USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1 > Part 45
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From thirteen colonies, we have grown to a union of thirty-eight States. and a number of Territories are now standing in bridal garments waiting for Congress to perform the nuptials. The orator alluded in eloquent terms to the treasures of iron, coal and precious metals in American hillsides, the products from which burden fleets of ships on the great seas. At the close of the Revo- lutionary war, it was discovered at Philadelphia and at Paris, during negotia- tions for peace, that old George Rogers Clark had conquered the territory now covered by the State of Ohio, for the American Union.
Let us now ask ourselves: Are we worthy sons of George Rogers Clark? Shall we preserve the privileges won for us by him, and perpetuate them? What shall we make of this grand country a century hence? Who doubts that every star will continue to revolve in its orbit, or that other stars will be added ? Shall we not have, instead of 50,000,000 people, four times that number added? When 1950 shall come, and men gather on this spot to celebrate the second centennial of George Rogers Clark's victory, what a magnificent country shall be spread before them! Allusion was made to the methods by which civiliza- tion always advances. First, the cannon cleared the way. Then come the Bible and the public school. We owe much of our modern civilization to the cannon of George Rogers Clark, and its work here one hundred years ago. What would the country be without Ohio? And what would Ohio be without Clark County? Ohio gives to the country its Presidents, its Supreme Judges. its great Generals and its great statesmen. Let us cherish the memory of our heroes; let us imitate their deeds of patriotism. And now, thanking you for your kind attention, I want to ask you all to be here a hundred years hence, and I hope to be here to address you; and I want, in closing, to ask you to give three cheers for the State of Ohio.
Three cheers were given with hearty good will.
Col. T. M. Anderson, U. S. A. (of the Columbus Barracks), was introduced. and responded briefly. Soldiers were better at a fight or a feast than at mak- ing speeches. He had been alluded to in the newspapers as a grandson of Gen. Clark. The General had no sons or daughters, and therefore could have had no grandsons. The speaker was only a distant relative of the distinguished General.
Hon. Stephen Johnson was next introduced. and addressed the audience. He came not to speak, but to see and to hear. He first paid a tribute to tin eloquence of Gen. Gibson. Mr. Johnson's mother was a native of Kentucky. and was a friend of Daniel Boone. She was also acquainted with Tecumseh - saw him frequently at Fort Wayne. Ind. She disputed the story that the Ken- tuckians had skinned Tecumseh on the Thames battle-field and made razor strops of his hide. It cannot be questioned that he was a man of a high order of ability. The speaker's father was a Government store-keeper at Fort Wayne.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
and it was his duty to sell blankets and supplies to the Indians, and to secure their friendship for the whites. Tecumseh declined to eat with Mr. Johnson, saying: "I am the enemy of the white man, and I cannot eat bread with him." The conduet of England during our struggle with her was hypocritical and treacherous, and she used her influence to our disadvantage during our civil war. Mr. Johnson knew Black Hoof well. He was an intellectual man -- a man of extraordinary mental power.
Maj. White, in behalf of the Memorial Association, thanked all persons who had in any way contributed to promote the purposes and success of this centennial celebration, after which the Rev. W. B. De Poy, of Springfield, offered a fervent, patriotic prayer and pronounced an appropriate benediction.
At one side of the stand erected was displayed a life-sized portrait in crayon, by the artist S. Jerome Uhl, of Springfield, of Gen. George Rogers Clark, hero of the 8th of August, 1780. On the other side was an equally fine portrait of the Shawnee Chief, Black Hoof, whose skull was on exhibition among the col- lection of relics on the grounds, furnished by Dr. Musson, of St. Paris. The exercises at the stand reached a conclusion about 2 o'clock, when an adjourn-
ment was had for dinner. This was one of the features of the day deserving commendation. Under the plan pursued by Chief Commissary Holloway, the tables bore an abundance in great variety and really excellent. A special table was set for the Governor and staff. The center-piece was a juicy pig, roasted whole and contributed by Mys. A. Holcomb. Gov. Foster himself had accepted an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. T. F. MeGrew, and dined at their residence in the city, disappointing the committee of ladies greatly. A large number of lady volunteers rendered valuable service in supplying the wants of all comers, . and are deserving of the thanks of the Memorial Association and committee.
Col. F. S. Case, of Bellefontaine, an Aide on the Governor's staff, arrived during the forenoon and joined the other members of the staff. There were also present the following-named members of the Dayton City Council: George Butterworth, Wash Silzel, W. C. Crum, John Feicht, Harman Soehner, H. S. Gordon, J. R. Rea, John Myers, John Breen, J. W. Knaub, and City Clerk George Lane.
Dinner over, the vast concourse amused themselves in various ways until about 3:30 P. M., when the troops and Indians formed for the sham battle. It took an hour to get the crowd in place. the people persisting in going to the wrong places. It was even necessary to change the plans somewhat and con- tract the "field of battle." The Indians, over one hundred strong, all in war paint, feathers and full Indianrig, under command of Dr. Kline, of Miami County, and Maj. Hardman. of Enon, this county, first appeared over the brow of the ·hill to the west, making quite a picturesque and natural appearance against the sky. They advanced sounding the "war whoop," until about half way to the place where Clark's. Lynn's and Logan's troops were concealed, they encoun- tered the skirmish line formed by Capt. Lewis' "squirrel hunters." The firing then began rapidly, the skirmishers falling back to within the white troops' lines, when an advance was made from that quarter and the "big Injuns" in turn forced to fly. A stand was made at their village (represented by a row of improvised huts of fence-rails stuffed with straw), and here the musketry was deafening until, the Indians driven further back, they fired the huts and fled precipitately. The Indian business was "simply immense," and Lo was cheered to his heart's content. There was complaint of scarcity of ammunition among both Indians and soldiers, from what canse is not known. Capt. Ad Knecht and John Hegerman, Theo. Knecht. G. Haines and Frank Scheible, of Dayton, were present with two cannon. but. from some oversight or misunder- standing, the powder supplied was not of the kind required, and no more could be
Truly yours Judson Redmond
SPRINGFIELD TP.
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obtained in time -- consequently the artillery could take no part in the contest. This closed the celebration, and the grand rush for home began, in the eager- ness to get out of the heat and dust and confusion which reigned.
It is remarkable that the day passed without accident (beyond the smashing of three or four buggy wheels) or disorder of any kind. But one or two drunken men were seen on the grounds, and they filled up before going there. One of these tried to get up a fight, and drew a knife on somebody, but he was hustled out of the crowd instantly. This is matter for congratulation, cer- tainly, and is due entirely to the forethought of the managers in forbidding the sale of liquor or beer anywhere on the grounds. The Memorial Guard, Capt. Russell, are entitled to great praise for the work done by them as special police, in standing guard and preserving order. They bore themselves like the tried veterans they are. At night, as there was great delay at the railroad station. owing to the tremendous rush in embarking people for the city, the Guard marched into town, to give the ladies the room on the trains they would have occupied. The crowd at the celebration is thought to be the largest that ever gathered in the county, not counting that at the State Fair ten years ago. Several good judges placed it at 20,000, while others will take their affidavits it was one-third larger. Adjt. Gen. Gibson, who is good authority on such sub jects, placed it at 25,000. Certainly the turnout from all points was beyond all expectation. Mr. Knight, ticket agent at Union Depot, reports the sale of 4,600 tickets to Pontoon Bridge, and 1,600 fares were taken up on the trains, which ran as fast as possible backward and forward. It is estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 people left this city by trains, and the quiet on the street from 10 A. M. to 5 P. M. was equal to Sunday. Nearly everything was closed up in the way of business, and men, women and children braved heat, dust and crowds to take in the celebration. The last of the crowds did not get away before 9 o'clock P. M., covered with dust and tired, but in the main satisfied and disposed to be jolly over what they saw. Taken as a whole, the success achieved made the effort worth while. It is proper to give full credit to Capt. Steele, Chairman of the Committee, O. N. Bartholomew, in charge of the grounds, W. H. Grant and A. Holcomb, of the Committee, for the great amount of work done by them.
COMMITTEES.
Capt. Alden P. Steele, Chairman Committee of Arrangements. Maj. W. J. White, Captain of the Memorial Assoclation, Chairman of the Day. Capt. F. O. Cummings, Secretary. Capt. D. C. Balentine and Owen R. Perkins, Assist- ant Secretaries. John W. Parsons, Treasurer. Lieut. J. C. Holloway, Com- missary. O. N. Bartholomew, Quartermaster. S. G. Brown, Ordnance. Charles E. Folger, Press Agent. W. H. Grant, Leander Baker and A. Hol- comb, on Police and Grounds. Capt. Charles Anthony, Seventh Infantry O. N. G., Organized Militia. William Whiteley, Relies and Antiquarian Materials. John H. Johnson, Flags and Decorations. Col. Howard D. John, Andrew Watt. T. Kizer, Topography. Capt. John Russell. Commanding Memorial Guard, Officer of the Day. Springfield-Quincy A. Petts, Judge E. C. Dial, George H. Frey, John H. Thomas and P. P. Mast, Auxiliary Committee of City Council. Enon-Serg . Maj. Peter Hardman, Representative Indians; Nelson Hardman, Pioneers: Capt. J. M. Haines. Bethel -- R. M. Lowry. South Charleston - Josoph Shiekedantz, Webster Barrett. Selma-Dr. Farr, Capt. Miller. Vienna -- F. V. Hartman. Catawba-Joseph Pierson, Dr. W. E. Blover. Pitehin --- Capt. Perry Stewart, James M. Littler. Tremont -- John H. Blose. Lawrenceville-M. V. Ballentine. Medway- David M. Burns, Fin- ley Shartle. New Carlisle-Dr. H. H. Young, Horace Taylor. Donnelsville-
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Capt. J. L. Mckinney, C. S. Forgy. Clifton-W. B. Todd. Plattsburg --- Jerry Yeazell. Harmony-Milt. Goodfellow. North Hampton-P. M. Hawke. Noblesville-George F. Johnson.
PROGRAMME.
Monday morning, August 9, 1880 .-- Assembly of all organizations at their respective quarters at 8o'clock A. M. Formation under direction of Chief Mar- shal, on High street, with right resting on Limestone, at 8:45. Reception of Gov. Foster and party and invited guests by the Council Committee and Vet- eran Memorial Association. Parade-East on High street to Linden avenue, countermarch west to Spring, north to Main, west to Market, where the column will divide, and the portion which is mounted and in carriages will continue the march to the battle grounds; those on foot will move to the depot and take the cars for Pontoon Bridge. Upon arrival at the grounds, the following pro- gramme will be observed at the stand: Music. Invocation, Rev. T. J. Harris. Music. Address of welcome, Gen. J. Warren Keifer. Response. Music. Reading communications, Capt. D. C. Ballentine. Dinner. Music. An his- torical sketch, Thomas F. McGrew. Music. Oration, Gen. W. H. Gibson. Music. Miscellaneous speaking. Benediction, Rev. - Du Poy. Col. Rob- ert L. Kilpatrick, with efficient staff, Chief Marshal of the Day. Signal Code- Red and white pennant and national flag at half mast, where Clark's men were buried and site of the old stockade; solid red guidons, outlines of old stockade fort; diagonal red and black guidons, Indian line of defense, right wing; orange-colored guidons, triangular, Lynn's command, Gen. Clark's right wing (between these opposing lines the conflict was the hottest); blue guidons, triangular, center of Clark's command; white guidons, triangular, Logan's command; large blue and orange square, old for where Clark crossed the river; large scarlet flag with white crossed cannon, supposed position of Clark's gun; broad swallow-tailed pennant, red, on top of hill, Indian sig- nal station; large red flag with white ball on top of cliffs, opening to can- yon in rocks where Indians supposed to have escaped; national colors, Mingo Park, speakers' stand. Sham Battle -- The exercises of the day will conclude with a mimic battle, to terminate in the destruction of the Indian quarters. Persons represented: Gen. George Rogers Clark- Col. Harvey Vinal; Col. Lynn -- Col. Peter Sintz; Col. Logan-Capt. Perry Stewart; Col. Floyd-Capt. Lewis; Maj. Slaughter --- Capt. Ad. Knecht.
THE HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN AND OTHER CATTLE.
BY J. S. R. HAZZARD, M. D.
Those most intimately connected with the introduction and breeding of fine cattle in Clark County, like the great mass of cattle breeders, have given but little attention to the recording of facts relating to their respective herds: hence, the material of which this chapter is composed has been gathered with much difficulty and labor, from seraps and desultory notes made by different breeders, some of whom have long since passed away. It is from this mass of disconnected fragments that I have endeavored to winnow all that is unneces- sary to their proper arrangement into an historic sketch, and to eliminate what- ever of uncertainty that may invalidate its statements.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Casting about in quest of reliable data for a correct starting-point, I am con- strained to believe I discovered it in the following narrative, presented by my old friend, John Price, now living within a mile of the spot around which so many reminiscences of his early life cluster. In 1822, he was living with his father, James Price, on the Duval estate, now owned by the heirs of the late John Mattison, the Kirkhams.
His father, owning a large dairy, produced a great amount of cheese, which necessitated frequent trips to Cincinnati by wagon to find a market for the almost exclusive product of their farm. It was while on one of these tours Mr. James Price observed a beautiful roan yearling heifer in a meadow belonging to a Mr. Frederick Nutts, of Montgomery County, Ohio. The striking resem- blance this beifer bore to the fine cattle he had been used to seeing in England impressed him so strongly that he determined to buy her if it were possible; therefore, on returning from Cincinnati, he stopped at Mr. Nutts overnight (Mr. Nutts being a tavern-keeper as well as a farmer). Mr. Nutts informed him that he had purchased the dams of his young stock in Kentucky: that they were purely bred Durhams, from imported English stock. This statement Mr. Price readily believed from the appearance of the cattle, and it intensified his desire to own some of them, they being the first of the kind he had seen since leaving old England.
After much dickering, he bought the roan heifer for $40, which was consid- ered an enormous price to pay for a yearling, when the best of milch cows could be bought for $6. He brought her home, congratulating himself upon being the owner of so beautiful an animal, but his wife did not see it in that light. "The beast is pretty, to be sure, but there is no sense in giving half a ton of cheese for it," was her forcibly expressed opinion. Not many months subsequent to the purchase of the heifer, Mr. Price bought of Mr. Nutts a roan ,bull calf of the same breed, paying $45, which still more astonished his wife and provoked adverse criticisms from his neighbors.
These two animals were undoubtedly the first short-horns to grace a pas- ture in Clark County, and perhaps the grade steers sired by this bull were the first three-year-old steers ever sold for the then unheard of price of $12 per head. Mr. Price was unfortunate with his heifer; she, by some means, fell into a spring, and died without issue, but the improvement made by the use of his bull upon his herd abundantly paid him for what, in that day, was deemed a wild speculation. To which family of short-horns these cattle belonged, or from which importation they descended, it is impossible to determine at this date, but they were undoubtedly short-horns, and were probably of the Sanders 1817 importation.
It seems proper, just here, to throw in a few sentences of explanation, to enable those unacquainted with the short-horn literature to understand some phrases and expressions peculiar to it. In 1922, the first volume of the English Herd Book was published; consequently, all cattle imported prior to this important event came without registered pedigrees. Antedating the Herd Book promi- nently stand what are known as the Miller, Gough and Patton stock; but more conspicuously, because nearer the sunrise of this important epoch in short- horn history, stands Col. Sanders' importation of 1817, and known in short-horn parlance as Seventeens. In 1846, L. F. Allen, Esq .. published the first volume of the American Herd Book. The American Herd Book holds about the same relation to the English Herd Book that the earth does to the sun. They con- stitute the short-horn solar system, dividing the day from the night, or the authentic from traditional history. Many individual animals of those impor- tations antedating the Herd Book era have since been recorded in both English and American Herd Books, and there are few herds in this country that do not
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number among their very best specimens of short-horns individuals tracing through the Herd Books to those importations.
And yet, by some hyperpurists, they are tabooed, because the spots on the moon were not discovered prior to the creation of the sun. Early in short-horn history, a disposition existed to divide these noble animals into tribes and fam- ilies. The practical breeding of the Colling Brothers foreshadowed the idea. but it remained for Thomas Bates, Esq., of England, to fully inaugurate and insist upon its utility. as well as its convenience. Hence, we now have the Duchess, Princess. Kirkleavington, Oxford, Rose of Sharon, Young Mary, etc .. etc., tribes. all springing from a common roct, but supposed to possess inherent qualities peculiar to the tribe or family, on account of a certain line of breed- ing, but more frequently because bred by a certain distinguished breeder; therefore, we have Bates. Booth, Mason, Torr, Paley, etc., etc., cattle. In this country, families take their names from the imported cow to which they trace their pedigree: for instance, a certain cow or bull is called a Donna Maria, because it runs back in pedigree to imported Donna Maria, by Gledhow, or an Arabella to imported Arabella by Victor, or a Scottish Bluebell to Scottish Bluebell by Molecatcher; the sire of the imported cow being added in order to distinguish imported cows of the same name, as, Red Rose by Earnesty from Red Rose by Skipton.
Again, breeders in this country have created sub-tribes, as the Louans, an offshoot of the Rosemary by Flash tribe; the Nannie Williams of the Hel .- u tribe, and the Pixies of the Red Rose by Earnesty tribe. Hoping enough has been said to illustrate the subject, we come back to the development of short- hora interest in Clark County.
The germ planted in 1822 by Mr. James Price seems to have gained but little strength outside of his own pastures for a long time. Doubtless, how- ever, his yearly demonstrations of improved blood over the serub stock around. him were silently and slowly gathering force, and only held in aboyance by embarrassing circumstances, peculiar to that time. until, in 1835, Hon. Alex Waddle determined to try the rearing of cattle that would make greater and quicker returns for the food consumed. Consequently, in the fall of 1835, he- bought of Mr. Walter Dun, Sr., of Kentucky, ten grade short-horn heifer-, all in calf to Mr. Dan's imported bull, Accommodation. Here he rested, and watched the results, and here we will leave him for the present.
In 1836, a very strong feeling pervaded the whole eastern and southeastern portions of the county in regard to this subject. Farmers appeared to awake from a Rip Van Winkle sleep that had so long closed their eyes and paralyzed their energies: consequently, the foundations for several hords were laid in this year. The first in order of time is William D. Peirce's, of Madison Township. He. in company with Mr. David Harrold, of Madison County, bought. of Col. Sanders, of Kentucky, several head of short-horns, but, from circumstances unnecessary to relate here, Mr. Peirce retained only the three-year-old roan cow. Miss Trimble, of the Rosemary tribe. for which he paid $450. Rosemary was imported in 1820. by Dr. Law, of Baltimore, Md. Miss Trimble was in calf to Pontiac when purchased. and in due time dropped Fair Rachel. Miss Trimble proved to be very prolific, dropping in all nine calves -- five heifers and four bulls. Mr. Peirce embarked in his short-horn enterprise after the true English style, naming his farin Darlington, and henceforth his herd was known in short-horn circles by that enphonious sobriquet. At that time. it appears he did not own a ball. but bred Miss Trimble to Mr. Seymour's bull, imported Comet Halley, the issue being a red and white heifer calf, which he named Vic- toria. We will now leave Darlington, but will refer to it whenever time and events incorporate it in the woof of this narrative. We have incidentally
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referred to Mr. D. Harrold as purchasing cattle in company with Mr. Peirce in Kentucky. Although not a resident of this county, his farm is just across the line in Madison County, and his herd did as much toward grading up the com- mon cattle of this county as any one within its borders, and it seems necessary therefore to speak of it somewhat in detail. The purchase made in Kentucky at the time already mentioned consisted of four heifers and one bull, all the heifers being descendants of the 1817 importation. Nicanor, the bull, was of the Rosemary tribe, roan in color, and is represented as being a superb speci - men of his race in every respect. In addition to the cattle purchased, Mr. Harrold brought three bulls belonging to Col. Sanders, to be hired out, after the English fashion, to enterprising farmers to use on their common cows. It appears that Mr. Rowland Brown, residing near South Charleston, and in this county, rented two of them, Zadoc and Miami, both red and white in color, and of great substance and fine quality, and withal very prepotent. Mr. Harrold kept the other, Montezuma, to use on his own herd. These bulls soon wrought a marked improvement in the cattle of that portion of the county; indeed, so manifest was the change that Mr. George Chamberlain, an extensive cattle dealer of that time, claimed that steers sired by Miami were worth 25 per cent more than any others in the country. About this time, Mr. Pugh, of Cincinnati, leased the Duval farm, and placed on it a large herd of the very best short-horns, pur- chased of Mr. Samuel Cloone, of Clinton County, Ohio. Of these cattle, Mr. George Watson, who remembers them well, says: "They could not be bettered."
Cotemporary with Messrs. Peirce and Pugh, and near neighbor to the latter, Mr. Thomas Wright, also from Cincinnati, established a herd of short- horns. Mr. Wright purchased his cows of Gen. James, Garrard, Ky., two of which were noted animals of their day; the red cow on account of her massive carcass and enormous milking capacity; the roan cow because of her beautiful symmetry, rich color and queenly hauteur. The descendants of the latter are still to be found in the county, attesting by their many excellences the royalty and prepotency of their distinguished ancestress. At first, Mr. Wright bred his cows to Mr. Pugh's bulls, but soon bought a roan bull calf. sired by Nicanor, of Mr. D. Harrold. This calf quickly developed into a splendid animal, but, bo- coming vicious, was slaughtered. As showing a peculiarity of Mr. Wright, the following incident is related by those cognizant of the facts: After recovering from injuries inflicted by this bull, he pierced the bull's eye-balls with an awl. totally blinding him; but, finding him still untrustworthy, he sold him to Mr. Benjamin Browning. to be slaughtered, and then. fearing he might be used for breeding purposes, persistently held to his halter until quite satisfied that his vicious pet was dead. At the time short-horn herds were springing into exist- ence so rapidly in the southeastern portions of the county, Mr. Benjamin Moore was quietly gathering one in Pleasant Township, on the farm known as the Dawson farm. Not much can be learned about this herd, except that it was headed by a splendid red and white bull, bought of Col. Evans, Pennsylvania, named Powelton, doubtless a descendant of John Hare Powell's stock, near Philadelphia, and that, in 1837, Mr. Moore in connection with D. Harrold, rented of the Ohio Importing Company the bull Nimrod. To this bull Mr. W. D. Peirce bred Miss Trimble, aud, on the 28th of April, 1838, she dropped a white bull calf, which was named Snowball, and in the following April she dropped a roan beifer by the same sire.
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