Monroe Township (part 1 of 5)

Monroe Township

Turner, Susan 5f George W. 6/12m Clifton, Wm. 26m Hannah 26f Baughman, Joseph 32m Sarah SUF Mary E. oF Franklin 6m Margaret ety Sarah M. 4f Maria Pi - --TIPPACANOE---- - - Stork, Frederick 48m Catherine 40f Wm. 14m Elizabeth 13ST Catherine 12f Benjamin 8m George 2m Waldo, Azeal 40m Jane SST Mary 14f Wm. 13m George 8m Gump, Levi 19m Delinda 18f Briggs, Sylvester 52 Martha 55. Eunice 18f Wm. 14m Ady Aes McPhearson, Adeline Shoup, Benjamin 40m Elizabeth 41f John 22m Ann cor Elizabeth eT Magdalene 1S f Esther niet Mary TAL Benjamin 9m Esther 35f

Jane 25f Jerome 6m Martha A. 2f Furrow, Wm. 35m Elizabeth 30Ff Burr, Laura A. 6f French, Catherine17f Krise, Henry 39m Huldah Sat Mary tar John 15m Christian 13m Harriet 6 f Wm. 49m Dust, Joseph E. 50m Elizabeth Devt: Valentine 26m Elcinda 1) Ae Rebecca 17f Joseph E. 13m Kaughman, Andrew J,34m P Catherine 28f Mary E. al Benjamin 4m cont.

P MONROE TOWNSHIP M P Pearson, Enoch 55m P Rosannah 52 P Benson 30m P Ruth 14f O Heriza 12f 10) Enoch 10m P McAllen, Mahala 23f P Retter, John 65m P Sophia 54 f P Younce, Redwine 24m P Miller, Magdalene Sap P Kane, Candice 8f p 0 Keep, Rudolph 48m Mary 26f NJ Catherine 14f NJ Francis 12f Pp Margaret 10f P Mary fag John 6m P Joseph 3m P Wm. 4/12m O .@) Bazell, John 50mB. 10) Patience 38fB. 0 Agnes 15fB. 10) Micha TB: Sarah 5fB. sc George 4mB. SC Rhoda 2fB. O O Pearson, Thomas 54m (0) Abagail 47f 0 Ezra 21m Elizabeth 19Ff NC Job 18m 1@) Jane 16f O Wm. 14m 0 Thomas 12m 10) Anderson, Rachael 24f O John 21m O Debra 18f Mary 14f

Crue, Rachael 4f Sarah A. 2f Myers, Nancy 36 f Duncan, John 36m Nancy A. 35f Mary J. VZE Jonathon 14m Amos 12m Esley 1im Aaron H. 9m Lucinda A. 8f John 7m Francis H. 5m Catherine 3f Nathan 2m Louisa S/AZTE Younce, George 26m Lavina 26f Hamilton 3m David 2m Joseph 8/12m Venters, George 32m Mary 24f Eri 7m Wm. 4m Minerva Tf Kepler, John 64m Elizabeth 32 Ff Rachael 19Ff Byrkett, Susannah 2f Kepler, Susannah 65f Kepler, Martin 34m Anna 33f Wm. H. 12m Susan E. 10f Daniel Scott 8m John O. 6m Samuel C. 4m Soloman W. 2m oO Press, Andrew 35m oO Mary . 33f 0 Henry 10m O Wm. 8m \e) Jacob 6m 0 Isaac 5m O Augustus 3m 21m O Andrew 2m Mary 4/12f NC NC Curtis, Margaret 26f NC Susannah 2f NC NC St. Clair, Robert 33m Phebe 36f NC Dye, Sarah Jane 8f NC Vv Spence, Wm. 44m 10) Hannah 40f O Richard Hampton 18m Wm. H. 14f Vv Henry H. 10m oO Mary A. 6f O ela 5/12m oO Youce, Davis 23m Mary 25f Oo Henry P. 4m 0 Alva M. 2m Oo Clarinda 3/26 Vv Jay, cEli 24m O Mahala 22f Oo Youce, Joseph 39m O Lydia 39f P Margaret 17f Philip 20m O Elizabeth 14f 0 Nancy 12f 0 Thayer, Phebe 17f O Davis 14m Oo Enos 12m Youce, Joseph 5m Minerva 3 f Snider, Henry 24m Houser, John 21m Monroe Twp.

Jay, Samuel 67m Elizabeth 30Ff Jenkins, Enoch 20m Elizabeth 18f Yount, Frederick 51m Elizabeth 18f Joanna 16f a Lot 10m Rebecca 8f Yount, Catherine 48f Jay, Elisha 12f Smith, Catherine 22f John 22m Jay, Jesse 30m Rhoda 26f Wm. 5m Lydia 2f Ingle, John 18m Fenner, Augustus 47m Sally 47f Arnold 23m Allen 17m John 15m Thomas K. 7m Harker, John 11m Adelade SPP Perry, Wm. 32m Catherine A. 32f John H. 10m Augustus F. 5m Evans A. 2m Hollopeter, Frances Perry, Wm. H. 7m Pearson, David 17m Pearson, John 41m Lucinda ST Wm. 14m Sarah UAE Mary 8f

See Igt Eons O0000 0000 O000C

Susannah 43f Eliza 19f John F. 6m Sarah 6/12f Wells, Samuel 29m Caroline 25f Harriet 6f Matilda 4f Emily 3 f Margaret 1f Allen, Nathan 23m Margaret 25of Sarah M. 2f Allen, Nathan Sr.70m Anna 65f Mary A. 21f Fair, Michael 64m Elizabeth 49f Mahala 26f Cornelius 21m Mary 19f Margaret 17F Michael 15m Delilah 13f Ruben, John 49m Mary 50f Joshua 10m Robert 8m Sarah E. Sin Marion 1m Nichols, Joshua 25m Wm. 19m Shellebarger, Henry Elizabeth 216: Ira 1m

Pearson, John 23m Rosanna 18f Crue, Thomas 43m Charlotte 36 Ff Anna 19f John 18m Joseph 16m Elizabeth 13Ff Henry 12m Prudence A. 10f Hannah 8Ff Catherine 5 f Nancy C. 3f Mary M. hai Pearson, Samuel 54m Ann 44f Elizabeth 13% Isaac 23m David 11m Martha Of Sarah roa Mary 4f

Mary St Matilda 23f Amanda Os a at TAT Honeyman, Wm. 30m Susan 24f Frances E. 4f Martha ati Smith, James 78m Debra 66 Ff Moses 36mf David 29m Evans, Thomas 38m Sophia 36 Ff John H. 12m Hester 8f Martha 6f Mary Af Bla 19m Evans, Moses 24m Elizabeth Pods) i cont

Cotterall, Andrew 48m Rachael 34f John 23m Joseph 22m Andrew 19m Caroline 17F Curtis 16m Mary E 14f Wm. 12m Samuel 8m Sarah St James 3m Lewis Im

Source changes here: from The History of Miami County, Ohio, by W. H. Beers & Co, published 1880; 29,524 words in this source stream.

Monroe Township

Monroe Township is in the southern tier of townships naming east and west, in Miami County, and is bounded on the north by Concord Township, while the Great Miami River separates it from Staunton and Bethel on the east ; Montgomery County bounds it on the south, and Union, the southwestern township of Miami County, on the west It contains thirty -six fhll and six fractional sections, making, in all, about nineteen thousand three hundred and twenty acres. In the beginning of the present century, when the few hardy men reached here from South Carolina, they found the forest unbroken for miles around ; not a spot of prairie land was in the township, while the only inhabitants of the sylvan solitudes were the untutored Indians, who gained a livelihood by hunting the wild animals that abounded here at that date. The Shawanee tribe had quite a village in the southeastern part of the township, below the present line of Tippecanoe, and here they lived a life of happy contentment, roaming the woods at liberty, and gaining a scanty but satisfactory subsistence from the spontaneous products of the country round about them. Little did they think, living in their grand simplicity and utter ignorance of the rise and fall of nations, which had taken place since the creation of the world, that, ere three-quarters of a century should have passed away, only the memory of their people would be lingering in the minds of the descendants of those whose might alone entitled them to the soil, which, according to the law of original possession, was their own. The appearance of the white man upon the scene caused the spirit of their dream to change. The advent of this iconoclastic creature in their midst put to flight all preconceived notions they may have entertained of remaining in undisturbed possession of the soil where for many centuries they had pitched their tents unmolested. To us, at present, viewing the productive farms and elegant homes that dot the country in every direction, it seems difficult to realize that here, in a period not very remote, " there lived and loved another race of beings ; " but these have long since passed away ; the leaves of the forest no more feel the impress of their stealthy footsteps ; the smoke from their camp-fires no more rises gracefhlly from the front of their wigwams, and,

The metamorphosis in Monroe Township, sinoe the year 1801, has been com- Fu u ^though not noticeable to the young, to the few pioneers who still live, e change seems wonderfhl indeed. The productiveness of her soil is not excelled , , ^7 other township in the county, while her manufactories compare

^ those of any of her neighbors, and speak plainer than words of the *5? ^U8me8S ability of her citizens. By a free use of the tile manu- ^township, the ground has been brought to the highest state of culatxu^on^boildi^"'68 produce an exceUent of limestone for the con- dians until h» ®°°n 88 P088*^ occupying a bark hut left by the Infomer built th^fm8hed a house of own ' John Freeman, a sin of the John Yount J*4 corn -cracker in the township, near the bayou, in 1806. imt his North Carolina to Monroe Township in 1802, bringdians - he entered hia*1? ' an<V®"kin8 his home for some time right among the _Inwith ihl snrJtoSrf » ^"eyor whioh the.F " ^pped off," thus dispensing family fhm FredI^tPn>*5a^ « j next 8ett*er 'Q the township ; he brought his y DOm Fredenok County, Md., and settled one mile and a half southwest

'"® «ajr Upon thefr Trts settlement by themselves, and were known as vyd,.31- which they soon deaJd anHheKe th?y entfred Portions of Sections 25, 36 Wafer D. Jay ^£^*^*^1*0* a hi«h de^ of cultivation, ij?;"*? ln the harvest field He w b° re^U8ed to countenance the nse of ardent kbomst, and, as far as wm in^ls m" "oted for his integrity, a stanch aC Paul Macy im^.w, .1118 P°wer t° be, a patron of education. ft" 1808; the faSn^e neve's,8 tWO ^carried sous, Thomas and Paul, Portions of Sections tT Upon arriving in Cincinnati, horrf ^^ngs with their fellows °fhtlbeir ^hors as well as the strict integrity of m^but sustained the relation nf^ f?r themselves not only pleasant n. Deoi^ge North accomnan^ J ^f promment citizens to the community.

"the ^volution^w1^^^ of ^urscore years. He had been a ioldier b"e right of namX the totnc, J a ***} admirer of President Monroe, so, when that great and ^ood 06(16(1 to.him> he called it Monroe, in honor

H18T0Ry Of Miami County

George Kerr, from Virginia, located in Monroe Township in 1804. Beside those already referred to. the names of La' ton. Fergus, Westlake, Puterbaugh, Shafer, Furnas, etc., are familiarly spoken of as having been among the earliest as well as the most prominent persons in the township ; and the many advantages now enjoyed by the citizens of the township are due. in a great measure, to the unwearying exertions of these men, who began the work that has been rapidly forwarded by each successive generation.

Tippecanoe City

Tippecanoe City, the principal village in the township of Monroe, dates its origin from the fall of 1839, when its foundations were laid amid the excitement and tumult attendant upon the war then being waged through the West, by Gen. Harrison, against the Indians. It is situated in a beautiful tract of country, in the eastern part of the township, very near the line, its northeastern boundary being formed by the Great Miami River, which separates Monroe from Bethel and Staunton Townships, which bound it on the east. At a very early day in the history of the town, the Dayton & Erie Canal was completed through the place, thus offering shipping facilities that were great inducements to people desiring homes, to locate themselves in this vicinity. The canal passes north and south, just east of the village, but its usefulness, as well as its importance, has, in some measure, been superseded by the construction, in later years, of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, which passes through the central part of the town, from northwest to southeast. It will be seen, therefore, that the resources of the place, as regards developing the commercial interests of the town and township, are twofold, viz., by rail and water, and, judging from the large amount of freight imported and the great quantity of articles exported by the numerous manufacturers of the place, we are led to infer that the advantages offered by either of these modes of transit, instead of being neglected and abused, are eagerly seized upon and appreciated by the enterprising citizens, who take pride m developing the sources of wealth found in the productive farms and extensive manufactories of the township.

The land upon which the village stands was first occupied by Robert Evans, who, could he look upon the place as it now is, would probably not recognize, in the streets so beautifully laid out and pleasantly shaded by tall maples, the spot of ground from which he was able, only by extreme manual labor, to produce for himself and family what was, at best, but a scanty livelihood, in the old pioneer days. The land in this vicinity, at that time, was an unbroken forest, but, had the trees been invested with reasoning powers, they might have known, by the echoes made by the resounding ax in other places, that the footpath of American civilization was rapidly advancing. Add to the drawback of the land being heavily timbered the fact of its being rather low, and, for many months, very wet and unfit to be worked each year, and it was not surprising that the proprietor should grow anxious to dispose of the place and seek another, where less difficulties would have l°.ve^come- Accordingly, Mr. Evans exchanged farms, in the fall of 1839, with his brother-in-law, John Clark, who had emigrated with his parents from Hharpsburg, Chester Co., Md., when he was about nine years of age, which would isnu tj date of k*® location in Miami County, this township, about the year . Having arrived at the age of manhood, Mr. Clark married a lady whose fWn W8f- ^e^rJ8' who had immigrated to this township with her parents n70L1839' when ^king a permanent home for himself and his growing Clark was so fortunate as to become the possessor of the land on trees morp^^h* *8 now l°cated 5 we say fortunate, for surely greener fields, or marfp invn^ ra^eJ?us or waters more refreshing or sparkling never ornamented ClaTk mov^ w lhG *welli"S of man> are to be found here. When Mr. of man as at m-pspn^6 Si?06 not Pre8ent 80 delightful a prospect to the vision em Dart of thp ^ Then but a small plot of ground, in what is now the eastwn, was cleared, which, probably, had been burned off many

*Te' In order to malrpmt D °* V1ia^e' anc* wa8 an exception rather than a toeipy his time, Mr Krise mirTZT 5°r, th? want of travel, and to more ftilly the mercantile trade to the HiTTm 8t0cb °f dl?i.goode> n°tions, etc., and united mess of keeping public-house. He continued in this building many years, when he disposed of the property, which has since ceased to be a place where man and beast may find refreshment, and is now used as a saloon, proving a curse rather than blessing to the place. Abram Hartman was another of the early inhabitants of the place. He kept a tailor's shop, and, in conjunction with this, sold goods of various descriptions. John McPherson was one of the first persons who put up buildings in the new village. The first blacksmith shop was built by Charles Shultzbaugh, in 1842 ; it was situated on the north side of Main street, but was removed years ago, and in its place stands a two-story frame structure, the lower floor being used as . a hardware store, while the upper is occupied by Caldwell & Company, the only newspaper establishment in the township. In the summer of 1840, Uriah Johns built what was then the most substantial grist-mill in the township, which has been in successful operation ever since. John Clark erected his brick residence on the east end of Main street in 1851 ; it was at that time considered, if not the best, at least as good as any residence in Miami County. Since that time, many tasteftil and even elegant places of abode have sprung up, as well as some fine business blocks. Among the latter, the Chaffee Block is worthy of mention. It is located on the corner of Main and Second streets, and was finished in 1867, having been started in the fall of 1866. The third story is used as the opera house, and is capable of comfortably seating from 6UU to 800 persons. The whole building is 75x133 feet, and was put up at a cost or about $12,000.

John Morrison built a brick block on Main street in 1850. The third story of this building contains the rooms of the various secret societies of the place. The Tippecanoe City Engine-house, situated on the corner of Main and Third streets, was built at a cost of between $5,000 and $6,000, in 1874. The Fire Department occupies the first floor, while in the upper are to be found the Mayor's office, Town Hall and Calaboose.

New8Paper8

At different times in the history of the place, various newspapers have sprung into existence, and. after struggling spasmodically to gain for themselves a name and position among the countless periodicals of the day, were compelled at last to give up the attempt as fruitless. They all seem to have died an easy and natural death, and no doubt, " after life's fltfhl fever, they sleep well." The first of these papers went by the euphonious title of the Tippecanoe City Reflector. It was established and published by Mr. Hudson, in 1853, but never gained a very strong hold on the affections of the people. Its circulation was limited to five or six hundred subscribers, being published weekly. Its publication was discontinued by Hudson at the expiration of two years from the date of its establishment No other attempt was made to establish a home paper after the unsuccessful attempt of the Reflector , for an interval of eleven years. At the expiration of this time, however, the thought presented itself forcibly to the mind of Charles Crowell, that # the results of a second trial in this direction might not be so fruitless as the first Accordingly, in 1866, what was henceforth known as the City Item , came into existence, and at intervals of a week, would make its appearance at the various homes, where it received a cordial welcome. The time, however, had not yet come when a permanent newspaper could be' supported in Monroe Township, so it soon came to pass that the City Item was numbered only with the things that were but Jf6 J10^* _^^er ^8' ^ere was a semi-monthly publication established, more par* ticularly for the benefit of persons wishing to advertise. This sheet, in a few short months, J°^°wed in the rear of all the rest, and there were those living then who predicted that to run a newspaper in " Tip" and make both ends meet, would be as impossiWe as to bring together two parallel lines, which, mathematicians tell us, jn 1 not meet, how far soever they may be produced. Still, Mr. Horton, who had held the unenviable position of printer's devil in the office of the Reflector, and the rl??i and fal1 of the various publications, was by no means dismayed by previous failures, and June 10, 1869, he issued the first number of

»t the present time, has seventy ^ wn^''^6 L JoSeph BrumP> Tiler. The lodge, the next to the largest mlm wl ^f members in good standing. They have only excelled by th?Odd « y 8ecret order in the townshipf being

M regards age, the wcond' ffil/ °~, °' ^~T^as organized May 12, 1854. being, JJ8? issued by the Gr&nri or^eJ' established in the township. A charter

B.P.; Eevi Owpn Qpr0fnt officers are John S. Shafer, C. P. ; Joshua H. Horton, " C. Chaffee, J. Vf ' " * ' Shafer, Scribe ; Charles Trupp, Treasurer ; and

|«d Marches °!rkS derHarugari - Miami Lodge, No. 67, D. 0. K - Was organffirnfehed hallwh>«k - ^old ^eir mee^ngs in Morrison's Block, in a neatly third secret oLn* *.8 . Property of the society'. In order of time, this is the ® lzati°n m the township. The charter members and first officers

The officers and charter members of Common Council, Royal Arcanum Lodge, No. 270, at its organization, were as follows : H. E. Hawver, Past Regent ; J. A. Kerr, Regent ; A. W. Miles, V. R. ; J. T. Bartmass, Orator ; Charles H. Gary, Sec. ; Benjamin F. Rhodehamel, Treas. ; W. C. Robison, Col. ; Rev. D. H. Bauslin, Chaplain; F. A. Rhodehamel, Guide; H. A. Galloway, Warden ; Job Clark, Sentry; S. D. Hartman, M. D.. Medical Examiner ; D. McConnaughey, S. Galloway and H. A. Hawver, Trustees ; S. R. Rhodehamel, W. V. Ballord and C. Krise. These constitute the charter members. The lodge at present numbers thirty-one members, with the following officers for 1880 : A. W. Miles, Past Regent ; James

Faithful Temperance League , No. 1. - The foundation of a secret organization of this name was laid in this place the 29th of April, 1880, when a charter was granted to the persons applying for the same, by the Secretary of the State of Ohio. The league meets Friday evening of each week, in Chaffee's Block. The officers and charter members are John C. Collins, President ; Cyrus Shafer, Vice President ; John V. Sullivan, Secretary ; Henry Anglebarger, Treasurer ; John S. Shafer, Sergeant-at-Arms ; Lawrence Gates and Addison Collins, Conductors ; William burrow, Warden; S. Vandever, Chaplain ; William Prince, A. G. Hutchins, G. B. Collins, A. J. Bradley, Ed Grant, G. B. Vore, W. Bear, C. L. Hecker, J. A. Cushwa, Kobert Baskerville, John J. Denbuer, C. C. Chaffee, B. F. Kauffman, Fred Miller, brank Clark, Thomas Hartley, Harry Horton, Samuel Deweese.

^ Methodist Ejnscopal Church - In all probability dates its origin nearer the f e8lnping of the nineteenth century than any other church in the township now m existence. The first church was a log structure, built in what was then ya tsville, a small town which has since been incorporated with Tippecanoe, near as can be ascertained, the church was built in 1820, and was a very rude P. 806 ° WOrf^P- Its huge fireplace made it comfortable in winter, and during 5 A* were <luite frequently held in the woods. The old log toiSnfw *1 18?0, when the Present brick was built. Rev. M. Kaufltoan, whichTM An lvf1®1'' h*la aggregation of 200 members, with a Sunday school 1879 and lRftn Q?ra^e attendance of 100 scholars. The parsonage was built m rrrejration & f0?* °1- which has ail been paid, and leaves the con- ^ 7 out8tanding accounts.

parronage besides onvin^i ?ltter donated a house and lot and $2,000 for a was immediately erected « toward the building of the church. The building y tea, the first brick ever used in Tippecanoe City having by Rev A8 H ZLat ?pnn?fie!d' , Ludt resigning, the vacancy was supplied Harris who mUrJi*?6' Wb° remained a single year, and was succeeded by J. 6. greaation tilMafi/ £ year"' , Jacob Schauer 04,116 in 1854, and served the contill his death in returned and took charge of the congregation

A neat frame 8tructure> 30x48 feet, was semi-month lv a^°ut J00, and since that time services have been held here Bantii/m kfre *5® now forty-five members in good standing.

a Regular ; T* P61*0118 of this creed decided to unite their strength and form weremade a Ll ^)nf!?gat!on in this place. November 14 of same year, they the house of Wiii^n - e®kurch at West Carlisle. The first conference met at sisted of twplvo if u19' December 21, 1851, at which time the congregation con- The first convAr*1116111^*?' ^ C- Carr pressed over the church at this time.

Persons in th« ? ratl, . ^ . er> wb° were baptized February 29, 1852, when many rated from th witnessed that ceremony for the first time. They sepaservices in tkxA Carlisle Church August 5, 1852. when they held their About thi« «mwueran Church, and in 1856 they worshiped in Morrison Hall, put an addition tv P^based the old frame schoolhouse on First street, for $200, $400 and ia 10 ^ and used the same till two years ago, when it was sold for to 1878 and Ju U8edlas a duelling. The new brick, 38x58 feet, was commenced buildinff^^Anr^^^ Church - Existed first as a mission church. The neat brick by Bishin pl teet' was completed October, 1858, at a cost of $2,500, and dedicated priest. wlm M eC^ranf' Columbus, Ohio. Rev. Father Hensteger was their first congregation n?f?nfd a^°ut three years. Rev. Father Menke has presided over the who hat* Ut two yc*18* The connection consists of about twenty families, ^^cc8 semi-monthly.

Some vear»^ftk*n Church - Was built in Monroe Township about 1820. Palmer tlle con^regation received a donation of about $900 from Mr. tom down ad WaS U8fd in enlarging the house. In 1856, the old building was all dennmin « 8evera* denominations united and erected a structure to be used by Church Ak0nS*, at a ^1>350. It is now occupied only by the Reformed and the fW DurymS;ground was also laid out near the old church previous to 1820, 0U8lv in fk ^S1?011 foterred there was Stephen Dye, a man who figured conspicu- TV fllaffiV-r8.0fMlami County till his death prised thir ^f1#10118 denomination in the township was the Friends, which comiamilies of most of the pioneer settlers in Monroe. The first minister was William Neal. They built a log church in Frederick, in 1816, which still stands in the tan-yard in that place. It looks a lonely thing amid the modern structures round about it, and seems to silently speak of ages long gone by, when those old fathers who have been many years in the land of spirits, met within its humble walls, and sent up their weak petitions to the Throne of Him Who doeth all things well. The brick church now standing, was erected in 1850, and here services were held until a few years since, when they ceased to exist here as a separate congregation.

Tippecanoe City Schools

While the place has much reason to boast of the rapidity with which so many improvements have taken place in her corporate limits, as well as the convenience of her business facilities, there is nothing for which she deserves greater praise, or for which she should be more highly lauded than the thoroughness of her public schools, and their kindly influence upon the youth of her town and neighborhood. At the present time, not only every facility for obtaining a substantial education, such as is necessary to transact the every-day business of life, is provided, but, if desirous of so doing, the pupil may go away beyond the fundamentals and become well versed in the classic languages as well as. conversant with the unchangeable rules of the higher mathematics The first schoolhouse in the vicinity of the village was in what was then known as Hyattsville. It was one of the log cabins of the primitive days, furnished with a huge fire-place, both in the front and back of the house. These, heaped high with dry logs of a cold winters day, created in the youthful knowledge-seeker, after a tramp of several miles through the snow, sensations by no means disagreeable. Some time after this, another house was erected on what is known as the " Island," a small spot of ground separated from the mainland by a bayou which joined the river, that made q^abend in this place. The first teacher here was a young man by the name of Gilbert, who afterward became a physician. It was not until March, 1853, that the first Board of Education was elected in this place, which consisted of three members, viz.: John McPherson, L. N. Booher and D. H. Brinkerhoff. In e following April, a tax of $3,000 was levied on the property in the corporation J?e ^dool purposes. The house and lot on the Island were sold for inline board then purchased some lots on First street, and the first school building in rippecanoe was rapidly erected. N. L. Perry was the first teacher in the town, who taught for three months, and received for his services $100.

m marcn, 1«54, and steps were immediately taken toward building a more com- "OU8®j to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing population. Mr. «fi^/0n^tedrgrOUnv for ^ purpose on Dow street, between Third and Fourth t8r^-d a budding 40x44 feet, two stories high, containing four recitaand Brinw7^ffbU1 ^ fu a iJ08t of *5,000. I- W. Sawyer, assisted by Misses Wood ^ PrinciPal- This was used till 1868, when ground

*** *"«- F Bartmass, principal of the school, has standard of s<d^larfih-r»lnCxj^^^' during which time he has greatly advanced the o^of°^he^P; Me 18 1880> assisted by thTfollowing efficient

Brump A re^dar^nr^18^8 Humphrey, Hilleary, Billingsley, Cochran and ing cLass of S^dI waa laid out ia 1878, when the first graduaty<lrs in "length thei.r diploma8' The at " "« neighborhoTht XZt £1 £ ^ °b8erv?r- Yet- when we go into any industrial pursuit* back to'thpir t0 traoe »be ramifications of the various worksofinan notonlv Phftnr^eir we are forced to acknowledge that the lives, as well astohis In h?6 .confcnb?tes to the welfare of the age in which be of our forefathers with the JSIm?8, JD {50mParin£ *he m(^e machines and tools progeny, we can hnrdlv r and e*egant appliances now in use by their the year 1802, by John Yount P A**th °f ^ s.tructure was made hJ burning, in most ingenious person would Lt t the prell"13n^7 stePs were being taken, the tree near his house was selected 8^,8p^3ted his object The largest beechas to leave the stumn^e!^ *5 f°rm ^foundation of the mill. It was cut so of the stump, and bv har^nwT "i If8S1? e' a fire was then Put in the center huge bowl, wa^bttdned^ Thi^h a ^°le'8haped ^ewhat like the inside of a and rubbed with sandstone tn 8U^face of- the concavity was then scoured stump, such as our forefath^n«^mP ^ted> - A contrivance was erected over the a 8weep. Instead of ^ m drawing water from a well, which was called into the burned den^on S**0?1 in 8U<* a Position that, when lowered, it fell trivance could be worfcpd Owing to the fact that this simple conover our more modern mills^Th 8team °r Water' lt pos8e88ed one advantage moving demanded such « motor power necessary to keep such a machine pot to be wondered at tha^fvf^K^J exPenditure of muscular activity that Jt was informed by the good of family felt by no means elated when nary for him to eo^mill ^at the flour barrel was empty and it was neces- Preeman, in 1800 noor * The second mill in the township was built by John improvement over ' Vnnnf»W^ere Tippecanoe City now stands. It was quite an bating only of a con.ca7.e stump, but still was a rather rude affair, con- ^ttlersjfor manvm?Sr f°r °°m) placed in a shed made of logs. The bney, and the rattle ^ ^°Un,j' ?ame her® miU> 80 that Mr. Freeman was always Its clanking has lnnrr - e o d hopper was heard from early dawn till nightfall, ihe minds of the fJ 8lnce. aQd the memory of the mill only remains in operated in different pioneer settlers. Various other small mills were John built his ffriskm'H* ia4 6 t?wn®hipj hut none of any importance till Mr.

now owned b I?ctorY was established in 1870. The establishment is Pal stockholders J0^t"8t°ch company, of which Jacob Rohrer is one of the principle of the pin/* h emPl°y constantly abont one hundred hands, and, for the hshment in the 4t? a I2,?re exten®ive business than is done by any similar estabwork, not onlv T"e^ have a reputation for sending out good, substantial

The Grape Sugar Factory is now being erected b}r a common joint-stock company, consisting of about twelve stockholders. This is the only establishment of the kind in the county, and the company is making preparations for carrying on an extensive business. The buildings are very large, the central one being 40x48 feet,vand four stories high ; another, running north and south from this, is 40x125 feet, three stories high, while the north wing, running east and west, is 100 feet deep. The whole thing, when completed, will cost about $50,000, The company expect to begin operations about the 1st of August

Trupp, Weakley & Co., builders and contractors, established their firm in 1872, when they put up their buildings, east of the railroad in Tippecanoe City, cost of about $6,500, to which they soon added machinery to the value of $10,000. They have been carrying on a very extensive business since they began operating, constantly employing about forty hands making sash, blinds, doors, etc., etc., doing, perhaps, as large a business in their line as any firm in the county.

Miscellaneous

Tippecanoe City was incorporated Monday, May 5, 1851, and the following officers were elected for that year ; viz., Levi N. Booker, Mayor ; E. F. Shields, Recorder ; Thomas Jay, Michael Shellabarger and Henry Krise, Councilmen ; Eli Snell, Marshal ; and I. L. Wilcox, Treasurer. They took the oath of office from A. B. Hartman, J. P.

The officers for 1880 are : A. H. Wesler, Mayor ; John K. Herr, Treasurer ; Samuel Galloway, Clerk ; David Carles, Marshal ; John Clark, John L. Norris and G. W. Weakley, Councilmen ; Joseph Brump, Street Commissioner.

The first mail matter coming to Monroe Township stopped at the post office which was then located in Hyattsville. Henry J. Hyatt, was the first Postmaster. He lived in a log cabin with one room, which was used as a dry-goods store, tailor's shop, post office and dwelling house ; and, as the room was by no means large, it will readily be seen that every part of the house was occupied. The mail was brought from West Charleston once a week, by Kiel Hoagland, a youth often summers, who rode a bob-tailed sorrel horse, with a blazed face, by no means as fleet as the one Mazeppa rode.

Many years afterward, when the mail-boy reached manhood, he became one of the proprietors of the Royal Baking Powder, manufactured in New York, and is now a millionaire. Perhaps, if he had been told, when trying to make the old sorrel jump the ditch in front of the post office, that the day was coming when he could sit in a cushioned carriage of his own, with his driver in the box, he. would not have believed the prediction. Dr. Gilbert became Postmaster in 1851, and was instrumental in having three mails a week instead of one. The post office paid at that time about $15 per year. A. W. Miles, the present Postmaster in Tippecanoe City, receives about $600 per year.

r. . Ahook and ladder company was organized in 1872, with Charles Trupp, n.li » ^ wd ?"iel B Davis, Thomas J. Sheets, George L. Favorite and plat a Dortion of it oi* 18,^IJe^1^ent. There are thirty-two acres of ground in the early settlers are off into neat lots, and here quite a number of the of a century that havA ^us ends the history of Monroe for the three-quarters century that have come and gone. A new era is dawning, the importance of

St M %] taraS hron the unf^' i"°thf P8*® in the *»ok of her exist the deeds the p^^Lnemtion TfZ** °l whi°u remain to be chronicled age reach ^ If the Torka of her people in the present

Of the forefathers^ non whoL^' tbey surely cannot excel in importance those cannot meditate without acknowWl^ WOT^\ the most apathetic individual its name from Frederick You^t^ne Situated [ Pai% j in Union Township, received ^wJ^T vil£e of hnf.TZgHthe earlie9t settlers of the township, southern part of thet^S f .. 8eooa.dary importance, is situated in the sastem and southern est by Newberry. The surface is undulating in the especially on the bottoms 1^.8\ b.ut fl*t in the western part The soil is very fertile. which are deeply^e^^h a?? on the flat lands of tbe we8t» the vicinity of thS h s dUrable farmm^ land* The southern portion, in which is extensively \h " ^ quames of an excellent quality of limestone,

88 Upper Rqu^wfls^m/^^i11^ arPund the oId Indian towns, known commonly Indian historv as wpII «,« fk Jbe* ^ r ie8t settlements of the State, and hence the eating details" whiph «« ^ -^1 °* the early white settlements, is ftill of very interns unwritten one and Passing away. This history is very largely indeed away, with the livoo !?l e tb? scanty materials which remain are daily passing frequently nevWwi f ~°f® wh°> holding them only by oral tradition, have too the country m th« r«!° ^ tbein in an^ dura^e shape. They are scattered over who came in in thn "o^68 of the few settlers of townships and neighborhoods ered for gome hand t ^ n.^8-' and mu8t h® separately and laboriously gathtive. Local - Um/e' Jn time, into a more complete and continuous narra-

°f the past, whinh io lu ^ oaij. interesting in itself, but it is valuable as a record the early historv of he .®undat*on of a present and future. Facts connected with events in whieh *L , la&e or township, often have an important bearing on to a higher imnnrt wh°le county is concerned, and, through these, may reach even lost beyond thl/Lv D^®m. T° 8ecure these passing facts, which are being so rapidly Sr^lP?.S8lb,1it? of w»»wy, is the object of the present wo?k. the Indian WofiA10^8?1^ *9 particularly noted as one of the most celebrated of the red man in h?8 m tbe Northwestern Territory. Here was the last home of Shawanese vill*if» e county, and here were the earliest white settlements. The Towns, celebrafS8-' "Sown in the early history of the West as the Twighteewee brought when f1D oariy border warfare, and where prisoners were generally

Miami Rivir 7,®8tefn Virginia, were located about two miles higher up the - "lan the site of the present city of Piqua, at what is usually called

Upper Piqua. It was here that Fort Piqua, long a British poet of some importance, was built. This fort was located after the capture of Fort Du Quesne by the English, and formed one of the most westerly of the British points of defense. It was afterward used as a place of deposit for provisions and supplies for our armies when engaged in Indian warfare in the West, and was especially serviceable to Gen. Wayne when he marched through this county to chastise the Indians after the unfortunate defeat of Gen. St. Clair at Fort Recovery in the present county of Mercer. The last commander of this post was Capt. I. N. Vischer, in 1794. After this time, it was almost entirely abandoned, and it was finally dismantled and the materials removed.

The last battle of the French wars, and indeed the last encounter of any importance between the French and English forces in North America, was fought at Upper Piqua (as the fort and grounds in its vicinity have come to be designated), on a part of the farm now known as the Col. John Johnston farm, just above the mouth of Swift Run, on the plat of ground lying to the right of the St. Mary's turnpike, where it winds around the hill after crossing the creek. From eight hundred to one thousand European troops were engaged on each side with large bodies of Indians, the French being aided by the Miamis, Wyandots and Ottawas, and the English by the Delawares, Shawnees, Senecas and others. Col. John Johnston used frequently to relate the fact that he had been told by the Indian chief Cornstalk, who remembered well the scenes of the battle, though then only a boy, but present then with his tribe, the Shawnees ; it began, he said, at sunrise, on a warm day in J une, and continued until it became dark in the evening. The French were finally defeated, and retreated toward Detroit, or more probably toward Vincennes, but never made a stand afterward in the county. Many persons now living remember well that bullets and cannon balls, occasionally a sword or bayonet, and sometimes the old and rusted barrel of a musket, were plowed up in cultivating these grounds, for many years after they were brought under the entire control of the white settler.

?^ua waa headquarters of the Shawnees as long as they remained m the Miami country, but was finally abandoned, when they went north to Wapakoneta. Before their removal, however, to the West, beyond the Mississippi, they came down in a body to the old grounds, and remained several days in the neighborhood of their former homes, and several members of the tribe since their removal when visiting the East, have turned aside to look again on the honored and well-remembered spot.

^ ^Indians, is, that long years before the white man came, they burned a captured enemy on the site of their town, and, when the body was reduced to cinsuddenly the form of a man rising from the fUneral pile, and stand- «X^I!Ctubeforeu them' Struck with astonishment at the vision, they exclaimed, «^^h^T^hpiqua'" " He ha® come out from the ashes" - and from that fame *** town wa* ^ned " Piqua." The late George C. Johnston, Esq., who eral Was ?rSanized with its present limits in 1814, but sevsite of Pimm a tlme & settlement and village were commenced on the present Greenville^in the "Qai1 . named Job Gard, who accompanied Wayne's army to Kr P qUa and 8Utler' Teturned -*** a fame to the old fort at

Ken "tlS64 there UDtil H was broken up and the works destroyed, tion removed upaportion of the wood and iron used in its construccal L the river' and located himself at what was then and mad^^ w£t the river' Piqua Bend. Here he built a cabin patch of ground and anr ^ ^ an improvement, which usuaUy meant clearing off a pawn oi ground and surrounding it with a worm fence. This was about the year were cnltiv^e^bylhe'inm^In^ OMtTbn? °f Tt land L" and about the Bend on them. In 1799, John MannirJh^'ah!?^ ° wb,te man ^ yet made his tome it for several years It was e of Gard and occupied what closely together. It wasnot lono^h, ildm^' Uieir cabins were placed something better than the hand-mill usuallv ooJf!fJflebfami 163 be&a" to desire somenot much unlike the old well-sweeiw whiVh1**6** ^M,a ever. attaclied to a sweep, country. These hand-mills and t^n^itf 8VU occasionally be seen in the out the log of a good-sifed iL« T h°mmy morta»> made by hollowing food for the early inhabitants of the Westh*!11 source? of .8UPP*y of farinaceous wish for something better wj! , f> but> as numbers increased, all began to commenced theSkTof TmTTnTfh'' "^Ut -the 8pring of the y<*rl804, Winning Harrison street, S%ap9 Two ne" ' th® Tth end ofwh'at is now mg mill now standingon the sontli 0aSt °f tbe Present steam flour- » 'his section ofThewuntov TohnM °f .Water 'fS*- This was the first mill iand on which the to^Tf Piaua ^nl ^ f"d MattbeW CaldweI1 eBtered the mediate vicinity and on ri.e 9Qif. 8t?nds> a"d also considerable tracts in the im- . the work of larinf out f he to^ n.^ *1^ 1®07- Armstrong Brandon began connected with til wLrinalTTLJT? °" -th8!f lands' Brandon was subsequently this year Piqua conBistS'Tr ^ m tbe ownership of the town plat. In Pied by John Manning Edwa^M008^8' all,built of lo8s> and owned and occu- Arthur Brandon Nathantof Wh> Manning, Alexander Ewing, Benjamin Leavell, "ere built Porquette. All these housed time. theHile qurte a bmLi ^n ** °fdoseph ?<****«*. At that the river bank since occnnieri h and between the east side of the street and river bridge. Thte Cana' the railroad> and the west end of the tion to his tavera 3 TT % ?ortpftte- Ewing was a trader, and, in addiwith the IndianTfor slrin/ 7 f r?C eS °/ traffic which be sometimes exchanged hquor very Mtorallvinere^^ To As the viUage «*»*. consumption of of the street, whtoh wm -f^d ?orquette kePt some whisky also on his side smith shop stwd harihv 04 ^1!ttJe frequented, from the fact that the first blackfcces arose in this vieinit' ^ 1Cn,Ue happened that occasionally little distnrbh> the other houses and ^?mewba!;. 10 tbe disgust of the good and sober people breaks became more morifL 'b® ,n.umbers year by year increased, and these outat length called hr *h aQ? frequent, Porquette's little piece of ground was might be Soto tLt tbu7lnCTVlappe,lati0n of the "DeviI'8 Half-acre," that it Majesty could ricrhw»ii 1 wd81aP the territory to which it was believed His Satanic turned for manv 7 y .iLc aim w>thin the limits of. the town. This name conburied in the canal qJi*!!? lt T °.n!^ tbe larger portion of the ground was fro® President m0^ "^joon was the first Postmaster, receiving his commission The first Tmot ^ l8°n,* "e was succeeded after a few years by William Johnston, in I814 wem Trth 5* after the organization of the township before noticed &nd hisbroSw^K^T1167, Ben^SLmin Brandon and WiUiam MitcheU. The latter, first settlers in fr°^ertj ca?ae from Tennessee several years before, and were the Justice of tha P 6 .wnsk*P outside of the boundaries of the village. The first was little litfoiff06 township was Matthew Caldwell. In those days there "gataon j the early settlers lived quietly _and peaceably, neighbors settled their smaller difficulties by the advice and counsel of friends of the parties, and when more serious troubles occurred, which could not be adjusted in this way it was not unusual to decide the matter by a physical encounter, in which the longest arms and the most ponderous blows demonstrated the possessor of the most rightful acuse.

The village continued to increase, growing up with the influx of inhabitants into the surrounding country. In 1820, there were already about four hundred inhabitants, and in 1830, nearly seven hundred. As early as 1823, an act of incorporation was granted by the General Assembly of the State, in which it is stated that " the householders in the town of Piqua, in the county of Miami, having complied with the provisions of the act of the General Assembly, entitled 'An act to provide for the incorporation of towns,' and having filed in the office of the Secretary of State, the documents required by the above-recited act, etc." This act of incorporation bears date January 7, 1823, and has the signature of Jeremiah McLene, then Secretary of State, and the old grand seal of the State of Ohio affixed. The town is therein described as " situate on the western bank of the Great Miami River, and was originally laid out by John Manning and Matthew Caldwell, and includes a part of fractional Sections 17 and 18, in Township No. 6 east, First Meridian, comprising one hundred and one lots, and containing in said original plat fifty-two acres, which said plat was recorded on the records of the county of Miami, on the 28th day of August, 1807, and also an addition thereto called the North Addition, which was laid out by Enos Manning and Charles Murray, which said last-mentioned plat was recorded in the Recorder's office of the county aforesaid, on the 10th day of July, 1816, and consists of fifty -three lots, being part of fractional Section No. 17, Township No. 6 and Range No. 6 east, First Meridian. The whole of said town as contained on and represented by said plats, is bounded by the Great Miami River on the north, by the lands of Charles Murray and Manning on the east, by the Great Miami River and lands of William Johnston on the south, and by the lands of John Campbell, Matthew Caldwell and John Kyte on the west, which said town was originally named and called Washington, but was afterward, by an act of the Legislature of this State, changed to Piqua, by which name it is now known and called." n ^he original of these " Letters of Incorporation," is now in possession of l>r. Dorsey, and is preserved at the Citizens' National Bank, of Piqua.

the winter of 1 832-33, the General Assembly of Ohio passed an act extending tne Miami & Erie Canal, which already reached from Cincinnati to Dayton, from the latter point to Piqua, a distance of thirty miles. In the spring of 1834, the surveys having been made and the line generally located, the letting of the various sections was advertised, and during the summer the work was put under contract An immediate impetus was given to the growth of the village, which it was well would become for a time the head of navigation, so soon as the canal should be completed. Several hundred Irish and German laborers were soon at worx m the town and vicinity, north and south, for it was necessary to carry the canal nearly four miles to the north of the town, to the State dam on the river, tho rL 6 Wa^r waa 1° be obtained. Contractors on the north end of town ln ^ o! heir head.cLuarter8 at ^qua. Bodies of engineers flocked into the si^le^P^lr W6re.paid every 8ixty OT ninety days, and the population in a m?re than fifteen hundred/ Business of all kinds also aDDearancpjj^f ar?e^ ' and bttle vihage of a few years before, assumed all the canalboat an rld^it ' ^.elwater was turned into its new channel, and the first Sme where to ?hlch had been bought up on wheels from Dayton, or that year. The ' WaS fioated on the waters on the 4th day of July of Freight boats and a r and8ucce8Sful navigation of the canal was soon established. Cn^d the entat P***8 for M were making regular trips The ness and travel and Pin bonn8country felt the effects of the large increase of busitrave1' and ^ the head of navigation on the canal, was the most countiy poured in here also «. f th® Prod"ct8 of all the same traversed the land and the naent on the canal. No railroads as vet uce of the Great West slowty wendedUs'wav8* t*'1 th* ?°int to which tbe prodnuportance through the aid of J?i T . T®wns that have now grown to wagon transportation for all theifTLteT^ ^c'htle8- were then dependent on Luna and all their surrounding8^ t Fort Wayne, St Marv's the more distant towns, but tte inJ^T re haye cut off much of the trade from Miami Valley, one of the best tracte oT^d .P0P*,,8t,°" and wealth of the fertile thing that can conduce to the d L" th? world' and teeming with everythe young city to g0 forward in happiness of men, have still enabled -

Porate limits. Having bLn th . ,«5a^on of the county seat in her corcounty, it was believed tlTthe IT "U<A ? : largest and wealthiest town in the the removal of the business of tT "Wrests of the county would be subserved by hon of the seat of justice ite .?l«ll the T??® °f the Pe°Ple have controlled the locaoftheu county buildings' ***" ,atpiqua. But the completion - tied that much-vexed^question vV v*' f°r a 1111116 least> perhaps forever, sethon to the increase of her manufixT year8.P!48t' Pi<lua has been turning her atten- °f population and wealth Thaif01"*68 88 ?e 8Urest means of securing an increase- £ the people in thi^tiol hTa^^ ****** in 'he State, where the efforts extensive and inexhauTble ItT ** crowned Wlth more complete success. Her tenal for building her refold^ quarries supply her with the best possible macpal necessary foj steam machinaT °5ei?ed the way for the easy access of all the chtep rates. 'The i^7?dran«7'ff ? "°n 18 8180 brought in abundance and at fectly aware that yet more w«T ^0rd a good 8uPP1y of water-power ; but, perjucreased machinery the dcoT °eC?oTy *° m8ure the necessary facilities for hydraulic canal, which would?? , 18®5 conceived the idea of constructing an PJrPo«e8 and for the sunn^sfon ^yafford anamP,e supply of water for domestic ?®>rd a laige amount of od^>I- ? fires m every Part of the town, but would also l8 t"ken out from the* Mi^t* Eril P>W6Ii for ma"ufacturing purposes. This canal entrance of the Sidney feeder I,d n® C^5.a1'** LockPOrt- -» Shelby County, belowthe act088 the Igiramfo rIw »Id d ore 'l*8" fonr ""Ws to the north of Piqua, brought w*y again to the can.i '.u"d' P8?810* 'dong the western border of the town, finds ite Z{ «it at I^WtolaLT^ 6nd °f tbe corporation. The faU from the point The supply of water »^,lTa?C\Lmt° the main canal at Piqua is fifly-two feet ?"d one two miles nto buildant > there are several small reservoirs on the line, ""Portant feeders addiT Plq,ua i C°vering about sixty-five acres. These act as "C® the State TwL g 8 v^uable supply of water, in addition to that derived the hugest oil-mills in7h7c.^readJ °" the hydraulic, a large paper-mill, one of to*? to be erects a,?- aQd another paper-mill and straw-board manufac- and pavements well sprinkled, as well as the streets throughout the city, freeing us from the dust so prevalent in most of the towns in the State. The pressure afforded by the fall alone is quite sufficient to carp* the water to all points and to the uppermost stories of the houses for domestic purposes, and, in case of a fire, a telegraphic communication is arranged from the City Hotel office to the waterhouse, at the west end of North street, when an additional pressure is put on, sufficient to carry streams of water four inches in diameter to the roofe of the highest buildings. The water-works are returning a good income to the city, and the cost of running them does not exceed $150 per year.

The gas works of the city were erected in 1854, by R. T. Coverdale, Esq. who took one-half the stock, the balance being taken by ten citizens of the town. The works have been successful and remunerative. The original stock was bough, up by A. 0. Conover and Joseph G. Young, and, on the death of these gentlemen, the stock of Mr. Conover was purchased by Mr. Spinning, of Dayton, who, with the estate of J. G. Young, still carries on the works. Many of the large houses and manufacturing establishments are lighted by the gas machine, patented and manufactured by John Stafford, of this city, which is highly successful, and its claimed to tlimish a cheaper light than is afforded by the gas company.

The streets of the city, though unfortunately rather narrow, have been carefrilly improved, a good system of sewerage has been gradually introduced, and few cities of the second class in the State can boast of cleaner or smoother streets for driving. The paving of the sidewalks is, in many places, very rough, having been laid down at an early day with small and irregular surface flagging, serving only the purpose of lifting the passengers from the mud, but being by no means agreeable for walking, but on Main street this has been almost wholly replaced by smooth and well-jointed paving-stones, taken from the neighboring quarries, and the same improvement is being gradually carried out on the other streets.

Piqua is well supplied with railroads. The great east-and-west road, the ^Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, passes directly through the town, making travel in both these directions exceedingly convenient. New Yprk, Washington and the Eastern cities are reached in twenty-four hours' time, without change of cars, while Chicago and St Louis are brought within a few hours travel, and all Western cities are readily reached. The Dayton & Michigan road crosses the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St Louis railway, just on the eastern side of the town, and furnishes easy communication to the north and south. Our people go to Cincinnati in less than four- hours, allowing sufficient tune for attending to business and returning the same day. These means of carriage, together with the Miami & Erie Canal, give great facilities for the transportation of all the products of the country, hence Piqua is the center of a very large grain trade. Stone and lime are carried very extensively in all directions. J

The inhabitants of Piqua have never ceased to value the great advantages of canal transportation, They have ever regarded the Miami & Erie Canal as one unportant source of their wealth and prosperity ; and, while in many parts of the state a willingness and even an anxiety has been manifested to abandon our canam, the people in Piqua, in common with nearly all the inhabitants living in important line, have stood up bravely and faithfully, for the mmutenance of these important works. We are glad to see that this sentiment is h®, and Popular in the State. For years, the people on obliged to resist attempts at hostile legislation in the General have always been found at the post of duty, and are now of their long and continuous struggle. The Miami chance of feelhwi^^h^11 **"? beS? ?eTy largely instrumental in producing tins orest^dinai^rtio i.?6 pe°JPe' ^eir carefril and steady opposition to all measyear bv vear before thp ^ c^nal8> 411(1 publications which they have laid

» a city of the second c^s and Stonh^ ft la the year 1850, it was inco^orated ft City Council convened Apra elected MayoT The James Noland, Rankin Walkun and Reft ^ * me"bers were Patrick Scully, Samuel B. Gainey. The same "lw!7 R°"Serk flre' City Marshal w& ustances, very r^R educa^i^ A mod®"te de8ree of culture, and, in a few or actual subsistence «nH Dk n 80011 ** the most pressing wants of providing he importance of looking oftL fh^w ^roperlJ amended to, they began to realize f their families The ^raimn& an^ education of the younger members

*its of the Cn and nf^ fh 00lll0f 6 Was built «" 1809> outeide of the then fst teacher was Isaap ffonH e P^®8ent comer of Main and Young streets, and the ^scholars w^ofX The aPPliances for th^ accommodation ' Puncheons - that is m0?.! Gnomical description ; benches of plank r seats ; they werp wifh^^V8*8?8 spit or hewn frora the trunk of a tree - served e seat by holes w*? l0^t. backs» supported on four clumsily formed legs, let into holars geuerallv humr ^b ?n au,?e^ and 80 high that the feet of the smaller 'iting-tables ns^H uT5fkan? ln^ bfcte more than half way to the floor. The Jtened with w<wW k- tbe !argier ,and more advanced pupils were planks also, t in actual use Tho^68 *° the log walls, enabling them to be let down when a substantial onH lr^LCOmP08ed the entire school fhmiture, but the instruction rnimr nrenjinLi * ?°?T .men aQd women came forth from these early centers of ItwaT £5 T««idi°oioeirLdu<y braveJy and well in the great battle of life.

Mic square. dhrn*fixwi - that a brick building of small size was erected ota the re thoroui?hi^ned Tltb the more pretentious name of a seminary, and where ® ancl systematic instruction was given. The first instructor was

Rev. John P. Finley. The same building was frequently used for church purposes by various denominations of Christians, particularly by the Methodists, who had yet no church building of their own, and men of note and ability, such as William Kaper, James and John Finley, and Henry T. Bascom, afterward President of Augusta College, Kentucky, and one of the greatest pulpit orators of the West, gave there earnest and pure religious discourses to enlighten and guide these early pioneers.

No system of common public schools was organized until about 1850, when a Board of Education was elected, under what was then called the Massillon law of the State. Three district schoolhouses were erected, one for the north, one for the east and one for the south portion of the town, and a regular system of schools was commenced. These houses were of small size, having a single room below and above, with a small hall or entry attached to each ; they were deemed, however, sufficient for the wants of the time, and served a good purpose for several years ; they have now all disappeared, and are remembered only among the things of the past, and their places are supplied by the excellent and really elegant buildings of the ward schoolhouses, which, particularly in the north and south districts, are an honor and ornament to the town. In 1 854, after much discussion and no inconsiderable opposition among the citizens, it was determined to erect a high-school building, and introduce a regular system of graded schools. The committee appointed from the Board of Education to select a site for the house and to superintend its erection, consisted of G. Yolney Dorsey, President, and William Scott, Treasurer, of the Board. After careful examination, two acres of ground were purchased, in the western part of the town, from Matthew Caldwell, Esq., and the present high school, was built. The plan of construction, so far as regards the internal arrangements, was modeled on a comparison of what were then the three best school buildingB in the State - those of Massillon, Columbus and Lebanon - and the building, when completed, was considered one of the very best at that time in the State. Many far superior have since been erected, but, at that time, the Piqua High School was considered as unequaled in the excellence of its arrangements for the accommodation of both teachers and scholars. The first teacher and Superintendent was A. G. Chambers, Esq., of Miami University, to whose judgment, activity and energy in organizing and putting the schools in operation, is due much of the success which has since attended them. The present Superintendent, Mr. C. W. Bennett, of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, has been for several years at the head of the schools, and is known throughout the State as an able and suceducator. He is supported by a very able corps of assistants, among whom should be mentioned Miss Mary Hall, Principal of the Female Department, and Mr. C. F. Wilder, at the head of the Grammar School. The Board of Education oooMflts ofGVolney Dorsey, President ; F. Hardy, Secretary ; and Messrs. John D. Shannon, J . F. Hummel, Jennison Hall and Simon Anderson. The School Examiners for the oity are Rev. Lyman Fisher, C. W. Bennett and G. Volney D«' ""V8 tfken to employ only thoroughly competent teachers. The o 18 thorou8h> no better scholars are made at any of the ^ than a*6 graduated at Piqua.

fact twtk. mark!d 8Ucce" of our public schools, is to be attributed to the iSTT °f ** town always manifested great interest in their the hterarv exammations and exhibitions, the graduating exercises, and

?f 4116 a005®**®8 connected with the schools, have been Smt I th8beat citizens and ladies of the town, and every enoonrexcellence. The 8x*cnd®d to students to endeavor to reach a high standard 1 o Shbraucht in the h«h 8<*ool embraces, inSddithm to the desiring to graduate with^ ®ennail> and a scientific course is also given for thote lar^gpata^ei h v ^ entenng on classical studies. This coarse is quite of the P081!^, occupied by a veni wlnd w^"16 oneo.f tbe finest chirches « the leading citizens of the tow^i Sa d T^thy ""legation, embracing many £""ec!ed with the church conducted in ILif*® "d flouri8hin« Sunday school is !v* and instructive; the mimie if - m.8uch manner as to render it both attracting® number of yountr - ery fine, both vocal and instrumental and a trengthened by the exercises in Jh- and 8tlU find tlleir "oral sentiment® ®niwter is Rev Mr. Cmtt the h .t^y,Me eveiV week engaged. The present W. Shipley. The chu^ ]L ^Penntendent of the Sunday school, Mr. Joshua choir of singers. To the pnprJ^ e^ce[1®Pt organ, and a large and well-instructed

The Old School Presbyterians had their first church on Wayne street, south of Sycamore, on what is now called the old cemetery lot, a brick building erected in 1830. Rev. James Coe was the first minister, a man still deservedly held in high es teem by many of the old members of the congregation. Under the pastorate of Rev. John A. Meeks, the present church was built, on the southeast comer of Wayne and Ash streets, about the year 1844. It has undergone many excellent improvements, and is now one of the best church buildings in the city. A fine organ, said to be the largest in the city, a flourishing Sunday school and a numerous and zealous congregation give a foundation rendering this one of the strongest denominations in the county. It is commonly known as the First Presbyterian.

The Second Presbyterian Church, under the name of the New School Presbyterian, was erected a few years later, also on Wayne street, between Green and Ash. The first minister was Rev. Mr. Graves, who was succeeded by several excellent and able men, and the congregation was, for many years, large and flourishing ; but, in the union of these two divisions of the Presbyterian body in 1876, this congregation, under their own Pastor, Rev. J. Thompson, passed into the Old School, and united their strength, under his leadership, with their brethren of this church. Mr. Thompson still continues as the minister of the united church, and is considered an able and acceptable Pastor. This union contributed much to the strength of the church, which stands among the first in the city in every good work. Among the earliest members of this church, and those who did much in forming its character and placing it on a stable foundation, were the Elliotts, Adamses, Meekers, Statlers, Youngs, McKees, Mortons, Sages, Mitchells and Laymans. Some of these families have almost or quite passed away; in some, the younger branches are found connected with other churches, but the work laid out by their fathers still remains firm and steadfast.

The Baptists erected their first church in 1830, on Ash street, between Spring and Harrison, where they continued to worship uptil 1848, when they erec!**j their present house on High street, near Wayne. Many able men have occupied their pulpit, among whom may be mentioned Revs. John L. Moore, John E. Thomas and David E. Thomas, Mr. Osborne, Dr. Shephardson, and the present excellent minister, Rev. Lyman Fisher. A few years ago, a portion of the congpregation separated from the old church, and erected a new and handsome building on Ash street, west of Broadway, where they have since continued to worship, sometimes employing a minister regularly, and at other times dependent on supplies obtained from neighboring churches. They have, therefore, now two good houses of worship; but the congregation, in their divided state, being weak, it would seem, would do well to imitate their Presbyterian brethren and unite their strength in one fold and under one pastor. The leading families among the old members and founders of this church are the Hilliards, Mannings, Blues, McCampbelis, Garveys, Drakes and Cavins.

Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church was organized about the year 18^0, under the supervision of Rev. E. Johnson, of Cincinnati, who, in con- ***' Mr* AUen> of Dayton, held services whenever they were able to the W*"te 0f the ooogregation. Col. John Johnston, of Upper PiqM, TnfJJ me®ber of the church, was appointed a lay reader, and fre-

** *> Td- w" to revert to him or his heirs. This took 3aitif?"rCh T8 erected on Wayne street, near High. The first his chareeMn iaQo °V«r the Pttnsh was Rev. Alvah Guyon, who entered on ms charge in 1830 and continued until 1842. Several excellent and able men

P«0°Ti??n<iucted by the Sisters of PhaHt^^h^^^'i^8 church bas excellent ere This is now known as tho Triah kjnty who are known as very efficient teachand fine church St ttonif X" h Church, while the German Catholics have a *e miboad, togeSSh^"^*^^/864' ,°n Downin« 8^t 8outh of ®f church, but now used as a ' formerly occupied by the Brothers nsert>nie °f the R** and most active^' whlcl1' thou8l1 not numerous, is composed ased as a synagosrue in^h? bu8lness men of the city. They have a room eorner of the public square on Aaron Friedlich, on the northwest which came into exUton!?69* i°f the auxiliaries of the American Bible J*16- The first President wm M ^ ?"? year Previoua to its formation in we recognize the names of m Bff*lei Johnston, and among the early mem- ^.,dn«y. Mm MrSv.IdcLean- Mre- McCorkle, Mrs. Morrow, Mrs. -up- Mrs. Johnston confirm/1 T* 0«t^e ode8t settlers of the town and town- EiKa Petit, the presenrPres!^ fto offlc'ate ""til her death, in 1840, when Mre. has faithfully attended tn «u fi?*' 7**- cbosen ber successor, who, for forty years, ^v*inthe prWutio^o? r he d8tleVf h«r office, and has kept the society The MasS^^ri1^ ,te Freat and glorious work. J on the southwestern/*?8 fine r?om8 in the third stoiT of the l*r8G build- ,ato the town, while vpt °f the 8<lllare- The order was early introduced about 1835. Ward n ^ a sma^ village, and Warren Lodge was established same hall for manv voo ^ w®® established several years later ; both occupied the e*egant Chanter id otl bare bna% been united as one body. A large and lodges, and as^a P^er 9^ Fellows has two large and well attended good. Their hall ic - elv?ar^ institution, exerts a widely extended influence for There are also spvp *? U^Per story of the town house, in the public square.

work in the city - the Very Ancient Order of Druids, the Benevolent Order o 'St. Patrick, connected with the Roman Catholic Church, and also the Order o e Royal Arcanum which meets in Odd Fellows' Hall.

The Young Men's Christian Association has been organized for several yews. They have excellent rooms in the basement of the opera house building - reading room and library, and an active membership exerting a very decided i u®n®e for good among the young men of the city. The reading-room is open every ay, and also in the evening, is well supplied with newspapers and periodicals, an affords a most excellent place of resort to those who desire to spend an nour reading or examining books or papers.

The first paper published in Miami County was issued at Piqua, July 6, 18 , under the name of the Piqua Gazette. The publisher, being printer and eai , was William R. Barrington, of Philadelphia, a gentleman of culture and a very ft and forcible writer. Mr. Barrington continued the publication until 1°"7' w , the paper was sold to Jeremiah A. Dooley, and the name was changed to Intelligencer. It afterward passed through several hands, and was for a time v ry ably conducted by John W. Defrees, Esq., now the editor of the Miami ^nt0'4' Troy ; it was sold by him to Messrs. Writer & Brading, the former °f * -came afterward sole proprietor. On the breaking-out of the rebellion, Col. W n went into the army and served reputably during the war, but the paper, being e without any responsible head, in a short time ceased to be published. The pape ? when started by Barrington, was the advocate of the principles of the old w jg party, and, under Mr. Defrees, passed to the Republican party, and continued support this cause during the remainder of its existence.

No Democratic paper was published until 1847, when a party of gentleme , of that party, formed a stock company, purchased a press and materials for an o - and employed D. M. Fleming, Esq., one of the stockholders, as editor. The pape was issued under the name of Piqua Enquirer. The stock was afterward p - chased by Mr. Fleming, under agreement with the company, and the PftP®r since been under his control. In the autumn of 1860, Mr. Fleming left the cratic party, changed the name of his paper to the Piqua Journal , which it s bears, and became an earnest advocate of the doctrines of the Republicans, this faith, the paper was steadfast, except for a short time, when the devotion the editor led him to the support of Andrew Johnson, then President of the Uni States. . This was, however, only temporary, and it has continued since entire y firm in its adherence to the Republican party. T

The Miami County Democrat, was first published by Messrs. Horton & le baugh, in 1860 ; but, both these gentlemen entering the service of the country, the breaking-out of the war, the paper wap for a time discontinued, but was revived after the cessation of hostilities, under the editorial management o Messrs. Smiley, who still continue to conduct it as an active and unswerving 8UP"

The Miami Helmet was commenced in 1874, by the Miami Publishing <£>-» and placed under the editorial management of I. S. Morris, Esq. It is devotee primarily to the support of the temperance cause, and has labored zealously an sneccssfully in this field. It has not, however, been an extremist in the ®UPP? of the political party known as the Temperance or Prohibition party, but aa» been always willing to throw its strength to the aid of good and honest and te peiate men, who stand by the cause of the country, of morality and of . eJrla"l1 Publishing Co. has a fine office, a good steam printing press, and un the direction of Mr. M. Rouzer, is rapidly becoming one of the most flourishing corporations of the city. The President is Mr. S McWilliams ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Lewis Leonard

"'Mu River, on the west h«Jk - ln ,1824- He built a small oil-mill on the *®de south of the town The' mm °pp08Ite,to what is now Patterson's mill, half Wishing the seed and present «,.? tZ by ,ater' and the maohineiy us4d in was an imS gW "ttb| f Was of the mo9t Primitive dScription. mch«i thick and five feet in a- 1<K? bines tone perfectly circular, about fifteen circular trough, fomed of s^^' tbU lar«e 8*»»e was placed on ite Xe ta a lever passing through U,. IT edJ'" the trouSh by means of a large wooden 'be water-wheel. When tee a"d a2ached to the horizontal shift of the P« mstrong ljnen £* 'hQe ^ ently crushed, it was taken out and bop and residence on the north^S J<>8eph ®e?P«tt> who> for many years, had his as a good workman an of ®*am and Green streets. Bennett enlarged his business 06 .5" t citizen and a man of some enterprise ; he gradofrd!«ble manufacturer 8r^ tbe gn^.11 'be village, and was at length a of the houses belonging tl the1^!®®^8 £f blS handiwork are stUl found in several who manufactfirpd th °iL ^habitants. The first chair-maker was James Pfmt-bottom, formed from the,.0!d'fa?h,oned solid wood-bottomed chair, and the Pmniiig^h^ig at that « 8p in^s. ^be white ash. Hughes also manufactured "eel was used in anin«- tl°ie an imPOI^ailt article in every family. The small ^hed to the crank to.T and flax' was turned by a treadle or foot-piece -oiedjun. i nun » passin8 through the center of the wheel, by a strong string, sometimes of cord bat more frequently of leather or raw-hide ; the flax was wound on a distaff inserted into what was called the arm of the wheel. The female operator sat in a chair while spinning. But the large wheel, the glory of the young and active girls, was used by the operator standing, who put the wheel in active motion by means of a short stick or roller, the rapid motion of the wheel turned the spindle still more rapidly, and to this the maiden attached the end of the long woolen roll, brought from the carding-mill, or formed more slowly at home with the hand cards, and, having secured the hold of the roll to the spindle, she walked rapidly backward twenty or thirty paces, drawing out a lengthened thread of the woolen yam, which, when sufficiently twisted, she allowed to be more slowly rolled on to the spindle. This was continued by successive whirls of the wheel, until the spool was filled, when it was taken from the wheel head and replaced by a new one.

In the early settlement of the country, it was not at all uncommon for the young girls of eighteen or twenty summers to take their wheels on their shoulders, and, carrying in their hands a sufficient supply of wool or flax, to assemble at a neighbor's house, and in a long porch with ground or puncheon floor, or even, in pleasant weather, in the open dooryard, the wheels were set down and the spinning began, each striving to excel the other in dexterity, in rapidity, and excellence of the thread produced, and thus the day was passed in work and friendly gossip, and when the evening came, the lads gathering in from the neighboring fields, the dance began to the music of the violin, which, with some sufficiently artistic performer, was sure to be found in ever}' settlement.

Covering for the head was necessary as well as for the feet, and hence the hatter-shop was an important part of the manufacturing business of every new town in the West. The earliest hatters were John Brown and Lewis Webb. Hats were made of wool or fur of the raccoon or opossum, musk-rat or, more rarely, of the beaver. Men and boys went to the shop and left their measure for a hat of whatever description wanted, the proper block was selected, and in due time the proper article appeared. A hat that would not last at least five years was a bad production, and by care, and keeping an old one to wear in bad weather, the Sunday hat was often made to do duty for double that period of time.

Few towns in the State of the size of Piqua can now boast of better and more flourishing manufacturing establishments. The first improvement on the canal was made by using the power from the lock at the south end of Main street in 1839, where a flouring-mill was erected by Mr. Beall, of the city of Baltimore. The mill was small but was sufficient for the demands of business for a short time, but in a few years a much larger establishment was demanded, which was built b) Messrs. Young & Yager. These buddings were of frame, but in 1872 a fine brick mill was erected by O'Ferrall & Daniels ; this burned in 1879, and the present very iarge and excellent mill was erected by Conrad Amendt, which is in every respect a model establishment, and does work not inferior to any mill in the county.

Un the same water-power is located the extensive woolen-mill of F. Gray 4s r °ne ?£ the fine8t factories in Western Ohio. Originally started as a woolenthe manufacture of cloths, blankets, fine flannels, etc. ; the enterprising UM?Ur years ago turned their attention to the manufacture of paper thP HnitS f Which are Produced by not more than five establishments m their1 fplte T8t,°f ihe Paper-mills both East and West formerly importing

Water street npAr t^T T y rerrau & <Jo. are situated on the west enu ^ thrashers and senAratni^bUr"b' Cincinnati & St. Louis railway. 'They manufacture par re, sugar-mills, corn-drills, hay-rakes, tile machines, etc. An of the street leading to Hip n bl?d^e' at lower end of Main street, on that ^7 .Lave yeryT^J^J,ftoa & Michigan Railroad depot, where they febnek factory, in order B buddings but are this year erecting another very £? «- also their amsh^ r^nTTi16 their oontinuaUy increasing busine^. ^vorabiy with any like which, in extent and completeness, will compare

«|T large quantities of fin^ <? Hotel> where may at all times be found Mies of furniture th? ly finished furniture. This firm sends also large quan- . ^efhroitureV^6 ?U/h % ,unflniaLed state, to the Eastern citS, oase has a reputation^ ,h A"g' Fnt8RL & Son is also deserving of notice. The ey have a well-filled aU» *nanufacture of excellent and beautiful fbrniture, and Caspar firandel at th* T°°!? on Main street, between Ash and Green.

^establishment rejL»+i & Murray, at the north end of Wayne street, is a n«mber of hands nnH ° - com fencing business, but already employing a huge 8' and U8lnS *P every day eight to twelve cords of ih wood, in making spade, hoe and fork handles, which are immediately shipped to various pointoin the East and West. During the present year, these gentlemen expectto add to their works machinery for the manufacture of ax-helves, and short nannies for hammers, etc., which will also consume a large amount of hickory

At the north end of Downing street, and in the immediate vicinity of tee last named works, is found the foundry and machine shops of Messrs. Bowa e Bros, These enterprising gentlemen, who have been long established in the same oc* ^ _ .manufacture steam engines of various patterns, as well as make castings tor y kinds of machinery, and are noted throughout this section of the country or excellent work. . . , . rphft

Three extensive carriage and buggy factories are also located n - largest is that of R. P. Spiker, on Wayne, near High street, which employs^arwu forty hands, and turns out a large amount of very fine work. Mr. bpiker merging his factory in a large stock company, known as the Spiker W agon - This company is incorporated by the State, with a capital of $40,000, and h P chased extensive grounds on the west end of High street, extending no squares to Green street, and embracing seven acres, on which they are, . t 7® buildings for their works, and to which the Wayne Street Works will be ulti J removed. This bids fair, from the well-known character of the gentlemen engag in it, to become one of the most important industries of the city.

The carriage factory of Curtis & Reed, on Water street, near Vi ayne, 1 a flourishing establishment, and is rapidly growing in favor with the comm The factory of W. R. Crosier & Son, the oldest in the city, is located on ing street, between North and Green, and has, for many years, done a larg lucrative business. These three establishments all manufacture the tines riages and buggies, which have repeatedly taken prizes at the fairs in our own many of the adjoining counties. The Spiker Company will continue the man ure of carriages and buggies, but will add to this the making of road wago a superior quality, somewhat after the style of the celebrated Studebaker wago , so largely manufactured at South Bend, in Indiana. There are already in tne y several establishments manufacturing large wagons on a limited scale, du a very good business, among which may be named the works of John y> William Keese and Joseph Clouse. f d of

One paper-mill is already in operation on the hydraulic, at the west en , North street This establishment, belonging to the heirs of Loomis, does a g business in the manufacture of coarse wrapping paper, and consumes a ^ amount of straw for this purpose. Another mill, on the south end of the h) lie, near the Rocky Branch, is now being erected by a joint-stock wmpany, leading men being Messrs. Jarvis, Orr, Leonard, Ziegenfelder and Clark, enterprising gentlemen will invest a large amount of capital in this work, wni n> is understood, will be devoted to the manufacture, principally, if not what is known as straw board. A large number of hands will be employed - Three large breweries are carried on in the city. That of J. L. Schneyer, the south end of Spring street, is a model of completeness and excellence in way of manufacturing beer. The malting-room, cooling-room, ice house, and eveiy department connected with the business are most completely furnished, and product of the establishment is said to be of superior quality. The building about 60x80 feet, three stories in height, and is pronounced by judges to 00 bine all the requisites for the manufacture, while extensive cellars are pwvidedj where the beer is laid down until it attains the peculiar qualities which en tie it to the name of lager.

The Messrs. Schmidlapp have also a very good establishment immediately across the street from Schneyer, and on the south side of Water street, immediately east of Gray's Woolen Mill. A third brewery is operated by Messrs. Bute & Freyer, and is situated near the north end of Spring street. This is the oldest fftablishment for brewing in the city, manufactures largely and has extensive laro on the eastern bank of the Miami River near the east end of the middl the *JZ?irnZ» were among the TuTT0n characteristic of the the old 80,(1 in tbe viSage were traffl^t^K h Indlans and witb whites, and a Tlar r 1 ** 8to" ^rs and inrttM ^tte and Pitcher of water w£h ? good® exchanged for them, and the customer to parXofthe Ai^ tu?bler or Hn CUP at their side, for the barter which °f the storekeeper and sharped

The earliest liquor store was opened by John M. Cheevers, at the north end of Main street ; the first iron store, by S. H. Brown, on the southwest corner of the public square ; the second, by John Morrow, at the place now occupied by James Scott in the same line of business. The earliest distinct grocery house was that of Sawyer & Davis, on Main street, just north of the corner now occupied by the Citizens' National Bank. The first drug store was kept by M. G. Mitchell, on Main street, a little south of the present Spencer's store ; the second, by Daniel Ashton, afterward merged into the firm of Ashton & Ewing.

The establishments in the early days were small, increasing, however, in capacity, with the demands of trade and the filling up of the country, and we see a few of the older men who still survive, so as at least to look on at the increasing business of the town, and to compare the present with the former days of commercial affairs. J. M. Cheevers and William Scott* still walk the streets, as they have done for more than half a century, and, though not actively engaged in trade, still feel a lively interest in everything connected with the financial or commercial pursuits and changes of the day.

William Scott* is the oldest of the dry-goods merchants in the city, indeed, no business man in the place has been so long and steadily engaged in trade. For for fifty-seven years Mr. Scott continued closely and personally to attend to ms business as a merchant. The house is now carried on in the name of John M. Scott & Co., but the original head of the house is always seen about when not engaged in the bank, and looks actively after the interests of the establishment. For more than half a century Mr. Scott has done business on the same square on Main street, where he is now found. Other prominent dry-goods houses are C. S. Parker & Co.; F. W. Reiter; D. Spencer & Co.; C. Gross ; Stein & Co. and A. Berting.

The large clothing houses are Henry Flesh, A. Friedlich, J. F. Hemsteger, P. I. Gates & Co., M. Friedlich, M. Newhoff, D. Urbansky and C. W Bachelor.

The prominent grocery hpuses are John Zollinger & Son; Sawyer & Co.; G. N. Ziegenfelder; P. A. Williamson; John Harbaugh & Co.; D. Louis; Charles Lebolt ; M. Ziegenfelder and M. Belier, etc.

Jewelers - -A. Wendel, Aug. Thoma & Sons, Richey and M. Ryan. Tobacconists - John Lang, Leopold Kiefer and Christ & Wiltheiss. Druggists - A. C. Wilson, Ashton Bros., Brandriff & Hedges, P. Graef, Jr., and Hunzinger.

e daguerrean gallery of I. Thorne will very well repay a visit to any lover °t art. Mr. Thorne keeps a handsome collection of pictures at his rooms, on Main street, and his photographs, both plain and colored, are finished in the best style. The rooms \oi .Mr. F. Gale are in the third story, over the large grocery house of D- "" 8trfu1' ,Mr- Gale « said to be very successful in his pictures of ^ ^ ,l.dfen^ an<^ be has, himself, made some improvements in the art of photog- Th l°h 8X6 considered valuable.

L^nard a)ll .l USe. beiOW the railroad, on Main street, and Messrs. Orr & houses are 6481 Bld? of tke P0^0 square and on the canal, both these

Hi8Toey Of Miami County

^stem communi^aml^u^ptone^fathera1104 feIt early' 88 8 general rule in a ordinary magistrate was the depository ofthT i"**® n°, exception to the rule. ' The possess was not considered worth having ^ SW' 8nd what iegal lore he failed to in« He was a man of decided ahiliK h Un . S,tates, from 1823 to 1829 inclutfthSw the community in which he li^d * "w* Upright> and Possessed great the Methodist Church, as was Z hi. He was a prominent member of nomination. Shortly after his W ** *** for miDl9tera and itinerants of this de P'q-a to Cincinnati, andwasfo^L^'T " Congre88> Mr- McLean removed the great wonders of science, introduced at that early day into our sparsely settled country, and used by him as a remedial agent in nervous complaints.

About the close of the war of 1812, Henry Chapeze, of Kentucky, a welleducated physician, located at Piqua. His office and residence were on the southwest corner of Wayne and Water streets, on the lot now occupied by the house of Hiram Brooks, Esq. A brick office erected on this lot was the first building of that material within the village limits, and is well remembered to-day by many of the older inhabitants. Dr. John O'Ferrall settled in Piqua about 1820, and these two gentlemen have the honor of being the pioneer physicians of the town and of the northern part of the county. Both continued in the practice of their profession for many years, riding over large extents of forest country, sometimes without roads, at other times over ways almost impassable, where the worst mudholes and deepest marshes were bridged over by rows of round logs, making no very secure causeway for either horse or man. The rude cabins and rough fare of the early settlers were their resting-place and their refreshment; a scanty remuneration, and very frequently none at all, was the reward rendered for services; but these faithful men toiled on, waited and hoped for better days, and lived to see at least their dawn if not their full development Dr. Chapeze died about 1828; but O'Ferrall, a younger and more vigorous man, survived. until 1850, living to see the country which he entered as a wilderness blooming with improvements and filled with the elements of wealth and progress.

Among the other early physicians, are found the names of Dr. Jackson, afterward a prominent Democratic politician of Indiana; Dr. I. T. Teller, Dr. David Jordan (eclectic), Dr. Isaac Hendershot, Dr. Worrall, all of whom are now passed away.

Dr. Dorsey, who read medicine for a portion of his time in the office of Dr. O'Ferrall, commenced practice as a partner of O'Ferrall in the year 1836, and the firm continued until January 1, 1842, when it was dissolveds but Dr. Dorsey has continued the practice from that time until the present, with the exception of four years, from 1862 to 1865 inclusive, whence acted as State Treasurer, residing in Columbus. In 1842, Dr. John O'Ferrall, Jr., commenced practice with his father, and has continued in business, with some interruptions, to the present time.

Stone Quarries

No account of Washington Township can be complete without a notice of the JvflVe JluaJrie8 °f limestone which add so much to its wealth, and, by the faC1 '

1 y ey a~)I^ ^or building, contribute, also, very largely to the prosperity an progress of the township and the town. These quarries are all found on the west side of the Miami, and commence immediately south of the Rocky Branch, lying of the city, and coming out on the west side of the ff?m Pi(lua to Troy, on the west side of the river. Stone ^ !? on the east bank of the river, though the quarries on that branch^ th.,e%^VXtensively °Pened or worked. The first quarry below the ofHeL m£hf Mr Harvey C1"k, who carries it on actively. The second is that Hamilton "0W operated by Mr J- Mitchell. The third is the well-known calfed * t°rch or H8ht *0 prevent 'e^nfj^^n °f " aPPTOaching steamboat, to ®«ted on watch in the darkness of th^ - ?*' one 0CCMion. a green hand was of th"8' ^hoctaW8 snd ChickMaws dIs^KUTgh was then caIled the Man V "h?® d«ceased at Piqua T u JaCobJLands' Es<J-. "d David Hunter, both 8ve frequently related Hieing* * °n^ re81^ence, made this journey on foot, and counby. 7 related mcidents connected with the journey through the Indian of Orr & Leonard's warehouse. This boat was built (the huU) and taJdtoSt Mary's, the bow resting on the wheels of a wagon, and the stern on sled ^rs, with eight horses, two teams belonging to James Johnston and John C It was then launched into the St. Mary's River, and was ttatstr«uD to and was called upon to prepare the charter. The original or roug among the papers belonging to the estate of M. G. Mitehell, decea^, elected President of the company, and for many years during the bu ng road was the principal manager of the enterprise. The road was co P f m Columbus to Piqua in 1856, and gave to the northern part of Miami L ities for an Eastern market. This road is now the great central fare from the East to the West, with branches and connecting lines rescuing the Atlantic to the Pacific. _ . . MorPh 5 commencing about 1820, and being completed within the lapse of thirty- y This time, compared with the development of the West now, would seem a snail's gait, but to the retrospect of the pioneer of Miami County, to n deed marvelous.