Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 9

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 9

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The sections of this survey are ir- regular, and generally contain more or less than 640 acres, according to the orig- inal plats. Those assumed to contain 640 acres generally overrun in modern sur- veys, as do the section lines. The mode of survey, though quite primitive, was a wonderful improvement on the

VIRGINIA MILITARY SURVEY.

Beyond the Little Miami and Ludlow's Line, the lands were taken up on warrants issued by Virginia to her soldiery. An

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irregular tract, estimated to contain the number of acres called for, was laid out by the surveyor where the claimant de- sired, the only rule being to keep off a previous survey. Even this rule could hardly be maintained, and the tracts often overlap. Each tract was numbered, but not the same as the land warrant. Some- times a tract bears two or more numbers. The surveys of these tracts are on record, but the recorded length of lines cannot be depended upon.

The Ludlow Line, which forms part of the boundary of the Military Lands, and the lands between the Miami Rivers, was run north from the headwaters of the Lit- tle Miami River, in a course at that time 20 west. Another line was run for the same purpose by Roberts, but afterward discarded. The beginning of this line is in Madison Township, and was supposed to run from the head waters of the Little Miami River to the head waters of the Scioto. However, now it only extends to a point where it intersects what is known as the Greenville treaty line, a few miles above Bellefontaine.

"PREEMPTION" LOTS.

"Preemption" lots are small parcels of land scattered here and there through the entire tract known as the Symmes' Purchase. The history of these lots seem to be this : During the time the surveyors were running out the public lands, if any member of the party, for himself or his principal, desired to select and secure a choice lot of land, he did so, and the lines and corners were immediately established by the surveyors in the field, and the "'field notes" of these special surveyors

were incorporated with the notes of the general survey, thus enabling the woul _ be owner to locate and describe his chosen tract at the Government Land office Nearly all of the old preemption lines and corners have disappeared, and are known only to the professional surveyor, who prizes them as monuments and reference data.

The surveyed townships are not iden- tical with the civil townships; for in- stance, the civil township of Springfield is composed of thirty-six sections (one entire township) known as "Town 5, Range 9," and fourteen whole and three fractional sections in Town 4, Range 9.

NAME AND BOUNDARY.

Just who suggested the name that should be given to this territory is a problem that remains hidden in the mys- teries of the past. It was certainly ap- propriate that some county in Ohio should bear down to posterity the name of that distinguished general who had done so much upon Ohio Territory in assisting the cause of the Revolution. And if any territory should be so named, what would be more appropriate than that that county which had within its borders the location of one of his most famous battles should be the favored one. The Act granting this county described the boundaries as follows :

"That so much of the counties of Champaign, Madison and Green as comes within the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, which shall be known by the name of Clark, to-wit: beginning on the line be- tween the counties of Miami and Cham-

HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

paign, on the north boundary of the fifth tier of sections in the tenth range be- tween sections thirty-five and thirty-six, thence east with the sectional line between the fifth and sixth tier of sections in said range, to the line between the United States land and the Virginia Military Land, thence eastwardly to the line of Madison County; thence southwardly to the line of Madison County to a point on said line six miles north of the southeast corner of Champaign County; thence diagonally so as to intersect the south line of Champaign County two miles west of the southeast corner of said county ; thence west with the line of Champaign County one mile; thence south five and a half miles into Madison County; thence west to the line of Greene County : thence to continue west five miles in said county of Greene; thence north one-half mile; thence west to the line between township four and five in the eighth range; thence north with said township line to the line between sections three and four; thence west with said sectional line to the line of the third township; thence north with said line to the sectional line between the fourth and fifth tier of sections in said range; thence westwardly with said line to the east line of Montgomery County ; thence north with the line between the counties of Miami and Champaign to the place of beginning."

The boundaries were afterwards changed in a slight manner near Clifton, so as to place the residence of General Whiteman in Greene County, he not de- siring to be cut off from that old county. This old residence is still standing a short distance east of Clifton. It will be observed in this description of Clark

County that it is taken from Greene, Champaign and Madison. An interesting question then will be, "What part of the present county was taken from these three ?"

The township line between Springfield Township and Green Township, extend- ed east and west, will form the dividing line of that which was taken from Cham- paign and that which was taken from Greene, that north having belonged to Champaign, and that south to Greene County.

When Champaign County was formed, a distance of six miles was added to it on the east from Franklin County, out of which latter county, Madison was after- wards formed.

This would have made a jog in the eastern boundary line of Clark County when taking in a part of Greene County, therefore with some slight changes the Clark County line was continued south in the same direction as its eastern boun- dary line, five and one-half miles into Madison County, and thence west through Madison County to the Greene County line, so that, about one-half or more of Madison Township off of its eastern end in this county was taken from Madison County. The county is twenty-nine miles long from east to west and about seven- teen miles wide from north to south and contains 412 square miles.

SELECTION OF COUNTY SEAT.

The establishment of Clark County from the counties of Greene, Champaign and Clark, was not the only question that the Legislature had to contend with at the time the county was organized. Quite

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a settlement had grown up on and near on this side of what is now known as the location of the Indian village of Snyders Station, and where the Valley Pike leaves the banks of Mad River to- ward the west. Piqua. This town was called New Boston, and it was a formidable rival to Spring- field in the settlement of the county seat of Clark County. NEW BOSTON.

General Keifer informs me that it lacked but two votes of being chosen as the seat of justice for our county, so we can well understand what a slight cir- cumstance, such as two votes, might have changed the destiny of our now thriving city of Springfield. Chosen as it was, the county seat, the people of Springfield had a double reason to be grateful and thank- ful for what the Legislature had then done.

In Mr. Martin's history of Springfield, it is said, "It will be sufficient to state here that the accomplishment of this ad- vanced movement was due largely to the efforts of Madox Fisher, who as a suc- cessful lobbyist visited Chillicothe, where the legislature was in session, and by per- suasive effort finally succeeded in having the bill passed which only provided that Springfield should be the county seat. When he returned from Chillicothe with news of the successful measure he was re- ceived with shouts of gratification.

As a reward for his efforts, Madox Fisher was appointed post-master, which at that time was an office more of honor than of profit.

That some must die that others may live is well illustrated in the fate of New Boston. It now exists not even in the memory of the present generation. By looking upon the map of Clark County gotten out by Colonel Kizer in 1850, it will be seen that this village is platted along Mad River, about 1% or 3/4 of a mile

New Boston was laid out by Henry Bailey in November, 1809. Jonathan Donnel was the surveyor. The inlots were 5 poles wide by 10 poles in length; the outlots 22x29 poles. The streets were four poles wide and the alleys one pole. This plat of Boston was abandoned by order of Court of Common Pleas of this county, December 13, 1866. Thus it will be seen that the New Boston like its pre- decessor Piqua has absolutely disap- peared; the part of Bethel Township in which it was located was a precinct des- ignated by the name of Boston. The following letter gives the best description of this town that I know of :

"Mr. T. F. McGrew-Dear Sir: If you wish to say anything in your address about Boston on the occasion of the cele- bration at the place where the town of Boston was located, I will here state what I remember of it in its prosperous days. Just after you pass the toll-gate, near the place named, the turnpike road turns more directly to the west, and it runs in nearly a straight line parallel with the river, until it slopes down to the lower lands forming the long stretch of river bottom. It was on this little piece of table land that the town of Boston was located. The old wagon road ran south and parallel with the present turnpike, and it was along this road in a single line that the town of Boston once stood. The houses were not more than ten or a dozen

HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

in number and they were scattered along the road for a distance of perhaps forty rods, most of them on the south side, and were nearly all built of logs. One house on the south side was a frame house, where a tavern was kept by a man by the name of French. The last house on the west end of the street was an old log house, when I first remembered the place, about the year 1818. It stood on the edge of the sloping ground that goes down abruptly into the prairie bottom. At that time there lived in this old house a man and his wife by the name of Powell, who always excited my boyish curiosity on ac- count of their extreme old age, as I then passed frequently through the village on my way to the house of my aunt, who lived a short distance below.

At this period of 1818, the town of Bos- ton was a competitor for the county seat of justice; and after it was located at Springfield, the town of Boston lost its prestige, and began its work of decline. The houses, poor at the best, one by one went into decay, and disappeared, and it must be at least a quarter of a century since the last one disappeared that stood there in 1818. The graves of some of its citizens are now inclosed with an old picket fence, near the decayed town's lo- cation.

Yours truly, John Ludlow."

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

We have already in giving a descrip- tion of the battle of Piqua and the im- portant events enacted in the northwest during the War of the Revolution, had occasion to speak of the distinguished

military talent and patriotism of George Rogers Clark; however, as our county received its name from him, it will cer- tainly not be inappropriate to give a more extended sketch than is contained in the places referred to.

George Rogers Clark was born in Al- bemarle County, Virginia, November 19, 1752, and died at Locust Grove, near Louisville, Kentucky, February, 1818. He was of a good, though not prominent fam- ily, and was a brother of Captain William Clark, whose great journey with Captain Lewis in their noted trip across the Rocky Mountains was one of the great distin- guishing events in the colonization of what is now known as the north and the northwest portions of this country. In honor of that event the World's Fair at Portland was held in 1905.

General Clark's education was the meager one offered by the cabin schools of Virginia in his time, but he had shown a marked talent for mathematics and geography and at the age of seventeen had chosen surveying as an avocation that bet- ter suited his gifts and his love of ad- venture.

When Lord Dunmore's War broke out with the Indians he volunteered, and as a non-commissioned officer had conducted himself with such bravery and had shown such marked military talent that he was offered a commission of lieutenant in the British army; but the spirit of the Revo- lution was in the air and although the offer was a very tempting one, especially to one of his military spirit, patriotism was stronger and he declined. He had tasted and felt the fire of frontier fight- ing and had found himself in love with its hazards and perils.

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In the spring of 1775, yielding to his love of adventure, he found himself with Daniel Boone and other early kindred spirits in the "Blue Grass Regions" of Kentucky: During his visit there he was temporarily placed in command of the militia of that country. . At this time there had been but three settlements in all Kentucky. These were only small groups of log cabins surrounded by stock- ades continually exposed to the attacks of fierce and cunning Indians. The lives of Boone, Kenton, Logan, Harrod, and Todd fully attested their war-like spirit. Clark fought the Indians, hunted the wolf, bear and panther, and explored the wilderness, and like other pioneers had many hair-breadth escapes. It was no doubt by reason of the natural ability of General Clark that he was chosen to com- mand the militia of that rude settlement.

In the fall of 1775, he returned home and for some time he contemplated enter- ing military service with the Virginia Continentals, but the fascination of the unbounded wilderness of the west with its perils, was more to his liking than serv- ices in the regular organized army; but that was not all that induced him to again try his fortunes in the west. He had dreamed of a great empire. He realized perhaps better than most men of his time the boundless resources of the country, unknown yet, beyond the Alleghanies.

So in the spring of 1776 he again took up his perilous trail to the wilds of Ken- tucky. Upon his arrival he visited all the settlements and proposed a meeting of the colonists at Harrodstown, for the purpose of forming some plan of de- fense and military aid and furthermore, to formulate an effective appeal for aid

to the parent state, Virginia. This hav- ing been done he returned to his mother state and visited Jefferson who was then governor and pleaded for aid to pursue his desired object.

The revolutionary war was now taxing all the energies of the east and the col- onists had thought little of this western country, but Clark's persistence and firm- ness had never faltered. His official char- acter was recognized. Kentucky was de- clared a county of Virginia and Clark himself was made a major of the Virginia militia. An order was also obtained by Clark directing 500 pounds of powder to be delivered at Fort Pitt for the use of the settlement.

To transport this munition to Ken- tucky, a perilous trip was taken down the Ohio. Embarking on a flat-boat, he and his colleague Jones, with five other men launched out secretly for Fort Pitt early in the spring of 1777. Scarcely were they beyond sight of Fort Pitt when they discovered that Indians were running along the shore. The savages at every bend of the stream tried to cut Clark's men off, and they constantly augmented in numbers. All of Clark's men, with the exception of Jones, counseled the aban- donment of the boat and escape into the woods while their lives were yet their own. To do this however would have been to have abandoned Clark's cherished object. While almost exhausted from constant vigil, Clark managed to elude the savages in the night and ran the boat into a creek in the boundaries of Kentucky, hastily concealing the powder on shore, and with his companions pushed on to the settle- ment for aid. The nearest place, however, was too weak to send aid, so leaving Jones

HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

and his men behind, Clark, guided by the famous Indian fighter, Kenton, whom he had found at this first settlement, started out for Harrodstown. Here Clark got help and brought his powder safe into the heart of the wilderness whose con- stant warfare had won for it the name of the "Dark and Bloody Land."

As soon as he had returned to Ken- tucky he dispatched two young hunters to spy out the Illinois country which was the name given to all beyond the Ohio River. From these spies he gathered that the French in the settlements there were not very enthusiastic in their loyalty to the British Crown, and he came to the conclusion that a successful expedition in- to that country would wrest all of that territory from the British Government. The same patriotism that led him to de- cline the lieutenant's commission in the British army fired him here in a scheme of subduing the entire northwest. It had such effect upon him that he again under- took the perils attendant upon a trip to his native colony.

Patrick Henry was then governor of Virginia. Henry's patriotism was of that dash and spirit that easily led him to endorse what to his friends seemed the visionary scheme of Clark, but Virginia was so much engaged then in the Revolu- tionary warfare at home that her re- sources were almost exhausted, and the state was not able to give Clark the as- sistance he desired. Governor Henry consented, however, to lend Clark the weight of his name, and authorized him to raise seven companies of fifty men each among the settlers of the Alleghany Mountains, and as an incentive to the military men, they were each promised

300 acres of land to be selected from the richest valleys of the conquered terri- tory. Thus originated the "Virginia Military Lands," between the Scioto and the Miami Rivers, part of which are in Clark County.

In May, 1778, Clark re-crossed the mountains and again recruited his forces. Governor Henry had advanced him 1,200 pounds and an order on the command- ment at Fort Pitt for all the powder he might need, together with supplies.

From this Fort the little band of 250

men-adventurers and settlers-em- barked on flat-boats, and on May 27th, the flotilla reached the falls of Ohio, where they established a post, which afterwards became the city of Louisville. I cannot go into detail of all of General Clark's adventures and expeditions of heroism, they are certainly not surpassed in American history.

The first object of attack was the settle- ment of Kaskaskia. Having met three American hunters who had recently re- turned from that trading post, Clark learned that the fort there was strong and in good repair. That there was a force there three times as strong as his own, and that a large number of Indians friendly to the British and hostile to the Americans, had recently been in confer- ence with the commandant at the post, did not deter General Clark.

After several days of perilous travel they reached the banks of the Kaskaskia River, three miles below the town, the strictest silence being enjoined under penalty of death.

When night was well advanced, Clark's men crept up to the town and after divid- ing the company into two divisions, one

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long straggling column surrounding the giving. He discoursed to them the joy town, the other consisting of picked men, was led by Clark himself straight to the walls of the fort. When everything was in readiness, Clark crawled to within a few feet of the stronghold to recon- noiter. He discovered that a ball given by the officer of the garrison was in prog-

ress. Under cover of the river bank some of his men were directed to come forward and seize the two sentinels at the gate, if possible without causing an alarm, and now Clark who was very fond of adventure entered by the rear gate alone, and making his way to the door of the ball-room, leaned against the door jamb and watched the merry festival. So high ran the mirth-making spirit that it was some time before Clark was dis- covered. Then an Indian chief who sat on the floor saw him and made a frightful war-cry. Upon hearing this cry Clark's men came rushing into the fort and seized the officer. The scene was highly dramatic and greatly to Clark's taste.

The pretty mirth-loving French girls shrieked and swooned upon the floor and the captured officers swore loud and long, uttering creole oaths, amidst the hair- raising war whoops of the visiting Indian chiefs. Fortune had favored the brave; the victory was theirs. Not a gun was fired. In two hours Clark was in com- plete possession.

Clark's conduct here gives a pretty good index of his character and love for the spectacular. For two days his haughty and stern attitude added to the terror of the simple folk and then, when they were crouching at his feet, calling him "Sovereign Lord," he suddenly flung off his sternness and waxed mild and for-

of a free country which should be theirs if they would forswear British rules and become citizens of a new Republic. The fickle French were now enraptured. Clark completely won their hearts and dazzled their understanding. The color-loving creole girls tore up their gowns to make flags, and the stars and stripes were flut- tering everywhere. The yong men organ- ized a militia with which to fight for their new country. This was his first conquest in the northwest.

General Hamilton, who countenanced, if he did not aid in the cruelties of the Indians not surpassed by them anywhere, was commandant at the British post at Detroit. He learned of this bloodless con- quest of Kaskaskia, by General Clark, and determined to check that adventurous and successful general in his career of conquest.

In the next spring he set out with quite an expedition, with the object in view not only to regain the lost country, but also to destroy Clark and sweep the settlers from the country and capture Fort Pitt. He made vast preparation, laid in great stores, and hastened toward Vincennes. This fort was in command of a Captain Bowman but was not prepared to resist so large an expedition as Hamilton's and capitulated. Hamilton had hoped to push on to Kaskaskia and capture Clark, but the hardships of winter prevented it.

When Clark heard of this move of Hamilton's he recognized at once his critical position, but met the situation with his usual resourceful skill. With a bravery, dash and hardiness that has seldom been equalled, he took up offensive operations against the enemy, and after a

HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

campaign in which his troops suffered every hardship and privation, he once more signalized his ability by capturing Hamilton. This stroke was a decisive one, and thereafter Clark's forces held authority over the entire northwest, ex- cept Detroit. The American colors were again hoisted over old Vincennes and the fort, in honor of Virginia's patriotic governor, was re-christened Fort Henry.

Clark was now about twenty-seven years old, a period when most men have only begun their careers of usefulness. Virginia made him a brigadier general and granted him a tract of land in Ken- tucky. Congress only presented him with a sword, and a vote of thanks.

It is a matter of regret that a man capable of such achievements should not have entered into one of the many use- ful careers that were then opening to men of his ability, but his temperament was such that he could not settle down and habituate himself to the calmer scenes of a peaceful life, and unfortunately, more- over, this nervous temperament of his led him to the use of intoxicants. Besides, he felt the government had never properly recognized his services, it not having even reimbursed him for the money he had spent. He was stung by the taunts and jealousy of the regular army officers.

And allowing these matters to sour his temper and give a morose tinge to his disposition, he gradually lost the esteem and respect of his subordinates. Broken by ill health and bowed down by disap- pointment he retired to private life in bit- terness and passed his remaining years in obscurity and poverty.

A few years before he died, friends called attention to Clark's condition and the Legislature of Virginia with a flow of words which would have been more appreciated if it had been accompanied by a draft of money, sent him a jeweled sword. The old general's anger was aroused. “When Virginia needed a sword, I gave her one, she now sends me this toy; I want bread," and he thrust the blade of the costly gift into the ground and broke it.

Clark never married. In the height of his distinguished career he became en- gaged to a daughter of the Spanish governor of St. Louis District, but when that general in an interview betrayed a spirit of pusillanimity Clark promptly broke the engagement, declaring with heat, "I will never be the father of a race of cowards.". And thus ended the life and career of Gen. George Rogers Clark.

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 9

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 1086

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086