USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 1 > Part 28
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erally be present on such occasions. Supper being over, the festivities of the evening would be commenced, and frequently be prolonged to a late hour by such plays as 'Sister Phebe,' 'Come, Philander,' 'Thimble ' and others equally popular at the time. There was without doubt more social enjoy- ment, less affectation and better feeling in the rural sports of these times than in all the mock parades of modern etiquette."
OLD-TIME AGRICULTURE, IMPROVED STOCK, ETC.
The sketch here given, although carrying the reader back but half way in the history of the settlements of Clinton County, yet depicts customs so greatly different, even then, from those of the present, and, to the younger generation, unknown, that it must be of interest to all who road it. It was written under the title, "Harvesting Forty Years Ago," and printed in 1SS0:
"The wheat was sown broadcast and covered by dragging over the ground a three-cornered harrow. Huge stumps, troublesome reminders of the giants of the primitive forest, stood at inconvenient intervals in the oldest fields. If, as was frequently the case, the grain was sown among corn, the spaces be- tween the rows served, at harvest-time, as single-handed lands. If sown on fallow, it was customary to take a plow and lay off the field in double lands. This done, the farmer waited for the elements to do their part, and in due time the harvest came. Then were seen the signs of preparation. Harvesters
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wero needed and the prudent husbandman had help engaged betimes. Good reapers were in demand and always found employment at fair pay. Shirks were left to the last and hired then as a dernier ressort.
"In making up the force, it was of importance to find one man who was a good 'leader.' This meant, usually, a stalwart farmer, old enough to be steady and yet young enough to endure toil like an engine. It was currently whispered. and sometimes believed, that this important personage was paid an extra quarter per diem for the manifestation of especial zeal in his employer's behalf. Be this as it may, there was usually not much danger that he would allow his men too much time to 'rest and refresh themselves' at the end of the 'through.'
"By sun-up, the force was in the field. The water-bucket was on hand and the little brown jug was considered a necessary adjunct. The grandfather and the small boys of the household were on hand to carry water and to gather sheaves. A trusted neighbor, known to be skilled in the art, was deputized to shock the grain.
" All things were now ready. The leader assigned his men their places, threw his sickle into the standing grain with his right hand, and then, by the aid of a peculiar movement of his left leg, gathered an immense grip of the golden straw. "A quick, drawing motion of the crooked blade severed it, and thus the first stroke was made. Soon the stiff stubble showed the path of the reapers. A 'through ' was cut. Water and a dram awaited the men at the end of the field. They drank, wiped the sweat from their bronzed brows, hung their serrated blades across their brawny shoulders and started on the return trip 'binding back.'
"Sometimes a reaper was unable to do a full hand's work. In such case, if he had a stout boy, he was fortunate indeed. Sending him some distance into the land, with directions to 'gouge,' the young reaper soon made a per- ceptible opening in the grain, so that when the jaded father came up he found a smart gap in his through already cut. Straightening his tired back, he could bind the roaped grain as he passed along, and so have an opportunity to rest on his return.
"Through the long, sultry summer days, our fathers thus toilsomely reaped their harvests forty years ago. Of barns, there were few, and so the grain was stacked. This was in some sense the work of an expert, for, on the manner in which it was done depended the preservation of the crop.
. "Threshing came next in regular order. The floor properly prepared, on some bright morning a neighbor or two came with their horses, and the get- ting-out of the grain began. A circular layer of sheaves, with the bands all cut, was placed upon the ground. This done, the horses ridden by boys were brought into use. Not
"' Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,'
was their motto, but they well might have quoted the sentiment, substituting the word suffering for the last one in the line, for that fitly represents the condition of the lad doomedl to ride a raw-boned horse bare-back, under the broiling sun, with the rays reflected from the glittering straw, while tramping out a 'flooring' of wheat. During the time, sturdy men stirred the soft straw in order that the horses' hoofs might beat out all the grain. This operation was kept up until the grain was thoroughly separated from its natural receptacles. Then the straw was raked from the floor. This operation was repeated until the crop was threshed or the floor was too full to work on. Then the grain in the chaff was 'caved up' to await the process of cleaning. This was done with an old- fashioned windmill, of which there was usually about one in each neighbor-
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hood. This was hauled from farm to farm, the one of which we have vivid recollection being worse worn by transportation on sled and wagon than all the legitimate work it ever did.
" Later came the cradle, the instrument that marked a great step in ad- vance, and then the 'ground-hog' thresher. After the lapse of years, we had the McCormick reaper, then the steam thresher, and now the old tools and the old customs have given place to the new. Hung up in snug places in many Clinton County barns we suspect are still old sickles, fails and other souvenirs of the old days, and the old people know how they were used, but the boys would find them awkward implements-and it is well. They belong to a day that is past. Let them rest."
The varieties of stock first owned by the settlers were of the ordinary breeds common to the country. Not many years elapsed before steps were taken to improve them by numerous men throughout the county. After various improvements had been made by private individuals, mostly through breeds- as regards cattle-from Kentucky importations, the Clinton County Importa- tion Company was formed in 1853, to introduce Short Horn cattle generally into the county. Of this company, Judge B. F. Hinkson was the first President; Col. T. L. Carothers, Secretary, and M. Rombach, Nathan Perrill, William Palmer, Benjamin Wight and David Persinger, Directors. A. R. Seymour, of Fayette County, and John G. Coulter and H. H. Hankins, of Wilson Township, Clinton County, were chosen agents to go to Europe and make purchases. They departed on that mission early in 1854. Seymour soon returned, leaving the others to look after most of the purchasing. Twenty-six Short Horns were selected from ten of the best herds of England, and sent over in charge of Edward Lawrence, an experienced herdsman. These cattle were sold at a great advance over their first cost, yet the operations of the company were not financially suc- cessful. The herds of H. H. Hankins and John G. Coulter, of Wilson Town- ship, which sprang principally from these imported cattle, acquired a nation- al reputation.
Among men in and around Wilmington who were early interested in the improvement of stock, and with whom that interest never flagged, were Messrs. Haworth, Harlan, Gaskill, Strickle and others, and. through the influence of some or all of them, matters looking to the furtherance of agricultural and stock interests were given great prominence in the county.
EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
So far as can now be learned, the first religious meetings held in the county wero in Union Township, in the Center neighborhood, probably as early as 1804, by tho Friends, but a meeting was not regularly organized until 1807. This society organized the first meetings in a number of the townships, as fol- lows: In Chester, in 1807, when they built a log house on Caesar Creek, over the line, in Warren County; they first erected a building in that township in 1828. In 1809, they organized an indulged meeting in Adams Township, and in 1810, in Clark. In Jefferson, they effected an organization about 1825. Next in order were the Baptists, who held meetings in Wilson Township pre- vious to 1809; in Liberty, some time previous to 1818, and organized a society in Washington Township about ISIS. The Methodists followed, organizing in Wilson in 1809; in Richland, previous to 1824, and in Marion in 1542. The Presbyterians were the first to organize a church in Vernon Township, the date being 1812 and the place the house of David Sewell. For Wayne Township, no date has been learned, either for churches or schools. All the denominations mentioned effected various subsequent organizations, the fore- going summary showing the dates of the first religious meetings in the several townships.
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Schools were taught first as shown by the following: Union Township, 1806; Chester and, Wayne, no dates given, neither for Washington nor Mar- ion; Adams, 18OS: Wilson, 1810 or 1812; Vernon, 1811 or 1812; Liberty, 1812; Clark, about 1812; Richland, 1814; Jefferson, 1823. The early school- houses were simple structures of logs, and are accurately described elsewhere. The schools were taught by subscription until about 1835, the rates of tuition being from $1.25 to $1.50 per quarter for each pupil. At about the date last named, free schools were established, and that magnificent system has done much for the country. Academics and colleges have been founded, and will be described in their proper places.
EARLY MILLS.
The following, written by Judge Harlan, treats of the early mills of the. region, and their character:
"The first mill built within reach was Highway's. John Highway built a log mill on a small stream which empties into the Little Miami from the wost, a short distance below Waynesville. It was built in 1803 and sold to Jonathan Newman, a Quaker and a Justice of the Peace, as early as about 1805. [Judge Harlan said this was the first mill he ever went to. From the history of Warron County, it appears that Samuel (not John) Heighway, as the name appears to have been spelled, built the mill about 1803, and subsequently orocted others. ] The first mill constructed at Waynesville was erected by John Haynes, a cousin of Noah Haynes, an early and well-known settler at Waynesville. [This was about 1806. The name is given Haines in the War- ren County History. ] It was erected near the spot now occupied by the brick mill of Oscar J. Wright. A mill was built about five miles west of Xenia, by Owen Davis, near the Dayton road, on Big Beaver Creek, in 1798. It was the first mill built in Greene County. It was afterward owned by Jacob Smith, granduncle of the Linton families here. This mill was frequented by people from a great distance, by my father and Fergus McLean, father of Judge Mc- Loan, late of the Supreme Court of the United States, and grandfather to Mrs. Jane Hale, formerly of Wilmington. At one time when they arrived at it, they found the people of the neighborhood collected in the block-house for protec tion against the Indians, then numerous in the country. The whites and In- dians alike had received a scare, and, for a time, were in great commotion. Not long after, Blue Jacket, the principal chief of the Shawnees, cautiously approached the block-house, making signs of peace and asking a friendly talk. His request was granted and an interview had. It was soon made to appear that there was no real occasion for the fright, and the people were soon on their way to their respective homes.
"Smalley's mill was the first mill in the neighborhood of Clarksville. Sewell's mill was on the Little East Fork, between Clarksville and Cuba. Mordecai Mendenhall's mill, on Todd's Fork, was afterward Jonathan Wright's mill (grandfather of Frank and Benjamin Farquhar).
"Fallis' mill, and later, Stacy Haines', were others. Eachus' mill was on Todd's Fork, a little east of Conter Meeting-House. Mahlon Haworth built a mill on Todd's Fork, near his residence, in 1805 or 1506; it was part of the time a water-mill and part of the time a horse-mill. John Unthank built a mill at West Liberty, on Anderson's Fork. Miller's mill was on Anderson's Fork below Unthank's mill; Jennings' mill, on Anderson's Fork, at Port Will- iam; Holliday's mill, near Westboro, on West Fork. Among others were Jones' mill, Garrison's water-mill, between Clarksville and Blanchester; Had- loy's mill, near Ogdon, on Lytle's Creek; Pyle's mill, on Todd's Fork, a short distance above Clarksville.
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"John Cox had a grist-mill on Cowan's Creek, below where Burtonville now is. Thomas Thatcher, Esq., had a grist and saw-mill on Silver Creek, a branch of Cowan's Creek, in 1823. Ezekiel Spurgeon erected a horse-mill at his residence, near where Reeseville now is, quite early. Benjamin B. Bent- ley built a mill near his residence on Anderson's Fork; it was a hand-mill, but was much used by the neighbors. Bentley lived where Carlisle Williams afterward lived in the Early neighborhood. Henry Cock erected a horse-mill near Centerville, on what is now the Terrell farm, about - -. Israel Nor-
dyke built a horse-mill below Snow Hill. Holley's horse-mill was on Wash- ington road, six miles east of Wilmington; Reese's mill, where Reeseville now is. Bowers had a horse-mill at an early day on the farm adjoining the Snow Hill farm. Benjamin Hockett built a horse-mill on the West Branch of the East Fork. John Jack erected a horse-mill in 1827. John Cock built a horse- mill on his farm, since owned by Robert Hunt, and still later, by John Crouse, Jr. The mill stood about northwest of the dwelling. Vestiges of this useful structure are said to have come down to the present time.
"Joseph Wright erected a building on the ground where the Methodist Episcopal Church now stands in Wilmington. He had a wool-carding machine and also a horse-mill; tho lot was bought at the sale of lots in 1810. The wife of Josoph Wright was Susannah West, sister of Peyton West, and others, lato of Clinton County. Joseph Wright sold the mill to Jacob Strickle & Sons. It was in this mill that our late follow-citizen, Abraham E. Strickle, had his fingers, two on each hand, torn off by being caught in the machinery. The mill was sold in 1818 to the Methodist society, and they remodeled and changed it into a house for church purposes.
"Isaac Garretson's horse-mill stood a few rods south of where John Dil- lon's blacksmith shop lately stood, on Main street. The cog.wheels of the mill were of wood, and were run without being oiled or greased in any way, hence the citizens for a mile or so distant were serenaded by music resembling in part the notes of a guinea fowl, only very much louder. Isaac Garretson was a Pennsylvanian and a millwright; he also taught a school here (Wilming- ton) in 1810. The schoolhouse stood about 250 yards west of the shingle fac- tory now owned by the Gallup Bros. It was afterward burned down.
"The mill on Todd's Fork, west of the Xenia road, was erected at an early day by George Haworth, the pioneer; later. it belonged to Mahlon Ha- worth, then to. Dora Fisher, then to Michael Jenkins and the Fallises. It then passed through the hands of another party not remembered; then Peter Babb became the owner; it is now the property of Isaac Cline, Esq., and is run, as originally, by water-power."
MISCELLANEOUS.
"On the road from Wilmington to New Lexington, Highland County, about two miles southeast of New Antioch, is a tract of land frequently called the 'Indian Lot,' and sometimes the 'Downing Lot,' to distinguish it from other tracts or lots in the same survey. This survey was many years since di- vided up for the purpose of making sales. The number is S55, and is marked on the county map 'C. Biddle,' but is better known in the neighborhood as one of the surveys of land which belonged at one time to Hon. John Brown, of Kentucky. The lot particularly referred to is in the northwest corner of the survey, and contains about 150 acres. It is marked on the map 'O. Brown.' The lot lies on both sides of the Wilmington & New Lexington road, and joins the farm of Christopher Custis on the northwest. There is also another road running through this lot, one end of which leads in the direction of Center- ville, and the other intersects the road from Wilmington to Snow Hill, near
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the residence of Isaac Johnson. These roads divide the lot into four unequal parts. Through thesouthern part of it, divided as above stated, a small branch comes down from the southeast and runs off in the direction of Cowan's Creek, of which it is a branch Distant from the intersection of these roads about one hundred yards, and about equally distant from each of them, on the south- west side of this little branch, and within three or four rods of it, there is a piece of elevated land still (1870) covered with timber. This is the spot known, or should be known, as the place where Timothy Downing, the uncle of Mrs. James Wherry, of Reesville, killed one Indian and wounded another, thus effecting his escape from Indian captivity, if not from death by Indian tortures. The principal circumstances of the capture and escape of Downing have been published perhaps many times, but it is not stated in any of the ac- counts which have come into the hands of the writer of this, where it was that the principal events of the story happened. Mr. and Mrs. Wherry, who claim to have heard Timothy Downing relate the circumstances of the transaction, differ from the published accounts in some particulars and state some addi- tional facts.
"About the 1st of April, 1791, Timothy Downing, residing in the neigh- borhood of Washington, Mason Co., Ky., went to Lexington to purchase bacon, taking with him two horses for the purpose of conveying it home. On his re- turn, he was waylaid in the neighborhood of the Blue Licks and taken prisoner by a party of Indians, who started with him for their camp. When they had reached the spot above described, they' camped for the night, but soon hearing the report of a gun, the Indians all rose and went out to discover whence the sound came, except an old Indian chief and his son, a lad, who were left to guard Downing. The latter had learned from the conversation of the Indians that it was their intention to burn him at the stake the next night, so, when left alone with this guard, he at once began looking about for the means of escape. The old chief becoming thirsty, ordered Downing to bring him a drink, and, for this purpose, unbound his hands. This afforded Downing the desired opportunity, and he struck the old chief a blow on the head which killed him instantly. He had not intended to injure the young Indian, as he had shown him great kindness, but the instant the boy saw his father slain, he seized a squaw ax and sprang upon Downing with the fury of a wild beast, and, in the struggle for liberty, Downing wounded him severely. Downing now fled and succeeded in getting possession of his horses, one of which he mounted; he tried to induce the other to follow him. but, failing in this, was obliged to leave him. The young Indian ran to give the alarm to the rest of his tribe, and Downing made his way as best he could through the woods. He wandered about until near morning, when he heard the barking of dogs and judged that he was still within the neighborhood of the Indian camp. He soon found the creek and followed it some distance, and at length reached the river just as a boat was passing; he hailed this boat, but the men fearing a decoy, refused to land until he had ridden several miles along the river bank and they were convinced that no treachery was intended. They had but just gained the stream when the Indians appeared on the shore.
" Maj. Simon Kenton and a band of Kentuckians immediately went in pursuit of these Indians, but they had abandoned their camp, suspecting that they would be followed, and Maj. Kenton did not overtake them." (Judge Harlan, 1870.)
The subjoined story of John Mckibben is also from the pen of Judge Harlan:
" It would seem a little late to write an account of a man in humble life, who has lain in his grave sixty years, and whose name is now probably for the
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first time found in print, if he had not been an early pioneer in what is now Clinton County, and a man of courage and conduct, and withal, an excellent man. John McKibben was a native of the North of Ireland and caine of Scotch- Irish stock. He was married and was living in Western Pennsylvania during our Revolutionary struggle. Living near him at the time was a man by the name of Miller, a widower with a large family of children, mostly young, and with little for their support. While his wife lived and was in health, he had managed to keep his family together; she being gone, he saw no way left but to separate the children among the settlers, many of whom had more children of their own than they could well provido for. . But the neighbors were full of patriotism and so was Miller. It was finally settled that Mckibben should tako a little boy, a year or so old, and other neighbors one of the children each until all wero provided with homes. While the war raged between England and the patriots in America, and while a most bloody and cruel war was raging on our Wostern frontier, Mckibben came by boat to Kentucky, bringing his young charge with him. His settlement was noar Lexington, Ky., at a place known as Bryant's Station, on Licking River, an exposed frontier defense. Here he went to work to prepare for the raising of a crop of corn and vegetables. The land cultivated by him was of small extent and was about half a mile or so from the station. When the crop was sufficiently matured to yield supplies for the table, Mckibben, with young Isaac Miller, and a black boy of some seventeen years, accompanied by two scouts or rangers from the station, went out to Mckibben's improvement to get such supplies as it afforded. The gen- eral service of rangers or spies was to observe the presence and 'signs' of In- dians, and to guard the settlement against surprise, and, when not employed in general service, they frequently acted as an escort for single individuals and small parties. At the time of which we write, the settlers had been re- lieved from any incursions of Indians for several weeks. This contributed in great degree to the parties relaxing their usual vigilance and caution against surprise to some extent.
"While the little party was thus engaged in obtaining the supplies for which they had come out, entirely unmindful of danger, the colored boy, hap- . pening to turn round, saw an Indian creeping stealthily along toward their gun, intending no doubt to appropriate it to his own use, and most probably in attacking them. The boy sprang forward, seized the gun, and, just as the Indian had mounted the fence to make his escape, shot him, the ball cutting the strap of a camp kettle which he had hung about his neck, so that the In- dian fell on one side of the fence and the kettle on the other. This kettle is still in the family of Isaac Miller. These parties were all early residents of Clinton County. Joseph Mckibben, the son of John, and Isaac Miller, the adopted son, left their home in Kentucky and came out to the East Fork as early as the spring of 1802. They made their settlement near where Farmer's Station now is, the two young men living alone. About two years later, John McKibben, with his family, came also. The farm settled by John Mckibben was that since owned by Benjamin Clark, in Throckmorton's survey, No. 1939, in Clark Township. The colored boy spoken of in this sketch was brought up by John Mckibben from infancy in his own family, and was a great favorite with all the sons of Mckibben. At the death of Mr. Mckibben, he left to his adopted son, Isaac Miller, the second choice of 235 acres of land in his estate."
The following is another sketch by Judge Harlan:
" The Lucas family was originally from New Jersey, but at an early day settled in Greene County, Penn. From there they came to Limestone, now Maysville, Ky., and, about 1800, to Ohio. Thomas Lucas, the father of the family, settled at about two, or at most, three miles northwest of Lebanon,
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Warren County, where he died a few years later. Mr. Lucas had several sons and daughters. His sons were Thomas, Abram, John. Caleb, Ebenezer and Francis. Thomas was killed at Harmar's defeat, on the Maumee, near where Fort Wayne has been built up, in 1790. Abram lived on the old Hiney farm, on Anderson's Fork, below Port William. John lived on Caesar's Creek, cast of the road from Wilmington to Xenia, in Greene County. Caleb was an early settler on Caesar's Creek, near where New Burlington now is. These brothers were all living in what is now Clinton County prior to 1806. Francis, the youngest son, lived in early life north of Lebanon; he sold out his possessions and moved to the neighborhood of Deerfield, where he died May 11, 1815, aged sixty-four years. Ebenezer Lucas was in many respects a remarkable man. He was born at the foot of Laurel Hill, in Greene County, Penn., before 1772; he was married three times and had several children; he was married to Nancy Irving, by Isaac Collett, Justice of the Poaco, March 2, 1828. He was to some extent a great hunter, but to a much greater extent a trapper; he is said to have killed the last wolf known to have been killed in the county, in 1828. On December 2 of that year, the Commissioners of Clinton County- Mahlon Haworth, Eli Gaskill and Elijah Lieuranco-issued an order in favor of Ebenezer Lucas for $9 for the scalps of nine wolves over the age of six .. months. These wolves were caught on the Telfair survey, on Jackson's Run, in what is now Wilson Township. Esquire Hoblett says Mr. Lucas caught the tenth wolf in his trap, but that it escaped with the loss of a hind foot. A largo wolf, which had recently lost a hind foot was killed a few days after in Ezekiel Spurgeon's meadow. Thomas Graham, who came to live on Caesar's Creck in 1807, says that at one time as he and Mr. Lucas hunted together on Loramie's Creek. in Shelby County, one evening and the next morning they caught nino young wolves, trapped two old ones and shot a third, but failed to kill it and it escaped. At another time, they went out on the Wabash, about seven miles above Fort Recovery, in Mercer County. They stayed there twenty-six days and caught seventeen wolves and one catamount; the latter was caught in a fox wrap. They received for each wolf scalp a bounty from the State, and sold each skin for $1. The catamount skin they sold in Dayton for $1.50. They found fifteen beo-trees one day and two the next day. From these they took a hogshead of honey and honeycomb of the best quality. Gra- ham killed three deer, one a buck, the Indians said the largest they had ever seen on the Wabash; he caught forty-two raccoons and received 373 cents per skin for them. Lucas would not hunt raccoons at night. There were no white inhabitants in that part of the country at that time. The old wolf-trap used by Mr. Lucas was shown at one of our pioneer meetings by Harvey H. Han- kins, of Wilson Township. He said his father had bought it of the original owner, Ebenezer Lucas, and that it had been used successfully for the same purpose by his father. A deed from Caleb Lucas to Ebenezer Lucas for fifty acres is dated February 13, 1806, Book 71, pages 77, 78. David Lucas, a son of Ebenezer, was born November 3, 1802, at the old residence near New Bur- lington, on the Sergeant Survey, No. 2280. In health, Ebenezer Lucas weighed about 250 pounds; he died about five miles west of Wapakoneta, Au- glaize Co., Ohio."
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