700 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

mation, at another they entirely disappear.

The Waverly sandstone is being highly prized for building purposes, and will be of importance to the county. In the western part of the county a white sandrock is found, which can be used in the manufacture of glass. In the same part of the county a stone of various colors is found. The out-crop of the Cliff limestone, for four or five miles at least, in the Sunfish Valley, is a solid table, twenty to thirty feet of which is exposed in continuous walls along the banks of the stream, and all of which can be turned into the finest of lime. There is no point in Southern Ohio where lime of first quality can be so economically manufactured as in the vicinity of Byington, advantageous locations for kilns being everywhere accessible, the quarries requiring no stripping, and fuel being abundant and cheap.

Quite heavy beds of iron ochre occur along the outcrops of the black slate in Sunfish Valley, which will probably be found to possess economic value.

Pike County commands an unlimited supply of the finest building stone of the State, traversing, as it does, for twenty-five miles, unquestionably the best and amplest exposures of the valuable portion of the Waverly series in Southern Ohio. To show the grounds on which this statement rests it is only necessary to note the layers upon layers of this

WAVERLY STONE.

There can be seen at these quarries strata upon strata of the deposit from fourteen to twenty-four inches in thickness, divided only by a seam less than that which the mason leaves as he places the layer upon layer of stone. These strata are of a width and extend back without developing a perpendicular seam, furnishing a solid stone of dimensions beyond the possibility of any known method of engineering to remove, Slabs may be seen from which blocks twenty feet square could be marked out, and which are almost beyond practical size, and there is no knowing how extended the layers may be, but it seems as if each stratum were one immense plate, possibly hundreds of feet in width; the thickness has been spoken of and consequently it can be seen that it only requires the skill of the quarryman to break off a piece of any required dimensions.

The lowest quarries of the series that have been, or that admit of being, extensively worked are those located along the Scioto Valley in the vicinity of Waverly, the county seat of Pike County. From this village the formation has derived its name. These quarries occur at a height of eighty to ninety feet above the black slate, the interval being filled with thin and fragile courses of stone and unconsolidated shales. The maximum thickness of the quarry courses is thirty-two feet, and where this maximum is reached there are not less than twelve feet of the finest quality of building stone. The average yield of the quarries is less than this, but not under eight feet.

A three-foot course that has been quarried in the high ground near Latham seems to be the equivalent of the Buena Vista ledge. It agrees with it in position, and also measurably in texture and color. This course passes on to the eastward from the point already named, and grows heavier as it is followed in this direction, until near Piketon, at a level of seventy-five or one hundred feet. above, it occurs in a seven-foot course of remarkable excellence. This ledge differs, however, in color from the exposure already noted, as well as from the rock in the typical locality, being of a beautiful yellowish brown.

This quarry system begins on the eastern border of Highland County, in the tops of the highest hills, and is carried by its easterly dip below the surface just beyond the Scioto River. It is to be noted that it does .not appear on the Ohio River, a series of worthless

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 701

shales taking its place in the series there, while in passing to the northward, it is greatly reduced in both quantity and quality, so that it may be said to be confined almost exclusively to the western half of Pike County. Within this area it is everywhere disclosed, and constitutes beyond question the most valuable bed of building stone in Southern Ohio.

Besides this valuable formation of Waverly freestone and the equally valuable veins of coal in the extreme eastern and northeastern portion of Pike County there is a good fire-clay near Latham, and other sections, that with capital might be invested in the manufacture of fire-brick. There is enough of it to make it an important industry. While Pike County cannot be said to be rich in coal and iron ore, in limestone, the Waverly, and in fire-clay she is rich beyond comparison. There are traditions that the precious metals have been found, and that gold, silver and lead are a part of Pike County's hidden treasures, and that petroleum is another.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Pike County may be classed among the hilly counties of the southern portion of Ohio, and may be said to be rough and broken, when you leave the high banks which line the beautiful valley of the Scioto. On Sunfish, Pee Pee, and on Ohio Brush Creek, in the northwest corner of the county, on the west side of the Scioto River, and on the tributaries of the creeks named, there are splendid lands and fine farms. On the west side the valley of Beaver Creek, with its sloping hills, makes excellent farms, and the soil is fertile. Still there is not that deep, rich soil found upon the Western prairies. As a stock-raising country, as well as agricultural, in its rich valleys Pike is certainly favored. There have been trials enough to prove it to be peculiarly favored as a grape-growing section, and the vintage has proven profitable to those who have given it their attention. Fruits may be considered indigenous, for the climate is all that can be asked.

There are few better watered counties in the State than Pike, and at the same time we find no stagnant pools. The drainage is as near perfect as is found in nature. The principal tributaries of the Scioto on the east side are Beaver Creek, Little Beaver, Big Run, and two or three small tributaries in the northeast, all flowing in a northwesterly course and emptying into the Scioto River. Thus the country east of the river slopes to the northwest.

On the west side the drainage is to the southeast, directly opposite that on the east of the river. The two largest of these creeks, Sunfish and Pee Pee, run in a generally southeastern course, flowing into the Scioto. The principal tributaries to these creeks are Grassy Fork, Chenoweth forks of Sunfish, while Pee Pee has several small tributaries. In the extreme northwest corner of the county, in Perry Township, Ohio Brush Creek rises and, passing southwesterly in its course, becomes a part of Brush Creek, which flows through Adams County and mingles its waters with the Ohio River. Along the banks of this small stream is some beautiful farming land, and Perry Township can boast of being one of the best in the county for agricultural purposes. Pike County, then, is watered in the east and southeast by Beaver, Little Beaver and Big Run; in the northeast by three small tributaries of the Scioto River; in the south center by Camp Creek, from which that township takes its name, and Chenoweth Fork of Sunfish; in the central and north by Sunfish, Pee Pee and Crooked Creek and other branches; and in the northwest, as before stated, by Ohio Brush Creek. Thus every section of the county has its living streams of water, besides numerous springs, some of very large size, worthy of notice from the large volume of water sent forth.

702 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

TIMBER.

The timber of Pike County has been and is now an important element in the industries of the county. Large quantities of land have been bought up exclusively for the timber upon it, and there are still vast forests waiting to be converted into lumber, staves, heading, tubs, etc. The poplar timber on Sunfish Creek and its different tributaries is as good as can be found anywhere.

There are other kinds of timber of great value. Hickory is one of the principal, aside from oak, of different kinds, which abound all over the timbered portion of the county. The sugar maple also grows in extended forests, and in many cases are preserved for sugar orchards.

ORIGIN OF NAMES.

The surveys of the lands along the streams in Pike County were made soon after the treaty with the Indians was concluded, by which their lands in Ohio were ceded to the United States. For months and even years afterward, bands of Indians strayed over their old hunting grounds. Surveying parties were therefore, accompanied by scouts, who were armed for the double purpose of keeping off the Indians and to procure game for the surveyors. When on Grassy Fork, near its mouth, not far from where Latham now is, a half mile or more, a hunter killed a small deer and dragged it to the watet to wash off the clotted blood. As he did so a school of sunfish was attracted to the blood, which they devoured. The name of Sunfish was given to the main stream.

Grassy Fork of Sunfish took its name from the fact that the grass along its banks grew luxuriantly.

Chenoweth's Fork of Sunfish took its name from the Chenoweths, who settled on the prairie in Pee Pee Township.

Bear Creek was named in consequence of the hunters killing a bear on it.

The name of Camp Creek was given to the stream on which a party of surveyors had camped on several occasions.

John Beasley, one of the surveying party referred to above, gave " No Name" to the stream or creek which still bears the name. Crooked Creek, which flows southerly through the town of Waverly, was given the name from its winding course.

ZANE'S TRACE.

This trace is well known to early old settlers in Central and Southern Ohio. Zane was given three sections of land for laying out this trace, and on these sections, it is stated, three different towns were laid out, Zanesville, which was named after him, being one of the three. There were no roads in those days, and this trace, known as Zane's trace, was said to have commenced at the Ohio River, opposite Maysville, come up through Adams County to the ridge in Sunfish Township, along which it continued till it reached Byington ; thence down Sunfish Creek by Big Spring; thence up Kincaid's Fork to Lunbeck's Hill and along that ridge in an easterly direction till it passed Mr. Gault's in Perry Township; thence down the Paint Valley to Chillicothe or Indian Oldtown.

As late as 1825 wolves were quite numerous in Pike County. Ten years later few were found within its limits. The Ohio Canal was completed to Waverly, Sept. 6, 1832. The canal-boat Governor Worthington was the first boat through from Waverly to Portsmouth. It was owned by James Emmitt Co., and started a little ahead of time.

CHAPTER XXXIV

BOUNDARY, AREA, PROGRESS, COUNTY SITE

BOUNDARIES AND AREA.

Pike County is bounded on the north by Ross County, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Scioto and a portion of Adams, and on the west by Adams and Highland counties. She has within a fraction of 429 square miles, or an area in acres of 274,560, of which 274,384 is found upon the tax-roll of 1882. The census of 1880 gives Pike County 470 square miles, or 300,800 acres, which is forty-one square miles at least too much, deducting but ten square miles for the angle cut off in the southwest corner. The Scioto River divides the county into not quite equal parts, about three-fifths lying on the west side and two-fifths on the east. The canal follows the river, except in its bend on the west, running the entire length of the county from north to south; but entering in the northeast corner of the county its general course is southwest until it passes the big bend near Piketon, when its course changes to almost directly south, passing into Scioto County. The Scioto Valley Railroad also follows the course of the river through the county, southwest and south, but crosses the river near Waverly, and passes down on the east side. The Ohio Southern Railroad enters the county from the north, near its center from east to west, and runs in a southwesterly course, touching the county seat, Waverly, and passing out on the east side of the county near its center from north to south, and continues to Jackson, the county seat of Jackson County. This gives the county good transportation facilities, excepting in the west and southwest.

COUNTY BUSINESS.

The first county commissioners of Pike County were: Wm. Russell, Jonathan Clark and Peter Donnon, and Joseph J. Martin was Clerk of the Court. The first Listers appointed and their remuneration are as follows: Wm. S. Winn, Seal Township, $5; Bailey Stewart, Jackson Township, $8; Geo. Mustard, Sunfish Township, $5.50; Arthur Chenoweth, Pee Pee Township, $5.50; Joshua Davis, Mifflin Township, $8; John James, Beaver Township, $5; Robert Hampton, Washington Township, $5.50. The year 1815 closed with making the townships and starting the local county machinery into working order. The first road in the county laid out after organization was from Piketon to Richmond, in the fall of 1815, Richard Chenoweth being Surveyor and Wm. Hollenback, Chairman. The following year, 1816, the commissioners let out to contract the building of a court-house and jail. Jonathan Clark received the contract for the jail, and Elijah Fitch that for erecting the court-house. About the first account found in regard to ,these contracts is that Clark received, June 3, 1816, $300 on his contract, while June 2, 1817, Mr. Fitch received, in two orders, $500 as part payment on his contract for building court-house. The year 1816 closed out in some way the township of Washington, for nothing further is found, of such a township

- 703 -

704 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

among the records. That year the judges of the election and the clerks are given, and but six townships are mentioned as composing the county of Pike, and the same in the year 1817.

The following were judges and clerks of the regular election in October, 1816:

Sunfish—Wm. Mustard, Richard Carter, Hezekiah Merritt, Judges; Robert Montgomery, Reason Zarley, Clerks. Seal—Nathan Glover, David Daniels, Wm. Talbott, Judges; Jas. J. Martin, Wm. Collings, Clerks., Pee Pee—Abraham Chenoweth, Thomas Wyly, Richard Chenoweth, Judges; Jno. Parrill, Arthur Chenoweth, Clerks. Jackson—Daniel Bowyer, Thomas Wilson, Joseph Foster, Judges; Jno. Russell, ThomasWright, Clerks. Beaver—Jeremiah Sailor, Abraham Huff, Henry Slavens, Judges; Jeremiah Rice, James Kelly, Clerks. Mifflin—Thomas Gardner, Samuel Snowden, Benj. West, Judges; Nimrod Elliott, Abraham Thomas, Clerks.

The Listers and House Appraisers in 1817 were: Mifflin, Joshua Davis and Nimrod Elliott; Beaver, Reuben Bumgarner and Peter Rhineley ; Seal, James Henderson and Sam'l Reed; Sunfish, Robert Montgomery and Wm.. Mustard; Pee Pee, Ed. H. Smith and Henry Carter; Jackson, Wm. Hodges and Thomas Wilson.

The jail was completed in 1817 and seems to have answered the purpose until March, 1819, when a prisoner named Andrew Arnold escaped. This was the first accident of the kind in Pike County.

The court-house was finished in 1819 with the exception of the lightning-rods. The contract for the inside work was given to Reed & Ware.

The same year Jonathan Clark was Collector of Pike County and was prosecuted in the fall of that year by the county. While this action of the commissioners was of record there was nothing to explain why the suit against Clark was pressed.

A jury of twelve persons were impaneled in July, 1823, to hold an inquest on the dead bodies of Caroll Carter and Polley Carter.

PEBBLE TOWNSHIP.

This township was probably organized in the summer of 1821; the first reference to it as far as found was July 18, 1821, Arthur Chenoweth was allowed $1.50 for a ballot-box made for the township for the October election, and the following judges and clerks named to take charge of the polls: Judges, Jos. Peniston, Wm. Young and Daniel Devorss; Clerks, Enoch Parrell and John Devorss.

THE LOST RECORDS.

The county commissioners' records from 1815 to 1840 are lost. Several old books were found and examined from which a portion of the official history of Pike County was gleaned, but a complete history was impossible on account of the failure to find the lost or missing records. Whether those records have ever been seen since the fire in Piketon, in 1844, is uncertain. This loss is a serious drawback to a complete history of the early days, the formation of the townships, their boundaries and officers, and is much regretted on the part of the historian, for much time has been given in the search for the lost, and that search, unfortunately, has proven futile. With this explanation the work is continued with the facts gathered since the year 1840.

ADVANCING.

The county gained fairly in population and wealth for the decade between 1820 and 1830. The increase in the former was fully twenty-five per cent. This was up to the State average. In the decade between 1840 and 1850 was the greatest gain since 1830. This was thirty-five per cent. and the population at that time was 10,953. It gained very nearly as much the first thirty years, from 1820 to 1850,

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 705

in numbers, as the thirty years following the latter date.

In 1820 the population was 4,253; in 1830, 6,024, and in 1840 the census gave it 7,534, or sixteen persons to every square mile of its territory.

POPULATION OF PIKE COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS

FROM 1840.

Majority for removal, 310.

THE GIFT OF THE TOWN OF WAVERLY.

The following resolution was passed by the town council of Waverly, Sept. 20, 1861:

" WHEREAS, A few of the citizens of Waverly and vicinity have agreed to build the public buildings and donate them to Pike County in the event that Waverly, by a vote of the people, shall become the county seat of the county, therefore, Resolved by the town council of the corporation of the town of Waverly, That the ground known as the public square' of said corporation is hereby freely tendered to the citizens of said county for the purpose of erecting thereon a court-house and jail, and that the said county shall have the free use of said ground so long as the same shall continue to be 'occupied by said public buildings, or either of them."

On Dec. 8, 1866, following, was filed the deed from James Emmitt and Louisa, his wife; George W. A. Clough and Mary, his wife; James R. Hibbens and Mary, his wife; Newton S. Moore and Elizabeth, his wife, all of Pike County, to the commissioners of Pike, of the new court-house erected on the aforesaid public square in Waverly. The consideration was $5.

THE DEED COPY.

"JAMES EMMITT, et al.

TO

"COMMISSIONERS OF PIKE COUNTY.

"Know all men, by these presents, That we James Emmitt and Louisa Emmitt, his wife; George W. A. Clough and Mary Clough, his wife; James R. Hibbens and Mary Hibbens, his wife; and Newton S. Moore and Elizabeth Moore, his wife, all of Pike County, Ohio, in consideration of five dollars ($5.00) to them paid by the Commissioners of Pike County, Ohio, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby renounce, release and forever quitclaim to the said County Commissioners of Pike County, Ohio, and to their successors in office as such Commissioners forever, for the use and benefit of the county of Pike and State aforesaid, all our claims, title, interest and estate, legal and equitable, in the new court-house building, erected and standing

708 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

upon the public square in the incorporated village of Waverly, Pike Co., Ohio, together with everything appertaining to said court-house building, as it now stands; and all the estate, title and interest of said James Emmitt, George W. A. Clough, James R. Hibbens and Newton S. Moore, either in law or in equity of, in and to the said courthouse building, together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging to, and all the issues and profits thereof. To have and to hold the same to the only proper use of said County of Pike, Ohio, forever.

"In witness whereof the said James Emmitt and Louisa Emmitt, his wife; George W. A. Clough and Mary Clough, his wife ; James B. Hibbens and Mary Hibbens, his wife, and Newton S. Moore and Elizabeth Moore, his wife, whose wives, severally, hereby release all their right and expectancy of dower in the said court-house building, have hereunto set their hands and seals this seventh (7th) day of December, in the year of our Lord 1866.

"Signed and sealed in the presence of J. Bowers Underwood, John J. Kellison and Eden Moore, all of Pike County, Ohio.

"JAMES EMMITT, [L. S.]

"LOUISA EMMITT, [L. S.

"GEORGE W. A. CLOUGH, [L. S.]

"MARY CLOUGH, [L. S.

JAMES R. HIBBENS, [L. S.

"MARY HIBBENS, [L. S.

"NEWTON S. MOORE, [L. S.]

"ELIZABETH MOORE. [L. S. ]

" STATE OF OHIO,

"PIKE COUNTY. } ss.

"Be it remembered, that on the seventh (7th) day of December, in the year of our Lord 1866, before a notary public within and for the county and State aforesaid, personally came James Emmitt and Louisa Emmitt, his wife; George W. A. Clough and Mary Clough, his wife; James R. Hibbens and Mary Hibbens, his wife, and Newton S. Moore and Elizabeth Moore, his wife, the grantors in the foregoing deed, and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof to be their voluntary acts and deed, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned; and the said Louisa Emmitt, Mary Clough, Mary Hibbens and Elizabeth Moore, wives of the said James Emmitt, George W. A. Clough, James R. Hibbens and Newton S. Moore being examined by me separate and apart from their said husbands, and the contents of said deed being by me made known and explained to them, as the statute directs, declared that they did voluntarily sign and seal and acknowledge the same, that they are still satisfied therewith, as their free act and deed, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

" In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

"J. BOWERS UNDERWOOD,

" Notary Public, Pike County, Ohio."

After this vote and the removal things calmed down. This was the situation for some three years. The gentlemen who had promised to build the court-house had not done so, and a bill was introduced into the Legislature asking to have another vote, and to put back the county seat to Piketon. This woke up the parties to the contract and the court-house was erected, as the above deed shows, and at the next session of the Legislature, as the work was rapidly progressing, the bill was allowed to die. A good substantial court-house now stands, a monument to the faithful performance of the contract.

The first session of the county commissioners was held at Waverly, Dec. 2, 1861.

The Court of Common Pleas of Pike County was held at the Presbyterian church from Oct. 24, 1861, to Oct. 24, 1865, four years, for which the county paid $117.88 for rent.

The boundary line between Pike and Ross counties was at last established to the satisfaction of all parties, Aug. 10, 1868. It was

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 709

the old one made by the Legislature when the county was organized, February, 1815.

The county jail was erected in 1872, at a cost of $8,455, and was accepted by the county commissioners Jan. 9, 1873. The Republican thus describes it:

"The new jail building is finished and will be ready for occupation as soon as it is accepted by the commissioners. It is built of brick, with a very substantial stone foundation. It consists of six rooms for the jailer—three on the first and three on the second floor, besides closets, bath room and halls. The jail contains three rooms—one below and two above. They are furnished with all the conveniences suggested by modern inventions, are plentifully supplied with water and air and well lighted. The lower room contains four large iron cages, into which the male prisoners are to be shut up at night. They are to be furnished with good berths, and the four cages can be made to accommodate four persons each. There is ample room between the cages for sitting purposes. The cages are set two feet from the side walls and three and a half feet from the ceiling, and as they are made entirely of iron we do not see how prisoners are to get out, for they are in sight of the jailer and his family, and within a few feet of them day and night. The windows are barred with iron, so that the prisoners can have the liberty of the room in the day time, but at night will be compelled to take their places within the cages, which are made like net-work, and freely admit the air and light. The two rooms above are for the female prisoners, and as it is not to •be supposed that there will be more than two or three confined at once, they will have parlor accommodations all the time. In addition to these a dungeon is provided. There is a good cellar to the house, which, taken as a whole, is one of the most pretentious and aristocratic in the town or county. The work was done under the superintendence of. R. A. Nessmith & Co. John Powell did the stone work, Joseph Spencer the brick work, Nessmith & Co. the carpenter work, the

Helfenbeins the plastering, C. F. Smith the plumbing, and C. Boxall the painting, and all are well done. It is a good and substantial building, creditable to the architect who planned and the firm who built it."

Jackson Township voted $25,000 for the Scioto Valley Railroad, Sept. 7, 1872. In favor, 113; against, only 11.

The attempt on the part of certain petitioners of Jackson Township to have a portion of its territory added to Pee Pee, was refused by the county commissioners Sept. 4, 1873, there being a strong remonstrance presented against it.

March 7, 1877, H. B. McKenzie, A. Moore and Ezekiel East, the bondsmen of A. B. East, Probate Judge, .presented notice that they would not longer be responsible for the faithful discharge of said office by said East, and wished to be released. Among other reasons mentioned was that East had appropriated to his own private use $1,000 placed in his hands, as Probate Judge, by the Springfield, Jackson & Pomeroy R. R. Co., as a tender to Thomas W. Robbins and Sarah Odell for the right-of-way over their lands by said road. A motion was made by East, through his attorney, that the commissioners dismiss the application of said sureties to be released, stating that the causes or pretended causes, set forth show no violation of law or misconduct by him, either in his official capacity or as an individual, and if said causes are true they are not inconsistent with strict integrity on the part of said official and furnish no ground for said application. The motion was overruled and the sureties were released. Notice was given by East that he would contest the case in the Court of Common Pleas, and at once presented new sureties,

710 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

which were accepted by the commissioners. It was tried in court and the action of the commissioners sustained.

CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

Considerable effort was made a few years ago to form a township under the above name, to be taken from the territory of Benton, Pebble, Newton and Sunfish, but notwithstanding the fact that it would give a better outline and shape to the other townships and be a full congressional township in size, such a vigorous protest was made to the petition by other citizens that they succeeded in defeating it. Petitions were presented June 3, 1868; again on Sept. 4 and Dec. 5, of the same year. It came up again, and for the last time, March 3, 18'79, and both petition and remonstrance were set for hearing April 8, 1879, and on that day the commissioners refused again to grant the petition and dismissed the case, as the petition did not contain the requisite number of names. Wm. Peniston, representing the petitioners, excepted to the action of the County Court and gave notice of an appeal from their decision.

INFIRMARY.

For quite a number. of years the poor of the county were " farmed out." This system at last attracted the attention of the Legislature and they passed a law giving counties the right to purchase poor-farms and erect suitable buildings. The first infirmary was started in 1854, on Pee Pee Creek, some two miles from Waverly, and the first Superintendent was Peter Fry. He was succeeded by Thomas McCallister. The infirmary was moved from its location on Pee Pee Creek in 1867, the county commissioners having a farm of some 344 acres at or near Idaho, in Pebble Township. The infirmary building is a two-story frame, the main building having eight rooms, to which an addition has been built of ten smaller rooms. The property is valued at $7,000. It was purchased of and the deed made by James Emmitt and wife, Dec. 8, 1866. The third Superintendent was Amos Watts; the fourth, Uriah Peniston, and he was succeeded by B. J. Farmer. David Gordon, the present able Superintendent and Manager, succeeded Mr. Farmer. The Directors for the present year, 1883, are: Robert Leeper, Stephen Goodman and Enoch Stead man.

POSTOFFICES IN PIKE COUNTY.

There are fourteen townships in Pike County, viz: Beaver, Benton, Camp Creek, Jackson, Marion, Mifflin, Newton, Pebble, Pee Pee, Perry, Scioto, Seal, Sunfish and Union. Beaver Township has two postoffices, Beaver and Dove; Benton, one, Morgan; Camp Creek, none; Jackson, one, Omega, in Sharon ville; Marion, one, Flat, in California; Mifflin, two, Latham and Byirigton; Newton, one, Jasper; Pebble, one, Pee Pee, in Buchanan; Pee Pee, two, Waverly and Daleyville; Perry, one, Cynthiana; Scioto, none; Seal, one, Piketon; Sunfish, three, Elm Grove, Idaho and Poplar Grove; and Union, one, Gibson. So it seems that Sunfish has three; Beaver, two; Mifflin, two; Pee Pee, two; while Camp Creek and Scioto are destitute.

COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.

Pike County has but a small indebtedness, and that is principally for the purchase of turnpikes, which have been made free. There are others yet to purchase, and some to build before the county will fully meet the demand of the people. The debt of the county Oct. 1, 1883, was as follows: W. & C. turnpike, $24,200; Piketon bridge, $12,500; Sharonville bridge, $8,300; W. & Beaver turnpike, $22, 000; county bonds, $16,000; total, $83,500. There is in the county treasury $12,000 in cash, which leaves a net indebtedness of $71, 000. The debt has from one to fifteen years to run.

CHAPTER XXXV.

AGRICULTURE, STOCK AND WEALTH OF PIKE COUNTY.

Owing to the extent of the valley of Scioto, and the valleys which lie upon and along the banks of the tributaries to the river of that name, Pike County can be said to be a fair agricultural county. Still, as a fruit, grass, and stock-raising county, it is far superior for the latter purposes after you leave the valleys, which do not cover over one-fourth to one-half of her surface. Perhaps there are 75,000 acres of bottom-land in the county, including the gentle hill slopes, possibly a few acres more, Out of 274,560 acres of land in the county of which the assessor returned for 1882 the number on the assessment-roll of 274,384 acres. In 1869 the assessor's returns for that year, made in June, gave the following as the value of the personal property of the county by townships: Beaver, $83,918; Benton, $69,933; Camp Creek, $64,114; Jackson, $310,673; Marion, $97,654; Mifflin, $65,270; Newton, $75,395; Pebble, $125,253; Pee Pee, $405,041; Perry, $89,086; Scioto, $100,796; Seal, $200,958; Sunfish, $43,896; Union, $76,229. The increase in 1870 was not very great over the previous year, but it is here given in detail, that what made up the aggregate wealth of the county, besides its real estate or landed interests, may be seen:

RETURNS OF THE ASSESSORS FOR 1870 OF THE NUMBER AND VALUE OF THE HORSES, CATTLE, MULES, SHEEP, HOGS, AND CARRIAGES IN THE COUNTY.

TOWNSHIPS

HORSES

CATTLE.

MULES

NO.

VALUE

NO.

VALUE

NO.

VALUE

Beaver

Benton

Camp Creek

Jackson.

Marion

Miffin

Newton

Pebble

Pee Pee

Perry

Scioto

Seal

Sunfish

Union

234
375
208
521
341
346
373
565
590
328
305
502
225
288

15,635
25,741
14,632
40,372
23,277
20,705
2,319
37,817
44;302
20,305
21,668
39,723
15,082
18,635

588

545

494

923

850

546

702

880

871

993

473
1,018
405

634

$ 12,917
13,122
8,980
23,219
17,812
9,603
13,337
17,593
20,612
23,909
10.890
27,868
9,926
14,169

11

36

29

18

11

45

42

25

38

56

14

26

16

28

$ 975
2,988
2,600
1,665
785
3,515
2,675
1,870
2,420
3,785
1,190
2,030
1,069
2,050

Total

5,191

$363,213

9,922

$223,457

395

$29,617

TOWNSHIPS

CARRIAGES

SHEEP

HOGS

NO.

VALUE.

NO.

VALUE

NO.

VALUE.

Beaver

Benton

Camp Creek

Jackson.

Marion

Miffin

Newton

Pebble

Pee Pee

Perry

Scioto

Seal

Sunfish

Union

102

137

75
198
118
123
127
29
258
109
94
193

76

91

$ 3,422
5,053
2,518
8,717
4,965
4,008
4,703
1,665
14,841
4,460

3 558
9,353
2,654
3,518

821
1,189
945
1,073
1,263
1,327
1,277
2,044
1,165
2,393
726
799
894

950

$ 983
1,408
1,019
1,232
1,952
1,274
1,539
2.767
1,648
3,954

771

1,229
1,086
1,636

571
1,373
504
1,453

729
1,238
1,149
1,626
1,933
1,044
968
1,461

730

566

$ 2,461
4,471
1,717
7,289
3,222
3,751
4,668
5,688
10,735
4,277
3,992
9,064
2,344
2,725

Total

1,649

$71,437

16,871

$22,508

15,345

$66,404

The number of horses, cattle, mules and sheep decreased from the statement of 1870, and only hogs increased, and they only about 1,000. For the year 1875 the decrease in stock was small, yet there 'was a decrease in all but horses. The figures were : Horses, 4,899; cattle, 8,236; mules, 405; sheep, 7,950; hogs, 13,670. The stock report for 1880 was: Horses, 4,764; cattle, 8,523; mules, 361; sheep, 11,681; hogs, 12,616.

VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.

The real estate valuation at different periods, as given in the return, is as follows: 1846, $1,524,938; 1853, $1,856,418; 1859, $2,430,426; 1870, $3,245,074; 1880, $3,453,554. The valuation of personal property in 1880 was $1,778,795. The report for 1882 was: Acres of land, 274,384; value of same, $3,000,697; value of city, town and village town lots, $506,142; value of chattel property, $1,979,822; grand duplicate 1882, $5,- 486,661.

PIKE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

Something over fifteen years ago, or in 1868, an attempt was made to form a Pike County medical society. The records of two meetings, in part, are given as follows:

" Pursuant to a previous call, the following-, named physicians met at the court-house in Waverly, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 1868, for the purpose of organizing a County Medical Society, viz.: S. G. Richards, J. J. Johnson, H. C. Beard, Thomas Lowery, John Arnold, W. R. Hurst, G. W. Robison, S. A. Hutt, James McCord, W. S. Jones, E. McFadden, J. B. Ray. A temporary organization was effected by electing Dr. W. S. Jones, President, and Dr. John Arnold, Secretary.

" On motion a committee of three was appointed to report a constitution and by-laws at the next meeting, consisting of Drs. Lowery, Arnold and Robison.

" On motion a Committee on Permanent Organization was appointed, consisting of Drs. McCord, Richards and Hutt.

" On motion a committee of five was appointed to report a proper fee bill, and present it at the next meeting, the committee consisting of Drs. Richards, Hutt, Ray, Scherloch and Johnson.

" On motion the secretary was directed to have the proceedings of this meeting published in the Waverly Watchman and Pike County Republican.

" On motion adjourned to meet at the courthouse in Waverly on Saturday, Oct. 3, 1868, at 1 o'clock P. M. W. S. JONES,

" JOHN ARNOLD, President. " Secretary."

That was about all of the proceeding of the first meeting, and the principal action of the second was the report of the Committee on Constitution and By-Laws. The report read:

" The Committee on Constitution and By-Laws reported that, in addition to the constitution and by-laws already. adopted, the Code of Ethics adopted by the American Medical Society be adopted for the government of the members of this society, in their intercourse with each other, and with their patients, which report was adopted."

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 713

That seems to be about all the society amounted to. It seemed impossible to get the doctors together, and the society died.

THE FIRST HANGING.

To Pike County is due the distinction of furnishing the first victim for the hangman's rope in the State of Ohio after its organization as a State. In 1803, when a part of the territory now embraced in this county formed a portion of the county of Ross, there lived in the township of Pee Pee a man named Edward Stolcup. Stolcup was a married man, and it seems that his wife became intimate with another man named Asa Mounts, which so enraged the wronged husband that he one day shot his wife's seducer dead in his tracks with a rifle. This occurred on the 27th day of December, 1803. Stolcup was arrested shortly afterward and confined in the county jail at Chillicothe. In due course of time he was indicted for murder in the first degree; was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death on the gallows. The execution took place at Chillicothe on the 3d day of August, 1804.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, 1872, the boiler of a portable saw-mill, situated near the bridge at Daleyville and owned by N. Sheffield, exploded, killing a man named Arthur C. Perry and a boy named John W. Goodin.

In the fall of 1878, October, a bold robbery was committed, of which an account is given below. It may be added here that two of the burglars were captured, and one was sentenced to fifteen years and the other ten in the State Penitentiary. The ladies are still living, and a biographical sketch of their lives will be found in this work. The extract is from the Waverly Republican:

" On the pike from Cynthiana to Bainbridge, within the limits of the former place, in Perry Township, stands the Eubank homestead,, a few feet from the road, the residence of two sisters, Miss Rebecca, aged seventy- three, and Miss Rhoda Eubanks, aged seventy years.

"At midnight of Thursday, Oct. 31, loud knocking at the door was responded to by the inmates, when food was asked for by those outside, and upon being informed that they must go elsewhere, for there were only two females in the house, the ruffians replied that they would come in. Miss Rebecca seized the dinner horn for the purpose of giving an alarm, but before a full blast could be blown the burglars broke in the door, and violently seizing the two ladies threw them to the floor, holding their caps to their faces, treating them very roughly. At the same time they declared that they were burglars, and that their purpose was robbery of money, which they knew to be in the house, and securing the ladies the three robbers gave them notice that the least noise would result in death, and while two stood watch as their victims sat on chairs near the fireplace, the third ransacked for money without success, when he returned and violently slapped Miss Rebecca in the face, using terrible threats, causing her to place in his hands $900 in money, most of which was in bills, but the balance was in specie in two separate bags. This the men deliberately counted, and helping themselves to some articles of value withdrew, informing the ladies that any attempt to leave the house or raise an alarm before morning would result in instant death, as a watch was set over them."

KUKLUX IN PIKE.

In about 1830 five or six negro families from Virginia came to Ohio and settled in Pike County, about four miles northwest of Waverly. They were generally peaceable and industrious, one of them owning and running a mill, and all making a living and dealing fairly with those about them. But the prejudice

714 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

of some of the early settlers was too strong against their color to allow them civil protection in a day when the laws were so poor and so illy enforced on all subjects. A raid was led against this black colony one night in about 1835, Timothy Downing and William Burke being the leaders. They approached the hut of one of the negroes, who it seems was not at all surprised by their coming, for they soon found him behind one corner of his house, armed with a rifle, with which: he defended himself successfully. A bullet from his gun struck Downing in the leg, and the company soon turned to retreat. Downing was thrown across a horse and brought toward home, but he died from loss of blood before reaching there. This only increased the feelings of hostility. A year later a brother of Downing accosted one of these negroes while making rails near Sharonville, and told him he could have only so many minutes to make his peace with God. By dexterous and fearless movement the negro got in the first lick, striking Downing, who was on a horse, in the head with his ax, and, although he finally recovered, he bore the mark of his experience, a maimed face, throughout life. Both of the negroes were cleared in court on the ground of self-defense.

WITCHCRAFT IN PIKE COUNTY.

The dark superstition of witchcraft, although of short life, was once allowed to enter in and lay her slimy hands on the people of Pike County. It may have lurked in some benighted minds for years before and after the occurrence of the following event, but this was one long to be remembered, and perhaps exhibits the culmination of its influence in the county.

In about the year 1818 a man by the name of Lewis Sartain was shot and killed in the woods about three miles north of Waverly. It was doubtless a murder, and the suspicion turned strongly toward his brother-in-law, Amos Williams, who was known to have been with him about that time. Williams was tried, and although the circumstantial evidence was strongly against him, he was cleared for want of more positive proof. Several weeks later a woman by the name of Peters announced that she had the power of a witch, and could point out the murderer of Sartain. Her method was to have the body of Sartain taken up and all the people go, one at a time, and touch his corpse with a finger, and when the guilty person touched the body fresh blood would flow from it at that point. The authorities acted upon this method, and a meeting of all persons who could possibly have been guilty was held in the old Baptist church, near *here Sharonville now stands. The meeting was presided over by Constable John Sheppard, and the putrifying body was brought in. Williams, among the rest, was present, and many, believing this test to be infallible, thought that his guilt was about to be laid bare to the world. After several had been called and come forward to touch the body and returned vindicated, the constable may have been heard to cry out, "Amos Williams, Amos Williams, come up and examine the body of Lewis Sartain, supposed to be shot, or murdered." The excitement was complete when, in breathless silence, he arose and walked toward the corpse. He doubtless had less faith in the test than his neighbors, for he went boldly up and touched the body, but no blood spot appeared. He was the last one called, and as the test had convicted no one, there was nothing left to do but disperse the meeting and re-inter the body. This failure shattered the power of witchery in Pike County and it was never again revived.

This same man Williams, a year later, was himself murdered in a broil with a desperate man named Joe Mounts. Williams's skull was broken in, but as he did not die immediately, a Dr. Ellis was called to attend upon him. The instrument used by the Doctor to raise

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 715

the pieces of the skull from the brain, where they were imbedded, was a carpenter's three-quarter inch augur, with which he tried to raise the pieces by inserting the screw.. Ellis was tried for malpractice, but was cleared. Mounts was convicted and sent to the penitentiary.

HISTORY OF THE PRESS OF PIKE COUNTY.

BY W. D. JONES.

For fifteen years subsequent to the organization of Pike County no newspapers were published within its territory. Sales of real estate and notices requiring publication in newspapers were published in Chillicothe papers. In the year 1830 Allen Butts established at Waverly, then a thriving village, that had been brought into existence by the building of the Ohio Canal, the first newspaper ever printed in the county. It bore the somewhat extended title of The Waverly Democrat, and Pike and J ackson Advertiser. It was Democratic in politics and supported the administration of General Jackson. Like all other papers published in the county in an early day, it was short-lived. But just how long it struggled for an existence before giving up the ghost we have no means of knowing; probably a year or two sufficed for its existence. Within the next two years a paper was established at Piketon, which town was at that time the county seat, a paper called the Hickory Sprout. It is fair to presume that this was also a Jackson paper, but the name of the editor, or the length of time it was published, has never been handed down to posterity.

In 1842 another newspaper venture was made in Piketon; by a man named Brattin, who established a paper, and gave it the name of the Tocsin. It was published until the fire which burned down the public buildings, a few years later, when the entire office was consumed. New material was purchased, and the publication resumed, but soon after its new start the paper passed into the hands of John Q. Gibson and Francis S. Dexter, and the name of the paper changed to the Piketon Journal. The paper advocated the Whig doctrine. In a few years Mr. Gibson transferred his interest to his partner, who continued the publication of the paper until his death, which occurred in 1866. S. P. Drake then purchased the paper, but not meeting with the encouragement he had hoped for, transferred the material to the widow of the late owner, who sold it to Isaac C. Wynn, who, in 1860, removed the office to Waverly, and changed the name of the paper to the Pike County Republican,. The name indicates the politics of the paper. He shortly afterward disposed of the office to Rev. Charles G. Evans, who, in turn, disposed of it to E. G. & 0. J. De Wolf. They continued the publication for a short time, when the material was purchased by J. W. Bowen, and removed to McArthur.

In 1867 new material was purchased and the publication of the paper resumed by S. T. Wetmore, who, in 1874, disposed of the office to his brother, Josiah Wetmore, who continued its publication until 1881, when lie sold the office to. Thomas P. Foster. His editorial life lasted two months, when he sold the office to James W. Logan, who at present conducts the paper. With the exception of a few years (from 1865 to 1868) the paper has been published continually for over forty years, and has experienced all the vicissitudes incident to a country newspaper. It has grown from a six column folio to a quarto of forty-eight columns, and the mechanical appearance of the paper under. the present management will compare favorably with any paper published outside of the larger cities. It is ably edited and enj oys a good local patronage.

The Piketonian, was established by Sam. Pike, at Piketon, in the year 1844. Pike was a vigorous and forcible writer, but he did

716 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

not meet with sufficient encouragement to permanently locate at that point. After a year's struggle he abandoned the enterprise, and removed the office to another locality. The Piketonian advocated Democratic principles, and that party was without an organ in the county until 1848, when the Pike County Democrat was established by George W. Nelson. The material of the office was brought from Jackson, where it had seen years of service in the Whig cause. In 1853 he disposed of the good will of the office to Messrs. Brodess & Doane. The new firm purchased new type and fixtures, and changed the name of the paper to the Scioto Valley Times. Politically it professed to be independent, but gave the Democratic ticket a lukewarm support. In the succeeding year the office was purchased by McCollister & Cissna, who in a few months abandoned it for want of patronage. Subsequently the material was gathered together and in 1859 was transported to Waverly, and the first number of the Waverly Messenger issued by H. H. Cissna. The object for which the paper was started was the agitation of the removal of the county seat from Piketon to Waverly, which was then attracting some attention throughout the county. Cissna soon disposed of the office to T. J. McCallister, and he in turn to Daniel F. Shriner, when it was soon again abandoned for want of patronage. A paper called the Valley Patriot was started in Piketon about the year 1849, by Hallam Hempstead, Jr., but did not survive any length of time.

In 1853 J. W. Turner started the Scioto San, an independent paper, published biweekly. It was a folio of three columns to the page. After six months' experience the editor sold the material, which was merged into the Journal office, and its publication abandoned.

In 1856 the Piketon Union, a Democratic paper, was established at Piketon by J. W. Turner and W. D. Jones. In the spring of the following year Mr. Jones purchased the interest of his partner in the paper, and continued its publication at that place until the removal of the county seat from Piketon to Waverly, in the winter of 1861, made it necessary for a change of location. Accordingly, in January, 1862, the office was removed to Waverly, and the name of the paper changed to the Waverly Democrat which he conducted until the year 1867, when he sold the office to his brother, John A. Jones. The title of the paper was changed to the Waverly Watchman, which is still continued under the same management. The Watchman is a nine-column folio. It has an extensive circulation among the farmers of Pike County, and enjoys the reputation abroad of being one of the " livest" political, as well as local, papers in Southern Ohio.

The agitation of the removal of the county seat from Piketon to Waverly caused the es tablishment of the Press at Piketon, by John Cissna, in 1861. It was Republican in politics. Failing in its object, and the publisher not being acquainted with the printing business, the paper suspended publication after an existence of ten months. The material was subsequently purchased by Daniel D. W. Davis, and removed to Middleport, in Meigs County.

The last effort to permanently establish a paper at Piketon was made in 1877, by W. D. Ragen, who established the Piketon Courier, a Republican journal. His health failing him he disposed of the establishment in the year following to James R. English, who conducted it until the summer of 1881. The investment not proving a profitable one he disposed of the material to J. W. Logan, of the Republican, who removed it to Bainbridge, in Ross Comity.

James Emmitt, in his memoirs, states that a partner of his, Mr. Gilbert, started the first paper in Pike County, and called it the Hemisphere, and that he sold it to William Butt.

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 717

The following is from the Waverly Watchman, July 24; 1873: " The material for the first paper printed in Pike County was brought here from Georgetown, Ohio, by John and Allen Butt, in 1831. The paper was called the Waverly Democrat, and survived the storm about a year. The material was then taken to Columbus and was used to print the first number of the 'Ohio Statesman."

The Jackson, Ohio, Standard in commenting on the above, says: " Well do we remember the Waverly Democrat. It was the first newspaper ever taken in our father's family. Our father and our cousin Andrew Mack-ley took it in partnership until it suspended. It was thirteen miles from our residence to Jackson, the nearest postoffice. It is now forty-one years since we read the Waverly Democrat, but we remember many things which it contained."

Henry R. Snyder was born Feb. 17, 1853, the son of Abraham and Mary (Slover) Snyder. He is a native of Hopewell Township, Perry Co., Ohio, and his young days were spent on a farm. His schooling was in the district school of his township, until his nineteenth year, when he attended the Madison Academy and graduated in 1875. Ile then assumed the duties of a teacher for several years, during'which time, however, he took an irregular course of studies at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He became editorially connected with the Lexington Tribune in 1878—'79, and in the latter part of the last-mentioned year purchased the Logan Republican, and assumed editorial control. This paper was ably conducted by Mr. Snyder, and was acknowledged as the leading organ of the party in the district, so far as ability extended. This connection continued until July I, 1883, when a consolidation of the two Republican papers of Logan was effected and Mr. Snyder disposed of his interest. Sept. 13, 1883, Mr. Snyder secured by purchase the Pike County Republican, which he is making a valuable party organ and a first-class local paper. He was married May 10, 1881, to Miss Minerva Burgess, of Mt. Perry, Perry Co., Ohio. They have been blessed with one child, a son, Herbert. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Snyder is also a Master Mason.

John Anderson Jones, editor and proprietor of the Waverly Watchman, the Democratic organ of Pike County, Ohio, was born in Sunfish Township, in said county, May 21, 1842. He is the third son of James Jones, a once prominent and well-known citizen of the county. The first six years of his life were spent on a farm, but at the end of that time he removed with his father to Piketon, where, up to the age of sixteen years, he attended the public schools of the village and obtained a fair common-school education. April 11, 1857, he gave up his studies and went to learn the printing trade with his brother, W. D. Jones, who was then running a Democratic paper in the town called the Piketon Union. He continued with his brother in the printing business at Piketon up to Jan. 5, 1862, when the office was removed to Waverly, which had a few months previous been declared the new seat of justice of the county, by a vote of the people. Being one of the indispensable portions of the Union office, he came with his brother to Waverly and helped establish the Waverly Democrat, in which he continued to work up to March, 1867, when he became proprietor of the establishment and changed the name of the paper to the Waverly Watchman. The paper at that time was a small twenty-four column paper, but in May, 1873, he enlarged it to a nine-column journal, its present size. The subject of this sketch, although he has been in the printing business for over a quarter of a century, was never during all that time connected with any other paper, either as a writer or a printer. He has spent his whole life, it might be said, in the office which he now owns. There is one other pe-

718 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

culiarity about him that may be of interest to mention, and that is, lie never writes a line of editorial or local matter for his paper. He goes to the case every week and sets up his original matter, as the boys say, "out of his head." He has been known to set up articles of as much as four columns in length without ever writing a line of it. So accustomed has he become to this style of editing that he now finds it almost impossible to " follow copy," and during the past five years he has not set up a column of type for his paper from copy.

RAILROADS.

There is but little to be said of the railroad interests of Pike County. There was a long struggle to get both the Scioto Valley Railroad and what is now called the Ohio Southern. Pike County raised $50,000 of the $850,000, which was required to make her portion good and the money was well enough invested. The completion of the road was a great boon to the people of the county. The canal was a great benefit, but the demand of the times was for a more rapid communication with the distant points, and more efficient as well as rapid freighting facilities of the products of the county. This was achieved by the Scioto Valley Railroad as a north and south line. The first excursion train over this road passed through Waverly and Piketon Dec. 29, 1877. Regular trains were started early in January.

THE NARROW GAUGE.

The narrow gauge, so-called, or as first known by the name of Springfield, Jackson & Pomeroy Narrow Gauge Railroad, is the other or. cross line of the railroad through Pike County. Pike County was identified more sharply in this road than the Valley Road, for the reason that her representative citizen, James Emmitt, became its President, and that, too, after the first incorporation became a failure. Mr. Emmitt put life into its management and money into its treasury, and the latter lie left there, through the sharp practice of unscrupulous men. The first dirt was shoveled Nov. 20, 1875, and thefirst spike was driven Dec. 7. 1876, by James Emmitt, at Jackson. The last spike was also driven by James Emmitt, on the completion of the road between Springfield and Jackson at 3:30 P. M., July 18, 1878, at the Dell Bridge. An excursion party passed over the road Aug. 3, 1878, and regular trains were started Aug. 5, of the same year. The road between Jackson and Waverly was first completed and the coal fields of Jackson lay at the door of Waverly. For this James Emmitt worked, and when that was accomplished he gave up the presidency to others. But for him and his money it is doubtful if this road would have ever been completed.

These roads have given the people of the county equal facilities with other and surrounding counties, and her progress will not be retarded for the want of the magic efforts of the iron horse.

TURNPIKES.

Columbus & Portsmouth.—The company was organized at Piketon, July 4, 1839.

Sunfish, Waverly to Latham, was built about 1866, by James Emmitt.

Waverly & Cooperville.—Finished in 1882, and built on towing path; length thirteen miles.

Waverly & Beaver.—Passes beyond Beaver-town ; length, nineteen miles. Finished in 1883.

Waverly & Beaver.—Toll road from Waverly to Piketon, east side of river; length, five miles. Built by James Emmitt about 1862.

Cynthiana, Long route from Cynthiana to Ross County.

Cynthiana, Short route, from Cynthiana. to Highland County line. Length of both together, seven miles. Built in about 1870.

The act to authorize counties and towns to

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY- 119

subscribe to the capital stock of turnpike companies was passed March 16, 1838. Pike County subscribed $20,000 to the Columbus & Portsmouth Turnpike, and Scioto County, $30,000.

OFFICIAL.

COMMISSIONERS.

1815, Wrn. Russell, Jonathan Clark, Peter Donnon; 1816, Wm. Russell, Peter Donnon, Wm. Parker; 1817, Wm. Russell, Peter Don-non, Burgess Elliott; 1818, Peter Donnon, Burgess Elliott, Wm. Parker; 1819-'20, Burgess Elliott, Win. Parker, Thomas Wilson; 1821-'22, Burgess Elliott, Thomas Wilson, Benjamin Watkins; 1823, Thomas Wilson, Burgess Elliott, James Daniels; 1824, Thomas Wilson, James Daniels, Benjamin Daniels; 1825-'26, Jas. Daniels, Benj. Daniels, Lloyd Howard; 1827-'30, Lloyd Howard, Burgess Elliott, Benj. Daniels; 1831-'32, Burgess Elliott, Lloyd Howard, Wm. D. Peters; 1833, Burgess Elliott, Win. D. Peters, Absalom Chenoweth; 1834; Absalom Chenoweth, Abraham Bonnett, David Thorp; 1835-'36, David Thorp, Samuel Mustard, John Brown. Elected. -1836, David Thorp; 1837, James Davis; 1838, John Thomas; 1839, John Anderson; 1840, Samuel Corwine; 1841, John Thomas; 1842, John Anderson; 1843, Samuel Corwine; 1844, John Thomas; 1845, David Thorp; 1846, Daniel Parker; 1847, Abraham Chenoweth; 1848, David Thorp; 1849, Thomas' Barnes; 1850, Jabel Brown, John Anderson, vice Barnes; 1851, James McBride; 1852, Gordon Cochran; 1853, Samuel Hess; 1854, Samuel Corwine; 1855, Daniel Ferneau; 1856, Wm. Pennisten; 1857, Stephen A. Graham; 1858, Daniel Ferneau; 1859, Wm. Pennisten; 1860, Andrew Kilgore; 1861, Joseph L. West; 1862, Andrew Shock; 1863, Stewart Alexander; 1864, Joseph L. West; 1865, Andrew Shock; 1866, Stewart Alexander; 1867, John Skowden ; 1868, Andrew Shock; 1869, Thomas C. Wiley; 1870, Reu ben Slavens; 1871, B. Adams; 1872, Wm. McCoy; 1873, Reuben Slavens; 1874, B. Adams; 1875, Wm. McCoy; 1876, Thomas Holton; 1877, H. C. Givens; 1878, Wm. McCoy; 1879, Thos. Holton; 1880, H. C. Givens; 1881, Reuben Slavens; 1882, Leander Lydick; 1883, Geo. W. Brodbeck.

AUDITORS.

Prior to about 1823 the office was held by appointment of the County Commissioners-term one year. Nathan Newsom, before 1821; Robert Lucas, 1821-'23; Aaron Guthery (elected), 1823; held this office in connection with that of Sheriff until his death in spring of 1825. Special election June 1, 1825. Andrew Swearinger, 1825-'27; Adrian Wynkoop, 1827-'33; Wm. Reed, 1833-'40; Van S. Murphy, 1840-'46; James Jones, 1846-'54; Walter S. Little, 1854-'56; Presley Adams, 1856-'60; John James, 1860-'62; Isaac C. Pennisten, 1862-'66; David Armstrong, 1866-'71; George Kerns, 1871-'75; Van H. Bond, 1875-'80; Joseph Armstrong, 1880- present.

SHERIFFS.

Wm. Collings, 1815-'18; Daniel Hodges, 1818-'21; Arthur Chenoweth, 1821-'23; Aaron Guthery, 1823-'25; John Hines, 1825'29; James Moore, 1829-'33; Elias Doughty, 1833-'39; James Moore, 1839-'43; Tibbeny Reid, 1843-'46; James Candy, 1846-'49; Jacob Vallery, 1849-'53; Jacob Taylor, 1853-'57; Gordon Cochran, 1857-'61; Jacob Vallery, 1861-'65; James F. Odell, 1865-'71; Daniel L. Sailor, 1871-'73; John Daily, 1873-'75; Phillip Buchert, 1875-'79; Win. F. Anderson, 1879.

TREASURERS.

Abraham Chenoweth, 1815 to about 1830; Chas. McCollister, 1842-'44; Hallam Hempstead, 1844-'54; John Gregg, 1854-'56; James Jones, 1856-'60; George Corwine,

720 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

1860-'64; H. C. Addy, 1864-'69; A. B. East, 1869-'73; John Reeder, 1875-'79; Philip Lorback, 1879-'83; S. V. McAllister, 1883.

PROBATE JUDGE.

The office was created with the new constitution in 1851. Lemuel F. Drake, 1851 - '53; Chas. McCollister, 1853-'58 (appointed Oct. 19, 1853); E. R. Allen, 1858-'61; Hallam Hempstead, 1861-'63; E. R. Allen, 1863-'75; A. B. East, 1875-'78; Geo. Kerns, 1878.

RECORDERS.

Hallam Hempstead, 1835; George Flinn, 1840; Lewis Beckey, resigned March 7, 1853, Jos. J. Green, appointed; Edward 0. Jones, 1857; Wm. L. Allison, 1870-'76; 0. P. Beekman, 1876-'82; John L. Steirs, 1882.

CLERK OF COURT.

Joseph J. Martin, 1815-'23; H. Hempstead, 1823-'43; George Corwine, 1843-'54; Wm. C. O'Brien, 1854-'57; David Armstrong, 1857-'66 (Mr. Armstrong was appointed on the removal of O'Brien from the county, and resigned on his appointment to the office of Auditor); John W. Washburn, 1866-'75; John P. Douglas, 1875.

The county has had but seven clerks in sixty-eight years. Under the old constitution of the State the court appointed the clerks, and Joseph J. Martin was appointed on the organization of the court in 1815. He was a native of Baltimore, and came to Ohio in an early day, when he was about twenty-one years of age. In 1822 Mr. Martin died, aged forty-five, and was succeeded by the late Hallam Hempstead, who retained the office twenty-two years, or till 1844, when he resigned, and George Corwine was appointed, and held the place till the new constitution was adopted, when the office became elective. He was elected Clerk one term, and gave place to Wm. C. O'Brien, Know Nothing, elected in October, .1854, who took the office Feb. 1, 1855. Know Nothingism going out of fashion, David Armstrong was elected as a Democrat, though he was of Whig precedents. He took the office in February, 1858, and was elected three terms, though he did not fill the last term out, for in September, 1866, he was appointed Auditor, in place of Isaac C. Pennisten, who resigned to be elected Representative to the General Assembly of Ohio, and John W. Washburn was appointed Clerk to fill the unexpired term made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Washburn was elected Clerk in October, 1866, and though he was absent some time, the duties of the office were performed by J. M. Pen-'listen. Then came Mr. Douglas, present incumbent. It will thus be seen that Mr. Martin held the office seven years, Mr. Hempstead twenty-two, Mr. Corwine eleven, Mr. O'Brien three, Mr. Armstrong about nine, and Mr. Washburn nine years, besides having served a moiety of Mr. Armstrong's, and John P. Douglas eight years.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.

Joseph Sill, 1815-'19; Samuel Seaton, 1819'21; Joseph Sill, 1821-'23; Samuel Atkinson, 1823-'28; E. Johnson, 1828-'30; S. M. Tracy, 1830-'32; James Keenin, 1832-'35; N. K. Clough, 1835-'45; John M. Perry, 1845-'47; John W. Scott, 1847-'52; A. W. McCauslen, 1852-'56; George D. Cole, 1856-'67; John T. Moore, 1867-'73; R. Dougherty, 1873-'75; S. A. Stedman, 1875-'79; W. H. Leet, 1879'81; John A. Eylar, 1881.

JUDGES SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

1815.—John Thompson, Presiding Judge; Samuel Henry, Enos Prather, Geo. Corwine, Associate Judges.

1818.—John Thompson, Samuel Henry, Enos Prather, Samuel Reed.

1819.—Eighth, Circuit.—Ezra Osborn, Presiding Judge; Samuel Henry, Enos Prather, Samuel Reed, Associate Judges.

HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY- 721

1822.—Ezra Osborn, Presiding Judge; Enos Prather, Samuel Reed, Levi Hodges.

1825.—Ezra Osborn, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, Levi Hodges, William Hampton.

1826.—Thomas Irvin, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, Levi Hodges, William Hampton.

1828.—Thomas Irvin, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, Wm. Hampton, John Barnes.

1830.—Thomas Irvin, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, Wm. Hampton, Benjamin Daniels.

1831.—Frederic Grimke, Sixth Circuit;. Wm. Hampton, Samuel Reed, Benjamin Daniels.

1836.—John H. Keith, Presiding Judge; Wm. Hampton, Geo. Corwine, John Hines.

1840.—John H. Keith, Presiding Judge; Wm. Hampton, John Hines Charles McCollister.

1845.—John H. Keith, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, Charles McCollister, Jacob Row.

1847.—John H. Keith, Presiding Judge; Robert McLain, Samuel Reed, George Porter.

1848.—Wm. V. Peck, Presiding Judge; Samuel Reed, George Porter, Robert McLain .

1850.—Wm. V. Peck, Presiding Judge; Charles McCollister, Absalom Chenoweth, James R. Hibbens.

1851.—Wm. V. Peck, Presiding Judge; Charles McCollister, Thomas Dougherty, Jno. Tharp.

1852.—Simeon Marsh, Judge Common Pleas about one year.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

PIKE COUNTY ACTORS IN THE GREAT CIVIL WAR.

BY COLONEL THOMAS W. HIGGINS.

THE SIGNAL GIVEN AT SUMTER.

At the first call of the President for volunteers, and immediately after the firing upon Fort Sumter by the rebels, to wit, on the 17th day of April, 1861, six young men of Pike County enrolled themselves as volunteers in Company G, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Their names were John R. T. Barnes, John Vulmer, Frank Lauman, Joseph Hinson, Abisha Downing and Asa Couch. Of these Barnes was killed at Vienna, near the city of Washington, in the reconnoisance made by General Schenck, and Vulmer and Lauman were wounded, the former losing his right arm. Shortly after the term of their enlistment had expired, Joseph Hinson enlisted in the Thirty-third Ohio Infantry and from the rank of Captain, rose to that of Colonel of the regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, losing his right arm. He was noted for gallantry in action, and when mustered out of the army at the close of the war was respected and beloved by those in his command. Abisha Downing enlisted in Company D, Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, and was mustered as Second Lieutenant of the company Nov. 4, 1861. He served from that time on until the close of the war, having in the meantime been commissioned a Major of the regiment. His record as a soldier is without a blemish. Young Barnes was the first of the Pike County volunteers to offer up his life on the altar of his country, and in his honor the post of the Grand Army of the Republic organized at Waverly is named Barnes Post. It is fitting that the names of these six young men should be preserved in the history of the county as the first to respond to the call of their country when its overthrow was threat. ened by an armed rebellion.

THE COUNTRY CALLS AGAIN.

In the early part of June, 1861, when it became apparent that the 75,000 men first called for by President Lincoln would not be sufficient to put down the rebellion, and after an additional call had been made for volunteers, seven young men of Waverly enlisted in Company B, Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commonly known as the " Guthrie Grays," a regiment organized at Cincinnati, Ohio. The names of these young men were: John Helfenbine, Philip B. Helfenbine, Benjamin Lewis, James Warren, Anson Clapper, John Boerst and David Schreiber. The Sixth Regiment was first ordered into West Virginia where, under General McClelland and afterward under General Rosecrans, it took part in the battles of Carrick's Ford, Cheat Mountain, Beverly, etc. Late in November of 1861 the Sixth Regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and at once became a part of the Army of the Ohio, and was assigned to the Fifteenth Brigade of the Fourth Division, commanded by Brigadier William Nelson. The part taken by this reg-

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HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 723

iment in the marches and battles which preceded the fall of Atlanta reflects great credit upon its officers and men.

Of the seven young men of Pike County who formed a part of Company B of that regiment, it may be said that each honorably discharged his duty and contributed by his soldierly conduct to the high character and standing that the regiment maintained for the three years that it was in active service; nor did these seven young patriots escape the casualties of war. John Boerst was killed at the battle of Stone River, and in the same battle Jas. Warren, Anson Clapper, David Schreiber and John Helfenbine were severely wounded, both Warren and Clapper subsequently dying of their wounds. Philip B. Helfenbine was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and Benjamin Lewis was taken prisoner and was kept a prisoner at Richmond, Va., for seventeen months. Brief as this history is of the military career of these seven young men, yet the reader cannot fail to admire the patriotism that led 'them at that early period of the war to leave their homes to volunteer in a regiment, so remote from where they lived, and in which all were strangers to them. They deserve to be enrolled among the true patriots of the war and to have their names preserved in the history of their county. At the October election in 1861 the voters of Pike County were to decide the question as to whether the county seat should be removed to Waverly or not. This local question was of absorbing interest to the people and the canvass was an exciting one, and notwithstanding the fact that a civil war had broken out, yet many young men decided to remain at home until after the election before volunteering into the army to maintain the Union. Immediately after the October election T. W. Higgins, who had taken a prominent part in the canvass for removal, obtained a recruiting commission to raise a company for the Seventy-third Regiment,

Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and notwithstanding the fact that his was the thirteenth commission issued to different persons to raise companies for the same regiment, he was the second officer to fill his company; and to be mustered into said regiment. The regiment was to rendezvous at Chillicothe, Ohio. Mr. Higgins was appointed a Second Lieutenant Oct. 13, 1861, and was promoted to Captain, Company B, Nov. 20 of the same year. This company was mostly recruited in Pike County, and when organized George Lauman was elected First Lieutenant, and Henry Hinson, Second Lieutenant. It remained with the regiment to the close of the war, having veteranized Jan. 1, 1864. The following are the names of its officers from the commencement to the close of the service, with the dates of promotion, etc.:

T. W. Higgins, appointed Second Lieutenant, Oct. 13, 1861; promoted to Captain of Company B, Nov. 20, 1861; promoted to Major, June 27, 1864; commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, July 10, 1864, not mustered; appointed Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, with rank dating March 13, 1865; served full term.

George Lauman, appointed First Lieutenant, Dec. 18, 1861; resigned March 8, 1862.

Henry Hinson, appointed Second Lieutenant Nov. 20, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant, May 22, 1862; promoted to Captain, March 1, 1864; resigned on- account of wounds Oct. 20, 1864.

John H. Martin, enlisted Oct. 15, 1861; appointed First Lieutenant, May 20, 1864; promoted to Captain, June 22, 1865; served full term

Joshua A. Davis, enlisted Oct. 15, 1861; appointed Second Lieutenant, May 12, 1862; promoted to First Lieutenant, March 1, 1864; discharged on account of wounds received in battle of New Hope Church, Ga.

Part of another company (D) of same regiment was recruited in Pike County. Of this

124 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.

company the following named persons were mustered as officers:

James Q. Barnes, enlisted November, 1861; appointed First Lieutenant, Dec. 30, 1861; promoted to Captain, Sept. 22, 1862; mustered out Dec. 29, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service.

Abisha Downing, appointed Second Lieutenant, Dec. 30, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant, Sept. 22, 1862; promoted to Captain, March 29, 1864; commissioned as Mayor, July 18, 1865, not mustered; served full term.

Prestey T. Talbott, enlisted Oct. 15, 1861; appointed Captain, April 18, 1864; resigned June 25, 1865.

Joseph P. Talbott, enlisted Oct. 15, 1861; appointed Second Lieutenant, Jan. 1, 1863; promoted to First Lieutenant, March 30, 1864; resigned June 18, 1864.

The following is a list of those belonging to Company B, of the Seventy-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who were killed in battle, died of their wounds, or of disease:

First Sergeant Charles Shepherd, killed in battle at second Bull Run; Sergeant Benjamin Morrison, killed in battle at Second Bull Run; Sergeant Johnson Pryor, killed in battle at Gettysburg; Sergeant Thos. F. Rice, died of wounds at Gettysburg; Corporal Wm. E. Haines, killed in battle at Gettysburg; Corporal James H. Smith, killed in battle of Second Bull Run; Corporal Samuel Turner, killed in battle of Gettysburg; William R. Call, died of wounds received at Gettysburg; John Couch, died at Aquia Creek, January, 1863; John H. Donhee, died at Clarksburg, Va., March, 1862; George Haines, died at Clarksburg, Va., 1862; Daniel Kirkendall, died of wounds at Chattanooga; David R. Lee, died at Clarksburg, Va., 1862; William Labor, killed in battle of Cross Keys, Va., 1862; David D. Milton, died at Clarksburg, Va., 1S62; William May, killed in battle at Peach-Tree Creek; Isaiah McCandles, died at Weston, Va., 1862; George Dixon, died of wounds received at Gettysburg; Jeremiah Price, died at home, 1865; Joseph T. Shade, died at Clarksburg, Va., 1862; Absalom Hissey, killed in battle of Kenesaw Mountain; William Linton, died at Washington, D. C., 1863; William McLuens, killed in battle at Gettysburg; James H. McCoy, died at Chattanooga, 1864; David M. Junkins, died at Nashville, 1864.

The names of those of Company D that were killed in battle, and those who died of wounds or of disease, are as follows:

Corporal John Durham, died of wounds received at Second Bull Run; Corporal Frank H. Watkins, died at Clarksburg, Va., 1862; Corporal Abner Taylor, killed in battle of Resaca; William Ackerman, killed accidentally at Gettysburg; William Cochenorer, died at Petersburg, Va., in 1862; Joseph Chester, died at Falmouth, Va., in 1863; John W. Cottrell, died at Clarksburg, Va., in 1862; Francis W. Crabtree, drowned while sailing near Cape Hatteras; Frederick Kunthe, killed in battle of Resaca; John McKee, killed in battle of Second Bull Run; Henry J. Martin, died at Clarksburg, Va., in 1862; Albert Moots, died at Lookout Valley, Tenn., in 1863; Isaac Marlin, died at Falmouth, Va., in 1863; John Swift, killed in battle at Lookout Valley, Tenn., in 1863; Thomas Swift, died at Clarksburg, Va., in 1862; Dennis Drake, killed in battle at Lookout Valley, Tenn.; Isaac Miller, killed in battle of Lookout Valley, in 1863; James H. Russell, died of wounds received at Kenesaw Mountain; Samuel R. Bishop, died at home, in 1864; Robert H. Grubb, killed in battle at New Hope Church; William Nichols, died of wounds in July, 1864; James R. Rinehart, died at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Some of those whose names are here written, in both Companies B and D, were

not residents of. Pike County but most were.

The officers of the Seventy-third Regiment

TOWNSHIPS	HORSES		CATTLE.		MULES
TOWNSHIPS	NO.	VALUE	NO.	VALUE	NO.	VALUE
Beaver Benton Camp Creek Jackson. Marion Miffin Newton Pebble Pee Pee Perry Scioto Seal Sunfish Union	234 375 208 521 341 346 373 565 590 328 305 502 225 288	15,635 25,741 14,632 40,372 23,277 20,705 2,319 37,817 44;302 20,305 21,668 39,723 15,082 18,635	588 545 494 923 850 546 702 880 871 993 473 1,018 405 634	$ 12,917 13,122 8,980 23,219 17,812 9,603 13,337 17,593 20,612 23,909 10.890 27,868 9,926 14,169	11 36 29 18 11 45 42 25 38 56 14 26 16 28	$ 975 2,988 2,600 1,665 785 3,515 2,675 1,870 2,420 3,785 1,190 2,030 1,069 2,050
Total	5,191	$363,213	9,922	$223,457	395	$29,617
TOWNSHIPS	CARRIAGES		SHEEP		HOGS
TOWNSHIPS	NO.	VALUE.	NO.	VALUE	NO.	VALUE.
Beaver Benton Camp Creek Jackson. Marion Miffin Newton Pebble Pee Pee Perry Scioto Seal Sunfish Union	102 137 75 198 118 123 127 29 258 109 94 193 76 91	$ 3,422 5,053 2,518 8,717 4,965 4,008 4,703 1,665 14,841 4,460 3 558 9,353 2,654 3,518	821 1,189 945 1,073 1,263 1,327 1,277 2,044 1,165 2,393 726 799 894 950	$ 983 1,408 1,019 1,232 1,952 1,274 1,539 2.767 1,648 3,954 771 1,229 1,086 1,636	571 1,373 504 1,453 729 1,238 1,149 1,626 1,933 1,044 968 1,461 730 566	$ 2,461 4,471 1,717 7,289 3,222 3,751 4,668 5,688 10,735 4,277 3,992 9,064 2,344 2,725
Total	1,649	$71,437	16,871	$22,508	15,345	$66,404