Yale University Library YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Giftof Frederick ..f. Kilbourne GREENE COUNTY 1803— 1908. EDITED BY ^ ^ n ., A COMMITTEE OF THE^HOME COMING ASSOCIATION. XENIA, OHIO THE ALDINE PUBLISHING HOUSE, I9O8 COPYRIGHT. 1908. BY AUSTIN M. PATTERSON. DRAWINGS AND COVER DESIGN BV JOHN DAVIDSON. BINDING BY W. F. LINSCOTT a CO. (do ®lir Exilra Hljn Innh bark hittlj atttttian tb tir* nlli (Sreeue ffiountg Ijnm* tlfte book ia Df Jiirateb. PoreworC). No one could be more conscious of the shortcomings of this book than the Committee which has labored to prepare it. It is perhaps inevitable that vvith so large a subject and so short a time for preparing the material many things should be omitted that might properly have found place, and certain sections and interests suffer in comparison with others. We can but regret that this is so. We may at least take satisfaction in the thought that the book is thoroughlj'- a Greene County product. The contributors are all residents or ex-residents who have written specially for this purpose, and all of the artistic and mechanical work has been done in the county with the single exception of the engrav ing. The photographs, except when taken by members of the Committee, have been credited as far as possible to their makers. While it is hoped that the book will more than pay expenses, the object in preparing it has been, not to make money for the Home Coming, but to produce at a modest price a lasting memento of what promises to be a most interesting event in the history of the county — ^the first general return of former residents. The historical sketch of the county embodies much original work, yet it is necessarily based on the older histories, the debt to which is herewith gratefully acknowledged. Acknowledgments sjiould also be made to the large number of persons who have assisted the Committee, either as contributors or as representa tives or in other ways. The hearty response met with in most cases where help was sought will be one of the pleasantest memories of our labors. Austin McDowell Patterson, Cliairman, Alice Galloway Eavey, DeEtta Greiner Wilson, John M. Davidson, Marshall D. Lupton. Xenia, August, 1908. . CONTENTS. PAGE. Foreword ... . . . . . v Country Bred. A Poem. . Ridgely Torrence 1 A Reminiscence . . Henry M. MacCracken 3 The Old "Female Seminary" Helen Ekin Starrett 7 The Dear Old Places. A Poem . Amos R. Wells 13 The Original People of the County . . Warren K. Moorehead 15 A Historical Sketch of Greene County . . . DeEtta Greiner Wilson 32 Some ok the Men who have made Greene County . J. F. Orr 74 Massie's Creek. A Poem . . Wilbur D. Nesbit 78 A Description of the County and its Townships . 81 Bath ... H. B. Belmer 89 Beaver Creek ... 93 Caesar's Creek . . . 97 Cedarville . . P. A. JuRKAT 97 Jefferson . 101 Miami. Yellow Springs C. H. Ellis 103 Clifton . D. E. Spahr 115 New Jasper . . . . 118 Ross . . . . 120 Silver Creek ... . 120 Spring Valley . .... 124 Sugar Creek . James R. Hale 126 Xenia ... 134 Xenia City . . . "Hoke" Smith 135 Greene, the Champion Live-stock County, 0. E. Bradfute 160 Antioch College .... John M. Davidson 163 Cedarville College . . . F. A. Jurkat 167 The 0. S. & S. 0. Home . . R. E. Barnes 171 Wilberforce University . . J. H. Jones 179 Xenia Theological Seminary . . W. G. Moorehead 187 Organization of the Greene County Home Coming Association 190 Views of Business Houses, etc I93 Yi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE The Spirit Pool, Clifton. (Painting) Frontispiece Old Female Seminary 6 Clifton Road at Wilberforce. (Drawing) 12 Indian Riffle. (Drawing) 14 Prehistoric Remains 18 Ancient Work near Cedarville. (Map) 19 Memorial Stone at Oldtown 27 Scenes at Oldtown 30 Kenton's Tree 31 The Old Court House 38 Court House Group 48 Xenia Public Library (Photo by W. P McKay) 57 Xenia Female College 60 The Court Hbuse 67 Map of Greene County 80 Cedarville Cliffs Cedarville Cliffs Cedarville Cliffs The Falls from Above. (Drawing) 82 The Pass. (Drawing) 83 Tickling Rock. (Drawing) 84 Some County Institutions 86 Cedarville Cliffs: The Rapids. (Drawing) 87 Scenes in Fairfield 88 The Little Miami and Mad Rivers 90 Scenes in Osborn 92 Zimmerman, Shoups, Alpha, and Union School House 94 New Jasper and Paintersville 96 Scenes in Cedarville 98 Scenes in Cedarville 100 Scenes in Bowersville 102 -" LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PACE Whitehall 104 The Little Miami above Yellow Springs. (Drawing) 106 The Glen at Yellow Springs 108 On the Little Miami Terrace above Yellow Springs. (Drawing) 110 Scenes in Yellow Springs 112 Scenes at Clifton 114 Steamboat Rock, Clifton 117 Scenes in Ross Township 119 Scenes in Jamestown 121 Scenes in Jamestown 123 Scenes in Spring Valley 125 Scenes in Bellbrook 128 The Old Tavern, Bellbrook. (Drawing) 132 Andrews' Ford and Bonner's Lily Pond 136 Street Scenes in Xenia 139 Some of Xenia's School Buildings 145 Xenia Churches 148 Xenia Churches . 150 Catholic Church, Xenia 151 Y. M. C. A. Building, Xenia. 153 Scenes in Xenia 158 Indian Riffle Bridge. (Drawing) 162 Antioch College. (Drawing) 164 Cedarville College 168 Carnegie Library, Cedarville College 169 The Administration Building, O. S and S. 0. Home 170 The Row of Cottages, O. S. and S. O. Home 172 The Back Lawn, O. S. and S. 0. Home 174 Marching to School, 0. S. and S. O. Home 176 The Front Lawn, 0. S. and S. 0. Home 177 McDowell Lake, O. S. and S. O. Home. ( Photo hyfesse Clark) 178 James A. Shorter Hall, Wilberforce 180 O'Neil Hall, Wilberforce 182 John G. Mitchell Hall, Wilberforce 184 Galloway Hall, Wilberforce 186 Xenia Theological Seminary, the New Building 188 VIEWS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS CONCERNS. PAGE The Xenia National Bank J. 93 Citizens National Bank 194 The Commercial & Savings Bank 195 The Peoples Building & Savings Co. 196 Hutchison & Gibney 197 Sayre & Hemphill Drug Store 198 The McDowell & Torrence Lumber Co 199 The Dodds Apartments 200 R. M. Smart . 201 H. E. Schmidt & Co 202 European Hotel 203 Jobe Brothers & Co 204 Nesbitt & Weaver 205 Haller, Haines & Higgins ¦ 206 The J. P. Bocklett Supply Co. 207 Koch's Sample Shoe Store 208 John T. Barnett & Co. 209 F. J. H. Schell 210 The Xenia Water Co 211 Downing's Art Studio 212 The Sutton Music Store 213 Arbogust & Co. . 214 H. H. Thrall, Druggist 214 Donges' Drug Store . . 215 Robert H. Snead . . 215 L. S. Barnes & Co. . 216 Keyes & Nesbitt .... . .... 216 VIEWS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS CONCERNS. PAGE Ida S. Sinz 217 Kany, the Tailor 217 John A. North 218 The Central Electric Supply Co 218 Baldner & Fletcher . . 219 Osterly Millinery . 219 W. O. Maddux & Co. 220 Johnson & Dean . 220 S. B. LeSourd & Co 221 R. S. Kingsbury . , . 221 C. S. Frazer . 222 E. H. Hunt . . , , 222 Frank B. Scott . . . 223 Wright & Carruthers . . .223 Thomas M. Moore . 224 C. C. Henrie 224 George W. Slusher , . 225 Oak Lawn Farm 226 Painted by John Davidson. The Spirit Pool, Clifton In this pool, according to the Indian tradition, a Sliawnee maiden in love with an Indian youth, drowned herself long ago. Thereafter it was said, those who visited the pool, might frequently hear her so' '.:.» ^i^^said those » 'Id Shose COUNTRY BRED. IN NEW YORK. ridgely torrence. Where the sister rivers meet the deep sea daughters With the tidal sieve Dwell the careless livers by the waters. Dying as they live. Theirs is not the gladness ofthe pleasant places On the ancient beach But the city's madness in their faces Pales from ejich to each. Theirs is not the trouble of the solemn meadows And the sacred rain But to find the bubble in the shadows And to lose again. They are cruel seekers, they are restless movers And their feet digress From their mightj' speakers and their lovers Unto senselessness. I am sick of striving, I am tired of hoping And my pulses cry For a hillside hiving bees and sloping Into quiet sky. That's the hill that bore me, there I watch the grasses In my fathers' keep. All they knew before rae gently passes In the winds of sleep. There the sounds are slender, there the Dreamer growing With the song he sings Smiles to find the tender evening glowing With a look of wings. A REMINISCENCE, A REMINISCENCE. chancellor henry m. mccracken. T is more than half a century since I was told by my father the story of his making his way on foot to Greene County as a young man from the home of my grandfather, who was known as Squire John MacCracken, of Butler County, Ohio. My grandfather had been told by Judge Burnet of Cincin nati, after whom the Bumet House was named, that he would give him for his Butler County land as much of the Burnet unimproved land in Greene County as he might select as a fair equivalent. My father, John Steele MacCracken, with his older brother, Samuel Wilson MacCracken, and a young man who afterwards became their brother-in-law, Mark McMaken (who died less than ten years since in Hamilton, Ohio, in the one hundredth year of his life) came on foot from Butler County up to Greene County. They selected certain parcels of the land belonging to Judge Burnet. The principal parcel was a section or more in Beaver Creek Township, four miles west of Xenia. The three young men returned and reported their choice of lands. The grand father doubted if Judge Burnet would consent to give so large an acreage for the little farm in Butler County. But the Judge agreed to the proposed trade without the slightest hesitation. The young men returned -to Greene County with their axes, cleared many acres of land and builded a house of hewn logs, a part of which is still upon the Henry Ankeny farm near the banks of Beaver Creek. 4 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. My father, born in the year 1804, more than once pointed me to a pleasant knoll overlooking the Beaver Creek Valley and said : "My older brother Samuel and I sat there upon a fence which we had builded and debated whether we could not then afiford to leave farming, begin to prepare ourselves for college and go through the college course of four years and the Theological Seminary in order to be ministers according to the ordinary Presbyterian requirements. We then and there declared to one another that we would make the attempt." The farm and old folks were left behind in the care of a younger brother while the two older brothers began the battle for education. They and their parents were all connected with what is now known as the First United Presbyterian Church of Xenia, Ohio, but which was then known as the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Xenia. My grandfather. Squire John MacCracken, was a ruling elder in this church and remained so until his death. A notable resolve of my father was to keep the land which was his upon Beaver Creek to fall back upon if at any time he should require it. Aided by the productiveness of his Beaver Creek farm he was able to give to his children a liberal education with out the hardship which had been encountered by those in pioneer times in order to make their way. My own individual recollection of Xenia begins with my father who was then a pioneer preacher in Hardin County about sixty years ago, bringing me, a boy of about eight years of age, to attend the meeting of Synod in this city. We were entertained by a Mr. Gowdy, father of Rev. George Gowdy, who lived upon Main Street, in whose house then and there I saw what seemed to me the most beautiful bit of architecture I had ever known, namely, a marble mantlepiece. Such a thing did not exist in the town or in the county where my father had preached since the time I was three years old. My boyish recollection continued to cherish Xenia as a notable city builded largely of brick and of stone when so many county towns of Ohio had only houses of frame or even of logs. It may have been on this same visit to Xenia or possibly an earlier one when I had my first sight of a locomotive, the Little Miami road having just been opened north A REMINISCENCE. 5 as far as Xenia. At that time the road to Columbus had not been built. I recollect my especial interest when told that the loco motive was going down to take in water and how I needed to have my notion corrected that it had to find its way down into the water of Shawnee Creek in order to get a sufficient supply. Greene County and Xenia were my own home for barely two years, from 1859 until 1861, during which period I was a student in the Theological Seminary of the United Presbyterian Church, occupying, however, the most of my time the first year as an instructor of classes, particularly in the classics, in the Xenia High School. I have always counted it a privilege that I was contemporary there with Dr. William G. Moorehead and other students who have made their impression upon the church of their generation. My recollections of those two years in Xenia just before and after the beginning of the great Civil War, are of a community of high intelligence, earnest religious life and devoted patriotic spirit. May I be permitted, while not forgetting the share that people of various races have taken in the making of Xenia and Greene County, to emphasize the large contributions made to her history by the Scotch and Scotch-Irish. United Presbyterians came originally entirely from Scotland or the north of Ireland. The Scotch-Irish furnished half of the Presbyterians of every name in the United States. There are three gravestones out yonder in the Xenia cemetery which I have ever remembered as expressing the profound, relig ious conviction of those Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who have gone forth from Greene County to serve their fellow men. They are placed over the graves of the Covenanter Gilbert McMaster, and his two Presbyterian sons, all eminent doctors of the Church; and on the first I read, "God, thou art my God;" on the second, "Jehovah-Jireh ;" on the third, "I will go unto God, my exceeding joy;" and that is Calvinism in the warm heart and the educated brain of the Scotch-Irish. God is his God. He trusts Him to provide everything and to solve mysteries. Exist ence is an eternal friendship, an approaching nearer and more near to his exceeding joy. 6 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1 908. This depth of faith, joined with strength of intellect and saving common sense, has done more than all else to make many sons and daughters of Greene County of some value to their country and to the world, the old " female seminary." THE OLD " FEMALE SEMINARY. THE OLD " FEMALE SEMINARY." HELEN EKIN STARRETT. URELY one of the most interesting his toric buildings in Xenia is the present dormitory of the Theological Seminary on Third Street, but known, prior to and in the sixties, as "Mrs. Hanna's Seminary." Built by that noble foun der of the Washington Female Semi nary in the then little town of Wash ington, Pa., in the days of the first beginnings of the "higher education for women,' it had for some reason unknown to me proven so com pletely a financial failure that Mrs. Hanna had closed it ; and in 1860 it stood, a fine, almost new building, with boarded-up doors and windows, a surprise to every stranger who visited Xenia. The year of 1860 saw thousands of returning northerners flocking back from the South after the war had been — greatly to their astonishment — actually declared. Among those who left loved homes and occupations in the beautiful southern land, was the family of my father. Rev. John Ekin, D. D., who had gone to the South (originally for his health) as pastor of a congregation in Louisiana. Three of his daughters were teachers in the South, and when it was suddenly found that all must return to the North, or share the fortunes of the Confederacy, it was regarded by my father as a special favoring Providence that his "old familiar friend," Rev. R. D. Harper, then pastor of the First United Pres byterian Church of Xenia, should write to him suggesting that the family take the vacant and boarded-up school building and open anew a "Female Seminary." 8 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Suffice it to say the invitation was gladly accepted. Three daughters of us came first to open the building. It is illustrative of the simple, primitive customs of those days that we three with out the aid of any servant, cleaned the building from top to bot tom, washed the windows and scrubbed the floors, laid in provis ions and prepared to receive the rest of the family, and felt that we had the approbation of all the citizens in so doing. In fact, I think it helped to give us the reputation that afterwards enabled us, jointly, to build up a successful school and provided us all with a lovely and comfortable home during the vicissitudes of war times. I may add as farther illustrating the financial and social conditions of those days that when our freight and traveling expenses were paid and we were settled in our new home, my father had left just $50 in gold. At the end of the school year we still had one $5 gold piece left of that money. In those school-rooms were gathered, during the five or six years of our occupancy, a bevy of lovely, rosy-cheeked girls, some of whom are still with us, while many have answered the heavenly roll call. Their married names I do not know, but I remember them as Ella Harper, Jennie and Emma Milieu, Julia Barr, Chessie Reid, Anna MacCracken, Chrissie Moody, Mattie Leaman, Re becca Jacoby, Mattie Allison, Fanny Smart, Sallie McDowell, and the Paul sisters. Hettie Williamson, one of the pupils, was a beautiful girl, who created a great sensation in the school by her sudden marriage to Rev. W. C. McNary. It is a great distinction for a school girl to get married, especially to a preacher. Chessie Reid's distinguished brother, Whitelaw Reid, I remember as a tall sunburned youth, walking the streets of Xenia, who was pointed out to us as the "reporter" for the Xenia Gazette, of whom we had better stand a little in awe, as he was not afraid to make critical personal remarks in his paper. After we became better acquainted with "Miss Chessie," our fear of him was not so potent, as we felt sure of her kindly interest in our behalf. Anna MacCracken, too, had a brother, a preacher, which was quite a distinction for her, and very justly ; for that brother has been for many years Chancellor MacCracken of the great New York Uni versity. I consider it quite a distinction myself to be able to say THE OLD " FEMALE SEMINARY." 9 that I heard him preach in Dr. Findley's Church his first sermon after he was licensed to preach. I remember the text: "In the beginning was the Word," and to this day I remember well some of the excellent points of the sermon. Next to our pupils our greatest interest was in the Theo logical Seminary. What a fine body of strong, vigorous, able young men gathered within those plain walls in the early sixties ! We were all young together then, and as the "theologues" usually called each other by their first names, we learned to think of them as Joe and Will Clokey, Jack McMichael, Matt. Gibson, Pollock McNary, and others. Every one of these who remain with us is now a gray-haired Doctor of Divinity. However serious they might be in their studies during the daytime, they were certainly fond of fun in the evening. Dancing was not included in their modes of entertainment, but in those good old days of simplicity and good fellowship, we could all enjoy such games as "Going to Jerusalem," "The Stage Coach," "Twenty Questions," "Cha rades," etc. One of the innovations of the times then was "Tableaux," and I well remember how astonished and even scan dalized some of the good old United Presbyterians were when, through the good offices of the theological students, the "Female Seminary" girls were allov/ed ^he use of their Hall for a public exhibition of a very fine set of living Tableaux — an entertainment that proved so popular that it was repeated two evenings with undiminished audiences. Besides the Theological "set," there was another "set" of young people, and between them the distinction was sharply drawn although it was not a "class distinction," and each was very friendly to the other. The second set danced at parties, went off • on summer excursions, drove good horses, dressed in the latest style, gave afternoon teas and evening receptions, and had a good time of their own generally. Of these I remember Sam Allison and Matt. Allison, his nephew (who afterwards became my brother-in-law) ; Sam Ewing, who with his dainty clothes and equally dainty manners was for us "the glass of fashion and the mould of form"; Mr. and Mrs. Merrick and Mrs. Merrick's sister; Mrs. Trotter and her daughter. Miss Lily Trotter, and her niece, 10 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Miss Julia Myers; the Aliens, the Boyds, Daniel McMillan and family, ]\Iary Alexander, the Drakes, the Ankeneys, all of whom belonged to this set. All were good church goers, and the moral and religious tone of society was distinctly high — as is always the case when the good old United Presbyterians are in the ascendant in the community, as they were in Xenia. When it was fully realized that the War was a dread reality, — its scenes being especially brought home to us by the vivid and eloquent letters of the soon-to-be famous war correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, Whitelaw Reid, — the social life of the town began to center in the Soldiers' Aid Societies, which general ly met in the churches. What stores of preserved and canned fruits, what gallons of grape juice and home-made wines, what bundles of lint and bandages, what dozens of hand-knit socks and mittens went from the hands of the good women of Xenia, the records of the Sanitary Commission will tell. And then, when some of our neighbors were wounded or taken prisoners, when some languished in Libbey Prison and even in Anderson ville, every heart was touched and the people of Xenia were drawn together in a new bond of fellowship. Xenia had a taste of the realities of war to the extent of being greatly alarmed by a report that Ouantrell was planning a raid through that part of Ohio. The Home Guard was called out and practiced militar)' maneuvers ; many citizens hid their valuables, money and silver by burying them, putting them in wells, etc. In our home the bricks of the back parlor hearth were lifted, a deep hole excavated, and all the solid silver spoons, the five dollar gold pieces and the family daguerreotypes were safely buried. It was quite exciting and made us feel that we, too, were helping to save the country. One incident of the war many of the then young people will remember. A Division of the Army (of the Potomac, I think) was to be moved and the soldiers passed through Xenia, being transported mainly on freight cars. They were in command of Generals Hooker and Butterfield. The Xenians sent an invitation that they should stop for a good "square meal," and the invitation was accepted. Oh, the preparations that were made to give the THE OLD "FEMALE SEMINARY." 11 soldier boys a royal breakfast, for they would arrive in the morn ing. The chickens and turkeys and fatted calves in the surround ing country were thinned ort even more effectually than for a ministerial convocation. Cakes, p!es, and delicious home-made bread arrived by wagon loads in great clothes baskets. In ihe old Female Seminary one of the younger daughters aroso at forr o'clock in the morning and by eight o'clock had baked one hundred and forty-four dozen of light baking powder biscuits, besides denuding the store room of the winter's supply of winesap apples. All were at the train in season, and every soldier had all he could possibly eat, besides carrying away with him one or two days' rations. A coterie of the Xenia girls aroused the envy of those who had not thought of doing so themselves, by giving away to the soldiers unnumbered dozens of handkerchiefs with the names pf the donors in the corners. So there were sad as well as glad d^ys for the inmates of the .Xenia Female Seminary during the war time, as there were for all the citizens of Xenia. I remember being deeply impressed once by hearing a gray-haired woman declare that the days of the war were the best days of my life, all because she had found a work worthy of her ambitions and her energies which had previously been expended on the every day duties of a farm not far from Xenia. These are some of the memories and reminiscences that crowd upon my mind as I accept with pleasure the invitation of the Committee to furnish a short paper for the ITpme Coming of Nineteen Hundred and Eight. The Starrett School for Girls, Chicago. CLIFTON EOAD AT WILBERFORCE. Drawiiii^ from photo by Dt. Hewitt. THE DEAR OLD PLACES. 13 THE DEAR OLD PLACES. AMOS R. WELLS. What is the charm of the dear old place?, Haunts and home that my boyhood knew? Is it the woodland's remembered graces? Is it the field where the clover grew? Is it the glen with its cool recesses ? Is it the upland ranging far? Is it the brook and¬the water-cresses? Is it the cows at the mpadow-bar ? No, it is nothing of nature's glories Gleaming fair on the gladdened e^'C, None of the bright j'ear's picture stories Moves my heart to a smile or sigh. No; but this in the dear old places Stirs my spirit when all is said : Just the vision of vanished faces. Just the echo of voices dead. -«?% INDIAN EIPPLE. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 15 THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. WARREN K. MOOREHEAD, Curator of the Peabody Museum. I. PREHISTORIC MEN. REHISTORIC man in Greene County left probably 60 or 70 monuments of which 41 are clearly seen at the present day. The - historic period — that of the Shawanoes, or Shawnees, at Old Town, then Old Chilli cothe — did not embrace any of these remains. The Shawa noes buried in ordinary graves and confined their village to the little plateau south of the gravel hills flanking Old Town Run. The prehistoric people lived on Caesar's Creek, Massie's Creek, Old Town Run, and the Little Miami River. Whether glacial or pre-glacial man lived in Greene County is a debatable question. In fact, scientists are divided into two schools on the whole question of glacial man in America. There are those who believe that the discoveries in the gravels at Tren ton, N. J., Wilmington, Del., Madisonville and Newcomerstown, Ohio, and in Nebraska and elsewhere are indicative of a human culture extending back 3O,CO0 or 40,000 years. Against this proposition are most of the Smithsonian scientists and several leading geologists who do not believe that the evidence warrants any such conclusion. Although some rough implements were found by me in Old Town Run many years ago and, at the time, thought by Dr. Thomas Wilson of the Smithsonian to be paleo- 16 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. lithic in character, yet it is not established that glacial man lived in Greene County. Coming down to more recent times and accepting observa tions and explorations as trustworthy, we observe that the earli- . est man in Greene County probably buried his dead in natural formations, which appeared moundlike in character. It is quite likely that he selected glacial kames and knolls, rounded by the action of the elements during thousands of years; and because digging in this way was easy, he placed his dead in shallow graves upon these graceful summits. When gravel pits were opened in Greene, Fayette, Warren and Clinton Counties, it was no uncom mon thing to find human remains therein, and alongside such human remains lay types of crude implements somewhat different from those found in mounds and upon the village sites. There fore, I have believed that in Ohiq we had not only tribes which built mounds, but also an earlier people, although not necessarily a people of great antiquity — that is, great compared with the age of the glacial epoch. These early peopie found game very plentiful, the winters not severe and life on the whole not a desperate struggle for existence such as characterized tribes in Canada and upon the headwaters of the Columbia and Missouri. The buffalo roamed throughout central and southern Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and as late as 1760 buffalo were killed by Captain James Smith, long a captive among the Indians. Buffalo bones have not been found in village sites in Greene County but they were exhumed from ash-pits at Fort Ancient and at Mad isonville. Accustomed as we are to innumerable luxuries, regarding the high development of the 20th century as a matter of course and forgetting the millenniums through which man was slowly toiling upwards, we cannot understand how the American ab origine achieved what he did. He had no metal, save a limited supply of copper in a few isolated centers. All his art, manufac turing, building, etc., must be accomplished by the use of stone, bone and shell tools. The Indian was more ingenious and saving than are we. He made use of such material as he could find. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 17 His textile fabrics — whether baskets or blankets, — his elaborate pipes, his skilfully made bows were all worked out of raw mate rial by hand. It seems incredible to us that he accomplished his work with such tools as the flint drills, the bone awls, the flint saws and the ham'merstones that we find in every collection in Greene County. But one must not forget that the Indian had great capabilities. The Indian brain is finer than that of the Negro and his skeletal structure is also of a higher order. The mound building, to which he was given, extended throughout the entire Mississippi valley. While there are some mounds in China and a few elsewhere in the world, yet mound building was not practiced largely save among American tribes. Reference to the archaeological map of Greene County here- with'presented will show the distribution of mounds, village sites and the earthworks. From the character of the earthworks it is to be supposed that they are defensive. The mounds were for burials exclusively. The method of mound construction was sim ple. Natives selected a level spot of ground, well situated, pref erably near a stream and commanding the surrounding country. They burned off the grass and shrubs and beat the surface until it was level. On these hard burned floors they placed the bodies of their dead with various implements, ornaments, etc., and over the interment heaped a large mass of earth. The earth was car ried iu baskets and skin bags, as is clearly shown by the different lens-shaped masses averaging about half a bushel in quantity. Shortly after the mound was constructed, grass began to grow and then the monument became more indestructible than imposing structures of stone or brick. A simple mound of earth outlasts any other work erected by man. Nearest to Xenia of all the works in- the county is the circle on Old Town Run, two miles northeast. Unfortunately I do not recall the name of the gentleman on whose land it lies, but it may easily be found. Within the enclosure is a small mound. It is quite evident that circles were erected as sun symbols, and some times as symbols of the universe. The square represented the earth, or the four winds, or the four cardinal points. West of Xenia is a large mound on the land of Mr. John •See the article " A Description ofthe Coiint.v and Its Towniliips." the one PEEHISTORIf REMAINS. Mound on the Lucas Farm. Mound near Cedarville. The Spring Valley Mound. The two lower pictures were taken at the " ancient work" described in the article- one, of the "embankment"; the other, of the " ancient channel" from point G. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 19 B. Lucas,' which was opened about IS years ago by Messrs. George Day and Clifford Anderson. The burials in this mound presented two types, the ordinary interment and the cremated skeletons. Curious tubular pipes, flat tablet-shaped ornaments of slate, the war hatchets, large flint knives, copper bracelets and problematical forms were found with the skeleton. Scale jjD w. fottd^'li- ANCIENT WORK Creene Co., Oh,o. The largest ancient fortification of Greene County is at Cedarville Cliffs. Messrs. Squier and Davis, the pioneers of American archaeology, in their famous publication "Ancient Mon uments of the Mississippi Valley" (184-8), being the first work issued by the Smithsonian Institution, present a map-of this work which is herewith reproduced. I quote from their original descrip tion. "It is situated on Massie's Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River, seven miles east from the town of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio ; and consists of a high promontory, bounded on all sides, excepting an interval at the west, by a precipitous limestone cliff. Across the isthmus, from which the ground gradually sub- 20 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. sides towards the plain almost as regularly as an artificial glacis, is carried a wall of earth and stones. This wall is now about ten feet high by thirty feet base, and is continued for some distance along the edge of the cli-ff where it is least precipitous, on the north. It is interrupted by three narrow gateways, exterior to each of which was formerly a mound of stones, now mostly car ried away. Still exterior to these are four short crescent walls, extending across the isthmus. These crescents are rather slight, not much exceeding, at the present time, three feet in height. The cliff has an average height of upwards of twenty-five feet, and is steep and almost inaccessible. At dd are breaks in d^e limestone, where the declivity is sufficiently gentle to admit of a passage on horseback. ' At E is a fissure in the cliff, where per sons may ascend on foot. The valley, cr ravine, CC, is three hun dred feet broad. Massie's creek, a considerable stream, washes the base of the promontory on the north. The area bounded by the cliff and embankment is not far from twelve acres. The whole is covered with the primitive forest. "The natural strength of this position is great, and no incon siderable degree of skill has been expended in perfecting its de fences. A palisade, if carried around the brow of the cliff and along the summit of the wall, would render it impregnable to sav age assault. About one hundred rods above this work, on the opposite side of the creek, is a small circle, two hundred feet in diameter, enclosing a mound. About the same distance below, upon the same bank, is a large conical mound, thirty feet in height and one hundred and forty feet in diameter at the base." Messrs. Squier and Davis also illustrated the semi-circular embankment and mound lying half a mile south of the work pre viously described. They present a diagram of the polygon, seven miles north of Xenia on the east bank of the Little Miami river, some distance below Yellow Springs. These gentlemen refer to the mound enclosure by a circle on Old Town Run, two miles north of Xenia. At the time their look was published, the high conical-shaped mound below the cliffs (near the Hon. Whitelaw Reid's house) was something over thirty feet in altitude and one hundred and forty feet diameter at the base. In subsequent years THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 21 people from Cedarville have attempted its cxijloration and the height is somewhat reduced and the diameter e.-ctended. The other mounds are scattered about the county, following more or less regularly the water courses. None of them were house sites or "lookout stations", but all may be safely classed as mortuary tumuli. No stone mounds are to be found in the region and artificial terraces common on Caesar's Creek in Warren Coun ty, do not, I think, extend into Greene. If they appear in the southwest edge of Greene, I stand corrected. Save at Cedarville, no large mound exists in the county. There have been, from time to time, persons living in Xenia who were interested in archaeology. When I was a boy a picnic party was organized to visit Fort Ancient, twenty-two miles south. I remember following Judge E. H. Munger and two or three other gentlemen who were familiar with Professor Short's "North .Americans of Antiquity", about the wonderful enclosure and listening to their comments. Although the monuments, sixty or seventy years ago, were much more distinct than at present, yet very few persons in Ohio took any interest in them. The pioneer was Caleb Atwater of Circleville, who visited Greene County before 1818. Plis book, "Archaeologia Americana", was published in 1820 in Worcester, Mass. Old citizens in Xenia will remember Mr. W. B. Fairchilii. Of the Xenians of seventy-five years ago, Fairchild was one of the most intelligent. His interest in science was marked and he is mentioned in the first report of the Smithsonian Institution several times. Mr. S. T. Oweins, surveyor of Greene County in the early forties, is credited with having made the first accurate survey of these interesting inonuments. In recent years a number of gentlemen residing in or near Xenia have accumulated archaeo logical collections. These have a special value to .science and should be preserved in the Xenia public library, or where they will be available to future generations. Perhaps the best exhibit of stone art of prehistoric tribes is the collection owned by Mr. George Charters. His exhibit comes from Caesar's Creek, Mas- ,sie's Creek, Old Town Run and other favorite sites. 22 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Particular attention is called to the skill of the 'Greene County natives in the chipping of flint, now a lost art. Some of the large spear heads found in Greene County are made of pink and white flint brought from the Flint Ridge pits in Licking County, nearly a hundred miles distant, and are marvels of skill and beauty. On some of the larger ones I have seen depressions from which flakes as small as the 32nd of an inch were detached. Any prehistoric man was able to make his ordinary arrow-heads, but it required a master hand to make a certain kind of spear head which I have named the "sunfish" pattern because of its resemblance in form and color to the large blue and red sunfish of Greene County streams. The late Mr. Jacob Ankeney had a large collection of Greene County specimens. As a boy I used to go to his house and spend hours with him in the exainination of his treasures. But unfortu nately this collection has become scattered, so it is said. Next to Mr. Charters' exhibit in size is that of Mr. George Day. Dr. Spahr of Clifton has some hundreds of interesting implements relating to primitive art of northern and eastern Greene County, and there are a score of smaller exhibits scattered throughout the county. These taken as a whole give one a comprehensive knowledge of the Stone Age in this region. The tribes do not ap pear to have been sedentary in their habits although they appear 'o have lived long enough in one place to raise crops of corn, tobacco, pumpkins, and beans. Numerous stone pestles attest this. So far as we are able to judge, Greene County natives were not given to travel or exchange. Aside from Flint Ridge flint, all materials were local. They received a little copper from the north and a few plates of mica from the south — both dear to aboriginal hearts. But they did not import ocean shells, and pearl beads, and galena, obsidian, and Tennessee flint as did the tribes in the Scioto Valley. Prehistoric man in Greene County was of what is called "Fort Ancient culture," that is, the Fort Ancient culture is totally different from the higher culture of the Scioto Valley. The tribes of surrounding counties from beyond the Great Miami on the west to the headwaters of Paint Creek on the east belong to THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 23 this same general Fort Ancient stock. It is quite likely that in case of attack by enemies from the north or from the Scioto, they retreated to Fort Ancient. Traveling light, as aborigines do when in danger, they could reach Fort Ancient from almost any part of Greene County in from four to five hours. With the excep tion of the site at Old Town made historic by Kenton, and Boone, and Blackfish, and Captain Bowman, all the other places on which Indian implements are found in the county are pre-Columbian. Their exact age cannot be determined although it is probable that some of them may have been inhabited two or three thousand years ago. Nothing remains today of prehistoric man in Greene County save his mounds and stone artifacts. Civilization has obliterated pretty much all else. Yet, it seems to me, that we owe it to science — if not to the memory of those red men of the simple life — to preserve such of their works as time has vouchsafed to us. The notable ones are the enclosure and mound near Cedar ville Cliffs. The "Cliffs" have been a favorite picnic resort for a century. Nothing more picturesque exists in the state. Greene County could easily make of the place a park, for the natural beauty and park conditions are perfect. The expense would be trifling and the benefit to the community at large beyond price. Such a place as the "Cliffs" near any city woudl have become a public "nature- field." a generation ago. The park scheme would properl}' include the imposing mound near Mr. Reid's home and the fortification on the bluffs over looking Massie's Creek. Then future generations might exclaim with pride : "Greene and Licking Counties are the only two of the eighty- eight that preserved their natural scenery and their antiquities." if7 24 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. II. THE INDIANS. The greatest Indian known in history, Tecumseh, was born not far from Xenia in a little cabin on Mad River. As the exact location is not known, it is possible that he was born somewhere near Old Chillicothe (Old Town) in Greene County. Be that as it may, the authorities give the site of his mother's cabin as on Mad River. The village was a small one, the main village being at Old Town. Tecumseh was a full-blooded Shawano. He was one of three boys born at the same time. As twins are rare among Indians, this incident — being remarkable — carried religious significance to the aborigines and Tecumseh became famous even in his youth. His brother, Els-Kwau-Ta-Waw, was afterwards a famous medicine man or shaman and was second in influence to Tecumseh. He is known in history as the Prophet. These two remarkable men and their people hunted and fished within the confines of Greene County long before any white people had settled in the valley of the Little Miami. Tecumseh, and his brother are better known in American history than many of the white men who fought against them and now that we can view those troublesome times dispassionately, we have ample evidence that the contentions of Tecumseh were entirely just, right and reasonable, and that he was superior in many ways to his white contemporaries. There were no Indians in Greene County save the Shawanoes. Their original home was in the South, and to escape persecution they fled north to the Ohio, settling in Ross, Pickaway and Greene Counties and later in Indiana. The Delawares, Mingoes and other tribes visited the Shawanoes between 1750 and the war of 1812. But the Shawano village mentioned was the only perma nent abode of Indians in the county. This Indian tribe never contained more than 300 fighting men in all its villages, yet it engaged the Americans in 22 actions. By our own records — which are naturally prejudiced — the Indians won thirteen, there were four drawn battles and five defeats. The Shawanoes could outfight and outmaneuver, man for man, the Iroquois, the Delawares, or the white backwoodsmen. When the THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 25 villages on the Scioto were attacked, the Old Town Indians went to their brothers" assistance, and vice versa. In the battle of the Thames in which Tecumseh was killed (October Sth, 1813), if Proctor and the British regulars and the other Indian allies had stood by Tecumseh, his chance of success would have been very favorable. The Shawanoes were of the Algonkin stock, intelligent, pro gressive, and very decent Indians. There were some bad men among them but on the whole they were less given to drunkenness and debauchery than the roving backswoodmen about which so much fiction has been written. Aside from cruelty, Indians — ethnologists now know — had practically no vices. As aborigines before they were contaminated by white influence, they ranked superior to African and Australian or other aboriginal tribes. Of their hospitality, their kindness to captives, and their industry we have no end of testimony. They were not naturally hostile to white people, but they became embittered for reasons which I have not space to set forth in detail. Those who care to follow the subject and regard Ohio Valley history from the Indian point of view, should consult "The Indian Tribes of Ohio, Historically Consider ed"^ in Vol. VII, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical publi cations. However, a few of the reasons why the Indians of Old Town were hostile may be given. Silver Heels was a favorite chief of the Shawanoes. He was murdered near the Ohio river by a backwoodsman from Kentucky. I draw a. distinction between backwoodsmen and pioneers. Back woodsmen were responsible for much of the trouble between the Indians and the whites. They were ever a lawless class from the days of the good missionaries Pleckewelder and Zeisberger down to the present time and no man who thoroughly understands In dian affairs has a good word for the backwoodsmen. They were ever moving, following the frontiers. The type is practically ex tinct today, but in Indian Territory and in a few sections of the West is still to be found the man and his family in the ever present prairie schooner; moving, moving, eternally moving in the vain hopes of bettering his condition. That man is the survival of the back-woods type. 26 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. The murder of Silver Heels wrought the Shawanoes of Frank fort, Ross County, (Lower Chillicothe) and Old' Town to a pitch of fury. Shortly afterwards another prominent Shawano, out of the kindness of his heart, conducted a party of traders from the Scioto to Albany, a distance of 500 miles through the wilderness, and the gratitude of these men was to shoot him through the right lung. The endurance of this Indian passes our comprehension. Were the record not made by that truthful missionary, John Heckewelder, we would doubt it. The Indian, traveling slowly, reached the United Brethren' settlement on the Muskingum river. He was still in such condition that ITeckewelder says that the rush of air through the hole in his lung was audible. The Shawano, told Heckewelder that if he could reach Old Town, the Indian doctors would cure him. His prediction wa's verified and he lived to fight the whites in many an engagement afterwards. The con stant raids on Old Town, the Mad River towns and the Scioto villages by adventurers from Kentucky and Virginia, the failure of the white people to keep treaties and the death of that able Shawano chief, Cornstalk, who was murdered while on a friendly visit with his son to the fort at Port Pleasant — all these things were more than Indians could stand. And they did just what we would have done under the circumstances. They entered Ken tucky and Virginia with scalping knife and tomahawk and they exacted an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Even so good a pioneer as Simon Kenton got into trouble through his own fault. He and Montgomery and another man came to Old Town and stole some of the Indians' best horses. On reaching the Ohio River they were unable to cross because of high winds, which raised waves and frightened the horses. The Shawanoes killed Montgomery and captured Kenton. ITe was taken to Old Chilli cothe, beaten and compelled to run the gauntlet. In later years Kenton was a firm friend of the Shawanoes and he knew very well that had he not been stealing Indian horses, he would not have suffered as he did. It is not surprising, therefore, that Old Town was the rendez vous of many war parties and that the names of Tecumseh, th^ Prophet, Blackfish, etc., became a terror to the white settlements. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OP THE COUNTY. 27* Daniel Boone during his captivity was well treated. Most of the captives after being adopted were treated precisely as Indians. When Col. Boquet subdued the Shawanoes as far back as 1754, more than 200 white , people who were in captivity among the Indians at the several Chillicothes, including Old Town, were brought in by the Indians enamoured of the wild, free life of the 'Tw'Pyfc Photo by W. P. McKay. MEMORIAL STONE AT OLDTOWN. Erected by the Catharine Greene Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in 1906. Indians and did not wish to return to the settlements. Several of these captives had to be bound in order to compel them to return East. On the return trip many of them fled and rejoined their Indian friends, choosing the pleasures of Indian life rather than those of civilization. The Old Town Indians' greatest victories were under the leadership of Tecumseh. At Harmar's defeat in 1791, Tecumseh 28 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. fled from the field upon seeing his brother fall. The death of his brother embittered him against the white people. Tecumseh and his warriors set Old Chillicothe on fire on the approach of Harmar and fled to Mad River. As Harmar, in spite of his large force, had suffered somewhat at the hands of the Indians, he "felt desirous of wiping off in another action the disgrace which his arms had sustained." So he halted eight miles from Old Town and sent Gen. Hardin with 360 men to find the Shawanoes and fight them. Early the next morning Hardin found the Indians in great force at the mouth of Mad River where his detachment was, as in the case of the first, overwhelmed and nearly destroyed. The survivors reached Fort Washington (Cin cinnati.) The total loss in the Harmar expedition must have been over 400 men. The Indian loss was trifling. The following year, 1792, Gen. St. Clair marched against the combined Shawanoes, Delawares, Wyandottes and Miamis. St. Clair lost hundreds of men. Tecumseh shortly afterwards traveled extensively through out the South and the North in his endeavor to effect a union of all the Indian tribes against the white people. His idea was to make the Ohio river a northern boundary of white men's land and that all above it should belong to the Indians. The activity of Tecumseh was something marvelous. All of his journeys, be it remembered, were on foot or by means of canoe, yet he visited the Creeks, the Cherokees, the Ojibwas, and a dozen other tribes. Were he able to combine them he might have held the Ohio country,, for he twice rolled back the tide of white invasion to the south of the river. His brother, cooperating with him, gained great renown as a magician and prophet. Some of his exhorta tions were sensible and highly moral. None of them — save that of attacking the whites — can be claimed to have been bad. These two men working together created a profound impres sion in the minds of the Indians. They united all the Indians of Ohio against the white people. While Tecumseh was in the South in 1794, Gen. Anthony Wayne defeated them at Fallen Timbers on the Maumee. After this the treaty of Greenville 1795, was signed. It appears that Tecumseh and the Shawanoes for some time adhered faithfully to that treaty, but the whites did THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 29 not and freebooters from Kentucky and Virginia and from the settlements on the north side of the river began to shoot Indiaus on one pretext or another. The situation rapidly became tense. At a great council attended by all the Indians, Tecumseh made a remarkable speech some four hours in length. ITe rehearsed the entire history of the aggression by the whites from the landing of th Pilgrims down to the signing of the Greenville treaty. As an oration delivered in his native tongue, it moved the assembled hundreds to tears. The interpreter confessed himself utterly in adequate to render it into English for the benefit of the few whites present. Plence we have no record save that the oration is men tioned by writers at that time as something be>ond the ordinary, that it made a great impression on the Indians present, and that Tecumseh was reverenced b}'^ them. The battle of the Thames, October Sth, 1813, in which Te cumseh was killed, has been often told and it not necessary to describe it here. Because Proctor and his allies fled, the great Shawano knew that he must depend upon his own warriors. Tecumseh and his men realized the inevitable, yet they hardened their hearts and withstood the shock. Nothing is absolutely known regarding Tecumseh's death beyond the fact that he fell. Tecumseh was typical of the best of the Shawano Indians, and Greene County may lay claim to him not without reason. If he was not borif within the confines of our fair region, he at least spent much of his time there. ITis people called Old Chillicothe their capital. Their largest council house, built of logs, was near where the brick schoolhouse now stands in the center of Old Town. There were many houses in this village, for Old Town was larger in 1780 than at any time in its history. Col. John Bowman and 160 Kentuckians in 1779 attacked Old Town and burned about forty cabins. But they could not take the council house because the Shawanoes fired upon all who attempted to approach. Bowman's much heralded expedition was a virtual defeat for the whites. It must not be believed for a moment that the Shawanoes at Old Chillicothe were savages. They lived in comfortable log cabins, were well clothed, had gardens and orchards, and if the OLDTOWN. View from a hill on the east. View showing schoolhouse and memorial stone. Pllolos by W. p. McKay. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 31 white people had let them alone, they would have been living, in all probability, at the present time much after the fashion of the descendants of the Iroquois in western New York. The darkest spot in Shawano history is the presence of the two renegades, George and Simon Girty. Nothing godd can be said of these men. Simon afterwards deserted the Shawanoes and lived with the Mingoes and Wyandotte.s — Indians morally inferior to the Shaw anoes. George resided for some time with the Shawanoes, but most of the tribe had little in common with these two outcasts. Old Chillicothe has been abandoned by Indians for 120 years. The race that the Shawanoes had just reason to hate, tramps un ceasingly back and forth over the site where once stood the simple wigwams and the council chamber of this remarkable and inter esting tribe. We have all that was once theirs. Let us be just and accord them their meed of praise. Tradition has it that in this tree (near the New Jasper ruke, about two miles from Xenia) Simon Kenton onoe hid him self to escape the Indians. 32 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. DEETTA GREINER WILSON. the thirty-six men who framed the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and took the necessary steps seeking the admission of the same to the Union, were two who, while credited to Ham ilton County, were then residing within the boundary of what was afterwards Greene County. They were John Wil son, residing near the present site of Bellbrook, and Col. John Paul, after wards the founder of Xenia, who resided at what is now known as Trebein's Station. Through the efforts of this body of men, on February 19, 1803, Ohio was admitted to the Union, being the seventeenth state and the first of the Northwest Territory. Previous to this, there had been several counties laid out in the territory, Washington being the first and occupying the entire eastern part of the territory of Ohio. ITamilton, in 1790, was the second, named for Alexander Hamilton, and embraced all the land lying between the Little Miami River and the boundary line between the lands of the United States and the Indians, made by the treaty of Greenville in 1795. Ross County occupied the land west of Washington County in the central part of the State, its western boundary being not far from Cedarville, this county, which was first called Newport. This left a strip about ten miles wide, which was neither Ross nor Hamilton. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 33 In the same year that Ohio_ was made a state, four counties, by act of the first State Legislature, were organized from por tions of Hamilton and Ross, and the strip above referred to. These four counties were all, on May 1, 1803, given names of Revolutionary heroes as follows : Warren was named for Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill ; Butler for Gen. Richard Butler who fell in St. Clair's defeat ; Montgomery was named for Gen. Richard Montgomery whose life was given up at the assault of Quebec; and Greene for Gen. Nathaniel Greene, distinguished for his many brave acts during the Revolution. Greene and Montgomery Counties extended originally from their present southern boundaries to the north line of the State, and from the east line of Greene County to the west line of the State. But these broad dimensions were only of short duration as, two years later. Champaign County was organized, thus cut ting off the northern expanse of Greene, and in 1817 the county was reduced to its present boundaries, lying entirely within the Virginia Military Reservation and what is known as the Symmes Purchase. The Virginia Military Reservation consisted of more than 4,000,000 acres reserved by Virginia for her troops in the Clark expedition and for her soldiers in the Continental army. It embraces all the land lying between the Scioto and Little Miami Rivers. That part of the county lying west of the Little Miami is a part of the original Symmes Purchase, a tract of 1,000,000 acres contracted for, with the government, by John Symmes, for himself and his associates. The Virginia Reservation had already drawn to this locality a considerable number of Revolutionary veterans and others from that State. Any one holding a Virginia land warrant could locate it wherever he desired within the dis trict and in such shape as he pleased, only providing the land had not been previously located. Such a haphazard way naturally led to much litigation in later years. The first tract of land within the present limits of Greene County was entered by John Jamison, August, 1787, sixteen years before Ohio became a state, and nineteen days after the ordinance of 1787. It was a tract of 1200 acres on the Little 34 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Miami near Oldtown, entered on a military warrant, surveyed by Nathaniel Massie in 1794, and recorded in the land office at Cincinnati in May, 1795. Across the county, east and north of Xenia, was the line of Col. Logan's march to Chillicothe town, in 1786, in General Clark's campaign against the Indians. Many persons for whom surveys were made not only never occupied but never saw them, among whom were many men of Revolutionary fame. A tract of 2500 acres was entered by Major-General Ploratio Gates, who commanded the American forces at Saratoga. It lies but a short distance southeast of Cedarville. TOWNSHIPS. At the organizing of the counties, places were appointed as temporary seats of justice; that selected for Greene County being the home of Peter Borders on Beaver Creek. On May 10, 1803, court convened for the dividing of Greene county into townships, of which originally there were but four ; Sugar Creek, Caesar's Creek, Mad River and Beaver Creek. Sugar Creek Township included all that is now Sugar Creek, nearly all of Spring Valley Township and part of what is now Xenia Township. In August, 1803, James Collier, the enumerator, reported living in the town ship at that time seventy-one free white inhabitants over twenty- one years of age. The house of James Clancy, on the present site of the town of Bellbrook, was appointed as a place of holding elections. Caesar's Creek Township was about four times as large as Sugar Creek and included all the southeastern part of the county. The number of free white males over twenty-one years of age, as reported by Joseph Price, the first assessor of this township, was fifty-eight. The site of Xenia was in this township. The voting place appointed was the residence of William I. Stewart. Mad River Township was the third to be organized and the largest in the county. Not any of this township was within the present boundaries of Greene County. Its southern boundary A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 35 line was the south boundary of the tenth range of the township, in what is now Clark County, extending east and west the entire width of the county and north to the limits of the State. John Daugherty, of Springfield, was the first enumerator and reported one hundred and fifty-six males over the age of twenty-one. Springfield had been appointed as the place of holding elections at the home of Griffith Foos. Beaver Creek Township was the second in size and Peter Popenoe, the first assessor, reported as residing in the township, one hundred and fifty-four white male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one. At that time Beaver Creek Township included all the lands lying south of Mad River Township and north of Sugar Creek and Caesar's Creek. The site of the town of Springfield then lay partly in Mad River Township and partly in Beaver Creek. The elections were appointed to be held at the house of Peter Borders; the same place where was held the first county court. The total number of voters in the entire county at the organization, as reported by the first enumeration, was 439. In 1805 it was found advisable to organize a new township from parts of Caesar's Creek and Beaver Creek to be known as Xenia Township; and two years later, 1807, Bath Township was organized, being taken wholly frorn the territory of Beaver Creek. It included part of what is now Champaign County and part of three townships in Clark County. The first election in Bath Township was held at the house of Andrew Read, of Read's Hill, and two justices of the peace were elected, Andrew Read for the western portion and Thomas Fream for the eastern por tion of the township. At first both had quarters at what is now the town of Yellow Springs, but later at their residences. The old stone house on Read's Hill is still standing, bearing the date over the doorway, 1819. On the eighth day of June, 1808, Miami Township was organized from portions of Bath and Xenia Townships, and the £rst election was held at the house of David S. Broderich at Yellow Springs. The first enumeration of this township differs from that of other townships previousl}^ organized in that it in cludes a number of women and is designated as a "list of all tax- 36 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. payers," while the former enumerations were designated as a "list of all free white male inhabitants over twenty-one." Silver Creek Township was organized on March 4th, 1811, being taken mostly from Caesar's Creek, with a small portion from Xenia Township. It included, originally, all that now is Jefferson and the eastem part of Spring Valley Township. The first election was held at the house of Noah Strong. The same date also marked the organization of Ross Town ship. It was taken entirely from Xenia: Township. The first election was held at the residence of John Bozarth. In 1812 a township was formed from a part of Miami and was called Vance Township in honor of the Honorable Joseph Vance, but after the organizing of Clark County only a fractional part of this township remained in Greene County and that was attached to Ross Township. The very prosperous township of Cedarville was not organ ized until December, 1850, and, while of very irregular boundary lines, the form has been but little changed. This was taken from the townships of Xenia, Caesar's Creek, Ross and Miami. It seems to have been the first township formed against which a protest was entered, the following being a portion of the protest filed with the commissioners by the citizens of Ross Township: "Our reasons we will fully set forth in your presence, only add ing here that we are not willing to have any of our township cut off, which is already too small, to gratify the caprice or spleen of any." Which protest seems, however, to have failed, for the township was duly organized and place of election appointed at the house of John W. Walker, in the town of Cedarville. In 1852, New Jasper Township was organized, being taken from the townships of Caesar's Creek and Xenia; and 1856 wit nessed the organizing of Spring Valley Township, which was formed from adjacent parts of Sugar Creek, Caesar's Creek and Xenia Townships. In June, 1858, was organized Jefferson Township, taken entirely from Silver Creek, and for fifty years there has been no change in the number of townships in the county. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 37 COUNTY COURT. The house in which the first county court was held, pre viously spoken of as the Peter Borders house and occupied by -Peter Borders, was one of several houses in that locality owned by Owen Davis, and built by his son-in-law. Gen. Benjamin Whiteman. It was on the Harbine farm, near the present rail way station of that name, and was built of burr oak logs, hewed on two sides and had a puncheon floor, planed on the upper side. The house had one small window, and a chimney built of small logs, lined with stones, its upper part of sticks lined with clay. It was about twenty-five feet square, with one room below and one above, which was the sleeping apartment. The moss-covered bucket hung near by on the long well sweep and a huge pet bear was chained to one corner of the house. This was one of the best houses in this part of the country, and was also used as a tavern as well as a court-room. A little to the east was a smoke house, ten by twelve, used, during the sessions of court, as a jury room. Northeast, at a little distance, stood one of two block houses, intended for safety should Indians make an attack, but early appropriated for use as a jail. During the first term of court Peter Borders was granted license to keep a tavern, for which he paid $4.00. He was re quired to furnish good entertainment under penalty of $5.00 fine for first offense and $8.00 for each succeeding offense. We well wonder what was meant by good entertainment when the land lord, landlady, children, servants, attorneys, judges and travelers were all lodged in one sleeping apartment, twenty-five feet square, such as Greene County's first tavern and court-house furnished. In 1825, when the road leading past this famous edifice was closed, the latter was moved upon the ground afterwards the front lawn of Mr. John Plarbine, Sr. In 1833 it was torn down, but the excavation left from the chimney was permitted to remain, and now forms a small depression in front of the Harbine resi dence, a modest but historical monument to the county's first hostelry and seat of justice. On Tuesday, August 2, 1803, the first court of Greene County was held in the Peter Borders house described above, ¦. -J' ' THE OLD COUET HOUSE. Photo by F. E. McGervey. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 39 with William Maxwell, Benjamin Whiteman and James Barrett as the associate judges, and Francis Dunlavy, presiding judge, and Daniel Symmes, prosecuting attorney. The first grand jury for the county consisted of the following persons: William J. Stewart, foreman, John Wilson, William Buckles, Abrm. Van Eaton, James Snodgrass, John Judy, Evan Morgan, Robert Mar shall, Alex. C. Armstrong, Joseph C. Vance, Joseph Wilson, John Buckhannon, Martin Mendenhall and Harry Martin. It is told of this first grand jury, that when they solemnly retired to an adjoining hut, and went into executive session, there was no evidence of criminal affairs to be brought before them and there would have been no witnesses examined, and no indictments rendered, had not the crowd assembled in honor of the occasion furnished the material. The occasion was so out of the ordinary that a large crowd had come together, not only from this, but from surrounding counties ; if they were to have the luxury of a court, this court must have something to do. A number of fights, assaults and batteries and affrays of different sorts, were indulged in during the day and ample material for work was furnished the grand jury. Before the day closed seventeen witnesses were examined and nine indictments found ; to these indictments all parties pleaded guilty and were fined, and Greene County court adjourned for the first day. The same session of court on the second day appointed Joseph C. Vance, father of Ex-Governor Vance, to make arrangements for estab lishing the county seat. The bond required of hini for faithful performance of duty was $1,500 and his bondsmen were David Huston and Joseph Wilson. The following December "Joseph Vance was allowed $49.25 for laying off the town of Xenia, finding chainmen, and selling lots." This first session of Greene County court lasted three days. Among other matters transacted James Galloway, Sr., was appointed treasurer, and James Galloway, Jr., surveyor of the county. This same court granted to Archibald Lowry and Grif fith Foos license each to keep a tavern in the town of Springfield (later the county seat of Clark Countv) for the payment of $8.00 for each license, and also to Peter Borders, the owner and occu- 40 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. pant of the house in which court was being held. A later session of the court ordered that fifty cents be paid for every wolf killed in the county. It is told that the narrow valley through which the Little Miami Railroad extends southwest of Xenia toward Cincinnati was literally a den of wolves. These, with catamounts, panthers and bears, caused serious annoyance and made the pro tecting of the farmer's stock a matter of no small importance. The same session caused the larger of the two block houses near Peter Borders' tavern to be prepared to serve for a jail. At one of the earlier sessions of the court of Greene County, it was ordered that the taxes of the inhabitants of Mad River Township be reduced two cents on each horse, and one cent on each cow. The reason assigned was "for erecting public build ings." In vain do we look abbut for the public buildings — they are not to be found within the confines of the then very large county of Greene, and it is still a matter of conjecture as to the exact meaning of this ruling. Records also show that at this time Joseph Vance was paid $6.00 for carrying the election returns to Cincinnati. It is an interesting fact that the earlier cases that came before the courts were almost always cases of assault and battery or cases growing out of personal encounters ; a little later these decreased and civil cases became more frequent. The total amount of taxable property in Greene County returned by the "listers" for the year 1804 was $393.04 and this included "houses and mills, if any." But one house was returned for taxation and it was .taxed $1.00. It might be of passing interest to compare with the above modest sum the amount of taxable propertv listed for the year 1908, which is $19,302,291.00. Supreme Court was also held in the Peter Borders' house in October, 1803, with Samuel ITuntingdon and Wm. Spriggs, judges, Wm. Maxwell, sheriff, and John Paul, clerk. Arthur St. Clair of Cincinnati was prosecuting attorney, and it is said quite overawed the plain country folk with his gorgeous costume, ap pearing in full military array. At the November term of court in 1803, Rev. Albert Arm strong was granted license to solemnize matrimony. Rev. Arm-^ A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 41 Strong, with a colleague, had been sent in 1798 by the General Synod of Scotland as a missionary to Kentucky ; but, disliking the institution of slavery, they sought other fields. Rev. Armstrong coming to Greene County, Ohio. EARLY SETTLERS. The historians from whom this paper is compiled agree that John Wilson was the first white man to make a permanent home in what later was known as Greene County. In April, 1796, he, with his three sons, Amos, Daniel and George, and Jacob Mills, came from Kentucky to make a settlement in the Northwest Terri tory. Later divisions into counties showed that the land pur chased by Wilson and tWo of his sons was located in Greene, the other son's in Montgomery, while Mills' was in Warren County. One small cabin was erected by Daniel Wilson in 1796 — the first house in Greene County, about four miles from where Bellbrook now stands, in the southern part of Sugar Creek Township. Around this little cabin the timber was cleared and corn, beans and potatoes planted. Then these brave pioneers returned to get their families. One ox team and wagon carried all the "lares et penates" of the five families. They crossed the Ohio at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, and followed the military road cut by Gen. Wayne in 1793. All five families occupied the one little cabin until each, with united assistance, could erect a cabin on his own purchase, and frbm this humble cabin came one of the framers of the State Constitution, John Wilson, the father of the family. To tell of the forming of other homes in the county would only be repeating the story of this first home — all endured the same hardships. Two years later, 1798, Thomas Townsley settled near the falls of Massie's Creek, about eight miles from Xenia, and this same year James GalloWay, Sr., settled on the Little Miami two miles north of Oldtown. The old log house, which was later weatherboarded over, is still standing, the property of the Miami Powder Co., and bears the date, upon a stone over the door, of 1801. A little west of them, at Old Chillicothe (Oldtown) lay the scene of possibly the most interesting events of this section. 42 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. this being one of the most famous congregating places for the Indians from all directions. On one of their trails starting from Hocking County and leading direct to Old Chillicothe, for many years there stood a large beech tree on which was cut, in legible characters, "This is the road to hell, 1782," possibly traced by some unfortunate prisoner on his way to Old Chillicothe. Here, in 1778, Daniel Boone was held as prisoner and succeeded so well in ingratiating himself in the good favor of the Indians that they adopted him into their tribe, but he .soon escaped from them and fled to Kentucky to warn his people of the proposed onslaught by the Indians. Here too, Simon Kenton ran the gauntlet; and 1779 marked in this locality the famous Bowman expedition, all of which are interesting stories in themselves. But the story of Old Chillicothe is told at length in another article. Returning to the early white settlers, the Galloway family was near neighbors to some of the best known of the Indians who occupied that part of the county. This fact is worthy of special note as their family traditions are rich in interesting accounts of the friendships with the red men. that were formed in those early days. The distinguished Tecumseh was a frequent and welcome visitor at this home and soon became much infatu ated with the daughter, Rebecca. With the true dignity which was ever a trait of the character of Tecumseh, he approached the father, who feeling that the daughter could, perhaps, more tact fully find a way out of the embarrassing position and still retain the good will of the Indians, which they greatly desired to keep, he referred him to her. The chief fearlessly appealed to the girl herself, for was not he the great Tecumseh, the leader of his people? ITe offered her beautiful gifts of silver and ornaments dear to his people. She told him she could not work like the In dian women did, nor lead the wild Hfe they did. He assured her that she need not work. Then she changed her tactics and told liim she would consider his proposition if he would promise to lead the life of a white man and assume their dress and habits. This matter he took under consideration, but finally told her, most sorrowfully, that he could not possibly do that ; that the taking up of the manners and customs of the white man would place him in. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 43 everlasting disgrace wtih his people and much as he desired the union he could not bear their reproaches. And thus we see the womanly daughter of the pioneer fully able to turn aside the un desirable suitor but still retain a very necessary friend, for the friendship between Tecumseh and the family never waned. Isaiah and William Sutton erected the first house in what was afterwards Caesar's Creek Township as early as 1799. It was erected near the intersection of the BuUskin Road and Caesar's Creek. The first person to settle within the boundaries of Bath Township was a Virginian, named ]\Iercer, possibly as early as 1798. It was customary in those days to accord a preemption to the first settler, who was also entitled to a premium of twenty-five cents on each acre purchased by him. By taking advantage of this offer Mercer was enabled to purchase a large tract of land. In 1?03, John Hosier settled on land near Fairfield, the site .of which was then marked by one hut. For his land he paid two shillings per acre for the preemption rights of a man who had preceded him, and to the government $2 per acre, with five years' time in which to pay it. The site of a famous old Indian town named Piqua can be located near Fairfield at which Gen. George R. Clark defeated the Indians in 1780. PUBLIC ROADS. To be in the neighborhood of a public road was a matter of great importance to the early settlers. The Pinkney Road was the fifst beaten track through the wilderness, leading from Cin cinnati through Lebanon and extending through what is now Main street, Bellbrook, north toward Alpha. It was over this road that -SuppUes came from Cincinnati and over which came the attorneys and others at the time of holding court. The Pinkney Road was intersected just north of Bellbrook by a road called the "Beer Road," leading to Dayton, as over it much beer was hauled to market. The first public road into Xenia, from the south, was the BuUskin Road, now the Burlington Pike. It extended from a 44 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. village and ferry on the Ohio River called BuUskin, from which the road took its name, north to Urbana, Ohio. In 1845, the first railroad in this part of the State, the Little Miami, was built across the southern and western part of the county. Owing to a general opposition to the enterprise, caused by a lack of faith in the practicability of railroads, for they were yet untried, progress was slow ; aid promised by the State had been withdrawn, and much of the stock subscribed by the farmers along the line was paid in produce and this sold at a sacrifice. Too much credit cannot be given Governor Jeremiah Morrow, the first president of the road, who not only gave liberally of his own private means to the enterprise, but devoted several years of his life to a personal supervision of the construction of the road, receiving not one penny for his services. FOUNDING OF THE COUNTY SEAT. Immediately following the order of' court, in the autumn of 1803, Joseph C. Vance proceeded to lay out the county seat on the land of John Paul, who gave the public square as it is now known, for the public buildings. The late Captain Benoni Nesbitt related an interesting story as told him in his boyhood days by one Lewis Davis, then an old man, of the foresight of John Paul in acquiring the land where Xenia now lies. Davis was a pioneer and large land owner and seemed at times possessed of an intuitive knowl edge as to the direction of development in the new country. It had been a dream of John Paul's that the county seat should be located on the land owned by him about three miles west ctf Xenia. In conversation with Paul, Davis disagreed with him and taking a map spread it upon the ground and demonstrated his assertion. Placing one end of his riding whip on Cincinnati and the other on Sandusky, where this line crossed the forks of Shawano, or Shawnee, Creek he placed his finger and said, "There will be the county seat!" supporting his assertion by the statement that county seats in this section naturally located themselves upon thoroughfares between points on the Ohio on the south, and Lake Erie on the north. Paul kept his own counsel but within a few A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 4.^-) days journeyed to Cincinnati and entered all the land in the vicinity, upon which Xenia was a little later located. Tradition tells that a little village called Caesarsville was laid out before the forming of the county with the anticipation of making it the county seat at some future time. It seems to have been laid out with broader ideas of space than were held in the conception of t-he present county seat. It is recounted that in this embryonic county seat blazed trees were necessary to lead the stranger from one humble dwelling to another, and each cabin was surrounded by a corn field thickly dotted over with girdled trees. It is also told that one of these primitive buildings, erected . by William I. Stewart and used as a voting place, had been desig nated as the future court house and a public well had been dug. This village of Caesarsville was located on or near the farm of Mr. Paris Peterson, four miles southeast of Xenia. The names Caesarsville, Caesar's Creek, etc., it is said, came from a fugitive slave, Caesar by name, who hid in that vicinity. Dill's history, from which the above was gathered, tells also of the ambitions of Jamestown to be the county seat of this thriving young county. As the story goes, the claims on both sides seemed to be very strong and it was decided to determine the question by ballot. The vote was taken at Xenia and resulted in a tie, or rather, would have been a tie, but for the fact that a solitary rider was seen approaching the voting place just before the voting hour closed. He refused to state his preference, but was importuited by both sides to cast his vote and decide the contest, which he did, and the result was a majority of one in favor of Xenia. It was later discovered that three who favored Jamestown, forgetting the date of the election, had failed to be present, else Jamestown would have won. Several interesting stories have been told as to the naming of Xenia but the most authentic one is perhaps the one related in Robinson's history, by a granddaughter of Owen Davis. John Paul, Joseph C. Vance, William Beatty and others invited Owen Davis and his wife, Letitia, with many other pioneers of the county, to meet with them at the "cross-roads" (where Main street now intersects Detroit) and assist them in naming the new 46 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. seat of justice which had been laid out. The invitation was gen erally accepted and quite a crowd was assembled. Many names were proposed, among them the names of Washington, Wayne and Greenville. It is said that at this time a stranger, a scholarly looking man, stepped forward and said, "Gentlemen, allow me to suggest a name for your county town. In view of the kind and hospitable manner in which I have been treated whilst a stranger to most of you, allow me to suggest the name of 'Xenia,' taken from the Greek and signifying Hospitality." The name was accepted and placed among the names to be balloted upon. Sev eral ballots were taken and, as in the balloting between Jamestown and Xenia, the vote stood a tie between Xenia and one other name. Out of compliment to Owen Davis, who at that time was very prominent in the county, his wife was asked to cast the deciding vote which she cast in favor of Xenia. It is said that the stranger who suggested the name was the Rev. Robert Armstrong, who, the following year, was made pastor of Massie's Creek and Sugar Creek Associate congregations. EARLY DAYS IN XENIA. The plat of the town of Xenia, as recorded in the recorder's office in 1804, contained "270 acres, be the same more or less." The first effort to have Xenia incorporated was presented in 1813 to the Legislature by Jacob Smith, then representing Greene County in that body. For sonie reason the law under which the incorporation was made became inoperative and in 1817 a second effort was made by Joseph Tatman, who represented Greene County in the House, and Jacob Smith, who was a member of the Ohio Senate from Greene and Clinton Counties. The thrift of the early county commissioners, whiU cr.m- mendable in some instances, we find most alarming at other times, as is shown by the county records when on January 4, 1817, they met for the purpose of surveying and marking different lots to be sold from off the public square, and to make preparations for their sale agreeable to order from the court. Four lots were sold averaging in price about $472, while the fifth lot was bid in by Ryan Gowdy for his brother James and brought $1381. Mr. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 47 Gowdy was the first merchant in Xenia and had previously pur chased the first lot lying east of, and adjoining, the public square (Green street being not then opened), and the lot purchased by him at this sale was the one on the extreme east of the public square adjoining his property. Some one other than James Gowdy seems to have considered this a desirable lot, judging from the price paid. It is not for us today to question the motives of Mr. Gowdy as shown by his actions later, whether they indicate selfishness, business tact, shrewdness or what not, but rather to exalt his memory for saving, to the county and Xenia, the public square. Mr. Gowdy argued that in the purchase of the lot on which his business property was erected, he was influenced by the fact that it was next to the public square and, therefore, he would have no competitors near him on the west side ; that in paying this exorbitant price for the lot from the public square he was forced to do so in order to protect himself from competition. He also asked to have the sales all set aside, attempting to show that the commissioners had exceeded their power in selling that which had been donated expressly for public buildings for the county. This was made a test case and in May, 1821, the Supreme Court de cided that the sale was not legal and the lots again became the property of the county intact as it came from the hands of the donor and as it is today. The first cabin in Xenia was erected in April, 1804, by John Marshall, in the southwest corner of the town near the southeast corner of Third and West streets. The same year quite a rivalry existed in the building of two good log houses on Main street; one being built by William A. Beatty opposite the public square, to be used as a tavern (this being the first tavern in Xenia), and the other by the Rev. James Fowler on West Main street, on the site of the old Eavey wholesale house. The rivalry as to whicii house should first be finished ,ran high, and while it is not posi tively known, it is thought that the tavern won over the Methodist parsonage. Mr. Fowler seems to have been somewhat of a prop erty holder himself,' in the early days, judging from the county records. ITe was also the first postmaster in Xenia. In the Beatty tavern was held the first court in Xenia, and Main Entrance, Now Court House. {Photo by Canby.) The Old Court House. Spot whern the iirst Cimrt House stood, Harbine yard, Alpha. Memorial Cuauon, erected by Albert Galloway Camp, Sons ol' Veterans. First Court House. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 49 also the first election. This continued to be the leading hostelry of the county until Mr. James Collier built a brick hotel on De troit street, about midway of the block, facing the public square, which in grandeur was so beyond anything previously erected in the town that the old tavern faded into insignificance. Many are the interesting stories told of the Collier House and its guests. During the War of 1812 it was headquarters for recruiting offi cers. Courts-martial and courts of inquiry were frequently hell here and at one time a British officer and his servant (objects of great curiosity), who .were prisoners of war, were there on parole. The first public ball in Xenia was held at the Collier House and was a society event of much note. THE COURT LIOUSE. The contract for building the first court house was let to William Kendall in 1806, and the building, which was of brick, was completed in 1809 at a cost of $3396. Tlu' contractor was allowed $6 for clearing the timber from the public square. A fence made of oak boards and mulberry posts surrounded the square. The entrance was at first through gates but these gave place to stiles. In 1841-2 was built the second court house, the one usually referred to today as "the old court house." In 1846, this building was considered the most elegant court house in the State. ,To this was added, in 1875, quite an extensive addition. No further changes were made until 1901, when this building was lazed to give place to the present handsome and commodious court house, which was erected and furnished within the appropriation of $200,000. THE COUNTY JAIL. In the one hundred and five years since Greene County was organized, six different jails have been found necessary, increasing in size and accommodations as the demand on the institution increas ed. The first jail was, by order of court, under date of August 22, 1803, constructed from the larger of two block houses near the Owen Davis mill and adjoining the Peter Borders property, the temporary seat of justice for the county, located in Beaver Creek Township. .-^O GREENE COUNTY 1803-190,8. The contract for the erection of the second jail — the first building in the county erected for this specific purpose — was let on July 2, 1804, to Amos Darrough, to be built of hewed logs, and to be completed by the ISth of September. It was located on the public square. Only a few months later, on March 12, 1805, this building was found inadequate to the needs of the young county, where, it would seem, crime was keeping pace with the progress that was evidenced in other matters, and it was ordered that an addition be built to the county jail, the contract being given to James Collier for the sum of $640. The contractor was slow in completing the work and much fault was found by the county commissioners. When the building was finally accepted, August, 1806, Mr. Collier was docked $50 for imperfections, as the origi nal contractor, Mr. Darrough, had been docked $30 for defective work. In the latter part of 1807, this jail was burned ; but the contract for erecting the third jail was not given until December, 1808, when it was ordered that "a public jail be erected in the town of Xenia on the ground staked off. The foundation to be 18 inches deep and 20 feet square, and all the material of the old jail that was saved to be used in the new one." This building was a two- story building constructed of hewed logs, and Was situated near the north end of the square, on the ground afterwards occupied by the market house. This jail in the fall of 1808 was also burned. Very soon after the burning of jail number three, the contract was let for the building of a stone jail. This contract was let to James Miller, the lowest bidder, at $1,084. It was located on the north side of the public square, being completed and accepted De cember 15, 1815. This was used as a county prison until 1836, when it was replaced by a brick Ipuilding, larger and more modern, erected by Daniel Lewis at a cost of $4600 and this also was locat ed on the public square fronting to the north. The cells for the prisoners were on the east side, next to Green street. A hall ran through the center of the building and on the west side were two rooms for the use of the sheriff. This jail, as well as the stone one which preceded it, had a room used only for debtors, as in the early days of Greene County it was n6t uncoinmon to imprison A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 51 for debt. To some debtors was granted the liberty of the jail yard; some were only prohibited from leaving the county, while others were confined to the debtors' room. That the county commissioners were a thrifty set of men is shown in the fact, found in some old records, that on the second day of December, 1822, as there were no prisoners in the debtors' room, there was no necessity for a fire, and rather than have the stove in that room idle, it was rented to John McPherson for sev enty-five cents a month, "to be returned at any time on the order of the jailor, after a sufficient time allowed for it to get cool." There was, during the early days, a sugar tree upon, the public square which served as a whipping post. A culprit who had stolen a set of plow irons received a sentence of eight lashes on the bare back in October, 1808. This was the second and last public whip ping for crime in our fair county, the first being one stripe for stealing leather to half-sole a pair of shoes. The present jail, with the residence of the sheriff, was built in 1860, the location being then changed from the public square to the southwest corner of Market and Whiteman streets. The con tract was awarded to John Scott for the sum of $7,340, and the building was accepted by the commissioners on the 8th day of December, 1860. This is the sixth county jail and the fifth build ing erected for that purpose. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. The first public library in Xenia was organized in 1816, with fifty-two subscribers. The constitution stated that each subscriber should pay to the librarian "five dollars on each share annually." The subscribers were to "meet on the fourth Saturday of March, 1816, and on the same day annually forever" for the purpijse of electing directors and transacting all necessary business. Each subscriber was entitled to draw books in proportion to the nuniber of his shares. In spite of the fact that this constitution declared that the subscribers were to meet "annually forever" the existence of this library seems not to have been of long duration. We find in the archives of the county no record of any other library being established until in the forties, when was in existence 52 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. an organization known as "The Lyceum" and to it is credited the beginning of Xenia's present library. After several years the Lyceum ceased to exist, but the books collected formed the nucleus of a library which later passed into the hands of the Y. M. C. A. This library was short-lived. The books from it again changed hands, coming into the control of a reading club of eight ladies, organized in 1878. Appreciating the need of a public library in Xenia, this club formed itself into "The Young Woman's Library Association." Claiming to possess only energy and perseverance, they hoped for success if assistance be given them. They met with encouragement and at this time the books from the former library were placed under their control. In 1881, the Association became an incorporated body and each year showed marked in crease and success. The same organization continues in control, and through its earnest efforts Xenia is now in possession of a handsome Carnegie Library. CHURCHES. It has well been said that "religion entered the county hand in hand with the pioneers," for, before churches were erected, we find the people forgetting not the assembling of themselves together for prayer and praise. Caesar's Creek Baptist Church is probably the oldest organized church in the county. It is located on the dividing line between New Jasper and Silver Creek Townships. It was organized in 1803 and a log cabin erected and dedicated as a place of wor.ship. Reference has been made to the Rev. Robert Armstrong, who came to this county as early as 1802, and his work in the Associate Reformed Church. Rev. Armstrong first preached in the house of James Galloway, Sr., and also in his barn, in which he baptized the children of the farnily. He also performed the first marriage cererhony — that of James Bull and Ann Gowdy, about 1804, at which, the house being too small to entertain the guests, a large log-heaped fire was built outside. The first church of this congre gation was built on the Stevenson farm, near where the old grave yard is now situated. Mr. Armstrong lived on the other side of Massie's Creek and in times of high water would cross on stilts. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 53 Men and women rode or walked twelve and fifteen miles and sat in the coldest weather without fire, to hear two sermons. From such material martyrs and heroes are made. The same religious denomination soon established churches in Sugar Creek and Xenia, and out of these congregations has sprung the nucleus of almost all the congregations of the United Presbyterian churches in the West. As early as 1803 and 1804, four adjoining surveys of land were made and settled by the Bonner, Sale, Butler, Davis, Heath and other families from Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and to the entire settlement was given the name of Union. These families were soon joined by others from the Old Dominion. This was a strong Methodist community, and meetings were at once organized and services held at Mr. Bonner's under the stately forest trees, "God's first temples." Under the supervision of Francis Asbury, the first Methodist Episcopal Bishop in America, and -through the preaching of such men as William Young and James B. F"inley, and others of like vigor, the fires of Methodism were kept burning. .A few years later the first Methodist Episcopal church of Xenia was organized and previous to that a large circuit had been formed known as Mad River circuit. In 1805, the Dunker (German Baptist) Church effected an jrganization in Beavercreek Township, holding services at their homes continuously until 1843, when a church was erected. As early as 1812, the Society of Friends was organized in Silver Creek township. On the site of what is now known as Beaver Church, in 1809, was erected the first German Reformed (now known as the Re formed ) church in the county. Later this congregation built a second log "meeting house" on the site and designated it as Beaver Church. About 1812, a widbw, Mrs. Davis, a stanch Presbyterian, oc cupied a little cabin on the site of the Yellow Springs House. She was the means of congregating about her those of her faith, and establishing one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in the county. I'll 18'14 there were five Catholic families in Xenia, and Mass was celebrated on the porch of Mr. Klein's residence on Main ,54 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. street during that year. The records of St. Mary's Church, Piqua, show that from time to time until 1849 the little congregation here was under the jurisdiction of St. Mary's Church and the base ment of the Court House was used as a place of worship, this room being open to all denominations alike. From 1849 there was a definite organization in Xenia and on October 31, 1852, the new church building was dedicated by Archbishop Purcell and given the name of St. Brigid's in honor of the patroness of Ireland. This consummation of untiring effort on the part of the congregation was nobly aided by the pastor. Rev. Thomas Blake, who continued to be their faithful leader for more than thirty years. St. Brigid's Church proudly claims the largest organization of the Father Matthews' Total Abstinence Society in the State. The parochial school was established in 1855. From these earlier churches have sprung many others of the same denominations, while later years have seen through the coun ty, as well as in the county seat, uniting in the uplifting work with the older congregations, very vigorous organizations of other creeds, as the Episcopal, the Christian, Protestant Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, Campbellite, Lutheran and Mennonites. Special mention should also be made of religious work • among the colored people. There are in the county today, out side of Wilberforce, 17 colored churches, most of them self- supporting, as well as separate schools of a high character and taught by their own race. Many years ago, it is said, there lived near Yellow Springs a peculiar class of people calling themselves Owenites or Com- munionists, led by Robert Owens. In creed and manners they bore a strong resemblance to the Shakers, except that they mar ried while the Shakers do npt. They occupied one large building which, with the contents, was considered common property, and. profits from labor, if any existed after living expenses were de ducted, were to be divided equally. The house stood in the ravine near the cliffs and was divided into apartments, that is, a private room for each family, and a. common dining room and kitchen. The building was of logs — one hundred feet long and twenty-one feet wide. Soon the majority assumed to be leaders A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 55 and the minority performed the labor. This was followed by a lawsuit and thus ended the existence of the Owenites. EARLY SCITOOLS. A cursory glance at the history of the county impresses one with the prevailing desire to educate the rising generation, which is shown by the little log school houses springing up in every neighborhood. Indian hostilities had largely ceased prior to the forming, of the county and the dangers from that source were small as compared wth those of some other localities. The first schools were conducted on the subscription plan and only three months of each year. The log school houses were furnished with seats made of hewed planks and with desks con structed by driving pegs in the wall and laying slabs of timber thereon. Light was admitted by means of greased paper covering the apertures between the logs, and the floor was often of Mother Earth. A huge fireplace occupied at least one-third of the wall, and it is comforting to think that, at a time when many of the children were so miserably clad, there was at least an abundance of fuel to be had for the chopping. The early text-books were Dilworth's or Pike's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book and the Testament. The teachers of the Ohio subscription schools were not ex amined and a high standard of qualification was not required by the patrqns, still there occasionally appeared in the new country a, highly educated wanderer who eked out a scanty subsistence by teaching a subscription school and "boarding 'round." How ever, the greater number of the instructors were only fairly well informed citizens, accepting the opportunity of teaching in order to pursue studies that would qualify them for a more lucrative calling. The early schools knew no holidays. The teachers were hired by the month and were expected to teach each working day in the calendar month. Young America then knew nothing of the almost innumerable holidays in the calendar of the twentieth century, but the desire was there and expressed itself in the rough though good-natured demand for a "treat" from the teacher on 56 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. such days as Christmas or New Year's. It was always a specific demand upon the teacher, of which the following well preserved pattern embraces the material points, varying only in the quality and quantity with locality and circumstances : "Dec. 23, 1817. Mr. John Smith, (Teacher) Sir: — We, the undersigned committee, in behalf of the unanimous vote of scholars of your schools, demand that you treat, according to custom, to the following articles in amount herein named, to wit: 200 ginger cakes, 2 bu. hickory nuts, 1 peck of hazel nuts, 10 lbs. of candy, 10 lbs. of raisins, delivered at the school house, noon hour, December 25, for the enjoyment and pleasant remembrance of this school. If this meets your approbation you will please sign and return to the undersigned tomorrow, December 24, at noon, saying, over your signature, T agree to the above.' " This forceful demand was always signed by a committee of the older boys of the school. Occasionally a teacher, not fond of the rough and tumble fun that would follow a refusal, meekly signed as directed and complied. But many a teacher was more facetious and preferred a little preliminary skirmishing. When die demand was handed him he would read and deliberately tear into small fragments, thus indicating defiance. Then the fun began. On the day preceding Christmas, before dawn, the school house was occupied by the older boys, provided with fuel and provisions sufficient to withstand a siege, and all openings barri caded. One after another the children appeared and were cau tiously admitted (none tardy on that day), and when the teacher arrived he found the cabin full of jolly boys and girls denying him entrance until he acceded to the demands for the morrow. This was commonly called a "barring out." Some fun-loving athletic teachers would refuse this and start homeward, only to be followed by a yelling, hooting crowd of boys and girls, and a merry chase he A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 57 would lead them through the woods until caught and bound hand and foot. Then he was treated to a mock burial in the snow and guarded until he would relent and promise the treat, when he would be released and school duties taken up for the day ; no punishment and no ill-will followed this fun. On Christmas, at n.oon, the treat arrived, and children, parents and teacher enjoyed the feast and later indulged in an old-fashioned spelling match. XENIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. The country was so thinly settled that it was often difficult to make up the requisite number of pupils (fifteen) in the imme diate neighborhood, and children were frequently compelled to go a long distance to obtain even the meager instructions provided for them. In the advantages boys and girls shared alike unless the parents were unable to afford the expense of both, then the boys generally got the schooling. But notwithstanding the re strictions there was the desire for knowledge and again and again was verified the old saying that, "Where there is a will, th'ere is a way." ... , . , i ,1 58 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. The first school house in the county of which any account can be found was built prior to 1800 in Beaver Creek Township on the Shakertown road near Zimmerman. This school was taught by a very eccentric English gentleman who signed himself Thomas Marks Davis, the Second, and received for his services an uncertain salary of from eight to ten dollars a month. The first school house in Xenia was built in 1805 and was of logs and of the usual type. At that time there were but four families living in Xenia (Towler, Beatty, Collins and Marshall). The school house was situated on the north side of Third street, a little west of King, and the first teacher was Benjamin Grover. About 1812 what was known as the Xenia Academy, a one- story brick structure, was erected on the southeast corner of Market and West Streets, Prof. Espy being the principal in structor. In the spring of 1816, Thomas Steele, a native of Ireland, taught the first school on the lot now occupied by the Central High School of Xenia, which he continued until 1848. He was a man of deep religious convictions and much merit as a teacher. A very few of the older residents of the town remember his humble dwelling and school house, both situated on this lot. as well as the thoroughness of his teaching. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first record of union or public schools in Xenia is dated September 28, 1838. At that time Xenia was organized into what was known as a corporation district, and the first board of education consisted of the following citizens: William Ellsberry, David Monroe and Alfred Trader. On the first day of January, 1849, Mr. Josiah Hurty was employed as the first superintendent of the public schools of Xenia at a salary of $600 per annum, which position he occupied for nearly three years. During this time the school was graded and the term "high school" applied to the highest department. It may not be out of place to give the names of some of the super intendents who succeeded him. Lack of space only prevents us A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 5d from speaking at greater length of each of these whose nanies and memories are held today in deepest respect by many to whom they gave inspiration to nobler mapl'\ood fvnd wonianhoo'd. Prom inent among them we find the nances of D. W. Gilfillen, Rev. James P. Smart, P. H. Jaquith, J. E. Twitchell and George S. Ormsby. About the year 1857 there was a change in the State school laws which greatly raised the standard of the schools, and at this critical period Mr. J. E. Twitchell, a New England man, was called to the superintendency, his appointment being a most op portune one as he was abundantly able to give the schools the prestige needed, which standard was ably sustained by his suc cessor. Prof. Ormsby, and has since been kept up. Prof. Ormsby is the only one of the former superintendents now living and old age finds him still keen and alert, physically and mentally. To this list of superintendents might, if space permitted, be added a long list of teachers, mostly women, whose conscientious work and example of noble living left an indelible impress upon the lives of hundreds who were so fortunate as to be instructed by them. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. At different times, private schools had been conducted with more or less success. These private schools had much to do with molding public sentiment, and boys and girls there received a moral and religious impetus the influence of which is still felt. Among the earlier ones was a fashionable boarding school con- ductefl by Mrs. Hannah Wright. It was located on what is known as the Arnold property on the hill south of the depot. With the elegance of manner and purity of diction possessed by Mrs. Wright, accompanied by a lovable disposition, the popularity of the school was widespread. The late Dr. Samuel Wilson taught the classics in this school. It is impossible to give the exact date of this institution but during the forties it is remem bered to have been in a very flourishing condition. Contem porary with this school was a similar one for young ladies con ducted by Mrs. Mulligan on East Church street, in what is now the Kelly property and in a part of the same house that is now 60 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. on the lot. This school was later merged into the Xenia Female College, on the same street. Possibly near the dates of these two schools for girls, were conducted two schools for boys on East Market street, one on the western end of the lot now occupied by the Central ITigh School, conducted by Prof. John Armstrong, and the other instructed and managed by Dr. Hugh McMillen in what is now the Chew XENIA FEMALE COLLEGE. Tlie buildinf;^ still look much as above. From an old cut* home, immediately east of Central High School. It seems quite a coincidence that so many institutions of learning, from the days of Prof. Steele to the present time, should have centered about that locality. Prof. .Armstrong was noted as a mathematician and the story is given credence that at times difficult problems were sent to him from Engli.sh universities for solution. For some years after his death his two daughters conducted a private school for children in the same home. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 61 Dr. McMillen, of the other school, was not only desirous but competent to instruct his own son, but not desiring him to be educated alone, he opened his doors to other boys. The school was in no sense conducted for revenue ; those who could were expected to pay, but many were the proteges of Dr. McMillen. About 1853 was opened the Union Female Seminary in what is now the dormitory of the Theological Seminary. More of this school appears in another article. It was in existence about ten years, when it became what was known as a Musical Academy, with an entire change of management, and for some years, this was a very successful institution. Notable among the private schools was the one known as the Xenia Female College, located on East Church street, and under the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This school flourished from 1850 until about 1887, when it was absorbed by the larger schools of the church. From 1857 until 1884 there was at the head of this institution one who deserves to be classed with McMillen, Steele and others of more than local distinction as educators. Reference is made to Prof. William Smith, known and loved by hundreds of pupils who sat under his instruction and who can testify to his high principles in life, tireless enthu siasm and great personal interest. There was one other private school that should be mentioned here, as it seems to have been a kindergarten which was conducted on similar lines to the kindergartens of the present time, and long before the Froebel methods were in general use. This school was conducted by Mrs. Elizabeth P'arquer Patton, in the fifties in the basement of the First United Presbyterian Church. A few of the earlier public schools through the county can yet be located. The first school house in Bellbrook was on the site of the present residence of Jacob Haines, Jr. It was of the usual style and presided over by Jacob Bain. The first school house in Cedarville Township was built on the Townsley farm in 1806, and the first teacher was James Townsley. The second school house in this township, on Mas sie's Creek, was built in 1810, and was considered quite an improvement over the first, as it boasted of a puncheon floor. 62 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. whereas the other had only a dirt floor. William Jenkins was probably the first teacher here. There are at present within the county, higher institutions of wide reputation : The Theological Seminary in Xenia ; Antioch College at Yellow Springs, Wilberforce University and Cedar ville College. But each of these, as well as the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, will be fully treated in separate articles. NEWSPAPERS. There are published in Greene County, outside the county seat, six weekly papers as follows : The Yellow Springs News, founded in 1880, as the Yellow Springs Review ; The Osborn Local, which has flourished under different names for more than twenty-five years; The Cedarville ITerald, founded in 1877; The Jamestown Journal, established in 1870 as The Jamestown Echo, the first paper established in Jamestown, and the first paper in the county outside the county seat (the name of the paper has several times been changed) ; The Greene County Press of Jamestown, established in 1898; and The Twin City Vidette, published at Spring Valley. The Vidette was established in 1905, taking up the work formerly done by the Spring Valley Blade and Bell brook Moon, both of which were established about twenty years ago. In the county seat are published two weekly papers, the Xenia Republican, established in 1867, and the Xenia Herald, established in 1891, formerly the Democrat News; also a semi- weekly and daily paper, both under the same management, and known as the Xenia Gazette. In 1838 was founded the Xenia Torchlight, a weekly paper, starting as a Whig organ. With many changes in the editorial staff and passing through many vicissitudes the Torchlight, which also published a daily for sev eral years, was in 1888 absorbed by the Xenia Gazette. The Xenia Gazette was founded in 1868 as a weekly paper. At that time was bought, by the Gazette company, the first cylinder press ever used in the county. The weekly edition of the Gazette was abandoned for a semi-weekly in 1885, and the daily edition was started as early as 1881. It is the oldest paper in the county, as A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 63 the Gazette dating back forty years, and as successor to the Torchlight, dating back seventy years. As far back as 1815, we find a county paper published in Xenia called The Xenia Vehicle. Occasionally there is to be found a stray copy of a paper published in 1829, called The Xenia Gazette, but it was short-lived. During the time . from 1829 to 1833, Thomas Coke Wright, one of the notable characters of early Xenia, edited a paper called the Xenia Transcript. The Xenia Free Press, established in 1831, and edited by J. H. Purdy, flourished" for ten years or more. At the top of the first page appeared this motto : "Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law. No favor sways us and no fear shall awe." Beginning in 1826 and continuing for some years there was published in Xenia a paper called The People's Press and Impar tial Expositor, with the motto, "While I have Liberty to write I will write for Liberty." — Knox. The editor was James B. Gardi ner, his terms were $2.00 in advance or a note of hand f6r the amount payable in three months, $2.50 if paid within six months or $3.00 if not paid until the expiration of the year. The paper also stated that "country subscribers may pay the whole amount of their subscription in the following articles. Flour, Wheat, Feathers, Beeswax, Bacon, Tow and Flax Linen, Sugar and Tallow at cash prices." About 1830, William D. Gallagher, a man of acknowledged literary ability, who spent the most of his life in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, came to Xenia where he spent a year or two, and started a campaign newspaper called The Backwoodsman. Mr. Gallagher was an enthusiastic Whig and the main object of his paper was "to hurrah for Clay and to use up Jimmy Gardiner," then editor of the Jackson organ of Xenia. About 1838, there was established The Democratic Spark, Mr. Ramsey, editor, giving as its object "the diffusion of informa tion and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public rea son." It boomed "for President, Martin Van Buren and a Con stitutional Treasury." 64 ¦ GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Associated with the Xenia newspapers have been several men of much more than ordinary literary attainments. Promi nent among them were Rev. Otway Curry, Col. Coates Kinney, Whitelaw Reid and Senator Preston B. Plumb. The last two, Mr. Reid and Senator Plumb, were at one time, during the fifties, editors of a paper called the Xenia News. Senator Plumb came into prominence in later years as U. S. senator from Kansas, in which state he located just previous to the war of the Rebellion. It may be of iiiterest to note that at one time, during his early boyhood, W. D. Howells was a resident of the county. The Hon. William Maxwell, who spent his declining years in Greene County and is buried in Beaver Creek Township, edited the first paper published in the Northwest Territory, "The Cen tinel of the Northwestern Territory," with the motto, "Open to all parties, influenced by none." GREENE COUNTY SOLDIERS. As early as 1806 there was in the county a strictly enforced militia system, under a territorial law enacted in 1788. All the men bearing arms formed one regiment and every able-bodied man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was required to muster on the first day of the week at 10 A. M. adjacent to the place of public worship. They were inspected by the com mandant on the first Sabbath of each month. The prairie north of Oldtown was one of the favorite places of drilling. These were gala days. At the captain's command to "stand at ease" the sergeant passed along the line with a bucket of whiskey from which every one, if he so desired, helped himself. In 1830, Captain William Mcintosh (the first white person born in Greene County) raised and commanded a rifle company. They were uniformed in yellow hunting shirts, which gave rise to their tified of "Beaver Creek Yellow Jackets." Captain Mc intosh gave much time to their drilling and they acquired consid erable proficiency. The uniform of the rank and file of the militia was the regular everyday dress of the pioneer, consisting of a tow linen shirt, buckskin breeches with blue linsey hunting shirt secured A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 65 with leather belt and buckle, and wool hat. Much might be said of their strength and valor, of their sharpshooting and of their courage, for Greene County has a record in war times, beginning with the War of 1812, of which there is much to be proud. The War of 1812 found the county with not yet a decade of history to its credit, but the patriotism for which it has ever been noted was not less then than was shown in the greater struggle of a half century later, as well as in the forties, during the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American, of later date; in both of which Greene Count}? was well represented. On the 23rd of April, 1861, nine days after the fall of Sumter, in response to Lincoln's call for 75,000 men for three months 193 men from Greene County had enlisted and offered their services to Governor Dennison. From this number Com pany A went to Columbus to be mustered in : John W. Lowe, captain; Robert Lytle, 1st lieutenant; M. W. Trader, 2nd lieu tenant. Company B awaited a call frdm the State which came a little later. Colonel Lowe was destined to fall soon after at the head of the Twelfth Regiment, O. V. I., at Carnifex Ferry, the first of Ohio's line officers to fall in the cause of liberty. One company of the Forty-fourth O. V. I. was raised in Greene County and at the expiration of their term of service they reen listed in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry. ' The Seventy-Fourth O. V. I. was organized in camp at Xenia, in October, 1861, to the extent of seven companies, and the following February was ordered to Camp Chase, where three full companies were added. After two years hard service they were granted a thirty-day furlough at home; then, on March 23, 1864, being re-organized with the addition of one hundred re cruits, they started to rejoin their brigade in Georgia, and during that year were with Sherman in his memorable march through Georgia. On the 24th of May, 1865, this regiment joined in the Grand Review in Washington, and was mustered out July 10, 1865. This regiment was known as "the fighting parson's regi ment," being commanded by the Rev. Granville Moody, a well- known and popular Meth9dist preacher and orator. The Ninety-Fourth O. V. I. was organized at Camp Piqua, THE COURT HOUSE. South Front. Fhotu hy Canby. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 67 containing two companies from Greene County. This regiment, within the space of one month, was recruited with its full com plement. Without uniforms or camp equipage, and never having been drilled as a regiment, the Ninety-Fourth was ordered to Kentucky to meet the forces under Kirby Sniith. At Cincinnati they were partially uniformed and provided with a limited amount of ammunition. The Ninety-Fourth also participated in Sher man's March to the Sea, and in the Grand Review at Washington. It was mustered out of service June 6, 1865, "with an aggregate of three hundred and thirty-eight men — all that was left of them — left of one thousand and ten." The One Hundred and Tenth O. V. I., commanded by Gen. J. Warren Keifer, afterwards brigade-commander, was organ ized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, October 3, 1862, and its members were from Greene, Miami and Darke Counties. It was immediately ordered to join the Eastern Army. At Winchester it was assign ed to the Eighth Army Corps, but in March, 1864, it became a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps. The One Hundred and Tenth was in 21 engagements and sustained a loss of 795 men. This regiment, having captured more flags than any regiment in the corps, was selected as a guard of honor, April 17, 1865, at the presentation of captured flags to General Meade. The Sixth Corps, at the time of the Grand Review in Washington, was still in northern Virginia and western North Carolina on guard against any possible trouble that might arise, and consequently was granted by the President and Cab inet what was termed a "Supplemental Review" on June 8, 1865, upon its arrival in Washington, D. C. This compliment caused the Sixth Corps to be called the "pets of Washington City." The One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Regiment O. V. I., Robert Stevenson, colonel, was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, May 9, 1864, to serve one hundred days. It was composed of the Twenty-Third Battalion, Ohio National Guard, from Mad ison County, and the Sixtieth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, from Greene County, a body of men efilisted for State service for a period of five years in the fall of 1863. It was sent to West Virginia where it performed guard, picket and escort duty during 68 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. its period of service. August 4, 1864, at New Creek Station, West Virginia, it was attacked by, and gallantly repulsed, a force of rebels under Johnston and McCauslin, four thousand strong. Upon the expiration of its time of service it was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, September 1, 1864. The Tenth and Seventeenth Ohio Batteries drew largely from Greene County and a part of one company was also- furnished the Fifth Ohio Independent Cavalry as well as one company to the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Piatt's Zouaves, which belonged to the honor roll of "Three Hundred Fighting Regiments of the War." Space has only permitted the most meager statement of the serv ices of these troops and there are yet in the county many brave sur vivors of other regiments. Four thousand of Greene County's loy al sons went forth as brave soldiers, many of whom never returned, but when the last reveille has been sounded and the last veteran called home, history will still recount the story of their brave acts and their children's children will proudly tell of them to other generations. Tlte loyal women of Greene County tearfully, yet cheerfully, gave up their dearest treasures, their fathers, husbands, sons and lovers, and ceaselessly aided, to their fullest power, to preserve the Union. But aching hearts at home did not make idle hands. Immediately was formed the organization known as the "Soldiers' Aid Society." At the head of the woman's work in this organiza tion, during the five years of the war, was Mrs. Amanda Trotter. This indefatigable leader was ever an incentive to greater efforts and she met with free and noble responses from the women, not only of Xenia, but of the entire county, as an appeal had been sent out for general cooperation. A few years ago Gen. O. O. Howard, in an address delivered at Cleveland, Ohio, paid to Xenia a very high tribute regarding the treatment of Federal troops. Pie said there was no town anywhere in which the troops received such treatment as was given them in Xenia, and where greater kindness was shown them. It is a fact that no regiment ever passed through the town without being feasted. In fair weather long tables would be spread in a pasture adjoining the railroad and when the weather A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 69 was iiclement, the freight house would be- transformed into a banquet hall. Not satisfied with that, the loyal women of the town and surrounding country would prepare great baskets of provisions to send with the soldiers on their departure. One good man, whose wife excelled in the art of making doughnuts. would go through the train laden with a bushel basket of the good home-made doughnuts, passing them out right and left with the recommendation, "My wife made them." Everybody aided in every possible way. Men who could not go to the front gave freely, not only of their abundance, but many of them deprived themselves of necessities that they might help the cause. School rooms were turned into departn:cnts of aid, and school children were provided with shingles and knives with which to scrape lint. Special mention might be made of many, many women who worked and prayed without ceasing throughout the long struggle. But one, in particular, must not be forgotten whose ability and strength made it possible for her to visit the hospital camp and soothe, with her prayers and mother hands, the dying hours of many a soldier boy, and again, to bring into her home and nurse back to health, others who might not have survived with but the meager care that was sometimes all that could be given them in hospitals. Reference is made to Mrs. Elizabeth Farquer Patton. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Previous to the War of the Rebellion, with no fixed limit as to date, there was a constant trail of escaped slaves stealthily pursuing their way north and to freedom, often with only the north star to guide their foot-steps and an abounding faith in God and humanity to give them hope and courage. In 1831 a Ken tucky slave escaped from bondage and swam the Ohio river near Ripley. ITe was closely followed by his master in a skiff, who had no trouble keeping him in sight until he landed, but once on shore the slave soon disappeared from view. A most diligent search failed to reveal the fugitive, and the disappointc'l slave owner, when asked as to what had become of his slave, said he thought "he must have gone off on an underground road." The story was repeated with a great deal of amusement and the inci- 70 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. dent gave rise to the name "Underground Railroad." But the practice of aiding slaves ante-dated this incident many years. Safety necessitated zig-zag routes, but after crossing the Ohio, all roads led to Canada. Many exciting and thrilling occurrences are related of the hiding and transporting of fugitive slaves, and the bitter feeling often engendered thereby. During the forties and later, there was at least one station in Xenia, at the home of Mr. David Monroe, on East Market Street. Many times a group of six or eight slaves cowered during the day in Mr. Monroe's barn waiting for night to fall, when his youngest son, the late James B. Monroe, then a mere lad, would conduct them to Green Plains, a noted station of the "Underground Railroad" in a Quaker settlement near Selma. The travel was all by night and usually in a covered con veyance. Sometimes the signal of their approach would be the hoot of an owl. When practicable a communication was sent ahead warning friends of the time of the arrival, the communica tion being always couched in mysterious language understood only by the initiated. For instance, one was worded as follows : "Dear Sir: By tomorrow evening's mail you will receive two volumes of the "Irrepressible Conflict," bound in black. After perusal, please forward and oblige, Yours truly, G. W. W." and again : ' Dear Grinnell : Uncle Tom says if the roads are not too bad you can look for those fleeces of wool by tomorrow. Send them on to test the market and price. No back charges. Yours, H." At one time Mr. David Monroe, who had on his residence lot a shop where he manufactured furniture, was called from his bed to receive a wagon load of what purported to be furniture. In his broadest Scotch dialect he inquired, "Con it wok?" and re ceived an affirmative answer. There was a time when Mr. Mon roe's stand was so well known in Kentucky that a price was A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 71 placed upon his head, but instead of putting a stop to the business it only increased it ; and it was the nieans of a great number of slaves being informed as to where friends might be found. About this time a slave holder came to Xenia, stopping at the old Ewing Plouse, in search of a slave who was hiding in this station. But the slave was sent out of town carrying over his shoulder a bushy sapling which partly concealed his features. When he reached the edge of town he was picked up and hurried to safety. There were no records kept of these times. Everything done was necessarily secret and underhanded. In fact, it often meant social ostracism and the man who dared to do this work, as his conscience dictated, frequently lost friends in the doing. In the State of Ohio, previous to the efforts of Salmon P. Chase, in 1830, a negro had no rights that a white man was bound to respect. They were excluded from schools and could not tes tify in court and it was a penal offense to give employment to a black or mulatto. Much of this condition existed until about 1850 when many of the so-called black laws were repealed. For some years previous to the Rebellion a nuniber of families from southern states, being impressed with the sin of the slave traffic, settled in this vicinity, freeing their slaves and for many of them purchasing homes in this county. Later, about 1856, the pur chase of Tawawa Springs, at one time a fashionable summer re sort, and the establishing upon that site of Wilberforce University brought to the county an influx of the better class of colored people. ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION. The first anti-slavery convention held in Xenia met with such opposition that viewed in the light of the present day it seems al most incredible. A few copies of Dr. Jay's "Inquiry" and the "Liberator" published by William Lloyd Garrison, of Boston, came to Xenia. Among the early converts to the anti-slavery doctrine was the late Rev. Samuel Wilson, from 1830 until 1856 pastor of the 72 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Associate, now the Second United Presbyterian Church of Xenia. He soon found that there were at least four of his acquaintances who shared in his convictions. Very slowly others came over to their way of thinking and through the efforts of this little body of men a few good speakers were procured from time to time to address anti-slavery meetings until finally the little group of en thusiasts had the temerity to call an anti-slavery convention. Committees were appointed to make the necessary arrangements. The first and greatest difficulty encountered was the finding of a- place of nieeting. For a time they had been permitted the use of the Court House but the further use of it for this purpose was refused the cominittee. Application was made to the deacons of the Associate Church, also the Associate Reformed, and in both instances met with prompt refusal. Public sentiment made it impossible for meetings to be held on the street and now the convention must be given up unless some citizen could be found who would be brave enough to offer his private grounds for the purpose. The Rev. Samuel Wilson was the only one who dared offer his home which was situated on East Market street on the lot now occupied by the First United Presbyterian Church. A platform was erected in the yard just about under the space now occupied by the pulpit of that church. While the convention was a success it was not held without great difficulties. A mob collected on the opposite side of the street and serious trouble would undoubtedly have resulted had it not been for the timely interference of a stalwart old black smith and pump-maker by the name of John McClellan, who was possessed of a high sense bf justice. Mr. McClellan stated that he was in no sense in sympathy with this movement but he be lieved in free speech. With club in hand he dared any man to cross the street and molest his preacher. And through his inter vention was carried to a successful finish the first anti-slavery convention ever held in Greene County. It is impossible to fix the exact date of this convention, but it was sometime previous to the organizing of the "Free-Soil" or "Liberty" party in 1846. Apropos of this movement of the people who had the courage of their convictions it might not be out of place to record here A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 73 the name of Joseph Collins, of Bath Township, who, for more than twenty years, cast the only abolition vote in the township. Greene County possesses a silk banner of which she is justly proud. Its width at base is 6 feet 3 inches, tapering gracefully 12 feet, where it forks abruptly. Its center is white; on each side are three stripes of white, blue and rose, tapering from base to point. On one side in large gilt letters, "Ohio has sent 291,952* of her gallant sons to the field," and on the other side, "Ohio true to the Union." This banner was given to Ohio in the winter of 1864 for having furnished the most troops accord ing to its military population. The Governor of Ohio presented it to Greene County as having furnished the most of any county in the State. Lewis Post No. 347, G. A. R. of Xenia, is now the custodian of this much valued relic. '¦'During the entire period of the war Ohio troops numhered 385,000. 74 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE GREENE COUNTY. JOHN FRANCIS OER. T is an invidious task to select from so many who have risen to prominence in their times the nanies of a few former citizens who, by their preemi nence, are entitled to honorable mention in this book. The list is foredoomed to be incom plete, but at the risk of leaving out some who ought to be men tioned, justice will be done to a few. The history of our county naturally divides into three periods : The time from the earliest settlement up to the year 1820 may -be denominated the pioneer period; from 1820 to 1860, the period of construction; and from 1860 to the present time, the modern period. Of each period there was a leader, whose sway was, indeed, diteputed, but of whose primacy history will leave little doubt. Of the pioneer period several might have claimed the title of leader. There was Col. John Paul, the keen-sighted land speculator, who, in his position as clerk of the county court ob tained first knowledge of the decision of the associate judges as to the location of the county seat, and who allowed no grass to grow under his feet while acquiring the title to the town site. He it was who gave the county the court house site, and he was our member of the first Constitutional Convention and of the first SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE GREENE COUNTY. 75 State senate. His shrewdness, energy, and business foresight might easily have made him the leading spirit of his time; but John Paul was a restless rover, and Greene County soon became too populous for his pioneer tastes ; so in 18p9 he renioved to the newer wilderness of Indiana, where agaiii he founded a city — the city of Madison, of the site of whicii city he was the owner. Here again he was generous in the donation of sites for public purposes, and here he died and is buried. Of the other strong men of that period mention might be made of Jaines and Moses Collier, James and George Galloway, William Maxwell, our first representative in the State legislature and an associate justice, James Barrett, also an associate justice, Owen Davis, whose house was the first capitol of the county, Peter Borders, Jacob Smith, long a member of the State legisla ture, James Popenoe, Sr., and Peter, his brother, Andrew Read, William A. Beatty, tavern keeper and town director, Frederick and Chappel Bonner, Nathan Lamme, Joseph C. \'ance, who laid out the town of Xenia, and whose son afterwards became the Governor of the State of Ohio, Henry Hypes, James Towler, Dr. Joseph Johnson, Richard Conwell, and Amasa Read. But, one name is impressed upon the history of the pioneer period a little more distinctly than any other — the name of Gen eral Benjamin Whiteman, one of the first group of associate justices, and long a leading citizen of the county. General White- man was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 6th, 1769, and prior to his settlement here had passed through the county three times with expeditionary forces against the Indians — in 1790, 1792, and 1794. In 1799 he made permanent settlement, having previously niarried in Kentucky the daughter of Owen Davis above men tioned. His first residence was at the original county seat on Beaver Creek, with his father-in-law, who operated a flouring mill. In 1805 he removed to Clifton, where he continued to reside until his death on July 1st, 1852. General Whiteman was a man of dignity and character, revered for his uprightness, and of great influence in the new county. He and his fellows were the men who fought the In dians, delimited the county, laid out the towns and townships, 76 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1968. established the courts, hewed the forests, and erected a primitive civilization, which some of them lived many years to enjoy. During the period of construction many men came to the front to divide the honors of primacy, but facile princeps was Dr. Joshua Martin, born in Loudon County, Virginia, March 23rd, 1791, died at Louisville, Ky., November 30th, 1865. The greater part of his life was spent in this community. His indeed was a strong character, uniting with personal dignity, sterling integrity, and great professional skill, the arts of the political manager. He was the Mentor of his political party, and the leader in every public enterprise during his long career, and as such becanie widely known among public men. Scarcely less prominent during the same period were Aaron Harlan, who served his district in Congress, and John Alexander — a man of the most rugged and positive character, the opposite in all things of Dr. Martin, though his long-time friend. Their contemporaries were such men as John Hivling, James B. Gard iner, Major Robert Gowdy, Dr. George W. Stipp, S. W. Reeder, Josiah Grover, Samuel Kyle, Peter Pelham, Samuel Harry, Dan iel Lewis, Joseph G. Gest, Sr., Michael Nunnemaker, Thomas Coke Wright, James A. Scott, William Ellsberry, a noted lawyer, Casper L. Merrick, inn-keeper and merchant, Lindsay Hogue, and Dr. Samuel Martin. The modern period, from 1860 down to the present day, produced many men who achieved prominence in the county, and some of them State, and even national, fame. Among the latter were Hon. James J. Winans, judge and congressman, and Hon. John Little, attorney general of the State, congressman and Com missioner of Venezula Claims. John Little's name will ever be memorable to all of this generation as that of a man of strong intellect, of kind and generous disposition, a very able lawyer, and a man whose natural tastes led him to pursue successfully many mechanical and manufacturing enterprises, to the great benefit of the community. In political affairs he was widely known, and his judgment was so highly respected that he was frequently called into counsel by governors of the State and presidents of the United States. SOMfi OF THfi MEN WfiO HAVfi MAD:^ GREENE COUNTV. 7? With these men were associated such men as Captain Austin McDowell, E. F. Drake, John F. Patton, Col. John W. Lowe (the first Ohio line officer who fell in the War of the Rebellion), Erastus S. Nichols, Col. Robert Stevenson, Dr. C. PI. Spahr, Col. Coates Kinney, John F. Frazer, Dr. John W. Greene, W. B. Fair- child, Joseph W. King, Thomas P. Townsley, Roswell F. Howard, Judge Moses Barlow, Captain Albert Galloway, Benoni Nesbitt, John B. Allen, Isaac M. Barrett, Dr. George Watt, Brinton Baker, David and Eli Millen, Jaines C. McMillan, Aniel Rodgers, Alfred Johnson, and many others, some of whom survive to this day. These, briefly, are the men who, with many others who niight properly have been mentioned, have made Greene County. In discharging the common-place duties of life they have builded a civilization whicii will endure long after the personality of each has passed from the memory of men. It is fitting that there should' be here recorded in this commemorative book some note of the names of these worthies, at least, '-'lest we forget." 78 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1968. MASSIE'S CREEK. WILBUR D. NESBIT. I've just been wondering. Bill, if you remember Massie's crick— Or "creek" they call it nowadays — with sumac growing thick Along the banks, and willows that bent down to make a shade Above the dreaming shallows where we boys one time would wade. Remember how it used to loaf sedately throngh the town And out into the pasture lands, and then would hurry down Between the cliffs, apd how it sang a song to you and me That told us of the outer world, the rivers and the sea? I've just been wondering, Bill, that's all — if you still hear it sing, If you can shut your eyes and see the spray that it would fling Above the rocks, until it sparkled on the hanging ferns That nodded from the mossy cliffs in hidden nooks and turns. MASSIE'S CREEK. 79 Remember how we used to throw our bare selves down, and lie A-looking through the checker-work of good green leaves and sky, And count the cloudships sailing through the sea of limpid blue — Ah, then we did not know how much that meant for me and you ! The sunshine shuttled through the leaves and jeweled all the stream As laughter sometimes bubbles through the mazes of a dream. And we knew not that roundabout the big world waited then To rob us of our boyish ways when we should grow to men. I've just been wondering. Bill, if you can hear old Massie's crick Call softly through the summer days? And does your heart beat quick In answer? Does your mind leap back into the long ago And laugh and sing and dream again the days we used to know ? ^P=P-i^— IF- MAP OF GREENE COUNr\ ~iq i» i; \ 33 ' K f*- Drawn by H. A. Sparks, Civil Engineer, Xenia. The prehistoric remains were located on the map by Prof. W. C. Mills, of the Ohio State Archteological and Historical Society. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 81 .*' -^..jM..:-.m^ A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. Greene County is a meniber of that very fertile group of counties in southwestern Ohio drained by the two Miami Rivers and their tributaries. In its average value of farm lands per acre ($31.63 according to the census of 1900), Greene County stands twelfth among the 88 counties of the State, and the counties which outrank her include within their limits the cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Akron, Canton, Springfield, and Hamilton, which of course affect favorably the prices of land about them. The county is traversed from nortli to south by the wide alluvial valley of the Little Miami ; its north west corner is crossed by the Mad River valley ; and connecting these two is a broad valley, excavated ages ago by the Mad River when its course was different from the present, but now occupied by the little stream called Beaver Creek. Greene County lies within the area covered by the Glacial Drift. This is a deposit of clay, sand, gravel, and bowlders which, geologists agree, was carried southward from the region of the lakes, and deposited in its present position, by glaciers. The weathering of the drift produced the county's fertile soils. ¦ These soils include : ( 1 ) The black upland soil, excellent for corn and blue grass, formed by the weathering of the drift where it lay in flat tracts, and found especially in Ross and the other 82 (JREENE COUnTY 1803-1908. eastern townships. (2) The common upland clay soil (often called "oak land" because various oaks, especially white oak, natu rally grow on it). It is derived from the drift where the surface was sloping, and is a very durable soil and productive when prop erly cultivated. (3) The rather dark-colored and very productive soil known as "sugar land," on whicii grow naturally not only sugar maples but also ash, hickory, walnut, etc. In some places it is called "mulatto" soil. It was formed from gravels on the highlands. (4) The bottom lands of the valleys, deposited by the agency of the streams. CEDARVILLE CLIFFS. The Falls from above. Underneath the drift, in a typical section of the county, lies what geologists have called the Niagara group of rocks, consisting of limestones interspersed with shales, and belonging to the Upper Silurian period. It is found over the entire eastern half of the county and also in a small area in Beaver Creek Township. Its A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 83 beds of limestone, in descending order, are: the Guelph or Cedar ville, the Springfield, the West Union, and the Dayton. The two former are chiefly valuable for lime and road metal and the two latter for building purposes, although much common building stone has been taken from the Springfield bed. The large output of lime from the Cedarville kilns comes from the Cedarville bed, while the Dayton stone is quarried at New Jasper and elsewhere and may be seen in the new Episcopal church in Xenia and in many other buildings in the county. Each product excels in CEDARVILLE CLIFFS. The Pass. its own field and finds a wide market. Separating the Dayton and West Union beds is a layer of shale, best seen on the Neff Grounds at Yellow Springs. It is this peculiar arrangement of strata — soft shale capped by limestone — that produced equally the gorges of the Little Miami and Massie's Creek in Greene 84 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. County and the gorge of the Niagara River. The water, wearing away the shale more easily than the overlying limestone, under mines the latter till at length a portion breaks off, and this process is repeated many times as the falls recede up stream, leaving below them an ever-lengthening ravine. Thus the Falls of Ni agara and the little cascade at Yellow Springs are very closely related indeed, for they fall over the same bed of limestone and gnaw away at the same Stratum of shale at their base. The scenery at Clifton and Yellow Springs, described elsewhere, is well known ; the "Cedarville cliffs," on Massie's Creek, are less accessible and less striking, perhaps, but no whit behind the others in beauty. CEDARVILLE CLIFFS. Tickling Rock. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 85 Next below the Niagara group lies the Clinton, and near New Jasper both are quarried, the Niagara (Dayton) for building and the Clinton for road metal. The Clinton is also Upper Silurian, but beneath it is a series of limestones and shales which geologists call the Hudson or Cincinnati and whicii they assign to the Lower Silurian, or Ordovician, period. These rocks are not exposed in the higher, eastern half of the county, as they are there covered by the Clinton and Niagara, but in the western part, where the upper rocks have been ground away, the Hudson series is found immediately below the blanket of drift and may be seen plainly in ravines and cuts, as for instance about Goe's Station. The Hudson limestone abounds in fossils ; it has furn ished some building stone. These are the oldest rocks whicii may be found on the surface of Greene County; beneath them, of course, lie still older ones, some of which have been penetrated to some depth by wells in the effort to find deposits of oil and gas, but so far without paying results. The county has an area of about 460 square miles, a popula tion (in 1900) of 31,613, and a tax value (in 1907) of $19,302,291, corresponding to about $40,000,000 actual value. Its principal crops in 1907 were as follows: corn, 2,588,294 bushels (average, 46 bushels to the acre) ; wheat, 721,592 bushels (17 per acre) ; oats, 109,236 bushels ; potatoes, 70,561 bushels ; tomatoes, 19,685 bushels; rye, 12,227 bushels; barley, 4,085 bushels; clover hay, 721 tons; other hay, 25,756 tons; alfalfa, 302 tons; tobacco, 627,908 pounds ; eggs," 750,995 dozen ; maple syrup, 5,745 gallons. In April, 1908, there were in the county, in round numbers, 10,000 horses, 15,000 cattle, 18,000 sheep, and 32,000 hogs. In the raising of fancy stock the county holds a remarkable record, which is told of in the special article by Mr. O. E. Bradfute. The Greene County Agricultural Society was organized in 1839 and has held a county fair annually ever since. The origi nal grounds were betwe'en Columbus Avenue and Church Street, in Xenia, but for many years the fair has been held in leased grounds on the northwestern edge of the city. It seeins probable that the county will soon purchase these grounds. Last year the Society's receipts were almost $10,000, and nearly as much was SOME COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. Photos by Canby. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 87 paid out, including $8,700 in premiums and racing purses. The fair lasts four days and the exhibits are always notable, as befits the champion stock county. The records for the half-mile track are: pace, 2:llj4; trot, 2:15. The Society has between six and seven hundred members. There are in the county twelve townships and thirty voting precincts. In politics the county has been Republican ever since the organization of the Republican party. The normal plurality is in the neighborhood of 2000, but owing to factional trouble in the dominant party Matthew R. Denver, Deniocratic, came within six votes of carrying the county in 1906. -,--<^ CEDARVILLE CLIFFS. The Eapids, J: FAIRFIELD. Dayton Street. " The Ohio Exchange " (a relic of stage coach days). Street Scene. Looking North from the M. E. Church.Tower. Photo by O. A. Wilson. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 89 BATH TOWNSHIP. Rev. H. B. Belmer. This township is the northwest corner of the county. It was organized in 1807 and extended originally two miles further north, into what is now Clarke County. It has eight churches, so located that all the people are within three or four miles of a church. The Bath Presbyterian church is in the western part of the township ; the rest are located in towns. There is also a township high school, about half a mile from Fairfield, central in the township. It occupies a fine building erected only a few years ago. Both Osborn and Fairfield also have their own high schools. Osborn is an incorporated village of about 1000 inhabitants. Traveling men say it is one of the best kept towns of its size in the State. It has cement sidewalks, graveled streets, water and electric light, and fire department. Both the Erie and Big Four Railroads pass through it, as also the Ohio Electric Railway, whicll is now working to have a continuous line from Cincinnati to Toledo and run through cars between these points. A visitor will notice the large number of beautiful homes with their sur roundings kept in neat trim. This is largely due to the fact that most of these homes are occupied by their owners, and most of the renters even follow their good example. The village is ten miles from Dayton, making it convenient for many employed in Dayton to live here. A number of school teachers employed in the township and elsewhere also live here. There are four churches in the place. The Lutheran church was organized in the Fairfield Methodist church in. 1848. In 1850 the railroad now called the Big Four was built and the town of Osborn began to spring up; some foresaw that Osborn would become the more important town and the Lutheran congregation was transferred to that place. But as there were members of various other de nominations in that neighborhood a union church was built in 1853. The Lutherans used the building half of the time only till 1872, when they secured entire control and ownership of it. This church was remodeled and virtually rebuilt in 1898 and is now a THE MTTLE MIAMI ABOVE lELLOW SPRINGS. MAD BIVBR IN WINTER. Photo by O. A. Wilson. THE SWIMMING HOLE, OSBOKN. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 91 very neat and churchly structure. The Methodist Episcopal churcli was organized in 1858, being an offspring of the Fairfield church. Its building was also reconstructed and added to some years ago and it is in a prosperous condition. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1865 and has a substantial brick building affording a very good audience room. All these churches are located on the main old residence street which, though its proper name is Johnson Street, is often called Churcli Street. The Catholic church, though having a substantial membership, is gen erally served by priests coming from Dayton. The four groceries and two dry-goods stores of this place are well stocked with first-class goods, supplying both town and country for miles around. Osborn also has three flouring mills and two elevators. These mills have the best of modern machin ery and make the highest grade of roller-process flour. The elevators handle and ship great quantities of corn ; very little wheat is shipped away, as the country around does not furnish enough for the mills, whicii are kept busy day and night the year around. Two of these mills are run by water power, furnished by a dam in Mad River a mile above the town. Great quantities of both hard and soft coal are shipped here for use in the town and surrounding country. There is also a whip factory employ ing some thirty hands (there are only four whip factories in the whole State of Ohio). This factory makes whips in price from $1.50 a dozen to $25 or more for a single whip. The benevolent orders are represented by a lodge of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., and the J. O. U. A. M. There is a weekly paper. The Osborn Local. Fairfield is the oldest village in the township, with a some what peculiar history. Settled in 1799, in the early days — earlier than 1840 — it was a thriving, growing town. Such it would have continued to be but for one mistake of its people and neighboring ¦farmers. When the now Big Four Railroad was being located they wanted to pass through Fairfield. Now the general direc tion of this road from Dayton to Springfield is northeast, cutting diagonally all farms it passes through. The farmers did not want their fine farms spoiled in this way, and they fought off the rail- M. E. Church. OSBORN. Street Scenes. School Buildiug, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 93 road successfully. Asa result Osborn sprang up and became the flourishing town Fan-field would have been ; and instead of merely standing still, Fairfield even lost some of the business it formerly had. It had no railroad convenience till the Dayton and Spring field electric road was built through it. The population of Fair field is given in the last census as 312. It has a Methodist and a Reformed church. The Methodist church seems to have been the earliest organized, though its date has not been ascertained. The Reformed churcli was organized in 1843, and is the offspring of the Byron church. It has been in a prosperous condition from the beginning, having begun in a great revival, a spiritual impulse felt to this day. The village also has a lodge of Odd Fellows, and Steele Post No. 623 Dept. of Ohio G. A. R. This Post attends to the decorating of soldier graves on Memorial Day in eight different burying grounds. Byron, on the Yellow Springs pike, is an old hamlet that has less business and importance than formerly in earlier tinies. Its dozen or so houses are now without the store, post office, and saddler's shop of former days, but a blacksmith shop remains. Byron's chief honor is the churcli and cemetery near it. Here .are buried many of the old settlers, reaching back even into the 18th century. The Byron Reformed church dates back to a very early day; it was formerly a union church, the Lutherans owning and using it jointly with the Reformed. (Editor's note: — Fairfield may take comfort in the reflection that if it has fallen behind in the race for population and business it has preserved its fine old houses and streets and is the most picturesque town in the county. We regret that the view's do not give an adequate idea of its charm. Since 1904 it has held an annual reunion and home-coming). BEAVER CREEK TOWNSHIP. Beaver Creek Township is one of the original four, and forinerly extended as far north as Lake Erie. It is a beautiful valley, fertile, well timbered, rolling and picturesque, noted for its fine farms. The high ridge separating the waters of Beaver Creek and Mad River is a particularly fine fruit belt, where good ZIMMERMAN. SHOUP S. UNION SCHOOL BUILDING { XENIA TP.) . OF P. HALL, ALPHA. STEEET SCENE, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 95 peaches do well. The Pennsylvania and C, H. and D. Railroads and the Dayton and Xenia Traction road cross the valley. The pikes are well kept Snd the scenery is fine. Beaver Creek Township is the cradle of Greene County. In its little log court house in 1803 the county was organized. There was the first administration of justice, the first exercise of suf frage through the ballot box, and the first legal punishment of crime. There was the first mill north of Cincinnati where corn was ground for the settlers. It was built by Owen Davis in 1798 and called the Alpha Mill from the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The court house, mill and two blockhouses, erected for defense, were near enough together to be inclosed in a stockade should the Indians become troublesome. The old log. court house was the first licensed tavern in the county. It was purchased with the surrounding acreage in 1827 by Mr. John Harbine. He and Mi". Needles laid out the town of Alpha in 1854. When what is now the Pennsylvania railroad was built Mr. Harbine gave the land required and the station was named Harbine. It was a lively manufacturing center with its distillery, flour, cotton, woolen, grist, saw and oil mills and did a large tobacco, grain and shipping business. From the first mill and the first barrel of flour which was marked "Alpha," the name has clung to the place. There are, in the town, a nice brick church, a school, a post-office, coal office and two stores and at upper Alpha a large K. of P. Hall, black smith shop, and Beaver Creek Township High School built in 1888. The population of Alpha is about 200. The waters of Beaver Creek have turned the wheels of the grist mills for more than a century and the old dam is an attractive place for picnics and fishing parties, but the site of the blockhouses is no longer indicated and the valley is peaceful, productive and beautiful. Trebeins, formerly known as PinckneyviUe, Frost Station and Beaver Station, is two miles nearer to Xenia. For many years a large distillery and milling business was done there. The distillery has now giveii place to a tobacco warehouse. A German •Reformed church and a school house are midway between Alpha and Trebeins. CiESAR'S CREEK CHURCH. STREET SCENE, NEW JASPER. M. ±'. CHURCH AND SCHOOL HOUSE, PAINTERSVILLE. STREET SCENE, PAINTERSVILLE. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 97 Zimmerman is about two miles west of Alpha on the Dayton pike. It has a blacksmith shop and grocery, a school and two Dunker churches. The population is about 100. The railroad station is a quarter of a mile distant and is called Shoup's ; there is one store there and about fifteen people. S. CAESAR'S CREEK TOWNSHIP. Tliis township, one of the four into which the county was divided in 1803, originally included all the southeastern section of the county but has been successively reduced to its present limits by the formation of other townships. Paintersville, the only town, was laid out in September, 1837, for the proprietor, Jesse Painter. It is ten miles southeast of Xenia. It has a Methodist Protestant church, a school, two stores, barber, wagon, and blacksmith shops, restaurant, and saw mill. Societies are represented by the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order, each with its auxiliary of ladies (the Pythian Sisters and the Daughters of America respectively). Population, about 125. CEDARVILLE TOWNSHIP. F. A. Jurkat. Cedarville Township was organized in 1850 from portions of Xenia, Miami, and Ross, to which fact its singular outline is due. The natural antipathy to new things led to a protest on the part of the inhabitants of the older townships, whicii however was of no avail. It lies entirely within the Virginia Military District, and incidentally the Cedarville School District treasury is benefited annually to the extent of about fifty dollars from the Federal Government — a relic of the famous Revolutionary War grant. The area of the township is 23,000 acres. The soil is very fertile, and underlaid with limestone, which is the basis of one of the chief industries. The chief stream is Massie's Creek, named after a noted Indian fighter. In its efforts to reach the Little Miami it has cut its way through the rock, forming cliffs forty feet deep and a mile long, one of the most picturesque CEDARVILLE. Xeuia Avenue. (Photo by Downing.) The Reid Home. (Photo by W. P. McKay) A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 99 scenes jn America. Along its course are a fort of the prehistoric races and a mound which occupies a prominent place in the land scape. (See the article by Prof. W. K. Moorehead). The first settlers were John and Thomas Townsley, who came here from Kentucky in 1801. They were soon reenforced by a colony of Scotch Covenanters from the Chester District of South Carolina, who left there because of their antipathy to slavery. These immigrants were a great reenforcement to the struggling congregation of Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, which had been established in 1804. In spite of a division in 1833 into "Old" and "New Lights," these congregations have vitally deter mined the religious life of the township. The village of Cedarville was laid off by Jesse Newport in 1816, long before the township was formed. It has been vari ously known as Newport's Mill, ITanna's Store, the "Burgh," and Milford. To avoid confusion of post offices and perpetuate the memory of the cedars, the present name was adopted in 1834. The population, which was 1189 in 1900, is now about 1300. It is on the P., C, C. and St. L. Railroad. The interests of town and township are closely allied in all matters, religious, civil, and industrial. There are six churches in the village: the Reformed Presbyterian, New School, founded 1804; Reformed Presbyterian, Old School, founded 1833; United Presbyterian, founded 1830; Methodist Episcopal, founded 1804; Colored Baptist, founded 1830; and the A. M. E. church. Cedar ville College is described elsewhere. The. first school house in the township was erected in 1806; the first in the village was started in 1823. There are now eight school houses in the township, and the village has a high school. The first newspaper, the "Enterprise," was founded in 1876. It was succeeded by the "Herald," which still flourishes. In 1902 was founded the "Record." Among prominent buildings may be mentioned the township hall, built in 1888, and the public library, representing a donation of $11,000 to Cedarville College by Andrew Carnegie. Aside from the cereal products, the farmers of Cedarville Township take pride in their fine breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs. ^^¦¦^^J. School Building. CEDARVILLE. Alford Memorial. Town Hall. Main Street. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 101 which have taken many a trophy. (See the article by O. E. Bradfute). Among the industries of the village are the elevators of D. S. Ervin and Kerr & Hastings Bros., the Ervin lime kilns, the Tarbox Lumber Co., and the Hagar Strawboard and Paper Co. The latter employs over sixty hands, makes a carload of paper a day, and hunts for straw as far as Kentucky. But the greatest product of Cedarville Township is its citi zens. Pioneers are always the soul of enterprise, else they would not become pioneers. Coming from the older settlements of the East, and reenforced by the Scotch Covenanters, they put forth a civilizing energy which has not yet spent itself, but has been car ried to greater heights by their descendants. Most prominent is the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, Ambassador to the Court of St. James, and for a third of a century editor of the New York Tribune. Without the honors which the world has bestowed, he would still bj highly deserving as a model son, especially in the care he be stowed upon his widowed mother during her last years. As a mark of affection he keeps the old homestead in a condition that makes it a place of interest to visitors from far and near. Many other sons of the township have been prominent in civil life, among them being U. S. Senator Jaines H. Kyle, Judge Sainuel Kyle, and Gen. Robert Jackson. Cedarville was well represented in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, and in the Civil War she was the banner township qf the banner county of the banner state, in the number of soldiers sent oiit. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. (Mr. R. C. Stewart, a blacksmith who has been at the same stand during the entire 60 years of the township's history, is authority for the historical part of the following.) Jefferson Township, in the southeast corner of the county, was organized in 1858, being taken from Silver Creek Townsliip. The name was suggested by Peter Bowermaster, who was an ardent admirer of Thomas Jefferson. Bowersville, the only town, is situated on the C. & C. branch of the D. T. & I. Railroad, BOWERSVILLE. Maysville Street. Scenes along the O. S. Railroad. M. E. Church. Photos by HuHBey. A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 103 6 miles south of Jamestown and 15 iniles from Xenia. At the time it was laid off by Christopher H. Hussey and others, in 1848, there were three or four houses there. The name is said by some to have been taken from that of Peter Bowermaster, but in reality it was suggested by D. L. Reaves, who helped lay the town off, in reference to the abundant shade. In 1850 a M. P. church which was on the John Ross farm was moved to the town (a new building took its place about 25 years ago). A little later, a M. E. church (new building, 1902) and a Christian church (recently rebuilt) were established. Bowersville also has a six- room brick school building, a township house, post office, bank, sawmill, two elevators, two hotels, restaurant, livery stable, tele phone office, barber shop, three blacksmith shops, and 12 stores. Population, 1900, official, 370; 1908, estimated, 425. MIAMI TOWNSHIP. Charles H. Ellis. Miami Township was organized June 8, 1808. It was formed from Bath and Xenia Townships and derived its name from fhe Little Miami River which flows through a considerable portion of its territory. This township is one of the most fertile in the State and contains a number of streams and considerable timber. Some of the finest natural scenery in the country is found along the banks of the Little Miami River and its tribu taries. The township contains two villages, Clifton in the eastern section and Yellow Springs in the western. Lewis Davis, whose home was near the big Yellow Spring on the Neff Grounds, is supposed to have been the first settler. He came here about 1799 and lived several years and surveyed considerable property. The first township officers were elected in 1816. In the early times there were but few roads and these were scarcely traversable. The State road from Columbus to Cincinnati, via Clifton and Yellow Springs and Springfield was most generally used. In 1820 good land could be purchased from $3.00 to $6.00 an acre and laborers received 17 cents a day. Grinnell's Mill is one of the few remaining landmarks of the 104 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. early days and is still in operation by Mr. Frank Grinnell, Sr. A little farther up the river from Grinnell's is the famous River side Park now owned by Mr. John Bryan. This park contains over 500 acres of meadow, woods, river, springs and cascades. WHITEHALL. The wildest and most beautiful scenery of the township is located in this park along the Little Miami River. The largest farm barn in the State of Ohio is located at Riverside Park. It was built by Mr. Bryan. It is 206 feet long, 120 feet wide, 75 feet A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 105 high. An L has been joined to the barn and it is about 85 feet by 50 feet. The first story of the barn is built of stone and is a magnificent piece of masonry. A part of the building contains five stories. It is equipped with running water and all modern improvements. Whitehall, the present residence of Mr. E. S. Kelly, has been an ideal country home for over half a century, and its hospitality has always been in keeping with its halls and numerous spacious rooms and the extensive grounds surrounding it. It was built in 1846-7 after the Colonial style of architecture, similar to that of the White House at Washington. The house stands on high ground in the midst of a grove of handsome black walnut trees. From this grove was obtained the only lumber used in the erection of the house and for this reason the place for many years was known as Walnut Hall. At present the house is surrounded by a magnificent grove of young walnut trees covering a park of about twenty acres in extent. About 350 yards to the west lies a beautiful lake, making a landscape view as picturesque as can be found anywhere. The main part of the house is built of brick which were made in a kiln near by. The house was erected by Judge Aaron Har lan and he frequently entertained many distinguished friends and guests. Mr. Kelly has remodeled it with many improvements. Many acres have been added to the original farm until it now contains 1100 acres of park and meadow, of woods and fields. YELLOW SPRINGS. On the northern border of the County, near the headwaters of the Little Miami River, is situated the beautiful and classical village of Yellow Springs, which takes its name from the cele brated yellow spring located in the famous Neff Grounds park. This spring is strongly impregnated with iron, magnesia, lime and silicious matter, and the iron gives a yellow tinge to everything over which it passes. There is a mystic fascination about the place. The healing waters of the Yellow Spring were known to the Indians long before the first white settlers came to make their homes in the 106 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. wilderness. The flow of water is nearly 110 gallons a minute, at a temperature always the same, winter and s.ummer, and in the language of the Indians, "cool as the morning air and with the golden tint of the setting sun." A short distance east of the spring is a mound of stone and earth which is no doubt the work THE LITTLE MIAMI Above Yellow Springs. of a prehistoric race. It is now crowned with a summer house and always attracts the attention of visitors. The Indians who succeeded the Mound Builders evidently set a high value on the spring, for it was located midway between the two famous settle ments of the Shawnees, namely Oldtown, five miles to the south, where were located their most valued corn fields ; and Mad River village, six iniles to the north, where the famous Tecumseh was A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 107 born. The trail connecting these two points passed the spring and was plainly visible to the early settlers. It passed very near the present site of Antioch College and descended into the glen by a break in a rocky wall, which is still used for a foot path. Lewis Davis was the first white man known to have lived here. He came from Cincinnati to Dayton on a trading expedi tion in the year 1799, and while there he learned from an Indian of the great yellow spring and the beautiful country surrounding it. He immediately went to Old Town and followed the old In dian trail up to Yellow Springs where he camped for several days. In the fall of the year he built a log cabin a short distance east of the spring and surveyed considerable land in the surround ing territory. He often described the place to be a garden spot of health and beauty in a vast wilderness. Other white men hearing of the marvelous grandeur of the place came and built cabins in this vicinity and the place was known as Forest Village. About 1820 General Whiteman laid off a number of lots north of the spring, which were named Ludlow. A number of log houses and several frame ones were erected. A sawmill was erected near the stone bridge. About this time there also appeared a colony of communists called Owenites, numbering over two hun dred people. They erected a large building as a comnion resi dence, close to the cascade in the Neff Grounds. They worked in common and divided the proceeds of their labor equally, and in fact seemed to skim along in a rosy imagination of a self- established heaven-on-earth, where all things were equal and the luxuries as existing at that time belonged to the most conimon as well as the best. This free-for-all style however did not last long. Consequently, we find this colony of antitolstoic thinkers scat tered to the four winds, after a residence of only two years. However, other people came to live in their places and in a short time there was quite a village built up here. Among the most prominent of the early settlers were Elisha Mills and his son, Judge William Mills. They owned large tracts of land in and around the village of Yellow Springs. In the year 1809 Elisha Mills erected a residence on what is now known as the Old Yellow Springs House ground. It was afterwards THE GLEN AT YELLOW SPRINGS. The Yellow Spring. (Photo by Stretcljer.) Pompey's Pillar. (Plioto by Earl Richardson.) The Upper FalN. (Photj by Dr. Hewitt.) The Lower Falls. (Photo by Robert Swaby.) A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 109 enlarged and used as a tavern, a Mr. Gardner being the first proprietor. Yellow Springs soon gained national prominence as a health and summer resort and thousands of people from all oyer the country came and visited here annually, to drink from the waters of the great yellow spring and enjoy the beauty of the cool groves and picturesque glens near by. In 1853, Judge Williain Mills engaged the services of a sur veyor and laid off a tract of land comprising 350 acres now in cluded within the corporate limits of Yellow Springs. Lots sold at prices ranging from $150 to $500. Judge Mills reserved a tract of land comprising about twenty acres in the center of Yel low Springs on what is known as the Lawn, now occupied by Williams Means and his family. Judge Mills also donated grounds for schools and churches and he was called the founder of Yellow Springs. The village was incorporated in 1856 and Isaac Kershner was choseii as the first mayor. The village was laid out on a grand scale in which are thirty-seven streets, six of which are over a mile in length. The physical features of the village are unsurpassed anywhere. The Neff Grounds Park, Sheldon's Glen, Taylor's Glen, Grinnell's Park, The Lawn or Means' Park, Glen Forest Cemetery and the Antioch College campus make Yellow Springs a beauty spot upon the face of Mother Nature. You will never find a place more richly endowed with natural beauty and healthful climate, with beautiful trees, glens, springs, cascades, cliffs and gorges than Yellow Springs. It is not surprising that this place has attracted people from all parts of the country. Just opposite the village of Yellow Springs, two small streams unite whose waters a mile away empty into the Little Miami River. Through beds of lime stone, in a deep ravine or glen, lies the course of these streams, skirted along by high projecting cliffs and huge disrupted masses of rock, affording an enchanting variety of scenery. One of these outlying masses is known as Pompey's Pillar. Being an immense rock weighing fifteen or twenty tons, the upper surface almost as smooth and level as a table and easily accommodating twenty people, it affords a popular resort for visitors desiring a 110 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. view of the valley below. This stone is poised upon a pyramid of rocks about eighteen feet high. Another curious formation in the Neff Grounds is the Devil's Wash Basin formed in solid rock in the bed of the stream a short distance above the "Cascade." It is twelve inches deep and six •f^f^DUBS^msfKP^Tr. ¦" " ' ,'fT'^'^ A Bit of Natural Landscape Gardening on the Little Miami above YeUow Springs. feet in diameter with edges as smooth as if carved by hand. A short distance below this basin is a cascade about twelve feet in height which affords a very 'pretty sight as the water goes leaping over the rocks into the deep ravine below, sending out a sparkling mist upon the ferns, flowers and fragrant honeysuckles hanging from the adjacent cliffs. Below the Cascade is the Mag netic Spring discovered after the flood of 1886. Further down the gorge is the old "Indian Silver Mine," whicii in former years A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. Ill was worked considerably but never paid very well. Below this mine two streams unite at a point known as Lovers' Lane. It consists of a lovely shady walk in the grove above, overlooking the two streams and affording a magnificent landscape view. On October 19, 1878, Messrs. Jesse Taylor and D. C. Duncan discovered the Antioch bone cave in the Neff Grounds, a short distance from Pompey's Pillar. It faces the south, is about four feet high and three feet wide, and extends into the cliffs about fifteen feet. Skeletons of a child and of several kinds of animals were found therein. The child was supposed to belong to some prehistoric race. The Lake in the Neff Grounds covers about ten acres of ground and is a perfect gem set between high bluffs and wooded hills and is an attractive place for boating and bathing. The Old Neff House was erected on a bluff near the Yellow Spring in 1840 and for years was crowded with visitors from all over the United States. It burned down in the sixties and a new Neff House was built in 1869-70. The new building was four and a half stories high, contained three hundred rooms, and cost over $100,000. It had quite a run for several seasons. In 1892 it was torrl down and shipped to Cincinnati. Just south of the Neff Grounds is Sheldon's Glen in which, in 1848, the Water- Cure Hotel was erected by Drs. Chaney and Herman. This hotel was a famous health resort and enjoyed a national reputation for several years. It burned down in 1856 and was never re built. In 1850 a convention of ministers of the Christian denomina tion assembled at Marion, New York, and after long deliberation decided to erect a college of high character. A committee was appointed to secure a location. Judge William Mills and a few citizens of Yellow Springs came to the front offering twenty acres of ground and $30,000 in cash to secure the College here. Their offer was accepted and the work began in 1852 and was finished in thirty-seven months. Horace Mann of Massachusetts was chosen first president and under his leadership the institution flourished and gained national prominence. (See the article on Antioch College). YKLLOW SPRINGS. l>to! by str.-iUie, .r- , .Pi'-^^ihylei-ian Church. n, o. tt "Little Antiooli." Hi-h SelrnI n Opera House. ni„ii sciDOI. Campus EiUvanc.;, Antioch A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 113 Mr. Williani Neff, of Cincinnati, purchased "The Glen," now known as the Neff Grounds, in 1841. Lie brought with him Mr. Frank Haffner, who acted as manager of the grounds for a great many years, Mr. Neff only spending a portion of his time here. The property has now passed into the hands of Mr. Theodore Ngff, who is conducting it as a picnic and pleasure resort. Of the early settlers of Yellow Springs, nearly all have passed to the Great Beyond. Mr. Saniuel Cox, who was born here 75 years ago, is still living. He remembers when Yellow Springs was a vast wilderness when there was not a house between the old Yellow Springs House and the Currie place south of town. He has witnessed the growth of the village from a few log huts to a modern up-to-date town with over four miles of cement side walks, electric railway, two telephone systems, telegraph lines, railroad, express, bank, modern postoffice with rural free delivery, opera house, fine college, good churches, schools, lodges and soci eties. There is a good prospect for natural gas. The streets are large and well shaded, the home commodious and comfortable and the people kind and hospitable. The churches of the village are as follows : The Methodist Episcopal was organized in 1837 by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pennell, Mrs. Cox and David Potter, the meetings being held in houses, barns and groves. The first meetings were conducted by Joseph Hill, Robert Cheney and others. In 1840 a building was erected on the northeast corner Dayton and Corry Streets and dedicated to Rev. Hammeline. In 1845-6 Judge Williani Mills and A. B. Johnson donated lots and money for a new edifice on Locust Street in exchange for the old building. A parsonage was built soon after. The present Presbyterian churcli located on Walnut street was organized upon the request of Judge Williani Mills under the direction of the Dayton (New School) Presbytery by Rev. Sam uel D. Sniith, February 3, 1855. The church building was erected in 1859 and dedicated March 3, 1860. The church was legally incorporated as the First Presbyterian Churcli January 19, 1859. The Christian church was organized in 1857-8 by Elder D. T. Ladley and a large brick churcli was erected on the corner of CLIFTON, Tbree upper photos by Rubert Swaby. The Gorge, in summer and winter. Arch Bridge and Falls. North Street, showing town hall (on right) and schoolhouse tower. Clay Street. A DF.SCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 115 Davis and Elm Streets. The church has enjoyed great success in the past, but during the past few years so many of the leading members have died or moved away, that meetings have ceased to be held. The trustees a short time ago sold the church building to the Catholic denomination. The Catholics have been occupying a one-story brick church on High Street for a great many years, and their increasing numbers required a larger church. There are two colored churches here, the Baptist and the African Methodist Episcopal. Both are well organized and have been in existence for nearly fifty years. Yellow Springs is well equipped with societies. The Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows was' organized May 21, 1853; the Free and Accepted Masons No. 421 in August, 1868; F. A. A. M. Fountain Lodge 35, in 1872; Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, No. 1979, in 1881 ; Grand Army of the Republic, 1881 ; Woman's Relief Corps, 1894; Pride of Solomon Lodge, No. 39, June 27 , 1903 ; Junior Order of United Anierican Mechanics, 1901 ; Public Library Association, March 1, 1899. All are active and doing good work in their respective positions. CLIFTON. Dr. D. E. Spahr. The village of Clifton derives its name from the continuous beautiful cliffs that constitute the rocky gorge of the tittle Miami River. It is the oldest town in Miami Township and contains a population of about 300. It was laid out in 1833 by Robert Watson, surveyor, and Timothy Bates and Bennett Lewis, original proprietors. The land was purchased for General Patterson who at that time owned a mill on the river at the present site of Clif ton. The propelling facilities were all that could be desired and soon a distillery, saw mill, and flour mill were in operation. Being located on the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Columbus stage route, the new town was accessible to the outside world. It was incor porated in 1835. Failing to get the railroad from Xenia to Springfield was its Waterloo from which it has never recovered. At one time it bid fair to be the most prosperous business town in 116 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. the county. The most noted pioneer character was Gen. Ben jamin Whiteman, who was a brave" soldier, noted Indian fighter and commissioner, who built the first court house in Xenia and whose old homestead, the old stone house at the big spring east of Clifton, is still standing. Clifton has at this time three churches, a Presbyterian, a United Presbyterian, and a Methodist Episcopal. The city build ing is a much more pretentious building than is usually found in villages of this size. It is a brick structure with mayor's office and lockup downstairs, and J. O. U. A. M. Hall upstairs. The Opera Plouse, a first-class little theater, has a stage 42 feet wide and a seating capacity of 500 — a first-class opera seat for every man, woman and child in the village and 200 of their friends. The school house is a commodious brick structure of two stories, with four teachers. The churches are commodious and up-to- date. The town boasts of three general stores, two blacksmith shops, barber shop, restaurant, notary public, two prosperous physicians, a flourishing K. of P. lodge, a J. O. U. A. M. with a good membership, and a Grand Army Post. The village is prop erly laid out and is beautiful for situation, and is a delightful place to pass the simple life. The people are quiet, intelligent, and hospitable. Many distinguished people who have been associated with Clifton scenery in their youthful days are constantly return ing to admire and enjoy the scenes still so dear to their hearts. THE ROCKY' CANYON AT CLIFTON. To fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the pictur esque Rocky Gorge at Clifton we should make at least two separate visits and explorations. One of these should be in the depth of winter, when the massive rocks are stripped of their summer covering and stand out grim, cold, and silent; when the door of each dark cavern stands open, when each rock, column and embankment stands rugged and magnificent before you and your voice echoes and reverberates throughout the solemn loneli ness of this miniature canyon. Then again we should behold it as we shall today, in early June, bedecked in summer garb, array ed in the drapery of green leaves and creeping vines and flowering A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 117 plants that add much to the loveliness but detract from the appar ent depth and breadth and obstruct our observation. Standing at the breast of the mill dam, at the edge of the village, we observe the winding course of the river, as it flows peacefully through a comparatively level, almost flat, country — no rugged mountains or hills in sight. Yet the peaceful water no sooner drops over the dam than it falls into a deep gully which deepens and widens as it advances. Thus it stealthily glides along, skirting the south and west of the village, secure and v^^BBBIf^^!^^\ if H^ ^U_ rJ ^^^^¦plt^ji^w/ 1 n 1 STEAMBOAT EOCK, CLIFTON. obscured in its almost subterranean passage. As we follow its winding course around the village we encounter first the old saw mill with its water power, a relic of antiquity; then the arch bridge, the flouring mill, and numerous other scenes that bring the camera in the crowd into requisition. At the west of the village the old factory site, with the spring that issues from a cave under the Yellow Springs pike, is a subject for investigation. Here the channel deepens and narrows and the waters, com- 118 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. pressed from the sides and standing on edge plunge over the falls spreading out into a deep dark pool, shaded, cool, and im pressive. Here the "silent old boatman," long since gone to his reward, piloted his canoe loaded with appreciative sightseers en raptured with the soul-inspiring scene of the falls from below. Above these deep waters, where the towering rocky walls approxi mate each other, is the spot where tradition locates that mythical story of the wonderful leap of Simon Kenton, when to save his scalp he made the most astonishing jump on record and so e.scaped the noble red man. A little further on, a depression in the side of the wall of the canyon is designated as the Devil's Armchair. Now we have reached the Cedar Garden, a beautiful grove in the widened chasm. Here are the twin Arch Bridges. A painting of the first one adorns the drop curtain in Xenia's opera house ; from beneath the other a little stream falls over the remains of the Jug Handle fained in story by Captain Howard many years ago. Now the Steamboat Rock and Big Spring claim our admira tion. Then the old paper mill location and the Blue Hole attract us for awhile, but the Brightest and Best, the ideal campiiig grounds and cool spring allure us into resting and refreshments, leaving numerous caves. Brewer's Springs and Cutlass Hole, and Bryan's Riverside camping grounds for the afternoon. In a word, no spot in Ohio has more beauty and attractiveness for the sightseer, or charm for the piscatorial sportsman or senti mental lover, or information for the geologist, botanist, or philos opher. These delightful cliffs have quietly and unpretentiously won their fame — a fame that is as substantial and enduring as their own unalterable rocks. NEW JASPER TOWNSHIP. This township was created in 1853 out of portions of Cedar ville, Ross, Silver Creek, Caesar's Creek and Xenia Townships. New Jasper, the only town, is about 70 years old and has a population of something less than 100. It contains a township house, a Methodist Episcopal church (both of brick and built in 1882), two stores, and a blacksmith shop. There is also a hall SCENES IN ROSS TOWNSHIP. Church of Christ and Street Scene Gladstone. Typical Farm Land. Street Scene and Church of Christ, Grape Grove. 120 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. where the Junior Order and the Daughters of America hold their meetings. On the eastern edge of the township is the Caesar's Creek Baptist church. There are also in the township a tile factory, a sawmill, and two extensive limestone quarries whicii yield excellent building stone. (For a view of New Jasper, see Caesar's Creek Township.) ROSS TOWNSHIP. Ross Township, the northeastern corner of the county, was organized in 1811. It is a very fertile area devoted largely to the raising of corn and the feeding of stock, but without incor porated towns. Part of it was originally prairie and much of its soil is black. Two small communities within its limits. Grape Grove and Gladstone, have each a school, a churcli of Christ, a grocery, and a blacksmith shop. Most of the trading is done in Jamestown and Cedarville. SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP. This township was organized in 1811 and included all the southeastern corner of the county until the formation of Jefferson Township in 1858. It now contains but one town, Jamestown. Mechanicsville, two iniles south of Jamestown, is merely a crossing of the roads where fornierly were a store and black smith shop. Jamestown was laid out and recorded in 1816 and so named; for Jaines Browder, an early pioneer farmer of the locality. The site was originally owned by Thoinas Browder and Martin Men denhall. The earliest enterprises that are recalled are the wool- carding mill of James Hodges, and Merrick & McBride's still and grist mill. The proprietors of these enterprises together with most of the farmers in the locality were immigrants from Carolina and A^irginia. The selection of the site of the town was a happy one; it is 16 iniles from Wilmington, 18 from Wash ington, and 12 from Xenia. This isolation, even with the travel ing facilities of today, serves to mitigate the competition of the larger towns. It is to the large farming area whose trade it thus possesses that the to-yvn owes its steady prosperity a,n(i growth. ;#v JAMESTOWN. Main Street, looking west. Cemetery Entrance Church Street, looking south. The Old Swimming Hole. Three upper photos by Mock. 122 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. The region about Jamestown is a broad, level plain, extending for iniles in every direction. The soil is a deep, rich, black loam that brings phenomenal prices. There have been no spasmodic booms with their inevitable subsequent depression at Jamestown. The several attempts to wards the commercialization of the oil and gas of whicii the region gives indications have been too tentative to involve much loss. In the spring of 1884 a cyclone destroyed nearly a thirds of the town, but the fact that there are no evidences of the disaster today exemplifies the industry and prosperity of the citizens. While there are no evidences of Jamestown's calamity, the abund ance and quality of the farm produce that coines to its markets is still bearing record of Jamestown's greatest triumph, namely, the Jamestown Fair, which was started in 1860 and soon attained proportions second only to those of the Ohio State Fair. It was discontinued several years ago. Today Jamestown's population- is about 1500 (official, in 1900, 1205). Its industrial life is represented by two grain ele vators, one flouring mill, one lumber yard, one cement block fac tory, one tile mill, one carriage factory, two banks, two news papers, two hotels, three restaurants, three livery barns, two greenhouses, forty stores and shops of various kinds, and a com mercial club. The town is situated on the Wellston division of the C. H. & D. Railroad. Jamestown's social organizations are : Masons, I. O. O. F., O. E. S., G. U. O. of O. F., Junior Order, K. of P., M. W. of A., and the Ladies' Advance Club. There are nine churches and an opera house in Jamestown. The denominations represented are: Baptist (2), M. E. and A. M. E., U. P., Church of Christ, Friends, Roman Catholic, and Christian. The first characteristics that impress a visitor in the town are its beautiful deep-verandaed homes and the city-like appear ance of its business section. It is Jamestown's unique good fortune to possess the tranquility of the village without its lethargy, and the industry of a city without its frenzy. F. McD. T. JAMESTOWN. Main Street Public School. Presbyterian Church. Opera House. Photos by Muck. Methodist Church. 124 Greene county 18O3-19O8. SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP. This township was organized in 1856 from Sugar Creek, Caesar's Creek, and Xenia Townships. It is fertile, containing much bottom land, and is second only to Sugar Creek in tobacco production. Spring Valley, its chief town, is situated on a broad, level plain surrounded by a labyrinth of hills. The settlement, orig inally called Transylvania and consisting only of several houses, a general store, and the tavern and stage station of Jeffrey Tru man, "was on the west bank of the river, but with the construction of the Panhandle Railroad in 1845 the population shifted to its present center under the eastern range of hills. Ainong the first industries were the pork packing and ship ping company of Byrd & Walton, Barrett's woolen mill, Dougher ty's linseed oil mill, and the large cooper shop of Giles Kinney. At present Spring Valley has a population of 700 (official, in 1900, 522). It has a flouring mill, two saw mills, a canning factory, a concrete block factory, three blacksmith shops, a national bank (surplus $60,000), a hotel, two restaurants, a poultry shipping house, two barber shops, and seven stores. Spring Valley's springs are its proudest possession. There are said to be fourteen different kinds of water within a radius of two iniles. From one spring gushes a stream of water seven inches in diameter. "Mag netic" water flows from a pipe that was drilled for oil, while within ten inches of it strong medicinal water with no magnetic quality is ejected intermittently by the force of its own gas. This water comes from 1450 feet below the surface; it has about the same density as sea water and its chief constituents are common salt and Epsom salts. There are three churches in Spring Valley : the Methodist Episcopal (which in 1907 erected a new $8,000 church of con crete blocks), the Methodist Protestant, and the Friends'. A new school and high school building was also built of concrete blocks in 1907. Claysville, or Roxanna, as it is now called, is a shipping point on the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad. It is about two iniles below Spring Valley, and the population is about 30. SPRING VALLEY. ¦ M. E. Church. Main Street. Walnut Street. (Photo by Rosa E. Johnson.) View from the Mound. 126 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. New Burlington, 9 miles south of Xenia, has its northern section in Spring Valley Township, but the larger part of it lies in Clinton County. F. McD. T. SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. James R. Hale, Assistant State Librarian. The first of the "Big Four" townships to be carved, as it were, in 1802, from the then unplatted wild known ever after as Greene County, Ohio, was Sugar Creek. In 1856 what is now Spring Valley Township was taken from Sugar Creek, previous to which time the citizens of Spring Valley Township went to Bellbrook to vote at general elections whicii attracted large crowds. The Little Miami River enters the township at the northeast and flows southward more than half the extent of the township, to where it turns eastward and enters Spring Valley. Little Sugar Creek, a small stream, extends from the extreme northwest toward the center of the township where, at a point just south of Bellbrook, it joins Big Sugar Creek which flows from the west, and at this juncture the uniting streams become Sugar Creek proper which, flowing southeast, ernpties into the Little Miami. From this small stream, or from the abundance of sugar timber in this locality, the township takes its name. The industries of the township belong mostly to agriculture, and a very consider able acreage is given to tobacco, producing superior grades commanding good prices. Though there have been several flour ing mills along the river, but one yet remains of the now almost vanished pioneer industry. Building stone of considerable quan tity and quality has been quarried in the northern part of the township. The first settlers of the township came up from Cincinnati, "the gateway of the northwest," and very early settlements were made at Bellbrook and Clio. The oldest house now standing in the township, or in Greene County, is near Clio, near the site of the temporary hut first built by the Wilson brothers in 1796, and was erected by these brothers for their father in 1800. On the farm just north of Clio was located the first mill Jor grinding A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 127 corn. It was worked by hand by the neighbors as they in turn would grind their own corn from which "mush" was made. Wild animals abounded in this locality, upon which the settlers depended for meat, and between Clio and Centreville was located what was called "a bear wallow," a boggy place where the bears went to roll themselves in the oozy mud as our modern swine are wont to do, and where at one time, as it is related, one man killed two bears and one deer. At Bellbrook the settlement was made at a very early period. The father of Dr. James Clancy, from Kentucky, settled here in 1786-7, purchased the land that became the east side of the village, and built a log cabin on the site of the present Bellbrook Inn, where he "kept tavern" for a nuniber of years, building another tavern on the same site in 1797 which was a large two-story frame. In this building was also kept the first store and it is related that Joseph C. Vance (who, after laying out Xenia went to Champaign County and whose son Joseph was elected governor of Ohio in • 1836) also kept tavern in this building about 1797. Bellbrook is the only incorporated municipality in the township ; it was laid out in 1816 but was not incorporated until 1832. The progenitors of the village were, Stephen Bell, after whom it was named (and who afterward became the mayor of Springfield), Dr. Jaines Clancy, and Henry Opdyke, they being owners of the land on whicii the coming metropolis was to stand. In 1850 it flourished with a population of 502; in 1870 it was 369; in 1880 it reached 425, while in 1900 it was 352, the population of the township for 1900 being 1368. The first schoolhouse stood nearly opposite the present vil lage school building. It was a rude structure of native logs. Janes Bain was the popular teacher of the period ; he was also a "brewer of beer" and his malt house stood in the hollow near the schoolhouse, so that he could teach the school and brew the beer at the same time. The malt house was a rude structure, also frequently given to conflagrations, on which occasions the teacher would sound the alarni and, quickly ordering the school dismissed, would lead the big boys and big girls of the school, as an impro vised fire brigade, to the rescue. Many other buildings for school BELLBROOK. " Government Buildingr.' Bath House. Street Scene. High School. Township House. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 129 purposes were erected from time to time, until in 1854 when the brick building of three rooms, in the north part of the village, was erected. This was quite a large and popular school for many years. Many of the former graduates in learning were fledged from what was known as "The Acadeniy," which was a large frame building and stood near the present Presbyterian church but was destroyed by fire in 1850. At present the village has a special district school and. the township high school located within the town. The various religious denominations have always been well represented in Sugar Creek. The first church building was erected by the. Baptists (Predestinarian) at Middle Run in the extreme part of the township in 1799, where services are yet held. The first churcli building in the vicinity of Bellbrook was erected by the Associate Presbyterians at the northwest corner of the Pioneer-Associate graveyard, in 1811. The M. E. and M. P. denominations have flourished in the village from the be ginning; in 1842 the latter erected the present building and in 1844 the former's present house of worship was erected. The Presbyterian churcli was organized about 1828 and purchased from the Universalists its first building, which was known as the bell church because it had a bell in its belfry, and was removed for the present building. The U. P. church erected in 1859 the large frame building whicii was destroyed by fire when known as the Magnetic Springs Hotel, the church organization having removed from the township. The Christian church is located southeast of Bellbrook and that of the Disciples (Salein) north of Clio. These religious organizations had their burial grounds near the church buildings. In 1850 the Bellbrook Cemetery Association Was formed, purchasing mortuary grounds about a half mile north of the village and from year to year these grounds have been well kept and beautified. Pork packing on an extensive scale, making Bellbrook the Porkopolis and business center of a widely extended territory, began here about 1835, when the brick porkhouse in the village was built. At this house were received, from the slaughter house west of town, about 250 hogs for each working day of 12 hours. 130 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. They were hauled in long processions of farmers' wagons piled high with the clean, white, stark bodies, noses ornamented with blood-red icicles, and the round red wound in the white foreheads showing where the unerring blow with the hammer had struck them down; these, with the noisy drivers, filled the street all day long and often far into the night. Then came the weighing on the sprangled arms of the beam scales just within the door of the porkhouse ; the announcement of the weight in stentorian tones, likeTlie town crier at an auction ; then the busy, noisy scene within, as the hogs were cut into hams, shoulders, sides, etc., by the huge flying cleavers — all made quite a scene of commercial commotion in the old town. Two popular incidents have most conspired to make Bell brook famous, at least as famous as she is, the achievement of "Sleepy Tom, the Pacing Wonder,'' in 1879, and the discovery of the Magnetic Springs in 1882. This remarkable horse was a Bellbrook village "scrub" and led a vagabond's life as a colt, and after some efforts at putting him in training because of his natu ral pacing gait, he lost his eyesight and was known as "Blind Tom," and as this gave him a sleepy appearance he received the racing name of "Sleepy Tom." At Chicago in 1879, when he was about twelve years old, he went in the great pacing race and took third, fourth, and fifth mile heats in 2:16^, 2:16, and 2:\2]/^ for a purse of $15,000. In the last heat he recorded the best time known in the world in any gait, and immediately Tom's name became a household word and his fame spread throughout the civilized world, but he lived to neglected age, and perished miserably in a burning stable "out west." The Magnetic Springs were discovered in 1882 by the plas terer who was finishing the basement of the old United Presby terian church building, on North Main Street, for a dwelling. It was noticed that the trowel used in the work appeared to become magnetized after being immersed for a time in the water of the old spring used as a well under the floor of the basement. The water was taken to a chemist and a partial analysis was procured at the cost of five dollars. The partial analysis was quite formid able in technical nanies for the various ingredients and appeared A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 131 especially so when placed upon large advertising posters by a local artist and amateur promoter and placed in conspicuous places about the village. Many citizens began at once to take the liquid prescription for their many ailments, most always reporting beneficial results, which were gathered as testimonials and, with the account of the great discovery (heralded as the "lost waters" for which Ponce de Leon searched in vain), were sent to the newspapers far and wide. This free advertising brought a con tinuous stream of visitors to the village from near and far, bring ing all sorts of vessels with which to carry away the healing waters. On one Sunday, during the first throes of the excitement occasioned by the great discovery, the streets of the village were completely filled with vehicles, as never before, the crowd being estimated, for this one day, at five thousand or more. The old churcli building was used for some time as hotel and bathhouse but was destroyed by fire. The Bellbrook Inn was erected across the way, south of the original spring but near what was claimed as another spring "just as good" as the original. The Inn was also destroyed by fire recently, leaving the bathhouse which covers the old spring as the only building to mark the spot where the great Magnetic once flourished ; but "crushed to earth" it may "rise again." With the magnetic water came the newspaper called The Magnet, which was followed by The Moon, which flourished, more or less, for some years but finally yielded to the logic of the situation and passed into peaceful oblivion. The taverns of the village were points about which many of the pioneer incidents cluster. The first was the Clancy tavern as already 'mentioned; another was called "The Mansion House," with a very high sign post in front with the name in large letters on it, part of which is now the last house on South Main Street, west side; then "The Eagle Exchange" with its sign post, on the northwest corner of the public square ; and the "Green Bay Tree," now the brick building on the west side of North Main Street. These were, in their time, the centers for public meetings, elec tions, conventions and general conviviality, and on such occasions the large barns and yards would be filled with champing horses with now and then a stopover stagecoach ainong the pioneer 132 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. vehicles. For those were stagecoaching days and Bellbrook was on the stage line from Dayton to the Little Miami station at Spring \^alley. It was certainly a moving spectacle to see the prancing horses, six of them to the coach, and of the best stock, in fine harness, and each horse with a full set of bells ; then to hear the driver wind his bugle, see the passengers clambering to their seats, perhaps a cheer would go up for some favorite candi date, with a parting blast from the horn as the horses would dash THE OLD TAVEEN "AS IT HST TO BE. Drawn by Kenneth Hale. away or, at times, the bugler would continue in strains of beauti ful numbers, sending the echoes among the hills and vales, as the coach moved on its rumbling way down the valley. The old tavern stand on the corner, before mentioned, has yet upon the roof, up alongside the capacious chimney, a bell hanging in its pagoda-like house, where it has hung for more than two-thirds of a century. The old bell has a peculiar roundelay when rung as it used to ring, and it was long ago decided that the old bell was A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 133 trying to say: "Pig-tail done!", repeating it three times to each measure. So that this old bell is tenderly associated with the many pleasing reminiscences in the memory of those who lived in the old town in the other days, and its fame is embalmed in prose and poetry by the local historians and bards, to which James Whitcomb Riley in his "Ponchus Pilut" has added : " Yes, an' out in our bacl-c yard He he'ps 'Lindy rendur lard ; An', wite in tlie fire there, he Roast' a pig-tail wunst for me — An ist nen th' old tavurn-bell Rung, down town, an' he say.s 'Well Hear dat! Lan' o' Canaan, son. Ain't dat bell say " Pig-tail done ! " Pig-tail done ! Go tell Son !- Tell dat Chile dat Pig-tail done ! " * Bellbrook and Sugar Creek responded to the first roll of the drum, or the first blast of the bugle, that called to arms in defense of the old flag and the Union in the Civil War. It was early in that trying time (November, 1861) when the first soldier son answered his last roll call, and the little village seeming to nestle so peacefully among the Miami hills was called to attend its first war funeral. The following years, all during the mighty flood tide of the great struggle, brought untold sorrow to Sugar Creek, a loyal township of a banner-winning county, sending, ac^cording to the published roster, 205 soldiers to the front. The wandering sons of Bellbrook and Sugar Creek do not forget the old home, but many of them take delight in going back to the old place to revisit the old landmarks, recall the scenes of the long-past at the old place. In Dayton there has been for a number of years a society of the former residents of the Bell ain abswer fco an inquiry as to whether the Hoosier poet's idea in this poem was taken from the old tavern bell in Bellbrook, Mr. Hale has just received the following: " No; but the same kind of a country town, tavern, and bell, — for it always said ' Pig-fcail done ', G-od bless it. Heartily but hastily yours, James Whitcomb Eilet." A number of years ago some versus by Mr. Hale on the old bell appeared in the Xenia Gazette, in which he exploited '" Pig-fcail done " for whafc he believes fco be the firsfc time in print. That two different bells should say "Pig-tail done" is not utterly im probable ahd the Bellbrook bell has no need to yield priority, for, as Mr. Hale says, " it was saying ifc seventy or more years ago."- Ed. 134 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. brook locality known as the Gem City Bellbrook Club, organized for the purpose of keeping green the memory of the old home. The club for several years was championed by the venerable Simon Sparks, who has passed to his final home leaving a ven erated memory. This society held a number of annual meetings at the old home place and the spirit of these meetings went abroad to fornier residents living farther away, and in 1905, on Labor Day, the first general home-coming for all former residents of the locality was held, and it was a surprising success, being largely attended by representatives from a number of states, widely separated, but coming together once more at the old home, for the first time in many years, in a happy, handshaking time. Three annual meetings have been held, all eminently successful and growing in interest each year, with ever increasipg attendance of loyal sons and daughters of old Sugar Creek. XENIA TOWNSHIP. Xenia Township was organized in 1805 from portions of Beaver Creek, Caesar's Creek and Sugar Creek Townships. It includes a larger area than any other township in the county and is one of the most famous for its fancy stock. Being the towii- ,ship of the county seat, it contains a number of county institu tions, such as the courthouse, jail, etc., mentioned in the historical sketch. Situated about two miles west of Xenia are the County Infirmary and the Children's Home. The former comprises a three-story brick building, erected about forty years ago, set in a farm of 105 acres and supplied with water from the city water works. There are usually about seventy inmates in the Infirmary, while in the Home, an older building across the road, about thirty children are cared for. In addition to the city of Xenia, the township contains the villages of Oldtown, Goes and Wilberforce. Oldtown, three miles north of Xenia, has a celebrated his tory whicll is related in the article on "The Original People of the County," Part II. At present it is the home of about 50 people and has a M. E. church, a school house, a flour mill, a store, and the inevitable blacksmith shop. It is no longer a station on the railroad. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 135 Goes owes its' importance chiefly to the Miami Powder Com pany which has its plant there, employing about sixty men. The town is a flag station on the Springfield and Xenia railroad and has a school house, store, and blacksmith shop. The waters of a large spring above the town supply its 200 inhabitants with pure water at little cost. Wilberforce was formerly a health resort called Tawawa Springs, but since 1856 it has been the seat of Wilberforce Uni versity, whicll is described in a separate article. Wilberforce has a population of 300, exclusive of the University students, and contains some attractive residences. There are three restaurants and a store, and a flag station on the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad three quarters of a mile away. XENIA. "Hoke" Sinith, Editor of the Xenia Republican. When, a few years ago, a citizen of Xenia went to South America on a business mission, he was not long at his hotel until sought out by another who had formerly lived beneath the Stars and Stripes and who wanted to learn the news from home. He showed the Xenian a little old-fashioned railroad locomotive whicll bore the name "Xenia" in faded letters. It had once been in use on the old C. H. & D. Railroad when that line was a narrow gauge, and for years had snorted and puffed its way through Xenia. Then when its day of usefulness had ended here it had beeil bought, together with several other of the old engines, by a sharp contractor and had been shipped to Columbia, S. A., where it is still in service. Go where you will in the world, there is always some evidence at hand that Xenia is on the map. The products of our factories go all over the world and Xenians them selves are everywhere. Be it a great disaster or a great cele bration, you will always find some Xenian in it. The St. Louis balloonists who sailed above Xenia some time ago, remembered the city because of its hundreds of shade trees. Many of the fine old trees have given way before ruthless hands for the building of cement sidewalks and street paving, but the *fe / v> ^ Photos by F. E. McGervey and by Canby. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 137 pedple have jealously guarded them wherever possible and have kept the grateful shade on nearly all the thoroughfares outside the business district. If you have never seen Xenia from a height it will pay you to climb to the top of the Court House tower some day. It is like looking at the old town through new eyes. A fine old place it is, with its miles of shade trees stretching in all directions, its homes surrounded by green lawns, its stretches of cement walk glistening white under the rays of the sun. Smoke stacks send up their volume of smoke, proving at times a good deal of a nuisance to the residents, but at least giving evidence of our com mercial activity; and everywhere there is the evidence of cleanli ness, prosperity, and contentment. And if it be a bright day and the harvests about to ripen you will want to spend some time up there getting acquainted with the surrounding country and picking out familiar objects. Far away may be seen dimly the spires of historic Antioch. You are impressed anew with the fact that there is no more beautiful spot thah the fertile Miami valley. No wonder that it has been called a modern Arcadia ; the green fields sweep away in long stretches, broken here and there by the streams along which are the syca mores and willows ; comfortable farm houses and big barns filled to bursting attest the generosity of Mother Earth in yielding up her choicest fruits for us. From the horn of plenty have been scattered the good things of earth all over this section. The fancy breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine have brought fame to the ciDunty of Greene. No other farmers in the United States have taken so many prizes for fine stock. In the midst of such surroundings no wonder Xenia has grown and prospered. We have our peculiarities, to be sure. We have a steam railway which runs along the principal street of the city, right by the Court House. Lohg freight trains passing along the principal thdroughfare look queer to strangers and in time past efforts have been made to get the railroad off the street but to no purpose and, after all, we rather like it, because we are accustomed to it. We are like London, England, in one respect — some of our strfeets are very narrow. The man who laid out Xenia was 138 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. possessed of a streak of econoniy which has given us cramped quarters in some sections. POPULATION. The last census, taken in 1900, gave Xenia a population of 8,696. Since that time the city has enjoyed phenomenal growth and these figures fall far short of the population at the present time ; nor do they embrace the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home which lies at our doors and whicii is the home of about a thousand persons. We have passed the ten thousand mark and are still growing. The city is divided into four wards, each of which consists of two precincts. The present First Ward is the westernmost, the Second next, then the Third, and the Fourth east of all, the main dividing lines being West, Detroit, and Leech Streets. It is well governed ; the laws strictly enforced. The police force consists of a chief and seven patrolmen. RECENT IMPROVEMENTS. Within the past ten years Xenia has made long strides. It has witnessed the erection of a splendid new court house, the corner stone of which was laid in 1901. The old court house had served its purpose since 1846 and had been the scene of many memorable events and there were a great many of the "old timers" who gazed at it with fond eyes as its walls disappeared. Upon its site has appeared a structure that has proven a model in con venience and beauty of architecture. A leading publication recently gave pictures of a few of the model court houses in the United States and the Greene County structure was selected as one of these. It is about the only instance in the country where a court house was built within the appropriation. The commis sioners were authorized to sell 4 per cent bonds to the amount of $200,000 but only $184,000 worth were required to erect and furnish the structure. The building of the court house awoke civic pride in Xenia. The building was surrounded on all sides by streets whigh k the Photos by DoHning. XENIA. '¦¦ Detroit Street, looking north. Market Sfcreet, looking east. (City HaU on the left.) Main Street, looking Sagt. 14.0 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. spring became well nigh impassable. In the course of time came the street paving. Main, Detroit, and Market Streets were paved with brick and Second Street with asphalt, making in all about five miles of paved streets. Prior to this improvement there had been built a complete sewerage system, adding greatly to the city's healthfulness. Then came the construction of miles upon miles of cement walks. The streets are well lighted. These public utilities require the expenditure of a vast sum of money each year. Last year it cost the people of Xenia, including interest, the sum of $118,644.21 to make the wheels of the city government turn smoothly. And this sum did not include the special assessment for paving, sewerage, etc. We have been pouring money into the public improvements. Our paved streets cost us the sum of $197,600 and the sanitary sewerage system $80,000. This does not include several thousand dollars to take care of the storm water. Yet Xenia is a rich city and can well afford to make these improvements and take care of its citizens in public utilities. Last year there was on the tax duplicate personal property which amounted to $1,587,863 and real estate the value of which was $2,543,250, a total valuation of $4,130,113. THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY. A building in which all may take a' great pride is the fine Carnegie library located on East Church Street, built by the gen erosity of Andrew Carnegie who gave $20,000 for the building property and afterward contributed $1,350 for the furnishings. Last year there were circulated thirty thousand volumes for home use. Away from the noise of the city and set in a green sward it affords a restful place where all may have access to the best of literature. Another public building which may prove to be a reality before long is a Government building for which Congress has made an appropriation of $10,000 for a site, but at this writing the location has not yet been decided. It would be the home of the Xenia post office and other Government offices of the Sixth Congressional District, of which Xenia is the largest city. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 141 THE POST OFFICE. The Xenia post office is now occupying a room in the Y. M. C. A. building on the southeast corner of Greene and Market Streets. The post office force consists of the postmaster, as.;istant postmaster, five clerks, six city carriers, ten rural carriers, one mail messenger and one special delivery messenger. The }'early pay roll for these employees amounts to $23,840. Twentv-five mails are received and a like number dispatched each day. I'ostal receipts for the year ended March 31, 1908, were $18,827.62. Money orders written the year ended 1907 amounted to $62,179.62. Mone}' orders paid the same year amounted to $50,833.71. FIRE DEP.\RTMENT ,\ND W.VTER WORKS. Xenia has long been noted for its splendid fire protection. There are two fire stations, one centrally located on Whiteman Street, the other at Cincinnati Avenue and Second Street. Tln-re are five regular firemen and eight pipe men who may be depended upon at a moment's notice to respond to calls. Speaking of the fire department brings us to the subject of the magnificent water system possessed by Xenia. It was built in 1887 and there are two stations. The one on the Springfield pike derives its supply of water from springs and the one built later on the Cincinnati pike gets a supply of clearest crystal water from wells. The big engines with their steady "chug" send this water in abundant supply to the mammoth standpipe whicii is located upon high ground and affords at all times a pressure such as few systems possess. On an average five hundred thousand gallons of water each day are distributed to the inhabitants of Xenia. The Company is owned and under the supervision of local capitalists and has recently secured a renewal of its franchise for ten years. Mr. George F. Cooper, who is the efficient super intendent, had charge of the construction of the plant and knows every detail connected with this important feature of the city's well being. GAS AND ELECTRICITY. Two electric coinpanies supply Xenia with light and power. 14.2 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. Natural gas has found its way to our doors and has proven a great boon to the citizens of Xenia in its cheapness (25 cents per thousand) and cleanliness both as a fuel and light. No artificial gas is now manufactured in the city. At this time there are over 1,300 consumers of natural gas. It was introduced only a couple of years ago but Xenia people were quick to appreciate its advant ages. Our supply of gas, which has always proven adequate, comes from the Mt. Vernon, O., fields. COMMUNICATIONS. Xenia depends to a very large extent upon the agricultural resources for its support and business but a number of splendid industries have grown up. The shipping facilities have proven at all times adequate to tempt the manufacturer. Our situation upon the great Pan Handle system of railways, brings us in close touch with the leading cities of the country. Electric lines make it but a step to Springfield and Dayton. By our steam lines New York City is only fifteen hours away, Chicago eight hours and St. Louis nine. The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway taps a rich coal mining country and hauls the black diamonds our way in vast quantities. Two telephone systems afford Xenians quick and easy com munication. Each one of the companies occupying the field has approximately a thousand subscribers in Xenia while lines from both systems radiate to all parts of the county and to the smaller towns, proving a wonderful aid in the transaction of business. The great majority of Greene County farmers may today be reached within a few moments by the aid of the telephone. THE TWINE AND CORDAGE INDUSTRY. Xenia's principal industry and that in which more money by far is invested than in any other single enterprise is the making of twine and cordage. The city is known throughout the United States as a center for the twine industry and it is a inatter of pride that the great grain-growing districts of the West and South call upon Xenia to a large extent for the twine which binds the grain which feeds a large portion of the world. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 143 The Hooven & Allison Company is Xenia's largest concern. It employs 550 persons, niaking rope of all description and com mercial and binder twines and sending its products to all parts of the United States and Canada. The remotest countries of the earth yield raw products to the mills : the jute coines from China and Japan ; Manila hemp from the Philippines ; sisal from Yuca tan, Mexico ; also hemp from Russia and Italy and Ainerican hemp from Kentucky. There are now three large mills in opera tion and in the early part of June, 1908, there was blown for the first time to summon the employees together the whistle of one of the largest mills of the West. It is located on Cincinnati Avenue and contains floor space to the extent of 120,000 square feet. In addition to the regular channels of trade the company maintains branch houses at Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, and Seattle. The Hooven & Allison Company is one of the pioneers in the making of twine in this country, which has grown year by year from a very feeble and primitive method of produc ing twine, until the present extensive industry has been achieved. A history of the twine-making industry in Xenia would prove interesting but it is not within the province of this article. The R. A. Kelly Cordage Company is another of Xenia's splendid industries along the same line. It employs a force of 100 men. Binder twine is made but the chief product is manila rope. Its rope is of a high grade quality, the United States gov ernment using it in its work. Rope as large as three and a half inches in diameter is turned out from the factory, this size being in great demand for the drilling of gas wells. Operated under the same management is the Kelly Machine Shops where skilled labor is employed at good wages. Here is made what is knowii as a "shaper," a machine tool, which is shipped to all parts of the workl and for which there is a steady and growing demand. OTHER INDUSTRIES. The Xenia Shoe Factory has spread the fame of Xenia in a manufacturing way. The factory has been established only about eighteen years and from a humble beginning has grown to a plant which, when running to its full capacity, employs 300 hands and 144 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. turns out 1500 pairs of shoes each day. Its traveling salesmen cover a large section of the country and its products are shipped to all parts of the United States. It has a paid-up capital stock of $100,000. The Xenia Fuse Factory, an adjunct to the Aetna Powder Company, is another notable industry. There are six substantial brick buildings devoted to this plant, located on Home Avenue. It would be strange that a great work like the construction of the Panama canal were in progress and Xenia products not in some way find their lodgement there. And thus we find the Xenia factory shipping to that far away point the fuses that touch off the enormous blasts whicii will pave the way for the ships of all nations to pass through to the Pacific without that long tiresome voyage around the Horn. The plant employs sixty people. The work is light and not considered dangerous. The fuses from the factory are in great demand all over the world. Australia, Ger many, Japan and far away South Africa use them in their blasting. The Xenia Star Nurseries located here ship away annually a million trees. The nurseries occupy three farms, two on the Day ton pike and one on the upper Bellbrook pike, in all comprising 350 acres of land. The trees are shipped to all parts of the country. $15,000 is distributed each year for labor and in a busy season from one hundred to one hundred and fifty hands are employed. The Xenia Board & Paper Company employs about forty persons. It is a branch of an Indianapolis concern. The box board is used for the making of suit cases, paper boxes and sim ilar articles and the Xenia mill has a capacity of twenty tons per day. Recently there has been installed much costly machinery, enabling the mill to produce two- and three-ply board and greatly increasing its usefulness. The ITollencamp plant for making artificial ice is located at the corner of Columbus and Third Streets. It has a capacity of thirty tons a day and keeps our citizens reasonably cool. A cold storage departnient is run in connection with the ice plant. The plant of the George Dodds & Sons Company has the A K ~^ ^^^^^ Jit. ms ^^ I^I^^^B J B-- ., "^ ^^^|g^^^«,w>.t^?ti-'- ,• .4^ SOME OP XENIA'S SCHOOL BUILDINGS. East Main Street High. _ ^ Spring Hill. McKinley (West Market St.; Central High. (Phutu by Downing.) East Market Street. 146 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. distinction of being by far the most handsomely equipped retail establishment for monuments and cut stone work in the United wS tates. The company does business in several states and as far west as Denver. The city has five solid financial institutions. Included in this nuinber are two National banks, the Citizens' National and the Xenia National. The Commercial and Savings Bank is a newer institution but in excellent standing. There are two Build ing and Loan Associations, the Home and the People's. The utmost confidence is reposed in these monied institutions. The Eavey Wholesale Grocery is one of Xenia's big institu tions. One of the most costly fires that Xenia has ever had swept this grocery away in the early part of 1908, costing the lives of two brave firemen, who were crushed by falling walls. A new building of reinforced concrete has been erected on a new site, at the corner of Third and Detroit Streets. This new building is a splendid addition to the business property of the city. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The Xenia Public Schools have a reputation that extends all over the State. The .State School Commissioner, who has the legal authority for the rating of high schools, has put Xenia in the first class. So also has the association of the leading colleges of this section, so that pupils who receive a diploma from the Xenia public schools are eligible to enter the colleges which belong to this association upon the diploma alone. No other tax is paid so cheerfully as that which supports the schools. The annual sum paid out for tuition alone amounts to $30,000 annually; for janitor service is paid about $4,000 and a like sum for contingent expenses. The Board of Education is composed of seven mem bers and there are about fifty teachers. The schools occupy six buildings, there being two high schools, the Central and the East Main Street, the latter being set apart for the accommodation of colored youth. Last year the enumeration showed the number of children of school age to be 2510; the enrollment is about 1665. Mention of the Xenia public schools would not be complete with out a \yord as to its superintendent, Prof. E. B. Coj^. He has A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 147 held that position for more than a quarter of century, being elected in 1881 and prior to that time having served as assistant principal of the high school. ITe is still guiding the public schools with his old-time energy, foresight, and wisdom. CHURCHES. The many splendid churches of the city are a tremendous factor in the life of the people. An open-hearted generosity marks the benevolences of the various churches and thousands of dollars are given annually to the cause of missions and for home work. One hundred years ago this autumn a minister of the A. R. church preached in Xenia and two years later, 1810, a congrega tion was organized. That congregation becaine the First United Presbyterian church just 50 years ago, when the Associate Re formed united with the Associate church and formed the United Presbyterian denomination. In 98 years the congregation has had nine pastors : John_Steele, J. R. Bonner, R. D. Harper, W. G. Moorehead, T. H. Hanna, J. H. Wright, W. B. Barr, R. G. Ram say and S. E. Martin. The present membership is more than 300. Plans have been drawn for a new house of worship.. An envi able record has been made by the congregation in many lines of Christian work. One of the beautiful church homes of the city is the Second United Presbyterian churcli at the corner of Market and West Streets. It was erected at a cost of $28,000 and has only been occupied about a year. The church is of picturesque appearance, of the English timbered style of architecture. It was constructed of native limestone. Last year this church gave for benevolences the splendid sum of $5,872.59. It has a membership of 365. Christ Church Episcopal was established in Xenia 52 years ago. It was a small congregation but a zealous devotion to duty marked those who held its standard aloft. Last year the churcli took on new life. A new church edifice has just been completed on East Church street at a cost of $8,000. There are now 85 com municants, the number having double within the past year. The church while small is beautiful in its arrangements, being of the = Presliuiet-mn XENIA CHUECHES. Photos by Canby. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY ANU ITS TOWNSHIPS. 149 early English Gothic style of architecture. The plans for it were drawn by the rector, Rev. H. J. Simpson. The First Methodist Episcopal Church is another congrega tion which is worshiping in a comparatively new church. This congregation consists of over 800 members. Ten years ago the church was remodeled and converted into a beautiful structure. On Home-Coming Sunday will be celebrated the centennial anni versary of its fqunding in Xenia. The Reformed Church of Xenia is looking forward to this Home-Coming with pleasurable anticipations. The pastors who have presided over this congregation for almost sixty years are all living at this writing. The venerable P. C. Prugh was its pastor for 25 years and is still in the harness. He was succeeded by Rev. S. B. Yockey who occupied the pulpit for an almost equal length, 23 years and who is still a resident of Xenia. After him for shorter periods have been Rev. M. L. Fox, Rev. ITenry Gekeler and the present pastor Rev. Ernest Evans. It is hoped that all the old pastors may be present and occupy the pulpit to gether at Plome-Coming time, representing a period of church history as before stated of almost sixty years. The church has a membership of 250 and the congregation has recently purchased the lot at the corner of Detroit and Church Streets where a church and parsonage will be erected at a cost of $30,000, leaving the old church home at the corner of Detroit and Market Streets. Trinity Methodist Episcopal Churcli is an offshoot from the First M. E. Church. It was organized about forty years ago, the church building being located on East Main Street and being pleasant and commodious. It has a membership of about 350 and last year gave for benevolences approximately $1,003. The First Presbyterian Church was organized about 1826. It has a membership of about 340. The house of worship is located on West Market Street. It is one of the strong congrega tions of the city, contributing liberally to benevolences and its membership exerting a great influence upon the community. The Lutheran Church, on West Main Street, was organized in 1852 and has a membership of about 70. While not so large as some others it does earnest, active work. XENIA CHURCHES. Upper [ihotos hy Duwninj^. Lower photo by W, P. McKay. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 151 The First Baptist Churcli of Xenia is situated at the corner of Market and Whiteman Streets. It was organized Nov. 2, 1844, the first pastor being Rev. T. P. Childs. This church is especially noted for having sent out many young men and women CATHOLIC CHUECH. who ihave become leaders in Christian work and in the missionary field. The membership is about 170. On May 31, 1908, was dedicated the new house of. worship for the Society of Friends. It is located on'Spring Hill. After ^four years of work prior to that time in Xenia the Friends felt 152 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. that they had a work to perform and earnestly set to work to accomplish it. The membership numbers 115. On Orient Hill there is a neat brick church erected by a recently organized congregation of the Disciples of Christ, which has about 40 members. Those of the Catholic faith worship at St. Brigid's Church. It has a membership of about 275 families, and is now probably larger in numbers than at any time in its history. The congrega tion was founded in 1849 and for a time the few families who gathered together for worship were visited by a priest at stated intervals. Then came a permanent organization, the dedication of the church took place 56 years ago and from that time the' con gregation has grown and flourished. The first resident pastor was Father Blake, who served for the long period of 35 years. There are a number of churches in the eastern part of the city where the colored residents of the city worship. The differ ent denominations have able and earnest pastors and much influ ence is exerted and good accomplished by these churches. St. John's A. M. E. Church is located at the corner of Church and Monroe Streets and has a membership of 350. The church was organized over 50 years ago and some of the leaders in church history have been its pastors, several afterwards attaining the office of bishop. It is considered one of the leading churches of the Ohio A. M. E. Conference. The Zion Baptist Church is located on East Main Street and has a membership of about 350. It is one of the pioneer churches, having been organized over 60 years ago. A new building was erected ten years ago at a cost of $10,000. Other churches which are doing a splendid work among the colored citizens of the city are the Middle Run Baptist, Third Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Third M. E. Wesleyan, Christian and A. M. E. Y. M. C. A. AND SALVATION ARMY. The Young Men's Christian Association of Xenia has its home at the corner of Market and Green Streets. Its spacious airy rooms are inviting haunts for the young men of the city who avail themselves gf its generous privileges, Th^r? ^re iiow 306 A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 153 members. The Association was incorporated on June 16, 1884, when it was reorganized. Ground has been purchased in the rear of the present building on which a modern gymnasium building will be erected at an early date. This building will contain swim ming pools, baths, gynmasium floor and running tracks. The Y. M. C. A. owes much to Mr. Eli Millen, one of the city's vener able citizens for whom the evening shadows are rapidly lengthen ing. For many years he furnished the Association a home in the Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, XENIA. Showing proposed new Gymnasium in rear. commodious building which it now occupies and his generosity has made it possible for it to become owner of the same. The Salvation Army has found much wprk in Xenia and is constantly aiding the sick, the discouraged, the fallen. When poverty and cold have come upon the poor of Xenia, the Army has been ready with free soup and other provisions and a big dinner for the children of the poor at Christmas time. And in 154 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. the hot days of the mid summer it has alleviated suffering by furnishing ice and milk to the suffering children of the city. With rare loyalty and without ceasing the band of faithful workers seeks new recruits in the work and aid for the needy. woman's CLUBS. Xenia bears the distinction of having the oldest woman's club in the United States. The Woman's Club of Xenia was organized in March 1867. Its .first president was Mrs. Henrietta Monroe, who with one other charter member, Mrs. George Ormsby, still holds her membership. A lecture course under the auspices of the Woman's Club was given during the winter of 1870. Paul Du Chaillu, Anna Dickinson, Theodore Tilton and George Ken- nan delighted Xenia audiences. Theodore Tilton, then in the zenith of his fame, was presented by Mrs. Barlow, president of the Club. He acknowledged the unexpected incident in a very complimentary way, saying 'it was the first time in all his experi ence as a lecturer that he had had the honor and the pleasure to be introduced by a woman.' Parlor lectures and character im personations followed at intervals, invited guests giving a social note to such meetings. The Club may be called a pioneer in liter ary collaboration. In 1887 it was determined to make the unprecedented attempt to collaborate a story : each member con tributed a chapter and the result was a delightful romance named "Our Novel." The passing years have brought many changes in Club membership but never interrupted its healthful, harmonious growth and its many avenues of influence have in no small degree stimulated the literary life of Xenia. The Junior Woman's Club is limited to a membership of twenty and is organized solely for literary purposes. It meets fortnightly at the homes of the members and has proven of rnuch pleasure and profit. PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS. The Catharine Greene Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized at the home of the late Mrs. Betsy Kendall King, on East Main Street, December 16, 1894, with nineteen charter members. The Chapter now numbers in all sixty, the resident membership is limited tg fiitj- fh? object of A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 155 the organization is not only to perpetuate the memory of those who achieved Anierican Independence, but also to encourage patriotism and historical research. The' graves of thirteen Revo lutionary heroes have been located in the county, three of these have been marked by the Chapter and the others will be marked as soon as sufficient data have been obtained. At different tinies prizes have beeii given high school pupils for essays written on historical subjects. In 1906 the Chapter placed at Oldtown a large bowlder, properly inscribed, commemorating the running of the gauntlet by Simon Kenton, also marking the location of the largest town of the Shawano Indians and their Council House. In the Carnegie Library the Chapter has been given space for a book-case owned by the Chapter and containing their contribution of sixty volumes of books or reference of historical value to which others will be added from time to time. The Lewis Post of the G. A. R. now has a membership of 103. There was a time when the organization comprised 300 but the ranks of the veterans are being rapidly depleted and there are few recruits now. The work falling from the shoulders of the old^ soldiers is being taken up by the more lusty Sops of Veterans (Alb.ert Galloway Camp) of which Xenia supports a flourishing Camp. An iinportant adjunct to the G. A. R. is that of Lewis Relief Corps, comprising 67 patriotic women of the city. The work of the Woman's Relief Corps along charitable lines deserves special inention. Lewis Corps has also placed flags in several of the public schools of the county. OTHER SOCIETIES. Xenia is rich in lodges and societies, nearly every prominent organization of the country having its society or branch here. And among those for the betterment of the city may be mentioned the Commercial Club. It is composed of the representative busi ness men of the city, its object being the worthy one of promoting the best interest of tlT£ city. The Xenia Driving Club has done much to cultivate a pride in fine horses. Tlie Association was organized in 1901, its object being to furnish a clean sport for the citizens of Xenia and 1S6 GREENE COUNTY 1863-1S6S. vicinity. Matinees are held every week throughout the season with several public race meetings. It is a member of the Ameri can Trotting Association and numbers 110 members. MUSIC. Xenia can hardly be said as yet to have earned the distinction of being a musical city. However, she possesses a number of talented individual musicians who have received the best of home and foreign training. The McGervey Chorus, organized in 1902 by the late F. E. McGervey as the Y. M. C. A. Chorus, gave annual concerts until the present year and had at one time about 100 members. It is to be hoped that this organization will be continued. The S. of V. Band, led by Walter Curry, is about sixteen years old and its excellence is well known. It has played in various large cities of the country and has always been enthusi astically received. The Xenia. Military Band is a younger organ ization which has already attained considerable proficiency. PUBLICATIONS. Three newspapers occupy the field in Xenia, the Gazette (daily and semi-weekly) and the Xenia Republican and the Xenia Herald (weekly) ; these are treated of in the Historical Sketch. A monthly publication of much note in the United Presby terian church is that of The Woman's Missionary Magazine, issued from the job rooms of the Xenia Republican. The editors are Mrs. W. C. Hutchison and Mrs. George Moore; secretary, Mrs. H. C. Dean; and treasurer, Mrs. S. M. Kelso. Over eight thousand copies of the Magazine are printed each month. The July number, just issued from the press, contained the proceedings of the Woman's General Missionary Convention held at Pittsburg and for this one nuinber alone over four tons of white paper were used. All the women connected with the work of issuing the Magazine give their services without compensation whatever. "tPIE EAST END." In the days of slavery Xenia was noted as one of the points along the line of the "underground railroad," that mysterious route over which the terrified and fleeing black people were aided by their sympathizers in many a daring midnight ride. (See A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 157 the Historical Sketch). Now the eastern part of the^city is almost wholly the home of the colored race. Wilberforce University has attracted to this city hundreds of this race who came here in order to educate their children. Have you ever taken a trip to the "East End?" There you may see the colored "mammy" in all the glory of her red bandana hankerchief forming her head gear, clean starched gingham apron, and a face from which radi ates good humor and peace with all the world. And there also may be found the "old fashioned" darky, a gentleman of the old school, if you please, who was brought up to serve his master in the days "befo' de Wah." Time, the great healer, has softened for him the hardships which he underwent in the days he spent below Mason & Dixon's line. The years that have rolled by have mellowed for him the hard places. The big plantations and the cotton fields all hold for him a romantic interest and he talks by the hour of the incidents of his life in the old days. There are few of the old timers left. A new generation has taken their place. They have the advantages of high schools and freedom of thought and speech and many of the colored youth of the city have made a success in many departments of life. They are scat tered all over the country. Go where you will, you will find a familiar dark face and the salutation : "From Xenia ? I used to live there." WOODLAND CEMETERY. Out on Dayton Hill lies that other city. Woodland Cemetery. The green sward is kept in perfect order and those who visit the resting place of their loved ones will find Woodland more beau tiful than in the days of old. The cemetery comprises forty acre« and within it rest dead to the number of 6,818. THE GREAT FLOOD. Affliction has come upon us on different occasions but the crowning calamity in the history of Xenia occurred on May 12, 1886. A terrific flood came on, in which the lives of 28 people were sacrificed. The storm occurred between eight and nine o'clock at night. Shawnee, a tiny stream which passed through a populous part of the city, was converted by a cloud-burst into a torrent of water which descended like an avalanche upon the XENIA. Photos by W. P. McKay. The pillars at the ceraetery entraDce are those of the old court house. A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 159 homes of many living in Barr's Bottoms. At ten o'clock the fire bells sounded the alarni and soon another alarm sounded. Dense darkness reigned everywhere but above the roar of the storm and surging waters could be heard the calls of those in distress. It was a night of wild terror and horror. Huge bonfires were built, the shadows of which gave added awe to the scene. There were many heroic deeds performed that night in the efforts to save the drowning, the record of which would form thrilling chapters were it within the province of this brief sketch. Twenty houses were swept away in Barr's Bottoms, near the Little Miami depot, only three remaining. Orrin Morris and his wife and five children perished. The house bearing the family floated down the stream until it struck the solid masonry of a bridge and then all was still. Two children of the family were rescued. The next morning the sun came out bright and warm, disclosing a scene of utter desola tion. For a time Xenia was cut off from all communication with the outside world. The office of the mayor was converted into a temporary morgue in which lay the bodies of the dead in somber array. Xenia has had many other calamities but none so great in the loss of life as the great May flood. We have been favored in many ways. Though fire and flood have scourged us, the people have never for an instant lost faith in the divine guiding hand. At times we have seemed to have gone backward in the inoral scale and wrong has triumphed over right but through it all there has been an abiding faith of the people that what is for the best interests of the city will ultimately triumph. Much work for the good of the city has already been accom plished in the years just passed, but there is still much to be done. The men and women who know Xenia as the "old home" want to see it thrive and prosper and grow bigger and better. So in this ITome-Coming year we welcome them with glad hands, proud of our achievements in the past, humble in the thought that we might have done better, and hoping that in the days to come we may make more of our opportunities, that progress may ever mark our path. 160 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. GREENE, THE CHAMPION LIVE-STOCK COUNTY. O. E. BRADFUTE. IN no one thing has Greene County achieved greater success than in her live-stock interest. Equipped by nature with a most fertile soil which is productive of a great variety of grains in their best estate, having a rolling surface with abundance of water furnished by fine springs and magnificent streams, underlaid with limestone and clothed with blue grass not surpassed even by the famous Blue Grass region of Ken tucky — it is little wonder that her people took early to growing high-class and improved live stock. When our grandfathers more than seventy years ago organized the County Fair, little did they dream that their grandchildren would be able tc make a display of live stock, takeii from within the county, the equal of which cannot be found in any other county in the nation. Indeed, the battle cry of the stockmen of the county has become, "Greene County Against the Earth." The county is acknowl edged to be the foremost one in live stock in the State and the statement is frequently made that within the confines of Greene County can be seen more pure-blood registered live stock, of more kinds and of a higher class, than can be found in any like-sized spot on the globe. The writer has known as many as twenty different live-stock breeders to take their stock from this county to the Ohio State Fair and to bring home with them over $2,000 in prizes on their horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Nearly every man had a different kind or class of stock and each stood at the head of his class at that great fair. No other three counties combined in the State equal this county's annual winnings on live GREENP, THE CHAMPION LiVE-STOCK COUNTY. 161 stock at the State Fair. Several of our stockmen make a business of exhibiting their fine stock at the great fairs and live stock shows all over the United States and have established reputations which are not only national but international. Each year pure- blood live stock goes from this county to find homes in nearly every state in the Union, and in countries across the seas. At the time of the World's Fair at St. Louis, in 1903, five of our live-stock men took their herds and flocks to be present at that great show and strive for the great prizes against the world. They brought home 140 prizes, of which about fifty were first prizes and championships, including some of the most important prizes given by the Fair. At the International Live Stock Show held annually at Chicago may always be seen a good representation of Greene County's noted stock, and each year is brought home at least one of the coveted championships of the show, sometimes two or more of them. A noted bull at the head of one of Greene County's herds has been three times champion at that great show — a record not equalled by any other bull, dead or alive, in America. Another bull which was bred in this county has a record almost equally good. What cattle man of either continent does not know of Lucy's Prince and Whitehall Sultan? A Greene County man* was one of the nine who organized the great Chicago show and is still on the board of directors. No county has been so well represented with officers and directors of the leading live-stock pedigree registry associa tions of America as Greene, having as many as fourteen officials in these various associations. Greene County boasts of several stables of fine horses; of great herds of Shorthorn, Aberdeen-Angus, Hereford, Red Poll, Polled Durham, Jersey, Polled Jersey, and Guernsey cattle; of fancy flocks of Merino, Oxford Down, Southdown, Shropshire t)own, Cotswold, Hampshire Down, Lincoln, and Cheviot sheep; of showy herds of Poland China, Chester White, Duroc Jersey, and Berkshire swine; to say nothing of many fancy flocks of poultry of various kinds. One hardly dares name a list of Greene County stockmen •Mr. Bradfute himself.— Ed. 162 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. for fear of omitting names which should be given, yet some stand out so prominently as breeders of a State, national, and inter national reputation that we venture to mention such names as Williamson, Watt, Turnbull, Kelly, Bradfute, Gerlaugh, Pollock, Bryson, Cherry, Cummins, Bickett, Foust, Lackey, Peterson, Creswell, Dobbins, Hawkins, Ankeney, Grinnell, Andrew, Jobe, Orr, Corry ; and many others might be given with equal propriety. The reader, when he returns to the old home, should not forget to visit his friends in the country and let them prove to him that old Greene has kept pace with the world and is the home, not only of some of the finest live stock, but also of some of the happiest and most prosperous people, on earth. INDIAN EIIFLE BKIDOE. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 163 ANTIOCH COLLEGE. JOHN M. DAVIDSON. PIE history of Antioch College is of in terest to every student of the history of education in America. The average citizen, even of Greene County, is per haps unaware that the founding of this college and the formulation of its pol icy marked an epoch in the history of college education as truly as the public school system of Massachusetts, or ganized by Horace Mann, marked the turning point in the education of the people's children in the grammar grades. Its importance lay in its frank democracy as opposed to the aristocratic tendencies- of earlier college policy. Antioch became non-sectarian at a time when nearly all col leges and universities were under sectarian control, and when only three or four state universities were in existence. It abol- islid the color line at a time when the education of the negro was thought to be impolitic, if not dangerous. It established a scholar ship system for the education of those who otherwise would have been unable to secure college training, at a time when a college career was generally considered the prerogative of the children of fairly well-to-do parents able to spend money for the education of their children. Finally, Antioch became the first strictly co educational college in the world. Oberlin, it is true, had before this admitted women to the same class room with men in some studies, but, under the influence of Horace Mann, Antioch was the first college frankly to adopt the democratic policy of pre serving absolute equality between men and women, both in the courses of study offered and in the requirements for graduation. S" ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 165 Horace Mann, the great reformer and democratizer of the American common school system, was the inspirer of much of the sentiment which brought Antioch into existence, and for that reason was selected as its first president. Upon the day of his election to the presidency of Antioch, he was also nominated for the position of Governor of Massachusetts. He declined the latter honor to take up the fornier. The college was organized by the members of the Christian denomination at a convention in Marion, N. Y., in 1850. It was incorporated in 1852, in which year Mann was elected president, and it was opened in 1853. No institution has ever attracted to its cause a more distinguished or notable body of supporters than did Antioch. Among the friends and helpers attracted by her ideals were nuinbered the best minds of the day. Emerson came out to lecture. Edward Everett Plale became a trustee. Horace Greeley, Bayard Taylor, Salmon P. Chase and others also came on to lecture and help. Among her constant friends were num bered Chas. Sumner, Josiah Quincy, Theodore Parker, William Ellery Channing and Wendell Phillips. Great attention was paid to the scholarly and original quality of the work done in the class room and but little towards the securing of new students. Indeed many applicants for admission were turned away for lack of accommodation. Its history since that time has been one of many vicissitudes. Horace Mann died six years after his election to the presidency and was succeeded by Dr. Thoinas Hill, who was called from Antioch to the presidency of Harvard University in 1862. The war closed the college doors for two years and crippled the insti tution financially and numerically to such an extent that its prospects for usefulness and influence, whicii had been so brilliant under the administration of Mann, were for some time consider ably impaired. It did not, however, prevent the college from preserving its deniocratic and independent ideals, and keeping up its steady, conscientious, and thoroughly scholarly work. Its output of men who have made places for themselves in the world of scholarship and letters has been entirely dispropor tionate to the numbers sent out. Pres. G. Stanley Hall, of Clark 166 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. University, the late Prof. Langley, of the Smithsonian Institu tion, Franklin W. Hooper, founder and head of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, Amos R. Wells, editor and author, Dr. George H. Shull, biologist for the Carnegie Institute, Bergen, the botanist, and others are types of the kind of men that have had their training at Antioch. Original and independent thought and creative work have been almost uniformly characteristic of her successful students, and constitute a striking evidence of the persistence of the democratic and independent spirit which char acterized its first president and brought about its foundation. Under the leadership of Dr. S. D. Fess, who was called in 1906 to the presidency of Antioch from the University of Chicago, the college has entered upon a career of new promise. It is growing steadily in the nuinber of its students, has strengthened its faculty, and is broadening its activities and sphere of useful ness. Not, perhaps, since the days of the first president of the college have the prospects for a large and vigorous institution been so brilliant. Improvements gradually are being added ; the college has enrolled about three hundred students this year (1908), and the Antioch Chautauqua furnishes instructioii and recreation for visitors from all parts of southwestern Ohio. In short, An tioch seeins surely to have come into her own. A word should be said about the buildings and location. The campus faces the glen on the Neff Grounds. It comprises per haps ten or fifteen acres, covered by beautiful trees of many varieties, most of which were set out under the direction of ITorace Mann. The main building is one of the most dignified and beautiful buildings in the county, and has a perfect landscape setting. It is in the form of a cross, one hundred and seventy feet long, with a transept of one hundred and ten feet. It is three stories high, besides the basement, and contains the library, laboratories, museum and class rooins besides the chapel. Near by stand two dormitories, and at the entrance to the campus stands the president's house. The distracting elements which go with a large place are missing. "Plain living and high thinking" is the expression whicll perhaps characterizes best the educational spirit of Antioch. CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. 167 CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. PROF. F. A. JURKAT. EDARVILLE College is one of the in stitutions of higher education under the control of the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. The college was chartered in 1887, and after a delay of several years, was opened for instruction on September 19, 1894, in the mansion formerly own ed by Rev. ITugh McMillan, where he conducted an academy half a century ago. In the following year the present building was erected and opened, both campus and building being the gift of generous friends. The college speedily took high rank, as is evidenced by the fact that although its oldest graduates are still young men, they have takeii prominent positions in their various professions. The income of the college consists of tuition fees, collections from congregations, voluntary subscriptions and offerings from friends within and without the church, and interest of the en dowment funds. The practical origin of the college was due to the liberality of William Gibson, of Cincinnati, who bequeathed $25,000 as a foundation, in memory of his father, Peter Gibson, for many years a prominent member and ruling elder in the Cin cinnati R. P- congregation. A few years later, Robert M. Cooper, an elder in the Cedarville R. P. congregation, bequeathed a two-thirds interest in his farm, and John R. Lyons, of Marissa, Illinois, gave $500 as a' memorial for his son, James Burney Lyons, who sacrificed his life in the Civil War. In 1905 Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Harper, of Cedarville, gave $5,000 to found and maintain a chair in Finance and Economics, provided the friends 168 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. of the ccllege should raise a similar amount. The money, includ ing $1,000 from the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, was raised, and the chair w-as instituted two years later. The college plant consists of three buildings ; the main build ing before mentioned, the gymnasium, and the library. The gymnasium, fcrnierly the R. P. church building, was presented to the college by Mr. ^V. J. Alford as a memorial to his parents. CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. Rev. and ]\Irs. John Alford, and was renamed the Alford Memo rial. In 1906 Andrew Carnegie presented the college $11,790 to build a library. This building is nearing completion, and is one of the ornaments of the town. It is free to the public. The present faculty consists of David McKinney, D. D., President; W. R. McChesney, Ph. D., Gibson Professor of An cient Languages; F A. Jurkat, A. M., Modern Languages and History; J. R. Fitzpatrick, A. M., Mathematics and Science; Edith Morris, A. B., German and English; Leroy Allen, Ph. B., CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. 169 Harper Professor of Sociology and Economics; Mrs. Jessie Rus sell, Music; and Frank S. Fox, A. M., Elocution. The graduates to date number ninety-seven. The number of students since the third year of the college has averaged about one hundred. The collegiate courses offered are two, the classical and the philosophical, leading to the degrees of A. B. and Ph. B., re spectively. C.AENEGIE LIBEAEY, CEDAEVILLE COLLEGE. Among the students' societies may be , mentioned the two literary societies, the Philadelphian- and the Philosophic, the Y. M. C. A., the Athletic Association, and the Gavel Club. The latter, formed originally to train its members in pa'rlimentary law, manifests itself most prominently in publishing the. college paper, the Gavelyte. The college has exerted a profound influence upon the com munity, and in return is thankful that it has such fertile soil to grow in. THE ADMINISTK.-VTION BUILDING. THE O. S. AND S. O. HO.ME. l7l THE O. S. AND S. O. HOME. R. C. BARNES, EDITOR OF THE HOME WEEKLY. HE Home for orphans of the soldiers and sailors of Ohio is located on the brow of a hill standing a mile south of Xenia. It is an institution to which the people of Xenia are ptoud to point as the home of the children of the State's war veterans, a large allot ment of whicll were furnished by Greene County. The Home is reached by traction and by drive, at the terminus of Plqme Avenue standing some forty odd buildings, erected to care for those left dependent by the ravages of the Rebellion and the late Spanish-American con flict. The Home farm comprises nearly three hundred acres of _good land, a large part of whicii is under cultivation. It is situ ated in one of the best agricrdtural di.stricts pf the State, and much of the provision for the children is raised on the land. The dairy is one of the important parts of the farm, a herd of thirty Holsteins furnishing milk for the institution. The floristry de partment is also an important branch connected with the farm. There are between seven and eight hundred children resi dents of this beautiful Home, about evenly divided between the sexes. The cottage plan is used, twenty-five children in a cottage, presided oyer by a matron. The life is as near ideal as can be made, everything being done to make surroundings as home-like as possible. Special stress is put upon the need of education, and the aH O o oK THE 0. S. AND S. O. HOMfi. 17^ schools are in charge of a recognized educator and a corps of excellent instructors. The child is given an education in the grammar grades and high scheel and when he leaves, is fitted with a knowledge of the chief branches, and has had his years spent here filled with the mind-training so essential when he leaves to battle against the outside world. At the age of 14 each boy and girl is required to learn some trade. Of the choices offered girls, the domestic economy course includes instruction in cutting and fitting and cookiig, the taikr- ing room is open to them, and the stenography and telegraphy departments are open to both boys and girls. The boys may learn electrical engineering (which includes a school of mechani cal drawing), blacksmithing, plumbing, printing, gardening, shoe- making, painting, barbering, tinning; and from the mac'.iinists' department a nuinber of excellent workmen are sent out every year. Each of these departments is fitted with the best of machin- ' ery and material, and under the supervision of an instructor or foreman the boys and girls are permitted to learii the latest and most improved manner of carrying on the work. The hospital is in charge of Dr. W. C. Hewitt, who devotes his time to the work. He resides in the main hospital and has under his charge four wards, each in charge of a trained nurse. A thing for whicii the people are grateful is the interest shown by the prominent physicians and surgeons, who volunteer to come to the institution at any time the emergency requires. The Vol unteer Consulting and Visiting Staff consists of eighteen of the best physicians and surgeons in the. State. The boys of the Home are organized into the ITome Battalion consisting of four coinpanies, thirteen cfficers and 281 cadets, and the drill and parades give the Home a military appearance. There are 30 pieces in the band, and they discourse sweet music on all special occasions. At Christmas time, the glee of the little ones is beyond the description of words, as they receive their kindly remembrances from the Grand Army, the Wornan's Relief Corps and the United Spanish-American War Veterans. The day is never forgotten THE BACK LAWN. THP 0. S. AND S. O. HOME. 175 by one who sees the children come into the large dining room and partake of a huge turkey dinner. Memorial Day is the most impressive one of the whole year. The children have exercises in the morning for the dead that are buried in the little necropolis by the chapel, and in the afternoon the battalion takes part in the services of the G. A. R. in Xenia. Few people who attend the memorial exercises in the little house of worship can go away with dry eyes. The children are given a month's vacation during the sum mer, provided they have a place to go, and in July the institution is visited by a nuinber of her former inmates. This annual re union of the Ex-Pupils' Association brings together some of the representative men of Ohio and from other states, who look to the institution as the "cradle of their infancy" and point with pride to the six thousand men and women who have gone from the Home to occupy places in the professional and commercial intercourses of life. These reunions show the high standard of citizenship which the State of Ohio boasts as recompense for the large appropriations given for the support of the Home. The Home has brought many men prominent in national and state affairs to Xenia, and has from time to time been the gather ing place for officials of the Department of Ohio G. A. R. Hon. R. B. Hayes, afterwards governor of Ohio, and presi dent of the United States, was very instrumental in the organiza tion of the institution in 1869 and 1870. Hon. J. Warren Keifer, present congressman from the Eighth Ohio District was another of the ones who were instrumental in its organization. The first children gathered together to form an orphans'' home which after wards resulted in the present grand institution, were in charge of the Grand Army of the State and numbered about eighty. They were governed, clothed and cared for by a committee from the G. A. R. This first Board of Control was composed of P. P. Ingalls, H. G. Armstrong, George B. Wright, B. F. Coates, James Barnett,. Eli Millen, G. W. Collier, and M. S. Gunckel and Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of Governor Hayes, Mrs. Henrietta L. Monroe,, of Xenia-, and Mrs. Rachel White, of Springfield. From that first Board to the present time, the men who have governed the institutipn have been among Ohio's distinguished .sons. Col. J. L. Smith is in charge of the Home as superin tendent and Mr. T. J. Collins is the financial officer. Hy.o McDowell lake, o. s. and s. o. home. WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. 179 WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. PRESIDENT JOSHUA II. JONES. HE germinal spirit that gave origination to Wilberforce University existed sev eral years before it took tangible form ; but in due time that spirit bore its full fruit and Wilberforce University was giveii birth as a seat of learning for the black people of the United States. On Septeinber 21, 18-14, the Ohio Conference of the A. M. E. Church appointed a committee for the purpose of selecting a site for a seminary of learning for the Negro people. This committee selected 172 acres twelve miles west of Columbus, Ohio, on the old National Road. This property was purchased and Union Seminary was projected there in the name of the Afri can Methodist Episcopal Church. On September 28, 1853, the Cincinnati Conference of the M. E. Church appointed a committee whose duty it was to select a site for the establishment of a literary institution of higher order for the education of the. colored people. That comniittee recom mended that "Tawawa Springs," a beautiful summer resort in Greene County, Ohio, be purchased for the aforesaid purpose and in May, 1856, the purchase was consummated and a school of higher learning was established, to be knowii as Wilberforce Uni versity. The University was incorporated in August 30, 1856, and a Board of 24 Trustees was selected, including Governor Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, Dr. R. S. Rust of the M. E. Church, Ashland Keith of the Colored Baptist denomination, and Bishop Daniel A. Payne of the .A.. M. E. Church. The broad principle adopted for the future guidance of the University was that. JJ M H KOB CO< WILBERPORCE UNIVERSITY. 181 "There should never be any distinction among the trustees, faculty or students on account of race, creed or color." The University began its work in October, 1856, under the principalship of Rev. M. P. Gaddis. ITe was succeeded by Prof. Jaines K. Parker, and he by Doctor Richard S. Rust. During these early days many friends and sympathizers were found for the University but much to the chagrin of those who were leading in this enterprise the Civil War, which had already become immi nent, broke out and the life of the University was put in great peril and finally its doors were closed and the M. E. Church with drew from the field. On March 10, 1863, Bishop Daniel A. Payne purchased the property for $10,000 in the name of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the old Union Seminary farm near Columbus, Ohio, (referred to above) was sold and the proceeds, faculty and pupils were merged into Wilberforce Uni versity and a new career in the life of Wilberforce began. In the early struggles of the University, Bishop Payne asso ciated with him Rev. Jaines A. Shorter and Prof. John G. , Mitchell. During the thirteen years that Bishop Payne was Pres ident, 1553 attended the University and 26 of them graduated. Rev. B. F. Lee succeeded Bishop D. A. Payne as President in the year 1876. ITe served in that' positioii for eight years during whicii time 1179 students attended the University and 41 graduated. The growth of the institution under President Lee was steady and healthful in all lines. In 1884 President Lee accepted the editorship of the Christian Recorder, Philadelphia. In 1884 Prof. S. T. Mitchell was elected President and the growth of the University along all lines continued at a very rapid rate. During his presidency 2,924 students attended school at Wilberforce and 459 graduated. In 1900 President Mitchell re signed the presidency and took the chair of mathematics in the University. In 1900 Rev. Joshua PI. Jones was elected President of Wil berforce University and has served for eight years and is still incumbent. (President Jones's tenure of office terminated since this article was written, in June, 1908, and at present Prof. Scar borough is Acting President. — Ed.) Under his administration WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. 183 the University has continued to grow along all lines and is accom plishing much for humanity. During his administration 4673 have attended the University and 495 have graduated. The departments of the University embrace the College, Theological, Normal and Industrial Departments. The courses laught are the Collegiate, Scientific, Law, Music, Theological, Academic, Normal, Art, Business, Shorthand- and Typewriting, Mihtary Science and Tactics, as literary courses — twelve in all ; to these are added shop-work in iron, plumbing, tailoring, dress making, millinery, cooking, shoemaking, printing, blacksmithing and carpentry, as industrial courses or trades courses. In the twelve literary courses, we seek to prepare students in the educa tive arts; in the ten industrial courses, we strive to prepare stu dents in the occupative arts. Wilberforce University, therefore, aims at the double purpose: first, spiritual enlargement; second, industrial efficiency. These twenty-two courses, including the various departments, comprise the breadth of the University's operations. From the founding of the University until now 11,351 students have attended the University and 1,021 have grad uated from the various departments up to this time. These graduates and undergraduates have gone into all parts of the world helping in the work of human amelioration, taking rank in the world of service and letters by the side of the best Negro graduates of any school in the United States. The teachers and preachers of our race sent out by Wilberforce University stand in the front ranks of the intellectual, inoral and industrial leaders of our country. Tiuskegee Institute, Hampton Institute, IToward University and a score of similar institutions as well as high schools, normal schools and grammar schools throughout the nation have felt the force and influence of Wilberforce University through her graduates who teach in them. Some of the best teachers in Wilberforce University are her own graduates and some of the ablest preachers in the connection are the theological graduates of the University who have gone out to do honor to themselves and their Alma Mater. It is note- worhty that Msikinya Maxeke, Charlotte Manye-Maxeke, Charles Dube, Adelaide Tantsi-Dube, James Y. Tantsi, Thomas E. Warde JOHN G. MITCHELL HALL. WILBERPORCE UNIVERSITY. 185 and K. S. E. Insiadoo are hard at work in far-away Africa bring ing honor to themselves, our race and our beloved Wilberforce. Special mention should be made of Rev. Peter Alpheus Luckie who, after graduation, returned to British Guiana and founded at his native home The Demarara Missionary and Industria\ Institute. Many are the worthy of this great institution who deserve mention, but time forbids. In 1887 the representatives of Wilberforce University went before the Legislature at Columbus, Ohio, and requested the State of Ohio to aid in the maintenance of the educational work at Wilberforce University by establishing a department at the University, and by the concurrent action of the Legislature and the Trustees of the University the Combined Normal and Indus trial Department was established at Wilberforce and by continued concurrent action of the Legislature and the Trustees this depart ment has been fostered by the State to the great good of the Uni versity at large, the citizenship of the United States in general and the Negro race in particular. The Legislature of Ohio has Jeen generous, and only unborn generations will be able to estimate the enormous good that is being accomplished by the State at this institution for the black man and for the body politic through the betterment of Negro citizenship. The University includes three great departments : ( 1 ) The Theological Department which is supported by the African Meth odist Episcopal Church, purely and simply; (2) the Collegiate Department which is supported by contributions from the African Methodist Episcopal Churcli and philanthropic lovers of educa tion ; (3) the Combined Normal and Industrial Department which is supported by the State of Ohio. The property of the Theolog ical Department is valued at $14,000; the property of the Col legiate Department, including endowments, is valued at $233,000 ; the property of the Combined Normal and Industrial Department is valued at $220,000 ; niaking the grand total valuation $467,000. The entire cost to a student for tuition, board, room rent and fuel, at the University does not exceed $117.50 per year. Wilber force University is the best place for the education of Negroes to be found in the United States. The University is educative and Christian in all of its bearings. GALLOWAY HALL. WILBERFORrE. rho 0 by Canby. THE XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 18- THE XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. PRESIDENT WILLIAM G. MOOREHEAD. HIS institution is one of the oldest of its kind on the continent, perhaps the very oldest. Owing to the urgent need ofa ministry trained in our own country and the inability of the mother churcli in Scotland to send sufficient help, the Associate Presbyterian church in America was led to establish a theo logical school where men might be trained for the ininistry of the Gospel. Accordingly at Service, in Mercer County, Pa., the Seminary was established which remains to this day in full vigor of Christian activity. ,Tliis took place in 1794 when Washington was Presi dent for the second time. In a little log house, with a library cfuite extensive for those days, with a single professor. Dr. John Anderson, a Scotchman by birth, a graduate of Glasgow Univer sity, a man of distinguished gifts but eccentric and absent-minded to a degree, the first Protestant theological seminary west of Phila delphia, perhaps the first in the whole land, began its career, and it has continued its beneficent work now for 114 years, with no interruption in its sessions and no cessation of instruction. In 1821 it was removed from Service to Canonsburg, Pa., and from thence it was transferred to Xenia, Ohio, its present location, in 1855. Its first home in Xenia was in the building on West Main street now known as the "Miami Flats," which was erected for its special use ; it was afterwards housed in the old Seminary 188 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. structure on West Third street, which is at present the dormitory for students, a fine new building having been erected recently to accommodate the growing needs of the institution. Its library, small at the beginning, has been added to until now it contains a carefully selected collection of books that in quality of theological usefulness can not easily be surpassed. NEW BUILDING, XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Dormitory showing slightly in the right, Photo by Canby One hundred years ago, the curriculum of study was limited almost exclusively to the single branch of Biblical Theology, to which study gradually were added studies embracing Church History and the original languages in which the Bible was given, viz., ITebrew and Greek. Now some fourteen departments are conducted each session covering the field of theological education. THE XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 1S9 At its annual meeting in May of this year the Board of Managers established a permanent lectureship of Biblical Theology as illus trated by Archaeological Research, and it elected Dr. M. G. Kyle, of Philadelphia, to this new chair. Prof. Kyle will not teach during the entire session, but will give a series of lectures on the subject above-mentioned at a time to be agreed upon. This is mentioned to indicate that it is the aim pf those in charge of the institution to equip it with every advantage that can be secured. Nearly one thousand students have received their theological education, in whole or in part, within its walls, and its alumni may be reckoned at about nine hundred. It has its sons scattered over our bread land from New England to the Pacific slope. Its graduates are found in the foreign mission field, in the Punjab, India, in Egypt, and in the Sudan. (, !ne of the graduates of two years ago, Elbert McCreery, is now toiling in the torrid heat of the Egyptian Sudan, at Khartum, that the light of the glorious Gospel may shine into the darkened minds of that heathen popu lace. He is but one of a nuniber of others engaged in the like blessed work. Four regular professors devote their time to instruction, Profs. Joseph Kyle, Jesse Johnson, John E. Wishart, and William G. Moorehead. Prof. M. G. Kyle will be a fifth, besides tutors in the Greek language who are einployed nearly every session. Twelve young men graduated at the last commencement. May 6, who are already under appointment to various fields ; one will go in the early autumn to India, one to the destitute whites of the Kentucky Mountains, one to the new State of Oklahoma, and the others to various places. Two of these young men came to us from distant parts of the world, one, Mr. Alexander Reese, from New Zealand, and the other, Mr. ITormizd Sicilian, from Van in Turkey. Both of these expect to become foreign mis sionaries. A visit to the Seminary during the liome-Coming time will be greatly appreciated by the faculty, who will welcome friends and explain to them the Raised Map of Palestine of the Explora tion Expedition, a unique map indeed. 190 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908. ORGANIZATION OF THE GREENE COUNTY HOME COMING ASSOCIATION. Executive Committee — J. F Orr, Chairman; Dr. A. C. Messenger, \'ice Chairman; Austin Patterson, Secretary; Mar shall Wolf, Treasurer; Prof. E. B. Cox, ITarry D. Sniith, S. O. Hale. Committee on Promotion, Publicity and Printing — Dr. A. C. Messenger, Chairman; William Brennan, C. L. Jobe, R. S. Kingsbury, J. H. Whitmer. Ladies' Auxiliary Com mittee — Miss Helen Boyd, Mrs. Carrie Geyer, Miss Carrie Hypes, Miss Mary Maxwell, Miss Lucy Richardson. Finance Committee — M. L. Wolf, Chairman; George Gal loway, H. E. Schmidt, Judge Marcus Shoup, George R. Kelly. Committee on Accommodations and Facilities — Harry D. Sinith, Chairman; Fisk Alexander, Jacob Kany, S. B. Le Sourd, John Prugh. Committee on Program and Decoration — S. O. Hale, Chairman; Dr. W. A. Galloway, G. J. Graham, C. F. Howard, T. J. Kennedy. Committee on Societies and Organizations — Prof. E. B. Cox, Chairman; M. A. Broadstone, William Neeld, John A. Nisbet, B. Schlesinger, Judge H. L. Smith, W. F. Trader. Souvenir Book Committee — Austin Patterson, Chairman; J. M. Davidson, Mrs. H. H. Eavey, Marshall Lupton, Mrs. Wil liam Wilson. Committee on Relics— J. E. Jones, Chairman; L. F. Clev- enger, George Fetz, Mrs. George Fetz, George Greiner, Mrs. Katharine Landaker, Miss Jessa Pearson. Committee of Colored Citizens— J. M. Somers, Chair man; Rev. George Coble, R. E. ITolmes, Jordan Robb, W. S. Rogers. THE PIRMS and individuals whose places of business are shown on the following pages are to he regarded, not as advertisers, but rather as patrons -who have made it possible for the com mittee to present an additional number of interesting Greepe County views. However, we think it not out of place to remind our readers that our commerce, as here represented, reaches far beyond the limits of the county and that many persons living in larger cities than Xenia have found advantage in purchasing from us. XENIA. The Xenia National Bank. piiotobycauby Of&cers and Directors : C. C. Shearer, President. D. M. Stewart, Vice President. A, S. Prazcr, Cashier. John A. Nisbet, Asst. Cashier. H. M. Barber, George Little, W. D. Wright. 193 Citizens National Bakk. Capital $100,000.00, Surplus and Profit $S0,()00.00. PhoioUyCai.by H. H. Eavey, President. J. M. Stewart, Vice President. M. L. Wolf, Cashier. T. D. Kyle, Asst Cashier Directors :-H. H. Eavey, J. AI. Stewart, C. H. Kyle, G. M. Peters, R. D. Adair, R. S. Kingsbury, J. H. Harbine. The Commercial & Sayings Bank Co., of Xenia, Ohio. Capital $50,000.00. Piioto by Downing TJ TJ <^ i-i:„ T» :j J- r^ t d^uu n- — i,: — t>j o t^.., .*. t-- „ t*,.,.,: j ,_-j- The Peoples Building & Sayings Co., 18 East Market Street. Photo by Canby Hutchison & Gibney. Photo by canby 1863 — The Hoine Comer's Store.— 1908. Dry Goods, Tailored Garments, Carpets. Sayre & Hemphill's Drug Store, plioto by Downinjr Opening Day Oct. 1, 1907, 8 South D.troit Street. The McDowell & Torrence Lumber Co., Southeast Corner Detroit and Third Sts. Pli' to by Downing The Dodds Apartments. The George Dodds & Sons Co. on first floor. The finest Granite and Marble Works in the United States. Plioto by Canby. R. M. Smart, South Side Elevator, South Whiteman St. and Penn. Ry. Photo by Downinj? f=^V%.I^GY r^DD H. E. Schmidt & Co., pnoto by cmby Wholesale and Retail Grocers. We keep everything good to eat. " 28 South Detroit Street. 202 European Hotel, >'" Photo by canby 5 atad 7 South Detroit St. J. H. Berry, Proprietor. 203 Jobe Brothers & Co., Photo by Downing 21, 23 and 25 East Main Street, Dry Goods and Millinery. Ladies' Suits, Cloaks and Shoes. 204 Nesbitt & Weaver, Clothing and Men's Furnishings, 13 East Main Street. rlioto by Downing 205 Haller, Haines & Higgins, Men's Clothing and Purnishings, 33 East Main Street. Photo by Downing 203 pmmsmB' The j. p. Bocklett Supply Co., piioto by Downing Plumbing, Gas and Steam Fitting. Dealers in Mill and Thresher Sujaplies. 415 West Main St., Xenia, Ohio. 207 Women's Department. Koch's Sample Shoe Store, Xenia's largest shoe store. Factory sample shoes. 31 and 33 South Detroit St. Men's Department. Photos by Canby. John T. Barnett, Cor. Whiteman and Railroad Sts., Dealer in all kinds of Lumber, Lath and Shingles. John T. Barnett & Co., Cor. Washington St. and Home Ave, Manufacturers and dealers in Hard Wood Lumber. Photos by Downing. p. J. H. Schell, Jeweler, Steele Building. Photo by caniiy Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry and Sterling Silver, Kodaks and Kodak Supplies. 1, . •'^ ^"^ ¦ ""T* ¦'^ The Springfield Pilic Pumping Station. The Xenia Water Co., 28 N. Detroit St. Officers and Dirclors; George Little, President. John 0. McCormick, \'ice President. Geo. P. Cooper, Sec'y and Treas. John A. Nisbet. M. L. Wolf. :cu.;«.A'aE«s«'-»^"' The Cincinnati Pike Pumping Station. 211 Photos by Canb.v View ill reception room. DOWNING'S AET STUDIO, xenia, OHIO. View in operating room. One oi the flnest and beat equipped galleries in the state. 212 The Sutton Music Store, 19 Green St., Xenia, 0. Pianos, Phonographs, Sheet Music, Records, Piano and Organ Tuning and Rebuilding. Picture Framing. Photos by Canby. 213 C. E. Arbogust. Arbogust & Co. Photo by canby 7 West Main Street, Allen Building. Milliners. Mrs. E. M. Whittington. H. H. Thrall, The Druggist. 43 East Main Street, Xenia, Ohio. 214 Donges' Drug Store, Corner Detroit and Second Streets. Conceded to be one of the finest drug stores in Southern Ohio. Robert H. Snead, 21 Green St. Photos by uowning. Natural Gas Fitting and Plumbing. Gas and Electric Supplies. 215 ^sssis^ssss^. L. S. Barnes & Co. f-^ Photo by Canby. No. 4 Green Street. Interior Decorators 0'We:y:^s.8c- nesbitt.^ Keyes & Nesbitt. Shoes. No. 12 North Detroit Street., Xenia, Ohio. Photo by Downing. 216 f ..„.,Ida S. Sinz, ;¦¦... .' Millinery, Steele Biiilding, West Main St. Kany, The Tailor, No. 10 North Detroit Street. Photo by Canby 217 John A. North, 30 West Main Street. House heating by the celebrated Guerney system. Sanitary plumbing. Photo by Canby. The Central Electric Supply Co., Garage, 118 S. Detroit St., Xenia, O. Photo by Downing. p. P. Baldner. Baldner & Fletcher, J. M. Fletcher. 42 East Main St. Steam and Hot Water Heating. Tin and Iron Roofing and (Spouting. Osterly Millinery, 37 Green Street. Photos by- Canby 219 W. O. Maddux & Co., Dealers in Cement, Lime, Sewer Pipe and Coal. Local Agent for C. C. & B. Pocahontas Coal. Cor. Detroit and Hill Sts., Xenia, O. Photo by Canby. Johnson & Dean, Funeral Directors.,- Both Phones 68. Photo by Downing. 22 E. Market St. 220 mm- S. B. LeSourd, LeSourd & Smith, Attys, Special Adjuster. Collectors. S. B. LeSourd & Co., Fire, Life and Cyclone Insurance. Thirty years in the insurance business in Xenia. No. 6 N. Detroit St., Steele Building. R. S. Kingsbury, Finest Ready-to- Wear Clothing, John B. Stetson Hats, Manhattan Shirts. 50 and 52 E. Main St., Xenia, O. C. S. Frazer, Good Shoes. 17 East Main St. Photo hy Canby E. H. Hunt, 39 West Main Street. Bicycles, Motorcycles, Guns and Amunition Light repair work. Auto tire repairing. 222 Photo by Downing f^^.-ff/tnemiup^-