250 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY mand "Swear not at all." They do not prescribe a form of speech or a dress as a condition of membership, but they do require of their members the practice of simplicity and truthfulness, becoming the Christian and to avoid flattery, exaggeration, untruthfulness, vain complaints and superfluous or gay attire. Such, in brief, are the tenets of the religious belief of the Friends. I am indebted to Enos Pemberton of West Milton for my data concerning the churches of the Friends at present in the county. The first monthly meeting of this sect was held two miles south of West Milton, January 17, 1807. This spot was the central of the Friends Church for a number of years, but it has been transferred to West Milton, which is now the central under the pastorate of Arthur Woolam. Mr. Pemberton served this church for twelve years. Union meeting has been transferred to Ludlow Falls and is now under the charge of Rev. Moore, of Earl-ham College, of Richmond, Ind. Lick Branch, which is one of the old meetings of the Friends Church, is two miles southeast of Laura and Joseph Williamson is the pastor in charge. Center Meeting, two miles west of West Milton, was established in 1863 and has Jonathan M. Jay for pastor. At first the colony of Friends in the county was held at the cabin of Caleb Mendenhall, who emigrated from North Carolina about 1802. In December, 1806, the Friends of this county made application to the quarterly meeting at Red Stone, Penn., for a. monthly meeting, which application was granted and later on a quarterly meeting for the famous West Branch church was granted. This event took place in June, 1812. It will thus be seen that the Friends established the first religious societies in the county and are entitled to this credit. They now form an important division of the county and for more than a century have kept their organization intact. Unassuming and earnest, they are among our best citizens, noted for their honesty, frugality and truthfulness. They adhere closely to their religious beliefs, keeping aloof from all litigation and that which is unseemly, setting by their industry and pure lives a living example for all. THE EPISCOPALIANS. This sect, though not as numerous as others, is confined to the larger towns of the county. St. James Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church was founded at Piqua about 1820. Its first rector was Rev. E. Johnson, of Cincinnati, who was assisted by Rev. Mr. Allen, of Dayton. The well known Col. Johnston was a lay reader at St. James and frequently took the place of the rector. In 1825 the parish erected a brick church on the corner of North and Spring Streets, which became the genesis of the handsome structure which houses the communicants of the parish at the present time. St. James Church has a long list of noted rectors, among whom I find the names of Revs. Richard Killin, Chauncey Fitch, D. D., Henry Payne, Wyllys Hall, and Henry L. Badger. The Greenham, McCorkle, Mitchell, Morrow, Scott, Chapeze, Adams and O'Ferrall all well known, worshiped at St. James, the rector of which at the present time is Rev. William H. Allison. The Episcopalians, of Troy, formed a church organization in 1831. Rev. Ethan Allen was the first rector. At this time AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 251 but thirty-six persons constituted the whole membership. For almost thirty years Rev. Allen remained in charge and was succeeded by Rev. A. Guyon, who presided three years. In 1833 Dr. Asa Coleman donated a cottage on Franklin Street and that year a neat church was built. When Bishop Mcllvain dedicated this edifice the name was changed to Trinity Church, a name which has ever since been retained. Trinity Church is today in a very prosperous condition and has Rev. E. S. Doan for its resident rector. THE GERMAN BAPTISTS. This denomination, commonly called Dunkards, are established generally on the west side of the county. They embrace a large membership of useful citizens. Though commonly known under the name of Dunkards, these people have assumed for themselves the appellation of Brethren, on account of what Christ said to His disciples : "One is your master, even Christ, and all ye are Brethren." The Brethren first appeared in the -United States in 1719 when twenty families landed at Philadelphia. Like the Friends, they use great plainness of dress and, like them also, they neither take an oath nor bear arms. They commonly wear their beards and keep the first day. They celebrate the Lord's Supper with its ancient attendants of love-feasts, washing feet, kiss of charity and right hand of fellowship. Their church government is the same as that of the English Baptists. The Brethren are a quiet, peaceable, industrious and pious people. They are remarkably simple in their habits and spiritual in their worship. There are several branches of the Brethren Church in the county. Among the German Baptist churches are the one at West Milton, I. K. Brumbaugh, pastor ; one at Potsdam, no regular pastor ; one at Covington, with Elder D. D. Wine in charge ; two at Pleasant Hill, which are under the pastorate of Rev. Ashley and Rev. Isaac Franz, and one at Cass-town with no minister. This, I believe, constitutes the list of churches of this denomination within the limits of the county. THE CHRISTIANS. This denomination, like some of the others, cannot boast of a very large membership among us. The Christian Church of Troy was organized in 1856. The first meetings were held in the Court House, and Elders McKinney, McWhinney, Simonton and Watson and Maple were among the early pastors in charge. Through the untiring efforts of Elder McKinney the first church was built, and this edifice lately gave way for one of the handsomest houses of worship in the county. It is a church building replete with all the modern improvements in church architecture. Elder Weeks is the pastor in charge. The present Christian Church at Pleasant Hill is the successor of the second church erected in Newton Township. It stands on Central Church Street and is presided over by Rev. S. S. Main. The Christian or New Light Church near Covington was organized in 1820. For a long time the members of this denomination in Newberry Township worshiped in barns and private dwellings and sometimes in the schoolhouses. It was known as the Trotter's Creek Church. The Christian Church of Covington was organized in 1837 by Caleb Worley, who associated with him only seven members. This member- 252 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ship increased with the passing years and in 1870 the present church edifice was built. It has Rev. John MacCalman for its pastor. The first Christian Church of Piqua, of which W. D. Samuels is pastor, was organized some years ago, but I have been unable to obtain the proper data. This church has a flourishing membership, an excellent Sunday school and Senior and Junior Endeavor societies. The West Milton Christian Church was established largely through the efforts of Elder William Jay, well known throughout the county. The Christians of Union Township have several good houses of worship, the one in West Milton being under the charge of Rev. 0. P. Furnas and that of Laura presided over by Rev. Baker. The Christian church at Nashville is known as the West Union Church with Rev. Cain at its head, and Rev. Maxwell, of West Milton, serves the Christian congregation at Frederick. On the whole the members of the Christian Church in the county can be proud of the progress they have made. Hampered in many ways, they have pushed zealously forward and today stand in the front rank of religious bodies among us. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS. The first Catholic Church to be established in the county was that of St. Mary's, which is in Piqua. It came into existence in 1840, on the southwest corner of Broadway and North Streets. It is the pioneer of Catholicism in Miami. Ever since its founding it has been zealous for the Church and is regarded as one of the foremost institutions of the kind. St. Mary's supports an excellent school, supervised and taught by the Sisters, who are known as efficient teachers. Its present pastor is Father Crowley, who is zealous in looking after the care of his flock. St. Boniface, the German Catholic Church of Piqua, has for its pastor Rev. Father George P. Steinlage, with Rev. Father Goswin Menge as assistant priest. In 1.843 the Catholics of all nationalities in Piqua worshiped together, but in 1855, owing to the increase of German residents in the parish, John B. Purcell, the most Rev. Archbishop of Cincinnati, sanctioned the building of a separate church, and St. Boniface was blessed in the fall of that year. Rev. J. B. Hemstiger was the first pastor, and he was succeeded by Rev. H. Ratte in 1859. In 1861 Rev. Meyer took charge and was followed in 1863 by Rev. Bochman. In 1865 Rev. Mietinger held a brief pastorate at St. Boniface. On October 25, 1865, Rev. Henry Lueos, bishop of Fort Wayne, blessed the new Boniface. In this year Rev. George Glass became pastor, to be succeeded by Rev. Julius Voet, who remained in that capacity till 1873. Rev. Schwab became the next pastor and he was followed by Carl Schmidt. Rev. Schmidt, in 1877, called the Sisters of Charity to take charge of the girls' school, which necessitated the erection of a new parsonage, the old one to be occupied by the Sisters. In February, 1881, Rev. George P. Steinlage took charge of St. Boniface. One of Father Steinlage's first official acts was the calling of the Sisters of Charity to supervise the girls' schools. The school quarters becoming inadequate, a new school building was erected in 1889 and in 1900 the church building itself was enlarged and beautified. St. Boniface is regarded as one of the finest AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 253 churches in the diocese. It is a fine modern building with a seating capacity of 700, and as a house of worship is complete in every particular. It was rededicated November 24, 1901, by Right Rev. Thomas S. Byrne, Bishop of Nashville, Tenn., assisted by many other priests. St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Troy was founded half a century ago. At first the few Catholic families in that locality worshiped at the home of John Danaher and there the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in 1857, the Catholic families then numbering but twenty-one. The increasing membership and the needs of the church called for the erection of a permanent house of worship and this was accomplished in 1858, when a church was built on the southeast corner of Crawford and Water Streets. It was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rosecrans, brother of the noted general, under the patronage of St. Patrick. In 1883 the church was enlarged to its present proportions by Rev. J. M. Freedman and rededicated by The Most Rev. Archbishop William Henry Elder. Later on a good parochial school came into existence through the efforts of Rev. F. H. Bene, pastor of St. Patrick's and this school was erected and equipped without the encumbrance of a debt. In 1908 St. Patrick's appropriately celebrated its Golden Jubilee under the guidance of its present efficient and popular pastor, Rev. Anthony J. Mentink. This church has reason to rejoice at the eminent position it has reached during the fifty years of its life. Since 1877 St. Patrick's has had a resident pastor. Until that year it was a mission attended from St. Mary's at Piqua and from other places. St. J. B. Catholic Church of Tippecanoe City existed first as a mission church. The church building was erected in 1858 at a cost of $2,500 and dedicated by Bishop Rosecrans. Rev. Father Hemsteger was the first pastor. He remained in charge three years. The present efficient pastor is Rev. Father Van De Bush, who has brought the church in Tippecanoe up to its present prominence and popularity. While the congregation is not large it is noted for its good works and the pastor is universally beloved. MINOR CHURCHES. There are a number of what may be called minor churches in the county, which I shall notice here. The Universalists have two houses of worship within the limits of the county. These are at Conover and Alcony respectively. The Conover church was organized in 1868 with a set of deacons and trustees. The present brick edifice was erected in 1871 at a cost of $3,700. The Conover congregation has been favored with a number of excellent pastors, the present one being Mrs. Sara Stoner, who also supplies the Universalist congregation at Al-cony. There is a Church of God near the hamlet of Nashville in Union Township, which is supplied by D. C. Robinson, State Evangelist. This sect sprang from the German Reformed Church and the members are popularly known as "Winebrennerians." The Mennonites have two churches, at Potsdam and West Charleston. The latter congregation uses the old Campbellites church, which was built about 1830. The Potsdam Mennonite Church is presided over by H. F. Beck. These people derive their religious name from Menno Simon, 254 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY who flourished about 1640. Their church is sometimes known as the Church of Christ. They are a thrifty, industrious people, mainly agriculturist, and well-to-do financially. There are but two United Brethren churches in the county. The one at Ginghamsburg is looked after by Rev. Busey, while G. T. Powell has charge of the Potsdam church. There is a Bethel Reformed Church at Phoneton, conducted by Rev. S. S. Snyder, a Reformed church at Alcony, supplied, and a few country churches, the history and present status of which are unimportant from a historical standpoint. The colored people of the county have several houses of worship, notably in Troy and Piqua. These are of the Methodist and Baptist persuasions respectively, and have regular pastors. The colored people of Miami County are, as a rule, deeply religious and regularly attend worship. Revs. Fletcher are Gibson have charge of the colored churches of Troy. The German Lutherans have several flourishing congregations in the county. In addition to the foregoing there are two congregations of the Church of Christ in Piqua, also a Zion Reformed, a Church of Christ, Scientist, and an Evangelical Protestant (St. Pauls Church) and a United Brethren. The latter is perhaps the most important of the minor churches there. Its pastor is Rev. J. W. Kilbourn. Nearly all the churches in the county support excellent Sunday schools. These are conducted on a high religious plane and the instruction is of the best. The teachers are selected from the ranks and all are diligent in Sunday school work. In many of the churches are to be found Epworth Leagues, Christian Endeavor societies and kindred organizations, which keep alive the church spirit, especially among the young. These bodies are carefully looked after by the different pastors and are among the foremost auxiliaries connected with church work. Too much cannot be said of these societies for they are doing a work which is highly commended, not only in building up the community but in doing good in all directions. There are numerous Jews in Miami County and they are among our best citizens. The Anshe Emeth Congregation of Piqua is the leading place of worship for the Jews of Miami. It is a model synagogue and has for its members some of the foremost families that reside among us. The members of this sect within the confines of the county are engaged in lucrative business and command the respect of all. In giving the history of the various churches of the county I have tried to be as accurate and impartial as possible. It is likely that the list is not wholly complete, but it is as complete as inquiry and research can make it. There may be several crossroads churches that have been overlooked, but this chapter, as it stands, contains an approximately correct history of the present state of religion within the county as shown by the various denominations that worship within its limits. CHAPTER XX. COUNTY POLITICS, OLD AND NEW Smallness of the Voting Population in Early Days—First Elective Officers—Political Parties—Methods of Electioneering—Local Issues—Some Political Editorials—The Adams-Jackson. Campaign—Coming of General Harrison in 1837 and 1840—The Campaigns of 1856 and 1860—The Campaign of 1864—Later Presidential Campaigns—Congressional Battles—Humorous Incidents—Present Day Politics. The politics of the county date back almost to its establishment. v For some years the voting population was very small. Elections were not held in all the townships as they are constituted today. About the first elective officers of the county were justices of the peace, or "squires," as they were commonly termed. These officers were selected from among the most intelligent citizens; they often settled neighborhood disputes out of court and were generally known as the peacemakers of their respective localities. They held "Court" in the largest room of their houses, and the yard was taken up with the vehicles of those who came to hear the trials. There was very little "log rolling" at the first elections the early settlers met irrespective of party and put the best men in the field, then went to the various polls, swapped horses, voted and went home. When it came to state and national elections it was somewhat different. Excitement then, as a rule, rose to a high pitch. Miami County could generally he depended upon to give a Whig majority and she rarely failed to meet the expectations of the adherents of this party. With the appearance of the newspaper in the county the candidate began to announce himself and in his manifesto he generally gave his views on the questions of the day. In a copy of the Piqua Gazette of September 26, 1829, Isaac Hendershott announces that he is a candidate for the State Senate in the senatorial district composed of Montgomery and Miami counties. It was at the time when an extension of the Miami Canal from Dayton to Maumee Bay was being agitated. This scheme had many opponents, but Mr. Hendershott comes out flat-footed in favor of the measure. He grows quite eloquent in his appeals for the nomination, for in conclusion he says : "I presume it is a fact very generally known to all who have had any tolerable acquaintance with the intermediate country between Dayton and the Lake that there is to be found no fairer or more progressive region in the whole empire of the - 255 - 256 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY west, that the climate, though somewhat varied in its character, is nevertheless to be regarded as extremely healthful. These, with many other inducements, cannot fail to have their due influence on the minds of industrious and enterprising adventurers. Already is there a strong and mighty current of emigration teeming to these delightful but uncultivated lands, buoyant, no doubt, in the hopes that the day is not far distant when commerce will fling her canvas to the winds and afford such facilities to the transportation of their produce as will generously reward their labor and toils." In this year the following citizens of the county were candidates for office : For representative, William Barbee and Henry Barrington; sheriff, T. W. Furnas and T. W. Mansfield; treasurer, William Brown and Azel Skinner ; commissioners, Robert Morrison, John Casson, Michael Williams, Col. George Mitchell; assessor, Moses G. Mitchell, Zachariah Riley, Benjamin Brandon and Richard Armstrong; coroner, David W. Wallace, and Joseph Harlan. This shows that even at that remote date there was a lively scramble for office in this county, and succeeding years have demonstrated that the old time "Scramble" has been "catching." At the October election of 1828 Miami County cast 1,318 votes. Of these Trimble, who was a candidate for governor, received 753. The editor of the Troy Reporter in that year voices his disappointment and prates loudly about "political chicanery." He says in his tirade : "The continual negligence of the Republican party has subjected us to a partial defeat. and the great election (the Presidential one) is just at hand. The dearest interests of our beloved country are at stake and our mistaken neighbors are following a set of more deluded and more guilty leaders, in the road to ruin. Surely they will stop before they reach the end of their race. But alas! alas! many of our hearty Republicans are following Andrew Jackson and think him the greatest patriot in the country. Their efforts are zealous and persevering beyond a parallel. One from New York in the form of a preacher of the Gospel, and another from Cincinnati in the more undisguised form of a political party. have traversed this district with an untiring assiduity worthy of the best cause. If they succeed through our apathy we shall deserve to share with them the evils that threaten us." In another paragraph the editor of the Reporter exclaims : "Shall we place such a man as Andrew Jackson in the Presidential chair? I appeal to you, my fellow citizens, a poor man far from the loaves and fishes of office. General Jackson is a slave holder of Tennessee, and is thoroughly imbued with all the corrupt and tyrannical habits of a Southern nabob and, as such, is selected by these petty tyrants of the South to sustain their interests. Mr. Adams and his adherents will as certainly support our country and our country's friends. You may, by possibility, obtain a victory, but it will be a victory over yourselves as well as your op- ponents; you will have to bear a full share of the evil you bring upon your country. Hurl, then, if you will, a firebrand into the magazine of our political fortress. You are in equal danger of perishing by the explosion. And whatever may be the result I promise to bear my portion of the calamity with due meekness and submission." What effect the foregoing appeal had upon its readers I do not know. Probably Editor Fairfield had reason to think that his words would not fall upon stony ground and flattered himself that he had caused "Old Hickory" at least a few sleepless nights. The Presidential campaign of 1828 was the first of the many exciting ones waged in the county. Partisanship became very bitter. One faction held up Jackson as the embodiment of goodness, while the other cried him down as a monster of evil, a slave holder, an aristocrat and demagogue. His victory at New Orleans went as nothing with the supporters of Adams. On the other hand, the Jacksonians threw all manner of mud at Adams, whom they berated as a "lord of Massachusetts," the son of his father (which certainly was no AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 259 disgrace), and they boldly proclaimed that if Adams were placed in the White House the whole country would proceed at once to the bow wows with a rapidity that could not be checked short of the abyss of ruin. There were Jackson and Adams meetings everywhere, every schoolhouse resounded with praise and defamation, and before this memorable campaign closed there were not a few bloody noses and blackened optics. The vox populi was not for a moment still. It was pretty hard to convince the people of the county that Jackson was not a hero, despite the speeches of the Adams faction. The glamor of New Orleans had not faded. Everybody turned out to the political meetings and the whole country was turned topsy turvy by the excitement of the huskings. When the election was over and Adams was found to be defeated the Jacksonians of the county poked all manner of fun at their opponents, and Editor Fairfield of the Reporter put on sackcloth and ashes and incidentally primed his editorial musket for the next campaign. There was a great turning out of officials when "Old Hickory" assumed the reins of government, for his motto was "To the victor belong the spoils," and the Adams men retired from the public crib, an event, however, which did not have much bearing upon our own county. General William Henry Harrison was a great favorite among the Whigs of the county. His name was sufficient to rouse the most intense enthusiasm. In fact lie was the idol of the party which in after years was to lose itself in the new Republican party. General Harrison visited this county twice. He first came to Troy July 4th. 1837. The Whig county ticket of the previous year was as follows: Auditor, Jacob Knoop, commissioner, Samuel Pierce ; coroner, N. W. Tullis ; assessor, John Webb. General Harrison came up from Dayton to take part in the Fourth of July celebration which had been planned at Troy. A great crowd turned out to greet him, the people flocking into town from every part of the county and the enthusiasm was unbounded. On this occasion Hon. R. S. Hart delivered an appropriate oration and D. H. Morris read the Declaration of Independence. A number of Revolutionary soldiers were yet living in the county and their presence at the celebration added greatly to the pleasures of the day. There was a banquet in the General's honor and many patriotic toasts were responded to by prominent citizens. In the fall of 1840 General Harrison again passed through the county and was accorded another enthusiastic welcome. As before, he journeyed northward from Dayton. The carriage in which he traveled was furnished by a Mr.- Hunter of Piqua. When it was known that this distinguished citizen was to pass through the county a committee of Whigs was sent to Dayton to invite him to stop at Troy and accept the hospitalities of its citizens. The letter of invitation prepared on this occasion follows : To General William Henry Harrison: Sir: The Whigs of Miami County. learning you are to journey through their county town, have deputed the undersigned committee to anticipate your arrival and press your acceptance of the hospitalities of its citizens. The Committee on this occasion are proud to say in behalf of their Whig brethren of Miami County that they are no worshipers of men, they bow not the neck nor bend the knee to human individuality, but freely surrender their hearts to great, good and glorious actions. therefore we pray you to regard this as a tribute of deferential respect for your character as a faithful public servant, a distinguished military leader, a frank politician and an honest man. But this homage contemplates a still higher object, 260 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY as connected with the integrity of our political institutions. Through you, sir, as a type of all their bright hopes for this country, the Whigs of Miami County confidently expect to realize one of the greatest moral revolutions embraced in the history of man, a revolution that is to restore to our abused people their legitimate sovereignty, their rights and prosperity, which are now despoiled and trodden under foot by a dishonest, imperious and reckless faction. LEVI HART. ASA COLEMAN, WILLIAM BARBEE, TH. M. Bossox. Committee. The county did not see another great campaign till that of 1860, which, as all know, resulted in the election of Lincoln and the inauguration of the Civil War. The Fremont campaign of 1856 was a' spirited affair, but it was as nothing compared to the one which followed it. The threats of the South that Lincoln's election would bring about disunion were either laughed at by the Republicans of this county or treated with contempt. The political club came into vogue with the campaign of 1860—the Wide Awakes, the Rail Splitters, and kindred organizations. These were formed by men of all ages, but largely by the young men, many of whom were soon to lay down their lives in battle. There were barbecues, torchlight processions, turpentine balls, and what not. There was an ox-roast at Troy, but the weather turned cold and the undone carcass was distributed among a great crowd of enthusiastic Republicans. Miami County at this time had drifted away from whatever Democratic moorings she had had and was for Lincoln. The old Whig families had become Republican and the nearness of war had caused many Democrats to desert Douglas ; men who afterward became famous in both civil and military life stumped the county and excitement ran high. Uniformed clubs marched day and night. It was the day of the brass band and the night of the turpentine ball and the skyrocket. When a farmer went to a Lincoln meeting at Troy or Piqua he took the whole family along and did not refuse to array himself in all the Republican paraphernalia in sight. It was also the day-birth of the political song and singing clubs rendered the air melodious. Following is a stanza of one of the campaign songs that were heard throughout the length and breadth of the country in this never-to-be-forgotten campaign "Then hurrah for Honest Abe, the old Kentucky babe, Were going to make him president this fall. He'll swing the country back on its old accustomed track Just as easy as he used to swing his maul." The Lincoln campaign was at white heat throughout the country from its inception. The split in the Democratic party gave the members of that organization in Miami but little hope of electing Douglas, and not a few of them voted for Breckinridge and Lane and some pronounced Union men for Bell and Everett. The election of Lincoln was celebrated by bonfires and other manifestations of joy and this memorable campaign was over. The most exciting political battle ever waged in the county took place in 1864. This is known as the Brough-Vallandigham Campaign and for bitterness it exceeded anything ever witnessed among our people. It was the prelude to the Lincoln-McClellan election, as at that time Ohio was an October state and the eyes of the Nation were centered upon her. At this period the war was at its height. Sherman was investing Atlanta and Grant was thundering at the gates of Petersburg. Vallandigham had made himself odious by his vituperative speeches against the war policy of the Government. He had been AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 261 arrested and sent through the rebel lines and found refuge in Canada. The Democrats had selected him for their Gubernatorial candidate, while the Republicans had nominated John Brough, a war Democrat, who was in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war. The campaign as carried on in the battle summer of 1864 was the most spectacular one ever seen in the county. It was the day of the butternut breastpin and the display of one of these emblems was pretty sure to provoke a fight. The two great parties within the county faced one another like confronting armies on the field of battle. Meetings were held day -and night. The highways were almost always thronged with political processions, gaily decorated wagons drawn by four, six and eight horses and loaded to the guards with men and women ; girls dressed to represent Columbia and the various states of the -Union rode in these wagons and filled the air with political songs. Among these songs was one the chorus of which ran as follows : "Long live, long live, long live Brough Long live, long live. long live Brough, Long live Brough, long live Brough, Long live Johnny Brough!" Hundreds of young girls, grandmothers now, rent the air with this famous song and were cheered to the echo. Personal encounters were numerous everywhere, and in some instances the participants were seriously injured. One man was killed just across the borders of the county. A great many soldiers who were home on furlough at the time added to the intensity of the campaign and some rabid Vallandigham men were forced by them to take the oath of allegiance to the general government. At one time a mob was narrowly averted in Troy. On the 13th of August, Brough addressed a great crowd on the old Troy fair grounds. He was accompanied by the renowned and eloquent Samuel Galloway and this meeting was the crowning feature of the campaign. In order to give the reader an idea of the state of the times in the county during the Brough-Vallandigham episode I transcribe a paragraph from an article by the late Captain Williams, since one of the main actors in the scene was Frank McKinney, of Piqua, who represented Miami County in Congress. "When McKinney and C. L. Vallandigham were advertised to address a Democratic meeting at Sidney, Shelby County excitement was at fever heat. Thousands of her citizens gathered in Sidney to hear the speaking. By a singular coincidence a regiment of soldiers were in the town awaiting transportation to their homes in Michigan. They had encamped on the street leading from the depot to the hotel. Perhaps some of the Republican leaders who were desirous of preventing the meeting took advantage of the bitter feeling among the soldiers against Mr. Vallandigham to create a disturbance. When the carriage containing Mr. Vallandigham and Mr. McKinney passed by the soldiers they commenced yelling and shooting their guns over the top of the carriage and frightened the horses, causing them to run down a bank and almost upset the vehicle. However, the carriage reached the hotel. Mr. Vallandigham entered the hotel and the doors were closed. Mr. McKinney remained on the sidewalk and soon a squad of soldiers in their uniforms, and carrying guns, came to the hotel door and recognizing Mr. McKinney as the gentleman in 262 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the carriage with Vallandigham, demanded the surrender of Vallandigham and attempted to enter the hotel. Mr. McKinney placed himself between the soldiers and the hotel and refused to allow them to enter. A riot was imminent. "More than two thousand Democrats, each armed with a revolver, surrounded the hotel waiting for the soldiers to make an attack. Mr. McKinney's cool, determined manner and his firmness caused the soldiers to hesitate and prevented what would have been a scene of bloodshed and a terrible riot. A message was sent to the mayor of Sidney, S. B. Walker, and he and the leading Republicans were informed by Mr. McKinney that if blood was shed and property destroyed they would be held responsible. The mayor was wise and cool-headed and persuaded the soldiers to return to camp. This was done and the meeting was held." Frank McKinney, though a bitter partisan, was a loyal man, yet he did not yield one jot or tittle of his political -convictions to the storm of partisanship that then prevailed. At the October election of this memorable year Miami County gave a tremendous majority for Brough, who carried the state by a majority of 101,000. The Republicans elected within the county that year were : Jonathan H. Randall, representative ; Moses G. Mitchell, treasurer ; Samuel Davis, probate judge ; Cornelius T. Baer, sheriff ; James T. Janvier, prosecuting attorney; A. G. Conover, surveyor; Jonathan C. Coate, commissioner; John D. DeWeese, infirmary director ; J. C. Horton, coroner. All these men have passed away. The Grant and Colfax (1868) and the Grant and Wilson (1872) and the Hayes and Tilden (1876) campaigns witnessed the last days of torchlight politics in the county. The Hayes and Tilden campaign was attended with more or less excitement, owing to the long uncertainty that followed it, but the Lincoln and Vallandigham episodes were the high water marks of political excitement among our people. There have been some noted Congressional battles in the county, notably those of 1886 and 1890, when Captain Williams led the Republicans in the former year and W. P. Orr in the latter. A good many exciting county conventions have been held. The old court room, now the I. 0. 0. F. Hall in Troy, witnessed a number of these. It was seldom that Troy and Piqua could agree on a ticket in the early days. It seemed to be regarded as the religious duty of one town to blight the political ambition of the other. For a long time Piqua came down to Troy with her candidates and went home shorn. In not a few instances the partisans adjourned to the outside of the Convention hall and indulged in more than vocal arguments. It was the day of the mass and the delegate conventions. The outside townships were labored with industriously and more than once the mere fraction of a vote secured a political t riumph. A good many humorous incidents punctuated the past campaigns and conventions. Some years ago a certain candidate for state senator addressed a Republican meeting in one of the smaller towns of the county. In the midst of his eloquent argument he asserted that the Civil War had cost the Government "the enormous sum of two hundred thousand dollars." "Aren't you a little low, Mr. G___ ?" interrupted one of the listeners. "Don't AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 263 you mean two billion ?" The speaker turned to his interrupter and with a look of withering scorn exclaimed, "No, sir, I won't lower it one dollar ! I said two hundred thousand and I stick to it." Another local stomper in defining a particularly obnoxious epithet, said that he quoted correctly from Daniel Webster's dictionary and when reminded that the renowned Massachusetts senator was not the author of that noted book, he said that "Noah was Daniel's brother, anyhow, so it was written in the Webster family." The older political lights of the county have passed away. The Roes, the two McKinneys, the Johnstons, the Pearsons, the Albaughs, the Sloans, the Cables, the Ullerys, the Pickerings, the Clarks, the Millers,—all these have "wrapped the drapery of their couch about them and lain down to pleasant dreams." A newer generation of politicians has arisen where the "elder Romans" fought the exciting battles of partisanship. While Miami County is strongly Republican, members of the opposite party have frequently been elected to local offices. In some instances Republicans have been elected by meager majorities. S. N. Todd was elected treasurer by a majority of two votes, and S. B. Segner commissioner by the narrow margin of eight. Dr. G. Volney Dorsey and F. B. McNeal and William Cruikshanks, residents of the county, have filled state offices and Robert Furnas, also a Miami County man, became Governor of Nebraska. The mutations of county politics old and new, have been varied and interesting. The introduction of the Australian ballot, an innovation of late years, has done away with the free-hand system of voting. During the Civil War tickets were sometimes printed on colored paper, a plan intended to keep track of the slippery wielder of the franchise, but after the war this detective system fell into disuse. It was too inquisitorial for the masses. There are but two great parties in the county today. Greenbackism had its flurry a few years ago, but died with that hobby. The Prohibitionists have ceased to put out a county ticket, though now and then the Labor Party nominate a few candidates. The great Greenback leader of the county a few years ago was the late George W. Hafer. A number of national leaders have addressed political meetings within the county, among them William McKinley, Thomas B. Reed, Rutherford B. Hayes and James S. Sherman. William Jennings Bryan has spoken in the county during his presidential canvass. All these men have been accorded large audiences and a respectful hearing. The citizens of Miami keep abreast of politics and, though they are frequently engaged in warm political battles, they never lose sight of one thing, —the good of their country. CHAPTER XXI. SOME COUNTY HISTORY NOT GENERALLY KNOWN The General Harrison Land—The Randolph Slaves—Last Indian in Elizabeth Township— Revolutionary Pensioners—The July Fourth Celebration of 1827 at Troy —Prominent Miami County Lady—John Morgan's Raiders—A Lincoln Letter. I shall devote the present chapter to certain phases of our county's history that are not generally known. In the history of every community there are many facts and incidents that have escaped the eye of the general reader. Many of these have -escaped notice so long that they have passed into the traditionary age, therefore I cull a few for the reader's information. THE GENERAL HARRISON LAND. William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States, was at one time a Miami County land owner, having title from the government to the east half and northwest quarter of Section 21 in north Staunton Township. He came into possession of this land in 1816 and in 1818 he sold the southeast quarter to Henry Orbison, who is well remembered in the county and who resided at the time of his death at the corner of Main and Oxford Streets in Troy. Mr. Orbison paid General Harrison $480 for this quarter and John Gilmore paid $520 for the northeast quarter. David Orbison, son of Henry Orbison, came into possession of this land and discovered that Harrison's wife had never signed the deed, so he rode horseback to North Bend. Hamilton County, during the summer of 1851 and secured a quit claim deed from Anna Harrison, widow of the General. The deed bearing her signature is still in possession of the Orbison family. THE RANDOLPH SLAVES. The celebrated John Randolph, of Virginia, although a slave holder, was not a believer in slavery. What slaves he held he inherited from his father, never purchasing or selling any himself. He was a bachelor and at his death in 1833 it was found that his will provided that his slaves should be set free and conducted to Ohio, where each should have a tract of land to be bought for them by the Randolph estate. The will was contested, but in 1846 the executor was able to carry out its provisions. It was a long journey from Roanoke, Va., to the Miami country, but the ex-slaves freed by the humanity of their master willingly it. The band of blacks - 264 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 265 set out on their long journey, crossed the mountains and reached Cincinnati. Then four boats were chartered, the party traveling upward through Dayton, Piqua, Sidney, or into Mercer County. They were not well received in Mercer County, in fact, were driven therefrom, after which they turned southward and left some of their number in this county. The larger number located at and about Piqua, where some acquired homes and the conveniences of life. The number of the Randolph slaves that left Virginia was 380, and while perhaps none of these are yet living in the county, they have many descendants who are still here. The full list of negroes and mulattoes liberated by the Randolphs will is recorded in the clerk's office at Charlotte County, Va., and the court records of our own county contain descriptions of the persons thus emancipated. Each adult child so liberated was designated by a number, but few of them having more than one name. I transcribe for the curious reader the following descriptions of several of the Randolph slaves : "No. 215—Frank, lark complexion. 5 feet 11 inches high, 25 years old, small scar on forehead, whitish appearance on the hands. "No. 218—Sylvia, lark. 5 feet 5. 25 years old. "No. 221—Sally. mulatto. 5 feet 2, 28 years old, her two children, Craddock aged 7, Jim aged 4." For several years the Randolph negroes tried to get back their Mercer County lands, but all their efforts have proved futile, for the latest court decisions have been against them. The value of this land is now estimated at $250,000 and the descendants of these ex-slaves now number about 4,000 people, residing mostly in Ohio and Indiana. LAST INDIAN IN ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP. The last Indian to inhabit Elizabeth Township and in fact one of the last red-men to occupy any part of the county was Wauger. He lived in that particular section till 1820, when he left for the far west, in the heart of which he died. For some years a young Indian, probably his son, lived with him, the young buck occupying his time in loafing and hunting. Captain Williams in his sketch of Wauger says : "He built a rude but close by a spring on a farm afterwards owned by Isaac Sheets. That spring, together with a brooklet from a spring on the farm of A. D. Sayers, that was settled by Christopher Knoop, formed a stream that ever since has been known as Wauger Creek, which flows through Sections 32 and 31 and empties into Honey Creek on the old Daniel Babb farm, not far from the old mill that once stood on the Troy and Dayton Road east of the Miami River. The land along Wauger Creek was low and marshy, and on the farm near the homestead of James M. Dye, now owned by Mark Knoop, there was a large beaver dam, the remains of which were found a few years ago in the construction of the Knoop ditch which converts the swampy land along Wauger's Creek into fertile fields for corn and wheat. "Wauger was a peaceful, quiet Indian, and the young buck who remained with him, I have no doubt was his son. They gave no trouble to the settlers, and followed closely the business of trapping, hunting enough to supply their food, with some venison to trade to the settlers for meal and flour. He was noted for his love of money, for he never spent a cent on clothing, drink or provisions. 266 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY "Wauger had no squaw with him in his hut, but he or the young Indian prepared their simple, frugal meals. The fact that he had no wife with him excited some comment among the old pioneers, and the further fact of his remaining away from his tribe was a source of wonderment among the Knoops, Dyes, Carvers and Jacksons who lived near the old Indian's hut. For most of those named remembered the Indian village on Pleasant Run on the Sprowl farm, where there were a number of squaws and pappooses with the band. "Wauger gained the good will and confidence of his white neighbors. When he left for the far West he gave no reason for his departure, but quietly as he came, twenty years before, he left the neighborhood and the country, leaving no trail behind him, and no information as to his future home. He was probably the last Indian that lived in Elizabeth Township, and while the people with one accord called the creek along which he trapped "Wauger's Creek," he was forgotten or dimly remembered like a half-forgotten dream." REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS. Following is a list of citizens of Miami County who were granted pensions on account of their service in the War of the Revolution, and the commands to which they belonged : John R. Bold, private, New York Militia. William C. Bailey, corporal. Virginia Line. John Battenhouse, Virginia Line. John Byrne, private, Penn. State Troops. Benjamin Brandon, private, North Carolina Troops. Lewis Boyer, dragoon, Van Hur's Cavalry. Joseph Connor, private, Virginia Line. John Campbell, private, Penn. State Troops. Thomas Edwards, private, Penn. State Troops. Ezekial Farmer, private, South Carolina Troops. Daniel Fielding. sergeant, Continental Line. John Gerard, private, Virginia Line. Patrick Hegan, private, Penn. Militia. Isaac Julian, private, Penn. Militia. Alexander Jackson, private, Penn. Militia. Thomas Kelsey, private, New York Troops. David Lloyd, sergeant, Penn. Troops. Joseph Line, private, Penn. Troops. J. W. Meredith. private, Delaware Line. Levi Munsell. private, Connecticut Line. Benjamin Morris. private, Virginia Troops. David Munson. private. Penn. Militia. William Mitchell, private, Penn. Line. David H. Morris, private, Penn. Line. Benjamin Pegg. private, Penn. Line. Harrison Parsons, private, New Jersey Troops. Henry Penney. private. South Carolina Troops. Edward Severno. private. New Jersey Troops. Alexander Telford. private, Virginia Line. Abram Thomas, private. Penn. Troops. Aaron Tullis, private, Virginia Line. Isaac Taylor, private, New Jersey Troops. Samuel Wiley, private. Penn. Line. All but four of the above soldiers were over seventy-five years of age when their pensions were granted. This list is valuable inasmuch as it shows from what localities some of the first settlers of the county came and enables present residents to trace their ancestry back to the days of the Revolution. On July Fourth, 1827, a great celebration was held at Troy, at which a company of the veterans of Seventy-six was present and marched in the procession. After the parade a banquet was served at the tavern of Azel Skinner, at which all the veterans of the Revolution were honored guests. Tile Miami Reporter of July 17, 1827, gives a full account of the celebration and the toasts drunk at the banquet, among them were the following : "The day we celebrate; we hail its return with joy, may it never be forgotten by freemen." " The heroes of '76 : May their bright example stimulate their sons to preserve the inestimable jewel of liberty bequeathed to them by their fathers unblemished till time shall be no more." "Henry Clay : The great enlightened advocate of Domestick Manufactures, and Internal Improvement, he merits our AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 269 warmest thanks for his exertions in their favor." "Our National Standard : The Eagles of Rome have long since been buried in the dust; the Eagle of Napoleon lies trampled on and forgotten; but the Eagle of North America floats high in the air triumphant and respected by all the world at once the awe of despots and the scourge of tyrants, as freemen we will support it." "The State of Ohio : An infant in age but a giant in population and resources, may she ever continue to be a home for freemen." The names of Samuel Winans, and of John Day appear in the list of veterans of '76 whose names do not appear in the list of pensioners given above. PROMINENT MIAMI COUNTY LADY. It is not generally known that a Miami County woman has long been at the head of the Andersonville Prison Board, which keeps in order that famous burial ground for Union Soldiers who were starved to death in the South during the Civil War. This lady, Mrs. Sarah Darst Winans, who is a native of Lost Creek Township, has long been prominent in Relief Corps work, having served as National president of that organization, but her greatest work has been that of preserving the Anderson-vile Prison grounds. Largely through her efforts this famous plot of ground has been beautified and kept in order. She visits Andersonville at stated intervals in discharge of her duties and today that place, sacred to all loyal people, owes much of its beauty to her administrative abilities. Quite a number of Miami soldiers are buried there and the modest headstones that mark their graves tell in silent language the story of their awful sufferings and their devotion to their country. JOHN MORGAN'S RAIDERS. Very few citizens of the county are aware that two of John Morgan's raiders were captured at Piqua during the memorable rebel raid through Ohio in 1863. Dr. F. E. Kitzmiller, of that city, has furnished me with the following interesting account of this little known incident of the Civil War. "In 1863 John Morgan's brigade became scattered in southern Ohio. In Piqua those days all was excitement of war and the latest news from the front was upon every one's lips. No person in Piqua ever expected to see a live rebel in this vicinity, and I will never forget old Piqua one morning about 9 :30 when ' something happened.' "Two men, both young, but tired and care-worn, came into Piqua upon the Urbana Pike to Main Street, then south to the Public Square and went west on High Street to College, then south to the Covington Pike. These men were horseback, each riding a small bay horse. The horses were also very tired. "Within five minutes after they went west from the public square they were suspicioned as being Morgan men. "They rode through Piqua very slowly, allowing their horses to walk, no doubt to avoid suspicion. Within ten minutes after they left the public square, my father, E. A. Kitzmiller, William Brooks, the liveryman, and myself, started west in my father's buggy. We drove fast and came up to the two men about two hundred yards east of the toll gate, which was at the corner of Covington Avenue and Washington 270 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Pike. Just as we approached the two men the town marshal, Samuel Garvey, and Zach Shipley came up along side of us, horseback. "The two men made no effort to escape and were ordered to dismount, which they did. They were then searched. They carried no fire-arms and stated that they were on their way to Indiana to visit a sister. "Attached to the saddle of each horse was found a small package containing a little wearing apparel, and on the inside of each package was found a half of a Union cent, the same being cut in two. This was considered very suspicious, and they were told to mount their horses and proceed ahead of us to town. "They were taken to the old town hall, the present City Building, where they confessed that they were members of John Morgan's brigade and they both said they were glad they were under arrest. "These fellows were quite intelligent, and two men were never better treated in Piqua than they. They smoked and ate and had a jolly good time until 3 o'clock p. m., when they were taken to Columbus and confined in the Ohio penitentiary as prisoners of war. When they left Piqua for Columbus more than a thousand people cheered them a good-bye. "For years I have wondered whether either of these men were alive, and a year ago I wrote a Lexington, Kentucky, newspaper, making inquiry. They published my letter, but no answer ever came. "I recently received a letter from 0. B. Gould, warden of the Ohio penitentiary, saying the John Morgan men were all confined there, but they had no record as to where they were captured. " Mr. Shipley and myself are the only persons alive who were connected with the capture, and by inquiry I can find no one here who seems to remember the matter. "I write this that the matter may not be forgotten." A LINCOLN LETTER. Comparatively few people know that one of Abraham Lincoln's characteristic letters is in the possession of a citizen of this county. The owner is Mr. J. L. Hill, of Fletcher, and the letter was received by his father, who was a personal friend of Lincoln's, in 1856. This rare letter from one of the greatest men the world ever produced is highly treasured by its present owner. Mr. Hill in furnishing the Lincoln letter for reproduction in this work says that the great President often visited his (Mr. Hill's) father in Illinois in company with Judge David Davis, United States senator and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Lincoln's letter is as follows : SPRINGFIELD, ILL., Sept. 8, 1856. Luther Hill, Esq. Dear Sir: I understand you are a Fillmore man. Let me prove to you that every vote withheld from Fremont, and given to Fillmore, in this state, actually lessens Fillmore's chance of being President. Suppose Buchanan gets all the slave states, and Pennsylvania, and any other one state besides; then he is elected, no matter who gets all the rest. But suppose Fillmore gets the two slave states of Maryland and Kentucky; then Buchanan is not elected; Fillmore goes into the House of Representatives, and may be made President by compromise. But suppose again Fillmore's friends throw away a few thousand votes on him, in Indiana and Illinois, it will inevitably give these states to Buchanan, which will more than compensate him for the loss of Maryland and Kentucky; will elect him, and leave Fillmore no chance in the H. R. or out of it. This is as plain as the adding up of the weights of three small hogs. As Mr. Fillmore has no possible chance to carry Illinois for himself, it is plainly his interest to let Fremont take it. and thus keep it out of the hands of Buchanan. Be not deceived, Buchanan is the horse to beat in this race. Let him have Illinois. and nothing can beat him; and he will get Illinois, if AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 271 men persist in throwing away votes upon Mr. Fillmore. Does some one persuade you that Mr. Fillmore can carry Illinois? Nonsense! There are over seventy newspapers in Illinois opposing Buchanan, only three or four of which support Mr. Fillmore. all the rest going for Fremont. Are not these newspapers a fair index of the proportion of the voters, if not, tell me why? Again, of these three or four Fillmore newspapers, two at least are supported, in part, by Buchanan men, so I understand. Do not they know where the shoe pinches? They know the Fillmore movement helps them, and therefore they help it. Do think these things over, and then act according to your judgment. Yours very truly, Confidential. A. LINCOLN. CHAPTER XXII. MANUFACTURES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT Early Mills and Distilleries—Brick and Tile 'Making—Present Industries of the County. The manufactures of Miami County have kept pace with its growth from the beginning. Today it is one of the largest manufacturing counties of the State. Its products are diversified. Within late years many new manufacturing plants have sprung up. Nearly all have been incorporated under the laws of Ohio and, so far as known, all are prosperous. The first manufactures within the county were limited to the scant population. These consisted almost wholly of mills, cereal and lumber. Later on cooperage was carried on to considerable extent and when the canal came into being this business thrived and continued to do so for some years. In some parts of the county small distilleries were operated, producing a great deal of corn whiskey. Much of this output was flatboated down the Miami and found a ready market in the South. One of the first cereal mills built in the county was owned by John Yount of Monroe Township. Yount was rather secretive and did not give away his plans to everybody. It is told of the erection of this mill that the builder "cut down a large beech tree that grew in front of his house and burned out the center of the stump till a hole, shaped somewhat like the cavity of a bowl, was obtained. The charred surface of the concavity was rubbed with sandstone till the charcoal was all removed, when the most difficult of the labor was completed. A contrivance something like an old sweep was erected over the stump. Instead of attaching a bucket to one end of the sweep they fastened a large round stone which was placed in such a position that, when lowered, it fell into the burned depression in the stump. Owing to the fact that this simple contrivance could be worked without either steam or water, it possessed one advantage over our more modern mills. The motor power necessary to keep such a machine moving demanded such a wonderful expenditure of muscular activity that it was not to be wondered at that the head of the family felt by no means elated when informed by the good wife that the flour barrel was empty and it was necessary for him to go to mill." In 1809 John Freeman of the same township made an improvement on the Yount mill and put up a hopper for grinding corn. This hopper was set up in a shed of logs. - 272 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 273 It was considered a great thing, this primitive corn-mill. Rattle, rattle went the old hopper from morning till night and the neighbors brought in their grist from the surrounding country. The Freeman mill existed for a number of years, but at last the groanings of the old machinery ceased and more pretentious mills came into being. As early as 1805 Benjamin Leave11, a millwright, came to Piqua and engaged in his business. It was the first milling done in this part of the country. The first manufacture of linseed oil, a business which has given Piqua a name everywhere, was engaged in by John McCorkle of that city in 1824. The McCorkle mill was run by water power, and the crusher was a large circular block of limestone. Notwithstanding Mr. McCorkle's industry his primitive machinery proved a serious drawback and there was but a limited demand for his output, owing no doubt to this handicap. In other parts of the county little flour mills sprang up and proved a great benefit to the inhabitants. As most of these were operated by water power they were to be found along streams. Their machinery was of the simplest description, built by the hands that had erected the pioneer cabins or guided the first emigrant teams over the mountains. The people, acknowledging the necessity of mills, gave their proprietors their patronage. It would require more scope than I have at my command to enumerate all the mills that were operated during the two first decades of our country's history. They were busy though primitive institutions. Their patrons were compelled to make long journeys in order to have their grists ground and as some of these trips were made in the dead of winter, when the snow was deep on the ground and the icy winds howled through the forests, the sufferings of the gristers were intense. More than once they were chased by the rapacious wolf and sometimes they were compelled to wait two days at the mills before the grists could be ground, there being orders ahead of them and the miller's motto was "First come first served." It was natural that the mills of the country were the first industries that appeared. The inhabitants must have bread, though "Johnny cake" was for some time the staple food. When there was no white bread in the house the corn-dodger was called into requisition and the pioneer boys and girls waxed fat on it. It was always a good omen when a mill site was selected and some enterprising person began to set up his burrs and hoppers. It meant a food supply and consequently more money in circulation, for the miller paid the prevailing price for grain. Consequently flat-boating fell off and the first farmers bought more land with their money and were not compelled to rely on the cereal mills of Dayton and Cincinnati for their food. There still stand within the limits of the county some of the later mills which succeeded the first ones. Almost every township has one or more of these buildings. They were strongly built. Their timbers were heavy and well seasoned and the gigantic water wheels held out for many years, or until modern machinery was placed in them, when the old "tail race" vanished and the "roller process" seemed the acme of modern milling. The Edwards mill near Troy is a famous milling structure, so is the Allen mill at Eldean and 274 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY numerous ones along the Miami and Stillwater. One of the well known old flour mills of the east side is the Sheets Mill on Lost Creek. This mill for many years was the mainstay of the contiguous region and many of the older inhabitants, who as boys carried grists to it viewed its recent demolition with real sorrow. Another Lost Creek mill is the Burkholder mill, which is yet in operation. This old structure, along with the one at Sheets' kept the people in flour and cornmeal sixty years ago and survived to witness the changes in the milling system which came along with advancing years. Among the early industries on the west side was John Mast's grist-mill in Union Township, in connection with which was a carding machine, as a good deal of wool and flax were then produced in the county. In 1820 David Thayer bought and refitted the Kelley mills and a loom for weaving blankets was put in. This was a needed improvement and was well patronized. Mr. Kelley erected a cotton factory near West Milton and later a scythe manufactory was added to the industries of Union Township. In 1819 the manufacture of linseed oil was commenced in the same locality. It is said that powder was made in the same vicinity at an early day, but the story that Tecumseh once came to the powder-mill and gun shop to have his rifle repaired is probably a myth. Jacob Embree put up a corn cracker of the most primitive construction in Newton Township in 1808 and this mill did considerable business for a number of years. Saw-mills which turned out a great deal of lumber flourished everywhere throughout the country and they were among the first industries to follow the white settlers. Also at an early date tile and brick making came into existence. It had been discovered that different parts of the county possessed the right sort of earth for this business and there were men who stood ready to take hold of it. In course of time the cabins and frame houses gave place to brick ones, the frame churches also did the same, and there grew up a steady demand for brick buildings. A number of kilns were established and in course of time there were many in successful operation. A great many brick were carried on the canal when that waterway assumed business and boats were built looking to this sort of transportation. Many of the first industries of the country gave way for others which came to supply the increasing population. Modern machinery took the place of the old and every new invention was seized upon and given a trial. The old mills disappeared entirely or were renovated and new machinery added, water power was succeeded by steam, until today every manufactory in the country is carried on after the most modern methods. The output of the farmer demanded the grain elevator and it came at his call. A list of even the early manufactories of the country would fill a volume. As a rule they were conducted by enterprising men who were not only anxious to turn an honest penny, but to serve the best interests of the people as well. Before the day of the woolen, knitting mill and kindred factories the merchants of Miami were compelled to go to the eastern marts for their goods. This necessitated trouble and expense as transportation was then in its first stages. Today much of the stuff manufactured within the county is purchased and consumed at home.