Butler County, Ohio - The whole text, 1882 (part 7 of 39)

On the eighth day of February, 1820, a law was passed directing the appointment of county auditors, and in pursuance of that act the Legislature, on the second day of February, 1821, by resolution, appointed John McClure, Jr., auditor of Butler County; and by a law passed on the same day, the auditor was, by virtue of his office, required to be clerk of the commissioners. The Legislature passed a law, dated February 23, 1824, making the office of auditor elective by the people. The auditor holds his office for the term of two years.

Associate Judges

According to the constitution of 1802, there was appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, in each county, not more 'than three nor less than two associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas, to hold their offices for the term of seven years. In Butler County there were three associate judges: James Dunn, John Greer, John Kitchel, 1803; Henry Weaver, 1805; Celadon Symmes, 1806; Ezekiel Ball, Daniel "Millikin, Robert Lytle, 1810; Daniel Millikin, Henry Weaver, Robert Taylor, 1817; Robert Anderson, 1823 ; Henry Weaver, Robert Baylor; 1824; Daniel Millikin, 1827; John Knox, 1827; Joel Collins, 1829; Daniel Millikin, 1834; Squier Littell, 1834; Fergus Anderson, 1836; John McCloskey, appointed by the governor, 1840; Vincent D. Enyart, 1840; James O. Conner, 1841; Nehemiah Wade, 1841 ; Chasles K. Smith, 1848 (resigned March, 1849) ; Toaeuh Traber, 1849.

By the constitution of 1851, the offices of associate judges were terminated, and the office discontinued, after the second Tuesday in February (February 9th), 1852.

County Commissioners

The Legislature passed ''an act establishing boards of commissioners," which bears date 13th of February, 1804, according to which three commissioners were to be elected in each county, to hold their office for the term of three years, in pursuance of which an election was held on the first Monday of April, 1804, at which Ezekiel Ball, Matthew Richardson, and Solomon Line were elected, meeting at Hamilton on the eleventh day of June, 1804. After having taken the oath of office, they determined, by lot,that Ezekiel Ball should serve until the second Tuesday of October, 1804; Matthew Richardson, until the second Tuesday of October, 1805; and Solomon Line, until the second Tuesday of October, 1806. After the first board, the following persons were Seiad in the years BS roinafter stated :

County Surveyors

On the 15th of April, 1803, the Legislature passed a law creating the office of county surveyor, by which law it was made the duty of the Court of Common Pleas to make the appointment. James Heaton was the first surveyor. He was followed by George R. Bigham, in 1822. On the 8d of March, 1831, the Legislature passed a law making the office elective, by the people, and fixing the term of office af three years. George R. Bigham, 1833 to 1836; Ludwick Betz, 1836 to 1842; Benjamin F. Raleigh, 1842 to 1849; Matthew R. Shields, 1849 to 1856; Alexander King, 1856 to 1863; A. Marts, 1863 to 1871; Mason Hamilton, 1871 to 1874; J. C. Weaver,

Probate Judges Prosecuting Attorneys

The office of prosecuting attorney was filled by appointment of the Court of Common Pleas until the year 1833, when the Legislature changed the law, and made it elective by the people. Daniel Symmes, 1803; Arthur

Coroner

According to the constitution, there is elected in each county one coroner, who shall hold his office for the term of two years. The persons hereafter named have successively filled this position :

The Miami River

Ar the present time, when bridge building has been reduced to a science, and bridges are made in sections, transported a thousand miles, and then set up, it must be a very large structure, such as those in St. Louis, Cincinnati, or Brooklyn, which excites more than the most moderate measure of curiosity. But sixty-five years ago we had not accomplished so many marvels as we since have, and the erection of a roadway across the Great Miami at this point was an event in the history of the country. Travelers went a long distance out of their way to view it, many grown men hayjng never before seen a bridge of any kind more elaborate than a log

The Miami, it is well known, is subject to great fluctuations in its quantity of water. Some seasons it is very low. Boys can wade across it at these times almost anywhere. At other times it is full, up even to its banks, - and, where those banks are low, overflows the country. It has wrought, at different times, great devastation in this way, and frequently, in these rises, changes its course more or less. Where it meandered previously, it makes a direct cut across, and where it once went in a straight channel, it is deserted for a more tortuous one. The soil on either side is entirely-alluvial, and affords no permanent obstacle. Indeed, the whole valley, for a mile or two back, displays evidences of having been the bed of the river at some remote period.

The earliest of the great freshets or inundations which have been recorded was in the year 1805. At this time the whole of the Miami River rolled in the bed now called Old River, and ran in a deep channel along the eastern bank, on the side next Hamilton, and where the present sand-bar appears below the bridge. Four-mile Creek then emptied into the river on the west, a short distance above the upper part of the town, where the mouth of New River now is. The occasion of the change in the channel of the river was owing to the erection of certain water-works on Four-mile Creek.

In the years 1803 and 1804 Messrs. James Smith and Arthur St. Clair (son of General St. Clair) erected a mill at the bend of Four-mile Creek, about a mile and a half above its mouth, and dug a race from the Miami River to bring the water from the river to their mills, in order to supply an additional quantity of water when the creek should be low. In the month of March, 1805, an extraordinary flood occurred in the Miami River, which tore away the head gates of their race, and let the water of the river have a free passage to their mills, and thence down the channel of Four-mile Creek. This flood wholly destroyed their mills, and carried their works down the current, after which time the channel continued to widen and deepen, until, in a few years, at ordinary stages of the river, the whole of the water passed by that channel, which acquired the mame of New River. The river was at its highest on the 10th of March. The island formed between this channel and that of Old River contains about three hundred and fifty acres, and was formerly owned by 'Dr. Daniel Millikin, but now by L. D. Campbell. The Hamilton and Rossville Hydraulic Company have constructed two dams across the old channel of the river, and formed a grand reservoir, about a mile long, to retain water for the supply of their mills and factories in Hamilton.

This flood in the Miami River was the greatest ever known since the first settlement of the country, and was long remembered by the inhabitants resident there at the

In speaking of events, it was long afterward customary to designate the time by stating that it was so many years before or after the 'great flood."

The whole of what is now called the island and all the low bottoms along the Miami River were entirely inundated, and much damage done to persons residing in the river bottoms. The water of the river backed up on the low ground above Hamilton, inundating Bigham's bottom, and flowing out, passed over the out-lots (where the east branch of the Hydraulic Canal has been constructed), inundated the lower part of the town, to the depth of several feet, and discharged into the river above where the bridge now is. The water in Front Street, between Stable and Dayton Streets, was deep enough to come midside on a horse, and in some places would swim a horse.

Previous to this flood, a grove of sycamore and cottonwood trees lined the bank of the river, on the eastern side, from where the bridge now stands to the upper part of the town. They were all washed up, destroyed, and carried away by the force of the current. Cedar bushes then grew indigenous along the river bank from Buekeye Street to the upper part of the town, and a few straggling bushes remained growing in 1809.

The ground where the sycamore grove was, near the Columbra Bridge, extending up some distance on the present sand-bar, was then a fertile field, which had been for many years cultivated in corn, having a house standing upon it. The flood swept over the whole, carrying away the house and the alluvial soil, and when the water subsided nothing appeared but a naked beach of gravel.

The bridge between Hamilton and Rossville had long been felt to be a necessity. At the times when the river was very full, no communication existed between the east and west banks of the river, and in ordinary stages the charges for ferriage were high. The Legislature passed an act, in the year 1816, incorporating Joseph Hough, John Sutherland, Joseph Wilson, John Hall, Samuel Dick, Isaac Falconer, Samuel Millikin, Thomas C. Kelsey, William Murray, Pierson Sayre, Robert Taylor, William Riddle, Thomas Blair, William Blair, and Michael Delorac into a company to erect and build a bridge across the Great Miami River, between the towns of Hamilton and Rossville, in the county of Butler. The style of the corporation was to be the "Miami Bridge Company."

Under this act stock was subscribed, and on the twentythird day of March, 1818, a contract was made and entered into by the directors of the company with Nathan S. Hunt, for the erection and completion of the bridge. However, in September, 1819, Mr. Hunt died, before the work was ended, but it was afterward finished by William Daniels. The whole length of the bridge, exclusive of the wing-walls, was three hundred and sixty feet. The abutments, one on each side, and one pier in the middle of the river, the chord-line of each arc being one hundred and sixty-five feet and six inches, and the rise from the chord to the apex being twenty-two feet. It cost $25,194.84. The venture proved a highly profitable one, and although there was, from time to time, grumbling in the public journals respecting its charges or its management, yet no other bridge was for many years erected, either in Hamilton or elsewhere in this county.

The stockholders in the Miami Bridge Company, in the year 1824, were Adam Andrew, Joseph 8. Benham, Miss Loretto M. Brenan, James Brown, the Commissioners of Butler County, John Clark, Edward Cornthwaite, Samuel Davis, Samuel Dick, George Dick, William S. Hatch, Matthew Hueston, Robert Irwin, John C. Kibby, Squier Littell, Andrew Lewis, James McBride, Andrew McCleary, David McMechan, William McMechan, Tobias Miller, Robert B. Millikin, John Rainey, John Reily, Elizabeth Rhea, John E. Scott, Robert Scott, John Slack, Abel Slayback, Joseph Smith, Oliver Smith, John Sutherland, William Taylor, John Henry Traber, William Wallace, Joseph Wilson, John Winton, Michael Yeakle, and James Young.

The navigation of the Miami was, in the beginning, regarded as good as that of any other stream in the State, excepting the Ohio, and not far behind that. There were obstacles, however, which could easily have been abated. Here and there was a sand-bar or a shallow channel, and the various dams were not always constructed in the best manner. By a small expenditure of money the river could be much improved. In one of the newspapers of 1824 appeared the following

Circular

'"At a meeting of the citizens of Dayton and the neighborhood, convened on the 24th ult., we were appointed a committee to address the citizens of the Miami country on the subject of the navigation of the Great Miami River.

'"We consider the navigation of the Great Miami River of the utmost interest to the inhabitants of this district of country (on this subject we conceive there can be no difference of opinion), and as we consider you to be acquainted with the difficulties and obstructions as well as the advantages to be derived from a free navigation of the river, we shall be brief.

"Tt is generally known that the navigation of the Miami River was very little inferior to that of the Ohio, previous to the dams being placed in it. By the compact between the State of Ohio and general government, said river was declared to be and remain a public highway ; that the Legislature have, from time to time enacted laws respecting the navigation of the said river, noné of which have been complied with, and the time granted

'©We are confident that a moderate expense will be sufficient to open and deepen the channel, so as to admit steamboats of reasonable draft and burthen, to navigate the river for the greater part of the year, provided that some method be iadapbed by which they may pass the mill-dams in safety, or those obstr uctions removed. This, we are confident, can be effected by placing locks in the sides of the dams or river bank, through which boats may ascend or descend. By this means the produce of the Miami country may be conveyed to any place on the Ohio River by steamboats in safety and at a trifling expense, while merchandise may be brought up the Miami from either Pittsburg, Wheeling, Louisville, or Cincinnati for about the same.

'Believing the navigation may be effected, that it is important, and will be of great benefit to the country, we earnestly solicit your assistance and co-operation with us in effecting so desirable an object. We would further take the liberty to request you to make this public in your neighborhood, and obtain the sense of the people on it, by a public meeting or otherwise, and a correspondence with us. «C. R. GREENE, G. 8. Houston. "Dayton, May 1, 1824."

Nothing came of this appeal. The State of Ohio soon after began the construction of the Miami Canal, and after that went into operation there was no longer any reason for the improvement of the river. But until 1833, or thereabouts, boats descended the stream and carried the products of this country to Louisville, St. Louis, and New Orleans. The voyages were long, and at the end the boats were sold or broken up, and the owner or captain returned overland. It was necessary to send down the boats while the water was high, and this generally occurred in the Spring of the year.

In 1823 the Spring shipments were as follows: Flour, 6,495 barrels, at $3.25 each; pork, 1,424 barrels, at $6 each ; whisky, 945 barrels, at 22 cents per gallon ; cumbers and pickles, 50 barrels, at $4 each; corn meal, 600 barrels, at $1.50 each; beans, 28 barrels, at $2.50 each; crout, 15 barrels, at $4 each; lard, 950 kegs of 60 pounds each, at 4 cents per pound; corn in ears, 7,000 bushels, at 125 cents per bushel; potatoes, 1,400 bushels, at 25 cents per bushel ; iidhons: 200 dozen, at 75 cents per dozen; cherry lumber, 30,000 feet, at $12 per M; butter, 80 kegs, of 50 pounds each, at 8 'cents per pound,

Seventy-nine boats, chiefly flat-bottomed, descended the Miami, and passed under the bridge, for the New Orleans market, from January to June, 1823, with flour, whisky, lumber, ete., averaging 300 barrels, at $5 per barrel, or $118,000.

A great part of the flour and whisky from Butler County was transported in wagons to Cincinnati, then shipped to New Orleans, probably as much as descended the Miami.

months waiting their opportunity. In 1847 there was an overflow between Christmas and New-Year's. The rain had fallen steadily for more than a week, and the ground was completely saturated. The Straub House was inundated, and the landlord, Peter Shurz, was compelled to move his valuables up stairs. Robert Howard had just bought the iron store lately occupied by Daniel Shafer. It had a large and capacious cellar, and in it had been placed, by David Yeakle (a cooper, living a little west of town), two or three hundred whisky barrels, to be kept there until prices raised. When the water began to rise, it naturally. filled the cellar, and the barrels, which were good sound specimens of the cooper's art, were soon afloat, and began striking the ceiling. Those on the main floor heard a mysterious thumping, but were unable to account for it. Presently there was a crash, the floor heaved upward, the hardware tumbled down, and the stove capsized, sending up a great cloud of steam. Only one person was in the store at the time, who was overthrown with the rest. He gathered himself up and fled.

The water extended up Main Street as far as Lauback's shoe store, then a dry-goods store, kept by James and William Traber. A boat was rowed to the post in front, by James Traber, and was there hitched. On the west bank of the river, where the tan-yard now is, was, at that time, a stable belonging to Andrew McCleary. This was washed away, and in its descent struck the abutment of the old bridge, tearing out a considerable portion.

In September, 1866, there was a remarkable freshet. Great damage was' done to all the surrounding country, and railroad travel was interrupted for a long time. Upon the island, just east of the Globe Flour Mills, stood a very large sycamore tree. It is a peculiarity of the floods of the West that they wash out the earth from beneath a tree while it is still standing, and finally, when there is no support, cause its fall. It was so in this case. The mighty tree stood looking over the flood until its equilibrium could no longer be maintained, when it fell, and began rapidly floating down the river. _Projecting from the main trunk was a huge snag, which sometimes showed above the water, and at other times | was buried. Experienced observers saw the danger which it might occasion, and warned persons on foot or in carriages from crossing. Colonel Moore distinguished him- Jesse Havens, the express driver, © was passing through the bridge at the time, with his.two boys. Pushing the children ahead, he urged them to get out, and hurried on as fast as he could himself. He found himself unable to get out in time, and stopped, turning around to witness the catastrophe. Just before the tree reached the bridge, above and west of the middle pier, it disappeared. But not for a great while were the people in suspense. The snag came crushing up through the timbers and planking, destroying every thing it touched, and then quietly floated down stream. It narrowly escaped striking the railroad bridge, which would also have been destroyed. The remainder of the bridge was carried away at about half-past ten the same evening.

The Press

_Newsparers soon followed the' advent.of settlers in this country, and several were soon in operation. But Butler County, from its nearness to Cincinnati, did not

"An age like the present, portentous beyond any parallel to be found in the history of mankind, will offer the best apology for the multiplication of periodical publications - whose object is: Ist. The diffusion of literature and science in the most enlightened and scientific epoch known within the pale of human knowledge, and, 2d. An early communication of the great political events, both foreign and domestic, which are now agitating every quarter of the globe.

"The proposed paper shall be conducted with the most undeviating impartiality, alike avoiding the petulance of party and the designing misrepresentations of disorganizing partisans, of whatever description they may be. It will be our aim to detail things as they are, following up the lights of truth, according to the best of our perception, and discarding every thing which may have a tendency to mislead the judgment or warp the heart from the best interests of its country. Such is the plan we are determined to pursue.

"1. The Miami Gazette will be published weekly, on a royal sheet, with an elegant new type, in the town of Hamilton, Butler County, and delivered to subscribers within the town. 'The first number will appear in July.

'<2. Yearly price two dollars, if paid in advance; two dollars and fifty cents, if paid within six or twelve months, according to the term subscribed for. But if payment be delayed beyond either period, then three dollars will be demanded. Subscribers receiving their papers by a private post will be charged for the packing and postage an additional fifty cents. Country produce will be received in payment.

The Gazette does not appear ever to have been issued. But two firms of printers had their eyes fixed on this place, and had sent out notices of their intention to establish a paper. The town was clearly too small for both, and they consolidated. Keen & Stewart constituted one of the firms, and Colby & Bonnell the other. The result of their joint labors was entitled the Miami Intelligencer, and the publishers were Colby, Bonnell & Co.

Mr. James McBride owned the press and type, which he purchased at Deer Creek, then above Cincinnati, from a Frenchman named. Menessier. Some use had previously been made of them, but what we are unable to learn. The first number of the journal was dated June 22, 1814. It was printed on a coarse, dingy royal sheet of four columns to the page, or a little larger than a page of Harpers Weekly. A large cut of the Goddess of Liberty blowing her trumpet was worked in the second number. It had evidently seen hard usage. The newspaper was published in the old Wingate House, corner of Dayton and Water Streets.

'"'Colby, Bonnell & Co. respectfully submit to their friends, and to the friends of republicanism, the follow-_ ing proposals for publishing in Hamilton, Ohio, a weekly newspaper, to be called Miami Intelligencer.

'From the sheets of the Miami Intelligencer the reader may inform himself of the principles and polities of the editors. However, lest the omission of giving some small outlines of our political opinions might be construed to our prejudice, we have no hesitation in avowing ourselves as American Republicans, not of those pretended Republicans who see but to condemn, who with impunity violate all law and outrage all order, nor of those Republicans who, under a pretended attachment to the pr inciples of W ashington, daily contradict by their words and actions every moral and political opinion which that great and good man promulgated - but of those genuine, honest Republicans who are independent enough to condemn, and candid enough to praise, where either may have been deserved; to censure only where censure may be due, and give applause where merit deserves it.

'< Although we are the avowed friends of the present administration of our country, yet we never shall become the tool of any man or set of men, be they attached to what party they may, or their station ever so high and their influence ever so extensive.

'«'The moralist, the poet, and the politician whose productions deserve attention shall find place in our paper for their accommodation ; but scurrility or personal abuse shall never disgrace the pages of the Miami Intelligencer. Such are our political opinions; such are the plans which we have determined to pursue, and from them we trust no consideration shall ever induce us to swerve."

'"©9. Price to subscribers: Two dollars, if paid in advance, for one year; two dollars and fifty cents, paid within the year; three dollars, if paid after the year expires.

'' The subscribers, believing that a consolidation of the establishments of the Volunteer and Miami Intelligencer would be most beneficial in themselves and pleasing to the inhabitants of Butler and the adjoining counties, have formed a union. The Intelligencer shall be published every Wednesday morning.

'Gentlemen who have interested themselves in behalf of either establishment will please accept our thanks. They will confer another favor by sending a list of the subscribers obtained, to this office immediately, or delivering it to the post rider of their district. "Kren & STEWART, '"'Cotpy & BonneELL."

'William H. Harrison, Isaac Shelby, and Lewis Cass have been appointed, by the President, commissioners to treat with the Indians at Greenville.

"The late arrival of the eastern mail last evening prevented our making copious extracts from our papers, letters, ete. The mail should arrive at noon. We have

'On Thursday last, by William D. Jones, Esq., Mr. Noah Wiley, of Crosby Township, Hamilton County, to Miss Mary Buffington, of Ross Township, Butler County.

Under the date of Boston, May 30, it notices the arrival at that port of the British letter of marque schooner Brilliant, captured by the privateer brig Scourge.

'©2. The French people call freely to the throne of France, Louis Stanislaus Xavier, of France, brother of the late king, and after him the other members of the house of Bourbon, in the ancient order.

'©91. The person of the king is sacred and inviolable. All the acts of the government are signed by a minister. The ministers are responsible for all which these acts contain violatory of the laws, public and al liberty, and the rights of the citizens.

'©93. The liberty of the press is entire, with the exception of the legal repression of offenses which may result from abuses of that liberty. The senatorial commissions of the liberty of the press and individual liberty are preserved."

'He never knew how to reign, either in the national interest or the interest of his own despotism. He has destroyed all that he ought to create ; and recreated all that he ought to destroy. He relied only upon force ; force now overwhelms him - just reward of senseless ambition.

'Napoleon has governed us like a king of barbarians ; Alexander [of Russia] and his magnanimous allies speak only the language of honor, justice, and humanity. They have just reconciled Europe to a brave and happy people.

David MeMechan, of ~Seven-mile, advertises a dark brown mare, strayed or stolen from his residence in Milford Township, about the beginning of April. He offers five dollars reward, and promises to ask no questions in case she is returned.

Michael Hagerman and Abraham Piatt & Co. advertise jointly that about the 4th of July they will have in operation on the Miami River, a half mile below Hamilton, '' three cording machines of superior quality."

James P. Morton ' gratefully acknowledges the partiality of a discerning public," and advertises that he has 'recommenced boot and shoe making at Mr. Pearson's."

Samuel Millikin, near the printing office, advertises a large lot of approved family medicines, '' prepared only by T. W. Dyott, M. D., grandson of the late celebrated Dr. Robertson, of Edinburgh."

Colby and Bonnell retired from the firm September 12, 1814, at which time Keen & Stewart removed to their new office on High Street. Stewart withdrew November 14, 1814, Zebulon Colby returning, and the publishers became Keen & Colby. This arrangement continued until May 14, 1815, when William Murray, the father of the late William Murray, took an interest in the paper, to secure a debt, and the firm became Keen, Colby & Murray.

The publication of the Miami Intelligencer was continued by this firm until March 29, 1816, when the business relations were dissolved, and Smith, Colby & Co. took possession, and changed the name of the paper to the Philanthropist.

The Philanthropist had for its motto ''Man is man; who is more?" It was printed from the same type and press, and preserved the form and announced the same terms of subscription as its predecessor. Except in name, there was nothing in it to indicate a change. In August, Mr. Smith sold out, and the publishing firm was changed to Zebulon Colby & Co., August 23, 1816, and under their direction the paper was issued until April 18, 1817, when they sold out to Wesley Camron and James B. Camron. They issued the Miami Herald.

'Free, but not licentious.". - Volume I, number 1, appearing under date of September 12, 1817. The publication office was in a frame building that stood near the north intersection of Reily with High Street. This building has since been removed to Second, below Basin, and is the present residence of Frank Martindell.

'John L. Murray (brother of the late William Murray), was organized, and the name of the paper was changed to the Hamilton Gazette and Miami Register, the first number of which appeared October 12, 1819. While the paper professed to be independent in politics, and devoted to literature, it betrayed a decided tendency to Republican or Democratic politics. The enterprise of the new firm led them to enlarge the paper to five columns, on January 25, 1820, and its publication was continued by them until January 8, 1821, certainly, and in all likelihood continuously until November 11, 1821, when

It commenced the publication of a new series at that date, and the office was removed to the building in which, a few years ago, Tom Myers was assassinated. On January 10, 1825, Mr. Camron changed the name of his paper to the Hamulton Advertiser, with '' Justice and equality" for a motto; and again, on November 17, 1826, he changed to the Hamilton Ohio Advertiser, and began a new series, which was closed October 26, 1827.

At this last date Cameron, as he now spelled his name, began the publication of the Western Telegraph, a flaming Jackson paper, with Taylor Webster as editor. The following August (1828) the publication of the Intelligencer was resumed, under the auspices of its early friends, and with the title of the Hamilton Intelligencer» It supported John Quincy Adams as President, and from that time on advocated Whig measures. Dr. John C. Dunlevy was supposed to be the editor, but his name was not announced.

Mr. John Woods, then the leading lawyer of the county, and the member of Congress, became a part owner in the Intelligencer on the 15th of November, 1828, when he bought half of the establishment from Edward Shaeffer, to begin in March, 1829. The other half was sold to Michael B. Sargeant, the law partner of Mr. Woods, in February, 1829. Mr. Shaeffer's name appeared as publisher as late as December 22 of that year. August 17, 1880, John Woods was editor and publisher. October 13, 1830, Richard H. L. Neale was announced as jointly interested, John Woods continuing editor. June 21, 1831, Mr. Woods became sole publisher. At about this time Lewis D. Campbell, who had just finished -his apprenticeship on the Cincinnati Gazette, came to the office of Mr. Woods as a printer.

We have left to us in the journals of that time several articles which show the cost of carrying on newspapers. Before this period, now just half a century ago, the newspapers were carried on by printers; after this they were conducted by politicians, who felt the vital importance of having their doctrines correctly set forth.

Tu Mr. Woods's office there was then only a Ramage press, requiring two pulls to complete the impression, and inked by balls. There was no large assortment of type, and but little mercantile printing was done. Much depended upon legal and official advertising.

'"We know a press which is doing business under the following prospects: It has two ostensible partners, and as it is published by A. B. & Co., the company style would seem to indicate that there were more than A. & B. They do not profess to have more than four hundred subscribers, and it is said that not three hundred and fifty papers are received by paying subscribers - this, for six months (if cash were paid within that time), would be $350; but no subscription of that number ever paid within that time $300. The actual living expenses of each of the partners can not be less than $9 per week - they ought to receive $6, to make journeymen's wages. They employ a hand at not less than $5 per week; their paper for four hundred subscribers is $5; their office rent, ink, contingencies, etc., will be $2. These sums, which are all put at the lowest estimate, amount to $22 per week, which multiplied by twenty-six, the number of weeks in six months, will amount to $575. The advertising and jobs can not amount to $75, Allowing, therefore, four hundred subscribers, and each to pay his dollar within the six months, the receipts can not exceed $475, leaving a deficit of $100. Our knowledge of business has taught that an establishment under such regulations can not be continued a year under a certain sacrifice of $200, and a very probable sacrifice of several hundred more."

The younger members of the profession will not be able to see where he has understated the income or overstated the expense. This is, however, the case. If there were two partners, one undoubtedly was a lawyer and politician, and took nothing from the fund. 'They would also have received a larger sum from advertisements and job printing, certainly $200 in the six months. By taking off, therefore, $130 for one of the partners, and adding $125 to the advertising and job printing, $255 is gained, making a surplus of $155, instead of a deficit of $100.

'From the preceding it will be seen that $2,138 have been expended in the process of business during the past year, not including stockholders' time - equal to $1,200 - and that the actual receipts into the treasury have not exceeded $500. Thus the stockholders find themselves $1,658, in cash, out of pocket; and (if all be collectable) only a net gain of $162, a sum not half adequate to the injury of materials."

This was a preposterously large price to pay journeymen. No office outside of Columbus and Cincinnati, in this State, paid such a sum; and the quantity of paper used would indicate a-very large subscription list.

'Having claimed and exercised, during the late political contest, the right of deciding for myself, and of acting upon the convictions of my own judgment, without regard to the poor popularity which is bought by the sacrifice of principle and self-respect, I need now give no other pledge than that I will still pursue a fearless and independent course. I trust, however, that I shall not be unmindful that others may have an equal right to form and act upon their own opinions.

''Whatever may be my success in endeavoring to make the Intelligencer a source of general information, and of agreeable amusement to its readers, I will at least preserve it from low scurrility and degrading personal contests. When it wantonly attacks private character, and becomes the vehicle of low and malignant slander, I will no longer ask those whom I shall assail and abuse, or the public thus insulted, to support me with their patronage and countenance." |

Mr. Woods retired at the close of the presidential contest, the day of publication was changed to Saturday, and a new series was started on Saturday, November 10, 1832, and on the 17th of that month Lewis D. Campbell was announced as editor. Mr. Campbell did all the labor - was publisher, editor, compositor, office boy and all. He employed, for the first two years, no one to help him, except when working press, when he required some one to ink the forms as he pulled off. For this he paid 'one bit" per week. We quote a paragraph from his salutatory : ,

'"'Tt is confidently hoped that as the presidential canvass is over party spirit will soon subside, and the public mind, which has so long been kept in an unpleasant agitation, again become settled. Let the result of the contest which is now closing be what it may, our exertions will be actively employed in restoring peace and tranquillity. We are ready and willing to submit to the solemn decision of a free people."

The last sentence alludes to the second election of General Jackson, in 1832. The subsidence of party spirit and the restoration of peace and tranquillity in politics were Utopian schemes of the day. In 1834, L. Gibbon and D..B. Gardner assisted him as publishers. Mr. Gardner retired November 12, 1835, and Mr. Gibbon continued as publisher until May 12, 1836, when Isaac M. Walters succeeded. The name of the paper was changed, January 4, 1838, to the Hamilton Ohio Intelligencer, and in November of that year, Mr. Campbell retired. He had in the mean time studied law, and was admitted to the bar. His farewell article, under the head of '' Editor's Adieu," contains the following paragraphs : myself in a position which will enable me to be an observer of what is going on in the great editorial arena. Tt will be fun to see the lunges that will be made; to see the Register and Statesman ' wool' each other; to see the veteran of the Cincinnati Gazette deal out his well-aimed blows at both friends and foes; to see Prentice floor his hosts, and to see the 'small fry' about the country dextrously wielding their weapons.

'"T now deliberately walk out of the field, and put up the bars, entertaining a hope that those friends who have stood by and patronized me may live a thousand years, happily and prosperously; that all honest Van Buren men will soon perceive and flee from the error of their way, and that the Intelligencer may be more profitable to its publishers and more efficient to its object than it has been under my control."

February 27, 1840, when William C. Howells, now consul-general of the United States in the Dominion of Canada, purchased the paper, and became both editor and publisher. His son, William D. Howells, the graceful essayist and novelist, was employed in the office a portion of the time. The first business Mr. Howells undertook was to restore to the paper its old name of the Hamilton Intelligencer. He conducted the paper with marked ability until November 16, 1848, when he sold it to John P. Charles. A few months after, Mr. Howells purchased the Dayton Transcript.

Mr. Charles disposed of his interest in the paper to Mr. J. W. McBeth, on May 17, 1849, and the style of the firm was McBeth & Boardman - Mr. McBeth doing the editorial work, and Mr. Boardman superintending the publishing department.

Mr. D. W. Halsey succeeded to Boardman's interest April 24, 1851, and the firm of Halsey & McBeth existed until February 15, 1855, when McBeth disposed of

The appearance of the newspaper had greatly changed at this time from that of the first issues of the Intelligencer. It was a large, handsome sheet, filled with good reading matter, and devoting a reasonable proportion of its space The enlargément took place at the beginning of 1852, and was the first since 1837. Mr. Halsey owned the paper until 1857, when he died. The date was November 4. It was purchased from his executors by Minor Millikin and David W. McClung. Mr. Millikin afterward went out to the war, and was killed while bravely fighting for his country. Mr. McClung is the present collector of internal revenue in Cincinnati. Among the contributors to the paper at that time was Whitelaw Reid, now editor of the New York Tribune, who furnished the weekly Oxford letter. It was well done. Mr. McClung retired July 29, 1858, and Mr.

Millikin owned and edited the paper until June 30, 1859, when he sold it to Jacob Morris. Mr. Morris associated William Bunston with him as joint owner, February 23, 1860, and this business relation existed until May, 1862, when Williams & Egry, proprietors of the Hamilton Telegraph, purchased the paper, and merged it in the Telegraph.

The Western Telegraph and Hamilton Ohio Advertiser, Volume I, Number 1, was published by James B. Camron and Taylor Webster, November 2, 1827, under the firm of Camron & Webster.

October 29, 1829, it was printed and published by Taylor Webster, no account being given of! the withdrawal of Mr. Camron at that time. Mr. Camron afterward became county auditor, and died in 1845. He was not a practical printer.

March 9, 1832, the name was changed to Western Telegraph and Butler County Advertiser, and the place of publication changed. This paper was dated at Rossville, as were all its successors for nearly eight years.

November 18, 1836, the publication was resumed by Franklin Stokes, a practical printer. A vast improvement in the typographical appearance of the paper is perceptible in his first number. John B. Weller appeared as editor.

November 7, 1839, the paper was again suspended for a brief period, for the purpose of settling up, the printing office being offered for sale. ''This paper," Mr. Stokes says, ''closes the twelfth volume of the Western Telegraph, and we embrace this occasion to return our thanks," ete.

October 18, 1849, M. C. Ryan, who had long before been employed by Mr. Campbell in his printing office, assumed the sole editorial charge of the paper, having had greatness thrust upon him, as he explains, by mentioning the departure of one of the editors to California and the absence of the other on the business of '' Paradise Lost."

November 15, 1849, F. Van Derveer was announced as editor. He disposed of his interest to William Ramsay, of the Dayton Empire, October 1, 1850, and went to California. C. L. Weller was the editor in 1851, Ramsay only holding the paper ten days.

six months (if cash were paid within that time), would be $350; but no subscription of that number ever paid within that time $300. The actual living expenses of each of the partners can not be less than $5 per week - they ought to receive $6, to make journeymen's wages. They employ a hand at not less than $5 per week; their paper for four hundred subscribers is $5; their office rent, ink, contingencies, ete., will be $2. These sums, which are all put at the lowest estimate, amount to $22 per week, which multiplied by twenty-six, the number of weeks in six months, will amount to $575. The advertising and jobs can not amount to $75. Allowing, therefore, four hundred subscribers, and each to pay his dollar within the six months, the receipts can not exceed $475, leaving a deficit of $100. Our knowledge of business has taught that an establishment under such regulations can not be continued a year under a certain sacrifice of $200, and a very probable sacrifice of several hundred more."

The younger members of the profession will not be able to see where he has understated the income or overstated the expense. This is, however, the case. If there were two partners, one undoubtedly was a lawyer and politician, and took nothing from the fund. They would also have received a larger sum from advertisements and job printing, certainly $200 in the six months. By taking off, therefore, $130 for one of the partners, and adding $125 to the advertising and job printing, $255 is gained, making a surplus of $155, instead of a deficit of $100.

''From the preceding it will be seen that $2,138 have been expended in the process of business during the past year, not including stockholders' time - equal to $1,200 - and that the actual receipts into the treasury have not exceeded $500. Thus the stockholders find themselves $1,638, in cash, out of pocket; and (if all be collectable) only a net gain of $162, a sum not half adequate to the injury of materials."

This was a preposterously large price to pay journeymen. No office outside of Columbus and Cincinnati, in this State, paid such a sum; and the quantity of paper used would indicate a-very large subscription list.

'Having claimed and exercised, during the late political contest, the right of deciding for myself, and of acting upon the convictions of my own judgment, without regard to the poor popularity which is bought by the sacrifice of principle and self-respect, I need now give no other pledge than that I will still pursue a fearless and independent course. I trust, however, that I shall not be unmindful that others may have an equal right to form and act upon their own opinions.

'"Whatever may be my success in endeavoring to make the Intelligencer a source of general information, and of agreeable amusement to its readers, I will at least preserve it from low scurrility and degrading personal contests. When it wantonly attacks private character, and becomes the vehicle of low and malignant slander, I will no longer ask those whom I shall assail and abuse, or the public thus insulted, to support me with their patronage and countenance." ,

Mr. Woods retired at the close of the presidential contest, the day of publication was changed to Saturday, and a new series was started on Saturday, November 10, 1832, and on the 17th of that month Lewis D. Campbell was announced as editor. Mr. Campbell-did all the labor - was publisher, editor, compositor, office boy and all. He employed, for the first two years, no one to help him, except when working press, when he required some one to ink the forms as he pulled off. For this he paid ''one bit" per week. We quote a paragraph from his salutatory : ;

'""Tt is confidently hoped that as the presidential canvass is over party spirit will soon subside, and the public mind, which has so long been kept in an unpleasant agitation, again become settled. Let the result of the contest which is now closing be what it may, our exertions will be actively employed in restoring peace and tranquillity. We are ready and willing to submit to the solemn decision of a free people."

The last sentence alludes to the second election of General Jackson, in 1832. The subsidence of party spirit and the restoration of peace and tranquillity in polities were Utopian schemes of the day. In 1834, L. Gibbon and D..B. Gardner assisted him as publishers. Mr. Gardner retired November 12, 1835, and Mr. Gibbon continued as publisher until May 12, 1836, when Isaac M. Walters succeeded. The name of the paper was changed, January 4, 1838, to the Hamilton Ohio Intelligencer, and in November of that year, Mr. Campbell retired. He had in the mean time studied law, and was admitted to the bar. His farewell article, under the head of ' Editor's Adieu," contains the following paragraphs : | myself in a position which will enable me to be an observer of what is going on in the great editorial arena. Tt will be fun to see the lunges that will be made; to see the Register and Statesman ' wool' each other; to see the veteran of the Cincinnati Gazette deal out his well-aimed blows at both friends and foes; to see Prentice floor his hosts, and to see the 'small fry' about the country dextrously wielding their weapons.

'**T now deliberately walk out of the field, and put up the bars, entertaining a hope that those friends who have stood by and patronized me may live a thousand years, happily and prosperously; that all honest Van Buren men will soon perceive and flee from the error of their way, and that the Intelligencer may be more profitable to its publishers and more efficient to its object than it has been under my control."

Mr. Walters, in addition to his duties as publisher, 'assumed those of editor, preserving these relations until February 27, 1840, when William C. Howells, now consul-general of the United States in the Dominion of Canada, purchased the paper, and became both editor and publisher. His son, William D. Howells, the graceful essayist and novelist, was employed in the office a portion of the time. The first business Mr. Howells undertook was to restore to the paper its old name of the Hamilton Intelligencer. He conducted the paper with marked ability until November 16, 1848, when he sold it to John P. Charles. A few months after, Mr. Howells purchased the Dayton Transcript.

Mr. Charles disposed of his interest in the paper to Mr. J. W. McBeth, on May 17, 1849, and the style of the firm was McBeth & Boardman - Mr. McBeth doing the editorial work, and Mr. Boardman superintending the publishing department.

Mr. D. W. Halsey succeeded to Boardman's interest April 24, 1851, and the firm of Halsey & McBeth existed until February 15, 1855, when McBeth disposed of his interest to Mr. Halsey.

The appearance of the newspaper had greatly changed at this time from that of the first issues of the Intelligencer. It was a large, handsome sheet, filled with good reading matter, and devoting a reasonable proportion of its space to local news. The enlargément took place at the beginning of 1852, and was the first since 1837. Mr. Halsey owned the paper until 1857, when he died. The date was November 4. It was purchased from his executors by Minor Millikin and David W. McClung. Mr. Millikin afterward went out to the war, and was killed while bravely fighting for his country. Mr. McClung is the present collector of internal revenue in Cincinnati. Among 'the contributors to the paper at that time was Whitelaw Reid, now editor of the New York Tribune, who furnished the weekly Oxford letter. It was well done. Mr. McClung retired July 29, 1858, and Mr.

Millikin owned and edited the paper until June 30, 1859, when he sold it to Jacob Morris. Mr. Morris associated William Bunston with him as joint owner, February 23, 1860, and this business relation existed until May, 1862, when Williams & Egry, proprietors of the Hamilton Telegraph, purchased the paper, and merged it in the Telegraph.

The Western Telegraph and Hamilton Ohio Advertiser, Volume I, Number 1, was published by James B. Camron and Taylor Webster, November 2, 1827, under the firm of Camron & Webster.

October 29, 1829, it was printed and published by Taylor Webster, no account being given of' the withdrawal of Mr. Camron at that time. Mr. Camron afterward became county auditor, and died in 1848. He was not a practical printer.

March 9, 1832, the name was changed to Western~ Telegraph and Butler County Advertiser, and the place of publication changed. This paper was dated at Rossville, as were all its successors for nearly eight years.

November 18, 1836, the publication was resumed by Franklin Stokes, a practical printer. A vast improvement in the typographical appearance of the paper is perceptible in his first number. John B. Weller appeared as editor.

November 7, 1839, the paper was again suspended for a brief period, for the purpose of settling up, the printing office being offered for sale. ''This paper," Mr. Stokes says, ''closes the twelfth volume of the Western Telegraph, and we embrace this occasion to return our thanks," etc.

October 18, 1849, M. C. Ryan, who had long before been employed by Mr. Campbell in his printing office, assumed the sole editorial charge of the paper, having had greatness thrust upon him, as he explains, by mentioning the departure of one of the editors to California and the absence of the other on the business of '' Paradise Lost."

November 15, 1849, F. Van Derveer was announced as editor. He disposed of his interest to William Ramsay, of the Dayton Empire, October 1, 1850, and went to California. C. L. Weller was the editor in 1851, Ramsay only holding the paper ten days.

November 11, 1852, the official records show that William R. Kinder commenced a new. series at that date, styling it volume 26, number 1. Mr. Kinder. continued as editor and proprietor until June 18, 1854, when his interest was purchased by Charles I. Barker and James McCormick.

On November 8, 1855, Major Alfred A. Phillips purchased Barker's interest in the paper, and the firm name was McCormick & Phillips. Mr. Phillips remained in the business but a short while, and was bought out by Daniel R. Empson, April 17, 1856. Under this arrangement Empson became editor, and McCormick had charge of the publication. About one year later - April 23, 1857 - the paper passed into the hands of the Telegraph Company, with William R. Kinder as editor. Mr. Empson died June 18 of that year.

September 3, 1857, James K. Webster purchased the paper, and retained Mr, Kinder as his editor. Mr. Kinder finally retired from the editorial chair, May 6, 1858, and Mr. Webster succeeded him, F. Van Derveer acting as editor, and owned and controlled the paper until June 6, 1861; when John McElwee and John P. P. Peck purchased it. The former remained in the paper but a short time, selling out in a couple of weeks to his partner, who made it an outspoken champion for the cause of the Union in the war of the Rebellion, which was then inaugurated.

The greater portion of the Democracy in this county were opposed to the war. It seemed to them something which could have been avoided by a few timely concessions, and they were not slow in discharging their wrath upon Mr. Peck, as a renegade Democrat. He was at that time a private banker, and a run was begun upon his establishment, resulting in its suspension. He published the Telegraph until October 24, 1861, when the paper, press, and material were purchased by Williams & Egry, proprietors of the Hamilton Intelligencer. The two papers were merged, and were thenceforward, to the present time, published as the Hamilton Telegraph.

The Democracy were not satisfied with the withdrawal of their patronage from Mr. Peck's bank and his paper, but set up a new journal, entitled the True Telegraph. It was printed on type bought in Oxford, and was issued by Dr. John McElwee and Abram C. Marts. Thus there were three papers here in progress at the same time - the Telegraph, the True Telegraph, and the Intelligencer. The editors of the latter, after the consolidation with the Telegraph, were Valentine Chase and H. P. K. Peck, to November 27, 1862, and W. 8. Bush to March 12,1863. At the last date, Mr. John C. Lewis purchased the interest of Mr. Williams, and became the editor. Mr. Lewis disposed of his interest to Mr. Egry, November 2, 1865, who remained sole owner, with J. T. Langstroth as editor, until October 31, 1867. At that time F. H. Scobey became a part proprietor, which interest he retained for one year. In October, 1868, Mr. Kgry again became sole owner of the paper, with F. H. Scobey for editor - relations that continued unbroken until Mr. Eery sold out to C. M. Campbell, on the 17th of December, 1879. The next week appeared the first number of the Daily News, an evening daily, which has been continued up to this time. Mr. Scobey acted as editor until March, 1880, when he withdrew, shortly afterward going to Kansas. Since this time Mr. Campbell has acted as editor. Albert Dix has been the business manager since Mr. Campbell took possession, and Fred L. Rosemond has been the city editor since Mr. Scobey left. The Telegraph is still continued as the weekly.

It is difficult for those not on the ground to conceive the intense excitement that prevailed here at the outbreak of the war. The outbreak of patriotic feeling at the time Sumter was fired on was enough to silence dis- - sent, but in a month or two affairs had changed. We had lost some small engagements; the war was by no means as successful as had been hoped, and business was stagnant. To those who believed that the struggle should have been averted the course of the Telegraph was extremely offensive. Its proprietors were Democrats, but the bulk of the party charged them with being traitors. The proposition, therefore, to establish a new paper devoted to sound principles was hailed with alacrity. Once begun, its course was plain. It denounced the administration and the war, it ridiculed the leaders in Congress, declared Democrats who had sprung to the assistance of the country were hypocrites or turncoats, and was never tired of harping the changes on the negro, Old Abe, Beast Butler, and the downfall of the Constitution. The leader of the peace party in this section was Clement L. Valandigham, of Dayton, a man of high standing, and of - ereat personal magnetism. They continued this opposisition during the war, and for years after, although Mr. Vallandigham did not. He saw and accepted the new situation very soon after the close of the contest.

The True Telegraph began in September, 1861, and soon forced the other Democratic paper to sell out to its Republican rival. The paper was edited, at the beginning, by Dr. McElwee. Within a few weeks the paper was sold to Marts & Mayo. Mr. Mayo acted as editor. He had previously been a school-teacher, and had written a life of Vallandigham. October 30, a new series of the True Telegraph was started, and styled volume 36, number 1. The paper was published by the True Telegraph Company, with Owen Morony business manager.

Under this management, Crane and Palmer appear as editors, March 26, 1863, and on April 23d of that year they became proprietors. On July 21, 1864, Crane & Palmer sold the paper to the True Telegraph Company. They secured the services of John McElwee as editor, who served as such until February 23, 1865, when he was succeeded in the editorial chair by John A. Cockerill. Mr. Cockerill, at this time, was a very young man, but « writer of great force. John A. Cockerill & Brother became the owners of the paper, October 26, 1865, and on April 25, 1867, Mr. John A. Cockerill became sole owner of it, and so remained until July 2, 1868, when he sold to Jacob,H. Long, who installed Colonel H. H. Robinson as editor. Mr. Long continued in ownership of the paper, and Mr. Robinson was its editor, until January 13, 1870, when it was sold to John R. Nickel, editor-in-chief, and L. B. De la Court, managing editor, and its name changed to the Butler County Democrat, March 10, 1870; owing to legal complications, the additional name and True Telegraph was appended to it.

Dr. Nickel retired from the paper, May 11, 1871, and its entire possession passed into the hands of L. B. De la Court, who retained Dr. Nickel as its editor. Mr. De la Court owned the paper until December 21, 1873, when Thomas H. Hodder purchased it, and held it until April 15, 1875. During this time, Mr. Hodder changed the form of the paper from a folio to a quarto, and made some other mechanical improvements in it.

The firm of R. N. Andrews & Co. succeeded Mr. Hodder in the ownership of the paper, April 15, 1875. Mr. J. W. Shart's name appeared in the initial number as its editor, and until June 24, when it was dropped. Later in the year it was edited by J. P. Caldwell for a brief season and by Thomas H. Miller and others.

On May 15, 1875, the paper assumed the name of the Butler County Democrat and Hamilton Guidon, McE]- wee & McMaken selling the Guidon to the Democrat. On December 2, 1875, the paper was purchased by the Democratic Printing Company, composed of R. N. Andrews, Thomas Miller, and H. C. Hume - Mr. Hume acting as editor. Subsequently Andrews disposed of his interest to George R. Vinnedge, and afterward Mr. D. J. Callen, of Mercer County, purchased the interest, first of Miller, then of Vinnedge, and then came into entire possession of the paper, by purchasing the interest of Mr. Hume. Callen became financially embarrassed, and the Democrat was placed in the hands of a receiver. The receiver, N. KE. Warwick, under the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, edited and continued the publication of the paper until February, 1877, when it was sold by him to H. C. Hume, Mrs. Catharine Miller, and George Vinnedge, who soon afterward sold the establishment to B. K. Brant, its present proprietor, who is assisted by Isaac Coy. It is Democratic in politics. A daily paper was issued from this office in the Fall of 1881.

In April, 1821, a paper was commenced by John L. Murray, called. the Volunteer, and afterwards Murray's Weekly Volunteer, which was continued to December, 1825, when it was discontinued.

The next earliest periodical of which we have any account was published at Oxford. It was edited by the professors, and primted by John B. Smith. Its title was the Literary Register, and it had for motto ' Prodesse quam conspici."

"The Erodelphian and Union Literary Societies of Miami University will dispose of a good printing press, together with a large quantity of type, to suit the purchaser, if application be made immediately.

The Rev. Dr. MacDill, a name ever to be honored in this county, began the publication of a religious periodical in Hamilton, in the year 1829. It began in January. It was entitled the Christian Intelligencer, and was published in pamphlet form, forty-eight pages to each monthly number. It was devoted to the defense of the doctrines of the Associate Reformed Church and the diffusion of religious intelligence generally. After editing the paper for three years, 1829, 1830, and 1838, it was then suspended, but resumed again in March, 1833. At this time the fourth volume.commenced. At the close of the thirteenth volume the name was changed, and it was then called the Evangelical Guardian. In 1847 it was called the United Presbyterian. At this. time the Rev. James Pressley, then of Cincinnati, was associated with Dr. MacDill as publisher and assistant editor. At the close of the eighteenth volume, Dr. MacDill concluded to remove West, and the Rev. James Claybaugh, D. D., succeeded him, although the former still contributed articles from his home in Illinois. The journal is still carried on in Pittsburg. |

In July, 1830, James B. Cameron commenced a weekly paper in Rossville, called the Ohio Independent Press, which was afterward published by Cameron, Hutchins & Co., until February, 1832, at which time the publication was discontinued, the publication not having been regular during the latter part of the time.

The Free Soil Banner was issued in Hamilton, August 21, 1848, giving an active support to Van Buren. It was edited by the following committee: John W. Erwin, John W. Wilson, Henry 8. Earhart, Mark C. McMaken, Alfred Thomas, and John R. Lewis. John H. Elliott, Hamilton, and H. C. Bird, Rossville, were publishing agents. John C. Skinner, treasurer. It was weekly, for three months.

The Daily Press was issued in Rossville, in May, 1851, by James H. Green and Alfred L. Sewell, two practical printers. Four numbers only were published.

The Miami Democrat was begun in Rossville, in January, 1850, and was conducted by Wilson H. Laymon. He retired from the paper, Tuesday, Septemler 9, 1851, and the next number was owned by an association of Democrats - Longfellow & Co.; L. J. Strong, editor.

The Tri-weekly Advertiser was published March 14, 1867, by Jacob H. Long, and a weekly newspaper of the same name was begun by Mr. Long, February 24, 1875. The first was afterward merged into the Independent, which began in 1871. Mr. Long afterward disposed of his interests to Dr. J. R. Brown, Samuel L'Hommedieu, and W. H. Beardsley. The paper was edited by Colonel H. H. Robinson, and was printed until 1874, when it was disposed of to the Hamilton Printing Company, and merged into the Examiner.

The Examiner was begun in 1874, by the Hamilton Printing Company, and was conducted thus until in October of that year, when it was sold out to the Guidon, and became merged into that paper. It was edited by Thomas A. Corcoran, of Cincinnati, six or eight weeks, and afterward by John F. Neilan.

The Guidon was started August 26, 1875, by John McElwee. It established a reputation at once for ability to criticise, ridicule, and lecture the community in general. Its preprietor associated with him J. J. McMaken, and they bought out the Examiner, and the paper then became more conservative, and was removed to West Hamilton. In May, 1875, McElwee and McMaken sold out to the Butler County Democrat, and the Guidon and Examiner were merged into that paper.

The Orcus was originated in 1878, by S. D.° Cone, who published and edited it for about three months; then being purchased by Lou J. Beauchamp and Robt. 8. Carr, when it was bought by B. R. Finch and N. FE. Warwick, and ran about six months - being noted for its sprightliness. Then, on account of change of business affairs, it was discontinued, the proprietors refunding advance subscriptions.

July 17, 1876, S. D. Cone and Colonel P. H. Gallagher, formerly of Charleston, West Virginia, and who was Mr. Callen's business manager of the Democrat, began publishing the Sunday Morning News. Mr. Cone was the originator of the venture, in the belief that a Sunday paper issued at an early hour, before the arrival of the Cincinnati® trains, could acquire a large and_ profitable circulation, and in great measure supplant the Cincinnati Sunday dailies. With that view, special telegraphic dis- patches were engaged, by the Atlantic and Pacific line, from all important points - the first attempt at newspaper special telegraphing ever made in Hamilton. The News ran its career in a little less than four months, and was highly appreciated. It came to an end through the

The Observer is published by Jacob H. Long, and is a continuation of the Advertiser. It was established February 24, 1876. From the same office there was published, in the Fall of 1881, a Democratic daily of the same name, and later, another daily, entitled the Daily People.

The Hamilton Register was established in 1877, by J. W. Bennett, and was afterward changed to the Hamilton Free Lance. It suspended publication in 1879, and its editor entered the field of journalism in Warren County, where he continued his labors.

The Schildwache was established in May, 1859, by F. E. Humbach and John P. Bruck, being edited by John P. Dietz, of Dayton. After six months' service in this capacity he resigned, and was succeeded by L. F. Schmidicke, of Cincinnati. During 1860, F. E. Humbach sold out to J. P. Bruck. In 1861 J. P. Bruck responded to the call of the President for troops, and raised the first company that left Hamilton for the seat of war, of which he was elected captain. During his absence in the field (three months), Frederick Egry acted as superintendent, and attempted to run it in the interest of the Union cause, although it was originally an outspoken Demoeratic sheet. In November, 1862, Captain Bruck sold out to Peter Milders, with Professor A. Goering and Louis Hey as editors. In 1863 Milders disposed of the Schildwache to Robert Christy, Esq., now a prominent practicing attorney at Washington, D. C., who immediately sold it to J. H. Long, the latter publishing it as the Butler County Democrat, a short time, in connection with L. B. De la Court. After a brief partnership, De la Court withdrew, and, in 1864, began the publication of the National Zeitung.

1863, the German Democrats of Butler County manifested a desire to start a new German Democratic newspaper, not having been satisfied with the policy pursued by the Democrat. The project was carried out by a number of German Democrats, who called a meeting for the purpose of organizing a stock company. On the thirteenth day of April, 1864, the following persons met at Rumple's Hall, West Hamilton: Messrs. Christian Morgenthaler, January Getz, Eberhart Bétlinger, John Fischer, L. B. De la Court, Adolph Schmidt, Peter Becker, and others. Mr. Morgenthaler was elected president; Adolph Schmidt, secretary; and January Getz, treasurer of the company. The meeting resolved to publish a German Democratic newspaper, to solicit subscriptions for stock, and elected L. B. De la Court editor and business manager of the concern. On the fourth day of July, 1864, the first number of the Hamilton National Zeitung was published. A few years later the paper passed into the sole possession of L. B. De la Court, who bought the entire stock of the company. The National Zeitung has been published since without interruption, and is at present the only German newspaper published in Butler County.

Preceding the Schildwache there had been a German paper called the Wachter, and, during the war, a Republican journal was issued in Hamilton, entitled the Beobachter.

We can not refrain from expressing our indignation at the vandal who destroyed a series of files of these newspapers, running up to the beginning of the county, and of priceless value. He had before refused to allow access to them on the ground that Butler County had not treated him right. He was a disappointed candidate for office, and his fellow-citizens had undoubtedly judged his capacity and public spirit correctly.

There are now published in this city the News and Telegraph, from the same office, by C. M. Campbell, the former being daily; the Democrat, by B. K. Brant; the Observer, by Jacob H. Long; and the National Zeitung, by L. B. De la Court. Two advertising sheets are also issued.

BurLer County was formed and organized in 1803. The following table will show the march of population since the organization of the State government, according to the quadrennial enumeration of the free males over twenty-one years of age, made for the purpose of apportioning the representatives and senators to the State Legislature :

The whole population was, in 1810, 11,071; in 1820, it had increased to 21,726; and in 1828, amounted to about 26,000. The whole number for each of these dates may be ascertained with sufficient accuracy by multiplying the number over 21 years by 5.6. The whole number of free persons of color, in 1820, was 158.

years, 2,022; between 26 and 45 years, 1,835; of 45 years and upward, 961. From this data it will appear that in 1820 the number of males exceeded that of the females 928.

This excess was accounted for, in part, by the spirit of adventure and the prospects of success inducing more young men to emigrate to and try their fortunes'in the new countries than young women; but, even of that class under 10 years of age (upon whom these circumstances could have little or no influence), there is an excess of 189 males.

Fairfield Township contains 26,294 acres of land, valued, with the-improvements, in 1827, at $192,112. It contained, in 1827, 522 voters, and 2,923 inhabitants. It contained also 594 head of horses, and 863 head of cattle, valued at $30,664. The foregoing items, together with the town property, valued at $160,990, and the capital engaged in merchandise, estimated (before - the court) at $6,600, made the aggregate value of the township $300,366. This amount of property paid a tax of $941.14, for State and canal purposes; $640.60 for school and county expenses ; and $330.11 for township expenses; making, in the whole, $1,911.94.

Lemon Township contains 22,165 acres of land, then valued at $153,458. Horses, 632; cattle, 886; estimated at $32,376. Capital in merchandise, $16,900. Town property, $33,395 - making the aggregate value of the township, $236,129. On this was paid $726.12 State and canal tax; $495, for county and school purposes ; total, $1,221.19. This township contained 554 voters and 3,100 inhabitants.

Oxford Township contains 1,583 acres of taxable land, valued at $7,886. The college lands, amounting to 17,464 acres, valued at $59,257, were not subject to taxation. This township contained 332 horses, and 8,607 cattle; valued at $18,136. Town property, $10,585 ; merchants' capital, $6,700 ; property of the Miami Uniyersity, buildings, etc., $25,000. Total value of the township, $127,566. This township paid $104.85 for State and canal purposes; and $87.50 for county and school purposes; making only a total of $198.05. The number of voters was 367, and of inhabitants 2,050. The annual rents paid to the university by the lease-holders of this township amounted to upward of $4,000.

Morgan Township contains 23,003 acres of land, then valued at $72,072. It also contained 392 horses, and 654 cattle; valued at $20,912; capital in merchandise, $700; total value, $93,684. This township paid $291.37 for State and canal purposes; and $197.95 for county and school expenses; total, $489.32. Voters, 333; inhabitants, 1,884.

To arrive near the whole value of the county, to the items above enumerated must be added the value of the , young horses and cattle under three years old, and the sheep and swine, which would amount to a very considerable sum, and also the amount of household furniture, farming implements and mechanic tools. These items would probably increase the amount nearly one half, the horses and cattle being each valued at a fixed rate - the - horses at $40 each, the cattle at $8 - probably much be-_ low the average value which they would then sell for in the market.

An ingenious writer who collated the above statistics indulges in the following anticipations as to the future of this county. He writes in 1828: |

"We will indulge, here, in a few speculations on the energies which heaven has imparted to the soil, and to how great an extent its resources may be developed. Butler County contains about 15,000 acres of first-rate land; 180,000 acres of second-rate land ; and 80,000 acres - of third-rate. This 15,000 acres of first-rate land will produce annually of corn, at the rate of 45 bushels per acre, 675,000 bushels. ;

"This amount of corn, at two gallons per bushel, ~ would yield 1,350,000 gallons of spirits, which at 20 cents per gallon, would amount to $270,000; and it would produce, allowing 10 bushels to yield 100 pounds, © 6,750,000 pounds of pork, which at 23 cents per pound, would be worth $169,750, and would subsist about 100,000 persons!

"The 180,000 acres of second-rate land, supposing it to yield 15 bushels of wheat per acre, would produce" 2,700,000 bushels, which would make about 500,000 barrels of flour, worth $3.25 per barrel, and would amount to" the barrel and expense of grinding and packing; and at 40 cents per bushel would amount to $1,080,000. This" quantity of wheat would subsist 400,000 persons, allowing each to consume 64 bushels, which is rather more> than is actually consumed in bread-stuffs. One-third of the second-rate land, 60,000 acres, in grass, would yield, at 14 tons of hay per acre, 90,000 tons, which would - winter about 90,000 head of horses, or 120,000 head of - cattle ; and the remaining two-thirds, 120,000 acres s would yield sufficient grazing to feed them through th om Summer. Were they disposed of, either horses or cattle, at three years old - in general, the most judicious age - if horses, 30,000 (one-third) might be disposed of amnually, which, at an average of $40 each, would yield"

Education

$1,200,000; if cattle, 40,000 would be disposable annually, which at $10 per head, would yield $400,000. This showing proves clearly that horses are much the most profitable species of stock.

"The living animals which are annually sent from the Western States into the Southern markets (principally horses) yield about $3,000,000. It is, perhaps, not rating horses too high in those markets at $80 per head; and

" Highty thousand acres of third-rate land, Very proper for that purpose, would support, at 5 sheep to the acre, 400,000; which, averaging each fleece at 2 pounds, would yield 800,000 pounds, worth, at 30 cents per pound, $240,000.

«These calculations have been made, supposing every acre of land to be under cultivation. At present the quantity in actual agriculture does not greatly exceed one-third, and there is a very small portion of it, indeed, under that high state of cultivation to which it will probably arrive at some future day, when the great increase of population will demand every energy of the soil to produce aliment to sustain animal life. We may gather a knowledge, satisfactorily accurate, of the prospective population which this county may one day contain, or at least support, by ascertaining the greatest quantity of grain which it will produce. It is a principle infallible in the economy of nature to produce life to as great an extent as nature and art furnish means to sustain it. "The whole quantity of land (rating the first quality at 30 bushels of wheat per acre, the second quality at 15, and the third-rate at 8) would produce 3,790,000 bushels. Estimating the consumption of each individual, young and old, in bread, meat, liquors, clothing, and that consumed by the necessary proportion of domestic animals, to be equal to 25 bushels (and this is apportioning a more liberal allowance than is consumed in some countries of greater than was contained in the States of Delaware and Rhode Island in 1820. And yet this would not make a population much more dense than some sections of country in the old world. It gives 326 to the square mile. The Netherlands contains 214 persons to the. square mile; England, 225; and Ireland, 228. In countries as extensive as either of the last mentioned, there must be considerable quantities of land which will not produce; in this county there is scarcely a rood which may not be profitably improved.

'There were, in 1810, in this county, 10 tanneries, and 74 stills for distilling ardent spirits. We have no data from which we eoatd. form any tolerable estimate of their numbers at present, but the numbers of both are considerably increased. There was also, in that year, in it, 514 looms, upon which were woven 156,476 yards of various looms, and the quantity of labor performed on them, has not probably increased since then with the amount of pop- Our citizens now purchase much of their clothing which they were then compelled to manufacture for themselves.

'"In 1820, there were 1,022 persons engaged in manufactures. This number probably includes adult artificers of every kind. There were also 59 persons employed in mercantile business, and 3,961 persons engaged in agricultural pursuits.

'"'There is at this time (1828) in operation within the county 38 grist-milis, driving from 1 to 3 run of stones; 45 saw-mills; and 12 fulling mills. Besides these, there are various other kinds of machinery propelled by waterpower, and a large amount of water-power yet to be improved and brought into profitable operation."

'The world exists for the education The founders of the American Republic believed that a free government is a government for each man, and that without universal education a permanent republic is impossible. In the famous ordinance of 1787 are these words:

"Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

The men who wrote the great ordinance were no dreamers. They applied their theories of government, and in educational affairs at least they were eminently successful. They provided that no State or territorial legislature should interfere with the disposal of the public lands by the general government, and that a portion of these lands should form the nucleus of a fund for the education of the whole people.

The constitution of Ohio, formed in 1802, as well as the constitution of 1851, copied, in substance, the part of the ordinance which is above quoted, and from this it will be seen that the fostering of schools has been one of the objects which the State of Ohio has constantly sought to attain.

It is not sufficient to show that Butler County has borne a worthy part in the promotion. of that intelligence for which the State has become so favorably known, and in which the people of the commonwealth have a laudable pride.

This county was organized in 1808. The first settlers vame from nearly all the older States, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky being most numerously represented. No sooner did the pioneer finish his cabin than he began to plan for the education of his children. The primitive log school-house, with its 'stick and mortar" chimney, paper windows, puncheon floor, slab seats, and itinerant schoolmaster, immediately followed the completion of his dwelling, and although not much was attempted in these schools, what was attempted was thoroughly done.

The children learned to spell, read, write, and cipher (often as far as the ''rule of three")- One of the best features in the training of pioneer children was the physical exercise which all received - boys and girls alike. At home the boys cut fire-wood, fed the stock, broke the flax, and went to the mill, ten or even twenty miles away. The girls milked the cows, worked in the fields, spun flax and wool, wove, and did all manner of housework, and thus became accustomed to labor with their hands - a schooling that is not less valuable in business life than that derived from the study of books. Nor was moral training neglected in these days. Habits of industry, thrift, and patience were universally inculcated.

The children crossed the threshold of the school-room prepared to respect and obey the rules of the teacher, and when this respect and obedience were not given, the offender was promptly punished, both by teacher and parent.

The training in these schools and homes did not end with school-books and moral precepts. The first exercise at school was commonly the reading of a chapter of the Bible; and in many a cabin, at night, before the family ' retired, was enacted the scene of family worship, so beautifully pictured by the poet Burns, in 'The Cotter's Saturday Night:" ride

"The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, They round the ingle form a circle wide ; The sire turns o'er, with patriarchal grace, _ The big ha' Bible, ance his father's pride. He wales a portion with judicious care, And 'Let us worship God,' he says, with solemn air. They chant their artless notes in simple guise, They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim, Perhaps Dundee's wild-warbling measures rise, Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name."

The backwoodsman's children entered the field of active life with strong bodies and good characters, and with a very fair common school education. The physique and the sturdy character of these children were chiefly due to their parents, but the faithful work of the humble and poorly paid schoolmaster had not been in vain.

The primitive teacher in Ohio was either from one of the older States or from across the Atlantic. With rarely an exception, he was earnest, industrious, and conscientious. He was dignified, and could scarcely be ealled genial by his pupils. He believed in his prerogative, and would sacrifice his position rather than humiliate himself in his own estimation. He was often a classical scholar. He taught for three months at a time, and boarded around among the parents of his pupils, His pay was always meager, being but a few cents per day for each pupil. Once a quarter, generally at Christmas time, ''the big boys" would meet at the school-house before daylight, fasten the shutters and the door, and thus '' bar out" the master, demanding of him ''a treat." Sometimes he would give them apples and cider, and sometimes he would not. In case he refused to comply with the demands of the boys, they would either yield gracefully to their master's firmness, or otherwise they would treat him with personal violence, such as immersing him in the nearest mill-pond, or, in very rare cases, ° inserting his head under the corner of a fence. These were rude times, which, for the good of all, have long since passed away, never to return; but, for the sake of truth, it should be remembered that what the 'big boys" did to the master was prompted more by their love of fun than by their desire to see any one suffer physical pain. ;

These early schools began about eight o'clock in the morning, and continued till four or five in the afternoon, with an hour's intermission at twelve. Nearly all the pupils "brought their dinners," which consisted of apples, bread, meat, and sometimes milk.

After the dinner had been eaten, the boys would play ball, and the girls '' black man," and other lighter games, till the time for books. All played hard, and all studied hard.

as would be obtained by multiplying the number of pupils by the number of the R's. Blackboards were not known, and school apparatus had not been thought of west of the eastern cities. :

The text-books were not uniform. Each pupil used what he could get. Webster's and Dillworth's Spellingbooks, the New Testament, the English Reader and its Introduction, Pike's and Bennett's Arithmetics, and Murray's Grammar were among those most common. Penmanship was taught by copies written by the master, and the goose-quill pen was in general use. Occasionally there was a school in which geometry, surveying, and natural

In these schools the higher branches were recited at the noon hour, or after the lower classes had been dismissed. Nothing but the love of learning could have induced these overworked teachers, in their log school-houses, to have done such work. for their older pupils.

generals were inspired to study and to acquire the knowledge which afterward made them a power in their day and generation. The primitive schoolmaster, as we now call him, builded wiser than his patrons knew. But we are mistaken if these early and true teachers did not expect to see their ambitious pupils become useful and eminent citizens. Whoever seeks an honest answer to the now general inquiry, What is the cause of such a host of great men in Ohio? will find the true answer in the lives and services of the primitive schoolmasters of our great State. Grant, Sherman, Hayes, Garfield, Halstead (and hundreds

A roll of the names of those who were especially useful in developing Butler County into an influential part of a great commonwealth would be incomplete without Ritchie, Pardee, Proudfit, "McMechan, Smith, Monfort, Beers, Marston, Gailbreath, Thomas, Bebb, Hughes, Clack, Bishop, and others who taught the children of the pioneers.

There are no records to show when the first school was held within the limits of what is now Butler County. It is said that reading and writing were taught in Fort Hamilton during the Autumn of 1791, by a soldier to some of his comrades. It is not probable that any school existed before 1805. In every new settlement, however, there was one during a part of each year. These were subscription schools, and the names of the teachers have not been preserved.

~ MeMechan, Henry Baker, Hugh Hawthorne, Miss Ellen A. MeMechan, the Rey. Francis Monfort, and Benjamin F. Raleigh all taught prior to the year 1830.

The Rey. R. H. Bishop, who was the first president of Miami University, is justly entitled to a place on the roll of the great teachers of Butler County. James M. Dorsey was the first teacher in Oxford.

In Butler County the higher education has not been limited to the university at Oxford. In 1810 the Rey. Matthew G. Wallace taught the classics and the higher English branches in Hamilton.

In 1815 Alexander Proudfit, an alumnus of the Ohio University, taught Latin and Greek to the sons of Dr. Daniel Millikin, and to others. In 1818 the Hamilton Literary Society erected a substantial building for academical purposes. In 1821 the Rev. Thomas Thomas established a high-school at New London, and in the same neighborhood, in the same year, a library association was formed.

One of the teachers in the New London High School was William Bebb, afterward governor of Ohio. Evan Davis taught in New London from 1830 to 1836, inclusive. For nearly forty years this gentleman occupied a prominent place in the educational work of the county.

Of the teachers who won distinction in the New London High School, the Rey. B. W. Chidlaw deserves favorable mention. Murat Halstead, who has won a more than national reputation as a journalist, was one of his pupils.

In 1833 Nathaniel Furman established an academy in Middletown. His school was continued for fifteen years, and became widely known for its excellence.

In 1835 '*The Hamilton and Rossville Female Academy" was opened. In 1836 the number of pupils in this school was one hundred and twenty-seven. Miss Maria Drummond, Miss Georgietta Haven, Miss Amelia Looker, Miss Eliza Huffman, Mr. Nathan Furman, and others, were at different times teachers in this academy.

The educational revival, which began in the United States in 1825, bore fruit in Ohio in 1853. The new school-law then enacted put an end to nearly all private schools, except seminaries, colleges, and universities. With scarcely an exception all the citizens of Butler County united in availing themselves of: the privileges of the new law. ' County examiners were appointed, school directors were elected, school-houses built, apparatus and school libraries purchased, teachers employed, and for once in the history of the State nearly all the children were in school a part of each year.

Under the law of 1853 the most important and influential school officers in a county are the school examiners, whose duty it is to examine teachers and to give certificates to those who are of good character, and who possess an adequate knowledge of the various branches studied in the schools.

The following is a complete list of all who have been school examiners in Butler County since 1853: Evan Davis, Benjamin F. Raleigh, Andrew G. Chambers, 8.

J. Longnecker, John R. Chamberlin, A. Crider, Benjamin F. Thomas, H. C. Williamson, Gilbert L. Travis, H. D. Henkley, F. Z. Leiter, Wesley Thomas, A. Ellis, D. P. Nelson, 8. I. McClelland, J. Q. Baker, and L. D. Brown. The last three named constitute the present board.

A sketch of the educational history of Butler County would be incomplete without at least a brief mention of the Western Female Seminary, at Oxford, and of the Oxford Female College. The seminary was incorporated in 18538. In 1860, and again in 1871, the buildings of the seminary were destroyed by fire. Since the last fire, the building has been rebuilt, and the school has been more prosperous than ever before. The Female College, under the careful supervision of Dr. Robert D. Morris, -has done great good to the public. As a whole, the schools of Butler County are in a highly prosperous condition. Hamilton, Middletown, Oxford, Monroe, New London, Amanda, and West Chester have excellent buildings and excellent graded schools. Hamilton and New London have well-equipped public libraries, and Middletown stands first in her supply of school apparatus.

In the towns the majority of the teachers are ladies. In the country this is not the case. Teachers still receive wages that are too low in comparison with what is generally paid for skilled labor. Nevertheless, Butler County

The following school statistics for Butler County have been taken from the last annual report of the Hon. J. J. Burns, state school commissioner of Ohio: Number of youths between 6 and 21 years of age, 14,844; number of school-houses, 123. Value of school property, $491,550; number of teachers necessary to supply the schools, 201; number of different pupils enrolled, 9,067 ; average daily attendance of pupils, 5,796. Number of certificates issued, 226. Average wages of teachers per month in township districts: Gentlemen, $45; ladies, $33. In special districts: Gentlemen, $59; ladies, $46. In high schools, gentlemen, $65; ladies, $78. Average number of weeks schools were in session: Township, 35; separate districts, 37.

An interesting chapter on the growth and influence of the Butler County Teachers' Association could be written. The names of Thomas M. Mendenhall, Emanuel Richter, Alston Ellis, James A. Clarke, J. W. Judkins, J. P. Sharkey, John Q. Baker, Professor B. Starr, James M. Slicher, Isaac S. Coy, L. E. Grennan, and many others, would deserve more than mere mention in such a chapter.

Were a complete list of the benefactors of the public schools of Butler County to be prepared, many pages would be required. It is certainly in place, however, to state here that Clark Lane, the founder of the Lane Free Library, of Hamilton, is one of the greatest of these benefactors. The library that he established will be an imperishable monument in the lives of those that have been enriched by the healthful literature he made free' to the people of his city.

Butter Country contains four hundred and fifty-seven square miles. This area, as returned and assessed for taxation, contains 293,605 acres. The county, therefore, is of medium size; there being three counties in the State which contain less than 200,000 acres, and four counties which contain over 400,000 acres, all averaging 288,346 acres.

The lands of the county, from the latest data availaable, and from the known changes which have since taken place, are subdivided about as follows:

The geological formation of Butler County is identical with that which exists in the Miami Valley, known as the Lower Silurian. Throughout the county blue limestone rocks, of good quality, are found in great abundance.

Geographically considered, its location is not liable to serious or well-grounded objections. It enjoys superior business advantages from its proximity to the city of Cincinnati. There the farmer can, at all times, find a fair and ready market for all his productions. The facilities of access to the city by canal, by railroads, and by turnpikes, relieve the farmers from the unpleasant necessity of submitting to either exorbitant charges for transportation or to the unreasonable and more odious exactions of those who have control of grain elevators. If farmers are not satisfied with the margin of profit claimed by grain-dealers, they can transact their own business in conformity with their own views. They enjoy like opportunities in the purchase of staple goods for their family use. Hence, the position of Butler County in reference to business affairs is unusually favorable.

The soil of this county is properly designated as limestone soil. It is exceedingly variable in character, but highly productive. Much of it is unsurpassed in fertility, while there is only a small portion which is not susceptible of being made of good quality by judicious husbandry. It has neither barren plains, nor sterile hills, nor marshes, nor swamps, which mar the beauty of the landscape, or generate noxious and unhealthy atmospheres.

As the characteristics and productive qualities of the soil in a county can be more correctly estimated and determined by the number, size, and character of the streams which flow through it, a skeleton map of the county is herewith presented, exhibiting the course of the Miami River, and the many large creeks, small creeks, runs, and streamlets which so abound and which so thoroughly ramify the entire county. This map will not only be valuable as indicating the quality of the soil, but will exhibit the abundance of water which the streams afford, and which is used for propelling machinery, as well as supplying water for farm and other purposes.