USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 4
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Thus the dispute remained undetermined natil the adoption of the constitution and the establishineut of a State government.
Washington county, embracing the eastern half of the pres- ent State of Ohio, was the only organized county of the North- west Territory nutil carly in 1790, when the Governor proclaimel Hamilton county, which included all the territory between the Big and Little Miami rivers, and extending north to the "Stand- ing Stone Forks" on the first named stream.
The following is a list of all the Territorial counties organ- ized ; also the date of organization, with their respective county scats :
Counties.
When proclaimed.
County Seats.
1. Washington.
July 27, 1788
Marietta.
2. Hamilton
January 2, 1790.
Cincinnati.
3. St. Clair ... .
February, 1790
Cahokia.
4. Knox
In 1790,
Vincennes.
5. Rindolph.
In 1795.
Kaskaskia.
6. Wayne
August 15, 1795.
Detroit.
7. Adams
July 10, 1797
Manchester.
8. Jefferson ..
July 29, 1797
Ssenbeuville.
9. Il088.
August 20, 1797.
Chillicothe.
10. Trumbull.
July 10, 1800
Warren.
11.
Clermont
December 6, 1800
Willlamsbnrg.
12.
Fnirfickl.
December 9, 1800
New Lancaster.
13. Belmont
September 7, 1801,
St. Clairsville.
Done in the presence of John Beasley. James Titile.
13
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
By the organization of the ludiana territory, In 1800. the coun- tie- of St. Clair, Knox and Randolph were taken out of the juris- diction ot the Northwest Territory. The remaining nlne conn- ties are all that were organized by the Governor uuder the terri- torial government. The four'last nained of these counties, to-wit, Trumbull, Clermont, Fairfield and Belmont, were organized after the dispute originated between the Governor and territorin] Legislature, and the other five previously thereto. All the other counties have been established nuder State authority, since 1802.
ADAMS COUNTY-ITS ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES.
Adams was the fourth county organized in the State. It was named in honor of John Adams, the then President of the United States, Its boundaries were as follows:
"Beginning upon the Ohio, at the upper boundary of the traet of 24,000 acres of land granted to the French inhabitants of Gal- liopolis, by an act of the Congress of the United States, bearing date the third of March, 1795; thence down the said Olfio river, to the month of Elk river (generally known by the name of Eagle creek) ; thence up the principal stream of said Elk river, or Eagle ercek, to its source or head ; thence, by a dne north line, to the sontlern boundary of Wayne conuly. and cceterly along said boundary, so far that a due sonth line shall meet the interior point of the upper boundary of the aforesaid tract of land of twenty-four thousand acres, and with said boundaries, to the place of beginning.
Adams county, with these boundaries, embraced within its limits the whole of the following eight counties, to-wit: Pike, Ross, Fayette, Pickaway, Madison, Franklin, Union and Dela- ware, and parts of the twelve counties of Scioto, Highland, Brown, Clinton, Fairfield, Clark, Champaign, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Kuox and Licking.
On the 20th of August, 1798, the governor organized the county of Ross, which detached trom' Adams county all that por- tion of its territory lying north of a line beginning at the forty- second mile tree, on the line of the original grant of land by the United States to the Ohio company, which line was run by Isaac Ludlow, and running thence west, until it shall intersect a line to be drawn dne north from the mouth of Elk river. (commonly called Eagle creek) and from the point of intersection running north to the southern boundary of the county of Wayne ; and from tlience easterly with he said boundary of Wayne, until a north line be drawn from the place of beginning, shall intersect the sanie ; and if it showfu be found that a north line drawn from the place of beginning, will not intersect the said southern boundary of Wayne, then an enst line is to be drawn from the eastern ter- mination of the said boundary, until it shall intersect the afore- said north line to be drawn from the place of beginning."
'This territory was erected into a new county called Ross. It detached from Adams jabout three-fourtbs of its original terri- tory. At the same time the line between Adams and Hamilton counties was changed, so that it ran due north from the mnouth of Eagle creek, to the southi line of Ross county, instead of following the meanderings of the creek. This added something to the ter- ritory of Adams.
January 23, 1802, an act was passed directing surveyors to run and mark the dividing lines between Adains and Ross, bc- tween Adams and Clermont,, and between Ross and Clermont, aud between Ilamilton and Ross counties, but whether these sull'- veys affected the territory of Adams, we cannot ascertain.
By an act of the Legislature passou March 24, 1803, the fol- lewing territory was takeu from Adams and organized into a conuty, and named Scioto : "Beginning on the Ohio river, one mile on a straight line below the mouth of lower Irwin creek ; thence cast with the said county liue to the line of Washington county ; thence south with said line to the Ohio; theuce with the Ohie, to the place of beginning."
On the 18th day of February, 1805, Highland county was formed, which cut another slice from Adams county. This act detached from Adams, all that portion of its territory lying north of a liuc "beginning at the twenty mile tree, in the line between Adams and Clermont counties, which is run north from the month of Eagle ereck, on the Ohio river; and running thence cast twelve miles ; thence northeastwardly, until it intersects the line which was run between the counties of Scioto, Ross and Adams, at the eighteen mile trec from the Scioto river ; thenee northward- lý, &c."
An act was passed January 4, 1815, to create the county of, Pike, that sliced off a little more territory from Adams. The boundary lines of this new county commeuced at tho township line on the S ioto river, between townships three and four ; thence east, thence northward, and westwardly, &c., "to the Highland county line; thence with Highland county line to the north li :: c of Adams county ; thence with Adams connty line to the high- lands between the waters of Scioto, Brush creek and Sunfish ; thence southcasterly with .said HEghlands so far that an enst ilne will strike the beginning.""
An act was passed by the Legislature December 27, 1817, creating the county of Brown, with the following boundaries, to- wit : "Beginning at a polut elght miles due wost from the court bonne In West Uulon, In the county of Adams; thence running dne north to the Illghland county line; thence west with the Jlighland county line to Clermout county Ilne ; thence north with
Clermont county line to Clinton county line ; theuce, west with Clinton county line so far that a line running south will strike the Ohio river two miles ahove tlie month of Bullskin ereck ; thenice up the Ohio river, and with the sanie, so far that a line rimming due north will strike the point of beginning."
This cut off' from the west side of Adams a tier of townships, to-wit: Hun.ngton, Boyd and Eagle. It was the last territory taken off' the county.
As at present established, it has Highland and Pike counties on the north, Scioto on the east, the Ohio river dividing it from Kentucky on the south, and Brown county on the west. It is nbont twenty-five miles iu extent, both from north to south and from east to west, contains 550 square miles, and 352,000 acres of land.
TOPOGRAPHY-SOIL. AND PRODUCTIONS.
The surface is generally uneven or hilly-in the eastern part almost mountainons. It embraces a variety of soils, from the best to the poorest, n great proportion-especially in the eastern part- of the latter kind. The interior of the hills along Brush creek contain considerable amounts of iron ore. There were once three furunees aud a forge in operation along that stream, which did a considerable business, but the opening up of other mines, with better market facilities and perhaps with richer ore depos- its, made the working of these furnaces unprofitable, and they have long since ceased to exist.
The principal stream of water is Brush creek, which passes through the county from north to sonth. It has numerous tribu- taries that flow into it, mostly from the west side.
PRODUCTIONS.
Wheat and corn are the staple productions, and the stock rais- ed is mainly hogs and cattle. Although this method deteriorates the land, it seems hard for them to get out of the ways and raise more grass and sheep, to which this county is so well adapted.
TOBACCO.
The cultivation of tobacco, to which this land-especially in the eastearn part of the county-seems well adapted is a matter of growing importance, and rapidly' increasing. There is a consid- erable amount of money already derived from its production.
TIMBER.
All the hillsides and valleys in the eastern portions of the county, was, originally, densely covered with a heavy growth of valuable timber, which has yielded no inconsiderable amount of revenue to that section. The land, being rough and hilly, was not taken up until a comparatively recent perlod, and a vagrant. shiftless class of people squatted on it at an carly day, who cked ont a precarious living by cutting down the fine oak trees and peeling the bark, which was sold for tanning purposes, leaving the valuable bodies of the trees to decay. Since the land has been bought up, more economy has been used, by working the timber into cooper stuff, ufter selling the tan bark.
. The business of selling tan bark, staves, and hoop poles, is extensively carried on, and a large portion of tho revenue of the peaple of these eastern townships is derived from the sale of these articles, which are hauled to Rome and shipped by the river, in large amounts.
THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION.
The county was organized July 10, 1797, by Winthrop Sar- gent, Secretary of the territory, then acting Governor, in the ab- sence of Governor St. Clair, the then Governor of the northwest- ern territory. The first court was held in Manchester, in Sep- tember, 1797. The Secretary, in the absence of the Governor, alsu appointed commissioners to locate a county scat, who selected an out of the way place, a few miles above the mouth of Brush creek, which they called Adamsville. This place was where, tho village of Rome now stands-though so far as we can learn, np village was laid off there, or even were there more than a house at the place. It was impossible for the lawyers and parties attending court, to find a place of entertainment, or accommoda- tiumfor man or beast ; they in derision named the place "Scant." At the next session of the court, its members beenme divided, and part sat in Manchester and part at Adamsville. The Governor, on his return to the territory, finding the people in great confu- sion, and much bickering between them, removed the seat of jus- tice to the mouth of Brush creek, where the first court was heldl in 1798. IIere a town called Washington, was laid ont by Noble Grimes, on tho 15th day of April, 1802, on n survey of IIG. lots. A large hewed log court house was built, with a jail in the lower story, and the Governor appointed two more of the "scant" party judges, which gave them a majority.
In 1800, Charles Wylling Boyd, Secretary of the territory, in the absenec; of the Governor, appointed two more of the Manches- ter' party judges, which balanced parties, und the contest was maintained until West Uniou beenme the county seat, in 180%
In September, 1799, the first territorial Legislature, under the ordinance of Congress, of the 13th of July, 1787, for the govern- ment of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Oblo, convoned at Cincinnati. During that session, an act was
passed to remove the sent of justice for Adams county, from the month of Brush creek, to Manchester. By the ordinance afore- said, the Governor had a positive negative on the acts of the Leg- islature, and he being an European, and willing to exercise hiv power, refused to sign the law-and also ten other laws, passed by the legislature at the same session, mostly for the division and regulation of counties and seats of justice.
By this arbitrary exercise of power, by the Governor, the peo- ple and their representatives relinquished all hopes of effecting any internal regulations, under the territorial government, and looked forward, with anxiety, to the day, when, by the incronse of their numbers, they would be entitled to form a constitution and state government. It is believed that this arbitrary exercise of power by the Governor, under the territorial government, had a full share of influence with the members of the convention, who framed our constitution. in confining the powers of the Governor within such narrow limits. There was bnt one member of the convention who was willing to give the Governor a qualified ueg- ative upon the acts of the legislature. .
CHAPTER V.
TERRITORIAL TOWNSHIPS-ZANE'S OLD TRACE-EARLY RECORDS. .
TERRITORIAL TOWNSHIPS.
At the first court, held September, 1797, the county was di- vided into six townships, as follows: Cedar Hill, Manchester, Iron Ridge, Union, Scioto and Upper.
Cedar Hill began at the mouth of Eagle ereck, extended np the river to a point opposite the mouth of Cabin ercek at Law- son's Ferry, thence north to the northern boundary of the county, thence west on said line to the west liue of the county, thenco sonth to the place of beginning.
Manchester township began at the south-east corner of Cedar Ilill, opposite the month of Cabin creek, thence up tbe Olilo river to the month of Island creck, thence up that stream to the main forks, thence on the bighlands, between these main branches, to the highlands between Eagle ereck aud Bush creek, to a point where the Maysville and Wheeling road crossed said bighlands, between the waters of Lick Fork and Eagle creek, from thence north to the north line of the county, thence west ou said county line to the north-east corner of Cedar Hill township, thence south along that line to the place ot beginning.
Iron Ridge, probably so nanicd trom the vast deposits of Iron ore found in the hills of what is now Jefferson and Meigs town- ships, began at the south-east corner of Manchester, at Island creek, thence up the river to the first large branch above the mouth of Salt creek in Scioto county, tbence nearly nortirwardly. to the north line of the county, thence west to the Mauchester township line, thence south to the place of beginning.
The other three townships, Scioto, Uniou and Upper. were in the east side of the county, and were taken out iu 1803, to form Scioto county.
These townships remained until 1806, when the Commissiou- ers re-divided the county into townships, with new names. To- day there is but one that bears the old name-Manchester.
THE OLD ZANE TRACE.
This is probably the first laid off road in Ohio. In May, 1796, Congress passed a law authorizing Ebenezer Zane to opeu a road from Wheeling to Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky. The next year, 1797, Mr. Zane, accompanied by his brother, Jona- than Zane, and his son-in-law, John Melntire, both experienced woodsmen, proceeded to mark the uew road. This road passed through Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe, on the general route of the Maysville aud Chillicothe pike. It passed through Adams county, a little to the west and north of the village of West Union. The mail was carried over this route the next year, 1798, and it was probably the first mail route established in Ohio. This was nt tirst only a bridle path, and barely passable on horseback. It afterwards becume a great thoroughfare through Ohio, and was the route over which the southern statesmen- President Jackson and Henry Clay among others-passed on their way to Washington ejty. 7
EARLY RECORDS.
The first record we tind regarding the local affairs of the county, after its organization in July, 1797, is of a court of Quar- ter Sessions, held at Adamsville, in March, 1798. ..
At this court. Jmmes Scott, Henry Massie and Joseph. Dar- linton were appointed Commissioners, and Simeon Reeder, Aaron Moore, Noble Grimes, James Edison, Thomas Dick and John Watts, were appointed Assessors. S.
The Conunissioners and Assessors appear at this date, to have jointly, constituted a body for transacting the general buel- ness of tho county.
This body flrst niet for the transaction of business at Adams- vllle, on the 13th of Juno, 1798, but for lack of a quorum, they ad- journed to nicet at the same place on the 27th of Juno.
-
14
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO. .
At the appointed the. a q orum was present, and they pro- weded w appoint a clerk, when Joseph Darluton was selected for the position. They next proceeded to uppoint collectors of taxes for the several townships as follows: John B. Cionett, Upper low nship : David Mitchell, L'uion township; Stephen Beach, Iron Ridge township : Sammel Smith, Scioto township; John Ellison, Manchester township': William Ruins, Cedar Hill -township. Having calculated the amount of the public debt of the county and other necessary expenses, such us bullding jail, etc., they proceeded to make a levy of $2,400, to meet the same.
They next proceedrd to appoint coustubles to take a list of the axable property of their respective townships, und report the -ame to the board on the 9th of August, at the dwelling house of John Genen. in Manchesler.
They then adjourned Jo meet at the above mentioned place, August 9th.
The first record we tind of the existence of a Sheriff, is the pay mem of a bill of #38.50 to John Barnett, Sheriff; for taking Hugh MeDill to Cincinnati:
Augu4 9th. Commissioners met pursuaul to adjourmment and received the returns of the Assessors' and adjourned to meet at Manchester. Sept. 7th.
I'mmarried Men Taxed, But Don't Like to Pay .- At the September session, we find the lirst transaction recorded as follows :
" It appears to the satisfaction of the Commissioners. that John Crawford, of Iron Riige township, who was taxed as a single man, is married, and that his property is taxeil to and paid. by his sou, Moses Crawford. Ordered that his money be refunded."
At this session we find the following records of the Commis- -joners' transactions :
" George' Campbell, a single man, in Iron Ridge townsbip, who was taxed. this day proved to the satisfaction of the Con- missioners, that he was under age and is exonerated."
" Joseph White, of Iron Ridge, being taxed as a single man, proved by the oath of his father to be under age, Is exonerated." " George Rex, of Iron Ridge township, having produced tes- timony that he is under age, is exonerated."
" Return of persons subject to taxation. by Stephen Beach, collecter ot Iron Ridge township, who were omitted by tho Con- stable Assessor. to-wit :
Elijah Queen, a single man $1 00
Aaron Armstrong.
1 00
John Garvey. 1 00
Michael Stultz.
1 00
Jehin Sanders
Thomas Tolbert. 1 00
David Rupe 1 00
Joseph Wolsey. 1 00
The duplicates of those years, being lost, we are unable to as- certain the amount of revenue, this law brought into the county treasury each year.
MANCHESTER, Aug. 9th, 1798.
The Commissioners met agreeable to adjournment, 28th of June last, and were present, Ileury Massie and Joseph Darlinton, Commissioners. James Scott being appointed Commissioner at the General Court of Quarter Sessions at the March Term, this day exhibited a certificate of his qualification and took his cent First Orders Drawon on the Treasury .- "The following ac- counts against the county were presented to aud allowed by Com- missioners and Assessors, to-wit :
1. Samuel Harris and guards, for taking Patrick Craton, prisoner, from Chillicothe to Manchester. .$16 91%
2. Same, for taking Jacob Tolen, as above. 34 96
Sainc. for taking Thos. Thompson, as above. 36 00
Thomas McDonald, Constable, for guarding IIngh Mc-
Dill, from Chillicothe to Manchester. 22 41
5. . Juo. Barrett, Sheriff and guards for taking Hugh Mc- Dill to Cincinnati, etc. 38 50
6. Josiah Stout, Constable, for taking Peter Walker, etc .. 3 11
7. Sundry guards for keeping Hngh McDill.
20 25
The above is believed to be the first orders ever drawn upon the treasury of Adams county.
The first record we find of a Treasurer, Is an acconut of the county, with Israel Donaldson, Treasurer, commeneing Septem- ber 7th, 1798.
At a Court of General Quarter Sessions, held at Washington, in March, 1799, George Gordon and James Edison, were appointed Commissioners.
At the term heid at Washington, May 20th, 1799, Nathaniel Washburn was allowed for taking care of, and borying & sick man, who died at his house, $15 00.
They established the fec bill for Constables serving, war- rants and taking into custody 90 cta.
Serving Summons .....
20
Search warrant. .30
25
Execution 20
Summoning witnesses. 6
Advertising and selling property 90 Mileage ..
Returning any of the above precepts. 6
They also lasned warrants to Samuel funhook, rolfretor of
I'nden township, against the following persons:
John Limbsey, dr. .. .$i 00
Davld Alltchetl, Jr. 1 00
William Com, Jr. 1 00
A warrant was also issued ngninst Thos. Foster, of Man- choster, for $1 00.
Stephen Bench, collector of Iron Ridge, obtained warrants agalust the following persons :
John Garvey .$1 00
Isnar Stout 1 00
Audrew Williamson 1 00
Elljah têneen. . 1 00
William Peterson 1 00
Joseph Cnraway 1 00
The above are the taxes for 1798.
At the December session for 1799, Jno." Killin, colleclor for the same township (Iron Ridge) obtained warrants against a long list of delinquents among which we select the following :
Joseph Thoru. .$1 00
Robert Mitchell 1 00
William Newman 1 00
Phillip Lewis ..
1 00
Amos Dnuavan
1 00
John Conrod
1 00
Christian Waggoner
1 00
George Rex
1 00
John Burns
1 00
. Je'in Garey. 1 00
Robert Ralston 1 00
Providence Moore 1 00
John-Graves. 1 00
The foregoing ilems of one dollar set opposite each respec- tive nanie, was the " bachelor" tax. This class of men do not. nppear to have received much sympathy from the communlly- or enjoyed the respect of mankind-or woman-kind either for that matter. Scorned by "old maids"-for their obduracy, chased by constables, armed with warrants, intent to wring from them an nuwilling and distasteful tax-they seem to linve had no rights, that The unfeeling and tyrannical world felt " bound to respect."
But a brighter duy was soon to appear. The new constitu- tion presently formed, forever set at rest this annoyance, by pro- hiblting the assessment of a poll tax.
At tbo September session, 1799, John Barrett, Sheriff, for himself and gnards, while keeping Jacob Foley, prisoner, was al- lowed $17.93.
At a Court of General Quarter Sessions, held March 14th, 1800, George Gordon, James Edison and Joseph Kerr were ap- pointed Commissioners. Joseph Ken was appointed Secretary for the Board.
July Term, the Court of Common Pleas ordered the Treas- urer to pay John Barrett, Sheriff, $77.41 cosls.
At the same Term, Sheriff Barrett received two more orders, one for $59.55%, the other for $165.32, for costs.
John Davidson presented the certificate .of Sheriff Barretl, that Stephen Davidson had served 33 days as guard-for which an order was issued for $33.
.. .. At the September Term, in 1800,,the first bounty for a wolf scalp, $1.25, was paid John Callaway.
Two warrants for " bachelor tax ". were issued against Abra- . ham Johnson and Nathan Treaks.
At the July Terin, 1806, Noble Grimes was allowed $45, for furnishing rooms and repairing Court House. Isaac Wameley, Joseph Moore, Noble Grimes, and Jonathan Wamsley were al- lowed $1.25 each for killing wolves.
CHAPTER VI.
REMINISCENCES OF OUR PIONEERS-ISRAEL DONALDSON-JOHN ELLI- SON-ASAHEL EDGINGTON-CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL DONALSON. CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL. DONALDSON.
At the request of a number of friends I atlempt to give you. a brief account of my incidenls, very many of which it is not in my power to relate, having kept ne journal, I wrile eu- tirely from memory which every day is growing more indistinct. .. 'I was born in the county of Hunterdou, State of New Jersey, on the 2d day of February, 1767. Whilo quite small, my falher moved to.Cumberland county, in said State, where I was raised, received my education, and where we had perilous times during the revolutionary struggle. I was too young to take any part in It myself but capable of notleing passing events. I have known two companies to leave the house of worship during the service of one Sabbath to face the enemy.
In the fall of 1787, I left my native State to seck my fortune in western wilds. My first step was in Ohlo county, State of Vir- ginia, where I remained until the spring of 1790. Part of the time farming, part of the time teaching. school and part of the
time I was among the rangers, shallowed by the State of Virginia, at the old Mingo town, shout elghteon ar twenty miles above Wheeling.,
In May, 1790, I took massage on board of a fed-boat for Ken- treky, and urrived ut Ulmentope on the first night of June. I got into a pubile house but was not ablo to procure food, fire or u bed or any other nourishment but whiskey. A number of us that . had landed that evening went the night sitting in the room which was a grund one for those duys. (Query what should we. have done had the lemp. rance laws existed ut That time) ? There had, during the spring, been a great deul of misel, lef done on the river, but we saw no Indians. There were, however, In company ninetecu boals. Major l'arker, of Lexington, was our Admiral and Pilot. During the summer of that year I taught school in what is now called Haysville. During the winter of 1790 und '91 I became arquainled with Nathanlel Maysle, and In the spring of 1791 came to reside in his little fort in the then conury of Hamilton, north-western territory. At this time there w .. very little or no gospel in the territory and the usual inode of' se .. . tling disputes was by n gnme of fisticuffs. ard at the close, som .- tlines a part of a noso or car would be missing. A good stiff grey generally reslored harmony and friendship.
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