USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 32
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and to a hospitable hearth, was rude
He made an appointment to preach at and unlooked for. The owner with our cabin, perhaps on his next circuit, much deference, explained both his notice of which was given out at the own interest in it, and the innocent raisings and huskings throughout the uses to which its melodions tones were settlement. It was quite a novelty, and, applied, but it required the kind and of course, a stirring event in the neigh- gentle interposition of Mr. Quinn to borhood and at the time specified he had save the unoffending instrument from a a large and attentive andience. The hasty and ignominious immolation in costume of the young gentlemen and the fire, for the wrath of brother Ladd Jadies in attendance at that meeting was was great. That was the first and last somewhat different from the prevailing visit of Mr. Ladd. to Clear Creek, and I fashions of the present era and particu- never heard of him afterwards." larly well adapted to the manners and On the 25th of January, 1808, the customs of a pioneer settlement, when Board of County Commissioners inet frugality and economy were virtues of pursuant to adjournment at the cabin of necessity and when none indulged in John Campton, in Hillsboro; present, the luxuries of foreign merchandise. Nathaniel Pope, G. W. Barrere and
"While Mr. Quinn remained, my Moses Patterson clerk of the Board. brother, who had purchased a violin Orders were made at this session for the and was taking lessons from uncle Tom, payment of several persons for killing who had the characteristic fondness of wolves, and one dollar and seventy-five cents to Constable John Davidson for his race for music, frequently accompan- ied favorite hymns on the instrument to crying the iron work of the jail. Settle- which Mr. Quinn listened with appar- ments were also made with the several ent satisfaction. On his subsequent Township Collectors, and their bonds visit he brought with him a brother in cancelled. An order was issued to Na- the ministry by the name of Ladd, a thaniel Pope for thirty-four dollars for tall, dark haired, sallow complected two locks for the jail and carriage on the man, who spoke in sadness and whose same. John Carlisle was ordered to re- salutations were in deep-drawn sighs ceive four dollars six and a fourth cents and constant groans. He was the exact for nails for the jail. John Richards was antipode of his friend, Mr. Quinn, and ordered ten dollars for bringing the stood out in bold relief and sombre con- money dne the county from Chillicothe. trast to that mild and amiable gentle- After two days' session the Board ad- man. It was early evening when they journed to the 18th of February, on arrived and a cordial greeting awaited which day the Commissioners again them by the family. Seated before the met at the same place. They made wide and spacious hearth, (for it was short sessions in those early days at the early winter) Mr. Quin was polite, so- new seat of justice of Highland. In- cial and agreeable to all, while his ducements to loiter were not great at sombre and reverend companion was that time, in the village of two cabins, a absorbed in deep and profound medita- half finished log jail, woods, fallen trees tion, in distant and cold reserve. I re- and brush, with the crookedest kind of coiled instinctively from his presence, cow paths for streets and highways. ity and deep snows, which destroyed and stood near Mr. Quinn, whose hand The winter was memorable for its sever- was immediately laid familiarly on my flaxen head. The eyes of the melan- nearly all the birds and small animals. choly preacher were rolling around the As a consequence, the county seat look- apartment, scrutinizing its arrangements ed dreary and desolate in the extreme. and appartenances. Atlength with sur Few hunters passed through it, and no prise and horror they rested upon the person visited it except on the most head of the violin, which was projecting urgent business. So the winter passed in deep silence, for choppers and hewers could not work, and during the coldest from the canopy of the bed curtains. Striding across the room, his eyes steadi- ly fixed on the object, he easily brought part of the season deer were almost it down from its perch, and contemplat- daily seen fearlessly passing about ing it with a severe, withering frown of through the brush on and near what is apparent sorrow and a deep indignant now the public square, then only partly groan, walked, with astern step, back to denuded of its heavy growth of oaks and
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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.
beech. Joel Brown killed and hung up As a matter of convenience the two a large doe during the February of this offices generally went together, then, and for many years afterwards, in this county partienlarly. The interest felt in these appointments was considerable, and there were several candidates, among whom were Allen Trimble, William Keys, Walter Craig and Constable John Davidson. The Associates had much difficulty in making a choice. Finally, Judge Belt, becoming impatient at the delay of the regular business of the Court, settled the inatter by expressing year on a beech tree, which stood near where the northeast corner of the jail now stands. Bear's tracks were fre- quently found that spring in the snow down the hollow below the depot. All the efforts of man had not, therefore, at this date, redeemed the seat of justice of our county from its savage state, or to any considerable extent, intimidated the native inhabitants, which had so long enjoyed the undisturbed and free possession of its sylvan groves and gush -. his decided preference for Trinible, who ing fountains. Their pastures of pea was accordingly declared duly elected. He appeared promptly and took the oath of office, and entered upon the dis- charge of his duties, as Clerk and Re- corder of the county of Ilighlaud. vine and wild rye, mosses, buds, &c., were, it is true, somewhat interfered with by the axe and the presence of the pioncer, but habit and the little disposi- tion of the few settlers to molest them during that cold and snowy winter, still prompted and encouraged their com- paratively quiet grazings over the site of the new town.
The Sheriff, Gus Richards, returned a Grand Jury for the body of the county, who proceeded to a fallen tree, some rods from the court room, under the care of John Davidson, Constable and Deputy Sheriff, where they dispatched business in a manner worthy the imita- tion of Grand Jurors of the present day. Three presentments were made by them and they then adjourned in time to go to the spring near Campton's cabin, afterward the Trimble tan yard spring, to partake of a roast venison dinner. The accommodations of the tavern were more than monopolized by the court and it was necessary that jurors as well as outsiders should look out for their "grub" elsewhere. Jo Hart was under recognizance for assault and battery and appeared as usual in his blood saturated clothes, rifle on shoulder and all his equipments as a professional hunter. In these latter, however, he did not differ materially from many others who were in attendance upon this court. Perhaps one-third carried rifles. Hart felt some interest in being on the right side of jurors just then and knowing the scarcity of provisions went out to hunt a deer. He soon found one, which he ordered to receive two hundred and of course killed and brought to Camp- eighty dollars in part pay on his con- ton's. He killed the doe in the locality tract. Board adjourned till May 2d.
The Commissioners held another ses- sion on the 7th of March at the same place. At this session they made orders to pay for wolf scalps, also to pay John Roads nine dollars for collecting the tax of Brushcreek township, Williamson fifty-eight dollars and sixty-two cents in part pay for the work of the jail, and an- other on the next day for one hundred and twenty-one dollars and thirty-seven cents, for the balance of the work on the jail; and that Solomon Lupton receive an order for seventy-four dollars and ninety-two cents for the iron work of the jail, "which weighed five hundred and fifty-five pounds." At this session of the Commissioners the boundaries of New Market township were altered as follows, to-wit : "From the crossing of the Rocky Fork by the Clear Creek road, on a direct line to the crossing of the Mad River and Anderson roads, thence with said road westerly to the county line." John Shields, contractor for the building of the Court House, was
The spring term of the Highland Common Pleas for the year 1508 com- inenced on the 7th of March and was held again at Knox's tavern in Hills- borough -- Belt president judge, Evans, Davidson and Berryman associates. The first business of the Court, the death of their former Clerk, David Hays, being announced, was the election of a Clerk pro tem, and a Recorder for the county, cluding Brush, Williams, Scott, etc., as Hays had filled both offices, and both who then composed the Bar, but it was were at that day, by the law of the intimated that the invitation would not State, required to be filled by appoint- be well received by his Honor, the ment of the Court of Common Pleas. President Judge. The barbecue over,
now known as Fast Walnut street. As soon as he brought the carcass in prepa- rations were made to roast it. When the venison was ready to eat Hart sent the jury word and they happened to be in a first rate state of preparation for the feast. They were first served, after which all present helped themselves. There was a strong desire to invite the entire court and officers of the law, in-
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
shooting at n target was in order as well which license was granted to "John as drinking whisky ont of Iliff's brown Smith, of New Market," to sell mer- jugs. There were no fights, however, but chandise, and to Jacob Hiestand to Hart and several others got better filled keep tavern on the Limestone road with new whisky than venison, before near the Sinking Springs. At this the party dispersed. All went home term, George Richards was appointed who did not live too far off. They by the Court, Director of the town of found it necessary to go home with some Hillsborough in the place of David Hays, deceased. of the Clear Creek or Rocky Fork peo- ple for the night. When court adjourn- On the last day of this term. the Court proceeded to define the limits of the prison bounds, in view of the companied Allen Trimble to his cabin law then in force, authorizing impris- ,onment for debt. They fixed the limits as follows, to- wit : to the second four rod street North, to the first four rod street East, to the first four rod ed in the evening, Judge Belt, Henry Brush and Williams, the Prosecutor, ac- on Clear Creek, while Judges Davidson and Berryman went out with their asso- ciate, Richard Evans, to his comfortable cabin.
As the party who accompanied Trim- street West, and to the first four rod ble were approaching his cabin, Wil- street South. These streets are North street, East street, Walnut street and West street, as at present known. The Court granted license to Francis Knott, to keep tavern in the town of Green- field, and ordered an additional magis- trate to be elected in the township of liams' horse scared and came very near throwing him, at the curious looking hominy pounder mentioned in another chapter. The visitors then stopped to witness the movements of the machine, and it was so perfectly unique in its appearance and motions, Liberty. The Court also examined
that they all took a hearty laugh over it. The next morning all were back at the county seat and ready for busi- ness by 10 o'clock.
The business of this term was not heavy, there being no jury trials. It continued, however, three days, during
the account of David Hays, as Direc- tor of Ilillsborough, and agreed to allow for his services and that of his hands, one hundred and eighty-one dollars and fifty cents. "Court ad- journed until Court in course."
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CHAPTER XXXI.
THE VANMETER FAMILY-INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF DODSON TOWNSHIP -- THE FIRST DISTILLERY IN THE COUNTY-A BUSHEL OF CORN FOR A GALLON OF WHISKY-THE GROWTH OF HILLSBORO-THE BOUNDARIES OF PAINT TOWNSHIP-FIRST MARRIAGE IN HILLSBORO- MORE SNAKE LITERATURE.
.Joseph Vanmeter moved from Ken- Dodson Creek, on the land afterward tucky and built a cabin about the occupied by S. F. Duvall. William month of Dodson creek (named for Knox tanght the first school. The first Joshna Dodson, of Virginia, who religions meetings were held at Van- made the first entry of land on its meter's, north of the present town of Lynchburg, in. a grove. Rev. Mr. Hutchens and Rev. George MeDaniel of the Baptist Church were the occasional preachers. Soon afterwards the same men held meeting at the house of Jo Vanmeter. banks, as early as 1796 or '97-immedi- ately east of the present town of Dod- sonville) a branch of the East Fork of the Little Miami, and a few rods east of the house in which Michael Stroup afterward resided, in the spring of 1800. The men who helped Vanmeter
Shortly after the establishment of to raise his cabin were invited and came these meetings by the Baptists and the from the settlement of Deerfield on the commencement of a church organiza- Miami. Vanmeter made a clearing ad- tion, Anthony Stroup opened his house joining his cabin, which was the first, to the M. E. Church. Rev. Mr. Page not only on the waters of Dodson, but was the first circuit preacher of that for many miles around. Mr. Vanmeter church, who preached on Dodson and sold fifty acres of his land to his brother formed a religious society of the Metho- Peter, for a nominal price, to induce him dist faith. to move out for a neighbor. Peter Van-
The first death in this neighborhood meter came with his family and settled was a daughter of Anthony Stroup, from near Joseph in the fall of 1805. Hisson a burn. The first marriage in the set- Lewis afterward owned the land. An- tlement was John Vanmeter, son of thony Stroup bought the land joining Peter, to Margaret, daughter of Joseph Jo Vanmeter on the southeast and Vanmeter and the first birth was their moved on it in 1806. About this time daughter.
and soon after others came into the
called and long known as the Vanmeter ·settlement. Joseph Vanmeter kept en- tertainment for travelers, and his house
John Barns settled where the town of same vicinity and formed the settlement Fairview now stands in 1806. About the same time David Walker, a revolu- tionary soldier, settled on Turtle Creek, half a mile above the month. The was known far and near as the Van- others settled west of the Vanmeter set- meter Stand.
tlement on the East Fork of the Little Miami, and William Spiekard, David Hays and William Smith settled near where Lynchburg now stands. The Hendersons and others settled near
About this time others of the Van- meter family came out from Kentucky and located on the west side of the East Fork of the Little Miami, north of where Lynchburg now stands. These John Barns. After the organization of first settlers, like others we have before the county of Highland the varions spoken of, lived principally on will neighborhoods had to attend elections, meat and hominy. Bear, deer, panther, musters, &c., at New Market, where wild cat and wolves were in great they purchased their powder, lead, abundance in the surrounding woods, goods, groceries, &c., unless they pre- also smaller game. Hand mills were ferred going to some point on the Little the principal resort for grinding corn at Miami. Money in those days was out the time Jo Vanmeter settled on Dodson ' of question, and as a substitute they car- and indeed for some time afterwards, as ried with them theskins of wild ani- there were no mills for grinding use mals. nearer than Deerfiehl or Scioto.
The first distillery established in The first school house in the Van- Highland was by Lewis Gibler, near his meter settlement was built of round mill on Whiteoak, in ISO3. It. was a lags and stood on the north side of little log without windows, so sitnated (161)
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
that the water from the spring could men of some considerable ready capital easily be conducted in wooden spouts could undertake it. The cooper boiler through all parts of the house. These and worm had to be brought from up spouts were mostly of straight poplar the river and could not be obtained poles and the channel for the water cut nearer than Pittsburg or Wheeling, and in one side with an axe. Gibler used when it is known that the sheet copper of which they were manufactured had to be transported across the mountains from Philadelphia and Baltimore on but one still, which was of copper, man- ufactured at Pittsburg. He of course made honest whisky, as he was an hon- est man, and those were honest days, pack-horses, it can readily be perceived wlien men had not debased them- that the cost was no trifling matter. In selves by the worship of the vile dollar. the course of a few years, however, the demand for copper stills so greatly in- creased that factories were established in Cincinnati, Chillicothe and Maysville and other considerabletowns. This not only increased the supply, but greatly reduced the cost. Still houses now sprung up all over the county and con- tinued to prosper, for the business was respectable as well as profitable, and many of the best men in the county en- gaged in it. These still houses increas- ed until there was not a neighborhood that had not from one to three in it. Whisky at that day, and, indeed, even up to the present enlightened and re- fined period in the history of our coun- ty, continues to be loved and sought by a large portion of the people of the coun- ty. For many years after the date of the first still house in Highland, whisky was kept in .every cabin, without, per- haps, a single exception, when it could be procured, and the little brown jug never failed to be handed out, when vis- itors entered the home of the kind- hearted and naturally hospitable pio-
neer. Indeed, so well established was They were far more abundant than this custom, that it was regarded a gross' mills as late as 1825. And yet old men, insult not to set out the whisky, or ac- who were men in those days, say the count for its absence; and equally an unkindness not to partake of the home- ly but harmless beverage. So, in those days-eighty years ago-the hardy,indus- trious first settlers of our county all took their dram with their friends. It did not hurt them, they believed -they people. were comparatively sober, and that there were no deleterious conse- quences perceptible from the existence of the large number of distilleries and the free and unrestrained use of whisky. Some would take too much and get drunk, but they were not con- scarcely ever knew what sickness was sidered respectable, and bore a much and never required the aid of a physi- cian. . Their children were healthy and smaller proportion to the mass than do the inebriates of the present day to strong, with sound and robust constitu- those who favor the total abstinence tions. The moderate use of whisky as a from the use of intoxicating drinks.
beverage was not then considered injur-
As soon as the weather would permit ious and the thing itself denounced and in the spring of 1808, the work of build- outlawed and those who used it in ing up the town of Hillsborough com- menced with much spirit and vigor. During the bright pleasant days of the latter part of March and the first of moderation stigmatized as vagabonds and nuisances. The consequence was · that there was lessdrunkenness in those days, in proportion to the population, April, the sound of the axe, saw and than now. But comparatively few com- mitted excesses, while all indulged in daily use of spiritous liquors. The next still house established in the coun- ty was by Philip Wilkin, sr., in 1804, at his residence in the present township of Hamer. Men came many miles to these
hammer, mingled with the crash of- falling trees, was heard on all sides. Men were busy with the timber already down . in the space designed for the streets, hewing. logging off, cutting board timber and making boards and shingles. Houses were much in de- distilleries for whisky, and when they mand and a considerable disposition to had not money to pay for the article, as settle in the town was manifest. was most generally the fact, they carried Those who came from a distance had a sack with one or two bushels of corn to accommodate themselves in camps in it. Some times a bushel of shelled for the time, till better arrangements corn in one end of the bag and an could be made, but a number of per- empty jug in the other. The rate of ex- sons in the vicinity, who had purchas- change in these commodities was a ed lots at the sale, with the intention bushel of shelled corn for a gallon of of improving them, soon hurried up whisky.
small buildings.
A distillery in those days was an ex- Among the first who erected dwell- pensive affair to start, and none but ings in that spring was Allen Trimble.
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
He purchased the out lot on which he on the south side of Beech street, on Jong resided the previous fall, with a the lots immediately east from the cor- view of making a home on it, and he ner of West and Beech streets. They built his log house a few rods from the all had families and each occupied a corner of High and North streets, small log house on the line of the frouting High street, into which he street. The back part of their lots. im- moved in the May of that year. It mediately below where Bell's stablo was a pretty comfortable house for the afterward stood, was cleared off and time, covered with lap shingles, and converted into a brick yard, where, stood there perhaps twenty-five years. during the summer, the brick for the Two years before, Mr. Trimble, in view Court House was made.
of the great want of a blacksmith in Benjamin Holliday came this spring the neighborhood, had induced Jobn and erected a little house of logs on the Belzer to move out from Kentucky. He lot on which Samnel E. Hibben's resi- hired him by. the year for fifty pounds dence afterward stood. He was a sterling, the currency then being wheelwright to trade, but could also pounds, shillings and penee, built him turn his hand to the business of house a shop on Clear Creek and set him to carpenter and joiner. William Barnett work. Belzer was the first blacksmith came the same spring. David Reece in the Clear Creek settlement, as also also became a resident of the new in Hillsborough, for Trimble built a town this spring and assisted in build- shop of split logs split side in-cover- ing the houses. John Hutsonpiller, a Virginian, came to the town this ed with clapboards, near the cor. ner of High and North streets, spring. also Levi Warner, James Hays early in the spring of 1508. This was from Chillicothe, and Charles Lang. Hays had purchased the northwest cor- ner of High and Walnut streets at the the only shop of the kind in town for some time, and Mr. Trimble frequently in throng times assisted Belzer, as sale of lots, and erected, early this blower and striker. Belzer was a first spring, the two story log house which rate workman on axes and edge tools, now stands on that corner, which is then so much in demand, and was kept unquestionably the oldest house funny looking Tom now in the town. Lang built a little frame - the constantly employed. Uncle Trimble, then a very stout, rugged young man of African blood, and who, first frame house in the place-on by the way, was the first black man Beech street, on the south side and on who emigrated to and permanently set- the corner of the alley below the gar- tled in Highland county, worked in den of the late Samuel Bell. It was this shop as an apprentice, but he did very small, corner stood on stones, was weather-boarded with clap-boards, and not getalong very well and Mr. Trimble determined to have him learn the trade covered with lap-shingles. The chim- in accordance with the wishes of his ney was "eat and clay." . It was neither deceased father, and Tom's old master,
filled in, plastered nor ceiled. Just the Capt. James Trimble, sent him back to sides, ends and roof were all of the Kentneky, where in the course of two house. In this, Lang started the first or three years he became, not only a tailor shop in the town. During the good smith but an extra fiddler. Tom course of the spring and summer then returned to Hillsborough and soon Shields, who was an energetic and married and settled down, but he did pushing fellow, put up a two story log not stick to his trade very long.
house on the southwest corner of
John Shields, an Irishman and a Beech and High streets on the lot Methodist preacher as well as a brick afterward owned and occupied by Dr. mason, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Sams. It has been down many years. I'ye, his partner in business, with two He also erected a two story log house apprentices, John Harvy-for many of pretty good size on Beech street, be- years afterwards, and to the day of his tween High and West streets, which death in 1832. an industrions and useful was opened as a tavere by William citizen of Hillsborough - and Caleb Barnett, as soon as it was ready, which was not till late in the fall. Warner occupied the house on the corner of
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