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 14
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Springfield was the scene of an interesting incident in the life of Tecumseh, which is given at length by his biographer.
In the autumn of this year, [1807,] a white man by the name of Myers, was killed a few miles west of where the town of Urbana now stands, by some straggling Indians. This murder, taken in connection with the assemblage of the Indians under Tecumseh and the prophet, created a great alarm on the frontier, and actually induced many families to remove back to Kentucky, from whence they had emigrated. A demand was made by the whites upon these two brothers for the Indians who had committed the murder. They denied that it was done by their party, or with their knowledge, and declared that they did not even know who the murderers were. The alarm continued, and some companies of militia were called out. It was finally agreed, that a council should be held on the subject in Springfield, for the purpose of quieting the settlements. Gen. White- man, Maj. Moore, Capt. Ward, and one or two others, acted as commissioners on the part of the whites. Two parties of Indians attended the council ; one from the north, in charge of McPherson ; the other, consisting of sixty or seventy, came from the neighborhood of Fort Wayne, under the charge of Tecumseh. Roundhead, Blackfish, and several other chiefs, were also present. There was no friendly feeling between these two parties, and cach was willing that the blame of the murder should be fixed upon the other. The party under McPherson, in compliance with the wishes of the commissioners, left their arms a
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CLARKE COUNTY.
few miles from Springfield. Tecumseh and his party refused to attend the council, unless perinitted to retain their arms. After the conference was opened, it being held in a maple grove, a little north of where Werden's hotel now stands, the commissioners, fearing some violence, made another effort to induce Tecumseh to lay aside his arms. This he again refused, saying, in reply, that his tomahawk was also his pipe, and that he might wish to use it in that capacity before their business was closed. At this moment, a tall, lank-sided Pennsylvanian, who was standing among the spectators, and who, perhaps, had no love for the shining tomahawk of the self-willed chief, cautiously approached, and handed him an old, long stemmed, dirty looking earthen pipe, intimating, that if Tecumseh would de- liver up the fearful tomahawk, he might smoke the aforesaid pipe. The chief took it be- tween his thumb and finger, held it up, looked at it for a moment, then at the owner, who was gradually receding from the point of danger, and immediately threw it, with an in- dignant sneer, over his head, into the bushes. The commissioners yielded the point, and proceeded to business.
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After a full and patient inquiry into the facts of the case, it appeared that the murder of Myers was the act of an individual, and not justly chargeable upon either party of the In- dians. Several speeches were made by the chiefs, but Tecumseh was the principal speaker. He gave a full explanation of the views of the prophet and himself, in calling around them a band of Indians-disavowed all hostile intentions towards the United States, and denied that he or those under his control had committed any aggressions upon the whites. His manner, when speaking, was animated, fluent and rapid, and made a strong impression upon those present. The council terminated. In the course of it, the two hostile parties became reconciled to each other, and quiet was restored to the frontier.
The Indians remained in Springfield for three days, and on several occasions amused themselves by engaging in various games and other athletic exercises, in which Tecumseh generally proved himself victorious. His strength, and power of muscular action were remarkably great, and in the opinion of those who attended the council, corresponded with the high order of his moral and intellectual character.
Wittemberg College.
" Wittemberg College is organized on a large, and liberal pros- pective scale, and on the same basis as Yale College, Ct., having both a collegiate and theological department, under the same Board and Faculty. It is under the auspices of the Lutheran church, and was chartered in 1845. Arrangements are made for six professor- ships. It is located about a third of a mile from Springfield, on beautiful forest grounds, containing 24 acres, surrounded with springs of the best water, and with the most charming scenery. The town, railroad, Buck creek, and Mad river are in view from the building. The institution is under the superintendence of Rev. Ezra Keller, D. D., assisted by competent instructors. It has now been in opera- tion for one year, and has had 72 students connected with it. A
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freshman and sophomore class has been formed. An Athæneum, and two literary societies have also been established. A general library, philosophical apparatus, and cabinet of natural and artificial curi- osities have been begun. The German is taught as a living lan- guage. Tuition and boarding are furnished on very moderate terms. The government of the institution is made as nearly as possible to that of a well-regulated family."
New Carlisle, 12 miles west of Springfield, is a flourishing village, in a beautiful and fertile country. It contains 2 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Free or Union church, 6 stores, an extensive coach factory, a fine brick school house, and by the census of 1840, has 452 inhabitants. South Charleston, 12 miles SE. from Springfield, on the Xenia and Jefferson turnpike, has 2 churches, several stores, and had ir. 1840, 240 inhabitants, since which it has much increased. Enon, on the Dayton turnpike, 7 miles from Springfield, has 2 churches, several stores, and about 60 dwellings : on the outskirts of this town is a beautiful mound, 30 or 40 feet in height. North Hampton, Tremont, Vienna, Donaldsville, Brighton, Harmony, No- blesville, Catawba, and Cortsville, are small villages. (See Addenda.)
CLERMONT.
CLERMONT, the 8th county, created in the North-west Territory, was formed Dec. 9th, 1800, by proclamation of Gov. St. Clair. The name was probably derived from Clermont, in France. The surface is generally rolling and quite broken near the Ohio: in the northeast, there is much " wet land." A large portion of the soil is rich. The geological formation is the blue fossiliferous lime- stone, interstratified with clay marl, and covered, in most places, with a rich vegetable mould. The principal crops are corn, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, tobacco, barley, buckwheat and rye ; the prin- cipal exports are beef, pork, flour, hay and whiskey. It is well watered, and the streams furnish considerable water power. The following is a list of its townships, in 1840, with their population.
Batavia, 2197 Monroe, 1617 Union, 1421
Franklin, 2219 Ohio, 2894 Washington, 2102
Goshen, 1445
Stonelick, 1478 Wayne, 976
Jackson, 883 Tate, 2292 Williamsburgh, 1459
Miami, 2061
The population of Clermont, in 1820, was 15,820 ; in 1830, 20,466 ; and in 1840, 23,106, or 40 inhabitants to a square mile.
The communication below, from Mr. Benjamin Morris, gives some facts respecting the history of the county and its early settlers.
In June, 1804, and in the 19th year of my age, I came to Bethel, which, with Williams- burgh, were the only towns in the county. They were laid out about 1798 or '99, and were competitors for the county seat. When I came, Clermont was an almost unbroken wilderness, and the settlers few and far between. In the language of the day, there was
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CLERMONT COUNTY.
Denham's town, now Bethel; Lytlestown, now Williamsburgh ; Witham's settlement, now Williamsville ; Apples', Collins', and Buchanan's settlements. The following are names of part of the settlers in and about Williamsburgh, in 1804 :- Wm. Lytle, R. W. Waring, David C. Bryan, James and Daniel Kain, Nicholas Sinks, Jasper Shotwell, and Peter Light. Wm. Lytle was the first clerk of the county, and was succeeded by R. W. Waring and David C. Bryan. Peter Light was a justice of the peace under the territorial and state governments, and county surveyor. Daniel Kain was sheriff, and later justice of the peace under the state government. David C. Bryan represented the county several years in the state legislature, before he was appointed clerk. I was at Williamsburgh at the sitting of the court of common pleas in June, 1804. Francis Dunleavy was the presi- ding judge, and Philip Gatch, Ambrose Ransom, and John Wood, associates, while the attendant lawyers were Jacob Burnet, Arthur St. Clair-son of Gov. St. Clair-Joshua Collet, Martin Marshall and Thomas Morris.
The following are part of the settlers in and about Bethel, in 1804: Obed Denham- proprietor of the town-James Denham, Houton Clark, John Baggess, Dr. Loofborough, John and Thomas Morris, Jeremiah Beck, Henry Willis and James South. John Bag- gess for many years was a representative in the legislature, justice of the peace and county surveyor. John Morris was appointed associate judge after the death of Judge Wood, in 1807; he was also justice of the peace, and one of the first settlers at Columbia. Houton Clark was one of the first, if not the very first, justice of the peace in Clermont. Thomas Morris practised law in the county about forty years, was a representative in the legisla- ture, and once appointed a judge of the supreme court. In the winter of 1832-33, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he acted a conspicueus part in the anti- slavery movements of the day. The most prominent political act of his life, was his reply to a speech of Mr. Clay. He died suddenly, Dec. 7th, 1844: posterity only can judge of the correctness or incorrectness of his course. A neat marble monument marks his resting place, near Bethel. Jeremiah Beck and Henry Willis were farmers and justices of the peace. Ulrey's Run takes its name from Jacob Ulrey, who settled on its west side in 1798, and was the earliest settler upon it. The place is now known as " the Ulrey farm." Bred in the wilds of Pennsylvania, he was a genuine backwoodsman, and a terror to the horse thieves, who infested the county at an early day, Deer and bear were plenty around him, and a large portion of his time was passed in hunting them, for their skins. The early settlers around him received substantial tokens of his generosity, by his supplying them with meat.
The first newspaper in Clermont, " The Political Censor," was printed at Williamsburg, in 1813 : it was edited by Thos. S. Foot, Esq. ; the second, called " The Western Amer -. ican," was printed in the same town, in 1814: David Morris, Esq., editor.
A considerable number of the early settlers in Clermont, were from Kentucky. Of those before named, the following were from that state :- R. W. Waring, Jasper Shotwell, Peter Light, Obed and James Denham, Houton Clark, John Boggess, Jeremiah Beck, Henry Willis and James South. Nicholas Sinks was from Va. ; David C. Bryan, from New Jer- sey, and John and Thomas Morris and the Kain family, (I believe,) from Pa. After 1804, the county increased rapidly by settlers from New Jersey, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, with some from Maryland, New England, and a few from North Carolina.
Neville was laid out in 1811, Gen. Neville, proprietor. Point Pleasant and New Rich- mond were laid out about 1814; Jacob Light, proprietor of the latter. George Ely laid out Batavia afterwards. The early settlers about that place, as well as I remember, were George Ely, Ezekiel Dimmit, Lewis Duckwall, Henry Miley, Robert and James Townsley, Titus Everhart and Wm. Patterson. Before Milford was laid out, Philip Gatch, Ambrose Ransom and John Pollock settled in its vicinity. Philip Gatch was a member from Cler- mont, of the convention which formed the state constitution, and for years after was asso- ciate judge. Ransom, as before stated, was associate judge ; and John Pollock, for many years speaker of the house of representatives, and later, associate judge. Philip Gatch was a Virginian. He freed his slaves before emigrating, which circumstance led to his being selected as a member of the convention to form the state constitution.
The most prominent settlers in the south part of Clermont, were the Sargeant, Pigman, Prather, Buchanan and Fee families. The oldest members of the Sargeant family, were the brothers James, John and Elijah. They were from Maryland. James, who had freed his slaves there, was, in consequence, chosen a member of the convention which formed the state constitution. The Sargeants, who are now numerous in this part of the county, are uncompromising opponents of slavery. The Pigman family were Joshua, sen., Joshua, jr., and Levi. The Buchanan family were William, Alexander, Robert, Andrew, James, John, &c. James Buchanan, the son of John, was a one time speaker of the Ohio house
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CLERMONT COUNTY.
of representatives. The Buchanans were from Pennsylvania, and the Pigmans from Mary- land. There were several brothers of the Fee family, from Pennsylvania. William, the most prominent, was the proprietor of Felicity, and a member of the legislature. His brothers were Thomas, Elisha and Elijah ; other early settlers were Samuel Walrioen, James Daughters and Elijah Larkin, who has been postmaster at Neville, for more than a quarter of a century. In the vicinity of Withamsville, the early settlers were Nathaniel and Gideon Witham, James Ward, Shadrach, Robert and Samuel Lane. The Methodists were the most numerous in early times, and next, the Baptists ; there were but a few Pres- byterians among the first settlers.
When I first came into the county, the " wet land," of which there is such a large pro- portion in the middle and northern part, was considered almost worthless ; but a great change has taken place in public opinion in relation to its value. It is ascertained, that by judicious cultivation, it rapidly improves in fertility. At that time, these lands were cov- ered by water more than half the summer, and we called them slashes : now the water leaves the surface in the woods, early in the spring. Forty years ago, the evenings were cool as soon as the sun went down. I have no recollection of warm nights, for many years after I came, and their coolness was a matter of general remark among the emi- grants from the old states. I believe it was owing to the immense forests that covered the country, and shut out the rays and heat of the sun from the surface of the ground, for after sunset there was no warm earth to impart heat to the atmosphere.
Batavia, the county seat, is situated on the north bank of the east fork of the Little Miami river, 21 miles easterly from Cincinnati, and 103 sw. of Columbus. This town was laid out about the year
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County Buildings, Batavia.
1820, by George Ely. About that time, the county seat was tem- porarily removed from Williamsburg to New Richmond, and Feb. 21st, 1824, permanently transferred to Batavia. It contains 1 Pres- byterian and 1 Methodist church, 4 stores, 2 newspaper printing offices, and had, by the census of 1840, 537 inhabitants.
Williamsburg is on the east fork of the Miami, 7 miles east of Batavia, and had, in 1840, 385 inhabitants. As previously men- tioned, it was laid out by Gen. William Lytle, one of the earliest settlers of Clermont. His life was one of much incident. We de- rive the annexed facts respecting him, from Cist's Advertiser.
GEN. WM. LYTLE was born in Cumberland, Pa .; and in 1779, his family emigrated to Kentucky. Previous to the settlement of Ohio, young Lytle was in several desperate en- gagements with the Indians, where his cool, heroic bravery won general admiration. Before the treaty of Greenville, while making surveys in the Virginia military district., in Ohio, he was exposed to incessant dangers, suffered great privations, and was frequently attacked by the Indians.' This business he followed for the greater portion of his life. In
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CLERMONT COUNTY.
the war of 1812, he was appointed Major General of Ohio militia, and, in 1829, surveyor general of the public lands of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. In 1810, Gen. Lytle removed from Williamsburg to Cincinnati, where he died, in 1831. As a citizen, he was distin- guished for public spirit and benevolence, and in his personal appearance and character, strikingly resembled President Jackson. Beside the facts given under the head of Logan county, we have space for but a single anecdote, exhibiting his Spartan-like conduct at Grant's defeat, in Indiana. In that desperate action, the Kentuckians, overpowered by nearly four times their number, performed feats of bravery scarcely equalled even in early border warfare.
In this struggle, Lytle, then hardly 17 years of age, had both his arms shattered, his face powder burnt, his hair singed to the roots, and nineteen bullets passed through his body and clothing. In this condition, a retreat being ordered, he succeeded in bringing off the field several of his friends, generously aiding the wounded and the exhausted, by placing them on horses, while he himself ran forward in advance of the last remnant of the re- treating party, to stop the only boat on the Ohio at that time, which could take them over and save them from the overwhelming force of their savage adversaries.
On reaching the river, he found the boat in the act of putting off for the Kentucky shore. The men were reluctant to obey his demand for a delay, until those still in the rear should come up -- one of them declaring that " it was better that a few should perish, than that all should be sacrificed." He threw the rifle, which he still carried on his shoulder, over the root of a fallen tree, and swore he would shoot the first man who pulled an oar until his friends were aboard. In this way the boat was detained until they came up, and were safely lodged from the pursuing foe. Disdaining personally to take advantage of this result, the boat being crowded almost to dipping, he ran up the river to where some horses stood panting under the willows, after their escape from the battle field, and mount- ing one of the strongest, forced him into the river, holding on to the mane by his teeth, until he was taken, in the middle of the stream, into the boat, bleeding, and almost faint- ing from his wounds, by the order of his gallant captain, the lamented Stucker, who had observed his conduct with admiration throughout, and was resolved that such a spirit should not perish ; for by this time the balls of the enemy were rattling like hail about their ears.
There was living many years since, near Williamsburg, Cornelius Washburn, or, as he was commonly called, Neil Washburn, who, in the early difficulties with the Indians, was distinguished for his sagacity and courage. Of his ultimate fate, we are somewhat un- certain : it is said, however, that the progress of civilization was too rapid for him, and that he long since left for the wilds of the far west, to pass his time in the congenial employment of hunting the bear and trapping the beaver. We have derived some facts from the lips of one who knew him well, Mr. Thomas M'Donald, the brother of the author of the sketches and the first person who erected a cabin in Scioto county.
In the year '90, I first became acquainted with Neil Washburn, then a lad of sixteen, living on the Kentucky side of the Ohio, six miles below Maysville. From his early years, he showed a disposition to follow the woods. When only nine or ten, he passed his time in setting snares for pheasants and wild animals. Shortly after, his father pur- chased for him a shot gun, in the use of which he soon became unexcelled. In the sum- mer of '90, his father being out of fresh provisions, crossed the Ohio with him in a canoe, to shoot deer, at a lick near the mouth of Eagle creek. On entering the creek, their attention was arrested by a singular hacking noise, some distance up the bank. Neil landed, and with gun in hand, cautiously crawling up the river bank, discovered an Indian, about twenty feet up a hickory tree, busily engaged in cutting around the bark, to make a canoe, in which he probably anticipated the gratification of crossing the river and committing dep- redations upon the Kentuckians. However this may have been, his meditations and work were soon brought to a close, for the intrepid boy no sooner saw the dusky form of the savage, than he brought his gun to a level with his eye, and fired: the Indian fell dead to the earth, with a heavy sound. He hastily retreated to the canoe, from fear of the presence of other Indians, and re-crossed the Ohio. Early the next morning, a party of men, guided by Neil, visited the spot, and found the body of the Indian at the foot of the tree. Neil
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CLINTON COUNTY.
secured the scalp, and the same day showed it, much elated, to myself and others, in the town of Washington, in Mason. Several persons in the village made him presents, as testimonials of their opinion of his bravery.
In the next year, he was employed as a spy between Maysville and the mouth of the Little Miami, to watch for Indians, who were accustomed to cross the Ohio into Kentucky, to steal and murder. While so engaged, he had some encounters with them, in which his unerring rifle dealt death to several of their number. One of these was at the mouth of Bullskin, on the Ohio side.
In '92, the Indians committed such great depredations upon the Ohio, between the Great Kanawha and Maysville, that Gen. Lee, the government agent, in employing spies, en- deavored to get some of them to go up the Ohio, above the Kanawha, and warn all single boats not to descend the river. None were found sufficiently daring to go, but Neil. Furnished with an elegant horse, and well armed, he started on his perilous mission. He met with no adventures until after crossing the Big Sandy. This he swam on his horse, and had reached about half a mile beyond, when he was suddenly fired upon by a party of Indians, in ambush. His horse fell dead, and the Indians gave a yell of triumph ; but Neil was unhurt. Springing to his feet, he bounded back like a deer, and swam across the Big Sandy, holding his rifle and ammunition above his head. Panting from exertion, he rested upon the opposite bank to regain his strength, when the Indians, whooping and yell- ing, appeared on the other side, in full pursuit. Neil drew up, shot one of their number, and then continued his retreat down the Ohio, but meeting and exchanging shots with others, he saw it was impossible to keep the river valley in safety, and striking his course more inland, to evade his enemies, arrived safely at Maysville.
In the fall of the same year, he was in the action with Kenton and others, against Te- cumseh, in what is now Brown county, for the particulars of which, see page 67. Wash- burn continued as a spy throughout the war, adding " the sagacity of lion to the cunning of the fox." He was with Wayne in his campaign, and at the battle of the Fallen Tim- bers, manifested his usual prowess.
Neil Washburn was in person near six feet in height, with broad shoulders, small feet, and tapered beautifully from his chest down. He was both powerful and active. His eyes were blue, his hair light, and complexion fair. A prominent Roman nose alone marred the symmetry of his personal appearance.
In this county are several quite populous towns. New Richmond, which had, in 1840, a population of 772, Moscow, which had 228, Point Pleasant 150, Neville 228, and Chilo 102, are all upon the Ohio river. Near the first is a Fourierite association, but not in a thriving condition. Bethel, 12 miles SE. of Batavia, had, in 1840, 366 inhabitants ; Felicity, 21 southerly, had 442, and Milford, 10 NW., had 460 inhabitants. Felicity and Milford have much im- proved within the last few years. The last named is on the east bank of the Little Miami river, over which is a bridge, connecting it with the Little Miami railroad, on the opposite bank. There are other small villages in the county, but none of much note.
CLINTON.
CLINTON, was organized in 1810, and named in honor of Gov. Geo. Clinton, Vice Pres. of United States. The surface is generally level ; on the west undulating, and the soil is fertile. It is particu- larly adapted to Indian corn and grass. It has some prairie land, and its streams furnish good water power. The principal staples are corn, wheat, oats, wool and pork. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
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CLINTON COUNTY.
Chester, 1784 Liberty, 1050
Vernon, 1434
Clarke, 1297
Marion,
643
Washington, 1170
Green, 1842
Richland,
1385
Wayne, 1366
Jefferson, 474
Union, 3284
The population of Clinton in 1820, was 8,085 ; in 1830, 11,406 ; and in 1840, 15,729, or 39 inhabitants to a square mile.
This county was settled about the year 1803, principally by emi- grants from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The first settlement, however, was made in 1797, by Wm. Smally. Most of the first emigrants were backswoodmen, and well fitted to en- dure the privations incident upon settling a new country. They lived principally upon game, and gave little attention to agricultural pursuits As the country grew older, game became scarce, emi- grants flocked from different parts of the Union, and the primitive manner of living gave place to that more conformable to the cus- toms of older states.
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