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 38
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Mariella & Cincinnati Railroad .*- The original company was chartered March 8, 1845, under the name of the Belpre & Cincinnati Railroad Company, and authorized to build a road from a point opposite Parkersburg, Va., or Harmar, in Washington County, Ohio, as a majority of the Commissioners should determine; thenco by the most practicable route up the Hocking Valley, by way of Athens and Chillicothe, to some point on the Little Miami Railroad between Plain- ville, Hamilton County, and the mouth of O'Bannon Creek, in Clermont County. An amendment in March, 1850, authorized the company to construct its road to any point so as to connect with any railroad or other improvement con- structed to the Obio River on the Virginia side; and another amendment, in
* The sketch of this road is entirely from the Harlan Notes.
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1851, authorized its completion to Cincinnati, with the privilege of connecting with or crossing the Little Miami or any other railroad. In March, 1851, the name was changed to Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. Work was begun in the spring of 1851, and the line was opened from Harmar to Loveland, Cler- mont County, a distance of 173 miles, in 1857. The history of this road has been like that of too many of the early railroads-that of failure to meet finan- cial obligations, and in 1857, it was placed in the hands of a receiver, who operated it until February 25, 1860, when the Trustees purchased it for the benefit of the stockholders. The sale was confirmed in May following. The Trustees operated the road until August, 1860, when they transferred it to the re-organized company, known thereafter as the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Company as ro-organized. In 1864, the re-organized company commenced building the extension from Loveland to Cincinnati, a distance of twenty-four miles, and in February, 1866, it was completed to a point six miles from Cin- cinnati. From this point a connection was established with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The Marietta'& Cincinnati Railroad passes through the southern portion of Clinton County, with stations at New Vienna, Farmers, Martinsville, Clinton Valley and Blanchester. The Hillsboro Branch of the same road connects with the main line at Blanchester, and passes easterly through Westboro to Hillsboro. The road is now (1882) operated by the Baltimore & Ohio Company under a lease.
Columbus, Washington & Cincinnati Railroad .- This road, built on a narrow gauge, was chartered in 1876, and was originally intended to run from Cincinnati via Lebanon and Waynesville, by connection with other roads, to Columbus and the coal-fields in the eastern part of the State. Work was begun at Allentown, Fayette County, about August, 1877, and two months later cars were running to Port William, Clinton County, along the northern border of which the road extends. The road was completed through New Burlington in April, 1878, and made connection with the Little Miami Railroad in May fol lowing. A few months later-about September, 1878-it was placed in the hands of a receiver, and July 5, 1879, was sold for $10,000 to Jesse H. Kirk, John W. Marchant, Dr. J. M. Hussey, Alfred Mckay and W. F. Mckay. These gentlemen operated the road until March, 1881, when they sold it to E. L. Harper, of Cincinnati, for $65,000. It is now known as the Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad, and is owned by E. L. Harper and others. When the road was completed to Port William (in October, 1877), the citizens of that place and vicinity held a grand jubilee meeting. The track has been ro- cently changed to a standard gauge, the first train after said change pass- ing over the road on the 13th of April, 1882.
Ripley, Wilmington & Dayton Railroad (proposed) .- This road was char- tered in the spring of 1878, with the following men as incorporators: M. M. Murphy, W. D. Young, of Ripley; Dr. L. B. Miles, of Georgetown; J. Fite, of New Hope; L S. Vance, of Mount Orab, all of Brown County; A. T. Moon, of Highland County; D. Gould, of Martinsville; L. M. Moore, Cyrus Linton, J. W. Denver, of Wilmington; S. F. Covington, of Cincinnati. Gen. J. W. Denver was the first President. The capital stock of the company is $200,000. The original plan was to build a road through from Ripley to Day- ton, via Wilmington. The survey from Ripley to Wilmington was made in 1878, and extended no farther than the latter place. No work has been done further than this survey (made by Lawrence Woolson, of Cincinnati), although the company organization is continued and some effort has been made to build the road on a narrow gauge. The present officers of the company are: G. F. Early, President; Cyrus Linton, Vice President; E. C. Betts, Secretary; Har. ley F. Walker, Treasurer; Frank Moore, S. Q. Fulton, John Outcalt, Cyrus
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Linton, of Wilmington; William Turner, John Turner, - Walker, of Martinsville; Alva Moon, near Mount Orab; Judge Loudon, of Georgetown; G. F. Early and Ephriam Flougher, of Ripley, Directors. In 1879, a charter was given the company to construct a branch from Aberdeen to a point on the main line near Buford, Highland County, and of this branch company Jeff Hildebrant was President and Cyrus Linton Vice President, both of Wilming- ton.
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CHAPTER X.
POLITICAL.
THE JACKSON CAMPAIGN-THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN-LOG-CABIN RAISINGS AND CELEBRATIONS-ACCIDENT AT WILMINGTON-SONGS OF 1840-LATER POLITICS OF THE COUNTY-ANTI-SLAVERY FEELING, ETC.
D URING the political campaigns which occurred in the early history of the county of Clinton, there was little excitement and the heat of bat- tle was not reached until 1823, carly in the Presidential campaign which re- sulted in the election of John Quincy Adams in 1824. On one occasion-in April or May, 1823-a scene occurred, which is thus described by A. H. Dun- levy, of Warren County: "As court was in session, the friends of Henry Clay embraced the opportunity of calling a public meeting. For some cause, this was done by merely ringing the court house bell after court had adjourned and
tea was over. The matter was probably understood among the Clay men, and hence the tap of the bell was sufficient to call them together. There were a good many Friend-Quakers in and about Wilmington, and they were generally the friends of Adams, and not wanted at the Clay meeting. So it was whispered at the time-how truly I know not. Old Judge Dunlavy, as he then was called, was also an Adams man, and it was said it was best to let him retire to bed before the bell was sounded, as he might come to advocate the claims of Adams, and thus interrupt the meeting. Such, at least, was the rumor next day. The bell was rung; the meeting organized by calling Samuel H. Hale to the chair, and appointing Benjamin Hinkson Secretary. Such is now (1875) my impression, though I may be mistaken in the clerk. Both Mr. Hale and Mr. Hinkson were then advocates of Henry Clay, though afterward both took up Gen. Jackson, as many others did when they saw his great popularity. I have no fault to find with them in that matter, but I mention it since at this meeting they were both Clay men, according to my recollection. At this meet- ing a resolution was offered, I think by Isaiah Morris, favoring Henry Clay for the coming Presidential election; but just then old Judge Dunlavy made his appearance in night-gown and slippers. He had retired to bed, but, hear- ing the bell, suspected what was going on and hastened to be present. The Clay resolution having been read and seconded, it was open to debate or amendment, and Judge Dunlavy immediately moved to strike out the name of Henry Clay and insert that of John Quincy Adams in its place, and that meet- ing a second, he went on to give a sketch of the public life of Messrs. Adams and Clay, and attempted to show that of the two men, however eminent Mr. Clay deservedly was, yet Mr. Adams was better fitted for the Chief Magistrato of the United States. His speech was pretty long, and whether on account of the lateness of the hour, or from fear of the issue, it was adjourned without any vote. This is my recollection now after more than fifty years, though I may be mistaken in some important facts. I mention this meeting, however, more on account of the number present from other counties, whose opinions on the Presidential question were then pretty generally expressed in some way, though not by any formal speech. Thomas R. Ross was there, the friend of W. H. Crawford, of Georgia, who had been nominated by the Republican Con- gressional Caucus. Benjamin Collett, a distinguished lawyer, was also there,
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and expressed himself for Crawford. Thomas Corwin was present, too, and the avowed friend of Henry Clay. John Alexander, of Xenia, and W. R. Cole, of Wilmington, wore likewise there, the friends of Mr. Clay. Gen. Jackson had been mentioned in a few places, the winter before, as a candidate, but as yot little interest seomed to exist in Ohio in his favor, though it soon began to manifest itself in great strength. One man, as I recollect to have heard the late Gov. Corwin say the next day, was at that meeting, and passing round was heard to exclaim in a low, suppressed voice, 'Hurrah for Jackson!' Whom he was I do not recollect, nor did I then know him personally; but he was the first man, it was said, who publicly avowed himself for Gen. Jackson in Clin- ton County."
In 1828, the date of Jackson's first election to the Presidency, political excitement ran high in the country, and in this county the battle was contested stubbornly by the opposing parties. The Whig ticket was headed "The Peo- ple's Ticket," and bore the motto, "Agriculture, domestic manufactures, and internal improvements the road to wealth, independence and happiness." John Quincy Adams and Richard Rush were the candidates for President and Vice President on the Whig ticket, and the names of electors on the same for Ohio were Jeremiah Morrow, of Warren County; Peter Hitchcock, of Geauga; Will- iam Ruffin, of Hamilton; James McBride, of Butler; Joseph C. Hawkins, of Preble; Benjamin Whiteman, of Groene; John Smith, of Highland; Duncan McArthur, of Ross; William Kendall, of Scioto; Ralph Osborn, of Franklin; Isaac Van Horn, of Muskingum; John Patterson, of Belmont; John McLaugh- lin, of Jofforson; William Fogel, of Stark; Aaron Wheeler, of Ashtabula; Eb- enezer Lane, of Huron. At the head of the Democratic ticket were the names of Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun, and the motto was, "This adminis- tration shall be put down, though it were as pure as the angels that minister at the right hand of God." The electors on this ticket were Ethan Allen Brown, of Hamilton County; George McCook, of Columbiana; William Piatt, of Hamilton; James Shields, of Butlor; Henry Barrington, of Miami; Thomas Gillespie, of Greene; Thomas L. Hamer, of Brown; Valentine Kiefer, of Pick- away; Robert Lucas, of Lako; John McElvain, of Franklin; Samuel Herrick, of Muskingum; George Sharp, of Belmont; Walter M. Blake, of Tuscarawas; Benjamin Jones, of Wayne; William Raynes, of Trumbull; Hugh MeFall, of Richland. Allen Trimble was elected Governor over John W. Campbell; Isaiah Morris was beaten for Congress by William Russell, in the Clinton District; Samuel H. Hale, of Wilmington, was elected to the State Senate, the opposing candidates being Isaac Collett, John Alexander and Jonathan Seamans; Thomas Hibben was chosen to the Legislature over Benjamin Hinkson and Eli Gaskill; Robert Reese was elected Sheriff of the county against Amos T. Sewell, William Millikan, John Hempstead and James Howe; Aquila Jones and John Crihfield were candidates for County Auditor, and the latter was successful; Israel Woodruff beat Peter Borden and James Craig for Coroner, and John Lewis was chosen County Commissioner as the opponent of Elisha Thomas. The Democrats carried the day. But one of the candidates on the tickets of that year is left, and that is Dr. A. Jones, still a resident of Wilmington; the others have all passed away from earth.
The next great political campaign was that of 1840, when Gen. W. H. Harrison was elected to the Presidency. Everybody was enthusiastic. It was the year of hard cider and log cabins and great political gatherings-the lat- ter such as had never before been seen in the history of the county. " Coon- skins" were stretched on the outer walls of the cabins, and occasionally a live raccoon was perched on the ridge. Appropriate mottoes were adopted, and songs for the times were written by every one who could make a rhyme. The
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poetry in these songs was so deeply hidden that it could not be discerned, but many of them wore exceedingly popular, the greatest favorite being the one en- titled "The Log Cabin," called also " Tho Buckeye Log Cabin Song," written by Otway Curry, of Union County, Ohio, February 23, 1840. It was as fol- lows, sung to the tune of "Highland Laddie:"
Oh, where, tell me where was your buckeye cabin made ? "Iwas built among the merry boys that wield the plow and spade, Where the log cabin stands in the bonny Buckeye shade.
Oh what, tell me what is to be your cabm's fate? We'll wheel it to the capitol and place it there elate, For a token and a sign of the bonny Buckeye State.
Oh why, tell me why does your Buckeye cibin go? It goes against the spoilsmen, for all its builders know It was Harrison that fought for the cabin long ago.
Oh who fell before him in battle, tell me who? He drove the savage legions and British armies, too, At the Rapids and the Thames and Old Tippecanoe.
Oh what. tell me what, then, will little Martin do? . He'll follow in the footsteps of Rice and Stewart, too, While the log cabins ring again with Tippecanoe.
Another one began thus:
Oh, what has caused this great commotion-motion-motion The country through ? It is the ball a-rolling on
For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too; And with them we'll beat little Van- Oh, Van! a used-up man- And with them we'll beat little Van.
Still another, ontitled "Tippecanoe Raisin'," was as follows, and also very popular:
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Come, all you log cabin boys, we're goin' to have a raisin'; We've got a job on hand that we think will be pleasin'; We'll turn out and build old Tip a new cabin, . And finish it off with chinkin' and daubin'. We want all the log cabin boys in the nation To be on the ground when we lay the foundation;
And we'll make all the office-holders think it amazin' To see how we work at old Tippecanoe's raisin'.
Hurrah! hurrah! for Harrison and Tyler, A neat log cabin and a barrel of hard cider.
On the 30th day of next October We'll take some hard cider, but we'll all keep sober; We'll shoulder our axes and cut down the timber, And have our cabin done by the 2d of December; We'll have it well chinked, and we'll have on the cover Of good sound clapboards, and the weight of poles over, And a good wide chimney for the fire to blaze in; So come on, boys, to old Tippecanoe's raisin'. Hurrah! hurrah! etc.
Ohio will find the house log timber, And Old Virginia, as you'll remember, Will find the timber for the clapboards and chinkin'; 'Twill all be first-rate stuff, I'm thinkin'.
And when we want to daub it, it happens very lucky That we have the best of Clay in Old Kentucky; For there's no other State has such good Clay in To make the mortar for old Tippecanoe's raisin'. Hurrah! Hurrah! etc.
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For the hauling of the logs, we'll call on Pennsylvania, For their Conestoga teams will pull as well as any; And the Yankee States, and York State, and all of the others
Will come and help us lift, like so many brothers; The Hoosiers and the Suckers and the Wolverine farmers- They all know the right way to carry up the corners; And every one's a good-enough carpenter and mason To do a little work at Tippecanoe's raisin.' Hurrah! hurrah! etc.
We'll cut out a window and have a wide door in; We'll lay a good loft and a first-rate floor in ; We'll fix it all complete for Old Tip to see his friends in, And we know that the latch-string will never have its end in. On the 4th of March, Old Tip will move in it,
And then little Martin will have to shin it. So hurrah, boys, there's no two ways in
The fun we'll have at Old Tippecanoe's raisin'. Then hurrah! hurrah! for Harrison and Tyler, A nice log cabin and a barrel of hard cider.
The glory won by the ambitious rhymers of 1840 would scarcely bring ' laurels to the brow of a genuine poet, but they were content to know that in a large measure the result of the campaign was due to the songs which their wearying labors had brought forth; and knowing that "the end crowns the work," they were happy. The Democrats endeavored to create enthusiasm by also writing campaign songs, but the rule in that case would work but one way, and they were in the end defeated overwhelmingly.
The great campaign of 1840 was more exciting, perhaps, than any other in the history of the country, and called forth more articles from the press of. an exceedingly enthusiastic nature than had ever been known before. Slander, abuse and villification entered the arena and marshaled their forces for the fray, and in the course of the fight delivered many hard blows. A bitter dose of sarcasm was administered on both sides and the enthusiasm of the people broke forth in song, with generally little respect for rhyme or meter, to say nothing of grammar or elegance of diction. The Harrison ticket in Clinton County was headed: "The People's Ticket: The union of the Whigs for the sake of the Union." The principal names on the ticket were Gen. William H. Harrison, for President; John Tyler, of Virginia, for Vice President; Thomas Corwin, for Governor of Ohio, and Jeremiah Morrow for Congress. The Bal- timore American, a prominent Van Buren paper, in speaking of Harrison, said: "Give him a barrel of hard cider, and settle a pension of $2,000 a year, and our word for it he will sit the remainder of his days contented in a log cabin." From this it is supposed originated the terms " log cabin" and " hard cider," used so often during the campaign. We append a few more of the songs that were sung, the first one being written in the measure of " Yankee Doodle."
Come, here's a health to Harrison, The old log cabin farmer; When he commands the Ship of State, The Tories cannot harm her.
CHORUS :- Yankee Doodle, fill a mug, A pewter mug of cider, When he commands our gallant ship, No evil can betide her.
Old Tip's the man, we guess, as how The people all unite in ; He's " sarved " them true in council hall, He's "sarved" them well in fightin'. CHORUS.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
When Washington sent Wayne out West The war to put an end on't, IIe took young William by the hand And made him first "leftenant." CHORUS. And we old soldiers recollect, When war clouds gathered o'er us, He marched us on to victory And always went before us. CHORUS.
When Johnny Bull came to the Thames, "Iwas Harrison that met him; And for his glorious fight that day The people won't forget him. CHORUS.
His patriotism no man doubts; Ilis principles are " starten"- They were proclaimed at cannon's mouth In Eighteen hundred thirteen. CHORUS.
Our office holders laugh and sneer, And say he's poor-'od rot 'em! But we old farmers at the polls Will vote for him next autumn. CHORUS.
We know he's honest, upright, true, And if he's poor, no wonder; Unlike our present men in power, He does not live by plunder. CHORUS.
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The public money in his hands He always justiy paid out, And never took a cent for self Like Billy Price or Swartwout. CHORUS.
'Tis said he wears a homespun coat, And smokes a shortish pipe, sir, And when he takes you by the hand, He gives you an honest grip, sir. CHORUS.
Let Amos Kendall tell his lies; Let British Tories reason ; The people all expect to see Him President next season. CHORUS.
The following, from the " Log Cabin song book," was sung to the tune of "Rosin the Bow."
Come ye who, whatever betide her, To freedom have sworn to be true, Prime up in a mug of hard cider, And drink to old Tippecanoe.
On tap I've a pipe of as good, sir, As man from the cock ever drew; No poison to thicken your blood. sir, But liquor as pure as the dew.
No foreign potation I puff, sir, In freedom the apple tree grew, And its juice is exactly the stuff, sir, To quaff to old Tippecanoe.
J. J Moon.
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Let " Van" sport his coach and outriders, In liveries flaunting and gay, And sneer at log cabins and cider- But woe for the reckoning day !
Following are two campaign songs, air "Bonnets of Blue," the former of which was composed by a deaf and dumb gentleman, who was a passenger on the canal boat "Robert Burns" during a trip from Columbus to Portsmouth.
TIPPECANOE SONG. The voice of the nation has spoken; The tyrants all shake in their shoes; The scepter of Martin is broken- IIe shrinks at the glorious news.
CHORUS :- All hail to the glorious West, Log cabins and yeomen to you; The land of the brave and the blest, And home of old Tippecanoe.
The political valley of death Surrounds his vile minions of power; Their slanderous, pestilent breath Is hushed like the storm of an hour. CHORUS.
The cooks of the kitchen, aghast. Hear their knell sound far from the West, And fear that their dishes at last, Will poison " the greatest and best."
CHORUS :- Then hail to the glorious West, Log cabins and yeomen to you; The land of the brave and the blest And home of old Tippecanoe.
A SONG.
Here's a health to Tippecanoe! Here's a shout to Tippecanoe! And he that won't drink to the pride of North Bend Is neither a wise one nor true; It's good for the people to rule; It's base to be led by a few ; It's good to stand up for the popular choice- Then shout for old Tippecanoe!
Hurrah for old Tippecanoe! Hurrah for old Tippecanoe! It's good to cheer him who has often cheered us, Then shout for old Tippecanoe! Here's a health to Tippecanoe! Here's a shout for Tippecanoe ! Here's a health to the chief who was never yet beat, Three rounds for the honest and true!
Here's luck to the hand that will toil! Here's luck to the seed that is sown! Who's a poor man himself is a friend of the poor, And values their rights as his own. Then shout for old Tippecanoe! Hurrah for old Tippecanoe! It's time to turn out all the profligate herd,_ And put in old Tippecanoe.
Saturday, May 9, 1840, was a day long to be remembered in Wilmington. In various parts of the county enthusiastic Whig meetings had been held (and they were continued throughout the campaign) and it finally occurred that the
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and that ho could dispense with their services at that time. He, however, got through with the job very much to his own credit and to the satisfaction of his employer. It has been the case in all his undertakings. He is now about to undertake another and difficult job. We have every confidence in his skill, industry and perseverance. Wo feel grateful to him for what he has done, as well as the disposition to aid and encourage him for the future. For that pur- poso we have met together to raise him a cabin. The log cabin is emblematical of the humble simplicity of old Tip. It was lately introduced by a city dandy in derision of our Western candidate for the Presidency. Old Tip and his friends know how to turn it to account. They will build him a cabin
With logs at the end and logs at the side, Just forty feet long and thirty feet wide ; With the corners all founded on blocks, And they, like his principles, firm as the rocks.
" We will now proceed to the erection of the cabin."
The log cabin song beginning, "Oh, where, tell me where was your log cabin made," was then sung, and the cabin was at once begun. The many competent hands made the work fly, and by 4 o'clock a log cabin 40x35 feet was up and covered, and the township meeting was held in it upon its com- pletion. The meeting then adjourned, and the assemblage dispersed on horse and foot and in wagons, singing as they went. The day had been pleasantly spent, and order had been preserved. The Wilmington Democrat and Herald of May 15, 1840, had also an account of the proceedings, written in a some- what sarcastic vein, which compared the enthusiastic supporters of Harrison to the ancient Trojans. Jews, Egyptians and Romans, who erected walls, arches, or other monuments commemorating events in their history.
May 22, 1840, a large mass convention for the Fourth Congressional District, composed of the counties of Warren, Clinton and Highland. was held at Wilmington, and it was estimated that 10,000 persons were present. Local committees had been at work for several weeks before the convention, and when the day arrived the people flocked from every direction, on foot, on horseback, in wagons, in log cabins, and in immense canoes on wheels, drawn by six horses each. Banners, flags, coon skins and kegs of hard cider were carried, campaign ballads were sung, and martial music aided to swell the noise. War- ren County sent three large canoes and one log cabin. Nathaniel McLean. of that county, was President of the meeting, and Thomas Corwin was the orator of tho occasion. Fifty delegates from each county were present for the pur- pose of nominating a candidate for Congress, and, having mot, they agreed upon ox-Gov. Jeremiah Morrow to fill out the unexpired term of Thomas Cor- win, and also for the ensuing full term, Corwin having been nominated for Governor. J. Milton Williams, of Warren County, had made a speech in Wil- mington the night before the convention, and declined to be a candidate for Congross. A sad accident occurred at this convention. By the premature dis- charge of a cannon, two delegates from Highland County, named Philip Thur- man and Eli Holeman, were killed, being struck by the rammer and terribly mangled. Thurman left a wife and four children; Holeman was unmarried. The accident was said to have been caused by the carelessness of the person loading the gun.
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