USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 2 > Part 70
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Probably the first settler in Middletown was Daniel Doty, one of the Western pioneers, who died on Monday, the eighth day of May, 1848, at his residence near Mid- dietown, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Daniel Doty was one of the first settlers of Butler County, and among the first pioneers of the Miami country. He was born in Essex County, State of New Jersey, ou the twenty third day of March, 1765. His parents were respectable, honest people, in the humble walks of life, who were unable to give their children any education other than that which could be acquired at a common country school. They, however, taught them their duty to their Creator and fellow-beings, and brought them up to habits of honest industry on which, with their own exertions, they had to depend to make their way throagh life.
Having heard of the line fertile country then opening in the far West, Daniel formned the resolution of explor- ing it and jadging for himself. Accordingly, on the
At that time General Harinar was commander-in-chief of the military forces of the country, and John Cleves Symmes, the proprietor of the Miami country, was chief magistrate and head of the civil department. At the time Daniel Doty landed at Columbia, General Harmer was out on his expedition against the Indians, and returned to Fort Washington with his army about ten days afterward. A number of his men were wounded, among whom were George Adams awl Thomas Bailey. During the years 1791 and 1792 the country was in an almost continual state of alarm on account of the Indians. Three men were killed and scalped by the Indians near Covalt's Station, on the Little Miami River, about ten miles from Columbia. Their names were Covalt, Hinkle and Abel Cook. Daniel Doty and some others went from Columbia to the relief of the station and guarded the graves while the dead were buried.
In the latter part of December, 1790, the Indians made an attack on the fort at Colerain, eight miles from Fort Hamilton, killed two men, and took some horses and cattle. An express was sent to Columbia, and the company to which Mr. Doty belonged got ready imme- diately and started on the run. When they got over to Fort Washington, the commandant of the fort ordered Lieutenant Kingsbury and twelve private soldiers to join them. That evening they marched four miles and en- camped on Mill Creek until next morning, when they con- tinned their march to Colerain, but upon reaching the place found the enemy gone. About two weeks after this the fort was attacked by a large body of Indians, supposed to consist of three hundred or four hundred warriors, and who invested it closely for three or four days, then withdrawing without doing much injury.
Mr. Doty was instrumental in bringing the second minister of the Gospel into the Miami country. The first preacher was the Rev. Daniel Clark, a licensed mioister of the Baptist profession, who came from Pennsylvania in the Spring of 1791. The second preacher who came was the Rev. James Kemper. He lived near Danville. Kentucky. Daniel Doty and a man named French were chosen by the people to go and bring him and his family to the country. They proceeded on their way with rifles primed, their ouly road being a bridle-path
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for sixty miles, sleeping in the woods at night. This was in the Spring of 1792.
On the 24th of April, 1792, Mr. Doty returned to New Jersey by the way of New Orleans, coming back in 1795, and in the Spring of 1796, with his wife and chil- dren, came to Middletown, where he commenced a settle- ment on a tract of land, where he spent the remaining portion of his life. He built his cabin near the Great Miami River, about one mile below where the town now is. When his cabin was raised and inclosed, he had no table, chairs, bedstead, nor any boards of which to make them. He cut down timber, and split punchcons and clapboards, and made his floors out of the puncheons and doors out of the clapboards. A table was made of a slab split from the tree, and supported by four round legs sct in auger holes. Some three-legged stools were made for seats, and a bedstead was constructed out of saplings, with a fork or limb at a proper height from the bottom of the bed ; the lower and upper end fastened to a joist above ; in the fork or limb was placed a round polc, with the bark on, the other cnd being placed through a crack between the logs in the wall. This front pole was erossed by a shorter one laid within the fork, with its outer end through another erack in the wall. Clapboards were now laid with one end on the front pole and the other end in the crack of the wall, for the bottom of the bed. He also constructed a rude cupboard out of clapboards, in which were kept their pewter dishes, plates, and spoons, but mostly wooden bowls, trenchers, and Doggins, using gourds and hard- shelled squashes when gourds were scarce. Pegs were inserted in various places on the wall, on which to hang petticoats and hunting-shirts. The buck-horns were fas- tened to a joist, for the riffe and shot-pouch, which com- pleted the carpenter work of the building. For the ac- coinmodetiou of the babies, Mr. Doty cut down a large sycamore tree, out of which was constructed a cradle.
There were a few settlers in the neighborhood at the time Ir. Doty commenced his improvement, but no crops had been raised, and he went to Cincinnati the first year to buy provisions to support his family. Corn meal was worth one dollar a bushel, which was bought, packed home on horseback, and baked into johnny-cakes on a clapboard before the fire. This was their only bread. Wild game was plenty. Deer, bears, aud tur- keys were killed when needed.
In the Summer of 1796, while Mr. Doty was on his way to meeting, one Sunday night, he heard his dog bark, crossing the cornfield. It was barking at a wild- cat on the fence. Ou Mr. Doty speaking to the dog, the cat turned round and jumped off the fence towards him, and be ran toward the cat. The corn being thick and high, he lost sight of both dog and eat, but soon heard the dog cry out, when Doty went in that direction, and met the cat, and the dog walking behind him. Doty went straight toward the cat, and when the cat turned
1 round to seize the dog, he kicked the cat over, caught him by the hind leg, and placing his left foot on his breast, pressed him with all his weight upon the ground until he was dead. Mr. Doty had killed a number of wild-eats, but thought this one was the largest he had ever taken hold of.
Mr. Doty had three encounters also with bears, in all three of which he was successful. In one instance, during the struggle the bear caught hold of him by each of his shoulders with the claws of its forefect, when he struck it down by a blow of his fist in the bear's throat. Another time he split open a bear's head with an ax, and at another time killed a bear with a club, knocking it down first, then following up the blows until it was killed. This last encounter took place more than twenty iniles from any house, and while he was on his way to New Jersey.
Daniel Doty was the first collector of taxes in this part of the country. His district was twelve miles wide from north to south, comprising two ranges of townships extending from the Great Miami to the Little Miami, comprehending the sites where the towns of Franklin and Waynesville are, and the immediate country. The whole amount of tax contained on his duplicate was two hundred and forty-four dollars. He collected it all ard paid it over to Jacob Burnett, the treasurer, at Cincin- nati. In discharging his duties he must have ridden near a thousand miles. He became a man of wealth and of influence. For several years before his death he himself paid a tax of one hundred and thirty-four dollars per year. He and his wife Betsey lived together on their farm near Middletown, fifty-two years, and raised a family of ten children, and before he died he lived to see the railroad take the place of the Indian trail, and comfortable brick buildings that of the wigwam and the rude cabin.
X Moses Potter came in 1796, with his family, and set- . tled first in Cincinnati. The next Spring after the de- parture of the Indians, he moved near Middletown, set- tling where Henry Reed now lives. He remained in that locality only a few months. Thence he moved two miles and a half east on a rented farm, where he stayed Que year, and then to the farm occupied by Garrett Denise, one mile and a half cast of the town, where he died three years after. He bought a half section of land where he last settled, and here built a double cabin. His family consisted of two children prior to his coming to Ohio. Their names were Levi and Sarah. Jane was born April 2, 1797, being the first white ehild born in Middletown ; he also had Amos and Jonathan Hoci. All the chi !- dren are now dead. Jane Potter married John Sutphin, a weaver, from New Jersey. He was born in 1794, came to Ohio in 1811. and was engaged on the canal be- tween Cincinnati and Middletown, holling at first some minor position. Subsequently, for a continuous period of twenty-two years, he was superintendent on the canal.
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and again after a few years interval held the same posi- tion some time longer. He raised a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living. The family through- out is noted for its morality and high standing.
Levi Potter has three children living,-John John- ston, Mrs. Maria Sili, and Frances Mariau. Amos Pot- ter has two children living,-Mrs. Mary Cramer, of Iowa, and Mrs. Crane, of Middletown. Mr. Moses Pot- ter came from the same neighborhood that Daniel Doty did in New Jersey, and was probably induced by Mr. Doty to emigrate to the wilderness. IIe also had one brother, Russell Potter, who eame at the same time, but settled over the river, near where Trenton stands.
Stephen Vail was a native of New Jersey, and came to Middletown in 1800. Two of his sons and a daughter arrived in Ohio the year before, and settled in Warren County, near Waynesville, temporarily. They were Shobal, Aaron, and Mary Russell, the wife of George Russell.
In September, 1793, Shobal Vail married Miss Mary Bonnell, daughter of parents who were also from New Jersey, and were among the earliest settlers of Warren County. Many of the descendants of the Bonnell family are yet there. Shobal Vail Clevenger, the distinguished sculptor, was of that family. He received his name Shobal Vail in honor of his uncle by marriage. Stephen Vail, with the remainder of his family, care, as stated above, in 1800. The children who accompanied bim were Moses, Lydia, Randall, Hugh, Sarah, and Kath- arina. Soon after he came he purchased a large tract of land lying on both sides of the Miami River, and com- menced the erection of mills, consisting of a grist-mill, a fulling-mill, and a saw-mill. These mills were finished and in use in 1802. A destructive freshet in 1805 car- ried away or greatly damaged the fulling-mill and the saw-mill. The fulling-mill was rebuilt the next year.
Mr. Vail built his first cabin near the river, not far from where F. Kemp & Co.'s slaughter-house is now. He lived there but a short time, when he built another cabin on the table-land, west of and about one hundred. and fifty yards from Edward Jones's present residence, and near what is now the corner of Young and Fourth Streets. This was, doubtless, the first eabin built in Middletown. In this cabin Mr. Vail died in 1808. His son Moses and danghter Lydia wore the oldest of the children, and were balf brother and sister to the others. Moses and Lydia settled in Warren County, and built a mill near Fraklin previous to 1824. He died many years ago, aud left children ; but they are scattered, and it is not known where they are. The descendants of the other members of this family settled in Middletown and vieiuity.
Shobal Vail Clevenger, the American sculptor, was born in Middletown in 1812, and died September 28, 1843. In his youth he worked as a stone-masou in Ciu- ciuvati, where the figure of an angel he carved on a
stone attracted attention. From Cincinnati he removel to Boston, where he executed busts of Clay, Van Buren and others. He afterward went to Europe, taking up his residence at Florence, where he executed many bu-t -. which showed a rapid advanee and gave promise that be would attain the first rank in his profession. Having been attacked by pulmonary consumption he embarked for America, but died on the passage.
Judge Ezekiel Ball was among the first early settlers, and was a man of considerable importance, holding many township offices, also being associate judge.
John Freeman settled on what was known as Abram Shaefer's farm prior to 1800. His son Thomas some years afterward purchased what has since been known as the Cullum farm and built a residence there. He was com- missioned captain in the War of 1812, and took his com- pany to Detroit in 1813. He moved to Middletown in 1818 and took charge of the Black Horse Tavern, which had been previously kept by Jesse Crane. He remained in the tavern a year or so, and then built a flat-boat and carried a load of produce to New Orleans. Jolin !'. Reynolds succeeded him in the tavern and subsequently Mr. Hughes. Mr. Freeman was from Pennsylvania, and his wife was from New Jersey. She was a daughter of Alexander Crane.
After Middletown was laid out and a few cabins erected, Mr. Jonathan Martin came to the village and began blacksmithing. This shop was a frame building, that stood a short distance from the Baptist Church on Main Street. Mr. Simpson rented this shop of Mr. Martin in 1819, when the latter went into the dry goodls business in a building where the First. National Bank is now, on Main Street. Mark Dixon and Abner Each had stores prior to this time. Dixon's room was on the south-east corner of Third and Main Streets, aud Enoch's store was on the north-west corner of Main and Second Streets. Soon after this time and as the town began to grow up the number of the stores multiplied very fast.
The first cabin in Middletown was that of Stephen Vail, on the ridge. A log-cabin was built very early near the corner of Main and Third Streets, where Oglesby & Baruitz's bank is now, aud afterwards occu- pied by Amos Potter. Probably one of the oldest stand- ing and the first built frame building in Middletown is the one now seen on the south-east corner of Main and Fourth Streets. The first brick building in Middletown was the one erected for a school-house in the east part of lot No. 11. This structure was an elegant one for those days, and was about twenty by thirty feet. It was one story high, with a huge fire-place in each end for the burning of wood. In later years one chimney was taken out and the door was moved from the side to the end, while the warmth was provided from a large store. In this house were day-schools, singing-schools, and relig- ious meetings of different denominations on the Sabbath.
The second brick house was built by Jonathan Tulli-
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It was on the corner of Third and Main Streets, where the Merchants' National Bank is now. The erection of this house cansed a little comment, as it was known Mr. Tullis was a little involved. Mr. David Heaton was de- sirous of expressing his opinion on the matter, and one day, while riding by, he was seen to stop and take more than a casual glance. When asked by Mr. Tullis what new points were discovered, he replied that he thought the walls leaned a little. " What way?" asked the as- tonished owner. "Towards Hamilton," was the noncha- lant reply. In Hamilton were the courts and the sheriff's office. This house was erected in 1818, and in two or three years afterwards David Enyart, who previously lived where Tobias Lefferson now lives, moved into it.
Hotels or houses of entertainment were unmerous in earlier times. Their .. taverns," " houses of entertain- ment," and " coffee-houses." now come under the general terms of " hotels," " boarding-houses, with day board or rooms to let," and " salcons." First among these, and one as famous as any, was the " Black Horse," standing on Main Street, about where the post-office is now. This was kept first by Jesse Crane. Following him were John P. Reynolds and Hughes, who was styled Gover- nor Hughes. This was prior to 1818. John Freeman kept it in 1819. Mr. Piper, father-in-law of Abner Euoch, kept a hotel on a small scale on the north-west corner of Second aud Main Streets, in part of the build- ing used by Mr. Enoch as a store. David Enyart kept hotel in his house on Main and Third a few years, and just opposite Mr. Levi Potter kept a few years. This was where Russell's grocery now is. Prominent among the first-class houses during the building of the canal, was the building on the corner of Broadway and Third Streets, where the agricultural store now is. This was extensively patronized by those interested in canal con- traets, and became the leading hotel for many years. Just above Russell's grocery, and on the same side, be- tween Second and Third Streets, Mr. Phares kept hotel also. This was as early as 1815.
David Enyart came to Ohio in 1802, settling first at Princeton, and then in 1815 eame to Middletown. Mr. Aaron Hamner built a one-story brick house on the north- west corner of Main and Fifth Streets in 1819 or 1820, that was afterwards sold to Joseph Treon, who was a cripple. Mr. Simpson built a brick on the south-west corner of Main and Fitth Streets in 1822 that was not only the largest in the town, but was considered the finest. Mr. Martin built the present brick of Oglesby & Barnitz's bank in 1827, and soll goods there for many years. Levi Potter, who lived just opposite, was proba- bly the first brick-mason in Middletown.
The United States Hotel, on Main Street, was built in 1831 for a dwelling-house and coffee-house. It was then but two stories high. The second story was used to live in, while the parlor and bar-room were used for a store and coffee-room :. Wilson Gilchrist sold goods in the
parlor for several years, and I. C. Faries and others, at different times, used the present bar-room for a coffee- house. Cyrus Mitchell was the first to keep hotel. This was near 1845. His brother, James Mitchell, built the third story. Mrs. Furry now keeps the house.
The old Middletown burying-ground is near Kemp & Shafor's slaughter-house, and on the river bank. There are now but two stones the inscriptions on which are readable; that of George Russell, who died May 25, 1814, at forty-one years of age, and Moses Vail, who died at sixty-two years of age. Stephen Vail was also buried here, but his grave is not marked. His interment was in 1808.
The Middletown Cemetery originally contained four acres, in the south-east quarter of seetion No. 28. This ground was laid off by James Heaton, who surveyed it; thirteen lots being set aside for a potter's-field. The original trustees were Israel Gibson, John M. Barret, and Robert Campbell. This was the 30th of May, 1827.
The Middletown Cemetery Association was organized May 25, 1878. On the 4th of August, 1863, two acres were added, and again, October 11, 1869, five acres were purchased. The association, when organized under the special aet of the Legislature, consisted of the follow- ing persons: W. B. Oglesby, Jos. S. Kelley, John Cor- sin, Thos. Wilson, Edward Jones, G. Rathman, S. V. Curtis, G. E. Wampler, C. W. Sutphin, I. C. Faries, A. D. Collins, William Sheels, William Moore, C. S. Barnitz, C. F. Gunekel, J. B. Hartley, J. J. Paller.
Of those who deserve mention in connection with the dead is the Rev. James Grimes. He was a native of the District of Columbia, born January 1, 1760, and died March 16, 1846. He came here after the War of 1812. He had two children, George and Rebecca. George was in that war, and was taken prisoner. Rebecca married William Bridge, and had two children, Ann and Susan. Ann became the mother of James Lummis. She is still living, and is now in Illinois. Susan married J. J. Pettit, and died in the Spring of 1875.
Mr. Grimes was educated at Alexandria, Virginia, be- came a local Methodist preacher, and was ordained deacon by Francis Asbury, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile was ordained September 17, 1815. He was in the War of the Revolution seven years, and was taken prisoner by the British, but escaped by mounting a horse and riding past the guards, who fired upon him. His son George was in the navy in the War of 1812. The Rev. James Grimes was a carpenter and stair- builder. After the burning of the city of Washington in the War of 1812, he rebuilt the stairs in the capital. He was a stout, well-built man, and when cighty years old could shingle a roof. He lived near where the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Rail- road depot is now. The house still stands.
Mr. Grimes had two wives, who were buried in this yard. His first wife, Eliza Grimes, died November,
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1827, when seventy-two years of age. His second wife, i Jane Grimes, was born September 27, 1776. She died in August, 1850, seventy-four years of age. Near by the grave of Mr. Grimes lie the remains of another Revolutionary soldier, Daniel Heaton.
The business of Middletown is largely in the manufae- turing of all kinds of paper. The paper interest is im- mense, great enough to make the town one of the prin- cipal centers in the country for that kind of business. Seven great paper-mills run in full foree, month in and month out, year after year, giving employment to hun- dreds of men, women, and children.
The first mill on the hydraulic north is that of Oglesby, Moore & Co. The mill manufactures blotting, sized, and super-calendered book, wrapping, and roofing papers. The firm members are W. B. Oglesby, William Moore, George C. Barnitz, and F. J. Tytus. The mill was built in 1833 by J. W. Erwin and brother. After two years Messrs. Tytus, Oglesby, and Barnitz then took the mill, and under the firm name of Oglesby, Barnitz & Tytus, ran it for seven or eight years. Then it passed into the hands of the present company, under whose management it has been highly sueeessful and prosperous. Eighty to one hundred hands are employed constantly, about twenty-five of whom are women and girls. The an- nual sales of manufactured articles amount to $150,000. There are two mills in one. One is furnished with three four-hundred pound and four two-hundred-and-twenty- five-pound engines, and one seventy-two-inch Fourdrinier. It has water-power, and manufactures book and blotting paper, its capacity being five thousand pounds a day, or one million five hundred thousand pounds a year. The wrapping-mill has two four-hundred-and-fifty-pound and one six-hundred-pound engines, one sixty-eight-ineh eyl- inder, water and steam, and makes four thousand five hundred pounds a day of wrapping and roofing paper, or one million three hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year.
The next mill south on the hydraulie is that of A. Hill & Sons. This company also earries on two mills. The first one is the Valley, and the one further down is the Globe. They are designated as No. 1 Valley Mill and No. 2 Globe Mill. The last-named mill has passed into the hands of Oglesby & Co. This mill was started in 1855, and their work was confined to the manufacture of manilla paper, of which they turned out six tons per day, or one thousand eight hundred tons a year. They employed seventy-five hands, among them twelve females, and the annual production was valued at $240,000. In the Valley Mill are six three-hundred to seven-hundred pound and one Gould engines, one fifty-six and one sixty- two inch cylinder power, water and steam. This was the first, mill in the West to compete with the Eastern ma- nilla manufactories. It was started nuder great discour- agements by Messrs. Hill & Sons, and run at first on a small scale. The mill was stopped in July, 1881, and
their business has been sold out to the Middletown Paper Company.
The next mill south on the hydraulic is that of the Tytus Paper Company-F. J. Tytus, president; W. B. Oglesby, treasurer; J. B. Tytus, secretary. This com- pany manufactures Fourdrinier and eylinder manilla paper. The mill turns out twenty thousand pounds a day, or six million pounds a year, and the sales amount to over four hundred thousand dollars per annum. Eighty hands are employed. It was built in 1873, the firm being George W. Erwin & Co. The mill is ruu by water and steam, and has six hundred horse power ; fifteen rag engines, three machines. The engine is the largest in the West.
The third paper mill was built in 1855, by James P. Cecil, John L. Martin, and Joseph Sutphin, and is now owned by Sutphin & Wrenn. The firm is com- posed of Joseph Sutphin and A. S. Wrenn. They manufacture news and book papers, and are now very large manufacturers of heavy grades of blotting-paper. The establishment has never ceased operations since it was first started. Fifty hands are kept at work, thirty of whom are women. Fifty-five hundred ponads a day are made, and the sales are two hundred thousand dol- lars a year. The mill has one three-hundred-pound, three four-hundred-pound, and one eight-hundred-pound engines, and one sixty-eight-inch Fourdrinier. It is run by water and steam, and its productions rank with the best made in the country. This establishment furnishes most of the paper upon which the Cincinnati dailies are printed. All these mills are located along the banks of the hydraulie, in pleasant situations, among the willows and sycamores.
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