USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 36
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appointed clerk. As this appointment We regret our inability to speak is the first on the journals of this Court more at length of his history, our in- in the county, it is worthy of a place in formation being limited to what we this history as it stands on the record. have given -but from general reputa- "Proceeded to the appointment of a tion, his character was fully worthy of clerk, when Allen Trimble was duly his high calling and profession.
elected clerk of the Supreme Court of On the records of this term the odi- the county of Highland, which appoint- ous whipping law again makes a con- ment is in the words following, to-wit: spicuous mark. One William Melon- State of Ohio, Highland county, ss. On ald was found guilty of horse stealing the first day of the October term of the by a jury of his countrymen and sen- Supreme Court for the county of High- tenced by the Court, "that he, the said land, Allen Trimble, having given William McDonald, bo whipped twen- bond . and security according to law, ty-tive stripes on the naked back, and was appointed Clerk of Supreme Court restore the property stolen of George for Highland county, and ordered to Kilo, the owner thereof, and pay fifty- record this appointment and the afore- five dollars, the value thereof, to him: said bond, and to deliver said bond to that he pay a tinr of one dollar, that he the Prosecuting Attorney of said be imprisoned sixty days, and that he bo county, H4th of October, 1Sos. Samuel forever after incapable of holding any
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
office of trust, being a Juror, or giving ble was appointed Deputy Clerk and testimony in any Court of record in took the oath of office. this State, also that he shall pay the
At the fall term of the Court, which costs of the prosecution, and be impris- was held at the usual place, Barnett's oned until the judgment of the Court tavern, on the 23d day of October, 1809, Nicholas Watters was tried and found be complied with."
This was the first prosecution in the guilty of horse stealing. Judge Belt county for horse stealing, and contrast- passed sentence in this case. He or- dered the Sheriff to "whip him fifty
ed with the humane and comparatively mild punishment inflicted for similar stripes on his naked back." In addi- violations of the criminal code at the tion to this he was adjudged to "pay present day, the mode as well as the ex- seventy-five dollars to Daniel Nordyke, tent of the punishment is shocking. from whom he stole the horse, and pay a There was no penitentiary in Ohio at fine of seventy-five dollars, be impris- that date and horses had a greater rel- oned one month and be forever inca- ative value than at the present day. pable of holding any office of trust, of In addition to this they were of neces- being a Juror, of giving testimony in sity much more exposed. Perhaps all any Court in Ohio, and further, that he the citizens of the county were obliged, stand committed until the judgment of particularly in the spring, summer and the Court be complied with." At the fall seasons, to avail themselves of the same term one Levi Wright was con- advantages of the wild but luxuriant victed of petit larceny, and was sell- range in the extensive woods adjacent tenced by Judge Belt to be "whipped to almost every farm, for their plough fifteen stripes on his naked back, that and saddle horses, as well as for their he pay to Harrison Ratcliff, from whom cows, sheep and hogs. Their value to he stole the property, fourteen dollars, the inhabitants was greatly enhanced pay a fine of ten dollars and be impris- by their comparative scarcity, and the oned three days and committed until positive necessity for their services. It the sentence of the Court is complied is not, therefore, very astonishing even with." These men were both whipped at this enlightened day, when properly in the public square, at the new whip- looked at, that such withering and ping post, and then put in jail, which overwhelming penalties should be at- tached to the crime of horse stealing.
At this term the Court agreed to al- low the Director of the town of Hills-
borough, George Richards, for his ser- cents a day. vices the following fees, to-wit: "For
was so insecure that it had to be regu- larly guarded night and day for many weeks. Ths price paid to the guards was fifty cents a nighit and twenty-five
The Eagle Spring, we are informed executing deeds for each lot, fifty cents, by an old settler who knows, was and six per cent. for all money collect- named as early as 1803, from the cir- ed and accounted for, except the first cumstance of a bald eagle's nest having payments. For procuring blank deeds been found in a large oak tree, a few thirteen dollars, also the said Richards rods below the spring and immediately is not to be charged with interest on on the branch. There were two of money collected by the first of May, these birds seen, one of which was sit- 1809."
ting. The discovery became a matter
During the February term of this of some notoriety in the neighborhood, year the Court proceeded to appoint a as this species of eagle was rare in permanent Clerk-Allen Trimble's ap- Highland even at that early day. Jim- pointment having been merely pro my Smith, who then lived on the Rocky tempore, whereupon he was duly ap- Fork, heard of the eagle's nest, and pointed for the term of seven years fearing they would carry off a couple Clerk of the Common Pleas Court of of young lambs from which he hoped Highland county and thereupon he ap- soon to be able to get sufficient wool to peared before the Court and took the make at least a few warm socks for requisite oath of office and entered into winter, determined to kill them. Ho bond with William Hill and David watched for several days until he got a Jolly securities. shot. It happened that he was success-
The summer term of the Common ful and killed the hen bird, which ef- Pleas Court met at the usual place in fectually broke up the family, the cock Hillsborough on the 27th of June, this disappearing at once and forever from year, and without disposing of much the vicinity. From that time the business adjourned on the second day. spring, which is a remarkably bold and
On the 22d day of September, 1809, at fine one, bore the name of "Eagle a special session of the Common Pleas Spring." Such is believed to be the Court of Highland, William A. Trim- true origin of its name. A complete
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
history of the spring, or rather men's twenty-one. The writer of the notice doings in connection with it. would be referred to, says Goddard was one of a far more difficult and laborious task. the most remarkable men in the west- Although this locality is only a mile ern pulpit forty years ago. He was a from the Court House, yet it gushed man of marked eccentricity, but al- forth its cold waters from its rocky ways in solemn earnest, possessing a mouth in the most profound and un- certain rugged, resistless, awful power, broken solitude, The old road, or which we have seen in no other man. rather trace, from New Market to Goddard died at peace in the State of Clear Creek, which passed over the Illinois, October 12th, 1857.
ridge, immediately at the head of this At the June term of the Commis- sioners of the county, 1809, there Was considerable business of interest trans- acted in addition to that named in the preceding chapter. spring, has been deserted for more than seventy years, and the new route to the old seat of justice passed half a mile south of the spring. Fifty years ago, and for many years preceeding The first in order was the location of a road, "beginning on the south end of the street in New Market that runs north and south, by Campton's tanyard at Main street; thence south to the end of said street ; thence on a southerly di- rection, the nearest and best way to Boatman's horse mill; thence to Gib- ler's mill; thence to Collins' saw mill; thence to Hough's mill: thence to in- tersect the Bracken county, Ky., road, at or near Judge Davidson's." that time, the Eagle Spring was a place of much resort for the people of Hillsborough. Parties of young ladies and men visited it almost every Sun- day in pleasant weather. It was also the favorite place for private barbecues, and on one or two occasions public 1th of July dinners were given at it. The procession forining at the Court House, and marching under a military escort to the music of the drum and fife to the spring, where most of the day was spent in eating, drinking, speech mak- John Walter, Lister of Fairfield township, was ordered at this term to be paid seventeen dollars for his ser- vices; Frederick Kirp, Lister of Paint, seven dollars and fifty cents; John Mc- Quitty, Lister of New Market town- ship, eleven dollars; Samuel Harvey, Lister of Liberty township, twelve dol- lars; Maton Haworth, Lister of Rich- land township, fourteen dollars, and Jacob Millerten dollars for his services as Lister of Brushcreek township. dollar per day for their work. ing, &e. This place in those days, and until the commencement of the past fifteen years, was a favorite resort for the sportsmen of the town, and during the spring and summer months it was by no means an unusual thing of a Saturday afternoon to see from ten to fifty persons there engaged, some in shooting at a mark, some pitching dol- lars, others fighting chickens, while perhaps two or three parties were en- gaged in playing "old sledge," and the Listers at that day were allowed one more thirsty portion at the spring making juleps and sucking them to
On the 12th day of Inne of 1800, their hearts' content. It was a great the Commissioners settled with the place in those days for social enjoy- Treasurer of the county, John Rich- ment and of course a great favorite, so ards, who accounted for two thousand much so, that when Col. A. Doggett five hundred and sixty dollar's six cents opened his tavern, where the Parker and five mills, money received by him House now is, in 1826, he named it for in his official capacity, of which the the spring, the Eagle Ilotel.
Board found that he had paid ont on
We have spoken of Abbott Goddard, the orders of the county, one thousand and requested any one who might have eight hundred and sixty-seven dollars information in addition to furnish it. and eighty-seven cents, upon which it In response to this a gentleman of this was ordered that the said Treasurer be neighborhood has furnished us a copy paid by the county for his per cent., of the "Home Circle," a religions and seventy-four dollars and forty-eight literary periodical of much ability, pub- cents.
An order was made by the Commis-
lished at Nashville, Tennessee, and edited by the Rev. L. D. Huston, n sioners on the 14th of June, as follows; which is a brief obituary notice of a.f. "Ordered that the west line of Paint Goddard. From this we learn the the township, running by Stitt's field at was born in Virginia in 1785, and car- Anderson's State Road, a northerly ried to Kentucky by his parents while course so as to intersect James Walter's vet an infant, he was converted to the and William Chalfont's, thence with Methodist faith at the age of eighteen the Dividing Ridge, between the Big and licensed to preach at the age of Branch and Hardin's Creek, to Rattle
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
snake, thence with the meanderings of of the Cincinnati merchants going over said creek as far as formerly."
the mountains to purchase goods, with The rates of tavern licenses were ad- their pack horses ladened with Spanish justed again at this term, by which the dollars, were yearly travelers over this price in the county generally was fixed road and frequently sojourners for the at seven dollars per annum, with the night at the small taverns then kept in exceptions of Hillsboro, and on the Greenfield. These taverns were nightly College township road, where the rate crowded and, of course, did a thriving
business and could afford to pay a lib- was fixed at ten dollars.
Many will doubtless inquire not only cral price for their license.
where the College township road was The county tax for this year was fix- in Highland, but why the price of ed as follows by the Board at this ses- tavern license was fixed at so high a sion, to-wit: Horses, &c., three years rate on it. old, twenty-two cents each, cattle over
The College township road, it will be three years old seven and one. half remembered, was one of the first roads cents. opened through the county. It was
On the 17th of July, 1809, the Board opened by order of the Commissioners of Commissioners held a special session of Ross county, in 1799, while that in- in Hillsborough, at which time they cluded not only all of the present coun- ordered "that there be a township laid ty of Highland, but much of those ad- off by the name of Union and bounded joining on the north and west. The as follows, to-wit: Beginning where immediate object of the road at that the old Mad River road crosses the An- derson State road, thence running a northerly course so as to include Joshua Hussey's, thence on the same
day was to secure a direct communica- tion between Chillicothe and the rich country on the Miamis, then the near- est settlement of any note to that place. direction to the Highland county line. After the State was admitted into the thence westerly along said county line Union, the route was made the line of to the Warren county line, thence with State road by
order of the the said line to where it joins the Cler- State Road Commissioners, and open- mont county line, at the crossing of ed up to the township of land secured said State road, thence with said State by the United States, by the act of ad- road to the beginning. mission, to Ohio for educational pur- poses. This township is now named Oxford. It was for many years, how- ever, known as the College township, hence the name of the road when es- tablished as a State road. This road
This new township took off all the southern part of Richland and included within its boundaries the present towns of Lynchburg and Willettsville, Writs of election were issued on which the nec- essary officers for the new township passed from Chillicothe through Green- were elected and before the first of
field and on west through the present towns of Monroe, Leesburg, New Lexington, in the present boundaries of Highland, thence past Morgantown, Snow Hill, Lebanon, and on to College township.
October the organization was perfect- ed. Joseph Vanmeter, William Noble and Abraham Vanmeter were the first 'Trustees of this township, and Absalom Vanmeter Clerk.
Absalom Vanmeter was appointed For many years this road was the collector for Richland township, Sam- great thoroughfare west from Chilli- uel Harvey collector for Fairfield, Lib- cothe-the east, indeed almost the en- erty and New Market townships, and tire travel and emigration passing on Frederick Kirp, of Paint and Brush- Zane's trace from Wheeling west, creek, at the July session, 1809. traveled this route as the best and
The land tax of the several townships nearest to the rich bottoms of the two of the county was fixed at this term as Miamis, and as early as the date of follows: New Market, State levy one which we speak (1809) all the taverns hundred and seven dollars and eighteen on the road, and they were quite cents, county levy eighty-seven dollars and fifty-five cents; State levy in Brush- creek fifty-two dollars and fifty-one cents, county levy fifty-four dollars and sixteen cents; Liberty township State levy, two hundred and twenty-six dol- lars, county levy one hundred and sev-
abundant, were crowded every night in the spring, summer and fall seasons. Persons traveling on horseback to look at the country, or hunt up their land --- families moving from the old States in wagons, and others packing on horses, were almost hourly passing. The Col- enty-four dollars; in Paint township, lege township road continued long after State levy seventy-one dollars and sev- to be the principal road between Cin- enteen cents, county levy sixty-five cinnati and Chillicothe, and numbers dollars and fifty cents; for Fairfield
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
township, State levy, two hundred and most frequently without announcing six dollars and sixty-eight cents, county themselves candidates, and when they levy one hundred and sixty-five dollars were elected, endeavored rather to ben- and fifty-one cents, and for Richland, ofit the public by a faithint and honest State levy, seventy-two dollars and discharge of their duties, than to put ninety-nine cents, county levy, eighty- money into their own pockets from the six dollars and seventy cents.
The first death in the town of Hills- boro was in the spring of 1809. Pear- son Starr, brother-in-law to Joshua Woodrow the second, came out from Virginia with his wife and two child- ren, intending to take up his residence in Highland. He was stopping at Joshua's and had only been a day or two in the county, when he was taken sick and died in a few hours. This death was quite distressing to the peo- ple of the place, chiefly proceeding from the fact that it was the first in the town, and very sudden, and the person a stranger. The remains of Mr. Starr were followed to the grave by the en- tire population of the place and many persons from Clear Creek and Rocky Fork. The burial took place at what is now known as the old Methodist grave yard on East street, and was the first at that place and also the first in the town.
The October election in 1809 was not particularly interesting, there being but few offices to fill, and they only for the connty. Joseph Swearingen was elected Representative, his competitors being William Lupton, Thomas Terry, James Wilson, Sammel Reece, Thomas Flinn and Jolin Gossett. Gus. Richards was re-elected Sheriff almost without oppo- sition, Josliua Incas and William Jack- son having received a few votes. Mor- gan Vanmeter and Enoch B. Smith were elected Commissioners, the candi- Hare, clerks.
dates for the office being Salmon Temp-
Brushcreek gave thirty-eight votes, lin, Enoch B. Smith, Morgan Vanmeter, and the judges were Thomas Dick, Isaac Moses Gregg, Jolin Coffee, John Roads, Stockwell and Martin Countryman. Jolm Shield, Thomas M. Sanders, Jona- The clerks were Bigger Head and Sam- than Boyd, Bourter Sumner, Robert uel Recde.
Beaty and Francis Shinn. Levi War-
Paint gave sixty-one votes this fall ner was elected Coroner over William and the judges were William Lucas, C. Scott, Aaron Hunt, William Barnett, Zur Combs and Jesse Baldwin, and John Matthews, Henry Wilson, William Richard Barrett and Moses Tomlinson Hill, Charley Hughey, Frederick Miller, clerks.
Henry Baldwin, George Matthews and Joel Havens.
New Market gave eighty-seven votes and James Morrow, Philip Wilkins
At the day of which we speak, the in- and William Boatman were the judges dependent system of voting was well es- and Jolm Davidson and Eli Berryman tablished in Highland. Each citizen clerks. could, without fear of censure, make his own ticket to suit himself and vote it free from the interference of partizan
Fairfield township gave ninety-thice votes and Jonathan Barrett, Phineas Hunt and Moses Wilson were Judges leaders, for the simple reason that and Aaron J. Hunt and Isaac MeP'her- son clerks.
On the 23d day of October of this year parties, and of course, demagogues. The the Board of Commissioners met at Bar- best men were generally voted for, and nett's tavern in Hillsboro: Present,
the country was then fortunately bless- ed with the total absence of political
public purse.
In the newly erected township of Union there were thirty-four votes cast at this election, which was, held at the house of Thomas Rateliff. The names of these voters are, Abraham Clevenger, Jolin Seamen, William Clevenger, Wil- liam Stewart, John Achor, Samnel Cley- enger, James Marks, Absalom Van- meter, Alexander (Fillespy, Elisha Noble, Mathew Small, Joseph Mckibben, James McFarland, William Noble, sr., John McKibben, sr., Joseph Vanmeter, Abraham Vanmeter, Morgan Vanmeter, Samuel. McCulloch, Isaac Vanmeter, John Mckibben, jr., Israel Nordyke, James Rush, Jacob Bowers, Micajah Nordyke, Charles Harris, Jesse F. Roys- don, John Ellis, Daniel Nordyke, John Miller, John Shockley, Benjamin Shock- ley, and Hiram Nordyke. The judges of this election in U'nion were Joseph Vanmeter, William Noble and Abraham Vanmeter. The clerks were Jesse F. Roysdon and Abraham Vanmeter.
In Richland township the number of votes at this election was only sixteen. The judges were Jesse Hughs, Daniel Dillon and James Mills, and the clerks were William Venard and William Powell.
Liberty township gave one hundred and thirty-nine votes. Evan Chaney, Ezekiel Kelley and William Keys were the judges, and John Jones and Jacob
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Morgan Vanmeter, Enoch B. Smith and on to a thousand pounds, cast perfectly George Richards.
plain in six pieces. Very large wood At this term Walter Craig was ap- could be put into it and a great quantity, comparitively speaking of it, and when
pointed clerk pro. tem. of the Board of Commissioners. Augustus Richards, it once became heated it would remain Sheriff of the county, was ordered to be so for hours. This stove was manufac- paid sixteen dollars for "executing cor- poral punishment on Nicholas Watters and Levin Wright. tured at some furnace in Pennsylvania and transported on a keel boat to Man- chester, thence in a wagon to Hillsboro. When it arrived it was a subject of much
The first jailor of the county was John Shields. He did not, however, live interest and comment, being the first under the same roof with the prisoners stove in the place and doubtless in the as has been the privilege of that officer county. for many years in this county ; the jail,
At this session of the Commissioners at the time of which we speak, being the road at present known as the Mar- merely a prison of one room disconnect- shall road to Hillsboro was ordered to ed from all other buildings. Shields be viewed and surveyed under the title acted as jailor two or three years, and of a road from Thomas Dick's to Hills- very frequently - indeed constantly boro. when there were prisoners in jail-had
At the December session of the Com-
to guard it at night and often through missioners, (1809) it was agreed to erect the day. Two orders were made by the a new jail, the old log one having been Commissioners at this term for jail found totally insufficient both in con- guarding, the first to John Shields for venience and strength. It was also twenty-one nights and fourteen days at agreed at the same time that the work twenty-five cents per day and fifty cents should be sold at public outcry to the per night-fourteen dollars-and the lowest bidder, and that the sale should other to Thomas Pye for seventeen dol- be advertised for the 18th day of Janu- lars and fifty cents for twenty-eight ary, 1810. This sale was ordered to be nights and fourteen days guarding at advertised three weeks in the Scioto the same rates.
In the fall, (1809) Enoch B. Smith furnished the jail with a stove, for which the Commissioners allowed him sixty dollars. Such a stove at this day would be a curiosity, indeed it was a cusiosity in Hillsboro eighty years ago. It was an immense mass of iron weighing well of Hillsboro in bidding for the job.
Gazette. It is to be presumed from this order, that this paper had attained to a considerable circulation in Highland at this date, or it may have been the object, as it was undoubtedly the policy of the Board, to bring the mechanics of Chillicothe into competition with those
0
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE WHISKY ROAD, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS MADE-NEW SETTLERS ABOUT SUGARTREE RIDGE-CONTRACTS GIVEN FOR THE ERECTION OF A JAIL-A GOOD BEAR STORY-THE FIRST CASE OF IM- PRISONMENT FOR DEBT-CONCORD TOWNSHIP LAID OFF AND NAMED.
In the spring of 1809 Edward Earls families were the first settlers within emigrated with his family from Virginia, the present limits of Concord township. and settled about one and a quarter In July of this year Samuel Whitley miles south of what is now known as with his family emigrated from Rock- bridge county, Virginia, and settled on the farm afterward owned by George Sugartree Ridge in Highland county, on the farm afterward owned by -Mr. Stacey Storer, on the road leading from Hills- Dederick, on the road known as the boro to Maysville. During the same "Whisky Road," where he lived many years a much respected neighbor and worthy citizen. spring Jeremiah Grant settled about half a mile south of Earl's. With the excep- tion of John Emery, who settled near The Whisky road is worthy of further Samuel Hindman about 1801, these two mention entirely on account of its name.
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À HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
There is more than one story as to the Peace for New Market township, and . origin of this. That now given, is, per- Senator for the counties of Highland haps, as worthy of credit as any, and it and Ross, with his compass and jacob happens just now to be the only authen- staff in had. No chain was needed and ticated history of it in our possession. the surveying corps was completed by It is furnished by an old resident of the presence of one marker to "blaze" much intelligence and high standing, the route after the surveyor. Next not only in Concord township, but came some thirty men with axes on throughout the county, and is therefore their shoulders, and last a "slide," (two worthy of confidence. This road was whiteoak poles, three inches thick at - open as early as 1809, and leads from the butt, lower side sloped to run or New Market to West Union and the old slide on the ground, and inch pins two Marble Furnace. No official authority
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