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 37
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
EARLY ROADS.
W HEN white settlers first pushed through the wilderness to what is now Clinton. County, the only roads found were Indian trails, narrow and well worn, and the traces of the armies which had passed through this region in expeditions against the hostile tribes of the Miamis and Mad River. The pioneers had for a time nothing more definite than neighborhood roads, wind- ing through the woods in such directions as would accommodate all families, and not regularly laid out and reserved as public highways. It often happened afterward that when a survey of a road was made and its route fixed, there were persons left some distance from it who had previously found the track running past their doorways. Tho zigzag paths were partially straightened, and now building sites were chosen nearer the line of the highway. Promi- nont localities were certain to have the roads-as mills, taverns, etc. - and around them generally clustered small settlements.
After the organization of the county of Clinton, in 1810, the Commission- ers found the greater part of their labor expended on road matters, and the early records are full of petitions, reports and orders, both on new highways and alterations in old ones. The following notes regarding the early roads of the county have been furnished by Mrs. Harlan, from the Judge's notes, taken originally from the Commissioners' records:
"The road from Wilmington to Lebanon was laid out by Daniel Cushing and Robert Eachus, under the act entitled 'An act making further appropriation of the 3 per cent fund, etc.,' passed February 20, 1812. (See 1 Com. Rec. 57.)
"The road commencing near Absalom Haworth's house, and running to Daniel Nordyke's, was laid out by John Wright's field, thence to Samuel Cox's mill, on Cowan's Creek, thence by Daniel Bailey's and John Routh's (William Betts') farm to Daniel Nordyke's farm.
" Road from Unthank's mill to Wilmington: Viewers, Thomas Babb, Sr., Stephen Mendenhall; John Woolman, Surveyor; length of road from the mill to south end of South street, seven miles and 180 poles. Established June 7, 1815.
"From Highland County line, near Richard Barnard's, through Center- ville, to intersect the Urbana road, 200 poles south of James Gillespie's tavern. Established October 22, 1817. Viewers, Jobn Wright, Leonard Morris and Joel Matthews; Hiram Madden, Surveyor. Distance, seven miles and 20S poles.
" The Kenton Trace .- This trace commenced on the bank of the Ohio River, opposite Maysville, and terminated at Urbana, Ohio. It was laid out by Gen. Simon Kenton, and passed through Williamsburg, New Mar- ket, Morgantown, by where Job R. Haynes now lives, crossing the prairie near where Thomas Stitt settled and lived, down the edge of the prairie, through the woods, for some distance, crossing the road leading from Wilmington to Washington, east of the bridge over Anderson's Fork, where the Perkinses, father and son, had in former times a pottery on the road (no house there now),
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and crossing the route of the present Urbana road at or near the residence of William H. Polk. C. P. Gallaher, Esq., on July 27, 1877, said that, when a boy, ho traveled this trace from the present Reesvillo to Morgantown, and passed the residence of John S. Frazier, a Quaker schoolmaster, from noar Lebanon, whose school he had formerly attendod.
"Old Miami Trace .- Esquire C. P. Gallaher further says that a treo on this old Miami traco, bearing marks corresponding with other treos marked for the lino of this trace, stood between the front door of his prosent residence, in Sabina, and the northeast corner of his dooryard. It was cut down only a few years ago.
"Prairie road. - The petition for this road was presented to the Commis- sioners June 3, 1816. Its beginning was at the end of a street near the north- east corner of the town of Wilmington, thence to run the nearest and best way to Gideon Edwards' lane; thenco through the said lane and the nearest and best way to the 'Lick' above the dwelling-house of the elder Mr. Haws: thence on the nearest and best way to the prairie, to strike a line between the lands of Thomas Hinkson, Esq., and John Coulter, and thence to run with the said lino and intersect tho Urbana road on the north of Kamoth Hawkins'. The fourth milo tree was at the ford between tho Lick and Haws'; the eighth mile tree was between Hinkson and Coulter. Total length of road, nine miles and 211 poles. Road established June 14, 1816. .
" Road from Hillsboro to Waynesville via Cox mill and Wilmington. - Meeting of Commissioners September 3, 1810. Present, George McManis and Henry Babb. A petition was presented by Walter Armstrong and others for a road leading in the following manner, to wit: At s road that runs from Hills- boro in a direction to Walter Armstrong's tavern, on the College Township road, and to continue on to said Armstrong's; from thence to John Cox's mill, thence to the seat of justice of Clinton County. Joseph Doan, William Adams and Daniel Moon, Viewers; Petor Burr, Esq., Surveyor. Return to be made the first Monday of December next (1810).
"Road from Van Meter's to Waynesville .- Meeting of Commissioners, present, Goorge McManis, James Birdsall and Honry Babb. The petition of William Dakin and others for an alteration of the State road, leading from Van Meter's through Waynesville, was read. James Birdsall and Henry Cox bound for the expense on conditions an alteration between Caesar's Creek and the town of Oakland is thought improper by Benjamin Farquhar, Robert Eachus and Jacob Hale, who are appointed Viewers of the same. To make re- port on the third Monday of September next (1810); Jool Wright, Surveyor. The Viewers roport that a certain alteration in said road between the town of Oakland and Caesar's Creek would be of public utility; the same is hereby es- tablished as a public highway, and all that part of the former State road be- tween the two points, as surveyed by Joel Wright, is hereby declared void and useloss.
"Cincinnati via Lebanon to Chillicothe, almanac of 1818: Reading, ton milos; Prico, eight miles; Lebanon, fourteen miles; Rue's (Little Miami), six miles; Armstrong's, elevon miles; Van Meter's, thirteen miles; Clifton, thir- toen miles; Greenfield, nine miles; Davis, five miles; Wiley, seven miles; Rogers, five miles; Chillicothe, ten miles.
"From Preserved Dakin's to the east end of James Dakin's improvement, on the Waynesville road, and William Dakin's, to intersect the Bullskin road, at Anderson's Fork (now Burlington): Viewers, Jacob Hale, Benjamin Far- quhar and Job Jeffries. Established June 7, 1815. Nathan Linton, Surveyor. Length of road, six miles and 166 poles.
"Drake's Path -- Van Meter's Trace. - June 2, 1818. . Present, Joseph
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Roberds and Samuel Ruble. A petition for a new road was this day presented and read as follows: Beginning at the Clermont County line, at or near where Drake's path crosses the same line, running thence on a northwest course into the Van Meter trace, where a new road has been cut out, from Jonathan Bald- win's to said trace, running noar or through said Baldwin's lano; thence to Isaac Burroughs', Warren, for the purpose of meeting a county road, laid out from Lebanon to the Xonia State road. Viewers appointed, Elijah Burgo, William Johns and Freeman Smalloy. Nathan Linton, Surveyor. Place ap- pointod for meeting, the house of David Burroughs, on July 2, 1818. A sur- voy of the above road was returned to the Commissioners July 8, 1818.
"From the center of Paris (now Cuba) and running the nearest and best, way to the East Fork of Todd's Fork, at or near David Wright's; thence -the nearest and best way to the head of the West Fork of Todd's, to or near John Starr's; thenco to the county line to where the county line crosses the head of Sycamore, to moot a county road from Williamsburg to Wilmington. Estab- lished October 7, 1818. William Johns, David Wright and Thomas Johns, Viewers. Surveyor, N. Linton.
"From Center Meeting-House, thence through to Richard Fallis' mill, as far as Benjamin Farquhar's lano, by Eli Maden's, Jacob Halo's, Joshua Nick- erson's, noar John Haden's mill, to intersect the road leading down Todd's Fork, near William Harvey's. Viewers, Joseph Roberds, George Richards and William Butler. Nathan Linton, Surveyor. Established June 8, 1819. Length of road, six miles and eighty-seven poles.
" September 28, 1819, an alteration of road made by William Moore on his land across Lee's Creek, for the convenience of his farm. The old road is 127 poles, five foot and six inches in a through line. The new route is 137 poles. But said Moore agrees to make a bridge across the swamp of two rods and six feet of a hollow bridge, and cut a ditch through the swamp into the croek. He is given permission to turn the now road as proposed and have the old road vacated. Viewers, John Allen, Esq., Thomas Antram and Solomon Sharp.
"April 11, 1820, a road established beginning at the road from Wilming- ton to Paris (now Cuba), at John. Shields' mill; thence to. Joshua Moore's mill, and thence past Lytle's Creek Meeting-House and crossing the Lebanon State road to Richard Fallis' mill. Length of road, five miles and 310 poles. Viewers, Robert Eachus, Mahlon Haworth and John Lewis.
"Urbana road. *-- This road was run by Nathan Linton, surveyor, under the direction of James Gallaher, Thomas How and James Sherman, about the last of September or first of October, 1820, and found that part which runs through Clinton County to be thirteen miles and 218 poles. (See Comrs. Min. 2. 1, 179.)
"State Road from Wilmington through Clarksville to the road through Cincinnati through Montgomery County. Surveyed by Nathan Linton August 18, 1820, under direction of Samuel Wilson, State Road Commissioner; be- gins at the center stone; total distance, ten miles, 157 poles, two poles of which were in Warren County.
"From David McMillan's barn by Enoch Wickersham's, by Nathan Schooley's barn on the left side, passing the lane between Samuel Stanton and Nathan Hines and crossing Dutch creek to a stone corner to Nathan Hines and Dr. John Greer; thence with Greer and Hur Hodgson's line, and passing through Greer's northeast corner to Hur Hodgson's northeast cor- ner, crossing the Xenia road, passing Daniel Bailey's corner, thence through
*It seems this refers only to a resurvey of this road, the original having been laid out probably before Clinton County Was organized. Nothing definite has been ascertained concerning it.
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the lane between Daniel Bailey and Thomas Dillon to Amos Hodgson's corner, through Ezekiel Frazier's land, passing his house (and six-mile tree), passing Robert Lomax's house, on the south to Richard Lyons' corner, passing the three-milo treo to Adam Rynard's land; thence through his lane, passing the eight-mile tree, Isaac Johnson's well, thonco to the Wilmington road five polos cast of the five-mile tree. Total distance, eight miles and 147 poles. Viewers, Joseph Smith, Joseph Doan and William Walker; N. Linton, sur- voyor. Established December 3, 1822.
" From the east end of Martinsville to the Collego Township road, through John Moon's lane; distance, two and one-fourth miles and eighteen poles. Viowers, Henry Cowgill, Asa Brown and Amos Wright; Robert Grant, sur- voyor.
"Snow Hill to Locust Pond. Begins at Charles Harris', thence with the College Township road to the line between Lowis Giblet and said Harris: thence to Conterville (six miles and sixty poles from Snow Hill); thence to Locust Pond, four miles and 140 poles. Whole distance ten miles and 200 polos. Paul Huls, Joseph Rulan and Samuel Harvey, viewers; Hiram Maden, surveyor. Established June 7, 1825.
" Road from Wilmington to Dayton, by an act passed at the session of 1835, was laid out by Caleb Lucas, John Shelby and David W. Brown.
"From Wilmington to Burlington. Distance, as shown by surveyor's plat and field notos, is thirty milos and 2683 poles. Distance through Clinton County is twelve miles and 105 poles; through Greene County, ten miles and 208 poles; around Montgomery County, seventeen miles and 215 poles.
"In a case of Hallam vs. Adams, James Curtis, a witness, speaks of a trace from the Troxel house, passing near where William Figgins lived (the Rogers farm), and going up the Long Arm Prairie into the Main Prairie, be- tween the Woods Pond and Locust Pond, and crossing the prairie there, went in the direction of a cabin called Jackson's cabin on the big branch."
"The College Township road so often mentioned was established by the Legislature February 1S. 1804, passing from Chillicothe through Lebanon to Oxford. A route was determined on the same day for a road passing from Chil- licothe through Hopkinsville and Montgomery to Cincinnati, and the first ap- propriation made for laying out these roads. They follow the same route, viz., from Chillicothe to a point in Clinton County west of Cuba, and about a mile and a half southeast of Clarksville, where they diverge. the College Township road running via Smalley's and Fort Ancient to Lebanon, and the Montgomery road passing south of it to Miranda's and Hopkinsville, crossing Todd's Fork below Smalley's at the Cros farm (now Starfield's)."
TURNPIKES, PLANK ROADS, ETC.
March 22, 1837. the Goshen, Wilmington & Columbus Turnpike Com- pany was incorporated by act of the Legislature, the Clinton County members being Eli Hale, John Hadley, William Hadley, Nathan Linton, Isaiah Morris. David Stratton, Lawrence Fitzhugh and Joseph Reed. This road had been commenced some years before, and completed from Cincinnati to Goshen. The work as far as Wilmington was under contract in the spring of 183S. prin- cipally to parties residing in the latter place, but the pike was not completed thus far until 1840. Its cost was about $4,000 per mile. The company also graded and bridged the road between Wilmington and Sabina, which was after- ward (spring of 1850) sought to be converted into a plank road, but the proj- ect failed to bo successful.
A State road from Wilmington to Cincinnati was authorized by the Legislat- ure in 1823, and another in 1835, from Wilmington. By reference to the
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laws of Ohio it is found that the following turnpike companies, with portions of their lines in Clinton County, were incorporated by the Legislature in the years given: Goshen, Martinville & Leesburg, 1832; Clarksville, Cuba, Snow Hill. Now Lexington & Leosburg, 1838; Wilmington, Jamestown & South Charleston, 1838; Wilmington & London, 1838; Waynesville & Wilmington, 1838; Dayton & Wilmington, 1839; Xenia & Wilmington, February 6, 1846; Circleville and the Port William, New Burlington & Adelphi, February 25, 1848. An act authorizing the construction of free turnpikes was passed in 1844, and in the next year plank road companies began to organize. Section 1 of an act passed March 20, 1849, is as follows: "That any company hereto- fore incorporated in this State for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road may construct said road, or any part thereof, by covering the same with plank not less than two and one-half inches thick, of sufficient width for the accom- modation of teams, and in a good and substantial manner, instead of covering the same with stone or gravel: Provided, No company shall take any timber without the consent of the owner or owners thereof." Subsequent acts fully defined the powers and privileges of plank road companies. From a perusal of the legislative acts of Ohio, it appears that the following plank road com- panies were chartered, having members in Clinton County: Goshen, Blan- chester & Martinsville, 1844; Leesburg & Blanchester, session of 1850-51; New Lexington & Wilmington, session of 1850-51; Mount Pleasant & Mar- tinsville, session of 1850-51; Blanchester & Wilmington, session of 1850-51; Martinsville, Westboro & Woodville, session of 1850-51; Port William & Wil-, mington, session of 1850-51. None of these roads were constructed, however, and but one plank road was ever laid in the county.
From the file of the Clinton Republican for 1850, it is learned that on the 16th of February, in that year, a meeting was held at Harveysburg, War- ren County, to make arrangements for the organization of a company to con- struct a turnpike road from Waynesville to Wilmington, via Harveysburg, con- necting at Waynesville with the Little Miami Railroad. The original charter had been granted at the Legislative session of 1838-39. Subscription books were opened at the three places April 1, 1850. A. Brooke was Secretary for the Commissioners who had the matter in charge, of whom Nathan Linton, of Clinton County, was one. A daily line of omnibuses was running over the road April 2, 1850, and a new coach was soon put on and a daily mail carried. E. Flood was agent of the omnibus line, with headquarters at Wilmington at the Buckeye House, on South street, Jacob Strickle, proprietor. The fare from Wilmington to Waynesville was 50 cents. April 27, 1850, the stock- holders of the road met at Harveysburg to elect Directors, but no subsequent mention can be found of the persons chosen. The company was then known as the Waynesville & Wilmington Turnpike & Plank Road Company. The road was completed to Wilmington late in the fall of 1852, and about seven miles of the distance was planked, two miles between Wilmington and Todd's Fork, and five miles between Dutch Creek and Harveysburg. The whole route was finally covered with gravel and converted into an excellent turnpike, and toll was taken over it until the spring of 1881. The company at last became known as the Waynesville & Wilmington Turnpike Company, and still has an existence, as its business affairs are not settled, although it does not longer ex- ercise care of the road. Cyrus. Linton, of Wilmington, has been a Director of the company since about 1857-the only one at the eastern end of the road.
At its session of 1853-54, the Ohio Legislature enacted a free turnpike or road improvement law, providing that on the petition of three-fourths of all the resident landholders on each side of any State or county road, and within one mile of said road, to the Auditor, his duty should be to assess, in addition
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to other taxes, 4 mills to the dollar on all the lands within a mile of the road, and on all personal property held in said boundaries by both frecholders and personal property holders, said tax to be applied to improving said road. Under this law, George Sanders and J. S. Leaming, about May, 1859, under- took to secure a free pike from Wilmington to the Washington Township line, about a mile south of Burtonville, along the line of the Wilmington and Mar- tinsville road. Sixty-one names were procured on a petition. Jeff Hildebrant was employed as surveyor, Charles Jones, flagman, and Benjamin F. and Abner Lewis, chainmen, and in a few days the survey was made and the report, with the necessary calculations, returned to Auditor William Greer. Through some unforeseen wire-pulling, the project proved a failure, and Sanders and Loaming found themselves out $24.50 each and expenses. Laws since enacted by the Legislature require only a majority of the freeholders interested to sign the petition, and, as a result, free turnpikes are now numerous and excellent in the county. For free pikes the real and personal property for one mile on each side of the road is taxed and for what are termed road improvements, the tax is levied for two miles on both sides and at the ends of the road. "Road improvements " become free turnpikes when completed. About $1,- 000,000 have been expended on pikes in Clinton County, the total number of miles being about three hundred and seventy-five, included in sixty free pikes and forty road improvements.
RAILWAYS.
The idea of securing a railroad early presented itself to the citizens of Clinton County. On the 30th of June, 1827, a meeting was held at the court house in Wilmington for the purpose of making arrangements to act with par- ties at Chillicothe, where a meeting had already been held, to induce the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad Company to extend its line west of the Ohio River to some suitable point on the Great Miami. This scheme was not successful, but for many years every new project which promised a railroad was eagerly looked into by the people, and finally their efforts were successful.
Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad *- In December, 1850, Hon. R. B. Harlan, the Representative of Clinton County in the Lower House of the Legislature, introduced a bill asking for this road, and the charter was granted February 4, 1851, the name of Wilmington being inserted out of re- spect to the county in which the bill originated. It was hoped that the road would be made a great through trunk line, but at the outset the mistake was made of connecting it with the Little Miami road at Morrow, and running its trains over the track of the latter company from that point to Cincinnati. and that fact interfered to a great extent with the success of the new road. which doubtless would have proved a better venture had its own track extended to Cincinnati. In November, 1850,, surveys and estimates were completed from Morrow to Lancaster, ninety miles, and the contract for building that part of the road was awarded to A. De Graff. Clinton County subscribed $200,000 toward its construction. Work was commenced in December, 1851. In the Clinton Republican of November 26, 1852, it was stated that over two thou- sand tons of iron for this road had reached New Orleans, to be forwarded at once to Cincinnati, and track-laying was to begin as soon as the weather in the spring would permit. The citizens of Wilmington then expected to have a train of cars running to their place by June 1, 1853. In the latter part of March, 1853, track-laying was commenced at Morrow. Numerous difficult places along the route delayed the work to some extent, but in the early days of August, 1853, the road was completed to Wilmington, and on the 11th of
" Partly from the Harlan Notes; but mostly from newspapers of the timo.
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that month a great celebration was held at said place in honor of the event. From 10,000 to 15,000 people were present, including about two thousand five hundred who arrived at 11:15 A. M. on a train of twenty cars. Five oxen and a number of sheep were barbecued, and everybody ate his fill, after which a supply for a rogiment was loft. The table, erected in the form of a square, was 1,200 feet long. People came in large numbers from adjoining counties, and a fine brass band was present from Cincinnati. Speeches were delivered by several prominent men, and the occasion was greatly enjoyed. The big train loft at 3:30 P. M., and by 6 o'clock all was again quiet in the village. Trains began running regularly between Cincinnati and Wilmington, one a day each way, on the 15th of August, 1853; faro between the two points, $1.60. No- vember 24, 1853, the company had completed the road to Washington, Fayette County, and began on that day to run its trains to that point, forty-one and one-fourth milos from Morrow, and seventy-seven and one-fourth miles from Cincinnati. In 1854, the road was finished to Lancaster, and the contract was let the same year for building the portion between Lancaster and Zanes- ville. Late in 1855, the line was completed to the latter place, and in 1856, trains wero running uninterruptedly over the entire length of the road. Franklin Corwin was the first President of the company, from 1851 to 1856, a period of five and one-half years, and in July of the latter year was succeeded by Erasmus Gest, as President and Superintendent. The total receipts of the road to March, 1857, wore $472,890.01, and its expenditures $192,508.81, the company, therefore, having sustained a loss of nearly $20,000, besides the depreciation in the value of its property. Consequently, at the last-named date, Mr. Gest was appointed receiver, holding the position twenty-six months, during which time a balance of over $80,000 was placed to the credit of the road and invested in rolling-stock and improvements. May 1, 1859, Mr. Gest was succeeded by Col. William Key Bond, who managed affairs four and a half years. In October, 1863, the road was sold at auction and purchased by Charles Moran, of New York, in trust for the first mortgage bondholders. In March, 1864, the property was transferred by him to a ro-organized company, composed wholly of original stockholders and creditors, upon a capitalized or reduced basis. Business livened, and the annual surplus reached over $40,- 000, Mr. Gest having been elected President of the new company. The name was changed to the Cincinnati & Zanesville Railroad Company. December 1, 1869, the road with all its franchises, real estate, machine shops, depot buildings, and rolling-stock was sold at auction at the door of the court house in Cincinnati, to Judge Thomas L. Jewett, President of the Pennsylvania Central Company, for the sum of $1,004,000. May 1, 1873, the road passed into the hands, by lease, of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company, by whom it is at present operated under the name of the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railroad.
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