USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 49
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President Van Buren's message, of date December 2, 1839, ap- pears in the Republican. The Columbus Statesman having spoken of it as a "second declaration of independence," the Republican said "the Statesman must certainly be crazy," and pronounces the mes- sage "the lamest production that ever emanated from the chief magistrate of this nation. It is," says the Republican, " the distilla- tion of loco-focoism; and the doctrines therein advanced breathe the spirit of a monarch."
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
The Republican prints, as "true Whig doctrine," the embodiment expression of Governor Barbour, of Virginia: "One presidential term; the integrity of the public servants, and safety of the public money; and the general good of the people." It also announces that " Mr. Pendleton, of Ohio, stated in the convention that it was the wish of General Harrison, if elected to the presidency, to serve only one term."
Mention is made in the Republican above referred to, that the publication of a new paper, to be called the Whisky Barrel, was then soon to be commenced in Louisville, Kentucky, the object be- ing, through its columns, "to make war upon all temperance laws and temperance societies." Wesley Roberts & Co., it was stated, were "to preside over the bung-hole and spigot." Its line of argu- ment must have been of an ardent, stimulating-we might say in- toxicating-nature. And its array of figures in proof were, doubt- less, somewhat fab'lous.
THE WASHINGTONIAN.
The first (No. 3 of Vol. 1), of date August 22, 1840, issued under the editorship of J. S. Bereman and E. W. Sexton, the latter gen- tleman being announced as publisher, contains a " plan of the stand- ing army of two hundred thousand men (militia) submitted to con- gress by the secretary of war, and recommended by the president of the United States." The Washingtonian editorially opposes the measure. It says : " The power it gives to the president is such as illy becomes a republican people, and as is only to be found in the most absolute despotisms of Europe. This is the strong feature of the bill. The concentration of power in the hands of the executive is what all Democrats oppose. It is what they opposed in Jeffer- son's day, and to which they still stand opposed."
Samuel Pike must, at the date above mentioned, have been en- gaged in publishing a paper here, as we find in the Washingtonian a " proposition " submitted, that if he would publish in his journal (alluded to as the Democrat), from that time until the election, the annual expenditures of the general government, from 1824 until 1840, exclusive of payments on account of the public debt, the Washingtonian would publish a like amount of matter, to be sub- mitted by Mr. Pike, provided that it should be suitable to appear in print.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The following ticket, surmounted by a log cabin, with "hard cider" barrel alongside, and captioned " Democratic-Whig nomina- tions," is printed in the Washingtonian of date above mentioned :
For Governor,-Thomas Corwin.
For Congress-William Russell.
For Representatives for the counties of Fayette, Highland, and Adams-James Crothers, David Reese, James Smith.
For Sheriff-Robert Cissna.
For Auditor-Jared Plumb.
For Commissioners-Isaac Jenkins, John Hays.
For Assessor-Membrance Blue.
For Coroner-James Vance.
The "Harrison and Tyler" central committee for Fayette County was constituted as follows: Samuel F. Yeoman, Robert Robinson, Robert Cissna, Daniel McLean, J. S. Bereman, Samuel F. Kerr, James N. Wilson, Samuel Lydy, Joseph Blackmore.
Z. W. Heagler was county treasurer in 1840. R. Robinson and B. Martin were then associate partners in the practice of law here, and Richard Smith & Co. were engaged in general merchandising and manufacture of "patent brooms."
In the Washingtonian of Saturday, August 22, 1840, is announced the marriage, on Thursday preceding, by Rev. J. C. Eastman, of Mr. Elisha W. Sexton, junior editor of that journal, to Miss Mar- garet Sutherland, of this vicinity.
In the same number (3 of volume 1) is also published, with cap- tion " the People's Ticket," an aphorism of Patrick Henry : " Who can save the liberty of the country when the purse and the sword are united in the hands of the executive ?"
For President-William Henry Harrison.
For Vice-President-John Tyler, of Virginia.
For Governor of Ohio-Thomas Corwin.
For Congress-William Russell.
Senatorial Electors-William R. Putnam, of Washington Coun- ty; Reazin Beall, of Wayne.
DISTRICT ELECTORS.
1st District, Alexander Mahew, Hamilton County. 2d 66 Henry Harter, of Preble.
3d 66 Aurora Spafford, of Wood.
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4th District, Joshua Collett, of Warren.
5th Abram Miley, of Clermont.
6tl
Samuel F. Vinton, of Gallia.
7th
John I. Vanmeter, of Pike.
8th 66 Aquilla Toland, of Madison.
9th 66
. Perley B. Johnson, of Morgan.
10th 66 John Dukes, of Hancock.
11th
Otho Brashaer, of Guernsey.
12th
James Raguet, of Muskingum.
13th
Christopher Miller, of Coshocton.
14th 66 John Carey, of Crawford.
15th 66 David King, of Medina.
16th 66 Storm Rosa, of Geauga.
17th
John Beatty, of Carroll.
18th
John Angustine, of Stark.
19th 66 John Jamison, of Harrison.
The same paper of Saturday, September 19, 1840 (No. 7 of Vol. 1), says: " We have just returned from the great Harrison conven- tion held at Chillicothe, the ancient metropolis. We have only time to say, as our paper is going to press, that it was emphatically a coming together of the people-a turn-out of the western democracy in their strength. We can scarcely form a conjecture of the number present; estimates were from sixty to eighty thousand. * On Thursday General Harrison addressed the vast multi- tude for more than two hours in a strain of eloquence that would have done credit to the best orator of the Grecian age, and in a voice that was heard distinctly by at least fifty thousand."
The same paper of above date exults over the result of the elec- tion for officers of the new township of Marion, the Whigs having, the Saturday previous, elected A. Lloyd and G. Mantle justices of the peace, and W. Penniwell and E. Griffith constables; in connec- tion with which we are led to infer that there must have been pub- lished here, at that time, a Democratic campaign paper styled the Pop-gun, which having suggested the advisability of the Tippecanoe Club sending a log cabin to "young Marion " before the holding of the above election, the Washingtonian subsequent thereto says : "This was rather a premature pop of yours, Mr. Pop-gun. * * * Suppose you wad again, and give us another pop for 'young Marion' in anticipation of the October election ?"
John Jackson, as sheriff, publishes a proclamation for, holding
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
an election on the second Tuesday of October (13th day of month) then next ensuing, for the purpose of choosing a governor for the State of Ohio, a representative in congress for the seventh congres- sional district of Ohio, three representatives to represent the coun- ties of Fayette, Ilighland, and Adams, in the house of representa- tives of Ohio, one sheriff for the county of Fayette, one auditor, two commissioners, one assessor, and one coroner.
The paper mentions the destruction by fire, on the 11th of Sep- tember, of the woolen factory of Mr. Bush, on North Fork; and chronieles the death of Henry Snyder, at Greenfield, Highland County, on the 17th of the month, after a long and painful illness. Two of his brothers and his father from the same cause (typhoid fever), died about the same time. W. H. H. Dunn, successor to L. Campbell, was then condueting the saddlery business here.
The Washingtonian of January 16, 1841, publishes what it styled " a new idea," which was advanced by a writer in the Ohio Confederate. It was " that the appointment of postmasters be subject to laws to be enacted by the states respectively ; that the people in the several townships, villages and cities of the Union be permitted to .choose their own postmaster-to be responsible to the head of the depart- ment for the faithful performance of the duties of the office. This plan, simple and singular as it is, (says the writer in the Confederate,) would certainly prevent the department from becoming that huge engine of power in the hands of the executive that it has been for the last ten years."
James Pursell was secretary of the " Tippecanoe Club," here, in 1841. William McElwain & Co., successors to Yeoman & Raw- lings, (S. F. Y., and M. V. R.,) Shivers & Melvin, successors to Tulleys, Melvin & Co., and Henry Robinson, successor to Lydy & Rankin, were then engaged in merchandising here; and E. P. Haigler was then conducting the saddle and harness business-shop on north side of Court Street, adjoining MeCoy's hat store.
The Washingtonian of January 16th, also contains the intelligence brought by the ocean vessel Arcadia, that Queen Victoria, of En- gland, on the 21st of November, was safely delivered of a daughter. In connection with which the London Globe, of the last mentioned date, says: " Her Majesty's marriage, it will be remembered, took place on Monday, the 10th of February, nine months and eleven days since." By the same vessel it was learned that the remains of Napoleon Bonaparte, from St. Helena, (where he died in cap-
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
tivity, May 5, 1821,) had arrived in France, the French King, Louis Philippe, having procured the assent of the British government to their removal. December 15, 1840, the remains were deposited in the Hotel des Invalides.
The Washingtonian of March 20, 1841, (edited by J. S. Bereman,) contains the inaugural address delivered March 4th by President Harrison. Referring thereto, that journal says "it is a plain, sen- sible document; and will serve as a political text-book well suited to all republican governments." Alluding to the inauguration ceremonies, that paper says : " We have no room for even an epit- one of the proceedings of the inauguration. It was a grand affair. If the reader will call to mind the Dayton or Chillicothe gatherings, last fall, he can form some idea of the parade." Speak- ing of the corporation election, then about to take place, the Washingtonian says: "On this occasion we hope the citizens will determine definitely their wishes in regard to the continuation of whisky shops, and their attendant advantages in our village. If we are to have these conveniences entailed upon us by party supremacy, why then we ought to know it, that we may enjoy the blessings to be conferred in moderation." By the advertising columns, we learn that Lenox Campbell was then engaged in the saddlery business here, and that Robert Cissna had succeeded Robert and Charles Cissna therein ; in general merchandising, J. C. Bell and Samuel McElwain were conducting business here, and J. M. Willis in Bloomingburg. Samuel Sollars, George Mantle and Daniel Mc- Lean, were then surplus revenue fund commissioners for this county.
The Washingtonian last mentioned announces that Elisha W. Sexton, its junior editor, died on the 16th of March, 1841, aged twenty-five years. It says that he learned the art of printing in the city of Washington, under the tuition of General Duff Green, who in 1828 conducted there the United States Telegraph, at that time said to have been the principal journal of the Democratic party.
At a meeting held here on the 4th of March, 1841, "the follow- ing ticket was agreed upon to be supported by the Democrat- Whigs of Union Township," at the then ensuing spring election : For Justice of the Peace-Samuel F. Yeoman.
For Trustees-Daniel Bush, Reuben Pursell, James N. Wilson. For Constables-John S. Blackmore, James Pursell.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
For Clerk-John L. Van Deman.
For Treasurer-Joseph Blackmore.
For Overseers of the Poor-Clarence Parvin, J. S. Bereman.
Some years ago, a disease known as " milk sickness" prevailed hereabout to an alarmingly fatal extent, and a Dr. Drake wrote and caused to be published a book, treating on the disease and its cause. In the Washingtonian of the 29th of May, 1841, appears a lengthy editorial relative thereto. The editor differs with the doc- tor as to the cause of the disease ; the doctor attributing it to cattle browsing on a vine technically called "rhus toxicodendron," familiarly known in southern Ohio as "poison oak;" while the editor, writing, as he says, " from observation," and " arguing from cause to effect," attributes the prevalence of the disease to cattle eating the "eupatorium." In closing, the editor (Mr. Bereman) says : "In peculiar diseases, experience must be combined with scientific knowledge to give a proper understanding."
In the Washingtonian of date last mentioned appears the an- nouncement of marriage, by Rev. John Jenkins, of Mr. James Pursell to Miss Margaret Hartsell, both of Washington.
L. P. Reid, at the " Little Store," (" in Sanders' store room ad- joining the tavern,") announced in the Washingtonian above refer- red to, that he still superintended that establishment, and that he would at all times give " cheap bargains " in goods line, for cash or " farmers' currency," such as bacon, eggs, chickens, feathers, rags, butter, and all kinds of " truck." He said that as he worked for his board, he sold goods without regard to profit! Mr. Reid also announced himself as a licensed auctioneer, and that he would prosecute any of whom he might obtain knowledge as acting in that capacity without authority. By the same issue of the Wash- ingtonian, we learn that J. H. Jones was to have opened a school here on the 17th of May, " for instruction in the English branches, at the brick school house on Main Street."
The Washingtonian of September 16, 1843, (Harvey C. Black- man, editor,) has at its " mast-head" the name of Henry Clay, of Kentucky, for president, and that of Elias Florence, of Pickaway, for congress. The following October election " Democratic- Whig ticket" is published in the Washingtonian of September 16 :
For the State Senate, district composed of Fayette, Highland and Adams-John M. Barrere, of Highland County.
For Representatives-Burnam Martin of Fayette; Hngh Means, of Adams.
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
For Auditor-James Pursell.
For Treasurer-Z. W. Heagler. For Recorder-John McLean.
For Commissioner-Joseph B. Creamer.
For Prosecuting Attorney-Samuel F. Kerr. (See page 455.)
The Washingtonian of November 11, 1843, (printed and publish- ed by Harvey C. Blackman and John W. Poff-Harvey C. Black- man, editor,) contains a eulogistic notice, from Allen Trimble, of Hillsboro, of the Gershom Perdne nursery, in Martinsburg, this county. James Pursell was county auditor in 1843.
With Mr. Poff's retiracy, the Washingtonian, after having passed through many hands, finally ceased to exist. During its career- 1840 to 1847-it was edited and published, successively, by Bere- man & Sexton, J. S. Bereman, Bereman & Butler, Poff & Deterline, (Edward H. Deterline,) Harvey C. Blackman, Blackman & Poff, and, lastly, John W. Poff.
PEOPLE'S PALLADIUM.
Under date of June 2, 1822, the People's Palladium, Democratic in tone, (A. Crihfield, editor and publisher,) announced its prefer- ence as to standard-bearers, as follows :.
For President-Andrew Jackson.
For Vice President-R. M. Johnson, of Kentucky.
For Governor-Robert Lucas.
The " Democratic-Republican Convention," which met in Balti- more, Maryland, on the 21st day of May preceding, having nomi- nated Martin Van Buren, of New York, as candidate for the office of vice president, the Palladium immediately acquiesced therein, and pledged support to the nominee. The vote in convention, on first ballot, stood 208 for Martin Van Buren, 49 for Philip B. Bar- ber, and 26 for Richard M. Johnson; which result being made known, the convention, by resolution, unanimously concurred in the nomination of Mr. Van Buren.
It may seem strange to many of our readers that the Palladium did not receive intelligence from the convention until twelve days after it had convened. But there was no railroad then by which the papers from Baltimore could have been, at express speed, whirled along in Uncle Sam's mail-bags; nor was there any tele- graph line then thought of and projected to span the Alleghanies.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Those were coach days, when " a good whip," with " four-in- hand," afforded to the traveler inland passage, with " good cheer" at the wayside inn.
The paper of the date mentioned does not contain a news item of a local character-no, not one. From its advertising columns, however, we glean something which may be of local interest to our readers just now. The " town dads" must then have had some trouble in managing and controlling John Barleycorn, judging from the tenor of the following resolution, adopted by the town council, May 5, 1832 :
" Resolved, by the Town Council of the town of Washington, That they will not license any person or persons to retail spirituous liquors, from and after the first day of July next."
The resolution was signed by Z. W. Heagler as mayor, and C. B. Woodruff, recorder.
Mrs. Louisa Head was then engaged in the business of "tailoring and mantua-making, together with all other plain sewing." Peter Wendel advertised for information as to the whereabouts of his brother, Daniel Wendel, tailor, who had then " lately come to America from Germany," and requested editors in Ohio, Pennsyl- vania, and New York, to make mention thereof."
The paper also contains an account of " another attempt at assas- sination at Washington," as detailed by the Saturday Evening Post, of New York. The Post, in referring thereto, says : "Again the Washington papers are filled with another attempt to assassinate a member of Congress. The situation of affairs at that city is hor- rible and appalling. The place resembles more the haunt of ban- ditti than the seat of government of a free, virtuous and intelligent people. What is our country coming to? Is there not a remedy within the reach of the people, and if so, will it not be applied?" The bludgeon, pistol and sword-cane were the weapons used on the occasion alluded to-the assaulter using the two first, and the as- saulted the latter. A Major Heard was the offensive, and a Mr. Arnold of Tennessee the defensive party. The rencounter arose from words spoken in debate by Mr. Arnold, who, we judge, must have been a rather expert swordsman, for he quickly disarmed Heard of his bludgeon, whereupon the latter immediately drew an eight-inch barrel duelling pistol, carrying an ounce ball, and fired at Arnold, lacerating his arm; after which Arnold succeeded in knocking his adversary down with his sword-cane, and the scab-
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
bard flying off, would have pierced him with the sword, had not his arm, in making the thrust, been arrested by General Duncan, of Illinois. The account says that there were more than a hundred members of Congress within range of the ball when the shot was fired, the house having just adjourned, but Mr. Arnold was the only person injured. It was the second assault upon Heard by Arnold.
S. F. Yeoman publishes a card denying certain allegations cir- culated by a party named Baker, concerning a case of crim. Con. wherein Mr. Yeoman should have been officially connected. In closing, Mr. Yeoman cautions those interested to be a little more careful what liberties they take with his name. "I am," he says, " willing to put up with anything in reason; but there is a point beyond which they shall not proceed with impunity."
We are informed that subsequent to the death of Mr. E. W. Sex- ton, (in March, 1841,) Bereman & Butler, (Joel S. Bereman and David Butler,) became associate publishers of the Washingtonian ; and about the same time John O. Truesdell published a Democratic paper here. Some time afterward, Mr. Butler having died, Poff & Deterline, (John W. Poff & E. H. Deterline,) we are told, run the Washingtonian for a season, and that- subsequently Mr. Poff alone published that journal for a time. The office changes about that time were frequent-the continuous proprietorship being of quite brief duration ; the title of the paper, (Washingtonian,) however, was continued several years.
STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
The Star Spangled Banner, of date Friday, December 17, 1847, (No. 2, of volume 2,) W. H. II. Thompson publisher, office over McElwain & Stuckey's store, opposite the postoffice, contains a short review of Henry Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio," (then not long issued from the press of Derby, Bradley & Co., Cin- cinnati,) which is styled " an interesting volume on the Buckeye State." The reviewer says : "This book is not made up like most historical works of our day, from the libraries of the land; but it is the result of close personal observation in every part of the state, the author having made, for this purpose, the entire tour of Ohio, spending more than a year in traveling through it, everywhere taking sketches of our towns, historic localities and objects of in-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
terest, and deriving an immense amount of information from the lips of pioneers and men of intelligence. * * Several pages of the above work are given to our own county, among which is an elegant view of the court house (old 'pea-green') and public buildings. A fine view of Sanders & Jenkins' store-house is also given-history of the settlement of the county, and names of some of the early settlers."
The Banner says : "Mr. Poff having relinquished the publica- tion of the Washingtonian, in this place, offers his printing material for sale. We have partially bought him out, and made arrange- ments to receive his subscription list and advertisements." Mr. Poff, according to this paper, went to Convenience to engage in mercan- tile pursuit ; and it stated that he contemplated opening a hotel there, and would be sworn in as postmaster under James K. Polk.
The Baltimore Patriot, in its Washington City news of December 8, 1847, (republished in the Banner,) says: "The house of repre- sentatives has at last been organized. All its elective officers have been appointed; and the result is a Whig speaker, a Whig clerk, a Whig sergeant-at-arms, a Whig door-keeper, and a Loco-foco postmaster."
In its news from the State Legislature, this paper says : Mr. Olds offered a resolution providing for an alteration in the election law, so as to allow volunteers in Mexico, who are qualified voters in Ohio, to vote at the annual election for state and United States officers." This paper makes mention that Secretary Walker has accepted, in behalf of the General Government, the munificent gift of a whole square, made to it by the first municipality in New Orleans, for the site of a custom-house. The edifice, it was stated, would be built of Quincy granite, and occupy the entire ground.
The following list of Fayette County officers was published in this paper of December 17, 1847 :
Associate Judges of Court-Daniel MeLean, S. F. Yeoman, James Manary.
Clerk of Common Pleas and Supreme Courts-Samuel Millikan. Prosecuting Attorney-Nelson Rush.
Treasurer-Z. W. Heagler.
Sheriff-J. S. Bereman.
Recorder-John Douglass.
Auditor-James Pursell.
Commissioners-Isaac T. Cook, James Shivers, Joseph B. Creamer.
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
Drs. A. Worley & A. W. Brown, office in the drug-store of Brown & Worley, announced that they were " fully prepared to treat diseases of ah kinds, both chronic and acute, on either the botanic or mineral system." Their store, called the " Fayette Drug- store," was one door east of Rawlings & Smith's store. Richard Smith was then landlord of the hotel, here, known as the " Vir- ginia House;" and E. W. Turuer was then conducting the " National House " hotel, opposite the court house. Stewart & Osborn were engaged in the tailoring business-shop in Wade Loof bourrow's briek building, opposite McElwain & Melvin's store. John Lewis & Joseph Allen were manufacturing tin, copper and sheet-iron ware; and announced that they would sell stoves " at Cincinnati prices, with the addition of expense of hauling."
John L. Scott published a paper here, a copy of which we have failed to obtain, for some time previous to 1849.
THE FAYETTE NEW ERA.
The Fayette New Era, of date June 13, 1850, (No. 14, of volume 2, George B. Gardner, editor and publisher,) contains the "act to amend the ' act to incorporate the State Bank of Ohio and other banking companies, passed February 24, 1845,'" which enactment, of date March 9, 1850, applies specially to the extension, for three years, of privileges of the original act to the Clinton Bank of Columbus-the capital stock of said bank to be entered upon the duplicate of Franklin County for taxation, for all purposes, state, municipal, etc., and taxes aforesaid, " in lieu of the tax upon the profits, as provided by the aet to which this is amendatory," and to be subject to any general law which might thereafter be passed altering or changing the mode of taxing bank capital.
In the same issue is also published the "act to amend the act en- titled 'an act fixing the rate of interest, passed January 12, 1824,' and all other laws on that subject," which last-mentioned act was passed March 15, 1850, to take effect on the first day of May fol- lowing. It legalized interest rate of ten per cent, if expressed in bond, bill, note, or other instrument; but provided that no incor- porated banking institution of the state should " be entitled to re- ceive more than the rate of interest specified in its charter, or, if no rate be specified, more than six per cent yearly upon any loan or discount whatever." Interest upon judgments or decrees, too, to
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