Jefferson Township (part 3 of 15)

Sackett Farm, Ix One Xame, From 1 799

The following is taken from the "Fjellbrook ^loon :" "One hundred years ago Cyrus Sackett, accompanied by his wife and three children, came from Kentucky and settled on wiiat has been known in later years as the Alexander Sackett farm. Mr. Sackett bought this farm of one hundred and fifty acres at two dollars per acre. They arrived there on October 17, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The land was then covered with dense forests. He, however, cleared a small space, where they pitched their tents made of bed clothes, in which they managed to live for some time. Mr. Sackett then built a log cabin, which was called a round-log cabin, in which they lived for several years. He then built a large hewed-log house, wliicli was at that time considered \-erv fine. Here INlr. Sackett and wife spent the remainder of their lives. After their death the farm was di\ided into two parts and sold. Alexander Sackett bought the eastern part contain.ing eig-bty acres, and Preston Poaguc bought the remainder of the farm, which is now owned l)y the heirs of the late Benjamin Vaughan. Alexander Sackett held this farm in his possession until his death, which occurred April TO, 1893. The farm was then purchased ji^intlv 1;\- Phineas \\'ilson and Emily Sackett, grandchildren of Cyrus Sackett. The farm remained in their possession until the end of the year 1899, when they sold it to Jacob Carey. Thus it passed

In tile old Baptist grax'eyard about one mile south of the village of Bellbrook lies all that is mortal of Cyrus Sackett, Sr. Many more of historic worth also are buried there ; among the number are Rev. Josiah Carman, the veteran pioneer Baptist preacher, Captain Ammi Maltbie, who made a name for himself in the war of 1812, Andrew Byrd, Sr., and others. Mr. Cyrus Sackett, Sr., died at his home July 13. 1846, aged eightythree years, leaving his wife. Xancy, and the following children : sens. Alexander, Joseph, Samuel and Cyrus Sackett, Jr. ; daughters, Sarah Hand, Mrs. Anna Hoblet and ]Mrs. Poague.

Was Ixjrn in 1754 and died }ilay 21, 1S49. at the good old age of ninety-five years. He was a native of Penns_\I\-ania, and at the time of the Revolutionary war was a private soldier in the Pennsylvania militia. The records on file in the pension office at Washington, D. C, show that he was drawing a pension, and was then a resident of Greene county, Ohio. His annual allowance was se\enty-six dollars and sixty-six cents. He applied for the pension May 4, 1831, being al that time se\'enty-nine years old, and he was placed on the roll October 12, 1833. .\fter the close of the war he removed first to \'irginia. and from that state in 1820 to Ohio, settling in Greene county, where he continued to live until his death.

were a liard-working, Imnest set of men. Just over tlie line in Clinton ctiunty, near Luniljerton. is a l)eaiitiful little cemetery; in that lies all that is mortal of this old hero, George Hiney. .\t his side lies his wife, Mary, who died September 22, 1858, aged eighty-one years. His son Henry also lies there: he died Septeml)er 24, 1869. at the age of eighty years.

First Court Of Common Pleas

The gathering of the pioneers of Greene county in what is known as Beavercreek township, August 2, 1803. The wheat harvest had been gathered by many of the early pioneers in the young count}-. Work by manv had licen laid aside, and some had received notice to ap])ear at the house of Owen Davis, which was situated five and one-half miles west of the now city of Xenia, on the farm now (1900) known as the Harbine farm. Others came out of curiosity ; some few had come in the night before, and were the guests of mine host, Peter Borders, who was at that time the tenant of Owen Davis, who was ready to supply the wants of both man and l>east with the necessities of life arid comfort. Some had traveled far through the trackless forest. Tomorrow v.ould be a great day in the history of the new made county and of Beavercreek township. Three months previous there had been a gathering. May 10, 1803, for the purpose of organizing the county into townships and other matters pertaining to starting the wheels of the county government. But this da}- had lieen spoken of among the few hardy settlers as they would meet to assist each other in the erection of their cabin homes in the few townships then organized ; tomorrow would l>e a chance to meet hardy men like themselves, representatives from the four townships which constituted Cireene county. This day was to be a countv reunion.

It was to l)e a great day in the county, and the people were gathered in large numbers; here was the presiding judge, and his associates, prosecuting attorney and grand jury; here was the coiui: house and jury room, and also the tavern of Peter Borders, whose bar was well supplied with whisky. What was the meaning of this gathering? The lirst court of common pleas for the new made county of Greene was to meet to-day. And it had been said on one occasion previous to this, "there were giants in those days," so could it lie said i>f the cian-t and grand jury truthfully that had assembled at the house of Owen Davis on this occasion. And as the court has met. and the business of the dav conmienced, we will step inside and proceed to introduce the members of the court. First, the presiding judge is the

County

This is his first visit to Greene county, which is one of the points on his circuit, which he continued to travel until 1817. A Virginian Ijy liirth, he was born near Winchester, December 31, 1761. His father, Anthony Dunlavy, came from Ireland in 1745. and took for a helpmate Hannah White, sister of Judge Alexander White, of Virginia. Of this marriage there were four sons and four daughters. Francis was the oldest son. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, was also twice a member of the legislature of the Xorthwestern territory, and also a member of the convention that formed the first constitution of the state of Ohio, and was also a member of the first legislature of Ohio. The next member of the ciiurt is the

Hon. William Maxwell

One of the associate judges, who was nut unknown to the presiding judge, for both of them Ivad been members of the first legislature of Ohio, which had met ]\Iarch i. 1803, at Chillicothe. Mr. Dunlavy was a member of the senate and Mr. Maxwell a member of the house, but in matters which for a joint session were brought face to face. This explains another item of history. Mr. Ala.xwell being a member of the body that formulated and passed the act creating the new counties of Butler, Warren, Montgomery and Greene, whilst in the legislature had received the appointment of associate judge, along with Benjamin Whiteman and James Barrett, and while there had taken the oath of office. When the court met "Slay 10, 1803, he administered the same to his two associates. I\Ir. Maxwell was akso a soldier, and he is said to have published the first paper printed in Cincinnati. He was a "resident of what is now known as Bea\ercreek township, Greene county, at the time be is credited as being a representati\'e from Hamilton county, Ohio.

Mr. Maxwell resigned as associate judge and accepted the ofifice of sheriff' of Greene county, in place of Captain Nathan Lamme, who had first been appointed and served six months. He continued to act as sheriff imtil 1807. when he was relieved by Colonel James Collier, who had been his faithful deputy. It was while ]\Ir. Ma.xwell was sheriff, in 1806, that the notorious fight occurred between Ben Kizer and Aaron Beall. Mr. Maxwell in his attempt to uphold the majesty of the law rushed into the ring to stop the fight, received a blow that sent him reeling and bleeding from the ring.

The next one sitting near Mr. Maxwell is one upon whose face if you once gazed you would li->ok again, attracted by his fine military look and bearing; that man was the companion of Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton, and is well known by all present as a brave soldier,

General Bexjamix Whitemax

Another of the three associate judges of Greene county, and son-in-law of Owen Davis, the owner of the building in which the court is being held, which building General \\'hiteman had erected for his father-in-law in 1799. He is at this time in the prime of life in his thirty-fourth year. He was liorn on the 12th day of March, 1769, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AX'hen but thirteen years of age he had emigrated to Kentucky, about seven years after the first white settlement had been made by Colonel Daniel Boone, and settled near Limestone (now Maysville). He himself says he came to Beavercreek township in 1799.

Robixsox'S History Of Greene Couxty

cliiUlrcn. two sons, James and Philip, and dangliters Eleanor and Hannah. He was at this time well up in years, and the inlirmities of age were beginning to show that he had reached the top of the hill and had commenced going down. In cuming into the township he located on the land better known as the farm of Robert Tate, nortiiwest of the present village of Bellbrook, being south part of section 9 (2.6). His boys were hale, hearty fellows, James at this time being twenty-one years old, and I'liilip nineteen, and as they all had their Imme in common the father and mother were well cared for. Mr. Barrett and his family in first coming to Hamilton county settled on Dick creek in what afterward was ] hitler county.

The next member of the court that attract.-; our attention is that distinguished looking man that is present to act as prosecuting attorney, the

A former native of Xew York, who had emigrated early to the Northwestern territory, and had settled in what proved to be Hamilton county. He ha<l Ijeen chosen to represent Hamilton county in the first session of the legislature which met at Chillicothe. March i, 1803, and was a member of the senate of said body, and here it was that "Hon." was first prefi.xed to his name. He makes the fourth member of that honorable body that is now present at this first court of common pleas, which met at the house of Peter Borders.. The others are His Honor Francis Dunlavy, of \\'arren county ; John Paul, the etificient clerk of the court and whose home was at this time at what is now known as Trebein's Station, where he first settfed when, in 1800, he came to (ireene county. Here Mr. Paul had. as it were, harnessed the waters of the Little Miami to run his sawmill, and it was known at the time as "Paul's mill." These three, a short time before, were members of the senate, and William Maxwell, of whom we have sjxjken l>efore, was a member nf tlie hini^e of that first legislature.

Over the hill southeast of where the honorable court is now sitting is the home, and was when he was in this first legislature of Ohio, of William Ma.xwell. "Honor to whom honor is due." History says that Messrs. Paul and Maxwell were members from Plamilton county, which was in part true, nevertheless they were residents at the time of what is now known as Greene county.

Over in the corner sit the members of the grand jury, a fine looking" body of men. Sugarcreek township is well represented on said jury. Out of the fourteen. Sugarcreek has seven, namely, Joseph C. Vance, John Wilson. William Buckles, Abraham Van Eaton. James Snodgrass, Robert Marshall and Alexander Armstrong. ?ilad River township for some cause was not represented on this first "grand jury." Caesarscreek was represented by William I. Stewart, w-ho was cliosen as foreman, and Martin Mendenhall and Joseph Wilson. Beavercreek township, in which the court was being held, was represented by John Judy, E\-an JNlorgan, Jolm Buckhannon and Harry Martin.

Rev. Moses Shoup

Son uf George and Chaiiutte Shoup. was born in Frederick county, ^Maryland, on the I St day of October, 1793. and emigrated to Greene county in the spring of 1805. His life was one of usefuhiess, and his kind and genial disposition won for him the good will of all. He was a faithful minister in the German Baptist church fur more than fifty years. He was married to Elizabeth ]\Iiller in the year 1818, and with whom he lived more than fifty years. She died in 1877. Mr. Shoup died ]\Iay 7, 1880, in his eighty-seventh year, and is buried at ;\It. Zion churchyard. His grandfather, Martin Shoup. was a native of Switzerland, and his three sons, George and Solomon settled in Beavercreek township, whilst Samuel made his home in Bath township the short time that he lived after coming to Ohio. He died at his home in Bath township, July 18, 1812, aged fory years, and is Imried along side of his wife, Dorothy, who died March 28, 1837, at the age of sixty-four years. Both are buried in what is known as the "Cost gravevard," in sight of Fairfield, Bath township, Ohio. George Shoup, Sr., father of ]\Ioses Shoup. was the father of the following children : Moses, George, Solomon, David, and one daughter, Mary Hawk, living in Frederick county, ^Maryland. Rev. Moses Shoup" s children who arrived at adult age consisted of the following: One son, Daniel M. Shoup, and daughters. Airs. Charlotte Coy. Mrs. Catharine Gearhart, Mrs. Sarah Wampler, Mrs. Harriet Brubaker and Mrs. Rebecca Ann Darst.

1812. He was married to ]^Iiss Mary Cadwell in Xurthumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1816, and in the fall of 1820 he, with his wife and two children, emigrated to Ohio, settling first in Franklin, Warren county. They came in true emigrant style with wagon and four horses attached, and were six weeks making the journey. After residing in Franklin two years the family removed to Beavercreek township, Greene county, in tiie year 1822, and settled near what is known as Harbine's Station, and continued to live there until the year 1S34, when they removed to Shelby county, Ohio, into what might be termed then the back woods of Ohio, and for a number of years endured all the hardships of frontier life. Mr. Allison died and was Ijuried in Shelby county. For a while when they \\\td in Beavercreek township they resided in that ever to be rememljered house, the house of Peter Borders. Greene county's first place vi holding courts. And here in this house some of their children were born. After the death of Mr. Allison the mother was left with a family of nine children, the care of which was thrown upon her, and well did she do her part. Mrs. Allison's parents emigrated from the north of Ireland in 1782 to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and were of the highest type of Scotch Presbyterians, and she inherited all the traits of character peculiar to that race of people to a very liigh degree. In 1882 six of her children were living, three sons and three daughters. James, the eldest, when quite a boy, learned the mercantile business with Samuel Puterbaugh : William, the well known insurance agent ; and Samuel, manufacturer of liinder twine : also another son. Robert, who emi-

The Coming Of The H.Akbines To Greene

I*"ew families have been as successful in tracing their ancestors back to "the long ago" as lias been the case with this honored famil}-. i'he history as gleaned here an<l there reads almost like the beginning of fiction. The Harbine family descended from the Huguenots, and their early ancestors were driven from their native France to lands where thev might wnrship according to the dictates of their own consciences. Three families of that name left their native lands about the \ear 1700. One family settled in Algiers, where a small town now now bears their name. The other two came to the United States, one settling in West Virginia, and the dther in Herks county, Penns_\-lvania. Peter Harbine was at the head of the Jast family spoken of. and was the ancestor of our Greene county Harbines. Briefly fullowing out the Scrijjtnral form. we would say of John Harbine. he was the son of Daniel, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of Peter Harliine. who in 1749 purchased a tract of land from Thomas and William Penn in the then province of Pennsylvania. Daniel Harbine, Sr., had removed to Washington county, Maryland, where. January 17. 1804, the subject of this sketch, John Harbine, was born, and there continued to reside until the year 1828. He was married in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. August 21. 1827. to Miss Hester Herr, and the year following, with his young wife, started for their new home. They drove through in a carriage, and not long after Mr. Harbine"s arrival he purchased the land on which stood the first court house for Greene county, in Beavercreek township. They moved intO' the building thus obtained, and the husband occupied himself as miller and owner of the Owen Da\-is mill, the first that was built in Greene county. He continued milling for some years, and finally built extensive oil, flour and woolen mills, together with the store, and became largely interested in the grain trade in .\enia. He also had two mills on the Miami river, where was erected the first cotton factory of this section, ami was largely interested in the dexelopment of the lurni)ike system, besides being instrumental in securing the building of the Little Miami road. He was warmly interested in the establishment of schools. Politically he was' a Whig, and later a Republican. Religiously he was a prominent member of the Reformed church. To him and his estimable wife there was born a family of eight children, ail of whom grew to mature years : Daniel R. ; Jacob H.. who i« still a resident of the old home; Marv E.. who was married to David G. Steele; Hattie M.. wh< became the wife of the Hon. John ^filler: Sarah J. married Dr. William Hagenbaugh : Anna C.. the wife of George Smith ; J. Thomas ; and B. F. Harbine.

June 8, 1873, after a life of usefulness, the father, John Harbine. died. .\t the age of eighteen he was received into full communion with the Reformed church at St. PauFs church, near Clear Springs. Maryland. The esteem in which he was held as a citizen and neighbor was exinced by the large procession that followed his remains to their last resting place in \\'oodland cemetery. Xenia. Ohio.

At the September term of the court of common pleas of Greene county. Ohio, in tlie year 1821 personally appeared in open court before the court of common pleas Thomas Davis, aged sixty-five years last January, a resident of Bath township, in the county of Cireene aforesaid, who being sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war, as follows : "I served as a private in the company commanded by Captain Thomas Young, Western Battalion, in the regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Crockett, in the service of the United States." Mr. Davis had previous tO' this made a])plicatii:in and was recei\'ing a pension of eight dollars per month under what was termed "the law of 1S18." whicii pension was granted him at the rate of eight dollars per montli. He made that application in Clark county, Kentucky, previous to his coming to Ohio. The date of his certificate under the law was No. 7258. He had at the time of making his last application two children living, a son, John Davis, who was then thirty-six years old, and was a cripple in his left arm, not able to help his parents ; and one daughter. Nancy Davis, aged sixteen years, who was acting as housekeeper. He farther states that he served five years in the Revolutionary war and three years under General Anthony Wayne.

William Read

1793, and was the second child of Andrew and Catharine Read. During the year 1799 he removed with his parents to Ohio and settled on ]SIad river, four miles northeast of Dayton, thence removed in the spring of 1802 to near Fairfield, settling upon what has been called "Read's Hill." During the war with England in 18 12 and 181 3 he served as a teamster, carrying commissary stores from Dayton to Urbana. Bellefontaine and stations far beyond. Still later he sers'ed as a private under Captains Stevenson and McClellan, and was stationed at Fort Mc- Arthur, guarding the open frontier and keeping a line of comnuinicatinn ojien to Fort Meigs. After his return home he was married, in 1814, to ]\Iiss Mary Tatman, eldest daughter of Rev. Joseph and Rebecca Tatman. There were biirn unto them six children. He was an active member of the Alethodist Episcopal church. He was justice of the peace for many years, and a commissioner ior six years. He lacked just twenty-eight days of being sex'entv vears old at the time of his death.

Nimrod Haddox

During the year 1800 Ninn-od Haddox started from Virginia with two pack horses and came to Qiillicothe, Ross county, and while traveling at Deer creek met an old friend from \'irginia, with win nn he stopped over night, and liking the surroundings he prolonged his stay over winter. In the following spring he and five other families moved up Deer creek to Lamb's purchase, and squatted cm it. After having made a little improvement, learning that his nephew had settled on the Little Miami, he came to visit him, and finallv moved in with him.

After remaining here a couple of years he learned tliat his mother and family had moved to Kentucky, and he determined to visit her. Packing up, he started; and aljoiu three miles below Dayton he fell in with another old friend from Virginia w lio persuaded him to remain all winter and teach a school in the vicinity. In March the smallpox appearing in the settlement he moved across the river and began making sugar. Having good success in this direction, a fine lot of sugar was the result. About this time the great Hood took place. The water began to rise and he was compelled to cross the river with his sugar to a cabin on higher ground. The water still rising, lie moved to a house owned by a Mr. Taylor. This, also, being' surrounded by water, he put his sugar in the loft, and they all paddled across to an elevated spot and camjied for the night. Mr. Iladdox was ])laced on watch, and about midnight the water reached them and they were compelled as a last resort to cut trees and fall their tops together and climb them, and remain on them from Friday till Monday without food or drink. On Mmidav the water began to subside, and soon they descended from their perch and went to the house, which was turned around. They rowed their boat to the upper window and crawled in, and finding a large iron kettle in the loft and some meat they made a fire in the kettle and l)roiled some of it ; and also finding a sack of meal stowed awav in the loft they mixed this with water and baking it also in the impromptu oven soon had a good meal. On looking for his sugar, he found that it hail mostly disappeared. Fully satisfied with his \isit, he returned to his nephew's house.

What Became Of Peter Borders

From the old files of the "Torchlight" under date of Octol)er 23, 185 1. we find the following: "Died at Irish Grove, Menard county, Illinois, Sylvia Borders, wife of Peter Borders, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. Borders kept the first [lublic house in Greene countv, Ohio. And the first courts of said county were held in his house. He was at the time his wife died an old man eightyfour years of age, in good health, and astonishing activity for one of his age.

William Stephenson, Sr., wilh his wife and four children, namely, William, James, Peter and John, left the state of Kentucky some time previous to 1803 and settled in Bath township, Greene county, one mile and a half east of the present town of Osborn on land which in later years came to be the home of John Dispenett. His son. William, was a soldier with the rank of captain in the war of 1812.

John Hosier, Son Of Frederick

Mr. John Hosier, of Osborn. Bath township. Greene county. Ohio, died on Friday. December 24. 1869. at the mature age of eighty-one years. He was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1789. to which place his parents had remo\-ed and where thev made their home until 1797. They brought up a family of seven children, of whuiii John was tlie youngest save one. In 1/97 tlie family removed to this state, which was then hut a part of the "Xorthwestern territory, " and in a wilderness condition, inhabited or rather occupied by the "red men of the forest." Thev made a halt in Mason countv for about four years, where they rented some land and lived as most "backwoodsmen" lived in all new countries in a primitive way, with wants few and easily supplied. 'There were the carcasses of wild animals, many varieties of which abounded in every part of the great Northwest. The bread was made from corn meal, which was ground in little hand mills, somewhat like those in eastern countries, as in Bible times "upper and lower mill stones." the upper being turned liy a \)\n of wood or irijii inserted in the top, and near the outer rim or edge, for the hand of the operator to take hold of while the other hand supplied it with corn. It was sifted through a primitive screen, made of untanned deerskin, with holes made with the tines of a common table fork, which had been made red hot for the purpose. This process of burning the skins, through which the heated fork tines passed, prevented it from resuming its original shape again, and the seared and crisp material ser\'ed the purpose for which it was designed for long periods, and was certainly a good substitute for the wire sieve of to-day, though the process, like the grinding, as above described, was decidedly slow and tedious, compared with the method of doing the same work in our old settled country. At the end of the four years the family made another journey toward their ]ircsent home, and halted at a point near Cincinnati, called Columbia, at that day. Here they stayed more than two years. In coming from Shenandoali they stayed one entire winter in a rude camp which they hastilv constructed lor the purpose at the mouth of the Little Kaitawha river, and where they had expected to embark on a flat boat for their coveted western home, with their two horses and two cows and household goods and provisions, but with no wagon or other vehicle to facilitate land transportation. The boat did not come as anticipated, and they had no recourse but to make "virtue a necessit}'," and winter where they were, in their rude cabin, three miles from any white inhabitants and under the necessity of wintering their animals on browse, which they cut for the purpose in the surrounding forests, together with a little corn which they secured from the nearest settlement. The}' had no meat on their table with the exception of a large fat bear, which one of the larger boys had killed, with now and then a wild turkey. Their bread during the long winter was made from corn that was pounded in the hole of a large stump, hollowed out for the purpose with fire, a spring pole pestle being used for the purpose of mashing it. The next spring they embarked on a flat boat, according to their original plan, and finallv landed on the shore of the Miami river near Cincinnati. At this place, three miles from Cincinnati, they occupied a farm which was owned by a Mr. Isaac VanNess. The house was back from the river, on the "second bottom," tlnxigh some of the improved gTound was on the "lower bottom," nearer the river. They' were yet on this farm of Mr. VanNess when the great flood of 1803 occurred and where their cows got surrounded with a wide waste of whirlingwaters, while they had a little more than sulticient standing room on a little patch or knoll, just eniiugli to keep them from being swept a\va\' 1)_\- the seething flood. At one time, during the progress of the fltxad, our subject, with another l^rother, came near being drowned by the upsetting of their narrow, sliai>eless log of a canoe, with which they were striving to convey some food to their imprisoned animals, an eddy in the seething flow brought them into collision with a lug whicli was being whirled alnng at a rapid rate and which upset them ; however, he managed to grasp a branch of an elm tree and to climb among its branches, where he rested until his brother got safe to land, and returned with another raft of the same kind, and which had been dug out just the day before, as if to be ])riividentially readv for the occasion. There were no levees to confine the accumulated waters of the spring freshet within the legitimate banks of the river and, of course, they spread themseh'es out intn the forest on either side of the stream proper until the Miami \-alIey was like a vast lake, or an inland sea, or like the great father of waters in width and volume.

They came here in the valley of Mad river in 1803, and settled upon the eighty acres of land upon which uur subject resided until his death, midwav between the village of Osborn and Fairfield. The lanrl had been i^re-empted bv John Hunt, as were most of the government lands in that immediate locality by different individuals. They paid Mr. Hunt two shillings per acre for his pre-emption rights and then paid the government agent two dnllars per acre, with five years payments. But the land was in a state of nature, covered by a thick growth of ]3lum and hazel Ixishes. Fairfield had Isut a single hut at that time, and there were Init few inhabitants anywhere in the vicinity. Their household goods were unloaded in the woods, where they had no shelter but the canopy of the heavens, until they could hastily construct a tentlike structure of their bedclothes on short sticks set in the ground. After they had made their lirst pavment on their land they found themselves destitute of available meani, and, of course, depended ui>(in their good constitutions, their acquired skill in battling with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and, of course, on the blessing of God. ThcA- had all of their provisions to procure by their labor in working for others who needed their services. Wages were low, and pries of pro\isions were correspondingly low. The price of a day's work with sickle in harvest was only four shillings, yet there was an active demand for it; all of the grain of the country had to be cut with the sickle for .several years, and until the grain craille was in- ^-ented and brought gradually into use. They got their grain, corn and wheat ground .MJinctimes at McCormack's mill on Mad river, nearby on the "chopinng mill' of the late John Knisley, sometimes at ]\lr. Steel's mill at Midway, near the site of Mr. Felix Wise's ]iresent woolen factory, and sometimes at Mr. Davis' mill near Clifton. The flour wherever made was bolted bv turning the machinery by hand. This was usually done l)y the owner of the "grist" so as to accelerate the process of making the wheat into flour and bran. This vicinity to Tatman's prairie near Fairfield enabled them to share with others in cutting the grass of that prairie for their cows and horses in the first winter.

Robinso.Ts History Of Greene Couxty

dix. of Oslx)ni. She was the motlier (if thirteen chilch-en. Mr. Hosier was converted to tlie service of God in 1840 and connected witli tlie Methodist Episcopal church. His opportunities for attending religious meetings had been few and far between. The first meeting that he attended was at "Read's Hill." east of Fairfield village.

He lived to see manv changes, and was one of the most useful men that lived in his day and generation. He was not the man to make himself too consjHCuous in the neighborhood where he lived, unless it was that he was known for his modesty and moral worth, for his honesty and integrity could not be called in question ; he would be ki\own as a good man, good citizen and a good Christian, and such he was in the judgment of charity. He had lived to see our country ])ass thrdUgh conflicts with foreign powers successfully, and then the great rebellion which threatened the life of the nation. He lived to see peace restored to our countrv. W'hen his time came he was readv

"To the Worshipful Court of Greene county, humbly showeth : "That whereas your petitioner liath been solicited from time to time liy travelers from remote distances as well as adjacent, tliat hath been and now continue to exjjlove the flourishing and fertile lands of Mad river, to ask license from the Honorable l>ench to keep a public house of entertainmen. That for want of such a place of cimvening for a recourse for shelter hath often sufficed in their recognizing in the said tour through this e.xtensi\e country, and being yet almost unsettled for many miles from m_\' dwelling. And beside all this he farther adds that without said lawful indulgence to obtain said license, must sustain great loss ; for at times am much crowded with sojourners to the dissatisfaction of private life, with no man near of profit, but an entire fatigue. His habitation being north fmni Sijringheld twent)- miles, from Chillicothe sixty miles. Ottawa Town forty miles northwest, from Mr. Isaac Zane's ten miles west. Your petitioner hopes to obtain and of your clemency the said license, and as in duty bcjund will e\-er pray. Signed by

The petition was also signed by Simrm Kenton, Peter Olix'er. Thomas Davis. Joseph Sutton. John Fisher. J. T. Galloway. Lewis Da\-is. Lewis Sutton. George ^L Smith. William Moore.

The author of this remarkable petition. James McPherson. or Sc]ua-la-ka-ke, "the red-faced man," was a native of Carlisle, Cumberland county. Pennsylvania. He was taken prisoner on the Ohio at or near the mouth of the Big Miami at the time of Ldughry's ilefeat, and was for many years engaged in the British Indian department, under Elliott & McKey. Married a fellowprisoner, came into our service after Wayne's treat)-, 1705. and continued in charge of the Shawnees and Senecas of Lewistown until liis removal from oflice in 1830, since which he has died. His nearest neighbor at this tinie was Isaac Zane. living ten miles east. Our own grand old pioneer, [Major James Galloway, was up in that part of the state in tlie year 1800, and there can be no ilnuln but tli;it he was intiniatelv accpiainted with

McPherson. Zane and dlliers ni tlic i)ii)neers of that section of the country. Years afterward he gave from memory his recollections of that part of what is now Logan county, and which had been fruni 180^:5 until 1H05 a part of Mad River township. Greene county, previous to the organization of Champaign county at that date, thus circumscribing Greene in its northern limits. .Vnd again in the fall of i.Sij we gave to Clark county a part of our northern territory, yet we ha\e historically the satisfaction of kiiowing that all of their early inhabitants or pioneers were first ours. And when Logan and Champaign counties point with pardonable \n-k\e to the home and place where the bodv of Simon Kenton was laid to rest "after life's long and titfid sleep." we can open our little poll Ijooks and the enumeration of the pioneers of Mad River township in Greene county from 1803 to 1805 and see the name of the aforesaid Simon, and we listen as he is being interviewed by John Daugherty, "lister"' of Mad River township for the year 1803. and we hear him sa\- in answer to the questions that are asked him : "This mill here on Mad river is worth, I suppose, one hundred and fifty dollars." .\nv cattle?' "Yes, I have three horses and twenty-two cattle."

At the first election held in said township, June 2 1, 1803. at the house of Griffith Foose, town of Springfield, John Daugherty and Roljert Loughry, clerks, and James Woods, Tliomas Redman and J(ihn Clark, judges. At this election a|)pears the name, among others selected for the different oifices, Simon Kenton, who was chosen to act as overseer of the poor. The subject of this sketch. James McPherson, was present and cast his Ijallot and helped to organize. The compiler of this sketch has the original petition of James McPherson framed and ready to return to the new court house among a number of papers of iiistorical interest, .^niong the signers of this petition is the autograph of Simon Kenton.

Alajor Thomas D. Carneal, founder of Caesarsville, Greene county. Ohio, and one of the earliest settlers of Cincinnati, but of late years a resident of Frankfort. Kentuckv, died at the residence of Nicholas Longworth in Cincinnati, Xovember 3, i860, aged seventy-six years. Jn the early days of Ohio he was an extensive speculator in wild lands, and located m;my warrants in the Virginia military district. .A few years since he set up a claim to sundr}- tracts of land on Caesar's creek in this county, but never pursued the matter to adjudication.

Like all others who invested in lands in the Ohio valley at an ^arly date, he realized a f(jrtune. He was the founder of the town of Caesarsville. which place was located four miles southeast of the present city of Xenia, on the farm where now (1899) resides our old friend. Pad Peterson. And strong hopes were entertained that it would become the jx^rmanent county seat of Greene countv. Buildings were erected for that purpose and a house that was to be used as a "court house." and east of this building was the public well (that can be seen to-day. 1899). covered with a large flat stone, located in the barn lot of Mr. Peterson. And scattered here and there w^ere some tw'enty-five or thirty cabins, which at that early date ( 1800) was to be the county seat of Greene county. At the organization of Greene county into tnwnsliips. ^lay lo. 1803, by order of court this was to be the voting place of Caesarscreek township, and was until the organization nf Xenia township, August 20, 1805.

William J. Stewart was acting as justice of the peace, a \'ery important office at that day, as the tally sheets of elections will show more \-otes were cast for the candidates for that oFlice tli.'ni in the fall for governor of the state. .Mr. Stewart seems to have been acti\-e in trying to help settle or to legalize methods that would have a tendency to build up and create a population, as the following record will show.

Married at Caesarsville at the house of William j. Stewart and by him, November 8, J 803, Mr. Samuel Bone to Miss Aletha Bcason ; by the same. }*Iay 10, 1803, Mr. Samuel Ruth to Miss Jane Wilson- again bv the same, under date of July 12, 1804. Mr. Jiihn Price to Miss Hannah Davis; and again, .\pril ic), 1804. ]\lr. Reuben Strong tc Miss Anna Wilson.

Joshiw Bell

He was a nati\e of Harford county, Maryland, but was raised in Baltimore county. He came to Caesarsville in April, 1807. and had not been in the village but a short time until we find in the records the following notice: "Married June 23, 1807. Mr. Joshua Bell to Miss Mary Bales by the Rev. Bennett Maxey. She was a sister of John Bales, and we find from the records that ]\rr. Bell was keeping tavern in tlie same house that had been erected for a court bouse and continued to do so until the year 1829. when he removed from Greene countv first to Indi.nna. then to Henrv countv.

Iowa, in 1841, where he continued to live until July i. 1856. when notice is sent back to his old home that at the above date he had died at the age of eighv-six vears. Numerous receipts and papers in the old records will show that he was acting as agent for Mayor Carneal in collecting interest and other money that were due ~Slv. Carneal for lands sold to the earlv settlers, l.)ut who never was a resident of the county. Ijut was largely interested in what was termed wild lands.

In the spring of 18 15 Samuel Peterson came from Virginia to this countv for the purpose of assisting his brother-in-law, Joseph Bootes, on his farm. In company with a Mr. Hegler, he made the long journey "n horseback, remainin.g all summer, then with a few friends returned to \'irginia b_\- the same mode of crnneyance. In the fall following his father came to this county with his family of five sons and two daughters and located on a tract of fi\'e hundred acres on Caesar's creek, south of Xenia, which he had previously purchased. Soon after his arrival one of his daughters was married to Jonathan Ketterman. who had formerly lived in this county, ^^"hen he started back to Virginia with his bride on horseback, his father-in-law sent Samuel to Cbillicothe with llicin to buy the bride a new saddle, which was presented to her as a bridal gift. T!ie father and his five sons, Samuel, Joel, Moses, Jacob and Felix, immediately began a vigorous assault uixm the dense forest that surrounded them, the efifect of which was soon visible in the sweeping crash of the mighty oak, the burning heap and the crackling brush. When a few acres were thus cleared they were planted in cnrn, for wliich not finding a readv market in the ear they tram[)e(I it out on the puncheon rtiior, took it to a distillery, had it made into whisky, took the whisky to an iron-furnace, traded it for iron, which they sold, and thus realized a good price for their whisky.

Samuel was a powerful man, and on one occasion lifted a trip hammer weighing seven hundred ])ciunds. lie cut the limher and made four hundred and lifty rails in one day. When ahout twenty-one he and Samuel Hegler, Colonel Mallow and I'cter Price, all 3-oung men, each took a four-horse load of flour from Oldtown mills to Cincinnati for William P.eall. Starting early in the morning with ten barrels each, ihev succeeded, by (k)ubling teams at every hill, in getting as far the first day as the present locality of Spring valley. Cam])ing out all night, the next day thev drove within a mile of \\'aynes\-ille, when Beall hired another team, which enabled them to travel more speedily. Reaching Cincinnati, thev were paid one dnllar ])er barrel for hauling, and started for home, making the round trip in ele\-en days. Beall, not being al)le to dispose of his Hour in Cincinnati, shipped it to New Orleans and walked back,

February 22, 1821, Samuel Peterson was married to Miss Hannah Heaton, who had come to this county a few years previous. He lived with liis parents for some time, then moved to a tract of one hundred acres given him by his father, upon which he had previously built a hewed-log house, considered in those days one of the most imposing structures in the country. Being entirely alone, the labor of clearing out tlic forest proceeded very slowly until 1825. Avhen lie leased the premises and to

Xenia. where he engaged in the wagonmaker's trade. The first year he lived in a log house on Main street, near where the old pottery stood : the second in a house near the northeast corner of Second and Whiteman streets. The man to wlmm he had rented proving worthless, he returned to the farm in 1827, where he remained until 1849, ir. the meantime bringing it under a high state of cultivation, when, lea\ing it in charge of his son, he returned to Xenia. Bringing a span of good horses and a wagon with him. he followed teaming until 1865, when, having sold his farm to Jonas Peterson and bought another of a Mr. Tressler, five miles southeast of Xenia, he removed to it the same year. At this place his wife died suddenly of heart disease, April 22, i.'i'/2. aged seventy-one. After this Mr. Peterson spent the balance of his days with his son-in-law. William Rader. in Xenia. He died June 12, 1882, aged eighty-six, and was buried in \\'oodland cemetery.

George Mallow. Sr

Was granted a pension for services as a soldier in the war of the Revolution at the rate of ninety-two dollars and twenty-two cents per year. His first rank was as a private soldier, and he was afterward promoted to the office of ensign or second lieutenant. He was allowed his pension under the act of June 7, 1832. Date of his pension certificate was April 2, 1833. Lewis Cass was at that time secretary of war. He was a native of Virginia, but had been a resident of Greene county sixteen years at the time he received his pension. His place of residence was Caesarscreek township. He died April 17, 1837, and was buried in \\hat is now called the Boot's graveyard. Mr. Mallow had purchased two hundred and seventylive acres more or less, which was a part of niilitarv survey Xo. 2383, situated at the muuth. mirth fork, of Caesar's creek. George Mallow. Sr.. was of German origin, but from what part of the fatherland he came I know not. He had three sons who came with him from Rockingham ci:>unty, Virginia, namely, George, John and Peter, His oldest son. Colonel George Mallow was a military man and made for himself quite a name in the war of 1812 and afterward. In the breaking out of the war of 1812 he \olunteered his services in defense of his country, and during" the summer of that year marched to Williamsburg, fifty-eight miles from Richmond, Virginia, and from thence to Hampton, near the bay. Ixith towns of historic interest, where he remained in the service for a term of six months. After peace was declared between the two countries he, with his parents, removed to Ohio, and for scime forty vears resided in this ci unt\'. Prior to his settling in Greene county lie had settled in Warren county, near Springlioro, and removed to Greene county in 1817. He was emphatically a military man. During his residence in this county he successively held commissions from the governor of the state in the peace establishment of the state, as first lieutenant and caplain of the Volunteer Rifle Companies, and colonel of militia. It was in the latter he acquired the title of colonel.

His kind, social ways made for him many friends. .-\s a citizen and a neighbor he was well respecte<l.. His numerous friends and acrpiaintances heard with regret of his sudden departure. On Friday, April 19, 1861, the whole community was shocked by the information that Colonel Mallow, of Xew Jasper township, had died very suddenly. During the day of his death he had been on horseback several places in the neighborhood, seemingly in as good health as usual. At five o'clock he took supper, as usual eating heartily. After supper he went to the corn crib to feed some hogs. About an hour afterward he was found prostrate on the ground in the yard, and was dead when found. Everything about him showed that he had been stricken down suddenly with disease of the heart. For some time previous he had shown symptoms of this disease, and had to some extent endeavored to fortify his system against it. He has left many honored descendants in this county. Both of these grand old heroes, George Mallow, Sr., and George Mallow, Jr., are laid to rest a little way south of whf^t is known to-dav as the Boots and Bickett stone cpiarry. near Xew Jasper.

In January, 1879, an enterprising reporter of the "Xenia Tordilight," interviewed Mr. Scott. He was at that time supposed to have been the oldest man living in Greene county, and the result of that interview is worth reading as recorded. He was at that time in his ninety-fourtli year, in good health, though totally blind, while his mental faculties seemed unabated. He was born in Bedford county, Virgmia, June 5, 1785. He left \'irginia at the age of eight years, spent the next twelve years with his parents in Kentucky, from which place he emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, locating on the Little Miami river near what used to be known as the Tresslar mill. His first visit to Xenin was on the 8tli of January, 1815, the clay of tlie liattle of Xcw Orleans. It is scracely necessary to say tliat Mr. Scott did not hang around the telegraph office to observe the progress of the battle as from time to time it was announced on the bulletin boards : in fact, it was six weeks before the results of that battle were known to the people of Greene county. Mr. Scott said that Xenia then had Imt three brick houses, a numl)er (jf cabins and log houses and one tavern. The tavern was kept l)y one Connelly, and was the scene of many a fight just for the fun of it. He spoke of one to which he was an eye witness, which he called a drawn battle, in which a Captain Steele and a man by the name of Tucker were the principals. Both had imbibed rather freely at the tavern bar, and very naturally got into a quarrel, ending in a fight, in which Steele brushed up Tucker badly. Returning to the bar to drink antl be friends. Tucker said he guessed it had not been fairly done and would like to try it over. They did, and the result was that Steele was as badly whipped as was Tucker in the first round : and all of this for the fun of it. Don't say that we have not advanced in m.vrals since that day. Mr. Scott was a good man in his day and generation. He was a member of the Caesarscreek Baptist church away back in the year 1820. He continued ti) live .some four years longer from th.e time he was interviewed, and died in February. 1884. aged ninety-nine years, and is buried near the Maple Corner churchyard in Caesarscreek township.

Fudge

of Clinton, Fayette and Greene in the senate of Ohio. He is a Whig, of course, coming from that district. He is pliysically the largest man in the senate, weighing two hundred and forty pounds. His age is sixtyfive, has been thirce married, and is by profession a farmer. He resides a few miles east of Xenia.^ He is a native of Botetourt county,' Virginia, but has been a citizen of Ohio most of his life. He is the son of Christian Fudge, also from Virginia. He is a robust, hale man. with black hair, carrying his age well, kxiking young and not yet gray. His complexion is dark and his temperament bilious. In manners he is courteous and agreeable. Indeed he is remarkable for plain old-fashii.med bun Imme. \nu will always see him in liis place in a good humor, and ready to cast a vote intelligently and conscientiously. He has filled a seat in the legislature several times, and has seen sterling days in that service. As a senator he is something of a model, attending well to what is to be done, and taking no part or interest in the useless flourish of legislation. A senate and house of such men would do matters up in a reasonable time, bore nobody with their fancies, vote themselves fair wages, and go home and meet their constituents with a good face. As a candidate for office he comes up to the Jeffersonian ideal, honest, capable and faithful. He loves fun, Ijut will not indulge in it at the expense of propriety. You would like him at first n;eeting and shake hands with him warmly at parting.

Daxiel H.Werstick, Sr

native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Fiftv vears since he was married to Catlierine Xcwnian. Tlie number of their cliildren was sixteen, while his grandchildren at the time of his death were sixty-four in number.

The death of Robert T. ^Marshall occurred at his residence in Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, on the 25th day of October, 1875. at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Mar-shall was the first male licrn in wJiat is now the corporation of Xenia, Ohio, on the 4th of September. 1804. Here he s])ent his childhood and continued in the countv living on the waters of Massies creek until the last ten years of his life. He united with the Massies Creek church under the pastorate of Rev. James P. Smart. In the spring (if 1865 he removed to Champaign county in the vicinity of Urbana. where he continued to live until his death in 1875.

He was united in marriage to Elinor Weir, who still (1876) remains to mourn his loss. He was the son of John Marshall, who was one of the first settlers in what 's now the city of Xenia. and built the first cabin home on lot X'o. 193. which is situated on the corner of Third and \\'est streets. This cabin was raised April 27, 1804. He also owned the next lot east, X^o. 194. The lots when ^Ir. ^Marshall purcha.sed them faced on Third street and extended south to the north branch of Shawnee creek. In the rear of the present residence of Mr. Rudolph Hustmire was the cabin of Mr. John Marshall, where our subject was born. An old pioneer says that he has stood in Mr. Marshall's back vard and

A Be.Vr Story That H.Vs The Virtue Of Being True

A short time after 'Sir. Jolm Marshall, Robert's father, had purchased his two lots, one day while engaged in clearing up a space upon which to erect his cabin and also ground enough for a garden, he was fortunate enough to capture a "cub" bear, at that time no larger than an ordinary cat, and as neighbors were scarce here was company for John, which he from that time adopted into his family, and it grew up under his care and became the pet of him and his wife. It is said that after it had grown to full size it became as docile as do our common domestic pets, the d(^ and cat, and would at times follow John to his work while engaged in clearing his land, and would at other times stretch himself near ihe fire in the ca.bin and sleep the sleep, if not of the just, of the bear. But there came a time after "Little Robbie"' had made his advent into the cabin tliat John and his good wife came near losing faith in their efforts to tame the l^ear, and they had good reason to think that their pet, which was now full grown, had assumed and asserted its savage nature, and had destroyed or carried of? little Robbie. The mother, in the morning spoken of, liad tucked little Robbie up carefully in the cradle, and had put him to sleep. She went to the door, and seeing her young husband near engaged in planting the spring garden, and we must not blame her, if on this beautiful spring morning she was tempted by the beauty of the day and a desire to help her husband, and added to that also the songs of the birds, to step outside and leave tiie babe in care of their pet, and join her hnsband in liis labor in the garden. Before deciding she turned around, gave one glance at lier sleeping babe, and liear. and joined John at his work. Becoming interested in her wi-rk. she forgot for the time little Robbie, and she toiled away witii her hoe and time passed rapidly. All at imce the motlier's thoughts returned to her child that she had left sleeping. Slie quickly stands her hoe up against a tree and away to her little one. She enters the cabin, her eyes rest tirst on the cradle, as she sees the covers that she had so carefully tucked around the sleepingchild now scattered in wild confusion over the floor. The cradle was empty, little Robert was gone, as was also the bear. For a moment she looked wildly around the room. Her eye is quick to take in the situation ; she goes to the door and calls to John, "Oh, John, Robbie is gone, and the bear is gone." John drops his spade and rushes to the cabin, gives one glance at the empty cradle and the disordered state of the cabin, reaches up and quickly takes from over the door his trusty rifle, and followed by his wife they start on the hunt of the bear up Shawnee creek, back of what is now known as the U. P. Theological Seminary, then covered with a dense growth of forest trees and under growth, and back toward their cabin home. John contin.ues the search, while the good wife enters the cabin with the hope that she may find her lost one there. She stoops down and looks under the bed, and sees something away back under the corner of the bed; she creeps under and there was the bear with little Robert hugged closely to its breast, and both bear and little Robert sleeping. She eives the bear a cuff on the side of the head ; it opened its muuth and yawned, stretched out its fore feet releasing the baby, which she soon had in her arms. The baby was not any the worse of the kind care of the faithful pet.

Two sons of "Little Robbie" are yet ( 1900) living in Xenia, William Marshall, janitor of the West Market Street school house, and his brother James.

Gexeral C. L. Merrick

Casper L. Merrick, one of the pioneer merchants of Xenia. died at his residence at Xenia, Ohio, March 12, 1882, peacefully, and at the ripe age of eig'hty-one years. Mr. Merrick first came to Xenia in 1824, when the town was young. He landed in Cincinnati with his father, Roswell Merrick and family, from Massachusetts, in 1820, and associated with his father he started the first horse ferry boat, it is said, over the Mississippi river at Cairo. He returned to Cincinnati and remained for about three years, engaged in the mercantile business. He was married, in that city. April 28, 1822. Thence he went to Lebanon, but did not stay long at that place. Li 1824, as has been said, he removed to Xenia with his wife and child, and engaged in the dry goods business in partnership with his brother-in-law, L. P. Frazier. In 1828 he took charge of the Hamell tavern, which stood where Allison & Townsley's store used to be on Main street. In 1832 he removed to the old Hivling House. In 1836 he opened the Ewing House, then Merrick's Hotel, now (1900) the Grand Hotel. In 1847 '""^ engaged again in the dry goods trade, in which he remained for nearly a third of a century. A week before he died he was on the street in apparent health, but the next day, Thursday, he was stricken with paralysis and scarcely spoke afterward. Yet for two days after the stroke he recognized his friends and children with a pressure of the hand. His death was apparently painless and without a struggle. He had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1848. His military title, "General," he acquired in the service of the state militia.

That was the name of it. In the good old days of stage coaches Merrick's Hotel was a prominent institution. It was there we gathered the news that we could not do without till the issue of the weekly papers. Merrick's Hotel regulated the price of corn, oats and hay ; it was there the stage stopped. How well the writer remembers the self same team of four gray eagles bounding into town, and up Main street : the driver's horn having suggested that food and rest were waiting for them at ^Merrick's Hotel. Well do we remember with what pardonable pride of the Jehu of that day bringing his four-in-hand to a stand still at the hotel. When twO' stages came loaded with passengers it was inferred that a convention was to be held at Columbus, or that an epidemic had broken out in Cincinnati.

If bricks could talk, these in the walls ')f the Ewing House building might describe lively old times, and detail interesting incidents occurring in what was, in the good of days, the pride of Xenia. Merrick's Hotel. Many of the jjioneers will testify that in those days Alerrick's was the most popular "hotel in the state, being the favorite of tlie

Wright

Mr. Wright says they had been fiftyseven (lavs on the wav from their old \'irginia iiome in Brunswick county to Xenia, Ohio. Of Xenia, at the time he remembered it as they passed through ft to the place where they settled two miles out on the Wilmington pike, he says it was a little stumpy, struggling \-iIlage. The first house in it was built by one John Marshall on the southwest corner lot of the then corporation of Xenia, lot Xo. 193. It was rai-sed on the 27th dav of April. 1804. On Main street there was at that time twenty-three structures ; two of those were brick, four of frame, the balance hewed-log liouses and four log shops.

On Detroit Street

There were two log currying shops, seven one-story log houses, only two of them having shingle roofs and brick chimne)'s and two frame houses two stories hig^i. It was in 1856 that Mr. Wright was relating this, he being then ninety years old, and he said that only two houses then remained on Detroit street. One stood on the present site of the mill south of the upper depot then lielonging to Jonathan Wallace, the other stood on the corner of Second and Detroit streets, where JMrs. Frank McClure now lives ( 1900). That house is yet standing on West Main street, the first house east of John Lutz's blacksmith shop. It was bought by Major John Heaton and mo\-etl to that place.

Main' Street

(^11 Main street was the (j(j\vclv two st(ir\- frame ln.iuse. afterward used as a tin shop hy James Xig'h. In fr^mt of this building was the only l:)rick pavement in the place. The streets had no gravel on them. were le\-el from side to side, without gutters to carry away the water, and in rainv weather were a mass of- mud, deep at that, from one side to the other. There were two [wnds of water on Main street, one opposite, or near where Charley Trader's grocery now ( 1900) is, and the other an<l larger one opposite the present residence of l^r. Clark M. Galloway, which extended north and west.

Remembrance W'illiams erected the first cal)in that was erected near wnat is now the city of Xenia. He emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky in ijyo, thence to what is now Greene county, in 1800, crossing the Ohio at the mouth of the Licking. He entered a section of land where now is located the "Rolierts" Villa," and mirth of that he erected his cabin and continued to live there until 1814. when he .sold the largest part of that land to David Connelly and removed to near Madison, Indiana. He gave to his son, John Williams, a portion of the farm on the east side of said section. That cabin was built three years almost before Xenia was laid out, and he and his family were alone in what is now called Xenia.

its of Xenia. He purchased lots Xo. 193- 104 and the 27th day of April, 1804, his cabin was raised on what is known on the town plat as lot Xo. 193. Two grands<ins of the old pioneer are living in Xenia at this time ( 1900), William and James Marshall, their father, Robert T., was born in that cabin on the 4th day of Se]5teml)er. 1804. He was the first white child born in the town.

William A. Peatty, who had come from Georgetow'u, Kentucky, some time jjrevious to 1803, was the first to keep a tavern in Xenia. He was next to fnllnw in the line of improvements, and yet it was a matter of doubt which house would loe com])leted first, his or the one that was being built at the same time for the Rev. James Towler. both of which were two-story log houses. But the evidence seems to be in favor of Mr. Beatty's. One thing we do knnw' that Mr. Beatty was doing all that he could to get his done first. Noah Strong was on hand with his two oxen that he had brought with him from the far away hills of \'ermont, naiuely, "Buck and Brandy," and more than that the honorable court liad engaged the west room upstairs in which to hold court, and they must have it by the 15th of X^ovember, 1804. The building was finished and opened as a tavern on the first day of October, 1804, on lot X^o. 14, opposite the [Hiblic square, on the site that is known as the Leamon block.

John Marshall Rev. James Towler

lots No. 39-40. He was a native of Prince Edwards county, Virginia, and emigrated to Greene county in 1803. This house was lietter known as the Crumbaugh house, and stood on tlie north sitle of Main street, present site of Ea\-ey & Co., wjiolesale house. He was tlie first postmaster of Xenia, Ohio.

Was the second clerk of courts of Greene county, accepting that position in 1S08, after his brother-in-law, John Paul, had resigned. His first cabin was erected on lot Xo. 192, West Third street, on the corner. present site of the home of Timothy O'Connell. He came to Xenia previous to 1803.

Bkxjamix Grover

Brother of Josiah, was the first school teacher of Xenia. The school house was on AV'est Third street, and stood Oii the lot that now is the home of Mrs. James Kyle, mother of Charles Kyle, Esq. It was a onestory log house, and was built in 1805. It was used for a school liouse for some years. Mr. Hugh Hamill, who came to Xenia in 1810, taught in that house.

he first built his cabin in 1805 he set 't Lsck alxjut twenty feet from the in-line of the sidewalk so that in 1S13 when he erected his noted tavern, that was in the rear and became the kitchen. \Mren in later years the march of improvement made way with the old to be replaced with th.e new, that old hewed log cabin home, weather-boarded, was moved to East Market street, first house east of the East Market Street High School, and was still standing in 1899, but has since, in 1900, been torn down.

Hox. Joiix Alexaxder

Grandfather of the late William J. Alexander, at this time owned a whole square on West Market and Church streets, botmded as follows : Where the present residences oi H. H. Ea\ey and Rev. J. G. Carson stand, thence westerly to Galloway street. He iiad emigrated from South Carolina in 1804 :md was the first lawyer to settle in Xenia_ Ir 181 1 his house had been appraised at seven hundred and fifty dollars, and is still ( 1900) standing on North King street, the l^roperty of Judge C. C. Shearer, a relic of the past, and when moved to its present site was as good as when first erected.

Was one of the first to come into the Northwest territory in the year 1796: stopped first at what was called Holes Station (Miamisburg). from there to the Wilson settlement, thence to the farm of Capt. Nathan Lamme. and to Xenia, in the early summer of 1805. In that year he erected bis cabin on lot No. 60, about the present site of Rair^ meat <bi p. on Detroit street. When

Arri\ed in Nenia in 1805. He was a good car[)enter, and we find that he was a man of enterprise. In 1806 he purchased lots 124 and 130, upon the former he erected a twostory log structure on West Second street, lietter known as , the McWHiirk property, where Da\id Hutchison latef built two brick cottage houses.

Eli Adams

Mr. .\dams came to Xenia in 1S08. In 1810 lie purchased of William A. Beatty, then director of the town of Xenia. lot Xo. 140. (in the corner of Second and Collier streets, now (1900) owned by Davis Flier's heirs, and on the western side of said log- liouse, which was weather-boarded. This house was still remembered in after years by many old citizens as the home of Tillbury Jones, marshal of Xenia in the early 'fifties.

In addition to his ta\ern on Main street, and which also was the place of holding the courts of Greene county. Mr. Beatty was tlie owner of lot Xo. 165, on the southwest corner of Second and Collier streets, now (1900) owned by Rev. Samuel Hutchison, and on this lot he had built his caliin home. This home was valued for ta.xable purpose in 181 1 at one hundred and sixty dollars.

William Gordox

Was the owner of lot X'o. 33 in the year 1807. This lot was situated on the northeast corner of Main and \\'hiteman streets, on which now stands the clothing house of Robert Kingsbury. George Gordon, his brother, came up from Warren county with his team to assist in hauling the logs for this building, which was a two-story log structure, fortv Ijy forty feet, and was for many years used by ]\Ir. William Gordon as a storeroom, ilajor Gordon previously had moved his brother, William, from Warren county to Xenia in the year 1805. His brother had at that time [lurchased lot Xo, 176. situated on the corner of Third and Whiteman streets, and is at the present time (1900) owned by the heirs of Marjey Mc- Farland. Mr. Gordon had erected on this lot a small log house, the

This property was once owned by Mr. James Brown, and the older persons can yet rememlier when this part of Xenia was known liy the name of "Brown Town." He was killed in the gra\el ])it west of Xenia, June 4, 1849, aged seventy-three years. His death was caused by the caving in of the surface dirt. When dug out he was dead.

Hugh Hamill

Came to Xenia from Prclile county in 18 10. and purchased lots Xo. 197- 198- 199-200. These lots fronted en Third street, and were situated between Barrett and Maxwell streets, running thence south to the bank of Shawnee creek. He erected his cabin near the brow of the liill, overlooking Shawnee, on the south end of lot Xo. 200. In the rear of his cabin on this lot extending west to Barrett street was his tanyard. The brick house yet standing was erected in 1845, and is occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Lydia Bigger.

Dr. Andrew W. Davidson

Dr. Andrew Davidson on the nth day of X^'oveniber, 1808, purchased of Henry Phenix lot X'o. 38, on which in 181 1 he erected a two-storv brick house. This let was on Main street, and the building w^as on

J.Vmes Gowdv'S Store

In the year 1805 James Gowdy first came to Xenia and built his storeroom, the first one in Xenia, on lot No. 34, first lot east of Greene street, on Main, and here in 1806 he commenced selling merchandise.

The First Court House

The first court house for Greene county was let to William Kendall in 1806. Previous to this time the county had been paying rent, first for the house of Peter Borders down on Beaver, second to Wm. A. Beatty in Xenia. This latter house \fas completed in 1809.

Had erected a small house on lot No. 144, on the corner of Second and Monroe streets, north side, lot now ( 1900) owned by the heirs of the late John Kyle. Mr. Gamble at this time also owned one-half of lot X'o. 15 on Main Street.

In 181 1, was the owner of lot No. 14, opposite the Court House, and it was here that he kept his noted tavern, or what was known as Hamill's Inn. He was one of the early justices of the peace in Xenia. His building was part of what in later years was known as the Puterbaugh store, where young Kennc}- and Steele were murdered in the great fire of 1845.

In 181 1, was the owner of lots No. 131- 132, comprising about one-fourth of the square on what was later known as the J. C. Mc- Millan corner, .Mr. Larue's lots extending from the corner running west on Second one-half the distance of the square and from the same corner running north the distance on Detroit. His house was erected on lot No. 132. He also owned out lots Nos. 7 and 8.

Ir. 1811 was the owner of lot No. 143 situated on East Second street, better known as the home of Mrs. Newton, the mother of Chancey and Samuel Newton. Upon this lot he erected a one-story house. Tlie ground at this time is the site of the beautiful homes of Ben LeSourd and Judge Stewart.

Peter Pelh.Xm

Greene county, creeled Iiis cabin on lot Xo. 144. corner of Main and Barrett streets, iiortli sitle, later known as tlie old home of William T. Stark (deceased) and at this time tlie luime of Mrs. S. K. Harner and family. 'I'he house is still standing (1900) near Kelley"s rope walk.

Iiezekiaii S.Vxders

Came to Xenia in 1807. He was the owner of lot 133 and erected his house, a two-story frame, (jn the northwest corner of Second and Detroit streets. W'iien the present residence of Mrs. Frank McClure was built for a bank buildine;- Major John lleaton bought the old -Sanders house and had it remox-ed to liis lot on West Main street, first lot west of John Lutz's blacksmith shop, where it yet stands in g'ood condition.

John Sterritt

Built his ca])in on lot No. 89. situated at corner of Market and Whiteman streets, northwest corner. This ])roperty is l^etter known as the fi;rmer residence of Colonel John Duncan. It is now owned and occupied as a residence by Mrs. F.lias Quinn and daughters.

Was in iSi i the owner of lot Xo. 7. which is situated on West ^lain street. He had a cabin erected where the office of the Aliami Powder Company is now located.

Henry Barnes. Sr

Xenia in 1807. He was the father of Henry Barnes, Jr., ex-sheriff of Greene county, and the grandfather of Major George Barnes, yet living in Xenia. He was the owner of lots Xos. 29-68. X^'o. 29 was situated on the corner of Main and Collier streets, on which xvas liis cabin home. Lot 68 was in the rear of this, fronting on street.

'Slv. \\'allace was at this time the owner of lot Xg. 180, whicii was situated on the corner of Third and Detroit streets, southwest corner. He came to Xenia in 1807 and was for many years engaged in the business of making hats. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterward removed to Clark county, Ohio, where he died at the hoane of Anthony Byers or (Hyers), April 25, 1850, aged seventy years.

Captain Robert Gowdv

In 1811 had a tan_\ard on the corner of Third and Detroit streets, where now is located the firm of Chandler & Maddux. His currying shop, a long one-story log house, stood near that place. Across Detroit street east, where now ( 1900) is located tlie lumber yard of McDowell & Torrence, was another tanyard, carried on under the firm name of

]Mr. Alexander was a brother of the Hon. John Alexander, a nati\-e of South Carolina, and who died June 3, 1824, and is buried on the lot of his -Iirother John in Woodland cemetery.

And thus was Xenia as far as the householders are concerned in the year A. D. 1 81 1. Scattered here and there, no wonder tliat Mr. Wright said in describing it tiiat it was a Httie "stumpy, struggling village."

To provide the means of diffusing literature and knowledge is an object of the greatest importance to society, and claims the attention of every friend of humaniy. For his purpose we, the subscribers, have determined to establish a public library in the town of Xenia, which shall he open to all under the following regulations :

2d. The subscribers shall meet on the fourth Saturday of March, 18 16, and on the same day annually forever and elect by ballot nine directors, who shall be a standing committee, five of whom skall form a ([uorum, to regulate the affairs of the library, with the following powers, to-wit: To appropriate the funds of the library for the benefit of the subscribers; to appoint a ])resident and librarian from their own number, and to assign them their duties ; to call a meeting of the subscribers on matters of importance at any time when they think !iecessary. and to enact by-laws for regulating the affairs and securing the interest of the library.

3d. At each annual meeting a report of the proceedings of the committee, together with a list of the books purchased, shall be laid before the subscribers for their inspection.

5th. Any person neglecting his annual contribution or any fine imposed ujxjn him, when amounting to the sum of two dollars and fiftv cents, shall forfeit his share to the use of the company, and if under that sum he shall not enjoy any of the privileges of a subscriber until such sum shall be paid.

jtli. Shares may be transferred on the books of the librarian, and each subscriljer shall be entitled to draw lx)oks in proportion to the number of his shares.

Names Of Subscribers The Final Effort To Have Xexia Incorporated

The first effort to have Xenia incorporated was presented to the legislature by Jacob Smith, at that time representing Greene county, and can be found ii; the local laws of 18 13. For some reason the law had become inoperative, and hence this second effort to have the town incorporated. Joseph Tatman in 1817 was rqM-esenting Greene county in the house of our state legislature, while Jacob Smith was a member of the Ohio senate from the counties of Clinton ;ind Greene. Mr. Tatman was a resident of Bath township and 'Sir. Smith a resident of Beavercreek. So the western portion of Greene county was well represented at that time. This effort also for ScMiie reason proved a failure. The petition, however, is interesting, and is deemed worth saving, and will be returned to the new court house to be placed in the relic room, tlial is ti> be, in the sweet by and bye.

A Copy Of The Petition

The representation and petition of the subscribing inhabitants and householders of Xenia town respectfully showeth that the town of Xenia contains eighty-eight householders, and that the town of Xenia is the county seat of Greene county, and is situated on the north side of Shawnee run, about three miles from its juncture with tlie Little Miami river. It was laid out by Joseph C. Vance, Esq., late director of said town, in the vear 1803, by order of the honorable court of common pleas for the county ot Greene.

That the plat of said town was duly recorded in the recorder's office of said county m 1804, and is bounded and described as follows', to-wit : Beginning at a stake standing on the northwest corner of Back street, X". 78 degrees, E. 302 poles, to a stake in Remembrance Williams' land, thence S. 83 degrees, E. 61 poles, to the northeast corner of the out lots of said town, thence S. 12 degrees. E. 83 poles, to the corner of lot 27, thence S. 7 degrees, W. 30 poles, to a stake on the bank of the Shawnee run ; thence down said run with the meanders thereof to the south end of West street, thence with the west side of said street, X*. 12 degrees, W. 127 poles, to the beginning, including all the in lots and fractional in lots and all the out lots numljered and marked on the town plat oi said town, as recorded in the office of the recorder of said county, containing two hundred and seventy acres, be the same more or less: being comprised in one plat as aforesaid, and being part of a survey for one thousand acres, X'o. 2243, entered and surveyed for Warren and Addison Lewis, patented to Robert Pollard.

That on account of the late act for incorporating the said town having become inoperative, many inconveniences have been experienced by reason of disorders, nuisances, which have been openly and secretly created bv ignorant <ir malicious persons to the great detriment and annoyance of the peaceably disposed citizens, and that so long as the present state of things continues no approiiriation can be made of the money collected by taxes for two years, during which the aforesaid law was inoperative, for the benefit of the town, by erecting a market house, improving the streets, or any other public or useful purpose by any existing authority competent thereto.

We therefore pray that the said town of Xenia may be incorporated according to law. and that the honorable court will take all due measures for the accomplishment of this desirable object, and your petitioners as ill duty bound will ever pray.

mterest were said to have been honest and economical men; no one going through their accounts could for a niDment think otherwise, quick to plan and prompt to carry out their plans. This was especially true as regards her first commissioners. When a new township was to be laid out in answer to petitions from her citizens, it was promptly done and the necessary machinery soon put in m<jtion to bring about that result. When a new road was called for the same promptness marks their every act. Samuel Gamble. John Haines and Thomas Hunter were the commissioners at the time of the sale of that jjart of the public square. Hmv long they had been jilanning to save money to the county by the sale of the aforesaid portion is not known. \\'e learn from the records that on the 4th dav of January, 1S17. they met for the purpose of surveying and marking the different lots that were to be sold of the public square, and to make preparation for their sale agreeable to an order from court. William A. Beatty, director for the town of Xenia. makes his report to them under date of February 14, 1817, as follows:

To the Honorable Court of Conuiiissioners of the County of Greene, Gentlemen: I have proceeded to and ha\e sold the lots in Xenia vou ordered me to sell; the jiersons who purchased and the prices they brought are as follows: John Barber, part of in lot Xo. 62, $482.00; George Townsley. i)art of in lot Xo. 65, $615.00; George Townsley. part of in lot Xo. 62, $315.00; John Davis, part of in lot Xo. 62, $482.00; Ryan Gowdy, lot Xo. ^~,. $1,381.00; total amount. $3,253.00. I believe the above statement to be correct. William .A. Be.a.tty.

Tile one marked Xo. ;^^. facing on Main street fifty-seven feet and running hack (ine hundred and sixty-five feet along the eastern boundary line of the inihlic square (Greene street not opened), has quite a history, and a story of the same might he written.

Ryan Gowdy and James Gnwdv \s. Commissioners of Greene county. This action was filed June 17. 18 17. This suit brought by Ryan and James Gowdy against the commissioners of Greene countv appears to have settled forever the Cjuestion of the right of the commissioners to sell or dispose of any of the public square. And to James Gowdy to-da\- the ])eople of Greene county are under oliligations for saving to us intact as it came from the hand of the donor, John Paul, the afnresaid public square. There ma}- ha\c been (ni the part of Mr. Gowdy something partaking of the nature of selfishness, or what might be called business tact, or shrewdness, that prompted him to this act. He speaks through his attorney, John Alexander, of the time he first came to Xenia from Kentucky to locate here in 1805, how he had been led to purchase the lot next to the ])ublic s(|uarc, that he was assured that it wnuld be a good location for a merchant, that no one could engage in the same business, at least not west of him, and therefore he located there, and was successful in business, had been engaged there for eleven years or more, when ior the first time he learns of the action of the commissioners, - learns of their order to William A. Beatty. the director of the town, to put up at puljlic auction and to sell part of the public square, and knowing one of these lots was Xo. 35, which would be a good location for some one and which he considered would be an injury t(j him to allow some one else to buy. it was no wonder that even though he had doubts of the commissioners' right to sell, yet he did not want to take any chances, and therefore instructed his brother, Ryan, to attend the sale and to buy that lot next to him at any price. He intimates that some one was seeking to injure him in his business and had used undue influence over the commissioners in having them include lot Xo. 35, the one next to him. And mnv after the lapse of nearly one hundred years we look at the price the other four sold for and compare what he had to pay for lot .\'o. 35. the one next to him, and it does seem as though some one did want that one and wanted it badly. The case as has been said had gotten into court. A little more than one year later, December 2~. 1818, James Gowdy, through his attorney, the Hon. John Alexander, introduces his amended bill of complaint, and in that he speaks of his ignorance of the law. and had he known that the commissioners could not give him a good title to the lot he bought he would not have given one cent for the aforesaid lot. But at the time of the sale he was in doubt, and others with whom he had conversed were also uncertain, and were of the opinion that the commissioners had transcended their power as agents of the company to sell that which had been donated to the county expressly for public liuildings for the county. But the tiiue for action was short, and he did not want to take any risl^, and had his brother, Ryan, to attend the sale and purchase the lot, and farther stated that if the court thouglit the action of the commissioners was legal and a clear title could be given he would abide by the sale and pay the three notes that had been given by him, one of which would have been due six months after said sale; one in twehe months and the last in eighteen months after date. This had been made a test case, brought, as has been said, a short time before the first note of !Mr. Gowdy would have been due. The names of other parties who had jmrchased lots were not shown in the case. Without pursuing the matter further, the supreme court, Mav term, 182 1, granted a decree in favor of complainants, and the commissioners were ordered to return the notes to the parties who gave them. John Alexander, attorney for complainants, and Francis Dunla\-ey, for defendants, before the Hon. Calvin Pease, chief judge for the supreme court. The lot on which this suit was brought has been described as Xo. 35. The other four lots were on Detroit and ?klarket streets (then called Third street), beginning at the northern end of what is now Greene street, beginning at a point on Detroit street one hundred and sixty-five feet south of the northwest corner of the public stjuare. The outer lines of the lots extending tlience northerly to Market street, thence easterly tt the east line of what is now Greene street, thence southerly on that line one hundred and sixty-five feet on Detroit street, the two lots being si.xtv-six feet deep. On Market tlie lot was one hundred and four and onehalf feet deep, and the northeast corner lot was sixty-seven feet on Market street. The public square contains one and one-half acres of ground.

Thomas Coke Wright

who filled the office two terms. He was the most eccentric as well as the most beloved man of his time in Greene county. He was nearly six feet in stature, very fleshy, florid face and was very deaf. His voice was light, pitched upon a high key, and he was a complete specimen in his simplicity of a child man, susceptible and quickly- responsive to e\ery shade of emotion. At one moment when speaking of something sad his face would put on the most solemn aspect, and his fine high voice crying tones, then in a twinkling, as something droll flitted across his memory which he would relate, there would come out a nierrv laugh. The expression of his face when at rest was sad, as is usual with very deaf people of strong and social natures. Mr. Wright was indeed what tliey term a character, one worthy of the pen of a Dickens. He was a native of Brunswick county. Virginia, and was a lad twelve years of age when, in 181 1, he first came to Xenia. \\"hen a young man he had l>een a teacher under Father Finley. the missionary to the Wyandots. He had studied law. but becoming too deaf to practice the people gave him the piisition of county auditor. He was a poor accountant, but he got along with an assistant. His deficiencies made no difference, his superabounding affection for everybody was such that the plain farmers, irrespective of party, would have given him any ofliice he wanted. He was such a warm friend of everj'body, and so anxious to do everybody some good. He was a Republican, loved his native Virginia, and told some excellent anecdotes illustrative of the aft'ection some of the old-time slave holders had for their old servants, with whom they had Ijegun life as children together in play. Mr. Wright was also inter- ested in writing piuneer sketches, many of wliich he liad gleaned from his old friends, James Collier and Jacob Haines. It is said that he had at one time compiled what would have made a book of two thousand pages, which became scattered and lost. He died in Xenia, I*"ebruary 24, 1871, at the age of seventy-three years, and is buried in Woodland cemetery. But as yet he sleeps in an jnmtarked grave. He was also editor of a newspaper in Xenia pulilished by James Douglass, 1 829- T 833. "The Xenia Transcript.'' Among the stories that are on record, written by Thomas Coke Wright, the story of Josiah Hunt is of grreat ip.terest, from the fact that from the years 1802 to 1814 he was a resident of Caesarscreek township. .\t the former date he had purchased of Edward ^Mercer fifty acres of land situated on the road from Spring \'alley leading to Painters\-ille, as you go south on what is now called the Burlingtun pike, and where the i)ike intersects the Spring Valley pike, turning to the left on what is now known as the Robert Ferguson farm, was the cabin of Jose])h Hunt, niit far west of the residence of Mr. Ferguson. He removed from Greene county in 1814. going, I think, to Madison, Indiana. Josiah Hunt was a .stout, well formed man, hea\'y set. capable of enduring great hardships and privations, ar.d was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. There was a tone of candor and sincerity, as well as modcstv in his manner of relating the thrilling scenes of which he had been an actor, which left no doubt of the truth in the minds of those wdio heard him. He was one of Wayne's legion, and was in the battle of the "Fallen Timber," -on the 20th of August. 1794. At the commencement of the onset, just after entering the fallen timber, Hunt was rushing on and alxiut to spring over a fallen tree, when he was fired at by an Indian concealed behind it. The latter was compelled to fire in such haste that he missed his aim. It was, however, a close shave, for the bullet whizzed through the lock of his right temple, causing that ear to ring for an hour afterward. The Indian's body was entirely naked from the waist up, with a red stripe painted up and down his back. As soon as he fired he took to his heels. Hunt aimed at the center of the red stripe, the Indian running zigzag like the worm of a fence, ^\'hen he fired the Indian bounded up and fell forward. He had fought his last battle.