USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene 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 40
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Boone found the fort, as he had apprehended, in a bad state of defense. His presence, his military skill, and the intelligence he brought, immediately inspired every man to his utmost exertion. The gates were strengthened, new bastions were formed, and pro- visions were laid in to stand a siege. Every thing was done that could be done, to repel an assault from, they knew not how many
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savages, aided by British leaders ; for the band from Old Chillicothe, was to be joined by warriors from several other tribes. In ten days Boonesborough was ready for the onset. These arduous labors being completed, Boone heroically resolved to strike consternation into the Indians by showing them that he was prepared for aggres- sive, as well as defensive warfare, and that they must leave behind them, warriors for the protection of their own villages.
Selecting a small party of but nineteen men, about the first of August, he emerged from Boonesborough, marched boldly to the Ohio, crossed the river, entered the valley of the Scioto, and was within four miles of an Indian town, Paint Creek, which he in- tended to destroy, when he chanced to encounter a party of thirty savages, painted, thoroughly armed, and on the war path to join the band advancing from Old Chillicothe. The Indians were attack- ed with such vehemence by Boone, that they fled in consternation, leaving behind them three horses, and all their baggage. The sav- ages also lost one killed, and two wounded, while they inflicted no loss whatever upon the white men. Boone sent forward some swift runners as spies, and they speedily returned, with the report that the Indians in a panic had entirely abandoned Paint Creek. Aware that the warriors would rush to join the four hundred and fifty from Old Chillicothe, and that they might cut off his retreat, or reach Boonesborough before his return, he immediately commenced a rapid movement towards the fort. Every man would be needed there for an obstinate defense. This foray had extended one hun- dred and fifty miles from the fort, and greatly alarmed the Indians. It emboldened the hearts of the garrison, and gave them intelligence of the approach of their foes. After an absence of but seven days, Boone with his heroic little band triumphantly re-entered the fort. We conclude in the language of Boone :
" On the 8th of August the Indian army arrived, being four hun- dred and fourty-four in number, commanded by Captain Duquesne (Dukane), eleven other Frenchmen, and some of their chiefs, and marched up in view of our fort, with British and French colors flying. And having sent a summons to me in His Britannic Majesty's name to surrender the fort, I requested two days con- sideration, which was granted. It was now a critical period with us. We were a small number in the garrison ; a powerful army before our walls, whose appearance proclaimed inevitable death ; fearfully painted, and marking their footsteps with desolation. Death was
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preferable to captivity ; and if taken by storm, we must inevitably be devoted to destruction. In this situation, we concluded to main- tain our garrison, if possible. We immediately proceeded to col- lect what we could of our horses, and other cattle, and bring them through the posterns into the fort; and in the evening of the ninth I returned the answer 'that we were determined to defend our fort while a man was living." "Now,' said I to their commander, who stood attentively hearing by statements, 'we laugh at your formidable preparations, but thank you for giving us notice, and time for our defense. Your efforts will not prevail, for our gates will forever deny you admittance.'
" Whether this answer affected their courage or not, I can not tell; but, contrary to our expectations, they fornied a scheme to deceive us, declaring it was their orders from Governor Hamilton to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out and treat with then, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peaceably. This sounded grateful in our ears, and we agreed to the proposal."
Boone's intimate knowledge of Indian character aroused his sus- picions of treachery ; therefore, selecting nine of the bravest and strongest men, he appointed the place of meeting within one hundred and twenty feet of the walls of the fort, and arranged the riflemen of the garrison in such a position as to cover the spot, and at the least sign of treachery to fire.
The treaty was made on reasonable terms, and signed, after which Blackfish, Boone's adopted father, rose, and casting a not very an- gelie expression upon his recreant son, began a speech after the most approved style of Indian eloquence. After eulogizing the garrison and the beseigers, he dwelt upon the beauties of brotherly love between them, and closed by saying that on all such occasions it was customary for them to ratify the treaty by two Indians shak- ing hands with each white man. This pitiful device was resorted to by the Indians with the hope that two of them might overpower the whites, take them prisoners, and by torturing them, compel the surrender of the fort, but the sagacious Boone had foreseen this.
Says Boone: "They immediately grappled us; but although sur- rounded by hundreds of savages, we extricated ourselves from them and escaped, all safe, into the fort, except one (Boone's brother), who was wounded through a heavy fire from the garrison."
After trying to undermine the fort, in which they were thwarted
27
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by the vigilance of Boone, and despairing of ever taking it, they, on the 20th of August, raised the siege and departed.
Thus ended a series of adventures, mostly enacted on Greene County soil, the most remarkable, the most perilous, perhaps, ever experienced by any single individual. No active military opera- tions, except Bowman's expedition, in 1779, an account of which will appear in the county history, took place in this vicinity until the summer of 1780, when G. B. Clarke organized about one thou- sand men in Kentucky, crossed the Ohio at the mouth of the Lick- ing, and burnt and destroyed the crops at Old Chillicothe, then passed on to Piqua, on Mad River. The Shawanoes, after receiving this severe castigation, left this part of the country, and emigrated to the Great Miami, on which they built their new Piqua, in phe- nixian commemoration of the ashes of the old, as the meaning of the word is risen out of the ashes.
EARLY SETTLERS.
John and James Stephenson are, by some authorities, said to have settled in this township, a few miles from Xenia, in 1797. They came from Virginia, and bringing with them the aristocratic principles of the "Old Dominion," became influential men. The land on which they settled was formerly owned by John Paul, and sold to Jos. C. Vance at less than one dollar per acre.
According to Mr. Hugh Andrew, who came from Kentucky to this township in 1804, Matthew Quinn came from Kentucky in 1803, and settled about six miles north of Xenia, and was his near- est neighbor, when he and his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, a Methodist preacher, first settled here, near the present site of the powder mills, in 1804, as above stated.
Ezekiel and David Hopkins came from Virginia, and located here in 1803. A man by the name of Spencer came this year, and squatted in Xenia Township, remained a short time, and removed to another township. James Clinsey settled in this county, and owned land partly in this township and partly in Sugar Creek; but this is doubtful. John Gregg made him a home in the woods, on the present site of the road from Oldtown to Clifton. Thomas Simson one-half mile from him on the right of the present road to Clifton. David Laughead on Clark's Run, eight miles east of Xenia. Also, a man by the name of John Ellis, came this year, cotemporary with
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him. Also, we find John Galloway, James, and George, on the Little Miami, near the present site of the powder mills. A short distance this side, Solomon Mccullough cleared out a little patch and put up a cabin. David Mitchell bought land on Clark's Run, about eight miles east of Xenia, and lived on it till he died. The congregation of Rev. Robert Armstrong entered into a league to come in a body and form a colony in the country, and in pursuance of which they sent commissioners to select a location. Reporting favorably, they all came, except Thomas Scott and a man named Milligan, whose wives would not sign the deed for the conveyance of their land in Kentucky.
Mr. Hugh Andrew, now living in Xenia, emigrated to this town- ship from Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1804. The country then was in a perfect state of nature. The route over which he traveled, with a four-horse team, in company with William Gowdy, who moved his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, was wild and rough; no road nor trails. Camping out every night, they made their beds in the forest, with no house but the canopy of heaven; and while the moon glinted through the waving branches of the forest, they enjoyed that sweet repose, that perfect health, a clear conscience alone can give. Mr. Armstrong selected and cleared out a location near the present site of the powder mills, on the Little Miami. At this time game of all kinds was abundant, such as deer, turkeys, with wolves, wild cats, and an occasional conger. The Indians made their headquarters at Roundhead's town, on Stony Creek, and about the first of May they camped along the Little Miami, and fished and hunted along the stream. One of their favorite methods of capturing deer was to place a large bush in the front part of their bark canoe; immediately back of this fix a torch light, then pushing their light craft noiselessly over the water, from . behind this screen they could at night approach within easy shoot- ing distance of the deer that came down to drink. The strange appearance of the light floating on the water would attract, and being very inquisitive animals, they would raise their heads to gaze upon it, and thus afford the hunter a fair mark, which he seldom missed. It may be a matter of wonder to some how a canoe could float on the Little Miami, but in 1804 the channel was much nar- rower, deeper, and contained more water, than now. The church used by Reverend Armstrong and his congregation was built of round, peeled hickory logs, without floor or windows.
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The first winter buckskin was worn a great deal, which did very well in dry weather; but when it became wet it was entirely too affectionate, and when the breeches were hung up to dry they be- came so stiff that they required a goodly amount of beating before you could persuade them to go on, and then much coaxing to allow you to navigate without responding in many a pinch between the folds. Mr. Andrew says he was very anxious to have a buckskin suit, and persuaded his brother-in-law to get him two skins, and he hired a tailor to make them up. He was very proud of them until they got wet, and then he wished he had never seen them. One of the first houses in Xenia was next door east of the present site of the First National Bank. The first court in Xenia was held in it. Mr. Andrew remembers it the more distinctly because an enter- prising merchant had a bag of peaches at the root of an oak tree, and it was here, he says, he got his "first good fill of peaches in Greene County."
In 1805 Major Morrow settled about eight miles east of Xenia, in the neighborhood of the Kyles. William and Robert Kendall settled about two miles east of Xenia. A shoemaker named Alex- ander Ruff was the first man buried in - - Cemetery. Another man, by the name of Stephen Winters, built a cabin on Oldtown Run, and in company with his brother James, lived there for some time. In the following year James Andrew came from Nashville, and settled about one-half mile from the powder mills, on this side of Yellow Springs.
Here there occurs a hiatus in Father Andrew's memory, and we pass over to 1812, when John Jacobi came from Pennsylvania, and bought the Oldtown mill. About this time, also, came the Ken- dalls. The little settlement now received accessions from South .Carolina, in the Fergusons, who settled on the Clifton road. The settlements after this, as the Indian troubles abated, increased too rapidly, both by accession and internal growth, to be followed spe- cifically.
LOCATION OF XENIA-A PREDICTION.
"Between the years 1825 and 1828," says Captain Ben Nesbitt, "I was walking along the road leading to the present village of Alpha, on the Dayton pike, when I saw a man approaching, mount- ed upon a flea-bitten, gray horse, whom I soon recognized as one
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Lewis Davis. Mr. Davis was on one of his annual visits from Cincinnati, to see his son Clabourn, who bore the amphibious sur- name of Shingledecker and Davis. Being well acquainted with the captain, then quite a boy, the old gentleman entered into a familiar conversation upon topics of general interest, among which was the improvement, growth, and future prospects of the sur- rounding country, and its great development since he first visited it. Growing enthusiastic, the old gentleman climbed down off his old horse, and sitting down by the roadside, and in the course of his conversation upon the early settlers and their individual peculiari- ties, Jonathan Paul was mentioned, who, he said, in an early period entered land and built a cabin.
Upon one of his previous trips to see his boy, ' Claib,' he chanced to meet Paul, who told him that on his tract of land he purposed laying out the county seat, backing up his assertion by illustrating the feasibility, advantages of location, etc. Davis, who was a large land owner and veteran pioneer, and seemingly possessed of an in- tuitive knowledge as to the direction of greatest development in a country, disagreed with Paul's opinions, and informed him that there never would be a county seat there. Taking his map from his pocket, and spreading it upon the ground, he proceeded to demonstrate the grounds of his dissenting. Premising by the re- mark that county seats naturally located themselves upon thorough- fares between points on the Ohio on the south, and Lake Erie on the north, the southern point manifestly Cincinnati, and Sandusky the northern. Then placing the butt end of his riding-whip on Cincinnati, he dropped the small end on Sandusky, which, upon examination, cut the county at the forks of Shawanoes Creek. Placing his finger upon the spot now occupied by Xenia, he said, ' There will be the county seat.' He then pushed on to see his boy ' Claib.' After remaining a week or so, he returned to Cin- cinnati ; but upon approaching the cabin of his friend Paul, be found it vacant and locked. A few days subsequent he learned that Paul had, immediately after the conversation above mentioned, gone to Cincinnati and entered all the land in the vicinity, and upon which is located now the city of Xenia. Thus it would seem, from the conjunction of facts and prediction, that Xenia was lo- cated in the above manner."
In the selection of a county seat, the preference seemed at first in the direction of Cæsarsville; but upon due deliberation the
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present site of Xenia was determined upon, and on the 4th day of August, 1803, Joseph C. Vance was, by the court, then sitting at the house of Peter Borders, appointed to survey the seat of justice. Giving bond in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the the faith- ful performance of his duties, with Joseph Wilson and David Hus- ton as sureties, he proceeded to lay out and survey, in the autumn of the same year, the present city of Xenia. The surrounding country then was a wilderness, in which the native denizens of the forest held high carnival. John Paul had previously bought this tract, and donated for public buildings, it is said, that portion bounded by Main, Market, Detroit, and Greene streets.
ORIGINAL SURVEY.
As we have seen, Joseph C. Vance was appointed to lay off and survey the town of Xenia. In the late case of Wright vs. Hicks, it has been shown, from evidence based upon the testimony of Levi Riddell (county surveyor), Hugh Andrew, a citizen ever since 1804, David Kline, C. L. Merrick, T. Drees, and Alfred Trader, that there was a stone set in the central point of junction, at the cross- ing of Main and Detroit streets, which said stone was about five inches square, with a cross cut on its crown at right angles, and a hole drilled in the center of the cross; that this said stone was the center of the corporation of the town of Xenia, and the starting point and governing monument for all subsequent surveys and lines run, or to be run, in and through said town.
In 1804, John Marshall purchased one of the lots, and erected a small log cabin. This little cabin, standing alone in the forest, was the nucleus of the present city of Xenia. The second log house was put up soon after, but we are unable to learn by whom. It is said that John and James Stephenson assisted in raising it. The town seems to have increased rapidly, for in 1805 there was a log school house erected for the education of the town children. The first hewed log house was built for Rev. James Towler, a Methodist preacher from Virginia. As the population increased, the refine- ment of taste discarded the old log cabin, with its rude, puncheon floor, and soon we see the frame standing proudly among its more humble log companions; its owner David A. Sanders.
The fact that Xenia was to be the county seat drew many citizens
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of the county to it as a future commercial center, and as a natural sequence its growth in the beginning was very rapid.
Among the earliest settlers here, we are able to record the fol- lowing : John Paul, the first county clerk, and original proprietor of the town; Josiah Grover, the second county clerk, recorder, and auditor (these offices, in early times, residing in the same person). William A. Beatty was the first tavern keeper. Henry Barnes moved here and followed the carpenter trade. To be sure, there was not much elaborate walnut and ash finish, but the corners had to be carried up true, and the roof well put on, and all things sub- stantial, if not fancy; and we find that the characteristics of the people in those days were in harmony with their surroundings -- plain, honest, artless, substantial, unassuming. Now, in mansions of tinseled blazonry, they are artful, cunning, deceitful. James Collier next opens up another tavern. With the increase of popu- lation dissensions arose, and we find a ponderous representative of the law in John Alexander. As legal suasion failed to bring about complete social reformation, moral and spiritual influences were in- troduced, in the person of Rev. John Towler. By this time, too, the settlers had worn out all the clothes brought with them, and the keen eye of John Stull, seeing an opportunity to make money, moved in and set up a tailor shop, where he mended buckskin breeches and manufactured jeans and linsey. In those days "spring bottoms," Prince Alberts, and ulsters were not known, but the pants were made with one seam, and the coat of the wamus style, or hunting shirt.
As the children grew up, the necessity of an education was felt, and the services of Benjamin Grover were rendered in this direc- tion as the first school teacher in Xenia. Logs were hauled, and wagons used and broken ; plows among the roots and stumps did not last long; and soon we observe the village "smithy " in John Williams, son of Remembrance Williams, and father of Mrs. David Medsker. In those primitive days, when people raised flax, and made the material of their own clothes, spinning-wheels were an indispensable piece of furniture. This drew a wheelwright, in the shape of John Mitten, who also was a maker of chairs, when the time came for these articles to supersede the three-legged stool, that alone would stand upon the uneven puncheon floor. While Mr. Stull prepared material for the body, Mr. Wallace and Captain Stull converted the skins of animals into leather for the feet; and that
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both extremities should be protected, we observe Jonathan Wallace making hats. The wants of the sick were relieved by Dr. David- son. James and Samuel Gowdy were the first to gladden the eyes of the ladies with pioneer calico, which was worn on Sunday, and at weddings, and other serious occasions. About this time another lawyer appears, named William Ellsbury. More carpenters are re- quired, and Abraham LaRue is seen with his kit. James Bunton was an early resident, and excellent carpenter and cabinet maker.
HOUSES.
The original houses built by the first settlers were rude log struc- tures, with puncheon floors, clapboard roof, held down by weight poles, and doors made of split puncheons hung with wooden hinges, greased paper for window glass, and furniture to correspond. Of these, two are still standing upon their original foundation ; one, a two story log, on the north side of west Main Street, on the first lot west of James M. Cooper's hardware store. This house was built in 1805 by Mr. Bonner, father of Frederick Bonner, for Rev. James Towler, as a parsonage. The other, the first house east of Samuel Holmes residence, was built by James Buntin, in 1806. He shortly afterwards sold it, and left the town. These houses are now both weather-boarded, and would not be recognized as the original cabins.
At this period, 1803 to 1805, the whole country around Xenia was one unbroken forest, beneath whose sylvan shades the timid deer lay down to rest ; among whose branches the playful squirrel sported in freedom, the songs of birds made the forests redolent with music, and altogether a scene of natural beauty and harmony presented itself to the senses-delightful and enchanting. But as if nature could not blend in such harmony, the charm is broken by the dismal midnight howl of the wolf, or the blood-curdling whoop of the red man. Amid such surroundings our forefathers hewed a resting place for themselves, and planned for us the beautiful homes we now enjoy.
When the family of Mr. Bonner moved into their cabin, in 1803, there was a family about two miles south of them by the name of Price. Two miles north, on or near, the present villa of the Rob- erts heirs, lived Remembrance Williams and his family, in a small log hut. On the west, from the Little Miami to the crossing at
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Cæsar's Creek of the Wilmington and Xenia pike, there was but one cabin. Near Oldtown run, about a mile and a half from Mr. R. Williams' hut, stood a cabin, the only house this side of Massie's Creek, occupied by a family of Stumps.
GAME.
It is said that at this time deer were as plentiful as hogs are now, while turkeys and pheasants made the forest resound with their gobbling and drumming. In the depths of the woods might be seen, at almost any time, the bear, wolf, panther, catamount, and wild-cat, who remained within their sequestered fastness during the day, and at the approach of darkness, sallied out in search of prey.
The valley through which the Little Miami Railroad now passes from Xenia to Cincinnati, literally swarmed with wolves. All the live stock of the early settler had to be driven in at night, and placed within strong enclosures. Even then, the ravenous prowlers had to be driven away by fire-brands, bells, and fire-arms.
Bands of Indian hunters frequently visited this locality when game was abundant. One of their principal hunting camps was situated on the ridge a short distance west of the present residence of Mr. Wash. Stark. Their sole object was hunting, and they were never any cause of annoyance to the settlers.
Shortly after the arrival of Frederick Bonner, Sr., his son David was seized with a desire to see Xenia, of which he had often heard. Taking, therefore, his little brother Freddie with him, one morning, he started through the woods in the direction of the town ; cutting his way through the underbush as he proceeded. After much labor and very slow progress they arrived at the bank of Shawanoes Creek, where it is crossed by the Cincinnati pike, and Dayton Railroad. After resting awhile, "Freddie's" curiosity being aroused, he insisted on going on to town, as he wanted to see it. But upon being in- formed that there were no houses there, his ardor subsided, and they retraced their steps along the road they had made, the first road into Xenia.
The first public road into Xenia from the south, extended from a village on the Ohio called Bullskin, north, to Urbana, from the former of which it received the euphonious name of the Bullskin road.
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In 1805, William Gordon moved from Warren County to Xenia, and built and ran the first brewery in the town. It was a small log establishment, and stood near the present northeast corner of Water and Whiteman streets.
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