Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 66

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

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1862. Conducted a reconnoissance to the rear of Columbus in January ; Fort Henry surrendered, February 6, and Fort Donelson, February 16. Made commander of West Tennessee; his army fought the successful battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7. Second to Gen. Halleck at the siege of Corinth, he was given charge of the Department of Tennes- see on the latter's call to the East.

1863. July 4. Forced the surrender of Vicks- burg with 30,000 Confederates, after a siege begin- ning the previous October. In November defeated Gen. Bragg at Chattanooga, the fighting extending over four days, beginning November 23.

1864. Commissioned lieutenant-general by Pres- ident Lincoln, March 3, and called to Washing- ton. Assumed command of the armies of United States, March 8. Forced a passage across the

James river between June 12 and 15, after the severe battles of the Wilderness, and laid siege to Richmond and Petersburg.

1865. April 2. The Confederate lines broken. Lee abandoned Richmond. The flying Confed- erates overtaken at Appomattox Court-Honse. April 9, Lee surrendered his entire army as pris- oners of war, which was followed by the surrender of all the remaining forces of the Confederacy, and the close of the civil war.

1866. July 25. Congress created the grade of general, and he received the commission the same day.

1867. Served as Secretary of War from August to February, 1868.

1868. Elected President, receiving 214 of 294 electoral votes.

1872. Re-elected President by 268 electoral votes to 80.

1877. Started upon a tour around the world, which ended in the spring of 1880.

1880. Was a candidate for a third Presidential term, but was defeated for the nomination hy Gen. James A. Garfield.

1881. Took up his residence in New York city. 1882. Became a member of the firm of Grant & Ward, whose disastrous tailnre, involving some $14,000,000, occurred in May, 1884.

1884. In June physicians were summoned to prescribe for an affection of the mouth, which was pronounced a cancer.

1885. March 3. The House passed the bill put- ting Gen. Grant on the retired list. June 16, he was removed from New York to Mount MacGre- gor, Saratoga county, where he died Thursday, July 23.

LOVELAND is on the Little Miami river, twenty-three miles from Cincinnati, on the line of the P. C. & St. L., the C. W. & B., and C. & C. M. railroads. It contains 1 Methodist, 1 Colored Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Catholic church. Planing-mill, A. B. Brock, 10 hands ; lumber- and coal-yards, carriage-factory, machine-shop, agricultural depot, etc. Newspaper : Loveland Enterprise, Con. W. Gatch, editor and proprietor. Population in 1880, 595. Sixty trains pass daily through it, and it is fast building up.

FELICITY is on an elevated plateau, in a rich, densely populated agricultural country, and is a good business centre, five miles from the Ohio. Furniture and chair-making is the chief industry. It has 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Wesleyan Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Church of Christ, 1 Colored Methodist, and 1 Colored Baptist church, and in 1880 a population of 1,047.

The following are the names of other villages in the county, with their popula- tions in 1880 : Moscow, 516 . NEVILLE, 445; BOSTON, 307.

Clermont has produced quite a number of authors. Mary E. Fee was a poetess, born in the county, who wrote for the public prints over the signature of " Eulalie." Her poems were published in one volume of 194 pages, in Cincinnati, in - 1854. She at that time married John Shannon, and with her devoted husband sought a home in California, where as " Eulalie " she lectured and recited her poems, draw- ing the largest and best-paying houses the Golden State ever accorded to any person. She did not live long to enjoy her brilliant triumphs, and after her lamented hus-

422

CLERMONT COUNTY.

band fell in a dnel. Another lady, Mrs. Dr. George Conner, of Cincinnati, for- merly Miss Eliza Archard, and the well-known "E. A.," of the Cincinnati Com- mercial, is also a native.

George M. D. Bloss, editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, resided at Branch Hill, on the line of the L. M. R. R. ; he was run over by the cars and killed there in 1876. He was regarded as one of the most able of political writers ; but his handwriting, worse than Horace Greeley's, was so illegible that only one compositor in the office could decipher it, and he was re- tained for that purpose. His memory for election statistics was as extraor- dinary as his chirography was detest- able. His " Historic and Literary Mis- cellany," a book of 460 pages, was highly popular. Milton Jameison, of Batavia, who was lieutenant of Ohio volunteers in the Mexican war, wrote a work valuable as descriptive of army life there, and especially vivid in its descrip- tions of Mexican agricultural life and the shiftless character of the Mexican people.

Abbie C. Mckeever, the acknowl- edged successor of Phoebe Cary, was born near Withamsville in 1852, and ABBIE C. MCKEEVER. is still living there. She has written largely for the serials. Two of her poems which have been much admired are annexed :

DRIFT AWAY.

Drift away, oh, clouds of amber, Crimson-lined in billowy mass ; Drift away in silent footsteps : I shall watch you as you pass. I shall watch you-yes, and love you- For the beauty that you gave : Beauty dying in the twilight, Like the lilies on his grave.

Drift away to unknown heavens, Crimson clouds along the west ; But remember that you are bearing In your downy amber breast, Hopes that whisper softly to him Of a love that never dies- Love that tires of waiting lonely Ere the call to other skies.

Drift away, oh, clouds of sunset, Purple with the later light ; Sce ! the stars are all about you- Diamond eyes of early night. Drift away ; but while you are passing Bear this message up to him, That the earthly skies that fold me Soon shall part and let me in.

ONLY.

Only a golden token, Tied with ribbon blue . Only a promise broken, Darling, by you.

Only a life made dark All the weary way ; Only an aching heart Throbbing to-day.

Only a happy dream In the early light ; Only a bitter stream flowing by night.

Only a touching prayer For the strength that lies Far from the world and care, Far beyond the skies.

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CLINTON COUNTY.

CLINTON.

CLINTON COUNTY was organized in 1810, and named after George Clinton, Vice-President of the United States, who was of Irish ancestry, born in Ulster county, New York, in 1739, and died in Washington, D. C., in 1812. He pro- jected the canal system of New York in 1791, his ideas being carried to their legitimate ends by his nephew, Governor De Witt Clinton.

George Clinton, in 1758, returned from a privateering cruise, and as a lieuten-' ant took part in the expedition against Fort Frontenac. After disbandment of the colonial forces he studied law and entered into politics, being elected to the New York Assembly in 1768. He was elected a delegate to the second Conti- nental Congress in 1775. He was prevented from signing the Declaration of In- dependence with the New York delegation by an imperative call from Washing- ton to take post in the Highlands as a militia general. In 1777 he was made a brigadier-general in the Continental army, and in October of the same year made a brilliant but unsuccessful defence with Montgomery of the Highland forts against the British. He was chosen first governor of the State of New York, April, 1777, and was successively elected until 1795. He thwarted an expedition led in 1780 by Sir John Johnson, Brant and Cornplanter against the settlers of the Mohawk valley, saving them from massacre.

At the time of Shay's rebellion he marched in person at the head of the militia against the insurgents, and greatly aided in quelling that outbreak. In 1788 he presided at the State convention to ratify the Federal Constitution, the adoption of which he opposed on the ground that it delegated too much power to the Federal congress and executive. At the first presidential election he received three elec- toral votes for the vice-presidency. In 1792, when Washington was re-elected, he received fifty votes for the same office, and at the sixth presidential election, 1809- 13, he received six ballots from New York for the presidency. In 1800 he was chosen to the legislature, and in 1801 was again governor. In 1804 he was elected Vice-President of the United States, which office he filled until his death.

He took great interest in education, and in his message at the opening session of the legislature in 1795 he initiated the movement for the organization of the com- mon school system.

In his private life he was affectionate and winning, though dignified. He was bold and courageous as a military man, and in public life he wielded vast influence owing to his sound judgment, marvellous energy, and great moral force of character.

The surface of this county is generally level, on the west undulating; it has some prairie land. The soil is fertile, and is well adapted to corn and grass. Its area is 400 square miles. In 1885 the acres cultivated were 115,154; in pasture, 52,313; woodland, 34,954; lying waste, 2,351; produced in wheat, 160,389 bushels ; corn, 2,419,796. Sehool census 1886, 7,717 ; teachers, 189. It has 97 miles of railroad.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880. 921

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

Adams,

Richland,

1,385

2,338

Chester,

1,784

1,443

Union,

3,284

5,051

Clark,

1,297

2,006

Vernon,

1,434

1.552

Greene,

1,842

2,758

Washington,

1,170

1,294

Jefferson,

474

1,448

Wayne,

1,366

1,448

Libertv,

1,050

1,382

Wilson,

1,159

Marion,

643

1,956

The population in 1820 was 8,085 ; in 1840, 15,729 ; in 1860, 20,638 ; in 1880, 23,293, of whom 21,061 were Ohio-born.

This county was settled about the year 1803, principally by emigrants from Zentucky, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The first settlement, however, was

424

CLINTON COUNTY.

made in 1797 by William Smally. Most of the first emigrants were backwoods- men, and well fitted to endure the privations incident upon settling a new country. They lived principally upon game, and gave little attention to agricultural pur- suits. As the country grew older game became scarce, emigrants flocked from:

M. BAKER TAILOR

HIRT & HOCE

Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846.

CENTRAL VIEW IN WILMINGTON.

different parts of the Union, and the primitive manner of living gave place to that more conformable to the customs of older States.

The following are the names of some of the most noted of the early settlers : Thomas Hinkson, Aaron Burr, and Jesse Hughes, the first associate judges; Nathan Linton, the first land surveyor ; Abraham Ellis and Thomas Hardin, who had

441

Slack & Berry, Photo., Wilmington, 1886. CENTRAL VIEW IN WILMINGTON.

been soldiers of the Revolution ; Joseph Doan, James Mills, and Henry Babb, who served as commissioners; Morgan Mendican, who erected the first mill in the county, on Todd's fork ; and Capt. James Spencer, who was distinguished in various conflicts with the Indians.

The first house for divine worship was erected by Friends, at Centre, in 1806

425

CLINTON COUNTY.

The first court was held in a barn belonging to Judge Hughes, and for a number of years subsequent in a small house belonging to John M'Gregor.

There are some of the ancient works so common throughout the West on Todd's fork, near Springfield meeting-house. The " Deserted Camp," situated about three miles northeast of Wilmington, is a point of notoriety with the surveyors of land. It was so called from the circumstance that a body of Kentuckians, on their way to attack the Indian towns on the Little Miami, encamping over night lost one of their number, who deserted to the enemy, and giving warning of their approach, frustrated the object of the expedition.

Wilmington, the county-seat, is in the township of Union, on Todd's fork, seventy-two miles southwest from Columbus. It is regularly laid out on undu- lating ground, and contains five houses for divine worship, one newspaper printing- office, one high-school, nineteen mercantile stores, and a population estimated at 1,500. The engraving represents one of the principal streets of the village, as it appears from the store of Joseph Hale ; the building with a spire is the court-house, a structure of considerable elegance .- Old Edition.

County officers 1888 : Auditor, Asa Jenkins ; Clerk of Court, Frank D. Dakin; Coroner, John G. Outcart; Prosecuting Attorney, William W. Savage; Probate Judge, Ambrose N. Williams ; Recorder, Egbert B. Howland ; Sheriff, Samuel A. Holliday ; Surveyor, James A. Brown ; Treasurer, L. W. Crane ; Commissioners, Daniel M. Collett, Jonas Watkins, Edward Cline.

WILMINGTON, about fifty miles northeast of Cincinnati, on the C. & M. V. and C. & C. Midland railroads. Newspapers : Clinton Republican, Republican, C. N. Browning & Co., editors and publishers; Journal, Republican, W. G. & C. R. Fisher, editors and publishers ; Clinton County Democrat, Democratic, J. S. Hum- mell, editor and publisher. Banks : Clinton County National, F. M. Moore, president, Madison Betts, cashier ; First National, C. M. Bosworth, president, C. C. Nichols, cashier. Churches : 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Colored Methodist Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 2 Friends, 2 Free-Will Baptist (1 Colored), 1 Christian, and 1 Catholic.

Industries and Employees .- Fulton & Peters, flour and grain shippers, 16 hands ; The Champion Bridge Company, iron bridges, repair-work, etc., 25; Fisher & Hughes, general wood-work ; Hawkins & Spray, lumber; William Scofield, woollen yarns ; Shepherd & Ludlum, builders' wood-work ; Williams, Cusick & Co., flour, etc .- State Report 1886. Also, Clinton Furnace Company and Auger- Bit Works. Population in 1880, 2,745. School census in 1886, 740; Edward Merrick, superintendent.

Wilmington College was founded in 1870. It is under the management of the Society of Friends, James B. Unthauk, president.

Wilmington was laid out in 1810, principally settled by emigrants from North Carolina, and named from Wilmington in that State. The first log-house was built by William Hobsin, and Warren Sabin's was the first tavern. The first church, a small brick edifice, was erected by the Baptists. In 1812 the first court was held. The earliest settlers were Warren Sabin, Samuel T. Londen, William Hobsin, Larkin Reynolds, John Swane, James Montgomery, John McGregor, Sr., and Isaiah Morris. This last-named gentleman, a native of Pennsylvania, de- scended the Ohio river with his uncle in a flat-bottomed boat in the spring of 1803, and landed first at Columbia, where his uncle opened a store from a small stock of goods he had brought. After remaining at that place about three months he removed his goods to Lebanon, and not long after died, leaving his nephew, then a lad of seventeen years of age, without any means of support. He however made friends, and eventually moved to Wilmington, where, on the 8th of July, 1811, he opened the first store in the town in company with William Ferguson. He was obliged in moving from Lebanon to make his way through the forest, cutting a wagon-road part of the distance; the town having been laid out in the woods, it was with great difficulty that he could get through to the little one-story frame

426

CLINTON COUNTY.

Bouse, erected in the midst of trees, logs, and brush, on which he then settled and has since resided. Mr. Morris was the first postmaster in the town, the first repre- sentative from the county to the Legislature, and has since held various public offices .- Old Edition.

Mr. William H. Spencer, who supplied the historical items relating to the original edition, also included the following sketches of two of these noted charac- ters among the first settlers :

WILLIAM SMALLY was born in Western Pennsylvania, in 1764. At the age of six years he was stolen by the Indians, carried into the interior of Ohio, and re- mained with them until twenty years of age. While with them he witnessed the burning of several white prisoners. On one occasion he saw an infant snatched from its mother's arms and thrown into the flames. In 1784 he left the Indians, rejoined his parents near Pittsburg, and a few years after moved with them to the vicinity of Cincinnati. He was in Harmar's campaign, and at St. Clair's de- feat, in the last of which he discharged his rifle thirty-five times, twenty-one of which, it is said, took effect. He likewise accompanied Wayne's army. Being on one occasion sent forward with others, on some mission to the Indians, they were fired upon on their approach to the camp, and his two companions killed. He evaded the danger by springing behind a tree, and calling to one of the chiefs, whom he knew, telling him that he had deserted the whites and had come to join him. This not only saved his life, but caused him to be treated with great kindness. He, however, took an early opportunity, escaped to the army, and at the battle of the Fallen Timbers showed his usual cool courage.

In 1797 he settled on Todd's fork in this county, and resided there for a num- ber of years, depending principally upon hunting for a subsistence. His personal appearance was good, but his address resembled that of a savage. A little anec- dote illustrates his determined character. He purchased land on which he re- sided from a lawyer of Cincinnati, who refused to make him a deed. Smally armed himself, called upon him and demanded a bond for his land, with the threat that if not furnished in three days he would take his scalp. This positive language soon brought the lawyer to a sense of his dangerous situation, and before the expiration of the time he gave Smally the desired paper. Mr. Smally passed the latter part of his life in poverty. In 1836 he emigrated to Illinois, where he died in 1840.

COL. THOMAS HINKSON was born in 1772, in Westmoreland county, Pa. His father had emigrated from Ireland in early life, had become an excellent woods- man, and visited Kentucky at a very early period. He established a station near the junction of Hinkson and Stoner, which form the south fork of Licking river. Here the subject of this notice was raised until the age of eighteen years, when in the autumn of 1790, as a volunteer in the Kentucky militia, he accompanied the expedition of Gen. Harmar. He was in the battle near the Miami villages under Col. Hardin's command in front of the town, and witnessed the total overthrow and massacre of the detachment of Major Wyllis. In this battle he received a slight wound in the left arm, and narrowly escaped with his life. He was after- wards in the disastrous defeat of Gen. St. Clair, but amidst the general slaughter escaped unhurt. Hitherto he had served as a private, but was subsequently selected as a lieutenant in the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, who formed a part of the forces of Gen. Wayne against the same Indians in 1794.

He was in the battle near the Rapids of the Maumee, but never pretended that he had done anything worthy of distinction on that memorable day. During these several campaigns, however, he had formed the acquaintance of most of the leading men of Kentucky, and others of the Northwest Territory, which was highly advantageous to him in after life. Shortly after Wayne's battle he re- turned to Kentucky, married and settled on a farm inherited from his father, situated in Harrison county, where he lived until the spring of 1806, when he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1807 settled on a farm about eight miles east of Wil- mington, but then in the county of Highland. He was soon afterwards elected a justice of the peace for the latter county, and captain of the militia company to which he belonged, in which several capacities he served until the erection of

427

CLINTON COUNTY.

Clinton county, in 1810, when, without his knowledge, he was elected by the legislature one of the associate judges for the new county. He made no preten- sions to legal knowledge, nor will the writer claim anything for him in this re- spect further than good common sense, which generally prevents a man from making a very foolish decision.

After this appointment he remained quietly at home in the occupations com- mon to farmers until the declaration of war in 1812, nor did he manifest any dis- position for actual service until after Hull's surrender. That event cast a gloom over the west. All of Michigan, Northern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois were exposed to savage depredations. Some troops had been hastily assembled at Urbana and other points to repel invasion. Captain Hinkson was then in the prime of life, possessing a robust and manly frame seldom equalled, even among pioneers. He was a man of few words, and they to the purpose intended. He briefly explained to his family that he believed the time had come to serve his country. He im- mediately set out for headquarters, and tendered his services to Gov. Meigs, then at Urbana. The President having previously made a requisition on the governor of Ohio for two companies of rangers to scour the country between the settlements and the enemy, Capt. Hinkson was appointed to command one of those com- panies, with liberty to choose his own followers. This was soon done, and a com- pany presented to the governor ready for duty. By this time the Indians had actual possession of the exposed territory, and it was the duty of these companies to hold them in check and keep the army advised of their numbers and position. In performing this duty many incidents might be related in the life of Capt. Hinkson, but one or two must suffice.

Having at one time ventured to the Miami of the Lake to ascertain the condition of the enemy, they found them encamped near the foot of the rapids of that river with a select company of rangers, commanded by Capt. Clark from Canada, numbering in all from three to five hundred, and under the command of the celebrated Tecumseh. The ground on the hill was for miles covered with a thick undergrowth, which enabled Capt. Hinkson and company to approach nearly within gun-shot of the enemy without being seen. It was late in the afternoon, and while waiting for the approach of night, to enable them to withdraw more successfully, the company was secretly drawn up near the brink of the hill, and directed in whispers to merely take aim at the enemy. This was rather a hazard- ous display of humor, but as many of his men had never been in battle Capt. Hinkson told the writer it was merely to try their nerves.

While engaged in this sport they discovered Capt. Clark in the adjacent corn- field below in hot pursuit after a flock of wild turkeys, which were running toward the place of concealment. Here was a crisis. He must be slain in cold blood or made a prisoner. The latter alternative was adopted. The company was disposed so as to flank the captain and his turkeys. They were alarmed and flew into the tree tops, and while the captain was gazing up for his prey, Capt. Hinkson approached and politely requested him to ground arms upon pain of instant death, in case he gave the least alarm. He at first indicated signs of resistance, but soon found " discretion the better part of valor," and surrendered. himself a prisoner of war. Being at least one hundred miles from the army, it sight of such a force, Capt. Hinkson and company were in a very delicate condi tion. No time was to be lost. A retreat was commenced in the most secret manner, in a southerly direction at right angles from the river. By travelling all night they eluded pursuit and brought their prize safely to camp.

Shortly afterwards Gen. Tupper's brigade arrived near the rapids and encamped for the night, during which Capt. Hinkson and company acted as piquet guard and in the morning a few were selected to accompany him on a secret recon- noissance down the river. Unluckily they were met at the sunimit of a hill by a detachment of the same kind from the enemy. Shots were exchanged, and the alarm fairly given to both parties. This brought on the skirmish which ensued between that brigade and the Indians. While fighting in the Indian mode, near Wm. Vernard, Esq. (one of Capt. Hinkson's men, who had been severely wounded), Capt. Hinkson saw a dusky figure suddenly rise from the grass. He had a rifle never before known to miss fire. They both presented their pieces, which simultaneously snapped without effect. In preparing for a second trial it is sup-

428

CLINTON COUNTY.

posed the Indian was a little ahead of the captain, when a shot from Daniel Work- man (another ranger) sent the Indian to his long home.

After this skirmish the Indians withdrew to Frenchtown, and block-houses were hastily thrown up near the spot where Fort Meigs was afterwards erected, and where the Ohio trooops were encamped when the fatal disaster befell Gen. Win- chester at Raisin, Jan. 22, 1813. The news was carried by express, and the main body retreated, leaving Capt. Hinkson and company to perform the sorrowful duty of picking up some poor stragglers from that bloody defeat, and burning the block-houses and provisions within twenty-four hours, which was done before it was known that the enemy had retired to Malden. The Ohio brigade, and others from Pennsylvania and Virginia, soon rallied again and formed a junction at the rapids, where they commenced building the fort, so renowned for with- standing two sieges in the spring and summer of 1813. During its erection Capt. Hinkson was attacked with a peculiar fever, then raging in the army, from which he did not recover fit for duty until late in the spring. With a shattered con- stitution he returned to his home, and was immediately elected colonel of the Third regiment of the Second brigade and First division Ohio militia, which was then a post of honor, requiring much patience and discretion in a region rather backward in supporting the war.

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 66

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