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 41
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Mr. George Gordon, brother of William, helped move him here, but did not remain. He was here again in 1806, and assisted his brother in erecting a large log house, 40x40, which then included the site now occupied by the brick business rooms of Aschiem, on Main Street.
COLD FRIDAY.
On Friday, February 14, 1807, in a huge log cabin near the south- east corner of Main and Detroit streets, kept as a tavern by Major Beatty, there was, as usual, quite a crowd; and thinking the green wood was not giving out sufficient heat in the house, they emptied the contents of the fire-place into the middle of the street, declaring they would make it burn out there to suit themselves. While they were carrying the wood out, others stole the fuel prepared by James Kendall to burn the brick for the new court house ; each party actuated, it would seem, by the spirit, called devilishness, in a mild form.
In connection with the above, we append a contribution, with a few changes, from Mr. "I. S. O.," who says that Frederick Bonner, Sr., and John Sale, emigrated from Dinwiddie County, Va., (see county history). The neighborhood of Union derived its name from four surveys of land, upon which the following persons located : In 1803 and 1804, Frederick Bonner, John Sale, and James Butler ; in 1805, T. Perkins, and a Mr. Gary ; in 1806, Tinsley Heath, James and John Loyd, John Fires, Lewis and Isaac Maitland, Horatio and Bennet Maxey, and Peter Pelham; in 1811, Phillip Davis; and about the same time, also, Samuel Wright, father of Thomas Coke Wright, George Wright, and William Owens.
This was a strong Methodist community, and meetings were at once organized, and discourses were held at the house of Mr. Bon- ner, while the stately patriarchs of the forest waved their branches over the heads of these devout pioneers, who thought it not wrong to worship God amidst the profound stillness of his own creation.
In this connection, we reproduce a sketch of David Medsker, who was born in Highland County, in 1807, and came to Xenia
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November 6, 1829, entering into the business of an undertaker.
Mr. Medsker's memory was very retentive, and in his seventy- second year the incidents of the earthquake of 1812 remained vividly portrayed upon his mind. Coeval with this, he remember- ed his father's return from Hull's surrender.
Previous to the organization of Woodland Cemetery, in 1847, of which Mr. Medsker was a director, there existed four ceme- teries, namely : The German Reformed, on Church Street, aband- oned upon the organization of Woodland; the Methodist, on. Water Street, sold by order of court; the Gowdy, or Associate Reformed, also on Water Street; and the Associate, corner of Market and West streets, abandoned, and reverting to the heirs of Major Galloway, was by them sold to the Board of Education, who twelve years ago built upon it the first ward school house. The first person buried in the new cemetery was a daughter of Wil- liam Hollingshead, His first experience in lining coffins was in Xenia, in 1835. The material used was white paper, which not pleasing him was abandoned, muslin henceforth superseding it. This coffin was made for Philip Davis, of Union settlement, who was buried in the then fashionable short breeches and knee-buckles. He loved to relate anecdotes about the professional eryers, or hired mourners, in early days, and of a professional contest with them. They endeavored to beat him to the house, in order to put in a sufficient amount of mourning to sustain their reputation. He was as equally determined, and by redoubling his efforts got the corpse inside the coffin just as the professionals arrived, and before they got under good headway. On another occasion these crying muezzens went without an invitation, entered the room, and began their work most vociforously, when the head of the house laid violent hands on them, and put them out, with the information that the relatives could do the mourning.
He once had a comical experience with a clergyman, Dr. Asbury Lowry. We relate it in the original. It appears the old gentle- man was for many years a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Xenia, and Lowry was the pastor. Mr. Medsker, on account of his business, was not able to attend meeting or class regularly, and had several times been lectured for his absence by Lowry. Finally Lowry went to him, and had in his hand a large club, or cane, and raising it threatened him that if he did not come to church he would cut him off. Medsker told him to cut and be
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darned. Soon afterwards he again attacked him in a grave-yard, . just after a funeral, and within hearing of the persons assembled. Medsker grew to dislike Lowry very much. One day Lowry met Medsker in a store, and dunned him for a subscription to assist in purchasing the seminary. Medsker had intended giving something to what he deemed a good cause, but disliking the parson, in reply to his solicitation he made this proposition : "Look here, Lowry, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you fifty dollars, if you will agree never to speak to me again." Lowry accepted the offer, and Medsker drew his check for the amount and gave it to him. Not long after, Medsker chanced to go to the front door of his dwell- ing, and saw Lowry stepping (measuring) off the large stone in front of his house. At once Lowry commenced begging him for the stone, saying it was wider than the law allowed on a pavement, but was just the thing they wanted for the seminary. Medsker replied : "Didn't I give you fifty dollars never to speak to me again ?" Lowry bowed his head, walked off, and never made an- other effort at conversation with him.
In his half a century of business life as an undertaker, Mr. Medsker affirms that he has interred nearly as many people as are now composed in the present population of Xenia, or over seven thousand. It is believed that few persons living have buried so many people. Certainly Mr. Medsker's experience has been most remarkable in this direction.
It may be observed in this connection, that inasmuch as we are upon a grave subject, we may as well continue the strain, and as a cotemporary of Mr. Medsker introduce Mr. David B. Cline, who came originally from Bucklestown, Berkerly County, Virginia, and first settled in Milford, (now Cedarville, Greene County,) in 1827, on the 28th day of April. He subsequently moved to Xenia, in April, 1834, and worked during the first year of his residence for the corporation, grading and improving the streets, and occasion- ally in the capacity of brick-mason, in the employ of Bazil Kiler. We can present this reminiscence in no better shape than it ap- peared in the "Gazette " :
For six years following this, he drove a hack to and from Cin- cinnati, Dayton, and Springfield, and many were the jolts and thumps he received while driving over the old corduroy roads of those days. There was then a very bad piece of road just north of Yellow Springs. Many of the poles had rotted through, and for
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a long distance there was a continuance of chuck-holes, very rough and difficult of passage. It was the custom of the hack drivers, when coming to this place, to start their horses on a lively run, making the passage so rapidly that the wheels of the vehicle would jump from pole to pole, clearing nearly every chuck-hole at a bound.
In the autumn of 1847, Mr. Cline was engaged to assist in sur- veying Woodland Cemetery. In November, the surveyor being- absent for some time, he laid out the first lot and dug the first grave in the cemetery. He took charge of it in 1848, as sexton, and continued in the position for many years, and amid all the rage of excitement during the cholera year, he remained faithfully at his post of duty. In the months of July and August, 1848, he buried the remains of eighty-five who had died of that disease. The first victim of the plague here was a stranger, who died at the depot, in June. Mr. Cline had received orders to dig the grave, and with the assistance of an Irishman, whom he had employed, had prepared the grave and was awaiting the arrival of the corpse, when he was called to another part of the grounds to assist the surveyor a few moments, and directing Pat to aid in lowering the coffin, place the boards above it in the order of their number, and fill up the grave, he left him. Pat, who had expressed himself as " devil a bit afraid o' the disaze," stood his ground until he saw the hearse approaching, when he started immediately in an oppo- site direction, and Mr. Cline who was just returning, saw him go over the back fence. He never made his appearance again till the next winter, when he returned for some money due hiin for work, and urged as an excuse for his sudden departure " that indade he had jist resaved a letter from his brother, and had to be off imma- jetly to avide losin' some money." When reminded that there was no post-office in the cemetery, he was completely dumfounded, and . slunk away in silence.
When the body of Hillory Neil, who was the first citizen of Xenia to die with the cholera, was taken to the cemetery, Mr. Cline, not having received notice in sufficient time, did not have the grave ready to receive it. One of the men who accompanied the corpse grew impatient at the delay, and stepping up to Mr. Cline said : "Can't you keep a few graves dug ahead, and not wait till a man dies, and you get an order before you begin the work, and thus keep us waiting ?" "Certainly," replied Mr. Cline,
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" if you will take the measure of the people before they die; and if you think that a good idea, I will just take your measure right here, and when they haul you out, will put you in without delay." This put a quietus upon his enthusiasm, and he did not leave his measure.
The next morning a negro in the employ of Medsker came to the cemetery with the body of Mrs. Neil. The fellow became un- easy when he found the grave not quite prepared, and proposed leaving the coffin on the ground, and returning to town forthwith. When asked why no one came with him, he replied that three had started, but when, on arriving at the cemetery, he looked around for them, "dey was no wha to be found." " Well," said Mr. Cline, "if they all run off I will, too, and you can stay here with that corpse and bury it." At this, the darkey came to terms at once, and agreed to stay and help lower the remains. Shortly after this had been done, the missing trio arrived, so drunk that they had lost sight of the hearse, and gone in some other direction. One reckless fellow, named " Last" George, who stuttered terri- bly, now rendered worse confounded by whisky, informed Mr. Cline that "they ha-ha-had be-been hi-hi-hired by-by the cow- cow-council to lay out the corpses of them tha-that died wi-with the chol-cholera, take 'em to the cem-cemetery, and bur-bury 'em, for fo-four dollars a he-head; think there's a speculation in it." He then asked Mr. Cline how many graves he could dig that day, who in reply asked him how many he wanted, and who was dead. He answered that he thought they would need four or five; that no one else was dead yet that he knew of, but that they had stop- ped at Mr. MeCune's as they came along, and he thought there would be two or three dead by the time they got back to town.
Going immediately to town himself, Mr. Cline met two of the councilmen on the street, and told them that he had come to get their measures for their graves. They answered in great surprise, " Why ! what's the matter, Cline ?" Mr. Cline retorted that any councilmen who would employ a set of drunken men to bury the dead in such a trying time, ought to be buried themselves. Then explaining the matter to them, the worthless fellows were dis- charged.
As the cases increased, people became frightened, and it was very difficult to procure grave diggers. Sometimes four or five men would be required before one grave was finished.
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On one occasion, a man came from Spring Valley, in great haste, and left the measure of a person who had died there in the morn- ing of cholera, and urged him to hurry up, as the procession was then on the way. Although this was about 11 o'clock, the grave was ready by 1 o'clock, and Mr. Cline waited, expecting every mo- ment to see the procession, till sunset. He then went to supper, and when going up town he met a man in advance of the hearse, at the corner of Main and West streets, whom he questioned as- to the cause of delay. "Why," said this individual in astonish- ment, " the fellow didn't die till this evening. I was talking with him until 4 o'clock this afternoon, myself."
One young man-a blacksmith-went to the cemetery in the afternoon, selected a half lot, and ordered a grave for his wife's sister, who had died at his house, and who was accordingly buried that evening. The next morning Mr. Cline received an order to dig a grave for the young man himself, who was then dead, and whose remains were interred before 10 o'clock the same day.
Such were the terrible ravages of this fell destroyer. After the disease had somewhat abated, and the excitement subsided, while going one day towards the cemetery he was accosted by an old acquaintance with, "Halloo, Cline! is it possible this is you? I thought you were dead." "No; guess I am not dead yet," was the answer. "Well, I heard that while digging a grave for another fellow, you took suddenly sick, died within a few hours, and was buried in the same grave you had been digging."
Mr. Cline took charge of the cemetery when it existed only in name; not laid off; only inclosed by a rail fence; no house for a sexton ; no place for tools; and when the individual notes of the board were outstanding to pay for the grounds. He assisted in lay- ing out the lots and avenues, set out the pine tree in the center of the mound, and planted the others along the avenues; set out the hedge fence' around the grounds, and improved them generally. Besides attending to his duties as sexton, he rendered great assist- ance in selling lots, and in overcoming an existing prejudice against purchasing them, and disinterring the bodies at the old grave-yard and re-interring them in the new. He exhumed many bodies from the Methodist, German Reformed, and Beall burying-grounds, and placed them in Woodland. To such an extent, indeed, did he pur- sue this occupation, that Medsker used to call him the "old resur- rectionist." After resigning the charge of the cemetery, Mr. Cline
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was elected street commissioner for two years. With one brief ex- ception, Mr. Cline has been a permanent citizen of this county for over fifty years, and a citizen of Xenia over forty-five years.
OLDTOWN.
The village of Oldtown is located about three miles north of Xenia, on Oldtown Run, not far from its confluence with Massie's Creek. As has been previously observed, its original name was Chillicothe. To prevent confusion with other towns of the same name, it was first called Old Chillicothe, and finally Oldtown, by which it is now known.
The original proprietors, we are informed, were Daniel Lewis and David Monroe. In a previous chapter we have treated some- what of its early history, and shall, therefore, confine ourselves to a cursory view of it here. The original plat, by Moses Collier, the first surveyor, was received for record February 6, 1839, although it had existed some time prior to this. Its population in 1870 was over two hundred, and in 1880 about the same. In 1870 it had one shoemaker, one blacksmith, one distillery, one grocery, two wagon makers, one firm, dealers in flour, etc.
It seems that the first house was built by William Thorn, be- tween the years 1812 and 1815. The next one was built by Amasa Reed, in 1815. In 1817, Orrin North and Joseph Bullard came from Connecticut here, and started a blacksmith and wagon-mak- ing shop. Caleb West built in about 1817, and in connection with Reed, carried on a cabinet shop on the premises now occupied by a barn, formerly owned by William North. Up to the year 1830, or 1835, there were but six houses, owned respectively by Joseph Bul- lard, Orrin North, David Strathen, Malen Strathen, and John Jacobi.
The first tavern was a log house, still standing, situated nearly in the center of town, about 20x20, low ceiling, only one room, with bar and dining-room at the north end. Many an Indian buck has wet his guzzle here with the fire-water of the pale-face, which ex- citing his frenzied imagination, gory scalps and screaming women danced before his vision.
This was a favorite rendezvous on muster day, and tangle-foot flowed without stint, stimulating the sham soldier into the realities of a sanquinary conflict, that often ended, not in gun-shot wounds, but in harmlessly bloody noses and obstructed vision.
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This village is noted as being located near the spot marking the adventures of the celebrated Simon Kenton. About a mile north- east of town, at the end of the prairie, behind the bluff, on Mas- sie's Creek, is supposed to be the spot where the horses were stolen. The spot upon which the council house is said to have been located is now marked by a house about seventy-five yards southwest of the Methodist Church, and occupied by William Hulbert. The point from which he started on his perilous race is supposed to be near the site of the mill now owned by Francis M. Linkhart, about a half mile from the Methodist Episcopal Church, that being about the distance run.
As we stood upon the spot, and beheld the peaceful security in which the domestic animals were resting, some feeding, some stand- ing in the shade of the trees, our mind ran back to over one hun- dred years ago, when a solitary man was bound to the ground by thongs and stakes, lacerated and bleeding. The scene changing, he is led forth, amid the taunts and imprecations of his revengeful foes. He looks in vain for one friendly eye among the lowering, dusky fiends. Not one glance responds in pity. The aisle is formed, bristling with instruments of torture. With hope and fear alternately chasing each other like tidal waves, he lifts his naked arms above his head, and flies down the angry course.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Having given, in so far as possible, the early settlers of this town- ship, and their place of location up to a date when their great num- bers rendered it impossible to enumerate, we now shall endeavor to note the various improvements developed in the township, as it ap- proached its present state of perfection. In the first place, for the conservation of moral and social equilibrium, it was necessary to organize courts of justice. We shall deal only with the courts that were held within this township, and leave for the county history the first court.
The first court held in Xenia, convened November 15, 1804, at the house of William A. Beatty, a structure previously described as the second house erected in Xenia. It was a double-hewed log house, peculiar to those times. In the west room, up stairs, was held the court. Its owner paid a license of eight dollars, and kept tavern, with a bar room, the first institution of the kind in Xenia.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
It seemed that justice and whisky did not flow harmoniously from the same faucet, and during court many cases were manufactured on the spot through the agency of rot-gut and tangle-foot. For ten or more years it was the grand hotel, until it was superseded by a brick structure, erected by a Mr. James Collier, on Detroit Street. It is said that in the corner of one room a counter or bar was put up, enclosed by upright slats, between which the whisky was pass- ed out in small drinks. In the center was a little wicket for the general delirery. During the war of 1812, this was the headquarters for the recruiting officers, who first inspired their audience to a fren- zied pitch of enthusiastic patriotism by liberal infusions of grog, then with the more tangible inducement of silver dollars, closing up with a fiery speech delivered from the head of a whisky barrel. Court was held in this house until the erection of the new house.
The first punishment for crime was in 1806. The person was convicted for stealing leather to half-sole a pair of shoes. There was a sugar tree in the public square, which was utalized as a whip-
ping-post. To this he was tied while he underwent the sentence of the court, which was one stripe on his bare back, administered by James Collier. This tree served as a public whipping-post until 1808. On the 8th of October, this year, a man was convicted for stealing a shovel-plow and clevis. Sentence was passed that he should receive eight stripes on his bare back, "and stand com- mitted until performance." Swallowing a pint of corn juice, he embraced the tree, and despite the anaesthetic vociferated loudly in response to the descending lash. With this, the barbarous cus- tom was abolished, and more humane, if less potent modes of pun- ishment devised.
POWDER MILLS.
About the year 1846, a powder mill was erected on the Little Miami, near the site of the old seythe factory, by three men named Austin, who immediately began the manufacture of gun powder, under the firm name of Austin Brothers, and continued until 1852, when the firm changed to Austin, King & Co., by the purchase of an interest by J. W. King. About 1855, the Austin interest was purchased, and the enterprise was incorporated under the name of Miami Powder Company. At that time, the country being com- paratively new, the business was carried on in a relatively small
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scale. The company by industry and economy, however, built up a good and prosperous business, adding in the mean time new machinery, and increasing its capacity as well as capital. Until about 1871, when it attained its present condition, consisting of five mills, for incorporating the material called wheel, or incorporating mills, with sufficiency of other mills, successfully to handle the material. The water power proving inadequate, a heavy steam en- gine was substituted, which has continued in operation ever since ..
MISCELLANEOUS.
Carrying on the prominent features of improvement, we learn from statistics gathered in 1874, that in the city, and vicinity with- in this township, beginning with public buildings, one court house, one city hall, now elevated to a beautiful opera house, two fine en- gine houses, United Presbyterian Theological Hall, Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, Methodist Episcopal Female College, Pres- byterian Union Female Seminary, Greene County Infirmary, Wil- berforce University, five public school buildings, four of which are graded in four departments, the other containing the high school, grammar school, and three other schools. One of these building is devoted to the use of the colored population, and embraces four departments.
It is said that about the year 1824, Roberts & Chaing threw a dam across the river, near the site of the lower powder mill, and erected a scythe factory, which continued for a number of years, but was finally abandoned.
A rope manufactory, agricultural works, and numerous minor establishments.
BANKS.
First National Bank .- In the year 1835 the Bank of Xenia was organized, and began business June 1st of that year. First presi- dent, John H. Hivling; second president, John Ewing; first cashier, Henry Clark; second cashier, E. F. Drake. In 1846 this bank was organized, under the state law of Ohio, as the Xenia Branch of the State Bank of Ohio. President, Abraham Hivling; cashier, E. F. Drake. After continuing until 1848, Mr. Drake resigned, and his place was filled by J. W. Merrick, then acting as teller.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
At his death, which occurred in -, John B. Allen was appointed as his successor.
Second. National Bank .- Organized March 7, 1864. Capital, $100,000. Surplus, $30,000. First president, James Allison (died August, 1864); second president, and present incumbent, Thomas P. Townsley; first vice-president, and present incumbent, David Millen; first cashier, and present incumbent, John S. Ankeny.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Masons .- On December 31, 1818, a petition was presented to the grand lodge, signed by Joshua Martin, William F. Elkins, J. Smith, Caleb West, Abner Read, Amasa Read, Orestus Roberts, all Free and Accepted Masons, praying for the organization of a lodge in Xenia. From the charter, it seems that the seal of the grand lodge was affixed at Columbus, December 17, 1819, and of Masonry the 5819, signed by A. McDowell, senior grand warden; Joseph Vance, junior grand warden ; Benjamin Gardiner, grand secretary; and on the left signed by John Snow, grand master.
Warner Lodge, No. 410. Organized April 7, 1868. Charter members: W. M. North, J. H. Matthews, R. H. King, S. J. Ride- nour, W. Newton, J. M. Thirkield, J. H. Sharp, and F. M. Shipley. Samuel C. Elwell, worshipful master; Leigh McClung, senior war- den; E. P. Hoover, junior warden.
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