USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 8
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machinery, grain, wool and other
property
$07.040
927.000
70,550
Watches
1002
12.830
1235
14.930
2.100
Pianos and player pianos
1040
98,040
1047
91.390
4.650
Organs, victrolas, etc.
263
6.890
260
6.595
Merchandise
481,520
456.295
4.775
Property broker or stock jobber
860
Manufacturer's materials
81.150
73.085
7.495
Moneys
810.330
772.545
37.485
Net credits
1.452.510
1.428,285
24.225
Bonds, stocks, etc.
113,960
06.000
17.300
Average value property converted into non-taxables
2,000
6.640
4.840
Valne dogs listed for taxation
310
16
620
310
Total valuation
$8,583,550
$6.439.810 277.160 $153,420
Net increase
123.740
123.640
*This Item includes 677 automobiles in the county this year. valued at $266.110, as compared with 423 in 1914. valued at $182.705-a gain of $103.405.
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70
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Per cent. Increase over 1014, 2. Number returns this year, 5.433; last year, 5,465. Amount paid deputy assessors 1915, $2,208; 1914. $2,272.
ROARD OF SOLDIERS' BELIEF.
According to an act of the Legislature, the judge of the common pleas court in each county in the state appoints a board of three members to supervise the distribution of relief to veterans of the Civil War and to their wives and minor children. Since the establishment of this board, in 1001, the following persons in Clinton have served on this board :
Name.
Date appointed. End of Term.
Appointed by.
George E. Daniels.
May 19, 1899.
-April 1, 1901
D. B. Van Pelt
James W. McDonald
May 19, 1839.
April 7, 1902.
D. B. Van Pelt
Josiah D. Moon
April 6, 1900.
April 6, 1903
D. B. Van Pelt
George Daniels,
April 3, 1901
April 1.1904
W. W. Savage
James W. McDonald
April 16, 1902
April 1, 1905.
W. W. Savage
Josinh D. Moon.
May 4. 1003
May 4, 1906
Felix J. Sione
George A. Orebaugh
April 5, 1909
April, 1911
Edward J. West
J. H. Holaday
April 5, 1900
April, 1912.
Edward J. West
William BaEs
April 5, 1910
April, 1913.
Edward J. West
George A. Orebaugh
April 3, 1911_
__ April 5. 1914
Edward J. West
Henry Hildebrant
.April 1, 1912.
„April, 1915.
Edward J. West
William Bass
April 7, 1913.
._ April. 1016
Edward J. West
Peter D. Barrett
April 6, 1914
_April, 1917
Edward J. West
Henry Hildebrant
April 5. 1915. .April. 1918.
Edward J. West
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CHAPTER IV. LAND GRANTS, ENTRIES AND SURVEYS.
On December 20, 1783, the state of Virginia authorized its delegutes to make a deed to the United States of all its rights in the territory northwest of the Ohio river, upon condition that the territory so ceded should "be laid out and formed Into states, con- taluing a suitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred nor more than one hundred fifty miles square, or as near thereunto as circumstances will admit; and that the states so formed shall be distinct republican states and admitted members of the federal union, having the same rights of sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other states."
These were only a part of the conditions. Among others were the following: "That the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages, who have professed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their possessions and titles confirmed to them and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties. That a quantity, not exceeding one hundred fifty thousand acres of land, promised by this state, shall be allowed and granted to then Colonel, now General, George Rogers Clark, and to the officers and soldiers of his regiment who marched with him when the posts Kaskaskies and St. Vincents were reduced, and to the officers and soldiers who have since been incorporated into the said regiment, to be laid off in one tract, the length of which not to exceed double the breadth, in such place, on the northwest side of the Ohio, as a majority of the officers shall choose, and to be afterward divided among the sald officers and soldiers in due proportion, accord- ing to the laws of Virginia. That in case the quantity of good land on the southeast side of the Ohio, upon the waters of the Cumberland river, and between the Green river and the Tennessee river, which have been reserved by law for the Virginia troops upon continental establishment, should, from the North Carolina line bearing in farther upon the Cumberland lands than was expected, prove insufficient for their legal boun- ties, the deficiencies should be made up to the said troops in good lands, to be laid off between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami, on the northwest side of the river Ohlo, in such proportions as have been engaged to them by the laws of Virginia. That all the lands within the territories so ceded to the United States, and not reserved for or appropriated to any of the before mentioned purposes or disposed of as bounties to the officers and soldiers of the American army, shall be considered a common fund for the use and benefit of such of the United States as have become, or shall become, mem- bers of the Confederation or Federal Alliance of the said states, Virginia Included. according to their usual respective proportions in the general charge and expenditure, and shall be faithfully and bona fide disposed of for that purpose, and for no other use or purpose whatsoever."
In agreement with these conditions, a deed was made on March 1. 1754. The number of soldiers in the Virginia continental line proved to be one thousand one hun- dred twenty-four. The tract reserved for them between the Scioto and Little Miami rivers became known as the "Virginia Military Tract."
In 1783, the Continental line chose Col. Richard C. Anderson as principal surveyor on their behalf, and concluded a contract with him on December 17 in that year. On July 20. 1784, he opened an office at Louisville, Kentucky, but no entries were made north of the Oblo until Angust 1, 1787. The first work done on what is now Clinton county by a deputy surveyor was by Gen. Nathaniel Massle, whose name appears in 1792 and a number of subsequent years. Others were John Obannon. 1794: William
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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO).
Lytle, 1795; John Bensley, 1796; James Galloway, 184; William Barlow, 1802; James Taylor, 1813; Walter Dun, 1820; Allen Latham, 1822; Cadwallader Wallace, 1822; E. P. Kendrick, 1833; A. D. Kendrick, 1847. These, with the exception of Walter Duu, all appear to have been employed ou surveys through a number of years each, and prob- ably the names of Nathaniel Massle and John Obannon are most frequently found on the records.
The following is the record of the first entry made in the territory now comprising the county of Clinton : "No. 550, August 4, 1787. Richard C. Anderson and Mayo Car- rington enter 4,000 acres of land on Military warrant No. 856, on the waters of the Little Miami, beginning three miles southeast of Col. Logan's encampment, in October, 1780, when a man deserted from bim; running southwest 400 poles, and, from the beginning northeast 400 poles; thence at right angles southeast from euch end of this line for quantity." In the same record, page 58, Is the survey, as follows:
"Surveyed for Richard Clough Anderson and Mayo Carrington 2,000 acres of land, on part of a milltary warrant No. 856, on the waters of the Little Miami, Beginning at a sugar tree, ash and black oak, running south forty-five degrees west 400 poles to three sugar trees; thence south forty five degrees east 800 poles, crossing a creek at 35 and at 200 poles to two sugar trees and a sassafras; thence north forty five degrees west 800 poles, crossing a branch at 70, and the creek at 300 poles, to the beginning.
John Obannon, D. S. March 3, 1794. June 23, 1794.
"Andrew Potter-C. C.
"Charles Pigman-
"David Flough, M."
Although this tract was the first one entered In the county, It was not the first surveyed. as Nathaniel Massie had made several surveys in 1792-93.
Several surveys were made August 6, 1787, being as follows: All on the "Jower side of Caesar's creek ;" No. 567, by Clement Biddle, assignee, 905 2-3 acres; No. 569. hy Archibald Blair, heir, 1,000 acres; No. 570, by John Anderson, 1.000 acres; No. 571, by Albert Gallatin, assignee, 766 1-3 acres; No. 567, by Col. Abram Buford. 1,000 acres; No. 55, by Isane Webb. 1,000 acres; No. 625, by Thomas Finu. 1,500 acres. The entire number of entries made in the Clinton county portion of the tract, during the month of August, 1787, was one hundred and sixteen.
Gen. Horatio Gates had for his share of the Virginia Military Tract twelve thousand five hundred acres, which he sold to his son-in-law, Dr. James Murray, who deeded to settlers such quantities of land as they chose to purchase, at the rate of "seven quarter dollars per acre." Murray's derds are as follows:
December 3, 1503. Jolin Metiregor, 200 acres, survey 1.632.
December 3. 1503. James Magee, 250 acres, survey 1.632.
December 12. 1:03. Joseph Carter, 100 acres, survey 1,550.
December 12, 1M3. Robert Eachns. 160 acres, survey 1.55%.
Derember 13, 1803. John Vestal, 690 acres survey 1,550.
December 13, 1503, James Moon, survey 1.558.
Derember 13. 1803. Isaac Perkins. 67 aeres, surver 1.558.
December 19, 1SPL. Jentes Odle. 150 seres, survey 1,508.
December 19. 1503, Layton Jay, 50 acres survey 1.5.8. December 17. 1503. Jacob Haines, 125 acres survey 1.558. Derember 15, 1803, Conter meeting konse, 15 acres, survey 1,558, January 19, 1805, Solomon Stanbrough. 140 acres, survey 1.558.
January 10, 1807. Samuel Stanton, 100 acres, survey 1,55%. David Ferris, 200 acres, survey 2.229. August 5, 1809, Mahlon Farquhar, 175 acres, survey 2.231.
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
August 5, 1809, William Mendenhall, 170 acres, survey 1,554. June S, 1805. Nathan Linton, 122} acres, survey 2,231.
June 8, 1805. Mordecai Mendenhall, 146 neres, survey 1.554.
December 17, 1806, Israel Wright, 517 acres, survey 1,554.
February 7. 1805. Nathan Hines, 94 acres, survey 2.258.
February 7, 1505, George Phillips, 200 acres, survey 2,23
February 4, 1812, John Ballard, 75 acres, surrey 1.557. February 5. 1809, Daniel Linton, 100 acres, survey 2,248.
December 21, 1809, Datid Ballard, 122% acres, survey 1,556.
December 21, 1809, Hur Hodgson, 100 acres, survey 2.248.
August 5. 1800. Enoch Ballard, 110 acres, survey 2.248.
July 4, 1807. Enoch Wickersham. 200 acres, survey 2, 232.
July 12, 1808, Daniel Hodgson, 117} acres, survey 2,248.
July 12, 1908, Jonathan' Hodgson, 118 acres, survey 2.848.
December 26. 1906. Jacob Haines, 111 acres.
January 26, 1807. Benjamin Farquhar. 100 acres, survey 1.554.
August 5. 1809. Jolm Hadley, 250 acres, survey 2.231.
Nathan Mendenball. 170 acres. 1.554.
Stephen Mendenhall, survey 2.248.
David Patterson, 41 acres, survey 2,248.
September 20, 1824. Eekiel Leonard, 1071% neres, survey 2,248.
Any person holding a warrant for land in the Virginia Military Tract had the privilege of locating it in such place and such shape in the district as he chose, provided he did not encroach on previous locations. Consequently, surveys were made in all conceivable shapes, with no system whatever, and that confusion and litigation were occasioned later was not surprising. The only Hmitation in shape was that which by Virginia statute required the breadth of ench survey to be at least one-third its length In every part, unless the breadth was restricted by mountains, water courses or previous locations. Because of this lack of system, there were numerous interferences and encroachments of one land entry upon another, and there Is at the present the great diffienity in the matter of tracing titles to these lands.
The difficulties and dangers encountered by the early surveyors can hardly be understood by the people of the present generation, but so great were they that in the Virginia Military Tract a large portion of the tillable land in the entry-one-fourth, one-third or one-half-was often paid the surveyor for his labor. Not only here, but throughout all the lands of the West, the surveys were made principally in the winter. there being less danger then from the Indians, who were in their winter quarters. Surveying with deep snow on the ground and in the midst of heavy forests was not especially conducive to apeuracy, and, in the ease of the "Congress lands," as they are known, many blunders were made which were only discovered when the snow had melted and the face of the country was in full view. Gen. Nathaniel Massey was the most extensive surveyor and Iand speculator in Ohlo in his time and was usually accompanied by three assistant surveyors, with each of whom were six men. Great caution w .. observed in their movements. The hunter went there. looking for game and keepitis a sharp watch for Indians; the surveyor, two chainmen and a marker followed; the man with the packhorse and baggage came next, and some distance In the rear was a watchman, following on the trail and guarding against an attnek from that direction. From John McDonald's "Life of General Massle," the following extract is quoted :
"During the winter of 1794-05, Massie prepared a party to enter largely into the surveying business. Nathaniel Beasley, John Beasley and Peter Lee were employed as the assistant surveyors. The party set off from Manchester, well equipped, to prosecute
.
80
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
their business, or, should an occasion offer, give battle to the Indians. They took the route of Logan's trace and proceeded to a place called the Deserted Camp, on Todd's fork of the Little Miami.
"At this point, they commenced surveying, and surveyed large portions of land on Todd's fork and up the Miami to the Chillicothe town, thence up Massie's creek and Cæsar's creek nearly to their heads. By the time the party had progressed thus far, winter had set In. The ground was covered with a sheet of suow from six to ten inches deep. During the tour, which continued upward of thirty days, the party had no bread. For the first two weeks, a pint of flour was distributed to each mess once a day. to mix with the soup in which meat had been boiled. When night came, four fires were made for cooking, that is, one for each mess. Around these fres, till sleeping time arrived, the company spent their time in the most social glee, singing songs and telling stories. When danger was not apparent or immediate, they were as merry a set of men as ever assembled. Resting time arriving. Massie always gave the signal, and the whole party would then leave their comfortable fires, carrying with them blankets, their fire arms and their little baggage, walking in perfect silence two or three hundred yards from their fires. They could then scrape away the snow and huddle down for the night. Fach mess formed one bed. They would spread down on the ground one-half of the blankets. reserving the other half for covering. The covering blankets were fastened together by skewers, to prevent them from slipping apart. Thus prepared, the whole party crouched down for the night together, lying spoon fashion, with their rifles in their arms and their ponches under their heads for pillows. When one turned. the whole mess turned, or else the close range would be broken and the cold let in. When it was perfectly light, Massie would call up two of the men In whom be had most confidence and send them to reconnoiter and make a circuit around the fires, lest an ambuscade might be formed by the Indians to destroy the party as they returned to the fires. This was an invariable custom In every variety of weather. Self-preservation required this circum- spection. Some time after this, while surveying on Caesar's creek, his men attacked a party of Indians, and the savages broke and fled. After the defeat of the Indians by Wayne, the surveyors were not interrupted by them; but on one of their excursions. still remembered as the starving tour,' the whole party, consisting of twenty-eight men, suffered extremely in a driving snow storm for about four days. They were in a wilder- ness, exposed to this severe storm. without but. tent or covering, and, what was still more appalling, without any provisions and without road or even track to retreat on, and nearly one hundred miles from any place of shelter. On the third day of the storm. they luckily killed two wild turkeys. which were boiled and divided into twenty-eight parts and devoured with great avidity, head, feet, entrails and all.
"In Symmes' Purchase, between the two Miami rivers, the territory was laid out into ranges, townships and sections, something after the system of the present govern- ment surveys, but in a manner which was defective. The sortions were numbered from south to north, beginning at the southeast corner of each township. West of the Great Miami the surveys were made on the plan now in use by the government, which is the most complete and convenient of all. Section 16 in each government township. or one thirty-sixth part of each of the townships in the Symmes Purchase, was reserved for school purposes. In 1807. Congress enacted that a quantity of land equal to one thirty- sixth of the Virginia Military Tract should be selected for school purposes from the land Intely purchased from the Indians and lying between the Western Reserve and the United States Military District. By an ordinance passed May 20. 1787, Congress pro- vided for the reservation of section 16 for the use of schools, and the policy has since been adhered to. The deeds of these lands in Ohio have been made under the authority of the Legislature by the governor. and the proceeds form part of the irreducible state school fund."
CHAPTER V.
EARLY SETTLEMENT IN CLINTON COUNTY.
Brown-limbed and mighty were the forest trees That lifted high their giant trunks in nir;
Filled with sweet Incense was the sighing breeze Which touched, with soft caress, wild flowers fair; The sunlight glanced among the foliage green, And rainly strove to pierce the gloom beneath ;
Glad swelled the heart of him who viewed the scene And breathed the fragrance of the flowery heath.
So often have descriptions been written of the appearance of this region before the white settler had made it his home that all those who rend must be familiar with the phraseology commonly employed. Yet there is not enough variety in the terms which can be used to write in a greatly different manner on the subject. A vast forest wilderness stretched north from the Ohio river. into the depths of which pushed bold pioneers from the states of North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsyl- vania, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and others, most of them coming from the Virginians and the Carolinas.
The face of the country at the beginning of the settlement in Clinton county bore vast difference in appearance to that of the present time. The soil was extremely fertile, and npon it grew. in the utmost luxuriance, the many varieties of trees and shrubs common to this Intitude. Nearly the entire surface of the county was covered with a massive forest and the tangle of shrubs which grew beneath. Spicewood and the wild pea vine formed a mat through which the feet could push only with difficulty. From the leaves of the spicewood was made a decoetlon which was used in the place of "store ten" when the latter could not be obtained. Sassafras tea (called "sasanfrak" in the vernacular of that day) was also used, and the sap of the sugar maple was a boon which the settlers well appreciated as an almost invaluable article in the economy of their households. Flowers in greatest variety grew and blossomed under the trees, and the rose, the wild lily, the dog wood, the red bud, and a hundred other varieties minde beautiful carpet for the magnificent forest aisles In their season.
.
Splendid as was the appearance of the country in the days when the "first settler" looked upon it. the fact remained that out of the forest depths homes must be earved. The task promised to be by no means an easy one, but the man who was bold enough to venture far from the older settlements and brave all of the difficulties he must of necessity encounter, was not disheartened with the prospect before him, and began at once the work he had resolved to accomplish. The ringing strokes of his axe echoed in the thick green wood, and the trees lay prostrate where for hundreds of years they had stood in their glory. The rays of the sun streamed into the little clearing; smoke curled upward from burning logs and brush-heaps: the rude cabin stood outlined against the dark and somber forest wall, and the new home was begun where never before the footsteps of civilization penetrated.
The land-office for the district of the Virginia military survey was opened August 1. 1787. Prior to this, In the same year this tract had been explored by Maj. John O'Bannon and Arthur Fox, two Kentucky surveyors, who wished to obtain a knowledge
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84
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
wounded. Twelve volunteers from the fort were sent to the relief of the first party, but were surrounded and eight of them killed. Two or three men were severely wounded, but were able to conceal themselves from the Indians, and came in or were brought in after the Indians withdrew. Not a man was killed or wounded inside the fort. On the third day of the siege, forty mounted men from Short creek and fourteen from Cross creek arrived at the fort and were admitted. These timely reinforcements so dis- couraged the Indians that they raised the siege and engaged in killing the cattle and burning the cabins and fences of the settlers.
"Two accounts are given of the part acted by Joseph Van Meter and his son. Morgan. One is that Joseph and his family took refuge in the fort without loss of time. The other is that father and son, on the second day of the siege, composed a part of the company of forty. who, on hearing of the dangerous condition of the people and garrison in the fort, left the settlement on Short creek. went to their relief, and were fortunate enough to be able to enter the fort without the loss of a man, Both accounts agree that Joseph and his son. Morgan, were in the fort while it was besieged by the Indians and participated in its defense. At one time during the siege, It is said. the rifles used by the men in the fort became so heated by the rapid Bre as to become dangerous and. to some extent, useless, and recourse was then had to a lot of muskets, of which a sufficient number was found in 'the store house of the garrison, If this account be true-and it is credited in the history of the siege-it clearly shows that, If a party of the garrison was composed of old men and boys, they were at least acquainted with the use of the rifle.
"Joseph Van Meter, the elder, continued to reside on Short creek until his death. The manner of his death was never certainly ascertained. He went from home to fish, and never returned. nor was aus vestige of him ever found. Some supposed that he had been drowned, while others were of the opinion that he had been taken prisoner by the Indians and burned at the stake.
"Morgan Van Meter came to Clinton county as early as 1794 or 1799. It is believed that he was settled at Deerfield. Warren county, with his brothers. Joseph and Isnae. as early as 1790, or at least 1797, having come here from Harrison county. Kentucky. Joseph could not have remained long at Deerfield if he came there in 1797, for in that year there is the most satisfactory evidence that he was located at the month of Ded- Non's creek, on the south side of the East fork of the Little Miami, a mile or so below Lynchburg. in what is now Highland county. Morgan Van Meter did not leave Deer- fiehl. as is claimed. for a year or two after his brother did. William Van Meter, a very Intelligent gentleman, a distant relative of the Van Meter brothers, who settled. when a boy. on the East fork, near Isaac and Joseph, is of the opinion that Morgan settled near where Snow Hill now is, in 1798. Bot Mrs. Leggett said he made his settlement in the year which she was married. Her family record, being produced, shows that her marriage occurred In 1799. Mrs. Leggett was a Shawhan, a sister of the late John Shaw- han, Esq., long a resident near Deerfield, and of Amos Shawhan, of Morrow, and knew the three Van Meter brothers when she was a young woman and they were residing at Deerfield. Deerfield at that time was simply a cluster of houses. It was not laid off as a town until several years afterward. The houses were of a very rude construction. being designed for temporary shelter more than for permanent abude. On the arrival of any new emigrant, if he found an empty house, he took possession of it. If there Was no vacant house, one was put up for him. Deerfield was simply a place to stop and stay until a selection for a permanent settlement could be made.
"The farm of Joseph Van Meter was on the southeast side of the East fork of the Little Miami, and is now generally known as the Michael Stroup farm. Mr. Van Meter removed to Illinois many years since, where he died. His brother Isanc settled at an early day in the neighborhood of his brother Joseph, on the northwest side of the East
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