Fayette County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 2 of those read), 1914 (part 1 of 2)

Geology And Topography

Fayette county is bordered on the north by Madison county, on the east by Pickaway, on the south by Highland and Ross and on the west by Clinton and Greene counties.

The geological formations of Fayette county are very little exposed, being generally covered with alluvial and drift deposits. However, where they are exposed they present a great variety of material, such as imbedded fossils, ores, coal and valuable stone. There are no swift streams. There is a level surface of underlying rock, a superficial covering of deep, black loam, which condition is wonderfully suited to the pursuit of agriculture. In fact, the soil is adapted to ail kinds of growth, including grasses and cereals. The production of good grasses has naturally led to the extensive raising of stock.

Water Courses

There are numerous water courses traversing Fayette county from the northern to the southern boundary, varying but little in direction. These streams are all sluggish in the upper half of their course, but they have adequate fall to constitute a good natural system of drainage. At an early day in the settlement of this part of the country the greater portion of the county was too swampy to admit the use of the plow, but since the streams have been cleared and ditches have been dug, the water is carried away in proportionate quantities to the amount remaining in the soil.

The water courses of the county are singular in their uniformity of direction and tributaries. The main water channels are nearly parallel with each other and they take the same general direction, uniformly to the east of south. This is true of Deer creek, as of Paint creek and its tributaries. There is another peculiar characteristic of the streams, that is, most of the tributaries 'enter the main channels from the west. This proves the county to be a natural water shed from east to south, and that as the lowest land in the county is at the point where the water leaves it, so the highest may be discovered in the region whence it flowed, the northwest.

Paint creek, on the line of the White Oak turnpike; Compton's creek, on the line of the New Holland and Bloomingburg turnpike, is fifty feet higher than the North fork and East fork is eighty-seven feet higher than North fork and main point one hundred and four feet higher than the same stream.

Land Elevation

The rise in the land from Washington to the northern boundary of the county is estimated to be about fifty feet; and from the extreme north to the south along Paint creek the fall reaches almost two hundred and ten feet. Near Greenfield is a point four hundred and fifty-one feet above low water mark at Cincinnati and perhaps seventy-five feet above the bed of the creek at the Fayette county line, the point of Paint creek, where it leaves the county, would be three hundred and seventy-six feet above low water mark at Cincinnati. Add one hundred and sixty feet, the elevation of Washington C. H. above Paint creek, at the southern line of the county, and the elevation of this town above low-water mark of the Ohio river at Cincinnati is about five hundred and thirty-six feet, or nine hundred and sixtyeight feet above tide water. It will appear from these figures that the average elevation of Fayette county is about two hundred feet less than that of Clinton county on the west.

In tracing the line of outcrop of the various formations from a point in the western point of Clinton county, where Todd's fork leaves the county, it is found that the strata of stone at the bottom proceeds to the east. If a well were dug at Washington C. H., it would cut through all the strata found to the west as far as Cincinnati. It would first penetrate the strata overlying those exposed at Rock Mills, and, passing through these, would reach the strata represented at Paint creek, below Rock Mills, and then would reach the stone so abundant on Rattlesnake, from the line of the Washington and Leesburg road to the south. It would next penetrate the waterline building stone of Greenfield and Lexington and, going deeper, would penetrate the great Niagara system, about one hundred and seventy-five feet in depth. The next strata would be the Clinton iron ore and then the stratified stone of this formation about thirty feet in thickness, and then, after cutting through three feet of a ferruginous clay, would reach the Cincinnati group, or blue limestone, and in about one hundred and twenty-five feet would reach the strata which are seen in Todd's fork, where it Rows out of Clinton county.

It has been stated that the av erage level of Fayette county is about two hundred feet lower than that of Clinton county, while numerous formations overlie in Fayette county those found exposed in Clinton county. This is explained by the dip of the strata to the east. The water-line building stone, as seen at Lexington and Greenfield, dips from thirty-five to forty feet per mile to the east, also a little to the north. In fifteen miles the dip would be about six hundred feet; subtracting two hundred feet, the difference in level, there would be left nearly four hundred feet to be made up in Fayette county by additional strata.

While the deposit of sandstone which extends almost from the very border of Fayette county to the south indefinitely and to the east, underlying the coal, was being made, the land to the north was above water, as well as when the deposits above the sandstone were made; at least, whatever material, organic or inorganic, was ever deposited here has long since disappeared. There is some evidence, however, that the slate which immediately underlies the sandstone extended somewhat farther north than the sandstone itself has been found. In Fayette county, near Rock Mills, about one hundred and twenty-five feet above the stream, also on several farms and near the southern line of the county, a slate formation is to be seen capping the highest point of land in the southern half of the county. The material must once have been continuous and may have extended farther than any traces of it are now found.

Throughout these stratas there is evidence of various denuding and eroding agencies, which have tended to wear down the rock and channel it.

The Drift

The old channels became silted up and other accumulations were made subsequent to the period of denudation. The surface of the land sank so as to be beneath the surface of the water. Every indication points to water as the medium by which the deposits were made. Upon the surface of the stone is everywhere found more or less loose material. The study of this material, or drift, makes known the fact that it is composed of clay, with varying proportions of sand and gravel, with occasional rounded blocks ot granite rock, and with the remains of trees and sometimes of other vegetation. The greatest thickness of the drift is in Clinton county, east of the "prairie," where a deposit of over one hundred feet is found. The clays of the drift are both blue and vellow. The blue clay, or, as frequently called, blue mud, is uniformly found, but there is no uniformity in the thickness o: it. It ranges from two to forty feet in depth. It is generally interstratifed with sand and fine gravel, but sometimes no such stratification is seen. Water is found nearly everywhere within a very few feet of the surface of the earth.

There are found, scattered over the county, apparently belonging to the blue clay deposits, many boulders. In the extreme northern part of Fayette boulders weighing from twenty to thirty tons have been discovered.

Gravel And Sand

Mingled with the drift deposits is always found a considerable proportion of gravel and sand, but being scattered throughout the whole masses, - or, at most, showing only a slight tendency to be distinct in strata, more or less mixed with soft material. For many years after the settlement of the county these gravel and sand deposits were not known. The demand for gravel in'road making led to the discovery of their existence, and now there is material in plenty. People have learned where to find it readily. When the currents of water carried away the higher drift deposits, the heavier constituents were left behind. The highest land may be regarded as the lard level at the beginning. There was then a deposit of loose material, some times a hundred feet in thickness above the bedded stone. This material was manifestly deposited from water. The passage of glacier ice also is accountable for these deposits. When the water subsided new lines of drainage appeared, depending upon the physical features of the country. The emergence of the land was gradual and the subsiding water stood for greater or less periods of time at different levels. During the emergence of the solid earth the currents of water carried away some of the material constituting the drift sediment of the former period. These channels of drainage mark the direction of the current. Within these channels the drift deposits were sometimes removed to the bedded rock. The varying force of the currents distributed the material as we now see it. Strong currents carried all before them; the weaker currents just the finer material.

The Niagara stone formation dips too far under the surface in Fayette county to be of use, but the lower Heidelberg group, or water line, on Rattlesnake creek, is about one hundred feet in thickness and is accessible. The exact location where the greatest thickness may be observed is on the Washington and Leesburg road, west of Rattlesnake.

The locality of Rock Mills presents more points of interest to the geologist than any other in Fayette county. There are numerous shale and clav stratas visible here.

County Organization

In order to present the formation and organization of Fayette county properly, it is best to give a sketch of the territory from which it was taken.

On July 27, 1788, Washington county was formed under the territorial government, and included all that part of Ohio east of a line drawn from Cleveland, up the Cuyahoga, down the Tuscarawas; thence west to the road from the Shawanoes town on the Scioto to Sandusky; thence south to and down the Scioto to its mouth.

On January 2, 1790, Hamilton county was organized, embracing the territory between the two Miamis, as far north from the Ohio as the "'standing stone forks' of the Big Miami. On June 22, 1798, it was changed so as to include all that part of Indiana lying between the Greenville treaty line and the western line of Ohio and all that part of Ohio west of the Little Miami, to the lower Shawanoes town on the Scioto, and extending north to the southern line of Wayne.

The county of Wayne, created August 6, 1796, began at the Cuyahoga, ran up that river and down the Tuscarawas to the portage above Fort Lawrence; thence west to the east line of Hamilton; thence west, northerly, to the portage of the Miami and St. Mary's; thence west, northerly, to the portage of the Wabash and Maumee, where Fort Wayne, Indiana, now is, extending to the southern point of Lake Michigan; thence along its western shore to the northwestern part; thence north to the territorial boundary in Lake Superior, and with the said boundary through Lakes Huron, Sinclair and Erie, to the place of beginning.

Ross county was established August 20, 1798, "beginning at the fortysecond-mile tree, on the line of the original grant of land by the United States to the Ohio Company, which line was run by Israel Ludlow." This forty-second-mile tree was forty miles almost due north from Pomeroy, on the Ohio river, and a little distance southwest from Athens, in Athens county. From this point it extended west into the western part of what is now Highland county, about ten miles southwest from Hillsboro; thence north to the southern boundary line of Wayne county, described above; thence east on said line to a point on the present southern boundary line of Wayne county, almost due south from Wooster, and a very little east of the eighty-second meridian west longitude; thence south to the place of beginning. The eighty-second meridian west from Greenwich is perhaps not more than a mile west of the original eastern line of Ross county.

It will be observed that the original east line of Hamilton was the Little Miami. Yet in the description of Wayne we find the words, "thence by a west line to the eastern boundary of Hamilton" ("which is a due north line from the lower Shawanoe town on the Scioto"). Also, that a portion of Hamilton, beginning at the mouth of Eagle creek, was attached to Adams.

Highland county originally began at the twenty-mile tree, due north from the mouth of Elk creek, on the Ohio; ran east twelve miles; then northeast to the eighteen-mile tree from the Scioto, at the intersection of Ross, Clermont and Adams lines; "then to the mouth of the rocky fork of Paint creek; thence up main Paint to the south line of Franklin county (now Pickaway) ; thence with said line west to the east line of Greene county; thence with said line south to the southeast corner of the same; thence with the south line west, to the northeast corner of Clermont (certainly Warren) ; and from the beginning west to the north fork of White Oak creek; then north to the line of Warren county; thence with said line east to corner of Clermont and Warren."

Fayette county was created, from the counties of Ross and Panna on January 19, 1810, the act taking effect March ist. Beginning at the southwest of Pickaway, running north "with the line of said county to the corner of Madison; thence west with said line to the line of Greene county: thence south with Greene county to the southeast corner thereof; thence east five miles; thence south to the line of Highland county; thence east with said line to Paint creek; thence in a straight line to the place of beginning." All the lower portion was taken from Highland and the upper from Ross.

The county was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French soldier of fortune who so nobly assisted the American colonies in their struggle for independence.

Jefferson 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 five 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 township began at Henry Snider's mill, on Sugar creek, thence up said creek with its meanderings to the line of Jefferson, 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 of Lemuel Hand's. Thence to Alexander Beatty's survey 3713; thence north, bearing west to Samuel Edward's, north part survey 660; thence to beginning, including about threefourths 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 there is no means of knowing until March 3, 1828, when its lines are given. Green, at that time, was limited on the north and west by a line beginning at the mouth of Hankin's run on Sugar creek at the lower bend, eastern part survey 626, and running southwest to Samuel Stockey's, a little north and east of Staunton, ene: following very nearly its present limits to the county line.

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 run, the western portion of which was subsequently, March 3, 1849, joined to Concord and the eastern to Perry, thus leaving it in its present shape in 1849.

Wayne township 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 township 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.

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

On March 5, 1845, William Rankin presented a petition to the commissioners for a new tòwnship to be taken from Jefferson and Concord, beginning in the northwest corner of R. Clayborn'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 surveys 942 and 1205, thence west to the beginning, including, as will be seen, the southern point of Jefferson.

On the 2nd day of December, 1845, by petition of Joseph J. Parrott, Jasper township was reduced to her present limits and electors assembled April 7th at the house of John Andrews to elect officers.

The following record gives the dates of the organization of 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 Hankin's run and following the line of Green to the northeast corner of Clinton county, thence northwest to Sugar creek and down to beginning. In 1848 the line was run between Concord and Green, beginning at Hankin's run, thence south thirty-six degrees, twenty-six minutes west, three miles and one hundred and twenty poles, crossing said run to a stake one-half pole on northwest side of a pile of clay, the remains of a chimney of John Draper's house; thence south sixtythree degrees, four minutes west, three miles and one hundred sixty poles, to a road near Jerry McFlay's house, crossing Rattlesnake at forty poles, Lee's creek at two miles and fifty-two poles, thence continuing same course south three degrees, four minutes, west one mile and forty-eight poles, to line of Clinton and Fayette counties, which distance eight miles and fourteen poles is well marked with a hand axe with three hacks on the side. March 3, 1849, this line was so altered as to run from the banks of Sugar creek where the lines of Concord and Green join, thence with the said line to the state road running from Washington to Leesburg, thence north eighty-five degrees, east to Perry township line, thence north with Perry and Green to Sugar creek, thence up the creek to the beginning, which portion was added to Concord for the convenience of schools and working the roads.

Marion township was, in June, 1840, began by a petition signed by the householders of Madison township, praying for a division of the same, so as to form two separate townships. This 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 satisfed 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 township established 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 as Marion township. 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 township. - On the 4th of June, 1844, a petition was presented to the commissioners by N. 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.

On June 4, 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 C. H. to Leesburg crosses Rattlesnake creek, thence on a straight line to Samuel Briggs' mill, near the mouth of Sugar creek, thence down Paint creek to the Highland county line, thence west with said line to Rattlesnake, thence up said creek to the beginning, thus including a part of Wayne and 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.

On 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. Notice was 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.

Early Settlement Indian Inhabitants

In presenting the early history of Fayette county it is necessary to give first a brief account of the first authenticated inhabitants of this portion of Ohio. These were the Indians.

The great Algonquin family, perhaps the largest Indian federation in the United States at that time, were undoubtedly the first of the red men to inhabit Fayette county. There were many tribes composing this organization known as the Algonquins, but in the territory which later comprised Fayette county the Twigtwees, or Twightwees, called by the French Miamis, were the original possessors. It is said that at the time of the visit to them by Christopher Gist, the English agent for the Ohio Land Company, in 1751, they were superior in numbers even to the Huron Iroquois, with whom they were on hostile terms. . Their country extended on the west as far as the Pottawatomie territory, between the Wabash and Illinois rivers. On the north were also the Pottawatomies, who were slowly encroaching upon the Miamis, who, in turn, were gradually extending their territory westward into Ohio and absorbing the land claimed by the Huron Iroquois. According to the best authority, they were the undisputed claimants of the territory of Ohio as far westward as the Scioto river.

The Piankeshaws, or Peanzichias-Miamis, a branch of the Algonquin family, were the men who first lived and hunted in Fayette county. They built their villages along the streams and spent their days hunting in the forest. The Wyandots, long before the coming of the English and the French, had resided in the territory now embraced by Ohio. In 1841-2 they ceded their lands to the United States commissioner, Col. John Johnston, and removed themselves beyond the Missouri. In about 1750 the Shawanoes came from Florida, under Blackhoof, and,.as tenants-at-will of the Wyandots, took possession of the valleys of the Maumee, Scioto, Mad and Miami rivers.

First Surveys

The territory of Virginia, granted by the charters of King James I, was very extensive. Three separate charters were granted and in each the Mississippi river was made the western boundary of the British provinces. Thus restricted, the territory of Virginia included all of that territory occupied by Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, and all of the land northwest of the Ohio river. Other negotiations later restricted this boundary of the Virginia territory, although that state still held on to the Northwest territory, comprising the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and the northern part of Minnesota. In 1779 Virginia opened an office for the sale of her western lands. Violent protest was made by other states and in 1783 Virginia passed an act allowing one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land on the northwest side of the Ohio river to Col. George Rogers Clark and his men, this land to be surveyed. The land embraced in this reservation was in the present state of Indiana and is largely in Clark county. Although this cession was made in 1783 it was not until 1824 that the definite boundary was established, by a decision of the supreme court. These lands were in the nature of bounties.

In the winter of 1787 Major John O'Bannon and Arthur Fox, two Kentucky surveyors, explored this Virginia reservation with the view of making entries as soon as the law would permit. The pioneer surveyor in the district of Fayette county was Nathaniel Massie.

The first portion of land entered within the territory of what is now Fayette county was a part of survey Nos. 243 and 772 in one tract, lying partly in Clinton county, extending in a triangle into Fayette, southwest of No. 6623 in the southwestern part of Concord township. The next is a part of No. 428, extending into the extreme southeastern part of the county, and the first survey lying wholly within the county is No. 463, in the northern and eastern part of what is now Madison township, surveyed for Thomas Overton by John O'Bannon, June 30, 1796; John Hamilton and Joshua Dodson, chain carriers, and Edward Mosby, marker. This tract contained one thousand three hundred and thirty-three and one-third acres and was a part of military warrant No. 44. It was located northwest of the Ohio on Deer creek, a branch of the Scioto, "beginning at three white oaks and an elm, southwest corner to James Currie's survey (471) running east three hundred and twenty poles, crossing Deer creek at one hundred and fortyeight poles to a hickory and two black oaks, southeast corner to Currie, thence south eight, west five hundred and ninety-seven poles, crossing the creek at one hundred and seventy-four poles to a stake, thence north sixteen, east six hundred and fifteen to the beginning."

This land was entered by persons holding land warrants issued by the state of Virginia to her soldiers in the continental army and in the army of Gen. George Rogers Clark. In the majority of cases the original owners did not themselves enter the land, but other parties purchasing them located them. These surveys were numbered in the order in which the tracts of land were entered, the survey taking its number from the entry. Thus it often occurred that a survey with a high number was surveyed long before one with a lower number. Also some surveys have several numbers. Again one entry maybe surveyed into two tracts. Thus entry No. 669, of one thousand acres, was surveyed into tracts, one of six hundred for Daniel Clark and the other of four hundred for James Dougherty, found in the southern part of Wayne township. These were surveyed by Nathaniel Massie, both on the same day, March 13, 1795, returned to the land office, examined and recorded, the former July 3d and the latter July 4th, 1795.

Early Settlers

John Popejoy was one of the first residents of Fayette county. He came to Washington C. H. in 1811, purchased a lot and erected a log cabin He was afterward a justice of the peace. He was a native of Virginia. His death occurred in 1816 or 1817. He was an eccentric character and con ducted his legal business without a docket, simply keeping brief tab on a sheet of paper which he kept in the crevices of his cabin.

Jacob Jamison came to this county several years before its organization. He later purchased land two miles southwest of the village of Washington C. H. He was at one time severely stabbed by one of his neighbors, but finally recovered. He served as justice of the peace, collector, commissioner and associate judge.

Samuel Waddle was a Kentuckian, came to Ross county, this state, and in 1810 came to Fayette, locating on a piece of ground five miles south of Washington C. H. He served in the Indian wars of 1812. In 1814 he purchased seven lots in Washington C. H., for which he paid ten thousand dollars, but at his death the property did not bring one thousand dollars.

John Dewitt was another of the first settlers. He was born in Kentucky and in 1806, accompanied by his uncle and brothers, came to Ross county,

Jesse Rowe left his Virginia home when he was forty years of age and came to Ross county and in 1808 to this county, settling on Wabash creek, seven miles south of Washington C. H., where he purchased about fifteen hundred acres of land.

Thomas Green was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, in the year 1784. In 1808 he came to Ohio with his bride, traveling in a four-horse wagon. They settled in Highland county first and in 1810 removed to Fayette, locating four miles southeast of Washington C. H. on Buckskin. He served as a teamster in the war of 1812.

Col. James Stewart, with his father, came from Maryland in 1807 and bought land in Ross county. In 1810 he came to this county, and located on land adjoining Bloomingburg. In 1812 he was made a colonel of a regiment made up of Fayette county men.

Philip Moor was a Kentuckian by birth and came to this county in 1811, with his wife and nine children, traveling by teams. They crossed the Ohio on rafts at Maysville. Adam Funk, who was a neighbor of Moor's before the latter left Kentucky, purchased for him three hundred acres in Paint township, paying nine hundred dollars for the land. The family took possession on the Ist of April, 1811, about one year after the first court had been held in the same cabin they now occupied, then owned by a Mr. Devault.

James Kirkpatrick and his family left Virginia in 1810 and came overland to the cabin of Solomon Soward, in Jefferson township, where they spent the winter. Upon arriving in this county they stopped at the cabin of Capt. Joseph Parrett and inquired for Soward's cabin. They were informed that it was located about two miles farther, on Paint creek. No road but a bridle path led to the place and they were compelled to leave their wagons behind. The next morning they returned for their goods and found them intact, although the neighborhood was filled with bands of Indians. The redskins were peaceable, but did not like the visits of the white men and soon left the neighborhood.

James Hays was a native of Virginia and came to Kentucky in a very early day. At the beginning of the nineteenth century he came to Pickaway county, Ohio, and in about 1805 to Fayette county. They settled on a twohundred-acre tract in Paint township.

Philip Fent came to this county from Greene county, Tennessee, in 1814, accompanied by his family. He held a military grant of land from the government, but was deprived of it by poor management of his uncle, who had it in charge prior to his arrival. He procured another tract, however, in Jefferson township. He took fifty acres and gave his wagon in exchange.

William Robinson, Sr., a North Carolinian, moved from Virginia in 1801 to Greene county, Ohio. They remained here several years and then came to Fayette county.

Adam Allen was a native of Pennsylvania, but ran away from home at the age of sixteen and enlisted in the Revolutionary War. At the close he went to Kentucky and engaged in running the Upper and Lower Blue Lick Salt Works. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Kyger and came to Clark county, Ohio. During the war of 1812 he started to Fort Wayne to enlist, but hostilities were over before he got there. He next came to Fayette county and "squatted"? on the site of Allentown. He died in 1&51, aged ninety-four.

James Sanderson, a Kentuckian, came to Ohio in 1812 and settled on the Hite survey, No. 1223, consisting of one thousand acres in this county. The family followed an old Indian trace when coming from the Blue Grass state.

Jacob A. Rankin was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1800, and at the age of twelve left his home because of the dissipation of his father and came to Bloomingburg, Fayette county, and was employed by Judge Gillespie as a farm hand.

Henry Strope left Pennsylvania on July 7, 1812, in a covered wagon and came to Chillicothe and in 1814 came to Fayette. He settled on a farm in Marion township.

Gen. Batteal Harrison was a Virginian by birth. He started with his parents for Kentucky while yet a child, but stopped with his aunt at Wheeling owing to the danger from Indians, while his parents went on into Kentucky to find a home. They returned for him in two years, but he refused to leave his aunt and remained with her until he was a man. He recruited a company of men for the War of 1812 and after the war, in 1815, removed to the north fork of Paint creek and settled on a tract of land located by John A. Fulton on a warrant obtained by the services of his father in the Revolutionary War. This tract was in Madison township and consisted of one thousand and forty acres. General Harrison became one of the most prominent men in the county of Fayette. He was an associate judge and served several terms in the Legislature.

The Allens, Ananias and his sons, came from Pennsylvania about 1810 and settled near Bloomingburg, on what was then called the New Purchase, so called because it was the first purchase on the east fork of Paint creek. The Allens all took part in the War of 1812.

Enoch Harvey, with his father, Samuel, and his brother, James, came from Virginia and settled on Deer creek, near Yankeetown, about 1810. The Coons also came from Virginia and, in about 1800, located near the site of the Harveys. They put up four or five small cabins for their accommodation. Albert Ogden was a Virginian; came to this county near 1804 and settled north of Yankeetown. Isaac Dickinson came from Virginia and located near Yankeetown. John Page was a settler of 1804 and a Virginian; he was one of the first justices of the peace of the county. He settled near the Dickinsons.

James McCafferty and his brothers were Virginians and came here about 1804 and settled northwest of Yankeetown. William Morgan came also from the Old Dominion in about 1808 and settled first in Ross county; then located adjoining Samuel Myers', on Duff's fork of Deer creek. Charles White came from Maryland about 1809 or 1810, and settled west of Myers', on Long branch of Deer creek. Thomas Barton, son of Stephen, came from Virginia in 1805 and settled just across Deer creek from Yankeetown. Jesse Stretch came from Pennsylvania in 1804 and located south of Yankeetown. William Sawyer came from Island in 1810 and put up a cabin near that of Stretch. James Rozzell, from Pennsylvania, and Amos Hawkins, from Virginia, came in 1810 and stopped near Yankeetown. Amstead Carder, from Virginia, settled on the Springfield road south of Bloomingburg. He was a son of Sanford Carder, an old Revolutionary soldier, who drew a pension. John McGowen was cook in the War of 1812 in S. Myers' company. ; Two bachelors by the name of George Kyle and Alexander Riley lived together in a cabin near Bloomingburg, but finally quarreled and parted, because one accused the other of being intolerably filthy. Riley subsequently moved to Compton's creek, but cut hay and fed cattle on his farm. He would go in the evening to feed his cattle, crawl into the haystack and remain until morning, feed again and return home. These old bachelors came to the county some time previous to 1810. .

Daniel Hinkle, a tall, swarthy Virginian, was a powerful man and noted for his fighting ability. John and Samuel Herrod were sons-in-law' of Sanford Carder; both came from Virginia, and, about 1808, settled on the west side of Madison township. Thomas Cook came from Maryland in 1808. James Thompson, son-in-law of James Hays, came from Kentucky and settled on a fork of the north fork of Paint creek, which afterwards took his name. George Busic, in 1806, settled on Deer creek, hailing from Virginia. Sol Parker, also a Virginian, settled on the Springfield road in 1808. George Jamison, from Kentucky, settled on Deer creek near the old Indian trace leading to Chillicothe. James Kerr, from Virginia, settled also on the Springfield road. John McIntire, a very early settler, located south of Yankeetown. Gideon Veezey settled early on Paint creek. Mr. Salmon settled on a part of the old Vevay farm. He came from Delaware about 1806.

In the spring of 1811 Joel Wood, Adam Harper and Michael Kerr settled on a tract of land embracing one thousand and thirty-five acres, survey Nos. 5780, 7043 and 6879, lying partly in Paint and partly in Jefferson townships, with Paint creek running through the center. Mr. Wood moved from Pendleton county, Virginia, and, being a man of intelligence, was created one of the first justices of the peace. Mr. Harper came from Ross county, Ohio, and remained about a year, when he returned and his son, Benjamin, took charge of the farm. Mr. Kerr came from Virginia and first settled in Jefferson township. He was a farmer and the father of Col. S. F. Kerr, of Washington C. H.

Thomas McDonald came from Kentucky to Ross county in 1794, with Nathaniel Massie, the early surveyor, and in 1811 removed to Fayette and settled.

In 1810 or 1811 there was a large family of Allens left Pennsylvania and settled in this county. Many of their descendants are still living; Elijah lived near the old Myers place, on the Bloomingburg and Danville pike, about four miles from the former; James and John lived nearer Bloomingburg. There were also George, Davis and Ananias.

Jesse Milliken came from North Carolina and settled in Washington C. H. in 1810. He had little to do with politics and religion, but was a prominent citizen. He was a good surveyor and performed a greater part of the first surveying done in the county. He was a builder of some of the first houses erected in Washington C. H. He was the first postmaster and the first clerk of both the supreme and common pleas courts of Fayette county and held these offices until his death, in August, 1835.

Wade Loofborrow was one of the first citizens and lawyers in the county. He came to Fayette in 1810 from Pennsylvania and beginning his practice continued for a quarter of a century. He was a Democrat.

Thomas McDonald was one of the first settlers in this part of Ohio, built the first cabin in Scioto county, was associated with General Massie and others in laying off the county in surveys. He rendered valuable services as a scout in Wayne's campaign, was a soldier in the War of 1812, the first representative of Fayette county in the Legislature and secured the passage of a bill authorizing the construction of a toll bridge over the creek west of the county: seat in 1816.

Dr. Thomas McGara and family emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1812 to the new town of Washington C. H., in which he was the first physician and where he practiced his profession for many years. He served as an associate judge and represented the county in the Legislature. |

Hamilton Rogers, Sr., and Benjamin Rogers were pioneers from Kentucky in 1810. They entered the woods of Wayne township and set to work making improvements. They continued their labors for years and were leading farmers.

William Harper and family were emigrants from Kentucky to Fayette county in 1808. His daughter was the first lady married in Wayne township. The marriage was in 1810 to Mr. Ellis. Michael Carr, from Virginia, settled in Jefferson township at a nearly date and served in the War of 1812. Peter Eyeman, of Virginia, became a resident of Fayette in the early days of organization.

Henry Snider, father of William, moved into the county in 1809 and, setting stake about four miles south of Washington C. H., on Sugar creek, erected for himself and family a habitation and set about the building of a water mill, which was among the first in the county. He served as associate judge. Peter Snider, a brother, came in 1810.

Judge Jacob Jamieson was a settler from Kentucky upon Deer creek in 1808. He found only a waste of wet lands and timber, but remained. In 1811 he came to within one mile of Washington C. H. and bought land. He was an associate judge, justice of the peace and collector.

Pioneer Life

"Immigrants poured in from different parts, cabins were put up in every direction and women, children and goods tumbled into them. The tide of immigration flowed like water through a breach in the mill dam. Everything was bustle and confusion and all at work that could work. In the midst of all this the mumps and perhaps one or two other diseases prevailed and gave us a seasoning. Our cabin had been raised, covered, part of the cracks chinked and part of the floor laid when we moved in on Christmas day. There had not been a stick cut except in building the cabin. We had intended an inside chimney, for we thought the chimney ought to be in the house. We had a log put across the whole width of the cabin for a mantle. But when the floor was in we found it so low as not to answer and so we removed it.

Here was a great change for our mother and sister as well as. the rest. But particularly my mother; she was reared in a most delicate manner, in and near London, and lived most of her time in comfort. She was now in the wilderness, surrounded by wild beasts, in a cabin with half a floor, no doors, no ceiling overhead, not even a tolerable sign for a fireplace. The light of day and the chilling winds of night passing between every two logs in the building; the cabin so high from the ground that a bear, wolf, panther or any other animal less in size than a cow, could enter without even a squeeze. Such was our situation on Thursday and Thursday night, December 25, 1800, and which was bettered but by very slow degrees. We got the rest of the floor laid in a very few days; the chinking of the cracks went on slowly, but the daubing could not proceed until weather became more suitable, which happened every few days. Doorways were sawed out and steps made of the logs and the chimney was raised up to the middle, but the funnel of sticks and clay was delayed until spring. Our family consisted of my mother, a sister of twenty-two, my brother, near twenty-one and very weakly, and myself, in my eleventh year. Two years afterward Black Jenny followed us, in company with my half-brother, Richard, and his family. She lived two years with us in Ohio and died in the winter of 1803-4.

"In building our cabin it was set to front the north and south, my brother using my father's pocket compass on the occasion. We had no idea of living in a house that did not stand square with the earth itself. This argued our ignorance of the comforts and conveniences of pioneer lite. The position of the house end to the hill necessarily elevated the lower end and the determination of having a north and south door added much to the airiness of the domicile, particularly after the green ash puncheons shrunk so as to have cracks in the floors and doors from one to two inches-wide. At both the doors we had high, unsteady and sometimes icy steps, made by piling up the logs cut out of the wall. We had a window which was the largest spot in the top, bottom or side of the cabin at which the wind could not enter. It was made by sawing out a log, placing sticks across and then by pasting an old newspaper over the hole and applying some hog's lard, we had a kind of glazing which shed a most beautiful and mellow light across the cabin when the sun shone upon it. All other light entered at the door cracks and chimney. Our cabin was twenty-four by eighteen. The west end was occupied by two beds, the center of each side by a door, and here our symmetry had to stop, for on the opposite side of the window, made of clapboards, supported on pins driven in the logs, were our shelves. Upon these shelves my sister displayed in ample order a host of pewter plates, basins, dishes and spoons, scoured and bright. It was none of the newfangled pewter made of lead, but the best London pewter, on which you could hold your meat so as to cut it without slipping and without dulling your knife. But, alas, the days of pewter plates and sharp dinner knives have passed.

"To return to our internal arrangements, a ladder of five rounds occupied the corner near the window. By this, when we got a floor above, we could ascend. Our chimney occupied most of the east end; pots and kettles opposite the window under the shelves; a gun on hooks over the north door, five split bottom chairs, three-legged stools and a small eight-by-ten looking glass, sloped from the wall over a large towel, and a pair of tongs made in Frederick with one shank straight, as the best manufacture of pinchers and blood-blisters, completed our furniture, except a spinning-wheel and such things as were necessary to work. It was absolutely necessary to have threelegged stools, as four legs of anything could not all touch the floor at the same time.

"The completion of our cabin went on slowly. The season was inclement: we were weak-handed and weak-pocketed; in fact, laborers were not to be had. We got our chimney up breast high. Our house never was daubed on the inside, for my sister, who was very nice, would not consent to live right next to the mud. My impression now is, that the windows were not constructed till spring, for until the sticks and clay were put on the

92 FAYETTE COUNTY, OH10. chimney we could possibly have no need for a window, for the flood of light which always poured into the cabin from the fireplace would have extinguished our paper window and rendered it as useless as the moon at noonday. We got a floor laid overhead as soon as possible, perhaps in a month; but when it was laid the reader will readily conceive of its imperviousness to wind or weather, when we mention that it was laid of loose clapboards, split from a red oak, the stump of which may be seen beyond the cabin. That tree grew in the night, and so twisting, that should each board be laid on two diagonally opposite corners, a cat might have shook every board on our ceiling.

"Tt may be well to inform the unlearned reader that clapboards are such lumber as pioneers split with a frow, and resemble barrel staves before they are shaved,. but are split longer, wider and thinner; of such our roof and ceiling were made. Puncheons were plank made by splitting logs to about two and a half or three inches in thickness, and hewing them on one or both sides with the broad-ax; of such our floors, tables and stools were manufactured. The eave-bearers are those end logs which project over to receive the butting-poles, against which the lower tier of clap-boards rest in forming the roof. The trapping is the roof timbers, composing the gable end and the ribs, being those logs upon which the clap-boards rest. The traplogs are those of equal length above the eave bearers, which form the gable ends, and upon which the ribs rest. The weight poles are those small logs laid on the roof. The knees are pieces of heart timber, placed above the butting poles successively, to prevent the weight poles from rolling off.

"The evenings of the first winter did not pass off as pleasantly as evenings afterward. We had raised no tobacco to stem and twist, no corn to shell, no turnips to scrape; we had no tow to spin into rope yarn, nor straw to plait for hats, and we had come so late we could get but few walnuts to crack. We had, however, the Bible, George Fox's Journal, Berkeley's Apology and a number of books, all better than much of the fashionable reading of today, from which, after perusing, the reader finds he has gained nothing. To our stock of books was soon afterward added a borrowed copy of the Pilgrim's Progress, which we read twice through without stopping. The first winter our living was truly scanty and hard; but even this winter had its felicities. We had part of a barrel of flour which we had brought from Fredericktown. Besides this, we had part of a jar of hog's lard brought from old Carolina; not the tasteless stuff which now goes by that name, but pure leaf lard, taken from hogs raised on pine roots and fattened on sweet potatoes and into which, while rendering, were immersed the boughs of the tragrant bay tree, which gave to the lard a rich flavor. Of that flour, short ened with this lard, my sister, every Sunday morning, and at no other time, made short biscuit for breakfast.

"In the ordering of a good Providence the winter was open, but windy. While the wind was of great use in driving the smoke and ashes out of our cabin, it shook terribly the timbers standing almost over us. We had never seen a dangerous looking tree near a dwelling, but here we were surrounded by the tall giants of the forest, waving their boughs and uniting their brows over us, as if in defiance of our disturbing their repose and usurping their long and uncontended pre-emption rights. The beech on the left often shook his bushy head over us as if in absolute disapprobation of our settling there, threatening to crush us if we did not pack up and start. The walnut over the spring branch stood high and straight; no one could tell which way it inclined, but all concluded that if it had a preference it was in favor of quartering on our cabin. We got assistance to cut it down. The axeman doubted his ability to control its direction, by reason that he must cut it almost off before it would fall. He thought by felling the tree in the direction of the reader, alohg near the chimney, and thus favor the little lean it seemed to have, would be the means of saving the cabin. He was successful. These, and all other dangerous trees, were got down without other damage than many frights and frequent desertions of the premises by the family while the trees were being cut. The ash beyond the house crossed the scorf and fell upon the cabin, but without damage.

"The monotony of the time for several of the first years was broken and enlivened by the howl of the wild beasts. The wolves howling around us seemed to mourn their inability to drive us out. The bears, panther and deer seemingly got miffed at our approach, or the partiality of the hunters, and but seldom troubled us. One bag of meal would make a whole family rejoicingly happy and thankful then, when a loaded East Indiaman would not do it now. When spring was fully come, and our little patch of corn, three acres, put in among the beech roots, which at every step contended with the shovel-plow for the right of soil, and held it, too, we enlarged our stock of conveniences. As soon as bark would run (peel off) we could make ropes and bark boxes. These we stood in great need of, as such things as. bureaus, stands, wardrobes, or even barrels, were not to be had. The manner of making rope of linn bark was to cut the bark into strips of convenient length, and water-rot it in the same manner as rotting flax or hemp. When this was done the inside bark would peel off and split up so fine as to make a considerably rough and good-for-but-little rope. Of this, however, we were very glad: We made two kinds of boxes for furniture. One kind was of hickory bark with the outside shaved off. This we would take off all around the tree, the size of which would determine the calibre of our box. Into one end we would place a flat piece or puncheon, cut round to fit into the bark, which stood on end the same as when on the tree. There was little need of hooping, as the strength of the bark would keep that all right. Its shrinkage would make it unsightly in a parlor nowadays, but then they were considered quite an addition to the furniture. A much finer article was of slippery elm bark, shaved smooth, and with the inside out, bent around and sewed together where the ends of the hoop or main bark lapped over. The length of the bark was around the box and inside out. A bottom was made of a piece of the same bark, dried flat, and a lid like that of a common band box, made in the same way. This was the finest furniture in the ladies' dressing room and then, as now, with the finest furniture, the lapped or sewed side was turned to the wall and the prettiest part to the specator. They were usually made oval and while he bark was green were easily ornamented with drawing of birds, trees, etc., agreeable to the taste and skill of the fair manufacturer. As we belonged to the Society of Friends it may be presumed that our band hoxes were not thus ornamented.

"We settled on beech land, which took much labor to clear. We could do no better than to clear out the smaller stuff, and burn the brush, etc., around the beeches, which, in spite of the girdling and burning which we could do to them, would leaf out the first year and often a little the second. The land, however, was very rich and would bring better corn than might be expected. We had to tend it with the hoe; that is, to chop down the nettles, the water-weed, and the touch-me-not. Grass, coreless, lamb's quarter and Spanish needles were reserved to pester the better prepared farmer.

"We cleared a small turnip patch, which we got in about the roth of August. We sowed in timothy seed, which took well, and the next year we had a little hay besides. The tops and blades were also saved for our horse, cow and two sheep. The turnips were sweet and good, and in the fall we took care to gather walnuts and hickory nuts, which were abundant. These, with the turnips, which we scraped, supplied the place of fruit. I have always been partial to scraped turnips, and could now beat any three dandies scraping them. Johnny-cake, also, when we had meal to make it, helped to make up our evening's repast. The Sunday morning biscuit had all evaporated, but the loss was partially supplied by the turnips and nuts. Our regular supper was mush and milk, and by the time we had shelled our corn.

stemmed tobacco, and plaited straw to make hats, etc., the mush and milk had seemingly decamped from the neighborhood of our ribs. To relieve this difficulty my brother and I would bake a thin Johnny-cake, part of which we would eat, and leave the rest until morning. At daylight we would eat the balance as we walked from the house to work.

"The methods of eating mush and milk were various. Some would sit around the pot and everyone take therefrom for himself. Some would set . a table and each have his tin cup of milk, and with a pewter spoon take just as much mush from the dish or pot, if it were on the table, as he thought would fill his mouth, then, lowering it into the milk, would take some to wash it down. This method kept the milk cool. Others would mix mush and milk together.

"To get grinding done was a great difficulty, by reason of the scarcity of mills, the freezes in winter, and drouths in summer. We had often to manufacture meal, when we had corn, in any way we could get the corn to pieces. We soaked and pounded it; we shaved it; we planed it; and at the proper season, we grated it. When one of our neighbors got a hand mill, it was thought quite an acquisition to the neighborhood. In after years, when in time of freezing or drouth we could get grinding by waiting for our turn no more than one day and a night at the horse mill, we thought ourselves happy. To save meal, we often made pumpkin bread, in which, when meal was scarce, the pumpkin would so predominate as to render it next to impossible to tell our bread from that article, either by taste, looks, or the amount of nutriment it contained. Salt was five dollars per bushel, and we used none in our corn bread, which we soon liked as well without it. Often has the sweat run into my mouth, which tasted as fresh and flat as distilled water. What meat we had at first was fresh, and but little of that, for had we been hunters we had no time to practice it.

"We had no candles and cared but little about them, except for summer use. In Carolina we had the real fat light wood - not merely pine knots, but the fat, straight pine. This, from the brilliancy of our parlor of winter evenings, might be supposed to put candles, lamps, etc., to blush. In the West we had not this, but my business was to ramble in the woods every morning for the seasoned sticks, or the bark of the shelly hickory, for light. Tis true that our light was not even so good as candles, but we got along without fretting, for we depended more upon the goodness of our eyes than we did upon the brilliancy of the light."

Early Habits And Customs

In the matter of dress and furniture the early pioneer knew nothing but the strictest simplicity. Every bit of food, all the dress and furniture was manufactured and conceived at the home. The men raised their meager crops, hunted the game in the forest, and drew the fish from the streams while the women took care of the children, cooked, and spun the rough clothes of homespun and linsey-woolsey. Animal skins, roughly cured, formed a large part of the dress of the pioneer and the tails of fur-bearing animals often served the purpose of my lady's aigrettes today. Moçcasins formed the chief foot wear, being stuffed with dry leaves or hair in the winter time to keep the feet warm.

Every cabin was fitted with loop-holes, bored at the height of a man's head. Block houses were constructed within a settlement and to these the inhabitants gathered in time of danger from the Indians.

In the early day a wedding was the great social event of the year. It was a signal for everybody to garb themselves in their best and meet, generally, at the cabin of the bride. The use of whiskey by the young men on the way to the wedding, even the groom, was not uncommon; in fact, there was a sport called the "race for the bottle,' when a group of hot-bloods would race their ponies through thickets and over hills and streams for a bottle of rum. The winner got the liquor, but, of course, he had to "treat" the rest when he returned. The marriage ceremony over, the big feast came. All kinds of wild meats, vegetables, etc., loaded the table. Dinner over, dancing began, consisting of reels, jigs and square sets. Later in the evening a crowd of the young girls would assist the bride up the ladder to the room above and see that she was put to bed properly. Later a bunch of young men took the groom and saw to it that he was placed safely by the side of his wife. Then they were left, but not forgotten, for in the progress of the evening's hilarity the bottle, or "Black Betty," as it was called, was passed up to them and they were obliged to partake. [ood in quantities went up the ladder also and it was a serious breach of custom if the young couple did not pretend to eat anyway. The neighbors who were not invited often stole to the corral where the horses were and clipped their manes, foretops and tails in spite.

There was also a custom of "settling" a young married couple. The first day choppers would prepare the logs and clapboards for a new cabin. Puncheons were shaved and sometimes the foundations were laid on the evening of the first day. In the morning of the second day the neighbors collected for the raising of the house. Each man was assigned to a certain _ duty and at a signal the work began, often being completed before nightfall.

Before the young couple were permitted to move into their new home, there had to be a house-warming. This was, in other words, an all-night dance. On the following day the bride and groom were left to themselves.

Thefts were uncommon among the settlers. When one did occur the culprit was usually whipped and ordered to leave the community. Disputes were usually settled by well-refereed fistic contests. Morality was high in the early settlements, an offense being punishable by extreme methods in the hands of the offended family. Tattling in the early day had a remedy which could well be utilized in this day. A tattling woman was given the consent to say as much as she pleased, but nobody believed her. She was said to be harmless and she grew to be sort of an amusement.

Mills And Milling

Agriculture was the first great labor of the pioneer of Fayette county. Hand in hand with this pursuit came the mills. Crude they were at first, but they served their purpose. The block and pestle was the first contrivance for the grinding of the grain. A block of hard wood was selected and, by means of boring, hacking and burning, a depression was made in the block having a capacity of about a pint. A rough pestle was made to fit into this cavity and was worked by hand. The stone mill was the next step.

The first corn-cracker in the county was built by Jacob Coile in 1809 on Sugar creck, in Union township. The Yeargon horse mill was constructed a little later and perhaps the second corn-cracker in the county was put up by Isaiah Pancoast on Deer creek in 1810, about a mile from Waterloo, close to the county line between Fayette and Pickaway. It was made 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 later into 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

These burrs, or stones, were generally made 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 accompanying 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.

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

Before these mills were constructed, Springfield, Clifton and Chillicothe were localities to which the settlers carried their grain to be ground. Several neighbors would go together to make a full load, taking provisions and forage, and make the journey in about ten days. Horse mills were soon established at different points and hand mills were built. The hominy block was another invention of the times; it was made by burning a hole in the end of a block of wood. They pounded the corn in these mortars with a pestle. The mills of early days ground very slowly. The settler went to mill very 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. Thomas Moon, Sr., erected the first flour and saw mill and the first distillery in the county during the year 1810, upon a good site ten miles south of Washington C. H.

A third mill was built during the War of 1812 by. Asa Davis, on main Paint, two miles south of the county seat. A Mr. McDonald built a water mill two miles north of the town in 1850 and later sold to Mr. Stafford. 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 success. Still another water mill was erected in Washington C. H. by Jesse Millikan. The saw mill was in operation in 1817 and a year later a grist mill was operating. Millikan died in 1836 and in about 1840 his son, Curren, applied steam power. A water mill was built on Sugar creek, four miles south of town, with which a distillery was connected. The mill was erected in 1820 by Adam Caylor. There was also a horse mill erected by Mr. Dughan, three miles northwest of Washington C. H., near Big run, prior to 1814. All of these mills were soon superseded by steam and water power.

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 was permitted to keep any tavern or public house of entertainment in any town, county 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 liquor in small quantities.

The taverns of those days were very small, but very hospitable. One room often served as sleeping quarters for all of the guests and the landlord and family, also the domestic animals of the place.

In the beginning of the year 1817, on motion of the common pleas court, William Vaughan was granted a license to keep tavern at his house in Madison township, one year, on complying with the law.

It is said that the first tavern in Fayette county was kept in 1810 by William Harrison, on the then Parin lot, north of the court house, in an old cabin. Another was kept on the Vandeman corner by John Torbin, in 1810 or 1812; Norman Jones, 1811 and 1812; Evans and sons on Court and Fayette streets about 1816.

On December 18, 1817, John Evans and Nicholas Neely received licenses to keep taverns in Washington C. H. 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.

As travel increased and improvements advanced, these unique places of entertainment disappeared and with them a great deal of the old-fashioned hospitality.

Corn Huskings

The festivity of corn husking was one of the most popular in pioneer times. The whole assembly went into the fields and jerked the corn off the stalks, throwing it into a pile until dinner. In the afternoon it was hauled in. When the crop was all 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 in the center. When all was ready "Black Betty" was passed around to get 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 whiffs at the liquor 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 huskers. Then "Old Betty' was again passed from mouth to mouth until all felt gloriously

Hunting

In the early times the rifle was found in every household, in the use of which our forefathers were very familiar and were very careful in keeping it in good working condition. Those who could afford it kept two rifles, one for large game, carrying bullets about forty to the pound, and a smaller, or squirrel rifle, running over one hundred and twenty to the pound. 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 fitted in the bottom and a plug was 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 stuck the trace in the woodlands.

There was an old Indian fort on the banks of Sugar creek, where the red men would stop on their route from Fort Clark to Oldtown. Captain Burnett, a Virginian and settler of 1810, said that parties of them, during their yearly hunt, were in the habit of camping and resting awhile at the old site years after the white man came in.

Among the first hunters of note in this county was Jacob Alloway, whose territory lay along the valleys of Paint and Compton creeks. Daniel Grubs, moving from Virginia to Kentucky, came thence to Fayette and dwelt on Glaze's run. The trees around bore marks for years of his presence. 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 Rupert claimed to have shot in one season one hundred and twenty deer, two bears, wolves, and many of other game. George Roughner, a hater of Indians, and a Virginian by birth, arrived in the Scioto valley in 1789. His father, while serving under Dunmore in 1774 as a spy, was killed by the Indians, so Roughner's revenge extended to every exposed Indian. His hunting grounds were on the Paint and Rattlesnake and he often met, at Cedar Pond and Cliffs, the hunters from the Hocking and Kentucky. Finally, as 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 frequently used 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 buffaloes and ninety-six Indians. His comrades in the chase were Boone, Kenton, Wetzel and others famous in history. At the age of one hundred and one, he died in his cabin on the banks of the Mohican, where a monument was erected to his memory.

William Robinson, Fayette county'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 headwaters of the Rattlesnake, when a light noise behind him caught his 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 barrel of the gun 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 and its height thirty inches.

The number of deer slain in this county in the early days seems incredible. In the winter of 1815-16 there fell a snow of sixteen inches, followed by rain which froze and formed a crust. On this the boys and dogs could travel, but which broke through beneath the deer. Every one turned deer hunter and venison was sold in Washington C. H. 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 wholesome and preferred to bear or deer. Some weighed twenty pounds. Wolves were 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 multi- plied rapidly. 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 resorts were on the banks of Sugar creek, where their nests were made in the jungles. Snakes were numerous. Of 'these were rattlesnakes, black snakes, the garter, the spotted or "cabin" snake and the copperheads. EARLY MAILS.

Postal facilities were not so good in the early days, chiefly because of the difficulty in transmitting the letters. The stamped envelope had not been invented. The letter page was simply folded together securely and the address written. upon the back. Red sealing wax answered the purpose of mucilage. In order to send this letter anywhere it was necessary to pay the sum 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 small mailbag containing the semi-monthly news.

Pigeon Roosts

Beginning at the mouth 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 county as the "Cedar Hole." At these roosts the pigeons congregated to breed and in some cases a single tree would hold one hundred nests. The noise at night caused by the continual fluttering of birds and cracking of overloaded branches could be heard 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. Samuel, John and Frank Waddle, Henry Snyder, William Blair and sons, Frank McLaughlin, Jack Daugherty and all the neighbors for miles around visited the 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 off the trees, wrung off their heads and turned them over to the housewife, who cooked them in many styles.

Sickness

In about the year 1817 a mill was built on the later site of the Milliken mill and a high dam erected, which, during the wet season of the year, backed the water up and overflowed the adjacent lands, and when the rains ceased and the waters dried up, produced great miasma and consequent sickness. In time this grew to an alarming extent and threatened the depopulation of the town. Doctors Hilton and McGara were confident that the cause arose from the stagnant waters of the dam and the proprietors were requested to take it down during the season of low water, from June until September, which was accordingly done in about 1825 and the sickness almost wholly disappeared. It was taken down every year till about 1837, when, through carelessness, it remained up a year or two, and again the fever and ague manifested themselves. The loss of many valuable citizens, among whom was the owner of the mill, Jesse Milliken, rendered prompt action necessary, so the administrator, Curren Milliken, was requested to remove it, but refused; upon which action a number of citizens, among them Z. W. Heagler, Daniel McLain, John C. Eastman, Arthur McArthur, L. D. Willard, David McLain and Peter Wendell, proceeded to the spot with the necessary tools and determined to remove the dam. They were met by the owner, at the head of an equal number, equally as determined that it should remain. The forces met in the center and in the struggle L. D. Willard slid down the slippery bank into the mud and was nearly drowned. Curren Milliken finally proposed to take it down if the other party would leave, to which they responded that they came to tear it down and it should be done. After considerable parleying and high words, Milliken agreed to take it away if they would desist, which being complied with, the central portion was removed and the parties withdrew.

Milliken immediately went before the grand jury and had them all indicted for riot. Whereupon the "criminals" brought an action against Milliken for keeping a public nuisance. The case was decided in their favor and the court decreed that the dam should be completely destroyed. Subsequently a race was constructed and a dam built farther north from the town.

One of the greatest scourges to the early settlers of Fayette county was a disease known as milk-sick or trembles, which not only affected cattle, sheep, hogs, horses and dogs, but the human family as well. Human beings and stock would often be infected with the disease without any symptoms manifested until brought into activity by certain conditions, when it would suddenly develop itself with rapid and fatal effects. Stock driven until heated would become sick of the disease if it had fastened upon them. Persons, therefore, who wished to purchase stock, either for trade, service or butchering, took means to heat them up previously. According to the symptoms it was given various names, such as sick stomach, swamp sickness, fires, slows, stiff joints, puking fever, river sickness, etc. Vomiting, purging, extreme nervous agitation, constipation, low temperature of body, dry tongue and skin, were some of the symptoms. Many theories were advanced as to its origin. Some claimed that it was caused by lead held in solution by water; some, that it was a weed, while others contended that it was a malarial epidemic. Among the first remembered cases of death was that of a Mr. Dawson, who died in 1816. His wife had been sick with it and finally died. After this Mr. Dawson prepared to return to his home in Virginia and on his way stopped at Harrison's tavern in Washington C. H., where he sickened and died. As late as 1879 a case of death from this malady was reported.

The early history of Fayette county is full of incidents of daring and endurance. Edward Smith, Sr., entered lands on the banks of Paint creek, known as the East fork, in the year 1810. He found his entry covered with trees. A wigwam served as shelter by night. He made the accustomed opening for a borderer, clearing up enough land for the starting of a crop. The news of war declared caused him to lay aside the axe and take up his rifle. Peace came and he returned to his home. One night, returning from the county seat, he found the creek very high, but rode in fearlessly, was thrown from his horse and drowned.

Thomas Moon, Sr., arrived in Green township, Fayette county, in 1810, from Virginia. He was accompanied by his family of nine children and settled on Rattlesnake creek, upon the dividing ridge. Finding a fine mill site, he erected there the first grist mill, saw mill and distillery in the county. Isaiah Pancoast, from Pennsylvania, removed to Fayette in 1810 and settled on the west bank of Deer creek. He built a large log house, which had all rooms in one. Opposite the house on the other bank of the stream was a camp of Indians. The squaws often came over with venison to exchange for meal. The Indians, having killed deer, threw the carcasses into the stream above their camp and the watchful squaws pulled them out when they had floated down. Pancoast passed the first season in a shelter made of wagon covers stretched on poles, while he gave his chief attention to the planting and raising of seven acres of corn. The daily fare was corn meal and game from the woods. Wolves ran in large bands and the sheep had to be penned at night for safety. Trading was done at Chillicothe. At this time there were no settlements between Waterloo and Washington. The Indians moved and left a pig behind. The animal came to Pancoast, who penned it and in time it grew into a large porker. One day an Indian of the party called at the house, was shown the pig, and told to do as he pleased with it. He killed and dressed it, cut it in halves, and left one to Pancoast.

A Hermit

Wild and lonely as were the forest wilds, distant and inaccessible as were the various improvements, yet here, in the solemn silence of the wilderness upon the west bank of Compton creek, dwelt a bold and fearless hunter. In 1803 he came hither and built himself a cabin. He lined the interior with skins of elk, bear and deer and made his garments from dressed deerskins." He owned many horses and cattle and when crowded by settlers and stinted in game went westward for more room. He had seen service in Dunmore's campaign, had served in 1776, and, according to rumor, was killed in the Black Hawk war of 1832. This hermit's name was Nathan Hathaway.

In the early days it was thought that liquor was indispensable upon public occasions of any kind or any social gathering. Liquor was thought to be pure and harmless. The still of Solomon Sowards, started in 1824, eight miles northwest from the county seat, seemed a great convenience to the settlers. The customer brought his corn, had it ground, and exchanged the meal for whiskey, or had his-own meal stilled in the copper still, on shares. On the occasion of an election for representative in 1823 parties were sent to Caylor's distillery for a barrel of whiskey, which was opened for general use in Washington C. H. ; tin cups were filled and emptied and by night there was a general drunk. Such scenes were not uncommon. In almost every settlement these copper stills were found, and corn, rye and peaches supplied material for strong drink. The last still was erected in 1855, in Washington C. H., on the later side of the woolen mill. The last copper still had been in operation for a number of years on the farm of Joseph Orr, and was finally sold as junk to J. W. Heagler, then a dealer in hardware and later recorder. Heagler sent it to Columbus in 1849 and so ended the manufacture of whisky in Fayette.

In those early days whiskey was sold as they hand letters from a postoffice. The bar was closed except a pigeon-hole, through which the customer received his stimulant. One would step to the hole and ask for a gill, halfpint or pint, these amounts being held by bottles behind the bar. The bottle was handed through and with a pitcher of water and glasses the liquor was consumed, the bottle returned, refilled, and ready for another. A gill cost

County Government

Counties, like states and nations, have a form of government peculiar to themselves. Counties have rights that the state does not presume to intrude upon; states have rights that the Constitution of the republic does not interfere with, providing such supposed rights, or legal enactments, do not conflict with the rights of other commonwealths. The voters of a county are supposed to dictate the policy of their section, under certain general forms and restrictions of the state, and thus it is up to the people of a county to govern themselves in a local sense. Some counties in our state have had excellent systems, others have been questionable. Fayette county has been as progressive, with the changes of time, as any county in the state. Her system of keeping accounts has varied with the decades, but at present is provided with a safe and correct method of bookkeeping. For the most part, the people have elected good men to official positions, and when another type have occasionally gotten into county office, they have been discarded as soon as possible.

It will be the aim in this chapter to record some of the most important transactions in governmental affairs, such as the acts of the board of county commissioners, the various institutions, care for the poor, the building of court houses, jails, highways, etc. There will also be appended a list of county and state officials, showing who have been at the head of different departments here during the last century. It will be seen by the chapter on "Organization" how the machinery of county government was first set in motion and by what persons it was managed.

Unfortunately, the first court house, with most of the records of the county for its first eighteen years, were totally destroyed by fire in 1828, hence much concerning the first acts of the first set of county official has forever been lost, save what is presented by tradition:

The county has been unfortunate in having had three treasury robberies, one under J. S. Bereman, treasurer, at an early day, when five thousand dol- lars was stolen by safe-breakers: a second entry of the county safe was under Treasurer Robert Stewart, when about the same amount was taken and never recovered. Again, under Treasurer A. E. Silcott, in February, 1864, the safe was entered by a false key and four thousand seven hundred and forty-three dollars stolen and this was never recovered. At the last robbery, it was discovered that in his hurry to get away the burglar left his false key in the lock of the safe, and it was shown by other circumstances that the robbery had probably been committed by parties connected with the former robbery, who had evidently preserved and used the same key to enter the safe with. Then the county authorities secured a modern combination lock, since which time there has been no money unlawfully taken from the safe of the treasurer.

The county fathers nearly a hundred years ago were not spendthrifts, but cut bills where they could, and were satisfied with simply what was absolutely necessary to carry on the county government. As examples, the following is quoted from the records of James Henton, as published in the Herald of May, 1834, which runs as follows:

Among the listed contingent items was that of Samuel Lydy, who was paid ninety-nine dollars for "publishing list of forfeited lands, expenditures, and notices, in 1833," and he was also paid fifty-seven dollars "for publishing delinquent lands in 1833, and notice to school clerks." Three dollars and sixty cents were paid for pasteboard, chair, etc., for use in the auditor's office. It will be seen that the amount of stationery and furniture required in the county offices then was not in excess of what it should have been.

The account of Treasurer Benjamin Henton shows the total receipts for that year to have been $8,845.19, including a balance on hand at the previous June settlement, which was $1,368.72. The total disbursements for that year were $6,983.88, leaving a balance in the treasury of $1,801.30. Among the receipts was the item of $50 for tavern licenses in the county for 1833, and also $215 for horse hire. Jesse Millikan was clerk of the courts then and also served as postmaster in Washington, C. H.

The First Court House

Valentine, or "Felty," Coil, while but two years old, was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. Coming to this county in its infancy, he found use for his knowledge in making brick for the first court house and first brick building in the county. Early in 1813 excavations were made on the site of the present court house and the clay taken out was burned into brick by Coil and used in the building, which was completed and occupied as early as March, 1814. The windows were composed of twenty-four lights, each ten by twelve inches. The cupola was similar to that of the second court house, although without a base. The location of the building was about twenty feet west of the alley and twenty feet back from Court street. While it seems that that 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 layérs and resided in Washington at that time. In about the year 1828 this building burned down, involving the loss of nearly all the county records. Court was then removed to a little brick office, occupied by Judge Wade Loofborrow, situated in the rear of the present office of Doctor Saulsberry in the Brownell grocery building. From here it was next removed to a house later owned by Mrs. R. A. Robison, Jr., where it was held until a new court house was built.

The Second 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 the board agreed to build a new court house with fireproof offices attached for the clerk of the court, recorder and auditor. The clerk of the board, Norman Jones, was instructed to draft a plan for the new building and the auditor was ordered to give notice that the commissioners would meet on the 5th day of March, following, to receive bids. The auditor was also authorized to sell the brick in the old walls to the highest bidder.

On February 23d 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. Thomas Laughead, of Ross county, was the successful bidder, with a bid of one thousand three hundred eighty dollars and ninety cents. The carpenter work went to John Harbison, of Greene county, for one thousand three hundred seventy-two dollars and forty cents. On 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 eighty-nine dollars and sixty-seven cents.

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