USA > Ohio > Darke County > A pictorial outline history of Darke County, Ohio with portraits and biography of prominent citizens of the county, county and ex-county officials, attorneys at law, city officials, bankers, capitalists, business men, teachers, ministers, agriculturalists and notable citizens of the county > Part 2
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The fall of 1793 being well advanced, he marched his army' from Fort Washington to Fort Jefferson, but deeming the location of the latter fort quite unsafe, because of the hills overlooking it, and the ease of its being attacked, he would not even encamp his army there for the night, but marched five miles further and encamped on the present site of Greenville. Here he built a strong fort of the same name in honor of Lord Greenville, and Prime Minister of Great Britain, and then sent a detachment to build Fort Recovery on the site of St. Clair's defeat as before stated. It is said that while the army was located here one of the soldiers was tried for gross violation of military orders, found guilty and hung. This was the first execution in the county, and but one other has taken place since the county was settled. General Wayne drilled and disciplined his army during the winter, and brought it under that government and control that was so much needed to
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prepare it for victory in the following summer, over an enemy wary, vigilant, treacherous and as brave as they were barbarous. Besides, they were urged on by British agents, hostile to the interests of our government. The Indians were generally armed with the British musket and bayonet, and they had also been taught how to use them effectually.
In the spring of 1794 Wayne started northward on his expe- dition, moving slowly at first and with extreme caution, always on the alert, and ready to fight at a moment's notice. He moved first in a north-eastern direction, and when near the south line of Patterson township he camped for the night. It was the intention of the Indians to attack his army that night, and a council of the , various tribes there represented was convened for the purpose of determining this question. Various opinions were advanced at this council. Some of the chiefs, the principal one being Little Turtle, insisted upon an immediate attack before the troops had become used to camp life and compaign duty, while others contended that the whites should be drawn away from their home as far as possible, and from their base of supplies, and the forts built for their protection, and to which they could casily retreat should they be defeated. Some of General Wayne's scouts, disguised as Indians, with their faces painted in all the hideousness of the savage on the war-path, in this condition, attended this savage council, listened to all the arguments there advanced, and reported the same to their General. But the council decided against an immediate attack, and as Wayne advanced with his army the Indians sullenly retired . before him. Wayne now took a north-western direction, his route perhaps lay through Dallas and Rossville, in Darke county, and Shanesville in Mercer county, at which point he crossed the Saint Mary's river. He then moved toward the rapids of the Maumee. General Wayne exhibited more strategy than the Indians, for by feints and counter-marching he threw them entirely off their guard and without resistance he took possession of their villages located at the confluence of the Auglaise and Maumee rivers. Provision in great abundance was here found, and the army tarried here for
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some time and built Fort Defiance, a name we think quite appro- priate considering the surrounding circumstances. Near this place agents were sent to effect a treaty, if possible, and much time was spent in this effort. The Indians wished to gain time and sent word to General Wayne to wait ten days and they would treat with him. This he refused to do, knowing they were not sincere, and immediately advanced upon them at a place called "Fallen Timber," they believing that the trees cast down by a tornado would seriously impede the progress of Wayne's army. August 20, 1794, the attack was made. The Indians were added by a body of British militia from Detroit, but the savages were compelled to take their places in the front. Wayne's order was to advance at a "trail arms." but being enthusiastic himself, Lieut. Harrison deli- cately reminded him not to forget to give the field orders, when the General replied, "that the standing order was always to charge bayonets.". The rigor of the onset aroused the Indians from their cover ; a deadly volley was poured into them, and the battle was soon over. The Indians retreated in the direction of the British fort near by, which was commanded by Col. Campbell, who did not dare permit the savages to enter. The action of this officer called out a spicy correspondence between Gen. Wayne and himself, but the former was content to destroy everything outside. the fort that belonged to the British, and he had to restrain his men or they would have stormed the fort. After remaining in the vicinity of the battle ground for a short time, and sending out his - Scouts in all directions, he soon learned that the Indian power was broken and he led his victorious army back to Fort Greenville, where he passed the winter with such troops only as were abso- lutely needed.
GREENVILLE AND THE INDIANS.
In the latter part of the spring of 1795 he made arrange- ments to hold an Indian treaty at - Greenville. The chiefs, head inen and warriors of a number of tribes were invited. The Wyan- dot; and Delawares first assented to this treaty, and nine other tribes were also represented. After deliberating several weeks the
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terms of a treaty were agreed upon, and with all due formality were signed by the contracting parties. August 3, 1795. This treaty was confirmed by the proper authority and peace was restored.
The following year, 1796, Fort Greenville was evacuated. and it was afterward burned down for the iron and nails, which were used in building houses in Dayton, Ohio. For a number of years, after the burning of the fort, no permanent settlements were made in the county. From 1796 to 1805 a number of men were engaged in surveying the public lands of the United States, and these were the only white men that came to Darke county during these years. Our best information is that in the latter part of 1806, or early part of 1807, Azor Scribner, leaving his wife and children near Middletown, bought a small stock of Indian goods, including tobacco and whisky, and located in a cabin built by a Frenchman opposite where the burnt fort stood. Scribner brought his family to Greenville in 1808, and they are believed to be the first permanent white settlers in the town. or county. Samuel Boyd, who built a cabin two and a half miles north-east of Green- ville, was the second settler. His wife died, about 1816, and was buried in the "Old Grave Yard" in Greenville. This was the first interment made in that burial ground.
TECUMSEH AND HIS BROTHER, "THE PROPHET."
In 1808 John Devoe entered the half-section of land upon which Fort Greenville had been built, and with his son-in-law, Robert Gray, laid out part of this ground into lots. We note that their town plat "was executed and acknowledged on the 14th day of August, 1808, and sent to Miami county" for record. Darke county was not yet organized, but was included within the limits of Miami. Other settlers came to Darke county about this time and settled in different localities, so that when the next difficulty broke out with the Indians, the inhabitants could assemble at a fort, and temporarily protect themselves. In this Indian war Tecumseh and his brother, the. Prophet, took an active part, and it is necesary that we give them at least a passing notice. He was born at what was known as the ancient town of Piqua, located
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on the north side of Mad river, and about five miles west of Springfield. This town was built in the style adopted by the French. The houses were some distance apart and extended quite a distance along the margin of the river, though the main part stood upon the plain which was much higher than the bed of the stream. This town was populous and the Shawanees made some improvements. They cultivated about two hundred acres of land, planting it to corn chiefly; and the Indians seemed to have succeeded in an attempt at civilization. The parents of Tecumseh and the Prophet, about the middle of the last century, came from Florida to Ohio. Tecumseh was born at Piqua, in 1768. He was of a warlike disposition, was the most distinguished of the Shawanee
chiefs, and a most influential leader from his youth. The first fight in which he took part was between some Kentuckians, commanded by Colonel Logan, and some warriors of his tribe. The encounter was on the present site of Dayton, and the young warrior exhibited much bravery. When about seventeen years of age he bore a conspicuous part in an attack upon some boats near Limestone, Kentucky. The boats were taken and all but one of the occupants were killed. That one was burned alive. "Tecumseh. looked on in silence, abhorred the act and used his eloquence to prevent a repetition of the cruelty." He was made a chief in 1795.
In 1805 his brother, Laulewasika, the Prophet, took a large part of his tribe to Greenville, and built an Indian town on what is known as the William F. Bishop farm, on Mud creek. Here he first assumed the office of prophet. Shortly after he announced a coming eclipse of the sun, and that happening at the time he predicted, increased the belief in his sacred character. One writer says that Tecumseh and the Prophet resided from 1805 to 1808 on the tongue of land between Mud creek and Greenville creek, which place is still known as Tecumseh's Point. The two locations - are about three miles apart, and there seems to be but little doubt of the brothers having resided at both places. Here they lived and as the early settlers testify, they carried on their thieving propensities the same as they had done at "Old Piqua," from
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which place they were driven because of these depredations. Nothing that the settlers owned was safe, and they lived in con- stant dread that they would not only lose all their property, but they felt that their lives were not safe while surrounded by these savages. Tecumseh's object was to unite the Indians from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico in one great effort to exterminate the whites, or at least, to drive them permanently from their hunting grounds and the Mississippi valley. These hostile movements resulted in the expedition led by General Harrison, who, on the 7th day of November, 1811, encountered the Indians at Tippecanoe, Indiana, and gained a decisive victory over them. Tecumseh was not present at the battle, but the Indians were commanded by the prophet, who had promised them an easy. victory. Not accomplishing what he as a prophet foretold he lost the confidence of the Indiang and was never able to restore his influence over them. The Indians, defeated and discouraged, at once sued for peace; but war soon after breaking out between this government and Great Britain, English agents in great numbers were sent among the Indians, and these, uniting their influence with that of Tecumseh, soon prevailed with the Indians and they again commenced hostilities. Small bodies of Indians were often seen in Darke county. Andrew Rush and the Wilson children were killed, but no battle or other important event occurred in the county during this war. 15
BATTLE OF THE THAMES --- DEATH OF TECUMSEH.
In 1812 Tecumseh was early in the field. "He fought at Brownstown, was wounded at Magreaga and made a brigadier general," by the British. He took part in the siege of Fort Meigs and fell, bravely fighting, in the battle of the Thames in the forty- fourth year of his age. His death shot is ascribed to a pistol in the hands of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky. We thus make brief mention of these renowned leaders of the aboriginal races to whose lands we have become heirs, and in whose history Darke county has the honor of being prominently connected. The Indians being thus defeated and dismayed, and having lost their leader, at once ceased hostilities and thereafter gave the settlers no
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more trouble. Settlers in the county came in slowly at first. Ít seems that the very name (for it was named before it was regu- larly organized) was a preventive to many from moving here. And like the dread of "The Dark and Bloody Grounds of Kentucky." so we may say there was a superstitious dread of the locality of Saint Clair's defeat. The county was formed from lands ceded to the government by the treaty of Greenville and its boundaries were well known in 1809. It was named after Colonel Darke, a gallant officer who was killed in Saint Clair's defeat, as stated by one author, and by another, that he served with great gallantry during the campaigns of Saint Clair and General Wayne. At that time the northern boundary was the same as that of the Wayne treaty, and included the battle ground of Fort Recovery, while the three remaining boundaries were the same as at present, As the county now exists, Recovery belongs to Mercer county, while the north-east corner of the county is only a few rods south of the treaty line. The county thus situated had no separate organization, but still remained a part of Miami. As before stated, the town of Green- ville was originally laid off in the vicinity of Mina town, but that not being considered the best location, a second plat was made out by Andrew Wallace, or acknowledged by him, "before James Youart, a justice of the peace," March 19, 1810. The second plat contained one hundred and thirty-one lots and included also what is known as the "Public Square."
DARKE COUNTY'S FIRST OFFICERS.
Darke county was duly organized in 1817, the officers being duly elected and qualified in this year. The records show that Archibald Bryson, Abraham Studebaker and Silas Atchison, were the first commissioners, who held their first meeting on the first Monday of June, 1817. John Beers was appointed clerk and John Devoe treasurer and tax collector. Shortly after the commissioners ordered six lots belonging to the town of Greenville to be soid, for the purpose of building a jail on the "Public Square." These lots sold for $47.75. one-half in cash and the balance in one year, with interest. We understand that at first Greenville township
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included the entire county, and the next two townships formed from this territory was Wayne in the north-east, and Twin in the south. On the second Monday of August, 1817, Moses Scott presented his commission from the Governor of Ohio, as Sheriff of Darke county, and gave bond for $4,000. William Montgomery presented his commission as Coroner and a $2,000 bond. On November 14, 1817, the first court was held, in the principal tavern of the town. "The first case was James Compton versus Anthony Ricard, for debt. The clerk's fees amounted to $2.50, the sheriff's to $1. 17 and the attorney's to $5.00, making the total cost $3.67." Matthias Dean took the contract in 1818 to build the first jail for three hundred dollars; one-half cash and the balance when the work was completed.
ORGANIZATION OF THE REMAINING TOWNSHIPS IN THE COUNTY.
Harrison township was organized in May, 1818, and was taken from the west end of Twin township. Jackson was organized in 1833. Monroe was organized in June, 1836. Mississinawa was organized in March, 1839, and was taken from the north end of Jackson. At first it included all of township 14, range i east, except the northern tier of sections which then was included in Gibson township. On April 12, 1848, when Gibson township was thrown to Mercer county, the above tier of sections was retained by Mississinawa township. Neave township was organized December 5, 1821, and in addition to its present area contained eight sections, now belonging to Van Buren township. Patterson was organized in March. 1841. In 1848 the county line was changed from the old Indian boundary established by Wayne's treaty to the present line, and by so doing the northern part of Patterson was cut off and attached to Mercer, Auglaize and Shelby counties. Richland was taken from Wayne, principally, with sixteen sections from Greenville and four from Adams. It was organized on the 8th of September, 1820. Wash- ington township was organized in March, 1819, and then contained what is now included in this township and German; the latter was organized in December, 1820, is the second tier from the south and was taken from the north end of Harrison and the south
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end of Washington. Originally it was larger than now, but in June, 1827, it was reduced to its present size. Van Buren township was organized in 1838. Originally it was taken from the south end of Adams and the east end of Neave, but in June, 1839, Franklin township was formed, and the latter has taken from Van Buren all east of a line running north from the south-west corner of section 36, township 9, range 3 east. Monroe township was organized in June, 1836, and was taken from the east end of Twin. It touches Miami county on the east and Montgomery and Preble on the south. The records do not give the date when Butler township was organized, but the presumption is that it was in 1819 or 1820. Allen township was organized in March, "1839, and was taken from the north end of Brown. It then contained all of townships 14 and i), range 2 cast, except one their of sections from the cast side of each. We understand that township 15 extended north to the treaty line, , and in 1848 this township was thrown into Mercer county, thus making the northern boundary of the township an east and west line. York township was organized in June, 1837. It was taken from Richland and originally extended north to the county line, but in June, 1841, all of this township "lying north of a line connnencing at the south-east corner of section 22, township 12 north, range 3 east, and running west to the south-west corner of section 24, township 14, range 2 east, was formed into a new township," known as Wabash. This township, when erected, extended north to the "Old Treaty Line," but when Auglaize county was formed nearly two miles of the northern part of this township was struck off to Mercer county. Brown township was organized in December, 1833, and was taken from Richland; and is six miles long from north to south, and five miles in width from east to west. For a history of the early settlements of these townships the reader is referred to an extended history of this county pub- lished several years ago
CHILDREN'S ORPHANS' HOME-COUNTY INFIRMARY.
However, since the publication of that volume, our people have purchased a tract of land and erected thereon a large and
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commodious brick building, known as the Children's Orphans' Home, and the same is now occupied by the children of the county who are public charges, a superintendent, matron and teachers having charge of them, and who supply all their wants. Our County Infirmary, in addition to the Children's Home, is located two and a half miles south of the county seat; is a large, three-story building, with basement, furnace, dairy, a never failing spring of cold water that is utilized, and a large and commodious frame barn, lately built, in which can be stored all the grain and hay raised on the place. This institution is under the control of an efficient superintendent and matron, who give personal attention to the wants of the inmates. Many of these are incapable of attending to their own wants and must be cared for as little children. The average number in attendance during the year is now about one hundred. Before the children were removed to the "Home," want of room compelled them to associate with these unfortunates, whose habits of life and language were not intended to exert that influence for good, that should always surround the child. Thus situated, our poor of all ages are well cared for, and the increased prosperity of our people enables them to pay the expenses of these institutions without considering them a burden.
RAILWAYS.
There now pass through- the county six trunk lines of standard gauge railroads and one narrow gauge, and we may say these roads are so located in the county that they furnish a convenient market for all the grain and produce raised, as well as a cheap and convenient mode of travel to all the citizens of the county. We may add that there are about forty towns and villages in the county, nearly all of which are surveyed and platted, and a number of them are incorporated. Enterprising wholesale merchants have their employees visit these towns almost daily, bringing the necessaries of life to the local trades, who, in turn, purchase all the products the farmer or manufacturer produces for the market ; so that every citizen of the county finds, almost at his own door, a ready market for the results of his skill and industry. This
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convenience has enabled the farmer to clear his land, construct his ditches and drains, so that thousands of acres upon which was found the marshy peat bogs, into which if man or beast ever entered it was at the risk of never getting out, and the slashes and swamps, which for many years were under water varying in depth from one to four or five feet, have been entirely drained for agricultural purposes; and these tracts to day are the best producing lands in the county. These drained lands are located wherever streams of water are found in the county, and by this united effort, as it were, of all the farmers in the county thus interested, there is to-day comparatively little land that is not utilized by the farmer. What is said of draining lands, is equally true in the building of roads, so that to-day there is scarcely a public wad in the county of general use but that is gravdled and in good repair.
The thrift of the farmer is also shown in the substantial brick dwelling-houses, built in modern style and conveniences; the large barns constructed in a similar manner; the farm implements built from the latest patent, and well cared for and kept in repair; the improved breed of live stock, of all kinds, and the increased care taken of the same, all prove that the farmers of Darke county are to-day alive to their best interests, and that the new methods of farming and stock-raising bring them better returns, with less labor, than ever before. To show the general condition of the county at the present time, we give the report of the Darke County Agricultural society to the State Board, the . . last report published :
REPORT OF DARKE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
"Darke county has again been blessed with good crops of every kind of farm products but winter wheat, which was both poor in quality and yield. The corn crop was exceedingly good,
and as this is the most profitable crop for .our .farmers we congratulate ourselves on our good luck. The crop will be mostly fed to hogs where they can be kept free from discase, which is the great detrident to feeding. As usual . we have the sure cure (professedly), but in all cases it fails. "There is no other disease affecting any of the other families of live stock any more than
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usual. The same spirit of enterprise was manifested in improving the stock of our county at our last fair in September, there being some of the finest specimens of roadsters and draught-horses exhibited in the state, the most of which are owned here in the county. The winter wheat , prospect is good at this time of
writing. All public institutions of learning and charity are -well
cared for. The county has wisely provided a home for the orphan children of the county, which will be completed in a few months, at a cost of $25,000, where all needy and helpless children can go and be properly clothed, fed and educated. The keeping in repair of our free turnpikes is well done, and it cannot be truthfully said that they are on the decline. The cleaning out and cutting of new water channels for the better draining of our rich valleys is still going on, the farmers having learned by experience that one acre of good, thoroughly drained bottom-land. is far superior to the same amount of upper-land. Another great thing that has been done for the county, is the condemning of all the old water rights used in former years for milling purposes."
COUNTY OFFICERS --- TAXATION. 4
With this general statement of the advancements made in all departments of industry. we will add that for the past twenty years the increase of the county in wealth has been wonderful .. By a reference to the tax duplicate and report of the State Auditor, for the year 1888, we find that the real and personal property for the city of Greenville, listed for taxation, . was $2,669,770, and for the balance of Greenville township $2, 294,790 : total for the township and city $4,964,560; and that the tax duplicate for. the entire county was $23,261,900. While as a general thing there is a steady increase in the wealth of
the county, this is not the case with all localities. The taxable property in the townships of Harrison, Neave, Wayne, Jackson and Patterson, was less in 1888 than in 1887, and the same was true of the towns of New Madison, Palestine, Versailles and Union City; but this may be accounted for in the change in location of personal property, the care taken by the assessors in omitting no property that diligence and care will place upon the assessory' books, and in being sure that all property-holders were called upon. A good idea of the progress our citizens have made in this respect may be obtained by reference to the expenses of
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