USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 11
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9
BUTLER COUNTY.
The large and flourishing town of Hamilton, the county seal, in 22 miles N. of Cincinnati, on the left bank of the Great Miami. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 German Lu theran, 1 Associate Reformed, 1 Baptist, and 1 Catholic church, a
Public Square, Hamilton.
flourishing female academy, 2 newspaper printing offices, 3 flouring mills, 3 cotton factories, 3 saw mills, 2 foundries, 2 machine shops, and about 16 mercantile stores ; in 1840, its population was 1409, since which it has considerably increased. Hamilton is destined to be an important manufacturing town. The hydraulic works, lately built here, rank among the best water powers west of the Alle- ghanies. This work is formed by a canal, commencing at the Big . Miami, four miles above the town, and emptying into the river near the bridge, at Hamilton. By it a very great amount of never fail- ing water power has been created, sufficient, with a small additional investment, to propel 200 runs of 42 mill stones. It is durably con- structed, and is adding much to the business of the community.
WERY
View of Rossville, from Hamilton.
Hamilton is neatly built, and has an elegant public square, on which stand the county buildings ; it is enclosed by an iron fence, hand somely covered with green turf, and shaded by locusts and other 10
74
BUTLER COUNTY,
ornamental trees. A noble bridge, erected at the expense of about $25,000, connects this town with its neighbor, Rossville, on the opposite bank of the Miami, which the engraving shows as it ap- pears from the market, in Hamilton. Rossville is also a flourishing place, superior to Hamilton, as a mercantile town, as that is as a manufacturing one. This arises from the circumstance, that it is more convenient to the greater proportion of the farmers of the county, who reside on that side of the Miami. It contains 1 Pres- byterian and 1 Baptist church, 1 flouring mill, about 18 mercantile stores, and had, in 1840, 1140 inhabitants ; its population has since increased.
The route of St. Clair, in his disastrous campaign, in 1791, passed through this county. In September, of that year, Fort Hamilton was built at the crossing of the Great Miami, on the site of Hamil- ton. It was intended as a place of deposit for provisions, and to form the first link in the communication between Fort Washington and the
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Fort Hamilton.
object of the campaign. It was a stockade of fifty yards square, with four good bastions, and platforms for cannon in two of them, with barracks. In the summer succeeding, an addi- tion was made to the fort, by order of Gen. Wilkinson, which consisted in enclosing, with pickets, an area of ground on the north part, so that it ex- tended up the river to about the north line of the present Stable street. The southern point of the work extended to the site of the Associate Re- formed church.
The plan given of the fort, is from the survey of Mr. Jas. M'Bride,* of Hamilton, made by him several years after.
References .- A. The old fort built by St. Clair. B. Addi- tion. a. Officers quarters. b. Mess room. c. Magazine. d. Artificers shop. e, f, g. Block houses. C. Present bridge
across the Miami, shown in the view of Rossville.
* This gentleman has written a large volume-as yet unpublished -- filled with valuable facts and anecdotes connected with the history of the Miami valley. For the historical sketch of Hamilton, and several incidents in various parts of our work, we are indebted to these MSS.
75
BUTLER COUNTY.
Late in the fall of 1792, an advance corps of troops, under the command of Major Ru- dolph, arrived at Fort Hamilton, where they wintered. They consisted of three companies of light dragoons, one of rifle, and one of infantry. Rudolph was a Major of dragoons, from lower Virginia. His reputation was that of an arbitrary and tyrannical officer. Sometime in the spring, seven soldiers deserted to the Ohio river, where, procuring a canoe, they started for New Orleans. Ten or fifteen miles below the falls of the Ohio, they were met by Lieut. (since Gen.) Clark, and sent back to Fort Hamilton, where a court martial sentenced three of them to be hung, two to run the gauntlet, and the remaining two to lie in irons, in the guard house, for a stipulated period. John Brown, Seth Blin and - Gallaher, were the three sentenced to be hung. The execution took place the next day, on a gallows erected below the fort, just south of the site of the present Associate Reformed church, and near the residence of James B. Thomas.
Five hundred soldiers were drawn up in arms around the fatal spot, to witness the exit of their unfortunate comrades. The appearance of the sufferers, at the gallows, is said to have been most prepossessing. They were all young men of spirit, and handsome appear- ance, in the opening bloom of life, with their long hair floating over their shoulders. John Brown was said to have been a young man, of very respectable connections, who lived near Albany, New York. Early in life, he had formed an attachment for a young woman in his neighborhood, of unimpeachable character, but whose social standing did not com- port with the pride of his parents. He was forbidden to associate with her, and required to pay his addresses to another. Broken-hearted and desponding, he left his home, en- listed in a company of dragoons, and came to the west. His commanding officer treated him so unjustly, that he was led to desert. When under the gallows, the sergeant, acting as executioner, inquired why the sentence of the law should not be enforced upon him, he replied, with emphasis-pointing to Major Rudolph-" that he had rather die nine hun- dred deaths, than be subject to the command of such a man ;" and was swung off, without a murmur. Seth Blin was the son of a respectable widow, residing in the state of New York. The rope being awkwardly fastened around his neck, he struggled greatly. Three times he raised his feet, until they came in contact with the upper part of the gallows, when the exertion broke his neck.
Immediately after the sentence had been pronounced on these men, a friend hastened to Fort Washington, where he obtained a pardon from Gen. Wilkinson. But he was too late. The execution had been hastened by Major Rudolph, and he arrived at Hamilton fifteen minutes after the spirits of these unfortunate men had taken their flight to another world. Their bodies were immediately committed to the grave, under the gallows. There, in the dark and narrow house, in silence, lies the only son of a widowed mother, the last of his family. A vegetable garden is now cultivated over the spot, by those who think not nor know not of the once warm heart that lies cold below.
The two other deserters were sentenced to run the gauntlet sixteen times, between two ranks of soldiers, which was carried forthwith into execution. The lines were formed in the rising ground, east of the fort, where now lies Front street, and extended from Smith- man's corner to the intersection of Ludlow street. One of them, named Roberts, having passed eight times through the ranks, fell, and was unable to proceed. The attendant phy- sician stated that he could stand it no longer, as his life had already been endangered.
Sometime after Gen. Wayne arrived at the post, and although frequently represented as an arbitrary man, he was so much displeased with the cruelty of Major Rudolph, that he gave him his choice, to resign or be cashiered. He chose the former, returned to Virginia, and subsequently, in company with another gentleman, purchased a ship, and went on a trading voyage to Europe. They were captured (it is stated) by an Algerine cruiser, and Rudolph was hung at the yard arm of his own vessel. I have heard some of those who were under his command, in Wayne's army, express satisfaction at the fate of this unfor- tunate man.
In the summer of 1792, two wagoners were watching some oxen, which had been turned out to graze on the common below the fort; a shower of rain coming on, they retired for shelter under a tree, which stood near where the sycamore grove now is. Some Indians, who had been watching from under the covert of the adjoining underbrush, rushed sud- denly upon them, killed one and took the other prisoner. The latter was Henry Shafor, who, after his return, lived, until a few years past, two or three miles below Rossville, on the river.
In September, 1793, the army of Wayne marched from Cincinnati to Fort Hamilton, and encamped in the upper part of the prairie, about half a mile south of the present town, nearly on the same ground on which Gen. St. Clair had encamped in 1791. Here they threw up a breastwork, the remains of which may yet be traced at the point where the
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76
BUTLER COUNTY.
present road strikes the Miami river, above Traber's mill. A few days after, they con- tinued their march toward the Indian country.
Gen. Wayne detailed a strong guard of men for the defence of the fort, the command of which was given to Major Jonathan Cass, of the army of the revolution, and father of the Hon. Lewis Cass, of the U. S. Senate. Major Cass continued in command until the treaty of Greenville.
On the 17th of December, 1794, Israel Ludlow laid out, within Symmes's purchase, the original plot of the town of Hamilton, which he, at first, for a short time only, called Fair- field. Shortly after, a few settlers came in. The first settlers were Darius C. Orcut, John Green, Wm. M'Clennan, John Sutherland, John Torrence, Benj. F. Randolph, Benj. Davis, Isaac Wiles, Andrew Christy and Wm. Hubbert.
Previous to 1801, all the lands on the west side of the Great Miami were owned by the United States, consequently there were no improvements made on that side of the river, except by a few squatters. There was one log house built at an early period, near the west end of the bridge, now owned by the heirs of Lewis P. Sayre. On the first Mon- day in April, 1801,-at the first sale of the United States lands west of the Miami, held at Cincinnati,-a company purchased the site of Rossville, on which, March 14th, 1804, they laid out the town. Mr. John Reily was the agent of the proprietors.
The first settlers of Hamilton suffered much from the fever and ague, and being princi- pally disbanded soldiers, without energy, and many of them dissipated, but little improve- ment was made for the first few years. In those early times, horse-racing was a favorite amusement, and an affair of all engrossing interest. On public days, indeed on almost every other Saturday, the streets and commons in the upper part of the town were converted into race paths. The race course comprehended the common from 2d to 4th street. At 2d street, a short distance north of the site of the Catholic church, was an elevated scaffold on which stood the judges of the race. On grand occasions, the plain within the course and near it, were occupied with booths, erected with forks and covered with boughs. Here every thing was said, done, eaten, sold and drank. Here was Black Jack with his fiddle, and his votaries making the dust fly, with a four-handed, or rather four-footed reel ; and every fifteen or twenty minutes was a rush to some part to see a "fisty cuff." Among the bustling crowd of jockies were assembled all classes. Even Judges of the court min- gled with the crowd, and sometimes presided at the contests of speed between the ponies of the neighborhood.
Soon after the formation of Butler county, Hamilton was made the county seat. The first sessions of the court were held in the tavern of Mr. Torrence, now the residence of Henry S. Earhart. The sessions of the court after this were held in the former mess room of the fort. It was a rough one story frame building, about 40 by 20 feet, weather-board- ed, without either filling or plastering, and stood about where the market now is. It was elevated from the ground about three feet by wooden blocks affording a favorite shelter for the hogs and sheep of the village. The Judges seat was a rough platform of unplaned boards, and a long table in front, like a carpenter's work bench, was used by the bar. Ir 1810, the court was removed to a room over the stone jail, and in 1817, transferred to the present court house.
The court, at their July term, in 1803, selected the old magazine within the fort as a county jail. It was a heavy built log building, about 12 feet square, with a hipped roof coming to a common center and surmounted by a ball. The door had a hole in the center shaped like a half-moon, through which air, light and food were conveyed, while on the outside it was secured by a pad-lock and hasp. It was very insecure, and escapes were almost as fre- quent as committals. It was the only jail for Butler county, from 1803 to 1809. A small log house formerly a sutlers store, was used as a clerk's office. It has since been al- tered into a private dwelling, at present occupied by Dutch Jacob. The house erected by Gen. Wilkinson, in '92, for officer's quarters, (see a plan of fort,) was converted into. a tavern kept by the county sheriff, Wm. M'Clellan, while the barracks and artificers shops were used as stables.
Mebleces kycances JOHN CLEVES SYMMES, the author of the "Theory of Concentric Spheres, demon- strating that the Earth is hol- J. C. Symmes's Signature. low, habitable within, and widely open about the Poles," died at Hamilton, May 28th, 1829. He was born in New Jersey about the year 1780. His father,
77
BUTLER COUNTY.
Timothy Symmes, was the brother of John Cleves Symmes, well- known as the founder of the first settlements of the Miami valley. In the early part of his life he received a common school education, and in 1802 was commissioned an ensign in the army. In 1813, he was promoted to a captaincy, in which capacity he served until the close of the war with honor. He was in the hard-fought battle of Bridgewater, and at the sortie of Fort Erie, where with his com- mand he captured a battery, and personally spiked the cannon. At the close of the war he retired from the army, and for about three years was engaged in furnishing supplies to the troops stationed on the Upper Mississippi. After this, he resided for a number of years at Newport, Ky., and devoted himself to philosophical researches connected with his favorite theory. In a short circular, dated at St. Louis, in 1818, Capt. Symmes first promulgated the fundamental principles of his theory to the world. From time to time, he pub- lished various articles in the public prints upon the subject. He also delivered lectures, first at Cincinnati in 1820, and afterwards in various places in Kentucky and Ohio.
" In the year 1822, Capt. Symmes petitioned the Congress of the United States, setting forth, in the first place, his belief of the existence of a habitable and accessible concave to this globe ; his desire to embark on a voyage of discovery to one or other of the polar re- gions ; his belief in the great profit and honor his country would derive from such a dis- covery ; and prayed that Congress would equip and fit out for the expedition, two vessels of two hundred and fifty, or three hundred, tons burthen ; and grant such other aid as gov- ernment might deem necessary to promote the object. This petition was presented in the Senate by Col. Richard M. Johnson, a member from Kentucky, on the 7th day of March, 1822, when, (a motion to refer it to the committee of Foreign Relations having failed,) after a few remarks it was laid on the table .- Ayes, 25. In December, 1823, he forwarded sim- ilar petitions to both houses of Congress, which met with a similar fate. In January, 1824, he petitioned the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, praying that body to pass a reso- lution approbatory of his theory ; and to recommend him to Congress for an outfit suitable to the enterprise. This memorial was presented by Micajah T. Williams ; and, on mo- tion, the further consideration thereof was indefinitely postponed."
His theory was met with ridicule, both in this country and Eu- rope, and became a fruitful source of jest and levity, to the public prints of the day. Notwithstanding, he advanced many plausi- ble and ingenious arguments, and won quite a number of converts among those who attended his lec- tures, one of whom, a gentleman now residing at Hamilton, wrote a work in its support, published in . - Cincinnati in 1826, in which he states his readiness to embark on a voy- unMIL age of discovery, for the purpose of testing its truth. Captain Symmes met with the usual fate of projec- tors, in living and dying in great pecuniary embarrassment. In per- son, he was of the medium stature J. C. Symmes' Monument. and simple in his manners. He bore the character of an honest, exemplary man, and was respected
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BUTLER COUNTY.
by all his associates. He was buried at Hamilton. The monument represented by the cut, has been built, but is not yet placed over his remains. It is surmounted by a globe, "open at the poles."
MR. JOHN REILY, of this county, is one of the five members living of the convention which framed the Constitution of Ohio. His friend, Judge Burnet, in his late work, has given an eloquent tribute to his character and services.
Middletown is 12 miles NE. of Hamilton, and 20 below Dayton, in a rich and beautiful country. The Miami canal runs east of the cen- tral part of the town, and the Miami river bounds it on the west.
Lebanon Street, Middletown.
It is connected with Dayton and Cincinnati, and with West Alex- andria, in Preble county, by turnpikes. The Warren county canal enters the main canal at this town. Two or three miles above, a dam is thrown across the Miami, from which a connecting feeder supplies the Miami canal. This work furnishes much water power, which, with a little expense, can be increased and used to great advantage. There are within three miles of Middletown, 8 flour- ing mills on the river and canal. Middletown was laid out in 1802, by Stephen Vail and James Sutton. Calvin Morrell, James Brady, Cyrus Osbourn, Daniel Doty, Elisha Wade and Richard Watts were among its early settlers. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, a classical academy, 16 mercantile stores, 2 for- warding houses, 1 grist mill and 1 woolen factory, and in 1840, had 809 inhabitants. The view of Lebanon street, was taken at its in- tersection with Broadway. Liebee's block is shown on the right, Deardorf's mill and the bridge over the Miami partly appear in the distance.
In the northwest corner of the county, 12 miles from Hamilton, on a high and beautiful elevation, is the handsome town of Oxford, the seat of the Miami University. It contains 9 mercantile stores, 1 woolen factory, 2 Presbyterian, 1 Associate Reformed, and 1 Meth- odist church, and in 1840, had 1179 inhabitants. The Associate church have established a theological school here, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Claybaugh ; it is yet in its infancy, promises well, and has a valuable collection of books.
79
CARROL COUNTY.
The Miami University buildings are in the east part of the town, in a large enclosure of fifty acres, part of which is in the
Miami University at Oxford.
original forest, and the remainder covered with a green sward, and ornamented with scattering shade trees. Including the preparatory department, there are about 150 students in the institution, which is under the charge of a President-the Rev. E. D. MacMaster-and 4 professors, beside the principal of the preparatory department. "The course of studies are not less extensive than those of the best colleges in the Union, and its faculty are earnestly endeavoring to establish the institution on a solid foundation." It was chartered in 1809, by the legislature of Ohio, and a township of land given by Congress for its support. The University was not regularly opened for the reception of students, until Nov. 15th, 1824. From that pe- riod until 1841, it had 308 graduates.
Somerville, 14 miles NNW. from Hamilton, had in 1840, 318 inhabi- tants ; Millville, 7 w. from Hamilton, Monroe, 12 NE., Chester, 10 SE., and Darrtown, 10 Nw., had each about 200 inhabitants. Jack- sonburg, Miltonville, Reily and Trenton are also small villages. In this county are numerous ancient works, mounds, fortifications, &c.
CARROL.
CARROL was formed in the session of 1832-3, from Columbiana, Stark, Tuscarawas, Harrison and Jefferson, and named from Chas. Carrol, of Carrolton, Md., the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of American Independence. The surface is hilly, and the staples are wheat, oats and corn; coal and iron abound. The population mainly originated from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ma- ryland, with some Germans and Irish. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
80
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Augusta,
1234
Harrison, 1308
Perry, 1344
Brown, 2165
Lee,
1372
Ross,
1593
Centre.
1139
Loudon,
966
Union,
889
East,
995
Monroe, 1060
Washington, 1014
Fox,
1491
Orange, 1528
The population of Carrol in 1840, was 18,108, or 45 inhabitants to a square mile.
View in Carrolton.
Carrolton, the county seat, is 125 miles ENE. from Columbus. It was originally called Centreton, but on the organization of the county, changed to its present name. It is rather compactly built, with a public square in the centre-shown in the above view-on which stand the county buildings. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Lutheran, 1 Methodist Episcopal, and 1 Associate Reformed church, 6 mercantile stores, 2 printing offices, and 800 inhabitants.
Leesburg, 12 miles sw. of Carrolton, has 2 churches, 3 stores, and about 60 dwellings. It is on One Leg, a stream so named from a one legged Indian who anciently dwelt upon its margin. The Indian name of this water course is the " Kannolen." The " Dining Fork of the Kannoten" derived its appellation, from the first explorers in this region dining upon its banks. Hagerstown, 1} miles east of Lees- burg, is a somewhat smaller village, having a church, 3 stores, and a classical academy. New Harrisburg, Malvern, Magnolia, Pekin, Augusta, Norristown, Lodi, Minerva, Mechanicstown and Harlem, are small places; at the last of which is a chalybeate spring, said to possess excellent medicinal qualities.
1
CHAMPAIGN.
CHAMPAIGN was formed from Greene and Franklin, March 1st, 1805, and the temporary seat of justice fixed in Springfield, at the
81
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
house of George Fithian : it derived its name from the character of its surface. About half of it is level or slightly undulating, one quarter rolling, one fifth rather hilly, and about five per cent. wet prairie, and best adapted for grazing. The county is drained by Mad river and its tributaries. The stream flows through a beauti- ful country, and with its tributaries furnishes extensive mill privi- leges. The soil is generally rich, and the principal crops are wheat, corn, oats, barley and hay : wool and beef cattle are also important staples. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
Adams,
970
Jackson,
1431
Salem,
1402
Concord,
935
Johnson,
1213
Union,
1249
Goshen,
1406
Mad River, 1894
Urbana, 2456
Harrison, 790
Rush,
1226
Wayne, 1300
The population of Champaign in 1820, was 8,479; in 1830, 12,137 ; and in 1840, 16,720, or 44 inhabitants to a square mile.
Urbana, the county seat, is 42 miles www. from Columbus. It was laid out in 1805, by Col. Wm. Ward, originally from Greenbriar, Va. He was proprietor of the soil, and gave a large number of the lots to the county, with the provision that their sales should be ap- propriated for public objects. He also named the place, from the word urbanity. The two first settlers were the clerk of the court, Joseph C. Vance, father of Ex-Gov. Vance, and George Fithian, who opened the first tavern in a cabin, now forming a part of the dwelling of Wm. Thomas, on South Main street. Samuel M'Cord opened the first store, in the same cabin, in March, 1806, and built, the same year, the first shingled house, now the store of Wm. & Duncan M'Donald. In 1807, a temporary court house was erected, now the residence of Duncan M'Donald. A brick court house was subsequently built on the public square, which stood many years, and then gave place to the present substantial and handsome build- ing. In 1807, the Methodists-those religious pioneers-built the first church, a log structure, which stood in the northeast part of the town, on the lot on which Mr. Ganson resides. Some years later, this denomination erected a brick church, now devoted to the man- ufacture of carriages and wagons by Mr. Childs, in the central part of the town. The first settlers in the village were Joseph C. Vance, Thos. and Ed. W. Pearce, George Fithian, Samuel M'Cord, Zeph. Luse, Benj. Doolittle, Geo. and Andrew Ward, Wm. H. Fyffe, Wm. and John Glenn, Fred. Ambrose, John Reynolds and Samuel Gibbs. Of those living in the county at that time, our informant recollects the names of Jacob Minturn, Henry and Jacob Vanmetre, Nathan- iel Cartmell, Justice Jones, Felix Rock, Thomas Anderson, Abner Barret, Thomas Pearce, Benj. and Wm. Cheney, Matthew and Chas. Stuart, Parker Sullivan, John Logan, John Thomas, John Runyon, John Lafferty, John Owens, John Taylor, John Guttridge, John Cartmell, John Dawson, John Pence, Jonathan Long, Bennet Taber, Nathan Fitch, Robt. Nowce, Jacob Pence and Arthur Thomas.
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