150 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. a history of Ohio which was only partially printed when he suddenly died broken-hearted over the disaster that seemed to follow his effort to have his work published. The materials collected by him for his work after years of patient industry and trial, with the plates and proof sheets, were twice destroyed by fire, leaving him stranded in his affliction, until death relieved him of the burden of all his care, and, gave his tired spirit rest. Hugh McNicols, a young man of great promise as a writer and author, died early in life of consumption. Rev. J. W. Klise has contributed to religious literature by writing "Christ Rejected" and "Is Christianity a Superstition ?" Hillsboro, as a business center, extends her influence far beyond the boundary of county lines. Her wholesale houses send out "drummers" in every direction, and the mammoth wholesale grocery establishment of the McKeehan–Hiestand company supply hundreds of customers beyond the county lines, at better prices than could be obtained in Cincinnati about seventy miles away. Her railroad facilities are excellent. The Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern and the Norfolk and Western competing lines make freight rates low, and passenger traffic swift and easy to all points. The educational advantages of the county seat are unrivalled. The fraternal orders of Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Royal Arcanum, Grand Army, Sons of Veterans, Woman's Relief Corps, are each represented by organizations. Bell's Opera House is a dream of beauty, handsome without and elegant within, with seating capacity of one thousand. As we have introduced the name of Bell as the builder and owner of the Opera House it might be well to notice in this connection the vast industry of which he is originator and head. It is a fact that Bell's foundry turns out more bells of every description. and kind than any other factory in the United States. Mr. C. S. Bell started the foundry business in a humble way in 1858 which steadily grew in size and importance until between two and three hundred men are given employment at his extensive establishment. Mr. Charles Bell, his son, and L. Boyd, his son-in-law, are associated with him in the business and the firm is without a rival in the county in wealth, integrity and benefactions. Church bells are made a specialty, and in size, quality and tone have gained a reputation as enviable as it is merited. Bells made of steel alloy by this company sound their praise in every clime, and call the devout of every nation to the consecrated place of worship. "Bells—bells! They are calling us forever' from the sordid levels to higher, nobler things. Kindly they mingle with our thoughts of the past, and on quivering wings waft our willing souls to realms of future bliss." HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 151 GREENFIELD. Greenfield, the second largest town in Highland county, is beautifully located on the banks of historic Paint creek, and on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern and the Ohio Southern railroads. It was laid out in 1791 and named by Gen. Duncan McArthur. The first postoffice in this vicinity was established in 1810. At this writing Greenfield has a population of some four thousand, and her steady growth and public spirit is sure to make her a city of no mean proportions in the near future. Her citizens may well be proud of the progress made in the last decade, and the quick response of the people of the town to every new enterprise is bound to make her before many years the leading town in the county in manufacturing and business enterprise and doubtless in population. Greenfield was incorporated in 1841, and the first mayor elected was Hugh Smart, one of the most prominent men of the county. He came to Greenfield in 1824 from his native county of Washington, Pa., and at once opened a store, with William Hibben as a partner, and he continued in commercial life until 1860. In 1827 Charles Bell, a native of Virginia, began another store, and the two, Bell and Smart, were for a long time the chief men of northeastern Highland, in commercial enterprise. For many years they traveled on horseback to Philadelphia, to buy goods, which were shipped by boat to Ripley, and thence by wagon to Greenfield. Associated with Mayor Smart in the first municipal government of Greenfield were Clay-bourne Lea, John Boyd, Samuel Smith, Charles Robinson, John Eckman, councilmen; James Beard, recorder, and Jerry Watson, marshal. At the platting of the village, a lot was reserved for a courthouse, and upon this, on June 24, 1875, the corner stone was laid of the town hall, which was dedicated August 8, 1876. The coming of a railroad, about fifty years ago, made a great change in conditions. The rivalries that grew up at the time of this improvement are noted elsewhere in this chapter. It is to be remembered that ground was first broken for the railroad connecting Greenfield with the east and west March 2, 1851, Charles White, a veteran of the Revolution, putting in the first shovel, and the first regular passenger train went over the road May 1, 1854. Since then Greenfield has also been connected with the Jackson coal field, and Columbus and the great lakes by the Detroit & Southern railroad. The result has been a rapid development of population and manufacturing, as noted on another page. An important feature for many years in the affairs of Greenfield was the annual fair under the auspices of the Greenfield district fair association, which was organized in July, 1858, by citizens of Ross and Highland counties. The first fair was held in 1858, and the meetings were for a long time quite successful. 152 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. LYNCHBURG. A man by the name of Botts, from Lynchburg, Va., first owned the land where Lynchburg now stands. He sold out to John Morrow and others. The first settlement made in the vicinity of Lynchburg was by William Spickard, David Hays, and William Smith in 1806. In 1820 Lynchburg contained some six or seven houses, and then received the name it now bears, being named by settlers who came from Lynchburg, Va., or from near that place, the Hundleys, Dudleys, and Botts doubtless giving it the name. It was laid out as a town in 1832. The first enlargement of the town was the Haines addition and the second the Hundley and Collins addition. The village was incorporated in 1854, Sinclair Liggett the first mayor. As the forests were cleared away and some of the land drained, this locality became an agricultural section and good crops of corn and wheat were raised. The market for their surplus was Manchester or Cincinnati. The first school house in Lynchburg was a little square log building which stood just opposite of J. W. Peale's home. There were two churches in Lynchburg very early in its history, Methodist Episcopal and Christian. There were two stores, one kept by Wyatt Hundley and the other by Squire Sinclair Liggett. A blacksmith shop, and a water-power grist mill near where the distillery now stands, and a hotel kept by Squire Liggett completed the business, moral and intellectual conditions of Lynchburg at that time. In December, 1841, Rev. G. R. Jones, the preacher in charge of the Batavia circuit, to which the church at Lynchburg was included, concluded to build a new church and appointed a board of trustees for that purpose. This church was erected in the year 1842 and an entry made in the church record shows that it was paid for in full. An effort in 1854 to build a new church proved unsuccessful. The church "pews" were only slabs supported by four legs. The ladies pieced a fancy quilt and sold it to Henry Pegan for making and putting up the pulpit. Dr. Spees and others hauled the logs to the sawmill and had the lumber cut from which the first plank seats were made—the straightback "box" seat. No blinds were at the windows, no carpet on the floor. The church for several years had no chairs. Mrs. Judge Torrey donated two of her only set of chairs. In 1846, just fifty-six years ago, the Methodist church had ninety members, but of that early membership but few if any remain to tell the struggle of those early years. In June, 1868, the lot on which the present building stands, was purchased from the village of Lynchburg for thirty-five dollars, the village, however, reserving 20x20 feet on the northwest corner for a calaboose. The contract to remain in force and hold good, stipulated that the church house must be built within eighteen HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 153 months from the date of the contract. The church was completed in 1869. The original cost was some three thousand dollars. In 1851 it was concluded by the members of the Christian church that their building was too near the railroad and a new church was built near the present neat brick structure, which was erected in 1887 at a cost of $4,000. In 1848 the village of Lynchburg had increased in size to thirty-two dwelling houses. In 1851 the Marietta railroad was surveyed through Lynchburg and in 1852 completed to that point and the next year to Hillsboro. In 1857 the distillery was built by Berryhill & Bowen and within a year or two by Freiberg & Workum, the present owners, who had an interest in the plant. The capacity at that time was one hundred bushels per day; it now has a capacity of twelve hundred and fifty bushels daily. The growth of Lynchburg has been continuous since the close. of the rebellion. The town now numbers some one thousand people, is the third town in the county and second to none in intelligence and prosperity. GROWTH OF POPULATION. The first United States census taken in Highland county was in 1810. This showed a population of 5,766 in the county, then but five years old as a separate organization. The growth was rapid during the next thirty years, especially after the close of the war with Great Britain in 1815, and the enumeration was 12,308 in 1820, 16,345 in 1830, and 22,269 in 1840. Since then the increase has been comparatively slow, nothing to rival the rapid growth of the earlier decades. The enumerations of the successive periods have been as follows: year 1850, population 25,781; year 1860, 27,773; year 1870, 29,133; year 1880, 30,281; year 1890,. 29,048; year 1900, 30,982. • The census of 1900 showed the following totals for the townships, including the villages: Brush Creek, 1,714; Clay, 1,315; Concord, 1,097; Dodson, 1,975; Fairfield, 2,342; Hamer, 918; Jackson, 912; Liberty, 6,311; Madison, 5,167; Marshall, 740; New Market, 990; Paint, 2,226; Penn, 1,154; Salem, 869; Union, 1,139; Washington, 885; White Oak, 1,228. Total for the county, 30,982. The population of villages, according to the same census, is as follows: Hillsboro, 4,535; Greenfield, 3,979 ; Lynchburg, 907; Leesburg, 783; New Lexington, 265; Sinking Spring, 238. Others are not given. As compared with the census of 1890 some townships made gains, generally on account of growth ix the towns, while other townships, exclusively agricultural, showed losses, a common phenomenon in all the older states of the Union. It is gratifying that all the towns 154 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND.   show a healthy- growth. Greenfield leads with an increase of about 1,500, while Hillsboro is larger than in 1890 by nearly a thousand. NEWSPAPERS. Seven newspapers are published in Highland county, three in Hillsboro, the News-Herald, Gazette and Despatch two in Greenfield, the Greenfield Journal and the Republican one in Leesburg, and one in Lynchburg. Estimating the average number of subscribers at one thousand each, and counting three members of the family for each subscriber we have twenty-one thousand newspaper readers in a population of about thirty thousand in the county, which speaks well for the intelligence of our people. This is a very low estimate, as the papers in Hillsboro and Greenfield have a large list of subscribers. John L. Strange, is one of the members of the board of county examiners, and the editor of the Greenfield Journal, which with the other papers of the county has advocated high school education as a necessity in the educational advance of the county. Col. George W. Barrere, editor and proprietor of the News—Herald, is a native of Highland county, born November 19, 1831, on the same day as the lamented Garfield. He was educated in the common schools of the county and began his career in the practice of dentistry. On September 30, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixtieth regiment Ohio infantry and became first lieutenant of Company A. This regiment was mustered for a year but served for fifteen months. Subsequently Mr. Barrere went out as lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth. After the war he engaged in the grocery business. He bought of J. L. Boardman an interest in the. Highland News, 1884. In the following year he bought out the entire plant and also the Hillsboro Herald, consolidating the two concerns. The combinations of the two excellent rival plants resulted in a magnificent printing office, which has been greatly improved as the years went by. The Highland News was established in 1837. It is Republican in politics and has been a fearless defender of every principle of moral reform in the interest of religion and good government. The Hillsboro Gazette began its career as a county paper on the 18th. of June, 1818, and was the first newspaper of any kind published in the county. A young man, a printer, by the name of Moses Carothers, came to Hillsboro from Martinsburg, Virginia, where he had served a faithful apprenticeship in the office of John Alburtis, editor of the Martinsburg Gazette, The county being without a newspaper the good people of the county were compelled to get their news from a few stray copies of the Scioto and Cincinnati Gazettes, and now and then copies of Niles' Register. This young man caught the inspiration that here was an opening for a HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 155 printing office and newspaper venture. He met with prompt encouragement from the people and his subscription list contained five hundred names, before the outfit was purchased. In the spring of 1818 Capt. Cary A. Trimble purchased for him in Philadelphia all the needed material to fit up a printing office, and as we have said, on June 18th of that year the first copy of the "Hillsboro Gazette and Highland Advertiser" appeared. It was not only the first newspaper published in the place, but the first newspaper printed in Southern Ohio outside of Cincinnati and Chillicothe. Carothers was a strong believer in the doctrines of Jefferson, which have moulded and shaped the political character of the paper ever since. The publication of this paper in the town of Hillsboro established its reputation as a. literary center which has clung to it through all these years. While the sheet was not large, 18x22 inches, printed on coarse newspaper and with large type, it was such an evidence of progress and intelligence that its effect was felt and prized all over the county and its success was assured from the very start. While Carothers was a. writer of some ability himself he was assisted by voluntary contributions from a number of persons, principally young men of more than ordinary literary ability, and the conduct of the paper under the management of Carothers sustained the promise that it gave upon its first issue. The paper was run under his control fourteen years, when William Allen bought it. Allen was followed by Col. William Keys, who in a short time sold to Dr. Jacob Kirby and Col. Moses H. Kirby. Upon the election of Mr. Kirby to the office of secretary of state his interests were sold to Hiram Campbell. Following these came Jonas R. Emrie, 1839. Mr. Emrie was not only a practical ,printer, a good writer, but an astute politician, far above the average. Under his management the paper was enlarged and gained so much in popularity, and patronage that it took rank as the best county paper in the state. It was during the management of Emrie that the first railroad was built to Hillsboro, and the public school system of the state was adopted. The Gazette earnestly advocated both measures and its editor was a member of the first board of education of the Union schools of Hillsboro. Emrie was also the first probate judge of Highland county. In 1856 Hon. John G. Doren became its editor ; in 1860, Henry S. Doggett. Following Doggett came Samuel Pike who was a very bitter partisan, and advocated the "peace policy" with such vigor and bitterness as to be menaced with serious trouble by the soldiers of Camp Mitchell. In 1863 Pike sold the Gazette to William H. Murdnell, a State Rights Democrat of the most extreme views. Murnell removed the office and paper to Cincinnati, and Colonel Pike brought his printing establishment from Leesburg to Hillsboro and continued to publish the paper under the name of Gazette. Next Maley and 156 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. Marshall bought the plant. In 1872 J. C. Springer & Co. were the proprietors. At Springer's death Marshall, who was Springer's partner, took charge of the paper. Soon after this a one-half interest was sold to R. L. Hough, until 1883, when Judge R. M. Ditty purchased Marshall's interest, and the Gazette became the property of Hough & Ditty, under whose control it has remained up to the present date. Since January 1, 1884, A. E. Hough has been the editor and bookkeeper of the paper. The paper has been twice enlarged under his administration. First, from an eight-column folio to a six-column quarto, and again to a seven-column quarto, its present size. Few newspapers have had such a long and eventful career as the Gazette, now in its eighty-fourth volume. It was incorporated in 1890 with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars fully paid up. Many and varied have been the competitors of the Gazette, of all sizes and numerous titles, but through all the years. the paper has held on its Democratic way, enjoying the confidence -and support of its party, and hundreds of citizens of the other party or parties, to whom it has come like a memory of the olden time, filled with pictured faces of the loved and lost of all the years. The Hillsboro Despatch, a first-class newspaper of strong Republican proclivities, was started by Tomlinson, the life-long writer and political editor, who succeeded in making a paper of good report and large circulation and after running it for two years sold out his entire outfit to Mr. Workman, a young man of energy, who is quite successful. The Journal and Republican of Greenfield, Democratic and Republican journals, are of a high grade of newspapers and, fill the needs in the progressive and rapidly enlarging city of Greenfield. THE CRUSADES. There were aggressive anti-saloon movements in the county as early as 1829-30, the free manufacture and use of intoxicants having for some time excited the apprehension of good citizens. It soon followed that the private industry of distilling whisky from corn came under the ban. But the early efforts to restrain the traffic in whisky excited strong opposition, and there was much vindictive feeling. To such a cause was ascribed the burning of the Leesburg store of Senator Buel Beeson, in 1848. Rev. Samuel Crothers, one of the most prominent men of Greenfield and the county, was a leader in this early movement, and James and William Dickey, ancestors of a notable family, were among his warmest supporters. At the village of Priceton in 1848 there were three saloons, and the opposition to them, led by Hiram J. Harris, took the form of a proposition to buy the stock and empty it in the street, if the dealers would go out of HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 157 business. Two assented to this, but the third was defiant, and a party of men was organized that visited this saloon, broke in the door and destroyed the liquid contents. The proprietor instituted a prosecution and thirty-two citizens were arrested. Next morning they started out on foot marshalled by the sheriff of the county, and visited two justices of the peace, but were discharged for want of prosecution. This forcible demonstration of public opinion in a small settlement put an effectual stop to the traffic there. In September, 1864, a young man of high character, William Blackburn, son of John S. Blackburn, was killed, while passing in front of a saloon in Greenfield, by a stray bullet from some drunken brawler inside. This and other aggravating happenings, due to the reckless sale of intoxicants and the use of saloons as the gathering place of disorderly characters, resulted in the first women's crusade in. Highland county, perhaps in the State. On July 10, 1865, there was a gathering of Greenfield ladies at the African church, which was a common place of meeting, and at its close the ladies marched down street, presenting to the dealers in liquor this ultimatum: "Resolved, That the ladies of Greenfield are determined to suppress the liquor traffic in their midst. We demand your liquors and give you fifteen minutes to comply with our request or abide the consequences." There was no undue excitement until the saloon was reached where Blackburn had lost his life. Then when the ladies were massed about the door, giving their notice of warfare, surrounded by a considerable crowd of men attracted by the novel proceeding, a voice was heard, "Here's where the whisky was sold that killed my son." In a moment of uncontrollable excitement the ladies pushed into the saloon, hatchets and axes suddenly appeared, and were passed in from the crowd, and in a few minutes the saloon was wrecked and the whisky and other liquors were flowing to waste in the street. After this a drug stare was forced open, the proprietor looking on from a safe' distance and the liquors emptied into the gutter and other places suffered the same violence, six drug stores and saloons being visited and all the intoxicants they contained destroyed so far as they could'be discovered. Mayor John Eckman read the riot act while this was going on, but he had no opportunity to enforce his authority, if he could have found a posse to do so. A few days later one of the liquor dealers caused the arrest of a large number of men and ladies accused of taking part in 'this raid, and after a preliminary hearing the matter went before the grand jury, but the latter body ignored the information. Then suit was brought for damages, and there was a famous trial at Hillsboro, in January, 1867, with the parties represented by. Attorneys Sloan, Briggs, Dickey, Steel, and W. H. Irwin, of Highland county, and Mills Gardner and Senator Stanley Matthews. The jury returned a verdict after eighteen hours, deliberation, in favor of the saloonkeeper, fixing his damages at $625. 158 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. Subsequently this and other cases were settled without further litigation. Other methods were adopted in the Women's Crusade inaugurated in. Hillsboro in 1873. Howe, in his sketch of Highland county, says of this temperance movement that it was "the most remarkable movement against intemperance in the history of the world. Unique in its methods, widespread in its results ; and although a failure, as regards its direct purpose, nevertheless it accomplished much good, and advanced public sentiment toward the reformation of the evils of the vice of intemperance." This crusade against the liquor traffic had its origin in an address delivered by Dr. Dio Lewis in Music Hall before a large audience December 23, 1873. Dr. Lewis graphically portrayed the misery of his childhood home, due to an intemperate father. In the New York village where his father resided many of the fathers were intemperate, and as a consequence many wives were heartbroken, and many children cheated of the heritage of joy and gladness of their childhood days. These women driven to desperation by the neglect of their husbands and the fathers of their children, started a movement to suppress the traffic, in which all the women of the time joined. These women, the Doctor said, met in the village church and appealed to God. to help them in their undertaking; and kneeling before his sacred altar solemnly pledged themselves to persevere until victory was won. This movement was successful, and the sale of intoxicating liquors was suppressed in that village. An appeal was made to the Christian women of Hillsboro to do likewise, and when a call was made for those who were willing to undertake the, enterprise to stand up, some fifty women arose in the congregation and pledged themselves to engage in this combat against the traffic in rum. A committee of the leading business men of the town was organized that night to assist the cause. The morning after a meeting was held in the Presbyterian church. Addresses were made by all of the pastors present, and Col. W. H. Trimble, Hon. S. E. Hibben, and Judge Matthews. The ladies all signed a solemn compact as follows : "By God's help we will stand by each other in this work, and persevere until it is accomplished, and see to it, as far as our influence goes, that the traffic shall not be revived." On Christmas morning at about nine o'clock one hundred and fifteen women, having perfected their organization, started from the Presbyterian church, making their first visit to the drug stores. There were at that time four drug stores in the town. Of these four, two signed the pledge at the first visitation, J. J. Brown and Seybert & Isamenn, while another promised to sell only on prescription, while the fourth, H. H. Dunn, refused any dictation whatever. Of the eleven saloons visited that day none could be induced to stop selling, and the fight was continued for long, weary weeks. A committee of visitation had been appointed to see Mr. Dunn and others the first day of the cru- HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 159 sade, and the next morning Mr. Dunn sent the women the following communication : "Ladies, in compliance with my agreement, I give you this promise, that in the sale of intoxicating liquors I will comply with the law; nor will I sell to any one whose father, mother, wife or daughter sends me a written request not to make such sales." Mr. Dunn was a man of fine appearance, and of a frank and generous disposition) and the people were greatly surprised at his stubborn resistance to the pleadings and prayers of the women, but he would not and did not yield, while for days his drug store remained closed to all business, no customers having the courage to break through the praying band of wives and mothers that knelt upon the pavement in the cold of a winter day before his. front door. The scenes are thus described by a reporter sent by the Cincinnati Commercial to investigate the uprising: "However bitter the cold or piercing the wind, these-women could be' seen at almost every hour of the day, kneeling on the cold flagstones before this store. In the midst, with voice raised in earnest prayer, is the daughter of a former governor of Ohio. Surrounding her are the wives and daughters of statesmen, lawyers, bankers, physicians, and business men, representatives from almost all the households of the place. Prayer ended, the women rise from their knees and begin in a sweet, low voice some sweet and familiar hymn that brings back to the heart of the looker on the long forgotten influence of childhood. Tears may be seen in the eyes of red-nosed and hard-hearted men, supposed to be long past feeling. Those passing by would lift their hats and tread softly till out of hearing." When we recall the facts as they come under our own observation, our own heart feels the warm pulsations and our lips murmur a low thank God for the pure souled Christian women who had the courage to do and dare in a cause they knew to be right, however much the method of their doing might be criticized. Once while standing by a friend watching this praying band I said to him, "Furg, do you think the women will succeed ?" His answer was, "I pray God that they may; it is my only hope." He died that same night, though strong and well when we had the' talk. Many amusing incidents occurred when young men were caught in the saloons by the praying women, among whom some young man would see his mother, sister or sweetheart, and the desperate effort made to escape without being seen would excite the mirth of the' lookers on. The following graphic description is given by one of the young bloods that was present when a saloon was suddenly invaded by the crusaders: "We fellows had just lined up at the bar for a few drinks all round ; we had cigars ready to light and the beer and whisky had been poured, when the soft rustle of •a woman's dress caught. our ear, and looking up we thought a crowd of a thousand women were charging down upon us. One of the fellows saw his mother and sisters ; another had two cousins in the crowd, and alas ! another saw the grim form of his 160 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND future mother-in-law. Had the invisible prince of pantomime touched us with his magic wand, converting us all to statues, the tableau would not have been more impressive. We stood for fully a minute as if turned to stone. Then a slight motion was evident, and lager beer and brandy smash descended slowly to the counter, while cigars dropped unlighted from nerveless fingers. Just then the women started to sing, "0 do not be discouraged, for Jesus is your friend." We made our escape while the singing was in progress, scared out of a year's growth." Mr. Dunn gave notice to the ladies, addressing some thirty by name with about an equal number of men, warning them that further interference with his business would bring upon them a suit of law for damage and trespass. No notice was taken of this warning, but the women had erected before Dunn's place of business a small building of plank and canvass called a "Tabernacle." There they continued their efforts. Dunn applied to the court, and Judge Safford issued an injunction and the tabernacle was quietly taken down that night. The trial of this case called into action high legal talent of the State. It was a long and bitter contest, lasting until May, 1875, when a decision in favor of Dunn for five dollars damage was rendered. An appeal was taken from this judgment to the supreme court, but the case was finally settled by compromise and never came to trial. Thus ended the emotional wave of temperance reform that at one time assumed such large proportions and was thought by the sanguine would sweep the demon in temperance out of existence. But the liquor traffic still continues, entrenched within the lines of our social system, and upheld, not only by the patronage of the drinker, but by the political and legal conditions that foster and protect it. It is not a question of sentiment but of fact, and must take its place with those other evils with which society is forced to contend almost without remedy and without relief. In this crusade the ladies of Greenfield also participated, beginning their work January 13, 1874, and keeping up their visits for a considerable time, with the result of closing several saloons and considerably restricting the sales of intoxicants. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The completion of one hundred years of American Independence in 1876, was celebrated in the county of Highland with great pomp and ceremony. On July 4th Hillsboro was crowded from far and near with people of every age, condition and color flags were flying, bands playing, cannons roaring, and every demonstration of joy and gladness was evident. By eight o'clock the streets were thronged with conveyances and people, so that it was impossible to form the procession provided for by the committee. The crowds were urged HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 161 to go to the fair grounds where there would be room and shade. Some effort was made to form a procession, which was at last accomplished, and the line was at least one mile and a half long, containing from five to seven thousand people. Flags and banners, log cabins and pioneer relics, and every device that would make clear the object and purpose of the day, or express in any way the patriotic sentiment of American hearts, were to be found in this long column of people marching, riding, driving in wagons, buggies, houses on wheels, flatboats, canoes, rafts, and contrivances of every variety, description and kind, all bent on making as much noise as possible themselves and enjoying that made by others. Dr. David Noble was president of the day. His eloquent address of welcome we cannot reproduce in full, but cannot forbear a few quotations from the lips of this patriotic Irishman, now mute in the dust, speechless on earth forever. "We do not meet today as Democrats or as Republicans or as partisans of any political school," he said, "or as adherents of any particular sect or creed, nor for the purpose of advancing the claims of any political aspirant to position or place, or with the design of discussing any of the political issues of the hour, or to say what shall or shall not be the policy of our government, or whether the dominant party shall adopt a soft or hard financial basis; but we have met for a far higher, holier, nobler purpose, for the purpose of laying our past differences, prejudices and predilections on the altar of our country, and renewing our, covenant faith with each other and our allegiance to our government, and striking hands as brothers, and praying the God of our fathers that we may be worthy to transmit to coming generations that heaven-born boon of liberty.which has been vouchsafed to us, and that peace and harmony may prevail among all our people, and that every heart may respond to the memorable sentiment, 'Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.' My countrymen, and I use that term in its broadest and best sense, we have met together on this grand centennial year, on this the natal day of American Independence, and with forty-three millions of freemen, from the Adirondacks on the north to the Gulf on the south, from the rock-bound coast of the Atlantic to the golden sands of the Pacific, let there arise this day one long, loud, joyous centennial shout of freedom, so that the listening nations of the despotic old world, catching the sound, will, like us, resolve to be free." At the conclusion of the address of welcome, the vice-presidents selected from the different townships were called to the stand. After the singing of the national hymn, "America," the president of the day announced the reading of the declaration of independence. The reader, he said, was a gentleman who needed no introduction at his hands. He was known personally to nearly all the county, and by reputation all over southern Ohio, having served the people faith H-11 162 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND   fully as a legislator in the state senate; and not onlythat capacitycity, but in many other important public trusts which have been reposed in him by the citizens of the county. It might not be known that he read the immortal declaration fifty years before, in 1826, at yonder court house. lion. Samuel Hibben was then introduced to the vast audience, who cheered and cheered again and again the pioneer father, who had passed the three score and ten milestone of life's journey and stood leaning on his cane, while the tears of love and friendship furrowed his cheeks. Mr. Hibben did not read the declaration himself, but had selected Edward Sloan to read it for him, which was done in a masterly manner by this cultured and brilliant young man. Mr. Hibben did, however, make some remarks before introducing Mr. Sloan, which were gems of truth and beauty. The aged lips have long been silent in the hush of death, but we can recall how our own heart throbbed in loving tenderness as we listened to that tremulous voice. Hon. Henry. L. Dickey, of Greenfield, the orator of the day, was then introduced, and in most graphic and elegant way gave a history of the mighty struggle that made us free. Judge James H. Thompson had been selected as historian for this event. In alluding to the sketch of county history that the President had recommended the preparation of, Mr. Thompson said that he found it very difficult to ascertain all the legends connected with the first settlement of the county, and that so far as his research had extended he found the settlements as various in their origin as were the springs and streams for which the county was characterized. However, the origin of such settlements may have been, nevertheless, the Scotch—Irish and Irish blood intermingled, in some parts of the county, with the Dutch or German blood, constituted more than nine-tenths of the population ; and that as song and poetry had always characterized the blood of these nations, he did not think that any one ought to describe and fix by the permanent record of history the tastes and habits of such peoples, unless he were fully inspired by the music of the one or the poetry of the other. Not claiming either of these accomplishments, and believing that united with the English or Anglo—Saxon bloods, that these races would finally control all the civilization and general policy of the world. He would, therefore, leave to such advisers as had been named the permanent history of the races that peopled the fertile plains and wooded hills of Highland county. It is very unfortunate that the men appointed at that time did not go to work seriously to collect material for a good history of the county, while the inspiration of the great Centennial day was upon them. But they allowed their ardor to cool, and soon the aged men that had long been identified with the early scenes of county history dropped out of the ranks of the living, leaving no record of events that came under their observation, and were matters of HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 163 experience. Hibben, Noble, Col. Collins, Thompson, Wickersham, Joseph W. Spargur, Henry Wilkin, Judge Wm. Morrow, R. Beeson, George Gilmore, Abraham Hurst, W. H. Glenn, W. H. Woodrow, John L. Hughes, M. M. Barrere, Thomas Higgins, Sampson Renoe, men appointed by the resolution, have all passed over into the unseen land, and of the living members of that band but few remain to tell the story of that natal day. Hon, H. L. Dickey, the orator, still lives in his elegant home in Greenfield, a polished gentleman who in the Congress of the United States faithfully guarded the interests of the good people of Highland, his native county and home. There was but one 'sad incident to mar the pleasure of the Centennial day. Esquire Haigh had come to Hillsboro with his family to enjoy the celebration, when he was suddenly attacked by hemorrhage of the lungs, and died in spite of all medical aid. An original ode by Mary O'Donoghu was received but not in time to be read. Its great length prevents its publication in this sketch, but the poem was beautifully written, and the fair authoress received a vote of thanks from the committee. FINANCIAL MATTERS In Highland county the general valuation of the taxable property is about sixteen million dollars, or five hundred dollars for every man, woman and child. There was a time, in the early history of the county, when coon skins and the pelts of wild cats were the basis of our monetary system. Such a system would ;scarcely meet the requirements of trade in 1902. We might picture a scene of that kind which would vastly amuse the sleek bank clerk of the present day, when gold and silver and crisp new bank bills pass and repass over the marble counter of our city banks. Imagine the well-to-do farmer of 1902 walking up High or Main street, laden down with coon, skunk and muskrat skins, "handing them out by the tails like codfish" in exchange for sugar, tea and coffee and other needed luxuries in his far away rural home. Or fancy him paying his taxes in this way into the vault, built like, a barn on the outside of the treasurer's office, until the redolent money would fill the building and the air with its conscious presence everywhere. Progress brings changes to meet the convenience and necessities of the age, and in nothing is the change so radical and improved as in the money system of the country. It is not our purpose or disposition to discuss the financial policy of the country, we simply state the facts and let the future develop new and better conditions if it can. That financial disaster has come to Highland county in the past few years from the failure of banks, cannot be denied, but we are of the opinion that this was the result of over-indulgence on the part of the banks, of extend- 164 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND.   ing credit upon time loans to parties whom they regarded as responsible, but when the hour of need came could not or would not make good their promises. And it is just possible that government was over hasty in placing its hands upon those banks, which the sequel shows were amply able to meet the demands of all their creditors, dollar for dollar, with the added expense of receivership, which ate up a large percentage of the bank assets. We ought to say, however, that careless indulgence in speculative ventures on the part of bank officials had a tendency to weaken confidence in institutions who had the handling of the money of the people. But when the .inside history of these disasters are brought to the surface, countless names that had been befriended and carried by these very banks, debtors in large sums to them allowed their own notes to go to protest in the hands of the receiver and sold at public auction by him, some of them at five cents on the dollar, must bear their share of the blame. To this class the bank failures were blessings.. As a man once said to the writer, "he never knew what freedom was until after the bank failed" (this bank held his notes for six thousand dollars) "and the sweetest night's rest he ever had was when he knew his notes were part of the loss the bank must sustain." We have avoided names, for the parties are still living, doing business on a large scale, and are doubtless able still to "sweetly sleep" knowing that the ghost of their buried credit, unlike Banquo's, will not affright them by sudden appearance. The banks of the county at the present day are under the control of Men of known integrity and honor. The First National, Merchants' National and Farmers' and Traders' National, are banks of which any city might be proud. Careful, conservative and sound, they enjoy the entire confidence of the public. Hulit, Ferris, Spargur, are names known in commercial circles to be names representative of moral worth, business capacity, and unimpeachable veracity and honor. They need no encomiums from the writer of these pages. Their long identification with the business interests of the county have made their names synonymous for honorable conscientious dealing. These men, with the aid and sanction of their enterprising associates have extended their friendly influence and substantial encouragement to all the important enterprises that have advanced and improved the county. It is hardly necessary to say that these establishments managed by the most accomplished and accommodating and accurate officials, transact all the business pertaining to general banking, receive deposits, discount commercial paper, make collections, deal in securities, have correspondents at commercial centers, issue drafts and letters of credit on the leading banks of the world, and are closely identified with the commercial interests of the community and all adjacent sections. They have been and will continue to be important factors in the prosper- HIGHLAND COUNTY MISCELLANY - 165 ity of the people. The standing and history of the other banks of the county, Greenfield, Leesburg, Lynchburg, are of equal merit with those of the county town, and are fully competent to transact all the business of the busy centers of trade and commerce where they are located. The Highland County bank, of Greenfield, established in 1867, is still a first class bank, doing an extensive business in deposits and discount, under the efficient management of E. A. Miller, president. The Commercial bank, of Greenfield, was established in 1882 as a private bank and at once entered upon a course of business prosperity and success. Henry L. Dickey is its president, and in Highland county his name is everywhere honored and respected. The Leesburg bank, established in 1876, the centennial anniversary of the nation's birth, has been in active operation ever since. Rev. Martin Redkey, its efficient president, is widely known, as a business man has but few equals, and as a Methodist minister is in ability second to none in the Cincinnati conference. The Leesburg bank some few years ago was burglarized and the safe and building badly damaged by the powerful explosives used by the midnight robbers. Some few thousand dollars were secured by them, but fortunately the bulk of the money contained in the safe was overlooked by the robbers or they were frightened from the building before their work was accomplished. The bank was not even crippled financially and business was resumed as soon as the proper repairs could be made in the office. The Farmers and Merchants bank, of Leesburg, was established in 1901, and has secured its share of the banking business of the county. W. E. Bordon, its president, is well known in business circles. The Farmers Exchange bank, of Lynchburg, was established in 1896. Its president, Owen West, is a man of large means and of fine business capacity, and the bank handles large deposits and discount business. The Highland (New Lexington) Farmers bank was established in 1895 and is well named. This region is noted for its fertile farms and large land owners, and the bank enjoys the confidence of this class to an almost unlimited extent.. D. A. Terrell is president. The White Oak Valley bank, at Mowrystown, was established in 1902. J. F. Cross, president, and though only a few months old has the strength and ability of like institutions of greater years and more experience. Of the ten banks located in Highland county, the only national bank or bank of circulation is the Merchants National, of Hillsboro. HILLSBORO LIBRARY. When the city building at Hillsboro was constructed in 1875-76 provision was made for the accommodation of a public library, and on May 31,1877, a public meeting was held at which a committee, 166 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. consisting of C. S. Bell, F. W. Armstrong, W. J. McSurely and H. S. Doggett, was appointed to solicit funds for opening a reading room and begin the work of founding a library. The effort was successful and a reading room, well equipped, was open to the public July 12, 1877. On April 15, 1878, an ordinance was passed empowering the mayor to appoint a board of trustees for a public library and Messrs. Bell, McSurely, Armstrong and Doggett, above named, and H. M. Huggins and Josiah Stevenson were the first selected for this duty. Improvement soon followed and fourteen hundred books were put in the library in September, 1878. This was the beginning of an enterprise that has been of great benefit to the community. The library has since grown until at present it holds between seven and eight thousand volumes, arranged in a spacious room in the city building and open at all hours to the reading public, with the privilege of taking books to the home. The present library board is composed of the following gentlemen: Prof. E. G. Smith, Kirby Smith, John R. Harist, Judge J. B. Worley and Judge Frank Wilson, and the librarian is Miss Clara B. Perin. The leading periodicals and magazines are upon the tables and the great daily newspapers and many Ohio papers are kept on file. COUNTY BUILDINGS. The first court house and jail were built at Hillsboro in 1807-10 upon the ground occupied by the later structures. On February 13,, 1832, the county commissioners awarded the contract for building a new court house to Jonathan Harvey, the expense to be $6,600, and upon Harvey's death, which soon followed, Christopher Arthur undertook the work and completed it, receiving his final payment in April, 1835. The main part of this building is yet in use, many repairs having been made. In 1883 the county commissioners made a contract for the erection of an annex, facing Short street, which was completed at a cost of $15,000, the interior of the old building being at the same time remodeled. The jail of 1837 was replaced in 1894 with a handsome brick building, modern in equipment, which, with the sheriff's residence attached, cost between $30,000 and $35,000. The county establishment for the infirm and indigent, known as the infirmary farm, embraces land in Liberty township, bought in 1844. Some two hundred and seventy acres are now in this farm. A large and comfortable building, steam heated, houses the adult wards of the county, and orphan or destitute children are cared for at public expense at the old Presbyterian academy building in Hillsboro. CHAPTER X. OFFICIAL HONORS. HIGHLAND COUNTY has contributed in honorable measure to the roll of men who have occupied high stations in the government of the State and Nation. First among these was Governor Allen Trimble, member of the State senate! for many years, speaker of the senate in 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823,1824 and 1825; acting governor from January, 1822, to January, 1823, and governor by popular election in 1827-28 and by re-election in 1829-30. There is no more honorable name in the list of distinguished governors of the early period. The next governor furnished by Highland county was Joseph Benson Foraker, who was born on a farm near Rainsboro, July 5,1846, was a soldier boy in the Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment, winning the brevet of captain, came home to Highland county in 1865, graduated at Cornell university in 1869, and in the same year began the practice of law at Cincinnati. Since then Hamilton county has claimed his fame, but Highland is his mother. He was four times the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, and twice, in 1885 and 1887, he was elected, serving as chief executive the years 1886-89. Alphonzo Hart, of Hillsboro, had the honor to be elected lieutenant governor of Ohio in 1873. He was born in Trumbull county July 4,1830, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and while residing in Portage county became widely known as editor of the Portage Sentinel and a Republican leader, and held office as prosecuting attorney in 1861-64, state senator in 1864 and 1871, and presidential elector in 1872. Removing to Hillsboro he was elected to congress in 1882, and in. 1889 appointed solicitor of the United States treasury. The office of secretary of state of Ohio was filled by Moses H. Kirby, of Highland county, in 1831-32. Colonel Kirby was a native of Virginia, horn May 1,1789, was graduated at the famous university of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, in 1819, and then came to Hillsboro, where he studied law under General Richard 168 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. Collins. He was prosecuting attorney in 1825-29, and was elected to the legislatures of 1827 and 1830. During his last term in the legislature that body elected him to the office of secretary of state. After the expiration of his term of office he removed to Wyandot county, where he continued to be prominent in public affairs, and was elected to the state senate at the age of eighty-one years. Allen Trimble was state canal commissioner in 1824-26; John M. Barrere was member of the state board of public works two terms by election in 1863 and 1866. A very prominent man in the Territorial period was Charles Willing Byrd, of a distinguished family of Westover, Va., who was born in 1770, was educated at Philadelphia and read law with an uncle who was a professor at William and Mary. He went to Kentucky as a lawyer in 1795, removed to Cincinnati in 1799, and was appointed secretary of the Northwest territory. Afterward he was a member of the first constitutional convention of Ohio, and the first judge of the United States court for Ohio. Froth the spring of 1823 until his death in August, 1828, he lived at Sinking Spring. He was a warm friend of William Henry Harrison and one of the foremost political opponents of General St. Clair. William A. Trimble was the first of Highland county's sans to represent Ohio in the United States senate. He was elected in 1819, and served until 1822, when he died from the effects of wounds received as a gallant officer of the war of 1812. Joseph Benson Foraker was the next man of. Highland birth to receive this honor. He was elected to the senate in 1896, for the term ending in 1903, and there is no more potent figure in the congress of the United States. The first citizen of Highland county to be honored with election to the United States congress was Joseph J. McDowell, who for forty years, was one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Ohio. He was born in North Carolina, November 13, 1800, the son of an officer of the Revolution, came to Ohio in 1824, and made his home on a farm about seven miles north of Hillsboro. From 1829 to 1835 he was in mercantile business at Hillsboro, and then, having previously given some attention to the study of law, he secured admission to the bar and began the practice of that profession, being associated for some time with Col. William O'. Collins. He was elected to the lower house of the general assembly in 1832 and to the senate in 1833, and in 1842 and 1844 to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth congresses as representative of the Seventh Ohio district. Upon the close of his career at Washington, which was an honorable one, as he was a man of eloquence and strength of character, he continued for many years in the practice of his profession and the culture of his farm, and when he died January 17, 1877, he was sincerely mourned by many friends throughout the State. It OFFICIAL HONORS - 169 is recorded that he took some part in the war of 1812, probably in his native state, and after he came to Ohio he was prominent in the militia organizations and attained the rank of major-general. The next Highland congressman was Nelson Barrere, who was elected in 1850 and served one term. More is said of him in the Bench and Bar chapter. He was a very prominent politician, and was the candidate of the Whig party for governor in 1853 when his party was crumbling away to give place to the Free Soil and Republican parties. In 1854 Jonas R. Emrie, of Hillsboro, was elected to the Thirty-fourth congress, to represent the Sixth district, and he served one term. John A. Smith, a man of wide influence, born at Hillsboro in 1814, was elected to the Forty-first congress, in 1868, and he was re-elected in 1870, serving two terms with credit. In 1876 Henry Luther Dickey, of Greenfield, was elected to the Forty-fifth congress for the Seventh district. He had been sent to the legislature in. 1860 as a Douglas Democrat, but when a candidate for re-election was defeated by Colonel Hixson by six votes. He was nominated by the Democrats as senator for Ross and Highland in 1865 and being renominated in 1867 was elected. His nomination for congress followed, and after he had served one term he was renominated for the new Eleventh district, in which Highland was placed, and was elected for the term ending in 1881. In 1882, Alphonzo Hart, who has been mentioned as lieutenant- governor, was elected from the Twelfth district for the Forty-eighth congress. Jacob J. Pugsley, an eminent lawyer at Hillsboro, was elected to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first congresses in 1886 and 1888. Mr. Pugsley was born in Duchess county, N. Y., came to Ohio in boyhood, was graduated at Miami university, and began the practice of his profession at Hillsboro. Before his election to congress he had made a good record in the general assembly. STATE SENATORS. The first senator from Highland represented that county alone. This was George W. Barrere, who served in the sessions of 1808-09 and 1809-10, by two elections. Samuel Evans afterward sat in the senate from Highland alone, by election in 1810 and 1811. After that Highland was in what was called the "Clinton district," until 1825. The Senators for this district were George W. Barrere and Jacob Smith in 1812 and 1813; Barrere and William Buckles in 1814; Samuel Evans and Buckles in 1815 ; Evans and Jacob Smith in 1816; and after that Allen Trimble served continuously in the sessions of 1817-25, inclusive, his colleagues being Jacob Smith in 1817, William R. Cole in 1818-22, John Alexander in 1823, and 170 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND.   Samuel H. Hale in 1824. In his last year as senator, the session of 1825-26, Trimble represented the new district of Highland and Fayette, which was maintained for ten years. For this district Trimble's successor was John Jones, in 1826-28 ; Moses Carothers, 1829-32; Joseph I. McDowell; 1833-34; and Jacob Kirby, 1835. Next, the district was Highland and Clinton, represented by Kirby in 1836, by Isaiah Morris in 1837-38, and Thomas Patterson, 1839-40. The district of Adams, Fayette and Highland was represented by William Robbins in 1841-42 and John M. Barrere, 1843-44. Then it was Highland, Adams and Pike, with Tilbury Reid senator in 1845-46; and Jonas R. Emrie, 1847-48. Highland and Fayette again, in 1849 and 1850 sent Ruel Beeson as senator, and this carries the record down to the constitution of 1852. Since then Highland and Ross have composed the Sixth district, which has been represented as follows: Samuel E. Hibben, 1852-3; John M. Barrere, 1854-55 ; Jacob Hyer, 1856-57; W. H. Safford, 1858-59; William O. Collins, 1860-61; George W. Roby, 1862-63; Job E. Stevenson, 1864-65; Silas Irion, 1866-67; Henry L. Dickey, 1868-69; John Woodbridge, 1870-71; John H. Putnam, 1872-73; Henry A. Shepherd, 1874-75; A. L. Brown, 187677 ; John McDonald, 1878-79; John C. Entrekin, 1880-81; William H. Reed, 1882-83, 1884-85 ; J. J. Pugsley, 1886-87; D. M. Massie, 1888-89, 1890-91. Fifth and Sixth districts: Frank G. Carpenter, 1892-93; James M. Hughey, 1894-95; Charles F. Howard, 1896-97; Byron Lutz, 1898-99; Thomas W. Marchant, 1900-01; 1VImasMM. Watts, 1902. STATE REPRESENTATIVES. Highland county was first represented in the lower house of the Ohio general assembly in the Seventh session, beginning December, 1808. Following is the list of representatives since then, with the dates of election: Highland county alone: Joseph Swearingen, 1808; James Gossett, 1809; Samuel Reece, 18Jamesnies Johnson, 1811,1812; John Davidson, 1813,1814; James Johnson, 1815 ; Allen Trimble, 1816; Joseph Swearingen, 1817, 1818 ; John Jones, 1819; Moses Patterson, 1820; Richard Collins, 1821, 1822, 1823; Moses Patterson, 1824, 1825; M. H. Kirby, 1826, 1827; Moses Patterson, 1828; M. H. Kirby, 1829, 1830; David Reece, 1831. Highland and Fayette: Joseph J. McDowell, 1832; Robert D. Lilley, 1833; Jacob Kirby, 1834; David Reece, 1835, 1836. Highland and Clinton: George Collings, 1837; Thomas Patterson, 1838. Highland alone: Andrew Baskin, 1839. Highland and Adams: James Carothers and James Smith, 1840; John A. Smith and Abraham Lowman, 1841. Highland alone: Robert Robinson, John A. OFFICIAL HONORS - 171 Smith, 1842 ; Hugh Means, Burnham Martin, 1843 ; Ezekiel Brown, 1844 ; William H. Trimble, 1845, 1846, 1847 ; Hugh Smart, 1848; J. T. Pugsley, 1849 ; Otho Williams, 1850. Under the new constitution: Christopher Williams, 1852 ; William Miller, 1854 ; Silas Irion, 1856; John L. Hughes, 1858 ; C. B. Miller (resigned),. John H. jolly, 1860; N. H. Hixon, 1862, 1864; David M. Bar- rett, 1866; John L. Hughes, 1868, 1870 ; Peter N. Wickerham, 1872; Thomas H. Baskin, 1874 ; Henry C. Dawson, 1876, 1878 ; J. J. Pugsley, 1880, 1882 ; David M. Barrett, 1884, 1886; Jonah Britton, 1888 ; James M. Hughey, 1890, 1892 ; William H. Glenn, 1894; Henry H. Redkey, 1896, 1898 ; N. P. Clyburn, 1900, 1902. COUNTY OFFICERS. CLERKS OF THE COURTS : 1805, David Hays ; 1808, Allen Trimble; 1816, Samuel Bell (appointed) ; 1852, John W. Bell; 1855, G. F. Stephens ; 1859, Ben Flora (Flora resigned, and W. H. Woodrow was appointed in his place) ; 1860, John A. Trimble; 1869, R. W. Spargur; 1870, Johnston E. Jackson ; 1872, R. W. Spargur (appointed) ; 1873, Jesse K. Pickering (appointed) ; 1874, R. T. Hough ; 1876, J. M. Hughey ; 1881, George Baise ; 1884, John Keech ; 1890, William N. Walker; 1896, James H. Williams, now in office. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS : 1805, Abram J. Williams ; 1810, James Daniels ; 1811, John W. Campbell; 1812, Levin L. Belt; 1814, Samuel Daniels ; 1815, Wade Luffborough ; 1816, Richard Collins ; 1821, G. R. Fitzgerald ; 1823, Richard Collins ; 1824, G. R. Fitzgerald ; 1831, John W. Price; 1833, William Scott; 1837, W. 0. Collins ; 1841, Daniel Scott ; 1849, John Torrie ; 1853, R. B. Stevenson ; 1855, James J. Rothrock ; 1857, C. A. Sheaf ; 1859, John M. Dorman ; 1861, W. H. Irwin ; 1868, E. M. DeBruin ; 1874, James M. Dumenil ; 1879, John T. Hire ; 1885, J. B. Worley ; 1891, George L. Garrett; 1897, Irwin McDowell Smith ; 1900, Oliver N. Sams, present prosecutor. SHERIFFS : 1805, Anthony Franklin ; 1808, Augustus Richards ; 1811, Samuel Harvey ; 1813, William Curry ; 1815, John Jones ; 1819, Joseph Dryden ; 1821, William Wright; 1823, John Jones ; 1827, Amos Grantham ; 1831, David Miller ; 1835, Andrew Baskin ; 1839, Benjamin Chaney ; 1843, Edward S. Beeson ; 1848, Thomas S. Rhodes; 1849, David Fenwick ; 1853, Joseph H. Mullenix ; 1857, Thomas H. Baskins ; 1859, R. W. Spargur ; 1867, John B. Hays ; 1871, Carey T. Pope; 1875, William C. Newell; 1879, Thomas H. Long; 1883, Henry C. Dawson ; 1885, Isaiah. McConnaughey ; 1889, Michael G. Mackerly ; 1893, Samuel N. Patton; 1897, John O. Williamson ; 1899, Joseph P. Elton, present sheriff. AUDITORS : Under the act of the general assembly, passed Febru- 172 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. ary 8,1820, creating the office of county auditor, and making auditors elective by the general assembly of the State, William Keys was elected by the legislature, and continued in office from 1821, by subsequent elections by the people, after the office became elective by them, until 1829; 1829, Joseph Woodrow, who died in 1832, and was succeeded by his son, Joshua Woodrow, Jr. (appointed), who served until 1833; 1833, Matthew Waddell; 1839, Joshua' Woodrow ; 1841, Matthew Waddell; 1845, Samuel Johnson ; 1847, Matthew Waddell; 1849, William H. Woodrow; 1855, James Reece; 1857, John A. Patterson; 1859, James Reece ; 1863, Joseph Morrow; 1865, Edwin Arthur; 1869, Daniel Murphy ; 1873, Edward M. DeBruin; 1883, George Lefever; 1889, John A. Trimble; 1892, James Reece; 1898, George W. Shaffer, now in office. TREASURERS: 1805, John Richards; 1808, George Shinn ; 1810, John Smith; 1842, John M. Johnson; 1850, William McReynolds; 1854, David Fenwick ; 1858, Joseph J. Woodrow ; 1862, George Lawrence; 1864, James Reece ; 1868, J. W. Spargur ; 1811, William H. Glenn ; 1876, William S. Patterson; 1879, Edward Pierson; 1883, Joseph M. Hiestand ; 1885, Henry C. Glasscock ; 1887, Ed. O. Hetherington ; 1891, Harrison Roades ; 1895, Charles E. Hixson;. 1899, Earl A. Squier. RECORDERS : David Hays, the first clerk, was also the first recorder, in 1805. The list since the office has been elective, is as. follows: 1836, Samuel Bell; 1842, David Miller; 1845, James M. Keys; 1854, John Baskin; 1856, W. C. Winter; 1863, John Baskin; 1866, J. M. Matthews; 1869, Isma Troth; 1872, Calvin Stroup; 1876, George Stephens ; 1878, John H. Keech ; 1884, Hugh J. Vance; 1887, Samuel N. Patton; 1893, John W. Rogers ; 1899, 'Joseph Miller, present recorder. COUNTY SURVEYORS : Walter Craig was the first surveyor, appointed in 1805. Afterward Thomas Sanders held the office, 1819-35. The office was made elective by an act of the general assembly of March 3,1831, and after Sanders the following took office: 1835, Jesse Barrett; 1843, Thomas Berryman ; 1849, Thomas Wilson ; 1855, Thomas Berryman; 1858, Thomas M. Boyd; 1861, William J. Boies ; 1864, Edward Burnett, died, and William J. Boyd appointed to fill vacancy ; 1867, William Siders ; 1870, Eli Stafford; 1876, William J. Boyd; 1879, Eli Stafford ; 1881, Z. Kay ; 1884, Nathaniel Massie; 1893, Daniel Murphy ; 1899,, Hugh J. Vance, now in office. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS : The first board, appointed in 1805, was Joseph Swearingen, George Richards, and Nathaniel Pope. At the election, in the same year, Nathaniel Pope, Jonathan Boyd and Frederick Braugher were chosen. G. W. Barrere succeeded Braugher in 1806, and Moses Patterson succeeded Boyd in 1807. In 1808 Bourter Sumner, Richard Barrett and George Richards OFFICIAL HONORS - 173 were elected. The board in 1810 was Jesse Baldwin, Morgan Van-meter and Enoch B. Smith. After 1811 the list is as follows: E. B. Smith, 1811-12 ; Jesse Baldwin, 1811-13, 1816-17 ; Morgan Vanmeter, 1811; Moses Patterson, 1812-14, 1817-18 ; John Matthews, 1813-15, 1822-29 ; Amos Evans, 1814-16, 1819 ; Pleasant Arthur, 1816-19, 1831-32 ; Newton Doggett, 1818-22 ; John Wasson, 1822-23; William Davidson, 1823-25, 1828 ; David Reece, 1825,1829-30 ; Moses Carothers, 1828 ; Samuel McClure, 1829-30 ; John Farris, 1830 ; Philip W. Spargur, 1831; William Carothers, 1832-34; Thomas Patterson, 1832-34 ; Newton Doggett, 1833-38 ; John H. Mitchell, 1834-37 ; John W. Spargur, 1835, 1842-47 ; Claiborn Lea, 1837-39 ; Philip Wilkins, 1838-40 ; John Baskin, 1839-41; Samuel Smith, 1840-42 ; John Littler, 1841-43 ; David Fenwick, 1843-45 ; William Cochrane, 1844 ; N. W. Ayres, 1845-49; Joel Thurman, 1846-48 ; Sampson Reno, 1848-49 Edward Easton, 1849-51; Charles Robinson, 1850-55 ; Henry Wilkins, 1851-53 ; Benjamin Cowgill, 1852-55 ; John Haigh, 1854-57; Philip Roush, 1855-61; Abraham Lowman, 1856-65 ; Benjamin Pearce, 1857; William C. Conard, 1860-62 ; Thomas Robinson, 1861-64; F. I. Bumgarner, 1863-72 ; F. M. Cox, 1864-66; H. H. Redkey, 1865-68, 1871-73, 1876-82 ; Benjamin Cochrane, 1867-68; Samuel Russell, 1868 ; William Elliott, 1871-72 ; T. H. Long, 1873-79; David McConnaughey, 1873-76; John Bogart, 1874-80 ; Franklin Ladd, 1878-81; _____ Faust, 1881 ; Isaac Larkin, 1886-92 ; Giles W. Setty, 1896-98 ; James A. Burnett, 1892-95 ; Cary McCoppin, 1895-1901 ; Warren W. Morrow, 1896 to present; John B. Puckett, 1901-04; James B. Davis, 1902-05. CHAPTER X I. CHURCH HISTORY. THE church and the institution of such an order as reliesious teachers are deeply imbedded in the common principles and common wants of man. Such is his intellectual and moral nature, that he imperatively demands religious teaching. No matter what the religion is, so long as conscience has a dwelling in the human bosom, there must be a class of men devoted to its services. So far as information goes there is no nation, nor tribe, nor any age of the world that has ever been utterly destitute of a class of men separated to sacred purposes. Paganism in its more degraded, as well as in its more enlightened and polished forms, down to the "Medicine man" of our own wilderness has its shrines, its sacrifices and its priests. If man is not a religious being, he is certainly superstitious, believing in the supernatural, and demanding that some one should stand between him and the unseen forces whose influences he feels, but whose purpose he cannot understand. The voice of nature is strong, stronger than the "strong man armed." Ours indeed would have been a county worse than savage had not those men who felt the impulse from on high traveled to meet the need of their fellow men in the wild western homes. Early Methodism in Highland county is a feature not to be overlooked in the study of its history. Schools were scarce, books were few, and the Methodist preacher with his hymn book and Bible was an important factor in the literature and religion of the country. "Our best history," says Emerson, "is still poetry." Doubtless this is true, for in our hymns and songs we find expression for our deepest feelings, the inmost soul of the times embalmed in music and made immortal. In songs and hymns we have preserved the loves and sorrows, the joys, the humors, and the domestic manners of by gone days. Reference has been made in these pages to James B. Finley, whose home was in Highland county, as one of the pioneer settlers of the county. After his conversion he preached to, his old comrades in wickedness, commanding their respect and often leading them to espouse the cause of his Master. It is enough to say of him that he