THE history of Parke County is a record of military strife and civil progress. It presents. in striking contrast, the terrible cruelties of savage warfare with the happy and harmonious developments of peace. It builds the forte which sheltered armies and, later, founds cities upon their sites. It shows to us a wild waste of forest and swamp. broken by stretches of prairie, and irrigated by bridgeless streams, transformed to fields productive, pastures pleasant, homes comfortable and cities growing, populous and flourishing. It presents to view the dwellers of the wood, the Shawnee. Miami and other tribes at home. The energy of France, the power of England and the dominant persistence of Americans found here full play. It conducts from beyond the Alleghanies and beyond the ocean to find the fatherland of the race now dwelling in its townships.

The savage is seen to vanish beyond the Mississippi, the pioneer becomes the settler and commencement is made of a civilization whose manifest destiny is the highest happiness and power of a free people. Owners of the lands they till, makers of the laws they obey, themselves the projectors and builders of house and church. turnpike and drain, and all the improvements apparent to the eye of the interested observer. Persevering industry is seen to have rescued a region of swamp wherein miasma bred and floated, poisoning the atmosphere and endangering life, .to become the most fertile of farms and healthful of lands.

Ohio is a noble State, and Darke County, emerging from obscurity, has advanced to prominence as one of her most productive counties. The history of Darke includes the origin of its founders, their progress in improving its lands and the results of their unwearied industry.

Could material reward our research, and unwritten truths be rescued from oblivion, much of what would fill these chapters would prove a valuable addition to our knowledge. There is the inception of courts. the crude attempts at agriculture, schooling, manufacture and mechanism, the projectors of the turnpike and the men who originated and carved through the railroads. There is the progress of education, the mutations of the press, the growth of religion and the strife of opinion—noble themes, worthy of labored study. The historian is desirous yet reluctant to attempt the task. Consulting the press. he finds its columns mainly replete with pleasing tales and political tirades. The pioneers have listened to able addresses, but these have net been placed on file. A `"harry, an Arnold, a Hiller and a Harper have gathered fragments and done a priceless service, but the records of Darke are meager and deficient, and their combination as lessons for present entertainment and future reference and instruction is a difficult and important task.

Traveling her railroads, traveling her turnpikes. and walking the streets of towns and cities, the county shows free traces of its recent growth, and the thoughtful are anxious to learn the story. To know the acts of our ancestors. to ascertain the rank of the county, to rehearse examples of heroism, and to exhibit the results of untiring and well-applied industry, are considered well worthy of patient investigation. The brief outline of State history centering within the bounds of Darke, the perilous settlements before the war, the roll of pioneers, the rapid changes wrought by labor, are themes to dwell upon. Aided by recollections of aged pioneers, annals and manuscripts, attempt is made to delineate the customs of the early day, to note the characters of primitive settlement and the influence on their health and habits of a residence in a region remote from travel and dense with the growth of centuries. There was seen here what is now going on in the Far West. The woods abounded in game. the lands were offered at low rates, and villages and towns would somewhere be laid out, and we shall see that these circumstances attract the roving trapper, the reckless speculator and the permanent settler.

Few are left to-day, in Darke, of those who rendered her citizens such incalculable service in making the county habitable. They have perished. but their work remains the basis of present and future prosperity. Pioneer life is made prominent because, from its impress, the future was determined. His legacy to posterity was an example of rare courage and ceaseless energy. A generation, springing from blended nations, has stamped its character upon a worthy successor. Peoples have clung to mountain side, or island home, because of life associations, but citizens of Darke are proud of the historic interest attached to her cities, the number and perfection of her pikes, and the attractions of a beautiful and diversified scenery.

Undulating plains, platted with farms and dotted by habitations, stretch away on either hand. Many streams unite their waters, and irrigating the lands, drain the soil of surplus moisture ; groves of timber alternate with cleared fields, while town and city reveal their site by court-house tower and spire of church.

Seventy-four years ago, the first white man established within the limits of Darke County, by his rude cabin, an outpost of permanent occupation in the Indian country. Traders had been here and trappers had followed the traces years before, but the trails of armies had been overgrown with vegetation, and the Indians, cowed and sullen, were still at home in their rude camps along meaning streams.

Three-fourths of a century have transformed a savage paradise to an abode of the highest civilization. In vain disease and danger, privation and poverty,

were leagued against the pioneers ; clearings increased in number and enlarged in area ; tradesmen and professional men gathered in the towns. Along Wayne's road they trooped and turned aside upon their entered lands. Later came the railroads, enhancing values and accelerating transportation. The perfect mechanism of the age is here in use, on farm, in town and city, and agriculture stands prominent in volume and character of its products.

Nor were education and religion ignored—thoge sterling agencies which elevate and ennoble while they direct and stimulate exertion. These testimonials of the past are pledges of like recognition of eminent services in the present, and give direction to the future. It is with interest we seek to trace the history of Darke, and from the most disheartening commencement discern the growth of present proud pre-eminence among her sister counties in elements of stable and enduring prosperity.

As families with pardonable pride trace their descent from a long line of honored ancestry, so may Darke seek out her origin from the counties first formed in the Northwestern Territory. Hamilton was the second county established in the Territory, and was organized by proclamation of Gov. St. Clair, on January 20, 1790, with the following boundary : Beginning on the Ohio River at the confluence of the Little Miami. and down said Ohio to.the mouth of the Big Miami, and up said Miami to the standing stone forks or branch of said river, and thence with a line to be drawn due east to the Little Miami, and down said Little Miami River to the place of beginning. The condition of the pioneers of this county was deserving of commendation. For them to advance out into the wilderness seemed certain death, and to remain was to run the risk of starvation. Pioneers the best circumstanced "found subsistence hard to get, and the poorer class were almost destitute. Game, fish, and what could be raised on small patches of ground in the settlements were the dependence for food. Having endured these privations for a time. some, the more resolute, determined to move out and occupy lands. There were several families which united to go, and for common safety block-houses were erected near their cabins. While at work by day a lookout was on the watch, and at sunset all retired within the pickets. So they labored on till improvements had been increased to a size sufficient to provide subsistence for their families.

These stations became points of refuge for safety and food, and also drew upon them the attention of their foes. Perpetual vigilance, hardship and peril were the lot of the pioneer, and the block-house became the approved recourse of all settlers far up the rivers of Ohio. So scarce and dear was food at this time, that the little flour that could be afforded by families was saved away to be used only in case of sickness, or for the entertainment of friends, and game was sought as a necessity. Ross County was formed on August 20, 1798, by proclamation, as Hamilton had been, and likewise had very extensive limits. After Wayne's treaty, Col. Nathaniel Massie and others formed a company to make a settlement in the county. In August. 1796, Chillicothe was laid out by Col. Massie, and a lot given to each settler. Many of Wayne's soldiers and camp-followers settled here, and the society was much akin to what has been asserted of our Western towns of Deadwood and Leadville. Chillicothe was the point from which the valley settlements spread and advanced ; it was a place of considerable business, and in 1800 became the seat of government of the Territory. Later, the honor of being capital fell to Zanesville, and finally to Columbus. Montgomery County was created from Hamilton and Ross on May 1, 1803, and the seat of justice was appointed to be at the village of Dayton, and, on January 16, four years later, Miami was formed from Montgomery, and Staunton, now a wretched hamlet near Troy, was made the county seat, and, finally, on January 3, 1809, Darke County was formed from Miami by act of the Legislature. It derived its name from the gallant Col. Darke, of whom honorable mention has been made in the successive campaigns of Harmar, St.

Clair and Wayne. The eastern, western and southern boundaries coincide with the original, but when formed, the county extended northward to the Indian boundary line fixed by Wayne's treaty, and therefore included a portion of the territory now belonging to Mercer County. As originally bounded, Fort Recovery stood on the nortnern line of the county. The original survey was made by Ludlow and his party early in the century, and the division into sections was the later work of Judge John Wharry, of Greenville. The field-notes of the original survey give dolorous accounts of the condition of the county, which seems to have been dismal with swamps and marshes and far from attractive to the most resolute pioneer. Less than a dozen men comprised the population of Miami County from 1797 to 1799, and in 1800 a few families moved in. Then immigrants began to come in from all parts of the country. From the coon to the buckskin embraced the circulating medium, Merchandise was first obtained from Cincinnati, then Dayton, and finally a man named Peter Felix established an Indian trafficking post at Staunton. Ten years had now gone by since Wayne had retired from Greenville, and Parke County still formed part of the Indian Territory beyond the frontiers. Its lands were traversed as yet only by the savage, the adventurous hunter, the wily trapper and by the Ludlows, Cooper, Nelson and Chambers, surveyors in Government employ, accompanied by their field hands. From June, 1799, to January, 1802, these venturing forerunners of occupation ran their lines in the face of the greatest natural obstacles with almost marvelous fidelity, and, returning, left their work to be made useful when the rising tide of settlement should flow in upon their forbidding, yet fertile tracts. Onward the settlements were sweeping as they have continued to sweep, till beating upon the far Pacific, there has come a return, and now in Kansas, Nebraska and other States there is still proceeding, under the potent influences of inventive genius, a continuation of that occupation which expands power, increases wealth and supplies homes for thousands.

At the close of the Greenville treaty, the county to the westward was a wilderness; but, in addition to the Indian traces leading from the Miami to the Maumee, and threading their devious way to other savage villages, there were the broad trails cut by pioneers, trodden by horsemen and footmen, and marking the route of armies and the forays of detachments. The soldier was also the citizen and the settler, and his quick, appreciative glance took in the possibilities of the countries he had traveled. For him the woods of Darke had no charm. The conditions elsewhere were here wanting. Contrast the statement made concerning the Miami settlement to the east with the actual condition of the lands of this county. There the country was attractive all about the settlement. Nature presented her most lovely appearance ; the rich soil, mellow as an ash-heap. excelled in the exuberance of its vegetation. Cattle were lost from excessive feeding, and care was required to preserve them from this danger. Over the bottom grew the sweet annis, the wild nettle, the rye and the pea vine, in rich abundance, where the cattle were subsisted, without labor. and these, with nutritious roots, were eaten by swine with the greatest avidity. In Darke lands there were found the woods, the endless variety of vine and shrub, impassable swamps, lack of roadway, and the great difficulty of making passable roads. Nor were the forests the only or most formidable barrier to early settlement. We have seen the woods to be filled with Indians. Their principal town was at Piqua, distant ba eighteen miles ; their camps were along the creeks. In the neighborhood of larger settlements they were treated roughly, and are entitled to little consideration, and it was known from bitter experience that lone families were in constant danger of the sudden wrath of the savage. We have spoken of Tecumseh's brother. the Prophet. As the latter appealed to credulity and superstition, so did the former to a slumbering sense of the wrongs to be redressed, and by far more was the warrior to be dreaded for the native eloquence and subtle scheming with which he gradually fanneu the sparks of discontent into the flames of open warfare. It is said that he built a cabin at the point near Greenville, and by others it is denied; it matters not,

but the Shawnee brothers gathered about them dark retainers, who had no kindly impulses to the persons who might presume to pioneer the settlement of the country. Some portions of the county abounded in game, and among those timid and harmless animals were found those fierce and dangerous, as might be judged from the names of creek and locality. Still this might he regarded more as an annoyance than as a dread, and, later, premiums for scalps of wolf and 'panther supplied the settler with means of paying tax or buying necessaries. There existed a still more potent influence debarring occupation, and this was ill reports of health and climate. The men of that day were little afraid of labor ; they knew the Indian must give way, but they were peculiarly influenced by whatever partook of the mysterious, and Rumor's many voicesasoon changed the natural to the marvelous, and Darke County was shunned as the haunt of a plague, designated "milk sickness." Some implicitly believe in its prevalence to this day, while others assert that it is a myth, undeserving of credence. Endeavors to find a case have always proved futile. It is heard of " just over in the next township," but, going thither, report placed it further on in the next township, or perhaps in the one just left, and the phantom always places the breadth of a township between its locality and the curious investigator. But whether a myth or a reality, the report spread along the Miami and beyond ; the settlers believed it, and, what was worse, regarded it with dread. Even the Indians asserted that certain districts were infected with an air freighted with the odors of disease, and gravely told the whites, " Not live much here—too much belly sick ;" and, whatever the cause, there was sickness where they gave this word of warning. It will thus be seen that the territory which afterward became Darke County had won an unenviable reputation, and land titles were held at low rates, with few bidders. These things undoubtedly delayed settlement and caused a tardy growth, while they gave in compensation a class of men possessed of pluck and energy, well qualified to leave their impress on the soil.

In the settlement of Darke County, which for eight years was a dependency of Miami. two classes of land occupants were recognized—the transient and the permanent. The historian called to do justice to the worthy class finds but few of their descelidants resident citizens of the county, and it is not till 1816 and later, that families came to stay and make their fortune blend with that of their future home.

Coming up the army roads, striking across the country, eligible locations caught the eye, and established the hunter at a creek-side home, while an unusual hard time in sickness and losses impelled the intended resident to move away. Thus there were conversions from one class to another, and all shared in a certain degree of restlessness while in search of a home, but a strongly marked distinction between the two divisions existed. There was seen to be here, as elsewhere, a border class of trapper and hunter affiliating with the savages, only endured by genuine settlers and hanging upon the outmost fringe of advancing occupation. It matters little who they were, these openers or beginners, who held aloof from neighbors. occupied miserable huts, raised small patches of corn, and left when the clearings became too numerous. Many poor men came into the county, put up small log cabins. cleared somewhat of ground, then, disheartened by privation, sickness and inability to make payments, gave way to others, who built with better success upon their broken fortunes. An old Darke County settler, located not far from Greenville, thus speaks of the actual pioneers as a class : "The place for the squatter is not quite among the Indians, for that is too savage, nor yet among good farmers. who are too jealous and selfish, but in the woods, partly for desiring it up and partly for hunting." The histories of townships, dealing with the first settlers. often speak of the unknown squatter, whose abandoned claims gave brief home to the settler, and whose ill-cleared vegetable patch, growing up to weeds and bush, made the spot seem yet more wild than the woods surrounding.

Travelers and land hunters characterize the squatter class as " rucie and uncouth." and express relief when leaving some worse than usual " bed and board."

Misunderstandings were decided not unfrequently by personal encounters. many grievances taken before those early Justices reveal the sad lessons of poverty and intemperance, in marked contrast with later days : such was the character of the squatter class of Darke County. We turn with pleasure to consider the class whose labor is the basis of the present enlightened society, and find expression in the language of the gifted Everett. " What have we seen.” said he, " in every newly settled region ? The hardy and enterprising youth finds society in the older settlements comparatively filled up. His portion of the old family farm is too narrow to satisfy his wants or desires ; and lie goes forth with the paternal blessing, and often with little else, to take up his share of the rich heritage which the God of Nature has spread for him in this Western World. He leaves the land of his fathers, the scenes of his early days. with tender regret glistening in his eye, though hope mantles on his cheek. He does not, as he departs. shake off the dust of the venerated soil from his feet ; but, on the bank of some distant river. he forms a settlement to perpetuate the remembrance of the home of his childhood. He piously bestows the name of the spot where he was born, on the place to which he has wandered ; and while he is laboring with the difficulties, struggling with the privations, languishing. perhaps. under the diseases incident to the new settlement and the freshly opened soil. he remembers the neighborhood whence he sprung—the roof that sheltered his infancy—the spring that gushed from the rock by his father's door, where lie was wont to bathe his heated forehead after the toil of his youthful sports, the village schoolhouse. the rural church. the grave of his father and of his mother. In a few years, a new community has been formed, the forest has disappeared beneath the sturdy aim of the emigrant. his children have grown up, the hardy offspring of the new clime. and the rising settlement is already linked in all its partialities and associations with that from which its fathers and founders have wandered. Such. for the most part. is the manner in which the new States have been built up ; and in this way a foundation is laid BY NATURE HERSELF for peace, cordiality and brotherly feeling between the ancient and recent settlement of the country."

In recounting the incentives to Western emigration. the ruling motive was the hope of improving the condition. The land was cheap, undoubtedly fertile. and the prospects of a rise in values certain. There were those who expected to find a " paradise in the West," and journeyed thither only to suffer from disease. want and discouragements. Some went back. telling of suffering. and dissuaded those lightly influenced ; others, with inherent manhood. resolved. since they were here. to make the best of it. and gradually won their way to affluence and comfort. Some time in the fall of 1806. or the spring of 1807. the first white man who came to the county to remain. established an Indian trading-house upon the northeast corner of Section 34, Greenville Township, which for a time embraced the greater part of the county. His stock was small. and of the kind most desired by the Indians. He did a thriving business, and exchanged for his goods. which were sold at exorbitant prices, various kinds of furs and somewhat of the cursed coin which British greed of lands had induced their emissaries to distribute among the faithless savages.

It is said that the order in trading was as follows. but whether. in this particular instance, wherein law Scribner was trader. the plan was customary. is unknown. If not, it should have been, and it has some points worthy of attention from civilized customs at stores of this late day. The Indians. bringing with thenit their roll of furs, walked into the cabin and found seats. while each was presented with a small piece of tobacco. Pipes were lighted, and the residue was placed in pouches. After some time passed in smoking and talking among themselves, one arose, went to the counter, and, taking up a yardstick. pointed ors the article wanted and asked the price. Payment being made in skins, there was to each kind a recognized value. The muskrat was held at a quarter, the raccoon at a third, a doe at a half and a buckskin at a dollar. Payment was made following

each purchase. until all exchanges were effected. As each retired. another came forward in his turn till all had traded. No one desired to anticipate his turn. decorum was observed, and no attempt was made to “beat down,” for, if not satisfied. another article was pointed out and named.

It is reported that Scribner not only sold the Indians tobacco, but rum, and they generally reserved some of their furs with which to procure liquor for a final frolic. The statement is made. and is probably true, that this pioneer trader supplied his savage customers with rifles. powder. lead, knives and hatchets, on the principle that if he did not others would. and he might as well have the profits. We cannot blame him for steep prices. when we consider the means of travel. His goods were hauled from Fort Washington. now Cincinnati. along Wayne's road by way of Fort Jafferson. by a yoke of oxen attached to a rough kind of sled, denominated a "mud-boat." and a trip usually occupied a period of from three to six weeks. As there was no competition. Scribner held the monopoly for several years, until the arrival of David Conner, in 1811 or 1812, when his coadjutor aspired for a portion of the trade. which at this later period partook more largely of civilized exchange.

We have said that Azor Scribner was the pioneer of Darke County, but, some six years after the treaty of Greenville, a Frenchman of unknown name established himself for a brief period upon the site of Minatown, and trafficked with the natives in exchange for his calicoes and other goods. Scribner's house was located about twenty rods from the present site of Porter's tanyard, but the date when he moved his family from Middletown, on the Miami, to Greenville is unknown, although thought to have been some time in 1808. This family consisted of his wife. Nancy Scribner, and two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, all of whom lived in the shanty which served at once as home and store. Sarah —or “Aunt Sally "—McKhann is prominent among the aged of to-day as the oldest living settler in Darke County.

We have to deal. in this chapter, with Darke's history and its surroundings, for the brief period of eight years. When we call upon the living and question them concerning events of this interval, from the formation to the organization of the county. we find them at a loss what to say. We turn to the bound volumes of the press, garnered in the court-house. and find few allusions to this period, so momentous as the initial of settlement, the commencement of still-continued progress. and we ponder the meager particulars of these eventful years.

Within the limits of a generation, marvelous changes have swept this region. Black Hoof, Logan and Tecumseh vanished before the swelling tide of western bound humanity. and the Shawnee was driven beyond the Mississippi. Sons and grandsons are cultivating the fields of the pioneers, whose last-surviving members totter upon the verge of dissolution. Fine farms, growing cities and enlightened society are the results of pioneer enterprise, yet the shadows of oblivion are gathering. The memories of a Rush. an Arnold and of a Wharry, will soon have lost their distinctness, and their knowledge will have gone beyond recovery.

What will be known a few years hence of Samuel Boyd, Aaron Hiller and Lemuel Rush ? Of Abraham Studabaker, Briggs, Terry, Creviston, Carnahan and Devor ? What of Scott, McIntyre, Thompson, Williams, Hayes, the ill-fated Rush, and a score of those whose labors broke the solitude and changed the features of the wilderness ? It is no puerile task to wrest from obscurity returnbrances of early events, and those connected with them. The student of vital statistics stand amazed at the mortality of our older citizens during these last few Years. Familiar faces are sought upon our streets and at their homes, in vain. The harvester has gathered the pioneers ; a few yet remain as the gleanings, even as some fruit clings to the branches when the time of the vintage is past. These

are the veteran survivors of battles with nature's obstacles ; the aged witnesses of strange mutations. History knows of no worthier theme than that of those pioneers in n primeval forest, by whose toil the forests fell ; at whose will the heavy, dark woods gave way to fields of grain, log cabins and initial industries. Where malignant fevers and pestilential miasma crouched and hovered among the swamps, one sees the well-tilled fields, the useful drain, the lasting pike. Pioneers of Miami, men fearless of heart and experienced in the settlements, saw with concern the rude outfits of the early settlers of Darke, as they pushed slowly on and disappeared in the heavy forests and ague-haunted swamps of that region.

People did not move by steam and car in those days, no, nor for many years later ; as late as 1839, the family of J. S. Patterson plodded their slow march for four hundred miles, their goods upon a road wagon, drawn by three horses. All along the way, the inquiry was made of them : Where are you from and where are you going ?" They had traveled a long way in Ohio before any one was found who knew that there was a Darke County in the State. They insisted that it must be Stark County or Clarke County that was meant. But, after they had left these counties in the rear, and had only two or three days. travel to make, there were found some unusually well-informed people, who knew where Darke County was, and they knew it mainly by its bad reputation. They said : " Don't go there for God's sake ; you'll all die with the milk sickness," and if travel and report were so adverse, at this comparatively recent period, what must it have been when, during the winter of 1807-08, Samuel C. Boyd moved in and settled on Section 14, Greenville Township ? Upon a small stream heading about two miles north of Greenville, and tributary to the Stillwater, near Beamsville, Boyd concluded to remain. He is notable as the first white man who, accompanied by a family, made a home within the limits of the county. The farm first known to occupation as the residence of this pioneer is that later owned by William Cunningham, and in 1879, by George Manix. The creek perpetuates his name as Boyd's Creek, and brief remembrances tell the following : He went to work and built a house, near where the railroad crosses the Gettysburg pike. How he got the timber in place and who came to his assistance is conjectura4L Perhaps Scribner and a party of his Indian customers lent a helping hand, friends may have come with him and then returned, or, as is most probable, his wife may have rendered what aid she could, and he had the energy and ability to erect it himself.

Subsequent to this, Boyd entered a tract of land on Boyd's Run, between the farms afterward owned by James Buchanan on the south and Barnett's on the north. He was at work on this place clearing off a site for a house, when some one came along and reported the murder of Rush by Indians. At the solicitation of Abraham Studabaker, who, in 1808, had located on the east side of Greenville Creek, and had built a block-house there, through distrust of the Indians, Mr. Boyd was induced to remove to this refuge, with his family, where they remained but a short time. The ceaseless dread of violencehung like a threatening cloud over their minds, and they returned to Warren County, where they remained until the close of the war, when they once more returned to occupy and improve their land on the run. Prior to their removal, on one occasion, while Mr. Boyd was absent from home at night, the fierce barking of a dog led the family to think that Indians were prowling around, and Mrs. Boyd, in quiet, cautioning the children against noise, left the house with them and secreted herself and children in a pile of brush, and there passed the hours till morning. Mrs. Martin, then known as Dorcas Boyd, says that she remembers playing with the Wilson girls, who, as we shall learn more in detail, were killed by the Indians, and relates that a brother of the girls, pursued by savages, treed, thrust his hat, placed on the muzzle of his gun, cautiously to one side of the tree, as though peering out, drew the fire ( his pursuers, and while they stopped to reload, made good his escape.

During the war of 1812, several incidents occurred in and about Greenville, which at that early day seemed naturally to be fitted for a county seat. The

greater number of Indians who remained friendly, who claimed and received protection from the United States, were located at Piqua, and placed in charge of Col. Johnston. There were the Shawnees, Delawares, Munseys, Mohicans, and portions of the Wyandots. Ottawas and Senecas. There were at one time assembled here full six thousand ; and far from being a source of danger, they were the best possible protection to the frontier while they were friendly. Johnston was beloved of them, their known friend and a man of approved courage. Several attempts we1e made to kill him in hopes of securing the strong body of savages for British assistance. Friendly chiefs warned him of danger. His family, save his wife, who stayed by him, and all his papers and effects of value, were removed for security, while he remained at his post. Various efforts, all foiled, were made to effect his death. Madison. then President, disdained to employ Indians in warfare, from a high sense of honor and noble principle, in striking contrast with his cruel and mercenary antagonist. and thereby suffered those reverses which befell our arms in the North. White flags with mottoes were supplied to parties of the Indians wishing to pass scouts and outposts in safety. The hatred to Indians in general, regardless of their feelings to the whites, was such that but for prudent action these Indians would have been driven to retaliate unprovoked injuries.

At one time, a party of whites discharged a murderous volley into the midst of a body of Indians, approaching them with the utmost confidence, bearing a flag in full view. Two Indians fell dead, a third was wounded, and the rest were taken captive, robbed of everything they possessed and taken to Greenville, where a post had been established, and to which these cowardly assassins belonged. Conscience has ever made cowards of men, and the garrison at Greenville, alarmed at the possible consequences of their cruel action, brought their prisoners to Upper Piqua. and delivered them to Col. Johnston. That officer decided to conduct them back to Greenville, and there to restore them to their property and to their people. The officer commanding the post at Piqua was asked for a guard to the Indians, but neither himself nor any of his men dared to go. Johnston then decided to make the journey himself, to prevent evil effects among the Indians. Mounting his horse, he bade his wife farewell, and made the journey to Greenville in safety. The articles taken from the Indians were returned to them, a speech of conciliation and disavowal made, and then the COlonel rode home alone.

The Rush brothers, James. Henry anu Andrew, with their brother-in-law, Hiller. and Henry Creviston came to Darke in 1810, from the Pickaway Plains, and settled near Greenville. where they remained till the spring of 1812, when the following occurrences took place :

All were steadily at work. preparing the ground for a crop of corn, and each day saw some improvement upon that preceding. Indians were camped all through the woods and passed the greater part of their time in hunting. It will be remembered that this was the spring succeeding the battle of Tippecanoe, where, as is well known. the Indian's attempting to surprise the camp of Gen. Harrison were signally defeated. There was one Indian of -those ranging the woods near the creek, who was lame as if wounded, and who gave himself the name of Simon Girty, but whether hostile or not. little attention was paid to him or the others. The people were attending busily to their necessary labors. Some employed the spring days of 1812 in clearing their land, some were busy tapping the sugar maples, boiling the sap and making syrup and sugar, and so were engaged about the 1st of April. when indefinite reports were circulated of Indian hostility and consequent danger to the settlers. A trader up at Fort Recovery was reported to have been killed by his partner, while some said he met his death from the Indians. The incident created no alarm. and matters proceeded as usual till one day the Rush brothers, making a journey on horseback to Fort Recovery,

passed on their way a number of camps whose occupants, manifesting a friendly feeling, lulled apprehension, and the settlers, easily quieted, went about their daily labors.

About the 28th of April. Andrew Rush started for a little mill which had been built on Greenville Creek, a few rods above where the Beamsville road to Greenville makes a crossing. He got his grist and set out to return home. On his way he stopped to make a call on Daniel Potter, who, with Isaac Vail, was occupying each his own end of a double log house, which stood between the present residence of Moses Potter and the creek.

These two settlers from some cause had become fearful of trouble, and had gone down the Miami for assistance to take back their families to their former homes. Mrs. Potter asked Rush if he were not afraid of the Indians, and he put his hand through his hair and replied, jokingly, "No ; I had my wife cut my hair this morning, 9 short that they could not get my scalp off." Sometime beut 4 P. M., he left for home, and had proceeded not half a mile when he was shot from his horse, tomahawked and his scalp taken.

Uneasiness was felt because of his not returning home, but all the next day forenoon rain fell steadily, and it was thought he might have stayed with a settler, but in the afternoon Hiller's oldest son and Rush's brother-in-law took a horse and set out to look for him. The boys followed the track made by Rush to Greenville Creek, just above Spiece Mill, and there found the body lying on the sack of meal, mutilated as described. They went hurriedly on to Potter's, and the settler who had returned mounted the horse and set out to spread an alarm. The boys crossed to the cabin of Thomas McGinnis, on Mud Creek. but he had heard the news and had departed. At the next house the inmates had also gone, and, running forward to the third cabin, they found it, too, silent, deserted and the door partly open. Hiller took a look within to see how matters were, and saw that the house had been left in haste and little, if anything, had been removed.

They then hastened to the cabin of Henry Rush, and it was abandoned. The truth was evident, that a panic had seized upon all, and they had fled for their lives.

Darkness surrounded the boys as they made their way through the woods to the cabin of James Rush, where the settlers had assembled their families, and were preparing to meet an expected attack. Just before the arrival of the boys, James Rush had set out on horseback to reconnoiter how things were.

Arriving at the house of Peter Rush. he there found the hunter, Henry Creviston, who had passed the day in the woods, and now the three men. accompanied by the wife of Peter, went to the home of Andrew, where John S. Hiller. son of Aaron, was passing the night. The sad news was soon known to all, and the party set out for Mr. Hiller's. It was well that the Indians did not attack the family, as they were helpless. Mrs. Hiller had not waked a step for years. and there were five children here.too small to travel alone. The reader cannot imagine the terror of the time—the gloomy uncertainty. About 9 P. M., the sky cleared of clouds. the moon rose and James Rush mounted his horse, took up Peter's wife behind him and went home for help to remove the women and children.

None of the men could be spared, as they expected to be attacked before daylight, but the two boys, above named, returned with two more horses and a gun. All started for the fort, as it was afterward called, at about 2 A. M., and got in safe at daylight. The men were busy all this day putting the cabin in a state for defense, while the body of the murdered man still lay where it had fallen, and the panic was at its height.

A man named Sumption, about sixty years of age, set off alone, gun in hand, to Troy, Miami County, and reached there by daylight. Another man went to Sexington, Preble County, the same night. The next evening, a company of men reached old Fort Greenville, and late at night another company came up and went into camp on the east side of Mud Creek. In the morning, the Preble County

men moved out on the road to the body of Rush and gave it burial. They then pushed for the new block-house where seven families had gathered for safety.

Part of the relief remained at Rush Fort some time. and arrangements having been made. the women and children were escorted back to the older settlements for security. The Rush families returned to Pickaway County, and Hiller moved his family to Piqua. Miami County, about the middle of May.

At this time, there was but one family at what was then called old Fort Greenville, and this; that of Mrs. Armstrong. Across the creek stood the cabin of Scribner and at the fort could be seen portions of the pickets set by Wayne's men, and a gibbet built by his orders was yet standing.

The experience of Abraham Studebaker, as detailed in township history, was hard enough, but he did not retire from his land. He moved in 1795, from Pennsylvania to Scioto County, Ohio, thence he went to Warren, and, in 1808, came to Darke and built his first cabin on Congress land, near the present site of Gettysburg. He thought it prudent to erect a block-house on his premises and adopted toward his many Indian visitors a policy of kindness. No hungry Indian tramp went unfed from his door. Though somewhat of a tax on his resources, yet it enabled him safely to remain upon and improve his land.

Previous to the battle of Tippecanoe, a cowardly attack was made upon a Miami Indian, coming to Greenville with his family for supplies. The particulars are fully given by J. Wharry in a previous chapter. Such was the effect of this attack upon the Indian mind, that before 10 o'clock next morning Fort Meigs, a hundred miles distant, was surrounded by 2,000 enraged savages. Brooding upon defeat. driven from their ancient homes, and incited by the English, the cause of one tribe was espoused by almost the entire number of the Northwest Indian tribes. and from that time until the victory of Harrison, and the defeat of Tecumseh and Gen. Proctor, at the Fallen Timber, in Upper Canada, the settlers on the frontier were only preserved from " the terror by night, and the dread by day." through the exercise of the most unremitting watchfulness. In addition to the Indian troubles, the war of 1812 increased the jeopardy to life in the scattered homes of the pioneers. It should have been enough for families to brave the loneliness and hardships of the wilderness without the constant apprehension of murderous surprise, torture, or the tomahawk and knife.

While, as we have said. a large body of Indians had assembled at Piqua, there were in the woods many who needed little urging to again dig up the hatchet. The wholesome dread of Wayne had lessened with time, and the solicitations and bribes of the English were not altogether ineffectual. The account given of murders on either side show the smoldering fires which were likely at a moment to be fanned into a blaze. and explain the singular panics which drove back the picket lines of settlement upon the heavier bodies. A new race had come to maturity, and their warm blood excited the Indians to open hostility. We know that Tecumseh remained for a time after being ordered to leave, and finally moving from his camp on Mud Creek. he led his warriors bravely, but in vain, as an ally of the British, in hopes to drive the whites from the fertile valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. This alliance was on one account a fortunate one for the pioneers of Darke County, as it removed the seat of war to distant points. No battle or other important event occurred in this county during the war, although small parties of hostiles were continually prowling about. keeping up the alarm and now and then securing.; a scalp.

We have spoken of Rush and Studabaker's block-houses, and there were garrisons at Jefferson and Greenville, beside a fortified house on the banks of Stillwater, in Richland Township, on Section 34, near the cemetery. One other tragic event recalls the earlier day, the murder of the Wilson girls, in July, 1812. Two children, daughters of William Wilson, residing near Minatown, were out one day gathering wild berries between their home and the creek, when they were set upon and killed. It appeared as if their heads had been dashed against a tree, and-their

scalps had been taken. They were buried near where their bodies had been found, and from this period the attention of the reader is called away to measures of peace, law and permanent improvement.

Several dwellings and four block-houses were erected in Greenville, prior to the war of 1812. The houses were all on Water, Walnut and Ash streets, and the block-houses were located as follows : One on Lot No. 59, Main street ; a second on the same street ; a third on Water Street, beyond the limits of the town, near the old cemetery, and the fourth on what is now Sycamore street, in Gray's Addition, and beyond the early limits of the town.

In the year 1814, Abraham Scribner brought to the place a small stock of dry goods and groceries, and opened a store in the first-named block-house, where he enjoyed quite an extensive patronage. Upon this small lot he erected a dwelling, which still exists, and is used as a residence by Mr. Schubert. Charles Sumption was also a dealer in merchandise in the v'llage 2t, this time, as were probably Samuel Harmer and Linus Bascom, who were engaged in the dry-goods business in 1816.

At this early period of existence, Greenville was honored as the place of assembly for the agents of the Government, and delegations from various Indian tribes, to consummate a second treaty. This took place on the 22d of July, 1814, and was conducted, on the part of the United States, by Gen. William H. Harrison, who was afterward President, and Gen. Lewis Cass, then Governor of Michigan Territory, together with the friendly and faithful Wyandotis, Delawares, Shawnees and Senecas, who were most prominently represented by Capt. Pipe, Tarhe, Little Turtle and Black Hoof and some others. The United States Commissioners made their headquarters at the house of Abraham Scribner, at the northwest corner of Elm and Water streets. At this treaty, the Government agents and the tribes named gave peace to the Miamis. Weas, and Eel River Indians, and to certain of the Pottawatomies, Ottawas, and Kickapoos. All, whether allies or aliens at this treaty, bound themselves to take part with the Americans in case of a continuance of the war with Great Britain. Happily, England and the Republic soon concluded a peace, and the treaty was followed, in 1816, by others with the various Western and Northern tribes, thereby giving to the frontiers quiet and security once again. The speaking at the second Greenville treaty took place in a little grove on the opposite side of the street from Scribner's. on the lot now occupied by the residence of Michael Miller, Esq. According to the testimony of an eye-witness, it was, with a single exception, the largest, most notable meeting ever held in Greenville. The Indians came dressed in all the toilet of their respective tribes—plumes, scalp-lock and paint ; all the attendants of barbaric splendor were admirably set off by the more serviceable, if not picturesque, uniforms of the United States soldiers from Cincinnati and Fort Wayne. It was long spoken of by the early settlers, who attended from a distance of many miles, as an occasion of rare occurrence, worthy of commemoration in the annals of the county.

As will be noted later, the consciousness of security at last broke down one formidable barrier to settlement ; the refugee settlers returned to their old homes to repair the ravages of time and to renew their labors, while from the older counties ; from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Carolinas, families of emigrants by water, wagon, on horseback and on foot, plodded their way northward from the Ohio, or westward. and quietly settled in and about the older clearings, gladly receiving the proffered assistance of the pioneers. Greenville received its share of population in due proportion. Dry goods were sold by Easton Morris and the Hoods, Robert and William, as also these necessary supplies were for purchase at the establishments of Linus Bascom and Abraham Scribner. The n ,essity of places of entertainment for man and beast was supplied by the opening of taverns by fluor Scribner and Moses Scott, whose bar for the refreshment of the thirsty was an indispensable adjunct of the early day hostelry. Among citizens

there were old Mr. Devor, Dr. Perrine, unmarried and commencing a practice destined to become extensive and laborious, and John Beers, whose official services were about to be required on occasion of the organization of Greenville as the county seat.

Darke County, as stated, was created by act of the General Assembly January 3, 1809 ; but, on account of delay in settlement from causes shown, organization was postponed until December 14, 1816, when the actual and promised population warranted an independent government and enabled this section to act for itself.

As has frequently been the case and still continues to be the practice in the new counties of the States just settling up, there were not wanting enterprising and speculative men keenly alive to the pecuniary profits sure to result from ownership of land set apart for a county seat. A strife arose in Darke County, and there R as sharp competition for the site of the county seat on the part of various landholders desirous of securing some profit from an advance in values. Enos Terry laid off a town plat on Herdman's farm, over the creek, and by some means had the plat established as the county seat. This act proved almost entirely unsatisfactory, and a pressure was brought to secure its repeal. This was accomplished, and Commissioners were chosen to make the required location. David Briggs was anxious to have it established near the present junction of the Gettysburg and Milton pikes, but a quietus was put upon the proposition by the facetious suggestion of John Studabaker that it would require at least forty constables to keep the frogs quiet while the Judge was delivering his charge to the grand jury. The location was finally made, as it now stands, at Greenville, by the Board of County Commissioners, in consideration of the acceptance of a proposition made by Mrs. Armstrong to donate the county the one-third of the ninety-sit lots constituting the original town plat 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 ; deed of sale was made to the Commissioners of Miami County, and placed on record upon the register at Troy ; those officials then gave a deed of the property to the county of Darke.

The first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held in June, 1816. The Board consisted of Archibald Bryson, Abraham Studabatier and Silas Atchison. John Beers was appointed Clerk for one year and John Devor was nade Tax Collector. His bond was fixed at $3,000. David Connor, heretofore referred to, was the sole signer of this, the first Treasurer's bond, and his name was considered sufficient. The first act of the new officers was to fix the rate of License for tavern-keepers and storekeepers, which was placed at $8 for the former and $10 for the latter. A tax of 30 cents a head was levied on horses and 10 cents a head on cattle. The only roads at this time were the paths made by the Indians, the roads pursued by the armies, and such as were cut by the settlers in moving upon their claims. At this, the first session of the Commissioners, it was "ordered that a road be viewed and surveyed, leading from Greenville across the bridge at Enos Terry's, and thence by the nearest and best route in a direction toward Fort Loramie, until it strikes the county line." David Briggs, David Thompson and Moses Scott were appointed viewers, and John Beers, surveyor. They were ordered to begin their work on the 26th of June, 1817.

On the 3d day of July, the Commissioners ordered Lots 36, 62, 20, 56, 39 and 53, in the town of Greenville to be sold for the purpose of raising funds to build a jail on the public square. These lots were accordingly offered for sale on the second Monday of the following August. The price realized was $47.75 ; one- half was paid in cash, the other was given one year's time.

For some reason, perhaps from there being little call for a place for confinement of criminals. the contract for the construction of a jail was not let until 1818, when the work was undertaken by Matthias Dean for $300 ; one-half down as an advance, and the remainder when the we rk was completed and accepted.

It is always of interest to peruse the first records of any association or corporation, as by them we are enabled to learn the ability and character of the men chosen to lead in civil affairs and by comparison with the acts of later years, from an estimate of the growth of improvement, increased wealth, and, in some instances, disproportionate cost. These retrospective pages are generally favorable to the pioneers since they seem to have acted with decision. economy and prudence. To this end, we copy verbatim the record of the first session of the Court of Common Pleas for this County :

" Darke County organized, March 1, 1817. Court of Common Pleas of Darke County, aforesaid, March 13, 1817. Before session, to appoint a Clerk pro tem. and Recorder. Enos Terry, John Puryiance and James Rush, Esquires, Associate Judges, as appears by their commissions. John Beers was appointed Clerk pro tem., to give bond 7th of April next. The appointment of Recorder was postponed till 7th of April next. Court adjourned until April 7, to meet at the home of Moses Scott, at Greenville. Signed. Enos Terry." These few lines, brief as they are, present the minutes, in full, of the first special term, and are a. marked contract, in simplicity, with the verbiage of later special terms.

The next session was held, pursuant to adjournment, as shown by the following complete transcript of the proceedings :

" Common Pleas met agreeable to adjournment. The same judges as on the 13th of March last. John Beers resigned his appointment of Clerk pro tern...and Linus Bascom was appointed Clerk pro tern., in his room. Abraham Scribner appointed Recorder. Court adjourned without day. Signed, Enos Terry." The first regular term of the Court of Common Pleas was in June. 1817. Joseph H. Crane, of Dayton, was the first Presiding Judge. with the associates above named. They all produced commissions, signed by Thomas Worthington. Governor of Ohio. and at once entered upon the performance of their duties. The records show no grand jury in attendance at this first term, for the good reason, as the minutes show. that there was " no Sheriff. Coroner or other officer qualified to serve and return process," and that there had been " no venire faees for a grand jury served and returned." These facts having been officially made known to the court. it was " ordered that a venire .faeiets issue, directed to Moses Scott.' who was especially authorized and .empowered to serve and return. commanding him to summon fifteen good and lawful men of the county. to appear forthwith. at our court house in Greenville, to serve as grand jurors ; upon which writ the said Moses Scott returned that he had summoned 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, who, being chosen and sworn and charged. retired to their room." Few are left who had a personal acquaintance with these men; and they. the first Darke County grand jurymen ever impaneled. have long since passed away. The latest survivor was James Cloyd, who was a resident of German Township, and died, at a ripe old age, a few years before the civil war.

We again quote from the minutes : " The court appointed Henry Bacon to act as prosecutor, on behalf of the State of Ohio, for the county of Darke, until the further order of the court thereon. The grand jury found several indictments at this term. Among others, there was one against Robert Hood, for " selling whisky to the Indians." Another indictment was found against William R. Jones, for assault and battery, it being alleged and proved that he had flogged an eavesdropper for peeping through the cracks of the log cabin at the grand jury. while they were holding their session. The Constable was convicted and fined $8 and costs. This may have been right, but the fellow deserved what he got, and the Constable was not wanting in the discharge of his duty. His ignorance of gal technicalities and his zeal outran his discretion. and his punishment by fine and dismissal was severe.

The various defendants to several indictments found were duly arraigned, and, as a matter of course, entered a plea of " not guilty." Matters were now brought

to a dead halt, as a reference to the record showed " no persons returned to serve as petit jurors." Acting Sheriff Scott was, therefore, at once ordered to "summon twelve good and lawful men of said county to serve as petit jurors." upon which writ the said Moses Scott returned that he had summoned Charles Sumption, John McFarlin, James Williamson, John Break, Charles Read, Jacob Miller. William Montgomery, Robert McIntyre, 4ames Perry, Aaron Dean, Alexander Smith and Zachariah Hull. Of these, the first petit jury ever impaneled in Darke County, none are known to be living. The latest survivor, so fir• as ascertained, was John McFarlin, of the township of Jackson. At the close of this term, the following entry was placed on record : " The court allows Henry Bacon, Prosecutor for Darke County, $10, for services at this term."

On the second Monday of August, 1817, Moses Scott-presented his commission from the Governor, as Sheriff, and gave a bond of $4,000. On the same day, William Montgomery presented his commission as Coroner, and gave a bond for $2,000. There were two courts a year. Each term lasted but one or two days. It took a ride over nearly the entire county to summons men enough to make up the two juries. The grand jury rarely sat more than one day. Services were paid for in county orders, which were current in exchanges, at 50 cents cash on the dollar, as there was no money in the treasury. The allowance to each grand juror was 75 cents per day ; the petit juror was paid but half a dollar, but received this on each trial, and this was paid by the winning party.

The first court had been held in the bar-room of Azor Scribner, and as was just and fair, the second was appointed for the 14th of November, 1817, in the barroom of Scat's Tavern. The first case called was an action for debt, in which Anthony Ricard appeared as defendant. The Clerk's fees were $2.50 ; those of the Sheriff were $1.17, and of the Attorney, $5—making a total of $8.67. At this time, William, son of Moses Scott, had been elected Sheriff. The tavern, in those days, was the place for assembly to exchange items of news, join in a sociable glass and partake perhaps of the plain but abundant fare offered.

The event of a court was a novelty, and a number of the settlers gathered about and curiously observed the proceedings. A panel of grand jurors. among whom was John S Y Hiller, was sworn in, as a matter of course, and received The charge from Judge Crane, then on the circuit. Gen. James Mills was foreman, and the party was conducted to Azor Scribner's bar-room, and duly furnished by the hospitable inn-keeper with a bottle of good whisky and a pitcher of water. Soon a man was admitted who testified that he had been assaulted, wounded, beat and otherwise ill-treated. On his retirement, another entered, who witnessed that his predecessor before the jury had committed a like offense upon him. The case Nt 's by no means a clear one. The foreman was about to take the sense of the jury, when he announced that it had been rulable in Butler County. where he came from, to require the youngest juryman to vote first." This chanced to be Hiller. who naturally entered an objection, saying that as this was his first experience on a jury, he did not wish to be forward in giving an opinion. The bottle was then brought into requisition, and after disposing of the liquor to general satisfaction, the ease was formally decided. At the close of the day, the jury was discharged and court adjourned sine die.

A laudable pride is manifested in the matter of public building, and this has kept pace with the growth of resources. In the beginning, the aim was low taxes, strict economy in public expenditure and a desire to pay the county debt. The new county had entered upon its career houseless, roadless and bridgeless, yet the average tax did not exceed $3.

We have noted the construction of a jail. The Commissioners, at the time of letting the contract, in 1818. were A. Studabaker, A. Bryson and Jacob Miller.

Easton Morris was Clerk and James Devor was Auditor. Miller had succeeded Atchjnson. The Commissioners cast lots for duration of term. Miller drew one year, Bryson two years and Studabaker three. The annual exhibit for the year 1820, of receipts and expenditures of the county, were as follows : Received from Moses Scott, Tax Collector, $446.054 ; on notes and costs of roads, $185.644 ; and of A. Scribner, tavern license, $10 ; fines, $16.50 ; license, $32 ; permits, $10.69 ; total, $59.19. Total, $700.89. Expenditures, by orders redeemed; $708.82.

The letting of the first court house was an affair of minor moment. The contract was taken by John Craig, whose work was accepted on June 4, 1824. This humble frame building, surrounded rear and front with additions, stands on Third street, next the Odd Fellows' Building, and now of fifty-six years' duration, has served the purposes of a dwelling a period of forty years.

Ou Sunday morning, May 2, 1827, the log jail that stood on the public square, just back of where the city hall now stands, from some cause, had caught fire and burned down.

On the 29th of June following, a contract was let for the construction of a jail building to John Armstrong, for $525. It was originally intended to erect this structure on the east corner of the public square, but at a special session of the Board of County Commissioners, held September 13, 1827, a petition was presented, asking for the location of the jail on Lot 25. This was granted, and on June 3, 1828, this the second jail was received from the contractor, under a compromise, at $520. In 1830, the public revenues were augmented by the levy of a tax on doctors and lawyers--the former having been assessed at $3, and the latter a half- dollar less. It would be a gratification to learn on what grounds this tax was assessed, whether as a tax on incomes from the amount of business and good fees collected, or as a method of repression. If for the latter reason, it proved a signal failure ; not but that among this class have been and are found the most gifted and valued citizens in Darke County, but from the number who have, chosen these mind-perplexing professions.

The increased business of the county called for a better punitc building, and, to this end the Commissioners met on January 7, 1833, to make selection of a court-house site. The location was made upon the center of the public square. Bids were advertised for, and on February 18 following the contract for erecting the building was let to James Craig for $2,490. The plan of the proposed structure was prepared by Allan La Motte, who received in compensation $10.

The services of the Commissioners, during the five sessions held for the purpose of selecting the site, receiving bids, awarding contract and attending to minor matters, were donated to the county—a circumstance memorable for its rarity. The contractor was allowed and extra compensation of $27.20 for supplying pine shingles instead of oak, and $7.43 for sand, thus making the entire cost of the building $2,524.63. It stood forty years, and was of the type common to the times—two stories in height, roof four-square, and surmounted by a cupola.

Eleven years following the erection of this court house, on the 17th of April, 1844, the, dontract was let for a new jail to James C. Reed, for $3,800, but a failure was made in the matter of a sufficient bond ; the next best bid was taken, and the contract was finally awarded to Allan La Motte and Israel Reed, for $3,975. This jail was built on the southeast half of Lot 25, and was received from the contractor June 3, 1845. The extras allowed amounted to $21. The building is now in use as a place of business, having a front erected flush with the sidewalk and hiding it from public view, and, unless destroyed by fire, promises many years good service. Arrangements looking to the establishment of a county infirmary for the care of infirm, sick and disabled poor were made by the purchas on March 18, 1854, by the County Commissioners, of a county farm containing 248 acres—the price paid being $6,000. Plans and specifications for the necessary buildings were prepared and presented by Pearson Smith, who received $25 for the

same. These plans were subsequently amended by Messrs. William Wells and Moses Hart. The contract for building the infirmary was let on May 17, 1854, to Orin S. Culbertson & Co., for $7,198, with an additional sum of $88 for excavating for foundations. Work was completed and the building was received from contractors on January 31, 1856. Variation from the terms of the contract involved additional expense of $1,260.67, thus making the entire cost of the work $8.458.67.

The Darke County Poor Farm was deeded by John Spray to the County Commissioners at the time above stated. It is located two and a half miles south of Greenville, upon both sides of the Greenville & Eaton Pike, upon the southeast quarter, and about twenty-nine acres of the southeast corner of the southwest quarter, and eight acres on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 12, Greenville Township, and about forty-one acres—part of the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 14, Township 11. The original building was a three-story brick structure, 40x84 feet, and 28 feet in height. In 1875-76, an addition was made equal to the original building, thereby doubling its capacity. There are now seventy-two rooms, including the cell department. A laundry has also been added, 20x30, two stories, and an engine-house 18x30 feet, separate from the main building. The basement is mostly used for culinary and other domestic purposes. The second story is comfortably furnished, and does not present that repellant, forbidding aspect supposed by many persons to be inseparable from the county house. The buildings are advantageously located on high ground. and command a fine view of the surrounding country.

The officers are a Superintendent and three Infirmary Directors. The following is the roster of Superintendents : Jacob Shively, who served three years ; David Thompson, six years : William Thompson, five years ; Crarford Eddington, seven years, and J. N. Braden, who is now serving on his third year. The Superintendents are annually elected. The first Directors were C. Hershey, John S. Hiller and Joel Thomas. The present Directors are William Shaffer, J. A. Reich and Samuel Emerick.

The first inmate was received March 1, 1856. That year, the average number received was but eighteen. On March 1, 1880, the number of inmates was 106. There are accommodations for 130. The infirmary building proper has cost $11.500. The present value of buildings, farm and improvements is estimated at $30.000. The number of acres under cultivation is 190. The value of what was raised on the farm in 1879 was $2,400. The expense of keeping up the institution was for the same period $7,950. The balance in excess of income was therefore $5,550. The average expense for the last eight years above income has been nearly $7.000. as we are informed by the present Superintendent. Material improvements are being made upon the farm. Tile to the extent of .400 rods has been put down within the last two years. Atilt trees have been set out, and other advantageous progress made. The orchard product last year *at 450 bushels of apples—an amount fully equal to the requirements of the infirmary. There were raised on the farm, 1.295 bushels of wheat, 578 of oats, 5 of clover seed, 3,300 of corn, 1,050 of potatoes, and 5,500 heads of cabbage. Sixty-eight hogs were killed, making 18,000 pounds of pork, and 9 beeves, making 4,250 pounds of beef. There are 42 head of cattle on the farm, 5 horses, and 140 head of hogs.

In proportion to the population of the county, negroes form much the largest per cent of the infirmary inmates. Next in number are the Irish, but it is a curious fact that the per cent of Irish women is very small. To quote the exact language of the Superintendent, "Nine out of ten of all the inmates who have come have been brought here through intemperance ; some of them through accidents received while drunk." There are fourteen idiotic persons in the institution four of whom do not know enough to feed themselves, and must be waited f Iva like small children. The health of the inmates has been uniformly good. A

single death has occurred among the old occupants within a year. There have been four deaths in all, but three of these were brought thither sick.

The infirmary physicians are the Drs. Matchett. The entire number of paupers in the institution on August 31, 1879, was 114 ; the number admitted during the year was 193 ; the number of poor otherwise supported by the county was 150. According to the report of the Auditor, the total cost of keeping the infirmary poor was $8.314.49, and the entire expense of maintaining those otherwhere was $1.940.05, thus making an expense of poor for the year of 1879 a grand total of $10,254.54, or an average cost per day of each pauper to the county of 26 cents.

It is pleasant to contemplate the humane consideration now manifested for these unfortunates as compared with their condition (luring the earlier years of- county government. Prior to the establishment of the infirmary in 1854. there was no place where their helplessness could find kindness and care; under the prevalent custom of “farming out" the paupers to the lowest bidder, the unfortunate was made to suffer in many ways. and it did not conduce to wholesome fare, warm clothing and sufficient rest, with exemption from labor, and medical care when sick, to have been sold under competition to persons whose object was less the amelioration of their condition than the hope and intention to profit from the investment. The history in detail of this infirmary and others similar is encouraging proof of the development of charitable and noble impulses, which render the unostentatious benevolence and philanthropy of peace more to be admired.and honored than the most glorious deeds of war.

The present jail and Sheriff's residence has been standing about ten years. The contract for building was let in September, 1869, to Jonathan Kenney. of Dayton, Ohio, for $39,750. Miles Greenwood, of Cincinnati, did the iron work, and Alexander Kerr, of Greenville, the carpenter and joiner work. The two buildings are connected by a hall, and their extent is ninety-seven feet in length by forty-four in width. The buildings are of two stories, with neat freestone finish. The residence is an elegant structure, and the jail is admirably arranged to secure the comfort and safe-keeping of prisoners. This property is situated upon Broadway. The court house is an ornament to the city, and an honor to the county. The edifice was completed in 1874 at a cost of $170.000, and the dedication was formally made on August 3 of that year. The material used in building is stone. The Corinthian style of architecture prevails, but with such additions and modifications as to render difficult any attempt at strict classification. In reply to inquiry, an architect classed it as " Corinthian with American treatment."

Whatever it may be termed, it presents to the eye an ornate and imposing appearance. Ascending the stone platform, you push aside a door and enter a corridor extending down the center and length of the building. Furnaces supply uniform and agreeable temperature; offices are located for public convenience. Large iron safes stand to the left as you pass from the front entry. The first rooms to the right in order are the offices of the Board of Commissioners, the Auditor and of the Treasurer. These are spacious, convenient, and fitted up with necessary furniture and apparatus. The treasury vault with inclosed safe would seem to place the public moneys in actual security. On the left from the front, are the offices of the Recorder and Probate Judge, and the Probate Court room. Ascend from either side by winding stairways, and there are found on the second floor the offices of the Sheriff and the Clerk, together with the court room and its attendant consultation and jury rooms. On the third floor are located the Surveyor's and Prosecuting Attorney's offices, and other needful rooms. The structure is surmounted by a fine tower, in which is contained a clock that is as nearly- perfect in construction as modern science and artistic skill can produce. Whether borne upon the ear in the hours 'of night, or calling the industrious popular to resume or cease from toil, by day, the musical, measured strokes which knell the passing hours, teach a constant lesson of punctuality, diligence and transient existence.

We close our chapter with a brief statement relative to the trial and conviction of Monroe Roberson for the murder of Wiley Coulter, since it has attracted general attention, and is remarkable in the annals of the courts of Darke County. Crime has had its votaries here as elsewhere, but in no undue proportion. Murders have been committed, and there have been trials, convictions and escapades, but this becomes historical from the fact that it is the first instance where the dread conclusion has been a sentence of death on the gallows.

The difficulty between the two men that led to the murder occurred at Niptown, a point nine and a half miles from Greenville. Following some hard language, Coulter, while attempting to make his escape, was pursued and fired upon by Roberson. Three several and deliberate shots were discharged, and Coulter fell to the ground mortally wounded, and soon died. His assailant was taken to Greenville. tried at the February term, 1880, and sentenced to be hung on July 18 of the same year. The doomed man was a native of Tennessee, forty-five years of age, had served in the army, was a hard drinker and had lived about twelve years in the county. His victim was his wife's brother, who had lived from childhood in the family. and was at the time of his death, about twenty-three years old. The jurors impaneled for this trial were Stephen Eubank, G. W. Fox, C. T. Pickett, Samuel Cole. George Suman, Milton Coble, Samuel Noggle, B. F. Gilbert, James Benson, Cornelius Fry, William Bleare and James Johnson.

The attorneys for the defense were Messrs. Anderson, Allen, Calderwood and Charles Calkins ; for the State, Prosecuting Attorney H. Calkins, and Messrs. Knox and Sater. The case was tried before Judge Meeker, whose charge to the jury is a plain, direct statement of the laws on murder. The prisoner was adjudged guilty. and sentence pronounced upon him The community, while desirous that crime be punished. differ in regard to the mode, and no inconsiderable portion of the better class are averse to hanging.

Turning again from the seat of government to the farms which give villages and cities their vitality and importance, we follow the early progress of agriculture from the organization of the county up to and inclusive of 1824. We may speak somewhat of the arduous labors of the early settlers, describe their log cabins, recall their old-fashioned furniture, their homespun attire, their rough, kind manners and their open-handed generosity. The comfortable hewed-log home has been demolished to make way for the frame or the more durable brick. The fence of rails will soon disappear. and already the work of log-rolling is a memory, and the making of rails exceptional. Village, town and city have been built to supply the demands of trade and commerce, and the people of the present time, worthy offspring of noble sires, have carried forward the works of civilization.

Glance again at the points of settlement, the vantage-ground already won. 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 McCluers, Broderick and Jacob Miller, Zadoc Smith and the Wades. Near Fort Black, by the lake, were the Rushes, Henry Hardy, Tibbs, Falkner and possibly the Kunkles. On the Middle Fork were the Tillsons, 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. In the northern paof 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, Arch. Bryson and John W. 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 Noppinger, his son Joseph, James and Henry Rush, Sumption, McGinnis, Burns and Wertz. East of the prairie, Zadoc and 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 Winegardner. 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, Maj. Adams, Bryan, Cunningham and Studahaker. On the south bank of the creek, at intervals, the enumerator finds Pop joy, Esq., Hayes, James Gregory and Carnahan. Christopher Martin, Alexander Fleming, James Roff. David Ripple and his sons and son-in- law Hathaway on Stillwater, near Beamsville. Conlock was at Webster, and McDonald, Mote and Ludwig Christie below. Ward Atchison was on the verge of the Black Swamp, and Lewis Baker on Indian Creek. From Bridge Creek on to the dividing branch, were scattered Arnold Towns‘id. the Ti,ompsGris 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 new-comers received their supplies and assistance. Courteously and kindly, the tired emigrants were welcomed to the hospitalities of their cabins. Wherever at night the light of a fire shining among the trees indicated a settler's home, there was a certainty that the latch-string was hanging out and hearty cheer in readiness to relieve them. A common peril and a like experience bound all together by ties of interest, friendship and relation. The disposition to extend a helping hand, while it was a necessity to the settler, was rarely given grudgingly or with thoughts of after payment. Equality and mutual assistance was an unwritten pioneer law. and for many years much of the time of older setlers was cheerfully given to raisings. rollings and all kinds of work requiring co-operation. Judge Wharry attended raisings where men had come from a distance, on farthest lines apart, of twenty-five miles, and here were formed acquaintances which soon ripened into feelings warm, generous and enduring.

Exceptional instances, as that of Jacob Cox, present us with men of means seeking an heritage in lands, but the people were generally poor. They had nothing to lose but much to gain. Mr. Cox, as we have named, is worthy of further notice in this connection. He came to Darke from Redstone and bought 2,200 acres in the east part of German and Washington Townships, and thereon located himself and sons Martin,. John, Jacob, Henry and Abraham, together with his daughters Barbara, Mary and Eve, who later became known as Mrs. Stingley, Mrs. Waggoner and Mrs. Martin.

Fresh from service in the ranks, and animated by hope of a common glorious future for his country and himself, the rifle which had aided Wayne upon the Maumee and Harrison at the Thames, became useful to provide the family with meat and to guard the growing or ripened grain from depredation. There was no longer dread of the forest ; men struck out by themselves and independently chose and improved such spots as met their fancy. The extent of each man's claim or title had no bearing on degree of estimation. It mattered not that one could bu: but forty acres, while another could acquire a section. The difference lay, not in the men. but in the outlay. Where each had planted a few acres in corn and other crops, nature showed no partiality in stimulating growth or perfecting the grain,

and where nature was impartial, human customs were in strict and willing accord. The entire settlements were bound together. Witness the prompt rally from Lexington and Piqua on hearing of Rush's death and the frontier peril. They met at various gatherings. Together they worked their best ; together they enjoyed their hours of relaxation. Religious worship found general and all-day attendance, and there were several services before each wended his way along the forest path homeward.

The pioneers of Darke were not peculiar in their love for neighborhood visiting. The same partially obsolete but happy custom was in that early day to be observed in all the new communities, and surviving pioneers have brought this habit with them in their attenuated and shattered ranks. It looks as though the practice would perish with them. Care for the sick was universal. It was held to be the duty of all. The writer recalls, in this connection, the kind, tender tone in which Lemuel Rush inquired of his fellow-friend and pioneer associate, George Arnold, concerning his health, and the fraternal feeling manifested between these two is but a single illustration of general regard.

A single incident, recited by an old settler, images the earnest regard shown in the early days by neighbors for each other :

One day, a settler was badly injured when at a considerable distance from his home. It was necessary that a team should be taken to convey him home. Although a full days drive, there was no reluctance in offering help. Two persons tendered their services, and there ensued a friendly contest for the privilege. The older urged a long acquaintance and neighborship, and these claims were acknowledged by the other.

In 1818. there was the commencement of a settlement on the east fork of Whitewater. and on Twin Creek. near Ithaca, and several families had settled near Fort Black, now known as New Madison. During this year, Mina town and Fort Jeffqson 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.

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 to-day, 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 was " 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.

In 1820. Darke County was still covered by a dense and but little broken forest. The northern townships were extended areas of swamp, rich in elements of production. useless until the clearing and drainage could make cultivation practicable. Cabins were built upon the higher grounds, and clearings made down the inclinations. Here grew the oak. whitewood, beech, maple, basswood, ash, hickory and other kinds of timber in boundless profusion, and the finest trees were regarded rather as an incubus to tillage than as valuable adjuncts of a farm. Those woods are mainly leveled now, and their grave screens of trees but vail the open fields beyond. Still the trees, while in one sense a bar to cropping land, were useful as containing the material for home and winter fires. When a settler had selected the site of his intended habitation. he felled the timber upon it and cut the logs suitable in proper lengths. The material for the cabin being prepared, he traverses the woods far and near and announces his intended raising. The settlers leave their work and gather in at the appointed hour. In some localities, teams were used,

but here in Darke, cattle were scarce and the horses were spared as much as possible for other work. Logs were carried to the sides and ends of the building. Now four corner-men are chosen, on whom devolves the duty of notching and placing the logs. The rest of those assembled roll up the logs as wanted until the desired height is reached and the work of co-operation ceases. The settler now selects a large;sized straight-grained tree and. felling it, cuts off four-feet lengths. These are split with a large Frow, and as wide as the timber will allow. These are used without planing or shaving for clapboards for the roof, which is formed by making the end logs shorter each row until a single log forms the comb of the roof ; on these logs the clapboards were placed, the ranges of them lapping some distance over those next below them, and kept in their places by logs placed at proper distances upon them. Puncheons for the floor were made by splitting logs of a foot and a half in diameter, and hewing the face of them with a broad-ax, when this tool could be obtained. The length i,f the puncheons was half that of the floor. The door was made by sawing or cutting the logs in on one side, so as to make an opening about three feet wide. The opening was secured by upright pieces of timber, about three inches thick. through which holes were bored into the ends of the logs for the purpose of pinning them fast. A similar, but wider, opening was made at the end for the chimney. This was built of logs and made large to admit of a back and jambs of stone. At the square. two end logs were made to project a foot or more beyond the wall, to receive what were called the butting poles, against which the ends of the first row of clapboards was supported. A clapboard door and a table were then made. Sometimes a quilt was made to do duty for the former for a time. and the latter was constructed of a split slab, placed upon four round legs set in auger holes. Stools having three legs were made in the same way. Some pins inserted in holes bored in the logs at the back of the room, served as support for some clapboards. designed as shelves for the dishes. A single fork, placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor, and the upper end fastened to a joint, served as a bedstead. by placing a pole in the fork with one end through a crack between the logs of the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one within the fork. with its outer end through another crack. From the front pole. through a crack between the logs of the end of the house. the boards forming the bottom of the bed were put in place. Sometimes this was varied by pinning other poles to the fork. a little distance above these, for the purpose of supporting the front and foot of the bed, while the walls were the support of its back and head. A few pegs around the walls for the garments of the women and hunting-shirts of the men, and two small forks or buck's horns fixed to a joint for the rifle and shot-pouch, completed the carpenter work.

Chips are now taken and driven in between the logs and the open spaces of the chimney, and a bed of clay mortar having been prepared. the cracks were daubed, and the work is done. lu 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 to-day. Coal stoves or wood stoves were unknown, but in the wide fireplace were found hooks and trammel, and andirons. Near by 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 are 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 earthen ware, 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. Perchance a corner of the room was occupied by a tall Dutch clock, such as ticks with measured stroke the minutes by in the kitchen of John Spayd, of Greenville, to-day.

In another corner. the ruder furniture had given place to an old-fashioned high-post and corded bedstead, covered with quilts—a wonder of patchwork ingenuity and laborious sewing. Then the ubiquitous spinning-wheel, and not unfrequently a loom. A settler of Darke in 1820, thus describes the dwellings of that date : " They were of round logs about ten inches through ; they were properly notched at the corners. and well chinked and plastered up with clay mortar, and provided in some instances with front and back door ; basswood logs, split in two, flat side up. made a very substantial floor ; the fireplace reached nearly across one end ; a stone wall from the foundation was carried up about six feet, two sticks of the proper crook rested one on either end of the wall. and against a beam overhead, forming the jams, and upon these rested the chimney, made of sticks and clay mortar. very wide at the bottom. tapering to the top, and serving the purpose of both chimney and smoke-house : the hearth was of flat stones of various sizes, and occupied a considerable portion of the room. To build a winter fire, there first was brought in a large piece of log which was placed next the chimney-back, and known as the back-log next came a somewhat smaller log, which was placed on the other and called the back-stick : then came two round sticks, green and less combustible than the others : these were placed endwise against the back-log, and served in place of the more modern andirons. Upon them was laid the fore-stick, and between this and the back-log, dry limbs were piled in and the fire applied; \Olen this was fairly started more wood was put on and a pile to keep it up lay neat' 1)\-. The fire thus built. which was done about 4 o'clock of a winter day's afternoon. would last a long time with little attention, keeping the family. clothed in good. warm homespun. comfortably warm." If, by mischance, the fire went out on the hearth. it was rekindled by a coal or burning brand from a neighbor, or by flint. steel and tinder. In many cabins. the fire described gave out but partial warmth. and the group which sat around it were roasting on one side while freezing on the other. Few, indeed. were the books to be found with the settlers, and newspapers were rarer still. Upon the shelf. there may have lain the few books used at school. the Bible and the almanac, and the paper, when one could be had, was read at evening hours by the light of a tallow dip, or before , the glowing hearth-fire.

Only the well to do (and these were few in Darke) could afford a clock. The hour of noon was guessed or may be ascertained by the noon-mark cut upon the threshold. and in place of the bell to call the chopper from the clearing, a cheery shout was given. or tin horn blown. Few were the households where any pictures adorned the wall. and the reed organ had not been invented.

To-day. even the children carry watches ; print, engraving, chromo and lithograph are found in more or less profusion in most houses, and piano and or,,an are in the country as well as in every village.

The habits of the settlers were influenced and controlled by their mode of life. Tasks amost impossible as thought of now, were undertaken spiritedly with no thoughts of time or labor. Chopping in the clearings for days alone, and preparing a home to which to bring his family,-many a settler became accustomed to the silence. and himself grew taciturn.

Journeys on foot for many miles were made with little more of preparation than the traveler makes at present. Women and children rode or. horseback

hundred of miles. It was a delight to the settlers to assemble at some one of the log cabins of a winter evening to relate stories of escapes and wild adventures during the sanguinary scenes of '94 and later years. Prominent ideas survive the lapse of time, and the conversation of the aged backwoodsmen, referring to the pioneer. period, is of deer, wolf and bear ; of trapping, hunting and fishing ; of prevailing diseases and makeshifts during sickness ; of cutting roads, clearing lands, and journeys to distant mills and markets.

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 merry- makings, parties 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 thod. 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 ax, 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.

Flax has been raised in Darke from the period of early settlement down to the present time, and when sheep were introduced. there was supplied a new and excellent material for wearing apparel.

It is said of Creviston and others of his class. besides not a few of the pioneers, that their garments about the years whereof we write. were truly described in the " Annals of the West." as follows : - The hunting-shirt was universally worn. This was a kind of loose frock, reaching half-way clown to the thighs, with large sleeves open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more when belted. '"The cape was large, and sometimes handsomely fringed with a ravelled piece of cloth of different color from that of the hunting shirt itself. The bosom of his dress served as a wallet to hold a chunk of bread. cakes, jerk. tow for wiping the barrel of the rifle, or any other thing necessary for the hunter. The belt, which was always tied behind. answered several purposes. besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather the mittens, and sometimes the bullet- bag occupied the front part of it. To the right side, hung the hatchet ; to the left, in its leather sheath, was the hunting knife. The hunting-shirt was made of linsey, sometimes of coarse linen. and some few were made of dried deerskin. These last were very cold and uncomfortable in wet weather. The shirt and jacket were of the common pattern. A pair of breeches and leggings were the dress of the thighs and legs; a pair of moccasins answered for the feet much better than shoes. They were made of dressed deerskin. They were mostly made of a single piece, with a gathering seam along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom of the heel without gathers, as high as the ankle-joint, or a little higher. Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the legs. They were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the leg by thongs of deerskin, so that no dirt, gravel or snow, could get within the moccasin.

"The moccasins, in ordinary run, cost but a few hours' labor to make them. This was done by aid of a instrument denominated a moccasin awl, which was made of the back-spring of an old clasp-knife. This awl, with its buck-horn handle, was an appendage of every shot-pouch strap. together with a roll of buckskin, for mending the moccasins. This was the labor of almost every evening. They were sewed together and patched with deerskin throngs. or whangs, as they were commonly called. In cold weather, the moccasins were well stuffed with (leer's

hair, or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably warm, but in wet weather it was usually said the wearing them was a decent way of going barefooted ; ' and such was the fact, owing to the spongy texture of the leather of which they were made.

" Owing to the defective covering of the feet, more than to any other circumstance, the greater number of hunters were afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs. Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold or wet weather, and therefore always-slept with their feet to the fire, to prevent or cure it, as well as they could. This practice unquestionably had a very salutary effect, and prevented many of them from becoming confirmed cripples in early life." This description, while of interest as revealing the shifts of the times, also brings that period near to us, and so dispels, by evident accompanying discomforts, the glamour -gathered --about the buckskin garments of the forest dwellers of the early day.

Rude covering of deerskin gradually gave way to suits of linen and woolen. Sheep required much care to protect them from wolves, and the cash price of the coarsest wool was half a dollar per pound. One or two acres of land were sown to flax, expressly for lint. When ripe, the young people were invited, as to a frolic, and the flax was speedily pulled, and then such as had no religious scruples against dancing, remained after supper. to enjoy an hour or so in the pleasures of the dance.

Months of hard labor were required to earn a suit of clothes, and the use of boots and shoes was dispensed with by men now affluent, until long after the first falls of snow. The price for an ordinary pair of cowhide boots was $7, and this was paid in produce, at low rates.

The flax prepared for the wheel. now rarely seen, and the loom, was spun and woven by the mothers and the daughters, and with the woolen yarn were made up into warm. serviceable garments. The buzz of the spinning-wheel and the double shake of the loom were pleasant sounds, and their operation was a favorite avocation. The long web. unfurled upon a grassy spot, was left to bleach in the sun, under care and supervision, and when of snowy whiteness, were made up into shirts. sheets and summer wear. Sabbath and holiday suits were worn with laudable pride, as the skillful handiwork of mother, wife or daughter.

In the larger Eastern towns, British goods were worn, but in the West they were unknown. The love of dress was not here wanting, but the means of gratifying it. Fashion had its votaries, but changes were infrequent and exactions not severe. A calico dress. made up by the wearer, served not only for the reception Df company at home, but also for the party at the neighbor's. The wearer looked in nowise less attractive than do those clad in the richer fabrics of to-day, and few excused themselves from social gatherings upon the plea of " nothing to wear."

It was not until 1836, that Levi Spayd, the first tailor in Greenville, and still a resident, opened a shop for the making of mens' apparel. The women, as has been said, made up the cloth and garments worn by them. Carding-mills came later than the period of which we speak, and it was rare to see a person dressed in store clothes.

Girls spun cheerily with lightsome tread and quick movement, under the prospect of receiving 75 cents a week, and, in 1823, you might have gone in Greenville to the stores of John S. Douglass, Nicholas Greenham or of the House brothers. Isaac and Henry. and pricing calico, found it held at 40 to 50 cents a yard. Society in that early day knew little factional distinction, and the love of liberty and the maintenance of lofty sentiments were cherished by industry, and no dignity of character was held more precious than that derived from conscious and acknowledged worth. The opinion of the public and the sentiments of the aged were estimated at full value. True manhood was exampled in principle, integrity and independence, fitly expressed in the saying of an eminent old writer : The inbred loyalty unto virtue which can serve her without a livery." The amusements of young and old were enjoyed with zest. There were huskings and

quiltings, woodchoppings, loggings and raisings, celebrations and musters, and each was a glad occasion. There was a double sense of enjoyment, the consciousness of profitable and necessary employment and familiar intercourse. Visits were made without formality, and were received with genuine satisfaction. Horseback riding for business or pleasure was common to both sexes, since horses could pass where tree and stump forbade the use of wheeled vehicles.

To-day, society, labor, dress and mode of travel are all changed. There is more formality and less happiness. There are fictitious distinctions of clans, but the records of the past honor the pioneer as the people of the present are doing noble work in the continuation of past labors.

Living in houses that are clapboarded, painted, blinded, -and comfortably warmed and supplied with every essential and luxury of the age. we may look upon the old-fashioned implements as indispensable to the time, and present relics. They are seen as curiosities, guide-marks of progress in scientific and mechanical skill, while contemplated by the pioneer whose brawny arm had heaped and burned the log-heap, he muses as if his senses were steeped in shadowy dream. He sees again the sleepless wilderness. a scene of wild expanse and nameless grandeur comes before his mind,

Each of us is only the footing-up of a double column of figures that goes back to the first pair" asserts a great truth, since each generation inherits not alone the features, but much of the moral, mental and physical constitution, of that preceding. The sayings of our predecessors, perhaps reduplicated, are worthy of record since they speak knowingly of those who lived and toiled with them. W. S. Harper has written regarding the habits and manners of early settlers, as follows : Darke County was first settled by an industrious, hardy race of pioneers. poor men who had been renters in other parts of the State. As soon as they were able to raise $100 or upward. they came here and invested it in land in order that they might have a home of their own, and not be compelled to work one-third of their time for an exacting landlord. As about all the means of the settlers were laid out in land, and as there was a heavy growth of timber all over the county to be cleared away before there could be anything raised to live upon, and as every man was solely dependent on his own labor and that of his family for the improvement of his film. with this scanty help, he had many hindrances to combat. Three months of the year. sickness prevailed to such an extent that there were scarcely well persons enough to take care of the sick. To procure breadstuff, milling had to he done many miles from home. A single trip occupied from two to five days. Salt and leather must be had once a year by a journey to Cincinnati, which required from seven to ten days. If, as was sometimes the case, some products were in excess of the family need, and it was desired to sell, there was no market nearer than Piqua or Dayton. and the roads were so intolerably bad that it required a good span of horses in the most favorable season of the year to haul twenty-five bushels of wheat. There were many other hindrances of less magnitude. such as visiting the sick, administering to the needy, assisting to raise buildings, roll logs. keeping the vermin' from the growing crop, and hunting to supply the table with meat.

“To make money was out of the question, and no one fretted over it. If there could be enough money procured by selling wheat at 3 shillings 11 pence per bushel. or by disposing of deerskins and hams, or coonskins, or hoop-poles, to procure salt and leather, coffee for Sunday mornings, and to pay taxes, it was all that was expected ; and the recipients of these means of defraying expenses were more than thankful and better contented therewith than the frugal farmer of the present day with his abundance. Under these and other disadvantages, the county improved slowly. When a spot of ground was cleared and fenced, the ground being clotted over with green stumps and roots, the farmer entered the field to prepare a crop with his team, bar-shear or bull-plow, and after whooping, hallooing, fretting, scolding and often getting heavy blows upon his ribs, and abrasions of skin, and working on in this way for a week, he had gone over the field, which then presented the appearance of having been rooted over by a drove of swine in search of edible roots.

“Little of the land was fenced, and roads were made in every direction according to individual fancy. and without regard to land lines, the one object being to shun wet land and the larger logs. When any part of the road became almost

impassable, improvement was made by laying poles or rails across the track and throwing upon them dirt to keep them down ; to repair one rod of such road was considered a day's work. As poor a makeshift as this was. it was the best that could be done in those days. It is doubtful whether as late as 1820. there was money enough in the country to pay for the building of ten miles of turnpike. Under the impulse of making, having, living at and enjoying a home, the people in their poverty labored diligently, lived frugally, and contentedly cleared up their farms. minded their own business, helped their neighbors, and were accorded the favor and blessing of their God. As the country was improved, houses of worship were erected, and the settlers in plainness and simplicity of speech met in them and at their own homes to worship the Giver of all good. There was more love for neighbors. more sympathy for suffering humanity. more benevolence, more of every grace that adorns the Christian character, than can be found in our country at the present day. Those plain, frugal a-ad industrious pioneers have laid the foundation of one of the finest counties in the State of Ohio. With over eight hundred miles of turnpike, 2,000 miles of open ditches, and 10,000 miles of tile ditches ; with broad acres, fertile fields and manifest natural and acquired advantages, the people are greatly blessed."

This statement, made by one familiar with this subject after years of observation and experience, seems fully warranted in the essential facts. increase of population has bestowed strength, divide burdens and restricted intercourse. The channel of feeling flows, perhaps not as deep. although the depth is not discoverable. and the people in the main have greatly improved upon the past.

The early conditions of society made it necessary that men. while seeking such opportunities as were presented to pursue their trade or profession. should base their means of subsistence upon the ownership and cultivation of land. It was not unusual to find the blacksmith-shop near the house, to which be came when wanted from his field, the preacher toiled during the week, and exhorted upon the Sabbath, the teacher shared in this condition, and was by no means exempt from the law of necessity governing the settlements, as is demonstrated by the following reminiscence of Dennis Hart. This person came in November. 1817. to Darke County, and entered a tract of Government land at what was known as " Yankee Town" in the township of Harrison. He found the land heavily timbered and sparsely inhabited, and therefore abandoned this tract in the fall of 1819. and located on Bridge Creek, on the lands of George W. N. Night. As winter approached, the settlers desiring a school. he opened a rate school in an old log cabin, the property of Joseph Townsend, and taught a satisfactory term. The next year, the citizens in that neighborhood built a log schoolhouse on the Greenville and Eaton road. just east of where now stands the house of A. H. Van Dyck, •and he was called to serve as the teacher during the winters of 1820-21. His wife died in the former year. and two years later he married Jane McClure, then a resident on Whitewater, near the McClure and Provines settlement. Miss McClure had come to Darke from Kentucky with her father in 1812. when ten years of age, and had grown familiar with a life in the forest, and with its vicissitudes, as several of her father's best horses had been stolen by Indians shortly after his settlement in Darke County. Teachers of the present complain of low wages. but Mr. Hart, as teacher in that day—sixty years ago—agreed to take his wages in corn. meat, potatoes, in short, anything he could use and the settlers could spare. Money payment was out of the question. and his necessity was great. He says : I was poor and scarce of money. and my clothing was not of the kind suitable for a cold winter, for I had to go many times to Adam's mill, which was some five miles distant, for a grist of corn-meal, after dismissing my school at night.

" One day I went to Greenville to try to get some warmer clothes, especir ly pair of pantaloons, but had no money. I called at the store of Abram Serioner, and told him what was wanted and that I wished to pay him in trade from the articles received for services as teacher. He replied that he was not in need of

corn, potatoes or produce of any kind, and such an exchange would not suit him, but that he would let me have the clothing and receive the pay in whisky. I then went to William and Robert Rood, who were operating a little distillery and horse, mill on the bottom land between

Greenville and Mina, on the north side of Greenville Creek, sold them my corn at somewhat less than the market price, and received in exchange whisky at a higher rate than the Greenville merchant would allow, but succeeded in settling the account ----the last one for which Mr. Hart ever ran in debt.

Times have changed since then, in truth. Teachers no longer need to patronize distilleries to clothe themselves, and salaries are promptly paid in money. Judson Jaqua's experience and information form an interesting relation in connection with the foregoing. since, in addition to information of points of settlement,-there isa statement of the disposition of the section set apart for schools and of a stimulus given to educational interests. He moved into Darke County in the spring of 1819. and " settled in the woods where there was not a tree amiss, except such as had been felled by hunters of bees and raccoons. A small opening had been made by Hart prior to his removal toward Greenville, and a settlement was soon formed by the arrival and settlement here of a number of families. Among the earliest on the ground were two or three New Englanders, and from that circumstance the settlement derived its name of Yankee Town. No schools were known at this time to be in session. Our Section 16. had been rented some years on a lease for ninety- nine years. forever renewable. with interest at' 6 per cent on its appraised value, but there had been no payment of rent, as there were no schools. At an election held in 1821, Mr. Jaqua was chosen Justice of the Peace, and thereby came into possession of a law-book, which being examined, there was found an act defining the method whereby school districts could be laid off, and abting on this information. the people defined the boundaries of a district which they entitled No. 1. They now began to inquire about the rent due on Section 16. This drew the attention of other settlements, and more districts were duly formed. New Madison was then Fort Black. and the block-house was still standing, its day of service past. Zadoe Smith had staked off some lots, and then sold out to E. Putnam, who had secured the services of Henry D. Williams, by whom the place was duly laid out: At this time there was. also, a semi-military station called Fort Nesbit on Section 29. but no town, and a good settlement on Whitewater Creek, extending from the south county line as far up as McClure's, lately C. C. Walker's place.

While alluding to the general privations of the early settler, we may dwell upon one embarrassment which bore heavily upon his energies, and which to this generation is measurably unknown. Poor as he usually was, the settler, alone or with his family, had entered upon his westward journey with sufficient means to enter a tract of Government land. He knew that from the soil must come supplies of food but a noble growth of timber—sure token of fertility—encumbered the ground. and must first be removed before grain or vegetable could grow. Hard labor as it was, many found actual enjoyment therein, and, had no obstacles existed beyond the actual clearing, the woodsmen could have done their work without great difficulty. It is a pleasure, at this late day, to listen to the narrations of those who, when children, came upon their farms in this now favored section. and thereon have grown old in all but the evergreen memories of those first impressions. Differing in names, dates and locality of the settlement, the history of one of Darke County's pioneers is like to that of all. As units of the number in the force engaged in rendering subservient to the man the wild luxuriance of nature, the greatest troubles were met by those who led the van. When land had been chosen and improved somewhat, when lapse of time brought the day of payment and there was no money, nor the means to procure any, and when, suffering sickness and enduring hunger, default of payment or foreclosure of a claim drove the family from such home as had been made. then, in truth, was hardship known ; yet such was the reward of mans- who cleared land in Darke. As the law then

stood, not less than a quarter-section could be entered. The price of the public land was $2 an acre, and the purchaser was required to pay $80, or one-fourth, down, one-fourth in two years, and the balance in two equal annual installments, with interest ; altogether, $320. If not paid within the time specified, the lands, with whatever had been paid of the installments, were forfeited, and a great many were unable to pay for their lands as required, and so, being placed at the mercy of the Government, they remained as occupants by sufferance. Forfeiture was not declared. and, in March, 1820, an act was passed by Congress, extending the time for payments to entries until March 31, 1821. This legislation simply allowed the settler to reside on his land another year, but this gave no aid. He was as unable to pay at the end of the year as at the beginning. •At length, a bill was introduced which provided that the holder of any legal certificate of purchase might file a relinquishment in writing, at the land office. on or before September 30. 1821 ; and if such person had paid but one-fourth of the first cost of the entry. he could pay the rest in eight equal annual installments ; if he had paid one-half, the balance could be paid in six annual payments ; if three-fourths, the rest could have four equal yearly installments ; and if the whole amount could be paid by the last of September, 1822, a deduction of three-eighths would be made on payments yet to be made. March 21. 1821, the bill passed. but Darke County was remote, and news of this relief measure came when it was too late to make it available. The time, too, had nearly gone by before the district land officers had received orders from the proper department, and few had any benefit from the enactment. An act was passed March 3, 1823, continuing the provisions of the law of 1821 to September 30, 1823. Congress, however, contained many men who felt a deep interest in the development of the West, and who were earnest in their efforts to aid the moneyless settler. Soon an act was passed. authorizing the sale of public lands in one-eighth sections, and reducing the price to $1.25 per acre. Still another law was passed, legalizing land sales in one-sixteenth of a section, or forty-acre tracts, and permitting such as had entered lands under the first act to relinquish them. and to apply whatever they had paid to the payment of one-half the lands entered. or any other tract they might choose. The beneficial influence of this legislation was apparent, in securing as permanent settlers a number of families that otherwise would have been deprived of their homes, after losing both payments and labor. The land was low, wet. wooded and hard to clear up. About each cabin were a few acres in crop. and these pioneers raised no surplus. They were satisfied to bide their time if they had sufficient food to take them through to the next harvest. When supplies were necessitated. hauling had to be done great distances, upon roads almost impassable for wagons. and the greater part of such provisions was mainly corn meal and bacon. which were placed. generally, upon horses, and so brought home. Journeys through the woods on foot were as little regarded. at such times, as trips equal distances now are by the railway.

Clearing was the labor of the day. and its method is little known by the favored descendants of the present. In 1820, intelligence directing physical strength was excellent, but courage and bodily power were imperative, and the weakly were out of place, while idlers were held in contempt. Opprobious epithets were freely applied to him who shunned labor, and his punishment came home with force when neighbors refused to attend his calls.

The settler, ax in hand, prepared to commence a spot of clearing, felled his trees with scientific skill in double windrows inward. piling and interlacing limbs and tops ; then, when the summer's heat had evaporated the moisture and all was dry as tinder, a chosen time found favorable winCs which drove the fires enkindled with waves of flame and furnace heat from end to end. and left the charred and blackened trunks for future disposal. The practice of girdling was freqi ntly a resort, and a tract whereon the trees stood leafless and decaying was aptly termed a deadening. These trees were cut in time, and used for fencing and for firewood, the latter use from readiness to burn. not disposition to economize the

timber. The choicest timber found no exemption, the walnut, cherry and poplar, with the beech, the ash and the maple, were alike in one red burial blent."

It was customary to cut logs in lengths, and then give notice of a logging bee, when all turned out to roll the logs in heaps ready for burning. Changing works was the rule, which had no exception. Many a settler, having risen early, traveled miles through the woods to take part in a logging, and has, on his return home, passed much of the night in kindling and keeping up his log-heap fires. There being a small spot cleared for home site and truck patch, it was customary to chop during winter for a spring crop of corn. The brush was burned where it lay,'and if there was rank vegetation and the fire swept the field, it was in all the better condition for the crop. The matted roots of vegetable growth and the layers of decaying leaves contributed to fertilize the ground.- In the early spring - days, the busy settlers fired their log heaps or their windrows, and the woods were darkened and travelers confused and blinded by the dense clouds of smoke. The darkness of night was intensified by the fires. Lurid flames, casting strange shadows upon the surrounding forest, lent a weird, uncanny aspect to this midnight holocaust of noble timber—the wreck and ruin of unchecked centuries of growth. There were pillars, too, of fire in these clearings where the flames had crept as if in stealth insidiously upward along the hollow of some tall dead tree, till, issuing fiercely exultant at the top, they waved their victory from this wood- walled furnace. And on these clearings were seen the many fires burning, as if the night had come again after the massacre of November 4, and the savages were repeating in pantomime their infernal tortures on their hapless captives. Here is seen a heap just lighted, where burns a lively flame, there red embers, glowing in heat. mark the sites of piles of logs consumed. Those who were without team and plow, or all, if the season was far advanced, planted their corn, pumpkins, turnips and potatoes irregularly among the stumps, amid the mold- mingled ashes. The pest of weeds, which came later to strive for dominance was unknown, and settlers had need only to guard their crops from depredation , and to go through the fields to pull or cut the fire-wood. which grew rank and lu xuriant from questioned germ. upon these newly cleared fields. It was soon e xterminated. to be succeeded by others less thrifty and more obnoxious. In cropping, each settler followed his own desire ; some sowed wheat and rye upon the g round after cutting the corn. in wide rows of stooks, while others sowed a piece of ground prepared for the purpose during the summer, and, one way with another, managed to harrow it under.

The farmer of sixty years ago was poorly supplied with poor tools. There was no kind of machinery used in agriculture, as then there was pone to use. Hoes. drags and brush were used to cover seed. A broken tool was not easily repaired. for the blacksmith's shop was generally some distance away, and, in consequence. tools were made strong and unwieldy. The drag was made by the settler or his more handy neighbor. Two round or hewed sticks were joined ; the one was longer than the other. and. projecting. was made the place for attachment for the chain. and both were braced apart by a cross-piece. Seven heavy iron teeth were set in. four upon the longer piece, three on the other. Not unfrequently. necessity supplied the harrows with wooden teeth. Fields were cultivated several seasons mainly with the hog. to allow time for the decay of roots. For breaking up land, two kinds of plows were used—the bar shear, which had a long, flat shear. a coulter or cutter placed on the point of the shear, and extending up through the beam, and a wooden mold-board. The beam and handle extended about ten feet. The other was known as the " Bull plow," and was brought into the country by immigrants from New York and New Jersey. One of the first employed in breaking in Darke County had but one handle and a wooden moldboard. The first improvement made upon this plow was the addition of another handle. It was the best plow then in use, clumsy and heavy to handle as it was. The earliest introduced patented plow was known as the Peacock." The great

improvement on the old bar shear consisted in the change of the material of the moldboard from wood to cast iron. These served to stir up the surface of the soil, but the plowman of to-day, throwing the soil clean from the furrow, has little thought of the effort made to drag one of those plows through the land, the adherence of soil to the plow, the failure to scour," and the poor work possible4 with such a tool.

A powerful element of no slight importance, relating to the past and present of Darke County, and one beyond the considerations of fertility and prospective or actual capacity, was that of climate. It was generally believed, with good show of reason, the land being cleared, this county would excel in the salubrity of its climate. Since the early settlement of Darke County, occurring changes have greatly modified the climate, and to a less c::tent this is still in progress. The original forest, together with the undergrowth. shut out the sun from the soil and impeded atmospheric circulation. The almost monotonous level of the surface receiving the winter snows and spring rains retained the water through the summer on account of driftwood, vegetation and other obstructions. Evaporation proceeded slowly during summer, and thereby caused a moist. cool air. The forests broke the sweep of the cold northwest winds of winter, and the freezing of large, partially submerged tracts, gave off a sufficient amount of heat to sensibly mitigate the cold incident to the season. The soil, bedded in leaves and vegetation, was greatly protected from the .frost, and the warm air of spring speedily awakened the dormant germs of vegetation. It also happened that the surface protected by overhanging foliage from the heat of summer, more readily experienced the influences of wind and frosts, and hastened winter. The forests being gradually cut down to make room for cultivation. the land being thoroughly drained, these conditions have correspondingly changed. The earth now receives the sun-rays unobstructed ; the air has free circulation. The tilled lands have been under-drained with tile and open ditches. thereby carrying away at once the melting snows of winter and the rains of spring, leaving little moisture to affect the climate by evaporation. The effect of this denuding and draining of the soil is seen in the great depth to which the summer's sun-rays penetrate. and as these rays are given off, the arrival of winter is proportionally delayed. But when the reserve of heat is exhausted, the unprotected earth is deeply frozen. and from these conditions come later springs, warmer summers and delayed but more severe winters. An analysis of the climate of Darke. according to the previous description, requires a consideration, also, of the situation of its land and the direction and character of its winds. Located about midway between the Alleghany Mountains and the Mississippi River, there is observable a prevalence of westerly winds. This is explained by the enormous area of level lowlands whereon the atmosphere is influenced by the earth's rotary motion, causing it to move in westerly currents toward or from the equator. The west and northwest winds are mainly dry-air currents, so that although the annual rainfall is considerable, yet under their action the moisture is rapidly absorbed. Such conditions would inure to the productiveness of most soils, but in a good. rich soil such as Darke County occupies, there is almost a certainty of ample and abundant crops.

The averages in the various seasons are, approximately, 31̊ for winter. 57̊ ,for spring, 74̊ for summer and 52̊ for autumn. The winter is long, and there are sudden changes from the mildness of spring to the most intense cold. These cold spells are rarely more than seven or eight days' duration, and are generally preceded by storms of rain or snow. Rain falls almost nightly and for a day or so at a time during spring, and the temperature fluctuates from the chill of winter to the warmth of summer. Following one of these changes. summer comes and is throughout of a tropical character. As fall draws near, the atmospheric conditions approach uniformity, and at this period Darke County is seen to the greatest

advantage. Breathing an agreeable atmosphere, surrounded by healthful conditions, the beholder looks with pleasure upon the fields, the orchards and the gardens. Turning to the woodlands, he sees the maples, elms and oaks in holiday attire. preparing for their period of rest. There is there every hue and all shades of color. The winds toy with the branches ; the sunlight is all about them ; some are darkened as in shadow, others are brilliant in the glow of light, and all about there are seen bluish, smoke like mists, cdmpleting nature's finest portraiture of the forest in the fall time arrayed in splendor.

The health of the settler and of the later residents has been subjected to the mutations affecting the climate. In the low swamps, miasma prevailed ; the action of the sun upon the decaying vegetation opened by the clearing and stirred by the plow, induced fevers and chills, and there were few that did not, at times, succumb to these disorders. The healthy and hearty entered into the struggle with nature courageously and joyously. Labor had its zest, and food and sleep were most refreshing ; but there were many who struggled on under the depression and hindrances of sickness. As settlers came in and clearing took greater sweep, sickness became more general, or, at least, more apparent, and when Drs. Perrine and Briggs came to Greenville, they found constant employment in attending to the calls of the sick. Fever and ague prevailed, and few, if any, families but had some sick members. Not then, as now, was quinine available—not even known— and the popular remedies were dogwood and wild-cherry bark steeped in native whisky. Slow progress was made for a time, as men became disheartened, left the county and circulated reports that were not only true but sadly true, of an irreclaimable wilderness of morass and swam• the haunt of pestiferous agues and consuming fevers. It is a fact that very few of the pioneers of Darke held on through all vicissitudes.

From 1820 to 1840, the doctors were all kept busy attending to the sick, so prevalent were ague, flux and bilious fever at certain seasons of the year. The years 1836 and 1837 were comparatively healthy ; the year following was more sickly. and 1839 still more so. and from that time till 1850 there were more or less of bilious complaints every season. Since that date, both towns and county have been generally healthy. As an illustration of the desperation to which the medical treatment subjected patients, we relate an incident in the practice of Dr. Gard, one of the veteran physicians of the early day. He was called in, as family physician. to minister to the wants of a sick child. Cold water was forbidden, and calomel. as was usual. was administered. The doctor then retired, with promise of a return the next day. Cold water was barred ; the boy begged for a drink, but entreated in vain. as the doctor's orders were immutable law. He then resorted to stratery. Feigning a desire for rest and repose, the family retired to permit their indulgence. Soon heavy breathing announced that all were asleep, and the patient arose from bed. staggered to the water-bucket, and, to his dismay, found it empty. This discovery would have been hailed by imprecations that would have roused all in the house had not the necessity of the case demanded control. Water must be had, although the spring was at quite a distance. The coffee-pot was found, and the patient set out to assuage his consuming thirst. He rested several times in the wet grass, but finally arrived at the spring, drank heartily, and, undiscovered, returned to his bed. having placed the well-filled coffee-pot at the bedside. This was two-thirds emptied before this suicidal act was known, when the doctor was hurriedly summoned and soon stood with astonished and ominous look, awaiting serious results that did not happen. In a few days, the patient had recovered. Dr. Gard was as skillful as the best, and did his duty, but the practice of that day had its rigors. Vital statistics of Darke County for 1870 show that, out of a population of 32.278. the deaths were, of males, 158 ; of females, 192, or a total of 350. There were, among the enumerated causes of deaths, the diseases of infants, typhoid, dysentery, spotted fever (or spinal meningitis), consumption, pneumonia and old age. The last named produced the greatest mortality. There died of

spotted fever, 24 ; of consumption, 58 ; of pneumonia, 32, and of old age, 17. This gives a small fraction over 1 death yearly from each 100 of population—a rate that will compare favorably with other localities and which demonstrates the present healthfulness of the climate.

Rich as the land was, it could not produce money, and this must be had to meet payments and taxes. Clearing, aside from small patches, had no stimulus. Of what avail were bins of corn and wheat, and droves of swine, without a purchaser or market, and of markets there were none. Having sufficient bread and meat, all were satisfied, and they shared freely with each other and with strangers. Wheat was worth about 2 shillings per bushel, and corn changed hands at about one- half that price. The current prices fluctuated with the supply, and it was a gratification when a newspaper for the first time made it appearance and obtained general circulation in the county. It was published at Eaton. Preble County. and subscription was paid in corn at 15 cents per bushel. Pork was sold, when it could be sold, at 2 and 3 cents a pound ; beef brought about the same price; maple sugar was held at and 8 cents per pound, and maple syrup at about 2 shillings a gallon. Wages ranged from 2 to 3 shillings a day, and this was regarded as an average of compensation. Had some wealthy man bought large tracts and taken steps to develop the capacity of the land, there were many who would gladly have offered their services, but improvement in wages, prices and health were yet far in the future ; and this border life between the civilized and the savage had few attractions such as society affords.

Fifty-six years ago, and nine counties in Western Ohio, stretching from the State's south boundary to Lake Erie, had one representative in the State Legislature and cast a vote of less than 700. Andrew Hiller took the census of Darke County in 1830, at which date the population entire was 6.204, and of Greenville 204, which was an increase of 2,487 in ten years. The condition of the country in 1824 has been described as follows : At that time, the present townships of Mississinewa, Jackson, Allen, York, Patterson and Wabash, did not contain a single inhabitant. In Brown, there were three families ; in Franklin. one ; in Monroe, three ; more than three-fourths of the townships of Wayne, Richland. Adams, Van Buren, Butler and Twin, were an unbroken wilderness, and in the most populous parts of the county, more than half the land yet belonged to the United States. The present fine valleys of East Fork, Mud Creek, West Brand and Bridge Creek, were dismal swamps, tangled morasses through which the intrepid surveyors under Ludlow forced their way : at times waist-deep in water and resisted by briars, branches and tall grasses. Half the farms were fenceless : cattle and swine ran half wild, and tiro latter were trapped and hunted with ferocious dogs. In that year, there were four grist-mills in the county, all of which. together might have ground one hundred bushels of corn per clay, if the conditions were favorable, that is, if there was water in the streams. the dam unbroken and the mill machinery in order. Much of the time, the settlers resorted to the mills of Jerry Cass, on Middle Fork ; Sheets and Razor, on the Stillwater ; Leh- man's, at Rowdy, and to those more certain, yet more distant upon the Miami River.

There were also eight or ten saw-mills that, for three months in the year, could cut from 500 to 1,000 feet of lumber in a day and night's run, provided something was not broken or out of order ; for it was the exception and not the rule to find them in running condition. In one branch of business, the county has retrograded. There were then a dozen or less of petty ( itilAeries, whose united product fell far short of quenching the thirst of the people, and additional supplies were drawn from the establishments of McGrew, on Whitewater, and Sheets, Razor's and Robnock, on Stillwater. Those of Lehman

& Rench were passed by, as the local demand left no surplus. To this was added the imported cognac, Jamaica, Scheidam, from Cincinnati, besides Madeira, sherry and port, so essential to preserve health, and so essential in sickness. T. Snell and J. Huffman coopered kegs for the products of the stills, and manufactured well buckets, kraut tubs and other vessels needed by the settlers. There were in the county six brick houses and thrice that number of frame buildings, the cost of construction of none having been in excess of $500. Every other human habitation was the log house, in its various phases, from the round-pole structure with bark covering, to the two-story hewed-log, with shingle roof and glazed windows. There were a number of schoolhouses, the best of which was not worth $15, and all of them together would have been dear at $100.

Two meeting-houses, one a Methodist and one a Hard-shell Baptist, built of hewed logs, and roofed with clapboard, composed the ecclesiastical structures of the county at that period. Religious services were held at long and irregular intervals, at various places, the court house, private dwellings, or, if the weather permitted, out of doors.

The roads of the county consisted of the old war traces of St. Clair and Wayne, cut more than thirty years before, the Indian path to the Miami on the east, and the Whitewater towns on the west and southwest, and some few other "traces," as they were called, cut out by the early settlers ; so that a wagon might possibly get along in the daytime, provided the driver had an ax along with him, to cut his way around trees, which had fallen across the road. A trip with a conveyance on wheels, to and from Piqua or Troy, to Lockey's Mills or Paris, under very favorable circumstances, might be made in from three to five days ; to Eaton, the Mississinewa or Recovery, in a much longer period. Nothing on wheels was ever attempted to be taken to St. Mary's or Loramie, and if anything of the kind ever went to Winchester, it never returned.

There were not then over one hundred acres of cleared land. in a body, in the county ; the proportion of cultivated to wild land cannot definitely be stated, but sixteen years later. 1840, the area of land utilized by civilization, by inclosure, and much of that still covered with timber and denominated " woods pasture," amounted to but little over 25 per cent.

It remains to revert to the general features of the county. At that time the lands subjected to cultivation were the more elevated portions of Greenville, Washington, Harrison and Neaves Townships, with narrow belts along Still- water, Swamp Creek and Greenville Creek in the townships of Richland, Wayne and Adams ; on Miller's Fork in Twin, and at the head of Twin Creek in Butler. The Painter Creek and the swamps of Twin, reaching from Greenville Creek to the southern boundary of the county, and from the east side of Butler and Neaves Townships to the Miami County line, and including an area of more than a hundred square miles. now exhibiting a body of as good farming lands as any in the Miami Valley, and which are now as well-improved and productive as any in the county. were, fifty years ago, and for many years thereafter, a .wilderness, heavily wooded and much the greater part under water, varying from one to five feet in depth. more than half the year. In a like condition, until quite a recent period, was more than half of the townships of Jackson, Brown, Allen .Wabash and Patterson. These regions have been entirely reclaimed to agricultural uses, and are now producing, some thirty, some sixty and some an hundred fold."

When settlers' cabins stood at secluded places, at wide intervals upon high ground, on creek banks, or deep in the woods, the circuit rider had set out on his mission of good. Traversing road, trace and forest paths, he found cordial welcome everywhere. Arousing strong opposition, he had power in Gospel truth, plainly expressed, and found ample illustration from the boundless volume of

Nature. Let it be said to the honor of the pioneer, that despite the crude state of society, whoever made any profession of religion was faithful in worship and fervent in spirit. Church members from the East gladly called in kindred spirits to hold prayer-meetings in their cabins, relate their experience and cheer each on. They gave kind greeting to the chance or expected itinerant preacher on his arrival, took charge of his horse and speedily sent out the children or went themselves along the byways to notify the neighborhood, when all dropped their employment and gathered to the meeting.

It was well that Christians were strong in faith, brave and determined, for there was much wickedness practiced. The character of employment, and association at races, courts, musters, raisings and other assemblages, tended strongly to make the popular vices of gambling, drinking and fighting. There was urgent need of the enthusiastic and eloquent men, who from the cabin door, the rude stand in the large barn, or the extemporize pulpit at the camp-meeting in the wood, addressed the gathered throng in ringing tones with thrilling language upon those noblest of themes—salvation and immortality. The records of those meetings of the olden time almost persuade the reader that some speakers of that day were, at times, inspired with superhuman power of speech.

There are few now living who recollect John Purviance, who lived on the Whitewater, and championed the tenets of the Christian Church ; Andrew and Henry Rush, who exhorted in the Methodist faith, and Dearborn and Finley. representative circuit riders. Some few may recall old John Hiller and his grown-up sons --settlers on the West Branch—and the pioneer meeting-house erected in his neighborhood. They have passed away, and few are the traces left of them.

It is asserted that Judge J. Purviance preached at the house of Judge Rush, on Mud Creek, in 1811, the first sermon delivered to a civil congregation within the bounds of Darke County. His father, David Purviance, was one of the originators of what were termed the " New-lights," in Kentucky. Rev. J. Purviance was a-teacher, as well as a preacher and worker, and his dwelling near Braffettsville, in Harrison Township, was made to answer the threefold purpose of schoolroom, meeting-house and dwelling.

About the same year. Abraham Sneethen preached a sermon in Greenville. and Henry Arnold speaks of it as the first he had heard in this county. Among other pioneer preachers of the Christian denomination were Isaac Main, John roster and William Polly. The Baptists formed a society at an early date and erected a house of worship—evidence of members and influence. The Presbyterians delayed organization until 1818. when Rev. Shannon who had served as chaplain in one of Harrison's Kentucky regiments, preached at the residence of Mr. Martin, father of John H. Martin. Early history of Methodism in Darke County has mainly to do with the circuit riders, elders and churches. The record of Methodism during the early years of settlement is meager. The first Methodist minister that visited this county was Rev. John Brown in 1817, and the year following John P. Durbin (since Corresponding Secretary of the American Missionary Society) preached on what was then known as the Eaton Circuit. It was extensive in area, embracing appointments at Camden and Eaton in Preble County ; Greenville and Hiller's in Darke County, Covington, in Miami County, and Union, Concord and Germantown in Montgomery County, besides parts of Wayne and Randolph in Indiana. The pioneer meeting-house of the county was erected by the Methodist society in 1818, and is yet standing upon its original site, about four miles west of Greenville and a half-mile south of Winchester turnpike. Great pains were taken with this rude sanctuary in its construction. Its walls were of hewed logs, and the work when completed was considered excellent. The pulpit, made of rough boards, and two or three slab seats, are still in existence. The roof was originally of the old well-known cabin style, but has since been renewed and bears a more modern covering. The old house itself has been kept in such repair that it served for the accommodation of the people, on funeral occasions. The

dedicatory sermon for this old landmark of religion was preached by Rev. Durbin, and the following Presiding Elders severally held within its door their quarterly meetings : Alexander Cummins, John Strange, John Collins, J. B. Finley, John F. Wright, William H. Raper and William B. Christie. The first quarterly meeting for the Greenville Circuit of 1817 was held at Greenville in the private dwelling of John Dunn by Elder Moses Crume. Rev. Durbin preached at the house of A. Scribner and his teaching seems to have been salutary in its effect upon the community. Soon the limits of the circuit were diminished and regular preaching was discontinued until 1833, although during this interval, sermons were occasionally delivered at the court house, dwelling-houses, and such other places as could be procured for that purpose. The want of houses of worship gave rise to the custom of holding camp-meetings and other religious assemblages in the open air. This was resorted to by the different denominations, and drew large crowds, but sometimes the good results were counterbalanced by the rowdying ruffianism that intruded itself. The yearly Dunker meetings were rarely disturbed. The peculiar methods of the sect, their generosity in feeding the multitude, chiefly upon soups, had much to do, no doubt, in securing the order that so generally prevailed at their meetings.

In 1818, the first class was organized in Darke County, at the pioneer church, and was known as the " Hiller and Livergood class." 'In 1833, William Oliver, resident about six miles north of Greenville, formed a second class, which consisted of the following named persons : Mrs. Turpen and daughter Emeline (the wife of Dr. Sexton), Mrs. L. R. Brownell, William Barrett and wife, and William J. Birely and wife. It is said of Mrs. Turpen that she, at times, walked four miles to church and class. This class was organized under Revs. Francis Timmons and Ira Chase, who were on the circuit at this date. A class was formed at Greenville this same year. The Methodists experienced much opposition, being regarded as hypocritical and fanatical. Meetings were disturbed and attempts were made to inflict violence upon the ministers.

In 1834. prayer-meeting began to be held at the house of William Wiley, whose wife had been a member of the Baptist Church at her former home. Mr. Wiley's meetings were at first attended by persons spirituously as well as spiritually inclined. After a time, religious people came quite generally, and this led in time to the present Wednesday evening prayer-meeting in Greenville.

This year, Jesse Prior was on the circuit, and among those in the county added to the church were William J. Birely and wife, J. M. Baskerville, Lovina Houp, Hiram Bell, Jane and Lemuel Rush and Eliza McGinnis. In 1835, a church building was commenced in Greenville. Stephen F. Conry and Adam Miller were Dn the circuit. In the year 1837, Rev. Prior was returned and the church influence became manifest. Religion was the topic of converse at home, in public and on the street, while attendance at church was general. Eli Truitt labored on the circuit in 1838-39, Robert O. Spencer was Presiding Elder, and Wilson Barrett and George Starr were Class-Leaders. During the years 1840-41, William Morrow and James McNabb being on the circuit, it was now reduced by increase of population to Darke County. About 300 persons were converted and a like number joined the church. From 1841, to the close of 1843, S. M. Batty and Eliakim Zimmerman. were on the circuit. They were followed in 1844, by Jacob Brown and Cadwallader Owens ; then came T. Phillips in 1845-46 ; Joseph Wykes in 1847-48 ; and Alexander Hammond in 1819-50. David Rutledge labored on the circuit in 1851, and the church received some accessions. Jacob Burkholder, assisted by Franklin Mariott, were well received ih 1852, and the church prospered. V L. C. Webster, assisted by Rev. Mariott, in 1853. W. W. Winter was the senior preacher in the two following years, assisted first by P. G. Goode, then by Oliver Kennedy, who from 1856-58, was senior preacher, aided by L. C. Webster and P. B. Lewis. Great interest was shown, accessions were numerous, and the people saw these men remove elsewhere with regret. Ministers

in 1858 were W. J. Peck and John T. Bower, and for 1859 and 1860, Isaac Newton, assisted by P. B. Lewis. at which date Greenville was made a station with an appointment at Coleville. From this date. the history of Methodism will be found continued in city and township record. It was but justice to enroll the names of those circuit riders. What a life was theirs uncertain one year of their field of labor the next. A pair of saddle-bags contained their wardrobe and their library. Long journeys were made to meet appointments. All honor to these men, though they have gone from us, their memories are preserved in the ennobling influences created and fostered by their faithful instructions.

The Darke County charge of the German Reformed Church presents its first record in reference to a meeting held at Beamsville Aug: 6, 1853. at which five - - — congregations were represented, viz.: Zion. five miles west of Greenville ; St. John's, in German Township ; beside Zoar, Beamsville and Gettysburg. At this meeting, Jesse Prugh was President ; John L. Darner, Secretary ; and Philip Hartzell and Jesse Prugh, delegates to synod and classis. A new charge was designed at Greenville, and the different congregations pledged $131 for the support of a minister, and Indian Creek congregation was put down for $25, the sum they were supposed willing to contribute. At the next annual meeting, Zoar and Zion only were represented. Another year elapsed. and the joint consistories of the county met at St. John's Church. when the resignation of Rev. J. D. Colliflower was tendered and accepted, and a committee appointed to procure another minister. Meeting again on July 24, these same congregations extended a call tc Rev. J. McConnell, and pledged $185 to his support. The call was not accepted : Mr. Prugh was re-elected President, and Mr. Hartzell was chosen Secretary. Aug. 23 1856, these congregations were represented at a meeting held at Clayton, Miami Co. Ohio. The same person was continued as Secretary, and John Nicodemus elected Treasurer. Delegates were chosen to attend the meetings of the Synod. The consistory of Zion's congregation desiring to withdraw from the charge, the request was assented to on condition of a donation of $50 to supply the deficiency caused by their retiring. Meantime, Rev. I. M. Lefevre had accepted a call to preach, and a meeting was called for August 23, 1857, at the house of Levi Rahn in the limits of the Gettysburg congregation. at which Zoar and Beamsville met the local consistory and chose for officers J. L. Darner, Vice President ; Secretary, the same as before ; G. W. Cromer. Treasurer ; Jesse Prugh and William Aspinwall, elected delegates to Synod and classis. The Missionary Board was asked for $50 for one year, to support minister, in addition to $175 pledged by the members. Again they met a year later. continued the same officers, and, as an illustration of the poverty but willing spirit prevailing, a deficit of the Pastor's salary was reported and a pledge made of $160 for the coming year. It was then "Resolved, That the Pastor preach a missionary sermon in each congregation of this charge, and at the same time take up a collection for domestic missions." In 1859, Beamsville, Zoar and Gettysburg met at Clayton, Ohio. elected officers and appointed a committee to extend an invitation to Rev. J. Weaver to visit the charge with a view of securing him as Pastor. The Darke County charge, of which these records are given, has ceased to be known as such. By an action of classes in the fall of 1861, the Zoar congregation became attached to the St. Paris' charge, and the Beamsville and Creager's (Gettysburg) to the Dallas charge in 1862, thereby dissolving the charge. This action was preparatory to starting an interest in the town of Greenville, so long neglected, and the formation of what was thereafter to be known as the Greenville charge. The hardships and discouraging vicissitudes incident to a new country, have been experienced by the different denominations ; although the record has not been in all accessible, yet no distinction need be made, since originators, members and ' misters have been heroic and undaunted in building up the present elevating and advancing interest in things spiritual and eternal, and furthering the cause of the Master.

The first Sabbath school in the county was organized early in 1834, in what was afterward sometimes called " Scribner's white house," wherein Harrison made a treaty with the Indians. The school began with an enrollment of but eleven persons, including officers, teachers and pupils. and that it was non-sectarian is proved by the association in this work of Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists. In the spring, sixteen accessions were chronicled, and within three years the number had increased w fully one hundred and fifty more. The school was then discontinued, and each denomination that had sufficient pupils organized a school of its own. The first Superintendent was William Barrett, a Methodist. The first Secretary was Herman Searles, a Congregationalist, and the pioneer teachers of classes were Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Sexton, Mrs. Briggs, Mrs. Barrett and Miss Evaline Dorsey.

Educational advantages in town and county were for many years quite limited. There were a few rude schoolhouses widely scattered, and these were occupied three months of each winter by teachers whose qualifications better adapted them for burning brick than solving problems in mathematics, and, consequently, there was little learned. Schools were taught by subscriptions. Settlers built houses as they were needed. Taxes came as a result of the practical defeat of a law which .appropriated public lands for school funds. Many of these sections were at the time worthless, and. such as were of value being sold, the proceeds were squandered. The work was in private hands, there was no test of ability or qualification, and not till 1821 was the first general school law found in the statutes. There were no school districts, nor public funds, special or tuition. Every one paid for the instruction of his own children.

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 schoolmaster 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 a day appointed, to chop and draw 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 clapboards 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 or 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 sort of lattice work of sticks, and upon this greased paper was pasted to transmit the light. Such was the schoolhouse 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 dlay. Whispering and other indiscretions subjected the offender to blows with a ferule 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 as teacher. Gradually schoolhouses 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. No inconsiderable portion of early history is that which treats of marriage customs, first births in the county, deaths and cemeteries.

The arrival of a family occasioned eager inquiry by young men as to whether there were any marriageable daughters of the number. The demand was in excess of the supply. The same maiden had sometimes several suitors ; this involved the delicate matter of rejection as well as of choice. Sometimes the girls were betrothed before leaving home, and a knowledge of this fact caused disappointment. For a long time after the first settlement of the county. the people generally married young. The parties differed little in fortune, and none in rank. First impressions of love resulted in marriage and a family establishment cost only a little labor. Weddings occupied the attention of the entire neighborhood, and the event was an hilarious occasion, anticipated by old and young. This is readily understood when it is considered that a wedding was almost the only gathering not accompanied by labor. The marriage ceremony was arranged to take. place before dinner, which was a substantial feast of beer, pork, fowls, and sometimes venison and bear meat, roasted and boiled, with abundance of potatoes and other vegetables. Dinner was free from formality, and a time for mirth and enjoyment. There was dancing after dinner. “The figures of the dances were three and four handed reels” or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square four, which was followed by what was called jigging it off; that is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often-accompanied with what was called cutting out. that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by some one of the company without any interruption of the dance. In this way the amusement was often continued till the musician was heartily tired of his situation." Among marriages in pioneer days, was that of Miry to his brother's widow ; they had lived together some time during the inoperative period before the election of justices, and when a justice was chosen, they were legally married. In a spirit of joviality a party of young people being resolved to have a marriage, seized upon a man named Israel Wertz and fitted him out with a suit. One of the party furnished leggins, another some other article of dress until he was properly clothed, and then calling upon a woman named Jane Dugan, asked her if she was willing to marry Wertz. She replied affirmativ1y, and they all started for the house of Alexander Smith. a Justice of the Peace who lived east of Greenville. Wertz repented and broke away, upon which a dog was set after him, and he was caught and held. The ceremony was then performed,

and the twain thus singularly made one lived many years together happily and both finally died of old age.

Instances of seduction and bastardy were rare, and could not take place without great danger from the brothers or other relatives of the injured party, as family honor was highly estimated. Divorce was accounted dishonorable, and was seldom a resort. The statistical reports for 1877 give, of marriages that year, in Darke, 334 ; suits for divorce pending, 23 ; brought within the year, 41—total, 64. Brought by husband, 26 ; wife, 38. Principal causes were, absence, neglect, incontinence and cruelty.

The burial customs of sixty years ago differed much from those of to-day. When a death occurred, neighbors would call in, take the measure of the body, and procure a plain coffin, at a cost rarely exceeding $5. A neighbor possessed of a team brought the coffin to the house and conveyed the body to the grave. Ruder sepulture was not infrequent. No costly shaft marked the spot where their dust reposes, but plain head-board. Cemeteries were known as graveyards, and some families had a burial plat of their own, as the Sumptions. We close by a brief extract from the record of what is known as the Old Graveyard, at Greenville, which was deeded by John and Margaret Devor to the Trustees of the M. E. Church, July 15, 1818. The deed is recorded in Book A 1, R. 74, and the bounds are as follows : Southeast by Water street, and running along the said street eight poles and fourteen poles, to the rear, so as to include the burying-ground at the north end of town, and to contain 112 square rods—excepting two square rods, to be used as a burying-ground by each and every person who has heretofore occupied any part of said lots for that purpose." The conveyance was a donation, since the consideration was $1. The grounds were laid out, fenced and left to be populated as the wearied and worn here " laid themselves down in their last sleep."

DARKE COUNTY IN 1840—CELEBRATION—COMMEMORATION—MASS MEETING AT GREENVILLE.

It was during the period of heated political debate that Greenville and Darke County began to emerge from the gloom and obscurity of nature, where they had lain from time unknown, and to aspire for place among older and sister counties of the State. You glance over her townships, and you find them thickly settled still. You find that in ten years her population has more than doubled. The 6,204 of 1830 has now become 13.145. or twenty inhabitants to the square mile. Of its eighteen townships. Greenville leads, with a population of 1,851. Four Others, Harrison, German. Butler and Twin, have over 1,000 each, while Mississinewa enumerated but 124. Greenville, the county seat, contained four churches, sixteen mercantile stores, a flouring-mill, a printing office and about 800 inhabitants. The lands wear a wild look. There is an abundance of fine poplar, walnut, blue ash, beech. hickory and sugar maple. It has won a reputation for the production of excellent wheat, and is reputed to be well adapted to grading. The woods still abound in game. The heavy timber stretches almost unbroken for miles, not alone over the low and swampy but along the higher lands. Cattle range at will through the woods, and the swine run wild and savage in droves. Land ranges in value, from the Government price, to $12 per acre, the latter for improved farms. Soil, relieved of heavier growth, sustained rank and luxuriant grasses, while furnishing but scant supply of wheat and other grains. The old cry of milk sickness and fevers was now changed, and it was said of Darke County that its chief products were " pumpkins and hoop poles," and in this there was much of truth, especially in regard to hoop-poles, since, at this date, they were the only article of export. During the winter, the principal employment of farmers was wagoning these hoop, poles to Germantown. Middletown, Lewisburg and other markets, and by this means they were enabled to measurably supply themselves with salt, groceries,

leather and other necessaries. This supplied the county with ready money that would otherwise have been badly missed. Away now in the past the county seat was seen, with a population of about three hundred, many of those were poor, and had hard scratching to get a living. There were two stores, a blacksmith-shop and a whisky-shop, two doctors' offices, an antiquated brick court house in a spacious public square, a brick jail, a single ordinary frame church building, and a small log schoolhouse. There were a few respectable looking private dwellings, but most of the houses were shabby and were widely scattered, south and southeast of the square. The streets were more nominal than real ; the nearest actual being that which runs south from the square, in the direction of the old fort, and which held the business of the place. This was all changed in 1840 ; the town had-far more than doubled its population, and indications of business growth were apparent. New buildings had been erected, new stores started, new men had moved in, and they had brought some capital with them. Allan La Mott and John D. Farrar had opened dry goods in 1830, the next year W. B. Beall and Francis Waring started stores ; then, in 1832, came John C. Potter, and the veteran merchant of Greenville, Henry Arnold, now, in 1840, in business with H. N. Arnold, who three years before had been a partner with James M. Dorsey, an arrival of 1833 ; besides these, there were Townsend, Bailey, Beall and Bascom. Lawyers were not wanting ; of these were Gen. Bell and Dempsey, and of doctors, Baskerville, Ayres, Buell and Gard. Greenville had two hotels now. They were earlier known as taverns. Mrs. Armstrong was the pioneer. Then came Moses Scott. who provided entertainment for man and beast until 1824, when he moved to Fort Wayne, Ind. Linus Bascom, in 1817, opened public house, down where stands Hall & Hine's livery stable. A. Scribner was cotemporary with Scott ; James Craig was successor to the latter. Craig gave way to Edward Shaffer. Then we come to 1840. Charles Hutchins is the proprietor of a two-story brick house, erected in 1837, on the east side, and Frank Hamilton located in a two-story frame, on the south side, of the public square. Notwithstanding the somewhat humble pretensions of the latter, it had the prestige of seniority over its more costly neighbor and vigorous rival, besides being honored by guests renowned and distinguished. During 1840, here stopped the hero and patriot of North Bend, who, from its uppermost porch, addressed the gathered multitude, upon the issues dividing political parties. The urbane, courteous hospitality of the frame was matched by the grandeur of the brick, whose proprietor received the suffrages of the people as the County Treasurer.

The postal facilities gradually approached an ability to transmit intelligence within reasonable time. A. Scribner had been appointed in 1815. and had but nominal duties to perform. His successors were Carleton Morris and David Monroe. He then recovered the position which he held till 1833, when Judge John Wharry became the incumbent, and, after several years. gave way to a successor. The office was not in a room by itself, but occupied a small portion of the store or other room of the Postmaster, and was auxiliary to the business.

Dempsey, of whom mention has been made, a man small in stature but large enough to attract notice at the National Capital. had not long been resident of Greenville before he was favored by Van Buren's administration with the appointment of Postmaster, and at once combined the threefold duties of law, trade and public functionary, having his law and post office in his store. The change of administration again returned the office to Scribner. Although Greenville was flourishing at an unprecedented rate at this time, it had few attractions, and was lacking in many essential elements to solid improvement and prosperity. It had need of a good printing press. E. Donnellan had printed and published a newspaper then known as the Western Statesman and Greenville Courier, the initial number bearing date of June 25, 1832. It was of super-royal size, was published irregularly, had a sickly existence and upon its subscription list there were some two hundred and fifty names. Its mottoes were excellent, its prospectuses were frequent, but its duration was brief. A good flouring-mill was a needful thing.

This was not a local want ; the entire county needed better and more reliable milling facilities which had hardly kept pace with the development of the country.

Soon after Harrison's treaty, Maj. Adams, an old soldier of Wayne's army, erected a kind of chopping-mill, five miles below Greenville, upon the later site of the mills of Oliver & Co. Cotemporary with Adams were Mathias and Aaron Dean, who, having built a saw-mill. three miles above Greenville, had attached thereto a " corn-cracker." Neither ground much wheat. Bolting was done by hand, each customer bolting his own grist. Somewhat later, Andrew Noftsinger put up a grist-mill on Mud Creek, below the outlet of 'the lake, on the later site of Otwell's Mills. The bolting here was done by hand, and could not supply the demands of the people. Wheat had to be taken to the mouth of Greenville Creek, to Milton or to Whitewater to be ground. In dry times the grist was left, and at a specified time it was promised to be ground, and the farmer went back for it, and, in the bad condition of the roads, this made a two days' trip.

The next improvement was a horse-mill, put up by John Puderbaugh, on the east side of West Branch Prairie. This mill afforded fair facilities for grinding in winter while other mills were frozen up. Two neighbors, going together, set out before day with harnessed horses and a sack of corn on each horse. If, on reaching the mill, it was found to be thronged, a neighborly feeling was shown. Each got part of his grist ground, but there was no meal left to require a return, for the old miller had thriftily connected with the mill a small copper still, which turned out a very desirable quality of whisky which was always readily exchangeable for corn.

Then all drank liquor as a beverage. Children were solicited to drink by parents. and. when too raw and strong, it was blended with sweetening, and in it the bread was soaked. It was everywhere indispensable, called for on all occasions and in all places pronounced good and desirable. Quality was reputed good, drunkards were said to have been few, and cases of delirium tremens were unknown.

In 1840, Briggs' mill, two miles below town ; Dean's, turee ; Cole's, five miles above on the creek, and Clapp's, six or seven miles west of town, afforded accommodations. but, at the same time, they were regarded as but a shade above refined corn-crackers. Otwell's mill, nine miles southwest of Greenville on Mud Creek, was originally one of the same sort, but it had changed hands several times, and with each change had received repairs that made it, perhaps, the best mill in Darke County. This and a new steam mill started in the vicinity of Palestine by a man named Cloyd, did most of the wheat grinding, but when a drought came, as was the case most every fall, the whole country had to go to Stillwater, a distance of some twenty or twenty-five miles. Fortunately, at such times the roads were dry and solid ; teams could haul good loads without interruption. At any other season. except when the ground was hard frozen, the roads were so intolerably bad that teams could scarcely pass with empty wagons."—In the summer of 1833, Patterson had on a load of five barrels of flour drawn by three stout horses and all were mired in a " slough."

Besides these grist-mills, there were several saw-mills scattered around on the small streams, which answered the purpose so far as they went, but they did not go far enough to meet the demands of the county for lumber. Steam had not then come into use, except in the single instance above named.

Many predicted that would be a failure, there existed such a prejudice against steam as a propelling power. It was generally believed that water was the only force that could be profitably used in running any kind of machinery. With these backward appliances, there was still another establishment in the shape of a "carding machine and fulling-mill," located some three miles west of town, on what was then called West Branch, which was owned and run by Benjamin & Jack Devor. This was the only machinery of the kind in the county. Andrew Smith was foreman of the concern and had an apprentice. This mill was a

valuable aid to the labors of the women, for homespun in 1840 was still the order of the day. It was only on occasions of weddings that people indulged in " broadcloth' and Swiss mull." After the ceremony, the garments were carefully laid away and held as proud relics of a precious memory. Matron and maid still spun and wove, as had the mothers and aunts of twenty years before. A delicate chintz, held as a reserve for Sunday occasions, was carefully preserved and worn, and if the fair owner chose to walk barefooted to church, a distance of several miles, custom accorded that privilege, provided the feet were dressed during, service. To preserve the shoes in good order. they were taken along wrapped in a handkerchief, and if the happy gallant could secure the privilege of carrying the parcel, he felt highly honored.

We have elsewhere spoken of education and religion. Besides these religious meetings in grove and camp, carrying with them an absorbing influence, there was still another gathering of a military character, the " Big Muster," as it was called, which was held annually at Greenville. This was simply an assembly of the county militia to exercise in the manual of arms. but it was regarded by some of the men, and by the boys generally, as the day for which all other clays were made. The showy uniforms, the stirring martial music, bright muskets, gay cockades and measured tramp, the melons, ginger-cakes. cider and other supplies were a great attraction to the boys. Israel Cox proudly put in his appearance as lifer, and well he might, as he was acknowledged the best in the county. He had no known equal. His brother John was no ordinary performer. but when Israel moved at the head of the column, accompanied by his favorite drummer, his mastery was universally conceded.

Among the well-known and esteemed men of that day were Gavin Hamilton. Jacob Hamilton—a friend of and judge of honor—John. who resided at Tecumseh Point in a two-story frame house, James, a clever, country blacksmith, Joseph and Andrew, good farmers. The brothers, James and Alexander Craig. carried on a wagon and blacksmith-shop in Greenville to the manifest advantage of the public. Riley Knox, a young lawyer of promise, had just entered upon his profession. He delivered an oration at a celebration of the 4th of July. in 1838 or 1839. whirl: was considered a masterly production for one so young. William Wilson was hi; preceptor, and took him in as a law partner. Among the worthy and notable farmers of that day were John and Aaron Hiller. Joseph Croll. John Martin Samuel Cole, Sr., Philip Manuel, George Diverly. William McKhann, James and Thomas McGinnis, William and Samuel Rush. William Morningstar and Jame. Bryson, a few there of the many whose iron wills held all vantage-ground, and continually extended their domain.

A few of the boys of that day were David. Theodore and Thomas Beers. John Devor, Jack and Frank Scribner, William Douglass, Calvin McNeil. John Hiller, Jr., Levi Elston, William and James McKhann, Martin Brady. J. and H. Bryson, Benjamin and Andrew Croll, Samuel, Joseph and Henry Cole, John Henning, Jr., James and Barton Hays, Zack and Ben Clark and many another the old resident will recall to mind. Levi and Amos Potter found homes elsewhere. Some have passed from earth, some yet remain where they spent their youthful days together. The heads of those full of ardor then are now adorned with silver locks, premonitory of a coming change.

The celebration of the anniversary of American independence has fallen into disuse since the last great civil conflict, but for many years, it was made a holiday of the nation. A notable observance of the day was held at Greenville in 1833, and is probably remembered by many. Due notice had been given, and people began to pour into town at an early hour from all parts, not only of Darke County, but from the counties adjoining. All the public houses were crowded the night before by strangers from abroad. Military companies and firemen from Piqua arrived in the vicinity of the town at seven in the morning. An hour later and they were received by the Greenville Guards, and escorted to the town. At

the head of the column marched the Greenville Band, assisted by part of the Winchester (Ind.) Band, and discoursed appropriate airs. A train came from Dayton at 9 A. M. with 800 passengers, among whom were two military companies, the La Fayette Rifles and the National Guards and the Deluge Fire company. These organizations were escorted by the military to their quarters in handsome style under tie gratified observation of a tremendous concourse of people. At 10 A. M., a train from Union came in with many excursionists, and the streets were jammed. It was the largest crowd in the place since the meeting of 1840, of which notice will be given further on. There were citizens present from Piqua, Troy, Dayton and from Miami, Preble, Shelby, Mercer and Randolph Counties. The procession was formed at 10 A. M. under Capt. Frizell, and presented a fine sight. First came the military—five well-dressed, well-drilled comp pies---next fol--- lowed two fire companies with engine and carriage, then came the officers of the day, the Orator and the Reader; after these were soldiers and citizens, and last of all, a large wagon bearing twenty-two young misses, one bearing the flag of our country, and each of the others a flag marked with the name of a State. At the head of the column marched the pioneers of a Dayton company. There were six bands, all of them played at the same time, and gave utterance to a confused and deafening, exciting and bewildering medley of sounds as the procession passed on their way to the grove. Arrived at the stand, the military opened ranks, through which dignitaries and others passed to the stand. The audience was seated. The military drew up in line and fired a round of musketry. After stand exercises, there was a dinner, then a parade and reviews, after which, as the trains came in, the visitors started homeward : wearied as is usual on such days, with tramping along the streets in heat and dust, but fully satisfied with what had been seen and heard at the notable celebration.

The commemoration of the disaster at Fort Recovery was an occasion of an immense assemblage of the people. By accident, the remains buried in one of the shallow trenches became unearthed, and it was deemed a duty to honor the memory of the fallen by a decent and final interment of their remains. accompanied by appropriate ceremonies. The time set for the ceremonies was fixed at September 10, 1851, and, on that day, from.five to seven thousand persons had assembled at the appointed hour. Curiosity drew many, but the greater portion came with a due sense of the service done by these fallen soldiers, and. too, there were relatives and descendants amid the gathered throng.

The bones of some three hundred skeletons were found and placed in thirteen large coffins. Upon the skulls were seen the marks of scalping-knife and hatchet, bringing the far-away past into the present like a dissolving view. At an early hour. the procession was formed and assembled to perform the rites required. There were distinguished men among those who eulogized the slain and depicted the events of the bloody fray. Among them were Gen. Bell, member of Congress of Greenville. B. Stover and Abner Haines. Finally, a resolution was passed to petition Congress to raise a monument over the dust of these fallen men, and at the same time it was voted to ask for a monument at Greenville upon the identical spot where Wayne concluded his memorable treaty. The monuments have not been erected, and these men are remembered only in the fragmentary recollections of pioneer and press, but their lives were not laid down in vain; and their efforts to protect the homes of the frontiersmen are as well worth enshrining on historic pages as are those who fought for national independence, for a country's honor, or for the perpetuity of an unbroken union of the States.

Still another outpouring of the people, worthy of fitting record, was the enthUsiastic mass-meeting in Greenville on the 22d of July, 1840, during the remarkable political contest when "Tippecanoe and Tyler too " was the popular cry, before which the party in power was hurled from position as dry leaves before the wind. It is estimated that more than one hundred thousand visitors .were present.

Up to this time, political enthusiasm had never reached a very high pitch among the hardy settlers, but now the excitement was as great in the woods of Darke County as it was in Hamilton County in Ohio, or in any of the older States, and when it was announced, weeks in advance, that " Old Tip " would address the people, the surrounding country went wild. Immense delegations came from Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. There were more than three hundred ladies present from Kentucky, and the gallants of the backwoods were so much smitten by their graces of person, manners and apparel that from that time till after the election all the young men were Whigs. and log cabins, canoes and coon-skins" became the symbols of their faith, and hard cider" the favorite libation. Many of the delegations were headed by log cabins on wheels, drawn by horses, and, in one or two instances, by oxen. One delegation from one of the river counties was headed by a monster canoe mounted on wheels. in which were twenty-seven young ladies, representing the twenty-six States and the Goddess of Liberty. This canoe was drawn by ten white horses. The meeting was held just west of the town, in a beautiful grove. Facing the speaker's stand, or rather encircling it on three sides, was a bank, well shaded and affording comfortable seats for the vast throng. This natural amphitheater could not have been improved had it been designed for this special occasion. The various delegations as they approached the town were met by one of the Greenville bands" and escorted in with honor. A brief description of these musical companies will not be without some degree of interest. The " band " par excellence consisted of William Morningstar, mounted on a fine horse, and his instrument a violin, upon which he was no mean performer. He met each delegation in turn, and gave them a medley comprising several of the rollicking airs to which the campaign songs were sung—" Hail o the Chief," " Bonaparte's March," with the more inspiring strains of " Soldier's Joy " and "Money Musk." and thus, with the booming of cannon and the cheers of the excited multitude, the delegations were welcomed. The other bands, consisting of drums and fifes, although less singular, were much more noisy, and far and near the martial music resounded, stimulating the feelings, accelerating pulsation, and with rattle and roll of drum and shrill, clear shriek of fife, performing the air of " Yankee Doodle," and intensifying the excitement with the " double drag." The principal speakers were Tom Corwin and Gen. Harrison. Corwin argued that the re-election of Van Buren would be the signal for a reduction in the prices of labor and of all American products, and, in support of his plea, read several advertisements of well-known produce dealers from Whig newspapers, somewhat after the following effect : On and after the 1st of December, 1840, the subscriber will pay $1 per bushel for wheat if Harrison be elected, and 40 cents if the election favors Van Buren." Similar notices concerning corn and hogs were also read from the advertising columns of the party press. Various arguments were presented by Corwin in a way and with a force that brought conviction to many a close listener. The speech of Harrison was characterized as an able and eloquent statesmanlike effort in support of republican institutions. He also devoted considerable time to personal reminiscence, and won over many warm friends from the opposing party. He remained two or three days in Greenville, the guest of Mr. Scribner, and, in company with his host and neighbors, visited many points of interest in the town and its environs. The old merchant and tavern-keeper had been a stanch Democrat, but, from this time on, became and continued an ardent supporter of the hero of Tippecanoe.

Darke County lies in the extreme western part of the State, a little south of the center, adjoining Indiana on the west. It is bounded by Mercer and Auglaize Counties on the north, by Preble and Montgomery on the south and on the east by Shelby

and Miami. The area is 588 square miles. Its outlines nearly describe a rectangle, its greater extent being north and south. In accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly of December, 1803, incorporating townships and establishing boards of County Commissioners, the county of Darke from its sparse population was originally organized into one township and known as Greenville. On July 3, 1817, Twin Township was taken from the south end of Greenville, and embraced all the county south of a line running due east from the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 11. north, Range 1. In the same month, Wayne was created from the northern part of Greenville, and embraced within its limits all of the county north of a line beginning at the northwest corner of Township 12 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the northwest corner of Township 9 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the middle of said township, and thence east to the county line. In February, 1818, Harrison was formed and, in March, 1819, all of Greenville Township that lay in Range 1 was formed into a new township entitled Washington, and, in the same month, Adams was formed from all lands in the county, east of a line running south from the northwest corner of Section 4, Township 10, Range 3, to the southwest corner of Section 28, Township 9, Range 3. In September, 1820, two tiers of sections across the north end of Greenville Township with parts of Wayne and Adams were formed into a new township called Richland, and, in 1821, Neaves Township was laid out, taking four tiers of sections from the south side of the old township. In March, 1829, all of Richland lying in Township 12 north, Range 2 east, was transferred back to Greenville, and also Section 31, of Township 13 north, Range 2. This last section was afterward returned, leaving Greenville as now constituted. German was constituted in 1820 ; Brown and Jackson in 1833 ; Gibson and Monroe in 0836 ; York in 1837, from Richland ; Van Buren in 1838 ; Allen, north end of Brown, north end of Jackson, and Mississinewa, in 1839 ; also Franklin in June of the same year ; Wabash, Patterson and Butler in 1841. In 1840, Gibson Township, about one-half of Allen and parts of Patterson and Wabash were taken from Darke and attached to Mercer County. There are at present twenty civil townships—Patterson' Wabash, Allen, Mississinewa, Jackson, Brown, York, Rich- land, Wayne, Adams, Greenville, Washington, German, Neaves, Van Buren, Franklin, Monroe, Twin, Butler and Harrison. Within their area are contained eight incorporated towns and twenty-five villages. Greenville has priority from age and has always been the capital of the county. Here, as elsewhere stated, are court house, jail and all the conveniences for officials, courts and criminals ; here are some of the oldest churches in the county ;• here lived men prominent in letters, and here was started the first newspaper published in Darke. The place is rich in its historic associations. Near the city are the fair grounds, a notable feature of a leading agricultural section. It is situated on Greenville Creek, in the township of Greenville, ninety-two miles west of Columbus, and ten from the Indiana line.

It has manifest advantages from turnpikes and railroads, and of later years has made a fair use of them. It was laid out in 1810, and incorporated ha 1832; It has a national bank, fine churches, good business houses, a handsome and capacious school building, a number of elegant and costly residences fitted up with tasteful grounds. The Turpen House, a large hotel, together with the Wagner House, offers excellent accommodations to guests and the city and county support three newspapers. Postal facilities, fire department and other agencies for business, comfort and safety are well supplied. The incorporated towns are New Madison, laid out in 1817, incorporated, 1841, and situated ten miles southwest of Greenville, near the site of old Fort Black ; it is a fine thriving place. Versailles, platted in 1819, and duly incorporated in 1855, and located in Wayne Township ; Union City, a flourishing place on the State line, platted in 1838, and incorporated in 1853, and a lively railroad center ; Gettysburg, incorporated in 1866 ; Dallas, in 1867 ; Arcanum, platted in 1849 and incorporated in 1858, and Bradford, platted in 1867, and incorporated in 1871. The villages are thus enumerated : Minatown, laid out in 1818 ; Fort Jefferson, same year, remarkable as

the first work built as a fort in the county ; New Castine and Ithaca, in 1832; Braffettsville and Palestine, in 1833 ; Webster, 1835 ; Beamsville and New Harrison, in 1837 ; Hollandsburg, 1838 ; North Jacksonville and Gettysburg, 1842 ; Dallas, 1845 ; Sampson, 1846 ; Hill Grove and Coleville, in 1848 ; Gordon, 1849 ; Tampico, 1850 ; Rose Hill, 1852 ; De Lisle, 1853 ; Nevada, 1854 ; Stelvidio. in the same year, and Woodland, in 1859. There was now an interval of seven years, during which the stormy scenes of warfare embittered feeling and absorbed public attention, but again the current rolled on, and, in 1866, Pikeville was platted. next Bradford ; then Rossville, in 1868, Painter Creek in 1870, and Woodington in 1871. A number of these are promising, prosperous villages, while others are lively hamlets, convenient of resort for meals; grists. trade. lumber conveniences and church privileges. Fine pikes bearing the name of the village of which they are a terminus, or through which they extend. render wheeling convenient and make all points accessible, regardless of seasons. Railroads traverse the townships in various directions, and the difficulties of early transportation are now unknown. The obstacles of the past cannot be conceived from any observation of the present. The fields traversed by open or covered drains, and hearing fine crops of wheat and corn, the groves free from all undergrowth, and the unobstructed streams, require personal knowledge or strong faith to believe the stories of the battles of civilization with the rude, strong elements of nature.

The county occupies a position inclining its surface southward from the western limits of the great watershed dividing the basins of the Wabash and the Miami. It is classified as a portion of Southern Ohio. A good knowledge of the general topography of the county, so far as relates to the dip of the land and changes induced by the action of water, is afforded by the statement that " the summit ridge enters the county in the northeastern part, bearing southwest through the northern part of Patterson Township, through the southern parts of Wabash and Allen, and passing out near the middle of Jackson Township." Persons familiar with lands like situated, could derive analogous information of the surface or contour features of this and give proper weight to agencies concerned in alluvial deposits and erosure of higher lands. The general surface is, in the main, flat, and slopes almost uniformly from the summit line northwest and southeast ; there are, therefore, no distinct topographical features to avert the sight. Something approximating monotony is presented by the basins of Greenville and Stillwater Creeks, the numerous wild and beautiful cairns and other variations originating in local causes. There are occasional striking manifestations perceived upon the underlying rocks of a tremendous erosive power, but the deposit of an average of 100 feet of drift, conceals most effectively this truth, and the surface contour presents no indication of this interesting geologic fact. Portions of the surface are a level plain, others are hilly and undulating, while to the northeast there is low. waste. inundated land, rich in its deposit of vegetable debris, treacherous to the foot and useless for cultivation, till ultimately co-operative drainage shall render its wealth available.

The summit ridge is not strongly marked, nor is it of uneven outline. For ages, active agencies have divested the surface of loose material and worn down inequalities until we simply behold a broad, rounded belt of elevated land. The rock, gradually crumbling has been swept down as varied alkali clays, and spread as a layer. over the low, wet basins of the Wabash and Stillwater, thereby commingling with the black, loamy soil, and supplying those elements of fertility which have given this section its reputation, while leveling the early broken outlines of surface. The ridge is vet prominent. as it bounds the line of the extreme southern limits of the northern lakes and stands as a marked feature in the tonography of the State.

The highest land in the region of the divide is in the northwest portion of the county. A little north of Union City. the altitude above low-water mark in the Ohio at Cincinnati, is 665 feet. which is the highest accurately known. On the

crest of the slope between the Stillwater and the Wabash, the land has an elevation thirty feet less than at the point named. On the line between Darke and Mercer, the elevation is 634 feet. although places in this vicinity have a possible altitude of 700 feet. The elevation at Greenville is about 590 feet, while, on the county line between Darke and Feeble, in Harrison Township, there is a descent to 551 feet. At Ithaca, Twin Township, the elevation is 557 feet above the Ohio. The greatest depression is considered to exist along the bottom of Greenville Creek. in Adams Township, where the elevation is but 520 feet, while the bluffs in the vicinity rise 20 feet higher. Lake Erie is 133 feet higher than the Ohio, and, taking the former as a basis, these altitudes must be diminished to that extent for comparison. From this we find the highest land is 567 feet above Lake Erie, or 1,132 feet above the level of the sea:

In the study of these surface features, it is remarkable, that but one of those primitive lakes once so numerous and still frequently met with upon the watershed in counties eastward, exists here. It is known as the " Black Swamp," and the extensive drainage is reducing its immense deposits of vegetable matter to the character of a bog.

Peat bogs are found in different parts of the county. Near Weaver's Station there is a peat deposit of two to three feet in depth, resting upon the limestone, and is a substance well calculated as a fertilizer for the more sterile, high clay lands. Just to the southwest of Greenville. on Mud Creek Prairie, which was formerly submerged almost to its source in Harrison Township, there is a considerable deposit of peat. To the southeast of the city, about one and a half miles, another is found. An incident illustrating the singular character of one of these peat bogs has been thus given : Many years ago. in the construction of the Cleveland, Columbus. Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad in the northern part of the county, the route of the track necessitated the running over one of these peat bogs. To the apparently dry loam, with its dense growth of vegetation, was added sufficient gravel and other material to complete the bed of the road, and in due time the rails were laid and the track used. But one morning, not long after, as the train came along, a great break was espied ; the track had evidently disappeared, and, upon investigation, the truth was revealed. The track, instead of crossing over a dry peat bog, was rather laid over a hidden lake. Vast quantities of mosses and aquatic plants. together with branches, trunks of trees, and other accumulations, had collected until they had formed. as it were, a super-aquatic soil of several feet in thickness. and of such a remarkable density and buoyancy as to support, for a time. the weight of a passing train.

Darke County was. to a certain extent, divided into prairie and timber land, and these were so interspersed that some farms were advantageously composed of tillable and woodland in fair proportions and compact form. Those so fortunate as to have acquired this land were indeed favored. The timber at once supplied building, material. fences and fuel. and when a market opened, the forest wood was utilized and the ground cleared for tillage. Much the greater portion of the soil of Darke is well known to be rich and fertile to a remarkable degree, and the appearance of the farms strongly contrasts with those that may be seen in many other counties, and suggests a long-settled section. It is an actual granary of corn, oats and wheat. The yield is annually large and the quality is excellent. This fine yield is almost entirely the result of the drift. Deposits of clay, sand and gravel acted upon by heat. cold. air and streams, blended with vegetation and animal life for ages, have formed the present productive soil which gives celebrity to Darke and adjacent counties. The clays and sand become separated from the hardpan ; the rocks crumble under the alternate thaws and frosts, and their debris was washed downward upon the bottoms and assisted by vegetation ; plants grew and decayed ; overflowing streams dissolving mingled these materials, and thereby produced a rich and varied soil. Three classes of soil are characteristic of this section, that of clay, of alluvial and of turf. The first-named predominates,

and is a particular constituent of the region of watershed and all other uplands or higher portions or the county. Its hue is varied from yellow to red and brown. It is seen upon the crest or the divide to he or an almost white or ashen color from the weathering and drainage. This soil is in places solid and tenacious. but in the main is lice and porous. The former is of value in the manufacture or brick and ; the hitter is renowned for the crops of wheat and kindred cereals produced. The alluvial or bottom is of a black. Loamy character. blending with a considerable amount of decayed plant matter and leavened with silica: it is free. mealy and fertile. the natural soil for corn. Which thrives thereon remarkably. The turf soil is of a dark gray color. covering the primitive surface. which. where it prevails, is low but dry. It is seen to advantage in freshly cleared forest lands, and blend's clay with vegetable and is adapted for the growth of pumpkins. potatoes and the like, together with the lesser grains.

The natural products of Darke County were those little known to the present occupants. The times when Jefferson and Greenville were built and trains of pack-horses traveled the traces of armies. saw an unbroken forest stretching from the Ohio away to the shores of the Great Lakes. Here could be seen the various oaks, white, red, black, burr, chestnut and pin ; sugar and swamp maples. the former rich with the juices of the frosty springs rising sap the sassafras. whose root bark made healthful drink; the white and slippery elms, the latter with its viscous inner hark ; the walnuts. black and white, the one prized by the cabinetmaker. the other known as the "butternut” and freighted in the fall time with brown aid nuts ; the sycamore, as often known as "buttonwood ; the shagbark hickory. whose bark gave light for evening labor ; and besides all these, the cottonwood, the flowering dogwood. the buckeye. the white ash. the beech, and a sprinkling of black cherry, mulberry. thorn, iron wood, black willow, wild plum, and trembling aspen. The sap of the sugar maple supplied the pioneers with sirup. sugar and vinegar, and from the earliest days till now this manufacture of a native product has been a springtime occupation. Pickles were made by placing freshly plucked cucumbers in a mixture of one part whisky to four of water, and it little salt. They were soon fitted for use. Molasses was made from pumpkins, and pared pumpkin. stewed. was placed in the juice. boiled down, allspice was added and pumpkin butter made. Early fruit was of indifferent quality. but later years were marked by attention to its cultivation. The apple thrives, and in 1877. over twenty-five thousand bushels were produced from the orchards. The peach is foreign to this region. and to partake of this rine fruit it is needful to plant out trees each year. Pears thrive with ordinary attention. and during the year last named the product ill this county was upward of a thousand

While the position of her territory admits no rivers. the lands are not deficient in water-courses. The numerous springs and surface drainage occasion many water-ways. which, from proximity to their sources. are but headwaters of ultimate large streams. The chief stream is known as Greenville Creek, which has its origin in the northern divide, a short distance without the county. Conforming to the direction of slope land. it flows in an almost uniformly southeast course. until arrested by the bluff upon which the county seat is located ; its course trends around its cairn toward the northeast, and then. with many a curve and turn, runs eastward to its junction with the Stillwater in Miami County. All its affluents are received from the south. since the highlands on the north press close upon its bank and divert all its streams into the basin of the Stillwater. Painter's Creek drains the county to the south. and the two constitute a system of which there may be said to be four—small. but clearly outlined.

Stillwater Creek rises in the summit ridge. in the northern part of the county, and traverses the shallow valley lying between the plateau and the watershed. Like Greenville Creek. it pursues an easterly course. following the natural inclination of the surface. The rivulets which form its affluents originate in the clayey

drift deposits of the divide. This and the Greenville system drain the most fertile lands of the county. The once well-known spread of the Stillwater " has been rendered the richest and most productive of soils by removing obstructions in the water-course and by ditching.

The Mississinawa and the Wabash rise upon the northern slope of the divide. A little further east these streams would be directed toward Lake Erie, but are intercepted by Wabash Ridge and turned westward into Indiana. Not much area is drained by these headwaters in Darke County, where the basin of the Wabash begins in a narrow. gentle valley. which gradually broadens into an immensely fertile belt in its course through Northeastern and Central Indiana. This course of the Wabash to the southeast may be thought to indicate the course of an ancient gap whereby waters and icebergs-were borne into the valley of the Stillwater. Upon a different declivity far to the southward in the county, are the sources of Whitewater. Miller's and Twin Creeks. together with other creeks of minor importance. All these streams are shallow in the main, and flow within modern basins, the greatest elevation of Greenville Creek not exceeding about thirty feet.

Many fine springs are found in different parts of the county. The well-water, as well as the spring-water along the water-sheds, is sulphurous and not desirable for use. Near Weaver's Station. New Madison and that vicinity occur numerous springs, which rise upon the surface of the magnesian limestone, and which are in consequence impregnated with carbonate of lime, magnesia and other mineral properties exuded from the rock and the clay. Thus mineral springs exist, some of whose waters are as fully charged with minerals as are the famous Cedar Spring of New Paris. Preble County. The supply of water is of ample volume and good quality. The best well-water is obtained from a depth varying from thirty to fifty feet. and is drawn from the deposits of sand and gravel upon the surface of blue clay. All in all, situation. soil, climate and product unite to make Darke County one of the most desirable portions of the State.

Darke County has a soil, a climate and a local position which constitute the essentials of a first-class agricultural county. For a time, the wave of immigration swept around her lands and beyond, but ultimately those far seeing selected from her territory their farms and began their work. Half a century ago, Darke County was yet in a state of nature, except here and there where the pioneer had kindled his camp-fire and cut away a small area of timber from about his dwelling ; then the settler had at his option the best land in the county, and his successors continued to make choice until not only the bottoms along the streams and the more inviting upland was entered. but even the " flats " and " slushes," that the settlers thought "would forever remain unentered, and give pasture and range for their stock.' The virgin soil produced in abundance with indifferent tillage, and the woods supplied meats for the table.

The ax was vigorously plied. the deadening was extended, and from spring to spring time again, the smoke could be seen to rise from the clearing. Little by little improvements were made. one succeeding another, and here and there the old settlers died until it is seen to-day, that the foundation and the founders are passing from memory in present labors. As was said by Hon. Abner Haines before the agricultural society on September 18, 1853, " The early settlers had many obstacles to contend with in the development of the country which no longer obstruct the progress of this generation. It required much labor to clear the land and prepare it for cultivation. This labor has been performed, leaving to the present generation time to think and improve, as well as to work." We have in earlier chapters depicted the perils and the crudities of early agriculture. We see the settlers Chino- in panic from their homes, from dread of the hatchet, suffering from

chills and fever, hindered by insufficient implements from doing good farming. deprived of access to store and shop. roads. almost witiaait mills, and dependent upon the soil and the forest for the supply of every want. It is well worth a review to note the gradual transition of ma. cbyelling. habits and persons. machinery, stock and crops, bringing soil and occupant to the front. the one to become celebrated, the other to He marked as independent and progressive. Old times have passed away ; the ax. the maul and wedges. the sickle. the scythe, and hoe are relics now of a past system. Splitting rails is no longer au occupation. though the most common fence is still the zig-zag rail fence. The cradle displaced the sickle, to be itself superseded by the Dorsey Reaper. and then others improved to the present perfection. The stumps are gone from the clearings, the log houses have been abandoned, used as granaries and stables torn away or rotted down. the old well-sweeps have all finally disappeared. and annually at the old and prosperous agricultural fair, are seen the various plows. chilled, diamond. champion. sulky and others, so of cultivators, corn-planters, seed-drills, harrows, pulverizers, harvesters, hay-rakes, thrashers and separators, each contrasting to the experienced mind. changes of method in agriculture, relieving the husbandman of toil. and assuring in uniformity and perfection in preparation and cultivation a yield of profit and the means of ready harvesting, thrashing and marketing. Contrast the dropping of corn and covering with the hoe, with the swift movements of the planter. the irregular broadcast sowing by lands or landmarks with the seed-drill. the former harrow with the present, the old reaper even with its man to rake off the ,gavels with the self-dropper, the old method of having with scythes laving the swaths, with hand-rakes forming the windrows. with forks placing in cocks. and finally the wearisome labor of pitching and stowing away in the barns, in striking contrast to the music of the mower as the farmer rides, always leaving circles about his meadow, shaving and spreading the grasses at each round, the buggy-rake gathering with wide sweeps, the hay-fork and hoisting tackle depositing the fragrant hay in the capacious bay for winter's food to choice breeds of domestic animals.

The staple grain product of Darke has constantly been corn. Fully twice as many acres have been devoted to this cereal as to any other. It has always played an important part in the agriculture of the country. From being the almost sole dependence for food to the farmer, it has become the source of an important income by export, as well as food for stock. Next in order came wheat, always desirable for food, not so certain as corn. and of later years a second great source of profit to the farmer. In the earlier day, the market was at the mills of Piqua. where the farmers went with doubled teams upon a three-days trip to realize from 33 to 40 cents a bushel. Reports were circulated of good prices. a rush of teaming followed and the market was overstocked. About 1837 or 1838. a colony of Germans moved into Darke and bought rejected lands, entered some and paid as high as $12 to $16 per acre for farms partially improved. and gave a stimulus to farming, but it was not till after the completion of the first railroad. a dozen years before the pikes began to have an existence, that the most powerful stimulus was given to agriculture.

We have elsewhere noted a variegated soil, well adapted to wheat, corn, rye, flax, potatoes and various grasses. The improved facilities for market of surplus products and the influence of a newly formed agricultural society. produced a marked and favorable change in farming, and became apparent in every department. The year 1853 may be regarded as the revival of agriculture. The fertility of the soil seems to have been realized, plowing was deeper. manuring was begun, rotation of crops was considered, farm lands were extended by clearing woodland and by bringing into cultivation swamp lands, much of which had been deemed valueless, through the application of judicious draining ; there was improve. ant in agricultural implements, and the greatest interest and progress seems to have been made in the breeds of domestic animals. The building of the Pan Handle enhanced values, bringing wheat to 75 cents a bushel and making prices for land.

It will he seen that this year the county was rapidly growing into note and importance. growing out of an ability to enjoy natural and local advantages. Farmers from the Eastern States. and industrious foreigners. were constantly moving in and occupying the new lands. Now. at last. the capabilities of Darke were to be realized. Her territory was extensive, fertile and mainly serviceable. The crops of small grains were generally sure and abundant. and confidence not altogether devoid of speculation seized upon the minds of the residents of towns and the dwellers upon the farms.

To present at a glance the condition of agriculture in Darke twenty-seven years ago, we refer to the following table of

The valuation of the 371.053 acres of land in the county was placed at $4,211.858. or an average of :911.35 per acre ; the value of buildings was estimated to be $399.734. while the aggregated value of all taxables was nearly $5,000,000. This was a net increase over 1846, but seven years previous. of $2,297,144. There were now of arable or plow lands. 98.542 acres ; of meadows and pasture, 22,469. and of woodland and uncultivated. 250,863 ; this gives us about 60 per cent yet in a state of nature. The wheat crop of 1852 was 324.958 bushels, and of corn, 661,019. There were of domestic animals 8.798 horses, 14 mules, 19,717 cattle, 23.731 sheep. and 45.010 hogs.

Four years later, improved farms about Greenville were held at $40 per acre, at which figure several changed ownership. Among them was the sale of 1521 acres by W. A. Weston to John C. Schmidt. for 86,100; L. H. Byran sold 97 acres for 84,000 ; and Tunis 'Denise disposed of 80 acres at the same rate. These figures premise rise in values and wealth of purchasers.

The future was not less prosperous than the past : an aroused intelligence, increased numbers, ready appliances and the command of means brought Darke County, during the years up to 1860. and thence to 1868, into the front rank in all staple products of the State. In the yield of wheat for the eight years from 1860 to 1868. Darke stands fifth among the foremost ten counties. and in average per acre the seventh. She had during these years turned her energies to the construction of pikes. and speedily advanced toward the van. A writer of that day thus depicts the local feeling. Ours is a level county. a rich soil susceptible of easy. rapid. cheap cultivation and yielding bountifully to the husbandman who is up with the day. in the purchase and use of improved farm machinery. Darke is not dark. but as smiling. beautiful. healthy and pleasant a locality as can be found in the country, possessing good schools and fine dwellings.''

The following was the annual yield of wheat from 1860 to 1868; inclusive : 554.149 bushels. 437,004. 671,355. 505,972. 493,513. 340,611. 260,611, 337,550. During 1863-64. the yield brought Darke to the fifth from the first in the State. The total yield for the eight years was 3,610,756 bushels. The county stood ninth in corn product in 1866, with a yield of 1,397,968 bushels ; in barley the sixth, and in flax culture the fourth. She stood second in the number of turnpikes, there being 34 with an aggregate length of 293 miles and, in 1868, ranked eleventh in the number and value of horses. there being 11.300. valued at $756.139.

We come now to the statistics of the year 1878 : Acres of land, 377,430 ; Their valuation. $10,937,000 : real estate in city, towns and villages, was assessed at $1,902,250 : chattel property at $5,659,180; the grand total of the assessment is, therefore. seen to be $18,498,430 : the total amount of taxes assessed for all purposes was $248,330.50 the county levy was $24,048 ; for the poor, $9,100 ; bridges. $89.000 : roads. $21,000 : townships, $18,000; for school purposes. $66,000, and by city. towns and villages. $17,000. The value of merchant's stock was $296,185 : of manufacture. $35,775 : of moneys. $209,781 ; credit book account, etc.. $1,354,229 : interest on the irreducible State debt on account of Section 16,

for school fund, was $5,135.92 : debt of separate school districts, $38.850 ; the total debt in 1878 amounted to $42.550. which was a reduction as compared with 1877, of $48,341. The banks gave as capital, the national. $84.000 ; three private, $59,500—a total of $143,500. The sale of lands for the year ending June 30. 1878, was 28,540 acres for $1,068.412. Three hundred deeds were recorded. for which the consideration was $207,192: 782 mortgages were made to secure $501,936. There were canceled 237, releasing $543.327. Reveting particularly to the source of all these values. we find the following agricultural showing : Acreage of wheat, 35,423, product. 513.105 bushels : acreage of rye. 2,351, product, 36,591..bushels ; acreage of buckwheat. 378. product. 4,354 bushels acreage of oats, 18,044, product 627.495 ; acreage of barley. 2.666. product.: 77,182 ; acreage of corn, 71,416, product. 2.013.594 ; total acreage. 133.278. total product, 3,172,321 bushels acreage of timothy. 1.033. product in tons. 13.684 ; acreage of clover, 10,180, product in tons. 5.527 bushels of seed, 3.711 : pasture lands, 2,611 acres ; flax product from 2.481 acres. 21.270 bushels. 55,850 pounds fiber ; potatoes product from 1,659 acres. 114.264 bushels ; sweet potatoes from 38 acres, 2,229 bushels ; tobacco from 793 acres. 836.296 pounds ; .sorghum from 552 acres, 168 pounds of sugar. 37,020 gallons of sirup maple sugar. 1,736 pounds, and 3,614 gallons of sirup manufactured hives of honey-bees. 2.144, producing 17,186 pounds of honey. There was of taxable land cultivated, 190.935 acres ; pasture. 14.578 acres : woodland. 100.279 acres : uncultivated or waste, 9,310—total, 315.111 acres. It is most remarkable that the remnant of waste land should have been reduced to less than 10.000 acres. The following were the dairy products : butter. 714,036 pounds ; cheese. 245 pounds. Of stock there were 13,157 horses, valued at $724,198 ; 21,189 cattle valued at $293.699 ; 462 mules valued at $29,196 ; 51,605 hogs valued at 8110.894 ; 7,787 sheep valued at 18.967 ; wool product was 18,981 pounds. The assessment of dogs is a curious feature, bearing the following showing There were listed as worth $50 and under, 241 valued at $2,724, and exceeding that figure. 2,514 valued at 8134.824. Horticultural interests do not make much prominent showing. there being. however. 5.548 acres devoted to orchards, principally apples. Associations of persons engaged in like pursuits furnish opportunity to disseminate information, compare experiences, examine machinery and stimulate exertion.

It was not until 1852, that leading agriculturists conferring. resolved upon the organization of an agricultural society. of which we have the following :

On November 16, 1852, some thirty citizens, from all parts of the county, met at the court house at Greenville and organized a county agricultural society, by appointing N. Gard, President, Alfred Kitchen, Treasurer. and Noah Arnold. Secretary. A committee of one from each township was appointed to procure subscriptions, and Messrs. Wilson, Northrup and Kitchen were appointed to report a constitution and by-laws. The society was organized November 24. 1852, and within a year numbered 320 members. The first annual fair was held at Greenville on the 7th and 8th of September ; attendance large. competition spirited, exhibits respectable. The Greenville ladies made it attractive by a leafy bower for the reception of dairy products. domestic work and flowers.

As early as 1853, the local press was earnest in the use of its influence to interest the public in the support of such a society as would be of service to town and county, in a less or greater degree. and. on April 10. the Greenville Journal contained the following editorial : The officers and managers of this association are using every effort in their power to insure to their hill exhibition a character of interest that will call together a very great assembly of competitors and spectators. Their list of premiums is extensive and liberal. They contemplate making a large inclosure. The various committees are attending faithfully to the discharge

of their duties. From present indications, the first Darke County Fair will be quite creditable to our producers. The spirit of emulation awakened by this move will leave its impress. Darke County has the soil, has all the advantages of a great producing region, and all should conclude to be present on the 7th and 8th of September next." This was followed by other timely articles during the months of July and August. In a paper called The Mad Anthony, published in Greenville September 14, 1853, we read : " The Darke County Agricultural Fair proved to he 311 that its friends could have wished. The occasion is one that will long be remembered. We have had the pleasure of attending several old-established county fairs throughout the State, and can safely assert that we have never yet witnessed a better display of stock than was exhibited in Greenville on the 7th and 8th. The committee had spared no pains to fit up the grounds in an appropriate- . manner, and had ample accommodations for every article offered. On the whole, the exhibition reflects great credit upon our county, and should inspire every citizen with zeal in the cause. We anticipate having one of the largest county fairs ever held in the State next fall." In the same paper, two weeks later, the following paragraph appeared : " We understand that Darke County was not thrown altogether in the shade by her more stately neighbors at the State Fair. She was awarded the first premium on flour, wheat, poultry, apples, potatoes. the best quality' of white lime and other articles. Don't be ashamed, now, to admit that you hail from 'way out in Darke County." The Mail Authority must have been propitiated by the receipt of two specimen apples grown by William McKhann, of the county, one of which weighed one and three-fourths pounds. The records have not been accessible to us till 1857, when. on November 25, pursuant to notice, the Board of Directors met at the office of M. Spayd and organized, pursuant to their election September 25 previous. Members present, Moses Hart, President ; J. W. Shively, Vice President ; M. Spayd. Secretary ; Joseph Bryson, Treasurer. and Managers George Elston. Isaac Funk and Reuben Lowry. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and code of by-laws. The bond of the Treasurer for $1.000 was accepted April 17. 1858. and approved. awl the annual fair appointed for the 23d to the 25th of September following, at the old fair ground south of Greenville. A " complete set of good, substantial books for the use of this society " was also authorized. Committees were appointed to purchase lumber for a fence around the said grounds, and to arrange a premium list. At a meeting held on the 22d of May, the Secretary was instructed to get information from parties resident of the counties of Preble, Miami and Montgomery, regarding the selection from those localities of persons suitable to act as judges on stock. On the 3d of July. the new constitution and by-laws were adopted. The following preamble will be of interest to the reader in this connection : " Whereas, it appears, from the constitution heretofore adopted by the Darke County Agricultural Society, that the same is inefficient and defective, and, for the purpose of more thoroughly and effectually promoting the general interests of said society in our representative capacity. we do alter and amend said constitution." Alterations rectifying defects were accordingly made. On August 25, there was held a meeting, at which delegates were appointed to confer with like parties from Miami and such other counties as might be represented, concerning a plan for the establishment of a district agricultural society, and the report of this committee was thereafter approved, and it was recommended that a district fair be held in rotation in each of the several counties concerned, in lieu of the fair for that county the same year. The number of entries made for live stock, grain, etc., prior to the opening of the sixth county, or first district, fair. held in the fall of 1858, was not promising, but on the first day the rush to make entries was remarkable. The Secretary, with the regular aid of two assistants, and the occasional aid of a third, was tasked to his utmost to wait upon exhibitors and make the number of entries desired. The attendance. apart from exhibitors, was meager. About one hundred (lay tickets were sold, and about three times as many family passes. Considerable

stock arrived this day, and the owners took pains to show to advantage. The reader of the following excerpt, taken from the Secretary's report. will admit that official was endowed with descriptive powers quite beyond what is usual : " The Weather was very pleasant, the air was calm and temperate, the skies unclouded, and the atmosphere filled with a mellow haze which gave everything a softer hue and a milder aspect, constituting one of those delightful autumnal days in which nature seems to be reposing from her toils and labors of the past summer, and to be rejoicing in her own loveliness and beauty. The grounds were undisturbed by drunken revels or beastly brawls, thus presaging a good and agreeable time coming."

The second day was equally propitious and brought concourse of people much greater than has ever before visited the grounds—the number being variously estimated at from four to six thousand. All departments were well filled, and the floral hall was especially attractive. The third and last day of the fair opened ominously, with gloomy and blustering weather, but soon the cloud rifted and again the grounds were crowded, but the throng was perceptibly less than on the day preceding. Following the award of premiums and the reception of the reports of committees, an election of officers for the ensuing year was held with the following result: President, J. Townsend; Vice President. Dr. James Bubo- ; Secretary. M. Spayd ; Treasurer, George Studabaker Managers. George keister, John Plessinger, John McClure. James Grimes and James Aulett. Much spirit was manifested upon the track ; the ladies' equestrian contest won general admiration and a liberal premium. " The boys " engaged in a riding match which won applause, and during the afternoon the Greenville " lagers entered the fairground in full uniform, under command of Gen. Craner, and the proceedings were closed with a fine display of the military. The receipts from all sources were $1.594.99 ; from fair, $838.01 ; premiums paid. $384.75 ; balance in treasury, January 3, 1859, $275.19.

We have supplied the description of this, the first fair under the auspices of the new organization in detail, because, in many respects, it had its counterpart in those which followed.

As the time drew near for the annual fair of 1859, the Secretary was ordered at a meeting held April 23, to prepare and cause to be published and printed in pamphlet form, the premium list, and this, no doubt. contributed to the attendance at the fair which opened on the 4th of October. The Secretary and four assisants were kept busy recording the many entries. The second day is described as an atmospherical phenomenon. a paragon of autumnal beauty." The grounds had been increased materially in extent. yet the woods were tilled with vehicles, and the whole area was alive with people. On October 6, the last day of the fair. the attendance reached its maximum. Receipts of the season nearly doubled those of any previous fair in Darke County, there having been taken for tickets $1.332.23, and from all sources, including balance in the treasury. January 3. 1859. $2.376.86. Balance on hand, January 2. 1860, $869.73. The fair or 1860 is not recorded on the books of the society. Quite a large sum had been expended in improvement of the grounds. but the political excitement just prior to the outbreak of the war had so diverted the attention of the people from civil interests. that the receipts fell some $200 below the current expenses. On February 16. I861. the Board of Directors met to enter upon the discharge of their duties. There were present President H. B. Vail, Vice President Levi Graver. Secretary Noah Arnold. and Managers Robert Drew, James McCabe, Nicholas York. John Stoltz and George Shively. August 10, the President was authorized to borrow $400, and, at the next meeting, an additional loan of $50 was sanctioned. The fair opened October 2. and during the first three days of its continuance. the weather was tint and attendance large. An encouraging number of entries was made. but on the fourth and final day. there was a falling-off. partly owing to unfavorable weather. The receipts were sufficient to extricate the society from its indebteduess, but a definite statement has not been made.

On January 18,1862, it being the time set for choice of officers, William Turner was chosen President, John Stoltz, Vice President ; J. E. Matchett, Secretary ; J. F. Bertch. Treasurer, and J. Townsend, George Shively, A. R. Doty, C. C. Walker and David Thompson, Managers. In common with every other interest and organization, the effect of the war was felt in a marked degree upon the society, and at a meeting held August 15,1862, the following preamble and resolution were adopted :

Whereas, In consequence of great excitement in military circles, our young men having mostly volunteered in the service of their country, the public mind being very much unsettled thereby,

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board it will be inexpedient to hold a fair, and that none will be holden the present season."

On December 27,1862, John E. Matchett was appointed a delegate to represent the Darke County Agricultural Society in the State Agricultural Convention, to be held in Columbus on January 7,1863. The Board met on January 31,1863, to elect officers, but, their being no electors present, adjourned sine die.

No fairs were held during the years 1862-64, but with the return of peace came a revival of agricultural interests. July 22,1865, the Board of Agriculture for Darke County met at the court house in Greenville, in response to a published call. The following resolutions were passed :

Resolved, That we hold a county fair on the old fair grounds, near town, on the 28th, 29th and 30th days of September next.

Resolved, That the Board solicit a temporary loan, by subscription, of $1,000 from the citizens of this county for the purpose of enabling it to purchase lumber. to fence the grounds preparatory to holding said fair.

Following the appointment of various committees, the meeting adjourned. At the next meeting, on August 8. the Committee on Subscription reported a collectable subscription of $1.000. The fair proved a success in all regards. There was large attendance. numerous entries, and receipts fully equaled the most sanguine expectations. The general expression of managers and people was that " Darke was herself again." and that the fair was this year, as it had been in former times, a great success. The total receipts from all sources, including loans, was $3,792.97, and there was a credit balance, after defraying all expenses, of $103.72. The The officers elect for 1866 were : President, H. B. Vail ; Vice President, John Stoltz ; Secretary, Noah Arnold, Treasurer, John E. Matchett and eight Directors, named as follows : J. Townsend, J. W. Porter. H. Bichel, M. Zich, to serve one year ; for two years, A. Gaskell, N. Arnold, G. W. Studabaker and C. C. Walker. From the 2Gth to the 29th days of September, inclusive, were fixed upon as the time for holding the next annual fair. It was resolved to make an effort to purchase grounds for the society to hold its fairs in the future," and a committee was appointed to take the matter in charge. On March 17, 1866. a proposition from Messrs. Dawes Turpen for the sale of the lot south of the railroad for $2.000. was accepted by resolution. and a committee appointed to close the contract. Report was made April 7, that the purchase had been completed of the entire tract south of the railroad for the designated sum—one-half cash in hand, the remainder in one vear. with interest at 6 per cent. The contract was at once approved, and a certificate drawn on the Treasurer for $1,000, the society having that amount of money and collaterals. At a subsequent meeting, 48,000 feet of poplar lumber was ordered to be purchased for inclosure.

Owing to bad roads and unfavorable weather, the attendance at the fair, although larger than was expected, was comparatively small, yet it was no failure in the number of entries, the quality of animals. the article shown, nor in the receipts.

The officers for 1867 were : John L. Winner, President ; H. Mills, Vice President. and the new members of the board—Moses Hart, J. E. Matchett, John Stoltz and George Ivester. The entries and attendance at the fair this year, October 2 to 5, inclusive, was the largest in the history of the society. There was fine

weather. The stock, products and articles entered were better ; the displays in floral hall, and especially in the fine arts and domestic manuthetures were particularly good ; the contest on the race course was unusually spirited, and everything passed off agreeably to all concerned.

A special meeting was called March 21. 1868, to lease additional grounds, and a committee was appointed to contract. if possible. with Isaac Rush, for five acres. On August 29, it was ordered that hereafter all gambling be excluded from the grounds. The fair for 1868 opened September 30 and closed October 3. The first day was rainy, unfavorable, with small attendance ; this continued until noon of the second day, but it cleared off in the afternoon. and from then to the close there was large attendance. The receipts were $1.775.10. The following officers-were • chosen January 9, 1S69 : D. Noggle, President ; G. W. Studabaker, Vice President. The new members of the board were J. E. Matchett, S. Shepherd, G. D. Medford and George Elston, and shortl after it was decided to fence the fair grounds. The fair began September 28. and continued four days, with favorable weather, numerous entries. a fine assemblage and good interest. The number of tickets sold on the third day, exclusive of family tickets, was 1.707. The display of fast horses drew the attention of a large crowd. On the last day, the trotting premium of $100 was won by the horse of William T. Ball. mile heats. three best in five ; time. 2:57. 2:52 and 2:51. Receipts of the fair were $2.297.85, vet a loan of $500 was required to pay off the premiums. The officers elect for 1870 were : H. Mills, President : David Noggle. Vice President new Managers were C. C. Walker. I. D. Parent, N. Arnold and J. T. Martz.

“On March 26. 1870. a committee was appointed to rent the grounds during the summer. reserving the privilege of granting the use of the track during the time, to any person or persons who may solicit the same for the training of horses, and also the privilege of permitting picnics and other public gatherings to be held thereon during the said time. At the next meeting. the conditions were modified and the grounds rented to A. H. Vandyke for $25. The society partially relinquished control of the track, but reserved the right to permit picnics, political meetings and other public gatherings to lie held on the grounds during the time of the rental. An entry fee 10 per cent on all premiums of $5 and over was ordered to be hereafter collected at the time said entries were made. and there was to be no deductions on the premiums offered. and it was further decided that any persons who might bring stock to place upon exhibition should not be permitted to pass in any one to care for or take charge of the stock. unless the admittance fee of such party had first been paid. The price of family tickets was fixed at $1 each ; single day tickets. •5 cents ; a wagon 20 cents. or good during the fair. 50 cents. The premium list was carefully considered and revised. All second prizes were fixed at half the amount of the first. except bands, which were set at $25 and $15. The premium of $15 on vocal music and $20 on cabinet of natural curiosities were stricken from the list, and $100 was borrowed to redeem outstanding orders.

On June 30. the contract for building a permanent picket fence was let to Abraham Black, the lowest bidder. Seven hundred dollars were borrowed to defray the expenses of erecting this fence, and 12 per cent was paid on this indebtedness. A committee was appointed to supervise the erection of buildings, sheds. etc., and 5,000 feet of lumber were ordered. The need of more lumber to complete improvements caused an additional debt of $150.

The fair was held during the latter clays of September. 1870. There was fine weather with dusty roads and track. There was a notable display of farm implements, and a fine turnout of blooded stock, but entries in this department were barred by inability of owners to establish pedigrees. A number of newspaper reporters and correspondents were the guests of the board on the second day from Cincinnati, Richmond and other places. It was estimated that 7.500 people were present on the third day. The receipts were $3,013.97 subsequent receipts from sale of lumber increased the amount by $586.06. The officers for 1871 were : George

D. Miller, President ; George W. Brawley, Vice President, and Managers—James Hopper. John M. Hall, Amos Hahn and George Elston. The treasury contained less than $100 in uncollected notes, accounts and cash, and $50 was borrowed to meet orders issued. On the 1st of April, 40,000 feet of lumber, dressed on one side, was ordered for roofing buildings, etc., and in July a committee was appointed, in connection with one from the Joint Stock Agricultural, Mechanical and Horticultural Association, to consult with the County Commissioners relative to the future disposal of the fair grounds. Following considerable discussion and a tie vote, the President ruled in favor of a proposition to hold a horse fair on August 18 and 19. There was $400 borrowed to apply on payment of lumber purchased.

Having included in our history of the Darke County Agricultural Society nearly every important item from its organization up to 1871, and the details during the last - - ten years being easily accessible to the general public, only a brief outline of what has transpired up to 1880 will be supplied. The fair of 1871, held early in October, was attended by a multitude of people, as many as eight to ten thousand being reported present on the second day. The officers for 1872 were H. Mills, President ; A. H. Vandyke, Vice President, and new Managers—G. D. Miller, J. T. Martz, James McCabe and N. Arnold. J. J. Martz was chosen Secretary and Amos Hahn, Treasurer. The " horse fair proposition was this year defeated. The fair for 1872 was a notable success. There were, in round numbers, twelve hundred entries, and, from sale of tickets, it was seen that 9,494 persons were on the grounds.

The election of 1873 resulted in the choice of -John M. Hall, President ; H. Mills. Vice President ; new Managers—Daniel Walker, James Hopper, Amos Hahn and I. N. Shively. The Treasurer and Secretary of the previous year were retained. In the early part of the year, the board procured the written consent of the County Commissioners to sell the fair grounds, provided they purchase other grounds with the proceeds of the sale. Soon after this, the grounds embracing 17.19 acres in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 34, Township 12, Range 2 east. were sold to J. W. Sater, and, on June 7, forty acres were bought of Messrs. O'Brien & Martz for a new ground. The price being $125 per acre. involved an outlay of $5,000, besides the no inconsiderable sum required for fencing and general improvements. The fair began September 22, continued five days and gave universal satisfaction. On the third day, it was estimated that 9.000 persons were within the inclosure, and the expression was heard that " these are the very grounds we want." The officers for 1874 were : H. Mills, President ; John M. Hall. Vice President ; new Managers—David Thompson, J. T. Martz, Arnold and McCabe. The others as before. This year the fair was held during the first days of September. Entries were being made on the first day by the Secretary and three assistants, and were continued until late at night. The crowd was very great the next day. and despite the intention to close entries at noon, the number and eagerness of the crowd to enter articles for exhibition were so great that the time was extended until the close of the day. The principal attraction of the day was the trial of speed of horses. The attendance on the third, estimated by tickets, was above 12,000 ; there were 1,000 wagons on the ground. and the sale of single tickets realized $3,604. The expression was heard that the grounds were too small. There were 1,800 entries. The racing elicited lively interest from the presence on the course of noted horses from Centerville, Urbana, and from Fort Wayne, Ind. The fourth day was clear above, but the dust was almost unendurable. Many of the finer articles of needlework, etc., on exhibition were badly soiled, and it became evident that to insure the prosperity of this department in the future. a building must be erected which should combine security of goods at night with means of protection from the dust or storm by day. The show of stock. products and implements was creditable, and the test of speed seemed to have been fairly and satisfactorily made. The final day presented the attraction of the ladies' equestrian performance. In competing for the premium of a

lady's saddle and bridle, valued at $40. there were four entries, and we would have been glad to record the one successful did we know her name. A balloon ascension failed, through no fault of the managers. The result of the fair financially was gratifying, but who can estimate the benefit derived from the commingling here and interchange of opinion of the great body of farmers. By this agency, the manufacturer was brought to acquaintance of his patrons. and premiums given by capable men, directed where the best machinery could be obtained. Step by step, a progress was made toward permanent and advantageous improvements, now evident in all parts of the county. Arrangements were made, close following the conclusion of the fair, to construct a dwelling on the grounds, to be occupied by a family whose duty it should be to take charge of the property...

The officers for 1875 were John Townsend: President ; Thomas McCowen, Vice President ; new Managers—Michael Noggle. J. C. Turpen. I. N. Shively and A. F. Koop ; Mr. Martz remained Secretary and Mr. Koop as chosen Treasurer. The fair was held somewhat later : the weather was chill and unpleasant. Few entries were made the first day, and prospects unfavorable. nor was the second day much more encouraging. but the entries were beyond hopes. and it was found necessary to keep the books open till dark. The third day was mild. pleasant and drew a crowd. Over 8.000 persons mil !too vehicles came upon the grounds. The interest centered upon the races, and bets were publicly made on the ground. the police making no effort to prevent the same. A balloon ascension took place at 3 P. M. to the full satisfaction of a gazing multitude. The descent was gradually and safely accomplished to the southern part of the old fair ground. The final day saw a diminished thronp. . awards proved satisfactory. Again public wagers were noticed—a scandal heretofore unknown to the fair—and again there was a balloon ascension. The daring aeronaut attained a great altitude, and came to the surface just east of the Elston pike near the corporation line.

The officers for 1876 were: Thomas McCowan. President ; Mr. Townsend. Vice President, and new Managers—G. W. Studabaker. Sr.. J. N. Lowry. E. Lecklider and N. M. Wilson ; J. C. Turpen now became Secretary ; Mr:hoop having resigned as Treasurer and Manager. George W. Studabaker was appointed to the former office, and H. S. York to the vacant position on the board.

Again, September came around. It had now become usual to employ the first two days in entering articles and stock for exhibition. Farm products. poultry, stock and implements were well represented. but there was a falling-off in the display of furniture.

The morning of the day was rainy, drizzling showers fell until nearly noon, and the clouds looked threatening all the day. vet there were present seven to eight thousand people. The races " drew as before. the " ascension was again a success, although twice accomplished.

The election of 1877 caused Messrs. McCowen and Townsend to exchange positions. Messrs. Shively. York. Nogrle and Tarpen were chosen managers. the Treasurer was continued, and Mr. Turpen elected Secretary. An addition was made to Floral Hall during the summer, for the disposition of plants and flowers. The fair opened with a fair representation of the several departments. The horse and the cattle stalls were nearly all rented. additional pens were required for sheep and swine, and at the fine art hall, so great was the number of plants and flowers brought in, that an addition had to be extemporized for that department also. The third or exhibition day was bright and pleasant. The gate-keepers were obliged to call for assistance. The attendance was about ten thousand, besides hundreds of vehicles. So dusty grew the ground. that the board determined to employ a sprinkler for the next day. The lair held its own as in times past in attendance and harmonious action.

Officers for 1878 were same as previous year. The pay of help was reduced 10 per cent. as follows : Chief of Police, gate-keepers and assistants of Treasurer and Secretary, each $2.25 per day : the hall committee $1.35. and a proposition

from the Greenville Band to play during the three days for $75 less thirteen or more family tickets was accepted. The annual fair began September 17. There were a great many entries, but the " district pacing race," set for the second day, failed to become an attraction. The exhibit of cattle, poultry, grain and fruits was particularly good. On the third day, at 7 A. M., the population of Darke County " and the rest of the United States " began to stream through the gates, at 25 cents a head, children under twelve years of age being free. The Secretary had asserted, and it now came true, that " this day will pass into the history of the Agricultural Society as one of the most successful in every way since its organization." Concerning the final day we quote : " 0 most inglorious day ! 0 day that made officers. managers, exhibitors and visitors, especially the horse men,' say words out of the Bible ! The rain, the rain, how- beautiful is the rain, after the dust and heat. in the crowded street and in the narrow lane,' but not under the present circumstances. It was about 10 A. M. when all were taken by surprise by the showers that began to fall most heavily. The people rapidly took their departure without waiting to hear the band play Sweet Home.' " It was the opinion of the managers that the races should not be held, but they yielded to the importunities of those who remained. The receipts from this exhibition were $4,651.44.

The officers remained practically the same in 1879, save that a new manager, S. Rynearson, was chosen, and William Sullivan appointed Secretary. The racecourse was remodeled during the summer and lengthened to a half-mile. under the supervision of C. O'Brien. Other alterations and repairs were made during the same season. The fair lasted this fall only four days. So much stock arrived on the clay previous that parties were kept busy in their proper bestowal. It had been advertised that a match trot for a purse of $200 would come otf on the opening day (September 16). and the result was an attendance of fully two thousand four hundred persons. The Secretary and assistants were busied all day and thence on to midnight making entries from memoranda supplied by exhibitors. The weather was cool during the second day ; about four thousand were present. The books were kept open'till noon, and due diligence was exercised in expediting entries, but this department was obliged to close before full record could he made. Carpenters Were engaged all day building stalls and pens, and night found considerable stock unsheltered. The races. stimulated by the surging multitude, proved very exciting. It had been announced that Gov. Bishop would deliver an agricultural address during the fair. He arrived at Greenville on the night of the 17th. and by noon of the next day, the people and vehicles gathered from all points far and near. The “grove " seemed literally packed with wagon, buggy and other conveyances, while there was a perfect jam of people in and about the various halls. The Governor came upon the ground about 11 A. M., and from the band-stand delivered a short address, congratulating the citizens of Darke County upon their rapid advance in agriculture, and their good fortune in having selected such a fertile spot for their homes.

The managers of awards had anticipated their duties, and the business progressed rapidly toward completion harmoniously. Committees on horses, cattle, sheep and hogs reported an unusually fine display in those departments ; more especially was this the case with swine. which was the finest exhibit of any heretofore made in the county. From 2 V. M., races claimed attention, and were continued until dark. Judging from the number of tickets sold, the number present was full 12,000. The morning of the final clay was clear and cold, yet some 7,000 persons were present. About 10 A. M., the removal of stock and machinery began, and by 3 P. M. was mainly completed. Three races occupied the afternoon, a 2:30 trot for a purse of 8300, the county trot and a running race for $125. Receipts of this fair were $5,681.81.

Officers for 1880 are Thomas McCowan, President ; John Townsend, Vice President ; new managers—G. W. Studabaker, N. M. Wilson, J. N. Lowry and

Ezra Leander ; the managers who ho:d over are N. S. York, Michael Noggle. S. Rvnearson and William Sullivan, who on February 3, 1880, was elected Secretary, while Mr. Studabaker continues Treasurer.

After a somewhat checkered experience financially and otherwise, that required, at times, the most prudent counsels and judicious management. as well as the hearty co-operation of friends and promoters in general. the Darke County Agricultural Society stands in the fore front of local enterprises. with a prosperous future confidently assured. Its present debt is about $1.000. the remainder of the purchase of its new and commodious grounds. embracing forty-fbur acres, located one-half mile south of the city, just at the corporation line between the Jefferson and Eaton turnpikes. The buildings, fencing and other constructions and improvements are permanent and need no immediate repair nor material increase.

In addition to the credit deservedly bestowed upon the society for efficient management, there has recently been presented a new el aim to the respect and esteem of community by an unanimous interdict of the sale of intoxicants on the fair grounds. We predict for the society a prosperous future. calculated to continue the county in its vantage ground of varied and enormous products, till by drainage. tillage and crops, the maximum shall be reached and held.

There is no subject identified with the history of Darke County so little known and..so abounding in matters of interest and value as that which treats of its rock formations. The facts stated in this chapter are drawn from the report of the Geology of Darke County, published in -Geology of Ohio.- The structural geology of the county presents us with a single rock formation, upon which rest drift deposits which vary, within the bounds of Darke, in a great degree in their thickness. In some places superficial. in others of considerable depth. A study of these deposits in their various phases will tend to aid people in their search for comfort and wealth, and will decide the pursuit or abandonment of various desirable projects. The rock upon which the drifts rest is known generally as Niagara limestone. beneath which are the series designated as paleozoic. The geologists of this region thus write : Hither the great glaciers of the north. at a very remote age, have transported and deposited all over this roily floor. in varied depths. vast quantities of clay. gravel and bowlders, on an average of 100 feet or even more. Through the action of water. or the hand of man. where there was no other impediment than a few feet of soil. in five different localities. small areas of the native rock have been exposed... Slight knowledge can he acquired of the outlines of the bed-rock, while its constituents and characters may be fully understood. This rock is of diverse texture. It has been found soft and sandy. and again crystalline in its hardness. Where it is exposed to view, it is seen unbroken and horizontal, save a single exception. In the quarries owned by Dr. Gard. a mile and a half' southwest of Greenville. between the fork of Greenville and Mud Creeks. the beds of rock are found folded, with a dip to the south and east. The layers are also seen to terminate in the contiguous drift. and may be followed short dis- tances by scattered fragments. The 'Niagara ledge was reached at a depth of ninety-five feet, by parties engaged in excavating the public cistern at the corner of Fourth Street and. Broadway. in Greenville. Though the enterprise failed in its object to secure a supply of water, yet it rendered useful knowledge in a variety of ways. This depth is placed at the minimum to reach rock in the vicinity. The quarries mentioned lie twenty-one feet below Greenville: and are. therefore, seventy- four feet above the rock underlying the town. - The same ledge crops out four and a half miles east of Greenville, at Bierlev’s. and is there eighty-nine feet above the rock at the county seat. Five miles south. at Maur’s Station, Mud Creek flows Over the horizontal limestone, showing, a still greater elevation. These observations tend to locate Greenville upon a huge drift heaped in a great glacial valley. Since

the town is elevated thirty feet above the channel of the creek, its present bed must flow over detritus sixty-five feet in depth. This deposit also points to the early junction of the two streams beneath the present site of Greenville. Strong proof is supplied by Gard's quarries, which stood a bold rocky islet, around which swept the great streams which in the remote part formed this basin.

The streams flow over their original beds in three localities within the county, for short distances : Greenville Creek at Bierley's Mud Creek at Weaver's Station and Stillwater in Wayne Township. That the excavation noticed was the work of glaciers is proved by the general horizontal position of the rock and by the smoother polished glacial striae found in the quarries. These striae bear a direction almost due south.

The superficial deposits consist of a mass of clay, sand and gravel, sometimes found in regular distinct layers, at others, heterogeneously blended. The former mark the action of water, the latter, of glacier and iceberg. There seems to be a diversity in the divisions of the deposits, as no two sections present uniform succession of parts.

Hardpan ......................................................1..................6

Total depth.................................................42.................0

The pebbles and bowlders are worn by water. The layer of blue clay is derived from melting icebergs. Surface bowlders are of greenstone, syenite, etc., while those found blended with the yellow clay were of waterlime and Niagara limestone, water-worn.

From many wells, of various depths, the following section may be taken as an acknowledged type of this region :

A noticeable feature of the drift in this locality are the sand and gravel hills which largely prevail in the county. These cairns, as they are called, are easily accessible, break the otherwise monotony of the landscape, and are nature's storehouses for the material of which the fine and numerous turnpikes have been constructed. They, also, supply abundance of building-sand, at the very places where this auxiliary is most needed.

These hill range in height from thirty to sixty feet, and are in form either conical or elongated ; the latter type is the most common to this locality. It is noted that their axes lies uniformly northwest by southeast. They most abound along a line parallel to the divide. passing from the northeast through the center of the county, to its southwestern portion. Along the railroad, between Greenville and Richmond. Ind., they are in clusters ; they may be seen isolated and in groups. Their shape and distribution indicate their origin. at right angles to the direction

of the watershed. There is a marked peculiarity between the cairns and the soil surrounding them. They are frequently met with in the midst of black bottom land, entirely distinct and dissimilar. Their composition is sand, gravel and a small quantity of intermixed yellow clay. The mass, generally yellow, is at varying intervals streaked with blue, and the presence of iron and sulphur is often perceivable from the red brown hue of the deposit. There is an absence of large bowlders, the pebbles are seen to be rounded and smoothed, and the sand and gravel are found interlocked in wedge-shaped layers. The pebbles are from one-half to three inches in diameter. Large fragments of rocks are sometimes found imbedded in the drift. Among varieties of are flint, oTanite`, shale and limestone. Wherever fossils have been discovered, they are seen to be much worn and are scarcely recognizable. A section of an isolated cairn, known as Bunker Hill. near the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, one and one-half miles southwest of Greenville, gives the following :

This hill, once fifty feet in height, has been pretty much removed. A very fine section, with well-stratified layers, showing interlocking. free from bowlders, and containing pebble of blue shale and limestone. is obtained from Hetzler's gravel pit, in Adams Township. It shows series, as follows :

Dr. Newberry speaks of these cairns as follow; “It seems that in the period of greatest submergence, the larger part of the summit of the watershed was under water, and was swept by breakers and shore waves, by which some of the beds of sand and gravel were formed which are described under the head of cairns ; and I have supposed that a considerable proportion of the materials composing these cairns or eskers was derived from icebergs standing on the shoals which now form the crest of the divide." it is theorized that, in the passes of the divide, there was depth of water sufficient to float icebergs of some size. As these stranded upon the shelving slopes of the divide, or dissolved in their slow movement southward, there was set free their immense stores of mud and gravel. The gradual upheaval of the continent made the gaps in the divide. through which volumes of water continued to pour for an indefinite period, and their eddies and other agencies united to sort and shape the successive layers.

Very many bowlders are found scattered over the surface of the county, and their origin is imputed to floating ice. Two classes differing in location are observed, one finely striated, of deep-blue color and resting on the bed-rock, the other containing ordinary drift rocks and lying within a few feet of the surface. These bowlders are first observed in the northwest part of the county, along the crest of the divide, where they were set free from the stranded icebergs. We may trace them along the line of the deepest channels of the principal streams. prominent among which was Greenville Creek. We quote. " at Bierley’s quarries, and in that vicinity, resting just above the Niagara limestone, in probably a foot or two of soil; they exist in a perfect jumble. sometimes two and three huge ones

piled up together. Up stream, they can be traced as a perfect moraine ; below, however, they are few, though, for the most part, larger." The beds of rock were evidently a barrier at this point to the further progress of the floating ice-masses. Like, though smaller, prevalence of these large bowlders is found at all exposures in the county, and gives color to the statement of quarrymen that the presence of groups of bowlders on the surface indicates the presence of the limestone at a small depth beneath.

A belt of these iceberg-moraines extends up the left bank of the creek from Bierley's quarries, pursues a direct course at a bend of the creek, crosses and follows the north side of the Greenville & Gettysburg pike, makes a circuit through neighboring fields and returns to the creek below Knouf's mill, where the bowlders have been used in the formation of a large dam, and-from this point its course is traceable toward the divide. This belt of rock was seen to advantage in the early day, upon the commons east of Greenville, before removal for building purposes. Another prominent belt of surface bowlders, three or four hundred yards in width, is seen to extend from the northern part of Van Buren Township, in a southwesterly course, crossing the Dayton & Union Railroad a few miles south of Jaysville, thence, with a bend to the southeast, through Twin Township, near Ithaca, into Preble County. Bowlders in Van Buren Township are eight to ten feet through, and there are examples where they have a diameter of twelve feet. This moraine was long regarded as impassable and untillable, but these difficulties have been overcome, and the belt produces average crops, and the rough, rocky roads are at least dry and lasting. While the peat-alluvium of this region was in process of formation, the sedgy and marshy banks of the small lakes—now peat-bogs—were haunted by the mammoth and the mastodon, whose remains are almost annually found in different parts of the county. The remains of a mastodon and an almost perfect skeleton of a mammoth. found in the peat deposits of Mud Creek Prairie, are part of the collection of Dr. G. Miesse, of Greenville. A fine tusk of a mastodon was found in the northern part of the county, and the tooth of a mammoth was picked up in the creek-bottom north of Versailles. Parts of the skeletons of nearly a score of those huge creatures have been discovered in as many years.

" The geology of Darke County is pre-eminently that of the drift, but one rock formation being exposed within its entire borders. This formation belongs to the upper series of the Niagara group, known as the Guelph or Cedarville beds. It is supposed to be identical with the Le Claire of Iowa, the Racine of Wisconsin and the Guelph of Canada, from which it takes its name. Although there are but five exposures. there is no doubt but that these beds compose the entire rock surface. It was formerly thought by some members of the survey that the water-lime extended into the northern part of the county. This might have been highly probable before the glacial epoch, but, being evidently superficial, must have been removed during that period of erosion.

The Guelph rocks are most extensively laid bare along Greenville Creek and at the quarries of Bierley, Hershey and Roesser, in the southwest quarter of Section 27. Adams Township. They form the bed of the creek here for a quarter-mile or more. The quarries are situated in the bottom of the valley or ravine, and are covered with about two feet of dark red clay or loam, mingled with the decomposed lime-rock and strewn with heaps of large drift bowlders. The banks are twenty to thirty feet in height, and composed of yellow clay and hardpaV. The beds of limestone here appear perfectly horizontal, having been deposited (a4„hown by the character of the rock) in a quiet, shallow sea, and having witnessed little disturbance and no subsequent upheaval. A section of ten or twelve feet can be observed at the quarries, bearing about the same features as the Guelph bed generally, viz.. of a light buff color, porous or spongy and fragile. The upper portion, in particular, is so fragile or sandy as to crumble up like chalk, and is composed almost entirely of crinoidal stems. No regular planes of stratification

appear, the rock breaking into thin, irregular slabs. Lower down, this formation is of a darker yellow color, firm, massive, and contains innumerable fine casts of crinoidea.

A second exposure of this formation occurs at the quarries of Dr. I. N. Gard, southeast quarter Section 33, Greenville Township. The beds are worked in two places, known as the old and new quarries, and lie about fifty yards apart. In appearance the rock does not differ materially from that at Bierley's, but it is much harder and totally different in fossil contents, two or three species only being common to both. The upper stratum is especially to be noticed as being of a compact crystalline structure, and also considerably folded. Moreover, it shows a perceptible dlip toward the south and east. The section is as follows:

Dark-red clay, very compact, calcareous and interspersed with many limestone pebbles 2 0

crystalline; few fossils, but well preserved ; glacial strike south, 5̊ west, 2 9

The beds are again exposed just below the mill at Webster, in the southwest quarter-of Section 32, Wayne Township. A section of between four and five feet is revealed on the right bank of the Stillwater, where its waters have worn down to its original bed. The rock here is very nearly identical in character with that in Greenville Township. Its hardness is sufficient for building purposes, but it would be impracticable to attempt a quarry from the massive. irregular character of the limestone. It is easy of access and might be quarried to be manufactured into lime. The creek bank above the rock consists of three or four feet of dark red-colored clay, which is greatly calcareous. Beneath this clay several sulphur springs flow out from the surface of the rock into the creek.

Again, near Weaver's Station, on the southeast quarter of Section 29, Neave Township, a surface of limestone is revealed along the bed of Mud Creek for some one hundred and fifty yards. The rock here diffèrs but slightly from the other exposures noticed. The stone is plainly laminated, breaking out in thin irregular flags ; very sandy in texture, and mostly of a buff color, and in patches bearing a close resemblance to red sandst)ne. Experiments demonstrate that the lighter colored stone produces a fine quality of lime, while the red in color is said to. become hard from heating. This may have been the result of imperfect burning. Stones used in the foundation of a mill in the immediate vicinity were taken from the creek, but they are not hard enough for purposes of building! A peculiar feature is the absence not only of fossils but traces of them.

The only other exposure is on the northwest quarter of Section 24, near New Madison, Harrison Township, where a lime-kiln was formerly carried on by C. B. Northrup.' A section six to eight feet deep and much worn is visible, showing the same general features elsewhere noted. Prof. Orton gives the Niagara rock a thickness of twenty feet at Hillsboro, Ohio, and of forty-two feet at Springfield. and an estimate of its depth in Darke County would place it between twenty and thirty feet.

Worthless as this limestone is found for building or even flagging, it is valuable for the fine character of the lime it produces. This lime is strong, very white, gni unexcelled within the State. Its superiority has been recognized, and it finds a constant demand in markets near and 'Pore distant. An analysis of this rock by Dr. Wormley, of the survey, shows it to consist of 50.11 per cent of Garb fate Of magnesia. This high percentage is attributed by Prof Orton to the long- continued presence of carbonated water, but at Gard's quarries the rock shows 45:72 percentage of magnesia.

	Bierly's quarry	Gard's quarry	Northrup's quarry
Carbonate of lime	44.60	51.30	51.70
Carbonate of magnesia	50.11	45.72	45.26
Silica, iron and alumina	4.60	2.20	2.70
Totals	99.31	99.22	99.66

The specific gravity of the first is 2.452, as shown by Prof. Mendenhall. While the supply of material for lime is inexhaustible and kilns will be built at accessible points. and this industry expanded and increased, the surface clay affords good facilities for the manufacture of brick and tile, and a number of manufactories are carried on to advantage in different parts of the county. A summary shows that the rock formations of the county furnish excellent lime, and contain the elements of a soil's renewal, and are a source of a highly valuable - industry.