USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
"Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain always a child. For what were the life of man did we not combine present events with the recollection of past ages?" -Cicero.
Frazer &Wilson
HISTORY C
OF
DARKE COUNTY
OHIO
From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time
.
IN TWO VOLUMES
V.1
VOLUME I
BY FRAZER E. WILSON
Also Biographical Sketches of Many Representative Citizens of the County.
ILLUSTRATED.
MILFORD, OHIO. THE HOBART PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914.
Copyright
by
HOBART PUBLISHING CO.
1914
1462269
FOREWORD
A comprehensive county history must, of necessity, be a compilation of materials gleaned from various sources and assembled in the form of a literary mosaic, the design of which is symmetrical-but not always apparent.
The first and only exhaustive history of the county hereto- fore written was published by W. H. Beers & Co., in 1880, from material compiled and arranged largely by Judge John Wharry of Greenville and by one Prof. W. H. McIntosh. This volume contained about 250 octavo pages of closely printed matter relating to the history of the county, besides about 200 pages of general introductory material and about 300 pages of biographical sketches. On account of its priority and the mass of historical data which it contains, this book must form the basis of any authentic history hereafter written. Per- haps the most apparent fault in this excellent first history is the lack of an adequate index and the irregular arrangement of topics-a condition which the writer has endeavored to overcome in a measure in this work.
A second work entitled "A Pictorial Outline History of Darke County," was published by Geo. W. Wolfe in 1890. This work was largely biographical but contained some excel- lent introductory matter and a few good topical sketches.
An excellent Biographical History was published in 1900 by the Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago, which con- tained many well-written biographical sketches, but not much purely historical data. To all of these works the compiler of the present volume freely acknowledges his indebtedness for original material, realizing that without them the task of writ- ing an authentic pioneer history would be practically impos- sible.
Further acknowledgment is made to Attorney Geo. A. Katzenberger, who compiled and wrote the excellent chapters on "Miltia Organizations." and "Bench and Bar;" and to Geo.
FOREWORD
W. Calderwood, the "Darke County Boy," whose writings made possible the chapter entitled "Random Sketches."
Others who have assisted materially in making this work possible are mentioned in the body of this book.
The military campaigns of St. Clair and Wayne are treated somewhat exhaustively inasmuch as they led up to the great treaty of Greene Ville, which is one of the landmarks of state and national history.
Much space has also been devoted to the interesting geo- logical and archeological features of the county, which have been given scant treatment in former works.
An attempt has been made to give a brief history of every religious denomination having a fair constituency in the county and thereby preserve a permanent record of the found- ing of each for convenient reference.
The writing of a county history covering the numerous phases of political, social, religious and material progress is a large but interesting task, and it is the hope of the author of this work that the careful perusal of its pages will stimulate greater interest in local history than has been manifested heretofore and be a source of delight to many.
Probably the greatest difficulty encountered in the present work has been the matter of the arrangement of the vast amount of miscellaneous material collected. This has been overcome, in a measure, by considering the relation of each subject to the history of the county as a whole rather than to a restricted locality.
An entire chapter is given to "Notable Events" as it is deemed desirable to portray these significant historical hap- penings for the instruction and entertainment of future gen- erations.
The recent introduction of the study of local history in our public schools is a commendable step and will, no doubt, re- sult in a widespread interest in and enthusiasm for pioneer lore, so that the records of the past will be more eagerly per- used and the memory of early events more sacredly cherished by coming generations. Instead of contempt for the past we may expect appreciation, and look for a more vivid realization of the fact that the things of the past play an important part in the life of the present.
Some one has aptly said: "The average American is con- tent to let history begin with himself," exhibiting thereby an ignorance and indifference unworthy of citizenship in a repub-
FOREWORD
lic bought with blood and sacrifice. Such persons should read and ponder on these beautiful lines by Cora Greenleaf :
There is No Past.
"They are not dead, those happy days gone by, They brought that much of life to us. And I Know no part of our life can ever die.
We lived them, so each joy or grief fraught day Is ours, henceforth, forever and for aye,
There is no dead, unknowing yesterday.
Our memory the casket that shall hold Experiences worth far more than gold And jewels to the longing soul they mold.
I like to drift and dream of times called past, Past days are present long as memories last, Within the brain's firm mold they're poured and cast- Shaped in an instant by our heedless will, To last forevermore, for good or ill, Until this very universe grows chill."
It will be noticed that this work appears in two volumes, the first of which is historical and is compiled by the author, while the second is biographical and is the work of the pub- lishers to whom eredit is due for its excellent and comprehen- sive character.
FRAZER E. WILSON.
Greenville, Ohio, May 20, 1914.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.
Page
CHAPTER I-PRIMEVAL DARKE COUNTY 17 Early Records-Niagara Limestone-Later Formations-Glacial Invasion-The Laurentide Glacier-Terminal Moraine-Local Glacial Phenomena: (I) Surface Boulders. (2) Glacial Till, (3) Kames-Local Moraines: (1) Miami Moraine, (2) Union Moraine, (3) Mississinawa Moraine-Extinct Animals-Peat Bogs.
CHAPTER II-ACHEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 33 The Mound Builders-Local Phenomena-Indian Camp Sites and Vilages-Flint Caches-Work Shops-Stone Pipes and Imple- ments. Topography: Forests-Game.
CHAPTER III-THE OHIO COUNTRY 49
Early Indian Tribes-Early French Explorations-Colonial Ex- pansion-French and Indian War-Anglo-Saxon Ascendency- Clark's Expedition-Retreat of the Tribes-Raids and Retalia- tions-Ordinance of 1787-Settlements North of the Ohio.
CHAPTER IV-HARMAR AND ST. CLAIR 73
St. Clair Appointed Governor-Government Instituted-Har- mar's, Scott's and Wilkinson's Expeditions-Confederation of the Tribes-St. Clair's Expedition and Defeat.
CHAPTER V-MAD ANTHONY WAYNE 93
Overtures of Peace-Council of the Tribes-Wayne Succeeds St. Clair-Army Reorganized-Wayne Advances and Builds Fort Greenville-Fort Recovery Attacked-Army Advances to the Maumee-Battle of "Fallen Timbers."
CHAPTER VI-THE GREAT PEACE 107 British Encourage Indians-Peace Overtures-Tribes Assemble at Greenville-Preliminary Negotiations-Smoking the Pipe of Peace-The treaty of Greene Ville.
CHAPTER VII-TECUMSEH AND THE "PROPHET" 121 Settlement at Prophetstown-Teaching and Conniving-Visit of the Shakers-Hanging of Blue Jacket-Departure for Tippecanoe.
CHAPTER VIII-PIONEERS AND PIONEER SETTLE-
MENTS 139
The Herdman Family-The French Trader-Azor Scribner- Samuel C. Boyd-Abraham Studabaker-John Devor and Others -War of 1812-Murder of Andrew Rush, The Wilson Children, Elliott and Stoner-Harrison's Treaty-Early Land Purchases- Renewal of Emigration-Local Settlements.
CHAPTER IX-CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY 165
Early Trails and Roads-Early Neighborhood Settlements- Early Business Enterprises-Early Taverns-Early Mills-Early Schools.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X-THE PLANTING OF THE CHURCH 197
Jesuit Missionaries-Army Chaplains-Rev. Morgan J. Rhys- The Denominations: Christian, Methodist. Presbyterian, Epis- copal, Baptist, Catholic, United Brethren, Lutheran, German Baptists, Church of the Brethren, Evangelical, Universalist, Re- formed. Church of Christ-Other Denominations-County Sun- day School Association.
CHAPTER XI-RANDOM SKETCHES FROM THE
"DARKE COUNTY BOY"
253
Social Life: Winter Sports, Singing School, Dancing, Circus Lore, Rowdyism, Children's Pastimes, Sunday Observance, Games, Drinking, The Old Band, Early Fairs-Domestic Life : Early Mothers. Clothing and Fashions, Household Equipments, Early Notables, Early Superstitions, Obsolete Trades, Etc. Events of 1856-Ancient Landmarks: "Kentucky Point," "Arm- strong's Commons," "Spayde's Woods." "Goosepasture and Bun- ker Hill," "Wayne Avenue and Wayne's Treaty." "Old Court House," "Indian Trail," "Beech Grove" and "Matchett's Corner."
CHAPTER XII-DARKE COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR 293
Local Patriotism- Preparation for the Conflict-Early Enlist- ments-Departure for the Front-Ohio Regiments Represented : 11th Regiment, 34th Regiment, 40th Regiment, 44th Regiment, 8th Ohio Cavalry, 69th Regiment, 94th Regiment, 110th Regiment, 152d Regiment, 187th Regiment, and Others.
CHAPTER XIII-SOME NOTABLE EVENTS 303
Harrison's Treaty 1814-Washington's Centenary Celebration. 1832-Departure of the Tribes, 1832-Hard Cider Campaign of 1840-Burial of Patsey and Anna Wilson, 1871-Dedication of Court House, 1874-Wayne Treaty Centennial, 1895-Unveiling of the Wayne Treaty Memorial, 1906-Dedication of the Fort Jefferson Memorial, 1907.
CHAPTER XIV-SOME NOTABLE CITIZENS 327
Major George Adams-Azor Scribner-Abraham Studabaker- Edward B. Taylor-Dr. I. N. Gard-D. K. Swisher-Enoch B. Seitz-Barney Collins-"Annie Oakley," and Others.
CHAPTER XV-POLITICS AND POLITICAL OFFICES 355
Early Political Conditions-"Ante Bellum" Days-After the War-State Senators-Legislators-County Officials: Commis- sioners, Treasurer, Recorder, Anditor, Surveyor.
CHAPTER XVI-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 365
Infirmary-Children's Home-Carnegie Library-Public Museum -Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall.
CHAPTER XVII-RAILWAYS 383
Early Means of Transportation-Railways in Darke County : The Dayton and Union, The Pennsylvania, The C., C., C. & St. L., The Peoria and Eastern, The Cincinnati Northern, The C., H. & D., The Ohio Electric.
CHAPTER XVIII-THE PRESS 395
Influence of the Press-Early Illiteracy-First Newspapers- The Journal-The Democrat-The Courier-The Tribune; Daily, Weekly-The Advocate; Daily, Weekly - German Newspaper - Temperance Papers-The Versailles Policy-The Versailles Leader-The Arcanum Enterprise-The Arcanum Times-The Ansonia Herald-The Bradford Sentinel-The New Madison Herald-The Hollansburg News-Others.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIX-FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
405
Banks-Development of the Banking System-Early Scarcity of Money-Early Money Lenders-The Farmer's National Bank- The Greenville National Bank-The Second National Bank-The Citizens Bank-Banks at Versailles, New Madison, Ansonia, Arcanum, Gettysburg, Pittsburg and Rossburg-Building and Loan Associations: Greenville Building Company, Citizen's Loan and Saving Association, Arcanum, Versailles and New Madison Loan Associations.
CHAPTER XX-DARKE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETY 415
Agricultural Prominence of Darke County-Demand for a Fair- The First Fair, 1853-Growth of the Fair-Notable Fairs-Pur- chase and Englargement of Grounds-Present Equipment-Com- prehensive Policy-Present Tendencies-Present Board.
CHAPTER XXI-PATRIOTIC, TEMPERANCE AND OTHER SOCIETIES 425
Jobes Post, G. A. R .- Complete Roster of Jobes Post-W .R. C. -S. of V .- W. C. T. U .- Pioneer Association - Historical So- ciety-Medical Association.
CHAPTER XXII-BENCH AND BAR, by George A. Katzenber- ger, Attorney-at-Law 449 First Courts-Place and Manner of Convening-Early Jurispru- dence-First Recorded Trial-First Justices of the Peace-First Jails and Court Houses-First Associate Judges-Constitution of 1851-Development of the Circuit, Common Pleas and Pro- bate Court System-Biographical Sketches of Common Pleas Judges, Probate Judges and Prosecuting Attorneys-List of Sheriffs and Clerks of the Court from the Organization of the County-Biographical Sketches of Early Attorneys-The Pres- ent Bar.
CHAPTER XXIII-LOCAL MILITIA ORGANIZATIONS, by Lieutenant George A. Katzenberger 503 General Remarks-Military System of Ohio-Early Military Officers and Organizations-Maj. George Adams-Brig .- Gen. William Emerson-Maj .- Gen. Hiram Bell-Gen. J. H. Hostetter -Capt. Jonathan Crainor-The Greenville Guards-The Green- ville Jaegers-Captain Beers-Company C, 3d Regiment-De- tailed History of Company M, 3d Regiment. of Military System.
CHAPTER XXIV-THE COUNTY SEAT 513
Advantageous Location-Directory of 1857-Development of the Town in 1857-Development by Decades-Notable Buildings- Public Utilities: Water Works, Electric Light, Home Tele- phone, Fire Department, Post Office, Cemetery, Public Schools, Lodges, Societies and Clubs-City Officials.
BRIEF TOWNSHIP SKETCHES 546
Arrangement of the Townships-Treatment by Tiers in the Following Order: Mississinawa, Jackson, Washington, German. Harrison, Allen, Brown, Greenville, Neave, Butler, Wabash, York, Richland, VanBuren, Twin, Patterson, Wayne, Adams, Franklin, Monroe.
LIEUT. COL. WILLIAM DARKE.
Darke county owes its name to Lieut. Col. William Darke, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1736. At the age of five years he removed to the neighborhood of Shepherdstown, Virginia. He served with the Virginia provincial troops at Braddock's defeat. During the Revolution he served with distinction, being taken prisoner at Ger- mantown and commanding as colonel two Virginia regiments at the siege of York. He was a member of the Virginia legislature for several successive terms. At St. Clair's defeat in 1791, he led the final charge that cleared the way for a successful retreat of the remnant of the army. He died November 20, 1801, and his remains are buried in the old Presbyterian burying ground near Shenandoah Junction, Berkeley county, West Virginia. The remains of his only son, Captain Joseph Darke, who died from wounds received at St. Clair's defeat, lie buried near by. Colonel Darke was a farmer by occupation, and is described as having a large, strong, well-knit frame, rough manners, and being frank and fearless in disposition.
.
HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
PRIMEVAL DARKE COUNTY.
Early Records.
The earliest records of Darke county, Ohio, are not writ- ten upon parchment or perishable writing material, but in the face of the underlying Niagara limestone. The encased fossil crinoids and the sedimentary character of this rock plainly indicate that it once formed the bed of an ancient ocean. The extent of this formation and the slight westerly inclination of the rock toward the basin of the Mississippi river suggest that this ocean was an extension of the Gulf of Mexico, spreading from the Appalachian to the Rocky Mountains, and from the gulf to the rocky heights of Canada. This is the verdict of scientists, who have made careful and exhaustive researches in this field, and we humbly accept their verdict. It is useless to speculate on the eons of time that have elapsed since this rock finally emerged from the ancient sea to form the landed area of the Ohio valley, and we can do no better than to ac- cept the simple but pregnant statement of the inspired writer -"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Niagara Limestone.
The rock strata which generally appear nearest the surface here, as well as in northern and western Ohio, and the states immediately adjoining on the north and west, are a part of one of the great limestone formations of our continent. This rock underlies most of the upper Mississippi valley-the most fertile continuous section of the United States. In this lo- cality the rock is covered with glacial till, debris and loam to
(2)
18
DARKE COUNTY
an average depth of probably one hundred feet. Although lying for the most part in an approximately horizontal posi- tion some faults have been discovered where the rock appears to be entirely missing. Such faults have been detected south- east of the intersection of the Pennsylvania and Dayton and Union railways within the corporate limits of Greenville, at the county infirmary and at the Pennsylvania water tank some two miles south of Greenville in the Mud Creek valley. They may be simply pre-glacial gorges.
Local Exposures.
Limestone exposures occur to a limited extent in at least five places within the county, as follows: On the Stillwater at Webster, in the southwest quarter of section thirty-two (32), Wayne township, where the rock is hard but unfit for quarry- ing on account of its irregular and massive condition ; near Baer's (Cromer's) mill on Greenville creek, about four and one-half miles east of Greenville, in the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven (27), Adams township, where the rock forms the bed of the creek for some distance. Quarries were once operated by Bierley, Rosser and Hershey in the bottom of the valley where the rocks are covered with about two feet of red clay or loam, intermingled with decomposed lime rock, and strewn with heaps of granite drift boulders. The upper section is of a buff color and is soft and fragile, while below many fossil crinoids appear and the rock is darker and harder.
Two exposures of rock occur in the Mud creek valley : one on the southwest side of the prairie, about a mile from Green- ville, in the southeast quarter of section thirty-three (33), Greenville township; the other near Weaver's Station in the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine (29), Neave town- ship. At the former place, known as Gard's quarries, the rocks are found folded with an inclination to the south and east. Here the rocks are similar to those at Baer's mill and contain many fossils. Near Weaver's Station the creek flows over a horizontal bed of limestone for about a hundred and fifty yards. This stone is not hard enough for building pur- poses and seems to contain no fossils. A section of rock is ex- posed in the southwest quarter of section twenty-four (24), Harrison township, about a mile south of New Madison, near the headwaters of the east fork of the Whitewater river, where a limekiln was formerly operated by one C. B. North-
ยท
19
DARKE COUNTY
rup. Careful calculations indicate that the rocks at Gard's kiln and near Baer's mill have an elevation from seventy-five to ninety feet above the corresponding strata underlying the city of Greenville, which appears to be built on an immense glacial drift, deposited in a preglacial valley. In the pioneer days, limerock was quarried at Baer's, Gard's and Weaver's Station, burned in kilns and used extensively for plastering. bricklaying, whitewashing, etc. The quality of lime produced was of a very high grade, but on account of the limited areas of outcrop and the obstacles encountered in getting the rock out. these quarries have been abandoned for several years. Building rock is now secured at the more extensive and easily quarried outcrops in Miami. Montgomery and Preble counties.
The geological formation of this section was well shown while prospecting for natural gas in this vicinity in 1886-1887. The first well bored on the site of the old fair-ground (Oak- view) made the following exhibit :
"Rock was reached at a depth of 89 feet. thus showing the thickness of the drift formation. The Niagara limestone ex- tended from this point to a depth of 260 feet when the Niagara shale was reached. At a depth of 140 feet this limestone was mixed with flint, and at a depth of 153 feet, dark shale, or drab limestone, predoniinated ; but at a depth of 175 feet this limestone was quite' white and pure and much resembled marble. The Niagara shale is of light gray color and might be mistaken for the Niagara clay, and as it came from the well was quite pliable, being easily made into balls, the material becoming hard when dry and containing a great deal of grit.
"From this point to 1134 feet, the drill passed through con- tinuous shale of the Huron formation, but sometimes so dark that it might be classified with the Utica shale. This forma- tion was not uniform in texture, but sometimes was quite compact and hard; at other times soft and porous, enabling the drill to make rapid progress.
"At 1134 feet the formation changed to a lighter color, more compact, and contained much limestone. The first Trenton rock was reached at a depth of 1136 feet. The rock was darker than ordinary, quite compact, and with no flow of gas, though a little was found while passing through the shale. At 1148 feet the hardness seemed to increase, and at 1195 feet the limestone became whiter, but as hard and com- pact as before. At 1210 feet it much resembled in appearance
20
DARKE COUNTY
the formation at 140 feet, though finer in texture and entirely destitute of the flinty formation. At 1570 feet it seemed, if possible, to be harder than before, with a bluish cast of color ; while at a depth of 1610 feet coarse, dark shale in loose layers again prevailed, accompanied by a very small portion of tlie limestone. At 1700 feet the limestone changed to its original white color and compact form, accompanied with sulphur ; and at a depth of 1737 feet bitter water and brine were found, the water being blue in color and unpleasant in taste and odor : but after being exposed to the air for some time it became clear, the unpleasant smell disappeared and the saline or salty taste alone remained.
"We notice that the Trenton was reached at 1136 feet. The surface at this point is about 1055 feet above sea level, so that the Trenton rock was here reached at a depth of 81 feet below salt water. This places it much higher than at other points in this part of the state where wells have been sunk and gas obtained; and this fact, with the compactness of the rock, will show that gas can not be obtained here. We know of no other point outside the county where wells have been sunk that the formations are the same as here."
Later Formations.
After the formation of the Niagara limestone, for some reason, probably the cooling and contracting of the earth's crust, the bed of the ocean in which it had been deposited was partially elevated and added to the continental area. This occurred in the upper Mississippi valley and the region of northern and western Ohio as above noted. In the fluctuat- ing shallows of the sedgy sargasso sea, which fringed this newly elevated limestone plateau on the east and south, a rank vegetation flourished on the carbon freighted vapors of the succeeding era. During uncounted millenniums forest suc- ceeded forest. adding its rich deposit of carboniferous ma- terial to be covered and compacted by the waters and sedi- mentary deposits of many recurring oceans into the strata of coal now found in southeastern Ohio and vicinity. Finally the moist air was purged of its superabundant carbon dioxide and mephitic vapors and a new age dawned, during which bulky and teeming monsters lunged through theluxuriant brakes and teeming jungles of a constantly enlarging land. The vast ocean gradually retreated, foothills were added to
21
DARKE COUNTY
the primeval mountain ranges, plateaus swelled into shape and a new continent was formed. Thus is explained the pres- ence of the beds of coal and the immense stratified deposits of sandstone, limestone, slate and shale overlying the Niagara limestone in eastern Ohio, and thus geologists arrive at the conclusion that a period estimated at hundreds of centuries intervened between the appearance of "dry land" in western Ohio and eastern Ohio.
Glacial Invasion.
While eastern Ohio was in process of formation the vast Niagara limestone plateau to the west was being deeply eroded by the active chemical agents and the frequent terri- fic storms of that far-off, changing age. The smoothing touch of a mighty force was needed to fill the yawning chasms and deep ravines and prepare the surface of this ancient continent to be the fit abode of imperial man and his subject creatures. Such a force was soon to become operative. Evidence has been adduced by prominent geologists and special students of glacial action to show that part of the deep soil of north- ern and western Ohio and the contiguous territory has actu- ally been transported from the region north of the Great Lakes by the action of glacial ice, and deposited in its present location upon the melting and retreat of the immense frozen mass. Ice. snow and glacial debris probably covered this part of Ohio to a depth of several hundred feet during this frigid era. Startling as this statement may at first seem it has been arrived at after a careful scientific observation and study of the active glaciers of Greenland, Alaska, Norway and Switzerland.
The Laurentide Glacier.
The center of accumulation and dispersion of this glacial ice was probably the Laurentian plateau or ledge of primi- tive igneous and granitic rock lying north of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence river. During the Tertiary period, just preceding the formation of this great glacier, a temperature similar to that of southern Virginia prevailed in the polar regions. In course of time the northern part of the North American Continent probably became somewhat elevated while the central part became correspondingly depressed. The snows of years and centuries accumulated on this ele- vated region, consolidated into glacial ice, pushed slowly
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