100 - Pioneer Biography. own people. We have long been friends. We are friends yet, until the sun reaches a certain bight (which he indicated). From that time we are enemies. Then if you wish to kill me, you may. If I want to kill you, I may.' At the appointed hour, crossing the river, Captain Wells disappeared in the forest, taking an easterly direction to strike the trail of Wayne's army. Obtaining an interview with General Wayne, be became ever afterward the faithful friend of the Americans.—Hon. 7. L. Williams' Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Wayne, p. 17. He was made captain of the spies connected with Wayne's army. His adventures in that capacity are sufficiently detailed by Mr. McBride. After the treaty of Greenville, and the establishment of peace, he was joined by his wife and family, " and settled at the old orchard,' a short distance from the confluence of the St. Mary and St. Joseph, on the banks of a small stream there, afterward called Spy Run,' and which still bears that name. The government subsequently granted him a pre-emption of some three hundred and twenty acres of land, including his improvement, the old orchard, etc. Wells afterward also became, by appointment of the government, Indian agent here (Fort Wayne), in which capacity he served several years."—Brice's History of Fort Wayne, p. 148. Captain Wells, by his first wife, had three daughters and one son. The daughters were Mrs. Judge Wolcott, of Maumee, Ohio, Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Hackley, of Fort Wayne. Mr. Williams says of them : " Of the first members of this church, two were half Indians, who had before, in 1820, joined the Baptist Church under the labors of Rev. Mr. McCoy, missionary to the Indians at this post. . . They were educated in Kentucky, and are yet kindly remembered by some in Appendix—Captain William Wells - 101 this church and community, as ladies of refinement and intelligent piety."—p. 16, 17. The son, Wayne Wells, died when a young man, while crossing Lake Erie, in 1823. Captain Wells afterward married another sister of Little Turtle. They had one daughter, Jane, who married a son of an old Fort Wayne pioneer, Matthew Griggs, and settled at Peru, Indiana. In the war of 1812, Captain Wells was in command at Fort Wayne. When he heard of General Hull's orders for the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, he made a rapid march to reinforce Captain Heald, and to " assist in defending the fort, or prevent his exposure to certain destruction by an attempt to reach the head of the Maumee. But he was too late. All means for maintaining a siege had been destroyed a few hours before, and every preparation had been made for leaving the post next day." On the morning of the 15th of August, the little company, with Captain Wells and his Miamis, evacuated the fort and moved along the shore till they came to Sand Hills, when they were attacked by five hundred " treacherous and cowardly Pottawatomies." "The conflict was short, desperate, and bloody. Two-thirds of the white people were slain or wounded, and all the horses, provisions, and baggage lost. Only twenty-eight strong men remained to brave the fury of about five hundred Indians, who had lost but fifteen in the conflict." " Captain Wells displayed the greatest coolness and gallantry. He was by the side of his niece (Mrs. Captain Heald), when the conflict began. We have not the slightest chance for life,' he said, we must part to meet no more in this world—God bless you.' With these words he dashed forward with the rest. In the midst of the fight, he saw a young warrior painted like a demon climb into a wagon in which were twelve children of the white people, and tomahawked them all ! Forgetting his own 102 - Pioneer Biography. immediate danger, Wells exclaimed : ' If that is their game, butchering women and children, I'll kill too.' He instantly dashed toward the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and little ones, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent many a rifle ball after him. He lay close to his horse's neck, and turned and fired occasionally upon his pursuers. When he had got almost beyond the range of their rifles, a ball killed his horse and wounded himself severely in the leg. The young savages rushed forward with a demoniac yell to make him a prisoner and reserve him for torture, for he was to them an arch offender. His friends, Win-ne-meg and Wau-ban-see, vainly attempted to save him from his fate. He knew the temper and the practices of the savages well, and resolved not to be made a captive. He taunted them with the most insulting epithets to provoke them to kill him instantly. At length he called one of the fiery young warriors Per-so-turn (a squaw), which so enraged him that he killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped upon his body, cut out his heart and ate a portion of the warm and half-palpitating morsel, with savage delight."—Lossing's Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 309. IX. Isaac Paxton. ISAAC PAXTON was born in the county of Essex, 1 State of New Jersey, on the 2 I s t of February, 1770. His parents were very respectable, people, in the humble walks of life. At an early age he went to learn the trade of a silversmith, at which he continued till he was twenty-one years of age. When hearing the reports about the fine country of Kentucky and the far west, he set out in 1791, by way of Pennsylvania, intending to go to the west, but the accounts of Indian hostilities on the frontiers caused him to change his course, and he went to Staunton, Virginia, where he worked at his trade for about a year. The disastrous defeat of the army under the command of General St. Clair, on the 4th of November, 1791, made it necessary, not only for the defense of the frontiers, but for the purpose of retrieving the honor of the nation, to send another army under an able, energetic, and experienced commander into the Indian country, to chastise the savages and awe them into submission. The official account of St. Clair's defeat was received 104 - Pioneer Biography. by President Washington, early in December, 1791, which was forthwith communicated by him to the national legislature, then in session, accompanied by a recommendation that Congress would give him the authority to raise three additional regiments of foot, and a squadron of light dragoons to serve for three years, unless peace should be sooner made with the Indians. In accordance with the President's recommendation, Congress passed a law "For making further and more effectual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States," which law was approved on the 5th of March, 1792. On the passage of this law, officers to command the additional troops were promptly appointed, and the business of enlistment forthwith commenced. Isaac Paxton, then twenty-two years of age, in the summer of 1792, took the bounty, and enlisted as a private soldier in the company of Captain Alexander Gibson. The bounty paid at that time was eight dollars, and the pay three dollars per month. General Anthony Wayne was appointed to command the army destined to operate against the Indians, and on the 25th of May, 1792, having received his commission, and been furnished by the secretary of war with the instructions of President Washington, he took leave of his family and friends, and repaired to Pittsburg, the place appointed for the rendezvous of the troops, arriving there the 14th of June following. Isaac Paxton - 105 The troops composing the new organization of the army were denominated "The Legion of the United States," and while at Pittsburg, were daily exercised in all the evolutions necessary to render them efficient soldiers, and more especially in those maneuvers proper in a campaign against savages. Firing at a mark was constantly practiced, and rewards given to the best marksmen. To inspire emulation, the rivalry of the different kinds of troops was excited, the riflemen and infantry strove to excel each other, so that the men soon attained to a degree of accuracy, that gave them confidence in their own prowess. On the artillery, the general impressed the importance of that arm of the service, and by constant practice at the guns they acquired great facility in taking position, loading, discharging at the object of attack, and defending their cannon and batteries. The dragoons he taught to rely on the broadsword, and in furious and impetuous charges upon the enemy as the best means of personal safety, and as all important to victory. The riflemen were made to see that success only depended upon their coolness, quickness, accuracy, and perfect discipline in the hour of battle; while the infantry were led to place entire confidence in the bayonet as the certain and irresistible weapon in the hands of brave and disciplined troops, before which savages could not stand. The men were instructed to 106 - Pioneer Biography. charge in open order, and each to rely on himself, and to prepare for a personal contact with the enemy. The rapid improvement in discipline and the confidence inspired by the troops, are frequently mentioned in letters of General Wayne to the secretary of war. On the morning of the 9th of November, 1792, a detachment of the troops and the artificers, with the necessary tools for building, set out from Fort Pitt down the Ohio river, for the place selected by General Wayne, below Logstown, for their winter quarters. A few days afterward, the artillery, infantry, and rifle corps (except a small garrison left at the fort at Pittsburg), embarked in forty-two flat-boats, which had been previously built on the Monongahela river, for the transportation of the troops. At the same time the cavalry crossed the Alleghany river to go to the winter ground by land. As soon as the troops had embarked, General Wayne went on board his barge under a salute of the military artillery corps of the place. The situation selected for the winter encampment of the troops was on the north side of the Ohio river, nineteen miles below Pittsburg, and was strongly fortified and named Legionville. It was on a high flat piece of ground. A small stream emptied into the Ohio river just above the encampment. In 1821, the place was without timber, except a thick growth of young scrub oaks, and some of the old chimneys of the Isaac Paxton - 107 cabins built by the troops were still standing on the ground. Encamped in a situation with the enemy almost surrounding them, the officers and men were obliged to be on the alert, and the most vigilant watchfulness was constantly observed. General Wayne, though he had well drilled his troops before he left Pittsburg, was not yet confident of their bravery before an enemy. He, therefore, wisely resolved to occupy a more exposed situation, where his soldiers would be accustomed to watchfulness, and where, if an attack was made, certain success would inspire the men with confidence. The troops remained at Legionville until the 3oth of April, 1793, and during all that time were subject to constant and severe drill and exercise. Sham fights were frequently resorted to, and neither life nor lash was spared. The following is a note found among the papers of Major Isaac Craig, then deputy quartermaster and military storekeeper at Pittsburg. The writer, Captain John Finley, was a soldier of the Revolution, and at that time assistant quartermaster. The note is laconic and very significant of the discipline of "Mad Anthony:" " MAJOR CRAIG : Please send down some whip-cord for cats; they have no cats to whip the men with. JOHN FINLEY. "Legionville, February 22, 1793." On the 22d of February, being the anniversary birth- 108 - Pioneer Biography. day of Washington, a grand review and display took place at Legionville, in pursuance of a general order issued by General Wayne, on the loth. At ten o'clock, A. M., the legion was drawn up on their usual parade ground, and took up the line of march, as directed in the orders for the day, strongly flanked by the rifle companies. On gaining a commanding eminence some distance in front of the grand cantonment, they drew up in form and preserved the utmost regularity throughout the whole of their maneuvers, each officer and soldier appearing in perfect military dress. Considerable time took place in going through the various evolutions and firings, highly pleasing to every spectator. The legion formed in two columns as before, with the artillery and ammunition wagons in the center, and continued their march to the left; previous to which a considerable number of infantry and riflemen were detached, with orders to possess certain strong grounds in front of the line of march; when, on the approach of the columns, a brisk sham engagement took place, which soon became general, and bearing with it much the appearance of a real action for upward of twenty minutes, owing to the incessant peals of cannon and musketry. The columns having formed a hollow square, the cavalry in the center, whence they sallied forth, and with the light troops made a brisk charge, and terminated Isaac Paxton - 109 the engagement, which was obstinately maintained in every direction. The firing having ceased, the legion regained the parade ground, and having formed the line in front, discharged three times with their usual regularity. The artillery were then advanced in front of the line and commenced the federal salute of three times fifteen shells from howitzers, in honor of the day so sacred in the remembrance of every patriot citizen and soldier. About three o'clock in the afternoon, the legion returned to their cantonment, in the same manner they marched off in the morning, and on their being drawn up on their accustomed parade, General Wayne, the commander-in-chief, passed in review, and received the salute of the line. The troops being dismissed, the general gave all the officers off duty an invitation to dine with him, at which agreeable interview hospitality presided and brotherly love pervaded the whole. The dinner being ended, a number of patriotic toasts were given, among which was the following: "May our meeting with the savages produce conviction to the world that the American Legion are the only troops proper to oppose them." Thus ended the day with the utmost hilarity and good order throughout the whole army, and in the evening brilliant fireworks were exhibited in the artillery park. About this time, General Wayne received a letter 110 - Pioneer Biography. from the secretary of war, proposing the appointment of commissioners to treat with the Indians ; to which the general replied, that " he desired to be present at the convention, with twenty-five hundred of his commissioners, with not a quaker among them," and added, that if such was the case he felt confident an honorable peace would be the result. The winter having passed away, General Wayne broke up his garrison at Legionville, and on the 30th day of April, 1793, embarked on board their boats, with the troops in good order, and set off for Fort Washington. The troops were in high spirits. The boats being well-fitted for transportation, made a fine appearance. The river being considerably swelled by late rains, they made their voyage without any accident, and arrived at Cincinnati on the 5th of May following. They encamped on the north bank of the Ohio river, below the then village of Cincinnati; between that and the mouth of Mill creek. Fort Washington stood on the bank of the river immediately above the village. Both situations are now included within the bounds of the city of Cincinnati. To that encampment he gave the name of " Hobson's Choice," it being the only place in that vicinity suited for the object intended.* During the time they remained in that encampment, *" Because from the extreme high water they were prevented from landing elsewhere."—Albach'sls of the West, p. 635. Isaac Paxton - 111 waiting for reinforcements, they were constantly and laboriously engaged in military exercises and movements, particularly those which had been adopted as best suited to the nature of the service in which they were employed. The country through which they had to march was a dense wilderness, containing water-courses, ravines, morasses, thickets, etc., at any of which the whole force of the Indians might be made to operate at once on the legion, without warning. The general foresaw this; and that the obstructions to be encountered, and the character of the enemy with whom he had to contend, made it hazardous to pursue the customary modes of marching through cultivated countries. The subject had therefore occupied his mind when first he received his appointment; and before he left Philadelphia, he conversed freely with the president, who had more experience in the mode of Indian warfare, and understood, it better than any other officer living. With the information derived from that high source, General Wayne formed a plan for conducting his marches and constructing his encampments in the Indian country well calculated to guard against surprise, and enable him in case of a sudden attack to form his line of battle without confusion, and in the shortest time possible. In addition to the videttes usual in military movements, a strong guard preceded the army, which fol- 112 - Pioneer Biography. lowed in parallel lines, at such distances and so arranged that the line might be quickly formed by a single maneuver.* On the 7th of October, 1793, General Wayne broke up his encampment at " Hobson's Choice," and took up his line of march for the Indian country. The first day they marched about ten miles and encamped. The second day, October 8th, they reached Fort Hamilton, and encamped in the upper part of a prairie, about half a mile below where the town now is. All the level bottom between the pond and the Miami river was then a beautiful natural prairie covered with a luxuriant growth of grass. Here they threw up an embankment of earth to protect the encampment from surprise, the remains of which could be traced a few years ago, at the point where the road from Front street, in Hamilton, leading down the Miami river, approaches the river. The army remained but one night at Hamilton, and the next day, October 9, moved forward into the heart of the Indian country. General Wayne, it seems, was determined not to tread in the footsteps of General St. Clair ; but opened a new road for the march of his army. They crossed the Miami river above where the town of Hamilton now is ; and some distance above the mouth of Four Mile creek, which was then at the *Barnet's Notes, pp. 157, 158 Isaac Paxton - 113 junction of Old and New rivers. (The channel of New river had not then been formed.) They pursued their march up the bottom, on the north side of the creek, to the Five-mile spring, five miles in advance of Fort Hamilton. The spring is on the east side of the turnpike road from Hamilton to Eaton, and was afterward known as the spring and residence of Captain John Hamilton. The army fortified their camp every night and were very vigilant. The loth of October (their fourth day), march continued ; crossed Nine-mile creek, near where the late Samuel Davis, Esq., formerly lived, and passed where the north line of Butler county now is, about three miles east of the present site of Summerville, and encamped at what they called the Seventeen-mile tree— seventeen miles in advance of Fort Hamilton. Owing to the rapidity of their march, the badness of the road, and the difficulty of transporting the baggage, a number of the soldiers, who were worn down by fatigue and sickness, fell in the rear, and had to be brought on by the rear guard. Consequently this somewhat retarded their march, and caused the line to extend nearly five miles in length. On the march, the army generally halted early in the afternoon ; say, two or three o'clock. The quartermasters of the several sublegions, with the quartermaster-general, surveyor, and engineer, went ahead with the front guard, selected the ground, laid off the encampment for the night, and 114 - Pioneer Biography. marked the bounds of each sublegion, so that when the army arrived the troops proceeded to pitch their tents. After this was done each company had to commence fortifying, twenty feet in front of the company. This was done by cutting down timber, trimming off the limbs, and putting up a breastwork from two to four logs high, according to the timber ; so that in one hour from the commencement, a complete breastwork was formed around the whole encampment. There were no gates— a few light logs were put up something in the form of bars. The picket guards consisted sometimes of a captain, one subaltern, one sergeant, two corporals, and from thirty-six to forty-eight privates; some of them only of a subaltern, one sergeant, one corpora], and from twenty-one to thirty-six privates. These were generally detailed every morning, and were numbered from one to eight, or as many as necessary (on the march they generally had eight), so that when the army halted in the evening, each guard took its station in the place selected by the quartermaster, say three hundred yards from the encampment, who divided his men into three reliefs — first, second, and third. The first relief he sent out with his sergeant or corporal, placed his sentinels about one hundred yards apart, so that in half an hour after the army halted a complete chain of sentinels was formed around the whole encampment. While the first relief was out, which was two hours, the second and third were em- Isaac Paxton - 115 ployed in cutting down timber and making breastworks to defend themselves in case of an attack. After the first relief had been on guard two hours, the second relief went out and stood their two hours ; then the third relief; and then the first again, and so on until morning. The front guard generally took their station half a mile in advance, the rear guard half a mile in the rear of the army. This was done for the purpose of keeping the enemy from making a sudden attack on the main body of the army. The front and rear guards never consisted of less than a whole company, sometimes more. It was intended that, should the enemy make an attack in front, this guard should maintain its position until the main army could have time to form and come to their assistance.* Isaac Paxton belonged to a rifle company commanded by Captain Alexander Gibson, and here they were detailed as part of a guard, under the command of Colonel Strong, to proceed in advance and protect the road cutters. On the 11th of October, the army moved forward, and passed about half a mile east of where the town of Eaton now is, and encamped on a fine, commanding piece of ground, twenty-nine miles from Fort Hamilton; fortified as usual. October 12th. The army marched ten miles this *Geo. Hill, in American Pioneer, vol. ii, p. 291. 116 - Pioneer Biography. day. The roads very bad, and some of the wagons broke down; but as the general's orders declared that there should be no interstices, the line of march was not impeded. On the 13th of October, the army advanced by tolerable quick movements until they came within one mile of Fort Jefferson, where they encamped. This afternoon, Colonel Hamtramck was maneuvering his troops, and had a sham fight, which was construed by the whole army as an attack on their advanced guard or flankers —it really frightened a good many, but they generally said, let them come, or we are ready for them. They had marched hard that day, and were not in good condition for an engagement ; however, it was soon discovered to be sham fight. October 14. Marched past Fort Jefferson without halting until they came to a beautiful situation on the bank of Greenville creek, a confluence of Still Water, which is a branch of the Great Miami river. Here they strongly fortified their encampment. On this spot the town of Greenville was afterward built. On the 15th of October, the wagons were sent back to Fort St. Clair with an escort of between eighty and ninety men, commanded by Lieutenant Lowry and Ensign Boyd, to bring on stores and provisions for the army. On the 16th of October, Colonel Blue, with nearly twenty of the cavalry, went out to graze the horses of Isaac Paxton - 117 the troops in the prairie. After some time, Colonel Blue discovered something moving in the grass, which he first supposed to be turkeys, but soon found them to be Indians. He ordered a charge, and himself, two sergeants, and a private charged, the rest ran away; the consequence was, the two sergeants were killed by the Indians. Colonel Blue and the private escaped. The leader of those who behaved so cowardly was immediately tried and found guilty, but was pardoned the next day. The party sent back to Fort St. Clair to bring on stores and provisions, on the 17th day of October, having in charge twenty wagons belonging to the quartermaster-general's department, loaded with grain, and one of the contractor's wagons, loaded with stores, when about seven miles from Fort St. Clair, were attacked by a party, of Indians, who rushed on with savage fury and yells. The whole party, stricken by sudden panic, fled upon the first discharge, except the two officers and some fifteen or twenty men, who fell after a brave and obstinate resistance against superior numbers. Lieutenant Lowry, of the second sublegion, and Ensign Boyd, of the first sublegion, together with thirteen noncommissioned officers and privates were killed. The Indians plundered the wagons, and carried off with them sixty-four of the best wagon horses in the army, having killed six horses at the wagons in the engagement. They left the wagons standing in the road, 118 - Pioneer Biography. which were afterward taken to Greenville, with what remained of their loading. Colonel Adair, from Fort St. Clair, pursued the Indians, but could not overtake them. He found several horses dead, which he supposed had been tired down, so as to be unable to proceed, and then killed— a proof that the flight of the enemy was very rapid. The slain in the engagement were buried at Fort St. Clair; but, afterward, on the 4th of July, 1846, their bones were taken up and reinterred, with the honors of war and other imposing ceremonies, in the village graveyard between the site of the fort and the town of Eaton, where an elegant marble monument, twelve feet high, marks the resting place of these brave men. General Wayne then laid out the plan of a fort on the ground where the town of Greenville now is. The block houses and pickets were constructed of timber cut in the adjoining woods, and the logs hauled to the site by men—from eight to sixteen men to a wagon, with a sergeant or corporal to superintend them. The fort was about a quarter of a mile square, and, when completed, was named "Fort Greenville." Mr. Paxton, and a portion of the company to which he belonged, and some others, were sent back to Fort Jefferson, to cut grass in the adjoining prairie, and put up hay for the support of a portion of the horses intended to be sent there to winter. When they had cut and put up a sufficient quantity for the purpose in- Isaac Paxton - 119 tended, they returned to Greenville. After the army reached Greenville, several fatal duels took place; one resulted in the death of both the principals, Lieutenants Bradshaw and Hueston, both Irishmen. The cause of the quarrel was a very trifling matter—a mere point of etiquette. Bradshaw was what was called a gentleman in his own country, bred a physician. Hueston was by profession a weaver. The former showed some slight toward the latter, probably over their cups. A challenge ensued—both fell mortally wounded, and were buried within three hours of each other. On the 24th day of November, 1793, General Wayne with a party of about one thousand men, set out from Greenville for the place where the army under General St. Clair had been defeated on the 4th of November, 1791. Isaac Paxton with the company of Captain Gibson, to which he belonged, formed a part of the detachment. They arrived at the place on the evening of the 25th (Christmas day) and pitched their tents on the battle ground. When the men went to lie down in their tents at night, they had to scrape the bones together and carry them out of the tent. The next day holes were dug without the camp, and the bones which remained above ground were collected and buried. The flesh was entirely off the bones, but in many cases the sinews held them together. After this melancholy duty was performed, General Wayne laid out the plan of a fort, and the men pro- 120 - Pioneer Biography. ceeded to build it. In a few days it was so far completed as to be in a defensible situation, and was called "Fort Recovery," in commemoration of its being recovered from the Indians, who had possession of the ground in 1791. The fort was placed under the command of Captain Gibson with his company of riflemen and one company of artillery, which were left to defend the fort. The rest of the detachment returned to Greenville. The fort was a regular square, with a block-house at each corner, with a line of pickets ten or twelve feet high, connecting with the block-houses at their angles. The ground around the fort was cleared of timber for upward of one hundred yards, except a few trees that were left standing. Isaac Paxton remained in Fort Recovery during the winter, and until the main army marched on their expedition in July following. Before the troops should march further into the Indian country it was deemed advisable to have an abundant supply of provisions in the different forts which had been erected ; as well for the supply of their respective garrisons, as for the subsistence of the main army, in the event of its being driven into them by untoward circumstances. With this view, three hundred pack-horses, laden with flour and other stores, were sent on to Fort Recovery. They left Greenville early on the morning of the 29th of June, 1794, and as it was known considerable bodies of the enemy were constantly hovering about the forts, and waiting opportunities of Isaac Paxton - 121 cutting off any detachments from the main army. Major McMahon, with a detachment of ninety riflemen, under the command of Captain Hartshorn, and fifty dragoons commanded by Captain Taylor, were ordered as an escort. They arrived at Fort Recovery the same evening, and having deposited the supplies, encamped outside of the fort. The next morning Isaac Paxton, accompanied by six others, went out of the fort and let the cattle out of the pens to graze—but the cattle not seeming disposed to feed, they left them without putting them in the pens, and returned into the fort, intending soon to go out again and impound them. In the meantime the party under Major McMahon had commenced their return, when they were attacked by a large body of Indians. Although overpowered by numbers they made a gallant defense. After losing Major McMahon, Captain Hartshorn, Lieutenant Craig, and twenty-three men, who were killed, they regained the fort. The Indians assailed the fort with great fury, rushing up to within less than fifty yards of it, some of them carrying axes and hatchets for the purpose of cutting down the pickets; but they were met by such a galling fire from the fort that it checked their progress, and after some time they retreated to the woods, at a most respectful distance. However, they again rallied and renewed the attack, keeping up a heavy and constant fire during the whole day, which was returned with spirit 122 - Pioneer Biography. and effect by the garrison. The balls were heard continually striking against the pickets and logs of the blockhouses, and whizzing over the heads of those in the garrison. After the Indians had retired, it was observed that the outside of the pickets and block-houses were everywhere perforated with bullets, and a number of ounce balls were picked up on the ground outside, fired at such a distance as not to have momentum sufficient to penetrate the logs. During the engagement, a man, judged to be a person of distinction, from a three-cornered hat and plume and gay apparel which he wore, was seen moving about among the Indians, but at too great a distance from the fort (as was thought) to be reached by a rifle shot. However, a friendly Chickasaw Indian, who was in the fort, loaded his gun with more than a double charge of powder, and fired at him. He was no more seen, but next day his three-cornered hat and plume were found on the ground. The loss of the Indians, it is believed, was very heavy, but the amount can not be exactly known, as they are in the habit of carrying off their dead. Mr. Proctor said that some of the Indians had poles with hooks at the end of them, with which they would run up where one was lying, hook to the belt or shirt of the slain, and drag him off out of gunshot range, where they were seen up the creek putting the bodies on horses and bearing them off. The succeeding night Isaac Paxton - 123 was foggy and dark, which gave the Indians a good opportunity of removing their dead. The Indians kept up an occasional fire during the night, which was returned by the garrison. In the morning the Indians appeared to have withdrawn from the fort, and after some time in the day, several men went out to examine and collect the bodies of the slain of Major McMahon's party. Isaac Paxton, who had gone out with the party, went some further than the rest, when he discovered a few Indians at no great distance from him. He raised his gun to fire on them, but at that instant heard firing at the fort, and supposing the Indians to have resumed the attack, he reserved his fire, and made the best of his way to the fort, when he found the firing had been made as a signal to recall the men, the Indians having been seen by those in the garrison. Judging from the extent of the Indian encampment, and their line of march in seventeen columns, forming a wide and extended front, and from other circumstances, it was believed that their numbers could not be less than fifteen hundred. It was also believed that they were scarce of provisions, as they had killed and eaten a number of pack-horses in their encampment the evening after the assault, and also on their retreat, seven miles from Recovery, where they remained two nights, having been incumbered by the dead and wounded. There were none killed inside of the fort, 124 - Pioneer Biography. although the balls occasionally entered between the interstices of the logs and at the port-holes. In one instance, Mr. Paxton had a narrow escape, a ball aimed to pass through one of the spaces between the logs of the block-house, struck the log and glanced off, passing through his clothes without doing him any bodily harm. According to the official return of Major Mills, adjutant-general of the army, it appears that in the action, there were twenty-two killed and thirty wounded. Among the killed were Major McMahon, Captain Hartshorn, and Lieutenant Craig. Among the wounded were Captain Taylor, of the dragoons, and Lieutenant Darke of the legion. Captain Gibson, who commanded the fort, behaved with great gallantry, and received the thanks of the commander-in-chief; as did every officer and soldier of the garrison, and the escort, who were engaged in that most gallant and successful defense. On the 28th day of July, 1794, at eight o'clock in the morning, the main army, under the command of General Wayne, left Fort Greenville, and took up their line of march into the Indian country. They marched twelve miles this day, and at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, encamped on the banks of Stillwater, a branch of the Great Miami. The next day (the 29th), they resumed their march at five o'clock in the morning, and proceeded fifteen miles, one mile Isaac Paxton - 125 in advance of Fort Recovery, where they encamped at one o'clock in the afternoon. The next morning (July 3o), Captain Gibson, who commanded at Fort Recovery, with his company, of which Isaac Paxton was one, joined the main army. They marched eleven miles this day, and at three o'clock P. M., encamped at Beaver creek, a head branch of the Wabash river. The country was covered with a heavy growth of beech timber, through which the road had to be cut, as in the whole course of the march. The weather was warm, no water, except in ponds, which nothing but excessive thirst would induce the men to drink. The mosquitoes were very annoying, and, Mr. Paxton said, the largest he had ever seen. At Beaver creek was a swamp on each side of the creek, over which a bridge had to be built, seventy yards long, for the passage of the army, which employed them during the next day. In the morning, one hundred pioneers set out, strongly escorted, to cut a road to the St. Mary's river, twelve miles. The bridge was built by cutting down large trees and sawing them into blocks of six or eight feet in length, which were placed on end in two rows in the water and soft mud, which was about five feet deep. On these blocks were laid string pieces, and across them split timber to form the floor of the bridge. A few years ago, some of these blocks and remains of the bridge might be seen 126 - Pioneer Biography. on Beaver creek, about four miles west of the Mercer county reservoir. On the 1st of August, the bridge being completed, the army moved forward before sunrise, and marched twelve miles, to the St. Mary's river, where they encamped on a beautiful prairie, at three o'clock P. M. The army remained here two days for the purpose of erecting a garrison. On the 2d of August, while here, one of the deputy quartermasters was taken prisoner by the Indians. The spies discovered where four of the enemy had retreated precipitately, with a horse, supposed to be the party that had taken the quartermaster. On the 3d of August, an accident occurred, by a tree falling upon General Wayne, which might have put an end to his existence; but, fortunately, he was not so much injured as to prevent him from riding slowly the next day. The garrison being finished, was named " Fort Adams," and Lieutenant Underhill, with one hundred men, left to protect it. And on the 4th of August, at six o'clock, the army moved forward and marched ten miles, when they encamped at three o'clock in the afternoon. On the 5th of August, the army marched thirteen miles, and encamped at four o'oclock in the afternoon. The weather had been extremely warm since they left Greenville, and the water scarce and bad, so that they were sometimes obliged to dig holes in boggy places, and let it settle. Some rain fell this day. The army marched twelve miles on the 6th, and encamped at two Isaac Paxton - 127 o'clock P. M.   In the course of this day's march, they perceived a trail where twenty Indians had passed. On the 7th of August, the army marched twelve miles. At the distance of about six miles, they passed the Upper Delaware town on the Auglaize river, which the Indians had evacuated some time before. They saw no appearance of Indians that day. On the 8th of August, the army marched at five o'clock in the morning, and in nine miles reached the confluence of the Auglaize with the Maumee river, at half-past ten o'clock A. M., seventy-seven miles from Fort Recovery. Here was an Indian town, now abandoned, before the arrival of the army. This is the place called Grand Glaize For four or five miles before arriving at this place, their march was through luxuriant cornfields in roasting ears. They encamped a short .distance above the confluence of the two rivers, where they strongly fortified. Here they had vegetables of every kind in abundance, there being more than a thousand acres cultivated in corn and vegetables around them. General Wayne ordered a strong garrison to be erected on the point immediately at the confluence of the two rivers, which was commenced the next morning, and the work prosecuted until the 14th of the month, when it was considered to be in a suitable condition for defense. It was named Fort Defiance, and he placed in it a strong detachment to, defend it. 128 - Pioneer Biography. The troops, as well as the horses and cattle, being much refreshed after their toilsome march, by rest and luxuriant living on corn and vegetables, on the 15th of August, took up their line of march to meet the enemy. They crossed the Maumee river opposite to their encampment, the men on foot waded the river, which was not more than knee-deep, and marched down on the north side. Encamped at one o'clock. Corn and vegetables in abundance. On the next day (16th of August), continued their march down the river and encamped nineteen miles from Fort Defiance. On the 17th, the army marched twelve miles, to the head of the Rapids, where they encamped. This day, a small party of the enemy's spies fell in with the spies of the army; both parties being for discoveries, they retreated, at which time the Indians fired and wounded one of the horses belonging to the Americans. On the 18th, the army continued their march ten miles down the river, and encamped at Roach de Bout, at three o'clock in the afternoon. After encamping, five of the spies were sent out to make discoveries. They fell in with an advance body of the enemy, and were obliged to retreat, but May, one of the spies, was taken by the enemy. The next day (the 19th), the army continued in their encampment, throwing up works to secure and deposit the heavy baggage of the troops, so that the men might be light for action, in case they should meet the enemy. The place was called Isaac Paxton - 129 " Camp Deposit." On the morning of the loth of August (1794), after depositing every kind of baggage in the temporary work which had been thrown up, under a sufficient guard for its protection, the army took up their line of march at seven o'clock, and continued their route down the margin of the river. The men were in high spirits. The army consisted of about two thousand regular troops, and eleven hundren mounted men from Kentucky, under the command of General Scott. They marched in their usual order. Captain Gibson's company of riflemen, to which Isaac Paxton belonged, and Captain Butler's company of riflemen, were on the left of the army outside and some distance from the musket-men, and outside of them, on the left, were the Kentucky mounted men. The riflemen marched in single file, with a space of six feet between each two, consequently the two companies formed quite a long line. The general order and practice was to change the order of the line every day, so that those in front one day were placed in the rear the next day. This was done to equalize the fatigue of marching, as it was said to be easier marching in front than in the rear. It so happened that on the day when the engagement took place, Mr. Paxton was in the extreme rear of the line, and that when the firing commenced, and orders were given to form, those in the rear had to march a considerable distance to form the line of battle in front. Owing to some mistake in 130 - Pioneer Biography. the commander of the platoon to which Mr. Paxton belonged, they were thrown into a little disorder, and they had to run or move very rapidly to gain their position in front. However, they were in time to check the Indians, who were endeavoring to outflank and turn the left wing of the army, where the weight of their fire was directed. It was about eleven o'clock, when the army had advanced five miles, that Major Price's select battalion of mounted volunteers, which formed the front guard, was fired on by the enemy, and compelled to retreat through the front guard of the regulars on foot, commanded by Captain Cook and Lieutenant Steele, which threw them into some confusion. However, in fifteen minutes the order of battle was formed in two lines, and the charge sounded. The front line was ordered to advance with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts from behind logs and in the grass, at the point of the bayonet, and then, but not till then, deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, and press them so closely as not to give them time to reload their guns. The orders were promptly obeyed with spirit, and such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line, that the enemy were driven from their coverts, and gave way, firing scattering shots as they ran off, before the second line could be brought into action. In one hour the American army had undisputed possession of the field. Isaac Paxton - 131 The loss of the American army was thirty-three killed and one hundred wounded. The Indians left forty dead on the ground, and no doubt carried off many more, so that their loss could not be accurately known. After the battle, the troops took some refreshment and marched down the river, and encamped within half a mile of the British garrison (Fort Miami). The army remained at this encampment three days and three nights, during which time they burned all the houses and destroyed all the fields of corn and vegetables in the vicinity to within one hundred yards of the fort. The volunteers were sent down eight miles below the fort, and burned and destroyed all the possessions belonging to the Indians and Canadians within that distance, among which were the houses, stores, and property of Colonel McKee, the British Indian agent. A small party of dragoons were sent over the river, and burned and destroyed all the houses and cornfields that were under cover of the fort. The remains of the brave fellows who fell in the battle of the loth were buried with all the honors of war by a discharge of three rounds from sixteen pieces of ordnance, charged with shells. The ceremony was peformed with the greatest solemnity. On the 23d of August, the army broke up their encampment, and returned to Camp Deposit, where they had left their baggage and stores on the loth. Next day, they took up their line of march, and halted at two o'clock, at their old camp of the 17th. 132 - Pioneer Biography. August 25th. The legion continued their march, and encamped on the ground which they had occupied on the 16th. This morning, a detachment remained in the rear of the army, and soon after the legion had taken up their line of march, they saw eight Indians coming toward the camp. They attacked them, killed one, and wounded two of them. On the 26th, the legion continued their march, and at two o'clock arrived on the ground where they had encamped on the 15th. Dr. Carmichael, through neglect or inadvertence, had placed a number of the wounded men in wagons among spades, axes, picks, and other articles, in consequence of which, and the jolting of the wagons over bad roads, they suffered extremely. All the wounded that were borne on litters and on horseback, were sent forward to Fort Defiance. On the 27th, the legion continued their march to opposite Fort Defiance, where they recrossed the Maumee river by wading, and at three o'clock encamped on the south bank of the river one mile above the fort. It rained nearly constantly every day since the army commenced their march from the battle ground, which made the roads very muddy, and was the occasion of fatiguing the troops very much. The army remained at Defiance until the 14th of September, during which time they were engaged in fortifying and strengthening the fort to make it sufficiently strong to be proof against heavy metal. Isaac Paxton - 133 Fort Defiance was situated on the point made by the Maumee and Auglaize rivers. At each angle of the fort was a block-house of heavy timber made bombproof; with port-holes in the three exterior sides, a door on the inner side, with a fire-place and chimney at the side of the door. There was a line of pickets on each side of the fort, connecting the block-houses by their nearest angles. Outside of the pickets, and around the block-houses, was a glacis—a wall of earth—eight feet thick, sloping upward and outward from the feet of the pickets, supported by a log wall on the sides of the ditch, and by facines—a wall of faggots—on the side next the Auglaize river. A ditch, fifteen feet wide and eight feet deep, surrounded the whole work, except on the side next the Auglaize. There was a small sandbar immediately at the point formed by the two rivers, and a gateway into the fort on the side facing the point. From this gateway there was a ditch eight feet deep, extending to the sand-bar, by which water was procured from the river, without exposing the carrier to the enemy ; next to the fort the ditch was also protected by pickets for some distance. On the opposite or south side of the fort was another gate and a draw-bridge, which was raised and lowered by pulleys across the ditch, covering it or leaving it uncovered at pleasure. The ration of flour became scarce before the army left Defiance; but they had plenty of corn which was 134 - Pioneer Biography. becoming dry enough to grate, and abundance of vegetables—pumpkins, beans, melons, and fruits. On the 29th of August, all the pack-horses belonging to the quartermaster and contractor's department were sent to Fort Recovery, escorted by Brigadier-General Todd's brigade of mounted volunteers, for the purpose of bringing supplies to Defiance. They returned on the loth of September, and brought two hundred kegs of flour and two hundred head of cattle. While at Defiance, a number of the soldiers got sick with the fever and ague, which they had very severely, but recovered. On the 9th of September, the commander-in-chief engaged with some of the volunteers to bring on flour from Greenville, on their own horses, for which they were to receive three dollars per cwt., delivered at the Miami villages. On the 11th of September, General Barber's brigade of mounted volunteers set out for Fort Recovery for provisions, to meet the army at the Miami villages. On the 13th of September, at seven o'clock A. NI., the pioneers under the direction of the sublegionary quartermaster, with a strong escort, set out to cut a road up the Maumee river. At seven o'clock, on the morning of the 14th of September, the army began their march from Defiance for the Miami villages, and after marching eight hours in a continued rain, eleven and a half miles, at three o'clock Isaac Paxton - 135 P. M., made their encampment for the night. The next morning (the 15th), they set out at six o'clock and marched eleven and a half miles further, and encamped at four o'clock. This day, Captain Preston, who commanded the light troops in the rear, got lost, and lay out all night from the army, with a considerable portion of the baggage. The next day (the 16th), the army marched ten miles over a rough road, through very thick woods, and encamped at four o'clock. On the 17th of September, they marched fourteen miles to the Indian Miami villages, at the confluence of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers, where they arrived at five o'clock P. M., and pitched their tents. This is the place to which General Harmar marched in 1790; in the vicinity of which Colonel Hardin and a part of his troops were defeated by the Indians on the 17th of October in that year, and on this ground the town of Fort Wayne, in the State of Indiana, has since been laid out. At this place there was then a body of cleared land, lying together and under cultivation, of at least five hundred acres, and in the vicinity had been no less than five Indian villages. It had been the largest Indian settlement in the country. The next day the troops were engaged in fortifying their camp, as it was too late on the evening before, when they halted, to effect it to their satisfaction. General Wayne reconnoitered the ground, and determined on the spot on which to build a garrison, which 136 - Pioneer Biography. he selected on the south side of the Maumee river, opposite to the mouth of the St. Joseph's river. In the evening, four deserters from the British came into camp giving information that the Indians, to the number of sixteen hundred, were encamped eight miles below the British fort. On the 20th, General Barber's command, which had been sent to Fort Recovery for provisions on the 11th, arrived in camp, bringing five hundred and fifty-three kegs of flour, each containing one hundred pounds. On the 24th of September, the work for building the garrison commenced, by cutting timber in the forest, and bringing it to the place selected for the site. The timber was hauled by men on the hind wheels of wagons. At one time, while the troops remained at this camp, they were on short allowance for several days. A sheep was sold for ten dollars. Three dollars were offered for one pint of salt, but it could not be obtained for less than six. A keg of whisky, containing ten gallons, was sold for eighty dollars. How ever, they soon received supplies from Greenville. On the 26th, Robert McClellan, one of the spies, with a small party, came to the camp from Fort Defiance, and brought information that the Indians were troublesome about the garrison, and that they had killed some men under the walls of the fort. Sixteen Indians were seen this day by a party that were getting Isaac Paxton - 137 out timber. They were pursued but could not be overtaken. On the night of the 3d of October, the weather became extremely cold. Ice froze in the camp kettles three-quarters of an inch thick; and on the morning of the 4th, the frost appeared like a light snow. The weather continued cold for several days. On the 12th of October, the Kentucky mounted volunteers marched for Greenville, in order to be mustered and discharged at that place, and return to their homes, as their services in the army were no longer needed. On the 13th, Captain Gibson, with his company, to which Isaac Paxton was attached, set out for Fort Recovery, taking with them a number of horses to receive and bring on supplies of provisions for the army. They marched to Recovery, received the supplies, and returned to camp on the 17th, with a large quantity of flour and beef, and some sheep. The garrison being so far completed as to be in a suitable condition for defense, Colonel Hamtramck, of the first sublegion, who had been appointed to the command, on the 2 2 d of October (1794), at seven o'clock in the morning, with the companies of Captain Kingsbury, Captain Greaton, Captain Sparks, Captain Reed, Captain Preston, and Captain Porter's company of artillery, marched into the garrison and took pos- 138 - Pioneer Biography. session, and, after firing fifteen rounds of cannon, Colonel Hamtramck gave it the name of Fort Wayne. On the 28th of October, the legion broke up their camp at Fort Wayne, and at nine o'clock A. M. took up the line of march on their return for Greenville. They followed General Harmar's old trace up the St. Mary's river, and marched nine miles that day, when they encamped. On the next morning, they resumed their march at sunrise, and proceeded twelve miles, when they encamped at three o'clock. The ensuing day they set out at seven o'clock, and marched all day in a continual, heavy, cold rain until sunsetting, when they encamped on the southwest bank of the St. Mary's river. On the 31st, the troops took up their line of march at sunrise, and marched all day in a heavy rain until three hours after dark, when they encamped at Girty's town on the St. Mary's. On the 1st and 2d of November the army continued their march, and on the evening of the 2d they arrived at Greenville, where they were saluted with twenty-four rounds from a six-pounder. The army had marched from Greenville on the 28th of July. Their absence from that place, from the time they left until their return, was three months and six days. Isaac Paxton remained with the army, at their headquarters at Greenville, during the winter and until the Isaac Paxton - 139 following July, when he applied for his discharge. He received a certificate that "he has served as a private in the fourth sublegion and in Captain Alexander Gib-son's company of riflemen. He has delivered up his arms and accouterments without deficiency, and is permitted to apply to headquarters for an honorable discharge." On presenting this certificate at headquarters, he received an honorable discharge under the hand and seal of the commander-in-chief, General Anthony Wayne. His discharge is dated at Greenville, the 7th of July, 1795. In it he is described as a man twenty-four years of age, five feet eight inches high, fair complexion, dark hair, and blue eyes. Mr. Paxton served upward of three years in the army, all the time under the command of Captain Alexander Gibson. Benjamin Lockwood* was lieutenant. Ensign Taylor belonged to the company part of the time. William Peters was major commanding the fourth sublegion. When Mr. Paxton received his discharge, there was no money to pay him off. He set out and walked to Cincinnati. When he arrived there, he had not money *Benjamin Lockwood was afterward promoted to the rank of captain, on the loth of July, 1797. He died at Fort Adams, on the Mississippi river, below Natchez, in the year 1808. His widow afterward married Captain John Cleves Symmes, the author of the theory of concentric spheres. 140 - Pioneer Biography. enough to pay his expenses across the Ohio river, and no means of bearing his expenses to his home. There was a silversmith shop in the then village of Cincinnati, where he engaged to work for his support. In October, learning that the soldiers of the army were being paid off at Greenville, he walked to that place, received his three dollars per month, and returned on foot to Cincinnati, where he continued to work at his trade until the year 1801, when he went to live in what is now the southeast part of Butler county (Union township), then a part of Hamilton county. In the year 1803, Mr. Paxton married Mrs. Madeline Williams, a widow — her maiden name was Vanhise — and, in 1807, removed to the west side of the Great Miami river, on a small farm which is now on the turnpike road from Hamilton to Trenton, five miles from Hamilton, where he lived until the year 1813. In that year he sold his farm, purchased a lot in the town of Hamilton, built a house, and opened a shop in which he continued to work at his trade until the infirmities of age compelled him to decline business. Mr. Paxton's wife died at Hamilton, on the 23d of June, 1826, without leaving any issue. In 1831, Mr. Paxton married a second time. His wife's name was Mrs. Phares, a widow lady, a daughter of the late Paul Saunders, and sister of Isaac T. Saunders, of Hamilton. Mr. Paxton died on the 7th of October, 1861. X. Pierson Sayre. OF that heroic band who fought and bled under the command of General Washington in achieving the independence of our country as a nation, few now remain. The last one known to reside in this vicinity has just "gone to that bourne from whence no traveler returns." At half an hour past twelve o'clock, on the morning of Sunday, April 4, 1852, Major Pierson Sayre died at Hamilton, county of Butler, in the ninety-first year of his age. He passed gently away, like the lamp whose oil has been exhausted, or like the aged oak that falls in the stillness of night, when there is no wind abroad to shake its lofty trunk. So sunk his body to rest, and the immortal spirit, it is to be hoped, took its flight to the realms of "the just made perfect." Pierson Sayre was born in the State of New Jersey, in a small village then called Turkey (now known by the name of Providence), September 12, 1761. At the age of seventeen years, he entered the Continental army, as a private soldier in the New Jersey division, then under the command of General Lord Sterling. He remained in the army two years and a half, during which 142 - Pioneer Biography. time he participated in most of the battles fought in the State of New Jersey during that period; among several others, the battle of Springfield, fought June 23, 178o, under the command of Major-General Nathaniel Greene, was frequently mentioned by him. During his service in the army, he consequently suffered all the privations and hardships to which the soldiers of the Revolutionary army were subjected. With Mr. Sayre, a favorite topic in conversation was General Washington and the Revolutionary army. He was familiar with the personal appearance and character of Washington, the Father of his Country, which can be said of very few persons now living. After Mr. Sayre left the army, he went to the city of New York, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. And on the 29th day of June, 1786, he was married to Miss Catherine Lewis, in the city of New York, with whom he lived an agreeable and happy life for upward of fifty-two years, until December 25, 1838, when she died at Hamilton, aged seventy-five years. She was a pious and exemplary woman, universally esteemed and respected by all to whom she was known. She was well capacitated for business, and well versed in the domestic business of her household, and by the prudence and care of her husband's domestic affairs, contributed largely to his happiness and interest. Mr. Sayre resided in the city of New York, and worked at his trade, until 1790, when he removed to Pierson Sayre - 143 the western part of Pennsylvania, and settled in Uniontown, Fayette county, where he resided until the year 1809, when he removed to the State of Ohio. While Mr. Sayre resided in Uniontown, he gradually rose in the estimation of the society among whom he was located; as an evidence of which, we find that he held a commission as lieutenant in a company of militia, dated June 6, 1793, signed by Governor Thomas Mifflin; also a commission as captain of a company, dated February 7, 1797, also signed by Governor Thomas Mifflin. He also held a commission as major, dated August 2, 1800, signed by Thomas McKean. It may be observed that an office in the militia of the State of Pennsylvania was at that day considered a mark of much higher honor, and of more importance, than it is in our day in the State of Ohio. Mr. Sayre was subsequently elected sheriff of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, which office he held for the term of three years, the period for which the same person was eligible to the office according to the constitution of the State, during which time he discharged the duties of his office faithfully, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1809, Mr. Sayre, with his family, removed from Uniontown to Butler county, in the State of Ohio. He first purchased a farm and tavern-stand seven miles from Hamilton, on the road leading to Middletown. It was then known by the sign of the "Cross Keys." It had formerly been a celebrated tavern-stand and place 144 - Pioneer Biography. of public meetings during the early settlement of the Miami Valley, and had previovsly been kept by Andrew Christy. It was subsequently known as the Cummins' stand. Here Mr. Sayre resided and kept a house of entertainment for a few years, when he sold out to Abraham Miley, and removed to Cincinnati, where he kept a tavern near the corner of Front and Walnut streets, at the sign of the " Green Tree." The property then belonged to the late Isaac Anderson, an old pioneer residing in Butler county. Afterward, Mr. Sayre purchased a tract of land from Colonel James Clark, in Lemon township, Butler county, lying on the road leading from Cincinnati to Franklin, where he resided until the year 1814, when he sold out his possession to John. H. Piatt, of Cincinnati, who subsequently laid out the town of Monroe on the same premises. In 1814, Mr. Sayre purchased of John Sutherland lot No. 120 on Front street, between Dayton and Stable streets, in the town of Hamilton, with the house thereon, and in the same year settled in Hamilton. He, however, resided but a few months in this house, when he removed to the old Torrence tavern-stand, situated on the corner of Dayton and Water streets. It is the same house at this time owned and occupied by Henry. S. Earhart. Here he lived and kept a tavern for several years. In October, 1817, he was elected sheriff of the Pierson Sayre - 145 county of Butler for two years, and at the expiration of his term, in October, 1819, he was again elected to the same office, making his term of service four years. As the constitution of the State of Ohio prescribes that no person shall hold the office of sheriff more than four years in any term of six years, consequently Mr. Sayre could not be again a candidate at the expiration of his second term of office. He was succeded in office by Samuel Millikin, who served four years, after which, in October, 1825, Mr. Sayre was again a candidate for the office of sheriff; and was elected by a large majority. He served the further term of two years, making his whole term of office six years. Mr. Sayre was appointed the first collector of tolls on the Miami canal. The office was then kept at the east end of the Hamilton basin. He built a family residence there, and held the office from March 1, 1828, until April 1, 1830. In 1835, he was appointed toll-gatherer for the bridge across the great Miami river at Hamilton. He attended faithfully to the duties of that appointment from April 1, 1835, until April 1, 1839. Major Sayre survived all those who had been his contemporaries in his youth. Even most of his own children died before him, and the second generation was fast passing away. Long before he died he had experienced what Lord Byron considered the chief misery of old age. He had outlived all his early associates. Of 146 - Pioneer Biography. him the saddening words of the poet may be truly spoken: The mossy marbles rest On the lips that he had prest I' their bloom ; And the names he loved to hear Have been carved for many a year On the tomb. Mr. Sayre had lived to witness astonishing changes in the West. He had seen the primeval forests of Butler county converted into fertile cultivated fields and gardens. He had seen the Miami river spanned by a substantial bridge, uniting the towns of Hamilton and Rossville. He had seen the county of Butler intersected with turnpike roads in all directions, where he had often, when sheriff of the county, wended his way along deep muddy roads or obscure bridle paths. He had seen the county traversed from north to south by a canal carrying the surplus produce of the country to market. And on September 18, 1851, he witnessed the arrival of the locomotive and cars of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, on the occasion of the celebration of the completion of the road. This, to his mind, was the crowning wonder of all; and, with astonishment, he exclaimed: " I am ready to die now." On the second Tuesday of October following, he was taken to the general election in a carriage, when he cast his vote for the last time, returned home, and was not off his own premises afterward. Pierson Sayre - 147 Mr. Sayre was, for the greatest portion of his life, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was universally reverenced and esteemed as an honest man. In all his relations, of husband, father, friend, and neighbor, he has left a character well worthy of imitation. During his whole life, until within a few years of his death, he was a man of great energy and most persevering industry in whatever pursuit he was engaged in. At the age of eighty-five years, he was seen moving in our streets with almost the activity and sprightliness of a young man of twenty. When not engaged in official duties, he was always pursuing some private business. He was never idle, but was always doing something. It was before stated that in early life he had learned the trade of a carpenter. He occasionally pursued this business in after life. In the year 1820, he contracted with the commissioners of Butler county to furnish the materials and build the two public offices on the public square, the one on the east and the other on the west side of the court-house, which he completed the ensuing year, according to contract, to the entire satisfaction of the commissioners. They were at first built only one story high. An additional story was added some years afterward. Mr. Sayre was also the contractor for building the Female Academy situated on the south side of the hydraulic race, near the Miami river, which he completed in the year 1834. He also built or superintended the building of several other 148 - Pioneer Biography. houses in Hamilton. A few years previous to his death, he built a family residence on a lot adjoining the one he had first purchased, in which he resided until his death. It was inherited by his daughter, Sarah, who now owns the property. About five years previous to Mr. Sayre's death, the physical powers of his body began to decline, and with them the active powers of his mind appeared to sink and give way with his bodily strength. About three years before his death, the morbid state of his mind became such as though a second childhood had commenced. He became so helpless as to require assistance to rise up or lie down, and required almost the same care and attention as an infant. In this situation he was nearly forgotten by the world, except by a few intimate friends. But there was one who clung to him in his afflictions, and used every means in her power to soothe his mind and anticipate his wants. This was his youngest daughter, Miss Sarah Sayre. She attended upon him, watched over his couch night and day, and administered to his wants during the long period of his imbecile condition with that tender care and solicitude which the female hand can only attain. Pierson Sayre's father's name was Ezekiel. In the year 1788, he lived at a place called Stony Hill, in the State of New Jersey. His family consisted of himself and wife, with four sons and two daughters, viz : Levi, Pierson Sayre - 149 John, Huldah, Pierson (the subject of this sketch), Benjamin (who was afterward sheriff of Warren county, Ohio), and Rachel. In October, 1790, Ezekiel Sayre removed from the State of New Jersey to Cincinnati (the same year that his son Pierson removed to the western part of Pennsylvania). He afterward lived near Reading, Hamilton county, Ohio. One of the daughters, Huldah, was married to Colonel John S. Wallace, at Cincinnati, on the 29th of November, 1791. Colonel Wallace's name is somewhat familiar in the early history of the West, in consequence of his daring adventure in the year 1791—in making his escape in the night from the fort at Cole-rain, when beseiged by the Indians, in order to carry the news of the attack to Fort Washington. Colonel Wallace deceased several years ago, leaving his wife a widow. She died in Cincinnati, on the 13th of March, 185o, in the eightieth year of her age, and in the sixtieth year of her residence in Cincinnati. She had been a resident of that place for a longer period than any other person either heretofore, or now, her survivor. The other daughter, Rachel, married a Mr. McCullough, and still survives. She was present at the funeral of her brother, Pierson Sayre. She is a very aged woman, and resides in the town of Montgomery, Hamilton county, Ohio. At ten o'clock A. M., on the 6th of April, 1852, the