USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 2
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1016
Houston, Robert
538
Houston, Thomas F
1016
Houston, William L.
1016
784
Howett, Daniel
895
964
Kissell. Samuel J.
684
Humbarger, John W
915
Kisseli,
Silas
684
Humbarger, Wm.
915
Hunt, James M.
525
Hunt, Ralph 574
Kitchin, James H.
555
Kneisly, Aaron
876
Hunt, Maj. William
574
Hunter, Lemuel
771
Kneisly. Daniel
876
Hunter, Williar
771
Kobelanz, Frederick
956
Hurd, Alva B ..
910
Kobelanz, John H.
956
Hyslop, William W.
1022
PAGE
Johnson, Rev. E. Roger 938
Hauk, Columbus B
996
Hauk, James N.
996
Hays, Edward A. 768
Hays, Samuel
768
Heistand, Abraham C.
863
Heistand, Christian L
881
Jones, F. O ...
637
Jones, Rooney W.
1026
Jones, Newton
1027
Jones, William Wallace
753
Little. Joel L ..
985
Jones, Z. B ..
692
Kappenbarger, Conrad 948
Kauffman, Christian
1021
Kauffman, Mrs. Elizabeth 824
Kauffman, Levi
1020
Lowry,
729
Kay, Charles S.
92S
Kay, Dr. Isaac 1018
Kedzie, George 1015
Keifer, Benjamin F 787
Keifer, Horace C.
781
Keifer, Joseph
556, 787
Keifer, Hon. J. Warren 556
Keifer, William
534
Kelly, Edwin S
862
Kelly, John
594
Kelly, Hon. Oliver S 593
Kelly, O. W. 595
Kennedy, Dr. George F 541
Horner, William R
534
Kershner, James K.
975
Kiblinger, Daniel
1007
Kiblinger, Jacob M.
1007
King, David, Sr.
905
King, Robert Q.
906
Kinnane, James J.
Kissell, Harry S.
Howett, Joseph R.
895
Kitchin. Erasmus J
555, 762
Kitchin, J. Forest
534
Hunt, Dr. Richard
537
Kitchin, Stephen
762
Malone. James B.
535
Martin, Abraham
958
Jones, Clark E.
752
Link, A.
534
Hinkle, Michael
864
12
INDEX
PAGE
Martin, Christian
588
Martin. David
958
Martin, Emanuel J
588
Neer, Nathan
821
Prince, Benjamin F 1032
Pringle, Thomas J.
531
Procter, Joseph R.
917
Proctor, William
917
Prosser, George
950
Prosser, John S. 950
Rabbitts, Charles 899
Rabbitts, James H. 633
Rabbitts, William S 747
Rader, Michael
635
Rader, Philip 635
Rankin, Jame
589
Rankin, John
589
Rankin, Stacy B. 589
Rawlins, George C. 532
Ray, John 1025
Ray. Lewis
1025
Redmond, Harry G. 828
Redmond, Judson
828
Reynolds, Henry
586
Reynolds, Dr. John H. 586
Overholser, William H.
988
Reynolds, William W
995
882
Rice, William 684
Richards, Edward 782
Richards, John A. 782
Richardson, George C.
529
Ricks, John T. 945
Ridgely, Charles T.
1045
Ritchie, Charles N.
1024
Parsons, John W
955
Ritchie, Edward H.
983
Partington, Charles
1012
Robbins, Dr. James
538
Roberts, James H ..
669
Roberts, Reuben M.
628
Roberts, Thomas H.
669
Robinson, Walter E. 535
Rockel, Adam 677
Rockel. Henry 732
Rockel, Peter
677
Rocke!, William M. 677
Rockhill, C. B.
530
Rodgers, A. D.
525
Rodgers, Dr. John H. 543
Rodgers, Richard H. 857
Rodgers, Dr. Robert 541
Rodgers, Robert C. 835
Rogers, William A
517, 525
Rolfes. Frank H ..
698
Rolfes, Frank H., Sr. 698
Roller, Charles E. 836
Roller, Sylvanus 836
Mumford, William H. .1023
Murdock, Dr. William 538
Nave, Enoch K. 671
Phillips, Lewis
764
PAGE
Nave, Jacob, Jr. 671
Neer, William H. 821
Needham, Dr. William A.
537
Neff, Jacob
791
Neff. Jacob, Sr.
792
Newberry, W. S. 530
Nickelson, Andrew 937
Nickelson, Charles
937
Nisley, Charles L.
.1048
Norton, Percy
530, 535
Oglevee, J. F. 530
Olinger, C. S. 855
Olinger. George W 976
Olinger, Joseph
976
Olinger, William H.
978
Otstot, Daniel 780
Otstot. John 1031
Merritt, Edward
880
Michael, Adam
756
Michael, Alexander
1018
Michael, Simon
756
Michael, Walter S
1018
Mickle, Charles E.
1046
Miller. Charles D. 957
Miller, Charles R. 956
Miller, Dayton
956
Miller, Emanuel 1006
Miller, Dr. E. Calvin 755
Miller, J. J.
530, 535
Miller, John M.
1006
Miller, Joseph
755
Miller, Moses
956
Miller, Oliver H.
535
Miller, Oliver J
702
Miller, Samuel
702
Miller, Seba H.
535
Miller. William
965
Minnich, Cassius
W.
783
Minnich, John
783
Minnich, Peter 844
Minnich, Thomas B .. 844
Milligan. Hon. Melvin L. 1029
Mills. John 836
Mitchell, James B 583 Mitchell, Ross 583
Mitzel, Jacob 869
Morris, Charles E. 524
Mosher, F. E ..
664
Perrin. John M.
789
Petre. Charles H.
741
Muff, Stewart A. 1055
Petre, Lewis
741
Mumford, Tunis F 1023
Phleger. Edward
854
Piles, James S ..
530
Plummer, John L .. 535
Martin, Oscar T.
532
Martin, P. B ..
530
Martin, Paul C
535
Martin, William A 644
Martz, B. F.
530
Mason, Rodney
525
Mason, Gen. Samson
525
Mast, Hon. Phineas P.
886
Mattinson, Thomas
859
Maughan, Patrick L.
656
Maughan, Patrick
656
Maxson, Jesse I.
996
Mellinger, Benjamin F
961
Mellinger, Harry S
839
Mellinger, John E.
961
Mellinger, John H.
839
Merritt, Charles H.
880
Otstot, John F
987
Otstot, William
1031
Otstot, William T
780
Owen, De. Edward 538
Overholser, Moses
988
Oxtoby. Henry 1049
Paden. James
625
Paden, W. O. 625
Paine, Thomas
A
984
Parmenter, J. W. 939
Parrish, Orrin
516
Parsons, Israel
955
Partington, James
1012
Patric, Charles E
697
Patric, Richard F.
697
Patterson. Charles H 842
Patterson, Malcolm H. 842
Patton, Dr. William B.
861
Pearson, Joseph
930
Pearson, William 930
Pease, Calvin
515
Pierce, Darwin 920
Pierce. Edwin
920
Pemberton, Philip E
762
Pengnite, James
567
Penquite, Samuel H. 567
Penquite. William
.567
Phleger. Edward C.
848
Ruby, Harry W
618
Phleger. John L. 854 Runyan, George 55]
Runyan, Henry
800
Nave, Jacob, Sr ..
671
Pierce. Charles H.
603
Runyan, J. Milton
SUO
PAGE
Mower, Jacob Krieder 522
Rice, Claude F
13
INDEX
PAGE
Runyan, Thomas W. 551
Snyder, Fred 816
Snyder, Henry .843, 858
Snyder, John Jacob
816
Thomas, A. H.
662
Snyder, Samuel
957
Thomas, Hon. John H. 549
Thomas, Thomas P
860
Thomas, William 860
Thomas, Hon. William S. 896
'Tindall, Robert A.
789
Tindall, Thomas 789
Tippie, George J. 984
Titus, Harley 872
Titus. James
P
S72
Todd, James
761
Todd, Samuel A.
761
Todd, William
75S
Torbert, Hon. James L ... 516, 523
Toulmin, Harry A. 914
Troupe, Toppy
657
Trout, John F 716
Trout, Joseph
1002
Trout, O. B.
535
Trout, Philip 716
Troxell, William 048
Turner, Edwin B. 779
Tuttle, Caleb 864
Tuttle, George
831
Tuttle, George
767
Tuttle, Rev. Harvey H. 707
Tuttle, Isaac
742
Tuttle, Jacob
770
Tuttle, James O
630
Tuttle, John 712, 742
Tuttle, Sylvanus 630, 707
Tuttle, William E
831
Tuttle, William H.
877
Tuttle, W. F.
633
Twichell, Clayton H.
642
Twichell, Smith S.
641
Ulery, Rev. George 740, 834
Ulery, Isaac
834
Ulery, Joseph 1036
Ulery, Mrs. Mary Ann 716
Ulery, Samuel
740
Underwood, J. B.
525
Vale, William S 1052
Van Bird, A.
811
Van Bird, Silas
811
Van Horn. Joseph 726
Verity, Henry 979
Verity, Luella 979
Verity, Sarah E 979
Vinal, Harvey
525
Voges, Herman
757, 758
Volmer, Jacob
1000
Wade, C. E ..
725
Waddle, Joseph M.
593
PAGE
Thackery, Joseph H. 779
Thackery, William 646
Russell, Hugh 998
Russell, Hugh, Sr. 999
Scarff, John J. 897
Scarff, William N. 897
Schaefer, Henry L.
693
Schaefer, Leonard
693
Schaffner, John D.
774
Schaffner, Peter
774
Schaus. W. H. 854
Schuster, C. A. 919
Scifers. Reuben
962
Scott, W. A.
530
Seitz, Amos
617
Seitz, Andrew
617, 827
Seitz, Henry
828
Seys, Dr. H. H.
543
Sharon, Joshua D
529
Sharp, John 928
Shellabarger, David E 927
Shellabarger, Ephraim 927
Shellabarger, George 953
Shellaharger, Isaac 953
Shellabarger, Samuel
526
Sherlo, Garrett 769
Shouvlin, P. J.
870
Showers, Frank
530
Shroyer, David
808
Sieverling, William H. 629
Silvers, Eli F.
817
Skillings, Eben
Skillings, Lewis
748
607
Slaughter, George
840
Smith, Adolphus H. 991
Smith, Amos 562
Smith, Arthur Z. 965
Smith, Charles C .. 937
Smith, Christian M. 887
Smith, David J
645
Smith, Eli 563
Smith, Howard S.
740
Smith, J. Quincy
645
Smith, Lewis H. 701
Smith, Oscar I
701
Smith, Peter
887
Smith, Roger V
535
Smith, Russell
878
Smith, Seth W 699
Smith, T. A .. 878
Tarbutton, Jesse 802
Tatman, Joseph
516
Tateman, Stewart L. 738
Taylor, Birch R.
913
Taylor, Daniel R.
849
Taylor, John
966
Taylor, Lewellen
966
Snyder, Felty
797
Tehan, George W
535
PAGE
Snyder, Steven D 797
Snyder, William L 858
Spence, George 885
Spence, George
526
Spence, Mark 885
Stackhouse, W. H. 988
Stafford, Finley 680
Stafford, George
938
Stafford, Horace W. 535
Stafford, Joseph H.
680
Stafford, Robert F.
938
Steinbarger, George S .1041
Stevans, Dr. W. G. 763
Stewart, Chase
562
Stewart, Charles F 922
Stewart, David W 898
Stewart, Earl
535
Stewart Family
561
Stewart, Frank E.
638
Stewart, James G. 535
Stewart, John T. 1009
Stewart, Oscar N 636
Stewart, Perry 898
Stewart, Perry H.
636
Stewart, Samuel 562
Stewart, William C 674
Stickney, John
875
Stickney, Henry 875
Stickney, William T. 875
Stipp, Abraham
682
Stipp, Martin L ..
682
Stockstill, Dr. J. N.
538
Stoner, Adam 894
Stone, Dr. John C. 538
Stotts, Roscoe G., M. D.
841
Stroup. Jesse
554
Studebaker, Peter
655
Studebaker, Samuel
655
Sullivan, John W.
1043
Sultzbach, Howard
1008
Sultzbach, Joseph
941
Sun, Gus
888
Swaidner, John S.
694
Swan, Joseph R ..
516
Swartzbaugh, Theodore
934
Snaufer, Jacob 643 Snodgrass, Andrew 784 Snodgrass, Joseph F 783
Snyder, Christian 858
Snyder, D. H.
843
Snyder, Eli
797
Rust, Daniel 1048
14
INDEX
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Willis, W. 530
Yakey, C. F. 530
Walhay, William 856
Wilson, H. Blair 525
Yeazell, Abraham 577
Walhay, Wilson 856
Wilson, John H. 618
Yeazell, George 577
Walker, Willis S. 530
Wilson, Hugh 826
Yeazell, Jacob
564
Wilson. Michael B. 714
Yeazel, John A. 564
Wallace. Tra W. 718
Wallace, Thomas D 1050
Weaver, Joseph
822
Weaver, Hon. Walter L.
909
Weigel, Benjamin F 687
Welty, J. Jerome
535
West, David E
790
West, Louis 790
Wheeler, Ebenezer 665
Wheeler, Elliott D. 665
665
Wood, Isaiah
725
White, Fletcher
530
Wolf, Amos
530
White, William
517, 525
Wickham, Henry
666
Wildman, Alvin E. 900
Wildman, Edward
903
Zimmerman, George
929
Wildman, John
900
Zimmerman, John L. 673
Zimmerman, Samuel
929
Zinn, Gold W.
616
Willis, F. W
530
Xanders, William
572
Zinn, Peter S.
616
Ziegler, George L. 921
535
Wren Co., The Edward 1049
Wren, James K. 1049
Wildman, William 903
Wilkinson, John A. 799
Xanders, Enos W 572
Young. Lemuel L. 745
Young, Luther F. 524, 535
White, Charles R.
518
Wood. James J. 1050
Zeller, John M. 907
Zerkle, Samuel S. 1038
Wraight, Henry G. 798
Young, Dr. H. H. 541
Wise, John H. 798
Young, Jacob 745
Wise. Lewis
798
Young, John 841
Witmeyer, W. W 535
Wood, Albert
725
Winger, Hon. Amaziah
611
Yeazell, William
606
Winger, Jacob
612
Young. Charles Adam 841
Winwood. Dr. Benjamin 542
Young, Charles Addison 945
Wise. Charles F 1005
Yeazell, Joseph Milton 576
Wilson, Michael
714
Wilson. William S. 826
Yeazell. William M. 606
Wallace. Edward S 531
Waddle, William 593
Wheeler, John
Wray, Edmund
595
Wray, William
595
Zimmerman, Albert
L.
Illustrations
1
PAGE
American Seeding Co.
162
Amphitheatre-Fair Grounds
296
Ansted & Burk Company's Plant.
174
Arcade Building, Springfield
408
Black Opera House
192
Bookwalter Block, Springfield
408
Bretney Tannery, Springfield
192
Bridge Across Mad River
98
Buckingham Block, Springfield
408
Bushnell Block, Springfield
520
Bushnell School, Springfield
466
Center Street M. E. Church, Springfield 488
Central Engine House, Springfield
528
Chillicothe Street, So. Charleston
328
Champion Chemical Company's Plant
184
Champion Works, International Harvester Co.
212
City Building, Springfield
150
City Hospital, Springfield
434
Clark, Gen. George Rogers
66
Clark County Children's Home 434
Clark County Court House 150
Clark County Infirmary
150
Clark Memorial Home for Aged Women
296
Clark County Historical Society Building
118
Country Club, Springfield
296
County Officers' Building 150
Crowell Publishing Co's Building, Springfield
408
East Side Main Street, New Carlisle
340
Elmwood School, Springfield
466
Factory Street Engine House, Springfield
118
Fairbanks Buildings and Lagonda Bank, Springfield 520
Friends' Meeting House, Selma 328
First Congregational Church, Springfield
502
First Baptist Church, Springfield
38, 488
First Lutheran Church, Springfield
488
First Presbyterian Church, Springfield
488
Foos Manufacturing Company's Plant
136
Foos Gas Engine Co., Springfield 174
Gen. Whiteman's Old Stone House, Clifton 244 Gotwald Building, Springfield 520
Harmer, Gen. Josiah
66
Harrison, Gen. William H.
66
High School Building, Springfield
PAGE
520
High Street M. E. Church, Springfield
118
High School, So. Charleston
328
House Built by John Paul
244
High School, Plattsburg
350
Hotel, Catawba
340
Jesse Boyd Hotel
98
Jefferson School, Springfield
466
Johnson Building (Wren's Store) Springfield
520
Judge Halsey Property, Springfield
38
Kelly Plant, Springfield
212
King Building. Springfield
408
Knights of Pythias Home
202
Lagonda Club, Springfield
434
Masonic Building, New Carlisle
340
Masonic Home, Springfield
434
Mast, Foos & Co., Plant, Springfield
192
Metallic Casket Co.
162
M. E. Church, Catawba
502
M. P. Church, Catawba
340
New Sun Theatre, Springfield
192
New Zimmerman Building, Springfield
520
Odd Fellows' Home, Springfield
202
Oesterlen Orphans' Home
118
Oil Mill on Buck Creek
270
O. K. House
270
Old Brick House, W. Main St., Springfield 192
Old Cartmell Residence, Pleasant Township
'244
Old City Hall, Springfield
38
Old Court House
38
Old Episcopal Church
118
Old Mill at New Carlisle
244
Old Pennsylvania House, Springfield
270
Old Saw Mill
270
Old Schoolhouse-Hopewell School
98
Peoples' Home, Plattsburg
350
Post Office, Springfield
528
P. P. Mast & Co's Office, Springfield
408
P. P. Mast Plant, Springfield
192
Presbyterian Church, So. Charleston
328
Present Station House, Springfield
528
16
INDEX
RESIDENCES.
ยท PAGE
Battin, Samuel R., Madison Township 118
Bushnell, Mrs. A. S., Springfield 540
Crowell, J. S., Springfield
540
Evans, Milton L., German Township. 981
Foos, William, Springfield
78
Geron, Peter, Moorefield Township 759 Haddix, Frank, Mad River Township 952
Hodge, Asa W., Moorefield Township 720
Mast, P. P., Springfield
78
Mitchell, Ross, Springfield
78
Parmenter, J. W., Springfield 78
Roller, Charles E., Bethel Township 837
Thresher, John, Lagonda, Springfield 244
St. Bernard's Church, Springfield
502
St. Charles' (Catholic) Church, So. Charleston
502
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur
66
St. John's Lutheran Church, Springfield
502
St. Raphael's (Catholic) Church, Springfield
488
St. Raphael's School, Springfield
118
School Building, New Carlisle 340
Selma Special School, Selma
466
Soldiers' Monument, Springfield
150
Sinking Creek Church, Springfield Township
244
Snyder Mill, Springfield Township
270
Springfield Malleable Iron Co
162
PAGE
Springfield in 1832
98
Stand Pipe, Springfield
38
Town Hall, Catawba
340
Town Hall, Clifton
98
Thomas Manufacturing Co., Springfield
350
'Travelers' Rest, Springfield Township
270
United Presbyterian Church, Springfield
488
View in Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield.
296
View in Snyder Park
2296
View on Little Miami, near Clifton 296
Warder Public Library, Springfield 434
Water Works Pump House, Springfield
528
Wayne, Gen. Anthony
66
Western School, Springfield
38
Wickham Piano Plate Co., Springfield
350
WITTENBERG COLLEGE, FOUR VIEWS OF 384
Dormitory
Hamma Divinity Hall
Main College Building Zimmerman Library
Y. M. C. A. Building, Springfield
502
Y. W. C. A. Building, Springfield
434
history of Clark County.
CHAPTER I.
PREHISTORIC MATTER.
A Tale of the Airly Days-Geological Formation-Limestone Formation-Coal, Oil, and Gas-Glacial Drift-Singular Growth of Timber-Prehistoric Man -Prehistoric Animals-Mounds and Mound-Builders-The Bechtle Mound.
A TALE OF THE AIRLY DAYS.
Oh! tell me a tale of the airly days- Of the times as they ust to be;
"Piller of Fi-er" and "Shakespear's Plays"
Is a'most too deep for me!
I want plane facts, and I want plane words,
Of the good old-fashioned ways,
When speech run free as the songs of birds
'Way back in the airly days.
Tell me a tale of the timber-lands- Of the old-time pioneers;
Somepin a pore man understands With his feelin's 's well as ears. Tell of the old log house,-about The loft, and the puncheon flore-
The old fi-er place, with the crane swung out,
And the latch-string through the door.
Tell of the things just as they was- They don't need no excuse!
Don't teach 'em up like the poets does, Tel theyr all too fine fer use !-- Say they was 'leven in the fambily- Two beds, and the chist below, And the trundle-beds that each helt three, And the clock and the old bureau.
Then blow the horn at the old back-door Tel the echoes all halloo,
And the children gethers home onc't more, Jest as they ust to do:
Blow fer Pap tel he hears and comes, With Tomps and Elias, too,
A-marchin' home, with the fife and drums And the old Red, White and Blue!
1
20
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
Blow and blow tel the sound draps low As the moan of the whipperwill,
And wake up Mother, and Ruth and Jo, All sleepin' at Bethel Hill : Blow and call tel the faces all Shine out in the back-log's blaze,
And the shadders dance in the old hewed wall
As they did in the airly days. Riley.
GEOLOGICAL FORMATION.
In a work of this character only a cur- sory view of the geological formation of the county could properly be given.
According to the geological map of Ohio, the dividing course of the lower and upper silurian rock are within the bounds of this county, the entire bed rock of Ohio being. Trenton limestone, which is the first in formation in the lower silu- rian period. This rock takes its name from a picturesque and well-known local- ity in Trenton Township, Oneida County, New York. It has generally been re- corded in Ohio as being found at a depth of from one to two thousand feet.
The Utica Shales are the second in for- mation after the Trenton limestone and Professor Orton says, "In the wells of Springfield, Urbana, and Piqua it is found in undiminished thickness, but in some more calcareous in composition."
As to what may properly constitute the geological scale applicable to Ohio, the following is taken from a work of Prof. Orton :
"A brief review of the scale and struc- ture of the State will here be given, but before it is entered upon, a few funda- mental facts pertaining to the subject will be stated.
"1. So far as its exposed rock series is concerned, Ohio is built throughout its whole extent of stratified deposits or, in other words, of beds of clay, sand and limestone, in all their various gradations, that were deposited or that grew in water, There are in the Ohio series no igneous nor metamorphic rocks whatever; that is, no rocks that have assumed their present form and condition from a molten state or that, subsequent to their original for- mation, have been transformed by heat. The only qualification which this state- ment needs pertains to the beds of drift by which a large portion of the State Is covered. These drift beds contain boul- ders in large amount, derived from the igneous and metamorphic rocks that are found around the shores of Lake Supe- rior and Huron, but these boulders are recognized by all, even by the least ob- servant, as foreign to the Ohio scale. They are familiarly known as 'lost rocks' or 'erratics.'
"If we should descend deep enough be- low the surface we should exhaust these stratified deposits and come to the granite foundations of the continent which con- stitute the surface rocks in parts of Can- ada, New England and the West, but the drill has never yet hewed its way down to these firm and massive beds within our boundaries.
"The rocks that constitute the present surface in Ohio were all formed in water, and none of them have been modified and masked by the action of high tempera- tures. They remain in substantially the same condition as that in which they were formed.
"2. With the exception of the coal seams and a few beds associated with
21
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
them, and of the drift deposits, all the formations of Ohio grew in the sea. There are no lake or river deposits among them, but by countless and infallible signs they testify to a marine origin. The remnants of life which they contain, often in the greatest abundance, are decisive as to this point.
"3. The sea in which or around which they grew was the former extension of the Gulf of Mexico. When the rocks of Ohio were in process of formation, the warm waters and genial climate of the Gulf extended without interruption to the borders of the great lakes. All of these rocks had their origin under such con- ditions.
"4. The rocks of Ohio constitute an orderly series. They occur in widespread sheets, the lowermost of which are co- extensive with the limits of the State. As we ascend in the scale the strata con- stantly occupy smaller areas, but the last series of deposits, viz., those of the Car- boniferous period, are still found to cover at least one-fourth of the entire area of the State. Some of these formations can be followed into and across adjacent States, in apparently unbroken continu- ity. .
"The edges of the successive deposits in the Ohio series are exposed in innumer- able natural sections, so that their true order can generally be determined with certainty and ease.
"For the accumulation and growth of this great series of deposits vast periods of time were required. Many millions of years must be reckoned in any rational explanation of their origin and history. All of the stages of this history have practically unlimited amounts of past
time upon which to draw. They have all gone forward on so large a scale, so far as time is concerned, that the few thou- sand years of human history would not make an appreciable factor in any of them. In other words, five thousand years or ten thousand years make too small a period to be counted in the formation of coal, for example, or in the accumulation of petroleum, or in the shaping of the surface of the state through the agencies or erosion."
LIMESTONE FORMATION.
The limestone cropping out around the City of Springfield and west along Mad River, and in some other places of the county is what is known as Niagara shale, and constitutes some of the finest build- ing stone and lime to be found anywhere, and in the geological survey of Ohio it is spoken of as follows:
"We come next to what has been de- nominated the Springfield Stone, viz .: the building-stone courses which form so con- stant an element in the Niagara rocks of Ohio at this horizon. It is separated from the West Union limestone by a distinct boundary. As this portion of the series is so well developed and exhibited in the Springfield quarries, it seems appropriate to designate it as the Springfield lime- stone, and this name has accordingly been attached to this division in all portions of Southwestern Ohio in which it is shown. It is a prominent member of the Highland County series, as will be seen in the report of the geology of that county, subserving there the same purpose as a building stone that it does here.
"The Springfield limestone is a mag-
22
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
nesian carbonate, containing generally atmospheric agencies. The drab courses about fifty per cent of carbonate of lime, are almost all durable building stones in all ordinary situations. Making up as they do the bulk of this division, they fur- nish an invaluable supply of building- stone to Springfield and the adjacent country." and forty per cent of carbonate of mag- nesia. Some of the remaining substances -- a small percentage of silica, and also of alumina-stand in the way of its be- ing burned into an approved lime. There is, however, no uniformity in its composi- tion. COAL, OIL AND GAS.
"The prevailing color of this rock in Clark County is a light drab, though sev- eral blue courses occur. To the south- ward, the rock is mainly blue. The desir- ability of the light-colored stone for fine work is sometimes lessened by faint red- dish streaks through its substance.
"The thickness of this division is never more than twenty feet, and seldom ex- ceeds fifteen feet in this portion of the state. At Holcomb's, it is thirteen feet. Like the other members of the series, it expands to the southward, reaching at Hillsboro its maximum in Ohio of forty- five feet.
"Beginning in the Springfield quarries at the bottom of the series, we find sev- eral heavy courses, from ten to eighteen inches thick, overlying the West Union cliff.' These lowest courses are blue in color, and, despite their massive appear- ance, are generally treacherous as build- ing-stones. Where exposed to the weather, they lose, in a few years, their dressed surfaces, their seams continually widen, and, in a word, they show them- selves to be undergoing a state of certain, though slow, disintegration.
"The blue courses generally, even when found above the lowest beds, show the same tendency, and should at least be carefully tested before being used in structures where they can be attacked by
The Carboniferous and Sub-carbonifer- ous formations in Ohio occupy the greater portion of the eastern and southeastern part of the state. Although numerous attempts have been made, no gas or oil has been found in this county in paying quantities.
In 1865 gas was discovered in Pike Township but not in paying quantities. After oil and gas had been discovered in the Lima district in 1884, the matter was again discussed and brought up in our county and Judge Mower and others became interested, and a well in the vicin- ity of the former one in Pike Township was again sunk, but only what is known as a "pocket" was discovered. This was in 1890.
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