Fayette County, Ohio - Admission of Ohio Into the Union - Political History Early Laws of Ohio, 1881 (part 3 of 8)

With all their rudeness, these people were given to hospitality, and freely divided their rough fare with a neighbor or stranger, and would have been offended at the offer of pay. In their settlements and forts they lived, they worked, they fought and feasted, or suffered together, in cordial harmony. . They were warm and constant in their friendships. On the other hand, they were re- vengeful in their resentments, and the point of honor sometimes led to personal combats. If one man called another a liar, he was considered as having given a challenge, which the person who received it must accept or be deemed a coward, and the charge was generally answered on the spot with a blow. If the injured person was decidedly unable to tight the aggressor, he might get a friend to do it for him. The same thing took place on a charge of cowardice, or any other dishonorable action. A battle must follow, and the person who made the charge must fight either the person against whom he made the charge, or any champion who chose to espouse his cause. Thus circumstanced, our people in early times were much more cautious of speaking evil of their neighbors than they are at present.

Sometimes pitched battles occurred, in which time, place, and seconds were appointed beforehand. A writer remembers having seen one of those pitched battles in his father's fort, when a bo3^ One of the young men knew very well beforehand that he should get the worst of the battle, and no doubt repented the engagement to fight, but there was no getting over it. The point of honor demanded the risk of battle. He got his whipping. They then shook hands, and were good friends afterward.

The mode of single combat in those days was dangerous in the extreme. Although no weapons were used, fists, teeth, and feet were emplo}^d at will, but above all, the detestable practice of gouging, by which eyes were sometimes put out, rendered this mode of fighting frightful indeed. It was not, however, so destructive as the stiletto of an Italian, the knife of a Spaniard, the small-sword of a Frenchman, or the pistol of the American or English duelist.

Instances of seduction and bastardy did not frequently happen in our early times. An instance of the former is remembered, in which the life of the man was put in jeopardy by the resentment of the family to which the girl belonged. Indeed, considering the chivalrous temper of our people, this crime could not then take place without great personal danger from the brothers or other relations of the victims of seduction, family honor being then estimated at a high rate.

Profane language was not more prevalent in early times than at present. There was no other vestige of the Christian religion than a faint observation of Sunday, and that merely as a day of rest for the aged, and a play day for the young.

Tattling

If a woman was given to tattling and slandering her neighbors, she was furnished, by common consent, with a kind of patentright to say whatever she pleased without being believed. Her tongue was then said to be harmless, or to be no scandal.

Began at the north part of survey number 1093 on Paint Creek, and followed its present boundary to the northwest corner of Jasper; thence south along the present western boundary of Jasper to the southwest corner of the same; thence east live miles to the northeast corner of Clinton County ; thence northwest to the north part of survey 899, to Sugar Creek; thence with its present boundary to the beginning, including, as will be seen, the principal part of the present territory of Jasper,

Green

Beginning at Henry Snyder's mill on Sugar Creek, thence up said cre6k with its meanderings to the line of Jeft'erson, northern part survey 899 ; thence southwest with said line to the northeast corner of Clinton County; thence south with the county line to the southwest corner of Fayette County ; thence east with county line to Lemuel Hand's. Thence to Alexander Beatty's survey 3713 ; thence north, bearing west to Samuel Edward's, northern part survey 660 ; thence to beginning, including about three-fourths of the present territory of Perry, all of Concord, and about a quarter of Jasper.

It appears that about 1818, Green was reduced in territory by the formation of Concord, whose boundaries we have no means of knowing until March 3, 1828, when its hues are given. Green at that time was limited on the north and west by a line beginning at the mouth of Hankin's Pun, on Sugar Creek, at the lower bend, eastern part survey 626, and running southwest to Samuel Stook-

"When Perry was first formed, it further reduced Green to its present limits, save that portion north of a line extending from near Buena Vista, to the mouth of Sugar Creek, thence up Sugar Creek to Hankin's liun, the western portion of which w^as subsequently - March 8, 1849^oined to Concord, and the eastern to Perry, thus leaving it in its present shape in 1849.

Wayne originally included on the west, all that territory not taken from Green in the formation of Perry, and with her other lines nearly as they are now, except on the southeast corner of Union at the mouth of Sugar, where we infer from the language used, the line followed the creek (Paint).

Madison originally included all the territory now embraced in Madison and Marion until June, 1840, when it was divided, and the southern portion called Marion, and the northern retained the original name.

This has preserved its original lines with the exception of a few slight changes near the old Snyder mill, on Sugar, and extending a little farther into Wayne so as to touch the corner of Bernard survey 739, And following the meanderings of Paint Creek above the Brannon farm.

Jasper

March' 5, 1845, William Rankin presented a petition to the commissioners for a new township to be taken from Jefferson and Concord, beginning in the northwest corner of li. Claborn's survey 889, and following the present boundaries of Jasper until it strikes the southwest corner of Jefferson on Sugar Creek; thence northeast following the present line of Jefferson and Union to Paint Creek ; thence up Paint Creek to the dividing line of the Trent and White siuweys, numbers respectively 942 and 1205 ; thence west to beginning, including, as will be seen, the southern point of Jefferson.

On the second day of December, 1845, by petition of Joseph J. Parrott, Jasper was reduced to her present limits, and electors assembled April 7th, at the house of John Andrews, to elect officers.

Concord

Friday, May 1, 1818. It appearing to the court that a new township has been set off by the commissioners, called Concord, it is ordered that there be one justice of the peace elected in this township, the electors to meet at the house of Edward Figgins, on the third Monday of the present month for this purpose.

The boundaries at this date are not given. In 1828, its bounds were defined as beginning on the east, at Hankins' Eun, (vid. seq.) and following the line of Green to the northeast corner of Clinton County ; thence northwest to Sugar Creek, and down Sugar to beginning. In 1848, the line was run between Concord and Green, beginning at Hankins' Run, thence south 36°, 26^ west, 3 miles and 120 poles, crossing said run to a stake one-half pole on northwest side of a pile of day, the remains of the chimney of John Draper's house ; thence south 63°, 4' west, 3 miles and 160 poles to a road near Jerry McFlay's house, crossing Rattlesnake at 40 poles, Lee's Creek at 2 miles and 52 poles ; thence continuing same course, south 3° 4', west 1 mile and 48 poles to line of Clinton and Fayette counties, which distance, 8 miles and 14 poles, is loell marked with a hand ax, loith three hacks on a side. March 3, 1849, this line was so altered as to run from the hanks of Sugar Creek where the lines of Concord and Green join, thence with said line to the state road running from Washington to Leeshurg ; thence north 85°, east to Perry Township line ; thence north with Perry and Green to Sugar Creek ; thence up the creek to beginning, which portion was added to Concord for the convenience of schools and working the roads.

In June, 1840, a petition, signed by the householders of Madison Township, praying for a division of the same, so as to form two separate townships, was presented to the county commissioners, in pursuance of which the board appointed Jacob Creamer, county surveyor, to ascertain whether there was territory sufficient to warrant a division, and if so, to run a line through the center of the same, so as to make an equal division. The surveyor, upon finding sufficient territory, proceeded to divide the township as per instructions. The board being satisfied that the interest of the citizens of the aforesaid township required a division, ordered the report of the surveyor to be placed on record, and said townships estabhshed as laid down in said plat.

The northern part of the division shall be known as the original township of Madison, and the southern part shall be known by the name of Marion. That the electors of Marion Township assemble, on July 18, 1840, at the house of John McArthur, on the Circleville road, to elect township officials, who shall continue in office until the next annual spring election.

Perry

On the 4th of June, 1844, a petition was presented to the commissioners by ]!^. Rush, as attorney, praying for a new township to be taken from Green and Wayne, which was refused on account of a remonstrance by L. V. Willard.

June 4th, 1845, a petition was presented by Robert Eyre, and the new township was granted, called Perry. Beginning at a point where the state road leading from Washington to Leesburg crosses Eattlesnake Creek; thence on a straight line to Samuel Brigg's mill (near the month of Sugar Creek); thence down Paint Creek to the Highland County line ; thence west with said line to Rattlesnake ; thence up said creek to beginning, thus including a part of Wayne aud Green. These limits, as will be observed, left out that portion north of the line extending from near Buena Vista to the mouth of Sugar.

June 14, 1845, a petition was presented signed by Wayman Stafford and a number of others, protesting against the decision of the commissioners in forming a new township, and finally an appeal bond was filed, in the sum of five hundred dollars, with James Larkins and Anderson Rowe securities, and notice given of an appeal to the court of common pleas. Subsequently a decision was rendered favorable to its organization, and that portion annexed north of the line from Buena Vista to Briggs' mill.

Present Boundaries

Beginning at the north part, survey number 1093, on Paint Creek; thence west, with the county line, to the Greene County line, northwest corner, survey number 5993 ; thence south, Avith said line, to east part, survey number 1079; thence east, bearing south, to northwest part, survey number 1253; thence east, crossing Rattlesnake Creek, to the northwest corner, survey number 1379 ; thence south to the southeast corner of survey number 1379; thence east to Sugar Creek; thence down said creek, to the Union Township line, in southwest part, survey number 5866; thence northeast, with said line, to Paint Creek, near crossing of Jeffcrsonville pike ; thence up Paint to beginning.

bearing north, to the county east part survey number 1079 ; thence south with said, to the line of Clinton County, west part of survey number 841 ; thence east five miles, with said line, crossing Rattlesnake; thence south, with said line, to Concord Township line, west part survey number 907 ; thence northeast, with said line, to Rattlesnake Creek ; thence northeast, with the road, to Sugar

Creek, southwest part survey number 8408; thence up said creek to the northeast corner, survey number 1411; thence west to southwest corner, survey number 1379; theuce north to the beginning.

county line, west part survey 907; thence south, with the county line, to west part survey 1039 ; thence northeast, with Green Township line, to the old Draper house, north part survey 5348 ; thence northeast, with said line, to south part survey 802 ; thence east to Perry Township line, survey 896 ; thence north to Sugar Creek, north part survey 896; thence along Sugar Creek to beginning.

Beginning at south part of survey number 8357 ; thence southwest, through surveys 3702, 6377, 7850, 7052, 7053, and 6003, to Paint Creek, northeast part survey 3020; thence southwest, through survey 2069, to Sugar Creek ; thence down said creek to its mouth ;

Beginning at a point near the old Draper house, north part survey number 5348, near Rattlesnake Creek ; thence northeastwardly to the southern part survey number 802, near the Leesburg road ; thence east to the southern part survey number 896 ; thence south to the southern part of survey number 5431 ; thence southwest, crossing survey number 3434, to Eattlesnake Creek; thence, with the meanders of said creek, to the county Une, southern part survey number 1840; thence west, with county Une, to southern part survey number 1089; thence, with the line of Fayette and CHnton, to western survey number 1039 ; thence northeast, crossing surveys 2717, 3991, 5849, and 5880, to the beginning.

Beginning at Sugar Creek, northwest corner survey 896 ; thence east, with the meanders of said creek, to its mouth ; thence southeast, with the meanders of Paint Creek, to the county hne; thence west, with the county Hne, to Rattlesnake Creek; thence north, with liattlesnake, to western part survey number 3434; thence northeast, with the Green Township line, to the southern part survey number 5431 ; thence north, with said township line, to the beginning.

Wayne

Beginning at a point in the northern part of survey number 9074, near the C. & M. Y. R. R. ; thence southwesterly, along the line ot Union Township, to Paint Creek ; the ncedown Paint to the mouth of Sugar Creek ; thence down Paint to the count}^ line, survey 4132 ;

Marion

Beginning at the Pickaway County line, southeastern part survey number 470; thence west to center of survey 8190; thence south to survey number 8493, on the Federal road ; thence southeast, along said road, to the west part survey number 5537; thence southeast, with the Wayne Township line, to the county line, east part survey number 4132; thence north, with the county hne, to the beginning.

part survey number 471 ; thence west, with the county line, to the northern part survey number 6908; thence southeast to the Marion Township line, center of survey number 8190; thence east, with said line to the Pickaway County line, east part survey number 470; thence north, with said line, to place of beginning.

Paint

Beginning at the northeast corner of survey number 6908 ; thence west,with the county line, to Paint Creek, northwest part survey number 1093; thence south, down said creek, with the meanders thereof, to the Union Township line, west part survey number 6003 ; thence northeast, with said line, to Marion Township line, east part survey number 8357 ; thence north, with said line, to the corner of Madison Township, east part survey number 8190; thence north, bearing west, to beginning.

Mills And Milling

To the pioneer in the wilderness, remote from civihzation, with all its attendant mechanical appliances, the conversion of the product of the soil was one of the most serious difficulties to be met. While the forest supplied abundance of game, with which his larder could with but little exertion be kept well filled ; this, however, without the accompaniment of bread, was not in the highest degree palatable, especially when fatigued by the constant exertion which the pioneer was compelled to undergo, from morning till night, in clearing out the forests which surrounded him on all sides. To meet this want machines were constructed, though extremely rude and simple, yet fully accomplishing the purposes for which they were intended.

The Block And Pestle

A block of hard wood was selected, and by means of boring, hacking, and burning, a depression was made capable of holding sometimes nearly a peck of corn. To work in this, an instrument having a large end nearly the size of the depression in the block, and whose convexity corresponded roughly to its concavity, the upper part of which was shaven down to a diameter of one or two inches, so as to be grasped by the hand, Avas made.

To facilitate the operation of this, a hole was fixed in the ground, a rope, piece of bark, or grape vine attached to the upper end bent down and connected to the pestle so as to assist in lifting it up.

Lean, said to be the base-stone of tlie first mill in the county which we examined, we give the following description : Diameter twenty inches, thickness about five, and rudely cut in grooves with a hole in the center, into which a small shaft was introduced, having attached to it another stone working upon the lower, which was operated by a crank turned b}^ hand.

Corn-Crackers

The Yeargon horse-mill was put up a little later, and perhaps the second corn-cracker in this county, was put up in 1810, by Isaiah Pancoast, on Deer Creek, about a mile from Waterloo, close to the county line, between Fayette and Pickaway. It was made out of solid boulders with a hole drilled through. This primitive machine was subsequently converted into a mill for grinding wheat, then into a fulling mill, next into a woolen factory, and now is a flouring mill.

This unique structure consisted of an upright beam, or shaft, running on pivots at both ends; passing through this, below at right angles was another shaft, about twenty feet long, at the end of which was attached a team of horses, who walked in a circle as in our modern horse powers. At the top of the upright shaft was attached a large wheel, which communicated its motion by means of a rawhide belt to another wheel, which in turn worked in a cog-wheel attached to the stones.

These burrs, or stones, were made generally out of the native boulders with holes drilled through them, roughly dressed, and running upon each other which ground the corn very coarse, and left it with all the refuse materials accompaning it, which were removed by means of a sieve, made by taking the green hide of a deer, removing the hair, stretching it tightly over a hoop and piercing it full of holes. When the pioneers were educated to the luxury - if luxury it may be called - of loheat bread, mills for grinding and bolting this grain were invented.

Bolting was done by hand, or rather the apparatus, which was a cloth cylinder turned with a crank, Avhich it was expected the man or boy bringing the grist to operate.

Before these mills were erected bj the early settlers,, according to the county atla8,''Springfield, Clifton, and Chillicothe were localities to which they resorted for flour and'meal. Several neighbors would unite to make up a four-horse load, take along forage for the teams and provisions for themselves, and make the journey in seven to ten days, during which time their families lived on bacon, hominy, and potatoes, when they had them. Horse-mills were soon established at various points, and hand-mills were constructed, so that .most families were able to obtain bread by working for it. The hominy-block was an invention of the times ; it was made by burning a hole into the end of a block of wood. They pounded the corn in these mortars with a pestle, made by inserting an iron wedge in a suitable stick. When the corn was fine enough it was sieved, and the finer portion used for bread and for mush, and the coarser boiled as hominy. Corn-dodgers were in general use, and the children of that day, now grown old, can speedily recall the circumstances connected with their first meal of wheat bread. The mills of early days ground very slowly. The settler went to mill early, and remained late to get his sack of meal. The flour made in the horse-mills was like the brown, unbolted flour of the present. That it should be large in quantity was more to be desired than fine in quality. Thomas Moon, sr., erected the first flour and sawmill, and the first distillery in the county during the year 1810, upon a good site ten miles south of Washington. The mill is still running.

A third mill was built during the war of 1812, by Asa Davis, on Main Paint, two miles south of the county seat. Many years have passed since its removal.

An effort was made to establish a mill on Main Paint, ten miles northwest of town, by Solomon Salmon; but the dam being established on a bed of quicksand, continually broke away and prevented its success.

Still another water-mill was erected in Washington Court House by Jesse Millikan. The saw-mill was in operation in 1817, and a year later, 1818, he had a grist-mill running. Millikan died in 1836, and, about 1840, his son Curren Millikan applied steampower.

The granting of licenses for keeping tavern was in accordance with a territorial law passed by the first general assembly of the northwest territory, and approved December 6, 1800.

By this law no person Avas permitted to keep any tavern or public house of entertainment in any town, connty, or place within the limits of the territory, unless first recommended by twelve respectable freeholders of the county in which such house was to be kept. All persons, except tavern or inn keepers, were forbidden under severe penalties to sell any person alcoholic drinks in small quantities, and tavern keepers, under like severe penalties, were required not knowingly to suft'er any disorders, drunkenness, rioting, betting or gaming for money. They were also required to furnish good entertainment for man and beast, under penalty of five dollars for the first offense, and eight dollars for each succeeding offense.

After nearly four score years have passed away, and the primitive taverns and the primitive men have disappeared with the gliding years, the modern grumbler at some slight annoyance in a firstclass hotel of the present day, may wonder what was understood by "good entertainment" in those early times, when the entire family, landlord, landlady and children, judges and attorne^^s of the court, servants and travellers, cats and dogs, were all quartered for lodging into one sleeping room, and that, too, perhaps the dining and sitting room, parlor and kitchen. Under this law licenses were given by authority of what was in early days called a "court in course," according to an act of assembly, passed April 16, 1803, which made it the duty of the associate judges to hold a court for the transaction of county business on the next judicial day after the adjournment of the court of common pleas. This court acted in pretty much the same capacity as the present body of county commissioners.

we learn that these licenses were as late as 1852 granted by the court of common pleas. It is extremely doubtful, therefore, if a "court in course" was ever held in this county.

In the. beginning of the year 1817, on motion to the common pleas court, one William Vaughan was granted a license to keep tavern at his house in Madison Township, one year, on complying with the law. Tavern, in those early days, was a very comprehensive term, and must have been not much unlike Tam O'Shanter's stopping place : -

" When chapman billies leave the street And drouthy neibors neibors meet, As market days are wearin' late And folk begin to tak the gate ; While we sit bousing at the nappy And gettin' fou and unco happy, old cabin which is still standing, occupied at present by Parvin. Another was kept in the Vandeman corner by Johu Torbin, in 1810 or 1812 ; Norman Jones, 1811 and 1812 ; Evans and sons on Court and Fayette in about 1816.

December 18, 1817, John Evans and Nicholas Neely received licenses to keep tavern in Washington. In the following April, William Rankin was allowed the same privilege at his residence in Paint Township. Also Joseph Parrott and Matthew Gillespie in the same township, and in September, Sanford Corder, John Evans and Aaron Johnson started the same business in Union Township. Immediately following this, Aaron Johnson was arrested for gambling, but plead not guilty, which rather casts a damaging shadow upon the morality of these ancient institutions. Some department, however, must have been remunerative, for in October 11, 1819, we find John Oliver paying twelve dollars for the privilege of keeping tavern. But as travel increased and improvements advanced, these unique places of entertainment disappeared and have been superceded by the more commodious modern structures in which splendid table furniture takes the place of the substantial pioneer food.

Race Of John Edgington

An incident in which the noted Shawanoes chief, Captain John, in after years a qnasi resident of this county, took an active part; for this reason we consider it worthy of mention here :

About 1795, John and Asahel Edgington and another man started towards Brush Creek, on a hunting expedition. They had good success and bagged a fine lot of deer, bear, etc., hung them up out of the reach of wolves and returned for pack horses to take them in. Being in the winter and not apprehending danger from the Indians, they returned alone to the old hunting oamp, alighted from their horses and were preparing to strike a fire when they were tired upon by a party of savages ambushed not twenty j^ards away. Asahel fell dead, but John escaped. With horrid yells the Indians sprang from their place of concealment, the frightened horses broke loose and ran towards home, and John Edgington was alone on foot. With the activity of a buck he bounded ofl', with a band ot howling redskins at his heels to urge him forward. So close indeed was the contest, that the yielding grass scarce resumed its shape before the Indian's foot pressed it down again. The uplifted tomahawk seemed so near his head he thought he felt its edge. The hard breathing of his blood-thirsty pursuers sounding in his ears, stimulated him to almost superhuman exertions.

The race was long and doubtful ; every effort to capture and escape was made, but at last Edgington began to gain ground and after a long race he distanced them, made his escape and reached his home in safety. Captain John, who headed the Indians on this occasion, and who, after peace Was made, hunted in this county, was often heard to say that the white man who ran away "was smart fellow ; he run and I run, and he run and run. At last white man run clear off from me."

War Of 1812

A cursory view of Indian affairs prior to the war of 1812, will enable us the more clearly to understand the real cause of the war. Although the popular notion is that it grew out of the assumed right of search for British seamen on American vessels, it will be observed by the reading people that the British never wholly acknowledged the independence of the colonies. Therefore, by order of the British council, during her war with France, all our vessels, under penalty of liabiHty to capture, were obliged to call at a British port on their passage to or from France or her allies. Napoleon, in retaliation, decreed that all vessels that had submitted to this regulation should be liable to capture by his cruisers. This, in addition to the British impressment of our seamen, was an outrage not to be tolerated by an independent people. Prior to this - indeed, ever since the treaty of Greenville, the Indian agents - principally McKee - had been busy sowing the seeds of dissension among the Indians, which were finally to be nurtured into open hostility. The prime disturbing elements among the Indians were the Prophet and his illustrious brother Tecumseh, or more properly, Tecumthe, who claimed that the Indian title to their lands was never extinguished by the treaty of Greenville. He traveled from north to south, and east to west, "in his endeavors to unite all the Indian tribes to resist the incursion of the whites, in which he was encouraged by the British agents in this country. To strengthen his influence, the Prophet assumed the role of seer and oracle, and with bold effrontery pretended to receive communications from the Great Spirit; and having by some means ascertained the date of an eclipse of the moon, warned the Indians to rise and slay the whites; that the Great Spirit was angry at their delay, and on a certain night would hide his face from them. The event coming to pass as foretold, filled the superstitious minds of the Indians with perfect confidence in his supernatural powers and with dreadful apprehensions of the divine visitation unless they obeyed his commands.

Organizing The Army

Their crushing defeat by General Wayne still rankled in their bosoms, and cried aloud for vengeance. At the treaty of Fort Wayne, in 1809, the Indians ceded their lands along the Wabash. Tecumseh was absent, and the Prophet and his band were not invited, because they did not own the land. . On Tecnmseh's return, he threatened to kill the chiefs who had signed the treaty. This led to negotiations between this celebrated chief and General Harrison, which only increased their complications. The wily chief sought to stave off open hostility till he could bring all the tribes together, and strike a simultaneous blow in conjunction with the British, as soon as war was declared between England and the United States.

After his last stormy interview with General Harrison, Tecumseh departed for the south, leaving tJie Prophet in charge. That ambitious schemer rushed the Indians into open hostilities, by instigating murders and plundering, until the battle of Tippecanoe, which, although he had told them that the Great Spirit had vouchsafed to him certain victory, terminated disastrously to the savages.

This battle, fought against the express advice of Tecumseh, frustrated his plans for a confederation of all the tribes. The Prophet was in disgrace. Said a Winnebago chief to him : " You are a liar; for you told us that the whites were dead or crazy, when they were all in their senses, and fought like the devil! " He answered by saying there must have been some mistake in the compounding of his decoctiqn. He was reduced to a fac simile of ^sop's braying donkey in the lion's skin. It is related that Tecumseh upbraided him in the most severe terms, and on his offering palliating replies, seized him by the hair, shook him violently, and threatened to take his life.

On Tecnmseh's return, he insolently demanded ammunition at Fort Wayne, which being denied him, he said he would go to his British father, who would not deny him; remained standing thoughtfully a moment, then gave an appalling war-whoop and disappeared.

Meanwhile the affairs between the United States and Great Britain were rapidly approaching a crisis: April, 1812, an embargo was laid by congress on all the shipping in the ports of the United States. An act authorizing the president to detach one hundred thousand militia*for six months was passed, also for organizing a regular army. The same month a requisition was made by the president on Ohio for twelve hundred militia, in obedience to which Governor Meigs issued orders to the major generals of the middle and western divisions of the state for their respective quotas of men, to rendezvous at Dayton April 29th. With an ardor and love of country unsurpassed, many more than were v^^anted tendered their . services, and citizens of the first circles of society flocked in from Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Warren, Fayette, and surrounding counties, literally contending with each other who should go first. The oflicers elected for the three regiments formed were respectively :

On the 25th of May, 1812, they were formally put'under the command of General Hull, governor of the territory and superintendent of Indian afltairs. Speeches were made by Governor Meigs, Colonel Cass, and General Hull, and the fire of patriotism and military ardor burned brightly in every bosom, and all things looked auspicious.

June 1st the army marched up the Miami to Staunton, in Miami County, wdiere they halted until their baggage came up the river in boats; on the arrival of which they continued t^eir march to Urbana, about thirty miles east of Staunton, where, on the 8th, they were informed that they would be reviewed by the governor and some Indian chiefs. At this place Governor Meigs- and General Hull held a council with twelve chiefs of the Shawanoes, Wyandot and Mingo nations, to obtain leave to pass through their territory, which was readily granted, and every facility oflered to aid the progress of the army. It was the humane policy of the government, in diametrical contrast with the contemptible course of Great Britain, to exhort the Indians to neutrality, in order to avoid the horrors of the tomahawk and scalping knife.

On Saturday, September 22d, news reached Dayton that Hull had surrendered at Detroit, August 16th. This created intense excitement and consternation along the frontier counties, and steps were at once taken to organize the militia. There were over forty thousand dollars' worth of public stores at Piqua, and the Indians who had assembled there at the grand council were still hanging around. Hand-bills were distributed, calling upon all able bodied citizens to rendezvous with arms at Dayton, immediately, to march to the relief of the frontiers. On Sunday morning, before seven o'clock, a company of seventy men was raised and under marching orders for Piqua in a few hours, led by Captain James Steele. Before the morrow, seven other companies were raised from the surrounding country, with Captain Caldwell's troop of horse, and Johnston's rifle company from Warren Count}^, which latter, in company with Adams' battalion left on Monday. General Benjamin "Whiteman, of Greene County, marched with nearly a full brigade. By reference to the muster roll, on a subsequent page, in the absence of tangible data, we can see some of the names of those who most likely participated in this campaign. The governor gave General Munger command at Piqua, and had the stores removed to Dayton. The whole country was thoroughly aroused to a sense of the imminent danger that threatened the frontiers. Troops were rapidly pushed forward to resist the expected attack of the English and Indians, led by the infamous Proctor and Tecumseh in the main, whose scattering bands were infesting the isolated settlements. The excitement was intense. All men capable of bearing arms were scouting, or in the army; women and children were huddled together in block-houses. Something must be done with the friendly Indians around the agency at Piqua.

About the 20th of June, 1812, General Harrison held a council with the chiefs of the Delawares, Shawanoes, Wyandots and Senecas, informing them that a crisis had arrived which required all the tribes who had remained neutral, and who were willing to engage in the war, to take a decided stand either for or against the Americans ; that the president desired no false friends ; that the proposal of General Proctor to exchange the Kentucky militia (his prisoners) for the tribes in our friendship, indicated that he had received some intimation of their willingness to take up the tomahawk against the Americans ; and to give the United States proof of their disposition, they must either remove with their families into the interior, or the warriors must fight with him. To the latter condition the chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed, saying they had been awaiting an invitation to fight for the Americans.

Harrison exacted a promise from them to fight as white men, not slay women and children, old men, or defenseless prisoners; for by their conduct would the British power to restrain Indian ferocity be measured.

The general humorously told them that he had been informed that Proctor had promised to deliver him (Harrison) into the hands of Tecumseh, in case he captured him at Fort Meigs, to be treated as that warrior might think proper. " Kow," said he, " If I can capture Proctor, you shall have him for your prisoner, provided you will agree to treat him as a squaw, and put petticoats upon him ; for he who would kill a defenseless prisoner must be a coward."

The subject having been brought before the government, authority was given to enlist them, and the sequel proved that the Indians who fought under the American standard were uniformly distinguished for their orderly and humane conduct. Thus was the agency at Piqua relieved of a wearisome burden, and the indolent warriors utilized, who, by their military discipline, proved the contemptible perfidy and cowardice of Proctor.

It is impossible, in this work, to follow General Harrison, through all his campaigns, to Maiden, Sandwich, Fort Wayne, Detroit, Fort Meigs, until he practically closes the war by his glorious victory at the Thames, followed, July 22, 1814, by a treaty of peace, at Greenville, between the United States, Wj^andots, Delawares, Shawanoes, Senecas, on the one side, and the Miamis, Weas, and Eel Piver Indians, and tribes of Pottawatamies, Ottawas, and Kickapoos, by which all these tribes were to aid the Americans, in case of the continuance of war with England, which, fortunately, was also terminated by the treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814. Treaties were subsequently made with all the surrounding tribes, except the Sacs, of Rock River, who, under the celebrated Black Hawk, refused to attend the treaty, and acknowledged themselves British subjects, and went to Canada for presents. Thus we observe the germ of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, which, being remote, created no serious perturbations in this country. So, likewise, with the Mexican war, though participated in by a few of our citizens.

In the year 1814, either in December or January, Major Samuel Myers, of this county, was employed by the army contractors to superintend the transportation of eight hundred hogs, from Urbana, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Ind. These hogs were bought in Madison and Fayette Counties, the Funk family furnishing the larger portion. John Funk accompanied Major Myers. In the latter part of December, with a guard of twelve soldiers under Ensign Gilmore, a number of cattle and about forty pack-horses, and a few assistants, the party started from Urbana, through the thick forest, to Fort Wayne. Although Indians were plenty they passed on quietly, occasionally stopping to allow the hogs to feed on the abundance of acorns in the forest.

The St. Mary's River, and Shanes Prairie were covered with ice, upon which the hogs and party crossed. The day before reaching their destination, being bright and sUnshiuy, the pack-horses were allowed to crop the tall bear-grass that stuck up above the ice, while Myers, Funk and the soldiers remained, and the hands drove on the hogs. They had not proceeded far, yelling and liallooing at the hogs, until suddenly all was still. The major thinking something was wrong, mounted his horse and rode rapidly towards them. On approaching, he found them all huddled together, pale and trembling with fear. They informedhim, that while driving the hogs, they suddenly beheld about forty Indians, armed, equipped, and in their war paint, sitting on their horses in a line not over a hundred yards from the road, then moving off towards the party in the rear.

The major, after hearing this, put spurs to his horse and galloped back, and ordered the pack-horses and soldiers to come up immediately. The drivers insisted on leaving all the stock in the woods, and rushing to the fort fifteen miles away ; but were ordered to remain until attacked. They then drove on to a favorable place, halted, and threw out a guard of six soldiers, cooked supper, put out the tire, and moved away about three hundred yards, cut beechbrush, laid it on the snow, put their blankets upon it, increased the. number of guards, tied their horses close to their heads, and with their guns in their hands, bivouacked for the night, but not to sleep.

About ten o'clock, at night, a furious snow storm set in, which by midnight fell to the depth of ten inches. Major Myers knowing the Indians would not make an attack in such a storm ordered in the guards.

The sequel proved the truth of his predictions. The night passed undisturbed, and in the morning. Major Myers rode to the fort, then in command of Major Whistler, who sent out a detachment to guard the stock while on the road to the fort.

Prior to this, the celebrated chief, White Pigeon, had been confined a prisoner at the fort, and made his escape two days before the stock was expected to arrive. It was pretty certain that he knew that the stock was on the road. It was, therefore, at once supposed that the Indians led by him, with the intention of attacking the party and capturing the stock. It appears the Indians knowing the strong resistance that would be ottered, and anticipating a re-inforcement and pursuit from the fort, feared to make the attack.

Batteal Harrison At Fort Meigs

The following description of the sortie, from Fort Meigs, in which Batteal Harrison participated, under command of Captain Laugh am, is taken from Howe :

Soon after active operations began around the fort. General W. H. Harrison received word that General Green Clay was near at hand with a re-enforcement of twelve hundred men. The plan was for Clay to descend the river in flatboats ; Clay was to detach eight hundred men, who should be landed on the left bank of the river, where they were to attack the English batteries, spike the cannons and destroy the carriages, then retreat to the fort, while the remainder of the troops were to land on the side next to the fort and cut their way to it through the Indians. When Clay approached the fort, he detached Colonel Dudley to attack the batteries. To divert the attention of the English and Indians, General Harrison ordered Colonel Miller, with his famous Fourth Regulars, to make a sortie on the side of the river on which the fort stood. He attacked the batteries, spiked the cannon, and, though the English outnumbered him, he took about forty prisoners and completely routed them. Colonel Dudley raised the Indian yell and captured the batteries on the opposite side of the river, but, neglecting to spike the cannon, and lingering on the spot, his scouts were fired upon by Indians in ambush. Indians began to swarm around him ; Tecumseh swam across the river and rushed with his savage hordes upon his rear ; Colonel Dudley fell by the tomahawk, and scarcely two hundred out of the eight hundred men reached the fort. The American prisoners were taken to the old Fort Miami, in which they were confined. Here the infamous Proct'or allowed the Indians to butcher the Americans with the tomahawk and scalping-knife, and tor- ture them as their fancy suggested. He is said to have witnessed the massacre of over twenty prisoners in this phice. Teciimseh now made his appearance, ignorant of what was going on inside of the fort. A British otKcer described his conduct, on this occasion, to and American : He said that suddenly a thundering voice was heard, speaking in the Indian tongue; he looked around and saw Tecumseh, riding as fast as his horse could carry him, to a spot where two Indians had an American killing him, Tecumseh sprang from his horse and catching one Indian by the throat and the other by the breast, threw them to the ground. The chief then drew his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and, running between the prisoner and the Indians, brandished the weapons madly and dared any of the hundreds of Indians around him to touch another prisoner. His people seemed much confounded. Tecumseh exclaimed, passionately, " Oh ! what will become of my Indians ! "

He then inquired where General Proctor was, when, suddenl}^ seeing him at a short distance, he demanded of the commander why he had allowed this massacre.

" Sir," said Proctor, "your Indians cannot be commanded." "Begone!" answered the chief, sneeringly, "you are unfit to command ; go and put on petticoats."

Josiah Hunt

During the last war with England a notorious hunter and Indian fighter, by the name of Josiah Hunt, lived in this vicinity. Powerfully built, fearless, and thoroughly versed in woodcraft, he Avas a terror to the Indians. He was a member of Wayne's legion, and participated in the battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794.

In the beginning of the battle, while he was rushing through the tangled net-work of logs, he was fired at by a savage, whom he had scared up in such haste that his aim was harmless, the bullet whizzing through the hair over his right temple, causing a singing in his ear for a long time. The Indian, after firing, took to his heels, and as he ran zigzag. Hunt aimed at a'red stripe along his naked back, fired, and bounding in the air, the redskin expired.

Being an expert hunter, he was employed to supply the oflicers with game, while the army was encamped at Greenville in 1793. Environed by savages, the task was perilous in the extreme. The Indians climbed trees in the vicinity of the fort, and watched the garrison. If one Was observed going out, note was taken of the direction, his path was ambushed, and his scalp rewarded the assassin. To forestall this, Hunt left the fort in the darkness, and once in the woods, "our chances," said he, "were equal."

After leaving the 'fort, he made his way to the vicinity of his next day's hunting, and camped for the night. His plan to keep from freezing was unique. With his tomahawk he would dig a hole about the size and depth of a hat crown. Into this he placed dead white oak bark. Igniting this with flint and steel, he carefully covered it, leaving an air-hole on each side. Spreading bark or brush over this miniature coal-pit, enveloped in his blanket, he sat down with it between his le^s, and slept the sleep of a watchful hunter. When his fire grew low, he would give it a few blows through the ventilators, and it was all right again. In this way, he said, he could niake himself sweat whenever he chose. The snap- ping of a twig aroused him ; and with his hand on his trusty rifle, his keen eye penetrating the silent gloom around, boded no good to the savage intruder, man or beast.

Sitting before our own quiet hearths, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of civilization, we scarce can realize the imminent dangers, privations, and hardships through which our forefathers passed. Alone, amidst the denizens of the wilderness, in a "dreary forest, swarming with enemies, bloodthirsty, crafty, and of horrid barbarity, without a friend or human being to aiford him the least aid, in the depth of winter, the freezing winds moaning through the leafless branches of the tall trees," the howling of the gaunt grey wolf - all conspired to awaken emotions of fear in the bravest heart. There would he sit in his blanket, nodding in his uneasy sleep, scarce distinguishable from surrounding objects, defying the rigors of winter, yet showing no fire; calm, ready, and prompt to engage in mortal combat with any foe, whether Indian, bear, or panther. At daylight he proceeded slowly, and with extreme caution, to look for game, at the same time watching closely for Indians.

AVhen he espied a deer, previous to shooting it he put a bullet in his mouth, with which to reload, which he invariably did immediately after firing. Peering in every direction, he cautiously approached his game, dragged it to a tree, and with his back against it, he would skin awhile, then straighten up and scan his surroundings, to ascertain if the report of his gun had attracted a foe. Satisfied in this direction, he resumed skinning. The breaking of a stick, or the slightest sound, was sufiicient to arouse all his vigilance, and with his trusty rifle firmly grasped, he was ready for any emergency. Having skinned and quartered the animal, the choicest parts were packed in the hide, slung over his shoulder, and carried to the fort. Once while hunting, he suddenly came upon three Indians within easy gun-shot. His position was above them. Unconscious of his presence, they were marching in Indian file, little dreaming of the deadly rifle, whose owner was waiting to get two of them in range. ISTot succeeding in this, and deeming the odds too great otherwise, he allowed them to pass unharmed. Through all his perilous adventures, and constant exposure to danger in all its forms, he passed unscathed, in great part due to constant watchfulness, which seemed to render these faculties almost involuntary.

hunting. At the treaty of Greenville, the Indians inquired for him. and when he made his appearance they crowded around him, and were profuse in their praises and compliments. They seemed to consider him next in greatness to Wayne. " Great man," said the3\ " Captain Hunt great warrior ; good hunting man ; Indian no can kill!" They informed him that often their bravest and most cunning warriors had set out expressly to kill him ; they had often seen him; could recognize him by his dress, especially his cap, which was made of coon skin, with the tail hanging down behind, the front turned up, and ornamented with three brass rings. They knew his mode of making a camp-fire, which excited their admiration. Yet with all the glory of captnring such a noted hunter inciting them, they could never snrprise him, never get within shooting distance without being discovered, and exposed to his unerring rifle. Some years after the war he removed to Indiana, and has never been heard of since.

Effects Of The War Of 1812

Previous to this war the country was thinly settled, vast stretches of forests remaining in primitive luxuriance. The inhospitable woods were the habitation of wolves, wild Indians and panthers, who roamed undisturbed throughout the boundless solitudes; but her beauties were not long hidden. The watchful eye of the daring hunter observed her rich and fertile valleys, sparkling streams, delicious summers and fruitful autumns, and game and range for all, and the sound of the ax was heard on every hand, from the banks of the Ohio to the prairies that skirt the far away Mississippi. Look now abroad, and lo ! the forest, the Indian and his wigwam, his light canoe, and the moccasined hunter have all sunk into the past. The ax of the white man, and the ordinance of 1787 have efl'ected these changes.

Auxiliary to these are : first, the Christian religion, the handmaid of civilization, the bulwark of civil liberty ; secondly, the love of labor - noble and honest labor - ofispring of sober thought, and immunity from evil propensities superinduced by the first. To the combined effects of these two potent agencies, therefore, are we to ascribe the great progress, and the man}- changes that have taken place in our noble county since the first lonely pioneer cleared a spot for his solitary cabin.

Notwithstanding the energy of the pioneers, the country was paralyzed for a time by the war and the consequent reduced circumstances of the people, especially those whom it more immediately afifected, yet we see almost a supernatural recuperation and progression in all directions.

The character of her soil having been made known, the consequence of which was that when the country was entirely free from Indians, and all danger removed by the treaty of Ghent, the hardy and enterprising Virginians and Pennsylvanians, and the unique Yanl^ee, whose inventive and mechanical genius has rendered his name almost a synonymn for these terms, made their appearance in this county. A better combination for the development of a new country could not have been found. The sturdy habits, iron will and agricultural proclivities of the one, impelled by indomitable energy, leveled the forests, converted the barren wilderness into fruitful fields, and shed the light of civilization where darkness and gloom had hitherto reigned supreme, while the ever active, almost ubiquitous mind of the other soon gave birth to the mechanical appliances of civilization.

The Old Muster

As it may be a matter of interest to many to know the military discipline to which the youth of early days were subjected, we devote a page to its explanation.

July 25, 1788, a law was published at Marietta for " regulating and estabHshing the militia," which was confirmed by the territorial legislature, and approved by the governor (St. Clair).

This law provided that all male citizens between the ages of sixteen and fifty, should perfcy-m military duty, be armed with a musket and bayonet, cartridge-box and pouch, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch, one pound of powder and four of lead, priming wire, brush and six flints. -

For the promotion of health, civilization and morality they were required to drill on the first day of each week, at ten a. m., armed and equipped, adjacent to the place of public worship, and at all other times and places as the commander in chief should direct. For failing so to appear on the first of the week, they were fined twenty-five cents; and for failure on the day designated by the commander in chief, fifty cents ; for refusing to do guard duty, one dollar, and for refusing to serve in case of invasion, they were considered guilty of desertion and court martialed.

On the 23d of November, 1788, the governor and judges published a law providing that all who should not furnish arms and accoutrements according to law, after thirty days' neglect, should, for a musket and bayonet, be fined five dimes ; for every pound of powder and four pounds of lead not furnished in fifteen days, two dimes and five cents; for every powder-horn and bullet-pouch, two dimes; for every six flints not provided within ten days, one dime and five cents, and brush not provided within thirt}' days, one dime. They were also to be inspected by the commandant of companies, on the first Sabbath of each month. By a law passed July 2, 1791, all commandants of companies were to drill their men two hours on each last day of the week, and inspect their arms, ammunition, etc.

All who attended the drill on Saturday, were excused from church or drill on Sunday. Also if they attended church, armed and equipped, they were not required to drill on Saturday. Thus the law remained until December 13, 1799, when the whole was revised by the territorial legislature, which fixed the ages at eighteen and forty-five, men were to be armed and equipped in six months, oflicers to have sword or hanger and espontoon (spontoon or pike), arms exempt from execution. It also provided for districting and officering the militia; the commissioned and non-commissioned officers to be drilled by the brigadiers, six days, five hours each, during the year. Company musters once in every two months, except December, January, February and March. Each batalion to muster in the month of April every year, and a muster of the regiment in October. For non-attendance at company muster, one to three dollars; regimental or battalion, one dollar and a half to six dollars.

By act of December 30, 1803, Quakers, Menonites and Tunkers were exempt from military duty on payment of three dollars each year. Privates were allowed twelve months to equip, and fine reduced from one dollar to a dollar and a half. "

February 14, 1809, all laws for organizing, etc. were repealed. Only two company musters a year, in April and September. Battalion once in April and September. Commissioned to meet in August of each year for two days' exercise, according to Steuben's tactics.

February 2, 1813, a bounty of twelve dollars per mouth was allowed soldiers whose term of service had expired, in case they continued until their places could be supplied.

Passing over all the intermediate laws, continually changing the mode of organizing, times of drilling, fines, etc., we finally reach the act of 1844, which declares military duty a failure in so far as the improvement of morals is concerned, and excuses the rank and file from drilling in time of peace, thus verifying the words of Dry den -

" Eaw in fields the rude militia swarms ; Mouths without hands ; maintained at vast expense, In peace a charge, in war a weak defense ; Stout once a month they march a blustering band And ever, but in times of need, at hand."

looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure. At the command of the captain to "stand at ease," the sergeants passed along the line with a bucketfull of whisky, tin cup in hand, to which every man helped himself according to his calibre. The officers were more highly favored.

Then these men sw'elled out w'ith warlike pride, and "set the teeth and stretched the nostrils wdde," and "gave the eye a terrible aspect," and as sable - save the blue coats and brass buttons - knights of old, they pranced upon their pampered steeds, wdth the glitter of the polished saber, the waving white plume, the brilliant sash and flashing epaulet, the proud recipients of many admiring smiles from fair ladies whose sparkling eyes rivaled their own gay uniforms in brilliancy; wdiile the stolid' anti-bellum Quaker, looking on, exclaimed with the sentiment of the frogs, "It may be fun for you, but it is death to us."

We subjoin a few^ of the names given us by J. L. Myers, from the muster-roll of the third company, odd battalion, third brigade, of the militia of the State of Ohio.

Sharp-Shins Or Cut Money

From the abundance of her agricultural products, and especially her live stock, Fayette County, though in her infancy, sent many supplies to the army during its operations in the northwest, in the war of 1812.

The almost impassible condition of the roads rendered transportation towards the north very expensive and difficult, requiring all the assistance that. could be obtained for that purpose. While the snow was on the ground, sleds were used in preference to wagons, for carrying supplies to the St. Marys, thence to be forwarded north by water. A good deal of money was pat in circulation by the sale of army supplies to the government; as many as eight hundred hogs having been furnished at one time, principally from this county. In these transactions the government paid partly in specie, but mainly through the banks in Cincinnati : Miami Exporting Company, Bank of Cincinnati, and John H. Piatts' bank. Piatt was a heavy army contractor, and his notes obtained an extensive circulation during the war.

A noted peculiarity of the money put in use in the Miami and Scioto valleys, previous to and during the war, was what they denominated cut money. This is said to have originated in Kentucky; the object being to keep silver in home circulation, where it was current at par in ordinary business transactions, while it was not receivable in exchange for public lands, or merchandise outside of the county. The Spanish milled dollar, or quarter, was taken to the blacksmith, who, placing it on his anvil, with a cold chisel cut it into two, four, and sometimes five pieces, keeping the fifth for toll, and yet having four quarters remaining. Occasionally it was cut still smaller, its vernacular names being quarters, bits, and tips. Again, you would often hear the term, eleven-penny-bit, and fivepenny-bit; hence, eleven-pence, fip-and-a-bit - undoubtedly taken from the English, and brought into this country by Pennsylva-

The name "sharp-shins" arose from the sharp edges exposed after cutting, not unlike the tibial angle of that unfortunate class who can not boast of adipose tissue, otherwise known as sheep shanks. Sharp-shins could not be carried in the pocket, but a stout leather bag was provided, which confined it until spent for a hunting shirt, or some other useful article. Though metallic in its nature, it did not possess that tendency to burn through the pocket 'of the youth of 1812, as we now so often observe in the modern greenback.

Shortly after the beginning of the war state banks were instituted, shin-plasters became the medium of circulation, and sharpshins took their departure.

Pioneer Girls

Ill drawing a contrast between the past and the present, w^e are led to inquire, What have all the refining intluences of Christianity and civilization done to elevate the standard of the female sex to a higher position of excellence in society? Suppose a youth of eighty years ago should call to pass an hour or so with his lady-love, and find her hair done up in frizzles and frouzles, bangs, spit-curls, gum tragacanth, quince seeds, etc., playing on the piano, or reading the latest novel, while her poor old mother was bending over the wash tub ; conversely, let us suppose a youth of to-day, with his fancy livery turnout, button-hole bouquet, red silk rag dependent from his coat pocket, cigar at an angle of forty-five, in the northeast corner of his mouth, gold-washed chronometer, patent-leather boots, and hair parted on the meridian of his brainless skull, should call to see his inamorata, and find her pulling flax, or in the barn, swingling the same, dressed in linsey, her feet uncramped by side lace, her hair unconfined, " wooed by every wind." The result, in each case, can be imagined by the reader.

The clothes for the pioneer family were manufactured from the raw material ; no muslin, in the first decade of the nineteenth century, supplied the place of home-made linen. The men generally sowed tlie flax, gathered, and broke it, leaving to the women the succeeding steps in its transformation into wearing material, namely, pulling, spreading to water, rolling, taking up, swingling, hackling, spinning, weaving, and making int;p garments. With all this before them, and without that inevitable modern appendage, a hired girl, they kept themselves and their houses neat and tidy ; and when the bride of those days of natural simplicity and hard work, when the hands find plenty to do, and the mind is pure and innocent, leaves the arms of her mother, the ceremonies attendant upon her nuptials were unostentatious, No broadcloth scissor-tailed coat, no stove-pipe beaver, no Alexandre seamless, no flash of the diamond, nor the gauz}^ rccd point lace, nor silks, nor satins, adorned the scene ; but the honest pioneer, in his home-made hunting shirt, buckskin breeches, moccasins on his feet, with dried leaves for stockings, and his big heart full of love, stood by the side of the innocent girl, in her linsey-woolsey frock, guiltless of all "magnolia balm," or " bloom of youth," quince seed, frizzles, etc., except that which nature gave her; for she is nature's child, pure and artless.

Corn Huskings

The modus operandi with corn was for all hands to go into the field, and jerk oft* and throw in heaps till dinner. In the afternoon it was hauled in, and either thrown in heaps or more commonly one long pile. When the crop was all thus gathered, preparations were made for a night's husking. The neighbors for miles around were invited in. Two captains were chosen, who each selected an equal number of assistants. The pile was then divided equally, by placing a pole on the center. If there were two heaps, one captain had first choice of hands, and the other of heaps. When all were ready, "Black Betty" was handed around to get up the proper spirit, and work began in good earnest, the object being to see who could husk out on his side of the dividing line first. After many whifts at old " Black Betty," as the whisky bottle was familiarly called, the victorious party placed the bottle in the hands of the captain, and two stout men would seize him, one by each leg, and amid the shouts of " Hoist the captain ! " lift him up and carry him over to the other party, and with swinging of hats and yells of victory, parade him along the lines of the vanquished buskers. Then old Betty was passed from mouth to mouth until all felt gloriously happy.

"The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter, And ay the rum was growing better ; The souter tauld his queerest stories, The woodman's laugh was ready chorus; Care, mad to see men so happy, E'en drowned himself among the nappy. Kings may be blest, but they were glorious. O'er all the ills o' life victorious."

Game And Hunters

The rich, juicy grass, cool, sparkling springs, in some parts deep forests, pellucid streams, afibrded sustenance and delightful retreats for every species of game, from the fish to the otter, from the squirrel to the conger and bear. The scream of the panther and the squall of the wild cat mingled with the sweet song of the thrush, and the howl of the wolf drowned the sweet notes of the mocking bird, while stolid bruin roamed the woods, with no ear for music save the squealing of the pioneer hog.

The rifle was an inmate of every household, in the use of which our forefathers were very familiar, and were very solicitous in keeping it in perfect working condition. Those who could afford it, kept two rifles, one for large game, carrying about forty to the pound, and a smaller, or squirrel rifle, running from 120 to 140 to the j)ound. The powder flask was made from the horn of an ox, boiled and scraped so thin as to transmit the rays of light; a round block of wood neatly fitted to the bottom, and a plug inserted in the smaller end, with usually a buzzard's quill for a charger.

The territory watered by Deer, Paint, Rattlesnake, Sugar, and Compton creeks, now embraced in the limits of this county, when first settled abounded in all kinds of game, and had been for many years the favorite hunting grounds of the Indians; and long after the white man's cabin was erected they built their camps and followed the old trails over the white man's fences, and through his tilled fields, they struck the trace in the woodlands.

There was an old Indian fort on the bank of Sugar Creek, where the Indians would stop on their route from Fort Clark to Oldtown. Captain Burnett, a Virginian, and settler of 1810, says that parties of them, during their yearly hunts, were in the habit of camping at the old site years after the white man came in, rest awhile, and where sitting around his solitary camp-fire, he reviews the scenes of the past, and in his reveries we seem to hear him bemoan the past as follows : "Our fathers have passed away like vapors from the earth ; bur very history is fading into forgetfiilness, and the places that once knew us will know ns no more forever; our graves have been trodden under foot ; our forests destroyed ; our hunting grounds have disappeared ; Ave have been driven from our native abodes and the sepulchers of our fathers ; hunted like wild beasts about the earth, and with violence and butchering sent down to the grave." In the language of an old warrior: "We are driven back until we can retreat no farther; our hatchets are broken, our bows are snapped, our fires are nearly extinguished ; a little longer, and the white man will cease to persecute us, for we shall cease to exist."

Daniel Grubs, moving from A^irginia to Kentucky, came thence to Fayette, and dwelt on Glaze's Run. The trees around yet bear marks of his presence, and bear, wolf, and deer alike fell before the aim of his deadly rifle.

Edmond Blearage, John Arnold, George and Samuel Viniger, James Stewart, John Hase, David Baldwin, John Gest, and H. H. Harmer, were all men who made a specialty of hunting, and were noted marksmen.

George Roughner, a hater of Indians, and a Virginian by birth, arrived in the Scioto Valley in 1789. His father, while serving under Danmore, in 1774, as a spy, was killed by the Indians, and Rough ner's revenge extended to every exposed Indian. His hunting grounds were on the Paint and Rattlesnake, and he often met, at Cedar Pond and Clifife, the hunters from the Hocking and Kentucky. Finally, a volunteer under General Cass, he was slain by the Indians in 1813.

The Nimrod of old-time hunters was Frederick Berly. The forest was his natural home. He loved solitude, and lived a hermit. A camp frequented by him was on Sugar Creek. From his record, it appears that he had slain sixty bears, ninety-six panthers, one hundred and six wolves, one thousand elk and deer, eleven buftaloes, and ninety-six Indians. His comrades in the chase were Boone, Kenton, Wetzel, and others. At the age of one hundred

A Panther Slain

William Robinson, already mentioned as Fayette's first settler, was surrounded by a multitude of game, and in 1802 killed fifteen bears, three catamounts, fifteen elk, and one hundred deer. He was, on one occasion, hunting upon the head-waters of the Eattlesnake, when a light noise behind him caught his alert ear. Wheeling, he saw at a little distance an enormous panther following his trail. It was the work of a moment to leap behind a large oak at hand, pick his flint, and cock his rifle. A failure to inflict a mortal wound was a prelude to a terrible struggle, and carefully the iron tube was leveled as the beast came near. He fired, and as the ball struck the center of its head, the panther fell lifeless to the ground. Its length was eleven feet, its height thirty inches.

Pot-Hunting

The grass on the prairies growing as high as a man, and the many creeks and pools in the country supplying plenty of food and drink, made the lands of Fayette to abound in game. The number of deer slain seems incredibly large. In the winter of 1815-16 there fell a snow of sixteen inches, followed by rain, which froze and formed a crust, on which boys and dogs could travel, but which broke through beneath the deer. Every one turned deer hunter, and- venison was peddled in Washington by the settlers at six cents a saddle, or two saddles for a pound of lead or quarter pound of powder.

Wild turkeys abounded in the county till 1830. Their meat was Mdiolesome, and preferred to bear or deer. They have been killed of twenty pounds weight.

Wolves are dangerous only when famishing. They had here abundant food, and were never known to make an attack. The last wolf was killed in 1848, on the waters of Sugar Creek, by Daniel Carmaen.

Hogs ran at large, and multiplied marvelously. Hordes of them infested the woods. They had long tushes, long and sharp head and nose, and when aroused to anger were more to be dreaded than any beast of the forest. They were swift of foot, and ran like hounds. Their favorite resort was on the banks of Sugar Creek, where their nests were made in the jungles.

The Old School House

During the initial steps toward educational advancement in this county, the facilities for literarj' attainments were not so varied as are thrown around the youth of to-day.

Following our cicerone along a blazed path through the woods to the old log school house; rapping, a voice from the far interior says, " Come in." We pull the latch-string, enter, and at the request of the " master," settle down upon a puncheon bench, the cynosure of all eyes. The first thing we observe is that nearly the whole end of the house is occupied by a fire-place, within whose capacious depths the crackling blaze sends forth light, heat, and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look - not through French plate, but a hole, made by sawing out a log and replacing it with paper greased with lard. Our attention is recalled by a shrill voice : " Master, mayn't I git drink ? " The urchin goes to the bucket, setting on a bench near the door, takes the tin from the accustomed peg, dips it full, drinks a few sups, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, looks around awhile, goes back to his seat, and with his dog's-eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study.

We observe the benches are made out of flat rails and puncheons, with wooden pins in them for legs ; backs they have none. The "master" has a table made by driving pins in the wall, and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window a similar contrivance accommodates the scholars.

While examining these unique writing-desks, we are again startled by a sharp cry, apparently in agony : " Master, please mayn't I go out? " Consent is given, and the bo}^ hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a crooked stick and carry it out with him.^ Our curiosity is excited, and while the "master's" back is turned, we ask a big, white-headed boy near us what it is for, who, opening his mouth wide, and staring at us in blank

As incentives to close application to study, we observe a rule of about a pound in weight, and a formidable-looking beechen rod, whose acquaintance every boy in school has long ago formed.

Dilworth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book, and the Testament, were the text books. It seemed to be an expressly settled fact, that during a recitation a boy could get up a better spirit of inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows; and in the spelling class, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand head. It was interesting to see the boys at the end of the bench standing on tiptoe, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say " noon," in order to get out first and raise the biggest yell.

Early Mails

Postal facilities in early days were not so varied as at present. Letters at that time, on account of the difficulty of transmitting them, and their consequent scarcity, were of vastly more significance than at present, and to become the favored recipient of one mail a day was truly enviable.

The stamped envelope had not been invented, and such a thing as delicately tinted, highly perfumed note paper was altogether unknown to the most fastidious youth of the land.

The letter was simply folded in such a manner as not to come open, and the address written upon the blank page. The necessity of mucilage was not known, as a wafer or red sealing-wax answered every purpose. In order to transmit this primitive missive over the country, it was necessary to pay the United States a revenue of twenty-five cents. Once every two weeks the blowing of a tin horn announced the arrival of a dilapidated horse and rider, with a dyspeptic mail bag, containing the semi-monthly news.

The sack was take from the saddle, where it had served as a cushion, by the mail-carrier, who looked over the anxious gaping crowd with that stolid indifi^erence born of long habit. While the contents of the sack were being distributed, after which, with a few additional letters, he moved on his beat. Such then were the postal facilities,

Now, a three cent postage stamp will send a letter from ocean to ocean, or the telegraph transmit a»message, with lightning speed, far across the ocean, to all the nations of the globe.

Pigeon Roosts

Beginning at the of Sugar Creek, and extending down both banks of Paint Creek, about one and one-half miles, was a dense grove of cedar trees, known throughout the country as the '< Cedar Hole."

At these roosts the pigeons congregated to breed, and in some cases one tree would contain a hundred nests. The noise at night caused by the continual fluttering of birds and the cracking of over-loaded branches could be heard for quite a distance, and each morning, it is said, the ground was strewn with dead and wounded birds, so that the pioneers in the vicinity were bountifully supplied with pigeons without gun or club.

Samuel, John and Frank Waddle, Henry Snyder, William Blair and sons, Frank McLaughlin, Jack Daugherty, and indeed all the neighborhood for miles around, visited this spot at night, arriving about sunset as the pigeons began to come in. It is said that the noise created by their arrival was almost equal to the roar of a cataract, continuing for two or three hours, until they became so far settled down as the breaking limbs would permit, when they knocked them ofl' the trees, wrung ofl' their heads and turned them over to the housewife, who soon converted them into delicious pot-pie, roast, etc.

On the 15th day of April, 1803, the general assembly of the State of Ohio, passed an act establishing the judiciary system of that time. It determined that the supreme court of the state should consist of three judges chosen in the manner directed in the constitution, that is, they were to be appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly ; and they were to hold their office for the term of seven years, "if so long they behave well." This court was declared to have original jurisdiction in all civil cases, both in law and equity, where the title of land was in question, or where the sum in dispute exceeded the value of one thousand dollars. It had exclusive cognizance of all criminal causes where the punishment was capital ; and of all other crimes and offenses not cognizant by a single justice of the peace ; it had cognizance concurrent with the court of conmion pleas.

By this act, also, tha state was divided into circuits, of which the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Warren and Clermont comprised the first district. A president of the court of common pleas was to be appointed in each circuit, in the same manner that the supreme judges received their appointment. The president, together with three associate judges, appointed in a similar way, for each county in the state, constituted the court of common pleas for such count3\

Courts And Court Houses

It is said that the first court in the county was held in the cabin of John Devault, a little north of the present site of Bloomingburg, presided over by Judge John Thomson. It appears that chairs were a scarce article and Mrs. Devault's bed was pressed into service by his honor, for which he received a severe Caudle lecture from the old lady. Sometimes a stable, and again the adjoining hazel thicket accommodated the grand jury in its sittings. Judge

Thomson is described as a man of Puritanical morality, and distinguished himself by the long and tedious moral lectures he invariably delivered in open court to culprits tried before him. To such an extent did he indulge this practice, and so severely did he lash them, that his lectures were much more dreaded than the sentence of the law.

It is quite difficult to reconcile the date and locality at which the first courts in the town of Washington were held. Time has tainted the credibility of contemporary sources, but in the absence of direct or presumptive evidence to the contrary, theauthority of Judge McLain and William Robinson seems to be the most satisfactory.

In about the year 1811 a double round-log cabin was standing on the corner of Court and Main streets, fronting on Court, on the site now occupied by Brownell's grocery and Willit's gallery. This cabin consisted of two independent rooms, probably ten or twelve feet apart, with the roof meeting in the center and covering the space between. In the room nearest Main, the first court in Washington was held, in about the year 1812. While the jury retired to the hazel brush which grew thickly near, to hold their deliberations, and whenever the presence of the sherift" or prosecuting attorney were needed, their names were loudly proclaimed from the thicket. It is stated that while justice was solemnly dispensed in one room, whisky was as hilariously sold by the owner of the cabin, Valentine Coil, in the adjoining room.

We have no means of knowing just how many terms of court were held in this cabin, but it appears that the court house was ready for occupancy at least as early as the spring of 1814; also that court was held in the cabin during the latter part of the year

1812, and by good authority it is stated that court was held in the Coil cabin a much longer period than elsewhere, we conclude that it served as a court house from 1812 till about the latter part of

1813, then was removed to the Melvin (now Vandeman) corner, and shortly afterwards to the corner now occupied by Brown & Brothers' drug store, and from here to the

First Court House

Valentine, or "Felty" Coil, while but two years old, was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada, where he learned to make brick. Coming to this county in its infancy he found use for his

Early in 1813, excavations were made on the site of the present court house and the clay taken out was burnt into brick by Coil and used in the building, which was completed and occupied as early as March, 1814. This building was about the same size and shape as the present main building minus the wings.

The windows were composed of twenty-four lights, each ten by twelve. The cupola was different from the present, in that it had no base, or at least a very small one.

Its location was about twenty feet west of the alley, and twenty feet back from Court Street. While it seems that the building was in the main finished and occupied in 1814, yet it is stated that two men, by the names of Life and Burnett, finished the cupola in 1815. It cannot be ascertained who built the house, but it is known that Jacob Kelley and Silas Young, in addition to "Felty" Coil, were brick-makers and brick-layers, and resided in Washington at the time.

Court was then removed to a little brick oflice, then occupied by Judge Wade Loofborough, situated in the rear of the present office of Dr. Saulsberry, in the BroAvnell grocery building. From here it was next removed to the house now owned by Mrs. R. A. Robison, junior, where it was held until the new court house was built.

New Court House

On the first day of February, 1828, the board of commissioners, then consisting of Jacob Jamison, Thomas Burnett and Matthew Jones, met for the purpose of entering into negotiations for the erection of a new court house. Together with other citizens, the brick walls of the old building, yet remaining, were examined, and after consulting mechanics and masons, the board decided that they were not worth repairing. On the following day, after "mature reflection," the board agreed to build a new court house, with fire proof offices attached for the clerk of the court, recorder and auditor.

plan for the new building, and the auditor was ordered to give notice that the commissioners would meet on the fifth c^ay of March, following, to receive bids for the building of the new court house. The auditor was also authorized to sell the brick in the old walls to the highest and "best" bidder.

On the 23d day of February, the board met to select a location for the new house, which resulted in their choosing the southeast corner of the public square, the main building and offices fronting on Court and Main streets.

It was ordered that a draft be made of the contemplated structure, the main building to be forty feet square, with a wing thirty feet long and fourteen feet wide attached, facing each street.

On the day appointed, March 5th, the board met to receive the bids and award the contract, which resulted in awarding the contract for the erection of the house to Thomas Laughead, of Ross County, for one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars and ninety cents, and the carpenter work of the same to John Harbison, of Greene County, for one thousand three hundred and seventy-two dollars and forty cents.

March 4, 1829, one year after the awarding of the above contracts, the house was ready for the inside work, the contract for which was awarded to John Harbison, for six hundred and eightynine dollars and sixty-seven cents.

The floor of the lower story was to be laid of white or burr-oak, one and a half inches thick and seven inches wide. The upper, of yellow poplar. A washboard of good seasoned walnut, one and a cpiarter inches thick and eight inches wide, surrounding the floor of the lower story. The fire-places were to be made of brick, with brick hearth. Also a handsome chair-board of walnut around the lower story. In the smallest office on Court Street, there were to be three plain fire-boards in the lower floor.

At the same time the contract for plastering was given to Silas Young, who undertook to do it for three hundred and twenty-nine dollars, and on December 8th, same year, the work was completed, examined by the commissioners aud accepted, and the key delivered to I^orman F. Jones, who was appointed to take charge of the building, and enjoined not to open it for any purpose except during the sessions of court, without the consent of the board.

June 29, same year, Jesse Milliken and Wade Loofborough were appointed to make out a draft of the repairs needed for jury-box and necessaries for court and bar, not to cost more than fifty dollars, and the auditor was authorized to employ a suitable person to do the work.

Januar}' 30, 1836, the auditor was authorized to cause a sufficient quantit}'^ of clay to be so placed at the southwest corner of the court house as to turn the water from the same, and prevent the foundation from being undermined.

April 4, 1844, a description of an oflice for county auditor, and treasurer, was made public, which were to be built on Court Street, thirty feet long, fourteen feet wide, nine and one-half feet ceiling, three windows in front, two in the rear, and one door in the northeast corner. The contract, for which, M^as sold to William Harfor, for one hundred and fifty dollars ; R. J. Freeman doing the carpenter work for'one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

March 4, 1846, a description of the repairs to the court house was made public, and the contract for the same, awarded to Benjamin A. Crone, at four hundred and ninety-six dollars; the inside to be finished July 10th, and the outside September 1st.

These repairs were as follows : Four girders, 9x12 inches, were to be placed across the building, resting on the stone pillars, in the center, upon which a floor of oak plank, one and one-half inches thick, by eight inches wide, was to be laid. The doors and windows to be repaired so as to fit tight, walls plastered and whitewashed, new panel durable doors for the front entrance ; the outside walls of the court-room, and fronts of the offices, on Main Street, to be stained with a solution of Venetian red and lime ; four air holes 9x9, on Main Street, four on Paint, and two on each side of the rear, immediately under the floor. A new floor in the cupola ; windows and cornice to be painted with three coats of white lead and oil; new blinds, etc. ; lightning-rod to be raised; judges seat raised three steps above the bar, and with the clerk's seat and desks

On the 29th day of August, the work was examined and all accepted, but blinds and lightning-rod, which were not complete. They also allowed the contractor two hundred and fifty-six dollars ; the same amount having been previously allowed. Twenty-one dollars and seventy-five cents was allowed for extra work.

December 30, 1848, notice was given that an addition would be made on the northwest side, twelve feet wide in the clear, by thirty long; foundation of good stone sunk in the ground eighteen inches, six inches above the surface and eighteen inches thick, the balance of the wall of good brick, thirteen inches and eight feet high in the clear, the whole to be finished in good order July 1, 1849 ; the contract for which was awarded to Nelson H. Reid and James Grubb, for two hundred and forty-nine dollars and seventyfive cents.

In 1851, March 5th, the auditor caused a small gate to be put up between his oflice and Grubb's store ; also a case for books and papers in his oflice, and to contract with some one to take the steeple ofl" the court house, just above the dome, and cover it "Cvith tin or zink, and repair the lightning-rod.

The first jail built at Washington, was located near the present one, about sixty feet from Main Street, and about" thirty feet southeast of the alley running along the northwest side of the old public square. It consisted of two square pens, one inside the other, the intervening space of perhaps one foot between the walls being filled in with stone, the outer wall being about twenty-four feet square. It was built of hewed logs, was two stories high, and was erected about 1811 or 1812. At the east corner a door opened itito a hall-way, about six feet wide, that extended along the northeast side of the building to the north corner. About five or six feet from the entrance to this hall, a stairway led to the " debtor's room" above, where the impecunious delinquent expiated the terrible crime of being too poor to meet his financial engagements, thereby vindicating the " majesty" of the law - the relic of English barbarism - that thus confined him. The room below was about 12x18 feet, and was called the "criminal" cell, or dungeon. This jail was burned, in 1823, by an incendiary; and the sherifif's dwelling, a small frame structure contiguous to the jail, was also destroyed at the same time, with all the household effects of Sherifi:' liobinson, save a deer-hide trunk, containing some of the clothing belonging to his deceased wife.

In 1825 a new jail was built on the same square, a little nearer the alley, and also closer to Main Street. This was a two-story brick building, twenty-five feet square, and was arranged inside similar to the old log jail. The walls of this jail were only thirteen inches thick, and several prisoners escaped while it was in use.

On the 9th day of December, 1835, the auditor was ordered to ofifer the old jail for sale on the 15th of the following June, except such materials as the board might reserve.

by reason of a lack of funds, the old jail sliould be repaired instead of building a new one. New walls of brick were to be built, the same height as the old ones, also one dungeon and one prison room, and the whole building to undergo general repairs; the contract for which was let to Benjamin A. Crone, for $350. On the 27th of the following August the work was reported completed.

March 7, 1838, James Fenton was ordered by the board to employ suitable hands to repair the jail, and make it strong and secure, on as " reasonable a condition as possible."

This jail was used until September 16, 1839, when public notice was given that a new jail was to be built, located on the public square, forty-four feet front, thirty-live feet back, and two stories high, with all the necessary cells and other fixtures for the confinement and accommodation of prisoners, all of which work was to be done by Edward Lamme, for $4,700, who entered into bond for the faithful performance of the same. After the walls were up the carpenter work was begun by Benjamin A. Crone, who was to complete the same for $1,000.

September 28, 1840, Edward Lamme, contractor, received permission to make an alteration in the gable end of the jail, and agreed to deduct twenty dollars from the original contract. He received one thousand dollars on the 1st of January, 1841, as part payment for the work performed. Thomas Holland, the contractor for the cai'penter work, on the 7th of June, 1841, was allowed two hundred dollars, part payment, on his contract. July 19th, and 21st respectively, Lamme was paid four hundred dollars, and two hundred dollars additional.

On the 25th of August, 1841, the commissioners after a careful examination of the masonry of the new jail accepted it, the contractor being paid eleven dollars and sixty-seven cents in full, on the last payment. Two days later, the carpenter work was examined and pronounced satisfactory, and executed according to contract, except the roof, for a defect in which a deduction of one hundred and fifteen dollars was made. The contractor was paid two hundred and eighty-five dollars, the full amount due him. On the same day the board received the jail and jailor's house from the contractors, and delivered the same to Robert Cissna, sherifl". September 18, 1841, the material of the old jail was sold to Joseph Bell for one hundred and eighty-six dollars.

County Infirmary

The early residents of this state were in the habit of providing for the wants of the poor and destitute in this manner. When application for the keeping of a person in indigent circumstances was made to the township trustees, they bound him for a certain term to the lowest bidder, who was required to give bond for the faithful discharge of his duty - feeding, clothing, and properly caring for his unfortunate charge. Thus were the poor well cared for, but not in accordance with the old abolition idea of the people, who looked with horror on the process of what they termed " selling human beings at auction ;" however, because of the very few who required public aid, the matter could not be remedied.