A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1, Part 2

Author: Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cincinnati : Western Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724


USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 2


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78


Mering, David, 399; John


Merz, Karl. Methodist Churchics,


567, 575, 377 Methodist Church A 426; of Oxford, 917; Scipio


Methodist Prot. want Chin 639 Kever, John . BUS


Maclean soldiers, reception ci at MRconville 06; War . 199


Miatal Bridge Company, 100; stone


388 iran . . 110


View Catal. 186; proposals for construction 199: firstexcavation


made. 14l ; boats running on . . 146 Miami Country, Erst account of. . 56 Miami Democrat . . . 117 Mianei Gazette. prospects of . . 111 Mirmi. Great, 50, 625 : discovery of, 1: navigation of the, :09; ship- menis on the, 110: occupation of. 1 ; oHt ralices of the . 273


Mamat Herahi 113


Viaici Intelligencer, b grinning Minne Medical Coller


Miami Paper MINH 26


Miami University, 5%: location of, 58; organizarbm of board of trustees, ES; lamis ci, how to be least, 50; Amonmar school opened. 30; creator stone laid. 0; efort to remove to Cincinnati. 51 : Robert H. Bishop appointed prodivat of. We trust boord of Fresters, 02: opening of 12 Best faenity, 62; by-to- of. AU. Birst catalogue of stehenip, 53: coarse of study in 1525. 03, progress of, t4 : account of be Prot erott. 67,


mil of honor of. Ti: lavone of, 7: badfor of, f2; baldings ti.


Lindley, John . 413 sassimation of . 265


Line, Benjamin .


Lina, Adam, 408;


Linther, Lorenz.


Literary Focus 511


Literary Register 17,514


PARE.


Liberty Township, erection of,


Liberty Party .


324


MeFarland. Dr. Jont B.


183


Lincoln. death of, how received 249


--


Krouskopi, Charles,


487


-


IX


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


Middlecamp, Frederick . 5$6


Middletown, 627 ; incorporation of. 1831 J13 Poppel. Joseph . 558 Population ot Hamilton and Hoss-


534; Journal, 623: Signal .


Milford Township, 862; erection vi, 54 Nickel, John R. 117 ville . 294


Military range


Milda companies


Milholland, George ING Miller, Abrain, 288; Charles,


Michael C., 654: S. C., 556 ; li-


iam C., 366; William M. .58%


Millville .


Mbltonville, 507 : Cemetery


Minor. Colonel John .


Mission Ridge, battle of


Mistler, Frederick


Moebus, John


Money lent by city to Oberadli, Georg


volunteers . 2is Observer . 113


Monfort, Francis, biography of . 160


Monroe, 639; Catholic Church, 042 Cemetery. .


Monterey, battle of 200 Ogleton 414 Mooney, Joseph 054 Oglesby, 6,66 Oglesby & Barniez . €34


Moore, Jobe, 619; Robert, 417, 585; Thomas 051


Millikin, Abel, 187; Andrew, 17 ;


Dr. Dan, 160; Dr. Daniel, 104, 150; James, 132; James, IST; James ET., ISA: John AL, 185: John, 198: Jolin 31, 332; John


M., 344, Joseph, lon; Minor. 115; Minor, 186; death of, 219; Dr. Robert B., 187; Robert B., CDS; Dr. Samuel, 187; Sammel, 185; Thomas, 137, 386; Williao. IL . . 873 Morey, Heury L., 232; 3. E.


Morgan Towneinn, erection of .34;


description of. .


Morgan, John. 240; raid, 240 ; COD- ture of, by Major Rus 13


Morgantown 429


Mormons 645


Morris, Evan, Senior, 435: Griffith, 435; Jacob, 115; Phebe. tomb- stone of, 509 ; Oliver I., 416; Dr. Robert D., 545; Robert D., 524: T. B., 40S; Issac K. .


Morton, Rev. John B. 636


Mosiman, Christian .


Moudy, Henry .


$81


Parrish, Oakey Y


Mound-buildery


70


Patchell, James .


Mound, great, of Butler County 274


Mound Cemetery. . 64


Mount Pleasant United Presbyte- rian Church 641


Mt. Pleasant Cemetery 590


Mt. Tabor Church . 26


Mt. Zion Church .


Maley . 131


Muller, Jacob F.


Murfreesboro, battle


Murray, John L.


11


Phelps, Dr.


192


97


Murders by the Indians


20


Murphy, Peter .


8.400


Mmiphy, Edward, 997; William ..


340


Mutual Protection Company


211


Myers, Joseph, 358; Joseph V


Thomas S., murder of


263


en-toms


NEAL, JAMES E. 367


Fipo, Capt , an Indian chi


445


Neideraner, Henry


:30


Pisgah .


Plannett. Adani:


5.58


Wilan, Jobn F. 118, 340


Neuner, Anton . 472 Nog Even Virreit. st Episcopal Church . . Pocock John


New London, 4?5 ; burying- 427 New River, formation of . 108


News, Hamilton and Ressville


. . 117


of 1810.


PAGE.


Newspaper publishing, expenses in


New York, cession of lands b


Nicol, John . .


656


Port Union


575


Postinsisters, 200, 417, 489, 418, 459 476, 528, 558, 869, 575, 600, 512 . . 627 Post-orlice and public mails, 200; the old. 399


Possibilities of Butler County . . 129


Potter, Aaron, 220; Ezra. 368: 1,- cins B .. 400; Invius B., letter from, 222; Moses, 628; Dr. S. H . 301 Powell, William A. 057


Prairie at Winnilton, 283; Litdie . . 623


Prather, Dr .. .


191


Proble County, formation of 32


Peremption to lands on Symises's purchase .


Presbyterian Church,


571, 568, 013, 814. 130 11-


ice, 454; of Oxford, 519 ; at Reily . 416 Press, il1; daily 117


Oglesby, Moore & Co


630)


P'richett, mnnider :


202


Ohio Company, groot of land to Price. A. W., killing by of by India 21 Okeana . . 400


Princeton


Probate judges


107


Prosecuting attorneys


Pragh, Charles I .. 565


Pugh. Alexander, 390 Jar


5-48; Jobb


Ordinance of 1787


22


O'Reiller, Henry .


27


Pathoft, Freuerick b. .


59


Overpeck, Lucien C.


QFIRE, CORDELIA $03


RADER JOHN F.


Raftrond opening at Oxford


2733


Railroads.


263


Rainfall


277


Behigh, B. E.


311


Rapid traveling.


314


Rebellion


207


Reporters


107


685: Thomas C., 625; Thomas E ..


626


Beformed Church


355


Reid, Whitelow


115


Reily, John. biography of, 79; re- toval to Hamilton, &t ; death of, $2; dlerkt, 36: mention of 256: Joseph 1., St; James, 84; Bob- ert. - 84, 238


Refle Village, H, Baptist Church,


-15; Towr-bip, 409; erection of. 34 Reister. Jacob . . 895


Kellef committees, 247 ; to familles of volunteers 215


Rentsebler, George Allem 358


Philanthropy, 424; postoffice,


417


Posene of a Inglive slave .


Philanthropist newspaper.


113


Reatti, Herman


Phillips, Alfred 1, 236; homer , . 809


Revailes, Jola P.


Physicians practicing in


Butter


Rialto


426


County, 19; of Oxford . 190


Pierson, More's R. 119


Pioneer Association, 842 Te and


Rigon, Francis L


Rige -. Robert Ii. 54%


Bem, Henry C4 358: William H.


Pib, Jobs G.


657


Rolersos. Jour


:12


-----


PAGE.


Polste:, John G.


Nixon, Dr. Alex. B., 190: John, 448; Richard W., 580; William 448 Potatoes . . 125


North Bend . .. 30


Northrup, Lot D.


16, 303, 512, 667,


569, 636; in Venice, +3; in


Sario 124


Oliver. Dr. David .


Uze Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment, 240; list of officers of . 247 Orens . 115 Oreutt. DaHus C.


Oxford A. M. E. Charch,


Bank, Sit; Fecale Colleon


Cemetery, 515 ; Circuit. 518; Cir-


cuit, M. S. Church, 55; Cifix 314: laid out by James Heaton,


59, lands soll, 50; notice of in


1516, 56; soldiers buried in, 253; township, 500; erection of, 85;


Theological bendbary, 027; vil- lage 508 Reed, ! A. Lee, 594; Davat, 525; D -. R C. Stockion. 378; Jolin,


PADDY'S RUN, 422, 450; posi-ofice


Paper Mills .


Paulin. Jeremiah


Peabody Helen


Pearce, Michael


Prek, HI. P. K., 116 ; J


P. P.


Poters, Hannal


Pettit, Jonathan J.


Petri, Frederick C.


Phares, Jemes R. C .. 619; Sar ne! A., 619; William C .. 319; W. D., 610: W. W.


Pioneers and .


Poe, Mism .


041; camp: ign


Nicolay, Silas J ..


Nichols, Witham A 307


Niederman, Jacob .. 468


Ninety-third Regiment . 35


Northwest Territory, opening of 2


OATS


197


Murray's recollections, 237 Vill-


ium . .


Hamond, Levi


321


Riadton. Pr. Ivanmi


400


1


Purchase of the Miami country


Overpeck's .


654


x


CONTENTS.


TAGE.


Robison, James M., 657; Captain William 311


Rocky


Rocky River ,283 lage . . .614


Rogers, Daniel 434


Rosemond, Fred L.


118


Ross, 450; Township, erection of,


Ross, Henry G .. .


Roseman, Jomes, 394 ; C: piai. il


Captain William C.'s company . 215


Rossville, laid out, 257; Hydraulic, 342 : Presbyterian Church . $02


Rothenbosh, Philip . 305


Rothermel, David. 119


Rudolph. Major Michael


Rue, Major George W. 243


Runaway apprentice


Ruoff, Christopher


Rupp, Jacob, 4 4; John


Rushart, Nicholas


Rusk, Baltis B. .


Russell, Stephen !


Rvan, M. C. .


,337


Ryan & Witherby


15


Rye


27


SADLER, ELIJAH


.543


St. Aloysius Catholic Church 430


St. Charles Cemetery 412


St. Clair, General Arthur, nis


phy of, $5; Arthor, Jr., 254; At-


thur, third, 254; campoigu, 80;


defeat, 86: papers, Ss; expedi-


tion, 4; army, defeat of, 6: eres- tion of fort 21; Township, crec-


tion of. 33; Township, acecast of, 551


St. John's Church . . 355


St. Paul Evangelical Church 537 St. Peter's Lutheran Church 553 Shan, Dr. 179


St. Stephen's Church


Salem M. E. Church 503


Sales of jaml . 268


Salice, Joha G. . 403


Salmon, W. D. .


419


Salmon's Ran .


489


Salsman, Anthony


if)


Samuels, Ezekiel, 619; Lathemen Church .. Sargeant. George, 256; Mich B 258 Sayre, Pierson . 177 Schaffer, Jacon


Schaik, John T. 69


Schellenbach, Michael


Schelley, John . 402


Schenck, Jaunes ML., 800; Jonathan, 600; Peter P., 056; William, 609; Willian. J. . 659


Scheurer, Edward 404 Soil Soldiers' Ail Fair, com Miami


Schildwache 115 Schlenk, Moritz . 19 Schlosser, Henry


School Examiners


23


Schools at Venice, 453; it


town . . 635


Schorr, Caspar


Scipio, 423; Cemetery 25 Somhar, William


Scobey, F. H. . 116


Scott, David C., 550; John B. 400; Doctor, 191; Prof. John W., 521,


524; his account of Miami Uni- versits .


Sendder, Benjamin, 500 Trx. A. M. 405 Sebald, Williama .


Second Presbyterian Church of Cx- fort


Sofcon, Henry


Seifert, Valentine


Selby, John, 009; Samici


Seltice, Henry C., 199; Hul


Settlement of Symmes's Purchase. 23


Seven-mile Creek, 551, 552, 566; Presbyterian Church, 555; vil-


Seventy-second Regime 239 Seward, John 404


Shafer, Clemence 629 Stickcls, Henry 590


Shafer, Henry. 20 Shaffer, Frank H. .


Shafor, John R., 660; Peter, 100; William, 641; Lieutenant Will- fam, diary of during War of 1812,


99; trial for sleeping on post, 102; commission . 102


Shaw, Rev. Knowles . 435


Shayler, death of son of Captain 20 Straub, Joseph . 402


Sharer, W. H., letter from . 224 Strauss, Meyer 403


Sheely, William .


57,353


streamis, course of


Shesley. William D. 663 Strecke-, J. J. 40


Sheets, Martin . 859 Snlobur Spring 50-4


Sheep. . 134 Supper, Fiel of Sunday Morning Ne 118


Supprime Court, first text county in


Sute, James


Sutherland, J.un Futpbin. Abraham. 055; Josen 659; Joseph 4: Son


Sutphin & Wrenn 630


Swantp Creck Branch 641


Sholer, Asa, 401; Christian A. 402 swearingen, George W., 590; Isaac 5., 500; John D. , 591


Simpson, Abrabar, 658: Michael Sinop, William 55.9 650 Sites, Jantes R. Sixty-ninth Regio officers 401 Synes, Americas, 392; Captain John Cleves, 171; Celadon, 304; Daniel. 264; Judge John Cleves, Skinner, John 20; character of, 21: biography of, 20; expedition of in Ohio, 20; Benimma R. 465, Jewenh C., Sayback, Dr., 187; John E. 849 405; Corners, ATO; pareband, 43; Simanager, -Christian K. 195 survey of, 24; theory, defence of, 175 Synagogue. Jewish 356


TALLEL HRERY . 407


Tammany, history of, 105; Society 104 Truscott, Grunge W .. 353; J. B. . Tavera prices in 121. 3 Taxation is Damil.on


Teschers, carly, in Butler County . 123


Te-wighte-wa River. 325


283


Temple, Jacob, Sen. 510


Thirty -ditt Regiment, 221; out of, 225 . officers of 225


Thomas, Alfred C .. : 50; Benjamin. F., 295; John, 393. Marcellus, 100; Rov. Thomas, 420; Shem.


Thompson, Albert H., 403; 620


tais, lotter fruta, 259; U'reeman B


Timberman, Cari-


Titles an der Svannes's.


Taalbiater.


II.


Spellmith James' Stenvar O. M. 15 Trier I nr


Spies, agreement with


Sponsler, wrid of for marler Squirrel Boat. rs .


Stage between Cincinnati an. ton, 814: fare


Fishle. C. U.


500


Yeni, Jatn. s


Steintada, Jaenl


PAGE,


PAGE.


Stephan-, Jobn II .. . 403


Stephens. Edward T., 573; James A., 573 Stevens, Colonel Willian, 420; Dr., IN2; Dr. Joshua 195


Sicwart. Charles. 830; Wiliam E .. 510,549


Stillwell's Comers 440 Stinipson. Joseph 401


Stokes, Franklin, 115, James 620; Sammel, 820; 225


death of


Stony River 283


Store dealings Stout, M ... Claro, 065; James F. 573


Shepherd. Charles H., 501 ; David. 374; Peter W .. 499; W. C., 401: William F. 591 Shern, Joho. 5-49 Cherias 106


Shields, James, bio; raj by vi


Shiloh Church 613


Shoemaker . 375


Shrover, Jolin, 484; Thomas


Sinkey. John .


Smith. Charles K., biography of,


161; Chanes K. , Dr. Alanson, 550; Dr. I. W., ISS; Ge. rge C, 405; Geule J. 958; John H., 419; John L., 404; Jobu T., 5449; John W., 120; Kirby. bis advance en Cincinnati. 239; Mrs. Fjeanor A .. 368; Palivor W., 540; Sheriff James, 558: Thomas H., 420: William H.


Smoves, Frederick 57 Tai: 2 Oliis Infantry 215


Suaptown 4.6


Spyder, Daniel C. 659


Sohn. Christian Henry, 356, John


Soil of the county


University Somerville 50 Timpe trex .


Sommier, David


Eurg. P. J. & Co. 633


Sorghum .


123


Tobacco


Sortman, Daniel, 894; Jol 110


Eravis, Porv D.


Treniley, Amos Trenma. 505, cemeteries 500


1.79


True Toleran 116


-----


-


287


1


Tytuis, Francis J. . .061 Tytus Paper Company 630


UNION CHURCH . 613


Union Corners . 476


Union Library Association


Union Loan Association


Union Medical Society .


Union meeting at Collinsville, 212; at Okeana 219


Union Township, 674; Cemetery. 580; erection of. .


United Brethren Church . 459, 599, 014


Universalist Church .


. 336, 520


Urinston, David, Jr., 486; Edinund


K., 486; Mandeville T., 420: No !-


son A., 420; Samuel . 420


VAIL, DANIEL B., 662: Hogh P


662; Isaac, 500; Shobal . .


Vallandigham, C. L., 116; sprech on return from banishment, 246; accidental shooting of,


death of .. 287


Valley Chapel 474


Vance, Elijait- .258


Van Cleaf, Thomas .


485


Van Derveer, F., 222 ; presentation of sword to, 201, 116; Dr. Peter. 191 Van Hire, Nehemiah, 501; William, 578; W. L. .


Van Hook, William E.


Van ScoyE, John . . 600 Webb, Elias .


Vau Swearingen, John 591 Weber, Feter . 662


Vaughn. Williamo .


Vegetable gardening


129


Venice, 452; Cemetery, 453; ML. E. Church 455


"Venus 162


Vinnedge, F 495; George,


Moore P. 070 John Weller, Charles J ... 115, 650 B. . . 100, 258 Virgin Brice 500


Virginia, cession of lands by


Vitzedom, Jacob


119


Volunteer


.117


Voorhees, Daniel W.,


480; Henry


T. . 593


WACHTER. 110 Wade, Melancthon 469; the-


iniah .


459


Whitaker,


PAGR,


Wagoner killed by Indians


Wallle, Dr. Carlton . 193


Walker Brothers, 40; Ezekiel 259 Walker Chapel M. E. Church 412


Waller, Tyler. S. 610


Wannenwetsch, Andrew 665


War, end of the late, 248; meeting in Hamilton, first, 208; second,


200; 01 1812, 93; volunteers from Morgan. . . . 432


Ward. John: F., 421; T. J. 634


Wordlaw, Thomas & Co. 630 Warren County Canal . 150


Warvel, Rev. George P. . 400


Warwick. Genesee, 560; Jeremiah, 559; N. E .. . . 391


Washington Fort .


Washington Methodist Episco


Church . 11 Wingate. John . 299


Washington's birthdo


314


Winton, 476; Matthew


611


Wasserman Leonhard


450


Witch, reputed .


$28


Waterhouse, Dr. 192


Wax figures . . 313 Wayne's urmy, arrival of at Fort


Hamilton, 10; campaign . 77 Wayne Tornstip, olt; erection of . 34 Wayne, General Anthony, blogra- phy of .


Weaver. Henry, 622; Jobo 0 William


Webster, George T


116: Taylor. 115, 8:8: William


Webster Bay Company


Wehr, Johr G 593


Weikle, Jacob 611


Welly, De. John .


IST


Welliver, P. J. D. 121


Welsh settlement in


Morg


Westchester


Western Female Seminary


525


Western Telegraph


115


Wheat . .


Whipping, public


Whitewater Congr tional Church 420


if)


PAGR.


WInte, George G., 392; George W. 261 Whitehead, William R.


Walke, Henry A .. .391 Wicke, Frederick . 593 Wickoff, Joseph .662 Wilcox, Edward . 001


Wall, Thomas 488 Wilkinson and Armstrong, corre spondence between 9


Wilkinson, Ghleon, 421 ; Mrs. Gen- eral . . .. 9. 19


Williams, Charles M., 682; Hugh, 484; Israel, 407: Micajak T., re- port of on canal, 136; Nelson . . 408 Williams & Egry . . . 115


Willemsen, Absalom, 010; Angus- tine E., 501; Dr. Henry 1., 436; Dr. James H., 486; Silas , 500


Willisina's Store .


Wilson, Burns, 622; George, 562; John W., 302; Josiah 550


Wilson & McCallay 633


Witherby. Oliver S. 280


Withrow, James, 611; John, 611; Robert D. 23


Wood mnocession


Woods. John, 104: 113; 114; 257


biography of, 153; John 272


Woods's Station. . 414


Won.imansec, James 501


Withrow, James D., 621 : John .021


Wolverton, Isane, 621 ; William . . 621


Woodruff, Natbaz .. 550; Rouben . 437


Woodsals . .


508


Wreck on the Miami


Wrenn, Alten S. 002


YEAROR. WILLIAM.


Year 2150 anticipated


174


Yerein, Willen


450


623


Yourmas Perer .


426


Young, Andrew P., 374; John W. . 374


ZEFLER, SAMUEL 470


Zeigler's Ban .


Zeitung. National


118


Zion Church .


. 335


Zwick, Charles H.


103


XI


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGF.


BLACK, F. D. . STEEL PORTRAIT 343


BUTLER COUNTY MAPS


125, 642


CAMPBELL, JAMES E. STEEL PORTRAIT 337


CORWIN, JESSE.


259


FALCONER, CYRUS. STEEL PORTRAIT 318


275


HAIR, B. W. . STEEL PORTRAIT 354


HALSTEAD, MURAT


403


HAMILTON, FORT


5


HUGHES, J. B. STEEL PORTRAIT


338


KEELY. ISAAC I.


540


MARKT. CONSTANTINE


260


MILLER, WM. C. 366


MOREY, H. I ... STEEL PORTRAIT


330


MCBRIDE, JAMIES :6


169


McCLUNG, D. W. ..


115


McDONALD, J. E. 6.


476


MCKEMY, J. C. 16


362


NEILAN. J. F. .


PATCHELL, JAMES. ..


.:


575


RENTSCHLER, GEORGE A.


358


SOHN, JOHN W.


SOHN, HENRY 256


ST. CLAIR, ARTHUR


SYMEMES GENEALOGICAL TREE. 29


WAYNE, ANTHONY


Frontispiece.


WHITE, GEORGE W.


SIEEL PORTRAIT


66


FORTIFIED HILL.


HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.


OCCUPATION OF THE MIAMI VALLEY.


AT the beginning of history in the West the lower part of the Miami Valley was deserted. It was in the nom- inal possession of the Shawnees, but they had no villages npon the ground. Vast herds of elk and deer roamed through the forests; beaver, built their dams, and wolves, bears, and foxes preyed upon the weaker animals of the waste. The Indians near the Ohio were in a state of con- tinval confliet, and the epithet of "dark and bloody ground," now appropriated to Kentucky, might well have been extended to two days' journey northward of the Ohio. The French missionaries have left no account of visits to this region, amit the only whites, with one or two exceptions, who were here before St. Clair's expedition, were those whose unhappy lot had made them captives to their enemies.


In the fall of the year 1750. the Ohio Land Com- pany * appointed Christopher Gist, of Virginia, an agent to explore the regions west of the mountains. He went to Logstown, on the Ohio. River, below Pittsburgh, thence : proceeded to the Maumee River, where he found a vil-


lage of the Ottawas, friendly to the French, and a num- ber of Wyandots, divided in sentiment. Thence be mct George Croghan, a deputy sent out from Pennsylvania by Sir William Johnson, the British Indian agent.


In concert they held a coaneil with the chiefs, and received assurances of the friendship of the tribe. Next they passed to the Shawnee towns on the Scioto River. and received assurances of friendship from them, and then came to the Miami Valley. They crossed the Great


Miami River, on a raft of logs, in the vicinity of the trading-house, near to where the town of Piqua now is. and there made treaties with the Piquas and represent atives of the Wea Indians. 'Croghan then returned, and Gist descended the Miami River in a canoe, passing by where Hamilton now is. to the mouth , thence down the Ohio River, and returned by way of the Kentucky River and over the high lands of Kentucky to Virginia, where he arrived in May, 1751.


Early in the year 1752, the French having heard of the trading-house on the Miami. sent a party of souliers from Canada, accompanied by a band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians as allies to the Miami Indians, demand- ing the surrender of the English traders, as intruders on French lauds The Miamiaus refused. a battle ensued, and after , severe fight, in which fourteen of the Miami Indians were killed and others wounded, the tradline-house As early as the year 1749, a company of English: traders from Peunsylvania established a trading-house among the Twightewee Indians, on the west bank of the was taken and burned. and the traders either killed or carried away to Canada. From the appearance of the ground and excavations at this place. when the couany --- Miami River, on the first high ground below where Lo- ; afterwards became settled, the establishment must have : ramie's canal empties into the river, which they called Pickawillany. This was the first point of any English settlement in Ohio of which we have any record. been of considerable extent. The Province of Pronsyl- vania afterwards made a gift of condolence to the Miami or Twightewee Indians, in consideration of those alain in defense of the traders.


In the year 1780, Colonel Byrd. an officer in the British service in Canada, with an army of six hundred Indian and Canadians, with two pieces of artillery, made an incursion into Kentucky, and captured Riddie's and Martin's stations, at the south fork of Licking River. The expedition proceeded principally by water, up the Maumee and St. Mary's Rivers ; theu crossed to the head waters of the Big Miami, and descended it to the mouth ; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of Licking River, and up that stream to the forks. After having accomplished the object of their expedition they returned by the same route. As they appeared before Ruddle's station, on the twenty-second of June, they ouist have descended the Miami River in the month of May, or early in June.


In the year 1785 there was a fost built at the investh of the Great Miami River, called Fort Finney # was situated on the level that below the point of the bill. on ground subject to be overflowed nt high-water. helge I Symmes states, in his pamphlet of " Terms of Sale


3 This was not the company which purchased land at the month of the Mustingun, but a company composed of gen- lemon of Virginia and Maryland, who obtained a grant from the crown of Great Britain, in 17-15, for half a million of acre -. to be taken principally on the south side of the Ohio River, between the Monongahela and Kanawha Rivers.


1


2


HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.


and Settlement of Miami Lands," published at Trenton, in the State of New Jersey, in 1787, that the fort was standing at that time.


In the Summer of 1785 George Rogers Clark; General Richard Butler, of Pennsylvania (who was killed in St. Clair's battle, on the fourth of November, 1791); and General Samuel Holden Parsons, of Connecticut (who was afterwards one of the judges of the Northwest Ter- ritory), were appointed commissioners to hold a treaty with the Indians, at the mouth of the Great Miami River. It was with considerable difficulty that the Indians could be induced to assemble and brought to treat at all. But after some difficulty a treaty was concluded between the comoissioners, and signed on the thirty-first day of July, 1786. But the advantages derived from this agreement were transitory. The Indians could not be prevented from outbreaks whenever it suited their purposes, and as soon as the whites appeared on the Ohio warfare followedl.


The impression has generally prevailed that Judge John Cleves Symmes and his party were the first white persons who explored the Miami Valley. This idea is in- correct. As early as the year 1785, three years before the landing of Judge Symmes, a portion of the bottom lands of the Great Miami River were explored up as far as Hamilton, and opened, and marks made to designate the most eligible spots for the purpose of establishing pre- emption rights, by a party from Washington County, Pennsylvania. One of that company, John Hindman. who afterwards lived a short distance from Hillsborough, Ohio, gives an account of the expedition, as follows :


"My father, John Hindman, was a native and resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where I was born in 1760, and at the age of twenty years left that neighbor- hood for Washington County, where I remained four years. In the month of March, 1785, I left the State of' Pennsylvania, taking water at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, with a party consisting of William West. John Simons, John Sept, and oldl Mr. Carlin and their fandlies. We reached Limestone Point (now Maysville) in safety, where we laid by two weeks. The next landing we . made was at the month of the Big Miami. We were the first company that had landed at that place. The Indians had left two or three days before we landed. We found two Indians buried, as they were laid on the ground, a pen of poles built around them, and a new blanket spread over each one. The first landing we found was near the mouth of Whitewater.


"Soon after we landed the Ohio raised so as to over- flow all the bottoms at the mouth of the Big Miami. We went over, therefore, to the Kentucky side, and cleared thirty or forty acres on a claim of a maan by the name of Tanner, whose son was killed by the Indians some time afterward, on a creek which now bears his name. Same time in May or June we started to go up the Big Miami, to make what we called improvements, so as to secure a portion of the lands, which we selected out of the best


and broadest bottoms between the mouth of the river and where Hamilton now stands.


" We started a north course, and came to Whitewater. Supposing it to be the Miami, we proceeded up the creek ; but Joseph Robinson, who started from the mouth of the Miami with our party, and who knew something of the country, from having been taken prisoner with Colore! Laughery and carried through it, giving it as his opinion that we were not on the main river, we made a raft, and crossed the stream, having the misfortune to lose all our . guns in the passage. We proceeded to where Hamiltou now is, and made improvements wherever we found bot- toms finer than the rest, all the way down to the mouth of the Miami. I then went up the Ohio again to Buffble, but returned the same Fall, and found Generals Clark, Butler, and Parsons at the mouth of the Big Miami, as commissioners to treat with the In-lians."




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