(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. " See dying vegetables, life sustain; See life dissolving, vegetate again. All forms that perish, other forms supply ; By turns we catch the vital breath and die. Like bubbles on the ilea of water borne, They rise, they break, and to that sea return." Few persons have a proper conception of the labor, research and perplexities attendant upon the resurrection of moldy facts and ethereal traditions which have so long slept in the matrix of obscurity, and writing a history, based upon these facts and traditions, which has its genesis with the aboriginal tribes who roamed unmolested throughout the winding labyrinths of their own primeval forests, beneath whose sylvan shades the timid deer lay down in peace, in whose branches the wild-birds built their nests, and caroled their matin songs, with angelic, soft and trembling voices, gently warbling with the rustling leaves and low murmur of the waters falling beneath ; whose native giants knew not the ravages of the white man's ax. These patriarchs of the forest had not waved their shaggy boughs above the white man's cabin. The wigwam alone' of the painted savage was nestled within their somber fastnesses, beneath whose folds the dusky maiden, with nature's modesty, gave ear to the impassioned tones of her savage lover, while he recounted his heroic deeds in war and in the chase, displayed the gory scalps that embellished his girdle—that ever prerequisite and successful avenue to the heart of the forest belle—and pressed his suit with equally as much ardor as he would have evinced in relieving an enemy of his back hair, or roasting a victim at the stake. OWNERS OF THE SOIL. While it is not our purpose to trace beyond pre-historic ages the owners of the soil of what is now called Miami County, yet we deem it essential to a proper elucidation of its complete history that we make use of all the facts within our grasp, and trace them until the line fades out in myth. 'Therefore, so nearly as can be ascertained from the chaotic mass of tradition, we are to infer that the first inhabitants belonged to the great Algonquin family, the most numerous, perhaps, of any other in the United States, and whose language was comparatively uniform throughout the tribes and subdivisions ; and it would seem peculiarly adapted to oratorical flights and beautiful figures. Though there appears to be a great amount of conflicting testimony in regard to the tribes comprehended in the Algonquin family, we are inclined to the opinion that the ancient Tewightewees or Twigtwees, more recently called Miamis, belonged to this family. The origin, as well as name and number of this tribe, or confederation seems to be surrounded with as great a degree of mysticism and conjecture as the founding of Rome, or the siege of Troy. Divesting them of their own tradition, the offspring of superstition, that they were created by Manitou, out of the dust of the Miami Valley, 208 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. and that they had been there from the beginning of time, we shall enter the dawn of their authentic history. According to the account of Christopher Grist, the English agent for the Ohio Company, they were a powerful confederacy, superior in numbers and strength to the Iroquois, with whom, it appears from other authority, they were at deadly enmity. In 1750, they were living in amity with the French. Grist places their towns one hundred and fifty miles up the Great Miami, which we presume would locate them near the site of Loramie's store ; but since the storehouse, said to be on the same spot, built in 1749, was called Pickawillany, which by some is translated into Piqua, these towns might have been located near the present site fo Piqua, and subsequent pages will confirm this opinion. One author confounds them with the Ottawas, and another " as many different tribes under the same form of government." The French seem to have given them the name of Miamis. By some they are called Piankeshaws, a tribe of the Twigtwees, and again the Miamis, or Twigtwees. In the minutes of the Provincial Council of Penn, they are called Tweechtwese, and described as those Indians called by the French, Miamis ; also by some, Tawixtwi, and classed as one of the Western confederated nations. From these various data we feel safe in asserting that the tribe or confederation above described, were the owners of the soil embraced within the present limits of Miami County. We find them in possession up to 1763, at which time they had their towns (see supra) here, which were designated on the old French maps, Tewightewee towns, which they fortified, and with their allies, the Wyandots, Ottawas and French, fought a bloody battle with the English, aided by the Cherokees, Catawbas, Munseys, Senecas, Shawanoes, and Delawares, lasting over a week. After this battle, the Miamis or Twightwees, being continually harassed by the English and neighboring tribes, removed to the Maumee, and the country was left to the Shawanoes, who converted the names of the towns into their own language ; and we have authority for saying that the present city of Piqua was by them called Chillicothe in honor of a tribe of that name ; however, our authority traces the et ymology to " chilled coffee." Upper Piqua, was called after the tribe of that name, which according to tradition means "a man formed out of the ashes." It appears that during one of their annual feasts, the Shawanoese tribes were seated around the fire, smoking and indulging in all the usual convivialities incident to such occasions, when, to their dismay, a great puffing sound was heard, the dying embers were thrown aside, and to ! a full-formed man emerged from, the ashes, like Milton's lion in Creation, pawing the earth to free his nether parts ; and this, they say, was the first man of the Piqua tribe. Upper and Lower Piqua seem to have possessed peculiar attractions for the Shawanese nation, from the fact that for a long time they made their headquarters here from which to radiate on their continual war excursions. The Shawanoese nation seems to have been very nomadic, evidently having formerly come from the South, as the word implies. They were, it is believed, natives of Florida. Blackhoof, one of their principal chiefs, has stated that his tribe believed, from various traces and signs, washed over by the sands, that Florida had been visited many ages previous to their existence by strangers from other countries ; that he. himselff, at the date of the statement one hundred and five years old, remembered bathing in the waters of the ocean on the Florida beach. EXTINCTION OF THE INDIAN TITLE. Inasmuch as the ownership and occupancy of the soil resided first in the Miamis, and subsequently in the Shawanoese, it is difficult to ascertain with accuracy the exact date at which the Indian title was extinguished. Through various treaties of Ft. Stanwix, McIntosh, Brown, Logstown and Greenville, ranging from 1784 to 1794, the title of the Indians was gradually vested in the United States, and, to some extent, by purchase, in private corporations. HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 209 It appears that on the 29th of August, John Cleves Symmes petitioned Con- gress for a purchase of one million acres of land to be bounded on the north, east, south and west by the extension of the Ohio Company's line, Little Miami, Ohio and Great Miami, that, failing to comply with the contract, the northern portion, evidently including a part of the present limits of Miami County and adjoining lands probably including the remainder, were ordered surveyed and subject to preemption. Thus we have endeavored, in so far as we were able, to extract from the heterogeneous mass of uncertainty, the original owners, the extinction of the aboriginal title, and the final vesting of the same in such a shape as to lay it open for individual purchase and settlement. The spirit of adventure with which nature has endowed the human species, nowhere manifests itself so conspicuously as in those men of iron muscle and resolute will who forever left the abode of peace and plenty and braved the dangers and endured the privations incident to the opening of new homes in the solitudes of the untrodden wilderness. A strange infatuation seems to urge on mankind to seek out new fields of adventure, and the greater the danger the stronger the impulse to meet and conquer it. This, in conjunction with seductive hope, though so often realizing the words of Pope, " that man never is, but always to be blest," conduces very materially to the advancement of civilization ; and, when we take into consideration the cosmopolitan nature of man, we need not wonder that no part of the world, how wild and uninviting soever, remains inviolate. It was this, coupled with cupidity, that led the cruel Pizarro to the subjugation of the Incas of Peru, Cortez to the bloody struggles with the Aztecs, the conquest of Mexico and the extinction of the Montezumas. SETTLEMENT OF THE OHIO VALLEY. The evidences of the marks of edged tools on trees in the Ohio Valley, calculating from the subsequent growth of rings, extends as far back as 1660. Tradition is also handed down, leading to show that in 1742, one John Howard sailed down the Ohio in a canoe made of a buffalo skin. It appears however, that the French, as far back as 1749, controlled the trade of this country, and we are informed that Grallisonier, Governor of Canada, in the summer of 1849, caused plates of lead, on which were engraved the claims of the French Government, to be placed in the mounds, and at the mouths of the rivers running into the Ohio, as evidences of their ownership of the lands on both sides of that river. One of these plates was found near the mouth of the Muskingum, bearing date August 16, 1749, a particular account of which. by De Witt Clinton, may be seen in American Autobiographical Society, 535. But this puerile attempt utterly failed of its object. During the same year, the English built a trading-house on the Great Miami, on a spot since called Loramie's store. The French, jealous of the intrusions of the English upon what they considered their lands, and apprehensive of danger, began the erection of a line of fortifications along the Ohio, and toward the lakes ; and early in 1752, demanded of the Tewightewees the surrender of the trading-house above mentioned; which being refused, they, in conjunction with the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked, captured, and destroyed it, killed fourteen Indians, and carried the English to Canada ; and it is even stated by historians, that some were burned at the stake. These traders were supposed to have been from Pennsylvania, from the fact that in Franklin's history of the same, he mentioned that the above State sent the Twigtwees a gift of condolence for those slain in the defense of Pickawillany, the English name of the trading-house. Although this battle was participated in by two nationalities, no more serious results flowed from it than a series of diplomatic maneuverings, with a view to securing the permanent possession of the debatable lands. In October, 1753, a meeting was held at Carlisle, between the Twigtwees, Shawanoes and other tribes to which commissions from Pennsylvania, among whom 210 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. was Benjamin Franklin, were sent, at which the attack on the trading-houses at the mouth of Loramie's Creek, was discussed and a treaty was concluded, which evidently included our present county. As the population increased, the feeling intensified, until the French and Indian wars, when open hostilities began, which only ended with the fall of Quebec in 1763. With a fear of repetition, which is almost wholly unavoidable, we have endeavored to place before our readers a concise statement of the condition of the country, from its earliest known history, until it approaches the dawn of civilization. To do this we have been compelled to begin with a very wide scope of country, and, as the antiquity of its history wore away, and thereby assumed a greater degree of certainty, the horizon of its territory also would grow less, until now we shall begin with history and landmarks within the memory of many now living. INSTITUTION AND BOUNDARY OF MIAMI COUNTY. In January, 1790, Hamilton County was organized, beginning on the banks of the Ohio River, at the confluence of the Little Miami, and down the Ohio to the mouth of the Big Miami ; and up the same to the Standing Stone Fork, or branch of the Big Miami ; and thence, with a line to be drawn due east to the Little Miami, and down the same to the place of beginning. June 22, 1793, the western boundary line of Hamilton was so altered as to begin at the spot on the Ohio where the Greenville treaty line intersects the bank of that river, and run with the line to Fort Recovery ; thence due north to the south line of Wayne County. In March, 1803, Montgomery County was laid off, composed of a part of Hamilton ; beginning at the State line, at the northwest corner of Butler ; thence east with the lines of Butler and Warren, to the east line of Section 16, Township 3, Range 5 ; thence north eighteen miles ; thence east two miles ; thence north to the State line ; thence with the same, to the west line of the State ; thence with the said line to the beginning. January 16, " 1807, took effect March 1." " All that part of Montgomery County be, and the same is hereby laid off and erected, into a separate and distinct county, which shall be called and known by the name of Miami, to wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Champaign County and southeast corner of Section 1, Township 2, and Range 9 ; thence west with the line between Ranges 9 and 10 to the Great Miami River, crossing the same in such, direction as to take the line on the bank of the said river, between Townships 3 and 4, in Range 6, west of the said river ; thence west with the said line to the State line ; thence north with the same to the Indian boundary line ; thence east with the same to the Champaign County line, thence south with the said county line to the place of beginning. " From and after the 1st day of April, 1807, said county of Miami shall be vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities of a separate and distinct county. January 7, 1812, all that part of the county of Montgomery lying north of the county of Miami shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Miami ; and all that part lying north of the county of Darke shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Darke." January 3, 1809. So much of the county of Miami as lies west of the middle of the fourth range of townships, east of the meridian drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami, be and the same is hereby erected into the county of Darke. January 7, 1819, a part of Miami was taken in the formation of Shelby, which left it as it now is. EXPEDITION OF GEN. G. R. CLARKE. Inasmuch as there were Piqua or Pickawa villages situated on Mad River, about five miles west of Springfield, near the present site of West Boston, noted as the birthplace of the celebrated Shawanoe chieftain Tecumseh, or, perhaps more properly, Tecumthe, which may possibly be confounded with the city of HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 211 Piqua, in this county, it may be well to state, for the purpose of a more lucid discrimination, that, in the summer of 1780, Gen. G. R. Clarke, after a long and severe contest with the savages, utterly destroyed all the Piqua towns on Mad River, and laid waste about five-hundred acres of growing corn, together with every vegetable production convertible into food. The Shawanoes were so discouraged, with their ignominious defeat, and the total destruction of all means of subsistence, that they abandoned the blackened ruins of their once beautiful and flourishing villages, and removed to the Great Miami, on whose banks they built another town and named it Piqua, perhaps in commemoration of the ashes of the old. Two years after their removal, having recovered from the terrible chastisement inflicted upon them by Gen. Clarke, their fiendish propensity again evinced itself in many depredations in Kentucky andOhio. Especially at the battle of Blue Licks, in Kentucky, were they successful ; and, maddened by brooding over their wrongs, and the taste of blood, the destruction of the infant colonies seemed inevitable. At this critical juncture, that second Wayne, Gen. G. R. Clarke, foreseeing the ultimate annihilation of all the settlements along the Ohio, determined to lead another expedition against the sanguinary Shawanoes, and wreak destruction upon them and their corn-fields. To this end, therefore, in 1782, two years after his first expedition to their towns on Mad River, and about eighteen years prior to the first permanent settlement in this county, he raised an army of about one thousand men in Kentucky, and, after organizing his little army at the mouth of the Licking, crossed the Ohio at a little village, since called Cincinnati, then consisting of a few miserable log huts, surrounded by posts and logs driven into the ground, called a stockade. Throwing out scouts in advance, to guard against surprises from his wily and treacherous foes, and directed by guides, he began his march through the dreary wilderness. Fording Mad River, near Dayton, he marched to the Great Miami, crossing about four miles below the Piqua towns. Flushed with recent victories, the Indians were ravaging the country. The unprotected settlers retired at night, expecting every moment to hear the blood-curdling whoop of the savage, or awake to see their humble homes in flames ; in whose Iurid blaze the blood-thirsty demons of the woods stood ready to revel in scenes of butchery, carnage and torture. Shortly prior to this, the Indians, in one of their incursions in Kentucky, possibly at Boonsboro, had captured several prisoners, among whom was a white woman named McFall, who had been dragged from her home, compelled to follow her captors, and perform all the drudgeries incident to Indian female life. It was approaching the time when a grand pow-wow was to be held at the Piqua towns, in which all the Indians of the tribe were expected to participate. They were therefore flocking in from all parts of the country, and, among others, were a party of warriors on horseback, coming from their villages in the western part of the country. In company with them were a number of squaws, and one white woman (the Mrs. McFall previously mentioned). Just as they emerged from the forest, and came in full view of the river, they perceived the army of Gen. Clarke, whose vanguard had already landed. Struck with terror, they beat so hasty a retreat, that they forgot their squaws, not deigning even to throw a parting tomahawk at their white prisoner, or secure a lock of her hair. The squaws, as well as the white woman, were taken with the army to the Piqua towns, but, it seems that such was the terror produced by the name of Clarke, that the Indians fled at his approach. When he reached the Piqua villages, he found them deserted, the Indians not even taking time to pack up their household furniture. Passing Lower Piqua, he continued up the river to Upper Piqua, which he found also deserted. Halting his army here, he made preparations to rest overnight ; and at length, as the sun set in a flood of glory, and his beams trembled into twilight, the noise of the camp grew less, the lights were extinguished, the trees shot out their dark shadows into the river, and silence settled down over the camp, and deep sleep fell upon the weary soldiers. In the dead of the night, the Indians crept through the hazel thickets, and fired upon the guards ; this aroused the whole army, and 212 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. skirmishing was kept up till morning ; but, owing to the darkness, very little injury was done ; five Indians were found dead in the bushes next morning after their comrades had retreated. The previous evening, Gen. Clarke had sent a detachment of men to destroy a French store (Loramie's) situated about ___ miles, from Piqua, from which the Indians were supplied with arms and ammunition. Having caught a Frenchman, they tied him on a horse, covered him with their guns, and directed him to guide them to the store. Some time during the night they arrived ; but found neither Indians nor Frenchman. They however burned the store, helped themselves to its contents, and destroyed what they could not carry off ; rejoining the army early in the morning, they assisted Gen. Clarke in burning and laying waste the villages and cornfields of the Indians in and around Piqua. The only fatal results from this expedition was the death of Capt. McCracken, and a man whose name is unknown. During the skirmishing in the night, their horses strayed off into the woods, and, while hunting them, they were fired upon and mortally wounded. One died shortly after, and was buried at Coe's Ford, where the army crossed the Miami on its return march. Capt. McCracken lived till the army reached the present site' of Cincinnati, where he was buried. Through the aid of Gen. Clarke, the white woman, Mrs. McFall, was restored to her friends in Kentucky. Thus ended the second expedition of the veteran Clarke, which resulted in destroying this pernicious nest of Indians, which had continually harassed, murdered and kept in mortal fear, the weak settlements of the Miami Valley. Killing a few of their warriors only increased their ferocity, and stung them to revenge, but when their corn-fields were destroyed, and their villages burned, it sapped their vitals, crippled their power, and compelled them to hunt for a living. Among the worthies who aided in this enterprise, Miami County claims two esteemed citizens, Abraham Thomas and Capt. Barbee, the latter of whom the county afterward honored with the judicial ermine. In consideration of the great services rendered by Gen. G. R. Clarke in protecting the early inhabitants of the Ohio and Miami Valleys, and his many severe encounters with the Indians within the limits of this county, and of various other services rendered, of vital importance to the settlement of this county, we deem it not inappropriate to reproduce here an anecdotal reminiscence. At the• treaty held on January 31, 1786, at the mouth of the Great Miami, between Gen. G. R. Clarke, Richard Butler and Samuel H. Parsons as Commissioners, and the Delawares, Wyandots and Shawanoes, the Indians, it appears, came with treacherous designs, and, had it not been for the perfect knowledge of Indian character possessed by Gen. Clarke, and the terror his name inspired among the savages, the council would have ended in murder. From a work of Judge Hall, we append the following description of the scene : The Indians had entered in a blustering and defiant manner. The Commissioners, without noticing the disorderly conduct of the other party, or appearing to have discovered their meditated treachery, opened the council in due form. They lighted the peace pipe, and, after drawing a few whiffs, passed it to the chiefs, who received it. Gen. Clarke then rose to explain the purpose for which the treaty was ordered. With an unembarrassed air, with the tone of one accustomed to command, an easy assurance of perfect security and self-possession, he stated that the Commissioners had been sent to offer peace to the Shawanoes ; that the President had no wish to continue the war ; he had no resentment to gratify ; and if the red men desired peace, they could have it on reasonable terms. " If such be the will of the Shawanoes," he concluded, " let some of their wise men speak." A chief arose, drew up his tall person to its full height, and, assuming a haughty attitude, threw his eye contemptuously over the Commissioners and their small retinue, as if to measure their insignificance, in comparison with his own numerous train, and then, stalking to the table, threw upon it two belts of wampum of different colors—the war and the peace belt. " We come here," he exclaimed, " to offer you two pieces of wampum ; they are of different colors ; you know *hat they mean ; you can take which you like!" and, turning upon his heel, he resumed his seat. HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 213 The chiefs drew themselves up in the consciousness of having hurled defiance in the teeth of the white men. They offered an insult to the renowned leader of the Long Knives," to which they knew it would be hard for him to submit, while they did not suppose he dare resent it. The council pipe was laid aside. Those fierce, wild men gazed intently at ,Clarke. The Americans saw that the crisis had arrived. They could no longer doubt that the Indians- understood the advantage they possessed, and were disposed to use it, and a common sense of danger caused each eye to be turned on the leading Commissioner. He sat undisturbed, and apparently careless, until the chief who had thrown the belts upon the table had taken his seat ; then with a small cane which he held in his hand, he reached, as if playfully, toward the war belt, entangled the end of the stick in it, drew it toward him, and then with a switch of the cane, threw the belt into the midst of the chiefs. The effect was electric. Every man in the council of each party, sprang to his feet, the savages with a loud exclamation of astonishment, Ugh ! " the Americans in expectation of a hopeless conflict against overwhelming numbers. Every hand grasped a weapon. Clarke alone was unawed. The expression of his countenance changed to a ferocious sternness, and his eye flashed, but otherwise he was unmoved. A bitter smile was perceptible upon his compressed lips, as he gazed upon that savage band, whose hungry eyes were bent fiercely, and in horrid exultation upon him, as they stood like a pack of wolves at bay, thirsting for blood, and ready to rush upon him whenever one bolder than the rest should commence the attack. It was one of those moments of indecision, when the slightest weight thrown into either scale will make it preponderate ; a moment. in which a bold man, conversant with the secret springs of human action, may seize upon the minds of all around him, and sway them at his will. Such a man was the intrepid Clarke. He spoke, and there was no man bold enough to gainsay him, none that could return the fierce glance of his eye. Raising his arm, and waving his hand toward the door, he exclaimed ; "Dogs! You may go!" The Indians hesitated for a moment, and then rushed tumultuously out of the council-room. They lingered around in the bushes all night, debating the question of peace or war, and, finally, in the morning, they sued for peace. To this intrepid Indian fighter, perhaps, more than to any other individual, the Northwest Territory owed its immunity from Indian massacres during the infancy of its colonization. EARLIEST SETTLEMENT. The beautiful scenery, fertility of soil, and many other advantages with which nature has unsparingly endowed this charming valley, early attracted the eye of the speculator ; and, in addition to these, the country had been previously traversed by the soldiers in the early Indian campaigns, who, observing the abundant crops of maize, related fabulous accounts of the productiveness of the soil, and picturesque features of the Indian possessions. All kinds of fish abounded in its streams, along whose banks many fur-bearing animals made their homes ; while the valley teemed with deer, and the gobble of the wild turkey, blending inharmoniously with the drum of the pheasant, and shrill whistle of the partridge, might be heard in the forest from morning till night. Here the hunter and trapper found a paradise ; here he built his cabin along the green banks of the Miami, set his traps, fished in her waters, and hunted in her forests ; here he roasted his venison, broiled his fish, and baked his johnnycake. For all his fur and pelts he found a ready market at the English trading-house on the Great Miami, and, after its destruction, in 1752, at Loramie's store, on the creek of the same name, which was the emporium of trade throughout the surrounding country, until its destruction also, in 1782, by Gen. Clarke. From the records of history, it appears, that, in the settlement of almost all countries, the order seems to be: First, the soldier, second, the hunter and trapper, next the permanent settler. Inasmuch as this valley was the arena of many sanguinary encounters between the English and French, extending from 1749 to 1795, in all of which they were 214 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. joined by the various Indian tribes, the country was occupied by soldiers, and numerous forts were built ; among others we may mention Fort Piqua, which must have been built some time previous to 1794, from the fact that Capt. Vischer, who cannonaded it at that time, is mentioned as the last commandant. It had also been used as a depot for the army of Gen. Wayne, whose stores were taken up the Miami, in boats; to Fort Piqua, unloaded, and their contents hauled in wagons, by way of Fort Loramie to St. Mary's ; and frequently the empty boats themselves were placed on wheels and conveyed along the same route, a distance of twenty-six miles, reloaded and launched for Fort Wayne, on Lake Erie. The collateral evidence afforded also by the passage of a boat up the Miami to within the vicinity of Fort Piqua, where it was fired upon by the Indians, proves that white men were passing to and fro through this country as early as 1794. In the sad affair above recorded, though the attack was made in full view of the fort, owing to the weakness of his garrison, and the overwhelming numbers of the Indians, Capt. Vischer, though a brave soldier, was compelled to remain within the pro. tecting walls of his fortifications, knowing full well, that, if he ventured on a sortie, he could render his countrymen no aid, and would only expose his men to the merciless fire of the savages, as their principal object in making the attack seems to have been to draw him out. Though history is culpably obscure on this point, from evidence afforded by fragments of muskets, bayonets, and other remains exposed during low water, it would seem that most if not all the party were destroyed. Knowing as we do, that from 1749 till 1794, the country was full of soldiers, and from the history of soldiers in new countries, it is quite reasonable to suppose that many stragglers deserted the army, took up their abode with the Indians in our county long prior to earliest known settlers, married Indian women, became identified with their red brethren and finally lost to history. To such an extent indeed did miscegenation prevail, that when the Shawanoese tribes emigrated to Kansas, it is said scarcely a full-blooded Indian could be found among them. It is very important that we should arrive at the acts as nearly as possible in regard to the earliest settlement in this county. Inf order to do this, we shall be obliged to adduce all the evidence to be found, and base our conclusion upon the preponderance. The issue seems to be made upon the location of the Tewightewee villages and the location of a trading house at those villages, called by the English, Pickawillany. In "Western Annals " we read that a trading-house was built by the English upon, the Great Miami, page 51. On the next page we read, that in February, 1851, Grist visited the Twightwees who lived upon the Great Miami. The author adding " we have no doubt the place he visited was at the mouth of Loramie's Creek ;" again on the following page we read, "A party of soldiers were sent to keep the Ohio clear ; and this party early in 1752, having heard of the trading-house upon the Miami, and very likely of the visit to it by Grist, came to the Tewightewees and demanded the traders, as unauthorized intruders upon French lands." In Howe's "Historical Collection," page 7, we read, In 1749, it appears that the English built a trading-house upon the Great Miami. at a spot since called Loramie's store." On page 463, same, we read : " The mouth of Loramie's Creek in this county, * sixteen miles northwest of Sidney is a place of historic interest. It was the first point of English settlement in Ohio. As early as 1752, there was a trading-house at that place, galled by the English Pickawillany." On page 363, same work, on the authority of Col. John Johnston, we also read, that in the year 1763, "a bloody battle was fought on the present farm of Col. Johnson, at Upper Piqua ; at that time the Miamis had their towns here, which are marked on ancient maps, Tewightwee towns. + Dr. Asa Coleman, in his " Early Recollections," says : " Howe places the trading establishment here described, in * This is a mistake of Howe's. The mouth of Loramie's Creek is a mile within Miami County. t The celebrated Little Turtle, chief of the Miamis, in his speech at the treaty of Greenville, says: Elder Brother, listen with attention. You told us you diisovediscovered Great Miami traces off an old fort, Brother; it was a fort built by me, you perceived another at Loramie's. 'Tis true a Frenchman lived there for a year or two.—History Fort Wayne, page 27. HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 215 Shelby County, northwest of Sidney, evidently confounding it with Loramie's store, and Fort Loramie, a point located sixteen miles distant from the Miami River up Loramie's Creek, when the locality of the Tewightewee towns and the trading establishment here described was a mile or more south of the Shelby County line, in Miami County, below the mouth of Loramie's Greek, in Johnston's Prairie. Grist says, in his “Cincinnati Miscellanies," the name Pickawillany is probably some variation of Piqua or Pickaway. In Washington's Journal, 1754, it is printed, " Pikkawalinna."— West. Ans., page 54. Summing up, we think that there is not only a preponderance of testimony in favor of its being in Miami County, but that the trading-house of 1749, is placed here beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore the first settlement in Miami antedates the town of Marietta thirty-nine years. Notwithstanding this was not permanent, yet history teaches that through all the vicissitudes of more than a half-century of war and turmoil, it was never entirely obliterated. It is worthy of observation, by way of evidence of the last proposition, that Fort Piqua was located on or near the site of the Tewightewee towns at which the famous battle of 1763 was fought. We are therefore warranted in saying that this was a continual settlement and occupancy up to 1795 at least. Although the above may be taken cum grano salis, yet, by reference to the authorities cited, we feel assured that our position is tenable, But, history being a record of facts axiomatic in themselves, we leave the field, even so slightly tinged with conjecture. Down to the year 1795, there seems to have been a hiatus, during which we can record no permanent settlement. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The severe castigation given the Indians, by Gen. Wayne, and the treaty of Greenville, secured to the valley of the Miami, immunity from Indian ferocity, from 1795 till 1812. Immediately after the above treaty, settlements were made on Judge Symmes' purchase, at the mouth of the Miami, and also a settlement was made by Guns. Dayton, St. Clair, Wilkinson and Col. Ludlow between the Miamis, around the mouth of Mad River, and who, in November, laid out the town of Dayton. Inducements were offered in the shape of " donations of lots, with other privileges to actual settlers." These lots ran as high as ten acres, some located. in the town, and others, the Harmars and Gahagans, located three miles north of Dayton. Gradually pushing farther up the river, the first to reach the present limits of . our county were Samuel Morrison, David R. Morris, and several others, who had purchased lands of J. C. Symmes, not far from the mouth of Honey Creek, and early in the spring of 1797, built their cabins, and made a permanent settlement, the first in the county. As a prairie near by, since called Freeman's, had been previously tilled by the Indians, they raised a crop of corn on it that year ; in the mean time, selecting a spot opposite the mouth of Honey Creek, on the land of Morrison, they laid out a town which they called Livingston. In the autumn of the same year, Jonathan Rollins, Samuel Hilliard, John Gerard, Shadrick Hudson, Daniel Cox, Thomas Rich, and two others, were induced by Symmes, through promises of lands and lots, to go to the Piqua village and lay out a town, of which he was to be the proprietor. Arriving at the locality described to them, they found river, and not belonging to Symmes, and, not being in the market, it, and located elsewhere. Rollins and Hudson located near the Creek, where, in the following spring, they became permanent settlers.* Early in the spring of 1798, according to Dr. Coleman, John Knoop, Henry Gerard, Benjamin Hamlet, John Tilden, and, according to Mr. Tullis, Daniel and Christopher Knoop, established a station, for the protection * Benjamin Iddinge, in the fall of 1796 came from Tennessee to the Weymer settlement in Montgomery County remained over winter, and in the spring of 1797 located, with his family of six children, on the east side of Stillwater in Newton Township. 216 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. of their families, near the site of the present village of Staunton, which went by the name of the " Dutch Station." These stations were formed by erecting a line of log cabins, all joined together forming one side of a square, with the remaining three sides enclosed by palings eight feet high, firmly driven in the ground. All the openings of the cabins inside the square, were secured by a strong gateway. Here the settlers remained for two years, in the mean while raising their first crops of corn on Gerard's and Gahagan's Prairie, which had been previously tilled by the Indians. In the spring of 1799, the little station was joined by John Gerard, Uriah Blue, Joseph Coe, Abram Hathaway, Nathaniel Gerard, and Abner Gerard. Mr. Tullis says Blue, Coe and Hathaway came in 1800. Previous to and during this time, there had been serious apprehension of Indian troubles, and the settlements were formed in groups for mutual protection ; but, as the Indians manifested no evil disposition, these fears gradually subsided, the settlers removed to their farms, and after this the tide of emigration rolled in rapidly for some years ; as the beautiful and fertile valley had attracted the eyes of many, who, through fear of the Indians, were temporarily located on Mill Creek and the Little Miami, waiting for peaceable times, before venturing into the Upper Miami Valley, their destined homes. B. Vancleve, in " American Pioneer," p. 295, Vol. II, says : "That in the spring of 1796, a settlement was made at the mouth of Honey Creek, and one at the Old Piqua, on the Miami. Mr. Tullis says that previous to the settlement at Staunton, several Frenchmen were there, viz.: Peter Felix, Simon Landry and one Deprey ; but, according to Dr. Coleman, they came in 1800. From the collateral evidence of previous French settlements, not far from here, we decide in favor of the former. It is stated that Peter Felix was an Indian trader, and carried a large stock of goods, which he exchanged for furs, etc. We pause here to introduce a feature peculiar to this valley. Though a digression, yet, as it was an important element in the early settlement of the county, we deem it worthy of notice. The entire county at that time was covered with an almost unbroken forest, with the exception of a few small tracts of prairie land, which, having been previously cultivated by the Indians, were of inestimable value to the first settlers, and, inasmuch as they were used in common, each one farming a little patch of corn, to keep himself and family, until he could clear up his entered land, with this cursory reference, we postpone a fuller description to a future date. HINDERANCES TO EARLY SETTLEMENT. Up to 1799, Congress lands could not be sold in quantities less than 4,000 acres; but, through the efforts of Gen. Harrison, a law was passed, authorizing the sale of half the public lands in sections, and the other half in sections or half-sections. In 1800, land offices were established for the sale of Congress lands, in sections and half-sections, on the following terms, viz.: Two dollars per acre, applicant to deposit $6 for surveying a section, or $3 for half-section, and $5 for a patent for a section, or $4 for a half-section ; also, be was obliged to deposit one-twentieth of the price, all of which to be forfeited, if within forty days, one- fourth of the purchase was not paid, another fourth within two years, another &nth within three years, and the residue within four years, with 6 per cent interest on the deferred payments from day of sale ; the whole to 'be forfeited, if payment be not completed within five years. Subsequent acts, however, gave great relief to purchasers, by extending the time of payments ; and in 1804, the fees for surveying and issuing patents, were abolished, and an act was also passed providing for the sale of lands in quarter-sections. In 1820, lands could be sold in forty-acre lots, and the price was reduced to $1.25 per acre—cash. At the beginning of the year 1800, the population of this county did not far exceed fifty persons. In 1801, the number of voters between the two Miamis, from the south line of the township, to the sources of Mad River, and the Great HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 217 Miami, was three hundred and eighty-two ; west of the Great Miami, twenty-eight ; east of the Little Miami, less than twenty. Owing to the remoteness of this territory from the Ohio, the absence, and almost total deprivation of all the conveniences of life, the difficulty of procuring land. the dense forests to be cleared away before a crop could be raised. the scarcity of money, fear of Indian depredations and various other causes, the immigration, up to 1800, was very slow. For the purpose of instituting a comparison between eighty years ago and now, we append a vivid description by Dr. Coleman. He says: " The county situated remote from navigable waters, and heavily timbered, was settled almost exclusively by agriculturists, and required years of hard toil to bring a necessary portion under cultivation but fertility of soil, the local advan- tages of mill-streams, timber, stones, and clay for brick, were inducements for farmers to locate in it, without any anticipation of the improvements in store for their grandchildren, such as canals, railroads and turnpikes and their attendant advantages. The pioneer settlers were from all the old States in the Union. Those from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia were perhaps predominant, but the Carolinas and Georgia were well represented in the southwest part of the county by the Friends and the anti-slavery emigrants from the South, and there was quite a sprinkling of New Englanders and Yorkers, with several families from Delaware. They were generally a hard-working, self-reliant set of people, yet acknowledged the necessity of mutual aid and assistance in the erection of log cabins, and at log-rollings—which were no small burthen to many of the early settlers. New-comers generally entered their land and built a cabin before removing their families. They would cut the logs of the desired length and number, have puncheons or split plank for floors, and four-feet split clapboards for roof, and appoint a day. invite the necessary hands ( who were generally prompt to attend), and the cabin would be erected and inclosed, the floor laid, and perhaps a chimney of wood to be plastered with clay, and made habitable, all in one day. They then made a comfortable tenement without sawed lumber (except for doors), without nails or other iron, glass or brick ; the door and window shutter being hung with wooden hinges. and latch with string to pull in at night. These cabins were generally from eighteen to twenty feet square. Sometimes. if the immigrant had the means to spare, he would have a cabin built by contract on his land, to be ready for his family when he returned with them in the autumn. He usually paid about $40 for building the cabin, and felling the timber within reach of the same. He would then spend the winter in clearing a few acres, and making rails to fence it in the spring. The usual mode of clearing was to cut all timber a foot in diameter, and deaden the remainder, to stand till it fell, and then burn it, which made work of the final clearing of the ground run into eight or ten years, but, as the timber would be dry, it was readily burned after being " niggered," as they termed it, that is. burned in two. in lengths of ten or twelve feet. Sometimes, where the family was large, they would. build double cabins, that is, two cabins, ten or twelve feet apart. a roof covering the whole, the space between serving as a hall, and one cabin was used for cooking and eating in, the other as a sleeping apartment, and the hall for various uses, according to the weather. A few, possessing more means, would have the logs hewed on two sides, and the roof covered with lap shingles, and one or two small glass windows. The matter of mills was of no small consideration to the early settlers of the county, and an individual who had the enterprise to secure a mill seat, and set about the erection of a mill for grinding and sawing, was looked up to as a person of importance ; but often, for the want of means, he would require the gratuitous assistance of his neighbors, which was freely rendered, in the erection of a mill-dam, and other works pertaining to the establishment. These early-erected mills were quite primitive in their structure and material. The millstones were generally manufactured in the. county, often in the immediate vicinity of the site where they were 218 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. to be used, of single stones, worked out of the large bowlders which were to be found on the surface of various parts of the county. Very little iron, except the spindles, gudgeons and a few bands, was used, wood being exclusively used for all other purposes, iron being expensive and difficult to obtain. These mills, from these circumstances, were very simple structures, calculated for grinding corn principally. The first grinding of wheat for flour was very imperfectly done. In some, at first the bolt was turned by hand, a somewhat laborious operation, but, wheat bread being a rarity, the labor was willingly performed. As for lumber, there was usually a saw-mill connected with the corn-cracker." But, from the simplicity of the dwellings, there was little demand for lumber, and it was obtainable at comparatively low prices ; log stables and barns were exclusively in use. At the time of the organization of the county (1807), there were six or seven of these milling establishments in operation. They were Mordecai Mendenhall's, on Honey Creek, Henry Gerard's, on Spring Creek, John Freeman's and John Manning's, on the Miami River, Moses Coates', on Ludlow Creek, Mast's, Weddel's and Empire's, on Stillwater. The life of the early settlers was generally a laborious and hard one, being remote from any source of supply of some of the essentials of life in new settlements, particularly salt and iron, which were exorbitantly high, and, money being very scarce, most of the trade being by barter, salt at $2 per bushel, and poor at that, iron 15 to 20 cents per pound, and no cash market for any produce, with the exception of supplying new-comers. In the autumn months, the settlers were much afflicted with intermittent and bilious fevers and rheumatic affections, which often disabled them for months, and made the struggle for life a hard one. But in general they were healthy and hardy, mutually assisting each other in house-raising, log-rollings and cornhuskings. Most neighborhoods had their LITTLE COPPER DISTILLERY, which furnished the stimulating fluid deemed essential on all these occasions, and without which no one could have obtained the required aid, and the general use of which was common, but the excessive use was not more common, and the' fatal effects far less, than at the present day. There were occasional moves made at total abstinence. One of the leaders in this matter, who was, by-the-by, one of the judges of the court, it is reported, at a house-raising, at the refreshment, upon the tin cup of whisky being passed around, was urged to take a drink, but he refused, saying he was pledged to abstain from drinking whisky. After a little reflection he took a slice of light bread, and soaked it in the tin cup of whisky and ate it, and not long after was as jolly as the jolliest of the party. This affair brought a great scandal upon the teetotalers. DRESS. The pioneer settlers were clothed almost entirely in domestic family manufactures of flax and wool, cotton being comparatively scarce. Immigrants from the South generally came clothed in home-made cotton apparel of various hues and stripes. The family-made goods of this period were much more durable than those of the present day ; a lady's linsey dress being often worn the second winter, with lighter cotton or linen worn in summer. The better class wore calico for Sunday dresses. This family manufacture gave constant employment to the females of the family, and led to habits of industry and economy not sufficiently appreciated at the present day. Linsey of a light Indigo blue was common men's wear for winter, with linen underclothes and woolen flannel to a small extent. The loom was considered an essential appendage to every family of any size. Occasionally you would see a hunter dressed in a full buckskin suit with moccasins. The uniform of the two independent rifle companies of the county consisted of light-blue linsey hunting shirt, with cape, the whole fringed and coming half-way down the thigh, HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 219 with leather belt, shot pouch and powder horn, with large knife and tomahawk or hatchet in the belt, and rifle on the shoulder. This uniform was much worn in the war of 1812. I have seen Gov. Meigs, Jeremiah Morrow, and other officials wear this hunting shirt while on the frontier during that war. FOOD AND COOKING. Cooking stoves and their paraphernalia were unknown in the days of the pioneers. The cooking was done before the large cabin fire, in few plain cast-iron vessels. Often one skillet would be used to cook more than one article for the same meal. The Dutch-oven was the most important article used in cooking, for the baking of corn pone or light bread, as corn bread was mostly used by the early settlers. A favorite mode of making corn-cake, sometimes called " hoe-cake," was to spread the corn dough on a clapboard, three feet long, by six or eight inches wide ; the dough an inch thick, and bake it before the fire. This was sweeter and better than dodger-cake baked in an iron vessel. I have often seen this distributed to a family of urchins in sections of six inches, and with this in one hand and with a tin cup of milk in the other, they devoured it with great glee, and making a very satisfactory meal. [The writer of the history of Miami County would remark, in parenthesis, that he would like to have a section also.] Green corn and wild fruits constituted important articles of food with many of the settlers. A cow for milk was very important, as milk was largely used by all classes, and coffee and tea but very little—and then frequently of domestic material. As to towns and merchants, there were few. The county being an interior one, with no external trade, except that of procuring salt and iron from Cincinnati, the farmer, to save the percentage, would raise what money he could, or perhaps two or three would join together, fit out a wagon (for many of the farmers were unable to keep a wagon), take their provisions and feed for the trip, go to Cincinnati, purchase the required supplies and return in eight or ten days without spending a quarter of a dollar. Settlers would exchange or sell commodities among them- selves, consequently there was no central point of trade of any particular note in the county. Prior to 1815, there were only two stores each in Troy and Washington ( now Piqua) and one in Milton, of small capital each, supplying a few foreign articles, salt and iron, and a barter trade in domestic manufactures ; ginseng, beeswax and feathers being most in demand for shipment. There was no marketing of any kind to send out of the county. The towns having few inhabitants, afforded no markets worth mentioning. The barter price of wheat was 50 cents, corn 25 cents and oats 20 cents ; but for cash one-third or more less would be taken. The demand for money to meet the payments on Government land was the great desideratum, and often great sacrifices would have to be made to meet them, such as selling wagons and horses at a low rate, or sometimes selling their improvements for less than it cost them, and entering a new tract. Such was the condition of things in the days of 1800. The flat-boat and keel-boat propelled by a pole, have given place to the three-decked floating palace propelled by steam. Blazed paths, mud roads and ox teams have been replaced by pikes, canals and railroads. The old dandy wagon disappears before the elliptic-springed phaeton. Instead of the long-snouted rooter, we have the Berkshire, blooded cattle, and Shanghai rooster. The lug-pole, crane and trammel no longer hang in the capacious fireplace ; and in their stead we have the " Early Breakfast " and base burner. The Dutch oven, skillet and pot hooks have retired also. Penny royal and sage tea, ginseng and slippery-elm poultices, have all disappeared before sugar-coated pills, and the surgeon's knife. The old flint-lock has been exchanged for the central fire, breech-loading, sixteen-shooter, We cannot review these transformations without a feeling of veneration for those brave spirits, through whose efforts they were effected who changed a wilderness swarming with wild animals and savages, to waving fields and flourishing cities ; from the howl of the wolf and 220 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. the war-whoop of the Indian, to the whistle of the locomotive and the chime of the church bell.' We have now endeavored to give the settlers of this county, from the earliest up to the year 1800. We have also undertaken to give a brief review of the customs, privations, etc., of those days, and touch upon the changes that have taken place from that time till the present. We shall now begin with the year 1800, and perhaps we may discover some stragglers that belonged to an earlier age, and if so, we shall place them where they belong. Yes, we are not out of sight of the old year's camp, until we see, John Hilliard and his wife, and Father 'Michael Williams, with a family of nine children, coming, the former three years, the tatter one year behind us. John Hilliard was temporarily located at Mill Creek, and, as soon as he thought he could venture out without losing his scalp, came into Miami and entered Section 30, in Spring Creek Township, cleared a little spot, built a pole hut, and on the 4th day of April, 1797, moved in with his family. Being an aged man, the hardships of pioneer life proved too great for his shattered constitution, and he soon gave up the ghost, and was laid away in a lonely spot in the woods, the first death and burial in that part of the country. Michael Williams, with his sons, George, John, Henry, Michael, Jr., and two daughters, Fanny and Elizabeth, came from Virginia about 1797. He and his family stopped at a collection of huts on Mad River, called Dayton. Having remained about a year here, they pushed further on to Honey Creek, and hearing from Gen. Harrison of a beautiful prairie on Stillwater, he and all his family removed within the present limits of Newton Township in 1800. We may place in this list, also, the names of Robert and John H. Crawford, who came from Pennsylvania and settled in Bethel Township. Philip and Jacob Sailor, Jr., bought farms on Indian Creek and spent their lives clearing and improving them.* Although we have not noticed many young women around in the year 1800, yet there must have been some, for we see by the record that in this year Mary Sailor married Joseph Stafford, and Rachel Sailor married David Morris. In these days of natural simplicity and hard work, when the hands find plenty to do, and the mind is pure and innocent. the ceremonies attendant upon marriages were very unostentatious. No broadcloth, scissor-tailed coat, no stovepipe beaver, no Alexandre seamless, no button-hole bouquet, or patent-leather boots adorned the scene ; the flash of the diamond nor the gauzy point-lace, neither silks nor satins adorned the bride ; but the honest pioneer, in his homemade hunting shirt, buckskin breeches, moccasins on his feet, with dried leaves for socks, stood by the side of the innocent girl, in her linsey-woolsey frock, guiltless of magnolia balm, " Bloom of Youth," except that which nature gave her, for she is nature's child, pure and artless. BIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES. Having now given, as far as possible, all the names of those advance-guards and forerunners of civilization, who braved the perils and hardships.. incident to opening a home in the wilderness, up to the year 1800, we shall now take pleasure in giving a brief sketch of those of whom we have been able to glean any reminiscences. David H. Morris and Samuel Morrison contracted with Symmes for lands near the mouth of Honey Creek, raised corn on Freeman's Prairie, and, as has been stated previously, were supposed to have been the first settlers of this county. They were both honorable men, and well respected by the later settlers, who shared their hospitality. The former came from New Jersey and served during the war of 1812, under Gen. Wayne. Samuel Morrison was a native of Pennsylvania. Robert Crawford came from Pennsylvania, was appointed by the Commissioners to superintend the laying out of the town of Troy, and also in the sale of town lots, but after serving a year, he resigned. John H. Crawford, also from Pennsylvania, was one of the first Associate Judges of the county, and served two terms. * It would seem also that Job Gard, who is said to have been one of Wayne’s army, after the treaty of Greenville, returned, and In 1798 built a rude cabin, and lived in it without floor or window for the one year, why when he sold out to John Manning, who, five years subsequently, erected a grist-mill near the site of Piqua. HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 221 SCALPING OF MRS. MARTIN. Levi Martin and family were among the earliest settlers of Staunton. Mrs. Martin was an unfortunate victim of Indian cruelty, the details of which are worthy of a place in this connection. " In 1788, or near that time," says Stephen Dye, who was an eye-witness to he bloody affair, " the family of John Corbly, a very pious man, lived at Gerrard Station, on the Monongahela, not far from Redstone Fort, a mile and a half from it meeting-house. He was, with his family, a regular attendant on Divine worship. One pleasant morning in the spring, a party of youth had started from the Dye settlement (among whom was the narrator) to attend meeting. They had just crossed a creek branch, when they heard the report of rifles in the direction of the fort. It was an unusual sound on that day, but they supposed some strangers had come into the neighborhood, and were out hunting. The party, however, had not proceeded half a mile, when they saw several bodies lying in the path, and, on approaching them, they proved to be the mutilated remains of the Corbly family. The old gentleman had forgotten his hymn book, and left his family walking on, to go back after it. During . his absence, the Indians, concealed in the woods, shot at them, killed outright Mrs. Corbly and three children. Two younger daughters were left for dead. They had been knocked down, and, with the rest of the party, scalped, but were resuscitated ; one of these, Delila Corbly, late Mrs. Martin, who died in 1836, lived for many years, an esteemed and favorite member of this neighborhood." Mrs. Martin lived to rear a family of eight sons and two daughters, notwithstanding the severity of her wounds, which, her family physician says, extended over the crown of her head, as wide as the two hands. The hair grew thriftily around the edge of the scalped surface, which, by careful training, grew upward, and served as a protection to the exposed parts. At times, it caused her pain, and she frequently complained of headache, which she attributed to the loss of her scalp ; but, so far as known, no serious results ever followed, for she lived to quite an old age, and performed a great amount of hard labor. Peter Felix, a Canadian Frenchman, was supposed to have been in the neighborhood of Staunton previous to the first settlement there. He was rather a noted Indian trader, and in addition to this, kept a kind of tavern. He was shrewd, and drove many a sharp bargain with the Indians. His stock of needles once getting scarce, it is reported that he demanded of the Indians a coonskin for a needle, giving as an excuse, that the needle maker had died, and he could get no more. It is presumed he made money at his calling, for at the organization of the county, the first courts were held in his house. Andrew Dye, Sr., was one of the oldest settlers of this county, and, with his sons, ranks among the most prominent of the same. Had all been as Mr. Dye, the growth of this county would have increased in spite of Indian massacres, famine, pestilence and every other known calamity incident to humanity, for he had eight sons and two daughters. He died in 1837, at the age of eighty-seven ; at which time his posterity amounted to about five hundred, three hundred and sixty of whom were living. What a sight for an old bachelor to contemplate ; gazing upon three hundred and sixty children ranging down to the fifth generation, with one hundred and forty buried. John Gerard was one of the settlers who came to Staunton in 1799. Was one of the first Associate Judges of the county. He was a man of strict integrity, energy and a valuable citizen ; and a prime mover in every enterprise looking toward the development of the infant county. Nathaniel Gerard, also a settler of 1799, in Staunton, bought land two miles from Troy, on which was located the celebrated tea spring, 'a description of which is given by D. H. Morris, in " Harmar's Expedition," now owned by the Coleman family. Mr. Gerard established the first tannery in the county, which was of inestima- 222 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. ble value to the early settlers, for they either had to pay an enormous• price for leather, wear buckskin moccasins, or go barefooted. Henry Gerard, son of Nathaniel, was also one of the ninety-niners, and was one of the most useful men in the county. While his father was the first to prepare the hides of the animals for their feet, he was the first to erect machinery for preparing the grain for their stomachs, and lumber for their houses and furniture. Previous to this, he had been employed by John Cleves Symmes as his agent in superintending matters in connection with the northern part of his purchase, for which he was to be compensated in land ; but as he was often heard to say that he never received anything, it is supposed Symmes failed with him, as well as with the Government. 1800-1807. Our facilities for ascertaining the names and number of those who came into this county, from 1800 to 1805, seem to be very meager. We learn of an Irishman, by the name of George Kerr, who settled on Section 8, in Monroe Township, about the year 1800. He cleared out a little farm, and became an industrious and permanent settler of this county. At this time, also, a few families came from South Carolina, and settled in the vicinity of Kerr, cleared lands, and raised large families ; many of whom are now living on the farms of their fathers. Among those worthies we may mention Joseph Layton, Jesse, Amos, and David Jenkins; the last of whom was elected Justice of the Peace in 1818, the duties of which office he honorably discharged until his death in 1858. About this time, also, came a family of Pearsons. Samuel, was a man who could indulge his ingenuity in almost any direction, could with equal facility mend a plow, or pull a tooth, make a singletree, or cut off a finger, fix a clock, or administer worm medicines to a squalling baby; fact make himself useful at almost anything, and therefore was indispensable to the immigrants.. Enoch Pearson was one of the first preachers in the county, and held many meetings in the woods, where he preached the honest doctrine of the Friends, to which denomination he belonged. As he was one of the earliest to proclaim the Word of God, so was he one of the first taken to the fold above. His remains lie buried in the family graveyard. Thomas Furnace came to this county from South Carolina in the year 1800 and located on the farm now owned by Newel Kerr, in Monroe Township. Mr. Furnace was a prominent man in the county and wore some of her highest honors, having been elected Sheriff, and afterward represented Miami in the State Legislature. The now flourishing county owes an everlasting debt of gratitude to those brave men who supported her in her infancy, and gave her the strength of their own heroic manhood. Not only does she owe a debt of gratitude to these men, but equally as much to the true-hearted and noble-minded women ; who aided their brothers, their husbands, their fathers, with their own hands ; and, by their presence and purity, rendered the house in the wilderness a place of happiness, to which their husbands, brothers and fathers, wearied by the hard day's toil, could retrace their steps, feeling each grow lighter, as they approached the abode where woman's presence made all things cheerful, and woman's sweet smile of welcome chased away all the toils of the day. Such men were the Coppocks, Pearsons, Furnaces, Mendenhalls, Coateses, Leagues, Yountzes, Jenkinses and hosts of others, who gave color to the county, and whose descendants do honor to their ancestors. It will be impossible for us to give the names of all the immigrants to this county after 1800, because from rapidity of immigration and the increase within themselves, we cannot keep pace with them ; we will give, therefore, a few of the most prominent. It appears that the District of Newberry, in South Carolina, furnished numerous emigrants for this county during the years 1801 to 1805. Georgia and Tennessee also furnished many, most of whom belonged to the denomination of Friends, and left their native country on account of their extreme aversion to the institu- HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 225 tion of slavery, and a remarkable prophecy delivered by one of their venerated religious leaders. In the year 1801, Henry Fouts came to this county and settled while yet a young man, in Section 33, Union Township, and during the same year Leonard Eller settled in Section 35, both from the State of North Carolina. These, with their families, seemed to be the first settlers of that locality. Coming at the same time, it appears a little remarkable that one should settle on the west and the other on the east side of the river. It attests, however, the fearless spirit that reigned in those men, who did not even seek mutual protection from the dangers that so closely environed them. It appears that Fouts manifested the better judgment in his selection, for, in addition to its richer soil and superior location, a fine, ever-living spring ran through his lands, of sufficient size and fall to propel all kinds of machinery, and with these accessories his lands were greatly superior to Eller's. Henry Fouts was a very quiet, unassuming man, splendid physical development, industrious habits, energetic and persevering, and every way adapted to the hardships and labor attending the clearing out and building up a home in the forest. Generous and liberal in his nature, he supported the feeble efforts of his neighbors, to provide the means of educating their children. Of five daughters and one son, whom, during his lifetime, he sent to school at the old West Branch Schoolhouse, but two, viz., Mary Wheelock and Rebecca Vore, are now living, both residing on the land given them by their father. Though not strictly a member of any church, Mr. Fouts was a Quaker in faith, and attended their church. It may be said, in truth, of Henry Fouts, that the sound of his ax was the first to break the silence of the forest west of the Stillwater. By him was built the first house, by him was cleared the first land, the first seeds sown west of the river. Though he came there young, he did not live to see a turnpike passing through his lands much less a railroad. He died in the prime of manhood in 1822, leaving behind him an unincumbered patrimony, a portion of which, if not all, is still held by his descendants. His remains lie in West Branch Burying-ground. Leonard Eller came at about the same time, and from the same State as Mr. Fouts. He was a much older man, and possessed more means, the greater portion of which he invested in lands. His five sons settled near him, and, being robust and industrious, they soon made a visible mark in the forest. In the year 1802, John Waggoner, from North Carolina, after having wintered in Waynesville, in what subsequently became Warren County, came to this county, and located in Section 33, in Union Township, about February or March. Owing to the inclemency of departing winter, his sufferings were more than ordinary, yet it was necessary to begin his clearing early, so as to put in his spring crop. Waggoner was about twenty-seven years old when he came here, and had a wife and two step-sons, Martin and Noah Davenport, both too young to render him any aid. Of his own in after life he had five children, all of whom raised large families. Jacob, the only son of John Waggoner, was remarkable for his superior ingenuity and judgment, being one of the best mechanics of his day, and so much the superior of his father that the old gentleman yielded him precedence on every occasion. In the summer of 1802, the little settlement received valuable accessions in the persons of John Hoover, Caleb Mendenhall and Joseph Mendenhall, also from North Carolina. These with their families, clustered around the little nucleus already formed, adding to its strength and social comfort, as well as facilitating labor. Section 33 had been purchased by a speculator, and thus, was sold in small quantities to settlers who did not have the means to buy in the large quantities offered by the Government. Of the four last-named families who came in 1802, John Hoover's was the oldest, and, being possessed with some means, he gave land to all of his sons, of whom there were seven, and three daughters. Though his sons were all practical farmers, they followed other occupations. Henry, the oldest, was a surveyor, and also a magistrate for many years. Abraham ran a saw-mill, and Joseph, the youngest, was a school teacher. They were all born members of the society of Friends, and intelligent thinking men. Of his ten 226 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. children, not one is now living but whose posterity extends to the fourth generation. The old gentleman was very economical, and his wife, Sarah, being a woman of great piety, industrious, and an excellent manager, through the combined efforts of each, they succeeded in treasuring up a very handsome competency for their children. He having died nearly forty years ago, his lands are now mostly in the hands of strangers, who plow and reap, little caring for the privations and toil required to wrest the now beautiful fields from the dense forests of 1802. CALEB MENDENHALL settled with his family just north of Waggoner 'a few months later in the same year. The first night of his arrival was passed in preparing for the comfort of his little family of six children. On the morrow, he awoke and found himself the happy father of a seventh. This little forest maid was named Tamar, the significance of which—palm-tree--was in harmony with the surroundings during her advent into the world. She is now living in Montgomery County, the mother of eight children. Caleb was industrious, economical and, withal, a man of taste and refinement, and to him the credit is due of building the second brick house in Union Township, and among the first in the county. Though possessed of but a limited education, he rook a deep interest in, and encouraged, all literary and educational interests. By his wife, Susannah, he had eleven children, all of whom lived to be married; but now only two are living. A rather remarkable feature of this family was, that all the eleven children were born within a period of nineteen years, and the oldest was married shortly before the birth of the youngest, while the remaining ten lived with their parents till 1819. Living adjoining the old West Branch Friends' Church, his house was a favorite resort during their quarterly meetings: When the division in the Church, caused by Elias Hicks, took place in 1828, Caleb took up with the Hicksites, but his wife remained. This severed his connection with the church at West Branch. Subsequently he sold his farm and removed to Indiana, where, about 1850, he died. In the early settlement a project was set on foot' to obtain a public library. Caleb was one of five who readily responded, the others being Frederick Yount, Elisha Jones, David Mote, and John Abbott. The price per share agreed upon was three dollars, which, aggregating only fifteen dollars, was considered too little, and solicitors were sent to the nearest neighbors to increase the stock. One man went to Joseph Mendenhall, but failed to get his support, informing Caleb that he believed he would have subscribed had he not been such a mummy. Upon this, Caleb asked him if he knew what a mummy was ; this was a poser, and Caleb chuckled over his superior scientific attainments. He had, perhaps, the largest orchard in the whole county ; the trees in course of time interlocking each other, and protecting each other from frosts ; he would have an abundant yield when others failed, often amounting to three or four thousand bushels. Only two of his grand-children are living in this county, the oldest and youngest ; the one sixty-five, the other five, a disparity in cousins most remarkable. Joseph Mendenhall, who married Caleb's wife's sister, settled immediately north of him, in Section 28, but also owned land in Section 32. That portion on which he resided, had two excellent springs, but the greater part is so boggy that it has been used for nothing but pasture for seventy-five years: Though these brothers came from North Carolina here, they were born in Georgia. About the close of the American Revolution, the Creek Indians made an inroad into their country, killed their mother, and took Joseph prisoner ; being a robust boy, they saved his life, and made a young warrior out of him. Adopted into a family, he became one of their nation, until the treaty of peace, when he was restored to his father. In this county he built one of the first tan-yards, which he managed successfully for many years. Nine children called him father, whom he educated, and lived to see fathers and mothers. After amassing quite a fortune, he died on his old Ohio farm at a good old age, in 1850 leaving a widow, who survived him many years. Thus were two families of twenty children, whose fathers were brothers, HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 227 whose mothers were sisters, reared in sight of each other, going to the same school, attending the same church, growing up in the same atmosphere, governed by the same surroundings, but going out into life in widely diverging paths, and lying down in their final sleep iii lands far remote from each other. Thus do circumstances and peculiarities of individual character mold and direct our pathway through life. In the year 1803, the number of immigrants augmented the settlements already formed, the forests gave way more rapidly to cultivated fields, and comfort and prosperity smiled on the adventurous spirits who courted their favors. Among the settlers in this county during 1803, we may mention Stephen Dye, son of Andrew Dye, who settled on the farm now known as the Bates farm. Mr. Dye was a prominent citizen of this county ; was her first Sheriff, serving eight years. In 1793, he enlisted under Gen. Scott, of Kentucky, and served in the expedition to Zanestown, on Mad River, against the hostile Indians in that vicinity. Andrew Dye, father of Stephen, was also one of Miami's most prominent men. As has been before mentioned, his posterity was almost a fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham. At or near this time Samuel Freeman purchased the prairie since known as Freeman's Prairie. Reuben Shackelford, William Barbee, Robert Mackey, and a Dutch family on the Statler farm, with a few squatters around Piqua, came to the county about this time, or possibly a little later. Little settlements were springing up, dotting the county all over with life. Along the water courses the chief attraction resided, and consequently, these localities were more thickly settled than other places. Stillwater possessed peculiar attractions from the beautiful scenery, and great water facilities, arising in great part from the numerous magnificent springs, rising in the country beyond, uniting their waters, and pouring in a pure and pellucid channel over rocky precipices into the river, supplying at once the thirst of man and beast, and turning all kinds of machinery for the gratification of his appetite, and amelioration of his privations. During this year, John Mast and his son-in-law, Frederick Yount, came from North Carolina to this county for the purpose of erecting a mill. Yount was sent over the county to select, or purchase a suitable location, who, after traveling up and down Stillwater for some time, finally made a selection; but, while examining more closely the cardinal points of his location, he was startled by observing the letters "R. F. deeply cut on a tree. This to him was the " Mene, mene tekel," divining that R. F. had also chosen this land, and his only alternative was now for Ahimaaz to outstrip Cushi. Immediately starting on horseback for Cincinnati, and by unceasing travel day and night, he reached the land office, made his purchase, and on coming out met his rival on the steps. While traveling through the woods at night near Franklin, his hat was brushed off by a limb, and, not finding it readily, he rushed on, and in the morning, while passing a wayside tavern, beheld two plain-looking men just coming to attend to their horses ; believing in hs ifear that one of them was R. F., with incentives more than Tam O'Shanter's Cutty Sark, he put his horse to his mettle, and' never stopped till he reached Cincinnati. The letters R. F. were the initials of Robert Furnas, a squatter from South Carolina, whose extreme precaution caused the loss of his selection. After having secured the land, which was purchased in his name, John Mast proceeded immediately to erect a mill, being one of the first in the county. The four daughters of John Mast married respectively, Frederick Yount, Jesse Friend, Jacob Curtis and David M. Jones. Mr. Mast's wife dying in 1813, he never married again, but resided near his mill with some orphaned grandchildren, until his death in 1832, at the advanced age of seventy-nine. He was low in stature, and somewhat taciturn. William Barbee came from Kentucky and settled in Concord Township in 1804. He was one of the most noted men in this county ; genial, whole-souled, and hospitable, he endeared himself to all whose fortune it was to be associated with him. He was the idol and sunshine of his own household. While he was 228 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. kind, he was at the same time firm in character and inflexible in purpose. He was an inveterate talker, and relished a joke, and was never happier than when surrounded by congenial spirits. Sometimes he would so far forget himself as to cause serious concern of his friends for his safety ; for when "The Souter tould his queerest stories; The landlord's laugh was ready chorus; The storm without might rain and rustle, BARBEE did pa mind the storm a whistle. " I shall give an anecdote in the words of Mr. Tullis, throwing in a little of Tam O'Shanter by way of illustration : " If the Judge had any foible in his character, it was possibly, he was a little too much inclined to good company. He hardly knew how to tear himself away when surrounded by kindred spirits. As an illustration of that fact, he came into the house about the middle of the forenoon one day, and told Mrs. Barbee she need not hurry up dinner, as he had to ride over to Lexington, and would not be back for early dinner.. Dinner was kept till a late hour, but Mr. Barbee did not come he was not there at supper ; breakfast over, and the second dinner on the table, 'but the husband and father mysteriously absent. Late in the afternoon Mrs. Barbee could stand it no longer ; she knew that he had been thrown by the young horse, and killed.' She little knew that he had met ' his ancient, trusty, drouthy crony—whom Tam lo'ed like a vera brither.' She started on the road toward Lexington, expecting to meet messengers bearing his corpse, when lo ! she met her darling husband so full of laughter that he shook in his boots. Mrs. Barbee was in a different mood. There she stood, “Gathering her brows like gathering storm, Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.' She turned a wrathful battery upon him with a will. You thought I was killed, did you,' said he. 'Yes, I knew the colt had thrown you, and broke your neck,' said she. 'And you are very mad because he did not do it,' retorted Mr. Barbee. The occasion of delay was, when Mr Barbee got to town he met Mr. Breckenbridge, and fell into a discussion on the slavery question. Mr. Breckenbridge was pro-slavery, and Mr. Barbee was an ultra Abolitionist. The discussion grew so warm that they did not note the flight of time." Mr. Barbee was a philosopher ; not a book philosopher, but a mental philosopher. If there were any works on natural philosophy published at that early day, they had not reached the far West. He could prove without the use of books to the astonishment of us boys, that if a mosquito were to light on the mantle-piece, it would bend it. It was hard to make us understand when we would burn ourselves, that there is no heat in fire. His conversation was always edifying. It was no trouble for him to prove that persons always did what they supposed would most promote their happiness. When there was no preacher present, he often " talked in meeting." He often amplified at great length the proposition that one always acts according to one's faith. Another subject that he delighted to elaborate was, that every one had just as much religion as he desired to have. In discussing these subjects, the young people sometimes thought his exhortations prolix. On the 16th day of August, 1812, Gen. Hull surrendered the American army in Detroit, to Gen. Proctor and his Indian allies, thus exposing the whole northwestern frontier to the ravages of Indian warfare ; for Great Britain, unmindful 3f the scorn she had incurred by employing these ruthless dogs of war, during the Revolution, did not hesitate again to let them loose upon our now defenseless frontiers. Troops were immediately raised for the protection of the exposed territory, and the command given to Gen. Harrison, who arrived at Cincinnati on the 28th of August, and took up his line of march for Ft. Recovery, the prospective field of operations. We have the record, that, "on the 3d of September, the army arrived at Piqua, a small village on the west bank of the Miami." HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 229 The investment of Ft. Wayne, by the Indians, had caused serious apprehensions for the safety of the whole surrounding country. A company of old men was formed in this cuntycounty the protection of the settlements, who rendezvoused at Pi qua, for the purpose of organizing and determining upon a plan of operations. William Barbee was elected Captain, and it was determined to march to Ft. Recovery. On the afternoon of their departure, when, all were in readiness to move, the captain was nowhere to be found. Surprise and wonder, intermingled with murmurings at his absence at so important a moment, took possession of the little band. Search was made, and still he could not be found. After much delay, however, it was ascertained that he was closeted with Gen. Harrison. The company, somewhat chagrined at this disclosure, chose a Lieutenant as their commander, and marched to Recovery, where they remained under arms till the siege of Ft. Wayne was raised. Gen. Harrison remained at Piqua until the 6th of September. While there, Capt. Barbee obtained a position in the Commissary Department, with his headquarters at Piqua, which he retained until his last sickness, when he was removed to his home, where, after a brief illness, he died. Mr. Barbee was one of the first Associate Judges of this county, having been elected in 1807, at its organization. We place these brief reminiscences at this date, though they carry us forward to the year 1812. We shall be obliged to touch upon them again in treating of the war of 1812. William Fischer, or Pincher, settled on Section 27, east of Stillwater, between 1803 and 1804, cleared off and opened up a farm, then removed to another State. In 1804, Georgia contributed largely to the settlers of this county. David Mote, accompanied by his five sons, Jonathan, William, John, Jeremiah and Jesse—all except William bringing families—settled in Sections 20 and 82. During this year, additional settlements were made in Lost Creek by Willis Northcut, following in the footsteps of M. Battrel, who came in 1802. In Bethel also settlements were made. Many persons came to the county during this period, whose names it is impossible for us to obtain. With the advent of every family, the social, commercial, and monetary condition was very materially improved, and a step toward the ease and comfort of those to follow was gained, which of course, caused the rapid increase of immigrants. The condition of the country was changing, the savage wildness of the pristine forest was fast giving place to cultivated fields, and altogether the country was assuming day by day a more inviting aspect. With the advent of 1805 immigration seemed to roll in with increased vigor. We shall initiate by a little sketch of John T. Tullis, an old and worthy pioneer of this county, who came in 1805, and through the kindness of whose daughter Mary, we are enabled to glean many interesting historical facts from his pen, as well as that of Dr. Asa Coleman. He says : "In the spring of 1805, when our family came to Miami, father, mother and sister stopped at Col. Patterson's, and the wagon, stock and boys came on to a hut in a bushy prairie, half a mile west of Dayton, where we spent the night. In the morning, all the family having arrived, we pushed on. Three miles from Dayton we found a family by the name of Houzer. The next settlement was Samuel Morrison, near Honey Creek., We found the creek a little miry, but finally got through all right The next break in the forest was Stephen Dye's improvement, Bates farm ; from thence we moved on through a dense forest to Staunton ; passing on, we next arrived at Joseph Coe's, where we stopped for the night, and in the morning crossed the river and ' put for the settlement,' which we found to be a cabin ten feet square and six feet high, covered with real clapboards. A Mr. Shackelford was living in our house when we arrived, but moved into a camp which he had built about eighty rods distant. And now we found ourselves at home, but some of the fixtures were missing. We had no stable into which we could put our horses, and the calf pasture was not fenced ; but we could prevent their following the dam, by the use of ropes which we brought for that purpose. We had no alternative but to trust to the honesty of horses and cattle ; but alas, our confidence was shamefully abused, for in a few days horses and cows, like Saul's asses, were 230 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. nowhere.' Firewood was plenty, and what, in our circumstances was better, it was very cheap." On the west side of the river the population was very scarce. Ten miles from Dayton, and the same from Troy, stood the solitary cabin of Samuel Freeman. On the north was Reuben Shackelford's camp, and near this, William Barbee's cabin ; still further north one mile was the clearing of Robert Mackey. On the Satler farm were the old folks, and a family of healthy Dutch boys few squatters in Piqua. One cold day in 1805, Mr. Tullis says he and his brother Joel had been sent to Henry Gerard's mill, on Spring creek, and on returning had to cross the river angling down stream. The ice floating down against the horse from behind, caused him to plunge, and throw Joel off into the river. He wore a great-coat which flew over his head, and, becoming saturated with water, was so heavy he could not rise to his feet. While he was in this condition, and his horse floundering by his side, Mrs. Hamlet happened to go to the door, and, seeing his precarious situation, called to her husband who was in the house. He ran to the river, and, observing the corner of Joel's coat, plunged in and rescued him from a watery grave, just as he had relinquished all hope, and made up his mind to die, and was going down the last time. In this year, 1805, Mr. Youst, Mr. Peck, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. McJimpsey, settled near each other just below town, and Mr. Gahagan located on what was subsequently called Gahagan's Prairie. At the toll-gate below town Mr. Orbison began a clearing. These immigrants were all men of small capital, and had sold their faints in the East and come West to buy cheap lands for their children. In the spring of 1805, the tide of immigration flowed unremittingly into this county. The Miami Valley seemed to be the Mecca of their desires. Preachers and exhorters led the van ; among the former, Armstrong Brandon, who . is described as being a dashing young clergyman, endowed with force and energy of character. Of the latter class, we may mention Thomas B. Kyle, and a younger brother, Samuel, both licentiates. So that, in an ethical direction, the little settlement had superior advantages. To these were added at the season of germination many noble plants, such as Mathew Caldwell, Alexander McCullough, James Marshall, Alexander Telford, Henry Orbison, James Orr, Joseph McCorkle and John Johnston, all with the exception of Orbison, locating on the west side of the river. Mrs. Mary Reeves Beedle, with her family, emigrated from Kentucky to this county about this time. Having lost her husband thirteen years previous, she depended for support mainly upon her son Daniel, then only thirteen, who, by his energy and industry, proved that she did not lean, upon a broken staff. Amid the privations of a life in the wilderness, he bravely encountered and overcame every obstacle. Actuated by love for his mother, and indomitable will, sustained by a robust physique, he willingly endured every hardship, undertook any labor necessary to the comfort and support of those dependent upon him. Without a murmur would he go barefooted through the midwinter snow to cut wood to keep others warm. It is recorded of him that he had a great aversion to riding, and would, though a horse and saddle were at his command, walk even to Greenville and return. a distance of fifty miles. His moral qualities seemed to be commensurate with his physical, and, in addition to mens sana in corpore sane, we may well say mens sibi conscia recti. Possessing a high sense of honor, he 'never condescended to things of baser stuff: He married Elizabeth Lindley, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. His wife died in December, 1855, and he, August 11, 1877, at the age of 85. Alexander Telford emigrated from Kentucky in 1805, and located in Montgomery County ; remaining only one year, he came to Miami County, purchased land and became a permanent settler, rearing a large family. His son, Dr. J. G. Telford, who came with him, studied medicine with Dr. Asa Coleman, and practiced in an early day, in this county. He was very philanthropic in his views, and was of incalculable assistance to many young men struggling for an education. His sterling integrity created man warm friends, and various offices of trust were heaped upon him unsolicited, as evidences of the HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 231 implicit confidence his fellow-citizens reposed in him. For twenty-one years he was Director and President of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad Company ; President of the Miami County Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and various other offices of trust and responsibility were largely represented by him. Gen. Fielding Loury was a pioneer to this county shortly previous to 1806, and with the aid o John Smith, his father-in-law, laid out the town of Staunton, and superintended the sale of lots. Smith owned a large amount of land in this county at that time, and employed Loury as his agent. Loury was a man of note, and was the first Representative of the county to the State Legislature. Born in Spottsilvania Co., Va., March 13, 1781, came to Cincinnati in 1802 ; in June 1811, married Ann only daughter of John Smith, the first United States Senator from Ohio. Gen. Loury owned great quantities of land in Ohio, and in the capacity of surveyor he spent much time in this county in laying out towns, and surveying his own and his father-in-law's lands. In character he was courageous, courteous energetic and industrious, ever alive to the interests of the community in which he lived. He is represented as a ,true type of the fine old-fashioned gentleman. He was married twice, taking for his second wife the widow of Daniel C. Cooper, original proprietor of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Loury was the projector of the first ferry in this county, an account of which will be given elsewhere, a member of the early Legislature of Ohio, when it convened at Chillicothe, and subsequently at Columbus ; also a general officer in the State Militia, and was stationed at Detroit, as Indian agent, during the war of 1812. His powers of physical endurance and activity remained almost unimpaired until his death, caused by falling down stairs. About the year 1807, John Peck came from Kentucky to Concord Township, in this county. Mr. Peck was born Oct. 21, 1800 ; his grandmother was captured during the French and Indian war by a band of savages, and was only saved from burning, through the interference of the squaws, into whose good graces she had, by her amiability, ingratiated herself. At the age of twelve, Mr. Peck was orphaned, and from that time till his seventeenth year, he found a home with relatives after, which, he hired out at brickmaking and farming, performing the labor, and receiving the wages, of a man. In later years, he became a farmer, which honorable avocation he followed till his death. He was a man of high moral character, and shed a beneficial influence throughout the community in which he lived. Isaac Peck, brother to the above, came to Miami County with John, when the county was an almost primitive wilderness. From the well-settled homes in Kentucky, he came to the rude pioneer hut in the woods. Left an orphan at the tender age of seven, he was bound out to learn the saddler's trade. Becoming dissatisfied with his employer, he left, and subsequently accompanied Judge Barbee, to assist in driving cattle to Green Bay, on Lake Michigan, for which he received $28.50, the first money he ever possessed. Although of a very retiring and unobtrusive disposition, his well-known integrity, and steady business habits in later years, secured for him, unsolicited, many important local positions of trust. OLD SETTLERS UP TO 1807. Having now brought the settlements up to the year of 1807, at which time the county was organized, we will recapitulate, by giving a list of a few of the old settlers here, previous to and at that period, with, perhaps, mention of a few additional facts concerning the biography of some. Beginning on the east side of the river, south, we have Samuel Morrison, David H. Morris, William and Mordecai Mendenhall, Robert Crawford, John H. and Cunningham Crawford, William Ellis, Benjamin Lee, Daniel Agenbroad, Christain and Daniel Lefevre, John, Andrew, Stephen, Benjamin, William and Andrew Dye, Jr., John Christian and Benjamin Knoop, Cornelius Westfall, Fielding Loury, Thomas Sayers, Peter Felix, John Gerard, Simon Landry, Uriah Blue, Barnabas and James Blue, Jonathan Rollins, 232 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. Shadrach Hudson, John, Samuel and Lewis Winans, Abner, Henry and Nathaniel Gerard, Richard Winans, John Orbison, Joseph, Charles and Samuel Hilliard, Benjamin Hamlet, William Knight, John, Joseph and, John Webb, David and John Knight, Richard Palmer, John Wallace, William Brown, Joseph Coe, Stephen Winans, Abram Hathaway, William Carter, Bennett Langley, Caleb Hathaway, William and James L. McKinney, John and Jacob Mann, Lewis and Obadiah Winters, Philip Sailor, George Williams, Jacob Sailor, Christ Prillman, John Batterall, Peter Harmon, John Flinn, James McCambell, Ralph French, Samuel, James and Lewis Deweese. On the west side of the Miami, on the north, we have John Johnston, Indian agent, Frank and James Johnston, Benjamin Leavel, Hugh Scott, Mr. Hendershot, Armstrong Brandon, John and Enos Manning, Alexander Ewing, Joseph McCool, Matthew Caldwell, the Statler family, Beedle family, father and several sons, James Brown and William Mitchell, Alexander McCullough, Robert Mackey, William Barbee, Sr., father of Judge Barbee, James Orr, Reuben Shackelford, Aaron Tullis and his sons, John, Aaron, William, David, Joel, John T. and Stephen, Henry and Peter Kerns, Samuel kyle, Thomas and Samuel Kyle, Jr., William Adams, Abraham Thomas Robert McGimsey, William, Adam and Samuel Thomas, sons of Abraham, Thomas, Gahagan, John Peck, John Orbison, James Knight, Jesse Gerard, George Kerr, James Yourt, George F. Tennery, Joseph Layton, Frederick Yourt, Jesse Jenkins, Andrew Thomson, Amos and David Jenkins, and David Jenkins, Esq., Samuel Freeman and his sons, Samuel, Daniel, John, Noah and Shrylock, Samuel and Enoch Pearson, Peter Oliver and sons William and Thomas, Arthur Stewart, Andrew Wallace, James Yourt, Will- iam Brown, Thomas W. Williams and Joseph Furnas, Joseph Evans, John Mote, Jonathan Mote, Benjamin Pearson, Robert and Joseph McCool, William, Thomas and John Coppock, Samuel, Jesse, John and Moses Coates, Thomas Hill and his sons Nathan and 'John, Michael and George Williams, William Long, Robert Leavel, Samuel Jones, Jacob Ember, Jonathan Mills, David Patty, Abiather Davis, Caleb Neal, John Mart, James Nayton, Samuel Davis, Jonathan Jones, Samuel Teague, Samuel Peirce, Robert McConnell. The following were living in 1868: Christian Lefevre, aged 83 ; Elisha Webb, 93; John Webb, still living, 90 ; John T. Tullis, 74 ; Samuel Thomas, 73 ; Robert McCool, 87 ; Samuel Coat, 96; David Patty, 83 ; Samuel Davis, 84 ; Jona- than Jones, 87 ; Robert McConnell, 89. In this connection, we beg to note a few additional facts, in regard to Gen. Fielding Loury. He was elected to the State Legislature, October, 1809, and re-elected in 1810. The number of votes cast in the county, then more extensive than now, was 393 ; in 1810, 250. The wife of Loury, as has been said, was a daughter of John Smith, who resided near Cincinnati, on the Ohio. Smith was a merchant, preacher and politician, and a man of great wealth, having at an early period entered about 16,000 acres of land in the eastern part of this county, for the sale of which Gen. Loury was the agent. Smith was suspected of being an accomplice in the celebrated Aaron Burr conspiracy, for which he was tried. Though acquitted, it proved his financial and political ruin in Ohio, which State he soon left, and moved to Louisiana. At the close of the war with England, in 1815, there were large arrearages due the volunteers and drafted men, who had served on the frontiers. The Government being very slow in paying them, one Jesse Hunt, of Cincinnati, who was paymaster, conceived the idea, in conjunction with Mr. Loury, then a merchant, of buying up the claims, which they accordingly did, for fifty cents on the dollar, paying for the same in merchandise, at an enormous profit. This, though perhaps legal, caused a strong impression that the brave men who risked their lives on the frontier, had been unfairly dealt with, and created a strong and settled prejudice against the principal actors in the transaction. By reason of Smith's political downfall, he failed to meet the second payment on his lands, and they reverted to the Government. At this juncture, Loury and Hunt re-entered a great portion of it, the former representing Hunt's HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 233 interest in the sale of it. Loury was elected Colonel of Militia, in April, 1815, Brigadier General in 1817 ; engaged in merchandising in Troy, and, in consequence of misfortune in down-river trade, failed in 1819. Cornelius Westfall was the first Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, Clerk of the Supreme Court, County Recorder, Postmaster, and Director of the town of Troy after the first year. Offices in those 'days were not so remunerative as now, therefore not so much sought after, and as a consequence office-seekers were not so abundant as now. It is said that while Mr. W. was not a' man of much energy, he thoroughly understood the art of wire-pulling. A cotemporary says of him : "It was very marvelous how Mr. Westfall happened to have all the offices in the county. He could not have had a certificate to teach an infant class, as may be seen by the early records. He could not spell the day of' the week. In several instances Friday is spelled Fry day, and the names of the days of the week and month do not begin with a capital letter. If I were good at a picture I would contrast the systematic arrangement of Mr. Talbott's office with Mr. Westfall's. But he was not responsible for all the difference; he had no bookcase or fixtures for keeping his office in good order. A large store box was the receptacle of praecipe, subpoena, summons, declaration, pleas, rejoinder, et cetera." We will now endeavor to discuss briefly the habits, customs, improvements, etc., from 1800 till the organization of this county in 1807. SOCIABILITY. It seemed to be a matter of observation that the Miami River was a well-defined dividing line between the social intercourse of the inhabitants on the east and west banks. It can only be interpreted by the fact that nearly all the early settlers who located on the west side were old acquaintances, and had been neighbors in Kentucky previous to emigration ; and moreover they were nearly all members of the Christian Church. Whereas on the east side, there were none except Joseph Coe and family, and a Mr. Hathaway, who, though not a member, inclined in that direction. In this chapter we shall follow Mr. Tullis, who, being a participant, writes through inspiration. When it is remembered that most of the pioneers of this valley were men in very limited circumstances ; that they had made close calculations as to how much land they could pay for, so as to have enough to form a family colony, and had left but a small margin for et ceteras, it will not be supposed that they indulged to any great excess in luxuries. But few conies of Paris fashions were called for, millinery and mantua-making were rather unpromising vocations, and music teachers on the modern style of piano-forte could hardly hope to succeed. They had a piano-forte however, upon which all the daughters took lessons under the instructions of mother. I wish my young lady readers could see one of those instruments, but they are " out of print." I cannot undertake a description. The last one I ever saw was under circumstances I cannot easily forget. I was living in the country ; Mr. — came out one day to see if it would be convenient for me to come to town that evening and perform the marriage ceremony, at his house for his benefit. He was a widower and had two or three half-grown boys. I told him I would try to oblige him. Accordingly, about twilight I drew up at his door and was kindly received. The gentleman and his sons were sitting very cosily by a good fire, and a lady was giving them music on her piano. After we had discussed the weather and the news of the day, the lady rose, put back her instrument, took off her apron, and shook the shiver out of it (the leaves lying before her, on which she was practicing, was tow). When all these preparations were made, she said to the gentleman, "I am ready;" whereupon the business for which we had met was consummated. HOSPITALITY. Hospitality was a leading trait. The sick and needy were as wel In cared for as they have been since Faith, Hope and Charity were organized. Indeed, 234 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. Christian graces did exist at that early day, though the process of combination came at a later period. There was nothing like aristocracy, or assumed superiority, on account of owning more acres, or being better born " Fustest families of Virginny,"—nothing of caste to mar the free intercourse of all on the common platform of equality. It cannot be disguised, however, that there were certain semi oracles, who commanded more deference on account of superior intelligence and culture than others whose opportunities had not been so favorable. The intercourse among the young folks was of the most agreeable nature. Though they met on the level and parted on the square, there were some of the young men more than others " ladies' men," and 'some of the young ladies belles of a high order, yet there was nothing of jealousy or envy engendered. Balls and parties of modern style had not been introduced ; indeed, there was too much work to be done, both in the house and in the field, to think of amusements. There was always meeting on Sunday, and the young folks would go and come together as often as convenient. Meeting was generally held at Mr. Hathaway's, or Josey Coe's, and Mr. Barbee's was a central point at which to rendezvous, being a pleasant walk from there to meeting. Carriages and buggies, be it remembered, had not been introduced, and could not have been easily used on account of bad roads. When the distance was too far to walk, they traveled on horseback ; a boy in the saddle, and a girl behind him. All parties enjoyed that mode of traveling hugely, (the idea suggested itself to us to leave off the " e "). Young gentlemen then were called boys, and young ladies girls. It was but seldom that there would be preaching before Brandon and the Kyles came out, which must have been in 1806, as Thomas B. Kyle and Lucy Barbee were married in April, 1807. FIRST PREACHING. Perhaps the first preaching in the county took place in Stephen Dye's barn in the summer of 1806, by Rev. Mr. Carmel, a Baptist minister. A company of twenty or more went from west of the river, among whom were James Orr and John Johnston, and Lucy Barbee, who was the acknowledged belle of the neighborhood. Jimmy and John were RIVAL LOVERS, and neither dare ride with Lucy in presence of his rival. Coming home, upon one occasion, just as they arrived at Coe's Ford, Johnston's nose began to bleed, and he was obliged to get off his horse and wait till it stopped. During his delay the company had all crossed the river. The river was very high to ford, but, having a large, powerful horse, he started in at a trot. In the center of the stream his horse broke down and landed him in the water. The current was strong, and the river deep, and, being encumbered with heavy velvet wrappers, while he could rise to his feet, he could not navigate. This seemed a favorable opportunity to Jimmy to get rid of his rival ; but he was the first to ride in and assist him to the shore. Rather an amusing anecdote is related by Mr. Tullis, in which John and Lucy were the principal actors, especially the latter. It seems John had a very peculiar gait ; stepped very short and quick, and worked his head and arms vigorously meanwhile. One day when the old folks and John—who boarded there—were from home, and some young folks there, she, guided by the spirit of fun, and, without the fear of man, slipped to John's room, put on his clothes, came down into the yard, and began a series of perambulations in imitation of John's peculiar gait ; while in the. midst of the entertainment she met John face to face, which caused the show to break up in consternation, and she to retire to female habiliments again. SINGING SCHOOLS. Pretty soon after the Marshall and McCullough families came to the county, singing schools were introduced. The neighbors east of the river did not fraternize with the other side in this enterprise. The first school organized comprised HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 235 some of the best singers, and was a success. Among its members were, Peggy Marshall, since Mrs. Barbee, and her sisters, Lucy Barbee and sisters, the Misses Mackey, Miss Caldwell, since Mrs. John Stone, mother of Stephen, and several Mr. Marshall was a scientific singer, and possessed a voice so peculiarly others. strong that, we are informed, he could be 'found "among the thousands at Cane Ridge camp meeting by his voice ; " and yet it was soft and musical. The arrangement was a little different then : the upper part was called treble, and sung by the 'highest female voices ; the next, or counter, was sung by the soft female voices ; the soprano was tenor then, sung by the loudest male voices, and the bass as now. Perhaps the counter was better sung by a voice so low and sweet, than to give it the modern squall it now receives, and call it operatic. WIVES FOR THE SETTLERS. In the settlement of a new country, as a general rule, there is a scarcity of females. We remember traveling in South America for nearly a year without seeing the face of a white woman, and the effect was not at all conducive to our moral elevation. We found our inclinations rapidly drifting towards the genesis of Darwinism. Fortunately this county did not suffer in this direction. Old Joe McCorckle, as he was familiarly called, came from North Carolina with four buxom daughters, who, on short notice, were appropriated by Rev. Armstrong Brandon, Maj. Leavel, a merchant by the name of Hearse, and the other by a man whose name is unknown to history. Miss Polly Caldwell married Stephen. Johnston, killed at Fort Wayne by the Indians. Josey Coe, Mr. Hathaway and Mackey all had marriageable daughters, who were in due time disposed of. Mr. Kyle, like the fox in the fable, took Lucy Barbee from her two contending rivals, and she never got to wear John's breeches metaphorically, as she had literally. As the stock on hand was getting low, _Old Robert, alias Long Bob Culbertson came in with four admirable girls, who soon entered upon a dual life with W. II. Gahagan, W. H. H. Dye, H. S. Mayo, and S. Worrel, every one an ornament to society. WHISKY, CONSCIENCE AND MUD. At log-rollings, corn-huskings, and other like gatherings, whisky was always an indispensible article. It could only be obtained, at a very early day, at Dayton. When a settler would go in his wagon to mill, he would take his jug, 'and likely several other jugs also, and return with a supply. In 1807, a man by the name of Henry Orbison, from Virginia, started a distillery at the east side of the river at Piqua. It is said that Piqua absorbed all his manufacture, and he was no relief to the valley. In 1812, he wound up business and went into the army to support his family. Some who were boys at that time say they liked to go to Manning's Mill, for while they were waiting for the grist they would go to Orbison's and drink beer. About the year 1807, Henry Gerard built a still-house on Spring Creek, in conjunction with a corn-mill. Rye whisky was made here, the settlers having their crops made up on the shares. Some of them kept it in the milk-house loft, when the boys would knock out the bung, and with a straw imbibe to their heart's content. Another was erected by Mr. Gahagan, on the bank of the river, back 'of Mr. Benjamin James'. Copper stills were also used as a kind of family arrangement. Mr. Caldwell had a machine of this kind with which he manufactured quite a good article of whisky for the benefit of his neighbors in Kentucky. Family cares pressing upon him, he came over to Turtle Creek, Ohio, to get a pious young man to superintend it. All things progressed finely for a time, but soon his conscience became disturbed. He could not make whisky without malt, neither could he make malt without stirring the grain on Sunday. When he would go into his malt-house on Sunday to stir his malt, conscience would whisper in his ear, " Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." So disturbed did he become, that he tore down his furnace, discharged the young man, 236 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY. and advocated the cause of temperance. Mr. Orbison used to relate a little anecdote connected with his distillery. One evening after he had shut the fire off of the worm, and was comfortably seated at his fireside, a neighbor called with a pint flask to be filled with whisky, as he was suffering the agonies of total abstinence. Mr. Orbison expressed his sympathy, but he could not fill his flask. It was dark, raining, and very muddy ; and the still-house some distance off. His customer replied : "It's a bad condition of things, I know, but my case is desperate ; come, get on my back, and I'll carry you to the still-house." The task accomplished, and the flask having been filled : " Now, your health," said his customer, " Not yet," replied Orbison. " It was for your benefit that I came here, now you shall go back for mine. I'll carry your bottle, and you'll carry me." Without more ado, the customer picked him up and toted him back. LADIES' INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT. In drawing a contrast between the past and the present, we are led to inquire, What have all the refining influences of Christianity and civilization done to elevate the standard of the female sex to a higher position in society ? Suppose a youth of eighty years ago should call to pass an hour or so with his lady love and find her in frizzles, spit-curls, etc., playing on the piano or reading the last novel, while her poor old mother was bending over the wash-tub ; conversely, let us suppose a youth of to-day, with his fancy livery turnout, button-hole bouquet, patent-leather boots, gold-headed cane, blue silk rag dependent from his coat pocket, cigar, gold—or plated—chronometer, etc., should call to take his inamorata dulcina out driving, and should find her pulling flax, or in the barn swingling the same, dressed in linsey, her feet uncramped by side lace, her hair unconfined, " wooed by every wind." What would be the result in each case ? Let the reader draw the conclusion. In pioneer times, the family had to be clothed, and the clothing manufactured from the raw material ; no muslin in the first decade of .the nineteenth century supplied the place of home-made linen. The men generally sowed the flax, gathered and broke it, then left to .the women the succeeding steps in its transformation into wearing material, viz. : pulling, spreading to water, rolling, taking. up, swingling, hackling, spinning, weaving and making into garments. With all this before them, and no hired girl, they kept themselves and their houses neat and tidy.   LOG-ROLLING.   An eye-witness says : Here in front of the cabin is an unbroken forest, ten acres of which must be cleared and fenced for corn next spring. No time to go fishing. The last of April finds it ready for rolling. There are a dozen neighbors in the same condition. The rolling time begins, and at least one hand must be furnished by each neighbor. They meet early in the morning and divide the clearing, one-half for the forenoon, and the other half for'the afternoon ; then they subdivide the morning half, divide the hands, hang up their hats and jackets, " kiss Black Betty," and go to work with a will. They do not wait to roll, but carry everything. The day's work being done, they return home, and any whose logs are rolled, fire and mend up log heaps until 11 o'clock, and then are up again at 3 in the morning, to right up before going to the next neighbor's rolling.   AN OLD-TIME SCHOOLHOUSE.   During the early settlement of this county, a schoolhouse was built near the farm of Mr. Mackey, which, perhaps, was the first built 'in the county. From the description of an eye-witness, we apprehend the facilities for literary attainments were not what they are now. We will follow our cicerone, along a blazed path through the woods to the old log schoolhouse ; rapping, a voice from the far interior says, " Come in ; " we pull the latch-string, enter, and are requested by the schoolmaster to take a seat, which we at once proceed to do, settling down on a.   HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 237   puncheon-bench, the wonder and cynosure of all eyes. The first thing we see is nearly the whole end of the house converted into a fireplace, within whose capacious depths a blazing fire sends forth light, heat and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look, not through French plate-glass, but a hole, made by sawing off a log and replacing it with paper well greased with lard ; our attention is recalled by a shrill voice, " Master, may I get a drink ? " The urchin goes to the bucket, setting on a bench near the door, takes the tin from its accustomed peg, dips it full, drinks a few sups, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, and, after looking around awhile, goes back to his seat, and, with his dog's-eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study. We notice the benches are made out of flat rails, and puncheons with pins in them for legs ; backs they have none. The master has a table, made by driving pins in the wall and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window, a similar contrivance accommodates the scholars. While examining these unique writing-desks, we are again startled by a sharp cry, apparently in agony, of, " Master, please mayn't I go out ? " Consent is given, and the boy hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a crooked stick and carry it out with him. Our curiosity is excited, and, while the master's back is turned, we ask a big white-headed boy near us, what it is for ; who, opening his mouth wide and staring at us in blank amazement, says, " No other boy don't darest go out while that stick is gone." As incentives to close application to study, we observe a rule of about a pound in weight, and a formidable-looking beechen rod, whole acquaintance every boy in school has long ago formed. Dilworth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling-book and the Testament were the text-books. We noticed the boys all writing, but none of the girls ; turning to our friend Tullis for an explanation, he said it was not safe for girls to learn to write, as it would culminate in love-letter writing, clandestine engagements and elopements. He said women were allowed to study arithmetic, though, for Miss Polly Caldwell studied as far as long division, and Mrs. Kyle, while a widow, got as far as reduction. He says Polly Caldwell was a weaver, and required the aid of figures to make her calculation for warping. If she were putting in an 800 web, and had 15 spools, she must know how many " bouts " to run on the bars. With 15 spools, every " bout " would give 30 threads ; therefore, dividing 800 by 30 would give 26 bouts and 20 remainder ; so she would run on 27 bouts, and carry back what the reed would not hold.   There seems to have been a diversity of opinion among teachers in regard to the beneficial effects to the scholar arising from more or less noise ; some contending that the more noise there was the better, as it would accustom one to the habit of doing business in the midst of noise and confusion ; and, moreover, that a boy could get up a spirit of' inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows. Some advocated quietness, but it was agreed by all that, when the recitations were over, and the whole school were on the spelling lesson, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand head. It was interesting to see the boys at the end of the bench standing on tip-toe, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say " noon," in order to get out first and raise the biggest yell.   From here we will go to a   TEMPERANCE TALK,   but fear it will end in a corn-husking. Mr. Tullis was the principal speaker. He-says the uses and abuses of whisky have undergone as great changes as the appliances for literary purposes. What we, in this age of refinement, call auctions, were sales in early times, and the auctioneer was crier. When the sale was about to commence, the crier would mount a box, with a bottle of whisky in his hand, and invite competition, always offering a " dram" to the next bidder to inspire him It would have been preposterous to have attempted to cut a field of wheat, or husk a crop of corn, without whisky. The wheat was cut with sickles, before cradles were introduced, and then it was cut with cradles until the reaper superseded the cradle.   238 - HISTORY, OF MIAMI COUNTY.   CORN-HUSKING.   The modus operandi with corn was for all hands to go to the field and jerk off and throw in heaps until dinner ; after dinner, to take out the wagon and haul it home. It was either thrown in one long pile, or, what was better, in two piles ; and, when the crop was gathered, all the neighbors came together for a night husking; two captains would be appointed to divide the hands, and, if the corn was all on one pile, a rail was laid so as to divide it equally. One captain had first choice of hands, the other choice of heaps. Then all went to work with a will. The cry would frequently- be heard, "It's a great while between drams." When one party would get done, they would put the bottle into the hand of the captain, and two stout men would take him, one by each leg, and "hoist the captain " and carry him over to the other side. The swinging of hats, and the shouts of victory, "made the welkin ring," and then all would drink. It was not always the best huskers that were the first choice, but one who could hide most corn in the husk, in the husk-house, was sought after.   John S. Williams, of the Pioneer, says that he and his brother went to a Friends' settlement to a husking in 1804 ; as usual, the heap was divided, and they were chosen on opposite sides. Peach brandy flowed freely. He thought to be a man he must drink when men drank, and the consequence was, he got most gloriously drunk. The last remembrance of the husking he had was throwing corn in the husk. Total abstinence from all remembrance overtook him till they let him fall in carrying him to the house. Again he relapsed into total forgetfulness till 3 o'clock, when he awoke with the chimney at the wrong end of the house, his brain turned topsy-turvy, and his feelings otherwise much worse than when he took the quack medicine above described. His brother had gone home ; he followed him at daylight, and joined him at work. He expected the Friends would disown him, and was afraid to go to meeting or see an overseer for months.   GAME AND HUNTERS.   The rich, juicy grass, cool, sparkling springs, deep forests, pellucid streams, afforded sustenance and delightful retreats for every species of game ; from fish to otter, from the squirrel to the cougar and bear. The scream of the " painter" and the squall of the wildcat, mingled with the sweet song of the thrush and the howl of the wolf, drowned the melodious notes of the mocking-bird, while stolid bruin roamed the woods, with no ear for music, except the squealing of the pioneer hog. The rifle was an inmate of every household, in the use of which our forefathers were very familiar, and who were very solicitous in keeping it in perfect working condition. Those who could afford it, kept two rifles, one for large game, carrying about forty to the pound, and a smaller, or squirrel rifle, running about 120 or 130 or 140 bullets to the pound. The powder-horn was made from the horn of the ox, boiled, and scraped so thin as to transmit the rays of light, a round block of wood neatly fitted toithe bottom, and a plug inserted in the smaller end, with usually a buzzard's quill for a charger. While all were more or less familiar with the rifle, a few became experts through constant use, as a profession. Among those who followed it as a kind of profession, we may mention Charles Wolverton, " Bill "Hunter, John Rogers, John Flinn, Henry Kerns, Jacob Mann and Peter Harmon.   All kinds of larger game seem to have been abundant during the early settlement of the county, such as deer, bear, wolves, wildcats, and an occasional cougar. Turkeys, pheasants, etc., were abundant, and, with the venison-saddle, graced the table of almost every pioneer home.   While it is impossible at this late date to ascertain the number of large animals killed by hunters, we can only judge of the abundance of game by comparison with an adjoining county. It is on record that David Loury and Jonathan Danalds, among the first settlers on Mad River, killed seventeen bears in one sea-   HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 239   son, and that, during the lifetime of the former, he had killed over a thousand deer. The bear were mostly killed off at am early period ; yet, they have been killed in this county in considerable numbers. One was killed by Henry Kerns in the fall of 1816, whose quarters are said to have weighed 400 pounds. It was seen by Dr. Coleman, who ate a piece of its flesh, and certifies to its immense size, as well as to its extraordinarily good condition, its ribs being covered with from three to four inches of fat. While bear were comparatively scarce, deer, 'on the contrary, were, in an early day, very plentiful. In a journey from Stillwater to the Miami, it was riot unusual to see as many as eight and sometimes more, very tame, and easily approached on horseback. Wild turkeys were abundant, and many were caught in rail pens, or killed with the rifle. The former mode was made use of when quantities were sought. A common four-square rail pen was laid up, about ten rails high, and covered, and an opening left at the bottom, along which a train of corn was sown ; the turkeys, in picking up the corn, would follow it into the pen, and, as a turkey, when alarmed, always looks up, they would always fly up, and never see the opening at the bottom. Thus whole droves were taken at once. In the fall of 1817, a hunting party was ,organized in Licking County, which was attended by some members of Miami. An unsettled tract, five miles square, was laid off, and arrangements made for the company of about 150 men to come in from four directions, all converging toward a common center, of one mile square, before any shooting was allowed. Having driven the game within the prescribed limits, the shooting began, and, the crack= of rifles could be heard in every direction. The circle gradually closed in to half a mile square, and the firing re-commenced. The deer could be seen flying from side to side, turkeys running in every direction, and bear stalking in the midst. Finally the circle closed, and brought together 25 deer, 2 bear, 350 turkeys and 1 wolf. The locality was far from any house, and, darkness approaching, most of the party camped for the night on the spot. Wagons arrived with provisions, a good supply of the aqua ardent, and the night was passed in a regular Nimrod festival.   In early days wolves were quite plentiful, and often destroyed the few sheep the settlers had. By act of Legislature a bounty of three dollars was allowed for each wolf scalp, payable out of the county treasury. This was a powerful incentive to the professional hunters, and Lupus was in continual danger of losing hiscaput on every excursion after fresh mutton. One of his most inveterate enemies was one Tom Rogers, who made wolf-hunting a specialty. Tom was a very eccentric character, and appeared fitted by nature to his calling. Six feet high, with moccasins, buckskin breeches, linsey wamus, wolf-skin cap, with the tail hanging down behind, long black hair and beard, leather belt, with large knife and tomahawk, heavy rifle, pouch and horn—all conspired to render him in appearance a fit asso- ciate of wolves, bears and other denizens of the forest ; and, once seen by his fellows, he was not soon forgotten.   Tom was somewhat of a hermit, often living for weeks and months in the woods near the pioneer settlements, watching his line of traps, dead falls, and wolf-pens, depending wholly upon game for sustenance. He constructed bark huts for his own accommodation, at different stations along his line of operations, which he used as store-houses for his venison, turkeys, coon-skins, and wolf-scalps, and for the secondary purpose of sleeping in bad weather. When convenient, he would call in at a frontier cabin, and exchange venison or turkeys for bread, but the wolf was his ambition, and other game was slain simply for food. Tom generally came to town twice a year to exchange his wolf-scalps for their price in cash, bringing with him other furs, such as coon-skims, mink, and an occasional otter. He took advantage of the potency of that delightful perfume, asafoetida, in attracting the wolf, and purchased large quantities of it to use on his traps. Although records are lost in which the number of wolf-scalps were kept, with the amount paid out for the same, yet we are assured that Tom drew largely therefrom.   In the winter he would spend a few days in the settlement, at which time he was the delight of the circle of men and boys who eagerly listened to his many   240 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.   tales of contests with wolves and bears while alone in the forest, none of which, unfortunately, have been preserved. Tom was exclusively a hunter, and never invested his earnings in public lands. He was known as Old Tom Rogers for forty years, during which time his domain was invaded by the settlers, his game driven off or killed, and Tom, at the age of nearly fourscore, retired from active duties and sought rest and shelter in the County Infirmary, in which he spent the few remaining years of his life, meditating upon and recounting the scenes of his many adventures, and finally, in about three years after his admission (1859), passed from earth.   Coons were very numerous, and generally hunted with dogs, at night, when the deep baying of the hound was sweet music to the pioneer boy, as well as full-grown man. The flesh of the coon was relished by the Indians, but to the white man the skin was of value as a general currency at from two to four bits, according to value.   PIGEON ROOSTS.   It was stated by the earliest settlers, that in 1803 there was a pigeon-roost back of Staunton, extending about two miles in length to Spring Creek, and half a mile in width, where the pigeons congregated by the million during the breeding season, constructing as high as a hundred nests in a single tree-top. The noise of this place, made by the continual fluttering, and breaking of limbs, could be heard for quite a distance, and each morning, it is said, the ground was strewn with dead and wounded birds, so that the pioneer in the vicinity had pigeon without gun or club.   As late as 1818 there was another pigeon-roost, twelve miles east of Troy. Dr. Coleman says he visited this roost with a party of men at night. They arrived at the locality about sunset, as the pigeons began to come in. The noise of the pigeons coming in was like the roar of a cataract, for an hour and a half, till some time after night. It being moonlight, they experienced no difficulty insecuring at full supply of the feathered game. Since the beech timber has, been cut away, and thegpigeon harvest destroyed, they have become scarce.   SQUIRRELS AND SQUIRREL HUNTS.   On account of their continual inroads upon the corn-fields, the gray squirrel was a great annoyance to the early settlers. The large amount' of dead timber left standing afforded them an asylum from which they could invade the corn-fields, and lay up for winter use an ample store ; for they are very provident and industrious little animals, and always have a full " larder." Sometimes in the early spring, when their little stock of nuts was growing scarce, they would dig up the newly planted corn ; but their principal ravages were committed on the growing crop, from the time it was in the milk till matured : and they were so numerous as sometimes to destroy half a crop. One or two hours killing, seemingly served but to increase their numbers, and, as time was of great value to the settlers, they concluded to set apart a day for a general massacre of the little " varmints," and as an incentive to competitors, a subscription was set on foot among the farmers of so many bushels of corn to be given to the hunter who should present the greatest number of scalps. A few miles south of Troy, in a district the especail object of incursions, three hundred bushels of corn were subscribed, to be divided into three premiums of one hundred and fifty, one hundred, and fifty bushels, to the hunters that would bring in the most scalps during a hunt of six days in the district. None but experts competed for the prize, each killer was allowed two rifles, a loader, scalper and a driver : scalps to be put on a string, and takenas evidence of the number killed; In the hunt above described, Elias Gerard brought in about 1,700 scalps, the greatest number killed by one man, which entitled him to the first premium. To Charles Wolverton the second was awarded for 1,300 scalps.     HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.- 243   The migratory habits of the gray squirrel are well known by those at all familiar with its history. A general emigration took place about the year 1828-29 from west to east. They congregated in a large body and moved along en masse, neither turning to the right nor left—towns and villages did not swerve them from their course—but, passing through fields and towns, crossing streams and even rivers in their course. The latter seemed to disconcert them somewhat. Climbing up the trees that bordered the bank, they would survey the difficulties before them, and finally each one obtained a piece of bark, and the whole fleet would launch their frail little vessels and, with many accidents and serious loss of lives, land on the other side and pass on their course. During these migrations immense numbers were slain, the boys and men knocking them in the head with clubs.   The stampede of 1828 lasted about twenty days. The non-professional hunters each fall would form companies, and go to the northern frontiers to hunt deer, turkeys and honey. In the course of a week or two they would return with a wagon-load of game, and, perhaps a barrel of honey ; the latter the production of the common bee, which, at that time, literally swarmed in the woods, and nearly every hollow tree abounded with ambrosial nectar. In 1825, or later, the moth made its appearance, and nearly exterminated this useful little insect. Wolf-pens were frequently built by the early settlers„ for taking this ravenous scourge of the sheep-fold. They were from eight to ten.-feet square, and built up like the per- pendicular walls of a cabin, to the height of three or four feet, then gradually drawn in to a Common center like a modern quail trap, with a hole about two feet square, left open on top. Meat was then placed inside, and the wolf would climb with ease up the sloping sides and jump in through the hole; but, when he had eaten the meat and his thoughts turned to the outside world, he found that he was a prisoner for life, and that life very brief, for soon the pioneer put an end to his existence ; and, it is said, Tom Rogers used to leap right down amongst them and kill them like so many hogs ; for the wolf, though savage when free, when confined is a whining coward. It is said that turkeys could be seen by the acre, in the fall, eating beech nuts.   MAILS.   The manner in which mail matter was conveyed to and from Miami, in the days of its early settlement, as compared with the present mode of transmitting tidings, presents a striking contrast. Letters were by no means insignificant affairs in those days, and to be made the happy recipient of one on mail day was to become envied by the disappointed crowd who had not been so fortunate. The stamped envelope had not been invented, and such a thing as delicately tinted, finely scented note paper had not been conceived of by the most fastidious youth of the day. The letter was simply folded, and the superscription written on a blank page ; the necessity of mucilage was not known, inasmuch as a wafer or red sealing-wax answered every purpose ; and, in order to transmit this primitive document through the country, it was necessary to pay the United States a revenue of 25 cents. Once every two weeks, the blowing of a horn announced to the people in the neighborhood the arrival of the horseman with the semi-monthly news. The mail-bag, by no means overflowing, was extricated from the saddle, where it had served as a cushion, by the mail-carrier, who, giving the crowd of anxious lookers-on a look of haughty indifference, waited till its contents were exchanged, then, with the few additional letters, moved on his round. Such, then, were the first mails in the country. Now a three-cent stamp will send a letter, if need be, from ocean to ocean, or the telegraph a message, with lightning speed, far across the waters.   CAPTURE OF THE MOFFITT BOYS.   Nearly one hundred years ago, one bright spring morning, late in March, that gave promise of a good " sugar day," a man by the name of Moffitt, in Greenbrier County, Va., started his two little boys to watch the stock from the sugar camp.   244 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.   They started with bright anticipations of fine sport in killing squirrels. As the older was quite proficient in the use of the rifle, he was allowed to take his father's gun, and the little nine-year old boy, with a good rest, could bag his squirrel at nearly every shot. The little fellows, full of youthful buoyancy, started for the camp. The loving mother, following them to the cabin door, called to the older, " Johnny, take care how you handle that gun, and be sure and don't hurt your brother George with it." These loving words were the last ever addressed to her sons by that mother in Greenbrier County. As her longing gaze followed their receding little forms until they faded out in the distance, she little dreamed of the future before them. When they arrived at the sugar-camp they observed two or three men approaching them, whom they at first took to be neighbors, but, as they approached nearer, they soon discovered them to be Indiani. John, the older, presented his gun and stood on the defensive, but the Indian said, in pretty good English, "No shoot me ; good friend ; no want to hurt you ! " Retreat was impossible, and he and his brother were made captives. We have no account of them until the Indians brought them to their village in Miami County.   John, being a robust, healthy boy of 11, was at once adopted by an Indian family ; but George, being young and rather delicate, was about to be slain, when he awoke the sympathy of a squaw, who claimed him for her child. John was taken by his Indian parents to Gerty's Town (St. Mary's), where he was duly initiated into aboriginal life. George was brought to their village, on the present site of Piqua, known then as Chillicothe, where he was made to run the gauntlet ; after which, his adopted mother procured a lot of dry ashes, and placing it on a piece of bark, and dipping her fingers in this, she proceeded to extract the hairs from his head in a manner not at all pleasant to George's cranial comfort, until non( were left but the scalp-lock ; then he was taken into the Miami River by two of three muscular squaws, and every drop of white blood—in their estimation—washed out of him. After this he received the kindest treatment, during the period of two and one-half years, the time of his captivity inthis village. A year or two after he had been with the Indians, the alarm spread through the village that an army of " long knives " (Kentuckians) was advancing upon the town from the south. The old men, women and children fled westward, in the direction of Stillwater, and the captive boy, George, fled with them, leaving his white friends behind. The cause of alarm was the army of Gen. G. R. Clarke, who invaded the Miami country in 1782 and set fire to the Indian villages and carried general consternation and destruction wherever he went. Camping near the present site of Piqua, he kept up a continual skirmish with the Indians during tlie night, and in the morning he burnt the village, destroyed their corn and returned. The marks of a six-pound shot used against the Indians on this occasion, were plainly visible in a red-oak tree that stood near the spot in which the family of Col. John Johnston now lies buried, in Upper Piqua Cemetery, forty-five years after the battle. During the night of this battle the captive, George, was dodging through the brush in the direction of Stillwater, with no exalted opinion of soldiers who would expel defenseless women and children from their homes to wander, hungry and half naked, in the woods. Severe as this was to George, it was the indirect means of his restitution to his parents. Through other prisoners, who were either recap- tured or escaped during Clarke's expedition, Mr. Moffitt obtained knowledge of the whereabouts of his lost boy, and soon after effected his release. Let us go back to the bereaved parents when they learned that their children were captured., The father sold his possessions in Virginia, and moved to Blackford Co., Ky., hoping thereby to be nearer, and more easily learn the fate of his lost ones. John Moffitt's captivity continued more than two years after his brother was restored, the details of which we are unable to give. He was ransomed, it appears at Detroit by French traders, who had been employed by the father ever since their capture to search. for and ransom his lost children.   When the boys grew to manhood, married and had families, they emigrated to the land of their previous captivity, and located in Miami County, and to them   HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 245   Washington and Spring Creek Townships owe some of their most enterprising and influential citizens.   George Moffitt, who was called by the Indians Kiterhoo, with his brothers John and Alexander, and brother-in-law Hugh Scott, came to Piqua as early as 1808. George purchased land at the south end of Piqua, known in after years as the Fry farm, and it is now covered by habitations and intersected by streets. He soon sold the first farm, and purchased two miles northwest of Piqua, on which he resided until his death in 1831. John located west of Piqua, where he remained until his death, some years later than his brother George. Of the descendants of these early pioneers of Miami, only two great-grandchildren. of George are now living in the county. Numerous posterity are, however, scattered throughout the Western States. Mr. George Moffitt was a kind and obliging neighbor, but, pioneer-like, he cared but little for the luxuries of life, its necessities satisfying him. He enjoyed hunting and trapping much more than the ax of civilized life. Fifty years ago his farm was surrounded by heavy forests, which afforded abundance of game, upon which he could practice the arts of trapping and hunting. He once came to the house of old Mr. Purdy, father of James Purdy, of Covington, saying he had killed a fine buck not far off, and it was too heavy for him to carry. Mr. Purdy hitched up his sled, 'and hauled it home, where Moffitt hulled it up, skinned and dressed it, tied up the skin, cut off a saddle, gave the remainder to P., shouldered his venison, and rifle, and, bidding him good morning, started home. George used to tell how he once killed an Indian while a captive. Before the Indian hair had grown on his bare head, he and an Indian boy older than himself were playing along the banks of the Miami, at the north end of where Main street, Piqua, now terminates ; and while so engaged, the young red-skin persisted in pecking him on his bare skull with pebbles until it became quite sore. Moffitt grew very angry, but, knowing he was a captive, and, what was a more powerful sedative, the young savage was much larger and stronger than he. Smothering his anger, and watching his opportunity, he waited till the Indian was stooping down near the water's edge for more instruments of torment, when he threw a large stone with all his might, hitting him fair, and sending him sprawling into the deep water fifteen feet below, never to rise again. No one saw the transaction, and George was silent on the subject. The body was found, and his death was supposed to have been the result of accident, and, fortunately, George was never questioned concerning it. George Moffitt and his wife reared two sons and seven daughters to the age of maturity, who, with one exception, are all dead, and resting in four different States. While we pay a tribute to the memory of these pioneer fathers, we think equal praise and honor is due to the noble women, who shared all the privations of pioneer life as wife and mother. We cannot, in justice, close this sketch without a brief notice, however imperfect, of a woman possessing, in an eminent degree, those innate qualities that, under all circumstances, marks ;he true lady, noble woman and.devoted wife. Though her life was passed in the rude log-cabin of the pioneer, that humble abode, in its surroundings and adornments, evidenced the neat mistress that made its rude walls radiant with cheer, and the seven fair daughters, modest, intelligent and industrious, blessed the pure mother whose second self they were.   During the year 1808, Thomas Coppock with his family came from the sunny fields of South Carolina, and cleared out a forest home in the woods of Newton Township. About this time two more families strengthened the feeble colony, whose names were Nathan and John Hill, also from Carolina, settling near the present site of Pleasant Hill. Joseph Culbertson located in Troy in 1808. Receiving a present of a lot in the woods from Mr. Gahagan, he cut logs, Peter Sewell hauled them to his lot, and, with the assistance of his neighbors, soon erected a cabin, in which he made hats for the settlers ; also paying for his house in this commodity. ' Silk superseding coon and rabbit-skins, he lost his trade, and wound up business. About this time Mr. Overfield came to Troy and started a tavern. His biographer says of him, that he was an excellent hotel keeper ; he had none of that hauteur that would repel a rustic traveler ; no pomposity or ostentation.   246 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.   When he was addressed, either by a near neighbor or Gen. Harrison, with " How do you do, Mr. O? " his answer invariably was, "0 do' n'ow—jest midlin'—how is't yourself ? " Like Andy Johnson, he rose from humble life to an honorable position.   When Staunton was in her glory, he held an honorable position among the, yeomanry. A man of leisure, though not inactive, he spent his nights in a bark canoe, hunting deer in the Miami. Placing a bright light in the bow of the canoe, and secreting himself behind a screen, when he would see 'a deer in the water, he would noiselessly approach, and the deer, totally absorbed in looking at the light, would remain motionless until shot by the unerring rifle of the hunter. This afforded but a meager support for his wife and two children, John and Suze. When Troy became the county seat, embryo politicians sprang up like mushrooms, and citizens increased rapidly. Mr. Overfield caught the fever, and resolved to improve it by his hotel. He bought a lot of Loury & Westfall, for $95, and gave a mortgage on the premises, fifteen bushels of corn, one barrel of whisky, one mare and colt, one cow and calf, one yearling bull, seventy-eight hogs, three beds and bedclothes, four bedsteads, two tables, one chest, one spinning-wheel, one corner cupboard, ten splint bottom chairs, three kettles, two Dutch ovens, one tea-kettle, one pot, one frying-pan, and all the queensware and glassware, and, not "coming to time " on the payment, his mortgage was renewed, and a few more articles added, which he finally redeemed.   Mr. Overfield was a political economist, and, learning that tea was coming up, he came over to the store one day, and stepping up to the proprietor said " Have you any good tea ? " Being answered in the affirmative, and asked how much he wanted, he replied, "0. do' n'oow, it's no use to be comen every day for a quarter, gimme three pounds," received his tea, and as he left remarked to a friend "he don't know tea's gone up." ,   From 1808 till 1811, the immigration was so rapid, and improvements so many and the changes so various, that we are compelled to leave the field of specific minutiae and ascend to broad generalities. We shall therefore, to a great extent, leave henceforth the individual settlements to be discussed under the Township History, and deal with subjects of general application. Rumors of Indian troubles came trembling through the distant settlements during the year 1809 and succeeding years, and, as they increased, the pioneers began to take precautionary measures for the protection of their families and themselves. By this time towns had sprung up all over the county. Piqua, laid out June 29, 1807, was rapidly advancing in population and wealth. In September, 1807, the Commissioners appointed to select a spot for the location of the   COUNTY SEAT   fixed upon a part of Section 21, and northeast quarter of Section 28, Township 5, Range 6, east of a meridian line drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami. The report, dated June 25, 1807, was signed by Jesse Newport, Daniel Wilson and Joseph Lamb, as Commissioners. The site contained about 120 acres, which was purchased of Aaron Tullis, William Barbee and Alexander McCullough. The former deeding 40 acres to C. Westfall, Town Director, July 31, 1813, for which he received $120.30 ; the eastern portion was, deeded by Barbee and McCullough, same date, for $421.50.   The Seat of Justice was located at Troy, June 25, 1807, and from that until the present, there has been a good deal of rivalry between the cities of Piqua and Troy, but not quite equal to the Greek Trojan war, of which old Homer sang. Staunton, the oldest town in the county, was laid out early in the nineteenth century, and first known as the Dutch Station, and, in 1807. became the first Seat of Justice. The town of Milton, on Stillwater, was laid out May 6, 1807, by Joseph Evans.   In every direction the tide of immigration was creeping along, up the rivers and shooting out along their tributaries, yet checked to some extent by the increas-   HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 247   lug apprehension of trouble from the Indians. under the fiery eloquence of Tecumseh, and the coming of the Prophet, who were traveling night and day, sowing the seeds of dissension, war and bloodshed among their red brethren ; the effects of which were soon to burst upon the unprotected frontiers, first, in the shape of Indian murders, scalping and burning, followed by military complications with Great Britain.   MIAMI IN THE WAR OF 1812'.   TECUMSEH.   General Harrison, in a letter to the War Department, speaks thus of Tecumseh, the instigator of the Indians during the war: If it were not for the vicinity of the United States, he would perhaps be the founder of an empire that would rival in glory either Mexico or Peru. No difficulties deter him. For four years he has been in constant motion. You see him to-day on the Wabash, and in a short time hear of him on the shores of Lake Erie, or Michigan, or on the banks of the Mississippi, and wherever he goes he makes an impression favorable to his. puipose. He is now upon the last round, to put a finishing stroke to his work. I hope, however, before his return, that that part of the work which he considered complete will be demolished, and even its foundation rooted up. Tecumseh, in every sense of the word, was a remarkable man.   His biographer says of him, that he was nearly six feet in stature, with a compact muscular frame, of more than usual stoutness ; possessing all the agility and perseverance of Indian character ' • capable of great physical endurance. His head was of moderate size, with a forehead full and high, his nose slightly aquiline, teeth large and regular, eyes black, penetrating and overhung with heavy, arched brows, which increased the uniformly grave and severe expression of his countenance. He is represented by those who knew him to have been a remarkably fine-looking man, always plain, but neat in his dress, and of a commanding personal presence. The Indians, in general, are very fond of gaudy and high-colored decorations of their persons, but Tecumseh was an exception. Although the spoils of war were often his, he always wore a deerskin coat and pantaloons: He even gave away the military sash tied around his person by Gen. Brock. His great aim was neither wealth nor vain show, but glory. He was married at 28, to a woman named Manate, older than himself, who, it appears, was, both physically and mentally greatly his inferior. His only child, a son, was named Pugeshashenwa —" A panther-seizing-its-prey."   One of his own nation says of him: He was kind and attentive to the aged and infirm, looking personally to their comfort, repairing their frail wigwams when winter approached, giving them skins for moccasins and clothing, and sharing with them the choicest game which the woods and the seasons afforded. Nor were these acts of kindness bestowed exclusively on those of rank or reputation, but, on the contrary, he made it his business to search out the humblest objects of charity, and, in a quiet, unostentatious manner, relieve their wants. Tecumseh never used intoxicating liquor, and was opposed to the torture of prisoners, as was his illustrious predecessor, Blackhoof.   Tecumseh was certainly one of nature's noble men, whether seated at the table of Generals and English officers of the highest rank, or around his own camp-fire, his manner always indicated true dignity, ease and grace, devoid of coarseness and vulgarity.   As illustrative of his humanity and dignity, we beg leave to subjoin an inci- dent of the siege of Fort Meigs. It is invested with double interest also, as there is a strong probability that it was participated in by some of the Miami County volunteers.   Soon after active operations began around the Fort, Gen. Harrison received word that Gen. Green Clay was near at hand with a re-enforcement of 1,200 men.   248 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.   The plan was for Clay to descend the river in flats ; Clay was to detach 800 men, who should be landed on the left bank of the river, where they were to attack the English batteries, spike the cannons and destroy the carriages, then retreat to the fort, while the remainder of the troops were to land, on the side next to the fort and cut their way to it through the Indians. When Clay approached the fort, he detached Col. Dudley to attack the batteries. To divert the attention of the English and Indians, Gen. Harrison ordered Col. Miller, with his famous Four Regulars, to make a sortie on the side of the river on which the fort stood. He attacked the batteries, spiked the cannon, and, though the English outnumbered him, he took about forty prisoners and completely routed them. Col. Dudley raised the Indian yell, and captured the batteries on the opposite side of the river, but, neglecting to spike the cannon, and lingering on the spot, his scouts were fired upon by Indians in ambush. Indians began to swarm around him ; Tecumseh swam the river and rushed with his savage hordes upon his rear Col. Dudley fell by the tomahawk, and scarcely 200 out of the 800 men reached the fort. The American prisoners were taken to the old Fort Miami, in which they were confined. Here the infamous Proctor allowed the Indians to butcher the Americans with the tomahawk and scalping-knife, and torture them as their fancy suggested ; he is said to have witnessed the massacre of over twenty prisoners in this place. Tecumseh now made his appearance, ignorant of what was going on inside of the fort. A British officer described his conduct, on this occasion, to an American. He said that suddenly a thundering voice was heard, speaking in the Indian tongue ; he looked around and saw Tecumseh, riding as fast as his horse could carry him, to a spot where two Indians had an American killing him.; Tecumseh sprang from his horse, and, catching one Indian by the throat and the other by the breast, threw them to the ground. The Chief then drew his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and, running between the prisoners and the Indians, brandished the weapons madly and dared any of the hundreds of Indians around him to touch another prisoner. His people seemed much confounded. Tecumseh exclaimed, passionately, " Oh, what will become of my Indians !"   He then inquired where Gen. Proctor was,. when, suddenly seeing him at a short distance, he demanded of the commander why he had allowed this massacre.   " Sir," said Proctor, "your Indians cannot be commanded." " Begone ! " Answered' the Chief, sneeringly : " You are unfit to command; go and put on petticoats.”   Through the eloquence, energy and skill of this wonderful Indian, combined with the efforts of his crafty brother, the Prophet, the most of the tribes were induced to join the English against the Americans in the war of 1812. The Miamis, and part of the Shawanoes, remained friendly to the Americans through the influence of Little Turtle and Black Hoof, but, on the death of the former, the Miamis yielded to the fiery eloquence of Tecumseh and joined his band, and thus the frontiers were again plunged in an Indian war. In October, 1811, Gen. Harrison led his army, consisting of the Fourth United States Infantry, under Col. Miller, and three or four mounted regiments of Kentucky Volunteers, through Troy, to meet the combined armies of the Indians under Tecumseh and the Prophet, at Tippecanoe. On the 17th of November following, the decisive battle of Tippecanoe was fought, which resulted in the defeat of the Indians and the loss of the Prophet's control over the superstitious minds of his red brethren, he having, previous to the battle, solemnly assured theth that the Great Spirit had promised them certain victory. The Prophet's town was destroyed, and several forts were built for the protection of the frontier, which quieted the Indians for a time ; but, in the meantime, our complications with Great Britain were assuming alarming shape, and war was inevitable. She had fired on our vessels, impressed our seamen, and treated us insolently in every manner, until a spirit of military retaliation took possession of our people. An act declaring war against Great Britain was passed by Congress and approved by the President on the 18th of June, 1812 ; on the 19th, war was formally declared, and the President was authorized to raise a force of 25,000   HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 249   regulars, 50,000 volunteers, and to call out 100,000 militia for garrison duty. The Indians joined the British standard, and the frontier was exposed again to the merciless scalping-knife, sanctioned and supported by Great Britain.   The infamous conduct of Proctor in permitting the butchery of Gen. Winchester's command, and a repetition of the same at Fort Meigs, and his severe rebuke by Tecumseh, who was more humane than he, are too well known to all Americans, and served to excite in the breasts of our forefathers a bitter spirit of revenge, which was manifested on several subsequent occasions.   Having cursorily set out the causes of the Indian and British war, we shall enter into that part which more nearly concerns Miami County. In order to a better understanding, having thought it best to premise somewhat, we shall insert an article from Dr. Coleman, Sr., who, we have reason to believe, is good authority. He says : " Rumors were in circulation of combinations among the various tribes of the Northwest and South, under the leadership of Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, backed up by British influence. Our Government wanted more of their lands, but they refused to treat or sell. With a view to bring them to terms, an expedition was fitted out in the fall of 1811. It was organized at the Falls of the Ohio, and consisted of the Fourth United States infantry and some two or three regiments of mounted Kentucky volunteers, all under the command of Gov. Harrison, of Indiana Territory. They proceeded into the Indian country in a northwesterly direction, striking the Wabash River near the present site of La Fayette, the Indians falling back and accumulating their forces, and still declining to treat.   " While in camp six miles north of La Fayette, the Indians made a night attack, attempting to storm the camp, but were finally repulsed, after a most desperate hand-to-hand fight with tomahawk and bayonet. This was late in the fall, and it was deemed expedient to withdraw the expedition without any further demonstra- tions against the Indians."   This will show the condition of our relations with the Indians at the commencement of the war with the British the following summer, with whom they were generally allied, corresponding and receiving supplies of arms and ammunition through Canada. These circumstances were calculated to keep frontier settlers in a somewhat uneasy condition. They, however, felt assured of safety, as the Government had, in the spring before the declaration of war, on June 15, 1812, organized a military force at Dayton, consisting of three regiments of infantry, under Cols. Finley, McArthur and Cass, in addition to the Fourth Regiment of Regulars, under Col. Miller. These troops were under the command of Brigadier General Hull, then Governor of Michigan Territory. They left Dayton and proceeded north as far as the vicinity of Troy, with a v iew of taking the route north by St. Mary's and Defiance. After two or three days' consultation, they turned east to Urbana, and took the Black Swamp route to the Maumee. It was the intention of the Government to have this force at Detroit at the time of the declaration of war, but from the dilatory movements and difficulties encountered, they did not arrive as expected. The consequence was, the British and Indians became informed of the expedition and prepared to meet it. The British, having command of the lake, captured a large portion of the army supplies, which had been sent by water from the Maumee, and assembled a considerable force of British and Indians, to resist any attack upon this quarter from Canada, as intended. It is not my intention to write the events of this campaign, further than to state that it proved most disastrous. The whole force was surrendered to the British in August following ; and with it the whole of Michigan Territory, and Northwestern Ohio, as far east as the Reserve, fell into the hands of the British and their Indian allies. The British were not inactive after this success, but took immediate possession of all the settlements, from Detroit to the Maumee Rapids, where they fortified on the site of the old British fort. The news of Gen. Hull's disaster produced great gloom and excitement in the Miami Valley. Fort Wayne was the only military fort north of Miami County, and there was but one company of Regulars