USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 47
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
of July 10. In this battle four were killed, seventy-four were wounded, and flfty-two were missing. The regiment proceeded next day to Baltimore, thence. on the 14th, by rail to Washington ; on the 15th, marched again, forded the Potomac near Edwards' Ferry, and. passing Snicker's Gap to the Shenandoah, skirmished with the enemy. Soon after, the regiment returned to Washington. A few days later, march was resumed, and after moving from point to point they are seen on the morning of August 10 passing through Charleston. Newton. Middletown, and two days later arrived at Cedar Creek. Several skirmishes fol- lowed, and, August 16, they were placed in charge of a train proceeding to Charlestown. The regiment was driven to Bolivar Heights, returned to Charles- town, and on the 29th in turn attacked and drove the enemy. It marched. Sep-
tember 3, to Clifton Farm, and threw up works. Two weeks later, it crossed the Opequan, bore prominent, honorable part in the battle of Winchester, where it thrice charged, and was one of the first to reach the heights. It joined in the pur-
suit of the enemy, overtook and engaged them at Fisher's Hill, and there captured four guns and a hundred prisoners. Continuing the pursuit to Mount Crawford it then wheeled about and marched back to Harper's Ferry. October 6, it moved to Strasburg, and thence to the neighborhood of Front Royal, from which place it moved to Ashby's Gap, and almost immediately returning went into camp. on Cedar Creek. When the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were surprised by Early on the morning of the 19th of October, the One Hundred and Tenth was posted in the front line of the Sixth Corps. formed to check disaster and hold the enemy at bay. Continually flanked, stand after stand was made, until a fresh formation being made, a daring, desperate charge retrieved the day, and drove the rebels in headlong rout. No regiment on that eventful day took more active part than did the One Hundred and Tenth. Two officers were wounded, one mortally ; five men were killed, twenty-seven were wounded, and an officer and one private were missing. At night the men occupied the camp whence the storm of battle had driven them, vainly resisting. in the morning, and here they remained until Novem- ber 9, when they went into winter quarters near Kenstown.
They broke camp December 3, marched to Stebbins' Station, where cars were taken for Washington, whence by steamer, they were transported to City Point ; thence by rail at midnight of the 6th, and they were at the old front once more. They were located near the Weldon Railroad, and with prospects of a permanent stay, proceeded to erect substantial winter quarters. They moved February 9. 1865, to a position on the line between Forts Welch and Fisher, and again put up winter quarters and rested about six weeks .. On March 25, the brigade was called early to arms, and, line being formed, an advance was made upon the entrenched picket line, which proved too strong, and a check was experienced ; again the men advance with a desperate bravery that would not be denied, and despite the deadly fire met the works were carried, and a large number of prisoners were taken. A week passed away ; upon the National side in great preparations, while the rebels with few but devoted men stood defiantly behind works themselves almost impass- able. On the morning of April 2, the lines were again formed for assault. and just before daybreak the Sixth Corps marched out and swept upon the entrenched lines in their front, carrying all before them and capturing many prisoners and guns.
The regiment joined in the subsequent pursuit, aiding to rout the enemy at Saylor's Creek, and following on until the final surrender at Appomattox. The command then marched to Burksville Junction, and, at a presentation of captured colors made to Gen. Meade on the 17th, the One Hundreth and Tenth was found to have taken more than any other regiment in the corps, and in consequence was selected as guard of honor to convey them to the General's headquarters. The regiment marched to Richmond, was reviewed by Halleck, marched to Washington and reviewed by the President at the White House. It was finally mustered out at the National Capital, June 25, 1865, and was discharged at Tod Barracks,
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
Columbus, having seen an arduous soldierly service in march and battle-field. It was in twenty-one engagements. and sustained a loss in killed, wounded and missing, of 795 men. It entered the service with but 797 men, received 625 recruits, and at the final muster-out 627 were discharged. These figures show the character of the men for bravery, and how dearly they bought their enviable reputation on a score of fields. It seemed the fortune of some organizations to be called upon in the most perilous times and thrown forward as a forlorn hope ; it was honorable though deadly, and inscribed a record of which the living may well be proud.
The Eighth Ohio Independent Battery was recruited in the counties of Darke, Miami and Montgomery, and organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, March 10, 1862. It was soon ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., and on its arrival reported to Gen. Halleck, Commandant. The battery did not go into quarters, but was at once sent on board of transports and taken down the river, under orders to report to Gen. Grant at Savannah, on the Tennessee. It reached its destination March 28, and. without disembarking, moved up the river to Pittsburg Landing, where it reported to Gen. Sherman and went into camp near the landing, where it remained until the beginning of the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April. The battery, during the two-days fight, was in Sherman's division, and several times came into close quarters with the enemy, on Sunday morning especially, the rebels charg- ing in mass down their skirmish line within a few paces of the guns. The battery lost in killed Sergt. Leonard Ullery, of Greenville, and three men wounded.
The battery moved with the brigade of Gen. Lew Wallace, of the Second Division, in the advance upon Corinth, and was posted upon the extreme right of the division. On the march by day and busily erecting works by night, it had advanced to within two miles of Corinth when the evacuation was made known, when it accompanied the brigade into the town.
It rested but three hours when ordered to proceed with the column of Gen. Grant to Memphis, Tenn., where it reported June 17, and remained six montlis, being occasionally called upon to accompany expeditions and scouts about the country. On December 20, it set out with the command of Gen. Sherman for Vicksburg, Miss., and, a week later, took part in the sanguinary engagement at Chickasaw Bayou. It was critically situated for several days, during which it was exposed to the guns of the enemy, but, January 1, 1863, it retreated with the army to the transports, which made their way to the Mississippi. On January 6, the battery formed part of the force sent against Arkansas Post, and contributed prominently to that brilliant success of the National arms. On the morning of January 26, 1863, a section of the Eighth, under command of Lieut. James F. Putnam, was embarked on one of the boats constituting the fleet forming an expe- dition up the Yazoo. After proceeding up the stream from the Mississippi about fifteen miles, the boat stopped, and about 3 P. M., Lieut. Putnam received orders from Gen. M. L. Smith to bring all ashore, which was promptly done. Two days' rations were taken, and at 9 A. M. next morning the section was in motion. The route lay directly across the plantation of Sidney Johnston, whose fine mansion was reduced to ashes. A low, barren tract of land was entered upon ; roads were almost impassable. A general halt was made about noon, and the enemy were found to be disputing progress. After an interval of about two hours, Gen. Smith sent back for the guns to shell the position of the hostile forces. Command was given and the artillery was rapidly advanced about two miles, when the rebels were found well posted upon a range of high hills covered with a dense growth of trees and underbrush, at the bottom of which ran a deep bayou.
The section advanced about two hundred yards in an open field, planted the guns about a mile from the enemy and opened with shell, and the first fire caused them to move farther up the hill. The guns then advanced about three hundred yards farther and again opened fire. A little after dark, the section was relieved by a Wisconsin battery. At daylight Sunday morning, Putnam was ordered to
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
advance his pieces to the front of the center division, where the firing was deafen- ing. and there to silence a battery playing heavily on our infantry. This was soon done, but the section continned to work the guns all day, under fire, until dark, when. having fired three hundred rounds, the ammunition gave out and a gun was ordered to be fired every fifteen minutes during the night. The men were now tired, hungry and without cartridges, and were relieved by the First Illinois Bat- tery and secured needed rest. Next day, the chests were filled, the men fed. and the section advanced briskly to the front, but firing was light. About 3 P. M., the guns were ordered to the left to cover an attempt by infantry to ford the bayou and storm the position. The Sixth Missouri crossed under a deadly fire and pressed forward till checked by the rebel works, too high to scale, and soon retired in good order. The enemy was now receiving re-enforcements, and the command was ordered to the transports.
In the campaign against Vicksburg, the Eighth assisted in the battles of Grand Gulf, Black River Bridge, Raymond, Champion Hill and in the rear of Vicksburg. For service rendered, it received the special thanks of Gens. Grant and Sherman. It operated on the extreme right of the Union position in Steele's division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and used thirty-two-pound Parrott guns, the heaviest pieces on the line.
Vicksburg having surrendered, the Eighth was sent to Jackson to help in the movement against Johnson ; it then returned to the former city, went into bar- racks and remained till December, 1863. It went with Gen. Sherman on the expe- dition to Meridian, and, on its return, was placed on duty in the city, where it remained until the spring of 1864, when the command veteranized and visited their homes. They set out on their return on April 4, having recruited 118 men for the battery. Occasional expeditions occupied the Eighth until December 22, 1864, when it moved with an expedition to the central part of the State to destroy the Central Mississippi Railroad, and thereby hinder the re-enforcement of Gen. Ilood, who was then in full retreat from his ill-advised march on Nashville. Forty miles of track, three locomotives and forty cars, loaded with rebel cotton and corn. were destroyed. The enemy were found in force at the Black River Bridge, and, being assailed, were driven from strong stockades and the bridge burned. The battery made its way back to Yazoo City and Vicksburg. At Yazoo City, the enemy had closed in and nearly surrounded it when the river was crossed and it moved down the opposite bank, being followed and under fire four miles. The Eighth Battery remained at Vicksburg until May 20, 1865, at which time it was ordered to Natchez, where it performed garrison duty until the last of June. Again it was sent to Vicksburg and employed on provost duty up to the last of July, when it was ordered to Camp Dennison, Ohio, and, at that camp, mustered out of service August 9, 1865.
Thus briefly have we outlined the movements, and placed on record the heroic actions, of organizations which, from the larger number of Darke County soldiers enrolled in them, presented the strongest claims to detailed notice.
It will be seen that the county had representatives in all branches of the serv- ice and upon every notable battle-field of the war. Their record is stainless, and in many adverse situations they bore themselves with honor. It is easy to eulo- gize, but it is seldom that it has worthier thieme.
Fifteen years have elapsed since the men came home bronzed and bearded ; many of them in middle age constitute the best citizens of the county, and many are enfeebled by the exertions made in their early manhood, but few are the recipi- ents of a nation's bounty.
How many have fallen in battle, in hospital, by ball and disease, and how many have been " mustered out " since by death.
" On fame's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards with solemn round The bivouac of the dead."
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
PATTERSON TOWNSHIP.
To the northeast and in close proximity to the site of old Fort Loramie, and bounded north and east by parts of Mercer, Auglaize and Shelby, is situated Patterson Township, a part of Darke County devoted with good results to the interests of agriculture.
Its history is a record of individual exertion. Orchards and groves have been made to alternate with fielas of corn and wheat. Much of the olden time yet remains in the fields of woodland, tracts of the original forest, and the work of reconstruction still proceeds. Annually, the area of woodland is diminished ; the timber, however, is no more gathered in windrows, and the settlers are no longer called to log-rollings. A chopper or two, felling the trees carefully, cords the wood for the home fire or the city market, but the smaller branches feed the element that once consumed the finest and most valuable of timber. Much of the lands of Patterson are the depository of the golden seed, whence the landscape is clothed in summer green, and granaries later filled with corn and wheat.
It is strictly an agricultural section, although its citizens were not inferior in soldierly ability during the momentous years of the civil war. Its territory earlier formed the northern portion of Wayne Township, and, while so constituted, the first settlement was made in 1827 by Isaac Finkbone, and upon the adjacent section a man named Philip Pitzenberger erected a cabin, and, clearing a few acres, lived for a time upon the land as a squatter. The location of these two pioneer clearings was Sections 32 and 33.
The township was formed in 1841, and its original boundary is described as " commencing at the east line of the county, at the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 11 north, Range + east ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 12 north, Range 3 east (the east line of York Township) ; thence north to the county line ; thence following the county line to the northeast corner of the county ; thence south to the place of beginning."
A portion of the township was taken in 1848, to complete the area of Mercer County, and the county line ceased to be identical with that of the Greenville treaty.
Patterson was still farther limited in territory during the same year, by a transfer to Wabash Township of Sections 2, 11, 14 and 23, of Township 12 north, Range 3 east.
The population in 1850 was 319, and this had increased twenty years later to 978. Soon after the formation of the township, a schoolhouse was erected of the old log pattern on Section 32, and a man named A. L. Wilson was engaged as the first schoolmaster. Judgment may be passed upon the interest attached to edu- cation by the knowledge of the fact that of the 319 inhabitants of 1850, there were but a score of persons over twenty years of age who could neither read nor write. Nine years subsequent to its formation, Patterson's real estate was valued at $49,865. There were 57 improved farms, upon which there were 1,624 acres of improved lands and 4,028 of unimproved. The cash value of the farms was $48,470 ; of farming implements, $2.274; and of stock, $7,883. Upon the farms were 127 horses, 136 cows, 10 yoke of oxen, 331 sheep, and 672 swine. There had been raised, in 1849, 4,305 bushels of wheat, some rye, 5,225 bushels of corn, and 1.292 bushels of oats. The pasturage and the industry are shown by the statement of 7,010 pounds of butter made. Such is a passing glimpse at a town- ship whose present status establishes a continued and permanent progress from 1840, when there were scarcely a dozen inhabitants in the region at a time, not even midway to the present. Its future is assured, since in the wealth of the soil is found the basis of all real and substantial strength, whose perpetuity is secured by intellectual culture and physical exercise.
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY
Turn we to note in brief a few facts pertaining to the initiatory settlement and concurrent events, with a further glance at consequent social progress.
The administration of justice in minor courts was a feature of the early day. A suit was brought in Patterson by Isaac Finkbone against Reason R. Miller upon a book account kept by the latter for the former. In the book all the leaves containing credits in favor of Finkbone had disappeared. James Patterson acted as Constable. The case was tried before William J. English, the first Jus- tice of the Peace in the township, and interest attaches from the circumstance that this was the first resort to legal tribunal for redress of grievances in the neighbor- hood. The defense employed James Brandon as counsel, who won the case on good legal ground, though his client was morally in error.
The Millers became obnoxious to the community, and it is said that their habi- tation was destroyed, and they themselves finally disappeared from this vicinity.
The advantage of a country store to a rural community and the chance of a livelihood by carrying on business in such a place was first understood by Joseph Vanky, who opened a grocery in Woodland a short time after it was laid out. Through the efforts of Dr. S. A. Greer. one of the oldest and most influential resi- dents, a post office was established at this same place some time before the civil war. It was kept in his house, which stands a half-mile south of Woodland. It
was removed to the Childers' farmhouse, Mr. Childers being appointed Postmas- ter, and a year and a half later was brought back to Dr. Greer's, and Abner Clark became Postmaster. The office was temporarily discontinued until the spring of 1879, when Willow Dell Office was created and located at Woodland, with John C. Schilling, Postmaster.
Among the first township officers may be named Dr. Greer, Richard Mendenhall. John Puterbangh, Samuel Day, James Davidson, James Patter- son, Anthony Coble, John Deweere and Robert Brandon. Of those oldest settlers who have died may be mentioned John Day. J. P. Puterbaugh. J. Davidson, S. Day and R. Mendenhall. William Russel came to Piqua from North Carolina, and moved into Patterson Townsiph in 1834 or 1835, and settled on forty acres of Section 28. He had a son Joseph, now deceased, and the place is now owned by John Piquenot. Thomas Mendenhall moved in from Miami County in 1835 or 1836, and located near the northwest corner of the town- ship. Arphaxed Julian, of Shelby County, settled in the west part of the town- ship. James Patterson, Sr., father of him who gave his name to the section. came to Ohio in 1817 from Westmoreland County, Penn., made a brief stay at Lebanon. Warren County, then came to Union, and a year later entered 160 acres south of Webster, on the Stillwater. His wife died in 1826, and. selling his land, he went back to Warren County. and thence returned to what is now known as Patterson Township, where he entered eighty acres southeast of Woodland, in Section 28, Town 11, Range 4 cast, being the east half of the northeast quarter. He died on this farm in 1855, at the age of fifty-six years. His first marriage was to Polly MeIntyre, his second to Catharine Rudy. There were fourteen children in the two families. A son, James Patterson, is owner of 280 acres in Sections 22 and 28, adjoining the Shelby County line, is a leading citizen. and has been Justice of the Peace for a number of years.
The land in Patterson was entered principally in small tracts of forty and eighty acres, but there have been among the settlers large landholders. Jolin Deweere has 600 acres after having disposed of as much in farms to his children. Nicholas Flinney las about 500 ; J. Patterson, having sold 120, has 280 acres ; Peter Shields has 480 ; Hamilton Coble has 180 ; Anthony Coble has disposed of about 600 acres, and has 200 left ; Henry Starke has 400 acres. Seven hundred and fourteen acres was entered by one party, and John Wood, of Chillicothe. entered an entire section.
The southern part of Patterson is rolling, and much of the soil is light clay. The timber is beech, sugar maple and oak. The northern part is a darker and
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
stronger soil, bearing more of lime, sycamore and walnut. There is moist, cold land in the north, which is rapidly being improved by drainage. The hamlet of Woodland is on the watershed, the slope being southward toward the Stillwater, and northward into Mercer County. The village school is a short way south of the place, and J. B. Martin, the present teacher, has an average attendance of about thirty pupils. There are seven school districts, having six frame houses and one of brick.
No railroads traverse the township. It contains three churches. The Luth- eran, in Woodland, built in 1865, with a parsonage. The first residence for the minister was a log house, erected in 1868, the present is a frame. The first preacher was Rev. Shaffer, followed by Rev. Framer, Rev. Suter, and he by the present pastor, Rev. Leiderman. A Sabbath school, held during the summer, is largely attended. The Pine Church (Christian), is located two and a half miles north of Woodland, on the Berlin pike, in the Coble settlement. The house was erected in 1863. Rev. Richard Brandon was the first minister, succeeded by Abner Long, and he by Rev. Butts. Preaching is held once a month. The membership has been as high as forty. The Christians are now engaged in building a church in the Speelman settlement, on the northeast quarter of Section 25, Range 3. A congregation and Sabbath school are established in that neighborhood. Meetings are held at the house of John Blotner, and in the schoolhouse on the farm of A. Mendenhall, part of the southwest quarter of Section 24. Services and Sabbath school are largely attended. The people of Pleasant Ridge and vicinity, belonging to the United Brethren, have Sabbath school in the house on the northeast corner of the farm of John Long. Church services are held once in three weeks. About thirty pupils attend the school, of which Joseph Wolf is the Superintendent. The Christian denomination held religious services at Grange Hall (formerly a school- house), and their Sabbath school is superintended by W. W. Richardson.
The Patrons of Husbandry have an organization in this township, established in 1876, with a membership of about forty. Mr. Richardson, above named, was the first Master.
The present Township Trustees are William Hawk. David Speelman and J. M. Simon. The Township Clerk is F. P. Hawk. Merchandise is sold by J. C. Shill- ing and F. P. Hawk, in a building erected for the purpose, some twelve years ago, by G. B. Litman, the first storekeeper therein and the present owner of the prem- ises. About eighteen years ago, a blacksmith, named Henry Howshilt, located in the township and still pursues his useful and laborious calling.
During the war for the Union, the people of Patterson were prompt and patri- otic, their quota was speedily raised and the draft, obnoxious and dreaded, had little influence with them. Although late of settlement and remote from towns, the present of Patterson is not without much of interest, and the time approaches when it will stand well among the leading townships of the county.
WABASH TOWNSHIP.
The township is located upon the north line of Darke County, being the third east from the Indiana line. It is in Township 12, Range 3 east, with Sections 1, 12, 13 and 24 of Township 14, Range 2 east. Formerly, it extended two miles farther north to the old Indiana boundary line running from Fort Recovery to Fort Lor- amie. The reduction in area was caused by the assignment of this and other lands of Darke to Mercer, on the formation of Auglaize. It is situated upon an elevated plateau or table land, being nearly 700 feet above Cincinnati. The north part of the township has a deep, dark, loamy soil, well adapted to raising corn and grain. The south part is a light soil, underlaid with a stiff clay subsoil, producing heavy crops of wheat and other grains. Forty-six bushels of wheat to an acre were raised in the year 1879. The township is well calculated for stock raising.
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
Originally, a sturdy growth of timber covered every acre, but now about two- thirds of the extent is cleared-the greater part of which is cultivated. A great deal of tile has been put down, and, though level and apparently low, the drainage is sufficient for successful culture except in unusually wet seasons. Attention is beginning to be paid to the improvement of stock. Mr. John Dodds has taken especial interest in this particular, and as a result. it will not be many years before the farmers of Wabash will be of the foremost in the county as stock-raisers. The farm of Mr. Dodds lies partly in Allen. and comprises about 500 acres, with good buildings and the machinery now in use. Originally the farms in this town- ship were large, much of the land being entered in quarter, third and half sections.
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