USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 27
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industrial parade worthily representing some fifty business firms. This was followed by a line of horsemen, various lodges, societies, etc. Several bands, including the noted military band of the Dayton National Soldiers' Home, fur- nished music for the occasion. A small band of Indians, descendants of some of the tribes who participated in the treaty, were present and attracted much attention. The afternoon program was rendered at the fair ground where Gov. Wm. McKinley, Hon. Samuel Hunt of Cincinnati, Ohio, Judge Gilmore of Columbus, and Hon. Samuel H. Doyle of Indiana, made notable addresses. Mckinley had made a strong and convincing address on the 18th of September, 1891, at Morningstar's Park during his gubernatorial cam- paign, and his presence at the Wayne celebration was greatly appreciated. Among his pregnant utterances were: "The cen- tennial anniversary we meet to celebrate is of far more than local or mere state interest. If we may judge events by their subsequent results, we can heartily agree with the historians that the signing of the peace at Greenville on August 3, 1795, was the most important event necessary to permanent set- tlement and occupation in the existence of the whole north- west territory. Indeed, its good effects far outstretched even the boundaries of that great domain. To me one of the greatest benefits of the treaty of Greenville has seemed that it opened wide the gateway of opportunity to the free and easy settlement of the great west. *
"Greenville may justly congratulate herself that she is the site where the treaty was signed, that her name and fame are forever linked with its history. Let us keep alive those precious memories of the past and instill into the minds of the young the lessons of the stirring patriotism and devotion to duty of the men who were the first to establish here the authority of the Republic and founded on eternal prin- ciples its free and notable institutions. The centuries may come. the centuries may go, but their fame will survive forever on this historic ground. * *
"It is a great thing to make history. The men who par- ticipated in the Indian wars won victories for civilization and mankind. And these victories all of us are enjoying today. Nothing, therefore, could be more appropriate than that this great section of the country, which a century ago was the theater of war, should pause to celebrate the stirring events
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of those times and the peace which followed, and do honor to the brave men who participated in them.
"It is a rich inheritance to any community to have in its keeping historic ground. As we grow older in statehood, in- terest in these historical events increases, and their frequent celebration is calculated to promote patriotism and a spirit of devoted loyalty to country. *
"We cannot have too many of these celebrations with their impressive lessons of patriotism and sacrifice. Let us teach our children to revere the past, for by its examples and les- sons alone can we wisely prepare them for a better and nobler future. The city of Greenville, the people of Ohio, the peo- ple of the country, should see to it that at no distant day a great monument shall be erected to celebrate this great event."
In concluding his long and masterful review of the events leading up to the great treaty Judge Hunt said: "The treaty of Greenville, following the spirit of the imperishable prin- ciples of the Ordinance of 1787, extended the hand of friend- ship toward the Indian, respected his liberty, paid full com- pensation for his lands and protected his property. It estab- lished a code of morals for a free people. When some future Bancroft shall write the history of this people, he will speak of the great Ordinance as the first attempt in the northwestern states and then of the treaty here proclaimed, which sup- plants the harsher tones of military strife with the softer syllables of charity and love. If, too, the victories of peace are not less renowned than those of war, then the day will surely come when a grateful people, revering their traditions, and conscious of the maxims imperial of their glory, will erect on this historic ground a majestic monument, having an out- stretched hand rather than a fixed bayonet, and with the simple yet immortal, inscription, "The Treaty of Greenville."
Judge Gilmore said among other things in his very inter- esting speech: "The Treaty of Greenville became a prece- dent, and the principles it established were those, substan- tially, that were subsequently applied in extinguishing the Indian title to the residue of the great Northwest Territory, which is now sufficient in itself to constitute an empire in population, and in all things else that constitute goodness and greatness in government ; lying at the bottom of which are the lasting effects of the Treaty of Greenville."
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Washington's Centenary.
Another interesting and stirring event took place at the county seat early in 1832, the memory of which would, 110 doubt, have been consigned to oblivion but for the public spirit and facile pen of D. K. Swisher, who wrote the follow- ing readable account of the occasion for the June 12, 1880, issue of the Greenville "Courier (for Mr. Swisher's biography, see Chapter XXII "Bench and Bar") : "At the beginning of the year 1832, great preparations were made all over the United States for the proper observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gen. George Washington, which occurred on the 22d day of February, of that year. The day was gener- ally observed by military demonstrations, orations and pro- cessions. The roar of cannon on the shores of the Atlantic was heard and imitated by the contiguous interior and south- western towns, till the whole populated union reverberated with the sound. The day was observed by the citizens of Darke county, hundreds of whom assembled at Greenville. The day was pleasant for the season of the year, and the ex- ercises were chiefly outdoor. A few months previous to this a small brass cannon, about a four pounder, had been found by some boys at Fort Recovery, by the name of Mc- Dowell. They had been digging along the margin of the Wabash river, and fortunately struck upon it. The gun had lain there since the battle and defeat of St. Clair at that place, had sunk into the mud and became concealed so that it was not found by the soldiers, who afterward went there and brought away the property left by him, which the Indians had not carried off or destroyed.
This little cannon, which was about 51/2 feet long, 6 inches in diameter at the muzzle, and ten at the breech, with 4 inch arms, about 14 inches long, and a knob on the breech, weighed about 400 pounds. It seemed not to be damaged in the least by corroding, and with little rubbing became smooth and bright.
The finders of it hauled it to Greenville and offered it for sale. But as money was very scarce here at that time, they were unable to sell it for cash, but Jacob Rush, a farmer just at the south of town, owner of the farm now owned and oc- cupied by his son, Isaac Rush, hearing of the matter, offered to give them a yoke of oxen he then had, valued at $60, for the cannon, which they accepted, and Mr. Rush became the
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owner of the gun. He afterward sold it to the citizens of Greenville for the sum of $60, the money to be raised by sub- scription. But when the effort was made to collect the money in that way it was found that but few were willing to subscribe anything. Frank L. Hamilton having been the chief contractor with Mr. Rush for the gun. and not being able to raise the money otherwise, sold the gun to some citi- zens of Cincinnati for the sum of $100, as it was understood. Thus for the want of a little patriotism and money in our people, they lost a very interesting relic. It seems to have been the history of this little gun, that it was founded in one of the great establishments of Great Britain, sent over to this country to knock the liberty out of the people, but was captured at Yorktown, and held by the captors, sent west by the government of the United States to defend her people against savage encroachments, but lost as before stated. And though it was a very pretty piece of ordnance, its misfor- tunes were greater than its beauty. It is understood the citi- zens of Cincinnati highly prized the little unfortunate, burn- ished it, and engraved its history upon it, mounted it upon a splendid carriage, and honored it by a front position in all her civic military demonstrations.
This gun formed one of the chief attractions of the cele- bration here. A four pound shot had been found here, with which the gun was charged on that day, John Wharry and Allen LaMotte and Benjamin Devor being the chief gunners, but very bad shots. Four shots were made at a large burr oak tree which stood just upon the north side of the creek, and was about three feet in diameter, at a distance of about 150 yards. Three shots missed the tree, but the fourth struck it about twelve feet from the ground. The ball struck on the side of the tree but entered, and split the tree twelve or fifteen feet up, and down, to the roots. It was amusing, and constituted one of the excitements of the day, to see the men and boys run at each discharge to hunt up and bring back the ball. Small bushes stood very thick along the creek in the bottom land and the ball could be easily traced by the limbs and brush it cut off. The ball generally went about the fourth of a mile. Once it struck the bank that a fallen tree had turned up, which was about three feet thick and frozen hard; it went through the bank, but was entirely spent so that it lay just on the other side. The ball hitting the tree finally, buried itself so that it could not be obtained,
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stopped that fun. But still the gun was charged with pow- der and continued to be shot for perhaps 100 times.
At that day Darke county had no orators, no man stood up to speak and stir the patriotic heart, so that the pleasures of the day were chiefly confined to the booming of the cannon. No procession was formed or order observed ; no military dis- play, not even the enlivening fife nor the rattling drum was heard; no song to arouse the slumbering echoes, or stir and quicken the fagging memory; nor flags, nor war tattered banners; nor indeed were these things necessary. The tale of the wondrous chief, his great struggle with his little strag- gling army of heroes for the national independence, against the awful power of the most warlike and potent nations on earth, was not forgotten, but with each boom of the cannon fresh memories were enkindled and the heart swelled to full- ness. At that day no disturbing element had awakened a feeling of sectional jealousy, a spirit of national pride alike in Maine and Louisiana was buoyant in every heart. No thought of a dissolution of the union, nor the establishment of a plurality of governments, nor of independence of one section or the other, but as members of one body all living on the pulsations of the one great national heart. Nor had the root of all evil, "the love of money," grown superior to the love of republican government, nor had labor grown weary and dissatisfied with its wages, nor looked on with evil eye upon prosperity and wealth, nor ballot boxes stuffed. or privilege at the polls violated. All these are new, dan- gerous and disturbing elements now, requiring steady vigi- lance and watchful care. The pride of the patriot today is not the pride of the patriot of which we write; "that all are patriots." but that a great and overwhelming majority of the people are patriotic, and looking for the perpetuation of the union, and the maintenance of our republican institutions, till the sun approaches his western setting on the last day of time. Till then may our republican institutions be pre- served, and only destroyed by the general wreck of nature.
No accident happened, or other unpleasant circumstances during the day, and the people retired to their respective homes, well pleased. This was 48 years ago. In 52 years from now, on the 22d day of February, 1932, the 200th anni- versary of Washington's birth will occur.
Will the people of Greenville and Darke county then cele- brate the day? Will they go over the creek into the same
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bottom, and let the roar of cannon be heard from the place? Will they then read this little scrap of the history of Darke county? I hope they will do all these things. And if we surely know they would, how greatly paid we should be for making this record.
At that day there was about 100 souls living in Greenville and about 1,000 in the county. When our children meet to celebrate the day, 52 years from now, they will not see any here who celebrated the day 48 years ago. They will not see the large tree used by us as a target (it has already passed away), the fill of the Dayton & Union R. R. covers the stump. They will not use the little brass cannon, nor the thick brush woods. But the creek will be there, and the bot- tom land will be there. The town will still be here; not the town of 100 souls, but a city of 30,000; not a county of 1,000 souls, but a vast community of 75,000. They will celebrate the day greater in proportion as their number exceed ours, by orations, speeches and songs, and processions and flags amidst the roar of many cannon and the enlivening strains of music."
The Hard Cider Campaign of 1840.
No other man has thus far been elected President of the United States, who had been so vitally connected with the early history of western Ohio as Gen. WVm. Henry Harrison. His memory is especially dear to the citizens of Darke coun- ty as he bore a prominent part in the campaign of Wayne and the Treaty of 1795 as a young man, led the forces which gave the final blow to the redskins in northwestern Ohio and Indiana during the second British war, and negotiated the treaty here in 1814 as before noted. No wonder that the announcement of his candidacy for the presidency in 1840 was received with such an outbreak of enthusiasm in Ohio and Indiana as will probably never be accorded another as- pirant for this exalted position in this locality. The senti- ment of the people was expressed by the construction of log cabins, typifying the hardships of pioneer life, and large canoes suggesting the battle of Tippecanoe. The shibboleth of the hour among the enthused admirers of the heroic Whig was "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." A strong appeal was made to the patriotic feelings of the general populace and with telling effect, as shown by the result of the election. While campaigning in western Ohio Harrison was enthusiastically
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received, and it is pleasant to note that he did not overlook the site of old Fort Greenville on this occasion. He had come by boat from Cairo, Ill., and had made speeches ai Louisville, Ky., Newport, Ky., and at Cincinnati. From this point he traveled overland through Hamilton, where he also spoke, and then came to Greenville. The 22d of July, 1840, being the twenty-sixth anniversary of his celebrated treaty was happily selected as the time of his appearing. The unique and spectacular features connected with this event have been aptly described by at least two writers, and we take pleasure in quoting again from the pen of D. K. Swisher "The memor- able and lengthy campaign for the Presidency of the United States between Martin Van Buren and Gen. Wm. Henry Har- rison, was conducted with great zeal by politicians of both political parties (Whigs and Democrats) all over the country, and, of course, the citizens of Darke county and Greenville did not remain silent spectators at the huge combat. Not by any means. General Harrison was invited to return to Green- ville, where more than a quarter of a century before he had held council with the Indian tribes of the northwest. The invitation was accepted and great preparations were made for his reception. The day for his reception came. The town be- gan to overflow with thousands of visitors from all parts of the country. Some had come hundreds of miles from sur- rounding states to see and hear the old general and future president.
A committee of reception had been appointed, among whom was the writer, which at the hour of 10 o'clock a. m. proceeded out on the road leading to Fort Jefferson, followed by thousands of others on horseback, and in all kinds of vehicles. met the general and his party. one mile north of Fort Jeffer- son and escorted him into town. The general was seated in a carriage accompanied by three other gentlemen and looked very much tired and worried by the trip. Nobody expected to see such a common and plain old gentleman as he was. but instead of this dampening the enthusiasm of his reception it only seemed to inflame it. When it was known surely that we had met the general, and heard him relate in a few words how glad he was to see so many at his reception in Green- ville, one long and continued shout of applause rent the air and shook the surrounding foliage as will never occur again on the road from Fort Jefferson to Greenville, for the road all the way was full of people. It has been estimated that
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more than ten thousand people heard General Harrison speak that day. General Harrison remained in town over night, and was the guest of Abraham Scribner, who was one of his soldiers in the war of 1812. In the evening of that day Har- rison went with others to the top of the house of Hiram Potter (now the Farmers' Hotel, on lot 54), which was a two- story with flat roof with banisters all round. Here he re- ceived and was introduced to several ladies of the town, and took quite a long view of the surroundings, in search of something he might recognize. The ground, indeed, was still here, the creek still flowed at his feet, the surrounding forest trees still stood, and the blue sky looked calmly down, but no trace of the dusky savage, no resounding of the clamor of war could be seen or heard. All was changed. Where the sol- dier boy had brightened up his arms and accontrements in the former days, and where the savage had strolled, there stood the peaceful hamlet, calm as the great soul that sat upon and moved his own great heart."
We append herewith another interesting account of Harri- son's reception from "Beer's History of Darke County" (1880) :
"Up to this time, political enthusiasm had never reached a very high pitch among the hardy settlers, but now the ex- citement was as great in the woods of Darke county as it was in Hamilton county, Ohio, or in any of the older states, and when it was announced. weeks in advance, that 'Old Tip' would address the people, the surrounding country went wild. Immense delegations came from Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. There were more than three hundred ladies present from Kentucky, and the gallants of the backwoods were so much smitten by their graces of person, manners and apparel that from that time till after the election all the young men were Whigs, and 'log cabins, canoes and coonskins' be- came the symbols of their faith, and 'hard cider' the favorite libation. Many of the delegations were headed by log cab- ins on wheels. drawn by horses, and in one or two instances by oxen. One delegation from one of the river counties was headed by a monster canoe mounted on wheels, in which were twenty-seven young ladies, representing the twenty-six states and the Goddess of Liberty. This canoe was drawn by ten white horses. The meeting was held just west of town in a beautiful grove. Facing the speaker's stand, or rather encircling it on three sides, was a bank, well shaded and af-
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fording comfortable seats for the vast throng. This natural amphitheater could not have been improved had it been de- signed for this special occasion. The various delegations as they approached the town were met by one of the 'Greenville bands' and escorted in with honor. A brief description of these musical companies will not be without some degree of interest. The 'band' par excellence consisted of William Morningstar, mounted on a fine horse, and his instrument a violin, upon which he was no mean performer. He met each delegation in turn, and gave them a medley comprising sev- eral of the rollicking airs to which the campaign songs were sung: 'Hail to the Chief.' 'Bonaparte's March.' with the more inspiring strains of 'Soldier's Joy' and 'Money Musk,' and thus, with the booming of cannon and the cheers of the ex- cited multitude, the delegations were welcomed. The other bands, consisting of drums and fifes, although less singular, were much more noisy, and far and near the martial music resounded, stimulating the feeling, accelerating pulsation, and with rattle and roll of drum and shrill, clear shriek of fife, performing the air of 'Yankee Doodle,' and intensifying the excitement with the 'double drag.' The principal speakers were Tom Corwin and Gen. Harrison. Corwin argued that the re-election of VanBuren would be the signal for a reduc- tion in the prices of labor and all American products, and, in support of his plea, read several advertisements of well-known produce dealers from Whig newspapers, somewhat after the following effect: 'On and after the 1st of December, 1840. the subscriber will pay $1 per bushel for wheat if Harrison be elected and 40 cents if the election 'favors Van Buren.' Similar notices concerning corn and hogs were also read from the advertising columns of the party press. Various argu- ments were presented by Corwin in a way and with a force that brought conviction to many a close listener. The speech of Harrison was characterized as an able and eloquent states- manlike effort in support of republican institutions. He also devoted considerable time to personal reminiscence, and won over many warm friends from the opposing party. He re- mained two or three days in Greenville. the guest of Mr. Scribner, and, in company with his host and neighbors, vis- ited many points of interest in the town and its environs. The old merchant and tavernkeeper had been a staunch Democrat, but from this time on, became and continued an ardent supporter of the hero of Tippecanoe." From Green-
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ville Gen. Harrison went to Dayton, Chillicothe and Colum- bus, O., where he received similar enthusiastic receptions.
The Burial of Patsy and Anna Wilson.
In the summer of 1871 the Darke County Pioneer Associa- tion prepared to observe the nation's Natal day in a most fitting manner. As a special feature of the day's program it had been decided to exhume the remains of the Wilson children, who had been tomahawked by the Indians in Oc- tober, 1812, and to re-bury them in the new cemetery with im- pressive ceremonies. Accordingly, good speakers were in- vited, an attractive program arranged and preparations made on a large scale for the event. The pioneer associations of Preble, Miami, Montgomery and other counties were invited to be present on this occasion, and a speakers' stand was con- structed in N. Hart's grove (Meeker's woods) on the north side of the creek near the site of the children's burial. In spite of the rain on the afternoon of Monday, July 3d, and in the early forenoon of the 4th, the people came from all directions, and by 10 o'clock a. m. the main streets were thronged with people. At 11 o'clock a. m. a large procession formed in front of the Wagner House (Public Square) es- corted by Col. D. Putnam, Maj. Eli Hickox, Capt. J. W. Smith, Capt. Jas. Creviston and Maj. Frank E. Moores, the officers of the day, and the Arcanum band, and proceeded to the grove. Upon arrival at that place, the singers, orators and invited guests mounted the platform and rendered the following program :
Prayer-Rev. Levi Purviance.
Music-Choir.
Declaration of Independence-J. Riley Knox.
Music-"Hail, Columbia"-Band.
Oration-Hon. G. Volney Dorsey (of Piqua, O.).
Music-"Red, White and Blue"-Choir.
Address-Hon. George B. Holt.
Music-"Star Spangled Banner."
Address-Hon. George D. Hendricks (Eaton, O.). Music-By Choir.
Remains of children presented to young ladies for re-in- terment by Col. J. W. Frizell.
Music-Dirge.
The address of Dr. Dorsey, which lasted over an hour, was
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pronounced a most sound, able, eloquent and brilliant ef- fort and was listened to with profound attention and eager- ness by the assembled throng.
*After the dirge. Barney Collins, the local poet, read the following beautiful and appropriate poem which he had writ- ten especially for the occasion :
"When Autumn tints had tinged the woods And dyed the grape with blue, By Greenville's stream two maidens stood With cheeks of ruddy hue; Beyond the farther shore they knew Deep in a shady dell, The grape in wild profusion grew- The grape they lov'd so well.
To reach these grapes their young hearts sigh'd, Nor could they brook delay ; Together they stepped in the tide That flashed the morning's ray. Nor dream'd they then that on that day Ere yet their sports were o'er, Another stream of darksome way Their sports would explore.
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