USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Memoirs of the Miami valley > Part 65
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This condition called for reprisals and General Clarke in 1782 raised an army of 1,000 Kentuckians. The well known fighting ability of these famous frontiersmen earned for them the name "Long Knives." They were fearless and their life in the wilder- ness had inured them to its hardships. The Indians had great re- spect for the fighting qualities of these men and often when the Indian scouts reported the "Long Knives" coming, the Indians fled into the wilderness without any combat.
Clarke and his "Long Knives" crossed into the Ohio, at what is now Cincinnati, and began their march into the interior fastness. Scouts were sent in advance and the command soon reached the
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vicinity of Dayton. They then marched up the great Miami and crossed the river about four miles below the Piqua towns.
A pow-wow was about to be held in the Piqua towns. Braves, with their squaws, were flocking in from all parts of the territory ; among these was a party on horseback, attended by their squaws. In this party was a white woman, a Mrs. McFall, whom the Indians had captured in a raid into Kentucky. This party had emerged from the forest when they came into full view of General Clarke's rugged army of "Long Knives." Taken by surprise and terror stricken, they fled, leaving their squaws and Mrs. McFall, the white woman, in the hands of General Clarke. When Clarke and his men reached the Piqua towns he found them deserted, the entire Indian popula- tion having fled at the first alarm.
During the following night, Indians lurking in the surrounding bushes, fired on the outposts. The whole army was aroused and, hurling themselves into the brush and woods, they fired indiscrim- inately into the darkness. The next morning five Indians were found dead. During this skirmish, several horses strayed away. Captain McCracken and another were detailed in search of them. The Indians fired at them, mortally wounding both. Captain Mc- Cracken lingered, until the command reached Cincinnati on its return trip, where he died and was buried. Among those who settled in Miami county, who engaged in the activities of this enterprise, were Abraham Thomas and Captain Barbee, the latter of whom became a judge of this county.
The spirit of the Indians was at this time completely broken. Clarke had laid waste the towns, destroyed their crops and other substance. They were now reduced to absolute want and had been thoroughly cowed in this engagement.
On January 31, 1786, a meeting was held at the mouth of the Great Miami. General Clarke, Richard Butler and Samuel H. Par- sons, Commissioners, met the Delawares, Wyandottes, and Sha- wanoes. At this meeting some of the Indians were still disposed to treachery and some of them were prepared to defy Clarke and his associates.
The stern demeanor of Clarke, his uncompromising attitude, and his utter fearlessness, thoroughly cowed the Indians. Clarke abruptly accepted the mandate of one of the chiefs, who seeking to bluff Clarke, gave him the alternative of war or peace, dictated by the Indians. Clarke instantly hurled defiance at the assembled Indians, choosing war if he could not have peace on his own terms. The Indians finally acquiesced and the terms of peace were ar- ranged. This signal victory of Clarke and his associates again en- deared himself to the pioneers of this territory, who idealized him as much as the Indians feared him.
The last great campaign against the Indians, which initiated the subsequent security from their attacks, was the Wayne expedi- tion, headed by the intrepid Mad Anthony Wayne. After a bloody contest at Fallen Timbers, the Treaty of Greenville was accom- plished in 1795, which ceded all the lands held by the Indians in what is now Miami county. A monument commemorating this event was erected at the foot of the Maumee Rapids. This is a great
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limestock rock carved with the prints of many turkey feet. When Me-sa-sa or Turkey Foot-the English equivalent-who was the Indian chief in the fight at Fallen Timbers, saw his braves deserting him he leaped with desperation on a rock at this spot. With all of his Indian eloquency and fired with desperation, he exposed him- self to the enemy and harangued his warriors, but they fled in a panic of fear. Brave Me-sa-sa was struck by a bullet and died heroically on this spot. To preserve the memory of this brave In- dian the turkey feet were carved in this stone and for many years the remaining Indians made pilgrimages to it, leaving offerings to the spirit of Me-sa-sa. It has been the object of interest to tourists and sightseers from many sections of the country.
By treaty and voluntary relinquishment, the Indian title passed out between 1784 and 1794, and the latter date found the Indian menace reduced to a minimum. The signing of the Treaty follow- ing the Wayne expedition gave impetus to the new settlement of this region. The next event of importance, the John Cleves Symmes purchase, might be said to mark the beginning of the real settle- ment of the Miami valley. The territory had assumed a definite position and titles could be made secure. The vanguard of the great army of pioneers now began to pour over the Alleghenies. The Symmes purchase is treated elsewhere in this work.
Settlements were made in the vicinity and on the site of the present city of Dayton, by General Dayton and others and the drift began northward. Among the first to reach the present limits of Miami county were Samuel Morrison, David H. Morris and others. They located near the mouth of Honey creek and in the spring of 1797 established a permanent settlement. A short time later the boundaries of the town christened Livingston were defined. The same year Jonathan Rollins, Samuel Hillard, John Gerard, Shad- rach Hudson, Daniel Cox, Thomas Rich and others entered Miami county.
In the spring of 1798 John Knoop, Benjamin Knoop, Henry Gerard, Benjamin Hamlet, John Tilden and Daniel and Christopher- Knoop located near the present village of Staunton. In the spring of 1799 we find that John Gerard, Uriah Blue, Joseph Cole, Abram Hathaway, Nathaniel Gerard and Abner Gerard joined the little colony at this place. The settlers were from various parts of the country and although they filtered in slowly at first, Miami county soon drew a generous share of the sturdy pioneers. They came from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia; from the Carolinas and Georgia and among the early settlers was a general sprinkling of Yankees. There was a pronounced Scotch-Irish strain in this vanguard of civilization, especially in the contingent from the Carolinas.
The land was heavily wooded with a touch of prairie appear- ing here and there. The sound of a woodsman's ax resounded throughout the valley and log cabins began to appear as if by magic. The valley soon became dotted with these primitive dwellings of the pioneers and the great tide of settlement had begun.
As the settlers gathered into communities and established definite settlements, the necessity for gristmills and sawmills be-
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came apparent. This was the next step in the march of progress, and by 1807 there were six mills in operation in this county, as fol- lows: Mordecai Mendenhall's on Honey creek; Henry Gerard's on Spring creek; John Freeman's and John Manning's on the Miami river ; Moses Coate's on Ludlow creek; Mast's, Weddle's and Em- pire's on Stillwater.
A great deal of trading at this early time was in the nature of exchange. Money was rarely seen at that time and values were largely standardized on a trading basis. Periodical trips were made to Cincinnati, which was generally a community affair. A trip of this kind was an event of great importance, goods needed at the settlement were listed, the wagon was provisioned and articles that might be traded, such as were produced at that time, were sent to Cincinnati on these trips to be traded for the necessities of the set- tlements.
Up to and including the year of 1807, we find the following settlers of Miami county living here at that time :
On the east side of the river, south, were Samuel Morrison ; David H. Morris; William and Mordecai Mendenhall; Robert Crawford; John H. and Cunningham Crawford; William Ellis ; Benjamin Lee; Daniel Agnebrood; Christian and Daniel Lefevre; John Andrew; Stephen, Benjamin, William and Andrew Dye, jr .; John, Christian and Benjamin Knoop; Cornelius Westfall; Fielding Lowry; Thomas Sayres ; Peter Felix; John Gerard; Simon Laudry ; Uriah Blue; Barnabus and James Blue; Jonathan Rollins; Shad- rach Hudson ; John, Samuel and Lewis Winans; Abner, Henry and Nathaniel Gerard; Richard Winnans ; John Orbison ; Joseph, Charles and Samuel Hillard; Benjamin Hamlet; William Knight; John and Joseph Webb; David and John Knight; Richard Palmer ; John Wal- lace; William Brown; Joseph Coe; Stephen Winnans; Abraham Hathaway; William Carter; Bennett Langley; Caleb Hathaway ; William and James I. Mckinney; John and Jacob Mann; Lewis and Obadiah Winters; Philip Sailor; George Williams; Jacob Sail- or; Chris Prillman; John Batterall; Peter Harmon; John Flyn; James McCampbell; Ralph French; Samuel James and Louis De- Weese.
On the west side of the Miami, to the north we have John Johnston, who was Indian agent; Frank and James Johnston ; Ben- jamin Leavel; Hugh Scott; Mr. Hendershot; Armstrong Brandon ; John and Enos Manning; Alexander Ewing; Joseph McCool; Mathew Caldwell; the Statler family; the Beedles; James Brown ; William Mitchell; Alexander McCullough; Robert Mackey; Wil- liam Barbee, sr., father of Judge Barbee ; James Orr ; Reuben Shack- elford; Aaron Tullis and his sons, John, Aaron, William, David, Joel, John T. and Stephen ; Henry and Peter Kerns; Samuel Kyle; Thomas and Samuel Kyle, jr .; William Adams, Abraham Thomas ; Robert McGimsey; William, Adam and Samuel Thomas; William Gahagan; John Peck; John Orbison; James Knight; Jesse Gerard ; George Kerr; James Yourt; George F. Tennery; Joseph Layton ; Frederic Yourt; Jesse Jenkins ; Andrew Thomson ; Amos and David Jenkins, and David Jenkins, Esq .; Samuel Freeman and his sons, Samuel Daniel, John, Noah and Shylock; Samuel and Enoch Pear-
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son ; Peter Oliver and his sons, William and Thomas; Arthur Stew- art; Andrew Wallace; James Yourt; William Brown; Thomas Williams; Joseph Furnas; Joseph Evans; John Mote; Jonathan Mote; Benjamin Pearson; Robert and Joseph McCool; William, Thomas and John Coppock; Samuel, Jesse, John and Moses Coates ; Thomas Hill and his sons Nathan and John; Michael and George Williams; William Long; Robert Leavel; Samuel Jones; Jacob Ember; Jonathan Mills; David Patty; Abiather Davis; Caleb Neal; John Mart; James Nayton; Samuel Davis; Jonathan Jones; Samuel Teague ; Samuel Peirce, and Robert McConnell.
In 1868 we find the following living, enumerated above: Chris- tian Lefevre, Eliza Webb, John Webb, John T. Tullis, Samuel Thomas, Robert McCool, Samuel Coates, David Patty, Samuel Davis, Jonathan Jones, and Robert McConnell.
Boundaries of Miami County. Hamilton county and Mont- gomery county, Ohio, having been designated and organized the County of Miami was laid off with the following description :
"All that part of Montgomery county be and the same is here- by laid off and erected, into a separate and distinct county, which shall be called and known by the name of Miami, to-wit: Begin- ning at the southwest corner of Champaign county and southeast corner of Section I, Township 2, and Range 9; thence west with the line between Ranges 9 and 10 to the Great Miami river, crossing the same in such directions as to take the line on the bank of the said river, between Townships 3 and 4, in Range 6, west of the said river; thence west with the said line to the state line; thence north with the same to the Indian boundary line; thence east with the same to the Champaign county line, thence south with the said county line to the place of beginning.
"From and after the first day of April, 1807, said county of Miami shall be vested with all the powers, privileges and immuni- ties of a separate and distinct county. January 7th, 1812, all that part of the county of Montgomery lying north of the county of Miami shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Miami; and all that part lying north of the county of Darke shall be, and the same is hereby, attached to the said county of Darke."
January 3, 1809. So much of the county of Miami as lies west of the middle of the fourth Range of Townships; east of the merid- ian drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami, be and the same is hereby erected into the county of Darke. January 7, 1819, a part of Miami was taken in the formation of Shelby, which left it as it is now.
County Seat. A seat of justice was first established at Staun- ton, in the house of Peter Felix, a French trader and the first session of court was held at this place, June 23rd, 1807. Two commissions were produced, signed by Edward Tiffin, Esq., Governor of the state of Ohio, sealed with the great seal of the state of Ohio and countersigned by the Secretary of the State. The one bearing date the fourth day of February, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven (1807) appointing John Gerard an associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Miami; and the other appointing John Crawford Associate Judge as aforesaid and bearing
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date the fifth day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven (1807). Whereupon the said John Gerard and John H. Craw- ford took the oath to support the constitution of the United States and the state of Ohio and also the oath of office, and constituted a Court.
"The Court proceeded to prepare notifications to be set up in public places in the county for the election of a sheriff and a coroner and three county commissioners and signed the same.
"Ordered, that the electors of this county meet on Friday, the third day of July next, in Elizabeth Township, at the house of Peter Felix, in Staunton, and the electors of Randolph Township at the house of Mr. Joseph Evans in the town of Milton, for the purpose of electing a sheriff, coroner and three county commissioners.
"Ordered, that the listers of each Township be notified to pro- ceed to take the list of the practicable property in their respective townships, also to take in the enumeration of the white male in- habitants above 21 years of age.
"Adjourned until Tuesday, the fourteenth day of July, at this house, and appoint a clerk, pro tempore to our courts."
At a court held at Staunton on Thursday, the 14th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1807.
Present, the Honorable Francis Dunlevy, Esq., president of our courts, and John Gerard, and John H. Crawford, Esqs., associate judges. Cornelius Westfall was appointed clerk pro tempore of the Court of Common Pleas for Miami county, whereupon Judge Dun- levy administered the oath to support the constitution of the United States and of the State of Ohio and also the oath of office prescribed by law.
A certificate was produced in the court, certifying that Thomas Kyle was a regularly ordained minister of the Gospel, and on appli- cation, license was granted to the said Thomas B. Kyle to solemnize marriage according to law.
The State of Ohio, Miami County, Common Pleas, September term, 1807.
Before the Honorable Francis Dunlevy, Esq., president, John Gerard, Thomas H. Crawford, associate judges ; Cornelius Westfall, clerk, pro tem .; Stephen Dye, sheriff; Arthur St. Clair, Esq., prose- cutor for the state. Grand jurors impaneled and sworn to-wit: James Blue, foreman of the jury; James L. Mckinney; Henry Orbison; Joseph McKorkle; Henry Robinson; Daniel Knoop; Theodore Sanders; Michael Blue; John Huston; William Miller ; Andrew Dye, jr .; Matthew Caldwell; John Wallace; John Jenkins ; James Youart, and Isaac Holt, constable.
Common Pleas, May Term, 1808. The state of Ohio, Miami county, ss .:
Before the Honorable Francis Dunlevy, Esq., president; John Gerard, John J. Crawford, and William Barbee, Esqs., associate judges. Present Cornelius Westfall, clerk; Stephen Dye, Esq., sheriff; Isaac G. Burnett, Esq., prosecutor for the state. Grand jurors impaneled and sworn, to-wit: Arthur Stewart, foreman; James Marshall ; William Ellis ; Charles Hillard ; Alexander Ewing ; Joseph Beedle ; Robert Mackey ; Jesse Gerard ; Albia Martin ; Joseph
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Case ; Samuel Freeman ; Jacob Kinser ; John Manning ; Patrick Laf- ferty ; Abraham Hathaway; John Smith, constable.
The grand jurors, after receiving their charge, went out of court, and after some time, returned back to court, and made pre- sentments as follows, viz .:
We present George Overpeck for an assault and battery, and Alanson Shaw for assault and battery. And then the grand jurors having nothing further to present were discharged.
June 6, 1808. Present, John Gerard and William Parker, Esqs., associate judges; Cornelius Westfall, clerk. The commissioners for the county of Miami, made application for the appointment of a commissioner, in the place of Joseph McCorkle, resigned, who was one of said board. Arthur Stewart is duly appointed to fill said vacancy.
Common Pleas, September term, 1808. The state of Ohio, Miami county, ss .:
Before the Honorable Francis Dunlevy, Esq., president; John Gerard, John H. Crawford; William Barbee, Esq., sheriff; Isaac G. Burnett, Esq., prosecutor for the state. Grand jurors impaneled and sworn, to-wit: David H. Morris, foreman; Reuben Shackel- ford; Bennet B. Langley ; Joseph B. Robinson ; Thomas W. Furnas ; Moses Coate; Andrew Dye, sr .; Isaac Embree; John Knoop; Michael Fair; Benjamin Knoop; Thomas Coppock; Joseph Evans ; Shadrach Hudson and Levi Martin.
September term, 1808, September 17. It is ordered by the court, and is hereby understood, that Lots No. 34, 135, 145 and 146 are appropriated for the purpose of building a schoolhouse and academy, for public utility, on said lot.
Session of the associate judges. The State of Ohio, Miami county, ss .:
Sessions of November, Anno Domini, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight (1808). Be it remembered that on the fifth day of November, being the next judicial day after our Court of Com- mon Pleas, at the house of Benjamin Overfield, in Troy. Before John Gerard, John H. Crawford and William Barbee, Esqs., asso- ciate judges. Present Cornelius Westfall, clerk.
It was not until the September following the formation of the county that the commission appointed to define the seat of justice made their report. This report, signed by Jesse Newport, Daniel Wilson and Joseph Lamb, fixed upon a fraction of section 21, and ยท the northeast corner of section 28-township 5, range 6, east of the Meridian line drawn from the mouth of the Great Miami river.
The site selected embraced a tract somewhat in excess of one hundred and twenty acres, forty of which was owned by Aaron Tullis, who deeded this to Cornelius Westfall on the 31st day of July, 1813, for $120.30. On the same day William Barbee and Alexander McCullough deeded to the town director the east part in section 28 for $421.50.
The second place of holding court in this county was in the home or tavern of Benjamin Overfield at Troy. This was situated at the corner of Water and Mulberry streets. The structure was built of hewn logs, with two stories, the lower floor being used for
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the tavern bar and the upper floor for the court. In 1815 a new court house was started in the public square, but was not finished for a number of years, and as the population steadily increased it was realized that another of larger proportions was needed. This was brought about and it was located on lot 42, now occupied by the postoffice, and it served from 1845 until the present structure was finished in 1885.
Court House War. When the site was originally selected as the site for the county seat, there was keen disappointment, not only among the people of Staunton, who claimed priority, but Piqua also advanced many reasons why the county seat should be located at that place. The final selection of Troy marked the be- ginning of the so-called court house war between Troy and Piqua.
When the court house was erected in 1845, being the second one owned by the county, Piqua again advanced its claims for the erection of that court house in Piqua; but these claims were again denied and the new court house was erected in Troy. This inter- mittent warfare over the county seat lasted more than seventy-five years. The rivalry was very hostile at times and the controversy engendered a very bitter feeling between the two groups of citizens.
When the erection of the present court house was proposed the old time feud was again awakened. Delegations from both places visited the State capital in 1884 to present their claims to the State legislature.
After a prolonged struggle between the two delegations and much wire pulling by both sides, in which it was proposed (in advance of the times) to take a referendum vote, the legislature decided the matter by the act of April 10, 1884 (81st O. L. 425), enacting a law which finally resulted in the building of the new court house at Troy.
That the court house question was the only source of hostility between the two towns and their people is attested by the feeling subsequent to the settlement of this question. From a state of bitter hostility the two communities developed a cordial friendship and unreserved co-operation, leaving no traces of their rivalry and its former bitterness.
Early Transportation in Miami County. Probably one of the first public transportation services rendered in this county was that of the early ferry operated at Troy. As this town developed the need became imperative for some method of crossing the river-a matter of daily importance. A ferry was established between Mar- ket street and the opposite shore and tolls charged were as follows: Foot passengers, 61/4 cents; man and horse, 12 cents ; loaded wagon and team, 75 cents; empty wagon, '50 cents. An attempt was made to ferry the boat by means of a rope and pulley, but this proved abortive after several pronounced failures.
First River Transportation. In the spring of 1819, river trans- portation was inaugurated under the auspices of Fielding Loury. Three boats were put into service on the river, the first under com- mand of Captain Gahagan; the second under Captain Hunter and the third under Captain Hamlet. The boat manned by Captain Gahagan was rammed by that under Captain Hunter, and the
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former boat sank with all of its cargo. After strenuous efforts last- ing three days it was raised and put into service. About the middle of July the boats were again launched and cargoed for their maiden voyage.
Mrs. Loury, wife of Fielding Loury, with her two daughters, embarked on one of the boats for an intended visit to her parents at St. Francisville. While on the Mississippi Mrs. Loury became ill and died. They buried her on the banks of the Mississippi, and her husband, who arrived at St. Francisville the following December, learned of this tragedy for the first time. On his return north, he brought the remains home for burial. The venture was a financial failure and completely ruined its promoter, Mr. Loury.
The Miami Canal. The tentative plans for the rehabilitation of canal traffic at this time, evokes an interest in the history of the old Miami canal. The service rendered by this waterway was a tre- mendous one ; indeed, no little of the present greatness of the Miami valley is due to this early outlet of commerce. The service ren- dered to the early inhabitants, their industries and institutions, was comparatively as great to them as that rendered today by the locomotive, electric and auto transportation. It was no less great because of its comparative slowness. It filled the needs of its time, and, as a single factor, contributed more to the development of this region than any other of its time.
The revival of waterway transportation is a matter of serious discussion at this time and one that will be a reality no doubt in the very near future. On the 14th of December, 1818, the subject of internal improvements by canals was first called to the notice of the state legislature by Governor Brown in his inaugural address. On January 14, 1820, the house of representatives responded to this recommendation, calling for information as to the practicability of a waterway connecting the Ohio river and the Great Lakes.
January 31, 1822, an act was passed authorizing an examination of this subject. Benjamin Tappan, Alfred Kelley, Thomas Worth- ington, Ethan A. Brown, Jeremiah Morrow, Isaac Minor and Ebenezer Buckingham were appointed commissioners and these later reported favorably on the project. In January, 1824, Messrs. Williams and Kelley were appointed to direct examinations and survey. February 25, 1824, Nathaniel Beasley was appointed canal commissioner. At this time an act passed both branches of the legislature, authorizing the procuring of funds for the purpose of constructing the canal. Robert Young was a member of the senate from Miami county at this session and John McCorkle of this county was a member of the house of representatives.
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