1. Arthur St. Clair, of Pennsylvania, was Governor of the Northwest Territory, of which Ohio was a part, from July
13, 1788, when the first civil government was established in the Territory, until about the close of the year 1802,
when he was removed by the President.
2 Secretary of the Territory, and was acting Governor of the Territory after the removal of Governor St. Clair.
3 Resigned March 3, 1807, to accept the office of United States Senator.
* Return Jonathan Meigs was elected Governor on the second Tuesday of October, 1807, over Nathaniel Massie;
who contested
86 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.
REPRESENTATIVES-SCIOTO PIKE AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
On the organization of the Territorial Government, William H. Harrison was elected the first
Delegate to Congress, holding, had he not resigned, from 1799 to 1801. He having, however,
been appointed to the office of Governor of the Territory of Indiana, which he accepted, he
resigned, and William McMillan was appointed to fill his unexpired term. Both of these
delegates were from Hamilton County. From 1801 to 1803 Paul Fearing was the Delegate who
represented the State on the floor of Congress, and the last under its territorial form.
THE STATE OF OHIO.
Ohio having been admitted into the Union as a State, Jeremiah Morrow, of Warren County, was
elected Representative from the State from 1803 to 1813, Ohio being entitled up to that time but
to one Representative. He therefore was the Representative of this valley, as well as all other
parts of the State. In the year 1813, the State having been divided into six congressional districts,
this section was called the third, and Duncan McArthur became the first Representative,
the election of Meigs on the ground "that he had not been a resi- dent of this State for four years next preceding the
election as required by the Constitution," and the General Assembly, in joint convention, decided that he was not
eligible. The office was not given to Massie, nor does it appear from the records that he claimed it, but Thomas
Kirker, acting Governor, continued to discharge the duties of the office until Dec. 12, 1808, when Samuel
Huntington was inaugurated, he having been5Resignedon the second Tuesday of October in that year.
5 Resigned March 25, 1814, to accept the office of Postmaster- General of the United States.
6 Resigned Jan. 4, 1822, to accept the office of United States Senator.
7 Resigned April 13, 1844, to accept the office of Minister to Mexico.
8 The result of the election in 1848 was not finally determined in joint convention of the two Houses of the General
Assembly until Jan. 19, 1849, and the inauguration did not take place until the 22d of that month.
9 Resigned July 15, 1853, to accept the office of Consul to Valparaiso.
10 Elected in October, 1853, for the regular term to commence on the second Monday of January, 1854.
11. Died Aug. 29, 1865.
12 Resigned March 2, 1877, to accept the office of President of the United States.
*Acting Governor. Succeeded to office, being the Speaker of the Senate.
† Acting Governor. Succeeded to office, being the Lieutenant-Governor.
having been elected in October, 1812. Mr. McArthur resigned April 5, 1813, and William
Creighton, Jr., was appointed to fill his unexpired term. Mr. Creighton, Jr., also resigned, his hie
resignation dating from Dec. 14, 1814. No appointment was made or election held to fill the
vacancy iso far as any records show, and the session of 1814-'15 was without a Representative
after Creighton left. Mr, Creighton, Jr., was the Congressman elect for the succeeding Congress,
the fourteenth at the time of his resignation, and took his seat at that Congress. Thus it is found
that from 1815 to3, the following served as Congressmen: 1815-'17, Will iam Creighton, Jr., of
Ross County; 1817-'19, LevCounber, Washington County; 1819-'21, Henry Brush, Ross County;
1821-'23, Levi Barber, Washington County. The census of 1820 necessitated a new organization
of districts, as under that census Ohio was allotted fourteen members of Congree.
REAPPOINTMENT
In the organization of districts the three! counties embraced in this work were placed in the
Seventh District, composed of Scioto, Pike, Jackson, Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence, Athens and
Washington counties, and from 1823 to 1833 were represented by Samuel F. Vinton, of Gallia
County. Under the census of 1830, Ohio increased her representatives from fourteen to nineteen,
and a new adjust. ment of districts became necessary. The three counties were still in the Seventh
District which bad, however, been relieved of a portion of its territory, andcouncomposed of
Scioto, Pike, Jackson, Ross and Fayette coun. ties. The district was represented from 1833- '35,
by William Allen, of Ross County; 1835- '41, William Key Bond, of Ross County; 1841-'43,
William Russell, of Scioto County,
The census of 1840 gave Ohio twenty-one members of Congress, and District Eight was
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 87
composed of Adams, Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Ross counties, represented 1843-'45, by John J.
Van Meter, of Pike County; 1845-'47, Allen G. Thurman, of Ross County; 1847-'53, John L.
Taylor, of Ross County.
From 1853 to 1863 Ross, Pike, Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson and Gallia counties were in the Tenth
District, represented as follows: 1853-'55, John L. Taylor, of Ross County; 1855-'57, Oscar F.
Moore, of Scioto County; 1857-'59, Joseph Miller,' of Ross County; 1859-'63, Carey A. Trimble,
of Ross County. From this date Pike County has been in another congressional district from
Scioto and Jackson, but the districts and counties in which they are now, and have been placed
since the census of 1860, is given, the counes of Scioto and Jackson following first and Pike the
last.
Eleventh District, 1863 to 1873-Adams, allia, Vinton, Jackson, Scioto and Lawence counties :
1863-'65, Wells A. Hutchins, cioto County; 1865-'67, Hezekiah S. Bundy, ackson County;
1867-'73, John T. Wilson, dams County.
Eleventh District, 1873 to 1883-Hocking, inton, Gallia, Jackson, Scioto and Lawrence aunties:
1873-'75, Hezekiah S. Bundy, Jackn County; 1875-'77, John L. Vance, Gallia ounty; 1877-'83,
Henry S. Neal, Lawrence County.
Eleventh District, 1883 to 1893-Adams, ioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson and Vinton unties:
1883-'85, J. W. McCormack, Gallia ounty.
Twelfth District, 1863 to 1873-Fairfield, Hocking, Perry, Pickaway, Ross and Pike unties :
1863-'67, William E. Finck, Perry ounty; 1867-'73, Philadelph Van Trump, airfield County.
Seventh District, 1873 to 1883-Adams, rown, Highland, Ross and Pike counties : 1873-'77,
Lawrence T. Neal, Ross County ; 1877-'81, Henry L. Dickey, Highland; 1881- 83, John P.
Leedom, Adams County.
Twelfth District, 1883 to 1893-Brown, Highland, Clinton, Fayette, Ross and Pike counties :
1883-'85, Alphonso Hart, Highland County.
STATE SENATORS-SCIOTO COUNTY.
With Adams County-1804-'8, Thomas Kirker. With Gallia County-1808-'12, J. P. R. Bureau ;
1812-'13, Thomas Rogers; 1813-'14, Louis Summers; 1814-'16, Robert Lucas. With Pike,
Jackson and Gallia-1816-'17, Robert Lucas. With Pike, Jackson, Lawrence and Gallia-1817-'20,
Robert Lucas. With Pike and Lawrence-1820-'22, Robert Lucas; 1822-'24, William Kendall;
1824-'28, Robert Lucas. With Pike, Jackson and Lawrence-1828-'29, William Kendall; 1829-'30,
Robert Lucas. With Pike and Jackson-1830-'32, David Mitchell. With Pike, Jackson and
Lawrence-1832-'34, John James; 1834-'36, William Kendall. With Adams and Brown-1836-'37,
John Patterson ; 1837-'39, Charles White; 1839-'41, John Glover. With Lawrence and Gallia
1841-'43, Simeon Nash; 1843-'45, Moses Gregory. With Jack son, Lawrence and
Gallia-1845-'47, J. J. Coombs; 1847-'49, William Kendall. With Adams, Pike and
Lawrence-1849-'51, William Salter. With Pike, Jackson and Adams - New Constitution -
1852-'54, Oscar F. Moore; 1854-'56, Thomas McCanshire; 1856- '58, H. S. Bundy; 1858-'60,
George Corwin; 1860-'62, William Newman; 1863-'64, Benjamin F. Coates; 1864-'68, John J.
Wilson; 1868-'72, James Emmitt; 1872-'76, J. W. Newman ; 1876-'78, I. T. Monahan; 1878-'80,
Irvine Dungan ; 1880-'82, John R. Pollard.
PIKE COUNTY.
With Ross County-1815-'16, James Dunlap and Benjamin Hough. With Scioto-1816-'36. With
Ross and Jackson-1836-'37, David Crouse; 1837-'39, John J. Van Meter; 1839'41, John Hough.
With Jackson, Ross and Hocking-1841-'43, Allen Latham ; 1843-'45,
88 - HISTORY OF LOWER 'SCIOTO VALLEY.
John Crouse, Jr. With Ross and Hocking1845-'46, John Madeira. With Adams and
Highlands-1846-'47, Tilberry Reid ; 1847-'49, J. R. Emrie. With Scioto since 1849.
JACKSON COUNTY.
With Scioto County-1816-'20Meigs and Gallia-1820-'22, Daniel Womeldorf ; 1822-'24, George
House; 1824-'21824-'2ldorf; 1826-'28, George House. With Scioto-1828-'49. With Gallia, Athens
and Meigs-1849-'52, S. Horton. With Scioto since 1852.
REPRESENTATIVES- SCIOTO COUNTY.
1803-'4, Dr. Thomas Waller; 1804-'5, David McKinney. With Adams-1805-'6, Daniel Collier,
Abraham Shepherd and Phillip Lewis; 1806-'7, A. Shepherd, .James Scott and Phillip Lewis, Jr.;
1807-'8, Alex. Campbell, Andrew Ellison- and P. Lewis, Jr.; 1808-'9, Robert Lucas; 1809-'12,
Daniel McKinney, Sr. ; 1812- '14, William Kendall ; 1814-'16, David Mitchell; 1816-'19, Ezra
Osborn. With part of Lawrence-1819-'20, David Mitchell. With Lawrence and Pike-1820-'21,
David Mitchell and William Miller; 1821-'22, Robert Lucas, 1822-'24, John Barnes, John
Davidson; 1824-N51824-'25am Collins, John Lucas; 1825- '26, William Kendall; 1826-'27, John
Davidson, Isaac Bonsor; 1827-'28, Isaac Bonsor, contested, given to Samuel Crull. With
Lawrence-1828-'30, Joseph Davidson; 1830- '32, James Rogers; 1832-'33, William Carpenter;
1833-'34, Edward Hamilton ; 1834-'35, William Miller. Alone-1835-'36, William Miller. With
Adams and Brown-1836-'37, John Glover, James Loudon; 1837'-38, William Kendall, Nelson
Barrere; 1838-'40, Joseph Leedom, John H. Blair. With Gallia and Lawrence -1840-'41, Daniel
Young; 1841-'42, Moses Gregory; 1842-'43, Hiram Campbell; 1843-'44, Joseph J. Coombs. With
Lawrence-1844-'45, William Oldfield ; 1845-'46, Timothy R. Stanley; 1846-'47, John A. Tarley ;
1847-'48, Elias Nigh ; 1848-'49, Joshua Hambleton; 1849-'50, James Rogers; 1850- '51, Oscar F.
Moore. New Constitution-1852- '54, Wells A. Hutchins; 1854-'56, Samuel J. Huston; 1856-'58,
Daniel McFarland; 1858. '60, James B. Ray; 1860-'62, John W. Collins; 1862-'64, Martin Crain;
1864-'68, Elijah I Glover; 1868-'70, J. W. Newman; 1870-'72, Elijah Glover; 1872-'74, J. C.
Malone; 1874- '76, George Johnson; 1876-'78, J. T. Sellards; 1878-'80, R. H. Hayman; 1880-'82,
Amos B. Cole.
PIKE COUNTY.
With Jackson County-1816-'18, Jared Strong; 1818-'19, William Givins; 1819-'20, Jared Strong.
With Scioto-1820-'28. With Jackson-1828-'29, Alex. Miller; 1829-'31, John' Barnes; 1831-'32,
Robert Lucas; 1832'33, George Burris; 1833-'34, John Barnes; 1834-'35, John Burnside;
1835-'36, David Mitchell. With Jackson and Ross - 1836- '37, Daniel Ott, James Hughes, J. J.
Van Meter; 1837-'38, James Hughes, Daniel Ott; 1838-'39, James Hughes and Abraham Hegler.
With Jackson and Ross-1839-'40, aim Johnson, Samuel Reed. With Ross, Hocking and
JacksonJackson -Jackson-1,Worthington, John Stinson, Joseph Kaler; 1841-'42, Le Grand
Byington, John James, Daniel Karshner; 1842-'43, Le Grand Byington, Elihu Johnson, William
Nelson; 1843-'44 Wesley Claypool, Joseph Kaler, Asa R. Cassiday. With Adams-1844-'45, J. M.
Britton; 1845-'46, Daniel Cockerill; 1846-'47, J. P. Bloomhuff; 1847-‘48, Amos Convine; 1848.
'49, Daniel Cockerill; 1849-'50, Jacob Taylor; 1850-'51, J. W. Smith. New Constitution 1852-'56,
Edward R. Allen; 1856-'58, John Anderson; 1858-'60, J. J. Green; 1860.'62, S. W. Shaw;
1862-'64, Thomas Wilson; 1864- '66, James Jones; 1866-'68, Aaron Ferneau; 1868-‘70, Isaac C.
Penneston (died), Isaac Austill; 1870-'74, Isaac Austill; 1874-'76
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 89
J. B. Ray; 1876-'80, J. W. Washburn; 1880- '82, Alfred Moore.
JACKSON COUNTY.
With Pike County-1816-'20. With Gallia and Meigs-1820-'21, George House, R. G. Hanna;
1821-'22, Daniel Womeldorf; 1822- 23, J. W. Ross, Jared Strong; 1823-'24, Fuller Elliott, Jared
Strong; 1824-'25, J. W. ss, David Mitchell; 1825-'26, J. W. Ross, amuel Holcomb; 1826-'27,
Daniel Hoff-an, Stephen 'Strong; 1827- 28, Andrew Donnelly, George Burris. With Pike-1828-
44. With Gallia-1844-'45, J. J. Coombs; 845-'46, Martin Owens; 1846-'47, Alex. ̊or; 1847-'48,
A. T. Holcomb; 1848-'49, H. S. Bundy. With Gallia, Athens and Meigs-1849-'50, A. T.
Holcomb; 1850-'51, H. S. Bundy. New Constitution, with Vinn- 1852-'54, D. D. T. Hard;
1854-'56, W. J. Evans; 1856-'58, E. F. Bingham; 1858-‘60 , Robert B. Stephenson (resigned), W.
L. Edminston; 1860-'62, Alex. Pierce. Alone- 1882-'64, Isaac Roberts; 1864-'68, James Tripp;
1868-'70, Levi Dungan; 1870-'72, W. Williams (died), T. L. Hughes; 1872-'74, ernard Kafiri;
1874-'76, T. J. Harrison; 76-'78, A. B. Monahan; 1878-'80, A. B. onahan (died), J. B. Paine;
1880-'82, J. B. Paine.
COMMON PLEAS COURT.
STRICT NO. 7, SUB-DIVISION NO. 2 -- SCIOTO, PIKE, JACKSON, LAWRENCE AND
VINTON COUNTIES.
1852-'58, Wm. V. Peck, Portsmouth; Simeon Nash, Henry C. Whitman ; 1858-'67, W. W.
Johnson, Ironton; John P. Plyley, McArthur; 1868, J. P. Plyley, Martin Crain; 1869, J. P. Plyley,
Henry A. Towne; 1870, W. W. Johnson, J. P. Plyley; 1871, J. J. Harper, Portsmouth; W. W.
Johnson; 1872-‘73 , J. J. Harper, W. K. Hastings, Jackson; 1874-'77, J. J. Harper, Portsmouth;
Porter DuHadway, Jackson; James Tripp, Jackson, added in 1878; 1879-'80, J. J. Harper, James
Tripp; 1881-'83, A. C. Thompson, Portsmouth; James Tripp.
ELECTION OF 1840.
In the early times election days were a sort of holiday. The voters went early, took their guns
along and proposed to.have a good time, shooting at a mark being one of their festive pastimes.
County elections did not produce much excitement; it was the State election or the presidential
years which called forth the true patriotic fervor in those pioneer days of song and story.
It was genuine enthusiasm, too; there was nothing sordid about it. They went in to win on their
side, and until the polls closed they kept the ball rolling lively. When the battle of the ballot
ended the victors were cheered and the slain decently interred, to be resurrected, perhaps, at some
future day.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
There have been many exciting presidential campaigns in this country, but to the old men of
to-day there has never been an election that could at all compare with that of 1840. And in this
must be given the palm for fun, frolic and intense patriotism to the men of other days. It was a
campaign of barbecues, picnics and processions of merry song and patriotic utterances. Money,
indeed, was used in the times of long ago, but instead of a bribe to the individual voter to corrupt
and degrade him, as now, no such thought entered the minds of the leaders in those good old
days. The money went for music by the band, a roast ox and a " little more cider, too." There was
a feast of reason, a flow of soul, and principles were fought for and not spoils.
The year 1840 will ever be memorable in the political history of our country. Jackson had carried
out his plans to destroy the
90 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.
power of the United States Bank, which was using its vast resources to corrupt the people's
representatives, to secure a renewal of its charter, and become a power potent for evil in the
future of the country. Having accomplished this, he retired, and Martin Van Buren became his
successor. Finances, however, had become deranged, and every effort of those who had felt the
power of Jackson's policy was willingly put forth to effect the downfall of Van Buren's
administration, by fair means or foul. The financial panic of 1837 was the golden opportunity of
the Whig party, and they availed the mselves of it.. The cry of hard times was echoed and
re-echoed throughout the land, and it was no false cry. Wildcat banks had come into being in
place of the old United States Bank, and when the pressure came they were unable to stem the
tide of bankruptcy and ruin, of which indeed they were the most potent cause, and which then
swept over the country with the force and destructive power of a cyclone, carrying desolation in
its path. The bank's circulation being principally secured by bonds and mortgages, and real-estate
rapidly depreciating, these banks went down before the financial storm like leaves in an autumnal
gale. The^_ financial crash of 1837 told fearfully and with terrible effect in the East, where the
bulk of the voting population was then found; but while west of the Mississippi the vote was
light, and the country sparsely settled, yet the West was as enthusiastic as any other portion of the
country and went into the campaign with the greatest fervor and delight. The distress all over the
country was great, and a presidential campaign came to hand before the people could recover.
Not only were the friends of the United States Bank and the old Whig party solid, but the story
was added that Van Buren's administration was one of wild prodigality, and that the cabinet was
an aristocratic court that vied in follies and extravagance the worst courts of Europe. This was a
harp of a thousand strings, and every string seemed to send forth a wail of horror over the
reckless waste of this Democratic administration. From this came the grand campaign of " Log
cabin and hard cider," that of 1840. The old pioneer dotes on that campaign, and memory
brightens as its vivid scenes are recalled to mind.
In 1840, as before remarked, the people still suffered from the hard times brought on by the
financial disaster of 1837; hard work had not yet drawn them out of the slough of 1 bankruptcy,
and the promised relief from congressional action had also failed. So the story of trials and
sufferings was told in song and carried everything before it.
The log-cabin feature touched the hearts of the people, for of such were their homes, and the
songs had the effect of clinching reason and fancy, and securing their votes. " For Tippecanoe
and Tyler, too, for Van, Van, is! a used up man," was a chorus that rang out with a heartiness that
boded no good to the Democracy.
It was claimed that the destruction of the old United States Bank and the extravagance of Van
Buren's administration had brought on the disastrous financial panic of 1837 and all the evils
which followed, and that "Old Tippecanoe," Wm. Henry Harrison, who was not only a soldier
boy, but a farmer, would give the country a farmer's .administration, which meant economy and
good times.
The Whigs had decidedly the best of the, fight, and the campaign was simply "icemense," with its
grand barbecues, speeches, processions and songs. The charge of lavished expenditures of Van
Buren was harped upon with wonderful effect, and many songs were composed and sung of the
way he spent the people's money in high and aristocratic living.
The Democrats, however, were not idled they saw the storm and prepared to meet it with counter
charges, and the same kind of
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 91
ammunition, but the disaffection of VanBuren and his traitor host caused their bailer to trail in
the dust.
The election came off, and the songs " Log Cabins " and " A Little More Cider, Too," did the
business. " Old Tip " was elected, and “Tyler, too," and the people once more settled down to
quiet life.
But if you want to put life and snap in the voice and limbs of the old pioneer on an election
theme, strike the key note, the year 1840. His eyes will brighten, his limbs will straighten, and his
voice will ring out with a bell-like clearness, as he tells you of that greatest and best of political
campaigns ever held in this country. The contrast to the bright glow and honesty of the one party,
all working together for success, and the dark and damning treachery which haunted and
followed the other with a black and frowning brow, was significant of the result. Treachery had
done its evil work, and done it well. He who had received honors and emoluments at the hands of
his party and the people, became a traitor and a renegade, and so Van Buren sank out of sight, the
dark pall of oblivion covering him with a mantle of shame. " Salt River" became household
words, and many people actually believed that a vessel had taken the Democratic candidates on a
voyage up that beautiful (?) and historic stream. Harrison was deserving of his country's honor,
and though General Cass may have been better versed in statecraft, yet if Harrison had lived, the
country would never have suffered.
Such a campaign as that of 1840 at this day would be a farce. There is too much bargain and sale.
It would not chime in with an innocent song, for there is very little innocence in the elections of
late years. Principles have had little to do with elections. High-sounding words, plenty of
promises,—to be broken, capital to the front, labor to the rear, monopolies triumphant and rolling
in wealth, the people to live a pauper life, with the heritage of unceasing work fastened upon
their limbs. This is the present outlook for the people, taken from a party standpoint, who love
them so dearly and well. So the old pioneer revels in the times of long ago, and he is not far out
of the way. Those days were as full of wrangling and bitterness as those of the present, but it was
a square fight for principles only. Money was not the mighty power which controlled past
elections. It did not rule Congress, purchase Legislatures, or elect Presidents. It had the will to do
it, but its representative, the United States Bank, lay bleeding at the feet of the people, where it
had been laid by the iron will and mailed hand of their lion-hearted President. The Lower Scioto
Valley played her part in this election, and polled her vote for the " Hero of Tippecanoe."
Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was the leader of the Whig party, and he was made the target of a good
deal of Democratic thunder. The songs were not all on one side, not by any means; but the charge
of royalty was the winning card of the Whigs. However, the Democrats got off a good many
songs against Clay and his party, and a verse is here given to show the tactics of the Democracy:
"There's Harry Clay, a man of doubt,
Who wires in and wires out;
And you cannot tell when he's on the track,
Whether he's going on or coming back."
SCIOTO COUNTY
CHAPTER VI
THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY OF THE SCIOTO.-THE FERTILE BANKS OF THE
OHIO.
BEFORE ORGANIZATION.
Previous to 1803, the history of Scioto County belonged to that of the Northwest Territory and to
the counties of Washington and Adams. The Scioto River was the dividing line between
Washington and Adams counties. The mouth of the Scioto was a favorite rendezvous for the
Indians who captured many boats paoccupantsn the Ohio, their occupants becoming victims to
their cruelty. The surface is generally hilly, and the valley of Scioto rich and beautiful beyond
dispute. The Scioto River led to one of the principal settlements of the Indians, in what is now
Ross County, and they reached the Oliio by canoes down the river.
The first whisoil of who camped upon the soilpf Scioto County was undoubtedly George
Croghan, an Indian agent. Possibly some French trappers and traders may have been here before
that, for they were in the country fully twenty years previous to the date of Croghan's arrival.
George Croghan and four companions, on their way to St. Vincent, (Vincennes, Ind.), arrived at
the mouth of the Scioto, May 23, 1765; and remained encamped near its mouth until May 28,
1765, some five days. They then left for their destination. They expected to meet Indians to treat
with. On their way down the Ohio, below Cincinnati, on June 8, 1765, Croghan and his little
band were captured by hostile Indians.. Vincentre taken to Port St.Vincent, then in possession of
the French. Croghan and his band were English. He ,stated his mission, and after being kept
awhile as prisoners, were released and allowed to return, The Indian wars, after that of the
Revolution, caused the country through all this section to become thoeautiy explored, and the
beautiful valley of the Scioto once seen was not soon forgotten. But the war of the Revolution
was scarcely closed ere were found adventurous spirits, who were determined to prospect and if
possible make their home in the valley, which brings us to the first settlement on the soil of
Scioto County.
THE PIONEER SETTLEMENT.
While there was a French trading post located on the soil of Scioto County as early as 1740, and
which was located something over a mile below the old mouth of the Scioto River, the first
attempt at permanent settlement was in 1785, From the American, Pioneer the following article is
taken, having been contributed by George Corwin, of Portsmouth. It reads :
" In April, 1785, four families from the Red. stone settlement in Pennsylvania descended the
Ohio to the mouth of the Scioto River, and there moored their boat under the high bank just
below where Portsmouth now stands. They commenced clearing the ground to plant seeds for a
crop to support their families, hoping that the red men of the forest would suffer them to remai
and improve the soil.
- 92 -
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 93
"Soon after they landed, the four men, heads of the families, started up the Scioto to see the
paradise of the West, of which they had heard from white men who had been captured by the
Indians, and traversed it while in captivity. Leaving their little colony of four women and their
children to the protection of an over-ruling providence, they wandered over the beautiful bottoms
of the Scioto is far up as the prairies above, and opposite to where Piketon now stands. One of
them, Peter Patrick by name, pleased with the country, cut the initials of his name on the beech
tree near the river, and upon the margin of a little stream that flowed into the Scioto. These letters
afterward being found, gave the name of Pee Pee' to the creek, and then to the prairies through
which the creek flowed. And from this also came the name of Pee Pee Township in Pike County.
"A SURPRISE PARTY.
"Encamping near the site of Piketon they were surprised by the Indians, two of them killed as
they lay by the fire, while the other two managed to escape over the hills, reaching the Ohio
River at the mouth of the Little Scioto just as some white men going down the river in a pirogue
were passing. Their petition for help was heard and answered at last by the boat coming to the
shore and taking them on board. Then passing down to their claim they hastily loaded in their
effects, amid the heartrending lamentations of those who had lost their husbands. No time was
time was lost, as their safety depended upon instant flight, and getting their movables, they put
off to Limestone, now Maysville, as a place of greater safety, and the owners of the rogue there
left them and pursued their own way to Port Vincent, their destination."
Mr. Corwin gives as his authority for the above, " One who came down in the pirogue."
A MISTAKE AND A PROBABILITY.
There is only one thing lacking in the above interesting narrative, and that is: Did Peter Patrick,
the " Pee Pee " above described, escape, or was he one of the killed?
To tell the truth, the writer of this history has had his curiosity sadly shattered by the want of this
one interesting point. The name of the man who first settled Alexandria and gave his name to
town, township, and creek, and then failing at an important point in the narrative to give the fact
of his life or death, is a sad lapse in the otherwise graphic history. Not only is this important item
unexplained, but another distressing want of facts occurs in the statement by another writer that "
Thomas McDonald built the first cabin in Scioto County." This information was derived from
Thomas's brother John, but could not tell the date or the place said cabin was built. In this
extremity it is best to make Thomas one of the surviving men who built their cabins under the
bluff, in 1785, in the incident above described, and the other man who escaped it is best to
believe was Peter Patrick, " Pee-Pee," himself. Thus a veritable history, with time, place, date
and names, can be given, to wit: That in 1785, in the month of May, four families located under
the bluffs near where Portsmouth now stands, or rather Alexandria, built their cabins, seeded
some ground and then went up the Scioto River on an exploring expedition. These men were
Thomas McDonald and Peter Patrick and their two neighbors. On this expedition their two
neighbors (names unknown) were killed by the Indians, while McDonald and Patrick escaped by
almost a miracle, and not feeling safe, left their cabins and crops to the savages and sought safer
quarters at Maysville. This was the first settlement, for there are no doubts of the fact of the
above, not only in Scioto County, but in Ohio, outside of the French traders
94 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.
and trappers, being some ten to twelve years prior to any other known squatter sovereign who
made a local habitation or gave his name to posterity in streams, township or prairies.
THE FIRST SURVEYS.
Soon after or about two years later the surveys began of the Northwest Territory, in places. This
Qontinued until the attacks of the Indians upon the different surveying parties, which compelled
them to leave and the Indian war inaugurated that gave peace to, the country. The first two pieces
of land, were surveyed for Alexander Parker, 900 acres of land on the part of a military warrant
No. 1,892, on the Ohio and Scioto rivers, " Beginning at the mouth of the Scioto, running down
the Ohio S 39 W 24 poles, S 46 W 37 poles, S 27 W 83 poles, S 35 W 100 poles, S 13 W 62
poles to a cherry and two sugar trees on the bank of the river; thence N 46 E 595 poles to a
hoopwood and two box elders; thence S 44 E 72 poles to two sycamores and a box elder on the
bank of the Scioto; thence down the river S 37 W 78 poles, S 25 E 88 poles, S 85 E 162 poles, S
44 E 80 poles to a sycamore, cottonwood and maple; W 43 poles, N 77 W 130 poles, S 57 W 51
poles, S 6 W 60 poles, S 23 E 73 poles, S 12 E 24 poles to the place of beginning.
" JOHN O'BANNON, D. S. "
Nov. 18, 1787.
"JOHN WILLIAMS,
"SILVESTER MONRONEY,
“April 2, 1788
THOMAS PALMER, MKR"
For Stephen Southall, 666 2/8 acres of land, part of a military warrant, No. 2,270, on the Ohio
River and on the northwest side: "Beginning at a white oak, buckeye and sugar tree, on the bank
of the river, upper corner to Larkin Smith's survey No. 475, running up the river N 58 E 113
poles, N 39 E 149 poles, N 29 E 142 poles, N 13 E 27 poles to a cherry and two sugar trees.
Lower corner to Alexander Parker's survey No. 508; thence with his line N 44 W 236 poles to
three chestnut oaks, in said line; thence S 37 W 360 poles to three locusts, upper back corner to
Smith; thence with his line S 28 E 250 poles to the beginning.
" JOHN O'BANNON, D. S. "
Nov. 19, 1787.
SILVESTER MONRONEY,
"JOHN WILLIAMS, "
April 2, 1788.
“ JOSIAH STOUT, Mkr."
There were other lands surveyed before the surveyors were driven off, but these were the lands
once covered by the town of Alexandria, but a memory of the past, and the present site of
Portsmouth. The Indian hostilities comtimenced, and that put an end to all ideas of a settlement
until the war closed, which it finally did in 1795. Surveyors were soon in the field. The settlers,
however, did not wait, but pre-empted such lands as suited them, and as soon as the Land-office
at Chillicothe was opened (in 1801) for business, secured their claims by purchase. There was
quite a rush to the country along the Scioto Valley, and on the Ohio River, and soon the country
was dotted with the cabins of the adventtiurous pioneers, from Storm Creek, at the mouth of
which the flourishing city of Ironton now stands, down the Ohio River to the mouth of the Big
Scioto, became the most settled portion of the country. The bottoms were rich, and in 1796 the
bank of the Ohio River began to be dotted with the cabins of the immigrants. Upper Township,
which was a part of Scioto County, was settled by numerous persons in 1796, but they came in
late spring, summer and fall. 'From that down through the French Grant, to the Little and Big
Scioto, along tile bank of the Ohio, the emigrants found homes and laid the foundation of an
empire of freedom and progress. A short sketch of a few of the first settlers only can be given:
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 95
SAMUEL MARSHALL, SR., the first pioneer and permanent settler of Scioto County, was
born June 29, 1789, in Washington County, Penn. His father came to the Northwestern Territory
to seek a future home for his family. He came down the Ohio in company with General Anthony
Wayne, who was sent out by President Washington to conclude a treaty with the Indians. In
February, 1796, Mr. Marshall loaded his goods into his pirogue and moved up to a point about
three miles above the Scioto River, and nearly opposite the mouth of Tygart's Creek, where he
concluded to locate. He built his house out of pickets or puncheons split out of the body of a tree,
three or four inches thick, and as wide as the tree would make. He dug a trench in the ground and
set these pickets in so as to include a' space of eighteen or twenty feet square and covered with
the same material. He banked the earth up around the outside, to keep out the cold winds, and
used the ground for a floor. Into this he moved his family, consisting of four children, himself
and wife. Two of its daughters had married in Manchester and remained behind. Those who
came with him were Jessie, Samuel, Polly and Salina. This was the first house built and occupied
in Scioto County. When the Marshall family moved into that house (if it could be called a house)
in the month of February, 1796, there was not another human being, either white, black or red, in
Scioto County. From Keyes's history of the Marshall family, this summing up is taken : " We
claim for Samuel Marshall the credit of being the first settler in Scioto County who came here
with the intention of making this his permanent home. That he built the first cabin and raised the
first crop of corn; that the first person married in the county was his daughter, and that the first
child that was born in the county was his child." The first child born as above mentioned, was
Fanny, who, on reaching womanhood, married George Skunkwilder. She was born in the year
1797.
ROBERT LUCAS. —Among the pioneers who left their mark upon the historical record of this
valley, as well as the State and county, was Robert Lucas, Surveyor, Legislator, Senator and
Governor of Ohio. The following is taken from Mr. James Keyes's biographical sketches of early
settlers of Scioto County. Governor Lucas was also a resident of Pike County, and his early
history belongs to the Lower Scioto Valley:
" We now come to one in the family who for forty years occupied a large space in the politics of
the country. He came with his father to this country in 1800, of mature age, and qualified, both
by education and practice, to take a very active part in all the matters pertaining to organizing and
placing the new State and county in a proper condition for self government. We see by the
records of the first courts held in this county, that Joseph Lucas, his brother, was appointed an
Associate J udge of the Court of Common Pleas, and Robert Lucas, County Surveyor. This was
in 1804. He took an active part in organizing the militia, as it was the policy of the Government
of that day to dispense with a standing army and depend upon a well-organized militia for the
defense of the country in time of war. The county was organized into one regiment, two
battalions, and ten companies; the regiment met once a year for training and mustering, and they
held their general musters, as it was called, on the farm of Martin Funk, it being the most central
point in the county. Lucas was the first Brigadier-General in the country. The battalions and
companies met two or three time a year, to drill. Delinquents were always fined, and the fines
were generally collected, so that mustering in that day was no mere child's play, but always
meant business and had to be attended to.
" In 1808, a 4th of July celebration was held on the farm of Major Isaac Bonser,
96 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.
which was a grand affair for that day. People came from far and near; it was not a little
neighborhood affair, such as we have nowadays, but they came from distances of thirty or forty
miles. General Lucas was the principal man of the day, and delivered the oration. He was well
qualified, both by education and abilities, to take the lead in all the enterprises of the period.
" On the opening of the war of 1812 General Robert Lucas (he was General of the 'militia
volunteers), went to loin Generals McArthur and Hull. He failed in getting a command as he
expected, but remained during the struggle, and was surrendered at Detroit with the army under
Trull. The next year, 1813, he went out as Brigadier-General, at the general call of that year.
They went to Sandusky but to) late to be of any service, as the British and Indians had been
driven off before they got there. The campaign lasted forty-four days. This appears to have ended
General Lucas's military life. We next hear of him as a politician. In the fall of 1814 he was
elected to the Senate of the State of Ohio. Here he remained without failing to be re-elected, until
1828, a period of fourteen years, so that in politics he seemed to succeed much better than he did
in the military line.
"It was in the latter year that he was beaten by General Kendall. Lucas was also on the electoral
ticket for an Andrew Jackson Presidential elector.
"This system of electioneering perhaps had a good deal of influence in determining the election.
General Kendall was elected to the Senate, but General Lucas was elected Presidential elector.
Kendall had a great many friends and no enemies, and in the Senatorial district, he came out far
ahead of Lucas, who always had a happy faculty of making some enemies as he went along. But
the State going in favor of Jackson, Lucas was elected.
"In 1832, the Democratic party being fully organized, brought Lucas out for Governor of the
State. He was elected, and made a very good Governor, and I believe he was reelected in 1834. In
1838 he was appointed by Van Buren, Governor of Iowa, and this wound up his political career
in Ohio. He sold off his property and removed to that flourishing Territory, where he remai ned
till the day of his death.
A few words now as to his domestic history, and we have done. He was first married to Margaret
Brown about the year 1810. The next year she died with the consumption, leaving one child, a
daughter. He remained single till about the year 1818, when he married for his second wife
Friendly Sumner, daughter of Edward Sumner, a wealthy farmer of the French Grant. He
purchased a tract of land about two miles from Piketon, in Pike County, and there he built an
elegant mansion, and otherwise improved the place, until he had one of the finest country
residences in the State. They left a portion of the original forest standing near the house, in all its
primeval grandeur. Mrs. Lucas, being a woman of taste, decorated it with all the care and skill
she could bring to bear upon it; she called it Friendly Grove, from her own name. Mr. Lucas
spent all the time he could spare from his official duties at home, working on his farm. The
neighbors all spoke highly of him as being a good neighbor, and a very friendly gentleman in all
his intercouse with those who had any dealing with him. His daughter, whom he had by his first
wife, grew up to be a fine young lady, and married Horatio Nelson Sumner, Mrs. Lucas's
youngest 1 brother, thus becoming father-in-law to his own brother-in-law. When Governor
Lucas received the appointment of Governor of Iowa, he sold off all his possessions in Ohio and
removed his family to his new field of labor. He had seven children by his last wife, and when he
left for Iowa the rest of the
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 97
Lucases all left for the same place, so that the name of Lucas has become extinct in this part of
the country, except the name of Lucas-vine, which will remain as long as the city of Lucasville
has an existence."
JOHN COLLINS, came in the fall of the year 1796 and located in Alexandria, putting up the
third house in that now deserted place. He became the first Associate Judge of the County, and
his house the first court-house, and held a prominent position in the county for over thirty years.
DAVID GHARKY was another of the pioneers who became a representative man in the county.
He came to Alexandria in 1799, and was one of the last to leave it in 1814. He was Auditor for
ten years, Treasurer one term, and served in the first Town-Council of Portsmouth, after its
incorporation in 1815. He was a noted man in his day, and of an aggressive nature.
JOSEPH FEURT settled on Cary's Run in 1796, and from there moved to Bear Creek, in what
is now Union Township. Mr. Feurt first proclaimed his intention of settling in what is now Scioto
County, in 1790, but as the Indians insisted upon his leaving, he did so, and returned as above,
but not until a few had preceded him. His was the half-way house between the settlement of 1785
and that of Bonser's, who marked his ground in 1795.
THE HITCHCOCK family came in 1800, and became connected im marriage with the Feurts,
Gabriel Feurt marrying into the family.
JAMES MUNN was a Revolutionary soldier and settled here in 1.796, or rather at Alexandria,
being one of the earliest settlers in that town—not over three or four families there on his arrival.
He was with General Washington, crossing the Delaware, and with Crawford in his defeat by the
Indians. He was held in high esteem, and was a famous hunter. He brought the first two hand
mills in the county.
- 7 -
JOHN W. MILLAR and his brother Abram located in the county, near the Pike County line, in
1799. They :raised corn, and both built distilleries, and were the first to build their own fiat-boat,
and make a trip to New Orleans.
PHILLIP SALLADAY, while the date is not positive, came, it is believed, in the fall of 1796,
and he was known to be here in 1797. He was one of the first Grand Jurors, and his wife made a
memorable visit to the East, going alone and returning. He was an influential man in those early
days. He died of consumption at an early day.
JOHN LINDSEY came to Scioto County, or what is now under that name, March 22, 1796, and
was the second permanent resident of the county, Saml. Marshall coming first about five or six
weeks previous. He settled at the mouth of the Little Scioto, while Marshall's cabin was about
three miles up that stream. He had six sons and two daughters. Captain Jack Lindsey was one of
the sons man grown, and married Polly Marshall in the year 1798. Samuel Perry, a young man
who came in the following year, 1797, married Margaret Lindsey.
THE CADOTS came to the French Grant in 1797, and Claudius, one of the sons, became pretty
well known. He was one of the volunteers of the war of 1812, and was the last survivor of the
volunteers from Scioto County in that war. They erected a distillery in 1798. Lemuel Cadot, a
brother, settled in what is now Vernon Township.
MARTIN FUNK settled on land bought of Henry Massie in 1803, built a cabin and started a
distillery. Corn could he carried to New Orleans in a liquid state, in bulk, much cheaper than any
other way. Martin Funk's farm was the ground for militia training, and his son John was the
principal musician; he played the fife splendidly. They lived at " Old Town " from 1798, and then
moved, as above.
98 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY.
PETRE CHABOT belonged to the French settlement, locating on the "Grant " in 1799, and built
his cabin on what was called Grant Creek; he proved a successful cultivator, of the soil.
THOMAS GILRUTH was one of the hardy pioneers of early days, and settled in Scioto County
in 1797. His sons were William, Thomas and James, the latter a preacher and Methodist circuit
rider. They were, with their father, the athletes of pioneer days in Scioto County.
ISAAC BONSER was a noted character among the pioneers of Scioto County. He prospected
the county in 1795, and Aug. 10 of that year selected his claim and notched trees to mark it. He
then went East, and returned the following year, landing on the spot he had selected Aug. 10,
1796. Uriah Barber, a half-brother, John Beatty, William Ward and Ephraim Adams came with
him. All became permanent settlers of the county, and Uriah Roler prominent in official life after
the county was organized.
COLONEL THOMAS PARKER, a soldier of the Revolution, purchased the land where
Alexandria stood, in 1787, and under his direction his brother, Alexander Parker, laid out the
town in 1796, naming it after himself, in part. The land, some 900 acres,was surveyed in the fall
of 1787, and finished April 2, 1788.
DR. THOMAS WALLER settled in Alexandria in the year 1801, and was the first resident
physician in the county. He was from Virginia, and founded an extensive practice, which covered
an extended territory. He was a representative man of his day.
JOHN BELLI may be said to be about the first settler of Alexandria, though we hear nothing of
his building a cabin within its limits. He was Colonel Parker's agent for selling lots, and a
recorder of deeds for Adams County. He was also in the Wayne Indian campaigns. He purchased
1,000 acres on Turkey Creek, locating it in 1795, and had a cabin erected that winter, or early the
following spring. He disputed the first resident with Samuel Marshall, and in reality it is doubtful
which got his cabin up first. Marshall's we have the date of, and Belli none, and although he
located before Marti, shall, he did not put up a cabin himself, and hired another to do it. He
removed to his farm in 1800.
WILLIAM LAWSON settled just east of Massie's land, upon which Portsmouth now I stands,
joining on its east side. He came in 1799, and built the second brick house in the county, and the
first outside of Portsmouth. When the latter town was laid out, as his was the only house about,he
boarded the men who did the work. When done, the treatment had been so acceptable to all
hands that Colonel Massie offered him a lot for nothing, as an evidence of his good will, but it
was declined on the ground that " he did not know what he wanted of a lot in that mud hole."
URIAH BARBER died at his residence in Clay Township, near Portsmouth, in the eighty- sixth
year of his age. He was a native of Northumberland County, Penn., where lie joined the United
States army, and served in Sullivan's campaign, and upon the return of peace, when his country
no longer required his services in the field of battle, he laid down his arms, and with other hardy
pioneers from the old States came to the Ohio Valley for the purpose of subduing the wilderness
and opening new channels for the enjoyment of the blessings of civil liberty which they had
fought to receive.
Major Barber landed at the mouth of Little Scioto River on the 10th day of August, 1796, where
Mr. Lindsey had settled the previous year; there he remained a short time, and afterward removed
to the west side of the Scioto, near the mouth of Dog Run. In 1803 he erected the first hewed
log-house in Portsmouth, some one or two cabins having been
HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 99
previously erected. The house stood on the corner on which the National Hotel now stands, and
was designed for a tavern; but owing to the death of Mrs. Barber in 1804, this design was
abandoned, and Major Barber engaged in the carrying business on the Scioto River. For that
purpose he built a keel boat and made the first trip up the Scioto River to Chillicothe ever made
by a keel boat on that river, a fur trader by the name of Dunham having recently navigated the
Scioto in a pirogue as far up as that point. Major Barber shortly afterward located on his farm
near town, where he resided for nearly forty years, sustaining the character of a good and worthy
citizen.
PHILLIP NOEL came to Scioto in 1799, and was in fair circumstances. He purchased a large
farm five miles north of Portsmouth, which is in possession of his family. In the warof 1812 four
of the sons joined the first volunteer company under Captain Roup. It was a noted family, one of
the sturdiest and most enterprising in the county. They were thorough farmers, men of integrity
and commanding influence.
HENRY UTT., a German by descent, a Pennsylvanian by birth, and a hunter by profession for a
number of years, settled in Scioto, about the last of the year 1796. He was on the Mamie surrey
and furnished the camp with meat. This was in 1793. After the close of the Indian war he came to
the Scioto Valley. He was also with Duncan Mc Arthur's surveying party and others and always
in the capacity of a hunter. He told many exciting stories of his hunting years, one of which is
here given, because of its singularity, and his escape by the mercy of an overruling Providence.
Had he slept much longer a cyclone would have been a zephyr. He said :
While he was in the service of Mr. Massie as hunter, he was hunting on M'Culloch's Creek (a
tributary of Scioto-Brush Creek), and near night he became tired and concluded to
lay down and rest himself. It was warm weather, and not requiring any fire he wrapped himself in
his blanket and lay down by the side of a log where there were a good many dry leaves, and soon
went to sleep. He slept very sound, and did not wake up till the next morning. When he awoke
the first discovery that he made was that he was completely covered up with dry leaves. He was a
little alarmed at first, knowing that some mischief was intended for him. He got out of his bed as
quick as he could, and held his gun in position to fire if an enemy should be near at hand. He
walked off cautiously and concealed himself behind a tree, to see what developments would be
made with regard to his careful night's lodging. He had not waited long before he espied an old
she panther with her litter of young ones approaching, in a very stealthy manner, the place where
he had passed the night. She crawled up within jumping distance, and then gave a tremendous
spring and lit on the bed of leaves. No hurricane or whirlwind ever made leaves fly faster than
they did there for a few moments. When she discovered that her intended prey had escaped, she
looked up quite bewildered and began snuffing the air to see in which way he might have gone.
Mr. Utt watched her movements closely, and concluded it was time for him to do something So
he drew a bead on the animal's head, and at the crack of his rifle she fell over dead. He
dispatched the young panthers, took off the skin of the old one, and returned to camp with the
trophies of his victory.
WM. MONTGOMERY came in the year 1799 and settled on the " Grant." He was a man of
industry and genius, and became a successful farmer and miller. He located a mill-site on Pine
Creek, now known as Giant Oak Mills, and also put up a flax-seed oil-mill. He was
self-educated, a great reader, and made considerable property. One of his sons removed to
Hocking County, was the
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