The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 46

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

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Among the early settlers, we may mention Aaron Tullis, who came from Ken- tucky by way of Dayton, in a wagon, with a family of boys, arriving here in 1805; William Barbee, who came about 1804; Reuben Shackelford, Alexander Telford. In 1806, John Peck, with eight children, Jacob, John, Joseph, Isaac, and four daughters, came from Kentucky and settled on Boone's place, one and a half miles from Troy. Mr. Peck came in the winter, selected his land and bought 160 acres, with one acre cleared, for $100. It had a little log-cabin on it, containing one room 16x18. His stock having been brought from Kentucky, nearly all died the second year, losing eleven horses, besides sheep, hogs and cattle, only leaving him one mare, two or three cows and a few sheep. His land was of the best in the country, having four fine springs and good soil.

Abraham Thomas, another old settler, came in 1805, with two boys and as many girls, and located north of Mr. Peck. Mr. Thomas was in both campaigns of G. R. Clarke against the Indians in this vicinity, in 1780-82. It is said that he came with Boone. James Fourt came from Ireland, first to Georgetown, Ky., mar- ried there, and, in 1805, came to this township and settled south of Mr. Peck. McGimpsy and Steward wanted the same piece of land, improvised modern Olympics ; goal, Cincinnati ; the crown, land. The former won it, and got the land just as his competitor was entering the door.

David Jenkins, from South Carolina, cleared a patch and erected a cabin southwest of Mr. Peck's quarter-section, in 1807. The same year, the little com- munity was increased by James Knight, from Pennsylvania, who located one mile east. In the way of agriculture during this period, Gahagan's Prairie yielded & bountiful return, and, having been previously formed by the Indians, it offered no stubborn resistance to the primitive instruments of the pioneer.

Corn was the principal harvest, serving for man and beast, wheat not being raised for several years subsequent to the first settlement. The first attempt of Mr. Peck yielded him forty-one bushels to the acre, perhaps the first acre of wheat sown in the township. These were the days when they went to mill on horseback, with a two-bushel sack, through the woods so thick that the limbs would pull off the sacks. The flour was bolted by hand, and frequently taking two days to go and return. There were only two wagons in this neighborhood up to 1814, and only two mills : Mendenhall's, in Elizabeth Township, and Henry Gerard's, for grinding wheat and corn by water.

The first schoolhouse was of the usual style-round logs and greased paper windows-with a few months' school in the winter, from which the boys were deprived in pretty weather, when they could work at home. Samuel Anderson, from Kentucky, was the first teacher in this schoolhouse. Mr. Peck had gone to school to him in Kentucky, where he was in the habit of visiting a stillhouse every noon, and, on his return, would cut a beech stick and give each pupil a tap as he came in ; but he could get no whisky here. Puncheon floors, wooden hinges, paper windows, three-legged stools and cavernous fire-places, were characteristic of all pioneer buildings in those days, while, with the latter convenience, the smoke had no particular direction of egress.

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Perhaps twenty or thirty children would come to school wearing moccasins, and wading in the snow knee-deep, with rags tied around their legs to keep the water out.

The first meeting was held by the New Lights at the cabin of Mr. Thomas, in 1807, Mr. Thomas Kyle preaching.

Subsequently, the Baptists organized a church, and had preaching sometimes at Mr. Thomas', the first preacher being Stephen Riddle, who had lived with and fought for the Indians, and "killed white men until his back ached ;" had his ears slit and wore ornaments in them of lead. In 1813 or 1814, a log church was built near Mr. Peck's, heated by an old-fashioned ten-plate stove. The first preacher in this church was a man named Steepleton. A New Light Church was built soon after in Troy, which still remains.

The Methodist Church was early represented by traveling ministers coming monthly or sometimes semi-monthly.

The first blacksmith was Mr. Thomas, who held forth in a log pen for a shop ; burned his own charcoal for the forge ; shod their horses but once a year, and thought they did well at that, but then there were no graveled pikes to wear off the hoofs, the land was low and soft and horses would sink to their knees ; but now, through drainage, it is the best in the township, then worthless, such has been the change in all things. The panic, during the war of 1812, extended to this township as well as the other frontier, and on the slightest alarm, even barking of a dog, the family would be aroused, and children wrapped up, homes deserted, and places of safety sought in the dense forest, shivering the while from fear of the glittering scalping-knife. Notwithstanding all apprehensions, no attack was made by the Indians, whose attention was completely absorbed by the active operations of Gen. Harrison in other localities.

When the cloud of war had passed over, immigration revived with renewed vigor, and the whole aspect of the country assumed a more lively appearance. It is said as many as eighty sleds, loaded with whisky, would pass on their way to Fort Wayne and St. Mary's during a day, to stimulate the patriotism of the soldiery.

Even up to this date, agriculture was in its infancy. Hogs grew fat on the food of nature, and not five bushels of corn were needed to fatten a hundred hogs. Corn was raised simply for food, cultivated by hoeing and digging around stumps. A man who could go to mill with two bushels of corn was considered a prosperous farmer. Potatoes were a luxury introduced a long time after the first settlement, and commanded a very high price, a French crown being paid for one-half bushel.

Most of the immigrants came here without teams, hiring their furniture, what little they had, hauled by professional movers, who would move one family in and return for another. Having no fences in those days, all the stock was belled, yet, despite this precaution, they were frequently lost. Marketing consisted chiefly of butter and eggs, which were taken to Staunton. Few groceries were bought, as sugar was made at home from the tree, and sage and sassafras took the place of the productions of China ; rye made good pioneer coffee, and tansy, pennyroyal and other herbs made good medicine. Ague was the most prevalent disease.

The first man was buried in a corn-field. It was the custom then to bury the dead on their own premises. Messrs. Thomas and Kyle started the first graveyard in the neighborhood, but the first regular cemetery was at Troy.

In traveling, people would go many rods around a log or tree-top, as no reg- ular road was made, and circumstances of nature altered each road at will.

Grain was cut with sickles, which process was considered quite expeditious, and the instrument a wonderful invention. Mr. Peck raised the first rye in the county, and his son John cut the first handful of the same, at the same time cut- ting his little finger, which has never become straight since.

Alexander McCullough built the first brick house, in 1813, burnt his own brick and assisted in the work. It stands yet, and is occupied by his grandson.

In those days, they pulled corn in the daytime, threw it in piles under a cov- ering, and invited thirty or forty boys and girls for miles around, and husked it

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after night. The corn was put in piles, a rail in the center, two umpires chosen, two appointed to choose up, and the work began ; the throat soon getting husky. the little brown jug was passed around, and boys and girls each took a " pull," and that so much, too, that they would feel the elevating effects to such an extent sometimes as to end in a general row ; but the whisky was the pure material, and did not injure any one as it does now. If a neighbor happened in and the bottle was not offered, the host was considered too stingy for social purposes.

Considerable trading was done with the Indians, who traded furs and skins for whisky, sugar, " tobac" and needles, one enterprising merchant demanding a coon-skin for a needle.

The pioneers were independent in the way of dress, raising their own flax and wool. Fine shirts were unknown ; anything above 600 thread was considered dandyism. Muslin cost 75 cents then ; tow linen was used for pants ; they made their own pants, and linsey-woolsey dresses. Crimps, flounces, pull-backs nor spit curls were in vogue.

All the fruit they had was the wild plum and gooseberry, which grew in the woods and prairie. The first fruit trees in the township, and no doubt in the county, were brought from Kentucky in saddle-bags, by Abram Thomas. Mr. Peck had the first peach orchard, from seed brought from Kentucky.

Cord-wood was cheap ; sold in Troy for 37} cents per cord. A man would chop a cord in the morning, haul half of it at a time, make two trips, and realize 37} cents or half-yard of muslin. Corn was 8 cents per bushel, wheat 25, and oats 64, and, after carrying it, in early times, on horseback, it was hard to sell at that. Stock was driven to Baltimore to find a market.

Abraham Thomas, one of the oldest settlers here. was a Revolutionary soldier, and came to this township from Kentucky with Daniel Boone. He is said to have cut the first sapling on the site of Cincinnati, and died in 1843.

William Gahagan entered the land Troy was laid out on. He was one of Gen. Wayne's soldiers, and was so proud of it, and referred to it so often, that finally he was called Gen. Wayne. He had three sons and daughter.

James Orr, with six boys and five girls, came from Kentucky and settled in this township in 1804, on the section now occupied by the Daniel Favorite heirs. At one time, running out of meal, he traded a barrel of whisky to Jonathan Rol- lins for that useful article.

Other old settlers were James Gowart, Matthew Caldwell, J. Alexander, A. Mccullough, James Marshall, John Johnston, Henry Orbison and Joseph McCorkle, mostly from Kentucky.

Henceforth, the history of Concord is absorbed in the description of Troy, and we shall simply mention a few pikes and bridges, and close with a history of the county seat.

The Troy & Covington pike runs from the southwest corner of Section 2, through Sections 11, 12, 18, 20 and 21, to Troy. The Troy & Newton pike enters at the southwest corner of Section 23, passes through Sections 21, 30, 29 and 28, and enters Troy on the south.

The Troy & Stillwater pike enters at the northwest corner of Section 4, passes through Sections 36, 31, 32, and intersects the Newton pike in Section 29.

The Troy & Frederick pike enters southeast corner of Section 5, and inter- sects the Troy & Newton pike in Section 28.

The Miami & Montgomery pike enters the southeast corner of Section 4, and runs north into Troy.

The Dayton & Michigan Railroad enters the southeast corner of the township and runs north ; enters Troy and crosses the bridge into Staunton Township. The canal runs along the entire eastern side of the township.

TROY.

As the Greeks, by divine skill of Pallas, built a mountainous horse, within whose womb destruction lurked for Troy, and when discovered in the deserted

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camp of the foe, much contention arose. Thymoetes smiles with joy, and advises to take the treacherous design within the gates of Troy, but Capys, more wise, strenuously urges to throw it in the sea. Laocoon, despising the cunning Greeks, thrusts his spear into the monster's side, until within its hollow caverns, it resounds again, but all opposition gives way, and the instrument of destruction is taken within the walls, and, issuing from their prison, the Greeks set fire to Troy, and open wide the gates to their exultant brethren.

So, likewise, did contention spring up in modern Troy, and the Piquods and Trojans strove, when, at the September term of court, in 1807, the Commissioners ordered the laying out of the seat of justice. Other rivals also joined in the war. By some, Staunton, the original county seat, sought to retain her position as the most desirable. While the attention of the Commissioners was directed to Mr. Marshall's farm, Samuel Beedle sent them an invitation to view his farm, while Piqua regarded its location there sine dubio. Troy, it seems, was equally anxious, but perhaps, conscious of her favorable location, awaited the sequel with more patience.

The first survey of the town was made by Andrew Wallace, December 16, 1807. Originally, eighty-seven lots were laid off, beginning on Water and Clay streets, numbered one, and comprising all between the river and back street to Short street. On August 21, 1808, a second survey and additions were made, which have since been added to, from time to time. On the 2d day of December, 1807, Robert Crawford was appointed Town Director, and gave bond in $2,000, condi- tioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of the office, viz., to purchase land designated by the Commissioners, for the seat of justice, lay off the same in lots, streets and alleys, according to the instructions of the court.

On the 9th of February, 1811, Cornelius Westfall was appointed Director vice Crawford, giving bond in $3,000. The lands comprised in the survey of April 27, 1808, consisted of a tract of thirty acres, deeded to the Director by William Gahaghan, out of fractional Section 27, Township 5, Range 6, which was divided into lots, numbered from eighty-eight.

Northwest from the first survey, Lots No. 121 to 168 were laid out. By the same survey, forty-six outlots, including fractions, were laid out southwest of the back street. Whole lots were 16x24 rods. On the 10th of July, 1834, John Gahagan and Thomas L. Barrett, with Jacob Knoop, Surveyor, laid out twenty- nine lots southeast of the second survey. Smith & Barbee, August 28, 1849, with J. B. Fish, Surveyor, laid out lots west of the canal.

The original lands selected for the now beautiful town of Troy were laid off in the center of a dense forest, and purchased for $3 per acre. The ground that now forms the square, once was the resting-place of the deer; the spot upon which the piano now stands, re-echoed once to the howl of the wolf.

Among the very first citizens of Troy; was Mr. Overfield, who kept a tavern or travelers' rest in this place. Mr. Overfield was certainly no respecter of per- sons ; epaulets and buckskin breeches were treated with the same urbanity. Through strict economy and close application to business, he made rapid progress on the road to prosperity. On the 24th of March, 1810, he suffered an irrepar- able loss in the death of his wife, leaving a family of children motherless. His household affairs were taken charge of by Mrs. Tennery, whose husband had, . shortly prior to this, died.

Soon, one Thomas Oliver rented his house, and began tavern-keeping again ; in the meantime, Mr. Overfield was drafted, and sent to Greenville to perform military duty. While guarding the frontier, he met a Miss Rebecca Simpson. The soldier readily surrendered to her charms, Mark Antony-like, and, as soon as he was mustered out of service, he brought her home as his wife. Mr. Oliver gave up the reins of government, and Mrs. Overfield took charge of the tavern, with Mr Oliver as boarder.

It seems that one Roberts, of Troy, was also a boarder, and the fair Cleopatra inclined unto him, although legal proceeding were instituted, the offense was finally

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condoned by Mr. O., and peace once more reigned in Troy. Mr. O.'s house was the scene of the little renconter between Judge Dunlavy and St. Clair and Kerr, when the rot-gut elevated the latter gentleman to a noisy pitch, unpleasant to the former. Notwithstanding the domestic difficulty, they continued the tavern, and it seems the fare was so tempting that the run of custom suffered no diminution. On the removal of Maj. Hart from the house on the north corner of the square, it was occupied by Mr. O., who continued his tavern here, making one step in advance in an ethical point, by opening his bar-room for prayer-meeting and preaching, the celebrated revivalist, Reuben Dooley, figuring largely on these occasions. Of course, whisky and religion did not run smoothly from the same faucet, therefore meeting-nights were not prolific of whisky trade. The whole front on Water street consisted of one-story buildings, with the single exception of the tavern, which was a two-story frame. Some time in 1824, an incendiary fire broke out in the one- story buildings, and, through want of engines or even ladders, all were destroyed. Mr. O.'s goods were only saved by being carried out. From here, he moved to the Ewing House, north corner of Main and Cherry, where he continued in a prosper- ous business until his death, in July, 1831. Another of the prominent citizens of Troy, was " Billy " Barbee, who bought a lot on Market street, for $65. In addition to this, when he married Miss Peggy Marshall, his father gave him eighty acres of land, and his wife was the owner of eighty also. Clearing out a patch on the former, he built a cabin, and when his father died, he threw his improvements in hotch-pot, and came to Troy, built a log-cabin on his lot, rented a kit of black- smith's tools, hired a journeyman and started in business.

His assistants, not willing to work under his instructions, were discharged. Having learned to shoe a horse, he made a specialty of it during the war of 1812, which at that time was very lucrative. After amassing quite a little fortune, he formed a partnership with Dr. Telford and Moses L. Meeker, in the dry-goods busi- ness, and to keep pace with his rising position built a two-story brick house. While his two partners managed the store, he continued to wield the hammer.

His word was as good as his bond, and he always confined himself strictly to the terms of his contract, and expected the same of his co-contractor. He was very benevolent, and many a poor person has been the recipient of his alms. The black- smithing, under his personal supervision, prospered, but the store soon stranded. Mr. Barbee was the only partner of means, and the Sheriff seized his goods. With the money that he had made in the shop he bought cattle, and drove them to the village of Chicago and liquidated the debt. He now left the shop and began specu- lating on a large scale, and died worth over $300,000.

Squire Brown came from Staunton during the infancy of Troy, and carried on a saddlery business in a little shop that stood just a little below where John Culbertson's house now is. In that little shop, Henry Culbertson graduated in saddle-making. Here Isaac Peck learned to make his first blind-bridle ; here the Squire dispensed law and the United States mail. On the next corner Henry Cul- bertson built a house. He came to Troy in 1814, finished the saddler's trade with James Brown, which he had begun with Col. Reed, of Dayton, at the end of which he conducted a successful business for himself. In 1821 he was elected County Auditor; in 1840, entered into partnership with his brothers and Mr. Dye, in the Bosson Mill, which, in 1850, was consumed by fire. The company rebuilt the mill and soon dissolved partnership, Culbertson going into merchandising, when he was again burned out, which seemed to paralyze his energies.

Joseph Culbertson came to Troy in 1808 a poor boy. A lot was presented to him by Mr. Gahagan, from which he cleared the timber, hired Peter Sewell to snake the logs together for a cabin, paying in wool hats for his boys and self. Subsequently erecting a Buckeye shop, he began his trade making wool hats. He traded a fancy hunting-shirt for tools and stock, and carried on a prosperous busi- ness, meanwhile educating his. brother Samuel and Joseph L. Tennery in the art of hatting. He was elected Township Treasurer and served many years.

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On the corner of Mulberry and Water streets stood a weather-boarded log house, the first court house and first tavern, in 1807. The first still-house in the county stood at the mouth.

On the corner of Water and Clay streets stood a plain frame, occupied by William Brown, who, in partnership with John Wallace, started a carpenter shop during the first settlement. Mr. Wallace thought a jug of whisky was a good preventive of miasma. Brown, though skeptical, consented ; Wallace filled the jug first, and Brown the second time, but, perceiving the increase in Wallace's doses, Brown dissolved partnership in the whisky business, but W. clung to the jug, and died poor, while B. filled the office of County Treasurer and became a use- ful citizen. On the opposite corner of Clay and Water dwelt Dr. DeJoucourt, the Hippocrates of Troy, who dispensed pills and drew blood without stint in those early days; then the anæmic was phlebotomized if he contained no more blood than an Egyptian mummy. On the west corner of Main and Clay a lot was donated by Mr. Gahagan to the Methodist Church, and, George H. Houston grant- ing them the privilege to get material from a Mr. Phillips' land, below town, they erected a log building in which to hold divine worship. Methodism was embry- onic, and had, as yet, no organized church in Troy, though there was a class at Mr. Winan's, where Raper Chapel now stands. To be sure, the new church was not frescoed, had no gas, pews were not cushioned, had no pipe organ, and all the modern accessories to worship, but then they were led in singing by Henry West, and they sometimes got very happy. The poor were not overawed by the grand- eur of the exterior or blazonry of the interior. There was nothing to hinder the human soul from going right up in direct supplication to its God.

The first building called the Clerk's office was a large two-story frame house, located where Dillaway & Davis' store now is. Back of it was a log kitchen, in which the Clerk lived, and held office in the front.

This was afterward supplanted by a brick building, 12x15 feet square, be- tween Mulberry and Walnut. This was not only the Clerk's office, but also the Recorder's office, post office, Commissioners' office, Town Director's office, Master Commissioner in Chancery's office ; for all these functions were performed by, and resided in, Mr. Cornelius Westfall, and he was, as our red brethren would say, "Heap much office-holder." When Mr. W. removed from the frame, Mr. Fielding Loury occupied it with a store, and moved his family into the kitchen. The house now occupied by W. H. H. Dye was built by Dr. Asa Coleman, who, when quite a young man, in 1811, stopped in Troy and began the practice of medicine in a lit- tle brick office. In 1814, he built the east wing of Mr. D.'s house, subsequently putting up the front. The old market house, on Main street, was built of pillars of brick, but has long since been torn down.

Stafford's clothing store stands where the old post office was situated. Kin- kaid & Davis' store stands where Dr. Coleman once lived.

Thus ends a greater part of the old buildings of Troy.

With the advent of railroads, canals and pikes, the rich agricultural country surrounding it, Troy increased steadily in wealth and population after the war of 1812, up to the present. Her streets have been improved and beautified, her build- ings have been remodeled and enlarged, and new ones erected. Manufactories have sprung into existence, some of which we shall briefly describe.

Beedle & Kelly agricultural works were built by Wright & McGalliard in 1867. The following year they associated with them John Kelly, a practical machinist, from Milton. In the following June, the buildings were completed and operations begun ; 1869, McGaillard retired, followed by Wright in 1870, the present proprietors being A. F. Beedle and John Kelly. For a time, the firm made a specialty of plows in connection with a general foundry and machine-shop. In 1873, the champion corn planter engaged their attention, of which they now make a spe- cialty. The building at present covers the corner of Race and Mulberry streets, and is about 220 feet long. Estimated value of real estate, merchandise, machinery,

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furniture and fixtures, about $33,000, and turned out in 1879, 2,000 corn planters, besides various other agricultural implements.

The Troy Spring Wagon Company was incorporated in 1872, with a capital stock of $60,000, $53,900 paid in. Officers-H. W. Allen, President ; W. H. H. Dye, Vice President ; W. J. Meredith, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors-H. W. Allen, S. K. Harter, G. D. Skinner, N. Toby, W. H. H. Dye, J. H. Young, S. A. Cairns, W. J. Meredith. Employ from sixty to eighty hands ; business good, increasing annually. This manufactory covers five acres of ground ; has 87,500 square feet of floor, and contains all the latest facilities for doing perfect work.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 46

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