USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 38
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White Rodgers White Rodgers
1058-1080
1854
Between York & East N. of Summer to R. R.
Ramsey & Steele
1081-1101
1854
Ifarvey Vinal
1102-1109
1854
Henry Ruhl
1110-1123
1954
. S. of High bt. Plum & Race.
Jonathan Bruner
1124-1142
1854
Pierre & Edmondson
1143-1158
1854
W. 11. Spencer
1159-1179
1960
Giro. Dibert
1190-1189
1965
Dr. Robert Rodgers
1190-1205
1864
Jacob Huben
1205-1232
195
Elizabeth ('lark
1233-1242
1868
8. Center. N. of Liberty.
W'm. H. Houck
1213-1273
18017
S. Limestone. E. along Maple & Liberty.
W'm. Honck & P. Slack
1204-1305
1967
S. Fountain opposite Miller.
W'm. G. Brain
13461-1322
1867
F. of Brott along Pleasant.
W'm. S. Thompson
1335-1352
1964
N. Limestone E. along Stanton.
F .. N. Tibhetts
1353-1424
V. of Euclid from Tavlor to Pearl.
Thomas & Mast
1427-1432
N. of Chestnut. E. of Elm.
Hayward & Sherills
1433-1437
19/19
S. Center along Clark.
J. R. Baumes
1439-1490
N. of Clifton hetween Taylor & Scott.
..
Bt. Miami & Plum along Fair. S. of W. High.
S. of W. Washington.
W. of Yellow Springs along Dibert.
E. of N. Limestone along Chestnut.
W. of S. Limestone & N. of Liberty.
1323-1334
W. North, west of Yellow Springs,
Dr. Robt. Rodgers
508-579
1848
N. of Ansted & Burk Mill.
N. Clifton along Mill.
N. of Main, Water to Creek.
W. of Fountain Ave .. at Mulberry.
Pearl along Euclid to Clifton Ave. E. High.
966-988
F. of Limestone along Euclid.
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364
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
Middleton & Rawling
1497-1524
E. Main 8. of R. R. Crossing.
Geo. Spence
1525-1641
S. of High along Light to Shaffer S. to Fair Grounds.
J. W. Wertz & Son
1012-10064
Bt. Chestunt & Maple Avenues.
Wm. Grant
10-1602 14W N. Yellow Springs to I'lum.
Lewis N. Clark
1493-1713 1800
From Factory W. on Fair.
Eilwin L. Houck
1714-1749
1869
S. Yellow Springs bt. Clark & Pleasant.
Andrew Gowdy
1750-1753
1.570
Along Gallagher.
Thomas Sharpe
1754-1774
1870
F. of Kart & S. of Kenton.
Lenty & Spruce
1775-1800
1870
W. North from Shaffer to Western Ave.
Thomas C. Stewart
1×07-1-12
1×70
S. E. corner Yellow Springs & Clark.
W'm. Milhollin
1×13-1810
1870
N. E. corner of Yellow Springs & Jefferson.
John L. Pettlerew
1820-1>25
1870
N. W. corner Race & Illgh.
('has. Rabbitta
1826-1-38
1873
N. Limestone West side S. of Creek.
Steele & King
189-1853
1872
l'lifton Avenue opposite Maple.
Lewis S. Clark
1454-1874
1873
West Clark W. of Factory to R. R.
Oliver &. Clark .
1-75-1896
1873
West Cinrk W. of Factory to R. R.
David Shaffer's heirs
1597-1902
1873
N. side W. Main W. of Shaffer.
Dr. Robt. Rodgers
1903-1999
1873
S. of Stanton Ave., from Mason St.
Dr. Robt. Rodgers
2043-2049
1873
IS. to Mill Race.
Jeremiah Toland
2000-2004
1873
N. E. of Clifton St. and Scott.
Coffin & Whitehead
2005-2042
1873 Rt. Columbia and North E. of Spring.
Coffin & Whitehead
2173-2187
1873 Bt. Columbia and North E. of Spring.
Geo. Dibert
2049-2142
1874
8. of Fair Grounds to Southern Ave.
Jabez Seggar
2143-2175
1871
S. of E. High along Forrest Ave.
Coffin & Whitehead
2178-2187
See above. 1874 N. Limestone W. along Cassilly. 1874 Monnd S, to R. R. W. of East.
Edwin L. Houck
-07-2318
1874
8. Yellow Springs Southern Ave. to State.
Wm. 11. Houck
18319-2330
1874
Southern Ave. : Limestone to Factory.
John Grube
131-2338
1874
N. E. cor. of Yellow Springs and Mulberry.
Coble & Shattles
120-235
1875
Bt. W. Main & High.
Anna Warder
1874
Between R. R. & Creek.
Chas. Rabbitts
1875
N. E. corner of Mrfreight & Limestone.
W. D. Miller
1875
Fdlen Ave,, & W. Pleasant.
Chas. Stroud
1875
S. Shaffer W. side.
Andrew Gowdy
2500-2799
1875
Liberty & Gallagher.
Mitchell's heirs
0013-2626
1876
N. W. corner of P'lum & Mulberry.
('lifton St. bt. York & Taylor.
J. P. & K. Reinheimer
Dibert Are., from Yellow Springs to R. R.
Miller & lotsenpillar
1878
S. Limestone. N. W. to Maple.
W'm. T. MeIntire
1876
Front St. bt. Creek & Race.
P. P. Mast
E. of George Street from R. R. to Maiden Lane.
Spencer & Davisson
1576
F. North to Warder & Creek.
R. S. Spencer
1876
E. of Water S. of Creek. Fountain Ave., W. to Center N. .. [ College.
Bechtle helrs
Nancy Gowdy
1579
J. J. Snyder
1579
S. of Main on Western Ave., W. side.
Rice & Johnson
1440)
N. W. cor. Pearl & Southern Ave.
E. R. Ilotsenpillar
2087-3040
1451
Near Old Dayton Road.
('has. Stroud
3041-3146
1581
From Plum on State to Yellow Springs.
Phalls. Davis & Goode
3147-3167 .
1$$1
Peter Butzer
3168-3159
Geo. Ilils
3190-3218
19-1
8. Yellow Springs E. at Grand.
F. N. Tibbetts
3119-3251
1552
l'eari E. to Taylor in Grand.
I'ringle & Johnson
3381-3422
1-42
West of the above.
C. & C. & P. Grube
3423-3433
182
M. M. Tlers
8434-3458
Geo. 11. Frey
3457-3441
1SS2
McCreight heira
3467-3130
1542
Robt. Johnson
3637-3872
1842
N. of C'liftun opposite Laurel.
Lorimer & Wolfe
3178-3454
1442
On Ward W. of C'enter.
Limestone to ('lifton on Grand Ave.
Wm. Whitely
BT10-3738
1442
Enst. Harrison & Monnd.
Arthur Cole's helrs
1882
Limestone to Clifton on Southern.
A. B. Allen
3772
1442
S. W. cor. Factory & Ferncliff.
Wittenberg College Chas. Kellar
3792-34
1442
S. of Clifton Ave .. East side.
Giro, Brain's heirs
2453-3024
1982
I. Iligh 8. side.
Smith & Thompson's
3025-4013
1482
Malden Lane to Suyder Park.
Elwardeville
4014-4316
14522
Lagonda Ave .. E. of R. Il.
Hastings H. & Wehb
4317-4344
Clifton. opposite City Hospital.
I'. Q. King
4340-4368
College Avr. & Center.
Benj. Server
4367-4395
1443
S. Amelia Street near old Dayton Road.
S. H. Gard
4308-4429
153
%. Limestone W. to Factory, along Grand.
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C'assilly & Frey
148-2211
Jabez Seggar
112-2239
I. B. Rawlins
4140-220
1874
Mary B. Green
1576
1876
(ieo. Il. Frey
1875
W. of Bechtle Ave., S. of Malden Lane. Gallagher.
N. of W. Columbia & Western Ave.
W. Cedar N. to Creek.
Johnson & Scott
32-2-33340
Oak Street. N. of S. Clifton St.
N. Race.
N. Limestone & E. Ceell.
N. of College. Fountain & Center. MrCreight Ave., S. to Cecil, W. of Limestone.
Jas. Dory's heirs
36 9-3700
1×42
Southern Ave, from Yellow Springs to R. R.
No. of Lots. Date.
Part of City.
-
365
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
No. of Lots. Date.
4430-4465
1×3
Part of City. N. Race near Creek.
S. of W. Southern Ave.
4500-4556 1×54 Limestone W. on Southern & Factory.
4557-4598
1955
Shaffer. Grant & C'edar. Pleasant. Clifton & Spring.
Gieo. Brain
400015-1705
470-4719
4720-4770
4780-4789
No. of Lots.
G. J. C. JIls
W. & A. J. Ililker
44234573
Heury Hubert
4874-4505
INS7
W'm. Perrin
4870-4922
ISS7
W'm. Maitland
4023-4932
1887
Iana Marmion
4983-5008
1497
N. Limestone E. xide.
John Ludlow's heirs
Kershner's heirs
5001-5035
Hast Street.
S. A. Bowman
5096-5111
1457
l'ark Place.
I. Ward heirs
5112-5164
P. Lohner's heirs
Geo. Spence
574-52-5
185% S. Dayton Pike.
Hlouck & Coleman
HI. J. Funk
F. M. Hagan. Ass. Miller
.437-0443
1800
1886 Fountain. Ward & College.
B. 11. Warder
5481-5499
1890
E. Main, North Greenmount.
Lagonda Ave. & R. R.
I. Ward Frey
J. W. Bookwalter
5549-6222
1502
E. Main, Florence, Belmont & Columbus Ave. West of S. York.
O. V. Hensley W. 11. C. Goode
6330-4348
1892
Main, Columbia & Western Ave.
J. I .. Zimmerman Oschwald
6378-4393
N. of Lagonda Ave. on Park Ave.
G. 8. Dial. AAdm'r Stronger
E. O. Hagan, Ass. A. B. Smith J. I .. Little
S. II. Gard
6558-4572
1599
Perrin et al.
6573-6775
1900
Highlands.
Smith & Thompson
6794-6923
1000
S. of Snyder Park.
A. M. Riley's W. 11. Houck
6824-6450
1901
South of Ferncliff ('em.
I. Ward Frey
6959-7011
1902
North of Eastern Ave.
Geo. H. Brain heirs
7012-7125
1902
Elmwood.
C. N. Siyer
7120-7147
1902
Pearl. Catharine, Clay & Fremont.
Real Estate C'o., H. D. Keefers Anton Singers
7196-7247
1902
S. of Highlands.
W. II. Berger Brain et al.
7248-7200
1903
Ilill Top, Lagonda.
Kenwood Heights. S. E. of City W. of Belmont.
II. I. Kerfers
7568-7550
J. W. James
7581-7508
1906
W. Columbia. R. R. & Snyder.
Brain-MeGregor
7590-70084
1907
Columbus Ave. & Florence St.
A. C. Link et al.
1907 Old B. 11. Warder homestead.
E. G. Banta
7741-77.91
1907 Clifton & Wheldon Lane.
Lewis S. Clark
7767-7000
1907 Grand Ave. to State, Plum to Fountain.
Geo. Brain's heirs
7901-7968
1807 Harrison S. to Sheridan.
Lots Not Consecutively Numbered.
Date. Part of City.
1969 F. Springfield.
14700 South ('lifton.
1871
Rice & Pearl.
Benj. Servers
1574
W. Main.
J. Rauers
1573
Near Lagonda Shop.
Lewis Jenkins
1474
W. Main near R. R.
Ilester A. Neel
1475
W. High and Walter.
Florenceville
1440 1440
E. Main & Florence.
1940
1940
18$1
Pearl & Rice
18$1
Lagonda Ave.
(. Retter
O. V. Hensley
4507-4603
1555
J. P'. Reinheitner
4004-4007
Dibert We. & L. M. R. R.
Sheridan, Green, Mound & Ludlow.
S. of Lagonda Ave. near R. R.
E. Ilarrison.
N. of Mel'weight Ave.
Part of t'ity, Streets, etc.
Yellow Springs to R. R. on Euclid.
W. of Western Ave. N. of Maiden Lane.
E. High.
S. Limestone W. on Perrin E. High
1887
F. High S. on Ludlow.
1SS7 Fountain to Center N. of Ward. 1899 Park to R. R.
1×58
S. Fountain Ave. W. to Western Ave. N. Shaffer. Old Dayton . Road.
I .. F. Young, Ass. Coblentz
G. 11. Frey
5444-5400
A. S. Bushnell
1501
Woodlawn. Lagonda Ave. E. R. R.
1502
Robt. Johnson
6349-4355
1533
Rice. Clifton & Southern.
1593 Pearl, Hose, Clay & Catharine.
6356-4377
6394-4451 6452-4530
1896
N. Western Ave,, Cedar, Shaffer & Grant.
65314553
1898
Clay St. W. Grand.
1901
1902
Lagonda Heights.
7201-7562
1905 1905
N. of Park Ave.
A. Raffensberger Penfield Iticeville
T. Frisch
8. Sizlar
W. Main & Siglar.
Lagonda Ave.
W. II. Rerger
E. T. & P. Dudley W. 11. Berger
Gtist 1842 H. of Clifton Ave. N. of Johnson Ave. S. E. of City.
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J. B. Rubsam Kershner & Spence Wm. 11. Houck Roht. Johnson 6. 1 .. Frankenstein
Robbins & Myers fieo. Brain 2! McCreight heirs
4790-4-22
1886 Date. 18$7
1888
W. of Main & Thompson.
1891
1591
I. F. MeNaily
1892
W. Pleasant and Old Dayton Road.
E. of S. Limestone.
7155-7195
Lagonda Ave. to R. R. at Florence St.
4440-4508
366
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
Lots Not Consecutively Numbered.
Date.
Part of City.
I. Ward Frey
1892
S. of City (Landsdowne).
Jas. B. Thompson
1882
W. Main, S. in Siglar.
J. Ward I'rey
1897
Landsdowne.
Ziehler
1897
W. Main.
M. & J. Donnelly
1900
F. Main & Buxton Ave.
W. H. McCain
1901
Melrose.
I. Ward Frey
1002
Landsdowne.
John Melking
1905
8. Limestone next to Landsdowne.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
We have before referred to the fact that in 1801 Griffith Foos had camped near the junction of Main and Spring Streets and had gone on down the Mad River Valley without discovering the hut of Demint on the north of Buck Creek, and that it was only after he and his companions had gone up the valley and crossed over the tableland and came down Buck Creek that they found Demint's cabin.
Foos and his companions stopped here for several days. They were well pleased with the country and Demint offered them land at a very reasonable price and in- formed them of his intention of laying out the town. Mr. Foos and his party re- turned to Franklinton, a village now part of Columbus, where he and his com- panions had left their families, and with them returned to the city of Springfield. This was in 1801. Soon after Mr. Foos returned he began the erection of a house to be used as a tavern. This building was located on the south side of Main Street, a little west.of Spring Street. It was open to the public in June of that year and continued to be a publie hostelry until 1814. From this time on, the town began to show some evidence of what it might become in the future, and in 1804 it contained about a dozen houses all built of logs. These houses, as given in Beer's History, were located as follows:
Market Streets a man named Fields kept a small repair shop. West and almost op- posite was a cooper shop owned by John Reed. On the northeast corner of the same street stood a log house, and a short distance west on the south side of what is now Main Street, near Primrose Alley, was a larger log structure, occupied by Charles Stowe of Cincinnati as a gen- eral store. Another log house was on the northeast corner of Limestone and Main Streets, and Colonel Daugherty's large log house was nearly opposite. A large two-story log-house, which in the time of Indian incursions was used as a block- house, stood near the southeast corner of High and Limestone, not far from what is known as the Old Buck- eye corner. Near the public square was another cabin in which two Frenchmen, named respectively Duboy and Lucroy, sold goods suitable mostly to the Indian trade. The two taverns conducted by Foos and Lowrey, with two or three other cabins on Columbia Street, composed the village of Springfield.
This hotel of Lowrey's was a large two- story hewn log house on the first alley west of Limestone Street, about half way to High Street.
SELECTION AS COUNTY SEAT.
One of the most important events that occurred in the early history of Spring-
Near the southeast corner of Main and field was its selection as the seat of justice
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367
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
of the county which had just been organ- ized. This was in 1818. Springfield had for its competitor the town of New Bos- ton, located on the site of the old Indian village of Piqua, and had very little to boast over its competitor for the race was so close that Springfield only won by two votes. This gave new impetus to its growth for soon thereafter the county buildings were erected and court was held. (See County Buildings.)
EARLY EVENTS, ETC.
As already stated. the first log house was erected by James Demint, and the first tavern was put up in 1801 by Grif- fith Foos. The first frame house was erected in 1804 on the northeast corner of Main and Factory by Samuel Simming- ton. This house was destroyed by a wind storm before its completion. The first brick honse was probably erected by Will- iam Ross. It was a two-story brick build- ing on the southeast corner of Main and Market Streets.
This building was at first occupied as a dwelling and store and afterwards as a hotel known as Ross' tavern. This build- ing was standing as late as 1869, when it was removed to make room for the build- ing now occupied by Theodore Troupe's drug store.
A very respectful authority, however, gives credit to .John Ambler for having built the first brick house. His building was located on the north side of Main Street, about half way between Factory and Mechanic Streets and was built in 1815. This building is still standing and occupied by Charles T. Davis as a resi- dence upstairs, and as a millinery store and restaurant in the lower floors.
The first school was conducted by Na- thaniel Pinkeret in 1806. He opened a school in a log house on the northeast corner of Main and Market Streets. This building was not erected entirely for school purposes.
In 1813, at abont where Shaffer's Feed Store is located on W. Main Street, Sam- uel Smith conducted a school, and the first building erected for religious services was directly across the street from Smith's school building, abont opposite the drink- ing fountain on Center Street.
The first mill was eercted by Demint in 1803.
The first store was opened by a Mr. Stowe from Cincinnati. He brought with him a small stock of goods. The second store was opened by two Frenchmen in a cabin near the public square. Samuel Simmington may not have conducted the store in his frame house, for Pearson Spinning bought that property in 1812 and kept a store there for many years.
John D. Nichols kept the first book- store in 1830 and 1831. The postoffice was first established in 1804; others seem to think that a postoffice was not established until 1814. Robert Rennick was the first postmaster. The first date is the correct one, for we are informed elsewhere that in 1804 a mail route was established. which went from Cincinnati through Leb- anon, Xenia, Springfield and Urbana; thence to Piqua ; thence down the Miami to Dayton, Franklin, Hamilton and ('in- cinnati. This was a weekly delivery. The first daily mail arrived in the city of Springfield in 1828 and came by four- horse coach. The first newspaper was established in the city of Springfield in 1817 and was called the " Farmer."
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368
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
The first bank was organized in the firewood in the door-yard, when a rifle- winter of 1846 and 1847 and was the pred- ecessor of the present Mad River Bank.
The first census was taken in 1820 and showed that there were 510 inhabitants of the city of Springfield.
James Shipman was the first tailor, Walter Smallwood the first blacksmith, and Cooper Undlow the first shoemaker.
In 1803 a road was surveyed between Franklinton, a village near Columbus, to Dayton. This road was made to pass through what was then known as South Street, now Main Street, and did not pass through Columbia Street because of the extensive swamp lying at the east end of this street. The laying out of this road led to the building of the business por- tion of Springfield on Main Street and it became the main thoroughfare from the vicinity of Columbus to Daytou.
The first wife of the founder, Demint, died in 1803 and was buried in the old graveyard on Columbia Street.
Maddox Fisher came from Kentucky in 1813 with $20,000 in money. He pur- chased twenty-five lots near the public square from Demint at $25 a lot.
Quite a number of mills were erected at an early date. (See Chapter on Mills.)
COUNCILS WITH INDIANS.
A notable event, which is recorded by all historians, is the following :
"One Myers was killed near Urbana by a party of wandering Indians, and a fam- ily named Elliott, living on Mad River, was visited by an Indian of Tecumseh's tribe, who demanded a butcherknife of them, was refused, and told to leave. Mrs. Elliott was soon after out getting
shot was heard and a ball whistled through the front of her sunbonnet and grazed the skin upon her throat. These acts, coupled with the gathering together of the Indians under the Shawnee brothers, indneed a panic among the people of this and other counties. The bold and warlike organized into com- panies. The tavern of Foos was made a temporary stronghold, while many fam- ilies left in haste for their previous homes in Kentucky. The whites demanded the aggressors: the Indians denied knowledge of their committal, and it was left to a council to be held at Springfield. The commissioners for the whites were Gen- eral Benjamin Whiteman, Major Moore. Captain Ward, and two others. The Iu- dians were led by Tecumseh, Round Head, Black Fish, and other chiefs. The council took place in a maple-grove across the street from the tavern. The Indians had come in two bodies; the hand of Tecumseh from towards Fort Wayne, and one from the north, some seventy in number, in charge of MePherson. Each party, un- friendly to the other, charged them with the deeds unlawful. MePherson's party. by request, had left their arms at a dis- tance, but Tecumseh and his braves re- fused to disarm themselves, the chief say- ing that in his tomahawk was his pipe, and it might be needed for a sinoke.
"Just arrived from Pennsylvania was a tall, slim young man known as Dr. Richard Hunt. Anxious to conciliate. this person advanced and offered Tecumseh his dirty-looking clay pipe with short stem. The chief stepped prondly for- ward. received the offering carefully be- tween thumb and finger, looking with
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369
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
sparkling eye of contempt at it, eyed the sharp contests for rapid execution of owner a moment to his extreme discom- parts of the work at log-rollings, and fiture, then flung the pipe, with a loud grunt, over his head and away from him. The Indians carried the point and re- tained their arms. sportive gatherings for corn-huskings. Their sports were shooting at a mark and exercises calling for muscular exertion, and races ran in competition prepared for "Inquiry showed that the murder of Myers was an individual act. Speeches were made, hostilities disavowed, recon- ciliation effected, and quiet to the settle- ments, for the time, restored. The In- dians stayed three days in town and amused the settlers by feats of agility. Whiteman, above named, had long made the forest his home and the Indian his acquaintance. A companion of Kenton and Boone, he had learned many savage dialects, and, at the council, conversed with Tecumseh in the Shawnee tongne with freedom." races for life in contests with the savages. Rollicking amusements among the young were untrannueled and innocent. All songht for pleasurable enjoyment, and were happy in seeing others happy. Dress was common to rich or poor, the men went elad in himting-shirts of linen made from self-raised and manufactured ma- terial, and Buckskin pants; the women dressed themselves in garments of their own handiwork,-these, according to new- ness, were common or holiday dresses. The bridal costume was a medium Amer- ican cotton check, which then cost a dol- lar per yard and took five yards for the EARLY CUSTOMS. pattern. Silks, satius, alpacas, and fancy goods were not in the market or posses- "In these days of ready-made clothing. close-fitting dresses, convenient and cost- ly furniture, excellent thoroughfares by rail and pike, hostility to the sale and use of liquors, fine houses and places of busi- ness, physicians on call, and car or hack to convey to or from desired localities, it is both curious and useful to revert in our history to the limible and arduous lives of the old pioneers, and therein learn a les- son for present needs. During these days of which we write, there was a condition of complete social equality ; the exclusive- ness of caste and the claims of aristocracy were not known, and the broad line of distinction was run between the worst class and the people in general. Their occasions of fellowship and good will were the old raisings of log and bent, the sion. The interior of a cabin was simple in the extreme. Over the broad fireplace, held by wooden hooks, rested the trusty rifle; bedsteads were often no more than forked sticks driven into the earthen floor, with cross-poles for the clapboards or the cord. For cooking there was a pot, kettle, and fryingpan. Upon the table, a few plates and dishes held the food. For seats, some had split-bottomed chairs, but stools and blocks were in general and sat- isfactory use. No mention have I made of carpets: this smooth. swept earth or puncheon floor were all that was needed. The battalion drills on muster-days, elec- tions, celebrations, and all public occa- sions were enlivened by free use of whis- key, pure from the home stills. Hunting. now regarded as a pastime, was to them a
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370
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
business to secure the winter's meat, and any business has been conducted in the corn-pones formed part of every meal. immediate surroundings of the original square laid out by Demint. At this date there is nothing on Columbia Street with- in two squares of the Court House, ex- cepting two livery stables, a carriage shop and a saloon. The people of "Sleepy Hollow" in turn designated that part west of Mill Run as "Old Virginia." This name has been lost as applied to that vicinity in the growth of the city. Flour was purchasable at Chillicothe, Zanesville and at Cincinnati. Goods were high; they were hauled in wagons to Pitts- burg, floated down the Ohio to Cincinnati, and thence hauled or packed up. Tea re- tailed at $2 to $3 per pound; coffee at 75 cents; and salt brought $10. to $12 per hundred pounds; calico was $1 per yard; whiskey was $1 to $2 per gallon, and the Indians were excellent customers. Storekeepers are said to have given liquor EARLY SETTLERS. free to encourage purchasers."
SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OLD VIRGINIA.
Many of us in this period of the his- tory of our city have no doubt wondered why the vicinity of the Court House went by the name of "Sleepy Hollow." It seems that in earlier times Mill Run made a natural division of the city. This stream, especially sonth of Columbia Street, ran through a miry bog, and cross- ing it was a matter of some difficulty. Perhaps the best crossing was on Colum- bia Street, as the surface there was closer to the rock than elsewhere and of a more substantia! condition.
A number of enterprising Virginians became possessors of a good portion of the young city that was southwest of the stream. They built hotels, established schools and churches and considered themselves more enterprising than their neighbors on the other side of Mill Run, for which reason they soon gave to the latter locality the nickname of "Sleepy Hollow," and this name has continued at- tached to it until the present time, and with a good deal of aptness, for scarcely
From Mr. Martin's collection in a former work, we have gathered some nse- ful information in regard to a number of the early settlers of Springfield. These sketches bear evidence of a painstaking effort to give a truthful narrative.
JAMES DEMINT.
Not much is known of the antecedents of James Demint. He came with Kenton and the others to the vicinity of Spring- field in 1799. In 1800 he built his log cabin north of the crystal waters of Buck Creek.
In 1801 he began a plat of the future city. About this time also he conducted a still. no doubt in the rude and limited fashion of the early pioneers. In 1804 he built his grist mill at the mouth of Mill Run. This was an enterprise of great importance in view of the growing crops, though the mill was but a rude af- fair, having a capacity of grinding twen- ty-five bushels of corn in every twenty- four hours. Before this there were no mills nearer than Lebanon.
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