Paint Township (part 8 of 14)

Soon after active operations began around the fort. General W. H. Harrison received word that General Green Clay was near at hand with a re-enforcement of twelve hundred men. The plan was for Clay to descend the river in flatboats ; Clay was to detach eight hundred men, who should be landed on the left bank of the river, where they were to attack the English batteries, spike the cannons and destroy the carriages, then retreat to the fort, while the remainder of the troops were to land on the side next to the fort and cut their way to it through the Indians. When Clay approached the fort, he detached Colonel Dudley to attack the batteries. To divert the attention of the English and Indians, General Harrison ordered Colonel Miller, with his famous Fourth Regulars, to make a sortie on the side of the river on which the fort stood. He attacked the batteries, spiked the cannon, and, though the English outnumbered him, he took about forty prisoners and completely routed them. Colonel Dudley raised the Indian yell and captured the batteries on the opposite side of the river, but, neglecting to spike the cannon, and lingering on the spot, his scouts were fired upon by Indians in ambush. Indians began to swarm around him ; Tecumseh swam across the river and rushed with his savage hordes upon his rear ; Colonel Dudley fell by the tomahawk, and scarcely two hundred out of the eight hundred men reached the fort. The American prisoners were taken to the old Fort Miami, in which they were confined. Here the infamous Proct'or allowed the Indians to butcher the Americans with the tomahawk and scalping-knife, and tor- ture them as their fancy suggested. He is said to have witnessed the massacre of over twenty prisoners in this phice. Teciimseh now made his appearance, ignorant of what was going on inside of the fort. A British otKcer described his conduct, on this occasion, to and American : He said that suddenly a thundering voice was heard, speaking in the Indian tongue; he looked around and saw Tecumseh, riding as fast as his horse could carry him, to a spot where two Indians had an American killing him, Tecumseh sprang from his horse and catching one Indian by the throat and the other by the breast, threw them to the ground. The chief then drew his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and, running between the prisoner and the Indians, brandished the weapons madly and dared any of the hundreds of Indians around him to touch another prisoner. His people seemed much confounded. Tecumseh exclaimed, passionately, " Oh ! what will become of my Indians ! "

He then inquired where General Proctor was, when, suddenl}^ seeing him at a short distance, he demanded of the commander why he had allowed this massacre.

" Sir," said Proctor, "your Indians cannot be commanded." "Begone!" answered the chief, sneeringly, "you are unfit to command ; go and put on petticoats."

Josiah Hunt

During the last war with England a notorious hunter and Indian fighter, by the name of Josiah Hunt, lived in this vicinity. Powerfully built, fearless, and thoroughly versed in woodcraft, he Avas a terror to the Indians. He was a member of Wayne's legion, and participated in the battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794.

In the beginning of the battle, while he was rushing through the tangled net-work of logs, he was fired at by a savage, whom he had scared up in such haste that his aim was harmless, the bullet whizzing through the hair over his right temple, causing a singing in his ear for a long time. The Indian, after firing, took to his heels, and as he ran zigzag. Hunt aimed at a'red stripe along his naked back, fired, and bounding in the air, the redskin expired.

Being an expert hunter, he was employed to supply the oflicers with game, while the army was encamped at Greenville in 1793. Environed by savages, the task was perilous in the extreme. The Indians climbed trees in the vicinity of the fort, and watched the garrison. If one Was observed going out, note was taken of the direction, his path was ambushed, and his scalp rewarded the assassin. To forestall this, Hunt left the fort in the darkness, and once in the woods, "our chances," said he, "were equal."

After leaving the 'fort, he made his way to the vicinity of his next day's hunting, and camped for the night. His plan to keep from freezing was unique. With his tomahawk he would dig a hole about the size and depth of a hat crown. Into this he placed dead white oak bark. Igniting this with flint and steel, he carefully covered it, leaving an air-hole on each side. Spreading bark or brush over this miniature coal-pit, enveloped in his blanket, he sat down with it between his le^s, and slept the sleep of a watchful hunter. When his fire grew low, he would give it a few blows through the ventilators, and it was all right again. In this way, he said, he could niake himself sweat whenever he chose. The snap- ping of a twig aroused him ; and with his hand on his trusty rifle, his keen eye penetrating the silent gloom around, boded no good to the savage intruder, man or beast.

Sitting before our own quiet hearths, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of civilization, we scarce can realize the imminent dangers, privations, and hardships through which our forefathers passed. Alone, amidst the denizens of the wilderness, in a "dreary forest, swarming with enemies, bloodthirsty, crafty, and of horrid barbarity, without a friend or human being to aiford him the least aid, in the depth of winter, the freezing winds moaning through the leafless branches of the tall trees," the howling of the gaunt grey wolf - all conspired to awaken emotions of fear in the bravest heart. There would he sit in his blanket, nodding in his uneasy sleep, scarce distinguishable from surrounding objects, defying the rigors of winter, yet showing no fire; calm, ready, and prompt to engage in mortal combat with any foe, whether Indian, bear, or panther. At daylight he proceeded slowly, and with extreme caution, to look for game, at the same time watching closely for Indians.

AVhen he espied a deer, previous to shooting it he put a bullet in his mouth, with which to reload, which he invariably did immediately after firing. Peering in every direction, he cautiously approached his game, dragged it to a tree, and with his back against it, he would skin awhile, then straighten up and scan his surroundings, to ascertain if the report of his gun had attracted a foe. Satisfied in this direction, he resumed skinning. The breaking of a stick, or the slightest sound, was sufiicient to arouse all his vigilance, and with his trusty rifle firmly grasped, he was ready for any emergency. Having skinned and quartered the animal, the choicest parts were packed in the hide, slung over his shoulder, and carried to the fort. Once while hunting, he suddenly came upon three Indians within easy gun-shot. His position was above them. Unconscious of his presence, they were marching in Indian file, little dreaming of the deadly rifle, whose owner was waiting to get two of them in range. ISTot succeeding in this, and deeming the odds too great otherwise, he allowed them to pass unharmed. Through all his perilous adventures, and constant exposure to danger in all its forms, he passed unscathed, in great part due to constant watchfulness, which seemed to render these faculties almost involuntary.

hunting. At the treaty of Greenville, the Indians inquired for him. and when he made his appearance they crowded around him, and were profuse in their praises and compliments. They seemed to consider him next in greatness to Wayne. " Great man," said the3\ " Captain Hunt great warrior ; good hunting man ; Indian no can kill!" They informed him that often their bravest and most cunning warriors had set out expressly to kill him ; they had often seen him; could recognize him by his dress, especially his cap, which was made of coon skin, with the tail hanging down behind, the front turned up, and ornamented with three brass rings. They knew his mode of making a camp-fire, which excited their admiration. Yet with all the glory of captnring such a noted hunter inciting them, they could never snrprise him, never get within shooting distance without being discovered, and exposed to his unerring rifle. Some years after the war he removed to Indiana, and has never been heard of since.

Effects Of The War Of 1812

Previous to this war the country was thinly settled, vast stretches of forests remaining in primitive luxuriance. The inhospitable woods were the habitation of wolves, wild Indians and panthers, who roamed undisturbed throughout the boundless solitudes; but her beauties were not long hidden. The watchful eye of the daring hunter observed her rich and fertile valleys, sparkling streams, delicious summers and fruitful autumns, and game and range for all, and the sound of the ax was heard on every hand, from the banks of the Ohio to the prairies that skirt the far away Mississippi. Look now abroad, and lo ! the forest, the Indian and his wigwam, his light canoe, and the moccasined hunter have all sunk into the past. The ax of the white man, and the ordinance of 1787 have efl'ected these changes.

Auxiliary to these are : first, the Christian religion, the handmaid of civilization, the bulwark of civil liberty ; secondly, the love of labor - noble and honest labor - ofispring of sober thought, and immunity from evil propensities superinduced by the first. To the combined effects of these two potent agencies, therefore, are we to ascribe the great progress, and the man}- changes that have taken place in our noble county since the first lonely pioneer cleared a spot for his solitary cabin.

Notwithstanding the energy of the pioneers, the country was paralyzed for a time by the war and the consequent reduced circumstances of the people, especially those whom it more immediately afifected, yet we see almost a supernatural recuperation and progression in all directions.

The character of her soil having been made known, the consequence of which was that when the country was entirely free from Indians, and all danger removed by the treaty of Ghent, the hardy and enterprising Virginians and Pennsylvanians, and the unique Yanl^ee, whose inventive and mechanical genius has rendered his name almost a synonymn for these terms, made their appearance in this county. A better combination for the development of a new country could not have been found. The sturdy habits, iron will and agricultural proclivities of the one, impelled by indomitable energy, leveled the forests, converted the barren wilderness into fruitful fields, and shed the light of civilization where darkness and gloom had hitherto reigned supreme, while the ever active, almost ubiquitous mind of the other soon gave birth to the mechanical appliances of civilization.

The Old Muster

As it may be a matter of interest to many to know the military discipline to which the youth of early days were subjected, we devote a page to its explanation.

July 25, 1788, a law was published at Marietta for " regulating and estabHshing the militia," which was confirmed by the territorial legislature, and approved by the governor (St. Clair).

This law provided that all male citizens between the ages of sixteen and fifty, should perfcy-m military duty, be armed with a musket and bayonet, cartridge-box and pouch, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch, one pound of powder and four of lead, priming wire, brush and six flints. -

For the promotion of health, civilization and morality they were required to drill on the first day of each week, at ten a. m., armed and equipped, adjacent to the place of public worship, and at all other times and places as the commander in chief should direct. For failing so to appear on the first of the week, they were fined twenty-five cents; and for failure on the day designated by the commander in chief, fifty cents ; for refusing to do guard duty, one dollar, and for refusing to serve in case of invasion, they were considered guilty of desertion and court martialed.

On the 23d of November, 1788, the governor and judges published a law providing that all who should not furnish arms and accoutrements according to law, after thirty days' neglect, should, for a musket and bayonet, be fined five dimes ; for every pound of powder and four pounds of lead not furnished in fifteen days, two dimes and five cents; for every powder-horn and bullet-pouch, two dimes; for every six flints not provided within ten days, one dime and five cents, and brush not provided within thirt}' days, one dime. They were also to be inspected by the commandant of companies, on the first Sabbath of each month. By a law passed July 2, 1791, all commandants of companies were to drill their men two hours on each last day of the week, and inspect their arms, ammunition, etc.

All who attended the drill on Saturday, were excused from church or drill on Sunday. Also if they attended church, armed and equipped, they were not required to drill on Saturday. Thus the law remained until December 13, 1799, when the whole was revised by the territorial legislature, which fixed the ages at eighteen and forty-five, men were to be armed and equipped in six months, oflicers to have sword or hanger and espontoon (spontoon or pike), arms exempt from execution. It also provided for districting and officering the militia; the commissioned and non-commissioned officers to be drilled by the brigadiers, six days, five hours each, during the year. Company musters once in every two months, except December, January, February and March. Each batalion to muster in the month of April every year, and a muster of the regiment in October. For non-attendance at company muster, one to three dollars; regimental or battalion, one dollar and a half to six dollars.

By act of December 30, 1803, Quakers, Menonites and Tunkers were exempt from military duty on payment of three dollars each year. Privates were allowed twelve months to equip, and fine reduced from one dollar to a dollar and a half. "

February 14, 1809, all laws for organizing, etc. were repealed. Only two company musters a year, in April and September. Battalion once in April and September. Commissioned to meet in August of each year for two days' exercise, according to Steuben's tactics.

February 2, 1813, a bounty of twelve dollars per mouth was allowed soldiers whose term of service had expired, in case they continued until their places could be supplied.

Passing over all the intermediate laws, continually changing the mode of organizing, times of drilling, fines, etc., we finally reach the act of 1844, which declares military duty a failure in so far as the improvement of morals is concerned, and excuses the rank and file from drilling in time of peace, thus verifying the words of Dry den -

" Eaw in fields the rude militia swarms ; Mouths without hands ; maintained at vast expense, In peace a charge, in war a weak defense ; Stout once a month they march a blustering band And ever, but in times of need, at hand."

looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure. At the command of the captain to "stand at ease," the sergeants passed along the line with a bucketfull of whisky, tin cup in hand, to which every man helped himself according to his calibre. The officers were more highly favored.

Then these men sw'elled out w'ith warlike pride, and "set the teeth and stretched the nostrils wdde," and "gave the eye a terrible aspect," and as sable - save the blue coats and brass buttons - knights of old, they pranced upon their pampered steeds, wdth the glitter of the polished saber, the waving white plume, the brilliant sash and flashing epaulet, the proud recipients of many admiring smiles from fair ladies whose sparkling eyes rivaled their own gay uniforms in brilliancy; wdiile the stolid' anti-bellum Quaker, looking on, exclaimed with the sentiment of the frogs, "It may be fun for you, but it is death to us."

We subjoin a few^ of the names given us by J. L. Myers, from the muster-roll of the third company, odd battalion, third brigade, of the militia of the State of Ohio.

Sharp-Shins Or Cut Money

From the abundance of her agricultural products, and especially her live stock, Fayette County, though in her infancy, sent many supplies to the army during its operations in the northwest, in the war of 1812.

The almost impassible condition of the roads rendered transportation towards the north very expensive and difficult, requiring all the assistance that. could be obtained for that purpose. While the snow was on the ground, sleds were used in preference to wagons, for carrying supplies to the St. Marys, thence to be forwarded north by water. A good deal of money was pat in circulation by the sale of army supplies to the government; as many as eight hundred hogs having been furnished at one time, principally from this county. In these transactions the government paid partly in specie, but mainly through the banks in Cincinnati : Miami Exporting Company, Bank of Cincinnati, and John H. Piatts' bank. Piatt was a heavy army contractor, and his notes obtained an extensive circulation during the war.

A noted peculiarity of the money put in use in the Miami and Scioto valleys, previous to and during the war, was what they denominated cut money. This is said to have originated in Kentucky; the object being to keep silver in home circulation, where it was current at par in ordinary business transactions, while it was not receivable in exchange for public lands, or merchandise outside of the county. The Spanish milled dollar, or quarter, was taken to the blacksmith, who, placing it on his anvil, with a cold chisel cut it into two, four, and sometimes five pieces, keeping the fifth for toll, and yet having four quarters remaining. Occasionally it was cut still smaller, its vernacular names being quarters, bits, and tips. Again, you would often hear the term, eleven-penny-bit, and fivepenny-bit; hence, eleven-pence, fip-and-a-bit - undoubtedly taken from the English, and brought into this country by Pennsylva-

The name "sharp-shins" arose from the sharp edges exposed after cutting, not unlike the tibial angle of that unfortunate class who can not boast of adipose tissue, otherwise known as sheep shanks. Sharp-shins could not be carried in the pocket, but a stout leather bag was provided, which confined it until spent for a hunting shirt, or some other useful article. Though metallic in its nature, it did not possess that tendency to burn through the pocket 'of the youth of 1812, as we now so often observe in the modern greenback.

Shortly after the beginning of the war state banks were instituted, shin-plasters became the medium of circulation, and sharpshins took their departure.

Pioneer Girls

Ill drawing a contrast between the past and the present, w^e are led to inquire, What have all the refining intluences of Christianity and civilization done to elevate the standard of the female sex to a higher position of excellence in society? Suppose a youth of eighty years ago should call to pass an hour or so with his lady-love, and find her hair done up in frizzles and frouzles, bangs, spit-curls, gum tragacanth, quince seeds, etc., playing on the piano, or reading the latest novel, while her poor old mother was bending over the wash tub ; conversely, let us suppose a youth of to-day, with his fancy livery turnout, button-hole bouquet, red silk rag dependent from his coat pocket, cigar at an angle of forty-five, in the northeast corner of his mouth, gold-washed chronometer, patent-leather boots, and hair parted on the meridian of his brainless skull, should call to see his inamorata, and find her pulling flax, or in the barn, swingling the same, dressed in linsey, her feet uncramped by side lace, her hair unconfined, " wooed by every wind." The result, in each case, can be imagined by the reader.

The clothes for the pioneer family were manufactured from the raw material ; no muslin, in the first decade of the nineteenth century, supplied the place of home-made linen. The men generally sowed tlie flax, gathered, and broke it, leaving to the women the succeeding steps in its transformation into wearing material, namely, pulling, spreading to water, rolling, taking up, swingling, hackling, spinning, weaving, and making int;p garments. With all this before them, and without that inevitable modern appendage, a hired girl, they kept themselves and their houses neat and tidy ; and when the bride of those days of natural simplicity and hard work, when the hands find plenty to do, and the mind is pure and innocent, leaves the arms of her mother, the ceremonies attendant upon her nuptials were unostentatious, No broadcloth scissor-tailed coat, no stove-pipe beaver, no Alexandre seamless, no flash of the diamond, nor the gauz}^ rccd point lace, nor silks, nor satins, adorned the scene ; but the honest pioneer, in his home-made hunting shirt, buckskin breeches, moccasins on his feet, with dried leaves for stockings, and his big heart full of love, stood by the side of the innocent girl, in her linsey-woolsey frock, guiltless of all "magnolia balm," or " bloom of youth," quince seed, frizzles, etc., except that which nature gave her; for she is nature's child, pure and artless.

Corn Huskings

The modus operandi with corn was for all hands to go into the field, and jerk oft* and throw in heaps till dinner. In the afternoon it was hauled in, and either thrown in heaps or more commonly one long pile. When the crop was all thus gathered, preparations were made for a night's husking. The neighbors for miles around were invited in. Two captains were chosen, who each selected an equal number of assistants. The pile was then divided equally, by placing a pole on the center. If there were two heaps, one captain had first choice of hands, and the other of heaps. When all were ready, "Black Betty" was handed around to get up the proper spirit, and work began in good earnest, the object being to see who could husk out on his side of the dividing line first. After many whifts at old " Black Betty," as the whisky bottle was familiarly called, the victorious party placed the bottle in the hands of the captain, and two stout men would seize him, one by each leg, and amid the shouts of " Hoist the captain ! " lift him up and carry him over to the other party, and with swinging of hats and yells of victory, parade him along the lines of the vanquished buskers. Then old Betty was passed from mouth to mouth until all felt gloriously happy.

"The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter, And ay the rum was growing better ; The souter tauld his queerest stories, The woodman's laugh was ready chorus; Care, mad to see men so happy, E'en drowned himself among the nappy. Kings may be blest, but they were glorious. O'er all the ills o' life victorious."

Game And Hunters

The rich, juicy grass, cool, sparkling springs, in some parts deep forests, pellucid streams, afibrded sustenance and delightful retreats for every species of game, from the fish to the otter, from the squirrel to the conger and bear. The scream of the panther and the squall of the wild cat mingled with the sweet song of the thrush, and the howl of the wolf drowned the sweet notes of the mocking bird, while stolid bruin roamed the woods, with no ear for music save the squealing of the pioneer hog.

The rifle was an inmate of every household, in the use of which our forefathers were very familiar, and were very solicitous in keeping it in perfect working condition. Those who could afford it, kept two rifles, one for large game, carrying about forty to the pound, and a smaller, or squirrel rifle, running from 120 to 140 to the j)ound. The powder flask was made from the horn of an ox, boiled and scraped so thin as to transmit the rays of light; a round block of wood neatly fitted to the bottom, and a plug inserted in the smaller end, with usually a buzzard's quill for a charger.

The territory watered by Deer, Paint, Rattlesnake, Sugar, and Compton creeks, now embraced in the limits of this county, when first settled abounded in all kinds of game, and had been for many years the favorite hunting grounds of the Indians; and long after the white man's cabin was erected they built their camps and followed the old trails over the white man's fences, and through his tilled fields, they struck the trace in the woodlands.

There was an old Indian fort on the bank of Sugar Creek, where the Indians would stop on their route from Fort Clark to Oldtown. Captain Burnett, a Virginian, and settler of 1810, says that parties of them, during their yearly hunts, were in the habit of camping at the old site years after the white man came in, rest awhile, and where sitting around his solitary camp-fire, he reviews the scenes of the past, and in his reveries we seem to hear him bemoan the past as follows : "Our fathers have passed away like vapors from the earth ; bur very history is fading into forgetfiilness, and the places that once knew us will know ns no more forever; our graves have been trodden under foot ; our forests destroyed ; our hunting grounds have disappeared ; Ave have been driven from our native abodes and the sepulchers of our fathers ; hunted like wild beasts about the earth, and with violence and butchering sent down to the grave." In the language of an old warrior: "We are driven back until we can retreat no farther; our hatchets are broken, our bows are snapped, our fires are nearly extinguished ; a little longer, and the white man will cease to persecute us, for we shall cease to exist."

Daniel Grubs, moving from A^irginia to Kentucky, came thence to Fayette, and dwelt on Glaze's Run. The trees around yet bear marks of his presence, and bear, wolf, and deer alike fell before the aim of his deadly rifle.

Edmond Blearage, John Arnold, George and Samuel Viniger, James Stewart, John Hase, David Baldwin, John Gest, and H. H. Harmer, were all men who made a specialty of hunting, and were noted marksmen.

George Roughner, a hater of Indians, and a Virginian by birth, arrived in the Scioto Valley in 1789. His father, while serving under Danmore, in 1774, as a spy, was killed by the Indians, and Rough ner's revenge extended to every exposed Indian. His hunting grounds were on the Paint and Rattlesnake, and he often met, at Cedar Pond and Clifife, the hunters from the Hocking and Kentucky. Finally, a volunteer under General Cass, he was slain by the Indians in 1813.

The Nimrod of old-time hunters was Frederick Berly. The forest was his natural home. He loved solitude, and lived a hermit. A camp frequented by him was on Sugar Creek. From his record, it appears that he had slain sixty bears, ninety-six panthers, one hundred and six wolves, one thousand elk and deer, eleven buftaloes, and ninety-six Indians. His comrades in the chase were Boone, Kenton, Wetzel, and others. At the age of one hundred

A Panther Slain

William Robinson, already mentioned as Fayette's first settler, was surrounded by a multitude of game, and in 1802 killed fifteen bears, three catamounts, fifteen elk, and one hundred deer. He was, on one occasion, hunting upon the head-waters of the Eattlesnake, when a light noise behind him caught his alert ear. Wheeling, he saw at a little distance an enormous panther following his trail. It was the work of a moment to leap behind a large oak at hand, pick his flint, and cock his rifle. A failure to inflict a mortal wound was a prelude to a terrible struggle, and carefully the iron tube was leveled as the beast came near. He fired, and as the ball struck the center of its head, the panther fell lifeless to the ground. Its length was eleven feet, its height thirty inches.

Pot-Hunting

The grass on the prairies growing as high as a man, and the many creeks and pools in the country supplying plenty of food and drink, made the lands of Fayette to abound in game. The number of deer slain seems incredibly large. In the winter of 1815-16 there fell a snow of sixteen inches, followed by rain, which froze and formed a crust, on which boys and dogs could travel, but which broke through beneath the deer. Every one turned deer hunter, and- venison was peddled in Washington by the settlers at six cents a saddle, or two saddles for a pound of lead or quarter pound of powder.

Wild turkeys abounded in the county till 1830. Their meat was Mdiolesome, and preferred to bear or deer. They have been killed of twenty pounds weight.

Wolves are dangerous only when famishing. They had here abundant food, and were never known to make an attack. The last wolf was killed in 1848, on the waters of Sugar Creek, by Daniel Carmaen.

Hogs ran at large, and multiplied marvelously. Hordes of them infested the woods. They had long tushes, long and sharp head and nose, and when aroused to anger were more to be dreaded than any beast of the forest. They were swift of foot, and ran like hounds. Their favorite resort was on the banks of Sugar Creek, where their nests were made in the jungles.

The Old School House

During the initial steps toward educational advancement in this county, the facilities for literarj' attainments were not so varied as are thrown around the youth of to-day.

Following our cicerone along a blazed path through the woods to the old log school house; rapping, a voice from the far interior says, " Come in." We pull the latch-string, enter, and at the request of the " master," settle down upon a puncheon bench, the cynosure of all eyes. The first thing we observe is that nearly the whole end of the house is occupied by a fire-place, within whose capacious depths the crackling blaze sends forth light, heat, and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look - not through French plate, but a hole, made by sawing out a log and replacing it with paper greased with lard. Our attention is recalled by a shrill voice : " Master, mayn't I git drink ? " The urchin goes to the bucket, setting on a bench near the door, takes the tin from the accustomed peg, dips it full, drinks a few sups, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, looks around awhile, goes back to his seat, and with his dog's-eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study.

We observe the benches are made out of flat rails and puncheons, with wooden pins in them for legs ; backs they have none. The "master" has a table made by driving pins in the wall, and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window a similar contrivance accommodates the scholars.

While examining these unique writing-desks, we are again startled by a sharp cry, apparently in agony : " Master, please mayn't I go out? " Consent is given, and the bo}^ hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a crooked stick and carry it out with him.^ Our curiosity is excited, and while the "master's" back is turned, we ask a big, white-headed boy near us what it is for, who, opening his mouth wide, and staring at us in blank

The Old School House

As incentives to close application to study, we observe a rule of about a pound in weight, and a formidable-looking beechen rod, whose acquaintance every boy in school has long ago formed.

Dilworth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book, and the Testament, were the text books. It seemed to be an expressly settled fact, that during a recitation a boy could get up a better spirit of inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows; and in the spelling class, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand head. It was interesting to see the boys at the end of the bench standing on tiptoe, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say " noon," in order to get out first and raise the biggest yell.

Early Mails

Postal facilities in early days were not so varied as at present. Letters at that time, on account of the difficulty of transmitting them, and their consequent scarcity, were of vastly more significance than at present, and to become the favored recipient of one mail a day was truly enviable.

The stamped envelope had not been invented, and such a thing as delicately tinted, highly perfumed note paper was altogether unknown to the most fastidious youth of the land.

The letter was simply folded in such a manner as not to come open, and the address written upon the blank page. The necessity of mucilage was not known, as a wafer or red sealing-wax answered every purpose. In order to transmit this primitive missive over the country, it was necessary to pay the United States a revenue of twenty-five cents. Once every two weeks the blowing of a tin horn announced the arrival of a dilapidated horse and rider, with a dyspeptic mail bag, containing the semi-monthly news.

The sack was take from the saddle, where it had served as a cushion, by the mail-carrier, who looked over the anxious gaping crowd with that stolid indifi^erence born of long habit. While the contents of the sack were being distributed, after which, with a few additional letters, he moved on his beat. Such then were the postal facilities,

Now, a three cent postage stamp will send a letter from ocean to ocean, or the telegraph transmit a»message, with lightning speed, far across the ocean, to all the nations of the globe.

Pigeon Roosts

Beginning at the of Sugar Creek, and extending down both banks of Paint Creek, about one and one-half miles, was a dense grove of cedar trees, known throughout the country as the '< Cedar Hole."

At these roosts the pigeons congregated to breed, and in some cases one tree would contain a hundred nests. The noise at night caused by the continual fluttering of birds and the cracking of over-loaded branches could be heard for quite a distance, and each morning, it is said, the ground was strewn with dead and wounded birds, so that the pioneers in the vicinity were bountifully supplied with pigeons without gun or club.

Samuel, John and Frank Waddle, Henry Snyder, William Blair and sons, Frank McLaughlin, Jack Daugherty, and indeed all the neighborhood for miles around, visited this spot at night, arriving about sunset as the pigeons began to come in. It is said that the noise created by their arrival was almost equal to the roar of a cataract, continuing for two or three hours, until they became so far settled down as the breaking limbs would permit, when they knocked them ofl' the trees, wrung ofl' their heads and turned them over to the housewife, who soon converted them into delicious pot-pie, roast, etc.

On the 15th day of April, 1803, the general assembly of the State of Ohio, passed an act establishing the judiciary system of that time. It determined that the supreme court of the state should consist of three judges chosen in the manner directed in the constitution, that is, they were to be appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly ; and they were to hold their office for the term of seven years, "if so long they behave well." This court was declared to have original jurisdiction in all civil cases, both in law and equity, where the title of land was in question, or where the sum in dispute exceeded the value of one thousand dollars. It had exclusive cognizance of all criminal causes where the punishment was capital ; and of all other crimes and offenses not cognizant by a single justice of the peace ; it had cognizance concurrent with the court of conmion pleas.

By this act, also, tha state was divided into circuits, of which the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Warren and Clermont comprised the first district. A president of the court of common pleas was to be appointed in each circuit, in the same manner that the supreme judges received their appointment. The president, together with three associate judges, appointed in a similar way, for each county in the state, constituted the court of common pleas for such count3\

Courts And Court Houses

It is said that the first court in the county was held in the cabin of John Devault, a little north of the present site of Bloomingburg, presided over by Judge John Thomson. It appears that chairs were a scarce article and Mrs. Devault's bed was pressed into service by his honor, for which he received a severe Caudle lecture from the old lady. Sometimes a stable, and again the adjoining hazel thicket accommodated the grand jury in its sittings. Judge

Courts And Court Houses

Thomson is described as a man of Puritanical morality, and distinguished himself by the long and tedious moral lectures he invariably delivered in open court to culprits tried before him. To such an extent did he indulge this practice, and so severely did he lash them, that his lectures were much more dreaded than the sentence of the law.

It is quite difficult to reconcile the date and locality at which the first courts in the town of Washington were held. Time has tainted the credibility of contemporary sources, but in the absence of direct or presumptive evidence to the contrary, theauthority of Judge McLain and William Robinson seems to be the most satisfactory.

In about the year 1811 a double round-log cabin was standing on the corner of Court and Main streets, fronting on Court, on the site now occupied by Brownell's grocery and Willit's gallery. This cabin consisted of two independent rooms, probably ten or twelve feet apart, with the roof meeting in the center and covering the space between. In the room nearest Main, the first court in Washington was held, in about the year 1812. While the jury retired to the hazel brush which grew thickly near, to hold their deliberations, and whenever the presence of the sherift" or prosecuting attorney were needed, their names were loudly proclaimed from the thicket. It is stated that while justice was solemnly dispensed in one room, whisky was as hilariously sold by the owner of the cabin, Valentine Coil, in the adjoining room.

We have no means of knowing just how many terms of court were held in this cabin, but it appears that the court house was ready for occupancy at least as early as the spring of 1814; also that court was held in the cabin during the latter part of the year

1812, and by good authority it is stated that court was held in the Coil cabin a much longer period than elsewhere, we conclude that it served as a court house from 1812 till about the latter part of

1813, then was removed to the Melvin (now Vandeman) corner, and shortly afterwards to the corner now occupied by Brown & Brothers' drug store, and from here to the

First Court House

Valentine, or "Felty" Coil, while but two years old, was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada, where he learned to make brick. Coming to this county in its infancy he found use for his

Early in 1813, excavations were made on the site of the present court house and the clay taken out was burnt into brick by Coil and used in the building, which was completed and occupied as early as March, 1814. This building was about the same size and shape as the present main building minus the wings.

The windows were composed of twenty-four lights, each ten by twelve. The cupola was different from the present, in that it had no base, or at least a very small one.

Its location was about twenty feet west of the alley, and twenty feet back from Court Street. While it seems that the building was in the main finished and occupied in 1814, yet it is stated that two men, by the names of Life and Burnett, finished the cupola in 1815. It cannot be ascertained who built the house, but it is known that Jacob Kelley and Silas Young, in addition to "Felty" Coil, were brick-makers and brick-layers, and resided in Washington at the time.

Court was then removed to a little brick oflice, then occupied by Judge Wade Loofborough, situated in the rear of the present office of Dr. Saulsberry, in the BroAvnell grocery building. From here it was next removed to the house now owned by Mrs. R. A. Robison, junior, where it was held until the new court house was built.

New Court House

On the first day of February, 1828, the board of commissioners, then consisting of Jacob Jamison, Thomas Burnett and Matthew Jones, met for the purpose of entering into negotiations for the erection of a new court house. Together with other citizens, the brick walls of the old building, yet remaining, were examined, and after consulting mechanics and masons, the board decided that they were not worth repairing. On the following day, after "mature reflection," the board agreed to build a new court house, with fire proof offices attached for the clerk of the court, recorder and auditor.

Courts And Court Houses

plan for the new building, and the auditor was ordered to give notice that the commissioners would meet on the fifth c^ay of March, following, to receive bids for the building of the new court house. The auditor was also authorized to sell the brick in the old walls to the highest and "best" bidder.

On the 23d day of February, the board met to select a location for the new house, which resulted in their choosing the southeast corner of the public square, the main building and offices fronting on Court and Main streets.

It was ordered that a draft be made of the contemplated structure, the main building to be forty feet square, with a wing thirty feet long and fourteen feet wide attached, facing each street.

On the day appointed, March 5th, the board met to receive the bids and award the contract, which resulted in awarding the contract for the erection of the house to Thomas Laughead, of Ross County, for one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars and ninety cents, and the carpenter work of the same to John Harbison, of Greene County, for one thousand three hundred and seventy-two dollars and forty cents.

March 4, 1829, one year after the awarding of the above contracts, the house was ready for the inside work, the contract for which was awarded to John Harbison, for six hundred and eightynine dollars and sixty-seven cents.

The floor of the lower story was to be laid of white or burr-oak, one and a half inches thick and seven inches wide. The upper, of yellow poplar. A washboard of good seasoned walnut, one and a cpiarter inches thick and eight inches wide, surrounding the floor of the lower story. The fire-places were to be made of brick, with brick hearth. Also a handsome chair-board of walnut around the lower story. In the smallest office on Court Street, there were to be three plain fire-boards in the lower floor.

At the same time the contract for plastering was given to Silas Young, who undertook to do it for three hundred and twenty-nine dollars, and on December 8th, same year, the work was completed, examined by the commissioners aud accepted, and the key delivered to I^orman F. Jones, who was appointed to take charge of the building, and enjoined not to open it for any purpose except during the sessions of court, without the consent of the board.

June 29, same year, Jesse Milliken and Wade Loofborough were appointed to make out a draft of the repairs needed for jury-box and necessaries for court and bar, not to cost more than fifty dollars, and the auditor was authorized to employ a suitable person to do the work.

Januar}' 30, 1836, the auditor was authorized to cause a sufficient quantit}'^ of clay to be so placed at the southwest corner of the court house as to turn the water from the same, and prevent the foundation from being undermined.

April 4, 1844, a description of an oflice for county auditor, and treasurer, was made public, which were to be built on Court Street, thirty feet long, fourteen feet wide, nine and one-half feet ceiling, three windows in front, two in the rear, and one door in the northeast corner. The contract, for which, M^as sold to William Harfor, for one hundred and fifty dollars ; R. J. Freeman doing the carpenter work for'one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

March 4, 1846, a description of the repairs to the court house was made public, and the contract for the same, awarded to Benjamin A. Crone, at four hundred and ninety-six dollars; the inside to be finished July 10th, and the outside September 1st.

These repairs were as follows : Four girders, 9x12 inches, were to be placed across the building, resting on the stone pillars, in the center, upon which a floor of oak plank, one and one-half inches thick, by eight inches wide, was to be laid. The doors and windows to be repaired so as to fit tight, walls plastered and whitewashed, new panel durable doors for the front entrance ; the outside walls of the court-room, and fronts of the offices, on Main Street, to be stained with a solution of Venetian red and lime ; four air holes 9x9, on Main Street, four on Paint, and two on each side of the rear, immediately under the floor. A new floor in the cupola ; windows and cornice to be painted with three coats of white lead and oil; new blinds, etc. ; lightning-rod to be raised; judges seat raised three steps above the bar, and with the clerk's seat and desks

On the 29th day of August, the work was examined and all accepted, but blinds and lightning-rod, which were not complete. They also allowed the contractor two hundred and fifty-six dollars ; the same amount having been previously allowed. Twenty-one dollars and seventy-five cents was allowed for extra work.

December 30, 1848, notice was given that an addition would be made on the northwest side, twelve feet wide in the clear, by thirty long; foundation of good stone sunk in the ground eighteen inches, six inches above the surface and eighteen inches thick, the balance of the wall of good brick, thirteen inches and eight feet high in the clear, the whole to be finished in good order July 1, 1849 ; the contract for which was awarded to Nelson H. Reid and James Grubb, for two hundred and forty-nine dollars and seventyfive cents.

In 1851, March 5th, the auditor caused a small gate to be put up between his oflice and Grubb's store ; also a case for books and papers in his oflice, and to contract with some one to take the steeple ofl" the court house, just above the dome, and cover it "Cvith tin or zink, and repair the lightning-rod.

The first jail built at Washington, was located near the present one, about sixty feet from Main Street, and about" thirty feet southeast of the alley running along the northwest side of the old public square. It consisted of two square pens, one inside the other, the intervening space of perhaps one foot between the walls being filled in with stone, the outer wall being about twenty-four feet square. It was built of hewed logs, was two stories high, and was erected about 1811 or 1812. At the east corner a door opened itito a hall-way, about six feet wide, that extended along the northeast side of the building to the north corner. About five or six feet from the entrance to this hall, a stairway led to the " debtor's room" above, where the impecunious delinquent expiated the terrible crime of being too poor to meet his financial engagements, thereby vindicating the " majesty" of the law - the relic of English barbarism - that thus confined him. The room below was about 12x18 feet, and was called the "criminal" cell, or dungeon. This jail was burned, in 1823, by an incendiary; and the sherifif's dwelling, a small frame structure contiguous to the jail, was also destroyed at the same time, with all the household effects of Sherifi:' liobinson, save a deer-hide trunk, containing some of the clothing belonging to his deceased wife.

In 1825 a new jail was built on the same square, a little nearer the alley, and also closer to Main Street. This was a two-story brick building, twenty-five feet square, and was arranged inside similar to the old log jail. The walls of this jail were only thirteen inches thick, and several prisoners escaped while it was in use.

On the 9th day of December, 1835, the auditor was ordered to ofifer the old jail for sale on the 15th of the following June, except such materials as the board might reserve.

by reason of a lack of funds, the old jail sliould be repaired instead of building a new one. New walls of brick were to be built, the same height as the old ones, also one dungeon and one prison room, and the whole building to undergo general repairs; the contract for which was let to Benjamin A. Crone, for $350. On the 27th of the following August the work was reported completed.

March 7, 1838, James Fenton was ordered by the board to employ suitable hands to repair the jail, and make it strong and secure, on as " reasonable a condition as possible."

This jail was used until September 16, 1839, when public notice was given that a new jail was to be built, located on the public square, forty-four feet front, thirty-live feet back, and two stories high, with all the necessary cells and other fixtures for the confinement and accommodation of prisoners, all of which work was to be done by Edward Lamme, for $4,700, who entered into bond for the faithful performance of the same. After the walls were up the carpenter work was begun by Benjamin A. Crone, who was to complete the same for $1,000.

September 28, 1840, Edward Lamme, contractor, received permission to make an alteration in the gable end of the jail, and agreed to deduct twenty dollars from the original contract. He received one thousand dollars on the 1st of January, 1841, as part payment for the work performed. Thomas Holland, the contractor for the cai'penter work, on the 7th of June, 1841, was allowed two hundred dollars, part payment, on his contract. July 19th, and 21st respectively, Lamme was paid four hundred dollars, and two hundred dollars additional.

On the 25th of August, 1841, the commissioners after a careful examination of the masonry of the new jail accepted it, the contractor being paid eleven dollars and sixty-seven cents in full, on the last payment. Two days later, the carpenter work was examined and pronounced satisfactory, and executed according to contract, except the roof, for a defect in which a deduction of one hundred and fifteen dollars was made. The contractor was paid two hundred and eighty-five dollars, the full amount due him. On the same day the board received the jail and jailor's house from the contractors, and delivered the same to Robert Cissna, sherifl". September 18, 1841, the material of the old jail was sold to Joseph Bell for one hundred and eighty-six dollars.

County Infirmary

The early residents of this state were in the habit of providing for the wants of the poor and destitute in this manner. When application for the keeping of a person in indigent circumstances was made to the township trustees, they bound him for a certain term to the lowest bidder, who was required to give bond for the faithful discharge of his duty - feeding, clothing, and properly caring for his unfortunate charge. Thus were the poor well cared for, but not in accordance with the old abolition idea of the people, who looked with horror on the process of what they termed " selling human beings at auction ;" however, because of the very few who required public aid, the matter could not be remedied.

Time rolled on, and with the tide of immigration did the number of destitute and helpless increase, making it apparent that measures providing for their care and comfort must be adopted. To this end, an act providing for the " establishment of County Poor Houses," was passed by the Ohio Legislature. Any county having within her limits a sufficient number of paupers, was empowered to purchase grounds and erect suitable buildings thereon, to which all the iniirm and needy were to be admitted, and thus was the custom of selling human beings, as so many articles of furniture abolished forever.

For a period of nearly fifty years, after its organization, Fayette County had no public institution in which she could care for her infirm, but provided for them through her township trustees. In about 1850, philanthropic citizens agitated the erection of buildings for this purpose, and in 1853, the board of county commissioners were induced to take the matter under advisement. On the 7th of June, 1853, they resolved, that, in their opinion, "it will be proper and advantageous to the said county, of Fayette, to erect and establish a poor house, within and for said county, and that they deem it necessary, for the accommodation of such an institution, to purchase a tract of land, etc." On the same day, Hopkins Shivers, in consideration of three thousand five hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, deeded to Jacob A. Rankin, Robert Eyre, and Micajah Draper, commissioners, for the purpose of the accommodation and erection of a county poor-house, for the County of Fayette, the following tract : Being a part of Robert Randolph's survey ]^o. 119, and bounded, beginning at an ash and two water beeches; thence west ninety-six and four-fifth's poles, to an ash, redoak and dog-wood; thence north one hundred and fifty-four and one-half poles, to a stone in the center of the turnpike corner, to Richard Randolph ; thence north seventy-two degrees, east with the center of said road, one hundred and one poles to a stone in road and corner, to Judge Jacob Jamison ; thence south, one hundred and eighty-seven and one-half poles to the beginning; containing one hundred and two and a half acres, more oi' less. We have no means of ascertaining whether steps were taken at once for the erection of buildings, but presume that such was the case.

July 26, 1853, the commissioners issued an order to Hopkins Shivers for forty -five dollars and. fifty cents, for furniture for the infirmary, probably taken from the house of Hopkins.

Willis Rowe, Joseph McLean and Wesley Wilson, directors, on June 7, 1854, presented to the commissioners their accounts for settlement, from the day they took charge - December 17, 1853 - from which it appeared they had issued orders to the amount of three hundred and seventy-six dollars and fifty-two cents ; two hundred and ninety-seven dollars and fifty-two cents of which had been issued for articles for the use of the farm and houses. Sevent}'- nine dollars were paid William McLelland for his services as superintendent of the institution. Willis Rowe was allowed a dollar and a half per day, for nine days, and one dollar for expense "incurred in going to Wilmington to procure information in regard to the government of the institution." Joseph McLean was allowed one dollar and a half per day, for eight days' service ; Wesley Wilson the same for six days.

In the meantime, work on the new structure progressed satisfactorily, and on the 25th of December, 1854, the board examined the wood-work, pronounced it executed according to contract, and issued an order for one thousand two hundred and sixty-seven dollars and forty-tw^o cents to Thomas Dollarhide, the contractor.

On the 4th of June, 1855, Joseph McLean, Wesley Wilson and George Fullerton, directors, submitted their annual report for the year ending June 1, 1855, from which we extract :

The superintendent's term expired December 17, 1854 ; he was retained, however, till the first of March of the following year, at which time James Garlingor was appointed to the position.

The average expense of maintaining each inmate was one hundred and fifty-four dollars - unusually large, because considerable money had been spent in improving the farm.

At the close of the fiscal year, ending June 1, 1857, the directors reported twenty-seven patients during the year, of whom ten were discharged and two died. The total expense incurred in running the institution was one thousand one hundred and one dollars and eighty cents, while the credit claimed for products sold and stock on hand was two thousand one hundred and forty-one dollars and fifty -three cents; balance, twenty-seven dollars and fifty-five cents. It was hoped that ere long the same would be self-supporting.

From the above extracts can be gained an idea of the condition of the infirmary during the first years of its existence. Under the skillful care of the superintendent, Mr. James W. Garlinger, and the directors, the institution prospered from year to year until, owing to the constant increase of inmates, it was apparent that the present building and grounds would, ere long, prove inadequate for the accommodation of those for whom it had been erected.

Carder Infirmary

Peter Carder, an old resident of this county, and owner of an immense estate, upon being informed of the necessity of a "new poor farm," and influenced by a truly philanthropic spirit, conceived the idea of donating a portion of his estate to the county for "infirmary purposes."

In the year 1863, shortly before his death, he bequeathed to the county five hundred and seven acres of his estate, as a home for the poor, the invalid and the unfortunate. After his death, his widow objected to the provisions of the will, and several years passed before the matter was compromised.

The county, in 1867, by its agents, commissioners "William Clark, William Jones and Allen Heagler, began the erection of the new building. The foundations were laid in the summer of the same year, and by 1869 the work was fully completed.

On July 7, 1869, the inmates of the old building, forty-seven in number, were admitted to the new infirmary, and henceforth the unfortunate of Fayette County have had a home excelled by few, beautiful in design and execution, costly in material and construction, and abundantly ample for their reception for a long time to come. Various estimates have been made regarding the cost of the building, which has not been much less than forty thousand dollars.

The infirmar}'- is beautifully situated on the Columbp.s Pike, two miles northeast from Washington, C. H. Central as to the grounds, which are planted in their vicinity with a fine grove of young timber, and adorned with grass}^ lawn and flowering shrubs, the buildings may be seen for miles, half concealed by the intermediate foliage of the forest. The structure is four-storied, including basement and attic, and contains rooms for cooking, dining, sleeping, instruction and discipline. The dimensions by wings are one hundred and sixty-two by one hundred and forty -two. The basement is devoted to storage, heating and cooking. A broad corridor leads on the second floor to the dining-room, forty feet square. The south wing is devoted to rooms for ofiicials and reception of visitors. The wings are respectively occupied by the males on the east wing, and females on the west wing. Two rooms in each are known as family or sitting apartments, and beyond these are the sleeping rooms. Ascending a flight of stairs the third floor is reached, and here we find a school-room, eighteen by thirty-six feet in size, where it is designed a school shall be kept for six months annually. The first school Avas taught in 1874 and has progressed satisfactorily, furnishing means of information to the younger inmates, l^orthward, and over the dining-room, are three so-called family rooms, designed for sociality, and beyond are cells for insane and refractory patients. The east and west wings, corresponding with those below are used as dormitories. The hospital, eighteen feet wide by thirty-six feet long, attracts attention from its airy, clean and pleasant appearance. The attic is designed exclusively for dormitories.

The government of the institution is vested in a board of directors, and a superintendent appointed by them. Present board : Thomas B. Thornton, president ; Thomas Larimore, secretary ;

Carder Infirmary

Recently additional land was purchased, and the farm now embraces five hundred and eighty-two acres, of wdiich one hundred and thirty is in timber ; the remainder is principally under cultivation. During the past year the sum over and above receipts required to run the institution, was six thousand dollars.

The superintendent, Mr. T. J. Stinson, is a man eminently qualified for the place, as is also the matron, Mrs. T. J. Stinson, they having held their respective positions for more than four years.

The regulations of the infirmary require strict accountability, faithful performance of duty, and full compliance with the directions of the proper otficers. Kind, mild, yet firm treatment, marks the control of the inmates, and Fayette County may well be proud of her public institution - the Carder Infirmary.

Peter Carder

The ancestors of Peter Carder were of German and English extraction, and were among the early settlers of Virginia, hut afterwards emigrated to the wilds of Kentucky, where Peter was horn.

Sanford Carder, the father of Peter, was a soldier in the war of the revolution, serving all through that glorious struggle as a cavalry rider. He lived to see the colonies, dependent on the will of a foreign power, emerge into a grand and powerful nation.

While Peter was yet an infant, his parents immigrated to this county, where they remained till death called- them home - Sanford living to the extreme old age of ninety-nine years.

Peter was hrought up in the primitive hah its of those days, acquiring hut little education, and performing his part on the farm till he was twenty-eight years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Mouser, of Pickaway County, Ohio. By careful management and economical hahits he became the possessor of a large amount of landed property near the county-seat. He died on the 17th day of May, 1863, and the " Carder Infirmary" stands to-day a noble monument to his benevolence and philanthropy.

In early days, when banks were few and money was scarce, a great deal of connterfeiting was done, both in cohi and paper. The Funks, Redmonds, and Curry were. ringleaders in this nefarious business. Jake Funk and Curry were experts in detecting spurious notes, especially the former, whose knowledge in this direction was truly remarkable. Large quantities of this money was brought b}' the Funks and others from Kentucky, and circulated here. The celebrated Funk fight, recorded elsewhere, was the outgrowth of one of these transactions. They were always well supplied with counterfeit as well as good money. In transactions with strangers, 'they would pay out some good money and some counterfeit.

As illustrative of their dare-devil impudence, it is related that on one occasion Jake Funk went to Indiana, and bought one hundred and fifty head of cattle, paid for them mostly in counterfeit money, and ordered them delivered to him at a point remote from the road he had taken. When they arrived, he, with several assistants, took charge of them, and drove them in a circuitous route toward home. In the course of two or three days, as he was proceeding slowly, and without further apprehension, on his way, he was suddenly startled by the appearance of six horsemen, with drawn revolvers aimed at his breast. Although well armed, resistance was both useless and dangerous ; therefore, with a bland smile, he said pleasantly: "Gentlemen, I guess I had better surrender." The oflicer showed his 'authority, upon which Funk asked permission to go forward and tell his comrades that he could not accompany them any further; but well knowing his desperate character, the sheriflf refused, and ordered him to return immediately with him.

At this time Funk had a pocket-book filled with counterfeit bank notes, and also some good money; and from previous experience, well knowing that at his preliminary examination before a justice of the peace an expert would be on hand, he cudgelled his brain all along the road for some means of getting rid of the had money without being detected. Finally he seemed to have matured a plan ; and throwing aside all anger, he conversed freely and gaily with his captors, diverting them with anecdotes, and gradually so engrossing their attention that they seemed to forget that he was a prisoner. But on arriving in sight of the justice's office, and seeing a great crowd collected there, in a sudden paroxysm of anger, Funk poured for an innocent man to be arrested, with no evidence of his guilt, and at the same moment flourishing his heavy cattle whip, he threw it d,8 far ahead of him as possible, and with the same motion jerked out his pocket-book of bogus money and hurled it into the bushes so dexterously that it was unperceivecl.

Arriving at the magistrate's, he was searched, and all his money submitted to the scrutiny of an expert, as he had expected, but of course was found all to be good. The sherifi:' and justice now vied with each other in making reparation for the injury done (as they believed) an innocent man. The magistrate insisted on keeping him over night, to which he finally acceded; but after supper, com-' plaining of sickness, he carelessly sauntered toward the spot near which he had thrown his pocket-book, found it, returned to his room and slept with it in his pocket, and next morning rejoined his comrades in safety, to relate to them and others of his friends how easily he had duped the officers of the law.

Their headquarters, for a time at least, were at the house of Curry, which was on lands now owned by Jonathan Chaffin and his father. Smith, the former now living on the old site. One Blaylock also figured conspicuously in the counterfeiting of coin.

From a period extending, perhaps, from 1806 to 1822, counterfeiting was largely carried on by such desperadoes as the Funks, Redmonds, and William Curry, men who defied all law, and boasted that they did pass counterfeit money. Many abortive attempts were made to arrest them and break up the gang. Funk was finally arrested, sent to Kentucky, tried, and acquitted. Brokaw was arrested and sent to the penitentiary in 1820. Curry also was sent for fifteen years in 1821. Curry had many friends among the more desperate classes, and many threats of rescue were made. One Sabbath, just at the close of services in Bloomingburg, a messenger arrived with the intelligence that an attempt was to be made to take Curry from the jail. The majority of the congregation rushed out of tlie house and started for Washington, to foil this move, but no violent demonstrations were made, and they returned. Also, when the sheritf made preparations to transfer him from the county jail to the penitentiary at Columbus, a desperate elFort was made to rescue him. The night before the day fixed upon to transfer him, his w^ife was admitted to his cell, and in the morning he was found very sick. A physician (Dr. Thomas McGarough) was sent for, when it was ascertained that he had taken arsenic ; but in his anxiety he took too much, and threw it up, and it did not prove fatal. It was decided, however, to take him to Columbus on horseback, by way of Bloomingburg, past the present sites of Medway and London. Threats were made by his friends of forcible rescue, and he had been closely guarded while in jail; and when Sherift' Robison started with him, he was escorted by a number of brave horsemen. About four miles from Washington, near Gillespie's, it became apparent that he could proceed no further on horseback, because of increasing weakness, the effects of arsenic. Hastily despatching Colonel James Stewart to his (Stewart's) house for his carriage, he halted until its return, when it was determined, instead of taking the road past London, to push on straight to Columbus, reaching there in due time, without molestation.

It was learned afterward that a desperate effort at rescue had been planned among Curry's confederates ; that his departure from Washington was known, as well as the route he was to take, and that seventeen splendidly caparisoned horses were secreted in a thicket about five miles this side of London, while their riders lay concealed in the bushes near the road along which Curry was expected to pass, and nothing but the seemingly providential sickness of the prisoner, and consequent change of plans, prevented a bloody encounter between two parties of brave men.

The Funk Fight

Jake, the most notorious of tlie Funk family, in the year 1818 or 1819, went to Bath County, Kentucky, accompanied by his brother Absalom, and engaged in passing counterfeit money, which he had manufactured in Fayette County. He was detected, arrested, and at his preliminary trial bound over to the Court of Common Pleas in the sum of three hundred dollars. Being unable to go on his own recognizance, he applied to a friend named Jacob Trunibo, who, together Math his brother, Andrew Trumbo, agreed to stand responsible for his appearance.

Funk, upon being permitted to depart, returned to this county. When the time of his trial drew near, Andrew Trumbo paid him a visit, to arrange for Funk's appearance, that he (Trumbo) might be released from his obligation. To avoid future trouble, Absalom Funk and Philip Moore made to Trumbo a promissory note in the sum of three hundred dollars, which was intended to secure the latter should the bond be declared forfeited. On the day set for the trial Funk was not to be found, and Trumbo paid the amount of his bond, he being in turn paid the full amount by Absalom Funk and Philip Moore. This, it was thought, would end the matter; but, unfortunately, the worst was yet to come.

Trumbo was dissatisfied with the sudden turn the affair had taken, and seemed bent on having Jake arrested. and tried before the proper authorities. He therefore obtained a warrant for his arrest, armed with which he came at once to this county, and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements for his capture. He engaged the services of Aaron Johnson, who was then sheriff' (see note), and together they gave chase to Funk several times, but were unsuccessful

While loitering along the banks of Deer Creek, they formed the acquaintance of one Mills, who was captain of a home militia company. He and several of his men were pressed into service, and all started for the Funk residence. Jake Funk resided in a cabin, lo- cated on the land now owned by Michael Clever, about eight miles north of "Washington. He was notified, presumably by some friend, of the contemplated attack, and hastily dispatched a messenger to the members of his father's family, and others, to assist him, to - which they, ever eager for the fray, promptly responded.

It was night when the attacking party reached the premises, and under the cover of darkness they approached the house. Samuel Wilson, who lived near Hay Run, knocked at the door, and demanded admittance. Jake was in the kitchen with his wife, but answered, " I am here ; " and taking a chair, proceeded to the door, swinging the chair in the air, evidently determined to sell his life dearly. Upon opening the door, he was met by a volley from the attacking party, several bullets lodging in the chair, but none doing any serious injury. The tiring was returned by the Funks. Wilson grappled with Jake, and was shot dead. Trumbo-then engaged in a hand to hand conflict with Jake, but friends of the latter separated them and drew him into the house. Jake again encountered Trumbo, who had a pistol in his hand, and knocked him down, at the same time drawing him inside. Trumbo was senseless. Jake was about to cut his throat with a large knife, when old Adam cried out : " Spare him ! Don't kill him ! His father once saved me from being murdered by the Indians ! " which timely interference alone saved his life.

In the meantime a member of the outside party, named Adam Metz, fearing that Jake might possibly attempt an escape from the rear of the building, took possession of a location from which he might intercept his flight if it was attempted. A comrade named Cantrell, who was accompanied by a huge dog, seeing Metz in the rear of the house, supposed it was Funk escaping, and gave chase with the dog. Metz imagined he was being pursued by the Funks, and took to his heels. He ran to a neighboring corn-iield, dropping his gun and powder-flask in order to make more rapid progress, and finally stumbled and fell, and was recognized by his pursuer, when mutual explanations followed.

While this was taking place without, the parties within were arranging for Jake's departure and escape through the rear door. Trumbo was stretched on the floor, and feigned being severely wounded. Howevef, while the others were assisting Jake, he suddenly arose and bolted for the door, perceived by none except Jake's sister Tabitha, a perfect Amazon in strength and courage, who pursued him with an uplifted ax, and as he leaped the fence the descending weapon whizzed behind him and buried itself in the rail. He and his companions were glad to escape with their lives, and Jake departed unmolested. Absalom Funk was shot in the shoulder-blade, and painfully, though not dangerously wounded.*

On the following morning Samuel Myers, who resided in that township, was sent for by the Funks. Upon arriving at the house, old Adam met him with this salutation : " Good morning, Colonel Myers! Peace on earth, and war in Israel!" He was then informed of what had taken place during the night, and asked for his advice.

Subsequently Jake was captured by Sheriff Johnson, and lodged in a cabin on the farm formerly owned by Thomas Green. The cabin was surrounded by Bill and Calvin Williams, and other friends of Funk, and the sheriff's posse was reinforced by several persons living in the neighborhood. Funk's friends demanded his unconditional release, but the sheriff firmly refused to surrender his prisoner. During the parley Funk was liberated by some of his party, unobserved by the oflicer, mounted on a horse, and once more was a free man. He was first discovered by John Harris, who raised his gun and fired at the rapidly retreating figure, but without effect.

It appears that Sherift' Johnson was determined to deliver Jake Funk to the authorities of Bath County, Kentucky. The latter, after his second escape from the clutches of the law, left the neighborhood; and a few weeks afterward the sheriff was informed that he could catch his man by going to Miamisburg. He selected four able-bodied men to accompany him, armed with stout clubs and pistols, and arrived at his destination in the evening. The landlord of the tavern at which Jake was stopping was commanded to escort the party to Funk's room (he had retired for the night) quietly, that they might capture him without a struggle.

Funk was fast asleep as they entered, and knew nothing of the danger which threatened him. Upon entering, Sherift" Johnson walked to the bedside of the unconscious occupant, and struck him across the forehead with a pistol. The blow, instead of stupefying the sleeper, awoke him, and in a moment he bounded out of bed and confronted his assailants. The force of the blow broke the pistol, and left Johnson unarmed. Avoiding his powerful antagonist, he called upon his comrades to close with Jake. In the strug- gle which followed, Funk seized a club in the hands of one of his assailants, and despite the heavy blows that were rained upon him, especially by one left-handed man, who struck him several times on the head, came near wresting it from his hands ; but at this critical moment a lucky stroke laid him prostrate, when he was immediately seized and securely bound.

The pro^i^r authorities were advised of his arrest, and he was lodged in jail, in which he remained upward of two months, owing to the indifference manifested by the Kentucky officials. Finally he was taken to Kentucky, tried, and acquitted.

Fate had evidently decreed that Jake should die no ordinary death. Upon finding himself once more a free man, he removed to the State of Illinois with his family, and engaged in blacksmithing. Tradition is silent as to his actions while in that state, though we are led to believe that he lived a peaceable and law abiding citzen, when he was not molested. His death is thus described :

He had contracted certain debts, which were not paid as per agreement, and his creditor obtained judgment for the amount. An officer of the law proceeded to his house, and levied on various chattels. Jake made no objection, until the officer attempted to take charge of his blacksmith tools, when he ordered him to desist. The officer refused to comply with 'this request, and a fight ensued. It appears that Funk soon overpowered the officer, and drawing out his knife, was about to stab him, when he was shot, either by the officer or some of the bystanders. And so ended the life of one of the most desperate characters of " ye olden times."

Note. - There has been great diversity of opinion as to the date of tins transaction, some fixing it at 1821 or 1822, but the date as given aljove seems to be supported by the better authority. John been denied by some that an ax was used, or that the sh'erift' used a revolver. Also, it seems that Robisou was sheriff at the time, but on account of the sickness of his wife, could not leave her, and sent Johnson, who, it seems, was deputy sheriff.

The First Man Sent To The Penitentiary

It has been generally supposed that one William Curry was the first person sentenced to the state prison from this county ; indeed, many of the oldest living residents have for a long time labored under this impression. After considerable research among the old records, it has been ascertained that this is an error. In an old court record, saved from the court house fire, we find the following entry :

" This day came the prosecuting attorney, as well as the defendant, who, upon being arraigned for plea, saith he is not guilty in manner and form as in the indictment against him is alleged, and of this he puts himself upon the country for trial, and the prosecuting attorney likewise ; and thereupon came a jury, to-wit : John Roe, John Gamble, Isaac Johnson, John Baker, William Devolon, Philip Stout, James Stewart, William Blair, John Buck, Joseph S. Gillespie, John Coil, Thomas Burnet, who being elected, tried and sworn the truth to speak upon the issue joined, retired to consult of their verdict."

" The jury yesterday sworn to try this cause, came into court and returned* their verdict in these words, to-wit: We, the jury, do find the defendant guilty. The defendant, by P. Brush, his attorney, gives notice that he will move the court to grant a new trial and arrest the judgment therein."

March 24, 1820, the motion for a new trial was overruled. "And it being demanded of the prisoner whether or not he had anything to say, why the court should not pronounce sentence upon him, he said he had nothing more to say than what he had already said. Therefore, on due consideration, it is considered by the court, that said Benjamin Brokaw be confined in the penitentiary of this state

By reference to another part of the work, it will be seen that a number of persons were guilty of counterfeiting in ye olden times ; and a number of arrests were made for the offense. About this time, one James Brown, who possessed the aliases of Amos Headley, and Hadley, was arrested, tried, and convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. Curry, it appears, had been passing bogus bank notes successfully for some time, but was detected in the act, likely in the summer of 1821 ; the first official action being dated Thursday, October 11, 1821, and reading as follows :

" State of Ohio vs. William Curry. Indictment for passing, forging, and assisting in forging counterfeit bank notes. This day came the prosecuting attorney, as well as the defendant in his own proper person, in the last mentioned cause, who, being arraigned for plea, saith he is not guilty, in manner and form as in the indictment against him is alleged ; and not being ready for trial, and offering no bail for his appearance, it is therefore ordered by the court that the said William Curry be remanded to the jail of this county."

On the 13th of October, the prisoner was tried by the following jury: Richard Todhunter, Peter Eyman, John Coil, Abraham Bush, James Carothers, Otho Dowden, Abraham Lambert, Joseph Gibson, William Hill, Hugh McCandless, Joseph Haymaker, and William Thompson, " all of whom being elected, tried, and sworn the truth to speak upon the issues joined, returned the following verdict, to wit: 'We, the jury, do lind that the defendant is guilty in manner and form as in the indictment against him is alleged.' Thereupon the defendant, by Henry Brush, his attorney, moved for a new trial, the motion was overruled, and " it was considered by the court thht the said William Curry be confined in the penitentiary of this state for the term of fifteen years, three months of which shall be in the solitary cells^ of the penitentiary."

In disposing of counterfeit notes, Curry usually pretended that he was unable to read, and offered them upside down to his unsuspecting victim. The chief prosecuting witness was Dr. Eastman, who joined the band in order to turn evidence against him. On the night preceding his departure for the penitentiary, Curry took a dose of arsenic, obtained probably from his wife, but the quanti- ty being too great it did not kill him. However, it maimed him for life, and his face ever after was as white as marble. He was reprieved some time prior to the expiration of his sentence, and went West.

March 26, 1822, one Margaret Redmond was arrested for the same offense, but forfeited her recognizance, and her name is lost on the records.

Blalock, for passing counterfeit bank notes. July 8th he was arraigned, plead not guilty, and Briggs and Maynard were appointed by the court to defend him. July 13th he was tried, and court adadjourned until the 14th, when he was convicted, and on the 15th was sentenced to the penitentiary for five years. Mills Gardner was the prosecuting attorney.

Execution Of Wm. G. W. Smith Fok The Murder Of John Gray

Tlirough the c6iirtesy of William Millikin and his son, William, jr., editors and proprietors of the Herald, we have been permitted to make the following extracts from that paper, regarding this crime and the execution of one of the perpetrators. From the issue of November 3, 1864:

" Murder. - On Saturday night last, a man by the name of John Gray was murdered by some unknown person or persons. He resided near Trimble's gravel bank, in Concord Township, in this county, and on the night of the murder he was left alone in the house. It is supposed, from the marks upon his person, that he was beaten with the poll of an ax, near the door of his house, and then dragged off and thrown in the brush. He was murdered, as is supposed, for a few hundred dollars in gold and paper money, which he had, as the money and some other articles belonging to him were missing. ISTo clew has as yet been had as to who the guilty perpetrators of the deed were. Coroner Carr held an inquest over the body, and the jury gave their verdict that the deceased came to his death by violence of some unknown person or persons."

"Murderer Arrested. - Through the vigilence of constable Matthew Blackmore, of this village, two men, one named Washington Smith, and the other John Adams, have been arrested on a charge of having murdered John Gray, in this county, on the night of the 29th ult., and are now in our county jail. Adams has confessed to being accessary to the murder, but says that Smith committed the deed. As the case will undergo legal investigation, we deem it prudent not to say more at present."

The following particulars concerning the murder of John Gray, are the result of an interview with James Straley, Esq., at that time sheriff of Fayette County:

Gray lived in a cabin near the Roberts' farm, at the crosshig, and at the time of the mnrder hved alone, a widow and her daughter, the other occupants, having been induced by the participants in the crime to visit relatives at a distance. The murder was committed by John Adams, and William G. W. Smith, who lived near Petersburg, and was a brother-in-law of Gray's, they having married sisters.

It appears that an old feud, which was engendered between the families when they resided in Virginia, still existed. This, and a sum of money (perhaps four hundred dollars), was undoubtedly the incentive to the bloody deed.

On Saturday evening, October 30, 1864, they left Petersburg, ostensibly to attend a meeting of the "Knights of the Golden Circle," but in reality to take the life of a fellow creature. They proceeded to Gray's cabin, t\^enty miles distant, on horseback, and upon nearing the scene, cut a huge club from a thicket, with which they felled Gray to the ground.

The evidence, so far as the actual deed is concerned, Avas circumstantial, consequently we have no means of knowing the full particulars as to the manner in which the poor victim's life was taken. However, it is surmised that his body was put on one of the horses, carried to a gravel-pit, one-half mile further on, and dumped into the same. They then departed for Petersburg, their home, stopping at Monroe for a whisky, and to exchange horses.

According to our informant, a cloud of mystery surrounded the murder for several days, it being a difficult matter to discover the perpetrators of the vile deed. Dave Brown, who kept a blacksmith shop near by, was the first person suspected. He was at the scene of the murder on the morning following the same, and had been seen in the neighborhood on the preceding day with a gun. At the coroner's inquest at Washington, no evidence was given against him, and, if arrested at all, he was discharged from custody. A detective and deputy sheriff investigated the premises surrounding Gray's cabin, and finally struck a trail which led to Petersburg. Here it was ascertained that Mrs. Hemeline and daughter, the occupants of the Gray cabin, were visiting Smith's family, at the request of the latter. The deputy then proceeded to Smith's residence, and inquired of Mrs. Smith as to the probable whereabouts of her husband on the preceding night. She replied that he had gone to Monroe, accompanied by Adams, and had returned before daylight on the following morning. He then made inquiries as to how they w^ere dressed, and was informed that they wore blue army overcoats, which were hanging in an adjoining apartment. The detective looked in the room, but saw no coats. Finally his keen eye discovered the garments concealed under ladies' dresses. Investigation disclosed the fact that spots of blood marked the coats. Mr. B's next step was to search for Smith, who was soon found; and upon being questioned as to his w^hereabouts on the night of the murder, contradicted and could give no satisfactory account of himself. He and his accomplice were arrested and taken to Washington. A chain of circumstances was developed, which showed conclusively that they were guilty, and at the preliminary examination they were committed to jail to await the action of the grand jury.

Probably because of the supposed insecurity of our jail, Smith was sent to the Pickaway County prison, at Circleville. But even this place could not hold him, for we learn that he dug a passage under the prison walls, and made good his escape.

At the trial of Adams, it was developed that both parties were intoxicated on the night the terrible crime was committed. Adams testified that he was unacquainted with the true object of their visit to Gray until they neared the house. He revolted when informed by Smith that Gray was to b{j murdered. Smith replied, "You hold the horses, and I will fix him." Much sympathy w^as expressed for Adams, and as the absence of Smith made it impossible to ascertain some of the most important facts in the case, he was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary.

We append the following extracts from the official records of the trial, in which the State of Ohio was plaintifif, and William G. W. Smith and John Adams defendants:

April 1, 1865, the grand jury presented an indictment against WiUiam G. W. Smith and John Adams for murder in the first degree. On the third of the same month, the court ordered that the defendants be brought forthwith from the Pickaway County jail into this court, for arraignment. A copy of the indictment was, on the following day, delivered to each of the defendants, and they were remanded to the jail to await further order of court. On the succeeding day the defendants were arraigned separately for plea. They plead not guilty. The court, not satisfied with the safety of the Fayette County jail, ordered' prisoners returned to the jail of Pickaway County.

July 1, 1865, leave was given to Smith by court to withdraw plea of not guilty, and offer plea in abatement, to which the prosecuting attorney filed demurrer. Court sustained the demurrer, and ordered that said Smith answer forthwith to said indictment. Smith's counsel took exceptions to the action of the court in sustaining the demurrer, and leave was granted them to file motion to quash indictment; but motion, after argument by counsel, and exceptions again taken to action in overruling motion. Prisoner, upon being re-arraigned for plea, plead "Not guilty." The case was continued till next term of court, and the prisoner ordered returned to the Pickaway County jail.

October 30, 1865, F. M. Gray, attorney for the defendant John Adams, moved that his client be removed from the Pickaway to the Fayette County jail, which was so ordered by the court.

March 9, 1866, H. B. Maynard was appointed by court to assist in the prosecution of the case. The defense was conducted by F. M. Gray and Mills Gardner. The following named gentlemen were selected a jury to try the case : Jacob iHarper, Robert Gilmore, William P. Snider, William Chaifin, Robert House, Joseph Ilidy, Jackson Popejoy, Jesse Heagler, Edward Taylor, George Fullerton, WiUiam McCafterty, and Samuel R. Morris.

The taking of testimony was commenced on the 12th of March, and continued till the evening of the 15th. The case was argued on the following day. On the 16th day of March, 1866, Adams was convicted of manslaughter, as set forth in the third count of the indictment. A motion for a new trial was overruled, and the prisoner sentenced to ten years in the Ohio penitentiary. Judge Alfred S. Dickey occupied the bench during the entire trial.

The court, on the 5th of June. 1866, appointed R. M. Briggs and R. A. Harrison counsel for defendant, and on the 8th, H. B. Maynard was appointed to assist in the prosecution.

At a special term of court, held August 28, 1866, motion was made by defendant's counsel for a change of venue from Fayette to some adjoining county. Motion overruled. A motion to continue the case to the next term of court. On the succeeding day the case was tried before the following jury : William James, David Lysiuger, John L. Myers, J. R. Venausdal, Jacob Eyman, Joel Wood, John F. Gregg, II. W. Hull, William Kearney, Anthony Coaler, L. E. Tinimons, and Thomas Braden.

On the 31st of August, testimony was introduced. Court issued habeas corpus for the return of Adams in the penitentiary, to testify in the case. Adams gave in his evidence on September 3, 1866. The taking of testimony continued till Thursday, September 6th, when the case was argued by counsel. On the next day Mills Gardner was appointed to assist the prosecution, on account of the illness of H. B. Maynard. The case was given to the jury, who retired.

At 6 A. M,, on Saturday, September 8, 1866, the jury, after having consulted all night, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. Monday, September 10th, a motion by defendant for a new trial was overruled. "Whereupon the court does hereby adjudge and sentence that you, said defendant, William G. W. Smith, be taken hence to the common jail of said count}', from whence you came, there to remain in safe and close custody until Friday, the 30th day of j^ovember, 1866, and that on said lastnamed da}' you be taken to the place of execution, and between the hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and three o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, the 30th day of November, 1866, you be hanged by the neck until 3'ou are dead; and may God have mercy on you."