Clinton County, Ohio - Chapter 14: The Military History of Clinton County, 1882 (part 3 of 14)

There is also a Catholic Church in Vienna, of about one hundred souls, under the pastoral care of Rev. Michael Hayes, of Hillsboro. The building, which is a brick structure, was erected by Rev. Michael O'Donoghue, now of Washington Court House. Services wore first held at Vienna in 1854, by Rev. John B. O'Donoghue, in a private house, since which time the Catholics of that vicinity have had services at irregular intervals.

In 1873, Rev. Michael O'Donoghue built a brick church at Blanchester, in Marion Township, which cost about $1,500. It was dedicated under the title of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, and is under the charge of Father Hayes; but the congregation is small, consisting of a few families living in that vicinity. The church at New Vienna, already spoken of, was erected in 1875, and dedicated September 29, of that year, by the Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell. It cost about $1,500, and received the name of Saint Michael's, in honor of the Archangel.

The Catholics of Clinton County are not blessed with riches; therefore, their struggle to obtain their present places of worship has been a hard one, and their success in this direction deserves the highest praise. They have always seconded the efforts of their worthy Pastor in his labor of duty and love, and God has blessed the work and crowned his efforts with success. A few years after the church in Wilmington was erected, the roof was blown off in a storm; but with undaunted faith they went bravely to work and soon repaired the damage. The Catholics of this county, like those throughout the State and Nation, have ever been true to the starry flag, and from the time the first shot was fired at Lexington down to the end of the late civil war, Catholic blood has been freely shed on every battle-field that freedom and liberty might live; yet with all this as undisputed historical record, the members of this church in this free country have at times in the past felt the heavy hand of persecution on account of their faith. Education and enlightenment have destroyed, we trust forever, this unwarranted fanaticism against Catholicism, and the members of "the mother church" are as highly respected to-day by the intelligence of the land as any citizens of the Union. Their growth in Clinton County has been marked, and from the congregation of ten members who came together to worship God, in 1852, have developed two churches with an aggregate membership of about three hundred.

Incorporation Town Officers, Etc

An act was passed by the Legislature of Ohio on the 15th of January, 1828, incorporating the town of Wilmington, and the original limits have been extended by subsequent acts, the last having been passed February 4, 1867, which described the corporation boundaries as follows: "Beginning at the center of the Xenia road, at the northeast corner of Lewis M. Walker's land, thence running eastwardly across the Port William road, and along the line of Samuel Smith's land until it strikes the Prairie road opposite Sarah Haworth's barn; thence in a straight line to and along William Applegate's old line to a point on the turnpike; thence up the road to John Dillon's cor- ner; thence with his west line to the Snow Hill road, at the east line of Jacob Patton's farm; thence with Patton's lines, James Fife's line, and the line of Jonathan Doan, to Lytle's Creek; thence down the creek, across the Cuba road, and across the old Cincinnati road, to the southeast corner of Leo Weltz's nursery lands; thence to the southeast corner of Nancy Lair's lands; thence northwardly across the Goshen & Waynesville Turnpike to the place of beginning."

The first election in the newly incorporated town was held March 3, 1828, at which the following officers were chosen: Isaiah Morris, Mayor; Bebee Treusdell, Recorder; Benjamin Hinlison, John McManis, Turner Welch, John McElwaine, William Stockdale, Trustees. Levi Sheppard was Marshal in 1828.

"The above elected officers, within the time specified in said act, took the oath of office required by law, and filed the same with the Recordor. At a special meeting of the Council November 7, 1828, the Council proceeded to appoint a Trustee of the corporation to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of John McManis, Esq., whereupon, George D. Haworth was appointed. The Council proceeded to appoint a Recorder for the corporation to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Bebee Treusdell, whereupon, William Hibben was appointed.

"November 6, 1835, Daniel Kelley having removed without the corporate limits of the town, an election was held to fill the vacancy occasioned by his resignation. Eli McGregor was elected Mayor.

" March 5, 1838, election, viz., George S. Jenkins, Mayor; Abraham E. Strickle, Recorder. David F. Walker was appointed Mayor Decembor 21, 1838, in the place of G. S. Jenkins, resignod September 18, 1838.

"March 6, 1839, election hold, viz., Robert B. Harlan, Mayor; John M. Harlan, Recorder; Decembor 25, 1839, Noah S. Haines succoodod as llocordor, John M. Harlan, resigned.

"1841, an election held, viz., Thomas Hibben, Mayor; Charles M. Bosworth, Recorder. Elijah Sabin, Jr., succeeding the latter as Recorder July

"March, 1843; Franklin Corwin, Mayor; Webb Broomhall, Recorder. F. Corwin resigned November 29, 1843; William Fuller appointed to till the vacancy.

" James E. Johnson, elected Mayor in March, 1853; Benajah W. Fuller, April, 1854, resigned May 24, 1854; Grafton B. White appointed to fill the vacancy.

Joseph' Doan's Addition, eight lots, June 22, 1814; surveyed by Peter Burr; David Faulkner's Addition, twenty lots, October 25, 1814; Nathaniel Carpenter's outlots, twelve in number, October 26, 1837; subdivision of part of Gen. Edward Stevens' survey, No. 2693, by Jesse Hughes, Isaiah Morris and John Woolman, in December, 1826; Dillon's Heirs' survey of outlots in Hawkins' survey, No. 2690, in January, 1850; Mark Thatcher's Addition, eight lots, August 31, 1830; Isaiah Morris' Addition, fifteen lots, February

11, 1842; Walker & Fife's Addition, twenty-two lots, January 7, 1853; Benjamin S. Strickle's plat of outlots, October 14, 1865; Benjamin S. Strickle's second Addition, six lots, no date given; Cadwallader's Addition, twenty-nine lots, May 18, 1866; African (or Wickersham's) Addition, twenty-one lots, September, 1868; James' Addition, fourteen lots, September 22, 1868; Hib- ben's Heirs' Addition, seven lots, November 5, 1869; Fitzhugh's Addition, ten lots, April 27, 1870; Alfred Johnson's Addition, forty-three lots, no date; J. & J. Doan's Addition, twenty lots, March 7, 1871; Keith's Addition, thirty-nine lots, April 5 and 8, 1871; J. S. C. Newham and wife's Addition, twenty-six lots, May 31, 1871; R. E. Doan's First Addition, forty-two lots, July 24, 1871; same, Second Addition, forty-four lots, no date given; Patrick Murphy's Addition, six lots, September 2, 1871; Boswell & Madden's Addition, seventeen lots, September 4, 1871; L. F. Van Cleve's Addition, thirty-four lots, April 23, 1875; Brackney's Addition, eighteen lots, April 17, 1880.

Franklin Oollege

In the fall of 1865, having been encouraged to believe that they would meet with success, the Garvin brothers, Thomas D., James H. and H. Carson Garvin, came to Wilmington and opened the first term of Franklin College in the old county building on the southeast corner of Main and South streets. They proposed, if a sufficient sum of money could be raised, i. e., $20,000, for a building and grounds, to remove Franklin College permanently from Athens, Ohio, and locate it in Wilmington.

The subject of subscriptions was agitated during the fall, but the required amount was not all subscribed until January 6, 1866, when a meeting for that purpose was held at the court house. At that meeting, Mr. T. D. Garvin, the President of the college, reported the amount already subscribed to be $18,000, leaving $2,000 yet to be raised before any action could be taken by the Board of Directors. A committee was then appointed to procure the necessary subscriptions to the fund. The meeting made up all but $800, and six ladies of the Christian Church assumed the payment of $500 if they could have guaranteed to them the exclusive right of the fair ground at the coming agricultural fair, for refreshment purposes. This left but $300 to be made up, and twenty-five persons then assumed the payment of this sum. These subscriptions were made on the condition that the whole amount be raised.

The necessary funds being duly subscribed and accepted by the Trustees, a committee was appointed to select a site. After some delay, the beautiful site of our former fair grounds, east of the village, was unanimously selected, and preparations were at once made for erecting a principal college building. They purchased also sixteen acres of T. C. Morris, so that in all they then had thirty three and one-fourth acres. Part of this was afterward sold, leaving fifteen acres in the college grounds.

The Building Committee of the College contracted with an architect from Cincinnati to erect the main college building during the summer of 1866, and to finish the lower story ready for occupancy by Christmas.

Until the college building was ready for use, the college terms were continued in the old county building two years, and in the old Christian Church one year.

The corner stone of Franklin College was laid July 4, 1866, and the building was formally opened for the reception of students September 22, 1868. On that occasion, an able address was delivered by Rev. J. W. Hall, D. D., late President of Miami University.

Franklin College is locatod in the eastern portion of the town, on the most eligible ground to be found in the vicinity. It fronts northward toward the railroad and turnpike seventy feet, running back fifty-six feet, where it is joinod by another portion of the building 50x60 foot. The whole structure is three Btories high. The main entrance is on the north side through a tower twenty feet square, forming a spacious vostibule. The main building is

The building was only inclosed, the floor laid, and the ceilings and walls of the lower story rough coated, without stairways to the second and third stories, at the time of its dedication in 1868.

For some reason, the Trustees were unable to collect the necessary funds to pay for the college building, and it was sold on a judgment in favor of the workmen who built it, on August 11, 1870, and was bought by the Society of Friends, who still own it and continue to use it for college purposes.

Under the management of the Friends, the building was completed, and, by the 1st of April following, was ready for ubo. They changed the name from Franklin to Wilmington College.

The dedication of Wilmington College took place April 11, 1871, Barnabas C. Hobbs, Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Indiana, delivering the address of the occasion.

The first President of the college, under the new management, was Lewis Estes, of Indiana, who entered upon the duties of that position in the spring of 1871.

In 1874, he was succeeded by Benjamin Trueblood. In 1879, David W. Denis became President, which office he held until 1881, when he in turn waB succeeded by James B. Unthank.

Wilmington Lodge, No. 52, F. & A. M. - In 1817, the Lebanon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons recommended to the Grand Lodge of the State that a dispensation be granted to Wilmington to hold a Masonic Lodge. The dispensation was granted and the lodge denominated No. 52, the following being the officers appointed by the charter: Arnold Treusdell, Master; Reuben Adams, S. W. ; John Baptist Demond, J. W., and Nathaniel Harris, Secretary. The transactions of this lodge were regular and harmonious for about three years, and the number of members increased gradually to sixteen, who were as follows: Stephen Bosworth, William R. Cole, James How, Charles Paist, William Brooks, Thomas Bellows, James Williams, Henry Yandeburg, Maj. Samuel Cox, J. N. Reynolds, Dr. Magee, James Birdsall, Robert Way and the four officers named above. The lodge was held in an upper room of Samuel H. Hale's hotel, on the north side of Main street near the court house. The lodge continued its sessions until some time in 1820, when Treusdell left Wilmington and became a student in the Ohio University at Athens, and John Baptist Demond returned to his friends in New York. The lodge, before their departure, had adjourned sine die, and the dispensation charter was given up. After this no meetings of the Masons were held until 1842, when a new charter was obtained from the Grand Lodge, in session at Lancaster, and the lodge, No. 52, was re-organized. The charter states that permission to hold lodge meetings " is granted to Bebee Treusdell, Benjamin Hinkson, Levi Gustin, George E. Hibben, J. S. Wright, Jabez Harlan and others who have heretofore assembled under a dispensation from the Grand Master," etc., and that the " lodge shall be known as No. 52, and its rank and precedence shall date from the 18th of October, 1842." The officers appointed were Levi Gustin, Master; J. S. Wright, S. W. ; and Jabez Harlan, J. W. The lodge as re-organized first met in a room on the second floor of the building at the southwest corner of Main and South streets, from which they moved to a room on the second floor of a building on the west side of South street, on the southern corner of the alley north of Main street. They next moved into a room on the third floor of the Clinton Hall building, corner of South and Locust streets, where they remained until 1880, when they took possession of the present quarters, in the third story of the Carothers building. The lodge now numbers about seventy-five members. It is on a firm financial basis, free from debt and with money out at interest.

Wilmington Chapter , No. 63, R. A. M. - The charter for the organization of this chapter bears the date of October 22, 1855, the dispensation having been presented on the 1st of January preceding. The charter members were J. C. Ellis, J. Harlan, J. D. Haines, William Smith, William J. Morgan, B. Hinkson, Levi Gustin and D. Medsker. The officers appointed by the charter were Levi Gustin, High Priest; Benjamin Hinkson, King; J. C. Ellis, Scribe. The chapter is a branch of Masonry in which the higher or Boyal Arch degrees of the order are conferred. Wilmington Chapter was instituted in the room occupied by the order, and meets in the same room with the subordinate lodge. It now numbers about fifty members in good standing, and is in a prosperous condition.

Rose Croix Lodge , No. 28, F. & A. M. - The charter for this lodge was granted by the Grand Lodge in its session at Cleveland, Ohio, August 21, 1872. The lodge was instituted in Clinton Hall with five members, and William Scott was appointed first Master. They changed their place of meeting to Hawley's block, where they continued until they- returned to Clinton Hall, where they now occupy a room in connection with the Odd Fellows. The lodge now numbers about fifteen members and is in a prosperous condition.

Hiram Chapter , No. 16/, R. A. M. (Colored). - The dispensation for this chapter was granted by the Deputy Grand High Priest August 9, 1873. The charter was granted by the Grand Chapter, in session at Xenia, Ohio, August 14, 1877. The chapter was instituted by Deputy Grand Master Thomas Conrad, of Urbana, assisted by Jefferson Williams, of Yellow Springs, and others. The first officers were William Scott, H. P. ; William Bass, King; Henry Seebery, Scribe; William Mallery, Secretary; J. B,. Hawley, Treasurer, and Perry McGilvers, Guard. The chapter now numbers about fourteen members.

Star of Hope Lodge, No. 127, I. O. O. F. - The charter of this lodge was granted January 18, 1849. The charter members were Isaac B. Thomas, Hiram McFinley, George S. Hill, John W. Pidgeon, Isaac L. Coats and Jacob S. Nisewander. Of these the latter was the only one that was a member of the order prior to the organization of this lodge, and Hiram McFinley is the only one of the charter members now living in the county. The lodge was instituted March 1, 1849, by M. W. Grand Master Alexander Glenn, in Daniel Marble's building, on the north side of Main street, where the meetings were held until the lodge moved into Martin's building, on the south side of the same street, east of their first locality. They afterward moved into the building on the corner of South and Locust streets, and from there into a building that stood where the one they now occupy is situated. In 1875, the building was burned and all the regalia, desks aad other effects of the lodge were consumed. The lodge-room is now on the second floor of Farquhar's block, on the west aide of South street, north of Locust. The first officers of the lodge were Isaac B. Thomas, N. G. ; George S. Hill, Secretary, and Hiram McFinley, Warden. The membership is at present about ninety.

Hiawatha Encampment, No. 70, I. O. O. F. - The encampment is a branch of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, in which higher degrees than those of the subordinate lodges are conferred. Hiawatha Encampment was chartered October 23, 1856, and instituted on the same day by Most Worthy E. M. Finch, Grand Patriarch. The institution took place in the Odd Follows' lodge- room, with the following charter members: James Henry, Thomas R. Wraith, S. S. Boyd, L. B. Welch, Justus Taylor, Franklin Bayham and J. M. Haworth. There are now about sixty members.

Fredonia Temple , No. 12, 1. O. O. F. - This is a branch of Odd Fellowship in which the highest degrees of the order are conferred. The temple was instituted in Wilmington May 19, 1882, by Deputy Supreme Oracle H. M. Innis, of Columbus, assisted by Patriarchs Yan Deman, of Washington C. H., and Sherwood, of Columbus. There were twenty-one members at the time of institution.

Ohio Valley Lodge, No. 1877, I. O. O. F. {Colored). - A dispensation for the formation of this lodge was granted by the Committee of Management, in England, to the sub-committee in America, March 4, 1878, and a charter granted by the latter June 10 of the same year. The first officers were J.

S. ; Phillip Chapman, E. S. ; John Bland, Treasurer. The lodge was instituted by Silas Weaver, Alexander Anderson and Lindsey Cash, of Washington C. H., and others from neighboring lodges, in a room of the frame building that stood where the St. Nicholas Hotel now is. They next moved to the third story of Hawley's block, and from there to the Clinton Hall building, where they are now located. The lodge now numbers about eighteen members.

Wilmington Council, Royal Arcanum. - This council was constituted in Wilmington on Thursday, January 8, 1880, with twenty-three charter members. The first officers were Hon. J. S. Savage, Regent; E. J. West, Y. R. ; Hon. Madison Betts, Past R. ; M. R. Higgins, Secretary ; J. Q. March, Treasurer; W. P. Wolf, Chaplain; George W. Brown, L. D. Sayres and S. Q. Fulton, Trustees.

Pork Packing

For a period of ten or twelve years closing with 1877, Wilmington was a field of extensive pork operations, which, however, resulted anything but profitably to those concerned. The firms that engaged largely in the business were Messrs. Brackney & Haynes and Thorne, McMillan & Co., with the several changes the firms underwent. About the year 1869, the latter firm erected a large slaughter house and packing establishment on the C. & M. V. R. R. , a little west of town. During the winter of 1871-72, there were killed and packed at the house about 4,500 hogs. Brackney & Haynes, the same season slaughtered 2,500, making in all 7,000 hogs, the largest number to that time killed in Wilmington in any one year.

The Brackney & Haynes pork-house, along the same railroad, opposite the residence of Samuel Hale, was erected in 1874 at a cost of $8,000. This was the packing-house only, their slaughter house being situated in another part of town. The packing establishment is 40x70 feet. It has a double cellar, the walls of which are stone; the lower cellar is seven feet deep, without windows, but ventilated, and is drained for keeping meats through the summer; the next cellar is eight feet deep, and has four small windows on a side and two at each end; the building is two stories high, with an iron roof. This firm preceded by a number of years that of Thorne, McMillan & Co., storing their meats before the erection of the establishment described in other quarters. In the winter of 1874-75, Messrs. Thorne, Stingly & Co. , the old firm having previously undergone a change, slaughtered 8,336 hogs and the firm of Brackney, Haynes & Co. (it likewise having been changed) slaughtered 6,000, aggregating 14,336 hogs. Those killed by the latter firm averaged 330 pounds gross; taking the average of the whole number at 330 pounds, they would aggregate 4,740,780 pounds, which, at 7 cents, the price at which they were then selling, gave as the amount put into the farmers' handB by these enterprising firms

$331,854.60. There were several consecutive seasons that the business was as extensive as that of 1874-75. Men engaged in the business were S. M. Thorne, Isaac and J. McMillan, G. E. Stingly, J. N. Linkhart and 0. M. Walker, of the firm of Thorne, McMillan & Co., and Thorne, Stingly & Co. and M. H. Brackney, J. M. Haynes, Israel Terrell, R. M. Haworth and T. B. Glass, of Brackney, Haynes & Co.

Present Manufactures

The Champion Bridge Company. - This extensive enterprise began operations in Wilmington in the year 1876. The business was inaugurated one year prior to this in the city of Hamilton, Ohio, by Messrs. Jonathan and Zimri Wall and I. Bailey. These gentlemen came to the village, and, in consideration of the assistance they received, at the hands of some of the publicspirited and enterprising citizens, erected their shops on the corner of Main and Wall streets, near the C. & M. V. R. R. track, and commenced business in the line of repairing all kinds of farm implements and machinery generally, besides constructing the Champion iron bridge, of which the firm owned the patent. In August, 1878, the concern became a stock company, with a capital of $50,000, under the following officers: President, Peter Clevenger; Secretary and Treasurer, S. I. Bailey; Directors, Elisha Wall, A. 1. Bailey, W. R. Bowman, L. J. Walker and Peter Clevenger. In the construction of bridges the company has done a large and successful business, extending throughout the States of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The amount of their present business is about $25,000 a year. The main building of the works is two stories high, and has a basement; in size, it is 40x125 feet, and is constructed of brick. The foundry is a frame building, 58x35, and warehouse, 26x40 feet. In the beginning, the number of men employed was twenty-five. There are now thirty-five. The original name was the Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, which was changed in 1881. Present officers, Peter Clevenger, President; A. I. Bailey, Treasurer and Superintendent, and W. J. Struble, Secretary.

The Schofield Woolen Mill. - This mill is located on North South street, and was built about 1834-35, by Charley Russell (father of Hon. A. P. Russell), who had started in the business here about 1825 or 1826, having at first a small mill a short distance south of the present one. The old mill was operated by horse and cattle power, and its proprietor had a large business. The son, A. P. Russell, was for some time a workman in his father's factory. Mr. Russell continued in business until 1842. The present business was established in 1862 by Messrs. Wickersliam & King, and subsequently purchased by the present proprietor - William Schofield, who handles great quantities of wool and manufactures all kinds of woolen goods, yarns, blankets, etc. Mr. Schofield ships much wool to the Eastern cities. From ten to twenty men are employed at different periods in the year, and the sales aggregate about $25,- 000 a year. The building is about 40x60 feet, and is three stories high with a basement.

Gallup's Planing- Mill and Lumber Yard. - About the year 1854, Sampson & Babb erected the building now occupied and operated as a planing-mill and owned by Horace Gallup, for a flouring-rnill, and as such it served until about the year 1865, when H. N. Fisher & Co. put into the building planing machinery. Two years later, it was purchased by Horace Gallup & Bros., who operated it until the fall of 1881, since which period the business has been carried on by Horace Gallup. The mills are locatod on the corner of Sugartree and Mulberry streets. The main building, which is of frame, is 40x60 feet, and is three stories high, with a basement; on either'side is a wing about half the site of the main house. It is used as a planing-mill, sash, door and blind factory. In busy times this establishment gives employment to eight men. The lumber yard was established in 1872 by George B. Talbert, who carried on that business until 1880, when it was purchased by A. Gallup, the present proprietor.

The Carriage Manufactory of Charles A. Taylor. - This establishment commenced business on Walnut, between Columbus and Locust streets, in the year 1854, under the firm name of J. &, C. A. Taylor, and so continued for two years, when Justus Taylor assumed control and remained the proprietor for a number of years, when the business was purchased by E. C. Gregg and C. A. Taylor, who remained partners three years, when Gregg went out and Mr. Taylor carried on the business himself, from January, 1875. In May following, the shops were destroyed by fire, resulting in the total loss of everything. He again commenced work just in the rear of the Nordyke Livery Stable, and later, built a new shop opposite the site of the old Christian Church, where he carried on the same business until April, 1880, when he removed to his present place, on Locust street. These shops were erected in 1875; the main building iR a two-story brick, 24x40 feet; the blacksmith shop in the rear is also a twostory building, 20x30 feet. Mr. Taylor has in the past done an extensive business, but of late years has manufactured but few vehicles. He sells mostly work manufactured elsewhere, and pays particular attention to carriage trimming, painting and general repairing.

Fisher cfe Hughes' Planing-Mill. - On East Main street is located the planiDg-mill and lumber yard of Fisher & IJughes, where is manufactured all kinds of sash, doors and blinds. The business was begun in 1871 by James Guinn, Charles Hughes and J. A. Fisher, under the firm name of Guinn, HugheB & Fisher. They erected a one-story brick building, 36x85 feet, and have since increased their facilities for conducting the business. A year later, the firm became Lynn, Fisher & Hughes, which remained as such for three years, when Mr. Lynn retired, leaving the present proprietors in charge.

The Grist-Mill of Fulton , Crane & Peters. - On Sugartree street, east of the depot, and on the C. & M. V. R. R., will be found this mill, which was built by the firm in 1881. The mill proper is 40x70 feet, with a north wing 10x25 feet. It is a frame building, four stories high, including the basement. The mill is well equipped for rapid and thorough work, having five run of buhr stones, one roll, two purifiers, two smut-mills, five cloths, one packer, eleven strand of elevators, five conveyers and four sets of scales. The capacity of the mill is thirty barrels of flour per day. Capacity of elevator, 5,000 bushels of corn. In connection with the mill is a corn-sheller. The cost of the mill was $15,000. These gentlemen do an extensive business in the wheat and corn line, and ship large quantities of grain to Cincinnati, Baltimore and other cities, the average shipment amounting to about twelve car loads per week. They give employment to six men about the mill. They make three grades of flour, which is sold principally to local trade.

The Carroll Saw-Mill. - This mill was erected in the year 1872 by Webster Carroll, the present proprietor. It was framed for Uriah Carroll as early as 1854, and operated until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion. The building, 24x50 feet, and two stories in height, is located at the foot of North Mulberry street. The mill is operated by John K. Carroll, a son of the proprietor. In busy times four men are employed. The amount of business done annually amounts to about $8,000.

The Brick-yards of McMillan Bros, and Thomas Darby shire. - Over twenty years ago, William McMillan, the father of the present firm, began manufacturing brick in Wilmington, since which time the business has been continued in the McMillan name. The large yard of these gentlemen is situ- ated in what is known as Olarktown, in the southeastern part of the village. They employ a force of from ten to fifteen hands, and make on an average 500,000 brick a season. The Darbyshire yard, located in the same vicinity, was opened about the year 1871, by James and Thomas Darbyshire, but carried on since 1874 by the latter gentleman, who manufactures probably in the neighborhood of 300,000 brick annually.

The St. Nicholas Hotel

The St. Nicholas Hotel was built in the spring of 1882 by J. R. Hawley and opened for public entertainment on the evening of the 1st of July, with Messrs. Terrell & Johnson as proprietors. It is a large three-story brick building, located on South street, nearly opposite the county jail.

Eire Department

There is nothing of record to show that any provision was made by the village for protection from fire prior to the passagef of the following ordinance, entitled , ' .

Section 1. Be it ordained by the Town Coitnicityf the Town of Wilmington , That James Fife and Warren Sabin be and they are "hereby appointed to examine the fire-places attached to such tenements within the limits of the corporation as may be situated within such distance of each other as may render it possible in burning to communicate fire to each other (at least once a month, from the 1st of November to the 1st of April in each and every year). And the examiners, on discovering any fireplace or chimney which may be in such a condition as, in their opinion, might communicate fire to the building to which it is attached, or to any other building, shall immediately report the same to the Marshal, whose duty it shall be forthwith to notify the owner or occupier of such building, in writing, to repair such fire-place or chimney in such manner as he shall prescribe in his aforesaid notification.

Sec. 2. Be it further ordained, that if the person or persons so notified shall fail to repair his, her or their fire-place or fire-places, agreeably to the notice of the Marshal, within ten days after he, she or they shall have received such notice, such person or persons shall, for every such offense, on conviction before the Mayor, be fined in a sum not exceeding $20, nor less than $2.

Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, that it shall be deemed an offense against said corporation for any person or persons to burn powder in balls, or otherwise burn or set on fire any tar barrel, or throw any fire-balls, sky-rockets, or any other combustible material on fire whatever, within the limits of the corporation ; and every person or persons so offending shall, on conviction before the Mayor, be fined in any sum not exceeding $5, nor less than 25 cents.

Sec. 4. Be it further ordained, that the Marshal shall be hereby authorized to procure four fire-liooks and six ladders for the use of the corporation ; to erect a suitable shelter on the court house lot to preserve them ; and to place them under such shelter in good order, so as to be ready on any emergency, and present his account for settlement to the Town Council.

Sec. 5. Be it further ordained, that if any person or persons shall remove from their place of deposit any of the aforementioned hooks or ladders, for any purpose other than the prevention or extinction of fire within the corporation, such person or persons shall, on conviction before the Mayor, for every such offense be fined in any sum not exceeding $5 nor less than $1.

Sec. 6. Be it further ordained, that John B. Posey, Samuel McCune, George Bruce, Edward Kelly and Warren Sabin be and they are hereby appointed to have the care and management of the aforesaid hooks and ladders, and to have the exclusive direction and management of the wlmlo operation of extinguishing fire where it shall break out within the corporation; and in case of the absence of John B. Posey, then Samuel McCune shall take the command ; and in his absence, George Bruce, and so on, agreeably to the order in which their names are set down in this ordinance.

for the oganization of all able-bodied white male inhabitants residing within the corporate limits of the village into two fire companies, one of which was to be known and designated as the Hook and Ladder Company, and the other the Bucket Company, the former to consist of forty able-bodied young men, and the latter of all the other able-bodied white male inhabitants over the age of seventeen years.

The Town Council was to elect a Superintendent, who, with the assistance of that body, was to select the forty young men that were to compose the Hook and Ladder Company. The Superintendent thus elected to Berve only until the regular spring election, when the Superintendent of the fire department should be elected in the same way and manner as other corporation officers.

It was made the duty of every owner of a dwelling-house, storehouse, shop and office within the corporate limits of the village to procure or cause to be procured a fire bucket for each and every such shop or dwelling to be made of leather, to be approved of by the Superintendent, to hold three gallons of water, and to cause his or her name to be legibly written, printed or painted on the same, and to be kept -in a convenient place in each dwelling-house, storehouse or office belonging to him or her.

It was further made the duty of the owner or occupier of the buildings to convey or cause to be conveyed such buckets in case of fire to the place of danger.

Pursuant to certain sections of the ordinance referred to, John Bush Posey was appointed Superintendent of the fire companies, and J ames Fife was appointed the keeper of the hooks and ladders.

The village was without a fire engine of any description until the purchase of the steamer now in use by the fire department. During the winter of 1874-75, and the spring of the latter year, Wilmington was the scene of a number of incendiary fires of an alarming nature, which led to the prompt action of the citizens in securing a more efficient means for extinguishing fires than those then in use. On the 12th of May, 1875, the citizens assembled at the court house and organized a volunteer fire company, known as the " Clinton Fire Engine, Hook and Ladder and Hose Company of Wilmington, Ohio." The original members were as follows:

Among the number are some of the best and most influential men of the town. The officers elected were J. L. Hackney, Captain; Joseph Peters, First Lieutenant of Engine Department; L. N. Pike, Second Lieutenant Engine Department; Madison Betts, First Lieutenant Hose Department; Jacob Burst, Second Lieutenant Hose Department; Robert Hazard, First Engineer; Lou Fisher, Second Engineer; Robert McMillan, First Lieutenant Hook and Ladder Department; E. W. Shepherd, Second Lieutenant Hook and Ladder De-

The Council acted promptly and purchased a complete set of hooks and ladders, with a well-arranged truck for their removal, which were taken in charge by the Hook and Ladder Company. A committee was at once appointed by the same body to purchase a steam hre engine, which resulted in securing one of the Clapp & Jones make of Toledo, Ohio, at a cost of $0,000, including two hose-reels and 1,000 feet of hose. Theengine arrived Wednesday morning, May 26, and was tested on the 30th of June. It was tired up for the first time in the morning, and when in full play, threw water over the spire of the M. E. Church, which is 144 feet in height. In the afternoon, at 3 o'clock, the tire brigade was called out and proceeded with the engine and two hosereels to Mr. Bentley's pond, just east of town, where the engine was located.

The hose was then run north to the pike, where a one and one-eighth inch nozzle was attached to the end of the first section of 100 feet. In about fifteen minutes after fire had been kindled, the engine began pumping, and soon threw water to a distance of 340 feet. The nozzle was then detached and the hose run up the pike to the college building and beyond, making 1,000 feet of hose in all. The nozzle was attached, the signal given and the engine again began pumping. The experiment was a beautiful one and gave great satisfaction to all who saw it; the jet of water played with terrible force against the cornice of the college building, which is three stories high, and then clear over the edifice, cupola and all and a long way beyond. After this a double hose was attached to the engine, and a nozzle at the end of each 500 feet of hose. Through each of these two hose a stream of water was thrown of volume and force to answer any purpose that might over be demanded of it in Wilmington. With those two streams the old flouringmill, located near the railroad, was deluged with water, shingles and weather-boarding were knocked off, doors and blinds forced open, all going to show the great force of the water. The demonstration was attended by a large number of people fron the town and country.

By an amendment to the constitution, September 14, 1880, the name of the company was changed to that of the Wilmington Fire Company, and its different departments to the Clinton Engine Company, the Clinton Hook and Ladder and the Clinton Hose Company.

The officers of the company, in 1882, are D. A. Lamb, Chief; D. Peebles, Captain; C. It. Fisher, Secretary; W. H. Bannells, Treasurer; J. N. Tucker, Engineer; H. II. Barlow, First Lieutenant Engine Department; G-. W. Brown, First Lieutenant Hose Department; H. G. Vandewort, Second Lieutenant Hose Department; It. S. Fulton, First Lieutenant Hook and Ladder Department; W. W. Bangham, Second Lieutenant Hook and Ladder Department; Charles Curl, Fireman; George Barlow. Assistant Engineer. Membership, seventy -five.

The fire department is now supplied with one steam engine, three hosereels, with 1,500 feet of serviceable hose and ono hook and ladder truck fully equipped, and eleven public cisterns, with an average capacity of over 250 barrels, located as follows: One at the court house corner, on South stroet; one on South; one half way between Main and Locust streets: one on the corner of Locust and South streets; one on the Baptist Church corner; ono at the junction of Walnut with Columbus; one at Main and Mulberry street crossing; one at the crossing of Wood and Maple stroots; ono in front, of the Friends' Church, on Mulberry street; one south of the railroad on South street, and one on Locust street near Prairie avenue. The first-named eight were constructed in 1870, and the others in 1875.

Library Association

Wilmington Library Company .* - Early in February, 1816, the leading citizens of the new town of Wilmington assembled to form a library association, that they themselves and their children might enjoy the advantages of a circulating library. All the prominent men of the community - the lawyers, physicians, merchants, teachers and farmers, united their energies to make the new enterprise a success. In their constitution, whicjj bears date February 19, 1816, they provided that " no books which should tend to discredit the Christian religion, or bring into disrepute any religious society or denomination, nor any books which tend to corrupt the morals of youth or others," should be admitted into said library. On this ground they excluded all novels and plays, the Vicar of Wakeheld alone being admitted. But their catalogue embraced many biographies of great men, such as the Life of Washington, Life of Franklin, Robertson's Charles the Fifth; many histories, as Robertson's America, Irish Rebellion, Rollin's Ancient History, Goldsmith's England, History of New England, Josephus' works, French Revolution, Naval Biography, History of China, Milford's Greece; poems, as Homer's Iliad, Pope's Essay on Man, Cowper's poems, Young's Night Thoughts, and many miscellaneous works, such as Nicholson's Encyclopedia, Park's Travels, Keets' Elements, Debates in the Virginia Convention, Washington's Letters, Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, Lewis & Clarke's Expedition, Fergusson's Astronomy and Atlas, Columbus' Vision, Fox's Journal, Tour to Morocco, Paley's Philosophy and Theology, AVatt's Logic, Morse's Universal Geography, Rushe's Lectures, Curran's spoeches, Modern Chivalry, Botanic Garden, Cox on Fruit Trees, Goldsmith's Animated Nature, Volney's View, etc. In all, more than 108 volumes. And not only were these books in the library, but they were iD constant use by the members, as the weekly record of the librarian shows. It is interesting to note that Curran's Speeches were read by nearly every member of the association.

Foremost among the members of the worthy company, our attention is attracted by the name of Mary Fallis, afterward Mary Peirce, who was known among us so many years, as the only lady member whose name appears on the records. Those whose names, some of them for years, appear as active members are Peter Burr, Loammi Rigdon, Charles Paist, Isaiah Morris, George McManis, Mahlon Haworth, Eli Gaskill, Rice Gaddis, Jesse Hughes, Sr., and Jr., David Hughes, Thomas Kersey, William Brooks, Eli McGregor, Uriah Farquhar, William R. Cole, Nathan Linton, William Millikan, J. B. Seaman, John McManis, John A. Hays, Samuel T. Loudon, AVilliam Hibben, Samuel Wilson, Isaac Wright, James Birdsall, Richard Fallis, Henry and Peter Babb, John Stout, George Carter, Robert Way, John Eachus, James Gadaher, Aaron Sewell, Samuel H. Hale, James Dakin, James Harris, Arnold Treusdell, John Hadley, Joseph Doan, Richard Peirce, John McFall, George D. Haworth, Rockefeller and Perry Dakin, Amos T. Davis, P. F. Crihfield. Those most conspicuous as official members were Eli Gaskill, James McManis, William Millikan, Uriah Farquhar, Eli McGregor, Philip F. Crihfield, J. B. Seaman, John McManis, Librarians and Treasurers; Mahlon Haworth, Isaiah Morris, Uriah Farquhar, AVilliam Hibben, Eli McGregor, William Millikan, Nathan Linton, John McManis, Thomas Gaskill, Peter Burr, Loammi Rigdon, John A. ITays, George McManis, Charles Paist, Directors.

Eighty-one names are enrolled on the books as members, some continuing from the beginning until the end. In 1839, the entire library was sold out. Most of the books were bought by former members. Among other sales, we

Looking over the records of this association, and seeing how faithfully the members introduced into their families for years the works constituting this library, leads us to the belief that our fathers thought a love for good books would keep their children from falling into many temptations to which the young are subjected.

Wilmington Reading Room. - In December, 1866, a number of the pubic-spirited citizens of Wilmington formed themselves into a society called the "Wilmington Reading Club," for the purpose of the establishment of a public reading and lecture room. In the neighborhood of $700 was at once subscribed, and the club organized with the following officers: Amos Hockett,

President; Madison Betts, Secretary; C. 0. Nichols, Treasurer; Dr. H. C. Wire, Madison Betts, Cyrus Linton, J A. Smith and R. M. Wickersham, Directors. Brackney's Hall was secured and furnished, and all the leading newspapers, periodicals and magazines were duly provided. All these advantages were offered to the public generally, under proper rules and restrictions. Ladies were especially invited to take an interest in the enterprise, and all the privileges of the reading-room were tendered them without pecuniary consideration. The papers numbered forty odd, and the magazines and journals upward of twenty. The reading-room was open from 2 to 5 o'clock every afternoon, and from 6 to 10 o'clock every evening, except Sunday. Ministers of the Gospel were admitted without pecuniary consideration.

This reading-room club continued as above stated until July 10, 1868, when all the furniture of the room and the papers and magazines on tile were sold out at public sale.

Wilmington Library Association. - This association was organized early in the year 1880. The present officers are as follows: President, J. M. Kirk;

Vice President, Dr. A. T. Quinn; Secretary, J. B. Unthank; Treasurer, D. A. Lamb; Librarian, A. E. Clevenger. The library consists of miscellaneous works numbering 452 volumes.

Wilmington Public Hall

On the 17th day of March, 1876, the Council authorized an election to decide the question of levying a tax for the purpose of erecting a public hall and engine house. The election was held April 3, 1876, and resulted in a vote of 383 to 146 in favor of the enterprise. A special act of the Legislature was passed March 17, 1877, authorizing the Council to issue bonds not exceeding in amount $15,000, and to levy a tax not to exceed 2J mills on the dollar valuation of the taxable property of the village. The first stone in the hall was laid on Friday, May 25, 1877, by Robert McMillan, and the building was completed in the spring of 1878. It is an imposing structure two stories high, with a mansard slate roof. The front is formed of three towers extending to the roof. The middle tower is surmounted with a small belfry, beautiful in design and finish, and in each roof of the other towers are two dormer windows. The front presents a number of ornaments of freestone and galvanized iron. On the outside walls on either side, are five buttresses extending from the ground to near the top of the building, four of which culminate, after making two offsets, in as many chimneys. On the first floor of the building aro eight rooms as follows: East half, front room, Mayor's office; middle room, for township purposes; rear room, Council chamber, west half occupied by the Eire Department; large room in front, ongine room; three rooms in the rear occupied as a residence by the engineer. The socond story entire com-

The contract for building the hall was awarded to Messrs. Fisher & Hughes for $16,980, and they sublet the brick and stone work to McMillan Bros. ; the galvanized iron and slating to Farquhar & Sparks, and the painting to Griffin & Gustin. The plastering was done by P. J. Murphy, under employment of the contractors. The plans and specifications were drawn up by William M. Cleveland, architect; but in the course of the construction of the building, some changes were rendered necessary, and the cost of the building was increased to $18,399.49. The scenery, chandeliers, etc., increased the above sum, and the total cost of the building as it stood at its completion was $20,006.52. There are chairs in the auditorium for over six hundred persons, and sufficient seats in the gallery for 250 more; but 1,200 persons can be accommodated without much crowding. The stage scenery is attractive, the chandeliers of a new and beautiful pattern, and the whole audience room is commodious and beautiful. Taking it all in all, the hall is a model one. For outside show, the building is an imposing one, not overdone in the way of decorations, but tasteful and attractive. The hall was formally opened and dedicated under the direction of the Town Council on the evening of Thursday, April 18, 1878, with the following programme:

In consideration of $2,000 paid by the Trustees of Union Township to the village of Wilmington, the latter granted them a perpetual lease on the room heretofore described as occupied by them for township purposes.

The first bank in Wilmington was established February 22, 1853, by W. C. Fife and T. L. Carothers. It was a private bank, and was opened in the building on the east side of South street second door north of Main, and did business under the name of the Clinton County Bank. In 1855, Mr. Carothers retired, and Albert Hockett became a partner; in 1862, C. M. Bosworth became a partner. Mr. Fife died in 1863, and left the firm Bosworth & Hockett, who continued a successful business until 1864, when the Clinton County Bank merged into a National bank, with C. M. Bosworth, President, and Albert Hockett, Cashier. The first Board of Directors of this, the First National Bank of Wilmington, was C. M. Bosworth, Albert Hockett, James Fife, E. L. Lacy and D. Sanders, and the capital stock $50,000. In 1865, Mr. Hockett died, and William Lang was elected Cashier. A year later, C. C. Nichols became the Cashier, filling the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Lang. In September, 1871, the capital was increased $50,000, making the total $100,000, at which it has remained, having now a surplus of $31,000.

The present officers are as follows: C. M. Bosworth, President; C. A. Bosworth, Vice President; C. C. Nichols, Cashier; T. Q. March, Teller. Directors: C. M. Bosworth, C. A. Bosworth, C. C. Nichols, T. S. Lang and A. J. Wilson.

The building occupied by this bank is located on the northeast corner of Main and South streets, and is one of the finest in Wilmington; but it is not the property of the bank. It was built in 1872, by the President of the bank, in connection with James Fife, and cost $30,000, and, with the basement, is

In the fall of 1859, a private bank was opened and carried on in the building still standing on the southeast corner of South and Locust streets. The parties interested were Thomas W. McMillan, Abel Walker, Isaac C. McMillan, R. E. Doan, Jedediah McMillan and William Harlan, of which Jedediah McMillan was the Cashier. The capital stock of the bank was $50,000. This bank was operated under the name of the Clinton County Bank, and existed until the year 1872.

Another private bank had its beginning about the same year as the Clinton County Bank, and, in September, 1859, the proprietors, Blaser & Masters, carried on the business of the bank, which was called the Farmers' Bank, on South street, one door north of the court house. This continued in operation until sometime after the close of the war of the rebellion.

The Clinton County National Bank was organized in 1872; chartered June 11 of that year. The first President was R. E. Doan, and the Cashier J. H. McMillan. Directors: it. E. Doan, J. H. McMillan, Thomas W. McMillan, Abel Walker and Isaac McMillan. On the 2d of August, of the following year, Mr. Doan retired from the Presidency of the bank, and F. M. Moore became his successor, and has since continued in that position. The same year, Mr. McMillan resigned on account of ill health, and Madison Betts was elected to succeed him as Cashier, in March, 1873, which position he has since occupied. The bank opened with a capital of $100,000. This is the amount of the capital stock now, with a surplus of $12,000. Present Directors are F. M. Moore, T. M. McMillan, M. Rombach, Abel Walker and Madison Betts. The business of the bank was transacted in the corner referred to as occupied by the Clinton County Bank, until their removal to the building they now occupy, located on the east side of South, between Main and Locust streets, in the spring of 1873. The building was erected in 1872. It is built of brick, with freestone front, and is two stories high. The banking room, with the office of the Directors, are furnished up in a style creditable to all concerned. The ceiling is high and beautifully adorned, the counters of fine woodwork, covered with beautiful white marble, and the business desks of excellent workmanship. The entire edifice, which, with the furnishings, cost in the neighborhood of $20,000, is a credit to Wilmington, and the officers of the bank are to be congratulated on the handsome addition they have made to the appearance of South street.

In 1872, the question of erecting gas works in the village was agitated by the citizens who had received propositions from R. T. Coverdale, of Cincinnati. By the authority of its Council, an election was held on the 4th of November, 1872, to decide whether the citizens were willing to be taxed for the purpose of supplying the village with gas, and resulted in a vote of 245 yeas and 46 nays. The proposition accepted was that the village should not take less than forty lamps at a cost of $3.50 per thousand cubic feet, and other consumers to pay $4 per thousand cubic feet. Ground was purchased adjoining the railroad, of H. W. Hale, by Mr. Coverdale, and gas works erected. On the 10th of April, 1873, the Wilmington Gas Light & Coke Company was organized and the following officers elected: D. Sanders, President; T. Q. Hildebrant, Secretary; Dr. L. B. Welch, Treasurer; D. Sanders, T. Q. Hildebrant, Dr. Welch, J. S. Foster and Joseph Kirkup, Directors. The capital stock of the company was $30,000, and the contracted price with Mr. Coverdale for the erection of the works was $22,600. The organization of the above company was a mere matter of form, inasmuch as none of the men wore stock- holders, and had no pecuniary interest in the enterprise, it belonging solely to Mr. Coverdale. Later in the spring, fifty-three lamps were located as follows: Ten on Columbus street, extending from Prairie avenue to South street; fourteen on Locust street, extending from High street to Mulberry; thirteen on Main street, extending from Wood to Walnut; nine on Sugartree street, extending from Walnut to R. Way's property; one at the alley on Mulberry, between Main and Locust; one on South street, at Owen's grocery; one at each of the following places on South: alleys between Sugartree and Main; Main and Locust, and Locust and Columbus, and one at Webster Carroll's sawmill alley; one on Walnut, at the bridge near D. Sanders' residence.

The works were completed in the summer of 1873, and Wilmington for the first time appeared under gas light on the evening of Saturday, August 8, 1873, when the citizens turned out en masse to see the village under the new regime. Monday evening was thu point of culmination, and, during the day, there arrived gentlemen and ladies from Cincinnati, Circleville and Washington Court House to be present at the inauguration. The citizens generally entered into the spirit of preparation, and South and Main streets never looked more pleasing than they did after that day's cleaning. As the shades of evening drew on, those of the citizens who had gas fixtures put into their residences and business houses began lighting up, and by nightfall the streets made a beautiful appearance. Several of the business houses attracted general attention, and, without desiring to discriminate, we would mention the Clinton County National Bank, R. M. Wickersham's dry goods store, Irons & Crane, and Peter's hardware stores, Sanders' drug store, Marble's jewelry store, and the Gates House. In front of Sanders' drug store, and in front of the Gates House ornamental arches had been arranged with large numbers of burners, and underneath the arch in front of the drug store were S and F, and in front of the Gates House were R. T. C. in letters of fire, the first signifying Sanders & Fulton, dealers in gas fixtures and fittings, and the second the initials of Mr. Coverdale, the builder of the works. On the posts in front of the two banks, the two lamps had been removed, and temporary fixtures in the form of stars had been arranged, which added much to the beauty and brilliancy of the street. At 8 o'clock in the evening, a delegation of the Town Council of Washington Court House, accompanied by the Wilmington Council, and the officers of the company, visited the gas works, and, under the guidance of Mr. Coverdale, the visitors were shown the works and the method of gas making. But the principal point of attraction for the evening was the banquet at the Gates House, given by Mr. Coverdale to the officers of the company, the Council of Wilmington, and that of Washington Court House, with some invited guests from Cincinnati, Circleville and Wilmington. Mr. Stagg (" mine host" of the Gates House), had prepared supper for about fifty guests; and about 9 o'clock the doors to the dining-hall were thrown open and the guests were ushered in, where was spread a table loaded with the luxuries of life. After ample justice had been done to the delicious viands, T. Q. Hildebrant, Esq., acting as Master of Ceremonies, called for speeches, which was responded to by a number of different persons, all congratulating Wilmington on the successful completion of a long- cherished object. All who were so fortunate as to be present at this part of the entertainment, testified that it was highly enjoyable.

In the earlier part of the evening, Clark's Cornet Band was on the streets adding interest to the occasion by their fine music; and later, the Wilmington String Band made their appearance in front of the Gates House, and entertained the company with some excellent music, after which the band was

The gas works passed from the hands of Mr. Coverdale to Samuel Covington, and from him to E. W. Hamlin, the present proprietor, all Cincinnati men. They were several times leased to other parties. P. J. Wood is the present Superintendent. There are now about six miles of main pipe, and seventysix public lamps in the village.

The burial-place long known as the old Methodist Graveyard, located in the northeastern part of the village, had its origin in the family buryingground of Isaiah Morris. Mr. Morris, prior to 1820, Bet apart a small lot for burial purposes. Ellis Pugh, Levi Sheppard and James Fife, owned land adjoining this, and each made additions to it. On the 23d of April, 1832, Levi Sheppard conveyed one-half acre of ground adjoining the lots already mentioned, to Amos T. Sewell, Charles Russell, E. Kelly, Israel Johns, James Christy, Daniel Jones and Thomas Gaskill, as Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, in consideration of $25, and the several lots were thrown together and the graveyard in question formed. Interments were here made as early as the year 1820, and it is quite likely that were the facts known, earlier burials took place, inasmuch as it is the oldest graveyard in Wilmington. The remains of many of the old citizens were interred here, but long since have been removed to Sugar Grove Cemetery. Among the removals we mention the following well-known families of Clinton County: Morris, White, Holland, Gustin, Curtis, Treusdell, Sheppard, Hughes and Barrett.

The first burial of which we were able to find any record, was Rachel Morris, whose remains were interred on the 22d of January, 1820. As a place of burial it was abandoned years ago, and the grounds have since been sadly neglected, and now present to the passer-by a thicket where weeds and briers have been permitted to grow, until even the marble slabs themselves are buried and hidden from view.

Those yet residing in the narrow cells of this yard awaiting tbe final summons, who were born in the proceeding century, are given in the following list, which was obtained by the writer from the tombstones:

Ellis Pugh, died in 1823, aged thirty-eight yoars; Mary Burr, died in 1833, aged thirty-five; John Shewalter, died in 1850, aged sixty-one; Elizabeth Shewalter, died in 1858, aged sixty-seven; Mary Ashcroft, died in 1842, aged thirty-one; Benjamin Jennings, died in 1843, aged seventy-three; Sarah Jennings, died in 1831, aged fifty-three; Mary Skumming, died in 1855, aged sixty; Hannah Green, died in 1847, aged sixty-nine; Sarah Halliday, died in 1853, aged eighty-two; Lotiche Jennings, died in 1853, aged seventy-four; Thomas Riddell, died in 1840, aged seventy; Thomas Darbyshire, died in 1831, aged eighty-one; Ann Darbyshire, died in 1847, aged sixty-one; Jane A. Harlan, died in 1840, aged forty -three; Bargoon Parsed, died in 1833, aged fifty; Isaac Dewitt, died in 1835, aged forty; Francina Dowdell, diod in 1852, aged sixty-four; James Fleming, died in 1830, aged fifty-two; Mary Hinmau, died in .1833, aged fifty-six.

The old graveyard at the western end of Sugartree streot, adjoining the Hicksite Friends' Church, was deoded by Mark Thatchor and wife to William Adams, Azel Walker and Jesse Doan,Trustoos of the Socioty of Friends, for burial purposes, in the year 1830. The grounds have boen abandoned as a place of burial for a number of years, and sadly neglected. There is no fence around portions of the yard, which has been allowed to grow up with weeds, and remain open to the mercy of stock that may be at large. The lot has recently been givon to the corporation, who are to oxtend the street stopping at the yard, and remove the remains to other graveyards. Many bodies were removed to other places some years ago. Among the early graves still remaining, and marked by marble slabs, are the following:

Henry Whitson, born 10th month 10th day, 1773, and died 12th month, 1852; Elizabeth Fallis, died February 11, 1836; M. M. Livey, M. D., died March 15, 1850, aged fifty-seven years eleven months and twelve days; Joseph Smith, died 27th of 8th month, 1832, aged seventy-nine years; Lydia Smith, died 10th of 5th month, 1845; Sarah Stout died 19th of 3d month, 1843, aged seventy-three years ten months and eighteen days; Elizabeth Harlan, died October 15, 1835; Joshua Antrim, born 12th month, 30th day, 1802, and died 7th month, 18th day, 1836; Daniel Kelly, died August 17, 1838, aged twentynine years four months and eight days; Olive, wife of George W. Morey, died August 18, 1844, in her fifty -second year; Martha J., daughter of John and Sarah Hendrick, died December 21,' 1827; Pricilla, consort of Thomas Birdsail, died January 13, 1826, aged seventy-three years; Mary E. Birdsall, died May 6, 1825; Lydia, consort of James Birdsall, died December 27, 1838, aged fifty-three years; James Birdsall, died August 30, 1834, aged fiftyfive years six months and ten days; Cynthia Jane, wife of R. P. Finley, died January 30, 1837, aged twenty-four years nine months and twenty-eight days; Mary E. Smart, died January 16, 1842, aged eighteen years eleven months and sixteen days.

Pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed February 24, 1848, providing for the incorporation of Cemetery Associations, a number of the citizens of Clinton County met at the court house in Wilmington on the 11th of April, 1857, and organized Sugar Grove Cemetery Association. The first officers were E. L. Lacy, President; Matthew Romback, W. C. Fife, J. E. Hibben, A. E. Strickle, J. W. Chaffin, L. B. Welch and E. L. Lacy, Trustees; Albert Hockett, Clerk and Treasurer. Nearly twenty-three acres of ground, situated southwest of the village, were purchased of William Hibben for $100 an acre, which were tastefully and beautifully laid out by Leo Weltz. Additions have since been made to the grounds, until they now contain nearly fifty acres. The first interment made in the cemetery was that of Catharine Kline, who was buried on the 4th of July, 1858. On the 20th of the same month and year was buried the pioneer, Isaiah Morris, and the marble shaft marking his grave was the first erected in the cemetery.

November 6, 1851, Mr. Lacy resigned the Presidency of the Association, and A. E. Strickle became his successor, and served in that capacity until 1869, when he was succeeded by Leo Weltz. In 1882, Mr. Weltz was succeeded by Dr. L. B. Welch. Other officers of the Association elected in 1882 are: L. B. Welch, J. W. Farren, A. J. Wilson, Obediah Stephens and Joshua Lacy, Trustees; D. B. Van Pelt, Clerk. IJp to July 2, 1882, there have been here interred 2,090 bodies, of which 171 were the remains of persons removed from the older burying-grounds. During the year ending June 5, 1882, there were buried in the cemetery fifty white and seventeen colored persons, and four removals made, making a total of seventy-one.

The natural beauty of Sugar Grove Cemetery is rarely excelled by the cemeteries of any locality. The name is suggestive to the reader of the timber once covering the grounds, and from this fact it was so styled. Many of these stately representatives of the forest were spared by the woodman, which gives to the Wilmington Cemetery that majestic appearance not possessed by many of the most pretentious places of burial in the United States. The presence of these trees and the broken and rolling ground, presenting knolls and valleys, and a quiet stream meandering through its narrow channel, make a picturesque and lovely resting-place for the dead.

The grounds contain many beautiful and costly monuments, which, with the evergreens and flowers, present a scene most pleasing to the senses, and soothing to the feelings of the lover of art and nature.

Literary Society

The Literary Association of Wilmington, known as the T. & T. Literary Society, was organized January 21, 1879. Twelve members composed the body whose names were as follows: Eva McKenzie, Fannie Marble, Jennie Harlan, Lydia Linton, Lydia Greer and Ella Greer, and S. S. Smith, M. J. Grady, E. E. Moon, C. W. Swaim, F. B. Mills, and O. J. Thatcher. The officers chosen were: M. J. Grady, President; Lydia Linton, Vice President; O. J. Thatcher, Critic; S. G. Smith, Treasurer; and Ella Greer, Secretary. The present officers of the society are: Lydia Linton, President; Allan Rannells, Vice President; Frank Martin, Critic; Frank Mills, Treasurer; and Elvie L. Aikin, Secretary, with the following members: Eva McKinzie, Estelle Cleveland, Jennie Harlan, Belle Walker, Rebecca Daniel, Frankie Shrieves, Reynold Janney, Edwin Perfect and C. W. Swaim. This society, which is the chief literary association of Wilmington, is composed of a number of the principal society ladies and gentlemen of the city. The object of the society is to derive mutual benefit in choice literature, and in composition. It has used a number of works by eminent authors, and thus far the society has proved highly profitable in social culture and literary advancement.

Location, Topography, Soil, Timber, Streams, Etc

THIS, the central township of Clinton County, and fcme of the earliest settled, is bounded as follows: On the west it joins Chester and Adams; on the north, Liberty; on the northeast, Wilson; on the east, Richland; on the southeast, Green; on the south, Washington, while Yernon and Wayne corner it on the southwest and east respectively. From Wilmington to the east township line, the lands are level, and in its primeval state this portion of the township was covered by a thick growth of ash, hickory, elm, oak; also some maple, beech and other woods. The soil is generally a dark loam, extending to some depth, very rich and productive and well adapted to the culture of the cereals and the grasses.

The southeast portion of the township is somewhat undulating. Cowan's Creek passes across this corner and following its meanderings from Burtonville southwest the surface is rather rough and broken. Along this stream the timber growth was very large, consisting principally of walnut, poplar, ash, elm, oak, beech and sugar tree. The soil here is a mixture of dark and yellow loam, and is much prized for wheat-growing. Between Cowan's Creek and Wilmington, the country is more level, and here, on Wilson's Branch, settled one of the pioneers after whom that stream iB named.

Lytle's Creek flows in a westerly direction, near the center of the township, immediately south of Wilmington, which is located on its branches. The soil is about the same as along Cowan's Creek, the yellow loam, however, predominating. In passing from the center to the southwest line of Union, there are many hills with small bottom lands along the creek, all of which are very rich and productive. The timber growths are the same as those on Cowan's Creek.

Todd's Fork is the largest stream in Union Township, and is its principal water-course. It runs through the north part of the township, from east to west, with many small rivulets emptying into it along its entire distance. Its head-waters are located mostly in the eastern and northeastern parts of Union, although the sources of some are still farther north and east. The lands along this stream, north and west of Wilmington, are undulating and well drained. The bottoms and hills were originally covered with tine large, thrifty oak, walnut, cherry, linn, hickory, ash, sugar, hac kberry and buckeye, with a great variety of undergrowth, presenting to the eye an almost impenetrable forest. The soil on the undulating lands is a mixture of loam and clay, while along the streams the yellow loam is on the surface. The bottoms, although Bmall, are highly valued by leading agriculturists, and, in fact, the soil all over this township ranks among the best in the county.

Dutch Creek, a small stream which empties into Todd's Fork, in Adams Township, runs across the northwest corner of Union, taking a southwesterly direction. Todd's Fork, Dutch Creek, Lytle's Creek and Cowan's Creek, with their numerous branches, constitute the water-courses of Union Township, supplying ample drainage facilities, as well as an abundance of good water for stock and other purposes.

In the pioneer days the grazing along those streams was very fine, but as the population increased, the grasses and shrubbery disappeared. The bottoms were covered with spice bushes and pea vines, the twigs of the former being used by the early emigrants in making tea, which they thought possessed a tine flavor. The pea vine in full growth resembled buckwheat in the summer and fall seasons, and cattle and hogs were fond of it. When ripe it was about the height of full-grown flax and grew very thickly on the ground. The white clover, or, as it was then called, buffalo clover, was very abundant and grew in height from eighteen to twenty -four inches. These wild growths afforded tine grazing for all classes of stock, and proved a great blessing to the pioneer.

No stone ci'ops cut on Cowan's, Lytle's or Dutch Creeks, in this township, but on Todd's Fork, northwest of Wilmington, stone in large quantities and of good quality has been quarried for many years and is easy of access. Here it was that the early settlers found stone in abundance, which they used in building their rude chimneys, and at a later day in the erection of moro commodious residences and outbuildings, as well as in the construction of streets and roads. Though the Legislature of 1803 had passed an act establishing some sixteen or eighteen State roads, yet but a small number of them had been cleared out in 1806. IJp to that year, there were no roads opened in the settlement comprised in Union Township, but each neighborhood established its line of travel by blazing and marking trees. There were paths or trails running from Todd's Fork to Chillicothe, one of which crossed that stream near Centre Meeting-House, passing through the wilderness to Van Meter's, and thence to theScioto Valley. The origin of those trails was not known to the early settlers, but they were supposed to have been made by the Indians in their social intercourse with their brothers on the Maumee and Scioto. The township to-day is a network of good gravel roads, which are free of toll. Radiating in every direction from Wilmington, the traveler will find a wellimproved, well-developed country, and, if good roads are evidence of prosperity and intelligence, then indeed may Union Township be proud of her position in Clinton County.

Land Entries

Survey No. 550, a portion of which is within the limits of Union Township, located in the eastern part thereof, was the first entry made. It embraces 4,000 acres of land, and waB entered August 4, 1787, by Richard C. Anderson and Mayo Carrington. The surveying was done by John O'Bannon, March 3, 1794, assisted by Andrew Porter and Charles Pigman, chain carriers, and David Flough, marker. Other entries made in the township are as follows:

No. 2,386 - March 13, 1794, Archibald Johnson, Patrick Moore and Betty (his wife) devisees of George Johnson, deceased, enter 6,000 acres of land, surveyed by John O'Bannon into three 2,000 acre tracts November 3, 1795, November 4, 1795 and November 5, 1795.

In the pioneer settlements a close union existed; kindness, benevolence and friendship were cultivated. In locating and improving their new homes, they all had to work and soon became a community of self-reliants. The lives and property of all were vigilantly guarded, while courage and manhood were held in high esteem. The man possessing the greatest physical power was a hero, yet strength, power and manhood could only be tested by honorable and fair means. As a general rule, the sons and descendants of the pioneers have been content with agricultural pursuits, and there are not many instances where the/ have abandoned soil-culture for the allurements of commerce, trade, the arts and the sciences. This is strong proof of their good judgment and independence of spirit, for the man who owns the soil and possesses the art to cultivate it is an independent sovereign - the peer of any in this land, no matter what his vocation may be.

The brain and intellect of the early pioneer shared the increased energy of his physical being. Constant labor developed the powers of the muscles, the brain and the nervous system, and hence in these early communities of emigrants there were men of full stature of body, possessing capacious brain power. The lives and histories of these brave old pioneers should not be forgotten, and the man who feels no interest in perpetuating the memories of those men who spent their time and energy in fitting the soil of the great State of Ohio for culture, deserves not the respect of his fellow-citizens. The sketches of pioneers in the history of Union Township up to and including Col. Thomas Gaddis, were written by the late Judge Robert B. Harlan, or from the notes collected by him ere his death.

Timothy Bennet was one of the most prominent, as well as one of the first settlers, of what is now Clinton County. He came to the Northwest Territory, now the State of Ohio, in the year 1800, and to his well-known home, about one and a half miles nearly east of where Wilmington now is, about the middle of March, 1801. He was a native of the State of New Jersey, born near the city of Philadelphia on the 27th of January, 1765. Of his early history little is known other than that he was reared on a farm and spent his boyhood like other boys brought up to agricultural pursuits. Soon after arriving at manhood, he left his native State, and took up his residence in Westmoreland County, in Western Pennsylvania. Here, early in the year 1789, the precise date not ascertained, he was married to Elizabeth Hoblitt, daughter of Michael Hoblitt, a native of Germany, and ancestor of the Hoblitts of Clinton and Greene Counties.

Stimulated by the reports which had reached him of the fertile lands of Kentucky, Mr. Bennet, in the fall of 1789, determined to remove there, and, in company with his wife's father and family, he descended the Ohio River in boats to Limestone, now the town of Maysville, Ky. The Indians at that time were exceedingly troublesome on the river. Few boats were allowed to pass with impunity. If captured, as they frequently were, the entire party were slain in the most barbarous manner, or, what was little better, carried away into Indian captivity. Mr. Bennet and his party proper had the good fortune to pass through this cordon of savages without sustaining any disaster; but a boat in their convoy was not so lncky, for, being permitted to fall too far in the rear it was attacked with great fury by the Indians, and, though it escaped being captured, sustained a loss of two men killed. The party of emigrants to which Mr. Bennet belonged, before landing at Limestone, proceeded (to the interior of the country by way of the Lower Blue Licks and Lexington. At the latter place, a halt of some weeks was made, for the purpose of examining the country for a suitable location. After a pretty thorough exploration in various directions, the party made choice of a point in what is now Woodford County, near the site of the present town of Versailles, and here Mr. Bennet resided for about ten years.

In the fall of 1790, Mr. Bennet joined the expedition of Gen. Harmar, which was sent by the Government to destroy the Indian towns near where the Livers St. Mary and St. Joseph unite and form the Maumee. The forces collected for this purpose rendezvoused at Cincinnati, then a small village about two years old. From here, they marched nearly north for about fifteen or twenty miles, until the Ohio River hills had been overcome, when their course was changed to about northeast, which led across Muddy Creek and Turtle Creek to the Little M^ami. They crossed the stream about one mile below the mouth of Caesar's Cre^k, and continued up the river to the mouth of Glady Creek, near Spring Vall^, then up Glady to near the point where Xenia now is, to Old Chillicothe, now called Old Town. Near this point, it is said that Mr. Bennet became too lame to travel, from a cancer in the leg, and was therefore honorably discharged and sent home. He thus escaped the disgrace of Harmar's abortive campaign and the dangers of Hardin's disastrous defeats. The route taken by the army led through a most beautiful and productive country. That Mr. Bennet should have placed a high estimate on the lands through which he passed may well be assumed. A few years later, he is found acquiring land, supposed at the time to lie near the line of his march, and soon after coming to settle upon it.

In the fall of 1799, he purchased about 200 acres of land from William S. Hawkins, one of his Kentucky neighbors, who was an extensive land-holder in the Virginia Military District, lying between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. The land purchased was a part of Survey No. 2,690, but the location of the survey was represented to Mr. Bennet to lie between the Little Miami and Cmsar's Creek, and so of course in the region of country through which he had marched nine or ten years previous, while in the army of Harmar. Confiding in this representation, he made his purchase. In 1799, a few settlers had established themselves between these streams, and many more on the west side of the Miami opposite to and in the neighborhood of where Mr. Bonnet's land was said to lie. Indeed, at that time, the country between the Great and Little Miamis, as far north at least as Dayton, was beginning to be well dotted with settlers' cabins and improvements, and attracted the attention of emigrants far and near. Having, as he supposed, acquired valuable lands near new but thriving settlements, Mr. Bennet began at once to make arrangements to settle upon them. The land, however, turned out, as will hereafter appear, to lie in a very different locality from that supposed.

He removed from Kentucky in the spring of 1800, with his family, which at that time consisted of his wife and six children, two sons and four daughters. He regarded the removal as the best step to take, in order to advance the interests of himself and growing family. At the time of leaving Kentucky, the ordy means of transportation within the reach of Mr. Bennet was packhorses. a common one in that day. Accordingly, pack-horses were provided to carry Mrs. Bennet and the infant Nathaniel, the bedding, wearing apparel, provisions, agricultural tools, cooking utensils and such of the children as were not able to walk. The cows, calves and other stock were driven in the wake of the pack-horses by the older children. Mr. Bennet, with rifle on shoulder and shot-pouch and powder-horn slung to his side, and huntingknife in scabbard, sometimes led the van and sometimes brought up the rear, according as his presence seemed to be most required. At times, he would quit the trace and march for hours on the right or left of the moving column, in pursuit of game, and, being a most successful hunter, he was generally able to keep the family supplied with the most palatable meats. He came north by the "Dry Ridge" road to Cincinnati, then but recently named. From Cincinnati, he took Harmar's trace to a point near where Lebanon has since been laid out, and from there, nearly a north course to a point near where Centerville, Montgomery County, has grown up, distance from the Ohio River, forty-five miles. In what is now the Centerville neighborhood, he found his brother-in-law, Soboston Hoblitt, and a number of his old neighbors in New Jersey and his recent neighbors in Kentucky, as the Nutts, Robbins. Becks and Archers, who had settled there three years before. The town of Centerville, in Montgomery County, Ohio, was laid out afterward in the same neighborhood by one of his old New Jersey friends. From some of these Mr. Bennet expected pilotage to his land, but his friends had only been there a short time and ever since their arrival had been busy raising cabins for themselves or neighbors, or planting and raising something to live on. They had found no time to look much beyond the narrow circle of their own concerns, and really knew no more about Hawkins' Survey, No. 2,690, in the Virginia Military District, than we of Clinton County in this day know of some Spanish Don's land grant in Florida or New Mexico. And what made it worse, the records pertaining to the surveys in the Virginia Military District were kept in the Principal Surveyor's office in Louisville, Ky. After an impatient waiting for information in regard to the location of his land, he at last had the good fortune to learn of a Mr. McFarland, living on the Little Miami, near the mouth of Todd's Fork, who, it was supposed, could give him the desired information. Without delay, Mr. Bennet called upon Mr. McFarland, and was conducted by him up Todd's Fork, by the way of Smalley's, near where Clarksville now is, to the Deserted Camp Corner, a well-known landmark from which the line of an intervening survey conducted them to a corner of Mr. Bennet's land. This land is situated south of Todd's Fork, about one and a half miles nearly northeast of the present town of Wilmington, and includes lands owned by James S. Garland, the tract included in the home farm of Samuel R. Glass, and about fifty acres on the Prairie road, late the residence of Miss Catharine McWhorter.

Mr. Bennet does not seem to have been transported with pleasure on beholding his possessions for the first time. They were part of an immense tract of woodland, and were covered with large forest trees of almost every kind growing in the country. In that day a considerable part was wet land. The only settler within ten miles of the land known to Mr. Bennet, was William Smalley, whose cabin he and Mr. McFarland had passed ten miles below on their way up Todd's Fork. Smalley had in early life been taken prisoner by the Shawnee Indians, and had been brought up among them. His color was much like an Indian's; his hair was straight and black; his eye had the wildpiercing glance of a bird of prey, truly Indian. The rims of his ears had been cut from the cartilaginous parts, and hung down in strings as a sort of trimming, after the fashion of a ladies' eardrop. His history up to this time was not calculated to make him desirable as a neighbor, even at a distance of ton miles off, for only eight years before he had been the interpreter for Col. Hardin, when sent by Gen. Washington on a peace mission to the Shawnee Indians, and had suffered Hardin to bo killed by an Indian man and boy while asleep in the night before the fire. If Mr. Bennet had other neighbors nearer than the banks of the Little Miami, he had not seen nor heard of them. The land being found, Mr. McFarland returned home as he came, by Todd's Fork, and Mr. Bennet hired an Indian to pilot him to Waynesville, on the Little Miami, while he followed with a tomahawk and blazed the way so as to be able to find it again.

In the summer of 1800, Mr. Bennet raised a crop in the Centerville neighborhood, and, on the 30th day of January, 1801, at the same place, his daughter Amy was born. A few days later, Mr. Bennet, with his brother-in-law, John Hoblitt, and his four eldest children, came to erect a house and make an opening on his wilderness lands, taking with them cooking utensils, farming tools and provisions. They selected small trees for house logs, so that when cut to their proper length two men could place them in the walls of the house. Boards were made for roof, loft and door, and puncheons for the floor, and the house nicely prepared to receive Mrs. Bennet. Leaving Mr. Hoblitt and the children to keep house, Mr. Bennet returned to the Centerville neighborhood for his wife. On their way back, they found the Miami out of banks, and, there being neither bridges nor boats on the river in that day, the passage had to be effected by swimming their horses. Mr. Bennet led the way, carrying the infant Amy in his arms, and Mrs. Bennet followed at a proper distance, riding her horse for greater safety, after the fashion of a cavalier. Other streams, of large size when swollen, lay between the Miami and their home, as Caesar's Creek and Todd's Fork; but whether the horses were put to a swim or not has not been ascertained. The same evening, after a ride of twenty-five miles through a pathless wood and without a solitary house for fifteen miles, Mrs. Bennet was rewarded by seeing, for the first time, her home among the trees.

The spring and summer of 1801 was a busy season for the Bennet family. Land had to be prepared for a crop. To remove all the great oaks, elms, hickories and beech from any considerable number of acres of land, between the 1st of March and the time for planting, was too great a task to be for a moment seriously entertained. Mr. Bennet, therefore, cut away the trees of small growth, grubbed up the spice bushes, girdled the large trees and removed the down timber by cutting and burning. Ail was inclosed with a substantial fence. In this work all could engage. The seed was planted in the loose, rich ground without plowing, and the crops cultivated with the hoe and hand. It required unceasing vigilance to protect the corn from the squirrels by day and the raccoons by night, but enough was saved to keep famine from the door.

After Mr. Bennet made his settlement, for several years the Indians came in the fall season to make their annual hunt. They were generally divided into bands, numbering from three to fifty. The larger companies were attended by the women, children, ponies and dogs. In such cases, thoy invariably retired at the approach of winter to their towns farther to the north. A few stragglers not infrequently stayed in the country through the winter to trap. They were mostly Shawnees and Wyandots, with an occasional Delaware. A favorite place for camping for them was along Todd's Fork, near Mr. Bennet' s residence, above and below where Starbucktown now is. Another was on Anderson' s Fork, extending up the creek from the Telfair farm to near the site of Centerville, Wayne Township. In the fall of 1811, the Indians seemed less friendly than usual, and at times created uneasiness among the settlers. About the beginning of November, all their young men disappeared. After an absence of about three weeks they were noticed as having returned. While they were gone the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought. They had brought the result of the fight several days in advance of the Cincinnati and

Chillicothe newspapers. William Smalley was a frequent visitor at tlieir camps, staying for several days together, and no doubt eating with unfeigned gusto their dirty cookery.

The first child born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, after their removal to what is now the Wilmington neighborhood, was their daughter Margaret. She was born November 19, 1802, on what has since been known as the farm of Judge Hinkson, on the north side of Anderson's Fork, near where the Radeliffe road now runs, at the house of James Mills, father of James R. Mills. Mr. Mills and his brother-in-law, Amos Wilson, from whom Wilson Township has been named, were, at the time spoken of, living in the same dooryard, but each having a separate dwelling. Mrs. Bennet had been taken to Mr. Mills' house some days before, in anticipation of her accouchement, that she might have the aid and attention of Mr. Wilson's mother, the wife of Hon. John Wilson, a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio, who had come over from between the Miamis to be at hand to perform the same part for her daughter-in-law as necessary in the case of Mrs. Bennet. The only white women in that day within what are now the limits of Clinton County are believed to have been Mrs. Mary Van Meter, wife of Morgan Van Meter; Mrs. Miller, wife of the late Esquire Samuel Miller, Mrs. Amos Wilson, Mrs. Mills and Mrs. Bennet.

Mr. Bennet was a most successful hunter. He killed a great many deer on what is now the original town plat of Wilmington, at the licks along the branch south of the residence of Richard and Mary Peirce. It is said by early settlers tha.t, after his health became enfeebled, his wife was in the habit of often bringing him on a horse to these licks. He would climb up into one of the old beech trees above the lick, situated upon what is now known as the old hill residence of the late Robert B. Harlan, and remain there through the day, watching for the deer to come to the lick, when he would shoot them. In the evening, the horse was brought for him to return home with his game. Other early settlers speak of having often hunted over this same ground. It was then covered with an undergrowth of spice and hazel bushes and was a noted hunting-ground. Michael, Mr. Bennet' s eldest son, at the age of twelve years, is said to have killed a large bear, near where the present residence of Mrs. Margaret Treusdoll, in Wilmington, is situated. Mr. Bennet is believed to have been twice elected to the office of County Commissioner of Clinton County; he ceased to be a Commissioner in 1815. He was in feeble health for many years prior to his death. He made his will in 1823, and died early in the year 1827.

Mr. Bennet had thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters - Michael, named from his grandfather, Michael Hoblitt, was born December 20, 1789. He married Ann Dillon, a daugther of Jesse Dillon, Sr. He went to Illinois about fifty years ago, and there died. Phebe, born December 4, 1791, married Elisha Doan, of Wilson's Branch. Her husband died June 22, 1848. She removed to Missouri in 1870. Mary was born April 10, 1793, and married Daniel Mills, of the Sabina neighborhood, in 1815. The husband died and the wife removed to Illinois. Catharine, born March 15, 1795, was married to Joseph Doan, Jr., September 23, 1813. He dying, she afterwards married Elkanah Jacks, of the Sabina neighborhood, May 17, 1829. Sarah, born April 1, 1797, married William Roberds. Nathaniel, born February 25, 1799, went to Illinois. Amy, born January 30, 1801, married James Fisher, May 8, 1818, and removod to Tazewell County, 111. Margaret, born November 19, 1802, married Isaac Fisher. Keziah, born January 4, 1804, married Caleb Bright, October 20, 1825, and went to Tazewoll County, 111. Eunico, born February 7, 1809, marriod Isaac Fisher, January 24, 1828, Margaret, his first wife, having died. They removed to Illinois. Jemima, born November 3, 1811, married William Custis, March 4, 1833. Timothy, born April 19, 1813, married Elizabeth Russell, August 10, 1831, and went to Bureau County, 111. AH of Timothy Rennet's children are dead, as far as we have been able to learn.

With Mr. Bonnet came John Hoblitt, his brother-in-law, who purchased of him fifty acres, which was surveyed for Mr. Hoblitt by Nathan Linton, in October, 1805.

George Haworth, grandfather of George D., Ezekiel, Elijah and others, all well-known citizens of the county, was the grandson of George Haworth, who came to America with William Penn, from Lancanshire, England, in 1699. George's father, James Haworth, was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Frederick County, Ya. The subject of our sketch was born in Bucks County, Penn., in 1748, but while still a boy removed with his parents to the neighborhood of Winchester, Ya., where they lived upon the mountain range, called Apple Pie Ridge. Here he grew up to manhood and was married to Susannah Dillon, but the spirit of emigration having a strong hold upon him, he removed with his young wife to North Carolina, settling on the Yadkin River, near the home of Daniel Boone. After Boone had returned from his wanderings in Kentucky, he gave such a glowing description of the lands of that country that Mr. Haworth was induced to join his party. On the 25th of September, 1771, they left their homes and made the first attempt ever made to settle Kentucky.