Miami County, Ohio - The whole text, 1880 (part 3 of 23)

Ross County was formed August 20, 1798, by the proclamation of Gov. St. Clair, and was the sixth county formed in the Northwestern Territory. The Scioto River and Paint Creek run through it, bordered with fertile lands. Much water-power is obtained from the many streams watering it. The main crops are wheat, com and oats. It exports cattle and hogs.

The Rev. Robert W. Finley, in 1794, addressed a letter of inquiry to Col. Nathaniel Massie, as many of his associates had designed settling in the new State. This resulted in packing their several effects and setting out. A trivial Indian encounter was the only interruption they nvt with on their way. After Wayne's treaty, Col. Massie and many of these early explorers met again and formed a settlement - in 1796 - at the mouth of Paint Creek. In

August of this year, Chillicothe was laid out by Col. Massie, in a dense forest. He donated lots to the early settlers. A ferry was established over the Scioto, and the opening of Zane's trace assisted the progress of settlement.

Chillicothe, the county seat, is situated on the Scioto. Its site is thirty feet above the river. In 1800, it was the seat of the Northwestern Territorial Government. It was incorporated as a city in January, 1802. During the wax of 1812, the city was a rendezvous for the United States troops. A large number of British were at one time guarded here. Adena.is a beautiful place, and Ae seat of Gov. Worthington's mansion, which was built in 1806. Near this is Fruit Hill, the residence of the late Gen. McArthur, and latterly the home -of his son-in-law, the Hon. William Allen. Eleven miles from Chillicothe, on ** S>a?lt0T°rtemouth> 18 the home of the hermit of the Scioto.

Richland was organized March 1,1813. It produces wheat, com, oats, hay, potatoes, ry^hemp and barley. It was settled about 1809, on branches of the Mohican. Two block-houses were built in 1812. Mansfield, the county seat, is diamungly situated, and was laid out in 1808, by Jacob Newman, James Jf8? T * UZTSL «">** was at that period a vast wildero ~ 10 ' ^'rom yew. the settlement progressed rapidly.

situated on the portage summit Tv I"d*"ls- Akron, the county seat, is Williams and Amos imH M o 1 Wa® Md out m 1825- In 1811, Paul Wd out in 1818, by NortonT t "*** " *"* Middlebury was owned the land. M^Lllon w T °Ut ln 1806' BezaJeel Wells, who Shelby County was fom^T ^sia"^ MwCb' 1826' by John Duncanundulating, ar2 ^ f " 1819) from Miami- ^ southern portion is

Scioto County was formed May 1, 1808. It is a good agricultural section, besides producing iron ore, coal and freestone. It is said that a French fort stood at the mouth of the old Scioto, as early as 1740. In 1785, four families settled where Portsmouth now stands. Thomas McDonald built the first cabin in the county. The "French grant" was located in this section - a tract comprising 24,000 acres. The grant was made in March, 1795. Portsmouth, the county seat, is located upon the Ohio.

Trumbull County was formed in 1800. The original Connecticut Western Reserve was within its limits. The county is well cultivated and very wealthy. Coal is found in its northern portion. We have, in our previous outline, given a history of this section, and it is not, therefore, necessary to repeat its details. Warren, the county seat, is situated on the Mahoning River. It was laid out by Ephraim Quinby in 1801. Mr. Quinby owned the soil. His cabin was built here in 1799. In August, 1800, while Mr. McMahon was away from home, a party of drunken Indians called at the house, abused the family, struck a child a severe blow with a tomahawk and threatened to kill the family. Mrs. McMahon could not send tidings which could reach her husband before noon the following day. The following Sunday morning, fourteen men and two boys armed themselves and went to the Indian camp to settle the difficulty. -Quinby advanced alone, leaving the remainder in concealment, as he was better acquainted with these people, to make inquiries and ascertain their intentions. He did not return at once, and the party set out, marched into camp, and found Quinby arguing with Capt. George, the chief. Capt. George snatched his tomahawk and declared war, rushing forward to kill McMahon. But a bullet -from the frontierman's gun killed him instantly, while Storey shot "Spotted John" at the same time. The Indians then fled. They joined the council at Sandusky. Quinby garrisoned his house. Fourteen days thereafter, the Indians returned with overtures of peace, which were, that McMahon and Storey be taken to Sandusky, tried by Indian laws, and if found guilty, pun- ^ ^R^d not be done. McMahon was tried by Gen. St.

*T settlement was made in 1808. Miss Mary <kUghte?f a mi88ionary> was born in this county April 16, filrM h"11 durin8 the Revolution. It was the scene of a

Wayne County was proclaimed by Gov. St. Clair August 15, 1796, and was the third county in the Northwest Territory. The settlement of this section has already been briefly delineated. Wooster is the county seat. It was laid out during the fall of 1808, by John Beaver, William Henry and Joseph H. Larwell, owners of the land. Its site is 337- feet above Lake Brie. The first mill was built by Joseph Stibbs in 1809, on Apple Creek. In 1812, a block-house was erected in Wooster.

Wood County was formed from the old Indian territory in 1820. The soil is rich, and large crops are produced. The county is situated within the Maumee Valley. It was the qrena of brilliant military exploits during early times. Bowling Green is the county seat.

Wyandot County was formed February 3, 1845, from Marion, Harden, Hancock and Crawford. The surface is level and the soil is fertile. The Wyandot Indians frequented this section. It was the scene of Crawford s defeat, in June, 1782, and his fearful death. The treaty of 1817, Hon. Lewis Cass and Hon. Duncan McArther, United States Commissioners, granted to the Indians a reservation ten miles square, the central point being Fort Ferree. This reservation was ceded to the United States in 1829. The Wyandots ceded theirs March 17, 1842. The United States Commissioner was Col. John Johnson, who thus made the last Trulinn treaty in Ohio. Every foot of this State was fairly purchased by treaties. The Wyandots were exceedingly brave, and several of their chiefs were men of exalted moral principles.

Upper Sandusky is the county seat, and was laid out in 1848. Gen. Harrison had built Ferree on this spot during the war of 1812. Gov. Meigs, in 1813, encamped near the river, with several thousand of the Ohio militia.

The Indian town of Upper Sandusky was originally Crane Town. Th^ Indians transferred their town, after the death of Tarke, to Upper Sandusky.

Governors Of Ohio

The Territorial Governors we have already mentioned in the course of our brief review of the prominent events of the State of Ohio. After the Territory was admitted as a State, in 1802, Edward Tiffin was elected to that position, and again received the same honor, in 1804 and 1806. In 1807, circumstance* led him to resign, and Thomas Kirker, Speaker of the- House, acted as Governor, until the close of the term.

1784, at the age of eighteen. He entered the University of Pennsylvania, and app^ himsdf to the study of medicine, graduating and beginning his practice at the age of twenty, in the State of Virginia. In 1789, he married Mary, and was admitted to practice in his J* V T"? 7 entered tho 8tud? of Iaw. Wright, and settled in Marietta, Ohio in *1788 7<h' m^rried Miss SoPbia norm 1810, and was reflected in l812 In l818 V ^ £ T " 6overhim to the position of Pn<itmQat n , n , ^resi^ent Madison appointed Governor. Oth^ <*^<>ned his resignaL as

State. He was also th« ^ ^ and waa the first Senator from the new - served two terms as cu h, & l "" to erect the firet saw-mill in Ohio. He Position as Governor. In 1816°^ 1803 *° 1815' ^signing in 1814, to take his m paving the wav fnr fi_ * , ' e waa selected. He was exceedingly active tcturn to his studv' sn<l ** K\ed. snccess and a fortune. He then decided to seized with an was admitted to practice in 1802. Thereafter, he was out upon a horsJlwf e"tbUB,asm> an<J. with his cousin as a companion, set Pennsylvania ^following the Indian trails from east to west, through they purchased two flatboats, and fully stocking them with provisions and obtaining efficient crews, started for New Orleans. Reaching that city, they 4} in obtaining good prices for their stock, and set sail for America, arriving in Baltimore nine months after first leaving " home," on this adventure. Mr. Brown s father decided to secure a large and valuable tract of Western land, as a permanent home, and authorised his son to select and purchase the same for him.

ing emolument for himself and the State he represented. In 1880, he was appointed Minister to Brasil., He remained there four years, and returning, during the latter part of his life. His death was sudden and unexpected, occurring in February, 1852, while attending a Democratic Convention, at Indianapolis, Ind. He was interred near his father, at Rising Sun.

Jeremiah Morrow, the sixth Governor of Ohio, was born at Gettysburg, Penn., in October, 1771. His people were of the " Sootch-Irish " class, and his early life was one of manual labor upon his father's farm. During the winter, he had the privilege of a private school. With a view of establishing himself and securing a competency, he bade the old home farewell, in 1795, and set out fb? the u Far West." A flatboat carried him to a little cluster of cabins, known by the name of Columbia, six miles from Fort Washington - Cincinnati. He devoted himself to whatever came in his way, that seemed best and most worthy teaching school, surveying and working on farms between times. Having accumulated a small capital, he ascended the Little Miami, as fin* as Warren County, and there purchased an extensive farm, and erected an excellent log house. In the spring of 1799, he married Miss Mary Packtrell, of Columbia. The young couple set out upon pioneer forming. Gaining popularity as well as * Pr0perty' he waa deP*tixed to the Territorial Legislature, which met at Chillioothe, at which time measures were inaugurated to call a Constitutional Convention, during the following year, to organise the State of Ohio. Mr. Morrow was one of the Delegates to this convention, and steadfestly worked in the interests of those who sent him, until its close in 1802. The following year,

»nd touching emotion, which affected thTem ^aFa^ette' witt «m earnest more profoundly than any of the el ® " bon8 of the generous Frenchman An-i On ^ "- ~t chasing a tract of land in HtehlnH r * feth^.movef to Ohio in 1804, purcious, and elicited the admiration of his*1 7 l,^ Waa remarkably spa- |*nd for an orchard, andbro^ht^be t*** He cleared 8" «- rf

War of W12. Naturally enthusiitdc a^ TT* ** tbe breakinS °ut of tee person to perform his civil duties while h pa'n?tlc' he enS*g®d a competent

"ted vote of his three competitors w« h t ^ "- aftonMh,n« majority. The "mhle was an earnest hIJ? n b^one'slxth of 'he vote poUed. Gov. though Jackson carried the St t Yh ^ 1828, be was r6^lected,

Duncan McArthur, the eighth Governor of Ohio, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1772. While yet a child, his parents removed to the western part of Pennsylvania, where they entered upon the hard life of pioneers. While there, young Duncan had the meager advantages of a backwoods school. His life was a general routine until his eighteenth year, when he enlisted under Gen. Harmer for the Indian campaign. His conduct and bravery won worthy laurels, and upon the death of the commander of his company, he was elected to that position, although the youngest man in the company. When his days of service had expired, he found employment at salt-making in Maysville, Ky.> until he was engaged as chain-bearer in Gen. Massie's survey of the Scioto Valley. At this time, Indian atrocities alarmed the settlers occasionally, and his reputation for bravery caused him to be appointed one of the three patrols of the Kentucky side of the Ohio, to give the alarm to scattered cabins in case of danger. This was during the summer of 1793. Gen. Massie again secured his services, this time as assistant surveyor. He was thus engaged for several years, during which time he assisted in platting Chillicothe. He purchased a large tract of land just north of town, and under his vigorous and practical management, it became one of the finest estates of Ohio, which reputation it sustains at the present time. He amassed wealth rapidly, his investments _ways being judicious. In 1805, he was elected to the State Legislature. He was a Colonel of an Ohio regiment, and accompanied Gen. Hull to Detroit *u 13. At Hull s surrender he was a prisoner, but released on parole, rotumed to Ohio in a state of indignation over his commander's stupidity* u ereafter he was sent to Congress on the Democratic ticket. Soon there* _.r ® .T*8 re^ease<^ from parole by exchange, and, greatly rejoiced, he

IT ^ 6ntered A e army M a Brigadier General under Gen. Harri- , an e o owing year succeeded him as commander of the Northwestern C *'erm*na^on the war, he was immediately returned to the He occupied State offices until 1822, when he was again waa one term5 he declined re-election. In 1830, he them from these ferocions^creat^ O^'^i. 8t"d gUard to Protect 1® that necessarily he waited hour* ' ,0ccasi®naUy he found a stream so swolhe oould cross. He often st^TfiT hT ^ V* t8ngled fore8t» before "id his salt, though a lad of only &Zn ^ ^ 8tardilJ Peered and 7- he married Miss C Lei r Wben be «**»* his majorelected Captain of a riffiT7 L ' of Urbana. At twenty-three, he was %ht the Indians prior tTST^rf ,5"? " biS men to ^ *ont to pother piloted Hull's army thnZhth ] DunnS tbat year> he and his where he remained a year, and then changed to the Transylvania University, at Lexington, Ky. He continued his studies two years, then returning home and entering upon reading law. He completed his course at St. Clairsville, Belmont County, and was admitted to practice. He was engaged in the courts of the county for eight years. In 1832, the Democrats nominated him to Congress, but he was not elected. He received the position of Prosecuting Attorney in 1834, in which position his abilities were so marked and brilliant that he was elected Governor by a majority of 3,600. He was re-nominated in 1840, but Tom Corwin won the ticket. Two years thereafter, he was again nominated and elected. In 1843, he was appointed Minister to Mexico, by President Tyler, and resigned the office of Governor. When Texas was admitted as a State, Mexico renounced all diplomatic relations with the United States. Mr. Shannon returned home, and resumed the practice of law. He was sent to Congress in 1852. President Pierce conferred upon him the position of Territorial Governor of Kansas, which duty he did not perform satisfactorily, and was superseded after fourteen months of service. He settled in Leoompton, Kan., and there practiced law until his death, which occurred in 1877.

Thomas Corwin, the twelfth Governor of Ohio, was bom in Bourbon County, Ky., July 29, 1794. His filth er settled at Lebanon in 1798. The country was crude, and advantages meager. When Thomas was seventeen years of age, the war of 1812 was inaugurated, and tin* young man was engaged to drive a wagon through the wilderness, loaded with provisions, to Gen. Harrison's headquarters. In 1816, he began the study of law, and achieved knowledge so rapidly that in 1817 he passed examination and was admitted to practice. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of his county, in 1818, which position he held until 1880. He was elected to the Legislature of Ohio in 1822. Again, in 1829, he was a member of the same body. He was sent to Congress in 1880, and continued to be reflected for the space of ten Jf"!; . "e became Governor of Ohio in 1840. In 1845, he was elected to t-,.?. m I**68 where he remained until called to the cabinet of Mr.

four days, when an uncle of Mr. Wood's, residing not far distant, came to their rescue, vouched for their loyalty, and they were released. Mr. Wood then went to Woodville, N. Y., where ho raised a company, of which he was elected Captain. They marched to the northern frontier. The battles of Plattsburg and Lake Champlain were fought, the enemy defeated, and the company returned to Woodville and was disbanded.

Young Wood then entered the law office of Gen. Jonas Clark, at Middlebury, Yt. He was marked in 1816, and two years later, settled in Cleveland, Ohio. When he first established himself in the village, he possessed his wife, infant daughter and a silver quarter of a dollar. He was elected to the State Senate in 1825, and filled the office three consecutive terms. He was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was promoted to the Bench of the Supreme Court, serving there fourteen years, the latter portion of the term as Chief Justice. He was termed the u Cayuga Chief," from his tall form and courtly bearing. He was elected Governor in 1850, by a majority of 11,000. The new constitution, which, went into effect in March, 1851, vacated the office of Governor, and he was re-elected by a majority of 26,000. The Democrats holding a national convention in Baltimore in 1852, party division caused fifty unavailing votes. The Virginia delegation offered the entire vote to Gov. Wood, if Ohio would bring him forward. The opposition of one man prevented this. The offer was accepted by New Hampshire, and Frank Pierce became President. Mr. Wood was appointed Consul to Valparaiso, South America, and resigned his office of Governor. He resigned his consulship and returned to his fine farm near Cleveland, called "Evergreen Place." He expected to address a Union meeting on the 5th of October, 1864, but on the 1st he died, mourned by all who knew him.

William Medill, the seventeenth Governor, was born in New Castle County. Del., in 1801. He was a graduate of Delaware College in 1825. He begar tiie study of law under Judge Black, of New Castle, and was admitted to the bar m 1882. He removed to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1830. He was elected Rep rwentative from Fairfield County in 1835. He was elected to Congress in 1838, and was re-elected in 1840. He was appointed Assistant Postmaster ene y President Polk. During the same year, he was appointed Com- !m®^0"er,0 J-n(^an Affairs. In 1851, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and. . i !: . ,"ame Governor- He occupied the position of First Comptroller of Uie United States Treasury in 1857, under President Buchanan, retaining the 1865 Un ' w^en he retired from public life. His death occurred in

He InSZ n S*" ^ a native of CorniBh> N- H- He was bom in 1808. He entered Dartmouth College in 1822, graduating in 1826. He was therecX8Hf tm eStabJishin« a clas8i<*l school in Washington, but finan- ?6 <Xmtinued to teach *e sons of Henry Clay, William Wirt and S. L. Southard, at the same time reading law when not busy

^edministretion, hewL ^osZL . t^ "" homestead. Under Jack- 1888^ when he was elected Stare? ? 1 Warren' and held the position until Democrats. SJ hfl®!? ?7 of Trumbull District, by k Mahoning Railroad, he was largely interested, and was its President, after the death of Mr. Perkins. He was nominated, in 1844, for Governor, by the Democrats, but was defeated. In 1847, he went to Brasil as Minister, where he resided for four and a half years. The Emperor presented him with a special commendation to the President, as a testimonial of his esteem. He was also the recipient of an elegant silver tray, as a memorial from the resident citizens of Rio Janeiro. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which met at Charleston in 1860. He was Vice President of this Convention. He was an earnest advocate for Stephen A. Douglas. When the Southern members withdrew, the President, Caleb Cushing, going with them, the convention adjourned to Baltimore, when Mr. Tod assumed the chair and Douglas was nominated. He was an earnest worker in the cause, but not disheartened by its defeat. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he was one of the most vigorous prosecutors of the war, not relaxing his active earnestness until its close. He donated full uniforms to Company B, of the Nineteenth Regiment, and contributed largely to the war fund of his township. Fifty-five thousand majority elected him Governor in 1861. His term was burdened with war duties, and he carried them so bravely as Governor that the President said of him : u Governor Tod of Ohio aids me more and troubles me less than any other Governor. His death occurred at Briar Hill during the year 1868.

John Brough was a native of Marietta, Ohio. He was born in 1811. The death of his father left him in precarious circumstances, which may have been a discipline for future usefulness. He entered a printing office, at the age of fourteen, in Marietta, and after serving a few months, began his studies in the Ohio University, setting type mornings and evenings, to earn sufficient for support. He occupied the leading position in classes, and at the same time excelled as a typesetter. He was also admired for his athletic feats in field amusements. He completed his studies and began reading law, which pursuit was interrupted

- iToiPPOrtUnity t0ed!ta in Petersburg, Va. He returned to Marietta in 1831,and became editor and proprietor of a leading Democratic newspaper , .e bounty Republican. He achieved distinction rapidly,

. ln * 80 kk interest, for the purpose of entering a more extended field of journalism. He purchased the Ohio Eagle, at Lancaster, and as its editor,

0yer ^ "d State P01^- H« occupied the position of Clerk ofthe Ohio Senate, between the years 1835 and 1838, and relinquishedhis pap?r. He then represented the counties of Fairfield and Hocking in the Legin whiMi 6.-WaS, en Auditor of State by the General Assembly,

Oiatis Of Ohio

William Allen, the twenty-fifth Governor of Ohio, was born in 1807, in Chowan County, N. C. While an infant, he was left an orphan, and his sister superintended his education. He was placed in a private school in Lynchburg, Va., at the age of fourteen. Two years later, he joined his sister and family, in Chillicothe, and attended the academy a year, when he entered the law office of Edward King, and began a course of study. In his seventeenth year, he began practice, and through his talent speedily acquired fame and popularity. Before he was twenty-five, he was sent to Congress by a strong Whig -district. He was elected United States Senator in 1887, there remaining until 1849. In 1845, he married Effie McArthur, who died soon after the birth of their daughter. In 1873, he was elected Governor. His administration gave general satisfaction. He died, at his home at w Fruit Hill, in 1879.

R. M. Bishop, the twenty-sixth Governor of Ohio, was born November 4, 1812, in Fleming County, Ky. He began the vocation of merchant, and for several years devoted bimgAlf to that business in his native -State. In 1848, he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, in Cincinnati. His three sons became partners, under the firm name of R. M. Bishop & Sons. The sales of this house frequently exceeded $5,t)00,000 per annum. Mr. Bishop was a member of the Council of Cincinnati, and in 1859 was its Mayor, holding that office until 1861. In 1860, the Legislatures of Indiana and Tennessee visited Ohio, to counsel each other to stand by the Constitution and the Hag. At the reception given at Pike's Opera House, Mayor Bishop delivered an eloquent address, which elicited admiration and praises. During the same year, as Mayor, he received the Prince of Wales in the most cordial manner, a national credit as a mark of respect to a distinguished foreign guest. In 1877, he was elected Governor of Ohio, by a large majority.

Charles Foster, the present and twenty-seventh Governor of Ohio, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, April 12, 1828. He was educated at the common schools and the academy at Norwalk, Ohio. Engaged in mercantile and banking business, and never held any public office until he was elected to the Fortysecond Congress ; was re-elected to the Forty-third Congress, and again to the Forty-fourth Congress, as a Republican. In 1879, he was nominated by the Republicans and elected Governor of the State.

In reviewing these slight sketches of the Governors of t.hi« grand Western taje, one is impressed with the active relationship they have all sustained, with oredit, with national measures. Their services have been efficient, earnest and patriotic, like the State they have represented and led.

continent, but^bwhtf fkeV r^L*^"3 " b*?*wide meeP through this, obto. Numerous theories and^^^ ^Ve been - » difficult to emphatic evidences that they have traeffi th ^ advanced> Je* they are . However, they have left their Talks behindT ^e of this primeval Le. -s necessary to have confidence in that 1* 1 ?' exercise of of human origin is self-evident. TemJlIf j thf..stol7- That these works are which required a considerable decree of « .an,d(.mil'tel7 works have been found architects and builders. cientific skill on the part of those early miles northwest of this"S* H 7 " aT °f ' "**- Again, viUe, another field of these rel73Iv7 he,T0adbetyr6ea Newark and Gran- ® a fortification, formed to» 7 ^ ^oand- Cn the summit of a high hill

, ^ore feet, over the shoulders ti, *'a i. - Wa5 105 from the termini of 'behind feet, over the hips t jfcW 5? ? W° f<*t: *" *- termini of »f day, which must po?" * 7 feet Xt "composed the point where the walls of the two came together. Before each of these entrances were mounds of earth, from four to five feet high and nearly forty feet in diameter. Evidently these were designed for defenses for the openings, in cases of emergency.

A short distance from Piketon, the turnpike runs, for several hundred feet, between two parallel artificial walls of earth, fifteen feet high, and six rods apart. In Scioto County, on both sides of the Ohio, are extensive ancient works.

u Fort Ancient " is near Lebanon in Warren County. Its direct measurement is a mile, but in tracing its angles, retreating and salient, its length would be nearly six miles. Its site is a level plain, 240 feet above the level of the river. The interior wall varies in height to conform with the nature of the ground without - ranging from 8 to 10 feet. On the plain it reaches 100 feet. This fort has 58 gateways, through one of which the State road^ runs, passing between two mounds 12 feet high. Northeast from these mounds, situated on the plain, are two roads, about a rod wide each, made upon an elevation about three feet high. They run parallel to each other about a quarter of a mile, when they each form a semicircle around a mound, joining in the circle. It is probable this was at some time a military defense, or, on the contrary, it may have been a general rendezvous for games and high holiday festivities.

Near Marietta, are the celebrated Muskingum Biver works, being a halfmile from its juncture with the Ohio. They consist of mounds and walls of earth in circular and square forms, also tracing direct lines.

The largest square fort covers an area of 40 acres, and is inclosed by a wall of earth, 6 to 10 feet in height, and from 25 to 30 feet at its base. On each side are three gateways. The center gateways exceed the others in size, more especially on the side toward the Muskingum. From this outlet runs a covered means of egress, between two parallel walls of earth, 231 feet distant from each other, measuring from the centers. The walls in the interior are 21 feet high at the most elevated points, measuring 42 feet at the base, grading on the exterior to about five feet in heigth. This passage-way is 360 feet in length, leading to the low grounds, which, at the period of its construction, probably reached the river.

At the northwest corner, within the inclosure, is a plateau 188 feet long, 182 feet broad and 9 feet high. Its sides are perpendicular and its surface level. At the center of each side is a graded pathway leading to the top, six feet wide. Another elevated square is near the south wall, 150x120 feet square, and 8 feet high, similar to the other, with the exception of the graded walk. Outside and next the wall to ascend to the top, it has central hollow ways, 10 feet wide, leading 20 feet toward the center, then arising with a gradual slope to ^ e ^ third elevated square is situated at the southeast corner, 108x54 feet square, with ascents at the ends. This is neither as high or as perfect as the others.

advance of en£2| r,p°'ed °f ^ band, hat ! re868rcl,es- ^ ntensils and impW^ {umai%. The reHcs fomS W® 8Uccambed to the ^ idea of a stalwart - war' bones left in 081848 laments,

The summers are usually warm, and the winters are mild, considering the latitude of the State. Near Lake Erie, the winters are severe, corresponding with sections in a line with that locality. Snow falls in sufficient quantities in the northern part to afford several weeks of fine sleighing. In the southern portion, the snowstorms are not frequent, and the fall rarely remains long on the ground.

- The Ohio River washes the southern border of the State, and is navigable for steamboats of a large size, the entire length of its course. From Pittsburgh to its mouth, measuring it mean derings, it is 908 miles long. Its current is gentle, having no foils except at Louisville, Ky., where the descent is twentytwo and a half feet in two miles. A canal obviates this obstruction.

The Muskingum is the largest river that flows entirely within the State. It is formed by the junction of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding Rivers, and enters the Ohio at Marietta One hundred miles of its length is navigable.

The Scioto is the second river in magnitude, is about 200 miles long, and flows into the Ohio at Portsmouth. It affords navigation 130 miles of its length. The Great Miami is a rapid river, in the western part of the State, and is 100 miles long. The Little Miami is seventy miles in length, and enters the Ohioseven miles from Cincinnati.

The Maumee rises in Indiana, flows through the northwestern part of the State, and enters Lake Erie at Maumee Bay. It affords navigation as for as Perrysburg, eighteen miles from the lake, and above the rapids, it is again navigable.

We have, in tracing the record of the earlier counties, given the educational intererts as exemplified by different institutions. We have also given the canal system o e State, in previous pages. The Governor is elected every two years, by e peop e. The Senators are chosen biennially, and are apportioned according to the male population over twenty-one years of age. The Judges of the wipreme and other courts are elected by the joint ballot of the Legislature, for the term of seven years.

hio, perfect social equality existed amongfo® that was drawn was a separation of the good cabin-raisings were mutual affairs. Their rowing and hunting. Hunting shirts and while the women dressed in coarse material,

During the early settlement of 0 settlers. The line of demarkation from the bad. Log-rollings and sport usually consisted of shooting buckskin pants were in the fashion' space from West Union via Dayton, to the State line. The conglomerate is to the east of the given towns, bending around from Cuyahoga Falls to Burton, in Geauga County, and then eastward into Pennsylvania. Near this outcrop are the coal-bearing rocks which occupy the east and southeastern portions of Ohio. From Rockville to Chillicothe, the course is north, about 10° east, and nearly corresponds with the line of outcrop of the fine-grained sandstone for an equal distance. The dip at Rockville, given by Charles Whittlesey, is 80J°, almost at a right angle, and at the rate of 87 feet per mile.

At Chillicothe, the other end of the line, the general dip is south 70° east, 80 feet to the mile, the line curving eastward and the dip line to the southward. This is the universal law.

The northern boundary of the great coal fields passes through Meadville, in Pennsylvania, and turning south arrives at Portage Summit, on the summit of the Alleghanies, 2,500 feet above the ocean level. It then plunges rapidly to the westward. From the Alleghanies to the southwest, through Pennsylvania, Virginia and Tennessee, sweeps this great coal basin.

Much of the county of Medina is conglomerate upon the surface, but the streams, especially the South Branch of the Rocky River, set through this surface stratum, and reach the fine-grained sandstone. This is the case with Rocky, Chagrin, Cuyahoga and Grand Rivers - also Conneaut and Ashtabula Creeks. This sandstone and the shale extend up the narrow valleys of these streams and their tributaries. Between these strata is a mass of coarse-grained sandstone, without pebbles, which furnishes the grindstones for which Ohio is noted. In Lorain County, the coarse sandstone grit nearly displaces the finegrained sandstone and red shale, thickening at Elyria to the black shale. South of this point, the grindstone grit, red shale and ash-colored shale vary in thickness. The town of Chillicothe, the village of Newburg, and a point in the west line of Crawford County, are all situated on the "black shale."

Dr. Locke gives the dip, at«Montgomery and .Miami Counties, at north 14°, east, six feet to the mile ; at Columbus, W hitelesey gives it, 81° 52; east, 22j^ftr feet to the mile. The fine-grained sandstone at Newburg is not over eighty feet in thickness ; at Jacktown and Reynoldsburg, 500 ; at Waverly 250 to 800 feet, and at Brush Creek, Adams County, 843 feet. The black shale is 251 feet thick at Brush Creek ; at Alum Creek, 250 to 300 feet thick ; in Crawford County, about 250 feet thick. The conglomerate in Jackson County is 200 feet thick ; at Cuyahoga Falls, 100 to 120 feet ; at Burton, Geauga County, 800 feet. The great limestone formation is divided into several numbers. At Cincinnati, at the bed of the river, there is :

"ndston^lythali feyere^f .C°mp°Sed of Ornate beds of coarse-grained ous strata of coal. The coal beds of lime8tone and STerc°rd, in Muskingnm County there are 3? ^ J**town to Con-

Stratum first dissolves in water. It contains carbonate of lime, magnesia, iron, alumina, silex, sulphur, and some decomposed leaves, plants and sticks. Some pebbles are found. In contact with the water, quicksand is formed.

The Hickory Plains, at the forks of the Great Miami and White Water, and also between Kilgore's Mill and New Richmond, are the results of heavy diluvial currents.

In presenting these formations of the State, we have quoted from the experience and conclusions of Charles Whittlesey, eminent as a geologist, and who was a member of the Ohio Geological Corps.

The patriotism of this State has been stanch, unswerving and bold, ever since a first settlement laid its corner-stone in the great Western wilderness. Its decisive measures, its earnest action, its noble constancy, have earned the laurels that designate it ua watchword for the nation." In the year 1860, Ohio had a population of 2,343,739. Its contribution of soldiers to the great conflict that was soon to surge over the land in scarlet terror, was apportioned 310,000 men. In less than twenty-four hours after the President's proclamation and call for troops, the Senate had matured and carried a bill through, appVopriating $1,000,000 for the purpose of placing the State on a war footing. The influences of party sentiments were forgotten, and united, the State unfurled the flag of patriotism. Before the bombardment of old Fort Sumter has fairly ceased its echoes, twenty companies were offered the Governor for immediate service. When the surrender was verified, the excitement was tumultuous. Militia officers telegraphed their willingness to receive prompt orders, all over the State. The President of Kenyon College-President Andrews - tendered his services by enlisting in the ranks. Indeed, three months before the outbreak of the war, he had expressed his readiness to the Governor to engage in service should there be occasion. He was the first citizen to make thin offer.

The Cleveland Grays, the Rover Guards, the State Fencibles, the Dayton Light Guards, the Governor's Guards, the Columbus Videttes and the Guthrie Grays - the best drilled and celebrated militia in the State - telegraphed to Columbus for orders. Chillicothe, Portsmouth and Circleville offered money and troops. Canton, Xenia, Lebanon, Lancaster, Springfield, Cincinnati,

®nel foe. Four hundred and rt,-*. °? b® ,eft msecure against the inroads of a Kentucky and West Virginia werelTh! °f 0bi° bordered Slave States Jumed that not only shfZ Z Z^ " cbeck' but tbe Governor pro- the chase. Steedman overtook the rear-guard of Garnett's army at Camck'fl Ford, where a sharp skirmish ensued, Garnett himself falling. The scattered portions of the rebel army escaped, and West Virginia was again free from armed rebels - and was the gift of Ohio through her State militia to the nation at the beginning of the war.

At this period, Gen. McClellan was called to Washington. Gen. Rosecrans succeeded him, and the three-years troops left in the field after the disbanding of the three-months men, barely sufficed to hold the country. He telegraphed Gov. Dennison to supply him immediately with re-enforcements, the request being made on the 8th of August. Already had the Confederate leaders realized the loss they had sustained in Western Virginia, and had dispatched their most valued General, Robert E. Lee, to regain the territory. Rosecrans again wrote : " If you, Governor of Indiana and Governor of Michigan, will lend your efforts to get me quickly 50,000 men, in addition to my present force, I think a blow can be struck which will save fighting the rifled-cannon batteries at Manassas. Lee is certainly at Cheat Mountain. Send all troops you can to Grafton." Five days thereafter, all the available troops in the West were dispatched to Fremont, Mo., and the plans of Rosecrans were foiled.

Heavy re-enforcements had been sent to the column in Kanawha Valley under Gen. Cox. He became alarmed, and telegraphed to Gov. Dennison. Rosecrans again appealed to Gov. Dennison, that he might be aided in marching across the country against Floyd and Wise to Cox's relief, "I want to catch Floyd while Cox holds him in front."

The response was immediate and effective. He was enabled to employ twenty-three Ohio regiments in clearing his department from rebels, securing the country and guarding the exposed railroads. With this achievement, the direct relation of the State administrations with the conduct and methods of campaigns terminated. The General Government had settled down to a system. Ohio was busy organizing and equipping regiments, caring for the sick and wounded, and sustaining her home strength.

Gov. Dennison s staff officers were tendered better positions in the national service. Camps Dennison and Chase, one at Cincinnati and the other at Columbus, were controlled by the United States authorities. A laboratory was established at Columbus for the supply of ammunition. During the fall and early winter, the Ohio troops suffered in Western Virginia. The people of their native State responded with blankets, clothing and other supplies.

e first feature of his administration was to care for the wounded at home, sent from Pittsburg Landing. A regular system was inaugurated to supply stores and clothing to the suffering at home and in the field. Agencies were established, and the great and good work was found to be most efficacious in alleviating the wretchedness consequent upon fearful battles. A. B. Lyman

"wed to hasten and facilitate fiiJT 4,000 men- The draft system was ! but not m sufficient numbers to ^ *5** tb® re2iments were filled rapd the President had decfi ht'inteSS ***"?"*- wer« threatSd,'

-?en 08,116 "-ionaofZ Oallatm. After Mitchell had eZtdNZ S? ^ °f ^P' Jrions were committed before S ^ *" of deprergan 8 Kentucky cavalry TTf. 7 These were attributed to John life had been one of wild dissipation, adventure and recklessness, although in his own family he had the name of being most considerate. The men who followed him were accustomed to a dare-devil life. They formed and independent band, and dashed madly into the conflict, wherever and whenever inclination prompted. Ohio had just raised troops to send East, to assist in the overthrow of Stonewell Jackson. She had overcome her discouragements over Mures, for the prospects were brightening. Beauregard had evacuated Corinth ; Memphis had fallen ; Buell was moving toward Chattanooga ; Mitchell's troops held Northern Tennessee and Northern Alabama ; Kentucky was virtually in the keeping of the home guards and State military board. And now, here was Morgan, creating confusion in Kentucky by his furious raids ! On the 11th of July, the little post of Tompkins ville fell. He issued a call for the Kentuckians to rise in a body. He marched toward Lexington, and the southern border of Ohio was again in danger. Cincinnati was greatly excited. Aid was sent to Lexington and home guards were ready for duty. Morgan was not prominent for a day or so, but he was not idle. By the 9th of July, he held possession of Tompkinsville and Glasgow; by the 11th, of Lebanon. On the 18th, he entered Harraldsburg ; Monday morning he was within fifteen miles of Frankfort. He had marched nearly 400 miles in eight days. Going on, toward Lexington, he captured the telegraph operator at Midway, and his messages also ! He was now aware of the plans of the Union armies at Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati and Frankfort. In the name of the operator, he sent word that Morgan was driving in the pickets at Frankfort ! Now that he had thrown his foes off guard, he rested his men a couple of days. He decided to let Lexington alone, and swept down on Cynthiana, routing a few hundred loyal Kentucky cavalrymen, capturing the gun and 420 prisoners, and nearly 800 horses. Then he was off to Paris ; he marched through Winchester, Richmond, Crab Orchard and Somerset, and again crossed the Cumberland River. He started with 900 men and returned with 1,200, having captured and paroled nearly as many, besides destroying all the Government arms and stores in seventeen towns. The excitement continued in Cincinnati. Two regiments were hastily formed, for emergencies* known as Cincinnati Reserves. Morgan's raid did not reach the city, but it demonstrated to the rebel forces what might be accomplished in the " Blue Grass " region. July and August were passed in gloom. Bragg and Buell were both watchful, and Chattanooga had not been taken. Lexington was again menaced, a battle fought, and Was finally deserted because it could not be held.

September 1, Gen. Kirby Smith entered Lexington, and dispatched Heath with about six thousand men against Cincinnati and Covington. John Morgan joined him. The rebels rushed upon the borders of Ohio. The failure at Richmond only added deeper apprehension. Soon Kirby Smith and his regiments

Smith did not attack in far P tt** ** *** °ne °f lntense susPense. But to ^ jolt Bn«,. On the Monspring of 1863 the S Clncinna" ^turned to their avocations. . In the heavy and lew? T f tnfle Her burdens had been

13th of July f Before Cincinnati was aware, he was at Harrisoncut his wavlro ® exp?®ted to meet 'he forces of Burnside and Judah, and to succeeded fn dec"- ' H" Pf " here' 83 evel7where, were indefinable, and he up TS mile Printers in Cincinnati were setting urbs near trnof * b,s "bereaboute> he was actually marching through the subpicket ' Th PS/j0U^ *° devour them, and yet not encountered by a single o'ZkZ / 1,their h0rsea .Within sigbt of Camp Dennison. At 4 marched tl' were within twenty-eight miles of Cincinnati - having mT, more than ninety miles in thirty-five hours.

be von r? 11 he mad cavall7nM" and bis 2,000 mounted men. They plundered be was f ^COm£arison- The? made a principle of it. On the 34th of July, ffl]apw ing his horees near Dennison; he reached the ford at Buffington °n e evening of the 18th ; he had encountered several little skirmishes, but he had marched through at his own will, mostly ; all the troops of Kentucky had been outwitted. The Indiana forces had been laughed to scorn. The 50,000 Ohio militia had been as straws in his way. The intrepid band would soon be upon friendly soil, leaving a blackened trail behind. But Judah was up and marching after him, Hobson followed and Col. Runkle was north of him. The local militia in his advance began to impede the way. Near Pomeroy, a stand was made. Morgan found militia posted everywhere, but he succeeded in running the gantlet, so far as to reach Chester. He should have hastened to cross the ford. Fortunately, he paused to breathe his horses and secure a guide. The hour and a half thus lost was the first mistake Morgan is known to have made in his military career. They reached Portland, and only a little earthwork, guarded by about 800 men, stood between him and safety. His men were exhausted, and he feared to lead them to a night attack upon a position not understood perfectly ; he would not abandon his wagon train, nor his wounded ; he would save or lose all. As Morgan was preparing next morning, having found the earthworks deserted through the night, Judah came up. He repulsed the attack at first, capturing Judah's Adjutant General, and ordering him to hold the force on his front in check. He was not able to join his own company, until it was in foil retreat. Here Lieut. O'Neil, of the Fifth Indiana, made an impulsive charge, the lines were reformed, and up the Chester road were Hobson s gallant cavalrymen, who had been galloping over three States to capture this very Morgan ! And now the tin-clad gunboats steamed up and opened fire. The route was complete, but Morgan escaped with 1,200 men ! Seven hundred men were taken prisoners, among them Morgan's brother, Cols. Ward, Duke and Huffman. The prisoners were brought to Cincinnati, while the troops went after the fugitive. He was surrounded by dangers ; his men were exhausted, hunted down ; skirmishes and thrilling escapes marked a series of methods to escape - his wonderful sagacity absolutely brilliant to the very last which was his capture, on the 26th, with 346 prisoners and 400 horses and arms. It may be added, that after several months of confinement, Morgan and six prisoners escaped, on the 27th of November. Again was he free to raid in the " Blue Grass " country.

John Brough succeeded Gov. Tod January 11, 1864. His first prominent work was with the Sanitary Commission. In February, of the same year, the Prwident called for more troops. The quota of Ohio was 51,465 men. The oil of March added 20,995. And in July was a third demand for 50,792. In December, the State was ordered to raise 26,027. The critical period of the war was evidently approaching. Gov. Brough instituted a reformation in the promo on system of the Ohio troops. He was, in many cases, severe in his measures. e ignored local great men " and refused distinction as a bribe. Tfc consequence was that he had many friends and some enemies. The acuteadmii.u.i - i;^0 if WaS 80 str°ng' 1"® policy so just, that, after all his severe -dmmistration, he was second to no statesman in the nation during the struggle.

A Brief Mention Of Prominent Ohio Generals

he was President of the n? 7 °f IUinois Central RaUroad- In I860, he was at the opening of S°war. 1S8WS,pp,' He removed to Cincinnati, where

OhioWdHb Sit ?°BeC?nS W" born September 6, 1819, in Delaware County, When the wL 1^2° t^°m Amsterdam- He was educated at West Point, seal, and wM ao S. k the ^ of the U"on with enthusiastic

In the United Q-* a 7 18,J" Comnu8slon was out as Brigadier General moned to active u - ^bis reached him and he was speedily sumtain, h^was nromT^,m?rtGen' McCIellan- MteT battle of Rich Mounin ApS lTfio i,*0 46 head of the department, inirton to An e was by Fremont, and ordered to Wash- 15th of m^V11 lmmediate service for the Secretary of War. About the

Ulysses S. Grant, whose history we cannot attempt to give in these pages, was born on the banks of the Ohio, at Point Pleasant, Clermont Co., Ohio, April 27, 1822. He entered West Point in 1839. %

" That the son of a tanner, poor and unpretending, without influential friends until his performance had won them, ill-used to the world and its ways, should rise not suddenly, in the first blind worship of helpless ignorance which made any one who understood regimental tactics illustrious in advance for what he was going to do, not at all for what he had done - but slowly, grade by grade, through all the vicissitudes of constant service and mingled blunders and success, till, at the end of four years' war he stood at the head of our armies, crowned by popular acclaim our greatest soldier, is a satisfactory answer to criticism and a sufficient vindication of greatness. Success succeeds."

We may reason on the man's career ; we may prove that at few stages has he shown personal evidence of marked ability ; we may demonstrate his mistakes ; we may swell the praises of his subordinates. But after all, the career stands wonderful, unique, worthy of study so long as the nation honors her benefactors, or the State cherishes the good fame of the sons who contributed most to her honor."

Lieut. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was another Ohio contribution to Ihe great Union war. He was bom at Lancaster February 8, 1820. He entered' West Point in June, 1836. His u march to the sea " has fully brought out the details of his life, since they were rendered interesting to all, and we refrain from repeating the well-known story.

Philip H. Sheridan was bom on the 6th of March, 1881, in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio. He entered West Point in 1848. During the war, his career was brilliant. His presence meant victory. Troops fighting under his command were inspired. Gen. Rosecrans said of him, " He fights, he fights." A staff officer once said, "He is an emphatic human syllable."

Ohio was draped with the garb of mourning at the close of the war. Her human sacrifice in behalf of the nation had been bitter. There were tears and heart-aches all over the land. Her ranks were swept by a murderous fire, from which they never flinched, and many officers fell.

Col. John H. Patrick will be remembered as opening the battle of Lookout Mountain. He fell mortally wounded, during the Atlanta campaign, May 15, 1862, while actively engaged. He was struck by a canister shot, and expired half a hour thereafter.

Col. John T. Toland, in July, 1863, was placed in command of a mounted brigade, including his regiment, and was instructed to destroy the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. He reached Wytheville, Va., on the afternoon of the 18th of July. The rebels were safely intrenched in the house, and poured a galling fire into the national troops. Col. Toland was on horseback, at the head of his command. A sharpshooter sent a bullet with fatal certainty, and he fell on the neck of his horse, but was instantly caught by his Orderly Sergeant, who heard the fervent words : u My horse and my sword to my mother."

Lieut. Col. Barton S. Kyle accompanied his regiment to the battle of Pittsburg Landing. The regiment was forced back, though resisting bravely. Lieut. Col. Kyle was at his post of duty, encouraging his men, when he received a bullet in his right breast. He survived five hours.

Col. William G. Jones was engaged m the battle of Chickamauga, June, 1863. His regiment, the Thirty-sixth Ohio, was included in Turchin's Brigade of the Fourteenth Corps. He wrote in his pocket memoranda : u Off to the left ; merciful Father, have mercy on me and my regiment, and protect us from injury and death " - at 12 o'clock. At 5 that afternoon, he was fatally wounded and expired at 7 that same evening, on the battle-field His remains were taken by the rebels, but in December, 1863, they were exhumed and interred in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.

Col. Fred. C. Jones held command of the Tenth Brigade, in October, 1862, marching from Wild Cat, Ky., to Nashville, through a perpetual skirmish, During the battle of Stone River, Col. Jones' regiment, the Twenty-fourth, was on the front and left of the line. During the afternoon, when the rebel assault upon the left became funous, Col. Jones ordered his men to lie down and hold fire, which was obeyed. They rose to pour a deadly volley into the rebel ranks, and rush forward in a fierce charge. The capture of an entire rebel regiment was 118 ut^°l- ^0nes was shot in the right side. He was carried to the rear. " I know it ; I am dying now ; pay no attention to me, but look after my wounded men. ' He survived about ten hours. His remains are buried in oprrng Grove, Cincinnati.

«nd was cot off with a sma/pSi of his rT?' Vafid7 ®nperior " numbers, wader, and ordered his men to cut their "g"""fc di8dained to ensned- CoL Milliken, being an nmt»7 A hand'to'hand inflict mth his saber. While parrying th/stal ^' able to protect himself ^e regiment, again cLS M3aiknt> "other shot him.

History Op The 8Tate Op Ohio

Lieut. Col. Moses F. Wooster was engaged with his regiment, the One Hundred and First Ohio, at Perryville. He was mortally wounded on the 31st of December, 1862, in the grand effort to stem the tide of defeat at Stone River.

Secretary Edwin M. Stanton was one of the most popular war Ministers. He was bom in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1815 ; he was engaged in the United States Circuit Court, in 1860, in a leading law suit, at Cincinnati, known as the Manny and McCormick reaper trial ; on the 20th of January, 1862, he was appointed Secretary of War by Mr. Lincoln.

Ex-Secretary Salmon P. Chase's public services in Ohio have already been mentioned in these pages. In 1861, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, in Mr. Lincoln's cabinet.

United States Senator B. F. Wade made his reputation -in Ohio. This Senator of the State stood at the head of the Committee on the Conduct of the War throughout its duration.

Jay Cooke was the financial agent of the Government, furnishing money for the payment of the troops. He was bom in Portland, Huron Co., Ohio.

In our brief review of the war record of Ohio, we have omitted a vast amount of detail information that would prove interesting to our readers. We believe we have been accurate in whatever we have given, taking as our authority, that accepted " encyclopedia " of Ohio war facts - Whitelaw Reid, who has published a valuable volume on the subject.

Bomb Discussed Subjects

It may be well in glancing over the achievements of Ohio, her momentous labors and grand successes, to refer to the Ordinance of 1787, more minutely than we have done, in relation to many events, since its inherent principles are not only perpetuated in the laws of the entire Northwest, but have since been woven into the general Constitution of the United States. It made permanent the standard and character of immigration, social culture and political and educational institutions. It was thoroughly antislavery and denounced involuntary servitude, which was sanctioned in every other State at that time, with the exception of Massachusetts. It protected religion and property. As late as 1862, Gen. William Henry Harrison, Governor of Indiana, called a convention for the purpose of considering the slavery question, and the feasibility of introducing the system in the new States and Territories being formed. There iras at time a spirited contest, and Illinois, Indiana and possibly Ohio, y escaped a decision that a full support should be given its introduction striking lack of trust on the Dart of rt. ^ 8chtdules or ^ were deemed a It was sufficient that its acts and conrl ° ?6r8?n W 0 ^xrms^e^ the information, or reasoning process dcon°lusions be proclaimed without any prelude saw that his Zd horf , 1°,dgmg8 at ** "PW "d Hamm," and Congress was then in sessio^ md^Z LT^ *" and.fed at the ""e place. Pany, to negotiate their \ ^ ?°me 0n a 1111881011 for the Ohio Com-

Me remained in New Yorkthr ^ pnvllege8 in toe new Territory of Ohio, toe interests of the future rrrJT c"n8tantly engaged in the work vital to Principles deemed the^rn^T S f . Bnt he 8ecured 61,6 "e^ent of the p«ole, Librarian of fyt^e P°werM State constitution. Mr.

A letter from Jonathan Dayton to the Hon. Judge Symmes, dated September 26, 1789, say 8: "Yon have been selling your lands, I am told, for two shillings specie, the acre. The price at this moment is, and seems to be, and undoubtedly is, a good one; but as much cannot be said of it when you find hereafter that in consequence of the rise of certificates, another acre, in another payment, may cost you in specie two shillings and sixpence."

A letter from John C. Symmes to Capt. Dayton, dated April 80, 1790, says: "The land in the reserved township is held at much too high a price.

Not a foot of land beyond the five-acre lots will sell. Five shillings, specie, or two dollars in certificates, is the utmost they will bring, and they will rarely sell at that"

This .state of affairs was in a large degree brought about by the breaking-up of North Bend and a removal of the town to Fort Washington, or Cincinnati, later. A search through the old letters and other preserved documents prove that North Bend was at one time the beginning of the great city on the Ohio, rather than Cincinnati. Judge Symmes wrote, May 18, 1789 : " I have not as yet been able to make a decisive choice of a plat for the city, though I have found two pieoes of ground, both eligible, but not upon the present plan of a regular square. It is a question of no little moment and difficulty to deterlpine which of these spots is preferable, in point of local situation. I know that at first thought men will decide in favor of that on the Ohio, from the supposition that the Ohio will command more trade and business than the Miami. * * * But if it were built on the Miami, the settlers

Another of the earliest selections, of town sites* was adjacent to the most southerly point of what is now Delhi Township. To tbia the name of South Bend was given. Judge Symmes reports November 4, 1790, of this place, over forty framed and hewed-log two-story houses, since the preceding spring. Ensign Luce is said to have taken his troops to North Bend, but decided to remove to Cincinnati, on account of the object of his affections having settled there the wife of a settler. But this story is refuted by contradictory evidence from Judge Symmes* letters, which illustrate the fret that the post of North Bend was abandoned by Ensign Luce and hig men in consequence of a panic, caused by Indian attacks. The removal of the troops caused a general decline of the town. Again, history and letters from the same eminent Judge, assert that Fort Washington was completed and garrisoned by Maj. Doughty before the dose of that same year, and was begun by him during the summer, that Ensign Luce must have still been at his post at the bend at that time. It has been, therefore, recently accepted that the traditional "black eyes** and the Indian panic, had nothing to do with the founding of Cincinnati, and that the advantages of the position gamed the victory.

. ^'jn<finnati has advanced, not only in prosperity and culture, blit in national significance. Our readers must have observed, in perusing these pages, that

Tillages, because the w : B 4 *h thmi nearI7 exterminated the The 1; at hletirf neariJ «" «<«e to war with the Foxes, two days forD~Jg' STT* 40 retUrn ** the Senecas, but desired undisturbed IE 'f* Wyandots sent word to the two villages left

Kie W g j to can7 back the news, set out to rltmlff611 procnred S'1113' 101(1 began to grow formidable. Urey Detroit, where th®n- eir own country, and proceeded on their way as far as ensued, and the WvamTt °l ®®necas» on tko hike- A fierce conflict fearful carnarre ri,®^ l ° d tbe Senecas fell, to the last man, suffering Principal village ^ i. 8°°n 8et<ded " this part of the world, their dangerous with n® tke Sandusky. Northwestern Ohio was particularly The of ti -W a<ban ^hes, and the Wyandots. were cruelly aggressive.

Commissioners of the United States, and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawattomie, Ottawa and Chippewa nations. All their lands in Ohio were ceded to the United States forever.

There was really not a Seneca in the Seneca nation. They were chiefly Cayngas, Mohawks, Onondagas, Tuscarawas, Wyandots and Oneidas. But the Mingoes were originally Cayugas, and their chief was the celebrated Logan. After the murder of his family by the whites, the Mingoes were scattered over the territory northwest of the Ohio.

The notorious Simon Girty was adopted by the Senecas. Girty's name was a terror and fiendish horror for many years. He not only led the Indians in their atrocities, but he added barbarism to their native wickedness.

Conclusion

When peace was proclaimed, after the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee to Gen. U. S. Grant, the volunteer troops disbanded, and a return to home industries instituted, Ohio, like many other States, gave direct attention to the interests of returned soldiers. The thrift of the State was augmented by a spasmodic, and thereafter recognized as a fictitious, demand for products, commercial and industrial pursuits redoubled their forces. But the great wave of stagnation swept over this fair land - the re-action of a war excitement. Laborers were many, but wages were inadequate. Deeper and deeper settled this lethargy called by many " hard times" - until the wheels of commercial life revolved slowly, and from the workshops and the factories went up the echoes of privation and distress. There was no famine, no fever, no epidemic, it was simply exhaustion. In the larger cities there was much suffering. Idle people loitered about, barely seeking employment, the task seeming worse than hopeless.

During the years 1870, 1871 and 1872, the^ stringent measures brought about by the depressed state of business retarded any material advancement in general matters. The years 1873-74 were marked by a preceptible improvement, and a few factories were established, while larger numbers were employed in those already founded. The year 1875 was under the direction of a Democratic Legislature. It was marked in many respects by a " reverse motion ** in many laws and regulations.

The Legislature which convened in 1876, January 3, was Republican in the main. It repealed the u Geghan Law " passed by the preceding body. At the time of its adoption, there was the most intense feeling throughout the State, the charge being made that it was in the interests of the Catholics. Among the general enactments were laws re-organizing the government of the State institutions, which the previous Legislature had ordered according to their own belief to follow new doctrines. The office of Comptroller of the Treasury was abolished. The powers of municipal corporations to levy taxes was limited, and their authority to incur debts was limited. Furthermore, this body prohibited any municipal appropriations, unless the actual money was in the Treasury to meet

Peopled ^ti»L8 WM markef by a more vigorous and combined effort of the lethargy yet com Jf-°Ve^°me !|he 8ta«nation of business, the influence of the in 1879 bv a ° awakened interest. This energy was amply rewarded the light of nrfv* 8UC.<^as^u* before the year closed, the State was basking in of the peol pent7, and the 7ear 1880 was ushered in when the confidence their State u*-*8 *8®*° a permanent incentive - confidence in the nation, influence and i + ^ * 6 °^er aD<^. themselves. The old-time crown of power, 1880. The i ** ^*"0 earned, is conspicuous in this year of

Hi8Tory Of Miami County

According to the account of Christopher Grist, the English agent for the Ohio Company, they were a powerful confederacy, superior in numbers and strength to the Iroquois, with whom, it appears from other authority, they were at deadly enmity. In 1750, they were living in amity with the French. Grist places their towns one hundred and fifty miles up the Great Miami, which we presume would locate them near the site of Loramie's store ; but since the storehouse, said to be on the same spot, built in 1749, was called Pickawillany, which by some is translated into Piqua, these towns might have been located near the present site fo Piqua, and subsequent pages will confirm this opinion. One author confounds them with the Ottawas, and another "as many different tribes under the same form of government" The French seem to have given them the name of Miamis. By some they are called Piankeshaws, a tribe of the Twigtwees, and again the Miamis, or Twigtwees. In the minutes of the Provincial Council of Penn, they are called Tweechtwese, and described as those Indians called by the French, Miamis ; also by some, Tawixtwi, and classed as one of the Western confederated nations.

From these various data we feel safe in asserting that the tribe or confederation above described, were the owners of the soil embraced within the present limits of Miami County. We find them in possession up to 1763, at which time they had their towns (see supra) here, which were designated on the old French maps, Tewightewee towns, which they fortified, and with their allies, the Wyandots, Ottawas and French, fought a bloody battle with the English, aided by the Cherokees, Catawbas, Munseys, Senecas, Shawanoes, and Delawares, lasting over a week. After this battle, the Miamis or Twightwees, being continually harassed by the English and neighboring tribes, removed to the Maumee, and the country was left to the Shawanoes, who converted the names of the towns into their own language ; and we have authority for saying that the present city of Piqua was by them called Chillicothe in honor of a tribe of that name ; however, our authority traces the etymology to " chilled coffee." Upper Piqua, was called after the tube of that name' which according to tradition means "a man formed out of the ash®®- It appears that during one of their annual feasts, the Shawanoese tribes were seated around the fire, smoking and indulging in all the usual convivialities incident to such occasions, when, to their dismay, a great puffing sound was heard, the dying embers were thrown aside, and lo ! a full-formed man emerged from the ashes, like Milton's lion in Creation, pawing the earth to free his nether parts ; and this, they say, was the first man of the Piqua tribe. Upper and Lower Piqua seem to have possessed peculiar attractions for the Shawanese nation, from the fact that for a long time they made their headquarters here from which to radiate on their continual war excursions. The Shawanoese nation seems to have been very nomadic, evidently having formerly come from the South, as the word implies. They were, it is believed, natives of Florida. Blackhoof; one of their principal chiefs, has stated that his tribe believed, from various traces and signs, washed over by the sands, that Florida had been visited many ages previous to their existence by strangers from other countries ; that he. himself, at the date of the statement one hundred and five years old, remembered bathing m the waters of the ocean on the Florida beach.

Extinction Of The Indian Title

Inasmuch as the ownership and occupancy of the soil resided first in the Miamis, and subsequently in the Shawanoese, it is difficult to ascertain with accuracy the exact date at which the Indian title was extinguished. Through various treaties of Ft. Stanwix, McIntosh, Brown, Logstown and Greenville, ranging from 1784 to 1794, the title of the Indians was gradually vested in the United States, and, to some extent, by purchase, in private corporations.

and Great Miami, "that, failing to conmlv with fh°mpa12.S lme' Litt,e Miami. Ohio evidently including a part of the n -Joint .. .'Iu contract, the northern portion lands probably including the remainder i^ri*"^ °fi Miami CountJ' and adjoining emption. Thus we havc enS^d in !, r 8urveyed and subject to pre® the heterogeneous mass of uncertainty the nrim*8 1*® W6r6 able' to extract from aboriginal title, and the final v^ithS of^he « ^"a °Ter3' the extinction of the for individual purchase and sIuTement " 8U°h a shaP® 88 to lay it open where m*S^^ 6"d<""?. the human species, now'jj who forever left the abode of peace and if.'ron muscle and resolute endured tne privations incident to n'- p ^. ty "nd braved the dangers and untrodden wilderness to the openlng ofnew homes in the solitudes of the that Grallisonier, Governor of CaLl!^® thi8 C0Unt,7> ""d we are infomed ead on which were en-rav^ the cl^«nf h® TT/ 1849' cau9ed P'ates of m the mounds, and at the month! I? ?f the French Government, to be placed f their ownership of the ^ 'he.|?vers,ronning into the Ohio, as evidences found near the mouth of fh^M i^°th Sld<f of that river- 0ne of these plates was alar account of which, by De WitfoiE dat6 AugUSt 16' 1749> " Par«c- since called Loramie's store t,.« treding-house °" the Great Miami, on a spert "Pen what they considered thrir i 3h,Je?lou8 of 'he intrusions of the English erection of a line of fJwJiiwi , lands, and apprehensive of danger, began the the fact that in F^uS^.^ "rT***1 40 bi.aVe 1,66,1 from Pennsylvania, from sent the Twigtwees a ^if 0 /A* 8ame' he mentioned that the above State willany, the l£i, namJJ^f fh fd^-6"Ct for those slain in 'he defense of Picka- P®ted in by twonationaHiiof ^ tra<inlg-hoiise. Although this battle was partici- °f diplomatic maneuvering' n? more serious results flowed from it than a series the debatable lands 6rin°s' Wlt l a v,ew to securing the permanent possession of was Benjamin Franklin, were sent, at which the attack on the trading-houses at the mouth of Loramie's Creek, was discussed and a treaty was concluded, which evidently included our present county. As the population increased, the feeling intensified, until the French and Indian wars, when open hostilities began, which only ended with the fall of Quebec in 1763. With a fear of repetition, which is almost wholly unavoidable, we have endeavored to place before our readers a concise statement of the condition of the country, from its earliest known history, until it approaches the dawn of civilization. To do this we have been compelled to begin with a very wide scope of country, and, as the antiquity of its histoiy wore away, and thereby assumed a greater degree of certainty, the horizon of its territory also would grow less, until now we shall begin with history and landmarks within the memory of many now living.

In January, 1790, Hamilton County was organized, beginning on the banks of the Ohio River, at the confluence of the Little Miami, and down the Ohio to the mouth of the Big Miami ; and up the same to the Standing Stone Fork, or branch of the Big Miami ; and thence, with a line to be drawn due east to the Little Miami, and down the same to the place of beginning. June 22, 1793, the western boundary line of Hamilton was so altered as to begin at the spot on the Ohio where the Greenville treaty line intersects the bank of that river, and run with the line to Fort Recovery ; thence due north to the south line of Wayne County.

In March, 1803, Montgomery County was laid off, composed of a part of Hamilton ; beginning at the State line, at the northwest corner of Butler ; thence east with the lines of Butler and Warren, to the east line of Section 16, Township 3, Range 5 ; thence north eighteen miles ; thence east two miles ; thence north to the State line ; thence with the same, to the west line of the State ; thence with the said line to the beginning.

" All that part of Montgomery County be, and the same is hereby laid off and erected, into a separate and distinct county, which shall be called and known by the name of Miami, to wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Champaign

County and southeast corner of Section 1 , Township 2, and Range 9 ; thence west with the line between Ranges 9 and 10 to the Great Miami River, crossing the same in such direction as to take the line on the bank of the said river, between Townships 3 and 4, in Range 6, west of the said river ; thence west with the said line to the State line ; thence north with the same to the Indian boundaiy line ; thence east with the same to the Champaign County line, thence south with the said county line to the place of beginning with all the powers, privileges and immunities of a separate and distinct county. January 7, 1812, all that part of the county of Montgomery lying north of the ocmnty of Miami shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Miami ; and all that part lying north of the county of Darke shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Darke."

3' 18°9; * "?ch of the county of Miami as lies west of the middle townships, east of the meridian drawn from the mouth of Janua^ 8?me is herebY erected into the county of Darke, it aT it^ow\s19' ^ f MlWni was taken 111 the formation of Shelby, which left hig onniLTu8 'l16 terror produced bv tho °rm^ *? nl® T'1na towns, but, it seems IBfch- Wl»en he SSh^ w "*?, of Clarke> that the Indians fled at WodulV104 6V?n taking time to Dock i.Ilil"* Tla^®8> be found them deserted, the Hdtto«^i-00ntinae<l up the river to n^r!?61^0086^? furniture. Passing Lower thp kl8 army here he mjiSn r. PPer Piqua, which he found also deserted, the ^8et ina flood of glory ® ^ ^ar^t,ons to 1684 overnight ; and at length, as <hL^P grew less, the fLta weri^ » fre"bled into twilight, the noise of skirmishing was kept up till morning ; but, owing to the darkness, very little injury was done ; five Indians were found dead in the bushes next morning after their comrades had retreated.

Indians were supplied with arms and ammunition. Having caught a Frenchman, they tied him on a horse, covered him with their guns, and directed him to guide them to the store. Some time during the' night they arrived ; but found neither Indians nor Frenchman. They however burned the store, helped themselves to its contents, and destroyed what they could not carry off ; rejoining the army early in the morning, they assisted Gen. Clarke in burning and laying waste the villages and corn-fields of the Indians in and arouud Piqua. The only fatal results from this expedition was the death of Capt. McCracken, and a man whose name is unknown.

During the skirmishing in the night, their horses strayed off into the woods, and, while hunting them, they were fired upon and mortally wounded. One died shortly dfter, and was buried at Coe's Ford, where the army crossed the Miami on its return march. Capt McCracken lived till the army reached the present site of Cincinnati, where he was buried. Through the aid of Gen. Clarke, the white woman, Mrs. McFall, was restored to her friends in Kentucky. Thus ended the second expedition of the veteran Clarke, which resulted in destroying this pernicious nest of Indians, which had continually harassed, murdered and kept in mortal fear, the weak settlements of the Miami Valle}'. Killing a few of their warriors only increased their ferocity, and stung them to revenge, but when their corn-fields were destroyed, and their villages burned, it sapped their vitals, crippled their power, and compelled them to hunt for a living. Among the worthies who aided in this enterprise, Miami County claims two esteemed citizens, Abraham Thomas and Capt. Barbee, the latter of whom the county afterward honored with the judicial ermine. In consideration of the great services rendered by Gen. G. R. Clarke in protecting the early inhabitants of the Ohio and Miami Valleys, and his many severe encounters with the Indians within the limits of this county, and of various other services rendered, of vital importance to the settlement of this county, we deem it not inappropriate to reproduce here an anecdotal reminiscence. At the treaty held on January 31, 1786, at the mouth of the Great Miami, between Gen. G. R. Clarke, Richard Butler and Samuel H. Parsons as Commissioners, and the Delawares, Wyandots and Shawanoes, the Indians, it appears, came with treacherous designs, and, had it not been for the perfect knowledge of Indian character possessed by Gen. Clarke, and the terror his name inspired among the savages, the council would have ended in murder. From a work of Judge Hall, we append the following description of the scene : The Indians had entered in a blustering and defiant manner. The Commissioners, without noticing the disorderly conduct of the other party, or appearing to have discovered their meditated treachery, opened the council in due form. They lighted the peace pipe, and, after drawing a few whiffs, passed it to the chiefs, who received it. Gen. Clarke then rose to explain the purpose for which the treaty was ordered. With an unembarrassed air, with the tone of one accustomed to command, an easy assurance of perfect security and self-possession, he stated that the Commissioners had been seut to offer peace to the Shawanoes ; that the President had no wish to continue the war ; he had no resentment to gratify ; and if the red men desired peace, they could have it on reasonable terms. " If such be the will of the Shawanoes," he concluded, " let some of their wise men speak."

A chief arose, drew up his tall person to its full height, and, assuming a naughty attitude, threw his eye contemptuously over the Commissioners and their small retinue, as if to measure their insignificance, in comparison with his own n?"2roU8^ra"l» an<^ ^en, stalking to the table, threw upon it two belts of wampum of different colors - the war and the peace belt. " We come here," he exclaimed, " to o er you wo pieces of wampum ; they are of different colors ; vou know what they mean; you can take which you like!" and, turning upon his lieel, "he resumed his seat.

The chiefs drew themselves up in the consciousness of having hurled defiance in the teeth of the white men. They offered an insult to the renowned leader of the " Long Knives," to which they knew it would be hard for him to submit, while they did not suppose he dare resent it The council pipe was laid aside. Those fierce, wild men gazed intently at Clarke. The Americans saw that the crisis had arrived. They could no longer doubt that the Indians understood the advantage they possessed, and were disposed to use it, and a common sense of danger caused each eye to be turned on the leading Commissioner. He sat undisturbed, and apparently careless, until the chief who had thrown the belts upon the table had taken his seat ; then with a small cane which he held in his hand, he reached, as if playfully, toward the war belt, entangled the end of the stick in it, drew it toward him, and then with a switch of the cane, threw the belt into the midst of the chiefs. The effect was electric. Every man in the council of each party, sprang to his feet, the savages with a loud exclamation of astonishment, " Ugh ! " the Americans in expectation of a hopeless conflict against overwhelming numbers. Every hand grasped a weapon. Clarke alone was unawed. The expression of his countenance changed to a ferocious sternness, and his eye flashed, but otherwise he was unmoved. A bitter smile was perceptible upon his compressed lips, as he gazed upon that savage band, whose hungry eyes were bent fiercely, and in horrid exultation upon him, as they stood like a pack of wolves at bay, thirsting for blood, and ready to rush upon him whenever one bolder than the rest should commence the attack. It was one of those moments of indecision^ when the slightest weight thrown into either scale will make it preponderate ; a moment, in which a bold man, conversant with the secret springs of human action, may seize upon the minds of all around him, and sway them at his will. Such a man was the intrepid Clarke. He spoke, and there was no man bold enough to gainsay him, none that could return the fierce glance of his eye. Raising his arm, and waving his hand toward the door, he exclaimed ; 11 Dogs l 1 ou may go! " The Indians hesitated for a moment, and then rushed tumultuously out of the council-room. They lingered around in the bushes all night, debating the question of peace or war, and, finally, in the morning, they sued for peace. To this intrepid Indian fighter, perhaps, more than to any other individual, the Northwest Territory' owed its immunity from Indian massacres during the infancy of its colonization.

Earliest Settlement

The beautiful scenery, fertility of soil, and many other advantages with which nature has unsparingly endowed this charming valley, early attracted the eye of the speculator ; and, in addition to these, the country had been previously traversed by the soldiers in the early Indian campaigns, who, observing the abundant crops of maize, related fabulous accounts of the productiveness of the soil, and picturesque features of the Indian possessions.

All kinds of fish abounded in its streams, along whose banks many fhr-bearing animals made their homes ; while the valley teemed with deer, and the gobble of the wild turkey, blending inharmoniously with the drum of the pheasant, and shrill whistle of the partridge, might be heard in the forest from morning till night Here the hunter and trapper found a paradise ; here he built his cabin along the green banks of the Miami, set his traps, fished in her waters, and hunted in her forests ; here he roasted his venison, broiled his fish, and baked his johnnycake. Ror all his fUr and pelts he found a ready market at the English trading-house on the Great Miami, and, after its destruction, in 1752, at Loramie's store, on the creek of the same name, which was the emporium of trade throughout the surrounding country, until its destruction also, in 1782, by Gen. Clarke. From the records of history, it appears, that, in the settlement of almost all countries, the order seems to be. First, the soldier, second, the hunter and trapper, next the permanent settler. - much as this valley was the arena of many sanguinary encounters between^tne English and French, extending from 1749 to 1795, in all of which they were joined by the various Indian tribes, the countzy was occupied by soldiers, and numerous forts were built ; among others we may mention Port Piqua, which must have been built some time previous to 1794, from the fact that Capt. Vischer, who cannonaded it at that time, is mentioned as the last commandant. It had also been used as a depot for the army of Gen. Wayne, whose stores were taken up the Miami, in boats, to Fort Piqua, unloaded, and their contents hauled in wagons, by way of Fort Loramie to St. Mary's ; and frequently the empty boats themselves were placed on wheels and conveyed along the same route, a distance of twenty-six miles, reloaded and launched for Fort Wayne, on Lake Erie. The collateral evidence afforded also by the passage of a boat up the Miami to within the vicinity of Fort Piqua, where it was fired upon by the Indians, proves that white men were passing to and fro through this country as early as 1794. In the sad affair above recorded, though the attack was made in full view of the fort, owing to the weakness of his garrison, and the overwhelming numbers of the Indians, Capt Vischer, though a brave soldier, was compelled to remain within the protecting walls of his fortifications, knowing full well, that, if he ventured on a sortie, he could render his countrymen no aid, and would only expose his men to the merciless fire of the savages, as their principal object in making the attack seems to have been to draw him out. Though history is culpably obscure on this point, from evidence afforded by fragments of muskets, bayonets, and other remains exposed during low water, it would seem that most if not all the party were destroyed. Knowing as we do, that from 1749 till 1794, the country was full of soldiers, and from the history of soldiers in new countries, it is quite reasonable to suppose that many stragglers deserted the army, took up their abode with the Indians in our county long prior to earliest known settlers, married Indian women, became identified with their red brethren and finally lost to history. To such an extent indeed did miscegenation wken Shawanoese tribes emigrated to Kansas, it is said scarcely a full-blooded Indian could be found among them.

is very important that we should arrive at the facts as nearly as possible in regard to the earliest settlement in this county. In order to do this, we shall be obliged to adduce all the evidence to be found, and base our conclusion upon the preponderance. The issue seems to be made upon the location of the Tewightewee w tv1?. ^ocation a trading house at those villages, called by the ^nglish, Pickawillany . In " W estera Annals " we read that a trading-house was built - ^ uPon .the Great Miami, page 51. On the next page we read, that m February, 1851, Grist visited the Twightwees who lived upon the Great Miami, e author adding " we have no doubt the place he visited was at the mouth oramies Greek ; again on the following page we read, "A party of soldiers weresent to keep the Ohio clear ; and this party early in 1752, having heard of toe taadmg-house upon the Miami, and very likely of the visit to it bv Grist, came fewighte wees and demanded the traders, as unauthorized intruders upon H?Tl".?i8t0rical Collection," page 7, we read, "In 1749, it , T English built a trading-house upon the Great Miami, at a spot SSS I£I^ie 8 8t0If; , ?n page 463, same, we read : « The mouth of Lorahistoric intern* coun^' sixteen miles northwest of Sidney is a place of as 1752 there woo ®r8t P°intof English settlement in Ohio. As early only a preponderance of tihi?' 5t up, we think that there is not the trad^^o?m^XLmhfeV0^f ** ""S in Miami County, but that the first settlement in Miami^lZ^i -*** b®yond a reasonable doubt Therefore Notwithstanding this was not lwmfZt th^ J?'Tn °f Marietta thirty-nine years, vicissitudes of more than a haC Qent' £et hl8to7 teaches that through all the obliterated. It is worthy of war and turmoU, it was never entirely that Port Piqua wZwZh ^sen-ation, by way of evidence of the last proposition, the famous battle of 1763 w. Fe nca^ ttle site of the Tewightewee towns at which that this was a^nhnn Jflr We "e ^erefore warranted in saving purchase, at ^rea^ ' 8et^ements were ma^e on Judge Symmes' SaytoTst Cto Wuifl *5^ aTnd also a settlement was made by Gens, mouth of Mad RiVpr and Col. Ludlow, between the Miamis, around the mean time spIpphI, ae Indians, they raised a crop of com on it that year ; in the rison, thev laid H 8/>ot °PP<?site the mouth of Honey Creek, on the land of Morsame year Jonathlrf J^Yr wh!,ch Livingston. In the autumn of the promises of lands'^ i \ 3a,.and two others, were induced by Symmes, through he was to be thp to ?° ^°.the Pi(lua villages and lay out a town, of which it west of thp riJL. P ^^tor. Arriving at the locality described to them, they found they abandoned it' fUJi ?0t k®loi|£ing to Symmes, and, not being in the market, mouth of Snrino- n ^ located elsewhere. Rollins and Hudson located near the settlers* ' w .e' in the following spring, they became permanent

Benjamin KnA^ u the ®prmS of 1798, according to Dr. Coleman, John Knoop, Mr. Tullis Dnn£'i Weilr3_.^T®rard) Benjamin Hamlet, John Tilden, and, according to - _ ' ei and Christopher Knoop, established a station, for the protection of their families, near the site of the present village of Staunton, which went by the name of the " Dutch Station." These stations were formed by erecting a line of log cabins, all joined together forming one side 6'f a square, with the remaining three sides enclosed by palings ^ight feet high, firmly driven in the ground. All the openings of the cabins inside the square, were secured by a strong gateway. Here the settlers remained for two years, in the mean while raising their first crops of corn on Gerard's and Gahagan's Prairie, which had been previously tilled by the Indians. In the spring of 1799, the little station was joined by John Gerard, Uriah Blue, Joseph Coe, Abram Hathaway, Nathaniel Gerard, and Abner Gerard. Mr. Tallis says Blue, Coe and Hathaway came in 1800. Previous to and during this time, there had been serious apprehension of Indian troubles, and the settlements were formed in groups for mutual protection ; but, as the Indians manifested no evil disposition, these fears gradually subsided, the settlers removed to their farms, and after this the tide of emigration roiled in rapidly for some years ; as the beautiful and fertile valley had attracted the eyes of many, who, through fear of the Indians, were temporarily located on Mill Creek and the Little Miami, waiting for peaceable times, before venturing into the Upper Miami Valley, their destined homes.

B. Vancleve, in " American Pioneer," p. 295, Vol. II, says : " That in the spring a settlement was made at the mouth of Honey Creek, and one at the Old Piqua, on the Miami. Mr. Tullis says that previous to the settlement at Staunton, several Frenchmen were there, viz.: Peter Felix, Simon Laudry and one Deprey ; but, according to Dr. Coleman, they came in 1800. From the collateral evidence of previous French settlements, not far from here, we decide in favor of the former. It is stated that Peter Felix was an Indian trader, and carried a large stock of goods, which he exchanged for fhrs, etc.

We pause here to introduce a feature peculiar to this valley. Though a lgression, yet, as it was an important element in the early settlement of the county, we deem it worthy of notice. The entire county at that time was covered with an almost unbroken forest, with the exception of a few small tracts of prairie land, winch, having been previously cultivated by the Indians, were of inestimable v ue to the first settlers, and, inasmuch as they were used in common, each one tanning a littie patch of com, to keep himself and family, until he could clear t^a fUturlT date^1111, With ***** cursory reference> we postpone a toiler description ftalp nf "*°u8h the efforts of Gen. Harrison, a law was passed, authorizing the 111 8ection8' the other haJf^sections or halfir^^on«^«l°i?,ilandL.offlce8 were established for the sale of Congress lands, aDnlirant tn ^ on the following terms, viz.: Two dollars per acre, forP a^w fcSTli? f°r 8FveyLng a section, or $3 for half-section^nd $5 one-twentieth of 8ectl?n> or ** for * half-section ; also, he was obliged to deposit fourth of the nnrohL?1*106' °f ,which to be forfeited, if within forty days, onewithin three veura pai(*' an?ther fourth within two years, another fourth the deferred imvmen^fJ?16 J681***6 ^thm four years, with 6 per cent interest on not completed ^within of 5*^ » the whole to be forfeited, if payment be from the south line of the tnwiiav e of voters between the two Miamis, um une oi the township, to the sources of Mad River, and the Great land, the dense forests to berloiroA n' en|e*lces of life, the difficulty of procuring of monev f^ o^ndinn ^! aWay bffore.a croP could be rais«l, the scarcity up to 1800, was very slow pl^tho ' 08 and Var'°.us °the.r causes, the immigration, lages of mill-streams timber stonee at'Qn > but fertility of soil, the local advanto locate in it witliout nm ' ' ?d cla£f°r brick, were inducements for farmers