USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
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The last officer who had command at this fort was Captain Butler, who was a nephew of General Richard Butler, who fell at the battle of Recovery during the engagement which resulted in the defeat of St. Clair. Colonel John Johnston was well acquainted with Captain But- ler, and in speaking of him observed : " His wife and children were with him during his command, and one of the children, a son about eight years old, died at this post. The agonized father and mother were in- consolable. The grave of the child was inclosed with a very handsome and painted railing, at the foot of which honeysuckles were planted, grew luxuriantly, entwined the paling, and finally enveloped the whole grave. Nothing could appear more beautiful than this arbor when in bloom. The peace withdrew Captain Butler and his troops to other scenes on the Mississippi. I never passed the fort without a melancholy thought of the lovely boy who rested there, and his parents far away, never to behold that cherished spot again. Long after the posts had decayed in the ground the vines sustained the palings, and the whole remained perfect until the War of 1812, when everything was destroyed."
It is proper here to correct a popular error which has universally obtained, ascribing the location of this fort to "the mouth of the west branch of the Big Miami." This undoubtedly arose from reports made by military men, who, at the early dates already mentioned, labored under misapprehensions as to the geography as well as the topography of the unsurveyed regions of the northwest. The mouth of Loramie Creek, or the old west branch of the Big Miami, is below Lockington in Miami County, while the site of Fort Loramie is actually far above that point, in McLean Township, on a tract of land now owned by F. Arkenberg, less than a mile north of the village of Berlin.
During all this period, it must be borne in mind, this whole section was in possession of the Indians. This branch of the subject being else- where fully treated. As late as 1792 the murder of Col. John Hardin was committed by the Indians at the present site of the old village of Hardin, in Turtle Creek Township. No stretch of imagination is neces- sary to connect the whole locality with sanguinary action on the part of both the whites and Indians. More than once it was the theatre of treachery and murder, and more than once the theatre of conferences
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looking to the establishment of peace and amity. In that theatre, tragedy, deep and dark, was rendered; so deep and dark that death was never feigned, but always real, and from which no player returned to the rehearsal. Such was the ante-State condition of things through- out the section which embraced the present limits of this review. After the stirring events which attended the failure of the infant settlement of Picawillany no further efforts appear to have been made in this locality for a period of more than half a century. The old territorial govern- ment based on the celebrated ordinance of 1787 has passed away, giving place to a new State which was carved out of the " territory northwest of the river Ohio." The pioneer had been feeling huis way up the valleys of the Mad and Miami rivers, contending with the fastness of an un- bounded forest, at times a waste of surface waters, and the savage deni- zens of nature's wilds. Shelby County was yet a thing of the future, and even a permanent settlement within its future borders was some- thing yet to be. But the tide was beating and battling in this direction, and never checked its course until the rigors of a northern climate were encountered.
PERMANENT SETTLEMENT.
"Hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be ! The first low wash of waves, where soon Shall roll a human sea !
Behind the squaw's birch bark canoe, The steamer rocks and raves, And city lots are staked for sale Above the Indian graves."
The State of Ohio, consisting geographically of a portion of the great and almost boundless territory of the Northwest, was admitted into the Union in 1803, and the next year something of a growing movement began towards the upper waters of the Miami, and this movement crossed the south line of the county as now defined in 1805. This then is the inaugural year of the new era which is to become the old, for it appears pretty well established that the family of James Thatcher ven- tured within the present limits of the county some time during the year in question. It is further claimed, with some degree of force, that the families of John Wilson, James Cannon, Samuel Marshall, the Mellin- gers, Careys, and McClures came here between 1805 and 1810, and so constituted the pioneer class of permanent settlers within the borders of the county as now constituted. These families, and those which followed them during the next few years, all settled within the present limits of the south tier of townships in the valleys of the Miami and Loramie, thus securing the lands least subjected to water, as an undulating or drifting topography gave a natural drainage to which some of the remoter parts of the county were not subjected. This original settlement became per- manent, although its growth was slow enough, and even stopped entirely during the troubles which attended the War of 1812. After that war and its attendant Indian troubles had been settled, a new and vigorous tide of emigration set in, and inaugurated the era of constant growth, which ultimately grasped the whole county, and extended itself away to the north and west without even regard for State much less for county lines. These settlers came here in the midst of the forest, and the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life must be measured by the adverse surround- ings and inhospitality of wild and savage forces. The land was groaning under a burden of timber, and so a great many of the early settlers turned their attention to the chase as the only certain method of gaining a sub- sistence. Neither was this a precarious mode of subsistence; for, owing to the variety and abundance of game, hunting and trapping was re- warded by the procurement of the real necessaries of life. Statistics show that by these pursuits a considerable revenue was derived, and through this the settlers were for a time enabled to pay their taxes.
The land was timbered and required years in clearing, and so was not calculated for extensive farming at the outset. Neither would it have proved profitable, owing to the distance to markets, and the inferior modes of transportation. This latter must have been accomplished by wagon, and for a time a wagon road over which anything of a load could be drawn was not known to this whole section. The old trails opened as paths in the direction of the nearest settlements, but these trails were
not calculated for heavy carriage. There was thus little at the begin- ning to induce the settlers to produce anything beyond a supply of actual necessaries, as it must first be attended by great and severe toil, and then for want of a market prove unprofitable. Take these conditions any- where, and development will move slowly under their discouraging in- fluence.
The immediate outlook must have been discouraging at times, but the pioneer was made of stuff too hardy and too brave to be discouraged by the hardships of his lot. He had deliberately weighed the matter, and, after coming here, was not to become despondent in the presence of the very conditions he had anticipated. Hardy as well as industrious he could wait as well as work, and the unity of those attributes, labor and continuance, enabled him to triumph over nature's wilds, and so to work out that great transformation which produced gardens and fruitful fields from a wild, unpromising wilderness. The pioneer never allowed his confidence in the future to waver, but kept up a warfare with the forests, clearing a little here and a little there, until he was no longer dependent upon the chase, but substituted the cultivation of the soil for the pursuit of game.
Having in this chapter referred to the unsettled condition and dangers during the War of 1812, it is proper to recall one or two incidents cor- roborative of the text.
INDIAN MURDERS.
Although not occurring within the present limits of this county, yet the murder of David Garrard and Henry Dilbone and wife by the In- dians on Spring Creek, Miami County, August 18, 1813, is of pathetic, if not mournful, interest to some of our readers. As nearly as possible we present the facts touching this triple tragedy in brief but circumstan- tial form.
On the 18th of August, 1813, or during the unsettled period of the " Second War for Independence," David Garrard and -_ Ross were making shingles in the timber some distance from Garrard's house. On their return to work after dinner they were fired on by two Indians. Garrard was wounded and disabled, while Ross was unhurt. The latter started for the house, but was followed by one Indian, who kept up the chase until very near the house, when he was called back by the Indian who remained with the wounded Garrard. Leaving Ross, this Indian returned to his companion. It is claimed that Ross then ran to Staun- ton, and gave the alarm to a company of volunteers who were drilling at that place. Garrard's remains were discovered the same evening, and from the marks at hand it appeared evident he had defended himself bravely with clubs, wounded though he was. By night the settlers and their families had been warned, and repaired for safety to the block- houses provided for such occasions of danger.
On the same day, August 18, Henry Dilbone, living on Spring Creek, four miles north of the scene of Garrard's murder, left his house, accompanied by his wife and four children, to go a little distance to a field of flax, then ready to be pulled. This field lay beyond a field of corn through which the family passed. The babe, a child of nine months, was placed in the care of John, a boy of seven years. The parents en- tered upon their work, and after a short time the little girl, named Mar- garet, aged five years, went home to get a drink. This act saved her from witnessing that double tragedy which left her a helpless orphan. On her return through the cornfield, she met John with the babe and their little sister, and from him learned the horrible story of Indian bar- barity. As best he could, John made known to his sister that the In- dians had shot their father and tomahawked their mother, and that both were dead, where a few moments before little Margaret had left thiem at work. The children then repaired to the house, entered it, and bolting the door, gave their first thoughts to lulling the babe to sleep. A neigh- boring woman chancing to come to the house, finding the door bolted, had her fears aroused on hearing some of the children within, and inquired what they were doing, and why they had fastened the door. On hearing the story of the children, she became frightened and fled to the nearest block-house.
About sunset Wm. Mckinney approached the Dilbone home, and was admitted by the children, who again related the awful story of their parents' murder. Mckinney feigned disbelief, but John offered to prove
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the truth of his story, by going to the flax field. On reaching the field they found Mrs. Dilbone lying on her face, with a ghastly wound on the back of her neck, rather between her shoulders. Mr. Dilbone was not found at once. Near by, however, was found the Indian's gun, blanket, and scalping-knife. John's story related how his father uttered a loud exclamation when the first shot was fired, and then ran into the corn- field; that instantly two Indians sprang over the fence and came toward his mother; that he knew the Indian who carried a gun ; that his mother also knew him, and called him George, saying, "George, don't kill him!" and that the Indian replied, "hush! or I will kill you!" Mrs. Dilbone then screamed and started to run, when she was struck down with a hatchet. Her position when found also indicated the fact that she must have turned and been trying to escape when she was struck.
John further related-the Indians came and looked at the children for a moment; that one had a gun and the other was unarmed, and was only a boy; that suddenly the one having the gun threw it and his blanket and knife upon the ground, and both ran away as fast as they could. McKinney then picked up the gun, and returne'l with John to the house. There be loaded both Dilbone's and the Indian's gun, took the children in charge, and started in the twilight for his home. A general alarm was soon given, and by midnight all who could be warned had gathered at Mckinney's house, where it was resolved to go to Winan's station, a post about six miles distant, under cover of darkness.
Such were the fearful consequences of that fateful 18th of August. The next day a scouting party went to the Dilbone farm, and found Mrs. Dilbone as she was left the evening before. Search was then made for Mr. Dilbone, during which Captain Dye heard a faint call which was repeated, and led to the discovery of the dying man. He was out of the field, lying in the woods, and when found, helpless as he was, he asked for his wife and children, to hear the awful truth. He then asked to see his wife, and her body was carried in his presence. Endeavoring to rise upon his elbow, to give his wife one last, lingering gaze, he fell back heavily, and immediately expired. A box was then made, in which both bodies were placed, while they were conveyed on a sled to their place of burial, on the north side of the Urbana road. The children, all as yet too young to realize their terrible loss, were taken in charge by friends, and their descendants are still found in this county.
ORGANIZATION.
Act of General Assembly of February 12, 1820, for the Organization of Van Wert, Mercer, Putnam, and Allen Counties.
"SEC. I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That all that part of the lands lately ceded by the Indians to the United States shall be, and the same is hereby, erected into fourteen separate and distinct counties, to be bounded and named as follows : Ist. To include townships one, two, and three, in the first, second, third, and fourth ranges, and to be known by the name of Van Wert. 2d. To include all of said ranges south of said township to the northern boun- daries of the counties heretofore organized, and to be known by the name of Mercer. 3d. To include townships one and two south, and one and two north, in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth ranges, and to be known by the name of Putnam. 4th. To include all of said second townships to the northern boundaries of the organized counties, and to be known by the name of Allen.
" SEC. II. That the counties of Crawford and Marion shall be attached to the county of Delaware; the county of Hardin shall be attached to the county of Logan ; the county of Allen shall be attached to the county of Shelby; the counties of Van Wert and Mercer shall be attached to the county of Darke; the counties of Hancock, Henry, Putnam, Pauld - ing, and Williams shall be attached to the county of Wood ; and the county of Seneca shall be attached to the county of Sandusky, until otherwise directed by law."
The county of Lucas came from the territorial conflict between Ohio and Michigan in 1835-6, and was named in honor of Governor Robert T. Lucas.
Defiance, Fulton, and Auglaize counties were subsequently erected from territory embraced by the counties organized by the act of Feb- ruary, 1820.
Allen was independently established in June, 1831; while Auglaize was erected and organized as an independent county in 1848.
Miami County, including Shelby, was embraced within the jurisdic- tion of Montgomery County until January 16, 1807, when it was de- tached ; and Staunton, near the present village of Troy, became the seat of justice. Here the first session of county commissioners convened at the house of Peter Felix, July 1, 1807. The board, consisting of Saml. Jones, William Barbee, and Henry Garrard, proceeded at once to divide the county Into five townships. These were named Bethel, Concord, Union, Elizabeth, and Washington. Troy, the present county seat, was not surveyed until the following December. During several succeeding years Shelby continued under the jurisdiction of Miami County, but in the year 1819 it was detached and erected into a separate organization, with jurisdiction extending northward over the present counties of Auglaize and Allen, which formed the original Auglaize and Amanda townships of Shelby County. On this account we have already treated of Wapakoneta and Fort Amanda at some length, as they are both historic points of peculiar interest. It is only necessary here to say the one is now a thriving seat of justice, while the other is only a cemetery, ten miles farther down the Auglaize. It is remembered, at the period of organization, the whole county was undeveloped, but during the years from 1812 to 1819 settlements had been pushed for- ward with rapid strides, and showed at least a grasp of the territory which indicated complete and permanent development. So it was that . on the 17th of May, 1819, we find a Court of Common Pleas in session at Hardin, ready to "administer even-handed justice to the rich and poor alike." This court was conducted by Hon. Joseph H. Crane, President Judge ; and Robert Houston, Samuel Marshall, and William W. Cecil, Associate Judges. On the first day of the term Harvey B. Foote was appointed clerk of the court, and Henry Bacon prosecuting attorney. A few licenses were granted ; and, after some other unimportant routine business had been transacted, the court adjourned sine die on its initial day. The next session convened September 13, 1819, with a full staff of judicial, executive, and clerical officers. The president and three associates were present, as also Harvey B. Foote, clerk ; Daniel V. Ding- man, sheriff, and Henry Bacon prosecuting attorney. At this meeting the first grand jury was called and reported. The term adjourned sine die on the 14th of December. This adjournment sealed the doom of Hardin as a seat of justice, for the next term of the court, comprising the same judicial, executive, and clerical officers, convened at Sidney on the 24th of April, 1820. Turning to the executive department of the organization, we find the Board of Commissioners convening at Hardin on the 7th of June, 1819. This board consisted of Robert McClure, Wm. Berry, and John Wilson. David Henry was appointed clerk of the board, and James Lenox treasurer of the county. Both appearing, they took the oath of office, and entered at once upon their respective duties. The board reassembled on the 11th of the month, and appointed Archi- bald Defrees collector of the county. On the 12th the bonds of John Craig as coroner, and Daniel V. Dingman as sheriff, were accepted and recorded. After some other routine business the board adjourned until the 2d Monday in September. Following this brief sessions were held in September, October, and December at Hardin, the latter session clos- ing on the 14th of December, which date marked the last meeting of the board at Hardin, as the next session convened at Sidney on the 1st of February, 1820.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
As already indicated, Hardin served as the seat of justice for a little time after the organization of the county. The last session of the Court of Common Pleas and Board of Commissioners, which convened at Har- din, adjourned on the 14th of December, 1819, at which time the distinc-' tion of being a county seat was lost hy Hardin. Pending this date steps had been taken toward the permanent location of the seat of justice. The General Assembly of Ohio had appointed Thomas B. Van Horn and James Steele a Board of Commissioners to view the different sites already recommended, and report upon a suitable location. In accord- ance with this authority the commissioners proceeded to the perform- ance of their duties, and after examining the different sites to which
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they were referred, finally determined in favor of Sidney, and submitted the following report :-
To the Honorable the Court of Common Pleas of Shelby County.
The undersigned commissioners appointed by the Legislature of Ohio at their last session, to fix on the most eligible site for the seat of justice for the county of Shelby, met at the town of Hardin, in said county, on the 22d inst., agreeable to appointment,-previous notice having been given as the law directs, said notice being acknowledged and having been duly qualified,-proceeded to examine the different sites pointed out by the inhabitants of said county; and after traversing the county to ascertain the most proper place, have selected part of a fraction num- ber 36 in township 8, range 6, west of the Great Miami River, belonging to Charles Sterrett; commencing ata creek or run of water southeast- wardly of a house in said fraction, occupied by a Mr. Cannon, running east of north with the bank, and westwardly for the quantity of seventy acres, offered as a donation by the said Charles Sterrett, as will appear by the inclosed bond, proposal, etc.
Dayton, Sept. 26, 1819. Signed, THOMAS B. VAN HORN, JAMES STEELE.
I do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the report now on file in my office. Dec. 14, 1819. HARVEY B. FOOTE, Clerk.
The donation referred to in this report is fully explained by the sub- joined article of agreement, made by Charles Sterrett, proprietor of the plat chosen as the site of the county seat :-
I, the undersigned subscriber, proprietor of fraction No. 36, in town- ship eight, range six, east of the meridian line, and on the west bank of the Great Miami River, do make a donation to the commissioners of Shelby County of seventy acres of land, for the use and benefit of said county, on any part of the above named tract of land that the commis- sioners appointed by the Legislature see proper to locate the seat of justice for said county; provided the commissioners for fixing the said scat of justice see proper to fix said seat permanently in said fraction ; provided that I do receive one-half of the proceeds of the sales of the lots after the said county commissioners locate, lay off, and sell the lots which may be laid off on said donation.
Sept. 24, 1819.
CHARLES STERRETT.
N. B. I also bind myself to give the privilege of all the springs within the bounds of said fraction as above described, for the use of the town, and the privilege of conveyance to the town. C. S.
Reserve Clause.
I, the said Charles Sterrett, do make the following reserves out of the seventy acres proposed to the commissioners for the seat of justice for the county of Shelby, to wit: One acre for the public square; two half acres for two different denominations of religious societies; one acre for each of two different denominations of religious societies for graveyards; and one acre for use of schools.
CHARLES STERRETT.
ROBERT MOCLUBE,
JOHN WILSON,
Commissioners.
WM. BERRY,
I certify the above to be a true copy of the original now on file in my office.
Dec. 14, 1819. HARVEY B. FOOTE, Clerk.
In accordance with the provisions of the articles of donation, Charles Sterrett executed to the commissioners the following
Bond.
Know all men by these presents that I, Charles Sterrett, am held and firmly bound unto Robert McClure, John Wilson, and Wm. Berry, com- missioners of Shelby County, and their successors in office in the sum of three thousand dollars, lawful money of the United States, and by these
presents do bind myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns in the aforesaid sum.
The condition of the obligation is such that if the above bound Charles Sterrett, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns should execute a deed in fee simple to the commissioners of Shelby County for the within donation of seventy acres of land, lying and being in fraction numbered thirty-six, in township eight, range six, east of the meridian line, and west of the Great Miami River, for the purpose of laying off a town for the seat of justice for Shelby County, in the State of Ohio, the commissioners delivering to him half the proceeds of the sale of lots laid off in said town, in said fraction 36, then this obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to remain in full force.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 25th day of September, 1819.
CHARLES STERRETT. (SEAL.)
Signed and sealed in the presence of ROBERT HOUSTON, DANIEL V. DINGMAN.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original now on file in my office Dec. 14, 1819.
HARVEY B. FOOTE, Clerk.
In consideration of securing the seat of justice at Sidney other dona- tions than that of the proprietor were made by several citizens, who were favorable to the project. These are exhibited by the following certified agreement :-
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