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VOLUME II INDEX

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PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. THE present series of biographical sketches form part of the manuscript collections of the late JAMES MCBRIDE, of Hamilton, which have been placed in our hands by his daughter. Having been partially prepared for the press by the author, we have selected them as our first publication from his papers. There were many dates, christian names, etc., left blank in the manuscripts, which we have endeavored to supply. We are especially indebted to Rev. JOSEPH IVIILIAKINT of Hamilton for his aid in this matter, particularly in the sketches of JOHN REILY, and of his grandfather JOSEPH HOUGH. These unpretending sketches were compiled chiefly from memoranda, letters, and journals of the persons whose lives and adventures he has so faithfully sketched—some of them, during their lives and with their approval. Many of the original papers, from which they were drawn, and the first drafts of the sketches, with marginal notes of emendations and additions, are in our possession, and we can bear testimony to the scrupulous care and fidelity with which he has performed his task. The work will, we think, be found to possess an interest beyond the mere details of the lives of the individuals. They were all of them men who took an active part in the settlement of the Miami country, were prominent in public affairs, ii - Publishers' Notice. both civil and military, and participated in many of the early conflicts with the Indians in Ohio and Kentucky, and in the campaigns of Generals HARMAR, ST. CLAIR, SCOTT, and WAYNE ; so that, interspersed in the narratives, will be found many details of interest concerning these early struggles, from the notes and recollections of eye-witnesses, which have never before, with a few exceptions, appeared in print. This leads us to remark, that on first reading these papers, we were impressed with our familiarity with some of the descriptions, incidents, etc. On further investigation we found that portions of them had been published, years ago, by Mr. CHARLES CIST, in his Cincinnati Advertiser, as editorial matter, and that the sketch of JOHN REILY is, in many parts, word for word with that given by Judge BURNET in the last chapter of his Notes on the North-western Territory. These coincidences seemed to indicate a plagiarism on the part of the author, which, however, we could hardly entertain, as we have so many evidences of his authorship in the original papers, in our possession, from which he had drawn his narratives. We mentioned the matter to Mr. CIST, since deceased, and he stated that he had frequently applied to Mr. MCBRIDE for contributions to his paper, but that he never could induce him to write specially for him, though he was ever ready to place at his disposal any of his own sketches, or other papers in his possession. Of these, Mr. CIST said, he frequently availed himself, and used them in making up articles, without indicating the source from which he received them, with Mr. MCBRIDE'S consent, and at his request. In reference to the sketch of Mr. REILY, in BURNET'S Notes, we have printed in the appendix (page 73) a long letter from Judge BURNET to Mr. MCBRIDE, dated four years before his work was published, acknowledging the receipt and perusal of MCBRIDE'S sketch of the life of his Publishers' Notice - iii old friend, and making comments thereon. He, doubtless, made use of the manuscript with his permission. Mr. MCBRIDE was exceedingly modest and diffident in regard to his own labors ; and though he liked to see them in print, he would seldom permit his name to appear in connection with them. Some of the sketches appeared in the Hamilton papers, as obituaries, anonymously, though their authorship was generally known. We have deemed the above statements necessary in order to meet, beforehand, any charge of plagiarism which might be made by those familiar with the publications referred to. The biographies will make two volumes. The second volume will contain sketches of Captain JOHN CLEVES SYMMES, Jr., with a full explanation of his celebrated theory of concentric spheres ; ROBERT MCCLELLAN, one of General WAYNE'S scouts during his campaign in Ohio; General JOHN WINGATE ; Judge HENRY WEAVER ; ISAAC PAXTON, and other pioneers of note. Among the papers are portions of a history of Oxford, Ohio, and the Miami University, and also of the town of Hamilton ; parts of these are, however, missing, and some chapters are only in outline. It may be some time before we will be able to complete them. The portrait of Mr. MCBRIDE which accompanies this volume has been pronounced by his old friends, a most excellent likeness. CONTENTS.

Biographical Sketch of the Author, Author's Preface John Beily, Thomas Irwin, Joel Collins, Isaac Anderson, Samuel Dick, Joseph Hough John Woods Index,

vii xiii 1 107 179 265 301 311 327 345

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JAMES McBRIDE.

THE late JAMES MCBRIDE, of the city of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, was born on

the 2d day of November, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, on a farm near Conecocheague creek, a short distance from the town of Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was of Scotch descent, his grandfather on each side having emigrated from the highlands of Scotland to America at an early day, and settled in Pennsylvania. He was the only child of his parents. His father, also named James, was killed in 1789 by the Indians on the Dryridge in the State of Kentucky, near the trace then leading from Lexington, Kentucky, to the mouth of the Licking. His mother, nee McRoberts, also of Scotch descent, survived her loss nineteen years, and died in September, 1808, aged thirty-seven years, on the farm, near Conecocheague creek, where she was born and had always lived.

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viii - Biographical.

James McBride was, at the time of his death, one of the oldest and best known pioneers of Southern Ohio, having emigrated to Hamilton from Pennsylvania in 1806, being then in his eighteenth year. Having at so early an age determined to become the architect of his own fortune in the then wilds of the far West, he had, of course, not received more than a limited education. Possessing, however, a high cast of intellect, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, a decided literary taste, and untiring industry and application, he, by indulging these proclivities, acquired in time a vast fund of varied and useful knowledge, as well as superior scholastic attainment. Of thoughtful and taciturn disposition, he was never more contented than when in his large and well-selected library (said to have been the most valuable private collection of miscellaneous and standard works at that time in the West), perusing, undisturbed, his favorite authors, or dotting down the workings of his comprehensive mind. For many years he gave his attention to the survey and investigation of the remarkable monuments and supposed Indian fortifications so widely scattered throughout Southern

Biographical. - ix

Ohio and Indiana. In the prosecution of this favorite work, he spent much time, labor, and means, and collected an extensive and valuable cabinet of Indian antiquities, now in the possession of a gentleman of Philadelphia, by whom they are highly prized. His antiquarian notes, drawings, plans of survey, and manuscripts, furnished to the compilers of the first work published by the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, entitled " Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," constitute a considerable portion of that work, for which, the compilers, either through negligence or design, have failed to accord him due credit.

Though not a partisan politician, he held several offices of honor and trust, both in the county and state, conferred unsolicited upon him by his fellow citizens, who well knew and fully appreciated his probity, unerring wisdom, and faithful attention to, and accomplishment of whatever he undertook. From its first organization, he was prominently connected with the MIAMI UNIVERSITY at Oxford, Ohio, as a member of the board of trustees, and at the time of his death,

x - Biographical.

their president, which position he had held for some years previous. Much of the present renown enjoyed by that university, as an institution of learning, is, in a great measure, due to the interest he took in, and the time he devoted to, its prosperity and reputation. He was truly devoted to the interest and improvement of the State of Ohio, and particularly so to that portion of it (Butler county) where he resided. He was the first to afford material and personal aid to all projects which, in his judgment, had for their object the advancement of the happiness, comfort, and prosperity of his fellow citizens. Charitable almost to a fault, the needy asking assistance never left his door unaided, he dispensed his charities in the true christian spirit, not letting his left hand know what his right hand did.

Early in his life he married Hannah, daughter of Judge Lytle, of Butler county, with whom he lived in true happiness forty-five years, and had issue three sons and two daughters. After his devoted wife's death, which sad event occurred on the 23d day of September, 1859, he appeared to lose all interest in life and its surroundings, and seemed anxious to follow the

Biographical - xi

departed one. He survived her but ten days, and breathed his last, perfectly reconciled to go, on the 3d day of October, 1859, aged seventy years and eleven months, leaving an untarnished record of a profitable and well-spent life, lamented by all who knew him, and most by those who knew him best. Two sons and two daughters were left parentless by these sad visitations of Providence, all of whom have since passed away except the eldest daughter, the writer of this sketch.

LAURA MCBRIDE STEMBEL.

PREFACE.

THE history of states and empires is composed of little more than the collected accounts of indi-

viduals and families, but generally those only are mentioned who have been famous in war, or conspicuous in important official stations. It too often happens, that many men, eminently distinguished for talents, and for the possession and exercise of every manly and social virtue, and who have rendered the most essential services to society, at different times and in various capacities, in private life have been suffered to sink into their graves "unwept, unhonored, and unsung," except, perhaps, in a short obituary notice, no sooner read than forgotten, by all but the immediate relatives of the deceased.

The generation of hardy men, who first settled the western country, who encountered the perils of Indian warfare and wrested the beautiful country we now enjoy in peace, from the possession of the savages; who encountered and endured all the dangers and privations of a frontier life, have now nearly all passed away.

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xiv - Preface.

These men should not be forgotten, who subdued the dense forest and made the wilderness to blossom as the rose ; who, rifle in hand, cleared up the broad acres, which now yield to their descendants bountiful harvests of golden grain, to gladden the heart and swell the fortunes of their favored sons. The story of their sufferings and achievements should not be allowed to sink into oblivion.

To preserve the names and record the services of a few of the early residents of Butler county, in the State of Ohio, is the object of the following short biographical sketches.

The writer, though not one of the earliest pioneers of the West, was intimately acquainted with a great number of them, from whom he learned many of the incidents relating to the early settlement of the country. With most of the persons, whose lives he has attempted to sketch, he had a long and familiar acquaintance, and with many of them he has had an extensive correspondence. He has, also, availed himself of much information derived from their surviving relatives, and others who were contemporary with them.

J. McB.