Springfield Township (part 15 of 69)

So, taking this statement, it would be next thing to an impossibility that Hull's army passed over any part of Clark County. In addition to this, the writer has interviewed General Keifer, who was born near the route that is supposed to have been taken by Hull through Clark County, and he says he is satisfied that Hull's army did not pass along the supposed route in this county ; that his mother who was about thirteen years old at that time told him frequently of her trip to Dayton to see Hull's Army, and that his father, who was some fifteen years older than his mother and then living in the vicinity, had never seen Hull's Army at all. General Keifer further said "that if the army would have passed through that neighborhood he would surely have been told of the fact by his parents."

Of course, in the battle of Piqua, 1780, General Clark's troops came as far north as the location of this battle, but after it was over they did not proceed further, but returned to their Kentucky homes, having been gone less than a month.

Tradition has it that later in the year 1812, General McArthur passed through the eastern part of the county, not far from Catawba, in his journey from Chillicothe, then the capital of Ohio, to Urbana, which seems to have been a general starting i^oint for the trip further north. It is probable, however, that McArthur 's trip did not occur until some time after Hull's. During the same war some Ken-

As a matter of course the early highways through the county were nothing more than passageways clearedof obstructions, and naturally these ways would be laid out along the lines of least obstruction, and likewise where the streams could easily be forded. Timber being very plentiful, it was used extensively in the construction of the early roads. If there was a bog or marshy place to be passed over, timber was cut down and dragged into such places, and usually laid crosswise of the proposed road. This kind of a road received the name of corduroy. As civilization advanced, material of a more substantial character was used, and the corduroy road has now so completely passed out of existence that very few of the present generation know what the word means. You may rest assured that its surface was not one of extraordinary smoothness but possessed as large a proportion of "ups and downs" as one can well imagine. The writer well remembers driving when a boy over roads of this kind in various parts of the county.

The old national pike which extends through this entire county was first conceived by Albert Gallatin. As early as 1806 commissioners were appointed by President Jefferson to take the matter under consideration, and in 1811 a contract for the first ten miles west of Cumberland, Maryland, was laid, and in 1818 it was completed to the Ohio River at Wheeling. It was not, however, opened through Springfield until 1832.

In locating this road, in many places Indian and Buffalo trails were followed, mostly because they afforded the best course and the shortest routes. The business done over this road was ti'emendous, often as much as twenty or thirty wagons following each other carrying immense burdens. The advent of steam and the growth of raih'oads, however, cut short the building of this thoroughfare to its western extremity, which was originally intended to be Indianapolis and, possibly, St. Louis. It was never worked up, however, further than a short distance west of this county at a place called Brant. Indeed the grading stopped near the west line of Springfield Township. Bridges and other works of that kind were constructed further west. Five good covered bridges built at that time are still standing and in good order - at Donnels Creek, Jackson Creek - Mad River, Buck Creek, and Beaver Creek. Along this highway there soon arose a large number of small villages and hotels, or taverns as they were then called. Specimens of these still exist in this county, notably in the villages of Brighton, Vienna and Harmony. For a number of years this road remained in the control of the United States Government, afterwards it was ceded to the state and it in turn to the various counties through which it extended.

About the time of and after the construction of the National Road private enterprise took up the question of building roads in the various parts of the county. In 1843 John Minnich and others received a charter for what became the longest toll road in the county leading from Dayton to Westville, about three miles west of TJrbana, being a total of thirtyfour miles. At a later date a pike was built toward ITrbana by E. B. Cassily and associates, and another road was built from Springfield to South Charleston and one to New Carlisle. Parties using the public highways today hardly realize the amount of annoyance that has been done away with by abolishing the toll gate and making the roads free. No matter how short the distance travelled or how cold or inopportune the time, when you came to the toll gate you had to stop and pay the stipend demanded and it was not a small amount. The writer remembers that the toll on the Urbana Pike, from Springfield to the County line, for a horse and buggy was 25c round trip, a sum which now would pay the fare on the electric line for the round trip over the same distance. Along in 1867, in pursuance to laws that had been previously passed, a numl)er of free turnpikes were constructed throughout the county, the expense being met by taxing the land owners whose property lay on each side of said roads. Recently the travel by automobiles has caused the question of good roads to be aa'itated more thoroughly than heretofore,. Perhaps it is too much to say that this agitation is alone due to the automobiles, for even prior to the requirements of this class of travel, the subject of good roads seemed to have new life infused into it, and the legislature has accordingly made provision for state aid. Generally speaking, however, it may be said that the roads of Clark County are in a reasonably good condition. Perhaps no locality in the state is blessed with a jnore plentiful supply of first class material both in the way of limestone rock and natural gravel than is our county. There is today about 320 miles of county turnpikes. Added to this may be some 500 additional miles of township and county roads.

In Mr. Hypes ' address at the City Centennial he divides these roads up among the townshijjs, as follows: Bethel Township 39 miles; German Township 33 miles; Green Township, 55 miles; Harmony Township 50 miles; Mad River Township. 47 miles ; Moorefield Township 49 miles; Madison Township 66 miles; Pike Township .30 miles; Pleasant Township 45 miles; Springfield Township 84 miles.

With the coming of steam there vanisjied from our county one of the most picturesque conveyances of travel - the stage coacli. It was a large lumbering wagon with springs, a good imitation of which most of the present generation have seen in Buffalo Bill's street parade, sometimes having as many as six horses, usually but four, however. The routes of these stages through Clark County were iivincipally east over the National

Road, south over the road to Yellow Springs or down by Enon and west over the National Road and north over the Urbana Pike. They ceased running on the National road in 1853. The ease with which travel was performed would hardly compare however with the Pullman coach of today. A poet has described it as follows:

As descriptive of a stage coach journey through this county, the following is taken from a tour that was ibade in 1834 by a Mr. Reed, from Great Britain, who traveled from Sandusky south to Cincinnati. Commencing with that part of his journey at Columbus, he says:

"Columbus has a good location in the heart of the State. It contains about 4,000 persons, and is in a very advancing condition. This indeed is true of all the settlements in this state and you will hardly think it can be otherwise, when I inform yoii that forty years ago there

"The inn at which we stopped is the rendezvous of the stages. Among others there were two ready to start for Cincinnati. On seeking to engage my place the inquiry was, 'Which will you go by, sir? the fast or slow line?' Weary as I was of the slow line, I exclaimed, 'Oh, the fast line, certainly!' I quickly found myself enclosed in a good coach, carrying the mail, and only six persons inside. In this journey we had but three.

"Rough Traveling. - In demanding to go by the fast line I was not aware of all the effects of my choice. It is certainly a delightful thing to move with some rapidity over a good road : but on a bad road, with stubborn springs, it is really terrible. For miles out of Columbus the road is shamefully bad : and as our horses were kept on a trot, however slow, I was not only tumbled and shaken as on the previous day, but so jarred and jolted as to threaten serious mischief. Instead, therefore, of finding a lounge, or sleep, as I had hoped, in this comfortable coach, I was obliged to be on the alert for every jerk. And after all I could do, my teeth were jarred, my hat was many times thrown from my head, and all my bruises bruised over again. It was really an amusement to see its laboring to keep our places.

"Jefferson. - About noon we paused at the town called Jefferson. We were to wait half an hour; there would be no other chance of dinner ; but there were no signs of dinner here. However, I had been on very short supplies for the last twentv-four hours, and considered it mv di;ty to eat if I could. I applied to the good woman of the inrij^ and in a veryshort time she placed venison, fruit-tarts and tea before me, all very clean and the venison excellent. It was a refreshing repast, and the demand on my purse was only twenty-five cents.

" 'How long have you been here?' I said to my hostess, who stood by me fanning the dishes to keep off the flies. ' Only came last fall, sir.' 'How old is this town?' 'Twenty-three months, sir - then the first house was built. '

"There are now about 500 persons settled here, and there are three good hotels. There is something very striking in these rapid movements of life and civilization in the heart of the forest.

"Noble Forests. - On leaving Jefferson we plunged again into the forest, and toward evening we got on the greensward or natural road. This was mostly good and uncut, and we bowled along in serpentine lines, so as to clear the stumps, with much freedom. The scenery now, even for the forest, was becoming unusually grand. It repeatedly broke away from you, so as to accumulate the objects in the picture, and to furnish all the beauties of light, shade and perspective. The trees, too, were mostly oak, and of finest growth. Their noble stems ran up some hundred feet above you, and were beautifully feathered with verdant foliage. Thei'e they ran off in the distance, parklike, but grander far, in admirable grouping, forming avenues, galleries, and recesses, redolent with solemn loveliness; and here, they stood before you like the thousand pillars of one vast imperishable temple for the worship of the Great Invisible. Well might our stout forefathers

"Yellow Springs and Springfield. - "I passed in this day's ride the Yellow Springs and Springfield. The former is a watering-place. There is a fine spring of chalybeate and an establishment capable of receiving from 350 to 200 visitors; it is resorted to for the purpose of health, hunting and fishing. Springfield is a flourishing town, built among the handsome hills that abound in this vicinity. It is one of the cleanest, brightest, and most inviting that I have seen. But all the habitations were as nothing compared with the forest. I have been traveling through it for two days and nights, and still it was the same. Now, you came to a woodman's hut in the solitudes; now a farm; and now to a village, by courtesy called a town or a city; but it is still the forest. You drove on for miles through it unbroken; then you came to a small clearance and a young settlement; and then again you plunged into the wide, everlasting forest to be with nature and with God. This night I had also to travel and, weary as I was, T was kept quite on the alert.

"A Thunderstorm. - I had longed to witness a storm in the forest and this was to happen earlier than my anticipations. The day had been hot, but fine ; the night came on sultry, close and silent. The beautiful fire-flies appeared in abundance; summer lightuiiiJi- began to flash across the heavens. All this time clouds were moving from every part of the circumference to the center of the .sky. At length they formed a heavy, den=e, black canojiy over our heads, leaving the horizon clear and bright. The lightning, which at tirst appeared to have uo center, had now consolidated their forces behind this immense cloud, and were playing round its whole circle with great magnificence and brilliancy; continually the prodigious cloud was getting larger and darker, and descending nearer to us, so as powerfully to awaken expectation. The splendid coruscations which played round its margin now ceased and all was still. In an instant the forked lightning broke from the very center of the cloud; the thunder, deep and loud, shook the earth, and rolled and pealed through the heavens; the heavy rain dashed in unbroken channels to the ground, and the mighty winds burst forth in their fury and roared and groaned ainong the giant trees of the wood. There were we, in the deep forest and in the deep night and in the midst of a storm such as I had never witnessed. Oh, it was grand! God's own voice in God's own temple! Never did I see so much of the poetic truth and beauty of that admirable ode. 'The choice of the Lord,' etc. It ceased as suddenly as it began. The winds which bore the cloud away left all behind calm; and the tirefly, which had been eclipsed or affrighted, reappeared and sparkled over us in tli? profound darkness, and presently the stars of a higher sphere looked forth benignantly on the lower elements and all was peace."

A description of this trip is given in his "American Notes." From Pittsburg he went to St. Louis and returned to Cincinnati by boat. From Cincinnati he went to Columbus and thence north until he struck the old Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, which was built as far as Tiffin. His description of this journey is certainly interesting as regards the stage coach and the country through which he traveled. Nothing is said as to whether or not he came ])y way of Springfield, but probably he did. In narrating his trip from Columbus to Springfield he says :

"Our place of destination in the first instance is Columbus. It is distant about a hundred and twenty miles from Cincinnati, but there is a macadamized road (rare blessing!) the whole way, and the rate of travelling upon it is six miles an hour.

"We start at eight o'clock in the morning, in a great mail coach, whose huge cheeks are so very ruddy and plethoric, that it appears to be troubled Avith a tendency of blood to the head. Dropsical it certainly is, for it will hold a dozen passengers inside. But, wonderful to add, it is very clean and bright, being nearly new; and rattles through the streets of Cincinnati gaily.

"Our way lies through a beautiful country, richly cultivated and luxuriant in its promise of an abundant hai-vest. Sometimes we pass a field where the strong bristling stalks of Indian corn look like a crop of walking-sticks, and sometimes an enclosure where the green wheat is springing up among a labyrinth of stumps; the primitive worm-fence is universal, and an ugly thing it is; but the farms are neatly kept, and, save for these

"We often stop to water at a roadside inn, which is always dull and silent. The coachman dismounts and fills his bucket, and holds it to the horses' heads. There is scarcely ever anyone to help him; there are seldom any loungers standing round; and never any stable company with jokes to crack. Sometimes, when we have changed our team, there is a difficulty in starting again, arising out of a prevalent mode of breaking a young horse; which is to catch him, harness him against his will, and put him in a stage-coach, without further notice; but we get on somehow or oth'er, after a great many kicks and a violent struggle; and jog on as before again.

"Occasionally, when we stop to change, some two or three half-drunken loafers will come loitering out with their hands in their pockets, or will be seen kicking their heels in rocking-chairs, or lounging on the window-sill, or sitting on a rail within the colonnade. They have not often anything to say, though, either to us or to each other, but sit there idly staring at the coach and horses. The landlord of the inn is usually among them, and seems, of all the pai'ty. to be the least connected with the business of the house. Indeed, he is with reference to the tavern, what the driver is in relation to the coach and jjassengers; whatever happens in his sphere of action, he is quite indifferent, and perfectly easy in his mind.

"The frequent change of coachmen woi'ks no change or variety in the coachman's character. He is always dirty, sullen and taciturn. If he is capable of smartness of any kind, moral or physical, he has a faculty of concealing it which is truly marvelous. He never speaks to you as you sit beside him on the box, and if you speak to him, he answers (if at all) in monosjilables. He points out nothing on the road, and seldom looks at anything; being, to all appearance, thoroughly weary of it, and of existence generally. As to doing the honours of his coach, his business, as I have said is with the horses. The coach follows because it is attached to them and goes on wheels ; not because 5"ou are in it. Sometimes, towards the end of a long stage, he suddenly breaks out into a discordant fragment of an election song, but his face never sings along with him ; it is only his voice, and not often that.

"He always chews and always spits, and never incumbers himself with a pocket handkeiThief. The consequences to the box passenger, especially when the wind blows towards him, are not agreeable.

"Whenever the coach stops, and you can hear the voices of the inside passengers; or whenever any bystander addresses them, or any one among them; or they address each other ; you will hear one phrase repeated over and over and over again to the most extraordinary extent. It is an ordinary and unpromising phrase enough, being neither more or less than 'Yes, sir;' but it is adapted to every variety of circumstances, and fills up evei-y pause in the conversation. Thus :

"The time is one o'clock, noon. The scene, a place where we ai*e to stay to dine on this journey. The coach drives up to the door of an inn. The day is warm, and there are several idlers lingering about the tavei-u, and waiting for

"The conversational powers of the company having been by this time pretty heavily taxed, the straw hat opens the door and gets out ; and all the rest alight also. We dine soon afterwards with the boarders in the house and have nothing to drink but tea and coffee. As they are both very bad and the water is worse, I ask for brandj'; but it is a Temperance Hotel, and spirits are not to be had for love or money. This preposterous forcing of unpleasant drinks down the reluctant throats of travellers, is not at all uncommon in America, but I never discovered that the scruples of such wincing landlords induced them to preserve any unusually nice balance between the quality of their fare, and their scale of charges; on the contrary, I rather suspected them of diminishing the one and exalting the other, by way of recompense for the loss of their profit on the sale of spirituous liquors. After all, perhaps, the plainest course for persons of such tender consciences, would be, a total abstinence from tavern-keeping.

"Dinner over, we get into another vehicle which is ready at the door (for the coach has been changed in the interval), and resume our journey, which continues through the same kind of country until evening, when we come to the town where we are to stop for tea and supper; and having delivered the mail bags, at the Post Office, ride through the usual wide street, lined with the usual stores and houses (the drapers always having hung up at their door, by way of sign, a piece of bright red cloth), to the hotel where this meal is prepared. There being many boarders here, we sit down, a large party, and a very melancholy one as usual. But there is a buxom hostess at the head of the table, and opposite, a simple Welsh schoolmaster with his wife and child, who came here on a speculation of greater promise than performance, to teach the classics; and they are sufficient subjects of interest until the meal is over, and another coach is ready. In it we go on once more, lighted by a bright moon, until midnight, when we stop to change the coach again, and remain for half an hour or so in a miserable room, with a blurred lithograph of Washington over the smoky fire-place, and a mighty jug of cold water on the table: to which refreshment the moody passengers do so apply themselves that they would seem to be, one and all, keen patients of Doctor Sangrado. Among them is a very little boy, who chews tobacco like a very big one ; and a droning gentleman, who talks arithmetically and statistically on all subjects, from poetry downwards; and who always speaks in the same key, with exactly the same emphasis, and with very grave deliberation. He came outside just now, and told me how that the uncle of a certain young lady who had been spirited away and married by a certain captain, lived in these parts; and how his uncle was so valiant and ferocious that he shouldn't wonder if he were to follow the said captain to England, "and shoot him down in the street, wherever he found him;" in the feasibility of which strong measure I, being for the moment rather prone to contradiction, from feeling half asleep and very tired, declined to ac- quiesce; assuring him that if the uncle did resort to it, or gratified any other little whim of the like nature, he would find himself one morning prematurely throttled at the Old Bailey; and that he would do well to make his will before he went, as he would cei^tainly want it before he had been in Britain very long.

"On we go, all night, and by-and-by the day begins to break, and presently the first cheerful rays of the warm sun came slanting on us brightly. It sheds its light upon a miserable waste of sodden grass, and dull trees, and squalid huts, whose asjject is forlorn and grievous in the last degree. A very desert in the wood, whose growth of green is rank and noxious like that upon the top of standing water ; where poisonous fungus grows in the rare footprint on the oozy ground, and spouts like witches' coral from the crevices in the cabin wall and floor; it is a hideous thing to lie upon the very threshold of a city. But it was purchased years ago, and as the owner cannot be discovered, the State has been unable to reclaim it. So there it remains, in the midst of cultivation and improvement, like ground accursed, and made obscene and rank by some great crime.

"We reached Columbus shortly before seven o'clock, and stayed there to refresh that day and night; having excellent apartments in a very large unfinished hotel called the Neill House, which were richly fitted with the polished wood of the black walnut, and opened on a handsome portico and stone veranda, like rooms in some Italian mansion. The town is clean and pretty, and of course is 'going to be' much larger. It is the seat of the State legislature of Ohio, and

"There being no stage-coach next day, upon the road we wished to take, I hired 'an extra' at a reasonable charge, to carry us to Tififin, a small town from whence there is a railroad to Sandusky. This extra was an ordinary four-horse stagecoach, such as I have described, changing horses and drivers, as the stage-coach would, but was exclusively our own for the journey. To ensure our having horses at the proper stations, and being incommoded by no strangers, the proprietors sent an agent on the box, who was to accompany us the whole way through; and thus attended, and bearing with us, besides, a hamper full of savoury cold meats and fruit and wine, we started off again in high spirits, at half past six o'clock next morning, very much delighted to be by ourselves, and disposed to enjoy even the roughest journey.

"It was well for us that we were in this humour, for the road we went over that day was certainly enough to have shaken tempers that were not resolutely at Set Fair, down to some inches below Stormy. At one time we were all flung together in a heap at the l)ottom of the coach, and at another we were crushing our heads against the roof. Now one side was down deep in the mire, and we were holding on to the other. Now the coach was lying on the tail.% of the two wheelers; and now it was rearing up in the air, in a frantic state, with all four horses standing on the top of an insurmountable eminence, looking coolly back at it, as though they would say 'unharness us. It can 't be done. ' The drivers on these roads, who certainlv get over the ground in a manner which is quite miraculous, so twist and turn the team about in forcing a passage, corkscrew fashion, through the bogs and swamps, that it was quite a common circumstance on looking out of the window to see the coachman with !iio ends of a pair of reins in his hands, apparently driving nothing, or playing at horses, and the leaders staring at one unexpectedly from the back of the coach, as if they had some idea of getting up behind. A great portion of the way was over what is called a corduroy road, which is made by throwing trunks of trees into a marsh and leaving them to settle thert. The very slightest of the jolts with which the ponderous carriage fell from log to log was enough, it seemed, to have dislocated all the bones in the human body. It would be impossible to experience a similar set of sensations, in any other circumstances, unless perhaps in attempting to go up to the top of St. Paul's in an omnibus. Never, never once that day was the coach in any position, attitude, or kind of motion to which we are accustomed in coaches. Never did it make the smallest approach to one's experience of the proceedings of any sort of vehicle that goes on wheels.

"Still, it was a fine day, and the temperature was delicious, and though we had left Summer behind us in the west, and were fast leaving Spring, we were moving towards Niagara and home. We alighted in a pleasant wood towards the middle of the day, dined on a fallen tree, and leaving our best fragments with a cottager, and our worst with the pigs (who swarm in this part of the country like grains of sand on the sea-shore, to

"As night came on, the track grew narrower and narrower, until at last it so lost itself by instinct. We had the comfort of knowing, at least, that there was no danger of his (the driver) falling asleep, for eveiy now and then a wheel would strike against an unseen stump with such a jerk that he was fain to hold on pretty tight and pretty quick to keep himself upon the box. Nor was there any reason to dread the least danger from furious driving, inasmuch as over that broken ground the horses had enough to do to walk; as to shying there was no room for that; and a herd of wild elephants could not have run away in such a wood, with such a coach at their heels. So we stmubled along, quite satisfied.

"These stumps of trees are a curious feature in American travelling. The varying illusions they present to the unaccustomed eye as it grows dark, are quite astonishing in their number and reality. Now, there is a Grecian urn erected in the center of a lonely field ; now there is a woman weeping at a tomb ; now a very common-place old gentleman in a white waistcoat, with a thumb thrust into each arm-hole of his coat; now a student poring on a book; now a crouching negro; now a horse, a dog, a cannon, an armed man; a hunchback throwing off his cloak and stepping forth into the light. They were often as entertaining to me as so many glasses in a magic lantern, and never took their shapes at my bidding, but seemed to force themselves upon me, whether I would or not; and strange to say, I sometimes recognized in them counter parts of figures once familiar to

"It soon became too dark, liowever, even for this amusement, and the trees were so close together that their dry branches rattled against the coach on either side and obliged us all to "keep our heads within. It lightened too for tliree whole hours, each flasli being very bright and blue and long; and as the vivid streaks came darting in among the crowded branches, and the thunder rolled gloomily above the tree tops, one could scarcely help thinking that there were better neighborhoods at such a time than thick woods afforded.

"At length, between ten and eleven o'clock at night, a few feeble lights appeared in the distance, and Upper Sandusky, an Indian village, where we were to stay till morning, lay before ns.

"They were gone to bed at the log inn, which was the only house of entertainment in the place, but soon answered to our knocking, and got some tea lot us in a sort of kitchen or common room, tapestried with old newspapers, pasted against the wall. The bed-chamber to which my wife and I were shown was a large, low, ghostly room, with a quantity of withered branches on the hearth, and two doors without any fastening, oj^posito to each other, both opening on the black night and wild covmtry, and so contr-ived that one of them alwavs blew the other open; a novelty in domestic architecture, which I do not remember to have seen before, and which I was somewhat discon certed to have forced on my attention after getting into bed, as I had a considerable Sinn in gold for our travelling expenses iu my dressing-case. Some of the luggage, however, piled against the panels, soon settled this difficulty, and my sleep would not have been very much affected that night, I believe, though it had failed to do so.

"My Boston friend climbed up to bed, somewhere in the roof, where another guest was already snoring hugely. But being bitten beyond his power of endurance, he turned out again and fled for shelter to the coach, which was airing itself in front of the house. This was not a very politic step, as it turned out, for the pigs scenting him, and looking upon the coach as a kind of pie with some manner of meat inside, grunted around it so hideously that he was afraid to come out again, and lay there shivering till morning. Nor was it possible to warm him when he did come out by means of a glass of brandy; for in Indian villages the legislature, with a very good and wise intention, forbids the sale of spirits by tavernkeepers. The precaution, however, is quite inefficacious, for the Indians never fail to procure liquors of a worse kind at a dearer price from travelling i^cdlers."

Chapter Xi Railroads And Traction Lines

It has been observed by those who have made a study of such matters, that many of our great lines of transportation follow the "trail" made by wild animals or by the original inhabitants. There is no doubt but that one of these trails extended from the Ohio River, at a point where Eagle River enters it in Brown County, noi-th through the City of Springfield, and to Sandusky Cit}^ on the Lake. This trail may have been joined in or near our city by another one leading from Cincinnati, and thus we find that the earliest railroads in Ohio follow this trail from Cincinnati to Sandusky. About the time that railroads came into existence, the canal system of our state was being agitated. Several canals had been projected or partly built making connection between the Ohio River and Lake Erie at Cleveland.

Before the "advent of railways to Springfield, goods were received in Central and Southern Ohio by way of the National Road running east and west through Ohio by way of Wheeling and Baltimore, by four-horse coaches. The time was four or five days, or, if that route was not taken, the other one presenting itself was by way of Lake Erie, using the Buffalo and Erie Canal. When Buffalo was connected with the Hudson River, both by canal and railway, it was at once seen that a railway from Sandusky to Cincinnati would furnish an expeditious method of transporting merchantable articles from the East to Central and Southern Ohio.

As early as 1817 the legislature considered a resolution relating to a canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and on June 5, 1832, the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland Railroad, or, as it was then known, the Mad River & Lake Erie, was granted a charter, and in 1837 the Little Miami Railroad was begun. The construction of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railway, like most railroad building of that time, did not progress very rapidly and the line did not reach Spring-field until 1848.

In 1850 the Columbus & Xenia Railroad was built which now forms a part of the Pennsylvania system running through South Charleston and with which the Little Miami is connected.

In the same year the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad was extended to Dayton and we then had two competing railroads to Cincinnati, the latter road making connection at Dayton with

The first railroad to enter Springfield was the Little Miami Railroad, and this event happened on Thursday, the 1st day of August, 1846, the "locomotive Ohio" being the one which drew the first train of cars into our city. The Mad River & Lake Erie entered on September 2, 1848. The locomotive liringing its first train of cars on this road was called the "Seneca."

making connection with the Mad River & the C." H. & D. The first train left for Dayton in 1851. In that year construction of the railroad from Springfield to London was begun, which was completed in 1853.

Likewise the railroad from Springfield to Delaware, which was then designated as the Springfield, Mt. Vernon & Pittsburg Railroad, had its inception in the same year, 1851.

In 1864 the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad was constructed in Clark County. The intention of its promoters was to form a through line from the xltlantie to the Pacific Ocean. It was built as a broad-gauge line, being one foot wider between its track rails than the ordinary road. Those in charge of its construction did not look upon Spring-field as a city of sufficient importance to make the connection of their line with it a profitable enterprise, therefore they did not go through the city, a mistake which, long before this, has caused regret to those interested in its fortunes. Its gauge was afterwards changed to that of the standard width, and its name to the New York. Pennsylvania & Ohio, and it is now known as the "N^q^auo" and is under lease and control of the Erie system.

In September, 1874, the Springfield, Jackson & Pomeroy Railroad was organized and was intended to extend from Springfield to the Ohio River. It was one of the first narrow-gauge roads in the state. Quite a number of Springfield citizens invested in the stock of the company and many of them found, after the )*ailroad was wound up by a receiver, that they were compelled to pay a second time under the constitution liability that then applied to a stockholder in a corporation, the full amount of their original stock. This road was open in 1878 and had but a short life, for in 1879 it was sold at a receiver's sale and its gauge was changed to that of standard width, "lud it was then called the Ohio Southern Railroad.

In 1881 the railroad was finished between Spring-field and Indianapolis, being a continuation of the road that extended from Peoria to Indianapolis, and was known as the I. B. & W. This road, after going through the usual vicissitudes attending new railroads, was finally merged into the present Big Four system. The last railroad that was built in Springfield was an extension of the Ohio Southern from Springfield to Lima. This occurred in the year 1893.

Out of these various originally constructed railroads we now have but four systems entering the city - the C. C. C. & St. L., known as the Big Four, now controlling by lease or purchase the lines leading from this city to Sandusky and Cleveland by way of Columbus and by way of Delaware, Cincinnati and Indianapolis; the Little Miami, forming a part of the P. C. & St. L., or Panhandle system; the N. Y. P. & O., which has freight connections in the city over the D. T. & I., and is a part of the Erie system ; and the J). T. & I. Railway, which is the old Ohio Southern with a northern termination of wliat was formerly the Ann Arbor & Lake ^Michigan Railway.

For a number of years citizens of Springfield have been clamoring for better depot facilities, and at this writing it seems that proper buildings may be erected in the near future.

There are thirty-eight passenger trains in and out of the city daily over the C. C. C. & St. L. Railroad, four over the D. T. & I., four over the P. C. & St. L., and eight over the Erie.

The following from Uieken's description of a ride on the New England Railroad in 1842, not inappropi'iately describes some of the experiences on a railroad train at this day.

"The train calls at stations in the woods, where the wild impossibility of anybody having the smallest reason to get out, is only to be equalled by the apparently desperate hopelessness of there being anybody to get in. It rushes across the turnpike road, where there is no gate, no policeman, no signal; nothing but a rough wooden arch, on which is painted, "when the bei.l kings look out fob the LOCOMOTIVE." On it whirls headlong, dives through the woods again, emerges in the light, clatters over frail arches, rumbles upon the hea\n' ground, shoots beneath a wooden bridge which intercepts the light for a second like a wink, suddenly awakens all the slumbering echoes in the main street of a large town, and dashes on hap-hazard, pell-mell, neck or nothing, down the middle of the road. There - with mechanics working at their trades, and people leaning from their doors and windows, and boys flying kites and playing marbles, and men smoking, and women talking, and children crawling, and pigs burrowing, and accustomed horses plunging and rearing, close to the very rails - there - on, on, on - tears the mad dragon of an engine with its train of cars, scattering in all directions a shower of burning sparks from its wood fire; screeching, hissing, yelling, panting, until at last the thirsty monster stops beneath a covered way to drink, the people cluster round, and you have time to breathe again."

The first traction or inter-urban line that entered Springfield was the Dayton branch of the D. S. & U., in 1899. Later this line was extended to Urbana and Bellefontaine, and in 1901 the line to Columbus, which is known as the C. L. & S., was completed. They were both a part of one system and were finally sold by receivers, and are now known as the I. C. & E. inter-urban line.

In 1903 the traction line leading from Springfield to Xenia was completed, and in 1904 the S. T. & P., a road leading from Springfield to Troy, was finished.

In the same year a road was organized as the Springfield, South Charleston and Washington C. H. Railroad, which by lease enters into the city over the Xenia road, and was completed as far as South Charleston. It is now in the hands of a receiver, with great uncertainty as to what may be its future.

A line has been projected leading from Springfield south to Clifton and Cedarville, with the object in view of ultimately reaching Cincinnati, which has been promoted bv Mr. George H. Frev, Jr., of this

The result of construction of these various traction and railroad lines is that Springfield is one of the most accessible cities in the state and this fact has contributed very largely in securing the location of the fraternal homes now in our locality.

The first street railway built in Springfield was under an ordinance passed June 8th, 1869, and was put in operation the following year. It extended from Fountain Avenue west on High Street to Isabelle, and down Isabelle to Main, where it reached the power house ; i. e., a stable for the mules.

To accommodate the State Fair, which was held here in 1870, a line was extended west to and south on Western Avenue to the Fair Grounds. During fair times it was quite a success, but afterwards hardly had sufficient revenue to furnish horse feed. The mule and the empty car did not give much indication of what the street car service of Springfield some day might prove to be.

During the winter months it will be remembered that the donkeys had trouble in pulling the cars up the Limestone Street hill. To facilitate the handling of traffic an extra pair of mules was stationed at Pleasant Street and hooked on as the c-ars began to go up the long incline.

Charles H. Harris. By reason of George Spence being one of its eai'ly promoters it was given the name of " Spence 's Short Line." It had a precarious existence until its final absorption by the Citizens' Street Railway Company, organized in December, 1882.

On February 16, 1883, at a meeting of the stockholders of the Citizens' Railway Company, Asa S. Bushnell was instructed to ascertain from the owners of the street car line what thej' would take for the property. The directors of the Citizens' Company were D. W. Stroud, B. H. AYarder," A. S. Bushnell, W. A. Scott and Ross Mitchell. Mr. Bushnell reported at a subsequent meeting that the property could be secured for $14,000. He was authorized to make an offer of $13,000, and the owners, P. P. Mast and D. W. Stroud, accepted it and gave a deed for the property. This railway in the hands of the new ownei^ commenced street car extension in earnest and made extended improvements in various directions. I. Ward Frey built the first electric line in 1891, leading from an addition that he had laid out in the south and called Landsdowne, north on Center to High, then east on High to Fountain Avenue, and north on Fountain Avenue to McCreight Avenue.

The Citizens' Street Railway was purchased by the Sjiringfield Railway system, which was organized in 1892. In June of this year application was made to run all cars by electricity, and this companv absorbed the Frey line and now owns and controls all the street car lines in the city, having one central transfer station at the corner of High and Limestone streets. The niiloniie of this road in the city is about thirtj^ miles and it furnishes very convenient access to all parts of the city. Oscar T. Martin is president and John H. Miller manager of the company.

Telephone Companies

The first telegraph system was installed in Springfield in 1848 by Ira Anderson, under the old Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Louisville Company, generally called the O'Reilly Line. This line was in operation during the presidential canvass of 1848. George H. Frey, Sr., set up the next instrument in 1849. This was the Cincinnati and Sandusky Company's property, better known as the Morse Line. These two companies consolidated into the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1849. In 1864 Mr. John W. Parsons, now superintendent of the Masonic Home, took charge. Mr. Parsons was connected with the telegraph business as a messenger boy from 1852.

In 1863 the Atlantic and Pacific Company opened an office, James P. Martindale, now a resident of South Charleston, conducting the affairs of this company for a time.

The American Union Telegraph Company opened up in 1880, and in 1881 all these lines were consolidated with the "Western Union, which controls the major part of the business to this day, George R. Carter being now manager and having been for a number of years. In connection with the Western Union there is conducted the American District Telegraph Company and the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, and they have had an office at No. 110 South Limestone Street for some years, the other telegraph comjianies be-

The first telephone company to operate in this city was organized July, 1880, and operates the Bell system. It is controlled by the Central LTnion, with its headquarters at Chicago. It has a long distance communication with almost every city in Ohio and pretty generally throughout Clark County, having branch exchanges at Enon, Harmony, New Carlisle, North Hampton, New Moorefield, Pitchin, South Charleston. Tremont City, Thackery and Vienna Cross Roads. The service of this company is now reasonably good. Major R. B. Hoover has been manager of the Bell System, with the exception of an interregnum of about five years, since 1891.^

The Bel] Telephone occupy nice quarters of their own on East High Street, next to the Lagonda Club Building. This company moved into their present building, which cost, including ground, about $40,000, on March 4, 1900.

For a time the Bell system and service was subject to a great deal of complaint. Repeated efforts upon part of the citizens to have the company better the service seemed to have no effect. This resulted in the formation of what is now known as the Home Telephone System. This company was organized in 1900; Mr. JuA'enal and John B. and S. F. McGrew were very prominent in its organization. Afterwards it was purcliased by the Springfield-Xenia Telephone Company, Governor Bushnell being interested in this line. This company has succeeded in securing a very large list of subscribers in the city and in various parts of the county. It is not so well equipped with branch offices throughout the county as the Bell system, but at this time both systems are offering and furnishing reasonably good service to the citizens of Springfield and Clark County. Of the Home Telephone Company the officers for 1907 were E. C. Gwynn, president; S. F. McGrew, vice president; R. E. Mills, treasurer; Delos Odell, secretary. In 1901 the office building for the company was erected on Center Street, between Main and High Streets.

Chapter Xii

'Tis twenty years since last I stood On the spot where I stand today, 1 rode there often when I wa-; young. And Nelly is wed, and the miller is dead.

In the absence of facilities for transporting the necessities of life, the erection of mills producing these necessities became one of the first industries in which the pioneer was engaged. In this age we can hardly conceive of the importance of an industry of this kind.

Prior to the introduction of railways the means for transporting articles from one part of the country to another was either by water or by wagons drawn by horses, and when we consider further that the first railway that entered the city of Springfield did so in 1846, we begin to realize the importance of the various mills that had been erected up to this time upon Mad River and its tributaries for the purpose of converting grain into flour to supply the necessities of the immediate neighborhood, and into whiskey to be in that condition moi-e easily sold and transported to other communities. The average fall of the Valley of Mad River through Clark County is from eight to ten feet to the mile. Some of its tributaries have a much greater decline, and no doubt the fact that Mad River and its tributaries afforded favorable opportunities for the erection of mills contributed largely to an early settlement of this county. Prior to the introduction of railways and the building of mills it was necessary to haul flour by wagon ways from Dayton and Cincinnati to the South, and as far as Sandusky to the North, to which place it was taken by boat from the place of its manufacture.

A very large number of mills and distilleries were erected along the streams in this county and a very few of them are in active operation to this day. At many places they have rotted down and have been taken away, and almost every sign of their former existence has disappeared.

Mills Of Mad River

Probably the first mill that was built on Mad River in Clark County was erected by Archibald Steele, who settled in the village of Medway in 1807. It was a grist-mill and nothing veiw definite is known at this time further concerning it. A few years aftei'wards a man by the name of McQueen built a saw-mill and grist-mill a short distance above Medway, which was afterwards owned by Mr. Jacob Hershey. It was torn down in 1832 and never rebuilt.

The second mill that was built upon Mad River in this county was a saw- and hemp-mill erected in 1808 by Jacob Kiblinger, where the present mill at Eagle City is located. About 1820 Daniel Kiblinger and Ira Paige built a grist mill at the same point, which they operated until 1832, when it was purchased by Merriweather and Clark, who ran it until 1837, when it was sold to Adam Baker. He was succeeded by Baker and Haroff and they by Kiblinger and Stoner, and afterwards it became the property of Bryant and O'Rourke, and was latterly owned by S. R. Hockman, who continued it as a grist- mill until his death about 1900. It was operated for a few years afterwards by his heirs, then sold to W. S. Neese, who finally disposed of it to H. L. Detrick, who is conducting it at this time as a grist-mill. A saw-mill was until a few years ago operated at the same point. At one time whiskey was distilled here.

Prior to 1810 Charles Rector built a small distillery at the mouth of Storm's Creek in the northern part of German Township on Mad River. Later he put up a grist- and saw-mill at the same place. This mill was afterwards operated for a number of years by Gersham Gard. The mill has long since disappeared. A race running north into Champaign County is the only evidence of the use of mill power at a former period at this place.

In 1810 Phillip Kizer built a grist-mill on Mad River somewhere not far from Tremont City. As to any matters concerning it in detail, little is known of it at this time. Indeed its exact location cramot be determined. At a later time he a Jded a still. Many of the stills that \vere added to these mills at an early date were of the very limited character.

About 1818 John and James Leffel erected a grist-mill at a point on Mad River, which has at various times been known as Hertzler's Mills, Tecumseh Mills and Snyderville. John Leffel died soon thereafter, and it was continued by James until about 1831. He sold it to a Mr. Minard, who became embarrassed, and the property was sold at sheriff's sale to the late Daniel Hertzler, who ran the mill and distillery for about twenty years and amassed a large fortune. It changed hands afterwards on several occasions and is now the property of Henry Snyder's heirs. It stands there, a monument of its former greatness, idle and inactive.

About 1830 John Shartle built a gristmill, to which was afterwards added a distillery, a short distance below Medway. This mill was known as the Woodbury Mill. It continued in operation as a grist-mill until some fifteen or twenty years ago when its active use was abandoned. It is still standing.

Somewhere about the year 1830 Charles Ross built a mill a short distance south of where the Eagle City Mills are now located, in what is now a field a short distance east of the St. Paris Pike and pretty nearly opposite the road leading east from the Valley Pike. This mill was afterwards operated as a carding-mill by a man by the name of Shearer. All signs of the former location of this mill have been obliterated, the spot where it stood being now in the midst of a cultivated field.

About the year 1830 a grist-mill and distillery was built on Mad River on the Nauman farm in Section 7. It is not known at present who built the mill. A few years afterwards it was purchased by

Andrew Seitz, Sr., the father of Jacob Seitz, a recent inhabitant of the city of Springfield. Nothing is known of its operation after the Seitz family left it. A depression in the ground where the former races were located is all that is left to indicate its former location.

In 1830 George Croft built a grist- and saw-mill and distillery on the lands lately owned by Martin Snider, in Bethel Township, on a race supplied from Mad River. This mill was operated by Mr. Croft and his sons for a number of years, and at a later period was operated as a grist-mill by Martin Snyder. It is now abandoned.

The flouring mill operated now by William L. Snyder, west of the city of Springfield on Mad River, was erected by Elijah Harnett in 1825, and was afterwards sold to Henry Snyder, the grandfather of the present proprietor. Mr. Snyder, Sr., build a distillery, which was operated by the sons, J. and D. L. Snyder, up to 1862. Here the Snyders gathered the nucleus of their great fortune. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1854, and afterwards rebuilt. At present it is used as a grist-mill exclusively.

This mill is located near Rock Run, where it enters Mad River southwest of the city. It was built in 1831 by Peter Sintz, Sr., and improved in 1880 by John and Samuel Arthur. After Mr. Sintz had managed it for some time he leased it to George Grisso. It experienced various vicissitudes, until it was finally purchased by the Arthurs, who ran it for some time, and then it ceased to perform its function. At odd times feed has been ground there in recent years. It now is the property of the Springfield and Dayton Traction Company.

In 1833 Andrew Leffel built a grist-mill a short distance above what is now known as the Rubsam Mill on Mad River and very close to the railway bridge. It was operated by Mr. LeiTel for about ten years. He sold it to James Robinson, who attached a distillery to it, and both mill and distillery were destroyed by fire about 1850, and were never rebuilt. There is no visible evidence of the place where this mill was located.

In 1839 Kiblinger and Kneisley built a mill east of Tremont City, and what was perhaps the largest distillery on Mad River. A grist-mill and saw-mill were attached to it. The industry caused the building of quite a number of houses in the immediate vicinity and it afterwards received the name of Owl Town (see villages). Not later than 1859 this establishment became the property of Daniel Blose, his son, John H. Blose, and his brotherin-law, Jacob Seitz. They conducted it for several years as a distillery and mill with very great profit.

And Eepr-Esentative Citizens

was carried on by Mr. J. H. Blose and C. F. Rohrer, but not for any great length of time, and now there is not a vestige of either distillery, grist- or saw-mill left upon the premises. Nothing there indicates the industry that formerly existed, excepting depressions where the waterways were formerly located.

This mill is located south of the railroad bridge on Mad Eiver, west of the city. It was originally built by Daniel Hertzler in 1865 and was completed and ready for operation at the time that Mr. Hertzler was murdered. Samuel Huffman, a son-in-law of Hertzler, ran it until 1869, when Mrs. J. W. Eubsam, a daughter of Mr. Hertzler, became the owner. It is still standing, but not in active operation and probably never will be.

Not far from Enon, fed largely by the spring that opens up on the Harshman farm, a mill was located at an early date by Mr. Layton, but this likewise has long since passed out of existence. A still was conducted there also.

Buck Ceeek

established his mill there. This was a grist-mill, and had attached thereto a carding-machine, which did not prove a success, owing to the want of perfect machinery. The grist-mill was small, and the machinery was run by hand. Kenton left this mill in 1812 and it afterwards became the property of Prickett and Beezely and later on was purchased by Jeremiah Warder.

Near where the spring is in Snyder Park Eobert Eennick, in 1807, built a grist-mill. There is some divergence of opinion as to the date on which this mill was erected. Mr. Ludlow, in his history of Spring-field, states that it was built as early as 1802, but Mr. Woodward, in his sketches, thinks it was probably built after Kenton built the mill at Lagonda. It was a flour- and grist-mill. It was either afterwards purchased by Mr. Henry Bechtel or was destroyed, and Mr. Bechtel built a new one in practically the same place. There is nothing there now to indicate a former mill site.

In 1814, or possibly as early as 1812, Peter Kitt erected a distillery on the large spring on a farm of the late J. T. Warder, near Lagonda. How extensive a business this mill was engaged in is not known.

The next mill that was erected on Buck Creek was built in Pleasant Township, in the year 1819, by William Hunter. This has been abandoned. This mill was lo- cated about one and a half miles west of Catawba. In later years it was run by John W. Yeazell. It has been abandoned for some time. It is now owned by a Mr. Tavener and occupied as a sheep stable, hay bam, etc.

Some time earlier than the Hunter Mill was that of the mill built by Mr. Dawson, near the present site of the grist-mill owned by J. M. Runyan on Buck Creek, south of Catawba. This was a small mill for grinding com. There was also a carding-machine in connection therewith. The present mill of J. M. Runyan was built by William Speakman.

Not far from this time (1830) Mr. John Croft became the possessor of a mill or mill site located about a mile and a half up the stream from Lagonda, conducting it as a mill and distillery, in a small way, for a good many years. Latterly a sawmill was at this i^lace. Both now have gone out of existence. This mill was originally built by a man named Ross.

In 1822 Nathaniel Cartmell built a grist-mill in Pleasant Township on Buck Creek. This was situated a short distance further west than the Hunter Mill. There was aftei-wards added to it a woolen-mill and distillery.

In 1830 Jeremiah Warder purchased the entire then existing village of Lagonda, consisting of eight or ten buildings, saw-mills, woolen-factory and grist-mill, for $3,000. He erected a new large mill

Somewhere about 1836, possibly at an earlier date, a mill which was afterwards known by the name of the Baldwin Mill, was erected on the west branch of Buck Creek not far south of the county line. It derived its name from the Baldwins, who became its owners and who ran it for many years. It was a grist-mill, but has long since ceased operation. Its location was close to where the Machanicsburg Pike crosses this branch of the stream.

In 1840 Samuel and James Bamett purchased the waterway upon which were afterwards built the Barnett mills, now owned and operated by Anstead, Burk & Co. The Barnetts operated this mill as a grist mill for more than a half-century. It has been enlarged and the business has been very much extended by its present owners. Where the present Buckeye

In 1840 Hugh Wilson started a stillhouse where the grist-mill is now located in the village of New Moorefield. This was operated in 1861. The grist-mill was afterwards built here and for a long time went by the name of the Yeazell Mill. It is still in active operation, John W. Yeazell being the present owner.

1847 the Barnetts leased land and power to Muzzey & Andrews, who operated a planing mill. This was afterwards sold to Samuel Kindelbarger and then sold to the P. P. Mast Company. In 1846 the Barnetts leased land and power to Oily Taylor, who built a linseed oil mill, which afterwards became the property of Smith & Dew, then passed to Smith & Boucher, then to Steele, Lajnuan & Co., and finally to the P. P. Mast Company.

In 1847 Charles Babbitts and Mr. Olds built a woolen-mill, which they operated until 1874. The building was afterwards occupied i3y Blount and Wilson and was taken down a few years ago.

In speaking of the mills of Buck Creek it is in order to say something about what is now known as the P. P. Mast Company, as this cori3oration uses part of the mill power of the creek in the operation of its works. In 1841 the Barnetts sold James Leffel one-twelfth part of the waterpower and the same amount to Richard Rodgers. Leffel started a saw-mill- and foundry, and afterwards he and Andrew Richards built and operated a cotton-mill and machine-shop, which afterwards passed into the hands of the P. P. Mast Company. Richard Rodgers sold his power back to James Barnett, who built a linseed oil mill, which he sold to John Foos. This mill was also al)- sorbed by P. P. ]\Iast Company, and in

In 1842 John A. Pitts, inventor of the Pitts Separator, came to this city from Rochester, New York, and bought land and power from the Barnetts and built shops for the manufacture of the Pitts Separator, which is now the property of 0. W. Kelly Company. It was operated after his death by his sons, and then passed into the hands of James W. Reinhart, Charles P. Ballard and L. H. Pursell.

In 1865 J. and D. L. Snyder constructed a hydraulic for the purpose of utilizing the waters of Buck Creek. This hydranlic commenced at the east end of the present park and ran down along the south and east lines of said park near Main Street. Part of it is utilized now for park purposes. The boating-pond and other features of the park are located on this hydraulic. Their intention was to build a mill and distillery, but just about that time the governmental tax became so high on whiskey that the original purpose was abandoned; and steam power having become more universal in its use the water power was never developed to its full extent. The same was leased for some time by Mr. John Foos and the St. John Sewing Machines were manufactured at a shop not far from Main Street. This burned down along in the early eighties and some time thereafter the water was turned off of the hydraulic.

Perhaps the most recent mill constructed on Buck Creek is what is known as the old Foos Oil Mill on the cliffs immediately west of Factory Street. It is now occupied by a laimdry.

Mr. John Foos in 1861 purchased the Barnett Oil Mill which had Ijeen erected in 1842 on Warder Street and in 1863 he bought the Steele, Layman & Company Oil Mill, which was built by Oily Taylor in 1846, and was also located on Warder Street. The machinery from these mills was removed in 1870 to the mills on the cliffs. This was operated by him until about 1890.

Undoubtedly the first mill erected on Beaver Creek is that which is known at present by the name of Redmond ]Mill and is located about four miles east of Springfield and half a mile north of the National Road. The first mill built at this place was erected about the year 1808 by John Foster. A man by the name of Buckles was the next owner. He connected a distillerv with it. Buckles sold it to John

Ree, and Ree in 1835 sold it to Robert Rodgers, who built a saw-mill in connection in 1837. In 1839 the whole premises were destroyed by fire. The grist-mill was rebuilt by Mr. Rodgers in 1840. In 1847 Thomas McCormick bought a half interest. About the year 1858 Lewis Huffman bought the mill, and in 1866 it was sold to Judson Redmond for $8,000. This mill is still in active operation. It is sometimes called the Junction Mills, because it is situated at the junction of Beaver Creek and Sinking Creek.

The next mill that was built on Beaver Creek was built by James Taylor in 1830. At first it had a carding and fulling-mill in connection with it. This was operated u]) to 1845, when it was abandoned. In 1849 it was remodeled by Charles Morgan, who purchased it of Taylor's administrators, who owned it until 1869. It was then purchased by Samuel Taylor, who occupied it until its abandonment a few years ago. In 1875 it was burned down, being struck by lightning. The next year it was rebuilt. It is not in use at this time, having been completely abandoned.

Shortly after the erection of the Taylor mill, Oliver Armstrong and Pierson Spinning, in the year 1832, built what was afterwards known as Benson's Mill. This mill was situated on the east side of the old Columbus Road, where Columbus Avenue now touches that road. Armstrong and Spinning operated it until

1852, when it was purchased by Mr. J. M. Benson. He made improvements and operated the mill until the eighties, when it was abandoned. It afterwards was destroyed by fire. There is nothing at present to indicate its former location, which was about one mile down the stream from Taylor's Mill excepting the indications of the former race-bed. A still was carried on here. This mill was burned in 1885. These mills were about the only mills on Beaver Creek that assume the position of grist-mills. There were a large number of saw-mills.

In 1830 James Haney on Beaver Creek, south of 'Vienna, erected a saw-mill which was operated for about 35 years. In 1839 James Goodfeilow and Zephania Sexton built a saw-mill on Beaver Creek about two miles down the stream from the Haney Mill. This mill was operated for a number of years latterly by Mr. Erastus Bennett, but it is not now in operation.

In 1845 Robert Smith built a saw-mill about a mile furtlier down the stream and immediately south of the National Road, between that road and the Springfield and Columbus Traction Line. This mill was operated until about the year 1890 when it was likewise abandoned.

the founder of Springfield, in 1803, at the mouth of Mill Run. It was a grist-mill, as stated in Beers' Histoiy and was of small proportions, but was a very gx-eat convenience to the settlers of the neighborhood. It seems to the writer, however, that he has seen it elsewhere stated that a still was conducted in connection with this mill; but if so it was no doubt in a limited way. The capacity of this mill was about twenty-five bushels of corn every twenty-four hours.

In 181-4 Maddox Fisher built a mill not far from the mouth of Mill Run. Whether it was a grist- or cotton-mill, or both, is not known. It was destroyed by fire in 1834. It was probably a cotton-mill. In the lower part of this mill Ira Paige about 1814 started a woolen factory, and continued it for fifteen years.

In 1817 Griffith Foos had a small mill in operation where the shops of the Foos Gas Engine are now located. This mill was, as far as we know, an oil-mill and was afterwards removed to East Street, about where the Common Sense Engine Works were built, now occupied by the Herb Medicine Company, and was used as a cotton manufactorj'^ and afterwards as a flax-mill.

In 1827 on Mill Run between Columbia and North Streets, James Lowiy, J. W. Kills and Dr. Ambrose Blount built a paper-mill. It was run until 1836 as a hand paper-mill when it was changed into a machine mill and so rim until 1861, when it was purchased by William D. Hill. In 1864 Marshtield Steele purchased this property and remodeled it into a tobacco factory, which was operated under the name of J. W. Kidder & Co. until 1869. It was afterwards used as a foundry and machine-shop and general job shop until 1880, when it was re-built by J. B. Blister for the manufacture of tables. It was afterwards torn down and the ground is now occupied by dwelling houses.

In 183-1- a flouring-mill was built on the ground where the Foos Oil-Mill formerly stood on the corner of Linden Avenue and Monroe Street. It was operated until 1871, when it was bought by E. R. Hottenspiller & Co., and used by them as a hominy-mill in 1873. The mill was destroyed by fire and the ground afterwards purchased by the Cham^^ion Bar & Knife Company, it being at present occupied by the Foos Gas Engine Company.

of George Left'el and at the junction of Possum Road and the Rebert Pike. It was the location of a mill early in the history of this county, as pioneers narrate that they went to that locality to get flour, but the history of that mill has jiassed into oblivion. By whom it was built or operated is not known. The mill operated by Mr. Rebert, from whom it took its name, was erected in 1838 by Samuel Todd. He was succeeded by Ed. Swope, and he in turn by John Rench and Henry Baker. In 1852 it was purchased by Andrew Rebert from John Rench. Mr. Rebert conducted a general milling business there for about twenty years. It was afterwards rented to Aaron Reasor, then to Frederick Creamer, afterwards to Samuel Louk. For more than fifteen years past, it has been out of operation and has been taken down and the material utilized for other purposes. At one time it had a capacity of about thirty barrels of flour per day.

In 1811 James Paden built a woolenfactory on Mill Creek, not far from where the Enon Pike crosses this stream and Possum Road. He carried on a carding, spinning, and weaving industry up until 1868. The business was afterwards conducted by his son Paden until about the year 1880. It has been abandoned. It was a factory about two stories high with a Leffel wheel.

Beatty. It was afterwards owned and run by Reed Wright, tiually it was purchased by the late James P. Leffel. At one time a steam-engine was attached to it, thus giving it steam power. This mill has also been abandoned.

Donnels' Creek empties into Mad River about six miles below the city of Springfield, and flows north through Bethel & Pike Townships not far from the villages of Donnelsville and North Hampton.

The first mill that was erected on this creek was by Jonathan Donnels as early as 1804. It was swept away by a freshet. It was a rudely constructed building of logs and was used as a saw-mill. This mill was located about half a mile noi'th of the mill afterwards erected by David Lowry.

In 1808 David Lowry built a grist-mill on Donnels' Creek. This mill was located about half a mile north of the Valley Pike and was close to Mr. Donnels' mill. The dam erected in the stream backed the water up and interfered with Donnels' power. They had a law suit about the matter and Donnels recovered damages. Mr. Lowry added a frame saw-mill some time afterward, and in 1820 he put up a frame grist-mill. This mill was run imtil 1846, when the dam was washed out and he retired from business. His son David W. continued it for about five years when it was abandoned. Some evidence of its former existence may still l)e seen opposite the present residence of County Commissioner J. Ed. Lowry.

In 1820 Peter Baisinger erected a sawmill on Donnels' Creek, not far from the village of North Hampton. It was later converted into a steam mill by George Cost and afterwards owned and operated by Jacob K. Minnick. It is not now in active operation.

Rock Run

Rock Run is a tributary of Mad River, emi)tying into that stream a short distance below the first bridge over Mad River on the Valley Pike. It extended north into German Township and had more feet of fall than any other stream of the county. A number of mills were located on this stream, the history of which cannot be accurately given.

Chapman'S Creek

Chapman's Creek enters Mad River about a mile and a half south of the Champaign County line. It is a rapid little stream, not affording very great water-power at this time, but at an early date quite a number of mills were located there. This creek was named after William Chapman, who erected in 1802 a grist-mill about where the village of Tremont is now located. What the capacity of this mill may have been or how long it was operated, or by whom, is not now known, but it was probably located uiDon or near the site of the present Seitz Mill, where in 1836 John Ross erected a small distillerv.

About the year 1830 a Mr. Lance built a distillery between Tremont City and Mad River, about where the residence of Michael Sullivan stands now. Tliis was operated for a number of years in a limited way as a distillery. David Enochs, still living in this vicinity, operated it at one time. Some of the milling they had done for them elsewhere. The malt was stirred by hand in a tub. It was taken down about 1860.

The present Seitz Mill was ereteed by Andrew Seitz and cost about $5,000. It was operated by him, together with his sons Henry and Amos, until his death, since which time it has been carried on by Amos Seitz and is still in active operation. It was purchased by the Seitzes from a man by the name of Hoefer.

At a very early date about threequarters of a mile west of Tremont City, opposite the present residence of Samuel Magart, an Englishman by the name of Chatterlen had a carding mill. This was destroyed by fire and it was never rebuilt.

On the south side of the creek, not far from the residence of J. S. Peneten and William Funkhouser, was erected in 1820 by Henry Enoch, father of David Enoch, who is still living and residing near Tremont, a grist-mill. There was conducted with it a still. How long this was operated is not now known, but it has many years been abandoned. Some time after the construction of the mill William Enoch, a brother of Henry, built a gristmill nearly opposite the present residence of Michael Shawver. This was operated for some time but has long since been abandoned. A depression in the ground near the saw-mill conducted there at this time by the Shawvers indicates the existence of a mill in that vicinity at one time.

About three-quarters of a mile west of these Enoch's mills (the exact date is not known), a mill of some kind had been erected. About 1860 Jacob Dibert erected a large flouring-mill, which was operated by him until his death. It was afterwards for a time operated by John H. Blose and Johnson P. Weaver. It is at present the property of McClellan Ballentine. It has not for some years been in operation as a flouring-mill, although at times feed has been milled. Steam power has been added. The mill, however, at this time is practically abandoned. In former times there was a small saw- and grist-mill operated at this place. Still further up the stream on this creek at an earlier date were several saw-mills which are not in operation at this writing.

Honey Creek

This creek is not a tributary of Mad River, but flows into the Big Miami. It has its source in Pike Township, flows south in Bethel and around New Carlisle and leaves the county to the west of that village. In earlier times it afforded considerable water-power. However, not

In 1814 James Black constructed a grist-mill on the east fork of Honey Creek, in the locality that has recently been designated Dodo. It is still, I think, in the Black name but not in operation.

In 1836 William Eayburn built the old mill still standing on Honey Creek a short distance northeast of New Carlisle. At - one time there was both a grist-mill and saw-mill here in operation ; now it is only used for milling grain and is known as the McKee jMill.

At one time there was a mill located where Charles Smith & Son now operate a steam- mill for grinding. For a long time it was in the name of Weeks. As a grist-mill it has ceased operation for many years. Just when it was built, or by whom, is not known to the writer at this time.

There is some ti"adition that when John Paul located up near the forks of Honey Creek above the Eayburn Mill, some kind of a mill was erected by him at that point, hut this, as above said, only rests on tradition, and nothing more at this time is known. However, Paul lived in this vicinity and like most early settlers he may have had a diminutive mill, if nothing else.

Little Miami Rivee

As early as 1800 Mr. O.. Davis built a grist-mill where the present mill is now located at Clifton. This mill afterwards became known as Patterson's Mill and later on was the property of Mr. E. E. Stewart, and for the past ten years was conducted by a Mr. Armstrong. It is still in active operation.

In 1815 a man by the name of Burke erected a grist-mill on the Little Miami, about a mile south of Plattsburg. There may have been a distillery connected with this, for we find that in 1831 George Weaver conducted a distillery near Lisbon and at one time Thomas Stites managed a distillery one and a half miles north of Lisbon. There were probably some other mills located on this river of which we have no knowledge at this time.

Muddy Run History Of Clark Counts

This mill is located about a mile and a quarter south of Enon. This mill was built by Jacob Shellabarger who came to this locality in 1814 and the mill was erected shortly thereafter. At one time there was a distillery attached, and a saw-mill was also located there. In early times it was of very great importance to the community, and was an important place of business. Jacob Shellabarger sold it to John Fisher, brother of Maddox Fisher, and Fisher sold it to Ben Myers, and he to Daniel Hertzler, and then it became the property of Hostetter, and for some time was called the Hostetter mills. It afterwards came into the possession of John Shellabarger, brother of Samuel, the ex-member of Congress, and distinguished statesman, and later Ephraim Shellabarger became the proprietor. It could well be called the Shellabarger Mills, as on three different occasions it was in the Shellabarger family. It has been abandoned for some time.

The Partington Woolen Factory was located on the north fork of Muddy Run, not far from the present residence of Mr. Jenkins. It was principally propelled by the water from a very large spring which had a fall of about twentyfive feet. A paper-mill was formerly erected at this place by Samuel Simington. The dates of the erection of these various mills are not known at this time ; they have long since been abandoned.

We find that some other mills of various kinds were conducted in the county. In 1812 David Hanna had a distillery on Sinking Creek, and in 1821 Henry Wolfe built and operated a distillery on Section 6 on Sinking Creek and at one time a distillery was operated by Adam Clark north of the Israel Everhardt farm in Pleasant Township. At one time a mill was erected on the Crain farm in Section 33 in Bethel Township. Asa Rice erected a saw- and grist-mill near Vienna in 1854. A tannery was erected by Robert Watkins on what is now the J. E. Bowman farm (formerly belonging to Israel Hollingsworth), in Green Township in 1815, and was run up until about 1830. In various places throughout the county saw-mills have been erected and conducted until the timber ran out, and then abandoned. There was such a mill one time on the Urbana Pike on the E. B. Cassily farm. The waters wei'e probably conducted through the old race constructed by Simon Kenton for a grist-mill in 1799. There was also a saw-mill on the old Staley farm now belonging to Mr. Drum, east of Tremont City and east of Mad River at a point where the old Moore's Run Channel emptied into Mad River.

In 1829 Abraham Smith built a sawmill at Donnelsville which was conducted for many years ; there was also a saw-mill for a time on the John Detrick farm in Bethel Township.

Chapter Xhi Fraternal Homes And Philanthropic

The charitable teachings of the lowly Nazarene are nowhere better exemplified than in the three fraternal homes that overlook the city of Springfield from its surrounding hill-tops. Neither in any way could the three great fraternal orders of the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias, better exemplify their teachings than in the founding of these homes, carried, on as they are for the shelter and protection of those who are not able to care for and protect themselves. No other community has been so distinguished as to be chosen by three such prominent and influential orders as a fit and satisfactory place in which to exemplify their teachings of chai'ity on so large and practical a scale. Such an honor might well be coveted by any community. In time, the city of Springfield, with all its commercial and manufacturing industries, will not receive more lasting renown or benefit from any of these industries than from these benevolent institutions. It is hard to explain why this community should have been so favored, except by taking into consideration what may be due to the beauty of its natural surroimdings and to the enterprise of its IDeojale. But with due allowance for these reasons that Springfield has not been selected also by the great state of Ohio asa proper location for some of its institutions is likewise difficult of explanation. Possibly in the jjast some one may have been negligent in failing to present its claims upon a favorable opportunity. One of the strongest arguments presented to the coimnittee that selected the sites for these fraternal homes lay in Springfield's fine railroad facilities, bringing all parts of the state within easy reach - facilities surpassed by no city in the state and equalled by but one - Columbus. If that argument was sufficient to cause these fraternal homes to be located here, it should have had some influence in securing the location here of some state institution; but usually such state institutions are located at certain particular places by reason of some political "pull." We did not have the "pull."

The first one of these fraternal homes which was located in our county is that belonging to the Masonic fraternity, although the Knights of Pythias erected one cottage before the Masonic building was erected. At the meeting of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Ohio, in 1888, a home to care for the old Masonic brethren and their wives was suggested by W. B. Hillman, who was then Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter.

A committee was afterwards appointed to visit various localities throughout the state and select a suitable location for the building of a proposed home.

Governor Buslmell, although at that time not a Mason himself, saw the possibilities of Springfield in that direction and the great benefit an institution of that kind would confer upon the city, and with his characteristic liberality proposed a subscription of $10,000 for the purpose of buying a suitable site, in that way bringing a strong influence to bear upon the location of the home. An option was" secured on what was then known as the Leffel farm of 154 acres, immediately west of Mad River, on the National Pike west of the city. This farm had a beautiful natural location, permitting the building to front to the "east," to which quarter every Master Mason looks for authority, and which would overlook the Mad River valley and have in plain view the spires and steeples of the city of Springfield.

Along the National Pike, upon this farm, there was located an old brick building used in stage coach days as a hotel. Over the doors of this old hostelry there were painted the magic letters 0. K., "Oil Korrect." Suffice it here to say, that sufficient money was raised by the citizens to purchase this fine tract of land. In 1895 with appropriate Masonic ceremonies, which were witnessed by a large concourse of people, perhaps never surpassed in magnitude in our city, the corner stone of the building was laid and the latter was dedicated to the benevolent purposes for which it was intended. It was opened for the receipt of patients in 1897. Our honored townsman, John W. Parsons, was selected as superintendent and his estimable wife as matron.

The entire cost of this large stone castle, resembling nothing else so closely as the typical medieval structure of the feudal barons, was about $125,000. Since that time the surroundings have been further beautified, and its location gives it a view not surpassed in the state of Ohio.

In 1905 a hospital cottage costing $14,- 000 was erected. The number of residents of this institution at present is 161 - sixty-five males, forty-two females and fifty-four children. The home is supported by per capita tax of the Grand Lodges and voluntary contributions, and the cost per capita is $160 per annum. Edward Harfoi'd of this city is treasurer of the Board of Directors.

To the Daughters of Rebekah may be given the credit of starting the work that ultimately resulted in the erection of a home for Odd Fellows' orphans and members. In 1891 the Rebekah Assembly decided that such a home should be established, and the president of the assembly wrote long letters to each representative of the Grand Lodge, wherever located in the state, urging him to do what he could for the establishment of such a home, as the favorable vote of the Grand Lodge was necessary before the enterprise could be undertaken. In April, 1892, the Rebekah Assembly decided to send their president, in company with two other sister Rebekahs. to the Grand Lodge to obtain permission for this, or rather, to present clearly the needs of the homeless children, and point out the duty of the brethren to them. The Grand Lodge had a recess and listened carefully and attentively to the pleadings of this sister, and before they adjourned they voted for the establishment of a home.

Committees were appointed to select a location. The Masonic Home having been located in this city, the interest of our peoiDle had been aroused upon the subject of fraternal homes, and through local representatives the task of securing this home also was gone at with a vim. The Fay farm immediately north of the Clark County Infirmary had some time previously come into possession of a person who was now desirous of disposing of it and who offered it at a very moderate figure. The natural elevation upon which it stood, commanding a beautiful view to the south, impressed itself upon the committee, and our citizens having" raised sufTrtcient money to purchase the site, the home was located there. The land consists of seventy-nine acres, some having been bought in addition since the original jmrehase was made. The present building was dedicated October 27, 1898. It cost $73,000, the money being raised by an assessment of one dollar upon each Odd Fellow. Since that time, in 1898, a new iiower-house and laundry building, at a cost of $10,000, have been added.

The original design was to make the institution a home for children only. The Grand Lodge was earing for aged members in a small home down near Cincinnati, which was known as the Royssmoyne Home, but they had no place for the wives and widows, hence arrangements were made for the erection of an addition of sixty-one rooms to the original building. This addition cost $55,000 and was completed in 1904, representing a total cost in buildings of $138,000. The home is supported by a per capita tax upon the Odd Fellows of the state, which is now forty cents each, or ten cents per quarter.

The Eebekahs are not assessed for any certain amount, yet they have furnished four out of every five rooms in the building. The present number of residents is 218, there being forty-three adult males, twenty-three adult females, eighty-nine boys and sixty-three girls.

The cost per capita for running the institution is $120. E. B. Turner is the present superintendent and his wife is matron. The buildings are of red pressed brick, with terraces and cupolas and a red tile roof, presenting a very imposing picture.

Oh ! what shall I do when the night comes down In its terrible blackness all over the town? Shall I lay me dowm 'neath the angry sky? On the cold hard pavements alone to die? When the beautiful children their prayers have said. And mammas have tucked them up snugly in bed. No dear mother ever upon me smiled - Why is it, I wonder, that I 'm nobody's "child!

the care of its orphans, erected in the state of Ohio by fraternal orders, is an honor of which it may be duly proud. The idea had suggested itself to several of the prominent members prior to the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1892. To no one however did it present itself so forceably as to "Bob" Love, and everyone who knew this whole-souled genial "K. of P." recognized at once that when he took hold of anything there would be some result. A resolution was passed by the Grand Lodge and appropriate committees were appointed to select a site for the location of a home to take care of the orphan children of the members. At this time the old MoCreight homestead, immediately north of the city, was placed upon the market by the heirs and all that part north of McCreight Avenue and west of Fountain Avenue was offered for Knights of Pythias Home purposes at the price of $25,000. The fact that two homes had already been located in the city and that our citizens had been taxed by voluntary contributions to a large extent, might have prevented a less vigorous organization than the Knights of Pythias, or having less enterprise among its membership than is the case in this town, from undertaking the task of raising sufficient money for the purchase of a site for another home. But it seems that the spirit of giving was abroad, and the enthusiasm of our citizens in favor of these fraternal buildings was so great that the money was finally raised, though not without effort. The plan of buildings adopted by the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias was entirely different from that of the Masons and Odd Fellows, in that it con- templated, when completed, a number of buildings and was based very largely upon what is known as the cottage plan. The first cottage was erected in 1894, at a cost of $8,000. To this eight additional buildings have been added; the main administration building costing $75,000, the dining room and auditorium $25,000, two cottages each $17,000, power house and coal cellars $6,000, barn $4,000, employees' cottage $2,000, hospital building $4,000, making a total of $146,000. Tlie last of these buildings was completed and dedicated in June, 1904.