A HISTORY
OF
SCIOTO COUNTY, OHIO,
TOGETHER WITH A
PIONEER RECORD
OF
SOUTHERN OHIO,
BY
NELSON W. EVANS, A, M.,
Life Member of the The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society,
Member of the Virginia Historical Society, and of the
American Historical Association.
Volume 1
Pasts I and II
PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.
PUBLISHED BY NELSON W. EVANS.
1903.
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Scioto County Courthouse, Portsmouth, Ohio
PREFACE.
King Solomon who wrote the wisest words and performed some of the most foolish acts said (B. C. 977) that of making many books there is no end and because he left that record, every writer succeeding him has felt it incumbent on himself to apologize for every book he offers the public. This of course does not apply to Fiction or Poetry, which grows like weeds; but History Philosophy and Science must have reasons for their publication.
The editor 'makes his bow and says he published a Histsory of Adams County in 1900. which called for this work. While engaged on the History of Adams County 1898 to 1900, he secured much of the material for this work.
The following correspondence will explain itself.
Portsmouth, Ohio, May 9, 1901.
Captain Nelson W. Evans, Portsmouth, Ohio.
Dear Sir:—We are aware that you have on hand the material for a History of Scioto County, which you have, with much patience and great labor, been collecting for years. We believe you have the ability to prepare a History of this County which will certainly be equal, if not superior, to any county history ever published in Ohio. Such a History will be interesting and valuable, not only to our own citizens, but to the people of the whole state.
The Pioneer History of this county has never been fully and accurately written; it should be preserved in durable shape. The beginning of the new century is a fit time to record in permanent form the lives and labors of our forefathers, who, at great sacrifice laid so well the foundations of Our Country's Prosperity.
We therefore request you, not only on behalf of ourselves, but on behalf of all the citizens of the county, to undertake the publication of such a History. In this important work we can assure you of our most hearty aid and co-operation.
Respectfully.
John G. Peebles. George D. Selby, Wm. Moore, Peter F. Boynton, J. W. Bannon. Simon Labold, Leonidas H. Murphy, Will M. Purse11. A. T. Johnson, F. V. Knauss, C. Gillilan, H. D. Hibbs, F. C. Searl. Chas. Kendall, A. R. Morrison, C. A. Goddard, Wm. Duis, L. Taylor, Horace Leet, Levi D. York, John A. Winkler. Samuel Reed. Geo. E. Kricker, Geo. M. Appel, Irving Drew, F. B. Kehoe, Anselm T. Holcomb, Edward T. Reed. Henry Hall. J. J. Spencer, Frank B. Finney, Noah J. Dever, John K. Duke, J. L. Taylor, M. D., C. J. Moulton, P. J. Kline, M. D.. S. S. Halderman, M. D., Harry W. Miller, Augustus M. Damarin, W. D. Tremper. John B. Warwick, M. D.. Thomas T. Yeager, J. B. Tracy, Ph. Zoellner, W. 0. Feurt.
To the foregoing letter, the writer gave the following reply:
To Messrs. John G. Peebles, William Moore, A. T. Holcomb and others.
Gentlemen:—Your letter of the 9th inst., has been received and carefully considered. With your endorsement, your aid, and sympathy, I will undertake
IV - PREFACE.
to prepare, edit and publish a History of Scioto County, in connection with a Pioneer Record of Southern Ohio. The success of a book of this character does not depend wholly upon the editor. To make it a perfect book several things must combine. There must be financial backing. I should have 750 good orders to begin with. Every citizen of the county who can possibly take a book, should do so. Every citizen should acquaint himself fully with the enterprise, speak kindly of it, and favor it in every respect. He should give his order promptly when the subject is presented to him. He should give all the information he possesses which would be valuable in the book, and should volunteer it. He should give the addresses of all the former citizens of the county residing elsewhere, who can furnish information for the work, or who would be interested in it. With such general interest manifested in the work, there could be no question as to its success. I will prepare a Prospectus which will be published in connection with this correspondence, fully describing the projected book, and in case I receive the requisite number of orders to justify the publication, Scioto County shall have a History which will be better than any of its class heretofore published.
It shall be a book which every citizen will desire to read, to refer to constantly, and no citizen of the county will ever regret that he gave the project his endorsement. Very respectfully yours,
May 22, 1901. NELSON W. EVANS.
In consequence of the above correspondence the editor began- this work. In order to secure additional support and to make the work more interesting, he added the Pioneer, Record of Southern Ohio. During the progress of the work, he enlarged its scope and contents and has published a much larger volume than originally contemplated. He flatters himself that he has produced a local history which has had no predecessors in the field he sought to occupy. For him the adventure was entirely novel. He learned much and formed many delightful acquaintances in the progress of the work, but would not consider a repetition of it. He expresses his deep obligations to each and all of his patrons whose support was essential to the production of the work. He desires to acknowledge his obligations to his faithful assistants who worked under his direction in the production of the work, but special commendation is due Thomas L. Bratten, whose careful, diligent and thorough labor on the manuscript has given the work its accuracy.
The editor is of the opinion that the public needs to be much better taught and educated, as to the importance and value of the preservation of local history and that the work of doing this should be taken up by local Boards of Education, and Teachers of the Public Schools. His experience has satisfied him that a proper work of this character should he edited by a citizen of the locality of which he writes and one who has a love for the work. His friends have said this volume will be his monument. He trusts that it does and shall reflect credit on those, who by their financial support and by their contributions of valuable matter have made the work what it is. If the editor has succeeded in preserving and sending down to posterity the memories of those hardy men and noble women who conquered the wilderness and who have conferred upon us our exalted civilization he considers he has done well.
III