Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006

USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

whenever he chose. The snapping of a dry twig was sufficient to awaken him, when, un- covering his head, he keenly scrutinized in the darkness and gloom around-his right hand on his trusty rifle "ready for the mis- chance of the hour." A person now, in full security from danger, enjoying the comforts and refinements of civilized life, can scarcely bring his mind to realize his situation, or do justice to the powers of bodily endurance, firmness of nerve, self-reliance and courage, manifested by him that winter. A lone man in a dreary, interminable forest swarming with enemies, bloodthirsty, crafty and of horrid barbarity, without a friend or human being to afford him the least aid, in the depth of winter, the freezing winds moaning through the bare and leafless branches of the tall trees, while the dismal howling of a pack of wolves-

"Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave ; Burning for blood, bony, gaunt and grim,"

might be heard in the distance, mingled with the howlings of the wintry winds, were well calculated to create a lonely sensation about the heart and appall any common spirit. There would he sit, nooding in his blanket, undistinguishable in the darkness from an old stump, enduring the rigor of winter, keeping himself from freezing, yet showing no fire, -calm, ready and prompt to engage in mortal combat, with whatever enemy might assail, whether Indian, bear or panther. At day-light he commenced hunting, proceeding slowly and with extreme caution, looking for game and watching for Indians at the same time. When he found a dcer, previously to shooting it, he put a bullet in his mouth, ready for reloading his gun with all possible dispatch, which he did before moving from the spot, casting searching glances in every direction for Indians. Cautiously approach- ing the deer, after he had shot it, he dragged it to a tree and commenced the process of skinning with his back toward the tree, and his rifle leaning against it, in reach of his right hand. And so with his rear protected by the tree, he would skin a short time, then straighten up and scan in every direction, to see if the report of his rifle had brought an Indian in his vicinity, then apply himself to skinning again. If he heard a stick break, or any, the slightest noise indicating the proximity of animal life, he clutched his rifle instantly, and was on the alert prepared for any emergency. Having skinned and cut up the animal, the four-quarters were packed in the hide, which was so arranged as to be slung on his back like a knapsack, with which

700

GREENE COUNTY.

he wended his way to the fort. If the deer was killed far from the garrison, he only brought in the four-quarters. One day he got within gun-shot of three Indians un- perceived by them. He was on a ridge and they in a hollow. He took aim at the fore- most one, and waited some time for a chance for two to range against each other, intend- ing, if they got in that position, to shoot two and take his chance with the other in single combat. But they continued marching in Indian file, and though he could have killed either of them, the other two would have made the odds against him too great, so he let them pass unmolested. Amidst all the danger to which he was constantly exposed, he passed unharmed.

Owing to the constant and powerful ex- ercise of the faculties, his ability to hear and discriminate sounds was wonderfully in- creased, and the perceptive faculties much enlarged. He made $70 that winter by hunting, over and above his pay as a soldier.

At the treaty at Greenville, in 1795, the Indians seemed to consider Hunt as the next

greatest man to Wayne himself. They in- quired for him, got round him, and were loud and earnest in their praises and com- pliments : "Great man, Capt. Hunt-great warrior-good hunting man; Indian no can kill !" They informed him that some of their bravest and most cunning warriors had often set out expressly to kill him. They knew how he made his secret camp-fire, the ingenuity of which excited their admiration. The parties in quest of him had often seen him-could describe the dress he wore, and his cap, which was made of a raccoon's skin with the tail hanging down behind, the front turned up and ornamented with three brass rings. The scalp of such a great hunter and warrior they considered to be an invalu- able trophy. Yet they never could catch him off his guard-never get within shooting dis- tance, without being discovered and exposed to his death-dealing rifle.

Many years age he went to Indiana, nor has the writer of this ever heard from him since, nor is it known among his old friends here whether he is living.

Mr. T. C. Wright, who supplied the foregoing sketch of Josiah Hunt for our first edition, also gave the annexed historical sketch of Xeuia, which name is said to be from a Greek word signifying friendship.

Xenia was laid off in the forest, in the autumn of 1803, by Joseph C. Vance, on the land of John Paul, who gave the ground bounded by Main, Market, De- troit and Greene streets, for the public buildings. The first cabin was erected in April, 1804, by John Marshall, in the southwest corner of the town. The first good hewed log-house was erected for the Rev. James Fowler, of the Methodist persuasion, from Petersburg, Va .: it is still standing, and is now the hatter's shop, a short distance west of the old bank. David A. Sanders built the first frame house, on the spot occupied by the new bank ; it is yet standing on Main street, in Gowdy's addition.

The first supreme court was held Oct. 3, 1804. The grand jury held their deliberations under a sugar tree in the rear of the present residence of James Gowdy.

The first court of common pleas in Xenia was on the 15th of November, 1804, and was held by the associate judges. A license was granted to "William A. Beatty, to keep a tavern in the town of Xenia for one year, on the payment of $8.00!" This was the first tavern ever licensed in the place. It was a double hewed log-house, two stories high, and was in progress of erection at the same time with Fowler's house. It stood on the south side of Main street, opposite the public square, on the spot where there now is a two story brick house, occupied as a drug store. In the west room, above stairs, the court was held. The first election in the place was held in this house. It continued to be a tavern until after the last war with Great Britain, and, until Mr. James Collier built his brick tavern on Detroit strect, was the grand hotel of the place. In a corner of the west room there was an old-fashioned bar-the upper part enclosed with upright slats of wood, with a little wicket, through which the grog was handed out in half pint glass cruets. In

time of the war the recruiting officers puc up at this house ; and here might be seen the recruiting sergeant rattling dollars on a drum's head, and calling for half pints, ap- pealing to the patriotism of the bystanders, tempting them with jingling dollars, and adding thereto the potency of whiskey, to enlist recruits for the army. Court continued to be held in this house for the years 1804 and 1805, and until a new court-house was built.

In 1804 the building of the first jail was let to Amos Durough ; it was received from the contractor in October. It stood on ground now covered by the new court-house, and was constructed of hewed logs. It was burnt down the year following ; and in April, 1806, a new jail was accepted from William A. Beatty. It stood on the site of the present market house -was a rough log-building ; two stories high, with a cabin roof, and was burnt down in time of the war with England. The building of the first court-house was let on the 8th day of April, 1806, to William

GREENE COUNTY.

701

Kendall, who was allowed six dollars for clearing the timber from the public square. The house was built of brick, forty feet square and twenty-eight feet high, with a cupola in the centre of the roof, ten feet in diameter and fifteen feet high. It was fin- ished, and on the 14th day of August, 1809, accepted.

On the 6th of April, 1806, " a license was

granted to James Gowdy, for retailing mer- chandise, on his complying with the law l" He opened his goods in a log-house, with a mud and stick chimney, which stood on Greene street, at the north end of where Mr. John Ewing's store now is. He was the first merchant in the place.

The first punishment for crime was in 1806. The person was convicted for stealing leather,

UCHI N. YLING

Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846.

STREET-VIEW IN XENIA.

to half-sole a pair of shoes. There was a sugar tree on the public square, which served as a whipping-post. He was tied up to the tree, and underwent the sentence of the court, which was to receive one stripe on his bare back, which was inflicted by James Col- lier. The sugar tree served as a whipping- post for the last time on the 8th of October,

1808. A man was convicted for stealing a shovel-plow and clevis, and the sentence was that he should receive eight lashes on his bare back, "and stand committed until per- formance." He drank a pint of whiskey just before hugging the tree, though it did not prevent him from halloaing lustily, while receiving the eight stripes.

XENIA NATIONAL DANTE

Wm. M. Gatch, Photo., Xenia, 1886.

VIEW IN XENIA.

[Both views were taken near the same stand-point, but showing different sides of the same street, and in time taken 40 years apart. The court-house is yet standing. A fine bank building now seeu on the right side of the new picture occupies the site of the two-atory atore ahown in the old view.]

702

GREENE COUNTY.

XENIA IN 1846 .- Xenia, the county-seat, is on the Little Miami railroad, 64 miles north of Cincinnati, and 61 from Columbus. It is a handsome, flourishing and well-built town, with broad streets, and some fine stores and elegant dwellings. The engraving represents a part of the principal street : the court-house, shown on the left, is the most elegant, as yet built, in Ohio.

Xenia contains 1 German Lutheran, 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Methodist Prot- estant, 1 Seceder, 1 Associate Reformed and 1 Baptist church, beside 2 churches for colored persons-two church edifices are erecting, one by the Presbyterian and the other by the Associate Reformed denomination-17 mercantile stores, 1 foundry, 2 newspaper printing offices, 1 bank, a classical academy in fine repute, and in 1840 had 1,414 inhabitants, and in 1847 about 2,800 .- Old Edition.

Xenia is 55 miles southwest of Columbus and 65 miles north of Cincinnati, on the line of the P. C. & St. L. and D. & I. R. R. It is the county-seat of Greene county. County officers in 1888 : Probate Judge, John H. Cooper ; Clerk of Conrt, John A. Cisco ; Sheriff, Clement W. Linkhart; Prosecuting At- torney, J. N. Dean ; Auditor, William R. Baker; Treasurer, F. E. McGervey, James A. Johnston ; Recorder, S. N. Adams; Surveyor, Levi Riddle; Coroner, Addison S. Dryden; Commissioners, Moses A. Walton, Alfred Johnson, Henry H. Conklin.

Newspapers : Democrat-News, Democrat ; Republican, Republican, O. W. Mar- shall, editor ; Gazette, Republican ; Torchlight, Republican ; Boss Painters' Jour- nal, Trade. Churches : 2 Methodist, 3 United Presbyterian, 1 Reformed, 1 Intheran, 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Catholic, 1 Old School Presbyterian, 2 Col- ored Methodist, 2 Colored Baptist, and 1 Colored Christian. Banks: Citizens National, J. D. Edwards, president, W. R. McGervey, cashier ; Second National, Thomas P. Townley, president, Robert Lytle, cashier; Xenia National, John B. Allen, president, A. S. Frazer, cashier.

Factories and Employees : J. P. & W. P. Chew, newspaper, 14 hands; N. F. Copenhaver, lumber, 5; Upham & Clayton, builders, wood work, 4; Leonard Smith & Co., linseed oil, 12; The Xenia Paper-Mill Company, brown paper, 25; The Field Cordage Company, 183; The Xenia Twine and Cordage Company, 94; Hoover & Allison Cordage, etc., 111 .- State Report 1887. Population in 1880, 7026. School census in 1886, 2107. Edwin B. Cox, superintendent. Xenia is sometimes termed "the Twine City ;" its three twine factories are said to be the largest west of the Alleghenies.

In Xenia are two extensive gunpowder companies which do a large business- the Miami Powder Company, whose mills are on the railroad five miles north of the city, and King's Great Western Powder Company, whose works are near Foster's Crossings on the Little Miami.

THE POWDER MILL EXPLOSION.

Notwithstanding the care taken the history of all powder works is marked by explosions of greater or less frequency. One of the heaviest of these occurred on the morning of March 1, 1886, at the works of the Miami Powder Company. Several had taken place at the same works in the intervals of years. A large dry house containing 50,000 pounds of powder at this time exploded, from some undiscovered cause. It was completely demolished ; the fields about were strewn with debris, none of it larger than a man's hand. A car to which a horse liad been harnessed could not be found ; one of the large wheels was thrown to the other side of the Miami river, 500 yards distance. Of three men at work there the largest part found was a piece of backbone; other fragments being scattered necessitated the gathering up of the remains in bags and baskets. Part of an arm with other debris was found at Oldtown, a distance of two miles. Houses were injured and débris scattered for miles away. The scene among the families of the employees who flocked to the ruins was heartrending; as husbands, fathers

703

GREENE COUNTY.

and brothers came out uninjured, their families gathered about them and wept tears of joy. But to three women and their children the fathers and hushands came not.

At Xenia every building was badly shaken and many windows broken. The people rushed out of their houses into the street fearing that the buildings were about to fall ; while north of the city could be seen an immense white cloud of smoke and débris hanging over the scene of devastation. The cloud was photo- graphed from Xenia. Reports of the explosion were heard 100 miles distant. A house three miles from the explosion was completely demolished and the covered bridge on the Yellow Springs turnpike, half a mile distant, was blown in ; while a number of people in the vicinity were so prostrated by the shock that they were confined to their beds for several days after.

THE XENIA FLOOD.

In May, 1886, the southern and western parts of Ohio were visited by per- haps the most severe storm or tornado known in the history of the State. The destruction of property was very great throughout several counties, but the greatest damage to life and property prevailed in Greene county, in and about Xenia.

On the evening of Friday, May 14, 1886, between 8 and 9 o'clock, a violent storm of wind, rain and hail struck Xenia and grew in violence until about 12 o'clock. The wind came in a continual gale. At 10 o'clock the fire-bells rang an alarm, and the people came forth from their houses to assist in the resene of the unfortunate. Owing to the dense darkness and the severity of the storm, they could only grope around and were not able to do much. Above the roar of the elements came frantic eries for help.

It was found that Shawnee creek had burst its banks and was rising at the rate of one foot in every five minutes. The stream became a torrent and threatened to submerge the entire southern part of the town, through which it passed ; houses on its banks were most all swept from their foundations or floated down the strean. The house of Aaron Ferguson was carried away and lodged against the Detroit street bridge, where nine persons were rescued from it.

From this point to the Second street bridge the flood swept everything in its way. The dwellings were mostly occupied by poor people and the waters rose so rapidly that it was with the utmost difficulty that any were rescued. Screams and eries for help came from every quarter, and many acts of heroism were per- formed by the rescuers. Ladders and lanterns were procured to aid in the work, and huge bonfires kindled that the workers might see.

Alongside the Springfield Railroad, in Barr's Bottoms, the destruction was ter- rible; of twenty houses only three remained. The gas works were flooded and coal-oil lamps were in use all over the town.

The flood seemed to start at a small culvert on the Little Miami Railroad, where the water formed an immense lake rising to the top of the embankment, when it suddenly broke through and swept down upon the town. In some places where the houses were carried away the ground was washed as smooth as a floor, leaving not a vestige of plank or timber.

It was prayer-meeting night in Xenia, and many people had attended the meet- ings, leaving their children at home alone ; the storm detained them in the churches, but when they learned its disastrous results they rushed forth in an agony of ap- prehension for the safety of their children, who had, however, mostly been taken to places of safety by rescuing parties. Their anguish while searching for the missing little ones was heartrending to see. Strong men wept and women wrung their hands while rushing hither and thither, and were filled with doubt, hope and dread.

A house containing Orin Morris and family was seen floating down the stream, and the screams of the family could be heard above the roar of the relentless

704

GREENE COUNTY.

waters. Then the house struck the solid masonry of a bridge, sank, and all was still. Afterwards two of his children were saved.

Among many others whose heroic efforts saved many lives that horrible night were six young men, named Watson, Tarbox, Byres, Morris, Paxton and Eyler. (The town of Xenia presented these young men with medals commemorative of their bravery.)

Byrcs made three attempts to swim to the Ferguson house (which lodged against the Detroit street bridge) with a rope around his waist, but was swept away each time by the swift current. Finally Tarbox succeeded in reaching the house by going farther up stream and allowing the current to carry him against the house, from which the family was rescued, the house going to pieces just as the last person was taken out.

A colored boy named Booker, who was rescued with his mother from one of the buildings, could have saved himself but would not leave his mother, whom he placed with great difficulty on top of some furniture ; then groping his way around, with the water up to his neck, he found a rope and after great effort succeeded in fastening the floating house to a tree, where the two remained until rescued. Rev. Mr. Yorkey and Homer Thrall succeeded in rescuing Mrs. John Burch from her house ; she was found with the water up to her neck, holding her baby above her head.

The scene at the mayor's office next morning was a sad one ; here were brought the bodies of those who had lost their lives ; some were in night-clothes, having been swept away while in bed, others were partially dressed. Side by side lay the bodies of the Morris family, seven in number. In all there were twenty-three bodies, although the total number of lives lost was about thirty, as other bodies were afterward found one or two miles below the town, carried there by the pow- erful current. The dead included the young and old, white and colored.

The mayor and city authorities took active measures for the relief of the sur- viving sufferers, and aid was generously forthcoming from other cities.

The loss of lives by this storm was confined to the town of Xenia, but the loss of property extended throughout a large district of territory into many counties. Railroad bridges were destroyed and tracks washed away throughout many parts of Southwestern Ohio. In Greene county nearly every bridge in the county was destroyed, while the pikes were so washed out that access to Xenia was almost entirely cut off. The day after the flood the correspondent of the Cincinnati Com- mercial Gazette, from whose communication to that journal most of these facts are gathered, was five hours going from Dayton to Xenia (16 miles), being compelled to walk, make use of boat, farm wagons, railroads, hand-car and carriage.

TRAVELLING NOTES.

To have chats with old gentlemen has been to me in my years of historic travel a great source of amusement and instruction. Such grow mellow and sweet under the revival of memories of events and characters of their early days. I always found they ran largely to anecdote, and the humorous rather than the sad formed the burden of their talk.

In Xenia two elderly gentlemen, ministered to my entertainment-Dr. Geo. Watt and James E. Galloway. The first named was born in the county in 1820, was surgeon in the One hundred and fifty-fourth Ohio, and is an invalid from an injury to the spine, a direct result of his love for the old flag.

Feeding Joe Hooker's Soldiers .- The first point of our talk was the passing of Joe Hooker's army corps of some 30,000 men throughi Xenia. They were on their way from the sea-board to the mountains of

Georgia. It was a mighty host, and it was days in passing ; and these boys in blue had to be fed. The whole town was alive in the, good work, women busy cooking and all min- istering to the blue-coated host, a free offer- ing of hospitality on the altar of patriotism. Such were the scenes and the common sacri- fices of that period in Ohio on the lines of transportation. It helped to ennoble the people, but is one of those minor matters illustrating the spirit of the times that rarely finds a place in formal history.

Indian Anecdote .- The Doctor's memory went back to the time "when the Indians were about," and so he told me this. About the year 1825 Father Mahin, a local preacher of the Methodist church living in the castern part of the county, having lost his wife, and his children being properly cared for, went as a self-supporting missionary to the Wyandot Indians near Upper Sandusky.

705

GREENE COUNTY.

He had a mechanical turn and made him- self especially useful in giving them, with moral and religious instruction, a knowledge of the arts of civilized life, as blacksmithing, shoemaking and the like. I well remember a scene occurring when I was about five years of age. Six Indians, the first I ever saw, came to my father's, having been sent to see why Father Mahin, who was at home on a visit, had not returned to them at the ex- pected time, and if needed to aid him in the journey.

My mother gave them their dinner, and when they asked the way to Father Mahin's she replied it was about a mile distant in a direct line and two miles by the road. "I advise you," she said, " to go by the road as you may miss the way." "What !" replied the Icader, "must Indian keep out of the woods ? Indian get lost ? Point to Father's wigwam and tell what it like." She pointed the direction and gave instructions, and they set out across the fields, fences and woods, going direct, as she afterward learned.

An Eccentric Character .- On the preced- ing pages are amusing accounts of early times, in this county, contributed to our first edition by Thomas Coke Wright, at the time county auditor. He was, I think, the most eccentric as well as the most beloved man of his time in Greene county, and when I knew him was about sixty years of age. He was nearly six feet in stature, very fleshy, face florid, and he was excessively deaf. His voice was light, pitched upon a high key, and he was a com- plete specimen in his simplicity of a child- man, susceptible and quickly responsive to every shade of emotion. At one moment speaking of something sad, his face would put on the most lugubrious aspect, and his fine high voice crying tones : then in a twinkling, as something droll flitted across his memory which he would relate, there would come out a merry laugh. The expression of his face when at rest was sad, as is usual with very deaf people of strong social natures, being in this respect different from the blind, who are generally happy. It is because the first, by the use of vision, are constantly re- minded of their infirmity, while the last can have no conception of their great deprivation.

Mr. Wright was indeed what they term "a character," one worthy of the pen of a Dickens, and, like the Cheeryble brothers, superabounding in benevolence and sociality. He was a native of Virginia, and when a young man had been a teacher under Father Finley, the missionary to the Wyandots. He later studied law, but becoming too deaf to practice, the people gave him the position of county auditor. He was a poor accountant, but he got along with an assistant. His de- ficiencies made no difference, his super- abounding affection for everybody was such that the plain farmers, irrespective of politics, would have given him any office he wanted, he was such a warm friend to everybody and so anxious to do everybody some good. He was a Republican, loved his old native Vir- ginia, and told me some excellent anecdotes

illustrative of the affection some of the old- time slave-holders had for their old servants, with whom they had begun life as children playing together.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 1006

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006