Dayton City (part 5 of 50)

September 16, 1812, a regiment of Kentucky volunteers, under command of Colonel Pogue, and several companies of Indiana militia were encamped at Camp Meigs, awaiting General Ilarrison's orders. On the 17th, General Harrison haying received his commission, began to prepare for his campaign against Canada. ITlis troops were neither drilled nor supplied with sutlcient ammunition, provisions, and other necessaries. Ordinance and commissary supplies were immediately obtained from the government, but he was obliged to request contributions of warm clothing and blankets from the citizens of Ohio, Indiana, 'and, Kentucky. Captain Steele's company, which had volunteered: for short service, was now returning home, and by them he sent this appeal to the ladies of Dayton:

" Heapquarrers, Sv. Mary's, September 29, 1812. "General Warrison presents his compliments to the ladies of Dayton aud its vicinity, and solicits their assistance in making shirts for their brave defenders, who compose his army, many of, whom are almost destitute of that article, so necessary to their health and comfort. The materials will be furnished by the quartermaster; and the general confidently expects that this opportunity for the display of female patriotism and industry will be eagerly embraced by his fair country-women. "WitttamM H. Harrison. "«P, $. - Captain James Steele will deliver the articles for making the suits on application."

The shirts were made of materials furnished by the Indian department, and which had been prepared for annuities for the tribes in arms against the government, but withheld in consequence of their hostile attitude.

The ladies. of Dayton and this neighborhood, "with a zeal and promptitude honorable to themselves and the State," and without compensation, immediately set to work, and by October 14th had eighteen hundred shirts weady jor the use of the ariay... A large quantity of clothing was afterwards sent to the Kentucky troops, via Dayton, from ams, Kentucky. |

Early in October Major Adams raised a company of mounted riflemen who expected to march at once to Fort Defiance, but as the Indians from the Mississinewa River region were becoming very troublesome to the inhabitants of Preble and Greene counties, the new Dayton company -was_ordered to Fort Greenville. The Indians murdered any of the people of those counties whom they found outside of the block houses and stole many horses and cattle. Two httle eirls were killed on the 2nd of October within half a mile of Greenville. The savages did not make their way to Dayton, but they approached near enough to alarm the people, who did not feel assured that their turn to take refuge in block houses would not come. General Winchester on the 4th of October arrived at ort Defiance from Fort Wayne with his command and rebuilt panies of soldiers of the United States nie a troop of horse, and Captain Ballard's company of spics.' Owners of horses, saddles, and bridles, taken at Dayton for the army, were notified that they would be retained as government property and paid for agreeably to the valuations. An agent was sent here to receive the army horses, of which the valley was full, and which had strayed from the camps and battle-fields.

General [Harrison was maturing his plans for the campaign, in the latter part of October, and had arranged for the advance of his army in three columns by different routes to the Maumee Rapids, and thence in a body to Detroit. But the country was inundated by the heavy rains which fell in November, and as the roads were impassable, he was obliged to defer all military movements till spring. Ue established his headquarters at Franklinton, Franklin County. The Pennsylvania and Virginia troops were stationed at Upper Sandusky. The Ohio, Indiana, and some Virgima volunteers were at Urbana, under command of General Tupper. As long as the rivers continued in good boating condition, supplies were to be forwarded in boats up the Miami to St. Mary's, across the portage, then down the A uglaize and Maumee, across the lake and up to Detroit. When cold or dry weather rendered the roads passable, supplies were to be sent through Urbana and Fort indlay, but during the war all stores or reinforcement by whatever route, by land or water, they proceeded, went via Dayton. |

Greenville, St. Mary's, and Urbana. The ladies of Dayton, though not formally organized into a soldier's relicf society, were constantly engaged in making or collecting clothes and supphes for Montgomery County volunteers in the field or in the hospitals. War was no new thing to many of them, as their relatives bad served in the Revolution or under St. Clair and Wayne, and former experience enabled them to prepare speedily and in the best manner the articles that were most needed. Though the muddy roads to Urbana were almost impassable, supplies fall of 1813. They bought up all the salt meat, grain, flour, horses, cattle, tow linen, and similar articles that farmers or merchants and traders would sell. It was a difficult matter to transport supplics through the uimost bottomless mud of the roads and over the swollen uubridged streams which were crossed by rope ferrics. Traveling was not quite so difheult when the ground was frozen. Colonel Robert Patterson, the forage-master, advertised for fifty ox-sleds and fifty horse-sleds, which it was hoped the farmers would hire or sell to the government. Country boys, too young to volunteer as soldiers, were employed as teamsters. The farmers furnished horses, oxen, and sleds on condition that they should not be taken further than Urbana or St. Mary's. Supplies purchased government store-house, on the west side of Main Street, between Monument Avenue and First Street. THe paid three dollars a ine for sleds that would han! six barrels of flour. Hight dollars a barrel was paid by the government for flour delivered at Piqua or Urbana, and ten dollars if delivered at St. Mary's. Seventy-five cents a gallon was received for Whisky delivered at the latter place.

Lientenant-Colonel John B. Campbell, of the Nineteenth United States Infantry, arrived in Dayton, where, as they were only partially mounted, drew.ten: days' rations and forage. On the llth, leaving their heavy bageage here, they left Dayton for an expedition against the Indians in the Wabash. Colonel Campbell's force was about seven hundred strong, and consisted of Colonel Sunrall's regiment, Captain Garrard and Captain Hopkins' companies of cavalry, from Kentucky; Captain Elliot's company of infantry, recruited in this State; Captain Marrigell's company infantry, from Pennsylvania. The utmost secrecy as to the object of the expedition and great caution to~prevent surprise by the Indians was observed during the march. A third of the command was on guard every night. The weather was bitterly cold and the ground: covered with snow during the Jatter part of their march. Early on the morning of the 17th of December, having marched all might, they surprised and destroyed the first of the Indian villages. Three others were taken and destroyed the same day. The next day, shortly after sunrise, the savages attacked our troops and were routed. 'Thirty Indians were killed during this expedition, fully sixty wounded, and forty-three taken prisoners. Our loss was eight killed and forty-cight wounded. Nearly half the horses were killed or lost. The soldiers who had been killed were interred, and stretchers made for those, of whom there were forty, who were too badly wounded to ride. Late in the afternoon the army began their return, and after proceeding three miles, encamped for the mght. The next day they marched fourteen miles and camped. One half the men were placed on guard, while the others erected breast works. The men had exhausted their supply of provisions and forage; snow and ice rendered the roads alinost impassable; the wounded were suffering from the hands, feet, and ears of nearly every man in the foree were frosted. On the 22d, Major Adams arrived from Greenville with ninety-five men, and immediately supplied the almost starving soldiers with a half ration each. The next day Colonel Holt also came to their assistance with provisions, so that they were able to march to Greenville, which they reached on the 24th. While in camp twelve miles this side of Greenville, a resolution of thanks to Colonel Holt and Major Adams and their men for the prompt and efficient relief they had

They arrived at Dayton on Sunday, the 27th, where they rested for several days before proceeding to their headquarters at Franklinton. Only two hundred and three of the men were fit for duty; two of the wounded had died on the road. The Centinal says that "their solemn procession into town with the wounded extended on litters, excited emotions which the philanthropic bosom may easily conecive, but it is y taking less than four or five, and Sunday was devoted by the ladies of Dayton to the care of the wounded and the refreshment of their weary comrades. This work of mercy prevented the usual Sunday services at the churches. religious services for the troops were appointed for the next Wednesday, and the following order was issued by Colonel Campbell: distressing expedition, gratitude for these favors requires our united and sincere thanksgiving for our deliverance. I[ hope the troops, whom I had with suitable decency and join in devoutly expressing our obligations to that Being whose protection we have all felt and witnessed. " Joun B. CaMpBELL,

Franklinton, but many of their wounded were left in Dayton and remained for some time. They were carefully nursed by our people. Several of them died and were buried here.

One thousand Indians of the Miami and Delaware tribes, which had been reduced to a starving condition by Campbell's expedition, came to Piqua to place themselves under the care of the Indian agent employed by the government. :

Heavy rains began early in January, 1818, which again made the roads difficult to travel, and soldiers, artillery, wagons, and pack horses moved slowly, yet they were kept in motion, and Dayton continued the thoroughfare for everything passing to the frontier. 7 A company was organized here in January, 1813, by Captain A. Kdwards and marched immediately. Captain Edwards, who was.a Dayton physician, had served as a surgeon in the army in 1812.

About the middle of January an engagement at the River Raisin, for which General Winchester was responsible, resulted in defeat and the loss of thirty-two officers and four hundred and seventy-four non-commissioned officers and privates, who were killed, wounded, or missing. General Harrison fortunately soon arrived and checked the disaster. A deep snow had fallen in the north and lay long on the ground, which made the continual motion of the troops this winter hard and disagreeable to them. 'The soldiers, many of them having no means of obtaining new shoes when their old ones wore out, made themselves moccasins this winter of undressed hides.

Ohio and Ixentucky troops, whose term of enlistment had expired, returned home through Dayton in February and usually spent a night on Main Street. The river was high, and stores in large quantities were sent by boat from Cincinnati, and also through the swamps from Laramie Creek to the Auglaize and thenee to Fort Defiance.

Reinforcements were required in the spring, and two new Ohio regiments were to be raised. General Harrison, by lis personal efforts and visits to Urbana, Franklinton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, and Dayton, sueceeded in obtaining the desired recruits, who were soon on the march in small bodies for the north.

Peouelats Ftes

On the 19th of May James Flinn, second heutenant of the Second Company of United States Rangers, opened a recruiting ollice here to enlist thirty or forty good rangers for one year (unless sooner disbanded); pay, one dollar a day. He had recruited his company bere ip i: 12

This year occurred Perry's victory on Lake Mrie, Harrison's epee of Proctor, and the defeat of the British at the battle of. the Thames, which ended the war in the West. Returning Ohio and Kentucky soldiers were now constantly on the march from the north through Dayton, and the town was full of people from different parts of the country who had come to mect relatives serving in the various companies. Sometimes the volunteers encamped in the mud on Main Strect became a httle noisy and troublesome.

The Dayton companies received an enthusiastic welcome home. Streets and houses were decorated, and a flag was kept flying from the pole erected on Main Street. A cannon was also placed there, which was fired whenever a company or regiment arrived. The people at the signal by. the first of Deeember, but as they had been in constant and active duty since their departure for the front, a number of brave men had fallen on the battlefield, and. others came

The war, though virtually over in the West, had not quite ended along the lower end of Lake Erie, and a few of the Ohio nilitia did not return home till 1814, and others during 1814 and 1815 were called out for short periods for duty at St. Mary's, Fort Wayne, Fort Defiance, and Greenville.

First Mechanics' Society - Thanksgiving on May d5th - Dayton Bank - Alexander Grimes - Stone Jail - Mr. Forrer's Account of Dayton in 1814 - Colonel David Reid - J. W. Van Cleve's Description of Flood of 1$14 - Proclamation of Peace - Female Charitable and Bible Society - First Market House - Dayton Merchants in 1815 - H. G. Phillips - G. W. Smith- - William Eaker - Obadiah B. Conover - William Huffman - Moral Society - Associated Bachelors - Bridge Over Mad River - VWirst Sabbath Schools - Bridge Street Bridge - Stage Coaches i815-1528 - Camp Meeti ngs - Menageries - Cooper's Millis Burned - First Fire Company - George A. Houston - Wolf Scalp Certificates - Cut Money- - Iever Prevails- - Joseph Peirce - Dayton in 1$21--Charles R. Greene--Cheapness of Provisions - The Gridiron - First Musical Society - Colored People Emigrate to Hayti - First Fire Engine - Execution of McAfee. ,

AIURDAY, Mareh t5, iste. at four'o clock' im the afternoon, the Site ile of Dayton met at the tavern of Hugh McCnllum for the purpose of forming a meclianies' society. 'This was the first workinemen's association organized in Dayton.

The 5th of May was this year set apart by the governor of Olno for a day of Thanksgiving. In Ohio in early times Thanksgiving was not always observed by the people, and when the governor issued his proclamation for the festival, he was as hkely to select Christmas or Mayday as the last Thursday in November. General Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory, in the first proclamation of this kind issued within what is now the State of Ohio, set apart December 25, 1788, as a day of Thanksgiving and prayer, and recommended the cessation of all servile labor on that day.

On the 19th of May appeared the last number of the Ohio Centinal, and for a year and five months no newspaper was published in Dayton. As a consequence the history of the town during this period is not as full as could be desired. |

The first Dayton bank, called the Dayton Manufacturing Company, was chartered in 1815. No one in Dayton was more thoroughly identified with tlis bank than Alexander Grimes. Ile was eleeted direetor of the bank in 1819. From 1831 to 1843 he was cashier, and on the first of January, 18-45, he, as agent, closed up the aftairs of the bank.

Alexander Grimes was the son of Colonel John Grimes, who is frequently mentioned in this history in connection with the noted tavern on the east side of Main, near First Street. At an early day Mr. Grimes was in partnership with Steele & Peirce, under the name of Alexander

Grimes & Company. The firm was dissolved in 1817. Afterwards he was auditor of Montgomery County and commissioner of insolveuts. Ile, in conjunction with Edward W. Davies, was trustee of the estate of David Zeigler Cooper. Their wise and gencrous management of this property rapidly increased its value, and was also of great advantage to Dayton. Mr. Grimes was twice married; first to Miss Gordon, who left one son, Burnet Grimes. His second wife was Miss Maria Greene, of Dayton. They had two children; Charles Greene, who married Isabel, daughter of Daniel Keifer, of Dayton, and Susan Eliza, who married Marcus Hells. a pare

The contract for building a new jail was sold to James Thompson July 27, 1811, at public auction at the court house for two thousand, one hundred and forty-seven dollars and ninety-one cents. The jail was eighteen by thirty-two feet and built of rubble stone: A rented house was used fora jail till the new building was finished. It was not completed. till December, 1813. The jail stood on Third Street in the rear of the court house and close to the pavement. It was two stories high with gable shingle roof, running parallel with the street; a hall ran through theweenterrofitie,hotise irom the Third Street entrance; the prison 'occupied the east half of the building and the sheriffs residence the west inali. 'Uherevwere:three cells "im teach svory:'s) Whose an the second' story were more comfortable than the others, and were used for women and for persons 1mprisoned for minor offenses. One of the cells was for debtors, imprisonment for debt being still legal at that period. Often men imprisoned for debt were. released by the court on "prison bounds" or confinement for criminals, as persons on the sidewalk could look through the barred windows, which were about two fect square, into the lower front cell, and pass small articles between the bars. Though the cells were double lined with heavy oalx plank, driven full of nails, one mght four prisoners escaped by cutting a hole in the floor and tunneling under the wall and up through the sidewalk.

Mr. Samuel Forrer visited Dayton in the fall of 1814, and his reminiscences, published in the Dayton Journal in 1865, give us a elimpse of the town at that date: "At that early day there was a house and a well in an oak clearing on Main Street, near Fifth, surrounded by a hazel thicket. It was a noted halting place for strangers traveling northward aud eastward, in order to procure a drink of water and inquire the distance to Dayton! Vhe embryo city was then confined to the bank of the Miami River, between Ludlow and Mill streets, and the business - store-keeping, blacksmithing, milling, distilling, ete. - was concentrated about the head of Main Street."

The next visit of Mr. Forrer was in 1818, when he took lodgings at the principal hotel, then and long afterwards kept by Colonel Reid, "a good man and excellent landlord." 'he site of that old-time traveler's home is now occupied by the Baptist Church on. the west side of Main, between First and Second streets. Here Mr. Forrer remained for some time "enjoying the hospitalities of the place and the pleasures derived

Colonel David Reid settled in Dayton about the time the town was incorporated, and was in business until his death in 1837. Reid's inn was a noted house of entertainment before 1807. Jor years the menageries and shows, which found their way to Dayton once a year, had their exhibitions in the barn yard of Reid'sinn. The inn parlor was the favorite place for town meetings of all kinds. At the beginning of the year 1812 Colonel Reid was in command of the first battation of the First regiment of militia and was afterwards elected colonel.

In 1814 the Miami River overflowed its banks, and destroyed the levee. John W. Van Cleve gave the following description of this flood i mie leciure on "dine Serlement and brogress of Dayton: «The water was deep enough to swim a horse where the warchouses stand, at the head of the basin, and a ferry was kept there for several days. The water also at that time passed through with a considerable current from h the hollows in the western part of the town; and the plain through which the head of Jefferson to the east end of Market Street, and throug the feeder passes, east of the mill race, was nearly all under water." In 181+ the first Methodist church was finished and cecupied. October 3, 1814, the first number of the Ohio Republican appeared. ? ?

horses and repairing of wagons and agricultural implements in the town and neighborhood. But after the war four blacksmiths, John Burns, Jacob Kuhns, James Davis, and O. B. Conover, did a profitable business here.

Charles Tull began to work a ferry across the Miami, at the head of Ludlow Street, in December, 1814. Farmers brought their produce over in the boat to trade at the stores, leaving their horses and wagons hitched on the north side of the river.

Bea alt two doilar bills were fraudulently raised to twenty and one hundred dollar notes. The counterfeit bills were originally issued as post notes, but in consequence of a mistake made by the engraver in repeating' the letters "tu" in the word "manufacturing," the directors were) very: much wanted, they cut off the words "post notes," which were engraved at the ends of the bills, and issued them as one and two dollar bills. !

In February, 1815, came the glorious news that a treaty of peace had been signed between the United States and Great Britain. The Repudblican made the following announcement of a proposed illumination of the town in celebration of the event: we were ever called upon to celebrate. "The citizens of Dayton have agreed, to illuminate this evening. Lhe people from the country are invited to come in and partake of the Neal enone 3 general. joy.

Wednesday April 12, 1815, the ladies of Dayton aud vieinity met at the) house of Mrs. Henry Brown, at three o'clock'\in the' afternoon, 'to organize the Dayton Female Charitable and Bible Society. Each member was to contribute one dollar a year for the purpose of purchasing Bibles, and also to make a quarterly contribution of tw enty- -five cents for the charitable fund. The society was organized for the purpos sé of gratuitously distributing the JLoly Scriptures and secking the sick, the afflicted, and needy, particularly of their own sex, relieving their wants and administering to their comfort and giving consolation to them in their distress as far as was in their power. he officers of the society were the following ladies: President, Mrs. Robert Patterson; vice-president, Mrs. Thomas Cottom; Mrs. Dr. James Welsh, corresponding seeretary; Mrs. Joseph JJ. Crane, recording secretary; Mrs. Joseph Peiree, treasurer; managers, Mas. William JXing, Mrs. David Reid, Mrs. James Ifanna, Mrs. James Steele, and Mrs. Isaac Spining. This was the first. society of this kind organized in Dayton, though the ladies who

Of,ine society was preached by, Rey. J. i. Wilson, in the Methodistmeeting-house, on Sunday, June 26th. In May, Robert. Strain opened a travelers' inn in his large brick

Brethren Publishing House. June 26th Ann Yamer opened a millinery shop on Main Street, south of Second Street. She announced, beside attractive goods for ladies, a full stock of plumes and other decorations for military gentlemen, and that she was in need of a supply of goose feathers. | : July 4, 1815, the first market-house was opened, and Wednesdays and Saturdays, from four to ten A. M., appointed as the times for the markets to be held. It was a frame building, one hundred feet long, on Second Strect, between Main and Jefferson, with butchers' stalls on cither side of the interior of the building, and stands for farmers and gardeners on the outside, under the wide projecting eaves. From the building along Second, or Market Street, as that part of Second Street was then called, nearly to Main, extended two long horse racks. or rails. The ordinance to butter, cheese, eggs, poultry, vegetables of any kind, fresh fish, or meat of any kind, with some exeeptions, within the corporation on any other than market day. Fresh meat and fish might be sold before eight a. m. on any day, and beef by the quarter, or fifty pounds of pork, could be sold at all times. | .

The market prices were as follows: Flour, five dollars per barrel; wheat, seventy-five cents a bushel; beef per one hundred-weight, three to three dollars and fifty cents; pork per one hundred weight, four dollars; corn, twenty-five to thirty-three cents; oats, twenty to twenty-five cents; butter, twelve and a half cents; eggs, eight cents; pair venison hams, Hiity cents; pound bacon ham, ten cents. January 1, 1817, flour was six dollars, and wheat, one dollar a bushel. October, 1819, flax- seed. was eighty-seven and a half cents, and wheat had fallen to sixty-two and half cents. There were very large crops throughout the Miami valley in 1821, though the preceding winter was long and cold and the spring late. Wheat fell to twenty cents per bushel and flour sold in the fall at three dollars and seventy-five cents per barrel. The market prices in Dayton in March, 1822, were: -Flour, per barrel two dollars and fifty cents; whisky, per gallon twelve and a half cents; wheat, twenty cents. per bushel; rye, twenty-five cents; corn, twelve cents; fresh beef, one to three cents per pound; bacon hams, two to three cents per pound; butter, five to eight cents;

Afton thes war ot 1812, i in spite of the miserable roads and the lack of forage, immense numbers of cattle, horses, and hogs were driven to the eastern market from this region. The Rev. Timothy Flint says in his "Letters or Recollections of the Last Ten Years in the Mississippi Valley," that on his journey west in November, 1815, he met a drove of one thousand cattle and hogs on the Alleghany mountains, which were "of an unnatural shageiness and roughness hke wolves, and the drovers from Mad River were as untamed and wild in their looks as Crusoe's man Friday." ;

There were about one hundred dwelling houses in Dayton in 1815, but the majority of them were log cabins. The revenue of the county from 1814-1815 was three thousand two hundred and eighty dollars and fifty-one cents, an increase in one year of one thousand four hundred and thirty-one dollars and sixty-four cents.

The merchants doing business in Dayton in 1815, whose descendants still hve here, were George W. Smith, Horatio G. Phillips, Charles R. Greene, Steele & Peirce, Alexander Grimes, and William Bak er. Henry Brown opened a leather store this year. The license for a store was fifteen dollars, and the clerk's fee was fifty cents.

George W. Smith was born in Kent, England, and emigrated when a youth to the United States, settling first in Staunton, Virginia. After some years he removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and finally loeated, about the year 1864, in Dayton, where he lived till his death, May 14, 1841, aged about fifty-seven years. Mr. Smith was actively engaged in business during lis: residence here. His first partner was Wilham Haker, and after they dissolved he began business by himself. He soon formed partnership with Robert A. Hdear, which continued till 1831. During the last years of his hfe he was in partnership with his son George. In common with many other Dayton merchants, he was engaged in the transportation of produce (usually taken in exchange for merchandise) for which there was no sale at the Nort] 1, from Olio on flatboats to New Orleans. At an early day he established extensive flour mills and a distillery on Mad Iiver, three miles cast of Dayton, laying out a village called Smithville, now known as Ilarries Station. Mr. Smith was married twice. His first wife was Miss Todd. They had two children; George W., who married Lucy Weston, and died in early life, and Mary Jane, who married Wilham F. Irwin, of Cincinnati. Mr. Smith's second wife was Jiliza Manning. They had five children, James Manning, Sophia, Louise, George W., and Ann. James Manning Smith married Caroline, daughter of Samuel Shoup, a prominent merchant of Dayton; Sophia married: Isaac H. Isxeirsteid; Louise married Captain Fletcher, of the

Horatio Gates Phillips was the son of Captain Jonathan and Mary Forman Phillips, and was born at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, December 16,1744: » His father was a captain im the Tecinioae Army from i77s tothe closeyot the war. Mr Pinilips settled in Dayton_in the winter of 1804 or the spring of 1505. In the winter of 1806, he went east to buy goods, visiting his old home in New Jersey, where, on the two-storied log house on the southwest corner of First and Jefferson streets.. In 1812 he built a two-storied brick store on the meee corner ef Main and Second sireets, and a residence on Main Street adjoining it.

During the War of 1812, Mr. Philips accumulated large quantities of pork, whisky, flour, and grain, taken in exchange for gx oods at Dayton and Troy, and this produce he sold at a good price to army contractors and governmeit agents who were buying supphes for the army. He was largely engaged in transporting produce by flatboats to New Orleans. Mr. Phillips was in partnership at various times with Jaines Perrine, John Green, and his SOM. LP llvps.

Mrs. Philips, who was noted for her ee and her activity in benevolent and relgious work, died Decembe r 3, 1831, leaving a son and two daughters.

On the 16th of December, 1836, Mr. Phillips married Mrs. Catherine P. Irwin, daughter of Colonel Robert Patterson, who survived her husband. .Mrs. Phillips' children by her first husband, Henry Brown, have already been mentioned. Tler youngest child, A. Barr Trewin,

Mr. Hl. G. Phillips' eldest daughter, Ehzabeth Smith, married John G. Worthington, of Cincinnati; his youngest daughter, Marianna Louisa, married first Robert A. Thruston, and second John G. Lowe, both of Dayton, and men of talent and high character. Lis only son, Jonathan Dickenson Phillips, was a generous and public spirited man. He married Lucianna Zeigler, daughter of Charles R. Greene. | popular with country people, and he amassed a large fortune. He married Lueretia Lowric, of Springfield, Ohio, who survived him many years. They had four ehildren--William, Charles, Franklin, and Mary Belle.

Obadiah B. Conover came to Davton from New Jersey in 1812. He was active in city and educational affairs, but was especially noted for religious and Sunday-school work. Je married Sarah, daughter of John Miller, who came to Dayton in 1799, and was an elder in the First Presbyterian Chureh. Their sons, Uarvey, Wilbur, and Obadiah, all received liberal educations and became prominent citizens, the first two in Dayton and the last in Madison, Wisconsin. They had two daughters: Sarah, who married Collins Wight, and Ilarriet, who married Colonel Hiram Strong who was wounded while gallantly Jeading the' Ninety-third regiment at the battle of Chickamauga and died in Nashville October

Wilham Huffman arrived from New Jersey in 1812. He was long engaged in business, and purchased a large amount of real estate which became very valuable. He built the first stone house in Dayton, in which he lived and kept his store. "This stone house was long one of the landmarks of Dayton and stood on the site of the Beckel House. He had one son and four daughters. Dis son, William P. Huffman, was an enterprising citizen and did much towards the building up of the town.

In the course of the history short biographical sketches are given. of some of the settlers who'came as early as 1812. The names of others are frequently mentioned in connection with the business in which they were engaged and the positions of trust they held. As the town grew in size, it would be manifestly impossible to continue these sketches, for prominent and highly es teemed citizens are too numerous.

On the Fourth of July the usual program was carried out, with the exception that the young ladies were invited to meet at the tavern of Colonel John Grimes, at the head of Main Street, and join the procession.

press vice and promote order, morality, and religion, and more particularly to countenance, support, and assist magistrates in the fuithful discharge -of their nnportant duties and in enforcing the laws against Sabbath breaking, profane swearing, and other unlawful practices. The society is careful in its constitution to state that if 1s not its intention to exercise a censorious or inquisitorial authority over the private transactions or concerns of individuals. James Hanna was elected "chairman; George' 8S.' Houston, secretary; managers, William King, Henry Robertson, Matthew Patton, John Patterson, and Aaron Baker. Quarterly meetings of the Moral Society were held on the first Saturday in October, January, April, and July. A special meeting or the society was held on 'tlre' T2th of -Aucust at two o'clock in the afternoon in the Methodist mecting-house to lsten to a sermon by the Key. Mr. Windley.

In July, 1816, was Digs Oram ral ane Society of Associated Bachelors by convivial gentlemen of Dayton. Their usual place of meeting was Strain's bar-room. George 8. Houston, secretary of the Moral Society, was at the same time president of the Associated Bachelors; so that the characters of the two organizations were not as dissimilar as their names would imply. To the great satisfaction of the Moral Society, on the 24th of September Mr. Houston was married to "the amiable Miss Mary Forman." Soon after Joseph John, secretary of the Associated Bachelors, was married to Miss Jane Waugh, of Washington Township. The Republican made merry over the fact that both the president and secretary of the Bachelors' Association were married. Their successors, who were immediately elected, were Dr. John Steele president, and Alexander Grimes secretary.

October' 7, 1810, the' grist nill; and' fulhne millyand two'cardine machines belonging to Colonel Robert Patterson, two miles from town, were destroyed by fire, supposed to have originated from the stove pipe in the carding room. 'The fire was a calamity to many poor families as well as to the proprictor, as there was'a considerable quantity of cloth and wool belonging to a number of customers in the mills. They were soon rebuilt. )

D.C. Cooper was. president: and' J. Ti. Crane recorder of the' select council this year. D.C. Cooper was elected State senator, and George Grove and George Newcom representatives in the legislature. Aaron Baker, who had no opponent, was elected coroner.

January 27, 1816, a meeting was held at Colonel Grimes' tavern to take measures for building a free bridge over Mad River, which, unlike the Miami, could not be conveniently crossed by a ferry. D.C. Cooper, Aaron Baker, Samuel Dilly, David. Lock, John D. Campbell, David Griffin, and William M. Smith were appointed a standing committee to euperintend building the bridge, and to circulate subscription papers. Subscriptions in work, material, tre ale, recash were to be solicited. This plan was, however, abandoned, and the bridge was built the next year by the county. The contract was sold May 21st to Wilham Farmun at fourteen hundred dollars, and though not completed, it was opened to travel in the fall. In December it was finished at an expense of one hundred and. fifty dollars. It was built at Taylor Street, just south of Monument Avenue; was a ligh uncovered bridge with a span of one hundred and sixty feet, so that the roadway over the middle of the river was several feet higher above the water than at the abutments. It was painted red. A new floor was laid and additional braces put up in 1824 also president of the town council; recorder, Joscph Peirce; trustees, Aaron Baker, TH. G. Phillips, Taaliph Wilson, O. B. Conover, George Grove.

Jn 1816 Rev. Dr. James Welsh laid out an opposition town, which he named North Dayton, on the west side of the Miami, on the site of the suburb called Dayton View, which he thought would take the trade from the county seat, wie beside being free from overflowing by water at all times, the situation was more convenient for purposes of trade. "Two thirds of the ane and influence of Montgomery County, with a very extensive and fertile back country," he says in his advertisement deseribing the town plat, and offering very lberal premiums to settlers, "are" now constrained to cross the Miami, whenever they have business with stores, or mechanics, or wish to sell their produce." In 1821 he apphed to the court for permission to vacate the town.

Lhe first. theater was held in Dayton at the dwelling of William Iluffman, on St. Claim Street, on the evening of April 22; 1816. The lovers of the drama were respectfully informed in the advertisernent that the much-admired, elegant comedy, called, "Matrimony; or, The Prisoners,' would be presented, and that between the play and farce would be given, recitation, "Scolding Wife Reclaimed;" recitation, '"Monsieuy Tonson, {lanes damces|peomich someacS Bag, ofl Nails; "ito which would be added the celebrated comic farce, called, "The Village Lawyer." Tickets, fifty cents; doors open at seven o'clock; curtain to rise at half past seven precisely. Gentlemen are sae not to smoke cigars 1n the theater.

Ata mecting held at Reid's inn June 2Ist, and of which Dr. John Steele was chairman and Benjamin Van Cleve seeretary, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to make arrangements for the celebration of the Fourth of July: Captain James Steele, Dr. Charles

_ They had the customary procession and exercises. Dr. Charles Este oad the Declaration of Judependenee, and W eRe s farewell address was read by Benjatnin Van Cleve. About one hundred persons afterwards sat down to an excellent dinner prepared by Cabin in J. thea. Nineteen patriotic toasts were drunk with great hilarity. Isaac Spining, Esq., acted as president of the day, and William George, Esq., and Dr. Charles Este as vice-presidents. About four o'clock the - ladies -and gentlemen of the town and vicinity assembled in the shade of the adjacent woods and 'partook of a magnificent repast furnished. by the ladies." The celebration was concluded by a ball at Colonel Neid's inn and a concert of vocal music at Mr. Bomberger's.

The name of Judge Isaac Spining constantly occurs in connection with public affairs. He emigrated from New Jersey to the West in 1796 and a few years later located on a farm three miles east of Dayton. His sons, Pierson, Charles H., and George b., were all citizens of note, the first in Springfield.a~nd the latter two in Dayton. :

By the summer of 1816 county business bad increased so largely that it could not be properly administered in the small court house, and July 29th the commissioners sold the contract for a building for county oflices to James Wilson for one thousand two hundred and forty-nine dollars. The building was erected on the site of the present new court house; was a brick, two stories high, forty-six feet front and twenty feet deep, and was finished in the spring of 1817. The upper story was rented to the Watchman im 1818 "at fifty dollars per year and free publication of the annual report of the treasurer and election notices." For some time after 1820 both stories were used for county offices; then the upper story was rented for lawyers' offices. The north room on the first floor was the clerk's oflice; the south room was occupied by the recorder. This floor was paved with brick. The treasurer's and auditor's rooms were on the north and south sides of the second story. :

In 1817 George Neweom was elected State senator, and William xeorge and George Grove members of the lower house of le legislature. D. C. Cooper was president of the town council, W. Munger recorder, and John Patterson corporation treasurer.

This spring the advertisement of Dr. Haines, long esteemed. in the community for his professional skill and benevolence, appears in the Watchman for the first time. The advertisements of D. Stout, saddler; J. Stutsman, coppersmith, and Moses Hatfield, chairmaler, also appean.

in Dayton, was formed in March, 1817. The society owed its origin to the exertions of the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Backus Wilbur, for whom a number of prominent citizens of Dayton were named. | Mr. Wilbur died in Dayton, September 29,1813. The . tion on his monument was written by Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander, Princeton. A long biography of Mr. Wilbur was published in a Watchman, February 18, 1819.

The meetings of the Sabbath-school Association were held in the new Presbyterian chureh. Any one could become a member by contributing twenty-five cents annually. Donors of five dollars or more became life members. The society was managed by ladies, the officers consisting of a first and second directress, a secretary, treasurer, and five managers. The managers appointed the superintendent and the male and female teachers. The first board of managers consisted of the follomime ladies: Mrs. J. HW. Crane, Mrs.. Ayres, Mrs. Dr. Uaines, Mrs. Hannah George, and Mrs. Joseph Peirce. Mrs. Sarah Bomberger was the first superintendent and held the position nearly twelve years. Mrs. George served as secretary for some years and was very efficient.

Mrs. Bomberger was the daughter of Judge George, who came to Dayton about 1805. In 1810 she was married to Wilham Bomberger, an excellent citizen, who held the office of county treasurer for fourteen years: Their children were George. W.; Ann, who married Peter P. Lowe; and William, who removed to Colorado and died there.

In July, 1818, the Methodist Sunday-school Society was organized. Their meetings began in August and were held in the Academy building. Adults and children were taught to read and were instructed in the Bible and catechism.

In 1817 there were but two pleasure carriages in Dayton; one owned by. BaC. Cooper aid the other by H.G. Phillips. In July a tobacco factory, the first started in Dayton, was opened by Simeon Stanisfer on the corner of First and St. Clair streets. |

Blackall Stephens re-opened the old Newcom tavern, "pleasantly situated on the bank of the Miami River," in December. The tavern was now called the Sun Inn, and a Jarge picture representing the sun was painted on the sign. The advantages of the inn, its comforts, sufficient om: S. fousten,' Wi 1 Ihiaon geo nes Ww hid es N athan Hunt, of Hamilton, was the contractor. The bridge was opened for use in Jannary, 1819. The toll house stood at the west end of the bridge. The Ohio Watchman for January 28, 1819, contains the following description of the new bridge, the first built across the Miami at Dayton: " The bridge across the Mian at this place is now finished, and presents to the eye a useful and stately structure, highly gratifying to all wi feel interested in the improvement of this part of the country, as it is little inferior in strength and beauty to the best of the kind in the aE, aud renders the Miami no longer an obstruction to the free intercourse with our neighbors on the other side. It is supported by a stone abutment at each end aud a strong stone pier in the center. It measures upwards of two hundred and fifty feet in length, and is well roofed and weather boarded.'

During the summer, 1818,a Mr. Lyon drove a passenger coach to and from Cincinnati, beginning his trips in May. Previously there was no public stage. The Cincinnati and Dayton mail stage, owned by John H. Piatt, of Cincinnati, and D. C. Cooper, of Dayton, commenced runping between the two towns.June 2,1818. They left Cincinnati on Tuesday at five in the morning, passing through Springfield (now Springdale), Hamilton, Middletown, and Franklin; passengers arrived at tio days en route from Cincinnati to Dayton... They left Dayton on Friday at five in the morning and reached. Cincinnati on Saturday evening. 'The fare was eight cents a mile with an allowance of fourteen pounds of baggage.

John Crowder, a Dayton colored barber, and his partner, Jacob Musgrave, also a colored man, drove a coach and four that carried twelve passengers to Cincinnati and return in 1820. The trip each way tock two days and the passengers spent the night at Hamilton. In 1822 Timothy Squier ran a stage to Cincinnati. The stage line to Columbus was owned by Worden Huffman. It connected at Columbus with a stage line to 'Chillicothe. In April, 1825, the mail route, which previously lay through Chiliicothe, was changed, and on the 6th the first mail from the East, earricd by a coach, arrived by way of Columbus. A regular weekly line of stages was established on the 18th of April between Dayton and Cincinnati. Passengers left Cincinnati on Monday at four in the morning and arrived here Tuesday evening at six o'clock.

that all interested in it were throwing their money away. It was not long, however, before it became necessary to increase the number of trips from one to two, then to three a week, and at length a daily stage was established. The Cineinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Portland on Lake Erie (now Sandusky) tri-weekly line of mail coaches began running through from Cincinnati to the lake in four days in 1827. Daily coaches cach way were started June 25th. They connected at Sandusky with steamers for Detroit and Buffalo, and at Mt. Vernon with a stage line for Cleveland. The fare from Cincinnati to Dayton was three dollars, six dollars to Columbus, and twelve dollars to the lake. H.G. Phillips and Timothy Squier, of Dayton; Jervis Pike and Wilham Neil, of Columbus; C. Barney, of Mt. Vernon; K. Porter, of Portland or Sandusky, and EF. Fowler, of Milan, were the proprietors. Four hundred and ninety-seven passengers 'by stage passed through Dayton in 1825. Stage lines in every direction were in operation in 1828. Every week twenty coaches arrived in Dayton.

Friday, June 26, 1818, the first Dayton camp-meeting was held at the small praime three quarters of a mile south of Dayton, now the foot of Ludlow Street. Three thousand people are said to have attended. A camp-mecting was begun on September 10th, of the next year, at the same place, under the Jeadership of Rev. James B. Findley, presiding elder, assisted by Rev. Joseph Strange, of the Mad River circuit. The prairie was entirely encircled with tents. Meetings were annually held at the foot of Ludlow Street till the canal was located. Afterwards they were held at the big spring, north side of Mad River, near the abutment of the present railroad bridge. From the first settlement of the county it was customary to hold religious services in the woods, but there were no regular camp-meetings till 1818.

In 1819 George Newcom was elected State senator, and HW. Stoddard and J. Harries representatives. The number of voters in Dayton in 1819 was seven hundred and sixty-five, and the number in Montgomery County two thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five.

four days from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. Patrons were assured that they would be in no danger, as the lion, "the largest in America and the only one of his sort,' was secured in a stroug cage. Twenty-five cents admittance was charged; children half price. In April, 1820, Columbus, a large elephant, was on exhibition in the carriage house at Reid's inn; admittance thirty-seven and a half cents, children half price. An animal show, consisting of a single wild beast, was the only entertainment which visited Dayton in the first quarter of the century tll 1823, when the advertisement of a menagerie containing an African lon, African leopard, cougar from Brazil, Shetland pony with rider, ichneumon, and several other animals, appeared in the newspaper. _A band eomposed of the ancient Jewish cymbal and other modern instruments accompanied the show. This was a beggarly array of wild animals compared with the magnificent collections which Barnum yearly transports across the continent by steam. One wonders how they managed to transport even this small menagerie before the era of turnpiles, railroads, or canal boats. The show at Reid's inn in 1824 contained but one elephant. 'The first circus, which ayrpenred in Dayton, exhibited in Reid's barnyard on July 19, 20, and 25, 1825. No more circuses arrived till July, 1829, when two came and both had their exhibitions on July 5th and 6th. : : :

A New Year's ball was given on the evening of Friday, the 29th of "December, at Fielding Gosney's inn, ov the alley on the cast side of Main,

This year sixty-four lots opposite the Bridge Street bridge were platted by Joseph Peirce, agent of Samuel W. Davies and Thomas D. Carneal, of Cincinnati. The plat was called Picrson, but was soon vacated. : ue

Cooper's mills were burned on the 20th of June, 1820, and four thousand bushels of wheat and two thousand pounds of wool destroyed. They were soon afterwards rebuilt by James Steele and H. G. Phillips, executors of the Cooper estate. This was the first fire of any importance that oceurred in Dayton, and led to the organization of the first fire company. Council provided ladders, which were hung in the markethouse on Second Street, and also passed an ordinance requiring each householder to provide two long leather buckets, with his name painted thereon in white letters, and keep them in some place easily accessible in

In 1820 appeared the first number of the Dayton Watchinan, printed and published on Main Street, a few doors south of David Reid's inn, by GS: Houston and R.'J. Skinner. The publishers offer to reccive, in o articles 'at market prices: Mlour, payment for their paper, the followin whisky, good hay, wood, wheat, rye, corn, oats, sugar, tallow, beeswax, honey, butter, chickens, eggs, wool, flax, feathers, country linen, and when it was discontinued. George 8. Houston was the son of Wilham Churchill Houston, of New Jersey, who was professor of mathematics at Princeton. G.S. Houston came to Dayton in' 1810, and was at first in partnership with his brother-in-law, Hl. G. Phillips. In 1815 he married Miss Mary Forman. From 1814 till his death, after a long illness, in 1831, he was cashier of the Dayton bank. From 1822-1831 he served as postmaster of Dayton. He was a man of high character and noted for his benevolence and pubhe spirit. Te everything that conduced to the prosperity of the town, or the comfort aud pleasure of his fellow-citizens, he gave his hearty support, both in his paper and in every other way in his power. Whenever in his day a public mecting was held or a society formed for the promotion of any worthy object, the name of George S. Houston, secretary, is usually signed to the printed report of the proceedings. Mr. Houston was an active member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and was appointed steward in 1815. Two children survived him - George 8S., who removed to Philadelphia, and Eliza, who married David K. Este, son of Dr. Charles Este, of Dayton.

H. G. Phillips was president of the town council in 1820, and G. 8. Houston recorder. The population of Montgomery County this year was sixteen thousand. : |

The Montgoinery County woods were at this period still full of game, and during 1821 Mr. I. G. Phillips frequently advertises "a few hundred raccoon skins for sale." They were' used for caps.

The flush times during the war of 1812 were followed by a serious and general depression in business throughout the United States. Gold and silver were withdrawn from circulation to the great injury of business in this region, where good paper currency was scarce. During 1820, 1821, and 1822, so little money was in circulation that purchases and sales of: all kinds were made' by nieans of barter. Wolf scalp certificates, called log cabin currency, were sometimes taken in pay instead of cash. It is stated in the Watchman that there was some talk of supplying the deficiency in coin by a return to cut money; dividing silver dollars into five quarters, and Mexican quarters into three dimes. The Dayton bank was forced to suspend specie payment several times during this period.

A fever prevailed in Dayton during the summer and fall of 1821. There were seven hundred cases, but only seven adults and six. children died. The population of Dayton at this time was one thousand, so that about two thirds of the people were ill during the epidemic. On account of illness and death, the Presbyterian Sunday-school was suspended till the spring of 1822. . Several valuable citizens died of the fever, among the number Benjamin Van Cleve and Joseph Peirce.

Joseph Peirce was born March 6, 1786, at Newport, Rhode Island, and was the son of Isaac and Mary Sheffield Peirce. Tis father emigrated to Marietta in 1788, removing to Belpre in 1789, and spent the last five years of his life in Dayton, dying August 28,1821. During the Indian war Isaac Peirce took refuge with his family in the Belpre stockades, Farmers' Castle, and Goodale's Garrison, and here Joseph Peirce spent four years of his childhood.

Joseph Peirce settled in Dayton soon after the incorporation of the town. Ile entered into a partnership in 1807 with James Steele for "retailing all sorts of goods, wares, and commodities belonging te the trade of merchandising,' which continued during his life. November 10, 1810, he married Miss Henrietta Elhot, daughter of Dr. John Eliot. Their four children settled in Dayton. Mr. Peirce was elected in 1812 a member of the legislature. The following extract from a letter addressed to a relative by Mr. Peirce, while serving in the house, reflects the feeling in regard to the war of 1812: "Great unanimity prevails among the members so far. You no doubt have seen Governor. Meigs' message. You will in a few days see the patriotic resolutions approbating the gencral government that have been passed. I doubt we haye promised more than most of us would be willing to perform should we be put to the test. To-day I think we shall pass a law furnishing our militia on duty with about five thousand dollars' worth of blankets." In 1813 Mr. Peirce was elected a trustee of the Dayton bank, which was just established. In 1814 he was clected president of the bank and served till his death, September 21, 1821. He received from his fellow-citizens "many and various marks of their respect and confidence," and faithfully discharged the duties of all the public positions to which he was called. The Jowrnal mentions in an obituary notice the fact that Mr. Peirce was endeavoring to secure a canal to Lake Erie when he died. "He fully appreciated," the notice says, "the unportance of a canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, and was making every exertion to have this great work commenced as soon as it should be consistent with the circumstances of the State.' Mr. Peirce's eldest son, AD aia 78 ee , married lliza. sauce iether a a irles R Greene;, Mary. Ann oe married: Hadward W. Davies; of ae Jeremiah Hunt Peiree married first Elizabeth Forrer, and second Mary Forrer, both daughters of Samuel Forrer, of Dayton; Joseph Crane Peirce married Louise, daughter of Dr. Edwin Smith, of Dayton.

In spite of the hard times people were not discouraged, but eee forward hopefully, anticipating an improvement in business, now tha canals were projected and capitalists were talking of building ee tories on Mad River and of improving the navigation of the Miami. A sanguine vein: "The Miamiand Mad rivers, which meet at Dayton, are very advantageous to it and to the county. The former river is suited to navigation, and the latter to machinery to be propelled by water. Mad River is superior to most rivers, and is second to.no one in the State for the facilities it offers for water works. The current of this river is such articles as are adapted'to the wants of this country, and supported by sufficient capital, would meet with certaim success. At this time, it would be difficult to find a more profitable investment for capital. , The

This year the town council advertised in the Waichman for proposals for draining the three ponds southwest of town; the first two to be drained into the tail-race and the other into the outlet from Patterson's pond to the river; the ditch to be six feet wide at toy and four at bottom and a sufficient depth to draw the water entirely out of the ponds. |

There were several fires in town during 1822 which led to a complaint that the council had not provided a fire engine, but nothing was done, and the leather buckets carried bythe members of volunteer companies were still used. 3

The Watchman notices a squirrel hunt in Montgomery County in Apri, lasting a day and a half, in which one thousand squirrels were killed, and their sealps produced in evidence

A heavy fall of rain early in April raised the river on the 18th and 14th higher than it had been for four or five years. The water was two or three feet..deep on the lower floors of the mills, but the loss was small.

which it cost ten dollars to carry by wagon, would cost but one dollar if sent by water; that a barrel of flour, for which hity cents freightage was charged by land, would be but five cents by canal. 'The value of land, the writer urges, would be nearly doubled if a canal were built; Dayton farm and garden produce would find a market at Cincinnati, and above all a large trade in potash might be established. Potash, worth at Cincinnati one hundred dollars per fon, could be sent from here by water in large quantities, and instead of paying nine dollars per acre for clearing land, owners could burn the timber for potash and receive at the rate of thirty dollars an aere for it!

Mrs. Julia Crane, first directress of the Dayton Sabbath-school Association, reports in the spring of 1522 that they had distributed on hundred and sixty-five books during the past year; had one hundred and twelve tracts and five miniature histories of the Bible on hand and nineteen dollars and seventy-five cents in the treasury. 'The school, which had been closed during the winter on account of loess and death from fever, was now re-opened. :

In 1822 Charles Russell Greene was appointed clerk of the Montgomery County court, to suceced Benjamin Van Cleve, and held the office till his death. Charles Kh. Greene was the son of Charles and Phebe Sheffield Greene, and was born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, December 23,1785. The Greenes emigrated from Rhode Island to Marietta with the members of the Ohio Company in 1788, and C. R. Greene removed from Marictta to Dayton before 1806, and was for some time in business avith his brother-in-law, D. C. Cooper. In 1813 he married Miss Achsah Disbrow, of Dayton, danghter of Henry Disbrow, who had for a number of years been engaged in business here. In 1809 Mr. Disbrow was one of the editors of the Dayton Repertory, and in 1810 he and Paul D. Butler established a line of kcel-boats on the Miami and Maumee rivers from Dayton to Toledo.

The death of Mr. Greene, who was a highly estcemed citizen, cast a gloom over the whole community, and even the man who, while under the influence of liquor, caused his death, said that he had killed his best iriend. | A tire veccumed here om the. night ot . September 10, 1833. Mr. Greene, who was one of the fire wardens, ordered Matthew Thompson, who was idly looking on, to assist in passing water to the engine. 'Thompson refused, and offering some resistance when the 'order was repeated, Mr. Greene was obliged to use force to compel him to obey. The next day, on the complaint of Thompson, Mr. Greene was summoned to appear before the squire, and while an examination was in process, Thompson struck Mr. Greene with a club, and the blow resulted in his death in a short time.

The indignation against the murderer, who had killed a citizen whose only offense was faithfully discharging lis duty, was intense. Mr. Greene left two sons and four daughters. Luciana "Zeigler marricd J.D. Phillips; Sophia married Eobert T. Schenck; Eliza Johnson marricd David Z. Peirce; Cooper died unmarricd; Harriet married David Jankin; Charles Henry married Adeline D. Piper. Mrs. C. R. Greene died November 8, 1873, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. Dy Pinilips.

In 1821 and 1822 a premium was offered to the best drilled and equipped militia companies in the State. Several light companies of infantry and riflemen were formed in the brigade under the command of General William M. Sinith and competed for the prize. As a curiosity the unifofms worn are worth mentioning. One of the infantry companies, commanded by Captain James M. Grimes, wore a yellow roundabout coat, green collar and cuffs, and white pantaloons and red leggins. The uniform of Captain Dodds' infantry company was a white roundabout trimmed with black cord, pantaloons the same, and eitizen's hat with red feather. Captain Dixon's company of riflemen wore blue cloth roundabouts trimmed with white cord; pantaloons to correspond. Captain Windbrenner's men were dressed in grey cloth coatecs, trimmed with black cord; pantaloons the same.

The Fourth of July celebration in 1822 began by the ringing of bells and firing of cannon at daybreak, and the national flag was displayed on the town flag stafl. The procession to the First Presbyterian Church, where the exe-cises were held, was headed by the light companies of infantry and riflemen in their gay new uniforms. Then came the American flag and cap of liberty attended by four veterans of the Revolution - Colonel Robert Patterson, Simeon Broadwell, Richard Bacon, and Isaae Spining. Stephen Tales delivered "a highly interesting and animating oration" and Judge Crane read the Declaration of Independenee. The music on the occasion "would have done honor to any place and reflected great eredit on the singers." * An excellent dinner at Mr. Squier's tavern followed the exercises. Judge Crane was president of the day; Judge Steele, first vice-president, and II. G. Philhps, second vice-president. After the regular toasts were drunk, the following volunteers were given: By Judge Crane, " DeWitt Clinton, the able and persevering supporter of internal improvemients;" by Judge Stecle, " The contemplated canal from the waters of Mad River to those of the Ohio;" by Stephen Fales, "The memory of General Wayne, the deliverer of Ohio;" by Colonel Stebbins, officer of the foe The president of fd day- - a descendant of a Rew: olutionary officer, one of the first settlers mm this place, and who has borne the heat and burden of the day with us; as distinguished for his modesty as his worth, his is the popularity that follows, not that which is pursued;" by Judge Peeur "May the cause that first inspired the heroes of "76 to shake off the chains of slavery be ever dear and supported by all true ae i secure the blessings of this day to us. May their children so maintain them that America may be a republic of Christians on the last day of time."

The Watchman says in July, 1822, when butter was five cents per pound and chickens fifty cents a dozen, that the Dayton price lst, published weekly in the newspapers, had been noticed in Eastern papers under the head of cheap living, and the low prices of marketing here attributed to the scarcity of money in the West. The Watchman assures the people on the Atlantic coast that the great abundance of country produce of all kinds is the true reason that living is cheap in Ohio, and that money "is quite as plenty with us as notions in the Eastern States."

Five dollars reward was offered in August for the arrest of disturbers of the peace, who, during the past year, had been in the habit of hoisting flood gates, throwing open inelosures, and doing a variety of other misehief after night.

August 21st the Montgomery County Bible Society was organized at a meeting of which Joseph I. Crane was chairman and G. §. coke. secretary. Dr. Job Haines was elected president; renee! inca Aarou Baker, and Rev. N. Worley, vice-presidents; Luther Bruen, treasurer; Jaines Stecle, corresponding secretary; George 8S. Ilouston, recording secretary; managers, John Miller, John H. Willams, John Patterson, David Reid, James Hanna, O. B. Conover, Daniel Pierson, Robert Patterson, James Slaght, John B. Ayres, Joseph Kennedy, Hezekiah Robinson, and Robert McCounel.

On the 3rd of September, 1822, the Watchman contains the prospectus of the Gridiron, a weekly newspaper edited and published by John Anderson - a sheet much dreaded by persons politically or otherwise obnoxious to the editor and contributors, and on which "evil doers received a good roasting." <A bitter political contest was being waged in Dayton at this period, and members of both parties published the severest and most unjustifiable attacks on their opponents.

aid vod fi oileingelteiTeia yet Biv yah ot hay woh ot eid fall? fou votia wef) ( sec 4 ode ai etd rtd fut ingest fet dtd GENK ¥ unit? ce < a. fan ineh tor 'ba (iow Yo. ane we bee me

Dayton on the 12th of October. The brigade was principally composed of young men, all well equipped, and though the roads were sloppy and. some of the companies had eight or nine miles to march, the command was on parade at an early hour. The Watchman says that this was the most brillant muster ever witnessed in Dayton.

Williarn M. Smith was appointed postmaster in 1822, and held the office one year. EK. Smith, afterwards widely known as Dr. Edwin Smith assistant postmaster, attended to the delivering of the mail for several mouths after Benjamin Van Cleve's foes in December, 1821. George annie was in the two-story brick eee still standing near the northeast corner of Second and Ludlow streets. Mr. Houston also kept a smal! stock of books, principally religious, for sale at the postofiice.

The Dayton Foreign Missionary Society. was organized in 1822. James Steele was elected treasurcr and Job Haines secretary. . The membership fee was fifty cents a year which could be paid in money, clothes, kitchen furniture or grocerics, to be sent to the Indians, of whom a number still hved in Ohio.

In 1823 George B. Holt began to publish a weekly Democratic newspaper, the Miami Republican and Daily Advertiser, which was continued till 1826. <A biography of Judge Tiolt will be given in the chapter on the "Bench and Bar,' 7

In 1823 the first Dayton musical society was organized, and John W. Van Cleve was clected president. The association was called the Pleyel Society and held its meetings in the grand jury room of the court house. None but members were admitted.

neid's inn February 9, 1824. Simeon Broadwell was chairman of the meeting, Job Haines secretary, and George 5. louston treasurer. One hundred and fifteen dollars were collected, and Wilham M. Smith, George W. Smith, and Stephen Fales were appointed a committee to remit the money to the Greek Fund Committee in New York.

The Watchman urges the corporation this spring to procure a fire engine, drain and turnpike the streets "instead of: making canals of them," fill up several ponds within the town which needed attention, and while trying to pass through an open place in a fish dam at the cast end of First Street, the boat struck the hmb of a tree and upset. All the young people barely escaped with their lives, and Miss Rue, a girl of seventecn, in spite of the efforts of the only two of the party who could swim to save her, was drowned. ,

At this period there were on the Miami above Franklin fifty flouring mills, making at least two thousand barrels of flour annually; one hundred distilleries, making two hundred barrels of whisky each, and four thousand barrels of pork a year were packed, statistics which are given as an indication of the improvement of the Miami valley.

Twenty-four people of color left Dayton on October 21, 1824, for Hayti. Their expenses were paid by the Haytien government, which was inviting negro emigrants from the United States and sent an agent to

On the nght of November 16th George Groves' hat store, containing over a hundred fur and a number of wool hats, was burned, the loss being apout one thousand dollars: Mr. Hollis)a watchmaker in "the same building, which was frame, lost his tools, but saved the watches left with him for repair. This fire, which was the first of any size that had occurred since 1820, created a good deal of excitemient, as the corporation ladders were not in their place in the market-house, and the whole dependence for extinguishing the fire was on the leather buckets belonging to citizens. Again there was a demand that council should purchase a fire engine and buckets, and see that the ladders were kept in some

An ordinance was accordingly passed threatening persons: removing the public tadders from the market-house, except in case of fire, with a fine of ten dollars, and providing that a merchant who was going to Philadelphia in the spring of 1825 should be furmshed with two hundred and twenty-six dollars and directed to purchase a fire engine.

In the winter of 1825 Thomas Morrison erected hay scales on Fourth Street, near Ludlow, charging thirty-seven and a half cents for weighing one ton and twenty-five cents for weighing one half ton. The boundaries of the streets were at this date not very clearly defined, houses being few and far between, and the scales, which were near the corner of Fourth and Ludlow streets, were deseribed in the newspapers as "on Main Street,

"The eieiesnle prices of provisions in Dey ton in the spring of 1825 were as follows: Flour, two dollars and seventy-five cents per. barrel; whisky, seventeen to seventeen and one half cents; leaf lard in kegs, six and one quarter cents; butter in kegs, six cents; country sugar in barrels, seven to seven and one half cents; feathers, twenty-five cents beeswax, thirty to thirty-one cents; wheat, forty-five cents per Whehel:

In the spring of 1825 oceurred the trial and execution of John McAfee for the brutal murder of his wife. The trial occupied the 2d and 3d of March. He was proved euilty, and sentenced by Judge Crane to be hung on March 28th. Ile was hung at three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, on the gallows erected on what is now West Third Street,°a short distance east of the Third Street Bridge. The earriage in which the prisoner, accompanied by Father Hill, a Catholie priest who had come up from Cincinnati twice before to visit him, was taken at ten A. M., from the jail to the place of execution, guarded by Captain Conrad Wolf's rifle company and Captain Squier's troop of horse. The

? though he professed penitence, such was the indignation against him that the calling out of the militia was probably a necessary measure. This the country, and néarly the whole bivey or of this part of Montgomery County was assembled at the gallows. It is a matter of congratulation that such brutalizing ae. exectitions are no longer tolerated.

In Apnil, 1825, a gentleman reached Dayton from Philadelphia, via Jineinati, in eight ne by stages and steamboats. Very recently the trip had taken from two to three wecks. Daytonians began to feel that they were becoming close neighbors of the people of the Eastern States.

Canal Agitation - Dinner to DeWitt Clinton - First Canal Boat Arrives - Enthusiasm of the People - Trade by Wagon to Fort Wayne - Dayton in 1827 - Medical Spring--Traveling Museum - First Fire Wardens - -Exxcitement at Fires - Flood in 1825 - Dayton Guards - Business in 1828 - Price of Property - 'Temperance Society - New Market Honse - Rivalry Between Dayton and Cabintown - Seoly's Busin- - Peasley's Gardeu - Miniature Locomotive and Car Exhibited in the Methodist Church - Daytonians Take Their First Railroad Ride - Seneca Indians Camp in Dayton - Steele's Dam- - General R. C. Schenck - Fugitive Slave Captured in Dayton - First Railroad JTucorporated - Filood of 1832 - Relief Sent to Cincinnati Flood Sufferers - -Political Exciternent - Council Cut Down a Jackson Pole - Cholera in 1832 - Silk Manufactory Established - Kighth of ae ae

Barbeeue - Procession of Mechanics, July 4, 1833 - Taverns - Town Watchine Over the Miami - Lafayette Commemorative Services - Vire Guards- - One a Stone Jail Built - First Carriers' New Year's Address - Board of Healtb - Fire Alarm - R. A. Thruston.

A meeting was called at Colonel Reed's inn on the evening of June 29, 1821, to appoint a committee to cooperate with committees in other places to raise means to pay for a survey of the route for a canal from Mad River to the Ohio, and to ascertain the practicability and e Pee of such a canal. Judge Crane was chairman of this meeting and G, SB. Houston secretary. The following gentlemen were appointed to collect funds to 'pay for the survey: Hi Gi Piniips, G.'Wi. Smith) Dr.John Steele, Alexander Grimes, and J. H. Crane.

On the 4th of July, 1825, Governor DeWitt Clinton, of New York, assisted at the inauguration of the Ohio canal at Newark. At a public meeting of the citizens of Dayton, James Siecle and Henry Bacon were appointed a committee. to wait on the governor at Newark and invite him to partake of a public dinner in their town. Resolutions were also adopted and preparations made for his reception. Mr. Steele returned from Newark on the evening of Wednesday, the 6th, and reported that the governor had accepted and would be here on Saturday. A number of gentlemen of Dayton and a detachment of the troop of horse commanded by Captain Squier met the governor at Fairfield and escorted him to town.

and reed one ernor Morrow, Hon. Ethan A. Brown, Ion. Joseph Vance, Messrs. Tappan and W eerie canal conimissioners, and Judge Bates, civil engineer, arrived at Compton's tavern, on the corner of Main and Second streets, where they were received by tne citizens. Judge Crane made an address of welcome, which was responded to by Governor Clinton. About four o'clock the guests and citizens sat down to an elegant dinner prepared for the occasion at Reid's inn. Judge Crane presided, and Judge Steele and Colonel Patterson acted as vice-presidents. The dinner closed with appropriate toasts. | ecested i October that it would he a wise plan to Street. It stated that the ch A need not be made wider than forty. feet, which, if the sidewalks now sixteen and a half feet wide were reduced to twelve feet, would leave a wagon road thirty-four feet broad on either side of the water and make Main Street the handsomest street in the State. The earth taken from the canal, the Watchman asserted, would fill every hole und level every street in town. It was feared that the ranal would be located a mile from the court house, which would seriously injure the town.

The Dayton and Cineinnati canal was put under contract in 1825, and was ready for navigation early in 1829. The cost of the canal was five hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars. :

The construction of the canal was at first "violently opposed as a ruinous and useless expenditure." But as soon as the law authorizing the expenditure was passed, and before the canal was located, the rapid improvement of Dayton and the increase in populatibu proved the wisdom canal improvements in the Miami valley. One of the objections against the canal urged by opponents of the project was that it could not be made to hold water. As the bed of the canal ran through loose gravel, there 'seemed to be force in the objection, and indeed some difficulty of this kind

"The canal commissioners, on December 28, 1826, authorized Micajah T. Wilhams to make "the final location of that part of the Miami canal lying within the limits of the corporation of the town of Dayton." To the great satisfaction of the citizens, who had feared it would be located outside the corporation, it was located "on the common, between the saw mill race and the seminary, on St. Clair Street." mi: ath by upwards of six panies persons. The contractors began work about the first of June. The excavation at the basin between Second and Third streets was commenced on Monday, September 8d. In the evening a salute was fired in celebration of the event at the commons, now Library Park, where a large crowd was assembled.

The first canal-boat built in Dayton was launched near Wifth Street on Saturday, August 16, 1828, at two p.m. The citizens were invited to assemble at the firing of the cannon to witness the launch. The boat was called the Alpha, of Dayton, and was built for McMaken-.& Hilton by Solomon Eversull. The Alpha was pronounced by-many superior to any boat on the line of the Miami canal. As the water had not yet been let into the canal, a temporary dain was built across the canal at the bluffs, and water was turned in from the saw mill tail-race at Fifth Street. Trial trips were then made from the dam to Fifth Street and back. The Dayton Guards, the military company of boys, organized a few weeks before, made the first trip on the Alpha. \ ,

Friday evening, September 26, 1828, water was first let into the canal by the contractors from the mill race at the corner of Fifth and Wyandot streets. Most of the water leaked out through the embankment along the river at the blufis, in Van Buren Township, and on November 24th there was a break in the embankment at that point.

On Wednesday, December 17th, a party of ladies and gentlemen made a trip on the Alpha to Hole's Creek. On Monday, December 22d, she took a party to leis. beyond which place the canal was not completed, returning Wednesday. Christmas there was a second excursion to Miamisburg which returned Friday. Samuel Forrer was the engineer of the Mian Canal in 1829.

In January, 1829, citizens of Dayton were gratified with the sight, so long desired, of the arrival of canal- inet from Cineiunati. At daybreak Sunday, January 25th, the packet, Governor Brown, the first boat to arrive here from the Ohio, reached the head of the basin. This packet was appropriately named, for since 1819 Governor Brown had been engaged in urging the connection of the two towns by means of a canal. In the afternoon the Morrer arrived, followed at dark by the General Marion, and during the night by the General Pike. Each boat was welcomed by the firing of cannon and the enthusiastic cheers of a crowd of citizens assembled on the margin of the basin. The Governor Brown was heneeforth to make regular trips twice a week between Dayton,and Cincinuati. It was the only packet fitted up exclusively for passengers, and was handsomely and conveniently furnished. The

J oF Dayton." VA part or 'the Aiphawas prepared for pas- Archibald, master; Morrer, Captain Campbell, master; General Marion, Captain Clymer, master; General Pike, Captain Swain, master; accompanied by the Alpha, with a Dayton party, were to have made the first return trip to Cincinnati in company, but their departure was prevented by a break in the canal at Alexandersville.

The people made a festival of the completion of the canal, which, they congratulated themselves, had hegun a new era of prosperity for the town, and took every occasion to celebrate the event. On the evening of February 5, 1829, the canal being frozen over so that navigation was impossible, Captain Archibald, of the Governor Brown, which was embargoed by the ice at the basin, gave a handsome collation on board to a number of ladies and gentlemen. The next evening the captains of a number of boats lying in the basin partook of a canal supper at the National Hotel, and drank a number of toasts suitable to the occasion. |

On the 16th of April a steam canal-boat called the "nterprise arrived here. 'T'wo cords of wood were used in the passage from Cincinnati to Dayton. For many years it- was believed that steam could be used in propelling boats on the canal, but after a fair trial it was found to be impracticable.

Sometimes in the spring of 1829 as many as twenty-six canal-boats_ arrived here in a week. During the month of April seventy-one boats arrived and seventy-seven left Dayton. The number of passengers from.

Cincinnati and intermediate places towards Dayton was nine hundred and eighty-six. 'The total value of articles shipped was forty-three thousand one hundred and seventy-three dollars. The toll collected here during the year 1829 amounted to six thousand seven hundred and thirtyeight dollars and thirty-one cents. In 1831, twelve thousand forty-seven dollars and sixty-four cents, and m 1833, seventeen thousand one hundred and ninety dollars and three cents were collected. The Journal states that the number of persons traveling on the canal per week in 1832 was probably uot less than one thousand, exclusive of the people employed on the boats.

Twenty hours from Cincinnati to Dayton by canal was considered a rapid trip. Merchandise was brought here from New York by water in twenty days. The cost of freight per ton was seventeen dollars and twenty-five cents. The route was by the Krie canal to Buttilo; thence by Lake Erie to Cleveland; thence by the Ohio canal to the Oho River,

The completion of the State canal, which ended at Second Street, was soon followed by the construction of a new basin, beginning at the terminus of the original one and extending to Hirst Street. It was construeted by the Basin Extension Company, formed by II. G. Phillips and James Steele, executors of the Cooper estate and others, and incorporated by the legislature February 4, 1830. Its objeet was to draw business to mah pert o1 town, throne' whieh it passed. ~ The worl 'began in the epeme of 1351. The eon ran through a ten-acre lot belonging to the Cooper estate, and the portion of the ground not used for the basin, embankment, and tow-path, was laid off in lots and sold by the executors. In 1845 the work commenced some time before of extending the canal mem Wirst Street to its junction with the canal near the aqueduct was paea

Until the extension of the Miami canal to the north in 1841, Dayton was at the head of navigation, and supplies of every kind for this region for a long distance around were forwarded fron here. <A brisk trade with Fort Wayne asa lis stributing point was kept up, and wagon trains were constantly passing between the two points. Swaynie's tavern at the head of the basin was the favorite resort of the wagoners, and oe rads stable yard was nightly crowded with wagons.and Ins tavern with the drivers.

'The first "jubilee of the United States," con:memorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, was celebrated July 4, 1826, by a procession from the court house, services at the brick church

(Pins, Presbyterian), 2 dinner at' Mr. iollman's tavern at the head of Main Street, and a picnie at the Medical Spring. The Declaration of ? : ree)

The Watchman for July 25th is im mourning for Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the news of whose death, three weeks before on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, had just been received, means for their arrest. At the mecting a society for the pursuit and capture of horse thieves was formed and very eflicient work was done by. the meinbers, who were called out whenever horses were niussing. This is the nearest approach to a vigilance committee we have ever had in Dayton. |

A Colonization Society was formed in Dayton November 24, 1826. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions to the constitution: Aaron Baker, Henry Stoddard, Luther Bruen, O. B. Conover, and 8. 8. Cleveland.

Great advantage was anticipated from a spring located near the present buildings of the St. Mary's Institute, on Brown Street. The water from the spring was copious, and contributed to the volume of water in Rubicon Creek, which im early times was a mill stream. The water was analyzed, and it was claimed that it was medicinal and equal in curative qualities to the best springs that were places of popular resort. A bath house was built, a place for refreshments opened, and plan proposed for a hotel, which was never carried out. Although now just outside of the corporation limits, at that time it was sufficiently distant from the town to afford a pleasant drive, and during the summer months the spring was a place of resort for the Dayton people. Fourth of July celebrations and picnies were: often held there. It was confidently expected that a fashionable watering place would be established and the town greatly benefited. The water proved to be simply chalybeate and all hopes of attracting public attention to the spring were abandoned.

There were eight hundred and forty-cight voters in Dayton Township in 1827. The population within the corporation was sixteen hundred. George B. Holt was elected State senator this year, and Alexander Grimes and Robert J. Skinner representatives.

This year the Baptist society, which was organized in 1824, built its first church, costing two thousand dollars, on the alley on the west side of Main Street, between Monument Avenue and First Street.

lity AO US. Sz (ace traveling museum, consisting of birds, beasts, wax figures, paintings, ete., visited Dayton. One of the articles exlibited is advertised in a style or yy Of Barnum, as: 'That great natural curiosity, the Indian mummy, which was discovered and taken from the interior of a cave in Warren County, Kentucky, where it was probably secreted in its present state for preservation for one thousand years." These museums, carried im ears or vans drawn by horses, traveled all over the Western country in early times. When they reached a

In 1828 Henry Best opened a jewelry store. He removed in 1836 to his building on Main Street, where the business is still carried on by his son. :

Council] appointed the following fire wardens in 1827: James Steele, Abram Darst, Dr. J. Hames, and' Matthew Patton. The fire engine, which had been ordered from Philadelphia in 1825 at a cost of two hundred and twenty-six dollars, did not reach here till 1827. It was a small affair; and the water was thrown by turning a crank in the side of the engine. Not much'care seems to have been taken of the engine,.for at a imei IG 1 could not be used, as 1 was ulled with ice, the water not. having been taken out after a fire which occurred several weeks before. |

THouscholders, who, as before mentioned, had not themselves procured them, were- provided by the town with long black leather buckets with their names painted 1n Jarge white letters on the outside, which were used to fill the engine. The fire wardens were notified by council to meet at the engine house at two p. M. on May 2d for the purpose of distributing fire buckets. Freeholders wishing buckets were requested to attend. One hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents had beev expended by council in 1827 for eighty-eight buckets, half of which were to be distributed among the citizens and the rest kept at the engine house. The engine house was a frame building, which stood on the court house lot, on Main Street, near the alley.. The buckets kept by the citizens were for twenty years inspected every April by the wardens.

An alarm of fire brought out the whole population of the town, and the greatest excitement and confusion prevailed. . Double lines were formed to the nearest pump, one line passing down the full buckets and the other returning the empty ones. Women were often efficient workers in these lines. The water in a well would soon be exhausted, and a move had to be made to one more remote. ~ It was hopcless to contend with a fire of any magnitude and efforts in such cases were only made to prevent the spreading of the fire.

In January, 1828, all three rivers were higher than they had been sinee the great flood of 1814. The Third Street canal bridge and all the bridges over the mill races near town were washed away, and the bridge over the canal at Jefferson Street was damaged. Fencing and buildings near the river banks were much injured. Among the landmarks swept off by the high water this year was the red warehouse, used by flatboatmen and owned by Silas Broadwell, which stood on the Wilkinson Street bank of the Miami River: The State dam, which was built in 1827, was much damaged by this flood. The following fire wardens were appointed in 1828: James Steele,

Lhis summer the Dayton Guards, a uniformed military company of (boys, was organized. Aft ten o'clock Fourth of Jaly morning the "young heroes paraded in front of the court house and shortly afterwards marched to the residence of the widow of Joseph Peirce, Esq., where were assembled a considerable number of the heads of the most respectable families and all the beauty and fashion of our flourishing town." A flag was presented to the ae by the young ladies of Dayton. One of the young ladies made a lengthy presentation speech, whieh was rephed to by a member of the Guards.

Thirty-six brick buildings and thirty-four of wood were erected in town during 1828" in) January, 1629; there were one hundred and twenty-five brick buildings in Dayton; six of stone, and two hundred and thirty-nine of wood. There were two hundred and thirty-five dwelling houses, and Presbyterian, Methodist, and Christian brick mecting-houses.

The executors of the Cooper estate on May 9, 1829, sold a block of five lots at the head of the basin, containing a little over one third of an acre, for two thousand, nine hundred and twve enty dollars, which was considered a high price and mentioned in the newspaper as an indication of the rise of property in Dayton since the opening of the canal.

Another improvement was in the increased regularity and speed with which the mail was received. Papers were teccived in 1829 fromm Washington and Baltimore in six days; from Philadelphia in seven; from New York in eight; from Boston in nine or ten.

The white population of Dayton in 1829 was two thousand, -two hundred and seventy-two; blacks eighty-six. There had been an increase of six hundred and sixty-one in the population during the past fourteen

Montgomery County for 1829 was one hundred and twenty-nine thousand, eight hundred and eleven dollars. Under a new lew passed by the legislature the free white male frecholders over the age of twenty-one, who had resided in the corporation one year, voted for a mayor instead of

Canal Agitation

In spite of the growth and improvement of Dayton, customs were still somewhat prinutive in 1829. The Jowrnal complains, in a humorous article, that the people were in the habit of taking their degs to church, ie tine, during te) sermec) stems were seithen? srowling,) barking, or jumping about the house, to the no small annoyance of the congregation, and suggests that it might be well'to have an apartment allotted for their

Ata mecting held in 1829, the first Dayton Temperance Society was formed. © Wilhani Kine was moderator and Dr. Job Iaines seeretary of the meeting. The following persons,were appointed to prepare a constitution and an address to the public: A. Baker, Daniel Ashton, D. Winters) DI) Burnet; @olw Steele; dioblddaines, H. Jewett, -Wilham M. Smith, and Henry Bacon.. For some time the Dayton newspapers were full of arguments for and against. temperance societies. |

July 27, 1829, it was decided 'that. the new market house, which the city was about to build, should be located in the alley running from Jefferson to Main Street, between Third and Fourth streets. For the purpose of widening the market space, property costing one thousand, one hundred and ninety-six dollars was purchased by council. A small building was put up on Main Street, which was extended to Jefferson Street in 1836. All the space east of the market house of 1829 to

A "hitter rivalry existed between the parts,of the. town divided by Third Street. People ving north of Third Street appropriated the name of Dayton to themselves, and in derision called that part of the town lying south of 'that street Cabintown. When it was proposed to remove the market from Second Street to the present location, violent opposition was made and every measure resorted to to defeat it. Two tickets were nominated for city officers, politics were forgotten, and this was made the sole issue. Cabintown proved numerically the stronger and the fate of the market house was sealed. When the market house was moved, Thomas Morrison, who had it in charge, placed a large placard on it, " Bound for Cabintown," which was read with the deepest chagrin by the people on Market, now Second Street. So bitter was the feeling that for along while, many persons refused to attend market at the new location.

In 1830 a company was formed to construct a basin 'couneeting the canal at its intersection with Wayne Strect and a point at the southern extremity of the city. Morris Seely was the main mover in this project, and great expectations were entertained in regard to it. The supreme eourt had decided that. the water, power within the city limits, and furnished by the canal, belonged to the State of Ohio, a decision which

It was believed that this water power could. be leased and utilized along the proposed basin. Land was bought at what was then an extravagant price, and lots laid out. These lots were small in size, and arranged for factories, warchouses, and docks, such as would be required in a large city, but were unsuited to a place with the pretensions of Dayton.

The scheme proved an utter failure, and left consequences that were an annoyance to the city for years afterwards. 'The lots were unsalable, and the method of platting a serious detriment to that part of the town. The canal, or ditch as it was afterwards called, bred disease, and the city authorities were called upon to fill it up. Before the controversy was finally settled, the excitement ran so high that the saw mill of Mr. E. Thresher, located on the canal at Wayne Street, which used the ditch as

In connection with the basin and on its bank a pleasure garden was opened by A. M. Peasley on Warren Street... A small pleasure boat was run from Third Street on summer afternoons to the garden, where refreshments were provided, and it was expected that large numbers of pleasure seckers would resort there. Like the basin, the. garden was ahead of the times, and after a trial of two or three years was abandoned.

In 1830 Alexander Grimes and Wilham M. Smith, both Whigs, were elected to the legislature. General Smith died, and was succeeded December 7th by Henry Stoddard, also a Whig.