Athens Township (part 11 of 21)

" Never," says an early writer, " since the golden age of the poets, did *thc syren song of peace and of farming' reach so many cars, and gladden so many hearts, as after Wayne's treaty at Greenville in 1795. * The Ohio,' as it was called, seemed to be, literally, a land flowing with milk and honey. The former wrote home of a soil * richer to appearance than can possibly be made by art ; ' of ^ plains and meadows without the labor of hands, suflicient to support millions of cattle summer and winter ; ' of wheat lands that would vie with the island of Sicily ; and of bogs from which might be gathered cranberries enough to make tarts for all New England; while the lawyer said that as he rode the circuit, his horse's legs were dyed to the knee with the juice of the wild strawberry. At that time the diseases and the hardships of frontier life were not dwelt upon ; the administration of Washington had healed the divisions among the states; the victory of Wayne had brought to terms the dreaded savages ; and as the dweller on the barren shore of the Atlantic remembered these things and the wonderful facts, in addition, that the inland garden to which he was invited was crossed in every direction by streams even then counted on as affording means for free commercial intercourse, and that it possessed besides nearly seven hundred miles of river and lake coast, the inducements for emigration became too strong to be resisted ; the wagon was tinkered up at once, the harness patched anew, and a few weeks found the fortune seeker looking down from the Chestnut Ridge or Laurel Hill upon the far-reaching forests of the West."

During the year 1796, nearly one thousand flatboats or " broadhorns," as they were then called, passed Marietta laden with emigrants on their way to the more attractive regions of southwestern Ohio. Reports as to the comparative sterility of the lands of the Ohio Company's purchase had been widely bruited, and, at that time, were generally credited. Yet, though thousands passed its barren hills scoffing as they guided their keels to the richer regions about the Miami, its progress in population, etc., was of the most encouraging kind. Those who stopped here were willing td work hard and content to earn independence and moderate fortunes by economy, thrift, and laborious effort.

In the early part of 1797, a considerable number of newly arrived emigrants were assembled in Marietta, eager to obtain lands on the best terms they could and to form settlements. The two townships of land appropriated by the Ohio Company for the benefit of a university had been selected in December, 1795. They were townships Nos. eight and nine in the fourteenth range, constituting at present Athens and Alex- ander townships. The township lines were run in 1795, and the sectional surveys made in 1796, under the supervision of General Putnam, the Company's surveyor, who, from the first took an ardent interest in the selection of these lands and the founding of the university. His policy (in which he was seconded by the other agents) was to encourage the early settlement of the college lands, make them attractive and productive, and so begin the formation of a fund for the institution.

"These lands," says Ephraim Cutler, "with a large surrounding region, was one of the most favorite portions of the hunting ground which the Indians had surrendered in their sev- ^eral treaties; and the treaty of 1795 seemed to close the last fond hope of ever after enjoying them. Yet the hunters living about Sandusky, and on the different branches of the Muskingum not only continued to visit there, but until the winter of 1810-1811, they were in large parties during the hunting season, coursing through that extensive range of country comprising the lands watered by the Racoon, Monday, Sunday, and the heads of Federal creek. It was here that they formerly found the buffalo, the elk, and the bear. The buffalo and the elk were not exterminated until the year 1800. The bear continued in considerable abundance until the last great hunt of the Indians in the winter of 1810-1 1. That winter was a favorable season for them to effect the object they seemed to have in view, which was to destroy the game, the weather being cold with several falls of snow. The carcasses of many deer were found in the woods bordering the settlements in Washington and Athens counties, which appeared to be wantonly destroyed by the savages. A young buffalo, believed to be the last seen in this part of the country, was captured a few miles west of Athens, on a branch of Raccoon, in the spring of 1799, brought to the settlement, and reared by a domestic cow."

In 1795 a man named Gillespie and two of the Fleeharts, noted frontiersmen, came up the Hockhocking to hunt. Landing at the mouth of Federal creek just at dark they found Indian signs so abundant and recent that they were afraid to proceed or remain. They built up a large fire, supplied it well with logs and hung up a blanket and one or two other articles to signify that they would soon be back, and leaving this to deceive the Indians, and throw them off their track, they hurriedly embarked again and returned down the river to Virginia whence they came. The next autumn (1796), the same party came up the river again to hunt. There was now not much fear of Indians, and they landed again at the mouth of Federal, where they camped and hunted for two days. The third day they agreed to explore the country somewhat ; one of the Fleeharts kept the camp, the other went up Federal, and Gillespie up Hockhocking. He camped the first night at the mouth of Sunday creek. The next morning he crossed the river there, and came down on the other side to the ripple about where Bingham's mill was afterward built. Here he rested and removed his moccasins to recross the river. At the water's edge he noticed the track of a large animal which seemed to have crossed recently. Tracing it over the shallow stream and up the opposite bank he found the peavines still wet from the animal's dripping legs, and from the broken underbrush and size of the path it had made concluded it was a buiFalo. He followed on about a quarter of a mile, and coming upon a little rise just where the present Fair ground west of Athens is, he saw a very large male buffalo grazing there* Gillespie immediately fired and hit the animal, but not being fatally wounded it dashed oflF through the woods with Gillespie's dog in close pursuit, and himself at the best pace he could make. He followed the buffalo to the present site of Athens, and found him not far from where the court house now stands - a few rods south - (Gillespie frequently visited Athens in after years) tearing in great rage and pain at the roots of a fallen tree, and charging furiously at the dog, who was safely ensconced under the trunk. Gillespie lost no time in getting a second shot and this time killed the brute, whose tongue and choice parts he carried into camp with him the same night.*

* This incident is related to the writer by Mr. John P. Thompson, who was born in Athens township in 1 808, and who, while on a visit to Crawford county in 1832, where he hunted with the Wyandot Indians, made the acquaintance of Gillespie. Gillespie after the settlement of Athens became familiar with its localities, and told the story to Thompson as we have set it down.

Encouraged by Gen. Putnam, who wished to introduce permanent settlers as soon as possible, a number of the emigrants who had stopped at Marietta decided to locate on the college lands. Among these were Alvan Bingham, Silas Bingham, Isaac Barker, William Harper, John Wilkins^ Robert Linzee, Edmund, William and Barak Dorr, John Chandler, and Jonathan Watkins. They made their way down the Ohio and up the Hockhocking in large canoes early in the year 1797. Having ascended as far as the attractive bluff where the town of Athens now stands, they landed and sought their various locations. A few of them fixed on the site of the present town, but most of them scattered up and down the adjacent bottoms. The surrounding country was then covered with dense forests, and the echo of their axes was the first sound of civilized industry heard in all this region. The bluff and bottoms were heavily timbered with hickory, walnut, ash, poplar, and other trees indicative of good soil ; while the course of the tortuous Hockhocking was marked as far as the view extended by the gigantic sycamores that grew thick-set and lofty along its edge.

The first business of each settler was to make a little clearing and erect a log cabin, which was built with unhewed logs, poles, clapboards, puncheons, and, in those days, wooden pins instead of nails. In its erection, no tools were necessary except an axe, an auger, and, perhaps, a cross-cut saw. Straight trees of the proper size were cut down, and either drawn by a team, or carried with the assistance of neighbors, to the building spot. The logs being cut of proper lengths were notched and laid up somewhat as children build cob-houses. If a large, or "double," cabin was desired, the logs were laid up to form two square pens, with an open space between, connected by a roof above and a floor below, so as to form a parallelogram, nearly three times as long as wide. In the open space, the family sometimes took their meals in pleasant weather, and it served the triple purpose of kitchen, lumber room, and dining room. The roof was covered with thin splits of oak, something like staves, about four feet long, from four to six inches wide, and about one-third of an inch thick. Instead of being nailed, these staves or clapboards were generally confined in their place by heavy timbers, laid at right angles across them, giving the roof a unique and rough appearance. A door-way and windows were made by chopping out the logs of proper length and hight before laying them up, so as to make suitable apertures. The doors were made of thin clapboards, split, like the roofing, from fresh-cut timber, and were generally hung, in an ingenious fashion, on large wooden hinges, and fastened with a substantial wooden latch. Frequently the latch was raised from the outside by a small leather string attached to it, and passing through a hole from within. When this string was drawn in, the latch could not be raised from the outside, nor the door opened; hence the western expression to signify hospitality, that "the latch string is always out." Into the window apertures, small pieces of wood were fitted for sash, and upon them paper was pasted, and rendered translucent by oiling. Wooden shutters, made of staves, like the doors, were attached to the windows and closed at night. The floors (when any were used) were made of short, thick plank, split from poplar, walnut, or oak. In some cases, the more wealthy settlers had the logs hewed on the inside, and the puncheon floor hewed and planed. For a fire place and chimney, a space about six feet square was cut out of the end of the cabin, the lower part of the chimney built of rough stones, and the rest laid up with small logs and flat pieces, like laths, cemented with clav mortar, well intermixed with short cut straw or hav. The chimney had a huge aperture, and tapered upward like a pyramid. The hearth was made with clav mortar, or sometimes a large slab of sandstone. Finally, the spaces between the logs were filled with timber, split like fire wood, from some soft tree, and made impervious to wind and rain by daubing the cracks with mud. A few chairs and stools, a bedstead of poles interlaced with bark, and furnished with plenty of bear skins, a table split from a large log, and some cooking and eating utensils, constituted, perhaps.

Many of our readers, early settlers, are familiar with cabins of this sort, not a few of which are still to be found in the less thickly settled parts of the county, and very generally throughout the west. Though rude in structure and limited in accommodations, no one will read the description with contempt who has had any experience of new countries. Such cabins as those described have formed the germ of all the powerful and prosperous communities of the west. Not only have their rough walls sheltered rural plenty, manly independence, guileless honesty, contentment, and happiness, but they have been the birth-place of men and women who have left their impress on the age in which they lived. No more charming picture of honest industry and unalloyed happiness can be imagined than is sometimes afforded by the interior of these rude cabins. When the wintry wind blows and the shutters are barred, and the walls of hewed logs show the white lines of plaster which mark the interstices; when the fire blazes high in the wide, open chimney, illuminating the stores of dried meats or vegetables which hang from the rafters, and the rustic table, around which are gathered the happy and healthy family, smokes with woodland plenty - at such a time no one could doubt that even these primitive log cabins are compatible with real and profound enjoyment.

The pioneers soon opened up several clearings about Athens, and a little corn, for corn bread, was put in the first spring. The clearings, however, were irregular and scattered, and no effort was made, as yet, to lay out a town. Early in 1798 a number of emigrants arrived, among whom were Solomon Tuttle, Christopher Stevens, John and Moses Hewitt, Cornelius Moore, Joseph Snowden, John Simonton, Robert Ross, the Brooks, and the Hanings. Some of these had families. Some settled in Athens and some in Alexander township. Mrs. Margaret Snowden, wife of Joseph Snowden, was honored by having "Margaret's creek" named after her, she being the first white woman who reached this central point in the county.

For the enforcement of laws and preservation of order, Alvan Bingham had been commissioned a magistrate, and his brother, Silas, a deputy sheriff. One of their most difficult duties was to prevent illegal entries and occupations of land by new comers; but this, and their other duties, sometimes delicate and accompanied with danger, they discharged with firmness and general acceptance. Ephraim Cutler, who came in a little later than the Binghams, and settled in Ames township, was also a magistrate, and in a certain class of land cases, which required two magistrates and a jury, he and Judge Bingham held court together. In those early times, notwithstanding the primitive state of society, the judges had proper ideas, of the sanctity of law, and the dignity of a court. It is related that at one of these trials of forcible entry, the leaders of the disorderly class came forward and threatened violence; the magistrates ordered them to leave the room, which they did, but uttering threats to put a stop to such courts. The judges, determined to vindicate their judicial dignity, instantly issued warrants, and ordered the sheriff to arrest the parties immediately, and take them to Marietta. They were arrested accordingly, and it is not easy to conceive of men more frightened; the idea of being taken to Marietta, to be tried by a court that had established a reputation throughout the territory for firmness and strict justice, filled them with terror. Silas Bingham (who, to great shrewdness and dispatch in business, united an unconquerable K humor) did nothing to allay their fears, but told them the better way would be to come into court, and, on their knees, ask forgiveness and promise amendment. The ringleader of the offending party replied that "it was too bad to be compelled to kneel down and ask forgiveness of two Buckeye justices;" but he concluded to submit, rather than be taken to Marietta, and the penitential ceremony was accordingly performed. [E. Cutler's Sketch.] During the first year of the county, the court was held in a private house, obtained for the occasion. In December, 1806, Silas Bingham was allowed twelve dollars for the use of a room occupied by the courts during that year, and an allowance of six dollars was made by the county commissioners to *' Edmund Dorr and Baruch Dorr, for guarding and victualling John Farmer one month." The two Binghams, Judge Alvan and his brother Silas, were natives of Litchfield county, Connecticut, and had both served in the revolutionary army. The former was a man of strong common sense, and his judicial mind and well-trained conscience, admirably qualified him for the position of judge, which he filled for many years. He is said to have been a person of quiet and dignified manners, stern and uncompromising in his sense of right. Silas was ^*full of anecdote and humor, social and kind in his feelings, a man of excellent sense, and a terror to evil-doers." The promptness with which these men acted in enforcing the laws had the effect to rid the settlement of nearly all disorderly persons. Alvan Bingham was the first treasurer of Athens county, and Silas was for several years a constable.

One of the greatest troubles that the pioneers had to contend with was the extreme scarcity of salt, and the high price of that essential article often caused severe privation. At the time of the first settlement of Athens and Ames, it was sold for six dollars a bushel, and had to be packed on horseback a great distance. As early as 1788, when the first colony arrived at Marietta, it had been rumored that salt springs existed on a stream, since called Salt creek, which flows into the Muskingum river near Duncan's falls, Muskingum county, and even during the Indian war a party was sent up the river from Marietta to search for them. The exploration was made at great risk, but the springs were not found. White men, held as prisoners by the Indians, had seen them make salt at these springs, and had noted their locality. An accurate description of the country having been gained from these persons, another exploring party of hunters and experienced woodsmen was sent out, a year or two later, to find the springs. This time they were successful, and brought back with them a small supply of the precious article. In 1796, a joint stock company was formed of fifty shareholders, at one dollar and a half each, making a capital of seventy-five dollars, with the object of buying castings, erecting a furnace, and manufacturing salt. Twenty-four kettles were bought at Pittsburg, and transported by water to Duncan's falls, and thence, on pack-horses, to the salt springs, seven miles further. A well was dug, near the edge of the stream, about fifteen feet deep, to the bed rock, through the crevices of which the salt water oozed and rose, though not very abundantly. The trunk of a hollow sycamore tree was fixed in the well to exclude the fresh water. A furnace was built, of two ranges with twelve kettles each. The water was raised from the well by a sweep and pole. The company was divided into ten sections of five men each, who worked, in turn, for two weeks at a time, and the works were thus kept in operation day and night, the men standing regular watches. They were thus able to make about one hundred pounds of salt in twenty-four hours, using about sixteen hundred gallons of water. This was the first attempt to manufacture salt in Ohio, and the product was a very inferior and costly article. For several years, all of the salt used by the pioneers of Athens county was brought from these works, and afterward from the Scioto salt licks,* in Jackson county, on pack horses. It was both a great luxury and a prime necessity, and every grain of it was carefully husbanded.

The settlement was about two years old when an act was passed by the territorial assembly, relative to laying off the town of Athens. At this time only one town had been incorporated in the northwestern territory, viz: Marietta, the act incorporating which was passed less than three weeks previously. (Cincinnati was not incorporated till January i, 1802. In the year 1800, the population of Cincinnati was 750; in 1805,

* These salt licks, in Jackson county, were considered of so much value, that, on the organization of the state, in 1 802, a tract of land six miles square containing them was reserved from sale. The salines were worked for several years under state supervision, and were not sold until 1826, when the proceeds went into the sute treasury.

"Whereas, In the county of Washington, within this territory, the townships Nos. eight and nine in the fourteenth range have been appropriated and set apart for the purpose of endowing an university, and, whereas^ the application of the same to the purpose aforesaid has been entrusted to the legislature of this territory ; therefore, to enable the said legislature the better to determine the situation whereon to establish the said university:

Be it resolved by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives in General Assembly^ That Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Ives Gilman and Jonathan Stone, esquires, be requested to lay oiF, in the most suitable place within the townships aforesaid, a town plat which shall contain a square for the college, also lots suitable for house lots and gardens, for a president, professors, tutors, etc., bordering on or encircled by spacious commons, and such a number of town lots adjoining the said commons and out-lots as they shall think will be for the advantage of the university, who are to make a return of the said town plat and lots, describing their situation within the said townships, to the legislature at their next session, and shall receive such compensation for their services as the legislature shall and may direct and allow.

Edward Tiffin

Pursuant to this act the town plat was surveyed and laid off by Messrs. Putnam, Oilman, and Stone in the summer of 1800, and a copy thereof returned to the legislature, as required.

'* Whereas, By a resolution of the legislature of this territory, of the 1 8th day of December, 1799, Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Ives Oilman and Jonathan Stone, esquires, were requested to lay off a town in the most convenient place within the townships numbered eight and nine, in the fourteenth range of townships as set apart by the agents and directors of the Ohio Company, for the uses and purposes of an university, which should be so laid off as to contain a square for colleges, and lots suitable for house-lots and gardens for a president, professors and tutors, with out-lots and commons. And, whereas^ the said Putnam, Oilman and Stone in conformity to the said resolution, have laid off the said town within the ninth, tenth and fifteenth, sixteenth and twenty-second sections of the aforesaid ninth township, and have returned a plat of the same ; therefore, to establish and confirm the same :

Section i. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives in General Assembly^ And it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that the return and report of the said Putnam, Oilman and Stone be accepted and approved, and that the said town be confirmed and established by the name of the town of Athens; Provided^ that the trustees of the university therein to be established shall have power to alter the plan of the said town, by extending the house-lots into the commons or out-lots, which adjoin the town, or by altering the streets, when, on actual survey, they may find it necessary or convenient. Provided^ also, that such alterations be made and a plat of the town, out-lots and commons, with a designation of the uses of the commons, be recorded in the office of the recorder of the proper county prior to the offering to lease of any of the said lots.

Sec. 2. jfnd be it further enacted^ That the house-lots numbered fifty-five and fifty-six in the said town of Athens, or some other two lots therein equally well situated, to be designated and set apart by the trustees of the said university when appointed, shall be reserved for the accommodation of public buildings that may be necessary to be erected for the use of said town and the county in which it may be situated ; which two lots, when agreed upon by said trustees, shall be particularly noted on the plat of said town and vest in the county to and for the uses designed thereby.

Robert Oliver

At this time there were not more than five or six cabins occupied on the town plat. A Mr. Earhart lived on the brow of the hill near where Ring's carriage shop now is. Othniel Tuttle had a cabin on the S. W. corner of the old graveyard. In 1800 Dr. Perkins bought his cabin and moved it down the road and added it to his own, near where Dr. E. G. Carpenter now lives. Solomon Tuttle lived in a cabin near where Love's grocery now is-^opposite the Currier homestead. Christian Stevens had a cabin just back of the college green, and a man by the name of Brakefield lived 20 or 30 rods east of the S. E. corner of the green. Alvan Bingham lived half a mile N. E., where widow Bingham now lives.

During the next four or five years the settlement at Athens, though increasing but slowly, received the addition of numbers of valuable citizens, sketches of some of whom will be found elsewhere. About this time John Hewitt built the first grist mill in the county (in 1800), on Margaret's creek, about a mile above its mouth, where Timothy Goodrich afterward built a saw mill. Hewitt's mill was much resorted to by the settlers for grinding their breadstufFs. Previous to this the nearest mills were in Washington county, on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, which could only be reached by tedious journeys. Soon after this a small mill was built by Charles Shepard, in Alexander township, on the place now owned by Samuel Armstrong. The horse mill below Athens, built by Capt. Silas Bingham, is believed to have been the next in order of time. During this period Henry Cassel, an ingenious man, manufactured small hand mills which ground corn tolerably well. The stone from which they were made was found on the old Shepard place in Alexander township, now owned by John S. Miller. These hand mills of Cassel's were visited by the neighboring settlers almost daily, each taking his turn and grinding one quart, when he would yield the mill to some one else. Some families were provided with a private ** hominy block," in which the corn was pounded and broken as with a pestle.

The first house was erected on the town plat in 1798, by Capt. John Chandler, a brother-in-law of Judge Alvan Bingham, on lot No. i, near where Bing's carriage shop now stands. John Havner built a hewed log house on the opposite side of the street, very soon after. Dr. Perkins lived in a log cabin on State street, near where Dr. Carpenter now resides. Dr. Leonard Jewett, who came in 1804 o^ '5> occupied a hewed log house, previously erected by Capt. Silas Bingham, on the lot now occupied by Geo. W. Norris, on College street. Joel Abbott succeeded Captain Chandler, and erected one of the earliest brick houses, in 1803 or '4. William McNichol built, and occupied as a tavern, a hewed log house nearly opposite to Abbott's. About this time, William Dorr built, and occupied as a store, a double, hewed log house, on the lot where Judge Barker now resides. Afterward the house was occupied as a tavern. John Johnston built and occupied a log house, on the corner where Crip- pen's grocery now is. Jared Jones built a log house on the lot now occupied by Mr. Topky. One of the first brick houses was built, and occupied as a store and dwelling, by Joseph B. Miles, near the corner known as " Brown's Corner."

Meanwhile the settlement had grown to a size that entitled it, in 1803, to the honor of mention by, probably, the first professional tourist who visited the northwest,* and who said: *' Athens, on the Great Hockhocking river, forty miles by water from the Ohio, lies in the election district of Middletown. This settlement commenced in the year 1797. The town is regularly laid out, on elevated ground, of easy ascent, round which the river forms a graceful bend. The situation is healthy, and the prospect delightful beyond description. The town is abundantly supplied with never-failing springs of excellent water, and the adjacent country is thought to be superior to any in the state for pleasantness and fertility."

* The Rev. Thaddcus M. Harris, a Massachusetts clergyman, who made a trip to the western country in 1803, in search of health and pleasure, an account of which he published in 1 805. His book is, and has long been, a very rare one. Dr. Pierce said of it, nearly fifty years ago :

"The celebrated John Foster, of London, author of Esutys on Decision of Character^ etc., employed me to find or procure it for him. As it could not be found in any book store, I reluctantly parted with my own copy, to satisfy the curiosity of this learned man.**

At this time, and for many years after the county was organized, various kinds of game were abundant in the forests, and deers, bears, wild turkeys, etc., were killed in great numbers. Wolves and panthers were a great annoyance, and, to the sheep growers, a great scourge. The first board of county commissioners, in June, 1 805, ordered that a bounty of three dollars be paid for the scalp of every wolf or panther killed within the county, under six months old, and four dollars for every one over six months. This rate was continued for six years. June 11, 181 1, the board resolved that from and after that date, the county would pay, for every wolf and panther scalp, one dollar, in addition to the state bounty, which was then two dollars for those under six months old, and four dollars if over six months. December 4, 181 1, the commissioners ordered that, from and after that date, they would pay, in addition to the state bounty, two dollars per scalp. In September, 18 13, the bounty was suspended till further ordered, but in June, 18 14, it was renewed, and fixed at two dollars per scalp. June 5, 1 817, the commissioners resolved, "that the bounty on wolf scalps be discontinued from and after the 5th day of June, 18 18." The bounty on panther scalps was discontinued not long afterward.

The following persons, in addition to those already named, were residents of the town or township of Athens in 1805, '*^^^- John Simonton, Andrew Hig- gins, Cornelius Moore, Moses Bean, Henry Bartlett, James Jolly, Daniel Mulford, Simon Speed, Samuel Luckey, John, Samuel, William, and Robert Lowry, John Green, Garret Jones, Uriah Tippee, Joel Abbott, Jacob Wolf, Ignatius Thompson, William and Aaron Young, Samuel Pickett, Samuel Smith, Josiah Coe, Francis Whitmore, Isaac and Michael Barker, Jonathan and Timothy Wilkins, William and Charles Harper, and Jehiel Gregory - the last named represented the county in the legislature, in 1805 ^^^ '^y and built one of the earliest mills on the Hockhocking, east of Athens.

The names of some of the pioneer settlers, mentioned in these pages, are preserved in different parts of the county, as follows: Moore's run, in Athens township; Brown's branch, Ewing's branch, Wyatt's branch. Walker's branch, Linscott's branch, and Brawley's branch, in Ames; Ross run, in Alexander; Pilcher's branch, Hoskinson's branch, Buckley's branch, and Mansfield's branch, in Canaan; Guthrie's branch, Davis's branch, and Lottridge P. O., in Carthage; Bailey's branch and Jackson run, in Dover; Cassel's run and Shidler's branch, in Lee; Thompson's fork, Pratt's fork, Dailey run, Dinsmore branch, and Douglas branch, in Lodi ; Stewart's run. Case run, Herrold run. Hatch branch, Rowell branch, and Green branch, in Rome; Frost branch, Washburn branch, Ross branch, and Devol's run, in Troy; Woodbury

The settlement of the county was now fairly begun, and the population was receiving steady additions. The time was approaching when they would divide from Washington county, and begin a separate career. Before speaking, however, of the organization of Athens county, let us, in order to complete our view of this period, and gain a better understanding of some points in the early annals of the county, glance at

The ordinance of 1787 provided that, as soon as there should be 5,cxx) free male inhabitants of full age, in the territory, and on proof thereof being made to the governor, the people should be authorized to elect representatives to a territorial legislature. The requisite population being reached in 1798, an election of representatives was ordered by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, to be held on the third Monday in December of that year. The lower house of the territorial assembly was to consist of one member for every five hundred voters, but the total not to exceed twentyfive members. The privilege of voting was confined to free-holders, in fee simple, of fifty acres of land within the district; and none but free-holders, in fee simple, of five hundred acres, were eligible as repre- sentatives. The upper house, corresponding now to the senate, was to consist of a council of five members, each of whom should be a free-holder of not less than five hundred acres, to be chosen by the representatives from their own number, and to be confirmed and appointed by congress. At this election (the first ever held in the state). Col. Robert Oliver, Return J. Meigs, and Paul Fearing were chosen representatives from Washington county, receiving the hearty support of the voters of Athens and Ames, or, as it was then called, the Middletown district. The representatives elect assembled, according to the governor's proclamation, at Cincinnati, on the 4th of February, 1799, to transact certain business, preliminary to their regular meeting. After due deliberation, they nominated for the legislative council of five, Henry Vanderburg, of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob Burnet, of Cincinnati, and David Vance; all of whom were subsequently confirmed and appointed by Federal authority. Col. Oliver was chosen president of the council and held that position until the formation of the state government. The following is from a letter, written in 1837, by Jacob Burnet,* of Cincinnati, himself a member of the territorial legislature.

* Jacob Burnet, one of the ablest among the early lawyers of the territory, was bom at Newark, N. J., February 22, 1770, graduated at Princeton College, studied law under Judge Boudinot, was admitted to

"On the 1 6th of September, 1799, both branches of the territorial legislature assembled at Cincinnati, and organized for business. The governor met the two houses in the representatives' chamber, and in a very elegant address recommended such measures as he thought were suited to the condition of the country, *and would advance the safety and prosperity of the people. The body continued in session till the 19th of December, when, having finished their business, the governor prorogued them, at their request, till the first Monday in November.

This being the first session it was necessarily a very laborious one. The transition from a colonial to a semi-independent government, called for a general revision as well as a considerable enlargement of the statute book. Some of the adopted laws

" At this time, the country to which I united myself, and with which it was my purpose to rise or fall, was, literally, a wilderness. The entire white population, between Pennsylvania and the Mississippi, from the Ohio to the lakes, was estimated at fifteen thousand. Cincinnati was a small village of log cabins, including perhaps a dozen of coarse frame houses, with stone chimneys, most of them unfinished. Not a brick had been seen in the place. It may 'aid in forming an idea of the appearance of the place at this time, to state that, at the northeast corner of Main and Fifth streets (now - 1837 - the centre of business and tastefiil improvements), and contiguous to a rough, half finished frame house, in which our courts were held, there was a pond, filled with alder bushes, in which the frogs serenaded us regularly, from spring to autumn. The morass extended so far into Main street, that it was necessary to construct a causeway of logs, in order to pass it with convenience ; and it remained in its natural state, filled with alder bushes and firogs, three or four years after my residence there began. The population of the town, including officers and fiillowers of the army, was about five hundred.** were repealed, many others altered and amended, and a long list of new ones added to the code. New offices were to be created and filled, the duties attached to them prescribed, and a plan of ways and means devised to meet the increased expenditures, occasioned by the change which had just taken place. As the number of members in each branch was small, and a large portion of them either unprepared or indisposed to partake largely of the labors of the session, the pressure fell on the shoulders of a few. Although the branch to which I belonged was composed of sensible, strong-minded men, yet they were unaccustomed to the duties of their new station, and not conversant with the science of law. The consequence was that they relied chiefly and almost entirely on me to draft and prepare the bills and other documents, which originated in the council. One of the important duties which devolved on the legislature, was the election of a delegate to represent the territory in congress. As soon as the governor's proclamation made its appearance, the election of a person to fill that station excited general attention. Several persons were spoken of, and among them myself. Many of my friends solicited me to become a candidate, and ventured to give strong assurance of my election if I would consent to serve ; but being at that time engaged in an extensive and lucrative practice, and not wealthy, I could not aflFord to quit my profession, or to abstract from it as much time and attention as the duties of the station would require. In addition to this, it appeared to me that I could be more useful to the people of the territory in their own legislature, than in congress. For these reasons I declined to be a candidate ; and, before the meeting of the legislature, public opinion had settled down on William Henry Harrison and Arthur St. Clair, Jr., who were eventually the only candidates. On the 3d of October, 1799, the two houses met in the representatives* chamber, according to a joint resolution, and proceeded to an election. The ballots being taken and counted, it appeared that William Henry Harrison had eleven votes, and St. Clair ten votes ; the former was therefore declared to be duly elected. Having received his certificate of election, General Harrison resigned the office of secretary of the territory, proceeded forthwith to Philadelphia, and took his seat, congress being then in session. Though he represented the territory but one year, he obtained some important advantages for his constituents. He introduced a resolution to subdivide the surveys of the public lands and to offer them for sale in small tracts, which measure he succeeded in getting through both houses, in opposition to the interests of speculators who were, and who wished to be, the retailers of land to the poorer classes of the community. His proposition became a law, and was hailed as the most beneficent act that congress had ever done for the territory. It put it in the power of every industrious man, however poor, to become a freeholder, and to lay a foundation for the future support and comfort of his family.

"Congress at that session (i 799-1 800), divided the northwestern territory, by establishing the new territory of Indiana, of which Mr. Harrison was appointed governor. By the division of the territory, Mr. Vanderburg (one of the legislative council) became a citizen of Indiana, and Solomon Sibley, of Detroit, was appointed to fill the vacancy in that body. The office of secretary, vacated by the election of Mr. Harrison as delegate in congress, was filled by the appointment of Charles Willing Byrd, who was afterward district judge of the United States for the district of Ohio.

the scat of government from Cincinnati to Chillicothe. On the 3cl of November, 1800, the general assembly convened at that place. The governor met and addressed them, recommending, specifically, the measures to which he desired their attention. On the 6th of November the two houses met for the purpose of filling the vacancy made by the resignation of Gen. Harrison in congress and also to elect a delegate for the next succeeding term. William McMillan, of Cincinnati, was elected to fill the vacancy and Paul Fearing, of Marietta, for the term to begin on the 4th of March then next. On the 2d of December (as the governor's term of office expired on that day) the assembly adjourned sine die*^

Governor St. Clair was soon reappointed by President Adams, and a new assembly was elected by the people, which convened at Chillicothe on the 24th of November, 1801. It remained in session till the 23d of January, 1802, when it was adjourned by the governor to be reopened at Cincinnati, on the fourth Monday of November, 1802. This removal of the seat of government from Chillicothe to Cincinnati was (says Burnet), "in consequence of the violent and disgraceful proceedings of a mob, which assembled on two successive evenings for the purpose of insulting the governor and several of the members of the legislature, without any steps being taken by the town authorities to repress it, or to punish the leaders." But the territorial assembly never convened again. Before the day of its adjournment arrived, delegates had been elected to a constitu- tional convention, and preparations were being made for admission as a state into the Federal Union. This step was the theme of a great deal of discussion at that day, and was the most absorbing topic of the times.

The territorial governrtient was of brief duration, lasting less than three years, when the contest between those who desired and those who opposed the formation of a state government, resulted in favor of the former; not, however, without a sharp popular struggle and considerable excitement. Indeed, the contest was for some time an active and bitter one. The opponents of a state government (/. e. of forming one at this time) J argued that such a measure would be especially injurious to the inhabitants of the Ohio Company's purchase; that they had been struggling with the hardships of opening the wilderness since the year 1788, and for a large part of the time pressed by the merciless savage to the extremes of want, danger, and even death; that the population was sparse and generally poor; that the expenses of a state government would be heavy in proportion to the inhabitants, while the advantages to them in their present situation would be few, perhaps none, over a territorial government; and, finally, that the taxes to support a state government would fall on the actual settlers and land-holders, as the Ohio Company's lands would all be brought on the tax list, while congress lands, daily becoming more valuable by the improvements of the settlers, were to be free from taxation. The people of Washington county were so much opposed to the formation of a state government at that time, that they determined to hold a convention and give formal expression to their views. Delegates were accordingly chosen by the different settlements in the purchase, as follows: for Marietta, Paul Fearing and Elijah Backus; for Belpre, Isaac Pierce and Silas Bent; for Waterford, Robert Oliver and Gilbert Devol; for Adams, Joseph Barker; for Newport, Philip Witten and Samuel Williamson; for Middletown (or Athens), Alvan Bingham; and for Gallipolis, Robert SafFord. Gilbert Devol was chosen chairman of the convention, and Joseph Barker secretary. The foregoing arguments were presented, in a paper prepared by Joseph Barker, and after mature deliberation the convention adopted the following :

" Risolvedy That, in our opinion, it would be highly impolitic and very injurious to the inhabitants of this territory, to enter into a state government, at this time. Therefore, we, in behalf of our constituents, do request that you will use your best endeavors to prevent, and steadily oppose the adoption of any measures that may be taken for the purpose."

preferment of some sort, under the new government, outnumbered the more sober and cautious representatives. The measure was carried, and it was decided to form a state government. So eager were the ambitious friends of the project for a change, that they relinquished the right of taxing the lands owned by congress, until five years after they had been sold and in the possession of the purchaser; whereas, in equity, they should have been liable to taxation as soon as they were in his possession. The apprehensions of the injurious results to the inhabitants of the Ohio Company's purchase, were soon realized, as the taxes for the support of the new government fell very heavily on them. This inequality remained until the year 1825, when the ad valorem system was introduced, and removed the long continued injustice. [Hildreth.]

The next step in the transition from territorial to state government, was the passage of an act by congress, on the 30th of April, 1802, "to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory northwest of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government." This act provided for the election of delegates to frame a constitution, and fixed the qualifications of electors. It also fixed the present boundaries of Ohio, reserving the territory west and north of it for other states. Delegates to the constitutional convention were elected in the summer of

1802. The inhabitants of Athens (a part of Washington county) were represented by Ephraim Cutler, Rufus Putnam, John Mclntire, and Benjamin Ives Oilman. The convention assembled at Chillicothe on the 1st day of November, 1802, and remained in session about three weeks. The constitution being formed, was ratified and signed by the members on the 29th of November. It was never submitted to the people, but became the organic law of the state by the act of the convention alone.

Certain important changes, concerning the school lands, were made by the convention, in the proposition of congress, under which the state was to come into the Union. Congress assented to the proposed modifications by act of March 3, 1803, ^^us completing the compact and accepting Ohio as a state and a member of the Federal Union.

Oovernor St. Clair and most of the leading men during the period of the territorial government, were federalists; but by the time the territorial legislature was chosen (in 1799), democratic or JefFersonian ideas were becoming popular, and the assembly, which met at Cincinnati in September, 1799, ^^^ possessed of some of the democratic temper then prevalent. This, together with the rather arbitrary use of the veto power by Oovernor St. Clair, caused some clashing between them. The result was that an impetus was given to the growth of democratic ideas in the territory, the con- stitutional convention, which met in 1802, was strongly Jeffersonian, and the constitution which they formed was a thoroughly democratic one. Its excellencies and defects, for it had both, were those of a truly popular form of government.

And now began the contest between "federalism" and "democracy" - the one school represented by Hamilton and his coadjutors, who believed in a powerful and splendid central government; and the other by -Jefferson and his followers who advocated the largest liberty to the individual, and regarded with the utmost jealousy what they stigmatized as the centralization of power. "There were giants in those days," and their political and intellectual contests were admired and repeated in the remotest parts of the republic. By these opposing ideas, the actors in the little political arena of Athens county, like those of many other greater or smaller arenas throughout the country, were for many years to come excited and educated.

The time had now arrived when for various reasons, chiefly political perhaps, it was deemed advisable to form a new county on the west of Washington, and to be carved out of it.

Section I. Be it enacted^ etc.. That so much of the county of Washington as is contained in the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, which shall be known by the name of Athens, viz : beginning at the southwest corner of township number ten, range seventeen 'y thence easterly with the line between Gallia and Washington counties, to the Ohio river ; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Hockhocking river ; thence up the said Hockhocking river to the east line of township number six, of the twelfth range ; thence north on said line to the northeast corner of the eighth township, in the said twelfth range ; thence west to the east line of Fairfield county ; thence south on said county line and the line of Ross county, to the place of beginning.

Sec II. That from and after the first day of March next, the said county of Athens shall be vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of a separate and distinct county : provided always^ that all actions and suits which may be pending on the said first day of March next, shall be prosecuted and carried into final judgment and execution, and all taxes, fees, fines, and forfeitures, which shall be then due, shall be collected in the same manner as if this act had never been passed.

Sec. III. That the seat of justice for said county, is hereby established in the town of Athens, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the first day of March next."

The county as thus established in 1805, contained one thousand and fifty-three square miles, or about thirty regular surveyed townships, and included five townships now belonging to Meigs county, viz: Columbia, Scipio, Bedford, Orange, and Olive townships ; two now belonging to Morgan county, viz : Homer and Marion ; three now belonging to Hocking county, viz: Ward, Green, and Starr; and seven now belonging to Vinton, viz: Brown, Swan, Elk, Madison, Knox, Clinton, and Vinton townships ; and a strip of land about ten miles long and one mile wide now belonging to Washington county. By an act passed January 30th, 1807, entitled "an act to alter the boundary line between the counties of Athens and Gallia," a strip about ten miles long and one mile wide, was added to the southeast corner of Athens county as it then existed. By an act passed February 1 8th, 1807, entitled "an act altering the line between the counties of Washington and Athens," the boundary of Athens was changed so as to take in the portion of Troy township lying east of the Hockhocking river; and the same act detached a strip one mile wide and fifteen miles long, lying along the eastern border of Rome, Bern, and Marion townships, from Athens county, and added it to Washington. By an act passed February loth, 18 14, sections thirty-one and thirty-two in township number six, range eleven (Rome) were detached from Washington and added to Athens, and sections eleven and twelve in township number eight, range twelve (now Marion township, Morgan county), were detached from Athens and added to Washington. The creation of the county of Jackson by act of January 12, 1 8 16, took township number ten, range seventeen (now Clinton township, Vinton county), from Athens. The creation of the county of Hocking by act of January 3,1818, took parts of three townships (Green and Starr, of Hocking, and Brown, of Vinton county), from Athens; and by an act of March 12th, 1845, entitled "an act to attach part of the county of Athens to the county of Hocking," the residue of those townships was stricken off. The creation of the county of Meigs, January 21, 18 19, took five townships from Athens and reduced our southern boundary to its present limits. By an act passed March 11, 1845, ^^^ townships of Homer and Marion were detached from Athens and added to Morgan county. Finally, the erection of the county of Vinton by act passed March

23, 1850, took the remainder of our outlying possessions in that direction, and the same act detached Ward township from Athens and gave it to Hocking, thus reducing our boundaries all around to their present limits. The present boundaries of the county include about four hundred and eighty-four square miles.

An act of the legislature, passed February 13 th, 1804, entitled "an act establishing boards of commissioners," provided that the election for commissioners should be held on the first Monday of the next April. The first election in Athens county resulted in the choice of Silas Dean, William Howlett and John Corey, commissioners. We quote from the record of the first board of commissioners:

We, Silas Dean, Wm. Howlett and John Corey, being elected commissioners for the county of Athens on the 13th day of April, 1805, Silas Dean and John Corey, agreeably to appointment, met this day in order to proceed to business, and have made choice of John Corey for clerk, and then proceeded to divide the county into the following townships :

The township of Ames begins at the N. E. corner of the county, thence running W. to the N. W. corner of said county ; thence S. to the S. W. corner of township No. 12 in the i6th range ; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 7 in the 1 2th range ; thence N. to the place of beginning.

of township No. 12; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 5 in the 13th range ; thence N. to the N. E. corner of the aforesaid township No. 5 ; thence West to the place of beginning.

The township of Alexander begins at the N. W. corner of township No. 11 in the 17th range, thence South to the S. W. corner of township No. 10 in the aforesaid 17th range; thence E. to the S. E. corner of township No. 3 in the 13th range; thence N. to the N. E. corner of township No. 4 in the 13th range ; thence W. to the place of beginning.

The township of Troy begins at the S. W. corner of township No. 4 in the 12th range, thence East on the south line of the county until it intersects with Shade river ; thence down Shade river to its junction with the Ohio ; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Hockhocking ; thence up the Hockhocking to where the eastern line of the 12th range crosses said river; thence N. to the N. E. corner of township No. 6 in the 1 2th range; thence W. to the N. W. corner of the aforesaid 6th township ; thence S. to the place of beginning.

By a majority of the board of commissioners Alvan Bingham was appointed treasurer for the county of Athens. April 17th, said Bingham's bonds executed and accepted."

[Here follow proposals and specifications for the building of a log jail and jailor's house, the jail to be 24 feet long in the clear and 13 feet wide, with minute descriptions of every part; but our space does not allow their insertion.]

**The board of commissioners have appointed John Armstrong's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of Alexander township ; John Havner's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of Athens township ; Ebenezer Buckingham's house as the first place of meeting for the electors of

[This session of the board lasted from the i6th to the 19th of April. William Howlett joined the other commissioners on the 17th. Their compensation was $1.50 per day, and the expense of this, the first meeting of the board, was $19.25. They adjourned till the second Monday of June, 1805.]

" The board met agreeably to adjournment on the second Monday of June and proceeded to levy the county tax, and made out one duplicate for the township of Ames, one for Athens and Alexander, and one for Troy.

In conformity to the nth section of an act for granting tavern licenses, ferriages, &c., passed at Chillicothe the ist day of February, 1805,

Resolved by the Board of Commissioners^ That the price of licenses for ferries crossing the Ohio within this county shall be two dollars. The rates for crossing said river shall be as the law prescribes in the aforesaid nth section.

Resolved^ That the license for ferries crossing the Great Hockhocking river shall be two dollars. The rate of ferriage of the same shall be as follows, viz : For each foot passenger, three cents ; for man and horse, ten cents 5 for loaded wagon and team, fifty cents ; for every other four-wheeled carriage, or empty wagon and team, thirty-seven and one-half cents; for every loaded cart and team, thirty-seven and a half cents ; for every loaded sled, or sleigh, or empty cart and team, twenty-five cents ; for every empty sled, or sleigh and team, twelve and a half cents ; for every horse, mare, mule, or ass, and every head of neat cattle, six cents ; for sheep and hogs, three cents.

Resolved^ That the license for taverns in the town of Athens shall be eight dollars ; for the township of Ames^ four dollars \ for the township of Troy, five dollars; and foi* the township -of Alexander, four dollars and a half. For the township of Athens, the price of a tavern license shall be six dollars.

The tax assessed on the township of Ames is thirty-nine dollars, as appears by the duplicate ; the tax assessed on the townships of Athens and Alexander is ninety-six dollars and forty cents, as appears by the duplicate ; the tax assessed on the township of Troy is twenty-two dollars and twenty cents, as appears by the duplicate. The total amount of all the taxes assessed in the county of Athens is one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and sixty cents.

The petition of David Watkins and others for a road, after being read, was rejected, it not being according to law. The petition of William Young and others for a road, after being read, was rejected, it not being according to law. The petition of H. Castle and others praying for a road, after being read, was rejected, not being according to law. The petition of Daniel Weethee and others for the division of the township of Ames was not acceded to. The petition of Elijah Hatch and others praying for the erection of a new township in this county was not acceded to.

County of Athens to Josiah True. Dr. For services by him done in the township of Ames, listing taxable property in the year 1805, - - - - ^5 3©

Resolved^ by the Board of Commissioners, that John Corey shall receive twelve dollars for his services as clerk for this board during the time the said board elected him for.

Whereas, It appears by a more mature deliberation to the board, that the resolution passed by them the 19th of April last, fixing the place for the first meeting of the electors of the township of Ames, is a grievance, and that the same should be changed, and for that purpose it is Resolved^ by the board, that the place for the first meeting of the electors of the aforesaid township of Ames, is the dwelling house of Nathan Woodbury,

July gth^ 1805. - William Howlett and John Corey met, pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded, after a more mature deliberation, to strike out the price of license for the town plat of Athens.

Whereas, It appears on more mature deliberation by the Board of Commissioners that the petition of David Watkins and others praying for a road to be laid out from Asahel Cooley's to Henry Cassel's mill was done according to law, the said board have appointed George Shidler, Henry Shidler, and Charles Weeks to view said road.

The petition of William Young and others praying for a road to be laid out from Athens toward Lancaster, that was rejected, is now considered according to law, and the Board of Commissioners have appointed Arthur Coates, George Shidler, and Robert Ross to view said road.

It appearing to the board on more mature deliberation that the petition of Henry Cassell and others praying for a road to be laid out from Athens toward Salt Lick, which was rejected, was done agreeably to law, they now appoint Robert Linzee, Samuel Moore, and Joel Abbott to view out said road.

Resolved^ by the Board of Commissioners, that Daniel Stewart be appointed collector for the township of Troy, in the room of Stephen Buckingham, delinquent.

November j\,thy 1805. - L^^ election having occurred in October.] Agreeably to an act entitled ^an act establishing Boards of Commissioners/ passed February 13th, 1804, We, William Howlett, William Barrows, and Samuel Moore, being elected commissioners for the county of Athens, have met this day in order to do business.

A petition, bearing date May 30th, 1805, having been presented to the board by David Watkins and others, of the township of Alexander, praying for a road beginning at the range line between the 12th and 13th ranges, thence onward to the Salt Lick, and George Shidler, Charles Weeks, and Henry Shidler having been appointed to view said road, now report the same useless.

We, the Commissioners, at our first meeting, cast lots, as the law directs, and drew as follows, viz : Samuel Moore to stand three years, William Howlett to stand two years, and William Barrows to stand one year.

June 2</, 1806. - William Barrows and Samuel Moore met in order to do business at the house of Silas Bingham. Silas Dean and Samuel Brown presented a petition for a road beginning at the Twenty-five mile tree on the state road, and ending at or near the Thirty-four mile tree on the Lancaster road.

Robert Linzee presented a petition for the road to be altered from Samuel Moore's to Stroud's run. Alvan Bingham, Arthur Coats and Jehiel Gregory are appointed to view said road the third Saturday in July, and Abel Miller is appointed surveyor.

Resohedy by the Board of Commissioners, that the bounty on wolves' and panthers' scalps for this year shall be as follows, viz: For any wolf or panther under six months old, three dollars, and for all above that age, four dollars per scalp.

Athens township licenses for taverns for this year, /'. e.y from the State road toward the Salt works are fixed at six dollars and fifty cents, and license on the State road, in said township, at four dollars each. Tavern licenses for the township of Ames are five dollars and fifty cents each. Tavern licenses for Troy and Alexander are five dollars each.

Ferry licenses on the State road, for this year, are two dollars, and other ferries on the Hockhocking, one dollar and fifty cents. Rates of ferriage across said river for man and horse, twelve and a half cents ; and all the other rates the same as last year.

Athens County to Jchicl Gregory. Dr. To services done said county as an associate judge by notifying an election for sheriff, coroner, and county commissioners, and receiving and making returns thereof; also for time spent with Judge Ames appointing and making bonds with Henry Bartlett as clerk pro tern, for the court of common pleas, 4 50

Athens County to Alvan Ogden. Dr. To viewing a road from near Asahel Coolcy's, in Troy township, through Alexander, to intersect with the Salt Lick road at or near Wheelabout - nine days, - - 9 00

September i, 1806. A petition being presented by William Green and others, praying for a road from John Brown's lo Reuben Davis's, and from thence to Moses Hewitt's, the board appoint Ephraim Cutler, Joshua Wyatt, and Jason Rice viewers for said road, to meet the 9th day of September, at the house of John Brown ; and they appoint Thomas M. Hamilton surveyor of said road.

A petition being presented by Eliphaz Perkins and others, praying for a road from the town of Athens to the house of Frederic Foughty, in Ames township, John Corey, Abel Mann, and Nicholas Phillips are appointed viewers, and Abel Miller surveyor of said road,

To surveying a road from No. 5, in Troy, through the township of Alexander to intersect the Salt Lick road, on the waters of Wheelabout, and his chainmen and markers, - 22 50

December i, 1806. At a meeting of the County Commissioners on Monday, the ist day of December, 1806, present Alvan Bingham and Samuel Moore, commissioners, the board appointed Henry Bartlett clerk for the term of one year, and agreed to pay him thirty dollars for his services, payable quarterly.

ciate judges of the court of common pleas for the county of Athens, the above-named Henry Bartlett, who was sworn according to law, for the faithful discharge of his duties as clerk to the commissioners.

Also, to open a road leading from the town of Athens to the county line toward the Scioto Salt Lick, /. e,^ so much of said road as lies in the township of Athens, as surveyed by Abel Miller.

Notice issued to the trustees of the township of Alexander tb open a road, leading from Athens toward the Scioto Salt Lick, /. e,y so much of said road as lies in the township of Alexander.

Ordered by the commissioners that the sum of ten dollars be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing blank county orders, stationery, paying postage on letters, etc., and that an order be given to Henry Bartlett, as their clerk for that purpose.

For Athens township, Michael Barker; for Ames township, John Brown, 2d; for Troy township, Asahel Cooley; for Alexander township, Amos Thompson.

The first constitution of Ohio provided for the election by the people of only two county officers, viz: sheriff and coroner; other county officers were, during the first eighteen years of the state's history, appointed by the county commissioners or by the associate judges of the respective counties. The office of county auditor was created by act of the legislature, at the session of 1820-21. Before that time the principal duties of the auditor were performed by the county clerk, who was appointed by the commissioners. Henry Bartlett, so long known in the county as "Esquire Bartlett," was clerk, and ex officio auditor, from 1806 till March 1 82 1. From this time the successive auditors were: per, appointed June, 1809; Eliphaz Perkins,* appointed June, 181 1; Amos Crippen, appointed June, 1815 ; Isaac Barker, appointed June, 1825, elected October, 1825; Amos Crippen, elected October, 1829; Isaac Barker, elected October, 1831 ; Isaac N. Norton, elected October, 1835, died in December, 1836. Abram Van Vorhes acted first year, and Isaac Barker, second year, by appointment. Isaac Barker, elected October, 1837; Amos Crippen, elected October, 1839; Robert McCabe, elected October, 1841 ; William Golden, elected October, 1847; Samuel Pickering, elected October, 1853; Leonard Brown, elected October, 1857; Joseph M. Dana, elected October, 1859; Leonard Brown, elected October, 1861 j A. W. S. Minear, elected October, 1863; George W. Baker, elected October, 1867, and is still in office.

The first court of common pleas, July 8, 1805, consisted of Robert F. Slaughter, president judge, and Siivanus Ames and Elijah Hatch, associate judges. Henry Bartlett was appointed clerk. Since that time the following judges have acted:

Note. - It must be borne in mind that the boundaries of some of the townships underwent changes from time to time till March, 1850, since when there have been no changes.

Produced During Year Ending June 1, I85O

The following statement shows the number and value of certain live stock, in the respective townships, as listed by the assessors for taxation, in 1867 :

Sheep

Prior to the year 1794, there was no mail royte to the northwestern territory, nor any post office north of the Ohio river west of Pittsburg. The only communication the Ohio Company's settlers had with the east was by private hands, and the receipt of letters or papers was a rare and interesting occurrence. In the year 1794, a route was established from Pittsburg, via Washington, Pennsylvania, West Liberty, Virginia, and Wheeling, to Limestone (now Maysville, Kentucky), and Fort Washington (Cincinnati). From Pittsburg to Wheeling the mail was carried by land, and from Wheeling down the Ohio river in small boats, about twenty-four feet long, built much like a whale-boat, and steered with a rudder. Each boat was manned by five persons, well armed and provided against attacks by the Indians. Though not covered, each of the little craft was furnished with a large tarpaulin, which, in case of storm or other necessity, was used to cover the arms, mail bags, etc. The boats, ascending and descending the river, met and exchanged mails at Marietta, Gallipolis, and Maysville. The time consumed was about twelve days from Cincinnati to Wheeling, and about half that time from Wheeling to Cincinnati.* By this route, the inhabitants of

* Though not strictly germane to the subject, we may be excused for presenting some facts concerning the early postal operations of the government, showing the very small beginnings of our present vast and beneficent system.

On the 1st of January, 1790, there were only seventy-five post offices in the United States. There arc now more than twenty -four thousand. For the quarter ending December 13, 1789, the total receipts of the post office at New York were $1,067 08 ; the emoluments of the post master amounted to S3 27 32, and the incidental

Washington county, and afterward those of Athens, received their mail matter once in two or three weeks. In the year 1800, the only post route in southern Ohio was from Zanesville to Marietta. In 1802, a route was established from Marietta, by way of Athens and Chillicothe, to Cincinnati; and in 1804, the route from Marietta to Zanesville was discontinued.

The first post office in the county of Athens, was established at Athens in January, 1804, and the first post master was Jehiel Gregory. The office was kept at his house, across the river, east of Athens, where D. B. Stewart's woolen factory is now situated. The office changed hands in the spring of the same year, and Dr. Eliphaz Perkins was appointed post master.

expenses of the office were $36 89. At the Philadelphia post office, the receipts for the same period were $1,530 73; post master's emoluments, $315 28, expenses of office, ^jj 84. The mail was carried from Philadelphia to Pittsburg once in two weeks. The contracts for carrying the mail to the southward of New York city, for that year, amounted to $14,973 75; and to the eastward of the same place to $6,003 15. From New York to Albany, the contractors received all the postage for carrying the mail. The route from Boston to Providence, New London, and New Haven, was an expense to the department of $520, for that year. The route from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, was an expense of $800. The department fell in debt $34 84 for the quarter. In the year 1825, the mail was carried from Wheeling to Zanesville, Ohio, three times a week ; from Zanesville to Lancaster, three times a week ; from Lancaster to Cincinnati, twice a week ; from Marietta to Zanesville, once a week ; from Marietta to Chillicothe, twice a week, and from Marietta to Lancaster, once in two weeks. [American State Papers.]

and kept the office for a short time, on State street, near D. M. Clayton's late residence, and afterward, for many years, in the brick building now known as Ballard's corner.

The second post office established in the county was in Ames township, in the year 1821. Loring B. Glazier was the first post master there, and the office received the name of Amesville. Previous to the establishment of this office. Judge Ames, Judge Walker, Doctor Walker, Abel Glazier, Judge Cutler, and other citizens of the neighborhood, taking the Marietta paper, received their papers from the mail carrier, who brought them in a way-bag for distribution, for which service each person was required to pay fifty cents a year to the carrier. During the early years of this century, several copies of the National Intelligencer were taken in the Ames settlement. It was received every two weeks, and was at once the great news bringer from the outer world to the little community, and the political gospel of all its readers. The writer has heard an aged relative, herself a staunch adherent of the Jeffersonian school of politics, relate with what eagerness the Intelligencer was awaited during the war of 18 12, and how its narratives of events, political and military, were devoured by those who could read, and read aloud to those who could not.

The earliest legislation in Ohio relative to the organization of agricultural societies, and designed to encourage that branch of industry, was an act passed February 25, 1832, entitled "an act to authorize and encourage the establishment of agricultural societies in the several counties of this state, and for other purposes therein set forth/' The farmers of Athens county had, however, already perceived their interests in this regard, and a society had been formed and a fair held some years before the passage of this act. The society was organized May 19, 1828. The preamble to the constitution recites that,

'* We, whose names are annexed, convinced of the benefits resulting to communities from the operations of well regulated agricultural societies, in the means and facilities afforded by them for the attainment and diffusion of useful practical information, and the spirit of emulation and improvement in the culture of the soil, and the domestic manufacture of its products ; do form ourselves into an association for the above mentioned purposes, to be called the Athens County Agricultural Society^ of which the following shall be the constitution."

The constitution provides for the government of the society, by the usual officers and a board of six directors; for terms of membership, annual meetings, and the awarding of premiums "to members and their families for distinguished merit, exertion, discovery, or improvement in the various branches of husbandry and agricultural economy, household manufactures, etc/^ At the first meeting, the following persons were appointed and requested to act as agents in soliciting subscriptions to the constitution :

The next meeting of the society was held at Athens, in July, 1828, and arrangements were made for an exhibition, which was accordingly held, in October of that year, and which was the first agricultural fair held in southern Ohio.

The next annual meeting of the society, for the choice of officers, etc., was announced by A. G. Brown, secretary, to be held **at the court house in Athens, on Thursday, April i6th, at one o'clock, p. m." The secretary, then editing and publishing the Athens Mirror^ accompanied the call with some judicious remarks as to the importance of sustaining the movement, which would, however, "assuredly flag and fall into disuse, without the frequently renewed and strenuous eflForts of those who were convinced of its utility, and friendly to its objects."

"The meeting, though not large, was respectable, and made up in zeal what it wanted in numbers. The peculiarity of this season, by which the advance of vegetation, and, consequently, of the farmer's labor, has been delayed, doubtless prevented the attendance of many who would have wished to be present. The meeting was, notwithstanding, very interesting, and hopes are now entertained of the most beneficial results."

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year, each of whom was requested and expected "to take an active part in promoting the objects of the society."

A week later, April 25th, the directors met at the same place, and resolved that " seventy-five dollars be appropriated, to be awarded as premiums for the encouragement of industry, enterprise and skill, during the present year,'* and made out their premium list. The premiums were of course small. The largest was for the best stallion, owned and kept by a member of the society, four dollars. The next largest, for the best pair of working oxen and yoke, three dollars. For the best six merino ewes, two dollars ; best beef animal, two dollars, etc. In the list were the following:

Several annual exhibitions were held after this, but in the course of a few years the interest began to flag, local dissensions crept in, and finally the fairs ceased to be held. A lapse of nearly twenty years occurred before the society was revived. In December, 1850, the county commissioners issued a call for a meeting o citizens, to be held on the 13th of January, 1851, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. At that meeting, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and Sabinus Rice was chosen president ; Ziba Lindley^ vice president; George Putnam, recording secretary; A. B. Walker, corresponding secretary; Joseph M, Dana, treasurer; and Henry Brawley, Eleazur Smith, Hiram Stewart, P. W. Boyles, and James Dickey, managers. Since that time, several annual fairs have been held, and there has been a steady and gratifying growth of interest in the society. The present oflicers are, Charles L. Wilson, president; Peter Long, vice president; Nelson H. Van Vorhes, treasurer; A. W, Glazier, secretary; and Joseph Higgins, George Putnam, A. W. Glazier, A. S. Tidd, A. N. Vorhes, N. Warren, Cyrus Blazer, and Charles R. Smith, directors.

The county contains about four hundred and eightyfour square miles of land, some portions of which are admirably adapted for grazing and agricultural purposes, while others are rich in minerals. It is well watered by the Hockhocking river and its tributaries, Sunday creek, Monday creek, Margaret's creek. Federal creek, Shade river, etc. The Hockhocking, entering at the northwestern corner of York township, traverses the county diagonally for a distance of about fifty miles, flowing into the Ohio river in Troy township. The average width of the stream throughout the county is about fifty yards. The region drained by its numerous tributary streams, and which may be called its valley, will average about twenty miles in width. The whole extent of the valley (in Athens county) is hilly and broken, the hills rising from two hundred to three hundred feet above the beds of the neighboring streams, which, in times past, appear to have worn their way through the strata, so as to give the surface of the country, once a plain, the features which we now observe. The alluvial lands of the Hockhocking and its tributaries are very rich, though liable to occasional overflow from the sudden floods that take place in all the streams of this region. The hill lands are covered with a fertile soil, and clothed with a heavy growth of forest trees.

Of this wonderful product of nature - so mysterious in its origin, and so incalculably useful to the comfort and industries of men - vast deposits exist within the

It is probable that the most valuable vein is that -one which, as it has been most extensively worked in the vicinity of Nelsonville, has been called the ^^ Nelsonville coal/* This bed is unquestionably one of the most, if not the most, valuable in the state; not only on account of its superior quality and its proximity to canal and railroad facilities, but also for the comparative ease with which it can be obtained. The average thickness of the vein may be rated at six feet, but it varies from five to nine. As we descend the river from Nelsonville, it gradually dips and finally disappears below the bed of the Hockhocking, about five miles below Nelsonville, on section eight, in York township. Taking into account the fall of the river, the dip between the two places is between twenty and twenty-five feet per mile, in a south or southeast direction. West of Nelsonville, it extends up the river, gradually becoming more elevated until it runs out on the tops of the hills, three or four miles above the town. The same vein has been traced over to the head waters of Raccoon, in Waterloo township.

About a mile and a half northeast from the point ^here the vein above described dips below the river, .occurs a bed of coal about forty feet above. It is found in the eastern part of Dover township. This vein, sometimes called the "Denman vein," has been opened in several places east of this point, as far as^ Sunday creek, at the mouth of which it is found near the bed of the stream. North of this it extends into Trimble township.

Another bed, sometimes designated as the " Federal creek coal," occupies an area, from north to south through the county, of from six to ten miles in widths embracing the townships of Lodi, Carthage, Rome, Canaan, Ames, and Bern. Several shafts have been opened near Big run, in Rome township, and from seven hundred to a thousand bushels of excellent coal have been shipped from that point daily during most of the last year. This vein is best disclosed along Federal creek and its branches, and from a point about two miles above the mouth of Federal, it can be found upon almost every section to the north part of the county, varying in thickness from four to eight feet, while its average is not perhaps over five. This vein has not been so extensively worked as the Nelsonville, but of its existence in vast quantities, of its good quality, and of the potent influence which at some future day it will exert on the wealth and prosperity of this section of country, there can be no doubt. The aggregate amount of coal that may be mined within the county has been estimated, by competent authority, at two thousand five hundred millions of tons.

nature, has deposited, where the industry of future generations will make it available, this incalculable store of fossil fuel which will not only supply, for ages, the region it pervades, but will form an article of extensive commerce with other sections and states. Heretofore only about one hundred thousand tons of coal have been annually mined in the county ; but the greatly increased railroad facilities which the coal region will soon enjoy, must give a powerful impetus to this important branch of industry. The Mineral railroad, now nearly finished, from Mineral station, on -the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad, northerly, some five miles into the coal region, commands access to very extensive deposits, and ample preparations are making for placing the coal in market. The Hocking Valley railroad, also, extending from the capital of the state to Athens, seventy-three miles, will soon be completed, thus opening up the central and northern parts of the state, and even the great northwest, to be supplied with cheap fuel from the hills of Athens county. Already, and more and more each successive year, the industry of the county feels the healthful effects of the growing coal business. But who can say - what imagination shall dare to conceive - the influence which will probably be exerted by these exhaustless coal fields on the society of a hundred years hence? Then, when the population of the state of Ohio may be twenty million souls; when the commercial metropolis of the state may exceed in population the present city of New York ; when the smoke of many great manufacturing cities shall roll over the land; when almost every acre shall support its family, and the ground shall be tilled up to the edges of the railroad tracks^ then this rich mineral region of southern Ohio, will have taken its proper place in the march of progress.

In natural sequence to coal, without which it can not be utilized, comes iron - the weapon, the utensil, the lever, the support of modern civilization. Of this metal, which, in its countless uses, enters so largely into the demands of agriculture, commerce, science, and art, there are very extensive deposits in the county. Though, as yet| the manufacture of iron has never been undertaken in the county, excellent iron ore exists here in great abundance, and in close proximity to the great coal mines in the northwestern part of the county. The most continuous and probably the most valuable deposit, is a few feet below the Nelsonville coal. This is a heavy, compact ore, of a bluish color, and the vein varies in thickness from eight to twelve inches. In explorations for this ore, the Nelsonville coal affords a sure guide. It is found on the head waters of Monday creek, in Trimble township; on Meeker's run, in York township, and along the branches of Raccoon, in Waterloo. The vein is well exposed at other points, and probably extends through the southeast part of the county. There are also exposures of other veins in different parts of the county, affording conclusive evidence that iron ore, suitable for smelting, exists here in large quantities.

The production of salt in the county, has been long and successfully tested. For more than twenty years about fifty thousand barrels of excellent salt have been annually produced in the county. Salt water, varying in strength from six to nine per centum, is found in several localities, by boring from six hundred to eight hundred feet; and the brine thus obtained is speedily reduced to salt by the use of coal, which is generally conveniently at hand, and is found to be the cheapest fuel known for the purpose.

The principal operators are M. M. Greene & Co., at Salina; Messrs. Ewing & Vinton, in Chauncey; Mr. Joseph Herrold, near Athens; and Pruden Brothers, at Harmony, two miles below Athens, in Canaan township.

During the terrible four years, from 1861 to 1865, in which the government waged a tremendous war to preserve its own existence, and the union of the states, Athens county was not behind any portion of the loyal north, in the promptness and zeal of her responses to every call. According to the United States census report of i860, the number of male inhabitants of the county in that year, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, both inclusive, was five thousand and eighty-nine. The county furnished to the government during the war, in all, two thousand six hundred and ten soldiers,* or more than fifty per cent, of her men able to bear arms. In other words, of the able-bodied men in the county, every other one left his business and his family to assist in suppressing the rebellion. This is a record of which the county may well be proud - a record which no county in the state of OhiOy and, we dare say, few counties in all the northern states, can surpass. And it should be added that no draft was ever made in the county. What she did was done voluntarily, and stands as a lasting monument of her patriotism. During this trying period, the mass of her people, women not less than men, were profoundly stirred, and a loyal zeal pervaded all. For directing that zeal and organizing it into acts, for keeping up the patrioti fervor, and giving it practical, constant, and con tin u ous expression, great credit belongs to the military committee of the county. During nearly the whole of

* This is the number that served in the army, and does not include one thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven men who volunteered and served in repelling the "Morgan raid," in 1863, nor one hundred and sixty " squirrel hunters," who hurried to the defense of Cincinnati, in 1862.

the war that committee consisted of Henry T. Brown, M. M. Greene, James W. Bayard, Lot L. Smith, Simeon W. Pickering, Joseph M. Dana, E. H. Moore, and W. R. Golden.

But even far more deserving than these of lasting remembrance and perpetual honor, were the men of the county who volunteered and served the country in the field. If it were possible, we should have liked to record here, as a small tribute to their patriotism, the name of every Athens county volunteer, officers and privates. It would have been a list of heroes. Our effiarts, however, to obtain such a complete list have proved unavailing, and we can only present the following exhibit, which is accurate.* These figures furnish but a bald outline of the stirring and tragic history of the war period. It is easy to write that Athens county contributed two thousand six hundred and ten men to fight for the Union, but this statement conveys not even a suggestion of the events that were transpiring in her borders during those years. Meetings were held by day and night in all parts of the county, local

* The materials for such a perfect list probably exist in the war department, at Washington, and among the state records, at Columbus, but at present in such a scattered and confused shape, as to render it entirely out of our power to present a complete list, and a partial one would have been worse than none. Some of the states have published a complete list, giving the name of every volunteer furnished by them during the war, with his county and residence. It is to be hoped that Ohio will eventually do this.

committees appointed in every township, christian commission and aid societies organized, and all these appliances again and again started, with renewed energy as the government repeated its calls for help. Scarcely a family but contributed its quota, and the vacant places in many a one remain unfilled to-day. Some families gave all their men; one widow gave five sons,* and grim-visaged war crossed nearly every threshold, claiming the services of the bravest and best. All these things, with many others, and the names of those who enlisted, would properly appear in a history of the county during the rebellion ; but that would form a volume of itself

Chapter Vi

THE records of the Ohio Company show that on the 9th of November, 1790, a committee of three was appointed to reconnoiter and survey the lands of the Company lying on the upper Hockhocking. This -committee consisted of Jonathan Devol, Robert Oliver ^nd Haffield White, and was styled "the reconnoitering committee." Owing, however, to Indian hostilities, the work was deferred s6me years and the regular survey of Athens and adjoining townships was not begun till January, 1795. The surveying party, which came up the Hockhocking river in canoes, was accompanied by a guard of fifteen men, as the Indian war had hardly closed and it was feared that bands of the savages might be found lurking in these -deep forests. But none were met with, and the survey was completed during the ensuing spring and summer.*

Some account of the first settlement of the town of Athens and of its history up to the organization of the county is given in Chapter IV. The township as established by the county commissioners at their first meeting included territory which now forms five townships, viz: Swan and Brown, of Vinton county, and Waterloo, Canaan and Athens of Athens county. Thus though not so extensive as Alexander or Ames, Athens township nevertheless included a large extent of country. It was, for that period, a fair two days' journey across the township ; and although the country was now emerging from the condition of an unbroken wilderness,

** We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by a resolve of the agents of the Ohio Company of the 9th ol November, 1790, and for the purpose expressed in said resolve, but being prevented from attending to that business by the Indian war, until a treaty took place, since which (in company with Jeffrey Matthewson, a surveyor appointed by the superintendent oi surveys), having measured and very minutely examined the lands of the Hockhocking, report: That in range 14, township 10, the following sections or mile squares, viz : No. 13, 19, 20, 25, 31, and 32; in range 15, township 12, sections No. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 17, 23, 24, 30, 35, and 36; in range 16, township 12, sections No. 5, 12, and 18 ; in range 16, township 13, sections No. i}, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 33 and 34, we find are suitable to be laid out in fifth division lots agreeably to a map herewith exhibited. Having also examined and surveyed the and at the mouth of the great Hockhocking we find it very suitable for house lots and in quantity according to the map herewith exhibited.

it was still very wild and thinly populated. The Rev. James Quinn, a pioneer Methodist preacher who died in Highland county at an advanced age in 1847, settled in Ohio in 1804. The same year he and the Rev. John Meek were appointed to the **Hockhocking circuit," which embraced not only the Hockhocking valley but also the settlements on the Muskingum and on the Scioto from the high bank below Chillicothe up to the neighborhood of where Columbus now stands. In 1805 Mr. Qui nn was returned to the same circuit with the Rev. Joseph Williams as his colleague. A camp-meeting, probably the first ever held in the county, was held by Bishop Asbury and Mr. Quinn near the town of Athens in 18 10. Mr. Quinn states that it lasted four days, and that Bishop Asbury preached two powerful sermons. In his autobiography, published many years since, Mr, Quinn says: