Preble County, Ohio - Chapter 19, 1881 (part 2 of 3)

Van Ausdal & Sturr started in 1835, in a building on the east bank of Seven Mile creek, a grist-mill and distillery which they carried on with fair success for five or six years.

Eli Thompson also had a mill in the old brewery building, south of the Main street oridge, a few years later. This building was erected in 1848 or 1849, by Wise, Miller & Houston.

The present brewery was built by several Germans from Dayton, among whom, and taking the leading part, were Messrs. Fasnacht and Rau, who are now residents of Eaton.

During the fifties there were several attempts made to build up manufacturing interests. In 1859 a foundry was established near the depot, but the company, not finding business very remunerative, sold out after a short experience and removed to Cincinnati. Judge George W. Gans was prominent in the management of this enterprise. Not long after the above mentioned business was discontinued, Josiah Campbell and E. W. McGuire started a plow factory in the same locality, but after running one season, their business became so involved that they were obliged to suspend operations. A hominy mill and two or three other enterprises of ephemeral existence succeeded this. venture, and successively passed away.

It remained for the Brooke Brothers, Charles F., J. C. amd William and Mr. Joseph Walters, all active, enterprising men, to inaugurate, in 1873, a huge enterprise, and to begin operating a manufactory which, had it been maintained to the present time, would have materially advanced the town in wealth and business activity. The gentlemen named were the principal stockholders in the Excelsior School Seat Manufacturing company. This company had the only heavy manufacturing business ever carried on in Eaton. They employed a capital of about seventy-five thousand dollars, and gave work to from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men. As the name of the company would imply, its manufactures consisted of school furniture. Orders came in very fast, and the company had all that it could do to meet them, even while employing a hundred and fifty men. Goods were sold in all parts of the United States, and even shipped to South America. The sales amounted to two hundred thousand dollars or three hundred thousand dollars per year. A large foundry was run in connection with the manufactory, in which were made the necessary castings, and in this department alone the force of men employed was from fifty to seventy-five. The manufactory of the Excelsior School Seat company occupied several large buildings near the depot, some of which have since been destroyed, and some of which have, since the removal of thc company's works, been devoted to other purposes. The suspension of work in this factory, which was a great blow to Eaton as well as the men directly interested, was caused namely by the hard times which followed the panic, and which ruined so many other fine enterprises throughout the country. The company, as reorganized, is still carrying on the business, but has its manufactories located in Richmond, Indiana, and at Cincinnati.

About 1864 J. L. Chambers, Dr. Welch, N. B. Stephens and Charles Larsh, established a manufactory for making agricultural implements. They used the "building which is now known as the Robinson planingmill, for about three years, when the company was dissolved.

Robinson & Company are the proprietors of an extensive planing-mill, which was the first manufactory of the kind in the county. It was started in 1867. They occupied the building on Maple street, near the railroad track, which had been previously used by the company making agricultural implements. Until 1876 the firm consisted of J. J. Robinson and J. S. Chambers, but the latter sold out in that year, andin the year following J. J. Robinson took his son into partnership, under the firm name of Robinson & Company.

L. Gable & Company are carrying on the planingmill business on a large scale, near the railroad station, and have facilities for turning out all kinds of building material, such as doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, and planed lumber. They have the latest improved machinery for making sash and blinds - the same as is used in the Lake Superior country. The building was erected by L. and J. Gable in 1870, and the business has been carried on by them continuously since that time.

Wagon making was first carried on in Eaton in the year 1811, by John Harbison who has already been alluded to. The next wagon makers were Jacob and William Kline, both of whom manufactured wagons for a great many years. William Kline came to Eaton in 1813, and Jacob in 1816. The former remained here until 1844, when he removed to Logansport, Indiana, and the latter lived in Eaton untilhis death in 1875, carrying on business until 1858.

Carriage making is carried on in Eaton by three houses, of which John S. Orth's is the oldest. He began making wagons and carriages in the village in 1839, and in 1840 built the large shop which he at present occupies and in which he has carried on business uninterruptedly for forty years.

There are three saw-mills in the village - John P. Acton's the oldest, being started thirty years ago or more. Bruce Vandoren's at a considerably later period and Wheeler Frum's in 1874.

Flax manufacturing was commenced in Eaton as early as 1856. Cotton & Bell began spinning and weaving the flax fibre into ropes and sacking, and continued in the business for a number of years, but sold out finally to D. M. Morrow. He in turn sold to Foster & Morgan, and this firm to the present owners, J. S. Gary. The spinning and weaving was abandoned in 1863, after the mill had been burned, and when the business was again resumed it was simply that which is at present carried on - the separation of the fibre from the woody part of the stock. Mr. Gary purchased the mill in 1879, and since that time has had it in active operation all of the time, and shipped away very considerable quantities of fibre, which has been used elsewhere for upholstering purposes, aud the manufacture of paper, sacking, etc.

The steam grist-mill, at present owned by Josiah Campbell, was built by Kinzie & Reynolds in 187o. They received material assistance from some of the people of Eaton, who were anxious to encourage manufacturing, and who foresaw that any considerable development in this line would aid in building up the town. 'The mill property, although paying well upon the money invested in it, disappointed the hopes of those who were most sanguine. Bell & Stephens purchased the mill of its original owners, and Bell dying not long after, the property was placed under the management of an assignee, and by him finally sold to Mr. Campbell in October, 1879. The mill has four "runs" of buhrs, does all kinds of grinding, and at present has a large western patronage.

Cigar manufacturing is one of the most important industries in Eaton, and gives constant employment to about one hundred persons. Theodore Harbaugh was probably the first man who made cigars in thetown. He had a little shop as early as 1845. Numerous other individuals carried on the manufacture on a very small scale after that, but the business never assumed magnitude which made it worthy of especial remark until J. S. Quinn began manufacturing. His business was at first as insignificant as that of any of his predecessors, but it was slowly developed, until about thirty hands were employed in rolling of the fragrant weed. Mr. Quinn began manufacturing in 1863, and retired in 1870. A Mr. Klinger, who was in partnership with him toward the last, removed to Alexandria, and there carried on the business.

The next men who engaged in the business on a large scale were M. F. Ayres and F. P. Filbert. They began manufacturing in 1872, under the firm name of Ayres & Filbert, and continued for a year or so, when they separated, and each followed cigar manufacturing alone. They employed when together, at one period, as many as fifty. men, and now each one of them employs about twenty-five. There is another firm at the business, which carries on about an equally large concern - the house of Coovert & Jones, which has been in existence since 1878, Charles W. Acton has a smaller shop. Each one of the three larger shops has the capability of manufacturing a million and a half cigars per annum, and this amount of production has been actually reached by two of them at least.

Nearly all the tobacco used is of home growth. It may be of interest to some readers to know something of the history of this branch of agriculture in this vicinity, and it is certainly not inappropriate to speak of it in this connection.

The tobacco crop of Preble county now amounts to more than a million and a half pounds every season. It is believed that the first tobacco raised in the county was grown in 1838 by an old German named John Gentner. He had a small quantity, perhaps an acre, and after it had grown, he hardly knew what to do with it. By accident, however, he secured a buyer, and realized more money from that one acre of tobacco than from any ten acres of his ordinary farm products. From this time on it was raised in small quantities by other farmers, but not systematically grown or in considerable quantity until by J. L. Quinn, in 1850. Their general attention was given to the production of tobacco, and the amount put in became larger each year, until it was entitled to rank as one of the staple crops of the county.

Mr. Quinn began buying tobacco in 1863, and was the first who engaged regularly in the business He used as a store-house the old brick building, near the railroad station, which is now the ware-house occupied by John Glick, as the agent of C. W. St. John, a Dayton tobacco buyer. Mr. Quinn has never been entirely out of the business, although he devotes but little attention to it at present. Christopher Musselman, John Glick, and Kingbush, the latter from Cincinnati, each handle large quantities of Preble county leaf in this place, and the local manufacturers also buy large quantities.

Mercantile History

The first store was opened in Eaton by Cornelius Van Ausdal in 1808, and it is a noteworthy fact that alone or in partnership he conducted business in the town until 1863, a period of fifty-five years, and the greater part of this time at one stand - that which still bears his name and at which his son continues the business. The pioneer store was, however, situated where the Reichel house now stands. It was a:small building, but in it was begun a business which ultimately reached huge proportions, After a short time Mr. Van Ausdal erected a house on the ground. just-west-of commercial row, and now included in the county property. Here he resided and had his store until 1824, when he erected the building on the northwest corner of Main and Preble streets, which he occupied until his retirement, in 1863. Mr. Van Ausdal had the natural qualifications necessary to make him a successful merchant, but it is probable that although confident of a fair degree of success, he never anticipated the wide popularity which he attained. His store was not only known in early days throughout the county of Preble, but its reputation spread through thinly settled western Ohio and eastern Indiana, and he drew custom to Eaton from almost as wide a field as now does Cincinnati, Indians and whites came from great distances to purchase goods at Eaton, and the former brought in for exchange or sale great quantities of furs, while the latter class made the store the market for what little surplus produce they had. It is a fact significant as showing the importance of this pioneer trading post, that the early merchants of Richmond, Indiana, procured from it the goods which they retailed. Among the Indians who were often at the store, and with whom the proprietor was well acquainted, was the great chief Tecumseh, his brother the Prophet, and others almost equally famous. As the country was developed and other stores were established at various points in southern Obio the trade became more purely local than it had been, but Mr. Van Ausdal's reputation was too well established to allow of a dropping off in the patronage of the people living within a convenient distance, and he still did an immense business, and one which after the first period of decline grew apace with the settlement the town and surrounding country. During a period of five years, 1828 to 1833, Mr. Van Ausdal was interested in the wholesale dry goods business in Cincinnati, and for a portion of the time resided in New York, and did the purchasing for both the Cincinnati and Eaton stores.

About 1816 or 1817, Isaac Banta kept a stock of goods in a one-story house where the Reichel house now is. Henry Monfort bought the goods about 1819, and after conducting a merchantile business for a short time took John G. Jameson in as a partner. In 1832, Levin T. McCabe bought out Jameson, and the business was carried on by Monfort & McCabe until several years later the firm name was changed to McCabe, Vandoren & Co. McCabe sold out in 1841 to Monfort, and the business was conducted until 1843, by Monfort & Vandoren. Mr. McCabe again went into business in 1847, selling groceries for one year by himself. He then took as a partner David Graft, but bought out the interest again, and, in 1849, took as a partner Jobn L. Bruce. They carried on the retail and wholesale business. In 1853 the firm became Bruce, Houk & Co., and did an extensive wholesale business. Houk died, and McCabe, who had been the *Company" in the firm, sold out to Wilson & Lannis. Mr. McCabe built a warehouse in 1852 and went into the business of buying and shipping grain, being the first in Eaton to engage in that line. He shipped the first goods that were brought to Eaton by rail, and sold the first fresh fish in the village. His grain and produce business was very large, and in one season he bought twenty-one thousand bushels of flax seed. He continued in business until 1855.

In 1826 or the following year, Daniel Brown came with a very good stock of goods from Cincinnati. He had considerable ability as a business man, and became popular and prominent. He finally engaged in the pork purchasing business and carried that on as well as his general merchandise until 1836 when he removed to Texas. Hubbell (S. H.) & Sweeney were the successors of Brown. They sold in 1839 to Vandoren & Banta, and they in 1843 to John M. Gray & Hubbell. The latter soon after moved the goods to Indiana.

John Alexander was the keeper of a general store as early as 1833. After conducting the business for a short time alone, he went in with Brower, and the firm remained in activity until 1842, when Mr. Alexander removed to Huntington, Indiana. He was auditor of Huntington county for eight years prior to his death in 1861.

John G. Harlan went into business as a partner with Van Ausdal in 1825 ot 1826, and several years later he established a store of his own where S. H. Hubbell now is and there carried on business for several years.

Hettle & Dix started in business in 1826 or the following year, where Marsh & Lockwood's building now is, 'and remained in activity for five or six years, being quite successful.

Nearly all of the merchants of whom mention has been made kept general stores and all dealt in dry goods. 'This branch of business during more recent years has been conducted by the following firms and individuals in the order in which their names are given: Davis & Hawk, David Hawk, Thomas H. Russel, Benjamin Neal, Marsh & Lockwood, W. H. H. B. Minor & O. Minor, O. Minor alone, W. H. H. B. Minor alone, Emmanuel & Marqvis, A. Epply, J. B. Epply, Hubbell, Epply & Wilson, Wilson, & Hubbell, Elijah Taylor, Brazier & Campbell, Daniel Lesh, Brownell & Brother, J. Oglesby, Stephens & Company, Stephens & Brother, Stephens & Huston, Huston & Swihart, M. F. Stephens, Stephens & Scoven, Thomas Dryden, Deem & Welch, J. T. Deem, Deem & Brother, Deem & Hawkins, A. Coffman, A. Leedy, Coffman & Brother, J. R. McLeath, Deem & Lake, J. W. Cooper, Simeon Goldman, Lou Jackson, and N. B. Stephens.

The first grocery store which amounted to anything was started by a Mr. Slayback in 1827. After 1840 the business of selling groceries became generally a separate business. Prior to that time it was carried on in connection with the sale of dry goods. Following Mr. Slayback the principal grocerymen have been the following: John DeGroot, Hubbell & Acton, Stannah, John Stephens, Hubbell & Acton, John P. Acton, R. S. Cunningham, Nathaniel Lockwood, Levin T. McCabe, George Lockwood, Charles & James Harbaugh, Campbell & Brazier, J. Longnecker & Sons, J. Bender.

John Alexander opened the first drug store in 1832. The business has since then been carried on by the following persons, down to and. including those at present engaged in it: Stephens & Dugans, Minor & Dugans, Minor & Denney, Crume & Brookins, Brookins & Son, Farr & Brother, J. R. Beaty, Minor & Farr, Samson H. Hubbell, H. H. B. Minor, V. W. Lake & Hubbell, Michael & Son.

Eaton Business Houses 1880

The following is a list of the business houses of Eaton, properly classified and rendered of additional value by the fact that the year when each entered business is designated.

Harness

The first tavern was kept by David E. Hendricks in the house which he built, the oldest one in Eaton, and now occupied by S. H. Hubbell. He opened it very soon after his arrival in 1806, and continued to carry it on for several years.

George Worthington built the house which, as modernized, is kept by Mr. McLaughlin, and known as the Union house. This tavern which was known as *the White Hall," was also kept by John C. Hawkins, and a man by the name of Ross.

Paul Larsh was landlord at a tavern which stood, where Bonner's hardware store now is. His term of occupancy was during the three years he was sheriff, dating from 1819.

Dr. Buell kept a tavern on the corner of the lot where J. H. Foos resides, and one McMahon and George Worthington were afterwards in the same house.

Thomas Morgan, in 1829 or 1830, opened a tavern where the Eagle house now stands, and continued to carry it on for a number of years. About the same time the Brower Brothers became the entertainers at Mitchell's old stand.

The first regular stage house was the National, which stood on the ground now occupied by Commercial Row. John DeGroot was its first landlord in 1833, and was followed by others.

A little later than the above, Gasper Potterf built a small house for public entertainment which was kept by George Lease and his son, Frank, and afterwards by Goode who called it the National house.

The Eagle house was built in 1836-737, by Henry Monfort and L. T. McCabe. Thomas Morgan was its first landlord. This house which was a wooden structure, was burned, and the present brick was built on its site. Monfort became the sole owner in 1842, and when he died in 1849, the house went into the hands of Thomas Auter. Jacob Winters followed him as landlord, and then it was carried on by Winters & Shaffner, in partnership. Martin M. Stephens next had possession, and then it was owned by Stephens, and John Fleming who is now the sole owner.

The Reichel house in which is included the old Methodist church, was put into shape as a hotel in 1867, by Maurice Doty, a fine three-story front being erected to fill in the space between the front of the old church and the street. After passing through the hands of several owners, the hotel was bought in 1876, by John Reichel. He leased it to George P. Lockwood who carried it on until the spring of 1880, when Mr. Reichel himself became the landlord.

The First National Bank Of Eaton

ganizing the Preble county branch of the State bank, April 20, 1847. The branch bank was to be located in Eaton, which town was then in the second banking district of Ohio, and it was decided that it should have a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, divided into one thousand shares of one hundred dollars each. This bank was organized under the law of 1845. On July 19, 1847, seventy-eight stockholders assembled and elected nine directors, viz: John Stump, John Gallaher, John Hunt, Nathaniel Benjamin, Emmanuel L. Hoffman, Pling M. Crume, Eli Campbell, Edward P. Wait, and John M. Gray. The last named resigned soon after his election, and Ellis Minshall was chosen to fill his place. The directors elected Mr. Minshall, president, and John M. Gray, cashier. It was decided to advertise to receive proposals for a building to be used as a banking office, and that course being taken, Judge William Curry came forward with a proposition to rent his building on Baron street for the sum of fifty dollars per year. The bank directors voted to accept this offer, and soon afterward moved into the house, which is still standing, just south of the court house, at present the residence of Josiah Campbell John M. Gray's office was used for a short time prior in the Curry house. Business was commenced September 9, 1847, and was continued at the original stand until 1851, when the bank was located in the building which stood upon the ground. now occupied by that on which the National bank is located, and which was afterwards burned. J. S. Hawkins succeeded Mr. Marshall as president, and was in turn succeeded by John Hunt, who gave place in later years to Valentine Winter. John M. Gray was for many years cashier of the State bank, but was succeeded, in 1853, by H. C. Hiestand, now president of the Preble County bank. He remained in connection with the bank until the close of its existence and was in the National bank, its successor, until |. 1867. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF EATON.

Upon July 4, 1864, a meeting was held at the office of the State bank, for the purpose of organizing a banking association to carry on business under the act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide a national currency

. secured by a pledge of United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof," approved June 3, 1864. The association was the direct successor of the State bank, and consisted of the following gentlemen: Valentine Winters and Jonathan H. Winters, of Dayton; H. C. Hiestand and Joseph A. Du Sang, of Eaton, and David Barnet, of Camden. Valentine Winters was elected president, H. C. Hiestand, cashier, and David Barnet, Joseph DuSang and Jonathan Winters, directors: The bank began business with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. There are now over two thousand national banks in the country, but this one is number thirty. The directory of the bank remained for a number of years essentially unchanged, except that Jonathan Harshman became associated with the manage- In 1867, however, Charles F. Brooke, William Brooke and John Brooke bought out the interests of Winters, Hiestand, and Harshman, and they have since held the controlling interest. Under the new management there was a re-organization which made Charles F. Brooke, president, John C. Brooke, cashier, and Joseph A. DuSang, assistant cashier. Since then the office of the presidency has been alternately held by Charles -F. and William Brooke. Mr. DuSang was made cashier soon after the re-organization. He has been connected with the bank - State and National - since 1854, a period of twenty-six years. The present officers of the institution are: President, Charles F. Brooke; vice-president, G. H. Eidson; cashier, Joseph A. DuSang; directors, C. F. Brooke, sr., C. F. Brooke, jr. John Coistman, and H. B. Van Ausdal.

is a comparatively new concern. It came into existence October 8, 1873, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and being the enterprise of men well known in the community and throughout the county, immediately secured a large share of patronage. Its directory was as follows: H. C. Hiestand, president; Andrew Hiestand, John T. Acton, William B. Tizzard, Josiah Campbell, and Jacob H. Foos, directors. This management has remained unchanged since the establishment of the bank. A building was erected on West Main street for the use of the institution, by Mr. Jacob H. Foos. Mr. Hiestand, president of the Preble county bank, came to Eaton in 1853 from Dayton to take the cashiership of the Old State bank, and has been identified with the banking business in the place ever since, with the exception of three years, a period after his withdrawal from the National bank when he was in Dayton. The Preble County bank has no cashier, known as such. The bookkeeper is W. H. Ortt.

Post Office

Before a post office was established at Eaton the nearest offices were at Dayton and Hamilton. In after years the mail was brought weekly on horseback from these places, the first being carried by the way of Dayton. Nearly all the mail from the eastern States came by way of Chillicothe and Dayton, while mail from Kentucky was carried through Cincinnati and Hamilton.

The Eaton post office was established February 7, 1809, and John Ferguson was commissioned as the first postmaster. He served a short time and was succeeded by Isaac Stephens, who remained in charge of the office for many years, in fact, until 1840. After that time the following persons served as postmasters, in the order named. Lazarus Miller, John J. Campbell, George D. Hendricks, Jacob P. Snyder, Daniel Reed, Phineas R. Minor, John Minor, and Benjamin J. Neal, the present incumbent of the office.

Disastrous Fires Of 1859

The first fire company formed in Eaton was organized as early as February 20, 1835, to take charge of the old fashioned hand-engine purchased by the council a short time previous. The company, which was known as "The Eaton Independent Fire Engine and Hose company No 1," consisted originally of the following members: A.

C. Vandoren, A. Rossman, Elias Herdman, Gustavus H. Way, Josiah Campbell, James H. Curry, E. V. Banta, John Farlow, James Denney, Cyrus Dooley, Joseph S. Hawkins, James Gardner, C. V. Duggins, John M. Gray, Thomas Holmes, Levi Bonebrake, Jacob Sweeney, Smith Bennett, Isaac Colby, and O. Cleveland - twentyone in all. At the second meeting, held a few days later, at the office of McNutt & Hawkins, quite an elaborate constitution was adopted and the first officers of the company elected as follows: John M. Gray, president; Joseph S. Hawkins, vice-president; James H. Curry, secretary; Josiah Campbell, treasurer; Jacob Sweeney, A. C. Vandoren, Smith Bennett, directors. 'The company was then regularly given municipal authority by the passage of an ordinance by the town council. During the first (ew months after it came into existence many accessions were made to the membership of the company, among them S. H. Hubbell, J. G. Bowman, John S. Trousdail, John Neff, R. S. Cunningham, Samuel Stout, Alfred Stephens, James O. Leas, David Shaw, Francis Lease, George Waggoner, W. S. Hubbell, W. H. H. B. Minor, and Walter McCabe. The company held meetings regularly at the "Eaton Thespian society's" rooms, and had frequent turnouts for the purpose of practicing with the engine. The first fire which the company was called upon to extinguish, was that which occurred at the Browers tavern stand, in the summer of 1836. This episode was thought to be worthy of the following entry in the secretary's book in truly lurid repertorial style: "EATON, OHIO, May 21, 1836.

"The Eaton Independent Fire Engine company was this day called together about three o'clock this afternoon by the alarm of fire. The company forthwith repaired to the engine house and with all possible dispatch conveyed the engine to the property now occupied by the Messrs. Browers, as a tavern stand on Barron street, when the fire was found to be in the kitchen of said tavern stand, whereupon the company under the direction of the captain proceeded with all possible exertion and dispatch to quell the ravages of the devouring element. When, after a few minutes of the most severe and incessant labor, the company were enabled to shout '' victory," having completely exhausted all vestiges of fire."

For the most part, in those days, the work of the company seems to have been in "exercising the engine," or exercising the apparatus and finding the same to be in good order. 'There was occasional need, however, of the services of the company at a fire. The first in which the destruction was of considerable extent, was the fire which occurred March 13, 1838, on the site of the Eagle house, and which burned out the hotel of Thomas Morgan, and the house north of it, owned and occupied by Dr. Palmer, and a number of stables on " Black Horse alley." This fire was of incendiary origin. The next fire, of which there is any mention made in the records, and of which old citizens have recollection, did not occur until 1343. On the night of August 8th, of that year, the stables of John DeGroot, tavern keeper, and another owned by Francis Lease, were burned, "together with the property therein contained, including four horses and a cow." company on condition that they should increase their membership to forty persons, and confine their by-laws to certain requirements of the council. The conditions were complied with and a number of new members voted in, some of whom had been previously connected with the company and withdrawn. Among them were Isaac Albright, Ellis Minshall, Abram C. Vandoren, Sampson H. Hubbell, William Rossman, R. G. D. McKemy, James Segraves, Horatio N. Gardner, John Ware, William Steele, and John Eichelberger.

On Sunday morning, June 5, 1859, occurred the largest and most disastrous fire known up to that time in Eaton. Twelve business houses were destroyed, and the loss reached the sum of at least forty thousand dollars. The fire originated in the back part of Whitridge & Quinn's drug and book store, where the store of W. A. Eidson is now, and when discovered had made such headway as to be beyond control. It swept westward to the corner of Main and Baron streets, and northward on Baron to the dwelling and clothing store of John Crouse, where its ravages were stayed. On the east the fire destroyed all before it, as far as the present store of Longnecker. The Marsh and Lockwood building, now known as the Stevens block, was on fire at least a dozen times, but was saved by the exertions of a few brave, active men, *who kept the fire at bay," says a newspaper of the time, "at the peril of their lives." At the northern termination was another hard fought battle. The Eagle hotel was in imminent danger, and was several times given up as lost, but bravery and self-possession saved it. The little hand engine " Water Witch," the first ever owned by the town of Eaton, was used with good effect here in checking the flames.

The spread of the flames was so rapid that in less than an hour from the time the alarm was given, the whole mass was on fire, and the scene presented was appalling in the extreme. The streets were filled with crowds of excited people, and the wildest terror prevailed, for no one knew when the destruction would end. It was generally thought that the whole of the business portion of town would be laid in ruins. The business houses destroyed were those occupied by W. H. H. B. Minor, J. M. Hinman, E. Mikesell, Brookins & Son, C. P. Thum, August A. Seibert, J. L. and C. W. Lockwood, Day & Brother, Stephens & Co, L. G. Gould, and James Chambers. On opening the safe in the store of Whitridge & Quinn, after the fire, it was discovered that the door bad been unlocked, and the money, including one thousand dollars belonging to the American Express company, which had arrived the night before, taken out. It was generally believed that the safe robbers had fired the building to cover up the evidence of their villainy.

Whitridge & 'Quinn's loss was five thousand five hundred dollars, and the other important losses in round numbers as follows: Dr. Minor, grocer, three thousand dollars; L. G. Gould, grocer, eight hundred dollars; J. L. and C. W. Lockwood, boot and shoe dealers, two thousand dollars, loss on goods two thousand five hundred dollars, other loss five hundred dollars; J. Cbambers, jeweler, four thousand dollars; C. A. Seibert, har ness maker, two thousand five hundred dollars; J. M. Hinman, jeweler, one hundred dollars; J. Sampson, one thousand dollars; Brookins, 'three thousand five hundred dollars; A. V. Auter, one thousand dollars. Some of the above amounts stand only for the loss on buildings, and some only on stock. There were several other losses, among those sustaining them being C. P. Thum, E. Mikesell, Day & Brother, and Mrs. Hogarth.

One month after this fire, on the night of July 4, 1854, another occurred which caused considerable damage. It was discovered about ten o'clock in the evening in the rear of a two-story building owned by Daniel Stetler, and in the back part of one of the rooms occupied by John Spatz as a bakery. The fire rapidly extended east, destroying the whole of the Stetler property, and soon igniting the west portion of the National hotel. This building was soon almost completely destroyed. The town hall was soon fired and that too was a total loss. It was a three-story building, the lower floor of which was used for township and corporation purposes, the second occupied by a public hall, and the third, erected by the Masonic fraternity, used by them as a lodge room. The Stetler property consisted of a row of two-story frames and was occupied by five business houses, viz: John A. Herlich, Comford & King, Samuel H. Smith, Samuel Mc- Clain, and John F. Spatz. The owner of the National hotel, J. H. McWhinney, and the occupant, Warren W. Jefferson, were also material sufferers. The total loss by this fire was about ten thousand dollars. The buildings destroyed were situated along the south side of Main street, east of the court house.

The first hand engine owned in Eaton was the "Water Witch," a quaint looking little machine which is still retained by the corporation, though of course not used: It was superceded by " The Fame," afterwards known as "The Torrent " and now called the * Red Rover." With these two engines much valuable property was saved, prior to the purchase of a steamer.

In 1872, the council bought of C. Ahrens, of Cincinnati, one of the finest steam eagines to be found in the country, and since then no town of its size has been better prepared than Eaton, to combat and quell a conflagration. The new fire company, organized to take charge of the steamer, was originally officered as follows : captain, R. Y. Laniers; captain of hose, R. Reynolds; captain of hook and ladder, D. Clear ; fireman of steamer, M. Hambridge; pipemen, J. Hubbell, James Ortt, G. Longnecker, F. Rork; secretary, J. Butler; treasurer, . M. J. Kelly. The present officers are: chief, William McCabe ; assistant chief, James Ortt; captain of hose, William Stephens; captain of hook and ladder, James McCabe ; foreman of salvage company, J. R. Cook; engineer, L. H. Zeek; pipemen, A. Black, D. Koontz, George Boner, M. Clear; secretary, Frank Homan; treasurer, Isaac Young.

Incidents Of The Harrison Campaign In Eaton

"There never has been, and never will be, another campaign like that - never!" Such were the words of one of Eaton's *old stagers," who, in 1840, shouted for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." All who can recall to memory the exciting time of Harrison's canvass for the Presidency, dwell upon it with a peculiar fondness, and there sounds in the voices of old men (who were Whigs), recounting its scenes, some reverberation of their forty years old enthusiasm. It was a campaign worthy of remembrance by the victorious Whigs, and had the distinguishing elements of a wild western flavor, and a fervor that was wonderful in its intensity and earnestness, It was the first Presidential struggle in which the western people had taken a vital and absorbing interest, and there was a warm sympathy of feeling and a spontaneity of action which was surprising in its results even to the sanguine Whigs, and crushing to their opponents. The whole country was alive with enthusiasm and wild with excitement. Thomas Corwin's name appeared at the head of the State ticket and added much to the strength of the Whigs' canvass in Ohio. Immense mass meetings were held in all of the towns and villages of any impor. tance in the State, and hundreds of speakers "took the stump" literally, as they could in those days, and championed their leaders. Many peculiar expedients were re. sorted to for the purpose of expressing and arousing feeling, and some of the most conspicuous and unique were the methods used to keep before the minds of the people their candidate's success as a soldier and his services as a pioneer. Hence the canoes and log cabins which figured in all public demonstrations and which everywhere appeared as emblems of the ideas which formed the foundation of Harrison's popularity.

In Eaton was built a "Harrison log cabin," at the corner of Main and Barron streets, where the store of C. W. & W. C. Bruce now is. Among a number of relics presented by Mr. Chambers is the original hand-bill advertising the raising. It reads verbatim as follows:

"In accordance with a resolution of a public meeting of the Whig citizens of the different townships in the county of Preble, there will be alog cabin raised in Eaton, Saturday, the sixteenth inst. Dimensions of the cabin, twenty by twenty-four feet - eight feet story - timber to consist of buckeye.

'This is, therefore, to invite all the Harrison Democrats in the counties of Preble, Butler, and Darke, to attend the ' Tippecanoe Raising' on Saturday next, at nine o'clock A. M., at Eaton.

"N. B. - North Bend refreshments, to-wit: 'Hard cider' will be provided for the occasion, and we promise all who may give us a lift that they shall not find the barrel beyond their reach or the vent plug driven in.

Only two of the committee whose names are affixed to the above advertisement are now living, viz: Levin T. McCabe and George Waggoner, both residents of Eaton.

The "raising" took place in conformance with the announcement, and quite a large crowd was in attendance. The logs had all been collected and prepared previous to the Saturday appointed as the day for putting them together, and as the labor was divided among many willing workers, it occcupied but a short time. The logs were all of buckeye timber, and the cabin was clothed with green all the summer, twigs starting out and unfolding leaves on every log.

In the latter part of May the Congressional convention for the district composed of Preble, Butler, and Darke counties, was held at this cabin, or rather in front of it. Agreat crowd congregated and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. The streets in each direction from the corner of Main and Barron were thronged with people, and an immense demonstration of public feeling was made. Mass meetings were held by the people of the three counties, and each chose delegates to represent them in making nominations. The persons thus chosen assembled late in the day, and held a convention which resulted in the naming of Lewis Campbell and Jehn M. Millikin, both of Butler county, respectively for Congress and the State senate. Dr. James Paramore was president of the convention and T. J. Larsh secretary. As the convention had been the occasion of a great political meeting, nearly all of the farmers of Preble county who were of the Whig party came into town. A procession was formed which reached from the court house southward to Mr. Bruce's house. In various localities the people had clubbed together and. came into town with six and four horse teams, bringing huge canoes and even log cabins on wagons. Major Joseph Smith, and the Longneckers - Eli and William - with some of their friends from the vicinity of Sugar valley, had a log cabin of good size mounted on wheels, and adorned with bunting, forest tree boughs and appropriate devices, while John Woods, who had been in Congress at that time, and who was afterwards State auditor, came into town in a canoe mounted on wagon wheels, and it is remembered received a fall which cut short temporarily his somewhat impassioned speech-making. From Camden a ball twelve or fifteen feet in diameter was rolled along the road to town and received with a great deal of applause. The expression *keep the ball rolling" was then in vogue and was one of the slogans of the Whigs. George D. Hendricks was at that time living in Camden and was one of those who had started and kept the ball rolling. The Pottengers and Bennetts were also interested in this novel illustration of Whig activity. The mass meeting on the day of the convention was one of unbounded enthusiasm, and even a hard rain was not sufficient to put a damper on the ardor of the speakers or audience,

All through the season the excitement was unabated. On Saturday, the eighth of September, General Harrison spoke in Eaton to an immense audience, and with great effectiveness. He remained in town over Sunday, receiving an ovation from the citizens, and on Monday proceeded on his way to Greenville, there to attend a great meeting held in his honor. The day, September roth, was the anniversary of his treaty with the Indians at Greenville, at the close of the War of 1812, and the gathering was a celebration of that event, as wellas a tribute to the hero. General Harrison was accompanied upon his journey by hundreds of people from Eaton and the surrounding country. The road was filled for three miles with carriages and horsemen. A detachment of men rode ahead of the general, at some distance, and made a business of burning the effigies, clothed in red flannel petticoats, which had been set up in derision of the hero of Tippecanoe by individuals of the opposing party. Smith Bennett was the leader of this detachment, and took peculiar delight in pulling down and firing the straw-stuffed "paddys." The asperities of the Harrison campaign are softened now by the passing of two-score years. Looking back upon the excitements, and even upon the unpleasant episodes of the contest, the few who can remember them bear no ill-feeling toward those who were then opponents, and so in treating of the "log cabin and hard cider campaign," it scarcely seems as if we were treading upon political ground, and we chronicle these episodes and the result locally, simply as items of history in which all have an interest. In the fall, Preble county gave a majority of seven or eight hundred for the "Tip- Ty-Tom" ticket. The same election which made Thomas Corwin, governor of Ohio, Campbell, member of.Congress, Millikin, State senator, and Joseph F. Hawkins, of Eaton, member of the legislature, it may be interesting to know, brought into office the following Whigs on the county ticket, viz: Hiram Jones, county auditor; George D. Hendricks, sheriff ; Jacob F. Miller, commissioner; Henry M. Eidson, assessor ; and Jonas Albright, coroner.

The Cholera Season Of 1849

Eaton has been twice visited by that terrible scourge, the Asiatic cholera. The most fatal season was that of 1849. In r854 the disease was prevalent, but the mortality list was not so appalling as it had been in the year previously mentioned. In 1832, which wasa cholera year, it did not make its appearance in the village at all. The epidemic came into Eaton and neighboring villages from the west, having originated, or at least first become prevalent to an alarming degree in Boston, Indiana. Making its appearance about the first of July, the dread disease had, by the close of August, almost literally decimated the population. A reign of terror ensued, which, happily, has never had a parallel in the history of the town. Many were panic-stricken and left town, some only to fall victims to the disease elsewhere. Scarcely enough people of sound health were left to care for the sick and bury the dead. People living in the country dared not visit the village; mail matter accumulated to a great bulk at the post office, and business was almost entirely suspended. At one time there was but one store open in the town, that of L. T. McCabe. 'Those who remained in town and did not contract the cholera, were constantly busied in nursing those who were sick, and many acts of heroism were performed by them. They seemed either to become perfectly reckless of danger or to be borne up by a sense of duty which prevailed over their fears. When the epidemic was at graves fast enough, and was assisted by citizens. Cornelius VanAusdal dug several and other residents assisted. 'The physicians stood firmly at their post and labored incessantly, their efforts being seconded by several clergymen. The most determined efforts, however, could not stay the progress or the fatality of the cholera. There were deaths daily, on some days two or three, and from that number up to five, six, seven, and even nine. The whole town was shrouded in gloom. Almost every family lost immediate members or near kindred. No one knew how long the ravages of the cholera would last or how sweeping would be its mortality. "There were nearly a hundred deaths in Eaton, within less than two month's time, and many more in the country adjacent. This number was very nearly one tenth of the entire population of the town at that time.

Following is a list of the persons who died in Eaton during those terrible two months, July and August, 1849, together with their ages. It appeared in a newspaper of the period:

July oth, John Ulery, five years; July roth, Mary Bruigman, three years; July 11th, Lavina Belts, twentyfive years; July 14th, Phil. Mohan, twenty-eight years; July 14th, William Black, sixty-four years; July rsth, Phil. Emerick, twenty-five years; July 17th, A. Granger, fifty-four years; July roth, Mrs. Bruigman, twenty-six years; July roth, A. Mitchell, sixty-six years; July 2oth, Mr. Maas, forty-five years; July 20th, - - Rogers, four years; July 2oth, Thomas Rogers, forty years; July 21st, William Crouse, twenty-one years; July 21st, James Brooks, twenty-one years; July 21st, James Brown, thirty-three years; July 21st, Henry Revel, twenty-one years; July 22d, Jac. Detimore, sixty-four years; July 22d, David Cramer, twenty-four years; July 22d, Lina Mitchell, twenty-three years; July 22d, Levi Fleming, fortyeight years; July 22d, Thomas Fleming, twelve years; July 23d, Thomas Holmes, forty-one years; July 23d, George Bates, eighteen years; July 23d, Isaac Eigman, twenty-two years; July 23d, Sarah Mikesell, sixteen years; July 23d, Ed. H. Monfort, sixty-eight years; July 23d, Louisa V. Mitchell, ten years; July 23d, Margaret Kline, twenty-two years; July 24th, Mrs. Monfort, fiftythree years; July 24th, Celia Mitchell, thirty-one years; July 24th, Sev. Rogers, thirty-six years; July 25th, Ann Nation, thirty-five years; July 25th, Mrs. Holmes, thirtysix years; July 25th, Abram Auter, seventy-one years; July 25th, Miss Wilson, twelve years; July 25th, John Acton, sixty-seven years; July 27th, J. D. Steele, twenty years; July 27th, Miss C. Baker, thirteen years; July 28th, G. N. Kilbourn, forty years; July 28th, Isabella Kelley, twenty-two years; July 28th, Miss Auten, seventy-five years; July 28th, S. B. Miller, thirty years; July 28th, Lark Hoffman, forty-five years; July 28th, Mrs. M. Baker, sixty-seven years; July 28th, Sarah Baker, three years; July 28th, Ann E. Stephens, sixteen years; July 28th, L. Detimore, five years; July 29th, N. Baker, seventy-four years; July 29th, Mrs. Patton, thirty-six years ; July 29th, Joseph Acton, fifty-nine years; July 29th, Mrs. Detimore, sixty-three years; July 29th, Mrs.

M. Marsh, thirty-three years; July 30th, Mrs. G. Nation, one hundred years; July 30th, Dr. P. Hayward, eighty years; July 30th, Mrs. M. Baker, thirty-eight years; July 30, John Cox, nine years; July 31st, Sarah Johnson, three years; July 31st, V. Mitchell, infant; July 31st, Charles McCabe, four years; July 31st, Charles M. Mitchell three years; August 1st, John Keller, twentyeight years; August rst, John Steele, forty-nine years; August 2d, Margaret Monfort, twenty-two years; August infant; August 4th, C. W. Kelley, one year; August 5th, Hettie Cottingham, sixteen years; August 5th, P. M. Nation, four years; August 6th, F. A. Carr, three years; August 8th, Mary Nation; August 8th, William Killkenny, twenty-five years; August 8th, Susan Kail, fifteen years; August roth, Robert Stanton, forty years; August roth, John Wilson, five years; August 11th, James Killkenny, seventy-one years; August rath, Mrs. S. Eichelberger, thirty-six years; August 12th, Margaret Wheeler, eighteen years; August 12th, George Miller, fifty-five years; August 13th, J. Eichelberger, forty-five years; August 13th, Eliza Hubbard, three years; August 14th, William Staggs, twenty-seven years; August 14th, Lavina Thompson, twenty-three years; August 14th B. F. Boardman, twenty-eight years; August 14th, Mrs. Baurgelt, thirty years; August 14th, Oliver Hubbard, five years; August 16th, Mary Hawkins, seven years; August 17th, Alfred Nation, six years; August 18th, Mrs. Switzer, thirty-three years; August 18th, T. A. Monosmith, five years; August 2zoth, Martha Wilhelm, fifteen years; August 23d, Andrew Mikesell, forty years; August 23d, John Hubbard, seven years.

Besides these enumerated, there died in the immediate vicinity of Eaton enough more to make the number fully one hundred. Among them were Mrs. Malchariot Ammerman, John Ammerman, Mr. Myers, David Williams, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Christman, Mrs. Slagle, and James Ryan.

Soon after the close of the cholera season the Rev. Daniel Winder published an article in Zhe New Leaf, a small paper then printed in Eaton, which conveys a good idea of the feeling that was prevalent in the community. We make the following extract:

'* On the last day of July eighty-four houses were vacant in Eaton; we had then but five hundred and seventy-four citizens, left, out of a population of one thousand two hundred. The street on which I live (Somers) has twenty-seven houses; twenty-four of them were vacated. Of the above list (mortuary) twenty-seven lived within speaking distance of my door. I have eleven in family, yet notwithstanding the appalling mortality in our immediate vicinity, through the merciful providence of God, we all escaped."

"I am inclined to believe that the comparative extent of our suffering is not fully appreciated by our neighboring cities and towns. It will be seen that on the twenty-eighth of July we had ten deaths when our population was certainly less than seven hundred. If seven hundred lose ten, what would be an equal loss at the same ratio or proportion, of one hundred thousand? Answer, one thousand four hundred and twenty-eight. Now imagine, reader, if you can, what the sensation would have been in the city of Cincinnati had her citizens been called upon to witness the sudden death of one thousand four hundred and twenty-eight of her citizens in a day."

"In calmly reviewing the scenes through which we have just passed, and calling to mind the melancholy incidents we were compelled to witness, one is forced to acknowledge the imbecility of human nature.

Never was man more effectually taught his dependence upon God, and also upon his fellow mortals, than were the people of Eaton. Avarice and worldly speculations were lost sight of; long cherished animosities were forgotten and buried ; aristocratic, political, and religious destinctions all vanished in common struggle for existence; moral courage, philanthropy, fraternal affection, and devotion were then, as they should always be, the appreciated and valued virtues."

Among those who were active in caring for the sick and burying the dead were thirteen young men who had a kind of an organization, and devoted almost their entire time to the cause of humanity. Their names were Thomas Morton, Andrew Mikesell, John Walker, Gideon McNutt, Franklin Nation, J. B. Miles, Ellis Minshall, George Hendricks, Squire Morton, John Minshall, Jacob Mikesell, Daniel Walker and Thomas Auter.

It is a notable fact of this number, all of them exposed to the disease, and defying it every day of that terrible season of death, only one became a victim to the cholera. That one was Andrew Mikesel. He died August 23rd, literally giving up his life for others. He was an unmarried man, aged forty years.

Incorporation

But little can be given in regard to the history of Eaton as an incorporated town, for the earliest and most interesting records were all destroyed in the " Commercial Row" fire of 1859. Eaton came into being, municipally, in 1836, the act incorporating it being passed by the legislature January 31st. Dr. Jesse Paramore is known to have been the first Mayor. The succession of chief municipal officials, as given by an old citizen from memory, is as follows: John Acton, Jesse B. Stevens, Daniel Walker, Solomon Banta, Jesse B. Stephens, John Ballentine, Daniel Walker, Benjamin Hubbard, Robert Miller, William Kline, Jacob Foos, Benjamin Hubbard, Jacob Foos, J. E. Freeman, John R. Stephens, J. E. Freeman, L. C. Abbott, M. L. Holt, (appointed) John King and William Neal, the present incumbent.

The Town Hall

The first mention that we find ofthe project of building a town hall, is under date of May 25, 1869. The council decided at that time to erect such a building, and, in accordance with that resolution, contracts were made, and on the thirteenth of September, 1869, the council *broke ground" for the sub-structure, on the southwestern corner of Barron and Somers street.

Five series of bonds were issued on the fifteenth of November following, numbering in all one hundred and ten, one hundred dollars each, the first falling due in August, 1871. On the ninth of June, 1870, additional bonds were issued to the amount of four thousand dollars, subject to the same regulations.

April 28, 1870, the formalities of laying the cornerstone were appropriately observed, and on that occasion the late Captain Jesse B. Stevens delivered an interesting historical address.

The total cost of the building, with furnishings, was about twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars. The work was performed by the following persons, at the cost specified:

The size of the building is forty-two by ninety feet, height to top of tower, eighty-four feet. It contains a public hall forty by seventy feet, with a stage twenty by forty; a council chamber, thirteen by forty; room for township purposes, fifteen by thirty; an engine room, thirty-five by forty; prison, twenty by twenty; marshal's office, ten by twenty, and several other apartments; the whole being very conveniently arranged and well furnished.

The town hall was dedicated January 11, 1870, more than six hundred persons being present Upon the stage sat Abner Haines, esq., the president of the day; Dr. John P. Brookins and William B. Tizzard, vicepresidents; Mayor Jacob H. Foos, clerk; J. M. Brown and the members of the council, H. B. Van Ausdal, G. H. Eidson, W. A. Swihart, C. P. Thum, Thomas Fulton and M. F. Stephens. The Eaton cornet band was also present, and a large choir, selected from those of the several churches.

The members of the building. committee, Messrs. Foos, Van Ausdal and Eidson, stepped forward to the central part of the stage, and Mr. Foos, on their behalf, made a brief speech and handed over the keys of the building to the president. Mr. Haines made an address in response, and Dr. J. W. Scott, of Indianapolis, made a few remarks, after which Mayor Foos delivered the dedicatory oration. The exercises concluded with music, and prayer by the Rev. J. D. Lauer.

In the month of August A. D. 1826, a dispensation was granted by R. W. Richard Collins, deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, for the establishment of a Masonic lodge in Eaton, to be called Bolivar Lodge No. 82. The following are the names of the petitioners for said lodge, viz: John M. Gray, Joseph C. Hawkins, David F. Heaton, Nathaniel Benjamin, Alexander Mehaffy, Ernestus Putnam, William Edgar, Eastin Morris. At the succeeding meeting of the grand lodge, a charter was granted to these petitioners, etc.

The first meeting held under the dispensation, was on the nineteenth day of August, 1826, at which meeting the following named persons, Master Masons, were present: John M. Gray, worthy master; Joseph C. Hawkins, senior warden; David F. Heaton, junior warden; David Morris, secretary pro ¢em.; Alexander Mehaffy, treasurer $70 /em.; Baltzer Snyder, senior deacon; William Edger, junior deacon, Nathaniel Benjamin, tyler; Paul Larsh, James Bolens, visitors. Two of the parties named - Eastin and David Morris--lived in Granville, Ernestus Putnam in New Madison, William Edger on a farm in Darke county, a few miles south of Greenville, and Baltzer Snyder and James Bolens at Lewisburgh. At the second meeting of the lodge, on the fifth day of September, 1826, the following named visiting brethren were present, viz: Thomas R. Ross, Thomas Corwin, William M. Smith, George B. Holt, Paul Larsh, Dennis Kelly, James Bolens. At this meeting Thomas Corwin served as secretary gro fem. Of all these worthies only Nathaniel Benjamin yet survives, who is enjoying an honored and somewhat vigorous old age at his home, in West Alexandria, and who has the distinguished honor of being a member of the grand lodge of Ohio for a longer time than any.other Mason, dead or alive.

At this second meeting of the lodge, the following named persons presented petitions for admission into the order, viz.: First, Asa W. Meloy; second, John M. U. McNutt; third, Jesse B. Stephens; fourth, Frederick Eltzroth. Also, James Bolens, Dennis Kelly, and Paul Larsh, Master Masons, presented petitions for membership. These petitions were all favorably reported on, and the candidates elected.

Lazarus Miller, John P. Wilson, Henry Bean, Lewis Evans, Isaac Stephens, Peter Van Ausdal, James H. Buel, Jacob Eltzroth, Judson Jaqua, John Saylor, Benjamin Edwards, William Campell, Jesse Paramore, were the succeeding petitioners for admission, in the order here named, previous to the installation of the officers of the lodge first elected under its charter, which event occurred on the twelfth day of May, 1827.

present with many visiting brethren from Dayton, Germantown, Lebanon, and Hamilton. The following entry is copied from the lodge journal, viz.:

"The R. W. George Kisling, of Lebanon, Ohio, appeared and presented the following commission, to-wit: 'I the undersigned deputy grand master of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, do hereby, ordain, constitute, and appoint our worthy and well beloved brother, George Kisling, whom I hereby certify to be a regular Royal Arch Mason, to install the officers of Bolivar Lodge, No. 82, in the town meeting house, where the hereinafter named officers were, by R. W. George Kisling, proxy for the D. G. M. of Ohio, acting as, and in the name of, the Grand Lodge of Ohio, installed in form, viz.: John M. Gray, worshipful master; Joseph C. Hawkins, senior warden; Lazarus Miller, junior warden; Jesse B. Stephens, secretary; Peter Van Ausdal, treasurer; Asa W. Meloy, senior deacon; John P. Wilson, junior deacon; Frederick Eltzroth, tyler. The procession moved from thence to their lodge room again, where the lodge was closed in harmony." è the history of Bolivar lodge, only two are now alive - Nathaniel Benjamin and Judson Jaqua. The room first occupied by the Masonic fraternity, as

Norte - This Mr. George Kisling was the brother of Henry Kisling, one of the pioneer settlers of Washington township, about five miles north of Eaton, and who died there only a few years since.

a lodge room, was one of the upper rooms of the old court house. An arrangement was made with the board of county commissioners, by which the lodge was to furnish and fit up the room with suitable furniture, and keep the same in good repair, and said room to be used as the grand jury room, and by thelodge. This arrangement was continued satisfactorily to both parties, until the old court house was torn down, in 1848, to make room for the new one. Before that event occurred, the lodge had made a contract with Mr. Cornelius Van Ausdal, who was about to erect a new three story brick building on Main street (the one now standing west from the store-room), to prepare a suitable lodge room in the second story thereof, on a ten years' lease, at a stipulated annual rent. This room was not quite ready for occupancy when the old court house was taken down, and so the lodge met some two or three times in one of the old public offices that then stood upon the public square.

About the beginning of the year 1853, the town council having made arrangements for the erection of an engine house, council room, trustees' office, and city hall, on the court house square, the Masonic fraternity determined to add a third story to said building for use as a lodge room. A building committee was appointed, subscriptions taken up, and contracts entered into at once, and the building completed and occupied in December of the same year. It was solemnly dedicated on the twenty-fourth day of June, 1854, by R. W. Jacob Graaf, D. G. M., in presence of a very large concourse of members of the order and other citizens.

The following are the names of the building committee on the part of the Bolivar lodge, acting in conjunction with a similar committee on the part of the chapter, that so successfully carried out the project of erecting a lodge room, viz: E. L. Huffman, Walter P. McCabe, and John Horton.

The following committee had charge of the arrangements preparatory to the dedication of the lodge, on the twenty-fourth day of June, 1854, viz: Warren M. Campbell, Jacob Chambers, George W. Thompson, and B. F. Larsh.

auspices, for only a few years, for the building was destroyed by fire on the night of July 4, 1829, together with several frame buildings, including the old National hotel, which formerly stood on the ground now occupied by "Commercial Row." This was one of the most disastrous fires that ever occurred in Eaton, and was a very heavy blow upon the prosperity of Bolivar lodge. There was no insurance upon the building, but all the furniture, books, and records, were saved.

Subsequent to this disaster, the Odd Fellows lodge kindly loaned the fraternity the privilege of meeting in its hall until more permanent arrangements could be effected. There being at that time no room in town suitable for a lodge hall, a contract was concluded with the Odd Fellows for the use of their hall indefinitely, at a rent of fifty dollars per annum.

This arrangement continued for about two years, when a lease for the term of ten years was taken on the third story of Eidson & Brothers' building, opposite the court house, on Main street. This last named room was occupied as a lodge until the year 1879, when a lease for ten years was procured upon the room now occupied, viz: the east room on the third floor of the Stephens block.

It may not be improper here to say that Bolivar lodge was chartered and installed just at the commencement of the anti-Masonic excitement, which originated soon after the publication of Morgan's book of pretended revelations of the "secrets of Masonry." The anti- Masonic war, as it was termed, was felt all over the United States, and finally arose to be perhaps the most bitter and intolerant political episode that has ever agitated and divided the people of this Nation. Looking back at the excitement and intolerance of that period, from the present stand-point of philosophical calmness, it seems absolutely astounding that so great a matter should have grown from so small and insignificant a beginning. Hundreds of Masonic lodges, in Ohio and other States, were compelled to succumb to the pressure of insane persecution and cease their labors.

Bolivar lodge, however, kept on in the even tenor of its way, and kept up its regular meetings during the whole time of the excitement. sons in almost all the States of the Union, especially in the eastern States, withdrew from the lodges and renounced their obligations and allegiance to the order, not a single member of Bolivar lodge ever faltered in his loyalty to its principles. Bolivar lodge has always enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. | Its membership, for a great many years, has never been much below sixty in number. Four other lodges have been instituted in the county, mainly offshoots from her membership. All over the western States, emigrants from her household are scattered. Many have gone out from her shelter to gain honor and wealth in other lands, and plant the banners of the order in other fields. May success and honor, and peace and usefulness ever attend her future career.

Eaton Royal Arch Chapter, No. 22

A chapter was instituted with the above name, under this authority, and has continued to work up to the present time. Its membership is made up from the Masonic lodges at West Alexandria, Lewisburgh, New Paris and Camden, as well as from the home lodge.

Eaton Lodge, No. 3o, was instituted on the twentythird day of May, 1844, by the Móst Worshipful Grand Master Horatio N. Clark, with the following charter members: John V. Campbell George W. Edgerly, Richard Y. Lanius, Amos W. Yoast, and James W. Murray. The following officers were elected and installed : John V. Campbell, N. G.; Amos W. Yoast, V. G.; Richard Y. Lanius, secretary; James W. Murray, treasurer. The following named were admitted as members by initiation, the same evening: Theodore Harbaugh, Michael Filbert, James Albert, Bryant G. Garty, Andrew Mikesell, and Alfred Denny. There is no record of the appointed officers for the term. At the time of the institution of the lodge it held its meetings in the second story of a building then owned by Josiah Campbell, on Barron street, immediately west of the court house, and continued to use the same hall until September, 1848, when the lodge moved to the building owned by Cornelius VanAusdal, on the north side of Main street, west of Barron, occupying the third story of said building. On the fourteenth day of June, 1855, the lodge purchased the property on the northeast corner of Main and Cherry four hundred dollars. Upon the lot stood a two-story building, forty by sixty-five feet. The lodge received possession of the property on the first of September, 1855.

In the year 1858 the lodge remodelled the second story of the building, and made an addition of a third story on the same. In November, 1858, the lodge moved from the Van Ausdal building to their own building, and occupied their own hallin the third story. In the year 1871 the lodge erected a three-story addition to their building of brick on the vacant ground, on the north end of their building, at a cost of three thousand three hundred and sixty-one dollars.

August 24, 1873, the lodge building was destroyed by fire, being a totalloss, with the exception of a portion of the brick used for rebuilding. The lodge saved from the fire, the records and most of their furniture, etc., used for the workings of the lodge. The loss sustained by the lodge was fourteen thousand dollars. "The building was insured in the sum of six thousand five hundred dollars. Owing to some technicalities raised by some of the insurance companies, the lodge received of the insurance six thousand dollars. The lodge rented a hallin the third story brick building belonging to the estate of Jesse B. Stephens, deceased, situated on the north side of Main street, opposite the court house square, while rebuilding.

The lodge erected a new building of brick upon the site of the old building, all finished with the exception of the third story, at a cost of nine thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine dollars, and twenty-five cents, and at the time of the loss by fire, the lodge was in debt in the sum of three thousand two hundred and seventy dollars, and seventy-nine cents, which added to the cost of the new building, amounted to the sum of thirteen thousand one hundred and ninety-nine dollars, and eight cents. Deducting the amount of six thousand dollars received from the insurance companies, there was left an indebtedness of seven thousand two hundred dollars and eight cents.

February 5, 1875, the lodge sold to Preble Encampment, No. 54, Independent Order of Fellows, thirty-four feet off of the north end of their lot, together with that portion of their building erected thereon, for the sum of four thousand dollars cash, which left an indebtedness of the lodge in the sum of three thousand two hundred dollars, and eight cents. The encampment finished off their third story for a hall in the spring of 1875, and the lodge on tbe eighteenth of May in the same year, moved into said hall, and occupied the same, together with the encampment until the sixth of September, 1877, when, having finished their own hall at a cost of four hundred and fifty dollars, they moved into it. The lodge at this date is in a very prosperous condition, both financially and socially. It has one hundred and eight members, and has invested in real estate in the sum of six thousand two hundred and seventy-two dollars, and the income received from all sources is one thousand six hundred and eighty-five dollars per annum,

The officers of the lodge for the present term of 1880 are: George Straw, N. G.; Andrew Black, V. G.; G. C. F. Black, recording secretary; A. Edgar Hubbard, permanent secretary; Frederick Michael, treasurer; James Barnet, warden; F. P. Filbert, C.; W. M. Coonrod, I. G.; Peter Straw, O. G.; J. R. Cook, R. S. to the N. G.; David Peters, L. S. to the N. G.; Joseph Fossnacht, R. S. to the V. G.; A. C. Stipher, L. S. to the V. G.; Ephraim Young, R. S. S.; Frank Ridenour, L. S. S.; R. G. D. Mc- Kemy, chaplain; Charles P. Thum, Samuel Shields, and John R. Cook, trustees; Michael Filbert, J. R. Cook, and John A. Crouse, committee on claims.

Of the charter members only two are now living - John V. Campbell and Richard Y. Lanius, while only one, John V. Campbell, still retains membership in the lodge.

Of the six who were initiated on the night of the institution of the lodge, there are four of them living - Theodore Harbaugh, Michael Filbert, James Albert, and Alfred Denny. Two of them are dead, Bryant G. Garty

_ Eaton lodge being the parent lodge of the county, it furnished charter members for other lodges, to-wit: Western Star, No. 109; Eden lodge, No. 147; New Paris, No.

303; Fairhaven, No. 425; West Manchester, No. 520; West Alexandria, No. 521; Campbellstown, No. 551; Lewisburgh, No. 571, of the county of Preble; Greenville, No. 105, of the county of Darke; together with others who became charter members of lodges throughout the great west.

was instituted on the tenth day of June, 1852, by William Chidsey, M. W. G. Patriarch, with James Albert, John V. Campbell, William J. Kelley, Richard Y. Lanius, Daniel S. Carson, James H. Crews, and Jobn A. Crouse, as charter members, and the following named officers were elected ard installed: James Albert, C. P.; Richarde Ve Darius, E. ohn AvaGrouse;S, Wes MIT: Kelley, J. W.; John V. Campbell, scribe; James H. Crews, treasurer; and the following named were admitted to membership on the evening of the institution of the encampment: R. G. D. McKemy, Benjamin Hubbard, Jonathan R. Ammerman, David Patten, W. H. H. B. Minor, Noah Dispenant, Daniel Payne, John W. Stephens, Amos W. Yost, William Tolbert, Daniel J. Neaff, Samuel T. Sliver, Perry Rinehart, and George Kline.

'The encampment held its meetings in the hall of Eaton Lodge, No. 3o, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, until the sixth day of December, 1878; part of the time it was in its own hall February 5, 1875, the encampment purchased from Eaton lodge thirty-four feet off of the north end of the lot owned by said lodge, with the part of the building thereon, for the sum of four thousand dollars, and in May of the same year, they plastered and finished up their own hall, at a cost of one hundred and thirty-three dollars and fifty-one cents, and they have here held their meetings ever since the sixth of September, 1878.

The encampment has sixty-one members, and is in a flourishing condition. It has invested in real estate the sum of three thousand and fifty dollars, and the income received from all sources is six hundred and fifty dollars per year. Of this sum the amount of four hundred and ten dollars, received for rent, is appropriated to the payment of taxes, Insurance and the indebtedness of the encampment. The balance is appropriated to meet other demands, as set forth in the laws of the order. The encampment is still in debt in the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars.

The officers of the encampment for the present term of the year 1880, are as follows: F. M. Filbert, C. P.; David Peters, H. P., Phillip Becker, S. W.; James Banta, J. W.; R. G. D. McKemy, scribe; Charles P. Thum, treasurer; James Albert, guide; Peter Straw, O. S.; W. A. King, I. S.; James D. Miller, first W.; J. J. Hume, second W.; Thomas Fulton, third W.; Joseph Fossnacht, fourth Wis Jo Re Cook Artie of "TA, C Stiper, second G. of T.; and John R. Cook is also D. D. G. patriarch of this encampment. David Peters, Samuel Oldfather and William McCabe, trustees.

and John V. Campbell - as to J. H. Crews, it is not known whether he is yet living, while only tvo - James Albert and John V. Campbell, still retain membership in the encampment. W. J. Kelley withdrew by card and deposited it in Greenville Encampment, No. go.

Of the fourteen that were initiated on the night of the institutition of the encampment, there are five of them dead: Jonathan R. Ammerman, W. H. H. B. Minor, Daniel Payne, Amos W. Yoast and William Tolbert; only three of them: Robert G. D. McKemy, S. T. Sliver and Perry Rinehart still hold membership in the encampment.

Preble Encampment being the parent Encampment of the county, furnished members, who withdrew by card and became charter members of New Paris encampment, No. 139, Camden, No. 177.

An Old And Locally Famous Dramatic Club

In the fall of 1832 a number of young men, residents of the village of Eaton, having long felt the want of some kind of amusement during the long winter nights, met together for consultation as to what this amusement should consist of. After mature deliberation they resolved themselves into a dramatic club, to be known by the name of the "Eaton Thespian society." A constitution and by-laws were drawn up and signed by the following persons: Joseph S. Hawkins, Ellis Minshall, Josiah Campbell, John B. Dicks, James H. Curry, Joseph Donohoe, John VanAusdal, Andrew J. Hawkins, William

The officers of the society were one secretary, one treasurer, and one manager who had full power to give the cast of all plays that were adopted by the society, and from his decision there was no appeal.

Josiah Campbell was made treasurer, James H. Curry, secretary, Sampson H. Hubbell, manager, and Joseph Donohoe, scene painter. 'There was not at that time a public hall or any other room in the village large enough to give such exhibition in. It was thought best by the members to make a beginning on a small scale, and they took possession of an upper room, in a building situated on the south side of Main street, a few doors east of Cherry street (now Union hall) thinking it would be sufficiently large in which to test their dramatic powers. After giving a few exhibitions here they became thoroughly satisfied that this room was altogether too small to contain the amount of dramatic talent that they found themselves in possession of, and they determined that

They accordingly cast about, and finally discovered a row of one-story buildings, situated on the south side of Main street, near to Barron street. These they rented, and tore out the partitions, using the east end for stage and green room, the balance for the audience room. Mr. Donohoe painted a nice lot of scenery for them, and ina short time they had it converted into a very respectable little theatre. They had a public performance every two weeks, and sometimes oftene, and always to full houses. This continued for nearly two years; about this time a number of young men not members of the Eaton Thespian, became stage struck, and determined to get up an opposition society, to be called the Jack Downing Thespian society. The members of the Eaton Thespian society were becoming somewhat weary of their occupation, made an offer to sell out to the Jack Downing and retire, and rest upon the laurels already won. The Downing accepted the proposition, and run the machine for a few months, when it gradually oozed out.: Ae

The Eaton Thespian-society was a great financial success. They commenced business without one cent of capital, did business for two years, then sold out, and paid the last cent they owed in full, but "nary red" left.

Archery

The initial step in archery was taken in Eaton by the organization of the Rob Roy Archery club on the twenty-eighth day of April, 1879. This club had its regular meetings on Friday afternoons in the beautiful grove west of the city.

The officers of this club were C. F. Brooke, jr., president; Miss Cora Van Ausdal, vice-president; F. G. Thompson, secretary ; G. W. Daugherty, treasurer.

On May 24, 1879, Merrie Bowmen, of St. Claire, was organized. This club held its meetings on Saturday afternoons, at the private ranges of the members. The spirit of rivalry was manifest among the members of this club from its early commencement. The members of this club were: A. E. Hubbard, Mrs. A. E. Hubbard, Colonel R. Williams, jr, Mrs. Colonel R. Williams, jr., J. W. B. Siders, Miss Lou Lockwood, C. H. Moore, Miss Kitty L. Thomson, Dr. F. M. Mitchell, Miss Della Thompson, James A. Du Sang, Elam Fisher, Mrs. Elam Fisher, Mr. A. C. Van Doren, Mrs. A. C. Van Doren, Dr. P. M. Small, Mrs. Dr. P. M. Small, Morris Sturm, Mrs. Morris Sturm, John T. Holmes, Mrs. J. T. Holmes, Dr. J. L. Quinn, Mrs. J. L. Quinn, H. C. Hiestand, Mrs. H. C. Hiestand, H. M. Markley, Mrs. H. M. Markley, Dr. W. P. Webb, Mrs. Dr. W. P. Webb.

It appears that the fates favored this club from the first. They challenged the Robin Hood's, of Hamilton, Ohio, and were victorious. They immedately challenged the Rob Roys, of Eaton, Ohio, and were again victorious. These victories prompted the Merrie Bowmen to measure bows with the Saggittarians, of Cincinnati, the Eaton club being once more the victors.

The first tournament was held October 2 and 3, 1879. The Merrie Bowmen held fourth and the Rob Roy sixth place in the contest for eight clubs.

Both clubs now, for mutual benefit, rented Bonner's hall for winter practice. These merry archers shot the old year out and the new year in, and celebrated the new with a long-to-be-rembered supper.

In the early spring time of 1880 we are loth to chronicle a change which came to the Rob Roys, and the club did not meet as an organization during the year. But we are pleased to say that the Merrie Bowmen were strengthened by the reception of Mr. W. B. Robinson, Miss Ruth Van Ausdal, Miss Ruth Whitridge, and Miss Belle Acton.

At length those who did not prove very skilful with the long bow, gradually became less interested in the sport until the club was composed of those who wished to make archery a success.

A team of four gentlemen, consisting of Colonel R. Williams, J. W. B. Siders, C. H. Moore, and W. B. Robinson, was elected from the club to attend the Ohio State Archery association, at Cincinnati, August 25, 26, and 27, 1880.

At this tournament the team gained second place in the State association. At this tournament Colonel R. Williams took the first prize at the York round with a score of three hundred and twenty-one. This being the first time that the York round had ever been shot at a State tournament. Soon after the tournament the Merrie Bowmen challenged the champion club of the State to shoot the American round, and were successful ; making the highest score on record at this round, as a team. The following is the score:

College Hill Club

This club is now one of the strongest clubs in the United States. It has made application for membership to the National Archery association, and will, no doubt, shoot at the national tournament, which will be held at Brooklyn, New York, in July, 1881.

The Washington Guards

In the summer of 1855, a military company was organized in Eaton, under the name of the Washington guards, and consisting of some of the leading middleaged and young men of the town - among them, Jacob H. Foos, W. F. Albright, James Van Ausdal, John C. Kaylor, Thomas Winters, Thomas Hill, Thomas Morton, A. J. Patton, W. C. M. Brookins, W. W. Danford, Joseph Tracy, J. J. Hunt, J. G. McNutt, L. T. McCabe, John A. Hubbell, A. V. Thompson, John P. Jennings, John G. Grace, N. B. Larsh, Enoch Gordon, George G. Krug, James F. Annerman and James A. Gilmore. It does not appear, however, that the last named ever signed the constitution, and he resigned his place in the company at an early day. The first civil officers of the organization were: James A. Gilmore, secretary; John G. McNutt, treasurer;

John J. Hunt, W. C. M. Brookins and Jacob H. Foos, trustees. The military officers were: Levin T. McCabe, captain; John J. Hunt, first lieutenant; William F. Albright, second lieutenant; Jacob H. Foos, ensign, Thomas Morton, first sergeant; Joseph G. McNutt, second sergeant; John Russell, third sergeant; William C. Rossman, fourth lieutenant; John Hubbell, first corporal; Joseph Tracy, second corporal; A. J. Patton, third corporal; James Long, fourth corporal The preamble of the constitution set forth that the members formed themselves into a company "in order to procure healthful exercise; to acquire habits of discipline; to promote that knowledge of military science which forms an. ornament in peace and inspires confidence in war, and to fit ourselves for military duty."

Preble Division, No. Iii, Sons Of Temperance

A division of the Sons of Temperance was instituted at the town of Eaton, December 7, 1846, by B. F. Raleigh, consisting of the following charter members: Felix Marsh, John V. Campbell, Henry Monfort, Robert Martin, William Rossman, John Steele, Josiah- Campbell, William J. Gilmore, Vincent Mitchell, Abram V. Austin, William B. Tizzard, Andrew Mikesell. The following persons joined soon afterwards, viz.: Benjamin Fleming, Jacob Chambers, Samuel P. Wilson and John C. Brooks. The following were the first officers of the organization: Robert Martin, W. P.; Josiah Campbell, W. A.; John V. Campbell, R. S.; William J. Gilmore, A. R. S.; William B. Tizzard, F. S.; William Rossman, treasurer; Felix Marsh, C.; Vincent Mitchell, A. C.; Andrew Mikesell, J. S.; John Steele, O. S. This organization was maintained until 1849, when it was disbanded and another temperance society took its place. The latter organization was known as and was instituted October 26, 1850, with the following persons as charter members, viz.: Felix Marsh, S. P. Wilson, John V. Campbell, William Hock, Jacob Chambers, Robert Pryor, John A. McKemy, William A. Bloomfield, Gideon Albright and Joshua McCoy; also the following ladies: Mrs. Rachel.Marsh, Mrs. Ann E. Campbell, Mrs. Matilda Hock, Mrs. Catharine Chambers, Mrs. Pryor, Mrs. Albright, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Lucinda Huffman. The first officers elected were the following: Felix Marsh, B. P. T.; Catharine Chambers, S. P. S.; John V. Campbell, B. V. T.; Rachel Marsh, S. V. T.; John A. Mc- Kemy, P. B. P. T.; Elizabeth Wilson, P. S. P. T.; Robert E. Pryor, B. R.; Jacob Chambers, B. U.; Ann E. Campbell, S. U.; Lucinda Huffman, S. G.; Gideon Albright, B. S.

Eaton Lodge No. 248, Independent Order Of Good Murphy Movement

R. H. $5; May Fleming, L. H. S.; Hyram Johnson, W. C.; Robert Crisman, W. T.; J. A. McCabe, W. M.; Lizzie Quinn, W. D. M.; Addie Hendricks, W. J. G.; William Nation, W. O. G. This organization was maintained and active work kept up until 1874, or the following year. Meetings were held regularly at Temperance hall, and the lodge, by small but frequent accessions of members, became one of the largest organizations of the kind which ever had an existence in the town or county. MURPHY MOVEMENT.

A council of the members-and ministers of all the churches was held Saturday evening, May 19, 1877, in the Methodist Episcopal church. A temporary organization was effected, and I. N. Lake was chosen president.

On Monday evening, May 21, 1877, the first meeting was held in the city opera house. The meeting was addressed by Judge James A. Gilmore and others At the close about one hundred and fifty signed the following temperance pledge:

God Helping Me

"NATIONAL CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE, AND CHARITY FOR ALL." I, the undersigned, do pledge my word and honor, GOD HELPING ME,

Nearly all the signers at the first meeting were church members and temperance people, one or two only were. secured from the drinking ranks at this meeting.

The meetings were continued for one week, but were only partially successful in attracting the attention of those who needed reformation. A few, however, attended, and some were induced to become members.

The temporary organization was at this time disbanded for the purpose of placing the work in the hands of the reformed men, the officers resigned and the following officers were elected to serve six months:

President, Judge James A. Gilmore; vice presidents, Frank Mitchell, Fred Tyler, Tim Kelly and Silas Bellows; secretary, Robert Morgan; treasurer, W. C. M. Brookins.

The services of the famous, Timony brothers (John and Ed.), of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were secured for one week. During their stay the excitement was intense. Crowds were nightly compelled to turn from the door of the opera house for want of room. Men, women, and children ofall classes worked in union with a zeal worthy any cause.

Hundreds this week signed the pledge, from the moderate drinker down to the habitual drunkard, and many of them pushed to the front rank of the working force. The little badge of blue was everywhere to be seen. A few short weeks had worked a complete change in public sentiment. At the close of the week's labor of the Timony brothers, one thousand names adorned the roll.

Meetings were held during the summer at the court house. In July Burr Robins' circus gave an exhibition in the town, and the proprietor gave the people permission to use his tent on Sunday for a meeting. At the close of the night's performance the announcement was made from the ring of the meeting next day - Sunday, at three o'clock P. Mm. At noon on Sunday the town was filled with people from the surrounding country. The circus tent was filled to overflowing.

The meeting was addressed by Judge James A. Gilmore, of Eaton, and Dan Rouzer, of Dayton, Ohio. Near two hundred (200) signed the pledge at the close of the meeting, among whom were thirty members of Burr Robins' circus company.

In the fall of 1877 James Dunn (known as Jimmy Dunn), of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, labored one week with us. Large and enthusiastic meetings were held nightly in the court room.

The Eaton Murphy choir became famous throughout the county under the leadership of Professor W. H. H. Eson. Upon invitation they visited West Alexandria, Camden, Winchester; also Richmond, Indiana. They numbered thirty young ladies and gentlemen of the town.

The ministers of the town all worked in the cause, but the most active among them were the Rev. A. Meharry (since deceased), and Rev. A. J. Reynolds. The faithful services rendered by them never will be forgotten by the reformed men.

May 21 and 22, 1878, one year from the commencement of the work in Eaton meetings were held in the fair grounds; five thousand were in attendance each day; the anniversary was celebrated by speeches, songs, and in the evening of May 21st, by a grand torchlight

The effect in the community was good. Fewer criminals were arraigned in the county courts; fewer arrests were made; the cost for maintaining or assisting the poor classes during these two years was less than ever before in the history of the county, so great was the decrease in this respect that it was commented upon by the county papers. Men who for years had been compelled to ask aid for their families, from the township trustees, not only supported themselves and families comfortably, but by economy and total abstinence laid by enough of their savings to secure comfortable homes, and are to-day living monuments of the good results of the Murphy movement.

Although the good accomplished was great, and the future of the moral suasion temperance plan bright (had they continued the work - ''With malice towards none and charity for all") they became divided in their

The two opposing parties consisted of the prohibitionists and the moral suasionists, and much time was used in discussing the question - how to proceed. The people lost interest in the work; the drinking men ceased attending, and the work stopped. But there are many today in the village, who owe their happinessto the great Murphy temperance movement, and will honor and keep the pledge they have taken unto death.

The presidents who served for each term of six months, were Judge J. A. Gilmore, Benjamin Hubbard, John T. Deem, Frank Mitchell and S. More Surface.

In 1837 the first brass and reed band in Preble county, was organized under the leadership of Professor Jerry Guild, and composed of the following members: Ellis Minshall, Jacob Sweeney, Joshua Lockwood, E. P. Lockwood, David Hunter, Andrew Mikesell, Isaac Colby, J. Severs Hawkins, Josiah Campbell James Curry, Cornelius Banta, John Glines, Isaac Van Ausdal and George Waggoner. 'The instruments used were eight clarionets, two concert horns, one plain trumpet, bass and tenor sliding trombones, flutes and bass drum. The first piece of music played was the **March from Bluebeard," familiarly known as *Calfs Tooth." During the three years that this organization remained in existence, Dr. A. H. Stephens, Alfred Denny and John P. Acton were received as members. In 1840 the band went to South Bend, Indiana, and played for General William Henry Harrison. An orchestra was also organized with five violins, two flutes, concert horns and clarionets. The first concert was given {in the old Public church, and the programme, including such songs as "Old King Cole," "Rosin the Bow," etc. The next entertainment by the band was at this place, at the hall on the south side of Main street, between Barron and Beech streets. After the campaign of 1840 was over the interest in the band waned, and at length the organization was given up. In the fall of 1841, however, another band was formed with the following members in addition to those who had composed the first: William Stagg, James Mitchell, Henry Lockwood, J. i. Lockwood, G. R. Lockwood, Samuel Lockwood and C. W. Lockwood.

This band gave a series of concerts, travelling from place to place upon horseback, with E. Pond and Cuff Lockwood as advance agents. Entertainments were given before paying houses at Muncie, Winchester and Newport, Indiana, and Granville, Ohio. This organization was maintained until 1856, when it was disbanded and another one formed, with Professor Edward O. Reid as leader. The new members were, H. B. Van Ausdal, B. F. Larsh, D. Richey, A. B. DeGroot, John Fenerbaugh and Oliver Loy. This band was kept very busily employed during the campaign of 1856, and obtained a rank second to none in the State. Very handsome new silver instruments were secured. When the war broke out several members went into the army, but the organi- zation was kept up until 1865. At that time the interest was revived and the band was again reorganized, with W. H. Eason, W. H. Ortt, Perry Lockwood, J. C. Hoover, C. F. Churchill, John Lockwood, jr., S. W. Lockwood, E. O. Lockwood, Frank Lockwood and Charles Lockwood as 'additional members. It will be observed that from the first the Lockwoods had a prominent place in the composition of the several Eaton bands. They have all been good musicians, and in recent years the descendants of those of the name who took part in the earlier orgnizations are following in their footsteps. This band during the years it remained as organized in 1865 had many "good times" in the nature of annual excursions to the Shelby county * Reservoir" concerts, festivals, fishing excursions, etc. . In 1874 Professor C. F. Churchill, assisted by others, started a new organization with the following members: E. O. Lockwood, A. A. Churchill, W. B. Robinson, H. Donohoe, O. Jefferson, Richard Lockwood, W. H. Eason, Samuel W. Lockwood, W. H. Ortt, A. G. Minshall, J. S. Lockwood, John Lockwood, jr, and James H. Tizzard. The band started under adverse circumstances, but by energy and pluck succeeded in securing, during the first year of existence, a new set of silver helicon instruments, new uniforms, etc. Of the amount expended the citizens of Eaton contributed one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The second year the band purchased a new wagon, new music, and several other things which they needed. During these two years about twelve hundred and fifty dollars was expended in equipping the organization. The present organization is constituted as follows: C. F. Churchill, leader; M. Lally, A. A. Churchill, E. O. Lockwood, O. Filbert, W. H. Eason, Edward Albright, Calvin Churchill, O. Jefferson, W. B. Robinson, Horace Donohoe, Luman Lockwood, A. G. Minshall, Marks Nation, John Pollas, J. J. Chase, William Nation, Thomas J. Noe, and H. Kester. Of the whereabouts of some of the members of the early organizations who are still music makers, it may be remarked that C. W. Lockwood is the leader of the band at Muncie, Indiana, Richard, Charles and Nathan Lockwood are in the same town; Frank Lockwood is at Arcanum, Ohio; Perry Lockwood is at Champaign, Illinois, and J. C. Hoover is leader of the band at Lincoln, Illinois.

Mound Cemetery

Eaton has one of the most appropriate and beautiful resting places for the dead to be found in the county. But few burial places excel it in natural beauty, of chasteness in art adornment, or in elements of historic interest.