A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio, Part 20

Author: Scott, Daniel
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: [Hillsboro, Ohio] : The Gazette
Number of Pages: 442


USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 20


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


lands ho built a cabin on the peculi .. r


93


CHAPTER XXII.


THE LEGISLATURE CREATES THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND AND ESTABLISHES ITS BOUNDARIES-FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMON PLEAS COURT, WITH THE NAMES OF JUDGES AND JURYMEN-EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS -- THE FIRST CHURCH IN BRUSHCREEK TOWNSHIP-JAMES CARLISLE AND IIIS CELEBRATED TOBACCO-PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND RESULT OF THE ELECTION IN 1805-AN ANECDOTE OF JOHN GOSSETT, HIGHLAND'S FIRST REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LEGISLA- TURE-SURVEYING AND ESTABLISHING WAGON ROADS THROUGII THE COUNTY-THE FIRST SCHOOL IN UNION TOWNSIIII.


On the 18th day of February, 1805, creek, Liberty and Fairfield. New the Legislature of the State severed our Market covered all the southern portion connection with Ross county by creat- of the county from the Rocky Fork; Brushcreek the southeast and east; Liberty east and west from the present ing a new county with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the twenty mile tree in the line between Adams town of Hillsborough and extending and Clermont counties, which is run north nearly to the present town of north from the mouth of Eagle Creek Samantha, while Fairfield included an on the Ohio River; and running thence east twelve miles; thence northeasterly until it intersects the line which was run between the counties of Ross and Scioto and Adams at the eighteen mile tree on the Scioto River; thence north- erly to the mouth of the Rocky Fork of


Paint Creek; thence up main Paint have also been made to find some map


Creek, by the bed thereof, to the south line of Franklin county; thence with said line west to the east line of Greene county: thenee with said line south to to "southeast corner of said county; thence with the south line thereof, west to the northwest corner of Clermont county and from the beginning west to the north fork of Whiteoak Creek; thence north to the south line of War- ren county; thence with said line east to the corner between Clermont and Warren counties."


This act took effect from and after the first day of May of that year.


immense territory extending north to the Franklin county line. The exact boundaries of these original townships can not be given, for the reason that the records can not be found and it is said by old citizens that they were de- stroyed near fifty years ago. Efforts or outline of the surveys, but without success.


The organization of Highland county ushers in a new era in our history. It is not, however, claimed that it opera- ted to bring about any of the attend- ants of a revolution in the manners and customs of the people, or materially or at all' changed their habits of life. Log cabins were still their castles, and the woods, with their wild inhabitants, surrounded them. They hunted, raised some corn, wore buckskin clothes or home made linsey or flax, as their taste or convenience or necessities required,


The county thus established was call- and generally enjoyed life hugely. But ed Highland because of its situation on the fact of a new county being organ- the high land between the Scioto and. ized, brought into the public arena a Miami Rivers, and embraced in its new set of men not heretofore visible legal boundaries all the county of as "public men," and infused an ener- Highland as it now appears on the gy and ambition into others who had map and about one-half of the present previously indulged in no other county of Fayette, and two-thirds of thoughts of distinction than to be reck- the present county of Clinton, -- its oned the best hunter or fighter, or northern boundary being the present northern boundary of Fayette as it now stands; the southern boundary of Franklin county being identical with the northern boundary of Fayette. whisky drinker in the settlement. A public spirit was at once aroused. Men began to feel that they had some- thing else to do than raise corn suffi- cient for bread and hominy, or kill deer enough for meat for their families.


This large territory was at the first organization of the county divided into They had been for three years citizens four townships-New Market, Brush- of a State, and their duties were


(01)


A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.


brought closer to their homes by the of Common Pleas declares:


"By order of the Court that Dan


erection of a county for them to organ- ยท ize and sustain. They took hold of the Evans, late Sheriff, be exonerated and work manfully and results have shown his securities, which are William Hill that they were fully equal to the task. and JJohn B. Bails, from their bond


After the creation of the county of given for the discharge of the duties of Highland the same Legislature elected Sheriff." three Associate Judges for the new This order was made on the 10th day county, who held a special Court in the of October, 1805. It is, therefore, to be town of New Market, on Thursday, the presumed that Dan Evans was the first 16th day of May, 1805. These Judges Sheriff of Highland county, and that were Richard Evans, John Davidson he held his office by appointment of the and Jonathan Berryman. They did no Court. business at this time that appears on The next record of this year, in regu- their record, except appoint David lar order, is: Ilays clerk pro tem., who took an oath of "allegiance and office."


"At a special Court of Common Pleas held in the town of New Market, in the Soon after this special term a regular term was held at the same place, as ap- pears from the following extract from the records of said Court: county of Highland, on the 14th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and five-present, John Davidson and Jonathan Berry- "Be it remembered, that at a Court of Common Pleas began and held in the town of New Market, in the county of Ilighland, on Wednesday, the 12th day man, Esquires, Associate Judges; on which they proceeded to appoint a Re- corder for the county of Highland, and the said Associate Judges then and of June, one thousand eight hundred there appointed David Hays Recorder and five, being the first Court held un- for said county."


der the Constitution of the State of The regular terms of the Common Pleas Court in Highland seem to have commenced in the same months in which they have uniformly continued Ohio, for the county aforesaid, on which day, being the day and place ap- pointed by an act organizing the Judi- cial Courts; present, the Honorable to be held up to the present time. The Robert F. Slaughter, Esquire, Prosi- record again reads: dent, John Davidson and Jonathan


"At a Court of Common Pleas began Berryman, Esquires, Associate Judges. and held in the town of New Market, The Sheriff of this county returned the in the county of Highland, on Friday, following persons as Grand Jurors from the 18th day of October, one thousand the body of this county as follows: eight hundred and five-present, the Samuel Gibson, William Hill, Amos Honorable Robert F. Slaughter, Esquire, President, Richard Evans, Jolin Davidson and Jonathan Berry- Evans, John Creek, Benjamin Chaney, Terry Templin, Ezekiel Kelly, Jacob Metzgar, William Boatman, Ebenezer man, Esquires, Associate Judges. The Hamble, Edward Carey, James Fitzpat- Sheriff returned a Grand Jury, to-wit: rick, John Gossett, Samuel McQnitty, Nicholas Robinson, foreman, Jonas Michael Metzer, Anthony Franklin and Stafford, James Stafford, Jonathan Boyd, John Shields, Thomas Stites, Samuel Hindman, Isaac Leaman, Terry Templin, Elijah Kirkpatrick, Jacob Mitzgar, John Finley and Eli Collins." Christian Bloom; the Court appointed Samuel Gibson foreman. By an order of the Court, Abram J. Williams is ap- pointed Prosecutor for the county of Highland. The report of the Commis- The first case on the docket at this sioners for fixing the seat of justice in term, and indeed the first after the or- the county of Highland, was this day handed in and ordered to be filed. The the record, was "Collins vs. Kerr- Court adjourned until to-morrow morn- ing at 10 o'clock.


ganization of the county, as appears by Robert Huston and Oliver Ross special bail." The next order on the journal


"Thursday, 13th, 1805. The Court of the Court is, "By order of the Court, met agreeable to adjournment-the that Mountain Lucket receive a certifi- same Judges as yesterday. The Court proceeded to appoint a County Survey- or, when Walter Craig was duly ap- pointed. The Court adjourned without day."


cate to retail merchandise for three months, and Frederick Miller a certifi- cate to retail merchandise for four months; and also Jonathan Berryman to keep a tavern in the town of New


No record now in existence that we Market.


are aware of gives any information as The first State caso which appears on to who was the first Sheriff, farther the docket of this Court is, the "State than the following order of the Court of Ohio vs. Charity Collins. The de-


A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.


fendant was called and saved her 'Milton's limbo,' large and wide, it be- recognizance and was therefore dis- ing the thick shade of an endless for- charged." It does not appear what est. The Judges, seated on a long crime or offense the accused had been bench made of a puncheon, supported guilty of. Next comes the "State of themselves under the weight of their Ohio vs. Isaac Collins," after which is new dignities with becoming meekness. the entry, "the defendant was called But the Sheriff found great difficulty and saved his recognizance. The Court in preserving order throughout the Court room, and one man, more daring


ordered that Isaac Collins be bound for his good behavior by giving two secur- than his fellows, rode up beneath the ities in the sum of one hundred dollars very noses of the Court, and, bottle in each, that is Robert Huston and Oliver ; hand, asked them to take a 'snort' with Ross." No disposition appears to have him. The Court ordered the Sheriff to been made of the next criminal case on take that man into custody, but the fleet- the docket. It reads, "State of Ohio vs. ness of his horse enabled him to elude Isaac Collins. John Porter attended the officer. Five or six fights took two days as a witness." "State of Ohio place the first day in the very midst of vs. A. Watson-presented-Grand Jury the temple of justice."


found no bill." "The Court adjourned In the summer of 1801 John Fish- until to-morrow morning. Saturday, back, a revolutionary soldier, emigrat- the 19th of October, 1805. The Court ed from Pennsylvania and settled in met agreeable to adjournment. Pres- the neighborhood of Sinking Springs, ent, the Honorable Robert F. Slaugh- in the present county of Highland.


ter, President, John Davidson and


The first church in the township of Jonathan Berryman, Esquires, Associ- Brushcreek, in Highland county, was ate Judges. On motion of George W. erected by the followers of Martin Barrere and Ebenezer Hamel letters of Luther in the year 1805. This church administration were granted to them. was located about three miles northeast Ordered that Robert Huston, William of Sinking Springs. It was built of Boatman and Lewis Gibler be appoint- hewed logs and is yet standing. ed appraisers to appraise the goods, Daniel Inskeep emigrated with his chattels, rights and credits of Alexan- family from Culpepper county, Vir- der Sanderson, deceased, and they are ginia, to Ross county, Ohio, in 1804, and required to make return to the Clerk's to the county of Highland in the spring Office according to law. By order of of 1805. He settled on the Rocky Fork, the Court that George W. Barrere re- two miles west of the present town of ceive a certificate to keep a public Ilillsborough, and proceeded to im- house for one year by paying into the prove the farm on which he resided county treasury eight dollars; and also more than forty years. Mr. Inskeep Thomas Dick a certificate to keep a was a local preacher of the Methodist public house in Brushcreek township denomination and a most estimable for one year by paying into the county man. He added to his other useful treasury six dollars. The Court pro- avocations that of saddletree maker, and was doubtless the first of that call-


ceeded to appoint a Clerk, when David Hays was duly appointed Clerk to the ing in the county. Court of Common Pleas for the county


The same spring came James John- of Highland, who took the oath of son from North Carolina, and settled the office pursuant to law and gave on the farm owned and occupied by his bond with surety, which were approved by the Court. Court adjourned with- out day." son, Capt. Thomas M. Johnson, in the present township of Penn. In moving out they passed through New Market,


This closes the business of the first and had to cut their way for their October term of the Highland Com- wagons through the site of the present mon Pleas. The county seat had been town of Hillsborough. Near the place only temporarily established at New where Patterson's mill now stands, as . Market, and that chiefly because there they passed along, one of the wagoners, was no other point any where near the named McDorman, took a rifle and center at all suitable for doing the branched out on the side of the route business of the county. Of course there to hunt. He soon came in sight of was no Court House in the town and some horses grazing and beyond them few or none of any other description about thirty yards was a deer feeding capable of containing the Court and all very composedly. He could only see it, attending upon its sittings. A gentle- however, under the belly of one of the man of New Market speaking on the horses, and he was afraid to shift his po- subject, says: "The Court House in sition lest he might alarm it; so he fired which the first Court was held was like away under the belly of the horse and


A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.


killed the deer. He carried it to the tinned to the day of his death. His wagons and put it into one of the feed manufacture of tobacco was for many troughs. They carried it on till they years pretty much the only kind in use arrived at Samuel Evans', where they throughout most of Southern Ohio, and skinned and dressed it. Johnson went was as confidently called for in the on to N. Pope's, where he left his family stores as is now cavenish or six plug. and property till he looked around for It was put up in large twists of two or land to suit him. In the course of a more pounds in weight and was cx- week he selected his farm and purchas- ceedingly strong. The Carlisles lived in ing it, commenced the necessary im- a camp for about six months after they provements. It was, of course, in the came to their land. Mr. Carlisle erect- woods and the settlement made by ed his cabin on a hill overlooking the Johnson was the first in that neighbor- bottom to the north. This hill was hood, and the Evans settlement on much infested with rattle snakes at Clear Creek was their nearest neigh- that time and they killed large num- bors, except Sahnon Templin, wholived bers. About a year after he settled within about two miles.


there, during the summer season, when


In the fall of 1805 William Williams the tobacco needed attention, the fami- emigrated from Guildford county, ly left home one day, leaving JJohn and North Carolina, near "Dobson's Cross James Carlisle, lads of eight and six Roads and Beard's hatter shop," and years of age, to work in the tobacco Settled in the present township of patch. They were engaged in sucker- ing the plants, beginning at the top and running their hands to the lower leaves, detecting the suckers by their touch,


Penn, in this county. The same fall came James and Jacob Griffin, Jarvis Stafford and his sons Shadrach, James and Jonas, John Matthews and Alex- when Jaides cried out that he was hit- ander Starr, all from North Carolina, ten by a rattle snake. The snake had and settled in the vicinity of Johnson. been coiled up under the lower leaves Matthews and the Staffords camped at of the plant, unperceived by the lad. a spring near the residence of Edwin This was a mnost alarming condition for Arthur, a short distance west of the the boys. They were well aware of the present village of Samantha, two or fatal effects of the bite, but did not three weeks till they found lands to know what to do and there were none snit them. These settlers were pretty much all of the Quaker denomination and inade most excellent citizens.


near to advise them. But James, with the courage of a true back woods boy, rapid- ly settled in his own mind the course to be pursued. They had taken an old


During the fall of the same year Allen Trimble, with his mother, five dull tomahawk out with them for some brothers and two sisters, moved from purpose and James peremptorily order- Woodford county, Ky,, and settled on a ed his brother John to take it and ent farm afterward owned and occupied by his hand off, at the same time laying it James A. Trimble on Clear Creek. on a stump and pointing to the place 'They found the cabin built by Capt. where it was to be cut at the wrist. James Trimble three years before in This, John positively refused to do, reasonably good condition for a habita- tion and they entered into possession of it and made it their home for many years.


giving as his reason that the tomahawk was too dull. This was no time to dis- enss the matter. and James could not cut it himself, so they compromised on the wounded finger, which John con-


The same fall William Keys, with his mother, three brothers and three sisters sented to cut off. It had already turn- arrived from Virginia and settled on ed black and swollen very much. John Fall Creek, five miles north of the pres- made several ineffectual efforts to ent off the finger which was the first finger ent town of Hillsborough.


James Carlisle emigrated from of the right hand, but only hacked and Loudon county, Virginia, in 1800, to bruised it. James, however, hold it the neighborhood of Chillicothe, and steady and encouraged his brother to removed from there to Highland coun- proceed, saying it must come off or he ty in June, 1805. John Richards came should soon die. John finally got it with him. Carlisle settled on the farm hacked off, but in his fright and anvie- afterwards owned and occupied by his ty he ent off the thumb also, this, how - son Beaty, where he continued to re- ever, not being affected by the poison. was replaced by Gns Richards, who sido till his death in 1532. Carlisle was a celebrated tobacco planter and manu- was something of a surgeon and it facturer. He was probably the first. finally grew on again. Mr. James l'air- who made a regular business of it, hsle is yet living in Missouri, and which he commenced in 1505, and con- there are hundreds of the citizens of


r t e


te of = it, he rel


98


A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.


this county who well recollect seeing The statute of February 13th, 1804, es- his mutilated hand and have heard the tablishing the Board, provided that the story of it. first election should be held on the first sioners --- the Board to consist of three- year, until all were elected for three years at the regular fall election. But as the county, under the act establish-


The cabin built by Mr. Carlisle was Monday of April for the first Commis- of round logs and they spent a year or two in it without making all the cracks one of whom would go out of office at tight with chunks and daubing. Dur- the succeeding October election of each ing the second summer they had a kind of shed out of doors for cooking purposes, and candles and oil being scarce they generally went to bed in ing it, was not authorized to organize till the cabin without light. One night the first day of May, 1805, it is hardly presumable that the Commissioners were elected by the people under the statute on the first Monday of April. the family had all retired except Nan- nie, a girl about twelve or thirteen years old, who was to sleep with her mother that night in order to accom- modate a guest who, owing to the scarcity of beds, had to sleep with Mr.


Under the Territorial law there was a corresponding Board of Commissioners, composed of "three able, respectable Carlisle. They had been talking of and discreet frecholders, resident within snakes before they went to bed and the county," who were appointed by when Nannie got in beside her mother the Justices of the Court of Quarter Ses- and laid her head on the pillow she re- sions. This Court was composed of not marked she felt something crawl under less than three nor more than five Terri- it, but she was told it was all fancy. torial Justices of the Peace. After another minute or two she said After the adoption of the State Con- she believed there was a snake under stitution the Associate Judges took, un- the pillow, but they laughed at her and der the law organizing the Common told her she was thinking of the snake Pleas Courts, most of the duties relating stories she had heard during the even- to the business of the county, which had ing. She insisted, however, that there been discharged by the old Court of was something moving under her pil- Quarter Sessions and it may be that they low -- either a snake or a rat-and she appointed the first Board of County would not lie there any longer, and ac- Commissioners. But as there is no cordingly she raised her head in the further light, speculation need not be act of getting up, when something indulged. struck her head, not unlike a whip.


At the meeting above named, the She leaped out of bed and cried she was Board consisted of Joseph Swearingen, snake bit. The snake then rattled, and George Richards and Nathaniel Pope. as it turned ont had only struck Nan- The business transacted at the meet- nie with its tail in its efforts to extri- ing was levying the county tax. This cate itself from beneath the pillow. wasas follows: Thirty cents per head for The whole family were on the floor in horses, &c., ten cents a head on cattle, an instant and the snake was heard and on all other property subject by rattling as he moved off towards one law to taxation, one-half per cent. "Or- corner, making his escape. All was dered that any person obtaining a license black darkness, but they managed to or permit to keep a tavern in the town pursue the snake by the noise he made of New Market, shall pay the sum of with his rattle and finally killed him in eight dollars per year. Ordered, that the yard. They supposed the snake


any person receiving license or permit had come in during the day and crept to keep a tavern on any road in High- into the bed to take a nap. Nannie land county shall pay the sum of six afterward married Thomas Buchanan. dollars per year. Ordered, that John


George Richards and Gus Richards Richards be and he is hereby appointed came a short time before and Walter Treasurer of Highland county. Board Craig and Michael Metzgar had settled of Commissioners adjourned until the


on the waters of Rocky Fork, southeast of the present town of Hillsborough, some two or three years before Carlisle moved up.


first Monday of August next."


It does not appear from any record now existing whether the first Board of authorized. The Board had power to


The above is copied from the first re- cord of proceedings of Highland county. This record was kept by their Clerk, which the statute creating the Board, appoint a Clerk, either from themselves or from the body of the county. It ap- pears from the record that Joseph Swearingen acted as Clerk up to Octo-


County Commissioners for Highland was elected or appointed. Allis darkness as to how they came by their offices, but yet there was a Board which held a ses- sion as early as the 13th of June, 1805. ber, 1805, for which he received one dol-


A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.


lar and seventy-five cents extra pay. township. On the organization of the The per diem of Commissioners then being one dollar and seventy-five cents.


Common Pleas Court this power was vested in the Associate Jndges of the several counties. By an act passed loth of February, 1801, the Listers were also made collectors of the taxes in their respective townships. It is, therefore, probable that the collectors named in the above extract from the Commission- ers' record, received their appointment from the Court.


At the next sessiou there appears to have been nothing done but make out the duplicates for the Listers "according to law," and receive a bond from Jolm Richards as Treasurer. The Board then adjourned until the last Monday of September following, which seems, ac- cording to the record, to have come that year (1805) on the 11th day of the The next order is dated Sept. 30th, 1805, as follows: "Ordered, that Ebene- zer Hamel receive an order on the Treas- urer for $3.75 for 'praising taxable prop- erty." "Ordered, that James Walter, Samuel Evans, Esq., and JJesse Baldwin proceed to view a road from Morgan VanMeter's direct toward the falls of Paint Creek and James Johnson survey the same." Board adjourned imtil the 1st of October. Met agreeable to ad- journment. "Ordered, that Nathaniel Pope receive an order on the Treasurer for seven dollars and fifty cents for six days' service as Lister for Liberty town- ship. Ordered, that John Davidson, Esq., Jacob Metzgar and William Boat- man proceed to view a road beginning on the old county line between Adams and Ross, where the road from New Market toward the mouth of Bracken, in Kentucky, entered said line, the near- est and best way to the county line of Highland, on a direction towards the road run from the mouth of Bracken to- wards New Market, and that Walter Craig survey the same." "Ordered, that Elijah Kirkpatrick receive an order on the Treasurer for thirteen dollars and seventy-five cents, as Lister for New Market township." month. At this meeting they ordered the County Surveyor "to proceed the thirtieth of this instant to run the boundary line of Highland county, be- ginning at the twenty mile tree in the line of Adams and Clermont counties, which was run north from the mouth of Eagle Creek, meanders of Paint Creek excepted." The next meeting is thus recorded: "Monday, September 10th, 1805. Met agreeable to adjournment ; present, Joseph Swearingen, George Richards and Nathaniel Pope. Ordered, that Abraham Williams receive an order on the Treasurer for $20 for prosecuting at the June term. Ordered, that Wil- liam Saymore receive an order on the Treasury for six days' services, twelve dollars, in fixing the seat of justice for Highland county. Ordered, that Joseph MeCoy receive an order on the Treasury for six days' services -- twelve dollars - in fixing the seat of justice for Highland county." Whether or not these last named men were the Commissioners ap- pointed by the Legislature for the pur- pose of establishing the county seat we have no means of knowing. According to an act of the Legislature, passed March 28th, 1803, on the establishment of any new county, three Commissioners On the second Tuesday of October, 1805, the first county election for High- land was held in the several townships. New Market was the place of voting for that township ; William Hills', on Clear were to be appointed by a joint resolu- tion of both Honses, whose dnty it should be to examine and determine what part of the county was most eligi- ble for the seat of justice. No person, Creek, for Liberty ; Beverly Miller's, on residing within the county could be ap- pointed, nor any person owning lands within the county, These Commission- ers were to act under oath, receive from the County Treasury two dollars per day and report to the Court of Common Pleas sitting in the county.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.