250 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

stationed there, under Capt. Ray, an old, worn-out Revolutionary officer, with little energy, and with difficulty restrained from surrendering. There was at this time a regularly organized regiment of militia, with two small independent companies of riflemen, in Miami County. The whole country north and west of the present limits of Miami County was open to every depredation the Indians might attempt. Immediately preparations for the defense of the frontier were made. The two companies of riflemen of Miami were stationed at Greenville to form a military fort. Soon word came' that the British and Indians, under Tecumseh, were penetrating the country by the Maumee River, and next that Fort Wayne was besieged by the allies. This increased and extended the excitement, and several regiments of militia from counties below were assembled at Piqua, Gen. Meigs and other principal State officers being present. After a day's consultation, a regiment of 700 or 800 volunteers from the various regiments was organized, equipped and started for the relief of Fort Wayne, military stations being established ,at Loralmie, old Fort St. Mary's and Shanesville. A slight correspondence was maintained by an adventurer running the blockade. Stephen Johnston, brother of Col. Johnston, father of Maj. Stephen Johnston, of Piqua, who had been acting as subagent at Fort Wayne, was killed by the Indians in attempting to run this blockade.

A line of military posts was established along the frontier, consisting of blockhouses and stockade inclosures. The principal of these stations were : Greenville, one at the mouth of Greenville Creek (now Covington), one at Piqua, one at the mouth of Turtle Creek, and one on the Miami River. The two companies of riflemen of the Miami regiment were stationed at Greenville, under the command of Major Charles Wolverton, Greenville being considered an important fort at this time, though there were but a few families within what are the present limits of Darke County. Upon the approach of the forces sent to the relief of Fort Wayne, the British and Indians retired from the siege of the fort down the Maumee River. It is not my intention to make further allusions to the war operations in the north which followed the disaster of Hull's surrender, of the large force sent north, nor of the alternate victories and defeats for the next two years, and which only ended with Commodore Perry's victory on Lake Erie on September 10, 1814, and soon after the re-capture of Detroit, and the defeat of the British and Indians at the River Thames. I will merely state some matters of interest relating to Miami County during the war. Much credit is due to Col. John Johnston, Indian Agent, for his influence with a portion of the tribes of his agency. By direction of the Government, as many of the tribes or parts of tribes as could be induced to maintain peaceable relations were, in the spring of 1813, called in and assembled near the agency, at Upper Piqua, to the number of some five or six thousand men, women and children, and fed by the Government, with a view, in part, to their protection, and to keep them from the influence of the more hostile tribes. During the first year of the war many councils were held with such Indian chiefs as could be induced to come into the agency, in order to secure friendly relations with as many of the tribes as could be induced to remain at peace ; but, notwithstanding the influence brought to bear upon the Indian tribes of the Northwest, the greater part of them remained hostile during the war. These councils were of exciting interest at the time. Gov: Meigs, and United States Senator Jeremiah Morrow, and Thomas Worthington, were present at some of them, in the autumn of 1812. These councils were generally held at the village of Washington, now Piqua. The writer was present at some of them, and also several times visited the Indian encampment referred to. There was usually some amusement going on of an afternoon, such as wrestling, foot-races etc., between the red-skins and white boys. The Indians were generally the fleetest on foot, but in wrestling the pale-face was oftenest uppermost. There were frequently Indian dances in the afternoon ; a few plugs of tobacco would procure an interesting entertainment in this line. Some fifteen or twenty Indians, in a half-nude state, would assemble in a circle on the dance ground, made smooth for the purpose, and perform a dance of an hour or so, under the direction of a master of ceremonies, as dances are

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managed by the more refined of the present day. Their music consisted of the Indian drum, shaking of bells and singing.

But few whites visited the encampment, owing to the excitement of the times. The Government had, during the first year of the war, declined any offer of the services of the friendly Indian warriors ; but a state of inactivity did not suit the Indian character, and there was great danger, if our Government did not employ them in the great contest going on, that the young men would go to the British party. Finally, after much counseling, and Government conference, authority was given to employ Indian warriors. Soon some two or three companies were raised and equipped as riflemen, officered in part by whites, and sent to the command in front, and were reported to have performed very important service during the remainder of the war.

There were two companies of United States Rangers stationed, in 1813, four miles north of Piqua, on the St. Mary's road. They were partly mounted ; keeping up regular daily communication with the line of frontier posts. Most of the militia of Miami County were employed as volunteers or drafted men during war, and generally had a six-months tour of duty at the frontier posts. The frontier line of posts prevented any very serious irruption of the Indians. The following small affairs produced some excitement : The first was soon after Major Wolverton was stationed at Greenville, September, 1812. An Indian camp was discovered a few miles from the post, and, without attempting to ascertain their character, they were attacked by a party tinder the Major in command, and several killed, among them two or three females, and several were captured. They made no resistance. This, unfortunately, proved to be a hunting party of friendly Indians—the family of an Indian by the name of Killbuck. The remainder of the family were taken to the fort, kept for some time, and sent under guard to the Indian Agent, Col. Johnston, who promptly returned them personally to Greenville, and ordered the restoration of their property, made them some reparation, and then sent them to their tribe.

KILLING OF DILBONE AND WIFE.

The second and principal alarm was from the killing by the Indians of three. persons on Spring Creek, about the middle of August, 1813. The first was David Gerard, about four miles north from Troy. Gerard and a man by the name of Ross were hewing timber about one hundred yards from the former's house, when Gerard was shot. Ross fled and gave the alarm. This was 4 o'clock P. M. The Indians scalped Gerard, and fled without disturbing his family. Two miles further north, a man and his wife by the name of Dilbone, at work in a flax and corn patch, pulling flax, were attacked. Dilbone was shot through the breast, but ran through the corn, a short distance, to the fence. He saw the Indians attack and tomahawk and scalp his wife, but, being mortally wounded, could give no aid. He secreted himself partially, and the Indians did not find him. The Indian in this attack lost his rifle, which was picked up the next day. These Indians, upon obtaining this additional scalp, fled. It appears that in this foray there were two Indians, one a lad half grown, and they only had one rifle. These murders being just before night, Dilbone was' not found till next morning. He lived till the afternoon, and the writer saw him previous to his death. It was ascertained that these parties passed privately through this Indian camp at the agency, and immediately went on north to the British to receive their reward for the scalps. The Indians who committed these murders, it was supposed, came down the river in a canoe from the Indian encampment, under the guise of a fishing party, as a party of three or four Indians were seen by the writer of this article, among others, on the river, near the mouth of Spring Creek, the evening previous, and they disappeared rather mysteriously.

Upon the killing of these persons, great alarm took place along the frontier. Rumors of extensive forays by the Indians were circulated, and a general attack

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upon the frontier settlers was apprehended. Quite a number of block-houses were erected by settlers, as places of retreat in case of an attack, a few families associating in the erection of each. There was much excitement, and apprehension of Indian troubles during the remainder of the year 1813, and men in considerable numbers were kept in the line of the frontier for its protection. Three or four per- • sons- were killed by the Indians in the vicinity of Greenville, but no further-outbreaks of consequence occurred during the war.

Difficulties being arranged with the tribes immediately on the north and a large force in the northwest the assemblage of, Indians of the agency was removed to their own honies, thus relieving this portion of our great cause of apprehended danger. During these troubles the greater number of the friendly Indians, who had not been influenced by Tecumseh and the Prophet, were assembled in the vicinity of Piqua, under the control of Col. John Johnston, Indian agent. The tribes which claimed and received protection from the United States, were the Shawanoes, Delawares, Wyandots in part, Ottawas in part, a portion of the Senecas, the Nun- seys and Mohicans. A few remained at Zanesfield, Toledo, and Upper Sandusky, under the control of Maj. B. F. Stickney. Tl» number at Piqua perhaps amounted to not less than 6,000. These, so long as they remained friendly, were a bulwark to the frontiers. But the sagacious Tecumseh, urged on by his noble British coadjutors, sent his emissaries into their camps and sought every means to win them over ; but there was an insurmountable barrier in the presence of Col. John Johnston, whose influence more than counterbalanced all Tecumseh's specious arguments and the high price offered by the British for American scalps. Knowing that so long as Johnston was alive they could not effect their object, therefore various plots for his assassination were devised. Surrounded by Indians, a price upon his head, rising in the morning with no assurance of living till night, retiring at night expect- ing to be murdered in his bed, he remained at his post, though often warned by the friendly chiefs of certain death, and by them advised to seek safety elsewhere. The Government. had placed.him there, his duty required his presence; and honor and his country, and the safety of his companions on the frontier, forbade his leaving the.pOst. His wife, with true womanly devotion, and heroism characteristic of the women in those days, remained with him, while his family papers and valuable effects were removed to a place of greater safety. On several occasions his life seemed to have been under the special care of Divine Providence.

Once, while he was passing near a cluster of plum trees, on his. way to the Indian camp, he was accosted by a friendly Delaware woman, who told him that hostile Indians were there secreted to murder him. The alarm soon spread, and the would-be murderers fled.

Shortly prior to this, the Indians had made an unsuccessful attack on Fort Harrison, after having attempted to gain admission by sending their. women and children to the fort under pretense of begging food. Failing in this, they set tire to it, and endeavored to storm it, but met a bloody repulse from Capt. Zachary Taylor, of Mexican fame. Burning with revenge, and stung by defeat, a large portion of them, partly under the lead of Pashetowa, a chief noted for his cold-blooded cruelty, made a descent upon a little settlement called Pigeon Roost, killing twenty-three men, women and children. The taste of blood had excited them into a frenzy, and it is supposed that the Chief Pashetowa, with two or three followers, came down. the Miami [see supra] as far as the Indian camps around Piqua, with the express purpose of killing Col. Johnston, but, failing in this, they determined to satiate their thirst for blood, and, accordingly, after fleeing from the Indian camp, they went up the river, crossed to the east bank, and hovered around his residence, then, passing on down, they killed Dilbone and his wife, the children only escaping by secreting themselves in the weeds and high grass. It is said that three miles further down the same party killed and scalped David Gerard.

Subsidiary to this, we add a brief extract from McAffee, which may throw additional light on this question and expose the diabolical expediencies to which the cowardly myrmidons of the British Government stooped : At Dayton, Col.

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Johnston received word that the Indians had recently killed two men and a woman, some distance within the frontiers, near Piqua, and that the citizens, much alarmed and enraged, had assembled in considerable numbers, with a determination to take revenge on the friendly Shawanoes and Delawares residing near that place, whom they accused of committing the murders. Col. Johnson (not John Johnston) immediately pushed forward in advance of the regiment, with Captain Coleman's company, and, on arriving at Piqua, was informed by Johnston, Esq., the Indian agent, that he had called on the chiefs for an explanation, and had been assured by them, with much candor and promptitude, that the British were attempting to embroil them with their white brethren by sending hostile Indians to commit depredations in their vicinity, in the expectation that the whites would charge it to them. Two murders had also been committed near Manary's block-house, and the Shawanoes at Wopoghconata had informed the agent that a hostile party had reviously passed that place, by whom it was evident the murders must have been committed. It was with great difficulty, however, that the citizens could be pacified. The circumstances being made known to Gen. Harrison, he published an address to the frontier inhabitants; assuring them that he had received satisfactory evidence that the murders were committed by the hostile Indians, and entreating the people not to take redress into their own hands, but to rely on the Government, which would certainly inflict exemplary punishment for any aggression committed by the friendly Indians. This address, with the arrival of the mounted regiment, quieted the minds of the people, and reconciled them to trust for safety and satisfaction to the army and the Government. The Indians around the agency were a source of continual anxiety to the Government. From a spirit more humane than politic, President Monroe refused to enlist them in the army. With their families in our possession, we could have relied on their fidelity. Though they were supplied with white flags to pass them through the lines, Howe says that, on one occasion, the militia basely fired on them, though bearing a white flag, killed two Indians, wounded a third, took the survivors prisoners, and, after robbing them of all they possessed, conveyed them to the garrison at Greenville, to which post the party belonged. They brought them to Col. Johnston, at Upper Piqua, who decided to take them back to Greenville and restore them to their people and property. Application was made to the officer in command at Piqua for a guard on the journey, but he could not obtain a soldier to accompany him. He then told the commander if he would go with him, he would go, but, as the distance was twenty- five miles, through the forest infested with Indians, who had shortly prior to this killed two girls near Greenville, he likewise refused. Col. Johnston' viewing the evil impftssion it would create among the friendly Indians, decided to go alone. Mounting his horse, bidding his wife adieu, it appeared for the last time, with his charge he started on his lonely and perilous journey to Greenville, which, despite many dangers, he reached in safety, restored the Indians to their homes, procured their property, made them a speech, dismissed them, and, mounting his horse, started alone for his home, reaching it in safety.

The Indians frequently gave evidences of their fidelity during the war. At the surrender of Detroit the frontier was laid bare to the incursions of hostile Indians. Fort Wayne was threatened, many women and children were there who would be in danger and also a hindrance to its defense, and Col. Johnston requested them to be brought to the agency. Logan, the famous Mingo chief, immediately offered his services, and with a party of volunteers, all mounted Indians, started to the fort, received their charge and returned with them in safety through a country swarming with painted foes, Logan and his party exercising a gallantry that elicited the highest commendations from the ladies.

These acts of bravery on the part of the Indians showed that some of them could be trusted. Difficulties began to thicken along the frontier ; the British, under the infamous Proctor, were offering large rewards for American scalps, and holding out other inducements to the Indians under our protection. Murders were committed, Col. Johnston was each moment in danger of assassination, Dilbone and

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his wife were killed and scalped, Gerard was slaughtered, the excitement was intense, all the men capable of bearing arms were scouting or in the army, the women and children were huddled together in the house of a Mr. Hart, defended by only twelve men, the entire male population at home at that time. It is said the heroic women ran tears and bullets into the same mold. Six of the twelve men did picket duty, while the other six acted as a garrison. Something must be done with the Indians around the agency. About the 20th of June, Gen. Harrison held a council with the chiefs of the friendly Delaware, Shawanoes, Wyandot and Seneca tribes ; informing them that a crisis had arrived which required all the tribes who remained neutral, and who were willing to engage in the war, to take a decided stand either for the Americans or against them ; that the President wanted no false friends ; that the proposal of Gen. Proctor to exchange the Kentucky militia for the tribes in our friendship indicated that he had received some hint of their willingness to take up the tomahawk against the Americans ; and to give the United States a proof of their disposition ; they must either remove with their families into the interior, or the warriors must accompany him in the ensuing campaign and fight for the United States. To the latter condition the chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed ; and said they had long been anxious for an invitation to fight for the Americans. Gen. Harrison exacted a promise from them to fight as white men, and not slay women and children, old men or defenseless prisoners, for by their conduct he could tell whether the British could restrain Indians ; for if he could restrain them, the British could restrain theirs. Gen. Harrison humorously told them that he had been informed that Gen. Proctor had promised to deliver him (Harrison) into the hands of Tecumseh if he succeeded against Fort Meigs, to be treated as that warrior might think proper. 'Now," continued he, "if I can succeed in taking Proctor, you shall have him for your prisoner, provided you will agree to treat him as a squaw, and only put petticoats upon him ; for he must be a coward who would kill a defenseless prisoner." The subject being brought before the Government, authority was given to enlist them, and the sequel proved that, "a strong corps of Indians fought under the American standard, and were uniformly distinguished for their orderly and humane conduct." Thus was the agency at Piqua relieved of a wearisome burden, and the indolent warriors utilized, who, by their orderly military discipline, proved the contemptible perfidy and cowardice of Proctor. Previous to the open attack upon Fort Wayne, but while it was closely watched by hostile Pottawatomies, Stephen Johnston, father of Maj. Stephen Johnston, of Piqua, who was a clerk in the United States factory store erected near the fort for the purpose of supplying the Indians with agricultural implements, feeling apprehensive as to the safety of his wife, whom he had sent to the frontier in delicate health, in company with Peter Oliver and a discharged militiaman, attempted to run the Indian blockade and visit her. Leaving at 10 o'clock at night, they had not proceeded far before Johnston was fired upon by six Indians and instantly killed while the other two retreated to the fort before the Indians could reload their guns An Indian was hired for $20 to bring in the body of Mr. Johnston. After this, the Indians disclosed their hostile designs by open acts of hostility. At a subsequent parley, Winnemac, a noted Pottawatomie Chief, denied the killing of Johnston by his tribe, but exhibited his base treachery by his efforts to massacre the garrison while denying any hostility. We subjoin an exhibition of personal bravery, which, inasmuch as being partly enacted in this county, deserves a place in this connection : " About the 1st of September [History of Fort Wayne], a most interesting occurrence took place. A white man and four Indians arrived at the fort on horseback ' in full yell.' It was the Indian yell of triumph. The white man, who was foremost, proved to be William Oliver. He was accompanied by four friendly Shawanoe Indians, the brave Logan among the number. The garrison had been for more than a fortnight in a state of suspense, not knowing whether the express to Gen. Harrison had got through or not, and every day in expectation that the British force would arrive. All were on tiptoe to hear the news. William Oliver had arrived in defiance of five hundred Indians, had broken through their ranks

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and reached the fort in safety." Harrison was at Cincinnati, waiting to know if Fort Wayne still held out, but no man was found brave enough to undertake the perilous journey. Oliver came to Cincinnati on business, learned of the condition of things, and offered his services. Harrison thought the danger too great, and endeavored to dissuade him from making the attempt ; but he had determined to accomplish it, or lose his life in the effort. When Gov. Harrison shook hands with him he observed that he should not see him again.'

A man by the name of Worthington, an Indian 'Commissioner, embarked with Oliver in this adventurous undertaking. Placing themselves at the head of eighty whites, forty of whom, so perilous seemed the task before them, after a march of about three days, returned home—the balance continued to the Indian village of Waupaukonetta, where Oliver met friends and acquaintances among some friendly Shawanoes, where he selected four of the bravest Indians, Logan among the number, to accompany him to Fort Wayne. Having cautiously pursued their course to within twenty-four miles of the fort, a council was called, to debate the expediency of a further advance. Leaving all behind, except Logan and the other Indians, the next morning they mounted their horses, and pursued their journey, with the common wariness of Indians, and without any remarkable occurrence, until they came within some four miles of the fort. Oliver had determined to enter the fort in broad daylight. They now began a cautious examination of the ground, with a view of determining, if possible, what changes had been made, and the exact locality of the Indians.

The keen eye of Logan soon discovered that the enemy was concealed along the road, for the purpose of cutting off any re-enforcements that might attempt to reach the beleaguered fort. Leaving the main road, they cautiously moved across to the Maumee River, tied their horses in a thicket, and advanced on foot toward the fort, in order to get a view of it, and ascertain, if possible, whether it still held out against the Indians.

Fully satisfying themselves on this point, they retraced their steps, mounted their horses, and proceeded toward the fort again, on the main road. The critical moment had now arrived ; the fort was to be gained, it might be, through a leaden hail, but it was a case of life or death, and putting whip and spurs to their horses, the faithful Shawanoes, led by the intrepid Oliver, started full speed for the fort. It is remarkable that this moment chosen by Oliver was the only safe one that had for days occurred, seemingly ordered by a kind Providence for the safe arrival of cheer and encouragement to the imperiled garrison. They first approached the gate of the esplanade, and, finding it inaccessible, they went down the river bank, and were admitted at the northern gate.

Said one of the Lieutenants of the fort, " The safe arrival of Oliver at that particular juncture may be considered miraculous. One hour sooner, or one hour later, would, no doubt, have been inevitable destruction both to himself and to his escort. It is generally believed by those acquainted with the circumstances, that not one hour for eight days and nights, preceding or following the hour at which Mr. Oliver arrived, would have afforded an opportunity for any safety."

So close, indeed, were they to the Indians, that, in passing, they saw the beds on which they had lain while on guard. Oliver learned that the " commanding officer had been drunk nearly all the time, and the two Lieutenants, inefficient men, entirely unfit to hold commissions of any grade." Oliver immediately prepared a letter, announcing to Gen. Harrison his safe arrival at the fort, and the perilous situation of the garrison, and started the Shawanoes with it to Worthington, while he remained at the fort. At a favorable moment, Logan and his companions stole out from the fort in safety, but the watchful eye of the Indians soon detected them, and they were hotly pursued. The garrison waited with bated breath, but soon the exultant yell of triumph set up by Logan announced to the inmates, that they had passed harmless through the lines. The Indians now began a furious attack upon the fort, hut were repulsed by the little garrison, buoyed up by the knowledge of approaching aid. When Harrison

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received word, at Cincinnati, of the condition of the fort, he took his line of march for its relief.

The faithful Shawanoes met the advancing army at Piqua, Ohio, and the message of Oliver was delivered to Harrison, who, upon reading it, assembled his men, and, addressing them, said, in part ; " If there is a man under my command who lacks the patriotism to rush to the rescue, he, by paying back the money received from the Government, shall receive a discharge, as I co not wish to corn_ mand such." A man by the name of Miller, of the Kentucky militia, responded to the proposition. The narrator says that as he received his discharge, on the morning of the 6th, " his comrades, not willing to let him return without some special manifestation of their appreciation of his course, put him on a rail, carried him around the lines to the music of the Rogue's March, and down to the Miami, where they took him off the rail, led him into the water, and baptized him in the name of King George, Aaron Burr, and the devil." As he came out of the water, the men stood on the bank and threw handfuls of mud on him ; then, forming into two lines in an adjacent lane, made him run the gauntlet, each one throwing a handful of dirt on him, and then let him go."

The army left the same day and camped in the woods about twelve miles from Piqua. When in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, the Indians endeavored to surprise them in the night, but finding them prepared, reported to the main body that the " Kentucky were coming as thick as the trees." The Indians soon raised the siege, and the army entered the fort amid the shouts of welcome from the beleaguered garrison to Gen. Harrison and the brave boys of Ohio and. Kentucky. As a resume of the war of 1812, in which our county was concerned, we append an interesting letter, written by James Harvey Buchanan, and handed to us. Mr. Buchanan says that in the spring of 1812, Indian murders, burnings and thefts were common occurrences near Greenville, Piqua and Troy.

Gen. Munger, Col. Ewing and Maj. McCorkle called for a company of volunteers. The citizens readily responded to the call. On the 3d 9f May, at Staunton, fifty names were• put on the roll, volunteers to be armed and ready to march for Camp Wayne by sunrise the 6th of May, 1812. An election forthwith, by the officers in command, was held, and, on counting the ballots, George Buchanan was elected Captain of the volunteers, John Bobo, First Lieutenant, and John McLary; Second Lieutenant, or standard hearer. Men that could not go sent their arms or

substitutes. Many of the early citizens were wild with affright, and were fleeing from their homes.

This company of volunteers was on the march twelve days before war was declared at Washington.

Wives and friends knew no Sabbath that week, but stitched and sewed in tears and silence.

Money was scarce, but patriots could rally forward to the charge without it. All arrived at Camp "Wayne, a little before midnight, May 6, and in a few days rebuilt and fortified old Camp Wayne, at Greenville, Ohio—scouting the thickets and the swamps, daily taking prisoners, mostly old men, squaws and papooses, and sending them to Upper Piqua, to the Indian agent, John Johnston, residing there.

Guard and military operations were vigorously pushed until the first of September. The sickly season approaching, and Capt. Nesbit, Capt. Brier, McCormic and Van Cleve arriving, Capt. Buchanan and his company asked Gen. Munger to be relieved from their old position, and sent to some new place, with the privilege of making new defenses. Whereupon Gen. Munger and the War Department ordered that Capt. George Buchanan and his command remove

near Fort Rowdy (Covington), make• defenses, place pickets and build a blockhouse.

In June, 1793, Gen. Wayne moved his army from Fort Washington (now Cincinnati) to Dayton, there to be furnished with small boats, rafts, skiffs and canoes, to carry his cannon and military stores up the West Branch of the Great

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Miami River (now Stillwater), forty miles by water, both sides of the river to be well guarded by spies and pickets ; axmen and soldiers cutting drifts and remov- ing obstructions. It raining almost incessantly, the voyage was performed in thirteen days to Fort Rowdy, one mile west of the mouth of Greenville Creek, and south of the falls. About two miles east of this, at the Lehman Big Spring, on the ridge a few rods north, where the Pan Handle depot is built, and extending west to the high bank of Stillwater, by Government order, in September, 1812, the new fort was built, dedicated and christened Fort Buchanan, by pouring whisky and water on it from large canteens and buckets. All returns, pay-rolls, etc., were reported from here to the City of Washington. Fort Buchanan was eighteen miles east of Camp Wayne, at Greenville, Ohio ; eight miles south of Fort Brier, Webster, Ohio ; nine miles south of Fort Loraimie ; nine miles southwest of Camp Washington, Upper Piqua, Ohio.

About the middle of October, 1812, a delegation, composed of Drs. Coleman and Telford, of Troy, officers, soldiers and citizens—a squad—in cavalcade, arrived at Fort Buchanan (the ragged, dirty soldiers were under arms, and in review), and passing the guards, asked an escort, and pilots to point out the big Indian’s grave, killed by Trader Price in 1809, near the entrance of the big cave, south of Covington, Ohio.

The citizens fell into procession, and, with banners flying, fixed bayonets and martial music, assembled around the Indian's grave. The soldiers, standing firm in their shoes, looked on while the delegation proceeded to remove the many big logs and stones piled round the place, tearing up the stakes and grape-vines, strips of blankets, etc., that marked the sacred place.

A very large oak had blown out by the roots, the top very large, one limb splitting off from the tree, upper side, showed it was decayed and hollow ; here the Indians had hacked out a vault, into which they laid the big Indian ; then cut the limb off near the trunk, placed it back on the tree again, making it neat and secure. Drs. Coleman and Telford brought a neat box, put the Indian in it, and took it to Troy for students to practice upon.

Price's account of how he killed the Indian with his own gun, is thus related : " While I was stooping and crouching through thickets, over logs and rough rocks, a horrible big Indian rose up suddenly before me and commanded me to walk in the path right on before him." Price's budget hung on his back, over his heavy, large cane. After a few moments, Price thought he heard a gun snap ; looking back, he saw the Indian bring his gun down to his side. Price walked on carelessly ; again, a gun snapped ; he looked back, and the Indian was taking his gun down from his face. Stopping almost still, Price drew his cane suddenly out from his pack; it quickly fell at the Indian's feet, claiming his sight and attention. Price turned in an instant, knocked the Indian down, seized his snapping gun, now ready to fire, and shot him ; confiscated his shot-bag, powder-horn and tomahawk, leaving his peddler's sack to explain the act of the death angel.

The loud roar of the shot resounded through the forest, and in a moment Indian yells and startling screams rang through all the desert round. Price hastened his escape, not fearing the ghost of the dead Indian would pursue him, but knowing the blood-thirsty warriors would. They prowled around through all the country, pursued him to Kentucky, and then to Missouri, but never succeeded in catching him. No one knows the name of the big Indian to this day. Finally, at the close of the war, treaties were made with the several tribes of Indians. At Upper Piqua, Ohio, the middle of November, 1812, thousands were there assembled under their agent, John Johnston.

Thus, a treaty of peace and an alliance was entered into by and between these wild red-men of the forest and the pale-faces, their new neighbors, the Indians moving westward like shadows, and the whites disbanding their defenses and returning to their homes, rejoicing in the sunshine of peace. We shall close our brief and imperfect history of the war of 1812 by giving the names of the officers and a few privates. We should take much pleasure in giving a complete list of

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all the honored names who went from this county, but space forbids. In givi names, we wish it understood that we have made no choice, manifested. no partiality, but simply have given those names within our knowledge, honoring those left out as much as those inserted ; their absence is owing to necessity, not choice.

It appears that James. Blue was the first Captain from Miami County who went from the east of the Miami, and Charles Wolverton was the first from the west side. Capt. Blue was not promoted, but afterward became Judge. Capt Wolverton was promoted to Major. In the early part of the war a Mr. Rush was killed by the Indians, near Greenville, which so alarmed the inhabitants that they all rushed for the block-houses. Maj. Wolverton took a squad, commanded by Capt. Westfall, and started for Greenville ; within four miles of the place they came upon a large camp of Indians. The whites rushed upon them, killing about a dozen men and squaws. After scalping them, they learned that they were friendly Indians, and knew nothing of the murder of Rush. On August 13, 1813, a company went to Covington, and from there up Stillwater, about twelve miles, and camped for the night. The next day they marched toward Piqua, and there learned of the murder of Gerard and Dilbone : arriving near Troy, they found much alarm. Old Mr. Tullis and wife started for Troy, by way of Peter Sewells', who lived on the McKaig farm ; Mrs. Sewells was so low with consumption as not to be able to travel. She asked to be left alone, as she would soon die anyway, but they resolved to remain with her, and if need be perish together. ,Mr. McClung was in the army, and his wife and children were at home ; they started for town, but lost their way in the neighborhood of what is now Shilling's Foundry. She was afraid to make her situation known until she heard the voice of Mr. James Brown, when she was taken to town and cared for.

Through the courtesy of Mr. Culbertson, of Troy, we gained access to the records during 1812-13. We found the rolls of all the companies raised for the defense of Fort Wayne and the frontiers. Three rolls of Capt. Reuben Westfall, called out by Maj. Wolverton for the defense of the frontier : from May 1 to 15, 1812; from October 24 to November 13, 1812 ; from December 1, 1812, to April 25, 1813. Capt. E. Kirtly, from May 28 to November 27, 1812 ' . Capt. William Barbee, Sr., for the relief of Fort Wayne, August 12, 1812 ; Capt. Charles Wolverton, for the relief of Fort Wayne, from August 24, to September 23, 1812 ; Capt. Jacob Mann, from November 15:1812, to March 15, 1813 ; Capt. Buchanan, from May 5 to August, 1812 ; Capt. William Luce, from August 20, 1812, to February 22, 1813; Lieut. Gardner Bobo, from September 26, 1812, to March 26, 1813 ; Capt. Charles Hillard, from February 22 to August 22, 1813. In addition to these, we have Lieut. J. Orr, Capts. John Williams, Conrad Flesher, Robert Reed, Moses Patterson, James Patterson, John and Francis Patterson, Timothy Titus, and John Johnson. We can only mention a few names of privates who volunteered for their country's defense, referring the reader to the rolls of Mr. Culbertson for the other honored names. We would gladly publish all, but space forbids, and we put in a few indiscriminately, viz.: Joseph Marshall, Joseph Culbertson, William and James Shackelford, Andrew and John G. Telford, William Barbee, Jr., David McClung, James Yowart, Aaron Tullis, Andrew Thomson, James Brown, Samuel Mackey, and a host of others, who hazarded their lives to defend their dear ones from the tomahawk and scalping-knife of the savage, and uphold the freedom and dignity of their country, and to secure peace and immunity henceforth, in this beautiful valley of the Miami, for themselves and those who might follow after them, and enjoy the blessings for which they so valiantly fought.

While we are dwelling upon the military, we may as well introduce an old-time practice required of all male youth, previous to and after the war of 1812 :

THE OLD MUSTER.

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

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tion. On the 25th of July, 1783, a law was published at Marietta, for "regulating and establishing the militia," which was confirmed by the Territorial Legislature and approved by the Governor (St Clair). This law provided that all male citizens between the ages of sixteen and fifty should perform military duty, be armed with a musket and bayonet, cartridge-box and pouch, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch, with one pound of powder and four pounds of lead, priming-wire, brush, and six flints. For the promotion of health, civilization and morality, they were required to drill on the first day of the week, at 10 o'clock A. M., armed and equipped, adjacent to the place of public worship, and at all other times and places as the Commander-in-Chief should direct. For failing so to appear on the first of the week they were fined 25 cents, and for failure on the day designated by the Commanderin-Chief, 50 cents ; or refusing to do guard duty, 100 cents, and for refusing to serve in case of invasion they were considered guilty of desertion and court-martialed.

On the 23d of November, 1788, the Governor and Judges published a law, providing that all who were subject to military duty should furnish arms and accouterments according to law, and for neglecting the same for thirty days, for a musket and bayonet, 5 dimes ; for every pound of powder and four pounds of lead not furnished in fifteen days, 2 dimes and 5 cents ; for every powder-horn and bullet-pouch, 2 dimes ; for every six flints not provided within ten days, 1 dime and 5 cents ; and brush not provided in thirty days, 1 dime. They were also to be inspected by the Commandant of Companies on the first Sabbath of each month.

By a law passed July 2, 1791, all commandants of companies were to drill their men two hours on each last day of the week, and examine their arms, ammunition, etc. All who attended the drill on Saturday were excused from attending church or drill on Sunday ; provided they attend church armed and equipped, they were not compelled to drill on Saturday. This remained unchanged until December 13, 1799, when the whole was revised by the Territorial Legislature, by which the age was fixed at eighteen and forty-five ; men were to be armed and equipped in six months, officers to have sword or hanger and espoutoon (spoutoon or pike). Arms exempt from execution. It also provides for districting and officering the militia ; the commissioned and non-commissioned officers to be drilled by the Brigadier six days, five hours each, during the year. Company musters once in every two months, except December, January, February and March. Each battalion! to muster in the month of April every year, and a muster of the regiment in October. For non-attendance at company muster, fine not more than $3, nor less than $1 ; regimental or battalion, not more than $6 nor less than $1.50.

By act of December 30, 1803, Quakers, Mennonites and Tunkers were exempt from military duty, on payment of $3 each year. By the same act, privates were allowed twelve months to arm and equip, and fine reduced to $1 and $1.50.

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

February 2, 1813, a bounty of $12 per month was allowed to soldiers whose term of service had expired, and who would continue until their place could be supplied. We pass over all the intermediate laws, continually changing the mode of organization, times of drilling, fines, etc., until we come to the act of 1844, which declares military duty a failure, in so far as the improvement of morals is concerned, and excuses the rank and file from military duty during peace. From our understanding of the exercises, we are inclined to think its tendencies were in the opposite direction. It seemed to be a gala day. At the command of the Captain to stand at ease, the Sergeants would pass along the line with a bucketful of whisky, tin cups in hand, to which every private helped himself liberally. But, says an eye witness and participant, this was not to be compared with the privileges of the officers. Days of battalion and regimental muster were high days, but

262 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

officer muster a two-days' real fruition. Sometimes, going to Germantown and Eaton, there would be four days. Battalion and regimental courts of inquiry were all days when they expected to have a good time ; a good dinner and supper were always provided, and the by-laws of discipline would be invaded at the expense of a fine, in order to have "something to take" when business was over. Days of regimental and battalion musters were longed for, also. The pomp and splendor on such occasions were truly exhilarating. To be sure, there was a class of subal- terns, who gave no evidence of having associated with the " upper ten," and could not be regarded as an ornament to the profession, yet there was another larger class, who seemed adapted to the calling, and were a pride and honor to the military station. These men, on such occasions, swelled out with war-like pride, and, we may say, they " set the teeth and stretched the nostrils wide, and gave the eye a terrible aspect," and, as sable knights of old—only they wore blue coats and brass buttons—they pranced upon their pampered steeds, with the glitter of the polished saber, the waving white plume, the brilliant sash and flashing epaulet, the proud recipients of many admiring smiles from fair ladies, whose sparkling eyes rivaled their own gay uniforms in brilliancy • while the stolid, anti-bellum Quaker, looking on, exclaimed, with the sentiment Of the frogs, This may be fun to you, but it is death to us.

Among the officers who figured conspicuously in these muster exercises, we may mention a few : The first Major General resident of the county, seems to have been Robert Young ; next, Hiram Bell and J. W. Frizzell ; Brigadier Generals, James Fergus, Fielding Loury, — Morris, John Webb (now living), Dr. Keifer, S. J. Hensley ; Colonels Alexander Ewing, John Mann, George Mitchell, John L. Winans, William Mendenhall, Thomas Shidler, Daniel Grosenor, D. W. Wallace, Joseph Defrees, Thomas W. Mansfield, Thomas J. S. Smith, Moses H. Barton ; Lieutenant Colonels, H. W. Culbertson, Dr. Asa Coleman, D. H. Morris, Jacob Counts, Denman, Ldwis Humbert, J. D. Brant, James VV. Murry, Josias Westlake ; Majors, Jacob Mann, George Mitchel, John C. Winans; Samuel Winters, S. S. McKinney, David Jenkins, Chesley Simms.

CUT MONEY OR SHARP-SHINS.

From the abundance of her agricultural products, Miami County was eminently fitted to supply the army with all necessary provisions in that direction in its operations in the Northwest during the war. The almost impassable condition of the roads rendered transportation toward the north very expensive and difficult, and reqUired all the assistance that could be obtained for that purpose. While the snow was on the ground, sleds were used in preference to wagons for the transportation of supplies to St. Mary's, thence to be forwarded north by water. A good deal of money was put into circulation in this county by the sale of supplies to the Government for army purposes. In these transactions, the Government paid partly in specie, but mainly through the banks at Cincinnati, principally the Miami Exporting dompany, Bank of Cincinnati, and John H. Piatt's bank. Piatt was a heavy army contractor, and his notes obtained an extensive circulation, and continued to be an accepted medium of circulation during the war. A noted peculiarity of the money put in circulation in the Miami Valley, previous to and during the war, was what they denominated cut money. This is said to have originated in Kentucky, the object being to keep silver in home circulation. While it was current at par at home, in ordinary business transactions, it was not receivable in exchange for public 'lands,' nor for merchandise outside of the county. The Spanish milled dollar or quarter was taken to the blacksmith, who, placing it on his anvil, with a cold chisel cut it into two, four, and sometimes five pieces, keeping the fifth for toll, and yet having four quarters left ; sometimes it was cut still smaller, its vernacular names being quarters, bits and fips. Occasionally you would hear the term 11-penny bit, and 5-penny bit ; hence, " 11 pence, fip and a bit," undoubtedly taken from the English and brought into this

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county by Pennsylvanians. The name " sharp-shins " arose frOm the sharp edges exposed after cutting, not unlike the tibial angle of that unfortunate class who cannot boast of adipose tissues, otherwise known as sheep-shanks. " Sharp-shins" could not be carried in the pocket, but a stout leather bag was provided, which confined it until spent for a hunting shirt or some other useful article. Though metallic in its nature, it did not seem to possess that tendency to burn through the pocket of the youth of 1802, as we now often observe in the modern

greenback.

At or shortly after the beginning of the war of 1812, State banks were instituted, shinplasters became the medium of circulation, and sharp-shins took their departure.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR.

Previous to the war of 1812, the country was in a very unsettled condition ; none but the more daring had advanced into the deep forests of the wild country. The inhospitable woods were inhabited by wolves, wild Indians and panthers, who roamed undisturbed throughout the vast solitudes. But the beauty of this valley was not long hidden. The watchful eye of the daring hunter observed her rich And fertile valleys, sparkling streams, delicious summers and fruitful autumns, and game and range for all.

We introduce the following apostrophe to the Indian hunter, by Hon. R. S. Hart. " The daring Indian hunter, the pioneer of the pioneer settlers, had gone in advance of the immigration whilst yet the grand old woods shook their green boughs in the breeze, and lifted their emerald-crowned summits toward the blue heavens, unconscious that there was any such thing as the woodman's ax. But the sublimest terrors, and the most imminent and menacing dangers of the dark woods, were to the Indian hunter only so many charms. Rifle in hand and knife in belt, the solitary hero dived into the dark and awe-inspiring forest, where captivity, torture, death at the stake or the gauntlet were to be the reward, perhaps, of his first unguarded moment. Under his protection the frontier was settled ; under his protecting rifle the first immigrants reared their humble cabins and dwelt in watchful, though hopeful, security. But immigration came rapidly on; the highest hills of the Alleghanies were climbed, and streams of emigrants followed. They came also from Kentucky, the dark and bloody ground, and even from the further and sunnier south.

" The sound of the ax was heard on every hand, from the Ohio River to the prairies that border the far-off Mississippi. Look now abroad, and to ! the mighty forest, the Indian and the Indian hamlet, the light canoe, the brown otter and the moccasined Indian hunter have disappeared. The ax of civilization and the ordinance of 1787 have done their work. There is not a parallel progress in the history of the world."

We may add, that, auxiliary to this, some of the most potential elements in the civilization of the world, are, first, the Christian religion, the handmaid of civilization and bulwark of civil liberty. The love of labor, noble and honest labor, is an offspring of sober thought, immunity from evil propensities, superinduced by the first. To the combined effects of these two potent agents, therefore, are we to ascribe the great progress and the many changes that have been effected in our noble county since the first lonely pioneer cleared away a spot for his solitary cabin.

Although the energy of the country was paralyzed for a time by the war and the reduced circumstances of the people, especially those whom it more immediately concerned, we see almost supernatural recuperation and progression in all directions. It is said, that, at the commencement of the war, not more than one-half of the lands in the county were taken up by settlement, and, being a frontier county, and exposed to all the hazardous fluctuations of war, very few immigrants. came in at that time ; but the assemblage of so many men on her soil published her beauties all abroad and made the general character of the country favorably

264 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

known ; the consequence of which was that when the country was entirely free from Indians, and all danger removed by the treaty of Ghent, the hardy and enterprising Pennsylvanians, and the unique Yankee, whose inventive and mechanical genius has rendered his name almost a synonym for these terms, made their' appearance in this county. A better combination for the development of a new country could not have been found. The sturdy, iron constitution, combined with naturally industrious habits and agricultural proclivities, set in motion and impelled forward by the indomitable energy and perseverance of the one, levels the forests, converts the barren wilderness into blooming and fruitful fields, and sheds the light of civilization where darkness and gloom had hitherto reigned supreme, while the ever-active, almost ubiquitous-mind of -the other soon gives birth to the spinning, carding, fulling, grist and saw mills, and, we may say, comprehensively, that mechanical industries follow by natural sequence in the wake of the Yankee. To them we owe some of the first carding-machines, the first fulling-mills, the first cotton manufactory, and the first scythe manufactory of the county, while to the industrious South Carolinians and Marylanders we award the building of one of the first grist and saw mills in this county ; all of which will be treated of at length in the townships in which they were located.

All apprehensions of Indian troubles being now removed, the influx of immigration was so rapid as to defy all attempts to particularize. from a population in 1800 of only 50, it increased, in 1810,, then comprehending Darke and Shelby, to 4,200 ; in 1820, 8,850 ; in 1830, 12,807 ; in 1840, 19,688 ; in 1850, 25,000 ; in 1860, 29,958 ; in 1870, 32,740.

The Black Hawk war of 1832 being local in its nature, caused no sanguinary perturbations in. this county. The Mexican war was participated in by some of the citizens of this county, but its transitory nature left no visible imprint here. In the progress of the county from the war of 1812, no changes stand out with prominent significance until the war of 1861 to 1865. We shall, therefore, leave the details to the township histories, and notice some important features in the

direction of important improvements and other miscellaneous matter of interest.

Her development was rapid, and, with the lapse of years, her commercial, agricultural and manufacturing importance began to take rank with her older. sisters.

IMPROVEMENTS, CUSTOMS, ETC.

The Ferry.—When this county was covered by a vast forest, and the whole course of the river ran through a densely-timbered country, its volume was much greater than at present, and its channel deeper. As the town of Troy grew in size and the surrounding country became settled, the crossing and re-crossing of the river became a matter of grave importance. At an early day there was a ferry between Market street and the opposite shore, the wharf extending up to Felix's tavern, the rates for which were : Foot passengers, 6f cents ; man and horse, 12 cents ; loaded wagon and team, 75 cents ; carriage or empty wagon, 50 cents. In order to charge at all, every person engaging in the business was expected by law to pay $5 for license. In 1814, Fielding Loury, undertook to convey, boats across by means of a rope and pulley. To facilitate matters, he built a pier some distance into the river, from which to launch his boats. In the first experiment the boat broke loose, and went down the river. It was tried a second time with partial success, but, ultimately proving a failure, the enterprise was abandoned.

River Enterprise.--In the spring of 1819, a project was set on foot by Fielding Loury to open a commercial trade between Miami County and the Southern cities. Three boats were loaded and made ready, as soon as the spring rains filled the river, to start on the long and hazardous voyage. The first boat, under the command of Capt. Gahagan, proceeded down the channel, and, after a short voyage, whose beginning spoke unpropitiously of the successful issue of the enterprise, she grounded among the 99 islands. A few minutes later the second boat, under the

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 265

command of Capt. Hunter, appeared upon the scene, and, notwithstanding every effort to steer her clear, ran into Capt. G.'s boat, receiving such a shock thereby, as to cause her to sink, with all her cargo, in a very few minutes. The third boat, under the command of Capt. Hamlet, safely lands. In the mean time, the first boat rapidly fills with water, and, amid the screams of women and the shouts of men soon goes down. Several days were spent in rescuing from the wrecks the cargo, which was taken to the neighboring barns, where it was spread out and dried.

Capt G.'s boat was raised, and, after undergoing repairs, was again loaded with part of the freight which had been saved, the remainder being put on Capt. Hamlet's boat, aid, thus equipped, about the middle of July, they again launched and started down the river at a very low stage of water. Mrs. Loury, who was going to visit her parents at St. Francisville, was on one of the boats with her two little daughters, also Samuel Culbertson and John McKaig, the former of whom says that, after making the best headway they could, at the expiration of two days they were still within sight of the smoke from the fire where they had stopped two nights before. While on the Mississippi, Mrs. Loury fell sick, and, after suffering all the deprivations incident to such surroundings for two or three weeks, she died. No delicacies for her nourishment ; no female companion to soothe her in her last hours ; no sister to perform the last preparations for obsequies ; alone so far as female society was concerned, on the inhospitable Mississippi, with no redemption from the necessity of two strange young men performing the solemn duty of preparing the body of that highly-cultivated, delicate lady for interment. In a rough box for a coffin, she was left to rest on the lonely bank of the Mississippi. The principal portion of the freight, being kiln-dried cornmeal, remained uninjured ; as to the remainder of the cargo, the beans were moldy, the pork was sour, hickory-nuts spoiled, potatoes rotten, and flour much injured; nothing, indeed, escaped the ravages of time and water but the whisky. The whole shipment proved a disastrous failure, and by it Mr. Loury was completely ruined. Mr. Loury, not arriving at St. Francisville till the following December, learned for the first time that his little daughters were motherless. Upon his return North, he brought the remains of his wife, and his two little girls. After he had somewhat recovered from the loss of his wife, he married Mrs. Cooper, the relict of D. C. Cooper, who also died a few months after their marriage. He afterward turned his mind to religious matters, and united with the Presbyterian Church.

Canal.—What is now called the Miami and Erie Canal, formerly Miami Canal, was completed from Cincinnati to Dayton in 1831, which remained as the head of navigation until 1837, when it was completed to Piqua, Miami County. Meantime, other canals were constructing in the State, and, for the first time, a State debt was rapidly growing in consequence of public works. The citizens of Dayton, desiring to retain the head of navigation, sought every means to prevent the extension of the canal north, but their object was defeated by a bill in the United States Congress, passed May 24, 1828, granting certain lands to the State of Ohio, equal to one-half of five sections in width, on each side of the contemplated line of the canal between Dayton and the Miami River, at the mouth of the Auglaize, securing to itself each alternate section of the same. When this bill passed, securing its extension, the people of Troy and Piqua were highly elated, and had a grand jollification. On the 31st of December, 1831, the State Legislature authorized the Canal Commissioners to put the work under contract, beginning at Dayton, and, from time to time, apply the proceeds from the sale of those lands to its construction. March 7, 1835, the Canal Fund Commissioners were authorized to loan to the Miami Canal Fund, for the term of one year, not exceeding $60,000, to be reimbursed from the proceeds of the Miami Canal lands.

March 18, 1836, the Legislature provided for the extension of the canal north of Dayton, appropriating $200,000 to be borrowed in 1836, $200,000 in 1837, the same in 1838, $300,000 in 1839, the same in 1840, and 1841 ; 6 per cent interest, redeemable between 1850 and 1860.

266 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

In 1837, the canal was completed through Miami County, thus affording facilities for cheap transportation to Cincinnati, the remembrance of which, to those now who then enjoyed those advantages, are, by association of ideas, remembered with pleasure. The "packet boat " then plying on the canal ran at the rate of four miles an hour, leaving Piqua in the morning at 8, and landing in Cincinnati for breakfast, and was regarded by the Miamis as a wonderful feat. That portion running through this county intersects the richest portion of her lands, and to this is attributable, in an eminent degree, the development of our county and the rapid advance in the price of lands.

By affording cheap transportation and permanerit hydraulic power throughout the whole extent of the county, various manufacturing interests have been promoted, and, in addition to this, the shipment of ice has become an extensive business, which has assumed proportions that will be of great benefit to the county.

Railroads and Pilces.—Through the northern tier of townships passes the Pan Handle Railroad to Piqua (with which Maj. Stephen Johnston, of Piqua, was early identified, in 1849 having drafted, upon a saddler's bench, its first charter, and, for more than twenty years, acted as its attorney), which, deflecting south, passes through Covington, then on to Bradford. Cutting this at nearly right angles, and following the general course of the Miami through the center of the county, runs the Dayton & Michigan Railroad. Again, connecting with the Pan Handle at Covington, the Narrow Gauge, running from Dayton prospectively to Toledo, affords great shipping facilities for all the western tier of townships.

In addition to these, there have been filed with the Secretary of State, March 20,1878, a certificate for the construction of a railroad from Springfield via Troy to Piqua, capital stock, $200,000 ; also, May 28,1878, a certificate to construct a road from Springfield via New Carlisle to Troy, capital stock, $150,000 ; and still -another road is agitating. The number of miles of railroad already built and running is nearly sixty, thus giving to Miami ample shipping facilities. She is intersected with a perfect network of nearly 100 pikes of nearly 400 miles, most of them free. Plenty of timber, rich soil, good pikes, numerous railroads, Miami Canal, good climate, all conduce to make this county one of the most desirable. localities in the State.

MIAMI COUNTY INFIRMARY.

The Infirmary and farm are situated about one and one-half miles north of Troy. In 1853, the farm consisted of 130 acres, of which eighty were under cultivation. It was purchased in 1838, and cost $20 per acre. In 1853, its value had advanced to $60 per acre, exclusive of the buildings. The first buildings for public use were erected in 1839, and opened for the reception of inmates in 1840. Of these buildings we have a very meager description ; they were built of brick, consisting of a one-story main building, to which were attached several small additions. This institution soon proved inadequate for the accommodation of the Superintendent, Matron, assistants and inmates. The main building, having been let by contract to inferior workmen, was very defective in every particular ; and was, literally speaking, a " poor house."

In March, 1852, the attention of the County Commissioners was called to the unfit and unsafe condition of the buildings, and the Directors urged upon them the immediate construction of new and suitable buildings. The former, after a full investigation of the existing state of affairs, concurred with the latter, and at once entered upon the necessary arrangements for the erection of a new structure. To avoid the errors made by their predecessors, and obtain the requisite information regarding their construction, the Commissioners appointed one of the Directors to visit some of the most prominent Infirmaries in the State. Mr. Butterfield was appointed architect of the proposed buildings, and drew the plans and specifications for the same. Commissioner Rose, being a mechanic, was assigned the position of General Superintendent. The new building was 116 feet long, and forty-six feet wide, with a hall extending the entire length, through the center of

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 267

each floor. It consisted of an elevated basement, two principal stories, and an attic eight feet in height, which gave it the appearance of a four-story building. The first (principal) story was designed for males, the second for females ; with sufficient room for the insane ; was warmed by a furnace, and well ventilated ; water was supplied by a tank in the attic, where it was forced from the well ; on each floor were sufficient water-closets and bath-rooms. The working department, ovens, furnaces, store-rooms, etc., were arranged in the basement ; food was con- veyed' to the dining-rooms above in sliding cupboards. On the east side of the building was a large porch, fifty feet long, which was connected with a small yard,

designed for a certain class of inmates.

Unfortunately, the apprehension of the Directors regarding the unsafe condition of the old house was verified. In August, 1853, a violent storm, accompanied by hail and rain, struck the main apartment with such force as to tumble it in ruins upon the heads of the inmates ; a number being injured, some seriously, none fatally, and all thoroughly drenched by the rain. Shanties were erected for the temporary accommodation of the inmates, many of whom were sick from the exposure. In 1854, the new buildings were completed and occupied by the inmates. On the 8th day of June, 1859, the Directors met with the Commissioners to discuss the policy of building an addition in which to confine the insane. The Commissioners declared that it was impossible to erect the proposed wing, on account of a lack of funds in the county treasury. It was finally agreed to prepare four rooms in the attic for the use of the insane.

At a joint meeting of the two boards, held at the Infirmary on September 3, 1872, the Commissioners were advised of the necessity of a more ample building for the insane. At a subsequent meeting, at the Auditor's office, the plans and specifications for an additional structure were adopted, and contracts for the immediate erection of the building made. April 29,1873, the foundation was laid, after which time the work progressed rapidly until' the completion of the new structure. The wing is eighty feet in length, and forty feet in width, containing four floors. The first is used as an engine and ware room. In the second is the hospital for the males, through which we pass and enter the insane department for the men. The third floor is occupied by sick and insane females.

At a recent visit to the institution we met the present_ Directors (in session) and the Superintendent, who received us with courtesy, and, upon stating the object of our visit, were conducted through the building. The halls and wards were in a clean and inviting condition, which speaks volumes for the careful management of the Superintendent and his worthy wife and daughter. While passing through the male department, our attention was called to Samuel Myers, an inmate since 1853, who claims to be 106 years of age. As he was an old man when he first entered the institution, we have no reason for doubting him.

In the female wards, we saw Sallie Anthony, an inmate since 1842. At present, 154 acres of land are connected with the Infirmary, the most of which is under cultivation. Surrounding the building, are the necessary out-houses, the pump-house, barn and wash-house, the latter having just been completed. A cistern, with a capacity of 500 barrels, furnishes the water for laundry purposes. We have no records of the officers prior to 1853. The following gentlemen have held

the several offices since that time :

1853—James C. McKaig, Jacob Counts, Asa Coleman, Directors ; George A. Murray, Superintendent.

1854—Jacob Counts, Asa Coleman, George Throgmorton, Directors ; George A. Murray, Superintendent.

1855—Jacob Counts, David Huston, George Throgmorton, Directors ; George A. Murray, Superintendent.

1856—Jacob Counts, David Huston, George Throgmorton, Directors ; Jonathan Ratson, Superintendent.

1857-58—Jacob Counts, David Huston, S. M. Dickson, Directors ; Jonathan Ratson, Superintendent.

268 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

1859—David Huston, S. M. Dickson, William H. Gahagan, Directors ; same Superintendent

1860—W. H. Gahagan, David Huston, James H. Pea, Directors ; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent.

.1861—James H. Pea, John D. Deweese, W. H. Gahagan, Directors ; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent

1862-64—John D. Deweese, George B. Fry, W. H. Gahagan, Directors ; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent.

1865—George B. Fry, Jacob Knoop, John D. Deweese, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1866—John D. Deweese, William Hamilton, Jacob Knoop, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1867—John D. Deweese, William Hamilton, S. A. Cairns, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1868—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1869—Same Directors ; James Foster, Superintendent.

1870—Same Directors ; same Superintendent

1871—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1872—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1873—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1874—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1875—John D. Deweese, Stephen Genslinger, S. A. Cairns, Directors ; same Superintendent. 1876—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1877—John D. Deweese, Joseph Bains, Stephen Genslinger, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1878—Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1879—Stephen Genslinger, B. N. Langston, Joseph Bains, Directors ; same Superintendent (present incumbents).

EXHIBIT

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 269

MIAMI COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On the 12th day of September, 1846, pursuant to a call in the Troy Times, a meeting of the citizens of Miami County was held at the office of John G. Telford, Esq., for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of organizing a County Agricultural Society. At this time it was resolved to organize such a society, and a committee, consisting of the following names, viz., William Giffen, David H. Morris, William I. Thomas and William B. McLung, was appointed to draft a Constitution and By-laws, for said society. On the 26th of September, 1846, this committee reported a Constitution and By-laws, which were at that time adopted, and the society, thus organized, proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year, with the following result, viz.: President, William I. Thomas ; Vice-Presidents, William C. Knight, Cyrus Haywood, David Jenkins ; Corresponding Secretary, D. H. Morris ; Recording Secretary, G. D. Burgess ; Treasurer, Jacob Knoop ; Librarian H. D. Stout ; Committee on Agriculture, John Hamilton, Chairman ; Daniel Brown, James McCain, Zimri Heald, William Giffen.

The following is the Constitution of the Miami County Agricultural Society :

ARTICLE I. This Association shall be called, The Miami County Agricultural Society.

ART. II. The object of the society shall be the circulation of general intelligence and practical instruction in all the branches of agriculture. 1. By the establishment of a permanent library of the best books and periodicals, illustrative of the principles and practice of the sciences. 2. By the establishment of a correspondence with other bodies seeking the same object. 3. By procuring the most rare and valuable kinds of seeds, plants, shrubs, and trees. 4. By the establishment of exhibitions at which premiums shall be awarded for the improvements of soil, tillage, crops, manures, implements of husbandry, stocks, articles of domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and improvements as may be deemed worthy of encouragement ; and the adoption of other means for the general circulation of knowledge on the subjects embraced by the society.

ART. III. The officers of the society shall consist of a President, three Vice-Presidents, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, Standing Committee of five persons on Agriculture, and a Board of Directors to be composed of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, which board shall have the charge and general management of the property and business of the society, subject, however, to the order and direction thereof.

ART. IV. All the officers shall be chosen by ballot, at the annual meeting of the society, which shall be held on the first Saturday in September in each year, at such hour and place as the Directors shall order.

ART. V. All special meetings of the society shall be called by the Recording Secretary on the requisition of a majority of the Directors, or of any five members made in writing therefor ; a notice thereof, as well as of all general meetings, shall be published in one or more of the newspapers of the county fifteen days at least before such meeting.

ART. VI. Any person may become a life member of the society by the payment of $10 into the treasury at any one time.

ART. VII. This Constitution may be altered or amended by the votes of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, providing the same shall have been proposed in writing, at a previous regular meeting.

The following are the subscribers to the Constitution of the Miami County Agricultural Society:

Z. Heald, Cyrus Haywood, Wesley Haywood, Daniel Bates, James M. Dye, Daniel Brown, L. H. Booher, William J. Thomas, John Hamilton, William B. McLung,, George Cloyd, Joshua Peck, James McCain, G. A. Pierce, W. Sayres, D. H. Morris, David A. McLung, James Fordyce, J. McKaig, John C. Winans, H. S. Mayo, G. D. Burgess, John B. Fith, E. Parsons, B. F. Brown, John Knoop,

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Jacob Knoop, John H. Knoop, George Knoop, James Hoit, John C. Dye, Jacob Rhorer, John McLung, Minor L. Dye, Samuel R. Yourt, James McCorde, William Barton, Andrew D. Sayres, Moses H. Branson, Joseph Brown, Isaac T. Rollins, James Brown, J. M. McCampbell, James T. Orbison, H. Smead, S. K. Orr, George A. Murray, F. N. Marley, Philip Trabing, William Cottingham, C. B. Clarke, Isaac Peck, Joseph Pearson, William K. Cromer, Findley Telford, M. Dye, John D. Fowler, Jacob Knoop, Jr., William Giffen. L. Riley, D. Jenkins, D. R. Tullis, D. A. Tullis, James Telford, A. Morris, B. F. Tullis, James Murphy, A. W. McNabb, Isaac Pearson, John Syp, Mr. Correy, John McCullough, Thomas Pearson, Robert Pearson Jr., David Gibbs, Daniel Rice, William Tunis, John Peck, Samuel Pearce, J. Nir. Hart, Martin Kessler, A. Fenner; William C. Knight, John H. Wolcott, H. D. Stout, Thomas Jay, Henry Cecil, Israel Kessler, Daniel Collins, Phillip A. Smith, H. Chase, Thomas Wilmington, R. W. Smith, S. J. Green, J. G. Hart, Moses E. Long, Clark Sutton, Daniel F. Sutton, H. p. Dye, Charles Felix, J. H. Deweese, Thomas Orbison, Asa Coleman, David Frazer, Henry Kessler, Joseph C. Stockton, J. D. Harter, <Tv mes H. Telford, William Snaffles, John Wilson John Clark, Henry TAneick, James Fenner, James Seel,

Richard McIntire, Wilson, Telford, B. N. Moore, Sol Jones, Robert Ramsey, O. S. Thomas, E. V. Corault, George Ramsey, L. J. Abbott, N. Sherman, E Vaugant, Nathaniel Fish, Jerry Fenner, S. R. Drury, Henry Dibra, John Cecil. William Stewart, Murray Telford, S. Leapley, Henry Garard, James McCandless, William Cottingham, B. B. Reid, A. Gaskill, D. C. Hathaway, William Dunlap, M., M. Munson, John M. Harker, J. Leffel, A. F. Munger and D. D. Odaffer.

The By-laws of the Miami County Agricultural Society are as follows :-

I. Each member shall pay annually into the treasury, the sum of- $1 ; any member who shall fail to pay his annual assessment, or any fine or forfeiture on account of books taken from the library for the space of ninety days after the annual meeting, shall then cease to be a member of the society, and forfeit all his rights and privileges as such, and to the library and other property belonging to the society.

II. All books, save such as the Board of Directors may except, may be taken from the library on Saturday of each week. No book shall be detained from the library longer than two weeks, under a penalty of 5 cents for each day it shall be detained beyond that period ; and any member lending a book belonging to the society, shall pay as a penalty therefor the sum of $1.

III. Any member who shall lose a book belongitig to the society shall pay for the volume or set as assessed by the Librarian.

IV. No money shall be paid by the Treasurer unless upon a written order of a majority of the Directors.

V. A record of payment of assessment or subscription shall be the evidence of proprietorship for the year it is so paid.

VI. The Treasurer, at each annuul meeting, and so often as he may be required, shall render an account of all receipts and disbursements of the society for the year then passed.

VII. The recording Secretary shall keep the records of the meetings and their proceedings and at each annual meeting, report a list of the members of the society, and also of those who may have forfeited their right as members.

VIII. The Librarian shall keep a catalogue of all the books in the library, and shall assess all fines for loss, damage or detention of any book therein ; also, keep an account of all books taken out by members.

IX. The society shall, in addition to annual meetings, hold three other meetings, on the first Thursday of the months of December, March and June in each year, for the purpose of hearing addresses, discussing questions, and receiving reports on the several subjects embraced by the society.

X. No alteration shall be made in any of these by-laws, except at one of the regular meetings, written notice thereof having been given at a previous regular meeting.

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 271

The first quarterly meeting of the Miami County Agricultural Society was held December 5, 1846, at which, an appropriation was made for the purchase of a library, after which, Mr. Thomas, President of the society, addressed the meeting on the subject of " Scientific Husbandry," which was discussed in a masterly manner, and listened to with rapt attention, by an appreciative audience. That his remarks had a practical bearing, may be inferred from the fact, that the board immediately resolved that the circulation of the Ohio Cultivator among the members, would be highly conducive to their interests, and the same was therefore recommended to the farmers for their patronage. The library was purchased in the winter of 1846, about $70 having been previously appropriated for that purpose. The second annual election of officers took place September 9, 1847, with the following results :

William J. Thomas, President David Jenkins, William C. Knight, and Cyrus Haywood, Vice Presidents ; D. H. Morris, Corresponding Secretary ; G. D. Burgess, Recording Secretary and Librarian ; Jacob Knoop, Treasurer.

''The Agricultural Committee, was John Hamilton, Chairman ; Daniel Brown, Zimri Heald, William Giffen, William B. McLung. The first annual fair of the society was held on the 24th of September, 1847.

Officers for 1849—William B. McLung, President ; Daniel Brown, Israel Kessler, and William Burton, Vice Presidents ; M. M. Munson, Corresponding and Recording Secretary ; George D. Burgess, Treasurer and Librarian. Agricultural Committee : William J. Thomas, ChairMan ; Z. Heald, John Hamilton, James Hart, Thomas J. Orbison. The highest premium awarded in 1849 was $3, the smallest, 50 cents.

Officers for 1850—William B. McLung, President ; Daniel Brown, William Burton, and Stephen Widney, Vice Presidents ; M. M. Munson, Corresponding and Recording Secretary ; George D. Burgess, Treasurer and Librarian. Agricultural Committee : B. F. Brown, Z. Heald, John Hamilton, James Hart, and Thomas Orbison.

Officers 1850-51—Dr. Asa Coleman, President ; William J. Thomas, Jacob Knoop, William H Gahagan, Vice Presidents ; George D. Burgess, Treasurer and Librarian ; M. M. Munson; Corresponding Secretary ; M. M. Munson, Recording Secretary. Agricultural Committee, John Barbee (Chairman), J. D. Fowler, Josias Westlake, William B. McLung. The first delegate to the State Pomological Society Exhibition, from here, was Jacob Knoop, who attended that exhibition, which was held in Cincinnati, in conjunction with the State Fair. Dr. Asa Coleman was the first delegate from here, who met the State Board of Agriculture, which convened on the first Monday of December, 1850.

Officers 1851-52—Dr. Asa Coleman, President ; William J. Thomas, William H. Gahagan and Jacob Knoop, Vice Presidents ; George D. Burgess, Treasurer and Librarian ; M. M. Munson, Corresponding and Recording Secretary. Agricultural Committee : John Barbee (Chairman), J. D. Fowler, J. McKaig, Josias Westlake, W. B. McLung.

'Officers 1852-53—William B. McLung, President ; Phillip A. Smith, George D. Burgess, Treasurers ; M. M. Munson, Secretary, Board of Managers : B. F. McLung, H Gahagan, J. McKaig, William inoop, J. Fenner.

Officers 1854-55—W. H. Gahagan, President ; J. Westlake, Vice President ; R. W. Furnas, Secretary ; S. K. Harter, Treasurer ; Board of Managers : W. B. McLung, J. J. Robinson, John Wiggan, J. M. Dye, T. H. Vandegriff.

In the fall of 1856, the President of the society purchased ground for the use of said society, from William Senior, the board confirmed the contract made, and gave Mr. Senior notes to the amount of $1,520,80 made payable in three installments.

Officers 1856—W. H. Gahagan, President ; John Wiggan, Vice President ; George Morris, Secretary ; B. S. Kyle, Treasurer. Board of Managers : William B. McLung, J. J. Robinson, Isaac Peck, Daniel French, James Hart. At a meeting of the society held on the 18th of June, 1857, it was resolved to build a house on

272 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

the Fair Grounds, for exhibition purposes ; the size of which was to be 36x72 feet, and to defray the expenses of this building, a funded debt was created, and a. permanent lien on the grounds of the society was given. A committee of two was then appointed to negotiate a loan of $500 which amount was obtained -from William Brown, and a note given for the same, payable in one year from July 9, 1857.

Officers 1857—William H. Gahagan, President ; James M. Dye, Vice Presi- dent ; B. S. Kyle, Treasurer and Librarian ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. Board of Managers ; Isaac Peck, William B. McLung, James Hart, Daniel French, J. J. Robinson.

Officers 1858—William H. Gahagan, President ; James M. Dye, Vice President ; B. S. Kyle, Treasurer and Librarian ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. Board of Managers : William B. McLung, James Hart, J. J. Robinson, W. H. H. Dye, Stephen Widney. At a meeting of the society held March 19, 1859, it was resolved to open for competition to all the counties adjoining Miami all premiums on every grade of stock, and to " invite them to compete with us," giving them previous notice of the amount and kinds of stock to be provided. It was further resolved, that, in consequence of the great increase of visitors, it was necessary to purchase more ground for the better accommodation of persons attending subsequent fairs. Accordingly, the old grounds were increased by an addition of the ground purchased of the railroad company, for which the society agreed to pay the sum of $100 per acre, the whole to be paid in two equal- installments.

Officers 1859-60—William H. Gahagan, President; James M. Dye, Vice President ; B. S. Kyle, Treasurer ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. Board of Managers : S. Wid- ney, J. J. Robinson, William B. McLung, W. H. II. Dye and James Hart. The receipts of the fair this year were $1,652,13, which were $96.75 less than in 1858.

Officers 1861—W. H. H. Dye, President ; Ralph Peterson, Vice President ; B. S. Kyle, Treasurer ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. The number of managers was increased this year to twelve and election of officers held in January instead of September. Board of Managers : Daniel French, A. Gaskill, Jarvis S. Rogers, John Pearce, J. C. Coat, I. S. Sheets, J. M. McKinney, Nathan Jackson, W. G. Bryant, William B. McLung, Josiah Westlake, S. Widney. The society met, upon the death of Daniel French, and passed a resolution expressing the loss experienced by the society in the death of one of its most efficient members, whose example as a citizen and agriculturist was well worthy of general imitation. The society tendered their sympathy to the family and friends in their unexpected bereavement, and caused a copy of their resolution to be presented to them ; also to be inserted in the county papers and entered on the minutes of the society. After which, Isaac Sheets was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy.

Officers 1862—Isaac S. Sheets, President ; William H. Gahagan, Vice Presi dent; H. Culbertson, Treasurer ; C. S. Baer, Secretary. Board of Direct- ors, . B. McLung, A. Gaskill, John Pearce, James Hamilton, John Lefevre, J. Westlake, J. Wiggan, J. M. McKinney, N. Jackson, Charles Gross, Daniel Knoop.

Officers 1863—W. B. McLung, President ; William H. Gahagan, Vice President ; C. W. Morris, Secretary ; Charles H. Culbertson, Treasurer. Board of Directors : I. S. Sheets, J. Hall, John Pearce, B. F. Brown, J. N. Kyle, George Knoop, Isaac Brown, Joseph Rollins, Nathan Jackson, A. Gaskill, S. L. Chaffee, Lewis Haynor. • At a meeting held May 9, 1863, the-President was ordered to seal and execute, to Abram H. Groff, a deed for the tract of land purchased by the society of the railroad company, the amount to be paid for the same by Abram H. Groff in two equal payments, being $200 cash in hand, and $200 payable on the first of November, 1863.

Officers 1864—W. B. McLung, President ; W. H. Gahagan, Vice President ; C. H. Culbertson, Treasurer ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. Board of Directors : A. Gaskill, J. L. Meredith, Isaac S. Sheets, J. Hall, Louis Haynor, William Swain, S. L. Chaffee, B. F. Brown, John Wiggan, Isaac Brown, N. Jackson, S. Dye.

Officers 1865—W. B. McLung, President ; W. H. Gahagan, Vice President ;

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 273

David Kelly, Treasurer and Librarian ; C. W. Morris, Secretary. Board of Managers : Isaac S. Sheets, William Thomas, B. P. Bond, N. Smithers, John B. Woodward, John Pearce, John Hart, John A. Peck, James Foster, Nathan Jackson, H. Brooks, Joseph Barnes.

Officers 1866—W. B. McLung, President ; George Smith, Vice President ; David Kelly, Treasurer ; W. H. Gahagan, Secretary. Board of Managers : John W. Woodward, Daniel Rowser, Jefferson Sayers, Robert Shannon, Jonathan Coate, Nathan Jackson, William Thomas, John S. Peck, N. Smithers, J. Julean, John Hart. At this meeting the Treasurer was ordered to procure the Ohio Farmer, the American Agriculturist and the Horticulturist for the use of the Society, having decided that the most rapid mode of promoting agricultural interests is in becoming versed in the experiments and opinions of our leading agriculturists, as set forth and discussed in the leading journals entirely devoted to that purpose. A stock-breeders' fair was held on the fair grounds the 26th day of May, 1866, which was open to all corners, and at which premiums were awarded as before agreed upon.

Officers 1867—B. F. Brown, President ; William Thomas, Vice President ; C. H. Culbertson, Treasurer ; William H. Gahagan, Secretary. Board of Managers : Loury Barbour, C. A. Fowler, David Deweese, William Knoop, Esq., Newton Smithers, J. Rollins, W. H. H. Dye, Joseph Pearson, William B. McLung, John 1 R. Woodman, N. Kerr, George Buckles.

Officers 1868-W. H. H. Dye, President ; W. J. Thomas, Vice President ; C. H. Culbertson, Treasurer ; W. H. Gahagan, Secretary. Board of Directors : First year, B. F. Brown, Mr. Carpenter; second year, Isaac Sheets, D. Adams, Joseph Rollins, W. B. McLung, Nathan Jackson, A. T. Jaques.

Officers 1869—W. B. McLung, President ; Jacob Rohrer, Vice President, Board of Managers : First year, Alexander Heywood ; second year, B. F. Brown, George Buckles, David Simpson, Loury Barbour, Zimri Heald. A committee, consisting of three members, viz., B. F. McLung, N. Smithers and Loury Barbour, was appointed the 16th of October, 1869, to take into consideration the selling of the old fair grounds and purchasing new.

Officers 1870—William B. McLung, President ; N. Smithers, Vice President ; C. H. Culbertson, Treasurer ; J. W. Ross, Secretary. Board of Managers for two years : Isaac Sheets, A. W. Simpson, T. Elwood Coate, William Lefevre, James Hamilton. Directors for one year : Dr. W. W. Crane, L. Barbour, B. F. Brown, George Buckles, A. M. Heywood, Z. M. French. A spring fair was held this year for a single day, which was Saturday, the 28th of May, at which the highest premium, being $25, was awarded Mr. J. W. Johnson, and the second, of $20, to H. M. Reed. At the close of the fair, in the fall of 1870, after all debts were paid the society found themselves in possession of $1,323.44.

Officers 1871—W. B. McLung, President ; N. Smithers, Vice President. Board of Managers : A. Jaques, D. W. Simpson, Alexander M. Heywood, Loury Barbour, B. F. Brown, Zimri H. French, Dr. W. W. Crane, J. Hamilton, Isaac S. Sheets and T. E. Coate. Frank Harter, Treasurer ; S. R. Drury, Secretary. At a meeting held in June of this year, it was resolved that horse-racing would not be allowed on the fair grounds. Quite an attractive feature of the entertainment this year

was the ascension of a balloon (which was furnished by Davis & Co., of Cincinnati). with a man, who received $200 for his services. The new County Fair Grounds were purchased of Mrs. E. McKaig, in December, 1871. The grounds contained thirty-eight and one-half acres, for which they agreed to pay her at the rate of $200 per acre. The old grounds were then divided into lots containing one acre, when it was found that there were seventeen lots in all, which were sold at

auction the 17th of April, 1872, the total receipts for the same being $4,655, after which the dwelling-house and other buildings on the ground were sold for the sum of $223, making a grand total of $4,878 for the old ground and its appurtenances.

Officers 1872—Newton Smithers, President ; Dr. W. W. Crane, Vice President. Board of Directors : For two years—Andrew Knoop, A. T. Jaques, E.

274 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

Shaeffer, D. W. Simpson, Thomas E. Coate, James Hamilton ; for one year—W. B. McLung, Loury Barbour, A. Robbins, Z. H. French, A. M. Heywood, Conrad Licklider. S. A. Drury, Secretary ; F. L. Harter, Treasurer. The new grounds were used first on September 25, by the colored people, for the purpose of cele- brating their emancipation jubilee. The first fair held on the new premises was upon the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th of October, 1872, and, at the close of that year, the society found themselves in debt- to the amount of $8,596.95.

Officers 1873—N. Smithers, President ; Dr. W. W. Crane, Vice President. Board of Directors : For two years, D. A. McLung, Loury Barbour, Z. H. French, A. M. Heywood, Conrad Licklider, A. Robbins ; for one year, Andrew Knoop, A. T. Jaques, E. Shaefer, D. W. Simpson, Thomas E. Coate, James Hamilton, S. Drury, Secretary. Upon the death of President Smithers, the society adopted suitable resolutions, expressing regret at the great loss they had sustained, a copy of which was given to the bereaved family of the deceased.

Officers 1874—J. W. Ross, President ; Dr. W. W. Crane, Vice President ; S. D. Frank, Treasurer ; George C. Clyde, Recording Secretary S. R. Drury, Corre- sponding Secretary. Board of Directors for two years, W. J. Clyde, Col. J. R. Woodward, Charles Gross, James Wilgus, James Hamilton, James Foster.

Officers 1875—L. Hayner, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President ; F. M. Sterrett, Secretary ; Theodore Sullivan, Treasurer. Board of Managers for two years : A. Robbins, W. K. Dunlap, W. H. H. Gahagan, C. R. C. Dye, S. D. Green and John Wilson. At the close of this year the society had diminished their debt to $6,310.36.

Officers 1876—Lewis Hayner, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President. Board of Directors : James Foster Charles Gross, John Fergus, W. J. Clyde, David Deweese, W. J. Kisor. W. A. R. Tenney, Secretary; Thomas Sullivan, Treasurer.

Officers 1877— Lewis Hayner, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President ; W. A. R. Tenney, Secretary ; Theodore Sullivan, Treasurer. Board of Managers : A. Robbins, W. H. H. Gahagan, C. R. C. Dye, S. D. Green, John Wilson, Zimri H. French. The board this year issued complimentary tickets to all school teachers in the county, also to all scholars fifteen years old and under, as well as to the Agricultural Boards of adjoining counties, members of the press, ministers of the Gospel, and to committees selected to assist in decorating Fine-Art Hall.

Officers 1878—M. W. Hays, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President ; W. A. R. Tenney, Secretary ; Theodore Sullivan, Treasurer. Board of Directors : David Deweese, Charles Gross, W. B. Cox, J. C. Chamberlain, Dr. W. W. Crane, J. S. Fergus.

Officers 1879—M. W. Hays, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President ; A. M. Heywood, Secretary ; J. N. Price, Treasurer. Board of Directors : A. Robbins, W. A. R. Tenney, Z. H. French, Cyrus McCurdy, F. D. Skinner, N. H. Albaugh, S. D. Green, John Wilson, C. R. C. Dye, H. Alexander, J. H. Young. The highest premium awarded this year was $40, for farm products ; the least was $1.

Officers 1880—M. W. Hays, President ; B. P. Bond, Vice President ; A. M. Heywood, Secretary ; Mr. Price, Treasurer ; David Deweese, W. B. Cox, John Wilson, C. R. C. Dye, Lewis Hayner, Board of Directors for two years ; J. W. Widney for one year. The vote for Jeff Snyder and William Ashworth being a tie, it was decided to settle the matter by drawing cuts, which resulted in the election of Ashworth for two years.

JUDICIAL AND OFFICIAL.

The first session of court was held June, 1807, at the house of Peter Felix, in Staunton ; in November, 1808, at Mr. Overfield's, in Troy ; in February, 1809, at Crawford's , March 12, 1811, at Westfall's ; May, 1811, at George F. Fennery's.

Court House.—In August, 1811, court was removed to the first court house, which consisted of a double house of hewed logs ; one end for prisoners, the other for the accommodation of the jailor, with court-room in the upper story. In 1816, a brick court house was built in the square by William Barbee and Fielding Young,

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 275

at a cost of' $2,475. About 1830, Joseph Skinner built a stronger jail, and large brick house for the jailor. In 1839, A. E. Turnbull contracted to build the present court house, at a cost of $20,000, which was ready for the August term of court, in 1841. The present probate building and jail were erected in 1854 ; the latter, a fine structure of Dayton stone, defies all attempts at egress.

Courts and Court Officers.—The following is an extract of the proceedings of the court, taken from the records :

" Be it Remembered, The house of Mr. Peter Felix, being the temporary place of holding courts, on the twenty-third day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seven (1807). Two commissions were produced, signed by L Edward Tiffin, Esquire, Governor of the State of Ohio, sealed with the great seal of the State of Ohio, and countersigned by Secretary of the State. The one bearing date the fourth day of February, eighteen hundred and seven, appointing John

Gerard an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Miami ; and the other appointing John Crawford Associate Judge as aforesaid, and bearing date the fifth day of February, eighteen hundred and seven. Whereupon the said John Gerard and John H. Crawford took the oath to support the Constitution of tile United States and the State of Ohio, and also the oath of office, and constituted a court.

"The court proceeded to prepare notifications to be set up in six public places in the county for the election of a Sheriff and a Coroner and three County Commissioners, and signed the same.

" Ordered, That the Electors of this county meet on Friday, the third day of July next, in Elizabeth Township, at the house of Peter Felix, in Staunton, and the electors of Randolph Township at the house of Mr. Joseph Evans, in the town of' Milton, for the purpose of electing a Sheriff, Coroner, and three dounty Commissioners.

" Ordered, That the Listers of each township be notified to proceed to take the list of the taxable property in their respective townships, also to take in the enumeration of the white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age.

" Adjourned until Tuesday, the fourteenth day of July, at this house, and appoint a Clerk protempore to our Courts."

At a court held at Staunton, on Thursday, the 14th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1807.

Present, the Honorable Francis Dunlavy, Esq., President of our Courts, and John Gerard, and John H. Crawford, Esquires, Associate Judges. Cornelius Westfall was appointed Clerk pro tempore of the Court of Common Pleas for Miami County, whereupon Judge Dunlavy administered the oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Ohio and also the oath of

office prescribed by law.

A certificate was produced in the court, co tifying that Thomas B. Kyle was a regularly ordained minister of the Gospel, and on application, license was granted to the said Thomas B. Kyle to solemnize marriages according to law.

September Term for 1807.

The State of Ohio, Miami County, Common Pleas, September term, 1807.

Before the Honorables Francis Dunlavy, Esq., President ,. John Gerard Thomas H. Crawford, Associate Judges ; Cornelius Westfall, Clerk, pro tern. Stephen Dye, Sheriff ; Arthur St. Clair, Esq., Prosecutor for the State.

Grand Jurors impaneled and sworn, to wit :

James Blue, Foreman ; , James L. McKinney, Henry Orbison, Joseph McKorkle, Henry Robinson, Daniel Knoop, Theodore Sanders, Michael Blue, Joh Huston, William Miller, Andrew Dye, Jr., Mathew Caldwell, John Wallace, Joh Jenkins, James Youart ; and Isaac Holt, Constable_

Common Pleas, May term, 1808.

276 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

The State of Ohio, Miami County, SS.

Common Pleas, May term, 1808.

Before the Honorable Francis Dunlavy, Esq., President ; John Gerard, John H. Crawford, and William Barbee, Esqs., Associate Judges. Present, Cornelius Westfall, Clerk ; Stephen Dye, Esq., Sheriff ; Isaac G. Burnet, Esq., Prosecutor for the State.

Grand Jurors impaneled and sworn, to-wit :

Arthur Stewart, Foreman ; James Marshall, William Ellis, Charles Hilliard, Alexander Ewing, Joseph Bedle, Robert Mackey, Jesse Gerard, Albia Martin, Joseph Case. Samuel Freeman, Jacob Kinser, John Manning, Patrick Laferty, Abraham Hathaway. John Smith, Constable.

The Grand Jurors, after receiving their charge, went out of court, and after some time, returned back into court, and made presentments as follows, viz.:

We present George Overpeck for an assault and battery, and Alanson Shaw for assault and battery. And then the Grand Jurors, having nothing further to present, were discharged.

June 6, 1808.

Present, John Gerard and William Parker, Esqs., Associate Judges ; Cornelius Westfall, Clerk.

The Commissioners for the county of Miami, made application for the appointment of a Commissioner, in the place of Joseph McCorkle, resigned, who was one of said board.

Arthur Stewart is duly appointed to fill said vacancy.

Common Pleas, September term, 1808.

The State of Ohio, Miami County, SS.

Before the Honorable Francis Dunlavy, Esq., President ; John Gerard, John II. Crawford, William Barbee, Esqs., Associate Judges. Present, Cornelius West-fall, Clerk ; Stephen Dye, Esq., Sheriff ; Isaac G. Burnet, Esq., Prosecutor for the State.

Grand Jurors impaneled and sworn, to wit :

David H. Morris, Foreman ; Reuben Shackelford, Bennet B. Langley, Joseph B. Robinson, Thomas W. Furnace, Moses Coate, Andrew Dye, Sr., Isaac Embree, John Knoop, Michael Fair, Benjamin Knoop, Thomas Coppock, Joseph Evens, Shadrach Hudson and Levi Martin.

September term, 1808—September 17.

It is ordered by the Court, and is hereby understood, that Lots No. 134, 135, 145 and 146 are appropriated for the purpose oi building a schoolhouse and academy, for public utility, on said lot.

Session of the Associate Judges.

The State of Ohio, Miami County, SS.

Sessions of November, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and eight.

Be it remembered, that on the fifth day of November, being the next judicial day after our Court of Common Pleas, at the house of Benjamin Overfield, in Troy.

Before John Gerard, John H. Crawford and William Barbee, Esquires, Associate Judges. Present, Cornelius Westfall, Clerk.

This term of court was held upstairs in the house of Benjamin Overfield. The lower floor was used as a bar-room attachment to the tavern, and through this all the court attendants were obliged to pass. This, it seems, occasionally created a little friction in the court machinery. On one occasion ex-Governor Arthur St. John and Mr. George Kerr were below stairs discussing the qualities of Mr. Over-field's stimulants, when, pitching their voices somewhat higher than a conversational tone, the noise penetrated the court-room and greatly annoyed the Judge, who finally sent Mr. Dye with his compliments to the gentlemen, and requested an immediate audience with them in the court-room. Upon their appearing, the Judge said : " Gentlemen, the court fines you $2 each for contempt," to which Mr. Kerr rejoined, "It bears me in mind you might as well say $10." " Well, I say $10,

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what do you say, Brother Barbee ?" " I say $10 for Mr. Kerr," said Judge B. Having paid their fines, Mr. Kerr, who had grown somewhat excited during the proceedings, turned to the court and said, " Judge Dunlavy, I knew you when you were so poor you had to lie in bed until your wife washed your breeches."

January term, 1809—Grand Jurors :

John Norths, Foreman: Carman Winans, William Miller, Phillip Sailor, Samuel Tague, Chkstian Schroyer, Joseph Stafford, John Jenkins, Andrew Wallace, Benjamin Level, John Hathaway, John Knoop, William Daugherty, James Flinn and Ralph French.

January term, 1809—Grand Jurors.

(No record.)

May term, 1809—Grand Jurors :

James Youart, John Mast, John Coppock, James William Ellis, James Orr, Abraham Thomas, Andrew Sheets, Jonathan Rollins, Christley Statler, William Frost, William Mendenhall, James Knight, William Gahagan, David Jenkins and Mathew Caldwell. Isaac Holt, Constable.

September term, 1809—Grand Jurors :

James Blue, Foreman: James Youart, James Furgus, Lewis Deweese, Ezekiel Kirtty, William Steward, William Thomas, David Kinworthy, Uriah Blue, Sr., James McClure, James Brown, James L. McKinney, William Gahagan, Joseph B. Robinson, Samuel Freeman. John Smith, Constable. Two days each.

January term, 1810—Grand Jurors :

Charles Mortimer, James Marshall, Samuel Freeman, Christley Knoop, John Houston, Robert Mackey, Alexander McCullough; Levi Martin, James L. McKinney, John Peck, John Johnston, Jacob Prillerman, Alexander Ewing, Samuel Morrison and Nathaniel Gerard. Isaac Holt, Constable. Three days' attendance.

May term, 1810—Grand Jurors :

Arthur Stdwart, Ralph French, John Freeman, James Knight, James Flinn, Hugh Scott, James Naylor, Joseph Stafford, Jacob Price, Alexander Telford, James Orr, Aaron Tullis, David Hendershot, Benjamin Knoop, William Stewart. Joseph Smith, Constable ; three days each.

September term, 1810—Grand Jurors :

Henry Gerard, foreman ; Jesse Gerard, Samuel Marshall, Henry Coats, Casper Hendershott, Benjamin Dye, George Moffett, Henry Robinson, Frederick Yount, Joseph Bedle, Samuel Kimble, William Thomas, Jonathan Rollins, William Miller, Shadrach Hudson ; John Smith, Constable ; three days each.

January term, 1811—Grand Jurors :

Daniel Cory, foreman ; William Fincher, Jonathan Smith, John Wallace, Michael Blue, William Knight, Joseph Mellender, Jesse Jenkins, John Montgomery. On the venire there were only the above regular jurors answered to their names, whereupon the court ordered the Sheriff to take tales-men to make up the number of fifteen ; thereupon the following were summoned and answered unto the— (The records, from this date to 1814, are lost.)

January term, 1814—Grand Jurors :

James Fergus, foreman ; William Berry, Daniel Cory, Samuel Winans, James Deweese, Parker Atkins, William Snodgrass, David H. Morris, Jacob Curtis, James Knight, Hugh Scott, John Clingan, Thomas Hill. Patrick Laferty, Constable ; two days.

May term, 1814—Grand Jurors :

Thomas W. Furnas, foreman ; Benjamin Brandson, William Furnas, William Fincher, William Concannon, Samuel Jones, Sr., George W. Caven, Joseph Mendenhall, Samuel Marshall, Uriah Blue, Peter Sewell, Ralph Stafford. Only the above jurors on the venire answered to their names. The court ordered the Sheriff to take talesmen to make up the number of fifteen, whereupon the following answered to their names, to wit : Samuel Freeman, Christley Statler, Abraham Studabaker, Tegal Trader, Constable ; three days.

280 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

September term, 1814-Grand Jurors :

Levi Martin, foreman ; Lewis Winters, Andrew Wilson, Willis Northcutt, Ezekiel Kirtley, William Campbell, Benjamin Knoop, Joseph Stafford, Jonathan Ballenger, Jonathan Miles. Only the above jurors on the venire answered to their names. The court ordered the Sheriff to take talesmen to make up the number of fifteen, whereupon the following answered to their names, to wit : Moses Scott, John North, William Gahagan, Adam Thomas, James Youart. David Arnold, Constable ; two days.

January term, 1815-Grind Jurors :

George W. Green, foreman ; John Coppock, Thomas Cory, William Knight, Henry Freeman, Jonathan Mote, Aaron Tullis, John Moffett, Joseph Bedle, Eli Jenkins, William Gahagan, Alexander Telford, John Wilson, John Knight. Michael Cox, Constable.

May Term, 1815-Grand Jurors :

John Johnston, foreman ; John Simmons, Daniel Shryrock; William Barbee, John M. Freeman, John Wiley, Joseph Coe, John Gearhart, John Mast, Michael Mitchel, Uriah Blue, Sr., Armstrong Brandon, Robert D. Brier, James Hawarth. Michael Cox, Constable ' • two days each.

September term, 1815-Grand Jurors :

Joseph Cropley, George Recharon (uncertain), Joseph Culbertson James Brown, R. Morrison, David M. Conanhay; George Westfall, William M. Cecil, James Brown, Capt. Foreman, Thomas Hile, Abia B. Martin, John North, Sr., Henry Hoover, James Knight, John Foda, Philip Sailor. Patrick Laferty Constable ; three days.

January term, 1816-Grand Jurors :

William McCampbell, Foreman, John Underwood, Robert Hinton David Jenkins, Sr., Alexander McCullough, Sr., Edward Jackson, James Orr, Richard Lenox, William Fischer, William Frost, Daniel Lefevre, Samuel Teague, John Campbell, Samuel Freeman, John F. Tullis. Michael Cox, Constable.

April term, 1816-Grand Jurors :

James Brown, Foreman, Joseph Layton, Samuel Teague, Barnabas Burns, Ralph Stafford, Alexander Telford, Robert Morrison, Jesse Edwards, Benjamin Ledwell, Joseph Defrees, Benjamin Dye, Hugh Scott, Thomas Coppock, Archibald Byron, Jacob Williams. Michael Cox, Constable.

September term, 1816-Grand Jurors :

Jonathan Ballenger, Foreman, Thomas McKinney, William Tullis, Phillip Sailor, Hezekiah Hubble, John M. Dye, William Coate, John Jeffries, John Will- iams, Daniel Egenbroad, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Freeman, Isaac Embin, Daniel Ferrel, John Shidacker. Tegal Trader, Constable.

December term, 1816-Grand furors :

Robert Barnes, Foreman, George Brier, Isaac Garard, Nathan Hill, John Williams, Barnabas Blue, Sr., Joseph Elmore, Aaron Thomas, Thomas McCool, George Williams, Benjamin S. Cox, Sr., William Tullis, Robert C. Crawford, Ralph Stafford, John North, Sr. Michael Cox, Constable.

May term, 1817-Grand Jurors :

Alexander Moffett, Foreman, John John ston, John Francis, Esq., Christian Lefevre, Andrew Wiatt, Cephas Cary, Joseph Mellenger, William Huston, David Jenkins, John Jay, Sr., John Gilmore, William Mitchell, John Carson, Tedas Hart, Henry Mann. Jonathan Couch, Constable.

October term, 1817-Grand Jurors :

Eli Jenkins, Foreman, John . Underwood, James Knight, Robert McClure, John Reed, John Knoop, Uriah Blue, George Cavern, Joseph Mendenhall, James Stafford, James Scudder, William Gahagan, Joseph Miller, James Youart, Andrew Dye, Jr. Tegal Trader, Constable.

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 281

COUNTY OFFICERS.

Treasurers.-Andrew Wallace, appointed 1807, served four years • William Brown, appointed 1811, served thirty-one years ; John G. Telford, elected 1842, served one year ' • Jacob Knoop, elected 1843, served eight years ; William C. Knight, elected 1852, served one year ' • Andrew Patterson, elected 1853, served one year ; George S. Murray, elected 1854 ; George C. Clyde, elected 1855, served eight years; M. D. Mitchell, elected 1863, served two years ; A. L. McKinney, elected 1865, served five years ; Samuel D. Frank, elected 1870, served two years ; Theodore Sullivan, elected 1872, served four years ; John A. McCurdy, elected,

1876, present incumbent.

Auditors.-H. W. Culbertson, elected October, -, resigned December, 1822 ; David Grosvenor, appointed December, 1822, served seven years: Thomas S. Barrett, elected October, 1829, served six years ; Jacob Knoop, elected October, 1835, served seven years ; Benjamin F. Powers, elected October, 1842, served seven years: Thomas B. Kyle, elected October, 1849, served five years ; James Nesbitt, elected October, 1854, served two years ; C. N. Hoagland, elected October, 1856, served two years ; J. W. Defreese, elected October, 1858, served four years : Robert J. Douglass, elected October, 1862, served four years ; George C. Clyde, elected October, 1866, resigned October, 1871 ; Newton C. Clyde, appointed October, 1871, served till election ; Eli Tenney, elected October, 1871, deceased in September, 1873 ; W. I. Tenney, appointed September, 1873, served four years ; Charles C. Barnet, elected October, 1877, present incumbent.

Recorders.-Cornelius Westfall, appointed August, 1807, served sixteen years ; William Barbee, elected August, 1823, served eight years ; Z. Riley, elected August, 1831, served seven years ; George D. Burgess, elected January, 1848, served three years ; J. Widener, elected January, 1851, served six years ; J. P. Williamson, elected January, 1857, served six years.; H. M. Lukens, elected January, 1863, served three years ; George Green, elected January, 1869, present incumbent.

Sheriffs.-Stephen Dye, elected October, 1807, served four years ; Thomas W. Furnas, elected October, 1811, served two years ; Stephen Dye, elected October, 1813, served four years ; Levi Hart, elected October, 1817, served four years ; Leander Munsell, elected October, 1821, served two years ; Robert Culbertsqn, elected October, 1823, served four years ; Thomas W. Furnas, elected October, 1827, served four years ; John Shidler, elected October, 1831, served four years ; Thomas W. Furnas, elected October, 1835, served four years ; Joseph Defreese, elected October, 1839, served four years ; Stephen Johnston, elected October, 1843, served four years ; Thomas Jay, elected October, 1847, served four years; Joseph Pearson, elected October, 1851, served two years ; James M. Roe, elected October, 1853, resigned 1854 ; Daniel Ellis, appointed August, 1854, served years ; John Hart, elected October, 1859, served four years ; C. T. Baer, elected October, 1863, served two years ; Sainuel D. Frank, elected October, 1865, served four years ; William Evans elected October, 1869, served four years ' David L. Lee, elected October, 1873, served four years ; D. C. Miller, elected October, 1877, present incumbent.

Presiding Judges.-Francis Dunlavy, elected September, 1807, served ten years ; Joseph H. Crane, elected May, 1817, served twelve years ; George B. Holt, elected March 1829, served seven years ; William L. Helfenstein, elected April, 1836, served fourteen years ; John Beers, elected March, 1850, served - years.

Associate Judges. -John Gerard, elected September, 1807, served eight years ; John H. Crawford, elected September 1807, served ten years ; William Barbee, elected May, 1808, served six years ; William Parker, elected June, 1808, served - years ; James Blue, elected January, 1814, served five years ; John Widney, elected May, 1817, served five years ; John Wilson, elected November, 1819, served fifteen years ; Thomas Adams, elected 1820, served - years ; Asa Coleman, elected 1822, served five years ; James Fenner, elected 1827, served seven years ; Benojah Ayres, elected 1834, served seven years ; Francis Johnston,

282 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

elected 1834, served seven years.; John Wilson, elected 1841, served - years ; Moses G. Mitchell, elected 1841, served - years ; John C. Winans, elected 1841, served - years ; John Smeltzer, elected 1842, served - years ; David H. Morris, elected 1848, served two years ; William Barbee, elected 1850, served two years ; Abner Haines, elected 1852, served one term ; R. S. Hart, elected 1852, served three years ; James Clark, elected 1855, served one term ; R. S. Hart, elected 1855, served three years ; William White, elected 1857, served one ' year • Eben- ezer Parsons, elected 1859, served five years Alexander F. Hume, elected 1863, served two terms ; William Allen, elected 1866, served one year ; lchabod Corwin, elected 1867, served two terms ; George J. Smith, elected 1867, served five years ; W. J. Gilmore, elected 1872, served one year ; Robert C. Fulton, elected 1873, served one year ; David L. Meeker, elected 1874, served - years.

Clerks of the Court.-Cornelius Westfall, elected 1807, served twenty years ; John G. Telford, elected 1827, served twelve years ; Thomas J. S. Smith, elected 1839, served thirteen years ; Benjamin W. Leavill, elected 1852, served seven years ; Barton S. Kyle, elected 1859, served three years ; Charles V. Royce, elected 1862, served one year ; Smith Talbot* elected 1863, served eleven years ; John W. Cruikshank, elected 1874, served six years ; John B. Latchford, elected 1880 ; E. Adams, elected 1818, served four years ; William J. Thomas, elected 1822, served thirteen years ; Thomas S. Barrett, elected 1835, served five years ; R. S. Hart, elected 1840, served three years ; Ebenezer Parsons, elected 1843, served seven years ; H. G. Sellers,; elected 1850, served one year ; M. H. Jones, elected 1851, served eight years ; James T. Ianvier. elected 1859, served seven years ; Walter S. Thomas, elected 1866, served four years ; William F. Ross, elected 1870, served two years ; Henry H. Williams, elected 1872, served four years • Calvin D. Wright, elected 1876, served four years ; M. B. Earnheart, elected 1880, present incumbent.

Surveyors.-It appears from the records that Surveyors were not regularly elected, but, as occasion demanded, were appointed for surveying roads, ditches, etc. The following is a list of the same, with the date of appointment, as nearly as can be ascertained :

Armstrong Brandon, appointed February 1, 1808 ; Fielding Loury, April 1, 1808 ; Andrew Wallace, June 6, 1808 ; Armstrong Brandon, December 4, 1809 ; David Hoover, November 1, 1813 ; Benjamin S. Cox, September 28, 1814 ; John Devor, March 6, 1815 ; James Cregan, June 6. 1815 ; Robert Finney. December 3, 1816 ; Henry Hoover, May 26, 1817 ; James Cregan, August 4, 1818; William R. Finn, November 29, 1819 ; J. T. Tullis, March 6, 1826 ; Simon Loop, March 2, 1835 ; James Hanks, January 23, 1836 ; John H. Wolcott, December 5, 1836 ; James Hanks, 1837; John H. Wolcott, 1838 ; Jacob Knoop, 1839 ; William Giffin, elected 1844, served seven years ; John B. Fish, 1851, served one year ; Charles Gibbs, 1852, served two years ; Benjamin Field, 1854, served seven years ; John E. Alexander, 1861, served six years ; John N. Rouzer, 1867, served four years ; A. R. Byrkitt, 1871, resigned 1872 ; John Rouzer, appointed 1872, served one year; A. C. Buchanan, 1873, served two years ; E. P. Kellog, 1875, served one year; N. 0. Evans, 1876, present-incumbent.

Tax Collectors.-John Smith, appointed 1808 ; Henry Orbison, 1808 ; Isaac Holt, 1809 ; John Smith, 1810 ; Robert C. Crawford, 1811; William Barbee, Sr., 1812 ; Robert Barns, 1813 ; James L. McKinney, 1814 ; Jesse Gerard, 1815 ; Corbly Martin, 1816 ; Andrew Wiatt, 1817 ; James Kincannon, 1818 ; Levi Martin, Jr., 1.819 ; G. W. Green, 1821 ; John Young, 1822 ; Joseph M. Skinner, 1825 ; Joseph M. Skinner, 1826. Abolished in 1827.

County Commissioners.-At the first session of the . Court of Common Pleas held in this county, it was ordered by the court, that the electors of Miami County meet on Friday, 3d day of July, for the purpose of electing a Sheriff, Coroner, and three County Commissioners. At this meeting, it appears that Samuel Jones, William Barbee, and Henry Gerard were appointed to serve till the regular election, held the 13th of October, following, at which election Joseph McCorkle was

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 283

elected Commissioner by 109 votes ; Henry Gerard, 195, and James Naylor, 108. Joseph McCorkle resigning in June, 1808, Arthur Stewart was appointed to fill the vacancy till the election, in October, 1808. Henry Gerard served from his appointment, in July, 1807, till October, 1824 ; William Barbee served from his appointment, in July, 1807, till October, 1808 ; Alexander Ewing, from October, 1808, till October, 1810 ; Thomas Coppock, from October, 1808, till October, 1811 ; James Naylor, from October, 1810, to October, 1813 ; Alexander McNutt, from 1811, to March, 1814 ; James Fergus, from March 1814, to October, 1818 ; John Wilson, from October, 1818, to October 1819 ; William Mendenhall, from October, 1819, to October, 1822 ; James Orr, from October, 1820, to October, 1826 ; James Johnston, from October, 1822, to October, 1826 ; William Barbee, re-elected Octo- ber, 1824, served till October, 1829 ; Oliver Benton, from October, 1826, to October, 1829 ; Hugh Scott, from October, 1826, to October, 1827 ; Henry Gerard, from October, 1827, to October, 1828 ; William Wiley, from October, 1828, to June, 1831 ; Robert Morrison, from October, 1829, to October, 1838 ; Michael Williams, from October, 1829, to October, 1842 ; James Brown, from September, 1831, tb October, 1834 ; Ephraim P. Davis, from October, 1834, to October, 1835 ; William Wiley, from October, 1835, to October, 1837 ; Samuel Pierce, from October, 1836, to October, 1839 ; Richard Morrow, from October, 1837, to October, 1843 ; James Fergus, re-elected October, 1838, served till dctober, 1842 ; Jacob Knoop, Sr., from October, 1842, to October, 1844 ; Samuel Kelly, from October, 1842, to October, 1851 ; William C. Knight, from October, 1843, to October, 1846 ; William Elliott, from October, 1844, to October, 1847; D. H. Morris, from October, 1846, to October, 1848 ; Isaac Sheets, from October, 1847, to October, 1850 ; William Scott, from October, 1847, to October, 1849 ; J. N. Wolcott, from October 1849, to October, 1852 ; Jacob Knoop, from October, 1850, to October, 1853 ; Thomas B. Rose, from October, 1851, to October, 1855 ; Abner Jones, from October, 1852, to Octo- ber, 1854 ; Ralph Peterson, from October, 1853, to October, 1856 ; B. F. Brown, from October, 1854, to October, 1860 ; Howard Mitchell, from October, 1855, to October, 1861 ; Jeremiah Fenner, from October, 1856 to October, 1859 ; Jacob Rohrer, from October, 1859, to November, 1865 ; Jonathan C. Coate, from October, 1860, to his death in 1872 ; James Sims, Jr. from October, 1861, to October, 1867 ; D. M. Rowzer, from December, 1865, to October, 1871 • Nathan Jackson, from October, 1867, to October, 1870 ; B. F. Brown, re-elected October, 1870, served till November 1876 ; James Saylor, from October, 1871, to October, 1874 ; D. M. Coate, from October, 1872, to October, 1875 ; Isaac Clyne, elected October, 1874, serves at the present time ; William H. Norcutt, elected, October, 1875, serves at present time ; D. C. Branson, served from December, 1876, to October, 1879 ; William Johnston, elected in October, 1879, serves at present time.

MIAMI COUNTY IN THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.

The first Representative in the Legislature for Miami County, session commencing December 8, 1808, was Arthur Stewart ; first Senator for Montgomery, Miami and Preble Counties, same session, was Daniel Cooper, of Montgomery County. In the vote for Governor in 1808, Miami County cast 270 votes. 1809-Representative for Miami County, Fielding Loury ; Senator, Daniel C. Cooper. 1810-Representative, Fielding Loury ; Senator, David Purviance. 1811-Representative, Joseph Evans ; Senator, David Purviance. 1812-Representative, James Blue ; Senator, David Purviance. 1813-Representative, Thomas W. Furnas ; Senator, David Purviance. 1814- -Representative, Samuel Kyle ; Senator, David Purviance, 1815-Representative, Robert Montgomery ; Senator, David Purviance. 1816- Representative, Asa Coleman ; Senator, Thomas i/17. Furnas. 1817-Senator, Thomas W. Furnas ; Representative, Parke and Miami Counties, Asa Coleman, 1818-Senator, Thomas W. Furrias ; Representative, Miami and Parke Counties, James Furgus. 1819-Senator, Thomas W. Furnas ; Representative, Miami and Allen Counties, James Furgus. 1820-Senator, William L. Henderson ; Representative, John P. Finley. 1821-Senator, Walter Buell ; Representative, Thomas

284 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

W. Furnas. 1822-Senator, Thomas W. Furnas ; Representative, William Mendenhall. 1823-Senator, Thomas W. Furnas ; Representative, Leander Munsell. 1824-Senator, Miami, Shelby, Logan, Hardin, Hancock and Wood Counties, Robert Young ; Senator, Miami, Shelby, Logan, Hardin, Hancock and Allen Counties, J. W. McCorkle. 1825-Senator, Miami, Shelby, Allen, Logan, Hardin, Wood and Hancock Counties, Robert Young ; Representative, Miami, Shelby and Allen Counties, James Furgus. 1826-Senator, Miami, Shelby and Wood Counties, James Furgus ; Representative,' Miami, Shelby and Allen Count,-, James Furgus. 1827-Senator, same Senator from same district ; Representative, Miami and Shelby Counties, William Fielding. 1828-Senator, Montgomery and Miami Counties, G. B. Holt ; Representative, Miami and Shelby Counties, John McCorkle. 1829-Senator, Montgomery and Miami Counties, Morris Seeley ; Representative, Miami and Shelby Counties, William Barbee. 1830-Senator, Montgomery and Miami Counties, Morris Seeley ; Representative, Miami and Shelby Counties, William Barbee. 1831-Senator, Montgomery and Miami Counties, Robert Young ; Representative, Miami and Shelby Counties, William Barbee. 1832-Senator, Miami and Shelby Counties, Robert Young ; representative, Miami County, Amos Perry. 1833-Senator, Miami, Darke and Shelby Counties, James Johnston ; Representative, James Furgus. 1834-Senator, Miami, Allen and Darke Counties, James Johnston ; Representative, John Wilson. 1835-Senator, Miami, Allen, Darke and Shelby Counties, John E. Hunt ; Representative, Thomas J. Smith, 1836-Senator, Miami, Parke and Mercer Counties, William I. Thomas ; Repre- sentatives, Parke and Miami, Stacy Taylor, and Hiram Bell. 1837-Senator, Montgomery, Parke and Shelby Counties, William I. Thomas ; Representative, Montgomery, Parke and Miami Counties, Hiram Bell. 1838-Senator, Montgomery, Darke and Miami Counties, William I. Thomas ; Representatives, same District, John Briggs and Justin Hamilton. 1839-Senator, Montgomery, Darke and Miami Counties, William I. Thomas ; Miami, Darke and Mercer Counties, Thomas Shidler, and Marshall J. Purviance. 1840-Senator, Montgomery, Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties, William I. Thomas ; Representatives, Montgomery, Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties, Hiram Bell, Justin Hamilton and John Brown. 1841-Senator, Montgomery, Parke, Miami and Shelby Counties, Justin Hamilton, Joseph S. Updegraff, I. N. Gard. 1842-Senator, Montgomery, Parke, Miami and Shelby Counties, Joseph S. Updegraff ; Representatives, Montgomery, Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties, Jacob Counts and John McClure. 1843-Senator, Joseph S. Updegraff ; Representatives, Miami, Parke, Mercer and Shelby Counties, David Alexander, James Bryson and J. W. Riley. 1844-Senator, John O'Ferrall ; Representative, David H. Morris. 1845-Senator, John O'Ferrall ; Representative, Stephen Johnston. 1846-Senator, William M. Wilson ; Representative, Joseph Potter. 1847-Senator, William M. Wilson.; Representative, W. A. Weston. 1848-Senator, J. S. Conklin ; Representative, Tanzy Julian. 1849-Senator, J. S. Conklin; Representative, Joshua Worley. 1850-Senator, J. H. Hart ; Representative, H. S. Mayo. Adoption of New Constitution changed the term to two years. 1852-Senator, Rankin Walkup ; Representative, Augustus- Fenner. 1854-Senator, John McClure ; Representative, Levi N. Booher. 1856-Senator, W. H. Lawder ; Representative, Eli Tenney. 1858-Senator, Isaac N. Gard ; Representative, M. H. Jones. 1860-Senator, Hardesty Walker ; Representatives, W. B. McLung and S. E. Brown. 1862-Senator, W. B. McLung ; Representative. J. H. Randall. 1864-Senator, D. J. Mauzy ; Representative, J. H. Randall. 1866-Senator, J. E. Cummins ; Representative, David Alexander. 1868-Senator, J. L. Winner ; Representative, J. C. Ullery. 1870.-Senator, J. L. Winner ; Representative, J. P. Williamson. 1872-Senator, J. W. Morris : Representative, G. C. Clyde. 1874--Senator, J. W. Morris ; Representative, Joseph E. Pearson. 1876-Senator, N. R. Burress ; Represntative, J. C. Ullery.

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 285

MIAMI IN THE GREAT REBELLION.

When, on that memorable day in April, 1861, the old flag was struck by traitor hands, and a semi-circle of hostile batteries converged their fire on Sumter, compelling its surrender, a thrill of martial ardor, a firing of souls to revenge the deed, brought Miami to the front. In a single day the Covington Blues had enrolled and responded to the President's call. A second day saw them at Columbus. Swiftly organized as Co. I, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, they pushed on

to Washington.

The number of soldiers raised by Miami, under the calls for 75,000 and 300,000 men, can only be approximately stated at 1,405. The Ninety-fourth Ohio, rendezvousing at Piqua, and raised in Greene, Clark, Parke and Miami, was filled on August 14. The One Hundred and Tenth Ohio was recruited full by October 3. The county filled her quota, and had a surplus on October 1, 1862. From an enrollment of 5,814 men, 2,120 had volunteered by September 1. All honor to the county where such patriotism dwells, and to the brave men who feared not, for their country, to quench life's gushing tide in the fore-front of many a desperate battlefield! Fears, later justified, of armed invasion, caused an enrollment of the National Guard. To this enrollment Miami furnished 4,485

men.

While the soldiers contested the question of secession in the field, the heroic women acted a noble part at home. Box after box of clothing and edibles was packed and forwarded. Letters came to the camps by the hundreds ; even the rough was ennobled by his uniform, and unknown hands penned him cheering missives. Sanitary supplies for the absent, and relief funds for those at home, were offered by no laggard hands. There was a board of men in Miami who gave their time and labor gratuitously as a military committee. It is just that this humble record should do its part to give them honorable mention. Their names are Hon. M. G. Mitchell, Chairman ; Dr. Harrison, Robert L. Douglass, James, W. Rowe, Charles Morris, William W. Crane and John Wiggin.

How well Miami stood at the close of the war may be gained by the following /final statement. Miami's quota in February, July and December of 1864, was 440. Four hundred and twenty-nine men were recruited to fill this quota, and seven only raised by draft. The total number furnished was 436-a surplus of four-a deficit, without a draft, of three men. These figures tell the story of that strong, unwavering and devoted impulse which never faltered, from Sumter's fall till Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

The soldiers from Miami enlisted in various organizations, but chiefly in the Eleventh, Forty-Fourth, Seventy-First, Ninety-Fourth, One Hundred and Tenth and One Hundred and Forty-seventh Ohio Infantry.

The Eleventh Regiment was raised for three months, and mustered into the service in April, 1861, at Camp Dennison. Prominent and promising, from his brief but glorious record, the name of Augustus H. Coleman is associated with the career of the battle-worn Eleventh. He was born in Troy, Miami County, on October 29, 1829. He was the son of Dr. Asa Coleman, an early settler and prominent citizen of the county. He was sent in June, 1847, as a cadet to West Point. Responding promptly to the call of the imperiled Nation, he enlisted as a private ; recruited Company D of the Eleventh, 100 men in forty-eight hours. On April 26, 1861, he was chosen Captain at Columbus. April 29, on the regimental organization, he was commissioned Major. Re-enlisting, he was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel on January 9, 1862, and a commission as Colonel issued on September 17, 1862, the day upon which he fell. Colonel Coleman was an officer well qualified by nature and training for soldierly duties ; firm in discipline, fearless and cool in action, he never hesitated in the performance of duty, whether in the bold charge of the Eleventh at Monocacy, the fierce contest at South Mountain, or, as leader of the forlorn hope, to advance upon the bridge across the Antietam Creek. It was while resolutely moving upon this cannon-swept position

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that he fell, struck by a hostile shot, which pierced his arm and side. The Eleventh wavered at his fall, and then swept down upon and over the bridge, up the hill beyond, and gained the rebel position. Thus fell a gallant officer, his last words telling how his thoughts were not of self, but of his men and country.

As a three-years' regiment, the Eleventh was mustered into the service on June 20, 1861. Five full companies went from Miami County, viz.: B and F from Piqua, and D, H, and E from Troy. July 7, they were sent to the Kanawha Valley, and placed in the Kanawha division officered by Gen. J. D. Cox. On December 1, 1861, the regiment went into winter quarters at Point Pleasant. August 18, 1862, the Eleventh moved to Parkersburg, and thence to near Washington, D. C., and camped by Alexandria.

August 27, the regiment was ordered to Manassas Junction. The rebels took position previous to their arrival, and Taylor's New Jersey troops were being driven back as the Eleventh Ohio came up, crossed Bull Run, and, forming line checked the enemy. Overpowered in numbers, the Union troops fell back to Fairfax, the Eleventh being the rear guard. A night march brought them within the lines at Washington.

August 29, the regiment took position at Munson's Hill. September 6, the men were on the march to Maryland. September 12, the rebel line was found on the banks of the Monocacy, and holding the bridge across. Of three columns formed for attack upon their position, the Eleventh led the center, drove back the enemy, and took the bridge. The Union line became disordered ; the rebels advanced and seized two cannon. Led by Col. Coleman, the Eleventh rushed forward cheering, recovered the artillery, and never stopped till the enemy were completely beaten. A night at Monocacy ; another at a bridge over creek near a Middletown ; and, on the morning of September 14, the Kanawha Division had moved to the Sharpsburg Road, where the Eleventh prepared for battle. A severe fire from three sides met their advance. Amid the thick laurel growth individual acts of bravery were numerous, and the men fought on till the enemy yielded their strong position and retired toward Sharpsburg.

The battle of Antietam was one of those struggles which decided the question of armed supremacy. Lee was beaten, and his scheme of invasion frustrated. The Eleventh performed no ignoble part in this service. All the morning of September 17 this regiment had been more or less engaged, when Burnside received the order from McClellan to carry the bridge, gain the heights beyond, and advance along their crest to Sharpsburg and reach the rear of the enemy."

The bridge was of stone, 12 feet wide, 150 long. Six thousand veteran troops in splendid position over the stream, with artillery trained upon the bridge and narrow approach, awaited the Union advance. Sharpshooters and skirmishers were soon at work. Simmons and McMullen's batteries pouted a rain of missiles among the rebel ranks, while a storm of lead and iron smote the front of the devoted column : it wavered and then fell back.

The call for help was answered by the order, " Assault the bridge, and carry it at all hazards," and again the lines were formed for the fearful work. With sublime devotion the column dashes forward, and again the deadly sleet strikes their faces ; but they push on, sweep over the bridge, clear the crest, and fight their way on. Lee turns upon this force, and Burnside calls for help. A corps and a division of troops are in reserve, but Burnside cannot have them, and the troops of the Burnside Brigade retired to the bridge crowned with honor. On January 24, 1863, the Eleventh started for Nashville, Tenn. February 22, they occupied and fortified Carthage. The regiment was at Murfreesboro' by June, and assigned to Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. It was at Hoover's Gap, Manchester, Tullahoma, and made a halt at Big Springs, on the march toward Chattanooga. On September 17, the Eleventh withstood an assault at Catlett's Gap, in the mountains below Chattanooga. Next day was passed in countermarching, and the dawn of the 19th found them near Gordon's Mill, in line of battle. Their devoted Chaplain, W. W. Lyle, rode down to the center of

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the line amid the sound of battle and addressed the men. A prayer' followed, and with bent head and rifle-clasping hands, the men of Miami looked briefly to the God of battle for his blessing. The regiment moved immediately into action ; a charge was made ; the rebels were driven half a mile. The regiment retired to its old position, whence a second charge was made with success. On September 20, the Eleventh stood behind a rude breastwork of logs and stones ; here Company D lost heavily. The log breastwork took fire ; a part of B put it out. Later the regiment became divided, the fragments fought on and finally re-united near Rossville.

The Eleventh took part in the battle of Mission Ridge, and in a charge captured a battle-flag and cannon. Sergt. Ball bore the colors forward till a seventh shot struck him down helpless. Lieut. Peck took them from his hands, placed them on the rebel works, and fell with a mortal wound. In behalf of the ladies of Troy, Chaplain Lyle presented the Eleventh with a handsome stand of colors on February 17, 1864.

The regiment took part in the advance on Rocky and lost heavily at Buzzard's Roost ; again at Resaca they were warmly engage. Their time of service expiring, the regiment was mustered out June 26, 1864.

A part of the regiment, consisting of two companies, accompanied Sherman to the sea, under command of Lieut. Col. D. C. Stubbs.

The Forty-fourth Ohio was organized at Springfield, Ohio, in 1861. They were engaged in the West Virginia campaign, and, at the battle of Lewisburg, charged upon and captured a four-gun battery, took a number of prisoners, and began the rout of the enemy.

In a retreat to the Gauley, the Forty-fourth was the rear guard to protect the retiring column from the attack of a rebel force six thousand strong. They fought bravely at Charleston on September 13, 1862. Removed to Kentucky, they were mounted and kept constantly at work. At Dunstan's Hill the regiment charged the rebel position, and materially aided in their rout. Re-enlisting as the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, the men returned to their old campaign territory in Virginia. Acting as rear-guard near Liberty, the Eighth fought a brigade of mounted rebels and lost from their number seventy-one men. Six companies of the regiment were surprised in camp at Philippi, underwent the trials of prison life, and finally obtained release. Some went to Clarksburg, where four companies were stationed ; others were mustered out in June as prisoners of war. The remainder of the regiment was mustered out the month following.

The Seventy-first Ohio Infantry was recruited in part from Miami County, she having furnished Companies F, C, and E. About February 1, 1862, the regiment was recruited and organized, with Barton S. Kyle, of Troy, as Lieutenant Colonel. This brave and worthy man, born in Miami County April 7, 1825, was active and successful in his efforts to recruit the regiment, and fell at Pittsburg Landing while at the post of duty, cheering on his men. A bullet entered his right breast, and he fell mortally wounded, and the service lost a true, brave man. and Miami one of her best citizens. The Seventy-first reported to Gen. Sherman at Paducah, Ky., and in February took part in a reconnoissance toward Columbus.

In the advance up the Tennessee, the regiment was among the first. At about 7 o'clock of April 7, 1862, the action at Donelson began by the rebel attack upon the Union center. The Seventy-first was soon in line. They were placed on the line of a road favorable to the enemy, and, being assailed by artillery, were with drawn to a better position. The change was well-timed and fortunate, as the enema soon advanced with two batteries upon the recent position of the regiment. Tne attack was fierce, the resistance stubborn, and the Seventy-first fell back. Reforming, it fought bravely till night closed the struggle. The loss at Donelson was 13 killed and wounded.

On April 16 the regiment was ordered to hold the posts of Clarksville and Fort Donelson. Sunday, August 17, Col. Mason was attacked by the rebel Col. Woodward, at Clarksville. The Seventy-first were scattered about at various points,

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and Col. Mason had with him only about. 200 men. These were surrendered to a force some four times their own. Being exchanged, four companies defeated Wood- ward at Fort Donelson on August 25, 1862. In the spring of 1864 the Seventy-first moved south and bore itself gallantly. In the battle at Nashville, one-third their number killed and wounded, attested the courage and devotion of the men. The summer df 1865 was passed upon the Rio Grande, and not till January, 1866, was the regiment mustered out.

The Ninety-fourth Ohio was organized at Camp Piqua, Miami County, Ohio One thousand and ten men were recruited within a month. Kirby Smith had. invaded Kentucky and this raw regiment was ordered to Lexington. They obtained three cartridges apiece and, taking the cars, reached the city at 9 o'clock P. M. of Saturday. Ordered to Yate's Ford, east of Lexington, the regiment made his first march of fifteen miles, and reached the vicinity of the ford at dark. Some rebel scouts fired upon them, killed two men and wounded six. The Ninety-fourth secured a position and passed the night unmolested, while the entire army of Smith lay encamped at two miles' distance. Morning brought 125 rounds of ammunition to each man from Lexington. It also brought up the rebel army, which opened from a battery upon the troops at breakfast. Col. Frizell withdrew the regiment back from a cross-road, down which the enemy came rapidly. Capt. Drury was ordered to take his company and guard the rear, while the regiment formed for action. A message now arrived. ordering the Ninety-fourth to hasten back to Lexington. Twelve miles upon the road was too much for some of the men, who fell by the way and were captured by the enemy. Ordered to Louisville, the men went into camp almost exhausted. Two hundred and eight men were lost, paroled, and returned to the ranks. At the battle of Perryville the regiment won special mention. At Stone River they were engaged every day of the contest. A synopsis from " Ohio in the War " gives the meed of honor to the organization :

" In the advance on Tullahoma and the fight at Hoover's Gap in June, 1863 ; skirmishing at Dug Gap, and participants in the battle of Chickamauga, they were in charge at Mission Ridge and the battle of Lookout Mountain. With Sherman they took part in actions at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kingston, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro', and Bentonville." They were first to enter Raleigh, and took part in the grand review. When mustered out, June 6, 1865, 338 men were all that were left of the original 1.010.

The One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Piqua, Miami County, on October 3, 1862. At Winchester it was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, and variously employed till on the 13th of June, 1863, the regiment advanced to Kernstown, and fought steadily with the superior force of Lee. Next day, the One Hundred and Tenth held a small work some distance from the fort. The enemy concentrated upon them the fire of twenty-six cannon, and followed the cannonade by an assault in column. The regiment fell back at the point of the bayonet, and at night fought their way to Harper's Ferry. After various movements, one of which was to Governor's Island, New York, the regiment are found crossing the Rappahannock, capturing prisoners, and, despite severe shelling, taking the ground held by the enemy at Brandy Station. May 4, the One Hundred and Tenth crossing the Rapidan into the Wilderness, made a charge and drove the rebels into their breastworks and held their ground till night. Their loss this day was 118 in killed, wounded and taken prisoners. Next day they were subjected to a severe artillery fire ; fell back a mile in the evening ; held their position on the 7th ; and then fell, back to Spottsylvania court house. It waded the Nye and occupied the rebel works , fought at Cold Harbor ; stood a heavy fire on June 3, as a regiment on the first line ; was moved to Monocacy, and battled bravely with heavy odds, and retired to Ellicott's Mills, having lost 130 men.

The One Hundred and Tenth make several marches and change their position till we again find them marching as train-guard to Charleston. August 29, they

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are victors at the last-named place. At Fisher's Hill they capture four cannon and 100 prisoners. October 19, they struggled bravely at Cedar Creek to check the rebel advance, and take an active part in the rout of Early's force. On March 25, 1865, they charge with their brigade the rebel trenches, pursue the enemy, drive him at Sailor's Creek, and capture many battle-flags. The One Hundred and Tenth was in twenty-one actions and lost 795 men. They were discharged at Columbus, Ohio, and returned with gladness to former peaceful avocations.

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment National Guards was mustered into service at Camp Dennison on the 16th of May, 1864, and set out for Washington on the 20th. Ordered first to Fort Ethan Allen, then to Fort Strong, it finally found quarters for six companies in the former work, and for four at Fort Marcy. At midnight of June 11, the regiment was ordered to Fort Reno. The enemy were near by, and skirmishing was brisk as they took position in the trenches. Ordered to Crystal Springs, the regiment took position as support to the First Maine and First Ohio Batteries, and, though not engaged, was under fire. President Lincoln thanked the organization for their public service as it passed through Washington homeward bound.

The dead of Miami's patriotic soldiery sleep on the fields where they fell, only where their bodies could not be found. In the National Cemeteries a nation has gathered them, and yearly, as the spring-time comes, the fairest of the land go forth and strew their resting-place with flowers in memory. So have they done at Rose Hill Cemetery, where lie the remains of some forty men ; and years will pass, and still this token of a grateful people will show itself in memory of the soldiers of 1861-65.

We have now endeavored to unfold the history of this county from its earliest settlement to the present. While it has been impossible to note each fact specifically in the process of its evolution, or enter into the details of each step in its development, yet we have taken it in its infancy, and during its initial totter ing steps, we have guided it with care, and as the framework of its organism grew into shape, and its proper function gave it strength and direction, so have we in proportion withdrawn the minutia of our description, until now she stands before us in perfection, the exponent of her own beauty and power, from which she can look back to her feeble genesis, and exclaim, ultima thule. Look in the past and see the four posts supporting poles, covered with brush and earth, that protected the first mill, in its transition to the round-pole house; the hewed log, frame, and finally the brick and steam. From the millstone, made from a huge boulder, with a boy to turn the bolting apparatus, to the present grand flouring mills of endless capacity ; from the little copper still to the immense manufactories of rotgut poison and tangle-foot ; from the old-fashioned flax break, swingling and fulling (which latter process is so peculiar that we here introduce a description of it after Maj. Johnston : The process of fulling our home-made cloth in our county, was by the neighboring men gathering at the house of one of their number, say six or eight ; taking /seats on the old-fashioned split-bottomed chairs, in a circle, with a rope around the back to keep them together, and with the web of cloth in the center, and the feet of the men pressing together in opposition to each other, with pants rolled up, and a good woman, with gourd in hand, to supply the web with hot soap-suds poured on to the cloth, and so work, kicking against the web until a late hour in the night, when the woman of the house, with yardstick in hand, measuring the shrinkage,, would pronounce the words ' Thick enough' "), the spinning wheel, and the tow, to the carding-mills and spinning jenny, with its thousand spools ; from hog and hominy, venison, potatoes, corn bread, sassafras or spice-wood tea, to pies, preserves, baking-powder biscuit, etc.; from rosy cheeks, round waists, and sound lungs, to arsenic hue, sunken chests and flat waists ; from the sugar-trough to the rosewood automatic crib ; from the old wooden mold-board, with doubletree and singletrees fastened on by hickory withes for harness, a good hemp rope fastened to the harness by passing through an auger hole, brought back and tied, harness fitted into a collar of husks stuffed in leather, with a boy

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on the horse ; this combination among the roots would kick a man down, and, it. is said, kick him over the fence, and kick at him after he was over ; from this grotesque apparatus, we go to the glittering steel mold-board that turns the unbroken furrow from end to end ; from the shovel-plow, the boy and the hoe, we go to the modern planter, which, by a rope and knot, drops, furrows out and covers the corn ; from the sickle we go to the self-binder ; from the flail and the hoof of the horse, to the steam separator ; from the blazed path, meandering through the woods, to the countless turnpikes ; from the lumbering ox-team to to the lightning speed of the railway from the corduroy bridge, in the shady swamp, to the magnificent iron structures that now span our streams ; from the circle around the fire, shelling the corn by hand, to the steam-power capacity of a thousand bushels a day ; from the hickory-bark bureau and clothes-press to the inlaid productions of the cabinet-maker from the three-legged stool to the reclining, rep-covered mahogany chair ; from the home-spun linsey-woolsey to the flounced silk and satin and real point lace ; from the plain sun-bonne, to the coronal flower garden ; from the rude log cabin, stick chimney, capacious fireplace, greased paper window, to the brown-stone front, polished base-burner, French plate and silver call ; from the old dandy wagon, to the elliptic-springed phaeton. The old fireside home-

" Where, piled with care, the nightly stack

Of wood against the Chimney.back ;

The oaken log, green, huge and thick,

And on its top the stout back stick

The knotty fore-stick laid apart

And filled between with curious art,

The ragged brush ; then, hovering near,

We watched the first red blaze appear,

Heard the sharp crackle, caught the gleam

On whitewashed wall and sagging beam,

Until the old, rude-furnished room

Burst flower-like into rosy bloom—"

where nuts were cracked and turnips scraped, and the good old dog and at lay snoozing by the fire, have all given place to the fashioned blazonry of modern art; style and stiff formality. Such were the times then ; such are the times, customs and people to-day ; and we may conclude in the words of Cicero: "0 tempora, 0 mores!"

GEOLOGY, ANCIENT MOUNDS, RELICS, ETC.

We append the report of the State Geological Survey

The undulating surface of Miami County is characteristic of, and dependent, upon, the underlying geological formations. We find a bed of loose material, of greater or less thickness, overlying a not very uneven rock bed beneath. This condition determines the gentle slopes which prevail throughout this section of the State. The blue limestone in the southern part of the county, on the two principal water-courses, is a thin-bedded stone, inter-stratified with thicker courses of blue marl or shale, which do not resist the action of atmospheric agencies in a sufficient degree to form precipitous bluffs, but wear down into those rolling slopes so characteristic of Southwestern Ohio.

What abrupt unevenness of surface exists is partly covered up by the loose material, composed of gravel, sand and clay, which commonly receives the name of drift, spread over the surface. If this drift were not present, we should be able to trace the line of outcrop of the cliff formation wherever it occurs throughout, the county. There would be a chain connecting the cliffs near Charlestown with those two miles east of Tippecanoe, at Col. Woodward's, and onward, marking the course of all the tributaries of the Miami, and showing the course of this river, limiting the valley to the point where the Miami enters the county on the north. In most instances, the beds of the water-courses would be greatly deepened, and there would be rapids, or even precipitous falls, in some places, in most, if not all

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of them. The same remark applies to the Stillwater, which would be lined by a series of cliffs throughout its entire course in the county. But the drift, now smooth, in a great degree, the unevenness of the surface, and the transitions from one geological formation to another are only by gentle undulations of surface, instead of abrupt cliffs. The origin of this drift material is discussed at considerable length in other portions of these reports, and no further allusion to it is

required of me in this place.

It will be seen that the character of the surface depends upon the geological formation of he region. And so geology determines, in no small degree, the occupation of the people of any land, and also the character of the people, in so far as character is dependent upon occupation. In one region, agriculture is indicated as the chief mode of livelihood ; in another, stock-raising ; in another, mining and manufactures. The full development of these natural conditions depends upon still other physical conditions—the direction and extent of a country's drainage, the oceans, bays and gulfs, which give rise to commerce.

The character of the surface and soil is such that an average proportion of rainfall is retained in the soil, and there are numerous springs in the county which afford an ample supply of water throughout the year. The farms are generally supplied with an ample quantity of good water from the springs and water-courses, which abound in all Sections. This county, lying on a lower level than Shelby, has a better supply of water from springs. The outcrop of the cliff limestone, whether concealed by drift or not, could be readily traced by the occurrence of fine springs of water, and those farms which lie along this outcrop have fine perennial springs. As the cliffs lie on a horizon about midway between the highest and lowest parts of the county, it happens that the places are very numerous where excellent water is obtained. There are some springs in the county whose supply of water is sufficient to be of service in propelling machinery for manufacturing purposes, taken in connection with the fall, which is available. The principal one of these springs is at the town of Milton, where considerable manufacturing is carried on. The question has been often asked, where such a large supply of water comes from ? The water falls as rain on the surface and is held in the porous rock and given out gradually. The idea, which is sometimes entertained, that there is an underground reservoir, is untenable ; the force of the issuing stream.is so nearly the same for weeks and months together. In the case of the fine springs at Milton, there is a large extent of surface west and north, above the place where the spring issues. There is, indeed, but a very thin soil and little drift in the immediate vicinity, but the surface rises and the bedded rock thickens to the northwest • while in the same directions, especially north, the drift thickens to nearly 100 feet. The upper portion of the Niagara, which is found north and northwest, may reach a considerable thickness, perhaps a hundred feet, and is composed of a very porous limestone. These springs, unlike the greater number which furnish water to the farms throughout the county, issue near the base of the Niagara formation, and not at the base of the Clinton, in which most of the cliffs are. When we consider the large extent of surface, which rises above the place of the springs, upon which falls throughout the whole year about thirty inches in perpendicular height of water, in the form of snow or rain, and the suitable character of the deep drift and porous rock for absorbing and retaining this, to be yielded gradually, we need not be surprised at the quantity of water which flows from these springs. The surprise, which is often expressed, has not been at the absolute quantity of water, for this is not great compared with many other springs but at the quantity which should issue from a locality which seems to be so new the general level of the country immediately in the vicinity, whence the supple must apparently come. But the supply may be drawn, as I have endeavored t; show, from a much greater distance than we might at first suppose.

Wells.—Where there are no springs, water is readily obtained by sinkim wells, either in the drift or solid rock. The sinking of wells is a means of exploi ing the earth to a moderate depth, and some interesting facts are often obtaine

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by inquiry into the character of the material penetrated. For example, in some places in the county no wells have ever penetrated beyond the drift, or, at least, reached bedded rock ; while on each side, sometimes at no great distance, other wells have to be sunk in the rock. Generally, perhaps always, it will be found that a line can be marked out by such excavations, within which no rock is ever reached by the deepest wells, while the excavations on each side show bedded rock near the surface. Here, then, we have traced for us the channel of some ancient water-course which has been filled in with drift at some time in the past. There were rivers, and a river system, cut far deeper in the rocks of a former age. than any we now have in this region. The whole surface was sunk down under deep water and gravel ; sand and clay covered up all inequalities of surface When the surface emerged again, the drainage, began to excavate channels, the general character of the surface remaining the same ; the streams would take courses in general the same as before, but from local causes would be deflected in places. The old, filled-up channels are now traced by means of excavations. I will mention that at Mr. Murray's, on the Troy and Covington turnpike, no, bedded rock is found in sinking wells, while to the east, within a half-mile, and to the west, stone in situ is encountered in well-digging.

The influence of the character of the surface on the soil can be noticed in various parts of the county. This may be illustrated by comparing the soil and surface on the east of the Miami River with that on the west. East of the Miami the surface is rolling, and gravelly ridges abound.

This gives a good drainage in general, and the soil is composed of drift material, with accumulation of mold, composed of vegetable substances, partially decomposed. There is a good proportion of clay mingled with the mold. Not only does this clay affect the character of the soil, but the free drainage and the gravel beneath also affect it. Where local causes obstruct the free drainage, there are local swamps, whose soil, when cleared and drained, is entirely different from that of the rolling land. Somewhat like the swamps is a wide scope of land between the Miami and Stillwater Rivers. Here the land was not rolling, and hence not naturally well drained, but was flat and moist. The result was that a different vegetation sprung up here. Rough sedge grasses, mosses and kindred vegetation flourished in this region, growing and perishing successively, until several feet of deep, black soil had been accumulated. At a certain time, trees suitable to a wet region, such as elms, soft maple, and shrubs, such as button bush, and, finally, burr- oak and ash, began to grow. The vegetable material perishing, underwent a process of decay, or, rather, a process of preservation. The substance of the vegetation broke down into a number of compounds, which, situated as they are, in moisture, do not undergo further decay. This material was arrested in a stage of decomposition different from that of the drier substances on the rolling drift land east of the Miami River. In the case of much of the vegetation east of the river, it passed back, by complete decomposition, into " thin air," into invisible gases, and left no trace behind. A certain other portion was arrested in the process of decay, and forms the mold, which, with the clay commingled, constitutes the soil. On this side flourish the oaks, beeches, walnuts, sugar maple, with an undergrowth of dogwood, redbud, haw, pawpaw, with a peculiar vegetable growth which sprung up and perished annually. The most of the growths of the east side differ entirely from those in the swampy district of a former day, where the deep, fibrous, black soil is found, west of the Miami River. The moisture retained on the surface has a twofold influence—one to favor a vegetation, as I have said, of a peculiar class • the other to prevent its decomposition, in fact, to preserve it. The two classes of soils differ in four respects : (1) In the quantity of vegetable substances ; (2) in the condition they are in as regards the extent of decay which they have undergone ; (3) in the character of the vegetable substances which make up the material, and (4) in the different proportion of clay they contain, that on the east being composed largely of clay, while very little clay is found in the swamp soil. The black soil, not being so completely decomposed, does not, at first, until exposed to

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air by being worked and drained, yield so well, while the mold of the upland woods

r is in condition at once to yield abundantly. I refer, in the foregoing remarks about the differences in the soils of the east and west sides of the Miami River, to the characteristic soils, and not to every part of each. On the east, there are swampy places, where the soil approaches in character to the black soil of the west side, while, on the west side of the river, as in the southern part of the county, the soil has the character of that on the east. There are some places west of the Stillwater where the drift does not exist at all, or very little of it is seen, but the soil, only a few inches or feet in depth, rests immediately upon the limestone of the Niagara formation. This soil is largely derived from the underlying rock. This is not usual in the region of the drift. In most places, our rocks have but little influence upon the surface soil, except so far as fragments of the rocks are mingled with, and, by decomposition, give their strength to the soil.

The Drainage.—All of the drainage finally reaches the Miami River. The county slopes from north to south, with two subordinate systems of drainage pouring the surplus waters into the two outlets, the Miami and Stillwater Rivers, to be united after they leave the county. The longest tributaries of the Miami come from the east, as those of the Stillwater come from the west. On three sides, the county receives accessions of water from other counties, while the streams from the general watershed on the north contribute the drainage of several counties, all together making a large and constant volume of water flowing across the entire county, furnishing water-power for great and 'profitable industries. The Miami Canal is a convenient conduit for the utilization of this immense power. The advantages of this situation are becoming appreciated in this county, and companies have been formed, aided by municipal appropriations, to make use of this power, which has been largely allowed to pass by without making contributions to the wealth of the county. The success of the enterprises undertaken and partly completed at the time of my visit, are assured by the natural and physical advantages of the situation of the county, if no engineering blunders are encountered, or financial embarrassments delay, the completion of the works. The breadth of country lying above the horizon of the northern boundary of Miami County will furnish a drainage ample enough for an immense water-power, if it is directed into proper channels. It may be necessary, as it is practicable, to detain the water in a reservoir on the Miami, in the southern part of Shelby County. The two State reservoirs, the Loramie and the Lewiston, could be greatly improved and rendered both more effective as a supply for the canal, and useful for holding a supply of water, especially the one on the Miami, for manufacturing purposes. There can be no question of the ability of the breadth of country drained by the Miami and its tributaries above the northern line of this county, to give a supply of water for the uses of the canal far beyond any demand which has ever been made upon it. This power. which has been going to waste, will some day be turned to good account, and Miami County will become known for its manufacturing industries, as it has been for its agricultural thrift. The foregoing remarks regarding waterpower have referred to the Miami River. On the Stillwater we find water-power of no mean proportions. This river is fed, from source to mouth, by numerous fine, living springs, which keep up a constant flow of water along its channel. It has also several good mill streams tributary to it. In addition, its bed is deep, and large dams are practicable, both for giving a good head and holding water in reserve. This stream alone would be a fortune in many localities, and we may confidently anticipate the time when industries of great importance to the county will spring up on its banks. Taken altogether, Miami County has natural advantages superior to many, if not all its neighbors, for becoming a manufacturing center, since no power is so economical in application as water.

The Drift—The entire surface of the county, as has been said, is covered with loose material, composed of gravel, sanded clay, with a great number of granitic and other rocks of similar origin, whose origin we must look for away from this region. The commonly received opinion is, that these materials have

294 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

been drifted hither by the agency of water, either fluid or as ice, and the facts observed, all point to the north, mostly beyond the chain of great lakes, as the source whence it has been brought. In the several volumes of this survey, the reader will find the whole subject of the drift agencies discussed, and many interesting statements made as to the probable method of transportation, the relative age. the phenomena, and physical history of the drift: It so happens that our soil, where the drift exists, does not depend altogether—in general not at all, or very little—upon the nature of the underlying rock for its qualities, but upon material transported from distant regions. In some places, the thickness of drift, amounting to thirty feet or more, renders the influence Of the underlying rock utterly without influence upon the soil. I have already referred to some soil west of the Stillwater, which is influenced by the underlying rock, lying, as it does, within a few feet of it. Much of the gravel is calcareous, and has been derived from rock broken up in the course of the movement of the drift. The sand is silicious, and has been derived from the grinding down of masses of igneous rocks.

This county lies south of the area of thickest drift, which may be regarded as extending no further south than about the latitude of Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County. Thence it begins to thin out southward. The Miami River, where it enters the county in the north, cuts through a perpendicular thickness of about seventy-five feet of drift-clay, gravel, and bowlders, and all the water-courses which intersect the northern portions of the county, but through the drift to a depth of from thirty to fifty feet. As might be expected, the material of the drift varies greatly in different localities. In some places, it is composed of blocks, whose nature and condition show them not to have been transported far, and commingled with them are gravel, sand, clay, quartz, and granite bowlders in varying proportions. Sometimes the drift is composed of sand and gravel, with a small proportion of clay, or none at all, arranged with more or less stratification. An illustration of this character of drift may be seen well developed on the new hydraulic works, two miles north of Piqua, where they form a bed some forty feet in thickness, cemented in great masses. The same formation is seen across the country on the Stillwater, about one mile from the town of Clayton. The drift being largely composed of gravel and sand, there is no deficiency of these valuable materials for all purposes. The streams wash out the clay, and leave the gravel and sand, assorted in beds, along their entire course. In other cases, the large accumulations, left by floods of former days, afford convenient material for road-making, in localities distant from water-courses. Advantage has been taken of the abundance of good material for road-making. The county is threaded in every direction with the finest of roads, most of which are entirely free of toll-houses.

Striated and Smoothed Rock-Surfaces.—At Piqua, on both sides of the river, where the quarries are exposed to view by the removal of the superincumbent drift, it is observed that the surface of the rock upon which the drift was lying, is worn smooth and polished, and variously striated and grooved. At no point,t'I understood from quarry-men, does this character fail to present itself. Lying upon the smoothed surface of the bedded rock, is a confused mass of yellow clay. with blocks of limestone, not worn, of various sizes and in great confusion of position, together with well-rounded gravel, both of limestone and granite, and other igneous rocks, with larger bowlders of igneous rocks distributed throughout the mass. All these have the appearance of having been arrested in the midst of their course. in which they were grinding, marking and polishing the surface of the bedded rock, as well as each other. There are no indications of assortment according to specific gravity, or by any stratification. On the east side of the river, at French's " Old Railroad Quarry," at the time of my visit, an instructive observation could be made of the action of the drift on the bedded rock. The stripping of one portion was composed of drift clays, bowlders of quartz, granite and kindred rocks, and blocks of limestone, all commingled in a mass, and the surface of quarried rock beneath, here only four feet in thickness, was everywhere

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smoothed ; while in another portion of the same quarry, there is an additional four feet of the upper portion of the rock, not worn away by the same agency which was acting close to it, nor was the surface of this portion smoothed. Deter's quarry, near the mouth of Panther Creek, illustrates the character and condition of the drift which I have just referred to.

There are unworn blocks of limestone, rounded masses of the same material, rounded and smoothed bowlders of granite and quartz rock, gravel, sand, and clay, commingled without any kind of section according to quality of material or specific gravity.

Bowlders.—While this class of detached rocks is to be found in all portions of the country, scattered here and there, there are some special belts of them extending in a direction somewhat west of south, through the entire extent of the county. The finest collection, in a continuous belt, occurs in a line which passes within three and one-half miles to the east of Troy, passing through the farm of John Lefevre, on Lost Creek, where, as well as both north and south, in a line, it may be observed. It continues in a nearly direct line throughout the county. A fine locality to observe it is on the turnpike-road, leading from Tippecanoe to New Carlisle, between three and four miles from the former place. Here a portion of the bowlders have been removed from the field to make room for the plow, and, besides being ample for the construction of good fences, are heaped up in long rows, on each side of the road, reminding one of a region of igneous rocks. Here one may see nearly all varieties of granite and quartzose rocks. The variety is astonishing, as if gathered from a hundred sources, many of them of very brilliant colors. They have been removed to adorn the grounds of residences in the adjoining towns.

They vary in size, some of them reaching a weight of several tons. This line extends to and beyond the southern boundary of the county, passing about one mile east of Tadmor, where the Dayton & Michigan Railroad intersects the National road. The belt is fully one mile in width, and altogether contains a mass of bowlders to be greatly wondered at, whether we consider their combined weight, their variety and beauty, or their regular distribution and direction. There is anothe] belt, either an independent one or a spur of the foregoing, which passes by the lin( of the new hydraulic works near Troy. This has many bowlders of great dimensions, and often those of unusual interest ; some composed of rounded quartz peb bles, imbedded in a matrix of dark mineral ; some, again, formed of angular frag ments of various colors, imbedded in like manner: Some of these have been take] to their private grounds as adornments by the citizens of Troy. Rev. D. Tenne: has one of the finest marked bowlders I have ever seen, on his grounds. Abou one mile north of Troy some very large bowlders of this composite character ma: be seen. One bowlder in this locality measured about 640 cubic feet. The larg bowlder, east of Sidney, mentioned in my report on Shelby County, is nearly in th line of this belt east of Troy. Another great belt of bowlders, but, perhaps, infE rior to that in the eastern part of the county, occurs west of the Stillwater, wher it may be observed in the neighborhood and north of the town of Milton. Thi belt is about 100 feet in altitude above the bed of the Stillwater. Here, also, al very large and beautiful specimens of ingenous rocks.

Remains of a Former Race.—It will be necessary to notice but briefly ti remains which a former race have left. The usual stone and flint implement which are so abundantly scattered over the country occur, also here in about equ rate of distribution as elsewhere. Heretofore, those who have picked them u when engaged in working the ground, have either broken them or lost them agai and but a very small number can be obtained. But as attention has been call( to them, more care will be taken to preserve them, and collections of them will 1 made with greater ease hereafter. There are many persons in the county who ta' an intelligent interest in these relics of a people who once dwelt upon this soil, at of whose history so little is yet known that everything which will reflect light up. them should be carefully treasured up. The cabinet of the public school of TIN

298 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

contains a number of these flint and stone tools, and should be made a depository of many which, in private hands, are subject to all the vicissitudes of our uncertain lives. Many private collections fall into the hands of unappreciative persons when those who have gathered them pass away. This school cabinet is an admirable one for purposes of instruction, and will doubtless continue to receive from the friends of the schools in Troy additions of value from time to time.

Remains of Mammals.—These are by no means abundant in the county. A fragment of an elk horn, of about eight pounds weight, about ten inches long, and without the prongs, and six inches wide, which was found on the land of Mr. Isaac. Sheets, I saw in possession of Mr. Ira L. Morris of Troy. This gentleman has many specimens of natural history in his cabinet, and some relics of a past race of men. I saw the tooth of a mastodon in possession of Mr. C. S. Coolidge, of Troy. The tooth was found on the farm of Mr. Abram Beddle, about north of Troy.

Public Improvements.—The account of these works does not properly belong" to the purpose of this investigation, but as they depend largely upon the physical character of the country, it will not be out of place to speak of them. Reference. has already been made in these pages to the admirable system of graded and graveled roads, which connect all parts of the county together. The Miami & Erie Canal passes through the county from north to south, near the right bank or the Miami River, and affords water-power for manufactories at Piqua, Troy, and Tippecanoe, and at some other points. At Piqua and at Troy there were in process of construction, at the time of my visit (1872), extensive works to make available the large water-privileges of the canal and river for manufacturing purposes. While the actual success of these enterprises remains to be seen, there seems to be no reasonable doubt in regard to it. If success does crown these efforts, the result. will show itself in greatly increased prosperity in all the interests of the county. The urban population must already be, as compared with the rural, rather beyond the average of that in the agricultural counties. The town population of Miami county is distributed among several prosperous cities and towns, instead of being collected into one larger city. To this report there is lacking the statistics of the cities as well as the figures of the comparative elevations of the various portions of the county, above the sea-level, or as compared with the Miami River, the canal, railroads, and the turnpike roads. I made several efforts to obtain these figures, but have failed. Those who have them, and have failed to furnish them, are responsible for the lack of fullness of the report in this respect.

Bedded Rock—Niagara.—There are three distinct geological formations exposed, in Miami County, below the drift, belonging to era known as Silurian. The lower Silurian is seen at all exposures below the horizon of the base of the cliffs at Charlestown, and Col. Woodward's, at Tippecanoe. The rock composing the cliffs next to that just mentioned, is that known in geology as Clinton, called, often in the county, sandstone. The cliffs in Ludlow Creek are in the same formation. Next above the Clinton, and the only remaining bedded rock in the county, is that known as Niagara. he Niagara extends on a horizon throughout the county, from the upper parts of the abrupt cliffs mentioned, to the drift above_ The falls and bluffs on Greenville Creek, near Covington, are in the Niagara. The upper surface of the Niagara is made uneven by the wearing away of portions of it by the action of the drift period. When it was formed, it extended over the entire county in a bed of a thickness, no doubt, much, greater than the thickest portion which remains. How much of its original thickness was abraded by drift action, we have no means of ascertaining. But a small part remains of that which formerly existed. The water-courses have worn off both Niagara, and Clinton. In some places all the Niagara is abraded, and the Clinton is the surface rock, as at all horizons below that of the top of the cliffs named as composed of Clinton. In other places the Niagara is but a few feet thick, as at the Piqua quarries. At Kerr's quarry, in the south, at those in Ludlow, Panther and Greenville Creeks, and at the lime-kilns, north of Clayton, the formation remains of considerable thickness.

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The fragments of the upper beds of Niagara which escaped the denuding effects of the Drift period, are of a soft, porous rock, highly fossiliferous. This portion of the formation makes building lime of the best quality. At Brant, in the south, and at Clayton, in the north, exposures of this upper portion of the system remain, and a large quantity of lime has been manufactured and commands the highest price in the market. Practically, the quantity is sufficient for all demands likely to be made upon it. The lack of transportation hinders the development of the resources of the localities named for lime-making.

The quarried stone of this county comes mostly from the Niagara. I place the Piqua stone in the Niagara. I am aware that it is in lithological characters anomalous when compared with this formation as developed in this section. It is equally so with the Clinton. It is extremely local and lies, without any transitional strata, immediately upon undoubted Clinton. It may represent the transition of Clinton to Niagara. Itis a finer grained, mostly sedimentary stone, without a large proportion of fossils. It probably thins out in all directions. It dresses extremely well, and is a stone of rare excellence. The Clinton underlies this stone, and has an uneven upper surface. This unevenness consists of mound-like elevations, sometimes twenty feet in diameter and four feet high in the center. Upon these little mounds, composed of species of branching corals, the Piqua stone lies, conforming to its unevenness of surface. I have spoken of the worn surface of this stone by the action of the drift. The drift has removed the Covington type of stone from the top of this at Piqua.

Passing to the other quarries in the Niagara, for a connected view of the whole, with the subjacent formation, I refer the reader to sections at the end of this article, showing the thickness of the stone at several of the best exposures in

the county.

The other exposures of the Niagara are those at the quarries at Covington, and at Kerr's, and at Ellis', on Ludlow Creek. Good building stone is obtained at all of these. At Kerr's and Covington, fine blocks are obtained, containing very large and fine specimens of Pentamerus oblongus ; trilobites of' the species Calymene Blumenbachii occur frequently here. The quarry of Mr. Ellis, on Ludlow Creek, not many feet above the upper part of the Clinton, contains stone in its lowest part approximating more nearly to that of the Piqua quarries than any observed in the other quarries. I am inclined to believe it may be of the same age, and that it really lies lower than the lowest beds quarried at Covington.

Clinton Formation.—The horizon of this formation has been already indi cated. Whether the Clinton rises somewhat to the north or not, I had not the instruments to ascertain. A plane drawn through the upper portions of the cliffs at Charlestown, Col. Woodward's, Milton, Ludlow Creek, and extending to the rock-bank of the Miami River, at Bogg's Mill, in the edge of Shelby County would nearly show the upper limit of the Clinton. Whether this plane woulc be horizontal or not, remains to be ascertained. I shall mention the prim cipal exposures of the Clinton. The cliffs referred to several times are in this formation ; the sections given will show its thickness at the places named. The lime-kiln quarry of Mr. John Brown is in the Clinton. The lime burned at these kilns is very pure lime, strong and valued highly by paper makers, who make use of lime to soften the straw used in the manufacture of paper ; at Mr. Rudell's, on the Tippecanoe and Carlisle road, and on the farm o Mr. J. H. Harter, north of Honey Creek, can be seen good exposures of the Clinton. On the roadside, at his gate, a very friable stone may be seen, called sandstone ; it is of a reddish color, and may be easily crumbled in the hand. On this farm are cliffs of the Clinton about fifteen feet in altitude.

On the farm of the Messrs. Nooks the Clinton has been quarried for their own use. Here a Syringopora coral was highly developed and some masses of Favistella stelleta. The quarrying has been carried to a depth of about fifteen feet, everywhere characteristic rock of this formation.