Monroe Township (part 1 of 5)

Monroe Township

Was in existence in 1851 and must have been created before that time. It was formed by taking parts of Stony Creek and Green Townships, and Stony Creek was extended southward by taking two miles from the north end of Nettle Creek Township.

Was created with its present limits, in June, 1859, being cut from the west side of Ward Township, leaving Ward as it is found at the present time, Franklin being the last township formed in the county.

Union Township was created by the Commissioners in March. 1838, four miles square, at the north end of West River, leaving West River four miles square. A remonstrance was afterward presented against the formation of Union Township, and it is to be presumed that the township was dissolved asi t is not now in existence, though no record has been found of such action on the books of the Commissioners.

Union Township included the village of Unionsport. Why action was taken for so small a township, and what was to be done with the remainder of West River, deponent saith not. Both Union and West River were far too small. The name, Union, would seem to indicate some connection between the formation of the new township and the " community " movement which established Unionsport Village about that time.

Salamonie Township (Jay County), was erected by the Randolph Commissioners September, 1834, embracing all of Jay County (then a part of Randolph). Jay County was formed by the Legislature shortly afterward. Allen County had been laid off before and Blackford was made a few years later.

Madison Township (Jay County), was erected in May, 1835, embracing five miles on the east side of Jay County. Jay County was afterward organized, including Salamonie and Madison Townships.

On the north side of the County are four townships, making a strip across the north side of six miles wide, except Green, which is four and one-half miles wide. They are arranged thus, reckoning from the west :

On the south side of the county are four townships, bounded on the north by an irregular line, with location and size as follows, beginning at the east side of the county :

Greensfork, six and one-eighth miles from east to west and about seven miles from north to south, with a corner in the northwestern part, one mile north and south and one-half mile east and west.

White River, seven miles from north to south and ten miles from east to west, and also a strip at the southwest four miles from north to south and one mile from east to west.

Stony Creek, five miles from north to south and five and fiveeighths miles from east to west, excepting one square mile in the southeast corner.

Roads And Bridges

There were, at first, no roads. Every man picked his way according to his own fancy, as a hunter roams through the woods. The earliest regular track, perhaps, through the Randolph forest of any considerable length, was the " Quaker Trace," opened by the settlers of Richmond and vicinity, to get an outlet to Fort Wayne for trade with the Indians.

Squire Bowen says : " The ' Quaker Trace ' was begun in 1817. James Clark and twenty-five or thirty others took three wagons with provisions and a surveyor with his compass and chain and measured distances and blazed trees and marked mile trees, cutting out the road wide enough for a wagon to pass. They wound around ponds and big logs and trees, and quagmires, forded the Mississinewa and the Wabash, and so on to Fort Wayne. James Bowen went as one of the company twenty-five miles to beyond the Mississinewa Crossing, till one wagon load had been used"up. That team returned, and James came back with them. The route passed through Arba, Spartansburg, Bartonia, South Saleja, (west of) Union City, through Mount Holly, through Allensville, crossing the Mississinewa just north of that place, through North Salem, and crossing the Wabash at Jay City, Jay County, near Corydon. There was but one house between (what is now) Dan Comer's, one mile north of Spartansburg and Fort Wayne, viz., at Thomson's Prairie, eight miles north of the Wabash."

This road or trace was, for a long time, a famous thoroughfare, being known far and near, and it obtained much travel. Most of it came to be at length a public highway, and much of it remains so to this day. Except the " Quaker Trace," there were, up to May, 1819, no regular traveled roads. There -were simply blazed paths, or tracks haphazard through the woods wherever a settler might happen to go.

At the se.ssion of the Board of County Commissioners, held May, 1819, Jesse Johnson and others, residents of the south part of the county, petitioned for a road as follows :

Beginning at Winchester, thence the nearest and best way to go between Jesse Johnson's and Paul Beard's, thence the nearest and best way to the county line at the southwest corner of Section 14, Township 18, Range 14. The petition was granted and the road was laid. It took chiefly the route now the Winchester and Lynn pike and southward to the county line.

The fourth road was the extension of the " Lawrenceburg road " from the house of Ephraim Overman to that of William Yates (August, 1819) [the road through Arba northward]. William Yates entered the north half. Section 9, Township Itf, Kange 1, northwest of Spartansburg.

The eighth road (May, 1820), was from Winchester to John Foster's (Griifis farm). This afterward became substantially the State road to Muncie, Indianapolis, etc., the route, however, beini; somewhat changed.

The ninth road (May, 1820), was from Sample's Mill to Huntsville. [Sample's Mill was on White River west of Winchester, somewhat east of the " twelve mile boundary]."

The twelfth road (May, 1825) was from southeast corner Section 3.5, Township 16, Range 1 west, to Obadiah Small's. The point of beginning is on the county line two miles east of Arba, and Obadiah Small owned the land that Spartansburg now stands on. This road is thought to be the one now running from Bethel, Wayne County, by " Pinhook," Charles Crist',s, and Jeremiah Middleton's to Spartansburg.

January, 1830. a road was laid from the west end of Hockett's lane to the Wayne County line, at the southeast corner of " Martindale's Deadening." A wonderfully, clear and exact description. The settlers knew where the " road " was as easily as the "boy knew his daddy."

May, 1881. Road from the southwest corner of Samuel Smith's fence to the crcssway south of Jackson's, thence to the new road at the north end of William Smith's laue. (Another description worthy of special notice).

Doubtless many roads have been laid at some time or other not herein mentioned. Enough are named to give a general idea of the system of highways established and maintained by the county for the use of the citizens.

These roads, laid out, as we have said, by public authority, were opened and worked to some extent, yet for a long time most of them were but poor indeed. The trees were cut away somewhat, a few bridges were made, and log ways were built in some places, yet for the most part they were horrid enough. David Lasley relates in his "reminiscences" how lie (with another man) built three-quarters of a mile of " log-way" on the road west of Winchester. As late as 1859 there was one and a quarter miles of log- way, nearly in one " string," north between Winchester and Deerfield. Often logs a foot or eighteen inches through would be laid down and sometimes absolutely nothing on them, and the wa:^on had to go " bumping" across that continuou.? log-heap. Each new road would be divided into districts ai overseer appointed, and " hands" given him for his " gang" to open and work the highway, e. g., Francis Frazier (bellmaker, east of Lynn), James Wright and William Ilockett, were appointed to mark and lay off the road leading through Lynn, which they did. Albert Banta claimed damages, and John Ballinger, John Way, William Haworth, Joshua Cox and Henry Hill were chosen to consider and assess damages. They reported "no damage." The road was laid, and Paul Beard was made Supervisor of tho south end and John Elzroth of the north end. Beard had all the east part Greensfork Township (in the south end of the county) for his district, and Elzroth had all the north end for his, east of Sugar Creek.

John Elzroth lived near the "Poor Farm." After residing in Randolph a long time he moved to the " Reserve," in Gram, County. In 1871 he came back by rail to Deerfield, and on foot to Winchester, hale and hearty, then eighty years old. He was an older brother of Jacob Elzroth, so long a magistrate in Winchester.

[Note. - Either he or a brother of his died June, 1880, at Crawfordsville Ind., aged ninety-four years. He was in Randolph Couuty on a visit five weeks before his death, being then hale and sprightly].

Dr. Beard's district was eight miles long and about four miles wide, with thirty-two sections and perhaps thirty road-hands, and nine miles of road to open and work.

Mr. Elzroth's district was nine to ten miles long and seven miles, wide, containing sixty-six section and about forty hands and four and a half miles of road.

All males from eighteen to fifty years had to work two days each per year, and that was all the road tax there was. Hands could be hired from 25 to 50 cents a day. Mr. Smith says :

And it may be added, how did the " bridle paths" and " logways," " pole bridges" and " mud beds" then compare with the roads now. It must be confessed that, even now, road work is often laid out to poor advantage. A better method of highway labor is sadly needed.

For the second road (west from Winchester) Judge John Wright was made Supervisor, with all the hands in White River Township west of Sugar Creek and south of White River.

On the third road (Winchester to Bloomingport) is a point of some interest, Joseph Gass'. Mr. Smith says : " His house stood on the north side of a brushy prairie in Section 29, Town 19, Range 14, some three miles north of Bloomingport. He built there in early days on the main Indian trail between Muncie (an Indian town at that time) to Greenville, where the Indian annuities were paid from Wayne's treaty in 1795 to 1815 or 1816, at which time the place of payment was changed from Greenville to Fort Wayne. The Indians traveled from Muncie (which they called Mont-see-town) up White River on the south side till they crossed Prairie Creek at its mouth. They then took a "bee-line" for Greenville, which none but an Indian can do. The trail passed north of Huntsville and Spartansburg, and was about as straight as a surveyor could have made it. The trace was quite a plain one and was much traveled even by whites in those days.

Joseph Gass was a brother of the Gass who went with Lewis and Clark across the continent to the mouth of the Columbia River (1805-07), and who published a journal which he kept on that expedition. Joseph Gass built and settled on that trace at that point when there was no white settler from six miles west of Greenville to " Mont-see-town," and he lo<lged travelers who passed on that trace, and hence his house was a noted place to mention on the route of that road. Mr. Smith says he had often seen him and the house he built there.

The town of Springboro was afterward laid out February 15, 1834, at the point where Joseph Gass lived, but the town was not a success, and it is now extinct.

Mr. Gass probably settled there before he entered his land. He was there when the " Way company" came through from Carolina to White River, March, 1817. But the date of his land entry is August 11, 1817. How much earlier than March, 1817, Mr. Gass settled at that place we are not able to state. He seems to have been one of that enterprising class quite common in those days, whose activity took the form of trading with the Indians, which perhaps might have been well enough except that it often included the practice of selling strong drink to the poor red men. That business, whether among white men or Indians, however lucrative it may be to the trader, brings evil and only evil to him who uses the fearful fluid. And as now, so of old, the traffic in strong drinks was one great source of trouble between the settlers and the savages. A sober Indian was commonly peaceable but a drunken savage was an object of fear and dread.

However, in those days, the manufacture of intoxicating liquors and the traffic in them was not regarded as otherwise than proper and honorable.

The fourth road (north from Arba) was viewed by Ephraim Bowen, Ephraim Overman, Jr., and David Bowles ; and Jonathan Small was made Supervisor, with all the hands on Nolan's Fork and Greenville Creek to work the road. Lawrenceburg, at the mouth of the Great Miami was then expected to be " the town " on the Ohio, and roads had been extended f among others) up White River, past Richmond, to Randolph County line, and it was called the "Lawrenceburg road."

" In May, 1820, Viewers were appointed to mark out a road from Winchester to the State line, near Foster's (Griffis farm). The road was reported and established in August, 1820. John Coates was made Supervisor from Winchester to the ford of White River, and Amos Peacock from White River to the State line. In 1822 or 1823 the Legislature authorized the laying of a State road from the State line near Foster's, through Winchester to Indianapolis. Joshua Foster, John Sample and John Way were appointed Commissioners to lay the road. They took Paul W. Way for their surveyor, and started from Foster's to run to Winchester. But they ran too much south, so they made a " bend " to the north before reaching White River. But being still toe far south they veered again northward, west of George Hyatt's, and came in at the end of Broad ( now Washington ) street and ran on that street through Winchester. Then diverging to the south till they got opposite (west of) the middle of the public square in Winchester, they struck west on the route of the present State road ( Pike now) to the west side of the county. Thence down White River (south .side) to Old Town (Indian town) six miles above Muncie, thence down the river by Anderson, Strawtown, etc., to Indianapolis. The county road from the State line west to Winchester was merged in this Statfi road." Again Mr. Smith says (of the thirteenth road above): "September, 1825, a road was reported beginning at the Greenville road northwest from Greenville (Connor's old trace to his trading post) by Daniel B. Miller's to Lewallyn's Mill. This was not opened and worked till 1832. February 2, 1832, the Legislature passed an act appointing Daniel B. Miller Commissioner to lay out a State road from the State line (same point as the thirteenth road) to Parson's Mill, thence to Lewallyn's Mill, thence to intersect the Miamisport road, near Sanders', in Delaware County. Judge Miller appointed me his surveyor, and in August or September, 1832, we began the survey.

We started where Connor's trace crossed the State line, a little north of Union City, went nearly straight to the east side of Deerfield, thence to Parsons' Mill, half mile below Deerfield, thence to Lewallyn's Mill, near Ridgeville, thence onward beyond Emraettsville, keeping in a straight line to Sanders' in Delaware County, passing north of Fairview. The county road from the State line to Lewallyn's Mill was merged in this State road. The road remains substantially as we laid it out, having on it Middlctown, Deerfield, Ridgeville and Eramettsville."

Of the "Quaker Trace" Mr. Smith says (among other things ): " One Baker settled at the Wabash Crossing and kcp. entertainment many years, as also a canoe for crossing the river. It was a prominent point for a long time." A Mr. Storms settled very early near the Mississinewa Crossing. But at first and for some years there were none anywhere on the route except a single house on Thomson's Prairie, as already stated.

[Note Mr. Smith says the "Quaker Trace" was opened in 1818 or 1819. The Bowens say in 1817; which date is correct we do not know. The Bowens are more likely to be right, since they lived on the route, and one of them helped to make the

The first road (through Lynn) crossed White River in itn upper course about a mile north of (old) Snow Hill, and the Ease Branch of Green's Fork, south of Lynn. The road west to Windsor crossed Cabin Creek near Solomon Wright's, and Stony Creek east of Windsor. The road north toward Deerfield crossed White River north of Winchester, and Mississinewa north of Deerfield.

There are now several large bridges, some of which are of iron. A bridge crosses the Mississinewa in connection with the Allensville pike running north. Another one is south of New Pittsburg. There is one north of Deerfield, one at Ridgeville and one at Fairview, besides one or two between the two places last named.

There is a bridge across White River east of Winchester, and one on each of the pikes leading thence to Union City, one across White River northwest of Winchester, one still west of that, one south of Farmland, and one near Parker. There is a large bridge across Stony Creek east of Windsor on the Winchester Pike. There are, of course, bridges innumerable across the several creeks that course through the county in various directions.

Some of the streams are still crossed by fords, as Cabin Creek just west of Unionsport, Greenville Creek northeast of Bartonia { between Elihu Cammack's and William Macy's ), Salt Creek northwest of Winchester, Mississinewa east of Ridgeville, and perhaps many other places.

eighteen and forty-five having to work the road. A law passed the Legislature of 1S80-1881 making important and radical changes, putting the roads into the hands of a new officer styled Township Superintendent. The law goes practically into effect April, 1882, since no Superintendent can be appointed until that

Mills, Machinery, Etc

As to mills, etc., before 1820, we have not been able to gain any certain or exact information. There were some mills built on Nolan's and Green's Forks ( as, also, some horse-mill corncrackers and hominy-pounders ).

William Smith, father of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, built a mill in 1819, on West River. Meshach Lewallyn built one at Ridgeville on Mississinewa, about the same time. J ere Cox erected one on White River, some miles east of Winchester, in 1825. Jessop had a mill on Greenville Creek as soon as 1820 or before. Aaron Hill's father, as also a Mr. Hawkins, in the region of Arba, had hominy-pounders, and perhaps, corncrackers, run by horse-power, shortly after the first settlers came. However, Aaron Hill's father came to this county in 1831.

Jesse Way says he thinks the first water mill in the county was built by John Wright, on Salt Creek, just north of Winchester, in 1818 or 1819.

But to find exact dates, and to determine the locations of those early mills, has been a difficult, and in many cases an impossible task. In the statement herein given, locality has been followed rather than priority of ijate; and no doubt many, after all the labor expended in the work, have been omitted.

Avater- Mills

A mill was built at (just below) Macksyille by Robert Cox about thirty-two years ago (1848). It is now owned by Roberts & Goode. It is a good (grist) mill, and does a thriving business.

At the mouth of Cabin Creek Mr. Bunker built a saw-mill very early. Afterward John H. Bond rebuilt the saw- mill and added a grist-mill. William Roberta bought and rebuilt the mill soon after 1854. It is standing yet and is owned by Dick & Cowgill.

Up Cabin Creek (three-quarters of a mile) is another gristmill; Jacob Boles built one on that site very early. Afterward it was rebuilt by Peter S. Miller (from Bucks County, Penn.), and again by William Marine (about) 1844. It was owned by John H. Bond and Solomon Wright, and now by Studebaker. ' Steam was used at one time but now water alone. A portable sawmill was there once but it has been taken away. 'The mill now has a good reputation for work.

Just above that (also on Cabin Creek), William Marine had built another mill (about) 1839. lie at one time owned both these mills (called Marine's upper and lower mills). The upper one has gone down.

While Marine was running both these mills, Nathan Mendenhall undertook to build still another mill between Marine's upper dam and the lower mill connected with that dam. He built his dam, dug the race, got the timber on the ground but finally he stopped. Why we do not know, for one would think a man might as well go clear through as to begin such a job as that. It is a pity he had not put to actual test the project of running a watermill without water!

Two miles above (on Cabin Creek still) stood Mendenhall'.s (lower) mill, built before 1840. It has been rebuilt once or twice, and was discontinued not long ago. The works were taken to Parker, and the mill is in operation there now.

The mill was rebuilt bj his son Hiram. It has since been changed into a woolen factory, and is now used as such. It is at Unionsport, and is run by both water and steam. It has had a good reputation, and with the requisite capital a fine business might be maintained.

Thomas Gillum built a " corn-cracker" one-fourth of a mile south of Buena Vista, one of the first water-mills in the county. It was gone long ago.

Below Macksville mill (on White River), Mr. Spiller built a saw-mill (about) 1850. It was rebuilt by David Harris. The mill was running five years ago, but is gone now.

On Sparrow Creek, a saw-mill was erected (before the Macksville grist-mill was built) by Morgan Mills. He used to saw day and night. He would set his log and start the saw, and then lie down and take a nap. When the saw got through the log, the snapping of tlie trigger would wake him up, and he would set the log again. That mill went down twenty-five years or more ago. Robert Cox rebuilt the mill and used it to saw the lumber for the mill he built (at Macksville) on White River.

Noah Johnson built a grist-mill on Sparrow Creek at the crossing of the Huntsville and Sampletown road, southeast of Macksville, very early, about the same time as Gillum's mill on Cabin Creek there was also a saw-mill. Both have been gone many years (twenty-five years or more],.

Lewallyn's grist-mill on the Mississinewa near Ridgeville, was built (say) 1819 or 1820. It was afterward owned by William Addington, and then by his son Joab Addington, afterward by Addington & House. Still again by Arthur McKew, and now by Whipple. It goes by water and steam both, and is an extensive and valuable establishment, having done a large business for many years.

Frederick Miller had a grist-mill and saw-mill on Bear Creek, three miles southwest of Ridgeville, perhaps forty years ago. They have been gone many years.

The old Sampletown Mill between Macksville and Winchester, just east of the "twelve-mile boundary," was built very early, but has been gone a long time. Some of the old timbers are to be seen yet.

Jere Cox built a grist-mill above Winchester on White River in 1825, on the farm now owned by William Pickett. Joseph and Benjamin Pickett built a saw-mill, William Pickett in 1853 purchased the place and both mills. They were operated till about 1864, and were torn down in 1870. Mr. Pickett says there were five dry years (from 1864 to 1869), in which the water was so low that the mills could not run, and they were left to go to wreck, and were taken away in 1870.

A grist-mill used to stand on Greenville Creek northwest of the Griffis farm in Wayne Township. It was there in 1850, but has been gone many years. The timbers are there still.

A Mr. Hinchy had a saw-mill and grist-mill on the Mississinewa, east of Allensville, in the early settlement of Jackson Township, which were somewhat important for several years.

John Wright is said to have had a corn-cracker water-mill on Salt Creek, north of Winchester, thought by some to have been the first water-mill in the county. Jesse Way says Wrights mill was built in 1818 or 1819.

Township, had an oil mill (perhaps the only one in the county), as, also, a grist-mill, both run by horse-power, near Winchester, very early - perhaps as long ago as 1820, or thereabouts. Benjamin Bond was married in 1826, and he spout most of several previous years with his uncle Joshua, working in that mill.

Joshua Bond settled near Winchester about 1818, and set up his mills soon after ; and about 1835 or so, he removed to Jay_ County, building a horse mill there also, and running the same till a comparatively late day, dying about 1878, at the age of ninety-four.

He was one of seven brothers, all large limbed, stalwart mountain men of North Carolina, five of whom, when he was sixty years old, were living still.

Old Paul Beard had a saw-mill on Greensfork, which was old in 1837. There was a mill site where a grist-mill had been, but had gone down in 1839, and a new mill by Levi Stout (same man) two miles lower down on Greensfork, a mile and a half north of west from Lynn, about 1838, which was still running in 1854. It is now wholly gone.

There were other mills built from time to time, particularly saw-mills, concerning which no information has been obtained. These early mills must not be reckoned to be like the great mills of the present day. They were, indeed, but small and insignificant affairs. It is related of one of the first mills in Jackson Township, that the owner boasted that his whole " fixings " had cost him only ^2.50. What in particular that same $2.50 was expended for " Dame Rumor " has not condescended to furnish information. Whether it was for dressing the " gray heads " into mill-stones, or to purchase the iron gearing (if they had any), or for something else, it matters not. The money was spent, and it has gone past recovery, and the mill has gone, too, and ro relic of either remains. " Sic transit gloria mundi." And go "passeth the glory" of those old-time marvels of machinery as well.

Those old-time mills were very humble, unpretending establishments. Cox's mill above Winchester, built fifty-six yea-- ago, and eleven years after the first settlement of the county, bolted flour in a hand bolt. The " corn crackers, " so called (Jessup's on Greenville Creek, for instance), used to grind about peck an hour. The stones employed in many of the first mills were simply the native boulders of the region, dressed to suit the purpose. Still they served the needs of the settlers in a small way for many years. Some half-dressed mill stones are lying beside the highways still.

The grist would be sent on the back of a horse or a mule with a half-grown lad, and one by one these grists would be slowly, oh, how slowly, worked through the machinery of the mill.

Men, however, who were able to command a wagon and team and enough grain to warrant the labor required, would take atrip to the more extensive and better appointed mills on the White Water, or the Stillwater, or even the Miami. In the earliest times, boys have been sent on horseback twenty miles or more, from the Arba settlement to the mills on the White Water below Piichmond, both to buy corn and to get it ground in one oi the mills in that region.

The story told by the old settlers of nearly every one of the first mills in the whole region, though perhaps not an actual faco as to even a single one of them, is yet painfully suggestive of the more important real fact that the mills did actually grind so " awful slow " that everybody would naturally believe that a dog might " lick the meal by spirts," and lift up his head and howl between the "jets" for more. But let us not laugh at these small beginnings of things. The settlers used far more labor, and displayed much greater energy in undertaking what they

Steam Mills

For years after the opening of the country for settlement, the use of steam power was unknown. To fit up a steam establishment required a large amount of money, more, in fact, than most could command. Still as the country grew, and the milling necessities began to surpass the capacities of the water-power, and the " corn cracker" and the hand-bolt mills of the region, men ventured to try how steam would answer the purpose, and one by one, mills were built away from the streams. The result has been that water-power has dwindled and almost grown out of use, and, steam has nearly carried the day.

One of the first steam mills in the county, possibly the first, was built by Elias Kizerat Winchester, as early perhaps as 1835, in the east part of the town. It was discontinued perhaps twenty-five years ago.

Mr. Roberta had a steam grist-mill at Winchester (in the west part of the city). It was running say in 1860, but its rumbling has been silent for some years.

The brick mill and warehouse near the depot has been standing for some twenty years. It was built for a warehouse by John Mumma. Martin owned it awhile, then Heaston k Riley, then Colton & Bates, now Bates Brothers. It is an extensive mill, has a high reputation, perfortping good, thorough, reliable work, and a large amount of it.

Deerfield Steam Mill was built by Jason Whipple thirty-seven years ago (1845). It has been in operation ever since, and is a good mill. For many years it had a very large patronage, and does still an extensive business. At one time it drew custom for thirty or forty miles in every direction. Customers had the privilege, by staying through the night, of having their grists ground in turn, and many availed themselves thereof. Sometimes a dozen or twenty teams would wait through the darkness of the night, rather than go home through the long and tedious journey, and then be obliged to return at a future day.

People came from Centerville, Wabash, Greenville, etc. Other mills have been built, and its business has decreased, though it does well still. It is now owned by Willis Whipple, son of Jason Whipple.

The mill at Allensville ia fixed so as to run by water or steam. It was built in about 1850, and has been running under various control ever since. It has a fair reputation for quality of

A saw-mill (water and steam) was built, and afterward a gristmill, by McNeely before 1845. Both are there still, and doing good work. The establishment was rebuilt by Thomas Reese & Co.

Stanley Brothers had a steam grist-mill at Farmland before 1860. Having been burned, it was rebuilt with new machinery by Hawkins. It is now in operation.

A steam-mill was built at Ridgeville on the railroad, by Arthur McKew. It was burned and rebuilt of brick ; is now owned by Starr & Co. The mill is a good one, and does much work.

A large steam grist-mill was erected at Union City, Ind., five or six years ago. It is a grand establishment ; is owned by Converse & Co.; has a capacity of 200 barrels per day; has an extensive run of custom, and does also a large amount of merchant work.

A steam saw-mill has been in operation for several years on the State line pike, two miles south of Union City, but it was removed a year or so ago.

A steam grist-mill has been for many years, and still is, in operation in Union City, Ohio. It has a good reputation, and does a large business.

A saw-mill has stood not far east of Deerfield, on the State road, from early times until a year or two ago, owned latterly by John H. Sipe.

A saw-mill was in operation for twenty years or more near Salem. When Union City began to need lumber for building, that mill, among others, helped much to supply the demand.

Anthony McKinney built a saw-mill on Mississinewa, one and a quarter miles below Fairview, about 1839, put in a corn-cracker about 1840. and built a new and more extensive mill, putting in " wheat buhrs " about 1842. He had three run of buhrs - and a bolt carried by machinery. It was a good mill for awhile, and is still in operation. Mr. McKinney sold the mill to Samuel Zaner. He owned it about a year and sold to Abner Wolverton, about 1864, who owns it yet. There are now two runs, one for corn and one for wheat. Steam was put in in 1875, and now water and steam are both employed.

John Foust had a saw-mill and corn-cracker in about 1856, in Franklin Township, just at the township line, on Mississinewa, wiiich stood five or six years.

Creek, near Windsor. Before completing it, he sold out to John Thornburg, who finished the grist-mill and also built a saw-mill. [See record of John Thornburg]. After four years, ho sold to Andrew G. Dje, and he to Moses Neely, and still again the mills were transferred to Thomas W. Reece, who built them anew. Their owners since have been Neely, Marie Pattis, Johnson & Dye, William A. Thornburg, Keece & Sons, Mahlon Clevengor, John Thornburg, and now, Robert Cowgill.

Other Machinery

Peter Cable had a carding machine, etc., in the west part of the county. At first Mr. Cable had a little carding machine in the garret of John H. Bond's grist-mill. He was very poor, and got the use of Bond's " power." After awhile he bought a waste farm that was too wet for tillage. He ditched the prairie and drained the ponds, springs and swamps, and collected the water, and got enough to run a carding machine and woolen factory. For a long time it was a famous establishment, getting custom far and near, and Mr. Cable made a fortune. His factory is gone now. There are pleasant anecdotes about Mr. Cable and his mill. Somebody had at one time turned the water upon the wheel and made the mill run empty through the night. He was provoked, and on Saturday he sawed the foot-bridge over the fore-bay almost in two, and laid it in its place. Monday morning he came to start his mill, and, forgetting all about his "trap," he stepped upon the sawed plank and went, souse, into the fore-bay. He scrambled out just as Thomas Addington was going to the mill. He ran to meet Thomas, laughing and crying out: " 0, Thomas, Thomas, I caught mine self, I caught mine self! " Another. Mr. Cable was one day walking along a muddy road, near a horse. The animal stepped in a water-hole and the water flew fiercely into the honest German's face. Wiping the muddy slosh from his eyes, he cried out, " Veil, dat vas right mutty, didn't it ?" Mr. Cable lives there still, three miles south of Macksville.

The old county seminary, at Winchester, was fitted up and run as a woolen factory for several years. It was quite extensive and did much work, but it has been discontinued.

There was, for many years, a carding machine and woolen factory at Deerfield. It was burned down and rebuilt, and burned again, and, since the last fire, has not been rebuilt.

There is a large amount of machinery at Union City, Ind., and Ohio, as also at Winchester, Farmland and Ridgeville, for various purposes which will be described under the head of Union City, and the rest.

It is told us, as a matter of curiosity, that Moorman Way once undertook to fit up a carding machine at Winchester, and run it by ox-power. The establishment did some work for awhile.

A carding machine was built and operated in very early days, near Winchester. It is thought to have been the first in the county, but has been gone for many, many years. It belonged to Daniel Petty, and was operated by horse-power.

The second was the Greenville State Line Company, granted also September, 1858. Its officers were : N. Kemp, President ; Daniel Hill, Secretary ; James Grifiis, George Hiatt, Alexander White, Directors. The whole length of this line was some ten miles. But it is remarkable that of this pike has been built only about four miles ; three and half miles at the westward, and three-quarters of a mile next the State line, leaving a wretched gap of some six miles of the worst road in the county.

Since 1858, a great number of pikes have been projected, many of which have been made, and the diiTerence between the "old time mud" and the new " regime" is very great indeed, though it must be confessed that even the pikes are by no means what they ought to be; since in the "muddy, rainy time," some of them get so badly cut up that the imagination has to be brought into service considerably to succeed in considering them actual gravel pikes and not old-fashioned mud roads.

Below is given a statement of the assessed valuation of some of the pikes now in Randolph County for the year 1880, as also the estimated cost of dilTerent pikes as contained in the statements to the Commissioners by the parties asking permission to build them.

Asse.Ssed Valuation Of Pikes In Randolph County, 1880

White River, Farmland and Shiloh, $1,892; Macksville and Unionsport, $253; Winchester and Windsor, $3,300; Winchester and Deerfield, $2,800 ; Winchester and Bundy's Mill, $2,050 ; Winchester and State Line, $500 ; Dunkirk, $400 ; Lynn and Winchester, $1,000 ; Lynn and Spartanburg, $600 ; Arba and Bartonia, $2,040 ; Nettle Creek and Stony Creek; $f)00 ; Buena Vista and Unionsport, $1,173; Winchester tttld Huntsville, $1,526 ; Salem and Union City, $2,180 ; New Pittsburg and Hoover, $200; Union City and White River^ $1,088; Union City and Winchester, $1,500 ; Stone Station and Olive Branch ; West River and Washington Township, $282 : White River and Southern, $600; Williamsburg and Bloomingsport, $116; Economy and Bloomingsport ; Newport and Winchester, $300 ; State Line, south from Union City ; State Line, north Union City and Recovery.

Estimated Cost Of Pikes

Spartansburg and Arba, Cherry Grove and Lynn, March -23, 1869, seven miles; cost $14,616. James H. Hiatt, Engineer. Winchester, White River and Union City, September 10, 1869, seven miles, four chains ; cost $8,998.20. J. Wharry, Engin-

In the present article, we give simply the names of the towns in Randolph County, with their location and actual condition, leaving the detailed description of each to another time and place. There are (or have been) in Randolph County, fifty-two towns, (or hamlets with names attached) and post ofiices, located in the various townships as follows :

Oreen Township - Eminetsville P. 0., Sec. 5, Town 5, Ranges 7 and 8, Town 21, Range 13, decayed ; Fairview P. 0., Section 4, Town 21, Range 12, not flourishing ; Olive Branch (hamlet), small ; Rockingham, on Mississinewa, below Ridgeville, e.xtinct ; Shedville P. 0. (unincorporated), just begun ; Steubenville, Sections 13 and 14, Town 21, Range 12, extinct ; Carlisle, Section 12, Town 21, Range 13, extinct.

Stony Creek Township - Georgetown, Section 29, Town 20. Range 12, extinct; Neff P. 0., Section 24, Town 20, Rang 12, store and dwelling ; Windsor P. 0., Section 10, Town Is, Range 12, small.

Oreensfork Township. - Arba P. O., Section 33, Town 16, Range 1, thriving; Spartansburg ( formerly Newburg ) P. 0., Section 10, Town 16, Range 1, thriving; Edgewood (hamlec j, Section 12, Town 16, Range 1, seminary and church.

Recapitulation

Four of the above are only post offices. Four are only hamlets, never laid out as towns. Eleven are absolutely extinct. Four are dead, but not wholly gone. Eightare very small. Eleven are much decayed. Two are somewhat active. Six have considerable trade. Two are quite large towns. There are twentyeight post offices.

Fort Wayne ( now Allen County, but when laid out, in Randolph County), 118 lots; streets, 66 feet; alleys, 5, 14,16 feet. The streets in the plat were: North and south - Barr, Clinton, Calhoun; east and west - Water, Columbia, Main, Berry.

The "field notes " were copied from the records at the Land Office (Cincinnati, perhaps) by Samuel Williams, Clerk in said office, March 1, 1834.

Early Eecords

CHARLES CONWAY was for the first twenty years Clerk, Recorder and Auditor (i. e., he did the business which the Auditor now performs), all three at once. The three together must have made but a poor living for even one man.

By the close of 1828 (about ten years), 262 pages had been filled by the Recorder, including all kinds : deeds, bonds, mortgages, bills of sale or chattel mortgages, official bonds, etc., or

First bond for deed - Paul W. Way, County agent, to Jamea McCoole, for Lot 1, west front, Winchester; deed to be given on or before the year 1825, on what conditions precedent to be fulfilled does not appear.

Second and third patents (5,967 and 6,105) to Charles Conway, dated August 15, 1817, and May 5, 1818, signed by James Monroe, President. Recorded February 10, 1820.

Fourth warrantee deed - From Paul W. Way, agent, to Isaac Wright, of Clinton County, Ohio, for north half of Lot 6, south front, Winchester; price, f30. Date of deed, December 14, 1819; date of record, March 7, 1820.

Seventh deed - A curious instrument; purport as follows: First. John Elzroth has sold sixty acres of land to Jacob Roths (Roads) on south side of Section 33, Town 20, Range 14. Second. Elzroth agrees to take in payment the share of Polly (Elzroth) Roths in the estate of Nicholas Elzroth (her father), provided said legacy amounts to $160 or more. Third. If said legacy falls short of $150, John Roths agrees to pay to John Elzroth the deficit. Recorded April 6, 1820.

Tenth deed - P. W. Way, agent, to Hiram Bailey, Clinton County, Ohio; Lot 6, south front, Winchester; price $30. Dated December 14, 1819 ; recorded February 5, 1820.

Eleventh deed (by donation) - Charles Conway to Paul W. Way, County Agent, sixty acres. Section 20, Town 20, Range 14, for town plat (in part) of Winchester. Deed made September 30, 1819 ; recorded September 4, 1820.

One seven-gal. kettle, onelarge pot, one stew pan. one grateiron.one hake oven, one griddle, one small pot, one toasting iron, one disli kettle, one spider, one

If the above marked prices were a fair estimate for the time, the schedule furnishe.s a noteworthy exhibition of the comparative value of commodities of various kinds at that date.

Thirteenth deed (mortgage) - James Oldham to Paul \V. Way, agent of Outlet No. 2, southeast square, Winchester, $1.50, given as security for the payment of two promissory notes given by Oldham to Way (doubtless for the land itself),' and due in one and two years from date, with interest. Notes dated September 80, 1819 ; acknowledged September 27, 1820; recorded January 6, 1821,

In 1821, nineteen instruments were recorded. Twelve deeds in fee, two deeds of gift, two mortgages, one bond for deed, one SherilT's bond, one bill of sale.

It is refreshing to those who complain in these latter days of exorbitant fees to bloated officials, to learn that "Charlie" Conway's fee-bill for recording instruments of writing for the worthy citi zens of Randolph County from September 2. 1826, to January 11, 1827, amounted to $6.75, or exactly $1.50 per month. Tl.- princely sum was not all, however. He had, besides his fees - Clerk of the Court (including Circuit and Probate business), hi" fees for issuing marriage licenses, and then the fees for serving a clerk of the Commissioners' Court, which would doubtless raisins monthly salary to $5, possibly $7.50 per month.

Our good friend, Conway, must have got even more than that, for the record frequently shows that he was in the habit, as oftcr. as he could get the chance, of taking acknowledgments, solemnizing marriages and similar things. And the entire avails of his official labor may possibly have swelled to the amount of $10 per month. And think what a vast sum, honest man as Judge Smit' reckons him to be, he wrested from the pockets of the harahanded yeomanry of Randolph during his almost life-long continuance in office.

Twenty-one years make 252 months, and ten times 252 are 2,520, and so many dollars, and how many more no mortal knows, that graj-haired official took in pretended compensation for work performed in official station, from the tax-payers and business men of that over-burdened community.

The first deed on record seems to be one made by Charles Conway (as Recorder) to Paul W. Way, agent, of sixty acres of land, being the tract donated by the said Conway to the county for the location of the county seat. The date of the deed is September 30, 1819.

Another deed is founded on notes that bear the same date, September 30, 1819, though the deed itself was acknowledged nearly a year later, September 27, 1820, and recorded January 6, 1821. It was from James Oldham to Paul W. Way, agent, for ouiIt; No. 2, southeast square, Winchester, to secure the payment o. two promissory notes for $75 each, due in ono and two yeiii from date.

The next deed in order is dated the next day, October 1, 18^ made by William Jones to Paul W. Way, agent, for Lot No. 1-. southwest S(iuare, Winchester. It is a mortj^age to secure pay of two notes $31.28 each, due in one and two years.

The transiiction hardly seems clear, but probably Way had conveyed the lot to Jones in some way, as agent for the county, and then Jones had mortgaged it back to Way to secure the pay ment of the purchase money. No account of such a transaction, however, has been found, and the actual deed on record, made by Way, as agent, conveying the lot in question to Jones, is dated in 1822 (probably), at any rate after the time for payment of tht notes.

[Note. - Daniel Lasley, County Superintendent of Education, found amid the rubbish of the Recoriier's office (where it had lain for more than sixty years, the original of the above document. He rescued it from its hiding place, mounted it in a neat frami, and it now serves to assist in decorating the walls of his office in the court house. Two or three other instruments (not so oM as that, however), arc in the back of the frame].

Apprenticeship

On page 233, Book B.' is found the record of the indentures of Cornelia Ann Jackson, a poor child of tiie age of five years and nine months. She is to be taught the "business and mystery of housekeeping," to have fifteen months' schooling (sixty-five days for three months, or 325 days on the whole) three months thereof to be when she is between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years ; and at her majority she is to have as follows :

" One good feather bed with bedding, bedsteads and cord, such as are common among respectable farmers ; one good spinning (flax) wheel ; two good suits of warm clothing, such us good home-made flannel ; two pair of new shoes, and two pair of new stockings."

On page 202, Book B, is found another record of apprenticeship, of a lad named Logan M. Jackson, to Francis Frazier. He is to have eighteen months' schooling (sixty-five days for three months), three months to be when he is bfitween nineteen and twenty-one. He is to have $50 (in land, or otherwise under the direction of hia guardian), two good home-made suits, two pair of shoes, two pair of stockings and one fur hat.

The first SherifTs deed that is found is made by Solomon Wright, Sheriff, of Lot No. 6. southeast square, Winchester, under a writ, " alias f lures fieri facias," against Thomas Hutson and Jacob B. Hornish. Date of deed, April 12, 1823. Recorded, June 29, 1824.

The first mention in the record of a Notary Public appears under date of October 15, 1834. The deed was made by N. Longworth, of Cincinnati, and acknowledged by him at the date above mentioned, before James Foster, of Hamilton County, Ohio, who was a Notary Public.

A curiosity is to be seen under date of August 4, 1834. It consists of the "Free Papers" of Ezekiel Lewis, an enterprising colored man, who was one of the pioneers of the Greenville settlement, northeast of Spartansburg. We give the document en-

To wit: Registered in the office according to law, October 19, 1820. Ezekiel Lewis, a free man of color, about twentytwo years on the fifth day of March, 1829, as appears by his indenture, he having been bound by the overseers of Rockingham County, to John Koontz, to learn the tanning business, by order of the court of said county at the January court, 1818. He is about five feet ten and one-half inches high, has a scar on his forehead, which is not perceivable when his hat is on ; he is stout built, and follows his trade, and is very dark.

The foregoing register was compared by the County Court of Rockingham County, with the said Ezekiel Lewis, and found to be duly made, and a copy thereof was ordered to be furnished him as the law directs. Done at October court, 1820.

In witness whereof I have delivered him this copy, and hereunto affixed the seal of my said county this 2yth day of November, 1834, in the forty-ninth year of our commonwealth.

[This Ezekiel Lewis became a permanent and prominent settler in the colored settlement on the Ohio line, and, at his death was the owner of an excellent tract of land, 160 acres, northeast 1, 16, 1.]

For many years, all records belonging to the Recorder's office, were kept in the same set of bo^ks. But, after some years, different sets were provided, and there are now eighteen distinct sets of books in that office alone.

the chattel mortgages are in three books ; the school fund ^nortgages comprise two books; tax titles are in two books; Sheriff's deeds have been recorded in two books ; mechanic liens are all in one book ; record of executions, one book ; record of decrees, one book ; record of fee bills, one book ; indexes of deed.s, twelve books; indexes of mortgages, seven books; entry of deeds, three books; entry of mortgages, three books ; partition records, one book ; soldiers' discharges, one book ; town plats, one book ; miscellaneous records, five books. Each book contains from 400 to 700 pages.

The whole number, as before stated, is 142, several of which are in the process of being filled. The contrast is indeed sharp and striking, in the Recorder's office, between the business in early years and at the present time. The first four years and four months have less than sixty entries, covering about sixty pages. The last four years include several thousand pages. For some years past a memorandum has been taken of the mortgages recorded, and also of those which have been canceled dur ing the same time. The gratifying fact appears that the amount canceled far exceeds that of those entered upon record during the time in question, though the exact sums cannot now be stated.

This very important business was undertaken about 1875, by William Harris. Daniel Lesley bought half interest, and, in about a year, ho purchased the whole. The work is immense, having taken thus far about six years, and requiring several months yet to complete the labor.

The books are as follows : The books of general abstract, 240 and 464, immense double folio pages ; one book, maps of sections. 169 large double pages ; two books, towns, 240 and 319 large double pages. The abstractor at present has his office in that of the Recorder. The enterprise is of great and constantly increasing importance to the real estate interests of the county.

A very ancient authority has declared that it " is not good for man to be alone," and for all the ages since that primitive era, the search has been unceasing by each individual man to find his mate.

This universal " race for a wife " was not stopped, perhaj: not even checked by the process of emigration. The boys weni on courting the girls in the western woods, even as they used t(- do, and their fathers before them had done, in their far-off Eac.' ern or Southern homes. And hence it came to pass, ere a lon^ time had lapsed, that the Clerk of the Court was called on for a " marriage license," a'ld the services of the squire or parson were had in requisition, and the log cabin beneath the shadow of the beeches was the center of a gay and joyous festal scene, in the shape of a country wedding. And the young people of Randolph were no exception to the general rule in this respect. And so the record of marriages, as kept in the Clerk's office, begins at the very first, and keeps equal step through the lapsing years with the ceaseless whirl and turmoil of business and of pleasure.

That record, though faithful and true, doubtless, for the most part, to the facts of marriage, at any rate to the number seeking marriage in the county, yet fails to show the whole number oT thi residents of the county who, in those early years, took unto them selves wives of the daughters of the land.

It very often happens, almost of necessity, in fact, that the young men, hale, strong and personable, would come into tha wilds and select for themselves a home, and after remaining Ion.' enough to clear a patch and erect a cabin, would return to the land of their nativity, marry the lovely lass who had long been the girl of their choice, and wend their cheerful way, sometimes on horseback, man and wife, possibly two upon the same horse, to the Western paradise, and settle down in their new home to fight life's rough battle in earnest together. One couple came on horseback, and the bride stuck her riding whip into the ground on reaching the place of their destination, ami it stands there yet, now grown a giant tree, to commemorate their early arrival. The lady died many years ago, but the groom, then hale and young in 1822, lived "until the spring of 1881 in the county, almost sixty years a denizen of Randolph, between eighty and ninety years old. And many found their mates among the damsels dwelling in the older settlements, outside of Randolph.

Two of the very first pioneers on White River went out from the places of their selection, and found -their way down into Wayne County, the very first winter of their tarry in this region, and, when they returned, each had a wife to share his labors and his pleasures. And, moreover, as the number of settlers multiplied, there were swarms of boys and girls everywhere, for the old pioneer families were wondrous for their numbers. Ten, twelve, fourteen, eighteen, twenty-two, and even twenty-four children have been found to be reckoned in a single household. Some families there were who moved into the Western wilderness with fourteen children. One family in this region of the State numbered eighteen children, nine sons and nine daughters ; and, when the youngest was twenty-three years of age, the whole eighteen were grown, married and still living, as also the father of this immense company of descendants ; and now, when the youngest is forty-four years old, twelve of the eighteen yet behold the glorious sun. and still breathe the vital air. There is a citizen now residing in the county, who has eleven sons now alive, all farmers but two, and every one Republicans, so that (with his own vote) he turned an even dozen for the successful candidate in 1880. No wonder that Randolph gave 2,200 majority for Garfield.

The first license for marriage in Randolph County was issued to Jacob Wright and Sally Wright, February 1, 1819 ; and they were married February 2, 1819, by Rev. John Gibson, M. E. preacher.

The license was dated June 7, 1811.), and the marriage took place June 10, 1819, the nuptial ceremony being performed by John Wright, Justice of the Peace.

The third marriage license was to Samuel Frazier and Mary Cook, dated June 21, 1819. The marriage was performed by Ephraim Bowen, Justice of Peace, August 3, 1819, six weeks after the license was issued.

From February, 1819, to April, 1830, 290 marriaee licenses were issued by the County Clerk ; up to August, 1837, 271 ; to September, 1847, 907; to July, 18,52, 686; to June, 1858, 1,- 164 ; to October, 1865. 1,272; to February, 1870,1,109; J.anuary, 1875, 1,208 ; to January, 1879, 1,117 ; to February, 1881, 593. Making a total in sixty-two years of marriage licenses issued by the County Clerk of Randolph County of 8,678 couples, waiting to be joined in the bonds of holy wedlock. Probably, including those happy Randolph swains, wlio were so fortunate as to find their fair dulcineas in other counties or other States, the whole number would reach 9,000.

Who and how many of this immense multitude still remain alive; how many yet are residents of Randolph County; how many have removed to other regions of our widespread land; how many have gone to that clime where they " neither marry nor are given in marriage;" how many descendants have sprung from these marriage unions; how many have been separated by the remorseless hand of death; how many of the whole vast number have been second, third, or even fourth marriages, and how many now remain in the loneliness of their desolation, waiting in patient resignation the hour when they shall be summoned to join

This statement of the marriage licenses issued does not embrace those who were married in " Quaker meeting ; " and that, in this county, where, almost from the very beginning, there have been' six or eight " preparative meetings of Friends " in constant and prosperous existence, must have been a considerable number. How many, however, have thus been joined in the bonds of holy wedlock, the means of determining are not now at hand.

Amount of record. Up to April, 1838, not quite twenty years, there had been made in all about 500 pages of record for the business of the Circuit Court, an average of about twenty-fiv. pages for each year. The first twenty-four terms, one hundred and twenty-one pages of record were filled in the "Order Book," making an average of five pages per terra, or ten pages per yeur.

Besides all this there is an immense amount of Probd!- Record and of Vacation Record, etc., concerning which we have made' no account. Statements concerning the marriage license record may be found elsewhere.

In the Clerk's office are about 340 books ; in the Auditor's office are about 240 books; in the Treasurer's office are about 250 books. The whole mass of " record " includes about 1,000 books, most of them large, with from 300 to 700 pages each, and some of them of immense size.

Besides all these, the "papers" belonging to every case that has ever been before the courts are supposed to be on file, and every report made to the Commissioners and everything else k (in theory) preserved (in one office or another) for ready and coii- ' venient reference. In the Auditor's office "pigeon holes'" ar.' made to suffice for the "stowing away " of these endless "papers;" but in the Clerk's office, through the painstaking ingenuity of the late Circuit Clerk, John W. Macy, Esq., a system of tin "boxes" has been put into use, in which all the "cases" that could be found in the office arc deposited in regular detailed order.

The whole, number of boxes is 1,685. Only 1,047 of them are yet in use. Each box containes a greater or less number of " cases." Some have in them as many as twenty " cases." Each "case" is in a strong, firm envelope, the envelope being numbered to show the " box " to which it belongs and also its own number in the box.

The "cases" are "indexed " in the "order books" so as to show the number of the " box " and of the " case " in each box. The system is ingenious, simple, perfect and capable of indcfinit;:; expansion in application to years or even centuries to come ; and its successful establishment in the Clerk's office is of incalculable advantage to the public business.

These statements include only the "order books," so called, besides which there are the "fee books," "index books" and various other kinds, familiar indeed to the incumbent of the office, but a fathomless mystery to the "outsider."

In looking over the books containing the records of the Circuit Court, various items of interest have been gleaned, some of which are given below :

August, 1826, Daniel Shoemaker was fined $1 for disturbing the court by crowding on the window. The next day the fine was remitted and paid back to the delinquent.

August, 1827, the grand jury report concerning the jail, that it is clean but not strong, that the trapdoor is not sufficient and that the hinges on the outside door are not strong enough.

February, 1828, Thomas Shaylor was indicted for an assault and battery. He pleaded guilty, and Vas fined $1 and costs, and was to stand committed until paid.

Same court - Slander trial. John Irvin vs. Richard Tharp. Defendent adjudged guilty, and damages set at $17.52,5 (not another mill) and costs. It would be interesting to learn by what process the jury were able to attain such marvelous exactness, even to the twelfth part of a cent, but that will probably never be forthcoming. That degree of exactness would be invaluable at the present time, both to juries and otherwise.

August, 1828, grand jury report " the jail is sufficiently strong but not sufficiently clean. It needs an inside door-shutter, and a lock for the accommodation of both sexes."

If we could only find so accommoduting a Sheriff now-a-days ! But alas ! tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur cum illis. Times change and we change with them.

February, 1829, Paul M. Way indicted for retailing liquors without license. The defendent pleaded guilty, was fined $2 and costs, and paid the fine to the clerk forthwith. Not many years afterward, the same Paul Way was an active, thoroughgoing temperance man. And the exact why of the case does not appear in the record.

Edward Mason was indicted for " vending foreign merchandise without license." Pleaded guilty and was fined $1 and costs, and it is to be presumed he paid up like a little man, "though nothing is said about it in the records. "

First Ward, northeast square, Elias Kizer ; Second Waru. north front and northwest square, Nathan Garrett ; Third Ward, west front and southwest square, Jeremiah Smith ; Fourth Ward, south front and southeast square, John D. Stewart ; Fifth Ward, east front, Jesse Way.

October, 1839, eleven indictments were found against one person for selling liquor. He was found guilty and fined $2 in each case, and the costs also were assessed against him.

On file in the " pigeon holes " are found immense quantities of all sorts of things. Among them are great numbers of old " bonds." From these were selected the following "grocers' bonds," given at various times :

Thornton Alexander is probably the one who was afterw;< elected Sheriff, became a sot, and finally died some years ai'ieward with delirium tremens ; and from his desolate dwelling wbi his lifeless corpse lay stiff and gaunt therein, the ladies of Win Chester, headed by the widow of the wretched man, marched it, long and grim procession to the groggery of William Page, and knocking in the heads of his barrels and what-not, spilled tli! abominable, murderous stuff into the street, out of which startling transaction grew the noted " Page Liquor Case," so famous tweu ty-five years ago. And the same terrible demon of the drinl, traffic raises still its devilish head, and eagerly goes about to de stroy everything fair and lovely and of good report.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of indictments have been ef fected against liquor sellers in Randolph County, and scoi'fes o men have been fined for selling strong drink "contrary to law.' Yet men are to be found who, for money, will carry on the mis chievous traffic, and law-makers will still play with thewild beast Alcohol, as though it were a merry, gamboling kitten to be pette( and cuddled, instead of being, as it is, a tierce and ruthless mon ster to be throttled and slain, with its horrid carcass burned I ashes and scattered to the four winds.

Curious Cases

In 1842, Philip Kabel, a wool-carder, sued one Jonathan Frier for slander. The complainant charges that Frier had sai' publicly of Kabel, " He spoiled my wool," " he stole ten pound- out of sixty, and that before my eyes." After a severe quarrel, the matter was settled apparently; Frier agreed to haul a load of wheat to Lawrenceburg for Kabel and to take hira and his family oh a visit into Wayne County, Ind.; and on this promise from Frier, Kabel withdrew the slander charge from court.

It would seem, however, that Frier broke his agreement. At any rate Kabel sued Frier for damages for breach of contract and recovered $1. Frier appealed to the court and a judgment was rendered against Frier, but only for $3. Whether that was the end, and how much was the cost we do not know. It must have been considerable, and, moreover, must have been somewhat equally divided. Frier would have to pay the first co-sts, since he was beaten, and Kabel would have to pay the second since the amount was lowered in the court above. But what a comment on the folly and passion of men !

Another Case

A father was a farmer, his son was a blacksmith. They dealt and kept accounts ; on a petty disagreement as to items of account, one sued the other before a Justice, and the beaten one appealed to court. When the case was decided the parties provoked each other into a fight in the court yard, and a severe battle took place ; suits followed, and so on until both were broken up after years of bitter hostility and estrangement, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars expense.

Fey, for killing Heltz, his son-in-law, in 1845, convicted of murder, sentenced to be hanged, commuted to imprisonment for life, hung himself in prison soon after entering penitentiary.

Calvin Bunch, for poisoning his wife near Bartonia in 1863, convicted of murder in first degree and sentenced to imprisonment for life; pardoned by Gov. Jray in 1880.

Case of John H. Lewis and son, for killing young Lumpkin in 1879. A terrible case of passion ; one man killed and two badly wounded, concerning a diich across a pike.

The public mind was greatly aroused, and many thought it a clear case of willful murder; the result, however, as tried in Jay County, was a verdict of acquittal, which ending was, to say the least, entirely unlooked for and, to many, utterly unaccountable.

Case of State vs. Woodbury was a remarkable one, in which a sister undertook to fasten upon another sister the charge of having set a barn on fire to spite herself against a suitor for giving attentions to another. The trial occurred seven years after the burning of the barn charged upon the young woman. The result was a verdict of acquittal, which is thought to have been in accord with the general sentiment.

A very curious case was tried in the Circuit Court, in the fall of 1880. Hartzell vs. Hartzell, in which both man and wife sued mutually for divorce, but the judge denied them both, 80 that in law they are still one, although in fact distinctly and decidedly two.

Case In Pr03Ate Court

In the time of Judge George Debolt, a jury was trying a case which had already taken a week and was likely to take two weeks more. The wages of the jury were 25 cents a case. Some of the jury were Asahel Stone, W. W. Smith, Elias Kizer, Pearson, etc. Pearson had lost a child and was nearly crazy with grief, and the jury finally agreed out of consideration for him. But during the progress of the case, after a week's sitting as above stated, the jury rebelled, and informed the Judge that they must have pay or they would refuse to continue. The Judge was surprised, and said to them: "Do you know it will be my duty to send you to prison for contempt of court ?" " We do, and we shall not resist your order if you make it." The wortliy Judge was nonplussed, but the parties to the suit came to the rescue and agreed to pay the jury per diem till the trial was ended, which was some three weeks or more.

The courts in tlieir various forms furnish sad commentaries upon the failings and crimes of the human race, as also upon the curious and strange " tangle" into which, often, in spite of everything, business will manage to fall. He that knows enough to keep " clear of law" is indeed an exceedingly wise and wonderfully fortunate man.

In old times, a landlord who had been engaged for years in ;i wearisome and expensive lawsuit, upon the decision of the casf. painted a new sign for his hotel, having on one side a man clothed in rags, and on the other a man with no clothes at all. When asked the reason for such a freak, he replied, "The mar in rags is the successful party in a lawsuit, and the man in purU naturalibiis is the one who is beaten."

May, 1819, George Bowles appointed Lister (Assessor) ; cost of assessing the county, $10; county tax was 25 cents on each " horse beast ; " three pages of record. Commissioners' wages, $2 per day.

August, 1820, Ward Township created, whole north part of the county ; Wayne Township also, extending indefinitely northward to Fort Wayne, etc. [Records missing up to Nov., 1825. J

January, 1820, Robert Way was allowed $5.25 " for ' blazing lines ' through the woods for streets in the town of Winchester," six days ' work, 87^ cents per day ; four pages record.

May, 1826, Joshua Foster, who had been Corarai-ssioner of Greenville k Winchester State road, had removed from the region, and John Nelson was elected in his room.

Road laid out from Ilockett's road three-quarters of a mile north of " Gass' " in an irregular direction to the State road at Vernon." [Where is that ? Perhaps Sampletown - No one now seems to know.] Eleven pages of record. David Vestal was paid $5 for assessing Liberty Township (Delaware County.)

September, 1826, David Wysonghad contracted for buiWing a new court house ; the price does not appear. He is allowed $225 extra for rock foundation instead of brick ; four pages.

July, 1827, bounty offered for wolf scalps ; 12^ cents over six months old, 6^ cents under that age, except old prairie wolves. Stony Creek was laid off, comprising Townships 19, 20 and 21, Range 12 ; two pages record.

September, 1827, Albert Banta was acquitted of 13 cents tax on town lot; John Coates, 16 cents for the same, which doubtless made them feel better; William Smith was allowed $6 for keeping Judith Ray, an infant pauper, three months; Curtis Cleny was allowed $11.44 for keeping Levi Hale, a pauper, three months ; three and a half pages.

November, 1827, road laid out leading from Winchester toward Richmond, between Obadiah Harris and John Moorman, by William Connor's, Hezekiah Hockett's and the meeting house near William Hunt's; two pages. January, 1828, one and a half pages; March, 1828, 5 pages. Inside work of court house let. May, 1828, twelve pages ; July, 1828, two pages ; September. 1828, five pages ; November, 1828, Paul W. Way was allowed $189.90 for work on court house. January, 1829, Solomon Wright was allowed $112.50 for work on court house. David Hoaston, allowed for same, $109.67 ; Abraham Kerne acquitted of 4A cents tax; Elijah Arnold adjudged a resident ; three pages. March, 1829, four pages ; May, 1829, fine reported by Justice assessed against John Stevenson for swearing ten oaths, $10 ; allowance made for keeping pauper six months, $12; twelve pages. July, 1829, three pages.

September, 1829, Ezekiel Williams is reported as fined for swearing ten oaths, $10; for .something else, $2; total, $12. Joseph Crown is allowed to work at his trade in the west room of the court house; seven pages.

January, 1830, road is laid "from the west end of Hezekiah Hockett's lane to the Wayne County line, at the southeast corner of Martindale's deadening." Surveyors now might have some trouble in locating that road ; Surveyor Jaqua would better be set to find the route. But the parties then knew where the road was to be and the Commissioners thought that was enough.

December, 31, 1829, John Mann fined for working on Sunday in his clearing, $1 ; no costs charged, David Semans, J. P. ; four pages; March, 1830, five pages. May, 1830, Travis Adcock is allowed $1.50 for three days' time spent in attending to a pauper. Philip Storms then lived in the county since he is appointed supervisor in place of Charles Simmons ; thirteen pages.

September, 183(i, four pages ; November, 1830, two pages, William Hunt, President; January, 1831, John Odel, County Treasurer, four pages ; Treasurer's Report for 1830, $869.24; Treasurer's Commission, $25.90.

Joel Ward is engaged to do work at his own price ; if he and the county do not agree, a committee of workmen are to settle the dispute, and he may draw at any time for $50. May, 1831, four pages.

Road laid from southwest corner of Samuel Smith's fen'ce to the crossing south of Jack.son'3, thence to new road at the north end of William Smith's lane. Charmingly accurate and clear description, only " Samuel Smith's fence," southwest corner and all, is probably gone long ago.

districtss First District, east of line dividing Townships 15 and 16, Range 14. Second District, west of said line to the line between 'Townships 15 and 16, Range 13. Third District, west of said last line.

November, 1831, five pages; January, 1832, report of Paul VV. Way, agent, in settlement; total receipts, $2,679.02|-, settled in full; eight pages.

May, 1832, Jere Smith appointed Commissioner of the "three per cent fund." Ordered as follows (of that fund): $50 to the bridge over White River east of Winchester, $30 to the bridge over Sugar Creek, $500 upon the road from Winchester to Newcastle. S. R. Shaylor, J. P., reports: Three men fined for swearing, |3 ; fine for assault, $1 ; fine for disturbing religious meeting, $1 ; eighteen pages.

September, 1832, State road from Winchester to Newcastle located shortly before ; expenses of location through Randolph paid by Commissioners; length of road in Randolph 17 miles, 28 chains, 47 links; November, 1832, seven pages ; Januarv, 1833, County receipts, $796.13 ; March, 1833, John Odle, Treasurer, reports: Receipts, $2.50; expenditures, $1.50; balance on hand, $1. Jeremiah Smith appointed Treasurer one year.

May, 1833, Jere Smith, Surveyor, makes reports of the location of the following roads : State road from Richmond to Fort Wayne; State road from Winchester to Newcastle; State road' from Greenville (via Ridgeville and Fairview) to Saunders' in Delaware County.

September, 1833, Andrew Aker is appointed Commissioner of the three per cent fund, the avails frorn which fund are said to be $500. Paul W. Way is put in charge of road from Winchester toward Fort Wayne to expend $160. David Heaston is to expend $150 on the Greenville road ; David Frazier is to apply $90 on the road toward Richmond, and $70 toward Newcastle.

January, 1834, Green laid out, present limits and two and a half miles of what is now the north end of Monroe : Treasurer's receipts, $7.59.19; taxes laid - license for capital in trade, $1,000, or less, $10 ; license for each addition thousand, $5; license for grocery, $10 ; license for selling wooden clocks, $10 ; license for tavern, $10 ; license for covering horses, one price per season ; horses, 37.}; oxen, 37.}; watches, 37i ; carriages, four wheels, $1 ; carriages, two wheels, 50 ; brass clocks, $1 ; town lots, two per cent; first rate land, 1 cent per acre; second rate do, I cent; third rate do, i cent; Treasurer's report, $221.42.

September, 1834, half a mile taken from Greensfork and added to Washington, Andrew Aker appointed Treasurer ; receipts for the year, $1,070.94;^- ; Joel Ward'h work viewed by referees and adjudged to be worth $188.00 (moral, agree upon the price beforehand) ; Salamonie Township (Jay County) erected.

January, 18^5, Nettle Creek, created with one mile also that now belongs to Stony Creek. West River arranged seven miles long and four miles wide (east line one mile west of present line).

May, 1835, Madison Township laid off in what is now Jay County, five miles wide on the east side of Jay County ; meeting advertised by the Sheriff for the formation of an agricultural society to be held on the last Saturday in May, 1835.

September, 1835, two paupers farmed out at $30 per year; road laid beginning at the southwest corner of Robert Bunker's door yard ; nice place to bpgin at.

March, 1836 - Building an office for the Clerk and Recorder. Ordered to be let by Jere Smith. It seems from subsequent entries that David Heaston took the contract.

March, 1838 - Union Township, four miles square laid off, embracing the north end of West River Township. Edmund B. Goodrich and Jere Smith appear as Commissioners of the Seminary fund.

May Term, 1839 - Court house not done. Paul W. Way directed to relet the job of completing it. It had been let to David Heaston, but he would not fulfill the conditions of the contract.

August, 1840 - J. L. Addington was allowed $2 for attendvia Unionsport, Macksville, and Fairview into Jay County, nineteen and three-quiirtcr miles in Riindolph County.

County Agent

It would seem from the "record" that the business of County Agent, beginning at the first establishment of the county, continued a long time.

Paul W. Way was appointed County Agent in 1818, to sell lots in the county seat, etc., and in June, 1852, thirty-four years after his appointment, ho reports business as follows : Moneys received since February, 1847, $497.79, with vouchors for the

It would appear that the second court house of 1826 was a "poor job" and became worthless so as to be abandoned. These buildings as above were erected for county offices, jail and Sheriff's, residence, coupled with lialls for scomtaoMcUea in rootna above, and the courts were held for years in what is now Ward's Hall, north of the public square.

Probate Court

At first and up to 1834, the Associate Judges acted as a Probate Court. From 1834 to 1852, there was a distinct Probate Court presided over by a separate Judge.

The first to administer the affairs of Probate for Randolph County were Hons. John Wright and William Edwards, Associate Judges for the county, elected August, 1818.

The first court seems to have been held May 3, 1819. At that time Antony Way (son of " Huldy " Way ), aged ten years, nine months, was bound to Thomas Frazier to learn "farming." He was to receive eighteen months in all, schooling, and at his majority $100 in a horse, saddle and bridle, and one good suit of new cloth clothes. Thinking that a veritable " bond of Apprenticeship " " all of the olden time " would be a "curiosity " to the present generation, we subjoin the " bond " by which Thomas Frazier, master, and Antony Way, apprentice, were mutually obligated to care and instruction and service :

This Inilenlure, nmde this third day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, Wilnesseth : That Antony Way, son of " Huldy" Way. a^ged ten years nine months and 6ve days, by and with the consent of his guardian, Jonathan Oibum, hatii, of his o*n free will, placed and bound himself to Thomas Fm' itony VVay shall accomplish and arrive at the full age of 21 years; during all which term of years the said Antony Way his said master shall well and faithfully serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly do and obey; hurt to his master he shall not do, nor willfully suffer it to be done by others, but of the same to Ihe utmost of his power shall gi»e notice forthwith to his said master; Ihe goods of his said master he sh.ill not embezzle nor waste, nor them lend without his consent to any; nt cards, dice, nor any other unlawful games he shall not play; taverns nor ale houses he shall not frecjuent, *«**»** matrimony heshallnotcontraci, f om the service of his said master he shall not absent himself without his master's consent; but in all things as a good and faithful servant shall and will demean and behave himself toward bis said master and all his during his said term. And the said master his said servant in the art of husbandry will teach and instruct or cause to be well and sufficiently instructed after the best way and manner he can ; and ahull and will tind and allow to his said servant meat, drinks, lodging, and "apperrill." both linen and woolens and all other necessaries fit and oouvenient for said servant during Ihe term aforesaid ; and also shall, for the space of one year between the date hereof and the time when the said Autony rtay shall come to be fifteen years of age, put the said Antony to some good English school lo be instructed in reading and writing and arithmc-~ tic. and also six monlh>< when the said Antony is between the age of 18 and 20, to be instructed ivs aforesaid; and at the expiration of the said term of servitude for the said Antony the said Thom is Frazier shall pay to the said Antony the sum of $101), to be discharged in a horse, saddle and bridle, and also one good suit of new cloth clothes. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seais Ihe day and year first above wrilten. his

Under date of March, 1821, stands an inventory of goods belonging to Isaac Burnett, a deceased Indian trader, who had been located at Fort Wayne, then and for some years longer in Randolph County.

First Will

7. Give to Jonathan Ozburn sixty acres, the rest of the 160 acres (left after the one hundred acres on the north side has been taken by John Ozburn) upon payment of §80.

10. To my beloved wife, Sarah Ozburn, all my movable property during her widowhood, then to return to John Ozburn, to be his forever, except her wheel and bed ; she to have possession of the one hundred acres willed to John Ozburn, and support therefrom during widowhood.

First Administration Case First Girl Apprentice

April 8, 1822, Mary Moore, four years ten months, Solomon Wright, guardian, bound to James Massey till eighteen; to have schooling one year, and, at majority, one suit of clothes, one feather bed and furniture, and one cow and calf.

July, 1822, Samuel Hanna, administrator of Isaac Burnett, of Fort Wayne, deceased, returns inventory and bill of sale, containing among other things, as follows :

Sixty-seven deer skins at 13 cents, $8.71 ; twenty-six coon skins at 27^ cents, $5.33; thirty eight dressed deer skins at 36 cents, $13.68 ; seventeen muskrat skins at 16 cents, $2.72 ; reporting the debts to be $5,469.18. The estate was declared bankrupt, and an order issued to sell two sections of land belonging to the said decedent. The land had been granted to him at the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, in connection with the Pottawatomies. Permission of the President of the United States for the sale had to be obtained, which was granted by James Monroe, and the land was sold.

Also his undivided interest in six sections granted to his children which he had by an Indian woman, Cakama, a Pottawatomie, sister of Toppemba, principal chief of the nation. Ilie land was appraised at 68J and 50 cents per acre.

"A right of hogs not 'appraist,' running in the woods, and wild, 'cutent be got,' sold for ten dollars to James Simmons on the day of sale to highest bidder."

A list of the purchasers at the sale of Ishmael Bunch's property will be interesting as showing the residents at that date, November 4, 1830. [Ishmael Bunch lived not far from Dolph Warren's, in Jackson Township.] Zachariah Key, George Reitenour, John Wolfe, Samuel Helm, Charles Summers, Henry Jackson, Philip Storms, Samuel Williams, William Brockus, Jeremiah Brockus, John Gray, Bennet Evans, James Simmons,

Samuel Simmons, Mary Key, Samuel Emery, George Porter, John Jones, Samuel Hawkins, James Brown, Robert Parsons, William A. Lindsey, Amos Smith, Allen Wall, Isaac Lewallyn,. -<.l..;l., T,......)l tvvo..i^ olv p.Msons. Thf tRrrit,.>iy from which

The purchasers at his sale were Emsley Wade (one skillet and frying-pan), Jason Overman, Aaron Mifls, Jesse Overman, Alfred Long, Abijah Mills, Jonathan Moore, Nelson Conner, Sampson Shoemaker, Joseph Green. Daniel Shoemaker, Jesse Small, Aaron Hill, Henry Davis, Willis Davis, John W. Shoemaker, Daniel James, John Mills, David Harris, John Mann, Robert James, William H. Freeman, Charles Morgan, Ziba Marine.

Will Of James Cam.Mack, 1830

Estate of John F. Hawkins (of Jay County), father of Judge Nathan B. Hawkins, Benjamin Hawkins, Esq., Joseph C. Hawkins, etc., died 1831, $280.70J.

Will Of William Huffman, August 25, 1832

1. To five sons and three daughters, the whole real e.state ; the daughters to pay $25 each, the amount to be divided among the boys, and William to pay $20 to the rest.

Will Of Abram Peacock Will Of Matthew Massey, Dkcember 3, 1832

2. To his wife, the gray mare, horse, colt, two milk cows, thirteen sheep, all the stock and fatting hogs and geese, and corn and wheat, the household and kitchen furniture.

Will Of Mordecai Mendenhall

2. To his wife, Phobe, two beds, two spinning wheels, reel, cupboard and ware, pot, Dutch oven, skillet, brass kettle, three chairs, chest and flax hackle, smoothing iron, wire sieve and fire shovel, cow, horse and saddle, half the orchard, and a comfortable support while living or his widow.

Will Of James F. Dresser Will Of Jeremiah Smith

3. The graveyard where my father and mother lie buried on the old farm in Section 5, Township 18, Range 13, 150 feet square, to be kept for my posterity as a burial ground - a poplar tree in it, one foot through, to be preserved - the iron . fence around my father's and mother's graves to be finished and kept up.

6. My flute to Jeremiah G., and the oil paintings of myself and wife to Charlotte A. ; my private library, etc., to be divided among children amicably. Old books, manuscripts, etc., to be preserved.

10. The executors are to use their best judgment for the good of the estate, managing as they have reason to think I would have done in the same place.

11. William K., and John Dye Smith are to be executors, and after them or either of them, Henry B., Jere G. and Oliver H., in order as named.

I enjoin it upon all ray sons and daughters that harmony and concord, unity and affection, be cultivated and preserved among them during all their lives, and that they suffer no " root of bitterness " to spring up and trouble them; and that they live humble disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout their lives, that I may meet them in a happy eternity.

Edward Btarhuck'S Property Chapter Yii

THE following reminiscences by old and early settlers concerning their pioneer life in Randolph County and elsewhere, were ritten from their own lips, mostly in their own language. Care has been taken to have all the matter in these narratives fresh and unique, the same thing not being repeated, each pioneer's tale giving some fact or phase not found in any other.

Most of these sketches are from the original settlers, and from those who mme when the land was heavily laden with dense, unbroken forests, and the country was still a wild and unpeopled

Some of the "sketches" contain incidents that occurred outside of Randolph County, yet in connection with persons who have been at some period residents thereof. This portion of the work might have been greatly enlarged.

" The Indians were thick all around us, but they were civil and peaceable and friendly. They would help the settlers raise cabins, bring us turkeys and venison, etc Three wigwams were in sight of our cabin. We children had great sport with the young Indians, and they were then almost or quite our only playmates.

" A squaw once scared me nearly to death. I had gone to drive a calf home to its pen. The calf was near one of the wig warns ; I felt skittish (this was before I had became so familiar with them), but the calf had to be brought and I had to do it, for children had to mind in those days. So how about the calf 'i This way - I got around it and started it for the pen, and away we went, calf and boy, when, hallo! out popped a squaw full tilt after me! She had jumped behind a tree and stuck out what I took to be a gun, and as I came near she bounced after me. My legs flew, you may guess ; I could keep up with the calf with the squaw after me. She chased me home, she was tickled well nigh to death, and I was scared nearly out of my wits. I thought I could feel the ball hit me; but she had no gun, it was only a stick, and she was in fun. But there was no going around nettles then ; they flew like sticks in a whirlwind, and she came rushing after me, parting the brush as she came ! The Indians would often come slipping around watching for deer, and would carry the dead doer to their wigwams. The squaws would dress the venison and jerk the meat and dress the skins for leather.

"The Indians wore paint and all their war equipments, which made them look frightful enough. But we soon got used to them, as they were very friendly. As the country settled up, they went farther back - Winchester, Macksville, Windsor - and then to Sraithfield, Muncie and Anderson. They would pa-s back and forth on their trails, bringing moccasins, etc., to trade for iron, salt, corn, etc., for their use.

"Father settled April, 1814; John W. Thomas and Clarkson Willcutts, farther north during the summer, and October 22, 1814, Ephraim Bowen drove up t-o father's door, and he went still farther up Nolan's Fork, and the farthest north of any. North and northwest was an endless wilderness, except a few soldiers at Fort Wayne and Fort Dearborn and Green Bay and Mackinaw. "At first it seemed lonely, but neighbors came gradually, and the blue smoke of their cabins could be seen curling up among the forest trees, as we followed the "blazes " from hut to hut.

" The settlers who had come in by 1819 were these : Thomas Parker, John W. Thomas, Clarkson Willcutts, Ephraim Bowen, Ephraim Overman, Eli Overman, John Schooly, Seth Burson, Nathan Overman, Joshua Small, George Bowles, Jesse Small, Jonathan Small, David Bowles, James Caramack, John Cammack, John Jay, Isaac Mann, John Mann, William Mann, Stephen Thomas, Elijah Thomas, Stephen Williams, etc., etc. " We settled near (east of) the old (Wayne's) boundary. Game was plenty - deer, opossum, coons, turkeys, crows, wildcats, catamounts, bears, wolves, etc. The wolves would come near the door at night to pick up the crumbs, though precious little they found to pick, except the bones. Stephen Williams built a wolf-pen. Sometimes a wolf would get caught, and there would be fun. They would put a dog into the pen, and the wolf would whip the dog quick enough. The wolves would howl till one could not sleep for their noise.

" Our bedsteads had but one post, and they needed no more. The rails were bored into the logs of the house, and met in one post at the corner. But we slept first rate. The floor was puncheon, the door was one big puncheon, the loft was boards laid on poles, or often none at all. We would climb into the loft by a ladder, and slept u.nder the roof to the music of the rain on the shingles. The fire-place was cut out six or eight feet long : the back and jambs were dirt beaten in and puncheons outside; the chimney was sticks and clay ; the table was a puncheon upon poles laid on forks ; the chairs were rough stools, or we had none, or sat on puncheon benches ; yet we were happy and full of glee. Our diet was splendid - venison, turkey, roasted coon, fat possum, bear steak, roasted squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, corn bread baked on a hoe, or a lid, or a board, johnnycake, or dodger bread, all good. Health and hunger make the best sauce, and we had them both. Then we had pounded hominy, and lye hominy fit to set before a king.