the amendment in full as finally passed by the convention. Said special election shall be held pursu- ant to all provisions of law applicable thereto including special registration. Ballots shall be marked in accordance with instructions printed thereon. Chal- lengers and witnesses shall be admitted to all polling places under such regulations as may be prescribed by the secretary of state. Within ten days after said election the boards of deputy state supervisors of elections of the several counties shall for- ward by mail in duplicate sealed certified abstracts of the votes cast on the several amendments, one to the secretary of state and one to the auditor of state at Colum- bus. Within five days thereafter such abstracts shall be opened and canvassed by the secretary of state and auditor of state in the presence of the governor who shall forthwith, by proclamation, declare the results of said election. Each amendment on which the number of affirmative votes shall exceed the number of negative votes shall become part of the constitution. HERBERT S. BIGELOW, President. C. B. Galbreath, Secretary. Columbus, Ohio, June 1, 1912, 206 David F. Anderson, Ernst I. Antrim, John L. Baum, Robert A. Beatty, A. Beyer, Stanley E. Bowdle, Wesley B. Brattain, H. M. Brown, Walter F. Brown, M. A. Brown, William W. Campbell, John R. Cassidy, M. T. Cody, Bernard Y. Collett, Geo. H. Colton, Henry L. Cordes, Henry M. Crites, Robert Crosser, David Cunningham, William C. David, Joe DeFrees, A. V. Donahey, Edward W. Doty, Charles O. Dunlap, Alexander Dunn, Dennis Dwyer, Henry E. Eby, J. Milton Earnhart, Henry W. Elson, John D. Fackler, W. W. Farnsworth, Thomas S. Farrell, S. D. Fess, Thos. G. FitzSimons, James M. Fluke, Henry C. Fox, Aaron Hahn, Wm. P. Halenkamp, James W. Halfhill, HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY James W. Harbarger, Wm. S. Harris, Geo. W. Harris, Otto M. Harter, Isaac Harter, Robert Henderson, John C. Hoffman, Charles D. Holtz, Samuel A. Hoskins, Frank G. Hursh, Edward W. Johnson, Solomon Johnson, Humphrey Jones, J. W. Kehoe, Henry C. Keller, Frank H. Kerr, Wm. B. Kilpatrick, E. B. King, G. W. Knight, John F. Kramer, Lawrence P. Kunkle, Frank P. Lambert, E. L. Lampson, Fred G. Leete, Daniel E. Leslie, Robert B. Longstreth, Chris Ludey, Fletcher D. Malin, Frank M. Marriott, Allen M. Marshall, N. E. Matthews, Roscoe J. Mauck, R. G. McClelland, Geo. W. Miller, Frank P. Miller, Wm. Miller, Illion E. Moore, Caleb H. Norris, David J. Nye, J. A. Okey, W. E. Partington, Hiram D. Peck, Edward A. Peters, David Pierce, Geo. W. Pettit, T. D. Price, A. Ross Read, Horace G. Redington, Jno. H. Riley, Wm. M. Rockel, John Roehm, John C. Rorick, Stanley Shaffer, Eli D. Shaw, H. K. Smith, Starbuck Smith, J. C. Solether, Franklin J. Stalter, M. Stamm, W. B. Stevens, 0. H. Stewart, Stephen S. Stillwell, William Worth Stokes, Frank Taggart, James C. Tallman, J. W. Tannehill, Percy Tetlow, Harry D. Thomas, John Ulmer, Edwin T. Wagner, Wilmer R. Walker, Harvey Watson, Benj. F. Weybrecht, John W. Winn, Frank C. Wise, F. W. Woods, Wm. Worthington. CHAPTER XII THE CANALS OF OHIO Her Greatest Single Asset. Her Most Important Factor In Future Development The work on Ohio canals was com- menced in 1825 and completed in 1847. There were 1813 miles in all, the greatest of any state, New York being second. The whole cost was $15,967,652. The national government gave 1,230,512 acres of land to the enterprise and this land was sold for $2,257,487. The canals of Ohio were leased to a private corporation from 1861 to 1878. They were leased for ten years at an annual rental of but $20,075 and this lease was renewed for an additional ten years, but the company defaulted on their rent in 1877 and abandoned the canals, leaving them in a very dilapidated condi- tion. From 1863 to 1896, various General Assemblies disposed of canal lands worth several millions of dollars for less than $200,000. We still have 603 miles of used and abandoned canals owned by the State. The following headlines in a county paper in 1912 announced my position on the canal situation: ARRAY OF FACTS AND FIGURES on the Miami and Erie Canal Question Presented by Colonel F. M. Sterrett of Troy, at the “Round Up” Farmers’ Institute Favors Barge Canal Without time to make an extensive argu- ment in favor of converting the Miami and Erie Canal into a barge canal, at least 100 feet wide and ten feet deep, I desire to [ 207 ] submit the following statement of facts for the present as a basis for the impor- tance of such action. ~ 1. The waterways systems of France, Germany, Great Britain and China have increased in length more than 500 per cent in the last thirty years. 2. The report of the National Conserva- tion Commission of 1909 recommended a bond issue of $500,000,000 for the im- provement of internal waterways and the message of President Roosevelt to Con- gress on January 1, 1909, endorsed that recommendation. 3. The railroads of the country are no longer physically able to carry the traffic of America and the one avenue open to such traffic is faster transportation. We must move forward or we will go back- ward. 4. The government engineers say in their report of January 20, 1896 that a barge canal 100 feet wide and ten feet deep between Toledo and Cincinnati is en- tirely practical. 5. It is well known that an appropria- tion has already been made to canalize the Ohio river to a depth of 9 feet. A Miami and Erie barge canal would land Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, and Kentucky coal from Toledo to Cincinnati at one-third of the present transportation charges. 6. It would land iron and lumber along its course at one-third the present trans- portation charges. 7. It would save two-thirds of the trans- 208 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY portation charges on all the cereals along its course, shipped to outside markets, which saving of itself would in a few years pay for the improvement of the canal, in- cluding all new bridges. 8. It would create, along its course, the greatest manufacturing district in the world, because the raw material could be landed at a minimum price and the prod- ucts of the soil; all that is necessary to sustain life — the two prerequisites for a great manufacturing center. With 5,000,- 000 of people in the seventeen counties of western Ohio, our market would be equally as good as those of the sea coast. 9. The general government is committed to internal waterway improvement on a scale commensurate with the demands of commerce. 10. The state of New York, in 1903, by an overwhelming majority, voted an ap- propriation to enlarge the Erie Canal from a depth of seven feet to a depth of 12 feet, and this work of enlargement is now rap- idly progressing. It is 387 miles long and has 72 locks. It passes through the cities of Rochester, Syracuse and a long list of populous county seats, such as Rome, Her- kimer and Schenectady, along the Mohawk Valley, which largely outnumber in popu- lation the cities along the Miami and Erie Canal and where the cost of widening and deepening and bridging would be far in excess of the same on the Miami and Erie Canal. 11. President Taft, on October 21, 1908, in an address to The Lakes to the Gulf Convention, committed himself to a bond issue for a deep waterway system. 12. The government engineers, under act of Congress, August 17, 1894, made a report on February 12, 1896, estimating that the work of enlarging the Miami and Erie Canal could be done for $27,000,000 or about one-fourth the amount appro- priated by New York for the improvement of the Erie Canal (now, in 1917, nearly completed at a cost of $150,000,000). 13. Governor Harmon in a recent mes- sage characterized the canals as the most valuable asset of the State. In a general way $25,000,000 is placed as the value of the Miami and Erie Canal. 14. Contrary to general belief and statement, the Miami and Erie Canal has to its credit from 1827 to 1907, a net profit of $1,164,692.84. What could we expect from a barge canal divorced from politics? 15. The power produced at the lakes would be sufficient to propel all boats that could be used and probably to irrigate much of the land along the valley during our frequent dry Julys and Augusts. It could also be used as it now is for manu- facturing industries. 16. It is estimated that waterways and reservoirs have a fish value of $15,000 per acre. 17. The Ohio Boat Company is now run- ning regular trips between Loveland and Middletown and delivering their freight more quickly at one-third the price of rail- roads. These steel hull boats are propelled by gasoline engines of fifteen horse-power, operating a propellor in a chamber in such fashion as to absolutely prevent the wash of the banks. They run from six to eight miles per hour. 18. Lyman E. Cooley, of Chicago, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in the country, upon such subjects, and the mas- ter spirit in the construction of the ship canal between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river, has given his opinion that the Miami and Erie Canal can be en- larged to a depth of sixteen feet. After this, why listen to pessimism about the want of water for a barge canal? 19. The government engineers reported in favor of a canal, having a trunk of 85 feet at the top water line and 60 feet in width at the bottom, and 10 feet in depth, with locks 20x200 feet, having 12-foot lifts, which they say in their report (they have really made their reports at different times, all favorable), would carry vessels large enough to be seaworthy on the lakes and as large as can probably ever be car- ried on the river. 20. The amount saved in transportation THE DEVELOPMENT OP OHIO 309 of grain alone to the state of New York by the Erie Canal during the last thirty years is at least $200,000,000. 21. According to the Interstate Com- merce Commission for the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1909, the railroads, the rail- road rates of the country were nine and one-half times as much as the rate by water. Bear in mind these are official figures. 23. The classes of freight that can be carried most economically by water, are those that are carried with least profit by the railroads. 24. The modern canal of 10 feet in depth is stated by experts to have a carrying capacity equal to that of ten double track railroads. 25. We have $25,000,000 of property in the Miami and Erie Canal that foreign nations and states of the Union, are mak- ing a profit from. Is it wise for us to sac- rifice this property in the face of the facts ? Since the above paper was read to the farmers’ institute in 1912, there have been several congestions of freight in Toledo and Cincinnati that detained shipments at these points for a period of three months, a longer successive period than the canal has ever been frozen over. The price on coal for the winter supply of 1916-17 has been from $2 to $2.50 per ton more than ever before paid in Miami County and the canal has been open, free from ice, up to December 1, 1916, and all on account of the want of freight cars, proof of our position (No. 3). That this condition will become more serious as time goes and a greater population and more factories must be supplied would seem as certain as any other fixed economic fact. There is coal in sight now, only enough to last for 150 years to come. The supply of oil can be almost mathematically calcu- lated. We will have water as long as the earth exists. Evaporation and precipita- tion will give us rainfall and rainfall will give us water power as long as the sun holds out to burn. Water power is, therefore the one inexhaustible natural resource up- on which we can depend for heat7~light and industrial energy. I am of the opinion that every ravine in this country should be cemented at its mouth and all water held back, as it formerly was, before de- forestation took place. It would not only conserve the water for farm power, or ir- rigation purposes, but would largely pre- vent inundation of the lowlands. Men and women of Miami County, this is the 20th century. The resistless tide of mighty events are marching on. The next one hundred years will probably be as prolific in great accomplishments as the last cen- tury has been. The revolution in harvest- ing our crops, our mode of travel, living and communication during the past one hundred years, gives prophecy of the future. There are many sincere opponents to the improvement of the Miami and Erie Canal. Let us classify them: (1) Every man who has served as County Commis- sioner for many years is a natural enemy and has made it a business to create enemies for the improvement, because of the large expenditures for bridges each year and this is reasonable from that standpoint. (2) A considerable per cent of our people have heard it called the frog pond, the old dirty ditch, and like ugly names for so many years that the mention of it carries opprobrium with it, but this is not born of thought or of large vision, any more than the old time opposition to a musical instrument in church service, among us a hundred years ago. No intelli- gent mind of breadth is likely to doubt the statements of three different boards of en- gineers appointed and paid by the general government to report on this subject. The following is an extract from their last re- port, made on February 12, 1896 : “The project is one of undoubted practi- cability at a cost not prohibitory, and if carried out a canal so built will form an important part of an inland system of 210 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY navigation, which, with Lake Erie as a commercial basis of operation, will em- brace the Great Lakes and the St. Law- rence, Mississippi and Ohio rivers and the Atlantic seaboard.” If I have, by the above thoughts, been able to arrest unreasonable defamation and changed it, at least, to serious con- sideration of the subject, this book will not have been written in vain. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT In the early days of Ohio, before the date of free schools, the general method of teaching was what was called “The Lan- caster School System.” Under this system it was possible for one man to be the only paid instructor for a thousand pupils, em- ploying the older pupils as monitors. In this manner the cost of each pupil for one year was five shillings. This system pre- vailed in Cincinnati, Marietta, Hillsboro, and other early Ohio towns. It was so inexpensive that it delayed the establish- ment of a system of paid instructors for all public school pupils. In 1821, a law was passed which author- ized a school tax to be levied, but it was not made mandatory. Only indigent chil- dren, not able to pay, became beneficiaries of the funds raised under this law. In 1825 the General Assembly passed a mandatory law requiring the County Com- missioners, beginning July, 1826, to levy five-tenths of a mill for school purposes. There was no provisions made by some of the Counties for the collection of this tax. Then and for years afterward, there was a per cent of the taxpayers in the State, who, having no children, objected to being taxed for the education of other peoples’ children. The growth of sentiment in favor of free schools in Ohio was as slow as the growth of sentiment in favor of organs and fiddles in churches. Many of the older citizens of Miami County today recollect when such music in churches would have outraged the congregations to rebellion and withdrawal. The two issues of canal bonds and man- datory taxation to support public schools were combined in the compaign of 1824 and a majority thus gained in the General Assembly for both projects, but it was the popularity of the canals and not a general thirst for education that won at the Octo- ber election. This was shown by the fact that the Canal Bill was passed on February 4, 1825, and the school tax law was passed the next day, and the majority for canals was over double the majority for schools. Cincinnati had free schools before 1838 when all schools of Ohio were made free. In 1877 a law was passed which compelled all persons of school age to attend school for at least three months in each year. The Akron law of 1847 gave that city the first modern graded school in the State. It provided for six primary and one grammar school with examinations for promotion. It also provided for a board of education of six members and a separate board of examiners for city teachers. The plan was extended to other towns in 1849 and to townships in 1850. A State superintendent of schools was provided for by the law of 1837 and abol- ished in 1840 and re-established in 1853 under the title of State Commissioner of Common Schools. The Secretary of State had performed the duties of Common School Superintendent and the County Auditor as County Superintendent and township clerks as township superintend- ents before the provision of 1853 for the State Commissioner. The Constitution of 1872, changed the name to Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion and made the office an appointive one from the Governor and the term for four years. The office of County Superintendent was THE DEVELOPMENT OF OHIO 211 created in 1914. He is chosen by the County Board of Education, which consists of five members selected by the president of the boards of education of the village and rural school districts of the County. “General James A. Garfield, afterward president, while a member of Congress, on June 6, 1866, on speaking on his bill to establish a department of education, said that during the Civil War, 52 per cent of all Ohio taxation (excepting levies for war expenses and payments on the debt) was used for common schools., At that time over 50 per cent of all State receipts, ex- cept for extraordinary expenses, caused by the war were disbursed for schools. Today only 15 per cent of such State receipts are so used. The common schools of Ohio now receive thirty-two million dollars each year or only about 30 per cent of all the State and local taxes. The University of Athens was founded in 1804 and opened 1809. The first gradu- ating class was in 1815 and consisted of John Hunter and Thomas Ewing. These were the first academic degrees conferred in the states northwest of the Ohio river. Ewing became one of the greatest lawyers and statesmen in America. The second college was Miami Univer- sity at Oxford which was founded in 1809, and opened in 1816. The first graduating class was in 1826. Kenyon College, at Gambier, was founded in 1825; Franklin College at New Athens, and Western Re- serve University, at Cleveland, were both founded in 1826; Dennison University, at Granville, in 1831 ; Oberlin College in 1833, and Marietta College in 1835. Oberlin was the first co-educational college in the world and the first in the United States to admit negro students. Ohio has more col- leges than any other state in the Union. Wilberforce, the leading colored university in the north, was founded in 1856, being the first in the United States. CHAPTER XIII OHIO IN THE WAR OF 1812 The war of 1812 can be called a con- tinuation of the Revolution, with all jus- tice. Although rumors had reached Ohio, that active preparations were being made for general action, no official tidings had been sent to Hull, commander-in-chief of the western forces. The Secretary of War, instead of send- ing a special messenger directly to Hull, communicated with the post adjacent, de- pening upon a continuation of the news from that point. At the same time, ad- vices were sent the British post at Malden and Detroit. Hull sent out a packet with official papers, stores, etc., the day previ- ous to that on which the official intelli- gence arrived that an open rupture existed between the two powers, and this of course captured. The Western forces marched to Detroit and crossed over to Sandwich, preparatory to attacking Malden, a post most favorable for the transportation of stores, troops, etc., which was therefore considered valu- able. Peter Minard first gave the news to the settlers of the Maumee. He had heard from a delaware chief who assured him that a general massacre was to take place in the valley. Maj. Spafford paid no heed to this “idle fear” until a few days there- after a messenger came to his quarters, reporting a band of fifty Pottawatomies on the march to join the hostile tribes near Malden. They had plundered and burned [ 212 ] Bonclova, and had nearly reached the rapids. The major with his family and settlers, immediately launched a barge on the river and were able to reach old Fort Miami just as the savages reached Maumee City. They could plainly witness the flames that devoured their old homes. They kept on their way in their miserable craft, until they reached Milan, where they learned that the entire country was in danger. Although the Indians were defeated in the battle of Tippecanoe in the fall of 1811, they plotted vigorously with the English for the invasion of Ohio. Gen. William Hull marched from the south western part of the State directly north, crossing the counties of Cham- paign, Logan, Hardin, Hancock and Wood, establishing military posts along the route and cutting a way through the wilderness of the unsettled portions. He crossed the Maumee on the 1st of July and marched to Detroit. Hull was evidently actuated in his suc- ceeding disgraceful failure by two fears — lack of confidence in the ability of his troops, and the belief that they might de- sert him in action. He proclaimed free- dom, and a necessity of submitting to the - Canadians under existing circumstances. He held out inducements to the British regulars to desert their cause, and essayed to pacify the savages, but he accomplished nothing beyond jeopardizing the Ameri- OHIO IN THE, WAR OF 1812 213 can cause and disgracing his army. His men became restless. Col. Miller and Col. Cass were delighted when detailed on scouting expeditions, and did not hesitate to attack advancing squads of the enemy. At last, an attack was made on the Niag- ara frontier, and Hull speedily abandoned his project and collected his forces at De- troit. Meantime, Col. Proctor had reached Malden, and quickly perceiving the advan- tage of a post at that point, whereby he could cut off supplies and starve Hull into subjection, he massed his forces about this section, captured Van Horn and his two hundred men, and withstood the at- tack of Miller, although he gained nothing by so doing. Again Hull displayed his weakness by recalling his forces from fur- ther molestations. Gen. Brock, however, reached Malden on the 13th of August, 1812, and began war preparations. Gen. Dearborn placed a force on the Ni- agar frontier, but an armistice was made with the British. Hull dispatched a third party under McArthur to open communi- cations to the Raisin River. Gen. Brock appeared at Sandwich and began to erect batteries, which Hull would not allow to be molested. The result was, that on the 26th of August Detroit was surrendered to the enemy, and not a blow had been struck in its defense. By this dastardly act, 1,400 brave men who had not been permitted to make a single effort to sustain the American cause, were surrendered to 300 English regulars, 400 Canadians and their Indian allies. Gen. Hull was, in consequence of this series of “mistakes” accused of trea- son and cowardice, and convicted of the latter. By the middle of August, the Brit- ish had gained control over most of the Northwestern Territory. The appointment of William Henry Harrison to the position of Commander in chief of the western forces was most op- portune. He speedily raised a vigorous army, and advanced by three routes to the foot of the rapids. Gen. Harrison commanded the right wing and marched by the way of Upper Sandusky, where he located his depot of supplies. Gen. Tupper commanded the center, Fort McArthur, in Hardin County, being his base, while Gen. Winchester marched from Fort Defiance down the Maumee to the foot of the rapids. A large force of British and Indians moved up the left bank of the Maumee to- ward Fort Wayne, and Gen. Harrison, to intercept them, marched to the confluence of the Auglaize with the Maumee. Harrison was aware that the enemy would be also hemmed in by Winchester. The weather was rainy, and the prospects were that a most unfortunate season was to follow the expected engagements. Har- rison heard that Winchester had reached Fort Defiance, and that the Indians and British were retreating down the Mau- mee. He followed and marched to Win- ' Chester’s camp where he arrived in season to quell a mutiny under command of Col. Allen of the Kentucky troops. In January, 1813, Winchester had reached the rapids, where he received tid- ings that Frenchtown was menaced and exposed. Without orders, he sent a party to the rescue which defeated the enemy. The weather was intensely cold, and the company lay v/ithin eighteen miles of Malden, where the enemy was collected in full force, consequently, re-inforcements must be dispatched immediately or the town again left to its fate. Winchester then marched with a force of 259 men, and upon arriving at nightfall, insisted upon remaining on open ground, although warned repeatedly that this would be a most dangerous experiment. In the morning, he was surprised by the enemy, massed directly before him, with a battery within three hundred yards of his camp, and a shower of bombs, balls and grape-shot falling among his exposed troops and the yells of the Indians remind- 214 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ing him of his fatal error. Lewis, who led the party out in the beginning and had ap- prehended the danger, bravely defended himself behind garden pickets. Winches- ter was defeated on the 22nd of January, 1813, and the Indians were permitted to to massacre the prisoners and the settlers. Harrison fell back to the foot of the rapids. On the 1st of February he began the construction of Fort Meigs. On the 27th of April, Proctor and Tecumseh at- tacked this fort and laid seige with the full expectation of success. The stipula- tion was that Gen. Harrison was to be delivered to Tecumseh. While the balls and bombs were making havoc with the fort, the Indians were climbing trees and pouring a galling fire down upon the troops. Gen. Proctor invited Harrison to surrender, which was politely declined, with the asurance that the British General would have the opportunity to distinguish himself as a soldier before such a proceed- ing was enacted. Gen. Clay was descending the Maumee with 1,200 Kentuckians in flat boats. Or- ders went from Harrison that 800 men should land on the left bank, take and spike the British cannon, and then enter the fort, from which soldiers were to issue to assist the re-inforcements. Capt. Hamilton was to pilot Gen. Clay to the fort, cutting their way through. All succeeded, Col. Dudley taking the bat- teries and spiking the cannon. But his men, too much elated by their success, against orders, and against the repeated expostulations of Col. Dudley, insisted up- on pursuing the Indians. Col. Dudley would not desert them. This act proved their ruin. By a decoy, they were led into a defile which proved an ambush and the men found themselves surrounded by sav- ages, without means of escape. A most frightful massacre began, and every man would have fallen had not Te- cumseh sternly forbidden the cowardly carnage. One of the principal chiefs ig- nored this order, and the next instant the great warrior buried his hatchet in his head. The brave Col. Dudley was, how- ever, tomahawked and scalped. There were no immediate signs that the fort would be surrendered, and the seige was raised on the 9th of May. It was re- newed on the 20th of July, and abandoned a few days later. The enemy decided this stronghold was invulnerable. On the 1st of August, the enemy pro- ceeded to Fort Stevenson, at Lower San- dusky, garrisoned by 150 men under Maj. Croghan. The fort had the use of but one piece of cannon. The enemy with Te- cumseh’s Indians numbered 3,300 strong with six pieces of cannon. Gen. Proctor again tendered the offer to surrender, adding that a refusal would only bring about a useless resistance, and a massacre by the Indians. The reply was, that before the fort went over to the Brit- ish, not an American would be left to be massacred, as they should hold out to the last man. Proctor opened fire. The first movement was upon the northwest angle of the fort, as if to make a breach and thus carry the works. The commandant strengthened that point by bags of sand, and during the night stealthily placing his one cannon in a concealed position, he filled it with slugs. The following day, the fire again swept the northwest corner, and, evening ap- proaching, a column of 350 men swept up within twenty yards of the walls. They were met by the musketry, which had little effect, and the ditch was soon filled with men. The next instant, the hidden can- non, so placed as to sweep the ditch, sud- denly began action, and the surprised as- sailants quickly recoiled and the fort was saved with the loss of only one man. The next morning, the enemy had dis- appeared, evidently in haste, as guns, clothing and stores were left behind. They had lost over one hundred and fifty by this useless attempt. Croghan had pre- viously received orders to evacuate the fort from Gen. Harrison, and his deter- OHIO IN THE, WAR OF 1812 215 mination to hold the position merited Har- rison’s reprimand and remand of commis- sion. Such was the severity of military law. However, the rank of Colonel was immediately conferred upon him by the President, for his gallantry. The ladies of Chillicothe presented him with an ele- gant testimonial in the shape of a sword. It was decided to make a naval warfare effectual in the recovery of the North- western Territory, and accordingly vessel- building began under Commodore Perry’s supervision. The British looked upon this proceeding with decision, fully intending to use these boats for their own purpose. They pub- licly proclaimed their intention. By the 1st of August, 1813, Commodore Perry set sail a flotilla, the Lawrence and Niagara of twenty guns each, with smaller vessels following. Some difficuulty was encountered in launching the larger ves- sels, on account of the shallowness of the water. Perry’s first destination was Put-in- Bay, thirty miles from Malden, where the British fleet lay under the guns of the fort. On the 10th of September the Brit- ish fleet — exceeding the American by ten guns — under Commodore Barclay, ap- peared off Put-in-Bay, distant about ten miles. Perry immediately set sail. The wind shifting, the Americans had the ad- vantage. Perry hoisted the Union Jack. A gen- eral preparation was made for the con- flict. An ominius silence settled over all as the fleets approached. A bugle sounded on the enemy’s ship Detroit, and a furious fire was opened upon the Lawrence. The frightful and desperate battle that ensued is so familiar that it is not necessary for us to repeat its details. It forever re- mains in history as a prominent, desper- ate struggle that turned the tide most de- cisively in favor of the Americans. Hand to hand, for three hours, this furious struggle surged, resulting in a pronounced victory for the Americans. Commodore Perry immediately re- quested parole for his severely wounded antagonist, Commodore Barclay. Capt. Elliott was at this engagement highly commended by Perry for his bravery. Gen. Harrison now made preparations to follow Proctor, and reached Malden on the 27th of September. Proctor had retreated to Sandwich, and thence Harrison followed him, overtaking the enemy on the 9th of October, on the bank of the Thames. An engagement en- sued which was not particularly marked in its events, but which practically termi- nated the war in the Northwest. Tecumseh fell during this battle, and his death disheartened the savages to such an extent that they were willing to make terms of peace. Accordingly a treaty was concluded on the 22nd day of July, 1814, with the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees, Senecas and Miamis, the tribes engaged in hostilities.” One of the most interesting incidents of my life is connected with the commem- oration of Perry’s victory. The story in detail will be mainly interesting to all readers of history. In 1910, General J. Warren Kiefer, then the member of Congress from the 7th Ohio district, succeeding in having passed into a law, an appropriation by the general government of the sum of $250,000, for the purpose of erecting a monument in memory of the Perry victory of Lake Erie. In the year 1911 the Lake States had sup- plemented this sum by State appropria- tions in amount ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Besides the Lake States, Ken- tucky and Rhode Island had appropriated the sum of $25,000 each; Kentucky in memory of the fact that her sons figured more prominently than all others in the military operations under Gen. Harrison who commanded in the West and whose victory over Proctor in the battle of the Thames closed the war. The entire gov- ernment and State appropriations reached $800,000. 216 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY After the government and State funds had been secured, the followinggovemment commissioners were appointed: J. Warren Keifer, ex-speaker of Congress; Nelson A. Miles, Lieutenant General of the United States Army, retired, and Rear Admiral Clarke, formerly of around the horn, Ore- gon, retired. Each of the States contrib- uting had also appointed Commissioners and the first meeting of the full joint Na- tional and State bodies was held in Put-in- Bay on Sept. 10th, 1912, to perfect plans. On acount of the fact that the largest average crowds in the Nation at that time gathered at the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic and that I had acted as Executive Director at Sar- atoga Springs, New York, in 1907, Toledo, Ohio, in 1908, Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1909 and Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1910, Gen. Kiefer had invited me to ac- company him for the purpose of furnish- ing advice in relation to the program for providing entertainment at the Centen- niel to be held one year from that date. I was made the guest of Gen. Kiefer, Miles and Admiral Clarke at the Middle Bass House on Middle Bass Island from which place we were transported to Put- in-Bay for business meetings and banquet in a beautiful yacht owned by George H. Worthington of Cleveland, Ohio, Presi- dent of the Lake Erie Yacht Club, as well as President-General of the Perry Monu- ment Commission. On the night of the banquet, commencing at 8:30 p. m., and ending at 12 :30 a. m., several very excel- lent speeches were made, not the least of which came from that eloquent orator and great political writer, Henry Water- son of Louisville, Kentucky. The following story, related by Gen. Kiefer, in the begin- ning of his speech, was new to me. Gen. Proctor and Tecumseh, the greatest of all Indians, who had been made a brigadier general in the British army, were at Mal- den, 30 miles away on the opposite side of the lake and could clearly hear the sound of battle and see the cloud of smoke, and when the absence of these indicated that the battle was over, Tecumseh, turning to Proctor, said, “Did we whip 'em?” and Proctor replied, “Certainly, we did” and then it was that Tecumseh said, “Well, why don't they come back?” It was after midnight when the Worth- ington boat landed us at Middle Bass, but north of the regular pier a quarter of a mile, on account of low water. The road was alongside the lake and for the entire distance the right of the road was covered with vineyards. After making a part of the distance, I said, “Gen. Miles, do you like Delaware grapes?” and he replied, “It is the queen of all grapes.” I said, “Here are acres of them the finest I have ever seen, and I know for I was here this morn- ing.” The party entered the vineyard and gathered as many as they could carry about their persons and then continued the walk along the lake road, spitting out on the ground the skin and seed of the grapes. Gen. Miles stopped long enough once to recite. “Women love revenge, Sailors love prize money And soldiers love pillage.” It was a beautiful moonlight night and the lightly rippling waters of the lake seemed a sheen of molten gold. I am in- debted to Gen. Kiefer for the following, relating to this — the greatest Doric col- umn on the earth. Springfield, Ohio, April 21, 1917. Col. F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. My dear friend : In reply to yours of the 17th inst., I answer that the Washington Monument is higher than the Perry Monument but the latter exceeds all others of its class. Col. Henry Watterson has seen all of them in this line and pronounces ours the great- est in the world. Its height is 317 feet and 1 inch ; diameter of base 45 feet ; diameter of neck 35 feet, 6 inches; bacus 47 feet OHIO IN THE WAR OF 1812 217 square; thickness of walls at base, 9 feet, 9 inches; thickeness of walls at neck 4 feet. The tripod is 22 feet, 10 inches in height and 17 feet, 4 inches in diameter. It is of statutory bronze in wrought and cast sections. The glass dome is an un- broken surface in 24 pieces in closed joints, a form of construction never before attempted in glass. The weight of the tripod is approximately ten tons. The names of the American killed and wounded in the battle of Lake Erie, Sep- tember 10th, 1813, are carved in the wall panels of the rotunda of the column and the complete roster of the fleet will appear in bronze tablets on the second floor. A passenger elevator runs to the spectator’s gallery, at a height of 317 feet. It car- ried 27,000 passengers in 1916. The mem- orial reservation of fourteen acres, from the center of which the column rises, com- prises the narrowest part of Put-in-Bay Island toward east point, overlooking in either direction from the site of the col- umn within a distance of about 300 feet, the waters of both Lake Erie and Put-in- Bay harbor. The scene most appropri- ately includes Gibralter Island, West Sis- ter Island off whose shores Commodore Perry dispatched his famous message, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” The Canadian shore, the expanse of waters and the international boundary line for one hundred years have borne si- lent but convincing testimony to the effi- ciency of international peace by disarma- ment. Very truly, J. WARREN KIEFER. CHAPTER XIV OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR Among the many able and ordinary op- ponents of the institution of slavery that were prominent in the country’s affairs between 1850 and 1860, William H. Seward of New York was regarded by the slave holders as their most dreadful enemy, mingled with a feeling of respect if not of awe. In his “irrepressible conflict” he boldly assumed a “higher law” than the Constitution of the United States and it became the battle cry in the most terrible conflict, theretofore known in the history of the world. He detested slavery from principle but more than all he opposed it with all his great powers because it would cripple the Union in its destined career. He saw in it a permanent element of po- litical weakness and obloquy upon free labor, degrading to that portion of our population upon which our future great- ness depended. In the great Senatorial debate in Illi- nois between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858, Lincoln added to Seward’s “higher law” the additional doctrine that “a house divided against it- self cannot stand” and that therefore the country must become all slave or all free. This sad-faced man from the ranks of the people, keenly alive to every hardship of pioneer life ; acquainted with or to become acquainted with each step from the lowest to the highest in American citizenship; kindly at heart, modest in speech and bear- ing, and more nearly the prototype of Jesus, the Nazarene, than any man who [ 218 ] had lived for more than 1800 years, turn- ing to his great opponent, during the great meeting at Alton, Illinois, in August, 1858, said, “Is slavery wrong? That is the real question at issue and will continue to be the issue when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself are silent. It is the eternal struggle between the two great principles right and wrong, that have stood face to face with each other from the be- ginning of time and will ever continue to struggle.” The civilization of Plymouth Rock had moved westward north of the 40” parallel of latitude and the civilization of James- town had moved westward south of that line, until the two antagonistic streams had met on the plains of Kansas in armed and bloody conflict. A battle line 2,000 miles in length was formed, extending from the Atlantic to the Rio Grande and 2.250.000 men on the one side fought to perpetuate the Union while about 1.500.000 on the other side fought to de- stroy the Union which our fore- fathers had dedicated to freedom. In the mighty cauldron of war, only, could con- fusion be fused into order and all sections of the Union started abreast with each other in the onward sweep of civilization. The first gun against the flag, in Charleston Harbor, electrified the liberty loving people of this land into an exhibition of Patriotism unknown to the annals of the ages; with an uprising from the breath of God, our people from every avenue of OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 219 art and industry sprang to arms in de- fense of the civilization of Plymouth Rock, and our Southern brethren, with equal ar- dor, sprang to the defense of the civiliza- tion of Jamestown. It is not my purpose to more than men- tion here how our batallions stood like a wall of iron on that last day at Shiloh, how the white flag waver over Donnelson, how the brave men of the north and the south fell in the bloody angle at Spottsylvania, how the waves of battle surged and rolled at Gettysburg, mid the mightiest artillery combat ever witnessed on this or any other continent, how Hooker fought above the clouds at Lookout, how Sherman marched to the sea, how Sheridan, the greatest cav- alry captain of the nineteenth century rode on his white-flecked black charger through the historic valley of the Shenandoah, and the final triumph of Grant, the silent sol- dier at Appomatox. Since the close of the titanic struggle, 1,600,000 of these men after building em- pires in the west, have marched down the declivity of life and pitched their tents on the eternal camping grounds in the plains of light. There were 360,000 of them mus- tered out on the battle field, the hospital and prison pen. About 300,000 of them yet remain at an average of 75 years. When the renown of Greece, Rome and Napoleon shall have grown dim, the deeds of these men will illuminate the pages of history with ever-increasing brilliancy. It was their example that induced their sons to forever sweep from the western hemis- phere 400 years of Spanish tyranny, and their example will continue to inspire their descendants to deeds of heroism for the republic. Who can foresee to what extent our patriotism and resources may be tested in the present war with Germany. Every military organization in Ohio at once ten- dered their services to William Dennison, the Governor of Ohio, within twenty-four hours after the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 troops. The legislature appro- priated $1,000,000 to place the state on a war footing. A splendid wave of patriot- ism submerged the influence of party sen- timent. The Governor established a camp at Miamiville, near Cincinnati, called Camp Dennison which continued to receive and discharge troops for four years. George B. McClellan was appointed Major General of the Ohio militia. Governor Letcher of Virginia sent troops early in May to break up the Convention in Wheeling, the object of which was to form a new State within the Union, of West Virginia. Col. Philip Steadman and his troops crossed the Ohio at Marietta, marched to Parkersburg and quelled a rebellious disturbance in that city. Col. Irvine crossed at Wheeling with a regiment of loyal Virginians. These two columns met at the railroad junction at Grafton where the Letcher troops had con- centrated and hastily retreated when the Ohioans approached and who followed them to Phillipi where the first fight of the Civil War occurred and in favor of loyal troops. The convention had been pro- tected, the railway system had been re- tained and West Virginia secured to the Union. Gen. Rosencranz, with McClellan’s ad- vance, and unaided, defeated Garnett at Laurel Hill and pushed him eastward. Mc- Clellan failed to intercept Garnett’s re- treat but Steadman overtook him at Car- rick’s Ford where a sharp engagement took place in which Gai’nett was killed. Ohio had driven the rebels from West Vir- ginia as a gift to the Nation. When McClellan was called to Washing- ton, Rosencranz succeeded him in com- mand. The three months’ men had been mustered out and the three years’ men had been mustered in but not enough to hold the captured territory in the face of the determined plans of Governor Letcher for its recapture, who had despatched General Robert E. Lee, the greatest General of the South in charge of an offensive campaign. Rosencranz wrote Governor Dennison as follows: Tf you, Governor of Indiana and Governor of Michigon will lend your ef- 220 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY forts to get me quickly 50,000 men in ad- dition to my present force, I think a blow can be struck which will save fighting the rifled cannon batteries at Manasses. Lee is certainly at Cheat Mountain. Send all the troops you can to Grafton.” The plans of Rosencranz were made futile by the dispatch of all available troops in the west to the aid of Fremont at Springfield, Mo. Gen. J. D. Cox, commanded the forces of Rosencranz in the Kanawa Valley. Cox, notwithstanding he had received heavy reinforcements, became alarmed at the threatening appearance on his front, tele- graphed to Governor Dennison for help. Rosencranz again appealed to the Gover- nor for reinforcement to march across the country against Floyd and Wise to Cox’s relief. “I want to catch Floyd while Cox holds him in front. He was able to use 23 Ohio Regiments with which he again drove the rebels from West Virginia. The cam- paign, so far waged, the battles so far fought and the victories so far won, had been the work of Ohio men. The country they had wrested from the enemy was gar- risoned, the exposed railroads, so impor- tant to successful military operations, were guarded after which the State settled down to a thorough and systematic organ- ization of every department in aid of suc- cessful warfare, including the medical. A laboratory for the supply of ammunition was established at Columbus. Camp Den- nison and Camp Chase had been placed under the control of the United States; a regular system was placed in operation to supply stores and clothing to the suffering at home and in the field. During the Fall and early Winter of 1861, the Ohio troops suffered in West Virginia. The people came promptly to their assistance with blankets, clothing and other supplies. Among the letters which were written from the three soldier sons of our imme- diate family to the folks at home and from the latter to those in the field, the follow- ing will, in a degree, explain that the peo- ple at home were keenly alive to their duty: At Home, August 19, 1861. Dear Son: — I write you a few lines to let you know how we are all doing. I would have writ- ten sooner but as Francis (myself) wrote immediately upon the receipt of your let- ter, I concluded to defer until this week. We are all well as usual and hope these few lines may find you in good health and spirit. I suppose that Francis wrote you that Will had enlisted. He will leave Springfield on Wednesday a week and go to Zanesville and from there they do not know where they will be ordered but likely to West Virginia (it was to Kentucky). I hope you may not become discouraged. Always keep in view the righteousness of our cause and the necessity of true pa- triotism. If our government is destroyed, life itself will hardy be desirable. I think that by a united effort and a full reliance in God that we will come off victorious and those who have suffered and struggled for the maintenance of our government may come home and sit down in peace with a name that will be envied by traitors. Do not think that we forget you and our pray- ers constantly go up for your safety and for your return home some day. Enclosed find a dollar bill for stamps. Please write us at least once a week. We are at the post office every mail day, anxious to get a letter from you. Give my respects to all the boys and especially to Muray and tell him to write me without fail. Tell Captain Curtis to write me. Farewell for the present, F. W. STERRETT. The above was addressed to Jacob R. Sterrett in care of Captain Curtis, Co. D. 11th Ohio Regiment, General Cox’ Bri- gade, Gallipolis, Ohio, the latter being the mail distributing point for the army in the interior. The 11th Ohio was at that time at Gauley Bridge. The following extracts from letters from Sergeant Jacob R. Sterrett 11th O. V. I., will furnish some idea of conditions in the field at that time. OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 221 Gauley Bridge, August 21, 1861. Dear Brother: I seat myself once more to write you a few lines. It is raining hard and I will not have to work on the entrenchments to- day, as I expected. It has rained every day for the last week. Great excitement was caused last night when a staff officer of Gen. Cox shot an orderly sergeant in the Kentucky Regiment who refused to work his men on the entrenchments until they had something to eat. They had been on picket all day yesterday and had no dinner. He was arrested immediately and it was as much as Gen. Cox could do to keep the Kentucky boys from raiding his quarters and killing him. The officer., has been tried and will be shot tomorrow. I wrote a letter day before yesterday and when you get it you will hear all about our fighting. I don’t know what letters you receive and those you do not. I received your postage stamps and was glad to get them for I was out. I was looking over the letters this morning and found 5 cents in the one John and Katie sent (aged 13 and 11 then) and was glad to get it, little as it was, for money is scarce in this country. I will have to close for we are going on a scout this afternoon and will probably be gone for a week. All the Honey Creek boys are well and hardy. George Ullery and William Scobey came pretty nigh being taken prisoner. Write to me about the boys on Honey Creek and whether any of them are secessionists. Tell David Strock he promised me he would enlist after harvest (he did in the 44th 0. V. I.) Write soon. Your brother, JACOB R. STERRETT. A letter from Moutain Cave, Va., on Sept. 17th, 1861 : “Have been doing scout work several weeks and been in some pretty tight places. Rosecranz attacked Gen. Floyd last Friday and had a complete victory. He was within 20 miles of Gauley and coming to attack it. He retreated back on the Summerville road and joined Wise. At one o’oclock Friday night, we went up New River 12 miles to the point where Floyd joined Wise; were to meet, but were a half hour late. They had hurrid away. They are expected to make a stand at Sewel Mountain. We will go round the other way and get there before the enemy, if possible. I am glad to hear of our boys on Honey Creek turning out so well for the war. All the boys are well except George Ullery who has been in the hospi- tal for two weeks. Tell Grandfather Ul- lery I think of him often and the war tales of 1812 in which he was a soldier. I am writing on the ground.” The following letter will explain to some degree the work being done at that time by those at home in every community of the State: Springfield, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1861. S. W. Sterrett, Christiansburg, Ohio. I have been requested by our Committee to write you in regard to the necessity of some measures being taken to provide means to subsist the families of those who have enlisted in the service of the U. S. A. Our list has increased considerable since I saw you and our funds will not last more than a month longer if that. If the Commit- tee of the County cannot do any thing, we must make some other arrangement as it will not do to withdraw our support from these families. Will you please set a day at your earliest convenience to meet the other committee and inform them of the time you set. Yours sincerely, G. S. FOOS. I have more than 200 of these war let- ters, written between 1861-5 which trace the campaigns of the 11th 0. V. I. through the two Virginias, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee embracing descriptions of 222 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the battles of the Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and other smaller en- gagements. The last one is written Sept. 11th, 1863, from near Chattanooga and then the pen and voice became forever quiet. His life went out at Chickamauga from a bullet through the breast. Other letters in this unusual collection trace the campaigns of the 31st 0. V. I. through Kentucky and Tennessee. One of these letters contains a piece of silk suspender worn by Gen. Zollicoffer at the battle of Mills Springs, before being shot in that battle by Gen. James B. Frye of Danville, Ky. Others of this collection trace the campaigns of the 5th Independent Batal- lion of Ohio Cavalry through eastern and southeastern Kentucky and the Cumber- land range, describing the burning of the Court House at Winchester by the Cook guerrillas, their pursuit and punishment, the fight at Louisa Court House, the ar- rest of the author of this history for writ- ing contraband war news to be told here- after in the County history ; the experience of the 147th O. V. I. in Virginia and Maryland, and the experience of the author on the surveying party in plat- ting Arlington Heights, the property of Gen. Robert E. Lee, consisting of 1100 acres, for a National Cemetery where thousands of our most distinguished sol- diers now rest. David A. Todd succeeded William Den- nison as Governor of Ohio in 1862, and signaled his entrance into office by a thor- ough and systematic system of relief work which was subsequently copied by all of the States. The agencies in Cincinnati, Washington, Memphis, Cairo and St. Louis undertook the care of all disabled soldiers from Ohio Regiments who sifted through from the front. The President became alarmed for the safety of the capitol at this time endan- gered as it was by the dash of Stonewall Jackson down the Shenandoah Valley. In the call for additional troops, five thousand men responded to Governor Tod’s procla- mation, at Camp Chase, in one day and the quota for Ohio was more than filled. In June, under the President’s call for an additional 500,000 men, the apportionment for Ohio was 74,000 of which she raised 54.000 volunteers and drafted 20,000 more on Sept. 15th, 1862, and Ohio was ahead of her calls at the close of the year. In June and July, 1863, John H. Morgan crossed the Ohio river for the purpose of plunder for himself and followers; to pre- pare the way for Buckner to dash into Kentucky from Tennessee and seize Louis- ville and with Morgan to capture Cincin- nati; to form the nucleus of an armed counter-revolution in the northwest where the “Knights of the Golden Circle” or the “Sons of Liberty” of the peace faction, were numerous ; and to prevent reinforce- ments from being sent to Meade from that region. Already about 80 Kentuckians, on June 19, 1863, had crossed the Ohio to Indiana to test the temper of the people. They were captured. Morgan started June 27th, 1863, with 3,500 men well mounted and six guns, crossing the Cumberland river at Burkesville, and pushing on encountered some loyal cavalry at Columbia, Tenn., on July 3, 1863, and fought them for three hours and partly sacked the town and pro- ceeded to destroy a bridge over the Green river, when he was driven away after a desperate fight of several hours by 200 Michigan troops under Col. Moore well intrenched. Morgan lost twenty-nine. He rushed into Lebanon, captured a small Union force there, set fire to the place and lost his brother, killed in the fight. He reached the Ohio, 40 miles below Louis- ville, July 7th, 1863. His ranks were swelled as he went plundering through Kentucky and he crossed the Ohio with 4.000 men and two guns. He captured two steamers with which he crossed. He was closely pursued by some troops under Gen. Hobson of Kentucky, and others went up the Ohio river in steamboats to intercept him. He plundered Corydon, the former State capitol of Indiana, murdered citi- zens and stole 300 horses. On he went, OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 223 robbing mill and factory owners by de- manding $1,000 as a condition for the safety of their property. In like manner, he went from village to village until the 12th, when at a railway near Vernon, he encountered Col. Lowe with 1200 militia- mnn. Morgan was assured that Indiana was aroused and that there was a great uprising of the loyal people against him. The victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg now inspired the people. Gov. Morton called on the citizens to turn out and expel the invaders. Within 48 hours, 65,000 citizens had tendered their services and were hastening toward the rendezvous. Morgan was alarmed. He stole fresh horses for the race before Hobson, his persistent pursuer. He passed swiftly north of Cincinnati through the southern counties of Ohio and struck the river a little north of Pomeroy. The people of Ohio, also, were aroused. Gen. Judah went up the Ohio from Cincinnati in steam- boats to head him off, and the people were gathered from different points. At Buf- fington ford, he attempted to cross the river and escape into Virginia, but there the head of Hobson’s column, under Gen. Shackleford struck his rear, Gen. Judah struck his flank and two armed vessels in the stream opened upon his front. Hem- med in, about 800 of his men surrendered and the remainder, leaving all their plun- der behind them, followed their leader up the river, and again attempted to cross to Belleville by swimming their horses. About 300 crossed, but the remainder were driven back by a gunboat, when Morgan fled inland to McArthur, fighting militia, burning bridges and plundering. At last, he was obliged to surrender to Gen. Shackelford, July 26th, 1863, at New Lisbon, the capitol of Columbian County. Morgan and some of his officers were con- fined in the Ohio Penitentiary at Colum- bus from which he and six others escaped in November and joined the Confederate forces in northern Georgia. The race betwen the troops of Morgan and his pursuers had continued three weeks without cessation at the rate of 35 miles a day. Morgan afterward received a great ovation at Richmond as a great hero. During the twenty years I lived in St. Louis, Mo., between 1885 and 1905, I be- came acquainted with and the personal friend of a Captain Cohn, of near Lexing- ton, Kentucky, formerly, and one of the captains in the Morgan raid, with whom I spent many hours in discussion of the mil- itary significance of that wild ride of a few thousand men to end in capture. The captain was sincere in his belief that it was planned on the lines set forth in the head of this article. The most the captain would say in reference to the wholesale plunder that is known to have accom- panied that ride was that that feature was unfortunate- W. H. Hines, of Bowling Green, Ken- tucky, a cousin of the Capt. Hines who rode with Morgan and was confined with him in Columbus, lived in St. Louis, dur- ing the twenty years I resided there and was my most intimate friend. He, too, believed, that the raid of Morgan was planned for far-reaching military effect. From statements made by Capt. Hines, they counted on reaching the Ohio river with 20,000 men and recruiting 30,000 more in Indiana and Ohio from the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” and the “Sons of Liberty,” who were known to be armed. They had to learn that the class on whom they depended were truly “cop- perheads” who hissed but did not strike. In the Beers’ History of Miami County on page 189, the author among other statements in relation to the Morgan raid, says, “Morgan’s purposes were never clear.” It is certain, however, that Mor- gan made it clear to his officers that his purposes were as above written. 224 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY PROMINENT OHIO GENERALS George Briton McClellan, the first Gen- eral appointed in Ohio, was born Decem- ber 3, 1826, in Philadelphia. His father was a physician of high standing and of Scotch descent. Young George was in school in Philadelphia, and entered West Point at the age of sixteen. At the age of twenty, he was a brevet Second Lieuten- ant, tracing lines of investment before Vera Cruz, under the supervision of Capt. R. E. Lee, First Lieutenant P. G. T. Beau- regard, Second Lieutenant G. W. Smith. At the close of the Mexican war, old Col. Totten reported in favor of them all to Winfield Scott. He had charge of an ex- ploring expedition to the mountains of Oregon and Washington, beginning with the Cascade Range. This was one of a series of Pacific Railway explorations. Returning to Washington, he was detailed to visit the West Indies and secretly select a coaling station for the United States Navy. He was dispatched by Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War to Europe with instructions to take full reports of the or- ganization of military forces connected with the Crimean War. This work elic- ited entire satisfaction. He returned in January, 1857, resigned as regular army officer and was soon installed as engineer of Illinois Central Railroad. In 1860 he was president of the Ohio and Mississippi. He removed to Cincinnati where he was at the beginning of the war. William Starks Rosencranz was born September 6th, 1819, in Delaware County, Ohio. His people were from Amsterdam. He was educated at West Point. When the war opened, he espoused the cause of the Union with enthusiastic zeal, and was appointed by McClellan on his staff as Engineer. June 9, he was Chief Engineer of the State under special law. Soon thereafter, he was Colonel of the Twenty- third Ohio, and assigned to the command of Camp Chase, Columbus. On May 16, his commission was out as Brigadier Gen- eral in the United States Army. This reached him and he was speedily sum- moned to active service under Gen. Mc- Clellan. After the battle of Rich Moun- tain, he was promoted to the head of the department. ” In April, 1862, he was succeeded by Fremont, and ordered to Washington to engage in immediate service for the Sec- retary of War. About the 15th of May, he was ordered to Gen. Halleck before Corinth. He was relieved from his com- mand December 9, 1864. Ulysses S. Grant, whose history we can- not attempt to give in these pages, was born on the banks of the Ohio at Point Pleasant, Clemont County, Ohio, April 27, 1822. He entered West Point in 1839. "That the son of a tanner, poor and un- pretending, without influential friends until his performance had won them, ill- used to the world and its ways, should rise — not suddenly, in the first blind wor- ship of helpless ignorance which made any one who understood regimental tactics il- lustrious in advance for what he was go- ing to do, not at all for what he had done — but slowly, grade by grade, through all the vicissitudes of constant service and min- gled blunders and success, till, at the end of four years’ war he stood at the head of our armies, crowned by popular acclaim our greatest soldier, is a satisfactory an- swer to criticism and a sufficient vindica- tion of greatness. Success succeeds.” "We may reason on the man’s career, we may prove that at few stages has he shown evidence of marked ability, we may demonstrate his mistakes, we may swell the praises of his subordinates, but after all, the career stands wonderful, unique, worthy of study so long as the nation hon- ors her benefactors, or the State cherishes the good fame of the sons who contributed most to her honor.” Lieut. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was another Ohio contribution to the great Union war. He was born at Lancaster, OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 225 February 8, 1820. He entered West Point in June, 1836. His “inarch to the sea” has fully brought out the details of his life, since they were rendered interesting to all, and we refrain from repeating the well- known story. Philip H. Sheridan was born on the 6th of March, 1831, in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio. He entered West Point in 1848. During the war, his career was brilliant. His presence meant victory. Troops fighting under his command were inspired. Gen. Rosencranz said of him: “He fights, he fights.” A staff officer once said, “He is an emphatic human syllable.” Maj. Gen. James B, McPherson was born in Sandusky County, town of Clyde, November 14th, 1828. Maj. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore was born Feb- ruary 28, 1825, at Black River, Lorain County, Ohio. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell was born at Franklinton, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1818. Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell was born near Marietta on the 23rd of March, 1818. His grandfather on the maternal side was one of the first settlers of Cincinnati. Maj. Gen. 0. M. Mitchell was a native of Kenutcky, but a resident of Ohio from the age of four years. Maj. Gen. Robert C. Schenck was born October 4th, 1809, in Franklin, Warren County, Ohio. Maj. Gen. James A. Garfield, was born in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, No- vember 19, 1831. Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox was born in Canada in 1828 and removed to Ohio in 1846. Maj. Gen. James B. Steedman was born in Pennsylvania July 30, 1818, and re- moved to Toledo in 1861. Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 1, 1828. Maj. Gen. George Crook was born in Mongtomery County, Ohio, September 8, 1828. Maj. Gen. Mortimer D. Leggett was born in New York April 19, 1831, and emigrated to Ohio in 1847. Brevet Maj. Gen. John C. Tidball was born in Virginia, but removed while a mere lad to Ohio with his parents. Brevet Maj. Gen. John W. Fuller was born in England in 1827. He removed to Toledo in 1858. Brevet Maj. Gen. Manning F. Force was born in Washington, D. C. on the 17th of December, 1824. He became a citizen of Cincinnati. Brevet Maj. Gen. Henry B. Banning was born in Knox County, Ohio, Novem- ber 10, 1834. We add the names of Brevet Maj. Gens. Erastus B. Tyler, Thomas H. Ewing, Charles R. Woods, August V. Kautz, Ruth- erford B. Hayes, Charles C. Walcutt, Ken- ner Garrard, Hugh Ewing, Samuel Beatty, James S. Robinson, Jospeh W. Keifer, Eli Long, William B. Woods, John W. Sprague, Benjamin P. Runkle, August Willich, Charles Griffin, Henry J. Hunt, B. W. Brice, Brig. Gens. Robert L. McCook, William H. Lytle, William Leroy Smith, C. P. Buckingham, Ferdinand Van Der- veer, George P. Este, Joel A. Dewey, Ben- jamin F. Potts, Jacob Ammen, Daniel Mc- Cook, J. W. Forsyth, Ralph P. Buckland, William H. Powell, John G. Mitchell, Eli- akim P. Scammon, Charles G. Harker, J. W. Reilly, Joshua W. Sill, N. C. McLean, William T. H. Brooks, George W. Morgan, John Beatty, William W. Burns, John S. Mason, S. S. Carroll, Henry B. Carring- ton, M. S. Wade, John P. Slough, T. K. Smith, Brevet Brig. Gens. C. B. Ludlow, Gens. C. B. Ludlow, Andrew Hicken- looper, B. D. Fearing, G. F. Wiles, Thomas M. Vincent, J. S. Jones, Stephen B. Yeo- man, F. W. Moore, Thomas F. Wilder, Isaac Sherwood, C. H. Grosvenor, Moses E. Walker, R. N. Adams, E. B. Eggleston, I. M. Kirby. We find numerous other names of Bre- vet Brigadier Generals, mostly of late ap- pointments, and not exercising commands 226 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY in accordance with their brevet rank, which we omit quoting through lack of space. They are the names of men of rare abilities, and in many cases of brilliant achievements. In looking over the “War Record of Ohio” we find the State a great leader in men of valor and heroic deeds. It was the prolific field of military geniuses. An interesting story was told me by General W. I. Sherman, who lived in St. Louis a number of years after the war and to whom the citizens presented a fine home on Garison avenue. I sat with him often in the post room and as a fellow delegate to national encampments and believe him to have been not only one of the greatest soldiers in history but a man in whom there was no guile. There was a banquet held in Washington, D. C., of the loyal legion at which Grant Presided and ad- dressed, followed by Sherman and Sheri- dan who referred to their birthplace in Ohio with considerable pride. Some one facetiously remarked that Ohio had cer- tainly had her inning and called upon Gen. Rosencranz, who arose and said: “If Ohio speakers are to be cut out, excuse me as I was bora in Delaware, Ohio.” Some one from the east arose and said “excuse me, I was born at Franklinton, Ohio. Buell was then called out and said: “Excuse me, I was born at Marietta, Ohio.” Gen. Mit- chell was called out and amid roars of laughter and applause replied, “I have been a resident of Ohio since I was four years of age.” German Sherman delighted in telling the above and one other in a similar relation which applied specifically to himself. He and a party of friends had listened to the great Italian tenor of the unpronouncable name, with much gratification and after the performance, as was Sherman’s fre- quent custom he and his party went behind the scenes and were introduced to the great tenor. Sherman said: ‘I have often wished and am fixed in my intention to sometime visit the scenes of your birth- place and revel in its glorious sunshine and drink deeply at the fountain of its wonder- ful history.” The great tenor replied: “My dear general, I was born on Snaky Creek, near Steubenville, in Jefferson County, Ohio.” Ohio was draped with the garb of mourning at the close of the war. Her human sacrifice in behalf of the nation had been bitter. There were tears and heart aches all over the land. Her ranks were swept by a murderous fire, from which they never flinched, and many offi- cers fell. Col. John H. Patrick will be remem- bered as opening the battle of Lookout Mountain. He fell mortally wounded, during the Atlanta campaign, May 15, 1862, while actively engaged. He was struck by a canister shot, and expired half a hour thereafter. Col. John T. Toland, in July, 1863, was placed in command of a mounted brigade, including his regiment, and was instructed to destroy the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He reached Wytheville, Va., on the afternoon of the 18th of July. The rebels were safely entrenched in the house, and poured a galling fire into the national troops. Col. Toland was on horseback, at the head of his command. A sharp shooter sent a bullet with fatal cer- tainty, and he fell on the neck of his horse, but was instantly caught by his Orderly Sergeant who heard the fervent words: “My horse and my sword to my mother.” Lieut. Col. Barton S. Kyle accompanied his regiment to the battle of Pittsburg Landing. The regiment was forced back, though resisting bravely. Lieut. Col. Kyle was at his post of duty, encouraging his men, when he received a bullet in his right breast. He survived five hours. Col. William Jones was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, June, 1863. His regiment, the thirty-sixth Ohio, was in- cluded in Turchin’s Bridage of the Four- teenth Corps. He wrote in his pocket memoranda: “Off to the left; merciful •OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 227 Father, have mercy on me and my regi- ment, and protect us from injury and death.” — at 12 o’clock. At 5 that after- noon, he was fatally wounded and expired at 7 that same evening, on the battlefield. His remains were taken by the rebels, but in December, 1863, they were exhumed and interred in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati. Col. Fred. C. Jones held command of the Tenth Brigade in October, 1862, marching from Wild Cat, Ky., to Nash- ville, through a perpetual skirmish. Dur- ing the battle of Stone River, Col. Jones’ regiment, the 24th, was on the front and left of the line. During the afternoon when the rebel assault upon the left be- came furious, Col. Jones ordered his men to lie down and hold fire, which was obeyed. They rose to pour a deadly volley into the rebel ranks, and rush forward in a fierce charge. The capture of an entire rebel regiment was thus effected, but Col. Jones was shot in the right side. He was carried to the rear. “I know it, I am dy- ing now; pay no attention to me but look after my wounded men.” He survived about ten hours. His remains are buried in Spring Grove, Cincinnati. Col. Lorin Andrews went with his com- mand to Western Virginia, where he suc- cumbed to exposure and severe duty. He was removed to his home, Gambier, Ohio, where he died, surrounded by friends Sep- tember 18, 1861. Col. Minor Milliken was sent to repel the attacks of the rebels at the rear. He led a superb cavalry charge against the enemy, vastly superior in numbers, and was cut off with a small portion of his regiment. He disdained to surrender, and ordered his men to cut their way out. A hand-to-hand conflict ensued. Col. Milli- ken, being an expert swordsman, was able to protect himself with his saber. While parrying the strokes of his assailant, an- other shot him. The regiment, again charging, recovered his body, stripped of sword, purse and watch. Col. George P. Webster, with his regi- ment, the Ninety-eighth, left Steubenville for Covington, Ky.,' August 23, 1862, marching from that point to Lexington and Louisville. - He was placed at the command of the Thirty-fourth Brigade, Jackson’s division, Crook’s corps. He fell in the battle of Perry ville, and died on the field of battle. Col. Leander Stem was appointed Col- onel of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry August 30, 1862.. His premo- nitions that he should fall during his first regular engagement proved too true. As the army was advancing on Murfreesboro, the engagement of Knob Gap occurred, when Col. Stem’s regiment charged and took a rebel battery, with several prison- ers. The army closed around Murfrees- boro and on the evening of the 30th, the One Hundred and First was engaged in demonstrations against the enemy. Next morning, the battle of Stone River began in earnest. When Col. Stem’s regiment began to waver, he called out : “Stand by the flag now, for the good old State of Ohio!” and instantly fell, fatally wounded. Lieut. Col. Jonas ,D. Elliotf held his po- sition in May, 1863. During the summer of 1864, he commanded the left wing of the regiment at Dodsonville, Ala. ; in Sep- tember, he was sent after Wheeler, and was ordered into camp at Decatur. On the 23rd he was dispatched to Athens, to participate in the attack of Gen. Forrest of the rebels. Col. Elliott was sent out with 300 men, and being surrounded by Gen. Forrest, with vastly superior num- bers, a forced resistance enabled them to sustain their own ground, until a fresh brigade of rebels arrived, under Gen. War- ren. This officer instructed one of his men to shoot Lieut. Col. Elliott, and a moment later he fell. He lingered nineteen days. Col. Joseph L. Kirby Smith took com- mand of the Forty-third Ohio Regiment. He fell at the battle of Corinth, under Rosecranz. Lieut. Col. James W. Shane fell, June 27, 1864, in an assault upon the enemy's HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY *» works at Kenesaw. He Survived but forty minutes. Col. Augustus H. Coleman displayed the abilities of a successful commander. He was in the first charge on the bridge across Antietam Creek. He was fatally wounded. His last words were inquiries regarding his men. Col. J. W. Lowe commanded the Twelfth Ohio, and was ordered to assist the Tenth in the battle of Carnefix Ferry. Cheering his men, in the thickest of the fight, a rifle ball pierced his forehead, and he fell dead — the first field officer from Ohio killed in battle in the war for the Union. Lieut. Col. Moses F. Wooster was en- gaged with his regiment, the One Hundred and First Ohio, at Perryville. He was mortally wounded on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1862, in the grand effort to stem the tide of defeat at Stone River. The list of staff officers we refrain from giving through lack of space. At the opening of the war, William Den- nison was Governor of Ohio, David Tod succeeded him. John Brough was the third War Governor. Secretary Edwin M. Stanton was one of the most popular war ministers. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1815. He was engaged in the United States Cir- cuit Court in 1860, in a leading law suit, at Cincinnati, known as the Manny and McCormick reaper trial. On the 20th of January, 1862, he was appointed Secretary of War by Mr. Lincoln. Ex-Secretary Salmon P. Chase's public service in Ohio have already been men- tioned in these pages. In 1861, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, in Mr. Lincoln’s cabinet. United States Senator B. F. Wade made his reputation in Ohio. This Senator of the State stood at the head of the Commit- tee on the Conduct of the War throughout its duration. United States Senator John Sherman was a leading member of the Finance Committee during the war. For some time he was its chairman. Jay Cooke was the financial agent of the government, furnishing money for the payment of troops. He was born in Port- land, Huron Co., Ohio. In our brief review of the war record of Ohio, we have omitted a vast amount of detail information that would prove inter- esting to our readers. We believe we have been accurate in whatever we have given, taking as our authority that accepted “En- cyclopaedic” of Ohio war facts. OHIO IN THE CIVIE WAR 229 Columbus, 0., April 27, 1917. Mr. A. M. Sterrett, Troy, 0 My dear Sir: I have received your letter of the 26th relating to bhe cut. Replying have to say that I have a out at the printer's and if you could use it and send it right baok in a. short time, l would be pleased to let you have it. As you are perhaps aware, there was one company in my regiment, in the First Ohio Cavalry recruited in Miami County. Three of these boys have died recently - Nathan Teeter, a Mr. Patty at Pleasant Hill, and a German by the name, of Joseph Sneider of Piqua, 0. * f If .you would care to have it, I could give you a little story about being tafcen prisoner when the hat was shot and ray experiences as a prisoner. When you are ready to print, advise me and I will r have the cut forwarded to you. Box 645 220 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY AN INTERESTING CIVIL WAR STORY FROM AN OHIO CAPTAIN OF CAVALRY WITH HIS LETTER TO THE AUTHOR -TAKEN PRISONER AT COURTLAND, ALA. By IV. L. Curry, Captain First Ohio Cavalry I was taken prisoner July 25, 1862, at Courtland, Alabama, and I always cele- brate this anniversary as the day of de- liverance, as I had a hair-breadth escape from instant death. In fact my hair did not escape, as a minnie ball went through my hat, cutting the cross sabers on the front of the hat in two, making a hole through the hat crown six inches long, and cutting the hair from my head down to the scalp so that I pulled out a handful of hair from my head. After the evacuation of Corinth, Miss., on the night of May 28, 1862, General Buell’s army was scattered along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from Corinth east to Huntsville, Ala. My com- pany, K and company E of the same regi- ment, First Ohio Cavalry, and two com- panies of the Tenth Kentucky Infantry, were stationed at Courtland, Ala., guard- ing a railroad bridge. Courtland was a beautiful town, situated about midway between Tuscumbia and Decatur, Ala., about twenty-five miles from each, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. It was a lazy little town of fifteen hundred to two thousand inhabi- tants, noted for the beautiful shade trees that lined the streets, and pretty southern girls, who would insist on making mashes on the dashing cavalry boys, in defiance of their protests that they must continue true and loyal to the “Girl They Left Be- hind Them” among the hills and valleys of the “Bonnie Buckeye State.” The duty of the detachment was guard- ing the railroad bridges and pickets were thrown out on all of the roads, about a mile from camp, to guard against a sur- OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 231 prise from the enemy’s cavalry, who were making frequent dashes against these small detachments. Our camp was on the plantation of an old fellow by the name of Bynam, who professed to be intensely loyal to the old flag, and his cornfield along one side of our camp, just in good roasting ears, was carefully guarded, and a soldier that even plucked one ear had the guard-house star- ing him in the face and visions of extra duty policing the quarters with a pine- brush broom. On the morning of July 25th, after guard mount, the weather being very warm, the men were scattered over the camp, taking it quiet and easy and many of them sitting in the shade in front of their tents, or on the piles of forage sacks, having a game of old sledge or poker with a ten cent ante, while others were writing letters to the dear ones at home, or to their best girls, which was more often the case, little dreaming that the enemy in large force was rapidly marching and prepar- ing to pounce down upon our little handful of men like a hurricane. Lieutenant James Cutler, being a physi- cian, had charge of the sick at the post, and had established a temporary hospital over in the town in a brick church, and he was making his usual morning visit to the sick, and I, being next in rank, had com- mand of the company. Just as I had set- tled down on my cot for a little rest, as I was sick with malaria and camp fever, Captain Eggleston, commanding Com- pany E, came running to my tent in his shirt sleeves and bare head and shouted to me that the rebels were advancing upon our camp. I called to the bugler to sound “boots and saddles” and ran down through the quarters, directing the men to saddle their horses and mount as rap- idly as possible. Looking across the camp and toward old Bynam’s house, I saw a cloud of dust raising and in five minutes’ time the ad- vance of the rebel column came down the road, within three hundred yards of our camp, and gave the rebel yell that would have raised the hair on the head of a Comanche Indian. I had loaned my horse Billy that morn- ing to Sergeant Chapin to go out on picket, and I made up my mind with but little deliberation, and in a moment’s time that I was in for it and would be taken prisoner right in the camp; but after the company had all saddled and were in line, I saw one horse still at the picket rope, that I knew belonged to William Johnson, who had gone into town to shoe horses, and I ran down to line, saddled and bridled this horse, and by this time the rebels were in camp, banging away in a very careless manner. Just as I had buckled on my saber and revolver, Lieutenant Cutler came dashing into camp from town, and I ran into his tent, got his belt and saber and handed it to him and mounted. By this time the rebels were right upon us and we were the only two left and the enemy had cut us off from our command, which was form- ing with the infantry behind the railroad embankment. A high railroad embankment lay be- tween the camp and town, and two other soldiers who had been cut off from the command, having joined us at the ford, I suggested that we reconnoiter toward town to see if we were surrounded and then report to the commanding officer. Spurring our horses over the embankment we run right into a regiment of rebels galloping along the street close to the em- bankments and hidden from view, and we were prisoners in less time than it takes to tell the story. We were run off to the side of the street on the pavement and surrendered our horses and arms as gracefully as could be expected under the excitement and con- fusion, as the advance had fired a volley when they first hailed us and the balls whizzed uncomfortably near our heads. After we had surrendered, a guard was 232 HISTORY OF MIAHI COUNTY put over us and we were watching the rebel cavalry as they charged down the street in platoons. It was a very pretty sight from the pavement. Just at this moment a rebel soldier wheeled his horse out of the ranks not more than three rods from us raised his cabrine and banged away at us three prisoners and fired three shots in quick succession as we stood quietly looking him in the face, expecting each shot to kill one of us. As before stated the third shot went through my hat and stunned and blinded me for a moment, and I reeled and grasped the fence for support. I was so dazed that I was confident that I was shot and putting my head down toward one of the boys, I asked him where I was wounded, and taking off my hat and seeing that there was a bullet hole in front and that there was a hole in the crown at least six inches long, I became more and more impressed with the belief that the ball had gone through my head. Of course it was preposterous to even imagine that a ball could go through the head without causing instant death; but in my dazed condition my reasoning faculties were rather “knocked out of working order.” I put my hand upon the top of my head and pulled out a handful of hair and wool from my hat ground as fine as powder, and kept on pulling out the loose hair and feeling the top of my head and looking at my fingers to see if I could discover any blood, and continued this for a moment or two until I recovered from the shock, be- fore I was convinced that I was not wounded. It was a hair-breadth escape, and had the ball struck an eighth of an inch lower it would have blown the whole top of my head off and I would have been killed so suddenly that I would not have known what hurt me. I was not frightened during the time the rebel was firing the shots and did not attempt to dodge down or run, but stood still and looked at him very intently as he pulled the trigger of his carbine, but fully convinced that he would kill all three of us. I thought very fast and wished that we had our navy revolvers again that we had surrendered a few minutes before, and we would have fought it out as long as we had a load in our revolvers. The fellow made such an impression on me as he sat on his sorrel Texas pony in his shirt sleeves, with brown beard and long yellow hair, and a broad-rimmed, brown-colored slouch hat on his head, that I have never forgotten his face, and I think I would know him today if I should meet him, if he looked as he did then, al- though our meeting fifty-five years ago was very brief and rather abrupt. Until this day, if I hear the report of a musket near at hand, I imagine that I can feel that ball passing through my hat and hair exactly the same direction that that ball plowed a track so near my skull the day I was captured. No doubt there are thousands of other similar incidents that happened during the war, and only relate this as one in which it was my fortune to play a part as principal actor. The rebel cavalry was still charging along the street, and there sat that long yellow-haired cuss on his sorrel pony, with murder in his eye and his carbine thrown across the pommel of his saddle, as if tak- ing a rest before commencing another fusillade on three dangerous unarmed Yankee prisoners. Just at this moment a rebel officer was galloping slowly along near the pavement, reining his horse in, as if to close up his company, I appealed to him, stating that we were prisoners, that we had surrendered our arms and that we were entitled to protection, and, pointing to the long-haired sinner still sit- ting on his sorrel pony, informed the offi- cer that he had been practicing on us $t short range and in my opinion was getting ready for another engagement. This offi- cer ordered the fellow to join his com- mand, much to our relief, and then or- OHIO IN TH* CIVIL WAR 2)3 dered the guard to start us to the rear on double-quick. Now the “fight was on” and the balls from our own command stationed behind the railroad embankment, began to come over, rattling against the houses and fences and knocking up the dust in the streets like big drops of rain. While it was not a very comfortable situation for us to be placed in between two fires— still it was amusing to see how quickly the citizens scattered and vanished into their houses, and in a few minutes we had the streets all to ourselves. The guards hurried us along on the double-quick, for they seemed as anxious to get out of the range of the flying bullets as we were. I had on a pair of high cav- alry boots that came above my knees, with a pair of spurs, and being a cavalryman, we had been drilled to believe that it was very humiliating for a trooper to be com- pelled to march on foot. The guard that was looking after my welfare was of the same opinion and as there were several riderless horses run- ning loose on the common, the riders hav- ing been killed or wounded or in some manner thrown from their horses, the guard caught a fine gray, which he di- rected me to mount in “one time and two motions.” Not waiting for a second invi- tation, I mounted in hot haste. He proved to be an officer's horse, well equipped with two revolvers in the holsters fully loaded and my first thoughts were that if we had found those revolvers a few minutes soon- er, we would have made it lively for our long-haired friend on the sorrel pony. By this time many stragglers were gal- loping to the rear to get out of danger, which is a very usual occurrence during a fight, and a person to be in the rear of a battle line and see the cowards retreat- ing and the confusion and demoralization would imagine that the whole army was retreating; but when you arrive at the front you find that the line is steady and everything well in hand, and the fighting soldiers are under as complete control as if on battalion drill. After going pell-mell for perhaps a dis- tance of two miles, we halted on a by-road and we could still hear a few scattering shots off toward our camp. As we sat on our horses, there now being five of us prisoners, with perhaps a hundred guards, a big rebel Sergeant rode up to our group, and, taking a look at the horse I was rid- ing, he then asked me where I got that horse, and I informed him that the guard had caught him for me. He then took out a big navy revolver, and riding up close to my side said: “That is my brother's horse, and if he is killed, that is what you will get,” and he placed the muzzle of the revolver against my head, just back of my ear. I then thought we were in for it, as he was a long-haired devilish-looking fel- low; but I think if he had made the at- tempt the guard that had me in charge would have interfered, as he was a fine manly-looking young soldier and was very kind to me afterward and during the few days he was with us, and when he could get anything to eat he divided it with me, if I could eat anything. After our little episode with the big Ser- geant, who was anxious to distinguish himself by blowing the heads off a few unarmed prisoners, instead of being up at the front with his command. We started on a by-road through the woods and hills, and after traveling two or three miles came out on the Tupelo road leading to General Bragg's headquarters. After waiting here a short time, the balance of the prisoners were brought up and there were now one hundred and thirty-four of us. We were then put under a regular guard, commanded by Major Smith, of Missouri, who proved to be a gentleman and a good soldier, and the prisoners were then protected from insult. We learned that the big Sergeant's brother, who was a Lieutenant, had been killed in the early part of the fight, and had the Sergeant known this at the time he found me on his 234 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY brother’s horse, I have no doubt but he would have executed his threat and have killed all of us on the spot, but it was too late when we were put under a regular guard. The command that had attacked us was General Armstrong’s brigade of cavalry, consisting of about seventeen hundred men, and including Colonel Roddy’s regi- ment, that had been recruited in Northern Alabama in and around Courtland, Tus- cumbia and Decatur. General Armstrong was an officer of the old army and a fine-looking soldier, and became quite a noted cavalry leader dur- ing the war. The rebel commander at- tacked our camp on three sides simulta- neously and he had been piloted through woods and mountains on by-roads by citi- zens of the vicinity, who knew every cow- path in the country, and knew the position of every picket, as they passed in and out of camp at will. The total number of men in our command in the two companies of infantry and the two companies of cavalry was about one hundred and sixty men, and when they took position behind the rail- road embankment, they made it lively for the rebel brigade for a short time and in the fight the rebels lost seventeen killed and twenty-seven wounded. The first day we marched to Moulton, Ala., the county seat of Lawrence county, a distance of about thirty miles and were quartered in the court house, sleeping on the soft side of a bench in this magnificent temple of justice. We lingered here the next day until late in the evening, when all at once there was a great commotion among the rebels, the guards rushed from the court-house, the bugles sounded “boots and saddles,” drivers commenced harness- ing their mules and orderlies were gal- loping through the streets. We surmised that something unusual had occurred on the outposts, and it was soon learned that a scouting party of our cavalry had at- tacked their pickets and we were in high glee hoping that we would soon be within our own lines again, but the rebel com- mander did not propose to be so easily cheated out of his prize and he directed that the prisoners be started south on the Tupelo road toward General Bragg’s headquarters on “double-quick.” General Armstrong mounted his magni- ficent horse, that had just been brought up to him by his colored servant, and gal- loped off in the direction of the firing. Our officers were directed to get into the wagons and a mounted guard was placed around the balance of us and we were hur- ried off south on double-quick. With sev- eral other sick soldiers I strained every nerve to keep up at the front, and when darkness came on, a file of guards were placed on either side of our column, in ad- dition to the_platoons in front and rear, and the guards were ordered by the Cap- tain commanding to “draw saber and cut down any prisoner who fell out under any pretense whatever.” The horses of the mounted guard were kept on a brisk walk all the time and this kept us on about a half run, and after marching in this man- ner from about 5 p. m. until 10 p. m. with- out a moment’s halt and without a drop of water on a hot July night in Alabama was enough to prostrate the strongest sol- dier. About midnight a courier came dashing up from the rear with a message, and the officer in command called a halt. We were then just in front of a planta- tion residence, and I remember that there was a wagon just at the side of the road, loaded with long wood, and the Captain commanding mounted this wagon and made a speech to the guard and stated that he “had the pleasure of announcing that they had gained a great victory at Spangler’s Mills.” At this the guard cheered, but it was not a very cheerful message for us prisoners. We afterwards learned that it was a little skirmish be- tween a scouting party of our soldiers and the rebel pickets in which two or three men were wounded. We were then ordered to lay down on OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 235 the chip pile, on which we were standing, and we did not need a second invitation, as we were completely exhausted and ready to fall in our tracks. Sergeant Chears and myself had about half of a rubber blan- ket that one of us had picked up, and finding a stick of wood for a pillow, we tumbled down on the ground and covered our breasts with this piece of rubber blan- ket. Our clothing was dripping wet with perspiration and as soon as we halted we began to feel the chill of the cold moun- tain night air, but from sheer exhaustion we slept from midnight until daybreak. We had been living on very short rations of hard tack and a little fat pork since we were captured, and on this Sunday morn- ing we had green corn boiled and eaten without either salt or pepper, bread, crackers or meat, and in fact all we had for three or four days was boiled green corn, without anything else. We would halt at a plantation and a guard would direct the slaves to bring out some big iron wash-kettles and fill them with water and then pull off some green corn and throw it over to us, husk and all. The boys would husk the corn, tramp around on the husks and squeal like a lot of pigs, laugh and joke, and try to make the best of it; but after three or four days boiled corn, without anything else and without any seasoning became a little monotonous. Like the fellow with the codfish, we rel- ished it three times a day, but did not care to have it for a regular diet. On Sunday, the citizens were out to see us in force as we marched through the country, and as our coming had been her- alded by the rebel cavalry scouting through the country, at every crossroad we would find carriages filled with ladies and gentlemen, waiting to get their first look at a live Yankee prisoner. Some of the boys would ask a great many silly questions of these citizens and furnished amusement, not only to our boys, but to our guard. A little fat pork was issued to us during the day and as we had no haversacks we had to carry the meat in our hands or run a little stick through it and as the weather was very hot, the grease dropped out as we marched along. We were a motley looking crowd, some being bare- headed, while others were in their shirt sleeves and bare feet. We did not present a very soldierly appearance and no doubt the citizens thought us a genuine lot of mud-sills and “five to one," was only a breakfast spell for the chivalry. We did not reach General Bragg’s headquarters at Tupelo, Mississippi, but were marched around through northern Alabama quartered in old camps and court houses. As was understood at the time they could not get safe conduct for the pris- oners to Libby Prison and we were finally paroled and sent to parole camps for ex- change. OHIO IN THE SPANISH -AMERICAN WAR On February the 15th, 1898, the battle- ship Maine was blown up while peacefully anchored in the harbor of Havana by a submarine mine placed there by parties probably authorized by the Spanish gov- ernment. The splendid warship was to- tally destroyed with the loss of 260 officers and men. Congress immediately appro- priated $50,000,000 for national defense. The war lasted for 114 days, Ohio fur- nished 15,354 men, none of whom were in action. CHAPTER XV THE GERMAN-AMERICAN WAR As long as Russia believed she had an inalienable right to a free and untram- melled access and egress to the straits of the Dardanelles and Turkey refused her that right; as long as Italy believed she had been robbed by Austria of Trieste and others of her northern provinces ; as long as France believed she had been robbed by Germany of Alsace and Lorraine ; as long as England believed that the integrity of Belgium was essential to her safety; as long as Japan continued jealous of Ger- many's acquisition of Chinese territory ; as long as all Europe stood in alarm at the ponderous militarism of Germany; it was not difficult to find an excuse for facing the frowning front of war. The assassination of Prince Ferdinand of Austria and his consort by a Servian agitator; the demand of Austria to sit as judges in the trial of the murderer, and while Servia submitted to all other de- mands, reserving only her right, to try the malefactor, the lines were drawn and the bloodiest war of history was on. That the forts on the frontier of Bel- gium, believed to be impregnable, fell be- fore the enormous guns of Germany, opened the road to Paris, its capture and possible destruction and the world doomed to a militarism beyond the dreams of Na- poleon and Germany placed in a position of world domination is due to the fortunate outcome of the battle of the Marne. The final alignment of England, France, Russia, Japan, Italy, Servia, Albania, [ 236 ] Roumania, and Belgium with the entente powers, and Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria with the central powers, with 20,000,000 of men on both sides, staggered the senses, with the enormity of its possi- ble and almost inevitable consequences. I delivered a lecture on “Preparedness," in the auditorium of the high school in Troy and Sidney in September, 1915, en- deavoring to do my bit in arousing public sentiment to the danger of the United States continuing a state of supineness, in which I quoted the serious statement of ex- President Roosevelt, that he had seen the plans of two first-class foreign powers for the conquest of the United States. In this work, I was aided by the War Department and A. P. Gardner of the ways and means committee of the house, to the end that I might say such things as could be officially sanctioned. I herewith append two letters, which will tend to show that “Pacifism" was not then in- dulged in by those who had the best op- portunity of ascertaining our real state of unpreparedness: WAR DEPARTMENT Washington July 10, 1915. Hon. F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Dear Sir: The statement attributed to General Weaver, namely: “the greatest range of existing American coast defense guns is THE GERMAN -AMERICAN WAR 237 18,500 yards, while the guns of the big- gest British and German battleships have a range of 21,000 yards,” was a correct statement of the conditions existing at the time referred to. It was not, however, made by General Weaver in his written report. It may be said that modifications which are now being made in our 12” guns and carriages will give them a range of 19,500 to 22,000 yards. It is not known whether General Goeth- als is on record as saying that our coast defense guns have a greater range than the Queen Elizabeth of the British Navy. It is considered that the fortifications now provided for the Panama Canal give a reasonably adequate coast artillery defense for that locality, but it is not to be taken as indicating that additional defense may not be added in the future. It is desired to encourage such patriotic efforts as it appears you are making to in- form the public of the exact conditions affecting our military preparedness. Respectfully, HENRY BRECKENRIDGE, Acting Secretary of War. The war of 1812 was brought about fortunately for us at a time when we were less than 15,000,000 of people by the search and detention of American vessels on the high seas and imprisonment of our sailors into the British service and when England and most of Europe was engaged in a death struggle with the great Napoleon. Germany has not only searched and de- tained our vessels and confiscated our property, but she has blown our vessels out of the sea with a reckless barbarism for human life, that appeals to every sense of our civilization. Her cold blooded proposition, while pro- fessing a high Christian culture to re- mand Texas and her bordering states back to the domination of priest ridden, revolu- tionary Mexico and our Pacfic states to a nation of Oriental Buddhists, through an intrigue of diplomacy at a time when she was the recipient of hospitality at our hands, was heaping up indignities that no self-respecting nation could longer en- dure. If the men of military age in Texas should arm themselves to repel this unholy combination of Orientalists, revolutionists and so-called cultured Christians, many of which Texans are lineal descendants of Crockett, Bowie and Travis and the others of that heroic band who perished in the Alamo, it need not alarm the pacifist any more, than when the pioneer hangs his rifle above his cabin door, with which to protect his women and children from ever present savage attack. COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS House of Representatives Washington, D. C. Hamilton, Mass., July 21, 1915. Hon. F. M. Sterrett, My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of July 16th, 1915. I saw Gen. Goethals quoted as saying that the range of some of our coast defense guns was greater than those of the Queen Elizabeth. Whether he said it or not, it is not the fact. The enclosed letter from the Secretary of War tells the story. Please return it in envelope en- closed (no stamps needed). If you will read my speech entitled “Guard your Coast” you will get an ex- planation of the situation. Also, I refer you to Pages 17-18 of my “Manual”; like- wise, the passage which I have marked on Page 21 of the Manual. As you will ob- serve this last passage is part of the Report made last November by Gen. Witherspoon, Chief of Staff of U. S. Army. As to the strength of our Panama Canal Fortifications; when all the 14 inch guns are mounted, and the proposed 16 inch gun is in place, I think it probable that no one will care to attack the Canal at either en- 238 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY trance. The danger comes from an at- tack by land. The best statement that I have seen on the subject was written by Mr. Charles P. Steinmetz, the distin- guished engineer, whose name is mentioned for one of the places in Secretary Daniel’s new Board. I am writing him for a copy of that article, which I shall be glad to send to you. Incidentally, I call attention to the evidence of Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, Chief of Operations of the Fleet be- fore the House Committee on Naval Af- fairs, December 17, 1914, on Page 1053 of the Hearings. What he said was this : “but in the Canal Zone, which is the mose vulnerable part of our entire possessions, anybody can go there and take it that wants to.” As to the defenses of the Phillipines, I rather think that Hon. Clarence B. Miller, of Minn., knows more about the matter than any other Member of Congress. I have written him asking him to send you a copy of his address on this subject. As to the defenses of the Hawaiian Is- lands and Alaska, I have never made a study of them. In fact, I doubt whether there are any defenses to Alaska. I shall be glad at any time to give you such information as I possess with regard to any question of National Defense. Very truly yours, A. P. GARDNER. Col. Frank M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. During the month of May, 1917, a lineal descendant of Lafayette, for France, and Lord Balfour for England, placed on the tomb of Washington — first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his country- men, an everlasting leaf of bronze, in the name of universal democracy. Ten days later, the tomb of Lincoln, the savior of the nation, was honored in like manner. We would not if we could, forget the deeds in war of these two illustrious Amer- icans, consummated at Yorktown and Ap- pomattox. We cannot forget to thrill with patriotic pride at the mention of Jackson at New Orleans, Scott at Chapultepec, Hooker at Lookout and Dewey at Manilla Bay. We would not recall the act of our patriotic President and Congress in declaring war on the imperial German government for the flagrant violation of our rights and honor and the premeditated murder of our people. This war is a continuation of the war of 1861 for the rights of humanity. It is the last great war before universal democracy, universal disarmament and universal peace. At this date, June 18, 1917, the United States has voted $7,000,- 000,000 and enrolled 10,000,000 of men, the latter between the ages of 21 and 31. We are entering the fight on a scale unpre- cedented in the annals of war. Not only are we equipping our own enormous force but we are lending the nations of Europe the money with which to continue the gi- gantic struggle. Breathes there a man with soul so dead, That unto himself hath not said, This is my own, my native land. Jacob A. Riss, lying ill at Ellsmore, saw the American flag flying from a ship and sat up in bed and shouted, laughed and cried by turns, waving my handkerchief at the flag out there. They thought I had lost my mind, but I told them, No! thank God I had found it and my heart, too, at last! That it was my flag! that my chil- dren’s home was mine indeed! that I had also become an American in truth. The old ideas of a simpler age, are pre- posterous now and those who attempt to keep them working, are simply holding back the hands of the clock. We should have the courage and stamina to take off our coats, put on our armor and again fight for our convictions. The man of peace at any price, should not to be too supersensitive, when he knows that if Texas is overrun, those Texans yet alive beyond and on the border, will be seen fighting their way back to their dear THE GERMAN- AMERICAN WAR 239 ones. The love of home and country and all the sweet and tender things that make life worth living will create an army of Joan’s of Arc and Molly Starks to repel such an invasion. We have discharged every obligation of National honor in peace and war with courage and courtesy and now, marching under the oldest flag in the world, with 100,000,000 of people we are in the van- guard of the worlds progress. Our flag is 8 years older than the red and yellow of Spain, 17 years older than the tri-color of France, 24 years older than the Union Jack of Great Britain, 84 years older than the red, blue and green of Italy, and 94 years older than the red, white and black of Germany, a flag en- tirely too young to chase American com- merce from the free highways of the sea. GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK Born near Monticello, Albc-rmarle county, Virginia, November 19, 1752. He went to Kentucky in 1775 and came to the country now embraced in Miami county in 1882, with a thousand Kentuckians: burned the Indian village at Upper Piqua in retaliation for Indian depredations in Kentucky, described in this chapter. He died near Louisvlle, Kentuckey, February 8, 1818. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE Bom in Eastown, Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1745. The hero of the battle of Stony Point during the Revolution and of the battle of Fallen Timbers. August 20, 1794, the result of which opened up Miami county to settlement. He died at Erie, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1796, and was buried in his native county. LITTLE TURTLE OR MICHIKINIQUA Little Turtle was supposed to have been born on the Miami River in 1747 and was the greatest chief in the history, of the Miami tribe and one of the four greatest Indians in history, ranking with Pontiac, Tecumseh and Chief Joseph. He was six feet in height, strong, muscular and of extreme dignity. It was his generalship that defeated Harmon in 1790 and St. Clair in 1791. He was defeated by Gen. Wayne in 1794. His sympathies were with the Americans in 1812. He died at Ft. Wayne, July 14, 1812, induced by gout. INSIGNIA OF LITTLE TURTLE CHAPTER XVI THE BLOODY PERIOD The period under consideration began when we became a free nation and ended with the beginning of a settlement of Miami county. The events which led up to the defeat of Gen. Josiah Harmar, in October, 1790, by the Miami Indians at the Maumee Cross- ing and the defeat of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, on November 4, 1791, at a point in Darke county, near the present site of Greenville, are narrated in some form by all historians but in no form so succintly and intelligently expressed as we find it in Burnet’s notes of the Northwest terri- tory. We will use this work freely in this chapter. In 1790, the Indians of the Wabash and Maumee country who had been cowed by the drastic punishment administered the Shawnets at Piqua in Clark and Miami counties and the burning of their villages in 1780-82 respectively, and the destruc- tion of their crops, by that unconquerable hero, George Rogers Clark ; encouraged by their successful forays into Kentucky, moved southward and menaced the settle- ments, north of Fort Washington, which fort, however, they never attacked. In March, 1790, Gen. Harmar informed the Secretary of War that the Indians con- tinued to murder and plunder the inhabi- tants and to intercept almost every boat that attempted to pass down the river. About the beginning of that month, they broke up Kennett’s Station, a few miles from Limestone, where they killed ten or twelve individuals. During the same month three boats descending the river in company, saw a boat lying at the Indian shore, a short distance above the Scioto river, containing a large party of Indians. The descending boats were, fortunately, near the Virginia shore when the enemy was discovered. On coming opposite to them, a white man standing at the edge of the water called them and begged them to surrender, affirming, as the fact was, that the Indians were fifty or sixty in number and if resistance should be made, the whole party would be murdered. The proposi- tion was rejected, of course, on which the Indians commenced a heavy fire which was continued for some time, without effect, but which gave the descending boats time to pass them. The savages failing to bring them to, commenced a pursuit; and the Americans, finding they could not save all their boats, selected the strongest and abandoned the others, which contained a number of horses and much valued prop- erty. Holes were cut in the sides of the boat they selected to enable them to in- crease the number of rowers. The Indians pursued with great effort, some six or eight miles when they gave up the chase, and the Americans arrived at Limestone without further molestation. They lost 28 horses and merchandise valued at $1,500, which were left in the abandoned boats. Bucker Wonston, then a member of the Virginia Legislature, was one of the party and reported the facts to Gen. Harmar. The party consisted of 28 men, a family of females and some negro women and chil- dren. The boat in their possession had been captured by them a day or two before, that it belonged to John May, who, with four others, was made prisoner — not one of whom escaped to tell their fate. It appears from a note written Governor 243 244 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY St. Clair, that in January, 1790, the In- dians killed three men within twelve miles of Danville, and three others at Carpen- ter’s Station and that they broke up the settlement at Russell’s creek, four miles from that place. At the same time, a party who had been out on a hunt, about six miles below Lime- stone, were fired on by the Indians and one of them killed. It so happened that Major Doughty was then passing down the river with a detachment of troops destined for Cincinnati, who, on hearing the firing, landed and pursued the enemy some dis- tance, but without success. Judge Innes, writing from Danville, on the 13th of March, 1790, reported, that in the month of January, a boat, having ten or twelve persons on board, one of them a woman, was captured about fifteen miles above Limestone, and that the boat was after- wards found, containing nine dead bodies, the woman being missing. During that murderous tragedy, a boy, who had been taken prisoner up Licking when on a hunt- ing excursion, with two men who were killed, made his escape and came in with the information. About the same time, three men were killed on the road from Richland to Sinking creek. Old Mr. Sloan and his son were killed on the head of Roll- ing Fork, and one man was killed on Holm creek. A station on Russell’s creek was attacked, on the 25th of the same month when Isaac Harris and his son, whose name was not mentioned, were killed. On the same occasion, a white woman and a negro woman were wounded and a number of horses carried off. Soon after a man by the name of Harper, was killed on Slate creek. In addition to these murders, only two others were reported on the Rolling Fork, during that month — one was of a man, the other of a woman — but the in- formation received from various quarters, indicated very hostile movements, in the approaching Spring. A letter addressed to the Hon. John Brown, dated April 4, 1790, stated that the Indians had made great havoc on the Ohio, that about fifty of them were encamped near the mouth of the Scioto; and that among other depredations, they had cap- tured a Periogue, having six men on board, who were ascending the river from Lime- stone whom they put to death. They had also captured the boat of John May, who was on board, with a crew of three or four men, all of whom were put to death. About the same time, two other boats were taken — one of them belonging to emi- grating families — the other being the property of Thomas Marshall and others. The fate of the unfortunate captives in those two boats was not mentioned, but may be readily conjectured. On another occasion, the Indians con- cealed themselves and sent a white pris- oner to the edge of the water to hail a de- scending boat and entreat those on board to come and take him in, affirming that he had made his ascape from the savages and was in danger of perishing. The strata- gem was suspected and, of course, did not succeed. At the same time, information was received of the taking of a boat on Salt river and of the murder of the crew, consisting of John Prior and two others, whose names were not given. In May following, Ensign Hartshorne, of the United States Army descended the river with several boats, and landed in the evening about nine miles above Limestone. At midnight, they were attacked with great fury and one of the boats taken. The night being very dark and the command- ant’s boat being hard pressed, he ordered them all to put off and make the best of their way to Limestone, assuring them that the force of his boat would keep the enemy in check. The order was obeyed and at three o’clock in the morning they reached Limestone. In the afternoon, a party went up to the place where the at- tack had been made. The savages had gone, but they found one man, one woman and three children killed and scalped, whose remains they conveyed to Lime- THE BLOODY PERIOD 245 stone. The entire loss during the attack was reported to be thirteen killed and missing. During the same season, a small party of Indians, concealed near a path, leading from Cincinnati to Columbia, discovered a canoe passing up near the Indian shore containing two men, a boy and a woman. They attacked the canoe, killed the adults and took the boy prisoner. He was the only son of Col. Spencer, of Columbia, who had been a brave, gallant officer in the Revolutionary W ar. The lad was taken to the head waters of the Big Miami and adopted into the Indian family, in which he lived two or three years. President Washington who entertained a great re- gard for Col. Spencer, through the instru- mentality of the British Minister and the commandant at Detroit, procured the ran- som of the lad, and restored him to his parents. It was stated in a letter from Judge Innes, that on the 13th day of May, 1790, the Indians killed two white men, two girls and two negroes in .Jefferson county and at the same time, scalped one woman, and made prisoner of another. The Lieutenant of the same county re- ported the wounding of a man near Hites’ plantation and spoke of it as the last of many depredations committed in that county. On the 28th of May, certificates had fired on a company of people on Clear a party of Indians, on the 23rd of May, were sent to Judge Innes from several persons stating that the Indians had made prisoners of two young men and a negro woman in a field on Breshear’s creek, that they had killed two young men at work in a field on Lick creek; that they had cap- tured two boys belonging to London’s Sta- tion, on the head of Drennon’s creek ; that creek as they were returning from meet- ing, on which occasion they had killed one man and took a young woman prisoner, whom they carried about ten miles and then tomahawked and scalped her; and that a party was sent out in pursuit which recovered the mangled bodies and brought them into the settlement. On the 12th of the same month, John Caldwell, of Nelson county, reported to Judge Innes that on the preceding Thurs- day, ten or eleven Indians attacked the house of Miles Hart on Valley creek; that they had murdered him, captured his wife and two children, who constituted the whole of his family and carried them off with such of his property as they could conveniently take with them. Christopher Greencock, on the 24th of May, certified that the Indians had stolen four horses from Mr. Meaux, who lived very far in the interior. On the 4th of June, it was cer- tified to Judge Innes, that the Indians came to the Rolling Fork and stole 16 hordes; that they were pursued by Capt. Wilson at the head of a small party, who came up with them, but the Captain be- ing killed, the party was over-powered and obliged to retreat. On the 13th of May, Robert Johnston sent depositions to Judge Innes, stating the murder of Mr. McBride and Mr. Mc- Connell, in April preceding; also that a son of Mr. Tanner, residing on the Ohio river near the Big Miami had been taken prisoner; and that in the Fall preceding, two men were killed, one of them a Mr. Brown, whose wife and children were then living in Lexington. It was stated by one of the deponents that he was with the party who brought in the body. The same depositions recited the partic- ulars of an incursion by another party of Indians in the preceding Winter, among other depredations, stole a large number of horses. On the 12th of the same month, John Garnet in a deposition taken before R. Johnston, a magistrate in Woodford county, stated he was at Tanner’s Station on the Ohio, about five miles below the mouth of the Big Miami, in the latter part of April or beginning of May, when five Indians placed themselves in ambush be- tween the cabin of Mr. Tanner and his field, and captured his son, a lad about 246 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY nine years old, with whom they crossed the Ohio. On the same day, the deposition of S. Stephenson was taken before the same magistrate, stating that in April, 1790, he was one of the party who went out and brought in the bodies of James McBride and Mr. McConnell killed on the path from Elkhorn to Licking; that they had both been scalped. One of them was very much cut with a tomahawk and the other was shot through the hips. The depositions of Rankin and Hays, taken in Bourbon county, state that on the 12th of May, Lewis Parker was murdered while en- gaged in his work; that he was found about an hour after he had been killed and that he had received many wounds from bullets, tomahawks, and that he had been scalped. Benjamin Harrison certified that Par- ker was killed at the house of Michael Hogg near his own residence and that he followed the trail of the party who com- mitted the murder, nearly ten miles, in the direction of Big Bone Lick. He also cer- tified that the Indians had recently stolen two horses from Mr. Coleman. On the 12th of May, the Lieutenant of Bourbon county informed Judge Innes, that since his last letter, a man had been killed by a party of Indians, in his cornfield, on the preceding Thursday; and also that a boat had been taken above Limestone contain- ing five or six persons, who were left murdered on the shore, and he expressed it as his opinion that no greater proof need be required of the intention of the savages to destroy the American settlements. The Lieutenant of Mason county reported on the 16th of May, that on the night of the 11th, a party of Indians made an attack on four boats, above Limestone ; that three of the number escaped, but that the fourth containing sixteen souls, was taken, five of whom were killed and mangled in a horri- ble manner, three made their escape, leav- ing the remaining eight in the hands of the Indians. In the same report, it was stated that the trail of a party of Indians sup- posed to be about fifteen in number, was discovered on the 15th of the same month, which crossed the river near the lower settlement of Mason county in a direction toward the Blue Licks. It was also stated by the Lieutenant that these and similar depredations had greatly excited the peo- ple and that the surveyors and hunters had all retired from the work. On the 14th of the same month, a party of white men were attacked and defeated below Ingle’s Station, six of whom were missing and supposed to have been killed. Their horses and other property fell into the enemy’s hands. In addition to these depredations com- mitted in the fatal month of May, 1790, an attack was made on a party of white men in Madison county, forty miles be- yond the settlements in which the Indians killed four, and wounded two men, and captured ten or twelve horses with other valuable property. On the evening of the 18th of April in Nelson county, the Indians fell on a party of men, women and children returning from a religious meeting on Rough creek ; they killed a girl of twelve and a boy of eight years of age, and wounded an elderly woman severely in the head, back and arms, and having taken her scalp, left her alive on the ground; they, also, captured a daughter of J. Barnet, eleven years old, and carried her into captivity. A party soon collected and went in pursuit of the savages, but night coming on, they were not able to overtake them. These frequent predatory movements of the savages, following each other in such rapid succession, produced universal alarm throughout the country; and the settlers began to think they would be com- pelled to abandon it. They had given up all the comforts and conveniences of civil- ized life, to which they had been accus- tomed for any and every advantage antici- pated from their change of location. But when in addition to this, life was in per- THE BROODY PERIOD 247 petual danger, there could be no motive in- ducing them to continue in such a state of imminent exposure. Men of influence, in every part of the frontier country, saw and felt that vigor- ous and immediate measures were neces- sary to save the American settlements from being deserted by their inhabitants, or broken up and laid waste by the savages. The tardy movements of the general government were criticized with great severity ; and men of influence on the fron- tier were deliberating on the expediency of taking their protection into their own hands and conducting expeditions into the Indian country on their own responsibil- ity. So strong and general was this feel- ing, that the intelligent men at the differ- ent settlements and stations, simultane- ously and without concert, addressed Gen. Harmar, as the commandant of the United States troops ; representing in strong terms, the murder of men and women and children, daily, perpetrated by the In- dians, and the impossibility of sustaining the settlements much longer unless more efficient measures were resorted to by Congress. Among those who wrote to the General on that subject were Levi Todd, of Fay- ette, Robert Patterson, of Lexington, and Judge Innes, of Danville. In these com- munications, the difficulties and distresses of the people were depicted and measures suggested to relieve them. Letters were written to the Secretary of War, recapitu- lating the complaints and distresses of the people. In July, 1790, Judge Innes wrote thus to the War Department, “I have been intimately acquainted with this district since 1783 and I can, with truth, say that in that period the Indians have always been the aggressors — that any incursions made into their country, have been pro- duced by reiterated injuries committed by them, that the predatory mode of warfare they have carried on, renders it difficult and indeed impossible to discriminate or to ascertain to which tribe the offenders belong, that since his first visit to the dis- trict in November, 1783, he could venture to say that more than fifteen hundred per- sons had been killed and taken prisoners by the Indians, that upward of twenty thousand horses had been taken and car- ried oft’, with other property consisting of money, merchandise, household goods, wearing apparel, etc., of great value, that the government had been repeatedly in- formed of those injuries and they contin- ued to be perpetrated daily, notwithstand- ing which the people had received no sat- isfaction or information as to whether the government intended to afford them relief or not. He remarked that the consequences to the district were serious and might be fatal, that the population on the frontier was actually decreasing by the murder and depredations constantly committed by the Indians, that those occurrences not only reduced the number and strength of the settlers, but deterred others from joining them who had been making arrangements to do so, that as a consequence, their strength was lessened, their wealth dim- inished and the value of their lands dimin- ished. He inquired what the result would be, and answered the question by assuring the department that volunteer expeditions would be carried into the Indian country, as well for the purpose of revenge, as for protection and self preservation ; and that it would not be in the power of the govern- ment to restrain or regulate them ; and, as a consequence, the volunteers engaged would not discriminate between the hos- tile Indians and those with whom the United States had treaties, but would treat all as enemies who might come in their way; and that the friendly Indians would lose all confidence in the govern- ment, that such a result would not only prevent the accomplishment of the views of Congress but would undo all that had been previously done. He then added, “I will, sir, be candid on this subject not only 248 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY as an inhabitant of Kentucky, but as a friend of society who wishes to see order and regularity preserved in the govern- ment under which we live. The people say they have long groaned under their misfortunes — they see no prospect of re- lief — they constitute the strength and wealth of the western country, and yet all measures heretofore attempted have been committed for execution to the hands of strangers who have no interest in common with the west. They are the great suffer- ers and yet they have no voice in the mat- ters which so vitally effect them. They are accused of being the aggressors and have no representative to state or justify their conduct. “These are the general sentiments of the western people, who are beginning to want faith in the government and appear determined to avenge themselves. For this purpose a meeting was lately held in this place by a number of respectable characters to determine on the propriety of carrying on their expeditions this Fall. For the purpose of obtaining a more gen- eral representation of the inhabitants of this district, the business was postponed to the meeting which is to be held about the 26th inst. at which time there will be a very general collection of the people of the district; and unless some satisfaction is received before that time, I fully expect one or more expeditions will be deter- mined on. Impressed with the idea that the foregoing observations will not be un- acceptable to you as an officer of the gov- ernment, through whose department they may be communicated to the President, I shall make no apology for the length of my letter.” In September, Governor St. Clair ad- vised the War Department that the dep- redations on the Ohio and the Wabash continued, that almost every day brought an account of some murder or robbery, that a number of horses had been taken from the vicinity of Marietta, that shortly before, a boat belonging to Col. Vigo, of Post Vincennes, a gentleman to whom the United States were under great obliga- tions, was fired upon near the mouth of Blue River and three of his men killed; and that afterwards, in attempting to as- cend the Wabash, his boat was again at- tacked, captured and plundered; and about the same time, Captain McCurdy, of the regular troops, was fired upon while descending the Ohio river. It is not to be understood that the gov- ernment had not taken a deep interest in the situation of this western frontier. A committee, headed by Capt. Brandt and 1VL. Gameline was sent out, with full power to negotiate a treaty with them, and M. Gameline had succeeded in getting all the chiefs who were present assembled in a council when he told them he could not go to Detroit ; that the speeches were directed to the nations of the Wabash and the Maumee; and that to prove the sincerity of the speech and the heart of Governor St. Clair, he had given them a copy to be shown to the commandant at Detroit. He told them that he had nothing to say to the commandant at Detroit and the command- ant had nothing to say to him. This meet- ing was held on April 29, 1790, and was closed by the following speech from Blue Jacket: “My friend, we are all well pleased with what you say. Our interest is not to force you to go to Detroit. It is only a proposal, thinking it for the best. In thirty nights, we shall send a full and positive answer to Post Vincennes by a young man from each nation. The nego- tiations continued from April until Au- gust and while interesting to the student, a complete history of them here, would be undesirable. The last speech was signed by the Wyandottes, Seven Nations of Canada, Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Ottawas, Chippewas, Senecas, of the Glaise, Pottawatomies, Connoys, Munsees, Nontakokees, Mohicans, Creeks and Cher- okees, and read as follows: “Brothers : We shall be persuaded that you mean to do us justice, if you agree THE BLOODY PERIOD 249 that the Ohio shall remain the boundary line between us. If you will not consent to that, our meeting will be altogether un- necessary. This is the great point, which we hoped would have been explained be- fore you left your homes, as our message, last Fall, was principally directed to that subject.” The commissioners immediately dis- patched the following reply to the chiefs and warriors of the Indian nations as- sembled at the foot of the Miami Rapids. “Brothers : We have just received your answer to our speech of the 31st of last month — July, 1790 — you say it was inter- preted to all your nations, and we presume it was fully understood. We, therein, ex- plicitly declared that it was impossible to make the Ohio river the boundary between your lands and the lands of the United States. Your answer amounts to a declar- ation that you will agree to no other boundary than the Ohio. The negotia- tions are, therefore, at an end.” Thus ended the last effort at peace be- fore Harmar’s expedition, two months afterward. It has always been believed that the negotiations of more than three months would have terminated in peace but for the English management from De- troit. It is a humiliating fact that while Detroit was in American territory, the English had refused to abandon it accord- ing to treaty and it was from this point that our greatest trouble in the settlement of our Indian affairs proceeded. The en- mity and duplicity of the English at that time should be a black spot on their na- tional honor through all coming time. While England was furnishing arms to the Indians and furnishing Canadian soldiers to assist the Indians, the young republic was forced to appear in the relation of peace to her secret enemy. I am glad our first army in the German-American war of 1917 landed in France to relieve them, rather than England. The defeat of Iiarmar in October, 1790, and the defeat of St. Clair in November, 1791, was followed by the appointment of Anthony Wayne as Commander-in-chief of the American army. At that time, wes- tern Pennsylvania contained a white pop- ulation of 60,000; West Virginia, 55,000; Kentucky, 70,000; and Ohio, 2,000, more than half of whom were located at Cincin- nati and Marietta. CHAPTER XVII. THE DESIRE TO KNOW The three paramount passions of the human heart are to inquire from whence we came and to what place we are bound ; to love and be loved and to acquire knowl- edge. The first passion, usually called religion, impelled 500,000,000 people, about one- half the population of the world, princi- pally in central and eastern Asia and the Indian islands, to adopt the doctrine of Buddha which teaches the transmigration of the soul in all phases and forms of life. Another 50,000,000, prevailing in Asi- atic Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, Be- loochistan, Arabia and India, have es- poused the doctrine of Islamism, repre- sented in the Koran, which does not differ in its essential features from the Chris- tian religion. They regard our Christ with reverence, second only to Moham- med. “There is but one God and Moham- med is his apostle.” In the second passion is summed up God’s love for his children and man’s love for his Maker, his wife, his child and neighbor. Our desire to know the history of the soil which we now cultivate; the races of men who occupied it before we came; their occupation when they were here; would compel a review of primoraal condi- tions; the glacial and paleolithic periods; the mound builders and the period of the North American Indians, which will not be expected and, indeed, would be inappro- priate in a county history. It is sufficient for our present purpose to know that our Indian progenitors had 250 occupied Ohio and Miami county only a part of the time for two centuries prior to our arrival. It seems to be substantially established that the dominant and war- like six nations whose base of empire was particularly along the Mohawk in the present State of New York, had crossed Ohio, especially the northern portion, many times, during that period in her predatory excursions against the Miamis and other western tribes and had even driven them west of the Mississippi in or- der that they could with some reasonable- ness claim that under the law of conquest, all lands east of the Mississippi, except such lands as they had ceded by treaty in the eastern section, belonged to them. It is not likely that any of the western tribes of Indians, at any time, laid claim to the lands now embraced in the State of Ohio, prior to the year 1700 and it is very doubtful whether they even hunted in during that period of ascendancy of the six nations. The most warlike of the six nations were the Iroquois who believed that the most ignoble act was the forgive- ness of an injury. The highest virtue in his code was revenge. He had no concep- tion of honorable warfare. His highest development consisted in ambuscade and massacre. The Indian woman was a beast of burden and the social principle was correspondingly low. Sometimes in their history they developed a great chieftain who had the ability to unite some of the tribes in a common purpose, which if transmitted to a successor with equal power, the Indians might have been TECUMSEH, OR THE SHOOTING STAR Famous Shawnee War Chief and General in the British Army in War of 1812. He was the noblest Indian of them all, born at the old Indian town of Piqua on the Mad River in 1768. He would not permit his troops to scalp or mistreat prisoners. When General Proctor said 4 Your Indians cannot be restrained,” Tecumseh thundered, “Begone, you are not fit to command. Go home and put on the petti- coat of a squaw !” and then he stopped the slaughter which Proctor had been looking at complacently. HOG PATH ROAI) TURKEY FOOT ROCK Near Old Fort Miami on the Maumee, on the battlefield of Fallen Timbers, fully described elsewhere in this book. WOLVERTON INDIAN MOUND Is located on the Wolverton farm, five miles east of South of Troy on the east side turnpike from Troy to Dayton. As shown in the picture, it was opened some fifteen years ago and a number of interesting relics were unearthed of such interest to archaeologists that Mr. Wolverton could have realized a handsome sum, if he had been inclined to sell them, which, when I last interviewed him, he refused to do. There were three skeletons, supposedly of prehistoric man, one of unusual length, copper coins and utensils, placed there if some authors are to be credited, before the pyramids were constructed. There are twenty-two of these mounds in Miami county, one or more in each township, many of which have been opened and found to contain about the same character of contents. Not pretending to have investigated this subject sufficiently to pass an opinion thereon, I have con- tented myself with guessing that these mounds are not of the great antiquity claimed for them, but were built by the North American Indian, whom we found here. THE DESIRE TO KNOW 255 formed into a union with a general con- gress that would have saved much blood- shed and settled the title to lands many years earlier and to the great advantage of both the white and red man. The In- dian in a vague way believed he owned the whole of North America, but he had no more definite conception of its boundary lines than had King James I in 1606, when he grandiloquently passed a title to the London and Plymouth Company between the 34th and 45th parallel of latitude “from sea to sea.” That about which the Indian was so un- certain made it difficult for the United States to secure the possession of, through treaty and purchase. The government no sooner purchased the rights of one tribe when it was confronted with the claims of another tribe, claiming ownership in the same section. If the later dream of Tecumseh for a confederation of all Indian tribes had been a fact when the Europeans first came to America, the settlement of the country would have been acomplished with much less sacrifice of life and treasure. That the Indian himself, in his uncivil- ized way, realized his inability to transmit a title by separate tribe action, is illus- trated by the speech of the Shawnee chief at the Maumee Rapids, at the time, June, 1793, when the negotiations were going forward for a definite boundary line be- tween the lands of the white and red man in the north west territory. “Brother! We have something more to say to you but not much. We are small, compared to our great chiefs, at the Miami, but though small, we have some- thing to say. We think from your speech, there is a prospect of coming together. We, who are the nations at the west, are of one mind; and if we agree with you, as there is a prospect we shall, it will be bind- ing and lasting. Our prospects are the fairer, because our minds are one. You have not heretofore spoken to us unitedly. Formerly, because you did not speak to us unitedly what was done was not binding. Now you have an opportunity of speaking to us together; and we now take you by the hand, to lead you to the place ap- pointed for the meeting.” When it is recollected that this same Shawnee chief had been a party to a sol- emn treaty at the mouth of the Miami, on January 31, 1786, in which his tribe had ceded, for valuable consideration, all lands east of the great Miami river to the United States and reserved all lands west of that river for themselves and that the Shawnees had undisputed possession of the country claimed and ceded, an Indian title, seems so surrounded with unravell- able mystery as to preclude any possibility of serious transaction ; and that this Shawnee chief should admit that “ivhat was done, was not binding,” after accept- ing valuable consideration for his con- fessed spurious title, does not paint his honor in a high light. In this nightmare of uncertainty, it is highly to the credit of Gen. Wayne, that he succeeded in gathering together the chiefs of all the Ohio and Indian tribes and negotiating a treaty with them, al- though some of them repudiated it fifteen years afterward. One does not like to leave this portion of the subject without the soliloquy of how binding the Greenville treaty would have been, if the six nations of the east and the tribes west of the Mississippi, had objected to its provisions. It was but a few years afterward when Tecumseh un- dertook a general confederation of Indians when he claimed that all treaties thereto- fore made were violable for want of the general concurrence of all Indian nations. In the light of the above facts, posterity has not paid that mede of gratitude, due those sturdy pioneers who conquered the primitive conditions of Miami county and thereby made it possible to arrive at our present station of advancement and pros- perity. The Indian did not worship in churches, 256 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY but his religion was along Christian lines. Our God was his “Great Spirit.” He be- lieved, as we do, in the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked. Their religious worship was ac- companied with great solemnity. He lived in a tent covered with skins. His utensils were few and primitive. His implement of warfare was the bow and arrow. His implement of industry was his hatchet of stone or copper. The range of his bow and arrow was 200 yards, within which he could drive his arrow through a buffalo. He had no art and his writing consisted in rough hieroglyphics. He was invariably taciturn which, in some cases, assumed the height of genuine dignity. His amuse- ments were the dance, boat and foot races, shooting at mark, playing at ball and gambling. The white man’s treatment of the In- dian has not always been just, and neither has their treatment of each other been at all times just. “Man’s inhumanity to man has made countless millions mourn.” The Indians’ claim to the title of all lands of the United States seems to stand on mighty thin reasoning. Take the land within the present borders of Ohio for example. It was not even occupied by the Indians for long periods of time. Indeed, there is no proven occupancy at all, except such as is shown by the Iroquois passing over its northern border during the time of their inroads against the western In- dians whom they had kept in such con- stant fear that they do not seem to have come further east than Chicago in Illinois and St. Joseph in Michigan. After 1682, the Iroquois did not again attack the wes- tern tribes. The Shawnees and Miamis especially came into Ohio about 1700 from the west while the Eries, Senecas, Wyan- dottes, Sanduskies, Ottawas, Delawares and Mingoes came into Ohio from the north and east. Their lawful and natural right to the soil and timber of Ohio was scarcely more than the rights of “squat- ters.” They had the right which occu- pancy gave them to the land they culti- vated and such improvements as they had made. It was imperative that the world should have for its subsistence, that por- tion of the soil, not actually used by the Indians and also the timber from which to create shelter. The white man had an equal right in occupancy and to his im- provements. They were continually at war with themselves for the possession of hunting grounds, but never for the soil or timber and civilized use. When the Shawnees left the south, one portion migrating to east of Ohio and the other west of it, they were not known to have claimed the land they had left. When the Miamis left Green Bay in Wisconsin, Chicago in Illinois and St. Joseph in Mich- igan and took up their habitat on the Wabash in Indiana and the Maumee in Ohio, they are not known to have ever after laid claim to those lands which they had abandoned. Although a tribe of the Miamis lived in Miami county, for some years, there is no evidence that they ever claimed title to any part of it. He seems to have been contented when the Shaw- nees, who did claim it, permitted him to hunt here unmolested. It seems clear that the Indians them- selves only claimed title by occupancy and the territory he claimed was never well defined, and the same land was claimed by different tribes and it was these adverse claims that often led to their wars. Much of the land in Ohio had been ceded to the United States by the Indians who claimed title to the land prior to 1795. It was only after the treaty at Greenville that all the tribes of Ohio had agreed to these cessions and that was violated by some of the tribes that signed it. That we sold him whiskey, which with small pox, largely destroyed him, is to our lasting dis- grace. Our traders cheated him but never with the sanction of the government. He was sometimes murdered by our pioneers but this has been condoned largely as a re- THE DESIRE TO KNOW 257 taliatory remedy for the Indian’s treach- ery. The Choctaw Indian is said to be the richest man per capita on the earth and this could not have happened but for the fostering care of the United States. The contention of the would-be philanthropist that the Indian has not been treated fairly, in the light of facts, falls to the ground. Thomas Jelferson, in his Virginia Notes, p. 105, published in 1787, inno- cently, but unfortunately, gave standing to the gush often indulged in over the wrongs of “Lo, the poor Indian.” He published the supposed speech of Logan, the Mingo chief. “I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan’s cabin hungry and he gave him not meat ; if he ever came cold and naked and he clothed him not. Col. Cresap, last Spring, in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relatives of Logan, not sparing even my woman and children. There is not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature.” Jef- ferson quotes this supposed speech and adds that Cresap was a “man infamous for his many murders, he had committed against this injured people.” The critical history of America, ac- knowledged as authority, on p. 711 pub- lishes a letter from Geo. Rogers Clarke, in which he distintcly states that Col. Cresap was in his command at the time of the white and Indian drunken brawl, 30 miles below Wheeling, when Logan’s brother and Logan’s family and many other In- dians gathered at the whiskey store and the most of them proceeded to consume fire water, sold by a man by the name of Greathouse. One of the drunken Indians stole a set of harness and was making away with it when stopped by a white man, probably as drunk as the Indian, whereupon the Indian struck the white man and the murder was on. It is not clear whether Greathouse had laid plans for such a result, but it is clear that it was no place for women and children. Logan’s supposed speech was first pub- lished in the Williamsburg, Va., Gazette, on February 4, 1775 and afterward printed in a New York paper with impor- tant variations. The critical history says, “The accuracy of either version depends upon the statement of Gen. John Gibson, the interpreter. Mr. Jefferson never suc- ceeded in justifying himself for his attack on Col. Cresap, so far as his connection with the Logan massacre was concerned, although he endeavored to do so. This example is the principal one to which the sentimentalist points as evi- dence of the inhumanity of the whites in their treatment of the Indian and in the light of the cold facts of history, its main features have been ruthlessly misrepre- sented and contorted out of all semblance of truth. Indeed there is nothing to show that Logan’s brother was not one of the drunken brawlers. The unhappy incident happened during the Lord Dunmore war of 1774 when border spirit ran high. The defeat of Cornstalk, the Shawnee chieftain, at Point Pleasant, Ohio, where the Kanawha enters the Ohio, during the Lord Dunmore war of 1774, resulted in the great Council at Pickaway Plains, in which the Indians surrendered all claims to the lands of Kentucky. At that time, there were not to exceed 2,000 white peo- ple in the present limits of the State of Ohio. If the Indian nature for atrocity should have scope for its gratification, it must seek the white victim in the numer- ous white settlements of Kentucky. The first to break the treaty of Pick- away Plains were the very Shawnees who made the promise in solemn treaty to keep out of Kentucky. The Shawnees of Ohio, with their principal rendezvous at Piqua (Boston) in Clarke county where the great Tecumseh was born, were the most blood thirsty of the lot, and made frequent war- like incursions into the “dark and bloody ground,” between the time of the treaty on the Pickaway Plains in 1774 and 1780. There were no white families in Miami and adjoining counties upon which to ex- 258 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY pend their hostility. In retaliation for these atrocities, George Rogers Clarke, the greatest military genius west of the Alle- ghenies, at that time organized a force of Kentuckians and came to the Piqua of Clarke county and destroyed it in 1780. A brief and running description of the im- portant work of this really great man will not be inappropriate at this juncture in this work. When at the close of the French and English war in 1763, already recited, the territory east of the Mississippi river was ceded to England, King George III, de- signed the northwestern territory or the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wiscon- sin and Michigan to be kept intact as a vast hunting ground and published a proc- lamation declaring it “to be our royal will and pleasure * * * to reserve under our will and pleasure and dominion for the use of the said Indians * * * all the lands and territories lying to the westward of the source of the rivers which fall into the sea from the west and northwest * * * and we do hereby strictly forbid on pain of our displeasure, all our loving subjects from making any purchases or settle- merits whatever, or taking possession of any of the lands above reserved without our especial leave and license.” The pro- visions of this proclamation were com- pletely ignored. The settlers were cutting down the forests, destroying the game and opening up farms. The Indians became alarmed and the Lord Dun more war fol- lowed which was soon followed by our war for independence, and it was in 1777 that George Rogers Clarke, twenty-five years of age, over six feet in height, by profes- sion a surveyor, born near Monticello, Virginia, conceived the plan of conquer- ing the northwest, the principal settle- ments of which were at Detroit, Vin- cennes, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, occupied originally by the French, who had changed their allegiance to King George. To the French population, had been added Eng- lish settlers and these points were also the headquarters of the various tribes of Indians who had joined the British cause. In August, 1777, he traveled from his home, near Louisville, Kentucky, to Rich- mond, Virginia, and had a consultation with Patrick Henry, then governor, who favored his plan and gave him a commis- sion as Lieutenant Colonel and permission to recruit his force in Virginia. In May, 1778, he had collected on^ hundred and fifty men, all backwoodsmen. He says, “I set out from Red Stone (Brownsville, Pa.) the 12th of May, leaving the country in great confusion much distressed by In- dians.” He made the trip in flat boats and arrived at the Falls of the Ohio (Louis- ville) early in June. He increased his force by a few volunteers from Kentucky and again floated down the river, until he reached the present site of Massac, 111., where they disembarked and marched a distance of 120 miles to Kaskaskia at a time when all the inhabitants, about 500, were in attendance upon a dance and merry making and without firing a gun, the station was captured much to the sat- isfaction of the French population. A part of the command, under the com- mand of Captain Bowman, went on horse- back to Cahokia, some sixty miles, where they found but a half dozen English guards at the block house, which sur- rendered and they were again welcomed by the French population. Clarke was confronted with the expira- tion of the term of enlistment of his men and his great scheme but partially accom- plished. He succeeded in having them re- enlist and says, “Domestic affairs being partly well settled, the Indian department came next the object of my attention and of the greatest importance.” “They were generally at war against us, but the French and the Spainyards appearing so fond of us, confused them, they councilled with the French traders, to know what was best to be done, and, of course, was advised to come and solicit for peace, and did not doubt but we might become good THE DESIRE TO KNOW 259 friends.” Clarke held a council with them at Cahokia and viewed “the amazing num- ber of savages that soon flocked into the town of Cahokia to treat for peace and to hear what the long knives had to say. Many of them, 500 miles distant, Chipo- ways, Ottoways, Potawatomies, Puans, Sacks, Foxes, Sayges, Tanways, Mammies and a number of other nations, all living east of the Mississippi and many of them at war against us.” Early in January, 1779, Clark reached the so-called “drowned lands” of the Wa- bash in his march against Hamilton at Vincennes, after the most desperate situ- ations had been overcome across streams and ice on his way across Illinois. On Jan- uary 17th, the sunrise gun at Vincennes was heard by Clark’s small force as they lay upon a hillock of the only dry ground in the neighborhood. He says “from the spot we now lay on was about ten miles to town and every foot of the way put to- gether that was not three feet and up- wards under water, would not have made the length of two miles and a half, and not a mouthful of provision.” “On the 21st it rained all day.” “No dry land for many leagues.” The half frozen and half fam- ished force, the water often to the shoul- ders of the tallest, they arrived within two miles of the town when “a creole out shooting ducks was taken prisoner” and from him learned Hamilton was still un- conscious of his danger. “I resolved to appear as daring as pos- sible that the enemy might conceive that we were very numerous and probably dis- courage them.” “To the Inhabitants of Post St. Vincent: “Gentlemen: — Being now within two miles of your village with my army, deter- mined to take your fort, this night, and not being willing to surprise you, I take this method to request such of you as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the lib- erty I bring you, to remain still in your houses, and those, if any there be, that are friends to the King, will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair buying gen- eral and fight like men, and if any such as do not go to the fort shall be discovered afterwards, they may depend on severe punishment. On the contrary, those that are true friends to liberty may depend on being well treated, and I once more re- quest them to keep out of the streets ; for every one I find in arms, on my arrival, I shall treat as an enemy. “G. R. CLARKE.” This letter was read to the people of the town, outside the fort which was on a hill- ock, overlooking the town. Hamilton was totally surprised, after two hours’ fighting on the second day, be- ing February 24, 1779, Hamilton sent out a flag of truce requesting a three days’ cessation of hostilities, Clark responded as follows : “Colonel Clark’s compliments to Mr. Hamilton and begs leave to inform him that Colonel Clark will not agree to any other terms than that of Mr. Hamilton’s surrendering himsellf and garrison pris- oners at war at discretion. “If Mr. Hamilton is desirous of confer- ring with Col. Clark, he will meet him at the church with Capt. Helm. “C. R. CLARK.” “February 24, 1779.” Hamilton sought to soften the terms but Clark insisted and “Toward the close of the evening” articles were signed in which Fort Sackville was to be surrendered the following morning, which was accordingly done. The march of Clark against Vincennes in the dead of winter, across 230 miles of land constantly flooded, with few provi- sions, was one of the most heroic feats in all military history. The Northwest now belonged to the colonies, through the cour- age and genius of one man, who should have lived ever after from his country’s gratitude. After important services in 260 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the Indian wars of Kentucky and Ohio, Clark formed the drink habit and died in poverty. Before his death, the State of Virginia, as an amend for their neglect of Clark, voted him a beautiful sword and appointed a committee to present it. He seized it and broke it over his knee, exclaiming, “I gave Virginia my sword. I cannot use one now. I want bread.” Within a year after Clark’s capture of Vincennes, his indomitable spirit had or- ganized 1,000 Kentucky backwoodsmen and he was on the march through Fort Washington, (Cincinnati) and along the general course of the Great Miami, north- ward to Dayton and then up the Mad river to Piqua in Clark county where he fell on this principal town of the Shawnees and burned it, at the same time, destroying the fields of maize planted by the Indians. The Shawnees abandoned their Clark county seat and moved to Piqua in Miami county, from which point they continued to send murderous forays into the “dark and bloody ground” being outfitted at the store kept by a Frenchman, at Loramie, nine miles southwest of Sidney, which must always be kept distinct from Lora- mie creek on the Johnston farm two miles north of Piqua. Two years after his chas- tisement of the Shawnees, Clark with a thousand Kentuckians came near his 1780 trail as far as Dayton, crossed the Mad river there instead of following its course as before but continued on the course of the Miami northward. The forests were 'continuous, except a tract of prairie land in the north part of Bethel township, and he was compelled to cut down trees along most of the distance in order that his sup- plies might be hauled through for the subsistence of his men. He entered the present confines of Mi- ami county, at the place that the east Troy and Dayton pike enters the county at the southern dividing line between the farms of John S. Miller and D. C. Shaffer in Bethel township. His course from this point was near the bluff on the east side of the river, cutting a road through the tim- ber to be seen for many years afterward as a streak of light, walled with timber. At the old Col. Woodward farm on section 29 in Bethel township, he took the present route of the Troy and Dayton east turn- pike and followed it, through Elizabeth and Staunton township keeping straight north from near the Broadford through what afterward became Staunton, past the foot of the hill at the present Evans and Meredith places, opposite Troy and along the foot of the raised land on the east side of the river, until they had reached a point on the river opposite Eldean. Coe’s Ford was located at this point over which he crossed his force to the west side. He fol- lowed the general course of the Troy and Piqua west side turnpike through Concord and Washington townships. The story of this exploit has been, for- tunately, told in terse and graphic manner, by Abraham Thomas, who was a member of the expedition and afterward an hon- ored resident of Miami county. The fol- lowing account was published in the old Troy Times, that did so much to preserve much of the earlier history of the county. “In the year 1782, I again volunteered in an expedition, under General Clark, with the object of destroying some Indian villages, about Piqua on the Great Miami river. On this occasion nearly 1,400 men marched up the Kentucky river. We crossed the Ohio at the present site of Cin- cinnati where our last year’s stockade had been kept up and the people resided in log cabins. We proceeded immediately north- ward through the woods without regard to our former trail (the Clark trail of 1780) and crossed Mad river not far from the present city of Dayton and kept on the east side of the river and crossed four miles south of the Piqua towns. Shortly after gaining the bottoms on the west side of the river, a party of Indians with their squaws on horseback came out of the trail that led to the present site of Greenville. On ar- THE DESIRE TO KNOW 261 riving at Piqua, we found that the Indians had fled from their villages leaving most of their effects behind. During the fol- lowing night, I joined a party to break up the encampment of Indians said to be ly- ing at a place called the French store. We soon caught a Frenchman on horse- back, tied him to a horse, for our guide and arrived at the place in the night. The Indians had taken the alarm and cleared out. We, however broke up and burned the Frenchman’s store which for a long time had been a place of outfit for Indian marauders, and returned to the main body. Early in the morning, many of our men were stocked with plunder. After burning and otherwise destroying about upper and lower Piqua towns, we com- menced our return march. In this attack, five Indians were killed during the expedi- tion laid in Piqua. The Indians lurked around the camp firing random shots from the hazel thickets without doing any in- jury but two men who were in search of their stray horses were fired upon and se- verely wounded. One of them died shortly 'afterward and was buried at what is now called Coe’s Ford, where we crossed the Miami on our return. The other, Captain McCracken, lived until he reached the site of Cincinnati, where he was buried. On this expedition, we had with us, Captain William Barbee, afterward Capt. Barbee, one of our prominent neighbors in Miami county, a most worthy and brave man with whom I have marched many a day and finally moved with him to Ohio. From this time on, until after the inde- pendence of the country had been secured, 1783, and for some years afterward, no Indian tribes occupied the Miami county country. The Shawnees who had occu- pied Piqua, before Clark burned it, had moved to the Wabash country and from there organized forays into Kentucky, and against the few white settlements of southern Ohio. In these incursions of the Shawnees, they were joined by the Otta- was, Pottawatomies, Wyandotte, Dela- wares, Miamis, and Wees, all of northern Indiana and Ohio, and the Cherokees who then occupied the Scioto and Muskingum country. Between the year, 1783, when we became free, for the next thirteen years, until 1795, was a period of sanguin- ary Indian wars, during all of which time, no white settlements were made within the present limits of Miami county. It is of this period we will write in the next chapter. On the morning of August 20, 1794, General Wayne on his campaign in the In- dian wilderness, advanced with the whole army from his camp at Roche de Boeuf, at the head of the Maumee Rapids, according to a plan of march prepared by his young aide de camp, Lieutenant William Henry Harrison. He had proceeded about 5 miles when they were smitten with a terrible volley of bullets from a concealed foe, and compelled to fall back. They were on the border of a vast prairie, at a dense wood, in which a tornado had prostrated many trees, making the movements of mounted men very difficult, and formed an excellent cover for the foe who were composed of Canadians and Indians, 2,000 in number posted on their lines, within supporting distance of each other. But Wayne’s troops fell upon them with fearful energy, and made them flee toward the British fort Miami, below, like a herd of frightened deer for cover. In one hour, the victory was complete. The Indians left forty of their number dead in the pathway of their flight. By the side of each dead body, lay a musket and bayonet from British ar- mories. Wayne lost in killed and wounded 133 men ; the loss of his foes was not as- certained. On the battle ground, at the foot of the Maumee Rapids is a limestone rock on which are numerous carvings of birds’ feet. It is a stone upon which Me- sa-sa, or Turkey Foot, a renowned chief, leaped when he saw his line of dusky war- riors giving way, and by voice and gesture endeavored to make them stand firm. He fell, pierced by a musket ball and died by 262 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the side of the rock. Members of this tribe carved turkeys’ feet upon the stone in commemoration of him, and for many years, men, women and children passing there, would linger at the stone, place dried beef, parched corn and peas, or some cheap trinket upon it and calling on the name of Me-sa-sa weep piteously. The carvings perpetuate the English name of the chief. During the 42nd National En- campment at Toledo and during the pre- ceding year of preparation therefor, this rock was visited by many thousands of sight-seers. As Executive Director of that Encampment, it fell to my lot to con- duct many of those Avho came during the year to make their arrangements. It con- tinues to be visited by all sight-seers. The entire command of Gen. Wayne was 900 men while the Indians and Canadians numbered 2,000. This battle led to the Treaty of Greenville, signed on August 3, 1795, signed by the Wyandotts, 180; Dela- wares, 381 ; Shawnees, 143, Ottawas, 45 ; Chippewas, 46 ; Pottawatomies, 240 ; Mi- ami and El Rivers, 73 ; Weas and Planke- shaws, 12 ; Kickapoos and Kaslcaskia, 10 ; making a total of 1130, and thus the soil of Miami county, for the first time is open for settlement. MAJOR CAMPBELL TO GENERAL WAYNE Miami River, Aug. 21, 1794. Sir: An army of the United States of America, said to be under your command, having taken post on the banks of the Miami, for upwards of the last twenty- four hours, almost within the reach of the guns of this fort, being a post belonging to his Majesty, the King of Great Britain, occupied by his Majesty’s troops, and which I have the honor to command, it be- comes my duty to inform myself, as speed- ily as possible, in what light I am to view your making such near approaches to this garrison. I have no hesitation, on my part, to say, that I know of no war exist- ing between Great Britain and America. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient, and very humble servant, WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Major 24th Regiment, commanding a British Post on the bank of the Miami. To Major General Wayne, etc. GENERAL WAYNE TO MAJOR CAMPBELL Camp on the Banks of the Miami, August 21, 1794. Sir : — I have received your letter of this date, requiring from me the motives which have moved the army under my command, to the position they at present occupy, far within the acknowledged jurisdiction of the United States of America. Without questioning the authority, or the propriety, Sir, of your interrogatory, I think I may, without breach of decorum, observe to you, that were you entitled to an answer, the most full and satisfactory one was announced to you, from the muz- zles of my small arms, yesterday morning, in the action against the hordes of sav- ages in the vicinity of your post, which terminated gloriously to the American arms, but had it continued till the Indians, etc., were driven under the influence of the post and guns you mention, they would not have much impeded the progress of the victorious army under my command, as no such post was established at the com- mencement of the present war, between the Indians and the United States. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient, and very humble servant, ANTHONY WAYNE, Major General, and Commander- in-Chief of the Federal Army. To Major William Campbell, etc. MAJOR CAMPBELL TO GENERAL WAYNE Miami Fort, August 22, 1794. Sir: — Although your letter of yester- day’s date fully authorizes me to any act of THE FOURTH COURT HOUSE OF MIAMI COUNTY Now occupied by the Troy postoffice. The first court was held in the house of Peter Felix in Staun- ton, until Dec., 1908 ; then in the Benjamin Overfield house on the corner of Water and Mulberry, until 1824 ; then in the court house on the public square until 1845 ; then in the above building: in 1888. SITE OF FIRST STOCKADE AT STAUNTON THE DESIRE TO KNOW 267 hostility against the army of the United States of America, in this neighborhood, under your command, yet, still anxious to prevent that dreadful decision, which, per- haps, is not intended to be appealed to, by either of our countries. I have forborne for these two days past, to resent the in- sults you have offered the British flag, fly- ing at this fort, by approaching it within pistol shot of my works, not only singly, but in numbers, with arms in their hands. Neither is it my wish to wage war with individuals, but should you, after this, con- tinue to approach my post in the threat- ening manner you are at this moment do- ing, my indispensable duty to my king and country, and the honor of my profession, will oblige me to have recourse to those measures which thousands of either na- tion, may hereafter have cause to regret, and which, I solemnly appeal to God, I have used my utmost endeavors to arrest. I have the honor to be, Sir, with much respect. Your most obedient and very humble servant, WILLAM CAMPBELL, Major 24th Regiment, commanding Fort Miami To Major General Wayne, etc., etc. GENERAL WAYNE TO MAJOR CAMPBELL Sir: — In your letter of the 21st instant, you declare “I have no hesitation on my part to say, that I know of no war exist- ing between Great Britain and America.” I, on my part, declare the same, and that the only cause I have to entertain a con- trary idea, at this time, is the hostile act you are now in the commission of, i. e., by recently taking post far within the well known and acknowledged limits of the United States, and erecting a fortification in the heart of the settlements of the In- dian tribes, now at war with the United States. This, sir, appears to be an act of the highest aggression, and destructive to the peace and interest of the Union. Hence it becomes my duty to desire, and demand, in the name of the President of the United States, that you immediately desist from any further act of hostility, or aggression, by forbearing to fortify, and by withdrawing the troops, artillery and stores, under your orders and direction, forthwith; and removing to the nearest post occupied by his Britannic Majesty’s troops at the peace of 1783 ; and which you will be permitted to do unmolested by the troops under my command. I am, with very great respect. Sir, Your most obedient, and very humble servant, ANTHONY WAYNE. Major William Campbell, etc. MAJOR CAMPBELL TO GENERAL WAYNE Fort Miami, 22, August, 1794. Sir: — I have this moment the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter in answer to which I have only to say, that being placed here in the command of a British post, and acting in a military ca- pacity only, I cannot enter into any dis- cussion, either on the right or impropriety of my occupying my present position. These are matters that I conceive will be best left to the ambassadors of our differ- ent, nations. Having said this much, per- mit me to inform you that I certainly will not abandon this post, at the summons of anv person whatever, until T receive or- ders for that purpose from those I have the honor to serve under : or the fortune of war should oblige me. I must still adhere, sir. to the purpose of my letter, this mora- ine - . to desire that your armv, or individ- uals belonging to it. will not approach within reach of my cannon, without ex- porting the consequences attending it. Although I have said, in the former part of mv letter, that my situation here is totally military, yet let me add, sir, that I am much deceived if his Majesty, the King of Great Britain, had not a post on this river at and prior to the period you men- tion. T have the honor to be, sir, with the greatest respect, Your most obedient and very humble servant, WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Major 24th, Regiment, commanding at Fort Miami. CHAPTER XVII. THE MIAMI INDIANS The greater divisions of the North American Indians were distributed: the Esquimaux north of the 16" parallel of latitude; the Algonquins between the 16" and 24" parallel of latitude and the Mo- bilians and Cherokees between the latter meridian to the gulf, all east of the Mis- sissippi. The savage Comanche lived in the Southwest between the Mississippi and Rockies and the Dakotas in the northwest while the Californians, Klemaths and Selish dwelt between the Rockies and the Pacific ocean. To the Algonquin division belonged the six nations, Shawnees, Wyandottes, Dela- wares, Miamis and many other tribes. The Twightwees found on the Miami river at Piqua in 1849 have been frequently re- ferred to as a tribe of Miami Indians, which, in view of the fact that the Mi- amis were a tribe of the Algonquin race seems an improper designation and we shall, therefore, refer to them as a branch of the Miami Indian. The first tribal relation in history comes from the Bible when the twelve sons of Jacob became the head of each. The fact that our history of ten of these tribes is not recorded after they crossed the Euphrates river, has designated them as the “Ten lost tribes” and this along with many other reasons has been cited as corroboration of the theory that the North American In-? dians are the descendants of these Israel- ites. This theory has been discussed at some length in a former chapter of this work, in which I indicated that this his- 268 torical ice was too thin to skate on with safety. In the absence of any real census of the Indian population in the beginning, their actual number is somewhat conjectural but it is certain that the Algonquins were at least, as numerous as all other Indian nations combined and that the Miami In- dians were the most numerous tribe of the Algonquin nation. The first mention in history of the Mi- ami Indians is made by Alonez, 1658, a French Jesuit, who seems to have made the voyage in a small vessel over the northern lakes, until he reached the Fox river country in the present state of Wis- consin, and set up a mission there for the conversion of the Miami Indians whom he found there. The Chief, when he was about was always accompanied by two guards which added dignity to his posi- tion. At that time, a branch of the Mi- amis had a habitat at the mouth of the Chicago river where Chicago now stands and another branch lived at St. Joseph in the south western portion of the present State of Michigan. Ten years after the Jesuit, Alonez, or 1668, about whom there seems to be little account, had established his mis- sion and in the meantime had departed, Marquette and Joliet found his cross there and made friends with the Miamis, two of whom accompanied them to the Wisconsin river down which they floated into the Mississippi river on their famous voyage of 2,500 miles heretofore described in this work. These discoverers estimated the THE MIAMI INDIANS 269 Miamis at 6,000 warriors which meant a population in all about 40,000. The following estimates of Indian popu- lation in the United States is copied from Royce’s Indian Land Cessions. “Perhaps the best estimate of the Indian population of the United States (exclusive of Alaska) at different periods up to 1876 are those given by Honorable John Eaton. His sum- mary is as follows: 1820 — Report of Morse on Indian Affairs 471,036 1 825 — Report of Secretary of War 129,366 1 829— Report of Secretary of War 312,930 1 R84 — Report of Secretary of War 312,610 1 836 — Report of Superintendent of Indian Affairs 253,464 1837 — Renort of Superintendent of Indian Affairs 302,498 I860 — Report of H. R. Schoolcraft 288,229 1853 — Report of United States Census, 1850 400,764 1855 — Report of Indian Office 314,622 1857 — Report of H. R, Schoolcraft 379,264 I860 — Report of Indian Office 254,300 1865 — Report of Indian Office 294,574 18 7 0 — Report of United States Census 313,712 18 7 5 — Report of Indian Office 305,068 1876 — Report of Indian Office 291,882 Until after the vear 1700. there is no doubt but that the Miami Indian remained in the localities where he was found and it seems eauallv certain that this condition continued until 1725. when the St. Joseph Indians and the French at Detroit had their first difference over the fact that the Miamis had commenced trading with the English at the mouth of the Wabash. Some time between 1725 and 1749 the exact date of which it seems impossible to determine, the Miami Indians came down to the Wabash and the Maumee. A branch of the Miamis. the Twightwees, were locat- ed at Piqua on the Miami as early as 1749. In June, 1752, the French and Indians from northern Ohio practically destroyed this branch of the Miamis and thereafter, the principal habitat of the Miamis was near Ft. Wayne in Indiana and Toledo in Ohio. He may have been in the battle of the Kanawka in 1774, during the Lord Dunmore war but if he was, he left at once after that battle and did not participate in the treaty on Pickaway Plains. It is cer- tain that he accompanied the Shawnees and other tribes during the bloody period, on frequent incursions into Kentucky be- tween 1780 and 1795, but does not seem to have developed any great chieftain be- fore Little Turtle rises into pre-eminent leadership about 1790. Historv does not show him to have been a man of high motives or of much sincer- ity in his friendships with either his sav- age brethren or with the whites. From 1658, the time of his discovery up to 1720, h° was the friend of the French and then of the English up to 1795. At the latter date, at the treaty of Greenville. Little Turtle, in a dozen or more eloquent speerTies. expressed sentiments of respect and friendship and promised undving alle- giance to the Great Father of the fifteen Ores, meaning the President of the fifteen States then in the United States which he kept. It was the battle of the Thames where the Indian sun east of the Mississ- ippi went down forever, and the Miami In- dian became an admitted ward of the United States, to be treated bv the govern- ment from then to the present in the most generous and humane manner. In the following brief history of the treaties between the United States and the Miami Indians and other tribes, the mo- tive of the United States is clearly devel- oped on the highest plane of humanitar- ianism. It has been clearly shown in this work that treaties were of small signifi- cance so long as the boundaries between the Indian lands themselves were unde- termined. To the task of perfecting the Tp^ian titles, the United States now com- mitted itself and being finally accom- plished. it gave the Indian property which made him a rich man which was impossi- ble under his former condition. He now 270 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY possessed a property to which no other tribe laid claim and which when purchased by the United States the title acquired was good and undisputed. The sentimentalist who harps on the robbery of the Indians by the United States and commisserates the awful treatment of “Lo, the poor In- dian” belongs, in my opinion, to the same class of men who, in this year of 1917, fraught with such weighty responsibili- ties, is preaching pacifism, while Germany murders our people by the thousands on the free highways of the seas. The Miami Indians held treaties with the United States singly and in conjunc- tion with other tribes for the purpose of ceding and perfecting titles to lands at the following times and places. At Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 7, 1803. At Vincennes, Indiana, August 21, 1805. At Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 30, 1807. At St. Marys, Ohio, October 6, 1818. At the mouth of the Mississenewa, Indi- ana, Oct. 23, 1826. At the forks of the Wabash, Indiana, October 23, 1834. At the forks of the Wabash, Indiana, November 6, 1838. At the forks of the Wabash, Indiana, November 28, 1840. This last treaty conveyed to the United States “The Residue of the Big Reserve” in which the Miami Indians relinquished all their lands in Ohio and Indiana, for lands on the Kaw river in Kansas, just west of Kansas City, Missouri; except a few thousand acres of the rich lands of the Wabash reserved for those of the tribe who did not wish to move west with the main body. Thirty years afterward, in 1870, I at- tended a social function at the house of a Mr. Chaffee, in Kansas City, formerly of Miami county, and was introduced to a beautiful young lady of medium height, with pure blond hair, deep blue eyes and very light complexion. The young lady had attended the best schools of the day, was a good performer on the piano, a fine and vivacious conversationalist with an exquisite piquancy of manner. She in- formed me that her ancestors were at one time residents of Miami county. To my inquiry in reference to her family rela- tions here, she said they had emigrated in a body, in 1840, and now resided opposite Kansas City and were formerly and then, known as the Miami tribe of Indians. I endeavored to assume the stoicism of her ancestors to suppress my surprise at the statement of this charming young lady, who was looking up at me with laughing eyes. That I might not seem utterly help- less in her hands, I said “My information in relation to the complexion of the North American Indians seems to be hopelessly in error, judging from the representative of that race now beside me.” With quick wit she instantly retorted, “Civilization is to blame for the difference between your conception and the reality.” She was as happy in her badinage as she was piquant in manner. I visited at her home and found them living under the best of mod- ern conditions, her people in successful trade and in the community sense a rich people. They retained their tribal rela- tions, to secure the increase on the fertile land of the Kaw which they owned, which they reasoned would be dissipated if owned in severalty, in which they dis- played good business judgment. I opine that every white man that came into this Miami Valley would have been captured without resistance, if all of the Indians here then had been of the same type as my sprightly acquaintance and afterward, my good friend, above de- scribed. From a population of 40,000 souls on the Fox, Chicago and St. Joseph rivers they were then reduced to 1000 most of whom were more white than red and getting more so, each year. On March 3, 1872, the Congress enacted a law providing for the sale of the Miami reservation of 70,000 acres, for which they THE MIAMI INDIANS 271 were fully compensated with lands merged with the Kaskaskias in the Indian Terri- tory. On May 5, 1882, the Congress made ad- ditional provision for unsold Miami lands in Kansas. For more than thirty years, the Miami Indians had lived in the Indian Territory in tribal relations until two years ago and now, 1917, numbering but sixty in all they are citizens of the United States. I append the following official letters in relation to this now extinct tribe from whom our river and county derived their name. Washington, October 19, 1916. Mr. Frank M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Sir : — Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of September 6, 1916, in which you ask for information as to whether the Miami Indians of Ohio still retain their tribal re- lations and the address of their Chief, etc. In answer, you are advised that this Al- gonquin tribe was first found to be living near the mouth of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thence they withdrew into the Mississippi valley, and about 1670 were living at the headwaters of the Fox river, Wisconsin. Some of the tribe moved southeast and lo- cated on the Wabash in Indiana and in northwestern Ohio. They sent out colonies to the east and formed settlements on the Miami river, Ohio, and perhaps, as far east as the Scioto. This country they held until the peace of 1763, when they re- treated to Indiana and the abandoned country was occupied by the Shawnee In- dians. However, they took a prominent part in all the Indian wars in the Ohio valley until the close of the war of 1812. Soon afterward, they began to sell their lands under treaties with the United States, and by 1827 had disposed of most of their holdings in Indiana, and had agreed to remove to Kansas. Later, they went to Indian territory, where the rem- nant, which became confederated with the Peoria tribe, now resides under the juris- diction of Ira C. Deaver, superintendent of the Seneca Indian school, Wyandotte, Ok- lahoma. The population of the Peoria Mi- ami tribe is shown at 393, including men, women and children. A considerable part of the tribe, com- monly known as Meshingonesia’s band, continued to reside on a reservation in Wabash county, Indiana, until 1872, when the land was divided among the survivors then numbering 300. In 1881, all the funds held by the Government for this band were divided pro rata and the mem- bers thereof became citizens of the United States and of the State of Indiana, and are no longer under the control and juris- diction of the Government. By writing to Superintendent Deaver, you should be able to ascertain what, if any, chiefs are still recognized by the remnant of this tribe. Respectfully, (Signed) E. B. MERRETT, Asst. Commissioner.' HB-LO-14 105677. Seneca School and Quapaw Agency, Wyandotte, Oklahoma, January 12, 1917. Mr. F. M. Sterrett, Miami County, Troy, Ohio. Sir: — This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, making in- quiry about the branch of Miami Indians located in this country. I have to advise you that these Indians are now full citizens. The restrictive period expired on their allotments on April 12, 1915. They have abandoned all tribal relations and live as other citizens of this country. Thomas Richardville was their last Chief. He died about five years ago. His son, Charles Richardville lives at Carter- ville, Missouri, and is a licensed under- taker. His daughter, Mary L. Pooler, lives 272 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY in Miami, Oklahoma, and no doubt could give you some information. Very respectfully, (Signed) IRA C. DEAVER, Supt. “Two hundred years have changed the character of a great continent and blotted from its face a whole peculiar people. Art has usurped the bowers of nature and the anointed children of education have been too powerful for the tribes of the ignorant. Here and there, a stricken few remain; but how unlike their bold, untameable pro- genitors. The Indian of falcon glance and bearing, the theme of the touching ballad, the hero of the pathetic tale is gone. They will live only in the songs and chronicles of their exterminators. Let them be faith- ful to their rude virtues as men and pay due tribute to their unhappy fate as a peo- ple.” COL. JOHN JOHNSTON Col. Johnston was Indian Agent for the entire northwest territory with head- quarters at Upper Piqua, at the close of the 17th and beginning of the 18th cen- turies. He was with Wayne in 1794, when 20 years of age. He was at the funeral of Washington and the last funeral of Daniel Boone. I append herewith a letter written by him in 1857 to William Perry, President of the Dayton Pioneer Association, on ac- count of the general information it con- tains in relation to early times and the high source of the information but par- ticularly the information it contains rela- tive to Little Turtle, the last great Chief of the Miami Indians. It will be noted that I have carefully fol- lowed the Miami tribe of Indians from Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1656, to the pres- ent year, 1917, to the town of Miami in Oklahoma, when he ceases to be an Indian and becomes a citizen of the United States. Col. Johnston said, “Among the Indians of my agency who were distinguished for their oratorical powers were Buckinchilas, of the Delewares, Mushequonaghqua, or the Little Turtle, of the Miamis; Cutewn- ksa, or Black Hoof, of the Shawanese; Togwan, or John, of the Senecas. Of all those names the Turtle was by far the most eloquent and the ablest Indian diplo- matist and statesman. “At the treaty at Greenville, in 1795, and at every subsequent convention and treaty with the Commissioners of the United States, this distinguished Chief contended manfully for the rights and in- terests of his people. The boundary line proposed by him to Gen. Wayne was the Great Miami river of Ohio and this turned out to be in accordance with the instruc- tions of President Washington and his cabinet; but Gen. Wayne would not con- sent to this, as it would cut off all the for- tified posts except Fort Hamilton which was on the west bank of the Miami. The line was finally established to run due north from the mouth of the Kentucky river. This saved the people of Forts St. Clair, Jefferson, Greenville, Loramie, Piqua, etc. and satisfied the military char- acter and honor of Mad Anthony. The treaty put an end to the Indian war, and opened up the fertile soil of the northwest territory to the thousands of American citizens who have flocked in from all parts of the Union to possess it, long before the surveys were made and the land office was opened in Cincinnati. Squatters innumer- able had settled on choice spots throughout the country. This gave rise to the pre- emption system to secure to the settlers the value of their labor. All the Acts of the Federal Government referring to the dis- posal of the National domain show a sa- cred regard to the providing of farms and homes for men of limited means. The original plan was to sell by whole sections of 640 acres only; but Gen. Harrison, when in Congress, who was evermore the poor man’s friend, had the land law al- tered, so that a quarter of a section of 160 acres could be purchased. And now, that every human being can possess his ground in fee simple, the quantity on sale is re- THE MIAMI INDIANS 273 duced to 80 and 40 acre tracts, what more could be done for the poor man than to enable him to possess a comfortable home even for a less sum a forty acre tract of canal land can be had in northern Ohio. It is hard to sympathize with those who are clamoring for bread in large cities with the foregoing facts, which are everywhere accessible to all.” “I was often the guest of Little Turtle at his home on Eel river, a branch of the Wabash, about twenty miles from Fort Wayne. He lived in good style, for an Indian — had two wives, one an old woman, the choice of his youth, the other a young girl of eighteen years. Both appeared to live in great peace and harmony. Of my first visit to this Chief, accompanied by some officers of the army and the ladies of the garrison, we were greeted with a very splendid British flag, flying at the public square and in front of the Court House. In my remarks to the Indians, I told them that we could not permit that the flag be displayed on American ground ; that it be- longed to the English and not to us; that in all nations it was the emblem of sover- eignty, that they, the Indians, were the subjects of the United States, residing far within our territorial limits and that here- after, no English flag should be displayed on our soil. In reply, the Chief stated that they had no flag except the one exhibited ; that if I would furnish them with an American flag they would use it and no other. I accordingly wrote to the War Department and in due time received flags sufficient for all the tribes of my agency. The Turtle received a pension from the English government of one hundred guineas a year, and this was continued to him long after the United Staes assumed the jurisdiction. High living destroyed the health of this Chief who died at Fort Wayne, not quite sixty years old, of a con- firmed case of gout. He was buried by order of the Commanding Officer with military honors. During the presidency of Washington, the Miami Indians sent a deputation to Philadelphia, at the time the seat of gov- ernment was located there, the Turtle be- ing of the party and chief orator. They were graciously received by the President and Gen. Knox, the Secretary of War, and on their return, made a very favorable re- port to their nation. The celebrated patriot, Kosciusko, happened to be in Philadelphia at the time of their visit. He sent for the Indians to visit him at his lodgings, he being sick and unable to go around. He addressed the Chiefs to con- tend manfully for their rights and never submit to a foreign yoke. At parting, he presented his favorite pistols, saying, “These I have used in defense of the rights and liberties of my native land, and I charge you to keep and use them for the same purpose, and if any man comes to deprive you of your rights and your coun- try, shoot him dead with these pistols.” I have often handled those precious relics when in possession of the Indian Chief. They were of the finest workmanship — silver mounted with gold touch holes. After the Turtle’s death, the Miamis pos- sessed no one of equal ability to occupy his place. The tribe degenerated into dissipa- tion and lost its rank and influence in the confederacy of the northwest tribes. The rapid increase of our population compelled them to abandon their favorite home on the Wabash and seek a new country south, southwest of the Missouri (On the Kaw river, Kansas — Author). From the ac- counts I have of their intemperate habits and bad management, they will doubtless soon become extinct. And this fate, I fear, awaits most of the tribes who emigrated from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Among the felicities of my own life is that of hav- ing beheld the person of Washington. I heard him deliver his last speech to both Houses of Congress in December, 1796, it being his practice to address the National Legislature in person. His successor in the Presidency, John Adams, pursued the 274 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY same course. On the advent of Mr. Jef- ferson, the custom ceased, and ever since, messages in writing have taken the place of speeches. (The custom of Washington and Adams, after more than a hundred years, was again practiced by Woodrow Wilson, elected President in 1912-16. He has addressed Congress at each opening, up to the present year, 1917. — The Au- thor). Washington died in 1799, and in the winter of that year, 1800, the Presi- dent and Congress ordered funeral honors to be celebrated to his memory. It fell to my lot, as Secretary of Washington Ma- sonic Lodge No. 59, to take part in the ceremonies. Col. Richard Henry Lee, of the Revolution, then a member of the Fredericksburg Lodge, Virginia, No. 4, and was reported in its proceedings among the deaths of its members in the year 1799. A large number of the distinguished men of the Revolution were members of the Masonic orders, Washington being chief, he was admitted to the rights and privi- leges of Free Masonry in Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, November 4, 1752, and ad- mitted to the higher Order of the Craft, August 4, 1754. He was then in command of the Virginia troops raised for the de- fense of the frontier against the Indians and their allies. Of the first settlers known to me and remembered, of the Cincinnati and Miami valley are the following: Griffith Yeatman was, in 1793, the agent of the Commissary Department, or rather Assistant, Edward Day being the principal — the yellow house on the river bank being the principal store house and office; Capt. Pierce, of the In- fantry, commanded Fort Washington in the fall of 1794, when I left the country. Of the merchants, settlers and traders the following are remembered : Samuel Creigh, with whom I came to the West in 1792, Oliver Ormsby, Mr. Bustard, Mc- Connell, Tait, Bullock, Wilson, James Fer- guson, who continued a resident of Cincin- nati until his decease a few years ago, and I Gibson, who was, I think, in after years, first Auditor of the State. The firm of Jesse and Abijah Hunt was the most ex- tensive merchants in the country. There were others more transient, who came with goods and provisions, who sold out by the wholesale and went away, but the foregoing names embrace the principal traders who followed the army. There were some mechanics. Patrick Dicky, a tailor, is remembered. Col. John Riddle carried on the blacksmith business, his shop was on the levee not far from the old Miami exporting company bank; Levi Munsell, who had retired from the army, kept the best house of entertainment. I boarded with him in 1794. At this time, the town organ began to show the direc- tion of some of the streets. There was oc- casional preaching, in a rough frame on the site of the Presbyterian church, cor- ner of Fourth and Main streets. I remem- ber the name of Arthur, a Scotchman, who preached there. The chaplain in the army was Jones, a Baptist, a near neighbor to Gen. Wayne, from Chester county, Pa. His station was headquarters Greenville. I am under the impression it was Gen. William Henry Harrison, then a lieutenant in the army, who commanded the party to inter the bones of those who fell in St. Clair’s defeat, on November 4, 1791, and not Col. Wilkinson as stated by Dr. Ferris. The settlers at Columbia had sufficient to do at the time to defend themselves from the attacks of the Indians and could illy spare a part of the male population to go as far off as the battle ground. (Co- lumbia was at the mouth of the Little Miami, now in the eastern section of Cin- cinnati and had no fort. — The Author.) Besides this, there were of the regular troops sufficient to spare at Fort Washing- ton (Cincinnati) to be detailed for pur- poses of burying the dead and I think it was they that performed that duty under the gallant Harrison. Of the first settlers on the road north from Cincinnati, was the Whites at White’s Station^, the Ludlows at Ludlow Ludlow Falls before the traction line bridge was built over it Panther Creek Falls, Newton Township Ludlow Falls after the traction line Sunderland Falls, Monroe Township THE MIAMI INDIANS 279 Station, Mclntires at the yard (now called Mechanicsburg) eighteen miles on the Dayton road; Beattys at the crossing of the Lebanon and Hamilton road ; Dr. Hole at Hole’s creek; Newcome at Dayton. The settlers on the Piqua road north was Morrison at Honey Creek (Livingston, first town laid out in Miami county, else- where dwelt on. — Author) the Gerards, Blues and Felix at Staunton ; the Hilliards at Lower Piqua and James Flinn and Shadrach Hudson at Upper Piqua (after- ward the residence of myself and family). Hudson had been in the army and had planted the first corn on the place. He told me his manner of doing this. He broke up the ground, prairie, with two yoke of oxen, the sod being first turned over, could not be scored out in the usual manner, so he drove his wagon over the ground, marking the rows by the wheels, then crossing the same at right angles and planting his seed at the point crossed. He was late in planting, but had a fair crop. Mathew Caldwell, another of the first settlers, sowed his wheat on Christmas day and had a fair crop. The climate then was milder than at present, the Fall and In- dian summer extending far into December. I have encamped in the woods often in that month, without fires except for the pur- pose of cooking. The great flood in the Ohio in 1793 overspread the entire lower plat of the city to the depth of at least four feet. The Indians often affirmed to me of a much greater rise in the river within their recollections. Among the incidents of the flood of 1793 was that of Peter Walsh, the barber, go- ing in a scow to dress the heads of some of the officers of the army, the officers and men wearing their hair long and using hair powder, the former required his services daily. The soldiers who mounted guard for the day were only required to be powdered. It was a very troublesome and inconvenient custom. After the death of Gen. Wayne and on Wilkinson attaining to the command of the army, a general order was issued requiring all officers, non com- missioned officers and privates to have their hair cut short. As may be readily imagined, the order with many was un- popular. It was, however generally com- plied with. Col. Thomas Butler resisted and was brought to court martial for dis- obedience. How the matter ended in his case, I have forgotten. He soon left the army and settled in the Mississippi terri- tory. This officer was wounded in St. Clair’s defeat. He was brother to Gen. Richard Butler who fell in that battle. The family had signalized itself in the wars of the country, three or four brothers having borne commissions in the western army. The youngest, Capt. Butler, was the last commander of Fort Loramie, fourteen miles north of my Indian agency at Upper Piqua. It is sometimes interesting to con- trast the compensation of public servants during the administration of Washington with those of the present day. A private soldier, three dollars per month, subsis- tence and clothing with medical attend- ance free, commissioned officers and musi- cians proportionately low. The civil ad- ministration as follows : Chief Justice of the United States per annum, $4,000 ; asso- ciates, $3,500; United States Judge of Maine, $1,000; New Hampshire, $1,000; Vermont, $800; Massachusetts, $1,200; Rhode Island, $1,000 ; Connecticut, $2,000 ; New York, $12,500; New Jersey, $1,000; Pennsylvania, $1,600; Delaware, $1,000; Maryland, $1,500; Virginia, $1,800; Ken- tucky, $1,000; North Carolina, $1,500; Georgia, $1,500; Attorney General of the United States, $1,900; Member of both Houses of Congress, $6 per day each and traveling expenses, Secretary of the Treas- ury, $3,500; Secretary of War, $3,000; Governor of Northwest territory, $2,000. I left Fort Washington in the fall of 1794 and ascended the Ohio by water to Wheeling, West Virginia, in a small peri- ogue, purchased by a party of nine who clubbed for the cost and the common stock of provisions for the trip. We organized 280 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY for defense against the Indians who often waylaid the river, attacking and capturing the boats ; chose John Ward after Clerk of the Courts at Steubenville, Ohio, for our Captain. The river was low and the pas- sage tedious. One man of the party was always detailed on shore to guard against surprise from the Indians and this duty was performed alternately by all the party, the Captain excepted. We never made any fire at night, cooked our suppers in the afternoon, then pushed our craft on until night set in. We then sought some quiet nook where we landed and lay down to sleep, one of the party keeping awake and acting as sentinel. We often lodged on islands, sometimes on the north and some times on the south shore. Thus we baffled the savages if any were in pursuit. We reached Wheeling in safety, after a pas- sage of more than twenty days. A large party who started with us and from which we purposely separated, lost two men killed and a woman wounded by the In- dians. In passing up, we saw several re- mains of boats that had been captured and destroyed by the Indians, the unfortunate occupants had either been killed or taken into captivity by the savages. My relative, Charles Johnston, of Bot-e-tourt, Virginia, was thus taken in 1792 on the Ohio, his boat being decoyed ashore by a base white man, under a pretense of being a prisoner escaped from the Indians. Mr. May, the principal owner of the boat and cargo was shot through the head dead, while holding up an emblem of surrender. Johnston, after being taken to the Wyandotte vil- lages on Sandusky river, ransomed by a humane trader named Francis Duchaquet, who was for many years my interpreter in the Shawnee nation. His Indian name was So-wah-quo-the or the Fork. Four years after the above letter was written, Col. Johnston, the greatest char- acter of Miami county in early times, died in Washington City, D. C., April 19, 1861. CHAPTER XVIII. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY It has been generally accepted that John Knoop was the first settler in Miami County, but since several settlers came into the county in 1797, the year he ar- rived, and others earlier than that date, I think it best to place them in chronolog- ical order in order that there may be little doubt hereafter on that historical fact. When Knoop arrived here, he found Peter Felix at Staunton, who, according to Tullis and all early writers on local his- tory, came here immediately after the Treaty of Greenville in the fall of 1795. At the same time or soon after, and cer- tainly before Knoop’s coming Simeon Lan- dry and a man by the name of Duprey had cast their fortunes with Felix who was carrying on a profitable trade with the In- dians. Between the date, August 20, 1794, when the “Battle of Fallen Timbers” was fought up to the date of the Greenville Treaty on August 3, 1795, Gen. Wayne had been busily occupied in negotiations with each of the Indian tribes in Ohio and Indiana for the treaty which he so happily consummated. While there was no thought of an Indian war during that year, those who had their eyes fixed on the fer- tile lands of Miami County, did not ven- ture to settle there. The cabin built by Peter Felix in the autumn of 1795 was un- doubtedly the first one and he with his two companions were the first three settlers. B. Van Cleave in his “American Pioneers” page 295, Vol. II, says that “In the spring of 1796, a settlement was made at the mouth of Honey Creek and one at old Piqua on the Miami.” It was Samuel Morrison and David Morris who settled at the mouth of Honey Creek and laid out a town there which they named Livingston. Freeman’s Prairie, near by, had been an Indian cornfield and this was used by the new settlers to furnish them bread. The first town in Miami County, singularly, has no definite history. The descendants of Morrison and Morris are numerous and yet it is not possible to obtain information in reference to the number of houses built there and the number of years they stood. There seems to be neither record or tradi- tion on the subject. The reasonable con- jecture is, however, that since the altitude of the mouth of Honey Creek is 790 feet above the level of the sea, the first high water drove them up the Woodward Hill for safety and that they there and then realized that their chosen location for a town had not been judiciously made. I have read and sought to learn the early history of Miami County since a boy and have always been staggered at what would seem the folly of locating a town at the mouth of Honey Creek and have sought to disprove that there ever was a town located at that particular point. Failing in this, I assume the right to doubt the statement and suggest that the con- gregation of houses known for many years as Babbtown, located one-half mile north of the crossing of the Tippecanoe and New Carlisle turnpike and the Troy and Dayton east side turnpike was the actual location of Livingston. This was the site of Babb’s Mill which served the people of Monroe Staunton and Bethel townships for many years. I will, therefore, paraphrase the “American Pioneers” quoted above with “In the spring of 1796, a settlement was made one mile northeast of the mouth of 281 282 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Honey Creek on the bluff at a point where Babb’s Mill was afterward located, and called Livingston, which, on account of Babb’s Mill there in 1832, was merged into Babbtown.” The settler at Piqua referred to in the above abstract from “American Pioneers” was undoubtedly Job Gard who had been a suttler in Wayne’s army. He came to the old fort at upper Piqua in the Spring of 1796 early enough to plant the_ “Big Bend” at Piqua in corn that year which had been used by the Twightwees and Shawnees during their occupancy of the Piqua country, for the same purpose. He lived in the old fort until the summer of 1797 about the time John Knoop came to Staunton at which time he selected the best material from the fort; floated down the river, and, according to J. A. Raynard in his “First Century of Piqua,” used it in the construction of a cabin near what is now the corner of Harrison and Water streets. In the summer of 1797, Jonathan Rollins, Samuel Hilliard, John Gerard, Shadrach Hudson, Daniel Cox, Thomas Rich and others were induced to locate a town at Piqua by John Cleve Symmes, who owned 2,000,000 acres between the Great and Little Miami rivers and who promised the above named, lands and lots. Symmes either did not know that the Indian vil- lages were located on the west side of the Miami or the men made a mistake in the locality in the fact that Symmes did not own any land west of the Great Miami. These men sought other localities. Rollins and Hudson settled at the mouth of Spring Creek, on the west side of the Miami. Benjamin Iddings settled with a family of six children, in the Spring of 1797, west of the Stillwater in Newton township. In the Spring of 1798, John Knoop, Henry Gerard, Benjamin Hamlet, John Tilden and others settled at Staunton where Peter Felix, the Indian trader, had pre- ceded them. It was the practical, indus- trious Knoops who set about redeeming the virgin soil from the primeval forests and the establishment of a protected com- munity. The “Dutch Station” was formed by erecting a line of log cabins, all joined together, forming one side of a square with the remaining three sides en- closed by palings, eight feet high firmly driven in the ground. All the openings of the cabins inside the square were secured by a strong gateway. Here the settlers remained for period of two years, in the meantime, raising their first crops of corn on Gerard’s and Gahagan’s Prairies which had been previously tilled by the Indians. The reader should understand that the Gerard Prairie was the land lying east of Staunton and the Gahagan Prairie was the bottom land west of Staunton running up to Main street in Troy. In the Spring of 1799, the station was augmented by the arrival of John Gerard, Uriah Blue, Jo- seph Coe, Abram Hathaway, Nathaniel Gerard, Abner Gerard, and Daniel and Christopher Knoop. “It was the victory of Clark that gave to the first settlers in this county a sense of security” is quoted from the last history of Miami County in 1909. In the fact that Clark’s victory at upper Piqua was in 1782 when no white man lived in the county and that there were no white men living in Miami County for thirteen years after Clark’s victory and that the intervening thirteen years I have called “The Bloody Period” because of the Indian forays into Kentucky from Ohio and Indiana, it is clear that Clark’s victory had nothing to do with the “sense of security” felt by the first settlers in 1795-6-7. It was the victory of “Fallen Timbers” on August 20, 1794, by Mad An- thony Wayne and his treaty with the In- dians one year later at Greenville that furnished the sense of security. Sketches from Note Books of Capt. E. S. Williams John Knoop Erected the First House in Miami County, in 1800, on the Farm of William R. Saunders “Among the first emigrants to Miami THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 283 County were the Knoop brothers, consist- ing of John, Benjamin, Christian and Daniel. John was the eldest. He was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1767. They emigrated to Ohio, then the Northwest Territory, in 1797, and came down the Ohio, in a flat boat to Fort Washington, afterwards Cin- cinnati. Their father was of German de- scent and died some years before his sons removed to the west. Their mother was a native of Switzerland and emigrated to America in 1732. When they came to Fort Washington early in the spring of 1797 they planted a crop of corn on Zeigler’s stone-house farm about four miles above Cincinnati, on land then be- longing to John Smith. During the sum- mer John Knoop made two excursions into the Indian country with surveying parties and at that time selected the land on which he lived and died. “The above statement is from an article called ‘Miami County Traditions,’ written by William Bosson and published in the Troy Times of April 10, 1839, but notes prepared by William R. Saunders, who married the daughter of William Knoop and who lives on the land settled by John Knoop in 1797, state that the Knoop brothers came to Fort Washington in 1796 and located a tract of land in Warren county, and that in 1797, when, on a sec- ond excursion into the Indian country, he located on what is now section 4, Staunton township, in this county. On his return to Fort Washington they immediately made preparations for their removal, and in connection with other families made the journey up the Miami river, following the trace of the road over which General Clark traveled in his expeditions against the Indian towns of Piqua, on the Miami River, until they came to the bend of the river where the village of Staunton is now located, and there John Knoop, and brothers, Henry Girard, Benjamin Hamlet and John Tilders established a station forj the security of their families. f “This station was called Dutch Station. It was a stockade built so as to enclose the cabins of the above named settlers, and for those days it was a rather strong fort, proving an effectual protection against the Indians. It was the first permanent settle- ment made in Miami County and became the stopping point for new emigrants to this portion of the Miami valley. “Here Jacob Knoop was born in 1798. He was the first white child born within what is now Miami County, and was the son of John and Barbara Knoop. The families in this station remained there un- til 1800. In the meantime they raised crops across the river, opposite the stock- ade on a prairie that had been cultivated by the Indians, and was afterwards known as Gahagan’s Prairie. “In the Spring of 1800 the settlers commenced improving their land by build- ing cabins and clearing the ground. John Knoop erected on his land in 1800 a cabin with a loft to it, which is still standing, and which the writer visited a few days prior to writing this sketch. It is the old- est cabin now standing in the county of Miami and is kept in good preservation by Mr. Saunders and his wife. “It may be a matter of interest to the readers of this sketch to state where each of the Knoop brothers located. John set- tled on section 4, where the old cabin stands, near the beautiful home now occu- pied by Mr. Saunders and his wife. Ben- jamin Knoop located on the farm adjoin- ing, Lost Creek dividing the farms, and his place is owned at the present time by George and Mary Sheets. Christian Knoop located on the farm now owned by Presley Sayers, while Daniel Knoop located on the farm where S. D. Green at present resides. There was, and is yet, a good spring of water on each farm named. “After John Knoop had built his cabin he went back to Pennsylvania after his aged mother and brought her to his new home, making the trip of five hundred fmiles through the wilderness on horse- 284 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY back. She died in 1805, and was buried on the ground selected by herself only a short time before her death. This was the beginning of the Knoop cemetery, where now sleep the old pioneer Knoops and their sons and daughters, by the side of the emigrant woman from the moun- tains of Switzerland, who raised her boys in the shadow of the Alleghanies. The subject is one worthy of the poet’s song as well as of the historian’s pen. In the old house built in 1800 were raised seven chil- dren. Five were born beneath its clap board roof ; one son, George, the eldest, was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and Jacob, the second son, in the stockade at Dutch Station. All the family — father, mother and seven children — sleep side by side ‘waiting the judgment day’ in the beautiful Knoop cemetery on the bank of Lost Creek, close by the old cabin of 1800 ; and over their graves grow the flowers that were first propagated from the seeds brought from Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1797. “Each one of the pioneers and their sons and daughters filled a place in the early settlement of this county and are entitled to the gratitude of the present generation. George, the eldest son, died in 1862. He was never married. He was a genial, gen- erous, practical man and was the head of the firm of “Knoop Brothers,” or, as they were usually called, ‘The bachelor Knoops,’ the rest of the bachelors being Jacob and John H. Thomas, another son, died in year 18 — ; William, the youngest son, was born in 1812, married to Rachael A. Kerr, and reared a family of eight children. Nancy Knoop was born in 1801, and was married to Isaac Sheets in 1824. She was the mother of six children, three boys and three girls. Elizabeth was married to George Statler, in the year 1829, and was the mother of two boys and one girl — Samuel K., W. S. and Harriet Statler. “John Knoop, the pioneer, was an act- ive, energetic, enterprising business man, and did much in his modest, unassuming way towards building up and improving Miami county. At an early day he erected a sawmill and gritsmill; also a distillery, and his whisky was noted for its purity. In 1816 he erected a two story brick house as a residence, near the log cabin he erected in 1800. His wife, Mrs. Barbara Knoop, planted apple seeds and raised her own trees for a large orchard. One tree grew to an enormous size, being ten feet in circumference and branches shading over seventy feet. The fruit was similar in color and shape to the popular Maiden Blush apple, but was more acid. Pinks are growing in the Spring and Summer of 1900, in the Knoop cemetery the seed of which was brought to Miami county in 1797. John and Benjamin Knoop married sisters by the name of Holstine. Ben- jamin raised a large family of sons and daughters. Daniel, a son of Benjamin Knoop, was a merchant and at an early day opened a store in Casstown. Jacob Knoop, Jr., was a surveyor by profession ; was elected mayor of Troy and justice of peace. He also was elected and served as auditor and treasurer of Miami County. Andrew, another son, was an active busi- ness man, and became quite a large land- holder. Jacob Knoop, Sr., the son of John Knoop, was twice elected county commis- sioner; George Knoop, when only seven- teen years of age, enlisted in the army and served against the British and the Indians in the war of 1812. The Knoop brothers brought the first sheep to Miami County, and in everything pertaining to agricul- ture and public enterprise they took an active part and did much to lay wide and deep the foundations for the present pros- perity of this county. The whole genera- tion were Whigs in politics, and were staunch supporters of Henry Clay. The family sent many soldiers to the front to battle for the Union and the old flag dur- ing the late Rebellion. Mrs. Henry Car- ver, of Troy, and Henry Knoop, of Dayton, are the only survivors of the first genera- tion of Knoops born in Miami County. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 285 “John Knoop and Colonel John Johnson, the Indian agent, were fast friends and often visited each other. The sons of John Knoop, Jacob and John H. Knoop, in 1873 purchased the Statler farm lying in Elizabeth township, consisting of one hun- dred and sixty-three acres of land. After making some necessary improvements, they transferred it to the county of Miami in June, 1877, for a home for orphan chil- dren provided the county would erect the necessary buildings. Miami county has now upon this donation of the “Bachelor Knoops” one of the finest county children’s homes in the State of Ohio. The Bachelor Knoops added to the competence left them by their father, the pioneer of 1796, and when they died they left to their heirs the snug fortune of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, yet they were generous to all worthy charities. Jacob was one of the originators of the old State Bank of Troy, which, under the national banking act was organized into the First National Bank of Troy. “In preparing this sketch of a family that had had so marked an influence upon the past of Miami County the writer is under manv obligations to W. R. Saun- ders.”— E. S. W. After entering their land, the settlers would build their homes, no palatial resi- dences for them, but the humble log cabin with puncheons or split plank for floors, and four feet split clapboards for roof. At one end would be a chimney of wood, plas- tered with clay, and the fireplace of this chimney served at once as furnace and range for the new home. Cooking stoves were unknown in Miami County one hundred years ago. The cook- ing was all done before the large cabin fire. A large hook, or crane, was sus- pended above the fire upon which was hung a cast iron vessel in which water was heated and provision cooked. The Dutch oven, also made of iron, would be set in front of the fire and ashes and coals heaped around it. In this oven the bread was baked, a favorite dish with the pio- neers was hoe cake, which was made from cornmeal and baked before the fire in a clapboard. Green corn was roasted before the fire, and from this manner of cooking green corn, it is called to this day roasting ears. The women, who belonged to the fami- lies of the sturdy pioneers, did not belong to clubs, but found plenty to occupy their time at home. Every woman with her own hands carded the wool, spun and wove it into linsey, from which the winter cloth- ing of her family was made, and in the summer all wore linen. The men sowed the flax, broke it and left to the women the succeeding steps of transforming it into wearing apparel. Ladies now buy linen and spend their time in doing dainty drawn work, but their grandmothers made the linen from the raw flax performing with their own hands the labor of pulling, swingling, hackling and weaving into gar- ments. The dress suit of the men con- sisted of buckskin and in the place of pat- ent leather shoes they wore moccasins. Behind every tree a savage lurked ready at the first opportunity to kill and scalp the pale face, and the pioneer always went armed ready to battle for his own life and that of his family in their little cabin. Corn was cultivated with the rifle within reach, the gun was laid a few feet in ad- vance, the corn hoed up to the gun, the gun laid a few feet farther on, and the hoe again taken up. Those were days of trials and dangers of which the present genera- tion can form no idea.” While the sketches above are well and truthfully drawn the Captain should have modified the terror created by the presence of an Indian “behind every tree” so far a» conditions were meant to apply to Miami County in the early day. My reader has already learned that there were no white men here until 1795 except the very few who occupied the trading post at Piqua from 1849 to 1852 being the first English settlement in Ohio, antedating Marietta 286 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY by 39 years. After 1795 the whites and Indians lived together in perfect harmony until the war of 1812 and that conflict was not waged on or near Miami County soil. The only contest between the white man and Indian on Miami County soil was when Clark came up the valley in 1782 to chastise the Indians for depredations com- mitted against the 70,000 people then liv- ing in the State of Kentucky. The condi- tions described by the Captain applied to Kentucky and some parts of Ohio at a date earlier than the settlement of Miami County. In his recollections Abram Thomas de- scribes the uniform of the two independ- ent rifle companies that were in Miami County at the beginning of the war of 1812 as follows: “The members of the two independent rifle companies of the county wore light blue linsey hunting shirt, with a cape, the whole fringed and coming half way down to the thigh, buck- skin breeches, leather belt, shot pouch and powder-horn with large knife, and toma- hawk or hatchet in the belt and rifle on the shoulder.” Soon after the settlement of Samuel Morrison and David Morris in 1797 in Bethel township, Thomas Stockstill came to Ohio from Tennessee making the trip on foot and settled in Bethel township in 1801. He organized a church where Palmer chapel now stands in 1810 and was the first class leader. The dedicatory ser- mon was preached by Rev. William R. Raper. About 1797, John H. Crawford settled in Bethel township. Robert, his brother, came with him and was the first Director of the town of Troy and sold the first lots and reported $2,800 as the sum received for the first year’s sales about which amount there was an investigation in 1825. The first lot laid out was at the corner of Water and Clay streets to be hereafter shown in the first published plat of Troy. John H. Crawford was one of the first associated judges of Miami County. In 1800, Philip and Jacob Saylor settled on Indian Creek close to where it empties into Honey Creek, and the same year Mary Saylor married Joseph Stafford and Rachel Saylor married David H, Morris. John, David and Abraham Stude- baker came into Bethel township at an early day from Maryland and their chil- dren and grandchildren now own some of the best lands in Miami County. Adam Black, an old Revolutionary soldier, set- tled near Brandt at an early day and also William Woodward. The picture of John R. Woodward, his son, will appear in these pages. The view from the Woodward Hill is one of the most beautiful in Miami County. Looking westward, two miles distant, over the valley, the thriving town of Tippecanoe, commences at the foot of the slope ascending westward in an un- equalled panorama of village, farm land, spreading to water, rolling, taking up, farm buildings and forest, plainly outlined to the view for at least a distance of five miles. The intervening space of two miles of valley land as rich as the valley of the Nile, is traversed by the Great Miami River, covered in the summer time with a verdure of Indian corn unsurpassed on the entire globe. The Hoaglands were early settlers in Bethel township, Miami County. The sons, afterward citizens of Troy, started the manufacture of the famous Royal Baking Powder here, and later moved to the city of New York and became millionaires many times over. Bethel was the most populous section of the county in 1807 when the county was organized and was, therefore, the first named township in the county. The prin- cipal reason for this condition consisted in the fact that the population advanced from the Ohio River. Hamilton County was organized in 1790 but on account of “The Bloody Period” the population was largely confined to the vicinity of Fort Washington (Cincinnati). After the Greenville Treaty in 1795 there was a steady stream of men and families from the river found their way northward until THE HOME OF ADDISON F. BROOMHALL Addison F. Broomhall. settled in Troy in 1879 ; was admitted to the bar in 1881. Married Estella M. Baird December 25th, 1882. They have two children: Baird, attorney-at-law, and Corinna, wife of Mr. O. W. L. Coffin of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Broomhall is still practicing his profession in Troy, in association with his son, under the firm name of Broomhall & Broomhall. WILLIAM JUDSON CLYDE The subject of the above picture was born one mile north of Casstown, on the George C. Clyde home farm on February 14, 1842, in a one story log house. He lived with his parents, George C. Clyde and Priscilla Knight until manhood, receiving his education at the Casstown schools in Lost Creek township, Miami county, together with the Troy schools which he attended after he was 12 years of age. On December 4, 1863, he united in marriage with Sarah Green from which union four children were born : George M. Clyde, Mrs. Melli Gabriel, Mrs. Gertrude Marr, and William Clyde, deceased. He studied law after marriage and was admitted to practice in Troy which he prosecuted for the remainder of his life, except two terms as county prosecutor and two terms as Probate Judge of Miami county, the latter between 1885-91. Judge Clyde was in the fore front of the bar and a convincing political orator. There was an earnestness and ruggedness in his presentation of a subject that carried conviction to his hearers. He died in Troy, Ohio, on December 12 1898, and his remains were buried in Riverside cemetery. He and family worshipped at the First Baptist church in Troy. The son-in-law of William J udson Clyde, Harry T. Gabriel, of the foregoing sketch and picture was born on April 12, 1869, at Piqua. Miami county, Ohio, and lived with his father and mother, Milton F. Gabriel and Miriam Garvey, until manhood, who moved to Troy, when he was an infant. He was educated in the public schools of Troy. He married Mss Melli E. Clyde, on June 17, 1899. He entered the shoe business with his brother-in-law, George Clyde, under the firm name of Clyde & Gabriel, purchasing his partner’s interest in 1915. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Troy club and attends the First Baptist church and ranked with the successful and substantial business men of Troy. JOANNA WITTER ALLEN Born at Ellsworth, Ohio, March 8, 1827, belonged to a family no less distinguished than the Edwards family. Samuel Allen and his wife, Ann, left their home in Bridgewater, England ir? 1620, and came to America locating in Baintree, Mass., ten miles southeast of Boston. Samuel Allen, a representative of the second generation, was Town Clerk of East Bridgewater, Massa- chusetts in 1660. He had a sister, Sarah, who became the wife of Lieutenant Miles Standish, a son of Miles Standish. Samuel Allen, the second, married Sarah Partridge and her son Samuel, the third, was married to Rebecca Carey in 1685, by whom he had a son. Joseph Allen, who was born at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in 1701. In 1727, they moved to Norwich, Connecticut, and in 1729, he married Rebecca Fuller. Their son, Asahel Allen, was born in 1743 and was married in 1765 to Desire Eames, from which union a son, Enoch Allen, was born (1768) and married Betsy Witter (1793), and they had a son, Asa W. Allen, born in 1795, who compiled and published a history of the Allen family, which was printed in Salem Ohio, in 1872. Asa W. married Sophia Hopkins of Edmeston, New York, in 1818. The mother was the daughter of Chauncey Hopkins of Bennington, Vermont, and granddaughter of Gen. Ebenezer Wal- bridge, an official in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War who took an active part in the battles of Bennington and Fort Ticoderoga and aided in the capture of Burgoyne at the battle of Saratoga, which decided the independence of the thirteen colonies. From the union of Asa Allen and Sophia Hopkins was born Joanna W. Allen, the original of the above picture, who was the mother of Ogden Edwards. She died on Jan. 23, 1918 at the advanced age of ninety- one years in full possession of her mental faculties and sleeps in our beautiful Riverside. Her marriage to Jonathan O. Edwards on May 19, 1859, united two families who had borne a distinguished part in the history of the thirteen original colonies and the United States. Ethan Allen, son of Joseph Allen, was born at Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 10, 1737. Early in 1775, he ap- peared before Ft. Ticonderoga and demanded its surrender. When the British commander demanded his authority, he replied, “In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” The military post near Burlington, Vermont, is named in honor of this great partisan hero. WILLIAM PERRINE ORR The subject of this sketch and picture was of English extraction. His father lived in Dayton, Ohio, as a young- man, and followed the avocation of brick and stone mason burning his own brick. Near Dayto* lived a farmer named Nathan Worley, blessed with a comely daughter whom Joshua On* wooed, won, and wed on December 22, 1822. They moved to Connersville, Indiana, where their first child, JVlartha, was born on September 13, 1823, in which year they moved back to Dayton where Nathan was born on February 7, 1826; Rachel Susannah, on January 23 1828; and John M. Orr, March 1, 1831, in which year they moved to Covington, Miami County, where William Perrine was born on April 30, 1834 ; ' Thomas Stephen, on January 29, 1836 ; Margaret Elizabeth, on January 6, 1840 ; Caleb Worley and Joshua Williamson, on December 24, 1845, the two latter being twins. William Perrine bid farewell to family and friends before he had attained his majority and after a year in California, came back to Covington, and embarked in the grocery trade and for a short time in the dry goods business. He married Martha Morrison, of Covington, on May 23, 1854, from which union were born Morrison and Louis H. Orr. Soon after marriage he became a partner of his brother-in-law, David Harmer, and associated with him his brother, C. W. Orr, in general trading at Gettysburg, Darke County. They bought hogs, steers, and other stock, fed and slaughtered them, sold dry goods and groceries, dealt in all kinds of country produce and as he expressed it himself, “We dealt in everything from a millinery shop to a tannery.” He once said to me, “I have literally waded through most of the slashes of Darke County in my search for stock.” He moved to Piqua in 1869. On May 2, 1864, he left for the front as captain of Company C, 152, O. V. I. and operated with his command at New Creek and Beverly, Virginia, and at Cumberland, Md., and was mustered out September 2, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service. He was the Republican candidatte for Congress in 1894, making an excellent showing in a hopelessly Democratic district composed of Preble, Darke, Shelby, and Miami counties. He served on the staff of Governor Asa Bushnell from 1896 to 1900. He served 30 years consecutively as councilman for Piqua. At one time, it was proposed to repudiate the bonds voted by the city issued in aid of the famous Jerusalem and Japan railroad, but Orr said, “No ! The honor of Piqua is behind these bonds and must be paid.” He was president for years of the Citizens National and the savings bank and an officer in The Piqua National. He founded and endowed The Memorial Hospital and the Nurses’ Home in Piqua. His second wife, a sister-in-law cf Senator Calvin Brice, died in 1904. He was at the head of The Orr Felt and Blanket Com- pany, from 1901 to the time of his death. This concern is capitalized at $900,000, of which $450,000 fc preferred and $450,000 common stock. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Grand Army of the Republic. He died on May 23, 1912. “ ’Twas at thy door, O friend. And not at mine. The Angel with amarinthine wreath, Pausing, descended and with a voice divine Whispered a word that had a sound like death.” THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 291 Butler County was organized in 1803 and the same year Montgomery County was organized, and still the tide pushed north- ward until Miami was organized in 1807 with Bethel, as before stated, as the first township. It was this township that had the first turnpike, the great National Road put through during the administration of James Monroe at a cost of $6,000,000 run- ning from Baltimore to St. Louis. This furnished a more direct route to the West than the Ohio River. The mail was brought from the east to the west over this highway once each week when the trans- portation of a letter cost twenty-five cents. It was over this road that much of the products of the west, especially great droves of cattle, were sent east. Brandt was made a stopping place and a hotel erected there. This village has been out- stripped by Phoneton at the crossing of the National Road and the Troy and Day- ton turnpike on the east side of the Miami. It is the long distance telephone exchange, said to be the greatest exchange in the world. John Hilliard entered section 30 in Spring Creek township and moved his family there in 1797 and after clearing a place for corn and erecting his cabin, he died. His progeny are numerous in that township today. Robert M. Pearson, of Newton Town- ship, many years dead, was somewhat noted for his stories of the early days. He was a splendid farmer, and noted for the great interest he had always taken in the Masonic work, being an active member of the Knights Templars for many years. On account of his standing throughout the county, we copy the following from The Buckeye of Thursday, July 30, 1896, edited by Capt. E. S. Williams, our former Congressman : “UNCLE BOB” TELLS A BEAR, SNAKE, DOG AND EAGLE STORY About the Old Pioneers of Neivton Town- ship. They Were Splendid Examples of Manhood and Womanhood Some months ago, Robert M. Pearson, “Uncle Bob” as he is called by old and young, came into the Buckeye office. Work was not pressing at the time, and knowing that “Uncle Bob” always had a store of old-time stories on hand, we nodded to our stenographer, who quietly took the hint and her pencil. We opened up the con- versation with “Uncle Bob.” “I am told you have a good supply of bear stories and at the Masonic banquet, I heard that you told a tale that made Tom Kyle whistle. Let us have one of your biggest and best bear stories.” “Well, now, Captain, it sort of hurts my feelings to hear you speak so lightly of the bear stories. I believe every word in them for the reason I heard the old men tell them, and they never, or hardly ever, exaggerated in the least. My father set- tled in this county in 1806. Bears were plenty, deer and wild turkeys furnished the early pioneers meat and Indians were settled in the counties north of us and hunted up and down Stillwater and the Miami rivers. I heard mv father relate many a tale about Uncle Henry Williams and some of the other settlers who lived near where Pleasant Hill is now located. One of his favorite stories was of the hunt in which Uncle Henry and several of his neighbors engaged. One morning they went with guns and dogs through the woods, towards the Miami River, along a wet and marshy country it was then, but now comprises some of the best farms in Monroe and Newton townships. A good dog, in those days, was considered a valu- able piece of property and Uncle Henry Williams had a noted dog called ‘Old Faithful.’ After hunting for several hours Uncle Henry saw a flock of buzzards sail- 292 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ing around a thickety place and concluded he would find what was the attraction. On his way there, he ran right on to a she- bear and her cubs. The cubs ran up a tree, but the old bear stayed down to fight the dogs which were so thick around her that he was afraid to shoot for fear that he would hit one of the dogs. The old bear caught sight of him and with a howl of rage brushed the dogs aside and made for the man. Uncle Henry started to run and tripped his foot on a grape vine and fell, just as the bear made a grab for him. He thought his time had come, and the bear would quickly have settled his fate, but Old Faithful, with a quick bound, caught the bear by the nose and held his holt, and the other dogs piled in all around the bear, which gave Uncle Henry a chance to get to his feet. Old Faithful bravely held his holt, although the bear was using her claws with fearful effect In the meantime the dogs were snapping and biting the bear so that her time was fully occupied. Uncle Henry took in the situation that something must be done quickly or he would lose his good old dog. He took quick aim and fortunately shot the bear through the heart. He then went to see what the buzzards were after, and found a dead snake ten feet long close by what looked like a hog wallow, which on closer inspection he found to be a strong spring that would boil up every minute. That was the first time the boil- ing spring had ever been seen by a white man. Some years afterward, Samuel Pearson settled at the spring. The spring is a great curiosity; it boils up like hot water in a tea kettle and is worth going miles to see. Samuel Pearson’s son, Eli Pearson, lived there all his life and Eli’s sons now own the spring and eighty acres of land. The branch runs in a northerly direction. The land along it in early days was quite wet and swampy. It run through the land afterwards owned by the Kerrs, Westlakes, Thomases and Pecks and emp- tied into the Miami River three miles south of Troy.” “Do you recollect anything of the early settlers of your neighborhood?” “Yes, the early settlers over on Still- water were the Iddings, Hills, Pearsons, and Michael Williams’ family. My grand- father worked at wagon-making with his son, John. The old gentleman was of a very jovial disposition, and did not know what fear was ; he had no apparent knowl- edge of danger. I have often heard father tell about old John Williams who lived on the river west of Pleasant Hill. He said that the old pioneer was laying in the shade of his cabin, looking up at the sky, when a large eagle flew by with what ap- peared to him to be a weed poised in his talons. The eagle for some reason let go of the weed and as it fell it got larger and larger and when it struck the ground he found it to be a large sycamore limb. He said that he had seen some eagle’s nests that contained a cord and a half of wood. There were no ditches in those days, and the way the settlers made ditches was to hitch the oxen to a big stone and drag it up and down the slope of the ground in order to run the water off of their fields in the spring.” “Now, Uncle Bob, is not that a whop- per?” “Fact, a solid fact; that is the way our first ditching was done in this county. There was no county and township ditches, nor big neighborhood quarrels, nor lawsuits, they just hauled a big stone up and down the way they wanted the water to run.” “Now, Mr. Pearson, do you suppose the readers of The Buckeye will believe that eagle story?” “Well, I don’t know; a community has got to be educated a good deal before it believes the truth.” “What about your schools?” “Why, about the third school taught in Newton Township was taught in my father’s house by Esther Coppock, the THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 293 mother of David Coppock. There are many things in the early history of our county that would be of great interest to the young people of today, who read and think, many things that ought to be looked up and preserved in public print. These old pioneers were rugged, rough and hon- est and had brave spirits and manly hearts. The old mothers who shared the hardships of frontier life were noble wom- en ; they could not play the piano, nor did they wear fine silks, but wore cotton dresses in the summer and linsey in the winter, the cloth of which was spun and woven by them. They were our mothers and I for one, honor their memory and believe they were the noblest women that ever the sun shone upon.” Thus ended our talk with “Uncle Bob” and we believe with him that the old pio- neer fathers and mothers were splendid examples of manhood and womanhood and their memories should be cherished in the hearts of every descendant of the old pioneer stock. The above story of “Uncle Bob” Pear- son makes it impossible for me to withhold a bear story of a much later date in which I played an unusually interesting part. Col. William Hines, of Bowling Green, Ky., his wife and daughter with Mrs. Ster- rett and myself entered Yellowstone Park at Livingston, Montana, in August, 1892, and stayed our first night at the Mon- mouth Hotel and lunched the next day at Norris Station, half way between the Mon- mouth and Fountain Hotels. At the latter hotel we spent our second night in the Park and it was there that Col. Hines and myself had our first experience and first sight of a wild Bruin. Some one during the day had told the Colonel that wild bears came down from their forest fastnesses to eat the offal carted from the hotel about a quarter of a mile and dumped at the edge of a prairie and a vast timber land. Im- mediately after our evening meal, we lay down in the grass some hundreds of yards distant from the offal to wait for the bears. The first to appear were three black bears who rooted around in the offal for some time until a large cinnamon bear appeared on the scene and proceeded to drive the smaller black bears to one side and who were only permitted to feed from the edge. I ran to the hotel to bring Mrs. Hines and daughter and my wife to get a view of these animals in a wild state, to be seen for the first time in their lives and got them there in time to accomplish this pur- pose before the bears loped off in the woods on catching sight of a crowd of peo- ple coming toward them from the hotel, in- duced by my hasty departure with our women. Later on, the Colonel suggested that the bears would come back to their feeding place and we, accordingly, took our former position on the prairie and did not have long to wait until the same bears came in the same order to resume their feeding. The Colonel finally suggested that we arise and walk up on the feeding bears and I declined on the ground that what knowl- edge I had of Bruin made me believe that he would get mad and be dangerous, if in- terrupted. The Colonel assured me that these wild bears were so used to the sight of men that they would run off if we ap- proached; upon which I assented and we arose and walked toward them and sure enough they scampered off. The cinnamon bear with ponderous lopes disappeared in the forest while the three black bears climbed up pine trees about 50, 75 and 100 feet high respectively. When Hines sug- gested that we club them until they came down, I objected on the ground that we would thereby gain no better view of them and besides, it might be dangerous. He assured me that as soon as they struck the ground they would scoot off into the woods as the cinnamon bear had done, w T hereupon I assisted him in the clubbing act. When the one nearest descended the tree on the opposite side from us, I congratulated him on his knowledge of the bear and further complimented him when the second bear 294 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTV descended his tree, also on the side of it away from us but when the third one from the higher perch started down on our side vociferating his anger on the way, I va- cated the locality with great expedition making for the trunk of an uprooted pine tree about 150 feet in length which at the point where I struck it was some three feet off of the ground being held up by the limbs which had broken off and penetrated the ground. On the road I had sunk up to the middle in quick silver, quite prevalent in that locality, but finally reaching my goal, I turned to look for Hines and the bear. He was running on a straight line with the trunk of my tree toward the roots of the same which sprangled out to a height of 15 feet and at least 150 away from the extreme top, some 50 feet from where I was trembling in horror at the sight of my friend, with hat off, looking back over his shoulder at the bear but a few feet behind him. When the feet of Hines struck the lower roots of the tree his impetus threw him upward into the air with a parabolic curve, which made me mentally exclaim “Poor, Hines, when he lands into that fifteen foot hole from which those roots were extracted, the bear failing to eat him up, he will break his neck anyway.” I was partially relieved when I saw the bear running up through the dark woods, having apparently over- leaped the pit but when I hallooed with all my strength, with my heart in my throat and received no answer, “I was almost froze with skeer.” On my second halloo Hines came from around the corner of the roots and to my interrogation of “Hines, are you hurt?” he answered, “No! but I am the worst scared man in Yellowstone Park.” On the road back to the Fountain Hotel, we got to laughing over the incident until we became hysterical and lay down and rolled into a quick silver hole, the re- sult of which made the janitor one dollar richer for cleaning our clothes. This story has little to do with the history of Miami County but it had a lot to do with the author of this history, and is, I believe, a better bear story than the one above related by “Uncle Bob.” In the early day, flax was extensively raised and manufactured into linen cloth and used for summer wearing apparel, bed clothes, table covers, and grain sacks, sew- ing thread, home made and of flax. Nearly every farmer kept a flock of sheep from twenty-five in number and up- ward. In the first warm days of Spring, the sheep would be driven to the creek, thrown in and thoroughly washed, which was much more greatly enjoyed by the boys than such occupations as digging potatoes and hoeing corn. The sheep were confined in a pen usually made of split rails and returned there after washing and sheared, the wool being taken to the card- ing machine and manufactured into rolls which were then taken home where the women of the family spun it into yarn. It was then colored, taken to the weaver, which if not one of the family, was always a near neighbor. The whole population was clothed almost exclusively in this home made goods during the Winter time. When wool and flax yarn were used to- gether, the goods was called Linsey- woolsey. Nearly all flocks of sheep had two or three black ones among them and their wool mixed with the white, gave a favorite dark grey which was prized for stocking yarn and children’s wear. When a boy, I was taught to spin on the “Big” and “Little” wheels, a picture of each that were used by my mother appear in this book. I was also taught to knit but never became expert enough to turn the heel. As I now write at 11 o’clock in the night of this 19th day of November, 1917, my wife, one of the expert knitters of Troy, is fin- ishing a sweater to be worn by a Troy selective, soon to join our boys at the front in Flanders. In our pioneer meetings, we hear much about the decline of virility, since the early day about which we are writing and in a degree only is any part of this true. There is a greater per cent THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 295 of expert knitters in 1917 than in 1800 and we would be better off if we did not have any. It seems a waste of time for women to spend twenty to thirty hours knitting a pair of socks when a great machine can turn out thousands of them in the same time with much less expense per pair. What mummery to extol the good old primitive day, with its imperfect plow, when you can turn four smooth furrows and more with a traction engine ? Who wants to go back to the back breaking sickle with which a half acre of land could be cut over by one man in a day’s work when you can now cut ten acres and bind it with one man, three horses and a machine ? Who wants the old log school house with the half-baked teach- er, with his cruel birch whipping rod when we now have township high schools with excellently trained teachers to not only teach the wisdom to be learned from text books but also the sweet and tender accom- plishments of personal behavior; and city high schools in every county whose course is almost equal to early colleges. Who wants to listen to the pounding and thun- dering noise of the pioneer preacher who, if you did not bring forth his peculiar kind of fruit and mete for repentance, slid you down into a hell filled with fire and brim- stone where he broiled and sizzled you for- ever and forever, when you can now listen to a modern Doctor of Divinity delivering profound disquisitions on the real philoso- phy of life and the cleaner and higher cul- ture of our immortal souls? Who wants to go back to the early Court House when the court bar and the drinking bar were held in adjoining rooms, when our Gov- ernors and Judges on the bench were the best customers? Who wants to go back to the Saturdays in the towns when street fights and drunken brawls were continu- ous, when our streets are now occupied by clean, well dressed sober men and women, most of whom have an automobile to re- turn them to their homes? Who wants to go back to the days of Linsey-woolsey clothing when you can now clothe your body with soft cotton and flannels and other excellent and, if need be, elegant ma- terial ten times more comfortable than those our forbears, from necessity, were compelled to wear? If we could bring back the great fire place with its huge green beach back log, I would like it, but even then, we would long for the ease con- nected with turning a valve and lighting a match to create a good fire. Altogether while the days of clap board roofs, sugar trough cradles, corn meal graters, punch- eon floors, pennyroyal tea and rye coffee had to be and the people who had to use them were brave, self reliant and mighty forerunners of which any posterity should delight to emulate their high and crown- ing virtues, yet, are not those who followed entitled to equal encomium for measuring up to the requirements of an advancing civilization. It is true that families of 8, 10 and 12 children were common then and that the average now is not one-third of that number and that the present genera- tion are probably justly charged with race suicide yet, as much as we admire the strenuous Col. Roosevelt, the extreme advocate of large families, there is at least food for thought when we consider that a million of people annually die of starvation each year principally in India and Central Asia and that while the United States formerly used less than a third of the bread stuff it produced it now uses three-fourths of it, and at the present growth of population in twenty years, we will have none to export and, in a few years, if new sources of production are not discovered, all of us will be compelled to eat less and some of us, probably not at all. I live in a block in Troy, bounded by Short, Main, Plum and Franklin streets, on which block, including my own, ten families live, four of which have no chil- dren and each one of which is each day economizing on the consumption of bread. The situation would seem to lead to the conclusion that population must decrease or food stuff must increase, if the world 296 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY is to be adequately fed. If this be true, it opens up a wide field of thought, which cannot be extended further at this point but will be allowed to cruise at the sweet will of each individual reader. GAME AND HUNTERS “The rich, juicy grass, cool, sparkling springs, deep forests, pellucid streams, af- forded sustenance and delightful retreats for every species of game ; from fish to otter, from the squirrel to the cougar and bear. The scream of the “painter” and the squall of the wild cat, mingled with the sweet song of the thrush and the howl of the wolf drowned the melodious notes of the mocking bird, while stolid nruin roamed the woods with no ear for music except the squealing of the pioneer hog. The rifle was an inmate of every household in the use of which our forefathers were very familiar, and who were very solici- tous in keeping it in perfect working con- dition. Those who could afford it, kept two rifles, one for large game carrying about forty to the pound, and a smaller or squirrel rifle, running about 120 or 130 or 140 bullets to the pound. The powder horn was made from the horn of the ox, boiled and scraped so thin as to transmit rays of light, a round block of wood neatly fitted to the bottom, and a plug inserted in the smaller end, with usually a buzzard’s quill for a charger. While all were more or less familiar with the rifle, a few be- came experts through constant use, as a profession. Among those who followed it as a kind of profession, we may mention Charles Wolverton, “Bill” Houser, John Rogers, John Flinn, Henry Kerns, Jacob Mann and Peter Harmon. All kinds of larger game seem to have been abundant during the early settlement of the county, such as deer, bear, wolves, wildcats, and an occasional cougar. Tur- keys, pheasants, etc., were abundant, and, with the saddle, graced the table of almost every pioneer home. While it is impossible at this late date to ascertain the number of large animals killed by hunters, we can only judge of the abundance of game by comparison with an adjoining county. It is on record that David Loury and Jonathan Danalds, among the first settlers on Mad river, killed seventeen bears in one season, and that, during the life time of the former, he had killed over a thousand deer. The bear were mostly killed off at an early period, yet they have been killed in this county in considerable numbers. One was killed by Henry Kerns in the fall of 1816, whose quarters are said to have weighed 400 pounds. It was seen by Dr. Coleman who ate a piece of its flesh, and certifies to its immense size, as well as to its extra- ordinarily good condition, its ribs being covered with from three to four inches of fat. While bear were comparatively scarce, deer, on the contrary, were in that early day, very plentiful. In a journey from Stillwater to the Miami, it was not un- usual to see as many as eight and some- times more, very tame, and easily ap- proached on horseback. Wild turkeys were abundant, and many were caught in rail pens, or killed with the rifle. The former mode was made use of when quan- tities were sought. A common four-square rail pen was laid up about ten rails high, and covered, and an opening left at the bottom, along which a train of corn was sown ; the turkeys in picking up the corn, would follow it into the pen, and as a tur- key, when alarmed always looks up, they would always fly up and never see the opening at the bottom. Thus whole droves were taken at once. In the fall of 1817, a hunting party was organized in Licking County, which was attended by some mem- bers of Miami. An unsettled tract, five miles square, was laid off and arrange- ments made for the company of about 150 mento come in from four directions, all converging toward a common center of one mile square, before any shooting was allowed. Having driven the game within the prescribed limits, the shooting began THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 297 and the crack of the rifles could be heard in every direction. The circle gradually closed in to half a mile square, and the firing re-commenced. The deer could be seen flying from side to side, turkeys run- ning in every direction, and bear stalking in the midst. Finally the circle closed, and brought together 25 deer, 2 bear, 350 tur- keys and 1 wolf. The locality was far from any house, and darkness approach- ing, most of the party camped for the night on the spot. Wagons arrived with provisions, a good supply of the aqua ar- dent, and the night was passed in a regu- lar Nimrod festival. In early days wolves were quite plenti- ful and often destroyed the few sheep the settlers had. By act of legislature a bounty of $3.00 was allowed for each wolf scalp, payable out of the County Treasury. This was a powerful incentive to the pro- fessional hunters, and Lupus was in con- tinual danger of losing his caput in every excursion after fresh mutton. One of his most inveterate enemies was one, Tom Rogers, who made wolf-hunting a spe- cialty. Tom was a very eccentric character and appeared fitted by nature to his call- ing. Six feet high, with mocassins, buck- skin breeches, linsey wamus, wolf-skin cap, with the tail hanging down behind, long black hair and beard, leather belt with large knife and tomahawk, heavy rifle, pouch and horn — all conspired to render him in appearance a fit associate of wolves, bears and other denizens of the forest; and, once seen by his fellows, he was not soon forgotten. Tom was somewhat of a hermit, often living for weeks and months in the woods near the pioneer settlements, watching his line of traps, deadfalls, and wolf -pens, de- pending wholly upon game for sustenance. He constructed bark huts for his own ac- commodation, at different stations along his line of operations, which he used as store houses for his venison, turkeys, coon skins, and wolf scalps, and for the second- ary purpose of sleeping in bad weather. When convenient, he would call in at a frontier cabin, and exchange venison or turkeys for bread, but the wolf was his ambition, and other game was slain simply for food. Tom generally came to town twice a year to exchange his wolf-scalps, for their price in cash, bringing with him other furs, such as coon-skins, mink and an occasional otter. He took advantage of the potency of that delightful perfume, asafoetida, in attracting the wolf and pur- chased large quantities of it to use on his traps. Although records are lost in which the number of wolf-scalps were kept, with the amount paid out for the same, yet we are assured that Tom drew largely there- from. In the winter he would spend a few days in the settlement, at which time he was the delight of the circle of men and boys who eagerly listened to his many tales of con- tests with wolves and bears, while alone in the forest, none of which, unfortunately, have been preserved. Tom was exclusively a hunter and never invested his earnings in public lands. He was known as old Tom Rogers for forty years, during which time his domain was invaded by the set- tlers, his game driven off or killed, and Tom at the age of nearly fourscore, retired from active duties and sought rest and shelter in the County infirmary, in which he spent the few remaining years of his life, meditating upon and recounting the scenes of his many adventures, and fi- nally, in about three years after his ad- mission (1859) passed from earth. Coons were very numerous, and gener- ally hunted with dogs, at night, when the deep baying of the hound was sweet music to the pioneer boy as well as full grown man. The flesh of the coon was relished by the Indians, but to the white man the skin was of value as a general thing at two to four bits according to quality. PIGEONS As a boy on the home farm, I have seen flocks of pigeons, in such innumerable squadrons as to blot out the rays of the 298 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY sun for long distances. Standing under these navigators of the sky, I have fired the contents of the old muzzle loading shot gun into the moving masses and found the ground covered at my feet with these birds. They sometimes descended on a newly sown wheat field, always followed by the complete destruction of the seed although their principal forage was beech meat so abundant in the early day. They had numerous roosts in Miami County, frequently visited by the early settlers who described the arrival and settling of these enormous legions “like unto the rushing of many waters.” A Miami County historian has said, “As settlements were made, pigeon roosts were broken up and the birds vanished. It seems that pigeons will not remain where their roosts are seri- ously molested.” When we know that these legions were here as late as 1855 andl to some extent later than that, I am inclined to the belief that this author did not quite “hit the nail on the head.” His explanation presupposes that these birds migrated to some other locality, but did they? I have traveled through Canada, Mexico and extensively in every state of the Union but find no evidence anywhere that these vast multitudes exist anywhere. They seem to have vanished from the face of the earth altogether, most likely for the want of a food supply. DISAPPEARANCE OF GAME In early days, wolves were abundant and very destructive to the farmer’s stock, but under the stimulus of $3.00 bounty for each wolf-scalp, they became extinct about 1830. Bears were not numerous but were found occasionally up to 1835. Panthers were occasionally seen for 20 years after- ward. One was killed in what was known as “the section” an unbroken forest up to 1855, two miles west of Addison, during the latter year. Deer were quite plenty in early times but they became extinct in 1853. Wild turkeys were once very plenty and a few to be found up to 1869. Pheas- ans were present in considerable numbers. They were a nice game bird, but from their extreme shyness, were difficult to secure. They could be heard during the late fall months, drumming with their wings, making a rumbling noise, resemb- ling distant thunder. They became ex- tinct in 1855. Possums and skunks were once very numerous and destructive to poultry and still with us in limited num- bers. The fox and grey squirrel, once so numerous, are to be found yet in limited quantities. There are, at the present time, about $15,000,000 worth of fire arms in Ohio, used exclusively for sporting pur- poses of which about $150,000 belongs to Miami County, almost all of which are levelled at the poor American rabbit, dur- ing the few days of open season in the latter part of each year. It costs about $10,000 in each year, in Miami County to enjoy the pleasure of killing the “cotton tail.” The golden pheasant, propagated for the past several years in Miami County is quite numerous. It is seldom one fails to see several of them in a drive from one point to another in the county. They have resplendent plumage and a most edible flesh. They are probably more numerous in the county than their progenitors. Quail were quite numerous until 1845. The presence of larger game saved them in early days. An act of the present Leg- islature of 1917 makes the quail a song bird and is therefore protected from the “potter’s” death by law. THE SYMMES PURCHASE John Cleve Symmes born on Long Is- land, New York, July 21, 1742, married a daughter of Governor William Livingston of New Jersey. In 1785-6, he was a mem- ber of the Continental Congress ; was Judge of the Supreme Court of New Jer- sey and Chief Justice. Making a purchase of a vast tract of land between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, Ohio, he settled there toward the close of the eighteenth century. He died in Cincinnati, February the; early settlements IN MIaMI county 299 26, 1814. His daughter, Anna, was the wife of William Henry Harrison, Presi- dent of the United States. Soon after the passage of the ordinance of 1787 for the establishment of a government northwest of the Ohio river, lands in that region that had been surveyed in anticipation of this action of Congress were sold. The Ohio Company bought 5,000,000 acres between the Muskingum and Scioto rivers, fronting on the Ohio; and John Cleves Symmes purchased 2,000,000 acres in the rich and beautiful region, on the Ohio, between the Great and Little Miami rivers, including the site of Cincinnati, for which he prom- ised to pay sixty cents per acre. The title to but 600,000 acres was finally secured to Judge Symmes, he having defaulted on the payment of the balance. His selection of the mouth of the Great Miami for the principal city of this vast purchase, was a mistake because of the low altitude of the land at that point, subject to overdo w and hence the change to Cincinnati, at one time called Losantville, meaning opposite the mouth. (Licking river). All of the land in Miami County east of the Miami river was originally in the Symmes purchase and all of it reverted back to the government. All of the deeds to the lands of Miami County were signed by the President of the United States. THE JOHN SMITH PURCHASE Early in 1800, John Smith purchased of the government 16,000 acres of land in the eastern part of Miami County embracing most of Lost Creek township and ap- pointed his son in law, Lowrey Barbour, to sell the same for him. This land also re- verted back to the government on account of Smith’s default in payment. Smith lived near Cincinnati, was a preacher, politician and speculator. Smith was tried as a Burr conspirator but acquitted, after which, with his prestige gone, he moved to Louisi- ana. Much of this Miami County land afterward became the property of Lowrey Barbour, who kept a grocery in Troy and purchased soldiers’ claims for a partial consideration of their value and paid for them in goods at an enhanced value. Mr. Barbour was elected to the legislature in 1809, was a partner in building the Court House on the public square with William Barbee from 1815 to 1825 and finally failed in business. sociability “It seemed to be a matter of observa- tion that the Miami River was a well de- fined dividing line between the social in- tercourse of the inhabitants on the east and west banks. It can only be interpreted by the fact that nearly all the early settlers who located on the west side were old ac- quaintances and had been neighbors in Kentucky previous to emigration ; and moreover, they were nearly all members of the Christian Church. Whereas, on the east side, there were none except Joseph Coe and family, and a Mr. Hathaway, who, though not a member, inclined in that di- rection.” We follow Mr. Tullis, who, being a participant, writes through in- spiration. When it is remembered that most of the pioneers of this valley were men in very limited circumstances ; that they made close calculations as to how much land they could pay for, so as to have enough to form a family colony, and had left but a small margin for et ceteras, it will not be supposed that they indulged to any great extent in luxu- ries. But few copies of Paris fashions were called, millinery and mantua making were rather unpromising vocations, and music teachers on the modern style of piano-forte could hardly hope to succeed. They had a piano, forte, however, upon which all the daughters took lessons under the instructions of mother. I wish my young lady readers could see one of those instruments, but they are “out of print.” I cannot undertake a description. The last one I ever saw was under circum- stances I cannot easily forget. I was liv- ing in the country; M came out one day to see if it would be convenient for me HISTORY °F MIAMI COUNTY 300 to come to town that evening and perform the marriage ceremony, at his house for his benefit. He was a widower and had two or three half grown boys. I told him I would try to oblige him. Accordingly, about twilight, I drew up at his door and was kindly received. The gentleman and his sons were sitting very cosily by a good fire and a lady was giving them music on her piano. After we had discussed the weather and the news of the day, the lady rose, put back her instrument, took off her apron, and shook the shives out of it (the leaves lying before her, on which she was practicing, was tow). When all these preparations were made, she said to the gentleman, “I am ready”; whereupon the business for which we had met was con- summated. HOSPITALITY Hospitality was a leading trait. The sick and needy were as well cared for as they have been since Faith, Hope and Charity were organized. Indeed those Christian graces did exist at that early day, though the process of combination came at a later period. There was nothing like aristocracy or assumed superiority, on account of owning more acres or being better born “Fustest families of Virginny” — nothing of caste to mar the free inter- course of all on the common platform of equality. It cannot be disguised, however, that there were semi-oracles, who com- manded more deference on account of superior intelligence and culture than others whose opportunities had not been so favorable. The intercourse among the young folks was of the most agreeable nature. Though they met on the level and parted on the square, there were some of the young men more than others “ladies’ men,” and some of the young ladies belles of a high order, yet there was nothing of jealousy or envy engendered. Balls and parties of modern style had not been introduced ; indeed, there was too much work to be done, both in the house and in the field, to think of amusements. There was always meeting on Sunday and the young folks would go and come together as often as convenient. Meeting was generally held at Mr. Hatha- way’s or Josey Coe’s and Mr. Barbee’s was a central point at which to rendezvous, being a pleasant walk from there to meet- ing. Carriages and buggies, be it remem- bered, had not been introduced, and could not have been easily used on account of bad roads. When the distance was too far to walk, they traveled on horseback, a boy in the saddle and a girl behind him. All parties enjoyed that mode of traveling hugely (the idea suggested itself to us to leave off the “e”). Young gentlemen then were called boys, and the young ladies girls. It was but seldom that there would be preaching before Brandon and the Kyles came out, which must have been in 1806, as Thomas B. Kyle and Lucy Bar- bee were married in April, 1807.” In the early day, flat boats were prin- cipally built in Piqua for the navigation of the Miami river. They were from fifty to seventy feet in length and twelve feet wide. They carried flour, bacon, corn, cherry lumber and such other products to be found in the county at that time. One of the difficult places to steer these boats was the “99” islands south of Troy. Sometimes, a community would join to- gether and send a “four horse team” to Cincinnati to barter their stuff for the things they needed, principally salt and hardware. These methods of transporta- tion continued until 1837, when the Miami and Erie Canal was finished through the County. “Home made carpets were occasionally found in use in very early times but were not in general use until 1850. White gran- ulated sugar was not on our markets until after 1856. The standard sugar was of the New Orleans brand, and it came in large hogsheads, frequently so damp that there was a continual dripping of mo- lasses. As a sample case of enforced econ- omy incident to pioneer times, I may re- THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 301 late that I heard an old business man of Piqua say that before he was twenty-one years old he never had a pair of boots, an undershirt or an overcoat.” “The average pioneer seemed to see no impropriety in patronizing the local dis- tillery. It was customary to see the whiskey bottle acompany the water jug on occasions where a few neighbors were called together. It has often been said that these local distilleries made a better grade of whiskey than is made today ; that there was not so much poison used in its manufacture. This was possibly true, but the fact remained that it would put a man in the gutter and keep him there perhaps a little longer than the average fire water. From 1840 to 1850 a strong temperance sentiment developed, and in a very few years whiskey ceased to be furnished on public occasions.” About 1807 Henry Gerard built a still house on Spring Creek and Henry Orbison, from Virginia, started a distillery on the east side of the river at Piqua, and another one by Mr. Gahagan at Troy on the river bank. Cop- per stills existed in a considerable per cent of the families. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF MIAMI COUNTY Before the mound builders, the Indians or the white man came here, a drainage system was formed which made possible the cultivation of the rich soil so many cycles in preparation for the maintenance of human and animal life. At an altitude of one thousand feet above the level of the sea, in the south west portion of Jackson township in Champaign county, Ohio, a dozen springs of pure water bubble from the earth, with- in a small area and form purling branches which go murmuring through peppermint and calamus beds and other sweet smell- ing grasses until they finally joined in the head waters of Honey Creek, flowing southward, over glacial boulders, through a fertile little valley for a distance of nine miles, when it reaches New Carlisle, near the border of Miami County and thence westward until it empties into the Great Miami river at an altitude of seven hun- dred and ninety feet, near Tippecanoe City in Miami county. In its course, it is fed by an hundred springs and the cattle from an hundred farms drink on its brink. Two thriving villages are located on its banks ; the local academy looks down from the summit of Linden Hill; the flag of the Union floats from a brick school house within each two miles. There are Upper and Lower Honey Creek churches, McKendric Chapel and six other churches in Christiansburg and New Carlisle, and there they will always remain in some form as a reflection of local color and com- munity progress. Eight saw mills, six grist or flour mills, one woolen mill, and two distilleries at one time derived their power from this stream ; the giant poplar and walnut trees, some of them known to measure twenty-eight feet in circumfer- ence; the great maple orchards and dense forests have vanished forever and the places where they once stood are now cov- ered with golden grain fields waving and ripening under skies and in a sunshine alike unto that of Italy, with an autumnal season so perfect and so gorgeous in its coloring that the soul grows big with the sheer thought of living. INDIAN CREEK In a series of springs, in the northeast of Lost Creek township, within three miles of the head waters of Honey Creek, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, it courses almost due south, draining east Lost Creek and east Elisabeth townships for a distance of eight miles, when it assumes a general westward course, first in Elisa- beth and then in Bethel township, receiv- ing Pleasant Run within a mile of Staunton township, then turning south for a half mile, where it empties into Honey Creek. On its banks, in an early day, were located two flouring mills, four saw mills, 302 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY one powder mill, one woolen mill and two distilleries. PLEASANT RUN On the farm of J. M. Studebaker, on Section 29, Elisabeth township, William McClung, of Section 28, and Martha Rine- hart, of Section 22, are three wonderful springs, that gush out of the side of small hillocks in a volume equal to a mill race. The branches of these springs join within a short distance and form one of the most beautiful and pellucid streams in the country. It flows southward through a nearly level country, of rich farming land, crossing the Clark and Miami turnpike in the southeast corner of Section 28. At this point on January 6, 1819, in a two story log house, with balcony above, was born Sarah Ullery, my mother. There was a brewery, saw mill, woolen mill, and flour mill on this stream within the next four miles before it entered Indian creek. LOST CREEK Forms in three heads, one in the south- eastern, one in the central and one in the northwestern part of Brown township, affording it, its principal drainage and also for central and east Lost Creek, north western Elisabeth and southern Staunton. The three branches join each other near Casstown and follows a southwest course from there to its entrance into the Miami, in Bethel township, a mile north of the entrance of Honey creek into the same stream. It will be seen that five of the six eastern townships of Miami county trend southwest in the discharge of their drain- age in a large degree. There were many years ago many saw mills on Lost creek’s three branches before they converged at Casstown. There was a saw mill, flour mill and distillery near Casstown. The first south of that village was a flour and saw mill at the point where the Lefevre pike crosses this stream near the chil- dren’s home. The next, a mile below, was the flour and saw mill and distillery of Isaac Sheets, which my father superin- tended for some years, at which place my eldest brother was born in 1840. The next was the Knoop flour and saw mill and dis- tillery, in the field below the Knoop ceme- tery, just before the bridge crossing Lost creek on the Clark and Miami turnpike. The altitude here is 815 feet and the mouth of the creek 795 feet above the sea which did not provide enough fall for other mills. LEATHERWOOD CREEK Rises in the eastern part of Brown town- ship and flows into Shelby county. Leatherwood timber grew abundantly on its banks. Ramp Run in Brown was so called on account of a vegetable, so named, that grew abundantly along its course, resembling an Indian turnip, drained a small district. Bee Run, named for the great number of bee trees found there in the early day, was a tributary of Spring creek formed a small drainage district in western Brown and eastern Spring creek. Shawnee creek emptied into Rush creek just before the latter emptied into the Great Miami, north of Piqua ; the two forming a drainage system for northwest Spring Creek township. SPRING CREEK Has its source in the northeast of Spring Creek township, forms the drain- age for the eastern and central portions and courses southwest, entering Staunton township, near its northern center. Still moving southwest, enters the Great Miami two miles north of Troy. Its head waters have an altitude of 1155 feet and its mouth 840 feet. It has a fall of 30 feet to the mile and therefore many eligible mill sites which were utilized in the early day, all of which have long since disappeared. NEWTON TOWNSHIP The draining of Newton township is principally through the Stillwater river and Panther creek, many smaller branch streams formed by numerous springs THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 303 coursing from both the east and west into the Stillwater. The Stillwater divides the township into nearly two equal east and west portions entering the township from Newberry on the north, in the northwest quarter of section 5, passing through the west half of 8, in an almost due south di- rection through the northwest quarter of 17 and the southeast quarter of 18 to the center of 19 and thence out of same at southeast corner and then a general south- east direction through 29, 32 and 33, on into Union township into section 4 as be- fore described. Panther creek originates in Darke county and its main branch runs in a general east direction through 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 joining the Stillwater river in the west center of section 5. The panthers were quite numerous along the course of this stream and many scalps were taken and sold for $3.00 each to the County Commissioners. It was from these wild animals that it derived its name. UNION TOWNSHIP The drainage of Union township is com- pleted by the Stillwater river and two branches of Ludlow creek. Stillwater en- ters the township from Newton township on the north near the center of section 4 passes in general southern course through 9, 16, 21, the northeast corner of 28, the southwest corner of 27, and leaves the township about the cefiter of section 34. It is called Stillwater on account of its slow and placid current. The north branch of Ludlow creek has its origin in Darke county opposite the western center of Union township, flows in a northwest direction, through sections 15, 10 and 11, then almost due east, through 1, 6 and 5 dropping over the Limestone ledge of 30 feet at Ludlow Falls and thence through a limetsone chasm, almost due north through section 5 and then east through section 4, it empties into the Stillwater near the entrance of that stream into the township. The south branch of Ludlow creek with its numerous branches, has its origin in the southwest sections of the township and runs in a general northwest direction draining sections 34, 35, 36, 25, 26, 27, 22, 23, 24, 13, 14 and 7 joining the main branch on the latter section. Lud- low creek was named after a surveyor of that name, a relation of Col. Ludlow, one of the proprietors of Dayton. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Is drained by the Miami river, Loramie creek and numerous small streams cours- ing from the west, formed by numerous springs which have not arisen to the dig- nity of being designated as creeks. The Miami enters the township and county be- tween sections 21 of Spring creek and 33 of Washington, and flows southward as the eastern border of Washington and western border of Spring creek and Staunton, until it becomes the eastern border of Concord and western border of Staunton at section 32 of the former and 27 of the latter. Loramie creek enters Washington township and the county from Shelby county in section 32, running due south along the west line of said sec- tion and joining the Miami in the south- east quarter of section 31. This is his- torical ground. Here at the mouth of the Loramie creek was the first white settle- ment in Ohio, 39 years before Marietta; here, Gen. George Rogers Clarke in 1782 for the second time broke up the Shawnees driving them further away from Ken- tucky on which all the tribes north of the Ohio were then preying. Here, Col. John- ston, during and after the war of 1812 had charge of more than 6,000 Indians of various tribes and here lived Job Gard the first settler of Washington township and the first resident to place corn on the “Big Bend” at Piqua. Four branches from the northwest of the township drain all that area and empty their waters into the city reservoir which, in turn, empties into Echo Lake, through the Hydraulic canal, thence into a second reservoir from which, by canal, the waste goes into the Miami and Erie canal. 304 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY CONCORD TOWNSHIP Concord township, like Washington township, is largely drained from the west by small streams coursing eastward to discharge their waters in the Miami. Un- til within the past quarter of a century, none of its streams had arisen to the dig- nity of a creek, but finally we named one of these streams Peters’ creek, its north- western branch originated in section 11, courses southeast diagonally through sec- tions 14, 13, 19, 30, 29 through the south- west section of the fourth ward in Troy and through the McKaig ditch, joins the main branch in the southeast quarter of section 33 which enters into the Miami river, opposite Island No. Three, one and a half miles south of Troy. The main branch also courses from the northwest about an average mile south of the former. The Miami river forms the eastern bound- ary of Concord from section five to section three, a distance of seven miles. All drainage north of Troy formerly found its way into the Troy hydraulic canal which being abandoned, now finds its way into the Miami river through culverts under the Miami and Erie canal which receives considerable quantities of spring water to be finally discharged into the first break in the canal bank, numerously found in the disgraceful management of this im- portant source of power and transporta- tion. How much power could be saved during the coal famine of 1917 with the power produced by a hundred locks from Toledo to Cincinnati. How many tons transported ? MONROE TOWNSHIP Like Washington and Concord, has but one stream aside from the Miami river that has impressed its size upon our pro- genitors sufficiently to have caused them to name it a creek. The Miami forms the entire eastern border of Monroe township entering it on the east side of section ten and leaving it at fractional section thirty- six. Brush creek drains the southwest section of Monroe and then passes into Union township section twenty-five and empties into Stillwater river in section 35 within a mile of the Monroe township line. In addition to the drainage of the twelve townships of Miami county above de- scribed through river and creek drainage the ditch laws of Ohio have been utilized by its citizens in a larger degree than most of the counties of the State and to such a degree that many of our large ditches dis- charge more water than some of our creeks. This condition rushes any rainfall to the main channels of discharge with such rapidity that in the event of unusual precipitation our creeks and rivers over- flow their banks in a few hours, while in earlier years, the forests would have held back the same amount for some days, all of which teaches that our rivers should be straightened and widened and clean from obstruction in order that the over- flow may be reduced to the minimum and the erosion of the banks largely prevented by cross currents. NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP Is drained by the Stillwater river, Green- ville creek and Trotter’s creek, Albaugh creek and Harrison creek. The Stillwater enters the township in the northeast corner of section 10 and flows a general southeast direction through 11 and 12, 13 and 18, then south to Covington, thence through 30 and 34 into section 5 of New- ton township. Greenville creek enters Newberry in section 34, the southwest corner of the township, runs northeast in- to 27, thence southeast to 26 into 36, then northeast into 30, joining the Stillwater at Covington., Trotter’s creek originates in Shelby county and courses directly south through 31, 6, 8, 17 and joins Stillwater in the southwest quarter of the same, one and a half miles above Covington. Al- baugh creek originates in Washington township comes through sections 16 and 17 and enters Trotter’s creek just before the latter joins the Stillwater. Harrison THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 305 creek originates in Darke county, courses almost direct east along and over the sec- tion line between 15, 23, 14 and 22, 13, 24, 18 and 19 and joins Stillwater in the northeast quarter of the latter section. I had formerly intended under the head of drainage to locate each manufacturing industry in the county which had received its power from our streams but now find my pages are growing so rapidly that the book must be issued in parts rather than in a single volume. I have hastily de- scribed the courses of twenty-four rivers and creeks on which we have knowledge of more than one hundred flouring and saw mills, distilleries, woolen mills and powder factories, not a half dozen of which are standing today. Changed condition have banished the necessity for their existence and new devices have made them unprofit- able. The office of the flouring mill in the early days, was occupied almost con- stantly by several neighbors of the com- munity and it was there that consultations and discussions occurred on the social, political and religious conditions of the times. Who should teach and preach for the community was oftentimes settled there. On a certain Sunday, sixty years ago, Preacher Banta, who sent people to a brimstone hell, brought with him to lower Honey creek chapel a young man by the name of H. Y. Rush, twenty-one years of age who preached for us and did not have quite as much hell in it as Peter Banta was in the habit of dealing out. The next day, Micajah Ayers, David Strock and William Leffell, three trustees of the church, met in my father’s mill, when as a boy of twelve years of age, I was present. My father said, “Boys, you had a fine sermon yesterday and you had best employ him.” Strock replied, “Yes, it did seem a good sermon but he wants $250 per year to preach for us.” My father said, “If you employ Rush, I will give as much to your church as I do to McKendrie, my own church” (which was $80 per year) and the trustees employed him and he continued to preach for many years thereafter and at other Christian societies in Miami county. He edited The Christian Herald at Dayton for many years. He preached the sermon of Jacob R. Sterrett killed at the battle of Chicka- mauga, September 20, 1863, a young brother and sister and, finally, of my father in 1885, his warm personal friend, who went to the Honey creek chapel more frequently to hear him than he did to his own church. In 1898, when I was Presi- dent of Missouri Commission to the Omaha International exposition he came to see me on his way back from a western trip and visited with me, It was more particularly at this time that I came to know the good man and really great preacher best, and the great treasure of his friendship for myself and family. He assured me that in the forty years with us, he had never retired at night without re- membering each one of us at the throne of grace. He was from North Carolina, graduated at Antioch before he came to us on Honey creek and lived and preached at West Milton, Miami county, for several years prior to his death, which occurred in 1906. He served as a Lieutenant in the 110th O. V. I. and was a brave officer be- loved by all his men. “For, verily, he was a good man.” Some time in the latter part of the fifties after it became the cus- tom to trade wheat for flour, as the farm- ers hauled their wheat to Troy, it did not pay my father to keep a regular miller and he had long years before, been compelled, on account of increased business affairs, to abandon that trade. At times during the period between twelve and fifteen years of age, I have ground wheat and corn for our neighbors. Ours was a twenty-foot over- shot wheel, the operation consisted of pull- ing down the lever which raised the head gate in the forebay which shot the water out from under the gate into the buckets of the wheel causing it to turn, which, in turn, whirled the mill stone over the corre- sponding base stone. The hopper above 306 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the hollow in the whirling mill stone con- taining the corn or wheat was sloped, in such manner as to permit the grain to flow out in quantities regulated by a small wheel wound with twine. A twist to right or left of the wheel made the grain pass from the hopper in larger or smaller quan- tities. The mill stones between which the grain passed ground fine or coarse by a lever which lowered or raised the upper stone from the nether one. I do not know whether flour and meal that I produced was a good article or not as I never heard from it. I know my mother baked some good bread from the flour of my grinding. The flouring mill soon went the way of the distillery and the latter on account of my mother’s opposition was conducted only a few years. The saw mill by some one up (I think) to about 1885. Honey creek from its origin to its mouth had sixteen saw mills, flour mills, woolen mills and distilleries located on its banks, not one of which is in operation today. Referring again to Peter Banta, the old time exponent of a brimstone hell, who preached so many years at lower Honey Creek church, I am reminded to relate the following: It was in the old log meeting house, over 60 years ago, after Peter had preached one of his eloquent revival ser- mons at night and the congregation was v/ending its way homeward, that Jo Helvie, a bound boy of William Leffel, ad- joining our home farm, said, “I wonder how much hotter a brimstone fire is than a wood fire,” when Henry Leffel replied, “About seven times as hot.” Jo replied, “It will be no use sending me there, I could never stand it.” Bread is the staff of life and the first factories established in Miami county were the grist mills for converting the corn into meal and the wheat into flour and a study of the mills erected in the first decade of the history of Miami county is full of interest. The first mill in Miami county was located at Piqua and was owned by John Manning, who was employed as “axe man” in the establishment of the Mason and Dixon line. In 1789 he built a grist mill on the Monongahela river, which he sold out and pushing on into the North- west territory started a grist mill at the mouth of the Miami. After operating this mill for three years he went up the river about eight miles where he established an- other grist mill which he operated for three years and then sold to a man by the name of John Smith. Mr. Manning then located at a point on the great Miami, now within the corporate limits of Piqua, and built the first grist mill in Miami county. In the erection of this mill the stone was hewn out of a bowlder and the spindles made from old hinges taken from the fort at Greenville, after its reduction ; the bolting cloths he obtained by riding to Lexington, Ky., on horseback. The wonderful enterprise and untiring energy of this pioneer was shown by the hardships and great disadvantages he overcame in successfully establishing the mill at Piqua. The fact that his efforts were appreciated is shown by the records. The great freshet of 1805 threatened the destruction of the mill. Water surrounded it on all sides and from far and near the settlers came to devise means of saving this piece of property. The Justice of the Peace, Squire Caldwell, recommended the passing of a cable around the mill and making it fast. This was done and for years the mill stood. Mr. Manning, with the assistance of Armstrong Brandon platted and laid out the city of Piqua. Robert M. Freeman, the grandfather of Isaac Freeman, well known throughout Miami county, had the honor of erecting the second mill in Miami county. Mr. Freeman and his father, Samuel, entered a very large tract of land in Monroe town- ship, a part of which they sold and with the proceeds built a mill. This mill had but one burr and of course all kinds of grain were ground upon it. Several years ALEXANDER McCULLOUGH MacCULLOCH — WIGTONSHIRE. Kirkcudbrightshire — Before 1000 The MacCullochs are one of the oldest septs in Galloway. Border clans and chiefs in 1597. Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. MacCulloch. Alexander McCullough, whose portrait appears above, was born on the Atlantic Ocean on September 30, 1770, while his parents were emigrating to America. They settled in Harford County, Maryland, near the mouth of the Susquehanna and moved from there soon afterward to Washington County, Pa. When Alex- ander was eighteen years of age, he followed the fortunes of his family to Fayette County, Kentucky, and was married to Jane Marshall in Fleming County, Kentucky, on December 27, 1798. She was a member of the Marshall family of Virginia, having been born in Bot-e-tourt County, that state, on June 8, 1779. At the time the McCulloughs moved to Kentucky, 1778, men and women literally took their lives in their hands by moving into the “dark and bloody ground.” This was the period of the greatest Indian massacres that had occurred in the history of the United States, elsewhere carefully and somewhat extensively described. Alexander was one of a company of eight hundred Kentuckians under General Scott to chastise the Indians on the Wabash for a destructive raid they had made on Kentucky. Two years after his marriage, he came to the present site of Troy, with his brother John, prospecting and on his return, he entered the Troy lands at the land office in Cincinnati. To this union were born Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, John, Nancy, Isabella, Lucilla and Marshall. They moved from Ken- tucky to this locality in 1806. During the fifty and more years he lived in Miami County, he was a farmer, living northwest of Troy two miles, on what is now known as the Peck place. It is not known whether he was a painter or not, but it is certain that he contracted, according to the county records, to paint the interior of the then new court house on the Public Square for the sum of $185. It has been recorded that the land on which Troy now stands was owned by Alexander McCullough. William Barbee and John McCullough, a brother of Alexander McCullough, but the county record shows that the County Commissioners bought it of Alexander McCullough. That there was an arrangement between the three gentlemen there can be no doubt, since one lot in the name of each was reserved in the sale. McCullough sold the land to the Commissioners for three dollars per acre. The fact is that William Barbee was one of the County Commissioners who made the purchase, a full history of which will appear in another place, is sufficient to show that no part of the land could have been in his name. William Barbee was his brother in law and had moved to Concord Township in 1804 and Alexander followed in 1806. They were the nucleus of a strong company of Kentuckians who formed a valuable foundation for the future strength of Miami County. The land that McCullough entered on his return to Kentucky, at the land office in Cincinnati in 1800 was an Oakland bottom not estimated by the early settlers as covering the best lands. Mr. McCullough was a person of mild manners and of a liberal mind. He preferred the farm life and was a successful agriculturalist. He is recollected as a true type of the Kentucky gentleman. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church. He died in Troy, October 14, 1857. S ' — — W"^^) — I — A — *3 , JjL&^j Q-ftr, /^f'o $5 \j A-^J 4 t ~v' cL ^j—&- — J—O—i „_J /g irss^sO t-~ ^ < ““" — jyg*^ -K^-^ i^—v — ^-y'l'C^- \ j — o 4) &L O— t-fcz r ^>‘ c * — J " o ^ Aig (L-^/_^ / -r — *-^ x UZ0L g^e(C^: oJULg- , JJ- .. ~G. *~1 cn^ J f J^jQ^~^j. /\/0laJL f. lr ' L J !Sl~- f /^"> — y~ / ix >^-, -~-*— /-T-^XC- , -i 0^-^_ Cs\s^i3ti — - ^ rm until 1879, when he went to Troy and began his pre parations for the legal profession under the preceptorship of the late Judge Theodore Sullivan. He graduated from the Cincinnati law school in 1881 and opened an office for practice in 1882, where he has since practiced with uninterrupted success. He pursued a scientific and literary course, while in his practice and became proficient under a tutor. His taste for books is a marked characteristic, which he has gratified by an excellent selection. He possesses one of the best scrap book collections in the county, and has had it bound in bible form. Mr. Davy was joined in marriage, February 4, 1886, with Gertrude Edith Mitchell, who was born near Fletcher, Miami County on October 27, 1864. Her father John Mitchell, was born in Greene County Pennsylvania, December 25, 1822 and came to Miami County at an early age. He married Henrietta Simmons of Fletcher in 1855. Mrs. Davy has received voice culture and has one of Troy’s most beautiful soprano voices. Mr. and Mrs. Davy are active members of the First Baptist Church of Troy, having been officially connected therewith for many years. Mr. Davy was superintendent of the Sunday School for several years, which, under his management made vigorous growth. Since these delightful people, join their home to mine, on the north. I can testify to the social and hospitable character which they enjoy in the community. Mrs. Sterrett and I would not like to change them for others. GEORGE MESSENGER SHEETS The subject of this sketch was born in Elisabeth township, Miami county, on August 19, 1840, on the home farm of Isaac Sheets, two miles and a half east of Troy, where he died in October of 1893. He was educated in the public schools and for years kept the Isaac Sheets flouring and saw mill in operation and condusted the farm he had inherited from his father. He also engaged in the manufacture of hard wood lumber. He was a genial man and had many friends. He loved his gun and dog and was present far and near on all occasions when tests of markmanship were practiced and yet his business had careful attention. He was married to Nannie May Whitaker, of Troy, Ohio, on May 13, 1886, who survives him. Her father was a shouting Methodist and beloved by all who knew him. His was the first body buried in Riverside cemetery. The father of George Messenger Sheets, Isaac S. Sheets, was born January 10, 1799, and died in September, 1876, at Philadelphia, while in attendance on the Centennial International Exposition. In June, 1824, he iparried Nancy Knoop, a member of the Knoop family who settled at “Dutch Station.” one of the first families that settled in Miami county in 1798, she being the daughter of John and Barbara Knoop. Mr. Sheets was not only a prominent farmer but owned the flouring and saw mill opposite his residence, afterward occupied by his son, George Messenger, the subject of this sketch. To this property was attached a distillery, all of which was at one time conducted by my father on the highest salary paid up to that time to any man in Miami county about which we have referred in another part of this work. His grandson, Lsaac Sheets, lives near the old home place, a successful farmer and stock raiser. George Messenger was interred in the mausoleum in Riverside cemetery in Troy. JOHN JACOB SHROYER John Jacob Shroyer, son of Thomas Shroyer, was born in Frederick. Maryland on November 10, 1807, and came to Ohio with his parents in the fall of 1819, and after passing: the winter in Dayton, came to Bethel township. Miami county, in the following: spring, where his father, Thomas, purchased 160 acres of land in section 10 and on which the subject of this sketch died, on February 19, 1889. He was township treasurer for 30 years and a trustee for 10 years and at one time a candidate for treasurer of Miami county. No man has ever held a higher position in the estimation of the citizens of Bethel township. JOHN WILLIAM SHROYER The son of John Jacob, born in Bethel township, received a very fair education in the public schools and lived on the farm, until his marriage with Anna Williams, the daughter of John and Anna Williams in 1864, from which union was born Herschel, who married Clara Mumford ; Ida, who married William Wray ; Anna, who married Benjamin Kissinger : Edith, who married Garfield Moses : Glendora, who married Leroy Gross ; John Jacob, who married Ada Ledgeworth, daughter of James Ledgeworth ; Marvin, who married Helen Koontz ; Bessie, Emerson, and Marguerite reside at home, with their parents, four miles east of Tippecanoe City, on the New Carlisle turnpike, which is the center of a family circle of unusual interest and intelligence, typical of the best things in American life. They all attend the Methodist Episcopal church. the Bethel township high school and at the Starling Medical college in Columbus, Ohio, in the class of 1910; served one year as interne at the Miami Valley hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and one year at Protestant DR. FRANKLIN IRWIN SHROYER A son of John William Shroyer, was born in Bethel township, on the home farm, on April 20, 1886, being the fourth generation of his name, who had done so much for the material advancement of agricultural, educational, social and religious upbuilding of the first township of Miami county. He graduated from hospital, Columbus, Ohio, and practiced for five years with Dr. Ceo. E. McCullough in Troy, Ohio ; special- ized in gynecological and abdominal surgery at John Hopkins university and now located at Dayton, Ohio, in the Reibold building. On September 25, 1917, he married Mary Anna Barbara Josse, one of Troy’s accomplished young ladies. The Shroyers were and are all land owners. John Jacob owned 700 acres ; John William, 212 acres ; and Franklin Irwin, with his brother, 220 acres. SAMUEL IIUMES SHANNON The subject of this sketch and the above picture was born at Pit ;s ton, Lycoming county, Pennsyivania, on April 5, 1843, and lived with his father and mother, Wesley and Sarah Smith Shannon, until manhood. He was educated in the local schools at Pittston. He enlisted in Company M, the 2nd Pa. Heavy Artillery, on the 19th of August, 1862, to serve for three years and was mustered out at Petersburg, Virginia, on the 20th of June, 1865, by reason of an order furnished by the War department. This regiment was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, until May of 1864, when they joined Grant in the wilderness and continued with the great commander until he had conquered “on that line,” The 147th O. V. I., exclusively from Miami county, relieved this regiment and took posstssion of their comfortable quarters of two years, many of which were artistically formed from small pines and cedar trees. It was my fortune to quarter in the one vacated by Comrade Shannon. It was here Mr. Shannon trained his famous dog, “Trust,” the only one in the history of the United States, so far as I know, ever mustered into and out of the service of the United States. A picture of Trust appears on the opposite page. In 1871, I met Mr. Shannon at Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, engaged in the sale of Babcock fire extinguishers, when I induced him to come to Troy and engage in the sale of nursery stock, which business he followed principally until his death. Mr. Shannon was noted for his love of and wonderful power over the dog. He always owned one and he was invariably well trained. In 1872, when traveling with him in the southern part of the State, a beautiful setter followed us from some where and was first discovered trotting under the buggy. With the buggy whip we drove him some distance back on the road, but when we arrived at our hotel, the dog was under the buggy and Shannon adopted him and he was known in Troy for some years as the best traineddogin the community. Mr. Shannon was married to Katherine Klein on September 18, 1873, from which union, two children were born. Cora, who died in infancy and Jessie, several years a popular school teacher of Troy, the wife of L. H. Shipman, a prominent attorney at law of Mr. Shannon affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and was a member of Post 159, Dept, of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, at Troy. He served as the first adjutant of the local post in 1883-4 and aided in mustering the post at Tippecanoe City and Pleasant Hill. He was an efficient and intelligent worker for the order. He had a generous hospitable nature which endeared him to a large circle of friends. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 315 elapsed before they did any bolting and when they commenced using a bolt the party whose grain was being ground was obliged to turn the bolt. This grist mill was destroyed by fire, as was also the saw mill upon the same race, but Mr. Freeman built a four-story mill with three runs of buhrs, and for years carried on a flourish- ing trade. James T. McKinney in 1808 erected a mill on the banks of Springcreek, which was known as the corn-cracker, as it ground only corn. This mill had the dis- tinction of being the first erected within what is known as Brown township. The first mill in Bethel township, erected by a man named Teller, was known as the ox-mill because the power was furnished by a large wheel about thirty feet in circumference which was trod by oxen. In 1815 a mill was built on Honey creek by David Staley. This mill enjoyed an extensive trade, people coming from every part of the county to have their grain ground at this mill. About 1831 this mill was sold to Daniel Babb, who operated it for many years. He es- tablished a store nearby for the accom- modation of those who came to have their grain ground at his mill, and soon a flour- ishing little hamlet grew up around the mill known as Babbtown. Piqua, Miami Countv, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1831. My dear Brothers: — Through the tender mercies of an over- ruling Providence, we have been preserved from diseases and death, and at this time enjoy a reasonable degree of health. I am pleased with this part of the country. The land is rich and productive and all, every foot could be cultivated except the water courses. The prices of produce are tolerably good; wheat 50 cents, corn and rye 25 cents, pork $2.50, beef from 2 to 3 dollars per hundred and will command a regular cash price which is produced by the Miami canal which is completed as far as Dayton 30 miles from here. It is ex- pected that the canal will shortly be extended as far as this place, and at some future day perhaps not far distant it will be made through to Lake Erie. Land has been raising here of late. Improved farms with common improvements are rated from 8 to 12 dollars per acre and some higher. There is yet unimproved land to be had low down at Congress price but lies a little back. I have not yet settled myself permanently. The winter season has been very unfavorable for looking at land and I have not yet seen enough of the country. It is not very expensive living in this part — I did some hauling when I first came here at $2.00 per day and got as much furniture as I wanted and I have since superintended a merchant mill for three month for which I received $20 per month. I wish now to use some time to look around and determine where to settle. The deed which uas made to me for the Ohio land did not answer the purpose. I wrote another and sent it on to Sam Frye, he has forwarded it to Brother John for his signature and at its return I wished you all to execute it and have it forwarded to me as soon as possible and have it for- warded to me through the medium of Sam Frye. My necessity compels me to be ur- gent in this as I cannot settle myself com- fortably without it, and scarcely with it. I brought four horses with me here, two of them I have since sold. This is a good country for a poor man and any person can here make a comfortable living who is blessed with health. Industry here has its reward. Society here is good the major- ity of which are Methodists. I was pres- ent at a love feast last Sundav morning when there was at least 400 persons present at their morning meeting, nearly all of whom were members of the church. Religion is prospering. The business of the estate which I left with you you will nlease to have so arranged if possible that the estate can be finally closed by next fall as I calculate if I am spared to be in by 316 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY that time. I have many serious incon- veniences to undergo in consequence of going to a new country although I find many friends here, and many are anxious I should take up my residence among them. It was with great difficulty I pro- cured a house for my family when I first came here as people are so fast emigrating here that every house and cabin is occu- pied. I, however, at length, succeeded in procuring one tolerably comfortable. We have had an addition to our family, a daughter born on the 19th of November last and is doing well. We call her name Maryann. Every article of merchandise or store goods I think is as low here as in Virginia owing to the canal transporta- tion. Our merchants purchase their goods generally at Cincinnati, the great empo- rium of the western trade, to which place they are brought by steam boats from New Orleans, and may be brought by the canal as far as Dayton 30 miles from here. You will please write to me when con- venient, directed to Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, until otherwise directed. Please to accept of the tenders of love and respect to you all and remember me to all who love or regard us. We have had a hard and severe winter here, colder weather than I have experienced in Virginia and fine sleighing for some time which I learn has been the case even in Virginia. I must close by wishing you every blessing that may redound to your good and subscribe myself your affectionate brother, DANL. BABB. Peter and Sami. Babb. (Address) Messrs, Peter and Sami. Babb, Hazard Forge P. Office, Hardy County, Virginia. RECORD KEPT BY GRANDFATHER PETER BABB My son Samuel was born into this worlcl Wednesday, the 3rd day of August, 1804, at noon between 12 and 1 o’clock, and in the sign of Leo. My daughter, Litia, was born in this world Friday, the 27th day of March, in the year 1807 in the afternoon between 4 and 5 o’clock and in the sign of Scorpia. My son, Levy, was born into this world Sunday, the 30th day of September, 1810, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon and in the sign of Piaces. My daughter, Catharine, was born into this world Wednesday, the 21st of Jan- uary, 1815, at 10 o’clock in the evening, and in the sign of Sagitarias. My son, John, was born into this world Sunday, the 3rd day of August, A. D. 1794, between 6 and 7 o’clock in the morn- ing and in the sign of Scorpia. My son, John Peter, was born into this world Sunday, the 25th of September, A. D., 1796, at 2 o’clock in the morning and in the sign of Cancer. My son, Daniel, was born into this world Tuesday, the 10th of December, A. D., 1800, at 12 o’clock at noon and in the sign of Gemini. My son, William, was born into this world Monday, the 30th of November, A. D., 1801, at 12 o’clock at noon and in the sign of Libra. The meeting of neighbors at the mills was an excellent method of becoming ac- quainted and it was in this way, largely, that they became acquainted with the characteristics of each other. I have heard Father tell the story of a bet he had with Isaac Sheets, sometime about 1840, when he superintended the Sheets distil- lery, flour and saw mill, two and one-half miles east of Troy. Sheets said to Father one day, when a certain farmer came to the mill from Lost Creek township, “Sam, there comes J — S who is the biggest liar in Miami county.” Father, having been the superintendent of the Voorhees dis- tillery, flour and saw mill on Indian creek, in Elisabeth township, knew every one in that locality and among others a well-to-do farmer, owning 320 acres of fine land who was given to wonderful exaggerations. To impress county officials, he would make tax returns for more stock than he actu- THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 317 ally had. He was especially fond of great draft horses, and told stories of their power to pull great loads that would put to shame the lofty flights of Baron Mun- chausen. This man, V — r, came to the mill soon after J — s had arrived, when Father said, “Isaac, I have a man here now that can out-lie your man,” and they accord- ingly bet an oyster supper in Troy on the result. Knowing the fondness of each for draft horses, they directed the conversa- tion in that channel and soon had J — s telling of miraculous feats of moving loads with his horses. When V — r’s turn came he told the following: “I used to haul wheat across the mountains to Baltimore with four horses and my average load was a hundred bushels. There was one place in the mountain where it was difficult to pull over and I always rested my horses before I reached that point. On one occa- sion, I put on five bushels extra for it completed the job, and when I arrived at the difficult point, my four horses stood on their toes for 20 minutes unable to move forward, but so true they would not let the load go backward. So great was the strain, that the right hand shoe of the off horse flew off with such force that it went through the body of the wagon, emptied two sacks of wheat and this ennabled the horses to pull the load over.” Sheets winked at father who went with him out- side the office, when he said, “Sam, the oysters are yours.” I never heard Father repeat this story without the explanation that neither of these men ever exagger- ated to the injury of their neighbors. “That old voice of waters, of birds, and of breeze, The dip of the wild fowl, the rustling of trees.” BETHEL TOWNSHIP I addressed a letter to The Richmond- Arnold Publishing Company, of Chicago, 111., who purported to be a firm of that city, which published the history of Miami County in 1909. The letter was returned by the post office authorities marked, “Not found.” My inquiry of them was in rela- tion to their authority for some of the names used by them as early settlers in Miami county. The list of names given in this misfit history as the earliest settlers in Bethel township appear in the following order: On page 111, Thomas Stockstill, David H. Morris, Sr., Robert Crawford, John Craw- ford, Samuel Morrison, Mordecai Menden- hall, John Ross, Daniel Agenbroad, the Saylors, Puterbaughs, Claytons, Ellises, Studebakers and Newcombs. The land office of the United States, gives the first entries of land in Bethel township in the following order: BETHEL TOWNSHIP, TOWN NO. 2 RANGE 9 Robt. Crawford, entered N.W. Qr Sec. 4-2-9, 160 @ Dec. 31, 1802. James L. Crawford, entered S.W. Qr Sec. 4-2-9, 100.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. Peyton Short assigned to Crawford en- tered Whole Sec. 10-2-9, 640.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. Jacob Siler, entered N. Pt. Qr Sec. 18-2- 9, 100.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. P. Short, entered N. Pt. Qr, Sec. 23-2-9, 320.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. Jonathan Downell, entered N i/2> Sec. 35-2-9, 64.71 @ Dec. 31, 1802. Elnathan Corey, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 3-2-9, 159.00 @ Nov. 17, 1804. E. Corey, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 4-2-9, 160.00 @ Nov. 17, 1804. Jos. Stafford, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 17-2-9, 160.00 @ Dec. 24, 1804. Jacob Price, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 17- 2-9, 160.00 @ Dec. 8, 1804. Thomas Stockstill never entered land in Bethel township. He owned land by purchase by transfer but he was not one of the first owners. Samuel Morrison did not enter his land until Dec. 27, 1805, be- ing the southeast quarter of Section 3, seven miles from the mouth of Honey 318 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY creek, where he and Morris founded the town of Livingston, on land purchased from John Cleves Symmes. The latter lost title to this land for non-payment of purchase price. If the high waters at the mouth of Honey creek broke up his town, as we have heretofore intimated, it would account for his entry of the high land in Section 3, near the Clark county line, Mordecai Mendenhall received a patent for his land for the one-half of Section 33, on November 20, 1806, on the river two miles below the mouth of Honey creek. Daniel Ross did not receive his patent for parts of Section 27-28 until April 9, 1811. The names given in the same history as the earliest settlers in Brown township were John Kiser, John Simmons, William Cancannon and Michael Sills set forth on page 98. The following record of the land de- partment at Washington, D. C., shows the first land patents for Brown township settlers : BROWN TOWNSHIP, TOWN NO. 2, RANGE NO. 12 John Adney, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 31- 2-12, 159.02 @ Apr. 11, 1808. John Oliver, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 19- 2-12, 157.83 @ Apr. 18, 1814. John Ciser, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 25-2- 12, 159.00 @ Mar. 39, 1814. Dan’l Newcomb, entered S. E. Qr, 25-2- 12, 159.00 @ Mar. 39, 1814. John Simmons, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 25-2-12, 159.00 @ May 28, 1813. John A. Caven, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 31- 2-12, 159.02 @ Nov. 26, 1812. John Lesseney, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 32- 2-12, 159.77 @ May 6, 1813. Wm. Wahub, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 32- 2-12, 159.77 @ Mar. 30, 1814. John Kizer, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 13-2- 12, 158.47 @ Mar. 2, 1815. Wm. Richardson, entered WV 2 Qr, Sec. 33- 2-12, 78.95 @ June 7, 1815. There were at least eight settlers before Kizer came. The same history gives the names of the first settlers in Concord township as fol- lows: Aaron Tullis, William Barbee, Reuben Shackelford and Alexander Tel- ford. These came in about 1804. In 1806 came John Peck from Kentucky with four sons, Jacob, John, Joseph and Isaac and four daughters.” The land office record at Washington, D. C., for early settlers is as follows: CONCORD TOWNSHIP, TOWN AND RANGE 7-5 AND 5-6 Sam’l Martin, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 12- 7-5, 160 @ Sept. 30, 1805. Sam’l Kyle, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 36-7- 5, 160 @ Apr. 4, 1807. Wm. Barbee and Robt. Marshall, en- tered Whole, Sec. 8-5-6, 640.98 @ Dec. 22, 1803. Aaron Tullis, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 20- 5-6, 165.34 @ Nov. 20, 1804. David Tullis, entered S. W.Qr, Sec. 19- 5-6. 161.24 @ Aug. 11, 1806. Wm. Gahagan, entered Whole, Sec. 27- 5-6, 467.33 @ Sept. 6, 1804. Abraham Thomas, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 33-5-6, 161.18 @ Dec. 24, 1804. John Orbison, entered Whole, Sec. 34- 5-6, 444.37 @ Aug. 13, 1805. Wm. Barbee and Alex McCullough, en- tered N. E. Qr, Sec. 28,5-6, 161.44 @ Sept. 4, 1805. Jos. Layton, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 28- 5-6, 161.44 (5) Sept. 10, 1805. The same history gives the names of the first settlers of Elisabeth township as fol- lows : Michael Shidaker, John Mann, George Williams, John Flynn, John Gear- hart and the Cecils. The following is the record at Washing- ton, D. C. : ELISABETH TOWNSHIP, TOWN NO. 2, RANGE NO. 10 Wm. Madden, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 25-2-10, 100.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. James Lennon, entered Sec, 28-2-10, 50.00 @ Dec. 29, 1802. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 319 Michael Williams, entered S. E. Qr, 25-2-10, 218.50 @ Dec. 31, 1804. Jacob Prillerman, entered N i /2 Qr, Sec. 7-2-10, 320.00 @ Dec. 25, 1804. Moses Winters, entered W. Qr, Sec. 13- 2-10, 160.00 @ Dec. 19, 1804. Danl. Knoop, entered S V 2 Qr, Sec. 28-2- 10, 320.00 @ Dec. 22, 1804“ Elihu Saunders, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 32-2-10, 161.00 @ Dec. 15, 1804. Peter Saunderland, entered N. W., 1- 2-10, 160.00 @ Dec. 20, 1805. John Johnston, entered S. W., Sec. 9-2- 10, 159.50 @ Dec. 27, 1805. John Shidaker, entered N 1/2, Sec. 13-2- 10, 320.00 @ Oct. 15, 1805. The same history gives the first settlers of Lost Creek township in the following order: Wilis Northcut, John Rogers, John Webb, Alexander McDowell, Sr. The records of the land offce, Washing- ton, D. C., show the following order for the first ten entries : LOST CREEK TOWNSHIP, TOWN NO. 2, RANGE NO. 11 Jacob Burnett, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 15-2-11, 159.66 @ Dec. 31, 1804. John Brownson, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 20- 2-11, Sec. 159.48 @ Dec. 28, 1805. John Johnston, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 21- 2-11, 160.06 @ Dec. 28, 1805. Abm. Edwards, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 27- 2-11, 159.60 @ Dec. 28, 1805. Barnabas Blue, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 28- 2-11, 160.18 @ Dec. 26, 1805. John Rogers, entered Whole, Sec. 32-2- 11, 648.32 @ Dec. 30, 1805. John Holderman, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 34-2-11, 169.33 @ Dec. 26, 1805. John Whipple, entered S V 2 Qr, Sec. 35- 2- 11, 322.30 @ Dec. 27, 1805. John Flinn, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 20- 2-11, 159.48 @ Dec. 28, 1805. Dan’l Lauden, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 20- 2-11, 159.48 @ Dec. 28, 1805. Willis Northcutt did not enter land un- til December 2, 1817, when he acquired the S. W. Qr of Section 2. Alexander McDowell did not enter land but acquired his by transfer from the first settlers. “Samuel Freeman Seems to have been the first white man to break ground in Monroe township,” then follows John Yount, Michael Fair, John Clark, David Jenkins and Elisha Jones. The Washington land office records show as follows: MONROE TOWNSHIP, TOWN NO. 4 RANGE NO. 6 Geo. Gillispie, entered Whole, Sec. 11 & 14-4-6, 399.62 @ Sept. 24, 1804. Jos. Layton, entered Whole ,Sec. 24-4-6, 400.82 @ Sept. 6, 1804. Sami. Freeman, entered Whole, Sec. 25- 4-6, 450.41 @ Aug. 7, 1804. John Freeman, entered Whole, Sec. 34- 4-6, 638.72 @ Aug. 9, 1805. Jacon Fare, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 28-4- 6, 160.16 @ Dec. 5, 1805. James Reed, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 33-4- 6, 150.68 @ Nov. 25, 1805. Christian Grice, entered N 1 / 9 , Sec. 27- 4-6, 319.07 @ Aug. 9, 1805. James Youert, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 4- 4-6, 163.68 @ Apr. 5, 1805. Benj. Cheney, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 5- 4-6, 164.00 @ Dec. 2, 1805. Hance Mordockk, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 8-4-6, 162.85 @ Aug. 21, 1805. ‘In 1806 Am. McDonald settled on Har- rison creek near Covington and in the fol- lowing year, Michael Ingle erected a cabin at the mouth of Trotters creek. Ingle was a tanner, etc.” following Ingle came Wil- liam Coate, John Coate and soon Daniel Wright,” page 96. The Washington rec- ords disclose as follows: Newberry Toivnship, Town & Range (8-5) (9-4) (9-5) (10-4) David Zeigler, entered E 1 / 9 , Sec. 36-9-4, 320 @ Apr. 23, 1801. Michael Ingle, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 20-8-5, 156.74 @ Nov. 15, 1804. Thomas Hill, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 29- 8-5, 159.24 @ Dec. 7, 1805. 320 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Jo, *11 Miller, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 31- 8-5, 160.26 @ Dec. 21, 1805. Sylvester Thompson, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 32-8-5, 158.21 @ Apr. 11, 1805. Sam’l Nicholson, entered W */2 S. E., Sec. 32-9-5, 80 @ Oct. 5, 1816. Phil Swartzell, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 12-0-4, 160.00 @ Nov. 2, 1806. Wm. Pearson, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 18- 8-5, 159.24 @ June 20, 1809. David Burnstrager, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 19-8-5, 159.89 @ July 21, 1806. Sam’l Brown, Jr., entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 19- 8-5, 156.89 @ July 8, 1807. Page 94 of the same history places the early settlers of Newton township in the following order: Michael Williams, Mar- maduke Coate, Thomas Hill, Thomas Cop- pock, Samuel Teague, Benjamin and Wil- liam Furnas. The Washington records shows as fol- lows: Michael Williams, entered last one-half Section 19, August 7, 1801. Michael Ingle, entered N. W. Ir, Sec. 7- 7-5, 155.72 @ Nov. 15, 1804. Sylvester Thompson, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 17-7-5, 160 @ Mar. 19, 1806. Wm. C. & O. Schenck, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 18-7-5, 160 @ Nov. 20, 1804. Marmaduke Coate, S. E. Qr, Section 32, Nov. 5, 1804. Benjamin Iddings, S. E. Qr, Section 33, Nov. 7, 1804. Thomas Coppock, entered W. W. Qr, Sec. 4, Sept. 25, 1804. Abrham Miller, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 5-7-5, 161.09 @ Mar. 10, 1806. Fredrick Nutts, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 7-7-5, 160 @ Aug. 17, 1805. Page 100, same history gives the first settlers in Spring Creek township as fol- lows : John Hilliard, “At last in 1804, the Dilborns came,” William Frost, John R. McKinney, John Millhouse, Gardner Bobo, Mathias Scudder, Uriah Blue, James L. McKinney, and Henry Millhouse. The Washington records shows as fol- lows : John Hilliard, the whole of section 30, Dec. 31, 1802. John McKinney, the whole of section 20, Dec. 26, 1806. Gardener Bobo, Section 21, Jan. 3, 1807. James McKinney, Section 14, Dec. 27, 1805. Springcreek, Town No. 1, Range No. 12 Wm. Stuart, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 21- 1-12, 58.76 @ Dec. 5, 1805. Dan’l Symmes, entered Whole, Sec. 25- 1-12, 612.94 @ Jan. 1, 1806. Matthew Scudder, entered Whole, Sec. 27-1-12, 546.43 @ Aug. 29, 1806. Dan'l Hilliar, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 15- 1-12, 158.76 @ Apr. 18, 1807. Wm. Frost, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 20-1- 12, 161.27 @ Dec. 27, 1807. James Cregan, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 21-1-12, 158.76 @ Aug. 5, 1806. Geo. M. Caven, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 1-1-12, 159.01 @ Nov. 29, 1808. Henry Freeman, entered N. E. Qr, 15-1- 12, 158.76 @ Jan. 3, 1810. Wm. Wiley, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 19-1- 12, 160.27 @ Aug. 21, 1812. G. P. Torrance, entered Whole, Sec. 32- 1-12, 618.20 @ Dec. 11, 1811. It will be observed that there is no au- thority for saying the Dilborns were the second family to settle in Spring township. They actually entered their land, the N. E. Qr, of Section 1 on April 14, 1813, but a short time before they were murdered by the Indians. Staunton Township, Town No. 1-10 and 1-11 Page 105, same history mentions the early settlers in the following order : John Knoop, Peter Felix, Simon Landry, Amariah Smalley, Levi Martin, Henry Marshall and John Defrees. The Washington record shows as fol- lows : John Gerrard, entered Whole Sec. 9-1- 10, 433.01 @ Dec. 28, 1802. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 321 Uriah Blue, entered E 1/2, Sec. 18-1-10, 120.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. Henry Gerrard, entered N V 2 > Sec. 13-1 11, 320.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. A. Blue, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 13-1-11, 40.00 @ Dec. 31, 1802. James Blue, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 7-1- John Whiting, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 2- 11, 160.00 @ Dec. 25, 1804. 1-10, 50.00 @ Dec. 31, 1805. Levi Martin, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 3-1, 10, 160.00 @ Dec. 17, 1805. Matthew Huston, entered Whole, Sec. 10-1-10, 463.54 @ Dec. 9, 1805. Peter Felix, entered Whole, Sec. 23-1-10, 24.50 @ Dec. 27, 1805. Jacon Kinzer, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 3- 1-11, 158.68 @ Aug. 9, 1805. John Knoop, entered Part 4-1-10, 521.47 @ July 31, 1805. William Marshall, not Henry, entered the N. W. Qr of Section 22 on April 21, 1806, while John Defrees never entered any land. Much of the land in Miami county in the early day was purchased from John Cleves Symmes, but he, having forfeited his title to all of the 2,000,000 acres purchased by him from the govern- ment, lying between the Great and Little Miami rivers, except 600,000 acres next to the Ohio river. These same lands were afterward purchased from the govern- ment. I endeavored to procure all the papers that related to the land owned by John Knoop in Section 4 of Staunton township. The following letter from my friend, C. C. Royce, of Washington City, will explain in this relation more fully than ever before and is the last word on this subject. The Cairo, Washington, D. C., July 11, 1917. My dear Sterrett: I have your letter of the 4th inst. I as- sume from its contents that you have access to the U. S. statutes at large and are fully familiar with the Act of 1796, which provided for the sale of lands N. W. of the river Ohio on terms requiring one- twentieth of purchase money at time of sale, one-half within 30 days and balance in one year. Also the Act of March 2, 1799, for the relief of persons who had contracts with Jno. Cleves Symmes for lands not included in the Symmes patents, giving such persons a preference in pur- chasing the lands so contracted for — such lands to be paid for : one-third before Sept. 1, 1799, one-third in one year, and one- third in two years, which act was super- ceded by Act of March 3, 1801, extending the time for first payment to Jan. 1, 1802. Also the Act of May 10, 1800 providing for the establishment of land offices at Cincinati, Chillicothe, Marietta and Steubenville and the sale of lands in 640 and 320 acre tracts, payments in cash or on credit, one-twentieth cash, one-fourth in 40 days, one-fourth in two years, one- fourth in three years and remainder in four years. In reference to the John Knoop entry I went to the General Land Office and ob- tained access to the old records of the Cin- cinnati land office, but did not obtain the full measure of information I desired. I had supposed that the original application for entry would contain a statement of the date of actual settlement but found that such was not the case. I found, how- ever, that John Knoop’s first pre-emption claim was filed December 21, 1804, on which date he made a first payment of $52.14. His patent was not issued until July 30, 1812, and was for land in Sec. 4, T. 1, Range 10 M. R. S. A second application for additional land was made December 27, 1805, but I mis- laid my memorandum showing the date of his final certificate and date of the pat- ent. If these are of any importance to you I will make another trip to the land office and get them. The number of his final certificate on the first application was 329 and of the second 1760, which I obtained from the old tract 322 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY book, but the certificates themselves and accompanying papers were not to be found, the clerk in charge advising me that more than half of the papers in all these entries at the Cincinnati office prior to 1814 are missing, due to the fact that the Treasury department was burned by the British in that year and many of the files destroyed. Sorry the material date of Knoop’s settlement is not disclosed by the records but if there is any other matter concerning which I can be of service to you let me know and I will be “Johnny on the Spot." Sincerely yours, C. C. ROYCE. Page 83, of the same history names the early settlers of Washington township in the following order : Job Gard, John Wid- ney, Benjamin Brandon, William Mitchell, Col. John Johnston, Hugh Scott, Benjamin Leavell, John Manning, Armstrong Bran- don and Matthew Caldwell. The Washington record is as follows : Washington Township (6-6) (7-6) (8-5) (9-5) Matthew Caldwel, entered Whole, Sec. 18-6-6, 636.40 @ Dec. 3, 1805. Edward Newcomb, entered Whole, Sec. 6-6-6, 222.48 @ Sept. 6, 1804. John Manning, entered Whole, Sec. 17- 6- 6, 164.45 @ Oct. 8, 1804. Jos. Bedle, entered Whole, Sec. 32-6-6, 360.40 @ Mar. 15, 1805. William Wills, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 31- 7- 6, 157.98 @ Dec. 27, 1805. John Lovell, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 13-8- 5, 157.56 @ Nov. 29, 1806. Sami. Trotter, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 24- 8- 5, 160.29 @ Oct. 8, 1806. James Vamman, entered Whole, Sec. 36-8-5,. 156.95 @ Nov. 12, 1806. John Widney, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 36- 9- 5, 160.00 @ May 30, 1810. Henry Orbison, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 12-8-5, 158.41 @ May 13, 1807. The story of Job Card having been the first settler of Washington township and probably of Miami county, may be and probably is, true so far as that he lived in the old fort at the upper Piqua point either in the winter of 1795 or n >.6 and planted corn on the “Big Bend” at Piqua, the suc- ceeding spring and afterward erected a cabin at Harrison street but the story seems purely legendary. At least, he never entered land, that is, of record. Col. John Johnston, contrary to the general belief did not enter the land at the mouth of Loramie creek but the N. E. Qr, of Sec- tion 2, June 6, 1808. This land is two miles from the mouth of Loramie creek. Loramie creek enters the Miami river at the southwest corner of fractional section 32. The N. East Qr, of this section was entered by Stephen Johnson in 1818. Sec- tion 31 on the west side of Loramie creek, in Miami county, was entered by eight different people from 1816 to 1833. John Leavell, not Benjamin, entered his land in Section 24, in 1806, while Hugh Scott did not enter his in Section 7 until 1814. Page 91 of the same history says “In the year 1801 Henry Fouts, Leonard and Adam Ellers, settled in Union township in the very heart of the forest primeval” and then names Caleb Mendenhall, John Mast and Frederick Yount, David Mote, Leon- ard and William Fincher, William Neal, Benjamin Pike and Jacob Byrkett. The record at Washington reads as fol- lows: John Mast, entered Whole Sec. 28-6-5, 610.56 @ Sept. 3, 1802. Thomas Coppock, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 4- 6-5, 159.20 @ Sept. 25, 1804. John Richardson, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 5- 6-5, 161.24 @ Dec. 2, 1804. Sam’l Coate, entered N. W. Qr, Sec. 5-6- 5, 161.24 @ Nov. 5, 1804. Moses Coate, entered S. W. Qr, Sec. 5-6- 5, 161.24 @ Sept. 25, 1804. John Compton, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 7- 6- 5, 155.24 @ Oct. 12, 1804. Jonathan Mote, entered Whole, Sec. 20- 6-5, 666.15 @ Aug. 6, 1804. JOHN WILLIAM DOWLER The grand father, William Dowler, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio at an early day and first located in Butler County. In the year 1824, he moved to Newberry township and entered the northeast quarter of section 7, two miles north of Covington. His son, Joseph Carter Dowler, was reared on this farm and became a school teacher at nineteen years of age which profession he followed for fifteen years. I have had in my possession, one of the orders given him for his services in this capacity, calling on the Treasurer of the township to pay him the sum of $35 for teaching school for three months. He married Susan Rike on August 14, 1856, from which one child was born, John William, the subject of this sketch, on July 3, 1857, who graduated in the High School of Covington and adopted the pro- fession of Civil Engineer in which capacity, in connection with farming, his lfe has been spent. He married Mary Ermina Freshhour on Feb. 15. 1888, from which union two children were born : George Leonard on Sept. 17, 1892, and James E. on Nov. 27. 1893. Mr. Dowler has been employed in government land surveys ; has been engineer for the several traction lines in Miami County except from Troy to Piqua and continues in the employ of the Dayton. Covington and Piqua line, and has served two terms as Surveyor of Miami County. Oue of his pleasant pastimes has been the production from his own camera of lantern slides and pictur- ‘scenery of Miami County and in the National Park of Montana, where he has a farm of 360 acres and Vaises oats and wheat. He has entered one hundred of these pictures in a pure, soft leather binding, all $&nd colored, and beneath each one an original verse of poetry. Some of these pictures are used in this Sook. the first picture of this really wonderful book is printed the following: “This book will give the author’s point of view. It is a collection of his best reflections on Beauty of our waterways he has passed through. And brings to mind again, tender recollections.” He has christened his book “One Hundred Camera Peeps ; Rivers of Delight.” Mr. Dowler has given much attention to archaeological and geological study, having one of the most valuable collections of each in Miami County. He is a practical business man and believes in the government fixing prices, provided they fix them so it does not pay better to raise oats in Montana than wheat and that they fix the price on a just and not on an absolutely unfair and inequitable one. PATRICK O CONNOR The subject of the above picture was born in County Kerry, Ireland, September 20th, 1830. He lived with his father and mother, Michael and Mary O’Connor and was educated* in a limited way, in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1860. Soon after his arrival here he became the policeman of the C. H. and D. Railroad which then had its station at the crossing of Main and Clay streets in Troy and remained in that position and at the Big Four station for more than thirty years. He married Margaret Conner in February, 1867, and from this union six children were born. He died on August 22nd, 1916, at the advanced age of eighty-six years and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery Piqua, Ohio. “Pat" O’Conor, as he was familiarly known, was devoted, as few men are, to a high sense of duty and was the soul of honor and good citizenship. He was a faithful and loving son, sending money back to Ireland in support of his aged mother during her lifetime, and yet providing generously for his own growing family. He was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and held the office of Trustee in the same. There are few citizens of Troy more than thirty years of age who do not have a kindly recollection of Mr. O’Connor and to whom he did not render some service at the old depot. He had just pride in his great strength and boasted to me once that no drummer’s trunk ever came to the Troy depot which he could not handle. When he finally went away, he left behind him the universal respect of his fellow citizens and the filial affection of his two chidren who survive him, Michael, born Jan. 5, 1870, and Margaret, born August 19th, 1874 and his several grand children. The former is now a Troy policeman and Margaret married Edward J. Hennessey, a prominent contractor on June 7th, 1900, from which union five children have been born : Katherine, August 9th, 1901 ; Margaret, Sept. 23rd, 1905 ; Florence, Oct. 28th, 1907 ; Rosa, Oct. 8th, 1909, and Edward, Jan. 22nd, 1912. Edward Hennessey, the husband, with his brother, has built many of the streets of Troy and Piqua and are prosperous contractors. The best streets, in my opinion, ever laid in Troy are such as those on Water and West Franklin, placed by these gentlemen. Mr. O'Connor and his wife Margaret lived in the old homestead on Main Street for 39 years and here their children first saw the light and from here sought their wav to school and to their church, nearby. When Margaret, his wife, passed away, on Jan. 3, 1911, aged 75 years and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua, Ohio, he made his home with his daughter, Margaret, the wife of E. J. Hennessey. THE HOME OF MILTON TAYLOR DILTS, 237 GRANT STREE'I The subject of this sketch was born three miles west of Troy, on his father’s farm on January 4, 1854, and resided with his father and mother, William B. Dilts and Fannie May Taylor, until manhood. When seven years of age, his parents moved to Muncie, Indiana, where they lived until 1872, when they moved back to Troy. On October 15, 1876, he was wedded to Mamie H. Knisely. from which union two children were born, Mrs. Pearl Luella Stevens and Edith May Dilts. Mr. Dilts is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Red Men, and the Junior Order. He was a member of the Troy City council for 20 years and its president for several terms. He was elected mayor of Troy and served during 1914-15 and made a record for economy and efficiency which his friends claim has not been surpassed in the history of the city. He is a brick and stone mason and a contractor. He has erected more business and dwelling houses in Troy than any man who lives in the city. Many of his structures were erected in various sections of the county. Mr. Dilts is a man of positive views which he maintains with the same energy that he devotes to his business. Being a sincere man, he has little sympathy with insincerty in others. He is a generous friend and through his endorsement, several successful men owe their start to him. THE HOME OF WALTER E. BOYER Troy, Ohio Mr. Boyer was born at Foster, Warren county. Ohio, in March, 1873, and educated in the public schools of that section, and in the High School at Arcanum, Darke county, and for several years there- after he taught school and then entered the employ of Joseph Mayer & Sons, dealers in leaf tobacco, Arcanum, Ohio, where he continued for two years. He then entered the employ of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company at Arcanum, where he remained until he accepted the position of book- keeper in the Troy National Bank, in August, 1894. With the certainty that ability and industry brings he advanced from one position to the other in this excellent banking institution until he became its President in 1908, which postion he has filled with signal ability up to the present date. In February, 1896, Mr. Boyer united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Thompson of Troy, from which union one daughter, Margaret, was born. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is the tresurer. He is identified with the Troy Club, the Junior Order, Knights of Pythias and is a Knight Templar Mason. Mr. Boyer is fully imbued with the responsibility of citizenship and has responded by serving as the President of the Troy School Board for several years. He is treasurer of the War Chest Fund of Miami County and enlisted in a responsible degree in all the county patriotic committees set on foot to win the war. His identification as stockholder and as treasurer of several of our successful manufacturing en- terprises, places on him an unusual amount of responsibility in community and county affairs, all of which he has so successfully discharged that he has been compelled to decline, for want of time, several positions of tru t which he has been urged to accept. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN MIAMI COUNTY 327 Union Township, Sec. 7-4, 6-5 Benj. Coppock, entered S. E. Qr, Sec. 1-7-4, 165.92 @ Oct. 31, 1805. Ester Pemberton, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 12-7-4, 160 @ Oct. 24, 1806. Wm. Nail, entered N. E. Qr, Sec. 4-6-5, 159-20 @ Dec. 5, 1804. Henry Fouts first entered land in Union township in Section 22 on June 17, 1817. Joseph, not Caleb Mendenhall, entered land on Section 32 in 1805 and Frederick Yount did not enter land until Oct. 14, 1816. Samuel Jones, not mentioned above, entered land on June 25, 1805, being the one-half of Section 9. The errors in former histories of Miami county in relation to the first settlers, seems to have originated as follows. The Beers people, a supposed reputable pub- lishing house of Chicago, 111., sent their gang of history makers into Miami county in 1880, bent on pure commerce. In every case relating to early settlers, without any local knowledge, they depended on hear- say, and that which they were told was recorded and has been copied by each suc- cessive historian ( ?) of Miami county from that time to the present. In my en- deavor to correct this false history, I have selected the first ten names in each town- ship to receive patents from the govern- ment, prior to 1807, or 120 names in all. When we come to know that in that year, when the county was organized, there were but 208 voters in the county, it will be seen that I have the names of the majority of the population at that time. CHAPTER XX. THE ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY While material progress had been made during the period between 1807 and 1817 and we had attained a population of about 5000 souls, I have considered this interval as the period of organization, to be after- ward treated as the period of more rapid progress. In this I particularly cover the period which former county histories have repeatedly said there were no records, they having been sold for waste paper by a former county official. The following Act of the Legislature of Ohio was passed January 16th, 1807 : “All that part of Montgomery County be and the same is hereby laid off and erected into a separate and distinct County which shall be called and known by the name of Miami, to-wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Champaign County, and south- east corner of Section 1, township 2 and range 7 ; thence west with the line be- tween ranges 9 and 10, to the Great Miami river, crossing the same in such direction as to take the line on the bank of said river between township 3 and 4 in range 6 west of the said river ; thence west to the State line; thence north with the same to the Indian boundary line ; thence east with the same to the Champaign County line; thence south with the said County line to the place of beginning. From and after the first day of April, 1807, said County of Miami shall be vested with the powers, privileges and immunities of a separate and distinct county.” Since Montgomery County, prior to the organization of Miami, embraced within her borders, all lands west of Champaign to Indiana and all lands north to Michi- gan, a territory 40 by 170 miles ; the above act created an area of 40 by 45 miles for 328 Miami County and the 40 by 120 miles north of her up in the air. The organiza- tion of Darke County in 1809 left Miami with an area of but 20 by 45 miles. The act of the legislature of Ohio, in 1812, fol- lowing, made her area 20 by 150 miles and she so remained until the organization of Shelby County in 1819, when she was re- duced to her present limits. AN ACT, to amend an act, entitled, “an act for the division of Montgomery County.” WHEREAS by the act establishing Montgomery County, the limits of said county were extended to the northern boundary of this state, and where as by the above recited act, the limits of Miami county were confined to the Indian bound- ary line, leaving a tract of country at- tached to Montgomery county, over which no .jurisdiction can be conveniently exer- cised, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO, That all that part of the county of Mont- gomery lying north of the county of Miami, shall be, and the same is hereby at- tached to the said county of Miami, and all that lying north of the county of Dark, shall be, and the same is hereby attached to the said county of Dark. PROVIDED That all crimes committed, and suits and actions now pending in the said county of Montgomery, shall be prosecuted to final effect in the same manner as if this act had not passed. MATTHIAS CORWIN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. THOMAS KIRKER, Speaker of the Senate. January 7, 1812. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 329 (Laws of Ohio, 1812) We call attention to the fact that the above act should have been recorded and that this history is the first medium through which the people of Miami county have known of the existence of the act. “The State of Ohio, Miami County: Be it remembered that on the 21st day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1807, being the day appointed for the County Com- missioners to meet at the home of Peter Felix in Staunton, there were present Samuel Janes, William Barbee, Henry Gerard. Cornelius Westfall was appointed Clerk for the Board of County Commissioners. The Commissioners proceeded to deter- mine by lot for what time they shall sev- erally serve in office and, after drawing, it appeared that Samuel Janes is to con- tinue in office until the first October annual election. William Barbee until the annual October election next succeeding and Henry Gerard until the annual election next succeeding. Ordered that this county be divided into townships as follows : the first township to be called and known by the name of Bethel (here follows the boundaries) . The second township to be called and known by the name of Concord (boundaries fol- low). The third township to be called and known by the name of Union (fol- lowed by boundaries). The fourth town- ship to be called and known by the name of Elizabeth (followed by boundaries). The fifth township to be called and known by the name of Washington (followed by boundaries-. Andrew Wallace of Concord was appointed County Treasurer with James Marshall and John Johnston as bondsmen. Troy was laid out and platted under and by virtue of an order of the Common Pleas Court of Miami County, Ohio. The follow- ing order appears in Docket 1, page 8, Common Pleas Court records. The Com- missioners appointed by a Resolution of the Legislature of the State of Ohio to lay off a seat of Justice in the County of Miami, made their return to Court of Com- mon Pleas and have selected as the most eligible piece of ground for that purpose, Fractional section 21 and the northeast quarter of Section 28, all in Town 5, Range 6, East, July 25th, 1807. JESSE NEWPORT, DANIEL WILSON, JOSEPH LAMB, Commissioners. Robert Crawford was appointed by the Court Director to purchase the tract des- ignated by the Commissioners “the seat of Justice of this County” to lay off the same into lots, streets, alleys agreeable to the direction of the Court September 2, 1807, Docket 1, page 10. This option was had under an Act for the division of Montgomery County passed June 23, 1807. Under the orders above Robert Crawford had the said land duly surveyed and platted into In Lots numbered from 1 to 87 inclusive by survey and plat of De- cember 16, 1807, and on the 27th day of April, 1808, said Crawford made an ad- dition which included the 1st plat and other In Lots No. 88, No. 173. The first lot sold in Troy by Robert Crawford, the new director, was lot 8 on Water Street, the second lot north and west of Market, its rear fronting on the river. The commissioners failed to dedicate the streets to public use and the title to the streets embraced in the original surveys, stiff remains in Miami County. They have been used and improved by the people of Troy for 111 years and the supposition of the author is that since they have claimed them and held adverse possession of them, the statute of limitation has now vested them with the title, but I have not consulted any legal authority on this subject. It is certain that property own- ers did not own to the middle of the street as is the case usually. Whether the fact that they have paid for the improvements 330 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTS in front of their lots for all these years would fix the title in them in case the street should be abandoned seems to have been of such small concern that nobody has ever procured a judicial decision on it. On July 22nd, 1807, at a meeting of the Commissioners it was ordered that an election of township officers be held in the five townships, created up to that date. The license for hotel keepers was fixed at this meeting at $4.00 and the license for ferrymen at $1.00. At the meeting of the Commissioners on Sept. 3rd, 1807, an order on the Treasury was issued to Arthur St. Clair in the sum of $5.00 for services as Prosecuting At- torney. At the same meeting, it was ordered that $1.25 be paid for wolf and panther scalps. On the same date, a petition was received from the residents of Elizabeth township for the building of a road from Dayton to Staunton. On the same date a resolution was passed “That Peter Felix be allowed, for the use of the Court House, at each term, the sum of $3.00.” At their meeting on November 16, a pe- tition was received, signed by a number of the inhabitants of Bethel township, pray- ing for a road to be laid out, beginning at Honey Creek bridge ; thence to Champaign County line, so as to pass by David Wal- lace’s; thence to Robert Crawford’s new house. At this meeting a commission is cited from Thomas Kirker, acting Gover- nor of Ohio, to Stephen Dye as Sheriff of Miami County, for which a bond in the sum of $4,000 is filed. On June 1st, 1808, the road petition of Bethel Township was disposed of as fol- lows: “Said road cannot be had, without being burdensome to the people.” On April 1st, 1808, William Blue is al- lowed $2.50 for two wolf scalps, six months old. On April 2nd, 1808, Cornelius Westfall is allowed $6.00 for his services as Clerk to the Board including this date, and fur- nishing stationery. When we come to know that the Clerk’s office of Miami County in the present day costs $16 per day to conduct it and that Westfall had served the better part of a year for $6.00 and furnished the stationery out of that stipend, or since July of 1807, we are led to repeat “Great oaks from little acorns grow.” The first year’s taxes col- lected in Miami County was $600, and is now in 1917 about an even million dollars. On June 6, 1808, Andrew Wallace re- ported $362.62, two-thirds of taxes col- lected for the first year for which he re- ceived the sum of $12.65 for the collection therof, but this did not include the State taxes. On June 14, 1808, the commissioners fixed the charge for ferrymen as follows: “For each foot passenger 6j4 cents, for each man and horse 121/2 cents, for loaded wagon and team, fifty cents. Any other four wheeled carriage or empty wagon, 371/2 cents, for every loaded cart and team, sled or sleigh and team 25 cents ; for every horse, mare, mule or ass or other meat cattle, 6% cents, and for every sheep or hog, 2 cents. On August 10, 1808, recorded in Volume 1, page 16, the town of Greenville, Miami County, was chartered by the County Commissioners of Miami County. On August 31, 1808, the building of a jmblic jail in Troy, to be finished by De- cember 20, 1808, was sold to Robert C. Crawford for $433.50. The location of this jail has never been stated in any his- tory of record but I hope hereafter to fix this location definitely. On December 9, 1808, “Ordered that the Court of Miami County be held in the house of Benjamin Overfield in Troy, until a Court House is built. He has agreed to furnish a room for the Court to sit during the time or term aforesaid.” The reader will please note this contract, when con- fused by statements of Court being held anywhere else than the Overfield house, until the new Court House in the Public Square was finished. The last meeting of ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 331 the Court in Staunton was held on Decem- ber 6, 1808, in the home of Peter Felix. “Through the cracked and crazy wall Came the cradle rock and squall, And the goodman’s voice at strife With his shrill and tipsy wife. Luring us by stories old With a comic unction told More than by the eloquence Of terse ‘legal’ argument.” On January 3, 1809, by an Act of the Legislature, Darke County was formed out of the western part of Miami, and Green- ville was made the county seat. The or- iginal plat and record covered three blocks by six blocks with the Public Square in the center, as adopted on our records has been continued and now form the basis of all title in the most valuable portion of that thriving city which has outgrown its parent. On January 10, 1809, John Hart was granted a warrent for bringing iron for the jail from Stillwater. On June 13, 1809, the bounty for grown wolf and panther scalps was raised to $2.00 for each wolf and panther, and for each wolf or nanther under six months, $ 1 . 00 . On March 6, 1810, the sixth township was organized, to be called and known as Newton township. On May 3, 1810, the Clerk was authorized to advertise a sale of the building of a house convenient to the jail of this county — the jail had been finished since the preceding December. On June 14, 1810, John Smith, Jailor, was allowed $2.00 for forty days’ boarding a prisoner. On January 8, 1811, a report was made of the amount collected on what was then called the President’s land tax derived from the sale of public lands. Amount of duplicate $340.53.5 Amount due County 113.51.5 Collector’s per cent 13.62 Due District Collector. 213.40 On June 10, 1810, the Commissioners paid Robert Crawford for his services as Director of the Town of Troy: for pur- chasing the land and selling the lots. He had sold lots to the value of $2,163.98 and had paid vouchers in the amount of $2,- 163.07, and orders on the treasury for $415.07, and soon afterward, moved to Brookville, Indiana, and from thence to Crawfordsville. It was for him the beau- tiful and populous city was named. Many of his name, his descendents, are yet prominent citizens. Andrew Wallace received $24 for mak- ing the first plat of Troy. There is no record to be found of the amount he re- ceived for his second survey and plat. Andrew Wallace served as County Treasurer and taught the first school in Troy, held in a log cabin on Franklin street on the north side below C. II. & D. R. R. One of his pupils was his son, a boy of eight or ten years, a likable boy whom everybody called “Dave.” This boy after- ward became the efficient Governor of the young State of Indiana, and the father of the celebrated soldier, diplomat and author who has so charmed all the world in his story of Ben Hur and a tale of the Christ, translated into all the languages. “If any of my readers, visiting Rome, will make the short journey ta the Catacombs of San Calixo, which is more ancient than San Sebastiano, he will see what became of the fortune of Ben Hur and will give thanks. Out of this vast tomb, Christian- ity issued to supersede the Caesars.” The relationship between Andrew Wal- lace (the grandfather of Lew Wallace) the first Surveyor of Troy, and the great au- thor was obtained in the following man- ner. Ed. M. Cosley, associated with H. A. Cosley, in the hardware business at Main and Cherry streets in Troy, secured by correspondence the two letters herewith published and the autograph picture, also herewith published. I am under other obligations to Mr. Cosley, hereby acknowl- edged. He is the most industrious amateur antiquarian in Miami County with whom I have acquaintance. On June 4, 1811, “John Wallace was 332 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY appointed the Keeper of the Standard Measures of Miami County.” On June 10, 1811, Andrew Wallace, Treasurer of Miami County, accounted for the receipt of $675, for the preceding year; this did not include the State taxes. On January 6, 1812, Thomas W. Furnas was appointed Sheriff of Miami County by Governor Return Jonathan Meigs. On January 7, 1812, the Commissioners settled with Andrew Wallace as treasurer. The meetings during this period were largely employed in hearing petitions for new roads and the reports of surveys on the same. On August 12, 1812, William Barbee gave bond as the Collector of taxes for Miami County in the sum of $1,190.45, or double the amount of the collections for the previous year. On May 29, 1818, the Commissioners gave bond to James Youart in the sum of $500, to pay him the sum of $250, before the first day of August next “as half pay on a bridge the said Youart had contracted to build over Honey Creek at the State Road — a novel transaction. On January 8, 1814, I find the following entry “Settled with Robert Bains, Collec- tor of the resident proprietor’s tax.” Amount of duplicate $66.11. On June 2, 1815, I find the following entry, “the building of a brick Court House in Troy was sold at public sale to Fielding Lowrey and William Barbee for $2490, who to- gether with John Johnston, John Knight and William Brown, their securities, gave bond to the Commissioners in the sum of $4940, conditioned for their completing said building on or before the first day of January next. On March 28, 1816, the Commissioners paid $200 on the Court House contract, which was to have been completed 3 months prior to that payment. There is no entry showing that additional time had been allowed the contractors and yet they pay another $133 on May 8, another $100 on August 5. On September 2, 1816, I find the following entry which indicates that the original contract was probably for the walls and roof of the Court House. “The sale of part of the inside work of the Court House was advertised on September 14, last” — 1815 — also the sale of the painting of the Court House was adver- tised on the 5th of August, 1816, and sold on the 14th of September, 1816.” The painting of the Court House in the town of Troy was sold at public sale to Alexan- der McCullough for $185. For some un- accountable reason, the location of this Court House is not given in the contract with Barbee and Lowrey and neither is it given by any other contemporary author- ity at any subsequent date. That neither of the three histories formerly written about the County do not definitely estab- lish the place of so important an historical structure, is accounted for in the fact that much of those histories were not serious. It has always been accepted that it was erected in the Public Square and in its center, but since it was not in the center, I regard it important that the first Court House owned by the County should be fixed for all years to come. In our en- deavor to find some one who had actually seen this Court House, I wrote a letter to M. H. Jones, of Piqua, the answer to which appears in the plate. M. H. Jones is the father of our present Common Pleas Judge, Walter D. Jones, having practiced law here beyond my memory and being now 92 years of age. George Pluckebaum took me in his auto- mobile to the County Infirmary where I held an interview with Peter Siler living there now, July 15, 1917, past 92 years of age, who stated : “I moved from Dayton to Covington and from there to Troy in 1833. The brick Court House was then standing in the Public Square. Its north front was on a line run from the First National Bank corner to the opposite corner of Brown's Block. The whole of it was within the south half of the Square. It was a square brick structure with four rooms below and ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 333 a large room above. It had a hip roof and a cupola. There was a driveway around the Court House from the Bank to the Brown corner.” Mr. Pluckebaum, whose company prints this book, was present during this interview which is certainly the only one on record which confirms the fact by an eye witness of the exact location that there ever was a Court House in the Public Square. My friend, E. M. Cosley, has a photo- graph of the well-known citizen, Jacob Rohrer, of Tippecanoe, on which he has a notation from a conversation held with Mr. Rohrer in which the latter expresses disgust, when on his road on horseback to Covington in 1837, he passed the Court House on the Public Square and saw the hogs rubbing their sides against its walls. In a former history, we are informed that our first Court House was a double log cabin with a jail at the back, but this having been written by the same gentle- man who charges that the records between 1807 and 1814 were not to be found, he probably meant the Benjamin Overfield house in which the Court met and which was a double cabin with an upstairs, in which Court was held. There is, however, no authority for stating that there was a jail there. The date of contract for the first Court House and first jail in Miami County is permanently fixed in any history for the first time. It is now clear, for the first time, where each session of Court was held, viz. : at the house of Peter Felix in Staunton until December, 1808, and at the house of Benjamin Overfield at the southeast corner of Water and Mulberry streets in Troy from the latter date until the Court moved to the new Court House in the public square, to be developed a little later on. It will be noted that while the Commis- sioners have sold at auction the building of a new jail, they have, with singular reticence neglected to tell us on what lot this jail was erected. It is certain, how- ever, that this first jail was erected near the southeast corner of Main and Plum streets, diagonally across from our present Court House. The evidence of this fact consists in the knowledge that lot 42 on which this corner is located was the prop- erty of the County and the earliest knowl- edge we have is that there was a jail at that point. Lot 42 on the original Wallace plat seems to have been left in the name of the County since the day of purchase. Robert Crawford, the first director, un- doubtedly, was instructed to not sell this lot 42, which embraced half the land be- tween Cherry and Plum and Main streets, and to the alley westward from Main. It is a singular fact, that while the brick house on the corner had been known as the Sheriff’s residence “since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary” the records do not show any title in the County except by inference. The first transaction in which this corner of lot 42 figures was 1866, when the County leased the former Sheriff’s residence to J. T. Janvier for a residence and law office. Several of Mr. Janvier’s children were born in this house, and he died there. As further corroboration of the fact that the jail contracted by the Commissioners, at their meeting in Staunton, August 31, 1808, was on lot 42, consists in the follow- ing from Drake’s picture of Cincinnati and the Miami Country published in 1815 which, after locating Troy, the County seat on the west side of the Miami river, 72 miles north of Cincinnati, says: “No per- manent County buildings have yet been created. The reserves and donations are a square for the Court House ; one lot for the jail, another for the cemetery and a square for the Academy. Vol. 1, page 47 of the Court Records reads as follows: Sept. 7, 1808, “Ordered that lots 134, 135, 145 and 146 be appropriated for the pur- pose of building a school house and acad- emy for public utility.” These lots are 334 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY now occupied by the Edwards School Building. Lots 117 and 118 where the Forest School Building now stands were reserved for cemetery purposes. We now arrive at the definite conclusion that since the Commissioners did not lo- cate the jail, the lot 42 reserved for that purpose of itself locates it. It is not likely to have been built on a rented lot at a time when the County owned its own. The con- scientious historian is now confronted with a yearning to know the character of the structure that stood on lot 42 used as a jail, before the brick jail was built on the same spot in 1830. No man alive can be found who saw it and so far as we know, no man who saw it when alive has left a record. True, one of our County histories says “It was a double log cabin with a court room upstairs and jail in the rear,” referring to the “first court house of the County,” which would also account for the first jail, but when this same historian locates it near Mrs. Mackey’s, which was on Franklin street, two doors below the C. H. & D. R. R., on north side, we feel certain he has “gone around” to save the labor of “digging through.” It is certain there was no jail at the Benjamin Overfield court house, which the above author then had in mind. Benjamin Overfield kept a tavern. The room on the corner of Water and Mulberry was a bar room and the Court was held in the large room immediately above. There was an entry way next to the bar leading to the stairway. At one time the reader who has kept pace with us will note that ex-Governor St. Clair had acted as Prosecuting Attorney for Miami County and in his service had become acquainted with some of our leading citizens of that day and among them George Kerr, a large land owner, the progenitor of the numer- ous Kerr family, now living in Monroe Township. St. Clair and Kerr were en- joying themselves at the bar and had pre- sumably arrived at that stage of sociability under the influence of the cup that cheers, when some degree of hilarity had been en- gendered which annoyed the dignity of the Court which cited them to appear in its presence. Judge Dunlavy assessed a fine of $2.00 on St. Clair and Kerr for their breach of decorum which was promptly paid when Kerr said, “Why didn’t you make it $10?” Judge Dunlavy replied, “It is $10, if Judge Barbee agrees.” Judge Barbee re- plied, “I agree so far as Kerr is con- cerned.” Whereupon Kerr flung at Judge Dunlavy a statement that he had known the Judge when he “was so d-d poor, his wife had to take in washing to support him. The Overfield house was a two-story log and remains today as it was then, except that it is ceiled on the inside and weather- boarded on the outside. This house, so well presrved, is now 111 years old. On the 2nd day of November, 1816, the Commissioners paid $1.00 to Legal Trader for crying the sale of the inside painting of the Court House. On the same date, an order was granted to Fielding Lowrey and William Barbee for $1,000 as part pay on their Court House contract and on Dec. 31, 1816, they were allowed $256.25 more on that contract. On the same date is the following entry : “The whole amount paid and to be paid to Fielding Lowrey and William Barbee for building the Court House in Troy includ- ing extra work amounts to $3,090. Bal- ance due the said Lowrey and Barbee on the first day of January, 1818, is $500, agreeable to settlement. On June 2, 1817, the following record is made: “This is to inform you that I will lollect the State and County Tax for 4^ per cent.” (Signed) ANDREW WIATT. “I propose to collect the State Tax levied |Dn resident land within Miami County for the premium of six percentum on the THOMAS SHIDLER Peter Shidler, the father of Thomas, was born near Philadelphia. Pa., in 1750, and afterwards moved to Western Pa., where he lived until 1822, when he came to Miaim County. He died on July 19, 1830 and is buried at the Raper Chapel Church Cemetery. Thomas Shidler was born in Green County, Pa., on June 19, 1796. He was married to Mary Penn, who was born in 1794 and was a direct descendant of the celebrated William Penn. Three of his children were born in Pa. In 1822, he and his young: wife brought their household goods, in a two horse wagon to Miami County. The wife rode on horseback, carrying the youngest, a son, four weeks old, named John, afterward to become the village blacksmith of Fletcher and known as the strongest man in Miami County. Thomas first settled two miles south of Lena and one year afterward settled on the southwest quarter of section 15 of Lost Creek Township, where he lived the remainder of his life. Thomas Shidler was a large man, six feet in height, broad shoulders and at one time weighed over three hundred pounds. He was fearless and brave, but never quarrelsome, and noted for his peaceable disposition. He was justice of the peace of Lost Creek Township for 22 years, an*! for many years kept a country store at the hamlet of Sodom and was a popular auctioneer. It was said of him that he knew Swan’s Treatise by heart, which gave him the title of the lawyer of Lost Creek. In that day, most of the country litigation was settled before a country squire and a jury of six men. Mr. Shidler was on one side of most cases tried before the justices of the peace, in Lost Creek and Elizabeth of Miami, and Jackson Township of Champaign, and Pike Township of Clarke. At my father’s home, he held court, in the summer time, under the spreading branches of a giant apple tree known throughout all the country side as the “hog-pen apple,” a seedling producing an excellent autumn fruit. As a boy, I have, many times, stoop agap, listening to '"Tom” Shidler plead his client’s case before my father. It is said that before eroing td court, he invariably endeavored to settle the case by compromise. The lawyers of Piqua and Troy held the ability of “Tom” Shidler before a country justice and jury in the higest respect and were never certain of a decision when this strong common- sensed antagonist was in the case. While his eloquence was of a homely kind, it was none the less convincing, which coupled with shrewdness and magnetism made him a power to be reckoned with. He left home, one day, to try a case before a near-bv justice and told his son John, who was 6 feet, S 1 /) inches in height, to hoe a lot in potatoes. On returning and finding John had not completed the work, he was informed by Mary, his wife, that some of the neighbor boys had come by and induced him to go with them to a sale in the neighborhood : and against his wife’s advice, went off in some temper to bring John back to complete his work. When he found his boy, John said, “Never mind, dad, the boys have promised to help me finish this evening.” but this did not satisfy the father and he sought to pull John along with him to the spanker, whereupon John picked up his ponderous dad, lifted him into the seat and said, “Go home. Dad, I’ll come and the boys will help me.” When the father arrived home with his old heart thrilled with pride, he said, “Mary, think of it! He laughed at me and picked me up like I was a baby.” THE HOME OF DR. THOMAS J. PENCE Thomas Jefferson Pence was born on a Lost Creek farm, near the hamlet of Sodom, on Feb. 24, 1847, and lived with his parents, James T. Pence and his mother Nancy Shidler Pence, until after he had attained his majority. His father was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1822 and came to Miami County 'vith his people when a lad of a dozen years. He married Nancy Shidler on Oct. 19, 1841 who was a daughter of Thomas Shidler, one of the historical characters of Miami County, who. for two terms repre- sented Maimi County in the State Legislature where he achieved distinction. The father of Mr. Pence died on Feb. 24, 1883, and the mother went away on April 21, 1908, at the ripe old age of 88 years. T ^omas Jefferson Pence was married to Eliza Julian Roach of Clark County, Ohio, on March 15, 1892 with whom he still lives happily on the sunset side in their nicely equipped heme on East Main Street in Troy. Whle Mr. Pence received but the common school education afforded in Lost Creek township, he de- veloped a mathematical turn of mind which conducted his mind particularly toward astronomy to which study he has devoted much intelligent attention. He is a reader of current literature, keeping abreast of the best thought of the times which makes him one of our mc.'t interesting citizens in private con- versation. While a farmer all his life and still the owner of two good farms, he early became the neighborhood authority on the treatment of diseases in stock, until thirty-one years ago, he moved to Troy, where he could more readily attend to the ever increasing demand throughout Miami County for his services as a veterinary surgeon. I have had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Pence for a half century and have known him as a clean wholesome citizen. He and his wife worship at the First Chris- tian Church of Troy. Thomas Shidler — Continued from previous page Thomas Shidler was a member of the Lost Creek Christian Church and contributed liberally to its maintenance. Mrs. Thomas Shidler died on the 13th day of July, 1870, and after her death, he lost much of his interest in life and remained close on the old homstead, with his daughter, Mrs. Nancy Pence, and died at her home on the 13th day if February, 1877, and left to his children and grand- children a priceless legacy in an honorable name. His services in the legislature of Ohio in 1839 were conspicouous in the fact that his industry and power in argument made him a leader. Thomas Shidler was one of the most original and unique and altogether strong men of Miami County and to this day, the mention of his name awakens the memory of a hundred interesting stories of his life. His brother John, who came to Miami County with his father, was sheriff of Miami County in 31-4. Two sisters. Mrs. William McCullough and Mrs. Thomas Mitchell also settled in Lost Creek Township. Through them, D. M. McCullough of Troy became the grand nephew, and Mrs. Jacob A. Davy, the grand niece of Thomas Shidler. He was the grandfather of Dr. Thomas J. Pence, the picture of whose home in Troy and a sketch of whose life appears in the succeeding pages. JESSE SHILLING The subject of the above picture was born in Maryland in 1825, and came with his father and mother, William and Hannah Shilling to Columbus, Ohio, in 182/. He was educated and learned the foundry busi- ness there. He once told me he could construct every part cf a steam engine and run it. On November 4, 1844, he united in marriage with Alice E. Carleton, at Columbus, Ohio, who was born September 4, 1825, being' a cousin of Will Carleton of Hillsdale. Michigan, who wrote “Over the Hills to the Poor House,” and other beautifully pathetic verses. From this union was born Townsend C. Shilling, on October 30, 1845; Olive A. Shilling, January 3, 1848; Mary E. Shilling, April 8, 1852; Clara E. Shill- ing, July 23, 1854; Jesse Shilling Jr., April 19. 1857; Henry Franklin Shilling, October 13, 1859; Ellen Eliza. Shilling, February 13, 1862. Of these Henry Franklin died May 23, 1906 ; Clara E., May 23, 1907, and Ellen Eliza, December 16, 1914. In 1854, Mr. Shilling moved to Troy with his family and under the firm name of Shilling brothers, engaged in the foundry business. Many of the iron fences yet standing in Troy were made by this firm of three brothers. Mr. Shilling was the pioneer of the Troy fire department, of which he was the first and remained the chief for many years. Up to 1883, the drinking and cooking water in Troy was pumped from wells ranging from 12 to 20 feet in depth. Through the initiative of Mr. Shilling, a chemical analysis of our water was made and found to contain typhoid germs. At the fall election in 1882, Jesse Shilling, James H. Young and Frank M. Sterrett were created a board, under the Strtutes of Ohio, to construct water works, and an appro- priation of $80,000 was made by the city council for that purpose. It was Mr. Shilling alone who superin- tended the laying of the water mains which on the final test under a pressure of 250 pounds to the square inch blew out but two pipes out of a line cf more than eight miles, the smallest percent in such construc- tion in the history of Ohio. I have often seen him go into the ditch and seize the hammer from the workman and practically demonstrate to him how to perform work. He was the father, not only of our fire department, but of our water works, the finest and most perfect system in Ohio. In 1889, Mr. Shilling honored me with a week’s visit at my heme in St. Louis, where the great fire Chief Clay Sexton, who had met him in fire conventions and admired him. helped me entertain my friend If “Uncle Jess” is looking down from Heaven, as I believe the departed do, he is smiling in memory of that enjoyable season. Mr. Shilling’s face wa> a’most a counterpart cf that of President Garfield. He thought clear and clean thoughts and performed clean actions. I have never known any man capable of a closer and purer friendship. “And ye shall succor men ’Tis nobleness to serve Help them who cannot help again Beware from right to swerve.” —Emerson. CHARLES HENRY McCULLOUGH Was born in Troy, Ohio, on August 2, 1835, and died in Trov. Ohio, May 17, 1915. He was the nephew of Alex. McCullough, one of the founders of Troy and a son of John McCullough, who moved to Logans- port, Indiana, in later life, where some of his family still reside. The mother of Charles was Elisabeth Ayres, of New Jersey. Charles was the eldest child, after which came Augusta, Elisabeth, Julia, John, Emma and Mary, the latter three dead. The boyhood of the subject of this sketch was spent in Troy where he attended school. He once said to me, “I am one of the few men now living, who saw the old court house in the public square ; the first canal packet arrive in Troy in 1837 ; with General Harrison on board and the first railroad train in 1852. He worked five years at the tinners trade. On October 10, 1861, he married Nancy Telford and from this union were born: Eugene T.. Heber A. Walter G, George E., and Frank A. McCullough. Engene T. died many years ago; Heber A. remains on the home farm, on Ridge avenue; Walter G. is a graduate of Michigan university and practices law in Washington. D. C. ; George E. McCullough graduated at the Cincinnati Medical college and is at the head of his profession in Troy and is the proprietor of the prinicipal hospital in the city, adjoining his comfortable home at Plum and Franklin streets. He is a member of the School board of Troy ; a member of the Troy club and a Knight Templar of the Masonic order. He married Jessie Von Beseler in 1904, from which union three children have been born Nancy, Caroline, and Mary Isabel. The death of Nancy in 1915, hastened the death of her grandfather, who was deeply attached to the beau tiful child. Caroline and Mary Isabel r re ever welcome visitors at our home just across the street. Frank A. McCullough, D.D.S.. is a leading and successful practitioner of dentistry in Troy. He married Miss Bessie McKnight. These sons of Charles Hen»*y are of the fourth generation of Troy citizenship. In May. 1864, Charles Henry enlisted in Co. H, 147 O. V. I., under Captain David Kelley. He and his wife worshipped at the First Presbyterian church of which he was a deacon. In 1869, he entered the dairy business to which he afterwards admitted his s^ns as partners, in which he remained for 40 years. He personally carried the larger proportion of the product to their Troy customers. “How many visits would a man make to all of his 200 customers going once a day for 40 years?” I asked him and between us we figured it to make about 3,000,000 visits. This is a record of industry and devotion to business, which is reached quite infrequently. While engaged in the dairy business, he was constantly improving the stock of Miami county.. He was among the first to import Percheron stallions, Abdallah road horses and Jersey cows. He was the first to introduce and use many of the new agricultural implements of the day. When once our heavenly-guided soul shall climb ; Then, all this earthly grossness quit, Attired with Stars, we shall for ever sit. Triumphing over death, and chance, and thee, O Time.” — Milton. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 339 amount and also the amount of the County Tax for the premium of 1-3 percentum.” CORBLEY MARTIN. On June 3, 1817, is the following entry “Settled with Corbley Martin, Collector of the State and County Tax for the year 1816. The amount of duplicate $1,742.42.2 Amount of defalcation 25.61.4 $1,716.80.8 Collector’s per cent 67.81.3 $1,643.97.5 Amount of non-resident and Collector’s receipts 1,607.73.4 Collector’s Mileage to Hamilton 6.16.0 $ 31.26.1 6.96.0 $ 24.30.1 On the same date, “Settled with William Brown and that he has received since the first Monday in June last for land tax being the County proportion for the year, Land $ 316.46.3 For County Tax for 1816 1,186.16.5 Fines 88.23 Tavern and Store licenses 203.08 Sale of Lots 100.00 Not in statement, balance for 1815 46.67.4 Amount of Cash in Treasury from last year 345.07.5 $2,327.70 I have copied the figures and am not re- sponsible for the mathematics. On October 20, 1817, Fielding Lowrey for services rendered painting cupalo of Court House $29.75. January 5, 1818, Fielding Lowrey and William Barbee, part pay for building the Court House $399.00. Henry Gerard, Alex. Telford, Commissioners. Cornelius Westfall, Clerk. Troy, March 2, 1818, same Commis- sioners. Thomas R. Ross, services as Prosecuting Attorney, $33.33i/ 3 . February 3, 1818. Borrowed of the Troy congregation of Presbyterians $58.60 which was applied for sash and glazing for the Court House which is to be re- turned without interest three years from date, if called for, with privilege of holding meetings in said house when Court is not being held. Borrowed of Barbee and Telford $57, which was applied to furnishing glass for the Court House which is to be paid to the Troy congregation of Presbyterians at the term of three years, if called for, with- out interest as above. On October 17, 1818, Vol. 2, page 134, James Gerard and Levi Hart entered into a contract to finish a part of the inside of the Court House and to receive therefor the sum of $435. On March 19, 1819, Vol. 2, page 150, the commissioners agreed with Allen Nes- bet to paint al the inside panel work in the new Court House and desk, he to put on two coats of blue and one of lead to be done in a workmanlike manner and completed by the 20th day of April next, for which he is to receive an order on the County Treasurer for $30. On April 17, 1819, Vol. 3, page 36, Allen Nesbet was paid $37.50 for painting inside work of the new Court House and five chairs. On September 16, 1819, Vol. 3, page 50, Levi Hart received. $3.18% for summoning grand jury for the August term, furnish- ing glass tumblers, cleaning Court House at Supreme Court term in June. My readers may suppose that these Courts were held in the new brick Court House in the square, but subsequent records will show that this Court House was not fin- ished for some years afterward. It is for the purpose of establishing the time it was first used that these records are being inserted. I regard it important to establish for the first time, these dates which have heretofore been unmentioned in history and more frequently improperly written. On August 8, 1820, Vol. 3, page 73, 340 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY order No. 42, William Brown was paid $12.64 for providing for fastenings and placing them for windows in the Court House. On August 31, 1820, paid $50 “for fin- ishing a room in the Court House agree- able to contract.” This is the first record that shows any part of the new Court House to have been finished. There is no evidence that the room was used, when finished, but, in view of the fact that the business of the County was growing and the room in the Benjamin Overfield house must have been limited, occupied as it was for a court room, a tavern and a bar room, I feel safe in saying that from this date, this room was used by at least one of the county officers and perhaps by more. On November 14, 1820, Vol. 3, page 84, order 278, James Youart was paid $4.50 for work on the stairs of the Court House, and on the 29th of the same month they issued Order No. 329 for 12 chairs for the Court House. The presumption is that these were Jurymen’s chairs as they cost $18.00. On January 1, they paid for inside work on the Court House the sum of $30. On March 21, 1821, Vol. 3, page 92, they paid Ebenezer Redmund for furnishing materials for furnishing 3 rooms in the Court House inside and doing the carpen- ter work therof $49.68. On June 4, they paid 50 cents for work on four benches. On July 20, 1821, the Commossioners paid Thomas Fauquier $15 for material for plastering the Court House. On Octo- ber 1, 1821, they paid Thomas Fauquier $54.75 for balance for clearing the Court House and $42.75 to the same gentleman another balance for plastering material. On October 7, 1822, Vol. 3, page 121, the Commissioners sold the casings and glazing for windows and doors of the up- per and lower stories of the Court House to James Shepherd, who entered into an article to do the whole work for $114. There are now four rooms finished, or all the lower floor, but the Court room on the upper floor is still unfinished. On March 17, 1823, Vol. 3, page 126, the Commissioners sold the job of lathing and plastering the Court House to Moses Gerard for $168. On October 11, 1823, Vol. 3, page 132, the Commissioners examined the plaster- ing of the Court House and considered the job well done and ordered that Moses Ger- ard have an order on the Treasurer for the amount agreed upon. This plastering was the Court Room proper. On March 1, 1824, Vol. 3, page 135, the Commissioners made a final settlement with Wiliam Barbee and Fielding Lowrey for building the Court House and found the balance due said Barbee and Lowrey to be $138.37 “which was this day paid by an order on the Treasurer of this County.” On March 2, 1824, W. I. Thomas was employed to bring suit against Robert Crawford, the first Director of Troy, for moneys received on the sale of lots not turned over to the County. On Dec. 7, 1824, the Commissioners made a contract with William Norris for a bell for the use of the Court House, weighing 104 pounds at a price of $48. On April 9, 1825, a floor under the belfry was contracted for. The first term of Court was held in the new Court House in April, 1825. The Court House had been more than ten years in building and as nearly as can be ascer- tained, in the absence of plans and spec- ifications, from the various sums paid out to the various parties, the cost was about $4,500. Its building was first let to William Bar- bee and Fielding Lowrey for $2,400, and afterward without explanation raised to $3,090, which so far as the reading fur- nishes information, was for the entire work, but it will be seen by the record above quoted that the lathing, plastering, glazing and carpentering work was per- formed by others and orders drawn to ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 341 them for their work. It is unfortunate that our early officials did not leave behind a higher evidence of business acumen than appears on their records. I have estab- lished, however, with reasonable accuracy, the principal matters of moment transpir- ing in the history of the County from its creation in 1807 to the time in April, 1825, when it held Court in its own building ; the character of the building and its location. These first 18 years of our history may properly be called the formative period of Miami County and that from this period on to the second Court House, was the ex- pansion period in which the County be- came populous and comparatively rich; when schools were planned, churches built, when we discarded our swaddling clothes and assumed the size of full grown people. On April 9, 1825, a back house on the jail lot was authorized as well as a fence around the jail lot. On April 11, 1826, a brick house 32x19 for the jailor was ad- vertised. Joseph M. Skinner performed the brick work for $231, and Richard Armstrong the carpenter work for $138. On August 2, 1826, the Commissioners granted an order in part payment of the money borrowed of the First Presbyterian Church. The supposition is that they were asked for it, in the fact, the reader will recollect, it was not to be paid back "unless called for.” What part of it was paid back we are left to surmise. If we do not discover later on, that it was all paid back, both the historian and the reader will be left in surmise about this unique business transaction. On August 2, 1826, "The Commissioners cancelled the bond signed by W. I. Thomas and others to indemnify the County for money paid for the building of the school house in the town of Troy, and took a bond from Cornelius Westfall, Levi Hart and Joseph R. John, directors of the third school district in Concord township in said County to indemnify the County in the sum of $112.75. While I have evidence of several schools having been taught in Troy, prior to this date, they were purely private schools but since this one was semi public in its character and the first one erected in Troy by public money, it de- serves special mention. The Commission- ers of Miami county had been induced to take the sum of $112.75 out of the county treasury and build a school house. It seems that they would not agree to do this until three citizens of the town had agreed to and did make a bond to indemnify the Commissioners against loss. These public spirited gentlemen sought to transfer their responsibility to where it properly belonged, the three Trustees of the town- ship. The house was built on the south east corner of the Edwards School Build- ing lot, which entire block had been re- served by the County Commissioners at the organization, in Staunton, for acad- emy purposes, as heretofore related. I know that this school house was after- ward abandoned for school purposes and used as a place of worship by the colored people but the year is not clear and cannot be fixed by any public record and may have ben at any time between 1826 and 1840. There are no public records avail- able that will inform us whether the Trus- tees ever paid the cost of the building to the Commissioners, as they no doubt did, but I have at least established when and where the first school house built with public funds was located. In Vol. 3, page 173, December 5, 1826, the Commissioners ordered Daniel Grosvenor, clerk, to ascer- tain the amount due the Presbyterian church from the county and draw an order on the county treasurer for the same when demanded. If the reader is curious about this remarkable contract they will be pa- tient with me until I find out whether it was ever paid. The reader will note that the amount borrowed was $58.60 and the loan was made on January 8, 1818. On June 5, 1827, the Commissioners ordered that the county printing be given to Fair- field at Troy and be done at 37i/£ cents per 342 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY square by his agreement of this date. This is the first official record of a news- paper in Troy. It was “The Miami Re- porter” established in 1822 by Michael Fairfield from Parkersburg, Va. Mr. Fairfield had married the widow Neale, the mother of Mrs. W. I. Thomas. It will be remembered that the latter did not ar- rive in Troy until 1824 and was married in 1828. On January 10, 1828, Alexander McCullough, whose picture and sketch ap- pears in this history, was awarded the contract for fencing the court house and a hand rail for the sum of $72. On June 3, 1828, a job was advertised in the “public paper” for repairing the windows and shutters, painting the cupola, windows and door frames white; the window shutters green and the house Vermillion red and penciling with white lead and penciling the foundation of the court house which work was sold to Daniel W. Wallace for S124, on June 30, 1828. On December 8, 1829, a door was authorized for the belfry. On May 4, 1830, a brick jail was authorized which was let to Joseph M. Skinner and Daniel Grosvenor for $700 and $300 of it paid in advance. This jail took the place of the log one in the rear of the brick resi- dence of the sheriff on lot 42, opposite the present sheriff’s residence. The completed work was accepted by the Commissioners on Nov. 16, 1830, paying Skinner and Grosvenor the sum of $800, the extra $100 being for “raising the kitchen” and other extra work. At the same time, an addi- tion of one room was authorized for the sheriff’s house. On December 6, 1831, “The Commissioners took into considera- tion the bar in the court house and the necessity of a public necessary near the court house and are of the opinion that the first ought to be altered and enlarged and the last ought to be built for public use, the building to be 16 feet by 8 when walled with stone, that the auditor give no- tice for three weeks of the letting, the job to be let separately.” Vol. 3, page 246, December 31, 1831 “Commissioners met pursuant to notice given in Troy Times” that a certain build- ing and altering of the bar in the Court house would be let. The Commissioners decided a building of a necessary near the court house but let out the removing of the bar in the court house and David W. Wallace undertook the job, the work to be done by the next meeting of the Commis- sioners for which he is to receive $25.” On March 8, 1832, Mr. Wallace received his pay for this work. On June 6, 1832, sundry repairs were authorized to be made in the jailer’s house. On April 14, 1832, the Commissioners met and went to look at the poor farm to be purchased for the purpose to build a poor house for the use of the poor of the county. On December 5, 1832, Commissioners met to close a contract for the purchase of the farm from William Cummings for use as a poor house. Vol. 3, page 273, April 30, 1833, the Commissioners contracted with James Brown for his farm in Concord township for the purpose of establishing a poor house for the use of the county poor, and James Brown entered into a bond to make a title for the said farm. On the same date, the Commissioners ordered the roof of the cupola on the court house painted and the ball and vane on the cupola gilded On May 11, 1833, James Brown made deed for his farm to the county for poor house purposes and was allowed posses- sion of the same until December 1, 1833. The farm was located a few miles north of Troy but the record does not locate it ex- actly. The further records will show that this farm was never used for the purpose of its purchase. Vol. 4, page 5, June 4, 1834, the Com- missioners ordered that a notice be pub- lished in the Troy, Ohio, Times and The Piqua Gazette for the purpose of organiz- ing an agricultural society entitled The Miami County Agricultural society, the meeting to be held in the court house on the last Friday of June for the said pur- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 343 pose. The Commissioners appropriated $25 for the benefit of the county. Vol, 4, page 25, June 2, 1835, lot No. 60 was released from taxation because said lot is now “occupied by a meeting house,” the Baptist church. On July 15, 1836, the Commissioners purchased the undivided half of 120 acres of the northwest quarter of section 18 in Staunton township for a poor house farm. This placed them in the ownership of two farms, purchased for the same purpose, the James Brown 52 acres in section 17 of Concord and the 60 acres as above. On February 15, 1837, they offered the Con- cord township farm for sale but had no bidders and then rented it for one year. The Staunton township farm cost $800. It was twenty years afterward or in 1856, that the court ordered the sheriff, S. E. Hustler, to sell the other half of the 120 acres in section 18 under a petition for partition and then the county purchased and owned the full 120 acres of the pres- ent 132 acres infirmary farm. On Feb. 4, 1854, they had acquired 10 acres in the west part of section 18 and another acre afterward from the cemetery tract, the other acre is probably accounted for in a surplus under survey. I am aware that I will be criticised for the closeness of my detail in some of these early transactions but with a good index for this history it will become the ready reference book for all students in the fu- ture, a desideratum heretofore almost totally ignored and yet very much to be desired. On September 29, 1837, the Commis- sioners advertised for bids for a poor house to be built of brick on plans to be exhibited. In this year, Jacob Knoop be- came the auditor of Miami county, and there is a marked improvement in the method of keeping the records. On De- cember 5, 1837, the poor house farm was rented to a man named Isenbice for the sum of $40. On June 6, 1838, the sum of 35 was ap- propriated to the Miami County Agricul- tural society provided it should be success- fully inaugurated. On this date, William and $89.20 stone furnished for the new Johnston was paid $246.95 for material poor house. Troy, January 8, 1839. “Resolved, That they will act definitely at the annual meeting to be holden on the first Monday of March next, with regard to the erection of fire proof offices and re- serve to themsleves the right of contract- ing a court house within the same walls.” Thus, commencing the first court house in 1815; moving into the same in 1825; fourteen years afterward, they propose to build another and no doubt with good reason in the fact that the county at this time had arrived at a population of 20,000 souls ; the records had become of inestima- ble value and were subject to destruction by fire, the result of which would be a far reaching disaster, almost impossible to repair, and thus our forbears, with a full realization of their responsibility to pos- terity, resolved to provide proper safe- guards for the future greatness of the county. On June 5, 1839, a levy of 5 cents on the 100 for the support of idiots and lunatics, also five cents on 100 for defraying the ex- penses of building a house on the poor farm and 20 cents for school purposes. At this meeting, William Johnston was al- lowed the further sum of $265 for work on the poor house. The following action was also taken. “The Commissioners al- low to Samuel Pierce and Jacob Knoop each the sum of $5 for their services and expenses in a trip to Urbana to see and get a draft of the new court house in Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, for the use of the Commissioners of Miami county.” “The Commissioners then had the build- ing of a new court house in the town of Troy under consideration and it was after mutual deliberation, Resolved that the Commissioners of Miami county will build a new court house in the town of Troy and 344 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY that the building of said court house be put under contract as soon as practicable.” On June 30, the Commissioners of Mi- ami county met, pursuant to adjournment, present Samuel Pierce, Richard Morrow and James Fergus, Commissioners, and Jacob Knoop, clerk. The Board having met for the purpose of determining the manner the new court house for Miami county is to be let or in what manner the same it to be built, upon due consideration the Commissioners “Resolved, that the building of the new court house be sold or let to the lowest and best responsible bid- der he furnishing all material necessary for said new court house” and thereupon it was ordered that public notice be given for three months in the Troy Times, Cin- cinnati Gazette (weekly) Western Courier (weekly) Cincinnati Enquirer (weekly) Ohio State Journal (Weekly) and Cleve- land Herald (weekly) that sealed pro- posals will be received until the first daj of October next for the erection of a court house in the town of Troy, Miami county, Ohio. On August 24, 1839, Vol. 4, page 133, the Commissioners received and adopted the several plans on file in the auditor’s office for a new court house marked A, B, C, and D to-wit : A — The Ground Plan B — The Front Plan C— The Side Plan D — The Court or Second Story Plan, and requested the auditor of Miami county to make or cause to be made a set of speci- fications for said building. On August 24, 1839, the Commissioners made a further donation of $35 to the Miami County Ag- ricultural society on condition that said society shall be organized and carried into successful operation. On October 1, 1839, page 134, Vol. 4, the Commissioners opened the bids for the construction of the new court house, re- jecting all but three and reserved the bids of A. E. Turnbull for $8,903, A. M. Skinner for $9,300, and William B. Johnston for $7,934. On October 17, 1839, they consulted on the above bids. On the 18th they allowed R. C. Langdon for publishing advertise- ment for new court house and agreed to let the building of a new court house to A. E. Turnbull, of Delaware, “for the rea- son that his was considered the best and most acceptable bid” and the Commission- ers requested the auditor to inform him of their conclusion and request an answer. December 3, 1839, Joseph DeFrees and other citizens of Piqua petitioned the Com- missioners to remit the fines against Isaac Hall for suffering gaming in his grocery and for retailing liquor. At their meeting the next day they agreed to remit one-half of these fines. On December 5, 1839, the Commission- ers charged Benjamin Dye, the sum of $27 for a permit to do a merchandising busi- ness with an investment of $2,700. On January 22, 1840, the Commission- ers examined the accounts of William B. Johnson for the building of the poor house and on January 24th, appointed Joseph R. John, Joseph Culbertson and Joseph M. Skinner the first directors of the poor house for the term of one year and until their successors are appointed and quali- fied. On February 5, 1840, the Commission- ers “met for the purpose of consulting and making further arrangements with A. E. Turnbull for building of a new court house in the town of Troy, Miami county, Ohio. “The Commissioners examined the several places offered as donations for to erect the said court house upon, to-wit: the dona- tion offered by H. G. Philips and also a donation offered by Joseph H. Johns, Asa Coleman and others and have the same un- der consideration. Vol. 4, page 150, February 8, 1840 : “This agreement between Richard Mor- row, James Fergus and Michael Williams, Commissioners of the County of Miami and State of Ohio and Andrew E. Turn- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 345 bull, witnesseth that the specifications hereunto annexed marked (C) and t) others marked A, B, D, therewith accom- panying and every clause thereof, is made a part of this agreement and the said An- drew E. Turnbull hereby agrees on or be- fore the first day of January in the year 1842 at Troy, in the County of Miami aforesaid at his own proper expense to furnish all the materials necessary and proper for, and to do, perform, finish and complete in the manner herein stated, all the work set forth and referred to in the said specifications and plates. In consideration whereof, the said Com- missioners agree to pay to the said An- drew E. Turnbull for said materials and work in said specifications and plans re- ferred to or mentioned the sum of ($13,500) thirteen thousand and five hun- dred dollars as follows, to-wit : on the 20th day of May next, two thousand dollars and the balance of said sum as fast as the said work progresses and materials are fur- nished and delivered.” This record is sighed by the three Commissioners. The specifications above referred to and marked (C) are in words and figures fol- lowing, to-wit: Troy, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1840. Specifications for building a Court House in Troy, Miami County, Ohio. This building to be 50 x 80 feet on the ground; the foundation wall to be 6 feet high, 2 feet 5 inches thick. Partition walls as per plan marked (A) two feet thick and six feet high. Foundation to be filled with earth level with the water table and the floor paved with brick. The walls to be of good stone laid in lime mortar. All the partition walls in said plan above the water table to be made of brick, 13 inches thick. All the fire proof rooms six in num- ber to have stone jambs and caps with iron doors. The three doors facing the hall to have wooden doors in addition to the iron and which are to be made of pine, one and three-fourths inches thick ; to be hung with 4x4 inch square butts with zigzag holes with suitable locks and fastenings; said door to be cased with architraves and band mouldings. The base in said rooms and through the whole building to be ten inches high., All the window frames in the first story to be made of pine, walnut or poplar and to contain twelve lights of 14 x 20 glass the sash to be made of pine and seven-eights inches thick. Windows to be cased with jambs and architraves same as doors. The three fire proof book safes to be made with groin arched ceiling. The three fire proof rooms to have ceiling joice 3 x 15 inches, 8 inches apart with a rough floor covered with sand twelve inches thick. The front stairs to be built either of plank or timber as Commission- ers may direct with hand rails and ballis- ters. The back stairs to be made of plank with hand rails and ballisters. The three doors leading from the hall into the rooms which are not fire proof to be made of pine, one and three-fourths inches thick, to be panel doors. The front and back doors to be made as per plan. Front door two and a half, and rear panel two inches thick (with suitable locks and fastenings) of white pine. The floor joists in the second story to be 3x16 inches of oak or ash, placed not more than twelve inches apart. The floor- ing to be laid of pine, ash or oak. All the windows in the second story to contain fifteen lights, 14x20 inch glass. Sash to be one and seven-eighths inches thick, made of pine. The window frames to be made of pine, walnut or poplar cased with jamb casings and pilasters. The parti- tions to be located as per plan marked (D.). The doors on the second floor to be panel and to be made one and three- fourths inches thick of pine cased with jambs and pilasters hung with 4x4 inch butts and suitable fastenings. The finish of the Court Room as per plan D. The ceiling of the second floor to be arched in such a manner as the Commissioners may direct. The outside walls of the whole 346 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY & buildings above the water table to be of brick and to be twenty-two inches thick and thirty-eight feet high. The front of the building to be finished so as to corre- spond in every particular with the plan marked B. The roof of the building to be framed with King and Queen posts, (the principal rafters not to be over ten feet apart) and covered with tin. All the outside doors and windows to have cut stone caps and sills. Cut stone water table to continue round the whole building. Five cut stone steps in front of twelve-inch tread. Cut stone caps and bases to £he Antics and cut stone bases to the columns. Columns and antics to be plastered with hydraulic ce- ment. Caps of the columns to be made of wood to correspond with plan marked B. All the wood work (except the floor) to be painted with three coats of paint. The inside of the whole building to be painted with three-coat work. There are to be six flues in the walls with chimneys car- ried up four feet by two feet and seven feet high. The cupola to be finished on four sides as front view of Plate (B) and covered with tin. The Commissioners or their agent shall have the power and the privilege of enlarging, diminishing, alter- ing or changing in any way they may wish any of the work plans or materials herein mentioned or referred to. And for any additions or subtractions shall add or de- duct to or from the agreed price of the whole in proportion. All the materials herein mentioned or referred to to be of a good quality suit- able to the character and quality of the work and all the work to be done and exe- cuted in a workmanlike manner. The Commissioners may reject any of the materials in any stage of the work, and if said rejected materials are after- ward put into said work they shall be re- leased from any obligation to pay further and may completely annul and set aside the contract of which this is a part. These specifications are to be so con- strued that if any omissions are made of materials or work necessary or proper to carry out the designs and plan of the building adopted by the Commissioners, the same are to be furnished and executed by the said Andrew E. Turnbull at his own proper expense. (Signed) A. E. TURNBULL. RICHARD MORROW, MICHAEL WILLIAMS, Commissioners. Troy, Ohio, February 8, 1840. The plans A, B, C, and D are deposited in the Auditor’s office of Miami County. And thereupon the Commissioners ad- journed. J. KNOOP, Clerk of Commissioners. On November 20, 1840, “At the sugges- tion of several citizens the Commissioners agree to have crowned glass instead of the common cylinder glass, put in the win- dows of the new Court House in Troy, and order the auditor to pay Mr. Turnbull the difference.” It was in 1840 that the Board of Equali- zation came into existence and the record is full of appeals from assessments re- garded too high by the owners, with which the Board sometimes decrease and some- times increase the assessments. In very many cases, the assessment on land dur- ing this period at $4.00 per acre was re- duced by the Board to $3.50 and $3.00 per acre. This was also a period of petitions for new roads and the appointment and report of viewers. On March 5, 1841, Vol. 4, page 202, may be found the first report of the Directors of the poor house, which shows 19 occu- pants taken care of in all a period of nine months. The report sets forth the condi- tion of each of the inmates, some of which are rather amusing. “Ezra Snow, aged 61, is ‘always complaining.’ Polly Beedle, aged 26, ‘fits and sickness.’ Mrs. Spicer, aged 83, ‘sick of the times.’ Sally An- DENNIS COSLEY The subject of the above picture was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, on June 20. 1816. At 15 years of age, he went to the village of Bridgeport, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and became an apprentice in a woolen factory finishing same in 1839. In 1840, he contracted with George Seibert of Hagerstown, Mary- land, to conduct his woolen factory in which capacity he served but one year, when he engaged in school teaching for a period of four years, with 35 or 40 scholars, being a subscription schcol. There were no free schools in Maryland at that time. He moved to Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, in 1845, and made coverlets of an excellent design and quality as is evidenced by one now in the possession of his sen, Edwin M. The factory in which he had invested his entire savings burned down, leaving him with some stock of ready sale. In 1846, he moved to Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, where he again engaged in the business of manufacturing coverlets, which he continued in until 1864 with success, when he moved to the woolen mill on Pleasant Run, five miles southeast of Troy. This was the Studebaker mill of long standing which had manufactured the wool clip of all that section for many years, into rolls for the big wheel at heme to spin into yarn. This factory burned down in 1865 and he moved to Troy in 1867 and engaged in the sale of woolen goods for several years when he retired. He was an Odd Fellow and a Mason and a devout and consistent member of the First Methodist church in Troy to which church he had in early life, given his allegiance and from strict adherence thereto he had never deviated. He died January 8, 1904, and was buried in Riverside cemetery. He was married at Mercersburg, Pa., on January 2, 1840, to Margaret Cromer, from which union seven children were born : George, September. 1840 ; Dennis W., June 24, 1842 ; Caroline M.. November 13. 1843 ; Jeremiah E., March 5, 1845 ; Mary E., March 22, 1848 ; Harvey A., January 24, 1850 ; Margaret A., Septem- ber 3, 1851. On April 20, 1852, Margaret Cromer Cosley died and was buried in Xenia Ohio. On June 16, 1858, Mr. Cosley united in marriage with Catharine Landis, of Highland county, Ohio, from which union five children were born : Edith E., August 20, 1862 ; Minnie L., January 9, 1864 ; Adelaide, November 26, 1865 ; Edwin M., March 4, 1869 ; Clara V., January 23, 1875. Catherine Landis Cosley died on November 4, 1917 and is buried in Riverside cemetery. Troy. I am indebted to Edwin M. Cosley, the second youngest of the family for the dates in the above sketch. HARVEY A. COSLEY The subject of this sketch, the sixth child of Dennis Cosley, was born January 24, 1850. was educated in the public schools of Xenia and Troy, Ohio, and entered the iron store of Hart & Harter, Troy. Ohio. Soon after leaving school, which, after the death of both proprietors, became his, and is yet being conducted under the name of H. A. Cosley, occupying the entire ground floor of the Masonic building with one of the most complete stocks of its kind in the Miami Valley. On August 29th, 1874, he united in marriage with Sarah Ellen Weddell, who was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 18, 1852, from which union, seven children have been born : Anna Margaret, January 24. 1876 ; Harry Harter, December 27, 1877 ; John Weddell, July 31, 1880 ; George Weaver, August 12, 1885 : Helen Suzanne, March 8, 1889 ; Robert Pritchard, April 22, 1891 ; and Martha Katherine, May 29, 1894. Mr. Cosley is a Knight Templar and a member of the Troy club. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the music for which was managed for many years by Mr. Cosley and who for some years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. Few men in Miami county have rendered as much gratuitous services with his great musical ability in church, social and patriotic gatherings. Many a weeping heart has been lightened by his voice in song, over the body of departed dear ones. THE HOME OF CHARLES CLARENCE HOBART, 316 WEST FRANKLIN STREET Mr. F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Dear Mr. Sterrett: — I have tilled out, and return herewith my history. I am told that the side of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak of the green mountain range, broke from its rocky base, and slid down with a crash the day I was born. There were other remarkable disturbances. Unfortunately at that time records were not kept. The memory of people differ. I have never known definitely when I was born. I am sure I am past 50. I think 1 am less than 100. Considering the uneventful life of this character, the two mile posts are sufficiently illuminating. In relation to the picture of the house, I have none. I would not care especially to be remembered by the house I lived in. If you think, however, that another picture in your book will add to it, I will get a photo. If you want to say anything good about me, you might say that so long as the Republican Party stood for splendid principles, i was a Republican. When the party stopped standing for anything in particular, I found delightful company among Progressives. Some are finding something congenial among the Demo- crats, and some among the Socialists. At the present time I am part Republican, part Democrat, and part Socialist. I wish the war had never occurred. The thought of the awful suffering and loss of life is too much even to contemplate. Above everything, however, is my desire to see the nation, that wants to live by plundering, and that is indifferent to suffering, crushed. Another strong desire with me is to see men out from under the bainful influence of liquor. Still another desire with me is to see that all the people have equal rights and equal use of the land and of all things, that the Maker of the universe intended for all, and not for a select few. Still another desire with me is that the nations as well as the individuals shall recognize fully their obligations to each other, and shall strive not for selfish ends, but to do justice. Then i have also a desire that every man, woman and child should know what a good thing it is to have the affection of a good dog. Possibly in some of the above mentioned mental attitudes, you may And the basis of a comment like this: “While in the community, he represented the man with a hoe, occasionally the clouds seemed to lift from his mind, and the spots revealed a faint power to distinguish between right and wrong.” Very truly yours, (Signed) C. C. HOBART. The Hobart Manufacturing company, of Troy, owes its origin to C. C. Hobart, who continues one of our principal Troy manufacturers. He was a candidate for Congress on the Progressive ticket in 1912, and has served Troy efficiently on the public service board. No dog goes hungry in Troy if Mr. Hobart knows of it. Sheriff Barnett said to him a few days ago, “Hobart, that d- n dog should be shot under the statutes since no tax is paid on him, but since I notice you buy meat for him and feed him, I hesitate to execute the law.” Mr. Hobart replied, “I do not own the dog, Barnett and am n^ f . therefore, entitled to pay his tax but see me before you shoot.” Mr. Hobart is a member of the First Baptist church. THE HOME OF JOHN A. MeCURDY, 304 WEST MAIN STREET. TROY, OHIO “I regard the fulsome eulogy in many biographical sketches as being born frequently in egotism and I warn you to go light on this every day Irishman,” was the way I was admonished by my good friend and comrade and i write it down because it is extremely characteristic of him. He was born on the farm in Staunton township. Miami county Ohio, on March 26, 1841, and lived with his father and mother, James and Mary Ann McDonald McCurdy, until yourg manhood. He was educated in the Troy High School and enlisted in Company B, 194th O. V. I. in February, 1865, served for awhile in West Virginia and on account og Lee’s surrender was ordered to Washington, D. C., where the regiment served on guard duty until October 24, 1865, when it was mustered out. Mr. McCurdy was present at the trial of Wirz, before President of the Court Lew Wallace, whose grandfather, Andrew Wallace, plotted Troy and was the first treasurer of Miami county. Wirz was found guilty of the charge of murdering Union soldiers at the An- derson ville prison in Georgia, and in the opinion of every man from the North, who was compelled to live in the foul place, was guilty many times over and richly deserved his fate. Mr. McCurdy was married to Sarah M. Scott, of Elisabeth township, in October of 1874, and after her demise and burial in Riverside cemetery, married her sister, Margaret S. Scott, in October, 1879, who also departed this life in 1917 and is buried in Riverside cemetery. He is a member of the Troy Odd Fellows and Junior Order lodges and of Post 159. Department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, and ha$ served as Commander of the latter. His lays are taken up in looking after his farm of 400 acres in Elisabeth township, which he keeps up and conducts on scientific principles. He served Miami county in the State Legislature for four years and four years as treasurer of Miami coun'y. He is a man of strong convictions in whom every worthy citizen of Miami county has the fullest confidence in his integrity. “Here is a sigh for those who love me. And a smile for those who hate. And whatever skies are above me, Here’s a heart for any fate.” — Byron to Tom Moore. THE HOME OF WILLIAM E. LYTLE ON HIS FERTILE AND BEAUTIFUL FARM ONE MILE NORTH OF TROY The subject of this sketch was born in a log cabin, near Lancaster, Ohio, on July 15, 1871, and lived with his father and mother, William H. Lytle and Margaret Bretz, attending the common schools, until his adminission into the Ohio Northern University in 1890, from which institution he graduated in 1900 and was admitted to the practice of law, having had tuition under Judge Alread of Greenville, Ohio. He became a resident of Tippecanoe City, Miami County, in 1901 and served as city solicitor of that place between 1906-10. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Miami County in 1910-11, which office he ad- ministered with signal ability under the most trying conditions. Miami County had voted dry and it became the duty of Mr. Lytle to enforce the law, under such violent and brutal opposition that he was waylaid and beaten on his road from church. He continued to coruageously perform his duty and largely broke up illicit selling and turned more than $1800 in fines in the county treasury. If the true story of those two years were written, it would appal many good people of the county and raise Mr. Lytle in even a much higher estimation than he is now held and it would shame many, who would be held high for their lack of fidelity to a cause which they pretended to support. It was the law and Mr. Lytle, under •his oath had to execute it and should have been loyally, supported by those who voted for it and created it. Mr. Lytle and family are members of the first Methodist Churrh of Troy. He has been for 25 years a member of the Knights of Pythias. He takes great pride in his farm where he raised last year, 75 bushels of corn and 40 bushels of wheat to the acre, and in the meantime has his share of law practice. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 351 thony, aged 83, ‘insane,’ and several set down ‘fever and ague.’ The furniture and bedding for the year had cost $544.30. The following entry is found : “Expenses of paupers, including labor for improvements on farm and labor im- provements in house and Superintendent’s fees, $952.27. The total expenses for first year, $1870.59. (Signed) JOSEPH CULBERTSON, JOSEPH R. JOHN, JOSEPH M. SKINNER, Directors. The Commissioners appointed the same Directors for the ensuing year. These Directors received $1.50 per day for serv- ices and their wages for the preceding year at that rate entitled and they were paid in the order named, $7.50, $9.00 and $9.00. Troy, Ohio, June 10, 1841. “The Commissioners this day settled with William Brown, Treasurer of Miami County and found him properly charged with the sum of $14,706.06, and find him credited with the sum of five thousand eight hundred and forty-eight dollars and twenty cents, and further that said treas- urer has redeemed County orders to the amount of $8,031, having a balance in the treasury of one thousand and eighteen dol- lars and ninety cents.” Troy, Ohio, July 5, A. D., 1841. “The Commissioners of Miami County met this day, present, James Fergus, Mi- chael Williams and Richard Morrow, and Jacob Knoop, Auditor and Clerk to Com- missioners. The aforesaid County Com- missioners met this day for the purpose of making settlement with A. E. Turnbull for the building of the new Court House in Troy, which was this day received of said A. E. Turnbull as fully answering the requisitions of the contract and specifica- tions and find and allow the following ac- count not specified in the contract, to-wit : To difference in glass as per agreement $ 101 20 To iron window shutters for vault 35 57 To cornices around Court Room 150 00 To uncurrent money returned by Turnbull 115 00 Court House 13,500 00 Total $13,901 77 On July 6, 1841, a fence around the Court House was authorized, the front to be of cast iron. On the same date, the Auditor was instructed to advertise the old Court House for sale. Assignment of the Rooms The Commissioners of Miami County assigns rooms in the new Court House to the several officers as follows, to-wit: On the lower floor, the first room on the right-hand side of the hall, to the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas; the second or middle room on the right-hand side of the hall, to the Auditor of Miami County ; the third room on the right-hand side to the Recorder of Miami County; the first room on the left-hand side of the hall to the Clerk of the Supreme Court; and the second room on the left-hand side of the hall to the Treasurer of Miami County, and the third room on the left-hand side of the hall is reserved and assigned as a Grand Jury room. The small room in the north corner of the second floor is as- signed to the Sheriff of Miami County as his office and the Commissioners of Miami County further order that the Sheriff of Miami County shall take charge of the Court room in the new Court House and keep the same in good order.” On August 10, 1841, the old Court House in the Public Square was sold to George Musinger for $151, for which sum he gave his note with Asa Mayo as secur- ity, to be removed by January, 1842. Mr. Musinger also bought the fence around the old Court House for the sum of $4.00. At a meeting on December 6, 1841, the 352 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Commissioners paid John Clark, of Tippe- canoe for fixing the canal bridge at that place. This note is made for two reasons : First, John Clark was the pioneer of Tip- pecanoe, and this is the first record of canal bridge expense that I have been able to find. On December 8, 1841, the Commission- ers allowed “Thomas Furnas, late Sheriff of Miami County the sum of eighty cents for washing blankets and furnishing a tin pan for the jail.” On the same date they paid Andrew E. Turnbull the sum of $953, balance due on the new Court House and another $1,000 for the fence and other furnishings at the Court House. On March 7, 1842, the Directors of the Poor House filed their second annual re- port which showed a total expense for the year of $1,401.02, the number of paupers being 16 ,all of the clothing of the paupers made at the Poor House. Same Directors appointed for the ensuing year. The records, at no place, have shown as they ought to have done, where the new Court House just finished, was located, and in this particular followed the ex- ample of silence on the subjected adopted by the Commissioners who built the first Court House in the Public Square and the jail. I have heretofore established with certainty where these latter buildings had stood. Most of the present generation know where the second Court House stood, but in another generation few would re- member, and there would actually be no official record of this location. It is for the purpose of establishing numerous in- stances of this character that this history is written together with the additional purpose of correcting hundreds of cases of incorrectly written history by foreigners who had no thought of being serious in their compilations outside of the commer- cial interest. As heretofore stated, lot 42, at the corner of Main and Plum Streets, opposite the Sheriff’s residence, occupied the one-fourth part of the northwest part of that block and had been originally re- served for a jail lot and the jail and Sher- iff’s residence had been built there, and it was adjoining these buildings that the new Court House was built and continued as the place for holding Court until the present Court House was built on the square bounded by Main, Plum, Water and Short Streets. The foundation for this last Court House was laid on July 16, 1885, and the first session of Court was held there in 1889, with Judge Calvin D. Wright on the bench and John B. Fouts, Clerk. The first case filed was Jacob Wolf against Levi Barnett, on July 23, 1888, at- torneys for the plaintiff, Kerr & Kerr, of Tippecanoe. The history which led up to the building of this last Court House will be hereafter related more fully than ever before. On June 24, 1842, the Commissioners appointed John G. Telford in place of Wil- liam Brown, Treasurer-elect, who refused to furnish the bond required by law. The Commissioners requested John G. Telford to exchange the following funds in the Treasury “with the least possible loss” : Indiana scrip, $95. State Bank of Illi- nois, $425. Granville Bank, $7. Franklin Bank of Columbus, $100. Lancaster Bank $19. Shawneetown Bank, $90; “for avail- able funds.” On October 14, 1842, Vol. 4, page 251, a final settlement is again made with A. E. Turnbull, in which we learn that there was a spire and bell added to the Court House. On June 6, 1845, the Commissioners set- tled with John G. Telford, County Treas- urer and found him to be properly charged with $7,716.61.2 for County taxes collect- ed and $2,681.04.4 as money from other sources, making the total of $10,314.65.6, and that he was credited with $8,415.39 and had on hand $1,979.26.6. At this meeting, Telford reports the loss of $38 on the Indiana scrip held by the County. “Also examined and found said Telford ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 353 had received $875.10 money collected for the County from various sources other than the grand levy on which they allowed said Telford 5 per cent as his fees.” On June 16, 1843, the rate of taxation was fixed at 4 mills and a half for County purposes, and one and one-half mills for road purposes. On July 1, 1843, a bridge across the ca- nal on Main Street near the lock was pro- vided for. The period of 1843 and 1844 is a road-making and bridge-building pe- riod. On March 5, 1844, the Poor House Directors made the fourth annual report through A. W. McNabb. There has been a change in the personnel of the Directors of which no record is to be found. On June 4, 1844, the Commissioners, af- ter making mature deliberation on the sub- ject, assessed a tax on the practicing phy- sicians and attorneys of Miami County, dividing the income of each class into two grades. On the first grade a tax of $1.00 each and on the second grade a tax of 50 cents each. Journal 4, page 290. August 3, 1847. The Commissioners visited the Poor House, and after a care- ful examination of the premises decided upon the following order to-wit : That an addition shall be made under the direction of the Directors of the Poor House on the north side of the west end of the present building. To be built of brick with a stone foundation, one story high and running north 45 feet with a porch on the east side, to be divided into such apartments as said Poor House direc- tors may direct, etc. Journal 4, page 364. April 21, 1853. The Commissioners agreed to donate five hundred dollars to build a good bridge across the Miami at the Broad Ford, below Troy, with stone abutments and pier in the center. Journal 5, page 137. December 7, 1853. The Commissioners resolved to build a new Jail, Probate Judge office and house for jailor and to com- mence immediately making the necessary arrangements to procure plans and ma- terials for the jail, so that it may be com- pleted at as early a day as possible. August 13, 1851. The Commissioners of Miami County met this day at the Audi- tor’s office for the transaction of business. Present, Samuel Kelly and Jacob Knoop and Thomas B. Kyle, Clerk. It being made to appear by the certifi- cate of Joseph Pearson, Sheriff of Miami County, on file in the Auditor’s office, that upon the written application oi more than twenty citizens of said County, more than thirty days previous to the 9th day of Au- gust, A. D., 1851, that he should give no- tice of a vote to be taken under the pro- visions of an Act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, entitled, “An Act to authorize the Commissioners of Miami County to take stock in the “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company” and the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad Company” and that in accordance with said application and of the provisions of said Act, he had given notice by advertise- ment in the “Troy Times” and “Miami In- dependent,” two newspapers printed and published in said County, and continued until the day of election, that the qualified electors of the Township of Union, New- ton, Monroe, Concord, Staunton, Eliza- beth, Lost Creek and Bethel should meet at their respective places of holding elec- tions, on the ninth day of August A. D., 1851, and then and there vote for or against a subscription to the stock of the “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company” and the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad Company,” sixty thousand dol- lars on each road. And it further appear- ing by the certificate of John G. Telford, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for this County, also on file in said Auditor’s office that on the vote taken on the 9th day of August instant, in pursuance of the pro- visions of the Act aforesaid resulted in favor of a subscription by the Commis- sioners of Miami County in the name and for the benefit of said County to the capital stock of the “Mad River and Miami Cen- 354 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY tral Railroad Company” and the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad Company” of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, sixty thousand dollars to each road. “It is ordered that in accordance with the provisions of said Act, the Commis- sioners of this County subscribe in its name and for the benefit of Miami County to the capital stock of “The Dayton and Michigan Central Railroad Company” six- ty thousand dollars, and thereupon the Commissioners subscribed upon the books of the said “Dayton and Michigan Rail- road Company” for twelve hundred shares of $50 each of the capital stock of said Company, amounting to sixty thousand dollars. And it having been agreed by and between the Commissioners of said County and the Board of Directors of said Dayton and Michigan Railroad Company, that, authorized by said Act, bonds should be issued directly to said Company in pay- ment of said stock, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent, per annum from the 1st day of January, 1853, and payable annually at the office of the Ohio Life In- surance and Trust Company in the City of New York. It is ordered that bonds of said County be this day issued to the Day- ton and Michigan Railroad Company to the amount of sixty thousand dollars in pay- ment of said subscription by said County to the capital stock of said Company, made £ind executed by the Commissioners of said County, for and on the part of said County, pursuant to the provisions of said Act and of the agreement aforesaid, and payable to the Treasurer of said Dayton and Michigan Railroad Company, or the bearer, at the office of the Treasurer of said County on the 1st day of January, A. D., 1872, bearing interest at the rate of seven per centum per annum from and after the first day of January A. D., 1852, at the office of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company in the City of New York, with twenty coupons or interest warrants attached to each of said bonds stating the number and amount of the bond, the amount of one year’s interest and when payable, etc., each to be signed by the Auditor of said County upon the presentation of which at the proper time and place, said interest should be paid. That sixty of said bonds be issued for one thousand dollars each and numbered from 1 to 60 inclusive. Journal 5, page 94. October 7, 1853. The Commissioners met especially for the consideration of subscribing sixty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company,” present, Ja- cob Knoop, Thomas B. Rose and Abner Rose, and Thomas B. Kyle, Clerk. The Commissioners agree to subscribe sixty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company” to be paid by trans- ferring the capital stock of Miami County (belonging to the southern townships) in the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad Com- pany” of sixty thousand dollars, to the “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company” provided that said “Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Company” take the said stock with such encumbrance or agreement as may exist between the Commissioners and the officers of the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad Com- pany” and hereby authorize the Auditor of Miami County to make the transfer of said stock. Journal 5, page 151. March 5, 1856. Commissioners met agreeable to adjournment, present B. F. Brown, R. Peterson and H, Mitchell and C. N. Hoagland, Clerk. The Commission- ers then adopted the following preamble and resolutions: “Whereas, the Commissioners on the 7th day of October, 1853, agreed to sub- scribe sixty thousand dollars to the ‘Mad River and Miami Central Railroad Com- pany’ by transferring the stock of the southern townships in the “Dayton and Michigan Railroad” and authorized the Auditor to make the transfer; therefore, resolved, That the agreement or order re- ferred to is in direct opposition to the ex- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 355 pressed will of the people interested and that the same is hereby rescinded and the power thereby conferred on th Auditor is hereby cancelled. Journal 5, page 233.” The records fail to show that any fur- ther action was ever taken by the Com- missioners in reference to said subscrip- tion. March 23, 1854. The Commissioners be- ing satisfied that the present lot on which the jail is now located is quite too small for the erection of suitable buildings for the use of the County, hereby authorize Thos. B. Rose to conclude a conctract with William I. Thomas for the lot opposite to the present County buildings, being lot No. 33 in the town of Troy, for which said William I. Thomas has agreed to take $2,- 600, $1,000 in hand and the balance in one and two years. (Said lot being the pres- ent location of said jail, etc.) Said Thos. B. Rose being also authorized to contract for materials for the construction of a jail, jailer’s house and Probate Judge’s office and Court room, as soon as the plans and necessary calculations can be made so that the buildings may at least be enclosed dur- ing the present season and also to super- intend the work until some other definite arrangement or arrangements may be made or the work let by contract. Journal 5, page 165. June 17, 1865. The Board agreed to accept the proposition of Elias Skinner to sell the County a fraction of land lying west of the D. & M. Railroad and adjoin- ing the County farm, containing 23 to 24 acres at $100 per acre, to be paid for when surveyed and a good and sufficient title shall have been made for the same. Jour- nal 6, page 76. February 20, 1873. The Board met, all present, and Messrs. Cairns and DeWeese, Infirmary Directors, were also in attend- ance. Plans and specifications for the pro- posed addition to the County Infirmary were submitted by A. A. McCandless, and after a careful examination were ap- proved, and it was agreed that in case the voters of the County, at the approaching election authorize the levying of a tax for that purpose, the plans and specifications should be adopted and proposals received for constructing the building on said plans at an expense not exceeding $2,500. Jour- nal 6, page 340. April 9, 1873. The Board met in special session. Present, Saylor, Coate and Audi- tor. The Commissioners and Auditor pro- ceeded to open the poll books of election held on the first Monday (7th) of April, 1873 for and against a tax for building an addition to the County Infirmary, and found after a careful canvas that there were for the tax 1607 votes and against the tax 2222 votes. Journal 6, page 345. Regular monthly session, February 1, 1875. All members present. In the mat- ter of erecting an addition to the County Infirmary building, this being the day fixed for hearing petitions for and remon- strances against said improvement, the Board signified their readiness to proceed and after hearing a petition read signed by F. A. Hardy and one hundred and twenty-two others and being notified by the Auditor that there were no remon- strances filed and being satisfied that said addition is necessary, and feeling it to be their imperative duty to make ample pro- vision for the poor and unfortunate do now, by virtue of an Act passed April 27, 1869, and the subsequent amendments thereto, order said addition to be made and fix February 8, 1875 at 10 a. m., as the time to meet and examine plans, speci- fications and estimates which are being prepared by Frank Johnston, Architect. This meeting to be held in conjunction with the Infirmary Directors. Journal 6, page 435. February 8, 1875. Board met pursuant to adjournment and in conjunction with two of the Infirmary Directors, proceeded to examine the drawings, plans and speci- fications as furnished by F. E. Johnston, Architect, and after a careful examination of same, on motion they were approved 356 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY and adopted, and Auditor instructed to ad- vertise for sealed bids for the construc- tion of said addition in accordance there- with. Journal 6, page 436. February 12, 1876. Board met in called session. Members present, Clyne and Northcutt and Auditor, Clerk. A state- ment of the assets and liabilities of the Miami County Agricultural Society was presented by the Agricultural Board. Said statement of liabilities setting forth that the notes held by Eliza McKaig, secured by mortgage on the Miami County Fair Grounds do now, including interest, amount to fifteen hundred and sixteen dol- lars and fifty cents, and, in consequence of the failure of said Agricultural Society to pay the said interest, the whole amount is now due, and proceedings commenced to sell said Grounds by foreclosure of mort- gage. And now comes said Agricultural Board and requests the Commissioners to pay the above named amount out of the County Treasury as provided by Section 3 of an Act entitled “An Act supplemen- tary to an Act for the encouragement of agriculture” as amended March 38, 1871. And the Commissioners, after carefully considering the matter submitted the fol- lowing proposition, viz. : That they would pay the said Eliza McKaig claim, provided the Agricultural Board would make the County a warranty deed for said Fair Grounds, they, the Commissioners, per- mitting the said deed to contain the fol- lowing conditions, to-wit: Said Agricultural Society shall have the privilege to use said Grounds for the pur- pose of holding County Fairs so long as said Society exists, provided that the said Fairs are held exclusively for the benefit of stock raisers, mechanical and agricul- tural products of Miami County, Ohio, un- less otherwise arranged with the Board of Commissioners of said County. Fur- ther, that there shall be no intoxicating liquors sold upon the grounds during the time of holding regular Fairs on said Grounds, unless specially arranged to do so with the Board of Commissioners of said County and when said Society ceases to exist as such (which shall be when said Society fails to hold Fairs as above stated for two successive years) the Commis- sioners may then appropriate said Ground to whatever use they may deem best for the interset of the County, and said prop- osition being accepted by the Agricultural Board, the Auditor was instructed to issue his warrant on County Treasury in favor of said Eliza McKaig for said above named amount, upon presentation of said deed together with notes and mortgages. Jour- nal 6, page 480. August 7, 1877. Board met as per ad- pournment, all members being present. In the matter of the conveyance by John K. Knoop, deceased, of a certain tract of land situate in Elizabeth Township, containing one hundred and sixty acres, more or less, to the Commissioners of Miami County, subject only to the following conditions, to-wit : “That a Children’s Home be erected and maintained thereon,” decided by unani- mous vote to accept said donation and agree to erect and maintain a Children’s Home thereon, provided a majority of the qualified electors of the County shall de- clare by their ballots to be in favor of es- tablishing said “Children’s Home.” And the Commissioners do hereby with pleas- ure take this opportunity in behalf of the citizens of the County, whom they repre- sent, and the homeless children who may be benefited thereby, to express their ex- treme gratitude to the donor for this lib- eral donation, believing that he is now re- ceiving his reward in that Better Land, and is basking in the sunshine of Him who said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, etc.” The Audi- tor was then instructed to give the neces- sary notice as is required by law that the matter shall be submitted at the next reg- ular election in October, viz.: The ques- tion of establishing a “Children’s Home” for the County and to provide funds for ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 357 the erection of said Home and the main- tenance thereof. Journal 6, page 567. The records fail to show that said elec- tion was held, but the following proceed- ings of the Commissioners would indicate that a majority of votes were cast favor- able to said Home. April 4, 1878. Commissioners met this day as per appointment with D. W. Gibbs, Architect, to examine the plans, etc., to be furnished by him for the Children’s Home building. Present, Northcutt, Cl.yne and Branson, and Auditor, Clerk. Mr. Gibbs appeared with plans, specifications, etc., governing the construction of the new Home building and the same were care- fuly examined by the Board. The said plans, specifications, etc., were duly ap- proved, subject to such changes as the Commissioners should see fit to make at any time, and if in their judgment any change should seem desirable — and were accepted, and Architect duly employed to supervise the erection of the said building, under the contract originally made with him for the making of the plans and su- perintendence therein of said buildings, etc. The Board then ordered the Auditor to have the necessary legal notices adver- tised of the letting of said construction of the Home buildings on the 8th day of May, 1878, inviting sealed proposals for such work, according to the law governing such matters, said proposals to be received until one o’clock p. m., of that day. They also ordered the printing of 100 copies of spec- ifications, 150 copies of postal card no- tices to contractors, and 150 blank forms for bidders’ proposals. Journal 7, page 47. May 8, 1878. This being the day accord- ing to published notice, to receive and open bids for the construction of the “Children’s Home” building upon the farm deeded to the County for that purpose by John K. Knoop, deceased, the Commissioners met at 9 o clock a. m., all members being pres- ent and Auditor, as Clerk. A conference with the architect as to the matters relat- ing to the letting, etc., during the fore- noon and a recess taken until 1 o’clock p. m. Reassembled at 1 p. m., all present. The bids which had been filed with the Auditor up to 1 o’clock were then opened and publicly read and the same recorded on a schedule prepared for that purpose. Forty-six bids in all were opened, divided among the different classes of work. Af- ter carefully examining the same and per- mitting Dawson and Anderson to with- draw their bid upon the stone work, (they having made their figures under a misap- prehension in regard to the specifications upon said stone work) and allowing Oliver Laporte also to withdraw his bid upon the same class of work on the same ground, they declared the successful bidders upon the different kinds of work to be as fol- lows : Here follows a schedule of the suc- cessful bidders with the amounts bid by them respectively for the various kinds of work, the whole amounting to $16,270.25. Journal 7, page 51. October 21, 1880. The following resolu- tion was adopted by the Commissioners and ordered to be put upon the minutes. Whereas, in the construction of the Home buildings, but $17,000 in County Bonds were originally issued, which bonds had but two years to run and which are now all paid ; and whereas, the cost of con- struction of said buildings was in excess of $25,000, so that the levy by taxation to pay the original bonds and to furnish said buildings and pay for the support of the institution since its organization has not been sufficient by reason of drawing largely upon said fund to pay the balance of the cost of construction; therefore, be it resolved, That the Board of Commis- sioners issue the sum of $6000 of County Bonds bearing six per cent interest, to be sold for not less than par value, to reim- burse the Children’s Home Fund. Journal 7, page 315. August 10, 1881. The Commissioners met this day in special session, all the members being present and the Auditor as Clerk. This being the day upon which the 358 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Commissioners, by previous arrangement, were to meet D. W. Gibbs & Co., Archi- tects, of Toledo, for the purpose of receiv- ings plans to be submitted by them and to be examined by the Board, for the con- struction of the new wing at the Home building and also the new school house and chapel upon the Home grounds and the said architects being present with plans and specifications, details, etc., the said plans, estimates, etc., were carefully ex- amined by the Board, and, upon motion, were approved and adopted. The Board, however, upon the advice of the Prosecut- ing Attorney, postponed immediate action in relation to the letting of said work to bidders. Journal 7. page 371. January 15, 1883. The Commissioners instructed the Auditor to make certain changes in the specifications for the chapel and school house for the Children’s Home, as indicated by them, and then proceed to advertise the letting of contract of the work of construction of said building as soon as possible. March 7, 1883. In conformity with the provisions of Section 4010 R. S., requiring Commissioners of the County to provide necessary school rooms for Children’s Homes, and Section No. 929 Revised Stat- utes, empowering them to issue bonds for the erection of buildings for Children’s Homes, it is ordered that for the purpose of erecting a new school house at the said Home in this County, the sum of $5000 in County Bonds be issued in denominations of $1000 each, bearing six per cent inter- est. payable semi-annually. Journal 7, page 583. April 17, 1883. The Commissioners met this day according to their order of ad- journment at the March session to con- clude the unfinished business of their reg- ular session. All the members of the Board were present and the Auditor as Clerk. The bids filed for the construction of the school house at Children’s Home, in ac- cordance with the advertised notice call- ing for same, were this day opened, and, upon examination, it was found that F. E. Johnston’s proposal to do all the work ac- cording to the plans and specifications, to complete the building for the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars, was the lowest bid for said work and. upon motion, all the Board voting aye, the work was awarded to him upon said bid. and he was notified to file his contract and bond as re- quired by Statute (the same to be ap- proved by the Prosecuting Attorney) within five days from this date. Journal 7, page 592. April 6. 1886. Board met as per ad- journment of April 5. 1886, all members present, and the Auditor as Clerk of the Board. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and approved, the following or- der was then made : Whereas, this Board has given notice as required by law of their intention to build an addition to the County Infirmary for the accommodation of the permanently in- sane: and. whereas, Charles C. Barnett has been employed as architect and has prepared plans and specifications as re- quired bv Section 795, Revised Statutes; and, whereas, said plans and specifications have been annroved as provided by Sec- tion 797 Revised Statutes, as amended. tO. S. Vol. 77. page 72). it is therefore or- dered by a unanimous vote of the Board that the Auditor be instructed to give no- tice. as repaired bv law. that sealed bids will be received at his office until 12 o’clock noon of Thursday. May 20. 1886. for fur- nishing material and doing the work of constructing said building, as required by Section 798, Revised Statutes of Ohio. Journal 8, page 257. Mav 20. 1886. Bids for the building of the new Insane Asylum at the Miami County Infirmary were opened and care- fully examined and it was found that the bid of T. B. Townsend, to-wit, $9799, for the whole work was the lowest and best bid and. on motion, said ocntract was awarded to him. Journal 8, page 264. JOHN MONTGOMERY CAMPBELL John Montgomery Campbell was of Scotch origin, his ancestors coming to America before the Revolution. He was born on the farm in Montgomery County, Ohio, on March 8, 1838. He assisted in the farming, attended the local schools and taught school until October 28, 1861, on which date he enlisted in Company D, 71st O. V. I. from which he mustered out on December 3 1864. His regiment fought at Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862, Clarksville, Tenn., August 19, 1862, Fort Donnelson, Tenn., August 25, 1862, Cumberland Iron Works, Tenn., August 26, 1862, Clarksville Tenn., September 7, 1862, Jonesboro, Ga., August 31, to September 1, 1863, Lovejoy Station, Ga., September 2-6, 1864. In these campaigns, the subject of this sketch bore a brave soldier’s part. He returned to his father’s farm and engaged in the notion trade with the Rhodehamel Brothers of Piqua, Miami County. While employed in this work, he met in Arcanum, Darke County, in the store of John Smith with whom he was trading. Miss Anna Carver of Miami County whom he wooed won and married at Arcanum on December 22, 1867. Mr. Campbell engaged in the elevator and dry goods business in Arcanum, Darke County, and for a short time in the elevator business in Eaton, Preble County, moving to Troy in 1877, he engaged in the dry goods and grain elevator business. Conroy Carver Campbell, his only son, was born in Arcanum on October 12, 1870, and Elizabeth Mar- garet Campbell was born on July 4, 1872. The subject of this sketch was an ardent Republican and was elected sheriff of Miami County in th© fall of 1881 and served in that capacity until 1885. It is worthy of note to state that his four prede- cessors in this office and his two successors had been soldiers in the Civil War, making fourteen terms or twenty-eight years in all. In 1887. Mr. Campbell moved to Hastings, Nebraska, but not being satisfied with that move, he returned to Troy the same year. It was while in Nebraska he conceived the idea of organizing The Troy National Bank which he did upon his return to Ohio, and was elected its first vice-president and in 1889 became president of said bank in which capacity he continued to serve for twenty years, when, on account of failing health, he resigned. It has been said that John M. Campbell knew more men in Miami County, by name, than any other man who had ever lived in the county. He was a genial, hand-shaking man and the bank under his management rapidly forged to the front of financial institutions in Miami County. His friends prevailed upon him to accept the presidency of the Miami County Savings Bank, organized in 1909, but his health again warned him to resign and this bank was sold to The Troy National January 1, 1913. Mr. Campbell was a member of the Christian Church after moving to Troy but later joined the First Methodist Episcopal Church in which he was, for many years, a member of the Official Board. He was a member of Franklin Lodge, F. and A. M. of Troy and became a Knight Templar of Coleman Commandery. He died on December 25. 1912 and was buried in Riverside Cemetery after an earnest life in which he had wrought out his full share of works well done. JOHN REYBURN WOODWARD The subject of this sketch and picture, was born on December 5, 1835, on the farm entered and owned by his father, known as “The Woodward Hill Farm.” His father acquired the one acre on which the famous spring: at the foot of the hill was located by purchase. John R. Woodward was educated in the local schools, at Springfield, and Antioch College. In his second year, he was compelled to leave college on account of sickness. When he left, he was furnished the following certificate: “This is to certify that John R. Woodward leaves this institution on account of ill health and under no censure from the faculty.” Signed by Horace Mann, president. He married Marcella Bell, of Springfield, on October 14, 1856. From this union there were born William Bell and Ada Lee Woodward. He engaged in the sale of general nursery stock, conducting the farm of 160 acres at the same time, which he had inherited. He entered the army as captain of Company C, 71st O. V. I. in the fall of 1861. He led his company at Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862, and at Clarksville, Tenn., on August 19, 1862, when he resigned and returned to Miami County. On May 2, 1864, he was commisisoned Lieutenant Colonel of the 147th O. V. I. and commanded Fort Marcy, Va., with four companies. When Generals Early and Brecken ridge, of the Confederate army, attacked Washington on June 11, 1864, the regiment was ordered at midnight to Fort Stevens where it moved into the trenches as support to the first Maine and First Ohio batteries and remained in this position until July 4th. Colonel B. F. Rossou, a Mexican war veteran, surrendered the command to the right of the regiment to his Lieutenant Colonel on this occasion. Col. Woodward was a popular and efficient officer, having the full confidence of his men. He was mustered out on August 30, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service. During his soldier life, the men to take care of the harvests were limited and the women were com- pelled to help. Mrs. Woodward, a slightly built lady, made a full hand in loading and mowing the wheat and hay for two seasons. She was a splendid prototype of the Spartan mothers then and has been noted ever since for her excellent work in patriotic societies. She lives with her daughter, Ada Lee, wife of H. J. Ritter, a prominent manufacturer in Tippecanoe, for four years representative of Miami County and chair- man of the Finance Committee of the House. Mrs. Woodward is beloved by all who know her for her good works and amiable qualities. Such women cannot be too highly honored by future generations. After the war, he embarked in the oil business in Pennsylvania and also developed road and draft horses and short horn cattle on his farm of 160 acres. His son-in-law, H. J. Ritter, was his faithful coad- jutor in these latter enterprises. Col. Woodward might have been designated without impropriety as the Bayard Chevalier of Miami County for his was an unusual handsome presence. He was the spirit of geniality and hospitality and his home on the hill was the scene of many interesting and long to be remembered social gatherings. I was a welcome guest at his home for many years and on November 20, 1876, I was there as a pallbearer for the dead body of my friend. A layman. Dr. S. D. Hartman, preached his funeral by the Colonel's request before his death. GEORGE GREEN George Green, the subject of this sketch (whose portrait appears above), was born in the village of Elsham, Lincolnshire, England, July 16th, 1840. He came to America at the age of twelve years with his parents who located at Tippecanoe, Miami County. On April 22nd 1861, he came to Troy and enlisted in Company H of the 11th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry regiment which was being formed here for the three months’ service. When his term was out, he re-enlisted June 20th, 1861, in the same regiment and company for three years. He was appointed Corporal of his Company, September 1st, 1861. After passing unscathed through all the desperate battles preceding, including charges on Mission Ridge, he was wounded at the battle of Resacca, Ga., May 14th, 1864. It was from the result of this wound he lost his left leg. He refused to take an anaesthetic when it was amputated. He received an honorable discharge from the service June 1st, 1864, and was married to Harriet E. Baer, January 29th, 1871. To this union were born a daughter, Clara (now Mrs. Clara G. Jamison) and a son, David. He was a prominent member of the Episcopal Church in Troy ; was a Trustee of the Troy Lodge I. O. O. F. ; a Trustee of Trojan Lodge, K. of P. ; a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a U. V. L. He was the Recorder of Miami County for a consecutive period of fifteen years, during which period he made a complete abstract of all land titles in Miami County which has proven of great benefit to the business interests of the county. This Abstract office has been successfully conducted by his widow, Harriet E. Green and her son, David Green since his death on February 10th, 1898. The Eleventh Ohio Regiment was largely a Miami County organization, five of the ten companies having been recruited here. It was familiarly known as the “Gypsy” regiment but more frequently as the “fighting eleventh.” At the battle of Mission Ridge, one of the most daring assaults in the history of war, George Green distinguished himself by capturing a rebel flag, for which he received a medal of honor, being the only one awarded during the Civil War to a soldier from Miami County. I have stood on the crest of Mission Ridge at the point where the Eleventh Ohiol charged and marveled at the wonderful courage of these Miami County boys from the farm and shop, which out-rivaled the charge of the Light Brigade. George Green and H. H. Howard of the same Company were among the first to scale the crest. They made right for one of the enemy’s flags, in the face of a hot fire of shot and driving the protectors before them, Green tore the emblem from the staff. While Green was securing the flag, Howard protected his comrade from the enemy with his gun. Corporal Green placed the flag in his bosom and with Howard pushed on with the Company in pursuit of the retreating rebels. After the battle. Corporal Green turned the flag over to Brigadier General Turchin and received his com- mendation. Both Green and Howard were recommended for promotion. For this deed of heroism, the Congress awarded him a medal of honor, a plate of which we herewith insert as an important historical incident of Miami County. Among the treasures held by Harriet E. Green, the accomplished widow and excellent business woman, she guards none more jealously than this souvenir of a most gallant act performed by her husband in the service of his country. I desire to here acknowledge the many courtesies I have received from her and her son David in compiling this work. Their knowledge of all Court House records and their generous willingness to impart information has lightened the heavy burden of many difficult investigations. SIDNEY LARKIN CHAFFEE Sidney Larkin Chaffee, the subject of this sketch and picture, was of French origin, born at Danville, New York, on May 17, 1819, which place he left in young manhood, making the trip to Wyandotte county, Ohio, on foot, with but 75 cents in his pocket, sleeping out in the open air during the long journey. He often described to his family the incidents of this enterprise and made the little ones shiver at his descrip- tion of the wolf and panthers howling around his camp fire. He came to Tippecanoe in 1840, when there were probably three houses in a forest of largely sugar tree timber. After working at Cowlesville for awhile, he established himself in the general merchandise business near the canal, convenient to trans- portation. He often went by packet to Cincinnati to purchase his goods. He married Barbara Cecil, a member of a well known and popular family of Miami County, on September 13, 1849, from which union there were born Charles Bernard, Emma, Nettie, Blanche, Jay Ward and Willie Cecil. Of these there are now living, in October, 1917, Emma, Nettie, Blanche and Jay Ward. Between 1855 and 1865 he purchased, fed and sold large droves of hogs ar\d cattle, preparing them for market from the bi-product of his large distillery in Tippecanoe. He was alert to the higher interests of his community and gave freely to benevolent enterprises. The building of Chaffee’s opera house was largely induced by civic pride. During the terrible scourge of cholera in 1849, he and Modecai Clark took their lives in their hands as soldier do in the fore front of battle, caring for the sick and burying the dead. His children and grand children partake of his public spirit. When the new township house, just finished, needed a clock, it was furnished by them. The following inscription is to be seen on the front door of this handsome building. “The clock on this building, presented in memory of Sidney Larkins and Bar- bara Chaffee by their children, grand children and great grand children.” He had extensive farming in- terests in Miami County and in Indiana which occupied much of his time in later life. He was a Repub- lican in politics, a genial gentleman with a big side to him, a good husband and a kind, indulgent father. He wrought strongly and left evidences of having been here that will always live. He died April 29, 1898, and his wife followed him on October 17, 1909. ‘‘By fairy hands their knell is rung. By forms unseen their dirge is sung.” ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 363 June 30, 1887. Contract for building cottage at the Children’s Home was awarded to Trupp Weakley & Co., for the sum of $2545.18. Journal 8, page 397. March 31, 1888. Old Court House prop- erty sold at public auction to P. J. Gates, Joseph Henne and Troy Lodge No. 43, I. 0. 0. F., for $7600. Journal 8, page 461. Monthly meeting, May 5, 1884. The Board of Commissioners met this day. Present, Clark, Johnston, Henderson and Horatio Pearson, Auditor, as Clerk. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved and the following resolutions were then read and adopted. Resolved, by the Board of Commission- ers of Miami County, that for the purpose of better protection of the records of said County and to afford better facilities for the administration of justice therein, a new Court House is in our judgment needed. Resolved, That in pursuance of an Act entitled, “An Act to authorize the Com- missioners of Miami County to borrow money and erect a Court House at Troy, Ohio, the present County-seat of said County,” passed April 10, 1884, we forth- with proceed to take necessary steps to carry out the provisions of said Act. Resolved, That the Board finds that pub- lic intersets require the building and erec- tion of a new Court House in said County, at a cost of not to exceed $150,000, and that this Board decides to proceed and build and erect said new Court House, using the powers given this Board by the Special Act of the Legislature passed April 10, 1884. The above resolutions were adopted by the following vote on call of the roll. Aye, Clark and J. C. Henderson. No, William Johnston. Journal 8, page 60. June 6, 1884. Board of Commissioners met this day according to adjournment from yesterday. Present, Clark, Johnston and Henderson, and Horatio Pearson, Au- ditor, as Clerk. Upon motion of Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Henderson, the Board passed the following resolutions : Resolved, That the County Commission- ers of Miami County hereby declare their intention to purchase and appropriate for the purpose of the location and erection of the new Court House and other public County buildings thereon, the following real estate, situate in the State of Ohio, Miami County, and in the Incorporated Village of Troy, being lots Nos. 34 and 35 of said village, and being the south half, lying on Main Street, of the square of land that lies between Main and Water and Plum and Short streets of said village, the cost of which purchase will exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Resolved, That the Commissioners will consider and decide upon said proposed purchase and location at their meeting to be held for the purpose at the Court House in Troy, Ohio, on July 11, 1884, at 10:00 o’clock a. m. Upon the adoption of the above resolutions, the members of the Board voted as follows upon call of the roll. Clark, Johnston and Henderson, aye. Nays, none. Upon motion, the Auditor was in- structed to have the above resolutions pub- lished for four weeks prior to the pro- posed meeting of July 11, 1884, in the following papers published and of general circulation in the County, viz. : The Miami Union, The Tippecanoe Herald and The Piqua Leader, and also to have printed and circulated handbills giving such notice. Journal 8, page 75. Special session, July 11, 1884. Board met pursuant to its adjournment of June 5th. Present, Clark, Johnston and Hen- derson, and the Auditor as Clerk. Upon the hearing of the matter of the location of the proposed new Court House, as set forth in the notice duly advertised by pub- lication in The Miami Union of Troy, and The Piqua Leader of Piqua, the Board, upon motion, found : 1st. That said lots are necessary for the erection of a new Court House because 364 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the present lands are insufficient and in- adequate for said purpose. 2d. That said lots are the most eligible for said purpose. 3d. That due notice as required by law had been given of said intention to appro- priate and purchase said lands for purpose and that the costs will exceed $10,000. 4th. The Board of Commissioners de- clare said lands to be necessary for the erection of the new Court House thereon, and hereby declare their intention to pur- chase or appropriate and condemn said lands for said purpose and do hereby ap- propriate said lands for the erection of a new Court House and its necessary public buildings thereon. 5th. M. B. Earnhart, Prosecuting At- torney of said County, is hereby author- ized to proceed at once, either in the Com- mon Pleas Court or the Probate Court of said County, as he may elect, to appropri- ate and condemn said lands to the County, for the erection of said public buildings thereon. Upon the adoption of each and all of the above orders, the Board all vote aye on call of the roll. Journal 8, page 82. September 8, 1884. The Board of Com- missioners met this day in adjourned quar- terly session. Present, Commissioners Clark, Johnston and Henderson, the County Auditor acting as Clerk of the Board. The following resolution was introduced and publicly read and adopted, to-wit: Whereas, the Commissioners of Miami County, Ohio, have decided to appropriate to the County Lots Nos. 34 and 35, Troy, Miami County, Ohio, to provide some suit- able place for a Court House and its nec- essary public buildings, and, Whereas, William Swailes and C. F. Grosvenor and Helen Grosvenor, owners in said lots, have submitted in writing their respective prices for their respective lands, and, Whereas, the Prosecuting Attorney and the Board agree that these prices are not unreasonable and are as cheap as the same can be obtained by condemnation suits, therefore, Resolved, That the Board of Commis- sioners accept the terms of the respective lot owners of said lots 34 and 35, and will pay the cash when they receive warranty deeds of said owners, as set forth in their several written propositions to this Board, and that the Board will proceed and sell Court House Bonds of the County to real- ize the cash payment therefor. Journal 8, page 107. September 20, 1884. The Board of Com- missioners of Miami County have decided to appropriate to the County lots Nos. 34 and 35, Troy, Miami County, Ohio, to pro- vide some suitable place for a Court House and other necessary public buildings, and Whereas, Mrs. F. R. Baker and Miss S. E. Kyle, by their agent, W. H. Baker, own- ers in said lots, have submitted in writing their price for their land, and, Whereas, the Prosecuting Attorney and the Board agree that their price is not un- reasonable and as cheap as the same can be obtained by condemnation suits; there- fore, Resolved, That the Board of Commis- sioners accept the terms of said lot owners as set forth in their written proposition to this Board ; and that the Board will pro- ceed to sell Court House Bonds of the County to realize the cash to be used in payment therefor. Journal 8, page 109. The above resolution to purchase lots Nos. 34 and 35, Troy, Ohio, from William Swailes, C. F. Grosvenor, Helen Grosvenor, Mrs. F. R. Baker and Miss S. E. Kyle do not recite the agreed purchase price thereof, but upon the completion of said contracts as shown by Journal 8, pages 110, 139, 140 and 142, the total sum paid was $21,933.21. The above named lots Nos. 34 and 35 comprise only the south half of the block occupied by the Court House and the rec- ords of the Commissioners fail to show any proceedings in relation to the north half thereof ; deeds, however, for said por- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 365 tion (being lots Nos. 12 and 13) from H. O. Evans, James Nesbitt and W. N. Foster to the County Commissioners are shown by the records of the Miami County Re- corder (the consideration thereof totalling $16,850), the Commissioners having been authorized to make such purchase, by a majority of the votes cast by the electors of Miami County at a special election held therein. September 20, 1884. A resolution was adopted to employ J. W. Yost as architect to prepare and submit plans and specifica- tions for the new Court House (Journal 8, page 110) and on January 2, 1885, said plans, etc., as submitted by said Yost were examined, approved and accepted by the Board (Journal 8, page 134) and on Feb- ruary 13, 1885, T. B. Townsend of Zanes- ville, Ohio, was awarded the contract (he being the lowest best bidder) for construct- ing said building for the sum of $130,- 158.64. Journal 8, page 145. The records fail to show just what was included in said plans and specifications, but numerous expenditures are shown to have been made thereafter, for changes in plans, furnishing, heating, lighting, frescoing, plumbing, construction of power house, grading and improving the grounds etc., etc., which will undoubtedly account for the discrepancy between said contract price of $130,158.64 and the amount of Court House Bonds issued from time to time in various amounts (totalling $350,- 000), as follows, to-wit: January 1, 1885 $24,000 July 1, 1885 48,000 April 23, 1886 30,000 January 1, 1887 60,000 May 4, 1885 48,000 November 16, 1885 30,000 July 1, 1886 60,000 July 1, 1887 50,000 In thirty years of use, the present Court House shows no appreciable signs of wear. It is as convenient to the people of Piqua as it is to half the people of Troy, under the modern rapid transit. THE SO-CALLED COURT HOUSE WAR There have been so many exaggerations published about the bitterness of feeling engendered between Piqua and Troy over the location of the Court House for Mi- ami county, commencing in 1807 and con- tinued through all the years from that time until 1884, and especially since the fight on this latter date has been repre- sented as malignant, that I have thought to relate briefly the history of the build- ing of the present splendid edifice, said to be not only the most expensive but the best finished one in the State outside of the larger cities of the State. The contest between two dry goods men or any two men or firms engaged in the same line of business in the same com- munity can be considered a fair parallel in a smaller way of the feeling between Piqua and Troy, both anxious to secure the county seat of justice. When the first court was located at Staunton there were about sixty people living there and a simi- lar number living in Washington, the name of the village afterward incorpora- ted as Piqua. Court was held in the house of Peter Felix, the first resident of Miami county, from July, 1807, to December, 1809. The second place of holding court for the county was in the house of Benjamin Overfield on the north east corner of Water and Mulberry streets, in the town of Troy. The structure was of logs, two stories, and built for a tavern for which it was used. The Court bar was upstairs and the other bar down stairs in the cor- ner room. It has been nowhere recorded, so far as my investigation has gone, that the bar upstairs had a greater number of practitioners than the one down stairs. After the lapse of 111 years this house remains in good repair, now weather- boarded. After 8 years, or in 1815, a new court house was begunjn the public square 366 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY but not finished for ten years afterward, or in 1825, making sixteen years that court was held in the Overfield tavern. Court was held in the third court house on the square for a period of twenty years or until 1845. At this time the population of Miami county was about 15,000. There were about 3,000 in Piqua and 2,000 in Troy. The two towns prior to 1837 were about equal in population but the Miami and Erie canal having been finished to Piqua on that date, and remaining the ter- minus for several years, became the supply point for the north east and north west, caused Piqua to forge ahead in population which position she ever afterward main- tained until at the present time, she out- numbers Troy two to one. When a fourth court house began to be agitated, being the second one to be owned by the county, the first organized effort upon the part of Piqua was made to defeat the project, with the hope that it might go to Piqua in time. The 1845 court house, located on lot 42 at Troy, now occupied by the Troy Post Office and opposite the Sheriff’s residence on Main street, re- mained the seat of justice for forty-three years, or until 1888. At this time, the population of Piqua had grown as follows : in 1860, 4,616; in 1870, 5,967; in 1880, 6,036; while Troy had grown from 2,643 in 1860 to 3,005 in 1870 and 3,803 in 1880, and, therefore, Piqua had a population of one-third more than Troy. Early in the legislative year of 1884, a bill was offered in the House which pro- vided for the establishment of a superior court in the city of Piqua, which, if passed, it was believed might eventually transfer the county seat to Piqua, or it would at least prevent the building of a new court house in Troy, commensurate with the prospective wealth and necessi- ties of the county. The gubernatorial cam- paign of 1883 was hotly contested and re- sulted in the election of George Hoadley and a Democratic legislature. During that campaign, I was the chairman of the Miami County Central and Executive Re- publican committees, with Boyd E. Furnas, afterward auditor of Miami county, as the secretary; ex-Senator John W. Morris oc- cupied a similar position for the Demo- cratic party of the county. He then had his office near the river bridge on Market street in Troy. Early in January of 1884 I visited him in his office when the follow- ing conversation occurred: “Senator, I have just had an interview with S. K. Harter, H. W. Allen and W. H. H. Dye who have delegated me to solicit your aid in procuring legislation favorable to the erection of a new court house in Troy, and they have promised to support us, if you, myself and Furnas will go to Columbus at once and commence work.” The Senator sprang up and seizing my hand said, “I am heartily with you, I think the ponies can put it over.” In referring to “the ponies,” the Senator was comparing his and my stature to that of the two men of large avoirdupois who had failed in a simi- lar mission to the legislature, some years before. When we arrived in Columbus, our first act was to place an Atlas- Directory on the desks of the one hundred and twenty-three members of the House and the thirty-two members of the Senate, with an outline map of Miami county, on the marble mantel piece on the north side of the Chamber of Representatives. These Atlas-Directories contained a list of each voter in Miami county, located by quarter sections with a list of all business houses in the county, including those conducted by women. A colored map of each town- ship and each school district was outlined in this book being the only colored school district map ever published in the United States. These books, placed on the desk of each legislator, were furnished without price by Sterrett and Furnas and repre- sented the sum of $1,555, at the retail price. Our friends from the city of Piqua, headed by the Hon. Frank McKinney, former Congressman, at once came to Co- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI CUONTY 36 1 lumbus to defeat our bill. Just prior to the passage of our bill by the House, a legislative committee was appointed to visit Piqua and Troy to look the situation over. Senator Morris and myself came over with them visiting Piqua first. We were driven over the city during the after- noon, and then to Troy, over the streets past each manufacturing plant, etc. The employes of each plant were lined up as the committee passed through. There were no idle people or animals in the city that evening. Everybody and everything was used in some way to impress our visi- tors that Troy was an exceedingly busy place. A list of people living in Troy and south of it was presented to them to show a larger population than north of it. A banquet was given them at the present Hotel Troy, at which the best to eat and drink in the valley was set before our guests. Some of the most staid citizens of Troy indulged in conduct that night never before or afterward practiced, and ordi- narily regarded as reprehensible behavior. Our visitors, one and all, left us in such a degree of exhilaration, that they openly proclaimed from the car platform as they moved off that we could have a million dollar court house if we wanted such an one. It can safely be stated now, without the betrayal of any confidence that the people of Troy had superior information in relation to the visit of the committee and, therefore, greater opportunity to im- press them. At the last hearing before the commit- tee, there were a half hundred prominent men from Piqua and Troy present using their influence with members, fraternizing as good neighbors should, one bent on passing and the other on defeating the bill. So far as the intercourse of the men com- posing these two delegations was con- cerned outside of the Legislature, they might have been present on the same friendly mission. When the bill passed the House and a re-consideration was at once offered and voted down, our county map was carried from the House to the Senate Chamber by the Veteran Third Sergeant at Arms, Col. Fred Blenkner, with whom I had served in the 5th Battalion of Ohio Cavalry during the Civil War and who, in all, has served the State in that capacity for forty years. Among a number of amusing incidents connected with that work, the one imme- diately after entering the Senate, is prob- ably the most laughable. I had succeeded in pinning the Republican leader of the Senate against one of the large pillars on the west side of the Chamber, and Senator Morris had the Democratic leader on the other side of the same pillar, without he or I being aware of it. I was explaining to my man that the passage of the meas- uie would largely aid the Republican party of Miami county and Senator Morris was explaining that the passage of the bill would greatly aid the Democratic party of Miami, when John’s man stepped out and said to my man, “Senator Williams, we had best pass this bill or both your party and mine will go to the devil in Miami county , and so, with both leaders enter- ing the lists in our favor, it was really but a matter of red tape or legislative formula to send it to engrossment. The passage of our bill did not by any means insure the building of a new Court House. The bill only provided for the necessary legislative authority for the peo- ple of Miami county to vote on the propo- sition. With the universal disposition of a certain class of citizens to vote against any measure which will increase taxes and a practically unanimous vote against it in the city of Piqua, the measure could not possibly carry before the people. In this dilemma, it was agreed among prominent Republicans to elect Senator Morris as a member of the Troy Council which was ?u?r b w a J a n e m ? jor i ty ’ In 1852 > when 55? . & D - railroad was built through Miami County, Troy had subscribed lib- erally to its construction and the road was built through the town ; but Piqua people, 368 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY under the belief that the managers of the road for business reasons would not dare miss them, subscribed not at all and the road was built a mile to the east of them which fact involved the business men of that city in a perpetual tax that they had been anxious to lift, up to that time, for a period of thirty years. This could only be accomplished by inducing the railroad to run a track on the west side of the river which could only be affected by obtaining the necessary right of way through Troy and no council in Troy had been willing to grant such a right over the streets. In that day before election tickets were printed at the expense of the county, the several political committees had printed and paid for the tickets used at the polls. It was agreed between a few men in both Piqua and Troy who could control the matter that if the Council of Troy would grant the right of way for the C. H. & D. railroad through their city, the tickets of both political parties in Piqua would be printed with the Court House question blank. The contract was carried out in good faith by both sides. While the rights of way over the streets of Troy were given by the Council under the management of Senator Morris, the private rights of way became another consideration which, while it has no connection with the new Court House, ought to have this historical record in honor of the memory of Senator Morris. Trusting in the oral promise of Mr. Waite, then the superintendent of the railroad property, he purchased the nec- essary private rights of way between Piqua and Troy and presented his bill therefor, after Mr. Waite had been suc- ceeded by a new superintendent who re- fused to ratify the prices paid. Over this, a law suit lasting several years dragged through the Court House that John had helped so much to create and the building of which had caused his costly litigation, resulting, as it did, in the loss of several thousands of dollars to him. If I were writing a personal history, my experience with the new Court House wtuld parallel that of Morris. In this relation I am re- minded to here quote the humorous in- scription : “Here lies a man who lived an hundred years and had many troubles, most of which never happened.” In a hundred, aye, in two hundred years from now, when Piqua has grown South and Troy North, with a line of great in. dustries , along the barge canal bound to be built, some one will revert to these pages for a true history of the inception of the building of our splendid Court House, still standing on its strong founda- tions and imperishable material. BRANDT Was laid out and owned by John i Peter Vorhees and Thomas Dover, Marci* 23, 1839. Original plat recorded in Vol- ume 17, pages 229 and 230, Miami County Record of Deeds. BLOOMERTOWN Was laid out and owned by George H. Finfrock, Aaron D. Camp, William Derr, William W. Sando, Samuel Sando and Si- mon B. Crick, January 18, 1883. Plat re- corded Vol. 1, page 486, Plat Record. BRADFORD Was laid out and owned by Daniel R. Rice, August 15, 1888. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 165, Record of Plats. CASSTOWN Owned and laid out by Rankin Westfall and Luke T. Dorsey, June 14, 1833. Plat recorded Vol. 10, page 366, Record of Deeds. CHARLESTON Laid out by Ignatus Friend, proprietor, May 12, 1815. Plat recorded Vol. 2, page 356, Record of Deeds. ORGANIZATION QF MIAMI COUNTY 369 CONOVER Was laid out by Solomon G. Brecount, April 26, 1856. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 57, Record of Plats. CLAYTON Laid out by Jacob Martin, proprietor, February 3, 1840. Plat recorded Vol. 18, page 233, Record of Deeds. COWLESVILLE Laid out by Samuel Y. Pearson, pro- prietor, October 10, 1842. Plat recorded Vol. 20, page 156, Record of Deeds. COVINGTON Was laid out and originally called Friendship. Plat filed September 16, 1816 and recorded in Vol. 3, page 94, Record of Deeds. DINGMANSBURG (Now in Shelby County) was laid out by Daniel V. Dingman, September 23, 1816. Plat recorded in Vol. 3, page 81, Record of Deeds. FLETCHER Was laid out by John H. Wolcott No- vember 15, 1830. Plat recorded Volume 8, page 184, Record of Deeds. FREDERICKTOWN Was laid out by Leonard Eller, propri- etor, September 25, 1828. Plat recorded in Vol. 7, page 14, Record of Deeds. GREENVILLE (Now in Darke County) was laid out by John Devor and Robert Gray, proprie- tors, August 10, 1808. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 15, Record of Deeds. HARDIN (Now in Shelby County) was laid out by James Lenox, proprietor, October 12, 1816. Plat recorded in Vol. 3, page 83, Record of Deeds. HYATTSVILLE (Now a part of Tippecanoe) was laid out May 4, 1833. Plat recorded in Vol. 10, page 285, Record of Deeds. HUNTERSVILLE (Now a part of Piqua) was laid out by David Hunter, January 5, 1838. Plat re- corded Vol. 15, page 586, Record of Deeds. LENA (Formerly Elizabethtown) was laid out by Levi N. Robbins, proprietor, October 29, 1831. Plat recorded in Vol. 9, page 15, Record of Deeds. LAURA Was laid out by Riley McCool and John W. Sharp, proprietors, June 7, 1852. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 13, Record of Plats. LUDLOW FALLS Was laid out by Samuel B. Smith, pro- prietor, May 16, 1882. Plat recorded Vol. 2, page 24, Record of Plats. MILTON Was laid out by Joseph Evans, propri- etor, May 6, 1807, before this County was organized and separated from Montgom- ery County, and the original plat of same is of record in Montgomery County. Copy of said original plat recorded in Vol. 1, page 161, Record of Plats of Miami County. MIAMI CITY Was laid out by Michael G. Carver, Levi Hart and William B. Vandeveer, owner, January 11, 1850. Plat was recorded Vol. 25, page 453, Record of Deeds. NEW JEFFERSON (Now a part of Covington) was laid out by Robert and William Robinson, propri- etors, August 29, 1828. Plat recorded in Vol. 6, page 522, Record of Deeds. NASHVILLE (Vacated by decree of Court at August Term, 1841) was laid out by David Byr- kett and Jacob Sheets, proprietors, Aug. 370 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 1, 1820. Plat recorded Vol. 4, page 229, Record of Deeds. NEWTON (Now known as Pleasant Hill) was laid out by Jacob K. Teeter, September 13, 1843. Plat recorded Vol. 20, page 551, Record of Deeds. NEW LEBANON Was laid out by John Holsapple, George Hatfield, David Longanecker, Joseph B. Carroll, Benjamin Longanecker, David Fetters, Daniel Snyder and John Ditmer, proprietors, May 19, 1845. Plat recorded Vol. 21, page 738, Record of Deeds. PLEASANT HILL (Formerly Newton) was incorporated April 9, 1866. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 131 and 132, Record of Plats. PIQUA (Originally called Washington) was laid out by John Manning and Matthew Caldwell August 28, 1807. Plat recorded Vol. 1, pages 1 and 2, Record of Deeds. PHONETON Was laid out December 18, 1907. Plat recorded Vol. 2, page 239, Record of Plats. ROSSVILLE Was laid out by William Knowles, March 20, 1841. Plat recorded Vol. 19, page 98, Record of Deeds. REDMAN (Now a part of Covington) was laid out by J. R. Shuman, owner, February 19, 1877. Plat recorded in Vol. 1, page 377, Record of Plats. STAUNTON Was laid out by John Smith August 23, 1806, prior to the separation of Miami from Montgomery County, and original plat of same is of record in said County of Montgomery. Copy of Plat recorded in Vol. 1, page 160, Miami County Record of Plats. TROY Was laid out December 16, 1807. Plat recorded in Vol. 1, page 3, Record of Deeds. TIPPECANOE Was laid out by John Clark, proprietor, April 13, 1840. Plat recorded Vol. 18, page 355, Record of Deeds. VICTORY (Now vacated) was laid out by John Brown proprietor, May 6, 1839. Plat re- corded Vol 17, page 327, Record of Deeds. WEST COVINGTON Was laid out by J. R. Shuman, June 12, 1869. Plat recorded Vol. 1, page 210, Record of Plats. Staunton and Milton are shown to be the oldest towns in the County, having been laid out prior to the organization of this County and its separation from Mont- gomery County, wherein the original plats of said towns are of record. ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS 1807—1918 TREASURERS Andrew Wallace, William Brown, John G. Telford, Jacob Knoop, William C. Knight, Andrew Patterson, George S. Murray, George C. Clyde, M. D. Mitchell, A. L. McKinney, S. D. Frank, Theodore Sullivan, John A. McCurdy, D. W. Sinks, S. N. Todd, George H. Rundle, J. C. Ullery, John Prugh, E. J. Eby, Jesse Burkett, C. W. Kiser, R. N. Burwell, H. E. Scott and Clarence Marr. AUDITORS H. W. Culbertson, David Grosvenor, Thomas S. Barrett, Jacob Knoop, B. F. Powers, Thomas B. Kyle, James Nesbitt, C. N. Hoagland, J. W. Defrees, R. J. Doug- las,. George C. Clyde, N. C. Clyde, Eli Ten- THEODORE SULLIVAN The subject of the above picture was of Irish extraction. His grandfather, James, first settled in the South, then moved to Clark county, Ohio, where Samuel Sullivan, the father of Theodore, was born. Samuel married Marie Crook, a sister of Gen. Crook, of Civil War and Indian fighting fame, from which union, ten children were born, of which Theodore was the third, born in Montgomery county, Ohio. He attended the local schools. Linden Hill academy, in New Carlisle, and Antioch at Yellow Springs. When 21 years of age, he was admitted to the bar in Dayton, Ohio, where he practiced for some years, connected with C. L. Vallandingham and John A. McMahon. In 1865, he married Miss M. J. S. Seager, of Indiana, whose people originally came to America from Birmingham, England. Mr. Sullivan’s father owned the linseed oil mills of Tippecanoe, to which place Theodore moved in 1867 to assist his father. In 1872, he was elected treasurer of Miami county and served in that position until 1876, when he resumed the practice of the law, in which profession, as an attorney at the bar or as a judge on the bench, he remained until his death on September 10, 1910. He was an industrious lawyer, devoting great care in the preparation of his cases, which he invariably presented in a cool and dignified manner, much in contradistinction to some of his contemporaries who were wont to indulge in bluster and theatrcal behavior. His choice of words before the judge and jury were marked by a simplicity that could be easily grasped and which always maintained the close attention of his hearers. In 1891, he became a candidate before the Republican delegate convention for nomination as common pleas judge of Miami county. At this time, I lived in the city of St. Louis and was called back to Troy to assist him in his campaign, in which he was successful both in the convention and in the succeeding election. He served with distinction to himself and Miami county in this capacity for a period of eight years, when he was called to the higher bench of the circuit court, where he served the remainder of his life, dying in office. His conception of the honor and purity attached to the judicial ermine was as high as that of John Marshall, the great first chief justice and no act of his on the bench was ever known to lower that high standard. Off of the bench, he was a choice spirit in wit, repartee and rencounter. He was fond of music and poetry, indulging in both in the hours of genial companionship. Walter Seager Sullivan, his son, for years a prominent business man of New York City, was born May 24. 1866, and Horace, the second son, was born September 24, 1873, and died April 15, 1877. THE HOME OF CHARLES J. HARR, 209 WEST FRANKLIN ST., TROY, O. If there are any better neighbors than Charley Harr, his wife and accomplished daughter, Grace, my wife and I have not found them and do not believe they exist. THE HOME OF CHAS. W. TOBEY, 221 WEST FRANKLIN STREET, TROY, OHIO The subject of this sketch was born in Dayton, Ohio, on June 17, 1855 and lived with his father and mother, Nathaniel and Martha Jane Worman Tobey, until their death. He was educated in the public schools of Dayton until he was ten years of age, when he came with his parents to Troy. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1876 and became a partner of his father in the drug business in Troy, and continued in the same room for the past 42 years. He was one of the founders of the Ohio Pharmaceutical Association of which he was chairman of the first executive committee. He was the first delegate of that body to the National Retail Druggists Association. He was twice appointed to the Ohio State Board of Examiners for pharmacists. He was one of the original promoters of the Island Outing Club. On May 13, 1879, he united in marriage with Ella Reed, a daughter of Browning Reed, whose mother was a daughter of Daniel Babb, heretofore referred to in this work. His family worship at the First Presbyterian church. H is a Knight Templar and a Knight of Pythias and J. O. O. A. W. Like most of the successful business men, he possesses a farm in which he takes an intelligent interest. Mr. Tobey possesses one of the wonderful Bibles of the world, published in Germany in 1634 and in an excellent state of preservation. The original owner was a German Huguenot Lutheran preacher and a rebel general, a Tobey ancestor, who escaped to England and came in the Mayflower to Cape Cod. This Bible descended through all the centuries to the youngest son, until it reached Nathaniel Tobey, the father of Chas. W., who was an only son. My personal information is that there is but one older Bible in the United States, now in the University of Chicago, Illinois. Since my friend Charles lives three doors from me on the same street, and being a plain man with few frills, he would not thank me to write anything connected with his name, except plain unvarnished facts. Few men are now in business in Troy who commenced as early as he and none have a higher character for honorable transaction. THE HOME OF OGDEN EDWARDS Peters Ave., Troy, Ohio Eight generations ago, William Edwards married Agnes Spencer and settled at Hartford. Conn., about 1645. Their son Richard married Elizabeth Tuttle of New Haven. The son of Richard was graduated at Hartford in 1691 and preached at East Windsor until 1753 and died there at the age of 89 years. His son Jonathan was graduated from Yale College in 1720 at the age of seventeen and preached at North Hampton, Massachusetts, until 1750. He was elected President of Princeton College in 1768. Robert Hall says “I consider Jonathan Edwards as the greatest of the sons of men. He ranks with the brightest luminaries of the Christian Church, not excluding any country or any age< since the Apostles.’ Sir James McIntosh said of him, ‘'This remarkable man was the metaphysician of America. His power of subtle argument, perhaps unmatched, certainly unsurpassed among men, was joined, as in some ancient mystics, with a character that raised his piety to fever heat." His treatise on ‘‘The Nature of True Virtue” and other works elicited high praise from Lord Kairnes and other distinguished scholars and was read throughout America. Timothy Edward, a son of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was married Sept. 2'5, 1760, to Rhoda Oeden and died in 1813. His sister married Rev. Aaron Burr and thus became the mother of Aaron Burr, Vice- president of the United States. Jonathan Edwards, a son of Timothy, was born Oct. 10, 1764 and died August 31, 1832. He married Lucy Woodbridge, Nov. 20, 1778, and their son, Mathias O., was born April 8, 1793, and died June 25, 1843. He wedded Sarah Bradley Oct. 12, 1815. His son Jonathan O. Edwards was born at Birmingham, New York, on August 13, 1825, and accompanied his father to Youngstown, Ohio. His death occurred in Troy, August 4, 1897. He enjoyed a national reputation as a breeder of Merino sheep and short horn cattle. He was married May 19th, 1859, to Joanna W. Allen, vyho was born at Ells- worth, Ohio, March 8, 1827. His son. Ogden Edwards, the subject of this sketch, was born at Youngstown. Ohio, August 29, 1860, and was educated in the public schools of that city and at Rayen College. He was united in marriage to Kate King on Dec. 7, 1893, from which union three children have been born, Jona- than Ogden, April 2, 1895, Elmore King August 10, 1897, Frederick Andrews July 19, 1901. Mr. Edwards came to Troy in 1890 and conductedthe grain elevator at the C. H. & D; tracks and one at his mills, a mile south of Troy which he conducted for twenty years in connection with manufacturing flour and corn meal and conducting his farm. His position in the community is in consonance with his illustrious parentage. He and his family worship at the Presbyterian Church. He now ranks himself as a farmer. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 375 ney, W. I. Tenney, C. C. Barnett, Horatio Pearson, Boyd E. Furnas, Elmer E. Pear- son, Albert E. Sinks, M. T. Staley, C. N. Peters. COMMON PLEAS JUDGES R. S. Hart, Ebenezer Parsons, Iehabod Corwin, Robert C. Fulton, Geo. D. Bur- gess, H. H. Williams, Calvin D. Wright, Theodore Sullivan, Walter D. Jones. CLERKS OF THE COURT Cornelius Westfall, John G. Telford, Thomas J. S. Smith, Benjamin W. Leavell, Barton S. Kyle, Charles V. Royce, Smith Talbott, J. W. Cruikshank, John B. Latch- ford, J. B. Fouts, Abbott E. Childs, E. A. Jackson, J. H. Landis, Cloyd Smith, Brooks Johnson. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS The last history of Miami County gives E. Adams as the first man who held this office, whereas the first one was Arthur St. Clair, who was the first Governor of Ohio and who was followed by Isaac G. Burnett. E. Adams, Arthur St. Clair, William I. Thomas, Thomas S. Barrett, Ralph S. Hart, Ebenezer Parsons, H. G. Sellers, M. H. Jones, James T. Janvier, Walter S. Thomas, W. F. Ross, H. H. Wil- liams, C. D. Wright, Moses B. Earnhart, Samuel Jones, Thomas B. Kyle, J. Harri- son Smith, Alva B. Campbell, William E. Lytle, J. Guy O’Donnell, Frank C. Good- rich, Raymond Kerr. PROBATE JUDGES The last history of Miami County gives Joseph Pearson as the first one to fill the office, whereas the new constitution of 1852, first providing for this office, it was filled by Benjamin F. Powers until 1854, when Mr. Pearson completed his four-year term as Sheriff and was elected to the po- sition of Probate Judge for the term of three years and re-elected in 1857, going out of the office in 1861, when he was suc- ceeded as follows: Samuel Davis, W. N. Foster, A. L. McKinney, W. C. Johnston, W. J. Clyde, John C. Geyer, William Freshour, J. Harrison Smith, E. W. Maier and L. E. St. John. Judge William M. Rockel says: “Considering the vast interests to be adjudicated upon by this Court, and the very great confidence and trust placed in the person occupying the position of Pro- bate Judge by persons interested in the administration of estate and like affairs of a trust character, the position ought to be occupied not only by a man of good legal training, but of a very high moral char- acter.” REPRESENTATIVES Arthur Stewart, Fielding Lowrey, Jo- seph Evans, James Blue, T. W. Furnas, Samuel Kyle, Robert Montgomery, Asa Coleman, James Fergus, John P. Finley, William Mendenhall, Leander Munsell, William Fielding, John McCorlde, William Barbee, Amos Perry, JohnWilson, Thomas J. Smith, Stacey Taylor, Hiram Bell, John Briggs, Justin Hamilton, Thomas Shidler, John McClure, David Alexander, James Bryson, J. W. Riley, David H. Morris, Stephen Johnston, Joseph Potter, W. A. Weston, Tansy Julian, Joseph Worley, Henry S. Mayo, Augustus Fenner, Levi N. Booher, Eli Tenney, M. H. Jones, V/. B. McClung, S. E. Brown, J. H. Randall, Da- vid Alexander, J. C. Ullery, J. P. William- son, George C. Clyde, Joseph E. Pearson, Samuel Sullivan, M. W. Hays, D. M. Mur- ry, Noah H. Albaugh, John A. Sterrett, instead of James A., in the last County history ; Van S. Deaton, John A. McCurdy, W. I. Tenney, H. J. Ritter, Van S. Deaton and Lorin E. Pearson. SENATORS The Counties of Darke, Miami and Shelby have constituted the Twelfth Sen- atorial District of Ohio since the consti- tution of 1852. This County has been hon- ored by William I. Thomas, John W. Mor- 37fc HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ris, A. C. Cable, Jennison Hall and George S. Long. CONGRESSMEN Miami County has furnished the following Congressmen: William Mc- Lean, J. F. McKinney, Robert M. Murray, Elihu S. Williams, Martin K. Gantz and Thos. B. Kyle. COMMISSIONERS William Barbee, Henry Gerard, James McCorkle, James Naylor, Alexander Ew- ing, Thomas Coppock, Alexander McNutt, James Fergus, John Wilson, William Men- denhall, James Orr, James Johnston, Oli- ver Benton, Hugh Scott, William Wiley, Robert Morrison, Michael Williams, James Brown, E. P. Davis, Samuel Pierce, Rich- ard Morrow, Jacob Knoop, Sr., Samuel Kelley, W. C. Knight, William Elliott, D. H. Morris, Isaac Sheets, William Scott, J. N. Wolcott, Jacob Knoop, James B. Rose, Abner Jones, Ralph Peterson, B. F. Brown, Howard Mitchell, Jeremiah Fen- ner, Jacob Rohrer, J. C. Coate, James Sims, Jr., D. M. Houser, Nathan Jackson, James Saylor, D. M. Coate, Isaac Clyne, W. H. Northcutt, D. C. Bronson, William Johnston, Edmund Lewis, John W. Wid- ney, John C. Henderson, John T. Knoop, David C. Statler, B. B. Scarff, S. D. Frank, W. H. Alexander, Robert Martindale, Hav- ilah Coppock, Ira T. Jackson, B. F. Smith, J. B. Studebaker, W. G. Wilson, W. B. Segner, J. E. Anderson, Thomas C. Brown, Jos. M. Fink, Chas. H. Jackson, Oscar W. Pearson, B. S. Levering, C. M. Hunt. The Board sitting in 1918 are as follows: Chas. H. Jackson, Chas. W. Jensen and John McCandless. SHERIFFS From 1907 to 1910 Stephen Dye, 1810 to L. Munsell, 1822 to 1826 R. Culbertson, 1812 T. W. Furnas, 1812 to 1816 Stephen Dye, 1816 to 1820 Levi Hart, 1820 to 1822 1826 to 1832 T. W. Furnas, 1832 to 1836 John Shideler, 1836 to 1839 Joseph De Frees, 1839 to 1841 T. W. Furnas, 1841 to 1846 Stephen Johnston, 1846 to 1850 Thomas Jay, 1850 to 1854 Joseph Pearson, 1854, J. M. Roe. From the August term, 1854 to the October term 1855, Daniel Ellis, Coroner, acted as Sheriff; October, 1855 to 1860, S. E. Hustler; 1860 to 1863, (December term), J. Hart; 1863 (Decem- ber term), Joseph C. Horton, Coroner, Acting Sheriff ; 1864 to 1866 C. T. Baer, 1866 to 1870 S. D. Frank, 1870 to 1874 William Evans, 1874 to 1878 D. L. Lee, 1878 to 1882 D. C. Miller, 1882 to 1886 J. M. Campbell, 1886 to 1890 A. M. Hey- wood, 1890 to 1894 T. W. Ashworth, 1894 to 1898 E. M. Wilbee, 1898 to 1902 F. E. Scobey, 1902 to 1906 W. E. Rogers, 1906 to 1911 R. H. Gibson, 1911 to 1915 Louis Paul, 1915 to 1918 Joe Barnett. In the last history of Miami County Levi Hart is made to serve from 1812 to 1816, whereas it was Stephen Dye who served during that period, and Hart served between 1816 and 1820. John Shidler is made to serve from 1826 to 1832 whereas it was T. W. Furnas who served during that period, and John Shidler served from 1832 to 1836. Stephen Johns- ton is made to serve from 1841 to 1846, whereas it was 46 to 50 while T. W. Furnas served in 41-46. From the March term to the August term of 1854, the records show a vacancy. The last County history makes Daniel Ellis the Sheriff in 1854, whereas Mr. Ellis was never Sheriff, but as Coroner of Miami County, at the October term of 1854, he acted as Sheriff. The former history of the County does not mention Simon E. Hustler as having held the office of Sheriff, and yet he was elected in 1855 and served until 1860. In the last history of Miami County no mention is made of the fact that J. C. Horton, Coroner, served as Sheriff during the December term of 1863. SURVEYORS Armstrong Brandon, Fielding Lowrey, Andrew Wallace, Daniel Hoover, B. S. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 377 Cox, John Devor, James Creegan, William R. Flinn, J. T. Tullis, Simon Loop, James Hanks, John H. Wolcott, Jacob Knoop, John B. Fish, William Giffin, J. E. Alex- ander, John N. Rouzer, A. C. Buchanan, E. P. Kellogg, H. O. Evans, R. F. Walker, John W. Dowler, Harry J. Walker, H. E. Whitlock, Louis P. Knoop, Maurice A. Gantz. INFIRMARY DIRECTORS The last history of Miami County makes James McKaig, Jacob Counts and Asa Coleman as the first three, whereas it was Joseph R. John, Joseph Culbertson and Joseph M. Skinner. The historical fact being established by the Journal of the Commissioners on January 20, 1840, the first report of these directors will be found in Vol. 4, page 202 of the journal. Four years afterward the report was signed by A. W. McNabb. It was after this date that the three first named gentlemen served, and then George Throckmorton, David Huston, S. M. Dickson, William H. Gahagan, James H. Pea, John D. DeWeese, Geo. B. Frye, Jacob Knoop, William Ham- ilton, S. A. Cairns, Stephen Genslinger, Joseph Bains, B. N. Langston, Samuel Bowerman, John E. Anderson, Harrison Gear, I. M. Aspinall, E. E. Thompson, E. F. Sayres, L. L. Speagh, William E. Fos- ter Frank Beck, Havilah Coppock, J. W. Underwood. CORONERS The last history of Miami County states that J. W. Means was the first coroner and follows him with Dr. J. W. Calvin, Dr. Charles Gaines, Dr. John Beamer and Dr. Van S. Deaton. Since the predecessor of Dr. Means was Dr. John G. Senior and his predecessor was Dr. Van S. Deaton, and his predecessor was Dr. L. E. Kitzmiller, who served for a dozen years and since we have shown that Danniel Ellis was Coroner in 1854, acting Sheriff for J. M. Roe, resigned, and that both John Hart and Joseph C. Horton were acting Sher- iffs, in the December term of 1863, and the further fact that the constitution of 1802 provided specifically for the election of a Coroner, and that therefore ther had been Coroners elected for 79 years before Dr. Means was elected, we are led to exclaim, our friend did not “dig” very deep in that particular historical field. RECORDERS Cornelius Westfall, William Barbee, Zachariah Riley, Geo. D. Burgess, J. Wid- ener, J. P. Williamson, Hiram M. Lukens, George Green, Isaac A. Landis, E. J. Eby, J. O. Davis, J. C. Moore, Clarkson Coate, Perry Moyer, B. S. Mohler and Barton Baker. THE FIRST GRAND JURY The following Grand Jury was impan- eled in 1807 : James Blue, foreman ; James L. McKinney, Henry Orbison, Joseph Mc- Korkle, Daniel Knoop, Theodore Sanders, Michael Blue, Matthew Caldwell, John Huston, William Miller, Andrew Dye, Jr., John Wallace, John Jenkins, James You- art, with Isaac Holt as Constable. The first indictments found by the Grand Jury were against George Overpeck and Alonzo Shaw, both for assault and battery. S. S. McKinney was the first attorney in Piqua, and William I. Thomas the first in Troy. The following interesting account of the manner in which Court was held in that early day has been written by M. H. Jones, from whom a facsimile letter is repro- duced in this book : “On one occasion the Court came to Troy in their buggy in the evening, and went to the Court House and got all the papers in all the cases from the Clerk, read them and considered them in their room at the hotel that night, decided them, putting a slip in each package announcing their decision, took them back to the Clerk before breakfast the next morning, called his attention to their decisions and told the Clerk to tell all the lawyers when they came in and after an early breakfast they started in their buggy to hold Court in the 378 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY next County. You can imagine the pious ejaculations of the lawyers when they came into Court to try their cases.” In 1816 was tried the murder case of a man named Armstrong, and sentenced to be hung, but was afterward commuted to a term of imprisonment. In 1855 Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Ragan of Piqua was tried for the murder of her hus- band, with Ralph S. Hart on the bench and M. H. Jones as Prosecuting Attorney, as- sisted by Ebenezer Parsons. The defense was conducted by John A. Corwin, of Ur- bana, James S. Hart and S. S. McKinney, and although there was no doubt of her guilt the jury returned a verdict of ‘‘not guilty.” In the summer of 1859, the Hobatta murder case was tried which resulted in a penitentiary sentence and his pardon after 11 years. In 1880, George Mitchell, colored, was indicted for the murder of his wife, before H. H. Williams on the bench and Moses B. Earnhart, Prosecutor. He was found guilty and hung in an enclosure on the northwest side of the Court House, by Daniel C. Miller, Sheriff, on September 17, 1880. As a witness of that execution, I was gratified when the law was changed providing that ail executions should take place in the penitentiary at Columbus. In 1893 Jefferson Shank was tried for the murder of his wife before Theodore Sullivan as Judge and Thomas B. Kyle, Prosecutor, and was sentenced to the State Prison for life, but becoming a trusty, he was soon afterward pardoned. In one hundred and eleven years, in- cluding the acquittal of young Knoop in 1916, of the charge of murdering young Favorite, there have been seven murder trials, one execution, two State Prison sen- tences and four acquittals. THE RANDOLPH SLAVES John Randolph, born in Chesterfield County, Va., June 2, 1773, was a descend- ant of Pocahontas, inherited many slaves, but like Washington, provided for their liberation in his last testament. His po- litical persuasions were not well defined, and his social status was an anomalous one. Indeed, he has been described as an Ishmaelite — “his hand against every man’s and every man’s hand against him.” At his death in 1833, it was discovered that he had provided that a tract of land in the State of Ohio should be purchased for his slaves numbering some 200, but on account of a contest, instituted by some of his heirs these colored people were not sent in Ohio until 1846, when, after reach- ing Cincinnati, they traveled up the valley and arrived at their destination in Mercer County, but being badly received there the most of them came South and settled in Piqua, Troy and in Union Township of Miami County, where several hundred of their descendants now live, most of whom are good and well-to-do citizens. These people are supposed to have a good title to the Mercer County land, probably for- feited on account of non-payment of taxes and such other lapses as prevented them from recovering possession after years of litigation. These slaves were numbered and described and many of them will be found recorded in the Miami County rec- ords. Most of the younger ones had trus- tees appointed over them and most of the older ones selected trustees. That portion of them who selected Troy for their home arrived here in a canal boat and debarked on Mulberry Street. Grandfather S. 0. Binkley became the trustee of a coal-black boy who bore the name of Watt Jones, and whom the older residents of Troy will rec- ollect as a somewhat novel character, and for many years had the distinction of be- ing the only colored man in Troy who voted the Democratic ticket. Both Mr. Binkley and his wife Julia had been brought up in Hagerstown, Md., and in North Carolina respectively, and were fa- miliar with colored help. Grandmother Binkley had reason to doubt the honesty of Watt and left a dime on the dining- ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 379 room table which she found missing after a visit there from Watt. She made in- quiry of him about it and he replied : “In- deed, double trufe, I kain’t tell a lie; I didn’t take it.” Being sure he had taken it, she said, “Watt, if you tell me the truth I will not punish you,” when Watt replied, “The cat’s got my tongue,” whereupon Grandma went to the yard, and cutting a peach-tree switch, went back and found Watt hiding under the table, and she again demanded the truth, and it was then Watt said to her, “Let me think a minute,” and after cocking his head on one side, with seeming deep concentration and mental strain finally saw the light and admitted his peculation. For some years I was the Chairman of the County Republican Com- mittee and fixed an evening to convince Watt of the error of his ways from a po- litical standpoint. After I had reminded him that he could not certainly be wiser than all the rest of his people, who in- variably voted the Republican ticket, and that party had freed his people from bond- age, and that the immortal Lincoln had penned the document that liberated 4,000,- 000 of them, Watt excitedly replied to me, “Hold on there, Frank ! that isn’t the truf. Abe Lincoln didn’t free the slaves, Mr. Jeff Davis freed the niggers. He brought on the war and that’s what freed ’em.” Watt was so manifestly in earnest in his circuitous reasoning that I abandoned all hope of his conversion thereafter, and when I would afterward tell the story in his presence as I often did, it would at once start Watt off on a line of vindicating his belief. On page 30, Vol. 42, Miami County Rec- ords of Deeds, is the history of the trus- teeship of Elijah Coate and Andrew Ste- vens, over sixteen of these Randolph slaves with a description of the land which they owned in Union Township. On page 82, Volume 3, Miami County Record of Deeds, is the following entry: I hereby certify that Amy, a black wo- man, the bearer of this, I bought a slave in Kentucky when between two and three years of age and brought her to the State of Ohio with her mother and others ; that I gave her to one of my daughters till she was eighteen years old and she had served her time faithfully and is now legally free from me and all claiming under me. Given under my hand this 27th day of June, A. D„ 1816. WILLIAM WOOD. WILLIAM G. WOOD. In that day, and many years afterward, slave catchers came into Miami County to reclaim those who had fled from bondage, and sometimes take those who were actu- ally free into slavery. In 1826, a school house of bricks was erected on the south- east corner of the present Edwards school house block, which was afterward used by the colored people as a church, and after- ward occupied by a colored woman who came to Troy unannounced and engaged in washing for people and performing such other work as she could procure. It was noticed that she always locked the door after entering her house and would but partially open it when any one sought admission. One day there came riding up Main Street two horsemen, finely mounted, who rode straight for the old meeting house and demanded admission thereto, but recieving no answer broke the door down and searched the house, to find no one in it, after which, stopping at the ho- tel (then kept on the northwest corner of the Public Square), and drinking at the bar, they proceeded on their return to Kentucky. The woman had hid in a small room in the chapel, which escaped the attention of the slave hunters. After their departure she soon afterward left for parts unknown. For many years before the Civil War there was in operation what was known as “The Underground Rail- road” from Kentucky to Canada. When the black man or woman, seeking freedom, crossed the Ohio River they had informa- tion as to where the first station was lo- 380 HISTORY OP MIAMI COUNTY cated, and there the agent transferred the fugitive to the next station, usually after night, and thus on to liberty. There were several stations in Miami County. The Quakers and Dunkard religious societies, who extensively populated the Stillwater Valley, were strong anti-slavery people, and probably none of them were adverse to aiding these fugitives. CHAPTER XXI. MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS The Piqua and Troy Chapters of “The Daughters of the American Revolution” have located in Miami County, the follow- ing graves of Revolutionary soldiers : John Campbell, Forest Hill Cemetery. Andrew Small, Forest Hill Cemetery. David Manson, Brown School House Cemetery. Levi Munsell, Fletcher Cemetery. Benjamin Pegg, Hilliard Cemetery. Lewis Boyer, Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Miles Williams, half mile north of Lena Cemetery. Samuel Mitchell, McKendree Chapel Cemetery. John Byrns, McKendree Chapel Cem- tery. Henry Harter, McKendree Chapel Cem- etery. Jacob Counts, Raper Chapel Cemetery. Joseph Rollin, Raper Chapel Cemetery. Samuel Winans, Raper Chapel Ceme- tery. Joseph Moll, Raper Chapel Cemetery. Daniel Bailey, Raper Chapel Cemetery. David Stewart, Raper Chapel Cemetery. James Orr, Raper Chapel Cemetery. Michael Miller, Raper Chapel Cemetery. Alexander Telford, Rose Hill Cemetery. William Meredith, Rose Hill Cemetery. Aaron Tullis, Rose Hill Cemetery. David Morris, Sailors’ Cemetery. Covault, Lost Creek Cemetery. Andrew Dye, Sr., Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. John Gerard, Staunton Cemetery. Charles Carroll, West Branch, Quaker Church Cemetery. Joseph Rollins, buried at Raper Chapel, fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. Henry Harter, buried at McKendree Chapel, 381 spent the severe winter of the revolution at Valley Forge with Washington. Mi- chael Miller, buried at Raper Chapel, fought under the command of Lafayette. On July 4, 1837, there was a meeting of all revolutionary soldiers then living in Miami County, held in Troy, at which thir- teen toasts were replied to, and the Troy guard led the parade, and the ladies laid a table to accommodate one hundred guests. Miami County in the War of 1812 Unless a battle was fought within the limits of the county, or it resulted in the settlement of the same, or it was com- manded by some one who became promi- nently connected with the county, a county history cannot be considered a proper me- dium through which to describe it. The war of 1812, while not declared until that date, had its actual beginning at the bat- tle of Tippecanoe, six miles north of La- fayette, Indiana, in 1811. Former county history states that Te- cumseh, the great Indian statesman and leader, commanded at that battle, which was not the case. The prophet, his brother, commanded in that battle, the result of which forever disgraced him in the eyes of his brother Tecumseh, and the Shawnee Indians. Tecumseh had returned from his mission among the southern Indians to De- troit, and it was precisely for this reason that General Harrison brought on the bat- tle, because he knew Tecumseh might re- turn any day. There was but one company recruited in Miami County for the war of 1812. Two forts, one at Piqua and one at Cov- ington, were erected on Miami County soil during that war. The company was commanded by Captain George Buchanan, 382 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY acting principally as rangers on the fron- tier, with headquarters at Ft. Rowdy, af- terward Ft. Buchanan, located at Coving- ton. The regular militia of the county was called out several times for short pe- riods as emergency seemed to require, even for as short a period as 15 days. The principal officers of the militia, who per- formed service then was Major Charles Wolverton, Captain Reuben Westfall, Cap- tain William Luce and Captain Jacob Mann, the grandfather of our present dry goods friend in Troy, Jacob Mann. Notwithstanding the unimportant work performed by Miami County in a military way, the most important work of the whole war in the interest of its successful termination was performed within the bor- ders of Miami County, under the authority of the Government. John Johnston held some 6000 Indians, women and children, from various tribes, away from the war- path at Upper Piqua, at the mouth of Lora- mie Creek, and it was the maintenance of these Indians, in friendly relations during the period of hostilities, that counted a great deal toward the result. Councils were held with these Indians by Governor Meigs and United States Senator Jere- miah Morrow, who kept them in constant touch with the President. During this period these Indians were largely fed and clothed by the Government, and to whom, also, many presents were given. The story of the Gerard and Dilbone murders, in August, 1813, in Spring Creek Township, has been written about in con- nection with the war of 1812, and made to appear as having been brought about and induced by that conflict, whereas, those murders could have been committed by white men, so far as the motive for their commission was concerned. It was an act of war, but was superinduced by a per- sonal quarrel between Gerard, Dilbone and the elder Indian, who was accompanied by an Indian boy. Daniel Gerard lived four miles north of Troy, on Spring Creek, and with his neighbor, Ross, was hewing tim- ber a hundred yards from the house when shot. Ross fled and gave the alarm, when the Indians fled without disturbing the family. Since the British Government was at that time offering a bounty for the scalps of Americans, it is evident money- making did not furnish the motive. Two miles further north, Dilbone and his wife were pulling flax, near a cornfield when at- tacked. After being shot Dilbone ran and hid and lived until the evening of the next day, when discovered. The Indian and boy had but one rifle between them and after killing Mrs. Dilbone, left that behind, scarcely to be accounted for as the act of a warrior. They were simply “bad In- juns” and took advantage of war times to commit an act that had been frequently committed by white men before and since the Dilbone crime. One of our county his- tories, records Dilbone’s family as the sec- ond one that settled in Spring Creek Town- ship, but this is a mistake, since the land office records show his land was entered in 1813 but a short time before his murder. The Mexican War There was only a part of a company re- cruited in Miami County for the war with Mexico and they were attached to a Day- ton Company. There was a large per cent of the people here then who viewed that war, as Tom Corwin did, when he said from his place in Congress: “If I were a Mexican as I am an American, I would welcome you with bloody hands to hospi- table graves,” but there are few today who entertain any other view than that the ac- quisition of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California and Nevada and a part of Colo- rado and Oklahoma was an unmixed bless- ing to civilization. These States, once a part of priest-ridden, revolutionary Mex- ico, now contain 12,000,000 of happy and contented people. In the galaxy of union, Texas is fifth in population. Her domain is so broad that when the morning mock- ing birds carol their sons amid the dia- mond dewdrops in the giant cypress trees The Dog “Trust” Supposedly the only dog in history mustered in and out of the United States Army. Trained by Samuel H . Shannon, whose sketch and portrait appears on another page. The discharge of "Trust," on next page, is re- corded in the Court House of Miami County. % O' V\ non* ne 7/«t -:4 * O/f . t ft ,*&**.*. . biz# /4(<<&zn - / 1 .!/ y^' ' .' / ^ , . „,. A,fA/ec/-Ut* t /<• A/S* £xn*t z&Aen/u&c' u An ' (A/. ■ „ , *?> - .,x ■ • y < $&&&&/ yAA^$s& ?(/■ V//. ... ; ,/,.. ../ - ... . _, „„ / »/^f ' ' :/V >^7 y , \,, ( ,7" » v> |y[ eA. ....;, , • . ^ ;. / ,e£ 7 ^i / v // /-• ? ’ /3 _ 7 ^ ..>•-.»••. - y 'V J Discharge of Dog “Trust Form 14. GREAT EASTERN, WESTERN, AND SOUTHERN EXPRESS FORWARDER RECEIVED G'/Zat/fee/. — Which it is mutually agreed is to lie forwarded to our Agency nearest or most convenient^nestination only, It is part of the consideration of this contract, 'andvit is agreed, that the said Express Company AKK FORW. loss or damage to said property while being conveyed by tlia.CA RRIEUS to whom the same may be by said Express or River Navigation, Steam, Fire in Stores. Depots, or in Transit, Leakage, Breakage, or from any cause whatev fraud or gross negligence of said Express Company, or their servants ; nor in any event shall the holder forwarded is hereby valued, -unless otherwisp herein expressed.' nr unless specially insured by them, and so specified delivered to other parties to complete the transporfati (>NI*)\ and arg not to tie held liable or responsible for any ( g from the dangers of Railroads, Ocean | lie be proved to have occurred from the 1 I FTY DOLT, A US. at which the article sura nee shall constitute the limit of liie liability of the Adams Express Company.. Ai id if the same is intrusted or delicrred to any other Express Company or Ay/mt, ( irhich sniil Adams Express Company are hereby authorized to do), such Company or person so selected shall be reyarded exclusively as Hie agent of the shipper or 01 cner. and. as such, alone liable, and the Adams Express Company shall not be in any event responsible for the neyligence or non- performance of any such Conivany or person; nor in any event shall said Express Company he liable for any hiss or damage unless the claim therefor shall he presented to them, in writing, at this office, witnin thirty days after this date, in a statement to which ibis receipt shall be annexed. All articles of Cl. ASS, or contained in Glass, or any of a fragile nature, will be taken at Shipper's risk only, and the Shipper agrees that the Company shall not be held responsible for any injury by breakage or otherwise, nor for damage to goods not properly packed and secured for transportation. It i- further agreed that said Company shall not in any eve nt be liable for any loss, damage o by the gets of Cod, Civil or Military Authority, or by Rebellion, Rim. y. Im-urreetion. or Riot, or the dangers ijftident tovi tjjue-ff Freight, For the Company, EXPRESS RECEIPT For the body of Jacob Right Sterrett, shot in the battle of Chickamauga, late in the evening of the second day’s fight, September 20, 1863, in the act of capturing a Confederate flag. W. W. Lyle, to whom this receipt was issued and who shipped the body, was the well known and loved Chaplain of that famous fighting organization, who just before the beginning of that great struggle addressed a throne of grace, while the regiment surrounded him, with uncovered heads. THE KNOOP CABIN Was erected in 1800, on Section 4, Staunton township, and still standing'. It was one of the first four cabins erected in Miami county, the others being Peter Felix of Staunton ; Job Gard at Piqua, and Samuel Morrison on Honey Creek. It is probable that Simon Landry had also erected a cabin at that time at Staunton and that David H. Morris also at near the mouth of Honey Creek. MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 387 on her eastern border, the heights of Mont Blanco and the plains of El Paso do not behold the god of day for more than an hour afterward. Thirty years ago Okla- homa was exclusively owned and largely populated by the North American Indian. With great leaps and bounds, one of the most remarkable transformations in the history of civilization transpired within her borders. Beautiful modern cities have sprung out of her plains ; her golden grain fields, her white cotton fields and her oil of commerce now pour their rich treasures into the laps of 2.000,000 happy and con- tented people. California, once the home of the Mexican and Spanish grandee, with hacienda seats, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of acres, has divided her lands into smaller holdings now occupied by fru- gal husbandmen, who have made the Golden State greater and richer than some of the kingdoms of the Old World. When Scott unfurled the Stars and Stripes over the ancient halls of the Monte- zumas, it should have remained there for- ever, to the end that all of Mexico might now be as great as Texas, California and ■Oklahoma. There is no reason in the world, except the reason of bad govern- ment, why Chihuahua, with a similar soil and climate should not be as great as Texas just across the Rio Grande. The War of the Rebellion The War of the Rebellion, which for the hope of abating sectional hatred, is most frequently referred to as the Civil War, can never be historically denominated other than the War of the Rebellion, in the fact that the Government has issued 116 volumes of history that so designate it, and besides, the men of the North and South are now fighting side by side and shoulder to shoulder through a second war, common to both, since their tremendous family quarrel, begetting as it has a closer and stronger union of these States than ever before. The first gun fired at Fort Sumpter, as it rang around the world, electrified the Puritan of the North and the Cavalier of the South into an exhibition of warlike qualities unknown to the annals of the ages. With a mighty uprising, the civili- zation of Plymouth Rock and the civiliza- tion of Jamestown sprang to arms against each other, in the most destructive of all modern wars, before the present world war now raging in Europe and more espe- cially on the Belgian Plains and Flanders. A battle line 2000 miles in length was formed, extending from the Atlantic to the Rio Grande and behind that line on one side about 2,250,000 men fought to perpet- uate the Union founded by the fathers, and about 1,500,000 men on the other side sought to destroy that Union. The really vital issue involved in the mighty struggle was whether slave labor could continue to exist, side by side with the dignity of free labor and that question could only be settled through the seething cauldron of war and it was settled, and settled right when all sections of the Union were started on even terms and abreast with each other in the onward sweep of civilization. It is not my province here to relate how the white flag waved over Donnelson ; how our battalions stood like a wall of iron on that last day at Shiloh ; how the waves of the battle surged and rolled at Gettysburg amid the mightiest artillery combat ever before witnessed on this or any other con- tinent ; how Hooker fought above the clouds at Lookout; how Sherman marched down to the sea ; how Sheridan, the great- est cavalry captain of the age, rode on his white flecked black charger through this historic valley of the Shenandoah ; how the brave men of the North and the brave men of the South fought and fell in many a bloody angle and the final triumph of Grant, the Silent Soldier, at Appomattox. 388 HISTORY OP MIAMI COUNTY COL. STERRETT CLEARS UP DIS- PUTE OVER THE MEN WHO ENLISTED Interesting Letter from J. F. Noland Gives Number in Each Regiment Who Enlist- ed During Civil War — Statistics Also Given. Troy, O., Oct. 4, 1917. Editor Troy Daily Times. Howe’s History of Ohio, gives the num- ber of soldiers from Miami County in the Civil War at 5200, and this figure has been continually quoted as correct history, while I have in several public addresses, claimed the number was practically 3200. The Piqua Call has been publishing let- ters recently written, of J. F. Noland, the President of the 71st O. V. I. Association, and to him I have written in order that this question might be as definitely fixed as possible in my forthcoming history of Mi- ami County. Very truly, FRANK M. STERRETT. 176 East North wood Ave. Columbus, O., Sept. 24, 1917. Col. F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Dear Sir — Answering your letter of the 16th received a few days ago, marked on envelope, “Delayed account incomplete ad- dress,” in which you request me to give you my estimate of the number of men serving in the Civil War from Miami County, I respectfully submit the follow- ing: 11th Ohio Infantry 479 men 1st Ohio Infantry 104 men 44th Ohio Infantry and 8th Cav._460 men 71st Ohio Infantry 400 men 61st Ohio Infantry 60 men 48th Ohio Infantry 100 men 11th Ohio Cavalry 126 men 8th Ohio Battery 80 men 94th Ohio Infantry 300 men 110th Ohio Infantry 300 men 147th Ohio Infantry 853 men 5th U. S. Colored 50 men U. S. Navy 50 men Total 3362 men There were four companies in the 11th Ohio from Miami County and I find those four companies have 447 names on their rolls, but I find also Company “E” was broken up in 1862 and a new company of recruits took its place. The men of the original “E” were assigned to other com- panies, and 22 of them to the Miami Coun- ty companies which should be subtracted from 447 on their rolls; then four should be added because there was at least that many of the original field and staff of the regiment from Miami County. As the 109 recruits in the new company “E” were obtained by reuniting parties from the regiment, sent to their respective home districts, I estimate fifty of them were from Miami County. As you may see I have given the matter of the composition of the 11th pretty careful examination and I think my figures above given are about as near correct as can be obtained by one at this late date, who was not a member of that regiment. You will note, too, I have increased the number in the 11th, over the number given in my paper to the Piqua Call. I have also increased the num- ber in the 44th and 8th Cavalry over the Call statement, due to further investiga- tion. I have found there was a bunch of men from Miami County in the 12th Ohio Cavalry, but I have been unable to ascer- tain how many. I think the company which they joined was from Shelby Coun- ty. It has been claimed there were some men from Miami County in the 42d Ohio. The roster of the 42d in the Adjutant Gen- eral’s office show where each of its ten com- panies are from, and none are credited to Miami. St. Paris and other places in Champaign furnished part of one company and some of those men may have since made their Sjtf home in Miami County. Some individuals MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 389 from Miami County no doubt served in other organizations than I have named, but they are offset by men from other counties, serving in these organizations. I estimate three hundred men from the county served two or more enlistments. Deducting those from the 3300 and you have about 3200 men from the county who served in the Civil War. As the population of the county in 1860 was 29,959, 800 of whom were colored, the county did well to send 3200 to the war. Very truly, J. F. NOLAND. There were 100 men in addition to Mr. Noland’s list, members of Company B, 194th O. V. I. Amnnc these were John A. McCurdy. W. K. Dunlap. Beniamin Eris- man, Willis N. Hance, William Stith, of Trov, and Henry Knoop and Capt. J. C. Class, of Casstown, and the remainder from other points in the Countv. According to N. W. Cady, there were about twenty men from Miami County in Garfield’s regiment, the 42d, among whom was John T. Knoon, former Countv Com- missioner; N. W. Cadv. Beniamin Watson and Henry Heiner, of Troy. There were perhaps an equal number in the 12th Ohio Cavalry. Abbott E. Childs, of Troy, a sketch of whose life and a portrait of whom appears in this book, and Jacob Frank, of Troy, were two of them. In any event there need not ever again be any dispute on this auestion. It is safe to say that at the beginning of the war, one half of our Population were women and of the remaining half more than one- half were children. Tt follows, therefore, that one out of each two men over 18 years of age at that time were soldiers in the field. There were so few adult men left at home that the women were com- pelled to harvest the grain in numerous cases. THE ELEVENTH O. V. I. This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, from June 20, 1861, to September 3, 1862, for three years. The original members (except veterans) were mustered out in June 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service, and the vet- erans and recruits consolidated into a bat- talion and were retained in service until June 11, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with an order from the War Department. This regiment took part in the following battles : Hawk’s Nest, West Virginia, August 20, 1861. Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, Novem- ber 10, 1861. Princeton, West Virginia, May 15, 16, 18, 1862. Bull Run Bridge, Virginia, August 27, 1862. Frederick, Maryland, September 12, 1862. South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, 1862. Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862. Hoover’s Gap, Tennessee, June 25, 1863. Tullahoma, Tennessee, July 1, 1863. Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 19 and 20, 1863. Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Novem- ber 24, 1863. Mission Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863. Ringgold, Georgia. November 27, 1863. Buzzard’s Roost, Georgia, February 25, 1864. Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864. FORTY-FOURTH O. V. I. This regiment was organized at Spring- field, Ohio, September 12 to October 14, 1861, for three years’ service. Its desig- nation was changed to the Eighth O. V. C. in June, 1864. It participated in the fol- . lowing battles : Lewisburg, West Virginia, May 23, 1862. Dutton’s Hill, Kentucky, March 30, 1863. 390 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY EIGHTH 0. V. C. This regiment, formerly the Fourty- fourth O. V. I., participated in the follow- ing battles : Covington, Virginia, June 9, 1864. Otter Creek, Virginia, June 15, 1864. Lynchburg, Virginia, June 17 and 18, 1864. Liberty, Virginia, June 19, 1864. Winchester, Virginia, July 24, 1864. Dartinsburg, West Virginia, September 18, 1864. Winchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864. Fisher’s Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1864. North Shenandoah, Virginia (Luray Valley) October 7, 1864. Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864. Beverly, West Virginia, October 29, 1864. Beverly, West Virginia, January 11, 1865. SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT O. V. I. This regiment was organized at Camp Dave Tod, Troy, Ohio, and Paducah, Ky., from September, 1861 to January, 1862, to serve three years. On the expiration of its term of service, the original members (except veterans) were mustered out, and jthe organization, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in service until No- vember 30, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with an order from the War Department. It participated in the following battles : Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6 and 7, 1862. Clarksville, Tennessee, August 19, 1862. Fort Donelson, Tennessee, August 25, 1862. Cumberland Iron Works, Tennessee, August 26, 1862. Clarksville, Tennessee, September 7, 1862. Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31 to Sep- tember 1, 1864. Lovejoy Station, Georgia, September 2 to 6, 1864. Columbia, Tennessee (Duck Run), No- vember 24 to 28, 1864. Nashville, Tennessee, December 15 to 16, 1864. NINETY-FOURTH 0. V. I. This regiment was organized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, August 24, 1862, to serve three years. It was mustered out of serv- ice June 5, 1865, in accordance with an order from the War Department. It par- ticipated in the following battles: Tate’s Ferry, Kentucky, August 31, 1862. Perryville, Kentucky, October 6, 1862. Stone River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863. Tullahoma campaign, June 23, 1863. Dug Gap, September 11, 1863. Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19- 20, 1863. Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Novem- ber 24, 1863. Mission Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863. Resaca, Georgia, May 13 to 16, 1864. Dallas, Georgia, May 27 to 29, 1864. Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June £ t< 30, 1864. Smyrna Gap Camp Ground, Georgia, July 3-4, 1864. Chattahoochie River, Georgia, July 6-10, 1864. Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, July 20, 1864. Atlanta, Georgia, ((Hoods-fire Sortie), July 22, 1864. Atlanta, Georgia, (Siege of) July 28 to September 2, 1864. Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31 to Sep- tember 1, 1864. Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19- 21, 1865. Johnson’s Srurender, April 26, 1865. On page 165, second paragraph, first col- umn, in the last Chicago history of Miami County of 1909, I find the following : “The record of the One Hundred and Tenth is one to be proud of. It had more MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 391 men killed, wounded and missing than any other regiment during the war.” Since the first Colonel of this regiment, General J. Warren Keifer has been my lifetime friend, and the last Colonel Otho H. Binkley, was my uncle by marriage, and a great number of the rank and file were my boyhood friends and many of them my schoolmates, I would not desire to belittle the splendid battle record of this really tip-top body of men, but the truth of history compels me to herewith embody the statistics on this subject, so very little understood and so often a mat- ter of discussion, compiled as it was from official reports. (Copy) Comrade F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Dear Comrade — Enclosed find the sta- tistics you ask for in your recent letter. Regimental Losses in Any Single Battle First Minnesota, Gettysburg, engaged 262, killed 47, wounded 168, total 215, per cent 82. One Hundred and Forty-fourth Pennsyl- vania, Gettysburg, engaged 198, killed 25, wounded 103, missing 21, total 149, per cent. 75. One Hundred and First New York, Ma- nassas, engaged 168, killed 6, wounded 101, missing 17, total 124, per cent 73. Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, Cold Har- bor, engaged 300, killed 53, wounded 139, missing 28, total 220, per cent 70. Thirty-sixth Wisconsin, Bethesda Church, engaged 240, killed 20, wounded 108, missing 38, total 166, per cent 69. Twentieth Massachusetts, Fredericks- burg, engaged 238, killed 25, wounded 138, total 163, per cent 68. Eighth Vermont, Cedar Creek, engaged 156, killed 17, wounded 66, missing 23, to- tal 105, per cent 67. Eighty-first Pennsylvania, Fredericks- burg, engaged 261, killed 15, wounded 141, missing 20, total 176, per cent 67. Twelfth Massachusetts, Antietam, en- gaged 334, killed 49, wounded 165, miss- ing 10, total 224, per cent 67. First Maine Heavy Artillery, Peters- burg, engaged 950, killed 115, wounded 489, missing 28, total 632, per cent, 66. Killed in Battle During Entire Service Second Wisconsin, total enrollment 1203, total killed 238, per cent 19.7. First Maine Heavy Artillery, total en- rollment 2202, total killed 423, per cent 19.2. Fifty-seventh Massachusetts, total en- rollment 1052, total killed 202, per cent 19.1. Sixty-ninth New York, total enrollment 1513, total killed 259, per cent 17.1. One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsyl- vania, total enrollment 1132, total killed 198, per cent 17.4. Seventh Wisconsin, total enrollment 1630, total killed 281, per cent, 17.2. Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, total enrollment 1179, total killed 196, ner cent 16.6. One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsyl- vania, total enrollment 1037, total killed 167, per cent 16.1. One Hundred and Forty-second Penn- sylvania, total enrollment 935, total killed 155, per cent 16.5. First Minnesota, total enrollment 1242, total killed 187, per cent. 15. One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, total en- rollment 1165, total killed 126, per cent 10 . 8 . In the first table above those that died from wounds are not included in the num- ber killed. In the second table is included killed and died of wounds. I trust the above gives you the informa- tion wanted. Yours in F., C. and L., WILLIAM S. MATTHEWS, A. A. General. ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH O. V. I. This regiment was organized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, October 3, 1862, to serve three years. It was mustered out of serv- ice June 25, 1865, in accordance with an 392 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY order from the War Department. It par- tiicpated in the battles of : Union Mills, Va. (Winchester), June 13, 1863. Winchester Heights, Virginia, June 14, 1863. Stephenson’s Depot, Virginia, June 15, 1863. Wapping’s Heights, Virginia, July 23, 1863. Brandy Station, Virginia, November 8, 1863. Mine Run, or Orange Grove, Virginia, November 27, 1863. Wilderness, Virginia, May 5 and n 1864. Spottsylvania Court House, V ^ginia, May 9-12, 1864. New River, Virginia, May 14, I >o4. Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1 12, 1864. Petersburg, Va., June 22-23 i864. Ream's Station, Virginia, Ju^e 29, 1864. Monocacy, Maryland, July 9 1864. Snicker’s Gap, Charleston, Halltown and Smithfield, August, 1864. O’Pequan, Virginia, September 19, 1864. Fisher’s Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1864. Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864. Cedar Springs, Virginia, November 12, 1864. Petersburg, Virginia, March 25, 1865. Petersburg, Virginia, assault, April 2, 1865. Jettersville, Virginia, April 5, 1865. Sailor’s Cr., Virginia, April 6, 1865. Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY- SEVENTH 0. V. I. This regiment organized at Camp Den- nison, Ohio, May 16, 1364, to serve 100 days. It was composed of the Twenty- fifth Regiment and Eighty-seventh Bat- talion, Ohio National Guard, from Miami County. On the 20th day of May the regiment started for Washington City. Upon ar- rival, it reported to General Augur, and was ordered on duty at Fort Ethan Allen. On the 27th day of May, four companies were ordered to Fort Marcy. On the 1st of June, Company A was detached to per- form guard duty at Division Headquarters, and remained there during its term of service. At midnight on the 11th of June, the regiment was ordered to Fort Reno. Marching as far as Fort Stevens, the One Hundred and Forty-seventh moved into the trenches as support to the First Maine and First Ohio Batteries. In this position the regiment remained until July 4, when it returned to Fort Ethan Allen. On the 23d of August it was ordered to report at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and was mustered out on August 30, 1864, on expiration of term of service. (Troy, Ohio, Times, December 24, 1863). FROM THE FIFTH IND. OHIO VOL- UNTEER CAVALRY. Camp I jams, Ky., Dec. 9, 1863. Editor Troy Times. Having nothing to do this bleak winter morning, I have concluded to pen a few lines for The Times. I am a member of Company D, Fifth Ind. Battalion, O. V. Cavalry, have been a resident of the Tro- jan City and a reader of your paper. We are now posted at Flemingsburg to guard against the Mountain guerrillas coming down in this region. We have been here for the past three months and have in that time made several “ring hunts” in the mountains against the bushwhackers that infest them ; the result of our scouts has been the capture, in all of 45 of the guerrillas, one lieutenant-colonel, one cap- tain, and two lieutenants. The lieutenant- colonel’s name is Oliver Patton, a brother of James Patton, of Covington, Ky., who was engaged with Cathcart in the plot to release the prisoners at Camp Chase, John- son’s Island and other places. We sent him to Cincinnati Barracks with a thirty- two pound ball attached to his leg. He has since been sentenced to be shot. He has, or soon will have his rights. MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 393 We have become a terror to those law- less mountaineers and all that is necessary to make them “skedaddle” is to let them know that the Fifth is after them. They have not got quite so exalted opinion of the Kentucky boys. One hundred and sixty men in command of Pete Everetts two weeks ago made a raid on Mount Sterling, 22 miles from this place, burned the Court House, with all the papers con- tained in the offices of the Auditor, Treas- urer, Recorder, etc. They also burned a large amount of Government property and all of this time the Fortieth Kentucky, un- der Colonel True, were within one mile of town. Colonel True is highly censured by the citizens for not having the roads prop- erly picketed, and for not following up as quickly as he might. Cowardice or incom- petency are certainly to blame. OnThe re- ception of the news, the Fifth was ordered after the plunderers and were in advance. Forty of Everett’s men were captured by the Ohio and Kentucky boys and so se- verely punished the rest that they will not be likely to “try it on” again. We have earned a good name among the citizens of this part of the county by our good service and behavior. Several weeks ago we were ordered from this place to Lexington, Ky. Several of the most prominent citizens of this county immediately got up a petition and themselves took it and presented it to General Boyle to have us remain here, in- stead of sending their own troops, the For- tieth Kentucky. Our time expires the 28th of February. Many of the boys will re-enlist. We have erected comfortable winter quarters and are a jolly set of boys. We get the news daily in our shanty, besides takinc two or three county papers. The shanty of which I am a member contains ten men from Darke and Clark Counties. We have some- thing like the comforts of home, having a huge fireplace in one side of the shanty and the room papered. We, of course, do not have quite as many domestics and knick-knacks to eat as we had at home. The boys, however, (of course I don’t) go for the neighboring hen roots and bee stands frequently. This may be hardly considered Christianlike, but the boys act on the principle that “might makes right” and that “all things are fair in time of war.” The boys at this place are jubilant, and, in fact, this seems to be the feeling that pervades the army everywhere; as far as my knowledge and observation extends. I do not think there has ever been a time since the outbreak of the rebellion that the army has been in as good spirits. And why not ! We now have the assurance that while we are trying to crush out and exter- minate treason in the South, there is a noble, patriotic people at home who sup- port us in the effort. The result of the late election for Gov- ernor of Ohio has put a new nerve and deterimnation in every soldier’s heart and they newly resolve that they will never lay down their arms until this traitorous foe is conquered and shall return to their al- legiance. Without “signers” too, if neces- sary. Their “peculiar institution” is doomed and Heaven hasten the day when not a bondsman shall remain in this great republic. Then shall our flag be a flag of freedom and liberty, and when their insti- tution of slavery is gone they will have the consciousness of knowing that they brought it about themselves. I shall close for this time. If anything of importance occurs in this region of the country, I will try to inform you of it. FRANK. The above letter was resurrected from the old files of The Troy Times, now in the Congressional Library at Washington, D. C., through the courtesy of Mr. Welty, our Congressman, and published here to illus- trate the viewpoint of a soldier just turned 18 years of age, 54 years ago, just after the exciting election between Brough and Vallandingham, in which the former was elected by 101,000 majority. It also af- fords me the opportunity of relating an in- 394 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY teresting experience which resulted from the writing of that letter. Our division headquarters were located at Boone’s Knob, on the Kentucky River, in Jessa- mine County, and comamnded by General Frye, who had killed General Zollicoffer of the Confederate Army at the battle of Mill Springs. His adjutant general was W. W. Woodward, formerly of Miami County, and at one time a merchant in New Carlisle, in Clark County. The Troy Times, containing the above script, reached those headquarters in due time, and an order was immediately issued for my arrest to be sent under guard on the charge of writing contraband war news, contrary to the regulations of the United States Army, made and provided. My commander, Major I jams, believing that I would hurry through as rapidly without a guard as with one, assumed the respon- sibility of disregarding that feature of the order. The Major wrote a letter to Gen- eral Frye and had it signed by each com- missioned officer of the battalion in which they offered to enter into bonds and for- feit their lives for the patriotism of Ser- geant Sterrett and further represented that what I had written was without any knowledge of the law, and recommended that I be returned to my command with- out prejudice. Quartermaster Holm fur- nished me with transportation by omni- bus to Maysville, the nearest Ohio River point, and from there to Cincinnati by the Bostonia No. 3. Arriving at Maysville the transporta- tion was found valueless on account of the river being unnavigable on account of great ice cakes floating in its channel. There was no other regular means of reaching Cincinnati, and I remained in the Eagle Hotel for three days at the rate of $3 per day, with a total capital of $10. Several members of the Kentucky Legis- lature, also ice-bound, stopping at the Eagle, finally made up a party for Ger- mantown by sleigh, and from thence by omnibus over the dry ridge road to Fal- mouth, Kentucky on the Central railroad, about half way between Cincinnati and Nicholasville, the then termini of the Ken- tucky Central. Arriving at Falmouth, without money, having paid my fare with vouchers on Quartermaster Holmes, my better plan, in the cause of expedition and in the in- terest of my Major would have been to beat my way to Nicholasville, but, having a letter from Holm to Captain Taggart, quartermaster in Cincinnati, instructing him to furnish me with transportation, I beat my way to the latter place and ar- rived there on Saturday afternoon, the first week of January, 1864, the coldest month ever experience in the State of Kentucky up to that date. There were no railroad bridges across the Ohio River at that time and the ferry- boats could not run on account of the fields of ice coming down the channel. The only means of crossing the river for sev- eral days was by skiff, edging between the cakes of ice and the latter pushed aside with the oars. I boldly took a seat in a boat conducted by two colored men and, arriving on the Ohio side, ran rapidly up the wharf amid the cries of my colored friends to come back and pay the one dol- lar charge for crossing. Reporting to Captain Taggart, I was furnished transportation to Nicholasville and informed that no train left before Monday morning, and being furnished with a letter to a sergeant in command of the military prison at Newport, I again ran the ice blockade and reported to him without having informed any one that I was penniless, or that I was actually a prisoner under arrest. The sergeant in command of more than a hundred prison- ers, confined in barrack rooms, wishing to go to his home over Sunday, asked me to take charge, since I held his rank, which I did, until Monday morning, and thus probably furnished the only case on rec- ord of a military prisoner in command of a military prison. My duty consisted in SAMUEL KNOOP STATLER The grandfather of Samuel Knoop Statler was of Holland origin and moved from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1799. He settled on the farm, two miles south of Piqua, in 1802 and this really beautiful place with its marvelously clean and neat surroundings has remained in the family to the present day. The father of Samuel Knoop Statler, George, was born in 1798 and was the youngest in a family of seven boys and four girls. The subject of the above plate was born on the home farm on March 18th, 1844 and died there on July 1, 1917. He was educated in the local schools and enlisted in the Naval Service of the United States on November 18th, 1863, for the term of one year. In a manouver of the Carondelet on the Mississippi river, to which he was attached, he was accidentally wounded with a bullet which sent him to the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, from which he was discharged on October 24th, 1864, and at the same tirr, . from the service. His mother was a sister of John, George, Jacob and William Knoop of Staunton Township. The three first named were called the “Bachelor Knoops,” William being the only one to marry. Samuel was married to Clara Ellen Kinsman, born in Salem, Massachusetts, on February 18th, 1874, and from this union were born Elizabeth Kinsman Statler and George Herbert Statler. Elizabeth Kinsman Statler married William Harr of Troy on November 23, 1898, from which union one child, Catherine, was born. George Herbert Statler was born on June 27, 1881, and married to Minnie Schemmel on April 23rd, 1912, from which union were born Neil Schemmel Statler, January 1, 1913 and Jean Louise Statler March 7th, 1915. George lives on the home farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in excellent cultivation, with modern improvements. A spring, west of the three residences, furnishes water to the barns and houses, by gravity. George also superintends the Midway place, consisting of 250 acres. Samuel Knoop Statler was superintendent of construction of the Miami Gas Line Company down the Miami Valley. He was the owner of bank stocks and an officer in two of the Piqua banks. He occupied a high position in the financial affairs of Miami County and no citizen stood higher in the estimation of his fellow-man for integrity and usefulness. William Sabin Statler, and James Watson Statler were brothers of Samuel, who with his sister, Harriet, were joint owners in the farm lands. William Sabin and Harriet remain on the old place — endeared to them by 115 years of family ownership and occupancy. Harriet has not married. She takes an active and intelligent interest in all home matters, especially in young Neill Schemmel and Jean Louise. I am under special obligations to her for courtesies extended to me while at their beautiful home. JOSEPH PEARSON Joseph Pearson was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 1809, And emigrated with his parents to the settlement at Staunton, Miami County, joining their old Pennsylvania neighbors, John, Jacob, George and William Knoop, who preceded them in 1797 and who, with others, built a stockade at the apex of the bend in the Miami, below Troy, as a protection against the Indians. Young Pearson engaged for some years in the saddlery business. He was married to Mariah Ludlow on November 13, 1835, who was a grand daughter of Col. Israel Ludlow, who, with Generals St. Clair, Dayton and Wilkinson, founded the city of Dayton immediately after the Greenville Treaty in 1795. From this union there were born four sons, William Ludlow Pearson September 10, 1836 ; Benjamin Israel Pearson, in 1840 ; Joseph Elbridge Pearson, May 27, 1842 ; and George Harvey Pearson, on May 3, 1845 ; all of whom, in this year of 1917 have passed away except George. The only girl of the family was born in October, 1853, and died in 1862. Joseph Pearson was appointed Post Master of Troy in 1845 and served until 1849. At the October election of that year, he was elected sheriff of Miami County and served until the close of 1854, at which time, he was elected Probate Judge of Miami County and served until 1861. He was known in private life as an upright citizen and in official life as an efficient and courteous official. 'He died in 1871. HU devoted wife remained with her family until the year 1898, passing to the beyond at the ripe old age of 82. William Ludlow Pearson was prominent in the dry goods business, Joseph Elbridge in the wholesale and retail grocery business and various other important successful business ventures. He represented Miami County in the State Legislature for one term, to the credit of himself and his constituents ; Benjamin Israel was with his brother, Joseph Elbridge, in the grocery trade for some years and also engaged in the sale of general nursery stock. The descent will be through Joseph Elbridge who was married to Mary Studebaker in 1870. From this union was born Joseph Elbridge, Jr., on June 25, 1871, who was married to Alice McCullough on June 2, 1890, and from this union was born Walter, on August 21, 1892. George Harvey, the subject of this sketch, with his wife, lives in his pretty home on Franklin street in Troy. He was married to Rose Shaeffer, daughter of Eckert and Josephine Helen Shaeffer December 18, 1883. From this union was born George Elbridge on July 17, 1886, who lived until June 17, 1906, when he left his stricken parents, in the blush of young manhood when life seemed opening to him with all of its unknown but enticing possibilities, leaving his father, cousin Joseph E. and his son, Walter, as the only male descendants of his family. George Harvey Pearson is the proprietor of the Pearson Block of store rooms and apartments at the corner of Main and Walnut streets and the owner of farm lands which furnish him genial employment while the tide runs out. His wife is one of the energetic matrons of Troy, much engaged in good works. JACOB ROHRER On account of religious persecution, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, the followers of Meno Simon, a Swiss reformer, came to the land of brotherly love, about which they had heard so much, and settled at the present site of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Among the immigrants were the forbears of Jacob Rohrer, the subject of this sketch and picture, who was born at Lancaster, on October 15, 18 15 When he was 21 years of age, he came to Montgomery County, with his mother, where two of his brothers had preceded him. The Pennsylvania railroad was quite primitive in that day. The ascent of the Allegheny Mountains was made on an inclined plane with wooden rails. He purchased the home farm, west of Hyattsville, in 1837, but did not move there until 1842. He married Elizabeth Kindig on Christmas day, 1838, whose cradle he had rocked when a boy, back in Pennsylvania. Mr. Rohrer once said to me, that he sold butter in that day for five cents a pound, eggs at three cents per dozen, corn 20 cents per bushel, and wheat at 37 cents per bushel. The taxes on his farm of 187 acres was $17 per year. He served as Commissioner of Miami County from 1861 to 1866. He founded the Ford and Company Wheel Works, was the president and principal stockholder. He was also president of the furniture factory. He helped to found the strawboard factory, the glucose works, president of the Tippecanoe National Bank, a director for 30 years of the First National Bank of Troy and a stockholder and director in the Troy Wagon and Carriage Works. Three children blessed his marriage, Mary, Ida, and John H. Mary married I. C. Leonard, Ida married A. R. Carver, and John married Rose Benham. Elizabeth Kindig Rohrer died on February 20, 1894, and Jacob Rohrer on May 25, 19 10. “Oh ! a wonderful stream is the river of time. As it runs through the realm of tears. With a familiar rhythm and a musical rhyme. And a broader sweep and a surge sublime. As it blends in the ocean of years. ” SAMUEL KYLE HARTER Samuel Kyle Harter, whose picture appears in connection with this sketch, came of revolutionary stock. His grandfather, Henry Harter, a Revolutionary soldier, rests in the McKendrie burial ground, in Elizabeth township. His father, Jacob Harter, came to Miami county from Cynthiana, Kentucky, early in the century. The Harter home place was near Pleasant run and the woolen mill, which at one time received its power from this stream. Before attaining his majority, he taught penmanship, which he continued for some years until his eye- sight warned him to discontinue that work. He purchased an interest in the hardware business with Uncle Mack Hart and operated under the firm name of Hart & Harter from 1845 to 1865 when Uncle Mack retired from the firm. When Mr. Harter had money to spare from his business, he invested in Miami county farm lands until he became the largest owner of this character of property in the county. He had an unusually high sense of the responsibility of citizenship and although a man of the closest business application, he took time to discharge the duties of mayor, councilman, member of the school board, and trustee of the Knoop Children’s Home. He was married to Olivia Meredith, also of Revolutionary stock, in 1853, and from this union, five children were born, three dying in infancy and Sabin in the bright flush of young manhood. Mary Jane, the widow of William M. Hayner, living in her beautiful home in Troy, is now the only surviving member In his later life, he traveled, with chosen friends and his wife, throughout this country and Europe. Having an artistic temperament, he especially enjoyed the art galleries. He and his wife were consistent pillars and supporters of the First Methodist Church of Troy. He was a member of the Franklin lodge of Masons in Troy. He frequently advanced money for the education of young men. He once said to me, “When I have money to risk where the security is not certain, I venture it on young men. If I do not get it back, it is not actually lost.” While he obeyed a rigid formula of personal morals, he was singularly free from bigotry. It was easy for him to condone faults in others. He believed that environment created faults that under different surroundings might have been virtues. He died in 1898 and is buried in Riverside cemetery. His wife followed him on May 13, 1901, and lies by his side. “Love led them on ; and faith, who knew them best Thy handmaids, clad them o’er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, And spake the truth of thee in glorious themes, Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid them rest. And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams.” MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 399 calling the roll morning and evening and seeing after “lights out.” The Kentucky Central was primitive in those days, and we did not arrive at Nich- olasville until late in the afternoon, and I had been without food since early morn- ing, and was five miles from Boone’s Knob my objective, which I was supposed to walk for want of any other means. An old darky woman was selling pies on the depot platform, which I circled around twice, with full intent to hook one of them and give leg bail, but thinking better of it, I took my course along the turnpike for my destination, and had walked something over a mile when, going in my direction, I procured a ride behind a splendid iron grey horse, hitched to a light open buggy, driven by a gentleman of kindly demeanor who proved to be the division quartermas- ter of General Frye. When we- arrived at the Knob he pointed out the headquarters on a hill, probably seventy-five feet above the road, being a frame building about 40x100, with a 10-foot hallway on the lower and upper floors, with bedrooms on either side. I entered the office, being the first room to the right, and saluted a sergeant in charge and inquired for General Frye, who, he reported, was at supper with his staff. While waiting for them I learned that General Frye, with his division, was to start the next day to the relief of Burn- side ,then being besieged by Longstret at Knoxville and that General Ammon, of the regular army was to take command on the Kentucky River. I also learned that W. W. Woodward was an Ohio man and not a Kentuckian as I had supposed. When the latter came into the room (a man of splendid presence), a brother of Colonel John R. Woodward, whose picture ap- pears in this work, the sergeant informed me of his rank. Saluting him, I handed him my papers, which he was reading when General Frye came in smoking a cigar, held in a small pipe. Woodward handed the papers to Frye with the re- mark: “This is the Sterrett case from Flemingsburg.” After reading my papers Frye said: “Yes, something must be done to stop this indiscriminate writing of war news upon the part of privates and non- commissioned officers.” It was at this time my heart went down into my boots, and I mentally ejaculated, “Six months on the entrenchments.” At this juncture, Woodward seized my hand and led me to a corner of the room and said: “Are you any akin to Judge Ster- rett?” I replied, “I am his unfortunate son,” and then followed a consultation be- tween the General and his Adjutant that resulted in a letter being written to my Major, exonerating me from intentional wrong-doing. I then told Woodward I had not eaten since early morning, upon which he conducted me to the rear end of the barracks and ordered the two colored women on duty to feed me. Among the hill-top memories of my life, I shall hold the memory of that meal in a high place for, although it consisted of fried ham, brown gravy and corn bread, it seemed then I had never tasted anything half so delicious. It developed that Woodward had at one time made an assignment of his mercantile business to my father who had straightened out his affairs so satis- factorily that they became staunch friends. The next morning, upon my request, I was furnished a furlough for a visit home and soon after, General Ammon, a little, weazened faced man, relieved Gen. Frye of command and retained Woodward for his Adjutant-General. Noticing me, he said to Woodward, “Who is this cavalry sergeant?” When the proper explanation was made, General Ammon said, “Where is his guard?” and that question answered the General said, “Order Major Ijams to these headquarters at once.” This conversation was accompanied by some expletives that convinced me that the General not only had a violent temper and a command of stronger language than 400 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY I had ever heard before, but that it aug- ured no good to my trustful Major. I fol- lowed the advice of my friend Woodward and got to Nicholasville and on a train for Cincinnati as soon as possible. After two weeks in Troy and at home in the country, fed on the fat of the land, kissing my mother and sweetheart good- bye, I returned to my commnad. When I stepped out of the coach in front of the old brick hotel at Flemingsburg, Major Ijams saluted me and inquired, “Did you have a good time at headquarters, Frank?” and when I had replied in the af- firmative, he said, “You fared a derned sight better than I did.” The Major being a faithful Methodist, used “dern” as his only by-word. He explained to me that General Ammon had “cussed him black and blue” and threatened his commission for sending me without a guard. The following letter from my comrade, John T. Clarke, of Jefferson City, was written me soon after the Department En- campment at Hannibal, Mo., which I at- tended as a Past Department Commander and which, I think, points its own moral and patriotic lesson which justifies its ap- pearance here. Jefferson City, Mo., May 19, 1915. Col. Frank Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. Dear Comrade — On my return from Hannibal I visited my daughter, who re- sides at Webster Groves, and hence the de- lay in furnishing you the inscriptions on the monument at Salem Church, Va. Salem Church is four miles west of Fredericksburg and six miles from Chan- cellorsville. Here a desperate battle was fought on the 3d and 4th of May, 1863, by a portion of Lee’s army and the Sixth Army Corps, commanded by General John Sedgwick. The old brick church is standing there now full of bullet marks from top to bot- tom, and within the churchyard is a large tree which has a hole through it made by a cannonball into which may be placed a No. 10 boot. Afew feet from the church is a small monument placed there by survivors of the Twenty-third New Jersey Infantry in memory of their comrades who fell in that battle. The inscription is as follows: “Erected by the survivors of the Twen- ty-third New Jersey Infantry in memory of their comrades who fell on this field of battle.” On the opposite side, and incased in the granite of this monument is a bronze tab- let containing these words: “To the brave Alabama boys, our oppo- nents on this field of battle, whose mem- ory we honor, this tablet is dedicated.” No other battle field in the world’s his- tory ever contained a monument upon which was inscribed such a tribute to the enemy. The Twenty-third New Jersey was com- manded by Colonel E. Burd Grubb. Last Monday I called on Col. Thos. B. Rodgers and was glad to find him much improved in health. With many thanks to you for your kind- ness to me at Hannibal, I am sincerely, Your friend, JOHN T. CLARKE. Two millions and a quarter of these men wrote into the Constitution of this Union of States: Across the horizon of an advancing civ- ilization, with sword and bayonets for pens and the life blood of 260,000 of their com- rades for ink, the imperishable doctrine of equal rights to all mankind. Since the surrender at Appomattox, be- neath the famous apple tree, a million and three quarters of these men, after build- ing empires in the West, marched down the western declivity of life, passed its sunset, and pitched their tents on eternal camping ground in the midst of the ever- lasting plains of light. Two hundred and fifty thousand of these men, at an average age of 76 years, with frost on their heads that will never melt, are standing at attention upon the MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 401 borders of immortality, waiting for the command to cross over into new fields of perpetual peace; new visions and souls thrilled with immortal hopes. It was their sons, who forever swept from the Western Hemisphere four hun- dred years of Spanish tyranny, and to the grandsons has been given largely the duty of destroying the miiltary dynasties of the houses of Hohenzollern and Hapsburg, the greatest remaining exponents of the divine rights of kings. MIAMI COUNTY IN THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR Companies A and K of the Third Regi- ment, Ohio National Guard, from Coving- ton and Piqua respectively, served in that 90-day struggle, but did not leave the United States. The most of their time was spent at Tampa, Fla. Company A was commanded by Captain Weaver, who died in the service and was succeeded in command by Lieutenant Hub- bard of Company K. William H. Gross, of Covington was Major of the Third Reg- iment in this service. I cannot refrain from telling the story at this point, of how I became acquainted with Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, the Com- mander of the Rough Riders, in this serv- ice. I was in the city of Buffalo at the time of the funeral arrangeemnts of Presi- dent McKinley, and at the time was the Adjutant General of the Grand Army of the Republic. McKinley died on Septem- ber 14, and Roosevelt was sworn in as President at the Wilcox mansion on the 15th. On the 15th, a Grand Army com- mittee was appointed at a meeting in the Custom House to wait on the President in relation to the appointment of a guard of honor to the dead body of McKinley, of which I was the Chairman. When the President came into the Wilcox parlor with my card in his hand, he at once said in his quick, brusque manner, “Which is General Sterrett?” I arose and saluted and preferred our request, whereupon he wrote and handed me the following note : “Cortelyou, comply with the request of these comrades. It is that which the dead President would have aesired and it is what I desire.” On handing this communication to the former private secretary, he sent us to Ma- jor Bingham who for many years acted as the major domo at the White House, and it was he who detailed the following guard of honor in the order named: Frank M. Sterrett, Adjutant General; of the Depart- ment of Missouri; Alfred Lyth, Past Se- nior Vice Commander-in-Chief ; Joseph W. Kay, PasT Department Commander of New York; William F. Billings, Com- mander of Post No. 9, Department of New York, and Charles A. Orr, Commander of the Department of New York. I commanded this guard from Buffalo, N. Y., to Washington, D. C., in charge of the body of the dead President, and ar- rived in Washington on the 16th of Sep- tember, 1901, where I turned over the com- mand to my newly-elected chief, Ell. Tor- rance, of Minneapolis, Minn., with whom the guard continued until the body was laid away at Canton, 0., on September 19, 1901. Even the hillsides from Buffalo to Washington, and from thence to Canton were continuously occupied with tens of thousands of people with uncovered heads, watching the progress of the historical fu- neral train. In every case, where the train stopped, the two favorite hymns of the dead President, “Lead, Kindly Light” and “Nearer My God to Thee” were sung by the people. At Harrisburg, it seemed that a hundred thousand lifted their voices in “Nearer My God to Thee” in a volume of sound that seemed to lift the dome of heaven and ascend to the throne of God. Before our train arrived at Williams- port, Pa., President Roosevelt requested my presence in his car, on the 16th of Sep- tember, for the purpose of making notes of my knowledge of the history of the or- der, expressing himself in strong and elo- 402 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY quent phrases in admiration of our work. I afterward wrote down the substance of this interview and asked his permission to publish the same, which he readily granted and which I handed to the Associated Press agents at Williamsport, Pa., and which soon afterward appeared in most of the newspapers of America. During mj conversation with the President, who con- tinually addressed me as General, I said: “Mr. President, I did not earn my title in the field,” to which he at once replied : “No difference, I would rather have the right to wear your little bronze button than be President.” I ventured to humorously suggest to him that he had it in his power to remedy any defect in my title, at which his eyes twinkled and his great teeth be- came more visible, but no practical results followed. I have many pictures of the scenes along the line of this historic funeral cortege, in which this guard of honor appear, either in the front or rear of the funeral car, and especially as they ascend the west steps of the rotunda of the Capitol. This story has never been published, except as the names of the guard of honor appear in the gen- eral history of that event and I have thought it should be preserved in some per- amnent form intimately connected as it is with one of the greatest tragedies of our country’s history and in which a Miami County man played a part. THE MANSION OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA This home was the property of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of George Washington, whose daughter Mary married Lieutenant Robert E. Lee of the United States army, who afterward became the commander-in-chief of the Confederate armies, who inherited this property of 1100 acres, after the death of Mr. Custis and which was confiscated by the Government and used as a National Cemetery, and now ranks as the greatest one in the world. In the early part of June, 1864, an order from General Augur, commanding then, the defenses around Washington, on dress parade, at Fort Ethan Allen, seven miles distant from Arlington, commanding that a detail of seven men be made from the 147th and 169th Regiments O. V. I. to as- sist Hergesheimer and McMath of the United States Coast Survey in laying out the National Cemetery at Arlington Heights. Newton J. Harter, of Troy, was the Assistant Adjutant General of the Bri- gade, composed of the two above named regiments, and I was his clerk. The order was therefore familiar to me, since it was my duty to open the mail and make out the countersign, supposedly under the eye of the Adjutant General. I was detailed and placed in charge of the squad and reported them to the above-named officers in charge of the Survey, and it was here I remained in the service until my discharge on the 29th of August, 1864. Facing the picture, my room was at the right of the column on that side. When I took charge of it, there were a number of mathematical drawings in a cupboard to which was at- tached the signature of Fitzhugh Lee, a nephew of Robert E. Lee, who made his home with his uncle for some time. There were also a number of school books used by members of the Lee family, one of which, a French Grammar, had inscribed on the fly leaf the name of Agnes Lee, which I brought home with me and after- ward returned to the lady, then living with her father, who was President of the Virginia University. “Mr. Custis was the author of a number of remarkable orations, of several plays, and of recollections of Washington pub- lished at various times in the “National Intelligencer.” He was fond of painting and in the latter part of his life executed a number of pictures of revolutionary bat- tles. These pictures were hanging in the hallway which divided the house, to right and left into two equal portions. On a line drawn on the right and left sides of the MIAMI COUNTY IN THE WARS 403 mansion, extended, were the slave quar- ters, facing each other across a court. To the rear of this court are buried some 1700 soldier dead o fthe Civil War, among them Philip H. Sheridan and George Crook. The Washington Monument, the White House, and the City of Washington, D. C., are in plain view, just across the Potomac. It has been written many times and so far as I have been able to discover has never been disputed, that early in 1861, Presi- dent Lincoln instructed General Winfield Scott to offer General Lee the chief com- mand of the Union armies, and that in an- swer to a letter from Scott, Lee rode across the acqueduct bridge at Georgetown and came on horseback at night to consult with Scott in relation to that tender, at which time he had a commission from the Con- federate Government at Richmond to enter that service. That General Lee was a great soldier and a high-toned gentleman is universally admitted, but that his apolo- gists are justified or he himself is relieved from censure because, as he says, his first allegiance was to the State of Virginia, is another question. Why did he not see fit to remain in the Union with that half of his State that refused to go out? On the 12th of June, 1864, General De Russey and staff and the surveying party, stood on the roof of this mansion watch- ing the smoke of battle in front of Wash- ington, where Breckenridge and Early were endeavoring to force an entry, where the 147th Regiment from Miami County was a participant. At one time the smoke of battle covered the flag on Fort Stevens and DeRussey ordered me to bring up the Al-i-dade, from our tripod instrument, a stronger instrument than his, which upon looking through he exclaimed with ela- tion, “The flag is still up.” It was at the time when Lincoln stood upon the parapet of Fort Stevens, his tall form and his high hat forming a conspic- uous target for sharp shooters. For many years, the President of the United States has made the Memorial Day address at Arlington Heights. SOME COMFORT FOR SOLDIERS’ MOTHERS It is on the mothers that falls the most acute distress over the horrors of war. Anything which can be truthfully affirmed that will have a tendency to alleviate this condition of mind is proper and timely. When they are informed that but four men out of each one hundred enlistments dur- ing our Civil War, lost their lives from all causes, the most destructive of all modern wars and there is a yearly loss of life of 2 per cent in the peaceful avocations of mining and railroading, or that the chance of death in the army is only twice as great as in several of the peaceful pursuits, mil- itary service is at least partially robbed of its terror. It has been frequently stated that the war now raging in Europe is more de- structive of life than any former war, but this is almost certain to be untrue. The Canadian Government has sent, in round numbers 500,000 troops to the French front and their average service has been eighteen months. A recent semi-official report shows a loss of 21,000 lives in this Canadian contingent or about 3 1 /* per cent per year, instead of four as in our Civil War. In our Civil War, much of the fighting was done at close quarters and frequently hand to hand, while the majority of fight- ing in Europe is done with big guns, with the troops on each side miles apart. To the loss of life must be added the enor- mous waste of war. In the play of Anthony and Cleopatra staged 31 years before Christ, Shakes- peare makes one of his characters say, “The time of universal peace is near,” and from this we may readily suppose that the thought and hope for peace now, and our belief now that after the present stu- pendous struggle in Europe has ended, a 404 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY perpetual peace will ensue ; has always ever, and in view of the growth of democ- been the hope of the world in every period racy throughout the world, we are cer- of it. In the light of all past history, how- tainly nearing that long hoped for millen- ium. “Till the war drums throb no longer, And the battle flags are furled; In the parliament of men, The federation of the world, There the comomn sense of most shall hold A grateful realm in awe, And kindly earth shall slumber Lapt in universal law. Flowers for the mourned ones, fresh in their bloom, Gifts of the grateful brighten their tomb ; Sing the glad anthems, loved they so well Speak of their loyalty, deeds of theirs tell ; Visit each grave with a floral oblation, Leave, where they slumber, love’s sweet decoration.” CHAPTER XXII. AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION According to the census of 1910, there were in the United States 6,361,502 farms containing 878,798,000 acres, of which 478,472,000 acres were improved. The lands in farms represents somewhat less than one-half, 46.2 per cent of the total land area of the country, while the im- proved land represents somewhat over one half, 54.4 per cent of the total acreage of land in farms. Improved land in farms thus represents almost exactly one-fourth, 25.1 per cent of the total land area of the country. On the average the farms of the United States contain 138.1 acres of which on the average, over one-half, 75.2 acres, are improved land. In 1900, the total value of farms in the country was $20,- 439,901,090 and in 1910 it was almost ex- actly double, being $40,991,449,090. If the same rate of increase should maintain un- til 1920, which, on account of the great in- crease in land values and the large in- crease in the value of farm implements seems probable, the farm lands of the country will have a value of more than $81,000,000,000. When we know that the total wealth in the United States in 1912, at the last estimate was $87,000,000,000, it is not improbable that our total wealth at the coming date will be $300,000,000,- 000, no doubt more than England, France and Germany combined. In 1909, the last available statistics, there were 98,382,665 acres planted in corn; 35,159,441 acres in oats; 44,262,592 acres in wheat; 7,968,706 acres in barley; 878,048 acres in buckwheat; 2,195,561 acres in rye; 610,175 acres in rough rice; 573,622 acres in kummer and spelt; 1,635,- 153 acres in Kaffir corn and milo maize. These cereals then occupied 40 per cent of 405 all farm lands in the United States, and contributed 48.6 per cent of the value of all crops. Ohio was sixth in the number of acres cultivated in cereals and the value of production, being outstripped by Mich- igan, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minne- sota, and yet Ohio, in the previous decade of years had yielded more corn and wheat per acre than either of the five States which surpass her in acreage. Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia surpass Ohio in the number of acres and value of to- bacco crop. Of this, in 1909, Miami County planted 9,224 acres in tobacco and raised 8,199,161 pounds or an average of about 900 pounds to the acre. It would sell for more than $2,000,000 in this year of 1917. The tobacco crop in Miami County this year will approximate $2,000,000 in value. In 1909, Miami County harvested 3,481,- 762 bushels of corn from 71,226 acres, or in excess of 48 bushels to the acre. Only one County in the State surpassed her acreage, Madison County, with 92,209 acres and 3,796,638 bushels, or about 41 bushels to the acre. Ohio is the first corn State in the Union and Miami County is the first corn County in Ohio. The Mosaic law says: “Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed,” and yet there are those who advo- cate the virtue of hybridization in corn. The census report of 1900 says : “The male flowers producing the stamens and pollen are borne at the top of the plant and the female flowers, being the petals and pro- ducing the seeds are borne at the lower nodes is, of course, to every one familiar with the corn plant, but the important ad- vantage which this arrangement affords seems not to have been appreciated. With 406 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY other crops belonging to the grass family the stamens and pistils are produced in the same flower or flower cluster, and to procure hybrid seed, it is necessary for the breeder to perform the somewhat delicate operation of emasculating and to apply the pollen to the stigmas by hand, laboriously hybridizing one seed at a time. In corn the separation of the flowers makes it easy to produce hybrid corn seed on a large scale. It is only necessary to plant in alternate rows and remove the tassel of the female to produce hybrid seed and it is necessary that the pollen of one variety should fall on the pollen of another variety. Where only a small quantity of seed is required, as for experimental pur- poses, the simplest method is to enclose the ears before the silks appear, and the tassels before they begin to shed pollen, in strong paper bags, secured by soft copper wire. The bags placed on the tassels will soon contain a quantity of pollen which should be dusted on the silks after they have protruded two or three inches from the tip of the ear. As soon as the ears are pollinated the bags should be replaced to protect them from foreign pollen. A sec- ond or third application of pollen at inter- vals of a day or two may be necessary, in order to secure complete pollination. The relatively large quantity of seed procured from a single pollination makes the pro- duction of hybrid seed by this method practicable, even where considerable quan- tity of seed is required. One person work- ing three hours a day for three days should secure two or three hundred hy- brid ears, and selecting these down to one- fourth, the remaining fifty or seventy-five ears should plant from four to six acres. The average increase obtained by Dr. E. M. East, of Connecticut, by this method in four crosses was 73 per cent. Similar re- sults in New York and Texas experiments conducted by the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture with numerous im- ported primitive types crossed with one another and with United States varieties, gave increased yields in fourteen out of sixteen cases, the average increase being 53 per cent. C. G. Williams, of th Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, in Bul- letin 282, February, 1915, says : “Ear row tests and subsequent crossing of the best ears in isolated and breeding plots show possibilities of increasing the yield of corn five to ten bushels per acre, but it seems difficult to go much beyond this amount.” It would seem that Ohio experiments in hybridization has not been as successful as in other tSates or in the Government tests, and for this reason Mr. George R. East- wood, Superintendent of the Miami Coun- ty Experiment Farm, informs me that this branch of corn-growing has not been taken up in Miami County. It would seem however, that I am justified in calling the attention of the farmers of Miami County to this subject. Over one-half of the Indian corn crop of the United States is contrib- uted from five States, and over two-thirds from seven States in the following order : Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio. These seven tSates are known as the corn surplus States, because they are practically the only States which supply the commercial centers with corn. Twenty-one of the States produce corn but consume it at home. Corn is not grown in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany and other countries further north except occasion- ally as a vegetable, on account of the lack of heat and sunshine during the growing season. Argentina has developed the largest body of land adapted to raising In- dian corn of any country outside of the United States. On account of the limited area adapted to the cultivation of this plant, the land that produces it is bound to increase in value as population in- creases. Indeed, at the rate of increase in population, it will be but a few years until the United States will use all of its wheat and corn at home. In 1909 Miami County had 18,089 cattle, of which 9,904 were dairy cows, 12,776 horses, 676 mules, 25,771 swine, 5,446 sheep, 179,555 poultry PHILLIP J. GATES The subject of the above oortrait was born in Bensheirr. . Germany, on Anril 26, 1841. His parents came to America during: his infancy and landed in New Orleans, from which place they afterwards moved to Cincinnati where he received his education in the public schools of that city. He came to Troy in 1863. He was married to Margaret Ziegenf elder on October 15, 1867, from which union were born George, Edwin. Gertrude and Clifford. George married and from this union, one son, Phillip D., was born, who became the apple of his grandfather’s eye. Mr. Gates commenced business in his own name, soon after his marriage and rapidly advanced until he was the leading merchant tailor in Troy and among the foremost in the Miami Valley, occupying the two rooms where the Troy National Bank is now located, in 1818, and besides a large store in Piqua. His eminence in local business circles was largely based on. his sincerity. Urbanity and superior work- manship. Phillip J. Gates was not only a careful business man, but equally sincere in the performance of public duty. When the legislature of Ohio empowered the city of Troy to issue $100,000 in bonds to encourage the location of manufacturing concerns, he was one of the three men selected to supervise the expenditure. He also served efficiently for 6 years as a member of the school board and for several years on the public service board. Mr. Gates was one of the oldest members of the Royal Arcanum. One of his last acts was to write a check to pay his insurance in that order. With his partner and brother-in-law, Charles Ziegenfelder, he laid out and sold two large additions to Troy, one of them the handsome Lincoln and Garfield avenue district. He was a member of Franklin lodge of Masons and a member of the Coleman Commandery of Knights Templars. I was his confidential friend for 40 years and in him recognized a man of large social and congenial qualities. He died on July 29, 1910, and was buried in Riverside Cemetery. His son, George, followed him in 1912, and Edwin in 1913. His wife, daughter Gertrude, son Clifford and grandson, Phillip D., survive him. A high privilege of authorship is to thus permanently perpetuate the memory of so good and useful a man, who had in his nature the capacity of true friendship. THE HOME OF FRANK CLIFFORD GOODRICH Frank Clifford Goodrich was born at Sharon, Noble county, Ohio, on July 25, 1874, and came to Troy with his parents in 1883. He attended the common schools at Sharon and Troy and later graduated from the Troy high school. He was made a bachelor of arts at the Ohi<> Wesleyan university, at Delaware, Ohio, in 1898, and studied law in the office of Judge H. H. Williams and Robert J. Smith at Troy and was admitted to the bar in December, 1900. In February, 1902, he opened an office in Troy. In the following May he was appointed City Solicitor by Mayor J. O. Davis, and was elected to that office in 1903 and again in 1905. He married Miss Eva Elder in June, 1903, who had been five years the deputy clerk of Miami county and who had been born and raised in Troy. From this union were born two children, Stanley and Lucy Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich was elected prosecuting attorney of Miami county in 1914 and served with distinction until 1916. He is a member of the Methodist church and past officer, Troy lodge No. 43, I. O. O. F. ; Concord Encampment No. 23, I. O. O. F. ; Troy lodge No. 833, B. P. O. E. ; Trojan lodge No. 110, K. P. ; Concord Castle No 43, K. G. E. ; Camp No 5381, M. W. A. ; and Troy Council No. 191, Jr. O. U. A. M. SAMUEL WASHINGTON STERRETT Was born on Pretty Prairie in Champaign county, Ohio, cn November 19, 1810, and was buund to Ben- jamin Goodin, of Elisabeth township, Miami county, when he was 12 years of age. Aunt Ellen Goodin being his aunt. He was started out in life at 21 years of age, with a horse, bridle, saddle and rifle and followed the carpenters trade. He married Sarah Ullery, of Elisabeth township in 1835, and from this union ten children were born, five boys and five girls: Eliza, in 1836; Lucinda in 1838; William H., in 1840; Jacob R., in 1843: John A., in 1848; Sarah Catharine, in 1852; Elisabeth Ellen in 1854; Benjamin G.. in 1856 ; and Luvina Belle, in 1860. From 1836 to 1840, the subject of this sketch superintended the Voorhees Mills and distillery in Elisabeth township. From 1840 to 1843, he superintended the Sheets mills in Section 34, Elisabeth township. In 1843, he purchased the Sterrett mills and distillery on Honey creek, which he conducted for 20 years in person or through employees except that the distillery was discontinued about 1845 on account of the opposition of my mother, a very devout woman, who at that early day was opposed to whiskey in any form although it was used in practically every household of that day. Soon after, my father became a member of the McKendre Society and was officially connected with these Methodists until his death. He was a justice of the peace for 12 years and a county commissioner for nine years in Clark county. He wrote the deeds, contracts and other legal papers for a considerable area of country, acting as assignee, administrator or executor in a large number of cases. He was a provident man but was generous in church and charity. Having descended from revolutionary stock, he was an intense patriot. During the Civil War, he presided often at war meetings and was the president of the relief committee for soldiers’ families for his county. The following entry appears in the family Bible in his handwriting: “Jacob R. Sterrett died of wounds received at the battle of Chickamauga. Georgia, September 20, 1863. May my posterity to the latest generation remember that some of their blood was shed in defense of the Republic.” He was a self-made man, having received but six months of school- ing. He belonged to that early, rugged type, on whom dignity and power sat, strongly delineated. He died on December 28, 1885 and was buried in McKendrie church yard by the side of Benny, Belle and Jacob R. His friend. Rev. H. Y. Ruhr, preached his funeral from the text, “For he was a good man.” Samuel Sterrett Faulkner, a grandson of Samuel Washington Sterrett, was born in Troy, Ohio, on April 12, 1880. Elmer Mahlon Faulkner his father was a prominent druggist in Troy and land owner in Clark county, bordering on Miami, who died in Troy, on June 22, 1917, and buried in Riverside cemetery. His mother, Elisabeth Ellen Sterrett, lives on the adjoining lot to her son on Simpson street in Troy. Sterrett graduated from the Troy high school and from the college of pharmacy at the Northern university of Ohio, at Ada. On October 6, 1902, he married Sadie Beedle, from which union one child was born, Dorothy Faulkner. He and his wife attend the First Presbyterian church of Troy. He is a member of the United Commercial Travellers. He was connected for many years with his father in the drug business. Of recent years, with a partner, he has acted as the agent of the Ford Automobile company, with exclusive territory in Miami and Montgomery county. He is a clean cut, conservative business man, with an apparent future of usefulness. His firm contracted to sell 2 000 Ford automobiles in the year, 1917. ALBERT H. VANCE The subject of this sketch and the original of the above portrait was born in the city of Cincin- nati, Ohio, on February 13, 1833 ; the son of James Vance and Elizabeth Everhart. He was educated principally at Moscow, Clermont county. Ohio. When Albert was eighteen years of age he came to Troy and finished his education under William Norris Edwards. On August 28, 1861, he was married to Martha Ann Skinner, from which union four sons were />om, all of whom died in infancy except Charles Freeman Vance. Returning from a hasty bridal trip to Cincinnati, he attended a breakfast at the home of his brother-in-law, Elias Skinner, given in honor of the soldiers from Troy, enlisted in the 44th O. V. I. He left immediately for Springfield, Ohio, as a member of Company A of that regiment, commanded by Captain Alpheus Moore, who afterward became the Colonel of that splendid organization. He re-enlisted in Company A of the 8th O. V. C. on January 4, 1864, and was promoted to hospital steward and mustered out July 30, 1865. On his return to Troy he became instructor of music in the public schools cf T'-oy and remained in that position until the time of his death. No man was better known in Troy and few, if any, were better loved. He went in and out among the students for more than 50 years, a marked and remark- able figure of the community which he adorned. He was a lovable character ; demonstrated by the universal affection bestowed upon him by all the citizens of Troy, especially by the young. In 1908, he and his accomplished and lovable wife accompanied his son, Charles Freeman Vance, to the Phillipine Islands, when he was seventy-six years of age, and returned via Europe, thus com- pleting the circuit of the globe. Charles Freeman Vance, the only son of Albert H. Vance, was born in Troy, Ohio, on October 15, 1871, and educated in Troy High School and the Ohio State University and is, by occupation, a civil engineer. He was baptized in the Presbyterian Church and is a member of Franklin Lodge of the Masonic fraternity. He was a second and first lieutenant for some years in the Ohio National Guard. He enlisted in the 41st U. S. Volunteers in October, 1899, and served respectively as Sergeant. Quartermaster Sergeant and Sergeant-Major. On March 4, 1901, he received a commission as Supervisor of Bataan Provence and acted under the orders of William H. Taft and Fred Dent Grant. He w r as promoted to Pampanga Provence in 1902 and to Pangasinan Provence in 1904 and then to engineer of the Moro Provence, Department of Minranao and Sulu, in 1905. In 1910 he was made Superintendent and Chief Engineer of the Iwahig Penal Colony. He came back to Troy in 1915, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. When the United States declared war on Gel-many, he at once became employed on government work ; first, at Fail-field, then at Chillicothe, Ohio, and, at present, at Jacksonville, Florida. HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 411 and 578 colonies of bees. She had 1,580 farms, embracing 90,672 acres, operated by owners, and 1,721 farms operated by tenants, and 27 farms operated by man- agers. We produced 932,609 eggs. We re- ceived from the sale of animals $645,931, and the value of animals slaughtered was $235,395. INDIAN CORN Have you any idea what the corn grown in the United States this year will amount to? I have before me the latest estimates of the Agricultural Department. From its statisticians, scattered throughout every corn-raising section of the Union, it has figured up the possibilities. It estimates the amount at just about 3,200,000,000 bushels, and you cannot buy a bushel of it anywhere for less than $1.40. The aver- age price November 1 was $1.46 per bu. The total value of the crop is more than $4,000,000,000. If it were turned into gold eagles, worth $20 each, there would be 200,000,000 of them, so many that if the Wandering Jew, who is supposed to live forever, had sat down before a pile of such gold pieces 100 years before the pil- grims landed on Plymouth Rock and counted a gold piece to the minute, from then until now, he would be still on the job. The sum is so great that before the war began it would have paid our public debt four times over. It is so great that it will pay the interest on any debt we are likely to incur. At 5 per cent it would equal the dividends on more than $80,000,000,000. The crop this year is equal in value to all the money we had in circulation in 1916. It is equal to more than half the value of all our farm animals, and to more than that of all the manufactures we exported last year. Looking upon our corn fields as one great gold mine, we shall get out of them in a single year more than sixteen times as much as all the precious metals we have taken from Alaska since we bought that conutry from the Russians. We shall get forty times as much as all the gold mined in the United States within the past twelve months and thrice as much as all the gold taken out of South Africa since the preci- ous metal was discovered at Johannesburg many years ago. The total is more than eight times as great as all the gold and silver product of the whole earth in any one year since the world began. Moreover, we shall have just as much from this same mine next year, and for every year during the ages to come. This gold mine renews itself. Like the widow’s cruse, it is always full, and it will feed the United States to the end of time. And now look again at the magnitude of the crop and consider the mighty mass of foodstuffs, of which it is made. A single grain of corn planted in the earth often yields more than a thousand fold. I have raised many an ear on my farm which had more than 900 kernels on the cob, and I have had two or three ears on a single stalk. The volume of the corn crop is beyond comprehension. To say that it measures more than 3,200,000,000 bushels of shelled corn gives no idea of its immensity. To see what the figures mean, let us load the corn upon wagons. We shall put 40 bush- els, or more than a ton, in each wagon. Such a load would be enough for two horses. We shall try to load the whole crop and shall start the procession east- ward, putting the noses of the horses at the tailboards of the wagons in front of them, allotting to each team 40 feet on the roadway. How far away do you think the first wagon would be when the last wagon was moving? Suppose we start at the Mis- sissippi River, would it be in Pittsburg on the other side of Ohio? No. In Boston, on the coast of the Atlantic? No. Sup- pose we could bridge the ocean, would it be where our army is fighting in France? No. The caravan would reach far beyond that. It would extend on and on across 412 AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION Russia. It would reach over Siberia, across the Pacific Ocean and come bach to the Mississippi Valley where it started. Even then the train would have hardly be- gun, and not one-twentieth of the crop would yet have been loaded. The train of wagons would reach more than 600,000 miles, sufficient to make a line of teams, 200 abreast, all the way from Philadelphia to San Farncisco. It would fill 200 Lin- coln highways with solid corn. If we could bridge the skies and start the crop toward the moon we should have a double row of teams, each carrying a ton shelled corn reaching from the earth to that dead planet and 150,000 miles be- yond. If we could load it on cars at 1000 bushels to the car the train would girdle the globe at the equator with many miles to spare. And this mass consists entirely of food- stuffs, the most nutritious, the most heat- ing and most energy-producing of any known to man. The crop is big enough, if it were equally divided among us, to sup- port the life of the whole nation, and leave some to spare. It would give 32 bushels to every man, woman and child in our country, or enough to supply every one of our families with three bushels of meal every week for the whole year to come. In actual quantity corn is the greatest food crop of the world. This year it will exceed the wheat crop, which comes from the four quarters of the earth, and it will be of enormous value in the war situation. A vast amount of it will be fed at home and a caravan of ships will carry another portion abroad in the shape of meat and corn meal to be used to make war bread of one kind or another. Indeed, the value of the corn crop as a war asset could be greatly increased, if more were used in the shape of corn meal instead of being manufactured into meat on the farms. As it is now one-fourth of our corn is consumed by horses and mules, another fourth is eaten by hogs, and sev- eral hundred million bushels are fed to the cows. A vast amount goes to make beef, and something like 60,000,000 bushels are an- nually consumed by our sheep. It is the high price of corn that makes the high price of meat, and I might say also the high prices of other foods which could be replaced by our eating corn meal. We might grind the corn and ship it to Europe, but the people there have no idea of its value, with the exception, perhaps, as a stock food. The prejudice against it is such that it would be impossible to in- troduce it except as a mixture with wheat or rye flour, and the best solution of the problem will be for us to eat the corn at home and ship our wheat and wheat flour to Europe. Indeed, there is no reason why corn should not take the place of wheat in every American family. As it is now we are using a barrel of wheat flour per head every year. A barrel of wheat flour means five bushels of wheat, and at that estimate the total amount of wheat taken to feed us is 500,000,000 bushels per annum. Suppose we should exchange that wheat for corn, the amount of corn consumed will be less than one-sixth of our crop and we would have a half billion bushels more wheat to feed our allies in Europe. Sup- pose we cut down our wheat flour con- sumption four-fifths, we can send 400,- 000,000 bushels across the water and this would largely supply the food demands of our allies. There is no better way in which every family in the United States can do its bit than in changing its bread diet from wheat to corn in one shape or another. In the early history of this country we had practically no wheat to speak of. We learned from the Indians how to raise corn and our colonial ancestors were brought up on it. For decades after the United States became a nation the chief cereal of the people consisted of ground maize and hominy, and the food was such that HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 413 it made them the strongest of men. The health of the United States would be equally good today if corn meal should take the place of wheat flour. I have before me a number of estimates as to the value of corn as a food-stuff. They show that it equals, and, as far as the price is concerned, is superior to al- most any other. The late Surgeon General Billings, who had to figure on the food of our army, estimated corn meal and wheat flour as of about equal value, pound for pound, in the production of heat and po- tential energy. Dr. Harvey Wiley, when he was chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, gave a report saying that corn was about as digestible as wheat and that it was a most excellent food as a fat producer, muscle producer, bone producer and blood producer. The National Asso- ciation of White Corn Millers has recently shown that white corn flower can be mixed with wheat flour in the proportion of 15 per cent in the making of all bread and cakes and that such a mixture would save $200,000,000 a year in the food bill of the country. This mixture has the approval of the National Government, including the Council of National Defense. The Bureau of Cheimstry of the Depart- ment of Agriculture has been experiment- ing for the past four years in the making of bread containing mixtures of other flours with wheat flour. It is said that their experiments show that 25 per cent of white corn flour can be mixed with wheat flour and the result will be a better bread from every standpoint. It is claimed that the corn flour contains more food value than the wheat flour. The following is a comparative analysis of the two: Fancy patent White wheat flour, corn flour. Water 13.00 13.00 Protein 11.00 8.50 Fat 1.00 1.25 Carbohydrates __ 73.90 75.75 Fiber ___ 0.50 0.75 Ash _ 0.60 0.75 100.00 100.00 From this it will be seen that the two flours are about the same in proteins and carbohydrates. The corn flour exceeds in fat and it has also more lysine, a sub- stance which is favorable to bodily growth. What is true of corn flour is also true of corn meal, and the latter is much cheaper than wheat flour. A pound of corn meal, retailing at five cents, has the same food values as ten cents’ worth of wheat flour, ten cents’ worth of rice, 50 cents’ worth of potatoes, 70 cents’ worth of eggs and 80 cents’ worth of beefstead. These are facts, the results of analyses. In 1909, the value of all crops in Mi- ami County was $3,977,496. We had 79,- 491 apple trees and 62,208 bushels of ap- ples, less than a bushel per tree, which ought to bring us to a realizing sense of proper cultivation and spraying. We had 20,913 peach and nectarine trees and 6,- 398 bushels on them. We had 18,584 pear trees and 2,436 bushels of fruit on them. We had 26,868 plum and prune trees and 1,221 bushels of fruit on them. We had 35,132 cherry trees and 10,000 bushels of cherries. We had 7,688 grape vines and had 135,190 pounds of grapes or over 17 pounds to the vine, which ought to con- vince us that we have a good grape county and that we probably should plant more and give it as careful attention as we do our Indian corn. We had 32 acres of strawberries and had 31,000 quarts which at 10 cents a quart would amount to $3100 or about $100 per acre, which ought to teach us that Miami County is good soil and climate for strawberries and can be grown with large profit. The pioneers of Miami County culti- vated Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley and flax, but Indian corn then as now, was the principal crop. In the early date, when the soil was virgin, the same atten- 414 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY tion given to the crop now given, would have produced more bushels then than now, and yet the production per acre has not varied much from the beginning. In the history of Miami County, 1909, I find the following: “Until 1846 there had been no thought of an Agricultural Society. In fact, the situation did not demand one. As the County advanced in agriculture, the needs of an institution of this kind became ap- parent.” While this is not by any means a vital error, it is nevertheless a mistake and should be corrected. The County Com- missioners appropriated the sum of $35 in 1836, ten years before the Society was formed, to the Miami County Agricultural Society “when organized,” and on two other occasions in the 40s, a similar sum, as elsewhere related in this work. This action of the Commissioners was evi- dently for the purpose of stimulating thought and action toward the desired end which finally brought action in 1846 when at a meeting called for the purpose, in Troy, a comimttee was appointed, consist- ing of William Griffin, David H. Morris, William I. Thomas and William B. Mc- Clung to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the organization, resolved to be formed. The following is the constitution of the Miami County Ag- ricultural Society reported by the commit- tee on the 26th of September, 1846, at which time the following officers were elected: President, William I. Thomas; Vice Presidents, William C. Knight, Cyrus Hey wood, David Jenkins; Corresponding Secretary, D. H. Morris; Recording Sec- retary, G. D. Burgess! Treasurer, Jacob Knoop; Librarian, H. D. Stoud; Commit- tee on Agriculture, John Hamilton, chair- man ; Daniel Brown, James McClain, Zimri Heald, William Giffen. The first county fair was held in the barn of W. H. Gahagan, on East Main Street, and the subsequent fairs were held in the same place and at the fair grounds, where the Troy Water Works now stands, up to 1856 when the fair board purchased from William Senior the ground on Union Street, commencing at the point where that street crosses the canal and continu- ing to the northern limit of the Fairview Addition to Troy, about 40 acres in all. The fairs were held here for a period of 15 years. In 1871, Mrs. Eliza McKaig sold to the Agricultural Board the present fair grounds, located one mile north of the Public Square in Troy, on the west side of the Piqua turnpike. Under a State law, two directors are now elected from each township and these 24 men consti- tute the Agricultural Board, who have full charge of the affairs of the Society. In the past several years there has been an attendance of not less than 20,000 on “big Thursday” and the crowd on that day this year was estimated at 45,000. The re- ceipts were larger than ever before. In 1916, a cement amphitheater was erected at a cost of $34,000 with a seating capacity of 2860, which will compare fa- vorably with any in the tSate. Some of the low records in trotting and pacing have been made on this very excellent half mile track. Article 1. This Association shall be called The Miami County Agricultural So- ciety. Article II. The object of the Society shall be the circulation of general intelli- gence and practical instruction in all the branches of agriculture. 1. By the establishment of a permanent library of the best books and periodicals, illustrative of the principles and practice of the sciences. 2. By the establishment of a corre- spondence with other bodies seeking the same object. 3. By procuring the most rare and val- uable kinds of seeds, plants, shrubs and trees. 4. By the establishment of exhibitions at which premiums shall be awarded for the improvements of soil, tillage, crops, AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION 415 manures, implements of husbandry, stocks, articles of domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and im- provements as may be deemed worthy of encouragement; and the adoption of other means for the general circulation of knowledge on the subjects embraced by the Society. Article III. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, three Vice- Presidents, Corresponding Secretary, Re- cording Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, Standing Committee of five persons on Agriculture, and a Board of Directors to be composed of the President, Vice-Presi- dents, and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, which Board shall have the charge and general management of the property and business of the Society, sub- ject, however, to the order and direction thereof. Article IV. All the officers shall be chosen by ballot, at the annual meeting of the Society, which shall be held on the first Saturday in September in each year at such hour and place as the Directors shall order. Art. V. All special meetings of the So- ciety shall be called by the Recording Sec- retary on the requisition of a majority of the Directors, or of any five members, made in writing therefor ; a notice thereof, as well as of all general meetings shall be published in one or more of the newspa- pers of the county fifteen days at least be- fore each meeting. Article VI. Any person may become a life member of the Society on the pay- ment of $10 into the Treasury at any one time. Article VII. This Constitution may be altered or amended by the votes of two- thirds of the members present at any reg- ular meeting, providing the same shall have been proposed in writing at a previ- ous regular meeting. The following are the subscribers to the Constitution of the Miami County Agri- cultural Society: Z. Heald, Cyrus Haywood, Wesley Hay- wood, Daniel Bates, James M. Dye, Daniel Brown, L. H. Booher, William I. Thomas, John Hamilton, William B. McLung, Geo. Clide, Joshua Peck, James McCain, G. A. Clyde, Joshua Peck, James McCain, G. A. McLung, James Fordyce, J. McKaig, John C. Winans, H. S. Mayo, G. D. Burgess, John B. Fith, E. Parsons, B. F. Brown, John Knoop, Jacob Knoop, John H. Knoop, George Knoop, James Hoit, John C. Dye, Jacob Rohrer, John McLung, Minor L. Dye, Samuel R. Youart, James McCorde, William Barton, Andrew D. Sayres, Moses H. Branson, Joseph Brown, Isaac T. Rol- lins, James Brown, J. M. McCampbell, James T. Orbison, H. Smead, S. K. Orr, George A. Murray, F. N. Marley, Philip Trabing, William Cottingham, C. B. Clarke, Isaac Peck, Joseph Pearson, Wil- liam K. Cromer, Findley Telford, M. Dye, John D. Fowler, Jacob Knoop, Jr., Wil- liam Giffen, L. Riley, D. Jenkins, D. R. Tullis, James Telford, A. Morris, B. F. Tullis, James Murphy, A. W. McNabb, Isaac Pearson, John Syp, Mr. Correy, John McCullough, Thomas Pearson, Rob- ert Pearson, Jr., David Gibbs, Daniel Rice, William Tullis, John Peck, Samuel Pearce, J. M. Hart, Martin Kessler, A. Fenner, William C. Knight, John H. Wolcott, H. D. Stout, Thomas Jay, Henry Cecil, Israel Kessler, Daniel Collins, Philip A. Smith, H. Chase, Thomas Wilmington, R. W. Smith, S. J. Green, J. G. Hart, Moses E. Long, Clark Sutton, Daniel F. Sutton, H. P. Dye, Charles Felix, J. H. DeWeese, Thomas Orbison, Asa Coleman, David Frazer, Henry Kessler, Joseph C. Stock- ton, J. D. Harter, James H. Telford, Wil- liam Swailes, John Wilson, John Clark, Henry Teneick, James Fenner, James Lef- fel, Richard Mclntire, William Telford, B. N. Moore, Sol Jones, Robert Ramsey, O. S. Thomas, E. V. Covault, George Ramsey, L. J. Abbott, N. Sherman, E. Vaugant, Nathaniel Fish, Jerry Fenner, S. R. Drury, Henry DeBra, John Cecil, William Stew- art, Murray Telford, S. Leapley, Henry 416 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Girard, James McCandless, William Cot- tingham, B. B. Reid, A. Gaskill, D. C. Hathaway, William Dunlap, M. M. Mun- son, John M. Harker, J. Leffel, A. F. Mun- ger, D. D. Odaffer. The By-Laws of the Miami County Ag- ricultural Society are as follows : I. Each member shall pay annually into the treasury the sum of $1.00; any mem- ber who shall fail to pay his annual assess- ment or any fine or forfeiture on account of books taken from the library for the space of ninety days after the annual meeting shall then cease to be a member of the Society, and forfeit all his rights and privileges as such, and to the library and other property belonging to the So- ciety. II. All books save such as the Board of Directors may except, may be taken from the library on Saturday of each week. No book shall be detained from the library for more than two weeks, under a penalty of 5 cents for each day it shall be detained beyond that period ; and any member lend- ing a book belonging to the Society shall pay as a penalty therefor the sum of $1.00. III. Any member who shall lose a book belonging to the Society shall pay for the volume or set as assessed by the librarian. IV. No money shall be paid by the Treasurer unless upon a written order of a majority of the Directors. V. A record of payment of assessment or subscription shall be the evidence of proprietorship for the year it is so paid. VI. The Treasurer, at such annual meeting, and so often as he may be re- quired, shall render an account of all re- ceipts and disbursements of the Society for the year then passed. VII. The Recording Secretary shall keep the records of the meetings and their proceedings and at each annual meeting report a list of members of the Society and also of those who have forfeited their rights as members. VIII. The librarian shall keep a cata- logue of all the books in the library and shall assess all fines for loss, damage or detention of any book therein; also, keep an account of all books taken out by mem- bers. IX. The Society shall, in addition to annual meetings, hold three other meet- ings, on the first Thursday of the months of December, March and June in each year for the purpose of hearing addresses, discussing questions, and receiving reports on the several subjects embraced by the Society. X. No alteration shall be made in any of these by-laws, except at one of the reg- ular meetings, written notice thereof hav- ing been given at a previous regular meet- ing. The first quarterly meeting of the Miami County Agricultural Society was held De- cember 5, 1846, at which an appropriation was made for the purchase of a library, after which Mr. Thomas, President of the Society, addressed the meeting on the sub- ject of “Scientific Husbandry,” which was discussed in a masterly manner, and lis- tened to with rapt attention, by an appre- ciative audience. That his remarks had a practical bearing may be inferred from the fact that the Board immediately resolved that the circulation of the Ohio Cultivator among the members would be highly con- ducive to their interests and the same was therefore recommended to the farmers for their patronage. The library was pur- chased in the winter of 1846, about $70.00 having been previously appropriated for that purpose. Presidents 1847-1850 — William I. Thomas. 1850-1852 — Dr. Asa Coleman. 1852-1853 — William B. McLung. 1854 — S. K. Harter. 1855- 1860 — W. H. Gahagan. agriculture and population 417 1861— W. H. H. Dye. 1862 — Isaac S. Sheets. 1863— 1866— W. B. McLung. 1867 — B. F. Brown. 1868— W. H. H. Dye. 1869 — W. B. McLung. 1870 — William B. McLung. 1871 — W. B. McLung. 1872— 1873 — Newton Smithers. 1874— J. W. Ross. 1875- 1877 — Lewis Hayner. 1878- 1880— M. W. Hays. 1882 — Lewis Hayner. 1883 — David DeWeese. 1884— 1885— F. B. McNeal. 1886-1887 — D. C. Brannon. 1888-1889— W. B. Cox. 1890 — D. M. Coppock. 1891- 1893— W. I. Kiser. 1894-1899— Chas. B. Scott. 1900-1907 — W. F. Robbins. 1908- 1917— Geo. A. Frye. Secretaries 1847-1848— Blank. 1849-1853 — M. M. Munson. 1854 — Blank. 1855 — R. W. Furnas. 1856 — George Morris. 1857— 1858— C. W. Morris. 1859 — Blank. 1860- 1861— C. W. Morris. 1862— C. T. Baer. 1863- 1865— C. W. Morris. 1866 — W. H. Gahagan. 1867 — William H. Gahagan. 1868 — W. H. Gahagan. 1869 — Blank. 1870 — J. W. Ross. 1871— 1874 — S. R. Drury. 1875 — F. M. Sterrett. 1876- 1878— W. A. R. Tenney. 1879- 1880 — A. M. Heywood. 1881- 1882 — J. C. Chamberlain. 1882- 1908 — W. I. Tenney. 1909- 1917 — Charles D. Martin. ALFALFA IS ALSO GOOD FOR HUMANS Homeopathists Declare It a Coming Drug. Physicians Also Favor the Cause of National Prohibition. (Cincinnati Enquirer July 2, 1914.) Chicago, July 2. — Alfalfa, which is at- tracting such wide attention in agricul- tural circles, was a topic of discussion from a widely different viewpoint at the annual convention of the American Institute of Homeopathy which was concluded here to- day. Alfalfa as a remedy for indigestion and mental depression was recommended by Dr. Alexander L. Blackwood, of Chicago. He told of experiments made with the new remedy at a Chicago hospital. “During the last year observations were made of the action of alfalfa on 17 per- sons,” he said. “All of them noted that they grew so hungry that they could scarcely wait for their meals. Their minds were clear and bright, all bodily functions were stimulated and it was impossible to have the blues.” The alfalfa is converts into a tincture and administered internally, according to Dr. Blackwood. The tincture is known as Medicago Sativa. “Dr. Ben Bradley, of Hamlet, Ohio, also made experiments with alfalfa,” said Dr. Blackwood, “and he believes it to be a com- ing drug. It stimulates digestion and will prove of great value in dealing with loss of appetite. It does not act as a stimulant in the same sense as liquor.” The above dispatch, induced me to pre- pare in a crude way, an extract from green alfalfa, taken from my Fairview farm, a part of which is in the corporation in the southern portion of Troy. I boiled the sub- stance out of the alfalfa, suppressing as much evaporation as possible and had sev- eral gallons in jugs and bottles. At the time I had little appetite and commenced the use of my extract without any knowl- 418 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY edge or advice as to the dose, but used a tablespoonful three times a day before my meals, and found I became hungry for my meals as never before. My work was per- formed with greater enthusiasm, and I found all of the benefits set forth in the dispatch from Chicago. I asked our homeopathic physician of Troy, Dr. J. W. Means, in reference to al- falfa as a medicine and he informed me he had been using a tincture in his prac- tice for a few years and found it had vir- tue. I wrote to Dr. Bradley, mentioned in the Chicago dispatch, who corroborated all that had been reported of him. I have several gallons in my cellar and have given some of it away to my friends who report favorably upon its use. I am satisfied it is a good medicine and therefore present it in this work under the article on agri- culture. Its bitter taste is remedied with peppermint oil. In 1847, the land between Market and Walnut Streets, in Troy, on the west of the canal was pasture and so far as we have been able to discover, it was here that the first blooded cattle were brought to Miami County and sold. Judge Holt, of Dayton, brought a herd of Durhams here and turned them loose in this pasture. They were all pedigreed and sold by Sam- uel 0. Binkley, the public auctioneer of that day. The cows sold from ten to fif- teen dollars per head and the calves from ten to seventeen dollars. John L. Meredith, for so many years the cashier of the First National Bank, of Troy, brought the pedigreed Devons here from Lafayette, Indiana, probably at the suggestion of William Barbee, who had moved there from Troy, but who always retained an active interest in the commu- nity which he had done so much to develop. This was in 1860. This herd was sold to David Whitmore, of Casstown, who exhib- ited at every fair in Miaim County for many years and kept them constantly be- fore the public at the fairs in and out of Ohio, during the fall season. In 1860, Newton Smithers brought over the English Norman draft horse. He was a Kentuckian, fond of horses and did much to bring up the stock while he lived here. In 1855 John Drury, afterward killed in the battle of Perrysville, Ky., as a captain in the 94th 0. V. I., brought the Morgan road horse to the County. In 1860 Charles McCullough introduced the Jersey cattle and subsequently introduced the Abdallah road horse and brought some of the earlier improved agricultural implements. In 1875 Mr. Wood, of Piqua, introduced the Clydes- dale draft horse and Merino sheep into the County. In 1875, Noah Albaugh, of Bethel Township, showed the Holstein breed at the Miami County Fair for the first time. POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 1910. Alabama 2,138,093 Arkansas 1,574,449 California 2,377,549 Colorado 709,024 Connecticut 1,114,756 Delaware 202,322 Florida 762,619 Georgia 2,609,121 Idaho 325,594 Illinois 5,638,591 Indiana 2,700,876 Iowa 2,224,771 Kansas 1,690,949 Kentucky 2,289,905 Louisiana 1,656,388 Maine 742,371 Maryland 1,295,345 Massachusetts 3,366,416 Michigan 2,810,173 Minnesota 2,075,708 Mississippi 1,797,114 Missouri 3,293,335 Montana 376,053 Nebraska 1,192,214 Nevada 81,875 New Hampshire 430,572 New Jersey 2,537,167 New York 9,113,614 North Carolina 2,206,287 North Dakota 577,650 Greenville Falls, Newberry Township Troy Public Square HOME OF M. 13. MICHELSON, PIQUA MAURICE BERNARD MICHELSON Was born December 14, 1873, in the little town of Kobhna, in Russia, and moved with his parents to England when he was four years of age and three years later moved to America, landing at New York, where he remained for 20 years and where he received most of his education. In 1900 he came to Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio, where he engaged in the clothing business. In 1909 he opened a branch in Troy, where he is numbered among Troy’s most enterprising merchants. He married Mary Beeton on Sept. 15, 1899, and from this union 7 children were born, one of which died in infancy, the others living, Leonard, Russell, Maurice, Rose Ethel, Louis Isaac, Helen and Maxmillian. His wife was a gentile, but after marriage, joined her husband in The Jewish faith and worship. Mr. Michelson was brought up in the clothing business and has been in business for himself in that line for the past 25 years. His pretty home in Piqua is the center of a very happy family. AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION 423 Ohio 4,767,121 Oklahoma 1,657,155 Oregon 672,765 Pennsylvania 7,665,111 Rhode Island 542,610 South Carolina 1,515,400 South Dakota 583,888 Tennessee 2,184,789 Texas 3,896,542 Utah 373,351 Vermont 355,956 Virginia 2,061,612 Washington 1,141,990 West Virginia 1,221,119 Wisconsin 2,333,860 Wyoming 145,965 Arizona 204,354 New Mexico 327,301 District of Columbia 331,069 Total population 91,972,266 Philippines 7,635,426 Guam 9,000 Samoa 6,100 Panama Canal Zone 50,000 Alaska 64,356 Hawaii 191,909 Porto Rico 1,118,012 Persons in military and naval service stationed abroad 50,000 Grand total 101,097,069 At the rate of increase from 1900 to 1910, the United States will have a popu- lation of over 120,000,000 in 1920. The population of the Philippines will have to be deducted from this number when they are granted self-government. POPULATION OF OHIO 1800 .. 45,365 I860- . -__2,399,511 1810 __ 230,760 1870__. -_2,665,260 1820 581,434 1880__. -_3,198,062 1830 . 937,903 1890--. . _3,672,329 1840 . -1,519,467 1900 -_4.157,545 1850 . 1,980,329 1910_ . -_4,767,121 During the decade between 1900 and 1910 the population of Ohio increased a fraction over 14 per cent. At the same rate of increase the population of Ohio in 1920 will be about 5,350,000. The land area of Ohio in 1910 was 40,- 740 square miles and that of Miami County 408 square miles, or less than the one-hundredth part of the whole State, and yet there are but 18 Counties in the State surpass it in wealth. See page 142 of this work. POPULATION OF MIAMI COUNTY 1820__ . - _ 8,851 1870---. -__32,740 1830 12,807 1880 . 36,158 1840 19,688 1890 - . 39,754 1850 24,999 1910— . . --45,047 1860 . 29,999 Miami County grew in population from 1900 to 1910 about 2,000 which means that the population of Miami County in 1920 will be about 47,000. The growth of the County in recent years has been almost exclusively confined to the cities, towns and villages. The suburban population in 1910 was less in every locality than it was in 1900. Each of the six townships east of the Miami had less population in 1910 than in 1900 and but for the growth in the towns and villages each of the six town- ships west of the river would have had a less population in 1910. This fact is of vital importance. It means that country life is unpopular and that young men abandon the farm at the earliest moment. It means that machinery must be produced and used that will largely increase the ability of those who remain on the farm to produce that which we eat, or that there must be a movement back to the soil. At the rate of increase of population in the past, we will soon consume all we pro- duce now. Of the 45,047 population in Miami County, 22,468 are males and 22,579 are females, of which 21,903 are white males and 22,033 are white feamles. There are 424 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 563 negro males and 546 negro females. There are 13,962 voters in the County and about two and one-half per cent of them are illiterate. There are 11,954 of school age and 7,892 attend school or 66 per cent. There are 11,455 dwellings and 11,864 families in Miami County. POPULATION OF MIAMI COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS Bethel Township 1,550, a loss of 46 since 1900. Brown Township, including Fletcher Village, 1,518, a loss of 113 since 1900. Fletcher Village, 376. Concord Township, including Troy City 7,341, Troy City 6,122. Ward 1, 1,850; Ward 2, 1,256; Ward 3, 1,596; Ward 4, 1,420. Elizabeth Township, 1,078, a loss of 66 since 1900. Lostcreek Township, including Cass- town Village 1,135; a loss of 11 since 1900. Casstown Village, 265, a loss of 3 since 1900. Monroe Township, including Tippecanoe City village, 3,222. Tippecanoe City Vil- lage, 2,038. Newberry Township, including Coving- ton Village and part of Bradford Village, 5,126; part of Bradford Village, 1,175; Covington Village 1,848. Newton Township, including Pleasant Hill Village, 2,566; Pleasant Hill Village, 571. Springcreek Township, 1,342, a loss of 80 since 1900. Stanton Township, 1,034, a loss of 154 since 1900. Union Township, including Laura, New Lebanon and West Milton Villages, 4,459; Laura Village, 362 ; New Lebanon Village, 227 ; West Milton, 1,207. Washington Township, including Piqua City, 14,676; Piqua City, 13,388; Ward 1, 2,695; Ward 2, 4,042; Ward 3, 3,251; Ward 4, 3,400. LAST INDIAN IN MIAMI COUNTY Section 31 in the southwest corner of Elizabeth Township; Section 32, 33 and 34 immediately north on the border of Staunton Township. At an altitude of 820 feet above the level of the sea, in the south east section 34, a spring bubbles from the earth with considerable force and forms the head- waters of Wanger Creek, taking its name from the last Indian who lived in Miami County. The stream flows southward, through sections 32, past Grayson’s Sta- tion on the Big Four Railroad, through section 31, and empties into Honey Creek, a few hundred feet from the Bethel Town- ship line. At this spring, Wanger, a Miami In- dian, erected his cabin and lived there with his son from about the end of the war of 1812 to 1820, subsisting on deer meat and other wild animals, trading furs for meal and flour. The land along the course of Wanger Creek was low, and sometimes swampy. A few years ago, when the Knoop ditch was being con- structed, a large beaver dam was discov- ered on the northwest quarter of section 32, just south of what was long known as the Wanger Springs Dairy, conducted by Isaac Sheets, the grandson of the owner of the Sheets Mills, about which we have written. Captain Williams says in his historical sketches : “Wanger was a peaceful Indian, noted for his love of money, for he never spent a cent on clothing, drink or provisions.” It is not quite strange that Wanger was peaceful, for all Indians who made their home in Miami County, after the white man came, were peaceful with the single exception of the two who murdered the Dilbone family in 1813, which was really the result of a former quarrel and not that there was an armed force then, or at any other time on the warpath within the borders of the County, after the white AGRICULTURE AND POPULATION 425 man came here. It does seem peculiar that he never purchased clothing of any kind. The Captain, no doubt, had good authority for that particular statement, which came to him not from written data, but by word of mouth from old settlers. The facts I have stated came from my father, who lived for some years in sec- tion 34, where the Wanger Spring had its origin. At the time he superintended the Sheets Mills and Distillery heretofore re- ferred to. It is not important other than as an incident of the gradual extinguish- ment of the Red Man. Where Wanger migrated is purely a surmise. CHAPTER XXIII ABOUT RELIGION I am of the opinion that any extended history of denominational church organi- zations is not called for in a County his- tory ; that the rise and growth of one or- ganization is the practical parallel of each of the others. I have therefore sought to describe the one I know best. The records of each organization in the County have been fairly well kept, but have special in- terest only to one community and small interest to the other 79 communities. There have been changes of opinion about the existence of a literal hell since the pioneer log church days; there have been changes in the style of pulpit oratory and of church architecture. Our forbears would be shocked to come back today and, entering one of our fashionable churches, listen to the fiddle and many other string and wind instruments used in our present day church worship, and yet these changes from the primitive times has witnessed the constant growth of a higher civiliza- tion, of which we have a right to boast. It is possible we have too many churches and that the necessary religious instruc- tion in our various communities might be efficiently conducted with a fewer number. Troy has 13 church houses that cost to build about $300,000 and the lots on which they stand are worth about $25,000 in ad- dition, and we pay our preachers some $15,000 per annum, and yet the average attendance in all the churches does not exceed 500. It costs about $100 per year, per person, to impart religious training in Troy. The central, salient doctrine of each is the redemption of man through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It puzzles many to know why, in order that this great truth may be im- 426 pressed on the human heart and mind that it seems necessary to create so many isms about it. There is no practical difference between the Methodists and Baptists ex- cept the former administer the rite of bap- tism by both immersion and sprinkling, while the latter administers the rite by im- mersion alone. I believe most church doc- trines do not regard either method as es- sential to salvation and therefore, why not the Baptist and Methodist congregations, on opposite corners of Franklin and Cherry Streets, unite? Either auditorium would easily hold both average congrega- tions. About one-half the world believe in Buddha and the transmigration of souls and in this, is in opposition to the other half of the world’s population. About one- fourth of the world of men and women be- lieve in God and that “Mohammed is his only prophet.” The other one-fourth in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Mo- hammedan and Christian religions do not differ materially except as to God’s Vice Regent. If we are expending more time and money than actually produces good results, or if we could produce as good or better results with less expenditure, it would seem best to do that very thing, but so long as we are expending, in other de- partments of life, largely more than the returns justify and on some lines very largely without any return of good what- ever, may be we had best reform the worst first and then turn our attention to econ- omy in religious matters, if it should be concluded that the saving could be placed to a better use. The doctrine of Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind is a beau- tiful doctrine and the character of the lowly Nazarene was the most perfect in history. It was a doctrine good enough RELIGION 427 for my mother to live and die by and it is good enough for me to believe in and in a large measure be guided by. When 17 years of age, I drove my friend Wm. A. Robinson, now an eminent divine of the Cincinnati Conference, with whom I had attended the grammar department of the Troy schools in 1862-63 and after- ward the Ohio University, to Newson Chapel, some 12 miles east of Troy, to preach his first sermon as a licensed ex- porter in the Methodist Episcopal church. In his sermon he likened prayer to a lo- comotive engine. One drove the blue devils of temptation from one’s path and the other cattle from the track, and in imita- tion of a locomotive he whistled in the pul- pit, for which, on the road home, I up- braided him as theatrical; and while I do not regard the act now as profanation as I did then, I still think it was a mighty weak imitation of a locomotive whistle. When a student at Delaware Ed Thomp- son, a son of the bishop, had spent a vaca- tion season at my home and we had be- come good friends. It was natural he should invite me to hear him preach his first sermon, when he was but 17 years of age, in the ilttle white frame church, on the opposite side of the Olentangy River, from the University. He was an eloquent young man and as full of mis- chief as an egg is of meat. His sermon covered the immaculate conception and for his choice of text, I chided him on our return. That he cared little for what I said was evidenced when we arrived at the middle of the suspension wire bridge hanging over the river by which a for- ward and backward movement of the body could be made to swing out of center a few feet each way. He commenced the necessary motion and asked me to join him in making some of his congregation, coming behind, lose their balance. This action caused me to tell him he had little religion and ought not to perach, and while I do not regard his action now as seriously as I did then, I still think it was his duty, as a professed teacher to help people keep their feet, rather than throw them off. On another vacation visit to me he preached at the “old ship,” on Mul- berry Street to the great satisfaction of his hearers. I have known many preachers and for some of them I have had a high admira- tion and for others a profound contempt. I dislike to believe that in this chosen calling the per cent of insincere men is as high as among laymen, but I fear it is entirely too high. I once contributed an article to one of our papers, covering the same view about religious improvi- dence as set forth above and the article received adverse criticism from another paper, edited by a preacher for whom I have great respect and whom I believe to be a good man. I suppose I will be criti- cised by some for repeating these views in this book. To such I desire to say that I am not prompted by opposition to re- ligion and churches, but because I am opposed to priestcraft in each and every religious denomination, Catholic and Prot- estant, and believe that more churches than necessary lead to just that very thing. When the holy angels meet us, As we go to join their band, Shall we know the friends that greet us, In the glorious spirit-land? Shall we see the same eyes shining On us, as in days of yore? Shall we feel their dear arms twining Fondly ’round us as before? Shall we know each other there ? — Rev. R. Lowry. “He is risen! Hear it, ye heavens, and ye sons of earth! He is risen, and has be- come the first fruits of them that slept!” 428 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY HISTORY OF McKENDREE CHAPEL Located on the Northwest Quarter of Sec- tion 2, Town 2, Range 10, of Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio. By Frank M. Sterrett Within three counties of the North Car- olina line, near where the New River has its source, its entire line bordering on the comparatively new State of West Virginia, with the New River winding in a north- west direction through its center, is Giles County, which belongs to the fourth phys- ical division of Virginia, known as the Blue Ridge Country, containing a land- scape of unrivaled grandeur. To travel from Giles County, Va., to McKendree Chapel where we are now as- sembled, in the days about which I am to refer, on the lines of immigration, required a distance of more than five hundred miles. Miami County had been carved out of the new State of Ohio, the first added to the great constellation in the Northwest Ter- ritory, created by the great ordinance of 1787. This county at that time embraced all the territory north of the northern boun- dary line of Montgomery County and west of the western line of Clarke County ; since which time all the counties north of the northern boundary line of the pres- ent Miami County have been created. Elizabeth Township was then, as now, a central township of the four eastern townships of Miami County, bordering Clarke and Champaign Counties. The western townships of Clarke County, as well as all of Miami County, were drained into the Great Miami River, which formed a valley of unsurpossed fertility and drained four thousand square miles, or one-tenth the entire surface of the State. Elizabeth Township, in Miami Conuty, and Pike Township of Clarke County are up- land townships, and gradually lift to the ridge which divides the drainage of the Mad and Miami Rivers. Elizabeth Township in Miami County, and Pike Township in Clarke County, ad- joining each other, are drained by Indian Creek and Honey Creek, which head with- in a short distance of each other, the first in Brown Township of Miami County, and the latter in Jackson Township of Cham- paign County. Both of them are formed by a series of springs whose purling branches murmuring through peppermint beds and sweet-smelling grasses, finally converge to the head waters of these streams, which in turn meander on their way to the Great Miami and are fed along their entire distance by springs from their little valleys and the hillsides along their course. The man or woman here present who has not practiced, with rod and line, the art of Sir Izaak Walton in the old-time “deep hole” to be found along their course, and fried his or her catch in the old iron skillet, has missed a memory fraught with a thousand ecstacies, and he or she who has not fallen from the roots of an up- turned sycamore or from the foot log into this same “deep hole” and gone home to mother for dry clothes, has missed an ex- perience around which will cling and dwell to the latest day of life, the sweetest and saddest things of halcyon youth. These creeks were extensively bordered and most of the land of these two town- ships was covered with a heavy timber. If the giant poplar and walnut alone had been left standing until today, they would have a greater cash money value than all the land upon which they stood. The su- gar maple, beech, ash, oak, hickory, mul- berry, wild cherry and many other vari- etes were in vast abundance. Through these primeval forests in a time prior to the one about which I write, the lordly elk stalked and tossed his proud head, adorned by its giant antlers; and at the time about which I write the antlered deer ran his swift course in advance of the baying hounds. The black bear, the wildcat, the fox, the lynx, the raccoon, the RELIGION 429 oppossum were here in the greatest abun- dance ; the wild turkey, which should have been called the National Bird of Freedom, on account of his great beauty and useful- ness, were prolific. It was not only a land with an astonishing variety of game and magnificent forests, but it was a land of sunny skies and sparkling springs, of beau- tiful scenery, verdant dales and flowery fields, of fruitful soil and innumerable wild fruits and nuts, of healthful and de- lightful climate and luxuriant flora and fauna. To this land dedicated to Freedom by the great ordinance of 1787, came the ad- venturous spirits of the Old Dominion, and principally from Giles County. The first land entered here was in 1805-6. The Sun- derlin and Williams families each took a half of Section 1, Town 2, Range 10, be- ing the southeast section of Elizabeth Township, and the section immediately south of Section 2, Town 2, Range 10, on which this church is located. The second entry of land in this neigh- borhood was made by Wm. Mitchell, known for so many years in this community as “Uncle Billy” Mitchell. This entry was made on December 24, 1811, being the southeast quarter of Section 3, Town 2, Range 10. This quarter corners on the quarter on which this church house stands. The house in which “Uncle Billy” died in 1879 stands diagonally across the road from this church. It was successively oc- cupied by Wm. S. Mitchell, the son of “Uncle Billy,” and Milton G. Mitchell, the son of Wm. S., and now by the widow of Milton G., and her children ; the farm hav- ing been owned by the family for the past 97 years. This was the loved home of the itinerant. Being the nearest Methodist home to this church, it fell to the lot of this family to dispense a larger degree of hospitality than any other connected with the McKendree Society. Aunt Polly, who was a Robinson, and the wife of W. S. Mitchell, was a mother cook. May she be looking down on us now from the plains of light and with her well remembered smile accept my acknowledg- ment of the unctuous satisfaction I experi- enced while polishing so many chicken- bones at her delightful table. I cannot re- frain just here from dropping a kindly word in memory of her son, my schoolmate friend, Milton G. Mitchell. The first land entered in Pike Township, Clarke County, Ohio, by any one identified with the McKendree Society was by Thos. Stafford on November 11, 1811, less than a month after the entry made by “Uncle Billy” Mitchell. It was the northwestern quarter of Section 31, Town 2, Range 10, Pike Township. This farm descended to James C. Stafford, one of the carpenters who built this church. From James C. Stafford the farm descended to his son, Rowland J. Stafford, and is now owned by Rowland’s son, Horace G. Stafford, who has been one of the most active spirits in organizing this McKendree home-coming. This farm has remained in the Stafford family for 97 years. Thos. Stafford, George and wife, Cath- erine Stafford, James C. Stafford, William Mitchell (known as “Uncle Billy”), Eliz- abeth and Joseph H. Stafford, and Daniel Hogue, came to this neighborhood in 1811. They crossed the Ohio River at Gallipolis on the 31st day of October, 1811, it being the tenth birthday of James C. Stafforfd. The one named Elizabeth Stafford was commonly called “Aunt Betsy,” and was blind for many years; she died May 17, 1882, in her 83d year. It is said she rode a horse the entire way from Virginia, and assisted in driving cows that were brought to Ohio by this company of early settlers. Samuel Black, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, evidently came to this neigh- borhood near the time of the 1811 immi- grants, from the fact that he died in 1814 and is buried in Black’s Cemetery, located on the farm of J. Irvin Stafford. He was a member of the numerous Black family, who were members of the McKendree So- 430 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ciety, among whom is the Rev. John G. BlRck “Uncle Billy” Mitchell returned to Vir- ginia in 1811 and brought back with him in 1812 his father and family. The course followed by these Virginia immigrants on their way from Giles Coun- ty to this locality is not positively known, but from the fact that history informs us that the best road of those days was along the course of th« New River until the lat- ter was joined by the Gauley, when the New River became the Kanawha, these settlers no doubt came that way. The im- migrants continued down the Kanawha, and so far as we have record, invariably entered Ohio at Gallipolis, opposite the mouth of the Great Kanawha. This route would have taken them through Giles County, in old Virginia, and Sumner, Ral- eigh, Fayette, Kanawha, Putnam and Ma- son County in West Virginia. The best road of that day from Galli- polis to this locality was through Gallia, Jackson, Ross, Fayette, Green, Clarke and Miami, and our people no doubt traveled it, and therefore crossed the Muskingum, Scioto, Mad and other smaller streams on their journey here. There was a wonderful tide of immigra- tion, especially from Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland, into the Mad and Miami River counties in 1812. While the nucleus of the McKendree Society was being then formed, like communities were being es- tablished in all parts of Clarke and Miami Counties. The woodman’s axe rang throughout the land; the sturdy pioneer, urged on to a higher endeavor by the no- blest of all human sentiments, a home for his family was hewing down the giants of the forest, erecting his log cabin and pre- paring and planting his fields. Busy as they were looking after their material interests, they at once took up the things that were spiritual. These sturdy pioneers with a lofty courage built homes for their temporal welfare, and con- temporaneous therewith a home beyond the skies, enduring and eternal. This latter feature of their work cannot be effectively introduced without first set- ting forth briefly the religious conditions in this new country at that time. It seems to me that this intention can be best con- served by quoting the following from the Rev. J. B. Finley’s Pioneer Life : “In the spring of 1800 one of the most astonishing and powerful revival that has been known in the western country oc- curred. The commencement of this work is traceable to the joint labors of two bro- thers named McGee, in Cumberland Coun- ty, Kentucky, one of whom was a Pres- byterian preacher and the other a Metho- dist preacher. They commenced laboring together every Sabbath, preaching, pray- ing and exhorting alternately. This union was regarded as quite singular, and ex- cited the curiosity of vast multitudes who came to the place of the meeting to hear two men preach who held views in the- ology supposed to be entirely antagonistic. Nothing was discovered in their preaching of a doctrinal character, except the doc- trine of man’s total depravity and ruin by sin, and his recovery therefrom by re- pentance and faith in Christ. All were exhorted to flee the wrath to come and be saved from their sins. The word which they preached was attended with the power of God to the hearts of listening thousands and the multitude which flocked from all parts of the country to hear them became so vast that no church could hold them, and they were obliged to resort to fields and woods. Every vehicle was put in requisition, carriages, wagons, carts and sleds. Many came on horseback and larger crowds still came on foot. “As the excitement increased and the work of conviction and conversion contin- ued, several brought tents, and they were pitched on the ground and remained day and night for many days. This was the origin of camp-meetings.” In 1804 the Cane Ridge Camp Meeting took place. In the interim between the JOHN CLINTON MITCHELL The subject of the above portrait was of pure American parentage, running back several generations, whose people came from Virginia in 1811 and settled in the McKindrie neighborhood, of which I have ,given a full sketch, at length in another part. He was born in 1828, in Bethel township, and lived with George MitcheT, his father, and Katherine Gerhart, his mother, until ycung manhood, when he was married to Margaret Stafford in 1846, from which union ten children were born. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the Union Army as Captain cf Co. B. 147 O. V. I., and was mutered out on August 28 of the same year. He died in 1883 and was buried in t’ e New Carlisle cemetery. He was educated in the public schools, was a Knight Templar Mason, a farmer and a leading citizen. His eighth child, Mary M.. married George Warren Barter, who were the father ard mother of Harold Barton, who has furnished the several hundred photographs for this work. Harold was born near New Carlisle in 1888 and educated in the Troy schools, to which place the family had moved and where his father had conducted the photograph business, until turned over to his son, whose studio does a thriving business, making many thousand pictures for local commercial firms. On October 10, 1917, Harold married Edna Douglas, of Cleveland, Ohio the popular granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Douglas, of south Market street. They worship at the Presbyterian Church and Harold is identified with the Franklin Lodge of Masons. WILLIAM I. THOMAS Was born in Philadelphia Pa., on July 4, 1796, of Welsh origin, his ancestors hailing from Swansie, the birthplace of the great Welsh nightingale, Adaline Nillson. He accompanied his parents to Lancaster, Ohio, and worked with his father in the pottery business until the death of his elder brother, which furnished the opportunity for his education. He attended school at Columbus, and the Ohio university at Athens and read law with Thomas Ewing and began practice in Troy at the Overfield court house in 1819. In 1824 the ferry boat, at the foot of Mulberry street, near the court house, landed three handsome Virginia maidens named Neale, Harriet, Juliet and Lucinda, the latter in her fourteenth year. Milton McCampfc'ell, the tanner, said, “Thomas, how do you like the looks of those young ladies?” to which he replied “I intend to marry one of them " and when Lucinda became 18 in 1828, he married her and from this union 11 children, 10 boys and one girl were born. Seven of whom lived to manhood. His first law office was on the lot owned by him, on the site now occupied by the First Baptist church. He served as prosecuting attorney of Miami county and served in the State Senate from 1836-40, inclusive and widely known as a leader of public thought. At one time while in the Senate, he spoke 16 hours against time and thereby defeated an obnoxious measure. He was elected president of the first Agricultural Society in 1846 and re-elected in 1847. It was through his energy that the first public school was organized in Troy before the first public school law was passed, mentioned in our chapter XIX on the Organization and Progress of Miami County. He was an old line Whig until that party disbanded, after which he acted with the Democratic party. As a friend, he was staunch and true as well as being an aggressive enemy. He was a deep reader of human nature and apt in theological discussion and a powerful and convincing lawyer. Four of his sons, Walter, Stanley, William and Gilmer Telford imbibed the law from their father and became successful barristers, Gilmer Telford the only one of this family of good lawyers now alive once said, “Father, in what does the art of cross exam- ination consist?” to which query he quickly replied, “It consists in knowing; when to quit.” In 1854, he sold the ground on which the sheriff’s residence, jail and Probate rooms now stand to the county com- missioners for $2,600. He owned a farm of 300 acres, adjoining Troy on the west which he conducted with the same successful energy that characterized all of his enterprises. The opposing lawyer in a case at court was on the witness stand, when Mr. Thomas asked him, “You are witness brother-in-law and lawyer of your client in this case, are you not?” to which his opponent with some heat replied, “1 am at least no akin to you” when Thomas, in a deep voice, responded “Thank God” amid great laughter. The A; >glo-Saxon of Mr. Thomas, it is said, was at times marked with pre- cision. incision and decision of such character that no mistake could be entertained about his meaning. Col. Gilmer Telford, of Troy, Commander of Ft. Hays in Kansas in 1869, wrote Thomas to come out and shoot buffalo, then plentiful, which he accepted and killed several of the great American bison and returning in fine spirits, stopped with A. G. Eidemiller, formerly of Troy, at Lawrence Kansas and suddenly died there, his body being brought back and buried in Rose Hill. Gilmer Telford Thomas was born in Troy, Ohio, on January 8, 1851, the son of W. I. Thomas and Lucinda Neale with whom he lived until manhood and who was educated in the Troy schools. On December 31, 1874, he united in marriage with Emma Ziegenfelder, from which one son, William, was born, now in business in Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Thomas absorbed law from infancy under his father and entered the practice in Troy in 1876 and has held a prominent position at the Miami county tar from the beginning. He has been and now is the president of the Miami County Bar association. He was mayor of Troy in 1880-4 and ci f v solicitor in 1910-16 in which position he has loyally upheld the interests of his native city. By appointm°nt of Governor Cox, he is one of the three legal advisors of the Conscription board at the present time 1918. THE COUNTRY FARM OF HARRY EDWIN SCOTT The subject of this sketch was born at the old Scott homestead, section 16, Elisabeth township, Miami county, Ohio, January 20 1874. His father, Thomas Scott, was a prominent agriculturalist, who died some years ago. Harry Edwin was educated in the Troy high school, the National university at Lebanon, Ohio, and the Miami Commercial college, in Dayton, Ohio. He was four years a clerk in the house of representatives at Columbus, Ohio ; ten years actively connected with the Troy National Bank, from which he resigned as assistant cashier to accept the position of treasurer of Miami county, to which he had been elected, without opposition in 1912, and re-elected in 1914, and from wh : ch he retired in September, 1917, with a splendid record for efficiency. He was married to Alberta Stubbs, of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio on March 3, 1897. now one of the accomplished young matrons of Troy, whose genial qualities has made her a great favorite in the best social circles of the city. Mr. Scott represents the government, as chairman of the Miami County "Liberty Loan” committee, whose duty consists in procuring subscriptions to the war fund with which to conduct our war against Germany. Under his able management the quota of Miami county during the November. 1917, drive reached the sum of $1,500,000. over 8500,000 above the maximum set by the treasury department. He is a member of the Knights Templar and Shrine in Masonry, the Junior Order and Odd Fellows ; a director in the Knoop Children’s home, ike 160 acres of land attached thereto, having been donated bv the “bachelor Knoops,” his uncles ; vice president of the lake loop of the Dixie highway, starting at Miami, Florida, thence through Cincinnati through Troy and Piqua. in Miami county to Detroit, Michigan. The heautilul farm of 300 acres, owned by himself and sister, two mles east of Troy on the Springfield pike is one of the most fertile in the great Miami Valley, sometimes yielding 100 bushels of Indian corn to the acre. He has been prominently mentioned as a candidate for treasurer of the State of Ohio and could no doubt fc>e nominated during th" tv-ps ent year of 1918, if his consent could be obtained. His high qualification for such a trust are unquestioned. THE HOME OF WILLIAM HARRY GILBERT, 42» SOUTH MARKET STREET, The subject of this sketch is of American stock, born two miles north of Gettysburg - , Darke county, Ohio, on December 28, 1863. He was educated as he himself puts it in the "Little Red School House” and finished at the National Normal university at Ada, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, on October 4, 1888, and has practiced his profession from that time to the present. He married the accomplished daughter of Common Please Judge Meeker, of Darke county, on November 19, 1890, from which union one daughter, Virginia, was born on July 16, 1907. Soon after his marriage he came to Troy and has been an honored and brilliant member of the Miami County Bar ever since. He is a Blue Lodge Mason and with Mrs. Gilbert worships at the Presbyterian church. He has never sought or filled public off.ee. No man stands higher in his profession and no family in Troy stands higher in its social world. RELIGION 435 McGee meeting and this there were fre- quent successful camp meetings. Mr. Fin- ley gives results of this meeting in these terms : “Language is too poor to give anything like an accurate idea of the sublimity and grandeur of the scene. Twenty thousand persons tossed to and fro like the tumult- ous waves of the sea in a storm, or swept like the trees in the forest under the blast of the wild tornado, was a sight which my eye witnessed, but which neither my pen nor tongue can describe. Good judges were ready to admit that there were ex- travagances to be found in these meetings which should be condemned, but all was not wild fanaticism. The main trend of the work was that of God’s Spirit on the hearts of the people. Thousands were gen- uinely converted to God.” The Cumberland Presbyterian Church had its origin at this time and place. It was at these altars that young preachers, who in after years came to Ohio to labor, got their hearts aflame. It took bold, cour- ageous and untiring Christian zeal to break down the strongholds of sin in these western wilds. For rivers were to be swum, hunger, thirst and weariness to be endured, and penury to be faced. From this source came the consuming fire which was in the bones of the men who first preached in the Northwest Territory. The famous evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, preached in the houses and in the woods throughout a great part of Virginia, and held meetings in Giles County, where a great many of the Mitchells, Staffords, Blacks and others who formed McKendree, were converted and joined the Methodist Church. The book, hereafter to be printed, con- taining this historical sketch and other ad- dresses to be delivered this afternoon and tonight will contain a cut, made from a photograph taken by our good sister, Min- erva Ream, of the old log cabin built by “Uncle Billy” Mitchel lin 1811. Here in this log cabin, in this wilderness of forest trees, was formed a Methodist Society which wrought out a high Chris- tian civilization of far-reaching and incal- culable value to the state in this life, and in the state of the life everlasting. From this beginning and directly descending therefrom are four doctors of divinity, teachers of high standing, legislators of great merit, physicians and prominent business men of much mark in the world ; soldiers of the war of 1812 and 61-65 who fought bravely for the flag, some of whom died heroically on the firing line and in the forefront of battle ; one of them, Gen- eral Fred Funston, in the Spanish-Ameri- can war, by his daring deeds in the Philip- pines but ten years ago, wrote his name high up on the scroll of fame. His hero- ism in campaign and battle has resounded throughout the world and his deeds have been published in all lands and in all tongues. This McKendree boy is at pres- ent a brigradier-general in the regular army of the United States and commands a department. The history of toil and privation en- dured by these pioneers, the Indian wars and depredations which in the beginning were a constant menace to their lives, deeds of daring, in the chase and in de- fense of their homes, incident to the growth of this community, coupled with religious training and the rapid growth of educational facilities, the advantages of which these provident pioneers freely gave to their children, was well calculated, as it did, to produce men of great value to the community, State and Nation. James S. Stafford, who fought in the war of 1812, was the great-grandfather of Brigadier-General Fred Funston of Phil- ippine fame. Fred’s people were members of the McKendree Society. For twenty years, from 1812 to 1832, these people worshipped in the log cabin of Samuel Mitchell, though the title to the land did not pass to him until 1828. The society had so grown in numbers and re- sources that in 1832 a frame church of 436 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY more commodious dimensions was built on practically the same site on which this brick church stands. In 1853, after stand- ing 21 years this frame church was moved bodily to New Carlisle, Ohio, and is now being occupied as a residence with the identical outward appearance it assumed on this spot. An excellent cut of this structure will appear in connection with the printed pro- ceedings held here today. This frame church was supplanted in 1853 by the church house in which we today assemble. Samuel Mitchell, the Revolutionary sol- dier and father of “Uncle Billy” acquired this quarter on April 29, 1828. From 1832 to 1838 the frame church stood on this land owned by Samuel Mitchell. Qn December 6, 1838, Samuel Mitchell and wife deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church a part of the north part of the northwest quarter of Section 2, Town 2, Range 10. The deed recorded in Volume 17, pag 82, Miami County Records, calls for one acre of land. This one acre in- cludes the cemetery ground and the ground on which the church stands. There is no available record of when the first camp-meeting was held under the auspices of the McKendree Society. It is quite certain that one was held in 1814 in the woods on which the water springs from the ground near where this church stands, at the crossroads, and since it is known that Lorenzo Dow visited and preached to his Virginia converts at this place, it is probable that he conducted this camp-meeting. It is certain that there was a great camp-meeting held on these grounds referred to in 1818, for it is of record that James C. Stafford and others were powerfully converted at that time, at this meeting. He was then seventeen years (of age, just seven years after he had crossed the Ohio River with his parents and others at Gallipolis, Ohio. James B. Finley conducted this camp-meeting and several others in a woods a little distance north of the “Uncle Billy” Mitchell home. My mother has often told me of hearing Finley, when she was a girl, preach in this God’s temple to multitudes of people. She carried the recollection of this wonderful man and the stirring scenes she there wit- nessed on the hilltop of her memory, and recited stories of the incidents connected therewith, with enraptured religious fer- vor. These camp-meetings were held in this timber land at various intervals of time for many years. The greatest revival of religion ever held by this society was in 1849, conducted by the Rev. Newson and the blind preacher Mosgrove, in the old frame church erected in 1832. A great many lasting benefits were acquired by this revival. A great many strong and able men and women joined the church and remained with it, an ever-living good to the community to the end. Newson and Mosgrove were Nineteenth Century preachers and orators. They served the same God who taught “Peace on earth and good-will to men.” They were able, full of the Christ spirit, and with plenty of red corpuscles in their blood. They were of the parsons who never mis- took pessimism for wisdom, or dyspepsia for an outward and visible sign of an in- ward and spiritual grace. They were men among men, and yet did not fear to own the cause of their Master or blush to speak His name. Believing as I do in the trans- mission of spiritual influence from the de- parted of earth who are in heaven, to those who remain behind, I can see the beaming approval of Mosgrove’s face behind his green spectacles, if they wear spectacles over there, on this scene today. Thirteen years prior to the founding of McKendree, or in 1798, Daniel Boone and James Morris crossed the Ohio River and started for Piqua, where a large village of Shawnees was located. Boone was taken sick at Middleton, and Morris came on up the valley to a point where Honey Creek empties into the Mi- ami, and where he afterward founded the village of Livingston, long since aban- RELIGION 437 doned. One day, northeast of this point, he was surprised to discover a large band of Indians camped on a stream, and he was compelled to hide from them some days in the hazel bush. He named this stream “Indian Creek.” A little later, fur- ther east, he cut a bee-tree, and contrary to his desire, it fell across another stream, and this in consequence he called Honey Creek. These pioneers were not simply tillers of the soil, they were men of enterprise to a degree that sems wondrful to the present gneration. There was in Pike Township on Honey Creek the Deaton sawmill on Section 35, the Sterrett sawmill, gristmill and distillery on Section 34, the Sprinkle sawmill on Section 33, the Pence sawmill on Section 31, or seven manufacturing concerns within a distance of four miles. On Indian Creek, which runs a general parallel course of less than three miles dis- tant, on an average, there was the Vandi- veer grist and sawmill, now known as the Schindler mill, on Section 3 of Elizabeth Township. Then the Vorliis distillery, gristmill and sawimll of Section 9. This distillery was the scene of the book en- titled “The Serpent of Sugar Creek,” by John Bunyon Robinson, D. D., LL. D., a McKendree boy. Then came the Baugh distillery, gristmill and sawmill on Section 7. W. H. Stafford married a daughter of Mrs. Baugh. From this wedlock was born C. L. Stafford, D. D., LL. D., who was born at these mills and afterward became the president of the Iowa Wesleyan Univer- sity. Then came the Staley distillery on Section 7. Then a woolen mill on Section 8. Then a powder mill on Section 7 — a dozen manufacturing industries on Indian Creek within a distance of four miles. A patronage sufficient to make all these man- ufacturing concerns on Honey and Indian Creek, in such close proximity, profitable, as they were, must have extended many miles in each direction. Many of these sites have been given over to the husband- amn, and fields of corn and wheat now ripen where these mills once stood. The Methodist Conference of Ohio was organized in 1812. It had before been a part of the Kentucky and Tennessee con- ference. There were 23,000 Methodists in Ohio at that date and the total number in the United tSates was then 215,000. There are now 300,000 Methodists in Ohio and 3,000,000 in the United States. The organization of the McKendree Society was contemporaneous with the organiza- tion of the Ohio Conference. The first con- ference in Ohio was held at Chillicothe. The Mad River Circuit was established in 1807 as a part of the Kentucky Conference and McKendree was attached to the Mad River Circuit in 1812. In 1816 McKendree was attached to the Piqua Circuit, in 1833 to the Troy Circuit, in 1843 to the Tre- mont Circuit and in 1851 to the Addison Circuit, of which circuit it has been a part since that time. The circuit then con- sisted of the following societies : Addison, McKendree, Wesley, Beech Grove, Grafton, Newson, Asbury and Sims. The following Societies now are members of this circuit : Addison, McKendree, Beech Grove and Wesley Chapel. It cost about $4000 to build this church, and it was the most pretentious church edifice on the circuit. McKendree paid more on the average for the support of the circuit than either of the other societies. The minutes of the circuit conference to which McKendree had been attached up to 1853, when this church was built, could not be obtained and are probably not in existence. The minutes since that time contained only pro-forma proceedings, and while much of it, showing collections and disbursements and long familiar names in the proceedings, is interesting, no part of it can, on account of time, be here entered. The carpenters who built this church were Ploward Mitchell, John Stafford and James C. Stafford. The latter was the greatest builder of this community, and many of the best built farm houses and barns in 438 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY this neighborhood were of his construc- tion. Mrs. Jennie McNeal, of Troy, the wife of Dr. McNeal, who have had so much to do with this home-coming, is the daughter of James C. Stafford, and is the proud possessor of the chest and tools that were used by him in the construction of so many houses and barns in this neigh- borhood. In 1901 the fence was found to be use- less in keeping stock out of the cemetery. Through the energy of Cyrus Stafford and W. H. Sterrett a fund was created by sub- scription, amounting to $450, with which the present excellent fence was erected, which will last many years to come. There is a permanent fund of $500 subscribed by worthy departed members of the soci- ety which draws interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum for the maintenance of the cemetery. The interest alone is used for this purpose. Men are hired each year out of the interest fund to keep the vegetation down. This fund should be in- creased. Do not let it be truthfully said that the descendants of these sturdy pi- oneers will not lovingly perpetuate that for which their forbears so sturdily wrought. In these graves lie the dust of our grand- sires and grandmothers, of our fathers and mothers, and those whom we loved. They are sacred to us by the ties of con- sanguinity, by the associations of church and Sunday-school, by the association of neighborhood and community interest. The superstructure of the state and the nation is built upon the home and community. Without pride of honor, family and com- munity, the state and the nation fails. In the cemetery lies the dust of three soldiers who fought for liberty in the Revolutionary war. Samuel Mitchell, John Byms, and Henry Harter answered the call of the Continental Congress and the immortal Washington. The former died in 1840, 81 years of age, and the latter in 1846, at 96 years of age. Let us reverence and protect their ashes in the name of Liberty. When, during the War of 1812, the In- dians of this State, incited by British agents, took up the tomahawk and scalp- ing knife, “Uncle Billy” Mitchell, Jacob Ullery and Thomas Stafford went forth to do battle that this neighborhood might not be overrun by the savage with torch and blood. Their ashes are here also in our sacred keeping. The War of the Rebellion came. With an uprising as from the breath of God, 2,250,000 men sprang to arms in defense of the Union. It was an army of boys. They averaged but 19 years of age, and they won a victory for civilization un- known to the annals of the ages. In this cemetery lies the ashes of Randolph Moore of the 44th Ohio Infantry and the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, killed in battle at Lynch- burg, Va. ; here lies the body of Robert Stone, of a Maryland regiment; here lies the body of Edward Kemp of an Ohio regi- ment; here lies the body of Marion Kes- ter, of the 71st Ohio Infantry, killed in the great battle of Nashville, Tenn. ; here lies the body of Jacob R. Sterrett, mortally wounded late in the evening, after two days’ escape on the bloody field of Chick- amauga. Out of five soldiers in the war of 1861-65, three of them were killed on battlefields, and two of these battles, Chickamauga and Nashville, were among the most bloody ones of modern times. Unfortunate as war may be, the history of the world shows that when a nation loses its fighting blood, it becomes effete and then ceases to exist. The dust of these soldiers of the Republic of three wars are ours to reverence and protect. Let the memory of their deeds in the cause of lib- erty be enshrined in the patriotic hearts of all future generations. William Thomas, whose wife was a Stafford, moved from this community and founded a McKendree church near Wa- verly, Indiana. The Blacks and Staffords founded a McKendree church northeast of Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. The Pences and Staffords founded a McKen- RELIGION 489 dree church in Clinton County, Indiana. The Staffords founded a McKendree church at Des Moines, Iowa. Beech Grove and Newson Chapel are swarms from the McKendree hive. Like the ever-widening wavelets pro- duced by the pebble thrown in the sea, which goes on forever, so will the influence begun by these twenty-one people who formed the McKendree Society in the old log cabin continue with ever-widening in- fluence to throw out its fibres in the in- terest of a higher life to the unborn gen- erations of the future. In conclusion, Mr. President, I desire to offer the following: Resolved, That this 1908 home-coming on the 96th anniversary of the organiza- tion of the McKendree Society, endorse the proposition of holding a centennial Home- coming of this Society in 1912 at McKen- dree Chapel, and to that end request this meeting to perfect an organization in fur- therance of such purpose. CHAPTER XXIV CITY OF TROY Jesse Newport, Daniel Wilson and Jo- seph Lamb were appointed by the Court of Miami County, soon after its organiza- tion in January, of 1807, to select a loca- tion for the County Seat, and reported on June 25, 1807, in favor of lands in frac- tional section 21, 27 and 28 of Concord Township, and appointed Robert Craw- ford, Director, to purchase and survey the same. He purchased forty acres of Aaron Tullis in fractional section 21 for which he paid him $120.50. He purchased one hundred and forty-four acres and seventy poles of William Barbee and Alexander McCullough, in section 28 for $421.50 and forty acres of W. H. Gahagan in section 27 for $120.50. He employed Andrew Wal- lace to survey a portion of these lands, who finished and filed his first plat on De- cember 2, 1807, which consisted of eighty- seven lots as shown on the copy of that plat herewith. All those lots on this plat, north and west of a line drawn from the corner of Water and Mulberry Streets to McKaig Avenue, being the section line be- tween 21 and 28 was in section 21. All the lots between this line and a line drawn from Water and Mulberry Streets to the junction of Union and West Streets being the section line between 27 and 28 were in section 28, and all lots of this first plat east of the said last named line were in section 27. On April 9, 1808, Andrew Wallace made a second survey and the same was filed which included lots from 87 of the first survey to lot 121, all located east of the first survey on lands owned by W. H. Ga- hagan in section 27, and lots numbered up to 173 north and west of section 21, owned by Aaron Tullis. 440 On August 21, 1808, the third survey was filed on land owned by Barbee and McCullough in section 28, the western bounds of which was a due south line from Canal and Monroe to Market and West Streets and the east boundary of which was a line drawn from Canal and Union Streets, due west to a junction with Mar- ket and West Streets, from which last street, all streets south of it run with the cardinal points. All streets north of West Street run “catawampus” to such a degree that the oldest inhabitant is compelled to “box the compass” to find the cardinal points. The ground on which Troy stands was covered with small oak trees and was not regarded as the most fertile land. The en- tire plat is underlaid with sand and gravel — excellent for building purposes, with a fine quality of drinking water from twelve to twenty feet from the surface. The first house built in Troy was at the corner of sections 21, 27 and 28, at Mulberry and Water Streets, by Benjamin Overfield, and yet no part of this house was in either of the sections named. The County Court was held in this house for four years be- fore the County held a title to it. In look- ing this matter of the location of the first Court House in Troy, with the assistance of Maurice A. Gantz, County Surveyor, I find that Aaron Tullis entered fractional section 22, containing 1.22 acres of land only, and corners with 21, 27, and 28, and that the section line be- tween 21 and 27 extended eastward would produce a triangular piece of land of the above named dimensions on which the Overfield house was built and on which it still stands. This land was entered by Aaron Tullis in 1804 and transferred to CITY OF TROY 441 Cornelius Westfall on June 27, 1811. In- deed, none of the other lands platted by Andrew Wallace passed into the hands of the County until the 31st day of July, 1813. The reason for this consisted in the fact that the land contracted for in the three sections was purchased on the par- tial payment plan and were not fully paid for until that date. The Overfield house has heretofore been written about and always been regarded as being located in Section 27 and its southeast foundation is near if not on that sectional corner. It was a log, two stories high, in which Mr. Overfield conducted a tavern with Mr. Oliver until 1824, and in which, the upper north room, the Miami County Court was held until 1824 after the December term of 1808. Overfield’s wife died in 1810 and Thos. Oliver rented the house until 1813. Mr. Overfield had been drafted and served in the war of 1812. He brought back with him from the war a new wife in the person of Miss Rebecca Simpson. After the Court was moved into the new Court House on the Public Square in 1824, Mr. Overfield kept the tavern at the corner of Main and Cherry Streets in a house standing on the corner now occupied by the Masonic Tem- ple where he continued to conduct a suc- cessful hostelry until 1831, when he died. There were hotels at that time and later at the northwest corner of the Square, where the Steil Dry Goods Store now stands and another at the northwest cor- ner of Plum and Water Streets, as well as at the northwest corner of Main and Mul- berry Streets, where the Hatfield House now stands. The present principal hotel of Troy, “The New Troy,” was built in 1852 at about the time the C., H. & D. Railroad entered Troy. A few years ago it was purchased from Dr. John A. Ster- rett by a stock company composed of the business men of the city, who remodeled it and continue to own and rent it. The first dry goods store was conducted by Dr. Telford, Moses L. Leeker and Wil- liam Barbee. The first blacksmithshop was conducted by William Barbee who per- sonally worked at the forge and did a thriving business during the war of 1812. Squire Brown moved over from Staunton and opened a saddle shop on Water Street, a few doors east of Market Street where, as Justice of the Peace, he adjusted the differences between neighbors and kept the postoffice. It was here that Isaac Peck, Henry Cul- bertson, Joseph Skinner and Judge Joseph Pearson worked and some of them learned their trade. The first hatter was Joseph Culbertson in 1808 who taught his trade to his brother Samuel and Joseph L. Fen- erry. The first carpenter shop was started by William Brown and John Wallace in 1809 at the corner of Clay and Water Streets. There was a distillery just across the street, then as now. The old market house occupied the central space of Market Street between the Public Square and Franklin Streets, and was supported by brick pillars. Uncle John Wilson, for thirty years a trustee of Concord Town- ship, the owner of three hundred acres of land two miles southwest of Troy, who raised market stuff, was full of reminis- censes of this market house. In the early day, the north end of Market Street be- tween the Public Square and the river bridge was called Commercial Row and is even yet often referred to as such. It was the first principal business section. The first dry goods store was located at the Square and Market Street which con- tinued as such until the seventies. Then, there was the first hardware store, next door, started about 1830 by Uncle Mac Hart, which in 1845 became a partnership under the firm name of Hart and Harter, and in 1865 to Harter and Houser, and then Harter and Cosley until 1898, when, upon the death of S. K. Harter, the senior partner, it became H. A. Cosley, under whose name it is still being conducted in 1918, but at a new point, the corner of Main and Cherry Streets. Two doors be- 442 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY low the iron store was the store of “Uncle Bobby Caldron,” who sold knick-knacks, including candy, tar and slate pencils. Tar was used to lubricate the wheels of vehicles and a tar bucket, in early years, always hung under the axle for use when needed. The bucket, when empty, was always re- plenished at “Bobby’s” store. I can see him yet with his slim, bent figure and pe- culiar Scotch chiseled features, measuring tar with a yardstick (a slow process), the front of his body from chin to foot envel- oped in a large checked apron. I can see him on a Sunday on his way to church with his high stock under his old silk hat, with his bright brass buttons on his blue cut- away coat, with Bible under arm, wending his way to the old school Presbyterian church on Main Street, between Plum and Short Streets. When the old and new schools united and the old church house became the property of the English Luth- erans, Bobby refused to go with the new combination and continued to worship in the old church with the Lutherans. Dick- ens never conjured a quainter character than this old Scotchman, so long a figure in our commercial life. The first tannery in Troy was on Commercial Row at the corner of Market and Water Streets, kept by Milton McCampbell. This good man was known for the lofty flights he would reach when appealing to a throne of grace, especially if encouraged. One time in the “Old Ship” on Mulberry Street, at a prayer meeting when Brother McCamp- bell was called on to pray, Sam Johnson, with a deep, bass voice, knelt alongside of Sam Binkley in the same seat with Milt. Binkley had a large vein of humor in his composition and whispered to Sam John- ston, “Let’s ‘amen’ him and get him hot,” and throughout the early portion of Milt’s appeal, the deep baritone and bass of the two Sams boomed out like single and dou- ble strokes on a bass drum, until Milt’s spirit had reached the clouds and he was importuning his Maker in loud and pa- thetic tones for almost anything, and the climax was reached when he said, “Oh, Lord, send down drops of water to cool our parched tongues,” and then Binkley with a mighty thrust of his elbow into Johnston’s ribs, said, “He thinks we are in hell, but we ain’t.” S. 0. Binkley was my grandfather by marriage and was a good man, and never thought of sacrilege when he told this story. The first church in Troy was located on the west corner of Clay and Main Streets, where the first C., H. & D. Station stood for so many years, a full description of which, with a plate of the present Metho- dist Church is produced elsewhere in this book. THE TROY PRESS The so-called history of Miami County by the so-called publishing firm of Rich- mond-Arnold Company, of Chicago, Illi- nois, released on a gullible community in 1909, among other remarkable effusions of literary erudition and historical ebuli- tion, says that the Troy Times was started in Troy by E. C. Harmon in 1859, whereas it was started by John T. Tullis in 1829. It says that Tullis conducted the Miami Reporter for eight years, whereas, he had never edited or published the Reporter at any time. It says that H. D. Stout took charge of the Reporter after the eight years by Tullis ; whereas, Richard C. Lang- don succeeded Mr. Tullis on the Times, the only newspaper in Troy at that date. It says the Times ceased as a newspaper in 1869, whereas, it was published in 1870. If they had consulted the records of Miami County they would have found the County Commissioners were advertising in the Troy Times as early as 1831, and was the exclusive Troy medium for the letting of the new Troy Court House, commenced in 1839 and finished in 1845. In 1865, John W. DeFrees started the Miami Union and this paper is still being published in 1918 by Pauley and McClung. The Troy Sentinel, the first Democratic paper, was first published in 1871 by J. A. THE MIAMI COUNTY COURT HOUSE In which court has been held since 1888 Calvin D. Wright was the first judge to hold court here, and John B. Fouts was clerk. The first case on the docket was brought by J. A. and E. H. Kerr, at- torneys, of Tippecanoe, for Levi Barnett. The true story of the origin of the above building, never before written, appears on Page 364, of this work. THE CITY OF THE DEAD, RIVERSIDE CEMETERY, TROY, OHIO With a greater population than the city of the living. THE HOME OF CHARLES A. DALE, MARKET & RAPER STREETS, TROY, OHIO The subject of this sketch was born in Monticelli, Indiana, on February 25, 1865, and lived with his parents, Daniel D. and Ophelia H. Dale, until manhood. He was educated in the public schools and be- came the superintendent of the paper mill at Hartford City, Indiana, where he married Estella E rash- wilier in June of 1891. He came to Troy first in 1902 when he published The Troy Democrat, the only Democratic weekly cf Miami county but on account of obligations to the paper mill, remained with them until 1906 when he came to Troy to take charge of his property and remain here permanently. In 1909, he established the Daily News but disposed of it in 1911. Mr. Dale has proven himself an excellent political organizer and has constantly cut into the Republican major i J y of the county. He was tax commissioner of Miami county during the Cox administration of 1912-14. In 1916, he was appointed postmaster of Troy and under present civil service rules bids fair to remain in that position longer than any of his prede- cessors. From his marriage, three children have been born : Dorothy, the eldest, who married John K. Knoop, a lineal descendant of the fir- 1 John Knoop, of Staunton, in 1798, a young man of promising qualities with extensive land interests in the county. A young heir, Mark Dale Knoop, has already blessed this recent marriage, to transmit the honored name. Lawrence Daniel is a member of the 31st company of th<“ 8th Training Battalion at Camp Sherman, near Chillicothe. Ohio, and is said to be making good as a soldier and good reports may be expected from him in France next summer. The youngest, Catharine, married recently to Griffith Knoop. The post office receipts at Troy have grown from less than $40,000 per annum to $50,000 per annum under Mr. Dale's administration. He is an effi cient business man and needs to be under the new uLt.es thrust on him by the post office department. All the post offices of Miami county except Piqua, Tippecanoe City, and Pleasant Hill, fourteen in all, have been made stations or branches of Troy, which receives their reports as a part of the Troy office. This recent departure, probably portends but one office, Troy, in the county, except possibly Piqua. Some of us are not in love with Mr. Dale’s politics but all of us like him personally. 417 EAST FRANKLIN STREET, TROY, OHIO The subject of this sketch is American born of German parentage, born in Columbus, Ohio, on February 22, 1851, and lived with his father and mother, Philip and Rebecca Yingling Conrad, until 11 years of age. They moved to Michigan where George received his education in the common schools and afterward accom- panied his parents to near Versailles, Morgan county, Missouri, where they gathered some horses and cattle around them, which were taken care of by the boys when the father went to Sedalia and worked at the carpenter trade. The ugly front of war, in 1861 set father against son and brother against brother in that state and the infamous Quantrell band endangered the life of every Union man in that section. The father of George, was an ardent Union man and came back to the farm in 1861, when Quantrell’s men came to his home and started to drive off the stock. There being but two of them, the elder Conrad successfully resisted them and for the time being saved his property. At this time, George, ten years of age, was sent to a country store owned by a Mr. Jones for some family necessities and on his return, was confronted by a hundred men on horseback, the leader of whom asked George where his father was to which he replied that he did not know. The leader threatened him with a revolver but was constrained to desist by some of his band. When George arrived home a dozen of the band had been there and carried off his father and his horse. Six weeks afterward the dead body of his father and his horse were discovered in a woods, the bones only remaining. George and his elder brother went to these woods six miles distant, gathered the skeleton of their father into a bag and buried it beneath a peach tree on the heme place. His mother was left without any funds and nothing to eat. The storekeeper, Mr. Jones, conveyed them to Tipton, the nearest railroad station and through a colonel of a regiment in Siegel’s army newly located there that had just been paid ofF, collected from the soldiers a fund to buy them food for their journey. The railroad furnished the stricken family with transportation to Cincinnati and the remaining funds to Milford Center, Union county, Ohio, where they were met by his uncle, Lawrence Schatz, who took George to live with him until he was 16 years of age when he learned his trade of manufacturing blacksmith. He was married in 1873 to Lena Magerlein who died in 1877, from which union, one daughter Mrs. William Frisch, of Piqua, was born. His second marriage was with Mary Nicol, of Marysville, Ohio, November 9, 1891, an 1 from this union, four sons Herman W., John Leonard, George Edward and Albert Cornelius, have been born, respectively in September, 1882, July 12, 1884, January 8, 1889, and July 13, 1891. He came to Troy many years ago as the contractor of all iron work entering into the construction of the buggies in the Troy Buggy Works at that time enjoying a great patronage. He is a member of the St. John's Evan- gelical church, a member of the I. O. O. F. and Elks and had a military service of 8 years in the National Guard. Has served in the council of Troy and now engaged in the insurance business. His 80 acre farm furnishes him outdoor employment and enjoyment. THE HOME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON CONRAU CITY OF TROY 447 McConahey. It afterward passed into the hands of J. M. Kerr and was discontinued in 1880. It was followed by the Imperial and Bulletin, both of which died the death of inanition. The Troy Democrat was started by J. F. Barron in 1880, who sold to M. K. Gantz and J. A. Kerr, who sold to Charles H. Dale, who continues to edit it, but has leased the plant to C. H. Hinkle, the pub- lisher of the Troy Daily Times, which name, after a Rip Van Winkle sleep of not twenty, but nearly fifty years awoke to ac- tive life again. The Troy Chronicle and Daily Trojan were published by Dr. C. H. Goodrich between 1880 and 1885, and then went out of existence. The Troy Record was published by the Croy Brothers, and by W. S. Croy from 1898 to 1917, when it was succeeded by the Troy Daily Times. Washington, D. C., March 11, 1918. Col. F. M. Sterrett, Troy, Ohio. My Dear Frank — In glancing over one of your recent letters, I notice you ask me to write you a' letter concerning the Troy newspapers of the past and particularly in regard to the Miami Reporter and the Troy Times. I think it has been the general impres- sion among Trojans, and it has been mine until recently that the Miami Reporter was the first newspaper published in Troy. Such, however, appears not to have been the fact. Dr. Asa Coleman was one of the early and most prominent citizens of Troy and what he says on the subject would bear the stamp of personal knowledge and verity. I have a copy of a statement made by him in 1866 over his own signature in which he says the first paper published in Troy was in 1817 and continued on with- out interruption of time from that period. It was first printed under the title of the Miami Weekly Post by a Mr. Dougherty, and transferred to Richard Armstrong in 1819 and conducted by him two or three years, and changed hands once or twice more before the purchase of the press by Mica j ah Fairfield and a change of the title of the paper to that of the Miami Reporter which commenced a new series without reference to a former publication. The Post, according to Dr. Coleman, was al- ways strongly Republican in its principles and advocated the election of John Quincy Adams or Henry Clay to the Presidency and the protection and encouragement of domestic manufactures which was strong- ly agitated during that period. The first number of the Miami Reporter, according to the statement of E. C. Har- mon (who possessed a complete file of the Reporter), was issued May 18, 1827. In this initial number the editor declares him- self “a real Republican, and of course a hater of slavery and everything that sup- ports it.” He thinks well of John Quincy Adams and hopes he will be elected in- stead of Andrew Jackson. The editor (Mr. Fairfield) was a minister, and if my mem- ory is correct was the father of Mrs. W. I. Thomas and of Mrs. Zachariah Riley. The Reporter continued to be published under that title until the end of 1829 when it was succeeded by the Troy Times and Miami Reporter in January, 1830. The sub-title of Miami Reporter was carried a short time but finally dropped leaving the single title of The Troy Times. Having no access at present to the earli- est issues of the Times I am unable to state from memory who was the first editor, though at one time, many years ago, I had in my possession a copy of Vol. 1, No. 1. In 1843 the editor and publisher was Henry D. Stout, who continued in that ca- pacity alone until the 29th of October, 1845, when he associated with him Mr. D. B. Williams. On the 25th of March, 1847, Stout and Williams sold out to Joseph Lytle and Rob- ert W. Furnas. This partnership contin- ued until January 6, 1848, when Lytle re- tired and the publication was continued by Robert W. Furnas and S. E. Hustler. Some time between December 25, 1848, 448 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY and March 22, 1849, Hustler retired and the publishing firm became Robert W. Fur- nas and Marvin M. Munson. Hustler was quite an interesting and popular character, especially politically. During the Harri- son campaign of 1840 he earned a wide reputation as a campaign rhymster and singer. He had the faculty of adapting himself to his immediate surroundings and would improvise his songs, adapting them to the incidents of the day or even of the very moment preceding their utterance. In subsequent campaigns down to that of 1860 he participated to a lesser extent along these same lines. He served two terms as Sheriff of Miami County, was sutler of the 71st Ohio Regiment at the time of the battle of Shiloh, and died in the early seventies. On the 15th of November, 1849, Furnas sold out to Munson, who became the sole editor and publisher. After his disconnection with the paper Furnas engaged in business of various kinds in Troy and was for a time express agent. In March, 1856, he removed to Brownsville, Nebraska, then a small fron- tier town, and began the publication of a weekly paper. He took an active part in politics, became a member of the terri- torial legislature and, after Nebraska was admitted to the Union, was successively President of the State Board of Agricul- ture and Governor of the State. During the rebellion he raised a regiment of In- dians for service on the border and was commissioned its colonel. June 5, 1851, Munson associated with him in the publication of J. S. Jennison, until the 28th of October, 1852, when they sold out to David Gibbs, who became the editor, with W. B. Locke, as printer. Munson, it is my impression, married a daughter of R. H. Culbertson, the sister of Mrs. Judge Parsons and Mrs. Samuel Smith. David Gibbs continued to edit the paper until November 17, 1853, when he sold it to Charles Gibbs and W. E. Burgess; Gibbs in turn selling out to Burgess on the 2d of February, 1854, and Burgess in like turn, selling back to Gibbs November 9, 1854. June 7, 1855, E. C. Harmon bought out Gibbs and continued to be the publisher until the paper was discontinued some time in the early seventies, the exact date of which I have not at hand. Most persons, especially boys, at some time or other in their careers become pos- sesed of a fad. I was seized by one when about 12 or 13 years of age. It took the form of collecting a copy of every differ- ent newspaper that I could possess myself of. This resulted in bringing into my hands a very large collection, ranging in date from about the time of the Revolu- tionary War down to the date of my oper- ations. Something like a thousand speci- mens represented Ohio publications alone. Among these, as my memory tells me, were twenty-one representing the hopes and as- pirations of ambitious publishers in the town of Troy and nearly an equal num- ber in Piqua. Many of these, after a pa- thetic struggle for existence, dropped qui- etly into the graveyard of human hopes. Some were only temporary publications, intended during a Presidential campaign to uphold the cause of favorite candidates. The famous Harrison campaign of 1840 was exceedingly prolific of these transient sheets. After the lapse of as many years, mem- ory refuses to recall the names of very many of these Trojan productions. In ad- dition to those previously mentioned I can at the present moment only recall, The Troy Saturday Clipper; We Call the Peo- ple; The Miami Commercial; The Log Cabin and the Touchstone. The first paper in Piqua was the Piqua Gazette and it began publication in April, 1821. I am unable now to state who was the original publisher, but four years later, in 1825, it was in the hands of W. R. Barrington and A. F. Carpenter. The foregoing echoes from the past may CITY OF TROY 449 be of interest to you in your historical in- vestigations, and if so I shall feel fully compensated for the effort. Sincerely yours, C. C. Royce. NOTES 1. It was the wife of Mica j ah Fairfield who was the mother of Mrs. W. I. Thomas. Her first husband was a Mr. Neale, of Par- kersburg, W. Va. 2. The volumes of the Troy Times for 1838-1839 on file in the Troy Library show that John T. Tullis first published it. He was a book store man and our earliest local historian. He sold out to Richard C. Lang- don in 1838 and not to Henry D. Stout, as all former historians of Miami County have stated. Robert W. Furnas, aside from the offices held by him as described by friend Royce, was also the Secretary of the Miami Coun- ty Agricultural Society in 1854-1855. C. C. Royce is the author of “Indian Land Sessions of the United States,” one thousand pages and 67 maps, compiled for the Government and used as exclusive authority in all of its departments. Frank M. Sterrett, Author of “The Home History of Miami County.” The following letter from my friend Royce shows that my own statement as to the founder of the Troy Times was slightly in error. It would now seem safe to de- pend upon this compilation for a practi- cally correct history of the Troy Times. Washington, D. C., March 19, 1918. My Dear Frank — I have your letter of the 15th inst., in which you say that Tullis founded the Times — this is ecrtain.” I find that many things besides life are uncertain. I have just run across a state- ment from John T. Tullis himself saying, “December 3, 1829, 1. S. Drake commenced the Troy Times. March 25, 1830, I pur- chased half the office. We published to- gether until May 6, 1831, when I bought Drake’s interest and continued until Feb- ruary, 1839, when I sold to R. C. Langdon, and Langdon sold to Stout in February, 1841. Drake and I never got the paper out short of two or three days and often a week after the date. If I would leave home the day before publication day, Drake and the journeyman would go fish- ing and so vexed my righteous soul more than a year, when to end it all, I bought his interest.” This statement of Tullis refreshes my own memory for I now recollect clearly that the name of I. S. Drake as publisher headed the Vol. 1, No. 1 of the Times that I once possessed. In this statement of Tullis he concurs with that of E. C. Harmon that the first number of the Miami Reporter was dated May 18, 1827, but he says the last issue was December 19, 1828, leaving a hiatus of a year between its decease and the birth of the Troy Times. “I am sending you this additional data in order that you may have all the facts essential to the correctness of your histor- ical statement. Sincerely yours, C. C. Royce. THE TROY SCHOOLS In 1875, when Prof. John W. Dowd was Superintendent, he wrote an interesting “Sketch of the Schools of Troy,” in which the course of study was laid down, as adopted by the Board, and in which was also entered a list of the graduates, year by year, which book is still kept and added to each year, on which are entered the names of 719 graduates. The first four in 1856 were John W. Morris, Diana Meeks, Augustus Brandriff and W. S. Thomas. At the commencement in 1917 there were 45 graduates. Mr. Dowd gives the following names and dates of teachers : Samuel Kyle, 1813; Rev. Micajah Fair- field, 1826; John Petit, 1831! Benjamin F. Powers, 1832 ; Mr. Walkup, 1833-34-35 ; Uriah Fordyce, 1837 ; Hiram Brooks, 450 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 1837 ; Miss Barney, 1838 ; George D. Bur- gess, 1839-41 ; Robert McCurdy, 1842 ; E. P. Coles, 1843 ; Minor Fairfield, 1845 ; Rev. Edmund Fairfield, 1845-46. Mr. Dowd is to be congratulated on this compilation. In the interest of future his- tory, I suggest that this book be revised and the names of graduates from Mr. Dowd’s time be printed and that the grad- uation essays and orations of the past, as near as can be collected and published and bound and those of the future, likewise, be printed and bound under the loose leaf system of binding. These graduation ef- forts mark the entrance of our best quali- fied young men and women into the battle of life. The knowledge that these efforts were to be so kept would serve as an in- spiration to their successors and would foster a spirit of emulation to equal and surpass. Mr. Dowd frankly states, as these early schools are not a matter of record, it is ex- ceedingly difficult to give a correct history of them and their workings. One of the effects of these early schools was to prepare the public mind for the adoption of the “Law of Forty-Nine.” Under that law a call was issued for a meeting to consider it in reference to its adoption. The call was signed by George D. Burgess, Rev. Daniel Rice, William B. Johnson, Benjamin F. Powers and Joseph Pearson. Several meetings were held and much excitement prevailed. The matter was discussed for three weeks, and was the topic of common conversation in town. At the final meeting the law was adopted by a fair majority and in accordance with its provisions a Board of Education was elected the first week in June. That first Board of Education consisted of the fol- lowing members : Charles Morris, Daniel Rice, Benjamin F. Powers, William B. Johnson, Zachariah Riley and Henry S. Mayo. Mr. Dowd should have mentioned that Andrew Wallace, the Surveyor, who made the first plat of Troy, was the first school teacher, having taught in a log house on Franklin Street, on the second lot on the north side below the C., PI. & D. Railroad in 1808-09, and it was here his son Dave went to school to his father. Dave was afterward appointed by General flarrison to West Point, and afterward Congressman from Indiana, and as before mentioned, the Governor of Indiana, Dave — as he was familiarly called while he lived in Troy, lost his seat in Congress on acocunt of an appropriation of $30,000 for which he voted to promote the first tele- graph line between Baltimore and Wash- ington City, introduced by Professor Morse. Mr. Dowd fell into another error when he says, “At an early date, there was a small brick building on Main Street, where the Edwards School building now stands. It was built by public subscription and consisted of one room.” The fact is, this brick building cost $112.75, which fund was advanced by the Commissioners of Miami County who, to save themselves harmless for such ad- vance of County funds for corporation purposes, accepted the bond of W. I. Thomas and others. On August 2, 1826, this friend of education, after securing this first school house for Troy, secured his release from the bond and had substi- tuted therefor the bond of Cornelius West- fall, Levi Hart and Joseph R. Johns, di- rectors of the Third School District of Concord Township in his and their stead. While Mr. Dowd was approximately cor- rect about the time that George D. Burgess taught school, The Troy Times of July, 1838, and subsequent thereto contains the advertisement of Mr. Burgess and the terms on which he will receive pupils in ;the basement of the Trinity Episcopal Church. Mr. Dowd’s statement that Mr. Burgess taught under the auspices of the Board of Education is probably incorrect since the advertisement is a purely per- sonal one. John Petit, who taught here in 1831, be- CITY OF TROY 451 came a United States Senator from Kan- sas; Benjamin F. Powers, of the first Board of Education, was a brother of Hi- ram Powers, the great sculptor, who among other great pieces, produced the “Greek Slave,” among the greatest ones in sculpture. I saw it many times in the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C., years ago ,and it is probably there now. The School Board submitted to the peo- ple of Troy a bond issue for $6,000, for the first Edwards School Building which was carried and afterward increased to $8,500. The selection of William N. Edwards as first Superintednent was most fortunate. It was due to his energy and devotion that the Troy High School took rank, in an early period, with the foremost in the State. When he died, the busines houses of Troy closed, residences were draped in mourning, and all knew that a public ca- lamity had befallen. I think he must have been six feet in height, with a dark complexion and a most wonderful pair of eyes. When I went to him for my matric- ulation card as a country boy of 16 years, I looked into them with the feeling one has when suddenly confronted in the dark by the eyes of a great owl. I guess this is an indifferent description, but those who have seen them will know just what I mean. The Forest, Edwards, Kyle and Van Cleve School Buildings, respectively, ap- proximately cost $35,45,65 and $155,000 equipped. From 1852 to 1867, W. N. Edwards was Superintendent; from 1867 to 1871, H. A. Thomson, of Otterbein College; from 1871 to 1874, L. V. Ferris, of Middleburg Col- lege, Vermont; from 1874 to 1875, H. P. Ufford, of Delaware, Ohio ; from 1875 to 1880, John V/. Dowd, of Chillicothe, Ohio; from 1880 to 1906, C. L. Van Cleve; from 1906 to 1918, Charles William Cookson, of Straitsville, Ohio, the present efficient Su- perintendent, and the sketch of whose life will appear in this book under a plate of the Van Cleve School Building. In the front hallway of the Van Cleve High School Building on East Main Street, the following words appear on a tablet : “Motives in Education, Character, Health, Skill, Culture, Knowledge.” THE TROY WATER WORKS An extended description of these works would be superfluous in the light of the fact that a most excellent history is main- tained in the annual report of the City Auditor. It is only for the purpose of set- ting forth the causes which induced their building and the early history of the move- ment, never before published, that I write this brief sketch. In the spring of 1883, the nursery office of James H. Young was on the second floor of the present restaurant building in the northeast corner of the Public Square, and it was here, at that time, that Mr. Young, Jesse Shilling, Sr., and Frank M. Sterrett met to discuss the propriety of creating water works for Troy. At that time, the citizens derived their water supply from open and driven wells, water being reached in from twelve to twenty feet. Every res- idence in Troy had a well and pump, and most all business houses had a small iron pump in the rear part of their buildings with which to draw water out of their wells, usually of the driven kind. I do not now recollect more than one town pump near the Public Square, and that was in front of Isaac Hoagland’s grocery, now occupied by Harry T. Gabriel as a shoe store. A tin cup hung from a nail on this pump, which was kept in use quite constantly upon the part of the citizens passing by. There were fire wells in the Public Square and throughout the then village of Troy. The water was pulled from these wells originally, by the hand fire en- gine conducted by a volunteer company without pay, until the steamer engine was introduced. At the suggestion of Mr. Shilling, a bot- tle of water was secured from the Hoag- land town pump and sent to the State 452 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Board of Health for analysis, which proved that the water of Troy was quite unhealthy. Through the instrumentality of the above-named gentlemen, an election for a Board of Trustees authorized to build a Water Works was held in the Spring of 1883, and the three above-named gentle- men were elected as such Trustees and as soon as the law permitted, advertised for bids and let the contract for main and pipe and seven and one-half miles of pipe were laid and covered during the Summer and Autumn of 1883. The Trustees let a contract for a Knowles pump in the Fall of 1883, and were enjoined by several citizens from placing the same in the present building erected for that purpose, on account of the desire of a faction, some of whom believed and other pretended to believe that no steam should be used, but that exclusive water power should be employed. This case went into Court and was compro- mised during the trial, the result of which installed two water wheels, one of seventy- five and the other of one hundred and fifty horsepower. These, as the Trustees had foreseen, proved inadequate, and a Gor- don Duplex Compound Pump of one and a half million gallons capacity per twenty- four hours, etc., was installed. The danger of depending on water power alone, consisting in the probable breaking of the hydraulic and leaving the town at the mercy of fire without auxiliary steam was demonstrated in the flood of 1898 when the banks went out and since which time the hydraulic bed has reverted to its original use as a corn field. Mr. Young and Mr. Shilling resigned after the Court proceedings, while the writer re- mained as the President of the Board and assisted in turning the valves which let the water into the pipes during the test, when he also resigned. In the test, two pipes blew out, the smallest per cent in the history of Ohio water works building, due to the excellent work of Mr. Shilling, a practical pipe and foundry man who, with his brother, had established the first foundry in Troy. Many of his iron fences yet stand in Troy. The miles of pipe line have increased from seven and one-half to over twenty; the number of wells from two to twenty- one. The mains now deliver over a million gallons per day. Each man, woman and child in Troy averages a consumption of 150 gallons of water each day. The water furnished is almost chemically pure. I have promised my readers to take them with me through the process of his- tory making, so they may know the integ- rity of mind that controls this compilation. In the case we now state it would be im- possible to deceive, even if we desired to do so, since the act would be self-apparent. On pages 39 and 40 of part one of this work I located the 40th parallel of latitude a short distance south of Troy, and on page 40, on the authority of Charles N. Burns and Judge H. H. Williams, located it north of Troy. I have since discovered that the monu- ment at the south side of the Infirmary farm is a meridian stone placed on a line with one in the front yard of the Infirmary from which to calculate longitude, and, therefore, Judge Williams was in error about the information furnitshed me in that reference. I herewith append the following cer- tificate which shows that my first state- ment was correct. The altitude of Troy on the Public Square is 832 feet. “The Public Square of Troy is 40 deg. 2 min., 23 sec. N. latitude, and 84 deg., 12 min., 11 sec. West of Greenwich, making a difference between Sun and Standard time of 23 minutes, 111/2 seconds.” (Calculated by Wm. R. Kinder, Dep. Co. Surveyor.) 3 POSTMASTERS The following persons have served as Postmasters of Tory : Cornelius Westfall, W. I. Thomas, John CITY OF TROY 453 G. Telford, Levi Hart, John T. Tulils, Jo- seph Pearson, Henry J. Petit, John Black, Robert M. Baurbour, Thomas B. Rose, George W. Bull, Samuel McKee, Harriet E. Drury, John H. Drury, Frank M. Ster- rett, John W. Morris, N. C. Clyde, J. W. Davis, S. D. Frank, Walter M. Kyle, E. A. Jackson, Chas. H. Dale. Washington, D. C., March 30, 1918. Col. F. M. Sterrett, Troy Ohio. My Dear Frank — The interest I have taken in your researches into ancient Mi- ami County history has brought me into a reminiscent mood and as I sit at my open window drinking in the soft Spring air, and watching the fringe of green leaves that is gradually transforming the long lines of naked trees into ambragious beauty, I am constrained to look back across the vista of by-gone years and recall some of the scenes and incidents of long ago, that have for me a personal interest, though of little value or consequence to any one else. Notwithstanding this latter fact, I am moved as one of the living “old settlers” of Troy to note down some of my early recollections of sixty to sixty-five years ago. Delving into the past being in your present line of thoughts, and bearing in mind the many years of personal friend- ship that have marked our lives, I have thought this narrative might not in some of its phases prove uninteresting to you, though not in any sense, of concern to the public. I was born at Defiance, Ohio, the point where General Anthony Wayne, in 1794, built his fort as a preliminary to his ad- vance upon an overwhelming defeat of the British and Indians at Fallen Timbers. My earliest recollection dates back when three years old to the cholera season of 1849, when after the epidemic had been stayed, my father held me up in his arms on the porch of our house, to witness the burning of the buildings that had been used as a cholera hospital. In the Spring of 1853, my father was induced to remove with his family to Troy. On a bright May morn- ing, taking our lives in our hands and without any deep-seated realization of the dangers that might attend our journey, we embarked upon the muddy and more or less fragrant water of the Miami and Erie canal. Not upon the ordinary and deliberate freight boat did we take passage, where the mammal motive power moved along with the deliberation characteristic of the case-hardened mule, but upon the neat and trim rapid transit canal Packet, given solely to the accommodation and transport of passengers and where the horses were stimulated into a continuous trot, encom- passing on an average, including the delay incident to passing through the numerous locks, of at least four miles an hour. These packets, I think, must have offered to George M. Pullman, the original sugges- tion for his modern railway sleeping car, for the sleeping berths for passengers were arranged along the side of the cabin and during the daytime in order to make room for the dining table and the seating of the passengers, the sleeping berths were folded back against the wall of the cabin, much after the manner of the railroad sleeper. The details of the trip after the lapse of sixty-five years are more or less vague, but I remember that for most of the distance the country was clothed on both sides with a dense forest, interrupted occasionally by a clearing and at intervals by an ambitious young village of cheap frame houses, mostly of one story. This condition pre- vailed almost down to the territorial limits of Miami County, where of course settle- ments and developments were much more advanced. When our “floating palace” approached any of the small villages or was about to encounter one of the many locks along the route, the helmsman would pick up an elongated tin horn and send in winding blast of melody echoing through forest and 454 HISTORY OP MIAMI COUNTY glen, as a notification that we were about to arrive, whereupon every mother’s son and daughter of the community flocked to the landing and every passenger rushed on deck to greet them. It seems to me now as I look back that the trip must have occupied at least a week but as the distance from Defiance to Troy is only one hundred miles, not more than one day and part of another could have been consumed. I remember that at some points along the route we encountered a flight of wild pigeons in such numbers as to almost darken the sun and that the whole flight was several hours in passing. We reached Troy late in the afternoon and moored our good ship at the Packet landing, which at that time was just a few rods below Market Street. Here we found a bustling and interested crowd of people awaiting us, and two four- horse and one six-horse omnibus ready to convey passengers to any part of the city. Seating ourselves in the latter vehicle, the driver, with a stertorous cry and a re- sounding crack of his long lashed whip, started us on a dizzy whirl through Mar- ket to Main and up Main Street to our pre- arranged quarters at the house of “Uncle David Adams,” which stood and still stands on the corner of Main and Oxford Streets, just above the present residence of G. T. Thomas. After a few days’ stay with this kindly and hospitable family, we secured a house on Water Street on the block above the Union School House. At this date the Dayton and Michigan Railroad had been finished to Troy only about six weeks and construction was pro- ceeding toward Piqua. Never having seen a railroad train, it became a first object of interest to visit the depot and await the arrival of the passen- ger train from Dayton, which had been running on regular schedule for about ten days. The depot was then located at the corner of Main and Clay Streets, in the two-story brick building still standing and then occu- pied by T. H. Vandegrift as a hotel, under the name of the Depot House and which, about a year later, changed its landlord and name to that of the Fuller House. The mingled awe and wonder with which I saw the railroad train approach- ing, the engine breathing fire and expelling smoke and cinders, is an incident not easily forgotten. The train that day, I think, consisted of a combination baggage mail and express car and one passenger coach, and was drawn by a small engine then in use called the “pony.” It was cus- tomary, however, to use an engine of larger type on the daily passenger trains, the pony being ordinarily used in construc- tion work. The headquarters of the con- struction laborer on work between Troy and Piqua, were in a series of small houses on Water Street including the premises now occupied by the Court House heating plant and the office lately used by the Childs Catarrh Remedy. These laborers were all practically recent Irish immi- grants, and Sunday their day of rest, was the invariable occasion for a series of drunken brawls, in which the women joined with apparently the same ferocious enjoyment as the men. At times half a dozen scrimmages were going on in the middle of the street, stones and shillelahs flew thick and fast and the yells and curses of the men, together with the piercing and ribald screams of the women, excited the attention and disturbed the serenity of the residents within two or three blocks. Among my early acquaintances with boys of about my age was Lester Smith. His father, who had died a few months previously, was the owner of a shingle fac- tory on the canal, a short distance above the lock at the head of Main Street. The factory continued to be operated after the father’s death by the two older sons, Da- vid and Samuel. Though Lester was too young to take lighter work about the premises and in order to facilitate his op- portunities for getting away to play, I fre- Surveyed by Andrew Wallace and filed by him, December, 1807. He was employed by Robert Crawford, the first director, who sold lota to the value of $2,800 the first two years. Andrew Wallace was the first treasurer of Miami county; the first school teacher of Troy; the father of David Wallace, appointed to West Point from Troy and afterward Congressman and Governor of Indiana, and the grandfather of Lew Wallace, whose autograph letter appears in thi>s work. THE FIRST PLAT OF TROY THE SECOND PLAT OF TROY The second plat had extended the town to the north and west as elsewhere described and to the south and east, from Clay to Union streets. The left hand line runs due south from Canal and Monroe to Market and West. The right hand line is a due west line from Canal and Union to West and Market streets. From this latter wedge point, the streets run with the Cardinal points while north of it the oldest inhabitant is compelled to box the compass to find them. THE HOME OF J. C. FULLERTON, JR. Born in Greenup county, Kentucky, December 8th, 1879. Moved to Troy, Ohio, with his parents in December, 1885, where he has lived ever since. Son of J. C. and Luella B. Fullerton. Educated in the Troy public schools and University of Michigan. Graduated from the Troy High School in 1899. Grduated from the University of Michigan with an A. B. degree in 1903. Also attended the law school of the University of Michigan and was admitted to the bar in the state of Ohio in 1905, and to the practice in the Federal Courts in 1914. On June 6th, 1906, he united in marriage with Nelle M. McKnight. They have one child, Eleanor. Worships at the First Presbyterian Church in Troy, Ohio. A Mason and a member of the J. O. U. A. M. THE HOME OF FRANK C. ROBERTS On Mulberry Street, between Main and Franklin, Troy, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was born at Christiansburg, Champaign County, Ohio, on October 25, 1861, and lived with his father and mother, George W. and Darantha Roberts, until he had attained his majority, when he came to Troy, and for a period of six years clerked in the dry goods store of Dillaway, Thompson & Perry, after receiving an education in the public schools. Three years after coming to Troy, on February 18, 1886, he married May E. Shilling, daughter of Jesse Shilling, whose portrait and sketch appear on another page. His father, George W. Roberts, was one of the strong Union men of his neighborhood. There were Knights of the Golden Circle organized at Christiansburg, who, to anger the Union men wore butternuts suspended by a string to their coat buttons. One evening George Helvie snatched one of these butternuts from the coat of a neighbor boy, also named George, which precipitated a fight in which at one time thirty to forty men were engaged at which I was present and a participant. In the height of the melee, George Roberts came on the scene, just from his bed with one suspender down and in his sox feet. I can yet see him as he seized a burly Irishman on top of one of our men and actually hurled him across the street, being a man of immense strength and indomnitable courage. In that day George W. Roberts, Manoah Howell, George McCulough, of Christiansburg, and my father, Samuel W. Sterre t, were the Union leaders of all that section of southwest Champaign, northeast Clark and western Miami Counties. I cannot but contrast, the division in those steam days, with the al- most universal fealty to the present war. Frank C. Roberts, entered the undertaking business, with his brother-in-law, after leaving the dry goods business which they carried on successfully for a quarter of a century. He now personally con- ducts the business. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Scottish Rite Mason and is a member of the First Methodist Church, and an official therein, and is a member of the Troy Club, of which he is pres- ident. in this year of 1018. He is ever a genial companion, a courteous gentleman and a substantial €riend. CITY OF TROY 459 quently aided him in his work of counting and baling the shingles. These shingles were of poplar. The raw material was brought to the factory — if my memory is correct — in round blocks, sawed from the trunk of the tree in proper lengths. At the factory, I think, the blocks were split, into two to four parts, according to the diameter of the block, then thrown into a a large steam vat where they were soft- ened by steaming a certain length of time, then taken out and subjected to a slicing process by keen upright steel blade, which transformed them into full-fledged shin- gles, after which they were put into bales of the size commonly used in those days. Among the residents at this time in the upper part of town was an old soldier of the war of 1812, by name of John R. Bold. He lived with a daughter who supported him by her earnings at dressmaking. He was in a more or less feeble state of health, due as was commonly said to his extreme age and we boys looked upon him with an idea that he was a sort of second Methuse- lah. The old gentleman, becoming seized with an idea that he ought to do something to enlarge the family income, like Dickens’ character of Silas Wegg, dropped into po- etry. He composed a number of rhyming verses, had them printed and canvassed the town for their sale at three cents per copy. I remember the first verse ran as fol- lows : My name it is John Rising Bolt And I have lived through heat and colt Till I am sixty-five years old. When I think that at the present mo- ment, I am nearly eight years older than this scion of antiquity, I wonder what the children of the present day think of me as a relic.” The dam across the river at the upper end of town formed the universal “swim- ming hole” in those days for both boys and men. It was separated from the inhabited part of the town by a broad vacant tract or common, so that the swimmers being out of sight, were in nowise objetcionable features of the landscape. Summer days, and especially summer evenings, the water was filled with a swarm of shouting and laughing humanity, who found surcease of suffering from the heat and discomforts of the day. The boys of that day were no less inclined than those of the present, to indulge in pranks at the expense of their comrades. A common amusement was for one boy who had come out of the water and dressed, to get some other boy’s shirt, soak the sleeves in water and then tie them in as hard a knot as his strength would per- mit. An hour would sometimes be spent by the unlucky lad in relieving himself of this dilemma. On one occasion I was sub- jected to this treatment and the job was so thoroughly and scientifically done that I spent much time and utterly lost my tem- per in the effort to untangle the garment. I felt in a revengeful mood and by close inquiry ascertained that one Dave Louthan was the guilty party. So I laid for Dave. A few days later he was one of the patrons of the swimming hole, and I awaited my opportunity. I had caught a small soft- shell snapping turtle about two-thirds the size of one’s hand and had irritated it by tapping it across the nose with a small stick, so that it would grab at the stick whenever it came within reach. I watched Dave when he came out of the water and was about to dress, slipped up behind him and thrust the turtle within reach of his finger and the “critter” with promptness and dispatch clamped it between its vise- like jaws. With an Indian war-whoop, Dave grabbed the turtle and tried to pull him loose, but the more he pulled the tighter the testudian varmint set his vise. Suddenly, with a panic-stricken cry, Dave started for home without thought of clothes or anything else but relief from his misery, and with all the physical beauty and fleetness of foot guaranteed him by nature, he sped down the full lenght of Water Street to his home below the rail- 460 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY road, vocalizing his distress at every step. It was at least a week before Dave took the rag off his sore finger. Speaking of swimming, there lived a few doors above us on Water Street, a man named Hawkins. He had a daughter of about fourteen or fifteen years of age, bright, good-looking and as full of fun and mischief as an egg is of meat. She was fond of all sorts of outdoor sports, loved to go hunting and fishing with the boys, and was a good shot with a small rifle she carried. But her greatest and favorite ac- complishment was swimming. Nancy or “Nan” as she was familiarly aclled, had a natty bathing suit, and almost every even- ing in summer she could be found disport- ing herself in the river back of her father’s house. Her greatest forte was diving. I have seen many crack swimmers, both male and female, but I have never seen any that impressed me so much with their abil- ity to dive and remain under water such a length of time as Nan Hawkins. But perhaps I am like the man who went + o hear Jenny Lind sing in 1850, and she being the first great singer he had ever ^eard, he was so impressed that al- though he lived fifty years after and had the opportunity of listening to Patti, Nil- son and other world-noted songsters, none of them in his judgment compared with Jenny Lind. Tn the case of Nan Hawkins, she was the first female swimmer I ever knew and her performances in that line were so un- usual and wonderful for a woman, that they may have left an exaggerated impres- sion on my youthful mind. Speaking of out-door sports, it seems to me that our winters were at that time more steady and uninterrupted by sudden weather variations than has been the case m recent years. It was not unusual to experience four to six weeks of skating and sleighing without interruption of seri- ous thaws. The river and canal would be thronged by hundreds of both adult and juvenile skaters, indulging in all sorts of competitive sports and games, among which the most invigorating and enticing was the game of “shinny,”’ in the heated contest of which many a lad unexpectedly sat down with a jolt that developed as many stars in the ice underneath him, as he saw in the heavens above him. We had some very swift as well as some very graceful skaters. Among the latter the most noted was Benjamin Shilling, a younger brother of Jesse Shilling. Ben would take a few yards’ start, suddenly whirl and cut a symmetrical figure eight, following with a Spencerian outline of his own signature and wind up with a well proportioned figure of an American eagle with outstretched wings. The king of the rapid skaters was Watts Jones, a colored man, whose father was one of the Ran- dolph manumitted slaves, who in company with his brothers, lived in a series of small frame houses across the race, just below the Plum Street bridge. I hardly dare to state just how rapidly Watts could get over the ice, but it seemed to me that he could have given the “Blue-Tailed Fly,” a noted race horse, in those days, a goodly start and then beat the latter’s time in a one, two or five-mile contest. Watts fre- quently would skate to Dayton and back the same afternoon. While I am on the subject of races, I am reminded of a contest concerning which I still hold an unforgettable sense of per- sonal wrong. It occurred at a time when the County fair grounds were located on the McLung farm, opposite the present water works power house. There was a good half-mile race tract. One day, during the fair, Jim Hensley and I were munch- ing peanuts in front of Eb. Pearson’s con- fectionery stand, when a bland and suave gentleman of mature years approached us and suggested that we run a race around the tract, to the winner of which he would contribute a dime. Jim was a couple of years older and at that time considerably taller than I, but we accepted the gentle- man’s banter with true sportsmanlike CITY OF TROY 461 spirit and moved around that tract with all the celerity that our youthful legs could command. I won the race by a few yards and received the promised dime, whereupon Jim burst into tears and sobs of disappointment, when to console him the tender-hearted promoter of the con- test gave him a quarter to assuage his grief. Many years afterward during the progress of the Civil War, Jim and I were together on our way down the Mississippi to join our respective vessels, and in the course of our conversation I asked him if he remembered the episode. In reply he said, “Say, that is one of the disagreeable incidents of my early life that I have struggled in vain to forget, and if you will promise never to allude to it again, when we get to Memphis, I will ‘set up’ the best dinner we can get at the Gayoso House and wash it down with a bottle of cham- pagne.” The dinner was excellent and the “fizz water” was Mumm’s Extra Dry. In the summer of 1853, Van Amburgh’s menagerie made its first visit to Troy. Its proposed exhibition had been heralded for weeks by lurid posters, showing fierce lions and tigers of the jungle contending in mortal combat over the carcass of a wild antelope ; giraffes calmly munching their evening meal from the tender foliage of the tallest trees, and “the wild gazelles with their silvery feet” gracefully scam- pering across illimitable plains, to say nothing of the mighty elephants, the two- humped camel and the double horned Su- matran rhinoceros. No wonder the boys were in a fever of expectant excitement and their nights troubled with dreams of fierce encounters with savage beasts. At that period of our history it was thought by truly pious par- ents that the circus was an immoral show and many of them would not permit their children to attend such exhibits, but while it was true that Van Amburg had a circus attachment, it was a minor feature of the show and the animal exhibit, constituting a great object lesson in natural history, was considered by almost every one to be worthy of patronage. When the day came a large contingent of we boys eagerly walked down the Dayton pike for two or three miles to meet the procession and es- ocrt it to town. Some of the boys were fortunate enough to establish favorable re- lations with the boss in charge of feeding the animals, and for the service of carry- ing a few buckets of water, were provided with tickets to the show. But I might go on ad infinitum with these trifling incidents of personal history to your utter weariness of soul and I shall not prolong the misery, except to revert to a few persons and incidents with which I had no individual connection. In the Spring of 1855 occurred one of the most noted of crimes in the history of Miami County. A Mrs. Riggan was ar- rested in Piqua charged with the poisoning of her husband, and J. D. Maury was ar- rested as an “accessory before the facts.” A preliminary examination was held be- fore a justice of the peace in Piqua and Mrs. Riggan being by the advice of her counsel, a voluntary witness, testified that J. D. Maury had for eighteen months been urging her to poison her husband in order that he might marry her. She admitted she had written a letter to Maury urging him to do the deed himself by putting ar- senic in Riggans’ oysters. A copy of this letter was produced and acknowledged by Mrs. Riggan to be a true copy of her letter. She also testified, that becoming tired of waiting for Maury, she purchased the first arsenic in Tippecanoe and administered it herself. From this dose the doctor suc- ceeded in saving his life. She then, through a neighbor in Piqua, procured a second installment of arsenic and administered two doses before she succeeded in killing her husband. She was remanded to jail by the Justice’s court and five months later gave birth to a daughter while await- ing trial. The following January (1856) she was brought to trial. The attorneys 462 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY for the prosecution were M. H. Jones, as- sisted by E. Parsons, and for the defense John A. Corwin, James H. Hart and S. S. McKinney. It seems that at the prelimi- nary examination an agreement had been entered into between Prosecutor Jones and defendant’s attorney, McKinney, that any testimony given by Mrs. Riggan before the Justice should not be used to her detriment at the trial, except of a circumstantial character ,the court ruling that under the agreement of counsel the record of the pre- liminary examination could not be admit- ted, and so after most eloquent and pa- thetic pleas by Corwin and Hart in which the jail-born baby figured conspicuously, the jury after a short consultation, ac- quitted her. She was quite a handsome young woman 22 years old, a member in good standing of the Methodist Church, and her neighbors testified had been con- sidered to be a person of mild, kind and amiable disposition and much esteemed by those who knew her personally. After her acquittal she removed to Indiana, where she married again, and according to a rumor several years later she poisoned No. 2, though as to the truth of the rumor, I cannot vouch. For many years, dating back into the early forties, Troy had maintained a crack militia company, known as the Lafayette Blues. But interest in military affairs had lagged until the early fifties the company had practically become dormant. How- ever. a revival took place in 1855, and the company was reorganized with a member- ship of about fifty, H. S. Mayo was chosen Captain, and Joseph Pearson, S. J. Hens- ley. John C. Drury and John N. Culbertson were lieutenants. About the same time a company of young men was formed known as the Tro- ian Rangers, of which E. Hanson Mayo was Captain and John W. Morris. First Lieutenant. These companies, including the Trojan Artillery, were drilling fre- quently on the Public Square, in prepara- tion for the military encampment at Day- ton on the 10th of September. During one of these drills, a dispute arose about the ownership of a tenor drum, the Blues claiming that the one in use that day by the Rangers belonged to them, which was vigorously denied by the Rangers. A man by the name of Vandegrift, belonging to the Blues, attempted to forcibly seize the drum, when a scrimmage ensued, and John Morris painfully wounded Vandegrift in the hand with his sword. This incident was the cause of much excitement and ill- feeling between the two companies and their respective sympathizers. The Troy Union School opened its first session in the new school house on the 5th of September, 1853. This school house was a square, three-story brick building, and covered the same site as that now oc- cupied by the Edwards building. Wm. N. Edwards was the Principal and Miss Mary Kelly whom he afterward married and who for nearly half a century has been a missionary in South Africa, was one of the teachers. Mr. Edwards was a man of liberal and technical education, a first- class executive and a thorough disciplin- arian. In the first year of his service he was inclined to considerable severity of discipline, and with his great wall-eyes and an austerity of countenance that he could assume, became the terror of all the small boys of mischievous inclination. Time, however, seemed to have a mellow- ing effect upon his disposition, and in his later years, instead of being an object of fear he came to be the object of universal love in the eyes of his pupils. In this same notable year of 1853, there was begun the erection of what Troy sadly needed, a good hotel. The Morris House, as it came to be called, was finished in the Spring of 1854 at a cost of $30,000 and was leased to S. C. Hawkins as the first landlord. The formal opening took place on Mon- day, the 19th of June and the 4th of July following was made the occasion for a great demonstration. The grand soiree CITY OF TROY 463 and ball was extensively advertised and invited guests were present from Cincin- nati, Columbus, Dayton, Springfield and Xenia, with a few from Piqua. The pauc- ity of attendance from the latter place was due to the bitterness of feeling — then at a maximum height — concerning the County Seat question, a bill having a few weeks previously, at Piqua’s suggestion, been in- troduced in the Legislature, to submit the question of its removal from Troy to Piqua — to a vote of the people. Politics in the fifties was at fever heat. The various phases of the conflict between freedom and slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska bill, the doctrine of popular sovereignty, the fugitive slave law, etc., were the sub- jects, pro and con of the most bitter and unrestrained discussion. It was during this period — memory fails to establish the exact date — when there came to Troy to discuss the issue of the day, the man who above all others has remained in my mem- ory as the most eloquent, the most humor- ous and the most effective public speaker I ever heard. It was Tom Corwin, famil- iarly known as the “wagon boy” of the Harrison Indian campaign of 1812. He spoke at the fair grounds to an immense concourse of people. He was of medium height, heavy-set, with a complexion as dark as a mulatto. He had a marvelous voice, capable of inflection and expressive of every emotion. To grasp the full meas- ure of his eloquent expression, it was es- sential to have a full view of his facile countenance. With a look he would cause a laugh or a tear. His speeches were il- luminated with pertinent and felicitous an- ecdotes that gave interpretation to the text and carried his audience to the highest flights of enthusiasm and approval. Take him, all in all, we shall never look upon his like again. Among the chief industries in Troy in 1858, and 1854, were the Miami Foundry, at the head of Main Street, a short dis- tance this side of the present water- works, established and operated by the Shilling Brothers; the Troy Flax Factory, con- trolled by the Sessions Brothers and lo- cated at the head of Water Street, near the dam ; the Wilmington Plow Works, on the bank of the canal just below the Main Street bridge; the planing imll, operated by T. H. Vandergrift, a few rods below the plow works; the large cooper shop of Cruikshank Brothers, on the canal, a block below the planing mill, where kegs, bar- rels, casks and tubs were turned out in great quantity, their raw material of staves and hoop-poles being brought down on the canal from the great forests of the Black Swamp region, between Defiance and St. Marys, the grain and storage ware- houses of Wagner and Dye, Daniel Gros- venor, S. P. Hensley, and Jos. Warner, all strung along the bank of the canal, be- tween Plum and Mulberry Streets, and the mill and distillery of Dye & Culbertson, located on what is known as Dye’s Pond, at the terminus of the mill race. Among the well-known citizens of that day was Dr. Asa Coleman, who lived on the corner of Market and Franklin Streets in the house built by him, afterwards en- larged and owned by W. H. H. Dye. Dr. Coleman came to Troy in 1811 when the town was only four years old and was at different times President of the County Agricultural Society, Representative in the Legislature, President of the First Na- tional Bank and Associate Judge. Dr. J. G. Telford, who lived on the cor- ner of Main and Mulberry Streets, in a two-story frame house, which I think is still standing, and who held numerous pub- lic positions including those of County Treasurer and County Clerk. William Brown, commonly known as “Uncle Billy,” who was the second Treas- urer of Miami County, and served in that capacity from 1811 to 1842, and who lived at Water and Clay Streets, where he died in 1866, at the age of 82, having lived in the same house for nearly sixty years. “Uncle Henry Orbison lived on the cor- ner of Main and Oxford just above the 464 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY present residence of Mrs. Mary Hayner. Uncle Henry’s hair was as white as the driven snow, his complexion very florid, and for one of his age was exceedingly ac- tive and busy. He was a volporteur, insistently can- vassing town and country in the sale and distribution of Bibles and other religious literature. Incidentally he was a vigorous propon- ent of temperance and would argue the question by the hour with any one who would listen to him. It used to be said of him in his canvassing tours that without ixoparent design it was his very frequent ^ood luck to drop in on his patrons about Vuner time and accept the matter-of- course invitation to stay to dinner. William Barbee lived on the corner of Market and Water Streets in the house later owned by the late Mrs. Lutie Coombs. In the early fifties he removed to Lafay- ette, Ind., where he died in 1858. He was one of Troy’s oldest and most prominent citizens and became quite wealthy. He moved to Miami County with his father in 1804, lived in a log cabin for several years and worked for his neighbors twelve hours a day for fifty cents. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, was three times elected to the Legislature, declined a nomination to Congress, became an Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court and was a member of the Ohio Constitutional Con- vention in 1850. I have a suspicion that the boys of the early fifties were not so well seasoned in respect for the nearby farmers’ apple or- chards as are the good boys of the present day. So far as I know, the temptation of- fered by a tree full of Maiden Blush ap- ples, was during the leisurely roamings in- cident to the summer vacation, too strong to be resisted by very many of my youth- ful companions. About a half mile above town on the left bank of the river was a large grove known as the “dam woods.’’ Just to the east of this grove a red-headed and quick-tempered farmer named Love had a very tempting orchard. The boys made the “dam woods” a base for the fre- quent incursions into the orchard. To put a stop to this, Love possessed himself of a particularly savage bulldog and gave the animal full run of the orchard. Many were the expedients resorted to by the boys in diverting the dog’s interest and atten- tion to one end of the orchard while an- other contingent of them climbed the fence and assaulted some of the trees at the other end. In this way a good many nar- row escapes from dog-bite were had. It did not occur to them, however, so far as I know, to try Sidney Smith’s experiment when he was a boy. Some of the larger boys made him believe that if he would get down on his hands and knees and go back- wards toward the dog, the dog would be- come frightened and run and he could then secure the apples. He tried the experi- ment without success, resulting as he says in reaching the conclusion that it makes no difference to a bulldog which end of a boy he gets hold of, if he only gets a good hold. But I might, like Tennyson’s brook, run on forever in the relation of these local in- cidents, to your personal weariness and discomfort, and so I will spare you fur- ther infliction. If you survive its perusal, write and tell me what restoratives you used. Sincerely yours, C. C. R. The five miles square of agricultural country around Troy, as before stated, would support a town population of 4000 people. The remaining 3000 are now sup- ported by our manufacturing industries. The establishment of such industries as The Hobart Electric Company, the Wind- shield Company, the Automobile Body Works, the Hobart Brothers’ Dynamo and Generator Works, the Troy Foundry and others of smaller output, was made profit- ably possible by the building of the present east and west Big Four Railroad in 1883, for which the citizens of Troy subscribed and paid a bonus of $81,000, of which S. K. CITY OF TROY 465 Harter, H. W. Allen and W. H. Dye sub- scribed $5000 each and the two former paid their subscriptions in full. H. W. Allen was the chairman of the executive committee that performed this work, and the author of this work was the secretary. I was also the chairman of the committee on rights of way and procured most all in Miami County and some in Darke and Clark Counties. These purchases were all reported to C. W. Fairbanks, the general solicitor of the road, afterward Vice-Presi- dent of the United States. Many years afterward, when I supposed I had been forgotten by him, I was intro- duced to him on account of my Grand Army title, as General Sterrett. He smil- ingly grasped my hand, and looking down from his height of 6 feet 4, said : “When did you get to be a General, Frank?” to which I promptly replied, “You could make it actual, Mr. President, if you tried, but, as in the Roosevelt case, which I have heretofore related, nothing came of my suggestion, in which I was in no wise dis- appointed. I sometimes think that the present generation do not fully appreciate the amount of gratuitious work and money donated to prepare for our present pros- perity, and yet when I note the splendid efforts of the citizens of Miami County of the present day in Red Cross work and all other efforts in support of the Government for our success in the war against Ger- many, it is gratifying to believe that each generation is meeing the actual demand of its day and while we may be growing weaker, we are growing wiser and better. Some Dyes and Carvers John Minor Dye was of French Huguenot stock, born in Greene county, Pa., on August 24, 1773. He married Elizabeth Clyne, who was born October 18, 1775. They moved to Miami county in 1810. John C. Dye, the son of John Minor and Elizabeth, was born in Greene county, Pa., on October 10, 1807. He lived with his parents until manhood and married Eliza Green on May 20, 1829, and settled in Section 28, Elizabeth township, where he farmed 160 acres of fertile land and where 10 children were born to this union. He was a Justice of the Peace for nine years and acted a prominent part in the formative period of the county and was finally laid to rest in Casstown cemetery on August 20, 1896, at the advanced age of 89 years. Elizabeth Dye, a daughter of John C. and Eliza Dye, was born on the home farm in Elizabeth township, on April 28, 1846, and was educated in the public schools and at the Toledo High school. She was mar- ried to William Allen Carver on October 10, 1867. Mr. Carver’s grandfather was bom in 1756 and came to America in 1780, settling in Cumberland county, Pa., where his son, Michael, was born in 1782, who followed the Knoops to Miami county, ar- riving here in 1799. He soon afterward married Anna Lenon who had come with the Knoop people to Hamilton county three years earlier. He entered land in Section 21 of Elizabeth township, where Michael III was born on November 11, 1811. In 1836 he married Sarah Davis, from which union the youngest son but one, William Allen, was born on March 30, 1846. From the union of William Allen Carver and Elizabeth Dye was born three chil- dren: Edith, on June 29, 1868; Harry Benson, April 1, 1873, and Mabel, January 6, 1880. Edith Carver married Joseph H. Carr on June 29, 1887, from which union were born three children: Hazel Edith Carr, April 1, 1888; Charlotte Elizabeth, May 3, 1890, and Marguerite Jane, on January 5, 1892. Hazel Edith Carr married Gay- lord C. Cummins, on May 1, 1912, from which union two children, Robert Irwin and Edith, were born. Charlotte Eliza- beth Carr was graduated at Vassar Col- lege and is now doing social service work in New York City. Marguerite Jane Carr was married to Henry M. Merry, on Jan- 466 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY uary 6, 1916, and has one child, Charlotte Louise, born at Idaho Springs, Colorado, December 5, 1916. Harry Benson Carver, the only son of William Allen Carver and Elizabeth Dye, was born at Grand Rapids, Michigan, on April 1, 1873. He married Maude Weller on May 18, 1904, and from this union two children were born: Richard, on January 4, 1906, and Howard, on September 5, 1908. JAMES EYER SHELLENBERGER Born March 2, 1846, at Covington, Ohio; Died February 4, 1907, at Cincinnati, Ohio Major James E. Shellenberger enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, August 22, 1862, joined the 94th 0. V. I., was as- signed to duty as musician in Company B, and participated in the battle of Perry- ville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Raleigh. He was mustered out June 5, 1865, and began the study of medicine, graduating at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in 1869. He followed his profession at his old home, Covington, O., for several years and later located at Piqua, O., where he was active in his life’s work until war was declared against Spain, when he again tendered his services to the Government, was appointed Surgeon of the 3d O. V. I., and was with his command at Tampa, Fernandina and Huntsville, occupying the position of Chief Surgeon, 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 4th Corps. Mustered out No- vember 22, 1898. In July, 1899, he was appointed Sur- geon, with the rank of Major, by President McKinley, assigned to the 34th Infantry, and was on duty in Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands until mustered out April 17, 1901. We again find him with the army as Contract Surgeon in Department of Texas from April 24, 1902, until his death, Feb- ruary 4, 1907, thus rounding out a life of patriotism and honor in the broadest sense that the terms imply. His parents Jacob E. Shellenberger and Jane M. Shellenberger, were natives of Pennsylvania, and in the early Thirties moved to Ohio, settling in Covington. Our Companion was married in 1875 to Miss Emma Chaffee, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, now the wife of Charles K. Coit of Syracuse, N. Y. The high appreciation of his character as a man is expressed by the following resolution by Alexander Mitchell Post G. A. R. “By the death of Comrade J. E. Shellen- berger, Alexander Mitchell Post has sus- tained a great loss. He was among the first to orgenize it, faithful to work in its interests and a zealous leader in every camp fire and parade. “He was a soldier in manner, in spirit and in grace. He was a true, dignified gentleman, uniform in his courtesies, of sterling, genuine character, and in this sense a model for us all in the Christian virtues. “We shall always miss him and think of him with great kindness. “Hail comrade, and friend, and fare- well.” Jacob W. Gano, George W. Ward, Stephen C. Ayers, Committee. It was my pleasure and honor to know Major Shellenberger for more than forty years and I can therefore personally at- test to the resolution of his comrades and pay my tribute to the many gracious qual- ities of his character. THE COVERED BRIDGE OVER PANTHER CREEK DEETERS MILL ON PAINTER CREEK DAVID HENNESSEY David Hennessey, the original of the above portrait, was born in Ireland on July 15, 1830 and came to America as a young man and married Johanna F. Flynn in 1852, from which union were born William, on April 2, 1854; David, October 15, 1856; James, August 29, 1859; John, December 22, 1862; Timothy, September 13, 1865; Richard P., March 9, 1868; Edward J., June 3, 1870, and Thomas, January 28, 1873. James M., with Edward J., are of the contracting firm of Hennessey Bros., the former living in Piqua, with his interesting family, and the latter in Troy. Richard P. is the present public service director of Troy. David, the second son, has been for many years connected with the Miami Gas Co., and his son, David J., conducts the cigar business in the Hatfield house on East Main street. The father owned and conducted a farm in Lost Creek township, Miami county and was an honored and upright citizen. He belonged to that rugged type of the second generation of pioneers, the strength of whose faces are now seldom seen. Mr. Hennessey and his entire family were and are members of the Catholic Church. The Troy Hennesseys are able supporters of that prince of priests, Anthony J. Mentink, who furnished the : ketch for this work of the Catholic Church. CHARLES THEODORE ZIEGENFELDER The subject of this picture and sketch was the son of John George Ziegenfelder and Kathryn Buehn, born January 24, 1849, in Troy, Miami county, Ohio. He received his education in the public schools of Troy and entered the clothing business with Phil J. Gates, his brother-in-law as a partner under the firm name of P. J. Gates & Co., long known as one of the most successful merchant tailors and clothing firms in western Ohio. Charles married Miss Alice Zischler on October 9, 1878. He was a member of the St. John’s Evangelical church of Troy, and occupied a high position in the estimation of his fellow citizens for probity and in- dustry. It is doubtful if any man in his community led a more peaceful, serene and blameless life. He was buried in Riverside cemetery, his death occurring on September 21, 1903. Hi c widow gurvtves-Jiim, living in the home, 118 South Market street, in which their happy married life had been spent, waiting for the reunion in the great beyond. On Jan. 5, since the above was written, Alice, the wife, joined her husband. CHAPTER XXV CITY OF PIQUA Gob Gard, who had been a sutler in the army of “Mad Anthony Wayne,” in his successful campaign against the Indians in Northwestern Ohio in 1794, probably re- mained in the vicinity of the fort at Green- ville up to the treaty of August 3, 1795, which opened up Miami County to peace- ful settlement for the first time, and came across to Piqua, a distance of 25 miles and settled at the abandoned fort at Upper Piqua in the Spring of 1797, where he lived for a period of a few months, when he selected such material as suited his pur- pose from the structure, floated it down the river and used it in the construction of a house near the corner of Water and Harrison Streets, just north of the Penn- sylvania Railroad bridge across the Miami River, before it changes its western course to a southern one. Soon after Gard came ,and in the same year, John Hilliard and his two sons, Charles and Joseph, Job Garrard, Shad- rach Hudson, Jonathan Rollins, Daniel Cox, Thomas Rich, and a man named Hun- ter came here from North Bend, where John Cleves Symmes had founded a city at the mouth of the Great Miami River that was to become the metropolis of his 2,000,000 acre purchase, between the Big and Little Miami Rivers, in 1786. These first settlers first located on the west side of the river, on land described to them by Symmes, and found not to belong to the latter, and hence they moved across the river and relocated on lands just south of the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge in what is now known as Huntersville. In 1799, Gard sold his rights to John Manning, where, five years afterward, he 471 constructed the first flouring mill in Miami County. If it were not for the statement of Manning, handed down, the part played by Gard in the early history of Piqua would be lost, as nothing further is known of him. On May 22, 1800, Chas. Manning was born, near the site of this mill, the first white child in Piqua, two years after John Knoop, the first white child in Miami County was born at Staunton, in the old “Dutch Station.” When Miami County was organized in 1807, there lived along the old General Clark trail, within the present limits of Piqua, now known as Main Street, the families of John Manning, Edward Man- ning, Benjamin Leavell, Alexander Ewing, Armstrong Brandon, NathanielWhitcomb, Casper Hendershott and Joseph Porgette, which, combined with the families in Hun- tersville, made a total population of about sixty souls. While the county seat was located at Troy on July 31, 1807, the plat for same was not completed until Decem- ber 16, 1807, whereas the town of Wash- ington was platted on August 27, 1807. The eastern boundary of the town of Washington was at the present junction of Water and Harrison Streets, near where the Manning mill stood and was numbered lot No. 1 and the western bound- ary line was the present Downing Street, four blocks wide. The northern boundary line was Green Street, and the southern Union Street, five long blocks containing 101 lots, 52 acres in all, with about thirty souls comprising its population at that time. Since that time, the town, in 1816, changed its name to Piqua, by an act of the Legislature, and has added to its pos- 472 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY sessions, 81 additions, increasing in popu- lation until now in 1918, it numbers 15,000 — one-third of the population of the entire County. In 1823, Piqua was incorporated. In 1826 it had a population of 248. Piqua has contributed some eminent names to the State and country, the most eminent of which was John Johnston, who lived many years at Upper Piqua and acted as Indian agent for the northwest. G. Volney Dor- sey was a State Senator in 1849 and the Treasurer of the State of Ohio in 1861, and re-elected in 1863. Major Stephen John- ston, a saddler by trade, drew the charter for the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Rail- road Company, now a part of the Pennsyl- vania System. He was elected and served as Sheriff of Miami County, was an elector on the Lincoln ticket in 1864, and a candi- date for Governor of Ohio on the Green- back ticket in 1877. The Hon. John F. Mc- Kinney was elected to Congress in 1863, and re-elected in 1870. The prominent events that had most to do with creating Piqua the metropolis of Miami County was the Indian agency of Col. John Johnston; the location of the land office there in 1819, the completion of the Miami and Erie ca- nal to that point in 1837, where it re- mained the terminus for several years and became the distributive point for the terri- tory north, northwest and northeast. It was the “border town” in the war of 1812, the “border village” in 1837, and the “bor- der city” in 1850. The Dayton and Michi- gan and the P., C., C. & St. L. Railroads were both finished through Piqua in 1856, giving them railroad connections with the four cardinal points. The hydraulic company was organized in 1868. The free school law of 1850 gave Piqua graded schools in 1854. The first church was built in 1816 ; the first mayor, Wm. Barrington, in 1826; the first news- paper, “The Gazette,” in 1821 ; the fire de- partment was organized in 1836, which continued through the various grades be- tween ladders and buckets to the most modern methods known. On May 18, 1868, the police board of Piqua was organized. The first bridge in Piqua was erected in 1820, between Piqua and Huntersville. The Jerusalem and Japan railroad was par- tially graded between Piqua and West Mil- ton in 1851, and some of the grade, near West Milton, is yet to be seen. In 1889 the city street railroad was in- augurated and was extended to Troy in 1892. The Dayton, Covington and Piqua electric traction line, into Piqua in 1903, to be followed soon afterward by the West- ern Ohio, which furnished the citizens with this modern convenience to all points of the compass, except the east. Arm- strong Brandon, the first County Surveyor was also the first postmaster of Piqua. In 1843 the town hall was contracted to be erected. The old market house, built in 1850, was torn down in 1882. The soldiers’ monument in Forest Cemetery, was un- veiled on Decoration Day, 1884. In 1890, the stone jail at the rear of the fire department on Wayne Street was erected at a cost of $1650. In 1891 the Plaza Hotel was erected with W. P. Orr and Sam K. Statler as owners. In 1837 the Union Troop of Cavalry was organ- ized. In 1838, the Piqua Blues, and the Piqua Guards in 1850. In 1876, Company F, of the Third Regiment, O. N. G., was organized. In 1891, Company E of the same regiment which went forward in the Spanish-American war of 1898. Piqua furnished 828 men for the Civil War out of 3200 for the County. She had a company of 104 men in each of the fol- lowing regiments: First, Ninety-fourth and One Hundred and Tenth, two in the Eleventh Ohio Infantry; one company in the Eighth O. V. C., with parts of com- panies in the Twelfth O. V. C. and Twen- tieth and Fiftieth Infantry. While nam- ing the distinguished citizens of Piqua, I should have remembered “Billy” Manning, the greatest early minstrel of the United States, if, indeed, he has been surpassed by any of the moderns. He was a grand- CITY OF PIQUA 473 son of the Manning who built the mill on Water and Harrison Streets. Since statis- ticians inform us that more money is ex- pended for amusement than on bread, it would seem to argue that this character of mental sustenance was just as essential as the physical feeding of the body, which, if true, made Billy Manning one of the great men of his day. Manning died in Chicago, May 5, 1876, in the 37th year of his age, after inspiring more men, women and children into boisterous laughter than any other man of his age, and therefore filled an honorable and necessary function in the dispensation of earthly things. When General Harrison came up the valley in 1811, over the old Clark trail of 1882, until he reached the ford (Coes) where Eldean is now located, he continued on the east side, instead of crossing there as Clark had, who came up the west bank from that point; and crossed the Miami at the ford near the Manning mill, and it was this fact that caused the street op- posite this ford to be called Harrison Street. General Harrison invested in Mi- ami County lands, purchasing the east half and northwest quarter of Section 21, in Staunton Township. In 1821 this land was advertised for de- linquent taxes in the amount of $27.70. The General very likely saw this land, as he passed through Staunton Township in 1811 on his way to Tippecanoe, six miles north of Lafayette, Indiana, to fight the Prophet, Tecumseh’s brother, preceding the declaration of war in 1812 by Presi- dent Madison. He entered the land in 1816. The taxes were paid and the General sold the southeast quarter to Henry Orbison on August 28, 1818, and the northwest quar- ter to John Gilmore on the same date. He sold the half of the northeast quarter to E. Willard on September 21, 1826 and the Auditor of Miami County sold the other half for taxes on December 16, 1828. Since the General had sold the two quarters for $3 per acre, the 80 acres sold for taxes should have brought $240, but for some reason unknown he sacrificed this amount. The quarter disposed of to Orbison, it was afterward discovered, did not bear the signature of his wife (nee Anna Symmes) whose father at one time owned all the land between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, for which he agreed in 1876 to pay the Government 60 cents per acre. Henry Orbison rode on horseback to North Bend and procured the signature of Mrs. Harrison to clear the cloud on his title cre- ated by the neglect of General Harrison. Those of us who have had occasion to con- demn ourselves for business remissness may take some consolation in the fact that the ninth President of the United States was not free from the same fault. The telegraph system came to Piqua from Troy in 1850, and the telephone com- pany in 1880. The blue limestone of Piqua is of most excellent quality, some of which rings like metal when struck with a hammer. The first woolen mill in Piqua was built by Young and Yager in 1848, followed by O’Ferrall, Daniels & Co., F. Grey & Co., and the Orr Felt and Blanket Company of the present day. The first linseed oil mill was on Spring Street, washed away in the flood of June, 1835, to be followed by others in 1855, 1865, 1870, 1880 and in 1892. The first distillery in Piqua was built at the foot of the hill in Huntersville by Charles Manning. In 1807 he sold it to Plenry Orbison, who joined Harrison’s Army in 1812. It was at this time that Harrison selected his land in Section 21 of Staunton Township, and when he became acquainted with Orbison, to whom he sold the southeast quarter of that section, six- teen years afterward. The saw mills of that day were of the greatest importance to the early settlers and the first was established in Piqua in 1815 to be followed by many others, not only in Piqua, but every few miles on each of the fourteen principal streams of the 474 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY county heretofore described in our drain- age system. After the moccasin came the leather pe- riod for foot covering, and then tanneries became a necessity and one was established by Joseph Montgomery on Main Street in 1809, and followed by many others, all to be abandoned when factory shoes became cheaper than home-made ones. On the hillside of the Charles Hilliard farm was located the first graveyard of the early settlers, and about the same time a Manning burial place near their home on Water and Harrison Streets to be fol- lowed by numerous others until the Forest Hill Cemetery of 94*/^ acres was estab- lished by the city. The Catholic Cemetery was located at Boone and Walker Streets until the present St. Joseph Cemetery was established in 1873. The Jewish Cemetery is located east of Piqua on the Urbana pike. The following residents served as State Senators at various dates, from 1824 to 1896: Robert Young, James Johnston, John O’Ferrall, James M. Hart, Rankin Walkup, W. H. Lander, J. M. Carson, Jen- nison Hall and McPherson Brown. In 1852, the new constitution fixed Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties as the Twelfth Senatorial District with a safe Democratic majority of 1200, this being the average majority for 30 years until 1882, when to the surprise of most men, the record was broken, and Jennison Hall, an out-and-out Republican, was elected by 258 majority. I was chairman of the County, Senatorial and Congressional Committees that year and planned the campaign. The predeces- sor of Hall, Senator Moore, of Greenville, had voted for the conversion of the sur- plus dog tax for the improvement of the grandstand at Darke County fair grouds, Greenville, which had been built by a pri- vate company in which Moore held stock. He had also voted for a bill prescribing building and loan companies regulations that was unpopular with those companies and their patrons. To defeat Moore these two facts must be carefully disseminated throughout the district which would re- quire some traveling expenses and litera- ture. I went to Columbus and asked Chas. Foster, then Governor, to assist in financ- ing our political scheme, who was a pros- pectice candidate for United States Sen- ator. He expressed little faith in our am- bition, but subscribed and handed me his check for $200. Coming back through Springfield I procured a check for $100 from my friend General J. Warren Kiefer, and with other subscriptions obtained a fund something over $500. The late Leo- pold Kiefer, although a Democrat, took charge of northern Darke County where he purchased the tobacco grown by his German and French friends, the three counties were quietly but carefully can- vassed, with no thought of success, except upon the part of a few who knew the in- side facts. I arrived in Columbus early in the morning of the day succeeding the election and appeared at the door of the Governor’s room, with the unexpected semi-official returns of the district, where the Governor and a crowd of political friends were receiving the news. Upon my entrance, he grasped my hand and laughingly introduced me as the “dog-tax politician.” This was frequently, after- ward, called the “dog tax campaign” when we overturned a precedent of 30 years’ standing, again repeated by a Piqua man, McPherson Brown, a Republican, in 1894, and again by A. R. Garver, a Tippecanoe manufacturer, in 1914. Washington, D. C., Feb. 19, 1918. F. M. Sterrett, Esq., Troy Ohio. Dear Mr. Sterrett — Your letter of the 10th would have been answered sooner, but for the fact that it entailed some re- search work at the Library of Congress. I learned of a volume known as the Bio- graphical Congressional Directory, 1774- 1911, and find the following biographical sketch of John Franklin McKinney : John Franklin McKinney, a Represen- CITY OF PIQUA 47S tative from Ohio; born near Piqua, Ohio, April 12, 1827 ; completed preparatory studies; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Piqua in 1851 ; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty- Eighth Congress (March 4, 1863-March 3, 1865) ; unsuccessful candidate for re- election to the Thirty-Ninth Congress ; re- elected to the Forty-Second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873) ; died near Piqua, Ohio, June 13, 1903. The following is said of Murray : Robert M. Murray, a Representative from Ohio; born in Concord, Lake County, Ohio, November 28, 1841; attended the schools of Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio, and Oberlin, Ohio; studied law, and was admitted to the bar; cashier of the First National Bank in Painesville, Ohio ; moved to Piqua, Ohio, in 1879 ; Mayor of Paines- ville, Ohio, from April, 1877 to 1879; was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-Eighth Congress (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885). As for the McLane you mention, the box- score indicates that you have mixed up your McLeans. There was a William Mc- Lean, who represented the Piqua district in the twenties. You have evidently con- fused him with John McLean, an Ohio Congressman who served from the Leba- non district during the War of 1812. It was the latter, not the former, who subse- quently became State Supreme Court Judge in 1816, Postmaster General in 1823, and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1829 until his death. I can readily understand how the con- fusion might have arisen. Both men rep- resented Western Ohio districts within a decade of one another. Both were natives of Morris County, New Jersey. John Mc- Lean went on the Supreme bench at Wash- ington the same year William McLean left Congress. It would not be strange if fur- ther confusion had arisen because of the fact that only a few years later another man of the same name represented an Ohio district, one Jeremiah McLene. But as a matter of fact, the Supreme Court Justice was the John McLean of Lebanon and not the William McLean of Piqua. The following sketch appears regarding William McLean: William McLean, a Representative from Ohio ; born in Morris County, N. J. ; at- tended the public schools ; moved to Ohio ; appointed receiver of public moneys in Piqua, Ohio; elected to the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Congresses, (March 4, 1823-March 3, 1829) ; died in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 12, 1839. I hope that this data, meager though it may be will serve your purpose. If at any time I can be of aid to you, kindly feel yourself at liberty to call on me. Sincerely yours, B. F. Welty. Piqua is noted as being the center of the knitting and underwear industries, the output from which reaches all parts of the Union, and even into foreign countries. The more prominent factories of Piqua are the Favorite Stove Works, the Pioneer Pole and Shaft Company, the Piqua Han- dle Company, Cincinnati Corrugating Co., Rolling Mill, the Wood Shovel and Tool Co., Piqua School Furniture Co., French Oil Mill Machine Co., the Fillebrown Shop, the H. Sternberger Mattress Factory and the King Manufacturing Co. PIQUA— 50 Years Ago. By M. H. Jones Written Feb. 22, 1890 “We speak of many a vanished scene. Of what we once had thought and said, Of what had been and might have been And who has changed and who was dead.” Alas, 0. Posthumous, the years glide swiftly by. So sang Horace to his friend among the glories of the Roman Empire, and so it seems to the writer when he reflects that it is fifty years ago in the coming September when he, from the top 476 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY of Hilliard's hill, at the east end of Huntersville, first beheld the fair town of Piqua. It then contained probably from 1,500 to 1,800 people, was a very clean and handsome town, full of life and vigor, and commanded a large trade from the north and west. The canal had been completed some three or four years to the state dam, three miles north, and Piqua was the headquarters of all the canal interests between here and its northern extension. Here were gathered canal commissioners, engineers and contractors. Here were estimates made and paid to the con- tractors, and here was the money mostly spent, and spent freely. We recollect one contractor, whose name now escapes us, who carried his money in a tall plug hat and went around town paying it out as long as it lasted. The work at Lockington was very heavy and expensive, and a large force was con- stantly there employed. And very lively chaps some of them were. We recollect well the Duffin boys, Felix and Randall, and bold Irish lads they were, who after- ward covered themselves with glory in our famous “Broadford War.” Piqua then, except by a very few houses, extended only to Downing street on the west, and one square below the railroad on the south, with two or three houses south on Main street between that and Simpson’s tannery — now T. J. Wiley’s. Main street was the principal street, with but few houses on it now which stood there fifty years ago. From Greene street south, all the present houses have been built, except the residences of Mrs. Jos. Young and Mr. G. W. Young, Ashton’s store and the three stores adjoining it on the south, the Holtzerman block, and the house on the opposite side. All other present houses have taken the place of small frame buildings then standing. Greene street M. E. church is the only church building but what has been erected since fifty years ago. This congregation, previous to that time, worshipped in a small brick building over the canal on Spring street, about where the knitting works now stand, the present building having been erected in 1836. There we heard the earnest pleading of Rev. Solomon Howard, or of that other noble specimen of manhood, Rev. William Raper, and occasional blasts from Rev. Jas. B. Finley. The Episcopal church, a smah brick, was also over the canal, on the corner of North and Spring streets, east of the Foreman block. It had for its pastor Rev. Mr. Guion, a very worthy and devoted man, long since dead. The Seceder, now United Presbyterian, stood on the lot on Sycamore street, now oc- cupied by the Malt House, where we fre- quently went to hear Rev. Mr. Claybaugh, who often preached there. He was an exceedingly earnest, logical and eloquent preacher. He also rests from his labors. Tamplin’s tavern, a two-story frame building situated just north of the present Bassett House, was kept by John Tamplin, who commenced building the Bassett House in 1840 and finished it in 1841, when it was kept by him and Patrick Scully. It formerly had a basement, and the hotel was reached by a flight of stone steps. It has since been remodeled. The next hotel was the “Exchange,” the two-story frame over the canal on Ash street, where it still stands just east of the stone bridge. This was the liveliest spot in town. Here was the packet land- ing, and on the old wooden bridge that stood where the arch bridge now stands would gather pretty much the whole town to see the packet from Cincinnati and all points south land its passengers. Its ar- rival was announced by the ringing of a bell located on the top of the tavern sign post. This was a great event in the town. The packet was a favorite way of travel to and from Cincinnati and was noted for the excellence of its table. It was a little slow, but so was the stage coach driven by Jack Green, the veteran driver. There was no railroad then, nor tele- graph, nor a mile of turnpike in the coun- try. We recollect standing on this bridge CITY OF PIQUA 477 and seeing a company of soldiers of the regular army from Ft. Gratiot, in Michi- gan, pass down the canal to join the troops of Gen. Taylor, in the Mexican war and also saw the company raised here for the same war by Gordon F. Mott, leave for their destination, from the same place. And we saw the next year a solitary soldier from Mexico land on his return from the war at the same old bridge, with a chapparel stick, cut from the battle field of Palo Alto, which is now in my posses- sion as a walking cane. This veteran soldier was Capt. F. A. Hardy. The square on Wayne street now oc- cupied by the Davis, Johnston, O’Ferrall, Orr and Wood residences was then vacant, except a house on the northeast corner owned and occupied by Jas. Scudder. In wet seasons it was covered with water, but at other times was used by show people for their circus and show grounds, and sometimes for political pole-raisings. From a point about half a square west of the Zollinger residence on Broadway to near Wood’s oil mill, the ground in wet seasons was covered with water from one to three feet deep. No houses of any kind were on it. As late as the time the high school was built, about 1855, the late Matthew Caldwell offered to sell to the school board the en- tire square in front of the school house, to be used as a park, for $800. The ground west of the school house and up the hill where the Hydraulic now is was swamp, and was good hunting ground for squir- rels and pigeons, and we have shot many pigeons, and we have shot many of them of them on these grounds. The Hydraulic has completely drained all these lands and made them valuable. Matthew Caldwell’s farm house, a small fiame, stood on the northeast comer of the present Ash and Caldwell streets, and he owned pretty much all west of it. The farm bam of his brother, Samuel Caldwell, stood about where Leonard Parker’s and John McClure’s houses now stand and all north of that and west for a considerable distance was vacant and open commons where the military companies trained in all their glory, and occasionally a show would pitch its tents. North of Camp street and between that and Broadway was a beautiful sugar grove where po- litical meetings were occasionally held. In 1842 there was held in this grove a great and notable political discussion be- tween Robert C. Schenck of Dayton, and Wm. I. Thomas of Troy, on behalf of the Whigs, and John Brough in behalf of the Democrats, all of whom after the discus- sion was over, in appearance greatly re- sembled the famous Kilkenny cats. Just north of this grove, at the north end of Broadway, was the large farm house of Hugh Scott, Esq., father of the late Wil- liam and James Scott, and of Hugh Scott, who owned the lands around there for quite a distance. This part of the country was exceedingly handsome. In 1849, William Johnston and Capt. T. J. Lawton organized a large party, probably one hundred, and went over the plains to the then newly discovered gold fields of California. When far out on the plains these two, one afternoon, rode in advance of the train to seek grass and water for their cattle and a camping place for the night. While looking for a suit- able place they saw at a distance two per- sons on horseback approaching them who they soon ascertained were Indians. As soon as they met, Johnston spoke to them, and one of the Indians answered in broken English and in a rather surly manner. He asked the Indian if he could tell him where he could find grass and water. The Indian shook his head and said “no” very promptly. He then asked Johnston, “Where you from?” Johnston answered, “From Ohio.” The word Ohio seemed to arouse the Indian and he said, “What part?” The answer was “Piqua.” The Indian’s eye flashed and he straightened up on his horse and said, “You know Col. John Johnston?” and he answered that he did. He then asked, “Who are you?” and was answered, “My name is Johnston — 478 HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Bill Johnston.” The Indian looked at him very earnestly for a moment and said, “YOU BILL JOHNSTON; YOU KNOW COL. JOHN JOHNSTON?” and again he answered, “Yes.” The Indian then told them to follow and going a short distance pointed out where they could find a small stream of water and plenty of grass. On the way he asked particularly concerning Col. Johnston and family and himself, and it transpired that the Indian and Johnston had been boys here of about the same age and had played together at Upper Piqua while the Indians yet remained here. When he had fully satisfied himself concerning Col. Johnston and family and William Johnston’s identity and after showing the location of grass and water, he said to Johnston, “So you Bill Johns- ton? You know Col. Johnston? You know Piqua? You live at Piqua? Well, G — d D — n!” and shaking hands with Johnston and Lawton, he turned his horse’s head and with his Indian com- panion rode off on the plains. Sr. Mary Catholic Church, Piqua Baptist Church, Piqua Fountain Park, Piqua Miami River at Piqua Piqua High School Building St. Boniface Parochial School, Piqua Presbyterian Church, Piqua Memorial Hospital, Piqua Piqua Postoffice Piqua City Hall REV. GEORGE MASON EDGAR The subject of the above picture was born on a farm near Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1829, and was reared by parents who were slave holders and was nursed by a "Black Mammy" but grew up opposed to the insti- tution. His parents moved to Greenbrier county. West Virginia, when he was a child. He came as a young man to Ohio and worked at the carpenter trade while preparing for the ministry. He entered the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1855 and continued in that service for 53 years. Ho married Mary C. Brindle, of Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, in 1856. who died in 1879. From this union, five children were torn : Lizzie D.. who married Geo. S. Helman, of Troy ; William B., of Chicago. 111.: Francis M., of Wilmington; Luella M., who married W. S. McMath, of El Paso, Texas; and Edwin E., of Troy, who married Elizabeth Margaret Campbell, of Troy, daughter of John Montgomery Campbell, whose sketch appears in this work. In the early 60’s Mr. Edgar was stationed several years on what is known as the Addison circuit and preached at McKendrie Chapel in Elizabeth township of which my father and his family were members. I heard him preach often and knew him well for many years. He may be designated as an intermediate between the pioneer, Peter Cartwright, and the latter day college educated divines and yet he had much of the ruggedness of the backwoods and the culture of a more recent civilization. I feel quite certain he was as tall as Abraham Lincoln and certainly as powerfully built. At Beech Grove chap>el, one of the Addison Circuit churches where he preached during the Civil War, a butter- nut was snatched from the coat of a copperhead which was about to end in a free fight whn Edgar stepped from the church, quietly threw on his coat and informed the crowd that he was opposed to treason and was there to fight it. He towered above any man there and awed the Southern sympathizers into sub- mission. This incident, with numerous details is told to this day around every fireside of that community as one of the remarkable incidents of the exciting period, when the Sons of Liberty and the Knights of Liberty in their secret sessions actually drew lots for the murder of their neighbors. My father’s homo was about half way between Addison and McKendrie and was the stopping place frequently for meals of our circuit preachers. In this way Brother Edgar became a personal friend of our family whose friendship was very dear to us. He died in 1909 and was buried at Troy, at four score an 1 one year of age, ripe in the service of his Master and fit for the Kingdom of his God. JOHN E. HENNE The subject of this sketch was born, in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1846 and died in Troy, Ohio, July 1. 1909, and was buried in Riverside cemetery. He came to Troy in i860 1 , where his brother, Joseph Henne, long a prominent business man had preceded him. He was consecutively in the shoe, restau- rant and insurance business, accumulating three city properties and a farm. Mr. Henne united in marriage with Margaret Eitel in 1865, from which union six children were born: Anna Margaret was born on June 26, 1866, and was married to Eberhart Maier, who was judge of the Miami County Probate Court from 1906 to 1913. From this union one child was born, William, now a soldier in the war against Germany. Frederick Lafayette Henne was born August 10, 1867. He married Miss Emma Croner, who bore him three children : Clara, Albert and Sibyl. He is in the restaurant business in Kansas City, Mo. Louis George, died in infancy. Lillie May was born May 30, 1897, and married George Emmett Daugh- erty, from which union two children have been born. Harry J. Henne was born in Troy on July 30, 1883, and married Ada Stevens on September 19, 1909, from which union a child, a son, Frederick, was born, on October 10, 1910. Mr. Henne was educated in the Troy schools, worships at the Presbyterian Church, is a member of Odd Fellows, Junior Order, and Woodmen of the World. He and his brother Frank Albert, are engaged as partners in the jewelry business, and have a second house for the sale of music and speaking phones. Frank Albert Henne, was born in Troy on May 12, 1885, and was married to Miss Helen Stelzer on March 4, 1908, from which union one child, a son, John Eberhard, was born on Janauary 1, 1909. Mr. Henne was educated in the Troy schools anxi is a member of the Elks and Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is a partner of his brother in the jewelry and phonograph business. These two young men are among Troy’s most progressive business men, and are worthy scions of a worthy sire, whom I called friend for 40 year's. GEORGE PETERS The subject of the above picture was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1827, within five miles of the Gettysburg battlefield and heard the thunder of the greatest artillery combat in the history of the world. His father was a nurseryman and died when George was 16 years of age, who then took charge and conducted the nursery for forty years. He was married to Harriet Smith in 1846, from which union were born Jacob, Anna, July 31, 1847 ; Wilson, August 15, 1849 ; Maggie, June 19, 1852 ; Mary Elis- abeth, now Mrs. C. F. Heikes, of Staunton township, on March 31, 1854 ; Ida, September 13, 1857, died September 25, 1873 ; Norris Bernard, August 25 1859 ; and Sybil Louisa, October 23, 1867. He moved to New Carlisle, Clark county, Ohio, in 1868, and organized the extensive nursery of that place and came to Troy ten years later and organized the Fairmont Nursery company, which continued to transact a very extensive business until his death in April of 1881. He was a member of the United Brethren church in Pennsylvania but joined the Methodist Episcopal when he came to Troy. He was a member of the Masonic order. He was first buried in the New Carlisle cemetery but his body was afterward transferred to River- side in Troy. When I was postmaster of Troy from 1879 to 1885, the Fairmont Nursery was in the zenith of its popularity and prosperity and when the mail received by them was quite large, Uncle George, as we familiarly called him, made his headquarters at our office. I had rooms above the office in the northeast corner of the public square and it was there he and I answered much of his correspondence. He was a companionable and generous man, full of the milk of human kindness and when his work was done, he left behind a host of sincere friends and Troy lost one of her best men. Charles N. Peters, a grandson of George Peters, and a son of Wilson Peters, was born in Troy, Ohio, in 1876. His mother was Mary J. Forsman. He was educated in Troy and at the Dayton Commercial college. He married Phena M. Davis, of Troy, in 1899. Mr. Peters remained in the nursery with his father and his Uncle Norris for several years after his grandfather’s death. He was elected auditor of Miami county in 1914 and re-elected in 1916. His term will expire in September, 1919. His urbanity has made him many friends and supporters while his excellent conduct of the office has marked him high on the roll of efficient county officers. Charles N. Peters is one of our most likable men. THE HOME OF HENRY W. HEIST The subject of this sketch i.- of German extraction and was born February 6, 184S, at Hausen- Darmstadt. Germany. He lived with his parents, Louie Hiest and Anna Riebel, receiving- his education in Germany. In 1869 he started to serve in the infantry for Germany and remained there until he came to this country in. December, 1871. He landed at Baltimore, Maryland, and came on west to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for nine years. In July, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Studigel from which union, three children were born, Mrs. Carrie Ziegenfelder, Mrs. Anna Campbel, andl Mrs. Rosa Hayes. In 1880, Mr. Heist moved to Edinburgh, Indiana, where he remained for six months after which he moved to Troy where he still resides. Mr. Heist has been in the tailoring business for the last 40 years. Mr. Heist and family belong to the evangelical church and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge. FOREST SCHOOL BUILDING Located on the first Cemetery reservation of Troy ST. JOHNS EVANGELICAL CHURCH St. John’s Evangelical Church was founded in August, 1848, being served at the time by a Rev. Debken. The old church building stood on the site now owned by John Hartstein, Sr. Not until 1880, when Rev. W. F. Werheim, of the German Evang. Synod of N. A., took charge of the congregation, did the same leap into the forefront. Under his able pastorate the present new church edifice was erected in 1882, on Walnut and Canal streets. There are 70 families connected with the church at present. The Sunday school, the most flourishing department of the church, numbers 175, including the Cradle Roll. The Ladies’ Aid society has 60, Young People’s League 50, the Brotherhood 30 members. In all 23 pastors have served the congregation in 69 years. The latest pastor is Rev. A. B. Meyer, who has been in charge for three years. During the first nine months of our country’s participation in the world-war, just twelve young men have dedicated their lives voluntarily to the service of their country’s cause. In the last three years the congregation’s special contributions toward Missions and other special branches of the Synod’s work have averaged £200 annually. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TROY THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. TROY, OHIO In 1812, a log church was built on the corner of Main street, where is crosses Clay street, and the Cin- nati, Hamilton and Dayton railroad. It was a part of the 87 lots, surveyed by Andrew Wallace, in 1807, in the Gahagan addition, a plot of which is elsewhere published in this work. The logs composing it were cut on the old fair ground land between Union street and the Canal. The seats were made from small logs split into and smoothed with the adz and drawing knife. The legs were mortised into the lower or rounded side. The second church, erected by this congregation in 1825, was located on the east side of Mulberry street, between Franklin and Canal streets and this point continued to be the location of the Methodist congre- gation, until the present structure on Franklin and Cherry streets was erected in 1899. The second church was a substantial brick sctructure, one story high, with low roof and windows. This building was trans- formed into a parsonage, when the third church was built in 1839 on an adjoining lot. The third church was of brick, one story high, with two front doors. Within, a gallery ran around three sides of the room. The fourth church was a remodel of the third and built in 1864, under the pastorate of Thomas Collett, who was the architect and master spirit of the enterprise. When a great cross was being placed on the high steeple, I said to Dr. Collett, “The world will think it is a Catholic Church,” and he replied, “The Catholics must not have the exclusive right to the use of the cross.” It was in “Old Mulberry” on September 19, 1872, that Doctor Crum, married me to Mabel Binkley. This church was destroyed by fire on Easter Sunday, 1899. On a clear and fragrant morning on June 26, 1899, ground was broken for the fifth Methodist church house in Troy. Charles Gordon Binkley, the youngest member of the primary class, a descendant of a long line of Methodists, took out the first tiny spadeful of dirt at the point under where the primary class now meet each Sunday. The new church was dedicated “to the service and worship of God” on May 2, 1901. It has a membership of more than 800 souls. Mankind to mankind would be just And to live would be a joy It life was what I thought it was When I was a little boy. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ST. PATRICK CHURCH, TROY, OHIO In 1857 the few Catholics who lived in and around Troy, assembled for divine worship at the home of John Danaher, East Main St., where the first Holy Mass in Troy was celebrated. In the fall of that year the Hon. J. E. Pearson, Probate Judge, who heard that their “House of Prayer” was too small to accommodate them, offered to the Catholics his court-room, West Main St., where services were held until the following year. What their poverty almost prevented, their zeal more than overcome, and in the latter part of 1858 the _ Catholics of Troy completed their own church-building and dedicated it to the honor of St. Patrick. The dedicatory services were presided over by the Right Rev. Bishop Rosecranz, brother of the great American General. Priests from Piqua and Dayton attended to the wants of the young parish till 1877, when Rev. F. H. Menke was made its first resident pastor. In 1883, the year of the silver jubilee, the church was enlarged to its present dimensions by the Rev. J. M. Feldmann and re-dedicated by Archbishop William Henry Elder, of Cincinnati. In 1886, through the untiring efforts of Rev. F. H. Bene, the parochial school was built, and twenty years later a substantial addition made to it. The golden jubilee was celebrated September 13th, 1908, and the sermon for the occasion delivered by the Most Rev. Henry Moeller, Archbishop of Cincinnati. In the summer of 1915, under direction of the present pastor, Rev. A. J. Mentink. the members of the parish decided to build a new and larger church, and on October 20th the excavation for the present church and rectory was begun, but owing to adverse weather conditions, the foundation was not laid tili the following spring, when, May 28th, the cornerstone was placed in position by Rev. J. M. Feldmann. The two buildings of stone, completed in the latter part of the year at a cost of $ 58 , 000 , were dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 30th, 1916, by Archbishop Henry Moeller in the presence of forty-one priests and a large concourse of people. The church stands as the finest specimen of Gothic architecture in Miami County. And today the Catholics of Troy are fully five hundred in number, in- cluding seventy-five children who attend the parochial school. HOME OF DR. JOSEPH W. MEANS Corner of Franklin and Mulberry Streets, Troy, Ohio Dr. Joseph Warren Means was born in Punxsutawney, Pa., in 1855 and was educated in Covode Academy. Pa., afterward coming: to Ohio where he entered the National Normal university at Lebanon graduat.ng in the scientific course in 1877. For a number of years thereafter, he was an efficient and popular school tacher. In 1880. he graduated in Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati ; in 1890. he took a post graduate course at Hahneman. of Chicago, and in 19 6. post graduate course in New York, in 1887, he was elected president of the American Association of Orificial Surgeons in Chicago and in 1900 became the president of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Ohio. His extensive practice has been n Troy and vicinity from the time of his graduation in 1880. Dr. Means has assumed his share of public service having served as coroner of the county and as a member of the City Council of Troy, also as the chairman of the Republican Executive Committee for twelve years. While pronounced in his views and zealous in all his beliefs, he has been more than usually endowed with that rare gift of amiability in his differences. 1 have known Dr. Means as a friend and neighbor for forty years and have never seen him show anger. His profession has been sufficiently lucrative to permit him to indulge in other lines of investment. In 1881, he was married to Miss Eola F. Roberts and to this union, a daughter. Myrtle, was born. HOME OF WILLIAM HENRY FRANCIS, 408 S. MARKET STREET, TROY, OHIO The subject of this sketch is of revolutionary stock. His grandfather, George Henry Francis, was born in Pennsylvania and was a second lieutenant in the war for independence. His father Jacob Francis, was a soldier in the War of 1812. William Henry was born on the farm, in Butler county, Ohio, on January 31, 1848. After leaving the farm he taught school, until his marriage with Ella Gifford, on November 23, 187G, from which union two children were born : Miss Opal Francis, the mistress of her father’s handsome home, shown above, and Dr. Jesse B. Francis, a practising physician of Troy. The year after his marriage he moved to Arcanum Darke county, where he remained for the succeeding fourteen years, engaged in the lumber business, when he moved to Troy where he has lived for the past 28 years, engaged here also in the lumber business. The wife of William Henry Francis was born in Butler county, on October 15, 1858, and died in Troy, Ohio, on October 6, 1909, and buried in Riverside cemetery. Mr. Francis worships at the First Methodist church and for many years rn i +p ^nard, as well as teacher of the men’s class in the Sunday school. He is one of Troy’s most substantial citizens. m &RT- ?*<}