History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 6

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934

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and two daughters, Eleanor and Hannah. His son James at this time was upwards of twenty-one years of age and his brother Philip was nineteen.

The family on first coming to Ohio in 1800 resided in that part of Hamilton coun- ty that is now known as Butler county, on Dick's creek. In the fall of 1801 MIr. Bar- rett started out to select a location for his future home, where he and his family coukdl go to work and open up a farm of their own. He returned and told his boys that he had found a place which suited him, and he wanted them to go with him and see it. If they were as well pleased with it as he was he would purchase a half-section, and if they would go with him and settle upon it, it should be theirs. The result was the boys came with their father to what is now known as Greene county, and he purchased the one- half section of land in Sugarcreek township, now ( 1900) owned by Mr. Dinsmore Big- ger, Hattie Bigger, Samuel Weller and, I think, what is known as the Robert Tate farm. April 12, 1802, they removed to it and commenced making improvements on the southeast half of said section, where they continued to live in common until Sep- tember 1. 1808; Philip was married to Miss Elizabeth Barnes. Previous to this James, the elder son, had married Nancy Mantan. September 17, 1806. Eleanor was the first of his children to marry. She married Arm- strong McCabe, April 12, 1805, and some time later they removed to Vigo county, In- diana. At a later date Hannah was mar- ried to David Wilson, son of Daniel, and they also removed to Montgomery county. After Philip's marriage he erected his house on the other part of said one-half section. and continued to live there until 1826, when

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

he died. Judge James Barrett continued to make his home with his elder son, James, un- til May, 1822, when he died leaving his wife, Elsie, a widow. Judge Barrett was buried on the old farm in one corner of the orchard in the rear of what is now the Dins- more Bigger farm, and there is nothing to mark his grave. Near by is the grave of Nancy, wife of James Barrett, Jr., who died May 19, 1864, aged seventy-seven years. Her husband, James Barrett, Jr., died in .\l- len county. His house taking fire, he was found dead in the yard. The first half-sec- tion of land spoken of in this sketch was near Coldrain in Hamilton county, and was set off in Mr. Barrett's will for Eleanor and Hannah, his daughters. In the city of Xenia, in the old part, are three streets run- ning north and south, from Water (or Third) street to Church street, that were named in honor of Greene couny's first as- sociate judges, James Barrett, William Max- well and Benjamin Whiteman. The first street east of West street is Barrett, the next street east of Barrett is Maxwell and the first street east of Detroit is Whiteman. May their names never be changed is the prayer of the compiler of this sketch.

A VISIT TO THE GRAVE OF JACOB SMITII.

A good old-fashioned name, and strange- ly familiar, can there be any story connected with that lonely grave? Such was the thought that passed through the mind of the writer of this sketch as one day he was waiting at Harbine's Station on the Xenia and Dayton branch of the great Panhandle railroad for the train for Nenia. We had been conversing about the old pioneers of Beavercreek township and ckl graveyards.

My companion, Mr. John R. Ridenour, said, pointing in the direction of the building that was used as the first court house of Greene county, "About two hundred yards south of that building are two graves that are not marked. . I do not know whose graves they are, but I have heard that one of them is the grave of one of the first settlers in Beavercreek township, but his name I can- not recall."

Looking at my watch, I found that I had one hour to wait, so concluded that I would go and investigate. Arriving at the place. I saw extending up the south line of the Harbine farm a strip of land apparently twelve feet wide by one hundred feet long. which looked as if it might have been used as a graveyard. Here and there were indi- cations that someone had been buried. No mark-save about the length and width of a body-was seen. A hollow or depression of earth showed that someone was sleeping there. the long sleep of death. About the middle of this graveyard was the grave of our subject, Jacob Smith, and by his side that of his wife, Patience Smith. Removing the weeds and vines which grew in front of the stone, we observed at first sight that he was a Mason, on the face of the stone being engraved the square and compass, the gavel. the open book and trowel, and the following inscription : In memory of Jacob Smith, who died the 12th of December. 1819. in the sixty-sixth year of his age. For twelve years he represented the county of Greene in the state senate. He was a useful citizen and died lamented. His actions were squared by justice: he kept his passions within compass. In him faith, hope and charity were united." Patience Smith sur- vived her husband till March 23. 1835. when

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENNE COUNTY.

she also laid aside life's burden and was laid to rest beside her husband.

Although these were on the margin of an open field which had been cultivated from time to time, yet from the time that the land had become the property of Mr. Har- bine. the graves had been respected. Yet there were indications showing by the near approach of the marks of the plow that it had been a great temptation to the different tenants to take just one more round from the rich earth which had had such a long rest. When the Masonic brethren were tokl of this lonely grave, and whose it was, they were not long in making arrangements to have the bodies moved to their own lot in our own beautiful Woodlawn. Xenia, which was done October 14, 1898, by the brethren of Xenia lodge. Dr. W. CL Galloway de- livered a fine address at Woodlawn on that occasion. Never can the writer of this sketch forget the morning of the above date when the people began to assemble near the spot that will ever be historic on account of its being, as it were. the cradle of Greene county's judicial history, near the house of Peter Borders, the county's first court house. They met not to bury Jacob Smith, these Masonic brethren, but to remove whatever might remain of him to a more suitable place for the interment of one who had been of so mitch note in the county of his choice, and which he had so highly honored. Nearly eighty years he had been buried and his wife sixty-three. Would there be anything re- maining of what had been placed there by loving hands so long ago? And while the cold wind of that early October morning came sweeping across the Beavercreek prairie, chilling those who were standing around and warning them of the near ap-

proach of winter, the men employed con- tinued in silence their work. The remains of Mrs. Smith were first found at a depth of four feet and six inches to the bottom of the grave. Those of her illustrious husband were soon after brought to the light at a depth of six feet. Tradition says "as was the height of a man so deep should his grave be." Nothing remained in either grave of coffin or casket. except here and there small pieces of wood and a few brass buttons from Mr. Smith's coat. After the remains of Mr. Smith had been carefully uncovered they were seen to be complete, a perfect skeleton : the bones of the hands and arıns were crossed just below the breast, the head turned slightly to one side and a small pyramid of bones at each foot. In remor- ing the bones from the grave, of course the skeleton was taken apart. It was with pe- culiar emotions that the writer held the skull of Jacob Smith and gazed into the sightless eyes and at the mouth and chin which de- noted that he had been a man of strong will and great firmness of character. In the "old records of the county" is to be found here and there the following story of his life in part : Jacob Smith was a native of Fred- erick county, Virginia. Late in the fall of 1798 he and his wife, Patience, with their family turned their footsteps from their old Virginia home to find a new home in the then far west country. In 1800, after hay- ing stopped for about two years at Red Stone and "Old Fort" in Pennsylvania, he reached the Miami valley and located his home in Beavercreek township. Greene coun- ty. near the present town of . Alpha. There he reared a large family. His eldest son, John Smith, was a charter member of the Xenia lodge ( Masonic ) and was sheriff of

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Greene county. Ohio, from 1819 to 1824. He removed to Springfield, Ohio, where he died May 4. 1852, and was buried with Masonic honors. The other children of Jacob Smith were: sons, Josiah B., Isaac, Seth and Jacob, Jr. His daughters were : Rachel, wife of James Collier, one of Xenia's pioneers: Ann, who married Samuel Kyle. grandfather of Harvey and Samuel Kyle, our fellow townsmen, and he was also the great-grandfather of Wilbur O. Maddux, of Xenia, who is also a Mason; Elizabeth, who married Joel Dolby, the grandfather of the Rev. Francis Clemens, who was present the day his grandparents were removed: Sarah was married to Henry Snyder ; Lydia mar- ried Jacob Staley: Hannah married Rev. Edward Flood : Mary married George Tay- lor. In all. eleven children reached adult age and all were worthy of their illustrious father and good mother.

The political life of Jacob Smith was an interesting one. At the first meeting of the court, May 10, 1803, among the number present that day was Jacob Smith. In the meeting of the court. December term. 1803. we find the names of Jacob Smith and others attached to a petition for the laying out of a road from Springfield to Yellow Springs, thence to Owen Davis' mill to in- tersect the Pickney road. Although this was not the first road in the county it was the first to be established by the legal authority of the county. The act passed by the gen- eral assembly, February 14, 1804. creating the office of county commissioner. We find Jacob Smith one of the first commissioners chosen for Greene county. On October 8, 1805. Jacob Smith was chosen state senator at the annual election by a handsome ma- jerity. Altogether he served Greene and

Clinton counties as senator nine terms as follows: In fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth. tenth. eleventh, twelfth, fifteenth and six- teenth general assemblies. The last canvass he made for that position was October 13. 1818, when he was defeated by the Hon. William R. Cole, of Clinton county, who was a son-in-law of Josiah Elam, a sol- dier of the Revolution. This was about one year before his death. He was also the owner of the Owen Davis mill, which he sold to our old townsman. James .A. Scott. in 1815.

LX-COMMISSIONER AND ASSOCIATE JUDGE, JAMES SNOWDEN.

On the early records of Greene county, Ohio, the first enumeration taken by James Collier of the free white male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one years appears the names of James and Jacob Snowden. Of Jacob little can be learned, but of James Snowden there is much that has been left on record. It has been stated by one that he was one of the first associate judges of Greene county. That is a mistake, he was an associate judge, but not one of the first. He was one of the first commissioners of Greene county when that office was created, and served until 1808.

James Snowden settled first northwest of Bellbrook about 1799. He came from New Jersey and built a cabin just north of the present residence of Henry Harman, be- ing southeast of center of section 2 ( 2.6). His lands embraced all of the east part of the above section, being then all the western part of Bellbrook, which he in 1815 sokl to Stephen Bell and Henry Updyke. He was appointed associate judge first in 1809.

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

and his associates on the bench were David Huston and James Barrett. It is said in 1810 Presiding Judge Hon. Francis Dun- lavey and Mr. Snowden differed somewhat in regard to an oath : Mr. Snowden refused to be sworn, whereupon the judge ordered the sheriff to lock him up. This Sheriff Collier refused to do, and thereupon the judge had them both put behind the "bars" for contempt of court. It is said that he was very punctual in attending cours and had an aversion to riding and would walk all the way to Nenia and back through the then unbroken forest. He was once prevailed upon to take a horse, and on starting he neglected to mount. but slipping the bridle rein over his arm he proceeded to walk. leading the horse. The judge, no doubt. fell into deep cogitations of legal lore. and the horse concluding his company more ornamental than useful slipped his bridle and turned his attention to the more pleasing prospect of the then unexplored pastures of the Miami bottoms. In the meantime the judge pursued his way alone, until reaching the end of his journey he found the empty bridle hanging on his arm. It is said that Mr. Snowden after disposing of his land in 1815 removed to Indiana, where he died. His trips to Nenia on foot are thus graphic- ally described by one of the early writers of the time. John .\. Taylor: "Now James. the son of Jupiter, got him up early in the mornings, put a few unleavened cakes in his script, grasped his staff and setting his face toward the sunrising took up his march for the great city of X-Zeninia." These chron- icles were at the time published in a paper printed in Nenia, and abounded, it is said, with much genuine wit and pleasant humor. The paper of which we speak was called

"The Greene County Gazetteer" and Was edited by Nathaniel MeLain. The office in which it was printed stood on Main street not far from the present book store of Mr. West. It had a good circulation in this part of the county, and was carried by a boy on horseback. When it was "muster'day" in Xenia, General Whiteman was there be- decked in his glittering regimentals ; and the newsboy for some unaccountable reason never arrived home until after dark.

JAMES GALLOWAY, SR .. A SOLDIER OF THIE REVOLUTION.

James Galloway was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 2, 1750. He emigrated to Ken- tucky shortly after the commencement of the war of the Revolution and to Ohio in the year 1797, settling in Greene couny, about five miles north of Nenia, and west of the Little Miami river, opposite the present Mi- ami Powder Mills. He died August 6. 1838, at the good old age of eighty-eight years, and was buried in the old Massies creek church yard, four miles northeast of Nenia. He was in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war eight- een months in the capacity of hunter for the army to procure game. Mr. Galloway is said to have possessed many of the traits of Daniel Boone. He was also with General Roger Clarke in his second expedition against the Indians at Old Chillicothe in 1782. Daniel Boone was also along with this expedition and in his narration states: "When General Clarke, at the falls of the Ohio, heard of it ( the defeat of the whites at the Blue Licks ), he ordered an expedition to pursue the savages. We overtook them within two miles of their town and we would

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

have obtaned a great victory had not some of them met us when about two hundred poles from their camp. The savages fled in the utmost confusion and disorder and evac- uated all their towns. We burned Old Chilli- cothe to ashes, Piqua. New Chillicothe. Willstown, entirely destroying their corn and fruits, and spread desolation through their country. We took seven prisoners, ten scalps and two whites." One time he came face to face with that arch traitor to his race. Simon Girty, who, observing that Galloway was unarmed, accosted him thus: "Now. Galloway, d -- n you, we've got you," and in- stantly fired. Galloway received a danger- bus wound, and was supposed by Girty to have been killed. He, however, wheeled his horse and made for camp, a mile distant. which he reached in safety, but in a fainting condition. The ball passed through his shoulder and lodged some place near the back of his neck. He carried the ball many years and it was extracted by Dr. Josiah Martin.

Mr. Galloway was first married to Miss Rebecca Junkin, in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, November 23. 1778, and to them were given the following children : James, Samuel, William, Andrew. Anthony. and two daughters, Rebecca and Ann. . An- thony and .Ann were born after he came to Ohio. His first wife dying. he afterward married Miss Tamar Wilson, April 13. 1817. Of this later marriage there was no isstte. He was honored by his fellow pio- neers to an office of trust in the county. that of county treasurer, which he continued to fill from the first organization of the county in 1803 until the middle of June, 1819, when he gave way to Mr. Ryan Gowdy. In the year 1810 he erected the old stone house

that used to be on the hillside near the powder mills, and which many yet living remember to have seen. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and those convic- tions he carried out in life by doing acts of kindness to his neighbors and in work- ing for the good of humanity. To him is the palm singing portion of the community under obligation for his untiring efforts in bringing first to this county the Rev. Rob- ert Armstrong and other preachers of that faith, and making his home theirs. During his long and useful life he was ever ready to help those deserving of help.

MAJOR WILLIAM A. BEATTY, FIRST T.AVERN- KEEPER IN XENI.L.

The granting of licenses for keeping tavern and selling merchandise was still retained as the duty of the associate judges, and at the first court of asso- ciate judges held in Xenia on the 15th day of November. 1804. four tavern li- censes were granted. one to William .1. Beatty for keeping a tavern in the town of Xenia, "for one year from the first day of October last past, on his paying eight dol- lars and fees." This was the first tavern in Xenia. and seems to have been opened on the ist day of October. 1804. This house was a hewed-log, double structure, two stories high. It stood on the south side of Main street, very nearly opposite the middle point of the public square. The length was from east to west, and width from north to south, and its west end was about forty-five jeet east of the southeast corner of Main and Detroit streets, where the Xenia National Bank now ( 190Q) stands. This building was not only a dwelling house and tavern,

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENNE COUNTY.

but it was also Greene county's second place of holding court. Courts were held in it from the 15th of November, 1804, till the completion of the first court house proper on the 4th day of August, 1809. The court was held in the west room of the second story. August 20, 1805, Nenia township was organized, and the first election for Xenia township and the town was held at the house of William AA. Beatty. Previous to this Xenia was in Caesarscreek township and the few voters then in the town voted at Caesarsville, which was located near the home of the late Paris Peterson, southeast of Xenia. The first court was held in this building November 15, 1804, and continued to be used as such until the completion of the building that had been commenced by Mr. William Kendall in 1806, and was com- pleted August 14, 1809.

Mr. Beatty was also director of the town of Xenia, being the successor of General Josephi C. Vance, who removed to Cham- paign county in 1805. at the organization of said county, and continued to act as such until 1817. at which time he removed to Brownstown, Jackson county, Indiana. He died intestate and insolvent in November. 1821, leaving, at the time of his death, his widow. Jane Beatty, who afterward married Robert Holmes, a resident of Scott county, Kentucky, also the following children, to- wit: John A., who died without issue ; James F .; William S .: Josiah G. : Samuel M .: Mary L .: and Francis. Josiah and James F. remained in Xenia for some years. The balance of the famiy went to Kentucky after the marriage of their mother to Mr. Holmes. William A. Beatty came from Georgetown, Kentucky, to Xenia, Ohio. some time in the summer of 1803.

OWEN DAVIS, THE OLD MILLER ON BEAVER CREEK.

No name is perhaps of more historic in- terest than that of Owen Davis. In the early settlement of Greene county came men who had the courage and hardihood to face dan- ger and even death, if need be, that this garden spot of the state that we now call Greene county might be reclaimed from its wild and primitive state in its condition as a wilderness and be made to bloom and blos- som as a rose. They came, they saw, and as a result of their courage and persever- ance we see the forest has disappeared and in its place we behold waving fields of grain, beautiful homes, towns grown into cities, with the sounds of industry on every hand, where used to be the solitary path of the Indian. We now beholl roads, pikes, rail- roads and electric car lines leading from cities to towns and hamlets, and the surface of the earth that less than one hundred years ago was a wilderness, the habitation of wild animals, and a more savage race of people, now traversed by a net work of im- provements, only excelled by that which we can see at night in the starry firmament above, which God, the creator of all, has placed there for our admiration and wonder.

Before the organization of the county came Owen Davis, and settled in what is now known as Beavercreek township. The carliest date that we find of the Davis family ( those from Wales, who were related to the subject of this sketch ) we find in Mr. John F. Edgar's "Pioneer life in Dayton and vi- cinity from 1796 to 1840." It is an able and interesting work of the pioneers of that section. On page 22 he says : "During the winter of 1795 and 1796 forty-six men

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

agreed to settle in Dayton. In the spring of 1796, when the time came to start, only nineteen responded, and they set out in three sections, two overland and one by water. On March 21, 1796, the party in which was the Davis family started overland and were about two weeks on the road. Thomas Davis, the senior member of the family, was a native of Wales. He was in the Revolu- tionary war, was taken prisoner and was ex- changed at Philadelphia. He settled near the bluffs two miles south of Dayton, where he died in the fall of 1803, and Hannah Davis, his widow, was appointed to settle his estate. This Thomas Davis was a brother of Owen Davis, the old miller, who came later in the fall of 1799 and settled in Beavercreek township, Greene county. Owen Davis had married Letitia Phillips, and had but two children, a son, Lewis, who never married, a short sketch of whom will be found in this book, and a daughter, Cath- crine, who was the wife of General Benja- min Whiteman. They were married in Limestone (or Maysville), Kentucky, in 1793, Mr. Whiteman at that time being twenty-three years of age. Thomas Davis had a son. Owen Davis, named after his brother Owen, who was married March 16, 1800. to Miss Jane Henderson, by Rev. Joshua Carman, who was a Baptist preach- er and lived in Sugarcreek township, Greene county. This Owen Davis was the grand- father of Mrs. Fredrick Beaver and Mrs. Stillwell. of Dayton, and James Popenoe. senior's, first wife, who died in 1820, was also of this branch of the family. After the coming of Mr. Davis and his son-in-law, Benjamin Whiteman, in 1799, it was not long until he had his historie mill erected on beaver creek, ard it is said that this mill

drew custom from a radius of thirty miles. and we know that the members of the Dutch Station in Miami county brought their corn here through the woods, camping out at night. Mr. Davis is spoken of by them as having been a genial. accommodating man. often remaining up all night to oblige them. This mill was finished in the winter ci 1799. Two block houses were built a little east of the mill with the intention, should danger necessitate, to connect by a line of pickets so as to include the mill. Mr. Davis often started his mill on the Sabbath and ground corn for the customers who had come a long distance. To this some of his extremely re- ligious neighbors protested. even threaten- ing him with prosecution. Mr. Davis re- plied that as soon as steps were taken in this direction they would go without their meal and Hour. This argument proved effective and the subject was dropped. The build- ing known as the house of Peter Borders. where the first courts of Greene county were held, was erected by his son-in-law, Mr. Whiteman, a short distance south of the mill and about one hundred from the south line of what is now known as the Harbine farn. and about two hundred yards east of Beaver creek. A little to the northeast of this building was a small ten by twelve house. which was in the time of holding court used as a jury room. About two hundred yards northeast of the old court house stood the Rock house, which on the 19th day of Au- gust. 1803, was made use of for a jail, the first institution for that purpose in the coun- ty. Owen Davis and his son-in-law, General Benjamin Whiteman, in the year 1805 dis- nosed of their property in Beavercreek town- ship, and removed to Miami township. where they spent the balance of their days. Mr.

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History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 6

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 934

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934