Middletown City (part 2 of 4)

On July 1st the society decided to lay off a new race track, commencing at a corner three hundred feet from the Middletown pike, in front of the cattle stalls, and ten feet ten inches from an oak tree west of the corner; thence to run south seven hundred and fourteen feet to a comer, the west line for the outside track; said track to be sixty feet wide on the west stretch, and fifty on the east stretch; said track to be three hundred and eighty feet wide on the inside lines, or say, seven hundred and fourteen feet long by three hundred and eighty feet wide; the ends to be a complete semi-circle; to be just one-half mile. Engineers John W. Erwin and John C. Weaver reported the above dimensions to be the same as the Dayton track. By measurement the tract of land occupied by the race track, taken off the infirmary farm contains eleven and seventy-three one-hundredths acres; the Hutzelman tract, nine and thirty one-hundredth acres; the Millikin tract, one and eighty-two hundredths acres. The society advertised for sealed proposals for the construction of the track, according to the specifications of Messrs. Erwin and Weaver; bids to be received until 12 o'clock, noon, Saturday, August 5, 1876. The bids on the race track were as follows : Joseph Combs, $700; F. W. Frederick, $760; Henry Frechtling & Co., $560; F. R. Vinnedge, $700; John G. Sallee, $560; C. Mc- Cune. Jr., $575; Andrews & Jackson, $800; Joseph Dougan, $1,100; B. Jenifer, $890; A. M. Hall, $725 ; James Ryan, $897. The contract was awarded to Henry Frechtling & Co., at their bid of $560. The directors had reason to feel a pardonable pride in the work they had put upon the grounds during the season of 1876. On the old race track the grove was so dense as to render a clear view of the horses impossible when they were at the farthest point from the stand in the race; but on the new one they were in full sight of everybody, judges and spectators alike, from the start until the finish. Looking at the smooth and beautiful course.

The fair of 1877 was largely attended, and the displays were unusually good. The old-time custom of having a plowing match was revived, and on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. F. D. Payne, of Symmes Center, was awarded an "Oliver Chilled plow" as a premium for his skill in handling the plow.

In May, 1878, a new addition to the floral hall was built at a cost of eight hundred and fifteen dollars and a new music hall, at five hundred dollars. The fair this years was up to the standard, the various departments being complete in their exhibits. The receipts from all sources were, in round numbers, nine thousand two hundred dollars, while the average of agricultural societies throughout the state was but two thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents.

The fair of 1879 was excellent in all departments and the racing was above the standard of that of previous years. This year the state board of agriculture offered a silver medal to the county furnishing the best agricultural report. On account of the death of Barton S. James, the secretary, Samuel S. Darling was secured by the Butler, county board to prepare the report, which subsequently won the medal. The treasurer was made its custodian.

The fair of 1883 was interfered with-by the equinoctial storm and many thousands were kept away. Notwithstanding this fact the fair was in a large degree successful and the exhibits were greater in number and more varied than in former years.

The fairs of 1884, 1885 and 1886 were successful both in the character of the exhibits and in the attendance. In 1885 waterworks extensions were made to the fair grounds from the Hamilton City Water Works and a fountain and hydrants erected at a cost of about two thousand four hundred dollars.

At the fair of 1887 total mmiber of entries made were three thousand three hundred and thirty-eight. The report to the state board of agriculture showed there were three thousand five hundred and sixty-six members of the society, and the estimated cash value of the grounds, with the improvements and buildings thereon, at forty thousand dollars, while the buildings on leased ground, the property of the society, was placed at twenty thousand dollars. The indebtedness of the society was placed at two thousand and fifty-three dollars and ninety-four cents, while the total estimated wealth of the society over and above all indebtedness was placed at fifty-seven thousand nine hundred and forty-six dollars and six cents. There was a fine display of swine this year (despite the terrible ravages of cholera), horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, fine arts, mechanical devices, all constituted drawing attractions. Five thousand dollars was paid in premiums.

In June, 1888, the Butler County Agricultural Society petitioned the county commissioners for permission to encumber the grounds of the society to the extent of seven thousand dollars for the purpose of making permanent improvements, the board agreeing to pay one thousand dollars of the debt, with interest annually, out of the earnings of the society until the debt is paid. The request was granted. The number of entries at the fair of 1888 were 4,117*

In 1889 the fair proved to be the best one in the history of the society from a financial standpoint. There were four thousand seven hundred and sixty-two entries.

September 16, 1891, the county commissioners transferred to the Butler County Agricultural Society twelve and sixty-one hundredths acres of the infirmary farm. In return the society deeded the county four acres on the west of the grounds. Subsequently, on October 2, 1891, the county commissioners sold the aforementioned second tract to Martin Mason, H. P. Deuscher, A. L. S. Campbell and Miles D. Lindley, in consideration of seventeen thousand dollars. On May 18, 1892, the county commissioners donated five thousand dollars of the above amount to the agricultural society. After the fair in October, 1893, the secretary of the agricultural society reported that it would require three thousand dollars over the receipts of the fair to pay the premiums and expenses of the same. On November 4th the board asked permission of the county commissioners to encumber the grounds to the extent of four thousand dollars in addition to the Bradley incumbrance of two thousand dollars, for the purpose of paying the premium list and permanent improvements. The commissioners granted the request.

Resolved, That the Butler County Agricultural Society hereby declare ita intention to issue twenty mortgage coupon bonds of five hundred dollars payable in ten years from the date thereof, with interest at the rate not to exceed five per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually; said bonds to be secured by mortgage on the real estate of said society in Fairfield township, Butler county, Ohio. Said mortgage to be executed and delivered to the Miami Valley National Bank, as trustee.

The fairs of 1894-95 were the banner years of the society. The receipts from all sources were phenomenal, and the expenditures were correspondingly large.

Whereas, The board of directors of the Butler County Agricultural Society finds the association in debt in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, which it is wholly unable to pay, and

Whereas, it is now unable to borrow funds to meet its obligations and continue the fair and care for and maintain the property from waste, therefore be it

Resolved, That the president and secretary be and are hereby authorized to employ counsel and petition the common pleas court of this county to appoint a receiver for this society, to manage its affairs according to law.

On August 1 8th, Robert M. Elliott was appointed receiver for the Butler County Agricultural Society. Subsequently, Mr. Elliott was granted permission by court to hold a fair in 1896.

Resolved, That said board of directors of Butler County Agricultural Society, through J. A. Slade, their president, and J. P. Johns, secretary, be and they are hereby authorized and directed to employ counsel and take proper steps to vacate said appointment of receivership and restore the property of the Agricultural Society to the con-' trol and management of its board of directors, and to set aside all proceedings appointing such receiver, and to adjust and settle up all matters connected with said appointment of said receiver.

Resolved, That notice be given to John R. Woods, the- receiver appointed in case No. 19, 177, and also to the attorneys representing said receiver of the pasage of the above resolutions.

Centennial History Oe

On March 26. 1897, a motion was made in the common pleas court to set aside the appointment of the receiver. The motion was heard on April 5th, and was sustained by the court, and all moneys, property, books, etc., were ordered turned over to the board of directors.

On July 9th the board asked permission from the county commissioners to mortgage its grounds to pay off indebtedness and conduct a fair the ensuing fall; said mortgage for an amount not exceeding twelve thousand dollars and to be subject to the mortgages now on said real estate, amounting to ten thousand dollars.

The commissioners, on July 16th, refused to allow the society to encumber its real estate until the association organized under the general laws of Ohio. On the same day the society met and organized as required under the general laws of the state, and on July 19th the commissioners granted the society permission to encumber the estate to the amount of twelve thousand dollars.

On June 4, 1898, the question of issuing bonds to the amount of twenty thousand dollars for the relief of the society was submitted to the qualified voters of Butler county. The proposition was defeated by twenty votes. On February 25, 1899, the bond question was again submitted to the people asking permission to issue bonds in the sum of twenty thousand dollars to pay the indebtedness of the society. The proposition was carried by three hundred and forty-one majority.

On June 3d, the board as a committee of the whole, went before the county commissioners f(5r the purpose of securing permission to mortgage the fair grounds. As a result the following preamble and resolution was adopted :

Whereas, the Butler County Agricultural Society has certain lands for a fair site in Butler county, Ohio, in which said Butler county has an interest, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the board of commissioners of Butler county, Ohio, that permission be given said Butler County Agricultural Society to encumber said ground of said county, by mortgage of said society in the sum of not to exceed twenty thousand dollars, bearing interest not to exceed six per cent, per annum until paid.

Resolved, By the board of commissioners of Butler county, Ohio, that at the June session 1899 of said board, a tax be levied of not to exceed onetenth of one mill upon all the taxable property in the county for the purpose of raising a sum of money not to exceed one thousand dollars, said tax being levied for the encouragement of an agricultural fair in Butler county, Ohio, under the provisions of section 370 2b, revised statutes of Ohio, and that said sum of money so raised by said tax be paid by the treasurer of Butler county, Ohio, to the treasurer of the Butler County Agricultural Society.

First mortgage bonds to the amount of twenty thousand dollars were issued and sold and the fair of 1899 passed into history as up to the standard.

The financial condition of the society of late vears has assumed a more favorable aspect, and the fair of 1900 was not only excellent in all of its departments, but there were special attractions that drew immense crowds. Financially the fair was a success, there being a balance of three thousand five hundred and fifty-six dollars and eightythree cents, after all premiums and expenses were paid. The fairs of I901- x9°2' x9°3 and T 904 were record-breakers in point of attendance, and all proved to be profitable. New and popular features are added every year, and many permanent improvements have recently been made, among which ma> be mentioned a magnificent and commodious art hall, erected at a cost of several thousand dollars.

ler county fair, and still it continues to be the ''Greatest Fair on Earth." The present board of directors are: J. A. Slade, president: W. A. Beard, vice-president; L. M.

Larsh, secretary; YV. B. Wallace, treasurer; J. A. Kumler, C. R. Brown, William Innman, Charles McCreary, William C. Thomas and Mark A. Thomas.

By Stephen D. Cone Preamble And Resolutions Presented To

On April 15, 1902, Stephen D. Cone appeared before the board of county commissioners and presented the following preamble and resolution. He spoke earnestly in favor of a centennial :

Whereas, On March 24, 1903, Butler county will be one hundred years old and It is but fitting that the advent be observed by a celebration, therefore be it

Resolved, By the board of county commissioners of Butler county, Ohio, that an executive committee of four be and is hereby appointed to make arrangements for said celebration.

Resolved, That said committee be empowered to appoint one additional member thereof and also sub-committees from the various townships and the different wards of Hamilton and Middletown.

On April 22. 1902, the board of county commissioners appointed the following centennial committee : S. D. Cone, Joseph W. Culbertson, William C. Miller, Judge John K Neilan and F. R. Vinnedge. An organization was perfected on May 31st as follows: John F. Neilan, president; F. R. Vinnedge, vice-president ; Stephen D. Cone, secretary ; William C. Miller, assistant secretary ; Joseph W . Culbertson, treasurer. The executive committee was as follows: Joseph W.

On June 14, 1902, the following subcommittees were appointed from Hamilton, Middletown and the various townships. The first named on the ward and township committees is chairman, who was instructed to organize his committee on or before August 5th. The following constitute the sub-committees : opened under the brightest of auspices Thursday, May 28, 1903, and all indications pointed to a grand success. After the rough and stormy weather of the previous day, the morning broke cool, clear and pleasant and smiling skies succeeded the frowning clouds, making the weather most ideal and propitious.

At six o'clock in the morning the celebration was ushered in by the firing of a salute of one hundred guns from the southwestern hills by Captain Moses Klein and his gun squad and by the ringing of bells and blowing of whistles, making a most fitting inauguration of the elaborate two-days program. Residences, business houses and public buildings were profusely decorated and everywhere were flags and festoons of the national colors.

&As the hour for the beginning of the exercises from the grand stand in front of the court house approached, thousands of people thronged the streets in honor of the historic and patriotic occasion. The cannon continued to thunder, sending their deeptoned reverberations far along the Miam valley, the reports of small arms and explosives joined in the chorus and the in itiation of the centennial event was all tha could have been desired.

Opening Concert

The first number on the program was a patriotic concert with a grand chorus of six teen hundred voices of children from t e third and fourth grades of the Hami on public schools, accompanied by a nuhtan band of forty-five musicians and under ^ direction of Professor Will H. Lebo. e program of the concert was as follows.

The scene was an inspiring one. The immense stage was a picture of exquisite beauty and as the sweet voices of the children swelled and rose in unison and harmony with the splendid strains of the music, the air was filled with a mighty melody that had but to be heard never to be forgotten.

The Speaking Program

The speaking was scheduled to begin at ten o'clock, but it was somewhat later than that hour before it commenced. Judge John F. Neilan presided over the meeting and Rev. Dr. W. A. Waldo, of the First Baptist church, pronounced the invocation. Judge Neilan spoke briefly but eloquently as follows :

One hundred years ago, on March 24th. was born into life this county of Butler, whose hundredth anniversary we are assembled today to celebrate. This county came into existence the same year the state of Ohio was born. It was named after General Butler, one of the bravest men and most gallant soldiers, and who lost his life in St. Clair's disastrous defeat in 1791.

The great part of Ohio was then comparatively an unknown wilderness; a few isolated parts were inhabited, but much of it was as unknown as is much of the unexplored part of

Africa today, but the men and women who risked their lives in its fertile valleys and wooded glens and who subdued this wilderness and made it to blossom as the rose, were among the bravest and greatest pioneers the world ever saw, and their descendants are here today, as last week at Chillicothe, to commemorate and honor their memory.

Out of this wilderness has emerged one of the greatest commonwealths of this mighty nation. From a population of less than forty-five thousand it has grown to over four million five hundred thousand of the most enterprising, thrifty, industrious and virtuous people on the globe; it is an honor to be a citizen of such a state and of such a county; may this record forever continue.

It is safe to say that the hundred years just closed are the most wonderful in the history of the whole human race. During that period the greatest inventions that minister to the wants of man. that embellish civilization as we understand it, have been discovered or perfected. Printing, the art preservative of all arts, has reached the highest degree of perfection, so that editions of books and magazines which at the beginning of the century could not be printed at all, or which would require months and years for their production, are now turned out. printed, hound complete and numbered in a few days or weeks at most. Steam, the slave of man, has been applied to all its varied uses during that period. The magnetic telegraph, which has almost annihilated time and distance, without which our great transportation problems could not be solved and which has brought us face to face with the whole world, and has made the whole human race neighbors, is the product of this period. By its use, the use of its twin brother, the telephone, and the printing press, the events of the world are laid before the reader, alongside his breakfast plate the next morning after their occurrence.

Butler county has kept step with all this march of development and material improvement. Her churches, schools and charitable institutions and the intelligence and virtue of her people are second to none in this great commonwealth or elsewhere.

Her fertile and salubrious climate are conducive to progress, enlightenment and great mental activity. Is it any wonder that her sons have distinguished themselves in every honorable walk of life and that her daughters are noted for their virtue, beauty and refinement? Some of her distinguished sons are here today, statesmen, educators, literati, orators whom you will have the pleasure to hear. To me has been assigned the pleasing duty of presiding over this intellectual feast and introducing the various speakers to you.

Address Of Welcome

At the close of this address Chairman Neilan introduced Dr. W. O. Thompson, president of the Ohio State University, of Columbus, who spoke on "The Local Pathfinders of the Old Northwest Territory." He said :

We rejoice in the evidence of prosperity which surrounds us; in the wonderful progress made during the past century in those things which tend to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of the people who live in our fair valley. We are proud of the past, - confident of the present, - hopeful for the future.

In former years the traveler over the turnpikes of our county would every few miles be confronted with a toll-gate, and a demand would be made upon him for toll before he was allowed to proceed. But this has all been changed, and now the highways of old Butler are free from all such obstructions. We assure you that today there are no toll-gates to the avenues of our hearts, and that by your loyalty to our county you have touched and won them as your own.

We welcome you, - not as strangers, - but as friends. And there are some here today to whom we extend an especially cordial welcome. There are the sons and daughters of old Butler, who years since left the homes of their fathers, but have cherished thoughts of those homes as most precious memories, and have returned this joyous day to mingle your voices with ours in praise of the county of your birth.

The flags that float in the breeze this May morning wave you welcome, the voices of our children upraised in song, the cordial word, the warm pressure of the hand, all bespeak that welcome which is yours. Our homes, our city, our county, are yours; use them as you will.

The Northwest territory for a variety of reasons has attracted to itself a large interest. The generous act of the Old Dominion in releasing her claim to the territory northwest of the river Ohio and the far-sighted wisdom that putsa portion of the public lands at the service of public education have made possible the most importan elements in our progress. We owe a gratitude to Virginia for her liberal policy.

The Ordinance of 1787, enacted July 13th o that year, has commanded alike the admiration of foreign statesmen and the praise from our own historians. For our purpose today it is well to remember that the provisions of that splendi document opened the way for a high class o citizens to come within this territory in the assurance of the enjoyment of the liberties or which the fathers had struggled. Th^ const! t^ tional convention was In session and a little m than two months later proposed to the states adoption the results in the form of a constitution that has stood the tests of more than a century of debate and conflict.

It is more remarkable that prior to the publication of the constitution there should have been passed by the congress an ordinance of liberal and general character. No act of before or since has called for the more e oq applause or has commanded more universal respect. f slavery, guaranteed the right of trial by ^ ' proportionate representation in legislative and the integrity of private contracts. Its ings and provisions for education have endeared it to every lover of progress.

Under the inspiration of such an ordl we can understand how sturdy men were i w to go beyond the borders of the states w ®re new constitution was to spread its pr0 e<J ' and cast their lots in a wilderness lan . vain exaggeration to say that the pioneers territory were superior men, worthy of comp with the best citizenship of the States. Virginia sent, especially Into the territory known as the Virginia Military District, many of her best men. New England sent a fine delegation to the Marietta settlement. Connecticut determined in a large (fegree the citizenship of the Western Reserve. The same quality of Scotch-Irish that have done so much for western Pennsylvania was found coming into the western country. Other nationalities came at first in small numbers, but with the same spirit.

Among these pioneers were many Revolutionary soldiers and men of classical education. Comparatively few of them were lacking in religious convictions. The influence of the eighteenth century skepticism was marked in some portions of our country. There was often rough, out spoken blasphemy. This is common in all new countries. There were other vices, but with all there was a rugged honesty, reverence and patriotism that made these men trustworthy and reliable. In reviewing the history of some of the men and movements of the early days of this territory I have not been able to avoid the conviction that these early pioneers would be fit companions for the best men of our own day.

I can not hope within the limits of this address to make any contribution to the knowledge of my audience. The names of the pathfinders of this old Northwest territory are yet household words in many families. Their descendants are here among us as citizens. Many of these families have made for themselves prominence and useful places in our social, commercial, political and religious life. I must therefore limit my attention to a few men whose influence touched the entire territory and perhaps add some observations upon the pathfinders in Butler county.

It is commonly understood that Manasseh Cutler, representing the Ohio Company, had a considerable influence in determining the terms of that company's purchase. It was founded on a certain petition dated June 16, 1783, and signed by two hundred and eighty-five officers of the Continental army looking to provisions for their bounty lands. This is true, but he was as really interested in the Ordinance of 1787 . as in the company's proposed purchases. It happened that his presence in New York, where congress was sitting, came when the ordinance was under discussion. It is now agreed that his presence and influence were decisive elements in that legislation. Mr. W. F. Poole says that the ordinance and the Ohio purchase were parts of the same transaction. The purchase would not have been made without the ordinance and the ordinance would not have been enacted except as a condition of the purchase. As Dr. Hinsdale has well said, this meant that the New England men would not purchase the land unless a satisfactory government was provided and the congress was moved by opportunity to sell a large amount of public lands. If any man may be called a pathfinder I think all shall agree that Dr. Manasseh Cutler must be written in that category. Subsequent to the occurrences referred to above. Dr. Culter was influential in the work of the Marietta colony and in the early legislation that laid the foundations of Ohio University at Athens. His life and services have been increasingly appreciated by those who have studied the forces that have made our civilization.

The name of General Arthur St. Clair will ever command a place in our memories. Here in Butler county a local interest attaches, as he was the leader of the garrison that built Fort Hamilton in September. 1791. A Scotchman by birth; after receiving a classical training and education for medicine, he became a surgeon in the English army and in that capacity came to America. Afterwards he espoused the cause of the colonists and served with distinction in the war for independence. He was a member of the continental congress in 1786 and served as its president. After the passage of the Ordinance of 1787 he was appointed governor of the Northwest territory. Of his trying duties in treating with the Indians we cannot speak. There is a chapter in that history thrilling in its interest. The organization and development of the new territory was a task to which only pioneers were equal. Naturally enough a controversy arose between St. Clair and the legislators as to the limitation of power and jurisdiction. The new land partook of the partisan divisions in the states. The question of statenood could not be suppressed. In these discussions men misunderstood and maligned their fellow patriots. Governor St. Clair received his full share of abuse and misrepresentation. So long as politics did not play an important part in the new territory, St Clair was a popular governor. His personal character and qualities were such as to make him friends.

could not get on with his associates when the decidedly democratic tendencies of the day appeared. His indiscretions and mistakes have been pretty fully written up. He took the unpopular side of some questions, as may be seen by his defense of the alien and seditions laws. The question of statehood was the great cause of division. The Federalists and Republicans were in main divided on this issue. Feeling ran high. At length St Clair was removed from office for an address at Chillicothe somewhat intemperate in its language toward congress. This was in 1802. He lived until August 31, 1818.

It has been said that his name suggests a striking example of the ingratitude of men and republics. He had neglected his personal affairs in public service. The pension voted to him is said to have gone directly to his creditors. It is pleasing now to know that a better appreciation of his public services has come. Recently the governor of Ohio has proposed a monument to him at the Chillicothe centennial of Ohio's statehood. This proposition was received with universal favor. This was at the point where some of his strongest opposition was manifested and where the history has been most carefully examined.

Next to the two men already mentioned I may mention the name of John Cleves Symmes. The Symmes purchase, like the Ohio purchase, was an outgrowth of the Ordinance of 1787. It was the conception of one man. In the history we practically lose sight of his associates. Mr. Symmes, like many others of the eaHy men in the territory, was a man of high character and unusual attainments. He had been an active citizen in New Jersey, full of public spirit. He served for twelve years on the supreme court and became the chief justice. He was for two years a member of the continental congress and served with distinction in the Revolutionary war.

He became one of the judges of the Northwest territory and in this office did much to establish the institutions that grew out of the ordinance under which the territory was organized. His purchase gave him great opportunity for personal and business relations with men, furnishing an unparalleled opportunity to influence the character of the population in this region. Among the most important results in the Symmes purchase was the reservation of one township that provided the foundation for Miami University.

The university wras located in 1810, although legislation was begun concerning it as early as 1803. The death of Mr. Symmes occurred in 1814, some years before the university was opened for students, but it does not appear that he had any influence in the case farther than would be involved in his compliance with the terms of the purchase and the legislation of the state in carrying those terms to a final settlement.

Coming now to men more closely identified with Butler county, the first name is that of John Reily. Like others of the early settlers, Mr. Reily was a Revolutionary soldier. Born in Pennsylvania in 1763, his early boyhood was spent on a Virginia frontier. At the age of seventeen he was a soldier. His experiences thus prepared him for the hazardous frontier life that fell to his lot when he migrated to this region. He was active and efficient in 'the early contests with the Indians. As early as 1790 he opened the first' English school in the Miami country at Columbia. For three years he was engaged in this work and then turned aside to farming for a season.

In that year the first election of representatives occurred and Mr. Reily acted as clerk and also for the next two sessions. He served in a number of important relations at that time and was one of the active and trusted men in public affairs. He was a member of the continental convention and although not an active debater, his accurate, methodical habits made him of great value. In 1803 he moved to Hamilton and after the organization of Butter county served as clerk of the court until 1840. He was the first recorder of Butler county and continued in that office until 1811. He was also clerk of the board of county commissioners from 1803 until 1819. These posi tions gave a man of such integrity and probity as Reily an opportunity to wield large influence. He did it and did it in the interest of the public. He was the first postmaster of Hamilton, in which capacity he served from 1804 until 1832. He served as trustee of Miami University from the beginning in 1809 until 1840. He served as president of the board from 1813 to 1822. This S1*®®* variety of activity brought Mr. Reily into fam arity with everything of importance that occurre in Butler county for the first fifty years of i history. His death occurred in Hamilton June 7, 1850, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

Butler Co.Unty, Ohio

It is said of him that in all the courses of his life his integrity and veracity were never questioned. He enjoyed the unique distinction of being exempt from newspaper attack. No doubt his familiarity with court methods and the details of history was one reason that so many people employed him as a trustee of estates and guardians for children. Of no public man perhaps in this Miami county could there be better arguments as to integrity of character, efficiency of service and modesty of life. He resigned in due time the several positions he occupied, but to the end of his life was a trusted friend and a valuable citizen.

The early records of Butler county found frequent mention of the name of James McBride. This man was of Scotch descent, born in Pennsylvania in 1778 and came to this region in his eighteenth year. He early showed capacity for service and was entrusted with public office. His interest in the country showed itself in his historical researches which began at a very early time and continued throughout his entire life. He served as the first secretary of the board of trustees of Miami University, beginning in 1809 and remaining in office until 1820. He is perhaps the most voluminous writer of that time and withal one of great accuracy. The history of the country embraced in the Symmes purchase and the early records of Miami University show his great carefulness and the thorough character of his work. He accumulated a large library of books and papers, some of which have been preserved and are now the property of the state. There was no subject of popular or historical interest that did not secure his attention. Like Mr. Reily, he was a man of deeds rather than of words; modest in bearing and efficient in everything he undertook. It is greatly to be regretted that so small a portion of his libraries have been preserved. His library collections were in a large number destroyed. His pioneer biography, in two volumes, of the early settlers, published by the John Clarke Company of Cincinnati, will always remain a source of information for those who are interested in his history of the Miami country.

The next name to which I turn is that of Joel Collins. This man came to Miami from Virginia via Kentucky and was reared in the midst of the most primitive surroundings of pioneer life. Born In Virginia, September 16, 1772, he with his parents moved to Kentucky in 1779. In 1806 Mr. Collins moved from Kentucky to Ohio and settled in Oxford township. He served as one of the first justices of the peace in Oxford township in 1811. Mr. Collins was an active soldier in the Indian wars and when the war of 1812 came on he enrolled as a private soldier. On May 16, 1812, he was given the rank of captain of a rifle regiment and we find associated with him a number of names still familiar in the town of Hamilton: Ephraim Guard was his lieutenant; John Hall, ensign; Jeremiah Guard, David Sutton, Joseph Hayne and John Price were sergeants, and the names of Perry, Sutton and Guard appear in the list of corporals. In 1817 he was elected a representative of the general assembly and continued in that office until 1823, at which time he was elected as a member of the senate. In 1829 Governor Trimble appointed him associate judge of the court of common pleas for Butler county. He was afterward elected to this office by the people and served with entire satisfaction.

In 1822 Mr. Collins was elected secretary of the board of trustees of the Miami University and served in that capacity until 1855. When he resigned in 1855 the board unanimously passed the following resolution: "Resolved, That in consideration of the long, faithful service and the great integrity of character of our venerable secretary, Joel Collins, the president of this board cause to be prepared and presented to him a silver pitcher, with proper inscription, at our next annual meeting, the cost not to exceed thirty dollars."

His death occurred November 16, 1860, in Oxford. at the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine years. Joel Collins was a fit companion for such men as Reily and McBride. His record is one of integrity, efficiency and acceptability.

It is not possible at this time to even call the roll of the names that ought to be mentioned as among the early pathfinders of this Miami country or, as the subject is, of the great Northwest. Mention, however, should be made of General Richard Butler, whose name this county bears. He was a brave soldier; devoted to the country and successful in his treating with the Indians. The character of his services has endeared him to patriots and in grateful recognition his name is forever associated with the history of this county.

General William Harrison, whose home was at North Bend, was another influential man, both as representative in the continental congress, and as one of the active men in furthering the interests of statehood in both Ohio and Indiana.

Centennial. History Of

among the pioneers of this country, although his services were to be classed chiefly as a soldier We remember him chiefly because of his services in this territory in the Indian wars.

Israel Ludlow, surveyor of early times, Thomas Irvin, Samuel Dick, James Shields have all wrought themselves into the history and associations of the first twenty-five years of the laSt "iUle later date Governor William Bebb, Rev. David McDill, John Woods, whose family remains to this day, are among the men whose character and influence are a source of satisfaction t their children.

Mr. Quire Speaks

Following President Thompson. Joseph S. Ouire, of California, was introduced and his address was one of the fine features of the occasion. He is the first vice-president of the Ohio Society of the Sacramento Valley, was thoroughly familiar with his subject, is a forcible and eloquent speaker and his address was exceedingly well received.

Tiie Floral Parade

The floral parade of Thursday afternoon was one of the prettiest features of the centennial celebration. It was witnessed by thousands of people along the line of march, who fully appreciated its beauty and applauded many of its interesting and imposing features. It was almost three o'clock when the parade, headed by Captain A. W. Margedant and his aides, moved north on Third street to High, and then followed the line of march previously announced. Following Captain Margedant and his aides came the Miami band, and then the first decorated vehicle, the runabout of Dr. Adolph Hermann, the Central avenue druggist, who had a very beautifully decorated runabout and a handsome black horse in the parade. The runabout was tastefully and profusely trimmed with lovely white and yellow roses and the horse was guided with lines of the same variety of flowers. It was a most pleasing effect.

The beautiful pony and runabout with which George Krebs took first prize among the pony turnouts was one of the swellest things in the parade. Mr. Krebs never does anything half way and he was certainly successful in providing a very beautiful turnout for his children, Louis and Margaret. to appear within the floral parade. as ter Louis drove the pony with ribbon lines and he and his sister were seated beneath a canopy of pink and white chrysanthemums with a dash of green to lend color to the whole and the runabout was covered with the same variety of flowers. It was certainly worthy of the prize awarded it.

Dr. George C. Skinner and his daughter drove a very "tastefully decorated and stylish turnout, a runabout trimmed with purple and vellow flowers, the colors of the ig1 school junior class of which Miss Skinner was a member, the words "H. H. S. 04 appearing on the panel of the rig. voting ladies in the rig wore hats and dresses to harmonize with the rest o ie

PThe display made by Mrs. Peter Schwab was verv handsome. Her carriage was ec orated with blue and white morning glories and was drawn by a handsome team ot match browns, led by two colored men This display was the cause of much favorable comment. .

Jacob Halperin, of the New York Umbrella Company, drove a handsome rig, a runabout very tastefully decorated with pink and white flowers and the horse controlled with white lines. It made a very pleasing display and attracted much attention.

The Central high school had a beautiful allegorical float, representing the ship of state guided by education. The float was a silver boat, rowed with golden oars and was draped in the high school colors of blue and white. Columbia was seated upon a throne, beneath a canopy, with an American eagle above her. She was surrounded by the representatives of the different branches of education, music, art, science, literature, geography, astronomy, etc. The boat was rowed by oarsmen representing the six high school classes. The float was decorated with morning glories and water lilies. Six white horses, decorated with blue and white clematis, drew the float. The horses were led by six boys of the classes, carrying class banners. The float was surmounted by a satin banner, blue and white, with the initials "H. H. S." upon it. The whole made a very pleasing effect.

The Straub school, which carried off the first prize in the contest between the city schools, had a large and very beautiful float, a large framework covered with yellow and white roses, with a floor of green grass, over which Psyche, seated in a butterfly, twowheeled chariot, was being drawn by six little fairies with the daintiest of wings, all arrayed in white gauze and each held in check by a white satin line or ribbon in the hands of Psyche. Over in one comer was Cupid with his bow and arrows.

beautiful floats in the parade. It represented a pond, in which a large white swan rested, held in check by reins in the hands of a child. The whole was trimmed in yellow and white roses and water lilies, which were very natural and were painted on the surface of the water. The float was gotten up bv the artists, R. O. Smith and Joseph Memel, of the Mosler Safe & Lock Company, and was an exact reproduction of the float which carried off the prize in the Cincinnati Fall Festival parade. An escort of horsemen and a band accompanied this float.

John DeLaCroix, the dairyman, had a decorated milk delivery wagon in the parade. It was very prettily trimmed in pink and white roses and green leaves and received much favorable comment.

George Krebs' little daughter, with her pony and cart, presented a cute appearance and received favorable comment from every one along the line of march.

Second Division

The second division of the parade was in command of Prof. W. P. Cope, who had a number of aides. It was headed by the city band and the first float was that of the central high school.

The float of the Miami school, Prof. Fred Shearer, principal, represented a tej>ee of the Miami tribe of Indians and was preceded and followed by a band of Miami warriors. The representation was true in every detail.

A unique exhibit was that of the Columbia school, representing a primitive school in a log-cabin school-house, with old straight-back benches and the old-fashioned schoolmaster. The scene was typical of pioneer days.

principal, had a float handsomely decorated with the national colors, representing all the states of the Union, with Columbia reigning over all. This float was preceded and followed by a bicycle brigade and a delegation on horseback representing Uncle Sam, an Indian, Washington, Roosevelt, St. Clair, General Miles, Alexander Hamilton and Leslie M. Shaw.

The float of the fourth ward school was decorated in green and red and gave a representation of the story of "The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe." This display was quite interesting.

The display of the fifth ward school was a magnificent affair and represented "The Fairies' Revelry." It was a massive affair, representing huge bowlders covered with white chrysanthemums surmounted bv a beautiful rainbow. Five boys on ponies carried a banner announcing the subject of the display.

Third Division

The third division of the parade was headed by Weber's band, of Mt. Healthy, and the first display in this division was that of the Zion Lutheran school, a big float built up of sunflowers, crowned with the motto "Will and Work." This float was drawn by four handsome draped grays, with gilded hoofs.

The C. D. Mathes Company had an unusually attractive float. It was a boat surrounded by an able crew, with the motto, "Sailing to the Front."

The display of Liberty township was a statue of "Liberty" on a big float, driven by Uncle Sam and followed by a prettily decorated wagon laden with the fairest daughters of Liberty township.

Prize Winners

The committee of ladies, Mrs. Walter L. Tobey, Mrs. C. E. Schenck, Mrs. James K. Cullen, Mrs. C. Markt and Miss Sophia Margedant, appointed to award the prizes, had a difficult task to perform. The committee watched the flower parade from several points, while seated in their carriage on the streets of the city, but were unable to come to a decision as to the prizes. At the track on the fair grounds the committee looked at the various school floats and carriages a long time before they finally awarded the first prize, a beautiful silk American flag, to the Straub school, and the second prize, a similar but smaller flag, to the Miami school and its unique display of American Indians. Then they selected the turnout driven by Mrs. Peter Schwab as the best decorated carriage, awarding it the prize of thirty dollars in gold, and the pony and runabout belonging to George Krebs as the best decorated pony vehicle, giving it the prize of fifteen dollars in gold.

The selections were well made, although it is to be regretted that such handsome school floats as that of the fifth ward. Mosler and central high schools could not receive prizes as well as the other two. The second, third, fourth wards and Columbia

Athletic Events At The Fair Grounds

The athletic events in connection with the centennial celebration were held at the fair grounds Thursday afternoon and attracted a large crowd, which enjoyed the sport. The contests were under the direction of Professor Richards, of the Young Men's Christian Association.

The eight hundred and eighty-yard run versus one-mile bicycle, won by M. Bronson, runner, in 2:24 1-2 seconds; Herbert Bender, bicycle, 2 '.40 1-2.

The one-mile bicycle race for the cham- . pionship of Butler county was taken by Herbert Bender in 2 157 2-5. The finish of this race was exciting, Bender winning by onlv a few inches.

Second Day Final Exercises

One hundred guns from the hilltops ushered in the second and final day of the county's centennial. The weather was not so fine as on Thursday. A rain fell during the night and the day was cloudy, but up to noon no rain had fallen and considerable crowds again thronged the city, growing much denser in the afternoon.

At a meeting of the committee, held in Judge Belden's office at eleven o'clock, it was decided to defer the morning program until one P. M. The speaking was set for that hour at the court house and the industrial parade was deferred until the speaking was concluded.

Judge Edward H. Jones presided at the public speaking. Walter S. Harlan, the city solicitor of Middletown, was the first speaker. He gave a vigorous and eloquent address on "The Century and its Lessons," tracing the wonderful progress of the past one hundred years and its pledge for the future.

The Ordinance Of 1787

are pleased to meet and greet you here today In grateful remembrance, in patriotic celebration and commemoration of the one hundredth na'tal day of our beloved county. The subject assigned to me is indeed an interesting one, a broad one, one to which I can hardly hope to do Justice.

The document deals first with the proposed boundary lines of the new states or districts to be formed in the Northwest territory, with the laws of inheritance, of descent and conveyance, with the manner of electing or appointing officers in that territory and defines their duties. These things, while important, are not fraught with so much interest to mankind as is the latter part of the document, to which I shall devote my time.

The Northwest territory, comprising a vast realm northwest of the Ohio, a realm now including the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, was on March 1, 1784, ceded to the United States by the state of Virginia. One year before this a number of army officers, prominent among whom was General Rufus Putnam, presented a memorial to congress asking for a grant of land in the new territory, where they proposed to form a state.

Many, or perhaps we should say most, of those officers were the owners of slaves, and if that grant of land had been given without any special provision as to its government Ohio would probably have been a slave state and against the Union in the Rebellion. But it was not to be so. The lovers of liberty, led by Nathan Dane, whom Daniel Webster claimed was the author of the article prohibiting slavery, by Thomas Jefferson, Rufus King, William Grayson, Richard Henry Lee and the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, seeming to foresee such a dire national calamity, threw around this virgin territory "a sacred circle of liberty, over which the demon of slavery has never dared to cross." They did this on July 13th, by adopting in the continental congress, then in session in New York city, the celebrated Ordinance of 1787.

Cutler at this time was not a member of congress, but he was invited by the committee having the ordinance in charge to appear before them, give the benefit of his advice and lend his influence toward its passage. This he did. That influence was great and Cutler has been justly termed ''The Father of the Ordinance of 1787." That ordinance was adopted for the purpose (and I quote now verbatim from it) of extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected. To fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments which forever hereafter shall be formed in said territory.

What lofty sentiments are enunciated in those immortal words. The fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty spoken of in the ordinance or in the Declaration of Independence, held as self-evident truths. The ordinance is second only to that immortal declaration which it supplants. * * *

Article first of the ordinance, reading "No person demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments In said territory," will not allow the feelings of any pious soul seeking the higher life, peaceably and orderly seeking the uplifting influence of some particular creed, to be outraged by law.

That article is one of the entering wedges which has forever separated church and state to the lasting good of America. The records of other nations have been too often stained with tears and human bloodshed and the religious thoughts of their rulers have risen up in persecution, oppression, ostraeisra, cruelty, warfare, the fruitage of human ambition which zealots have mistaken for obedience to God.

Under the wonderful influence of this civil and religious freedom in America such old errors have departed from the lives of men, and truths have been born and ancient tyrranies prejudiced and terrors have given place to new hopes and charities, and here no man, whatever his authority may be, will boldly dare to say his Maker intended him to be his brother's censor.

In order to protect the innocent as well as to prosecute the guilty, article second declares that the inhabitants of said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and of the trial by jury. No matter of what heinous crime a man may be accused, a legal inquiry must be made as to his guilt and tha guilt proven before the punishment which his crime deserves may be inflicted on him.

Passing to article third, we read that 'religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government, schools and the means of edu cation shall forever be encouraged."

That article has indeed been well observed. At the time the ordinance was adopted and or many years afterward, there was not a free schoo in the Northwest territory.

By the subscription of the patrons of the schools the current expenses were paid, and those who were so unfortunate as to be unable to con tribute were denied the benefit of education, has been so well observed that those benefits are today freer to the poor than to the rich.

Article fourth decrees that "the said ter ritory and the states which may be found there n shall forever remain a part of this confederacy o the United States of America." The brains of prophets and of seers must have conceived those sentiments, as, looking far into the future for a quarter of a century, they sought to prevent and did prevent upon the free soil of the northwest territory such a tragedy as was enacted in the erring southern states; where, upon the bleak Golgothan rocks of secession, the martyr s cross upon which was crucified the flower of the nation's manhood, by whose blood the seceding states were forever redeemed from the curse of slavery and state sovereignty and reinstated as integral parts of this nation, never to be dissolved:

In article fifth, which deals first with the boundary lines of the proposed states to be formed in the new territory, we read that whenever any of the said states shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such state shall be admitted by its delegates into the congress of the United States on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and state government; provided,7 the constitution and government so to be formed shall be republican and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles.

Here again we find that the ordinance was written in dedication to freedom, and for the upbuilding and maintenance of republican institutions. * * *-

Coming now to the sixth and last most important article, a bold declaration of universal freedom is conveyed in the words "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory otherwise than in the punishment of crimes."

The love of universal liberty and a knowledge of the advantages of a union of all the states which were thus early taught to the people of the North grew so strong that in our great Civil war they culminated in a righteous and successful contest for the preservation of the Union and the abolition of African slavery.

Not all the mistaken religious zeal of the Mrs. St. Clairs who fancies the curse of slavery a divine institution; not all the long-drawn, sanctimonious prayers of Davis and of Stonewall Jackson, kneeling in rank bigotry on the neck of a slave; not all the perverted states rights ideas of Calhoun and his dupes could prevail against the plain, practical, unpretentious Christianity inculcated by that immortal document "done by the United States in congress assembled the 13th

The venerable Senator Hoar, in commenting on it, says: "Here was the first human government where absolute civil and religious liberty has always prevailed. Here no witch was ever found or hanged. Here no heretic was ever molested. Here no slave was ever born or dwelt. When older states and nations, where the chains of human bondage have been broken, shall utter the proud boast, 'With a great sum obtained I this freedom,' each sister of the imperial group. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, may lift her queenly head with the yet prouder answer, 'But I was free born.' "

With such a document as this for our guidance it is but natural that we should have made for ourselves a glorious history, a history which we meet today to celebrate. We meet not in selfpraise, not in boastfulness, but rather to do honor to the pioneer heroes who laid so deep and strong the sure foundations of our prosperity and to inspire the present and future generations to emulate those heroic deeds and carry on the work begun by them.

While doing this we should not be unmindful of the great natural advantages which we possess. As I look over the beautiful and productive valleys of Butler county and reflect that they are but typical of thousands and hundreds of thousands of acres of equal fertility elsewhere in the United States, the thought is forcibly impressed upon my mind that we are too prone to boast of our greatness or our country's greatness, forgetting whence that greatness comes.

In our national pride we arrogate to ourselves greatness and glory which belongs to God alone. He it was who mapped out within the boundaries of the United States the most fertile fields that the sun ever kissed, the most majestic rivers that ever rolled to ocean, bearing upon their broad bosoms the commerce of a world, gave us the most salubrious climate that ever matured vegetation and placed us in a position geographically to defy the world. And because of these advantages we have been enabled to attain to the high position, to secure the many riches we enjoy today.

Yes, by the help of the Lord we enjoy those riches, for we have been truly told that the Lord helps those who help themselves; and Ohio and es-

This is no place for drones. A laggard in the Miami valley is a curiosity. We live here "the strenuous life," in touch with the magnetic influence of a chief magistrate who is the worthy successor of that glorious product of the northwest territory, a man who was in life the earnest advocate of the principles of the Ordinance of 17g7 - the lamented and patriotic Mr. McKinley.

We are proud of Ohio, as in the council of nations she sits, a jeweled queen among her sister states. We are especially proud of Butler county, as she shines like a polished gem in the diadem of that queen. That gem was dug from the wilderness one hundred years ago and has been polished ever since. By its reflected, dazzling light we see a type of the highest civilization known to man.

We see a progress in all that makes life worth living. Looking backward, we see the early settlers of our country battling with the obstacles of the pioneer's life.

The axe and rifle first were needed. Then came the hoe and the rude plow, and, like the rifle and the axe, right well they did their work. So well they did it that the little patch of ground that first was cleared beside the cabin door grew larger year by year until 'twas called a field. And there, beneath the magic touch of labor's willing hands, another and another field were cleared beside the first, and they all became a farm, a farm here in the Miami valley, a farm upon which has grown not only the richest harvests of the world, but also the sturdiest sons and comeliest daughters that ever rose up to call their parents blessed.

Beneath the burdens of their unremitting toil those blessed parents finally became so tired they needed rest; and loving hands then laid them side by side in their last long sleep in the "quiet valley" and took up their unfinished work. Year after year the grasses have grown green and died upon their honored graves, yet here we reaped the harvests from the perennial seed they sowed, and now we meet in this glad centennial celebration to render unto them the honor which is their due.

their posterity have done In the development of our state and county will no doubt be ably extolled by other speakers here today upon whose themes I will not obtrude.

In that bright future which nature decreed shall be better than either the present or the past; when those great civic governmental problems which now vex mankind shall have been solved in the Interest of all humanity; when the brotherhood of man, as taught y e Rule, shall, like a "pillar of fire by night over all the world a glow like that by which Ben Adhens read the angel message that those who love their God; when, for aught we know one kindred years from now our posterity win me this metropolis of our country to celebrate th two hundredth anniversary of her birth, and t rejoice as we rejoice over the S^ous opportunities of an American citizen, the rl8 man, the blessings of liberty, and the opportunity for the pursuit of happiness will have been _by no future laws vouchsafed to them more explicitly or completely than is done by the Declaration of Independence and the Ordinance of 1787.

Remarks Of Dr. Dan Milukin

At the centennial exercises at the court house in the afternoon, the speaking was from the north court house steps, fronting High street but above and in the rear o the grand stand upon the plaza or esplanade. Judge Ed. H. Jones, as chairman, presided with dignity and honor. The spea ing was under adverse circumstances, but the address were of much interest.

In introducing Dr. Dan Millikm, e first speaker of the afternoon, Judge Jones said that it had occurred to him in the opening exercises on Thursday, that the exer cises of Friday could be most fittingly an best introduced through the presentation oi a descendant of one of the earliest settlers and pioneers of this county and who was an honored sire. He thereupon presented Vr.

Dr. Millikin said that he was not only surprised at the subject which had been assigned to him, "The Educational Lessons of the Hour," but that he was gratified to speak upon the subject and that an opportunity was afforded him to talk upon whatever other subject he pleased. Dr. Millikin then pictured in fine contrast the country of which this county is part, its destitution of prairies and pasture and its luxuriousness of forest, wild vines and herbage and the abounding plenitude of game and fish which then swarmed through forest and stream at the formative period of the county. He spoke of the hardships of those early days, of the sturdiness and hardihood of their characters and traced in fine and intelligent progression the agricultural, industrial and scientific growth of the county up to the present time. From the primeval forests and streams of pioneer days she came to the mighty avenues and arteries of trade, commerce and transportation which characterize the civilization and advancement of today and, with a memory for the past, he was thankful for the present and trusted that the errors of the past in so far as possible might be remedied in the future, and that the future would make an ample atonement in a better sense, a broader humanity, a truer realization of the responsibilities of life in all capacities and vocations and that as taught by our fathers all would make for the common good, the common weal and the common worth and welfare.

Industrial Parade

crowning feature of the centennial celebration. While none of the floats equaled in elaborateness or beauty the imposing pieces of some of the schools in the floral parade, the greater variety and number of the displays made the pageant a notable one. It was typical of the development of Butler county in the arts and was most creditable to "Old Butler" and to all the participants.

On account of the delay in the speaking program, the start was deferred and it was almost two P. M. before the parade appeared in High street. It formed on West Main street and moved over the following line of march : East on Main and High to Second ; south to Central avenue and Third ; north to Dayton, east to Seventh, south to the court house in review and disband north and south on Water street. The weather at this time was bright and warm and the greatest crowds of the centennial thronged the line of march. Each side of High street was banked with masses of people.

The judges voted the first prize to St. Clair township, which did herself very proud indeed. Forty horsemen, representing General St. Clair's army, under the command of the General himself, led the way. They were splendidly costumed and many carried old-time rifles and powder horns. In the rear was a float crowded with pretty girls from the township. It was a most brave exhibition and good words for St. Clair were heard from every quarter.

The afternoon was principally devoted to the big industrial parade, which furnished a splendid exemplification of the industrial growth of Butler county. All that has been done in this community in the arts and sciences was beautifully typified.

sions. The first division consisted of floats, illustrating the progress of art and science during the nineteenth century, which was furnished by the manufacturers of the county. The second division consisted ot floats, showing the progress of agriculture, etc which were furnished by the different townships of the county. The third division was designated as the civic and military di- sharp, at the head of Main street. The first division formed on Millville avenue, right resting on Main and extending south on Millville avenue. The second division formed on Eaton road, right resting on Main and extending north on Eaton road. The third division formed on F street, right resting on Main and extending south on F. The line of march was east on Main and High to Second; south to Central avenue and Third; north to Dayton, east to Seventh, south to court house, in review and disband north and south on Water street. The

First Division

The grand pyrotechnical display of jerks was to have taken place Fri ay rht, but rain prevented. It took place on ednesday night, June 3, i9°3- e 0 E display was one-fourth finished a drenc V down-pour of rain began and the ne t piece had to be fired at once. ut ® ite the rain, at least ten thousand peop mained to the last.

Captain A. W. Margedant labored fo lonths to make his part of the Pr0^a"\ iccess. His efforts were crowned with su ess. Hon. Bert S. Bartlow labored with ie secretary to make the literary part ° irogramme come up to the stan ar - he solicitation of funds he was rs .

Bartlow deserves great credit. The following excerpt from an editorial in the Hamilton Evening Democrat is timely and requires no additional comment :

The rush of business and society makes it proper to stop now and then and indulge in the memories of the days of long ago and mingle the past with the present.

That is what is being done today in Hamilton. It is the occasion of Butler county's centennial. It is highly fitting that such an event be appropriately observed and celebrated. We moderns are too prone to pass by such affairs. But. thanks to Stephen Decatur Cone, the occasion was not allowed to pass unobserved. By personal work and solicitation, often under discouragements. Mr. Cone pushed along this centennial idea and the events and festivities of today are the result of his work. At such a time it is proper to say a word of credit and place it where it belongs as much for the future as the present generations.

The celebration of Butler county's centennial marks a period of progress that is familiar to many. Butler county has forged ahead in the ranks of population and business until she stands among the first of Ohio's counties. There are two good cities, Hamilton and Middletown, and a beautiful little college town, Oxford. The people all over the county are of a superior class intellectually and morally and in a commercial way. No better people live on earth than right in old Butler county.

Location And Laying Out Of Town

The now city of Middletown had its beginning m the center part of fractional section 28, town 2, range 4, between the Miami rivers. This section has become one of the most important in the county by reason of the many small subdivisions and multitudinous transfers of title. Steven Vail entered upon and obtained a patent from the federal government for the whole of the north half of said section 28, save and except sixty-one acres, to come evenly off the north side of said section, which was patented by his son Shobal. Richard Watts was granted a patent for one hundred acres in the southwest corner of the section. Daniel Doty secured title to one hundred and twenty acres in the center part, and Moses Vail, a son of Steven, was made the original owner of one hundred acres in the southeast corner of section 28. The south line of Steven Vail s entry was the half section line, which passes east and west near the Lutheran church, in front of what is called the "old wax string factory,'' corner of Fifth and Canal streets and along the north line of the Central school grounds.

On the west side of this entry and along the line of the river Steven Vail laid out the original town plat, containing fifty-two lots and extending from the north line of the section «to Fourth street, and from Water street on the west (now used for the hydraulic) to East alley - the alley between Main and Broad streets. This tract so platted contained about one hundred acres, which acreage included lands lying between Water street and the river, which were not platted, numbered or surveyed. On this irregular and river-indented tract of land the mills of the city largely stand. F. V. Doty, a great-grandson of Steven Vail and now city engineer, has the original writing and plat of the first plan of the city. It is probably the oldest paper, in date, connected with the history of Middletown. Today the city extends over the whole of section 28, parts of sections 22, 27, 29, 33 and 34. The corporate limits include some fifteen hundred acres and the numbered lots run up to 3,954. The last lots are found in Wilmac addition, just laid out by Robert Wilson and Daniel Mc- Calley.

Middletown stood as an unincorporated hamlet or village until 1833, when the legislature, on the nth day of February, passed an act of incorporation, and on the 1st day of April of that year an election for councilmen and village officers was held, resulting in the choice of the following persons : Mayor, I. T. Gibson ; recorder, F. J. Tytus ; trustees, D. Leibee, H. Vail, J. R. Russell, S. Vail and George L. Wrenn. The following are the men who have served as mayors

Middletown grew and waxed strong, but did not move to be advanced from the rank of a village to the position of a city under the statutes of the state from 1833 to 1886. On February 12th of the last-named year, the preliminary steps having been taken, an election was held, at which the people were asked to vote on the question of advancing from the rank of village to that of a city. The vote cast was small and resulted as follows: Total vote, 1.275; against the proposition. 465 ; majority in favor, 810. On April 6, 1886, the action of the electors was confirmed by the county and city boards, as was required by law. As early as possible the ordinances of the city were made to conform to the needs of this change in legal status. In the spring of 1888 the city published in book form, for the first time in its history, all the ordinances governing the municipality. John McClellan was city solicitor and attended to the legal part of this work. In the spring of 1887 steps were taken to divide the new city into wards. Four such divisions were then made and a city board of equalization was named for the first time, the duty of which board was to equalize tax values and to seek out property not revealed on the tax duplicate.

the city to issue bonds and erect a city building; in August of that year the people voted on the proposition of issuing nine thousand dollars in bonds to erect such a building. This the people, by their votes sustained and the building was soon erected on a lot situated on the east side of Broadway, between Second and Third streets. It is a good, substantial, two-story brick house, in which are accommodated all the departments of the city government. It is now too small and a new and more modem building is needed and must soon come.

In October, 1902, the general assembly passed a new municipal code, made necessary by the sweeping decisions of the supreme court issued in June of that year and prior thereto, which wiped out all classification of cities and led up to an entire readjustment of municipal administration. In the spring of 1903 Middletown held her first election under the new code and she now enjoys her hoards of public service, public safety, sinking fund and tax commissions, and common council, all. arranged and carried out on the "federal plan as nearly as possible. The first election under the new code resulted in the selection of the following named officers: Mayor, S. F.

Tansv; auditor, N. G. Oglesby: treasurer, W. T. Harrison: solicitor, Ben Harwitz. The councilmen are seven in number, one from each of the four wards and three "at large." James V. Bonnell was chosen president of the council. V. C. Hatfield. Wendle Butterfield and W. H. Davis were elected as members of the board of public service. The new government went into place easily, but with some misgivings : the result has been satisfactory, but it will entail increased cost and expense.

Middletown has steadily and safely advanced during the past century, but at no time rapidly or with boom-like strides Today she rejoices in her population o twelve thousand honest, enterprising, in dustrious people, and shows at this writing a tax duplicate of five million five hundred and fit-tv thousand dollars, with a tax rate o two dollars and ninety cents on the hundred dollars valuation, with several miles of paved streets, an ample system of sanitary sewerage and a complete water supply.

Early Days

The history of the first days of the Middletown settlement invites the careful an painstaking student and the ready pen of one having a wide knowledge of the pio neers. their families and of the early times in which they lived and acted. Amid 1 material so full of interest, it is very difficult to select salient facts and about these condense a narrative which will be at once interesting. attractive and reasonable Much of such a story must come from the traditions of men and families in some way con nected with the men and women who firs made settlement in this part of the - i country. The written records are few, an the pioneers are all dead; it is no easy a to sift, revise and compare the oral stat - nients of the survivors and descendants these early settlers, and then deduce a ^ rative that clearly presents the facts as ey existed more than a century ago.

The statements now given and the s o now told may be somewhat disconnecte an wanting in chronological sequence, ye whole is drawn from the best and mos liable sources, and the story' is written af e a careful survey of the field and it is

Middletown is situated in the valley of the Great Miami, in the populous county of Butler, which was at the time of this narrative a part of Hamilton county, with Cincinnati as its county seat.

Middletown is about two or three miles north of the north line of the famous Symmes Purchase, the north line of which meets the Great Miami river at the mouth of Dick's creek, just south from the famous Excello Paper Mills. This town is said to have been so named by Mr. Steven Vail because he believed the location midway between the mouth of the river and its most northerly limit of navigation.

Middletown is found in the midst of a very rich part of the valley, devoted to varied agriculture and tilled by intelligent and successful farmers who now live on farms as well improved as are any in the great Buckeye state.

The first white man to visit the Middletown county was Daniel Doty, of Essex county, New Jersey, who journeyed to these western wilds by way of Pittsburg and the Ohio river, in 1790. He touched the several military posts on the Ohio, arriving at Columbia. near the mouth of the Little Miami, and not far from Fort Washington, in the latter part of that year. After a short stay at this fort he traveled north along the Little Miami to Warren county, having read of the great Miami country in his eastern home. He started west toward this county alone, fired by an earnest desire to found a new home, to which he might soon bring his wife and family. Mr. Doty reached the Great Miami at this point, some time in 1791 and put up a small cabin close to its east bank in what is now fractional section 34, on a tract of land now owned by Wilson and McCallay. He remained here for some little time, exploring the county in the vicinity, which he found to be level and fertile and largely a prairie country, covered with smaller timber, and but little plagued with Indians and their bloody massacres. His visit and examination caused him to decide that here he would make his home and to this point remove his family.

In 1792 he returned to his home in New Jersey, by way of New Orleans, and in 1795 he returned to the Ohio county with his family and belongings. Leaving his family with settlers on the Little Miami, he and his older son came to the place of his first cabin, which had been washed away by the floods. A second cabin was at once, constructed on higher ground and back further from the line of the river, but not far from the site of the first cabin. The well dug near this cabin home is extant today. To this cabin he moved his wife and family in 1796 and here he was joined in the spring of 1797 by Moses Potter and his wife Rhoda, Abner Enoch, Garrett Vanness and probably Aaron and Shobal Vail, all of whom were New Jersey people.

Moses Potter and his associates speedily erected a cabin north of Mr. Doty's, at a point near where Tenth street now intersects Main street. This cabin was hurried forward so as to receive an expected stranger, who came as a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Potter on April 2, 1797. She was the first white child bom in this new settlement. She was named Jane Potter and was destined, as we shall see, to take a potential part in the destinies of this new colony.

town had its beginnings. Hosts of their descendants are here unto this day. The ear y settlers at this point were annoyed but little bv the savage Indians, and were not spectators of the awful tortures inflicted m other parts not far away.

Mr. Doty soon moved his home to a still more elevated site in section 27, near where his grandsonjoseph C.Doty, now resides at the intersection of Yankee road and Woodside avenue. In this section and in sections 28 and 33 he made large entries of land and began his useful, industrious and courageous career. His family scattered, some going to homes of their own at other points. His son, Daniel C. Doty, was born here in i/99 and was here married to Catherine Crane, to whom was born a large family, members of which still reside near Middletown. Daniel C. Doty became a brickmaker and had much to do with the upbuilding of Middletown. Both he and his wife lived to an advanced age and lie buried in the Middle town cemetery.

Moses Potter moved from his first cabin and made his entries in section 21, a little to the east of Mr. Doty's home - here he established himself as a farmer and brought up his family, members of which have been and are yet a part of Middletown.

Jane Potter, born in the first cabin of Moses Potter, became the wife of John Sutphin, a keen, bright New Jersey boy, who came to this county in 1811, a weaver by trade, but with such powers and purposes as to be able to adapt himself to new situations and take hold of new things, which promised more material returns than weaving. In 1825 and 1827 he became interested in the opening and construction of the Miami canal, and was for more than twenty years superintendent of the southern end of this canal. Farming, business and other interests engaged his attention and led to the accumulation of a handsome estate. Mr. and Mrs. Sutphin reared nine children, four of whom are now living and are in Middletown.

At the times of which mention is now made this Miami county was not surveyed or mapped. Israel Ludlow, a famous engineer, made an accurate and full survey and divided it into sections in 1802. This immediate territory was in the great purchase as made by Mr. Symmes, but which contract he was not able to consummate in full with the general government.

Among the first settlers was Steven Vail and his large family of sons and daughters. These were all New Jersey people. Mr. Vail was born October 19, 1739- and was married three times, his first wife living but a short while after the marriage. Her name was Rebecca Jackson. To Mr. Vail were born ten children, who grew to maturity and were a part of this new settlement. These were Samuel and Moses, w lose mother was Sarah Smith Vail, and Rebecca, Shobal. Aaron, Sarah. Rachael, Hug - Mary and Catherine, children of Mary Hhz gerald Vail. These were all potential in the social, industrial, educational and mora evelopment of Middletown. Mr. Vail was reared in the Quaker faith and his children drank in this pure faith in their fat iers home and its influence was noticed in bearing and conduct of all during their lives. No family connected with the early ays of this settlement made a more kind y im pression on men and measures t an the New Jersey home of the Vails, it was decided that the sons, Shobal and Aaron, should come to this place a little in advance of the father, Steven, and that they were actually here before he arrived, for it may be noted that Shobal was married to Miss Mary Bonnell, of Warren county, in 1799, a year before Steven Vail arrived, according to best authority. Mrs. Shobal Vail was a sister of Samuel Bonnell, an early settler in this new county, and was a very lively lady, full of jokes and fun, an exactly opposite of her Quaker husband. They lived and reared their family in a home situated on the sixty-one acres patented by Mr. Vail and coming off the north side of section 28. The house was located where the Catholic Sisters now have their home, on Clark and Crane streets.

Aaron and Randal Vail began their careers on the west side of the Miami. Aaron subsequently went to Warren county. Others of the children after marriage drifted to nearby points, but Hugh, the youngest, remained in Middletown and out of lands bought and inherited added important additions and improvements to the town and was more a part of the new and advancing community than any other of the children. This new town had no better citizen. He was twice married. Miss Lydia Webster, of Monroe, Ohio, came to his home first and latter Mrs. Jane Porter, of South Carolina, became his wife. His daughter, Lydia J., married L. D. Doty and still lives in this city, while the daughter Ida lives in or near Chicago with her daughter, Lulu Flenner. Ida became the wife of C. F. Gunckel, who is now dead.

Garrett Vanness, another of the group of pioneers who came in 1797, made his entries of land in section 18, and of which entries the farm of A. M. Jewell forms a part. These lands were located in the neighborhood of the Abner Enoch titles, and are near the present state dam. Here Mr. Vaness opened up valuable land holdings, which, descending to his children, John, Isaac and Lucy, made them all well-to-do. He was a man of a high type of manhood. His son Isaac married Harriet, a daughter of Shobal Vail, and in his business career became a contractor, interested in the construction of the canal. Isaac Vanness and two daughters, Lucy and Mary. The first is now living in thjs city and is known to all as Mrs. Lucy Hinkel, while her sister, Mrs. Heaton, is dead.

This brief mention of the earliest settlers is due them and their families, for to them must be accorded much praise, as to their courage, thought and thrift much is due.

Almost contemporaneous with the above named persons came Ezekiel Ball and Anthony Noble, who stood in the community as worthy citizens and gave much good advice as magistrates, and made transfers of real estate and advised with administrators and like trustees. We learn early dn the nineteenth century of John Freeman, Mark Dixon, Jonathan Martin, Jonathan Tullis, David Enyart, James Heaton, civil engineer and who had to do with early surveys, John P. Reynolds, a cultured, scholarly man, Dr. Vanderveer, Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Carlton Waldo, the first regular physician to locate here. All these were men of sterling worth and their energies and good sense had much to do in the early formation period of Middletown's history.

Tytus, W. B. Oglesby, George W. Wrenn, Smith Wrenn, George C. Barnitz, Dr. C. S. Barnitz, Jacob Deardorff, A. E. Harding, Joseph Sutphin, Gardner Phipps, A. Hill, William More, William Sebald, John R. Shafor, James P. Cecil, Edward Jones, Joseph L. Kelly, C. F. Gunkle. L. D. Doty, Jacob Leibe, Thomas Wilson and others now deceased who were giants, nay Titans, in the days in which they lived and acted. They were men who thought, planned and executed and the town is largely what these men made it. The foregoing names are a guarantee that the foundations of the early and middle life of the; city were laid on principles representative of the future and of the interests of their posterity. It would be a pleasure and be profitable to speak individually of each person and their work, but this is forbidden in a sketch like this.

But with rapid transportation, quick interchange by mail, wire and telephone came a new era, with new demands, new energies, new problems ; new men were needed in the city s growth ; they came from city and farm, from the schools and colleges ; and new Middletown fell into the hands of such master spirits as Simon Goldman, C. H. Wardlow, J. K. Thomas, Daniel McCallay, Robert Wilson, John Auer, T. C. Simp son, C. B. Johnson, W. L. Dechant, William Caldwell, Joseph Isaminger, Frank Forster, Colin Gardner, C. B. Oglesby, M. W. Rennick, V. C. Hatfield, George Shaffor, G. A. Wilmer, George W. Verity, Paul J. Sorg and others! These with the exception of one or two of the number, recently deceased, are all now active and potential in the affairs of Middletown, directing her forces on industrial, economic, educational and public lines.

men have been some of the grandest women known in the history of Ohio, who have always courageously and faithfully sustained the fathers and husbands in the development of the new country, and in their progress through the century now passed away, these noble women have guided the home, led in school and church life and, when needed, stood beside the sturdy pioneer with the rifle and with their hands wrought in field and mill for the family growing up in the home. Without these splendid women the whole fabric must have gone down in failure. It would be a pleasant task to make mention of these mothers in Israel but the limits of this sketch forbids.

The local postoflfice was established on the first day of April, 1807, with Alexander C. Lanier as postmaster. The history of Butler county compiled by S. D. Cone locates the first postoffice in a log cabin situated at the northeast corner of First and Main streets, in the office of Ezekiel Ball, a justice of the peace. The first mail received came down the Ohio river by boat to Cincinnati, then known as Columbia, and thence to Middletown by a mounted carrier. The event was celebrated here by a holiday, all the people turning out to see the mail come in.

Since the establishment of the postoffice, seventeen postmasters have responded to the urgent calls of the people to serve in that capacity. The following is a list of the postmasters with dates of their appointments:

An Historic Spot

The postoffice since its establishment has not changed location very often, nor has it at any time been very far removed from the original location. As the city has grown, so has the business of the postoffice, requiring more commodious quarters. From First and Main it was moved to the White Horse Tavern, situated where Miss Maggie Collins now resides; next to the present home of R. B. Edson; then to a building located on the site of the present postoffice; from there to the room at present used by the Adams Express Company ; then to the room now occupied by Casper Fenzel, and, on the completion of the Masonic Temple, to its present location. Within the past year its quarters have been enlarged and improved, and we now have an office equipped better than most, and as well as any, in cities of its size.

Starting in 1807 with one mail a week, carried by a man on horseback, and increased in 1811 to a daily mail, the postoffice has kept pace with the growth of the city. With the improved methods of transportation, we have forty-six mails daily, twenty-three dispatched and a like number received. From a postmaster only, to a postmaster, an assistant postmaster and sixteen others to assist them; five clerks assigned to various duties, six city carriers, who, every week day make four business deliveries, and two residence deliveries, except to the extreme points, which are made once each day; three rural carriers, one star route carrier, and one special messenger. The postoffice being a public institution, not much can be said about it that is not generally known, but perhaps the amount of business transacted may not be known. Last year the business from the sale of postage stamps, postage due stamps, special delivery stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postal cards and receipts from box rents, amounted in round numbers to the amount of $20,000. There were issued 5,976 domestic money orders, amounting to $41,095.19, and 134 international money orders, amounting to $3,092.40, making a total of 6,110 orders, to the amount of $45,045.59. 3,280 orders were paid, to the amount of $30,019.59, of which number 18 orders, amounting to $599.48, was international business. There were dispatched 1,775 special delivery letters and parcels, and received and delivered 1,483 specials. Registered mail dispatched amounted to 3,208 pieces and 4,462 registers were received. The three rural carriers delivered 123,059 pieces of mail matter, and collected 20,653 pieces. This office last year received and delivered about 2,500,000 pieces of mail and dispatched to other points 2,000,000 pieces. The mailing division of this office has the excellent record of only three errors per month charged against them.

letters with no stamps affixed, and about two hundred and fifty letters deficient in address or without any address at all. Fully three-fourths of these letters were mailed by business men or firms, and were returned for correction ; the others were sent to the dead letter office. Last year there were sent to the dead letter office from this office four hundred and sixty-six unclaimed advertised letters; had the above suggestion been complied with all those letters would have been returned to the senders. The fact that eighty-nine thousand special request envelopes were sold at this office last year is evidence that the business concerns are adopting this suggestion.

Internal Revenue

1887. as these could not be obtained. The general yearly average for the above period is one million one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. These figures show that Uncle Sam has a deep interest in Middletown and that this wholesome zest in her growth does not decline as the years go by, for the present internal revenue receipts keep nearly up to the maximum, while the tax is much lower than formerly. This shows that the volume of the tobacco trade has steadily increased every year.