Hanover Township (part 15 of 29)

Similar stories were published and told about the lands in the Miami Valley, although, as Judge Symmes and his associates were not poets, there was not so much exaggeration. Much of the land hereabout was taken up in New Jersey and in New York and Philadelphia, largely by persons who never intended coming out to Ohio, and who bought simply because it seemed likely to become a profitable speculation. The very first who came had most generally been in the armies of St. Clair or Wayne. The settlement of Hamilton was nearly entirely from this source. But the great covered wagons began moving out here with the first roads, and before that cattle and horses were driven slowly and laboriously over the mountains and down to the promised land. Pittsburg became the center of an outfitting industry similar to that which St. Joe occupied for so long a time on the plains. Here the emigrant met those who had been over the route and knew its dangers and pitfalls; here the land-jobbers congregated, and here were dealers with all the implements, gear, and articles of clothing likely to be needed in the war against the forces of nature. We have now conquered, but three generations have died since the contest began.

Pittsburg swarmed with life. So also did one or two of the towns lower down the river, where boats could be bought and the passengers committed to the slow-moving stream. The boat was very plain and simple. It was large enough to contain six or eight tons of load; but that was all. Floating down the river would now be pleasant enough; but then there were stretches of twenty or thirty miles without a single house. The crack of a rifle might at any moment be heard, striking down the head of a family or wounding some woman or child, and causing dismay and sorrow to those who survived. By night and by day the river bank must be watched. The boat must be pushed away from sand-bars, and steered so as to avoid contact with snags.

i To those who were going to the settlements north of Cincinnati it was most usual to stop there, sell the boat, and proceed overland. To come to Hamilton was often two or three days' journey in unfavorable weather. The land having been bought, either from the United States or from Symmes's company, the next step to be taken was to clear it. He was happy who could get some other adventurer to join him for the first few days, until he had made a beginning in the forest. To fell the trees was a colossal undertaking. Many of them were three or four feet in diameter, and some much exceeded these figures. The spot for the cabin was usually picked out from its contiguity to a spring. Here, then, a space of thirty feet square having been selected, the axes rang merrily out, and one after another the monarchs of the forest fell. They were trimmed of their branches, the underbrush cleared away, and the first log, having been partially squared, was laid upon the ground in the place where the cabin was to be. Notches were cut near the ends, and in these notches other logs were laid, one at a time, until the building had reached high enough for a roof, which was at first only boughs and bark. Doors were cut in, openings for windows left, and the house was ready for its first occupancy. Daniel Doty, of Middletown, lived out-doors for more than two weeks, cooking and sleeping in the open air while his cabin was going up. This was just over the border in Warren County, and the denseness of the woods was the reason why he finally abandoned that neighborhood, and came to reside on the banks of the Miami. He was tired of the warfare against nature, and when he heard that there was a beautiful natural prairie at the side of this river, he left his improvements, on which he had spent eight or nine months, and became a dweller in what is now Butler County.

The cabin windows were made by sawing out about three feet of one of the logs, and fastening in a few upright pieces. For lights they put in paper, and greased it with bear's-oil and hog-fat, pasting it on the upright pieces. There was then very little glass made in the country, the only place in the West being in Pittsburg, which is still the center of the glass industry; and the high cost of transportation and the lack of money put it out of the power of the settlers to purchase this transparent material.

Housekeeping presented many serious discouragements. That 'civilization which is a multiplication of wants, our forefathers, happily, had not attained to. Rather they adhered to Goldsmith's dictum, '' Man wants but little here below." It is surprising how few are the things which are really indispensable. In the forest, without roads, with scarcely even a path, it was difficult to get any thing from market, and it was still more difficult to take it thither; for the latter was likely to be the heavier commodity. It did not pay to transport Indian corn, oats, or wheat; and a farmer can scarcely raise any thing more valuable than these. He consumed all he grew; or, if he did not, he threw the remainder away. Flax was made into cloth at his own house; so was wool changed from the back of a sheep to a regularly woven fabric. This was, of course, when sheep could be kept; wolves and bears often made it impossible. often supplemented the fruits of the soil.

coons, foxes and wolves, opossums and squirrels abounded. The man of the house left home before daybreak, and before noon often returned with a huge load of venison or wild turkeys. The stranger who came by was welcome. He represented the outside world to them. He was theater and church, school and fair, all in one. They heard nothing of what was going on except as he echoed it.

Sometimes the pioneer began even more unpretentiously. With an ax he started out to fell enough saplings 'to build a rude hut, seven feet by four, and five feet high. It was open in front, where a place was left for a fire. A frying-pan and a jack-knife would complete the equipment. Coals lingered the whole day. A piece of pork would be put in the pan and fried, and, with a piece of bread, borrowed, like its oleaginous neighbor, from a farmer of the vicinity, the woodchopper made: his hearty meals. Coffee and tea were not introduced at the beginning of the State settlement; indeed, the latter was not in much use until 1830. One of these pioneers has left us an account of his struggles to get a frock for the baby:

'"T built a log-house twenty feet square - quite aristocratic in those days - and moved into it. I was fortunate enough to possess a jack-knife. With that I made a wooden knife and two wooden forks, which answered admirably for us to eat with. A bedstead was wanted. I took two round poles for the posts, inserted a pole in them for a side-rail; two other poles were inserted for the end pieces, the ends of which were put in the logs of the house ; some puncheons were then split and laid from the side-rail to the crevice between the logs of the house, which formed a substantial bed-cord, on which we laid our straw-bed - the only bed we had - on which we slept as soundly and woke as happy as Albert and Victoria,

'""In process of time a yard and a half of calico were wanted. I started on foot through the woods ten miles to procure it; but, alas! when I arrived I found that, in the absence of both money and credit, the calico was not to be obtained. The dilemma was a serious one, and how to escape I could not devise; but I had no sooner informed my wife of my failure than she suggested that I had a pair of thin pantaloons which I could very well spare, that would make quite a decent frock. The pants were cut up, the frock made, and in due time the child was dressed."

The house, after being first erected, needed many repairs and alterations to fit it for the residence of a family. It was always left with great interstices between the logs, which needed to be filled up with mud or clay or with pieces of wood. As the means of the family increased and saw-mills were built, the rude structure was often enveloped with a frame covering; but underneath all was unchanged. The house occupied by General Harrison until his death, situated at North Bend, was an instance, Generally the chimney. was built up on the outside, and the floors were of slabs of wood, rough-hewn by the ax. Excepting for Indians, there was no need of bar or bolt. There were no thieves and no dishonest people. Credits were long, and pay was taken in almost every thing to be found in the country. Potash, hides and furs, cattle, tobacco, and, later, wheat and oats, were merchantable articles, and often answered instead of money itself. But the prices, as we should judge them now, were ruinously low. We give elsewhere, in the article on the National Armory, and in some of our local histories, the cost of commodities as they were forty and sixty years ago. The currency was as varied as the articles for which they were given. There were notes of banks on half a dozen different States in various stages of depreciation; the United States currency of dollars, dimes, and cents; currency from New Spain, Cuba, and other Spanish Ameri- - can countries ; British silver, and French five-franc pieces. Each of these floated at some conventional price, and it required careful study to know the value of each kind. The calling of money-broker was, until the late war, one of the most lucrative in the United States.

The agriculture of the day was rude. Fruit grew with a luxuriance and certainty which it does not now equal; but the quality of the apples, pears, and plums first planted was poor. The trees were sheltered by the surrounding forests, and the insects which are now the bane of the fruit-producer had not yet made their appearanee. The smaller fruits - the strawberry, raspberry, and currant - were uncultivated; but the melon in its different varieties was abundant. The trees were deprived of life by being girdled, and then afterwards cut down; but often they stood for many years, weakening and falling, a most deplorable sight. After the trees were felled the stumps were burned out and pulled out; the ground was fertilized with the ashes and mold, and the crops that were obtained were in great abundance. There was no rotation of crops, no underdraining, scarcely any surface draining, and no manuring, except the small portion derived from the stable. When one field was worn out, another was got ready. There were few sheep, but hogs were numerous. They were of the genuine racer breed, and earned their own living. Chickens and turkeys were numerous, and the holiday meal always included one of these. Pork was the great staple. It had an advantage over the other products of the farm. The hog could be driven from home to the market, and corn could in no way be more easily moved than in this concentrated form. Hot biscuits were the delight of the farmer, and cold bread was very rarely eaten. ~The maple-tree furnished an abundant yield of molasses and sugar, and there was no lack of fruit to be put up in homely preserves.

Farmers worked their places with much less labor than at present. They rarely hired any help, except at harvest, and the pioneer, with his wife and children, toiled on year after year with little assistance.

was usually a cow or two, and the duty of milking and making butter devolved upon the wife. So did that of making cloth, and the garments out of the cloth. The husband made the shoes, except at the time when some wandering shoemaker sought shelter and a few days' work. A clock was too expensive a thing to have; rude dials answered every purpose on bright days, and on dark days they guessed as to the hour. The crockery was homely yellow ware, and was often eked out by pewter and wooden dishes. Fine queensware and china were not to be seen. The ovens were huge and capacious, and in them could be baked whole turkeys or sheep. So also were the fire-places of those houses which were constructed after the people became a little forehanded. Here and there may now be seen an ancient dwelling in which the Dutch oven is a prominent part.

It was a difficult thing, even after a family had some money, to get luxuries. Public sentiment frowned upon them as effeminate, and the shopkeepers did not have odd and curious articles on hand. The chairs and tables were at the beginning made by the stout hands of the farmer himself; the beds were built in the house, and thongs of deer or coarse ropes were extended across from side to side, to give the requisite elasticity. Over this was a tick, filled with oat-straw, and the high structure was surmounted by a feather-bed, loved by all who were brought up to know its soft embraces, and contemned by this latter-day generation, who have been taught that it is hygienically bad, and makes man, woman and child too comfortable. The last of all were the sheets of linen, woven at home, and a counterpane, carefully joined together from twoscore different patterns of cloth - a true housewife's delight. If there was a cradle, it was made at home. Perhaps it might be half a barrel cut lengthwise, and furnished with rockers; sometimes it was a log hollowed out; but generally it was made by some handy man in the neighborhood. The floor was rough, as it must needs be when slabs or puncheons are used to lay it. There was no danger of dying from suffocation, as there was a huge fire-place and chimney to make a draft, and innumerable chinks and crevices in the walls and floors to admit the free air of heaven; and there were no needless pieces of furniture for the housekeeper to dust and keep in order. What would she have said

For the first score of years after the treaty of Greenville the hunting of wild animals formed an essential portion of the pioneer's livelihood. It is true that most men did not neglect tilling the soil on this account; but until the wild animals had been nearly exterminated his stock and crops were not of much account. Squirrels swarmed in vast numbers, and to them a corn-field was a particular attraction. Bears had the same weakness. It was a common plan for farmers to go on a Summer's * night to a corn-field, and there wait for the quadruped to approach. If the field were fenced, the beast would find some place to climb over the rails. When at the top, he would carefully look in every direction for an enemy. After a time, seeing none, he would drop off the fence inside the field. He can not climb down, and so must fall. Having picked himself up, and waited, perhaps, ten minutes to see if he was observed, he would proceed to the hills of corn, pull down the stalk, strip the ears of the husk, and begin eating the succulent grains with the greatest relish. It was wonderful what devastation one bear would make in a corn-field in one night. If the plans of the hunter had been well carried out, he would fire from his ambush as soon as the bear was near enough, and enough meat would be obtained to last his family until the carcass could be no longer kept. The skin was worth a round sum, either to sell or to keep. The fat, tried out, made a pomade or ointment, and the dogs had a feast on the poorer parts of the animal. These latter were an important part of every household. From one to six were to be found near each farmstead, and, if of ''low degree" and not well trained, they would make the night vocal by their barking. They were useful, however. They aided the farmer to discover any depredator on his fields, whether man or beast; they helped him in his encounters with savage animals, and they formed excellent playmates for his children. In all new countries man prizes the companionship of dogs. In hunting wolves and foxes they were essential, and were the same with raccoons and opossums. The latter were largely hunted at night, and formed excellent roasts for the family. The furs and skins of animals formed the most compact and valuable of all commodities that the frontiersman had to do with. Offered at the shopkeepers', they brought cash, and in dealings of one man with another they passed more readily current than any other property. A premium was paid on the heads of wolves by the commissioners of Butler County for a number of years, and this stimulated the energies of the hunter. Many expedients were used to ensnare these animals. Large traps were made and baited, the mechanism being such that the attempt to take the bait would result in the fall of the gate, thus securely imprisoning the beast: Other hunters would take the ovary of the female wolf at a particular time of the year, rub it upon their boots, and then walk across the paths where the animals were sure to come. They immediately left whatever they were doing, and followed. This plan, while very successful, was attended with great danger, as the wolves became infuriated when they saw the deception that had been practiced upon them, and not.infrequently attacked the backwoodsman. Often have hunters been obliged to climb trees to seeure their safety. But so effectual aere the attempts to exterminate wolves that few have been seen by any one now living, and there is probably no one resident in the county who has killed one within its limits.

shall entirely correspond to that which existed among our forefathers. It was entirely sustained by subscription, the wealthier men paying a little more than the poorer ones. The schoolmaster was a man of consideration. He ranked next in the community after the doctor, the lawyer, and the minister, and although his learning might not have been great, it was greater than that of the persons in whose society he found himself. Often he was some man who had traveled far afield, and knew more of the world than his auditors. He generally wrote a good hand, was familiar with the easier parts of arithmetic, had a little knowledge of geography, English, American and Roman history, and could read passably. He only gave instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and if he taught these well he satisfied his patrons. The houses were generally of logs, with a capacious fireplace, and the benches and desks were of plain plank or slabs, the flat side uppermost. There was no uniformity of books. Each pupil brought what he had, and all were in turn used by the teacher. One thing is undeniable: the pupils carried 'from the schools more that they remembered, considering the extent of the curricuulum, than is now done in similar places. There was more concentration, and there was no study of a dozen different branches, all of necessity imperfectly acquired. - It must not be imagined that all the inhabitants were farmers. The hunter and trapper preceded them, and the blacksmith followed. Many of the articles which we now buy ready made were then beat out on the anvil. Nails were among these; the point to a plowshare, the remainder being wood; bolts and bars, knives, sickles, and axes were wrought out by his labors. He was an indispensable man. Something which is widely different from that found to-day was the multitude of innkeepers. Roadside taverns abounded everywhere. It was necessary for the traveler to stop over-night, and as he could only make from ten to twenty miles per day, often finding two or three miles too much, he was compelled to avail himself of their facilities. In the smaller kind there was only a lower room and a loft, into which the traveler mounted by a ladder. Here were three or four beds, and if there were women in the party there was a curtain to divide their part of the garret from the other part, in which the men slept. In the larger there were two log-cabins, side by side, with, of course, additional accommodations. Log houses were the rule then, not the exception. When John Reily came to Hamilton, nearly eighty years ago, the cabins outnumbered the frame houses, and the latter were very small, unpretentious dwellings. The landlord in those days gave plentiful fare, but not what would now be considered as of the best quality. It was pork and potatoes, with corn-bread. Chickens were afforded as often as possible; and always on gala-days; but beef and mutton were seldom seen, unless the former, salted, in Winter-time. There was game on the table when the landlord or his guests were fortunate enough to shoot any, or when he could make an exchange with a neighbor for some. Often the inns were full, and the wayfarer slept in his wagon or under a friendly tree. Expenses were low. The York shilling, or twelve and a half cents, was at that time considerably used in this neighborhood, and meals were generally charged for at that rate, sleeping from six to nineteen cents, and the same for horse-feed. The bar had an abundance of whisky and rum, sold at three cents a drink. No beer or ale was used, nor were there any fancy drinks. Water and sugar were the only things ever put in the glass to modify the taste, except occasionally a little mint. The pioneers drank enormously, yet such was the strength of their constitutions and the bracing effect of living in the open air, they seemed to suffer no ill effects from it. There were drunkards, it is true; but they had given up labor, and had no other thought than the bottle.

The taverns were frequently the scene of balls. Here gathered all the young men of the neighborhood who were not Church members, and the young ladies whom they had invited to accompany them. 'The largest room in the inn was cleared of all furniture, a couple of fiddlers found place in one corner, and some citizen with a sten torian voice, or perhaps one of the fiddlers, called off the figures. Dancing began early. By sundown, often, small parties might be seen on their way to the house appointed, and in the neighborhood every available place was used to tie the horses which brought the cavaliers and their fair charges. These dances were old-fashioned, and few persons now would know them. The minuet was never in vogue in this section; it went out of date with hair-powder. But quadrilles, country dances, and reels were the order of the night. There was no languidness. Few girls were wall-flowers, and when they were on the floor they moved with vivacity. a careless and open enjoyment. No regulations were made as to dress. Few of the ladies aspired to silk or gentlemen to broadcloth; but, instead, they wore plain linsey-woolseys and coarse woolen clothes. The entertainment culminated at supper-time, which was near midnight. Here were roast and boiled turkey and chicken, boiled ham, any stray articles of game that could be got in time, biscuits, pies and cake, and preserves - a royal supper it seemed to them, but which our degenerate and weakened race could hardly digest. After another hour or two of dancing the party broke up, and Ethelberta was escorted home by her faithful Edwy. -

Those who clad the human frame were people of consequence. Caps were generally made at home, and few men, except of the better sort, wore hats; so that this calling did not thrive. The milliner was not in request. The decoration of bonnets was entirely a home affair. But while most men possessed an elementary knowledge of shoemaking, and some even owned a cobbler's kit, it was not generally found expedient to make shoes. So the journeyman cordwainer made his circuits, even as the dressmaker now does. In one house he might be kept a couple of days, in another a couple of weeks, busily at work repairing and making shoes and boots. These were firmly and substantially constructed, and had a weight in them of leather which nowadays is rarely seen. They were larger and roomier, and when new resisted the rain very well. It was not an uncommon thing to find those which had been worn the second year. There were; in a region like this, no thin shoes, or shoes got up expressly for show. Vanity or the length of purse was not great enough. Moccasins were worn here for many years after the first settlement of the country. They were soft and easy to walk in, and made without trouble. They were much affected by those with tender feet.

The tailor did not come in, at the very beginning, but he was here within a half-dozen years. There was then no ready-made clothing, and all material was cut and sewed in the neighborhood where it was used. Gentlemen wore broadcloth, which was imported and was very costly, and many of them were clad in it continually. Artisans or farmers never wore such an expensive cloth, except it might be for a wedding-suit, and all professional men were to be told by it. The Methodist minister always had a very long-tailed coat, and he could be distinguished as far as he could be seen on account of this garment.

An indispensable man was the saddler and _ harnessmaker. There was much riding on horseback, as the roads were poor when they existed at all, and it was 4 necessity not only to be a good horseman, but to be well provided with riding-gear. Tanners and curriers were also soon to be found in most localities. Deerskins were prepared during the last century for garments by those who followed a trade called skin-dressers, and their products were worn by men of all classes. Others were known as leather-breeches makers. These callings have been superseded at the present day. Some trades have gone out of use. There were men who made spinningwheels and looms, and like machinery. Joel Collins made powder, which is now only manufactured by extensive establishments. a :

There was preaching of the Gospel in many parts of the country. Among these early missionaries the names of Crume, MacDill, Montfort, Elliott, and others, rise up in the remembrance of those who attended upon their ministrations, or whose parents did. They preached everywhere - in private houses, blacksmith-shops, groves, open spaces, or wherever they could attract auditors. Many of the early ministers were men without education, but with strong minds, trained by experience and observation. They understood the nature of the men to whom they talked and what arguments would influence them. They dealt more with personal religion than with abstract and barren idealizations, and they wrought much good in the community.

Meetings Of The Commissioners

On the second Monday of June, as we have preyiously stated, Ezekiel Ball, Matthew Richardson, and Solomon Lines met in Hamilton, and organized as the Board of County Commissioners. John Reily acted as clerk. Their first business was the auditing of bills, and the first one allowed was to William Crooks, a judge at the previous election, for making a return to the clerk's office at Cincinnati, Hamilton County. For this they gave him two dollars. The others were as follows: James Blackburn, late sheriff, State prosecutions and proclaiming elections, $21; William McClellan, sheriff, State prosecutions, proclaiming elections, etc., $18; John Reily, clerk of the Common Pleas, State prosecutions, certifying elections, etc., and one jury-box furnished, $27.25; Darius C. Orcutt, cleaning up the court-house and jail and furnishing a lock to each, $4; Mahlon Baker, services as overseer of the poor of the township of Liberty, $5; Matthew Winton, assignee of George Swan, for seven grown wolves' scalps taken, $7; John Greer, balance of his services as county commissioner and secretary to the commissioners for the year 1803, and for stationery, $16.50 ; James Dunn, balance of his services as county commissioner for the year 1803, $1.50.

On their meeting of July 2, 1804, they allowed the following bills: George Myracle, one wolf-scalp, $1; Philip Hayle, keeping Martin Rixendoll, a pauper, for six months previous to the first Monday of May at $20, and from then until the 21st of June at $6.12, $26.12; Connor & Ormsby, nails furnished for repairing the jail, $7.41; Samuel Dillon, coroner, for holding an inquisition on the dead body of Haney Thomson, and for travel, etc., to held an inquisition on the dead body of John Morfoot, $17.74.

They then made an order that the listers of the several towns proceed immediately to take in the lists of land and taxable property in their respective townships, and make return on the first Monday of August next.

On Monday, 6th of August, 1804, they allowed bills as follows: Samuel Miller, extra repairs to the court-house, $12.81; James Blackburn, collector of taxes for the year 1803, was ordered to exhibit his amount of collection for adjustment before the Board of Commissioners on the fourth Monday of August; August 27, 1804, George Lone was allowed for a wolf-scalp, $1; James Craven, lister of St. Clair Township, taking lists of land, ete., $21.25; Thos. Pottenger, appraiser in St. Clair Township, $1.25; Jas. Dunn, associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas, $20.17; John Greer, an associate judge, $16.17; James Mahan, lister of Ross Township, taking lists of land, ete., $11.75; Frederick Schaff, lister of Liberty Township, taking lists of land, $16.75; Daniel Nelson, appraiser of houses in Liberty Township, $1.25 ; George Harlan, lister of Fairfield Township, $20; John Torrence, appraiser in

Fairfield Township, $5; Garrett Vannest, lister of Lemon Township, $23; John Carson, appraiser in Lemon Township, $2.50; John Dunn, taking and returning to the clerk of the Common Pleas sundry lists of land in the year 1803, which had not been entered for taxes as the law required, $6.25.

James Blackburn, collector of the county taxes for the year 1803, appearing by John Dunn, his agent, exhibited his amount of collection as follows: James Blackburn, debtor to the county of Butler amount of taxes committed to him-to collect for the year 1803, $594.49; credit, cash and orders paid into the county treasury, $464.70 ; order for the remission of Joel Williams's tax on his mill in part, $3; commission of six per cent on the amount collected, $35.60; leaving a balance due, including delinquents, etc., of $91.13.

On application of Joseph Burgh, of Lemon Township, three dollars of the county taxes assessed on him for the year 1803, on a horse said to be kept as a covering horse (which was not), was remitted, and an order drawn directed to James Blackburn, collector.

The Board of Commissioners for August 28, 1804, made the following assessment of taxes: On property subject to taxation in the county, $770.13; taxes of ferries, $1; probable amount received from tavern-keepers, $50; probable amount received from retailers of merchandise, $60; probable amount received by the dividend of the State tax, $186; balance of the county taxes of 1803 not yet accounted for by the collector, making a probable deduction of twenty dollars for delinquencies and insol- -vencies, $68.18. Total, $1,135.26.

They then made the following appropriations or distributions: Listers of the several townships for services, $102.75; James Dunn and John Greer, associate judges, $36.34; John Dunn, making return of lands, etc., in 1803, $6.25; sheriff and clerk of the Common Pleas, for State and county services, $40; attorney prosecuting the pleas of the State, $80; associate judges' fees, $100; grand jury fees, $100; judge of election fees, $30; support of paupers, $75; wolf and panther scalps, $50; -listers, for completing the lists of land, agreeably to law, $25; Board of Commissioners' fees, their clerk, and sta- -tionery, $100; collector's and county treasurer's commission, $70; outstanding orders drawn by the commissioners, which remain unsatisfied, $100 ; necessary for delinquencies and contingent expenses, $219.92. Total, $1,135.26.

The commissioners ordered that the collector of the county taxes should be allowed a commission of six per cent for trouble in collecting and paying over the taxes, and that the county treasurer be allowed a commission of three per cent for receiving and paying out moneys.

William McClellan, sheriff of the county, having given notice to the Board of Commissioners that he should not undertake the collection of the State or county taxes, and no person offering to undertake the collection of the same, it was ordered that the commissioners should meet at the court-house in Hamilton on Thursday, the sixth day of September, for receiving proposals for the collection of State and county taxes.

On the application and complaint of Thomas McCullough, at their meeting September 6th, 1804, ordered that the valuation of his mills be lowered from $3,000 to $2,000, making a deduction in his tax of $5. The valuation of William Smith's house and saw-mill was reduced from $700 to $500, making a reduction in his taxes of $1; Joel Williams's mill was reduced in the valuation from $1,500 to $1,000, reducing his taxes $2.50; David Enoch's grist and saw-mill was raised in valuation from $1,000 to $2,000, increasing his taxes $5; the valuation of Daniel Griffing's mill was raised from $100 to $200, increasing his taxes 50 cents; the valuation of Shobal Vail's mill was increased from $300 to $500, raising his taxes $1; the valuation of Stephen Vail's mills was raised from $600 to $1,200, increasing his taxes $3; Samuel Gregory's mill was set at $300, increasing his tax $1.50. These variations made an increase of $2.50.

At the meeting of September 19, 1804, an order was drawn for Job Gee, for a wolf-scalp, $1; George Harlan was appointed collector of the county taxes for the county for that year, seven hundred and seventy-three dollars and sixty-three cents.

The Board of Commissioners met again October 4, 1804, and orders were drawn in favor of the following persons: Joseph Spencer, killing a grown wolf, $1; William Cooley, killing two grown wolves, $2; Matthew Winton, assignee of Benjamin Allen, killing a grown wolf, $1; Thomas Cooch, 4 grown wolves, $4; Daniel Doty, a judge of the election held in Lemon Township for county commissioner, '$1.25; William Broderick, a judge of the election held in St. Clair Township for county commissioner, $1.25; Daniel Nelson, a judge of the election held in Liberty Township for county commissioner, $1; James Dunn and John Greer, for services performed as associate judges in laying off the county into townships, appointing the place of holding elections, and attending to receiving and certifying the elections of the first sheriff and justice of the peace for the county and representative to Congress, each, $6; John Reily, clerk of the Common Pleas, for receiving and listing the lands of non-resident proprietors, making out a general alphabetical list of the State tax for the year 1804, and for making out and certifying three copies, $32.16; John Reily, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, for services, including making out the duplicate of county taxes, and books and stationery furnished the commissioners for the use of the county, $37.16.

Benjamin Fitz Randolph and Celadon Symmes were authorized and requested to collect and receive of and from the several persons who have subscribed money, whisky, or grain for the purpose of assisting the county of Butler to erect public buildings at Hamilton, the seat of justice, such sum and stms of money, whisky, and grain, as they had respectively subscribed; and also to receive from persons who had subscribed stones, lime, brick, timber, mechanical work, labor, or hauling, or any kind of country produce which can or may be exchanged for cash. They were authorized to exchange the articles which they might receive into cash, and deposit it in the county treasury. The clerk was to furnish Benjamin Fitz Randolph and Celadon-Symmes each with a copy of the subscription paper and of the order.

At the meeting of November 5, 1804, John Beaty received the premium for a wolf-scalp, 50 cents; James Patterson, the premium for five wolf-scalps, $2.50. John Reily, clerk of the commissioners, for services in drawing copies of the order of appointments of B. F. Randolph and Celadon Symmes to collect the moneys subscribed for public buildings at Hamilton, and making out and certifying extracts of lands entered for taxes in the county, which were in the counties of Hamilton, Warren, Greene, Ross, and Fairfield, was granted $5.79 ; and the following sums were also allowed: John Kitchel, associate judge, $39.67; John Greer, associate judge, $8; Daniel Beaty, Isaac Stanley, and Dennis Ball, as judges of the election in Fairfield Township, each, 50 cents; Darius C. Oreutt and John R. Beaty, clerks of the election in Fairfield Township, each, 50 cents; John Beaty, Ralph W. Hunt, Joseph Cox, John Morrow, Isaac S: Swearingen, judges of election in Liberty Township ; Henry Weaver, Ezekiel Ball, John Craig, Robert Ferris, Isaiah Morris, judges of election in Lemon Township; Robert Winton, Mr. Scott, John Orbison, William Richardson, judges of election for St. Clair Township; James

Dunn, Isaac Gibson, James Elliott, Maxwell Parkinson, James Mahan, William Morris, judges of election for Ross Township, were each allowed from 50 cents to $1.50 for their services; David Johnston, a judge of the election in Lemon Township, in October, 1804, $1.25; Samuel Beeler, a judge of the election in St. Clair Township, $1.25; Isaac Shields, for carrying an abstract of the

October election, 1804, to the clerk's office in Warren County, $2; Daniel Baker and Justus Jones, executors of Edward Jones, deceased, for services in making return to the clerk's office in Hamilton, of the election in Liberty Township, in October, 1803, $2; William McClellan, sheriff, for his service in proclaiming elections and summoning grand jurors, ete., $13.50; John Greer and Celadon Symmes, for services in attending at the clerk's office in canvassing the votes of the county, each, $1; John Reily, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for his services in receiving, canvassing, and certifying the votes at the October annual election, furnishing certificates to the persons elected, and certifying the roll-books of the election of electors of President and Vice-president of the United States, $8.75.

and amounts were allowed and orders drawn, as follows: Samuel Walker, wolf-scalp, $1; Jesse Simpson, wolf: scalp, $1; David Lee, three wolf-scalps, $3; James Dunn, associate judge, $12; John Greer, associate judge, $12; William McClellan, sheriff, hire of a stove for the use of the court-house at January term, 1805, and furnishing fuel, $4; Philip Hayle, for the keeping of Martin Rixendoll, a pauper, from the 21st of June to the 5th of November, $18.88. It was ordered that George Harlan, collector of the county taxes of the year 1804, should lay before the Board of Commissioners an account of the moneys collected by him and paid to the county treasurer.

April 8, 1805, on application of Peter Shafer, the commissioners ordered a deduction to be made in his county taxes, to the amount of eighty cents. The following amounts were allowed: George Myracle, wolf scalp, $1; Isaac Wiles, work done for the use of the jail, and making irons for the confinement of criminals in the jail, $8.72; James Young, wolf-scalp, $1; Adam Smith, wolf-scalp, $1; Michael Pierce, one of the judges of an election held in Lemon Township, on the first Monday in April, 1805, for a justice of the peace, and making return, $1.25; Captain John Gray, for himself and ten privates of his company, in guarding the jail at January term, 1805, $14; William McClellan, sheriff, for locks, etc., procured for the use of the jail, $2.75; William Butler, assignee of Thomas Baxter, inspector of Butler County, for money expended in procuring and branding irons, ete., for the use of the inspector of said county, $12.50.

June 10, 1805, the following amounts were allowed : John Reily, clerk of Butler Common Pleas, the annual allowance by law for failures in State prosecutions, including his services in certifying the election of a justice of the peace in Lemon Township, $23.10; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, for services from the 5th November, 1804, to the 22d May, 1805, including stationery furnished, $10.83; Samuel Dillon, coroner, for an inquest taken on the dead body of Stephen Wilcocks, 14th April, 1805, $11.90; James Dunn, associate judge, $12; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $12; John Greer, associate judge, $12; Captain James Blackburn, the pay of the guard for the jail, furnished from his company, at January term, 1805, $6.75; Captain John Wingate, the pay of the guard for the jail in January, 1805, furnished from his company, $27.75 ; William McClellan, sheriff, annual allowance by law for failures in State prosecutions, including the summoning of two grand juries, $23; Thomas Hunt, lister of Liberty Township, $13.75; Thomas Hill, appraiser of Liberty Township, $1.25; Robert Ferris, lister of Lemon Township, $25 ; Moses Vail, appraiser of Lemon Township, $1.25; George Harlan, lister of Fairfield Township, $20; Isaac Stanley, appraiser of Fairfield Township, $2.50; James Mahan, lister of Ross Township, $12.50; William Mitchell, appraiser in Ross Township, $1.25; George Myracle, wolf- scalp, $1; Peter Demoss, wolf-scalp, $1; Jesse Simpson, wolf-scalp, $1; Thomas Massie, wolf-scalp, $1; John Denow, wolf-scalp, $1; Aaron Van Camp, wolf-scalp, $1: Daniel Nelson, wolf-scalp, $1; Samuel Beeler, 2 wolf-scalps, $2.

John Reily was appointed clerk to the Board of Commissioners of Butler County, agreeably to the provisions contained in the act entitled '' An act establishing boards of commissioners."

It was ordered that, pursuant to the statute entitled "An act for granting licenses and regulating ferries, taverns, and stores," the following sums should be paid into the county treasury by each and every person obtaining a license to keep a tavern or ferry in the county of Butler: On each and every tavern licensed in the towns of Hamilton, Rossville, and Middletown, the sum of twelve dollars annually; for each and every tavern licensed on any highway in any township in the county (the towns of Hamilton, Rossville, and Middletown excepted) the sum of six dollars annually; for every ferry license granted to keep a ferry on the Miami between the towns of Hamilton and Rossville, or at any distance not exceeding half a mile from either of these towns, four dollars; and further, that the rates of ferriage hereafter to be demanded for the transportation of persons and property across the Miami at public ferries, be as follows: Single person, six and one-fourth cents; man and horse, twelve and one-half cents; loaded wagon and team, one dollar; any other four-wheeled carriage, seventy-five cents; an empty wagon and team, or a loaded cart and team, fifty cents ; empty cart and team, or sled or sleigh and team, thirtyseven and a half cents; every horse, mare, mule, ass, or head of neat cattle, six and one-fourth cents; every sheep, hog, or goat, three cents.

On Thursday, 20th June, 1805, the amounts allowed against the county were: William Squire, Jacob Bell, and Thomas Pounds, for their services as viewers of the road from Smith & St. Clair's mill on Four-mile, in St. Clair Township, to Nathaniel Bell's, on Elk Creek, each, $4; Henry Weaver, for his own services, and the chaincarrier and marker, in surveying the road from Smith & St. Clair's mill, on Four-mile, to Nathaniel Bell's, on Elk Creek, and making a report, $12.75; Henry Taylor, Jeremiah Beaty, and John Gray, for their services as viewers of the road from Rossville, by Beaty's, Cooley's, and others, to the State road at or near the east side of the College Township, each, $3; John R. Beaty, for his own services, and the services of the chain-carrier and marker, in surveying and laying out the road from Rossville, by Beaty's, Cooley's, and others, to the State road, at or near the east side of the college township, $10.50.

On the 5th of August, 1805, it was ordered that the following shall be the assessment of county taxes to be raised : Amount of taxes, as per the lister's returns, under he county levy law, $862.34; balance of taxes of the years 1803 and 1804, not yet accounted for by the collectors, $500; probable amount received from tavernkeepers, $100; probable amount received from retailers of merchandise, $40; probable amount received from the county's dividend of the land taxes for the years 1804 and 1805, $480; total, $1,982.34.

The following were the appropriations of county taxes: The listers, assessors, and others, $310.33; probable amount of outstanding orders on amounts allowed last year, $350; probable amount of the associate judges' fees, $100; attorney prosecuting for the State, $80; sheriff and clerk of the Common Pleas, $50; grand jury, $100; judges of elections, $20; paupers, $60; Board of Commissioners, clerk, and stationery, $100; collector's and county treasurer's commissions, $100; towards building a jail, $500 ; contingent expenses and delinquencies, $212.01; total, $1,982.34.

For collecting and paying over the county taxes, eight per cent. was allowed; and the county treasurer was allowed a commission of three per cent on all moneys received and paid out.

September 2, 1805, at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners, the amounts allowed were as follows: Robert Lytle, John Scott, James White, John Wilson, David Johnston, Aaron Vail, William Smith, Joseph Millender, Joel Williams, Elias Baldwin, James Sutton, Benjamin Line, William Hayes, Abel Bell, and Thomas Dillon, for two days' services as grand jurors at the Court of Common Pleas, August term, 1805, each, $1.50; Thomas Hunter, constable, for attending on the grand jury, $1.50.

Several errors were corrected in the entries of land, and deductions made in the taxes, as follows: James Barnet, 100 acres, to be changed from first-rate to secondrate; Jacob Case, 190 acres, second-rate; Joseph Eli, 600 acres, first-rate; Robert Ferries, 60 acres, first-rate ; David Fleanard, 300 acres, second-rate; Sam. Ferguson, 250 acres, second-rate, changed to 220 acres; William Gwillym, 320 acres, second-rate; Michael Hildebrand, 102 acres, second-rate, changed to third-rate; Joseph Hunter, 200 acres, second-rate; Aaron Huffman, Sen., 5 acres, second-rate; George Isminger, 320 acres, secondrate; James Kennedy, 50 acres, second-rate.

On September 30, 1805, accounts were allowed and orders drawn for Darius C. Orcutt, for crying the building of the jail, $2; John Torrence and John Wingate, first installment for building the jail, $400.

At the meeting of November 4, 1805, accounts were allowed to Isaac Shields, for conveying an abstract of the votes given for a senator in Butler, at the last October election, to the clerk's office, in Warren County, $2; James Scott, William Cooley, and Daniel Perry, for their services as viewers of the road from Rossville to Scott's tan-yard on Seven-mile, each, $3; James Heaton, surveyor, and the services of the chain men and marker, in surveying and laying out the road from Rossville to Scott's tan-yard on Seven-mile, $9.50; William

Crooks, 1 wolf-scalp, $1; Israel S. Swearingen, making a return of the annual election in Liberty Township, $1; William Broderick, for making a return of the annual election in St. Clair Township, $1.25.

Accounts were allowed on December 2, 1805, to Philip Hayle, for farming of Martin Rixendoll, a pauper, from the first Monday in May,last to the first Monday of November last, being his fees for the first half-year, $28.75; James McClure, one of the judges of an election held in Lemon Township, on the 16th November, 1805, for the election of a justice of the peace, $1.25; John Reily, clerk of Common Pleas, for making transfers of land and a duplicate of the land taxes for 1805, $39; Edward Bebb, William Cooley, Samuel Williams, William Broderick, Joseph Williamson, John Koon, Thomas Irwin, and James Dunn, Jr., services as grand jurors, each, 75 cents.

January 6, 1806, accounts were allowed Daniel Perry, James Walker, John Parkison, George Drybread,, Moses Vail, Shubal Vail, Robert Evans, David Griffis, Samuel Seward, Joseph Stephens, John Hamilton, Isaac Enoch, James Willis, and Brice Virgin, as grand jurors, each, $1.50; William McClellan, sheriff, for the hire of a stove, fuel, etc., for the court-house, at December term, 1805, and for the dieting of Mary Willis, in jail on commitment, from the 4th to the 19th December, 1805, $8; George Harlan, fees for collecting the taxes in Fairfield Township, for the year 1805, $15.57.

February 10, 1806, the amounts allowed were: Jacob Lewis and John Walker, one day's service as grand jurors, each, 75 cents; John Enyart, Andrew Christy, and James Irwin, one day's service as grand jurors at the Supreme Court, in Butler County, on the second day of November, 1805, each, 75 cents; Celadon Symmes, services at the office of the clerk of Butler Common Pleas, votes given at the election for justices of the peace in Wayne and Milford Townships, on the seventh day of January last, $1; Joshua Delaplane, notifying Celadon Symmes to attend at the clerk's office of Butler Common Pleas, to canvass the votes given at the elections for justices of the peace in Wayne and Milford Townships, on the seventh day of January last, 75 cents.

April 7, 1806, the Board of Commissioners granted John Torrence and John Wingate, in part of and on the amount of the second installment for the building of the jail of Butler County, $200.

May 5, 1806, accounts were allowed to David Beaty, Benj. Bell, Jacob Whitenger, Joseph Walker, William Blackburn, Robert Moorehead, John Robison, Samuel Dickey, Davis Ball, Abraham Huff, John Wingate, Thos. McCullough, and Isaac Reed, for services as grand jurors, each, $1.50; George Harlan, for attending on the grand jury, at April term, $1.50; Philip Hayle, balance in full for the farming of Martin Rixendoll, a pauper, for the year 1805, $28.75; John Reily, clerk of the Board of

June 2, 1806, at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners, accounts were allowed to Meeker Squire, one of the judges of the election held in Lemon Township, on the 24th May, 1806, for a justice of the peace, $1.25; John Torrence and John Wingate, in full of the second installment for building the jail of Butler County, $200.

At their meeting June 9, 1806, John Orbison was given commission on the collection of the county taxes in St. Clair Township, $16.94; and accounts were allowed to Thomas Hunt, lister of Liberty Township, listing of lands and taxable property, $21.50; Brice Virgin, appraiser in Liberty Township, $1.25; Robert Ferris, of Lemon Township, listing lands and taxable property, $29; James Marshall, appraiser in Lemon Township, $3.12; James Craven, lister of Wayne Township, $11.25; Robert Scott, lister of Milford Township, $6.25; William Broderick, lister of St. Clair Township, $11.25; John Gerard, lister of Ross Township, $13.75; George Harlan, lister of Fairfield Township, $26.25; John Wingate, appraiser of houses, etc., in Fairfield Township, $6.25; William McClellan, sheriff of Butler County, fees on State prosecutions, when the State has failed, and for summoning grand jurors, advertising elections, etc., $48 ; John Reily, clerk of Butler Common Pleas, for his fees on State prosecutions, when the State has failed, canvassing and certifying elections, making transfers of land and certifying the same, $39.50; Matthew Hueston, one of the viewers of the road from Rossville, by Crooks's, Richmond's, etc., to Iseminger's mill, on the dry fork of Whitewater, $6; John McDonald, viewer, $6; James Watson, viewer, $6; James Heaton, surveyor, $7; William: Mitchell, chain-man, $2.25; Israel Woodruff, chainman, $2.25; William Crooks, ax-man, $1.50; Andrew Christy, one of the viewers of the road from Smith & St. Clair's mill, on Four-mile, up the Miami, by Brownlees & Samples's mill, ete., thence to the north boundary of the county, at or near Vandervere's mill, $8 ; Samuel Gregory, viewer, $8; Garrett Vannest, viewer, $6; Henry Weaver, surveying the road and making a plat, including the fees of the chain-men and ax-men, ete., $20.75; William Squire, as viewer of the road from Enoch's mill, on the Miami, eastwardly to the county line, $3; John Carson, viewer, $3; Thomas Irwin, viewer, $1; Henry: Weaver, surveyor, for his own service and the services of the chain-man and ax-man, $7.25; James Irwin, viewer of the road from John Vannie's to the county line, in a direction for Beadle's Station, $1; Ellis John, viewer, $1; Michael Hildebrand, one of the viewers of the same road, $1; John Morrow, surveyor, for his own services, and the chain-men and markers, $5.25.

The premium or bounty on every wolf or panther killed in the county was made for each wolf or panther under six months old, 50 cents; and for, each wolf or panther above six months old, $1.

The following was made the price of tavern licenses in the county of Butler: For each license granted to keep a tavern in the town of Hamilton, Rossville, or Middletown, the sum of $10; for each license granted to keep a tavern in the county of Butler (the towns of Hamilton, Rossville, and Middletown excepted), the sum of $6.

The prices of license to keep ferries on the Miami were fixed as follows: For a license to keep a ferry on the Miami, between the towns of Hamilton and Rossville, or at any place within a mile of either of the said towns, $4; and for a license to keep a ferry on the Miami at any other place in the county, except as above excepted, $2. The rates of ferriage at all public ferries on the Miami, for the ensuing year, was made as follows: Single person, six and one-fourth cents; man and horse, twelve and onehalf cents; loaded wagon and team, one dollar; any other four-wheeled carriage, seventy-five cents; empty wagon and team, or a loaded cart and team, fifty cents; empty cart and team, a sled or sleigh and team, thirty-seven and a half cents; every horse, mare, mule, ass, or head of neat cattle, six and one-fourth cents; every sheep, hog, or goat, three cents.

July 7, 1806, the Board of Commissioners allowed the following accounts: Thomas Hunt, judge of the election for justice of the peace in Liberty Township, $1; Benjamin Thompson, a judge of the election of justice of the peace in St. Clair Township, $1; Isaac Gibson, a judge of the election for a justice of the peace, held in Ross Township, 21st of June, $1; Celadon Symmes, services in attending at the clerk's office to canvass the votes given at elections for justices of the peace, $1.25.

Order For Elections

"Whereas, It hath been fully shown to the Board of Commissioners that the inhabitants residing in the original surveyed townships hereinafter mentioned, from their number of electors in each township, are fully entitled to the privilege of holding elections respectively therein for the purpose of electing three trustees and one treasurer in each of the said townships, agreeably to the tenor of the act entitled 'An act to incorporate the original surveyed townships.'

"Therefore, for the purpose of electing the said three trustees and one treasurer in each of the said townships, it is ordered that elections be held therein respectively at the times and places hereinafter specified, to wit:

*'In township numbered one, of the second entire range east of the Miami (being Fairfield, a part of which lies in Hamilton County), at the house of John Maxwell, in said township, on Saturday the second day of August next.

''In township numbered two, of the second entire range east of the Miami (part of which lies in the county of Hamilton), at the house of William Orson, in said township, on Saturday the second day of August next.

'In township numbered three, of the third entire or military range (Liberty), at the house of John Beaty, in said township, on Saturday the second day of August next.

''In township numbered two, of the fourth entire range east of the Miami (Lemon), part of which lies in the county of Warren, at the house of Joshua Davis, in said township, on Saturday the second day of August next.

'Tn township numbered five, in the second range west of the Miami (Milford), at the house of Abel Stout, in said township, on Saturday the second day of August next.

'Tt is also ordered that written notices of the same elections be set up in the said several townships respectively, agreeably to the requisitions of the above recited statute.

August 4, 1806, the Board of Commissioners ordered that the assessments of county taxes for the current year should be as follows: Assessments on probable receipts - County taxes, as per the lister's returns, $1,146.49; land taxes (the county's moiety), $400; licenses to tavernkeepers, store-keepers, and ferries, $200; fines (probably), $50; balance due from collectors, $260. Appropriations - Residue of the second installment for building the jail, $200; last installment for jail, $800; lister's and other accounts liquidated and allowed, $350.56; probable amount of associate judge's fees, $100; prosecuting attorney of the State, $80; clerk of Common Pleas and sheriff, $40; grand jury fees, $25; judges of election, $10; wolf-scalps, ete., $30; collector's and county treasurer's commissions, $150; Board of Commissioners, clerk and _ stationery, $100; delinquencies and contingencies, $140.93.

The following persons were appointed to collect the county taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $276.845 ; Lemon, Robert Ferris, $306.695; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $147.15; Milford, Robert Scott, $83.50; Ross, John Gerrard, $95.60; St. Clair, William Broderick, $124.65; Wayne, Nathaniel Bell, $116.25.

September 1, 1806, the following persons received $2.25 each for services as grand jurors: B. F. Randolph, Henry Brown, Jacob Line, James McClure, Michael Pierce, James Stuart, William Ogle, James Martin, James Pearis, David Fleanard, Thomas Matthews, James Mills, Thomas Hunt, Thompson Maxwell. Torrence & Wingate received payment in full of their last installment, $1,800.

The following collectors were appointed to collect the State taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $121.53; Luemon, Robert Ferris, $180.34; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $118.88 ; Milford and St. Clair, William Broderick, $50.53; Ross, John Gerrard, $59.278; Wayne, Nathaniel Bell, $48.315.

September 2; 1806, James Blackburn, collector of county taxes for the year 1803, exhibited his accounts, as follows: Dr. - James Blackburn, to the amount of his duplicate of county taxes for the year 1803, $594.49. Cr. - By amount of cash paid into the county treasury, and per treasurer's receipts, $542.71; by amount of deductions and delinquencies allowed, $17.19; by amount of commission for collecting and paying over, etc., $34.59.

October 6, 1806, James Heaton, county surveyor, for expenses incurred in ascertaining the southern boundary line of Butler County, was granted $29.25. ;

November 8, 1806, accounts were allowed: John Gray, appraiser in St. Clair Township, $1.25; John Nelson and George Howard, wolf-scalp, each, $1; Isaac Reed, making return of election from Lemon Township, $1.25; Thomas Hunt, one of the judges of election in Liberty Township, $1; James Scott, one of the judges of election in Milford Township, $1; Isaac Gibson, one of the judges of election in Ross Township, $1; Robert Taylor, one of the judges of election in St. Clair Township, $1; John Patterson, one of the judges of election in Wayne Township, $1; Joshua Delaplaine, carrying an abstract of votes given for senator to the clerk's office in Warren County, $2; Celadon Symmes, attendance at clerk's office, in canvassing the election, $1; James Smith, for his attendance at the clerk's office, at the canvassing of the election, $1; Isaac Stanley, for attendance at the clerk's office, at the canvassing of five different elections, and the drawing of three different juries, $4; David Lee, wolf-scalp, $1.

December 2, 1806, the following accounts were allowed : Isaac Stanley, services as one of the viewers of the road from Rossville up the Miami, intersecting the road from Hamilton up Four-mile, ete., at or near Hampton Adkins's, $1.70; Isaac Wiles, one of the viewers, $1.70; William Murray, one of the viewers, 85 cents; James Heaton, surveying, with the fees of the chain-men and markers, etc., $4.84; Samuel Kennedy, as one of the viewers of the proposed highway from Cotton Run, by Winton's, etc., thence to D. Perry's, $4; John Vinnedge and Isaiah Ball, viewers, each, $4; James Heaton, surveying, including the fees of the chain-men and marker, $9.50; Samuel Dick, one of the appraisers of damages on the proposed highway from Cotton Run, by Wintén's, to D. Perry's, $1; Ebenezer Paddox, James Cummins, Charles Breece, and Thomas Pounds, for the same, each, $1; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, mak ing out duplicates of taxes for the collectors, and as clerk to the Board of Commissioners from 5th May, 1806, to 4th November, 1806, $74.

January 5, 1807, the following amounts were allowed: James Dunn, associate judge; $16.50; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $16.50; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $16.50; William McClellan, sheriff, for stove hire and fuel, ete., for the court-house, at December term, 1806, candles, and a lock for the jail, $5; James Smith, Alexander Wilson, William Hays, David Williamson, Robert.

Colwell, Thomas Alston, Bladen Ashby, Joseph Lummis, David Chambers, Robert Winton, Charles Breece, James McClure, Samuel Davis, Ezekiel Ball, and William Martin, grand jurors, each, $1.50; Brice Virgin, constable, for attending on the grand jury of Butler Common Pleas, $1.50; Thomas Ferguson, wolf-scalp, $1; Thomas Hunt, collecting the county taxes in Liberty Township, 1806, $11.32; Robert Scott, collecting the county taxes in Milford Township, $6.70; George Gerrard, collecting State taxes in Ross Township, $3.83; John Gerrard, collecting the county taxes of Ross Township, $7.74; William Broderick, collecting the State tax of Milford Township, and the county and State tax of St. Clair Township, $13.89; Isaac Wiles, making a chain for the confinement of criminals in jail, $4.50; Nathaniel Bell, collecting and paying over the State taxes in Wayne Township, $2.95; George Harlan, collecting and paying over the State taxes in Fairfield Township, $7.77; Davis Ball, one of the viewers of the road crossing the Miami at Baum's ford, thence to the Greenville road, $3.40; Levi Jennings, viewer, $3.40; Jacob Bell, viewer, $3.40;

March 2, 1807, accounts were allowed to Charles Breece, services as one of the viewers of the proposed highway from Williams's mill, on Indian Creek, to the highway leading from Hamilton to Cincinnati, $2.55 ; Joseph Walker and William Crooks, viewers, each, $2.55; James Heaton, surveying, $5; Israel Woodruff and Isaac Woolverton, chain-men, each, $1.34; Jonathan Woolverton, marker, $1.34; Samuel Kennedy, James Smith, James Cummins, John Wingate, and Isaac Wiles, assessors of damages, each, 85 cents; Levi Limpus, wolf-scalp; George Harlan, collecting and paying over the county taxes in Fairfield Township, $22.06.

The Board of Commissioners, on March 380, allowed the following: Joseph Lee, 2 wolf-scalps, $2; William McClellan, sheriff, fees paid for the apprehension of John Welsh, committed on a charge of robbing the United States mail, $50; John Reily, clerk of Board of Commissioners, making out a duplicate of the State taxes from the lister's returns, a copy for the auditor of state, etc., and for services to the third March, instant, $39.75.

Accounts allowed at the session of May 4, 1807: James Dunn, associate judge, holding a special court, $27; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $19.50; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $18; James Shields, Edward Bebb, Thompson Maxwell, Daniel Baker, John Vansickle, Samuel Enyart, Peter Williamson, James Young, Robert Taylor, Junior, William Morris, Charles Stuart, Robert Taylor, James Mills, Lawrence Kavenaugh, and Andrew

Christy, grand jurors, each, $2.25; Thomas Hunter, constable, for attending on the grand jury in Butler Common Pleas, $2.25; John Smalley, a judge of the election for coroner in Liberty Township, $1; William Swafford, a judge of the election for coroner, held in Milford Township, $1.25; John Richmond, a judge of the election for coroner in Ross Township, $1.12; Robert Winton, a judge of the election for coroner in St. Clair Township, $1.12; Benjamin Van Cleif, a judge of the election for coroner in Wayne Township, $1.25; Uzal Edward, assignee of John Garrison, wolf-scalp, $1; William Liston, wolf-scalp, $1; Samuel Fraser, wolf-scalp, $1; William Squire, first installment for building the jailer's house, $250.

July 6, 1807, accounts were allowed as follows: James Smith, one of the viewers of the road from Hamilton, by Middletown, to the county line, in a direction for Franklin, in Warren County, $6.80; John Torrence and Charles Breece, viewers, each, $6.80; Daniel Chambers and Smith Thompson, chaii-men, each, $3.25; Henry Hesley, ax-man, $2.68; Henry Mason, ax-man, 67 cents; James Heaton, surveyor, $9.50; James Smith, one of the viewers of the highway from John Hamilton's to the north boundary of the county, in a direction for the town of Eaton, including a transcript from the records of Hamilton County, of a survey, $5.50; John Torrence, viewer, $4.25; David Beaty, viewer, and for-furnishing a chain-man, $6.26; Thomas Edmunson, chainman, $2.01; Hampton Adkins, ax-man, $2.01; James Heaton, surveyor, $6.50; Henry Taylor, one of' the viewers of the highway from Scott's tan-yard up Seven mile Creek, $3.40; Samuel Davis, viewer, $2.55; Jacob Witenger, viewer, $3.40; Darius C. Orcutt and Israel Woodruff, chain-men, each, $1.67; Robert Scott, axman, $1.34; James Heaton, surveyor, $5.75; Solomon Line, one of the assessors of damages on the road leading from Hamilton by Middletown, and from John Hamilton's to the north boundary of the county, in a direction for the county of Eaton, $3.40; Andrew Christy and Isaac Stanley, assessors of damages, each, $3.40; John McDonald, assessor of damages, $3.40; James McClure, assessor of damages on the road leading from Hamilton by Middletown, $1.70; John Reily, clerk of Butler Common Pleas, $35.50.

Accounts were allowed, at the meeting of August 3, 1807, to John Deneen, wolf-scalp, $1; William Gard, wolf-scalp, $1; George Roby, 4 wolf-scalps, $2.50.

A statement was made of the probable general receipts and expenditures of Butler County for the year 1807 : County taxes, $1,395; land-tax (the county moiety), $330; tavern, store, and ferry licenses, $200; fines, $30.

The appropriations were judged to be as follows: Listers' and other accounts liquidated and allowed, $303.61 ; third installment of the jailer's house, $500; associate judges' fees, $150; attorney prosecuting the pleas of the State, $80; clerk and sheriff, $50; grand jury, $90;

The following persons were appointed to collect the county taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $338.015; Lemon, Robert Brown, $326.91; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $173.775 ; Milford, John Frazer, $104.80; Ross, Andrew Wilson, $155.865; St. Clair, John Orbison, $153; Wayne, James Bartley, $142.70.

At the meeting of the Board of Commissioners, September 7, 1807, accounts were allowed to James Dunn, associate judge, $19.50; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $21; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $19.50; Arthur St. Clair, attorney for the State of Ohio, $27; Ezekiel Ball, William Barkalow, William Murray, William Gray, Jacob Piatt, Joseph Cox, Isaac John, Henry Taylor, Samuel Smith, John Halstead, Daniel Crume, Thomas Pottenger, Solomon Line, James McClure, and Thompson Maxwell, grand jurors, each, $2.25; Brice Virgin, constable, attending the grand jury, $2.25; Hugh Care, wolf-scalp, $1; William Roby, 3 wolf-scalps, $2.50; Zachariah P. De Witt, wolf-scalp, $1; Samuel Lee, wolfscalp, $1; Samuel Crooks, wolf-scalp, $1; Thomas Paine, wolf-scalp, $1. ,

September 8, Adam Dickey, one of the viewers of the highway from Middletown, by Thomas Hunt's, to the State Road, between Thomas Hill's and Isaac Swearengin's, $2.25;-. Abraham Huff and Joseph Williamson, viewers, each, $2.25; Isaac S. Swearengin, surveyor, $5; Ira Hunt and William Hunt, chain-men, $2.01; Nathaniel Hill, chain-man, $2.01; Isaac Hunt, ax-man, $2.01; William McClellan, sheriff of Butler, fees for services in State prosecutions, where the State failed, advertising elections and summoning grand jurors, and locks for the jail, $57.42; John Riley, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, making out duplicates of county and State taxes for the collectors, and stationery furnished, $58.37. On application of Samuel Seward, it was ordered that a deduction be made in his taxes of a stud-horse of $4.

The following collectors of State taxes were appointed : Fairfield, George Harlan, $122.892; Lemon, Robert Brown, $180.315; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $139.597; Milford, John Frazer, $13.202; Ross, Andrew Wilson, $49.956; St. Clair, John Orbison, $41.68 ; Wayne, James Bartly, $48.217.

Accounts allowed, October 5, as .follows: Samuel Crooks, one of the viewers of the highway from near J. Beaty's to the north-west corner of the college township, $3.40; Zachariah P. Dewitt and Samuel Beeler, viewers, each, $3.40; David Woolverton, chain-man, $2.34; Stephen Elkins, marker, $2.34; William Squire, the second installment towards building the jailer's house, $250; William Patton, taxes on a stud-horse improperly levied and collected in 1806, $4.

surveying the highway leading from near J. Beaty's to the north-west corner of the college township, $9; Elihu Line, one of the chain-men, $3.01; John McClellan, carrying the abstract of the election for senator in October, 1807, to the clerk's office in Warren County, $2; John Stow, wolf-scalp, $1.

sheriff, $3.50; David Lee, George Myracle, and John Burns, wolf-scalps, each, $1; John Orbison, commission for collecting the State taxes in St. Clair Township, $2.50; James Bartley, collecting the State taxes in Wayne Township, $2.89; Robert Brown, the State taxes of Lemon Township, $10.82; John Frazer, the State taxes in Milford Township, 79 cents; William Murray, one of the viewers on the alteration of the highway leading from Rossville to Iseminger's mill, including fees of one day for marker or ax-man, $2.37; Isaac Wiles, viewer, including fees of one day of chain-man, $2.37 ; Robert Douglass, reviewer, 85 cents; James Heaton, surveying, $3; Davis Smith, chain-man, 67 cents; Will. iam Steel, viewer on the alteration of the highway from Scott's tanyard, up Seven Mile, 75 cents; Gilbert Marshall, viewer, 85 cents; Thomas Simmons, viewer, 85 cents; Henry H. Jones, surveyor, $1.50.

James Heaton, commissioner of the highway leading from Hamilton to Cincinnati, having exhibited to the board his account and charges against the State of Ohio, for laying out and repairing, $75, it was allowed.

January 4, 1808, accounts were allowed as follows: James Dunn, associate judge, $21; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $21; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $21; Arthur St. Clair, attorney for the State, $27; Matthew Winton, James Brown, Thomas Hueston, Serring Marsh, Squire Little, Jacob Miller, Joseph Stuart, Samuel Harden, Nathan Stubbs, Samuel Davis, Peter Voorhies, John Ayres, James Mills, Jacob Lewis, and John Vinnedge, grand jurors, each, $2.25; Brice Virgin, constable, for attending the grand jury, 1807, $2.25; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, for making a duplicate of the State taxes from the listers' returns in 1807, $17.50; Thomas Hunt, collecting the county and State taxes of Liberty Township, $21.86 ; William Foster, wolf-scalp, $1; James Bartley, collecting the county taxes of Wayne Township, $11.37; William Squire, third installment towards building the jailer's house, $500. It was ordered that all delinquent collectors of taxes should meet the Board of Commissioners at Hamilton on the first Monday in February next, for the purpose of settling up their respective collections.

Accounts allowed at the meeting of February 1, as follows: David Blackburn, a judge of an nitogl in Reily Township, $1; Cornelius Doty, wolf-scalp, 50 cents ; John Wingate, survivor of Torrence & Wingate, extra work in building the jail, $40; George Harlan, collecting and paying over the county taxes in Fairfield Township, $33.74; Robert Brown, collecting and paying over the county taxes in Lemon Township, $25.05.

March 7, 1808, the accounts allowed were as follows: John Dunn, appraiser in Ross Township, $1.25; Isaac Stanley, attending at the clerk's office in canvassing and certifying elections, $1; John Vinnedge, attending at the clerk's office in canvassing and certifying elections, $1.50; John McClellan, notifying John Vinnedge to attend at the clerk's office to canvass and certify an election, $1; John Frazer, collecting and paying over the county taxes of Milford Township, $8.25; Thomas Cooch, one of the viewers of the road from the lands of Samuel McCleary to the northern boundary of the county, $3.40; James Martin and Robert Barnhill, viewers, each, $3.40; William Martin, chain-man, $1.34; John Frazer, chain-man, $1.84; David Frazer, marker, one day, 67 cents; John Davis, marker, one day, 67 cents; Henry H. Jones, surveying, $4.50; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, $27.75

It was ordered that suits should be instituted against all delinquent collectors of taxes .who fail to produce and deposit with the clerk of the board within ten days the county treasurer's receipts; and that suits be instituted against all delinquents who subscribed to pay either in cash, whisky, or grain, towards the public buildings for the use of the county of Butler, including the donation made or subscribed by C. R. Sedam. It was ordered that William Corry, attorney at law, be employed as counsel on behalf of the county.

May 2, 1808, accounts were allowed to James Dunn, associate judge, $19.50; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $19.50; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $19.50; William Corry, attorney for prosecuting the pleas of the State, $27; James Mills, John Hamilton, Jr., Enoch Danford, Abner Enoch, James Rugless, Samuel Dickey, Moses Tegarden, John Thompson, William Webster, Andrew Wilson, Joseph Worth, Isaac Wiles, John Coon, William Hayse, and Thompson Maxwell, grand jurors, each, $3.

Accounts were allowed at the meeting of June 6, 1808, to Amos Hawkins, 5 wolf-scalps, $5; George Myracle, wolf-scalp, $1; David Lee, 2 wolf-scalps, $2; John Patterson, damages sustained by the alteration of the road commonly called Wayne's trace, through his lands as per report of the viewers, $13; David Beaty, coroner, for the cost and charges of an inquest held on the dead body of Ambrose Lawrence, $10.90; Maxwell Parkison, 8 wolf-scalps, $4.

At the August meeting, a statement of the probable general receipts and expenditures of the county of Butler, for the year 1808, was given. Probable receipts: County taxes, $1,396.29; land tax, the county moiety, $422; tavern, store, and ferry licenses, $200; fines and forfeitures, $30; arrears of county taxes for 1807, $130.09. Appropriations: Amount probably necessary to meet the orders which remained unsatisfied on the second Monday in June, 1808, $400; listers and other accounts liquidated since second Monday in June, 1808, $145.62; fourth installment of the jailer's house, $345; associate judges' fees, $150; attorney, prosecuting the pleas of the State for the county, $80; clerk and sheriff, $50; grand jury's fees, $100; judges of elections, $40; wolf and panther scalps, $40; viewers of roads and highways, $50; probable amount of the Board of Commissioners, clerk, and stationery, $150; towards furnishing the new jail, $300; collectors' and county treasurer's commissions, $200; contingent expenses and delinquencies, $127.76. The following collectors were appointed to collect the county taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $306.249; Lemon, William Harvey, $323.825; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $181.525; Milford, Robert Scott, $89.50; Reily, John Price, $59.50; Ross, James Mahan, $139.55; St. Clair, William Broderick, $160.536; Wayne, James Barclay, $135.61: The following collectors of State taxes were appointed, and having given bonds, etc., were severally furnished with duplicates: Fairfield, George Harlan, $186.194; Lemon, William Harvey, $210.454; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $141.55; Milford, Robert Scott, $19.13; Ross, James Mahan, $73.748; St. Clair, William Broderick, $49.655; Wayne, James Barclay, $55.535. Captain Isaac Wiles, for the soldiers to guard the jail in June and July, 1808, $19.25; John Wingate, sheriff, services rendered the county, including a portion of the annual allowance made by law, to the sheriff for failures in State prosecutions, $70.50; William McClellan, late sheriff, proclaiming elections, including a part of the annual allowance made by law to the sheriff, for failures in State prosecutions, etc., $24; John Reily, clerk of Butler Common Pleas, $35.50; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, in drawing orders for roads and highways established by the Board of Commissioners, $33.

Accounts were allowed, September 5, 1808, to James Dunn, associate judge of Butler Common Pleas, $15; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $15; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $15; William Corry, attorney-at-law, prosecuting the pleas of the State in Butler Common Pleas, 1808, $27; Samuel Dick, John Dickson, Adam Dickey, Moses Vail, Michael Morningstar, John Fisher, Thomas Kyle, Benjamin Hawkins, John Withrow; John Richardson, John Richmond, Henry Taylor, Thompson Maxwell, Samuel Dayis, and John Morris, grand jurors, each, $1.50; Robert Brown, constable, for attending the grand jury, $1.50; Samuel Powell, appraiser in Lemon Township, $3.12; Robert Lytle, one of the viewers on the road beginning at the State Road between Ogle's and Stout's, thence to Greenwood's, $1.70; William Robison, viewer, $1.70; James Scott, viewer, $1.70; James Heaton, surveyor, $3; Morton Irwin, chain-man, 67 cents; Robert Crome, chain-man, 67 cents; John Kennedy, ax-man, 67 cents; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners,

William Squire was requested to lay before the board, at their next meeting, a statement of what sums he has collected on the subscription papers made toward the public buildings.

At the next meeting it was ordered that William Squire have further time given, or until the first Monday of November next, to lay before the board a statement of the sums by him collected on the subscription paper made toward public buildings, and put into his hands for collection; and it was ordered that suit be again instituted against William Squire and his bail, on their contract for building the jailer's house, ete.

At the meeting of November 7, 1808, it was ordered that there be allowed to the judges and clerks of elections the sum of 75 cents per day, and the sum of five cents per mile to the judge who returns the poll-book.

Amounts were allowed to John James, wolf-scalp, $1; Godfrey Waggoner, wolf-scalp, $1; John Wingate, sheriff, in part for locks, etc., furnished-for the jail, $15.03; Ezekiel Ball, one of the judges at the October annual election in Lemon Township, and for returning the pollbooks, $2.90; John Wingate, sheriff, for work done at the jail, $12.07.

December 6, 1808, accounts were allowed to the following persons: Hough, Blair & Co., for iron locks, nails, etc., furnished the sheriff for the use of the jail, $33.43; John Wingate, sheriff, plank furnished for the jail, making doors and hanging the same, $26.06; William McClear, iron furnished for the jail, $70; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, to making a duplicate of the State taxes, $29.75.

February 6, 1809, accounts were allowed to James Dunn, associate judge, $21; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $24; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $21; William Corry, prosecuting the pleas on behalf of the State, $27; David Beaty, Isaac Stanley, John Vinnedge, John McDonald, James Piper, John Morrow, Abraham Montoney, John Kennedy, Knoles Shaw, Robert Winton , Samuel Ayres, John Craig, Matthew Hueston, Solomon Line, and Thomas Hunt, grand jurors, each, $2.25; Robert Brown, constable, in attending on grand jury, $2.25; Ezekiel Ball, judge of the election for justice of the peace in Lemon Township, $1.45; Joseph Lummis, judge of election, 75 cents; Gideon Long, judge of election, 75 cents; Daniet L. Pierce, clerk of election, 75 cents; James Bolis, clerk of election, 75 cents; Enoch Danford, judge of the election of 'justices of the peace in Wayne Township, $1.25; James Witherow, judge of election, 75 cents; James Stages, judge of election, 75 cents; Moses Evans, clerk of the election for justices of the peace in Wayne Township, 75 cents; Isaiah Ore, clerk of election, 75 cents; Matthew Hueston, attendance at the clerk's office to canvass and certify the election of justice of the peace held in Lemon Township, $1; John J olly, notifying Matthew Hueston to attend at the clerk's office to canvass and certify the election for justice of the peace in Lemon

Township, 75 cents; John Vinnedge, attending at the clerk's office to canvass and certify the election for justices ef the peace in Wayne Township, $1; James Mills, plank furnished for the court-room, $6; Hugh Blair & Co., a pair of andirons, shovel, and tongs, furnished for the use of the court-room, $5.69; Thomas Hunt, commission for collecting and paying over the State and county taxes of Liberty Township, $26.39 ; James Barclay, collecting and paying over the State and county taxes of Wayne Township, $16.59; William Harvey, collecting and paying over the State and county taxes of Lemon Township, $31.88 ; Nathaniel Bell, collecting and paying over the county taxes of Wayne Township, $9.20; Aaron Southard, carpenter work done in the court-room, $18.

At the meeting of February 15, 1809, a request was made by William Squire, the undertaker of the jailer's house, for more money on the contract, and refused, suit having been instituted by the board.

March 7, 1809, accounts were allowed to Samuel Dick, for his services as one of the viewers of the road from Rossville to the west boundary of the county, opposite James Crooks's, $5:10; William Blackburn, viewer, $5.10; William Crooks, viewer, $5.10; James Heaton, surveyor, $8.50; Benjamin Davis and Cyrus Timbrul, chain-men, each, $2.68; Hampton Adkins, ax-man, $2.68; Samuel Dick, one of the viewers of the road from Williams's mill, on Indian Creek, to the west boundary of the county, at the west side of section Np. six, town four, of the first range, $4.25; William Blackburn and William Crooks, viewers, each, $4.25; James Heaton, surveyor, $7; Benjamin Davis and Cyrus Lambert, chain-men, each, $2.01; Hampton Adkins, axman, $2.01; John Wingate, sheriff, two large locks, éte., procured for the jail of Butler County, $17.17.

Accounts were allowed, April 10, 1809, to William Wilson, a judge of the election for justice of the peace in Lemon Township, held 3d April, 1809, for returning the poll-book, $1.45; Joseph Williamson and'Squire Little, judges of election, each, 75 cents; Joseph Worth and Amos Sewell, clerks of election, each, 75 cents; John E. Scott, for his services as a judge at the election of justice of the peace held in Milford Township, 3d April, 1809, and for returning the poll-book, $1.80; Conrad Dow and William Ogle, judges of election, each 75 cents; Matthew Richardson and Joseph Steele, clerks of election, each, 75 cents; George Myracle, wolf-scalp, $1; Nathan Griffith, for a large lock made for the jail of Butler County, $16; William Squire, in part of the fourth installment for building the jailer's house, $150; John Wingate, sheriff of Butler County, for dieting and guarding, etc., John Cummins, a prisoner, lately confined in the jail of Butler County, $64.15; John Reily, clerk of the Board of Commissioners, $10.50.

May 1, 1808, accounts were allowed to James Dunn, associate judge, $18; Henry Weaver, associate judge, $18; Celadon Symmes, associate judge, $18; William Corry, attorney, for prosecuting the pleas of the State in Butler Common Pleas, 1807, $27; Arthur St. Clair and Jacob Burnett, attorneys, for prosecuting the pleas of the State, Butler Common Pleas and Supreme Court, against Cornelius Cummins, $16; James Heaton, Squire Little, Benjamin Van Cleif, Robert Brown, Isaac S. Swearingin, Michael Ayres, William Smith, Solomon Hittle, Ebenezer Paddocks, William Mitchel, Joseph Walker, Thomas Hunt, John Vinnedge, Thompson Maxwell, and John Smith, grand jurors, each, $2.25; Josiah Conklin, constable, for attending the grand jury, $2.25; Benjamin Davis, making hinges and spikes for the jail, $19.45; John Wingate, in part on account of work and materials found, ete., for the completing the jail, $134.44.

Accounts were allowed on the meeting of June 5, 1809, to David Beaty, coroner, for holding an inquest on the dead body of Baldwin Moore, on the 19th March, 1809, $15.30.

June 17, 1809, it was ordered, by and with the assent of William Squire, that the suit now pending in the Butler Common Pleas between the Board of Commissioners, plaintiffs, and William Squire and his sureties, on the contract for building the jailer's house, finding the materials, ete., be submitted to reference.

Accounts were allowed at the next meeting, that of July 3, 1809, to George Harlan, as lister and appraiser of houses in Fairfield Township, $27.50 4 James Heaton, appraiser of houses in Fairfield Township, $6.25 ; Robert Ferris, lister and appraiser of houses in Lemon Township, $30.62; Abner Enoch, appraiser of houses in Lemon Township, $4.37; Thomas Hunt, lister and appraiser of houses in Liberty Township, $24; Michael Ayres, appraiser of houses in Liberty Township, $1.25; Robert Young, lister and appraiser of houses in Milford Township, $8.75; James Martin, appraiser of houses in Milford Township, $1.25; John Price, lister and appraiser of houses in Reily Township, $7.50; William Broderick, lister and appraiser of houses in St. Clair Township, $12.50; Adam Heath, appraiser of houses in St. Clair Township, $1.25; Nathaniel Bell, lister and appraiser of houses in Wayne Township, $11.45; Jonathan Staggs, appraiser of houses in Wayne Township, $2.50; Peter Williamson, one of the judges of the election for justices ofthe peace in Liberty Township, and returning the pollbook of the same, $1.75; Daniel Nelson, one of the judges of election, $1; Joseph Cox, judge of election, $1; John Freeman, clerk of election, $1; Thomas Fish, clerk of election, $1; William Squire, fourth installment for building the jailer's house, $194.34.

It was ordered that notice should be given, by publication in the Whig and Liberty Hall, to all those who were in arrears with the county of Butler on their subscriptions made to assist in erecting public buildings, to come forward and deposit the same with Isaac Stanley, of Hamilton, or confess a judgment before him for the same before the first day of August next, and that suits be immediately instituted against all those who should fail to comply with the foregoing requisition.

Recerts. - Amount of the county taxes, $1,507.58; one-third part of the State or land tax, $288; store, tavern, and ferry license, $200; fines and forfeitures, $20; arrears of taxes in the collectors' hands, for the year 1808, $240.82.

APppROPRIATIONS. - A mount probably necessary to pay for the orders drawn (outstanding) previous to the second Monday in June, 1809, $300; amount of orders drawn since the second Monday in June, 1809, $364.12; probable amount of the associate judges' fees, $160; attorney for the State, $80; clerk and sheriff, $80; grand jury's fees, $120; judges and clerks of elections, $70; wolves' and panthers' scalps, $40; viewers, etce., of roads and highways, $50; Board of Commissioners, their clerk, stationery, etc., $175; collectors' and county treasurer's commissions, $200; necessary to be expended on the jail, contingent expenses and delinquencies, $617.28.

Accounts were allowed William Broderick, commission for collecting and paying over the county taxes of St. Clair Township, $15.83; John Wingate, sheriff of Butler County, for materials furnished and work done in completing the jail of Butler County, including dieting failures in State prosecutions, $281.23; John Reily, clerk of Butler Common Pleas, $46.12; William Murray, one of the judges of the election of justice of the peace, in Fairfield Township, $1; David Beaty, judge of election, $1; Thomas W. Spencer, judge of election, $1; James Heaton, clerk of election, $1; William Doty, clerk of election, $1; William Caldwell, judge of the election held for electing two justices of the peace, St. Clair Township, on August 3, 1809, and returning the poll-book, $1.75; George Huffman, judge of election, $1; Robert Winton, judge of election, $1; Jeremy Beaty, clerk of election, $1; John Taylor, clerk of election, $1; Christopher Beeler, wolf-scalp, $1; Joe Collins, wolf-scalp, $1.

The following persons were appointed to collect the county taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $332.442; Lemon, William Harvey, $379.897; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $176.425; Milford, Robert Young, $94.20; Reily, John Price, $71.80; Ross, James Denning, $141.50; St. Clair, William Broderick, $169.261; Wayne, Nathaniel Bell, $142.06.

The following persons were appointed to collect the State taxes: Fairfield, George Harlan, $158.207; Lemon, William Harvey, $602.051; Liberty, Thomas Hunt, $160.587; Milford, Robert Young, $81.535 ; Reily, John Price, $18.18; Ross, James Dunning, $59.308; St. Clair,

September 4, 1809, accounts were allowed as follows: James Dunn, associate judge of Butler Common Pleas, $15; Henry Weaver, $15; Celadon Symmes, $9; William Corry, attorney for the State in Butler Common Pleas, $27; James Smith, Samuel Kennedy, John Caldwell, John Baker, Hendrick Lane, Tobias Barkalow, John Fisher, Thomas Irwin, John Dunn, Robert Morehead, Joseph Hough, Samuel Davis, Thompson Maxwell, Henry Taylor, and James Pierce, grand jurors, each, $1.50; Daniel Salle, constable, for attending grand jury in Butler Common Pleas, $1.50.

Proceedings From 1813 To 1819

December 7, 1813, the bond of James McBride, for the faithful discharge of his duties as sheriff, was recorded, with James and Hugh Wilson as his sureties; amount, $4,000.

January 3, 1814, Matthew Richardson took his seat as county commissioner, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Wingate. His associates were James Blackburn and William Robison.

February 7, ordered that John Scott, contractor of the new court-house, be allowed to collect the subscriptions of stone, brick, timber, lime, mechanical work, labor, etc., as reported by committee on subscriptions, July 18, 1803. The bond of David Beaty, of $2,000, indorsed by David Beaty, David Brant, and Samuel Miller, for the faithful discharge of the former's duties as coroner, recorded.

May 2, John Richmond, road commissioner, was allowed $6.75, in full for his services in the repair of the road from the forks of the State road at Knox & Iseminger's mill to Hielay's mill.

June 6, the commissioners appointed John Reily clerk, Hugh Wilson treasurer, and Richard Scott collector of State or land taxes, the treasurer's remuneration to be three per centum.

August 1, the board made their yearly estimate of the probable receipts and expenditures of the county as follows: Receipts - From county taxes, $2,300; land taxes, $350; store, tavern, and ferry licenses, $300; cash in treasury, taxes, fines, and debts due to the county over and above the sum of $1,250 heretofore appropriated for building court-house, $1,275.50; total, $4,425.50. Expenditures - Associate judges, $220; State attorney, $81; clerk and sheriff, $120; dieting prisoners in jail, $100; clerk, and stationery, $200; listers and appraisers of property, $153.51; collectors and county treasurer, $300 ; orders drawn by commissioners not yet presented for payment, $150; to be paid towards new court-house, $1,500 ; to meet delinquencies and contingent expenses, $1,275.99 ; total, $4,425.50.

May 1, 1815, the commissioners agreed to have but two windows in the north end of court-house, first floor (instead of four), and three in the second floor (instead of five).

August 7, the estimates of the year's receipts and expenditures were made as follows: Receipts, $4,809 ; expenditures, $4,809; allowing $2,000 to run the courthouse, and $1,393.17 for contingent expenses.

January 1, 1816, it-was ordered that the sheriff should keep in repair the jailer's house (the court-room included), without any compensation, excepting only the use thereof for the accommodation of the jailer.

August 5, the estimates of receipts and expenditures for the current year shows a falling off over the previous year as follows: Receipts, $4,236.96 ; expenditures, $4,236.96; allowing but $1,500 toward the court-house building, and $1,029.01 for contingent expenses.

November 4, Joseph Henderson took his seat as commissioner, having been re-elected. Daniel Milliken, associate judge, having presented an account of $102, for duties, such as allowing writs of habeas corpus, examining bills in equity, allowing writs of injunction, etc., which was not allowed by the Board of Commissioners, gave

_. January 6, 1817, ordered that the Public Square be inclosed with a board fence, open work, and that there be left offs from each end four poles, on the north side one pole, and that the south side-be on a line with the jail and jailer's house, and that Hugh Wilson be the agent to purchase the materials and make the contract for inclosing the same.

March 8, Daniel Keyt agrees to inclose the Public Square at the rate of $1.25 per panel, and $5 for making three gates, one in front of each door of. the courthouse, the materials to be furnished by the Board of Commissioners.

April 4, 1818, a bridge was ordered built over Twomile Creek, north of Rossville, at an expense of $100; also a bridge across Elk Creek at Miltonville, to cost $40.

June 18th, Britton Moore was appointed to lay out $20 on the improvement of the county road from Belch's tayern to the east boundary of the county on the way to Lebanon. Moore was appointed in the place of Joseph Stevens, who refused to serve.

John E. Scott was voted $1,000 over and above the original contract price for building the court-house, he having shown that he expended that sum necessarily.

March Ist, it being found that the moneys then in the treasury, together with the moneys due to the county, and which money it was expected would be collected, would be sufficient to defray the ordinary expenses of the county for that year, it was, therefore, ordered that no tax under the act entitled '"' An act regulating county levies" be levied on the county for the year, and thatenotice thereof be given to the listers by publication in the Miami Herald.

We end our quotations with the year 1819. Enough has been given to show how inexpensively the wheels of government turned in the early part of the century, and with how little power men could be controlled. Ohio came forth into the world a full-fledged commonwealth, the first known in history. It was Minerva bursting full-armed from the brain of Jupiter.

The reader will notice some things that sound oddly enough. The court was obliged to omit its sessions until a stove could be hired by the sheriff; subscriptions were taken for the public buildings in labor, whisky, provisions, or money; wolves were an object of so muchfear that a premium was offered for their destruction, and laying out a new road was one of the commonest occurrences. It may interest those who know at what rate we now pay our public servants, to see how frugally judges of election, judges, sheriffs, and clerks were paid. There were no expenses worth considering for the poor or for the vicious; no charge for lunatics; the coroner's bills light, and schools were not in existence.

The Earliest Account Of The Miami Country

Tue earliest account we have of the Miami country is from the pen of Dr. Daniel Drake, a learned and successful practitioner of medicine in Cincinnati, who wrote a book descriptive of that city and the Miami country in 1815. He had evidently devoted much time and attention to the subject, and, as far as we may judge at this length of time, his accounts were accurate.

"The south-west corner of the State of Ohio," writes Dr. Drake, 'is watered chiefly by two rivers, called the Great and Little Miamis. Their general course is southwest; their medium distance apart, twenty miles.