Miami County, Ohio - The whole text, 1880 (part 7 of 23)

Coate's shop funiigbed ^ da-v 'he price. For many years, Henry superseded by the Scythe 8aF°"ndlng country, until they were "earl) clearing of his landman, i f"d adle' Dunng "11 this time, Henry Coate had the land and money by his indush^0* °peratl0"8 going on- He accumulated much in the world. ' The nam ' !!"d was able to give all his children a good start Rachel and Rhoda, all dead Wh»6m wf re_, Lydia, Isaac, Mary', Esther, Samuel, When age had come upon Henry Coate, he gave up l»wev«r, swelled the weak ^rttlemLto h,V*h?f. rinl? part of which, about this time we may emimorntf^L {? 8 township. Among those who came almost unprecedented 10 b?-ttie re8ervoir from which flowed this but also Wa^ C toton Men S?,ch. a0t fed Union Township, the thin settlements of these <xmnti«?^ ^la®' Counties i ; and, while it swelled, the districts from which it flowed. ' eflexlve-v decimated almost to extinction spirit of emigration a wbole energy of the nation, paralyzing the northeastern Md^orth J!f a "atura! consequence, therefore, the southwestern, in the repose of nature P°rtlons of the township remained undisturbed and safe clears off lUt^IhoZJ.^he wW"8hip havin« b^0 occupied, and the labor of desire to Live them to*^ * been accomplished, the inhabitants manifested no late as the vLr^S ,iT?h "7 *°me8 in the ^ "Harness ; therefore, so wilderness uninhahiwi U * u® tfrntoP' Previously referred to remained a vast ries in thei'r glooLy solitude ^ ltS nat''e <,emZen8' who heW forth in wild revel- moredeservins^rAorw^ ^ fu-d 0011(31106 to its settlement, we know of none in our introdu?^mT^1 u0Vn thlS townshiP tban the StiUwater ; and, as we have now^nd^rtnl^^u13^ Cursorily alIu^ to it and its tributaries, we shall more definitely 680113)0 that portion of it within the limits of this township appearir^^1*}^1^8 ^ ?am« from .th.e sluggishness of its current, frequently unbroken volump °f tranquil]it^! or 80 lazily moving along in a deep, the north pa at tuui 8fcream enters Union Township near the northwest comer of of the °f. Section 4, flowing southwesterly until it nears the center re-unitino- s* ' WOen ?3lghtly turning it divides, inclosing a long, narrow island ; of the aSVi Pursue8 its course toward the southeast till it approaches the comer the centpr en takes a line nearly due south, which it continues nearly to south of p + 8°utheast quarter of Section 9, where it takes a course a little when it ArT91 foe aoutheast comer of the southwest quarter of the section, ws south, slightly deflecting to the east, pursuing a meandering course till it reaches the center of the northeast quarter of Section 34, where it flows in a semi-circle ; dividing in its recurve it incloses an island, after which, uniting, it flows southwesterly out of the township, near the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 34.

A peculiar characteristic of this stream is distinguishable in the fact that throughout nearly its entire course in this township, the left or east banks are lofty and abrupt, presenting a bold, rocky front to the water, while on the opposite side the land recedes for a considerable distance, nearly on a level with the river, when it gently rises and stretches away in undulating plains. As a natural consequence, therefore, all, or nearly all, the " bottom " lands are on the west side ol the river.

The Main, or North Braqch of this stream takes its rise from the junction of two small creeks near the center of the northwest quarter of Section 1 1 ; thence flowing across the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the same section, it passes east through the southern portion of Section 1; deflecting slightly south, it continues about a mile, when turning, after receiving the Southwest Branch, it flows meandering in a generally northeast course, and empties into Stillwater, near its entrance into the township.

Ludlow Falls

A short distance below the crossing of the Dayton and Covington pike,, the stream glides along, gently plashing from ledge to ledge in its descent until it trembles on the brink of the precipice; then, leaping thirty feet over rocks whose dark heads are thrust through the foaming water, it bubbles and boils, then rushes on its mad career along the canon through whose rocky cleft we can trace the meandering course of the stream hewn from the solid rock ; cascade fountains within, a beautiful cedar grove and green ascending sward in the conservatory, wiui an outlook through the descending vista, along which the foaming stream finds its way still tumbling down - massive buttresses, and dark alcoves, in which grow beautafhl mosses and delicate ferns, while springs burst out from the fhrther recesses and wind in silver threads over floors of lime rock.

To these grand and beautiftil combinations is attributable the almost donstant mflux of visitors during the pleasant seasons to this Niagara of Miami ntv wo y omiwater. Without trenching upon the general geoic immediate on Winning 5K.i?n nf?18 oonnection, that these springs issue at 1 gara. The vast ^ Clinton limestone, which is overlapped by the N the water as it percolat^th150^^ Niagara rock, many feet in thickness, receu sinking do^ u^n! ^ihe which grows dee^r as it recedes, gradua outcropping as Clinton> and flowB 004 over '* *° exceUettpfSlIrith^hlch^M^h16 -m?terial for building of the many is also found in vast quantities faWa^ft.1I,teMeCted' Sand of "cement qualify peat amounts Tsugar' Md^h^b^yg^ij^' "hh' su8ar' _maple - from whose sap factored - hickory, elm walnut ^ome-made molasses," was manuappear elsewhere*. ' 5 P°par' beech> and many others, whose names will lighted up the whitewashed ** ^ween, and tbe cheerfhl, crackling blaze rapidly expanding population ^he Hmhi' - B,Ut.wlt^ the influx of people and the erations will have i^eed ere thi ^t,'8 2"* away, and not many gendisappeared, and inttafr stead waving fieU^Tf toT^ of .thia township will have the Indian's wigwam anrl _- F , , wheat and com will be seen, and mansion of completely develop^^vMi*0?'^4 j*aye given place to the stone *ges of the world, have been ' , S?<;h' throughout the countless

Pioneer Times

South Carolina passed throuo-h^h® J^}°ter' "d> th?nTfh tho8e from North and existed, they would not stem thl^H [f416 of Kentucky, where slavery northwest of the Ohio River rv. ' b"t traveled Ion to the land of freedom west or many of them pitched atmuing on above the settlements already made,

$2 per acre render^ u-* land could be entered only by the section, and that at The Government, howeve^a^^^ the P°°I^r to bu^ themselves homes, the land and nav ^ hem' on paying 20 P«r cent down, to pre-empt

Those who ~ 8imP.e, and then their lands were brought under taxation, money together antoJn?**}6 ^ ?ntef a section of hmd would sometimes put their divide it Bv thi» mn^16 !?n<* 18 tbe name of one of the party, then survey and It was nr»f i 18 mfans the emigrants mostly obtained homes, per acre and aia^i bow.ev®r» until Congress reduced the price of its lands to $1.25 of time the ' entry of quarter-sections, or 160 acres. In process > wnward sliding scale adopted by Congress allowed the entay or purchase of public lands to reach, the low amount of forty acres, but we think the lands in this township were taken before this law was enacted.

The next thing after purchasing homes from the Government was to make them such. Like the children of Israel, they found the land possessed (not so much by men, as in their case,) by the denizens of the forest, the bear, the wolf, the wildcat, the deer, the rattlesnake, with numberless minor inhabitants, who seemed disposed to hold it, if not by force, at least by the title of pre-occupancy. The writer well remembers hearing the terrific howling of the stealthy wolf at midnight, causing his hair to rise, and seeing the half-devoured carcasses of sheep that had become their prey in the pasture.

Simultaneously with the extirpation of wild animals came the erection of houses, stables, barns, and clearing away of forests for cultivation. The tools necessary for subduing the forests, and erecting their rude buildings, were at once brought into requisition. The chopping and hewing, or broad ax, the handand crosscut saw, the mattock, the froe, the beetle or maul, and the iron and wooden wedges, were either brought along or procured for the occasion. The sight of the grand and lofty forest trees of gigantic proportions, with interlocking branches, with earth-hiding undergrowths, presented a scene appalling to any heart but those of the heroic pioneer. They came to conquer, and were no more dismayed than were Hannibal or Napoleon at the Alps looming up before them.

A common friendship and fellow-feeling pervaded the hearts of the first settlers. The first who had come and made a start (as it was called), by living Jn their wagons until a tent or house was built, reaaily threw open their doors to those who followed, and assisted them also in making a start , the first object being, after selecting a site, to clear it off, erect a house for the family, and a stable for the horses. On such occasions, they made what were called " chopping . frolics, the neighbors gathering in with their axes, crosscut saws, etc., and assailing the forest simultaneously with a most hearty good will. These scenes continued for many years, and were conducted with sport, animation and gayety. The wnt®r remembers them during the years of long ago , being by them reminded of the description of the poet :

The fall of the forest giants would be attended by shouts of applause from the jolly wood-choppers, who proceeded immediately, if it was an ash, oak, hickory, poplar or black walnut of proper size, to work it into rails, stakes, board* or shingles. I may remark that but few shingles were made in those early times, the roofs being mainly constructed of clapboards, four feet long, upheld by rt'6-pol®* below, and kept to their places by weight-poles above. A mud-and-stick chimney, some eight or ten feet in width, would be joined at one end of the building on the outside, a suitable opening having been cut in the wall for it. The first ten r? CulI1?ney were j°ined to the house or hut, were built of cleft timber 1)61118 8e?rely lined ®tone laid in clay mortar. The upper part wa® detached from the building, and made of riven sticks and thieknA»ft a'bout three and one-half feet in width and two and one-half m caching two or three feet above the roof to secure it against fire. The nround^affordeH ^MJderabty narrowed in at about ten feet distance from the w»t|ng Plac* to poultry from the prowling wolves, and eniovinc the warm *J!Jarter8 winter 5 they even roosted on the chimney tops, °f from the covered fires. A friend^ recognition of mutual^ahf6^? 1between the chickens and their owners m this night Many a time did^t^if &tter .enWing the fire by day, and the former by clarion tones of the eWn*?11 pioneer hear from his chimney's summit the approachi^dTy. ha"tlCleer rin«in« °"t upon the air, and telling him of their windows were not only Uke angels'^o^^f'^r ^ they of li8ht 'hat dimensions, ranging from four to 8 I181.48' ^ew and tar between, but small in well rememW^sXga cIC to wf fob a ' 40 the Tdow' writer having but one window, and that Eo hS7 8even or,.elght resided, even deemed necessary to havelt SSS^bt^S.ST a11 40,3 ? jt was and bureaus, they had^road^L* $ , ,g 8°"ewhat awry. Instead of chests cans, in which they jmt sudl dotMni ^"thf ^ kllb!nt af°und in the form of lardnails around the walls ft mini,, k 0 88 4,beJ ^ad **ot room to hang upon the light coming through its capacious chim^8*6^ «hat ?"8 boU8e received additional blazing fire/reuderfd the^m not e^tf7 ^ i this, with the aid of the forests, killed gdeer aUd md,ust"oue' they cleared away the dense aeemed to possess the Dhilosonhv^f ^ ab"nda"ce, wore deerskin breeches, and ment. I would not have mv ?dpPtat'<?n to condition and animal enjoya sample of the early hf *w 4b?4 4»e above-described family was hook supporting it on the Su ®??b a^°ut three feet long ; the upper part had a a few inchM apart* betwIn^ThTth °,88p 84 '°Wer end- 8nd a~w of holes hook at the lower ^ it ,part bad a at 'he upper end, and a hshed that enabled the S tbf. h?Ie8 and catch, a sliding scale was estababove the fire. The Dot k^ttl^ nlT tbe P?t °r kettle at the proper distance constituted about all ^Utcb oven- 8k*Uet and long-handled frying-pan oil lamp XK In*",b °f tb08e Primitive days. The gnLor was attached afittle h» r 5-!!, ,f *?pd °f Pease, with its curved handle, to which hung or fastened to a ora'JT^ f?0ok' ®.pike and wick-picker, thus allowing it to be able substitute for the t 11 18 4bjiWa,!i wa8 then thought to be a cheap and valu- « brUliant l^hf 8u^ 0|W|Wd,ee The8e '""P8- when filled with oil" gave forth that, durini^colrf w80?^ 8n,d abundant in those days, the reader may well believe require tiro ml , ' larSe fires were not wanting. Back-logs, such as would burning fore-sticks. A fire, such as would send forth light and heat throughout the house, would then be made, around which the inmates would while away the tedious hours in calm domestic enjoyment, thinking that they enjoyed as much happiness as the rest of mankind. Who is there to dispute it ?

In regard to food, it may be supposed that the early settlers of this township were but raeagerly supplied, particularly as to variety. Wild meats, such as venison, wild turkey, pheasant, quail and fish, were abundant, only requiring skill in the hunter and angler to get ample piscatorial supplies from the Stillwater and its tributaries. But bread, another indispensable article of food, was, to many, almost unattainable. The scarcity of both grain and mills was the cause of this want ; but the courageous and patient pioneer, making a virtue of necessity, conformed his wants, as much as possible, to his circumstances. Lye hominy, so-called (which needs no description), was brought into almost universal use, and many a hungry laborer, both male and female, satisfied their hunger by this simple article of food. The author remembers hearing it said that a man who once sat down to dine upon nothing but a loaf of bread, consoled himself by saying : " I have a variety here. I have top crust, bottom crust and crumb." That man' surely understood the philosophy of contentment. A settler of 1833 related this circumstance : " I had to go a long distance to mill to get material for bread, and, stopping at a cottage by the way, asked the good housewife if she could provide me with dinner. She rather demurringly replied that she had little else but meat I told her to provide what she could, and I would be satisfied. She went to the green corn patch, and returned with several ears that had just passed from the milky state, being about half way between roasting-ears and ripeness. Cutting the grain from the cobs, she pounded it in a mortar until it became somewhat pulpy ; stewing the grain, then, in a vessel, she placed it, with meat, upon a most humble table, and invited me to din®* Having an appetite sharpened by fasting and travel. I partook with a hearty good will, and thought I had never eaten a more delicious meal. 'Another circumstance which I will relate shows that people were not always satisfied with such nseager diet. I heard it told a great many years ago, but in what township it happened 1 cannot tell. After the means of living had been much augmented, two men were hired to make fence-rails, their employer, as usual, boarding them. Their food consisted of a kind of fermented corn bread, called pone, and hominy. This fare not being satisfactory to the laborers, they made their labor unsatisfactory to their employer. One day, a member of the family observing that their mauls descended with slow speed and feeble force, and guessing the cause, told his parents those mauls seemed to say, ' Hominy and pone ! Hominy and pone ! ' and suggested an fo°d* This was accordingly made, and the re-animated beetles then descended to the lively tune of, ' Meat, cabbage and bread ! Meat, cabbage and bread j ! ' thus proving that the improved diet, if it did not, l^e Tam chanter s fiddle, put life and mettle into the heels, it did, into the hands of the railsplitters.

ductivenean Jkrt^lteing material that could be obtained to make its proiertilitv of thp^Ati^f-lkeiremuilerative' 80 ^reat was the contrast between the hat an emi^nt wS10^ the «tf«s of the Stillwater and Great Miami, /eareand ^th Carolina in 1803, at the age of seventeen

The fSberCH,t,?t,0nu°.f tobacco and the making of whisky, single wre f^n l^I8i?WnSf*,p were 80 dense tbat tbe smooth clearing-off of a cX? faL wltvM LVaS! a"7nt of labor' As much as two hundred the planting of annle^r 77"* 8?d burned before the ground was ready for 1* sprabbed ud lwfh! or Peach trees. A vast amount of undergrowth had also to no easy matter to hnlTT, "d 7hile tbe8e were in a green state, it was gettimr his n«ua Tbe ^rst object of the enterprising pioneer, after were'cbtained anTattemntS8? ' k*8 i° 77 8 garden and orchard. When these numerous stumns 40 be P1?"^ a new difficulty presented itself. The Her to the plowsha^ TW8' 7th tbe,r green roofs, interposed a formidable barand for --- .*'- - i ^7?^ roots spread out in all directions, crossing each other driver Tim nlnwW°7 777 tl[jed *be mettle of the team and the patience of the and the ti * P, !' by 'he stubborn roots, would have to be drawn back would often SDrimr iL*f?ln-Vi, tbe/oots br°ke and the plow passed through, they spring ud or he 77 W'.tb 8"cb force 88 to make it necessary for the driver to unable tok«L7hiI r thei ir recoilin« bl°ws upon his toes or shins. Being descend too *7* Up more than a moment or two, they would sometimes or bov if a mn 7nd ITfIV'e 4be 8tr°kes as aforesaid. On such occasions, the man of the moralist Th^'Uld-7a7 U8e °f exP]et'ves that grated harshly on the ears but his earlv train;88 misfortunes, the writer, when a boy, full often experienced, itv. Tn q ft training prevented him, on such occasions, from indulging in prof&nsoii thft , owfver> these tenacious roots would decay and fertilize the crons wrtniJ6818 i PlowsIlare would pass steadily through them, and the teeming Th<* ni amPy reward the previous pains and labors of the husbandman, and °f those da^s were verJ simple and unique in their construction; with twai^ ,y were somewhat superior to those which the prophet Elisha used thev wai^e n j oxen' ^®y were greatly inferior to those of the present day ; sheath Vi h ^ ear-shares, having an iron shoe and wooden mold-board ; lie ana beam were often made from a fence-rail, and the handles would be of the most unpretentious character. . A man who was anything of a mechanic could make one of them in less than two days, and they were not considered worth painting ; in time these were succeeded by the bull plow, about the only difference being that the front part of the mold-board of the latter was iron ; this was, however, considered a decided improvement. In a few years, the bull plow was succeeded by the patent, the mold-board of which was made of cast iron ; these were made at plow-shops, constructed with skill and painted. Many successive grades of improvement have brought this indispensable implement of husbandry to its present almost perfect form.

In those early days, mast, such as acorns, hickory and beechnuts, grew m the forests in great abundance, famishing autumnal and winter food for swine. The mast-made pork, as it was called, though softer and more flaccid that the cora-fed, was savory and much relished by the people, and, though millions of wild pigeons annually infested the forests, they did not appear materially to diminish the acorn crop. The pigeon-roosts, or places where these birds came to pass the night, were almost marvelous to behold. They would come to their nightly rendezvous in innumerable multitudes, settling in the tree- tops, in the greatest confasion. All night long the breaking of overloaded limbs could be heard, crashing on the ground, wounding or killing a part of their feathered occupants. The roosts would occupy a great many acres. In the early morning, when the feathered myriads had flown, the upper forest would resume its usual quiet, while the lower would be strewn with wounded, fluttering birds, many of which would be taken to grace the tables of the neighboring cottages. The flesh of these birds was not as white and savory as that of the quail, but it was eatable and appeased the hunger of many families. One of these roosts existed for years in the western forest, not far from the present village of Laura. The writer has seen these birds in innumerable myriads passing overhead with a rushing sound, in one direction in the morning, but in the other in the evening. Their forest supplies having about ceased, they are now seldom seen.

The pecuniary resources of the early settlers of this township, were very limited ; they had but little paper money, no specie but the old Spanish coin, consisting of milled dollars of 100 cents value ; half-dollars of 50 ; quarter-dollars of -5 > eleven-penny bits of 12£ ; and five or flppennybits (so called) of 6J cents value. For the convenience of change, the larger pieces were many of them quartered, ana they had what was called "cut-money." In the course of time, paper money and the American decimal coin came into use ; the Government at length, no liking a mixed metallic currency, determined to make it all national, and, accordingty, passed an act, during Pierce's administration, cutting down the Spanish com 20 per cent in value, at the same time offering its previous value in national com at the mint ; this caused it nearly all to be sold to the Government, and recast into our governmental currency. Once in a while an old Spanish dollar, quarter, levy and fip may be seen, being kept only as mementoes of the past. But if money was scarce in those days, the real necessity for it was in like proportion ; the taxes on land were hardly 10 per cent of what they are at present. Luxuries, both in foofl and equipage, such as now exist, were then hardly known ; and, although the people were not bookish men, they seem to have understood the philosophy of adaptation, and to have reasoned like the poet : thpir floU . l^ar ** above stated, they obtained sugar and molasses ; from their fields they drew the flax that famished their summer apparel ; and from their checkered in the most animiP flannel® and Imseys would be striped and With the exception of carding and filling 10 tlle Z*6 of tbeir ownerswas done at home, leavin ' but little tofav *- J88 aPplled to doth, the work

"Bed scorched or browned rye barlev Pwh/at ^utside BfBmtanee. Forcoffee, they could get all thev desired from ii, k'i' w,eat flour> potatoes, etc. For tea, they the sassafras They d^nded for be/Z/nd .8Picewood *nd the roots of horse team, and thus combining tho^ tbf requisite number for a foureither for themselves or noin-M^-?' they would start, taking a few barrels of flour, they would start fof«?I "eigbbors and provisions, both for themselves and horses yoimger onM^as with a 8Pirit of hilarity, particularlyTe gather in to receive th^ artbdJ? H^Pi jh®" m/de' m6 neiKhbors would joyfully than twenty v^ , ?flclea ***>' bad Bent for. This custom lasted for more necessary. y ' ' the ""P^bon of the canal to Dayton made it no longer breasted coats with strait® n WOr®, low'Crowned, broad-brimmed hats, shortpantaloons without o,/!/8/1 oobare and no unnecessary buttons, long vests, and that form of dress was defended upon the ground heads they wore im/i?/" P ,a-1*n ?"d conformable to the ancient order ; on their center, ab^fthalf wb*te beavere, having an indentation or crown in the brim was foil »f5ia"i,lb ln dePth> and encircled by a white band or ribbon; the extremities - thov " h 8> Wldth and having also white ribbons attached to the chin, thus wrumi./vf "?wn down over the ears, and the strings tied under the tnre, beine made Jr !t on, *be bead. These hats were of veiy fine texkeep the head fuF> and were rather costly ; they were not calculated to the 8leevMof^ifbln8JU8t be,ow the waist and lapping over a petticoat or skirt; pieces called r C ^own rea°ked only to the elbows, where they were met by other Thev had « lor!11?8- 5 in those days, were made to reach to the elbows.

pieces as possible, constituted the tout ensemble of a Friend or Quaker woman's dress. Their dress, however, excepting their beavers, did not differ much from that of other women. After coming here, the young women declined to wear these beavers, and, in time, the old laid them aside. These early female fashions changed a great many years ago. The male fashions have changed also, and now very little is to be seen of the original. Of all articles of female apparel, the beaver was the most grotesque ; stuck upon a woman's head, it looked somewhat like an inverted tray, or sugar-trough, with both ends out ; the article had undoubtedly been carried from Pennsylvania to the South, for in years long after its discontinuance, a family from that State having come and settled here, the mother wore one not only to the Dunker meetings, but to the Milton stores, where she did her trading. Passing, on horseback, by the schoolhouse, some of the sharp-eyed children would see her, and, giving the signal to the scholars, that mother D was passing, order would be for the time suspended, and both teacher and scholars, rushing to the door and windows, would join in irrepressible laughter. The good old dame did not seem to be sensible of the merriment she was causing, nor that she was the only representative of the head-dress of a bygone generation, for we think she wore it until her death.

We propose now to give our readers a brief account of the labors and experiences of a prominent family of this township, having obtained the first fifteen years of its history from an only surviving son, now in his eighty-sixth year, and the only man living who remembers those early scenes.

We refer to Samuel J ones, who came from Columbia County, Ga., and settled here ^ii ^?ar 1805. He was not the first settler, it is true, but none of those are left to tell their tale. About the first of June, in the year aforesaid, two teams, one drawn by four and the other by two horses, reached in the morning their plaoe of estination, with his household goods and family, having stayed the previous P1?- k'a brother-in-law's. The place selected for their residence was about a half-mile west of the Stillwater, and nearly two miles north of Milton, in Section , on tne north bank of a most romantic glen, ftill forty feet in depth, which still remains unreclaimed from the forest His family consisted of seven sons and four sous - John, Jonathan, Francis, Samuel, Jesse, Thomas ?e d^i] ^ters were Dorcas, Mary, Sarah and Rachel. The eldest son aad the youngest daughter about five years of age. There ^ord® of Jesse, the only survivor, and who gave us this history, when we arrived there." Stalwart brothere, with their father min ' 80011 the imPression that betokened in the near future a conoff board -nn f They felled a large white oak ; while some were sawing and nnftino- ts, otb®r8 w®re riving them ; others, still, were cutting forks and poles Wd^ongthLa ^ Before ni*ht they had it coverld and weatherit on the south tk G8' 80uth one being left open ; a small cooking-tent joined taS brosTon main having ttoe groJrnd for floor, was wvered with ber waT^und oT Were placed their P4111^ Whether their first night's slumlong-wished-for hn^' We *51 eft guess, but the thought of having reached their with them it* n e have given them much enjoyment. They had brought pan. During thelrh^7- COOklng utensils, such as pot, tea-kettle, skillet and fryiug* We toT! & th,ey 1111(1 leamed the trade of ^psy-cooking, and wild turkey, fish, etc Wl d meat they had abundance, such as venison, ermen, was teeming with ite fin^v1^!^118 1)6611 88 yet much disturbed by A*' gambols, would snrimr ont inlmkitant8, whole shoals of which, in sportive

The drag-net was madp n* bushels, either with the hook or the drag-net length and four feeUn width101^^ §rapeyine8J some thirty or more feet in the interstices filled with «,ii i 6 8*fandy vines were interwoven with bark and barrier to the larger fish Tho eave<* shrub branches, presenting an impassable ^ "8h- They were thus caught in cteriwd quantities, and fab.

B ^ a port-hole, and waiting in silence for the pointing shoreward unsuspecting animal, being bltoded bv the liLht > me d°,wn and drink- The would allow the canoe to come withfn * he»lng little or no noise crops on it, one of turnip sled and the ^hef o^ T*V T®' theJ 80wed 'wo ttey «,t a good crop of turnips, and in the next 1? J*?m ft> ln December, October, they built a snhow: i , , next summer a good crop of wheat Tn soldier named Conner, who lived on^tUl^te/T bJ an old RevolutioMiy mgger's " for the boar(J 00 Stillwater, that they frequently substituted a the same, and he had the singula satisf^ti^ of siT f°Ur daugbters also did descendants springing ud a3nd h?m S " oftbebo ding quite a community of abode of civilLxfliff Some of ^ g ,wilderne88 and making it the pheasant and other wild an toialf fd ^^fi,g00d hu - ters' manJ a dcerfiturkey, the wolf had no terrors fof fh^ ft thelr ""errmg rifles. The howling of

Jog-rolling which told fPftrfnnxr endunQg was this material, that clearing and Cover of it would h^lf w^ut!1 C°mm0n Cl°the8> hard1^ *®°W ^ A ball-

16th of January, 1807, a county government was formed and three men were appointed either by the court or County Commissioners at Staunton, to give names to three townships now comprised in the territory of Union, Concord and Monroe. The name of one of those men the author cannot ascertain ; but the names of two were Samuel Jones (of whom I have before written) and John North. They met soon after their appointment, at the house of Samuel Jones, to perform the duty assigned them. After some discourse upon the propriety of giving becoming' names, Samuel Jones said, " I find that wherever my neighbors meet, either at logrollings, raisings, or at church, a spirit of harmony and unity pervades them, so I will call my township Union. " Well !, " responded the man whose name is unknown, " since you have selected so good a name for your township, I will select one equally appropriate for mine," so, lighting his pipe to electrify his mind, he walked off alone to hunt the desired name. After a short time he returned and aaid, 11 Mr. Jones, since you have named your township Union , I will call mine Goncord} which name, I think, is about as good as yours." We do not learn that ^!L^0ne8 made an3r objection to it. The other man. North, seemed to be influenced by a personal consideration. Having served in the Revolutionary army, and perhaps under Col. Monroe, who afterward became President of the United States, in honor of him he named his township Monroe. Of the twelve townships in this county, but four of them have the names of distinguished men. Indeed, the practice of naming both counties and townships after great men is now much more common than at that early day. We are not to suppose that the naming of a township has any effect upon the character of its inhabitants, but facts here almost warrant the opinion that old father Jones' conclusion was a correct one, namely, I f0i°f ^ voting Pop^ation, a fraction over four-fifths are Republicans. I do npt state this to extol one political party or disparage the other, but merely men- Friends*8 *** b*®torical fact, attributable, perhaps, mainly to the influence of the

- _ or8*n*2**tion of the township government took place soon after this meetthf at .8ame bouse ; at this preliminary meeting, as in all others,

Thio ' u°b Chairman and Clerk or Secretary, have to be chosen viva voce, moatw oiiUT*8 .a^0Pte^» but for some time none could be found willing to serve, and "competency as the reason.

DoinJd Sn^raa ^ ^we would not get organized at all ; at last they api th» ^ktSamuel B Edward*5 who tppe^ed to have more brass than Z asked wh J ^and was at la8t finished When done and signed, some s^ertolunw^i r* lnEdwaT?8' name stood for ; he, being slow to reply, a by- Boobv." This «T for ^un' * * b tell," said he " what it stands for ; it stands for was Edwards' aPP^rs have been accepted by the company, and it seems foun^Ho^f ^Bubse^Mnt^n^f18 *° hav.ej>een a very crude one, yet it v* ** who participated in thSe^iv ^J? 4 penod of seventy-three years, and, of all No person is now l i elections, not one now remains, civil officers of this townahto wbo can tell the names of many of the first elected District, South Carolina Q Coate, son of Marmaduke Coate, of Newberry his place of residence is now^v^^m its flrst elected Clerk, and, though now reached the time when thJ*' Townsbip, it was then in Union. We have most important one in the tnJl^ of Milton was begun, and, as it is far the wnsnip, we propose to give its early history.

Crt8kl11, ttnd such he continued to^'for^n0'161"61'111^0'' °f more than orlfourieen yea,01, 80n of Caleb Mendenhall "!?y Griffith Mendenhall, a informed the author that ho . enaeuhalJ, of whom mention will be mJi* rode them to the sale of these lote^nki^to ^Ham? mounted two steers' aar3 i thejr mode of traveling would hnik u"* to Wltness something extraordi- Evans was the father off"^^ extraordinary at this time. jSSt

Rebecca, Bobert and Susan hisddSrtdL!*? Tk ""i namelY> Elizabeth, Anna, We read Paradise Lost omi! 6 ?est daughter, though young in years is said tA fether to give the village the name ofTts^iltoa^ admir^ that she induced hS Milton only, but, when a « 1 lts lllustnous author. It was at first called

Robert Finney, a hatted Md^h^'v^6,1^ tho8e of John F. Jay, a carpenter others, Oliver Beuton anrli^r/r' in fte town Proper, thou^ two Yorker, and son of a soldi^toe^lWri1^ just ab?v^ BentO" waa a New Joseph Evans in a store in CinrinnJf^ voI"tl5>n' . He had been a partner with to Milton and Mtoblish^d « a 8"d' bavm« married his daughter Ann, fether-in-law, adjoining Milton ^ 8 .drY Fooda store, on land bought of his Post office iteVlX"? This was about 1817 or 1818. The first and kept by Benton h!" h^11 established here at this time (a weekly one) refinement of manner skuLTto we,l ed"c?te<i for those times, of much capacity. He acted tor . T business, and of far more than ordinary mental the employment of teachers Thus JivfJi? rtf Dd hi8^bi1<^,eu' and> being foremost in aPPly to the time before g g 'hem a good education. These remarks holding the post office fift^n?? W6re estabhshed by the State. Benton, after opposite politics He f or. upward, was displaced by C. W. Beebe, of and advancement Ah^tn!lg te10^ ^d addlng to ito faciiitie8 for growth Springfield, Clark Countv* In^iSn1836' Benlb,n removed his store and family to and P«cticed law in the^magistrate'cou^ ®at h® retun,ed' tou«ht school,

Early Manufactories

It is said a carding machine wa3 established previous to 1812, in connection with the grist-mill of John Mast ; during the carding season it operated alternately with the grist-mill, but its capacity was small. About the year 1815, Samuel Kelley, an enterprising Massachusetts Yankee, erected a woolen-mill on Section 21, just west of Stillwater, on the Spring stream. At first, wool-carding was only done, leaving to the wheel to spin it into wearing material. The fulling-mill followed, and in those days did good work. A few years later, the spinning jenny was introduced. In about 1820, Davis W. Thayer, after having rented the Kelley Mills, bought them and enlarged and improved them, soon after which the power loom was introduced, followed soon by the broad hand loom for weaving blankets. People from all parts came here with wool to have it converted into flannel cloth, satinet and other cloths. Though these mills have often changed owners, they are still in active operation, buying wool, exchanging and manufacturing goods, etc. After Kelley rented to Thayer, he built a cotton manufactory on the river bluff, just above Milton, about 1819, which he subsequently converted into a woolenmill, and finally sold to William Rutledge, its present owner. About 1824, Seth Kelley, a younger brother of Samuel, erected a scythe-factory on the river bank, also in Section 21. The water from the woolen factory was used to run his triphammer, grindstones and bellows. The history of the sickle manufactory is described in the biography of Henry Coate.

Powder was also made in early days near Mast's Mill, but, it is presumed, in small quantities. Guns were also repaired, and it is said the Indian chief Tecuraseh frequently came here to have his guns repaired. But the most of the latterdescribed works have disappeared, and been replaced by modern improved machinery.

From 1826 to the present, Milton has been slowly improving. Should it be asked why a village having such great water-power, such fertility of soil, and such enterprising inhabitants around it, continued so tardy in its growth, our auswer would be, that its life-blood has long been drained by Dayton and Troy. Remote from canals and railroads, its large grain and pork trade has gone almost exclusively to the above-named markets. It was trade that built Palmyra in the desert ; it was trade that built New Orleans in the fevered swamps of Louisiana.. It trade, in fact, that builds all towns and cities, however much their eligibility of situation may contribute to it In 1840, a turnpike was made from Dayton, nrough Milton and on to Covington. This helped the village to some extent, but d much more for Dayton and Covington. The great desideratum of Milton was a canal or railroad, and, as a railroad was practicable, great exertions have at orwJff611 ^mes ^en both by the village and township, to secure one. From

^?"eflca?8e or otheL the schemes have all failed, until the people became incredgf!rg 0ne: The?> however, at last have one, and can hardlv thT^hp^I ", h Sey are lndebted to Mr. Arnold, of Dayton, for it. He conceived sailles and .°n®. from Dayton, through Milton and Covington, to Ver- sequence. From a nn, ' a ®reat revival of house-building and trade is the conlong, doubled or trebled °f ab°Ut eight hundred 80uls> we expect to see it ere- several lots, on one ofwh^hV0^^0 P^uniarily injured him. He still owned merchandising on a rathar ^ n Ul t .a dwelHng and storehouse. He continued Bing on a rather email ecale until late in the autnmn of 1837, when he died of abdominal dropsy. As nearly as can be ascertained, Evans was the first magistrate elected in Milton, and the first member of the State General Assembly. He was a man of considerable ability. After his removal to Cincinnati, no magistrate appears to have lived in Milton until the coming of Dr. Benjamin Crew. He came there about 1827, and entered upon a lucrative practice of medicine. . Getting the people's confidence, they made him a Justice of the Peace. Being of a veiy enterprising spirit, and having accumulated money, he entered into merchandising in 1832, with Gardner Mendenhall, thus driving a triple business. He appeared to be on the high road to wealth when he was stricken down by consumption, in 1834, but he left behind a name in every way worthy and honorable. Two sons, Casper W. and Menalcas, survive him. The first is a harness and trunk maker, in Dayton ; the second is a farmer, in this township.

Soon after Crew's death Milton was incorporated, and C. W. Beebe became the first Mayor. From that time onward, it has had many Mayors, Marshals and Councilmen, the history of whom I leave to the inhabitants. The first tavern in Milton, it seems, was opened by Wiley S. Jones, in 1826 or 1827, and was run successfully by different men for a great many years. The first meeting-house (Methodist) was built about 1833, previous to which meetings had been held both in the schoolhouse and private houses. Friends, Methodists and Christians now hold meetings there. Schools were taught in Milton from an early period, but the names of teachers, previous to 1820, can hardly be ascertained ; from that time to 1830, we have the names of Charles Mills, Daniel H. Jones, Mark McCool, Bonham, Rebecca and Susan Evans, some of whom taught several terms - all subscription schools.

The village of Georgetown, or New Lebanon, appears to owe its paternity to George Hatfield. It was laid out about the year 1840, in Sections 15 and 22- Its growth has been veiy gradual, because of its isolated position. It lies within sight of the county line on the west, and draws considerable of its trade from Darke County. A rich country surrounds it, and a large dry -goods trade is carried on by the firm of Levi Ammon & Sons. It once had a large trade in oak shingles, made by the citizens, but the scarcity of timber and coming of pine shingles have ended it. Its inhabitants number not far from 150 souls. The German Baptists have a church here. Its post office is Pottsdam.

Laura is situated about three miles north of Georgetown, in Section 3, and is about the same age. Its founders were Wesley Sharp and Riley McCool. Being near the North Branch of Ludlow's Creek, and one of its tributaries, the ground around it is not level like that of Georgetown. Being" also near the county line, a part of its patronage comes from Darke Count}'. It has a graded schoolhouse and two churches (Christian and Union) in its precincts. Although its population is superior to that of Georgetown, being some 200 inhabitants, its trade is not as great It, however, enjoys one great advantage or blessing not possessed by many villages. It has no liquor den, because the inhabitants will not tolerate one. The proximity of these two villages to Milton, and their want of a railroad, will necessarily prevent them from receiving that growth which would follow were they more favorably situated.

The establishment of divine worship was coeval with the first settlement of this township. The little colony of Friends held informal meetings, first at the cabin of Caleb Mendenhall, and subsequently at the neighboring cabins.

According to the discipline of the Friends Church, no branch can be esta lished without the consent and recognition of the Superior Meeting within whose jurisdiction such branch is established, and the parent meeting at Bush River, from which these had removed, having ceased to exist by reason of such remov , no formal meeting could by its authority be established ; hence it became necessary to obtain authority from the nearest quarterly meeting to establish a monthly meeting.

On the 13th of December, 1806, application was made to the quarterly meeting at Red Stone, Penn., the nearest meeting, for the establishment of a monthly meeting, which was granted. Subsequently, a yearly" meeting having been established in Richmond, Ind., the privilege of holding a Quarterly meeting was by it

Thus we see by this record that there has been a recognized Friends Church in uris township for, beginning with the social informal meetings, seventy-four years. From two causes, viz., deaths and an almost continual outflow of emigration, commencing about 1833, by" means of which various churches in Iowa and Indiana were built up, this church to-day" does not contain as many members as were once -rompnsed in one of its three monthly meetings.

Christian Church.- - About the year 1819, a great revival of religion took place in Kentucky, which, on account of the extraordinary zeal and piety of its oonverts, was denominated the Christian Brotherhood, or Church, from which, his soul being full of holy zeal for the advancement of the cause of Christ, and the evangelization of his race, came one Abraham Snethen, who, by his influence as a minister, established in the year 1820, a church on Ludlow, in the western part of New Light i Church ^ b exists, and is known as the Christian, or generally called,

During the year 1846, a minister of the Cumberland Presbyierian Church of vovington, was m the habit of coming to the town of Milton to preach, and, as Methodist Church0 ^ tllere of bis denomination, he usually occupied the

^inoiKr°K^e re?uJ1*r accommodation of its members, the attempt was made, prinnidividual, to build a church, but, failing to receive the pecuniary vAAm n having partially completed the same, he abandoned it for some the auspice^of EldeTwiUiSa?' * bnU1Ch °f Chri9tian ChUrCh' east a? MniV uhu!?h house was built on the Milton & Tippecanoe road, one mile them until ^ *bo ,®ember® of the Christian Church, which was occupied by De8Trin° '' " *adly lnjured b>' a ®tonn as to render it unfit for occupancy. magniflLnt """ time more centrally located, they sold it, and erected a is the'eG^nana'^^'^?Ur^' - Prominent among the churches in this township, Word of God in ttefri8*' 7^^ Preachers were among the first to proclaim the grated from Swartz reat Valley. The first members of this church immitown, Penn Th^TvS' Genna"Jr' in the year 1719, and settled in German* and fled to America wjfvfeilifevere y persecuted on account of their religious faith, of worshiping God aceorHincJ1?1^^ ,?ainin8 liberty> and of having the privilege their progress was slnw ^ tb? dictates of their conscience. For sixty years in its unsettled state L W1*!F 1° tbe difficulties and hardships of a new country, twenty years later and by the French war of 1755, and the Revolution the new settlements Tn 1 8nhsequent Indian wars all along the borders of in America, also edited « , Christopher Saur published the first German Bible ized their first Sabbath .papSr *yeT 188116(1 fr(>ni the church. They organwe have any knowledge was and the flrst annual conference of which tution of the United State* . ^be Bberty and protection the Constibecame more visible Tho fir?fVe . m» instilled new energy, and their progress ' The first meeting-house of the church we have any account

Virginia, was John Garber, in Flat tock vluev Jim h that Settled in minister, and built up a laro ^ concrreffatinn Fr!^1!^' Wa^ an eminent moved to Ohio, and settled on 5^25** . tbls valley, Jacob Miller man, and did much toward founding tl» ^ ,°n tlf wes? side> was an able gratefully indebted for its present am cb??*b, and to bim the church is members of the church and devofcJ adeIeyen reI,g»°us periodicals printed by leges under control oaiie "hureh ^ There »re ^ree coland one in Berlin, Penn The^tadente of^h" M°!?Si.IU' one in Ashland, Ohio, great care, and are welcomed re.rn.J? °f 86 1.n?t,tut,ons are watched over with the moral standard r^uir^ ' g 688 °f rehg,°D °r Sect- if th<* <*> many that now inhabiththtere"ion ' ^W^'"8 for worship, have sprung the no display of finerv or a cmndv T lesl- people are plain, unostentatious, make best citizens in the 'land ° tJ? f MfP^aratDCe;iare hone8t> temperate, and among the berry and Monrol ' \he ^wnships of Union, Newton, Newnumber of pvnoiia organized churches, which are presided over bv a first preach^ Xis^mreh £e?b. Swank. and hU nephew' Joh" Swank, »«® the harmonTwith themtw " 'd ^1Ch 18 *2* Zg0od condition, being in union and Abraham " " To' Henry Fess, Henry Arnett, in this townshin^ for ^ahon f1 1 i8ee<^ of ^®th°^lsm seems to have fallen in stony places sprang upand^Ih^ the J6ar 18?3' theJ organized and built a church, which it begin to d^Iine f?T a but} after an existence of ten ^ twelve years, occupied mainly by the FriendT'^ * nUmberS but few members> and the house is the chure^este^haH ^au *a are also two churches, one built by the successors of the dtizeM^^Sfei % f Snethen, the other by the united efforts and means of In addJH^ ^l? f denomination and open to all Christian people, of the townqhin tb°?e a rfadv enumerated, tliere is a church in the eastern part ing Sabbato 1,1 connection with the Friends' Church are three flourishyear In *' °^e °f wblck - located in Milton - continues during the entire ant season «!!i° the?e' there are various union schools held during the pleasaccommodation of th** ^ C,°ntlI??. of any Particular denomination, but for the modatioii of the general public, irrespective of creed or sect

1832^nethr^p°?>l8Ji" ^is towmhip were taught at West Branch, from 1808 to it aDnears H, f Meeting-House. From the remains of certain manuscript, and taught the largest school ever collected at this place, but, owmg to inefficiency in government, his school was a failure and finally ended inzera

In 1824, during the summer it was controlled by J^bM' H Jones, who During the winter of 1825, the school was taught b^amel . was said to be rather an extraordinary man, a kind of universal gen ,

During the autumn of 1828, and w nter of 1829, *e "h"'B*h the Alexander!. Wilson. James Hanks a land surveyor held the torch TO ^ winter of 1830. During a part of the autumn of \®3^"1.^°^inauguisted young ideas were directed by W. B. Jones, of South Carolina, ftt and six miles from north to south, so that within its limits are foun ' , - the most of which is tillable. Its boundaries are Newberry an Franklin, Townships upon the north, Concord on the east, Union on the south, an one of the eastern townships of Darke County, bounds it on the wes - . ^ as it does a superior system of drainage, fertile soil, ever-livmg sp_ ^ streams of excellent water, ample railroad and shipping facilities, its the present time are happy in the possession of a country inferior to no town_ which conduces to render prosperity accessible to all within its limits, i, .n_ton ship is traversed almost centrally from north to south by the Dayton, IjO ^ A Toledo Railroad, which, though yet in its infancy, is of incalculable hen. _ the country through which it passes in affording its citizens traveling ana 8 PF ^ accommodations, thereby greatly enhancing the value of the lands and en ing industrial pursuits in general. In addition to this, the township is uw® * ^ by a perfect network of free pikes, excellent county and township roads P ^ good condition, her streams are spanned by numerous magnificent bndgeg^. ^ which stand as enduring monuments and attest to the industry and progress spirit of the people by whom they were constructed. footers

Inasmuch as the Stillwater River has been one of the most important in the early settlement of this and all other townships bordering its banks, think it is well worthy of particularization. We shall not, however, begin at i source, nor carry it to the mouth, but shall endeavor to describe it in seen bounded by the limits of the township lines whose history we are record^- Stillwater enters this township near the division line between Sections 5 received the appellation bv which* it'" > ®an8e d east. As to how this creek one of which ITthaMn «riw ISK c;ommoniy known there are two versions, had led him t^' l- .eai!ber times, before the curiosity and enterprise of man vicinitv when th^hete?terthLe wilderne88- aad establish himself a home inTis SS^'Jw* stnmWh1 ° the WOlf a2cl the 'Thoo'J of 'he Indian were the only echoes reverberating °f ,natUres auditor* apparatus, and sent the this t.rJut;?! * n g through the almost impenetrable fores t^-at such a time as arth^r8 th,e etoryol two hunters, Abbott and Jones by naLe, who solitude wlien tfr r'na!i10.nS °f the cba8e> had penetrated thus far in the sylvan they w^ Dh®"S and d,8aPPO"itetl with the almost fruitless labors ofthe day, forests, to recruht^tlmir^nat° shades . of night were fast settling o'er the solemn sleep and wiHmn*511 wa?te^ ener»les " tire(l nature's sweet restorer, balmy temPinated L the nn^reV,°HS warni"?- their Preconcerted plans were suddenly it appears thev hnH^^^?06 1"^" tbe 8cene of 8 lulge panther, whose domicile, the place without^. b' invaded, and the animal, not willing to retire from point of iTatina hTn th g ^ "g^ *° the use of the 8ame' fro,n the legal standupon the hunters but nft!lr°n?1"aI P°asess°r of the soil, made a vigorous attack length tn tin* J?* , ' a^er a brief hand-to-hand conflict, which appeared of great

Par^er Xlt ^ bed rcpose ? and sinee that time, the stream has been called banks c'ora.memojation of their struggle with that animal upon its the Caucasian rani IfT°n ofu the 8tory is that Iong years after the members of and the wild nhviT h&<I 2?U?ht and made for themselves homes in this vicinity, ancestors and hi^ren °f the fo,rest had retired from the hunting-grounds of their the^^ht g°neu^ 8eek a PIace nearer the Great Father of Waters, where graves of hie aawilImg to quit in his later years the hunting-grounds and on the WyIo eJftthers, refused to follow his people, and, constructing his lodge watch i no- °l, 8tl;eam which bears his name, remained upon the spot, wondered if *k 88 u 8aw tke Primeval forests rapidly fading from his view, he sensei* w change was a reality, or mere delusion caused by his failing ^nses. Well might he say with the poet : ' °

However, as to which of the two stories is the more authentic, it is not possible for us, at a period so remote from the time when these events should have occurred, to determine with absolute certainty ; although for various reasons, which the limited nature of our work does not permit us to chronicle, we are led to think that the former of the two versions is probably the more plausible. Be this as it may, it is a well-known fact that the portion of the township drained by this creek offered the greatest inducements to the earlier settlers, and by no means the least of these advantages was the exceeding fertility of the soil, to which the extreme healthfulness of fie climate and bewitching beauty of the location united to make it an extraordinarily desirable place for the heads of families to choose as a permanent home. These advantages, together with that offered by the stream, which was capable of producing power sufficient to run the various mills, which were very essential, and, indeed, almost indispensable factors in the earlier settlements, account for the first settlements of the township having been made in this locality ; besides the streams to which reference has already been made, there are several minor ones, two of which flow in an easterly course through the southern tier of sections, and finally empty into the Stillwater, while another flows, a more southerly course and pours its waters into Ludlow Creek, in Union Township. Excellent springs of never-failing water also well up in various localities, than which, water more sparkling or refreshing is not to be found within the limits of our country. As regards the chorography of this portion of the county, it can be said of Newton that it is mostly level ; the township slopes gently from the east of the Stillwater, and no waste land is to be found. The western banks of the river, however, in some places rise abruptly into rather high bluffe. which, in several places, extend some distance west of the river, but a very small portion of this land cannot be tilled, the most of it at the present time being in a high state of cultivation ; this productive condition of the soil is not a mere matter of chance, but . has been brought about only after spending long years of manual labor at agricultural pursuits, assisted in later years by the mechanical arts. 1° the beginning of the present century, when the first settlements were made, the township was one densely wooded forest, with but two exceptions ; what to-day is the meadow green, with its abundant herbage, was then an unknown forest, fit home for the wild animal and native Indian, who held a joint proprietorship in the land, and each walked unmolested, as was their wont, the " monarchs of all they surveyed. . The punty of the atmosphere was then tainted by nothing save the smoke which curled in fantastic wreathings from the wigwam of the red man, now the air is rendered noxious by the impure vapors rising from the noisy locomotive, as it rushes through with its load of freight, exchanging the products of other climes for the surplus products in this ; then the giant oak reared its lofty head deep into the ethereal depths ; now the monarch of the forest is fallen, and m l place fields of waving com and wheat, orchards bending beneath their loads or luscious fruits, dot the landscape here and there as far as the eye can reach.

°f the oldest inhabitant of the township the country has been t^^ZlSaJ5ffonned'rniuch farther back than this we cannot go ; but the old are eimioa v, tell the history of this township as far back as there

Indian what tiT^11 ^ownsbiP long before the advent of the white man or even remaira too Haa Jw together with their manners, customs and language, entiflc research Ja ,V b,?ne<i the mold of centuries to be soon unearthed by sciof great deDth fAimS0ifO1uin secti°n of Miami County is an alluvial deposit able for its^ntfnnJTr additions of successive years ; it is quarters of a centn^ Tertlbt^' inasmuch as the ground which has been tilled three the amount of its the lea8t abated in productiveness ; on the contrary, foible as circumstan^ wOUH They made 'bcmselves ks comtfafj0. remove the forest nti^1 " tbeir. "ew quarters, and proceeded at unless they sowed thev wonlH *^7 to P*aat'ng in the spring, knowing well the3 wou,d »ot reap. They plied their ices vigorously, the effects of which soon made themselves apparent in more ways than one. Not only was a spot of ground laid open to the genial influence of the sun, but, one particularly clear morning, when the sounds created by their vigorous strokes sent the echoes rebounding merrily through the surrounding forest the woodmen were surprised by the appearance upon the scene of Michael Williams, who had been roused from " the even tenor of his way " by the sounds which bespoke the onward move of civilization. Having previously considered himself the only settler in the vicinity, he proceeded at once to investigate matters, and, in company with one of his sons, pushed his boat up the Stillwater to the place from where the sounds proceeded, and was not a little surprised at the sight which greeted his ?yes. The emotions of gladness which thrilled him at the prospect of establishing friendly relations with one of his own kind can better be imagined than described. His desire being fully reciprocated by Mr. Coate, for, in those primeval days, a neighbor was an article not to be lightly estimated, they at once became fast friends, and, probably, the first highway in the township was the simple footpath that spanned the distance between their dwellings, and which was indicated by the blazed trees that marked its course. Mr. Coate died in the year 1822, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, having been a resident of this township some eighteen years. He lived to see much of the land occupied by the enterprising white settlers who immigrated here between the war of 1812 and his death, and to see his sons, the most prominent men in the vicinity, happily situated on homes of their own, free from any incumbrance, save the trees, the spontaneous products of the soil.

wife °f Mr . Coate died some time previous to the death of her husband. qk u j °r could it be written, would make a large and interesting book, fine had been captured by the Indians at the age of seven, and, after enduring Hardships that but few of her sex could have outlived, finally escaped from her ^tors after having been in their custody for five long, wearisome years, during tc time she became conversant with their customs and language, which accomplishments, if so we may term them, proved very beneficial to the whites during the time of hostilities.

Thomas Hill was probably the third white man who established himself permanently in this township ; he came from the East about the year 1805 or 1806r acwmpamed by his family, which consisted of two sons, viz., Nathan and John, viz., Elizabeth and Sarah. Mr. Hill established himself at once on feection 20, where he resided until his death. He early identified himself interests of the township, building as soon as practicable u va*> the an(l only copper still ever erected in this township. This

8U2Ce88fully tiU the I**1 181 8, when fie disposed of the property to desfroye^by flre° 0perated lt tiU 1831 or 1832> when the whole establishment was toJrirb S rD V a famUy of nine children> listing of six boys «d w S^°lina was hi8 ^tive State, and there he would probably he found it imiUaaW81?8 °PPosed to slavery in any form in which it might appe«*> to them. Therefore not n°t coincided by the majority of the people to belong the people of his State . afile to coincide in his views of these things with the land of bondage 'and11^f?Uent^, Wlth 1118 three sons and five daughters, he left wnaage, and, after enduring the hardships consequent upon so long a among tlie settlers as that instrument w ! 1 0t 1)roduce 80 much astonishment In the fall of 1800 the littl» ^ * . hccn seen to do on a former occasion took immediate poWssfon tf from the,r nat,Ye Stato. Upon arriving here thev north and south The hearl* ^urr^er'sec^ons of land, lying in a direct line sequently, as far as fam^tfef ^ SeVeral fami,ies were al1 '^hers in l^ con themselves. Samuel T(^e the^rdeMocat^d' thefhform?d1 duite a settlement of

®e"lamm 1>earson on the south quarter Sector, £ ? -!"w-nqUarter' Section 28- norUi quarter, Section 33 ; the Iatter dted tl,o ° af5f nh' e ^,H,a" Fnrnas took the n the cemetery at Pleasant hut.. * -1st of December, 1835, and is buried lute will, which, "1.& W?re e,ldowed hy nature withal change the gloomy aspect ofthefoLr fr fl^fngl^duStry' "on enabled them to 83 they learned to loi^where" timin' IT? lnt?au Eden> at least into such homes with their children, who had^wEi happily and prosperously many years Embree was a natWeof Te^ ,,ear them. Jacob

°f the soil in this countv commi^ here> and hearing the wonderful fertility mined to remove thither in i on in the most favorable terms, he detertled on the soutW ^^ 1" «*? of 1807, we find himtt- frem Vi^Sa^n tt'e°yLrflio6 or^iiT^16!?!"1 ^ tP.wns,!ip' brought bis family "ver, on the northwestTimrii. o ^. 7 and *ocated himself near the ford of the sons, one of whom ^ of Section 7. He was the head of a family of four

Benjamin Iddings, from Tennessee, came about the same time as the preceding, and erected his cabin on Section 33, for which purpose land was given him by Mr. Pearson.

Joseph Furnas settled on the banks of the Stillwater in 1808 ; he had a family of seven children, and taught the first school in the township, in his own house.

The first settlers west of the river were William and David Miles, who hailed from South Carolina in 1807. The former died the same year of his arrival. At this period, settlements began to be made in the northern part of the township, on Panther Creek. Robert Leavell, from South Carolina, settled on Section 2, in 1808, and William Perry, from Tennessee, located himself on Section 6 at about the same time, while Robert Dickson, the father of two sons and several daughters, located himself on northwest quarter, Section 7, in 1808-09.

Inasmuch as the township, at this date, was rapidly filling up in eveiy direction, it would be impossible in the limited space allotted ns, to follow each family through the perils of the wilderness to the spot where they* located ; among the later settlers we might mention Samuel Falkner, Jacob Rench, George Freshonr and many other men of indefatigable perseverance, who rapidly transformed the forest into productive farms, and laid the foundation for that high degree of prosperity enjoyed by the present population. From the result of their labors, we imagine their motto must have been

Jacob Embree may be legitimately credited with being the father of the manufacturing interests of the township ; prior to his arrival, the power offered by the streams had not been utilized ; it was not long after this, however, till the grating i the crank as it turned the hopper of the old mill, and the whirring sound of the h ol*18 V rapidly through the ponderous logs, whispered a story of better aays, when the puncheon floor and split-slab door would give place to smooth °aken boards and flour for family use could be obtained at home it « after Mr Eml>ree erected the saw-mill, in 1808, he attached to ni" Tnnglrain' or corncracker, as it was then called. It was a very simple co"8i®ting of « hopper, around which four forks were set in as a^holt^ d together by cross-pieces and covered with brush, in order to serre scale this bJL wbde the mill was being operated. On so small a day. Thi? mUMi^not ^ & 8f^'mi11 on Section 10, Range 4, in a very early a lonely landmark of the ?fra.te<i for many years, but the frame still stands, oil-mill was established KpuJ, D^nt tottering beneath its weight of years. An some time prior to 1840 Tnn,u n 8 on Pother Creek, by Abraham Deeter, first establishment of the lrinH b built a distillery in 1818. This was the ship. Mr. R. ran this busin^s «n^ S*lJrater\ in the northern part of the townfire, in 1831-32. He immediate cce8sf|il!y until his building was destroyed by immediately erected another structure, on the west bank of

Deeter brothers.1 Tbis mil" wtTrun till aLf,?nng °f 1848' he Sold this <**> to the by fire, and the present Sugar Grove Mill was^henTn'Vth' Wr6s *tnwas destroyed at the present time, is doing a S busings bmlt * ^ CrUmrine- who' we about two ^?in dilmlthlgh' ^ lna8"uch 88 there are trees on this which up, we are led to hpliA^ffif *' bave grown after the ground was thrown

Xut on^re'VsnrfL0886' at lea8t fifteen feet b«b "b"> first built been almost entimlv inclosed, now covered with saplings, but it must have articles denotin^Ti^ frGe from tTees wben tbe fortification was formed. Numerous have been fo»^f of a race that had some knowledge of the fine arts, impremiahla S near at handj and many things go to show that this almost genceof tho t Itfe8S was °oonpied by a people of more than the ordinary intellis pot wp i . *^8 wbo these people were, or when they lived upon the agreeable task of creating the hypothesis, from which the origin and destiny of this people may some day be ascertained- The prairie of which previous mention has been made, was just across the river from this fort, and probably was used by this people as a burying-ground. It may, indeed, have been cleared by them in tne beginning. Many skeletons have been found here, and the fact that this spot o prairie-land was partially surrounded by sycamore trees, goes to show that t ey were planted by human hands, for this species of tree is usually found only upon the banks of streams. We can be positive in regard to several letters . First, the human skeletons show that a people did really exist ; secondly, t e earthenware vessels, that they were creatures of intelligence ; thirdly, the existence of the fortification proves that they had an enemy. Who that foe man was tna inspired the erection of such a fortification, is not explained even by tradition, an probably never will be known, but to those who have long since gone to the lan of spirits. . . .

Pleasant Hill, the only village in this township, has a population of abo 500 inhabitants, and includes one square mile of surface in its corporate h®1®.

The town was for many years called Newton, after the township, which, Dy the way, was named in honor of the philosopher, Sir Isaac. The ground upon which it is situated was surveyed by James Hauks, and laid out by J. K. leewr, May 26, 1843. The original plat consisted of eight lots, all west of Main stree , which bounded them on the east, and which was sixty-six feet wide then, but subsequently had its width increased to eighty feet The lots were 132 with seventy-five feet front, and were divided by two cross streets, viz., High an North, each forty-nine and one-half feet wide. These streets are now eighty tee wide, while the cross-streets which intersect Main on the east, are sixty-six tee wide. After having been laid out, the growth of the village rapidly increased, and in 1850, became of so much importance that it was decided, for general con^ venience, to move the post office from Coppock's mill to Newton. The post om had first been kept about one mile southeast from town, and, from the beautiful spot of its location, was called Pleasant Hill. It was moved from he in about 1840, to Coppock's mill, and was kept awhile in the mill, but it sn retained its first name, and, upon its being removed to Newton, it was decided, order to prevent all irregularities in regard to postal matters, to change the nam of Newton to Pleasant Hill, which was accordingly done. After the removal o the office here, John Whitmore became Postmaster, which position he retain five or six years. At present, the position is filled by Mr. J. Reiber, a brave so* dier in the late rebellion, who, in a single engagement, was the target wni received five leaden bullets while battling for the Union under the banner of old Stars and Stripes.

The village was incorporated June 30, 1866. The first officers were as follows: Mayor, Charles W. Davis ; Recorder, N. B. Teeter; Trustees, William Patty, M. D., John H. Williams, D. Minnich, John Whitmore and Joseph * '

Three merchants, one boot and shoe shop, three blacksmiths, one silver-sun > one agricultural implements, two wagon-makers, five physicians, one grain deal , one fhrmture dealer, one confectionery, two milliners, and one saloon.

The progress made by a country in civilization is denoted in a gj6**' measure by her educational advantages. The mighty strides taken in this directi°n> may well be regarded with pride by the enterprising citizens of Newton. iqaq - u* school in the township was taught by Joseph Furnas, in they iaos, in his own cabin, which stood on the banks of the Stillwater. The greater part of his pupils consisted of his own children, seven in number ; w these were added the children of the neighbors when they could be spared from such a screeching noise a! scut the hln^l g h'C,V U1>0" being °P«"cd. Produced «t ; the patent tenc^vkh sh t olr ^^!'' '^ '"'0Ugb the veins °f the strongbut in lieu of this, the pu£ lY n,0t 3'«t made its appearance, bugs and held up by wooden ,beuobos rudely hewn from sappurjiosc. In such rude and Immnl , °.' tlu'0llD,> auger holes provided for that settlers receive their early Ltu^ou and^Hf ^ th" ?'d tbc children of the old The second teacher in nT« uc, ?u and themselves for the business of life

"cable the log house ^VwaTro ^^ ' WUSt °' tb<i riv* i and as soon as pme" at the present time toero Iro ®°"ven,c"'mid comfortable structures, and employment during thirtv-siv ,!uat -eboolhouses in the township, giving

Nathan Hill and David MinnL0'' J' £ Tcotcr- Goorgc Shoemaker, by Oliver Furnas and Harriott 'bflerent grades were tough t the first year friends, wholminf^^ \n township were members of the denomination of tions of the Puritan** " "cre from the East to free themselves from the persecufelationship back to iuaU^ PeoPle °f the township to-daj^, trace their immortalized hv Whu?'- , ?ood Qualcer whose sufferings and name have been Divine services worn k Yj1111, ^1S beautiful poem, "The Exile." For many years, church was a W h. -iYr m ^ai7lsi. dwelling houses and in the open air. The first formed by the erected in 1820, and was called Union Church, because in 1820 - if*w!L C-fUr?\^n ^le township was a log house built by the Christians ' situated south of the cemetery of Pleasant HilL This house was afterward taken down, and a frame building occupied its place. This denomination was organized in 1815, when, a discussion arising as to what the cliurcn should be called, Mrs. Kyle said she "hoped the church might do well, and suggested the name of Hopewell, which was unanimously adopted, and it has been known by that name ever since. After the old frame building fell into disuse, tne present brick edifice was built in Pleasant Hill. The denomination at the presen time has no regular minister, but the membership is, perhaps, as large as any in the township ; they maintain a Sunday school throughout the year, and have a general attendance of about 150. .. .

The third church in the township was of logs, built by the German tfaptisu> about 1841. This was replaced in 1840 by the "Old Stone Church. It was remodeled in 1873, and is now known as the Sugar Grove Church. .

The Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill was organized in c fall of 1876. The officers were as follows: Presiding Elder, John Cadwalladcr Elder, Jacob Crurarine; Minister and Secretary, Elias Teeter; Deacon, Panic Deeter. Present officers : W. G. Ullery, Elias Teeter and Jacob Cramnne, Elders , M. Deeter and Samuel It. Deeter, Deacons ; W. II. Cadwalladcr, Secretary ; n unap Mikescll, Treasurer. The present frame edifice was built a few years since and is a neat structure, whose congregation consists of a goodly number of devout worshipers. , ,

It is a substantial structure, size 50x70 feet, the upper part being of bnck, an the basement of stone ; this denomination also has a church edifice in Plcasan Hill with a membership of more than 100, which, in conjunction with the members of Sugar Grove Church, in numbers exceed any other single denomination in tne township.

The Disciples' Church was organized here in 1872, at which time the congregation consisted of about 12 members ; it is a branch of the Miami Church at erickstown. At present, services are held monthly in the Disciples' Hall. Uniy about six persons are now connected with the church.

Secret Orders

A.,F. & A. M. - Pleasant Hill Lodge, No. 361, received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Ohio the 17th October, 1866. The charter was signed by Thomas Sparrow, of Toledo, Ohio, as Most Worshipful Grand Master, and John D. Caldwell as Right Worshipful Grand Secretary. The following were the charter mew* bers : Joseph Marlin, Thomas H. Coate, Nathaniel Hill, Matthias D. Myers, John Whitmer, William Furnas, Jacob Reiber, Joseph Coppock, Joseph Cox, H. J* Byrkett, J acob K. Teeter, William Anderson and Amos E. Duncan, four of whom arc members in good standing at present. The lodge now numbers fifty-six mcmbers ; of these the youngest is twenty -one years of age, while the ydars of the oldest number fourscore. The present lodge-room was completed at a cost ol $1,153.08, and was dedicated November 13, 1867. It is 45x22 feet in size, and, being nicely furnished, forms one among the best, for so small a place, in the State. Present officers are as follows :

I. O. O. F. - A charter was granted to Pleasant Hill Lodge, May 16, 1874, at Cincinnati, by the Grand Lodge of Ohio. The charter members and first officers were as follows :

.re- Pearson. The town w&T 8U7 ^ 180a The first person buried here was ""<*> it was enhSrW"TSKUn<i7?8.laid out in 18b8 or 18oT;afew^ jn8t8' "d 18 near the Sugar Grove ^n^h^o?6114 belon®8 to the German Bap- W"den?g through th^ vaHousCeiJ^h'^ ",0r45ern Part of the township Newtons old settlers are freed « ?f tbe dead> we notice that most of fonan, Teague, Cs^^of U 68 °f Williams> Coate, Hill, Coppock C ^."2*8 «*d the store of ttefr^an^^' bu4 Upon the hearts^ the people by the finger of Tu^ Ch^8 T ,DBCribed in characters Zt to fath) are now at rest The St' J? hands, once weaned with the toils of have reached the wayside inn^n*^"? nea4h the burden8 of this world's cares, with the hopes and feare The hearts that beat so anxiously

This township is centrally located, bounded on the north by Washington, on the' east by the Miami River, on the south by Monroe and part of Union, and on the west by Newton ; organized about 1807, and named by the Commissioners appointed for that purpose, Concord, vying with the name given by Samuel Jones to Union. Traversed by excellent turnpikes in all directions, her eastern border laved by the Great Miami, along which runs the canal, drained by numerous streams ; rich and fertile soil, capable, within itself, of perpetual regeneration ^excellent building material, both stone and timber ; central market, in the seat of justice for her produce - she is truly in a happy position to enjoy all the facilities tending to prosperity in every direction. v

Among the early settlers, we may mention Aaron Tullis, who came from Kentucky by way of Dayton, in a wagon, with a family of boys, arriving here in 1805 ; William Barbee, who came about 1804 ; Reuben Shackelford, Alexander Telford. In 1806, John Peck, with eight children, Jacob, John, Joseph, Isaac, and four daughters, came from Kentucky and settled on Boone's place, one and a nau miles from Troy. Mr. Peck came in the winter, selected his land and bought loU acres/ with one acre cleared, for $100. It had a little log-cabin on it, one room 16x18. His stock having been brought from Kentucky, nearly all died the second year, losing eleven horses, besides sheep, hogs and cattle, only leaving him one mare, two or three cows and a few sheep. His land was of the best in the country, having four fine springs and good soil.

Abraham Thomas, another old settler, came in 1805, with two boys and as many girls, and located north of Mr. Peck. Mr. Thomas was in both campaigns of G. R. Clarke against the Indians in this vicinity, in 1780-82. It is said that he came with Boone. James Fourt came from Ireland, first to Georgetown, Ky., married there, and, in 1805, came to this township and settled south of Mr. P®®*- McGimpsy and Steward wanted the same piece of land, improvised modern Olympics ; goal, Cincinnati ; the crown, land. The former won it, and got the land just as his competitor was entering the door.

David Jenkins, from South Carolina, cleared a patch and erected a cabin southwest of Mr. Peck's quarter-section, in 1807. The same year, the little community was increased by James Knight, from Pennsylvania, who located one mil® east. In the way of agriculture during this period, Gahagan's Prairie yield®*! a bountiftil return, and, having been previously formed by the Indians, it offered no stubborn resistance to the primitive instruments of the pioneer.

Corn was the principal harvest, serving for man and beast, wheat not being raised for several years subsequent to the first settlement. The first attempt of Mr. Peck yielded him forty-one bushels to the acre, perhaps the first acre of wheat sown in the township. These were the days when they went to mill on horseback, with a two-bushel sack, through the woods so thick that the limbs would pull off the sacks. The flour was bolted by hand, and frequently taking two days to go and return. There were only two wagons in this neighborhood up to lol4, and only two mills : Mendenhall's, in Elizabeth Township, and Henry Gerard s, for grinding wheat and corn by water.

The first schoolhouse was of the usual style - round logs and greased paper windows - -with a few months' school in the winter, from which the boys were deprived in pretty weather, when they could work at home. Samuel Anderson, from Kentucky, was the first teacher in this schoolhouse. Mr. Peck had gone to school to him in Kentucky, where he was in the habit of visiting a stillhouse every noon, and, on his return, would cut a beech stick and give each pupil a tap as he came in ; but he could get no whisky here. Puncheon floors, wooden hinges, paper windows, three-legged stools and cavernous fire-places, were characteristic of aU pioneer buildings in those days, while, with the latter convenience, the smoke had no particular direction of egress.

Historv Of Miami Coontf

8uaar J*( egg8' which were taken^. oi"^ l0st' ^'arket'ng consisted chiefly of ZUnZT ma(le a' home frL the ft Staanton- Few groceries were bought as and othlT'T* of Ch'na rye Sage and sassafras took the place of

a on them own premises Vico001^0 ^ 't W!ts the custom then to bury the " ** neighborhood, butftoe fii? Tb°ma9 and Ky'e started the first graveyard In traveling/peopu "® ** regular cemeteiy was at Troy. graveyard q^! Was made, and eircurnslanM^oft'r ar0U,nd a log or tree-top, as no regand th " Was cut with sickles ft h f natUre altcred each road at will, oountv* mstrument a ft^-00683 ^nsWered quite expeditious, after night. The com was put in piles, a rail in the center, two umpires chosen, two appointed to choose up, and the work began ; the throat soon getting husky, the little brown jug was passed around, and boys and girls each took a " pull," and that so much, too, that they would feel the elevating effects to such an extent sometimes as to end in a general row ; but the whisky was the pure material, and did not injure any one as it does now. If a neighbor happened in and the bottle was not offered, the host was considered too stingy for social purposes.

Considerable trading was done with the Indians, who traded furs and skins for whisky, sugar, " tobac" and needles, one enterprising merchant demanding a coon-skin for a needle.

The pioneers were independent in the way of dress, raising their own flax and wool. Fine shirts were unknown; anything above 600 thread was considered dandyism. Muslin cost 75 cents then ; tow linen was used for pants ; they made their own pants, and linsey-woolsey dresses. Crimps, flounces, pull-backs nor spit curls were in vogue.

All the fruit they had was the wild plum and gooseberry, which grew in the woods and prairie. The first fruit trees in the township, and no doubt in the county, were brought from Kentucky in saddle-bags, by Abram Thomas. Mr. Peck had the first peach orchard, from seed brought from Kentucky.

Cord- wood was cheap ; sold in Troy for 37£ cents per cord. A man would chop a cord in the morning, haul half of it at a time, make two trips, and realize 37£ cents or half-yard of muslin. Com was 8 cents per bushel, wheat 25, and oats 6J, and, after carrying it, in early times, on horseback, it was hard to sell at that. Stock was driven to Baltimore to find a market.

Abraham Thomas, one of the oldest settlers here, was a Revolutionary soldier, and came to this township from Kentucky with Daniel Boone. He is said to have cut the first sapling on the site of Cincinnati, and died in 1843.

William Gahagan entered the land Troy was laid out on. He was one of Gen. Wayne's soldiers, and was so proud of it, and referred to it so often, that finally he was called Gen. Wayne. He had three sons and daughter.

James Orr, with six boys and five girls, came from Kentucky and settled m this township in 1804, on the section now occupied by the Daniel Favorite heirs. At one time, running out of meal, he traded a barrel of whisky to Jonathan Rollins for that useful article.

Other old settlers were James Gowart, Matthew Caldwell, J. Alexander, A. McCullough, James Marshall, John Johnston, Henry Orbisonand Joseph McCorkle, mostly from Kentucky.

Henceforth, the history of Concord is absorbed in the description of Troy, and we shall simply mention a few pikes and bridges, and close with a history of the county seat

The Troy & Covington pike runs from the southwest comer of Section 2, through Sections 11, 12, 18, 20 and 21, to Troy. The Troy & Newton pike enters at the southwest comer of Section 23, passes through Sections 21, 30, 29 and 28, and enters Troy on the south.

The Troy & Stillwater pike enters at the northwest comer of Section 4, passes through Sections 36, 31, 32, and intersects the Newton pike in Section 29.

The Dayton & Michigan Railroad enters the southeast comer of the township and runs north ; enters Troy and crosses the bridge into Staunton Township.

Troy

, Aa toe Greeks, by divine skill of Pallas, built a mountainous horse, within whose womb destruction lurked for Troy, aud when discovered in the deserted thrusts his spear into the monster's side untM^tM^f the cunnill« Greeks, *6**n, but all opposition gives wav ^5- """ ,to ho1 110,7 caverns, it resounds within the waUs.^and issuTncr fvSh^ ^ ,n8*ru®ent of destruction os taken <*-*-* *£* rSfiSCT Greeks set Are to Troy, and

1807ThoSaUrK Mven hLT by^ndrew Wallace, December 16, streets, numbered one «K, ijjf. off' beginning on Water and Clay Short street On August 21 TIosT^^i between the river and back street to bare since been addetPto fmmtim 8"iwey and additions were made, which

Robert Crawfoto waaappototS TZ? °" 2d day of December,' 1807, boned for the faithfiti dte^hawp h D'rector, and gave bond in $2,000, condidesignated by the CommUaiv!^6 0^ 4be duties of the office, viz., to purchase land streets and alleys for 'be s.eat of justice, lay off the same in lots,

"rice Crawford, giving* i^Pin *31fM»o>ni<ThUSi was aPP°'»ted Director April 27, 1808, roimifted of « tl3'?°°; »?he landa comprised in the survey of William Gahaghan. outinf fr.««tI*C|t a°f thlrty acre8> deeded to the Director by the same suiVey^brtv-aiT ®ur7e^» No. 121 to 168 were laid out By the back street ' Whole k! *' molndhng fractions, were laid out southwest of Cahagan and Thom^ L ZZT ^ "Jv 0n the 10th of July> 1834> John "ine lots southeast of th^t2^MjWlth Jacob Knoop, Surveyor, laid out twentywith J. B. Fish Iwvevo^ laM^? survey. Smith & Barbee, August 28, 1849, The ori^nii iUrVfyor' lald out lots west of the canal, in the cento ofadenLSrWt^ f°5 the now beautiful town of Troy were laid off . now forms the Purchased for $3 per acre. The ground that which the piano now Testing-place of the deer; the spot upon Among toe "^sflta"ds.. re-echoed once to the howl of the wolf. or traveled rest ®ltlzena * of Troy,' was Mr. Overfield, who kept a tavern

°n the road to nrmmo^811^ ol°sc application to business, he made rapid progress able loss in !LP^«£n<5 Y- °nJhe, 24t.h of March> 1810> he suffered an irreparhoosehold affairs °J iT18 w?fe> ^eav^n8 a family of children motherless. His shortly prior to this (Tied ^ C^ar^e of ^ Mrs. Tennery, whose husband had, , is tjhe mean Vf r, rented bis house, and began tavern-keeping again ; military dutv wv[ ^ver^e. ^ was drafted, and sent to Greenville to perform The soldier readily lle the frontier, he met a Miss Rebecca Simpson, condoned by Mr. 0., and peace onoe more reigned in Troy. Mr. O.'s house was the scene of the little renconter between Judge Dunlavy and St Clair and Ken*, when the rot-gut elevated the latter gentleman to a noisy pitch, unpleasant to the former. Notwithstanding the domestic difficulty, they continued the tavern, and it seems the fare was so tempting that the run of custom suffered no diminution. On the removal of Maj. Hart from the house on the north corner of the square, it was occupied by Mr. 0., who continued his tavern here, making one step in advance in an ethical point, by opening his bar-room for prayer-meeting and preaching, the celebrated revivalist, Reuben Dooley, figuring largely on these occasions. Uf course, whisky and religion did not run smoothly from the same faucet, therefore meeting-nights were not prolific of whisky trade. The whole front on Water street consisted of one-story buildings, with the single exception of the tavern, which was a two-story frame. Some time in 1824, an incendiary fire broke out in the onestory buildings, and, through want of engines or even ladders, all were destroyed- Mr. O.'s goods were only saved by being carried out From here, he moved to the Ewing House, north corner of Main and Cherry, where he continued in a prosperous business until his death, in July, 1831. Another of the prominent citizens ot Troy, was " Billy " Barbee, who bought a lot on Market street, for $65. In addition to this, when he married Miss Peggy Marshall, his father gave him eighty acres of land, and his wife was the owner of eighty also. Clearing out a patch on the former, he built a cabin, and when his father died, he threw his improvements m hotch-pot, and came to Troy, built a log-cabin on his lot, rented a kit of blacksmith's tools, hired a journeyman and started in business. t

His assistants, not willing to work under his instructions, were discharged- Having learned to shoe a horse, he made a specialty of it during the war of lolA which at that time was very lucrative. After amassing quite a little fortune, he formed a partnership with Dr. Telford and Moses L. Meeker, in the dry-goods business, and to keep pace with his rising position built a two-story brick house. While his two partners managed the store, he continued to wield the hammer.

His word was as good as his bond, and he always confined himself strictly to the terms of his contract, and expected the same of his co-contractor. He was very benevolent, and many a poor person has been the recipient of his alms. The blacksmithing, under his personal supervision, prospered, but the store soon stranded- Mr. Barbee was the only partner of means, and the Sheriff seized his goods. Witn the money that he had made in the shop he bought cattle, and drove them to the village of Chicago and liquidated the debt He now left the shop and began speculating on a large scale, and died worth over $300,000. . ,

Squire Brown came from Staunton during the infancy of Troy, and earned on a saddlery business in a little shop that stood just a little below where John Culbertson's house now is. In that little shop, Henry Culbertson graduated m saddle-making. Here Isaac Peck learned to make his first blind-bridle ; here the Squire dispensed law and the United States mail. On the next comer Henry Culbertson built a house. He came to Troy in 1814, finished the saddler's trade with J ames Brown, which he had begun with CoL Reed, of Dayton, at the end of which he conducted a successful business for himself. In 1821 he was elected County Auditor ; in 1840, entered into partnership with his brothers and Mr. Dye, in the Bosson Mill, which, in 1850, was consumed by fire. The company rebuilt the mill and soon dissolved partnership, Culbertson going into merchandising, when he was again burned out, which seemed to paralyze his energies. ,

Joseph Culbertson came to Troy in 1808 a poor bov. A lot was presented to him by Mr. G-ahagan, from which he cleared the timber, hired Peter Sewell to snake the logs together for a cabin, paying in wool hats for his boys and self. ^ j ^ erecting a Buckeye shop, he began his trade making wool hats. He traded a fancy hunting-shirt for tools and stock, and carried on a prosperous business, meanwhile educating his. brother Samuel and Joseph L. Tennery in the art of hatting. He was elected Township Treasurer and served many years.

^ded in, Mr. Comeliiis^oafJ^ ' fo5 ^ tbese functions were performed by, and '' Heap much ofl9(^holder^ eWhinalS^ ** our red bre^n would' say,

Putting up the front Tho a1^U1 * , tbe ^t of Mr. D.'s house, subsequently of brick, but has lone sine* ^"arket bouse, on Main street, was built of pillars Stafford's H fl,- 8lnce heen torn down.

With the adv^nf Paf the old buildings of Troy, surrounding it Tmu rai froads, canals and pikes, the rich agricultural country 1812, up tothe in wea{ih Populatton after the war cialty. The bniMirv 161 ,engaged their attention, of which they now make a speaod is about 2^0 l covers the comer of Race and Mulberry streets,