Montgomery County, Ohio - Chapter 1 (2 of 2 so headed), 1882

Chapter 1

ELECTING THE SITE - PURCHASE OF 1789 - THE PROPRIETORS 1795 - THE PLAT - Arrival of First Settlers - Dayton Pioneers - Three First Cabins - Topographical - Discouragements - Improvements - The Hamlet - Block- House and School - First Dayton Baby - Cabin Meeting House and Burying-Ground - Flat Boating Trade - Skin Currency - Indian Trading-Titles and Change of Plat - The Old Tavern - Population Reduced.

The Dayton Settlement

MTF, skirmish between the Kentuckians and Indians, at the month of Mad - River, November 9, 1782, and the bivouac of the Kentuckians here Nomber 20, on their return march, was the first opportunity the whites had to amine this portion of the splendid Miami Valley; and at that time their atijntion was drawn to the location, as a good point for settlement.

Some of this same party camped here again for two or three days in 1786, their return from a successful expedition against the Machacheek towns.

Maj. Benjamin Stites, who in 1788 was the first to explore the valley, immediately after his return to the Ohio River, began negotiations with Judge immes for the purchase of the entire seventh range of townships, from one Jami to the other. The deed was executed June 11, 1789, and was recorded son afterward; the price was 83 cents an acre, but as has already been stated, ie enterprise was delayed, and finally defeated, by the long-continued Indian urs.

The piuchase of the seventh and eighth ranges of townships, between Mad iver and the Little Miami, by Gov. Artlnu' St. Clair, Jonathan Dayton, bn. James Wilkinson and Col. Israel Ludlow, seemed a fair chance foremi- ; ants, who had been waiting to settle in the Miami Valley.

November 4, 1795, the town was laid out; and here on the ground, those jesent for themselves, and as representatives for others, who proposed to join ie colony - in all forty-six people - drew donation lots, and the surveyors with t? whole party, returned to Cincinnati for the winter.

A strange sound waked the void - the measured stroke Of splashing oars - and round the graceful bend A boat her steady course was seen to wend;

Slowly she comes, and to the woody beach She nearer draws, until at last they reach The destined shore, and quick the anxious group Spring from her deck, a strong and hardy troop !

The men at once arranged temporary shelter for the two families, thei cleared off a small space for the cabins and began getting out the logs, and when the overland parties arrived, all were busy at the work.

Dayton Pioneers

Samuel Thompson, his wife Catharine and their two children, Sarah anc Matthew; Benjamin and William Van Cleve, and their sister Mary; Georg; Newcom, his wife Mary, and his brother William; Widow McClure, her tons James and John, and daughters, Kate and Ann; and Abraham Glassmire; wen those of the colony who on April 1, 1796, located on the town plat, and wen therefore the pioneer settlers of Dayton. William Van Cleve moved on lit land south of the settlement, within two or three years.

Three cabins then were the beginning of the settlement on the Daytoi plat; George Newcom' s at the southwest corner of Main and Water streets; Sam j uel Thompson's on Water street, half way between Jefferson and St. Clair; am the cabin of Widow McClure and her boys, at the southwest corner of Wattand Mill streets. The Dayton settlement included the farming lands in a cir cle of two or three miles around the mouth of Mad River.

Topographical

The settlers were influenced to locate on the river bank, at Water street I! from their idea that the most desirable property would be near the landing from whence in future years must be shipped the surplus products of the coup I

On the west side of the plat, a prairie extended from First street to Fifth j and from Perry street to the sycamores along the river. The high ground oj this prairie was fenced by the pioneers as a common farming lot. In it an of them was entitled to till as much of the soil as he chose.

The boundaries of the plat were as follows: Water street was the nortij line; the east line was Mill street, south to Third, thence west to St. Clair south to Fifth; west to Jefferson; south to South street (since changed innam to Sixth); west to Ludlow; north to Fifth; west to Wilkinson; and north t|j Water street. The streets were not opened for several years, but remained covered with forest trees and a dense undergrowth of vines and bushes, excej Water street, which was cleared to the water's edge, and a narrow wagon roa was cut out the entire length of Main street.

A gully, five or six feet deep, extended from the corner of Wilkinso and First streets, crossing Main at the corner of Main Cross street (Thir street), and ending in the prairie, near the corner of Fifth and Brown streets

There were also small prairies north of First street and west of Wilkii son ; some of them of half an acre, but most smaller. There were also tb prairies east of St. Clair street and south of First, separated from each othc by small strips of timber, and extending down to the present Stout street cant bridge. Between these prairies, the center of the plat was a dense mass c hazel bushes and plum thickets, hawthorn trees and occasional clumps of fores j trees. East of Mill street to Webster, and between First and Loury streets, thei was a heavy growth of hickory timber, with here and there oak and walnu From Webster street east to the hill, there were jack oaks, plum thickets an thorn trees. A deep ravine ran from the head of Mill street down the pre: r course of the canal to the river, below the foot of Ludlow street. Another ;Je ravine extended from the river, at the head of J efferson street, across to 0he common (now the public square), connecting with the ravine running ,c th.

The town having been named Dayton, after a Federalist, the four' streets at favorably located were named St. Clair, Jefferson, Ludlow and Wilkin-

The town plat was laid out in 280 lots, each 100 feet wide and 200 feet ip. There were also fifty-four outlots of ten acres each, east of where the ill basin now is. There were reservations for markets, schools, churches i burial-grounds.

Two or three settlers joined the colony in the winter of 1796-97. More la 1 was cleared and cultivated, and supplies were plenty for the settlers that fie coming in to locate on the farming lands. Friends and strangers were il:e welcome to share in whatever the pioneers had.

The spring of 1797 opened with the brightest prospects for the little col- . Disadvantages and difficulties incident to new settlements were overlie, and the prospect of another good season brought contentment to the i deers.

Carefully were the truck-patches watched for the early spring growth, tt although the variety of vegetables was limited, they were enjoyed with a when they did come. First, the weeks, then the days were counted, nil the potatoes should blossom; and when the young corn might be pulled :c roasting ears, it was an event in the settlement.

The winter of 1798-99 was a season of great annoyance ; the people were v<y much alarmed at the danger of loosing their labor, lands and improvedpt® by reason, of the failure on the part of Syrnmes in securing a title to the dds; many were disheartened and moved away; others were discouraged fun coming. At length the settlers sent the following petition to Congress.

The petition of the first settlers at Dayton and Mercer's Station, in Montgomery and lene Counties, Ohio, respectfully slieweth: That the Hon. Judge Symmes having made i linquishment of his claim to a certain tract of lands lying between the Miami Rivers, iDov. St. Clair, Gen. Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton and Israel Ludlow, Esquires, the said kls being all the seventh and eighth ranges of townships east of Mad River : in order h -orm settlements on the same and augment its value the proprietors offered certain riuiti.es and privileges to such as might engage to become first settlers, which are conned in the articles accompanying the petition.

On the 5th of November, 1795, forty-six persons engaged to become settlers at Dayt( but from the many difficulties in forming a new settlement so far in a wilderness e ntry, only fifteen of those came forward, with four others, making nineteen in all.

From the threats and ill-treatment of the savages to the people of Mercer's Station -tyas once evacuated, and at several times Mr. Mercer with two brothers maintained the " ion at the risk of their lives. These settlements were formed by your petitioners a few n Qths after the treaty of Greenville, when we had not faith in the friendship of the s; ages. Our settlement was immediately on their hunting grounds. W e were not able t'jkeep a horse amongst us during the first season, by reason of their stealing. The sreity of provisions had raised flour to §9 a barrel, 'and other articles in proportion, r ich we had to purchase and transport fifty miles through a wilderness, clearing roads, etc.; under all these and many more difficulties we labored in hopes of obtaining 0 lands at a low rate and the small gratuity offered. Several of your petitioners have n been able to procure any land ; others have laid their claims before the Commissioiu agreeably to the late law, and purchased at $2 per acre. We beg leave to state to yo honorable body that the proprietors have not received the expected advantages froui t forming of these settlements; that your petitioners have been at a vast expense, labor a: difficulty in forming the said settlements, and have received no recompense nor privile other than subsequent settlers; that they first opened a way, in consequence of which t, country has become populous and the United States has received a handsome reven from the sale of the lands; that the town of Dayton is purchased by a subsequent settle and we pray that Congress will make to us such gratuity in lands, or deduction from pa ments for lands, or grant such other relief as our case merits.

Your petitioners further pray in behalf of Rev. William Hamer, a settler at Day to who, having settled on the Section 29 in the Second Township and Seventh Range, befo the lines were run, with an expectation of holding it agreeable to the terms set forth Article A, and has since continued to cultivate and improve it, as it was supposed to appropriated for religious purposes, he being a preacher of the Gospel and having t approbation of Mr. Ludlow, one of the proprietors, as appears by the Article 0. Now, the said section is to be sold as other lands, the said Hamer is willing to pay $2 per ac for it, in installments, agreeable to the late laws for the disposal of United States lane We pray your honorable body may grant him a pre-emption and the indulgence he wisht and your petitioners shall, etc.

Thomas Davis, representative of John Davis, deceased ; William Hamer, represent five of Solomon Goss ; B. Van Cleve and William Gahagan, representatives of Jol Dorough ; Jonathan Mercer, for himself and others of Mercer's Station, on Mad River.

Congress in the way of relief, and in compliance with this petition, passe a law on the 2d of March, 1799, giving to these people, and any others tvl had any contract in writing with John Cleves Symmes previous to the 1st ( April, 1797, the privilege of purchasing lands of the United States at the pri< of $2 an acre, to be paid in three annual installments. This law did not aft'oi the relief desired, and but three or foiu' persons entered their lands under it.

In the winter of 1798-99, " Newcom' s Tavern " was built two stories higj of hewn logs. Lime had not, previous to that, been used in the settlement, an in this building was the first instance that lime mortar had been used for chinl ing. To make the lime, stones were gathered from the river bed an piled over a huge log fire, which answered every purpose of a kiln, xl counti boy who saw the house when it was being plastered, reported in wonder to k folks at home, that " Col. Newcom was plastering his house inside with lour.

This was the first tavern in the Miami Valley north of Fort Hamilton and in the second story, one year afterward, was opened the first store, in tb room in which, in 1803, was held the first court, and later was occupied as church by the Presbyterians.

This building was afterward weather-boarded; is still standing on tk ground upon which it was originally built, and is now occupied as a grocer and dwelling.

Gen. Jacob Brown built a cabin and kept bachelor's hall at the soutl west corner of Water and Jefferson streets. Gen. Brown distinguished kin. self in the war of 1812, and was afterward Commander-in-Chief of the Unite States Army, in which position he served until his death, February 24, J 82k

The Hamlet

April 1, 1799, three years after the settlement of Dayton, there were nin cabins in the town, six of them on Water street, two on First street, and on at the corner of Fifth and Main streets. The cabin and sheds at the south

City Of Dayton

Samuel Thompson's cabin was situated on Water street, half way between . ferson and St. Clair. The widow McClure and her family lived in the cabin the southwest corner of Mill and Water streets.

The cabin and shop of Thomas Arnett, a shoemaker, were on the northwest c ner of First and Ludlow streets. George Westfall and family lived in the c iin at the southeast corner of Main street and the alley between First and iter streets. John Welsh's cabin was on the southeast corner of Fifth and 1 in streets. From the corner of Mill and Water streets, a wagon road led up Yd Kiver, by Hamer's farm to Demint's and Mercer's Stations. A side road a o connected this road with First street. A road branched off, crossing Mad her, leading up the Miami to Livingston, Staunton and Piqua.

Strangers coming from the south, read the sign-board that stood at the fit of Main street (now the corner of Warren and Main streets), " One-half a e to Dayton."

The town-plat was surrounded with thick, heavy woods that abounded in _ ne, such as bear, deer, wolves, panthers and wild cats. All roads were cut

On the road running south, the nearest cabin was that of Thomas Davis, the bluffs, and below that there was no clearing this side of Hole's Station,

Old Chillicothe, a Shawnee town on the Little Miami, three miles north where Xenia now stands, was the settlement to the east. In the forks of Vid River was Cribb's Station; Mercer's Station was near the present site of ; rfield; two or three settlers were at the mouth of Donnel's Creek; Demint's Sition, now Springfield, and McPherson's Station, in the vicinity of Urbana.

' the north, two or three families had settled at the mouth of Honey Creek, hi Miami County, calling the town Livingston; Staunton was a station a re east of Troy, and there were a few people at Piqua and Loramie's store.

Block-House And School

During the summer the settlers were greatly alarmed at the threatened ij.ian hostilities; block-houses were built at all of the stations of the frontier targe one was erected on the river bank, at the head of Main street, here i Dayton. It was built of round logs, the second story jutted over, two feet 1 around, so that guard might be kept to prevent the savages firing the build- 1 below. The settlers were organized and armed, ready to repair to the ck-house with their families at the first alarm; but, fortunately, the savs were quieted.

The diary of Benjamin Van Cleve shows that he, as "master," opened a ' ill school in the lower story of this block-house, on the 1st day of Septemh 1799. The room was Burnished in a plain, rough way; there were no Hrs; the seats used were a few low, block stools, and hewed slab benches.

1 p instructions given were necessarily of a limited and simple kind. The ' of books was a great hindrance to the scholars; the school hours were qen to lessons in spelling, writing and figures. The teacher prepared one 2. wo charts, in plain letters, from which the alphabet and spelling were !,8'?ht, the scholars using any old book they might find at home to practice

As there were no slates, paper or pencil, lessons in writing were given i sand; for this purpose, a long, narrow slab-table stood in the center of tjh room, a layer of dry river sand was smoothed over die table, and, with a sma sharpened stick, the scholars copied in the sand the letters of the alphabi from the chart. Progress was slow, yet, in this way the barefooted boys an girls of the last century learned to write and figure. Writing lessons wei continued in this way for fifteen years afterward.

A clapboard with "Out," on one side, and "In," on the other, hung jui inside the door; but one scholar was allowed to "go out " at a time, and tt rule required the board to be turned as the scholar passed "out" or "in."

In Mr. Van Cleve's terms, for tuition, he reserved time to gather his con and this gave the children the first week in November as a vacation.

The school was continued about a month after " corn gathering;" thei after a month's vacation, he again opened the school and taught a thre months' term.

First Child Born In Dayton

The birth of Jane Newcom, at her father's tavern, at the head of Mai street, April 14, in the year 1800, was an event tfiat caused some little exciti ment in the hamlet, for, with her birth came the distinction of being the firi child born in Dayton. She married Nathaniel Wilson and lived all of hi life on Main street in this city, dying in her seventy-fifth year, at the nortl east corner of Main and Fifth streets.

Cabin Meeting House And Burying-Ground

The organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, probebl occurred in the year 1800, at least, it was the first church organization in Dai ton, but the little hamlet of logs and mud was not a point of very great in portance at that time.

The Beulah congregation (Presbyterians and New-Lights at Beavertown were organized prior to that ; the Presbyterians, New- Lights and a society c Anabaptists had built a log meeting house on the grounds of the Ewery gravi yard near Beavertown, where they worshiped on alternate Sundays. The Re William Robinson who lived at and ran the mills on Mad River three mill from Dayton, preached for the Presbyterians of the Beulah congregation, an also at Dayton. In the year 1800, a log meeting house was put up on Li No. 134 by the people of the town, aided by others living in the vicimt; The cabin meeting house stood just east of the corner of Main and Main Cro (Third) streets, back from the road way, hid from view by clumps of haz< bushes, and undergrowth, and was reached by a winding path that led througj the little pioneer burying-ground on the church lot. This cabin meeting kouwas eighteen by twenty feet, seven logs high, and was not chinked or daubed it had a clapboard roof held down by weight poles, rough puncheon iioo log seated, and was without windows.

The Rev. John Thompson, a Presbyterian preacher of Kentucky, preache in the Dayton log cabin meeting house, several times, in the year 1800, an filled occasional appointments here for several years afterward.

The coffins used in the early days were of the simplest construction, bein a roll of bark cut the right length, and the ends closed with pieces of cla] board ; others were made of slabs, fastened together with wooden pins. Aft* placing the body inside, the coffin was covered with a bedspread, placed on th bier, and carried by the pall bearers to the burying-ground, the friends to lowing two by two in procession, from the house to the grave, where after sing ing and prayer, the coffin would be lowered into the grave and then covere with earth. -«

When this pioneer burying- ground was first located, the property so far out fun the settlement, as that at the corner of Main and Main Cross streets, was held at higher value than the farming lands around.

In 1805, when the town had been incorporated, the court house built, and ,1 gully across Main street filled up; property in that neighborhood became Tj-e desirable, and it was then determined to change the burying- ground to lots on the south side of Fifth street, between the first alley west of Lud- , and the first alley west of Wilkinson streets, containing about four lies.

Mrs. Hannah Hanna, who died in August, 1804, was the first person ied in the Fifth Street Graveyard; her remains were removed to 'Woodland iioetery September 20, 1853.

I old burying-ground, as well as the new, was used for interments until after 3 ; through the war of 1812, soldiers who died here, were buried, some in i old burying-ground, others in the new graveyard. Many of the bodies w e afteward removed to the Fifth Street graveyard ; but as late as 1822 a a aber of grave stones and boards were standing undisturbed in the pioneer lying- ground; and the bones of pioneers still lie where they were first buried, - ie he rear of the business blocks at the northeast corner of Main .and Third Yets.

The pioneer Methodists had settled up Mad River in the neighborhood of i' Hamer farm. William Hamer was a local Methodist preacher, and from d first had held, services at his cabin ; by and by there were regular gather - ck there for worship, and could the old trees of Mad River speak, they would e of interesting scenes in the worship of early Methodists as they gathered nhe grove at the foot of the hill near the spring that is still there at the road ix ; the joyful songs of faith, the eager listening to the faithful preaching >i he Gospel by that earnest pioneer elder of the church. Under his leader - 1) the early Methodists for years held their services in the groves of Mad i ex', he helped to organize their first churches in this county, and in Miami,

Flat- Boating And Trade

David Lowry, in the winter of 1799-1800, built and launched a fiat-boat, Mad River, near Donnel's Ci'eek. and bi'ought her to Dayton to load. Her ! bers were heavy, hewed oak plank, fastened with wooden pins to the frame. L was ready for the spring freshet with a load of grain, pelts, and 500 vensh hams, and after a trip of two months, reached New Orleans in safety. Afer selling boat and cargo, Lowxy returned overland on horseback to his i He.

Ti'ade down the river by flat-boats increased in importance each year, i|il the canal was opened in 1829. Shipments were usually made from the red warehouse that stood on the river bank, at the head of Wilkinson bet. Boats were built in the winter and launched with the spring freshets,

I I loaded with pork, flour, grain, pelts and whisky. The trip to the Ohio «k nearly a week's time, and sis to ten weeks were counted on for a trip to Av Orleans. Boats from above would land at Dayton, then, when the water right, the whole fleet would start for the trip South. It was a busy time to S the cargoes aboard and get away with the high water. Whatever of supplies w;e brought to the settlements, were transported overland on pack-hoi'ses or a the river in dug-outs. It was nearly a week's trip from Cincinnati by packh se, and ten days by river. Flour cost 85 a hundred weight, and $2.50 to bag it here. Groceries, dry goods, and supplies of all kinds had to be brought in that way; and there being no store here it was troublesome for t! pioneers to dispose of pelts, as the nearest trading stores were at Hamilti and Cincinnati. In 1799, Henry Brown was at Loramie with a stock of good in the fall of 1800, a Mr. McDougal, of Detroit, opened the first store Dayton, in the second story of Newcom's tavern. The opening of this fir store met the needs of the time, and proved not only the greatest eonvei ience to the people of the neighborhood, but brought trade from the sottj ments for thirty or forty miles up the Miami and Mad River Valleys. P; ties of Indians from their villages to the north and west came, sprino- ai fall, to trade furs, skins, fish, game honey, and "tree-sugar," for powdt lead, blankets, whisky, dry goods and trinkets. Many camps of them m sometimes located at the springs or along the river from Stillwater as f down as Twin Creek. Their camps at Dayton were usually located at. the b spring, on the north side of Mad River, near the Miami; or in the woo across the Miami, from the head of Wilkinson street.

Money was not needed on the frontier; the "skin currency" served eve purpose for barter and trade; 25 cents was the standard price for a muskr skin, the price-list rating in this way:

Muskrat skin, 25 cents; coon skin, one and a half muskrat skir doe skin, two muskrat skins; buck skin, four muskrat skins; bear skin, fro twelve to twenty muskrat skins; and upon this table all trading was done b tween men and at the stores. A customer would ask the store-keeper, 1 ' Wh I is the price of whisky?" The answer would be, "Five doe skins;" "h buck skins for a shirt;" "two muskrat skins for a yard of calico;" "a be' skin for a bridle-bit; " "four buck skins and two coon skins for a chic shawl; " " three dozen shirt buttons for a coon skin; " " four pounds of sug for two doeskins and one muskrat skin; " "a half-pint flask, or a half-pound pepper, or a half-pound of tobacco, or a half-ounce of camphor, or a eke handkerchief, or twelve skeins of thread, or one ounce of aloes, or a yard ribbon, or a half-pound of coffee, for one muskrat skin.'' It took three buj skins to buy a pound of Young Hyson tea; a doe skin to buy a bed cord; good bear skin was the price of a Dutch oven, and two bear skins was che; for a set of cups and saucers. A sickle cost a buck skin; a pair of cotfi stockings cost two buck skins; a doe skin would buy a yard of shirting ; a ii ding comb cost a muskrat skin; a pair of moccasins cost a coon skin; a pout of lead for bullets was worth a muskrat skiD ; a bear skin would buy a set forks and knives; factory cotton cost a doe skin to the pound; a gallon brandy sold for five buck skins; one buck skin and one doe skin was the pri of a pound of powder.

Indian Trading

Trading with the Indians at the stores was usually carried on in this wa "Whether the Indian would come over alone or in a party, the bucks or all w! brought their furs, jerked meat, bear's oil, etc., to trade, entered the store silence and took seats on the benches. The merchant always presented eat with a small quantity of tobacco. After filling their pipes they put what tj bacco was left into their mink-skin pouches. After smoking awhile, talking 1 each other and glancing over the store to see the display of goods, they we ready for trade. One of them at a time left his seat and went to the counte pointing with a stick to the article he desired, would ask, "How much?) The Indians never tried to beat down the price, but if dissatisfied, wou quietly turn to some other article. If satisfied with the price, he would p; it in skins, according to the table given above, or if in meat or other stuff, a rate mutually understood by Indians and traders, paying for each article as j went along. The others looked on without interrupting until the first Indi; v; through trading; then another took his place, and so on in rotation until a had traded. Each one carefully reserved enough to trade for whisky. Yer all their purchases were made, then came their drunken carouse at their :ps. The squaws would often be sent over for whisky, sometimes keeping ;,.the spree for weeks before starting back to the North.

Although not hostile, yet, being entirely unused to the ways of civilized lil they were often troublesome, and a great annoyance to the villagers; ks and squaws would walk through the cabins, prying into chests and hoards, and, if not watched, would carry off anything that pleased them.

Titles And Changes Oe Plat

The clearing at the quiet little hamlet on the Miami had been extended ueet the necessities of new-comers to the settlement. Property had not ad- ;ced in value at all; the difficulty about titles prevented the transfers of real site, and was additional reason for settlers to go upon the farming lands md. Titles of the original piu-chasers of lots and lands were clouded by failure of Symmes to complete his pimchase of the Government. Their its, however, were respected. St. Clair. Wilkinson, Dayton and Ludlow i\ ndoned to the 'Government their claim and right to purchase, and assisted i: settlers who had purchased of them, in getting their lands. Through Danep. Cooper, who by pre-emption right, the consent of the settlers and friendviegislation of Congress, became proprietor of the town plat all of the origins settlers, or their representatives, procured patents for their lands, and ino. paying the Government at the rate of §2 per acre, which with the fees, a le the lots in town cost about fl each.

As a part of the arrangement by which Mr. Cooper became titular propriej of the town plat, a new plat was made, showing the location of each man' s iperty. A very large number of lots were te be given free, for churches, njket space, county buildings, bury ing - grounds and a park. The plat was veT materially changed; there were to be 381 inlots, each six poles wide by rive poles long; and fifty-six outlots east of what is now Sears street. The rets were to be foiu- poles wide, except Main and Main Cross streets, which be to be six poles wide; the alleys were to be one pole wide. This plat was suited by D. C. Cooper and Israel Ludlow, April 26, 1802, and the next day v duly recorded in the Hamilton County records at Cincinnati. At that :ii5 there was a large island in the river at the head of Main street, and three rads in Mad River just above its mouth.

There was a spring in a grove near the corner of First and Wilkinson t els, but most of the families used river water. George Newcom sunk the u well at his tavern, and that old well-sweep was the first to swing in the fey.

The Old Tavern

Newcom's tavern was a place of note. Men who came up the valley to 1 : for lands stopped there for rest, as well as to inquire the way to the setluents; families and movers all passed that corner. The tavern was a favortolace for the men to gather; all paths led there; and it was the one place wire the men could, in the winter, sit around the big log fire, smoke their dps, take their toddies and talk or listen to the tales of hunting adventures, r f the more thrilling events of experience in the Indian wars. They could 1 tell stories from experience, rich in incidents of pioneer times. With ccely an exception, they told of friends or relatives who had been victims 1 Lavage barbarity and massacre. The whole period of their early history u crowded with the most daring adventures; their stories were the facts of the times, and these men were the pioneer fathers of Dayton, whose descent ants are now active and influential in the affairs of the city. Not a man < them could be classed as an adventurer, laboring merely to provide for imnn diate wants; all were aiming to establish homes for their families, to aceumi late property, and were the influential men of the community.

Newcom, the landlord, was his own hostler, barkeeper, gardener and farn er; his log barn, with its racks and troughs, stood back from the road. Tlx was the fully equipped log tavern, almost in the wilderness, and there the pi ( neers gathered to talk over prospects and surroundings.

Population Reduced

At the close of the winter of 1802-03, there were but five families iivir , in the settlement; those of George Newcom, Samuel Thompson, John Weis | Paul D. Butler and George Westfall.

WilliamNewcom and WilliamVan Cleve were farming; John Williams ha! moved with his family on land that he had entered up Wolf Creek. The M Clures had gone to Miami County, and Thomas Arnett had moved away wit his family. One-third of the population of the town had abandoned their cal' ins and had gODe into the woods for permanent homes, leaving four vacail! cabins in Dayton.