HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. - 351

CHAPTER - X.

LOG CABIN SETTLERS - D. C. COOPER-ROBERT EDGAR-MAJ. GEORGE ADAMS - DR. JOHN HOLE- - ZACHARIAH HOLE - AARON NUTT--DANIEL HOOVER

AS giving many interesting points and events of the early settlement and history of the county, we include as part of the general history, these biographical sketches of the most prominent and influential men of their times. Cooper, Edgar, Adams. Hole, Nutt and Hoover, as representatives of the hardy, thrifty class of pioneers, who led the advance into the dense woods, made the clearings, established and protected the early settlements.

DANIEL C. COOPER.

Among the most active and shrewd of the young Inen. who became interested in Miami Valley lands, was Daniel C. Cooper, of New Jersey, who, when he was about twenty years old, came West to look after the interests of Jonathan Dayton, who owned lands. and was otherwise interested in the" Symmes Purchase." This gave Mr. Cooper employment in his occupation as surveyor, and was also a. favorable opportunity for observation and selection of lands for himself.

He was the oldest son of George Cooper, a wealthy farmer, who lived at, and owned Long Hill, Morris County, N. J., where his son, Daniel C. Cooper, was born, November 20, 1773. George Cooper died in New Jersey, leaving two sons, Daniel C. and John.

Of the early experience and adventures of Daniel C. Cooper, for the first year or two after his arrival in the West, there is but little information. Indian hostilities kept the surveyors and all others close within protection of the garrisons at Fort Washington and the smaller stations around.

In 1794 and 1795, Mr. Cooper was with Col. Israel Ludlow, in his exploring and surveying expeditions through the valley. Such surveying parties generally consisted of the surveyor and assistant, two chain men, a marker, hunter, cook and spy. In 1795, when peace with the Indians seemed to be assured, these. surveying parties were accompanied by explorers, who were looking for lands upon which to settle.

In September, 1795, immediately after Wayne's treaty at Greenville, Cooper located the road north from Fort Hamilton to the mouth of died River, where it was proposed to establish the Dayton settlement. Besides his surveying party a number of Kentuckians accompanied him to view the country, the trip up and back occupying about ten days' time.

During that fall and the succeeding winter, Cooper located for himself about 1,000 acres of choice land, and the next year he came up and built his cabin in Dayton, at the southeast corner of Water and Jefferson streets, which he probably occupied for two years, then built a cabin on his land, afterward the Patterson farm, south of the settlement. The cabin facing the river, stood just south of Rubicon Creek, where the two large pear trees now are, between the Miamisburg pike and the canal. near which point the next year he built the " corn-cracker" and distillery.

Mr. Cooper married a young widow. a beautiful woman. whose maiden

352 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

name was Sophia Greene. Her first husband was a Mr. Burnet, a young lawyer of Cincinnati. She was born August 25, 1780.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper had six children. all of their dying in childhood, except David Zeigler Cooper, who was born November 8, 1812, married Miss Letitia Smith in Philadelphia, and died in Dayton. December 4, 1836.

D. C. Cooper was a very active and influential man in all matters pertaining to the growth and improvement of the town and county: he aided in building the churches, was constant in his efforts to bring newcomers to the county, was one of the largest resident landowners in this part of the valley. and owned and operated the only mills that were here for ten years after the first settlement.

The failure of Syrnmes to complete his purchase from the Government, and the delay in opening the land offices. caused Messrs. St. Clair. Dayton, Wilkinson and Ludlow to abandon their purchase on Mad River, thus causing great confusion and annoyance to the settlers. To remedy the evil, so far as it effected titles to the town lots, Mr. Cooper by purchase of preemption-rights, and agreement with lot-owners, became titular proprietor of Dayton. and platted it upon the same plan as surveyed and laid out in 1795. From the various interests involved, he was several years in completing the arrangement. The fulfillment of this plan gave the Presbyterians. Methodist, and :Baptists, church lots and burying-grounds; to the county. the court horse lot and other pieces of property: to the town, the public squire and other valuable concessions.

In 1804, Mr. Cooper sold his farm and mills. south of town to Col. Robert Patterson, and built his " elegant mansion" of hewn logs on the southwest corner of Ludlow and First streets, in Dayton, where he moved with his family and lived until his death, July 13, 1818. 3Irs. Cooper married Gen. Fielding Lowry. and died flay 11, 1826. Mr. Cooper represented the county in the Third General Assembly of Ohio convened at Chillicothe. the first Monday in December, 1804.

He was elected to the Sixth Assembly. convened at Chillicothe December 7, 1807; was elected Senator from the district composed of Miami. Montgomery and Preble Counties to the Seventh General Assembly, convened at Chillicothe December 5. 1808, and was re-elected Senator to the Eighth Assembly, convened at Chillicothe the first Monday in December 1809.

In 1810, he was President of the Se1ect Council of Dayton.

As representative of the county. he was a member of tire Twelfth Assembly, convened at Chillicothe December 6, 1813. He was Senator in the Fourteenth Assembly, convened at Chillicothe December 4, 1815, and was re elected to the Fifteenth General Assembly, convened at Columbus the then new capital of the State- December 2, 1816.

His property in Dayton had not greatly increased in value, until the flush war times of .1812. He was then running the saw mill on First street, opposite Sears, and the flow and fulling mills at the head of Mill street.

At the time of his death. in 1818, he was somewhat involved. but his executors relieved the estate from embarrassment, and the large property interests have always been closely connected with the city's extension and improvement.

ROBERT EDGAR.

Robert Edgar, Sr. came to this country from the North of Ireland in the year 1739, and settled in Pennsylvania. afterward removing to Virginia. His children were two sons and two daughters. His son Robert, who was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. was born at Staunton, Augusta Co., Va., February 8, 1770. Ten years later Mr. Edgar with his family moved to Wheeling, where on the night of Good Friday, 1792 while he was on the way

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. - 353

to warn a neighbor of the approach of Indians, he was attacked by nine of the savages, who killed and scalped him.

Robert, the son, his mother also being dead, settled up the estate, and with his brother and two sisters came down the Ohio River in a flat-boat, to Fort Washington.

In 1796, Robert Edgar came to the Dayton settlement, locating an eighty acre tract of second-rate land in Section 33, now the southwest corner of Had River Township, a portion of it being now within the corporate limits of Dayton, at the south end of Wayne street.

He married Mrs. Margaret Kirkwood (nee Gillespie), widow of David Kirkwood, of Cincinnati. September 27, 1798. She was born in Philadelphia April 6, 1772.

They first went to housekeeping in the old cabin at the southwest corner of Water and Mill streets, in Dayton. He was a farmer, yet being of an ingenious turn. frequently had profitable employment at the Cooper Mills, below Dayton, and at the Robinson Mill, up Mad River. In 1805, while yet living in town, he built for D. C. Cooper the grist-mill at the head of Mill street, and ran it for a short time, but moved back on his own farm before the spring of 1806.

The first iron mold-board plow that was brought to this county was owned by him, and used on his farm at that time. It was a great curiosity to the settler, and its work a marvel. None of them had ever before seen anything of the kind, and they were interested, as farmers are now, in improved farm implements, as this one certainly was over the wooden plows then made by the farmers themselves, from the forks of hard wood saplings.

Of the large family of children born to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar, but five of them lived through childhood.

Jane Allen, their second child, was born November 24, in the year 1800, and was married to Augustus George December 4, 1817. She died March 3, 1826.

Robert Andrew, born October 10, 1803, married Catharine Iddings August 9, 1831, and died September 7, 1833.

Samuel D., born March 25, 1806, married Minerva A. Jones August 5, 1845; died October 1, 1874.

Mary, born April 8, 1811, married Stephen Johnston May 10, 1831; died July 25, 1849.

John F., born October 29, 1811, married Effie A. Rogers April 20, 1843, and is still living with his wife and three daughters in Dayton. He is an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church, and is the only child of Robert Edgar's now living.

In the war of 1812, Robert Edgar was a soldier in one of the companies of mounted rangers from this county, and among the interesting relics of that bloody border war, is his sword now in possession of his son, John F. Edgar.

The care of the four children and the management of the farm during her husband's service in the army devolved upon Mrs. Edgar, who, with the other brave, true-hearted women of that day so nobly bore their share of the dangers and trials incident to frontier life. Her babe, Mary, was but a year old, yet the brave mother with the aid of her three children, Jane eleven years old; Robert, nine years old; and Samuel, six years old, took care of the cattle, cultivated and harvested the grain, and kept the farm in good shape until the return of her husband. The farm was not exposed to Indian attacks like those in the western and northern parts of the county; yet the anxiety for the safety of her husband, the common danger to all frontier settlements, the care and responsibility of the family, and the burden of farm work taxed her heart and

354 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

strength to the utmost. Her gallant soldier husband returned safely to his family to live in the peace won in the victory over the savages and their British allies.

Mr. Edgar and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, he having been active in its first organization in Dayton, and helped to get out the logs and put up the little log cabin meeting-house in the hazel thicket back of the corner at Third and Main streets in the, year 1800. He died December 19, 1838. Mrs. Edgar died November 25, 1844. The Edgar name is perpetuated through the son Samuel D. who was married in 1845. and succeeded to the ownership of the farm, and died in 1874: and in the division of his estate left the homestead to his son Charles, who was born May 29, 1851, married Caroline L. Bidleman January 26, 1871. and died November 23, 1877.

Margaret, Emma B. and Robert C. were born at the old home in Mad River Township. The. son, Robert C., was born June 5, 1877, and is the representative in the fifth generation of the descendants of Robert Edgar the older his great-great-grandfather. who emigrated to this country in 1739: and of his great-grandfather who was one of the pioneers of Montgomery County, and of whose life this sketch is written.

MAJ. GEORGE ADAMS.

One of the bravest, most experienced and daring Indian fighters among the earliest settlers of Montgomery County. was Maj. George Adams, who was born in Virginia October 26, 1767, served as a drummer boy in the Revolutionary army, and came West with dispatches to Gen. Harmar in the fall of the year 1790.

Adams with a companion. came clown the Ohio River in a canon front Pittsburgh. as a bearer of dispatches to Gen. Harmar, at Fort Washington. Gen. Harmar's expedition had marched against the Indians. and Gov. St. Clair. who was at the Fort. desiring to aid in forwarding the dispatches. proposed to furnish Adams with a good horse, saddle and bridle. if he would follow Harmar's trail. Adams, equipped with rifle and ammunition and provided with parched corn, some flour and a piece. of pork, started without delay, and o-it the end of the fourth day, overtook the army near the old Chillicothe town, on the Little Miami River, and delivered his dispatches to Gen. Harinar. He joined one of the companies of Kentucky Mounted Infantry. in Maj. Fontaine's battalion. and continued with the expedition to the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's Rivers (now Fort Wayne. Ind. ), where the army in detachments. suffered mortifying defeat on the 19th and 22d of October He was in Col. Hardin's fight of the 10th, and participated in the disastrous battle of the 22d. It was shortly after sunrise that Maj. Fontaine with his battalion charged the Indians on the west bank of the St. Joseph River. and was killed. George Adams was close by the Major at the time, and although himself wounded, was still fighting. In the fight of October 22nd. in a fierce hand to hand contest with the savages, he was five tunes severely wounded, yet miraculously escaped, but was pronounced to be in a dying condition.

From the failure to carry out the plans for a surprise of the Indian carne. the savages escaped, but snaking a stand, a scattering fire was kept up in the regular backwoods style, where each man treed and fought on his own hook.

George Adams' horse was killed in the first dash at the savages, and Adams was shot in the thigh. He then fought from tree to tree. His arm was broken by a bullet. He was shot in the side; the ball cutting through the flesh and lodging under his other arm. He was shot in the breast, the bullet lodging under his shoulder blade. Yet notwithstanding these severe wounds. He was not totally disabled and to stop fighting was death. Seeing an Indian

PAGE 355 - PICTURE OF CHRISTIAN Y. BREMER, DAYTON

PAGE 356 - BLANK

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. - 357

near, who had just fired his rifle. he gave chase, overtook him, tomahawked him, and while scalping him, five other savages came up and fired at him. In the effort to grasp his rifle, he found that his arm was paralyzed from being broken and the severe wound in the shoulder. He caught his rifle with his other hand, and escaped into the thickets before the Indians could reload. He had killed five Indians in the two days' fighting, but now, from great loss of blood, his strength only lasted until he got back to the battalion, where he fell exhausted upon the ground, and was one of the few wounded who escaped and were carried on litters into camp. The surgeons dressed his wounds, but stated that it was impossible for him to live through the night. and his grave was dug ready for his burial, before the retreat Should begin. Contrary to all expectations, he was alive in the morning, and was carried on a litter between two horses the next, day's march; and in the evening, there still being no hopes of his recovery, a second grave was dug for him. He was thus carried in a weak and unconscious condition from day to day, back to Fort Washington, where for many weary weeks his life hung as by a thread, but finally he fully recovered. yet carried for the rest of his life the two Indian bullets in his body., one in his shoulder, the other in his thigh. He again became a strong, robust man. about five feet eight inches tall. His hair was red, and he wore it very long. He was as brave as a lion, used to the life of a woodsman, quick in expedients. self-reliant, perfectly acquainted with the trails through the forests, and the location of Indian villages, and from his knowledge of their haunts, habits and modes of warfare, his services were invaluable in all campaigns against the. savages from St. Clair's defeat in 17511, until the close of the war in 1795. He was in St. Clair's defeat November 4, 1791, but escaped without injury, although he, was in constant service through the campaign, scouting through the Indian country, frequently having running fights with the savages, but as his object was only tc get information, he avoided observation and battle.

January 26, 1792, he married Elizabeth Ellis, probably at Limestone, Ky. She was born in Northwest Virginia, or in Greene or Westmoreland County, Penn., March 31. 1773. George Adams was a Captain of scouts in Wayne's army, in the campaigns of 179:3, 1794 and 1795. On one of his expeditions north into the Indian country, his two intended graves were pointed out to him by one of his comrades, who had assisted in digging them in 1790.

He passed safely through the perils of Wayne's active aggressive war. rendering conspicuous service in all important movements: and when the Indians had dispersed after the conclusion of the treaty of peace at Greenville. the necessity for the services of Capt. Adams and his brave men no longer existed. They could then locate their lands and settle down to enjoy the peace and possession their valor had aided in conquering.

In consideration of his services as drummer boy in the Revolutionary army, he received a warrant for 100 acres of land, which he located south of Hamilton. Ohio, and lived upon it for a short time.

Knowing thoroughly of the rich lands up the Miami, toward brad River. the profusion of luxuriant verdure and native vegetation to be found in its rich. splendid bottoms, and over the rolling timber lands, when it was found that the Indians would respect the treaty by leaving this valley unmolested and clear to settlers, Adams ventured into the forest with his little family, and many others came to settle around him on Silver Creek (Hole's). His services in the Indian wars entitled him to a large tract of Government land. He entered 400 acres of first-rate land in Sections 21, 27 and 28, Range 6, Township 1, east bank of the Miami, and built his cabin in the bend of the river. below but near to Silver Creek (Hole's). With his family he brought their scanty cabin furniture and supplies, his rifle, ax, and one horse critter, begin-

358 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ping life in the backwoods by cultivating that year (1797), a little garden and corn patch at the edge of the prairie on his land.

In the river were fish in abundance; and in the woods Game and wild honey, so that even in than first year there was but little privation for his family. With each year his farm was improved, furniture and cabin were made more comfortable. In the fields were cattle and hogs, and the fertile soil Yielded abundant crops: The farmer and his family had bre.+d and butter, milk, meat and vegetables in plenty for themselves. and gave freely of it to hungry travelers and wandering Indians.

Until after the year 1800, he had no near neighbors, and but few cabins had been built. After that year, land was more rapidly taken up and the road up the river was in constant use.

That part of his farm near the mouth of the creek was known as Adams' Prairie, where in after years militia camps were located and camp meetings were often held. The New-Light Church people in the early days, at stated times, held services in his cabin. and in later years he became a zealous mem't>er of that, church.

At the Indian alarm in 1799, Adams organized the settlers of the neighborhood ias a garrison for the defense of Hole's Station, and the cabins around. There were no whites west of the river. and it was feared that the Indians might come down the Bear Creek trail, to destroy the feeble settlements along the river from Hole's Creek down to Hole's Station. For a few days, possibly for a month, scouts were kept out. and the families repaired to the block-house each night, but the danger passed without the settlements being molested. In fact, the settlers of Montgomery County never were really disturbed by Indian war parties, although until 1811 it was a common thing for them to bo here in mall parties of hunters and traders. George Adams was the father of four sons George, Thomas, William and Caleb all of whom are dead ; and four daughters--Elizabeth, Cynthia, Martha and Nancy; the latter is dead, but the otbers were living not lone since.

Under the militia laws of Ohio, some time after the county was organized, Adams was commissioned Major of one of the Montgomery County regiments, and held that position at the time hostilities began against the British and Indians in 1812. By order of the brigade commander. his battalion was assembled at the prairie on his farm near Alexandersville. April 16th of that year, and from it the ranks of Capt. Perry's company of United States Rangers were filled.

Maj. Adams was in constant service through the war. In August, immediately upon receipt of the news of Hull's surrender. he marched with his battalion to the frontier and was in command of the post at St. Mary's until the arrival of Gen. Harrison and his army, the last of September.

By reason of his well-known bravery and knowledge of Indian warfare, he was assigned to the command of a regiment of scouts for special service to the front of Harrison's army, and in the country over toward Fort Wayne. A trusted officer who gallantly performed the important duties assigned him.

When the road had been once snore opened to the Maumee Rapids, to Maj. Adams was assigned the duty of keopinnr clear of Indians the country around Fort Greenville and up to St. Mary's.

At the close of the war he was in command of Tort Greenville, and was not relieved until after the Indians had quieted.

It was while scouting in that vicinity at that time that be selected the land on Greenville Creek. He entered the land about a section, in 1815, and during that winter or early in the spring of 1810, be moved out with his family, and that year built a grist-mill, a small water-power mill from which he

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. - 359

turned out coarse corn meal, and flour that customers had to bolt by hand. That was the pioneer in ill of Darke County, and for a long time had trade from all the settlements around.

Maj. Adams was a genial. fun-loving man, widely known, respected and popular. His neighbors were people, who, like him.had come West in search of homes. participated in the Indian wars, and upon peace being declared in 1814, had settled down in their backwoods homes, a neighborhood of congenial spirits, the little settlement taking the name of "Adams' Mill" a popular place for old time gatherings, shooting matches, horse-races and like sports.

There are yet many people living in Montgomery and Darke Counties who have pleasant recollections of association with the battle-scarred old pioneer warrior.

His land vas five miles east of Greenville in Section 33, Adams Township, named in honor of the gallant old Major. That country was new and sparsely settled. Small parties of Indians were constantly passing along the trails that led to their villages. orto the forts at New Lexington, Fort Black (New Madison). the stockade near Covina-ton, and to the fort at Upper Piqua.

For the wounds received in 1790 and for disabilities incurred in the war of 1812, he, for a number of years, drew pension from the Government.

He was elected Associate Judge Common Pleas Court of Darke County, by the Legislature at the session of 1820-30. and he held that position until his death in 1832. Maj. George Adams died at his home. five miles east of Greenville, November 20, 1832. His wife Elizabeth died in the same house February 22, 1847.

They are buried in the Martin Cemetery, three miles east of Greenville.

DR. JOHN HOLE.

Closely following the Dayton Colony up the Miami, in the spring of 1796, were parties of settlers who located at favorable points along the east bank of the river. between Hamilton and Dayton. Squatters took possession of the rich bottom opposite the mouth of Bear Creek. Maj, Adams selected his land at the mouth of Silver Creek (Hole's); Col. Jerome Holt took land that is now in Van Buren Township, while others ventured farther up Silver Creek (Hole's). on lands now in Washin-rton Township.

Dr. John Hole purchased 1,440 acres of land in Township 2. Range 6,. and in the spring of the next year moved up from Cincinnati with his family.

His father, Zachariah Hole. Married Phoebe Clark, in Virginia, about the year 1750. Their second child. John Hole, was born there in 1754. The son was raised on the farm, but received a good education, and, when quite young, studied medicine and surgery under the instruction of Dr. Fullerton.

In Virginia. the militia were organized for defense of the colony, under the resolutions oflered by Patrick Henry, in the Provincial Convention that assembled at Richmond. March 20, 1775. So that in the uprising of the people throughout the colonies. after the battle at Lexington and Concord. Virginians promptly responded to the call for troops to resist the threatened advance of the British from Boston.

Dr. John Hole marched, with a battalion of Virginia militia. and shortly after their arrival at the American camp, then encircling Boston, he was commissioned Assistant Surgeon in the Continental army, and continued in active service through the Revolution.

He was in the battle at Bunker Hill, and when the army was re-organized, with Gen. Washington as Commander-in-Chief, he was assigned to the medi-

360 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

cal staff in the division of gallant Brig. Gen. Richard :Montgomery, in whose honor Montgomery County is named; and it is very probable that it was at the suggestion of Dr. Hole that the county was so named.

During the assault upon Quebec, before daylight, on the morning of December 31, 1775, Dr. Hole, with other Surgeons of the American Army, established the field hospital near the walls of the fort, and it was there that Gen. Montgomery's body was brought immediately after he was shot through the heart. The General was leading and cheering his men when he received his death shot.

The army retreated a short distance down the river and went into camp for the winter, but were forced to retreat in May following.

August 4, 1778, Dr. Hole married Miss Massie Ludlow. of New Jersey. and before the close of the war three children were born to them.

In 1787, they moved to Virginia, but after a short absence. returned to New Jersey. where they remained until early in 1796, when they came West. traveling in a large covered wagon. arriving in Cincinnati early in April, where the family stayed until the neat spring.

Leaving his family comfortably fixed in Cincinnati. Dr. Hole carne up the Miami, and after visiting the several little settlements around Dayton, determined to locate on Silver Creek, and bought the land previously described. paying for it in military land bounty warrants granted to him as an oflicer in the Revolutionary army.

He built his cabin close to the creek. on the spot where David Gcphart's new two-story frame house now stands. a short distance, below E. Bellaman's mill. It was a round-log cabin. puncheon floor. cat and clay chimney He cleared and grubbed several acres of land, chinked and daubed his cabin, and during the following winter made frequent trips to Cincinnati. and moved out with his family early in 1797.

The family then were. himself and wife, his son, Jeremiah, eighteen years old; Elizabeth. eleven years old: Jane, nine: David. six; Nancy, one. Benches and bunks had been put up by the Doctor. ()titer cabin furniture artd cooking utensils were brought along, so that. comparatively the family were cornfoitably provided for.

With their own rifles. the Doctor and his sun. Jeremiah, kept the table well supplied with game, and the two older daughters could belly very mach in the corn and truck patches, and in burning brush and tendirug the burning log-heaps.

A narrow, winding path led down the creek to the road that ran along the river.

The Doctor rnet tivith no serious obstacle., in establishing his family itr their new home. although, with all other settlers. they suffered very much from fever and ague. He was the only physician in that part of the vallec. and, for many years. was in active practice in the cabins for ten or twelve miles around. riding night and day, often. from the necessities of the situation, having to bivouac for the night in thickets through which the bridle paths led.

Money being so scarce and of such little use on the frontier, his bills were settled at the convenience of his patrons, by the delivery to him of produce or cattle. For a year's attendance as family physician. a two-year old heifer, or six Barbary sheep, a mare with foal, 200 bushels of corn, etc. Duebills would be given. such as these:

"For medical service. I owe Dr. John Hole one pair leather shoes for a boy child.

(Signed) BENJAMIN ROBBINS."

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"Due to Dr. J. Holes, fifty pounds of salt.

(Signed) BENJAMIN ARCHER."

"November 1, 1801. I agree to deliver to Dr. J. Hole a winter's smoking of tobacco, or five venison hams.

(Signed) G. ADAMS."

In 1799, Dr. Hole built a hewed-log mansion on the hill, a short distance northwest of his cabin, where his daughters, Matilda and Phebe, who are yet living, were born. From his comfortable circumstances and well known hospitality, his cabin was a great stopping place for travelers and newcomers, and also had many visits from roving Indian parties.

One day while the Doctor and his son were in the clearing, three Indians came to the cabin and asked for dinner. which Mrs. Hole at once began to prepare. Being somewhat uneasy, however, she got one of the Indians to blow the conch shell, as a signal to her husband, who, with his son, hastened with their rifles to the cabin, but the Indians were peaceable, and after their meal, went to the woods and killed a buck, taking to the cabin the hind quarters, in return for the good treatment they had received.

The stream upon which the Doctor had located lead been known to surveyors and explorers, as Silver Creek, but from his prominence as a physician, and the fact of his being one of the largest resident landholders of the county, as a matter of convenience in giving direction, it soon got to be known as Hole's Creek, and for more than eighty years has held that name in honor of him, as one of the first and most prominent of Montgomery County pioneers.

Doctor and Mrs. Hole, and their children, were members of the early Baptist. Church at Centerville. He was the first person baptized in Hole's Creek; was an active, influential member of the church, and lived a consistent Christian life.

Of the eleven children burn to them. Mary, William and Polly Ludlow died in infancy.

Jeremiah, born in New Jersey, June 10, 1779, died in Washington Township, this county. July 9, 1811.

Elizabeth, born in New Jersey. November 27, 1786, married William Dodds; died in September, 1852.

Jane, born in New Jersey, October 5, 1788, married the Rev. Jacob Mulford, a pioneer Baptist preacher of this valley, died August 3, 1866.

David, born in New Jersey, August 7, 1791; married Margaret McClucas; died January 16, 1829.

Nancy, born in Cincinnati, May 20, 1796; remained single; died January 17, 1840.

John Ludlow, born in the little cabin on Hole's Creek. June 3, 1798; married Susan Hatfield; died June 3, 1849.

Matilda, born in the hewed-log " mansion house," on Hole's Creek, December 4. 1799; married Elisha Hopkins December 25, 1823. Her husband died August 23, 1849. They had no children. Mrs. Hopkins, now nearly eighty-three years old, is living on part of her father's estate, near Hole's Creek in Washington Township, and is probably the oldest native of the county.

Phebe, born in the cabin home on Hole's Creek, March 11, 1802, was never married, and is yet living on her own property, near where her father's first cabin was built, on part of the land that he entered in 1796.

From exposure, incident to his service in the Revolutionary army, the toil and anxieties of backwoods life, long rides and character of his experience in the practice of medicine through the scattered cabin settlements in all kinds of weather, Dr. Hole's health began to fail, so that at the outbreak of the war, i n 1812, he was obliged to decline the position tendered him, in the medical staff

362 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

of the army. He died January 6, 1813. His wife died July 25, 1842. They, with five children. are buried in the old cemetery one-half mile north of Centerville.

ZACHARIAH HOLE.

Father of Dr. John Hole, lived in the colony of Virginia where about the year 1750, he married Phebe Clark. Their eight children were born in Virginia.

Their son. Zachariah. married Hannah Delay; Daniel married Poly Beedle a sketch of the life of Dr. John Hole has already been given: William Hole married Ruth Crane: Polly married David Yazell: Sarah married a Mr. Eaton: Phebe also married a Mr. Eaton: Betsy married John Craig.

A year after his son. John, moved to the West, Zachariah Hole, with his wife and three sons, Zachariah, Jr., William and Daniel. and two daughters,. Polly and Betsy, came to the Miami Valley. The father and his three sons bought land on the east bank of the river, opposite the month of Bear Creek which they afterward entered at the land office in Cincinnati. paying $2 an acre for it.

At the time of the threatened Indian outbreak, in the summer of 1799 a block-house and stockade were built, upon Zachariah Hole's land, near the river and the settlers were organized for defense with Maj. Adam, in comimand. Although there were several cabins between that and Dayton. none could be seen from the narrow road through the goods.

The block-house and stockade were known as Hole's Station, and afterward became quite a busy little point, where raw comers would halt while prospecting for lands west of the river.

Hole's Station became Miamisburg. and the town was platted in 1818.

Mr. Hole and his wife died. and were buried in the vicinity of the town..

AARON NUTT

Who came to this county, from Kentucky. was a soldier of the Revolution. After that war he came west with his little family, seeking a home and land that were due him under the bounty laws of the Government.

His parents, Levi and Ann. lived in Moumonth Couinty, N. J., where. July 17, 1758, their son Aaron was born. The fattier died when his boy was but two years old, who, when he became old enough, was apprenticed by his mother to a tailor. During his last year of apprenticeship the war of the Revolution being then in progress, his boss was pressed into the army, but induced Aaron to go in his stead by giving him the rest of his time, and setting him free. Inspired with the patriotism of the times and although not yet twenty years of age. he gladly accepted the opportnrnity of entering the country's service. and at once enlisted.

After the expiration of his term of enlistment. he, on the 4th of flay 1779, married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Archer, born November 28, 1756. About the close of the war, when so many soldiers were attracted by the glowing accounts of the rich lands west of the mountains. Aaron Nutt. moved with his family as far west as Redstone Old Fort, Pennsylvania. where they lived for a time, and when by reason of the aggressive movements against the Indians in the Northwest, it became safe, he moved to Central Kentucky. where near one of the block-houses on the " Dry Ridge." the divide between the Kentucky and Licking Rivers, he kept tavern for several years. With the opening of traffic along the Ohio River, and the tide of emigration setting in so strongly to the lands northwest of the Ohio, his business was greatly reduced. He determined to again change location.

After a visit to the Miami Valley he in 1796,. carne with a party of sur-

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veyors from Cincinnati as far as where Centerville now is, and selected 320 acres of land, the east half of Section 25, Town 3, Range 6, between the Miami Rivers, his brother-in-law Benjamin Robbins taking the west half. These two tracts are separated by the Dayton & Lebanon pike; the north half of the town of Centerville was platted upon parts of them. Joseph Nutt, son of Aaron, owns and lives upon part of the land entered by his father nearly one bundred years ago.

In the spring of 1798, Mr. Nutt moved up with his family from Kentucky. stopping at his brother-in-law's (Robbins) cabin, he having moved up the year previous. Robbins wanted Nutt to unload his plunder and live with him until his cabin was built, but Nutt declined, saying, "No. I will unload my stuff into my own cabin."

He went nine miles over to Franklin, the little settlement on the Miami at the mouth of Clear Creek, for help at the " raising," which. with the aid of six gallons of whisky, was done in a day, and the family occupied the cabin at night. He afterward put up a tavern, sign of the " back horns," of 'which he was landlord for many years.

The Indian alarm in 1799 was an emergency that the settlers knew well how to meet: stockades were to be put up in all the neighborhoods large enough in which to quarter all of the families and strong enough to protect against savage attack. The horrors of Indian warfare were known too well to all.

The settlers down in Mr. Nutt's neighborhood rallied at once and built a strong block-house with stockade to inclose a spring on Peter Sunderland's land the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 26. east of and near to the road, and about a mile north of Centerville. Arrangements were complete for the dozen or more families down there to assemble, but stouts from the more exposed settlements reported that the Indians were not preparing for war against the whites; and it is probable that the block-house was not occupied.

The Government had been lenient with the settlers in collection of money for land, but the time coming for settlement, Mr. Nutt went to Kentucky, hoping to collect what had long been due him there; failing to get it he determined to make a trip with produce to the New Orleans market.

He, with others, built two flat-boats at Cincinnati, and. loading with horses, pork and poultry, started in December, 1810, upon a trading and coasting trip'down the river, and sold out at New Orleans. Mr. Nutt within a few days bought a cargo of produce and shipped it around by sea to Baltimore, making a good profit on the venture.

With part of his money he bought in Baltimore a horse and cart which he loaded with dry goods and brought overland to his home, airiving at Centerville after an absence of five months : in his own language, " as fat as a house pig," and besides his stock of goods, with money enough to pay his debts.

With this stock of goods he opened the first store in Centerville. His license to sell the goods, dated May 20, 1811, was signed by Benjamin Van Cleve, Clerk, M. C.

The children of Aaron and Mary Nutt were born before the family moved from Kentucky--Levi, February 5, 1780 ; Sarah, July 7, 1781. ; Mary, April 28, 1783 ; Aaron, May 31 1787; Abigail, September 24, 1790 ; Ann, October 24. 1792 ; Bathsheba, February 2, 1795 : Moriah, August 22, 1797.

Mary his wife died at their home in Centerville September 22, 1817.

January 11, 1818, Aaron Nutt married Widow Martha Craig, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Pedrick, born in Salem County, N. J., and came West with her parents to Warren County, Ohio, in 1805 or 1806.

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Their son Joseph Nutt was born at Centerville December 11, 1818 ; John was born March 3, 1823.

Aaron Nutt died June 2, 1842 , Martha, his widow. died :March 20, 1856, aged nearly seventy-six years ; they, with his first wife Mary, are buried in the old cemetery a half mile north of Centerville.

DANIEL HOOVER.

Daniel Hoover, Sr., and Hannah Mast were married on a farm situated upon the banks of the Uharri River, in Randolph County. N. C.. and came to this county with the colony of first settlers of Randolph Township.

Some of the men had made a trip north, seeking land, and finding at Cincinnati that the land office was not yet open, and that the splendid lands west of the Miami River were yet open for entry. they came up to the Dayton set tlement. and being satisfied with the outlook. returned to their people in North Carolina.

In organizing the colony it was decided that the roads were too rough and the distance too great to haul furniture: therefore the wagons were loaded with provisions, clotbing. cooking utensils, and a few farming implements, leaving room for the women and children to ride.

It was a long. lonely journey over the mountains, across the rivers, and throngh the hundreds of miles of dense, unbroken forest. vet it was an old road easily followed, although entirely unimproved.

The colony started in 1801, and did not sleep under a roof until their arrival at a point ten miles south of Dayton, near where Ridgeville, Warren County, now is, where they stopped for the winter.

The important thing then was the selection of land, and to get a tract upon which the families could locate. neighboring. An eihloring party inade several trips up the Southwest Branch (Stillwater), and finally were agreed to locate on the west bank of that river, ten or twelve miles from Dayton, Mr. Hoover taking the southeast quarter of Section 10. Cabin sites were selected, roads were marked out, and in some cases were at least partially opened to the Indian trail leading to Dayton. Capt. Mast and Daniel Hoover made the land entries at the Cincinnati office. In March, all being read, the colony left their winter quarters, and passing through Dayton. where they crossed the Miami, arrived upon their lands March 20, 1802.

Three-faced cabins of saplings were put up as temporary shelter for the families, while the men were clearing up patches to plant what corn and potatoes they had left. There was big work to be clone. hills and valleys were heavily timbered, slow, hard work was before the men in the clearings, and there was no place for drones in that colony. Fortunately for them, it was an early spring. and a long, dry season, and what planting they did do, turned out well.

It was the frontier settlement. and it took brave men to stay there. There was not a white mans cabin beyond them. Indian war parties and trading parties were constantly passing along the trails, and hunting parties were roaming the woods. Fleets of their canoes were upon the rivers. In fact, the country was yet in control of the savages, and the Hoover settlement was the advance post of civilization.

Mrs. Mary Sheets, who is living in Randolph Township, daughter of Daniel and Hannah Hoover, remembers that one day while they were yet living in the huts, she and her younger sister being alone, an Indian made his appearance, frightening them very much, but soon went away.

The road cut through by a division of Wayne's army, east from Fort St. Clair. along what has since been known as the "Sled Road." to Salem Creek,

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near Salem, thence north to Fort Greenville, was at that time used exclusively by the Indians; and at all times, except winter, camping parties were located at the fine springs along Stillwater, Greenville Creek, and at some of the Salem Creek springs. These were favorite hunting and fishing grounds, not given up by the savages until after 1811.

All kinds of game were to be had in beat plenty in the woods, but after the Hoover Mill was built (the pioneer mill, built, in 1803), the Indians brought in to trade for corn meal more venison, bear meat and wild turkeys, than the family could use.

Block-houses were necessarily built in all neighborhoods north of Dayton, and those west of Stillwater were used every year until 1815. At times of special alarin, the families remained in the block-houses, and all cattle and stock were corralled. The years 1800, 1809 and 1812 were specially trying times, and were, abort the only tiiues that it was deemed too dangerous for the men although strongly guarded to work in the fields.

The Indian outrages over on Greenville Creek in 1812 of Bourse spread terror through the frontier. Settlers from all that section fled to the stronger line of block-houses from New Lexington across to the Miami. The men were on guard night and day, and although the savages did not molest neighbor hoods in this county. great excitement prevailed until Fort Greenville was garrisoned lay militia.

Daniel. son of Daniel and Hannah Hoover, was born in 1802, after the arrival of the colony; and was the first white child born in Randolph Township. He owns and is living upon, part of the farm that, his father settled on, and upon which he was born-the southeast corner of the section.

Randolph Township was organized November 6, 1801, and by influence of the colony from North Carolina was named for the county from which they had emigrated.

Daniel Hoover, Jr., remembers that in 1811, when he was nine years old, a party of 800 friendly Indians camped on his father's farm. This was just before the battle of Tippecanoe, and when the Indians broke camp they followed the trail west to the Wabash. Years after that, Mr. Hoover saw the Indian chief, Shane, at Fort Wayne, Ind., who told him that he had crept inside the American lines is a spy the night before the battle at Tippecanoe, drew a head on Gen. Harrison, but for his own safety did not fire.

Daniel Hoover, Jr., married Susan Byrkett in 1822. Mrs. Hoover also came from North Carolina.

She remembers that her parents filled a large jar with wild honey, dried five bushels of noodles, and put up other provisions for the long journey through the woods. They had great difficulty in crossing the Alleghanies. For three years after their arrival in Randolph Township, the family lived upon corn bread, potatoes, game and fish.

From the heavy timber to be cleared away, progress at the Hoover settlement was slow, yet was never checked, and at the time of the marriage of Daniel Hoover, Jr.. all Government lands had been taken up. Roads, however, were in bad condition, and in wet seasons were almost impassable.

The children of Daniel and Susan Hoover were Hannah. Eli, Levina, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Abraham, James Elliott, Sarah Ann, William, Charles and Eliza Jane. Hannah. James E. and Sarah Ann are dead. Eli, William and Charles were born blind, were educated at Columbus, Ohio, and became accomplished both in vocal and instrumental music. Levina married Enos Embree: Andrew J. married Charlotte Gable; Henry C. married Ann Barbara Cook; Abraham married Julian Gable; Elza Jane married George W. Eby

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The aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hoover, are living a quiet. comfortable life on the old farm, with their children and grandchildren around them, often entertaining their friends and descendants with interesting stories and incidents of the early days and settlement of the Stillwater Valley. A happy couple of old school people, retired from active farm life, they are living in the memories of the past. and contentedly enjoying the blessings with which they are surrounded.