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 50
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ELIJAH BEARDSLEY.
Elijah Beardsley, originally from Connecticut, came to Springfield in . 1815. bringing with him a wife, two sons and six daughters. He first occupied a log house that stood near the southeast corner of Plum and Main streets, and, with all its inconveniences, he made it pleasant to many a weary traveler who wished to tarry for the night. One of Mr. Beardsley's daughters in later years married Ira Paige, and another, Laura, married James S. Christie, who, with her hus- band. is still living, and among the oldest of the present inhabitants of this city. Except a temporary residence of nearly three years in Cincinnati, Mr. Beardsley lived in Springfield until his death, October 2, 1826. aged sixty-six years.
* Mr. Wallace returned from Lisbon and was partner with Mr. Spinning on the northwest corner of Limestone and Main streets. In 1823. Mr. Wallace had a store of his own on the northeast corner of Limestone and Main street. Subsequently Mr. Wallace's store was moved to the brick house muned, where the Republic Printing Compray is now located.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
MADDOX FISHER.
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Maddox Fisher, who came from Kentucky with his family in 1831, became one of the most enterprising and public-spirited of the early settlers of Spring- field. He possessed considerable wealth. and. soon after his arrival, purchased twenty-five lots, at $25 per lot, of Mr. Demint. most of them being located in the vicinity of the public square. He opened a dry-goods store on Main street, a little west of Limestone street. While prosecuting with energy his own trade, he was ever ready, by his influence and wealth, to aid in the improvement of the place he had chosen as his home, and which he believed would eventually become a large city. In 1814, he built a cotton-factory on the Rocks, near where Mill Run empties into Buck Creek, taking the place of Demint's old mill. It continued operations a few years, when it was changed into a flouring-mill. In this mill he did a profitable business until November, 1831. when the mill was destroyed by fire, at a loss of $6.000. The building of this factory, and afterward mill, seemed to have marked a turning-point in the history of Spring- field. Prior to this, little business was doing; the inhabitants appeared dis- couraged, real estate had depreciated. and hard times were depressing. But this improvement of Mr. Fisher's gave a new impulse to trade and further growth. In 1815, he built a two-story brick house on the east side of Lime- stone street. just north of the public square, designing the same for a store and dwelling. In 1825, he built a handsome residence on the corner of North and Limestone streets, which afterward was partially incorporated in the fine dwell- ing of the late Dr. Robert Rodgers. In 1824. he served, with general accept- ance, as Postmaster, and. in 1830, he erected the store and residence (since en- larged and built into a handsome block of four stories) now owned by his son, M. W. Fisher, on the southwest corner of Main and Limestone streets.
Mr. Fisher was a native of Delaware, where he was married at the age of twenty, after which he moved to Kentucky, and thence to Springfield. He was a man of medium height. somewhat fleshy, a true gentleman of the old school. a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, quite entertaining in conversation, and very hospitable and kind to strangers, as well as to his numer- ous friends. He generally wore a straight-breasted. dark broadcloth coat. and his polished, silver-headed cane, and his well-filled silver snuff-box in one of his spacious vest pockets. were his constant companions. He died in this city October 22, 1836, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
IRA PAIGE.
Ira Paige was another prominent person who settled in Springfield in 1814. He was a native of Massachusetts, and. soon after his arrival, he estab- lished a woolen-factory, with Mr. James Taylor as partner, near by or in the basement of Fisher's flouring-mill. where jeans and flannels and woolen rolls were manufactured for customers. This business was continued by Mr. Paige for more than fifteen years, and was considered then an extensive factory. In 1832 and 1833. he represented the county in the lower branch of the State Leg- islature, and subsequently he became an Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court, and sat upon the bench with Judges Service and McKinnon. During the latter part of his life. Judge Paige was engaged in farming. He was a man of excellent judgmont and good. sound sense, coupled with intelligence. strict integrity and fine social qualities. By his influence and force of charac- ter, he added much to the moral and social condition of the village and town. He died in Springfield in July. 1847, in the fifty-eighth year of his age.
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
JAMES JOHNSON.
James Johnson, a native of England, came to Springfield at an early date, and, in 1816, he built a large two story stone house on the south side of Main street, between Factory street and the alley east. He built also a small, one- story addition on the east end of this house, where. in 1817, he manufactured cut nails by hand. The nails used in building Dr. Needham's house were made here. and for several months the citizens were supplied with the article from Mr. Johnson's factory. He afterward removed to Pike Township, on Donnel's Creek, where he had purchased a farm, and erected a small mill. He here spent the remainder of his days. The two-story stone house was taken down in 1871. by Edwin L. Houck, who erected in its stead a fine three-story block, with a spacious hall in the third story.
MAJOR CHRISTIE.
The last of the early settlers to whom we shall here call attention is Robert Christie, or Maj. Christie. as he was more familiarly known. He came from Washington County. Vermont, in the fall of 1817. with his second wife and eight children. and his aged father, Deacon Jesse Christie, then in his eighty- first year. A small frame house on Main street. below Yellow Springs street, was his first residence. but the year following his arrival he located on what is known as the Bechtle farm. a part of which now constitutes the largest portion of Fern Cliff Cemetery. There was an unbroken forest from his residence east as far as Demint's cabin. extending north several miles. The land occupied by Wittenberg College and Fern Cilff was heavily timbered. the maple predomi- nating over other trees. The wild grape festooned the trees in wild luxuriance. The species known as the fox grape was a very desirable fruit, and gathered in large quantities. Small game, with occasionally specimens of larger and more dangerous animals, furnished sport for the expert hunter. A species of panther and several deer were shot while the Major resided on this farm. The Major was a wide-awake man. nervous, and quick in all his movements, and had a very intelligent and social family. His humble but hospitable dwelling was often the scene of merriment and good cheer, and the frequent resort of the neighbors and friends. On the Sth of April, 1819, his daughter Mary was married to Louis Bancroft. Their wedding tour was simply a horseback ride. both riding the same horse. from the farm to their new abode in the village. On the 8th day of April. 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft celebrated their golden wedding-in all probability the first event of the kind that occurred in the annals of this city.
A singular circumstance occurred in Maj. Christie's family while residing on the Bechtle farm. Their youngest daughter, Sarah, who was then in her teens, was very ill with the typhoid fever. and preparations were made for her - shroud and funeral. But a young physician who called to express his sym- pathy for the afflicted family. on seeing the supposed corpse, thought he discov- ered that the vital spark was still lingering. After labored efforts. her resusci- tation was effected. She fully recovered from the illness, and lived to be twice married and rear a family of four sons and two daughters.
Of Maj. Christie's sons. two of them. James S. and Jesse Christie, Jr., be- came residents of Springfield. where they were influential men, taking an active part in the promotion of all that pertaitied to the welfare of the people. They were both for many years Elders in the First Presbyterian Church. The elder, James S. Christie, was particularly active in all the religious movements of the churches. He had the entire confidence of the people, and was several times recipient of the unsolicited office of Justice of the Peace.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
The youngest son of Maj. Christie, Robert, was an early settler of Scott County, Iowa, and at one time an influential citizen of Davenport, Iowa. In August, 1822, Maj. Christie died, in the forty-seventh year of his age. He was buried with Masonic honors, in which fraternity he held an exalted rank. In January of the succeeding year, his father, Jesse, followed him, in his eighty- seventh year. .
STEADY GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE.
Having briefly sketched the lives of some of the principal characters who were identified with the foundation of the future city, whose names are insep- arably connected with its infant growth and development, and whose patient endurance, enterprise and sagacity gave it an impulse which has been repeated by their descendants in later years, we may return to a more detailed narration of the progress which was steadily made. All the difficulties which were com- mon to the settlements on the frontier were the lot of the young village. The facilities for intercourse with the world beyond were limited, markets were few and inaccessible, material for the erection of buildings and machinery for the manufacture of articles of necessity were not to be had. The danger of incur- sion from the savage tribes kept the whites in a constant state of alarm, and prevented the immigration which would have been gladly welcomed. But. notwithstanding these difficulties, the little cluster of log cabins on the east fork of Mad River began to stretch along the slopes.
A post office, with its weekly mail carried on horseback from Cincinnati. was, according to the official records at Washington, established in 1804, with Richard McBride as the first Postmaster. There seems to be a discrepancy between this statement and the recollections of some of those whose memories . run far back into the early years, who assert that no postoffice was established until 1814, and that Robert Rennick was the first Postmaster. He kept the office in his mill or Buck Creek, and subsequently in a little cabin that stood a short distance west of the Republic' Printing Company's building, on Main . street.
The architectural demand for improvement upon the unsightly log cabins was first met by Samnel Simonton who began in May. 1804, to erect a two-story frame house on the northeast corner of Main and Factory streets. When this building was in the progress of erection, a tornado, but thirty yards wide, came sweeping over the place from the southwest. taking a northeasterly direction until it struck this house, when it changed to an easterly course. So violent was the storm that the upper story was badly injured, which induced the owner to reduce its height to one story, and postpone its completion until the follow- ing spring. Several log cabins in the course of the storm were thrown down. others unroofed, and considerable damage done to fences. Mr. Simonton kept tavern in this building. and. in later years, had a store on the corner of Main and Limestone streets. long known as the "Buckeye Corner." He finally sold this establishment to Pearson Spinning and removed to New Carlisle, in this county, where he built a mill on Honey Creek.
Demint found that the demand for lots was growing, and that a prefer- ence existed for those which abutted on South, now Main. street, because that was now the thoroughfare. the road running between Dayton and Springfield as before stated having followed this street. Demint, therefore. in the carly part of the year 1504. Lid out a second addition to the village. This was an extension of the first plat west as far as Race street. In this plat the name of South street was changed to Main street, and the original street by the latter Lame was obliged to be content with a more modest title.
SAMUEL WOLF SPRINGFIELD TP.
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CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
THE FIRST SCHOOL.
Prior to the year 1506, no attention had been paid to the education of the children of the settlement. The rugged life of the pioneer found no great advantage to be derived from learning. They had "books in the running brooks and sermons in stones." A knowledge of woodcraft and unerring skill with the rifle were deemed sufficient for the time. The loose, unrestrained habits which always vanish as civilization advances, bringing with it culture and respect for order and sobriety, still lingered here. Drunkenness and law- lessness prevailed. The voice of the minister in rebuke was not heard, nor had the influence of religious associations been suggested. But, in 1806, the neces- sity of establishing a school became apparent, and Nathaniel Pinkered became the founder of the educational system in Springfield. He opened a school in a log house on the northeast corner of Main and Market streets. All the branches embraced in the common school system of that day were taught.
The same year which began the educational history of Springfield found also an awakening interest in religious matters. The Miami Methodist Epis- copal Circuit, which was established in 1800. extended northward from Cincin- nati and included Clark County within its bounds. There had been but little organization among the church people. MIrs. Smallwood had called several of the sisters in the Methodist Church together and formed a temporary society. but even the itinerant minister had not penetrated before this time into the forests along Mad River. This year, 1806, however, the Miami Circuit was in charge of Rev. John Thompson who extended his labors to Springfield, visiting it at stated periods. Two Methodist preachers named Saile and Goble also preached alternately here every three or four weeks. They held services in the log house on the northeast corner of Main and Market streets, where Pinkered kept his school. Rev. Mr. McGuire rode the circuit in 1807, and Rev. Milligan in 1808. The pulpit was supplied irregularly by ministers of the Miami Circuit until Rev. Saul Henkle, who moved into the place in 1809, began to hold stated religious services. There was also preaching occasionally by ministers of other denomi- nations, who beld their services in Foos' tavern or out-doors if the weather per- mitted. But to the Methodist Church belongs the credit of first establishing public worship.
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING.
The interest which had been created in religious worship by the Methodist Church led members of other sects to similar efforts. During the winter of 1810-11, the "New Lights" (as they were then called) or Christian denomina- tion, were successful in a revival of religion. This led to an organization of a New Lights or Christian Society. The members felt strong enough to begin the erection of a church. A general call was made upon the citizens of the place, which met with a hearty response. Mr. Griffith Foos gave toward this building a fine young horse valued at $10, which seems to have been a fair price for a horse at that time. As all the citizens, irrespective of their tendency or affiliation with other sects, contributed to a common fund for the erection of a church edifice, it was determined to make it a free church for all denomina- tions. This catholic spirit was in accord with the general character of the pio- neers, who opposed exclusivenes ; or caste in religion as in society. The site selected was on the south side of the lot west of Mill Run, and south of Main street, just in the rear of Funk's building. It was built of hewed logs about twenty by thirty feet in size. The pulpit opposite the door was made of rough, unpainted boards, and stood high up from the floor. The ground around the building for several yards south was dry and slightly elevated and neatly sod- ded. In the midst of this lawn stood three or four large spreading burr oaks,
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
which gave the tenting shade in summer. Near the church door lay a large gray bowlder upon which many a saint and sinner sat. In 1818. this church was used as a schoolhouse, but. in 1825. it had been converted into a mere shel- ter for hogs and cattle.
The same sect. the New Lights, also had a camp meeting here about this time which attracted to it. with those who attended for devout purposes, a large number of depraved men. who were riotous in their conduct and disgraceful in their behavior. One person in particular attracted attention. His name was Jack Eels, said to have been the wickedest man in the neighborhood. He vis- ited the eamp meeting one day somewhat intoxicated. and began to make fun of the worshipers. especially of the peculiar "jerks" which characterized many - who were converted .. Jack said it was all a sham. But the jerks (whether from the influence of liquor or not, the veracious historian does not state), prostrated him so completely that his friends were obliged to carry him home in an exhausted condition.
A SEAT OF JUSTICE.
Before the Legislature organized the county of Clark, the temporary seat of justice for the county of which it was then a part was Springfield, and the place for holding court was the house of George Fithian. The Presiding Judge of the first Court of Common Pleas was Francis Dunlevy. John Rey- nolds, Samuel Mccullough and John Runyan were the first Associate Judges. Arthur St. Clair was Prosecuting Attorney. John Daugherty, Sheriff, and Joseph C. Vance. Clerk. The first grand jury was composed of the following citizens of the county: Joseph Layton. Adam McPherson, Jonathan Daniels. John Humphreys, John Reed. Daniel McKinnon, Thomas Davis, William Powell, Justis Jones, Christopher Wood. Caleb Carter. William Chapman. John Clark, John Lafferty. Robert Reunick. Among the first Petit Jurors were Paul Hus- ton, Charles Rector. Jacob Minturn, James Reed. James Bishop and Abel Crain- ford.
In September. 1805. the court was organized for the transaction of business. The first case tried was "The State of Ohio vs. Taylor," who had been indicted for threatening to burn the barn of Griffith Foos. At the first session of the Supreme Court held in 1805, the Judges were Samuel Huntington, Chief Jus- tice, with William Sprigg and Daniel Symmes, Associate Justices .. This court was held in a two-story log house which then stood in an open common near the southeast corner of High and Limestone streets. The only criminal case tried before this court was "The State against Isaac Bracken, Archibald Daw- den and Robert Rennick." unon an indictment for an assault upon an Indian named Kanawa Tuckow. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and taking issue "for plea put themselves upon God and their country." The jury was com- posed of William McDonald. Sampson Talbott, Justis Jones. George Croft and others. The attorney for the defendants was Joshua Collett, who afterward was one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. The defendants were found not guilty, having proven that the Indian was a very bad and dangerous character and had persisted in occupying Rennick's land in opposition to his wishes. As an illustration of the bitter prejudice which existed at this time among the settlers against the Indians. one of the jurors of the case, before the trial openly declared that he would never bring in a verdict against a white man for assault- ing au Indian.
TREATY WITH THE INDIANS.
. The bloodthirsty Indian wars, which had raged along the borders had scarcely ceased, when the settlement of Springfield was made. Its effect upon both sides was yet plainly visible. It had been a warfare fall of malignant
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spirit. So outrageous had been the acts committed by the Indians on helpless women and children. that the settlers were bound in a common cause against them. During the summer of 1807. the inhabitants were frequently alarmed at reported incursions of the Indians against them. When these rumors spomed to have foundation. all the families were collected in a two-story log house which then stood on the southeast corner of High and Limestone streets, and remained there until the alarm subsided. While the community was in this agitated condition in the autumn of 1807, a white man by the name of Myers was killed by a band of strolling Indians a few miles west of Urbana. and a family by the name of Elliott. living on Mad River not far from the present residence of Peter Sintz, had been frightened by a rifle shot piercing the sun- bonnet of Mrs. Elliott. while gathering wood in their door-yard. supposed to have been sent by an Indian, who a few days before had been refused the use of a butcher knife.
These ontrages. taken in connection with the assemblage of the Indians under Tecumseh and the Prophet. created a great alarm among the people of Springfield and surrounding country. Many families moved back to Kentucky, whence they came; others were formed into companies of militia, and Foos' tavern was converted into a garrison. A demand was made by the whites upon the Indians for the persons who had committed these unlawful acts. The Indians denied that these things were done with their knowledge or consent. The alarm, however, continued, and it was finally agreed that a council should be held on the subject in Springfield for the purpose of settlement. Gen. Whiteman. Maj. Moore, Capt. Ward and two others acted as Commissioners on the part of the whites.
The council assembled in Sugar Grove, that then stood on or near Main street, opposite the Foos tavern. Two bands of Indians attended the council. one from the north in charge of MePherson: the other. consisting of sixty or seventy braves, came from the neighborhood of Fort Wayne under the charge of Tecumseh. Roundhead. Blackfish and other chiefs were also present. There was no friendly feeling between these two parties, and each was willing that the blame of the cutrages should be fixed upon the other. The party under McPherson, in compliance with the request of the Commissioners, left their weapons a few miles from Springfield. But Tecumseh and his party refused to attend the council unless permitted to retain their arms. The reason Tecum- sch gave was that his tomahawk contained his pipe and he might have occasion to smoke. After the conference was opened. the Commissioners, fearing some violence still, made another effort to have Tecumseh lay aside his weapon.' This he positively refused to do. At this moment. Dr. Richard Hunt. a tall. slim young man recently from Pennsylvania, and a boarder at Foos' tavern. thinking to reconcile matters with Tecumseh. cautiously approached and handed the chief an old long-stemmed earthen pipe intimating that if he would give up his tomahawk, he might smoke the aforesaid pipe. Tecumseh took the pipe between his thumb and finger. held it up. looked at it for a moment. then at the owner, who was gradually receding from the point of danger, and with an indig- nant sneer immediately threw it over his head into the bushes. The Commis- sioners then vielled the point and proceeded to business.
After a full and patient inquiry into the facts of the case. it appeared that the murder of Mvers was the act of a single Indian, and not chargeable to either band of the Indians. Several speeches wore made by the chiefs, the most prominent of which were those by Tecumseh. He gave a satisfactory explanation of the action of himself and the Prophet in calling around them a band of Indians: disavowed all hostile intentions toward the United States, and denied that either he or those under his control had committed any depre-
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dations upon the whites. His manner of speaking was animated, fluent and rapid, and, when understood, very forcible.
The council then terminated. During its session, the two tribes of Indians became reconciled to each other, and peace and quiet was gradually restored to the settlement. The Indians remained in Springfield for three days, amusing themselves in various feats of activity and strength such as jumping, running and wrestling. in which Tecumseh generally excelled. At this time, Tecumseh was in the thirty-eighth year of his age, five feet ten inches high, with erect body, well developed and of remarkable muscular strength. His weight was about one hundred and seventy pounds. There was something noble and com- manding in all his actions. Tecumseh was a Shawnese; the native pronuncia: tion of the name was Tecumtha, signifying "The Shooting Star." He was brave, generous and humane in all his actions.
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