USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 24
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About the year 1800 Captain John, with a party of Indians, went to hunt on the waters of what is called the Rattlesnake fork of Paint creek, a branch of the Scioto river. After they had been some time at Paint, Captain John and his wife had a quarrel and mutually agreed to separate; which of them was to leave the camp is not now recollected. After they had divided their property, the wife insisted upon keeping the child, a little boy of two or three years of age. The wife laid hold of the child and John attempted to wrest it from her. At length John's passion was aroused to a fury and he drew
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his fist back and knocked down his wife, seized the child and, carrying it to a log, cut it into two parts and then, throwing one-half to his wife, bade her take it, but never again show her face or he would treat her in the same manner.
EARLY CRIMINAL CASES.
Benjamin Brokaw was the first man sent to the penitentiary from Fay- ette county. His crime was the oft-recurring one of those days, counterfeit- ing. James Brown, under the aliases of Headley and Hadley, was also con- victed. Both men received a three-year sentence. The case of William Curry and the attempts to rescue are accounted in the story of counterfeit- ing. The jury which tried Curry was made up of the following: Richard Todhunter, Peter Eyman, John Coil, Abraham Bush, James Carothers, Otho Dowden, Abraham Lambert, Joseph Gibson, William Hill, Hugh McCand- less, Joseph Haymaker and William Thompson. Curry took a dose of arsenic given him by his wife on the night before his departure for the state's prison, but did not die. However, it maimed him for life and his face ever after was as white as marble. He was reprieved finally and went West, where he disappeared. Margaret Redmond and Jacob Shobe were tried and acquitted of the same offense.
EXECUTION OF WILLIAM G. W. SMITH.
In the last of October, 1864, a man by the name of John Gray was murdered by some unknown person or persons. He resided near Trimble's gravel bank, in Concord township, Fayette county, and on the night of the murder he was left alone in the house. It was supposed, from the marks upon his person, that he was beaten with the poll of an axe, near the door of his house, and then dragged off and thrown into the brush. The murder was afterward found to have been committed by John Adams and William G. W. Smith, who lived near Petersburg. The latter was a brother-in-law of Gray. It appears that an old feud, which was engendered between the families when they resided in Virginia, still existed. This, together with the sum of money Gray had in his pockets, was the cause of the deed.
On Saturday evening, October 30, 1864, the murderers left Petersburg, ostensibly to attend a meeting of the Knights of the Golden Circle. They proceeded to Gray's cabin, twenty miles distant, on horseback, and upon nearing the scene cut a huge club from the thicket, with which they felled Gray. Adams and Smith were arrested finally and Smith was confined in
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the jail at Circleville, in Pickaway county, from which bastile he dug his way to freedom. Adams was sent to the prison for ten years. Smith was re- captured and brought to trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged on November 30, 1866.
After receiving his sentence and shortly before the execution Smith acknowledged the killing to Sheriff Straley.
A new scaffold was erected in the jail yard. The execution took place on Friday, December 14, 1866, and the account following is from the Herald :
"Although the execution was conducted privately, crowds of people be- gan to assemble early in the morning and long before noon the town was full, and the jail yard completely surrounded by the curious, anxious to ob- tain, if possible, a last look at the prisoner and to see whatever there was to be seen. Sheriff Straley had issued a proclamation requesting that the day be observed in a quiet, orderly manner, and that no liquor be sold, and Cap- tain Henkle with part of his company were called out to act as guards around the jail yard and to preserve order during the day.
"On Thursday night, the last of Smith's life, he slept very little and arose early Friday morning, and engaged for a short time in prayer and read- ing of the Bible. He dressed himself with a great deal of care and sat down to breakfast, eating very little. During the day few visitors were admitted, except the prisoner's family and religious advisers, who remained with him up until the moment of his execution. At about twelve o'clock his last meal was brought to him, but he scarcely touched it and being informed by Sheriff Straley that his last hour was near at hand, he expressed his readiness for the sacrifice at any time. At ten minutes past one o'clock he entered the en- closure around the gallows, accompanied by his spiritual adviser, his counsel, Sheriff Straley, and deputy, ascending the platform at the request of the sheriff, seated himself in a chair upon the drop. A short prayer was then offered by Rev. C. T. Emerson, during which the prisoner was kneeling with his face covered. When he arose his face showed no sign of agitation, though during the prayer his face could be seen to tremble as if in some emotion. After the prayer the death warrant was read to him by the sheriff. and he was asked if he had anything to say before taking his departure. He arose and stepping to the front of the platform, began :
"'Gentlemen, I have little to say. It is a solemn occasion and I hope I may be the last man who will have to suffer death in this way. But I am innocent of the murder of Old John Gray, for which I must die. The con- fession I have given to my advisers is strictly true. Death has no terrors for (17)
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me-none whatever. We must all die; it is only a matter of time. I do not fear death; but it is the manner in which it comes and the disgrace it leaves upon my family. For fifty years I have lived in rebellion against God, but now, thank God. I have a hope in him.'
"Smith then took farewell of those upon the platform and if at any time there could be detected the least trembling in his voice, it was when he parted with Mr. Emerson, who had been with him much of the time during his confinement and to whom Smith expressed a wish of meeting in heaven. Stepping forward upon the platform he said, 'Gentlemen, adieu to you all,' then turning to the sheriff motioned for him to proceed. The noose was adjusted and the black cap pulled down over his face. At just twenty-eight minutes past one o'clock the drop fell and the prisoner was launched into eternity. During about five minutes he continued to struggle and then all was quiet. After hanging nineteen minutes the physicians in attendance pro- nounced that life was extinct, but the body was not taken down until it had hung nearly twenty-five minutes. It was then placed in a common varnished coffin and given into the care of his family."
STOCK SALES.
For some years the monthly sales at London, Madison county, attracted the attention of stock dealers for many miles around and stock was taken thither from all the surrounding counties. Early perceiving the advantages arising out of this enterprise to London and Madison county the leading citizens of Washington C. H. and Fayette county determined to organize a similar enterprise here, so that stock could exchange hands without being driven out of the county. About the year 1871 James Pursell and Thomas Kirk determined upon a plan of operations, selected referees, in case of dispute, circulated bills, appointed the last Tuesday in the month, one week preceding the London sales, as the day upon which the stock was to be sold; so that in case of failure to secure satisfactory bargains, the owners could drive them on to London. Jack Bridgeman of London was the first crier. Mr. Collins of Washington also being present ; but Bridgeman and Douglas, of Mt. Sterling, were secured for the purpose of giving notoriety to the sales. Correspondence was at once opened with prominent stock dealers in nearby counties, which, in time, extended to the states of Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri and cattle were shipped from all of these states to the town of Washington C. H., to be sold. These cattle were placed in the hands of an auctioneer, with the minimum price fixed, divided into bunches of uniform
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weight and quality, in numbers ranging from twenty to one hundred, or in convenient carloads. No by-bidding was allowed ; everything was carried on in an honorable manner and the sales from the beginning were a decided success. Among the principal auctioneers of the beginning days were: William White and Ramsey Brothers of Fayette; John Darlington, Adams county ; Joseph Rothrock, William Dryden, Davis Connahaugh, of Highland county ; Anderson of Kentucky ; Gray of Kentucky ; S. H. Ford of Cincinnati; Pond of Clinton county ; and many others.
HORSE TRADING.
Connected with, and growing out of, the original cattle sales, was the trade in horses, which, beginning with a few local transactions. gradually ex- panding into immense sales and shipments, of numbers ranging upward into the hundreds. An amusing feature of the horse department was "trade alley." generally located on some unfrequented alley or street, where all kinds of horses, except good ones, were congregated for barter. The trade language of these occasions was peculiarly adapted to the objects of exchange. Many amusing incidents were related in regard to the swaps and dilapidated animals which were offered for barter.
CAPTURE OF ANDREW ELLISON.
One morning in the spring of the year a thrilling incident occurred at the small station of Manchester. It proves that, although this part of Ohio was free from hostile Indians, their depredations were by no means unknown.
One morning Andrew Ellison went out from the fort to throw some logs together in his little clearing, which he had been burning. When he had about finished and the heaps began to blaze, he observed, while passing from one to the other, three men approaching him. Supposing them to be some of his neighbors, he paid no attention to them, although, said he. "they were dark skinned fellows and I thought they were the Wades, who were dark skinned, going out early to hunt." He continued his work until one of them seized him by the arms and said in broken English, "How do, how do, broder." Ellison immediately whirled and faced them. To his horror he found himself in the clutches of three stalwart Indians. Resistance was both useless and dangerous. He therefore quietly submitted to his fate. They hurriedly moved off with him in the direction of Paint creek. In the meantime his breakfast was ready at his cabin and the wife sent one of the
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children to summon him. The little fellow searched for his father, but came back without finding him. Supposing he had gone out to kill a deer, no immediate alarm was caused by his absence. Dinner time arrived and his wife became anxious. His rifle was found hanging in its accustomed place. The alarm increasing, a search was instituted, and the tracks of four men, one of whom wore shoes, was found leading away from the station and then the awful truth burst upon the poor wife and mother that her husband was a prisoner in the hands of the savages. It was nearly night when this discovery was made and the searching party returned to the station. Early the next morning Massie and his party started in pursuit, which, owing to the scarcity of vegetation, and the precaution of the savages to keep on high, hard land, where their feet would leave little or no impression, was slow and laborious. But Massie and his men were as unerring as well-trained bloodhounds and followed the trail to Paint creek, when, finding the Indians gaining upon them so rapidly that further pursuit was useless, they returned to the station. The Indians took their prisoner directly to Upper Sandusky, evidently passing through the territory of Fayette county, where he was compelled to run the gauntlet and being large and clumsy he received a severe flogging as he passed through the lines. After this he was taken to Lower Sandusky, where he again ran the gauntlet; then to Detroit, where he was generously ransomed by a British officer, who sent him to Montreal, whence he came home during the summer of the same year.
A HOT RACE.
In 1795 occurred an incident in which Captain John, a Shawano chief, afterward a resident of this county, took part. John and Asahel Edgington and another man started towards Brush creek on a hunting expedition. They had good success and made a good bag. They hung their catch out of reach of wolves and returned for pack horses to take them in. Being in the winter and not fearing danger from the Indians they returned alone to the old hunt- ing camp, alighted from their horses and were preparing to strike a fire when they were fired upon by a party of savages ambushed not twenty yards away. Asahel fell dead, but John escaped. With horrid yells the Indians sprang from their places of concealment, the frightened horses broke loose and ran towards home and John Edgington was alone on foot. With the activity of a buck he bounded off, with a band of howling redskins at his heels to urge him forward. So close indeed was the contest that the yielding grass scarce resumed its shape before the Indian's foot pressed it down again. The up
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lifted tomahawk seemed so near his head he thought he felt its edge. The hard breathing of his pursuers sounded in his ears, stimulated him to almost superhuman exertions. The race was long and doubtful : every effort to cap- ture and escape was made, but at last Edgington began to gain ground and after a long race he distanced them, made his escape and reached his home in safety. Captain John, who headed the Indians on this occasion and who, after peace was made, hunted in this county, was often heard to say that the white man "was smart fellow ; he run and I run, and he run and run. At last white man run clear off from me."
THE BIG RIOT OF 1894.
While crimes have been committed in every county and in every state in our Union, it is not considered appropriate to magnify or dwell at length on such incidents in the compilation of a county history; yet it may be admiss- able to insert in this chapter the clear facts concerning a riot which was caused here in 1894 by reason of an unmentionable crime that was committed that year. The crime was committed on the person of a woman residing near Parrett's Station, this county, on October 10, 1894. The brute com- mitting such crime was a colored man named Jasper Dolby. He escaped, but was soon captured at Delaware, and brought to Washington C. H. by the deputy sheriff, James F. Cook, Jr. The woman victim was brought to the waiting room of the sheriff's residence and there she identified her das- tardly assailant. By ten o'clock a large crowd had gathered about the court house square and jail, but little disturbance was made at first. At ten-thirty in the morning, Company E of the Ohio National Guard under command of Captain Vincent, was ordered out and filed from the armory to the county jail. Vincent ordered the crowd to disperse and many obeyed him; some, however, did not go. Upon retiring, many made dire threats upon the prisoner. In some manner a bunch of fire-crackers was fired off and, the sound being misunderstood by the crowd, much excitement prevailed for a time.
William McKinley was then governor of Ohio, and he was wired to send a company of troops down at once, they arriving late in the night. The two companies were then under command of Colonel Coit. A special grand jury had been empaneled and an indictment secured against Dolby. the colored prisoner. Shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon he was arraigned be- fore Judge H. B. Maynard, who, after his having plead guilty, sentenced him to twenty years in the Ohio penitentiary.
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On the way to the court house, a large number of the woman's friends and neighbors assembled together, standing near the court house steps, on the lawn. Two lines of soldiers were formed, reaching from the jail to the court house, to guard the prisoner. The crowd surged against the lines in order to seize the negro. The soldiers charged several times with fixed bayonets and a number of persons were injured, among the number being Henry Kirk, a brother-in-law, and Elmer T. Boyd, a son of the woman who had been assaulted. Just as Dolby ascended the court house steps, the angry, excited crowd made a grab for the prisoner. The soldiers used the butt of their guns to ward them off, and also their sword hilts, striking right and left with great violence. Mr. Boyd was knocked off the steps to the ground and Kirk had his nose fractured. The negro was finally dragged inside the court house and Colonel Coit plead with the mob to desist and leave, but they stoutly demanded the release to them of Dolby.
That evening the sheriff telegraphed to Adjutant-General Howe for more troops, and they were at once started this way and arrived. The court house was garrisoned with troops, all doors being closed except the north entrance. Late that day the crowd assembled again at the building, in in- creased numbers, and finally they attacked the door. The soldiers notified them that they would be shot unless they kept from breaking in the door. A moment later they made a rush and broke in the door, whereupon the officers ordered the soldiers to fire upon them. The result was that most of the crowd ran, but as a result of the firing there were five killed and about twenty wounded, some badly and others slightly. Among the killed were Smith Welsh, aged eighteen years; Jesse Judy, aged twenty-five years; Mark John- son and William Sams. Additional troops were ordered up and the crowd dispersed. The First Regiment, from Cincinnati, and the First Ohio Battery were brought to the scene. They came early in the evening on a special train and took possession, and soon the prisoner was hurried away to Columbus.
An inquest was held by Coroner James M. Edwards. Colonel Coit was indicted for manslaughter and tried at Circleville. After a wearysome case of several weeks, and with the jury out five days, they finally found a verdict of "Not guilty as charged."
UNIQUE DESTRUCTION OF A MILL DAM.
The old mill dam across Paint creek, in Washington C. H., came to a funny end, and the story is told in substance by a former resident, Charles A. Palmer, later of Indianapolis. We take the facts from his longer narra- tion of the laughable but well-ending story.
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Paint creek, at Washington C. H., is not a running stream at all seasons of the year, and the effect of the old pioneer mill dam was to at certain times submerge the dam, which caused much stinking, stagnant water to remain standing for many months. This, of course, would cause malaria and other dangerous diseases in the immediate neighborhood. Sickness very frequently prevailed as a result. The property was owned by that most excellent citizen, Mr. Millikan, who was often remonstrated with over the matter, but all to no practical purpose, seemingly. So serious became the condition, from a sanitary standpoint, that indignation meetings were held by the citizens, and finally the people resolved that unless the water was let out by a certain time specified the people would take the matter into their own hands and cut the dam away.
The neighbors along the Jamestown and Palmer road were too far away to be affected by the stagnant water, and they looked upon this move as con- flicting with their rights, personally, hence they volunteered to aid Millikan in keeping anyone from destroying his dam. The appointed day came and the citizens of Washington C. H. went forth armed with shovel and spade, to destroy the said dam over Paint creek. Reverend Livingston, a Presby- terian minister. headed the procession. In stature, he was six feet and four inches tall and very strong, especially in his arms. He was well built physic- ally. He appeared only, as he claimed, as a peace-maker between the warring factions. He wanted all settled right and desired the dam matter adjusted without violence. In fact, he suggested that the dam be removed to a higher point up the stream. When the procession reached the dam, they found opposing forces organized under leadership of Charles White, a son-in-law of Mr. Millikan, the owner of the dam. While the parley was going on, someone (a hasty St. Peter) stuck his spade in the dam and threw a shovelful of earth from the dam over into the stream, whereupon Mr. White picked up his ax and raised it, intending to strike down the digger. Just at that junc- ture the good man of God ( Reverend Livingston), the peace-maker, who was standing near White, said, "What, what, what, Charley, would you strike him with your ax?" At the same moment he seized Charley by each arm above his elbows, raised him above the ground and then threw him over into the water. This act disconcerted the defenders of the dam, and within a few minutes the dam was cut, the mill-pond drained and the malaria was relieved.
Mr. Millikan-a just and good man-instead of trying to repair the dam, went further up stream and constructed a new dam, which materially lessened sickness in the town. Many who had helped cut the opening in the
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old dam were present to assist him in building his new dam. This was a funny incident of pioneer days and ended as it should.
IMMENSE PETRIFIED MAPLE LOG.
In Wayne township, this county, near the county line of Ross and Fay- ette counties, and in the famous Herold's Valley country, in 1911 there was discovered by Orris Hegler and a Mr. Himiller, on the farm owned by Ella Steward, near the bank of the creek, a nine-foot maple log which had been turned to flinty stone by the process of petrification. Scientists do not agree, but it is generally thought that it is not less than a hundred thousand years old, and possibly may be even a million years old; however, this is all mere scientific conjecture. The grain is clearly defined and without much doubt the original tree belonged to the maple species of wood. This part of Fay- ette county, as well as adjoining territory in Ross county, is a wonderful field for such strange, ancient speciments of rock formations and petrifications. Also for rare specimens of Mound Builders and pre-historic race relics.
THE FIRST MURDER CASE.
The first murder case in Fayette county was that of a mail carrier who was robbed of the mail and killed at "Big Spring," two miles northwest of Washington C. H.
FIRST . AND ONLY EXECUTION.
The only person ever executed in Fayette county was G. W. Smith in 1867. for the murder of John Gray. He was hung in the jail yard.
FIRST MARRIAGES.
During the first year of the county's organization the following mar- riages took place : On June 6, 1810, Henry Ellis and Charity Harper, by Thomas W. Swinney.
July 17, 1810, in Union township, Justice of the Peace Henry Thurman married David Hays and Theodocia Wolf.
November 23, 1810, Joel Wood married William Hurleg and Lucy Kin- dle
December 15, 1810, Ed Farrell married Mary Wright.
December 26, 1810, Henry Fleshler and Susanna Popejoy were married by Justice of the Peace Joseph Kur.
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CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF COUNTY.
On August 1, 1910, commenced the celebration of the organization of Fayette county-its one hundredth anniversary. It lasted four days and was attended by many thousands of people, many coming from outside of this county. Fully fifteen hundred former citizens came back to the homecomers' reunion. It was really a big affair. At Grace Methodist Episcopal church appropriate services were held. The building was handsomely decorated, including eight hundred pond lilies, the donation of Col. B. H. Millikan, of Cedar Point. An appropriate sermon was preached and fine music rendered in keeping with "home-coming."
On Monday forenoon, at ten-thirty o'clock, commenced the great parade on the streets of Washington C. H. "Home, Sweet Home" was sung by the assembled multitude, and it never sounded more appropriate than upon this occasion. At the head of the long procession was a covered wagon-a genu- ine emigrant outfit-with a real hundred-year-old tar bucket dangling from the reach of the wagon. The occupants of this emigrant wagon were "Silas and Samantha Whizzlebottom," with their family of ten children all huddled beneath the cover of the wagon, a type of an outfit frequently seen in the long-ago decades. The outfit was drawn by two oxen, one black and one white, the same being owned in New Holland, this county. Next in line were many carriages, conveying the old "Forty-niners," who crossed the western plains in 1849 to seek the newly discovered gold fields of California. Follow- ing these carriages was Fred Mark, with ten children, in one automobile, showing the three stages of transportation by vehicles used in such three periods of our history-the covered ox-wagon, the carriages of a few years ago, and the up-to-date automobiles of the twentieth century. In front of the court house was built a large band stand, from which music was fre- quently discoursed. At one-thirty in the afternoon came the pretty pony parade. This consisted of twenty-one beautifully designed rigs, driven by the little folks.
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