Richland Township (part 1 of 3)

Richland Township

There vrere, therefore, within the bounds of Fairfield county, in the year 1806, one thousand five hundred and fifty-one taxpayers. To make the reasonable assumption that there were five additional persons to every tax-payer at that time within the county, it would have given a population of a little over nine thousand. When it is remembered that the first white family built their cabin on the Hocking in the spring of 1798, this rapid increase of population within about seven years is wonderful, regarding the wilderness state of the country, and its remoteness from sources of supply. It is, however, to be borne in mind, that the area of the county was at that time more than three times what it is at present.

It is a melancholy reflection forced upon the mind, that of that 1,551 tax-payers of 1806, not one is alive to-day. They were the pioneers of the county. It was them that broke the wilderness and drove away the wild beasts and savage men, and opened the way for the prosperity, and plenty, and luxury, and ease of to-day. It was them that endured hard- ships, and toils, and privations, and the sickness of a new and uncultivated country. Their descendants know nothing of how they lived, and how they did, nor can a written work convey any just conception of it all. These men and. women have passed away and are forgotten - nearly forgotten - the largest mumber of them are totally forgotten ; a few only are remembered - those of them who did prominent deeds. And when another generation comes up to displace the present, the pioneer fathers, and all they did, will have been lost to the world forever. History tells us the numbers that went into the field in the revolution one hundred years ago, but that is all ; we do not know who they were, or how they appeared. The most prominent officers are all we have any conception of - all have turned to dust.

But the immediate descendants of the pioneer fathers of Fairfield County, many of them, are with us, and many who came at an early day, but after the settlements had made con siderable progress. Prom them we glean much that pertains to the early history of the county. The times of the log-cabin era of the Hocking Valley have not faded from their memories, but the realization is lost.

But recurring again to the tax-payers of 1806. They have gone from the scenes of earth forever - all they did, what they endured, how they loved, and joyed, and sorrowed, is all nothing now. Their voices have all been hushed into eternal silence, so far as earth is concerned ; their faces have faded from memory ; the waves have closed over them forever more. They were a noble, enduring race of men and women ; their names and deeds ought to be carried down to posterity, far into the coming ages. Their names have mostly faded out; only a few of them are to be seen chiseled in the cold marble or sand-stone that marks their last resting-places. Wouldthat their virtues and patriotism were written in imperishable script on every threshold and on every wall, the pioneers of Fairfield County.

To one familiar with the present population of the county, traces of many of the pioneer families are recognized in all the townships and original settlements, by the names and families of their descendants, but the largest number of the families of the tax-payers are extinct in the county. Most of the names are entirely lost ; moving away, intermarriage, and death, accounts for this. Many of the oldest inhabitants at present residing in the county came early, but subsequent to 1806. In personal notes, elsewhere, will be found notices of such prominent early settlers, both before and after 1806, as facilities have enabled me to secure. These older citizens still cherish the memory of the log-cabin age of the county. The houseraising, the log-rolling, the corn-husking, the quilting, the country wedding, country dance; "Sister Phebe;" "Marching to^ Quebec;" "Thus the farmer sows his seed;" "As oats, peas, beans and barley grows ;" " Kilimacranky ;" and other plays then so universal. The hominy block, lie hominy, the Johnny cake, hoe cake, corn dodger, the tinkling cow bell, sound of the woodman's ax, the dinner horn, drumming pheasant, and the thousand things peculiar to frontier life sixty years ago and more ; all have passed away forever, but the recollection of them is precious to the aged yet living - hallowed, priceless. The writer has passed through all the phases of frontier life in another part of the State. There is nothing so dear to the aged as the remembrances of the past, the long ago, of life's first young dreams, its loves, and joys, and dear associations. It is a thrilling comfort to the aged Christian man or woman, when recollection falls back to the humble cabin with its slab benches, rude corner cupboard, and wide fire-place, and dwells upon the sincere, simple and true worship of other days, days that were before the carking cares of the world, and the follies and absurdities of fashionable life were brought in to ornament the simplicity of the religion of the great founder of the church. Reader, did you ever let your thoughts go back to your young days, where, unbidden, the scenes of the past, with all that was precious to memory, came grouping around yOu ? Is there anything this world can afford that you would be willing to exchange for that hour of elysium, that bliss that is all your own, and that cannot be taken from you, nor marred by enemies? These good old days are all gone, never to return, and the old mourn unavailingly their departure. There is really nothing now that was sixty years ago, or nothing as it was then; grey heads and bent forms remain, and tender emotions come up, but the loves and endearments of other years have drifted back into the dim vista of the past. Regarding the pioneers ofFairfield County during the first fifteen or twenty years of the present century, with all they were and what they did, they appear to the contemplative mind as a wave of humanity that laved the shores of time for a brief season, only to ebb away into the vast ocean of what, to mortals in this mundane sphere of existence, seems oblivion. They were here and did the work of their day, but they are gone, and that is all we can say. No visible work of their hands stands out in relief. And what has their lives and deeds availed? Much ; but the present age fails in due appreciation. To the busy throng of to-day, in their irrational race for riches and fame and enjoyment, the former age is oblivious. We rush almost frantically, at best heedlessly, over their sleeping dust to grasp the baubles that even our own experiences tell us will dissolve in our grasp. And for what? A few more brief decades of years, and we will be as the pioneers are now - gone - forgotten. We do not even pause an hour to remember, and possibly appreciate how much we owe to that noble and sturdy race. By their hands the forests and jungle have been cleared away, by which the pestilential fogs and fens have been disarmed of mischief, mostly. They did the hard work and gave us a clear soil to till. Can we say we , are carrying forward their virtues, their practical common sense, their good manners, humanity and worship ? Have we inherited their patriotism ? We have grown wiser, possibly, and gained wealth, material wealth. Have we grown in goodness ?

First Court Of Common Pleas

The'first judicial records for Fairfield County were entered in a small blank book of 231 pages. The paper is very coarse, of a dull white color, and unruled. From it I am able to make some highly interesting extracts. The first dates are in 1803. The manner of keeping the records would appear strange enough at this day. Though one year after the State was admitted into the Union, the word Ohio occurs but seldom in the volume. The records are strangely deficient in another respect, which is, that with the exception of the names of judges, jurors, and parties to suits, no others appear, save that of Hugh Boyl, who was appointed Clerk of the first Court. One fails, in passing quite through the book, to learn the name of a Sheriff, or any other ofiBcer of the Court. Another peculiarity is, that in giving the verdicts of juries - it is simply written that the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, or defendant, as the case might he, but with few exceptions the amount of damages is not stated. The record in this quaint old book runs over a period of six years, viz. : from 1803 to 1809 ; but there are no dates given to any of the entries, other than that they M'ere a part of the proceedings of the May term, the March term, or the June term, etc. And again, at the opening of each term it is a part of the record, that "The following jury was elected and sworn in." Sometimes it is said the jury was impanneled ; at others, that the jury appeared ; and at the July term of 1806 it reads : "Came a Grand Jury." Indictments are given, with name of accused, and crime, a" few interesting examples of which will appear.

At this first term of the Court of Common Pleas for Fairfield County, which commenced on the second Tuesday of May, 1803, the record stands : "Before Wyllys Sillman, Esquire, President, and his associates." The following are the names of the Grand Jurors who were sworn in at that term : David" Resse, foreman ; Joseph Hunter, Henry Mesner, Jacob Lamb, John McMean, Thomas Cisna, Frederick Leather, Thomas McCall, Joseph Work, James Black, John Shepler,<John Mills and David Shellenberger. "And after being duly sworn, retired to their room, and after some time returned into Court, and having made no presentments, nor found any bills of indictment, were discharged."

" A petition, or recommendation for a tavern-license for Peter Biver was read to the Court. Ordered, that license be granted to the said Peter Biver for one year from this term. " Following this were orders to grant license for one year from " this term " to James Black, of Newark (Newark was then within Fairfield County), and Samuel Hammil, to keep tavern, "and then the Court adjourned till to-morrow morning. "

A license was then granted to William Trimble to keep a public house on the road leadincr from Lancaster " towards the Muskingum river" (on Zane's trace). And then

The Court then proceeded to the trial of a number of civil cases, the first of which was styled, William Austin vs. James Philips; 2nd, William Peek vs. Nathan Kennedy; 3d, Moses Reese vs. Thomas Laplana; 4th, Amassa Delano vs. Jeremiah Conway.

The first term of the Common Pleas for 1804 commenced on the fourth day of Januarj', and seems to have been held by the three Associate Judges, as no mention of a presiding Judge appears in the record. The Associate Judges were : Samuel Caipenter, Daniel Vanmeter and William Irwin. At this term a Grand Jury was sworn, but it does not appear that they did any work. The associates proceeded to try and determine several civil cases, of which Charles Friend vs. Elijah Anderson was the first, and James Crane vs. John Elder was the second. At this term John Cullerton, Methodist Minister, was authorized to solemnize marriages. Some cases of a civil nature seem to have been tried before a jury of nine ; at least onl}' nine names are recorded. In others, twelve are entered. Several cases were, by consent of the parties, referred to three arbitrators. The first was George Thompson vs. George W. Shelby, referred to Elanathan Schofield, Joseph Hunter and John Irwin.

The number of civil cases tried in a single term of the Common Pleas at this early day, is surprising. At the January term of 1804 alone, there were on the docket no less than fortythree cases.

At the opening of the April term of 1805, Robert F. Slaughter appears first on the bench. He is styled the " President. " His associates at that term were William Irvin and Robert Cloud. Here a Grand Jury of twelve were discharged from further attendance on the ground of not having been legally summoned. The first case tried was Levi Merrit vs. Jacob Resler ; the fifth was Thomas Hart vs. Alex. Sanderson. During this judicial year there were docketed 136 civil suits on forty pages of the small book of records. No names of counsel

The March term of 1806, Robert F. Slaughter, President, and Henry Abrams and Jacob Burton associates, opens its proceedings with the hearing of several criminal cases. We quote from the docket literally, thus : " State of Ohio vs. William Long;" "same vs. Samuel Chaney ;" "same vs. Reason Reckets;" "same vs. same;" "same vs. same;" "State of Ohio vs. James Lambert. " In no instance is the nature of the offense or crime specified. Wm. Long was fined one dollar and costs ; Samuel Chaney was acquitted; Reason Rickets was fined in one case three dollars and costs; in the two others he was acquitted.

At the March term of 1807, Hon. Leven Belt was presiding Judge, and the Grand Jurors were Elenathan Schofield, Abraham Miller, John Johnson, John Carpenter, James Love, John Shepler, Thomas Ijams, Abraham Heistand, Elijah Spurgeon, Abraham Courtright, John Brinkley, Peter Fetter and Jacob Shellenbarger. At this term the Grand Jury indicted Susan Pealt for larceny, and were discharged. George Renie sued Emanuel Carpei'.ter in attachment. The record says: "the defendant being called three times and defaulted. " Further on is a case, "State of Ohio vs. Daniel Reese, John Elder, John Edgar, James Taylor, Joseph Barr, George Reese, Benjamin Feemen and John Baker. " The offense was for nonattendance as Petit Jurors, and the entry has it; "David Reese and John Elder, under attachment, thereby appeared and is discharged. "

At the June term the Grand Jury were, TimSthy Sturgeon, Joseph Work, Andrew Barr, Edward Murphy, I. Maclin, Sampson Ream, Christian King, Thomas Ijams, John Beery, Elijah Spurgeon, Johnathan Simpson, Jno. Stalter and Daniel Thompson. This jury presented several indictments, viz. : " One against George Livingston and Jacob Leather for assault against each other; one against John Tent and John Foglesong for assault on each other ; one against Abraham Johnson for keeping a public house and retailing spirituous liquors ; one against Samuel Taylor and Samuel Pot for assault on each other ; one against John Spencer for assault on Oliver Stoker; one against Joseph Cunningham for assault on Oliver Stoker ; one against Morris A. Newman for disorderly conduct in his own house."

In February, 1808, Judge Belt was still on the bench. Associates at this term : Leonard Carpenter, Henry Abrams and Jacob Burton. Two indictments were found: one against John Inks and Peter Pence for assault and battery on one another ; one against John Fisher, for what offense is not stated. During this year, as in the Courts of the four preceeding ones, a great number of civil suits were entered on the docket.

Through the proceedings of the sessions of the Common Pleas for the six years, viz.: 1803 and 1808, inclusive; are found a great many indictments for retailing spirituous liquors without license. Other offenses against the State, so far as specified, are mostly for assault and battery. In addition to the usual business of the Courts, orphans, guardianships and the like, received due attention.

The foregoing is but a very brief synopsis of the constitution and operation of the early courts of Fairfield county. The reader will comprehend that a fuller account would be incompatible with the bounds this volume must assume.

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD! - Ran away from the subscriber, living near Moorfield, Hardin County, Virginia, on the 29th of April last, a negro man, named Berry. He is about twenty years of age, five feet eight or nine inches in hight, round-shouldered, rather slender made ; he is active and undaunted, but not viciously inclined ; reddish lips; stutters when closely examined. Whoever will secure said slave, in any jail in the United States, so that I can get him again, shall receive the above reward, and all reasonable charges paid, if brought home. WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, Sr.

GINSANG WANTED. - I am now buying ginsang on every Saturday, at my tan-yard in New Lancaster, and giving seven cents per pound. The ginsang must be sound, clean washed, and the curls taken out.

Daniel Arnott

DANIEL ARNOTT, for M. HEYLIN. Mr. Heylin is also buying it at this time, at the above price, on every day of the week, at J. Bush's store in Toby Town. August 17, 1815.

BOOT AND SHOE-MAKING. - Jacob Embich (late of Hagerstown), respectfully informs the inhabitants of Lancaster and its vicinity, that he has commenced the Boot and Shoe-making business in all its various branches, in the house lately occupied by Christian Neibling as a tavern.

By Many Subscribers

MARRIED - On Sunday last, by Thomas Fricker, Esq., Mr. John W. Giesy, of this town, to the amiable Miss Magdalen Hensil, daughter of Mr. Michael Hensil, of Berne township.

The Ohio Eagle

There are some slight discrepancies among old citizens now resident in Lancaster, as to the exact year in which the Ohio Eagle was established. Its present issue fixes its origin in 1809, as will be seen by reference to number pf volume at the top of first page. It is possible, however, that its lirst beginning as a German paper was a little earlier. I am told by a citizen, that General Sanderson told him, that it was first issued in 1807. The history then may be given briefly thus :

A little previous to 1810, Jacob D. Detrich began the publication in Lancaster of "Das Ohio Adler" and continued it for some time as a purely German paper; subsequently the establishment fell into the hands of Edward Shaeffer, who continued the publication during the war of 1812, in the English language. It was at that time a very small sheet, of coarse, dull, white paper. Some of its literature at that time will appear a little odd to the present age. Here are a few specimens copied from a number before me, of the date of 1815 :

Isaac Kuntz

"TAKE NOTICE. - I take this method of informing the public that I do not ofiFer for sale any tickets in my lottery of personal property, nor do not know that I shall dispose of any in the State of Ohio, but that I am about to draw a lottery in the State of Pennsylvania, of property in Ohio. WILLIAM DUFFIELD.

political partisan sheet. In 1832, under the editorial control of T. U. White, it supported the claims of Andrew Jackson for the Presidency, and in 1836, those of Martin Van Buren. It will be remembered, that during the campaign of 1832, the Jackson party assumed the name ^'Democratic Party" and from that time to the present the Eagle has been the county organ of that party. During most of the time it has been ably conducted, and has stood high among tlie Democratic papers of the State.

With some trouble and research I have been able to procure a list of the editors of the Eagle, from 1809 to 1876, which I believe are here put down in the order of their succession. There may be a single exception or two, but the list may be accepted as about correct. I am indebted for the information to Mr. John Wright, who has been identified with the press of Lancaster for more than half a century, and to the courtesy of Thomas Wetzler, the present editor, in referring to his files. Thus: Jacob D. Detrich, Edward ShisfFer, John Hermon, T. U. White, John and Charles Brough, Dr. Casper Thiel, Samuel Pike, Eobertson, Robinson, P. M. Ellis, John Tuthill, Charles Roland, Baker, Zahm, Thomas Wetzler.

Lancaster Gazette

The Gazette was established in 1826 by General George Sanderson. Like the Eagle, it has been a partisan political weekly. In the Presidential campaign of 1828, the Gazette supported John Quincy Adams. And as the Jackson party took the designation "Democratic party" in 1832, so the Adams and Clay party took the title "Whig party" in the same year, and the Gazette was the Whig county organ until 1854, when that party disbanded to give place to the American, or Know Nothing party. During that year the Gazette advocated the Know Nothing ticket. In 1856 it adopted the Philadelphia, or Republican platform, which party it has been the 'persistent and able defender of to the present. The Gazette has doubtless earned the reputation of a leading county Republican weekly of the State. Its succession of editors compare favorably with any similar weekly publication in Ohio. I have before me some of its earliest issues, from which a few extracts are taken, that will recall to the mind the earlier days of Fairfield County. The following samples will suffice :

Canal Celebration Washington Voldnteees, Attend

You are ordered to parade in front of Mr. Keed's tavern, at Monticello, on the Fourth of July, at nine o'clock, for the purpose of saluting the canal boat "Hebron," which will be the first to run on the Ohio Canal. By order of the Captain.

AN OEDINANCE, entitled an ordinance for levying a tax for the year 1827. - Be it enacted and ordained by the President, Recorder and Trustees of the town of Lancaster, that a tax of three-eighths of one per centum, or thirty-seven and a half cents on every one hundred dollars, be levied on the assessment for the current year, for the use of said town. Done in Council, this 25th day of Mav, 1827.

MILLINERY. - Mks. Elizabeth Deiteich respectfully returns thanks to her friends, and the public generally, for the very liberal encouragement she has heretofore received, and informs them that she continues at her dwelling-house the making of plain dresses and Calash Bonnets. Also, Leghorn and Straw Bonnets bleached in the very best manner, and altered to any fashion desired.

The editors of the Gazette have been: George Sanderson, Wm. J. Reeoe, D. L. Moler, James Percivill, George Weaver, Thomas Slaughter, George McElroy, Joshua Clarke & Son, Dr. H. Scott, Robert Clarke, A. P. Miller, and S. A. Griswold, present incumbent.

There have been a number of other weeklies and campaign papers started in Lancaster at various times, and one daily ; but none of them were of long continuance. We mention the "Independent Press," of 1812; the " Enquirer," by P. Vantrump; "Telegraph," King & Gruber; "Fireside," by A. P. Miller; ;' American Democrat," by W. S. Beaty; "Union," by Miller & Fritter.

The following are the names of the physicians who have practiced in Lancaster from its organization up to the year 1876. To Dr. Charles Shawk and Dr. Paul Carpenter, old physicians of the place, and both still living, I am indebted mainly for the information. The list may be relied on aa en- tirelj' correct. It has not been possible, for the lack of data, to fix the exact time of settlement of the early practitioners. The list, however, begins with those who are known to have settled first in the place. Dr. John Shawk being the first who came to Lancaster and erected his cabin in the woods. Thus : John M. Shawk, Dr. Erwin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Robert McNeal, Dr. James White, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, Dr. H. H. Wait, Dr. Deepe, Dr. Wolfley, John M. Bigelow, Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher. Dr. Brecker, M. Effinger, Dr.'Lynch, A. Davidson, G. W. Boerstler, T. 0. Edwards, P. M. Wagenhals, J. M. Lewis, Geo. K. Miller, Geo. Boerstler, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr Frampton, 0. E. Davis, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Kinsman, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, Dr. Harmon, Dr. Myers, Chas. Shawk and Dr. Shrader.

Of these, the following are still resident practitioners in Lancaster, viz. : Paul Carpenter, Dr. Lynch, Charles Shawk, M. Effinger, Geo. Boerstler, J. M. Lewis, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, and Dr. Harmon.

Of those who have removed to other parts, and are known to be still living, are : J. M. Bigelow, 0. E. Davis, P. M, Wagenhals, Dr. Shrader and Dr. Kinsman. Dr. Andrew Davidson purchased the drug establishment of George Kaufifman, on Main street, where he still continues.

Those who are known to have deceased previous to 1876, are: John M. Shawk, James White, Robert McNeal, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, H. H. Wait, D. Deppe, Dr. Wolfley, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, Geo. W. Boerstler, Dr. Dawson, George Miller, Dr. Ervin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr, Florence, Dr. Myers and T. Edwards.

I have not at my command the facilities for learning the names of all the physicians who have practiced in the villages and other parts of the county since its organization, but mention the following from memory : Baltimore : Dr. Gohegen, Dr. Helmic, Dr. Horr and Dr. Sprague. Lithopilis : Dr. Minor and Dr. Eels. Jefferson : Dr. Tolbert. Royalton : Dr Paul, Dr. Dawson and Dr. Reed. Amanda: Dr. Daugherty, Dr. Peters, and the brothers Hewitson. Oakland: Dr. Shaeffer. Clear Creek: Dr. Porter. Sugar Grove : Dr. Brown, Dr. Foster, Dr. Sharp and Dr. Brooks. Bremen: Dr. Evans, Dr. Holcom, and Dr. Frampton. Rushville : Dr. Ida and Dr. Turner. West Rush.

ville : Dr. Dolison and Dr. Lewis. New Salem : Dr. Brock and Dr. Yontz. Pleasantville: Dr. Goss. Millersport : Dr. Brison & Son. Basil : Dr. Maines. Carroll : Dr. Aldred. Dumontville : Dr. Mills and Dr. Bright.

Of Lancaster

" Emanuel Carpenter, died in 1832." [Mr. Carpenter came into the county in 1802, and built his first cabin where Salem Wolf recently resided, near Lancaster].

" Eobert F. Slaughter, died in October, 1846, aged 77 years." " Sarah Slaughter, wife of Judge Robert Slaughter, died in March 1858, aged 63 years."

A Ghost Story

The mental and intellectual status, as well as the social constitution of society, was about the same throughout the whole of the north-western territories, at, or during the logcabin era. The emigrants at first brought with them from the old States their religion, their social habits, their manners and customs ; but residence for a few years in the wilderness, far away from the more densely populated and better conditioned ultra montane lands of their birth, created by a kind of necessity, a state of society peculiarly western, which, passing into history, constitutes an era. The times are referred to as pioneer life, frontier life, backwoods life, the log-cabin era, and the like. The prejudices and superstitions were about the same everywhere; they belonged to the age; they were not peculiar to backwoods life ; old and aristocratic, arid what it is common to call refined and more enlightened countries, have had their ghosts and witches ; Fairfield County has had its ghosts, and apparitions, and witches. The story I am about to tell did not belong to this county, but to a western county of Ohio, and it reflects the times of its occurrence.

It is more than half a century since - three-fourths of all the people concerned are dead ; three-fourths of all the people of our settlement believed in apparitions, witches and supernaturalomens. Salem Witchcraft, so-called,hadinfuseditself over the entire country, and there were few neighborhoods that had not had, at one time or another, their ghosts, and witches, and occasional visitants from the land of " Deepest Shade." Sounds and appearances now well understood, and that disturb nobody, were then supernatural. Several volumes would scarcely suffice to narrate all the signs and wonders and incidents that, during that more diffused dominion of superstition, held the people in awe. The celestial realms, as well as the land of demons were represented on earth occasionally. But as the fogs and miasmas of the wilderness have lifted, so has the mind been cleared of much of its superstition by the brightening rays of science. But neither have the fogs nor the mental sombre quite all gone, though the luminaries seem well up from the horizon. But no matter for all that, our neighborhood had its ghost, which the writer never saw but once, and we shall presently see how.

A majority of all the people within a radius of five or six miles around had seen the apparition at some time ; it usually assumed the size and form of a human being, and always clothed in pure white. It was seen by persons returning from night meetings and other gatherings, and sometimes .by solitar}"^ persons who chanced to be abroad after night. There were two small graveyards in the settlement, and two or three waste cabins by the road sides that had been once occupied, and afterwards vacated. These were the points where his ghostship usually chose for his materialization as mortals passed by in the dark. The neighborhood had been in the utmost terror at times during more than two years, and it came at last to be, that only a few could be found brave enough to undertake to pass either of the graveyards or waste cabins alone in the dark. Even those who assumed to ridicule the stories that were told about the ghost, would always prefer to have company when their business required them to pass those places in the night time.

Two theories were canvassed, the first of which was, that a peddler had previously disappeared from the settlement, and under the dark apprehension that he had met with foul play, it was believed that his troubled spirit was hovering about The other theory was, that a company of North Carolina explor-' ers who had penetrated the county before the settlement began, had foully murdered one of their number, and buried his body in the forest not far, as was believed, from there, and that his perturbed spirit could not go to rest unavenged.

My father's farm was separated from that of neighbor H. by a partition fence, ours being situated on the north side. The distance between the two houses was about one-third of a mile. On their side was a stubble-field and peach-orchard; on ours was a cornfield. At the crossing of the partition fence was one of the little graveyards before referred to. It was grown up with scrubby bushes, which partially concealed a few mossy palings and log-pens that were placed over some of the graves. Altogether, the graveyard was a neglected spot.

There was a corn-husking and quilting at the house of our neighbor. It was the latter part of October, and the weather was mild, and of that kind commonly spoken of as Indian Summer. At about two o'clock in the night the work had all been finished, and the supper over, and the folks were begining to depart for home. Two brothers, two sisters and myself, with half a dozen other young folks were going to cross the field, which would take us directly past the graveyard. We were strongly fortified, and believed we should not be much afraid of ghosts ; still, all of us, I think, would have preferred daylight for the walk. We had got as far as the door of the new house, where part of the young people were going to finish the night with a dance, and were halting a little to listen to the fiddle, when, by accident, I chanced to turn my face in the direction of the old house, some three or four rods distant, when I caught a glimpse of three chaps as they came out of the kitchen door, and whipped around the corner to the right. But their movement was not so quick as to prevent me from seeing a roll of something white under one of their arms by the aid of the burning candles in their rear. -It'occured to me at once that the scamps, knowing that we were starting, were intenfling to anticipate us at the graveyard and give us a fright. I plucked the boys to one side and whispered my discovery and my suspicions. We called the girls, and hurried across the peach-orchard to where the stubbles set in. Here- we left them under cover of a peach tree.

while six boj^s of us hastened across to the fence. The wouldbj-ghosts we knew would have about three times our distance to go, and we knew we were ahead of them time enough to complete our plans.

One of our number stood six feet in his stockings. He was, moreover, not much afraid of spirits, either in or out of the body, and he at once volunteered to take the role of ghost. He wore at the time white pants, and when divested of coat and vest, was white all over. He then went in among the bushes and laid flat down by the side of one of the little log-pens, where he was entirely hid from view, while the balance of us prostrated ourselves snugly in the fence corners to await what might follow. It was not more than a couple of minutes before the rustling leaves and cracking sticks hearalded the approach of the ghosts. They were coming from the east, and on our side of the fence. They advanced exactly opposite to where the figure lay, and having halted, began to unroll the sheet. I could easily have put out my hand and grabbed one of them by the calf, but J waited. Presently an awful groan issued from the bushes. The scamps were instantly transfixed and petrified. Another groan, and with it a white form began to rise up apparently from the little log-pen ; slowly it ascended, unr til it had probably attained the altitude of twenty feet or more, in the enlarged imaginations of the boys who were standing in breathless awe.

Then a voice, solemn and sepulchral, was heard. It said : " Why, vain mortals, do you come at this silent hour to disturb the peaceful sleepers of the grave f Retire and pray, for where we are, you too soon will he;" and then the apparition sank back apparently into the ground.

The fence was eight rails high, and without stakes or riders. I believed my time had come, and so I reached out from my dark corner and laid hold of a leg, and in the twinkling of an eye the fence rails began to tumble about us with such fearful profusion as to require the greatest activity on our parts to escape with sound skulls and bones, while three pair of long legs were seen making the quickest time on record across the stubble-field, to where the forms disappeared under the peach trees.

It is about fifty-three years ago, but from that day to the present, so far as I have ever heard, no ghost has been reported in that settlement. -

Miscellaneous

While we are chronicling what the world denominates the dead past and the living present, it will be well if we take plenty of time to think the time all over and see if we can consent that all the claimed advancement of the age is in fact, in every respect, advancement to a higher and better condition of mankind. The world is surely growing wiser (the world of man), but is it growing better? We ought to try to satisfy ourselves whether, in getting wisdom, we are getting good hearts. I am impelled to introduce this suggestion because I fear that morals and religion and secular governments are not as good as they were when the world was not as wise as it is to-day. The art of war, and the art of getting rich are controlling forces now. Are these forces civilizing ? T know it is a common belief that civilization and religious faith are growing rapidly in this second half of the nineteenth century. I do not contradict the claim, but let us pause and consider whether we are not leaving behind the essential maxims, and let me say good manners, good sense, and the golden rule. Where is the golden rule in war and the race for riches, and other popular movements of the age. These are all subjects for grave thought and more earnest and candid consideration than men, in their hurry, are in the habit of thinking. We ought never to lose sight of the fact that there is such a thing as educating the intellect far in advance of the heart and the moral and religious sentiments. And I think none who are careful observers can say, that such i^ not the present course of training the rising generations.

We demand of our orators and writers now elegance of expression and diction, and hencs more attention is given to brilliancy and finely-uttered sentences than to truth and humanizing thought and practice, and the really useful lessons of life. If more pains were taken in the matter of speech than the manner, higher wisdom would be displayed. Teachers should labor more to instruct than to please or amuse. Ambiguity, it seems to me, has usurped the place of simplicity and unostentatious words that convey understanding and use- ful thoughts. The world will condemn a man more for a blunder in grammar, or orthography, or elegance of expression than it will for gross immorality, often, or for the violation of the rule of good manners. To be scholarly is to be correct in grammar, and to be able to quote fine sentiments from popular authors. But he is not fit to be an educator who cares more to please his auditors by brilliancy that he may gain popular applause. And I shall insist that, with all our learning, we can profit much every way by reverting often to the old maxims and usages that we have run away from.

There are some beautiful maxims in the old school books of sixty years ago that the world, has discarded, mainly. At least they are no more printed. But. they are not forgotten by the old people, who, in their school days, were familiar with Webster's Spelling Book, "the easy standard of pronunciation." They will be easily recalled, and will bring the mind back to the little log school-house with its slab benches and oiled paper windows, and to pleasant scenes and joys departed, never again to return. The book has long been out of print ; scarcely a copy of it can be found in existence ; but its precepts live in the memories and hearts of those who were in school sixty years ago, and are still living. I quote from memory the following, which were the first reading lessons, my older readers, you and I learned. How delightful to pass over the lines which bring back fond recollections, and group around us delights we once felt, but which we shall feel no more. The mind at once takes in the twenty or thirty boys and girls and theteacher, every one of whom we knew so well, and we instinctively ask : where are they all now ? Here is the very first reading lesson :

No man may put off the law of God ; My joy is in His law all the day. O, may I not ^o in the way of sin ! Let me not go in the way of ill men.

Do as well as you can, and do no harm. Mark the man that doth well and do so too. Help such as want help, and be kind. Let your sins past put you in mind to mend.

Here is a beautiful poem which will be remembered as standing just before "the pictures" of this old spelling book. The moral it teaches was not taught us by our teachers, and I can remember that we saw nothing in the lesson but the girl, the lamb and the cold blast.

The Lamb

Those who have been once familiar with the quotations, will be all the better men and women by the reproduction and review, because they place the thoughts back before the beginning of the turmoil of life, to where innocence, truth and purity reigned. One more quotation, and we leave the old spelling book. I feel sure my reproductions are literal, though I quote from memory across a chasm of more than fifty years.

" An old man found a rude boy upon one of his trees stealing apples, and desired him to come down, but the young sauce-box told him plainly he would not. Won't you ? said the old man, then I will try to fetch you down, so he pulled up some tufts of grass and threw at him, but this only made the youngster laugh to think that the old man should pretend to beat him down from the tree with grass only. Well, well, said the old man, if neither words nor grass will do, I will try what virtue there is in stones, so the old man pelted him heartily with stones, which soon made the young chap hasten down from the tree and beg the old man's pardon." -

Grape Culture

I am indebted to Mr. J. F. Bovring, of Lancaster, for the following approximative synopsis of the grape culture of Fairfield County. It is in place here to say, that a large proportion of the surface of the county is adapted to the grape, but most especially the south part.

Mr. Bovring estimates, from facilities at his control, the number of acres now planted in vineyards within the county, more or less productive, at three hundred ; others place the number higher. He thinks grape growing, as a business, began in the county about the year 1864. Average product to the acre, in a fair season, 2,000 pounds, equal to 200 gallons of wine. The leading varieties grown in the county are, Catawba, Isabel, Concord, and Ives' Seedling.

Below is a tabulated statement of the valuation of real and personal property within the county, as returned for taxation for four consecutive years. This, however, does not represent the true valuation, as property is never, or seldom, placed on the tax duplicate at its selling value.

Masonic

On December 15th, 1820, Lancaster Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was constituted under charter from the most worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio, with James Wilson for its Worthy Master, Charles R. Sherman First Seignior Warden, and Jacob D. Detrick First Junior Warden.

Lancaster Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized under authority from the M. E. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ohio, on the 12th day of January, 1826, Charles R. Sherman being first High Priest.

Lancaster Counsel of Royal Select Masons was instituted on the 11th day of January, 1828. by John Barker, Esq., as Sovereign Grand Inspector of the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree, Charles R. Sherman its T. I. Grand Master.

Lancaster Encampment, or Commandary of Knight Templars and the appendant orders, was organized December 16th, 1837, under warrant from the General Grand Encampment of the United States. William

Within these respectable and associated bodies, some of the most prominent and influential and best citizens of Lancaster and Fairfield County, found elevated and congenial fellowship.

The" fundamental life-sustaining principles of Masonry have been sometimes misapprehended, and therefore misunderstood. Its mission upon earth has been superbly consequential through all the rough, rude, barbaric, the ignorant, clashing and conflicting ages of the past. It has preserved inviolate and intact the knowledge of one Supreme Creator and universal God ; and it has grandly helped to nurse into activity the beneficent idea of human brotherhood. It will culminate and end whenever the prohpbetical lion everywhere lies down with the typical lamb, actuated with the spotless innocence of the lamb.

Salem Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 87, at New Salem, was instituted in 1842. The charter-members were : M. D. Brock, S. Baker, W C. Galleher, Caleb Coplen, J. Linville, J. Baker, J. H. Baker (7). Number of members in March, 1877, 84.

Baltimore Lodge of F. & A. M, at Baltimore, was instituted October 22d, 1873. Chartei'-members: Harrison Applegate, William Myres, W. W. Luckey, J. H. Schaertzer, D. H. Sands, J. R. Brandt, William Cook, John Sauns, Samuel Fenstermaker, E. K. Grube, G. W. Watson, Thomas Smurr, J. W. Buchanan, Daniel Albright, Lewis Shearer. Number of members in March, 1877, 42.

Napthalia Lodge of F. & A. M., at Carroll, No. 262. Date of charter, October 15th, 1855. Names of charter-members : Jos. Grubb, A. T. Aldred, James Holmes, Andrew Saylor, E. H. Davis, Thos. W. A. Wilson, William Jacobs and John P. Gutelins. Number of members in March, 1877, 40.

[There has occasionally occurred a name in the lists sent me, that it has been impossible for me to be absolutel}' certain of the correct orthography. The last one in the Carroll list was one of that kind. - Ed. J

Rushville Lodge, No. 211, F. & A. M., at Rushville, was instituted in 1852. Charter-menabers : Wm. CouLson, David Wilson, D. M Rea, Wm. Harper, John P. Hodge, N. B. Coulson, N. B. Teel, Daniel Baker, W. Vansant. Number of members in March, 1877, 40.

Lithopolis Lodge, No. 169, F. & A. M., was instituted January 21st, 1848. Charter-members: Joshua Glanville, William Teegardin, Daniel Teegardin, Peter Teegardin, John B. Moore,

Zebulon Perril, Jacob Tee^ardin, Daniel Miller, Joseph Miller, John Smith, W. W. Hite, William Riley, Jacob Shrock and William Jacobs. Number of members in March, 1877, 75.

The regular meetings of this Lodge are held on Fridaj' evening preceding each full moon, but if the moon fulls on Friday evening, then the meeting takes place on that evening.

Amanda Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 509, was instituted October 28th, 1876. Names of charter-members: H. G. Trout, Edward Griner, Levi Lawrence, J. D. Landis, B. F. Rambo, Jacob Balthaser, D. M. Miesee, J. A. Julien, D. J. V. Wolf, Number of members in March, 1877, 20.

Odd Fellowship Chakity Lodge, No. 7

Charity Lodge, No. 7, of Odd Fellows, was organied in Lancaster, Feb. 8th, 1838. Its charter-members were : Jacob W. Holt, B. R. Banes, R. Timber, Jacob Grubb, George H. Arnold, R. P. Hazlett. Number of members at the beginning of the year 1877, two hundred and twenty.

Alpine Lodge

Alpine Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 566, was " instituted in Lancaster, June 2d, 1874, by Jos. Dowdall, F.G. Representative and Special Deputy." Following are the names of the charter-members :

Encampment

The Hocking Encampment of Odd Fellows, No. 28, was instituted Dec. 4th, 1847. Charter-members ; Jacob W.' Holt, Thomas Hyde, Joseph C. Kinkhead, Wm. Baker, Josiah Wilson, B. F. Brannon, James W. Pratt. Present number of members, 220.

Lodges Out Of Lancaster

Sugar Grove Lodge, at Sugar Grove, No. 654, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted Aug. 4th, 1876. The charter-members were : J. V. Sharp, G. F. Hummel, W. H. Elder, W. F. Noggle, L. C. Mathena, R. F. Brown, Joseph Sharp, James H. Foster, Jacob Walter, G. W. Pannabaker, Abraham Ream. Membership in Feb., 1877, eighteen (18).

Central Valley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 548, at Amanda, was instituted July 10th, 1873. The charter-members were : W. H. Dickson, B. Balthaser, T. J. Barr, C. H. Sunderman, T. L. Hewetson, Wm. Acton, W. B. Sunderman, P. Hewetson, H. D. Aldenderfer, George Aldenderfer, David Crites, Joseph Bechtel, Andrew Laps, Samuel Griffith, Sr. Whole number of members in Feb., 1877, forty-five (45).

Weaver Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 486, at Greencastle, was organized July 20th, 1871. The charter-members were : M. B. Custer, A. S. Beaty, Wm. Kiger, Samuel Crist, Samuel Wiser, Elijah Alspach, Y. Courtright, Paul Alspach, H. R. Roller, R. H. Mason, S. P. Crist, J. T. Williamson. Membership in Feb., 1877, fifty-nine (59).

Baltimore Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 202, at Baltimore, was instituted June 11th, 1852. The charter-members were : Casper Fiddler, A. L. Simmons, H. L. Nicely, Wm. Potter, J. Bartholomew, Wm. J. Smart, J. Schlosser, James Pugh, Job McNamee, Thomas M. Watson, Jacob Ketner, John H. Weekly, Frederick Graff, Wm. Paul. Elijah Warner. Whole number of members in Feb., 1877, eighty-three (83).

Fairfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 163, at Pleasant ville, was instituted Oct. 7th, 1850. The charter-members were : Thos. 0. Wilson, Wm. Buchanan, Wm. Cupp, Jacob Bope, Thos. Andrews, Benjamin Walters, John F. Irick, Solomon Weaver, Job McNamee, Adam Shaw. Thomas A. Bratton, Martin Kagay, N. C. Miller, Samuel Cupp, James Brown, Thos. Kidwell. Number of members in Feb. 1877, seventj'-one (71).

Philo Lodge, 1. 0. 0. F., No. 392, at West Rushville, was instituted July 12, 1867. Following are the names of the charter-members : W. B. Strickley, Joseph McFee, H. L. Whitehead, J. M. Strickler, Chas. McClung, James Henderson, Michael Keelm, C. C. B. Duncan, Jacob Lamb. Membership in Feb., 1877, fifty, (50).

Knights Of Pythias Knights Of Honor

Columbia Lodge, No. 27, of the order of the Knights of Honor, was instituted in Lancaster September 9th, 1874. The charter-members were fourteen, as follows : Jno. W. Faringer, John C. Tuthill, John C. Hite, J. M. Sutphen, A. M. Beery, Wm. B. McCracken, Wallace W. Hite, Wm. Bush, Dr. George

Patrons Of Husbandry Capt. Keller'S Letter

Dr. H. Scott - Dear Sir: I herewith hand you the information you requested. The " Grange ' was first organized in Washington City, in July, 1867, with Wm. Saunders, Master, and O. H. Kelly, Secretary. The first Grange organized in Ohio was in February, 1871, which was the only one organized in that year.

Ohio Officers

The first Grange organized in Fairfield County was Rush Creek Grange, No. 67, located at Bremen, in July, 1873; and the following were instituted in the order named :

The last organized was Fairfield Grange, April, 1874. A majority of the above were organized by William Funk, of Rush Creek, who was Deputy during 1874, during which year most of the Granges were organized.

No?. 706 and 725 (Greenfield and Hocking), have consolidated, as have also 838 and 1,148 (Richland and Fairfield). Halls have either been built or purchased by Pleasant. 675 ; Greenfield, 725 ; Cedar Hill, 763 ; New Silem, 971 ; and Fairfield, 1148.

ment of organization carried many into the order who were influenced by purely selfish motives,' and who expected to grow suddenly rich without effort, and some of tjiis class have expressed dissatisfaction and dropped from the rolls of their respective Granges. But the order is in a much better condition now than ever before, a majority of the most enterprisiug farmers of each community having become identified with it. Eespectiully, A. E. KELLER.

St. Joseph S Benevolent Association, Catholic Brotherhood

This association was organized in Lancaster, on the 2d day of July, 1861. The following quotations will show the objects and aims of the society :

" Any member of St. Mary's congregation who has attained to the age of eighteen years, and has not passed his fifty-fifth year, may become a member of this association."

" No active member of the old St. Mary's Society shall be excluded from the privilege of becoming a member of St. Joseph's Benevolent Association on account of his age."

" No person who is not of good Catholic life and standing can become a member of this association. This last condition, viz. : honorable Christian character, shall always remain essential to membership."

" The hour of commencing the stated meetings shall be about 4 o'clock p. m., or immediately after vespers on the first Sunday of each month."

The initiation fees for membership of this society are graduated as follows : From the age of eighteen to twentyfive years, $2.00; from twenty-five to forty years, 13.00; from forty to fifty-five years, $5.00. Monthly dues of twenty-five cents are paid by each member at the stated meetings. Sick members of six months standing, receive two dollars a week ; and those who have been members one year and upwards, receive three dollars a week; provided in all cases, that the sickness has not been induced by voluntary self-abuse. The society tenders twenty-five dollars for funeral expenses upon the death of members ; but this is contingent upon one hundred and fifty dollars being in the treasury at the time of such death.

Weigle, Recording Secretary; Charles P. Puchs, Corresponding Secretary; Leo. Noles, Messenger; Thomas 0. Connor, Banner Bearer ; Joseph Kurtzman, Jolm Bletzacker and Charles Baumeister, Committee for the Sick.

Constituent Members Knights Of St. George, Catholic

The order of the Knights of St. George was instituted in Lancaster on the 2d day of November, 1875. The objects of this association are : Beneficial, charitable, benevolent and the cultivation of good Christian character. Eligibility for membership in this order consists, firstly : The ap^jlicant must be between the ages of eighteen and forty years ; and secondly : He must be of "good Catholic life and standing." The initiation fee is three dollars, and the monthly dues fifty cents. Worthy sick members receive five dollars a week upon the certificate of a physician. The maintenance of "Honorable Christian character shall always remain essential to membership." A funeral benefit of $25.00 is allowed in the case of the death of a member ; but all the benefits to which members are entitled, may, at their option or that of their friends in the event of death, be donated back to the association. But benefits are only allowed to members in good standing. In the case of sickness, brought on by drunkenness, no benefits are allowed.

First Court Of Quarter Sessions

The first Court of quarter sessions for Fairfield County, and previous to the establishment of the Court of Common Pleas, in May, 1803, was held on the 12th of January, 1801. Emanusl Carpenter, Sr., was the presiding Justice, and Nathaniel Wilson, sr., David Vanmetgr and Samuel Carpenter were his associates. The session was held in a log school-house. A Sheriff by the name of Samuel Kratzer, was appointed by the bench.

A Jurj' was also appointed, which was called a Jury of Inquest. The following are the names of the Jurymen : Jas. Converse, Foreman ; Abramam Wather, Jeremiah Conaway, Arthur Teal, Conrad Fetters, Robert McMurtry, L^am'l. Coats, Abraham Funk, Thomas Cisfina, Amassa Delanoe, John Mc- Mullen, Joseph McMullen, Edward Teal, David Reese and Barnabas Golden. There were no indictments found, and the Jury was discharged.

Though appearing little in history, the town of Lancaster seems sometimes to have been called the town of Fairfield, for at the quarter sessions just referred to, there was an order issued for the survey of a road " from the town of Fairfield to the head of the muddy prairie;'' and the survey was made by Hugh Boyle.

The first mortgage of which any record appears, was made by John Cleves Symmes to Benjamin Murphy, for the purchase of one hundred acres of land, for which payment was to be made in six years with six per cent, interest. The instrument bears date of August 19th, 1801, and the sum contracted to be paid was two thousand dollars. These figures are probably an error, as twenty dollars per acre for wild lands at that early day was hardly likely.

In October, 1802, and on the 12th day, two members of the Constitutional Convention for Ohio were chosen by popular election. This was the first election for the county. Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., and Henry Abrams were elected, the former

The members of the convention convened at Chillicothe on the first day of November following, and organized by the appointment of Edward Tiffin as President, and Thomas Scott as Secretary. This convention held an adjourned session on the 29th of the same month, when they completed their work ; and the constitution was submitted directly to Congress, and accepted, without being placed before the people of the State for their approval.

Statistical

Statistics show that there were in Fairfield County, in the year 1870, 2,318 farms, aggregating 232,016 acres of cultivated land; and that there were within its limits the total of 316,420 acres, including all outlying and timbered lands.

Fairfield In The War Of 1812

In the mouth of April, 1812, a company of infantry volunteers, under the command of tapt. George Sanderson, was raised, to operate on' the northern border against the British, in what is known as the war of 1812. This company formed a part of Colonel Lewis Cass's Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, which was betrayed into the bands of the British General Brock, as was believed, by the cowardice of General Hull, on the 12th of August following, in front of Detroit. They were paroled not to fight against the British until exchanged, which exchange took place in Maj', 1814. It is said, however, that some of the men went and joined Harrison's campaign to the Maumee and Thames in 1813, and continued until peace was concluded.

Inuu old blank book purchased at the sale of the venerable John Leist, west of Amanda, and furnished me by one of the sons of the late William Graham, of this county, I find the records in part of a third company that left Lancaster for the North in 1812. This company was commanded by Jesse D.

Ohio

Courtright; John Leist, First Lieutenant. The record, or journal, was kept by one Samuel W. Taylor, probably an Orderly. The journal opens thus :

"General Harrison arrived at the Rapids, and started next day with a thousand men, commanded by General Perkins, to reinforce Geriteral Winchester. They did not get far when they met some of Winchester's men, who told them that Winchester's army was all taken prisoners or killed."

Refugee Lands

We notice very briefly the Refugee Tract, so-called. It passes through the northern part of this county, from east ta west. Its width is two miles, and length eighteen miles. The origin of this reservation was as follows : There were citizens of Canada who, during the revolutionary war, gave their sympathies and aid to the American colonies. Congress appropriated this strip of land, of eighteen miles east and west, and two miles north and south, for their use, hence " Refugee Lands. " After it had been taken up to the extent of the claimants who presented themselves, the unclaimed portion was sectioned and sold as other Congress Lands.

Reform Farm

The first efiforts to obtain appropriations and encouragement for the establishment in Ohio of a Reform School for boys through the Legislature in 1857 and 1858, did not issue in any definite or efiective result.

Charles Reemelin, of Cincinnati, having returned from a visit to Europe, reported his investigations of several institutions of the kind in that country. His suggestions gave impetus to the idea, and in 1857 the first log-structures were built on the site selected. To Mr. Remelin belongs much of the credit of the inception and subsequent development of the Ohio Reform Farm.

the beginning of the " State Farm," as it is familiarly called. In 1876 the estimate of all t»he buildings and the farm was $200,000. Up to that time the total number of boys, who had passed through the institution, as shown by the official report of the Superintendent, was 2,019. The cost of each boy to the State, not including buildings and improvements, for the year of 1875 is put down at $118.53. Geo. E. Howe has been the Acting Commissioner from the first, and still holds the position. In his report in general he says, that '' eighty per cent, of the boys leaving have turned out well. "

The farm is said to contain eleven hundred acres. The buildings are mostly of brick, and of a fine syle of architecture, and occupy about twenty acres of ground. The land lies some five or six hundred feet above the level of the Hocking Valley, three or four miles to the east. The surrounding hills are delightfully romantic with pine and chestnut groves. Besides farming on a small scale, and fruit growing, the boys are em. ployed in the manufacture of cane-seats, brushes of. a great variety, shoes, brooms and other wares. There is a chapel where religious instructions are given every Sunday. There are also a number of schools in operation the year round, where all the boys receive competent education in the English language.

There are no lock-ups. Generally the boys are under the care of a select class of young men, denominated "Elder Brothers," and held to close and rigid discipline. Their time is diversified with school, labor and recreation. Many of them show themselves to be entirely trustworthy, and are allowed to go and come, and even to transact responsible business. Mrs. Howe, wife of the Acting Commissioner, is Matron, and.it is said by those best acquainted with the institution, that her influence and motherly supervision has had a marked effect for good on the boys.

The farm is situated six miles from Lancaster, in a southwest direction. A good turnpike road leads from the foot of Broadway directly to the farm, most of the distance through delightful pine groves, which, in summer, make the air redo lent with resinous exhalations. The farm is at all times accessible to visitors, who are politely shown round. On Sun-

The term of detention of those sent there is not fixed, and their discharge, when thought prepared to leave, is left to the Acting Commissioner.

Fairfield Representatives In Congress

At an early day (1819-1821), and (1821-1829), Philemon Beecher was in the Lower House of Congress. Later, citizens of the county who ha^e been elected in the various districts to which it has belonged, have been : William W. Irvin, John Chaney, William Medill, Charles D. Martin, Thos. 0. Edwards, Edson B. Olds and Philadelphus Van Trump. Senate and member of the Cabinet : Thomas Ewing.

Following will be found a brief history of the townships and villages, which is as full and specific as the plan of this work will permit, and it is hoped will be found satisfactory. It is perhaps possible that, in collating such a work, non-important errors may creep in. Such, if any shall be found, will be excused, if the general tenor of the history shall be approved, for, as before said, much has to be taken from tradition, and the recollections of living witnesses vary more or less.

Clear Creek Township is situated in the south-west corner of the county. Its name was suggested from " Clear Creek," a small stream running through it. Its school district system is well arranged. There are nine school-houses, located respectively at the cornerings of the sections.

It contains the villages of Oakland and Stoutsville, the former laid out by Charles Sager, and is twelve miles from Lancaster, on the Chillicothe pike ; the latter by Benjamin Stout, in 1854, and is about sixteen miles west, or south-west of Lancaster. Clear Creek formerly extended over parts of the Townships of Madison and Amanda.

We note among the early settlers of Clear Creek, John Leist, who cauie there in 1807. He was born in 1784, and was a member of the Legislature from 1813 to 1820. Mr. Leist served in the war of 1812, and was under Harrison at Fort Meigs and Detroit. He died several years since, at a very advanced age. Mr. Dillsaver is said to have built the first horse-mill in the township. Michael Nye was also an early settler. Charles Friend came in 1800, and built the first water-mill on Clear Creek. Among the first teaChers were Apple Young and John Young. Jacob Leist was an early Lutheran preacher there. It is believe'd the Lutherans built the first meeting-house, which was a log-cabin. It was situated near the somewhat historic place, known as " Dutch Hollow. " The last census gave Clear Creek a population of 1,743.

It is believed that this township was so named because of the richness and fertility of its soil. Richland was cut down in 1817 by striking ofi" two tiers of sections from its eastern side to be attached to Perry County, thus reducing its dimensions to four sections wide by six in length, which is its present area.

East and West Rushville, one mile apart, and on opposite sides of Rush Creek, are situated in the southern third of the township. Both these villages have churches and Sabbath- Schools, and their citizens are characterized for temperance and good morals. It is understood that a man by the name of Teal first owned the land upon which West town is built, and a Mr. Turner that where the East town is.

Among the first settlers, the names below are presented : William Wiseman, Theo. Turner, Stephenson and Ijams' families. Judge William McClung was also an early-comer. Judge McClung was a prominent public man, and died in West Rushville in 1876, at a very advanced age. Abram Geil, James Rowland, and Jesse Rowles, are likewise mentioned as among the pioneers in the township. Mordecai Stevens was an early settler and leading farmer; he lived and died on the land first entered by his father. William CouLson is remembered as a leading man of Rushville, both in trade and as an active and devoted Methodist. Patrick Owens is said to have sold the first goods in Richland; and Moses Plummerthe proprietor of the first mills on Rush Creek, between the two villages, in the year 1802, or about that time.

These villages, as well as Richland Township, shared with all other parts of the county in the early organization of religious societies and churches ; but their first meetings were held in the log-cabins of the settlers. Rev. Clymer and James Quinn were pioneer Methodist preachers in Richland.

Dr. Nathaniel Waite was a physician in West Bushville at an early day ; and Dr. Ide of 'East Rushville. The first Postmaster's name is given as Marquette. One Harper, is named as the first blacksmith.

In former years vast quantities of tobacco were packed and shipped from both the Rushvilles. It was a staple product of that end of the county. The leading men in the tobacco trade were the Ijams', Coulson and Vansant.

township in 1799. It is a six-section township ; Bremen is its village, and is situated about the middle of the township. Rush Creek and Raccoon are the principal streams that passthrough it. The Circinnati and Zanesville Railroad cuts it in the center. Nearly all the surface of Rush Creek is arable and fertile. The name derives from Rush Creek, its principal stream.

The survey of this township, and of that part of the county, was made by Elenathan Schofield, an early citizen of Lancas ter, soon after the first settlement of the county.

The names of the men who first entered land within the bounds of Rush Creek Township, mostly along Rush Creek here follow : John Laremore, William Thompson, John Carr, David Martin, William Martin, John Cone, James Young, Charles McClung, Henry Sellers, John Patton, William Mc- Ginnis, John Willis, Abraham Geil, and others.

In 1810, Samuel Hammel built the first mill, I believe, on Rush Creek ; and a little later Mr. Leib built a saw and grist mill, also on Rush Creek ; the same, I believe, is at present owned by the Shaw family. Casper Huffbrd also built a grist mill on Raccoon very early in the settlements ; this milt, I am told, has entirely disappeared.

The settlmements began along the creeks in 1800, but the eastern portion of the township was settled latter. Many of the first-comers settled down on the squatter plan, and afterwards, when the land came into market, bought tlfeir places at two dollars an acre. It is said that no competition was gone into in the purchases, which was the result of a mutual understanding among the squatters.

One of the Larimores was the first Justice of the Peace, and Charles McClung was elected to the same office in 1804. Wm. McClung, a brother, I believe, of Charles, was a prominent citizen of the township. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under General Sanderson, who was then Captain of a company from Fairfield County. Subsequently he repre-ented the county in the State Legislature, and was Associate Judge of the Common Pleas in 1840 and 1841, or about that time.

Bremen was laid out by George Beery in very early times, and was so named, I have been told, in honor of the city of Bremen, Germany. There is likewise a small village a little south of Bremen, called Geneva. The first woman to settle in the township is said to have been Phebe Larimore, who in 1801 married William Martin. Robert Larimore is reported as the first man to die in the township.

I could not descend into more particularity in separate township histories, without swelling my work far beyond the plan contemplated. Perhaps enough has already been recorded to meet the demands of a county history. I would have been glad to have said more about the original settlers of the first ten years of Fairfield County, did the possibilities exist for acquiring correct information; but the possibilities do not exist. As before said, the pioneers have all passed away, and with them much of their history. We are, therefore, obliged to be content to gather up what little the records give, which, together with tradition, as far as it will serve, it is hoped, will make a satisfactory reflection of the times from 1798 to 1876, of Fairfield County, Ohio.

In closing up the separate history of the townships, I must again beg readers to excuse little errors, should any be detected, since no pains have been spared to arrive at accuracy from all the sources of information available. It is believed the main points of history are all correct; and should small errors be Cound, they will be referable to differences of recollection.

County Fair

The Fairfield County Agricultural Society was first organized in 1851, and held its first Fair in October of that year. John Reeber was President, and John S. Brazee, Secretary. The first Fair-ground was on the west side of Columbus street, on lands belonging to John Reeber, lying a little south of the Reservoir. The Fair was a flattering success; but, owing to the disordered and lost state of the papers, it has been impossible to obtain statistics of that, or several of the subsequent years. Never- theless, the society has held its annual Fairs, viz. : in the month of October, for twenty-five consecutive years, and has grown into one of the best County Fairs in the State.

In 1852, Mr. Reeber, as President, was vested by the Board with power to purchase permanent Fair-grounds, which he accomplished by buying a part of the farm of Thos. Wright, deceased, at the foot of Mount Pleasant, on its western side. The purchase- was made from John A. Fetters, Administrator of Thos. Wright, and on very advantageous terms to the society. The first purchase was twelve or fifteen acres, perhaps less. Subsequently the Widner place was purchased and added to the west of the grounds, and two or three acres from Mrs. Van Pearce on the north, thus making the aggregate of twentytwo acres, which is the piesent Fair-ground.

The trotting park, amphitheaters, exibition halls, music stand and all other appointments of the grounds are of the best, and have been engineered and executed by skillful and competent men. From the first the citizens of Fairfield County have taken the matter of their Fair in hand with a pride and zeal, nowhere surpassed; nor has the interest at any time seemed to flag in the least.

During the last six or seven years a systematic course of book-keeping has been kept up, from the pages of which some extracts are here introduced. I deem it right, however, first to say, that Mr. Reeber, first President, served in that capacity for several years, then was out, and subsequently again elected, I would be glad to introduce the names of the various men who, for the first sixteen or eighteen years, filled the principal offices of the society, but for the want of records at hand I am unable to do so.

The first financial showing on the available records is the total cost of the erection of the two amphitheaters, in the year 1873, which was $2,115.57.

The receipts of the Society for the year 1876, from all sources, as furnished by the Treasurer, J. S. Wolf, was $6,001.31, and the expenditures for all purposes, for the same year, $5,888.42, leaving a balance in favor of treasury of $112.89.

General Sanderson'S Notes

After nearly a full year's research, I have at last, and just when my manuscript was nearlj' completed, succeeded in unearthing a copy of General George Sanderson's pamphlet, pub

The pamphlet embodies the substance of a lecture delivered by the General in 1844, before the Lancaster Literary Society, but with extended additions. Extracts of his lecture have already appeared in this work ; but, so indispensable to a complete history of Fairfield County are the notes of George Sanderson, that I proceed here to give copious quotations from the pages of the book just come to hand. I give them literally and full, although much of their matter is a repetition, in part, of the same points already incorporated in this work.

General Sanderson, as has previously been said, was identified with Fairfield County from its very beginning until his death in 1871.' He was, moreover, a man of careful observation and wonderful memory, and during a large portion of his life a public man in offices of trust and responsibility. I proceed with the extracts:

" The present generation can form no just conception of the wild and wilderness appearance of the country in which we now dwell, previous to its settlement by the white people ; it was, in short, a country

" The lands watered by the sources of the Hockhocking river, and now comprehended within the present limits of the County of Fairfield, were, when discovered by some of the early settlers of Marietta, owned and occupied by the Wyandot tribe of Indians, and were highly prized by the occupants as a valuable hunting-ground, being filled by almost all kinds of game and animals of fur. The principal town of the nation stood along the margin of the prairie, between the mouth of Broad street and Thomas Swing's canal-basin, and extending back as far as the base of the hill south of the Methodist Church. It is said that the town contained in 1790 about one hundred wigwams, and five hundred souls. It was called Tarhe, or in English, Cranetown, and derived its name from that of the principal chief of the tribe. The Chiefs wigwam in Tarhe stood upon the bank of the prairie, near where the fourth lock is built on the Hocking Canal, and near where a beautiful spring of water flows into the Hocking river. The wigwams were built of the bark of trees set on poles, in the form of a sugar-camp, with one square open, fronting a fire, and about the hight of a man. The Wyandot tribe at that day numbered about five hundred warriors, and were a ferocious and savage people. They made frequent attacks on the white settlements along the Ohio river, killing, scalping and capturing the settlers without regard to age, sex or condition. War parties on various occasions attacked flat-boats descending the river, containing emigrants from the Middle States seeking new homes in Kentucky, by which, in many instances, whole families became victims to the tomahawk and scalping-knife. * * * * The Crane Chief had a white wife in his old age. She was Indian in every sense of the word, except her fair skin and red hair. Her history, a^ far as I have been able to learn it, is this : Tarhe, in one of his predatory excursions along the Ohio river, on the east side, near Wheeling, had taken her prisoner and brought her to his town on the Hocking river. She was then about eight years old ; and, never having been reclaimed by her relatives or friends, remained with the nation, and afterwards became the wife of her captor. *****

"On the 17th of May, 1796, Congress, with a view no doubt to the early settlement of their acquired possessions by the treaty of Greenville in 1795, passed an act granting to Ebenezer Zane three tracts of land, not exceeding one mile square each, in consideration that he would open a road on the most eligible route, between Wheeling, Virginia, and Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky. Zane performed his part of the contract the same year, and selected one of his tracts on the Hocking, where Lancaster now stands. The road was opened by only blazing the trees and cutting out the underbrush, which gave it more the appearance of an Indian path, or trace, than a road, and from that circumstance it took the name of ' Zane's Trace ' - a name it bore for many years after the settlement of the county. * * It crossed the

Hocking at a ripple, or ford, about three hundred yards below the turnpike-road, west of the present town of Lancaster, and was called the ' Crossing of Hocking. ' This was the first attempt to open a public highway through the interior of the North-western Territory.

from both directions wishing to better their conditions in life by emigrating and settling in the ' back woods,' then so-called, visited the Hockhocking for that purpose, and finding the country surpassingly fertile - abounding in springs of purest water, determined to make it their new home.

" In April, 1798, Captain Joseph Hunter, a bold and enterprising man, with his family, emigrated from Kentucky and settled on Zane's trace, upon the bank of the prairie west of the crossings, and about one hundred and fifty yards northwest of the present turnpike-road, and was called ' Hunter's Settlement.' Capt. Hunter cleared off the underbrush, felled the forest trees, and erected a cabin, at a time when he had not a neighbor nearer than the Muskingum and Scioto rivers. This was the commencement of the first settlement in the upper Hockhocking Valley; and Captain Hunter is regarded as the founder of the flourishing and populous County of Pairfield, He lived to see the county densely settled and in a high state of improvement, and paid the debt of nature about 20 years ago. His aged companion, Mrs. Dorotha Hunter, yet lives, (in 1851) enjoying the kind and affectionate attentions of her family, and the respect and esteem of her acquaintances. She was the first white woman that settled in the valley, and shared with her late husband all the toils, sufferings, hardships and privations incident to the formation of the new settlement, without a murmur or word of complaint. During the spring of the same year, Nathaniel Wilson, the elder ; John Green, Allen Green, John and Joseph McMuUen, Robert Cooper, Isaac Shaeffer, and a few others, reached the valley, erected cabins, and put in crops.

" In 1799, Levi Moore, Abraham Bright, Major Bright, Ishmael Due and Jesse Spurgeon, emigrated with their families from Allegheny County, Maryland, and settled near where Lancaster now stands. Part of the company came through by land from Pittsburg, with their horses, and part of their horses and goods descended the Ohio in boats to the mouth of the Hockhocking, and thence ascended the latter in canoes to the mouth of Rush Creek. The trace from Wheeling to the Hockhocking at that time was, in almost its entire length, a wilderness, and did not admit the passage of wagons. The land party of men, on reaching the valley, went down to the mouth of the Hockhocking and assisted the water party up. They

" Levi Moore settled with Jesse Spurgeon three miles below Lancaster. The Brights and Due also settled in the neighborhood. These pioneers are all dead except Mr. Moore. He resides near Winchester, in Fairfield County, blessed with all this world can give to make him happy. * * *

"James Converse, in 1799, brought from Marietta, by way of the Ohio and Hocking rivers, nearly a canoe load of merchandise, and opened a very large and general assortment of dry goods and groceries, in a cabin at Hunter's Settlement. He displayed his specimen goods on the corners of the cabin, and upon the stumps and limbs of trees before his door, dispensing with the use of flags altogether. He of course was a modest man.

" The General Government directed the public domain to be surveyed. The lands were laid ofif in sections of one hundred and forty acres, and then subdivided into half and quarter sections. Elenathan Schofield, our late fellow-citizen, was engaged in the service.

'' In 1800, 1801 and 18C^, emigrants continued to arrive, ^nd set lements were formed in the most distant parts of the county. Cabin-raisings, clearings and log-rollings, were in progress in almost every direction. The settlers lent each other aid in their raisings and other heavy operations requiring many hands. By thus mutually assisting one another, they were all enabled in due season to provide themselves cabins to live in. The log-cabin was of paramount consideration. After the spot was selected, logs cut and hauled, and clapboards made, the erection was but the work of a day. They were of rude construction, but not always uncomfortable."

Here the General introduced an extract from Kendall's Life of Jackson, descriptive of log-cabins, that pleases me so well, because so perfect a picture of those primative buildings throughout the entire pioneer age of the West and North-west, that I most gladly give it place. All who lived in the West fifty years ago will recognize every feature of the picture : possessed by the first settlers were axes, hatchets, knives, and a few augurs. They had neither saw-mills nor carpenters, bricks nor masons, nails nor glass. Logs notched and laid across each other at the ends, making a pen in the form of a square or parallelogram, answered the purpose of timber and weather-boarding, and constituted the body of the structure. The gable-ends were constructed of the same materials, kept in place by large poles, extending lengthwfse the entire length of the building. Up and down upon these poles, lanping over like shingles, were laid clap boards, split out of oak logs, and resembling staves, which were kept in their place by other poles laid upon them, and confined at the gable-ends. Roofs of this sort, well constructed, were a sufficient protection from ordinary storms. The crevices between the logs, if large, wer? filled with small stones^ chips, or bits of wood, called chinking, and plastered over with mud inside and out ; if small, the plastering alone was sufficient. The earth was often the only floor; but in general, floors were made of puncheons, or slabs split from logs hewed smooth, and resting on poles. The lofts, or attics, sometimes had puncheon floors, and rough ladders were the stairways. Chimneys were built of logs rudely dovetailed from the outside into those constituting one end of the structure, which were cut to make room for a fire-place, terminating at the top with split sticks, notched into each other, the whole thickly plastered with mud on the inside. Stones laid in mud formed the jambs and back walls of the fire-places. The doors, made of clap boards, or thin puncheons pinned to cross-pieces, were hung on wooden hinges, and had wooden latches. Generally they had no windows ; the open door and broad chimney admitted the light by day, anS a rousing fire or grease-lamp was the resource by night. In the whole building there was neither metal nor glass. Sometimes a part of a log was cut out for a window, with a piece of sliding puncheon to close it. As soon as the mechanic and merchant appeard, sashes of two or four lights might be seen set into gaps cut through the logs. Contemporaneously old barrels began to constitute the tops of chimneys, and joice and plank sawed by hand took the place of puncheons.

"The furniture of the primitive log-cabin was but little superior to the structure. They contained little beyond puncheon benches, and stools or blocks of wood for tables and chairs ; a small kettle or two answering the manifold purposes of buckets, boilers and ovens, and a scanty supply of plates, knives, forks and spoons, all of which had been packed on horse back through the wilderness. Bedsteads they had none ; and their bedding was a blanket or two, with bear and deerskins in abundance. "

"The early settlers were a hardy and industrious people, and for frankness and hospitality have not been surpassed by any community. The men labored on their farms, and the women in their cabins. Their clothing was of a simple and comfortable kind. The women clothed their families with their own hands, spinning and weaving for all their inmates the necessary linen and woolen clothing. At that day no cabins were found without their spinning-wheels, and it is the proud boast of the women that they could use them. As an evidence of their industry and saving of time, it was not an unfrequent occurrence to see a good wife sitting spinning in her cabin upon an earthen floor, turning her wheel with one foot and rocking her babe in a sugar-trough with the other.

" The people of that day, when opportunity offered (and that was not often), attended to public worship; and it was nothing new nor strange to see a man at church with his rifle - his object was to kill a buck either going or comkig. "

First Funeral

" William Green, an emigrant, soon after his arrival sickened and died, in May 1798, and was buried in a hickory-bark coffin on the west bank of Fetters' Run, a few rods north of the old Zanesville road, east of Lancaster. This was the first death and burial of a settler on the Hockhocking. Col. Robert Wilson, of Hocking Township, was present and assisted at the funeral. The deceased had left his family near Wheeling, and came on to build a cabin and raise a crop. "

Fourth Of July

" In 1800, for the first time in the Hockhocking settlement, the settlers - men, women and children - assembled on the knoll in the prairie in front of the present toll-house [the tollhouse has since been removed farther west. - Ed.] on the pike west of Lancaster, and celebrated the Anniversary of American Independence. They appointed no President, or other oflBcers of the day: - no orations delivered or toasts drank. They manifested their joy by shouting, and " hurrah for America," firing off their rifles, shooting at targets, and discussing a public dinner. It may not be improper to say, that their repast was served up in magnificent style. Although they had neither tables, benches, dishes, plates or forks, every substantial in the way of a feast was amply provided, such as baked pone, johnny-cake, roasted bear's meat, jerked turkey, etc. The assemblage dispersed at a timely hour in the afternoon, and returned to their cabins, full of patriotism and love of country. It was my fortune to be present on that interesting occasion."

Here General Sanderson spoke of several townships that were originally in Fairfield County at its first organization, and when it embraced considerable portions of present adjoining counties. These townships have not before been mentioned in this volume, and I here allude to them in the General's own language :

" Reading Township was named by Peter Buermyre, a pioneer settler from Reading, Pennsylvania. He also laid out the town of New Reading, in that township. Somerset, the present seat of justice of Perry County, is situated in this township.

" Pike. - This township was named in honor of General Pike, who gallantly fell in defense of his country, at Toronto, Canada, in the war of 1812.

" Saltcreek Township formerly belonged to Fairfield, but now forms part of Pickaway County. It was named Saltcreek from a stream watering its territory. Tarlton, a flourishing village, is in this township.

" Perry Township, now in Hocking County, was so called in honor of Oliver H. Perry, the hero of Lake Erie in 1813. This township was originally a part of Hocking Township."

An Incident. - " At the June term of 1802 (Court of General Quarter Sessions) - Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., Nathaniel Wilson and Amasa Delano, Justices, on the Bench - the Court ordered the Sherifif to take Alexander White, Attorney-at-Law, into custody, and commit him to prison for one hour, for striking Robert F. Slaughter, also an Attorne3'-at-Law, in presence of their Honors, when in session. I note this circumstance to show that the Court, at that early period, did not suffer an indignity to pass unpunished.

Convention Election

"The first popular election held in the county of Fairfield, was for two members of the Convention to form the Constitution of the State of Ohio. It took \ lace on the 12th of October, 1802, and the following was the result of the poll :

"The members of the Convention assembled at Chillicothe on the first day of November, 1802, and organized by electing Dr. Edward Tiffin, President, and Thomas Scott* Secretary; and after framing the first Constitution of the State of Ohio, adjourned on the 29th of the same month. The Constitution was not submitted to the people, but to Congress for approval; and on the 1st day of March, 1803, the State of Ohio was admitted into the Union as a Sovereign State."

Greneral Sanderson made brief reference to the ancient mounds and fortifications found in Fairfield County, in common with all parts of the West and North-west sections of the North American Continent. Nothing can be known concern, ing these relics ot an extinct people, except the fact that they are. Mere mention of the principal monuments of this kind within the limits of the county will be all, as I think, that modern history requires.

The most important of these is that above the rock-mill, seven miles from Lancaster, on the Lithopolis road. Another embankment, inclosing some ten or twelve acres, near Bauher Church. There are others in Berne Township, near Ream's

Mill. But as verbal descriptions without diagrams would fall short of satisfaction, and as the mounds constitute no part of the history of the county, the notice of them closes here.

War Of 1812

I am able here to transcribe, from Sanderson's pamphlet, the organizations of two companies commanded by him in the war with England, in 1812 and 1813.

This company, with all its officers, on the I6th day of August, 1812, was captured by the British in command of General Brock, or rather surrendered by General Hull, and were paroled not to enter the service until regularly exchanged. The exchange did not take place until May, 1814. In the meanwhile, many of the privates and officers re-enlisted on account of the perfidy of General Hull in surrendering them when there seemed, according to the best judgment of the Americans, no occasion for it. Under this belief the men disregarded the parole. General Sanderson was one of the members who re-enlisted before the exchange, and in April, 1813, he mustered another company from the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, and from portions of the Western Reserve. The following is its constitution:

Senatoes And Rkpbesentatives Of Fairfield

Here follows a list of all the members of the General Assembly of Ohio, from 1808 to 1876, inclusive, who were citizens of Fairfield County. The date shows the year of their election :

1808 - Patrick Owings and Elijah B. Merwin. 1809 - Thomas Swearingen and Thomas Ijams. 1810 - Thomas Swearingen and Thomas Ijams. 1811 - Thomas Ijams and Richard Hooker. 1812 - Richard Hooker, Nathaniel Wilson, Sr., and George Nye, Sr. 1813 - Emanuel Carpenter, John Leist and Benj. Smith. 1814 - Benj. Smith, Richard Hooker and John Leist. 1815 - Benj. Smith, Richard Hooker and John Leist. 1816 - John Leist, Jacob Claypool and Jacob Catherlin. 1817 - Daniel Smith, Robert F. Slaughter and John Leist. 1818 - Daniel Smith, John Leist and Jacob Claypool. 1819 - Robert F. Slaughter and John Leist. 1820 - Wm. Trimble and Valentine Reber. 1821 - Robert F. Slaughter and George Sanderson. 1822 - Gep. Sanderson and Jacob Claypool. 1823 - Geo. Sanderson and Robert F. Slaughter. 1824 - John Leist and Robert F. Slaughter. 1825 - Geo. Sanderson and Wm. W. Irvin. 1826 - Wm. W. Irvin and Samuel Spangler. 1827 - Wm. W. Irvin and Samuel Spangler. 1828 - Samuel Spangler and John Chan«y. 1829 - John Chaney and David Ewing. 1830 - David Ewing and John Chaney. 1831 - David Ewing and Samuel Spangler. ;

Here the rule changes by the new Constitution, under which the Legislature is elected every two years, the first General Assembly under it being chosen in 1852, and thereafter every other year. The following dates refer to the meeting of the Legislature, instead of, as previously, the year of choosing its niembers.

It will be observed that in the early Legislatures of the State, there were two or more members of the House of Representatives from Fairfield each year, notwithstanding the popula- tion was comparatively sparse; but it is to be remembered, that at first the county was more than four times its present area. The first contraction of its borders was by the formation of Licking County, in 1808, which fixed our northern border on its present line ; then by the creation of Perry County, in 1817, fixing mainly our eastern boundary. Both Newark and Somerset were originally in Fairfield County. Considerable territory was also taken from the qriginal Fairfield County, as established by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, on the 9th of December, 1800, by the formation of Pickaway and Hocking counties. In the Senate of Ohio, the names of actual residents of Fairfield County are here inserted, beginning also in 1808, and coming up to 1876. The county has much of the time been represented in the Senate by men from other counties forming the Senatorial District ; and as the districting has frequently been changed, Fairfield has only had her proportion

After the adoption of the new Constitution, in 1851, Fairfield was associated with Hocking and Athens, and Lot. L. Smith, of Athens, was chosen Senator in the two terms of 1852 and 1854.