200 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. a large man, genial and jovial to a degree, and was a pleasing speaker, tactful and witty, so that any joke he might spring on his opponent seldom left a sting. A good lawyer and pleader before the court, he was eminently a good trial lawyer before a jury—clear and forceful. He was kind and always courteous, and won the respect. and esteem of his compeers. ANOTHER ABOLITIONIST. Jehu W. King was born in Warren county, Ohio, October 11, 1829, and two years later his father moved on a farm adjoining Pyrmont, Montgomery county. Judge King was educated in the common schools and when but sixteen years old began teaching, and in 185o became a student of Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. After leaving the university he taught a year in Indiana and a year in Kentucky, where he observed the workings of the slavery system and saw the sale Of men, women and children on the auction block. Like Lincoln, his soul rebelled against the system and all his life he was bitterly opposed to slavery in any and every form. He returned to Ohio, and continued teaching in this and adjoining counties for ten years, working several summers in Camden. as a cooper. In 1854 he married Sarah J. Baker, by whom he had one son, now living in Columbus, Ohio. His wife died some three years later and he married Mrs. Sarah J. Taylor in 186o, and to them were born three sons and two daughters, all living except one son. After his last marriage he moved to Camden and continued teaching and read law under Gen. Felix Marsh, being admitted to the bar in 1864. Before the Civil War he was appointed school examiner and held the position for a dozen years. In 1865 he was elected prosecuting attorney on the Republican ticket and served two terms, trying some very difficult cases, among them one against a young man named E. Thomas, who, in a drunken brawl at a show, attempted to shoot a man, but missed him and shot through the heart a Miss Dorinda Campbell, who sat in the audience. Thomas went to the penitentiary for life. In 1869 King was elected probate judge, and served two terms. In 1878 he purchased a farm near Sugar valley and resided thereon for six years, when he moved back to Eaton and resumed his practice. In 1900 he formed a partnership, his first and only one, with R. E. Lowry, and in 1904 his son, Harry G. King, became a member of the firm, which so continued until Judge King's death, March 13, 1908, since which time the other two have continued the firm. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 201 Judge King was but little under six feet high, of very slender and frail build, and had to be very careful in exposing himself to the inclemencies of the weather. He was a ripe scholar, well versed in the history of our country, with a keen analytical mind. During several years he wrote editorials for the Eaton Register, some of which were copied and quoted by the great eastern papers. He was a good lawyer, one of the best pleaders at the bar, and all judges listened with respect and carefulness to his arguments, because he was known to be intellectually honest, quick to see the weak points of his adversary and urge the strong points of his own case. A master of language, he never intentionally uttered words to wound, and if offense was taken he was prompt to make the apology for the seeming affront as publicly as the offense was given. He was gentle and kind to a fault, always courteous and considerate of others, and was one of the truest friends and manliest men the writer ever knew. "His life was gentle, the elements in him so mixed, That Nature might stand up and say To all the world, this was a man." Some of the finest battles of the bar in recent years were between him and Judge James A. Gilmore, between whom a warm friendship existed ; but when pitted against each other it was a battle, but always respectful and courteous and when the contest ended there seemed no bitterness left. The bench and bar could do no better than to emulate the course pursued by those two legal warriors, who have now faced the Final Judgment. FROM FARMER TO GOVERNOR. Andrew L. Harris was born in Butler county, November 17, 1835, his father moving to Dixon township a year or so later. He was educated in Miami University and then read law with Thompson and Harris in Eaton. The Civil War breaking out in 1861, the young man forgot his law and enlisted as a private in the Twentieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months and was mustered out as captain of Company C. In October, 1861, he recruited Company C, of the Seventy-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned as captain, and served until January, 1865, having been promoted to colonel and breveted brigadier-general. In April, 1865, he was admitted to the bar, and formed a partnership with Robert Miller, which lasted until he became probate judge in 1876, where he served two terms. In 1865 he married Caroline Conger, and to them one son, Walter 202 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Harris, was born, who has been for some years employed on the New York World. In 1885 he was elected a representative and served two terms. In 1891 he was elected lieutenant-governor, with William McKinley, governor, and served two terms, and in 1897 he was appointed on the United States industrial commission and served four years, and, again in 1905, he was elected lieutenant-governor, although the Democrats elected Governor Pattison. In June, 1906, the governor died, and Andrew L. Harris was working on his farm when he received word that the governor had died that morning. He immediately came to Eaton and ascertained that the. information was correct, and then appeared before Judge Elam Fisher and took the oath of office and left for Columbus, where he continued to reside until January, 1909, except for short visits to his old home. In 1908 he was nominated by the Republicans as their candidate for governor. The "wet" and "dry" questions were then beginning to agitate the state and the candidates were asked to define their stand on those questions. Governor Harris came out squarely against saloons and made a fight on that question, going to practically every county in the state and presenting the question forcibly and ably to the voters, being the first candidate for that office who had ever dared, openly on the stump, to espouse the anti-saloon cause. He was beaten by Judson Harmon, but the agitation has gone on and would not down, until today the adherents of his cause have elected a governor who publicly stated that he would vote for state-wide prohibition. His was the honor to lead the first fight, and so well did he perform the task that even his political enemies have no bitter words to utter against him. As governor he appointed the commission that codified and rearranged our laws into what is now called the general code. His bitterest political opponents never impugned his integrity. Some of the forces that helped nominate him for governor realized the agitation that was going on, but they figured that, like nearly all politicians, he would sidestep the issue and meekly submit to their leadership. They failed to take into account the stern metal of Colonel Harris, who, when his command was surrounded in 1864 by seven times its number and its ammunition gone, put himself at the head of his men and in a wild and desperate charge drove straight through the ranks of the "Johnnies" and escaped with half of his men. Such men do not trim their sails to every shifting wind of political fortune; they think straight as they charge. His fame is safe in the records of his regiment, where will be found his military record. In addition to names given above, many other attorneys have practiced PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 203 at the Preble county bar, who were generally locally well known, highly respected and were good and valuable citizens, but who were not fortunate in becoming so prominent officially as those named, but who contributed their part in building up the reputation of the bar. I will name those who were actively engaged in the practice so far as known. Lazarus Miller, born about 180o, came to Eaton in 1821, and was elected representative in 1830 and 1831 and served as county auditor at different times, some fourteen years in all; removed to Warren county, Indiana, dying there about 1850; Andrew J. Hawkins, 1815-1849; Vincit Mitchell, 18001864; Benjamin Hubbard, 1809-1896, one term as representative; Jesse B. Stevens, 1802-187o; Irvin E. Freeman, 1821, three times elected prosecuting attorney, died 1892; Benjamin F. Larsh, 1825-1877; Robert W. Quinn, 1835, two terms probate judge, died December 28, 1910; Isaac E. Craig, 1840, died December I, 1910; Absalom Stiver, 1818-1892, always resided in Gratis, one term as representative; John M. Shaefer, 1820, always resided in Camden, died about 1890; Marcus L. Holt, 1841, died at St. Louis, about 1900; John B. Chadwick, admitted 1848, later moved to Indiana and died there a few years since; Frank G. Thompson,. admitted 1876, and a few years later removed to New York City and died there; John A. Moore, admitted 1879, served two terms as probate judge and then moved to Dayton and later to the state of Washington; Lewis M. Dillman, admitted 1877, later removed to Illinois and now in New York as president of the American Book Company; John B. Drayer, admitted 1850, and a few years later moved to Iowa, where he served as circuit judge for a number of years; James L. Sayler, admitted 1895, and a few years since moved to north Chicago, Illinois ; William B. Marsh, 1845, admitted 1867, was mayor twice, and two years ago moved to Richmond, Indiana; Luther C. Abbott, 1831, admitted 1859, served two terms as prosecuting attorney, and three terms as mayor of Eaton, and in 1879, moved to Richmond, Indiana; William W. Aker, 1833, admitted in 1872, served two terms as representative, not now in the practice; Robert Dye, admitted 191o, but moved to Los Angeles, California, some three years since; J. W. Lake, admitted 1863, now and for many years a druggist at Eaton. ROCKEFELLER IN PHILOSOPHIC MOOD. At the present time there are twenty-two attorneys engaged in the practice of the law in this county, all but four of whom reside in Eaton, and of the living it would be presumptuous for any one of us to attempt to 204 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. sketch the rest of us. About the best that can safely be done is to give the reply quoted by John D. Rockefeller, Sr., to the paper man who attempted to get his opinion of certain investigations : "There is so much bad in the best of us, And so much good in the worst of us, That it does not become any of us, To speak ill of the rest of us." The oldest member of the bar in point of practice is F. M. Marsh, mayor of Camden, admitted 1867; Elam Fisher, admitted 1871, once representative and three terms common pleas judge; Levin T. Stephen, 1876, served as justice of the peace several terms; Oscar Sheppard, West Alexandria, admitted 1877, and served two terms as representative and two terms as state senator. SHAKESPEARE-WITH AN ADDENDUM. Then in point of practice, the rest of us string along to John V. Dye, admitted 191o, and Harry L. Risinger, admitted 1909, who are the youngest members. The other members of the bar are: A. C. Risinger, at present common pleas judge; Philip A. Saylor, West Alexandria, served one term as representative, and at present prosecuting attorney ; F. G. Shuey, Camden; A. M. Crisler, served three terms prosecuting attorney; John Risinger, served two terms prosecuting attorney ; W. A. Neal, served two terms probate judge; Edmond S. Dye; S. B. Foos, present mayor of Eaton; E. P. Vaughan, served one term prosecuting attorney ; A. R. Griffis; Harry G. King; Hugh R. Gilmore, served three terms prosecuting attorney, at present state senator ; V. V. Brumbaugh, served one term probate judge ; Michael Cahill, served three terms prosecuting attorney, and two terms state senator ; R. E. Lowry. "For Brutus is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men ; And they will no doubt, with reasons answer you"—for a fee. CHAPTER XII. THE PRESS OF PREBLE COUNTY. The first newspaper published in the county, in 1816, was called Western Telegraph, which was the original Eaton Register, to which the name was changed about the year 182o. The paper was started by two young men, Blackburn and Daly, and was financed by C. Vanausdal, but in a short time it failed. Vanausdal continued the publication himself for a time, but, finding that it was not a paying business, and he being engrossed in other affairs, he discontinued it. In 1819, Vanausdal was elected a state representative, and, while at Columbus, met Samuel Tizzard, a representative of Ross county, who was a printer. Tizzard was induced to come to Eaton the next year to look the matter over. He finally purchased the office and early in 1821 revived the paper under the style of the Weekly Register, and it has continued ever since. Tizzard in 183o sold out to Enoch Edmonson, who, a few years later, was accidentally killed, and, in 1839, Tizzard again became the owner, continuing the paper's publication until his death in 1844. Samuel Tizzard was a Universalist and helped organize the first society of that church in Eaton. In 1827 he began, in Eaton, the publication of The Star of the West, as a religious paper of that faith. Some two years later the office of publication was removed to Cincinnati, where it has continued to be the chief western advocate of that church. After the death of Samuel Tizzard, his son, William B., became the owner of the Register, and finally a few years later formed a partnership with Isaac Morris, which continued until 1874, when it was sold to W. F. Allbright & Company, which, a year or so later, became Allbright & Sons. On the death of W. F. Albright in 1898, it was continued by his sons, and on the death of E. J. Allbright, in 1912, the paper was taken over by the brother, C. E. Allbright, who is now the sole owner. The paper has all its life, now nearly a hundred years, taken a high stand on all moral questions, and has held deservedly the respect of the whole county, even of those who do not agree with its political doctrine, for it has always been Whig or Republican in faith. It has a large circulation in the county as well as in adjoining counties. 206 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. OTHER NEWSPAPERS. During the Harrison campaign of 1840, the Democrats felt the necessity of having a party organ to advance their cause. A stock company was formed and the publication of the Eaton Democrat was begun. This paper changed hands quite frequently for the first twenty years of its life, until about 1865, when it passed into the hands of I. G. Gould, who continued its publication as a Democratic organ for some thirty years alone, then joined E. B. Harkrader as a partner. In 1898, Gould again became sole owner. He died in 1901, and in 1902 the family sold the paper to Earl H. Irvin, who has since continued its publication. He has made a paper that is Democratic in its politics, but withal fair and just to its opponents, and it not only has a wide influence in the community, but the friendship and respect of many citizens of the opposite party. I must add that our former townsman, "Uncle" Jacob Chambers, always claimed that the county papers contained the record of the county history, while that history was being made, and that files of the papers ought to be saved for future generations. In 1849 Mr. Chambers had a law. drafted, which, as amended, was finally enacted into law by the Legislature, in 1850 (48. Vol. 0. L., p. 65). The law is yet unchanged, being General Code, section 2459, and provides that the county commissioners must subkribe for the principal paper of each of the two great political parties, and have them bound -each year and kept on file in the auditor's office for the use of the public. In the auditor's office now is a copy of the Register and the Democrat for .each year since then. In 1880 E. M. Kennedy started the Camden Gazette, which later was owned by Will S. Cornshull. He continued the paper for a number of years, but about 1902 he sold the plant and discontinued the publication. The Eaton Herald was started in 1898 by E. B. Harkrader & Brother, as ..an independent paper, and after a suit by L. G. Gould. against him on his contract, not to engage in the business in the town for a series of years, the paper was sold to Eby Eikenberry, of Camden, and Harkrader continued as editor. In 1902 .the paper was sold to C. B. Unger, who has ever since continued the sole owner, and has made it an independent paper of wide circulation and influence, it having a weekly issue that goes to every corner of the county. I would add that all of the Eaton papers have linotype machines. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 207 THE NEW PARIS MIRROR. In 1877, C. W. Bloom, a young man living on a farm, bought a small press and outfit, and began the publication of "a little sheet called The Amateur, which continued a few months. He enlarged it and called it The Business Mirror, and in 1882 C. M. Hanes bought him out and published the paper one year, at the end of which time Mr. Bloom again became the owner, moved to town, changed the paper's name to The Mirror and continued it alone until 1902, when he took in, as a partner, Arch R. Raney, who, in 1906, bought Bloom out and has continued ever since as the sole owner. From its inception to the present time, this paper has been independent in politics, and always advocated the cause of temperance and morality in public as well as private life in a truly independent manner. The paper has built up a strong circulation and has made itself felt as a paper of wide and increasing influence. It must be said that The Mirror was the first paper in the county to install a linotype machine. On April 15, 1886, J. M. Gale and Charles Wilson started a paper at West Alexandria, called The Twin Valley Times, and published it for a couple of years, after which they sold it. The paper passed through various hands until, in March, 1898, Snyder and Griswold started The Echo. The Times meanwhile having gotten into financial difficulties, the plant of that paper was sold, being merged with The Echo, which ever since has continued, being now owned and published weekly by C. W. McIntosh, having a wide circulation in this and adjoining counties. It is a live local paper, deserving the patronage it receives. The Preble County News was started by W. E. McChristie in 1902, in Camden, and he continued the publication until 1906, in which year he sold the plant to Earl H. Irvin, who moved most of the plant to Eaton, continuing the publication there in connection with The Democrat, but keeping a representative in the Camden office. In 1914 Irvin sold the paper and plant to Ray Simpson, who has again moved it to Camden. This paper has always been neutral in politics, but fair to all, and has a good circulation and its share of patronage. PAPER WITH A STINGER. The Eldorado Bee was started as a weekly local paper by C. Wenger about the year 1891, and has changed hands some four or five times. It is now owned and published by H. R. McPherson, and has a considerable local circulation in Preble and Darke counties on account of its live local news. At 208 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. first it was run for about a year as the Eldorado News, when its name was changed to its present style, because the danger of the sting would bring more respectful treatment. The Lewisburg Leader was started in 1897 by P. C. Coleman and S. G. Sheller, the latter probably being the silent partner, for within a year or so Coleman took over the entire management and made the paper a success. He continued the publication until 1906, when lie sold the paper to G. M. Kumler, who since then has been sole owner and publisher, and has pushed the circulation to about eleven hundred weekly. On account of its local news, the circulation of this paper is in Preble, Darke and Montgomery counties. Because it is dependent upon all parties for support, it is neutral politically, but the owner sometimes has to curb his Republican leanings. CHAPTER XIII. MILITARY RECORD. I offer no apology for praising the record made by the men of Preble county in the wars of the United States with its foes, whomsoever they were. Preble county belongs to Ohio and takes just pride in the record made by Ohio men, and in each war the men of the county followed closely their chosen leaders. It must not be forgotten that the War of 1812 was won in the northwest by an Ohio resident, Gen. William Henry Harrison, whose ashes rest in her bosom. When the War of the Great Rebellion shook the fabric of the nation until the hearts of many of our strongest men faltered, the nation in its need called Ohio men to lead and save. They came from hillside and plain, from the plow, the workshop and office, until, when the struggle was ended and the old flag floated out, kissing every breeze, absolutely and not in name only, "the flag of the free heart's only home," and the count was made up, it was found that one-eighth of all the men who fenced in the Rebellion, with a line of bayonets and guns that was unbreakable, were Ohio men. I would not be understood to cast a shadow on our God-given leader in that great struggle, Abraham Lincoln, whom I regard as the noblest, gentlest, kindest, manliest man that has graced the earth since the clay the Great Gallilean blessed the earth with His presence. But the grand ideas and plans of the immortal Lincoln had to be carried out and executed by men of iron will, steady nerves, relentless purpose and clear brains, and Ohio furnished more men who measured up to that standard than any other state. Let me name, "lest we forget," some of those men who were either natives of citizens of Ohio, and the reader will winder how the history of those four years could be written and leave out the record made by Ohio men : Irvin McDowell, George B. McClellan, William S. Rosecrans, Don Carlos Buel, O. M. Mitchell, Quincy A. Gilmore Phil H. Sheridan, William T. Sherman, E. M. Stonton, Salmon P. Chase, Robert C. Schenck, William B. Hazen, George A. Custer, James B. McPherson, U. S. Grant, Benjamin F. Wade and others. I would not detract from the fame of any state. There was glory enough (14) 210 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. for all, and all wrote their names on the scroll of fame, but justice to Ohio is not egotism. Right well Preble county responded to the call, as will fully appear in the records of the individual organizations. The county was settled after the Indian wars were thought to be over and the settlers thought they had naught to fear but the wild beasts and rattlesnakes which abounded. But, shortly after the 1812 War started, skulking bands of Indians killed one man near New Paris and two on Twin creek, and the fear of Indian depredations and massacre filled every home. Even at that early day, with so few people, companies were made up largely, or in some cases entirely, from Preble county by the following men, who will be recognized as belonging to our county : Richard Sloane, James I. Nesbit, John Fleming, Joseph C. Hawkins, David E. Hendrix, Captains Ramsey, Phillips and Rex. Alex C. Mitchell, the clerk, joined the army of Harrison in northern Ohio. WATCHING THE WILY INDIAN. There were frontier forts at St. Mary's and Loramie, and two others were built, one about seven miles north of New Paris in Darke county, and one in section II of Harrison township. At all of these forts, rude as they were, these companies at different times served from four to six months' time, as well as a number of men who were with Harrison at Ft. Wayne. These little forts thus garrisoned kept away Indian raiders. The forts furnished a safe abiding place for the men and a protection to their supplies. Different men, sometimes five or six at a time, were sent out, alone and in pairs, to wander quietly through the woods, sometimes days at a time, listening and looking for signs of Indians, and if any signs were found to report with all haste, when parties would be sent out to hunt them up and give battle. Harrison was keeping the main bands of Indians so busy up along the lake that it was known that none but small parties could get away. But the Indians were as wary as the white men, and also discovered signs which told them that the whites were too many to give battle to, and that the locality might become dangerous for them if they stayed, and so, like the Arabs, they disappeared. Some shooting at each other was done, but no battle was fought. This kept up for about two years, when peace with the Indians came. The settlers returned to work and the fear of Indian forays became a memory only. In this way were the county homes protected in that early day. The soldiers fought no battle, but imagine if you can the wide, silent forest and the nervous strain to perform service. Just as a reminder of the fear that spread through the homes of the PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 211 county, let me relate a little incident told by Col. George D. Hendrix to many men yet living : "During the spring of 1813 many of the people of the vicinity of Eaton were attending church, and it was announced at the meeting that the soldiers at Fort Nisbet had been ordered to report to General Harrison at Fort Meigs ; that there would be no garrison left and that there was danger from wandering bands of Indians. After the services were over, one of the elders made a speech proposing that they raise a company of men who were too old to be eligible for a call for soldiers and that they garrison the fort and perform all the guard duties. It met a responsive chord in the hearts of the people. The preacher, Rev. George Shideler, was elected captain, and twenty men volunteered, among them John Goldsmith, Silas Dooley, Moses Dooley, James Crawford, E. Hopkins, William Sellers and John Gardener and others. The next day they marched and held the fort until relieved later by Capt. Richard Sloan's company from Israel township. Thus promptly did they act when danger threatened their homes." I have gone over a list of some two hundred names of men who served with some of the companies during that war, and it reads like going over the list of names of the county forty years ago, and many of the names yet remain with us. A list of the older families in any community of the county would contain some of the names. The late Dr. J. M. Miller, of Verona, had in his possession an old discharge of one of his ancestors who served in the block house in section II of Harrison township, which read as follows : "I do certify that Jacob Miller a sargeant of my Company of Ohio Riflemen, in the Old Battalion, under command of Alexander C. Lanier, has served a regular tour of duty, and is hereby discharged. Given under my hand this 5th clay of April 1814. "Simon Phillips Capt." A number of Preble county men did service in the Mexican War, but only one company as a separate organization was enlisted. When it reached Cincinnati to be mustered in and sent down the river under the command of Capt. Joseph S. Hawkins, it was one day too late, the full quota for the state having been filled the day before, and the company returned home and was disbanded. Jesse B. Stephens was appointed in the quartermaster's department, with the rank of captain, and went to Texas and served through the war. Upon his return, wishing to commemorate his service, he presented his sword to Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, which he had joined early in life, the sword to be the tyler's sword to guard the door. His 212 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. name was engraved on the handle, and it is still on duty as the proper implement of the tyler's office, and is valued as a treasure by the lodge. THE CIVIL WAR. In recording the part taken by Preble county in the Civil War of 1861-1865, I shall give the names of the regiments and companies and commanders of each, if from this county or closely connected with it, and trace the service performed by each. I do not deem it necessary to give a list of the enlisted men, for the reason that the state of Ohio has prepared a roster of the Ohio soldiers of that war, giving every name, so far as the records show, when he enlisted, where killed or wounded, and when discharged and why, making a work of quite a number of volumes. A full set of the work was placed by the state in every county recorder's office in the state, and a full set will also be found in each of our larger public libraries. There is one set in the Eaton public library. However, in that work there are errors of omission, even with the facilities at the hands of the state officials. Hence, with my limited means, I could not hope to be more accurate than they, even if I copied. But as they are for inspection of all, each can copy such part as he wishes. Within two days after Lincoln issued his first call, February 15, 1861, two regiments of Ohio men were on their way to Washington. Thus promptly did Ohio answer the call. To name all the battles and describe the part that Preble county soldiers took in that war would be to describe nearly every important battle of that long struggle. They obeyed orders, went wherever they were wanted, and did their full share to bring victory. Before the end of April, 1861, two companies of the Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry enlisted for three months, made up in a large measure of Preble county men. Company B had Capt. Ozro J. Dodds and First Sergt. John A. Whitesides, and among the privates was Robert Williams, Jr. Company C—Capt. Thomas Morton, Ensign Andrew L. Harris (later captain), Sergt. Peter O'Cain, Corporals James Mulharen and Abner Haines, Jr. Company D—Capt. A. N. Thompson, First Lieut. D. M. Ganes, Second Lieut. L. M. Gray, Third Lieut. Edward Cottingham, Ensign Robert Morgan. The lists of companies C and D read as if mostly made up of our own boys. During the whole time of the Civil War no draft was ever held or ordered for Preble county. They didn't wait long enough. Of the Twenty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E, with Capt. Peter O'Cain, First Lieut. D. W. Sherman and Second Lieut. William E. Lockwood, was organized in August and September, 1861. The PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 213 regiment was assigned to Missouri, under John C. Fremont, and for a time was called the Missouri Thirteenth. It got its first taste of war at Fort Donelson on February 16. While in position to charge the works with the rest of the division, the surrender came. The next was at Shiloh, the regiment numbering only four hundred and fifty men, but in those two days they lost eighty-nine men, which is almost twenty per cent. lost in one battle. Then the regiment took part in the movement resulting in the fall of Corinth. In July, 1862, the secretary of war authorized the regiment to resume its rightful name as the Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After various movements, it was engaged in the campaign against Vicksburg, from which place it was sent as a part of General Steele's army to Little Rock, Arkansas, and for several months was engaged in guarding the railroad and chasing the meanest of Arkansas guerillas, as mounted men. They were so successful that the country was quieted, but the boys never brought any guerillas in as prisoners. A part of the regiment re-enlisted and the balance, by reason of expiration of their term, were. mustered out in November, 1864. THE GALLANT THIRTY-FIFTH. The Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Hamilton in August and September, 1861, with about nine hundred men. Company ECapt. D. M. Gans, First Lieut. Edward Cottingham, Second Lieut. Levi P. Thompson. Company C—Capt. Samuel L. Homedien, First Lieut. William H. C. Steele and Second Lieut. George T. Earhart. The regiment's first battle was Mill Springs, and after a number of moves it took part in the siege of Corinth. Then, being at Nashville, it was detailed to Buel's force and took part in his race with Bragg to save Louisville, and was in the battles of Perryville and Crab Orchard, and then the campaign from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga. It was, at Chickamauga, on the left of Thomas' lines, which finally assumed the shape of a great curve. The regiment was in the fiercest conflicts during the first and second days, when the Johnnies tried to turn the Union flank, but in the afternoon of the second a lull came and General Vandeveer, commanding the brigade, received word that help was needed on the right wing, and he drew the brigade out and double-quicked two and one-half miles across the rear of the Union army and formed alongside of General Brannon, hurriedly throwing up a slight ridge. The men lying behind it received charge after charge of the Rebel line and broke them all. As the shades of night approached, the General heard sounds in front that indicated they might expect another charge, and he ordered all to be ready. But they had not am- 214 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. munition left to load all the guns. A hurried search of the dead was made for ammunition, and just as dusk of night fell the charge came. When near, a volley was given the enemy and a yell raised as if they would charge, and the foe fell back into the timber. The brigade covered the retreat, and when the roll call came next morning at Rosswell Gap, the regiment had lost just half its men. But, undaunted, the regiment was one of the column that later charged up Mission Ridge, and was one of the first over. Later it was with Sherman in a dozen of his battles on the Atlanta campaign, among them Kenesaw and Peach Tree Creek. It is enough to say that Whitelaw Reid states that the enemy never saw the back of the regiment. Because their term expired, the regiment was mustered out in August, 1864. Capt. Edward Cottingham was taken prisoner at Chickamauga and spent many months in Libby. He was one of those who tunneled under the street and escaped, but was retaken less than a mile from the Union lines. The Forty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Denison in August, 1861, eight hundred and fifty strong. Company D—Capt. John Wallace, Second Lieut. Joseph L. Pinkerton and Surgeon Gilmore. The regiment was one of the first of the three-year men to report, and was ordered to West Virginia under George Rosecrans, landing at Clarksburg on August 29, 1861. The regiment became a part of Robert L. McCook's brigade, and until December, 1862, the regiment was in the many movements back and forth, through and across the mountains, advancing or retreating, nearly all the time on the move, chasing guerillas out of the mountains and circumventing the activities of Floy's rangers. A study of the map of West Virginia will show some of the rough and desperately rough country, for the regiment was all over the state, engaged in a dozen small battles and many skirmishes. In December, 1862, the regiment was sent down the river to Grant at Vicksburg, and was in all the movements back of that city and in its siege, twice charging Cemetery hill, but being beaten back each time. After the surrender it was of the force that captured Jackson, Mississippi. It went to Chattanooga in October, 1863, and took part in the battles of Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, and then marched toward Knoxville and back, in which movement the regiment was with no shelter but dog tents during the cold of the New Year's of 1864. More than three-fourths of the men re-enlisted, and in May, 1864, were with Sherman in his Atlanta campaign and in nearly every big battle of that campaign, including Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw, Ezra Church and PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 215 Atlanta. The regiment went with Sherman to the sea, and was one of the regiments that charged and captured Fort McAllister. The Forty-seventh made its charge along the ,seashore and its flag from the sea front was the first to rise above the breastworks of the fort. Just as the regiment swarmed to the top, the fort surrendered. I. N. Sliver, the one-armed soldier who was our county recorder and for nearly thirty years was the clerk of Eaton, lost that arm while standing on top of those breastworks, just as the charge ended. Then the regiment was in the movement through the Carolinas to Johnson's surrender, thence to the Grand Review. It was sent down the river to Arkansas to pacify the restless element there, and was mustered out in August, 1865. At the close of the Atlanta campaign the regiment numbered a hundred and twenty men in the line. The figures tell the awful toll taken by disease and death. The Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered in during August, 1862, with nine hundred and sixty-four men. Company. C—Capt. Patrick McGrew, First Lieut. David A. Ireland and Second Lieut. William O'Hara. On October 1, 1862, at Perryville, it had its first taste of battle and lost one hundred and sixty-five men killed and wounded. During the winter of 1862-63 the regiment spent much time in marching and counter-marching to head off that restless Johnny, John Morgan,. in Kentucky and Tennessee. In December, 1863, it was ordered to Knoxville to relieve Burnsides and crossed the mountains, frequently hauling the guns up by hand. From Knoxville it was ordered to join Sherman at Chattanooga, and marched the whole way. The brigade near Kingston fought and defeated three brigades of Wheeler's cavalry, and joined Sherman at Burnt Hickory. During the Atlanta campaign the regiment was in nearly every big fight from Pumpkin Vine Creek to Jonesboro; name them over and you have them. From Jonesboro it was sent back to follow Hood and join Thomas and at Spring hill the brigade had to drive back a brigade of Johnnies to continue their march. The regiment reached Franklin, after marching all night, at seven A. M., November 30, 1864, and was placed in line between the pike and the brick house. It was then two hundred and fifty strong, and at the close of the day it numbered one hundred and twenty-five men. It fell back to Nashville and was in that battle and helped chase the broken remnant of Hood's army. After that battle it was sent east across the mountains, at last reaching Salisbury, North Carolina, where it was mustered out, in June, 1865. The Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered in during the fall of 1861, eight hundred and fifty strong. Lieut.-Col. Robert Williams, Jr., 216 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO Adj.-Gen. George W. Wilson. Company C—Capt. Robert Williams, Jr., First Lieut. G. M. White, Second Lieut. John Bell. There were also a half dozen men from this county in Company G. The regiment was assigned to Sherman's division and was sent to Pittsburg Landing, and on April 6 and 7, 1862, received its first baptism of fire and lost one hundred and ninety-eight men. Thence it was in the move on Corinth. During the summer of 1862 the regiment was much of the time on the move from one point to another. In December it was sent down the river with Sherman and was in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, thence up the Arkansas river and helped in the capture of Arkansas Post. The regiment was sent back to Vicksburg and was in the battles of Champion Hill and Big Black Bridge, and engaged in the movements around Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg it was in the march to Jackson, Mississippi, and helped capture that place, thence to Chattanooga and the battle of Missionary Ridge. During the winter of 1863-64 the regiment re-enlisted and received two hundred recruits. In 1864 it was in the Atlanta campaign, being in the Fifteenth Corps under Logan, which alone tells that it was where fighting was the order of the day. It went with Sherman to the sea, and was part of the force that charged Fort McAllister ; thence they went through the Carolinas to the surrender of Johnson, and on to the Grand Review. Then the regiment went to Arkansas and was mustered out in August, 1865, being then two hundred and fifty-five strong. The Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized in April, 1862. Company C—Second Lieut. Ross J. Hazeltine. Its first scrap was with John Morgan near Gallatin. During the summer of 1862 it did garrison duty at Nashville. In December it joined "Pap" Thomas' corps and was in the two-days battle of Stone River. It was then with Rosecrans on the Tullahoma campaign and finally to Chattanooga, and, under the command of Colonel Brigham, it captured and burned Ried's bridge, and then was detailed to guard the wagon train and hence was not really in the hard fighting at Chickamauga. It was in the charge up Missionary Ridge. The regiment was then in the Atlanta campaign to its close, and in all the battles of the Fourteenth Corps with the enemy, then with Sherman to the sea and through the Carolinas and on to the Grand Review. It was mustered out in July, 1865.. The Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered in December 18, 1861, at Cincinnati. The colonel at muster was Nathaniel C. McClean. Company C—Capt. Andrew L. Harris (later colonel of the regiment), First Lieut. Oscar Minor, Second Lieut. James Mulharen. Company G—First Lieut. Franklin J. Raikes, Second Lieut. Henry L. Morey. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 217 The regiment was immediately sent to join General Milroy's force in West Virginia, and on April 12, 1862, fought its first battle near Monterey C. H. General Milroy then led his little force of three thousand men over the mountains, threatening Jackson's rear, when that old fighter turned with an army of twenty thousand and went after Milroy, who recrossed the mountains and stopped at McDowell to try to save the stores there, but Jackson's forces topped Bull Pasture mountain and paused. If Milroy retreated he was sure to be crushed, so about three in the afternoon of May 8, 1862, the Twenty-fifth and Seventy-fifth. Ohio Regiments advanced and gave battle to a whole division and fought on until dark. The Johnnies thought there must be an army back of them. When dark came Milroy loaded all the stores he could haul and retreated down the Franklin pike to safety. So severe was the contest that no prisoners were taken by either side, and it was set down as one of the bloodiest fights of the war for the number engaged. A. L. Harris was severely wounded and the regiment lost eighty-seven risen killed or wounded, while the Twenty-fifth regiment lost sixty-five men. Thereafter the regiment was in the battle of Cedar Mountain and the second battle 'of Bull Run, where it lost one hundred and fifteen men from its ranks. The next battle was Chancellorsville, where 'Jackson flanked the Union right wing and in the fight to hold Jackson's force in check the regiment lost one hundred and fifty-three killed and wounded and a number 'of prisoners. From thence the regiment marched to Gettysburg and was in the first day's fight north and• northeast of the town, and, with the army, fell back through the town, the brigade being commanded by Col. A. L. Harris; who had been promoted from major to colonel after the battle of Chancellorsville, where Colonel Reilly was killed. In falling back the men would stop at cross-streets and send grape and canister up the street to stop the enemy, and when they broke to come around the cannon would be hauled back a square or two to repeat the operation. After falling back through the town, the brigade was formed on Cemetery ridge, east of the Baltimore pike, and held their lines in the face of repeated attempts to break the line. In this battle Colonel Harris was again wounded, but tied his arm up and held his place to the end of the last of the three-days battle. The regiment lost fourteen officers ,out of sixteen, besides sixty-three killed, one hundred and six wounded and thirty-four prisoners out of less than three *hundred men that went into the battle. And the rest of the brigade lost in about the same proportion. In August, 1863, the Ohio brigade was taken to Morris Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, and was in line for a charge on Fort Wagner on the morning of September 7, when it was found that the fort had been aban- 218 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. doned in the night. Then the brigade was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, where the Seventy-fifth was mounted, and Colonel Harris, with his regiment, was sent on a raid to the headwaters of the St. Johns and Kissimee rivers. They captured two schooners loaded with cotton, destroyed over five hundred other bales of cotton and a large quantity of army stores, and captured and drove in over five thousand head of cattle for beef. In July, 1864, the regiment destroyed the railroad bridge over the St. Mary's river and flanked the Johnnies out of Baldwin's Crossing. In August, 1864, Colonel Harris, with two hundred men of his regiment, was sent on an expedition to the interior, but stirred up a hornet's nest, for. the Johnnies were found in greatly superior numbers, and the regiment pushed on day and night to escape. On the morning of August 17 the men stopped to rest and breakfast near Gainsville, and soon were confronted by fourteen. hundred Johnnies. The fight lasted over two hours, when Colonel Harris found his men were out of ammunition and there was no way of escape but to cut their way out. His men approved of the plan, and, putting himself at the head of the little band, they charged straight into the face of the enemy and went through, but left the awful toll of a hundred and sixteen killed and wounded and prisoners. The balance rode safely into Jacksonville. In September and December, 1864, the regiment was engaged in other expeditions successfully. In November and December, 1864, the term of service of six companies expired and they were sent home and mustered out. The other four companies remained in Florida until August, 1865, when they also were mustered out. The Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered in in September, 1861, at St. Louis, numbering about six hundred men, with Col. Thomas Morton and Lieut.-Col. D. C. Stubbs. Company E—Capt. R. Y. Larnius. Company F—First Lieut. Charles W. Lockwood. Then there were a number of privates also in Companies B and D. The regiment spent the fall of 1861 and that winter doing scouting service in Missouri. In March, 1862, it was sent to Pittsburg Landing, and took part in both days of that battle, charging and capturing a battery from the Johnnies on the second day. The regiment was then in the movements about Corinth and was in the battle of Corinth against Price in October, 1862. During the year 1863 the regiment was. assigned to garrison duty at a number of different places in Tennessee and was in a number of severe skirmishes. In 1864 it joined Sherman's army and participated in the marches and battles of the Atlanta campaign. It went with Sherman to the sea and north across the Carolinas to the Grand Review. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 219 During its term of service it buried one hundred and seventy-nine of its men in Dixie Land. The Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized in May, 1862, for three months' service, and were immediately sent to West Virginia. Around and over much of that state it marched to intercept raiding bands of the enemy until its term expired, in September, 1862, when it was mustered out. In July, 1863, the Eighty-sixth Regiment was again organized for six months' service. Lieut.-Col. Robert W. McFarland, of Oxford, was in the regiment, which hail Preble county men in four companies, but no distinctly Preble county company. John A. Whitesides was sergeant of Company B. The regiment was first stationed at Zanesville, and it was a part of the force that captured John Morgan. Then it was sent to Kentucky, forming a part of the force that captured Cumberland Gap with its garrison, and then formed part of the garrison until its term of service expired. It was mustered out in February, 1864. The Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Dayton in August, 1862, numbering nine hundred and sixty-eight men all told, under Col. Charles Anderson. Company G—Capt. Matthew L. Paullus, First Lieut. Peter L. Paullus, Second Lieut. James C. Gilmore, and Samuel S. Black, wagoner. Company H—Capt. Matthias Risher, First Lieut. Jarvis N. Lake, Second Lieut. William W. Aker. In the regiment were nearly two hundred men from Preble county, many of whom, after the war, became quite prominent in the community where they resided, and some were well known in the county at large. I will name a few, not because they were better soldiers, but because they were later better known : Theodore Johnson, John B. Cramer, John H. Gibbons, James W. Johnston, Hiram L. Robbins, Joseph A. Ramsey, Henry C. Williams, Peter S. Eikenberry, Cephas C. Fetherling, Jeremiah Oldfather, Silas Laird, Edward Borden; Theodore F. Brower, Elwood Morey. TWO-DAY INFERNO. The regiment was sent to Kentucky and thence on to Nashville, and at Stone River got into its first real battle and suffered severely. In June, 1863, it was made a part of McCook's corps, and was in the Tullahoma campaign, and was in the front of Rosecrans' army across Lookout mountain. It reached a point about forty miles south of Chattanooga, when Rosecrans learned that the Johnnies were moving north to turn his flank and get in his rear, and the advance was withdrawn and a hurried march of two days was made along Lookout mountain's top. The regiment was placed in line at 220 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Chickamauga, on the right wing, on September 18, 1863, and at once began skirmishing with the enemy, and on the 19th it was sent to the left wing, nine miles away, under "Pap" Thomas. Then for two days inferno reigned on that and all other parts of that battlefield, costing the regiment alone some two hundred killed and wounded. Then the retreat to Chattanooga and the long wait for help followed. On November 23 it was in the charge on Orchard Knob and lost sixty men in six minutes, but won. It was also in the charge on Missionary Ridge, and paid a heavy toll. On January 16, 1864, the regiment could only stack one hundred and seventy guns. In May, 1864, the regiment was with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign to its end. Starting on that hundred days of battle with three hundred men from Buzzard Roost to Lovejoy Station, the regiment participated in practically the whole campaign. When Hood started north, the regiment was sent back to Nashville with Thomas' army, and in the second day of the battle of Nashville it went into the fight with ninety men in line and lost twenty-five killed and wounded. The regiment then was sent on several expeditions on as far as Asheville, North Carolina, and was mustered out in June, 1865, having during three years lost twenty per cent. killed, thirty per cent. wounded and twenty-seven per cent. discharged for disability. The Hundred and Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry had a company started, but the regiment not filling up, Capt. George Wightman's company was sent to Kentucky, transferred to the Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and mustered in on September 13, 1862. Among the soldiers, George W. Hanger, Henry Lantis and John W. Scott are well known in the county. The Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, one-year men, was organized March 1o, 1865. Company D, with First Lieut. James H. Stewart, held many Preble county boys. It was dispatched at once to Harper's Ferry, thence to the Shenandoah valley. Its service was only garrison duty. The regiment was mustered out September 3, 1865. The Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was one of the one-hundred-day regiments and it was mustered May 4, 1864, at Camp Dennison. Remember the toll of men that these years had been taking from our little county, then add that to this regiment six hundred and fifty men from this county who responded to the call. From farm, shop, office, store and bank they came to help what they could. They were first assigned guard duty at Cincinnati, then to Falmouth and to Paris, Kentucky. Then they went to Cumberland, Maryland, on the last day of July, 1864. The regiment marched to Flock's Mills, and had a skirmish with a raiding force PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 221 under Bradley Johnson in the evening, and the next morning the Johnies had gone. It performed garrison duty and was mustered out September 1, 1864. Some of the officers of this regiment are as follows: Col. Caleb Marker, Lieut.- Col. William Saylor, Adjutant Robert Miller, Quartermaster Frank McWhinney, Surgeon V. G. Miller, Second Sergeant Lewis Mackey. Company A—Capt. James R. Bernard, First Lieut. Simon Degginger, Second Lieut. Isaac Kingery, First Sergeant A. P. Caldwell. Company B—Capt. Isaac Henderson, First Lieut. M. V. Randall, Second Lieut. D. McClure, First Sergeant C. Shirely. Company C—Capt. Ephraim Sheller, First Lieut. G. A. Ells, Second Lieut. Joseph S. Brown, First Sergeant Thomas J. Brower. Company D—Capt. R. Y. Lannius, First Lieut. Thomas. Spangler, Second Lieut. Silas Dooly, First Sergt. W. H. Ortt. Company E—Capt. William A. Swihart, First Lieut. James Gable, Second Lieut. E. A. Patty, First Sergt. James W. Pottinger. Company F—Capt. L. F. Woofter, First Lieut. W. F. Newton, Second Lieut. J. M. Weeks, First Sergt. Theodore P. Flemming. Company H—Capt. J. R. McDivitt, First Lieut. J. Skinner, Second Lieut. P. Dills, First Sergt. J. V. Larsh. So clean did the war demands sweep our county of young, able-bodied men, that there was no school district of the county that did not have representatives in the regiment, and a great number of them were boys in their teens. Some of them then, too, were getting gray. All are gray now, but, bless them, I hope they will live to wear their gray hairs for many years. The Fifth Ohio Cavalry was organized at Camp Dennison in August, 1861. With the regiment were Lieut.-Col. Thomas T. Heath (later colonel) ; Major Phineas R. Minor, Company E, with Capt. Joseph C. Smith ; First Lieut. Caleb Marker and Second Lieut. Lewis C. Swerer. Company F had Capt. Pineas R. Minor, First Lieut. Charles B. Cooper, Second Lieut. John D. Truitt and First Sergt. Robert W. Morgan. The regiment first met the enemy at Fort Henry and was, after the fall of Donelson, taken up the river to Pittsburg Landing, where it did scout duty for some three weeks before the battle. The regiment was in and through the battle at that place during the whole of the two days and pursued the enemy on the third day some eight miles, suffering the loss of many men. Then it was in the movements against Corinth until its capture. The regiment did scout duty until Van Dorn and Price made their 222 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. advance on Corinth, when two hundred and fifty men of the Fifth Cavalry were at Davis Mills, and Van Dorn, with an army of ten thousand, attempted to brush them aside. But they stubbornly held their ground for several hours before falling back and when the enemy reached Rosecrans' army they were ready for them. This gallant fight so pleased Grant that he ordered the regiment to inscribe "Davis Mills" on its banner. Then the regiment was broken into three battalions, which marched, counter-marched and skirmished all over that country until, in October, Sherman ordered the regiment to join his army and gave the order, "March at daylight." On the 17th it headed for Chattanooga, where it was guarding trains during the battles there, and after Missionary Ridge it was started for Knoxville to relieve Burnside, and followed the retreating enemy across the mountains. During the summer. of 1864 it was again broken up and used in guarding the railroads that carried supplies to Sherman's army. On November 7, 1864, it was transferred to Kilpatrick's cavalry and on November 15 started with Sherman to the sea, being constantly employed in front or on one flank or the other during that march. They went on up through the Carolinas to the surrender of Johnson, when it was detailed as part of the force to occupy and pacify the seventeen western counties of North Carolina. It was mustered out .October 3o, 1865. It had been, in the four years, engaged in more than two hundred battles and skirmishes, large and small, and won praise from every commander under whom it served. In addition to the foregoing regular organizations, there were Preble county men in some half dozen artillery regiments and batteries; also a number in the gun-boat service. And as the county lies immediately along the Indiana line, many of them enlisted with boon companions in Indiana regiments and organizations. A count being had recently among the old comrades here, they named twelve such organizations that held them. Judge James A. Gilmore and W. C. Dove, our waterworks superintendent for over twenty years, were in different Indiana regiments. SQUIRREL HUNTERS.  In the summer of 1862 the rebel, Gen. Kirby Smith, conceived the idea of gathering a strong force and making a dash at Cincinnati and capturing the city. But for the telegraph and railroads he wouldhave succeeded, for he was well under way and but a few days' march from that city before his intention was discovered. There were not sufficient Union soldiers within PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 223 reach to gather to check him. On September 2, 1862, Governor Todd issued his proclamation calling on all Ohio men with rifles to report with arms and ammunition to Gen. Lew Wallace at Cincinnati. The next morning whole companies of men from surrounding counties were marching through the streets of Cincinnati, and they kept coming until almost sixteen thousand men, with squirrel rifles and deer guns, many of them carrying the old bullet pouch, had reported. They were assigned to positions and entrenched themselves on the hills of Kentucky within the next three or four days. Of the number, about three hundred and seventy-five came from Preble, county. Gen. Kirby Smith's spies and scouts informed him of the situation and he halted a few miles away and sent out scouting parties, but Gen. Wallace stood pat, refused to be lured out and held the hills. In about ten days Smith withdrew and the men were sent home, being in the service from twelve to fifteen days. Governor Todd had issued to each man a discharge, bearing the cut of a squirrel hunter, with bullet pouch and rifle, hence the name. In 1909 the Legislature of Ohio passed a law giving to all yet alive thirteen dollars for the service then performed. In the war with Spain in 1898, some dozen young men from Preble county joined a company formed in Dayton, and were sent south to camp and drill, but never reached the battlefields of Cuba. Lieut. Crosley, of the United States navy, was from this county, and made for himself an enviable record in that war. CHAPTER XIV. BANKS AND BANKING. Banks, as known by all English-speaking people, in their methods of doing business and issuing credit-money and letters of credit, are of American origin. In 1690 the Colony of Massachusetts, finding that the demands to meet the expenses that those strenuous times placed upon its resources were greater than the available supply of gold and silver would meet, evolved a system for its banks to issue credit-money, to a considerable amount. The issue was closely guarded and the bills made receivable for taxes and all public dues. A canny Scotsman, named William Patterson, was then in Massachusetts, for some two years, and gave much attention to the study of the system. He went dome and in 1694 organized and put in operation, along similar lines, the Bank of England, sometimes called "The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street," and he watched over it the rest of his life. So successful did it become that the world of business has ever since followed its lead, as being probably the best and safest banking system ever devised by man. But banks are not by any means a modern institution. There are bankers' records from Babylon, back to the days of Sennacherib, 700 B. C., and many later. Then, before the Christian era, the system seems to have died out, having been followed by money lending and money changing by private individuals, probably because, with the swing of the conquering armies that swept over so many of the countries of the Old World, a man's money and valuables had to be kept so they could be readily carried away and hidden, for capital ever has been the first to hide, when danger threatens, and does so yet. Hence, banks, being the accumulations of many scattered individuals, must have peace and safety for their protection. The first great commercial power to arise from the wreck and ruin that followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, was Venice, the island city, whose ships and commerce covered the Mediterranean sea. In that city in 1197 was started the first modern bank of deposit, and it continued for centuries.