Jefferson Township (part 4 of 15)

Hunt was an excellent hunter. - In the winter of 1793 while the army lay at Greenville he was appointed to supply the officers with game, and in consequence was exempt from garrison duty. The sentinels had orders to allow him to leave and enter the fort whenever he chose. The Indians made a practice of climbing trees in the vicinity of the fort, the better to watch the garrison. If a person was seen to go out. notice was taken of the direction he went, his path ambushed and his scalp secured. To avoid this danger. Hunt always left the fort in the darkness of the night, for said he. "When once I had gotten into the woods without their knowledge I had as good a chance as they." He was accustomed on leaving the fort to proceed some distance in the direction He intended to hunt the next day, and camp for the night. To keep from freezing death it was necessary to have a fire, but to show a light in the enemy's countrv wtis to invite certain destruction. To avoid this danger he dug a hole in the ground with his tomahawk about the size and depth of a hat crown. Having prepared it properly, lie procured some roth, meaning some thick oak bark, from a dead tree, wliich will retain a strung heat when covered with its ashcj. Kindling- a fire from flint and steel at the l)ottoni of his "coal pit," as he termed it. the hark was turn into strips and placed in la_\-ers crtisswise until the pit was full. After it was sufficiently ignited it was covered o\'er with dirt with the exception of two air holes in the margin, which could l)e opened or closed at pleasure. Spreading down a layer of bark or brush to keep him oft' the Cold griiund, he sat down with the "coal pit"' between his legs, enveloped himself with his blanket and slept cat dozes in aii uprigiTt position. If his fire became too much smi>thered he wouUl freshen it up by blowing into one of the air holes. He declared he could nfake himself sweat whenever he chose. The snapping of a dry twig was sufficient tn awaken him. When, uncovering his head, he keenly scrutinized in the darkness and gloom around, his right l:and on his trusty rifle ready for the mischance of the Imur.

A ]5erson now, in full security from danger, enjoying the comforts and refinements of civilized life can scarcely bring his mind to realize his situation, cr do justice to the powers of bodily endurance, firmness of ner\-e, self-reliance and courage, manifested by him that winter. A lone 'man in a dreary, iriterminablc forest, swarming with enemies, bloodthirsty, crafty and of horrid barbarity, withmit a friend or human help to afford h.im relief, or the lea.st aid in the depth of winter, the freezing winds moaning through the bare and leafless trees, while the dismal howling of a pack of wolves, cruel as death and hungry as the gra\-e. liurning for blood, bonv, gaunt and grim, might be heard in the distance mingled with the bowlings of the wintry winds, were well calculated to create a lonely sensation about the heart and appall any common spirit. There would he sit nodding in his blanket indistinguishable in the ilarkness from an old stump, enduring the rigor of winter, keeping himself from freezing, yet showing no fire, calm, ready and prompt to engage in mortal combat with whatever enemy might assail, whether Indian, bear or panther. At daylight he commenced hunting, proceeding slowly with extreme caution, looking for game and watching for Indiaiis at the same time. When he found a deer, previous to shooting it he put a bullet in his mouth, ready for reloading his gun with all possible dispatch, which he did before removing from the spot. Casting searching glances in every direction for Indians, cautiously approaching the deer after he had shot it, he dragged it to a tree and commenced dressing it with his back towards the tree and his rifle leaning against it in reach of his right hand. And so with his rear protected bv the tree he would skin a short time, then straighten up and scan in every (lirectiiin to see if the report of his rifle liad brought an Indian into his vicinity, then applv himself to skinning again. If he heard a stick break or the slightest noise indicating the presence of animal life, he clutched his rifle instantly and was on the alert prepared for any emergency. Having skinned and cut up the animal, the four quarters were packed in the hide, which was so arranged as to be slung on his back like a knapsack, with which he wended his way to the fort. If the deer was killed far from the garrison he only Isrought in four quar- ters. One day he hnd gotten within gun shot of three Indians unperceived by them. He was on a ridge anil they in a liollrnv. He tooi< aim at the foremost one, and waited some time for two to range with eacli other, intending, if they got in tliat position, to slioot two and take his cliance witli tlie otlier in single comliat, but tliey continued to march in Indian file and though he should have killed one of them, the other two would ha\e made the odds against him too great, so lie let them pass unmolested. Amidst all the dangers to which he was exposed he passed unharmed. Owing to the constant and powerful exercise of the faculties, his ability to hear and discriminate sounds was wonderfully increased, and the perceptive faculties much enlarge<l. He made seventy dollars that winter by luniting. over and alx)ve his pay as a soldier. At the treaty of Greenville, in 1795. the Indians seemed to consider Hunt as the next greatest man to Wayne himself. They inquired for him, got round him and were loud and earnest in their praises and compliments. "Great man. Captain Hunt. Great warrior, good hunting man, Indian no kill him." They informed him that some of their Ijravest aud most cunning warriors had often set out to kill him. They knew how he made his secret camp fire, the ingenuity of which excited their admiration. The parties in quest of him had often seen him. could describe the dress he wore and his cap, which was made of a raccoon skin with the tail hanging d(iwn l>ehind. the front turned up and ornamented with three brass rings. The scalp of such a great hunter and warrior they considered to be a great trophy. Yet they never could catch him off his guard, never get within shooting distance without being discovered and exposed to his death dealing rifle.

County. Andrew W. Davidson

Was the first physician to settle in Xenia, which was in the fall of 1805. He was an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and in 181 1 built the tirst brick house ever erected here, on Main street, near the site of Brice Knox's saddle shop, and in 1814 he built the first stone house in the ti>\vn, als(_i on Main street, of which a part was occui)ied by the late John Dodd as a grocery. June 1.5, 1807, Dr. Andrew- Davidson and Rebecca Todd were married by William Mc- Farland, Esq., this marriage being Xo. 99 on the marriage records of the county. Subse(|uently the Doctor became a merchant and tailor. In the course of his business, 1820- 21. he movetl with his family to Columbus, Indiana, and subsequently to Madison, Indiana, wiiere he died in the thirty-ninth year of his age. Dr. Andrew Davidson and wife were of those wdio constituted the old associate congregation of Xenia, under the pastorate of the Rev. Francis Pringle in 181 1.

Dr. Jo.Shua Martin

W'.'is burn in Loudoun county. Virginia, March 2;^. 1791, and died in Louisville, Kentucky. X^ovember 30, 1865. When quite young he commenced to study medicine with Dr. HufT, in the town of Waterford, and while engaged in the prosecution of his studies he attended a course of lectures in Philadelphia under the celebrated Dr. Rush, but completed his medical education in the west and graduated in Lexington, Ken- tr.cky. Some time after lie had commenced practice, in company with his precqDtor. he emigrated to Ohio, in 1813, travehng from W'aterford to \MieeHng on horseback and in Nvagons, and thence to . Cincinnati down the Oliio in tlatboats, Cincinnati at that time l)eing- a village compared to its present condition, and to all appearances tliere were already-there fully as many physicians as it was thought the population of the place would warrant: he consequently had to look elsewhere for a suitable location, and after visiting several places he located in Xenia. Accordingly in the fall of 1813 he settled in Xenia, Ohio, and commenced to practice medicine. At that time there was prevailing here and in the west an epidemic kjK.iwn as the cold plague, which the older physicians were not successfully treating, it being very fatal. His mode of treatment was successful and at once brought him into extensix'e practice, which extended south to Lebanon, north to Urbana, east to Washington and beyond Londton, and \\est of Dayton. The country was then new. the roads bad, the streams destitute of bridges, and the traveling disagreeable and dangerous, yet such was his temperament that when called to see a patient he always obeyed the call. Although liaving an extensive practice, he received little pay, and as he had his labor to depend on for his stipport, after two years he removed to Lawrenceburg. Indiana, where he embarked in the mercantile business with his brother. The investment was not a success, and in a short time he lost all and also involved himself. This satisfied him with that \-enture, and he determined t(i persevere in his profession. After a little more than one vear's absence he returned to Xenia and resumed his practice.

On the 4th of June, 1818, he was united in marriage to Hester W'hiteman, daughter of General Benjamin \Miiteman, with wlnim he lived until her death, in February, 1834. In April, 1835, he was united in marriage to Sarah Poague. who died in 1840, leaving an infant daughter. In 1814 his father's family emigrated to Ohio and settled in Lebanon, Warren county, where his father died in 1824, after which his mother and four sisters made their home with him. His mother died in 1835. '^'''d his eldest sister in 1851, while his three surviving sisters and daughter constituted the family that he left at his death. \\'hen his body was brought back from Louisville for burial almost the whole town turned out to pay the last tribute Oif respect to his memory. Few men ha\-e left an impress of their own character on a community so distinctlv marked as has Dr. Joshua Martin.

Dr. Joseph Johnsox

Came to Xenia in 1814 and in 1820 was elected to represent Greene county in the house of the Ohio legislature. He removed from the county to Galena, Illinois, where he died, June 5, 1847. aged sixty-four years.

Dr. Iiexrv Good

\\"as also a resident of Xenia in 181 7. I think he removed from here to Madison, Indiana, and Dr. Jeremiah Wciolsey. the grandfather of the present ^Irs. Dr. Woolsin;, of Xenia, was here as a physician in the year 1827; he remo\-ed from here to Cincinnati. Ohio, where he died February 6. 1834. A brother of his. Daniel by name, was also a resident of Xenia and he remo\-ed to Evans\'ille, Indiana.

Long ago Dr. Bell was a practicing physician at Bellbrook, Ohio. He had quite a local reputation, but in later years he remv)ved to Xenia. wliere he died.

Ced.Vrville, Ohio

Though a neighborhood center, rtrst it was called X'ewport's mill, then again it was known as Hanna's store, then as the "Burgh," next as Milford, and finally as Cedar\ille. Xo ]>hysicians there in early days; Ur. INIcTruue was there in 1833, and next probably Dr. Andrew Cowden. who removed to Washington, Iowa,, where he died.

Dr. Joseph Templetox

In 1826 Dr. Joseph Templeton, from western Pennsyhania, settled in Xenia, and iiad an extensive practice and great influence outside of professional life. He was one of the early abolitionists, and thus became a valuable support to his pastor, Rev. Samuel Wilson, D. D. Our young fellow citizens can have but a very indistinct idea of the moral courage necessary to be an alx)litionist in those days. Dr. Templeton's wife is said to have been the first to establish schools for colored children in Xenia. On account of familv ties, Dr. Templeton returned to Pennsylvania and w'as succeeded by Dr. Samuel Martin. But after a lapse of a few years he returned to Xenia, occupying the prtiperty known as the R. F. Howard homestead. In 1843 he again went to Washington, being made very wealthy by the estate of his father-in-law, deceased. In 1865 he made a brief visit to Xenia and died suddenly a few days after his return home. A leading dentist of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is a namesake and nephew of Dr. 'J'empleton. He is a man six feet, three inches tall, and weighs two hundred and si.xty [Kjunds, although he weighed but three pou!ids at his birth.

Died at his residence in Xenia, Ohio, on Saturday morning, June 21, 1879. aged eighty-three years. He was a native of Ireland and educated in Glasgow University, Scotland, for the English navy. But on graduating he declined to enter the service, married his first wife and began the practice of his profession in Ireland. In less tlian a year his wife died, and the young doctor sought the United States as a place for a short sojourn, but soon becaine so well l)leased with the country that he determined to make it his home. He settled in Xoblesville, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Helen Anderson, the mother of his children, and who died in Xenia about 1859. In 1834 Dr. Martin became a resident of Xenia, Ohio, and for forty-five years, with the exception of a few years, he was continually engaged in the successful practice of his profession. He had many generous qualities, and had endeared himself to a large number of friends. His last wife was Miss Nancy Liggett, who during his last days and through his illness waited upon him with great kindness and faithfulness. Dr. George Watt, one of his pupils, has left on record his recollections and tribute of respect to our subject as follows: "Dr. Samuel Martin was no ordinary man and his life in this community no ordinar}^ career. In the prime of his manhood he came among us in 1834, and was immediately recognized as a leadmg physician Ijy the extensive practice accorded to him. He gave his whole mind to the practice of his profession and enlisting into his service an extensive library and the leading medical journals of the day. His patrons recognized him not only as their phyiscian, but their friend."

The present generation have no conception of the hardships of the practice at that early day. The average roads of that day would be regarded as impassable to-day. A strong horse with a saddle were the requisites. Day and night through mud and storm did Dr. Martin plod his way till his form became familiar to all, and he continued to be "the man nn horseback"' till laid aside about five _\ ears before his death by paralysis. As a teacher of young men. Dr. Martin was earnest, industrious and faithful. .\t least some of liis pupils can recall "horseback"' recitations of twenty to forty miles in length, interrupted only by occassional stops to examine and prescribe for patients. Seven of his pupils attended his funeral, four of them, residents of this city, being pall bearers. At last, however, the silver cord began to loosen and after a long and patient waiting the wheels of life stood still and the old man passed to his rest. John W. Shields also adds his tribute, as follows: '"He was kind and generous even to a fault: had he saved his earnings, he would ha\e been rich. I remember, in 1S49, when the cholera was so fatal here, that Dr. Martin fitted up part of his stable as a hospital, and there he nursed and doctored homeless Irishmen until they were able to return to work on the railroad which was ll-.en l)eing built. During the last few years his mind dwelt chiefly on religious matters, and his readings were all of that nature. We will not soon forget him as he sat in the shade by the door reading his Bible, but he has gone to his rest and we will cherish his memor}-.""

In connection with this it mav not be out of place to add here some history in regard to Dr. Martin"s old home, which is still standing on East Main street, Xenia. The house in which the late Dr. Martin lived for fort\--five years was built by Robert Casbolt in 1 81 4. and is now among the few remaining monuments of the olden times. Only a few of our oldest citizens will remember Mr. Casbolt. who used to act as constable and tax collector. "He had tender eyes and on cold windy days would ride with a vail over his face. Mr. Casbolt and his wife. Polly, came here in 1806, when Xenia was quite new. When he first came to Green county, like many old pioneers, he made Sugarcreek township his first home. He removed from there to Xenia in 181 1 and became a resident of Xenia, and, as tradition says, "the course of true love never runs smooth." and Robert Casbolt, who was thirty, found it difficult to marry Polly Todd, a precocious maiden of fourteen. Polly was willing but the old folks were not. An elopment was planned. Poll}- went out in the shade of the evening to milk. and. setting her pail on the fence, led her father's horse out of the stalile. jumped on behind b.er lover, rode away and they were mar ried. In the early times here Mrs. Casbolt practiced a very useful vocation, as many now living can well attest. On such occasion she would frequently witch for water with a peacli tree nxl, telling how far the_\' wmild have to dig by the ninl of the wand. Mrs. Casbolt was a strong-minded woman, and had she li\'ed in these days when women have organized for their recjuired rights she would have stood high among them.

Robert Casbolt was a soldier of the war of 181 _', under Captain Robert McClellan, of Sugarcreek township. He was also a soldier of the war of the Revolutioid, in t!ie Continental army. He was placed o'; liie roll as pensioner for that war. Septembe" 27, 1832, at the rate of eighty dollars per year. Sometime in the '40s he remo\x'd to Sidney, Ohio.

Dr. Horace Lawrence

JJr. Horace Lawrence was the lirst one I ever saw, and I do not recollect at what ]>eriod of time: he resided near Bloxsoms bridge, where the Columbus pike crosses Massies creek, some five miles east of Cedarville; he retired from practice at middle life. Two of iiis nephews were physicians, Dr. Deluna Lawrence, eldest brother of Mrs. Joseph l>rotherton, and Dr. Horace Lawrence, son of Levi L. ; the former died young, the x'ictiin of consumption; the other was killed by acciden at Kenton, Ohio, where he had succeeded the writer in practice. Both were good physicians and gentlemen.

Dr. Mathias Wixans

Dr. Winans came from Maysvillc, Kentucky, to Greene county in 1820, and purchased land in what is now Silvercreek townshi]), but practiced medicine in Jamestown, and in later years had his son-in-law. Dr. John Dawson, for a partner. He was the father of Judge James Winans, and, I th.ink, two of his sons were ph_\-sicians. He had a large practice. It was said ll".at he was sceptical in early life, but I can best recollect him as a minister of the Christian or Disciples church. Dr. Harper, a prominent physician of Lima, Ohio, married one of his daughters. He died in Cincinnati in July, 1849, aged fifty-eight years, and was buried at Jamestown.

Dr. Ewlass Ball

Dr. Ewlass Ball as early as 1827 kept a store at Clifton, then Patterson's mill, and, 1 think, practiced medicine; also Dr. Joshua Wilson, late of West Second street, Xenia, and Dr. Prescott also practiced at Clifton at a later date. Dr. Prescott afterward became a lawyer, still later a preacher. It is stated that a young man asked his advice as to selecting a profession and he recommended him to the law, saying a man will contribute a dime to his soul's salvation, a quarter to be restored to health, but for the satisfaction of having his own wa\- the "almight dollar" will be sacrificed.

Professional Men Of Greene Col'Xty In

On the nth of Jime, 1830, the commissioners and auditor proceeded to estimate the annual income of the practicing' lawyers and physicians, and to charge a tax upon each of them, which tax, as charged, i^ attached to their respective names on the list returned by the assessors to the auditor.

Steam Doctors

"During my last atifliction I thought I might spend a portion of my time in jotting down a little sketch of people and things as they were about Xenia from sixty to seventy-five years ago. It may interest some who know but little about pioneer life in those early days. I was born in Shenandoah county, \'irginia, March 14, 1813, and that fall Davis Allen, my grandfather, came to Ohio to look for a new home. He had a couple of brothers-in-law living in Greene county, and. of course, it was natural for him to make them a visit. One of them, John Haines, lived on a farm now divided into two farms, one owned by John Middletiai, and the other by David S. Harntr. He occupied the house that was known a few years ago as the Chaney house. The house was built three years before he moved into it. making it about seventv vears old, a pretty ripe age for a house. The other brother-in-law was Edward Walton, of Spring \'alley. There is a representation of his log cabin in the Greene County Atlas. .\fter visiting with those friends, the next thing was to select a new home. He selected a beautiful and fine tract of land lying right by the side of John Haines' farm. It is that portion of land that lies between the iron bridge road and the Dayton pike, now known as the Hawkins, Steele. Willian.i ]\ioore and Lucas farms, containing in all a thousand acres, more or less. He then returned to his home in \'irginia for his family, consisting of his wife, Elizabeth Alien, and his children, Reuben, Deborah, Davis, Ji'hn, Obed, Barsheba, Homer, Milo and Jackson Allen. Two other families came with them ; the first of these consisted jt Mounce Hawkins and his wife Mary, nnd three children, Reuben, Joseph and Davis, tlie writer of this article. The second family consisted of Frederick Beemer and his wife Sarah and one child, Samuel. A young man by the name of Harve Evans CF.me west with the last family to grow up with the country, and he became clerk of the court in one of our eastern counties. All were now ready for the move and with five V. agons, a carriage, several head of cattle, in April, 1814, the line of march was taken up. A journey of six weeks was performed, with no railroads to speed you on the wa\'. Jn due time all landed near Xenia, safe without the loss of one of the crew. After passing through Xenia thev landed in a couple of log cabins on the big farm that bad been bought the fall before. These cabins stood on the \\'illiam I\Ioore farm, near Shawnee, in which the three families summered. But soon the work of building commenced. Mr.

Robinson'S History Of Greene Countv

Allen, liaving started brick-making for a house, expected tu winter in it, but the work did not get along far enough, and so he reirained in one of the cabins for the winter. Father commenced to cut and hew logs on the site of the cross roads where Homer Hawkins now lives, and got up a story and a half hewed-log house and covered it. It had a stick and mud chimney about half the lieight of the house ; a doorway was cut with no door up, and a coverlid was used for a duur. Here father w intered through 1814.

"Perhaps the next thing in order would be a description of the country. At that time it was almost a wilderness, no clearing being done on the Hawkins or Steele farms, except what part of the Old Town prairie that runs down across the bottoms. The rest of the farms owned by these two gentlen;en was a dense forest with some littlej:)arrcns of large and heavy timbers. The Haines farm had some cleared land and several acres of prairie on it. Some clearing had been done on a part of the thousand-acre tract that grandfather had reserved for himself. At this time the country abounded in wild animals, such as wolves, wild cats and wild hogs. Our nearest neighbors who were landholders were John Haines and Jonathan Paul, tlie first named gentleman living on part of the farm now owned by John B. Lucas. James Gill owned what is now the Richard Galloway farm, the fair ground, the Crawford, Xesbitt and ^^'ol)drow land, also the field adjoining the fair ground on the west side. This James Gill was an Irishman and belonged to what was called 'the w hiskey boys,' of whom you ha\'e read in history. I have often heard him talk about it in his Irish bi'ogue. He said

"One of our neigh.bors was James Towler. He ow'ued the lands where David Vorhees and Peter Bankard used to live. He was a local Methodist preacher, and used to go among the Indians as a missionary, and at one time brought a couple of Indian boys home with him to have them educated. They remained in Xenia for some time, forming many acquaintances, and then returned to their tribes. Mr. Towler was one of the leaders of the Methodist church.

"Other neighbors were near us, but they were only renters or leasers. I will conie back to my early boyhood days. I was pretty young w hen I first commenced going tc school, and so did not go regularly. The school was in a little log cabin, located about where John B. Lucas' house now stands, and my teacher's name was Amos Root. The next school that I attended was located where John Purdom now resides on the Boyd farm. The teacher was Julrus Hunter. The next school was taught by Israel Hanes, in a little room in the secouvl story of his own house. Still later Ransom Reel taught school at Old Town. The building in which he taught was of frame and was used for both school and church. William Galloway also taught in the same building about 1822. Thomas Steele was then living with his father in the old brick building on the Gordon lot. He taught school in a little frame building on or near w here the Center building now stands. The older brothers and myself were sent to him. I will mention some of the prominent scholars as far as I can remember ; David \\'. Connelly and Robert were among them. Da\-id was studying surveying, and afteri30 wards distinguished himself in surveying for the government in tiie southern states, especially in Louisiana. Robert died with yellow fever while in the employ of his brother. Then there was James and Benjamin Grover; James afterward became clerk of the court of Greene county, and later a prominent Methodist preacher. Others among these pupils were Jack and Henry Barnes, the latter ex-sheriff of Greene county, James and Henry Larue and Jackson Allen. It may not be amiss to give some of the names of girls or young women. I will commence with tin; Connelly family. There were Xancy, iNlartiia and Mary Connelly. Harriet, Abigail and Joanna Hivling, -Rachel and Margaret Eyler, Mary and Lydia Eyler and Jennie Barnes. There were a host other boys and girls ; among them were David and John Rader, and two families of Shaws, many of them are beneath the sod and others soon will be.

"I will now speak of the town and its The city did not extend beyond Church street on the north side, Monroe street was the east limit. Water street was the south limit, and the boundarv line on the west was the Cincinnati pike and West street. Most of the buildings were on Main street. John Alexander, the grandfather of W:iriiam J. Alexander, -had his home on a large lot in the vicinity of whefe Henry H. Eavey's fine residence now stands; also and close by and belonging to him was an orchard and deer park. The ])rincipal merchants were James and Ryan Govvdy, Hivling and Nunamaker and John Dodd. The hotels were the Hivling House, Collier House and the Browder House. This latter house was kept in the hewed-log house that stood on the site where the wholesale grocery now stands. Quite a contrast between it and the Florence Hotel of to-day. A tanyard stood on the site of Chandler Brothers' coal office. A small stone building was used as a shop, and Robert Gowdy carried on the business. A blacksmith shop was run by John W'illiams in a log cabin shop that stood on the lot where Mrs. William B. Fairchild used to reside on Market street. And in this shop the first elephant that was e\er shown in Xenia was put on exhibition, and many of us had the chance of seeing our first elephant. The public buildings rf the town consisted of a court house, jail and market house. The court house occupied a part of the same ground that the present one does. It was a plain square building with a cupola to designate its use. In that house I cast my first vote. The jail was a small stone building made of those soft yellow stones, such as lie east of James Ralls slaughter house. These stones proved an easy thing for the prisoners to pick holes through. The market house was a twostory structure, built with pillars, a sufficient distance apart to form stalls on each side and open at each end. This building stood on the public square, on Market street back of the court house."

(In revising Mr. Hawkins" "old-time article" for publication the editor of the Gazette, on what was deemed good authority, made a correction about the market house, and gave a description of Xenia's market house a decade later than the one about which Mr. Hawkins wrote, hence the following from him :

"Editor Gazette : The market house that I spoke of was on Main street and only one story high, and was nearly in the middle of the street ; its one end was perhaps two or three rods east of Detroit street, and extended up in front of the court house, and \v as so situated that tliey could drive on either side of it. The one on Market street was of later date. 1 do not known tliat I could hnd a man to prove the above, but nevertiieless it is true. - David Hawkins.") "I will now tell of some prominent gentlemen who were large land owners and whose land bordered on the town. The first of these was James Galloway, who owned a large tract of land bordering on the west and northwest of the tovviT The next was David Connelly, who owned the large tract of land norlh and northeast of the town, and now (nvned by the Silas Roberts' heirs, luist from this was the Robert D. Forsman farm, and tlie Benjamin Haines farm, or the Henry Conklin farm as it is now. With tile Sdutlieast and south I was not acquainted until it came to the Judge Grover farm, which has since been nearly all taken into the citw Mr. Cirover"s bouse is the present residence of Coleman Heaton. On the southwest was the farm of Henry Hypes, father of Mrs. Maria Drees and Mr. Sanuiel 1 lypes ; s<me of bis land bordered on James Gangway's land. Close by James Galloway's land lay Samuel Govvdy'^ farm. Not far from these last named farms lay the gra\-el bank, a large portion of which was iiwncd by Abraham and John Hi\-ling. Abraham Hivling also owned that portion i«f land north of Church street and west of Detroit out as far as the Gordon's. This was then farm land and contained within its borders a house, barn and such other liuildings as pertain to a farm. The Gordon property, except the old brick house and lot that is southeast of them, and all land west to the Richard Galloway line, was owned by James Gowdy. Most of it was farm land, but the north end was forest, including John T. Harbine's lot. But the city has covered this farm land and even the forest. On the lot where Fawcett's jewelry store now is stood a little one-story brick house, which was first used as a school house, but it was afterward occupied by a man b\- the name of Tolbert as a hatter's shop, so there has been some change there.

"1 will now come nearer luime; nearly all of Richard Galloway's farm was a forest. We had no public road, but such roads as farmers have in their woodland to haul rails and wood over. A small field was cleared where tht race track now is in front of the Galloway house, and the field west close by was also cleared, but from there the remainder of the way home was through the woods, which in some places were pretty thick. NVhen we left Shenandoah county our colony numbered twenty in all. I am the only one left in the county, and all but three of these have been laid beneath the sod. Obed Allen, if living, is in Rochester, Indiana, and Homer Allen is in Bellefontaine. Ohio."

James A. Scott was born in Northumberland county. Pennsylvania. January i, I794- In i8i2 he was a member of one of the companies composing a brigade of soldiers which left Pennsylvania and started to the scenes of action in which Hull and his forces were then engaged. On arriving at Pittsburg they learned of Hull's surrender, and were ordered to Erie, where Perry was then engaged in building bis fleet. At Pittsburg thev were furnished with tents and other necessary equipments for their comfort. lia\ - ing been obliged to sleep in the open air. or sheds, pigpens or whatever old l>uildings they could find a place of shelter for a time. They remained for a short time and were ordered to Buffalo, where they were detained until late in December of that year, when they were discharged. They were left to get home as best they could, and voung Scott with many others traveled the distance, over two htmdred miles, on foot thrcugh the forest. They drew one month's pay while at Erie, which was all the wages that Scott received until he had been a resident of this county some time. He again joined the army in 1S14. His brigade met once, organized at Danville, Pennsylvania, and proceeded toward Sandy Hook. They reached Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and here learned of the treaty of peace, and were discharged.

In October, 1815, he came on a tour of inspection to this and adjoining counties in company with his brother John. They were accjuaintances and friends of John Jacoby (who then owned and run the Old Town mills) and his family, and with them they made their headquarters during their stay in this section. General Robert T. Forsman was then a single man and lived with Henry Jacoliy, in partnership with whom he ran a distiller}-. He sold out his interest to his partner not long after the building of the distillery.

During this trip Mr. Scott saw very little of Xenia, making a few short visits to the place. It then contained very few frame or lirick buildings. The principal business houses were l)uilt of logs, and nearly all the dwellings were log structures of a variety of styles and sizes. At that time there %yas a tavern about where John Glossinger's saloon used to be, kept by an Englishman. There was another just east of it kept by Thomas Gillespie, who was afterward appointed land commissioner in the northern part of the state by President Jackson. Connelly then kept the tavern near the old Hivling corner. James Collier was then running his famous house on Detroit street and a Mr. Watson was proprietor of another on the south side of Main street, west of Detroit.

The first mill built in the county was a small structure erected in 1799 near the site of the Harbine mill at Alpha. Some years after it proved too small for the increasing trade and was abandoned for a larger one, a frame building erected near by. A woolen mill was also built and put into operation at the same place. It was afterward used as a cotton factory for some time and then again converted into a woolen mill. This mill property then belonged to Jacob Smith, who was a member of the fourth general assembly of the state in 1805, as a senator from this and Clinton counties, which office he filled several times afterward.

.Vfter weeks spent in the inspction of the different mills in this part of the state Mr. Scott and his brother John negotiated for the purchase of this property from Mr. Smith and then started back to Pennsylvania. They had not journeyed as far as the Scioto river ^vhen James' horse died. The animal was an excellent one, and as usually found in the west at that time horses were of an inferior stock. INIr. Scott would not purchase one with which to complete his journey home, but proceeded on foot. Some days he traveled as nnich as fifty miles, and would very often reach the point designated in the morning as the stopping place for the following night some time in advance of his brother who was on horsel)ack. Their average rate of travel during the entire journey was between forty-five and forty-seven miles. Twenty-five miles this side of Pittsburg, at a place then called Bricklings Cross Roads, his brother was taken very ill and they had to remain at this place some six weeks until the sick man was able to proceed on the journey. They arrived home during the holidays. Mr. Scott returned to this county in February. 18 16. and assumed charge of the mill purchased of Mr. Smith. Xot anticipating the immediate use of a horse after his arrival here, he declined to bring one with him and made the entire journey on foot. In the fall of the year he again returned tn Pennsylvania, this time making the trip nn horseback.

On the 17th of October. 1816, he was married to Elizabeth S. Shannon, who was then living with her parents not far from ]\Iilton, Pennsyhania. Slic was born July 6, 1796. Mrs. Scott had a brother living in Piqua. Ohio, and another in Pennsylvania, these three being the only surviving members of a large family. Jnhn Shannon, who once li\-ed at Alpha, this county, was another brother. Soon after their marriage thev moved to this countv in a wagon. They lived in the house in which the first 'rourt. were held in this county, which was then the residence of Peter Borders, and in which he kept a tavern for many years.

John Scott, u ho had accomiianied James on his first visit to this count}', lived with them here. He was a millwright and erected a number of mills in this and adjoining counties. He afterward settled in Aliami county, where he died in the eighty-second \ear of his age. Captain Casper Snyder, James Fulton and two of James Scott's sons, \\'illiam and David, learned the trade with him.

Mr. Scott tells of a case of sharp practice which occurred in the neighborhood of Alpha some time before he came to the county, but of which he often heard after his arrival here. Jacob Herring was the owner of a tract of land near Beaver creek, nortii of Alpha. An adjoining tract lying between his land and the creek contained some verv excellent bottom land, and on it there were some very fine springs, and this Herring desired to possess. Benjamin W'hiteman learned of this desire and knowing that the land had not yet been entered by any one went to Herring, assumed the right to sell the land, bargained with him for its sale at five dollars per acre, went immediately to Cincinnati and entered it in his own name at less than half that price, then returned and made Herring a deed for the land, making quite a sum of money in the operation, which Herring could have retained had he known to what party the land belonged.

While running the mill ^Ir. Scott once sent his team to Cincinnati with a load of flour. On the return the driver missed the way and after wandering about in the forests of Clermont and Brown counties for many days finally reached the mill again after an absence of about three weeks.

A few days after moving to this county, with his wife Mr. Scott came to Xenia to purchase necessary household goods. He selected a number of articles, among them a "dutch oven" at James Gowdy's store, had them set aside, and then drove liis team to John Alitten's chair factory, wliich stood v\here the Grand Hotel now stands, to purchase some chairs. Having driven away from the store without paying for what he had selected, or telling Mr. Gowdy where he was going (he presumes that Gowdy thought he was going to leave the goods on his hands and had gone home without them) Mr. Gowdy sent John Ewing. a clerk in the store, in search of Mr. Scott and to inquire if he had forgotten the articles set aside for him. Mr. Scott satisfied him, however, by returning to the store after he had gotten the chairs and pa^-ing for the articles and taking them home.

The German Reformed, as it was called, the Lutheran and.Xew Light were the only church organizations in that part of the county wlien Mr. and Mrs. Scott lived at Alpha. Their ancestors were Presbyterians, and as there was not then any organization of tliat denomination near them they attended the services of the Reformed and Lutheran churches for a number of years. These two denominations built a large log church about 1820, near the site of the present brick church edifice on the Dayton and Xenia road near Alpha. The two congregations occupied the church alternately. Rev. Thomas Winters, who li\ed near Davton, the father of the popular David \\"mters, now of Dayton, and Rev. Thomas Winters, of Xenia, was then pastor of the Reformed congregation. Rev. Da\'id Winters, then a young man, preached the first sermon Mr. Scott ever heard him preach in this church. Mr. Scott knew of but one ^lethodist family in the township at diat time. It was the family of Jacob Xesbitt, father of Benoni Xesbitt, of Xenia. There was then no congregation of Dunkards in the township, but there were a few persons there of that denomination, and tnrough their efforts were induced to settle there, until in later years a congregation was organized, and still exists at Zimmermanville. Soon after the organization of the first Presbyterian congregation in this city, and when Rev. Moses Swift, now of Allegheny, was its paster, Mr. and Mrs. Scott united with it, and ha\'e since remained meml)ers of that church.

Mr. Scott was well acquainted with .\ssociate Judges Houston and Haines, who w ere his neighbors for a long time. Among other personal acquaintances and friends during the first year of his residence in this county were Henry Ankeney. Captain Jacob Shingledecker, Captain Robert IMcClellan and Major James Galloway, who were sol- 'tliers in the war of 181 2. ^Ir. Hugh An- 'drew , Mr. George Wright and Mr. Scott were the only pensioners of the war of 1812 mider the old law that were living in 1879 about Xenia.

Mr. Scott said that the people then living in Bea\-ercreek township were the most sociable and hospitable, honorable and upright in all their dealings of any community in which he had e\'er lived. It was made up principally of people from Pennsylvania and Maryland. His mill custom then extended to the east and south, east a distance of twent}-five or thirty miles. In addition to attending to the running of the mill he lieM the office of justice of the peace in that ti.wnship for five years.

After conducting the mill business for over ten years the property was sold to a yiv. Herr, and from him to Mr. John Harbine, and Mr. Scott then took charge of

While there he was elected sheriff of the county and assumed the duties of that office in 1828, and held the uflice fur two successive terms. At that time the county jail was an old stone building, which stood on the west side of the present city park. The county did not then provide a residence for the sheriff, and he lived in a small frame house on the same lot on East Second street where he was living at the time of his death. This building was moved in late years to East Church street. In 1833 'i'^ ^\'''=' elected to the state legislature and served one year as representative. - Before going to the legislature and after his return from that body he held the office of justice of the peace in Xenia. He. was then elected sheriff' and reentered that office in 1836, again ser\ing two terms. Soon after the beginning of the first term a new jail was built in connection with a sherift"s residence, on the east side of the public square, was completed, and Mr. Scott and his family settled in the residence thus furnished them. The washing for the prisoners was done at the expense of the sheriff", who also had to furnish all necessary fuel and was paid only twenty-live cents per day for boarding each prisoner confined in the jail. There were then very few sheriff' sales; people then helped each other out of their financial difficulties, and there were few failures in business. Whatever sheriff' sales there were then, were almost exclusively sales in partition.

Mr. Scott was sheriff' was Dr. Thomas Neal, who was sentenced to a long tenn of imprisonment. On account of his unusual trustworthy disposition in a matter of that kind he was for awhile allowed the privileges of the jail yard during the day, and some times they permitted him to take a stroll about town. After his release Mr. Scott and others who took an interest in his welfare set him up in business in a small botanical drug store and succeeded in getting him a small practice. His wife, known by all as "Auntie Xeal," was a general favorite in the town and especially with the children. The old couple removed to Jamestown some years after and there they died not a great while ago.

In 1839 Mr. Scott was again elected representative to the legislature, and thfs time served two terms. Among others whom he remembered as members oi the legislature when he was one of that body, and with w horn he was then acquainted, he mentioned Thomas W. Bartley and David Todd, both of whom afterwards became governors of the state: Joseph Vance, who was then in the senate and had been governor ; Seaburry Ford, who afterwards was governor; Charles Brough, who afterwards became a very prominent citizen of Cincinnati, and who was a brother of John Brough, who was then auditor of state and was afterward elected' governor; George H. Flood, afterward United States minister to Texas before its annexation ; Judge Smith, of Warren county, father of Judge Smith, so well known in our present courts ; Aaron Harlan, who was once a member of congress from this county ; George D. Hendricks, who w^as once noted for his ready wit. Once when Hendricks had the floor another member iirose and said : "Mr. Si)eaker, is there anything'before the I'.ouse?" When Hendricks, referring to the member that had interrupted liim, exclaimed soto voce, "Yes, there is a

At another time a member, a Baptist preacher, presented a Ijill providing for tlie erection of a dam across one of the largest tributaries to tlie ^Muskingum river. He was very earnest in urging tlie passage of the bill and made an imnecessarily frequent use of the name of the structure for wliich the provision was urged, and wlien lie closed his speech Hendricks arose and said : "Mr. Speaker, I move that the word "dam" be struck from this bill: the frequent use of such profanity is decidedly corrupting to the morals of this august body."

While at Columbus ]\Ir. Scott became intimately acquainted with Judge Bellamy Storer, who was often in that city on legal business. During his first term in the legislature he drew up the bill for the incorporation of the first bank ever incorporated in Xenia, called "The Xenia Bank," with John Hivling, president, John Ankeney, James Galloway. John Dodd. James Gowdy, General R. D. Forsman, Silas Roberts and others as incorporators. This bill was presented by George D. Hendricks, and by him its passage was materially aided. Wdiile in the legislature the second time Mr. Scott presented a bill for the incorporation of the Dayton and Xenia Turnpike Company. This bill was passed, Ijut he thinks that the road ^^as built under a subsequent incorporation. The first bank in Xenia, however, was organized iti 1818. with William Elkins cashier.

family to the John Ewing farm, just east of Xenia, and there followed the occupation of farming. The farm residence was a log house, which stood near where the brick house stands in which Adam Rader used to live. ]\lr. Scott remained there for two years and then moved to the Hivling farm, on the west side of Xenia, and lived in the house which has since l)een enlarged and improved and is now (1899) occupied by Mrs. Jerry Parkhill. flere he continued farming for about two years, when he was elected to the of^ce of county recorder.

It was about this time that the great and disastrous Puterbaugh fire occurred. The fire was first disco\-ered by John Crumbaugh, \\'illiam McDaniel. and Jacob Bazzel, who, being out \'ery late that night, were pr<.iceeding toward home, when they stopped at the corner of Main and Detroit streets for a moment's chat. While there their attention was atttractcd by peculiar sounds of some one in great distress, and in proceeding in the direction from which the sounds came, they discovered that they were the groans of some one within the Puterbaugh storeroom, and the building was on fire. They gave the alarm and soon hundreds were gathered around the terril>e scene, wluise revelations of murder aii'' work of destruction stamped a picture so indelibly upon the minds of all who witnessed the scene that time will fail to erase it. The date of this sad occurrence was August ,v 1^45- Two young men in the store were murdered, William Steele and James Kinney. The latter is buried in Woodland cemetery. Mr. Steele was buried in the northeastern corner of what is now known as the \\'est Market street school yard, then known as the Associate graveyard.

^\'llile recorder, Mr. Sci>it iutrotluccd a new s\stcni of indexing tlie records, which has ever since aided greatly in facilitating the business of the office. He was continued in this office for nine years, .\fter his third term c.x]iircd he was elected to tlie office of count\- auditor, and tilled that i)Osition one term. Xot many years afterward he was elected township trustee, and was continued in that (ifiicc fur many years, and until he declined to serye longer on account of his desire to relinquish the labors and responsibilities of active life, in order to live in a more retired manner during his remaining days.

He is now in the eighty-sixth year of his age. and has retained the natural faculties of mind and ImkIn- to an innisual degree. His father died at the age of eighty-six years at the residence of his son, John, near Troy, Ohio, in 1S34. His mother died in I'eiinsyh'ania some years before. John Scott, his brother, .died near Troy, Ohio, after having passed his eighty-second year. And anfUher brnther. \\'illiam Scott, now lives in 'JVoy, and is in his eighty-second year. This similarity in the longevity of the father and the three sons and only children is somewhat remarkable. Mrs. Scott was, at the aforesaid date, in the eighty-third year of her age, and has been blessed with a continuation of health and strength of both body and mind to an extent equal to that of her husband's. , They have been married for o\'er sixty-two }cars, The_\- have survived six of their children, and have but three living: ^Irs. John ^^'. Manor, of this city : David Scott, who li\-cs in Indiana: and James, who resides with his parents on East Second street, this city. ]\Ir. James A. Scott, the subject of this sketch, after a long and useful life, died

History Of The G.Vllowav Corner

We find that away back in 179<S it \\,is a part of what is known as survey Xo. 2243. in the name of Warren and .\ddison Lewis, patented to Robert Pollard on the 24th of December, 1798, calling for one tiiousand acres. On July 6, 1801, Robert Pollard and Jael, his wife, conveyed the same to Thomas Richardson and wife, Elizabeth. On the 27th of June, 1803, John Paul, the founder of Xenia, became the owner of the aforesaid one thousantl acres, of which lot X"o. 2/, the (jalloway corner, was a part. On the 14th of Xovember the honoraljle court of the county of Greene had decided that the forks of Shawnee creek was to be the iiermanent county seat of Greene county. Ohi(j. Joseph C. X'ance had been employed to survey and lay out the count \- seat and had been selected to act as director for said county seat. Mr. Vance served in that ca])acity until Septemljer. 1805. and ;it that date ret^igned and \\'illiam A. Beatty was chosen as his successor in office. On the 13th of September, 1810. James Galloway, Jr., purcliased of William A. Beatty lot Xo. ^j, ninety-nine feet on Chillicothe, or Main, street, and one-half the distance of the square running north on Detroit street, consideration for the same three hundred dollars. Prior to this on the nth of September. 1807, William A. Beatty had con^-eyed to Henry Phenix, lot X^o. 38, immediately west cf and adjoining Mr. Galloway's lot, and on which he liad erected a cabin en llie present site of what is now (1900) known as the Drees and Thornhill Iniilding, and was keeping tavern. On the 14th of Xovember, 1808, j\Ir. Phenix sold to Dr. Andrew W. Davidson, Xenia's first physician, lot No. 38. On that lot, present site of th.e John J. Knox saddler's shop, Mr. Davidson erected a two-story brick house. March 11, 1813, Mr. Davidson cuineyed to James Galoway, Jr.. the lilt, which extended west to what is known as the Crnmbaugh line. The same year, 1813, that Mr. Galloway purchased lot Xo. 38, he commenced to build what has been known for almost three-fourths of a century "The Galloway corner," which gave rise to the subject of this sketch. Mr. Hugh Andrew says that a Mr. Hartsook did the mason work, and that it was the largest brick buildings in Xenia at that time. The other corners at this time were vacant, and many of the inhaljitants of Xenia got their fire wood from the lots on which they lived. The streets at that time were full of stumps and everything presented a wild appearance. -\Ir. Galloway had [jrevious to this time completed a large brick house in 1809 on his farm, six miles north of Xenia, on the Fairfield pike, known as "Ramblers' Retreat." The old home is yet standing ami owned l)y William H. Collins. Four of Mr. Galloway's cliildren were born at this place. The father of Major Galloway had come from f'ennsylvania, and had removed and settled in Kentucky, during tlie most perilous times of Indian warfare, and had participated in the dangers along with Boone, Simon Kenton and others, in their struggle to reclaim the land from the savage foe. He was also along with Gen. Roger Clarke, in 1782. in his second expedition to Old Chillicothe, on the Little Miami, and other points. In the year 1797 he removed from Kentucky to his home in Ohio, and located on land west of the Little Miami, opposite the present }vliami Powder Mills. About nineteen years previous to his coming to Ohio, Xovember -3- ^77^- he had married Miss Rebecca Junkin, in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania. Maj. James Galloway, his eldest son. and the builder of the Galloway corner, had an eventful life. At the age of twenty years, accompanied by his father, he made a trip back to his old Kentucky home, in 1802, and through the influence of his father. Jame? Galloway, Sr., who had known Col. Richard Anderson in the war of the Revolution, and his uncle, George Pomeroy. he succeeded in getting the ai)pointment of dejiuty surveyor of the \'irginia military district of Ohio. And one is filled with surprise and wonder to-day ( 1900) as he looks at and examines his large ledgers, books of surveys, field notes, and the hundreds of letters pertaining to his business in his various transactions, and the thoughts will come, and questions will arise, how could one man accomplish so much, and do it so neatly. And in addition to this work, his home duties, duties to his country in the war of 1812, in which he took part, sometimes as .i private soldier, other times as captain of a company, and as major of a regiment, and in all the work that was essential to making the conditions of his fellow men better, we find Alajor Galloway did his part and did it well. But we will return to our subject, "The Galloway corner." John W. Shields, along about 1877, says: "In 1814 ]\Iajor Galloway removed from his place. "Ramblers' Retreat,' to Xenia. and into the corner aforesaid, where spacious rooms had been prepared fur the family, in addition to the storerooms on the corner. It is witii feelings of regret that a complete list of the parties that transacted business in that corner can not be given. The tirst to sell merchandise was the firm of George Townsley & Co., in 1814. The next to occupy the corner probably was the firm of Dodd, Parkison & Lowry. Mr. John Dodd, the senior member of the firm, had been to Philadelphia, and had brought home with him among other articles, which he had purchased, the first lucifer matches that had been brought to Xenia. They were a great curiosity, and were stared at by his customers who thought they would l>e a great thing, enabling them to start a fire without taking a shovel and going half a mile .to a neighbor to borrow, but no one thought how universal they would become, and what a help they would be to ycnmg boys learning to smoke, and howconvenient they would be to incendiaries. A few yet,li\ing perhaps still remember Mr. Dodd, his personal appearance in his best days, his energetic, animated face, short neck, and his right shoulder carried higher than the left. Of these old-time merchants only two ( 1877) remain on our streets, John Ewing and Gen. Casper R. Merrick, who are still notetl for their (|uick step and vivacity, yir. James E. Galloway has in his home a photograph of the old corner which he was thoughtful in securing, and it is a valuable picture, and will become more so as time rolls on. In the (jld building there was a hall entering from Detroit street, and north (jf this hall were the parlor and sitting room, with dining room and kitchen in the rear. The second story afforded the family chambers, and were more spacious and comfortable than was common in that day. When the family removed to their present mansion the old parlor and sitting room were converted into a storeroom for Philip Lauman. After the removal of the lamily the second story was used for several years as a tailor shop by Andrew Hutchison, as genial and clever a man as ever lived in Xenia. He was the father of Clark Hutclrjson, yet conducting business in Xenia near the site where his father used to be. The Galloway corner is occupied by the present Steele building. The present Galloway mansion (1877) was erected in 1S30; the materials were all carefully selected ; Gen. Daniel Lewis was the mason, with his two apprentice boys, Aniel Rogers and William C. Robinson, better known as "Hud" Robinson; his carpenter was the late Robert Nesbitt. The family moved into their house in 1831, and there they have remained ever since. It is seldom that any family has remained in one place so long, forty-six years in the same house, and sixtythree on the same lot of ground. But fath.er anil mother have passed away, and also brothers and sisters, and now the family is reduced to two. L'nder those circumstances the old mansion was converted into business purposes. Major Galloway had the sagacity to foresee in the fertile soil of Ohio and its rapid settlement a fine opportunity for acquiring independence and, perhaps, wealth, he became, as we ha\'e seen, a surveyor and pursued his calling diligently for several years. He acquired large tracts of land in what is known as the military district that had been set aside for the soldiers of the Revoluion. We are informed on good authority that Mr. Galloway after having secured the position as deputy surveyor, under Col. Richard C. Anderson, supplied himself with all the necessary implements, books, etc., that were recjuired for his business, by taking his trusty rifle and going to the woods hunting, and by the results of such efforts made money enough to pay for all that was needed to perfectly supply his wants in regard to the aforesaid articles. A loft in one of the out buildings at "Ramblers' Retreat" was his office, which he fitted up. It is no wonder that success crowned his efforts. The rapid rise in the value of those lands enabled him to sell and reinvest. His success was, I suppose, much greater than he had at first anticipated. The consequence was, that he was able to support a style of life in Xenia that no other family here has ever maintained. His Glady farm of one thousand acres was the Egypt from which he drew his supplies. His stables were stocked with fine horses, and he kept his carriage and coachman. His sons were graduated from Miami iuii\-ersity, and his daughters were graduates of the best schools in Cincinnati. He was a lenient creditor, an indulgent landlord, and it gave him pleasure to help a poor man to independence, if he thought him worthy of assistance. He was an elder in the Associate church, under Rev. Francis Pringle, away back in 1811. And his home was ever open, as his father's had been, to the itinerate ministers of that church as well as to all of his friends.

Thomas Steele

Thomas Steele came to the United States in 181 2. He was a native of Ireland. Sometimes but a trifle settles the destinies of man, and, it is said, that the ship on which he sailed was stopped at sea by a British man-of-war. in order tn press young men in the na\-al serxice. 'Sir. Steele being c[uick and acti\c hid himself in tlie liold of the ship so securely that John Bull could not find him, and by this circumstance Great Britain lost a good sailor, but Xenia gained . an excellent teacher. Mr. Steele resided at first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about two years, then went to Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained one year and in the winter of 1S15 came to Xenia, Ohio.

In the spring of 1816 he commenced his school in Xenia, which he continued until about 1848. being sustained by his merit as a teacher. His old pupils well remember his modest and humble dwelling and school house, on the site now occupied by our Center school building, also the thoroughness of his teaching. He was a devout Christian, religion being with him a calm and abiding conviction and through all h.'s life he remained firmly attached to the Covenantor church.

Soon after coming to Xenia Mr. Steele was united in marriage October 9, 1818, to Miss Maria Gaff, of this county. His eldest daughter, ]\Iartha Jane, widow of the late Dr. Adams, of Waynesville, Ohio, in 1876 resided in Kansas City, Mo., with her sister, i\Irs. Louise Trumbull. His son. Dr. Ebenezier Steele, was assistant surgeon of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry during the late Civil war. He died at N^ashville, Tennessee. His second daughter. Margaret, was the wife of the late R. F. Howard, one of Xenia's best lawyers, while his daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Patrick, now a widow, resides with her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Torrence, at Belle Center, Ohio, and his son, William, is now (1876) in the state of Texas. In 1848 Mr. Steele moved to Adams county, Ohio, but his change was un- f(_;rtunate and lie returned to Xenia in 1853, wliere he remained until i860, when he went to s])end the reniainder of his days with his daughter at Belle Center, Ohio. Willi of the older people of Xenia but remembers Thomas Steele? Among some of his pupils were Abraham Hivling, Alfred Trader, Thornton J^Iarshall, George Monroe, Benoni Nesbit, Albert Galloway and Thomas P. Townsley, but to enunxerate is out of the question. We must take them by families. There were the Starks, Merricks, Roberts, Crumbaughs and from ;inn>ng almiost all the old families of Xenia. Peace be to his ashes. He died at Belle Center. August 6, 1875, aged eighty-four years.

Was a carpenter by trade. Many of the first arid best houses were built by him in the county at an early date. He came from Iiuliaiia county, Pennsylvania, in 181 7, and was married to Miss X'ancy Townsley, daughter of Thomas Townsley, Sr., who \\as one of the first settlers near the present site of Cedarviile. His wife was a sister to Mrs. Major James Galloway, Jr. He was born in Ireland. December 27, 1790, and died in Xenia, Ohio, Jun* 26 1876, at the ripe age of eighty-six years. He is buried in Woodland cemetery.

A\'as a hatter by trade. He came to Xenia ni 1817. He purchased the lot now covered by the wholesale house of Eavey & Co. and westward. He was a man that was highly respected/ in Xenia, and was the father of the late Samuel Crumbaugh, sheriff of Greene county, and other children who were well known and respected. After spending nearly sixty years of his life in Xenia. on September 6, 1876, word came that the old pioneer had entered into his rest. In the year 1833 he assisted in organizing the Reformed church in this city, of which he was a faithful member. He was a native of Maryland, born .August 29, 1 79 1, and was eighty-five years of age at the time of his death. He lies in Woodland cemetery.

Abraham Larew

Mr. Larew was one of the early settlers of Xenia, a carpenter by trade, having located here in the year 1806. About 1834 he removed from Xenia tO' Logansport, Indiana, where he resided several years, but for some years previous to his death he resided near Cincinnati, with his son-in-law. Stephen Reeder (who was also a former resident oi Xenia), where he died April r. 1858, aged eighty-three years.

Some of the houses that he built are still standing in Xenia, notably one that is being used as a school house on West Market street. It is on Detroit street, about where the "famous cheap store" of A. G. Hiller now stands, and served as a grocery store of D. A. Dean & Bro., and the upstairs as the office for many years of the Xenia Torch Light. When the march of improvement took place it had to go, and was removed to its present location.

]Mr. Larew was also a soldier in the war of 1812 from Greene county, and was likewise a soldiet of the Revolution. Thus one by one are the old settlers being gathered to their fathers.

Ax Old Landmark Removed

In April, 1857, workmen were engaged in removing the old building that stood on what was called the Jonathan Wallace lot - - where now (1899) stands the Trebein mill. This was one of the oldest buildings in town, having been erected by INIr. Wallace in 181 1, as a residence. It was built of logs, and when first erected was but one story high. A few months later another story was added, and it was then looked upon as quite a stylish affair. Mr. Wallace occupieil it for more than thirty years. He was a hatter by trade. He removed from Xenia. and died at the house of Anthony Byers. Darke county, April 25, 1850, aged seventy years.

Edward Watts

Died at his residence one mile east of Xenia June 23, 1859, aged seventy-five years. He was born in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1782, and came to Ohio in 1806. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving six months in a tour of duty, and was in the expedition to the Maumee Rapids under the command of General Tupper. He came to Greene county in 1806, and was married in 1821 to Mrs. Margaret (Snavley) Reece, and settled on his farm one mile east of Xenia, where lie continued to reside until his death. He was always true to his country and principles, and in politics an unwavering, zealous Whig. His last sickness was of several months' duration. He lies buried in the Watt's family burial ground near the Xenia water works stand-pipe.

Major George Gordon

county, Peimsylvania, on the 7th of September, 1786. His father decided to move west in 1790, and taking his family, came in a wagon from near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, across the mountain to the river some miles above where Pittsburg now stands. .\nd at that point they proceeded down the ri\-er in a ilat boat,^and landed at a place called Limestone, which has since de\-eloped into the extensi\-e town of Maysville, Kentucky. Going from there farther back into the state they settled near Lexington. Fayette county, but leaving there in 1802, they came to Ohio, which was then a part of the northwestern territory, crossing the Ohio river on a fiat boat at Cinciimati, making their live stock swim the stream. Mr. Gordon said he remembered crossing the Ohio five times in that way during the year. Proceeding then to Warren county, then a part of Hamilton county, they settled near Lebanon, where Mr. Gordon remained with his father until 1813.

Previous tO' 1808 Major Gordon was afflicted with a severe attack of rheumatism, from which he suffered greatly for many years, though during his later years he was not harrassed with the accustomed pains of the disease. He said the disease was first brought on by sleeping in a "Dutchman's" feather bed. He one day took a load of grain to the niill to be ground, and was forced to remain at the mill over night while tile grinding was being done. The miller, a German, slept in the mill and had a bed on the ground floor of the building. This he invited Mr. Gordon to occupy for the night, while he would attend to the nwll aiV-l have the grist b}- morning. Being prevailed upon, Mr. Gordon accepted the offer and was snon tucked beneath a huge feather-bed.

Here he slept soundly, and in a thorough perspiration arose early in the morning and went out into the cold air, harnessed his horses, loaded his wagon and proceeded liome, but before he arrived there he was completely chilled, and not long after began to sutler excruciating pains of rheumatism. In 1808 he went with his mother and a neighbor, also a young man and an invalid, li) Yellow Springs, to test the efficacy of the water there as a cure for his disease. The ground around the springs at that time belonged to Mr. Lewis Davis, and one of the buildings, a rude log cabin, the trio occupied. In this they lived, providing and eating their own food, which Mrs. Gordon prq)ared. For the use of the cabin and the privilege of the water they paid Mr, Davis seventy-five cents per week. And Mr. Gordon said that life then was far more conductive to comfort, happiness and health than it is now, with an immense three-story hotel and fashionable display, at an expense of ten or twelve dollars per week. He was iDcnefited 1)\- the use of the water there, but it did not effect a permanent cure. After Hull's surrender in 1S12 he went with a company of "Light Horse" cavalry from Franklin, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne to relieve the garrison there, who were expecting 'a strong attack from the Indians. No attack was made, however, during his stay, which was short, as sleeping on the ground soon caused a return of the rheumatism, with all of its old force, and he was compelled to return home. Mr. Gordon first saw Xenia in 1805, when he came up from Warren county to help his brother, William Gordon, who' was an early settler in Xenia, to move from that -county to Xenia. William Gordon purchased lot Xo. 176, on the corner of Water and Whiieman streets, and there erected and run the first brewery in Xenia, a small log establishment. ^Ir. Gordon came again in 1806 or 1807, when he came to assist his brother in hauling the timber for a twostory log house, forty by forty feet, which his brother William erected near the house known as the James Gowdy home, corner lot No. ^^. Some years ago, during the time M. D. Gatch, of this city, was a member of the state legislature, while reading the Ohio State Journal, to which he was a regular subscriber, he saw several communications which attempted to fix the date of the noted "cold Friday." each giving a different date. Soon after, when sending the subscription money for the paper, he accompanied it with a note to the editor, in which he referred to the communications he had read, and stated that the date of that day was Friday. Februarv 14, 1807. He was surprised to see hi.s communication in the following issue of the Journal, together with the editor's remark that Mr. Gordon must b.e correct, as the 14th of February that year came on Friday, while all dates by others came on some other day of the week. Mr. Gordon said he remembered that day distinctly : that the evening preceding he and his brother, anticipating rough weather, had hunted up a young calf belonging to William and placed it in what they supposed very comfortable quarters, secure from the cold, but in the morning they found it frozen to death in spite of their care. Also, that on that cold day the men who had gathered at the huge log tavern, then near the southeast corner of Main and Detroit streets, kept by William .\. Beattv, better known as Major Beatty. growing impatient with the fire which was made of green wood and wonld not burn to suit them, carried the contents of the whole large fireplace in the middle of the street, and there piled it up, declaring they would make a fire to suit themselves. He added in this connection that when William Kendall was building the old brick court house, some of the boarders at this tavern used to steal the wood that he had prepared for the brick kiln, carry it trj the tavern and burn it for pure mischief.

In February, 1813. Mr. Gordon was married to Miss Agnes AlcDaniel, who was three years his junior, and who had come from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, with her parents and settled in Warren county, within a few miles of where IMr. Gordon and his parents then lived. In }ilarch of the same year the newly married couple came to Greene county, and settled in the woods in Sugarcreek township, about three miles west of Springvalley on the Centerville pike. Along the line of this road 'six. Gordon and a few others interested tried to have a county road established in 1S14, but failed to succeed. Upon arriving at this place he constructed a rude log hut and with his wife continued for several years to follow the usual avocations and endure the hardships of pioneer life.

While living there they attended the Associate church in Xenia, of which they were members until the union, when they united with the secontl church, of which Mrs. Gordon was a memljer until her death, which occurred May 11, i860, and to which Mr. Gordon was- a member until his death, which, occurred December 10, 1879, at the ripe old age of ninety-three years.

northeast corner of his place, facing east on Detroit street, and for many years past used as a residence, was the first Associate church ever built in Xenia. The congregation was organized in 18 10 by Rev. John Steele, who preached occasionally for them, and afterward became their settled pastor. Xot long after the congregation was organized the church was built, Rev. Adam Rankin conducting the first communion service in the summer of 1814. Rev. Porter, then of Preble county, was one of the supplies of this congregation, and here the well known Dr. Pressley, who was licensed to preach and was married before he was twenty-one years of age, preached some of his first sermons. The reporter must have misunderstood Mr. Gordon when he calls it the Associate church. What he has said would apply to the Associate Reform church, of which the Rev. John Steele was pastor, and which is now known as the First United Presbyterian church. Mr. John B. (X)wdy, yet living (1S99), says in regard to the building, that the brick of which the house was built were made and burnt where the building now stands in 1817, and the house was erected soon after. There was a log church stood near by previous to this one.

After a few years earnest toil, clearing and improving the farm which he had settled in Sugarcreek township Mr. Gordon was able to possess a good horse team, and finding that he could make more money in that than in any other ^way, he followed teaming to and from Cincinnati for some vears. getting as high as one dollar and twentv-five cents per hundred pounds hauling goixls from Cincinnati to Xenia.

on Massies creek lately owned by Mr. James, and nnw the property of Henry Conklin, to which he renioved with liis family in the same year, and socn after erected new bnildings on the place. Having in 1851 purchased the ground between Xorth Detroit and King streets, where he died, he raised two large crops of potatoes on it in 185 1 and 1852. In the fall of 1852, Austin McDowcl. whom he had empl<yed to d<j the work, began the erection of his present residence, and finished it in the spring of 1853. Mr. Gordon removed from his farm on Mastics creek to this residence in that year. Mrs. Gordon died in May, i860, in the seventy-first year of her age. Mr. Gordon at the time of liis death left behind him to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent father three sons, George K.. William 1. and Andrew A., of Holton, Kansas, and one daughter, the wife of the Rev. D. McDill.

Uev. Jioses Tu.Vdek

Rev. Moses Trader died April 9, 1854, age seventy years, in Lynn county, Mis- HJuri. At. the tinuc of his hirth, his father, who had teen a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and one of Morgan's celebrated rilie regiment, resided in Cumberland county, \'irginia, sixteen miles southeast of L'ninntown, Pennsylvania. He emigrated to the Northwest territory in 1792, and landed it the mouth of the Little ]VIiami river on the 19th day of December^ A settlement having been there commenced by Major Stitts in 1789, three years previous, and only four years from the first settlement of Ohio at Marietta. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. There were no members of that church nor any regular Methodist preaching until the Rev. John Kobler came, who was the first Methodist

Episcopal preacher that crcsseil the Ohio to preach the gospel to the few hardy pioneers who had pitched their camps in the wilderness. But this did not occur until the death of his father. Hostilities were kept up with the savages from the time of their landing at CoUmibia until the Indians were defeated by General Wayne August 20, 1794, the war being linally ended by treaty at Greenville the year following. The spirit stirring scenes and dangers through which he had passed in his youth seemed to have inspired him with a fondness for enterprise and adventiu'e. He hunted with the Shawnee Indians, understcHDd their manners and customs, and spoke their language fluently. He was an iinerring marksman and a good hunter, to which was united unllinching" courage and ability to endure fatigue. Such qualificatioins made him a great favorite with the Indians.

It is not known when he first came to Greene county. It must have been at an early period, as he cleared the first field on made at Caesar's creek. A settlement had been made at Caersarsville ( near the present home of Pad Peterson) in 1800, so he must have been here previous tO' that. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac ^IcDonald, on the 2nd day of September, 1804, by the Rev. Bennet Maxey. It is said that being at one of those social gathering commonly called (piiltings, he was desirous O'f getting up a dance; suddenly a flash of conviction darted through his mind, his levity left him, and gave place to serious thoughtfulness, and from that time to the end of his earthly existence his life and manners were entirely changed. He attached himself to the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a zealous member from the first. His education had been so neglected that in attempting to lead at prayer-meetings he could scarcely give out a hymn without spelling some of the words. But from that time on his progress in the path of knowledge was to be a matter of astonishment to all who knew him. Books were scarce in those days, and cost much money. He had an increasing famil}: to provide for by his own daily labors; yet such was his midnight industry (reading from light famished by the scaly bark from hickory trees) and by the activity of his intellectual faculties that he soon mastered whatever he undertook. His mind seemed to grasp a situation as by intuition. He joined the Ohio conference in 1812 and coi:tinued until 18 17, when bad health compelled him to relocate.

Such were his attainments at that time that he ranked as one of the most intelligent and profound members of the Ohio conference. He had made himself well acquainted with history, theolog>% and was deeply versed in Biblical lore, to which he soon after added knowledge of the Hebrew language. His grammar of that language was copied by his own hand, and was a curiosity for neatness and penmanshij). In 18 16 he removed to Chillicothe. where his popularity as a preacher was scxm establislied.' He,was also prospering in business when hemet with a stroke of adversity which swept away all that industry and economy had enabled him to acquire. A traveler stopped at Chillicothe and found one of his slaves that had run awav some years previous. Tlie negro, Tom, in the meantime had married, and had a wife and two children. His master had him arrested, and was going to tear him away from his family and return him to bondage. In this deplorable condition Tom -appealed to Mr. Trader and others to purchase his freedom, promising that he would refund the amount uf purchase money if he had to work night and day. It was finally agreed that one John English and Mr. Trader should join in giving their note for the required sum (eight hundred dollars, it is believed). In due time the payment of the note was demanded, when it appeared English had signed the note not as a principal, as had been agreed upon', but as security-. He refused to pay any portion of the amount. The negro had been informed that a promise made by a slave was not binding, and he had the ingratitude to refuse to refund ;iny part of the sum. The whole debt fell on ilr. Trader, which, together with an expensive law suit, cost him fifteen or twenty hundred dollars.

In 1819 ]\Ir. Trader mOved back to Greene county, and the same year he contracted with the government to furnish timber to build the barracks at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1820 he descended the river and went to the lower Mississippi. From this time he continued on the river for nineteen years. In 1827 he commenced the mercantile business in Xenia. In 1839 ^e emigrated to Missouri, settling in Lynn county and commenced farming. In a letter written in 1845 lie says: I have one hundred and ninety acres of good land with sixtv acres under fence. In 1849 the Methodist Episcopal church organized a conference in that state, which he joined. At the time of his death he was presiding elder of Grand River district. On March 5, 1854, he preached his last sermon in Davis county, Missouri, se\-enty miles from home.

185S, the wliole town was startled witli the information tliat William T. Stark, Esq., one of our oldest and most generally known and respected citizens, had that nuirning' departed this life. He had attended to his business the day previous in good health, and to a friend observing that he felt as well as he had for years. On Saturday morning he at five o'clock to attend market, and while dressing he ci!mi)lained of a pain in the region of the heart, which induced liim to refrain from going out, and a plaster was applied lo his chest when he laid down, and in a very few moments without any e\'idence of pain he breathed his last. So unexpected was this event that his family was not aware of his C(-ndition>, and- his quiet apjiearance leading his widow, who was in the room with liim, to believe he was slee])ing.

-Mr. Stark at the time of his death had been a resident of Xenia forty-two years, having settled here on the 22d of July. 1S16. He was a descendant of General Stark, of the Revolution, and was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, on the 13th cf .\pril, -'/(JO. In 1799 his father moved to Maysville, Kentucky, and in 1800 to Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Stark was a volunteer of the treaty of Greenville in 1813. In June, 1S29, he received the appointment of postmaster for Xenia from General Andrew Jackson, and he held that oflice until 1841. He was a member of the Masonic order for forty years, and for about twenty-five years was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the Sabbath following his death his remains were consigned to the tomb, in Woodland cemetery, Xenia, by his brother Masons, and the procession that formed the -escort was the largest that was ever seen in the town. He was known by all, respected by the whole community for his many virtues, and the entire community sympathized with the family in their sorrow.

Captaix Joiix Itixi.Ixc

Colonel Hivling was among the last of the early settlers of Greene countw He was born near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July, 1779. and from that place he moved to Washington county, Maryland, and in the fall of 1809 removed to Greene county, Ohio. His first purchase was what was known as the "Paul Mill." now Tre-. beins, near Pinkney Pond, where he remained about two years. He then bought of Captain W. A. Beatty, in 181 1, the lot on the corner of Main and Detroit streets, now occupied by the Xenia Xational Bank, down to the south, side of the old Hivling house. Upon this lot there was then standing a log building occupying the ground now occupied by the Leaman block, and there he kept a hotel for two. or three years. He then purchased a thousand-acre tract of land from John Paul, lying north and west of the town and including the land now owned by the Manor heirs, Lewis H. Bcall, Samuel Galloway, heirs, and otherj. Upon this tract he resided in a house that stood near the residence of the late Andrew Baughman until 1815, when he purcha.sed from a Mr. Davis his lot and building and a stock of g(X)ds and commenced his long- and successful career as a m.erchant. This lot was the one known as the "Forsman," Main street. In 1812 he succeeded the late James Collier as sheriff of Greene county, and held that office the constitutional term of four years.

orcls indicate, he, in pvirsuance of the onler of court, whipped the last man upon the sentence of \\;hipping was pronounced in this court. Whatever might ha\-e been the facts in the case, in this instance the degrading punishment was well deserved, as the crime of which the rascal had been convicted was of the vilest order, and we ha\e heard an old settler, !io\v cjuietly sleeping after a life well spent, and who saw the operation, say that tlie Colonel fairly carried out the sentence of the court in spirit and letter as the scamp hugged a small sugar tree on the public square. The ct¥ice of sheriff is the only one that the Colonel ever filled.

Upon the organization of the old Xenia Bank he was elected as president of that institution, which position he held until 1840, when the old State Bank of Ohio was established and the Xenia Bank became one of the branches. He was elected one of the members "i the State Board of Control, and served that body from 1845 until 1851. When the subject of building a railroad from Cinciimati to Springfield was agitated, and others were hesitating and doubting the feasibility of the undertaking, Colonel Hivling was among the first to give it a fax'orable consideration, and upon the organization of the Little Miami Company he was selected as one of the board of directors, which position he held until 1840, and, having temporaril}- removed to a farm which he had purchased east of Cedarvile. he declined further re-election. In this brief sketch it is impossible to glance at all the business relations with which he was connected, and all the facts of a business and social career, nor is it necessary for us to do so in this case.

In all his business connections, in banking, in railroad management and in mercantile matters, he was noted tV>r his clear, practical good sense. In private life no man in the community possessed more fully and perfectly the confidence of his fellow citizens. At the time of his death he was just eighty-one years, three months and twenty days old and had been a resident of Xenia and vicinity for fifty-one years. He was bnrnc t'l his last resting ])lace bv his Masonic brothers, being a prominent member of the order from the organization of the lodge in Xenia. He died X'^ovember 4, 1851, and his body lies Iniried in Woodland cemetery, Xenia, Ohio. In the w.ar of 1812 he served a tour of dutv as a soldier.

In 1859 a local writer thus speaks of William Ellsberry : "He resides here at Xenia, in a ripe old age. the veneralile William Ellsberry. the honored patriot of the legal profession, now within two years of being an octogenarian. He settled in Xenia in 181 1, and his pioneer life and history are replete with romantic interest and instruction. It was a repast, rich and greatly relished, to hear him in his primiti\-e, yet comfortable, mansion, luiilt by himself in 18 1 5. rehearse the reminiscences of the days of the pioneers, fifty years ago. He had mingled in the stirring and adventurous scenes of the dark and bloody ground of Kentucky. He had personal interviews with the chief of the pioneers, Daniel Boone, and with great animation and accuracy narrated many e\entful incidents of Indian warfare and of the early settlers of this country, paying an elegant tribute to the integ- rity, >ini[)licity and worth of Simon Kenton, whose pioneer exploits and iiomely and noble virtues are recognized in the archives of western annals. Mr. Ellsl)erry himself has borne a distinguished part in the history and progress of Ohio, and contributed largely to the character and prosperit}- of Xenia. which he has seen grow from the rude forest village to be quite a city, filled with an intelligent and cultured people and all the arts and elegancies of a refined civilization.

"He has been a prominent legislator and a leading lawyer of the place, and is greatlv h.onored and esteemed l)y his fellow citizens and his brothers of the bar. .Vs a tribute of afifection they had completed by Mr. Mc- Clurg, an accomplished' artist of Pennsylvania, who spent two vears in the studies of the masters of the art in Italy, a beautiful and perfect portrait of their venerable friend and legal brother, which is to adorn the court roi.m where he displayed his legal learning and wit. and where in after ages it will s])eak of one who first in the county and place unfolded the mysteries and intricacies of the legal profession. That genial. life-like portrait will be a speaking memorial of pioneer days, and exert, we trust, a silent influence in mellowing the asperities coincident with the conflicts of litigation.