150 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. houses and buildings, injuring several people and killing one woman in Lanier township. At the same time a furious downpour of rain fell over the whole county, continuing for hours and swelling the streams higher than ever known, sweeping away the old covered bridge and an iron bridge at Eaton, the Camden bridge and many other bridges large and small, until the damage to the bridges alone amounted to more than one hundred thousand dollars, besides much damage to individuals, in addition to the destruction of the roads of the county. The storm occurred from eight o'clock in the evening to about one o'clock next morning. While there have been other floods, when as much or more water fell and flowed down the streams, notably the flood of March 25 and 26, 1913, the water was longer in falling and the streams carried away the water without causing so much damage. On April 1, 1906, Perry Alexander, owner of the old J. Meroney farm, had a field of corn planted which grew, escaped any killing frost and made a fair crop of corn, being the earliest planting of a field that reached maturity on record so far. INDIAN CHIVALRY ILLUSTRATED. From Indian murders our early settlers were comparatively free, there being but one that would be really called a murder. The following story was related to the writer by Dr. Christian Sayler, of Gratis, some thirty-five years ago. He heard the story as a boy, had visited the spot as a young man, and believed it to be true : About 1811 or 1812 some wood choppers were coming across what is locally known as the Morningstar hill, some one hundred yards east of the present roads, one evening on their way to the settlement near Gratis, and among them was a heavy-built German lad about twenty years old. They were armed with only their axes and on the hill they saw a party of some three or four Indians, probably Shawnees, who started after them with fierce yells. The choppers ran south as fast as they could, but the Indians soon overtook the German, who had thrown away his axe, and ran around a big beech tree, one of the Indians repeatedly striking at his head with his tomahawk and striking the tree instead, but finally struck and killed the poor fellow, took his scalp and fled. The other choppers gave the alarm and a posse started in pursuit and followed the trail northeast some miles, but without overtaking them. It was shortly before the opening of the War of 1812, and it was supposed the Indians were some of Tecumseh's implacable Shawnees, who felt that war was coming. The PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 151 battle of the Thames ended their leader and broke the tribe forever. About 1813, two men were shot in the upper valley of Twin creek and one man shot on Whitewater above New Paris, by foray parties of Indians engaged in the war. It is said they were killed by Indians, because when the bodies were found by the searching parties in each instance the scalp had been taken, which mutilation the Indians always made of their dead foes, if they had time. CHAPTER VII. ORGANIZATION OF PREBLE COUNTY. The whole of Preble county lying west of the Great Miami river was included in Randolph county (which included all the land of Ohio and Indiana west of that river to the Indian lands in Indiana) by proclamation of Governor St. Clair in 1790. About 1802 the territory east of the state line, called the meridian, drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami river, was included in Hamilton county, and Preble county was named Hardin township, in honor of Governor Hardin, of Kentucky. On March 1, 1803, Ohio became a state and the Legislature erected Butler as a county from Hamilton county, and including Hardin township. In the same year the Legislature erected Montgomery county, and included within it all of Hardin township, or that part of Preble county that lies, north of the half section lines that are one and one-half miles north of the present north line of Butler county, and the lands of the county so remained until Preble county was erected. Hence, many patents and deeds of the early settlers north of that half section line are found recorded in Dayton, to which place the residents went to pay taxes and attend court ; a number of the deeds and patents of those who lived in the south mile and a half of this county are recorded at Hamilton, while all patents and deeds for land made and recorded before 1803 are found in the records at Cincinnati. On March 1, 1808, Preble county was formed by the following act of the Legislature "An Act Establishing the County of Preble. "Section 1.—Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that all that part of Montgomery and Butler counties included in the following boundaries be and the same is hereby laid off and erected into a separate and distinct county, which shall be called and known by the name of Preble, to wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of the sixth township, first range east of the meridian, drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami river; thence east along said township line to the range line between the third and fourth ranges; thence north to the northeast corner of the seventh township in the PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 153 third range; thence west along the township lines to the state line.; thence south to the place of beginning. "Section 2.—Be it further enacted, that from and after the first day of March next, said county of Preble shall be vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities of a separate and distinct county; provided, that it shall be lawful for the sheriff, coroner, constables and collectors of Montgomery and Butler counties to do and perform all the duties which they are or may be required to do in the said counties of Montgomery and Butler within the bounds of the said county of Preble ; and all suits and actions which are or may be pending therein at the time of the said division, shall be tried and determined in the same manner as though a division had not taken place. "Section 3.—Be it further enacted, that all justices of the peace and other officers residing within the said county of Preble, shall continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices until their successors are chosen and qualified. "Section 4.—Be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the associate judges to divide the said county of Preble into townships, subject to the future alteration of the commissioners, and to publish the bounds of each in at least three of the most public places in said townships, and also to direct the electors of said township to elect, on the first Monday in April, three commissioners, a sheriff and coroner, to hold their offices until the next annual election, together with the requisite number of township officers; provided, notice shall be given at least ten days before the said first Monday of April. "Section 5.—And be it further enacted, that the courts to be holden in the said county of Preble, shall be holden in the town of Eaton, until a permanent seat of justice shall be established in said county. "This act to be in force from and after the first day of March next. "P. BEECHER, "Speaker of the House of Representatives. "THOMAS KIRKER, "Speaker of the Senate. "January 8, 1808." (Ohio Laws, Vol. 6, page 164—now General Code, Sec. 14437.) New Lexington was laid out by James I. Nisbet, November 18, 1805, and Eaton by William Bruce, February 20, 1806. Each intended his town to be the county seat of a new county, and the Legislature was appealed to for a law erecting a new county. Judge Nisbet sought to have the new county include the four western 154 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. townships of Montgomery county, which would have made the county twenty-four miles square, but he was opposed by the representatives of Montgomery county, because it took so much land from the county. William Bruce proposed a county eighteen by twenty-four miles, which should be called Preble, after Commodore Preble, and that his town should be called Eaton, after Gen. William Eaton, the two great naval and land heroes of the United States war with the pirates of Algiers and Tripoli. He did not forget to call attention to the fact that he had named the principal streets Barron, Somers, Wadsworth and Decatur, after other heroes of that -war. In this way Mr. Bruce succeeded in getting at least an interested hearing in the committee, and those from Montgomery county, who had opposed the establishment of a county, seeing that the unwieldy size of their county was so great that sooner or later a new county would be formed, and desiring to make their loss of territory as small as possible, threw their influence to Mr. Bruce. After two years of effort, the county was erected as above stated, and that placed Eaton practically in the center and foreclosed the equity of redemption of New Lexington ever to be the county seat. Judge Nisbet felt very bitter over his defeat, and went so far as to refuse to pay his taxes to his rival, but, after being haled before the commissioners, he paid. But Judge Nisbet was an able man and too valuable to the new county to lose his services, so he was appointed as one of the first associate judges of the county, which position he held for many years. Commodore Edward Preble was born at Portland, Maine, August 15, 1761, and became a captain in 1799. In 1803 he was sent as commodore commanding a squadron of warships, to compel the Barbary States to cease their piratical annoyance of American shipping and to free the American prisoners held by them as slaves. One of his assistants was Commodore Barron, and Decatur, Wadsworth and Somers were lieutenants. The towns of Algiers and Tripoli were bombarded and two or three sea fights were had, in which the Americans were uniformly successful. Gen. William Eaton was born at Woodstock, Connecticut, in 1764, and was a soldier in the last years of the Revolution, being a captain in Wayne's army. In 1798 he was sent as consul to Tunis and also to treat with the Barbary States for peace with the United States, but, failing to secure a favorble hearing, he went to Egypt and united with Hamet, whom a younger brother had pushed from the throne of Tripoli. They raised an army of some two thousand or more, of whom less than a hundred were Europeans, and marched overland for Tripoli. Under the ommand of Eaton, they stormed and took the town of Derne, and Eaton then defeated a Tripolitan army of ten times PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 155 the number of his own army. The sultan of Tripoli, becoming alarmed at the successes of the ships and of Eaton's army, made peace and granted the demands of the United States, freeing all the prisoners in May, 1805. Commodore Preble died in 1806, and General Eaton died in 1811, not long surviving their successes. Those being the days of sailing vessels, the .United States did not hear of the glorious ending of the war for several weeks. There being no railroads or telegraph lines, and the weekly newspapers generally getting the news by stage coach, it was not until the fall of 1805 that this western country heard of and .applauded the exploits of the men whose daring and skill won that war for the young republic. Thus, William Bruce, being an ardent American, showed his knowledge of human nature by seizing the opportunity and adopting the names that would appeal to the popular fancy. The sequel shows that he had properly sized up the situation. FIRST OFFICIAL ACTS. The first election for county officers was held on the first Monday of April, 1808. On April 27, 1808, George Shideler, William R. Irwin and Samuel Hawkins presented their certificates of election as county commissioners to William Brown, who was then court clerk pro tempore, and they were sworn into office. Their first acts were to appoint Alexander C. Lanier clerk, and to appoint William Bruce treasurer, which office he continued to hold for ten years. The commissioners ordered a bounty of one dollar paid for the scalp of every panther, or "wild wolf," killed in the county, and quite a number were killed and the bounty paid. The next meeting of the commissioners was on June 6, 1808, in the house of Samuel Hawkins, which stood on what is now the northeast corner of the court house square. At that meeting they ordered that "the courts shall be held upstairs in the house of Samuel Hawkins, in the town of Eaton, said Hawkins having agreed to give the use of said room and a table without charge therefor." They also made the first tax levy, as follows : "That the following rates be charged on the taxable property of this county for the year, viz : For each one hundred dollars valuation of houses, fifty cents; for each stud horse, the same, for which he shall stand the season; for each horse, thirty cents ; for each cow, ten cents ; and those who refuse to give in a true list shall pay four-fold, as the law directs. For license to keep tavern in the town of Eaton, eight dollars ; in the town of New Lexington, six dollars; on the roads of the county, otherwise than in said towns 156 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. COUNTY SEAT LOCATED. The Legislature had appointed Aaron Harlin, Ichabod B. Halsey and Ichabod Corwin as commissioners to decide on the location of the county seat, and they made their report to the county commissioners on June 23, 1808. Of course, Judge Nisbet made a fight to have them choose. New Lexington, on account of its better physical location and the nearness of a larger stream of water, which would probably insure a greater growth of the town, but the affability of William Bruce and his persistent pointing out that Eaton was so near the geographical center of the county, and would thus accommodate most of the people of the county better, except those who lived in and near New Lexington, finally won the day, and said commissioners' report was : "That the permanent seat of Justice shall be fixt at the town of Eaton, provided that the money, lands, lots, stone and labour, subscribed by the inhabitants of said town, shall be duly secured for the use of said county towards erecting publick buildings."—Commissioners' Journal, Vol. I, p. 13. Then began a real "boosters' campaign" to raise the necessary funds, for it was put squarely up to Eaton to hold what she had gained. The owners of lots in Eaton and the lands around responded with "such as I have I give thee." Samuel Hawkins gave four lots and four acres of land; William Bruce gave twelve lots and stone from the quarry along the creek for all public buildings and two blocks of lots along Main street; George Worthington gave one lot ; John Mills gave six acres and John Aukerman gave two acres; John and Jacob Spacht gave forty dollars for building a gaol; Andrew House gave twenty dollars ; Matthew Harbison, ten dollars, and John Harbison, five dollars, all to be paid in mason work ; Benjamin Griffith, five dollars in turner's work; Alexander C. Lanier, fifty dollars, payable in work on gaol and court house; William Steele, fifteen dollars, payable in work on gaol ; and William Smith, ten dollars, payable in lots, and a number of others gave also. —Commissioners' Journal, Vol. I, pages 15 to 18. BUILDING OF A JAIL. On June 25, 18o8, the commissioners adopted specifications for a gaol to be .erected, and the same day gave Alex. C. Lanier an order for four dollars and fifty cents for making out the tax duplicate for the county. Then the question arose as to how to convert the lots and land into money.. It was finally decided by the county commissioners to hold a public auction and sell to the highest bidder. The sale was held on August 2, 1808, and the com- PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 157 missioners, to add to the joy of the occasion and make the bidding spirited, bought five quarts of whisky to treat the crowd, and paid one dollar and twenty-five cents for it out of the county treasury.—Commissioners' Journal, Vol. 1, page 41. In these days the most liberal "home ruler" would not vote for such an appropriation out of the county treasury. But when it is remembered that in those days there were no saloons; that whisky was kept in nearly all homes.; that many people did not think they had treated their guests hospitably unless they had offered them a drink from the family demijohn or bottle, and that even preachers did not hesitate to take a three-finger nip—when these things are remembered, we will be slow to censure the men of that early time who acquiesced in the customs of the people. All the lots sold at the sale were numbered the same as they are now, and we give the prices of a few, for the sake of comparison : Lot 1, $54.25 ; lot 3, $12.12 1/2; lot 46, $25.25 ; lot 45, $15.00; lots 23 and 24, $12.25 ; lot 74, $24.00; lot 103, $30.25 ; lots 176 and 177, $34.25. Six acres of land north of the Methodist church and east of Maple street brought thirty-six dollars and twenty-five cents. The gaol was to be sixteen by eighteen feet in size and two stories high and John Banfill bid to do the work for seven hundred and thirty-nine dollars. It was built on the court house lot during 1808. On August 3, 1808, the commissioners ordered a well dug on the court house lot, "to be walled and complete the same with a good sweep and bucket to be paid for in town lots." On August 24, 1808, the commissioners settled with the associate judges for the preceding quarter, for two days each, at three dollars per day. THE FIRST COURT HOUSE. The building of a court house was a more serious affair. After considerable agitation, on March 4, 1812, a man was appointed for each township, to solicit funds to build a court house. In the meantime, it appears, there were a number of tentative plans adopted, as to size, the building to be of framework, but it was finally 1816 before it was determined that it should be built of brick, two stories high and forty feet square. It was to be located twenty-five feet east of Barron street and twenty feet south of Main street, and to be built parallel to said streets. An agreement was made with Andrew House to build the court house in accordance with the plans and specifications as finally adopted, for the sum of one thousand dollars, to be completed on or before December 1, 1816. The building was accepted by the commissioners on De- 158 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO cember 4, 1816, but was not fully furnished and completed until three or four years later. John Spacht, Andrew McQuiston and James Craw ford were the commissioners who built the first court house. At this place it may be interesting to note some of the taxation matters of that early day, in comparison with present times, as denoting the growth of the county in wealth., EARLY TAX LISTS. On June 6, 1808, the Israel township tax duplicate was "one hundred and six horses, two stud horses, and one hundred and seventy-three cattle," the township being the whole west range of the county. Somers township was "two stud horses, two hundred and thirty-three horses and two hundred and seventy-seven cattle," and the appraiser received seven dollars and fifty cents. This township was the whole middle range of the county. Twin township was "two stud horses, one hundred and twenty-eight horses and one hundred and fifty-eight cattle"; the appraiser got six dollars and fifty cents. Twin township was the north fourteen miles of the third range. On the same day, Albert Banta, appraiser of Twin township, filed an affidavit that James I. Nisbet refused to list his property for taxes, and he was tried and adjudged guilty. He appealed 'the case to the county commissioners' court, and, on June 24, 1808, they adjudged that he "do recover anything but his false plaint in mercy," and "that the return as made by the appraiser be confirmed." On December 4, 1815, in the settlement with the tax collector, the commissioners' journal recites that the total land tax of the county was $1,745,647. CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS. James I. Nisbet, John Meroney and John C. Irvin had been appointed associate judges of the common pleas court, and, on March 15, 1808, they met at the house of Samuel Hawkins in Eaton. After being sworn, their first act was to divide Preble county into four townships. Remembering that there are three ranges of townships in the county, they ordered : First, that the south ten miles of the third range of townships should be named Hardin township, and the election therein held at the house of William Swisher; second, that the north fourteen miles of the third range should be named Twin township, and the election held at the house of William Nisbet ; third, that all of the second range of townships should be named Somers township, and the election held at the house of Samuel Hawkins ; fourth, that the first range of PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 159 townships should be named Israel township, and the election held at the house of Benjamin Kercheval.—Probate Court Journal, pages 2 to 5. The first election, held on the first Monday of April, 1808, was held at the above houses. It is said that in that early day Twin Creek valley had the greater population, that being the reason for making two townships in the third range. In studying the organization of the county, one of the first questions is as to how and where the various township divisions of the county. were made. The first division by the three commissioners appointed by the Legislature has been given above. All subsequent changes and divisions were, by statute, placed in the power of the county commissioners, and the commissioners': journal shows that it was done as follows by their orders : On March 7, 1809, they decreed. that the north sixteen miles of ,the second range of townships should be called Washington township, and that the election should be held at the house of Samuel Hawkins. This left Somers. township ten miles long. On the same day they decreed that Jefferson township should be the north sixteen miles of the first range, the election to be at the house of John Marks, thus leaving Israel township ten miles long. Then came a lull, and a contest that caused some bitterness for a time. TOWNSHIP CONTEST. It will be remembered that Hardin township was the south ten miles of the third range. It had incurred a debt of about two hundred and fifty dollars for some road work, which was all done in the north four miles of the township. The people of what is now Lanier township desired to have it created as a separate township, and to pay only its proportionate share of the debt, as it was a township debt, and the people of what is now Gratis township desired to have it erected into a separate township, and free of any part. of the debt, because they argued that the north part, haying received all the benefit of the money spent, ought to pay the debt. For over a year the question was bandied about, neither party succeeding, but finally, on March 43 1811, the county commissioners decreed that the fifth congressional township of the third range should be a separate township, to be called Lanier (after. the clerk of the board), the election to be held at the house of Joshua Howell; and that it should pay its proper pro rata share of the debt. Of course this aroused the Quakers, and a body of them, headed by Samuel Stubbs, came to Eaton, on March 7, 1811, to argue their cause. They were turned. down by the commissioners, but, after getting outside of their 160 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. dinners,. Mr. Stubbs insisted on making another try. At last they consented, and again the delegation filed in before the commissioners and Samuel Stubbs made an argument for their side, pointing out very strongly that it worked no injustice if the people who received all the benefits were required to pay the debt, and that they had a strong and growing community of respectable people, who never shunned their duty. He was so earnest about it that he got a respectful hearing, finally winding up with the words, "Now, friends, we think thee ought to give us a township free gratis." When he closed, Alex. C. Lanier, the clerk of the board, exclaimed, "0, let him have his township, and call it Gratis," and the commissioners then made the order "that all that part of the third range being within the bounds of the fourth original surveyed township be declared a new township, by the name of Gratis, election to be held at the house of Silas Gregg."– Commissioners' Journal, page 129. This left Twin township twelve miles long, and entirely wiped out Hardin as a township. On March 4, 1812, it was ordered that Dixon township, originally Dixson, should be the south half of Jefferson and that the election should be held at the house of Benjamin Kercheval. It was named after Eli Dixson, president of the board, and who lived in that township. On June 1, 1812, all that part of Israel township in township 7, range 1 east, was added to Dixon township, thus making Dixon ten miles long, Jefferson eight miles long, and leaving Israel township as now formed.—Commissioners' Journal 1, page 162. On June 5, 1815, it was ordered that Somers township be township 6, range 2, of the original survey, and that all north thereof be added to and become part of Washington township, making it eighteen miles long. On June 5, 1815, an order was made that Twin township be divided and that the south part or the sixth surveyed township be called Twin, and the north part, or the seventh surveyed township, be called Harrison, the election to be at the house of Frederick Black.—Commissioners' Journal I, pages 236-7. On September 29, 1817, it was ordered that township 9, range 2 east, be a new township and called Monroe. This left Washington twelve miles long. —Commissioners' Journal 2, page 76. A few years later the people of the south part of Washington started an agitation for the creation of a new township out of the south half. They met with much opposition, because it would place Eaton. in two townships, but their effort was renewed until, finally, on December 7, 1824, a delegation came to the county seat to argue for a township. It was headed by Gasper Potterf, a German, who had been a soldier in the Revolution, and lived on the banks of Seven Mile creek in that part of then Washington township. He PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 161 had a mill, owned some fourteen hundred acres of land, and, in addition to his wealth, was known far and wide as an upright, honest and respectable man and a good and generous neighbor. Of course he got a hearing, and during his speech he argued that Eaton was likely to grow to be a big city and that it would contain many people who would be great sinners and law breakers; that very probably there would be many bastard children, and that, as the townships had to bear the expenses of punishing the lawless, and to furnish support for the bastard children, it was unjust to tax them down in the country to pay for such things. The plea caught the fancy of the county commissioners and they ordered that the south four miles of Washington township should be a new township, named Gasper, after the old German. He now lies buried in Mound Hill cemetery, his body having been removed to that place, and every Decoration day his grave is decorated by the people of Eaton. —Commissioners' Journal 5, page 85. Eaton is not yet a big city, but further deponent saith not. This ended the formation of new townships, leaving Washington township eight miles long, and left our county divided into townships as it stands at present. TAX LEVIES. There being so much discussion these days about the tax levies, and the limitations thereof, and what funds should be cut down, etc., I give the tax levy adopted by the county commissioners on June 2, 1812: "Ordered that the county levies be this year as they have usually been heretofore, to wit, the extent of law." It could be copied in these days and save much discussion. The commissioners' journal shows that, on December 6, 1813, they settled with the tax collectors for the land tax of the different townships for that year as follows, for each whole township given as it then existed : Jefferson township, $27.15 ; Twin township, $55.44; Gratis township, $70.95 ; Israel township, $16.472; Washington township, $45.562.—Commissioners Journal, volume 1, page 197. Dixon settled later with treasurer's receipt. The commissioners fixed the fees for ferry boats in the county for 1813 at one dollar, and for 1814 at two dollars per year, and allowed them to charge six and one-fourth cents for a man, twelve and one-half cents for man and horse, and for other cases "as much as the law allows." There were ferry boats on Twin creek at Lexington and West Alexandria, and on Seven Mile, in Somers township. (11) 162 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO LAYING OUT OF THE VILLAGES. It seems proper at this place to record the laying out of the different vil- lages of the county, because they are a part of its organization. The villages start with the laying out and platting of the first, lots. The names of the owners are given,, and the volume and page where may be found the original record, although now nearly all records are brought up into town plat ,books. The original plats of Eaton and New Lexington are to be found, in the deed records of Montgomerycounty, but certified copies have been brought to Preble county and recorded. Eaton was laid out by William Bruce, February 20, 1806.—Deed book 7, page 5o. In the laying out of the town, Bruce dedicated the court house square as A, for court house purposes, and also gave squares of the same size, at southwest, northwest and northeast corners of Main and Barron streets, which he designated B 'and C and D, for educational and religious purposes. In 1812 the Legislature passed an act appointing William L. Henderson, Samuel Hawkins and Alexander Mitchell, trustees, to lay out lots B, C and D into building lots and sell them, for the benefit of the town, which was done, and they are now the most densely built sections of the town.—Deed Book I, page 175. Camden, then called Dover, and, later, Newcomb, was laid out by William Moore; James Black and Isaac Sutton, July 4, 1818. Deed Book 3, page 76. West Alexandria was laid out by William Alexander and Henry Keisling, August 31, 1818. Deed Book 3, page 106. Lewisburg was laid out by Henry Horn, September 7, 1818. Deed Book 3, page 113. New Paris was laid out by Andrew Ireland and James Fleming, August 18, 1817. Deed Book 2, gage 335. Gratis, then called Winchester, was laid out by Martin Saylor, Abraham Wimmer, Jacob Gift and Nicholas Gift, June 12, 1817. Deed Book 2, page 323. New Westville was laid out by George Worthington, July 16, 1816. Deed Book 2, page 246. Fair Haven, by Jonathan Caldwell, April 16, 1832. Deed Book 12, page 452. Gettysburg, then called Harrisburg, and the postoffice, Ebenezer, was laid out by John Curry, September 11, 1832. Deed Book 14, page 1. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 163 Morning Sun, by James McQuiston, April 12, 1833. Deed Book page 137. West Florence, by Fergus Halderman, surveyor, March 18, 1835. Deed Book 17, page 169. Euphemia, by John Mumma, May 2, 1836. Deed Book 24, page 225. New Hope was laid out by Daniel Hawk, June 11, 1841. Deed Book 29, page 390. West Elkton had been settled for a number of years, and the settlers had purchased little irregular pieces of land and built their houses thereon. As to about a dozen lots of the old town, it can be said it just spread out, but finally Jesse Stubbs, Nathan Hornaday and seven others, on September 7, 1847, after having a survey and plat of . those old lots, laid out a number of new lots around them, and platted and filed for the whole town. Deed Book 36, page 324. Sugar Valley was laid, out by. Israel Brown, November 7, 1849. Deed Book 37, page 52. Eldorado was laid out by L. R. McWhinney, December 31, 1852. Old Plats, volume 1, page 20. Hamburg was laid out by A. Sterling, John Judy and Samuel R. Adams, October 5, 1850. Old plat Record 1, page 3. West Manchester, laid out by Otho Brumbaugh, S. G. Landis and J. Studybaker, April 21, 1853. Old Plats, volume I, page 2r. Verona, laid out by Jacob Karr, 'Leasure & Reed and Robert Calhoun, June 21, 1853. Old Plats, volume I, page. 29. Sonora was laid out by Abraham Bankard, William S. Leas and Jesse Tillman, August 5, 1857. Old Plats, volume 1, page 37. Greenbush was laid out by J. V. Acton, surveyor, on requisition of J. M.. Randolph, land assessor, May 22, 1861. Old Plats, volume I, page 39. Enterprise was laid out by j. V. Acton, surveyor, on requisition of land assessor, May 11, .1880. Old Plats, volume I, page 136. College Corner, in Preble county, was laid out by Franklin, William and David Shideler, December 15, 1867. Old Plats, volume 1, page 59. New Lexington was laid out by James I. Nisbet, November 18, 1805. Original Record, Deed Book B, No. 1, page 8, Montgomery county ; certified plat recorded, Old Plat Copy, volume I, page 221. Ingomar and Campbellstown have grown into mice little villages, by the land owners selling lots to those who wished to buy and build, but .neither village has ever had a. plat of the town recorded. On the traction line, a mile 164 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. west of the east county line, quite a village has grown up, that is called Dadsville, and which promises to grow much larger. In addition to the above, other towns were laid out in the county and plats recorded, but they are now only farm lands. The following names suggest themselves : Hagerstown, northeast of West Manchester ; Orangeburg and Belfast, on the National road, west of Gettysburg; Claysburg, southeast of Fair Haven ; Georgetown, north of Sonora ; Mercersburg, on the county line east of Greenbush, and Good Intent, on the Richmond Pike. Crawfordsville still has about a dozen houses and practically adjoins New Hope, while Brinley Station, Brown's Station and New Hope Station have in the past contributed very materially to the commercial life of their communities, but have never been platted as towns. The naming of these abandoned towns would indicate that there were town boomers in bygone days, as well as in our own time. THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE. Within a few years after the first court house was built it was found too small, and additions were made, but, as the business of the county grew, the commissioners had to rent some offices in the town. About 1840 an agitation began for a new court house, and finally, about the close of 1847, it was decided to erect a good modern court house. James Wilson, John Patterson and Ebenezer Pinkerton were the commissioners and, after looking about a good deal, they adopted plans and specifications to build the present court house, substantially like, and on the same plan as, the court houses at Lebanon, Xenia, Urbana and Dayton. On July 15, 1848, they received bids for the same, and N. G. & S. H. Lockwood, who bid fourteen thousand four hundred and seventy-five dollars, being one hundred dollars higher than one other of the eleven bidders, were awarded the contract ; the other bids were from five hundred to twelve thousand dollars higher. During the building many changers and alterations were made, for which extra pay was allowed, and, when finished, the new court house cost about twenty-two thousand dollars. The court house was completed and accepted on July 17, 1851. It has done good service and has needed little repair, the original work having been done in a substantial manner and the walls and foundation being heavy and good, but it must be admitted that the business of the county has far outgrown the capacity of the building. For some years past there has been an agitation for a new and modern court house, that would afford ample room and be an ornament to the county. The question has been twice voted on by the elec- PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 165 tors, within the last eighteen years. At the first election it was defeated by over three thousand majority, and at the second election was defeated by about nine hundred majority. The people were frightened by the fact that some of our neighboring counties voted to build new court houses upon the plans and estimates given, and when the houses were completed they had cost sixty to eighty per cent. above the estimates upon which they voted, and the electors of this county argued that they would be imposed on in a similar manner. During the building of the present court house, the commissioners rented the Methodist Episcopal church for the purposes of holding court, but we are not informed that the sanctity of the place ever had much effect on court or jury. FURTHER JAIL HISTORY. The first jail erected was burned in the early part of 1820 and a new jail was ordered. Samuel Ward contracted to build it for eight hundred and forty dollars, but at the end of two years, on July 30, 1822, the commissioners ref used to accept it as according to contract. Arbitrators were appointed, who decided that the judgment of the commissioners was right and that two hundred dollars was all that was due on the jail. The first two jails built were of heavy hewed logs, lined with puncheon, the floors being of same. There were fire-places and chimneys, across the throat of which were heavy iron bars to prevent prisoners from climbing up the chimney, and one-inch iron across the windows. In 1839 it was decided to erect a stone jail, twenty-six by forty-six feet and two stories high, on the court house square, and the contract was let to M. S. Morton for six thousand four hundred and forty dollars. It was completed in 1840, has been in constant use ever since, and is yet a substantial structure. In 1874 the county commissioners decided to build a sheriff's residence adjoining the jail, and to put iron cages and cells in the jail, the whole contract being let to M. S. Morton and E. B. Nourse, of Eaton, for eight thousand nine hundred and eighty dollars. It was completed in 1875, and since that time the building has remained unchanged, except necessary repairs, and bids fair to last for many years more. However, to the writer's knowledge, every grand jury for the last ten years or more has filed its report, condemning the jail, until the court would be so surprised if the jury failed to so report that he would examine his charge to see if error was committed. On December 8, 1835, after there had been for two or three years an agitation for a county poor house, now called county infirmary, the county commissioners purchased of George Lease the southwest quarter of section 166 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. 27, township 8, range 2 east, for two thousand dollars, for an infirmary site. The farm was rented the first year. On February 3, 1837, bids were received froth eight bidder's, 'ranging from three thousand seven hundred and twenty-four dollars to five thousand eight hundred dollars, for the construction of a poor house. Award was Made to Samuel Roberson is the lowest bidder, but, as he could not give bond, it was put up at auction and sold to Wilson & Stephens, for four thousand three hundred and thirty-nine dollars, to be finished according to plans and specifications by September 1, 1838. It was to be one story high, with walls sufficiently strong to be carried higher if desired. On the day agreed, it was accepted by the commissioners. Since then the Walls have been carried higher, another story added and wings added, but otherwise it is the same house. It is yet a good and substantial building, well furnished and heated, with a most excellent barn, and the inmates are as well cared for and looked after as though they were at home—only, it is not home. Previous to 1813, the infirmary was controlled by three infirmary directors, who reported to the commissioners, but since that date it has been controlled by the county commissioners, the same as other county business. CHILDREN'S HOME. In 1882, John T. Deem purchased twelve and one-half acres of land in the southwest quarter of section 3, township 7, range 2 east, about one mile southwest of Eaton, near some mineral springs that bubbled up along a little ravine, and erected thereon a large brick building, which he operated as a summer resort. It did not prove very remunerative. For two or three years there had been an agitation in the county for a children's home, as dependent Children were then kept at the county infirmary, which seemed very improper. The Legislature, in 1881-3, passed laws giving the commissioners power to levy taxes and purchase site and erect buildings for a county children's home, and the Preble county commissioners were contemplating doing so, when Mr. Deem offered to sell his site and buildings for the purpose. The commissioners at the time were S. Coovert, H. Furrey and H. Paddack, who divided on the matter, and finally, on May 29, 1884, a vote was taken, resulting in Messrs. Furrey and Paddack voting for the purchase, at the price of eighteen thousand dollars, and Coovert voted no. The purchase was made, but it defeated Furrey for the renomination in 1884, not because of any wrong done, but only because he voted with the Democratic member for the purchase. No graft or wrongdoing was charged, or is believed. It PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 167 was a good purchase, and to it has since been added some fourteen acres more. The necessary changes were made, making buildings suitable. for occupancy, and they have been in use ever since. The commissioners have since erected an additional building and a schOol house, At first there were three. trustees, one Democrat and two Republicans, but in 1895 the law was changed, providing for four, two of each party. The trustees have been as folloss : John V. Campbell, Democrat, 1883-1888; Eli Conger, Republican, 1883-1888 ; H... C. Aydelotte, Republican, 1883-1885 ; J. W. King, Republican, 1885-1908; B. D. Moses, Republican, 1888-1889 ; G. M. Eidson, Democrat, 1888-1897; D. J. Christman, Republican, 1889-1894; W. C. M. Brookins, Democrat, 1894-1897; D. W. Cooper, Republican ,1895- 1898 ; John Glick, Democrat, 1897-1912:; E. S. Stotler, Democrat, 1897-1908; D. M. Swihart, Democrat, 1908 to the present time; D. J. Christman, Republican, 1898-1905; H. D. Silver, Republican, 1905 to the present time; H. C. Albaugh, Democrat, 1912 to the present time ; Harry G. King, Republican, 1908 to the present time. The superintendents have been as follows, their wives being the matrons : Thomas F. Bulla, 1883-1885 ; H. C. Aydelotte, 1885-1889 ; Samuel Huddle, 1889-1905; A. E.- May, 1904-1906 ; G. W. Hardin, 1906-1911 ; O. P. Kimmel, 1911 and still serving. The number of children varies with the years; the highest being sixty-six and the lowest nine, in May, 1912 ; the present number is twenty-two. OFFICIAL ROSTER. Andrew L. Harris was lieutenant-governor, 1892-1894, and 1906, E June, 1906, Governor Pattison died in office and Harris became governor, serving until January, 1909 ; he is the only . man from Preble county who has filled the office of governor. He also served four years, from 1897 to 1901, as a member of the United States industrial commission at Washington, D. C. William J. Gilmore was on the bench of the supreme court from 1875, to 1880. Francis, A. Cunningham was elected a member of Congress. in. 1844, being the only member of Congress ever elected from this county. He was born in South Carolina in 1804, and in 1826 came from Lebanon to Eaton, He studied medicine and practiced his profession until .1833, when He became clerk. In 1846 he was defeated for Congress by Robert C. Schenck. In 1847 he enlisted for the Mexican War, and in 1848 was appointed paymaster in 168 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. the army, remaining on the frontier it New Mexico and Texas. In 1861 Mr. Cunningham was taken prisoner by General Van Dorn, at San Antonio, but was shortly released and reported for ditty at Washington. He served until retired on half pay on account of disability, and came home, his death occurring in Eaton in August, 1864, from paralysis. His Wife, Maria, daughter of William Campbell, outlived him many years. SENATORS FROM PREBLE COUNTY. David Purviance; 1810-1815; David F. Heaton, 1825, 1828:-1832; John G. Jameison, 1825-1827; John M. McNutt; 1832; John Saylor; 18389; Henry Shideler, 1838; 1854C-1858; Robert Hazeltine, 1840; George D: Hendrix, 1848-9; David A: Cox, 1852; Felix Marsh; 1856; A: L: Harris, 1866; James Saylor, 1872; Abner Haines, 1876; Oscar Sheppard, 1898-1900; Michael. Cahill, 1911-13; Hugh R. Gilmore, 1915, present incumbent. REPRESENTATIVES FROM PREBLE COUNTY. David Purviance; 1809; Joseph C. Hawkins, 1817; John Pinkerton, 18t8; C. Vanausdal, 1819; Daniel Saylor, 1820-1821; John Pinkerton, 1822 ; Jesse Paramore, 1823; J. M. Gray, 1824-5; David Purviance, 1826; D. F. Heaton, 1827; J. M. U. McNutt; 1828-9; L. Miller; 1830-1; Henry Shideler; 1831-2; Samuel Nixon, 1832; George D. Hendrix, 1833; Richard B. Payne, 1834; John Saylor, 1835; J. M. U. McNutt, 1836; John Quinn, 1837; George D. Hendrix, 1838; Lurton Dunham, 1839; Joseph S. Hawkins, 1840-1 ; Newton Larsh, 1842; Joseph S. Hawkins, 1843; David Barnett; 1844; William Curry, 1845; L. W. Whitridge; 1846; Joseph S. Hawkins; 1847; Felix Marsh, 1848; Joseph S. Hawkins, 1840; Beriah H. Alexander; 1850-1. The Constitution of 1851 made the term two years and elections were held in the odd-numbered years. Berrah H. Alexander, 1852; Benjamin W. Hubbard, 1854; Hayden W. Dooley; 1856; Martin F. Stephens, 1858; Jesse Stubbs, 1860; Absalom Stiver, 1862; Robert Miller, 1864; Philip Lybrook, 1866; James Saylor, 1868-1870; Joseph Miller, 1872; Gfiffin H. Eidson, 1874; A. J. Hawley; 1876; D. C. Stubbs; 1878-80; Oscar Sheppard; 1882-4; Andrew L. Harris, 1886-8; Robert Williams; Jr., 1890; F. C. Lantis, 180 ; Elam Fisher, 1892; William Aker, 1894-6; R. E. Morrow, 180; Philip A. Saylor; 1900; M. K. Henel, 1902-5. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 169 Then the time of election was changed to occur only in the even numbered years. Earl H. Irvin, 1906; William K. Swan, 1909; Earl H. Irvin, 1911; Will E. Murphy, 1913; William K. Swan, 1915, present incumbent. AUDITORS. John M. Gray, 1820; John G. Jameison, 1822; Lazarus Miller; 1826; George D. Hendrix, 1830; Lazarus Miller, 1832; Hiram Jones, 1840; John R. Stephens, 1842; James Gilmore, 1850; James Albert, 1852; Thomas J. Larsh; 186o; Jarvis N: Lake; 1866; William I. Barnheiser, 1871; Samuel Old-father; 1875; William B. Mikesell, 1880; H. L. Robbins, 1883; (term begins October 1, after election) George W. M. Bookwalter, 1892; W. A. Eidson, 1893; Oscar A. Gale, 1899; C. W. Eidson, 1905; R. J. Plummer, 1908, appointed to fill interim (term became two years) ; J. F. Randall, 1908; George W. Rehfuss, 1912, present incumbent. RECORDERS. Alex. C. Lanier, 1808; Isaac Stephens, 1818; Hiram Jones, 1829; Isaac Stephens; 1841; Hiram Jones; 1844; William G. Banfill (interims) ; George W. Sloan, 1850; Isaac Stephens; 1853; William G. Banfill, 1856; William H. Lough, 1862; I. N. Sliver; 1871; H. L. Robbins; 1877; J. W. Ammerman, 1880; P. S. Eikenbary; 1887; Silas Duskey; 1893; E. E. Bailey, 1899; C. G. Oldfather; 1905; C. A. Phares; 1911; Ola PottS, 1915, present incumbent. TREASURERS. William Price, 1808; Alexander Mitchell, 1818; Samuel Ward; 1820; Alexander Mitchell, 1821; James Lamson, I84 John Marsh;. 1847; John R. Stephens, 1853 ; Joseph Brower, 1858; M. F. Stevens, 1861; Robert Williams, Jr., 1865; A. E. Hubbard (appointed), 1869; E. B. Ebersole, 1870; Frank W. Whitesides, 1872; S. S. Dix, 1876; D. W. Cooper, 188o; J. H. Musselman, 1884; Silas Laird, 1886; J. H. Musselman, 1890; M. D. Tyrrell, 1892; J. H. Gibbons, 1896; Ephraim Heeter, 1900; A. S. Scott, 1902 ; I. K. Neal, 1906; James Sharkey, 1911, present incumbent; Roy McNeal, elected, term begins September, 1915. 170 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO; CORONERS. Samuel Mitchell, 1308, appointed by acting governor William Brown, 1816; Peter Fleming, 1817; Henry Bristo, 1818; Henry Montfort, 1820; John Alcorn, 1823; Jonas Albright, 1834; Elias Halderman, 1836; Henry M. Eidson, 1854; Oliver Cleveland 1856, Terms two years: Isaac L. Johnson, 1858; Benjamin Stover, 1862; Levin, T. McCabe, 1864 ; Joseph H.. Quinn 1867; John:R. Bruce, 1874; Warren M: Campbell, 1876; H. Stephens, 1878 F. M; Michael, 1881; Robert D. Huggins, 1883 ; Charles C. Jones, 1887: P. M. Small, 1889, C. A'. Hawley, 1893; J. L. Quinn, 1897; J. C. Ryder 1901 ; William R. Pryor, 1905; P. H. O'Hara, 1909; J. L. Quinn, C, B. Cokefair, 1913, resigned ; H: Z. Silver, appointed in 1913 and ;elected. in 1914, present incumbent. SURVEYORS. The records of this office as to incumbents thereof is far more uncertain than some of the other offices, but, in so far as can be ascertained, the names are given with known dates. Alexander McNutt, 1808; James L Nisbet, 1909; David Williamson, 1810; Jonathan Miller, 1822; John C. McManus; 1827; Abraham Halderman,: 1833; Moses C. Doughty, 1835 and. 051,; John Mumma, 1838; James L. Street, 1842; Thomas J. Larsh, 1847, and terms later; J: S. Showalter, 1853; James V. Acton, .1857, and terms later.; Robert Shute,' 1869; Jesse .Brown, 1883; F. M. Dayisson, 1879; R. E. Lowry, .1885; A. L. Reid, 1891; R. K. DeMotte, 1897; Fred C. Roberts, 1903; William A. Markey, 1909; Otho Heckathorn, 1913, present incumbent. The surveyors of the county generally have been a good class of men. Some of them later entered upon business careers and achieved a fair measure of success. The one who, simply as a surveyor and civil engineer, became the most widely known, and who .was connected with the greatest constructive Works, was James V. Acton, who was born in Virginia about 1816 and came, a youth, to Preble county with his father about the year 1834. He taught, school for two or three years in the early forties, two years in South Eaton, in the little brick school still standing on Cherry street, now a dwelling. He had, a natural bent for Mathematics, and When T. J. Larsh was elected to the constitutional convention of 1851, he became surveyor and, as surveyor or deputy, continued until the building of the Erie railroad, at which time. he was employed as construction engineer of a division of one hundred miles, from PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 171 Salamanca, New .York, west, and subsequently another one hundred miles was added, bringing him nearly to North Lewisburg. After the completion of that road he was employed by what is now the Baltimore Ohio. Southwestern railroad in constructing a line across a part or Indiana; the later, shortly after the Civil War; he worked a year on the building of a railroad in Louisiana; then for a short line through the hilly country of the southwest corner of New York, and later in Canada. He surveyed a line through the Adirondacks, but the projected road never was built. He also surveyed several lines in Ohio. James V. Acton was a tall, spare Irian, possessing great endurance, reticent, and positive in his convictions, and clean and honorable in his dealings. His mind worked on mathematical lines and dealt with facts, and no man was ever possessed of the power to make him yield and certify to any statement that was not backed by figures that spoke truth, not merely Juggled to Suit. While his work dealt with great sums of money, no one ever whispered wrong against him. Simply as a surveyor he was the peer of any, but in tracing and searching, for old lines he was not the equal of T. J. Larsh, because he reasoned that the surveyor ought to have done so and so, instead of inquiring what the surveyor actually did. He was a kind hearted and true friend, speaking frankly what he had to say, but never backbiting. This upright course made him unpopular with a certain class, but they had respect for his opinions nevertheless. He is buried in the cemetery at Eaton. I write the above because I think I really knew him better than most men, having worked as a co-laborer with him for six years in county work. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. Under the law passed in 1804, commissioners' terms were three years each, and the year of first term is given; most 0f them being re-elected, thus serving six years: George Shidler, William R. Irvin, Samuel Hawkins, special election, 1808; at regular election, 1808, Alexander Pugh, John Halderman, William R. Irvin; Eli Dixon, 1809 ; James Ireland, 1811 ; John Spacht, 1813; James Crawford, Andrew McQuiston, 1814; Frederick Miller, 1816; Henry Montfort, 1817; Jesse Swisher, 1818; Isaac Stephens, 1819; Walter Buel, 1820; William Campbell, Peter Banta, 1821; James Crawford, 1822; John Acton, 1824; Stephen Long and Richard B. Paine, 1828; William Kendrick, 1829; Peter Banta, 1830; Thomas Morgan, 1832; William Hall and Thomas Miller, 1833; Matthew McWhinney, 1834; J. F. Ireland, 1835; James Wilson 172 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. and D. Barnett, 1836; Peter Shidler, 1837; Jacob F. Miller, 1840; John Patterson, 1846; Ebenezer Pinkerton, 1847; John Mumma, 1848; Isaac E. Railsback and James Elliott, 1849; Henry Harter, 1851; Moses D. Harris, 1853; Absalom Stiver, 1854; Jonathan Davisson, 1855; William Berry, 1856; Nathaniel Benjamin, 1857; Patrick McGrew, 1859; William H. Smith, 1866; William Risinger, 1861; Philip Lybrook, 1862; Benjamin Deardorff, 1863; William C. Mills, 1865; George Brower, 1866; Daniel G. Prugh, 1869; Samuel Coovert, 1870; Eli Conger, 1871; Jehu Campbell, 1873; Joseph Mills, 1875; D. W. Harshman, 1877; Howard Young, 1879.; James McDill, 1886; Henry Furrey, 1882; Samuel Coovert, 1883; Harvey Paddack, 1884; John C. Riner, 1885; William Mills, 1887; W. D. Pugh, 1889; James Carroll, 1891; Jacob S. termer, 1893; George W. Hanger, 1894; Samuel E. Morton, 1895; S. C. Ritchie, 1899; Isaac Ulrich, 1900; J. E. Flora, 1901 ; J. O. Willson, 1965; James Carroll, 1906; J. E. Flora, 1907, appointed; M. L. Coovert, 1908 ; D. S. Ulrich, 1909. The term then was changed to two years, all expiring at the same time: D. S. Ulrich, James Carroll and M. L. Coovert, 1911; Chris Wair, 1912, appointed ; James Carroll died, Perry Woolf, 1912, to fill vacancy to September, 1913; William Johnson, Joseph A. Day and Silas O. Burriff, 1913, present incumbents, until 1917, being re-elected in 1914. CHAPTER VIII. RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. The Eaton & Hamilton Railroad Company was organized in 1849, under a charter granted by the Legislature to build a railroad from Eaton to Hamilton by the most feasible route. Abner Haines and Joseph Hawkins were the attorneys for the company, composed of Lurton Dunham, of Camden, and Cornelius Vanausdal, Ellis Minshall, Alfred Denny, of Eaton, and some Hamilton men. Vanausdal was the first president, Jesse B. Stephens, secretary, and Josiah Campbell, treasurer. Abner Haines was president the second year, and John Woods, of Hamilton, president the third year. Then David Barnett, of Barnett's station, two miles north of. Camden, became president, and continued until near the close of the Civil War. He owned a farm and large mill at Barnett's station, and to his energy and push and belief in the future good of the road the people are indebted, perhaps more to him than any other one man, for the building and completion of the road. The rails were iron, imported from England and cost, delivered at Hamilton, about sixty-five dollars per ton for rails of forty-five pounds per yard. The original subscription was sixty-five thousand dollars, of which forty thousand was from Preble county, but they subsequently rased one hundred and fifty thousand dollars more in Cincinnati, and the road was built to Richmond, Indiana, and put in operation in the spring of 1852. AN INNOVATION THAT CAME TO STAY. When the first passenger train reached Eaton it brought the officers of the road and many of those who helped in its building. It is said that the whole countryside turned out ; the village was crowded and it was made a gala day, with bands and speech-making. In 1869 the road was leased to and became a part of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton system, after several years of litigation, under a reorganization scheme, and so continued until about 189o, when it was again leased, in perpetuity, to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and now forms the main line of that company 174 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. from Chicago to Cincinnati, and is a part of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company. There has been much talk and two or three surveys for changing the location of the line from Eaton to Seven Mile, but all came to naught. The reasons given for the change are that the road follows too closely the course of Seven Mile creek, there being no less than nine bridges, from one hundred feet to two hundred feet long, across that stream, in a distance of about eighteen miles, some of which are damaged by every big flood. Then sank of the grades are very heavy, necessitating what is called doubleheaders of heavy freights. The line is now laid with eighty-five pound steel rails, costing less than half the price per ton of the original iron ones, which were imported, while the steel ones were all made in the United States. The Dayton &Western Railroad Company was chartered in February, 1846, from Dayton to the state line between Ohio and Indiana, and was completed for business in October, 1853, and finally built the junction with the Eaton & Hamilton line two miles east of the Richmond depot. Both roads used the same line to the depot, and in 1865 it leased from the Richmond & Miami company, that controlled that short stretch, the right to its use in, perpetuity. Finally, by various transfers, the entire road in Decembet; 1869, passed into the possession of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company, and forms a part of the line from St. Louis. to Columbus. In 1863 the company leased the right to the Dayton & Union Railroad Company to use its line from Dayton to Dodson, some fifteen miles, and it is yet so used. This road was originally planned to Eaton and Richmond, but was diverted north by certain financial interests, which feared that such a line would be detrimental to their interests. The road strikes the east line of Harrison township, near the middle line of section 34, thence a straight line through Sonora to the south line of section 5, then following the line one mile south of the north county line through West Manchester and Eldorado to nearly the west line of Monroe township. Then it bends and follows the course of Little creek to New Paris, where it unites with the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central railroad, owned by the same company, and from there to Richmond the line is double track. THE GROWTH OF THE IRON ROAD. The Dayton & Greenville railroad was chartered and built about the same time as the Dayton & Western, and strikes the east county line about