The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 30

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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All apprehensions of Indian troubles being now removed, the influx of immi- gration was so rapid as to defy all attempts to particularize. from a population in 1800 of only 50, it, increased, in 1810, then comprehending Darke and Shelby, to 4,200 ; in 1820, 8,850 ; in 1830, 12,807; in 1840, 19,688 ; in 1850, 25,000; in 1860, 29,958 ; in 1870, 32,740.

The Black Hawk war of 1832 being local in its nature, caused no sanguinary perturbations in this county. The Mexican war was participated in by some of the citizens of this county, but its transitory nature left no visible imprint here. In the progress of the county from the war of 1812, no changes stand out with prominent significance until the war of 1861 to 1865. We shall, therefore, leave the details to the township histories, and notice some important features in the direction of important improvements and other miscellaneous matter of interest.

Her development was rapid, and, with the lapse of years, her commercial, agricultural and manufacturing importance began to take rank with her older sisters.

IMPROVEMENTS, CUSTOMS, ETC.

The Ferry .- When this county was covered by a vast forest, and the whole course of the river ran through a densely-timbered country, its volume was much greater than at present, and its channel deeper. As the town of Troy grew in size and the surrounding country became settled, the crossing and re-crossing of the river became. a matter of grave importance. At an early day there was a ferry between Market street and the opposite shore, the wharf extending up to Felix's tavern, the rates for which were : Foot passengers, 64 cents ; man and horse, 12 cents ; loaded wagon and team, 75 cents ; carriage or empty wagon, 50 cents. In order to charge at all, every person engaging in the business was expected by law to pay $5 for license. In 1814, Fielding Loury, under- took to convey boats across by means of a rope and pulley. To facilitate matters, he built a pier some distance into the river, from which to launch his boats. In the first experiment the boat broke loose, and went down the river. It was tried a second time with partial success, but, ultimately proving a failure, the enterprise was abandoned.

River Enterprise .- In the spring of 1819, a project was set on foot by Fielding Loury to open a commercial trade between Miami County and the Southern cities. Three boats were loaded and made ready, as soon as the spring rains filled the river, to start on the long and hazardous voyage. The first boat, under the com- mand of Capt. Gahagan, proceeded down the channel, and, after a short voyage, whose beginning spoke unpropitiously of the successful issue of the enterprise, she grounded among the 99 islands. A few minutes later the second boat, under the

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

command of Capt. Hunter, appeared upon the scene, and, notwithstanding every effort to steer her clear, ran into Capt. G.'s boat, receiving such a shock thereby, as to cause her to sink, with all her cargo, in a very few minutes. The third boat, under the command of Capt. Hamlet, safely lands. In the mean time, the first boat rapidly fills with water, and, amid the screams of women and the shouts of men soon goes down. Several days were spent in rescuing from the wrecks the cargo, which was taken to the neighboring barns, where it was spread out and dried.

Capt G.'s boat was raised, and, after undergoing repairs, was again loaded with part of the freight which had been saved, the remainder being put on Capt. Hamlet's boat, and, thus equipped, about the middle of July, they again launched and started down the river at a very low stage of water. Mrs. Loury, who was going to visit her parents at St. Francisville, was on one of the boats with her two little daughters, also Samuel Culbertson and John McKaig, the former of whom says that, after making the best headway they could, at the expiration of two days they were still within sight of the smoke from the fire where they had stopped two nights before. While on the Mississippi, Mrs. Loury fell sick, and, after suffering all the deprivations incident to such surroundings for two or three weeks, she died. No delicacies for her nourishment ; no female companion to soothe her in her last hours ; no sister to perform the last preparations for obsequies ; alone so far as female society was concerned, on the inhospitable Mississippi, with no redemption from the necessity of two strange young men performing the solemn duty of pre- paring the body of that highly-cultivated, delicate lady for interment. In a rough box for a coffin, she was left to rest on the lonely bank of the Mississippi. The principal portion of the freight, being kiln-dried cornmeal, remained uninjured ; as to the remainder of the cargo, the beans were moldy, the pork was sour, hickory- nuts spoiled, potatoes rotten, and flour much injured; nothing, indeed, escaped the ravages of time and water but the whisky. The whole shipment proved a disas- trous failure, and by it Mr. Loury was completely ruined. Mr. Loury, not arriving at St. Francisville till the following December, learned for the first time that his little daughters were motherless. Upon his return North, he brought the remains of his wife, and his two little girls. After he had somewhat recovered from the loss of his wife, he married Mrs. Cooper, the relict of D. C. Cooper, who also died a few months after their marriage. He afterward turned his mind to religious matters, and united with the Presbyterian Church.

Canal .- What is now called the Miami and Erie Canal, formerly Miami Canal, was completed from Cincinnati to Dayton in 1831, which remained as the head of navigation until 1837, when it was completed to Piqua, Miami County. Mean- time, other canals were constructing in the State, and, for the first time, a State debt was rapidly growing in consequence of public works. The citizens of Dayton, desiring to retain the head of navigation, sought every means to prevent the exten- sion of the canal north, but their object was defeated by a bill in the United States Congress, passed May 24, 1828, granting certain lands to the State of Ohio, equal to one-half of five sections in width, on each side of the contemplated line of the canal between Dayton and the Miami River, at the mouth of the Auglaize, secur- ing to itself each alternate section of the same. When this bill passed, securing its extension, the people of Troy and Piqua were highly elated, and had a grand jollification. On the 31st of December, 1831, the State Legislature authorized the. Canal Commissioners to put the work under contract, beginning at Dayton, and, from time to time, apply the proceeds from the sale of those lands to its construc- tion. March 7, 1835, the Canal Fund Commissioners were authorized to loan to the Miami Canal Fund, for the term of one year, not exceeding $60,000, to be reimbursed from the proceeds of the Miami Canal lands.

March 18, 1836, the Legislature provided for the extension of the canal north of Dayton, appropriating $200,000 to be borrowed in 1836, $200,000 in 1837, the same in 1838, $300,000 in 1839, the same in 1840, and 1841; 6 per cent interest, redeemable between 1850 and 1860.

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

In 1837, the canal was completed through Miami County, thus affording facil- ities for cheap transportation to Cincinnati, the remembrance of which, to those now living who then enjoyed those advantages, are, by association of ideas, remem- bered with pleasure. The "packet boat " then plying on the canal ran at the rate of four miles an hour, leaving Piqua in the morning at 8, and landing in Cincin- nati for breakfast, and was regarded by the Miamis as a wonderful feat. That por- tion running through this county intersects the richest portion of her lands, and to this is attributable, in an eminent degree, the development of our county and the rapid advance in the price of lands.

By affording cheap transportation and permanent hydraulic power throughout the whole extent of the county, various manufacturing interests have been pro- moted, and, in addition to this, the shipment of ice has become an extensive busi- ness, which has assumed proportions that will be of great benefit to the county.

Railroads and Pikes .- Through the northern tier of townships passes the Pan Handle Railroad to Piqua (with which Maj. Stephen Johnston, of Piqua, was early identified, in 1849 having drafted, upon a saddler's bench, its first charter, and, for more than twenty years, acted as its attorney), which, deflecting south, passes through Covington, then on to Bradford. Cutting this at nearly right angles, and following the general course of the Miami through the center of the county, runs the Dayton & Michigan Railroad. Again, connecting with the Pan Handle at Covington, the Narrow Gauge, running from Dayton prospectively to Toledo, affords great shipping facilities for all the western tier of townships.

In addition to these, there have been filed with the Secretary of State, March 20, 1878, a certificate for the construction of a railroad from Springfield via Troy to Piqua, capital stock, $200,000; also, May 28, 1878, a certificate to construct a road from Springfield via New Carlisle to Troy, capital stock, $150,000; and still another road is agitating. The number of miles of railroad already built and running is nearly sixty, thus giving to Miami ample shipping facilities. She is intersected with a perfect network of nearly 100 pikes of nearly 400 miles, most of them free. Plenty of timber, rich soil, good pikes, numerous railroads, Miami Canal, good climate, all conduce to make this county one of the most desirable localities in the State.

MIAMI COUNTY INFIRMARY.

The Infirmary and farm are situated about one and one-half miles north of Troy. In 1853, the farm consisted of 130 acres, of which eighty were under cul- tivation. It was purchased in 1838, and cost $20 per acre. In 1853, its value had advanced to $60 per acre, exclusive of the buildings. The first buildings for public use were erected in 1839, and opened for the reception of inmates in 1840. Of these buildings we have a very meager description ; they were built of brick, consisting of a one-story main building, to which were attached several small addi- tions. This institution soon proved inadequate for the accommodation of the Superintendent, Matron, assistants and inmates. The main building, having been let by contract to inferior workmen, was very defective in every particular; and was, literally speaking, a "poor house."

In March, 1852, the attention of the County. Commissioners was called to the unfit and unsafe condition of the buildings, and the Directors urged upon them the immediate construction of new and suitable buildings. The former, after a full investigation of the existing state of affairs, concurred with the latter, and at once entered upon the necessary arrangements for the erection of a new structure. To avoid the errors made by their predecessors, and obtain the requisite informa- tion regarding their construction, the Commissioners appointed one of the Direct- ors to visit some of the most prominent Infirmaries in the State. . Mr. Butterfield was appointed architect of the proposed buildings, and drew the plans and speci- fications for the same. Commissioner Rose, being a mechanic, was assigned the position of General Superintendent. The new building was 116 feet long, and forty-six feet wide, with a hall extending the entire length, through the center of

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

each floor. It consisted of an elevated basement, two principal stories, and an attic eight feet in height, which gave it the appearance of a four-story building. The first (principal) story was designed for males, the second for females; with sufficient room for the insane ; was warmed by a furnace, and well ventilated ; water was supplied by a tank in the attic, where it was forced from the well; on each floor were sufficient water-closets and bath-rooms. The working department, ovens, furnaces, store-rooms, etc., were arranged in the basement; food was con- veyed to the dining-rooms above in sliding cupboards. On the east side of the building was a large porch, fifty feet long, which was connected with a small yard, designed for a certain class of inmates.

Unfortunately, the apprehension of the Directors regarding the unsafe condi- tion of the old house was verified. In August, 1853, a violent storm, accompanied by hail and rain, struck the main apartment with such force as to tumble it in ruins upon the heads of the inmates ; a number being injured, some seriously, none fatally, and all thoroughly drenched by the rain. Shanties were erected for the temporary accommodation of the inmates, many of whom were sick from the exposure. In 1854, the new buildings were completed and occupied by the inmates. On the 8th day of June, 1859, the Directors met with the Commission- ers to discuss the policy of building an addition in which to confine the insane. The Commissioners declared that it was impossible to erect the proposed wing, on account of a lack of funds in the county treasury. It was finally agreed to pre- pare four rooms in the attic for the use of the insane.

At a joint meeting of the two boards, held at the Infirmary on September 3, 1872, the Commissioners were advised of the necessity of a more ample building for the insane. At a subsequent meeting, at the Auditor's office, the plans and specifications for an additional structure were adopted, and contracts for the imme- diate erection of the building made. April 29, 1873, the foundation was laid, after which time the work progressed rapidly until the completion of the new structure. The wing is eighty feet in length, and forty feet in width, containing four floors. The first is used as an engine and ware room. In the second is the hospital for the males, through which we pass and enter the insane department for the men. The third floor is occupied by sick and insane females.

At a recent visit to the institution we met the present Directors (in session) and the Superintendent, who received us with courtesy, and, upon stating the object of our visit, were conducted through the building. The halls and wards were in a clean and inviting condition, which speaks volumes for the careful man- agement of the Superintendent and his worthy wife and daughter. While passing through the male department, our attention was called to Samuel Myers, an inmate since 1853, who claims to be 106 years of age. As he was an old man when he first entered the institution, we have no reason for doubting him.

In the female wards, we saw Sallie Anthony, an inmate since 1842. At pres- ent, 154 acres of land are connected with the Infirmary, the most of which is under cultivation. Surrounding the building, are the necessary out-houses, the pump- house, barn and wash-house, the latter having just been completed. A cistern, with a capacity of 500 barrels, furnishes the water for laundry purposes. We have no records of the officers prior to 1853. The following gentlemen have held the several offices since that time :

1853 James C. Mckaig, Jacob Counts, Asa Coleman, Directors ; George A. Murray, Superintendent.

A. Murray, Superintendent.

1854 Jacob Counts, Asa Coleman, George Throgmorton, Directors ; George

1855- Jacob Counts, David Huston, George Throgmorton, Directors ; George A. Murray, Superintendent.

1856-Jacob Counts, David Huston, George Throgmorton, Directors ; Jona- than Ratson, Superintendent.

1857-58 Jacob Counts, David Huston, S. M. Dickson, Directors ; Jonathan Ratson, Superintendent.

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

1859-David Huston, S. M. Dickson, William H. Gahagan, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1860-W. H. Gahagan, David Huston, James H. Pea, Directors ; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent.

1861-James H. Pea, John D. Deweese, W. H. Gahagan, Directors; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent.

1862-64 John D. Deweese, George B. Fry, W. H. Gahagan, Directors; Samuel Robinson, Superintendent.

1865-George B. Fry, Jacob Knoop, John D. Deweese, Directors ; same

Superintendent.

1866 John D. Deweese, William Hamilton, Jacob Knoop, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1867-John D. Deweese, William Hamilton, S. A. Cairns, Directors; same Superintendent.

1868-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1869-Same Directors ; James Foster, Superintendent.

1870-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1871-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1872-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1873-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1874-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1875-John D. Deweese, Stephen Genslinger, S. A. Cairns, Directors ; same Superintendent.

1876-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1877-John D. Deweese, Joseph Bains, Stephen Genslinger, Directors; same

Superintendent.

1878-Same Directors ; same Superintendent.

1879-Stephen Genslinger, B. N. Langston, Joseph Bains, Directors ; same Superintendent (present incumbents).

EXHIBIT.

YEAR.

Number of Inmates.

Number Received.

Discharged.

Births.

Deaths.

1854

1856

1857

1858

1859

1860

1862

1868

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868

1869

1870

1871

1872

1878

105

100

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

102

100

1879

105

116

129

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1861

118

125

1855

269

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

MIAMI COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On the 12th day of September, 1846, pursuant to a call in the Troy Times, a meeting of the citizens of Miami County was held at the office of John G. Tel- ford, Esq., for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of organizing a County Agricultural Society. At this time it was resolved to organize such a society, and a committee, consisting of the following names, viz., William Giffen, David H. Morris, William I. Thomas and William B. McLung, was appointed to draft a Constitution and By-laws, for said society. On the 26th of September, 1846, this committee reported a Constitution and By-laws, which were at that time adopted, and the society, thus organized, proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year, with the following result, viz .: President, William I. Thomas ; Vice-Presidents, Will- iam C. Knight, Cyrus Haywood, David Jenkins ; Corresponding Secretary, D. H. Morris ; Recording Secretary, G. D. Burgess ; Treasurer, Jacob Knoop ; Librarian H. D. Stout ; Committee on Agriculture, John Hamilton, Chairman ; Daniel Brown, James McCain, Zimri Heald, William Giffen.

The following is the Constitution of the Miami County Agricultural Society : ARTICLE I. This Association shall be called, The Miami County Agricultural Society.

ART. II. The object of the society shall be the circulation of general intel- ligence and practical instruction in all the branches of agriculture. 1. By the establishment of a permanent library of the best books and periodicals, illustrative of the principles and practice of the sciences. 2. By the establishment of a cor- respondence with other bodies seeking the same object. 3. By procuring the most rare and valuable kinds of seeds, plants, shrubs, and trees. 4. By the establish- ment of exhibitions at which premiums shall be awarded for the improvements of soil, tillage, crops, manures, implements of husbandry, stocks, articles of domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and improvements as may be deemed worthy of encouragement ; and the adoption of other means for the general circula- tion of knowledge on the subjects embraced by the society.

ART. III. The officers of the society shall consist of a President, three Vice- Presidents, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, Standing Committee of five persons on Agriculture, and a Board of Directors to be composed of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, which board shall have the charge and general management of the property and business of the society, subject, however, to the order and direction thereof.

ART. IV. All the officers shall be chosen by ballot, at the annual meeting of the society, which shall be held on the first Saturday in September in each year, at such hour and place as the Directors shall order.

ART. V. All special meetings of the society shall be called by the Recording Secretary on the requisition of a majority of the Directors, or of any five members made in writing therefor ; a notice thereof, as well as of all general meetings, shall be published in one or more of the newspapers of the county fifteen days at least before such meeting.

ART. VI. Any person may become a life member of the society by the pay- ment of $10 into the treasury at any one time.

ART. VII. This Constitution may be altered or amended by the votes of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, providing the same shall have been proposed in writing, at a previous regular meeting.

The following are the subscribers to the Constitution of the Miami County Agricultural Society:

Z. Heald, Cyrus Haywood, Wesley Haywood, Daniel Bates, James M. Dye, Daniel Brown, L. H. Booher, William J. Thomas, John Hamilton, William B. McLung, George Cloyd, Joshua Peck, James McCain, G. A. Pierce, W. Sayres, D. H. Morris, David A. McLung, James Fordyce, J. Mckaig, John C. Winans, H. 8. Mayo, G. D. Burgess, John B. Fith, E. Parsons, B. F. Brown, John Knoop,

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270

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

Jacob Knoop, John H. Knoop, George Knoop, James Hoit, John C. Dye, Jacob Rhorer, John McLung, Minor L. Dye, Samuel R. Yourt, James McCorde, Will- iam Barton, Andrew D. Sayres, Moses .H. Branson, Joseph Brown, Isaac T. Rollins, James Brown, J. M. McCampbell, James T. Orbison, H. Smead, S. K. Orr, George A. Murray, F. N. Marley, Philip Trabing, William Cottingham, C. B. Clarke, Isaac Peck, Joseph Pearson, William K. Cromer, Findley Telford, M. Dye, John D. Fowler, Jacob Knoop, Jr., William Giffen. L. Riley, D. Jenkins, D. R. Tullis, D. A. Tullis, James Telford, A. Morris, B. F. Tullis, James Murphy, A. W. McNabb, Isaac Pearson, John Syp, Mr. Correy, John Mccullough, Thomas Pearson, Robert Pearson, Jr., David Gibbs, Daniel Rice, William Tullis, John Peck, Samuel Pearce, J. W. Hart, Martin Kessler, A. Fenner, William C. Knight, John H. Wolcott, H. D. Stout, Thomas Jay, Henry Cecil, Israel Kessler, Daniel Collins, Phillip A. Smith, H. Chase, Thomas Wilmington, R. W. Smith, S. J. Green, J. G. Hart, Moses E. Long, Clark Sutton, Daniel F. Sutton, H. P. Dye, Charles Felix, J. H. Deweese, Thomas Orbison, Asa Coleman, David Frazer, Henry Kessler, Joseph C. Stockton, J. D. Harter, James H. Telford, William Snailes, John Wilson, John Clark, Henry Teneick, James Fenner, James Seffel, Richard McIntire, William Telford, B. N. Moore, Sol Jones, Robert Ramsey, O. S. Thomas, E. V. Corault, George Ramsey, L. J. Abbott, N. Sherman, E Vaugant, Nathaniel Fish, Jerry Fenner, S. R. Drury, Henry Dibra, John Cecil. William Stewart, Murray Telford, S. Leapley, Henry Garard, James McCandless, William Cottingham, B. B. Reid, A. Gaskill, D. C. Hathaway, William Dunlap, M., M. Munson, John M. Harker, J. Leffel, A. F. Munger and D. D. Odaffer.

The By-laws of the Miami County Agricultural Society are as follows :-

I. Each member shall pay annually into the treasury, the sum of $1 ; any member who shall fail to pay his annual assessment, or any fine or forfeiture on account of books taken from the library for the space of ninety days after the annual meeting, shall then cease to be a member of the society, and forfeit all his rights and privileges as such, and to the library and other property belonging to the society.

II. All books, save such as the Board of Directors may except, may be taken from the library on Saturday of each week. ' No book shall be detained from the library longer than two weeks, under a penalty of 5 cents for each day it shall be detained beyond that period ; and any member lending a book belong- ing to the society, shall pay as a penalty therefor the sum of $1.

III. Any member who shall lose a book belonging to the society shall pay for the volume or set as assessed by the Librarian.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 30

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051