300 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. with it. Another bank was started the next year and it is still running. (See chapter on Banking.) Two newspapers have been started in the village, for which see chapter on the Press. The business of the town is in the aggregate very considerable: three grain elevators, two coal yards, a lumber yard, five groceries, two dry-goods and grocery stores, three bakeries, one butcher shop, two hotels, one restaurant, one merchant tailor, one bank, three hardware stores, three blacksmiths, two auto-repair shops, four garages, two shoe stores, two drug stores, two stock-yards, one cement factory, one cannery, one poultry shipper, two tobacco warehouses, two livery barns,, two milliners, and last, but not least, one old-fashioned shoe shop, where the sound of the hammer is heard most of the time. In 1885, W. E. McChristie started the business of taking pictures on a large scale, and enlarging and mounting old family pictures by photography. He later built a large brick building at the northwest corner of Main and Hendrix streets, naming his business and his building "The Nonpariel." For a number of years he did a most extensive business, both by express and through the postoffice, his work being found in nearly every state of the Union, comprising some of the finest work to be found .in his line, and the business seemed to be permanent ; but the big companies began to cut in on his business and in 1908 he closed his place, sold out and moved to Cincinnati. CHAPTER XXI. GASPER TOWNSHIP. Gasper township is the smallest one in Preble county, comprising only twenty-four sections, struck off of the south end of township 7, range 3 east, in 1825, on the petition of Gasper Potter f, as stated in the chapter on organization of the county. It is drained by Seven Mile creek, which flows south across the township about one mile and a half west of the east line thereof. Along each side of the stream are generally small tracts of rich bottom land, and then follows what in this county are called hills, the land sloping up somewhat rapidly to the level or rolling plateau above, but the slopes are mostly cultivable. The hills are nearly all confined to a tract of about a half mile on each side of the stream. Then Paint creek drains the western side of the township, flowing across within a mile or less of the western line of the township, and what is said of the hilly land along Seven Mile is also true of the Paint Creek land. Paint creek leaves the township in and near the southwest corner of section 32, near Muttonville, and flows into Seven Mile about a half mile south of Camden. After reaching the upland on each side of the streams, the country is level or slightly rolling. The drainage is good and the township has always had the reputation of being a healthy location, although there are tracts which have been drained by large tile ditches. Some of the most abrupt creek bluffs of the county are to be found along the lower course of Paint creek, rivalling those along Little Four Mile. These two streams, while among our small streams, seem like some small calibre people, to be able to do the most unexpected things so as to make themselves noticed, and they generally succeed. NATURE'S GIFT TO THE FARMER. The land is loam and clay or clay subsoil, and very productive, some of our finest farms being in this township. The markets for the township are Eaton and Camden. The Cincinnati and Richmond division of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad practically follows the 302 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. course of Seven Mile across the township, but there are no stations in the township; although originally there was one at the Four Mile Valley house, four miles south of Eaton, but it was abandoned many years ago, and is now only a long siding for the passing of freight trains. Wayne's Old Trace road crosses the township about a mile west of its east line. The township originally was heavily timbered, but the area of woodland is today very restricted. In the days of the early settlers the township was reputed as one of the best hunting grounds of the county, but today the few thin forest areas afford so little protection that even squirrels are a scarce game. A FEW NOTABLE NAMES. The first settler of the county was Silas Dooley, Sr., who, with his father, Moses Dooley, settled on upper Paint creek in 1805, and the first house had three sides, with a fire in front of the open end of the house. Silas worked at chopping and clearing for parties at Springdale and Seven Mile while his father went back to Kentucky for the family. Silas was then only twenty-one years of age. In 1806, he worked for David E. Hendrix, clearing land in Eaton, and in 1807 entered a quarter section of land for himself in section 17, part of which is yet owned by his descendants. In May, 1808, he married Johannah Westerfield, and a day or so after the wedding, they began planting corn, his wife doing the dropping while he followed with a hoe. Lieut. Silas Dooley, so well known to the people of the township and Eaton, who died only a few years ago, was a son of the pioneer. The marriage license for the marriage of this couple is claimed to be the first marriage license issued in the county. Gasper Potterf, born in 1754, in Virginia, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and married Susannah Ridenour in 1784. He moved into Gasper, township in 1806, and settled in section 26. Of German extraction, he inherited the German thrift and soon saw there was a demand for mill product, and in. 1808 he, built a mill on Seven Mile. creek, and for some years the bolting was done by hand. He soon erected a distillery in connection with the mill and the war of 1812 made the demand for both mill products and whisky very considerable. He made money rapidly; which he saved and invested in land, built a saw-mill and carried on farming extensively for his day. He was married twice and had a family of sixteen children. He died in 1836 and was buried on the farm, but some years since his remains were removed to the. Eaton cemetery. John Railsback came into the township hunting land with Moses Dooley in 1805, and is said to have made his selection, but he did not move from PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 303 Kentucky until 1806, after Potterf, when he settled in section 18 and built a cabin. Robert Runyon, born in Kentucky, 1785, settled in the township in 1810. Stephen Allbaugh, born in 1791, came from Maryland and settled in Gasper township in 1812. He accumulated considerable property, left a large family and lived to within a few years of the century mark. There were a number of other early settlers at about the same times as those given, but some of them later sold out and moved away, and of the others it may be said that their history can not now be gathered to a certainty. Armistead Huffman came very early and settled on section 21, and died there about 1859, leaving nine children. Christian Sayler, born in Maryland, 1785, came to Preble county in 1806 and moved to Gasper township in 1814, dying on his farm in 1852. He had a family of nine children, and his farm is yet owned by his grandson. Martin Sayler. There are two churches in the township, one in section 17, called Friendship church, and one at Muttonville, originally built about 1840, and burning down some thirty years later, it was afterwards rebuilt. A NEW USE FOR MUTTON. The writer was informed many years ago, that about 1830 to 1840, the neighboring farmers of the vicinity of Muttonville raised many sheep, which did well, an' d three or four houses were built on small tracts of land, near together. The young men of the surrounding country nicknamed the cluster of houses "Muttonville," for want of a name, and as time passed it came into general use and stuck. There is a small grocery at Muttonville, and there was a post office, but the rural. routes did away with it. There was also a church at what is called Antioch, and also one in the northeast corner of section 18, but both have long since gone, the members now coming to Eaton churches. While there are no towns in the township, it has furnished a number of our public men. Peter Shideler was one of our associate judges; Hayden Dooley, a state representative; Henry Shideler, state senator, three terms; Martin F. Stephens, representative, and treasurer, two terms ; Josiah Flora, county commissioner for seven years, and John B. Campbell, county commissioner, two terms. 304 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. There are six school houses in the township, evenly distributed, well built and furnished and are a good grade of country schools. The lands are generally fertile clay soil, with limestone subsoil, well improved, and the houses are good farm residences, many of them containing many modern improvements ; the barns are large and commodious, all of which tell their own story of a thrifty, prosperous and contented community of farmers. CHAPTER XXII. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. Washington township is the central township of the county, as well as the largest township, being composed of all of township 8,. range 2 east, and the north two miles of township. 7, range 2 east, and containing forty-eight sections. It is drained by Seven Mile creek, and Banta's fork and their tributaries, except the southwestern part, which is drained by Paint creek, which has its headwaters in section 36 of Jackson township. The land is generally level or slightly rolling, except along the immediate lower courses of Seven Mile creek and Banta's fork, where the land becomes broken, though not rough and bluffy. Much of the land is so level that in an early day it was swampy. After being cleared, this land was drained with open ditches, which later were supplanted by tile drains, until now the whole township is well drained and the land that was swamp is the most fertile. Garrison branch, and Periwinkle creek, from the west, and Rocky run, from the east, are the chief tributaries of Seven Mile creek, while Lowry's run and Goose creek, whose waters flow into Banta's fork, complete the drainage of the township. The history of the formation of the township is given in the article on County Organization, and need not be repeated. EARLY SETTLEMENT. There had been entries of land made in 1804, but no settlement. The entryman seems to have located to suit himself then filed his entry in the land office, returning east or south to his old home to bring his family and goods to the new home. William Bruce is believed to have been the first settler to build a house in the township, he having built there in 1805. In the same year John Goldsmith came to the northwest quarter of section 4, township 7, range 2 east. In 1806 there seem to have been a number of settlers crowding into the township, among them John Meroney, George Dooley, Andrew Dooley, (20) 306 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Joseph and Nathan Sellers, John Ward and Samuel Ward, later elected sheriff; John Aukerman, John J. Sherer, David Bloomfield, Benjamin Neal, Henry Young and others. Within the next two or three years others came so fast that it could be seen the township was becoming settled. It is claimed that some two dozen cabins were built in the township in 1806. At the election of 1814, over one hundred years ago, there were but forty votes cast in the township. I have looked over the list and of the names now in the township I only recognize a few, Ramsay, Spacht, Mitchell, Harris, Stevens, White, Crous and Dooley, which would indicate that most of the pioneer males had emigrated, or that eighty per cent. of the descendants were females who had changed their names. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. In the township at present there are twelve country school houses, so located that all the children of each sub-district may easily reach the school. In the earlier days there were quite a number of country churches scattered over the county, of which but few survive. As the roads improved and methods of travel became speedier, the church people gravitated to the village churches. Within Washington township there yet exist three country churches. Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, some four miles north of Eaton, on the North road, was founded in 1819, by Rev. Lewis Morgan, the first house of worship being a log cabin church, though the services often were held in private houses, and, when the weather permitted, were held in a barn. A brick church was built about 1840, and about 1876-7, the old church not being large enough, the present brick church was built. John Kaylor and Henry Kesling were the first trustees. Among the pastors have been Jacob Gruber, George W. Busby, George Baughman and George Weber, the latter of whom is the present pastor. The Reverend Baughman was the pastor for more than thirty years. The church and Sunday school each number about eighty. Zion cemetery, immediately adjoining the church, is under the control and management of that church. This church, in the last fifty years, has had five pastors, who bore the Christian name of George. The pastor called in the spring of 1915 is named George Sixth, which name just fits his pastorate. In 1868 the German Baptist church (Old Order) erected a church just east of the Richmond pike, in the southeast quarter of section 29, commonly called Beech Grove church, in which services are now held only occasionally. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 307 Another branch of the German Baptists, now called the Church of the Brethren, about the year 1893 erected a church in the northeast quarter of the same section, which is now the chief place of worship for the people of that communion for some distance around it. The Sherer cemetery, in section 7, and Bonebrake cemetery, in sections 17 and 20, are now township cemeteries, but are little used except by the descendants of some of the pioneers who are buried therein. The Haiderman cemetery, in the south half of section 11, township 7, range 2 east, just east of the Eaton and Hamilton pike, was begun by the settlers at an early day, and in it are found some very fine works of the monument builder, but, being regarded as a family cemetery, it is now but little used. THE COUNTY SEAT. Eaton, the county seat, is the only village within Washington township, and since, for a hundred years, nearly all the people of the township have gone to church, sold the produce of their farms, transacted most of their business and held their conventions and elections in Eaton, its history is, in reality, the history of the township. William Bruce, early in 1805, was prospecting for a location for a home and visited this county. Discovering the natural dam in Seven Mile creek, near. what is now the west end of Wadsworth street, he is said to have examined carefully the possibilities of the stream and the country around it, and so well pleased was he that he purchased three sections of land. Near a spring about a half mile south of where the court house now stands he built his cabin, the first in the township. His mind evidently had been busy trying to see into the future, for he at once set to work to make that future produce the mental picture he had drawn. During the winter of 1805-6 William Bruce had the town of Eaton surveyed and platted, and on February 20, 1806, recorded his plat in Dayton. Eaton was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, January 31, 1836, and Jesse Paramore was the first mayor of the village. The town of Eaton, as originally laid out, consisted of that part of the town between Israel street on the south, Decatur street on the north, Maple street on the east and Seven Mile creek on the west. All lots were laid out fronting on the streets that ran east and west, and were all one hundred and ninety-eight feet deep by forty-nine and one-half feet wide, with one-rod alleys, east and west, midway between the east and west streets, with no alleys running north and south, except the lots west of South Beech 308 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. street and west of Walnut street, which usually were not full lots, being limited by the slanting direction of Water street, which was laid out along the bank of Seven Mile creek. Barron and Main streets were each ninety-nine feet wide, while all other streets were sixty-six feet wide. All east and west streets extended from Maple street to the bank of Seven Mile creek. The lots along Water street that are not full lots are called fractional. Many of the houses, as now built, front on the streets that run north and south, but they are situated on parts of two or more lots that faced north or south, and the original numbers, as laid out, are still retained. PUBLIC LOTS PROVIDED. William Bruce, at the same time, laid out four lots, each twelve rods square, one at each of the four corners of the intersection of Main and Barron streets, and labeled them A,, for a court house square, and ever since so used ; B, at the northeast corner for an academy and school house; C, at the northwest corner, and D, at the southwest corner for churches, each to have one lot, but not to be used for burial purposes, and E, east of Maple street and about midway between Bruce street and the Lexington road, and twelve rods wide, east and west, to be used for six burial grounds, five for churches and one for those who belonged to no "regular congregation," the latter to be the farthest north. The lots B, C and D subsequently were divided into much their present shapes and sold by a committee of three, appointed by and acting under a statute of the Legislature, and the proceeds applied for the benefit of the schools of the town. The constitutionality of such a statute would probably be strongly contested now, but time has long since cured all defects. The greater part of the town that has since been laid out and added has not been made comformable to the original plat, except that the streets running north have been continued as before, save Barron street, which, north of the railroad, is only sixty-six feet wide. The first house built in Eaton was erected by John Mills, who arrived on April 1, 1806, and built, at the northwest corner of Main and Beech streets, a small log cabin, and in that cabin, on May 1, 1806, Polly. Mills was born, being the first baby born in Eaton, but Mills soon moved away and was forgotten. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 309 THE FIRST REAL SETTLER. David E. Hendrix reached the town from Camden on April 2, 1806, and built a cabin on what is now the brewery lot. Soon thereafter he built a substantial two-story log house at the southeast corner of Main and Beech streets, in which he conducted the first tavern in the town. He continued to be a resident and citizen until his death, in 1845, and it really may be claimed that he was the original pioneer, the first real settler of the town. Some of his descendants reside in and near the town to this day. It is claimed that David E: Hendrix dug the first well in the town, and that the first religious meeting was held at his home, the services being conducted by a preacher of the New Christian church. During 1806 David and Abram Eaton (Heaton), Samuel Hawkins and his five sons, Samuel Watts, Samuel Carr, Henry Whitesell, John Ban-fill and two sons, with a number of others, moved to the town, attracted by the probability that it would be the county seat of a new county, as well as by the fertility of the lands, so that during the year there were some fifteen or twenty cabins erected, chiefly along Main street. Alexander Mitchell and Alexander C. Lanier, whose names later were so prominent in the organization of the county government, arrived in 1807, and Mitchell continued to live there until his death, during the cholera epidemic of 1849. Cornelius Vanausdal, with his brother, Isaac, probably came to the town in the fall of 1807, but did not open and establish his store until 1808. Isaac Stephens and Isaac Banta came about the outbreak of the War of 1812, and many of their descendants are now residents of the city and county. After the war there were many accessions to the town, some of whom remained and some of whom, after a residence of a few years, moved on west, all emigration going in that direction. The first marriage in the town is said to have been performed on December 1, 1807, solemnizing the union of John Harbison and Mary Brown, who set up housekeeping on the northeast corner of Barron and Israel streets. For the first twenty-five years after the town was settled the buildings were constructed chiefly south of Main street, a very few scattering ones being located north of Somers street. In fact, it is claimed that in 1830 forest trees still stood on the lots west of the town hall on Somers street. 310 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. EARLY INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES. The first manufacturing establishment was the mill of William Bruce, built in 1806 and rebuilt in 1810. Bruce later added a woolen-mill for carding wool, which the good wives of the county spun into yarn and then wove it into cloth for family use. The next was a wagon-maker's shop, built by. John Harbison in 181i, at the northwest corner of Main and Maple streets-, which he continued to operate for a number of years. Richard Leeson started a tannery soon after the War of 1812, which continued in operation under different owners until a few years ago, the last owner, Martin Rehfuss, closing it on account of his age and because the fierce competition of the large companies had so cheapened the output that it was no longer a paying proposition to tan by the old process. A plow factory was started during the Civil War, and carriage making was carried on by two or three firms until about thirty years ago. A flax-mill was started in 1856 and continued for some years. Cigar-making began in 1845, and other cigar manufacturers followed, some operating on quite a large scale—J. S. Quinn, Ayres & Filbert, Coovert & Jones and others, until it is said that about 1880, there were some two hundred cigarmakers in Eaton, all of whom now are gone save F. P. Filbert, who still maintains a few hands. The Excelsior School Seat Company was established by the Brooke Brothers about the year 1873, and for two or three years this company did the largest business ever done in the town, but it finally suspended and moved to Richmond, later to Indianapolis and thence to Cincinnati. About the year 1901 a bedstead factory for the manufacture of brass and iron bedsteads was started by D. J. Miller. After a donation by a number of citizens of a bonus of some four thousand dollars, buildings were erected and the business seemed to be prosperous for some years. In 1908 Miller concluded he could do better elsewhere and moved the business to McAllister, Oklahoma. I am informed that he has now suspended operations there. The steam grist-mill at Eaton was built by Kinzie & Reynolds in 1870, after a donation by citizens, and later passed into the hands of J. R. McCleaf, then to W. H. Boner, and finally, a few years ago, to H. C. Robinson, who refitted it and installed electric motors, and it is yet turning out as good flour as it ever made. In 1880 there was a company formed to manufacture wind engines, PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 311 for pumping water and grinding feed. This plant occupied the buildings just south of the railroad and west of Barron street, and for a time was prosperous, but after about six years it suspended. L. Gable & Company, in 1870, erected and for a number of years operated a planing-mill and lumber-yard, but sold out and removed to the Pacific coast. The business then passed through a number of hands, until some years ago it fell into the hands of Hiestand & Company, and is now in successful operation. In 1848 John P. Acton established the steam saw-mill on the Richmond turnpike, west of Eaton, and at his death it passed into the hands of his grandsons, who, under the name of Hiestand & Company, are yet keeping it going, although the available saw timber is getting scarce. There have been several other saw-mills started, in and around the town, but all now are silent, and some of the sites forgotten. About 1898 the Fox Brothers started a glove factory for the manufacture of cheap gloves and mittens for workmen, and erected a substantial two-story, brick building, adjoining the railroad, about one-half square west of Barron street, and it proved so successful that some years ago they sold it to the Indianapolis Glove Company, which is now operating it, employing from sixty to one hundred hands, mostly women. THE FIRST TELEPHONE. In 1897 a man named J. A. Brooke, from Attica, Indiana, secured a franchise from the council for a telephone company and built an exchange, installing many phones in business and private houses. In about two years a home company was formed, called the Eaton Telephone Company, which bought him out and proceeded to extend its lines, until now, by connections with local lines, all parts of the county may be reached, and, by connections with long-distance lines, our neighboring cities and states are within call. This company now has over sixteen hundred phones. In 1886 John R. Cook, manager of an electric-light plant that had been in operation a year or more contracted to light the streets of the town, and for some dozen years the town was lighted by arc-lamps, on two skeleton-iron towers, one hundred and twenty-five feet high, one at the court house corner, and one near the depot, with some three or four arc-lamps, suspended in the streets. In 1897, on account of the heavy shadows cast by the lamps, and the cost of operating enough arc-lamps to properly light the town, the council decided to install the present system of an incandescent lamp in the 312 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. center of each street, at the street and alley intersections, which has thus far proved satisfactory. The electric company several times has changed hands, and for a while operated an artificial ice plant in connection with the lighting, but the latter proved unprofitable and was abandoned. Finally, some four years ago, the whole plant was sold to the Eaton Lighting Company, which has been operating it since that time. In 1913 the Ernest Nursery Company started a nursery plant at Eaton, with its office and rooms in the old bedstead factory. This company seems to be doing a good business and has many acres now in nursery stock. In 1909 H. M. Young formed the Eaton Cement Tile Company, for the manufacture of cement tile, and buildings were erected on Garrison branch, about one-half mile southwest of Eaton. Improved machinery was installed and the company has succeeded in building up an extensive business, both at home and in shipping tile to neighboring counties. There have been several large tobacco warehouses in Eaton, where the tobacco was stored, handled, sweated and sold, J. L. Quinn's, warehouse, built in 1862, being the first. Then followed the Musselman, Glick, King-bush and Christman warehouses, which for a time furnished considerable employment, but now all but one or two are used for other purposes, and these are simply shipping stations for the buyers, the tobacco generally being handled elsewhere. J. L. Quinn continued in the business until his death, after which his son, Nelson Quinn, continued the business for a number of years, and still buys some tobacco, but not as extensively as formerly. The tremendous extent and amount of the tobacco business of the county at the Present time may be noted by turning to the agricultural statistics for the county. In 1907 the Young Brothers, D. A. and Ed. Young, started a tobacco warehouse just south of the railroad on Cherry street, which they later turned largely into a plant for the manufacturing of "stogies," which business they are still operating successfully. HISTORY OF EATON SCHOOLS. About the first-public institution installed in Eaton was the public school. About the year 1807 John Hollingsworth is said to have started a school in a log cabin on Wadsworth street, west of Barron street. Of course it was a subscription school, the school house probably being built in much the same fashion as was the primitive school house described elsewhere in these pages. About 1809 or 1810 a school house was built on lot B, dedicated to PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 313 school uses by William Bruce, and in 1811 an act was passed by the Legislature appointing three commissioners to divide up and sell lots B, C and D, the proceeds of the sale to be used in carrying out the purposes for which the lots were dedicated. Lot B was divided into four lots, which were sold for four hundred nine dollars and sixty-six cents, and thirty dollars was paid for another lot, the balance being used to build a frame school house, which building was also used one year for holding court. There were, of course, schools, more or less each year, but no records of these pioneer seats of learning have been kept. In 1826 Abner Haines came to town and taught subscription school for a term or two, the terms being of three months' duration. During the next four years the school was taught by George D. Hendrix, who said that at one time he enrolled one hundred and twenty pupils. He taught the "three 'Rs," and spelling and grammar, teaching eight to ten hours a day all grades from "A, B, C" up. The pens used in the school were made by the teacher from goose-quills, for all the writing pupils and copies were painstakingly set for a pattern. In 1849 the Legislature passed an act authorizing villages to organize graded schools, giving the board entire power over the school, with the proviso that there should be eight months of school each year. Eaton was organized into district No. 4, one and one-half miles square, the directors being given power to levy a tax on the entire district for money for the school, up to three mills on the dollar. George D. Hendrix and Felix Marsh were both in the Legislature, and by voice and vote helped pass the act. Of course a "howl" went up from a certain class, but the mass of the people were for the law. A contract was let for the building of a new school house on the lot at the southeast corner of Barron and High streets. The old buildings were sold, and a building was erected at a cost of three .thousand six hundred dollars, in which school was opened on December 2, 1850, with four teachers, David M. Morrow being the superintendent. In 1858 it was decided to build another school house, one not proving sufficient, and four acres of land were purchased of Hardin Bruce at the southwest corner of Israel street and Franklin road, and on this tract in 1864 a fine two-story building was erected, which since has been locally known as the South school building. In 1870 the board set out many trees on the grounds, the same today generally being regarded as the finest school grounds in the county, many of the trees having grown to good size, making the campus an ideal play ground. Again the school facilities proved inadequate and about the year 1880 314 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO it was decided to erect a large central building on the old lot on Barron street. A three-story building, containing sixteen school rooms, basement, and other necessary rooms, was built, the same being finished and furnished in 1884, at a cost of something over fifty-five thousand dollars. This is called the North school building. The organization of the Eaton schools into a graded system really began with the act of 1849, but it was nearly twenty-five years before the plan was completely worked out to success, the first class to be designated as high school graduates having been graduated in 1872, since which time there has been a graduating class each year. There are now employed in the Eaton schools twenty-one teachers and a superintendent. The list of superintendents, since 1850, as far as known, follow : D. M. Morrow, 1850 ; James Long, 1860 ; J. N. Lake, 1861-65 ; A. C. Messenger, 1862 ; S. S. Dix, 1863-66 ; M. L. Holt, 1864; C. C. Feather-ling, 1867; W. L. Shaw, 1867-69 ; Peter Sellers, 1869 ; W. C. Barnhart, 1870-73 ; B. F. Morgan, 1873 ; W. L. Shaw, 1875-79 ; J. M. Withrow, 1879 ; L. D. Brown, later state school commissioner ; C. C. Miller, 1884 ; J. P. Sharkey, 1885 ; J. H. Gibbons, 1901 ; H. S. Hippensteel, 1904; R. J. Beachler, 1906; F. B. Bryant, 1908; John O'Leary, 1910. Enrollment now five hundred and seventy pupils. EATON'S WATER-WORKS SYSTEM. Up to 1890 the water used in the city came from wells, but there had been an agitation going on for better potable water, and in that year the question of issuing bonds for building a municipally-owned water-works was submitted to the people, and it passed by a great majority. The plant was built in 1891 and 1892, with a pumping capacity great enough to supply the town for many years to come, the supply being obtained from driven wells in the valley of Seven-Mile creek, just northwest of town, driven to a depth ranging from eighty-five to one hundred and twenty feet in depth, from which is obtained an ample supply of the finest quality of water. In order to complete the system another issue of bonds had been voted, the total first cost of the system being seventy-five thousand dollars, to which some twenty thousand dollars has since been added for extensions, machinery and improvements. The water-works plant soon became self-supporting and now for many years the income from the water rents, which are very reasonable, has been ample to keep the plant up-to-date. Since the plant's PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 315 construction no fire has been allowed to spread beyond the building in which it started. The water-tower, at the northwest corner of the town, consists of fifty feet of stone foundation, surmounted by an iron water-tower, twenty feet in diameter by eighty-five feet in height. SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. In 1907 a vote was taken to issue bonds for a complete sanitary-sewer system and a partial storm-sewer system, which propositions were carried by a majority so great that it may be set down as overwhelming. The systems were built in 1908-9, under A. L. Reid, civil engineer, who had prepared the plans. A sewage-disposal plant was erected in the valley, about two-thirds of a mile south of the town, to which all sewer. pipes lead, while the storm sewers find an outlet in both Seven-Mile creek and Rocky run. Since the construction, repairs on the sewer system have amounted practically to nothing. The total cost of the whole sewer system and disposal plant was about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. So successfully have the waterworks and sewer plant been operated, both in points of efficiency and economy, that there is a growing demand that the town build and own and operate its own electric-lighting plant in connection with the waterworks plant, and thus control all its public utilities. The growth of the agitation probably will depend upon the continued success of the operation of those public utilities now owned by the city. STREETS AND ROADWAYS. From the earliest times down to about 1888, the making of the streets of the village was entirely with an inferior quality of gravel, because a good quality was not readily obtainable in that locality, but in the year named a movement was started for better streets, and the council decided on crushed limestone from the quarries in Seven-Mile creek, which, at various times, for several years was used, but the stone proved too soft. A change then was made to crushed boulders for a number of years. In 1912 the council paved Main street, east of the railroad crossing, with McAdam and Tarvia. Then, after a petition thereto, the council, in 1914, paved Main street from the railroad crossing west to the Richmond pike, and. North Cherry street to Mechanic street, with what is called cement asphalt, from curb do curb, 316 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. except nine feet wide, in the center :of Main street, which is of brick; this being the first paved street ever built in the county. Like all improvements, this measure was won only by the determined efforts. of the public-spirited citizens, backed by their determination to have a better town. There are ten county roads leading into the town from different directions, all of which are of good macadam or gravel for from seven to fifteen miles from Eaton. THE TOWN'S FIRE-FIGHTING FORCE. In 1835 a fire engine and hose company was organized to fight fires. The .council purchased a hand-engine, called "Water Witch," and the company, composed of many of Eaton's best citizens, regularly drilled and practiced with the engine, being incited thereto for two reasons : the fear of fires in a village composed mostly of wood houses, and because, as members of such company, they were freed from militia duty and from working out their poll tax. Several minor fires gave them practice. On the night of Saturday, June 4, 1859, a great fire started in the building immediately east of the Minor block and swept east to the fire wall of the Longnecker grocery and west .to Barron street, thence north nearly to the alley, and the little engine did effective work in staying the fire. The loss incurred was estimated at about fifty thousand ,dollars and the fire generally has been attributed to safe robbers, who are supposed, to have set the fire to hide their robbery, which probably was the work of local talent. Just one month later, on the night of July 4, 1859, a fire started in a bakery about two doors east of the present court-house grounds. This fire —burned two buildings east and worked west, destroying the town hall, a three-story building, situated on the east fifty feet .of what is now the courthouse grounds and stopped because there was nothing else to burn. The Masonic fraternity owned .the third story of the town hall, twenty-six by sixty feet, and saved its furniture and records. The buildings were all frame and their places were taken by substantial brick buildings, the new block being styled Commercial Row. After this latter fire the county commissioners took over the town hall lot and added it to the court house yard. As the Masonic lodge had no rebuilding clause in its title to the third story, it found itself, the owner of a space twenty-six by sixty feet, twenty-four feet off the ground, and no foundation, literally "up in the air" and unavailable as a title. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 317 In 1872 the council purchased an Ahrens steam fire engine, which has been kept in perfect working order ever since, as a safety measure, but since 1892 entire dependence has been placed on the hose wagon and fire plugs of the waterworks. The hose wagon is still drawn by horses, but the council already has taken action and, by the time this account is in print, the town will be equipped with one of the best -auto fire trucks. Thus horseflesh will have lost another job. There have been other fires since 1859, but, as compared to the destruction wrought by the two above described, they were of minor importance. The volunteer fire company is still maintained and holds regular meetings on the second Tuesday evening of each month. DREAD VISITATION OF CHOLERA. The most fearful calamity that ever befell the town was in July and August, 1849, still styled in local annals the cholera year. The disease seemed to come into this county as an epidemic from Boston, Indiana, which was on the stage route from Cincinnati to Richmond. Eaton at that time had a population of about twelve hundred. On July 9 John Ulery, a, five year old boy, died, and almost daily thereafter from one to nine died, until there was a reign of terror. Half of the people deserted the town and stores were closed until only the store of L. T. McCabe was kept open. The sextons could not provide graves rapidly enough and were helped by some of the town's most prominent citizens. Doctors and preachers remained on duty and some fifteen or twenty men banded themselves together and pledged each other to stay and do what they could. Of this plucky band only one, Andrew Mikesell, fell a victim to the terror that walketh in the night. When September came the disease abated. It then was found that about one hundred of the townspeople had fallen, besides many in the country, of all ages and conditions of life. In two months nearly every tenth person had died; sadness was in every house, and the memory of that awful year is yet like a nightmare to our people. In 1854 cholera again appeared, but claimed but few victims. I am indebted to "Uncle" James V. Acton for the above description of that cholera year. He lived in Eaton and stayed there during the plague, losing father and mother by the scourge. 318 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. EATON'S TOWN HALL. In 1869 the council decided to erect a town hall at the southwest corner of Barron and Somers streets, on a lot there purchased. Bonds were issued for the purpose and in September of that year the project was started, the township of Washington, having no building or office for township purposes, uniting with the town, the township to have the southeast room on the first floor, fifteen by thirty feet. The building was completed in 1870, at a cost of twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars. About 1888 an addition was erected at the rear of the building for the use of the fire engine and to increase the capacity of the room on the second floor. The building is now too small for the purposes of the village, and a movement is being agitated for a new and larger building at some central location. INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The first coal for fuel purposes was probably shipped to the town by G. H. Eidson during or very soon after the Civil War, and he continued in the business as a coal dealer until his death, more than thirty years later. The business proved very remunerative and, wood becoming scarcer each year, others entered into competition, until today there are three or four coal yards, each seeming to have a good business, the old Eidson yard being yet in operation under Nelson Quinn and son: with the firm style of Quinn & Company. It is not my purpose to advertise the business of any one, hence I shall content myself with giving the number of the business houses in the town engaged in the various occupations. There are sixteen groceries, five dry-goods stores, three notion stores, two bakeries, five hardware stores, three drug stores, four butcher shops, one book store, one dairy, one creamery, three livery stables, four garages, one canning factory, one ice company, two grain elevators, two lumber yards, three monument shops, three plumbers, four or five blacksmiths, four barber shops, three places where furniture may be purchased, three jewelers, three milliners, three shoe stores, three clothing stores, two agricultural machinery stores, one candy store, one bowling alley, two poolrooms, one tailor shop, two harness shops, one florist, one gardener, two hotels, four restaurants, one express office and a number of small shops of various trades that supply a local demand, besides nine churches and two banks. These do the business of the town and surrounding community. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 319 There has been a band organized at different times in Eaton for the last seventy-five years, but men died or moved or dissension arose and these several organizations disbanded, to be reorganized again. Just now the band seems to be in a state of innocuous desuetude. William H. H. Eson and Charles Churchill have pulled it together each time for forty years past, and the community is awaiting expectantly their further announcements. ANTI-SALOON ACTIVITIES. The temperance movement in Eaton seems to have begun in 1846, in which year a lodge of the Sons of Temperance was started in that town, which lasted only about three years. This movement was followed in 1850 by a lodge of the 'Temple of Honor, which dwindled away. In 1867 a lodge of Good Templars was organized and continued actively to urge temperance for several years. In 1877 the Murphy movement began and many persons were induced to sign the pledge. For some three years the movement seemed to prosper and its eventual disbandment has always been attributed to dissension in the ranks over the many methods suggested for securing what they wanted, people losing interest in the discussions of theorists. Another long sleep ensued, until about the year 1903 or 1904, when the Anti-Saloon League began to attract attention by its successes, victories secured by ignoring all party lines and calling the public's attention to the character of men and measures, regardless of what party the league's advocacy helped or hurt. Under the referendum law, passed but a year or so before, the people, in November, 1908, filed a petition for a vote of the entire county. The election was held on December 14, 1908, resulting in the voting of the whole county "dry" by over one thousand majority, and on January 13, 1909, the saloons of the county closed their doors. There were saloons at that time only in West Manchester and Eaton, all the other villages having been voted "dry" under the Beall law. Since the above date no open saloons have existed in the county, but under the repeal of the county unit law, by vote of the state in 1914, saloons may be opened in the two villages that gave a "wet" majority, and before this is in print it is claimed there will be saloons opened in both towns. The agitation is still going on and the end is not yet in sight. On May I, 1915, after being out six and one-fourth years, two saloons opened and by June the "wets" promise to have four more. 320 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. BLACK PAGE IN EATON'S ANNALS. There is one black page in the history of the town that all good citizens of Eaton regret. On the evening of December 7, 1886, a man named William Mussle, a ne'er-do-well, was given a night's lodging by Daniel Christman, a well-to-do farmer some two miles northwest of Eaton. Mussle slew the old man with an axe as he was returning from the barn, ransacked the house for money, securing twenty dollars in gold; then beat the old wife over the head with a club, and, leaving her for dead, fired the house to conceal his crime and fled. Mrs. Christman, aroused by the fire reaching her, succeeded in quenching the fire, gave the alarm and search was made for Mussle far and wide, but for ten days without success. At last, on account of a picture and description published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, the murderer was arrested while working for a farmer in central Illinois. He was later identified by the officers from this county, and brought to the Eaton jail on December 21, 1886. Great crowds filled the streets, excited by the atrocity, of the crime, and attempted to take him from the sheriff, but without success. After dark, however, word was passed to those wanted and a meeting was held in the engine room, to which only those were admitted who passed inspection of the doorkeeper. Shortly after eight o'clock at night a crowd of some eighty or more men, unmasked, swept down the street in a solid body, overpowered the sheriff, beat in the jail door with a sledge hammer, and took Mussle out and hanged him to one of the arms of the electric-light tower, at the corner of the court-house yard, and then dispersed. An effort was made, half-hearted perhaps, to indict some of the members of the mob, but without success. This is the only time that mob law has been allowed to predominate in our county. The better citizens waked up, and, a time or two since, when excited men have tried to start another riot, the alarm went out and the rioters found there were plenty of determined men behind the walls, armed with Winchesters, and on each occasion the mob melted as silently as a snow bank before May sunshine. EATON'S PHYSICIANS. The first physician to locate in Eaton was Dr. Walter Bud, who arrived in 1808 and who continued to practice there until about 1828, in which year he moved to Indiana, his death occurring there a few years later. During the first three or four years of his residence in Eaton he was the only PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 321 doctor in the village and his professional travel, away from town, was along forest trails. For his gentle kindness he was loved by all and his services were in much demand. In 1811 Doctor Henderson arrived from Kentucky and was regarded as an able doctor, but being of a domineering disposition and sometimes given to swearing at his patients, he accumulated few real friends, although people were willing to admit his skill as a doctor. He died in 1824. About 1820 Jesse Paramore, who also came from Kentucky, moved to town, and soon became the foremost doctor of the community, having pronounced success in his treatment of fevers, which were then common. He was elected the first mayor of Eaton, in 1836, and served in such official capacity in addition to maintaining his large practice. He is said to have been very reasonable in his charges. He died in Eaton in 1857. Dr. Pliny M. Crume moved from Butler county, Ohio, to Eaton in 1833 and practiced there for thirty years. He was regarded as one of the best-read and ablest physicians of the county, having been for a while a professor in a Cincinnati medical school. He moved to Wabash county, Indiana, where he had a son living, and died there some years ago. Dr. William H. H. B. Minor arrived in Eaton in 1835 and practiced medicine successfully there until 1851, in which year he entered the dry goods business, but soon sold out and started a drug store, which, being more to his liking, he continued to operate until his death. He was a successful business man and built what has ever since been known as the Minor block. Dr. James B. Welsh arrived in Eaton in 1858 and soon secured an extensive practice, being for many years regarded as one of the ablest physicians of the county in his treatment of certain ailments, especially old chronic cases and diseases of children. He held the confidence and esteem of our citizens until his death, some dozen years ago. Dr. P. M. Small, born in 1834, began the practice of medicine in Eaton in 1859, and secured a wide practice. He was a light, active man, and for a number of years covered a wider territory with his practice than any doctor in the town. He was graduated from both the old school and the eclectic school of medicine and freely counselled with the local physicians of both schools. He died some fifteen years ago in Eaton. Dr. A. H. Stephens, born in Eaton in 1818, began practice in Camden in 1848, with Doctor Dunham. When the Civil war began he enlisted as regimental surgeon in the Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and (21) 322 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. served three years, then began practice in Eaton and there continued until his death, about twenty-five years ago. His practice in the army gave him a reputation as a surgeon which he well sustained. He was a large man with a genial wit, and seldom allowed himself to be ruffled.. Dr. James L. Quinn, born in this county in 1841, was graduated from Miami Medical College in 1869 and was for a year resident physician of the Cincinnati hospital. In 1872 he began practice in Eaton and was regarded as one of the best-read physicians in the town. He held the office of coroner several terms and died while in office, in 1913, universally respected by all for his fine scholarship and gentlemanly qualities. There have been quite a number of other doctors who have for longer or shorter terms practiced medicine in the village and then moved to other territory, but who did not leave the impression upon the people that those named did. Following is a list of Eaton's present doctors : Dr. A. A. Lovett, born in 1849, began practice in Eaton in 1878, and later married Nettie, daughter of Doctor Minor. Dr. F. M. Michael, born in 1849, began practice in 1879, and later married Minnie, daughter of J. H. Foos, attorney. These two are the oldest practitioners in the village. Then come L. R. Pryor, C. W. Conley, J. C. Ryder, George W. Flory, H. Z. Silver and E. E. Welsh. They are graduates of the various schools of medicine, some of them of two different schools. I can truthfully say of each and all that they are good doctors, and if occasion should require I should not hesitate to employ any one of them. All have good practices and it would be a useless task to try to single out any one as the superior. All are useful citizens. AN INTERESTING COMPARISON. In order that the reader may compare Eaton of today with Eaton in 1839, I submit an excerpt taken from the Ohio Gazetteer of that date, covering industrial and commercial conditions at that time : "There is one gristmill, one saw-mill, one fulling-mill, one carding machine and one machine for manufacturing gun barrels, all operated by the water of Seven-Mile creek. The town contains about one hundred and forty-five houses, thirty shops, three taverns, fifteen stores and groceries, two school houses, three churches, two tanneries, four pork houses, one printing office, three lawyers and three doctors, and about one thousand people, supplied by mail daily by stage from Dayton, Richmond and Hamilton, and one weekly mail by horseback from Lebanon." Those good old times would not satisfy us now. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 323 In 1902 the United States postal authorities started rural free delivery from the Eaton postoffice, and there are now ten rural routes out of the town. In December, 1913, the postoffice started delivering mail twice daily in Eaton, free delivery. CHURCHES. The first church organized in Eaton was the church known there as the Christian church, which was organized at the house of Nathan Sellers, about a mile south of Eaton in 1807, in which organization Reuben Dooley, Barton W. Stone and David Purviance were the chief movers. Within a year or so a public church was built in the southwest part, of the town and the church continued until about 1830, when, on account of much discussion by the church members of the proper method and necessity of baptism, it is said, the church suspended. In 1841 Nathan Sellers again got the members together, the church was reorganized, and has continued as a vital organization, until today it is one of the strongest churches in the county. In "1860 a movement was started to build a new church building and a subscription was started for the purpose, but after earnest canvassing the committees reported that they could not raise sufficient funds and it seemed they must abandon the project. Cornelius Vanausdal, hearing of the probable failure, subscribed about one thousand four hundred dollars, the balance needed. A brick church was built, at a cost of about four thousand five hundred dollars, being completed in 1861. As time went on the church again became inadequate, and in 1892 a movement was started for a larger and better building, which was built and completed in 1894, at a cost of about thirteen thousand dollars. In addition, the church has a comfortable brick parsonage hardby the church. The church now has a membership of six hundred and twenty, many of whom are from the country for several miles around the town, and I presume it is true that on Sunday more automobiles are seen about this church than any other in Eaton, or probably about all the other churches in town combined. I am glad to call attention to the automobile as bringing people to church, for it too often is blamed with keeping them away from church. In 1909 the congregation of the Christian church added a very fine pipe-organ. The pastors of this church have been : Peter Banta, J. F. Sloan, E. W. Humphreys, J. T. Linn, T. M. McWhinney, J. D. Lauer, Levi Purviance, James Maple, Z. T. Sullivan, C. W. Garoute, 1877 ; W. H. Orr, 1881 ; C. J. Jones, 1885; J. G. Bishop, i887; James Maple, 1888 ; H. C. Crampton, 1890; 324 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. J. F. Burnett, 1893 ; W. D. Samuels, 1900 ; H. A. Smith, 1904; McD. Howsare, 1911. EATON METHODISM. The Methodist Episcopal church first held services in the cabin of William Castor, in Eaton, about 1811. Occasional services were held elsewhere in the town, and it is said services were held in the jail and court house for awhile. About the year 1828 a movement was started to build a church. The members donated labor, timber, hauling and some money, and in 1829 a small church was built, the first quarterly meeting being held in 1830. The preacher at that time "rode the circuit," the circuit preacher then being John A. Baughman. The church committee reported sixty dollars as the share of Eaton towards his salary, but the church only really paid him nine dollars twelve and a half cents. The church then numbered sixty. In 1831 the Methodists started a subscription to build a parsonage, as the town was centrally located in the circuit, and they collected about four hundred dollars, with which they bought a lot and built a parsonage, which served for many years. In 1838 a movement was started for a new church and a building was erected at the point where the Central hotel now stands ; in fact, the rear half of that hotel is the old church, having been incorporated into the addition that was made to remodel the building into a hotel. It is said that the dining hall is a part of the old church. This church was finished in 1842 and was dedicated by that pioneer of Methodism, James B. Finley. Again the church became too small, and in 1868 another movement was started to erect a larger and more modern edifice. Subscriptions were taken, the present grounds at the southeast corner of Maple and Somers streets were purchased, and the present two-story brick church, the largest in the county, was erected and dedicated in 1871, the same costing about forty-four thousand five hundred dollars, as finally completed and furnished. The membership of this church now numbers four hundred and forty. The pastors of this church and the year they began service, so far as known are : J. Murray and S. Colvin, .1824; James Huffman and S. Shaw, 1828; Joseph Reider, 1829 ; John A. Baughman, 1830 ; William Sutton, 1833 ; C. W. Swain, 1834 ; J. A. Reeder, 1836 ; A. B. Stroud, 1838; Joseph McDowell, 1841; Asbury Lowrey, 1842 ; P. A. Muchner, 1843 ; George W. Maley, 1844 ; William Rutledge, 1845 ; William Langard, 1846 ; W. R. Davis, 1847 ; P. A. Muchner, 1849 ; Levi White, 1850 ; Isaac Neff, 1852 ; C. W. Swain, 1853, and L. F. VanCleve, 1854. The Eaton church in the latter