150 - DARKE COUNTY toward the early development of the country, but leaving no name or record for the chronicler. Among the settlers of 1809-10 were Moses Scott and family, who purchased two lots adjoining the public square in Greenville and erected a two-story log house in which he conducted a first class tavern for twelve years or more. Scott and his son William were the first sheriffs of Darke county, filling the first, second and third regular terms of that office after the organization of the county. This family emigrated to Fort Wayne in 1824. Charles Sumtion and family, comprising wife, two sons and four daughters, came to the county about the time of Scott's advent. Later he settled along Greenville creek in Washington township and died in 1825 near the present site of Coletown. The Rush brothers, James, Henry and Andrew, came from near Circleville, O., in 1810, accompanied by their brothers-in-law, John Hiller and Henry Creviston. James and Henry settled on and near the site of Prophetstown, probably because they found several acres of land cleared for their coming. Andrew and Hiller settled on the West branch near what was later known as the Hiller settlement. Shortly afterward Matthew Young came from Pickaway county, and in conjunction with Creviston, purchased a tract of land northeast of Coletown, where the latter resided until 1825, when he moved to Washington township. James Rush served as one of the first Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court for fourteen years, being chosen by the legislature in 1817 and again in 1824. He moved to Indiana about 1831, leaving a daughter, a Mrs. John Deardorff. Henry Rush died in 1813, leaving a widow, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Rush later married James Bryson, who has several descendants now living in Darke county. Andrew Rush was murdered by the Hndians in 1812, as will be noted elsewhere. Linus Bascom settled north of Greenville about 1811 and he opened a trading station. After the murder of Andrew Rush in the spring of 1812 he abandoned his store and came to Greenville, where he opened a store on the northeast corner. of the public square, and became one of the prosperous citizens. (See sketch of J. L. Bascom in Vol. II). Probably the most notable addition to the new settlement in 1811 was Abraham Scribner, a brother of Azor Scribner, the DARKE COUNTY - 151 pioneer merchant of the town. He was about thirty years old at this time, almost deaf, and of a singular disposition. In 1813 he enlisted in the war and later participated in the battle of the Thames with Harrison. In 1814 he married John Devor's daughter. About this time he entered some prairie land near the mouth of Mud creek, erected a log house on it, and brought his wife up from her home in Montgomery county. In probably two years he traded his land to John Compton, of Dayton, for a stock of goods, estimated to be worth $1,600 at retail, and opened shop. He later built a small building on the southwest corner of West Main and and Elm streets, and still later purchased the brick building on lot Number 59. With the exception of a few months' residence in Henry county, Indiana, he carried on business in Greenville until his death in 1846 or 1847. He was married three times and raised a large family including several sons. Prominent mention is given to his name as he was closely identified with the early life of Greenville, being especially active in party politics as the autocrat of the Democratic party for several years. Speaking politically, "Whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive." We are now at the threshold of the War of 1812. At this time a stockade was erected at Greenville which was then a small outpost well known for its previous connection with the Wayne campaign from 1793 to 1796. It seems that four blockhouses were erected to protect the budding settlement; one on the northern outskirts of the town, on the north side of East Water street between Walnut street and the ravine, formerly skirting the west side of the old cemetery; one to the south near the present southeast corner of Wayne avenue and Armstrong street; one on lot 59 West Main street (opposite the Wayne memorial tablet) ; another probably on West Water street just north of the intersection of Elm street, on the east side of the old ravine overlooking the old fording place. It was garrisoned first by a few men under Captain Wolverton and Lieutenant Fish, the soldiers being mostly from the neighboring counties of Miami, Montgomery, Greene, Warren, Butler and Preble, together with some who were prospective settlers. Later, Mayor Geo. Adams took command. "Among these soldiers can be enumerated John and Samuel Loring, James Cloyd, David and Peter Studabaker (brothers of Abraham and John Studabaker, already men- 152 - DARKE COUNTY tioned), Jacob Miller (who for many years was known by the cognomen of 'Proaps'), Joseph Gass, Asa Spencer, Thomas Briggs, David Riffle, Hezekiah and Lewis Phillips, and John Ellis. Some of these men were married, but for the time being had left their wives and children `below in the settlement,' as the common phrase then was, and others, either during the war or at its close married in the vicinity. John Loring had entered a quarter section adjoining Devor, as early as 1809, but had sold to John Stoner. A considerable part of the Loring quarter section is now part of the town of Greenville. Sam Loring brought his family to Darke county after the war, and located on the quarter section on which a portion of the village of Palestine is laid out. James Cloyd, at the return of peace, married a daughter of Andrew Noffsinger, and remained a resident of German township, until his decease, some four or five years ago, at which time he was president of the Pioneer Association of Darke county. John Ellis was in St. Clair's army at the time of the defeat at Recovery, in 1791 ; was with Wayne from 1793 to 1796, and participated in the defense of Recovery, at the time of the Indian attack, and in the rout of the Indians at Rouge de Bout, in 1794. After the second treaty of Greenville, in August, 1814, he brought his family and settled at. Castine, where he resided for a number of years, and subsequent to 1840, he removed to Mercer county near Recovery, where, after some years' residence, he died, at the age of over ninety. Ellis, in his youth, had been a prisoner with the Indians, and exhibited, ever after through his long life, many Indian characteristics. David Studabaker was killed in the army, during the war of 1812. Peter Studabaker, between 1825 and 1830, removed to the Wabash, below Recovery, and some years later, farther down the river in Indiana, where his death occurred some twenty years since. "The Phillips brothers, about 1816, located on Miller's Fork, near the south boundary of Darke county, where both died in their old age. Joseph Gass, who was a near relation of the compiler of the journal of Lewis and Clark's expedition to the mouth of the Columbia river, at the commencement of this century, married a daughter of William Wilson, resided in several localities in Greenville township, until about 1833, when he left and went to Wisconsin. David Riffle, after the war, purchased land on Stillwater, above where Beamsville now is, and removed there in 1814, and after the lapse of a DARKE COUNTY - 153 few years, died there about 1820. Thomas Briggs married the Widow Wilson, relict of the William Wilson who was distinguished by the name of "Little Billy Wilson." His uncle, William Wilson, the father of the children murdered by the Indians, being known as `Old Billy.'" During the progress of the war emigration practically ceased and many of the early settlers returned to their former homes in the Miami valley. Block houses were erected in various parts of the county at about this time, among them Ft. Rush, near Prophetstown; Ft. Brier on the bend of the Stillwater in the southwest quarter of section 27, Richland township (probably named after Captain Samuel Brier, of Price's regiment of Ohio militia) ; Ft. Black (now New Madison) and Ft. Studabaker on the south of Greenville creek below the present site of Gettysburg. Besides these, Ft. Nesbit, a military supply station, was built in section 29, Harrison township. These afforded a measure of security to the scattered settlements, but the hostile Indians, for the most part, remained in the neighborhood of the lakes. A few lamentable atrocities occurred, however, which sent thrills of terror through the community. Accounts of these have been preserved and serve to illustrate the temper of the time. An Indian family comprising father, mother and a son about fourteen years of age, came from the direction of Ft. Recovery and camped at a spring (now on the Clate Rahn farm) about a mile northwest of the fort. Their presence was made known to the garrison by a white man who had traveled with them. Early the next morning Lieutenant Fish, with three or four men, stealthily approached the camp and shot the man and woman while engaged in preparing for the morning meal. The boy escaped after being wounded and the news of the cowardly act spread like wildfire among the Indians. As a result Ft. Meigs, in the northern part of the state, was beseiged by a large body of enraged savages before the middle of the following afternoon and fuel was added to the smoldering discontent of the northwest tribes. A large body of friendly Indians, probably mostly of the Delaware and Shawnee tribes, were located on the Miami river above Piqua under the protection of the United States agent, Col. Johnston. These were supplied with white flags when desiring to pass outposts in safety. On one occasion a number of these Indians were fired upon while approaching a party of whites with unfeigned confidence. Two of the 154 - DARKE COUNTY Indians were killed, one wounded, the rest taken captive and their property confiscated. Such dastardly deeds were, no doubt, largely committed by the rougher class of backswoodsmen who thought that there was no good Indian but a dead one, and we are not surprised at the consequent reprisals by the savages. About the last of April, 1812, Andrew Rush set out on horseback from his home on the West Branch for Terry's mill on Greenville creek at the bend above the present site of the Main street bridge. After getting his grist he started for home but lingered a while at the home of Daniel Potter and Isaac Vail, who lived over a mile up the creek on the north side. Here he was warned of the impending danger of savage depredations. Rush joked about their solicitude and proceeded on his way at about 4 p. m. It seems that the road or trail which he traveled lay between the present Union City pike and Greenville creek, following in and out along the bluff. Before he had proceeded half a mile further he was shot, tomahawked and scalped just above the later site of Rush's or Spiece's mill in section 28, Greenville township. His mutilated body was discovered by relatives on the following afternoon lying on his precious bag of meal. The alarm was spread throughout the neighboring settlements, houses were barricaded and many found refuge in the block-houses. The news spread to Troy and Lexington. Preble county, and by the night of the third day two companies of militia were camped at Greenville. On the following day the Preble county militia advanced about two miles to the site of the tragedy and buried the body of Rush. After this they proceeded to Ft. Rush, to protect and relieve the families of the settlers who had taken refuge there, and to escort the women and children back to the older settlements, where they remained until hostilities ceased. In the early fall of 1812 the garrison at Greenville was small, comprising but three companies of militia under Major Lanier. Several of the men had enlisted for service in the war with the British and Indians and were with the army waiting for orders to advance to the aMumee. At this juncture the Indians from the region of the Mississinawa became troublesome to the pioneer settlements of western Ohio, murdering any whom they found outside of the blockhouses and stealing horses and cattle. Combining various accounts it seems that on October 2d, Patsy and Anna Wilson, daughters of DARKE COUNTY - 155 "Old Billy Wilson," living north of town and aged respectively fourteen and eight years, accompanied by an older brother, had gone to the woods on the north side of Greenville creek to gather berries or wild grapes. When near the present site of the pond in the Meeker woods the girls were attacked by two or three prowling Indians, within gunshot of Terry's stockade which was located on the opposite side of the creek. While the children were separated they were fired upon by the Indians, without effect. The girls became too terrified to make their escape and were soon dispatched by the tomahawk. The boy ran for Terry's mill pond, formed by the daming of Greenwille creek near the foot of East Water street, whither he was pursued by one of the Indians armed with a tomahawk and scalping knife. One account says that the boy had laid his gun down and was unable to secure it; anther says that he had a shotgun with him, loaded with small pigeon shot, and that he wheeled and aimed at the Indian who instantly retreated, allowing him to swim the mill pond and spread the alarm. Abraham Scribner and Wm. Devor were attracted to the scene of the murder by the cries of the boy and the screams of the girls. Here they found the mutilated bodies, and carried them to the fort. The scalp had been taken from the head of the eldest and a long cut made on the head of the younger in an attempt to scalp her. Both, apparently, had been killed by the blows on the head with the back of a tomahawk. Their bodies were buried under a tree near the site of their murder, where they remained until July 4th, 1871, when they were disinterred and transferred to the new cemetery with imposing ceremonies, as elsewhere set forth in this volume. In the summer of 1813 another tragedy occurred in connection with the military operations in western Ohio. It seems that one Gosbary Elliot, a private in Capt. Sunderland's company, Second (Price's) regiment, of Ohio militia, was carrying a dispatch from Fort Greenville to Major Price, who was stationed at Lexington (near West Alexandria) in Preble county. He probably followed the trace leading through Fort Jefferson and on in the direction of the present pike to Ithaca and Lewisburg, and when near Beech Grove was attacked by a roving band of Indians. Tradition says that he took refuge behind a beech tree and dispatched two or three of his assailants with a rifle, and when his ammunition was exhausted engaged in a hand to hand tomahawk fight until finally slain 156 - DARKE COUNTY by one of the remaining redskins. His remains were interred nearby, but were disinterred some years later and placed in the old cemetery at Fort Jefferson, where they now lie under the shadow of the new M. E. church, unmarked save by a broken fragment of slate stone. The tomahawk marks on the beech tree behind which he fought could be seen from the road until the decay of the tree about thirty years ago. Elliot's army record is as follows: "Commencement of service, Feb. 16th, 1813; expiration of service, Aug. 15th, 1813; term of service charged 4 months 29 days; for Andrew Zellar killed by the Indians July 14th, 1913." One tradition is that Elliot was accompanied by John Stoner, who was chased some three miles further along the trace to the first crossing of Miller's Fork, where he also was slain. It is generally thought, however, that Stoner was slain later in the season. Stoner's army record shows that he served in Capt. Samuel Brier's company, Second regiment, Ohio militia, from April 12th, 1813, to Oct. 11th, 1813. This shows that he, like Elliot, enlisted for a term of six months. However, it is probable that tradition is right and that the date of his death was either not reported or through some error was not entered on the record. Stoner's remains were buried near the spot where he was killed, but were taken up in the fall of 1836 and reinterred in the Ithaca cemetery, where they still lie. The defeat of the British and Indians and the death of Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames in the fall of 1813, dampened the ardor of the hostile Indians and made them desirous of peace with the Americans. Overtures were made to the representatives of the United States Government by some of the hostile tribes. The chiefs and head men began to assemble at Greenville in the spring of 1814 and on July 22 signed a compact with General Harrison, as noted in Chapter 13 of this book. Concerning conditions at this time Judge Wharry says: "There was in attendance at Greenville during the time of the negotiations preceding the treaty and until it was signed, a large concourse of white men as well as Indians, Men were here from Cincinnati, Dayton, Hamilton, Chillicothe and various other places in Ohio; Maysville, Lexington, Frankfort and other places in Kentucky; from points on the Ohio river, and even from Maryland and Pennsylvania. Many DARKE COUNTY - 157 of these came to look at the country with a view to a settlement in it if they were pleased with it, and the Indian question so settled that they could emigrate to it and be freed from Indian disturbances; others to look out lands that it would be safe to buy as an investment of their surplus money; others to see what was to be seen, and make money if they could out of either Indians or white men as opportunity should offer, and many came with no defined object. Between the time of the treaty and the opening of the year 1816, many entries of land in Darke county were made at the land office in Cincinnati. The lands were sold by the government on a credit of one-eighth down and the residue in seven annual installments. A number of tracts in the vicinity of Greenville were taken up on speculation that did not change hands for many years, and were kept unimproved. Among those who thus purchased, and probably never saw the lands they bought were Gen. James Taylor, of Newport; Gen. James Butler, of Frankfort, KY.; George P. Torrence, David K. Este, David Wade and William Burke, of Cincinnati;. Nathan Richardson, of Warren county; Joseph Hough, of Chillicothe; Talbot Iddings, Andrew Hood and John Devor, of Montgomery county, and some others, whose purchases many of them long remained an eyesore, withheld from improvement, in the vicinity of Greenville. Many of these tracts, none of which were less than a quarter section, remained in first hands from twenty to forty years, brought in the end but little more than the purchase money and interest to those who had purchased them, and added proof, if proof were necessary, that the well-being and progress of society in this nation demands, that the title of the soil, vested in the national government or the states, should not be transferred save to actual settlers. "Many other purchases were made on credit, by men who failed to pay out, and were compelled in the end to relinquish part to save the residue, or entirely forfeit their purchases. The United States was, in the end, under the pressure of the debt entailed by the war of 1812 and other causes, compelled to abandon the system of selling the national demand upon credit. "Congress, however, in a year or two after the forfeiture, authorized the issue of what was termed land scrip, to those who had lost their purchases, equal in amount to what they had paid, which, being receivable at any government land office, in payment for the lands of the United states became 158 - DARKE COUNTY for some years a part in some measure of the business currency of the country, as the scrip could pass from hand to hand until it was canceled at the land office. "The emigration to the town, township and county, from the time of the `stampede' on the breaking out of the Indian troubles, and until after the treaties between the United States and both the Indians and England, was scarcely noticeable. Although many people came here, they did not come to stay, and were here for transient purposes only, and the population of the town, township and county, after the departure of the crowd who were here at the treaty, and after the withdrawal of the garrison at Greenville and from the other small stockades erected for protection in the evil days at Fort Nesbit, Fort Black and Fort Brier, was little, if any, greater than in the spring of 1812. "It may not. be amiss here to recapitulate, as well as can be done, who were as residents within the limits of the township of Greenville after the treaty was signed in 1814, and by the term, limits of the township confine the enumeration to the bounds of what is now Greenville township, and not, as then the whole county of Darke. In the town were Moses Scott, Azor Scribner, David Connor and John Loring, and the wife of the murdered John Stoner and his orphaned children. With these, as boarders or employers off and on, were Abraham Scribner, James Cloyd, Philder G. Lanham, Silas Atchison and probably some others whose residence cannot be definitely stated. North of the town, in Ireland, dwelt Enos Terry, Joe Wilson, "Old Billy" Wilson, "Little Billy" Wilson, Asa Spencer and in their families as dependents and hangerson, John Mooney, Joe Gass, and probably others not now remembered. Down the creek, below the town, and within a mile of it, was David Briggs, with whom resided his brother Thomas. Up Greenville creek, Aaron and Mathias Dean had commenced the erection of the mill in many years afterward designated Dean's mill, but on the murder of Rush, the work ceased, and they left for the Miami, near Middletown, and did not return and complete it until after the war. Up Mud creek, on the west side, were Thomas McGinnis. Barney Burns, Henry and James Rush. The widow of Andrew Rush, with her two children, the oldest of whom was horn November 28th, 1809, lived on the West Branch where it was crossed by the `Squaw Road.' David Miles was on the knoll where Mr. Griffin now resides, about a half mile DARKE COUNTY - 159 southwest of the mouth of Mud creek. On the east side of Mud creek were Abraham Miller and John Studabaker, and just above the last, but outside the present township boundary, Zadok Reagan had located in the edge of the prairie, at what was known in after years as the `Burnt Cabin.' On Bridge creek were David Thompson and George Freshour. * * * "Between the signing of the treaty of 1814 and the organization of the county in the spring of 1817, under the law of the preceding winter, the emigration to the township, as well as to the residue of the county, taking into view the sorry prospect of making a living in it, had increased the population more than threefold. In these two and a half years, George, Peter, John, Moses and Aaron Rush, brothers of the three who came in 1810, Henry Hardy and Archibald Bryson, who had married their sisters, came to the county; James Bryson, who married the widow of Henry Rush, came, and John Hiller returned from Miami county, to which he fled three years before on Indian account. Some of these parties settled outside of Greenville township, and others remained but for a brief period. On the West Branch and Greenville creek were settled John McFarland, Daniel Potter, David Williamson, Joseph Huffman and Isaac Dunn. With Williamson came his brothers James and John, who remained but for a brief period ; one went to Butler county, and the other returned to his father's house in Greene county to die of consumption. On the south of Greenville, between town and Abraham Miller's, Henry House, an old soldier of Wayne's army, with a family of sons and daughters, was located. In the southeast was located on Bridge creek, Nathan Popejoy; between him and David Thompson was settled William Arnold, and south of Thompson, now came Abraham Studabaker from his first location below Gettysburg. Down the creek were located William, George, Jacob, Andrew and Joel Westfall, on the north side; and William Hays, Sr., and William Hays, Jr., on the south side. Ebenezer Byram first settled up Greenville creek above Dean's mill, which, on their return, was completed in a year or about that after the war, but soon removed out of the township clown the creek to New Harrison, as his place is now termed, but which had no existence until years after his death. To Ireland came David Douglass, James Stephenson, or Stinson, as the name was usually pronounced, and Robert Barnett. Over the creek, on 160 - DARKE COUNTY the Recovery trace, was located David Irwin, and southwest of him, on the creek, David Ullery. East of Terry's place was located Alexander Smith, the first temporary sheriff of the county, Justice of the Peace of Greenville township for several years and once for a few days, owing to the non-receipt of election returns from some locality between Greenville and Maumee bay, had a seat in the state legislature, from which he was ejected on a contest with the far-famed Capt. Riley, who a few years previous, had been a prisoner riding a camel from Timbuctoo to Mogadore across the desert of Sahara, in Africa. Smith was afterward a candidate for the lower house of the state legislature, but was defeated by General James Mills. Riley also again was before the people of the district, which then included nine or ten counties of northwest Ohio, for a seat in the House of Representatives, but failed. Subsequently, becoming more ambitious, he ran for congress, but was badly beaten by William McLean, a brother of the late Judge McLean, of the United States Supreme Court. Archibald Bryson settled on the east side of West Branch, above and south of the `Squaw Road' and east of him, toward Mud creek, were located John Whitacre, John Embree, who was better known by the nickname of `Swift,' and David Marsh, the first peddled of `wallsweep' clocks in the county." * * * Concerning the character of the settlers in the county generally the same writer says: "The character of the first settlers cannot be said to be either good or bad. There was no disposition among them to do any great wrong, but the small vices, such as drunkenness, when liquor could be obtained, disregard of religious sentiments, and a great disposition to idleness. That there was any lack of honor or honesty or hospitality among these settlers, from anything said, must not be inferred. On the contrary, from what we can learn of them, they were never excelled in these qualities by any people. There were one or two natural thieves, or kleptomaniacs in the county, but they were detested exceptions to the mass. Defamation, and the biting tongue of slander was never heard nor felt. Casts, or quality, were not formed or regarded. One man was as good as another, and one woman was no better than another. All honest people were honorable among them. The traveler with his saddlebags filled with gold and silver could rest securely in any cabin at which he stopped." DARKE COUNTY - 161 In the year 1909 a document was discovered in the sheriff's office in the county court house giving what it purports to be a complete enumeration of the white male inhabitants above 21 years of age, some four hundred in number, of Darke county in 1825. It was compiled by Archibald Bryson and certified to the associate judges of the county. The document is of old style parchment, yellow with age, but tough and legible. A careful perusal will reveal the fact that nearly every name is perpetuated by descendants still living here and numbered among the most prosperous families. The list is as follows: Abraham Studebaker, David Cole, John Jett, James Burkhannon, David Douglas, Archibald Bryson, Christian Levingood, Peter Levingood, Andrew Perkins, John Hiller, David Michael, Andrew Westfall, Joseph Huffman, Daniel Patten, Nathaniel Gillum, John Dean, Permelia Elsbury, David Fisher, David Cole, Mathew Young, Janet Barnes, Thomas Barnes, Isaac Elsbury, Samuel Cole, Jonathan Parks, Ranna Perrine, Thomas McGinnis, George Sumption, Jacob Keller, Eleyer Sharp, James Bryson, James Rush, David Miller, John Rupel, John Sheets, Jacob Rupel, Michael Emrick, William Folkerth, Cornwall Stephens, John Rool, James Howard, Vockel Clery, Selby Sumter, James Hayes, William Martin, John Martin, William T. Carnahan, Richard Lyons, William Hayes, Sr., William Hayes, Henry D. Williams, Robert McIntire, David Thompson, Jeremiah Mathewson, Abraham Miller, Isaac House, David Briggs, Lyra Thorp, Simeon Chapman, Cornelius I. Ryeson, William Westfall, George Naus, Margnet Westfall, Philip Manuel, Samuel Sutton, S. Laurence, Abraham Scribner, Isaac Clay, William McKhann, John Armstrong, David Moriss, William Wiley, Hugh Merten, William Sape, John Brady, Lewis Passon, Samuel Oliver, David Potter, David Irwin, Joseph Guess, Samuel Wilson, Daniel Halley Nathan Terry,. William Wilson, Samuel Wilson, Benjamin Thompson, Joseph Wilson, John Wilson, Robert Barnet, George Westfall, Peter Crumrine, Mass Rush, Richard Martin, Peter Smith, Samuel Reed, John Rupel, Sr., Charles Hapner, William Chapman, Jacob Shafer, Adam Billows, Hezekiah Veits, Henry Steinberger, Jacob Steinberger, Moses Rush, Isaac Joy, John Briggs, Abraham Smith, Abraham Weaver, John Weaver, George W. Fryer, Isaac Jones, James McGinnis, William Vail, Thomas Stokeley, Hezekiah Viets, Robert Taylor, Jacob Puterbaugh, Christian SIeighty, Thomas Campbell, Henry Wertz, George Huntsman, John (11) 162 - DARKE COUNTY Miller, John Phillips, William Decamp, Job Decamp, Charles Harriman, Thomas Phillips, James Wood, William Townsend, John Culberson, Elisha Byers, Isaac Joy, Johnston Denniston, Jacob Cox, Daniel Harter, Peter Kember, Joseph Dixon, Ignatius Barnes, Eli Coble, Samuel Fisher, John Cox, Thomas Coapstick, Isaac Sweitzer, William Brady, John Chenoweth, Ludwick Clap, John Cable, Thomas Hynes, Samuel Touring, Donovan Reed, Smith Masteson, Samuel Bourk, Frederick Bowers, Daniel Harter, John Crumrine, Abraham Cox, Henry Cox, Daniel Waggoner, Jacob Neff, John Hidebran, Peter Harter, Peter Weaver, Peter Crumrine, Ebenezer Westfall, Job Westfall, Daniel Crawn, Jacob Westfall, William Shoneson, David Ullery, Abraham Wells, Harrison McConn, James Craig, Hezekiah Fowler, Nathaniel Scidnore, Benjamin Murphy, James Brady, Isaac Vail, John Miller, Joseph Foster, Josiah Elston, John Snell, Jacob Chenoweth, Leonard Wintermote, John Clap, Philip Rarook, Daniel Shiveley, Abraham Miller, James Cole, Jeremiah Rogers, Susannah Miller, David Wasson, Samuel Wasson, Edward Baldin, Robert Cain, Charles Sumption, Thomas Beasley, John A. Addington, Jesse Gray, Samuel Martin, Ephriam Flemming, Isaac Byers, John C. Marquart, Julian Brown, Philip Brown, Benjamin Brown, Josiah Hall, John Thomas, John Robeson, Samuel Eddington, Charles Eddington, Philip Eddington, George Walker, Joseph Winegardner, Daniel Monbeek, Jacob Winegardner, Stoffle Shafer, John Ellis, Edward Edger, William Edger, Archibald Edger, Thomas Edger, Henry Keck, Barbery Myers, Christopher Borden, David Thomas, George Wilt, David Wilt, George Wilt, John Wilt, Samuel Harter, John Harter, Francis Harter, Philip Wiggens, David Harter, Jacob Harter, Cornelius Higgings, John Baird, John Arthur, Andrew Miller, William Terry, Jacob Puderbaugh, Mark Mills, James Mills, Christopher Hood, Elijah Stackenas, John Mikesel, Michael Kenell, William Holt, Thomas Godfrey, Timothy Mote, George Knee, John Waggoner, Ernestus Putnam, Jacob Ullom. Bingham Simons, Christopher Bordins, Daniel Ullom, John Wade, William Wade, John Ullom, John Williamson, William McFarland, Elijah Simons, John French, Isaac Cherry, Henry Creviston, Jacob Sutton, Nicholas Tinkel, Thomas Lake, Caleb Vail, Eli Edwards, Hugh Laurimore, Moses Arnold, John Ketring, John Teaford, George Teaford, John Knee, David Stephens, Samuel Guier, Spencer Edwards, DARKE COUNTY - 163 William Eaker, Daniel Edwards, John Dixon, Jacob Sebring, Marshall Falor, Jonathan Pierson, Samuel Rhoades, James Woods, Henry Ross, Nathaniel Ross, Lewis Aukerman, James Reed, James Barney, Henry Williams, John Puterbaugh, John Clark, John Kendle, William Jones, Joseph Burdge, Jonathan Mote, John Fetters, Samuel Owens, William Stone, Andrew Stone, John Rush, James Baird, Samuel Fisher, Jonathan Thomas, John Stephenson, Christopher Rush, Zachariah Fryon, Asa Rush, Aaron Rush, Henry Hardy, Jacob Hensler, Reed Risley, David Scott, John Douglas, Alexander Smith, Alexander Irwin, Henry House, Linus Bascom, John Briggs, John Beers, John McNeil, Nancy Smith, David Cole, John Devor, James Craig, Abner Meeks, Henry Lawrence, Richard Lowring, Judson Jaqua, Nathaniel Edsel, Richard Miller, Dennis Hart, Samuel Droye, Obediah Stephens, John Huston, Henry Woods, Benjamin F. Woods, Robert Thompson, John Wooden, Moses Woods, John Brawley, John Purviance, Anthony Woods, William Wiley, Nathaniel S. McClure, Neal Lawrence, John McClure, Jacob Miller, William Brodrick, John A. Brodrick, George Miller, John M. Foster, Samuel McClure, John Wiley, Alexander McClure, Abraham Murray, George Roberts, Samuel Jones, Lloyd James, Mark Buckingham, David Gibbs, Samuel Roberts, Robert Campbell, Gersham P. Tiesen, Benjamin Snodgrass, George Gates, Moses Moore, James Harland, James B. Edwards, William Thompson, Thomas Sullivan, Thomas Wiley, John Brown, Nathan Harland, William Polly, Leonard Titsen, Aquillas Loveall, Josiah Guess, Jacob Guess, John Wilson, James Skinner, James Reeves, Amos Smith, William Hill, David Nockum, John Downy, Jesse Bell, Francis Spencer, John Cassady, Hankason Ashby, Benjamin Eakens, Samuel Ketring. CHAPTER IX. CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. Thus far this narrative has dealt mostly with the pioneers who settled in and around the county seat and in our desire to make due mention of the first families we have failed to notice the development of the county as a political unit. On January 3, 1809, the General Assembly of Ohio created the county of Darke from territory then belonging to Miami county. The original boundaries of the county were the same as at present with the exception of the northern, which extended to the Greenville treaty line, thus including that portion of the present county of Mercer which lies south of a line extending from Fort Recovery to a point a few rods north of the present northeast corner of Darke. As noted before rival claimants laid out town sites which they desired to have acknowledged as the official county seat. By "pull and persuasion," it seems, Terry's plat on the northeast side of the creek was first accepted and remained the official, though unoccupied, site for two or three years. At the next session of the Legislature, strong pressure was brought to repeal the previous unpopular act and a new commission was created to relocate the seat of justice. Besides the Devor and Terry sites this commission was asked to consider another located at what is now known as Cedar Point, at the junction of the Milton and Gettysburg pikes. At this juncture Devor and Mrs. Armstrong made a proposition to the commissioners to convey thirty-two lots, or one-third of the entire number of their original plat, to the commissioners of Miami county, in trust for the county of Darke, when it should thereafter be organized, "for such public uses as might be deemed desirable in the future, whether as sites for public buildings, or as land for sale outright, upon which to realize funds for county purposes." This proposition was accepted, the lots duly conveyed to the county of Darke and the county seat established on the beautiful and historic site of Fort Greenville Wayne's famous treaty, where it remains to this day. On account of the war of 1812, the large amount of wilder- 166 - DARKE COUNTY ness and swamp land, the holding of titles by non-residents, who refused to improve or sell their claims, and other similar causes, final organization was postponed until December 14, 1816, when the population justified an independent government, and Darke county was then separated from Miami. The organization was not completed, however, until March 1, 1817. John Purviance, Enos Terry and James Rush were elected the first associate judges of the court of common pleas, and Archibald Bryson, Abraham Studabaker and Silas Atchison the first commissioners of the new county. The latter held their first meeting in June, 1817. John Beers was appointed clerk, and John Devor tax collector. Moses Scott was appointed sheriff and William Montgomery, coroner in August, 1817. The first session of the court of common pleas was held March 13, 1817. The next session was held on April 7, 1817, at which Linus Bascom was appointed clerk pro tem. and Abraham Scribner, recorder. The first regular term of this court was in June, 1817, and was presided over by Joseph H. Crane of Dayton with the associates before mentioned. At this session Moses Scott was duly empowered, authorized and commanded to summon fifteen good and lawful men to appear forthwith and serve as grand jurors. The first jury summoned by him was constituted as follows: John Loring, John Andrews, James Cloyd, Daniel Potter, Robert Douglas, Abraham Miller, Filder G. Lenham, Daniel Holley, Joseph Townsend, James Williamson, John Ryerson, David Briggs, Levi Elston, Martin Ruple and Peter Rush. Henry Bacon was appointed prosecutor at this term. The grand jury found several indictments and it was found necessary to summon twelve men to act as petit jurors. Accordingly the following men were summoned: Charles Sumption, John McFarlin, James Williamson, John Break, Charles Read, Jacob Miller, William Montgomery, Robert McIntyre, James Perry, Aaron Dean, Alexander Smith and Zachariah Hull to act as the first petit jury. They were in session a day or two of this court each year. The first prosecutor received ten dollars for his services at the first term, the grand jurors seventy-five cents per day, and the petit jurors fifty cents, which latter was paid by the winning party. The first session was held in the bar-room of Azor Scribner; the next one was called for November 14th in the bar-room of Scott's Tavern. By this arrangement the building of a county court house was postponed several years. A jail was needed, however, DARKE COUNTY - 167 and the commissioners entered into contract with Matthias Dean for the erection of the same in 1818 for the sum of $300.00, one-half down and the remainder on completion. As it was paid for in county orders which were worth but about sixty per cent, of the face, Dean probably got less than $200.00 actual cash on his contract. This jail was located on the public square, about thirty feet from the north corner of the present city hall. It was about fifteen by thirty feet in size, with two compartments, and was built with double outside walls of sound oak timbers hewed one foot square. This modest structure answered the needs of the community at that time and might even be considered a costly structure as the commissioners had sold six valuable lots, Nos. 36, 62, 20, 56, 39 and 53 out of the thirty-two donated by Devor and Mrs. Armstrong for the sum of $47.75 to be applied on its erection. This was considered a fair price for the lots at that time and a comparison with the present value of the same real estate today will indicate the progress that has been made in less than a century. This building was consumed by fire on the morning of Sunday, May 2, 1827. A new jail and jailor's residence combined, was erected of brick on the southwest corner of Broadway and Third street in 1827-28 by John Armstrong at a cost of $520.00. The second bastile was not found satisfactory from the standpoint of security and was demolished upon the erection of the third structure on the southeast half of lot 25, in 1845, by Allen LaMotte and Israel Reed for approximately $4,000. This building was disposed of after the erection of the present jail in 1870. It has been extended to the sidewalk, remodeled and used as a place of business ever since, being now occupied by E. R. Fout's Millinery Emporium and the Earhart and Meeker saloon and is known as Nos. 418 and 422 Broadway. John Craig erected the first court house on the south corner of the public square in the spring of 1824. Ht was a two-story frame structure about twenty-two by twenty-eight feet, with a court room occupying the entire first floor, and a clerk's office and jury room on the second. The second court house was erected in 1834 in the center of the public square by James Craig for $2,524.63, upon plans drawn by Allen LaMotte. It was constructed of brick two stories high with roof four square and surmounted by a cupola looking very much like the present city hall with the front tower removed. Ht is said that Craig lost from $1,500 to 168 - DARKE COUNTY $2,000 on the structure by bidding too low. It stood for nearly forty years and was the scene of many a stormy and picturesque legal combat between the early legal lights of Darke county. The site was given by the Devor heirs as it had been set aside by John Devor as a place for holding court. An attempt was made to remodel this structure for a city hall upon the erection of the present court house in 1873 or 1874 but it resulted in failure and the structure was demolished to allow the construction of the present city building. Early Trails and Roads. One of the big problems that confronted the first commissioners was the construction of public roads. Accordingly we are not surprised to note that they considered the matter at their first meeting and ordered a road to be viewed and surveyed from the county seat "across the bridge at Enos Terry's (East Water street) and thence by the nearest and best route in a direction toward Fort Loramie until it strikes the county Iine. John Beers was appointed surveyor and David Briggs, David Thompson and Moses Scott viewers with instructions to begin work on June 26, 1817. This was the veritable beginning of systematic road-building which has continued to this clay and given Darke county first place among the eighty-eight shires of Ohio with about 1,700 miles of roads and pikes. At this time the only roads were the Indian trails, the army traces and the narrow winding driveways cut to the various scattered settlements and the cabins of the pioneers. We have noted that St. Clair came into a distinct Indian trail near "Matchett's Corner," which he followed to Fort Jefferson, thence to Greenville and on to Fort Recovery, and that a large trail came into this one near Lightsville, from the east. It is also a matter of tradition that a well-known trail led from Pickawillany to Greneville creek and along that stream to the site of Greenville and thence on to the headwaters of White-water river. Also that a trail led from Greenville in a westerly direction to the neighborhood of Nashville and thence on to the Indian settlement of Delaware county, Indiana. Probably other minor trails centered here about the ancient fording place just below the junction of Mud and Greenville creeks. It is known that Wayne during his occupancy of the fort here, cut a road along the south side of Greenville creel: DARKE COUNTY - 169 to its mouth at Covington (Fort Rowdy) to assist in the transportation of supplies from the latter place which had been brought from Fort Washington by boat up the Miami and Stillwater. It seems that he also cut a trail to Fort Loramie approximating the direction of the present Versailles pike except that it probably kept east of the Stillwater to the crossing at Fort Briar, before mentioned. He also straightened and improved the trails cut by St. Clair. These trails were used by the pioneers and were later straightened, partially relocated, and improved, giving us the present pikes to Troy, Versailles and Fort Recovery, and showing that in a large measure the crafty savage selected the best and most direct routes and located our best thoroughfares. In the pioneer days of Darke county all state roads were surveyed and established by special acts of the Legislature. The first road laid out in this way was the old Troy pike, which was cut through about 1811 from Hroy in Miami county. This road also became the first toll pike in 1853. This road ran south of Greenville creek to Gettysburg where it crossed and kept on the north side to Greenville, crossing at Boomershine fording—East Fifth street. A little later it was altered and crossed near the present Main street bridge. A road was located from Piqua to Greenville about 1817, which intersected the Troy road at the present site of Gettysburg. A "Directory of Cincinnati," published in 1819, shows a road running from that place to Greenville by the way of Reading, Franklin and Dayton, a total distance of ninety-two miles. From Dayton to Greenville, the distance was forty miles, with the following stations: Razor's Mills, twelve miles William's Block House, eleven miles; Studdybaker's Block House, nine miles; Greenville, eight miles. The Milton, Shanesville (Ansonia), Fort Recovery and Fort Jefferson pikes were laid out shortly after the organization of the county, on routes approximately the same as at present. Several roads were laid out by the county commissioners at the request of the settlers in various neighborhoods to suit their convenience. Such roads usually followed the ridges and avoided the ponds and marshes, and went far afield to accommodate isolated settlers. As the county became more thickly settled these roads were either vacated or straightened up as far as feasible. The policy has been to locate the new roads on section lines as far as possible. As a result of these early and later road building enterprises Darke county has a sys- 170 - DARKE COUNTY tern of direct diagonal pikes leading from the county seats and principal cities of the surrounding counties to Greenville, supplemented by cross roads and pikes on most of the section lines. This makes almost an ideal road system and knits the various sections of the county to each other and all to the county seat in a very efficient manner. Strange as it may seem no turnpikes were built before a railway was constructed in the county. The Greenville and Gettysburg pike was the first built, being completed about the same time as the G. & M. railway. The "Ithaca Free Turnpike Road" was granted on petition in June, 1858. Ten other free pikes were ordered built between that date and 1868. By the year 1870 such remarkable progress had been made in road building as to call forth the following article in the "Ohio Farmer:" "Who would have thought thirty-seven years ago, when the writer first saw "old Darke county," that it would ever stand foremost among the counties of its state for its road enterprise. Why the county should have surpassed every other in the State in this regard, I am unable to explain. It may be accounted for on the theory of extremes —the roads were very bad, they are very good. Perhaps the people thrown upon their own resources pushed their way in this direction. It is certain that the pike business became in time a local epidemic. The many rival stations fostered a spirit of rivalry. A condition of things that favored the enterprise of turnpike construction was the tendency of the people to invest in what promised to be a permanent improvement. Whatever may be the explanation, the secretary's report for 1868 puts down 393 miles of turnpike roads for Darke county; Warren follows with 224; Clermont and Wood, 200 each; Hamilton, 195; Montgomery, 152; Champaign, 136; Greene, 117; Butler, 112, etc. "Of course the burden of taxation is heavy and not every farmer is in condition to pay $4 an acre road tax. Some were obliged to sell off the land to enable them to meet assessments, but hard as it was, even such gained in the end by the rise in local values. It is quite a general feeling among the people that they have taken too much upon their hands at once. And as wheat is their staple product, the county ranking fifth in the state, the low price at which their surplus will probably have to be sold, may operate somewhat discouragingly; but the resources of the county are abundant, and the people will no doubt come out all right, and all the better for DARKE COUNTY - 171 their excellent system of roads. Parts of the county with which I was perfectly familiar ten years ago, I did not recognize when passing through them last summer." * * * It is readily seen and is generally acknowledged that the opening and systematic improvement of roads is one of the most important projects in the development of any new community, and Darke county has not proven an exception to this statement. Today we have some thirteen hundred miles of improved pikes and about seventeen hundred miles of roads of all descriptions—enough, if placed end to end in a continuous stretch, to reach from New York City almost to Denver, Colo. Early Neighborhood Settlements. We have noted previously that a large per cent, of the area of primitive Darke county was covered with swamps, making large sections unfit for habitation until properly drained and cleared. The settlers naturally selected the driest, healthiest and most promising sections, and from these points of vantage gradually worked out the problems of drainage, clearing and cultivation, etc. Ht seems appropriate here to note the progress of settlement by 1825 and enumerate some of the first families as noted by Prof. McIntosh. "Below Ithaca, in the southeast, lived Lucas and Robbins. At intervals along Miller's Fork, near Castine, were Ellis, Freeman, Park and Robert Phillips and J. F. Miller. On the east bank of the Whitewater stood the cabins of Brawley, Purviance, the McClures, Broderick and Jacob Miller, Zadoc Smith and the Wades. Near Fort Black, by the lake, were the Rushes, Henry Hardy, Tibbs, Falknor, and possibly the Kunkles. On the Middle Fork were the Tilsons, Harlans, Emerson, Helpenstein and Gert. Approaching the town, we find Spencer, the Edwards families, Wilsons and others. Further to the north we come to Cloyd, Pearson, Cassaday and Kettring. About Palestine dwelt Samuel Loring. Hn the northern part of German township lived Ludwig Clapp, reputed credulous and superstitious, William Asher, of the same mind, Moores and Rush and John McNeil, Rarick, Snell and Miller, on Crout creek and its vicinity. East of the West Branch dwelt Martin Ruple, Archibald Bryson and John Whittaker, while lower down were the small clearings made by John Hiller and Daniel Potter. Mud creek passed by the cabin homes of Peter Weaver, Andrew Noffsinger, his 172 - DARKE COUNTY son Joseph, James and Henry Rush, Smption,, McGinniss, burns and Wert. East of the prairie, Zadoc Reagan had located, and traveling the stream brought in sight the homes of Abraham Studabaker and Abraham Miller. James Hay dwelt at Jefferson, and below were Ryerson and Wine gardner. On Greenville creek, above town, stood three cabins occupied by Ullery, Dean and David Williamson, and below on the creek were those of Squire Briggs, Westfall, Major Adams, Bryan, Cunningham and Studabaker. On the south bank of the creek, at intervals, the enumeration finds Popejoy, Esq., Hayes, James Gregory and Carnahan. Christopher Martin, Alexander Fleming, James Roff, David Riffle and his sons and son-in-law, Hathaway, on Stillwater, nearBeamsvillee. Conlock was at Webster, and McDonald, Mote and Ludwig Christie below. Ward Atchison was on the verge of the Black swamp, and Lewis Baker onHndiann creek. From Bridge creek on to the dividing branch, were scattered Arnold, Townsend, the Thompsons and Clay. These men had settled here under many difficult circumstances, but they had effected a lodgment and formed a center by which others could be guided and assisted. Persistent in labor, patient under afflictions of disease were these plain men with unaffected manner and kindly greetings. As the country began to be settled, families were moving on to different locations in the central part of the county. There was a large portion of the county that seemed so much of a swamp as to make a final occupation problematical. Along Greenville creek, as above named, one found at varying distances the log cabins of a few families, and there were others on the West Branch. There were cabins on the branch known as Crout creek, and yet others upon Mud creek. These scattered clearings were the oldest in the county, and northward there were few, if any. And from there, so far as means would permit, the newcomers received their supplies and assistance." * * * "In 1818, there was the commencement of a settlement on the east fork of Whitewater, and on Twin creek, nearHthaca,, and several families had settled near Fort Black, now known as New Madison. During this year, Minatown and Fort Jefferson were laid out, and, in the year following, Versailles was platted, making in all five villages, the germs of future business towns, and the only ones for full a dozen years—practical proof, in so large a county, of sparse and tardy occupation. DARKE COUNTY - 173 "During the year when Fort Jefferson was platted, a tavern stand was occupied there, and, while the conveniences were far from equal to the Turpen or Wagner houses of today, yet there was an abundance of plain, palatable food and little ceremony. During 1818, A. Studabaker left his former entry, near Gettysburg, and removed to the farm more recently the property of his son George. William Arnold and others were residing on Bridge creek. The settlements now became known by various names to distinguish them, such as `Yankee Town;' one called Ireland, located north of Greenville, and a third is mentioned here as suggestive of the section, known as the Black Swamp Settlement. These nuclei of the clearings in Darke each formed a distinct neighborhood and had their leading men, respected for honesty, good faith, and frugality in public as well as private affairs." * * * At this time but little progress had been made in clearing off the dense forest and rank growth of underbrush. The only openings were the garden patches and small clearings of a few acres each around the settlers' cabins. These rude habitations were "hand made" from foundation to the stick chimney top, and in their construction typified the homely virtues of the pioneers—simplicity, strength, sacrifice, hardness, industry, hospitality and love of home and neighbors. When a cabin was to be "raised" the settler first selected a favorable site, probably on a knoll or ridge, then felled the timber growing upon it, picked out the choicest logs and cut them in proper lengths. When all was ready he notified his scattered neighbors and at the appointed time all assembled for a "raising bee." Some help to carry the logs where they will be handy for the builders, while the others watch them at the ends and raise and place them into position until the proper height is attained. The heavy work being finished the helpers return to their homes leaving the proprietor to cut and place the clapboards on the roof, to split and place the puncheons for a floor, to cut and face the openings for the door and fireplace, to fill the chinks with chips and mortar and to build the huge chimney of sticks and mud. After this he hewed out a door and table and a few three legged stools and made a bed of clapboards and poles supported at the outer corner by a forked stick and resting at the inner ends on the walls of the cabin at the cracks between the logs. The door was hung on wooden hinges and a wooden latch stuck on the inside, with a hook pin driven into the door cas- 174 - DARKE COUNTY ing for a fastening. A strong leather string was then attached to the latch on the inside with one end run through a hole made in the door for the purpose, so as to hang down on the outside. When the latch string hung out the door could be opened by pulling on it. To secure the door the string was pulled back through the hole. Some clapboard shelves supported on pins at the back of the cabin, a few pegs at convenient places for supporting garments, and two small forks of wood or deer horn placed over the fireplace to support the shot pouch and rifle put a finishing touch on the job ready for the housewife and family. "In houses thus built, and unplastered within and entirely devoid of adornment, our ancestors lived with a comfort unknown to the opulent occupant of many a palatial residence of today. Coal stoves or wood stoves were unknown, but in the wide fireplace were found hooks and trammel, and andirons. Nearby were the bake-pan and the kettle; and as homes varied there were to be seen in many a log house the plain deal table, the flag bottom chair, and the easy, straight, high-backed rocker. Carpets there were none. The beds contained no mattress, springs, or even bed-cord, the couch was often spread upon the floor, and sleeping apartments were separated by hanging blankets. Not infrequently, the emigrant neighbor, and occasionally Indian visitor, lay upon blankets or robes before the huge open fireplace, with stockinged or moccasined feet before the constant fire. Wooden vessels, either turned or coopered, were commonly used for the table. A tin cup was an article of luxury almost as rare as an iron fork. Gourds were used at the water bucket, and there were not always knives enough to go around the family. The immigrant brought with him, packed upon the horse, or later on the wagon, some articles of better sort. Upon the kitchen drawers were set forth a shiny row of pewter plates, buck-handled knives, iron or pewter spoons, or there were seen a row of blue-edged earthenware, with corresponding cups and saucers, with teapot—articles then to grace the table at the quilting, social afternoon visit, or preacher's call ; but advancing civilization has sent the plates and spoons to the melting pot, while knives and forks have taken less substance but more shapely form. * * * "The subject of food was all important with the settler, and hard labor in the open air created a keen appetite which made of much account the feasts of merrymakings, parties DARKE COUNTY - 175 and public meetings. Quality was not so much regarded as quantity. Fish from the creek, venison and bear meat, bacon and even the raccoon's carcass were made available for food. Enormous potpies were baked containing fowls, squirrels and due proportions of other meats. The food was generally most wholesome and nutritive. There was a bounteous supply of the richest milk, the finest butter and most palatable meat that could be imagined, and meals were eaten with all the relish which healthful vigor, backed by labor, could bestow. "The clothing worn in early days was generally the same in all seasons. The settler, standing upon the prostrate trunk of a huge tree, stroke following stroke of his keen axe, and chip after chip whirring out upon the snow, little regarded the winter temperature, and coatless and barefooted, the summer heat was not oppressive. The garments worn were mainly the product of home manufacture, where necessity insured effort and practice gave skill. * * *" Social and industrial conditions in early days are vividly described by Jesse Arnold in "Recollections of the Arnold Family," published in 1889. "Nor would we forget the old spinning-wheel—the larger one for wool, and the smaller one for flax and tow. For months and months have we seen the girls busy with 'heir rude articles of domestic economy, keeping up a continuous whirl from sun tip till dark, perhaps omitting fifteen minutes for each meal; and then, after the spinning is done, the web is transferred to an old loom, in some lonely and desolate outhouse, to be made up in cloth of some kind, where a continuous batting was kept up the live long day. "For this laborious work these girls would receive from fifty to seventy-five cents per week, and, if at the end of the month she had received enough money to buy a calico dress, she was very fortunate and became the subject of neighborhood talk for being able to sport a new calico dress in place of the linsey-woolsey usually worn." "Many a day have we seen the sturdy toiler go into the harvest field at sun up and with sickle or cradle work the live long day till sun down for fifty cents per day, with only an hour for nooning. Thirty-five and thirty-seven cents per day was the usual price for eleven and twelve hours' work, with goods of all kinds twice their present prices—calicoes 176 - DARKE COUNTY twenty-five cents, muslin twenty-five cents, and all else "in proportion." The pioneers generally wore home-made clothing of linen or wool as these could be made from raw material produced at home or secured nearby. With coarse wool at fifty cents a pound, calico at forty to fifty cents per yard and cowhide boots selling at seven dollars per pair, while farm produce brought very low prices, and girls ran the spinning wheel for seventy-five cents a week, it is readily seen why the dames of these days dressed much more plainly and modestly than they do today. Neither do we think of their dress as being less becoming or the conditions of their life less conducive of happiness than are the prevailing fashions and conditions of today. Labor and pleasure were often combined in the corn huskings, quiltings, wood-choppings, loggings and house raisings, and as much real enjoyment found by the lads and lassies at the special celebrations and big militia musters as is now provided by the county fair. It is needless to contrast further the conditions of life today with those of a century ago. On the foundations laid by these pioneers we have built a superstructure called civilization. The increase of population, the advance in education and invention and the changed condition tinder which we live and labor have enlarged our field of enjoyment, smoothed many of the rough places along the way of life and apparently made life the more worth living. However, it is doubtful whether the overfed, overdressed, overstrained and pampered youth of today are capable of extracting that true pleasure from life which came to the pioneers through rough labor, sacrifice and mutual burden bearing. We turn with loathing from the daily newspaper of today with its accounts of crimes, accidents and misdoings, its stories of high-life, infelicity, incompatibility and divorce to the simple, quiet, contented, industrious life of the pioneer in the rude log cabin, and long for a return to the pioneer and more rational living of early days. These lines from Darke county's gifted poet, Barney Collins, are not inappropriate here: Here fertile fields upon the prospect swell, Whose forests once in primal grandeur rose, And sounds of peace are heard where once the yell Of savage broke and chilled the blood of those DARKE COUNTY - 177 Who came in early life or at its close To clear the wilderness and till the ground; And though they were beset by cunning foes Whose stealthy tread of danger gave no sound, Still, yet they dar'd and gave the savage wound for wound. Where with a single room the hut was rear'd, Which turned but ill the winter's cold and snow; New structures—spacious temples—have appear'd, With halls commodious that richly glow With all that art can bestow. Alas! the hardships of the pioneer! His wants and struggles we can never know; But whilst his fruits we are enjoying here If he be dead or living—him—let us revere. Here roamed in herds the elk and timid deer, Here howl'd the wolf and wild the panther screamed! And with them bloody conflicts happened here That even now are tales of fiction deemed; By us too lightly is the truth esteemed, For with us yet are those who in the strife From wounds of deep infliction stream'd ; They could not know the sweets of peaceful life Where prowl'd the savage beast and gleamed the scalping knife. Contrasted with the rapid development of certain choice sections of the far west today the early development of Darke county seemed painfully slow. The census of 1820 showed the population of the county as then constituted to be 3,717. Mercer county, which then embraced parts of Shelby and Auglaize, was included in this enumeration, making the probable population of Darke county two thousand or less. Four years later the county seat had a population of one hundred or less, including thirteen families. In 1830 the census of the county still in its original form, was 6,204, while the county seat contained 204 inhabitants, Several conditions retarded growth and development among which we note the large amount of swamp land, the prewalence of malarial and kindred diseases, and the "farther west" movement which enticed many to the region of the Mississippi a few years later. In the strenuous work of clearing the (12) 178 - DARKE COUNTY land much hard labor and exposure were undergone and but few escaped attacks of fevers .and chills, ague, etc. Doctors Stephen Perrine, John Briggs, J. M. P. Baskerville, I. N. Gard and Alfred Ayers were kept busy attending the sick and during the scourge of flux in 1829-1830 this force was found inadequate, it being found necessary to summon several physicians from Preble and Miami counties. Bilious complaints prevailed until about the middle of the century by which time the area of swamp lands had been greatly reduced and the environment of the settlers made more healthy generally. Vital statistics today show that Darke county is one of the healthiest communities in the state. Early Business Enterprises. Trade and commerce kept pace with the slow agricultural development. Greenville was naturally the center of trade and here the first merchants opened up their shops. Mention has been made of the pioneer French trader who was "cleaned out" by the Hndians; of Azor Scribner and Abraham Scribner; of Connor, who located on the southeast corner of Water and Sycamore, of the Hood brothers on the north side of Water between Elm and Vine streets, and of Bascom and Scott, the tavern keepers. Connor's place was later occupied by Nicholas Greenham of Piqua; the Hoods were succeeded by Delorac and then later by Chas. Neave. L. R. Brownell, of Piqua, opened a store on the south side of Main street, between Sycamore and Elm street, in 1826, later he moved to the east corner of public square, and continued in business until about 1833. He was succeeded by James M. Dorsey and Henry Arnold. Later Dorsey withdrew and Henry Arnold carried on the business alone for several years. In 1830 W. B. Beall purchased a store which had been established by John McNeal in 1827. Beall was soon joined by Francis Waring, who several years later took over the entire business and continued the same until 1876. Their place of business was first on the corner of the public square opposite the present site of the James hotel, and later on the present site of the Masonic Temple on the east corner. Allen LaMott and Josiah D. Farrar formed a partnership and opened a store about 1830 on West Main street, moved later to the west corner of Third and Broadway and continued until 1840. John C. Potter opened a store in 1834 on the west side of DARKE COUNTY - 179 Main street between the public square and Sycamore street. Later he built a substantial brick building on the public square where the postoffice now stands and continued until 1849, when he, his wife and daughter died of cholera. His brother Hiram formed a partnership with Samuel Davis in 1835 and opened a store on the present site of the fire department. Later this firm moved to East Main street between the square and Walnut street. Davis soon sold out and Potter continued until his death in 1845. Abraham Scribner, before mentioned, started a store on the present site of the artificial gas plant, then moved to the southwest corner of Main and Elm streets and finally to lot 59 between Sycamore and the square where John Schubert lately had a grocery and where Hezekiah Woods now lives. Besides those mentioned above others started stores and carried on business for a few months but were unable to become established. Stores in those days did not specialize on one Iine of goods, as the population was not sufficient to justify this, but carried a general line, including groceries, hardware, dry goods, drugs, boots and shoes, quensware, etc. It is interesting to note that about this time corn sold for 15 cents per bushel; pork and beef, when it could be sold, at two or three cents a pound; maple sugar at 6 to 8 cents per pound, while wages ranged from two to three shillings a day. To a large extent cloth was manufactured and clothing made at home, and the farmer depended on the local market to dispose of his produce. It will be noted that the first stores were on West Water and Main streets, later they grouped about the public square, and finally invaded Broadway, which has become the main business thoroughfare. Mention should be made here of other business enterprises which flourished in early days, but in later years practically became extinct. Wm. Sipe conducted a pottery on the northwest corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, where he made crocks and jugs for many years. Another pottery was located on the rear of the lot now occupied by M. B. Trainor's residence on Vine street near Water, and a third on West Fourth street, just beyond the present site of the M. E. church. Early attempts were made to establish tanneries, one above the present site of the Mud creek bridge, and the other on the site of the O'Brien greenhouses, in Minatown, but both proved abortive. 180 - DARKE COUNTY About 1820 a tannery was started on the southeast corner of Water and Walnut streets by Baldwin and McGregor, which continued under various management and with little or no profit until 1855. A tannery was established between Greenville creek and West Water street just west of Sycamore street by Jacob Herkimer in 1831 or 1832, which continued in operation for some fifty years under different owners. The last operators were Thos. B. Waring and F. M. Eidson. Wm. W. Jordan started a tannery on the west side of North Broadway, just south of the present site of the O'Brien greenhouses, whose history covered about the same period as the above mentioned enterprises. This, also, changed hands until it came into the possession of the Porters, who operated it for quite a period. Fine springs were found on both the latter sites, which were valuable assets in the business. Mention should he made of David and Alexander Craig, twin brothers, who were blacksmith and wagonmaker respectively; Wm. McKhann, Sr., and Jesse McGinnis, cabinetmakers; Benj. Brown, wheelwright; Wm. Lipp and Sam Pierce, fur and skin dressers; Philip Stoner, basketmaker, and Rural Risley, wool carder, as representing occupations either defunct or declining. Early Taverns. In the way of taverns early Greenville seems to have been well supplied. As will be noted these were mostly grouped about the public square for the convenience of travelers and the general public. Early writers mention the Bascom hostiery on the present site of the fire department; a public house on the opposite corner to the west, originally built by Dr. Perrine as a residence, later occupied by Jno. Hufnagle as a residence; the Wayne House on the northwest corner of the square, built by Jas. Craig about 1830, later occupied by Dr. Miesse, still known as the Wagner House and now in an enlarged and extensively remodeled condition as the Hotel James; the Broadway House, built by Chas. Hutchin on the southwest corner of the square (Farmers' Bank site) in 1837, and operated by various proprietors for some forty years thereafter; "Travelers' Rest," erected by Joshua Howell in 1830 on the northwest corner of Broadway and Fourth streets and continued for a similar period of time; Hamilton House, erected in 1830 by Francis L. Hamilton on the corner of Main street and the square, across from the Wayne House. DARKE COUNTY - 181 The bar seems to have been one of the principal features of these establishments, when practically everybody drank liquor. They were a place of general resort and discussion, where free exchange of ideas on politics and public questions took place and where the news and gossip of the community was made public. Fur Trade. Hunting and trapping wild animals for their valuable furs was the employment of several men about town for at least part of the year. Wm. Sipe, the potter before mentioned, was also a professional hunter. Hn 1829 all the buildings in town, about thirty in number, were on Water and Main streets, including the public square, except the log house of Sipe on the northwest corner of Fourth and Walnut, where he enjoyed the seclusion coveted by the typical hunter. The farmers, no doubt, also did much hunting and trapping, as the woods and creeks abounded in fur producing animals, and the local merchants were eager to take furs and skins in exchange for merchandise. Speaking of LaMotte and Farrar's store, an early writer says: "They sold goods, bought furs and skins, and for many years packed a large quantity of pork. It was a wonderful sight to be taken into the fur room of these men, a whole room twenty by fifty feet nearly stacked full of bales of raccoon, mink, muskrat, deer skins, etc." For a true picture: of the life and men of Greenville prior to 1830 we herewith quote the words of an old resident: "About one-half of them were very good and decent men for the rough times in which they lived. The other half were of the lewder sort, drinking, carousing and quarreling, with occasional fights, and as it cost but little to live in those days, one-half their time was spent about the taverns in gambling, telling hard stories, pitching quoits, throwing large stones from the shoulder, kicking the pole, wrestling, jumping, running foot races, horse races, fishing, hunting, desecrating the Sabbath with all these practices, irreligious and semi-civilized. These were the men of which strangers took their idea of the character of Greenville, and always scored it on the bad side. The good, the industrious, did not go about to see. The vicious they could not avoid; they were like yellow jackets at the cider barrel, buzzing generally a little too close, putting in dread of being stung and hasting the time of departure, and retarding the progress and improvement of the town." 182 - DARKE COUNTY No doubt the testimony of this early observer is correct as the reputation for gambling and hard drinking in Greenville lingered to almost the opening of the twentieth century. Neither is the biblical saying inappropriate even in these days: "The fathers have eaten the sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge," as testified to by a host of temperance workers who have struggled long and desperately to improve the public sentiment and reduce the evil connected with these ancient practices. Early Mills. In these days of good roads and railways, of easy communication and quick transportation, when the physical needs of the community are readily supplied, it is difficult to conceive of the hardships encountered by the pioneers in securing flour and meal for their daily bread. The earliest settlers were compelled to go to Montgomery or Miami county to mill on horseback as there were no roads suitable for wagons. It was a common practice to travel thirty or forty miles to mill seated on top of a two bushel sack of corn thrown across the animal's back. Such a trip would often require two or three days of travel through an almost unbroken forest, during which time the traveler would probably not see over five or six houses or clearings. The first mill in the county was built by Enos Terry, formerly mentioned, on his land at the bend of Greenville creek a short distance above the present site of Main street bridge. A grist and saw mill were attached to the same power. It is said that this little mill ground corn for the Indians who attended the ceremonies attendant on Harrison's treaty in 1814, and that the darn was destroyed by the garrison at the fort on the pretext of military necessity, inasmuch as it backed water and caused the Mud creek prairie to overflow, thus creating a shallow, stagnant lake which bred disease. After the war John Dean erected a mill about three and a half miles above Greenville on the creek (now Weimer's) and John Devor started a saw mill on the West Branch half a mile to the south of it. Major Adams built a little mill on the creek five or six miles below Greenville about this time. This was later known as Baer's mill and now as Cromer's. Samuel Kelly built the first wool-carding mill about 1824 just above the site of Terry's destroyed mill and in about a DARKE COUNTY - 183 year prepared to grind grain also. About 1828 he sold out to John Swisher, who continued it until 1835 or 1836, when the dam. was destroyed by a mob under the same pretext that Terry's mill had been destroyed before, and at a loss of some four thousand dollars to the owner. Dr. Perrine, who was a very eccentric character, owned land on Mud creek about a mile south of town and was induced to commence a suit for damages on account of back water. The jury in this case rendered a verdict of fifty dollars' damages in favor of Perrine and immediately a mob leveled the darn, showing the state of lawlessness prevailing at that time. David Briggs erected a mill about a mile and a half below Greenville in 1825 or 1826, which was operated by different proprietors until 1880, when it was decided to remove the dam to allow the proper drainage of the Mud creek bottoms. William Martin built a saw mill near the mouth of the Dividing Branch about 1822, and operated a tan yard nearby. This mill was rebuilt several times and operated on and off over fifty years. John W. Harper built a saw mill about half a mile further up some fifteen years later. About 1830 Jas. and Benj. Devor erected a fulling mill on the West Branch on the site of their father's saw mill. They afterward sold to Wm. Akins, who greatly enlarged and improved it by adding a spinning jack and several power looms. This mill did a large business and relieved the women of the community of the former drudgery of hand carding. About 1841 Mane Flora, Sr., erected a saw mill on the West Branch just north of the crossing of the present Winchester pike. Later John Fox bought this property and added a grist mill. A mill was erected on Stillwater in Wayne township called Webster's mill; one near the head of Mud creek in Neave township by Ernestus Putnam; one on Crout creek in Washington township by Ludlow Clapp, who sold it to John McClure. At a later date John C. Potter erected a substantial mill on Greenville creek a mile and a half above town which was operated afterward by Odlin Spiece, and John Hershey built one at Gettysburg. In 1880 there were in operation in the county twenty-one grist mills with sixty-two run of buhrs, and valued at about $100,000. The law enacted to clean up the streams of Ohio, no doubt, sounded the death knell of many an old mill as witness the 184 - DARKE COUNTY Knouff mill on the creek about a mile below Greenville. This mill caused the water to "back" up to the town and probably created an unsanitary condition by interfering with the current and choking the channel. The old water power mills have long since been discontinued or remodeled and have given way to the steam roller flouring mills located in the larger towns which have a daily capacity far beyond those of early times. In a few years even the sites of most of the first mills will be practically unknown. Early Schools. It is difficult in these days of compulsory education and expensive school equipment to form a proper estimate of pioneer educational conditions, to conjure up a mental picture of the settlers' attitude toward culture and refinement. A hasty survey of the situation would probably lead the average student to the conclusion that the pioneers knew little and cared less for such matters. This conclusion, however, is scarcely just when we reflect that life in those days was, perforce, a constant struggle with the forces of nature, a round of coarse, hard labor to fell the thick timber and wrest a decent living from the newly plowed clearings. No doubt many of these settlers came from homes in the east where the school teacher and the school house were considered prime factors in the life of the community, and longed to see the day when their children could enjoy educational privileges at least equal to their own. Hn this connection the following brief quotation from the pen of the late J. T. Martz, one of Darke county's most noted educators, is of interest: "While the early settlers of Darke county did not neglect education, the date of the first establishment of schools, and the building of school-houses is not accurately known. "The first teachers in Greenville township were John Beers, who taught in the Thompson, Studabaker and William Arnold settlement from 1818 or 20 to 1830 or 32; John Talbert, who taught near Prophetstown on the Bishop farm from 18201832; and Henry D. Williams, who taught in the Hayes-Westfall-Carnahan neighborhood from 1820-1830, and in District Number 14 in 1835-1838. The first teachers in the county were Dow Roll, Mrs. McIntire, John Townsend and Noah Arnold. These must be considered the pioneer teachers in the countẙ. DARKE COUNTY - 185 "At this time there was no public school fund. The schools were supported by individual contributions from parents who sent their children to school. The teacher received a salary of about ten dollars per month, and boarded himself. The school would continue in session about three months in the year and this amount of thirty dollars was apportioned among the heads of families in proportion to the number of children sent, the teacher holding each parent individually responsible for the amount of his tuition. "In 1821 a law was passed by our legislature which left it to a vote of each township whether school districts should be formed, and, perhaps four years later, action in this respect was changed, and township trustees were required to divide the townships into school-districts, and a tax was levied by the county commissioners for school purposes, which provided a fund of about ten dollars yearly for each school district. This amount would continue the school in session for about one month, and the remaining two months' services of the teacher was paid by individual contributions as above stated. "During this time the teacher should be found qualified to teach penmanship, reading, writing and arithmetic. A board of county examiners for teachers' certificates was required under the law. In 1849 the law added geography and English grammar to the required qualifications of the teacher." Referring to the earliest schools in the Studabaker neighborhood, Mr. Jesse Arnold wrote: "William Studebaker commenced teaching in a cabin in the old Wyllis field, just south of the old Arnold homestead, about 1823. This cabin school burned about 1824 and school was opened up in a similar rude cabin adjoining the residence of Abraham Studabaker. This was continued till about 1829 when it was removed to the end of the Arnold lane and Henry D. Williams was employed to teach during the winter, having taught one or two winters before its removal, then as follows : In 1830-31 William S. Harper, teacher. In 1831-32 Henry D. Williams, teacher. In 1832-34 David Townsend, teacher. In 1835-6-7 Noah Arnold, teacher. "A little later the school was removed to a new brick school house at Studabaker's. Abraham Studebaker's brick house, but partially finished, was used as a school house in 1837 or 1838 for a school taught by Conrad Burgner. The little brick 186 - - DARKE COUNTY school house near Studebaker's, built by him at this time, was from this on my only place of school attendance in our own district. The teachers whom I recall in this school house were Daniel Hewitt, `Master' Jelleff, Sanford Harper, M. Spayde and David Beers." "The principal books used were Webster's spelling book, the New Testament, the English reader and its introduction. and Talbot's arithmetic. Ray's arithmetic was introduced about the time I left school." The Arnold homestead referred to above was located on the present site of the brick house on the J. R. Stocker farm just north of the infirmary farm. The first school house mentioned was probably at the turn of the Jaysville pike just south of the Stocker house. The brick school house mentioned is still standing on the east side of the Eaton pike at the turn of the Ohio Electric railway about three-fourths of a mile south of the fair grounds and is said to be the first brick building constructed in the county for school purposes. It seems incredible at this date that a man could afford to teach school at ten dollars per month, but we find that the necessities of life were much cheaper in those days, clothing seldom changed in style and could be worn with good form until threadbare, and the teacher was employed nine months of the year at other labor. Money was scarce in those days and the teacher was sometimes paid in provisions as in the case of Dennis Hart, who located on Bridge creek in 1819. In the winter of that year he opened a rate school in an old log cabin belonging to Joseph Townsend. In the following winter he taught in a new log school house which had been erected on the Eaton pike some distance south of the present site of the infirmary. This man was married and agreed to accept his wages in corn, meat, potatoes and other produce. Needing some clothing to protect him from the winter's cold, he proposed to exchange some of his surplus produce with Abraham Scribner for the desired articles, but found that this merchant was well supplied with such things. Scribner informed him that he would exchange the clothing for whisky, however, whereupon Hart proceeded to a little distillery between Greenville and Minatown and traded his corn at less than market price for firewater which he disposed of in turn to Scribner at a reduced price, thus paying his account. "Oh, DARKE COUNTY - 187 times. Oh, customs !" Surely things have changed since then, and apparently for the better. Professor McIntosh, writing in 1880, gives a vivid description of early educational conditions in the settlement about Prophetstown as follows: "Many settlers had large families —as many as ten children were found in a single cabin—and, to provide for the future of these young people, the parents came to this county. There was always work to be done, and the services of all hands were needed; it was only during the winter months that schools could be attended. At these, only the elementary branches were taught, and the predominant idea of the school master was discipline first, learning afterward. No grammar nor geography were taught. Few studied arithmetic, and these did not proceed much beyond the rudiments; and when, at length, grammar was introduced, such pupils were thought well advanced. In any locality, whenever sufficient families had moved in to form a school, the settlers stood ready to build a house and engage a teacher. Tall, strapping youths attended school, and the master had need of decision and courage as well as method and erudition. It was customary for the person applying for the school to call upon the parties within sending distance and canvass for scholars. If enough were secured, school opened. An illustration of the old-time method is given as follows: "About the year 1815, a man came into the Rush neighborhood, and offered his services as teacher. The settlers located along Mud Creek, West Branch and Bridge Creek talked the matter over, and concluded to employ him. It was a light labor for all to turn out with axes, handspikes and oxen, upon the day appointed, to chop and draw the logs to a chosen site for the purpose of putting up a schoolhouse. The location was near Rush Fort, on Mud Creek. While some put up round logs, notched down, one layer upon another, until they were of sufficient elevation to form a story, split clap-boards for the roof, chamber floor and door, and puncheons for the floor, others drew stone for the fireplace and prepared sticks and mud for the chimney. The floor being laid, next came desks and seats. Large holes were bored in a log on each side of the room, wooden pins were driven in, and a slab of unplaned plank laid on these pins. For seats, holes were bored in puncheons and legs driven in, two at each end. Windows were made by cutting out a log nearly the whole length of the house, leaving a hole a foot wide.. Into this was filled a 188 - DARKE COUNTY sort of lattice work of sticks, and upon this greased paper was pasted to transmit the light. Such was the school house of sixty-five years ago. It was not much of a structure, but there was no great contrast between it and the homes of its builders. There was no lack of ventilation, and the wood was not too long for the fire-place. School opened in charge of W. H. Jones, of whom mention has been made in a previous chapter, his services having been secured at a salary of $7 per month. He was severe and exacting; punishments were the order of the day. Whispering and other indiscretions subjected the offender to blows with a rule upon the palm of the hand; and so freely did Mr. Jones administer chastisement, that the patrons were obliged to request him to moderate his punishment, as the hands of their boys were so sore from repeated feruling that they were unable to use the ax. It was a species of torture to strike the tips of the gathered fingers with the ferule, and this was disapproved by the settlers, indurated to rough usages as they were. Only two branches of education were taught—reading and writing. The example of this neighborhood was contagious, and soon a house was built near the place of David Studabaker, and a man named Montgomery was hired to teach. Gradually school houses became more numerous, and the demand, for teachers in some measure induced a supply. Summer schools were rare. Females made no application till an adventurous woman, named Anna Boleyn, attempted a three months' term during the summer of 1825; but quit in disgust before the expiration of that time. Despite liberal provisions favorable to education, little had been done up to 1838 toward perfecting a system of common schools, the result of the scanty means and constant toil incident to pioneer life. In many of the schools, pupils were required to study in a loud tone, and hence called a loud school, the object being to let the teacher know they were engaged upon their lessons, and not in mischief. Classes in arithmetic and writing were never formed, but each pupil "ciphered away at will," and received personal assistance from the teacher when the same was needed. Writing was taught by the teacher "setting the copy," and the pupil trying to imitate the same. The "quill pen" was used by the pupil, and the "master" was expected to make the pen, and mend the same when the pupil thought it unfit for use. The custom of "barring out" the teacher and compelling him to "treat," about the holidays, was indulged in DARKE COUNTY - 189 by the pupils as a general custom, and sanctioned by the parents; but this relic of barbarism has almost entirely disappeared from our schools." Despite these untoward outward conditions our early schools educated some grand and stalwart men who, in after life, looked back to their early school days with the Ionging so touchingly expressed by the poet: "Gimme back the dear old days—the pathway through the dells, To the schoolhouse in the blossoms—the sound of far-off bells Tinklin' 'crost the meadows; the song of the bird an' brook, The old-time dictionary an' the blue-back spellin' book. Gone like a dream forever! A city hides the place, Where stood the old log schoolhouse, an' no familiar face Is smilin' there in welcome beneath a morning sky— There's a bridge across the river, an' we've crossed an' said good-bye !" Going now to the county seat we find that one of the earliest schools in this hamlet was conducted in a log building on the east side of Elm street between Third and Fourth streets (site of old Catholic church). This building also served as a room for the grand jury and once for the sitting o fthe court. Greenville township was divided into school districts in 1827 and Greenville district chose John Beers, David Briggs and Linus Bascom as school directors in conformity to Guilford's law, recently enacted. As these men were not on friendly terms with each other they refused to co-operate and did nothing in the interest of education. In 1828 a new board was elected and proceeded to dismantle the old building and remove the logs to lot No. 3 on Fourth street (near the present site of the M. E. parsonage) which site had been deeded to the school district by William Wiley in payment of a fine for assault and battery. An altercation between Abraham Schibner and Isaac Schideler prevented the erection of a building on this lot at this time. About 1839 or 1840 a brick schoolhouse was erected on lot No. 3, which was afterwards remodeled and used as a residence by Judge Sater and is still in a good state of preservation. Another two story brick school house was erected about the same time on the rear of lot 13, on the east side of Walnut street between Third and Fourth streets. After years of service 190 - DARKE COUNTY this building was used as a blacksmith shop and finally torn down about 1900. The building of two such ordinary school buildings instead of one good structure in a village like Greenville was in 1840, showed a lack of judgment which interfered with the proper development of the school system for several years. "In 1851 the first effort was made to grade the Greenville school by Ebenezer Bishop, who was employed at $400.00 a year to take general charge of the school. This effort was only partially successful and the schools were afterwards organized in four grades, and for a number of years were successfully conducted by A. T. Bodle, L. S. B. Otwell, F. Matchett and G. H. Martz, all efficient teachers. Mr. Mays, of Troy, Ohio, was afterwards employed as superintendent, the school was graded and has been conducted as a graded school in charge of a superintenent to date." The erection of a three-story brick school house on a newly purchased lot south of Fourth street between Central avenue and Sycamore street and the organization of a high school in 1868 properly marks the end of the old regime and the beginning of the modern era of education which will he noted more fully at another place. Before the Civil war, private schools were taught, sometimes by educated women, which provided opportunity for those who desired to take advanced studies, not pursued in the public schools. These were generally attended by children of the prominent families and were quite successful as shown by the number of pupils who in later life became leaders in the community. George Calderwood in the "Darke County Boy," published in the Courier, June 18, 1910, gives a vivid picture of his school days a few years before the war. The article seems to have been inspired by the prospective coming of Judge Alex. T. Bodle to Greenville after long years of absence, to address the Pioneer Association. As noted above Mr. Bodle was a teacher in the Greenville schools during the fifties and had won the affection of his scholars. Calderwood's article reads in part as follows: "Of course we will have `Alex' open school, call the roll, send Ed Waring and Volney Jenks for a bucket of water, have the classes recite, and then close with the spelling class, in which every pupil has to `toe the mark.' The best speller will soon go `up head,' and then go to the foot again, then work DARKE COUNTY - 191 up head again. When he or she does so three times the prize shall be a `Reward of Merit,' printed in blue ink on a card three by five inches. I'll bet Helen Gilbert-Peyton gets the card, if she's present. When the class in arithmetic is called for quick action in Stoddard's Mental, `Alex' will take up the book and read: "If a wolf can eat a sheep in seven-eighth of an hour, and a bear can eat it in three-fourths of an hour, how long will it take both of them to eat it, after the hear has been eating one-half an hour?" I'll bet a peach against a plum that Celia Lavender-Helm will solve it quicker than Jim Ries. Then the class in Bullion's grammar will be called to parse this sentence: "John Smith is now here in this city." Everybody will write it down, and Belle McGinnis will parse it correctly. But Jim Wharry will say: "It isn't right !" He will parse it differently, and vet will do it correctly, from his standpoint. But what is his standpoint? He reads his slip of paper, and it reads word for word as given out, but has blended two words together, to-wit: "John Smith is nowhere in this city." The joke is on Jim; and then Taylor Dorman will be called forward from the second class to read a poem on "Nine Parts of Speech." Of course he will be barefooted; his pants will be rolled up to his knees; a round-about button at the bottom and open at the top; his hair combed down in front of his ears and curled on top. With his right hand behind his back, hook in his left hand, he will read in a piping voice: Three little words you often see Are articles—a or an and thee. A noun's a name of anything, As school or garden, hoop or swing. Adjectives tell the kind of noun— As great, small, pretty, white or brown. Instead of nouns the pronouns stand— Her head, his face, your arm, my hand. Verbs tell of something to be done— To eat, count, sing, cough, jump or run. 192 - DARKE COUNTY How things are done the adverbs tell, As slowly, quickly, ill or well. Conjunctions join the words together, As men and women, wind or weather. The preposition stands before A noun, as of or through the door. The interjection shows surprise. As—Ah, how pretty! Oh, how wise! The whole are called nine parts of speech, Which reading, writing, speaking teach. Then Mollie LaMotte-Martin will be expected to come forward, dressed in checkered gingham, her hair combed back and plaited and tied with a blue ribbon, and read the soul-inspiring poem that has thrilled admiring millions of school children all over the United States. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are— Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is set, And the grass with dew is wet, Then you show your little light By twinkling, twinkling all the night. Then school will close by all the pupils singing: Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Columbus—on Scioto river! Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis—on White river. Illinois, Springfield, Illinois, Springfield—on Sangamon river. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg—on Susquehanna river. And so on through all the states in the union. * * * You see that kind of geography has some class to it. I think that any child that goes to school knows what an isthmus, DARKE COUNTY - 193 island, inlet, bay, river, creek or cape is as well as it knows the streets of the town it lives in. Of course it will add to the pleasure of the occasion by playing "Ring around the rosy," "Come Philander, let us be a marching;" "Green gravel, green gravel, the grass is so green;" "How oats, peas, beans and barley grow, neither you nor I, nor anybody know;" etc. Of course it wouldn't be "school" at all unless we sang those songs the same as we did in our childhood days. What is the use of being young again unless we act young?. Another thing I move you, Mr. President, and that is to have "Alex" whip Al Gilbert, Chester Fletcher and Volney Jenks. I never saw such naughty boys in my life as they were. Lick 'em, and lick 'em good, teacher! They were so devilish that they often tempted me, but I was too nice a boy to ever get a licking—more than once or twice a day. And another thing, teacher, if you'll let me carry a bucket of water for the pupils, I will promise not to put any salt in it—that is, very much more than I used to. I just bet we'll have a good time. Won't you come, Mr. Bodle, and hold school for us just one more day? We'll all be awfully nice; none of us'll shoot paper wads across the room, nor make faces at you behind your back, nor write "love missives" to the girls. We've forgotten all about such things. In fact, we never bother our heads about "love." No, indeed! We just let it bother us, and that's all it ever does to any one. It just bothers them and they never bother about it at all." The following extract from a letter written by the same writer to James W. Martin, secretary of the committee appointed to invite Mr. Calderwood to the annual meeting of the Darke County Pioneer Association, September 5, 1909, are not inappropriate here: Oh, those school days! Think of the "classics" we had to recite to Alex. Bodle, Caroline Hinkle—God bless her memory!—Rachel Collins, I. W. Legg, J. T. Martz, Em. Otwell, Bart Otwell, Bill Otwell, and other teachers from 1856 to 1860. Those "classics" have been ringing in my ears for over half a century. (But say, Jim, right here is where I don't want you to tell any of the pupols how old I am, for I want them to think I am still a "school boy.") (13) 194 - DARKE COUNTY Now to the recitations: Do you remember, Jim, that one Alvin Gilbert used to recite? It began with something like this: "Mary had a little lamb." Then Volney Jenks would follow with "You'd scarce expect one of my age." Then Taylor Dorman would step forward with the dignity of one of Sam Cable's watermelons, and boldly and audaciously look into the eyes of the pupils and say: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." You remember how Harry Knox would stand pigeon-toed, and with his hands behind his back, and in a voice that sounded like an apple falling from one of the trees in Sam Tierce's public orchard, say: "The boy stood on the burning deck." I think Harry believed every word of that story, for he soon after went to sea in search of Cassabianca. The prelude to that story was beautiful—historically so; and history never lies unless I write it. The words read: "There was a little boy, about thirteen years of age, whose name was Cassabianca." There's exactly where you get your Cassabianca; but how Mrs. Hemans discovered that he was thirteen years of age, history doesn't say, and I'll be "blowed" if I will ever say that M ever saw a boy thirteen years of age. I would give a whole lot to see McGuffey's primer, McGuffey's first, second and third readers. Think of James Bland letting that little bird out of the cage; of George Rolfe drowning that cat in the well; of Albert Ross and Dash, and the wagon that Dash was hitched up to (I always wanted to steal that wagon) ; of Richard and Robert, the lazy boys, who laid in bed until the clock struck ten; of the three brothers—one went to heaven, one went to hell, and the third one got a job and went to work; of the farmer and his wheat field, and how he drove a mother quail and her little brood out of the field. Many of those stories will live with me to the end of my days. DARKE COUNTY - 195 We sat on benches in those days. There were two kinds—those with backs and those without. The big boys and girls got the former. There were two great blessings afforded us. One was to pass the water, and the other to carry in the wood. I always wanted to pass the water! Come to think of it, we carried the water, too. Sometimes from Turpen's, sometimes from Gilbert's, often from Cary's. Ah, me, but didn't we have some games! "Blackman," "bullsoup," and "tag." We had slates, too; but I haven't see one for so long that I have forgotten whether they were square, oblong, or round. And the spelling class—I can't forget that. How proud the boy or girl was who `went head," and then down to the foot again, then up to the head again, and received a card called "Reward of Merit." When you got five, they were exchanged for another five. Five of the others assured you of a prize—a little book. No "promotion cards" in those days. It was left to the teacher to put you into another class, if desired. Those were the days of curls for girls. A girl without a curl wasn't in style. Bullion's grammar was the text book on correct speech, but I couldn't understand it, and I have let grammar alone ever since and confined my manner of speech to the vocabulary of my associates. Another subject that puzzled me was algebra. I couldn't comprehend it then, and I know less of it now. The best reader in my class was Belle McGinnis. The best mathematician was Jim Ries—next to him, Dave Girard. In those days, the teacher wrote the text for the copy books, which consisted of two phrases: "Many men of many minds; Many beasts of many kinds." The other was: "Tall oaks from little acorns grow." However, about that time Peyton's copy books came out and the teachers were relieved ; but they had one task left—they used to walk around among the pupils and look over their shoulders to see if they were making any progress. Very few boys had coats in those days; most of them wore 196 - DARKE COUNTY "rondabouts." Few if any, of the boys wore shoes; boots prevailed. The little boys had red leather tops to their boots, and the poor little "tad" without red tops to his boots always felt humiliated. Ray's Mental Arithmetic was as far as I went in figures. I never learned how to calculate interest, as I forgot all the rules the next day. Now I am glad of it. No one will take my note, so what's the use in knowing anything about interest? I must not forget Webster's Spelling Book! M never saw one that didn't have a blue cover. Up to 1858, it contained no definitions. Nothing but words, words, words. Then to prepare the public mind for the sale of Noah Webster's Dictionary, they put a few definitions in the speller, so as to stimulate the mind to buy the book. It was a great business. stroke. Of course, there was the small school dictionary, but they wanted to sell the big one, and if they had embodied definitions to any great extent in the Speller, the sale of the big book would have been endangered. But as an educational proposition, the speller would have had far the advantage and the pupils of 1850-1860 would have been greatly benefitted. But what I started in to say was that some of us Greenville folks—boys and girls—thought that we were "sum punkins" at spelling, and were eager to go into the country and "spell down" our country cousins. I don't know of a single instance where we won out. They knew as much about Webster's Spelling Book—and a little bit more—than we did. CHAPTER X. THE PLANTING OF THE CHURCH. To the French Catholic missionaries probably belongs the honor of heralding the gospel among the Indian settlements of primitive Darke county. As before noted it is well known that they planted mission stations at strategic points in the wilderness between the great lakes and the Ohio. It is more than probable that they had stations at Loramie's store and Pickawillany, and at these places learned about the villages on the headwaters of Greenville creek and the upper Stillwater. The finding of two double silver crosses of the style worn by members of the Jesuit order on the farm now belonging to Ira G. Blocker, in section 23, Washington township, lends color to this supposition. These crosses were about three inches in length and were plowed up by Mr. Philip L. Rogers near the site of a fine flowing spring—one about 1879 and the other about 1884. Numerous arrow points, stone hammers and Indian relics were found from time to time on a knoll located near by, indicating that a camp or village had formerly been located hhere. One cross is now in the Katzenberger collection in the Public Museum. The other has been lost. The next religious teachers that penetrated Darke county were probably the chaplains or preachers with the armies of St. Clair and Wayne. Fortunately, we have a printed sermon entitled "The Altar of Peace," being the substance of a discourse delivered in the council house, at Greenville, July 5, 1795, before the officers of the American army and Major General Wayne, commander-in-chief and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, to treat with the Indian tribes, northwest of the Ohio, by the Rev. Morgan, John Rhys (or Rhees) representing the Missionary Society of Philadelphia, an organization whose members "renounced" all sectarian names and adopted simply that of "Christian," and whose missionaries were supposed to be "capable of practicing or teaching some useful art as well as a rational system of religion." At this time many representatives of distant tribes were 198 - DARKE COUNTY present at Greenville and preparations were being made for peace negotiations. Accordingly Rev. Rhees appropriately chose as his text Judges 6:24. "Then Gideon built an altar unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah Shalom; i. e., the Lord give peace." Among other things he said: "All the precepts of Jehovah center in one syllable—Love. The laws and the prophets, like the rays of the sun collected to a focus, here shine and burn. The man who loves God as the Supreme good, and his neighbor as himself, surmounts every obstruction with ease, because he is borne above earth on the wings of love; the philanthropist is every person's neighbor, the white, the black and the red are alike to him; he recognizes in each a brother, a child of the same common parent, an heir of immortality, and a fellow traveler to eternity. He knows how to make allowance for the prejudices of nations and individuals; instead of declaiming and tyrannizing, he endeavors to lead (with the cords of love and the bands of men) all his fellowmen to think and judge for themselves what is right." * * * "In order to establish a durable peace some sacrifices must be made on both sides. The love of conquest and enlargement of territory should be sacrificed—every nation or tribe having an indefeasible right of soil, as well as a right to govern themselves in what manner they think proper, for which reason the United States purchased the right of soil from the Mndians. Self-interest and avarice, being the root of all evil, ought to be sacrificed as a burnt offering, for the good of mankind. The desire of revenge should be immediately offered on the altar of forgiveness, although thy brother transgress against the seventy times seven in a day. Dissimulation and intrigue with every species of deceptive speculation and fraudulent practice ought to be sacrificed on the altars of strict honor and inflexible justice." * * * "Let us therefore, in the first place, follow the example of Gideon by erecting an altar, and offer the necessary sacrifices to obtain peace; let us by acts of righteousness and deeds of mercy make that peace permanent; let every probable means he made use of to enlighten the poor heathens, that they may quit their childish and cruel customs, and add to their love of liberty and hospitality, piety, industry, mechanical and literary acquirements; let us join them in the prayer that the `Great Spirit' may enlighten their eyes and purify their hearts, give them a clear sky and smooth water, guard them DARKE COUNTY - 199 against the bad birds, and remove the briars from their paths; protect them from the dogs of war, which are ever exciting them to acts of barbarous cruelty, that they may never attend to their barking, but continue to keep the bloody hatchet in the ground and smoke the calumet of peace until its odors perfume the air." "Sweet peace! source of joy, parent of plenty, promoter of commerce and manufactures, nurse of arts and agriculture, Angelic Peace! Could I but set forth thy amiable qualities, who would but love thee? 0, daughter of Heaven, first offspring of the God of Love hasten, to make thy residence with us on earth." Rev. Rhys is described as "The Welch Baptist hero of civil and religious liberty of the eighteenth century"—and from the tone of the above sermon we judge that the epithet is not inappropriate. Christian. After the settlement of the county it seems that the recently formed and rapidly growing sect then and long after known as "New Lights," but now known as Christians, furnished the first accredited preachers. This sect originated in Kentucky during the great religious revival of the first years of the nineteenth century, and naturally extended its influence and gained many early converts in the Miami valley. The Kentucky revival, above mentioned, also caused the starting of the Cumberland Presbyterian and the Shaker denominations. Had it not been for this manifestation it seems probable that Presbyterianism in the Miami valley would now be as strong as it is in western Pennsylvania, from which locality so many of the early pioneers came. Of these sects the Christian has exerted the most power in the Miami valley; the Shaker is now practically extinct, and the Cumberland Presbyterian has united with the main body of Presbyterians. David Purviance was one of the originators of the Christian denomination. His son John settled in the Whitewater valley near Braffetsville with Elder Nathan Worley, an illiterate but zealous worker from Montgomery county, and a number of like faith, where they established a community of kindred spirits. To Judge John Purviance is given the credit of delivering the first sermon to a civil congregation within the bounds of Darke county. This event is said to have happened at the