Full text of "Greene County 1803-1908"

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GENEALOGY COLLECTION

in iim SMffif.P.yPJ-'C LIBRARY

3 1833 01786 4957

GREENE COUNTY

1803— iqo8.

EDITED BY
A COMMITTEE OF THE HOME
COMING ASSOCIATION.

XENIA. OHIO

THE ALDINE PUBLISHING HOUSE.

1906

DRAWINGS AND COVER DESIGN BY JOHN DAVIDSON.
BINDING BY W. F LINSCOTT & CO.

1292140

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FOREWORD.

No one could be more conscious of the shortcomings of this
book than the Committee which has labored to prepare it. It is
perhaps inevitable that with so large a subject and so shorl a
time for preparing the material many things should be omitted
that might properly have found place, and certain sections and
interests suffer in comparison with others. We can but regret
that this is so.

We may at least take satisfaction in the thought that the
book is thoroughly a Greene County product. The contributors
are all residents or ex-residents who have written specially for
this purpose, and all of the artistic and mechanical work has
been done in the county with the single exception of the engrav-
ing. The photographs, except when taken by members of the
Committee, have been credited as far as possible to their makers.
While it is hoped that the book will more than pay expenses,
the object in preparing it has been, not to make money for the
Home Coming, but to produce at a modest price a lasting
memento of what promises to be a most interesting event in the
history of the county — the first general return of former residents.
The historical sketch of the county embodies much original
work, vet it is necessarilv based on the older histories, the debt
to which is herewith gratefully acknowledged. Acknowledgments
should also be made to the large number of persons who have
assisted the Committee, either as contributors or as representa-
tives or in other wavs. The hearty response met with in most
cases wdiere help was sought will be one ol the pleasantest
memories of our labors.

Austin McDowell Patterson, Chairman,

Alici-: Galloway Eavey,

DeEtta Greiner Wilson,

John M. Davidson,

Marshall D. Dupton.
Xenia, August, 1908.

CONTENTS.

. J. F. Orr
Wilbur D. Nesbit
s Townships

H. B. Belmer

F. A. Jurkat

Foreword

Country Bred. A Poem. . . . Ridgely Torrence
A Reminiscence . . . Henry M. MacCracken

The Old "Female Seminary" Helen Ekin Starrett
The Dear Old Places. A Poem . Amos R. Wells

The Original People of the

County . . . Warren K. Moorehead

A Historical Sketch of Greene

County . . ■ DeEtta Greiner Wilson

Some of the Men who iiaye made

Greene County
Massif's Creek. A Poem .
A Description of the County a

Bath .

Beaver Creek

Caesar's Creek

Cedarville

[efferson

Miami. Yellow Si
Clifton

New Jasper

Ross

Silver Creek

Spring Valley

Sugar Creek

Xenia

Xenia City
Greene, the Champion Live-stock C
Antioch College
Cedarville College .
The 0. S. & S. 0. Home .
wllberforce university
Xenia Theological Seminary
Organization ok the Greene County

Home Coming Association
Views of Business Houses, etc.

C. H. Ellis
D. E. Spahr

James R. Hale

" Hoke" Smith

ounty, 0. E. Bradfute

John M. Davidson

F. A. Jurkat

R. E. Barnes

J. H. Jones

W. G. Moorehead

PAGE.
V
1

101

103

115

118

120

124

126

134

135

160

163

167

171

179

187

190
193

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Spirit Pool, Clifton. ( Painting)
Old Female Seminary ....
Clifton Road at Wilberforce. {Drawing
Indian Riffle. (Drawing)

Prehistoric Remains

Ancient Work near Cedarville. (Map)
Memorial Stone at Oldtown
Scenes at Oldtown ....

Kenton's Tree

The Old Court House

Court House Group ....

Xenia Public Library (Photo by W. P. McKay)

Xenia Female College

The Court House

Map of Greene County

Cedarville Cliffs: The Falls from Above. (Drawing)
Cedarville Cliffs: The Pass. (Drawing)
Cedarville Cliffs: Tickling Rock. (Drawing)

Some County Institutions

Cedarville Cliffs: The Rapids. (Drawing)

Scenes in Fairfield

The Little Miami and Mad Rivers

Scenes in Osborn

Zimmerman, Shoups, Alpha, and Union School House
New Jasper and Paintersville

Scenes in Cedarville

Scenes in Bowersville
vii

Fron

PACE

tispiece
6
12
14
18
19
27

38
t8
57
60
67
80
82
83
84
86
87

90
92
94
96
98
100
102

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Whitehall

The Little Miami above Yellow Springs. (Drawing')

The Glen at Yellow Springs .

On the Little Miami Terrace above Yellow Springs. ( Drawing

Scenes in Yellow Springs

Scenes at Clifton .

Steamboat Rock, Clifton

Scenes in Ross Township

Scenes in Jamestown .

Scenes in Spring Valley

Scenes in Bellbrook

The Old Tavern, Bellbrook. (Drawing)

Andrews' Ford and Bonner's Lily Pond

Street Scenes in Xenia

Some of Xenia's School Buildings

Xenia Churches

Catholic Church, Xenia

Y. M. C. A. Building, Xenia

Scenes in Xenia

Indian Riffle Bridge. {Drawing)

Antioch College. (Drawing) .

Cedarville College ....

Carnegie Library, Cedarville College

The Administration Building, 0. S and S. 0. Home

The Row of Cottages, 0. S. and S. 0. Home .

The Back Lawn, 0. S. and S. 0. Home

Marching to School, O. S. and S. O. Home

The Front Lawn, 0. S. and S. 0. Home

McDowell Lake, 0. S. and S. 0. Home. ( Photo by Jesse Clark

James A. Shorter Hall, Wilbcrforce ...

O'Xeil Hall, Wilberforce

John G. Mitchell Hall, Wilberforce .

Calloway Hall, Wilberforce

Xenia Theological Seminarv, the New Building

104

1 06

10S

110

112

114

117

119

121

123

125

128

132

136

139

145

148

150

151

153

158

162

104

168

169

170

172

174

176

177

178

180

182

184

186

188

VIEWS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS
CONCERNS.

The Xenia National Bank

Citizens National Rank

The Commercial & Savings Bank

The Peoples Building & Savings Co.

Hutchison & Gibney .

Sayre & Hemphill Drug Store

The McDowell & Torrence Lumber Co

The Dodds Apartments

R. M. Smart .

H. E. Schmidt & Co

European Hotel

Jobe Brothers & Co

Nesbitt & Weaver

Haller, Haines & Higgins

The J. P. Bocklett Supply Co.

Koch's Sample Shoe Store

John T. Barnett & Co. .

F. J. H. Schell . .

The Xenia Water Co .

Downing's Art Studio

The Sutton Music Store .

Arbogust & Co. .

H. H. Thrall, Druggist .

Donges' Drug Store

Robert H. Snead .

L. S. Barnes & Co.

Keves & Nesbitt .

193
194
195
1 96

197
198
1 99

21 )( )
201
20 2

L'O.".
204-
L'( i.".
206

L><)7

L'l IS

209
210
211

LML'
L'l.".
214
L'l 1
215
215
216
216

VIEWS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS
CONCERNS.

PAGE

Ida S. Sinz 217

Kany, the Tailor 217

John A. North , . 218

The Central Electric Supply Co 218

Baldner & Fletcher 219

Osterly Millinery 219

W. O. Maddux & Co 220

Johnson & Dean 220

S. B. LeSourd & Co 221

R. S. Kingsbury 221

C. S. Frazer 222

E. H. Hunt 222

Frank B. Scott 223

Wright & Carruthers 223

Thomas M. Moore ! 221

C. C. Henrie .... . 221

George W. Slusher 225

Oak Lawn Farm 226

Painted by John Davidson.

The Spirit Pool, Clifton

In this pool, according to the Indian tradition, a Shawnee maiden, in love
with an Indian youth, drowned herself Ions: ago. Thereafter, it was said, those
who visited the pool, might frequently hear her sobbing and calling in the night.

COUNTRY BRED.

IN NEW YORK.

RIDGELY TORRENCE.

Where the sister rivers meet the deep sea daughters

With the tidal sieve

Dwell the careless livers by the waters,

Dying as they live.

Theirs is not the gladness of the pleasant places

On the ancient beach

But the city's madness in their faces

Pales from each to each.

Theirs is not the trouble of the solemn meadows

And the sacred rain

But to find the bubble in the shadows

And to lose again.

They are cruel seekers, they are restless movers
And their feet digress

From their mighty speakers and their lovers
Unto senselessness.

I am sick of striving, I am tired of hoping
And nxy pulses cry

For a hillside hiving bees and sloping
Into quiet sky.

That's the hill that bore me, there I watch the grasses

In my fathers' keep.

All they knew before me gently passes

In the winds of sleep.

There the sounds are slender, there the Dreamer growing

With the song he sings

Smiles to find the tender evening glowing

With a look of winsfs.

A REMINISCENCE,

A REMINISCENCE.

CHANCELLOR HENRY M. MCCRACKEN.

T is more than half a century since I
was told by my father the story of his
making his way on foot to Greene
? w<LhI County as a young man from the home
of my grandfather, who was known as
Squire John MacCracken, of Butler
County, Ohio. My grandfather had
been told by Judge Burnet of Cincin-
nati, after whom the Burnet House
was named, that he would give him
for his Butler County land as much of the Burnet unimproved
land in Greene County as he might select as a fair equivalent.
My father, John Steele MacCracken, with his older brother,
Samuel Wilson MacCracken, and a young man who afterwards
became their brother-in-law, Mark McMaken (who died less than
ten years since in Hamilton, Ohio, in the one hundredth year of
his life) came on foot from Butler County up to Greene County.
They selected certain parcels of the land belonging to Judge
Burnet. The principal parcel was a section or more in Beaver
Creek Township, four miles west of Xenia. The three young
men returned and reported their choice of lands. The grand-
father doubted if Judge Burnet would consent to give so large
an acreage for the little farm in Butler County. But the Judge
agreed to the proposed trade without the slightest hesitation. The
young men returned to Greene County with their axes, cleared
many acres of land and builded a house of hewn logs, a part of
which is still upon the Henry Ankeny farm near the banks of
Beaver Creek.

4 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

My father, born in the year 1804. more than once pointed me
to a pleasant knoll overlooking the Beaver Creek Valley and said :
"My oliler brother Samuel and I sat there upon a fence which we
had builded and debated whether we could not then afford to
leave farming, begin to prepare ourselves for college and go
through the college course of four years and the Theological
Seminary in order to be ministers according to the ordinary
Presbyterian requirements. We then and there declared to one
another that we would make the attempt." The farm and old
folks were left behind in the care of a younger brother while
the two older brothers began the battle for education. They and
their parents were all connected with what is now known as the
First United Presbyterian Church of Xenia, Ohio, but which was
then known as the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Church of Xenia. My grandfather. Squire John MacCracken,
was a ruling elder in this church and remained so until his death.
A notable resolve of my father was to keep the land which was
his upon Beaver Creek to fall back upon if at any time he should
require it. Aided by the productiveness of his Beaver Creek
farm he was able to give to his children a liberal education with-
out the hardship which had been encountered by those in pioneer
times in order to make their way.

My own individual recollection of Xenia begins with my
father who was then a pioneer preacher in Hardin County about
sixty years ago, bringing me, a boy of about eight years of age, to
attend the meeting of Synod in this city. We were entertained
by a Mr. Gowdy, father of Rev. George Gowdy, who lived upon
Main Street, in whose house then and there I saw what seemed to
me the most beautiful bit of architecture I had ever known,
namely, a marble mantlepiece. Such a thing did not exist in the
town or in the county where my father had preached since the
time I was three years old. My boyish recollection continued to
cherish Xenia as a notable city builded largely of brick and of
stone when so many county towns of Ohio had only houses of
frame or even of logs. It may have been on this same visit to
Xenia or possibly an earlier one when I had my first sight of a
locomotive, the Little Miami road having just been opened north

A REMINISCENCE. 5

as far as Xenia. At that time the road to Columbus had not been
built. I recollect my especial interest when told that the loco
motive was going down to take in water and how I needed to
have my notion corrected that it had to find its way down into
the water of Shawnee Creek in order to get a sufficient supply.

Greene County and Xenia were my own home for barely
two years, from 1859 until 1861, during which period 1 was a
student in the Theological Seminary of the United Presbyterian
Church, occupying, however, the most of my time the first year
as an instructor id" classes, particularly in the classics, in the
Xenia High School. I have always counted it a privilege that I
was contemporary there with Dr. William G. Moorehead and
other students who have made their impression upon the church
of their generation. My recollections of those two years in Xenia
just before and after the beginning of the great Civil War, are
of a community of high intelligence, earnest religious life and
devoted patriotic spirit.

May I be permitted, while not forgetting the share that people
of various races have taken in the making of Xenia and Greene
County, to emphasize the large contributions made to her history
by the Scotch and Scotch- Irish. United Presbyterians came
originally entirely from Scotland or the north of Ireland. The
Scotch-Irish furnished half of the Presbyterians of every name
in the United States.

There are three gravestones out yonder in the Xenia cemetery
which I have ever remembered as expressing the profound, relig-
ious conviction of those Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians
who have gone forth from Greene County to serve their fellow
men. They are placed over the graves of the Covenanter Gilbert
McMaster, and his two Presbyterian sons, all eminent doctors of
the Church; and on the first I read, "God, thou art my God;" on
the second, "Jehovah-Jireh ;" on the third, "I will go unto God,
my exceeding joy;" and that is Calvinism in the warm heart and
the educated brain of the Scotch-Irish. God is his God. lie
trusts Him to provide everything and to solve mysteries. Exist-
ence is an eternal friendship, an approaching nearer and more
near to his exceeding joy.

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

This depth of faith, joined with strength of intellect and saving
common sense, has done more than all else to make many sons and
daughters of Greene Comity of some value to their country and
to the world.

THE OLD " FEMALE SEMINARY."

THE OLD "FEMALE SEMINARY."

THE OLD "FEMALE SEMINARY. 1

HELEN EKIN STARRETT.

URELY one of the most interesting his-
toric buildings in Xenia is the present
dormitory of the Theological Seminary
on Third Street, but known, prior to
and in the sixties, as "Airs. Raima's
Seminary." Built by that noble foun-
der of the Washington Female Semi-
nary in the then little town of Wash-
ington, Pa., in the days of the first
beginnings of the "higher education for
women," it had for some reason unknown to me proven so com-
pletely a financial failure that Airs. Hanna had closed it ; and in
1860 it stood, a fine, almost new building, with boarded-up doors
and windows, a surprise to every stranger who visited Xenia.

The year of 1860 saw thousands of returning northerners
flocking back from the South after the war had been — greatly to
their astonishment — actually declared. Among those who left
loved homes and occupations in the beautiful southern land, was
the family of my father, Rev. John Ekin. D. D., who had gone to
the South (originally for his health) as pastor of a congregation
in Louisiana. Three of his daughters were teachers in the South,
and when it was suddenly found that all must return to the North,
or share the fortunes of the Confederacy, it was regarded by my
father as a special favoring Providence that his "old familiar
friend," Rev. R. D. Harper, then pastor of the First United Pres-
byterian Church of Xenia, should write to him suggesting that
the family take the vacant and boarded-up school building and
open anew a "Female Seminary."

8 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Suffice it to say the invitation was gladly accepted. Three
daughters of us came first to open the building. It is illustrative
of the simple, primitive customs of those days that we three with-
out the aid of any servant, cleaned the building from top to bot-
tom, washed the windows and scrubbed the floors, laid in provis-
ions and prepared to receive the rest of the family, and felt that
we had the approbation of all the citizens in so doing. In fact, I
think it helped to give us the reputation that afterwards enabled
us, jointly, to build up a successful school and provided us all
with a lovely and comfortable home during the vicissitudes of
war times. I may add as farther illustrating the financial and
social conditions of those days that when our freight and traveling
expenses were paid and we were settled in our new home, my
father had left just $50 in gold. At the end of the school year
we still had one $5 gold piece left of that money.

In those school-rooms were gathered, during the five or six
years of our occupancy, a bevy of lovely, rosy-cheeked girls, some
of whom are still with us, while many have answered the heavenly
roll call. Their married names I do not know, but I remember
them as Ella Harper, Jennie and Emma Millen, Julia Barr, Chessie
Reid, Anna MacCracken, Chrissie Moody, Mattie Leaman, Re-
becca Jacoby, Mattie Allison, Fanny Smart, Sallie McDowell,
and the Paul sisters. Hettie Williamson, one of the pupils, was
a beautiful girl, who created a great sensation in the school by her
sudden marriage to Rev. W. C. McNary. It is a great distinction
for a school girl to get married, especially to a preacher. Chessie
Reid's distinguished brother, Whitelaw Reid, I remember as a tall
sunburned youth, walking the streets of Xenia, who was pointed
out to us as the "reporter" for the Xenia Gazette, of whom we
had better stand a little in awe, as he was not afraid to make
critical personal remarks in his paper. After we became better
acquainted with "Miss Chessie," our fear of him was not so
potent, as we felt sure of her kindly interest in our behalf. Anna
MacCracken, too, had a brother, a preacher, which was quite a
distinction for her, and very justly; for that brother has been for
many years Chancellor MacCracken of the great New York Uni-
versity. I consider it quite a distinction myself to be able to say

THE OLD " FEMALE SEMINARY." 9

that I heard him preach in Dr. Findley's Church his first sermon
after he was licensed to preach. I remember the text: "In the
beginning was the Word," and to this day I remember well some
of the excellent points of the sermon.

Next to our pupils our greatest interest was in the Theo-
logical Seminary. What a fine body of strong, vigorous, able
young men gathered within those plain walls in the early sixties !
We were all young together then, and as the "theologues" usually
called each other by their first names, we learned to think of them
as Joe and Will Clokey, Jack McMichael, Matt. Gibson, Pollock
McNary, and others. Every one of these who remain with us is
now a gray-haired Doctor of Divinity. However serious they
might be in their studies during the daytime, they were certainly
fond of fun in the evening. Dancing was not included in their
modes of entertainment, but in those good old days of simplicity
and good fellowship, we could all enjoy such games as "Going to
Jerusalem," "The Stage Coach," "Twenty Questions," "Cha-
rades," etc. One of the innovations of the times then was
"Tableaux," and I well remember how astonished and even scan-
dalized some of the good old United Presbyterians were when,
through the good offices of the theological students, the "Female
Seminary" girls were allowed the use of their Hall for a public
exhibition of a very fine set of living Tableaux — an entertainment
that proved so popular that it was repeated two evenings with
undiminished audiences.

Besides the Theological "set," there was another "set" of
young people, and between them the distinction was sharply drawn
although it was not a "class distinction," and each was very
friendly to the other. The second set danced at parties, went off
on summer excursions, drove good horses, dressed in the latest
style, gave afternoon teas and evening receptions, and had a good
time of their own generally. Of these I remember Sam Allison
and Matt. Allison, his nephew (who afterwards became my
brother-in-law) ; Sam Ewing, who with his dainty clothes and
equally dainty manners was for us "the glass of fashion and the
mould of form"; Mr. and Mrs. Merrick and Mrs. Merrick's sister;
Mrs. Trotter and her daughter, Miss Lily Trotter, and her niece,

10 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Miss Julia Myers; the Aliens, the Boyds, Daniel McMillan and
family, Mary Alexander, the Drakes, the Ankeneys, all of whom
belonged to this set. All were good church goers, and the moral
and religious tone of society was distinctly high — as is always the
case when the good old United Presbyterians are in the ascendant
in the community, as they were in Xenia.

When it was fully realized that the War was a dread reality.
— its scenes being especially brought home to us by the vivid and
eloquent letters of the soon-to-be famous war correspondent of
the Cincinnati Gazette, Whitelaw Reid, — the social life of the
town began to center in the Soldiers' Aid Societies, which general-
ly met in the churches. What stores of preserved and canned
fruits, what gallons of grape juice and home-made wines, what
bundles of lint and bandages, what dozens of hand-knit socks
and mittens went from the hands of the good women of Xenia,
the records of the Sanitary Commission will tell. And then,
when some of our neighbors were wounded or taken prisoners,
when some languished in Libbey Prison and even in Anderson-
ville, every heart was touched and the people of Xenia were
drawn together in a new bond of fellowship.

Xenia had a taste of the realities of war to the extent of
being greatly alarmed by a report that Quantrell was planning a
raid through that part of Ohio. The Home Guard was called
out and practiced military maneuvers; many citizens hid their
valuables, money and silver by burying them, putting them in
wells, etc. In our home the bricks of the back parlor hearth were
lifted, a deep hole excavated, and all the solid silver spoons, the
five dollar gold pieces and the family daguerreotypes were safely
buried. It was quite exciting and made us feel that we, too, were
helping to save the country.

One incident of the war many of the then young people will
remember. A Division of the Army (of the Potomac, I think)
was to be moved and the soldiers passed through Xenia, being
transported mainly on freight cars. They were in command of
Generals Hooker and Butterfield. The Xenians sent an invitation
that they should stop for a good "square meal," and the invitation
was accepted. Oh. the preparations that were made to give the

THE OLD "FEMALE SEMINARY. '" n

soldier boys a royal breakfast, for they would arrive in the morn-
ing. The chickens and turkeys and fatted calves in the surround-
ing country were thinned out even more effectually than for a
ministerial convocation. Cakes, p:es, and delicious borne made
bread arrived by wagon loads in great clothes baskets. In the
old Female Seminary one of the younger daughters arose at four
o'clock in the morning and by eight o'clock bad baked one bundled
and forty-four dozen of light baking powder biscuits, besides
denuding the store room of the winter's supply of winesap apples.
All were at the train in season, and every soldier bad all he could
possibly eat. besides earning away with him one or two days'
rations. A coterie of the Xenia girls aroused the envy of those
who bad not thought of doing so themselves, by giving away to
the soldiers unnumbered dozens of handkerchiefs with the names
of the donors in the corners.

So there were sad as well as glad days for the inmates of the
Xenia Female Seminary during the war time, as there were for all
the eitizens of Xenia. I remember being deeply impressed once
by bearing a gray-baired woman declare that the days of the war
were the best days of my life, all because she bad found a work
worthy of her ambitions and her energies which bad previously
been expended on the every day duties of a farm not far from
Xenia.

These are some of the memories and reminiscences that
crowd upon my mind as I accept with pleasure the invitation of
the Committee to furnish a short paper for the Home Coming of
Nineteen Hundred and Eight.

The Starred School for Girls. Chicago.

CLIFTON ROAD AT WILBUR FORCE.

Drawing from photo by Dr. Hewitt.

THE DEAR OLD PLACES. 13

THE DEAR OLD PLACES.

AMOS R. WELLS.

What is the charm of the clear old places,

Haunts and home that my hovhood knew?

Is it the woodland's remembered graces?
Is it the field where the clover grew?

Is it the glen with its cool recesses?

Is it the upland ranging far?
Is it the brook and the water-cresses?

Is it the cows at the meadow-bar?

Xo, it is nothing of nature's glories
Gleaming fair on the gladdened eye,

None of the bright year's picture stories
Moves my heart to a smile or sigh.

Xo; but this in the dear old places
Stirs my spirit when all is said :

just the vision of vanished faces,
just the echo of voices dead.

INDIAN RIFFLE.

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OP THE COUNTY.

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.

WARREN K. MOOREHEAD,
Curator of the Peabody .Museum

I. PREHISTORIC MEN.

REHISTORIC man in Greene
County left probably 60 or 70

monuments of which -11 arc
clearly seen at the present day.
The historic period — that of
the Shawanoes, or Shawnees,
at Old Town, then Old Chilli-
cothe — did not embrace any of
these remains. The Shawa
noes buried in ordinary graves
and confined their village to
the little plateau south of the
gravel hills flanking Old Town
Run. The prehistoric people lived on Caesar's Creek. Massie's
Creek, Old Town Run, and the Little Miami River.

Whether glacial or pre-glacial man lived in Greene County
is a debatable question. In fact, scientists are divided into two
schools on the whole question of glacial man in America. There
are those who believe that the discoveries in the gravels at Tren-
ton, X. J., Wilmington. Del.. Madisonville and Newcomerstown,
( >hio. and in Nebraska and elsewhere are indicative of a human
culture extending back 30.C00 or -10.000 years. Against this
proposition are most of the Smithsonian scientists and several
leading geologists who do not believe that the evidence warrants
any such conclusion. Although some rough implements were
found by me in Old Town Run many years ago and, at the time,
thought by Dr. Thomas Wilson of the Smithsonian to he paleo-

16 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

lithic in character, yet it is not established that glacial man lived
in Greene County.

Coming down to more recent times and accepting observa-
tions and explorations as trustworthy, we observe that the earli-
est man in Greene County probably buried his dead in natural
formations, which appeared moundlike in character. It is quite
likely that he selected glacial kames and knolls, rounded by the
action of the elements during thousands of years ; and because
digging in this way was easy, he placed his dead in shallow graves
upon these graceful summits. When gravel pits were opened in
Greene, Fayette, Warren and Clinton Counties, it was no uncom-
mon thing to find human remains therein, and alongside such
human remains lav types of crude implements somewhat different
from those found in mounds and upon the village sites. There-
fore, I have believed that in Ohio we had. not only tribes which
built mounds, but also an earlier people, although not necessarily
a people of great antiquity — that is, great compared with the age
of the glacial epoch.

These early people found game very plentiful, the winters
not severe and life on the whole not a desperate struggle for
existence such as characterized tribes in Canada and upon the
headwaters of the Columbia and Missouri.

The buffalo roamed throughout central and southern Ohio,
Kentucky and Indiana and as late as 1760 buffalo were killed by
Captain James Smith, long a captive among the Indians. Buffalo
bones have not been found in village sites in Greene County but
they were exhumed from ash-pits at Fort Ancient and at Mad-
isonville.

Accustomed as we are to innumerable luxuries, regarding
the high development of the 20th century as a matter of course
and forgetting the millenniums through which man was slowly
toiling upwards, we cannot understand how the American ab-
origine achieved what he did. He had no metal, save a limited
supply of copper in a few isolated centers. All his art, manufac-
turing, building, etc., must be accomplished by the use of stone,
bone and shell tools. The Indian was more ingenious and saving
than are we. He made use of such material as he could find.

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 17

His textile fabrics — whether baskets or blankets, — his elaborate
pipes, his skilfully made bows were all worked out of raw mate-
rial by hand. It seems incredible to us that he accomplished his
work with such tools as the flint drills, the bone awls, the flint
saws and the hammerstones that we find in every collection in
Greene County. But one must not forget that the Indian had
great capabilities. The Indian brain is finer than that of the
Negro and his skeletal structure is also of a higher order.

The mound building, to which he was given, extended
throughout the entire Mississippi valley. While there are some
mounds in China and a few elsewhere in the world, yet mound
building was not practiced largely save among American tribes.

Reference to the archaeological map of Greene County here-
with 'presented will show the distribution of mounds, village sites
and the earthworks. From the character of the earthworks it
is to be supposed that they are defensive. The mounds were for
burials exclusively. The method of mound construction was sim-
ple. Natives selected a level spot of ground, well situated, pref-
erably near a stream and commanding the surrounding country.
They burned off the grass and shrubs and beat the surface until
it was level. On these hard burned floors they placed the bodies
of their dead with various implements, ornaments, etc., and over
the interment heaped a large mass of earth. The earth was car-
ried in baskets and skin bags, as is clearly shown by the different
lens-shaped masses averaging about half a bushel in quantity.
Shortly after the mound was constructed, grass began to grow
and then the monument became more indestructible than imposing
structures of stone or brick. A simple mound of earth outlasts
any other work erected by man.

Nearest to Xenia of all the works in the county is the circle
on Old Town Run, two miles northeast. Unfortunately I do nol
recall the name of the gentleman on whose land it lies, but it may
easily be found. Within the enclosure is a small mound. It is
quite evident that circles were erected as sun symbols, and some
times as symbols of the universe. The square represented the
earth, or the four winds, or the four cardinal points.

West of Xenia is a large mound on the land of Air. John

•See the article" A Description of the County and Its Twnships."

PKEHISTORIC REMAINS.

Mound on the Lucas Farm.
Mound near Cedarville.

The Spring Valley Mound.
The two lower pictures were taken at the " ancient work" described in the article-
the one, of the " embankment "; the other, of the " ancient channel" from point G.

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.

B. Lucas, which was opened about 15 years ago 1>v Messrs.
George Day and Clifford Anderson. The burials in this mound
presented two types, the ordinary interment and the cremated
skeletons. Curious tubular pipes, flat tablet-shaped ornaments of
slate, the war hatchets, large flint knives, copper bracelets and
problematical forms were found with the skeleton.

^^ — igffll^ ^~^rm9n^p0

Z* v> '

Scale

3 JO ft. tclhe IncV

ANCIENT WORK

Crccne Co.. Ohio.
.T.Oweins*- Lff.Jiilt, Stir,, y<ft

The largest ancient fortification of Greene County is at
Cedarville Cliffs. Messrs. Squier and Davis, the pioneers of
American archaeology, in their famous publication "Ancient Mon-
uments of the Mississippi Valley" (1848), being the first work
issued by the Smithsonian Institution, present a map of this work
which is herewith reproduced. I quote from their original descrip
tion.

"It is situated on Massie's Creek, a tributary of the Little
Miami River, seven miles east from the town of Xenia, Greene
County, Ohio; and consists of a high promontory, bounded on all
sides, excepting an interval at the west, by a precipitous limestone
cliff. Across the isthmus, from which the ground gradually sub-

20 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

sides towards the plain almost as regularly as an artificial glacis,
is carried a wall of earth and stones. This wall is now about ten
feet high by thirty feet base, and is continued for some distance
along the edge of the cliff where it is least precipitous, on the
north. It is interrupted by three narrow gateways, exterior to
each of which was formerly a mound of stones, now mostly car-
ried away. Still exterior to these are four short crescent walls,
extending across the isthmus. These crescents are rather slight,
not much exceeding, at the present time, three feet in height.
The cliff has an average height of upwards of twenty-five feet,
and is steep and almost inaccessible. At dd are breaks in ibe
limestone, where the declivity is sufficiently gentle to admit of a
passage on horseback. At E is a fissure in the cliff, where per-
sons may ascend on foot. The valley, or ravine, CC, is three hun-
dred feet broad. Massie's creek, a considerable stream, washes
the base of the promontory on the north. The area bounded by
the cliff and embankment is not far from twelve acres. The
whole is covered with the primitive forest.

"The natural strength of this position is great, and no incon-
siderable degree of skill has been expended in perfecting its de-
fences. A palisade, if carried around the brow of the cliff and
along the summit of the wall, would render it impregnable to sav-
age assault. About one hundred rods above this work, on the
opposite side of the creek, is a small circle, two hundred feet in
diameter, enclosing a mound. About the same distance below,
upon the same bank, is a large conical mound, thirty feet in height
and one hundred and forty feet in diameter at the base."

Messrs. Squier and Davis also illustrated the semi-circular
embankment and mound lying half a mile south of the work pre-
viously described. They present a diagram of the polygon, seven
miles north of Xenia on the east bank of the Little Miami river,
some distance below Yellow Springs. These gentlemen refer to
the mound enclosure by a circle on Old Town Run, two miles
north of Xenia. At the time their Look was published, the high
conical-shaped mound below the cliffs (near the Hon. Whitelaw
Reid's house) was something over thirty feet in altitude and one
hundred and forty feet diameter at the base. In subsequent years

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 21

people from Cedarville have attempted its exploration and the
height is somewhat reduced and the diameter extended.

The other mounds are scattered about the county, following
more or less regularly the water courses. None of them were
house sites or "lookout stations'*, but all may be safely classed as
mortuary tumuli. No stone mounds are to be found in the region
and artificial terraces common on Caesar's Creek in barren Coun-
ty, do not, I think, extend into Greene. If they appear in the
southwest edge of Greene, I stand corrected. Save at Cedarville,
no large mound exists in the county.

There have been, from time to time, persons living in Xenia
who were interested in archaeology. When I was a boy a picnic
party was organized to visit Fort Ancient, twenty-two miles south.
I remember following Judge E. H. Munger and two or three
other gentlemen who were familiar with Professor Short's "North
Americans of Antiquity", about the wonderful enclosure and
listening to their comments.

Although the monuments, sixty or seventy years ago, were
much more distinct than at present, yet very few persons in Ohio
took any interest in them. The pioneer was Caleb At water of
Circleville, who visited Greene County before 1818. His book,
"Archaeologia Americana", was published in 1820 in Worcester,
Mass.

Old citizens in Xenia will remember Mr. W. B. Fairchilu.
Of the Xenians of seventy-five years ago, Fairchild was one of
the most intelligent. His interest in science was marked and he
is mentioned in the first report of the Smithsonian Institution
several times. Mr. S. T. Oweins, surveyor of Greene Count}- in
the early forties, is credited with having made the first accurate
survey of these interesting monuments. In recent years a number
of gentlemen residing in or near Xenia have accumulated archaeo-
logical collections. These have a special value to science and
should be preserved in the Xenia public library, or where they
will be available to future generations. Perhaps the best exhibit
of stone art of prehistoric tribes is the collection owned by Mr.
George Charters. His exhibit comes from Caesar's Creek, Mas-
sie's Creek, Old Town Run and other favorite sites.

22 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Particular attention is called to the skill of the Greene County
natives in the chipping of flint, now a lost art. Some of the
large spear heads found in Greene County are made of pink and
white flint brought from the Flint Ridge pits in Licking County,
nearly a hundred miles distant, and are marvels of skill and
beauty. On some of tbe larger ones I have seen depressions
from which flakes as small as the 32nd of an inch were detached.
Any prehistoric man was able to make his ordinary arrow-heads,
but it required a master hand to make a certain kind of spear-
head which I have named the "sunfish" pattern because of its
resemblance in form and color to the large blue and red sunfish
of Greene County streams.

The late Mr. Jacob Ankeney had a large collection of Greene
County specimens. As a boy I used to go to his house and spend
hours with him in the examination of his treasures. But unfortu-
nately this collection has become scattered, so it is said. Next to
Mr. Charters' exhibit in size is that of Mr. George Day. Dr.
Spahr of Clifton has some hundreds of interesting implements
relating to primitive art of northern and eastern Greene County,
and there are a score of smaller exhibits scattered throughout the
county. These taken as a whole give one a comprehensive
knowledge of the Stone Age in this region. The tribes do not ap-
pear to have been sedentary in their habits although they appear f o
have lived long enough in one place to raise crops of corn, tobacco,
pumpkins, and beans. Numerous stone pestles attest this.

So far as we are able to judge, Greene County natives were
not given to travel or exchange. Aside from Flint Ridge flint,
all materials were local. They received a little copper from the
north and a few plates of mica from the south — both dear to
aboriginal hearts. But they did not import ocean shells, and
pearl beads, and galena, obsidian, and Tennessee flint as did the
tribes in the Scioto Valley.

Prehistoric man in Greene County was of what is called
"Fort Ancient culture," that is, the Fort Ancient culture is totally
different from the higher culture of the Scioto Valley. The
tribes of surrounding counties from beyond the Great Miami on
the west to the headwaters of Paint Creek on the east belong to

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 23

this same general Fort Ancient stock. It is quite likely that in
case of attack by enemies from the north or from the Scioto, they
retreated to Fort Ancient. Traveling light, as aborigines do when
in danger, they could reach Fort Ancient from almost any part
of Greene County in from four to five hours. With the excep-
tion of the site at Old Town made historic by Kenton, and I'.oone,
and I'.lackfish. and Captain Bowman, all the other places on which
Indian implements are found in the county are pre-Columbian.
Their exact age cannot be determined although it is probable
that some of them may have been inhabited two or three thousand
wars ago.

Nothing remains today of prehistoric man in Greene County
save his mounds and stone artifacts. Civilization has obliterated
prettv much all else. Yet, it seems to me, that we owe it to
science — if not to the memory of those red men of the simple
Hf e — to preserve such of their works as time has vouchsafed to
us. The notable ones are the enclosure and mound near Cedar-
ville Cliffs.

The "Cliffs" have been a favorite picnic resort for a century.
Nothing more picturesque exists in the state. Greene County
could easily make of the place a park, for the natural beauty and
park conditions are perfect. The expense would be trifling and
the benefit to the community at large beyond price. Such a place
as the " Cliffs" near any city woudl have become a public ••nature-
field" a generation ago.

The park scheme would properly include the imposing mound
near Mr. Reid's home and the fortification on the bluffs over-
looking Alassie"s Creek. Then future generations might exclaim
with pride :

"( rreene and Licking Counties are the only two of the eighty-
eight that preserved their natural scenery and their antiquities.

S J

24 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

II. THE INDIANS.

The greatest Indian known in history, Tecumseh, was born
not far from Xenia in a little cabin on Mad River. As the exact
location is not known, it is possible that he was born somewhere
near Old Chillicothe (Old Town) in Greene County. Be that
as it may, the authorities give the site of his mother's cabin as
on Mad River. The village was a small one, the main village
being at Old Town. Tecumseh was a full-blooded Shawano. I te
was one of three boys born at the same time. As twins are rare
among Indians, this incident — being remarkable — carried religions
significance to the aborigines and Tecumseh became famous even
in his youth. I lis brother, Els-Kwau-Ta-Waw, was afterwards
a famous medicine man or shaman and was second in influence
to Tecumseh. lie is known in history as the Prophet, These
two remarkable men and their people hunted and fished within
die confines of Greene County long before any white people had
settled in the valley of the Little Miami. Tecumseh and his
brother are better known in .American history than many of the
white men who fought against them and now that we can view
those troublesome times dispassionately, we have ample evidence
that the contentions of Tecumseh were entirely just, right and
reasonable, and that he was superior in many ways to his white
contemporaries.

There were no Indians in Greene County save the Shawanoes.
Their original home was in the South, and to escape persecution
they fled north to the Ohio, settling in Ross, Pickaway and Greene
Counties and later in Indiana. The Delawares, Mingoes and
other tribes visited the Shawanoes between 1750 and the war of
1812. But the Shawano village mentioned was the only perma-
nent abode of Indians in the county.

This Indian tribe never contained more than 300 fighting men
in all its villages, yet it engaged the Americans in 22 actions. By
our own records — which are naturally prejudiced — the Indians
won thirteen, there were four drawn battles and five defeats. The
Shawanoes could outfight and outmaneuver, man for man, the
Iroquois, the Delawares, or the white backwoodsmen. When the

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 25

villages on the Scioto were attacked, the Old Town Indians went
to their brothers' assistance, and vice versa. In the battle of the
Thames in which Tecumseh was killed (October 5th, 1813), if
Proctor and the British regulars and the other Indian allies had
stood by Tecumseh, his chance of success would have been very
favorable.

The Shawanoes were of the Algonkin stock, intelligent, pro-
gressive, and very decent Indians. There were some bad men
among them but on the whole they were less given to drunkenness
and debaucherv than the roving backswoodmen about which so
much fiction has been written. Aside from cruelty, Indians —
ethnologists now know — had practically no. vices. As aborigines
before the}- were contaminated by white influence, they ranked
superior to African and Australian or other aboriginal tribes. Of
their hospitality, their kindness to captives, and their industry we
have no end of testimony. They were not naturally hostile to while
people, but they became embittered for reasons which I have not
space to set forth in detail. Those who care to follow the subject
and regard Ohio Valley history from the Indian point of view.
should consult "The Indian Tribes of Ohio, Historically Consider-
ed", in Vol. VII, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical publi-
cations. However, a few of the reasons why the Indians of Old
Town were hostile may be given.

Silver Heels was a favorite chief of the Shawanoes. He was
murdered near the Ohio river by a backwoodsman from Kentucky.
I draw a distinction between backwoodsmen and pioneers. Back-
woodsmen were responsible for much of the trouble between the
Indians and the whites. They were ever a lawless class from the
days of the good missionaries Heckewekler and Zeisberger down
to the present time and no man who thoroughly understands In-
dian affairs has a good word for the backwoodsmen. They were
ever moving, following the frontiers. The type is practically ex-
tinct today, but in Indian Territory and in a few sections of the
West is still to be found the man and his family in the ever present
prairie schooner ; moving, moving, eternally moving in the vain
hopes of bettering his condition. ' That man is the survival of the
back-woods type.

20 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

The murder of Silver Heels wrought the Shawanoes of Frank-
fort, Ross County, (Lower Chillicothe) and Old Town to a pitch
of fury. Shortly afterwards another prominent Shawano, out of
the kindness of his heart, conducted a party of traders from the
Scioto to Albany, a distance of 500 miles through the wilderness,
and the gratitude of these men was to shoot him through the right
lung. The endurance of this Indian passes our comprehension.
Were the record not made by that truthful missionary, John
Heckewekler, we would doubt it. The Indian, traveling slowly,
reached the United Brethren settlement on the Muskingum river.
He was still in such condition that Heckewekler says that the rush
of air through the hole in his lung was audible. The Shawano,
told Heckewekler that if he could reach Old Town, the Indian
doctors would cure him. 1 lis prediction was verified and he lived
to fight the whites in many an engagement afterwards. The con-
stant raids on Old Town, the Mad River towns and the Scioto
villages by adventurers from Kentucky and Virginia, the failure
of the white people to keep treaties and the death of that able
Shawano chief, Cornstalk, who was murdered while on a friendly
visit with his son to the fort at Port Pleasant — all these things
were more than Indians could stand. And they did just what we
would have done under the circumstances. They entered Ken-
tuck}- and Virginia with scalping knife and tomahawk and they
exacted an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Even so good a
pioneer as Simon Kenton got into trouble through his own fault.
He and Montgomery and another man came to Old Town and
stole some of the Indians' best horses. On reaching the Ohio
River they were unable to cross because of high winds, which
raised waves and frightened the horses. The Shawanoes killed
Montgomery and captured Kenton. He was taken to Old Chilli-
cothe, beaten and compelled to run the gauntlet. In later years
Kenton was a firm friend of the Shawanoes and he knew very
well that had he not been stealing Indian horses, he would not
have suffered as he did.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Old Town was the rendez-
vous of many war parties and that the names of Tecumseh, the
Prophet, I'.lackfish, etc., became a terror to the white settlements.

Till-] ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF TIIL COUNTY

Daniel Boone (luring his captivity was well treated. Most of the
captives after being adopted were treated precisely as Indians.
When Col. Boquet subdued the Shawanoes as far back as 1754.
more than 200 white people who were in captivity among the
Indians at the several Chillicothes, including ( )ld Town, were
brought in by the Indians enamoured of the wild, free life of the

Photo by W. P. McKay

MEMORIAL STONE AT OLDTOWN.

Erected by the Catharing Greene Chapter, Daughters of the

American Revolution, in liinii.

Indians and did not wish to return to the settlements. Several of
these captives had to be bound in order to compel them to return
East. On the return trip many of them fled and rejoined their
Indian friends, choosing the pleasures of Indian life rather than
those of civilization.

The Old Town Indians' greatest victories were under the
leadership of Tecumseh. At Harmar's defeat in 1791, Tecumseh

28 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

fled from the field upon seeing his brother fall. The death of his
brother embittered him against the white people.

Tecumseh and his warriors set Old Chillicothe on fire on the
approach of Harmar and fled to Mad River. As Harmar, in spite
of his large force, had suffered somewhat at the hands of the
Indians, he "felt desirous of wiping off in another action the
disgrace which his arms had sustained." So he halted eight miles
from Old Town and sent Gen. Hardin with 360 men to find the
Shawanoes and fight them. Early the next morning Hardin
found the Indians in great force at the mouth of Mad River where
his detachment was, as in the case of the first, overwhelmed and
nearly destroyed. The survivors reached Fort Washington ( Cin-
cinnati. ) The total loss in the Harmar expedition must have been
over -100 men. The Indian loss was trifling. The following year,
1792, Gen. St. Clair marched against the combined Shawanoes,
Delawares, YVyandottes and Miamis. St. Clair lost hundreds of
men. Tecumseh shortly afterwards traveled extensively through-
out the South and the North in his endeavor to effect a union of
all the Indian tribes against the white people. His idea was to
make the Ohio river a northern boundary of white men's land and
that all above it should belong to the Indians. The activity of
Tecumseh was something marvelous. All of his journeys, be it
remembered, were on foot or by means of canoe, yet he visited
the Creeks, the Cherokees, the Ojibwas, and a dozen other tribes.
Were he able to combine them he might have held the Ohio
country,, for he twice rolled back the tide of white invasion to the
south of the river. His brother, cooperating with him, gained
great renown as a magician and prophet. Some of his exhorta-
tions were sensible and highly moral. None of them — save that
of attacking the whites — can be claimed to have been bad.

These two men working together created a profound impres-
sion in the minds of the Indians. They united all the Indians of
Ohio against the white people. While Tecumseh was in the
South in 1/94, Gen. Anthony Wayne defeated them at Fallen
Timbers on the Maumee. After this the treaty of Greenville,
17' '5, was signed. It appears that Tecumseh and the Shawanoes
for some time adhered faithfully to that treaty, but the whites did

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. 29

not and freebooters from Kentucky and Virginia ami from the
settlements on the north side of the river began to shoot Indians
on one pretext or another. The situation rapidly became tense.
At a great council attended by all the Indians, Tecnmseh made a
remarkable speech some four hours in length, lie rehearsed the
entire history of the aggression by the whites from the landing of
th Pilgrims down to the signing of the Greenville treaty. As an
oration delivered in his native tongue, it moved the assembled
hundreds to tears. The interpreter confessed himself utterly in-
adequate to render it into English for the benefit of the few whites
present. Hence we have no record save that the oration is men-
tioned by writers at that time as something be\ond the ordinary,
that it made a great impression on the Indians present, and that
Tecnmseh was reverenced by them.

The battle of the Thames, October 5th, 1813, in which Te-
cnmseh was killed, has been often told and it not necessary to
describe it here. Because Proctor and his allies lied, the great
Shawano knew that he must depend upon his own warriors.
Tecnmseh and his men realized the inevitable, yet they hardened
their hearts and withstood the shock. Nothing is absolutely
known regarding Tecnmseh's death beyond the fact that he fell.
Tecnmseh was typical of the best of the Shawano Indians,
and Greene County may lay claim to him not without reason, if
he was not born within the confines of our fair region, he at least
spent much of his time there. I lis people called ( )ld Chillicothe
their capital. Their largest council house, built of logs, was near
where the brick schoolhouse now stands in the center of Old
Town. There were many houses in this village, for Old Town
was larger in 1780 than at any time in its history. Col. John
Bowman and 160 Kentuckians in 177') attacked Old Town and
burned about forty cabins. But they could not take the council
house because the Shawanoes bred upon all who attempted to
approach. Bowman's much heralded expedition was a virtual
defeat for the whites.

It must not be believed for a moment that the Shawanoes at
( )ld Chillicothe were savages. They lived in comfortable log
cabins, were well clothed, had gardens and orchards, and if the

OLDTOWN.

View from a hill on the east.
View showing schoolhouse and memorial stone,

Phuioshy W. P McKay.

THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.

white people had lei them alone, they would have been living, in
all probability, at the present time much after the fashion of the
descendants of the Iroquois in western Xew York. The darkest
spot in Shawano history is the presence of the two renegades.
George and Simon ( rirty. Nothing good can be said of these men.
Simon afterwards deserted the Shawanoes and lived with the
Mingoes and Wyandottes — Indians morally inferior to the Shaw-
anoes. George resided for some time with the Shawanoes, but
most of the tribe had little in common with these two outcasts.

Old Chillicothe has been abandoned by Indians for 120 years.
The race that the Shawanoes had just reason to hate, tramps un-
ceasingly back and forth over the site where once stood the simple
wigwams and the council chamber of this remarkable and inter-
esting tribe. We have all that was once theirs. Let us be just
and accord them their meed of praise.

Tradition lias it that in this tree (near Lhe New Jasper pike, a In mt
two miles from Xenial Simon Kenton ouch hid him-
self to escape the Indian-.

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE
COUNTY.

PeETTA GREINKR WILSON.

the thirty-six men who framed the
Constitution of the State of Ohio, and
took the necessary steps seeking the
admission of the same to the Union,
were two who, while credited to Ham-
ilton County, were then residing within
the boundary of what was afterwards
Greene County. They were John Wil-
son, residing near the present site of
Bellbrook, and Col. John Paul, after-
wards the founder of Xenia, who resided at what is now known
as Trebein's Station.

Through the efforts of this body of men, on February 19,
1803, Ohio was admitted to the Union, being the seventeenth
state and the first of the Northwest Territory.

Previous to this, there had been several counties laid out in
the territory, Washington being the first and occupying the entire
eastern part of the territory of Ohio. Hamilton, in 1790, was
the second, named for Alexander Hamilton, and embraced all
the land lying between the Little Miami River and the boundary
line between the lands of the United States and the Indians,
made by the treaty of Greenville in 1795. Ross Count)' occupied
the land west of Washington County in the central part of the
State, its western boundary being not far from Cedarville, this
connt\-, which was first called Newport. This left a strip about
ten miles wide, which was neither Ross nor Hamilton.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 33

In the same year that Ohio was made a state, four counties,
by act of the first State Legislature, were organized from por-
tions of Hamilton and Ross, and the strip above referred to.
These four counties were all, on May 1, 1803, given names of
Revolutionary heroes as follows : Warren was named fur Gen.
Joseph Warren, who fell at Hunker Hill; Cutler for Gen. Richard
Butler who fell in St. Clair's defeat ; Montgomery was named for
Gen. Richard Montgomery whose life was given up at the assault
of Quebec; and Greene for Gen. Nathaniel Greene, distinguished
for his many brave acts dt ring the Revolution.

Greene and Montgomery Counties extended originally from
their present southern boundaries to the north line of the State,
and from the east line of Greene County to the west line of the
State. But these bread dimensions were only of short duration
as, two years later, Champaign County was organized, thus cut-
ting off the northern expanse of Greene, and in 1817 the county
was reduced to its present boundaries, lying entirely within the
Virginia Military Reservation and what is known as the Symmes
Purchase.

The Virginia Military Reservation consisted of more than
4,000,0C0 acres reserved by Virginia for her troops in the Clark
expedition and for her soldiers in the Continental army. It
embraces all the land lying between the Scioto and Little Miami
Rivers. That part of the county lying west of the Little Miami
is a part of the original Symmes Purchase, a tract of 1,000,000
acres contracted for, with the government, by John Symmes, for
himself and his associates. The Virginia Reservation had already
drawn to this locality a considerable number of Revolutionary
veterans and others from that State. Any one holding a Virginia
land warrant could locate it wherever he desired within the dis-
trict and in such shape as he pleased, only providing the land had
not been previously located. Such a haphazard way naturally
led to much litigation in later years.

The first tract of land within the present limits of Greene
County was entered by John Jamison, August, 1787, sixteen
years before Ohio became a state, and nineteen days after the
ordinance of 1787. It was a tract of 1200 acres on the Little

34 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Miami near Okltown, entered on a military warrant, surveyed
by Nathaniel Massie in 1794, and recorded in the land office at
Cincinnati in May, 1795.

Across the county, east and north of Xenia, was the line of
Col. Logan's march to Chillicothe town, in 1786, in General
Clark's campaign against the Indians.

Many persons for whom surveys were made not only never
occupied but never saw them, among whom were many men of
Revolutionary fame. A tract of 2500 acres was entered by
Major-General Horatio Gates, who commanded the American
forces at Saratoga. It lies but a short distance southeast of
Cedarville.

TOWNSHIPS.

At the organizing of the counties, places were appointed as
temporary scats of justice; that selected for Greene County being
the home of Peter Borders on Beaver Creek. On May 10, 1803,
court convened for the dividing of Greene county into townships,
of which originally there were but four; Sugar Creek, Caesar's
Creek, Mad River and I leaver Creek. Sugar Creek Township
included all that is now Sugar Creek, nearly all of Spring Valley
Township and part of what is now Xenia Township. In August,
1803, James Collier, the enumerator, reported living in the town
ship at that time seventy-one free white inhabitants over twenty-
one years of age. The house of James Clancy, on the present
site of the town of Bellbrook, was appointed as a place of holding
elections.

Caesar's Creek Township was about four times as large as
Sugar Creek and included all the southeastern part of the count).
The number of free white males over twenty-one years of age,
as reported by Joseph Price, the fust assessor of this township,
was fifty-eight. The site of Xenia was in this township. The
voting place appointed was the residence of William I. Stewart.

Mad River Township was the third to be organized and the
largest in the county. Not any of this township was within the
present boundaries of Greene County. Its southern boundary

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 35

line was the south boundary of the tenth range of the township,
in what is now Clark County, extending' east and west the entire
width of the county and north to the limits of the State. John
Daugherty. of Springfield, was the first enumerator and reported
one hundred and fifty-six males over the age of twenty-one.
Springfield had been appointed as the place of holding elections
at the home of Griffith Foos.

Beaver Creek Township was the second in size and Peter
Popenoe, the first assessor, reported as residing in the township.
one hundred and fifty-four white male inhabitants over the age
of twenty-one. At that time Beaver Creek Township included
all the lands lying south of Mad River Township and north of
Sugar Creek and Caesar's Creek. The site of the town of
Springfield then lay partly in Mad River Township and partly
in Beaver Creek. The elections were appointed to be held at the
house of Peter Borders; the same place where was held the first
county court. The total number of voters in the entire county
at the organization, as reported by the first enumeration, was 439.

In 1805 it \va> found advisable to organize a new township
from parts of Caesar's Creek and Beaver Creek to be known as
Xenia Township; and two years later, 1807. Hath Township was
organized, being taken wholly from the territory of Beaver
Creek. It included part of what is now Champaign County and
part of three townships in Clark County, ddie first election in
Bath Township was held at the house of Andrew Read, of Read's
Hill, and two justices of the peace were elected, Andrew Read
for the western portion and Thomas Fream for the eastern por-
tion of the township. At first both had quarters at what is now
the town of Yellow Springs, but later at their residence-. The
old stone house on Read's Hill is still standing, hearing the date
over the doorway. 1819. 1292140

On the eighth day of June. 1808, Miami Township was
organized from portions of Bath and Xenia Townships, and the
Erst election was held at the house of David S. Broderich at
Yellow Springs. The first enumeration of this township differs
from that of other townships previously organized in that it in-
cludes a number of women and is designated as a "list of all tax-

36 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

payers," while the former enumerations were designated as a
"list of all free white male inhabitants over twenty-one."

Silver Creek Township was organized on March 4th. 1811,
being taken mostly from Caesar's Creek, with a small portion
from Xenia Township. It included, originally, all that now i^
Jefferson and the eastern part of Spring Valley Township. The
first election was held at the house of Noah Strong.

The same date also marked the organization of Ross Town-
ship. It was taken entirely from Xenia Township. The first
election was held at the residence of John Bozarth.

In 1812 a township was formed from a part of Miami and
was called Vance Township in honor of the Honorable Joseph
Vance, but after the organizing of Clark County only a fractional
part of this township remained in Greene County and that was
attached to Ross Township.

The very prosperous township of Cedarville was not organ-
ized until December, 1850, and, while of very irregular boundary
lines, the form has been but little changed. This was taken from
the townships of Xenia, Caesar's Creek, Ross and Miami. It
seems to have been the first township formed against which a
protest was entered, the following being a portion of the protest
filed with the commissioners by the citizens of Ross Township:
"Our reasons we will fully set forth in your presence, only add-
ing here that we are not willing to have any of our township cut
off, which is already too small, to gratify the caprice or spleen
of any." Which protest seems, however, to have failed, for the
township was duly organized and place of election appointed at
the house of John W. Walker, in the town of Cedarville.

In 1852, New Jasper Township was organized, being taken
from the townships of Caesar's Creek and Xenia; and 1856 wit-
nessed the organizing of Spring Valley Township, which was
formed from adjacent parts of Sugar Creek, Caesar's Creek and
Xenia Townships.

In June, 1858, was organized Jefferson Township, taken
entirely from Silver Creek, and for fifty years there has been no
change in the number of townships in the county.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 37

COUNTY COURT.

The house in which the first county court was held, pre-
viously spoken of as the Peter Borders house and occupied by
Peter Borders, was one of several houses in that locality owned
by Owen Davis, and built by his son-in-law, Gen. Benjamin
Whitenian. It was on the llarbinc farm, near the present rail-
way station of that name, and was built of burr oak logs, hewed
on two sidc> and had a puncheon floor, planed on the upper side.
The house had one small window, and a chimney built of small
logs, lined with stones, its upper part of sticks lined with clay.
It was about twenty-live feet square", with one room below and
one above, which was the sleeping apartment. The moss-covered
bucket hung near by on the long well sweep and a huge pet bear
was chained to one corner of the house. This was one of the
best houses in this part of the country, and was also used as a
tavern as well as a court-room. A little to the east was a smoke-
house, ten by twelve, used, during the sessions of court, as a jury
rooin. Northeast, at a little distance, stood one of two block
bouses, intended for safety should Indians make an attack, but
early appropriated for use as a jail.

During the first term of court Peter Borders was granted
license to keep a tavern, for which he paid $4.00. He was re-
quired to furnish good entertainment under penalty of $5.00 fine
for first offense and $8.00 for each succeeding offense. We well
wonder what was meant by good entertainment when the land-
lord, landlady, children, servants, attorneys, judges and travelers
were all lodged in one sleeping apartment, twenty-five feet square,
Mich as Greene County's first tavern and court-house furnished.

In 1825, when the road leading past this famous edifice was
closed, the latter was moved upon the ground afterwards the
front lawn of Air. John Ilarbine, Sr. In 1833 it was torn down,
but the excavation left from the chimney was permitted to remain,
and now forms a small depression in front of the Ilarbine resi-
dence, a modest but historical monument to the county's first
hostelry and seat of justice.

On Tuesday, August 2, 1803, the first court of Greene
County was held in the Peter Borders house described above,

THE OLD COURT HOUSE.

Phuto by F. E. McGervey.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 39

with William Maxwell, Benjamin Whiteman and James Barrett
as the associate judges, and Francis Dunlavy, presiding judge,
and Daniel Symmes, prosecuting attorney. The first grand jury
for the county consisted of the following persons: William J.
Stewart, foreman, John Wilson, William Buckles, Abrm. Van
Eaton, James Snodgrass, John Judy, Evan Morgan, Robert Mar-
shall, Alex. C. Armstrong, Joseph C. Vance, Joseph Wilson, John
Buckhannon, Martin Mendenhall and Harry Martin.

It is told of this first grand jury, that when they solemnly
retired to an adjoining hut. and went into executive session,
there was no evidence of criminal affairs to be brought before
them and there would have been no witnesses examined, and no
indictments rendered, had not the crowd assembled in honor of
the occasion furnished the material. The occasion was so out of
the ordinary that a large crowd had come together, not only
from this, but from surrounding counties; if they were to have
the luxury of a court, this court must have something to do. A
number of fights, assaults and batteries and affrays of different
sorts were indulged in during the day and ample material for
work was furnished the grand jury. Before the day closed
seventeen witnesses were examined and nine indictments found;
to these indictments all parties pleaded guilty and were fined, and
Greene County court adjourned for the first day. The same
session of court on the second day appointed Joseph C. Vance,
father of Ex-Governor Vance, to make arrangements for estab-
lishing the county seat. The bond required of him for faithful
performance of duty was $1,500 and his bondsmen were David
Huston and Joseph Wilson. The following December "Joseph
Vance was allowed $-49.25 for laying off the town of Xenia,
finding chainmen, and selling lots."

This first session of Greene County court lasted three days.
Among other matters transacted James Galloway, Sr., was
appointed treasurer, and James Galloway, Jr., surveyor of the
county. This same court granted to Archibald Lowry and Grif-
fith Foos license each to keep a tavern in the town of Springfield
(later the county seat of Clark County ) for the payment of $8.00
for each license, and also to Peter Borders, the owner and occu-

40 C.REENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

pant of the house in which court was being held. A later session
of the court ordered that fifty cents be paid for every wolf killed
in the county. It is told that the narrow valley through which
the Little Miami Railroad extends southwest of Xenia toward
Cincinnati was literally a den of wolves. These, with catamounts,
panthers and bears, caused serious annoyance and made the pro-
tecting of the farmer's stock a matter of no small importance.
The same session caused the larger of the two block houses near
Peter Borders' tavern to be prepared to serve for a jail.

At one of the earlier sessions of the court of Greene County,
it was ordered that the taxes of the inhabitants of Mad River
Township be reduced two cents on each horse, and one cent on
each cow. The reason assigned was "for erecting public build-
ings." In vain do we look about for the public buildings — they
are not to be found within the confines of the then very large
county of Greene, and it is still a matter of conjecture as to the
exact meaning of this ruling.

Records also show that at this time Joseph Vance was paid
$6.00 for carrying the election returns to Cincinnati.

It is an interesting fact that the earlier cases that came
before the courts were almost always cases of assault and battery
or cases growing out of personal encounters ; a little later these
decreased and civil cases became more frequent.

The total amount of taxable property in Greene County
returned by the "listers" for the year 1804 was $393.04 and this
included "houses and mills, if any." But one house was returned
for taxation and it was taxed $1.00. It might be of passing
interest to compare with the above modest sum the amount of
taxable property listed for the year 1908, which is $19,302,291.00.

Supreme Court was also held in the Peter Borders' house
in October, 1803, with Samuel Huntingdon and Wm. Spriggs,
judges, Wm. Maxwell, sheriff, and John Paul, clerk. Arthur St.
( lair of Cincinnati was prosecuting attorney, and it is said quite
overawed the plain country folk with his gorgeous costume, ap-
pearing in full military array.

At tlie November term of court in 1803, Rev. Albert Arm-
strong was granted license to solemnize matrimony. Rev. Arm-

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 41

strong, with a colleague, had been sent in 17 ( >8 by the General
Synod of Scotland as a missionary to Kentucky; but, disliking
the institution of slavery, they sought oilier fields, Rev. Armstrong
coming to Greene County, ( )hio.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The historians from whom this paper is compiled agree that
John Wilson was the first white man to make a permanent home
in what later was known as Greene County. In April, 1796, he,
with his three sons, Amos, Daniel and George, and Jacob Mills,
came from Kentucky to make a settlement in the Northwest Terri-
tory. Later divisions into counties showed that the land pur-
chased by Wilson and two of his sons was located in Greene, the
other son's in Montgomery, while Mills' was in Warren County.
One small cabin was erected by Daniel Wilson in 1796 — the first
house in Greene County, about four miles from where Bellbrook
now stands, in the southern part of Sugar Creek Township.
Around this little cabin the timber was cleared and corn, beans
and potatoes planted. Then these brave pioneers returned to get
their families. One ox team and wagon carried all the 'dares et
penates" of the five families. They crossed the Ohio at Fort
Washington, now Cincinnati, and followed the military road cut
by Gen. Wayne in 1793. All five families occupied the one little
cabin until each, with united assistance, could erect a cabin on
his own purchase, and from this humble cabin came one of the
framers of the State Constitution. John Wilson, the father of
the family. To tell of the forming of other homes in the county
would only be repeating the story of this first home — all endured
the same hardships.

Two vears later, 1798, Thomas Townsley settled near the
falls of Massie's Creek, about eight miles from Xenia, and this
same year James Galloway, Sr., settled on the Little Miami two
miles north of Oldtown. The old log house, which was later
weatherboarded over, is still standing, the property of the Miami
Powder Co.. and bears the date, upon a stone over the door, of
1801. A little west of them, at Old Chillicothe (Oldtown) lay
the scene of possibly the most interesting events of this section.

42 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

this being one of the most famous congregating places for the
Indians from all directions. On one of their trails starting from
Hocking Comity and leading direct to Old Chillicothe, for many
years there stood a large beech tree on which was cut, in legible
characters. "This is the road to hell, 1782." possibly traced by
some unfortunate prisoner on his way to Old Chillicothe. Here,
in 1778, Daniel Boone was held as prisoner and succeeded so well
in ingratiating himself in the good favor of the Indians that then-
adopted him into their tribe, but he soon escaped from them and
lied to Kentucky to warn his people of the proposed onslaught
by the Indians. Here too, Simon Kenton ran the gauntlet; and
177') marked in this locality the famous Bowman expedition, all
of which are interesting stories in themselves. But the story of
< )lil Chillicothe is told at length in another article.

Returning to the early white settlers, the Calloway family
was near neighbors to some of the best known of the Indians
who occupied that part of the county, ddiis fact is worthy of
special note as their family traditions are rich in interesting
accounts of the friendships with the red men that were formed in
those early days. The distinguished Tecumseh was a frequent
and welcome visitor at this home and soon became much infatu-
ated with the daughter, Rebecca. With the true dignity which
was ever a trait of the character of Tecumseh, he approached the
lather, who feeling that the daughter could, perhaps, more tact-
fully find a way out of the embarrassing position and still retain
the good will of the Indians, which they greatly desired to keep,
he referred him to her. The chief fearlessly appealed to the girl
herself, for was not he the great Tecumseh, the leader of his
people? He offered her beautiful gifts of silver and ornaments
dear to his people. She told him she could not work like the In-
dian women did, nor lead the wild life they did. He assured her
that she need not work. Then she changed her tactics and told
him she would consider his proposition if he would promise to
lead the life of a white man and assume their dress and habits.
i liis matter he took under consideration, but finally told her, most
sorrowfully, that lie could not possibly do that; that the taking up
of the manners and customs of the white man would place him in

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OP GREENE COUNTY. 1,1

everlasting disgrace wtili his people and much as he desired the
union he could not bear their reproaches. And dins we see the
womanly daughter of the pioneer fully able to turn aside the un-
desirable suitor hut still retain a very necessary friend, for the
friendship between Tecumseh and the family never waned.

Isaiah and William Sutton erected the first house in what was
afterwards Caesar's Creek Township as early as 1799. It was
erected near the intersection of the Bullskin Road and Caesar's
Creek.

The first person to settle within the boundaries of Bath
lownshij) was a Virginian, named Mercer, possibly as early as
1798. It was customary in those days to accord a preemption to
the first settler, who was also entitled to a premium of twenty-five
cents on each acre purchased by him. By taking advantage of
this offer Mercer was enabled to purchase a large tract of land.

In 1803, John Hosier settled on land near Fairfield, the site
of which was then marked by one hut. For his land he paid two
^hillings per acre for the preemption rights of a man who had
preceded him, and to the government $2 per acre, with five vears'
time in which to pay it.

The site of a famous old Indian town named Piqua can be
located near Fairfield at which Gen. George R. Clark defeated
the Indians in 1780.

PUBLIC ROADS.

To be in the neighborhood of a public road was a matter oi
great importance to the early settlers. The Pinkney Road was
the first beaten track through the wilderness, leading from Cin-
cinnati through Lebanon and extending through what is now Main
street, Bellbrook, north toward Alpha. It was over this road
that supplies came from Cincinnati and over which came the
attorneys and others at the time of holding court. The Pinkney
Road was intersected just north of Bellbrbok by a road called the
"Beer Road," leading to Dayton, as over it much beer was hauled
to market.

The hrst public road into Xenia. from the south, was the
Bullskin Road, now the Burlington Pike. It extended from a

4-4- GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

village and ferry on the Ohio River called Bullskin, from which
the road took its name, north to Urbana, Ohio.

In 1845, the first railroad in this part of the State, the Little
Miami, was built across the southern and western part of the
county. Owing to a general opposition to the enterprise, caused
by a lack of faith in the practicability of railroads, for they were
yet untried, progress was slow; aid promised by the State had
been withdrawn, and much of the stock subscribed by the farmers
along the line was paid in produce and this sold at a sacrifice.
Too much credit cannot be given Governor Jeremiah Morrow,
the first president of the road, who not only gave liberally of his
own private means to the enterprise, but devoted several years
of his life to a personal supervision of the construction of the
road, receiving not one penny for his services.

FOUNDING OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

Immediately following the order of court, in the autumn of
1803, Joseph C. Vance proceeded to lay out the county seat on the
land of John Paul, who gave the public square as it is now known,
for the public buildings. The late Captain Benoni Nesbitt related
an interesting stcry as told him in his boyhood days by one Lewis
Davis, then an old man, of the foresight of John Paul in acquiring
die land where Xenia now lies. Davis was a pioneer and large
land owner and seemed at times possessed of an intuitive knowl-
edge as to the direction of development in the new country. It
had been a dream of John Paul's that the county seat should be
located on the land owned by him about three miles west of Xenia.
In conversation with Paul, Davis disagreed with him and taking
a map spread it upon the ground and demonstrated his assertion.
Placing one end of his riding whip on Cincinnati and the other
on Sandusky, where this line crossed the forks of Shawano, or
Shawnee, Creek he placed his finger and said, "There will be the
county seat!" supporting his assertion by the statement that
county seats in this section naturally located themselves upon
thoroughfares between points on the ( )hio on the south, and Lake
Erie on die north. Paul kept his own counsel but within a few

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 45

davs journeyed to Cincinnati and entered all the land in the
vicinity, upon which Xenia was a little later located.

Tradition tells that a little village called Caesarsville was laid
out before the forming of the county with the anticipation of
making it the county seat at some future time. It seems to have
been laid out with broader ideas of space than were held in the
conception of the present county seat. Tt is recounted that in
this embryonic county seat blazed trees were necessary to lead the
stranger from one humble dwelling to another, and each cabin
was surrounded by a corn field thickly dotted over with girdled
trees. It is also told that one of these primitive buildings, erected
by William I. Stewart and used as a voting place, had been desig-
nated as the future court house and a public well had been dug.
This village of Caesarsville was located on or near the farm of
Mr. Paris Peterson, four miles southeast of Xenia.

The names Caesarsville, Caesar's Creek, etc., it is said, came
from a fugitive slave, Caesar by name, who hid in that vicinity.

Dill's historv, from which the above was gathered, tells also
of the ambitions of Jamestown to be the county seat of this
thriving young county. As the story goes, the claims on both
sides seemed to be very strong and it was decided to determine
the question by ballot. The vote was taken at Xenia and resulted
in a tie, or rather, would have been a tie, but for the fact that a
solitary rider was seen approaching the voting place just before
the voting hour closed. He refused to state his preference, but
was importuned by both sides to cast his vote and decide the
contest, which he did, and the result was a majority of one in
favor of Xenia. It was later discovered that three who favored
Jamestown, forgetting the date of the election, had failed to be
present, else Jamestown would have won.

Several interesting stories have been told as to die naming ol
Xenia but the most authentic one is perhaps die one related in
Robinson's history, by a granddaughter of Owen Davis. John
Paul, Joseph C. Vance, William Beatty and others invited < hven
Davis and his wife, Letitia, with many other pioneers oi tin-
county, to meet with them at the "cross-roads" (where Mam
Streel now intersects Detroit i and assist them in naming die new

46 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

seat of justice which had been laid out. The invitation was gen-
erally accepted and quite a crowd was assembled. Many names
were proposed, among them the names of Washington, Wayne
and Greenville. It is said that at this time a stranger, a scholarly
looking man, stepped forward and said, "Gentlemen, allow me to
suggest a name for your count)' town. In view of the kind and
hospitable manner in which I have been treated whilst a stranger
to most of you, allow me to suggest the name of 'Xenia,' taken
from the Greek and signifying Hospitality." The name was
accepted and placed among the names to be balloted upon. Sev-
eral ballots were taken and, as in the balloting between Jamestown
and Xenia, the vote stood a tie between Xenia and one other name.
( hit of compliment to ( )wen Davis, who at that time was very
prominent in the county, his wife was asked to cast the deciding
vote which she cast in favor of Xenia. It is said that the stranger
who suggested the name was the Rev. Robert Armstrong, who,
the following year, was made pastor of Massie's Creek and Sugar
Creek Associate congregations.

EARLY DAYS IN XENIA.

The plat of the town of Xenia, as recorded in the recorder's
office in 1804, contained "270 acres, be the same more or le^s."
The first effort to have Xenia incorporated was presented in 1813
to the Legislature by Jacob Smith, then representing Greene
County in that body. For some reason the law under which the
incorporation was made became inoperative and in 1817 a second
effort was made by Joseph Tatman, who represented Greene
County in the House, and Jacob Smith, who was a member of the
Ohio Senate from Greene and Clinton Counties.

The thrift of the early county commissioners, while com-
mendable in some instances, we hud most alarming at other times,
as is shown by the county records when on January 4, 1817, they
met for the purpose of surveying and marking different lots to be
sold from off the public square, and to make preparations for
their sale agreeable to order from the court. Four lots were
sold averaging in price about $472, while the fifth lot was bid in
by Ryan Gowdy for his brother James and brought $1381. Mr.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 47

Gowdy was the first merchant in Xenia and had previously pur-
chased the first lot lying east of, and adjoining, the public square
(Green street being not then opened), and the lot purchased by
him at this sale was the one on the extreme east of the public
square adjoining his property. Some one other than James
( rowdy seems to have considered this a desirable lot, judging from
the price paid. It is not for us today to question the motives of
Mr. Gowdy as shown by his actions later, whether they indicate
selfishness, business tact, shrewdness or what not, but rather to
exalt his memory for saving, to the county and Xenia, the public
square. Mr. Gowdy argued that in the purchase of the lot on
which his business property was erected, he was influenced by the
fact that it was next to the public square and, therefore, he would
have no competitors near him on the west side; that in paying this
exorbitant price for the lot from the public square he was forced
to do so in order to protect himself from competition. He also
asked to have the sales all set aside, attempting to show that the
commissioners had exceeded their power in selling that which had
been donated expressly for public buildings for the county. This
was made a test case and in May, 1821, the Supreme Court de-
cided that the sale was not legal and the lots again became die
property of the county intact as it came from the hands of the
donor and as it is today.

The first cabin in Xenia was erected in April, 1804, by John
Marshall, in the southwest corner of the town near the southeast
corner of Third and West streets. The same year quite a rivalry
existed in the building of two good log houses on Main street ;
one being built by William A. Beatty opposite the public square,
to be used as a tavern (this being the first tavern in Xenia ). and
the other by the Rev. James Fowler on West Main street, on the
site of the old Eavey wholesale house. The rivalry as to which
house should first be finished ran high, and while it is not posi-
tively known, it is thought that the tavern won over the Methodist
parsonage. Mr. Fowler seems to have been somewhat of a prop
erty holder himself, in the early days, judging from the county
records. He was also the first postmaster in Xenia.

In the Beattv tavern was held the first court in Xenia, and

^»*4WWw^5-j.%',,w-«'.-^i^-.yx.a.,v,vA,w*i|

Main Entrance, New Court House. (Photo by Canby.)
The Old Court House. Spot where the firs) Court House stood. Earhine yard, Alpha.
lemorial Cannon, erected bj Uberl Gallowaj Camp, Sons of Veterans. First Court Houst

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 49

also the first election. This continued to be the leading hostelry
of the county until Mr. James Collier built a brick hotel on De-
troit street, about midway of the block, facing the public square,
which in grandeur was s > beyond anything previously erected in
the town that the old tavern faded into insignificance. Many are
the interesting stories told of the Collier House and its guests.
During the War of 1812 it was headquarters for recruiting offi-
cers. Courts-martial and courts of inquiry were frequently he! 1
here and at one time a British officer and bis servant (objects of
great curiosity), who were prisoners of war, were there on parole.
The first public ball in Xenia was held at the Collier House and
was a society event of much note.

THE COURT HOUSE.

The contract for building the first court bouse was let to
William Kendall in 1806, and the building, which was of brick, was
completed in 1809 at a cost of $3396. The contractor was allowed
$6 for clearing the timber from the public square. A fence made
of oak boards and mulberry posts surrounded the square. The
entrance was at first through gates but these gave place to stiles.

In 1841-2 was built the second court bouse, the one usually
referred to today as "the old court house." In 1846, tins building
was considered the most elegant court house in the State. To this
was added, in 1875, quite an extensive addition. No further
changes were made until 1901, when tins building was lazed to give
place to the present handsome and commodious court bouse, which
was erected and furnished within the appropriation of $200,000.

THE COUNTY JAIL.

In the one hundred and five years since Greene County was
organized, six different jails have been found necessary, increasing
in size and accommodations as the demand on the institution increas-
ed. The first jail was, by order of court, under date of August 22,
1803, constructed from the larger ol two block houses near the
Owen Davis mill and adjoining the I'eter Borders property, the
temporarv seat of justice for the county, located in Beaver Creek
Township.

50 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

The contract for the erection of the second jail — the first
building in the county erected for this specific purpose — was let on
July 2, 1804, to Amos Darrough, to he built of hewed logs, and to
be completed by the 15th of September. It was located on the
public square. Only a few months later, on March 12, 1805, this
building was found inadequate to the needs of the young count)-,
where, it would seem, crime was keeping pace with the progress
that was evidenced in other matters, and it was ordered that an
addition be built to the count)- jail, the contract being given to
James Collier for the sum of $640. The contractor was slow in
completing the work and much fault was found by the county
commissioners. When the building was finally accepted, August,
1806, Mr. Collier was docked $50 for imperfections, as the origi-
nal contractor, Mr. Darrongh, had been docked $30 for defective
work. In the latter part of 1807, this jail was burned; but the
contract for erecting the third jail was not given until December,
1808, when it was ordered that "a public jail be erected in the town
of Xenia on the ground staked off. The foundation to be 18 inches
deep and 20 feet square, and all the material of the old jail that
was saved to be used in the new one." This building was a two-
story building constructed of hewed logs, and was situated near
the north end of the square, on the ground afterwards occupied
by the market house. This jail in the fall of 1808 was also
burned.

Very soon after the burning of jail number three, the contract
was let for the building of a stone jail. This contract was let to
James Miller, the lowest bidder, at $1,084. It was located on the
north side of the public square, being completed and accepted De-
cember 15, 1815. This was used as a county prison until 1836,
when it was replaced by a brick building, larger and more modern,
erected by Daniel Lewis at a cost of $4600 and this also w:»s locat-
ed on the public square fronting to the north. The cells for the
prisoners were on the east side, next to Green street. A hall ran
through the center of the building and on the west side were two
rooms for the use of the sheriff. This jail, as well as the stone
one which preceded it, had a room used only for debtors, as in
die earl) days of Greene Count)- it was not uncommon to imprison

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 51

for debt. To sonic debtors was granted the liberty of the jail
yard; some were only prohibited from leaving the county, while
others were confined to the debtors' room.

That the county commissioners were a thrifty set of men is
shown in the fact, found in some old records, that on the second
day of December, 1X22, as there were no prisoners in the debtors'
room, there was no necessity for a fire, and rather than have the
stove in that room idle, it was rented to John McPherson for sev-
enty-five cents a month, "to be returned at any time on the order
of the jailor, after a sufficient lime allowed for it to get cool."

There was, during the early days, a sugar tree upon the public
square which served as a whipping post. A culprit who had stolen
a set of plow irons received a sentence of eight lashes on the bare
back in ( )ctober, 1808. This was the second and last public whip-
ping for crime in our fair county, the first being one stripe for
stealing leather to half-sole a pair of shoes.

The present jail, with the residence of the sheriff, was built
in 1860, the location being then changed from the public square to
the southwest corner of Market and Whiteman streets. The con-
tract was awarded to John Scott for the sum of $7,340, and the
building was accepted by the commissioners on the 8th day of
December, 1860. This is the sixth count}- jail and the fifth build-
ing erected for that purpose.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The first public library in Xenia was organized in 1816, with
fifty-two subscribers. The constitution stated that each subscriber
should pay to the librarian "five dollars on each share annual w
The subscribers were to "meet on the fourth Saturday of March.
1816, and on the same day annually forever" for the purpose of
electing directors and transacting all necessary business. Each
subscriber was entitled to draw books in proportion to the number
of his shares. In spite of the fact that this constitution declared
that the subscribers were to meet "annually forever" the existence
of this library seems not to have been of long duration.

We find in the archives of the county no record of any other
library being established until in the forties, when was in existence

52 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

an organization known as "The Lyceum" and to it is credited the
beginning of Xenia's present library. After several years the
Lyceum ceased to exist, but the books collected formed the nucleus
of a library which later passed into the hands of the Y. M. C. A.
This library was short-lived. The books from it again changed
hands, coming into the control of a reading club of eight ladies,
organized in 1878. Appreciating the need of a public library in
Xenia, this club formed itself into "The Young Woman's Library
Association." Claiming to possess only energy and perseverance,
they hoped for success if assistance be given them. They met
with encouragement and at this time the books from the former
library were placed under their control. In 1881, the Association
became an incorporated body and each year showed marked in-
crease and success. The same organization continues in control,
and through its earnest efforts Xenia is now in possession of a
handsome Carnegie Library.

CHURCHES.

It lias well been said that "religion entered the count)' hand in
hand with the pioneers," for, before churches were erected, we find
the people forgetting not the assembling of themselves together for
prayer and praise.

Caesar's Creek Baptist Church is probably the oldest organized
church in the county. It is located on the dividing line between
Xew Jasper and Silver Creek Townships. It was organized in
1803 and a log cabin erected and dedicated as a place of worship.

Reference has been made to the Rev. Robert Armstrong, who
came to this county as early as 1802, and his work in the Associate
Reformed Church. Rev. Armstrong first preached in the house of
James Galloway, Sr., and also in his barn, in which he baptized the
children of the family. He also performed the first marriage
ceremony — that of James Bull and Ann Gowdy. about 1804, at
which, the house being too small to entertain the guests, a large
logdieaped fire was built outside. The first church of this congre-
gation was built on the Stevenson farm, near where the old grave-
yard is now situated. Mr. Armstrong lived on the other side of
Massie's Creek and in times of high water would cross on stilts.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 53

Men and Women rode or walked twelve and fifteen miles and sat
in the coldest weather without fire, to hear two sermons. From
such material martyrs and heroes are made. The same religious
denomination soon established churches in Sugar Creek and Xenia.
and out of these congregations has sprung the nucleus of almost
all the congregations of the United Presbyterian churches in the
West.

As early as 1803 and 1804, four adjoining surveys of land
were made and settled by the Bonner, Sale. Butler, Davis. Heath
and other families from Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and to the
entire settlement was given the name of Union. These families
were soon joined by others from the Old Dominion. This was a
strong Methodist community, and meetings were at once organized
and services held at Mr. Bonner's under the stately forest trees.
"God's first temples." Under the supervision of Francis Asbury,
the first Methodist Episcopal Bishop in America, and through the
preaching of Mich men as William Young and James B. Finley,
and others of like vigor, the tires of Methodism were kept burning.
A few years later the first Methodist Episcopal church of Xenia
was organized and previous to that a large circuit had been formed
known as Mad River circuit.

In 1805, the Dunker (German Baptist) Church effected an
organization in Beavercreek Township, holding services at their
homes continuously until 1843. when a church was erected.

As early as 1812, the Society of Friends was organized in
Silver Creek township.

On the site of what is now known as Heaver Church, in 1800,
was erected the first German Reformed (now known as the Re-
formed ) church in the county. Later this congregation built a
second log "meeting house" on the site and designated it as Beaver
Church.

About 1812. a widow. Mrs. Davis, a stanch Presbyterian, oc-
cupied a little cabin on the site of the Yellow Springs House. She
was die means of congregating about her those of her faith, and
establishing one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in the county.

In 18-1-1 there were five Catholic families in Xenia, and Mass
was celebrated on the porch of Mr. Klein's residence on Main

54 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

street during that year. The records of St. Mary's Church, Piqua,
show that from time to time until 1849 the little congregation
here was under the jurisdiction of St. Mary's Church and the base-
ment of the Court House was used as a place of worship, this room
being open to all denominations alike. From 18-40 there was
a definite organization in Xenia and on October 31, 1852, the new
church building was dedicated by Archbishop Purcell and given the
name of St. Brigid's in honor of the patroness of Ireland. This
consummation of untiring effort on the part of the congregation
was nobly aided by the pastor, Rev. Thomas Blake, who continued
to be their faithful leader for more than thirty years. St. Brigid's
Church proudly claims the largest organization of the Father
Matthews' Total Abstinence Society in the State. The parochial
school was established in 1855.

From these earlier churches have sprung many others of the
same denominations, while later years have seen through the coun-
ty, as well as in the county seat, uniting in the uplifting work with
the older congregations, very vigorous organizations of other
creeds, as the Episcopal, the Christian, Protestant Methodist,
Wesleyan Methodist, Campbellite, Lutheran and Mennonites.

Special mention should also be made of religious work
among the colored people. There are in the county today, out-
side of Wilberforce, 17 colored churches, most of them self-
supporting, as well as separate schools of a high character and
taught by their own race.

Many years ago, it is said, there lived near Yellow Springs
a peculiar class of people calling themselves Owenites or Com-
munionists, led by Robert Owens. In creed and manners they
bore a strong resemblance to the Shakers, except that they mar-
ried while the Shakers do not. They occupied one large building
which, with the contents, was considered common property, and
profits from labor, if any existed after living expenses were de-
ducted, were to be divided equally. The house stood in the
ravine near the cliffs and was divided into apartments, that is, a
private room for each family, and a common dining room and
kitchen. The building was of logs — one hundred feet long and
twenty-one feet wide. Soon the majority assumed to be leaders

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 55

and the minority performed the labor. This was followed by a
lawsuit and thus ended the existence of the Owenites.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

A cursory glance at the history of the county impresses one
with the prevailing desire to educate the rising generation, which
is shown by the little log school houses springing up in every
neighborhood. Indian hostilities had largely ceased prior to the
forming of the county and the dangers from that source were
small as compared wth those of some other localities.

The first schools were conducted on the subscription plan
and only three months of each year. The log school houses were
furnished with seats made of hewed planks and with desks con-
structed by driving pegs in the wall and laying slabs of timber
thereon. Light was admitted by means of greased paper covering
the apertures between the logs, and the floor was often of Mother
Earth. A huge fireplace occupied at least one-third of the wall,
and it is comforting to think that, at a time when many of the
children were so miserably clad, there was at least an abundance
of fuel to be had for the chopping. The early text-books were
Dilworth's or Pike's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling Book and
the Testament.

The teachers of the Ohio subscription schools were not ex-
amined and a high standard of qualification was not required by
the patrons, still there occasionally appeared in the new country
a highly educated wanderer who eked out a scanty subsistence
by teaching a subscription school and "boarding 'round." How-
ever, the greater number of the instructors were only fairly well
informed citizens, accepting the opportunity of teaching in order
to pursue studies that would qualify them for a more lucrative
calling. The early schools knew no holidays. The teachers were
hired by the month and were expected to teach each working day
in the calendar month. Young America then knew nothing of
the almost innumerable holidays in the calendar of the twentieth
century, but the desire was there and expressed itself in the rough
though good-natured demand for a "treat" from the teacher on

56 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

such davs as Christmas or New Year's. It was always a specific
demand upon the teacher, of which the following well preserved
pattern embraces the material points, varying only in the quality
and quantity with locality and circumstances:

"Dec. 23, 1817.
Mr. John Smith, ( Teacher)

Sir : — We, the undersigned committee, in behalf of
the unanimous vote of scholars of your schools, demand
that you treat, according to custom, to the following
articles in amount herein named, to wit :

200 ginger cakes,

2 bu. hickory nuts,

1 peck of hazel nuts.

10 lbs. of candy.,

10 lbs. of raisins,
delivered at the school house, noon hour, December 25,
for the enjoyment and pleasant remembrance of this
school. If this meets your approbation you will please
sign and return to the undersigned tomorrow, December
24, at noon, saying, over your signature, T agree to the
above.' "

This forceful demand was always signed by a committee of
the older boys of the school. Occasionally a teacher, not fond of
the rough and tumble fun that would follow a refusal, meekly
signed as directed and complied. But many a teacher was more
facetious and preferred a little preliminary skirmishing. When
die demand was handed him he would read and deliberately tear
into small fragments, thus indicating defiance. Then the fun
began. On the day preceding Christmas, before dawn, the school
house was occupied by the older boys, provided with fuel and
provisions sufficient to withstand a siege, and all openings barri-
caded. One after another the children appeared and were cau-
tiously admitted (none tardy on that day), and when the teacher
arrived he found the cabin full of jolly boys and girls denying him
entrance until he acceded to the demands for the morrow. This was
commonly called a "barring out." Some fun-loving athletic teachers
would refuse this and start homeward, only to be followed by a
yelling, hooting crowd of boys and girls, and a merry chase he

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY.

would lead them through the woods until caught and bound hand
and foot. Then he was treated to a mock burial in the snow and
guarded until lie would relent and promise the treat, when lie
would he released and school duties taken up for the day; no
punishment and no ill-will followed this fun. ( )n Christmas, at
noon, the treat arrived, and children, parents and teacher enjoyed
the feast and later indulged in an old-fashioned spelling match.

XENIA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The country was so thinly settled that it was often difficult
to make up the requisite number of pupils (fifteen) in the imme-
diate neighborhood, and children were frequently compelled to go
a long distance to obtain even the meager instructions provided
for them. In the advantages boys and girls shared alike unless
the parents were unable to afford the expense of both, then the
boys generally got the schooling. But notwithstanding the re-
strictions there was the desire for knowledge and again and again
was verified the old saying that, "Where there is a will, there is
a way."

58 GREENE COUNTY 1S03-190S.

The first school house in the county of which any account
can he found was built prior to 1800 in Beaver Creek Township
on the Shakertcwn road near Zimmerman. This school was
taught by a very eccentric English gentleman who signed himself
Thomas Marks Davis, the Second, and received for his services
an uncertain salary of from eight to ten dollars a month.

The first school house in Xenia was built in 1805 and was of
logs and of the usual type. At that time there were but four
families living in Xenia ( Towler, Beatty, Collins and Marshall).
The school house was situated on the north side of Third street,
a little west of King, and the first teacher was Benjamin Grover.

About 1812 what was known as the Xenia Academy, a one-
story brick structure, was erected on the southeast corner of
Market and West Streets, Prof. Espy being the principal in-
structor.

In the spring of 1816, Thomas Steele, a native of Ireland,
taught the first school on the lot now occupied by the Central
High School of Xenia, which he continued until 1848. He was
a man of deep religious convictions and much merit as a teacher.
A very few of the older residents of the town remember his
humble dwelling and school house, both situated on this W. a^
well as the thoroughness of his teaching.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The first record of union or public schools in Xenia is dated
September 28, 1838. At that time Xenia was organized into what
was known as a corporation district, and the first board of
education consisted of the following citizens : William Ellsberry,
David Monroe and Alfred Trader.

On the first day of January, 1849, Mr. Josiah Hurty was
employed as the first superintendent of the public schools of
Xenia at a salary of $600 per annum, which position he occupied
for nearly three years. During this time the school was graded
and the term "high school" applied to the highest department.
It may not lie out of place to give the names of some of the super-
intendents who succeeded him. Lack of space only prevents us

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COI'NTY. 59

from speaking at greater length of each of these whose names
and memories are held today in deepest respect by many to whom
they gave inspiration to nobler manhood and womanhood. Prom-
inent among them we find the names of I). W. Gilfillen, Rev.
James P. Smart, P. II. Jaquith, J. E. Twitched and George S.
( )rmsby.

About the year 1857 there was a change in the State school
laws which greatly raised the standard of the schools, and at this
critical period Mr. J. E. Twitched, a Xew England man, was
called to the superintendency, his appointment being a most op-
portune one as he was abundantly able to give the schools the
prestige needed, which standard was ably sustained by his suc-
cessor, Prof. Ormsby, and has since been kept up. Prof. Ormsby
is the only one of the former superintendents now living and old
age finds him still keen and alert, physically and mentally.

To this list of superintendents might, if space permitted, be
added a long list of teachers, mostly women, whose conscientious
work and example of noble living left an indelible impress upon
the lives of hundreds who were so fortunate as to be instructed by
them.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

At different times, private schools had been conducted with
more or less success. These private schools had much to do with
molding public sentiment, and boys and girls there received a
moral and religious impetus the influence of which is still felt.
Among the earlier ones was a fashionable boarding school con-
ducted by Mrs. Hannah Wright. It was located on what is
known as the Arnold property on the hill south of the depot.
With the elegance of manner and purity of diction possessed by
Mrs. Wright, accompanied by a lovable disposition, the popularity
of the school was widespread. The late Dr. Samuel Wilson
taught the classics in this school. It is impossible to give the
exact date of this institution but during the forties it is remem-
bered to have been in a very flourishing condition. Contem-
porary with this school was a similar one for young ladies con-
ducted by Mrs. Mulligan on East Church street, in what is now
the Kelly property and in a part of the same house that is now

GREKXK COUNTY 1803-1908.

on the lot. This school was later merged into the Xenia Female
College, on the same street.

Possibly near the dates of these two schools for girls, were
conducted two schools for hoys on East Market street, one on the
western end of the lot now occupied by the Central High School,
conducted by Prof. John Armstrong, and the other instructed
and managed hv Dr. Ilugh Mc.Millen in what is now the Chew

XENIA FEMALE COLLEGE.

Tlie buildings still look much as above.

From an old cut

home, immediately east of Central High School. It seems quite
a coincidence that so many institutions of learning, from the days
of Prof. Steele to the present time, should have centered about
that locality. Prof. Armstrong was noted as a mathematician
and the story is given credence that at times difficult problems
were sent to him from English universities for solution. For
some years after his death his two daughters conducted a private
school for children in the same home.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. (31

Dr. McMillen, of the other school, was not only desirous
but competent to instruct his own sou, hut not desiring him to he
educated alone, he opened his doors to other boys. The school
was iu no sense conducted for revenue; those who could were
expected to pay, hut many were the proteges of Dr. McMillen.

About 1853 was opened the Union Female Seminary iu what
is now the dormitory of the Theological Seminary. Afore of this
school appears in another article. It was in existence about ten
years, when it became what was known as a Musical Academy,
with an entire change of management, and for some years, this
was a very successful institution.

Notable among the private schools was the one known as the
Xenia Female College, located on East Church street, ami under
the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This school
flourished from 1850 until about 1887, when it was absorbed by
the larger schools of the church. From 1857 until 1884 there
was at the head of this institution one who deserves to be clawed
with McMillen, Steele and others of more than local distinction
as educators. Reference is made to Prof. William Smith, known
and loved by hundreds of pupils who sat under his instruction
and who can testify to his high principles in life, tireless enthu-
siasm and great personal interest.

There was one other private school that should be mentioned
here, as it seems to have been a kindergarten which was conducted
on similar lines to the kindergartens of the present time, and long
before the Froebel methods were in general use. This school
was conducted by Airs. Elizabeth Farquer Patton, in the fifties in
the basement of the First United Presbyterian Church.

A few of the earlier public schools through the county can
yet be located. The first school house in Bellbrook was on the
site of the present residence of Jacob Haines, Jr. It was of the
usual style and presided over by Jacob Bain.

The first school house in Cedarville Township was built on
the Townsley farm in 1800, and the first teacher was James
Townsley. The second school house in this township, on Mas-
sie's Creek, was built in 1810, and was considered quite an
improvement over the first, as it boasted of a puncheon floor,

6l> GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

whereas the other had only a dirt floor. William Jenkins was
prohably the first teacher here.

There are at present within the county, higher institutions of
wide reputation: The Theological Seminary in Xenia; Antioch
College at Yellow Springs, Wilberforce University and Cedar-
ville College. But each of these, as well as the Ohio Soldiers'
and Sailors' Orphans' Home, will be fully treated in separate
articles.

NEWSPAPERS.

There are published in Greene County, outside the county
seat, six weekly papers as follows : The Yellow Springs News,
founded in 1880, as the Yellow Springs Review; The Osborn
Local, which has flourished under different names for more than
twenty-five years ; The Cedarville Herald, founded in 1877 ; The
Jamestown Journal, established in 1870 as The Jamestown Echo,
the first paper established in Jamestown, and the first paper in the
county outside the county seat ( the name of the paper has several
times been changed) ; The Greene County Press of Jamestown,
established in 1898; and The Twin City Yidette, published at
Spring Valley. The Vidette was established in 1905, taking up
the work formerly done by the Spring Valley Blade and Bell-
brook Moon, both of which were established about twenty years
ago.

In the county seat are published two weekly papers, the
Xenia Republican, established in 1867, and the Xenia Herald,
established in 1891, formerly the Democrat News; also a semi-
weekly and daily paper, both under the same management, and
known as the Xenia Gazette. In 1838 was founded the Xenia
Torchlight, a weekly paper, starting as a Whig organ. With
many changes in the editorial staff and passing through many
vicissitudes the Torchlight, which also published a daily for sev-
eral years, was in 1888 absorbed by the Xenia Gazette. The
Xenia Gazette was founded in 1868 as a weekly paper. At that
time was bought, by the Gazette company, the first cylinder press
ever used in the county. The weekly edition of the Gazette was
abandoned for a semi-weekly in 1885, and the daily edition was
started as early as 1881. It is the oldest paper in the county, as

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OP GREENE COUNTY. 63

the Gazette dating back forty years, and as successor to the
Torchlight, dating back seventy years.

^s far back as 1815, we rind a county paper published in
Xenia called The Xenia Vehicle. Occasionally there is to be
found a stray copy of a paper published in 1829, called The
Xenia Gazette, but it was short-lived. During the time from
1829 to 1833, Thomas Coke Wright, one of the notable characters
of early Xenia, edited a paper called the Xenia Transcript.

The Xenia Free Press, established in 1831, and edited by J.
H. Purdy, flourished for ten years or more. At the top of the
first page appeared this motto:

"Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law,
Xo favor sways us and no fear shall awe."

Beginning in 1826 and continuing for some years there was
published in Xenia a paper called The People's Press and Impar-
tial Expositor, with the motto, "While I have Liberty to write I
will write for Liberty." — Knox. The editor was James B. Gardi-
ner, his terms were $2.00 in advance or a note of hand for the
amount payable in three months, $2.50 if paid within six months
or $3.00 if not paid until the expiration of the year. The paper
also stated that "country subscribers may pay the whole amount
of their subscription in the following articles. Flour, Wheat,
Feathers, Beeswax, Bacon, Tow t and Flax Linen, Sugar and
Tallow at cash prices."

About 1830, William D. Gallagher, a man of acknowledged
literary ability, who spent the most of his life in the neighborhood
of Cincinnati, came to Xenia where he spent a year or two, and
started a campaign newspaper called The Backwoodsman. Air.
Gallagher was an enthusiastic Whig and the main object of his
paper was "to hurrah for Clay and to use up Jimmy ( ianliner,"
then editor of the Jackson organ of Xenia.

About 1838, there was established The Democratic Spark,
Mr. Ramsey, editor, giving as its object "the diffusion of informa-
tion and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public rea-
son." It boomed "for President, Martin Van Buren and a Con-
stitutional Treasury."

64 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Associated with the Xenia newspapers have been several
men of much more than ordinary literary attainments. Promi-
nent among them were Rev. Otway Curry, Col. Coates Kinney,
Whitelaw Reid and Senator Preston B. Plumb. The last two,
Mr. Reid and Senator Plumb, were at one time, during the fifties,
editors of a paper called the Xenia News. Senator Plumb came
into prominence in later years as U. S. senator from Kansas, in
which state he located just previous to the war of the Rebellion.

It may be of interest to note that at one time, during his early
boyhood, W. D. Howells wa> a resident of the county.

The Hon. William Maxwell, who spent his declining years
in Greene County and is buried in Beaver Creek Township, edited
the first paper published in the Northwest Territory, "The Cen-
tinel of the Northwestern Territory," with the motto, "Open to
all parties, influenced by none."

GREENE COUNTY SOLDIERS.

As early as 1806 there was in the county a strictly enforced
militia system, under a territorial law enacted in 1788. All the
men bearing arms formed one regiment and every able-bodied
man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was required
to muster on the first day of the week at 10 A. M. adjacent to the
place of public worship. They were inspected by the com-
mandant on the first Sabbath of each month. The prairie north
of Oldtown was one of the favorite places of drilling. These
were gala days. At the captain's command to "stand at ease"
the sergeant passed along the line with a bucket of whiskey from
which every one, if he so desired, helped himself.

In 1830, Captain William Mcintosh (the first white person
born in Greene County) raised and commanded a rifle company.
They were uniformed in yellow hunting shirts, which gave rise
to their titled of "Beaver Creek Yellow Jackets." Captain Mc-
intosh gave much time to their drilling and they acquired consid-
erable proficiency.

The uniform of the rank and file of the militia was the
regular everyday dress of the pioneer, consisting of a tow linen
shirt, buckskin breeches with blue linsey hunting shirt secured

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 65

with leather belt and buckle, and wool hat. Much might be said
of their strength and valor, of their sharpshooting and of their
courage, for Greene County has a record in war times, beginning
with the War of 1812, of which there is much to be proud.

The War of 1812 found the county with not yet a decade of
history to its credit, but the patriotism for which it has ever been
noted was not le>s then than was shown in the greater struggle of
a half century later, as well as in the forties, during the Mexican
War, and the Spanish American, of later date; in both of which
Greene County was well represented.

< >n the 23rd of April, 1861, nine days after the fall of
Sumter, in response to Lincoln's call for 75,000 men for three
months 193 men from Greene County had enlisted and offered
their services to Governor Dennison. From this number Com-
pany A went to Columbus to be mustered in: John W. Lowe,
captain; Robert Lytle, 1st lieutenant; M. W. Trader, 2nd lieu-
tenant. Company B awaited a call from the State which came a
little later. Colonel Lowe was destined to fall soon after at the
head of the Twelfth Regiment, O. V. I., at Carnifex Ferry, the
first of Ohio's line officers to fall in the cause of liberty. One
company of the Forty-fourth O. V. I. was raised in Greene
County and at the expiration of their term of service they reen-
listed in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry.

The Seventy-Fourth O. V. I. was organized in camp at
Xenia, in October, 1861, to the extent of seven companies, and
the following February was ordered to Camp Chase, where three
full companies were added. After two years hard service they
were granted a thirty-day furlough at home; then, on March 23,

1864, being re-organized with the addition of one hundred re-
cruits, they started to rejoin their brigade in Georgia, and during
that year were with Sherman in his memorable march through
Georgia. On the 24th of May, 1865, this regiment joined in the
Grand Review in Washington, and was mustered out July 10,

1865. This regiment was known as "the fighting parson's regi-
ment," being commanded by the Rev. Granville Moody, a well-
known and popular Methodist preacher and orator.

The Ninety-Fourth O. V. I. was organized at Camp Piqua,

THE COURT HOUSE.
South Front.

Photo by Canby.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 67

containing two companies from Greene County. This regiment,
within the space of one month, was recruited with its full com-
plement. Without uniforms or camp equipage, and never having
been drilled as a regiment, the Ninety-Fourth was ordered to
Kentucky to meet the forces under Kirbv Smith. At Cincinnati
they were partially uniformed and provided with a limited amount
of ammunition. The Ninety-Fourth also participated in Sher-
man's March to the Sea, and in the Grand Review at Washington.
It was mustered out of service June 6, 1865, "with an aggregate
of three hundred and thirty-eight men — all that was left of them
— left of one thousand and ten."

The One Hundred and Tenth O. V. 1., commanded by Gen.
J. Warren Keifer. afterwards brigade-commander, was organ-
ized at Camp Piqua, ( )hio, ( )ctober 3, 1862, and its members were
from Greene, Miami and Darke Counties. It was immediately
ordered to join the Eastern Army. At Winchester it was assign-
ed to the Eighth Army Corps, but in March, 1864, it became a
part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps.

The One Hundred and Tenth was in 21 engagements and
sustained a loss of 795 men. This regiment, having captured
more flags than any regiment in the corps, was selected as a guard
of honor, April 17. 1865, at the presentation of captured flags to
General Meade. The Sixth Corps, at the time of the Grand
Review in Washington, was still in northern Virginia and western
North Carolina on guard against any possible trouble that might
arise, and consequently was granted by the President and Cab-
inet what was termed a "Supplemental Review" on June 8, 1865,
upon its arrival in Washington, D. C. This compliment caused
the Sixth Corps to be called the "pets of Washington City."

The One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Regiment O. V. I.,
Robert Stevenson, colonel, was organized at Camp Dennison,
Ohio, May 9, 1864, to serve one hundred days. It was composed
of the Twenty-Third Battalion, Ohio National Guard, from Mad-
ison County, and the Sixtieth Regiment, Ohio National Guard,
from Greene County, a body of men enlisted for State service
for a period of five years in the fall of 1863. It was sent to West
Virginia where it performed guard, picket and escort duty during

68 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

its period of service. August 4, 1864, at New Creek Station,
West Virginia, it was attacked by, and gallantly repulsed, a force
of rebels under Johnston and McCauslin, four thousand strong.
Upon the expiration of its time of service it was mustered out at
(./amp Dennison, Ohio, September 1, 1864.

The Tenth and Seventeenth Ohio Batteries drew largely from
Greene County and a part of one company was also furnished the
Fifth Ohio Independent Cavalry as well as one company to the
Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Piatt's Zouaves, which belonged to the
honor roll of "Three Hundred Fighting Regiments of the War."
Space has only permitted the most meager statement of the serv-
ices of these troops and there are yet in the county many brave sur-
vivors of other regiments. Four thousand of Greene County's loy-
al sons went forth as brave soldiers, many of whom never returned,
but when the las' reveille has been sounded and the last veteran
called home, history will still recount the story of their brave acts
and their children's children will proudly tell of them to other
generations.

The loyal women of Greene County tearfully, yet cheerfully,
gave up their clearest treasures, their fathers, husbands, sons and
lovers, and ceaselessly aided, to their fullest power, to preserve
the Union. But aching hearts at home did not make idle hands.
Immediately was formed the organization known as the "Soldiers'
Aid Society." At the head of the woman's work in this organiza-
tion, during the five years of the war, was Mrs. Amanda Trotter.
This indefatigable leader was ever an incentive to greater efforts
and she met with free and noble responses from the women, not
only of Xenia, but of the entire county, as an appeal had been sent
out for general cooperation.

A few years ago Gen. (). O. Howard, in an address delivered
at Cleveland, Ohio, paid to Xenia a very high tribute regarding
the treatment of Federal troops. He said there was no town
anywhere in which the troops received such treatment as was
given them in Xenia, and where greater kindness was shown
them. It is a fact that no regiment ever passed through the town
without being feasted. In fair weather long tables would be
spread in a pasture adjoining the railroad and when the weather

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 69

was inclement, the freight house would be transformed into a
banquet hall. Not satisfied with that, the loyal women of the
town and surrounding country would prepare great baskets of
provisions to send with the soldiers on their departure. One
good man. whose wife excelled in the art of making doughnuts,
would go through the train laden with a bushel basket of the good
home-made doughnuts, passing them out right and left with the
recommendation, "My wife made them." Everybody aided in
every possible way. Men who could not go to the front gave
freely, not only of their abundance, but many of them deprived
themselves of necessities that they might help the cause. School
rooms were turned into departr»M-nts of aid, and school children
were provided with shingles and knives with which to scrape lint.
Special mention might be made of many, many women who
worked and prayed without ceasing throughout the long struggle.
But one, in particular, must not be forgotten whose ability and
strength made it possible for her to visit the hospital camp and
soothe, with her prayers and mother hands, the dying hours of
many a soldier boy, and again, to bring into her home and nurse
back to health, others who might not have survived with but the
meager care that was sometimes all that could be given them in
hospitals. Reference is made to Mrs. Elizabeth Farquer Patton.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Previous to the War of the Rebellion, with no i\\v^\ limit as
to date, there was a constant trail of escaped slaves stealthily
pursuing their way north and to freedom, often with only the
north star to guide their foot-steps and an abounding faith in God
and humanity to give them hope and courage. In 1831 a Ken-
tucky slave escaped from bondage and swam the Ohio river near
Ripley. He was closely followed by his master in a skiff, who
had no trouble keeping him in sight until he landed, but once on
shore the slave soon disappeared from view. A most diligent
search failed to reveal the fugitive, and the disappointed slave
owner, when asked as to what had become of his slave, said he
thought "he must have gone off on an underground road." The
story was repeated with a great deal of amusement and the inci-

70 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

dent gave rise to the name "Underground Railroad." But the
practice of aiding slaves ante-dated this incident many years.
Safety necessitated zig-zag routes, but after crossing the Ohio,
all roads led to Canada. Many exciting and thrilling occurrences
are related of the hiding and transporting of fugitive slaves, and
the bitter feeling often engendered thereby. During the forties
and later, there was at least one station in Xenia, at the home of
Mr. David Monroe, on East Market Street. Many times a group
of six or eight slaves cowered during the day in Mr. Monroe's
barn waiting for night to fall, when his youngest son, the late
James B. Monroe, then a mere lad, would conduct them to Green
Plains, a noted station of the "Underground Railroad" in a
Quaker settlement near Selma.

The travel was all by night and usually in a covered con-
veyance. Sometimes the signal of their approach would be the
hoot of an owl. When practicable a communication was sent
ahead warning friends of the time of the arrival, the communica-
tion being always couched in mysterious language understood
Only by the initiated. For instance, one was worded as follows :

"Dear Sir:

By tomorrow evening's mail you will receive two

volumes of the "Irrepressible Conflict," bound in black.

After perusal, please forward and oblige,

Yours truly,

G. W. W."
and again :

' Dear Gr inn ell :

Uncle Tom says if the roads are not too bad you
can look for those fleeces of wool by tomorrow. Send
them on to test the market and price. No back charges.
Yours,

H."

At one time Mr. David Monroe, who had on his residence lot
a shop where he manufactured furniture, was called from his bed
to receive a wagon load of what purported to be furniture. In
his broadest Scotch dialect he inquired, "Con it wok?" and re-
ceived an affirmative answer. There was a time when Mr. Mon-
roe's stand was so well known in Kentucky that a price was

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 71

placed upon his head, but instead of putting a Mop to the hnsiness
it only increased it ; and it was the means of a great number of
slaves being informed as to where friends might be found.

About this time a slave holder came to Xenia, stopping at the
old Ewing House, in search of a slave who was hiding in this
station, lint the slave was sent out of town carrying over his
shoulder a bushy sapling which partly concealed his features.
When he reached the edge of town he was picked up and hurried
to safety.

There were no records kept of these times. Everything
done was necessarily secret and underhanded. In fact, it often
meant social ostracism and the man who dared to ^\n this work.
as his conscience dictated, frequently lost friends in the doing.

In the State of Ohio, previous to the efforts of Salmon P.
Chase, in 1830, a negro had no rights that a white man was bound
to respect. They were excluded from schools and could not tes-
tify in court and it was a penal offense to give employment to a
black or mulatto. Much of this condition existed until about
1850 when many of the so-called black laws were repealed. For
some vears previous to the Rebellion a number of families from
southern states, being impressed with the sin of the slave traffic,
settled in this vicinity, freeing their slaves and for many of them
purchasing homes in this count)-. Later, about 1856, the pur-
chase of Tawawa Springs, at one time a fashionable summer re-
sort, and the establishing upon that site of Wilberforce University
brought to the county an influx of the better class of colored
people.

ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTK >.\.

The first anti-slavery convention held in Xenia met with Mich
opposition that viewed in the light of the present day it seems al-
most incredible. A few copies of Dr. Jay's "Inquiry" and the
"Liberator" published by William Lloyd Garrison, of Boston,
came to Xenia.

Among the early converts to the anti-slavery doctrine was
the late Rev. Samuel Wilson, from 1830 until 1856 pastor of the

72 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Associate, now the Second United Presbyterian Church of Xenia.
lie soon found that there were at least four of his acquaintances
who shared in his convictions. Very slowly others came over to
their way of thinking and through the efforts of this little body
of men a few good speakers were procured from time to time to
address anti-slavery meetings until finally the little group of en-
thusiasts had the temerity to call an anti-slavery convention.
Committees were appointed to make the necessary arrangements.
The first and greatest difficulty encountered was the finding of a
place of meeting. For a time they had been permitted the use of
the Court House but the further use of it for this purpose was
refused the committee. Application was made to the deacons of
the Associate Church, also the Associate Reformed, and in both
instances met with prompt refusal.

Public sentiment made it impossible for meetings to be held
on the street and now the convention must be given up unless
some citizen could be found who would be brave enough to offer
his private grounds for the purpose. The Rev. Samuel Wilson
was the only one who dared offer his home which was situated
on East Market street on the lot now occupied by the First United
Presbyterian Church. A platform was erected in the yard just
about under the space now occupied by the pulpit of that church.

\\ hile the convention was a success it was not held without
great difficulties. A mob collected on the opposite side of the
street and serious trouble would undoubtedly have resulted had
it not been for the timely interference of a stalwart old black-
smith and pump-maker by the name of John McClellan, who was
possessed of a high sense of justice. Air. McClellan stated that
he was in no sense in sympathy with this movement but he be-
lieved in free speech. With club in hand he dared any man to
cross the street and molest his preacher. And through his inter-
vention was carried to a successful finish the first anti-slavery
convention ever held in ( Ireene County. It is impossible to fix
the exact date of this convention, but it was sometime previous
to the organizing of the "Free-Soil" or "Liberty" party in 1846.

Apropos of this movement of the people who had the courage
of their convictions it might not be out of place to record here

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GREENE COUNTY. 73

the name of Joseph Collins, of Bath Township, who, for more
than twenty years, cast the only abolition vote in the township.

Greene Courfty possesses a silk banner of which she is justly
proud. I ts width at base is 6 feet 3 inches, tapering gracefully
12 feet, where it forks abruptly. Its center is white; on each
side are three stripes of white, blue and rose, tapering from base
to point. ( )n one side in large gilt letters, "Ohio has sent
291,952* of her gallant sons to the held,"' and on the other side,
"Ohio true to the Union." This banner was given to Ohio in
the winter of 1864 for having furnished the most troops accord-
ing to its military population. The Governor of Ohio presented
it to Greene County as having furnished the most of any county
in the State. Lewis Post No. 347, G. A. R. of Xenia, is now the
custodian of this much valued relic.

*During the entire period of the war Ohio troops numbered 385,000.

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908,

SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE
GREENE COUNTY.

JOHN FRANCIS ORR.

T is an invidious task to select
from so many who have risen
to prominence in their times
the names of a few former
citizens who, by their preemi-
nence, are entitled to honorable
mention in this book. The
list is foredoomed to be incom-
plete, but at the risk of leaving
out some who ought to be men-
tioned, justice will be done to
a few.

The history of our county
naturally divides into three periods: The time from the earliest
settlement up to the year 1820 may be denominated the pioneer
period; from 1820 to 1860, the period of construction; and from
1860 to the present time, the modern period. Of each period
there was a leader, whose sway was, indeed, disputed, but of
whose primacy history will leave little doubt.

Of the pioneer period several might have claimed the title
of leader. There was Col. John Paul, the keen-sighted land
speculator, who, in his position as clerk of the county court ob-
tained first knowledge of the decision of the associate judges as
to the location of the count}- seat, and who allowed no grass to
grow under his feet while acquiring the title to the town site.
He it was who gave the county the court house site, and he was
our member of the first Constitutional Convention and of the first

SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE GREENE COUNTY. 75

State senate. His shrewdness, energy, and business foresight
might easily have made him the leading spirit of his time; but
John Paul was a restless rover, and Greene County soon became
too populous for his pioneer tastes; so in 1809 he removed to the
newer wilderness of Indiana, where again lie founded a city —
the city of Madison, of the site of which city he was the owner.
Here again he was generous in the donation of sites for public
purposes, and here he died and is buried.

Of the other strong men of that period mention might be
made of James and Moses Collier, James and George Galloway,
William Maxwell, our first representative in the State legislature
and an associate justice, James Barrett, also an associate justice,
Owen Davis, whose house was the first capitol of the comity,
Peter Borders, Jacob Smith, long a member of the State legisla-
ture, James Popenoe, Sr., and Peter, his brother, Andrew Read,
William A. Beatty, tavern keeper and town director, Frederick
and Chappel Homier, Nathan Lamme, Joseph C. Vance, who
laid out the town of Xenia. and whose son afterwards became the
Governor of the State of ( )hio, I lenrv I types, James Towler, Dr.
Joseph Johnson, Richard Conwell, and Amasa Read.

Rnt, one name is impressed upon the history of the pioneer
period a little more distinctly than any other — the name of Gen-
eral Benjamin Whiteman, one of the first group of associate
justices, and long a leading citizen of the count)-. General White-
man was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 6th, 1769, and prior
to his settlement here had passed through the count)' three times
with expeditionary forces against the Indians — in 17'JO, 1792, and
1794. In 1799 he made permanent settlement, having previously
married in Kentucky the daughter of Owen Davis above men-
tioned. I lis first residence was at the original count)- seat on
E>eaver Creek, with his father-in-law, who operated a flouring
mill. In 1805 he removed to Clifton, where he continued to
reside until his death on Jul)- 1st, 1852.

General Whiteman was a man of dignity and character,
revered for his uprightness, and of great influence in the new-
county, lie and his fellows were the men who fought the In-
dians, delimited the county, laid out the towns and townships,

76 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

established the courts, hewed the forests, and erected a primitive
civilization, which some of them lived many years to enjoy.

During the period of construction many men came to the
front to divide the honors of primacy, but facile princeps was
Dr. Joshua Martin, born in Loudon County, Virginia, March
23rd, 17 ( U, died at Louisville, Ky., November 30th, 1865. The
greater part of his life was spent in this community- His indeed
was a strong character, uniting with personal dignity, sterling
integrity, and great professional skill, the arts of the political
manager. lie was the Mentor of his political party, and the
leader in every public enterprise during his long career, and as
such became widely known among public men.

Scarcely less prominent during the same period were Aaron
Harlan, who served his district in Congress, and John Alexander
— a man of the most rugged and positive character, the opposite
in all things of Dr. Martin, though his long-time friend. Their
contemporaries were such men as John llivling, James B. Gard-
iner, Major Robert Gowdy, Dr. George \Y. Stipp, S. W. Reeder,
Josiah Grover, Samuel Kyle, Peter Pelham, Samuel Harry, Dan-
iel Lewis, Joseph G. Gest, Sr., Michael Nunnemaker, Thomas
Coke Wright, James A. Scott, William Ellsberry, a noted lawyer,
Casper L. Merrick, inn keeper and merchant, Lindsay Hogue,
and Dr. Samuel Martin.

The modern period, from 1860 down to the present day,
produced many men who achieved prominence in the county, and
some of them State, and even national, fame. Among the latter
were Hon. James J. Winans, judge and congressman, and Hon.
John Little, attorney general of the State, congressman and Com-
missioner of Yenezula Claims. John Little's name will ever be
memorable to all of this generation as that of a man of strong
intellect, of kind and generous disposition, a very able lawyer, and
a man whose natural tastes led him to pursue success full}- many
mechanical and manufacturing enterprises, to the great benefit
of the community. In political affairs he was widely known, and
his judgment was so highly respected that he was frequently
called into counsel by governors of the State and presidents of
the United States.

SOME OF THE MEN WHO HAVE MADE GREENE COUNTY. 7?

With these men were associated such men as Captain Austin
McDowell, E. F. Drake, John F. Patton, Col. John W. Lowe (the
first Ohio line officer who fell in the War of the Rebellion),
Erastus S. Nichols, Col. Robert Stevenson, Dr. C. II. Spahr, Col.
Coates Kinney, John F. Frazer, Dr. John W. Greene, W. B. Fair-
child, Joseph W. King, Thomas P. Townsley, Roswell F. Howard,
fudge Moses Harlow, Captain Albert Calloway, Benoni Nesbitt,
John B. Allen, Isaac M. Barrett, Dr. George Watt, Brinton
Baker, David and Eli Milieu, James C. McMillan, Aniel Rodgers,
Alfred Johnson, and many others, some of whom survive to this

day.

These, briefly, are the men who, with many others who might
properlv have been mentioned, have made Greene County. In
discharging the common-place duties of life they have huilded
a civilization which will endure long after the personality of each
has passed from the memory of men. It is fitting that there
should he here recorded in this commemorative book some note
of the names of these worthies, at least, "lest we forget."

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

MASSIE'S CREEK.

WILBUR D. NESBIT.

I've just been wondering, Bill, if you remember Massie's crick —
Or "creek" they call it nowadays — with sumac growing thick
Along the banks, and willows that bent down to make a shade
Above the dreaming: shallows where we boys one time would wade.

Remember how it used to loaf sedatelv through the town
And out into the pasture lands, and then would hurry down
Between the cliffs, and how it sang a song to you and me
That told us of the outer world, the rivers and the sea?

I've just been wondering, Bill, that's all — if you still hear it sing,
If you can shut your eyes and see the spray that it would fling
Above the rocks, until it sparkled on the hanging ferns
That nodded from the mossy cliffs in hidden nooks and turns.

MASSIE'S creek.

Remember how we used to throw our bare selves down, and lie
A-looking through the checker-work of good green leaves and sky,
And count the cloudships sailing through the sea of limpid blue —
Ah, then we did not know how much that meant for me and you !

The sunshine shuttled through the leaves and jeweled all the stream
As laughter sometimes bubbles through the mazes of a dream,
And we knew not that roundabout the big world waited then
To rob us of our boyish ways when we should grow to men.

I've just been wondering, Bill, if } r ou can hear old Massie's crick
Call softlv through the summer days? And does your heart beat

quick
In answer? Does your mind leap back into the long ago
And laiujh and sin"- and dream again the days we used to know ?

M«I'

■'

gg^ A yyj

M N I li OMU IIV

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 81

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND
ITS TOWNSHIPS.

Greene County is a member of that very fertile group of
counties in southwestern Ohio drained by the two Miami Rivers
and their tributaries. In its average value of farm lands per
acre ($31.63 according to the census of 1900), Greene County
stands twelfth among the 88 counties of the State, and the
counties which outrank her include within their limits the cities
of Cleveland. Cincinnati. Columbus, Dayton. Akron, Canton,
Springfield, and Hamilton, which of course affect favorably the
prices of land about them. The county is traversed from north
to south by the wide alluvial valley of the Little Miami; its north-
west corner is crossed by the Mad River valley; and connecting
these two is a broad valley, excavated ages ago by the Mad River
when its course was different from the present, but now occupied
bv the little >tream called Beaver Creek.

Greene County lies within the area covered by the Glacial
Drift. This is a deposit of clay, sand, gravel, and bowlders
which, geologists agree, was carried southward from the region
of the lakes, and deposited in its present position, by glaciers.
The weathering of the drift produced the county*s fertile soils.
These soils include: (1) The black upland soil, excellent for
corn and blue grass, formed by the weathering of the drift where
it lav in flat tract>. and found especially in Ross and the other

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1 DOS.

eastern townships. (2) The common upland clay soil (often
called "oak land" because various oaks, especially white oak, natu-
rally grow on it). It is derived from the drift where the surface
was sloping, and is a very durable soil and productive when prop-
erly cultivated. ( 3 ) The rather dark-colored and very productive
soil known as "sugar land." on which grow naturally not only
sugar maples but also ash, hickory, walnut, etc. In some places
it is called "mulatto" soil. It was formed from gravels on the
highlands. (4) The bottom lands of the valleys, deposited by
the agency of the streams.

*-*; *:

OEDARVILLE CLIFFS.
The Falls from above.

Underneath the drift, in a typical section of the county, lies
what geologists have called the Niagara group of rocks, consisting
of limestones interspersed with shales, and belonging to the Upper
Silurian period. It is found over the entire eastern half of the
comity and also in a small area in Beaver Creek Township. Its

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 83

beds of limestone, in descending order, are: the Guelph or Cedar-
ville. the Springfield, the West Union, and the Dayton. The two
fanner are chiefly valuable for lime and road metal and the two
latter for building purposes, although much common building
stone has been taken from the Springfield bed. The large output
of lime from the Cedarville kilns comes from the Cedarville bed,
while the Dayton stone is quarried at New Jasper and elsewhere
and may be seen in the new Episcopal church in Xenia and
in many other buildings in the comity. Each product excels in

s ,

CEDARVILLE CLIFFS.
The Pass.

its own field and finds a wide market. Separating the Dayton
and West Union beds is a layer of shale, best seen on the Xeft"
Grounds at Yellow Springs. It is this peculiar arrangement of
strata— soft shale capped by limestone— that produced equally
the gorges of the Little Miami and Massie's Creek in Greene

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

County and the gorge of the Niagara River. The water, wearing
away the shale more easily than the overlying limestone, under-
mines the latter till at length a portion breaks off, and this process
is repeated many times as the falls recede up stream, leaving
below them an ever-lengthening ravine. Thus the Falls of Ni-
agara and the little cascade at Yellow Springs are very closely
related indeed, for they fall over the same bed of limestone and
gnaw away at the same stratum of shale at their base. The
scenery at Clifton and Yellow Springs, described elsewhere, is
well known ; the "Cedarville cliffs," on Massie's Creek, are less
accessible and less striking, perhaps, but no whit behind the others
in beauty.

CEDARVILLE CLIFFS.
Tickling Ruck.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 85

Next below the Niagara group lies the Clinton, and near
New Jasper both are quarried, the Niagara ( Dayton ) for building
and the Clinton for road metal. The Clinton is also Cpper
Silurian, but beneath it is a series of limestones and shales which
geologists call the Hudson or Cincinnati and which they assign
in the Lmver Silurian, or Ordovician, period. These rocks are
not exposed in the higher, eastern half of the county, as they are
there covered by the Clinton and Niagara, hut in the western
part, where the upper rocks have been ground away, the Hudson
series is found immediately below the blanket of drift and may
lie seen plainly in ravines and cuts, as for instance about Goe's
Station. The Hudson limestone abounds in fossils; it has furn-
ished some building stone. These are the oldest rocks which may
be found on the surface of Greene County; beneath them, of
course, lie still older one-, some of which have been penetrated
to some depth by wells in the effort to hud deposits of oil and gas.
but s,i far without paying results.

The county has an area of about 460 square mile-, a popula-
tion ( in 1900) of 31,613, and a tax value | in 1907 ) of $19,302,291,
corresponding to about $40,000,000 actual value. Its principal
crops in 1907 were as follows; corn. 2,588,294 bushels (average.
46 bushels to the acre) ; wheat. 721,592 bushels (17 per acre) ;
oats. 109.236 bushels; potatoes. 70,561 bushels; tomatoes. 1^,685
bushels; rye, \2.227 bushels; barley, 4,085 bushels; clover hay.
721 tons; other hay, 25,756 tons; alfalfa, 302 tons; tobacco,
627,908 pounds; eggs, 750,995 dozen; maple syrup, 5,745 gallons.
In April, 1908, there were in the county, in round numbers, 10,000
horses. 15,000 cattle, 18,000 sheep, and 32,000 hogs. In the
raising of fancy slock the county holds a remarkable record,
which is told of in the special article by Mr. O. E. Bradfute.

The Greene County Agricultural Society was organized in
1839 and has held a county fair annually ever since. The origi-
nal grounds were between Columbus Avenue and Church Street,
in Xenia, but for many years the fair has been held in leased
grounds on the northwestern edge of the city. It seems probable
that the county will soon purchase these grounds. Last year the
Society's receipts were almost $10,000, and nearly as much was

SOME COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.

Photos by Canby.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 87

paid out, including $8,700 in premiums and racing purses. The
fair la>ts four days and the exhibits are always notable, as befits
the champion stock county. The records for the half-mile track
are: pace, 2:11 T 4 ; trot. 2:15. The Society has between six and
seven hundred members.

There are in the county twelve townships and thirty voting
precincts. In politics the county has been Republican ever since
the organization of the Republican party. The normal plurality
is in the neighborhood of 2000, but owing to factional trouble in
the dominant party Matthew R. Denver, Democratic, came within
six votes of carrviug the county in 1906.

CEDARVILLE CLIFFS.
The Rapids,

FAIRFIELD.
Dayton Street. " The Ohio Exchange " (a relic of stage coach days).

Street Scene.
Looking North from the M. E. Church Tower.

Photo by O. A. Wilson.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 89

BATH TOWNSHIP.

Rev. H. B. Belmer.

This township is the northwest corner of the county. It
was organized in 1807 and extended originally two miles further
north, into what is now Clarke County. It has eight churches, so

located that all the people are within three or four miles of a
church. The Bath Presbyterian church is in the western part
of the township; the rest are located in towns. There is also a
township high school, about half a mile from Fairfield, central in
the township. It occupies a hue building erected only a few
years ago. Both Osborn and Fairfield also have their own high
schools.

Osborn is an incorporated village of about 1000 inhabitants.
Traveling men say it is one of the best kept towns of its size in
the State. It has cement sidewalks, graveled streets, water and
electric light, and fire department. Both the Erie and Big Four
Railroads pass through it. as also the Ohio Electric Railway,
which is now working to have a continuous line from Cincinnati
to Toledo and run through cars between these points. A visitor
will notice the large number of beautiful homes with their sur-
roundings kept in neat trim. This is largely due to the fact that
most of these homes are occupied by their owners, and most of
the renters even follow their good example. The village is ten
miles from Dayton, making it convenient for many employed in
Dayton to live here. A number of school teachers employed in
the township and elsewhere also live here. There are four
churches in the place. The Lutheran church was organized in
the Fairfield Methodist church in 1848. In 1850 the railroad
now called the Big Four was built and the town of Osborn began
to spring up ; some foresaw that Osborn would become the more
important town and the Lutheran congregation was transferred
to that place. But as there were members of various other de-
nominations in that neighborhood a union church was built in
1853. The Lutherans used the building half of the time only till
1872, when they secured entire control and ownership of it. This
church was remodeled and virtually rebuilt in 1898 and is now a

THE LITTLE MIAMI ABOVE YELLOW SPRINGS.

MAD RIVER IN "WINTER.

Photo by 0. A. Wilson.

THE SWIMMING HOLE, OSBORN.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 91

very neat and churchly structure. The Methodist Episcopal
church was organized in 1858. being an offspring of die Fairfield
church. Its building was also reconstructed and added to some
years ago and it is in a prosperous condition. The Presbyterian
church was organized in 1865 and has a substantial brick building
affording a very good audience room. All these churches are
located on the main old residence street which, though its proper
name is Johnson Street, is often called Church Street. The
Catholic church, though having a substantial membership, is gen-
erally served by priests coming from Dayton.

The four groceries and two dry-goods stores of this place
are well stocked with first-class goods, supplying both town and
country for miles around. Osborn also has three flouring mills
and two elevators. These mills have the best of modern machin-
ery and make the highest grade of roller-process flour. The
elevators handle and ship great quantities of corn ; very little
wheat is shipped away, as the country around does not furnish
enough for the mills, which are kept busy day and night the year
around. Two of these mills are run by water power, furnished
by a dam in Mad River a mile above the town. Great quantities
of both hard and soft coal are shipped here for use in the town
and surrounding country. There is also a whip factory employ-
ing some thirty hands ( there are only four whip factories in the
whole State of Ohio). This factory makes whips in price from
.$1.50 a dozen to $25 or more for a single whip. The benevolent
orders are represented by a lodge of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P.,
and the J. O. U. A. M. There is a weekly paper. The Osborn
Local.

Fairfield is the oldest village in the township, with a some-
what peculiar history. Settled in 1799, in the early days — earlier
than 18-10 — it was a thriving, growing town. Such it would have
continued to be but for one mistake of its people and neighboring
farmers. When the now Big Four Railroad was being located
they wanted to pass through Fairfield. Xow the general direc-
tion of this road from Dayton to Springfield is northeast, cutting
diagonally all farms it passes through. The farmers did not want
their fine farms spoiled in this way, and they fought off the rail-

OS BORN.
M. E. Church. Street Scenes. School Building.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 93

road successfully. As a result ( )sborn sprang- up and became the
flourishing town FaTfield would have been ; and instead of merely
standing still, Fairfield even lost some of the business it formerly
had. Tt had no railroad convenience till the Dayton and Spring-
field electric road was built through it. The population of Fair-
field is given in the last census as 312. It has a Methodist and
a Reformed church. The Methodist church seems to have been
the earliest organized, though its date has not been ascertained.
The Reformed church was organized in 1843, and is the offspring
of the Byron church. It has been in a prosperous condition from
the beginning, having begun in a great revival, a spiritual impulse
felt to this day. The village also has a lodge of Odd Fellows,
and Steele Post No. 623 Dept. of Ohio G. A. R. This Post
attends to the decorating of soldier graves on Memorial Day in
eight different burying grounds.

Byron, on the Yellow Springs pike, is an old hamlet that
has less business and importance than formerly in earlier times.
Its dozen or so houses are now without the store, post office, and
saddler's shop of former days, but a blacksmith shop remains.
Byron's chief honor is the church and cemetery near it. Here
are buried many of the old settlers, reaching back even into the
1 cStli century. The Byron Reformed church dates back to a very
early day; it was formerly a union church, the Lutherans owning
and using it jointly with the Reformed.

( Editor's note: — Fairfield may take comfort in the reflection
that if it has fallen behind in the race for population and business
it has preserved its fine old houses and streets and is the most
picturesque town in the county. We regret that the views do not
give an adequate idea of its charm. Since 1 ( X)4 it has held an
annual reunion and home-coming).

BEAVER CREEK TOWNSFIIP.

Reaver Creek Township is one of the original four, and
formerly extended as far north as Fake Erie. It is a beautiful
valley, fertile, well timbered, rolling and picturesque, noted for
its fine farms. The high ridge separating the waters of Beaver
Creek and Mad River is a particularly fine fruit belt, where good

ZIMMEEMAN. SHOTIP'S.

UNION SCHOOL BUILDING ( XENIA TP.)
K. OF P. HALL, ALPHA. STEEET SCENE, ALPHA.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 95

peaches do well. The Pennsylvania and C, II. and D. Railroads
and the Dayton and Xenia Traction road cross the valley. The
pikes arc well kept and the scenery is fine.

Beaver Creek Township is the cradle of Greene County. In
its little log court house in 1803 the county was organized. There
was the first administration of justice, the first exercise of suf-
frage through the ballot hox, and the first legal punishment of
crime. There was the first mill north of Cincinnati where corn
was ground for the settlers. It was built by Owen Davis in
1798 and called the Alpha Mill from the first letter of the Greek
alphabet. The court horse, mill and two blockhouses, erected
for defense, were near enough together to be inclosed in a
stockade should the Indians become troublesome. The old log
court house was the first licensed tavern in the county. It was
purchased with the surrounding acreage in 1827 by Mr. John
Harbine. He and Mr. Needles laid out the town of Alpha in
1854. When what is now the Pennsylvania railroad was built
Mr. Harbine gave the land required and the station was named
1 [arbine. It was a lively manufacturing center with its distillery,
flour, cotton, woolen, grist, saw and oil mills and did a large
tobacco, grain and shipping business.

From the first mill and the first barrel of flour which was
marked "Alpha," the name has clung to the place. There are,
in the town, a nice brick church, a school, a post-office, coal office
and two stores and at upper Alpha a large K. of P. Hall, black-
smith shop, and Beaver Creek Township High School built in
1888. The population of Alpha is about 200. The waters of
Beaver Creek have turned the wheels of the grist mills for more
than a century and the old dam is an attractive place for picnics
and fishing parties, but the site of the blockhouses is no longer
indicated and the valley is peaceful, productive and beautiful.

Trebeins, formerly known as Pinckneyville, Frost Station
and Beaver Station, is two miles nearer to Xenia. For many
years a large distiller}' and milling business was done there. The
distillery has now given place to a tobacco warehouse. A German
Reformed church and a school house are midway between Alpha
and Trebeins.

CAESAR S CHEEK ("H'KCH.

STREET SCENE, NEW JASPER.
M. P. CHURCH AND SCHOOL HOUSE, PAINTERSVILLE.

STREET SCENE, PAINTERSVILLE.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 97

Zimmerman is about two miles west of Alpba on the Dayton
pike. It has a blacksmith shop and grocery, a school and two
Dunker churches. The population is about 100. The railroad
station is a quarter of a mile distant and is called Shoup's; there
is one store there and about fifteen people. S.

CAESAR'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.

This township, one of the four into which the county was
divided in 1803, originally included all the southeastern section
of the county but has been successively reduced to its present
limits by the formation of other townships. Paintersville, the
only town, was laid out in September, 1837, for the proprietor,
Jesse Painter. It is ten miles southeast of Xenia. It has a
Methodist Protestant church, a school, two stores, barber, wagon,
and blacksmith shops, restaurant, and saw mill. Societies are
represented by the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order, each
with its auxiliary of ladies (the Pythian Sisters and the Daughters
of America respectively ). Population, about 125.

CEDAR VILLE TOWNSHIP.
F. A. Jurkat.

Cedarville Township was organized in 1850 from portions
of Xenia, Miami, and Ross, to which fact its singular outline is
due. The natural antipathy to new things led to a protest on the
part of the inhabitants of the older townships, which however
was of no avail. It lies entirely within the Virginia Military
District, and incidentally the Cedarville School District treasury
is benefited annually to the extent of about fifty dollars from the
Federal Government — a relic of the famous Revolutionary War
grant.

The area of the township is 23,000 acres. The soil is very
fertile, and underlaid with limestone, which is the basis of one
of the chief industries. The chief stream is Massie's Creek,
named after a noted Indian fighter. In its efforts to reach the
Little Miami it has cut its way through the rock, forming cliffs
forty feet deep and a mile long, one of the most picturesque

Xenia Avenue.

(Photo by Downing.)

CEDAEVILLE.

The Reid Home.
(Photo by W. P. McKay )

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 99

scenes in America. Along its course are a fort of the prehistoric
races and a mound which occupies a prominent place in the land-
scape. (See the article by Prof. W. EC Moorehead).

The first settlers were John and Thomas Townsley, who cane
here from Kentucky in 1801. They were soon reenforced by a
colonv of Scotch Covenanters from the Chester District of South
Carolina, who left there because of their antipathy to slavery.
These immigrants were a great reen force nent to the struggling
congregation of Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, which
had been established in 1804. In spite of a division in 1833 into
'•( )ld" and "New Lights," these congregations have vitally deter-
mined the religious life of the township.

The village of Cedarville was laid off by Jesse Newport in
1816, long before the township was formed. It has been vari-
ously known as Newport's Mill, Hanna's Store, the "Burgh," and
Alilford. To avoid confusion of post offices and perpetuate the
memory of the cedars, the present name was adopted in 1834.
The population, which was 118') in 1900, is now about 1300. It
is on the P., C, C. and St. L. Railroad.

The interests of town and township are closely allied in all
matters, religious, civil, ami industrial. There are six churches
in the village: the Reformed Presbyterian. New School, founded
1804; Reformed Presbyterian, Old School, founded 1833; United
Presbyterian, founded 1830; Methodist Episcopal, founded 1804;
Colored Baptist, founded 1830; and the A. M. E. church. Cedar-
ville College is described elsewhere.

The first school house in the township was erected in 180o;
the first in the village was started in 1823. There are now eight
school houses in the township, and the village has a high school.
The first newspaper, the "Enterprise," was founded in 18/6.
It was succeeded by the "Herald," which still flourishes. In 1902
was founded the "Record."

Among prominent buildings may be mentioned the township
hall, built in 1888, and the public library, representing a donation
of $11,000 to Cedarville College by Andrew Carnegie.

Aside from the cereal products, the farmers of Cedarville
Township take pride in their fine breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs.

School Building.

CEDARVILLE.
Alt'ord Memorial. Town Hall.

Main Street.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 101

which have taken man)- a trophy. ( See the article by O. E.
Bradfute).

Among the industries of the village are the elevators of D.
S. Ervin and Kerr & Hastings Bros., the Ervin lime kilns, the
Tarbox Lumber Co., and the Hagar Strawboard and Paper Co.
The latter employs over sixty hands, makes a carload of paper a
day. and hunts for straw as far as Kentucky.

But the greatest product of Cedarville Township is its citi-
zens. Pioneers are always the soul of enterprise, else they would
not become pioneers. Coming from the older settlements of the
East, and reenforced by the Scotch Covenanters, they put forth a
civilizing energy which has not yet spent itself, but has been car-
ried to greater heights by their descendants. Most prominent is
the Hon. Whitelaw Reid. Ambassador to the Court of St. James,
and for a third of a century editor of the Xew York Tribune.
Without the honors which the world has bestowed, be would still
b. highly deserving as a model son, especially in the care be be-
stowed upon his widowed mother during her last years. As a
mark of affection be keeps the obi homestead in a condition that
makes it a place of interest to visitors from far and near. Many
other sons of the township have been prominent in civil life,
among them being U. S. Senator James H. Kyle, Judge Samuel
Kyle, and (den. Robert Jackson.

Cedarville was well represented in the War of 1812 and the
Mexican War, and in the Civil War she was the banner township
of the banner count}' of the banner state, in the number of soldier^
sent out.

JEFFERSON T( >WNSHIP.

( Mr. R. C. Stewart, a blacksmith who has been at the same
stand during the entire 60 years of the township's history, is
authority for the historical part of the following.)

Jefferson Township, in the southeast corner of the county,
was organized in 1858, being taken from Silver Creek Township.
The name was suggested by Peter Bowermaster, who was an
ardent admirer of Thomas Jefferson. Bowersville, the only
town, is situated on the C. & C. branch of the D. T. & I. Railroad,

BOWERSVILLE.

Maysville Street.

Scenes along the O. S. Railroad.

M. E. Church.

Photos by H us Bey.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 103

6 miles south of Jamestown and 15 miles from Xenia. At the
time it was laid off by Christopher H. Hussey and others, in 1848,
there were three or four houses there. The name is said by some
to have been taken from that of Peter Bowermaster, but in
reality it was suggested by D. L. Reaves, who helped lay the
town off, in reference to the abundant shade. In 1850 a M. P.
church which was on the John Ross farm was moved to the town
(a new building took its place about 25 years ago). A little later,
a M. E. church (new building, 1902) and a Christian church
(recently rebuilt) were established. Bowersville also has a six-
room brick school building, a township house, post office, bank,
sawmill, two elevators, two hotels, restaurant, livery stable, tele-
phone office, barber shop, three blacksmith shops, and 12 stores.
Population, 1900, official, 370; 1908, estimated, 425.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP.
Charles H. Ellis.

Miami Township was organized June 8, 1808. It was
formed from Bath and Xenia Townships and derived its name
from the Little Miami River which flows through a considerable
portion of its territory. This township is one of the most fertile
in the State and contains a number of streams and considerable
timber. Some of the finest natural scenery in the country is
found along the banks of the Little Miami River and its tribu-
taries. The township contains two villages, Clifton in the eastern
section and Yellow Springs in the western.

Lewis Davis, whose home was near the big Yellow Spring
on the Neff Grounds, is supposed to have been the first settler.
He came here about 1799 and lived several years and surveyed
considerable property. The first township officers were elected
in 1816. In the early times there were but few roads and these
were scarcely traversable. The State road from Columbus to
Cincinnati, via Clifton and Yellow Springs and Springfield was
most generally used. In 1820 good land could be purchased from
$3.00 to $6.00 an acre and laborers received 37 cents a day.

Grinnell's Mill is one of the few remaining landmarks of the

104

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

early days and is still in operation by Mr. Frank Grinned, Sr.
A little farther up the river from Grinnell's is the famous River-
side Park now owned by Mr. John Bryan. This park contains
over 500 acres of meadow, woods, river, springs and cascades.

h3&&

WHITEHALL.

ddie wildest and most beautiful scenery of the township is located
in this park along the Little Miami River. The largest farm
barn in the State of Ohio is located at Riverside Park. It was
built by Mr. Bryan. It is 206 feet long, 120 feet wide, 75 feet

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 105

high. An L has been joined to the barn and it is about 85 feet
by 50 feet. The first story of the barn is built of stone and is a
magnificent piece of masonry. A part of the building contains
five stories. It is equipped with running water and all modern
improvements.

Whitehall, the present residence of Air. E. S. Kelly, has been
an ideal country home for over half a century, and its hospitality
has always been in keeping with its halls and numerous spacious
rooms and the extensive grounds surrounding it. It was built
in 18-16-7 after the Colonial style of architecture, similar to that
of the White llonse at Washington. The house stands on high
ground in the midst of a grove of handsome black walnut trees.
From this grove was obtained the only lumber used in the erection
of the house and for this reason the place for many years was
known as Walnut Hall. At present the house is surrounded by
a magnificent grove of voting walnut trees covering a park of
about twenty acres in extent. About 350 yards to the west lies
a beautiful lake, making a landscape view as picturesque as can
be found anywhere.

The main part of the house is built of brick which were made
in a kiln near by. The house was erected by Judge Aaron Har-
lan and he frequently entertained many distinguished friends and
guests. Mr. Kelly has remodeled it with many improvements.
Many acres have been added to the original farm until it now
contains 1100 acres of park and meadow, of woods and fields.

YELLOW SPRINGS.

On the northern border of the County, near the headwaters
of the Little Miami River, is situated the beautiful and classical
village of Yellow Springs, which takes its name from the cele-
brated yellow spring located in the famous Neff Grounds park.
This spring is strongly impregnated with iron, magnesia, lime and
silicious matter, and the iron gives a yellow tinge to everything
over which it passes.

There is a mystic fascination about the place. The healing
waters of the Yellow Spring were known to the Indians long
before the first white settlers came to make their homes in the

106

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

wilderness. The flow of water is nearly 110 gallons a minute,
at a temperature always the same, winter and summer, and in the
language of the Indians, "cool as the morning air and with the
golden tint of the setting sun." A short distance east of the
spring is a mound of stone and earth which is no doubt the work

THE LITTLE MIAMI
Above Yellow Springs.

of a prehistoric race. It is now crowned with a summer house
and always attracts the attention of visitors. The Indians who
succeeded the Mound Builders evidently set a high value on the
spring, for it was located midway between the two famous settle-
ments of the Shawnees, namely Oldtown, five miles to the south,
where were located their most valued corn fields ; and Mad River
village, six miles to the north, where the famous Tecumseh was

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 107

born. The trail connecting these two points passed the spring
and was plainly visible to the early settlers. It passed very near
the present site of Antioch College and descended into the glen
by a break in a rocky wall, which is still used for a foot path.

Lewis Davis was the first white man known to have lived
here. He came from Cincinnati to Dayton on a trading expedi-
tion in the year \7^ { K and while there he learned from an Indian
of the great yellow spring and the beautiful country surrounding
it. He immediately went to Old Town and followed the old In-
dian trail up to Yellow Springs where he camped for several
.lavs. In the fall of the year he built a log cabin a short distance
east of the spring and surveyed considerable land in the surround-
ing territory. He often described the place to be a garden spot
of health and beauty in a vast wilderness. Other white men
hearing of the marvelous grandeur of the place came and built
cabins in this vicinity and the place was known as Forest Village.
About 1820 General Whiterrtan laid off a number of lots north of
the spring, which were named Ludlow. A number of log houses
and several frame ones were erected. A sawmill was erected
near the stone bridge. About this time there also appeared a
colony of communists called Owenites, numbering over two hun-
dred people. They erected a large building as a common resi-
dence, close to the cascade in the Neff Grounds. They worked
in common and divided the proceeds of their labor equally, and in
fact seemed to skim along in a rosy imagination of a self-
established heaven-on-earth, where all things were equal and the
luxuries as existing at that time belonged to the most common as
well as the best. This free-for-all style however did not last long.
Consequently, we rind this colony of antitolstoic thinkers scat-
tered to the four winds, after a residence of only two years.
However, other people came to live in their places and in a short
time there was quite a village built up here.

Among the most prominent of the early settlers were Elisha
Mills and his son. Judge William Mills. They owned large tracts
of land in and around the village of Yellow Springs. In the
year 1809 Elisha Mills erected a residence on what is now known
as the Old Yellow Springs House ground. It was afterwards

THE GLEN AT YELLOW SPRINGS.

The Yellow Spring. (Photo by Stretcher.)

Pompey's Pillar. (Photo by Earl Richardson.)
The Upper Falls. ( Photo by Dr. Hewitt.)

The Lower Falls. (Photo by Robert Swaby.)

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 109

enlarged and used as a tavern, a Mr. Gardner being the first
proprietor. Yellow Springs soon gained national prominence as
a health and summer resort and thousands of people from all
over the country came and visited here annually, to drink from
the waters of the great yellow spring and enjoy the beauty of the
cool groves and picturesque glens near by.

In 1853. Judge William .Mills engaged the services of a sur-
veyor and laid off a tract of land comprising 350 acres now in-
cluded within the corporate limits of Yellow Springs. Lots sold
at prices ranging from $150 to $500. Judge Mills reserved a
tract of land comprising about twenty acres in the center of Yel
low Springs on what is known as the Lawn, now occupied by
Williams Means and his family. Judge Mills also donated
grounds for schools and churches and he was called the founder
of Yellow Springs. The village was incorporated in 1856 and
Isaac Kershner was chosen as the first mayor. The village was
laid out on a grand scale in which are thirty-seven streets, six
of which are over a mile in length. The physical features of the
village are unsurpassed anywhere. The Neff Grounds Park,
Sheldon's Glen, Taylor's Glen, Grinnell's Park, The Lawn or
Means' Park, Glen Forest Cemetery and the Antioch College
campus make Yellow Springs a beauty spot upon the face of
Mother Nature. You will never find a place more richly endowed
with natural beauty and healthful climate, with beautiful trees,
glens, springs, cascades, cliffs and gorges than Yellow Springs.

It is not surprising that this place has attracted people
from all parts of the country. Just opposite the village of
Yellow Springs, two small streams unite whose waters a mile
away empty into the Little Miami River. Through beds of lime-
stone, in a dee]) ravine or glen, lies the course of these streams,
skirted along by high projecting cliffs and huge disrupted masses
of rock, affording an enchanting variety of scenery. One of
these outlying masses is known as Pompey's Pillar. Being an
immense rock weighing fifteen or twenty tons, the upper surface
almost as smooth and level as a table and easily accommodating
twenty people, it affords a popular resort for visitors desiring a

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

view of the valley below. This stone is poised upon a pyramid
of rocks about eighteen feet high.

Another curious formation in the Neff Grounds is the Devil's
Wash Basin formed in solid rock in the bed of the stream a short
distance above the "Cascade." It is twelve inches deep and six

A Bit of Natural Landscape Gardening on the Little
Miami above Yellow Springs.

feet in diameter with edges as smooth as if carved by hand.

A short distance below this basin is a cascade about twelve
feet in height which affords a very pretty sight as the water goes
leaping over the rocks into the deep ravine below, sending out a
sparkling mist upon the ferns, flowers and fragrant honeysuckles
hanging from the adjacent cliffs. Below the Cascade is the Mag-
netic Spring discovered after the flood of 1886. Further down
the gorge is the old "Indian Silver Mine," which in former years

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. Ill

was worked considerably but never paid very well. Below tins
mine two streams unite at a point known as Lovers' Lane. It
consists of a lovely shady walk in the grove above, overlooking
tbe two streams and affording a magnificent landscape view.

On October 19, 1878, Messrs. Jesse Taylor and D. C. Duncan
discovered tbe Antioch bone cave in tbe Xeff Grounds, a sbort
distance from Pompey's Pillar. It faces tbe south, is about four
feet high and tbree feet wide, and extends into tbe cliffs about
fifteen feet. Skeletons of a child and of several kinds of animals
were found therein. Tbe child was supposed to belong to some
prehistoric race.

Tbe Lake in the Xeff Grounds covers about ten acres of
ground and is a perfect gem set between high bluffs and wooded
bilL and is an attractive place for boating and bathing.

Tbe Old Xeff Mouse was erected on a bluff near tbe Yellow
Spring in 1840 and for years was crowded with visitors from all
over tbe United States. It burned down in tbe sixties and a new
Xeff House was built in 1869-70. Tbe new building was four
and a bait stories high, contained tbree hundred rooms, and cost
over $100,000. It bad quite a run for several seasons. In 1892
it was torn down and shipped to Cincinnati. Just south of the
Xeff Grounds is Sheldon's Glen in which, in 1848, the Water-
Cure Hotel was erected by Drs. Chaney and Herman. This
hotel was a famous health resort and enjoyed a national reputation
for several years. It burned down in 1856 and was never re-
built.

In 1850 a convention of ministers of the Christian denomina-
tion assembled at Marion, Xew York, and after long deliberation
decided to erect a college of high character. Y committee was
appointed to secure a location. Judge William Mills and a few
citizens of Yellow Springs came to the front offering twenty acres
of ground and $30,000 in cash to secure the College here. Their
offer was accepted and tbe work began in 1852 and was finished
in thirty-seven months. Horace Mann of Massachusetts was
chosen first president and under bis leadership the institution
flourished and gained national prominence. (See the article on
Antioch College).

Photos by Stretcher
YELLOW SPEINGS.
Presbyterian Church. Opera House. .

Little Antioch." High School. Campus Entrance, Antiocn.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 113

Mr. William Neff, of Cincinnati, purchased "The Glen," now
known as the Neff Grounds, in 1841. He brought with him Mr.
Frank Haffner, who acted as manager of the grounds for a great
many years, Mr. Neff only spending a portion of his time here.
The property has now passed into the hands of Mr. Theodore
Neff, who is conducting it as a picnic and pleasure resort.

Of the early settlers of Yellow Springs, nearly all have passed
to the Great Beyond. Mr. Samuel Cox, who was born here 75
years ago, is still living. He remembers when Yellow Springs
was a vast wilderness when there was not a house between the
old Yellow Springs House and the Currie place south of town.
He has witnessed the growth of the village from a few log huts
to a modern up-to-date town with over four miles of cement side-
walks, electric railway, two telephone systems, telegraph lines,
railroad, express, bank, modern postofnee with rural free delivery,
opera house, fine college, good churches, schools, lodges and soci-
eties. There is a good prospect for natural gas. The streets are
large and well shaded, the home commodious and comfortable and
the people kind and hospitable.

The churches of the village are as follows: The Methodist
Episcopal was organized in 1837 by Air. and Mrs. Daniel Penned,
Mrs. Cox and David Potter, the meetings being held in houses,
barns and groves. The first meetings were conducted by Joseph
Hill, Robert Cheney and others. In 18-10 a building was erected
on the northeast corner Dayton and Corry Streets and dedicated
to Rev. Hammeline. In 1845-6 Judge William Mills and A. 11.
Johnson donated lots and money for a new edifice on Locust
Street in exchange for the old building. A parsonage was built
-i >< >n after.

The present Presbyterian church located on Walnut street
was organized upon the request of Judge William Mills under the
direction of the Dayton (New School) Presbytery by Rev. Sam-
uel D. Smith. February 3, 1855. The church building was erected
in 185') and dedicated March 3. 1860. The church was legallv
incorporated as the First Presbyterian Church January 19, 1859.

The Christian church was organized in 1857-8 by Plder D. T.
Ladlev and a large brick church was erected on the corner of

CLIFTON. Three upper photos by Robert Swaby.

The Gorge, in summer and winter.

Arch Bridge and Falls.

North Street, showing town hall (on right) and schoolhouse tower. Clay Street.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 115

Davis and Elm Streets. The church has enjoyed great success
in the past, but during the past few years so man}' of the leading
members have died or moved away, that meetings have ceased to
be held. The trustees a short time ago sold the church building
to the Catholic denomination. The Catholics have been occupying
a one-story brick church on High Street for a great many years,
and their increasing numbers required a larger church.

There are two colored churches here, the Baptist and the
African Methodist Episcopal. Both are well organized and have
been in existence for nearly fifty years.

Yellow Springs is well equipped with societies. The Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows was organized May 21, 1853; the
Free and Accepted Masons No. 421 in August. 1868; F. A. A.
M. Fountain Lodge 35, in 1872; Grand United Order of Odd
Fellows. Xo. 1979, in 1881; Grand Army of the Republic. 1881;
Woman's Relief Corps, 1894; Pride of Solomon Lodge. No. 39,
June 27, 1903; Junior Order of United American Mechanics,
1901 : Public Library Association, March 1, 1899. All are active
and doing good work in their respective positions.

CLIFTON.

Dr. D. E. Spahr.

The village of Clifton derives its name from the continuous
beautiful cliffs that constitute the rocky gorge of the Little Miami
River. It is the oldest town in Miami Township and contains a
population of about 300. It was laid out in 1833 by Robert
Watson, surveyor, and Timothy Bates and Bennett Lewis, original
proprietors. The land was purchased for General Patterson who
at that time owned a mill on the river at the present site of Clif-
ton. The propelling facilities were all that could be desired and
soon a distillery, saw mill, and flour mill were in operation. Being
located on the Cincinnati. Lebanon & Columbus stage route, the
new town was accessible to the outside world. It was incor-
porated in 1835. Failing to get the railroad from Xenia to
Springfield was its Waterloo from which it has never recovered.
At one time it bid fair to be the most prosperous business town in

116 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

the county. The most noted pioneer character was Gen. Ben-
jamin Whiteman, who was a brave soldier, noted Indian fighter
and commissioner, who built the first court house in Xenia and
whose old homestead, the old stone house at the big spring east
of Clifton, is still standing.

Clifton has at this time three churches, a Presbyterian, a
United Presbyterian, and a Methodist Episcopal. The city build-
ing is a much more pretentious building than is usually found in
villages of this size. It is a brick structure with mayor's office
and lockup downstairs, and J. O. U. A. M. Hall upstairs. The
Opera House, a first-class little theater, has a stage 42 feet wide
and a seating capacity of 500 — a first-class opera seat for every
man, woman and child in the village and 200 of their friends.
The school house is a commodious brick structure of two stories.
with four teachers. The churches are commodious and up-to-
date. The town boasts of three general stores, two blacksmith
shops, barber shop, restaurant, notary public, two prosperous
physicians, a flourishing K. of P. lodge, a J. O. Q. A. M. with a
good membership, and a Grand Army Post. The village is prop-
erly laid out and is beautiful for situation, and is a delightful place
to pass the simple life. The people are quiet, intelligent, and
hospitable. Many distinguished people who have been associated
with Clifton scenery in their youthful days are constantly return-
ing to admire and enjoy the scenes still so dear to their hearts.

THE ROCKY CANYON AT CLIFTON.

To fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the pictur-
esque Rocky Gorge at Clifton we should make at least two
separate visits and explorations. One of these should be in the
depth of winter, when the massive rocks are stripped of their
summer covering and stand out grim, cold, and silent; when the
door of each dark cavern stands open, when each rock, column
and embankment stands rugged and magnificent before you and
your voice echoes and reverberates throughout the solemn loneli-
ness of this miniature canyon. Then again we should behold it
as we shall today, in early June, bedecked in summer garb, array-
ed in the drapery of green leaves and creeping vines and flowering

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 117

plants that add much to the loveliness but detract from the appar-
ent depth and breadth and obstruct our observation.

Standing at the breast of the mill dam, at the edge of the
village, we observe the winding course of the river, as it flows
peacefully through a comparatively level, almost flat, country-
no rugged mountains or hills in sight. Yet the peaceful water no
sooner drops over the dam than it falls into a deep gully which
deepens and widens as it advances. Thus it stealthily glides
along, skirting the south and west of the village, secure and

STEAMBOAT ROCK, CLIFTON.

obscured in its almost subterranean passage. As we follow its
winding course around the village we encounter first the old saw
mill with its water power, a relic of antiquity ;^ then the arch
bridge, the flouring mill, and numerous other scenes that bring
the camera in the crowd into requisition. At the west of the
village the old factory site, with the spring that issues from a
cave under the Yellow Springs pike, is a subject for investigation.
Here the channel deepens and narrows and the waters, com-

118 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

pressed from the sides and standing on edge plunge over the
falls spreading out into a deep dark pool, shaded, cool, and im-
pressive. Here the "silent old boatman," long since gone to his
reward, piloted his canoe loaded with appreciative sightseers en-
raptured with the soul-inspiring scene of the falls from below.
Above these deep waters, where the towering rocky walls approxi-
mate each other, is the spot where tradition locates that mythical
story of the wonderful leap of Simon Kenton, when to save his
scalp he made the most astonishing jump on record and so escaped
the noble red man.

A little further on, a depression in the side of the wall of the
canyon is designated as the Devil's Armchair. Now we have
reached the Cedar Garden, a beautiful grove in the widened
chasm. Here are the twin Arch Bridges. A painting of the first
one adorns the drop curtain in Xenia's opera house; from beneath
the other a little stream falls over the remains of the Jug Handle
famed in story by Captain Howard many years ago.

Now the Steamboat Rock and Big Spring claim our admira-
tion. Then the old paper mill location and the Blue Hole attract
us for awhile, but the Brightest and Best, the ideal camping
grounds and cool spring allure us into resting and refreshments,
leaving numerous caves, Brewer's Springs and Cutlass Hole, and
Bryan's Riverside camping grounds for the afternoon.

In a word, no spot in Ohio has more beauty and attractiveness
for the sightseer, or charm for the piscatorial sportsman or senti-
mental lover, or information for the geologist, botanist, or philos-
opher. These delightful cliffs have quietly and unpretentiously
won their fame — a fame that is as substantial and enduring as
their own unalterable rocks.

NEW JASPER TOWNSHIP.

This township was created in 1853 out of portions of Cedar-
ville, Ross, Silver Creek, Caesar's Creek and Xenia Townships.
New Jasper, the only town, is about 70 years old and has a
population of something less than 100. It contains a township
house, a Methodist Episcopal church (both of brick and built in
1882), two stores, and a blacksmith shop. There is also a hall

SCENES IS ROSS TOWNSHIP.

Church of Christ and Street Scene Gladstone.

Typical Farm Land.

Street Scene and Church of Christ. Grape Grove.

120 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

where the Junior < >rder and the Daughters of America hold their
meetings. ( )n the eastern edge of the township is the Caesar's
Creek Baptist church. There are also in the township a tile
factory, a sawmill, and two extensive limestone quarries which
yield excellent building stone. (For a view of New Jasper, see
Caesar's Creek Township.)

ROSS TOWNSHIP.

Ross Township, the northeastern corner of the county, was
organized in 1811. It is a very fertile area devoted largely to
the raising of corn and the feeding of stock, hut without incor-
porated towns. Part of it was originally prairie and much of its
soil is black. Two small communities within its limits. Grape
Grove and Gladstone, have each a school, a church of Christ, a
grocery, and a blacksmith shop. Most of the trading is done in
Jamestown and Cedarville.

SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

This township was organized in 1811 and included all the
southeastern corner of the county until the formation of Jefferson
Township in 1858. It now contains but one town, Jamestown.
Mechanicsville, two miles south of Jamestown, is merely a
crossing of the roads where formerly were a store and black-
smith shop.

Jamestown was laid out and recorded in 1816 and so named
for James Browder, an early pioneer farmer of the locality. The
site was originally owned by Thomas Browder and Martin Men-
denhall. The earliest enterprises that are recalled are the wool-
carding mill of James Hodges, and Merrick & McBride's still
and grist mill. The proprietors of these enterprises together
with most of the farmers in the locality were immigrants from
( arolina and Virginia. The selection of the site of the town
was a happy one; it is 16 miles from Wilmington, 18 from Wash-
ington, and 12 from Xenia. This isolation, even with the travel-
ing facilities of today, serves to mitigate the competition of the
larger towns. It is to the large farming area whose trade it thus
possesses that the town owes its steady prosperity and growth.

JAMESTOWN.

Main Street, looking west.

Cemetery Entrance

Church Street, looking south.

The Old Swimming Hole.

Three upper photos \<y Mock.

122 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

The region about Jamestown is a broad, level plain, extending for
miles in every direction. The soil is a deep, rich, black loam that
brings phenomenal prices.

There have been no spasmodic booms with their inevitable
subsequent depression at Jamestown. The several attempts to-
wards the commercialization of the oil and gas of which the
region gives indications have been too tentative to involve much
loss.

In the spring of 188-4 a cyclone destroyed nearly a third of
the town, but the fact that there are no evidences of the disaster
today exemplifies the industry and prosperity of the citizens.
\\ hile there sre no evidences of Jamestown's calamity, the abund-
ance and quality of the farm produce that comes to its markets
is still bearing record of Jamestown's greatest triumph, namely,
the Jamestown Fair, which was started in I860 and soon attained
proportions second only to those of the Ohio State Fair. It was
discontinued several years ago.

Today Jamestown's population is about 1500 (official, in
1900, 1205). Its industrial life is represented by two grain ele-
vators, one flouring mill, one lumber yard, one cement block fac-
tory, one tile mill, one carriage factory, two banks, two news-
papers, two hotels, three restaurants, three livery barns, two
greenhouses, forty stores and shops of various kinds, and a com-
mercial club. The town is situated on the Wellston division of
the C. H. & D. Railroad.

Jamestown's social organizations are: Masons, I. O. O. F.,
O. E. S., G. U. O. of O. F., Junior Order, K. of P., M. W. of A.,
and the Ladies' Advance Club. There are nine churches and an
opera house in Jamestown. The denominations represented are:
Haptist ( 2 ), M. E. and A. M. E., U. P., Church of Christ, Friends,
Roman Catholic, and Christian.

The first characteristics that impress a visitor in the town
are its beautiful deep-verandaed homes and the city-like appear-
ance of its business section. It is Jamestown's unique good
fortune to possess the tranquility of the village without its
lethargy, and the industry of a city without its frenzy.

F. McD. T.

JAMESTOWN.
Maiu Street Public School.

Fresbyteriau Church. Opera House.

Photos by M.'ck.

Methodisl ( Ihurch.

IL'1 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP.

This township was organized in 1856 from Sugar Creek,
Caesar's Creek, and Xenia Townships. It is fertile, containing
much bottom land, and is second only to Sugar Creek in tobacco
production.

Spring Valley, its chief town, is situated on a broad, level
plain surrounded by a labyrinth of hills. The settlement, orig-
inally called Transylvania and consisting only of several houses,
a general store, and the tavern and stage station of Jeffrey Tru-
man, was on the west bank of the river, but with the construction
of the Panhandle Railroad in 1845 the population shifted to its
present center under the eastern range of hills.

Among the hTst industries were the pork packing and ship-
ping company of Byrd & Walton, Barrett's woolen mill, Dougher-
ty's linseed oil mill, and the large cooper shop of Giles Kinney.
At present Spring Valley has a population of 700 (official, in 1900,
522). It has a flouring mill, two saw mills, a canning factory, a
concrete block factory, three blacksmith shops, a national bank
(surplus $60,000), a hotel, two restaurants, a poultry shipping
house, two barber shops, and seven stores. Spring Valley's
springs are its proudest possession. There are said to be fourteen
different kinds of water within a radius of two miles. From one
spring gushes a stream of water seven inches in diameter. ''Mag-
netic" water flows from a pipe that was drilled for oil, while
within ten inches of it strong medicinal water with no magnetic
quality is ejected intermittently by the force of its own gas. This
water comes from 1450 feet below the surface; it has about the
same density as sea water and its chief constituents are common
salt and Epsom salts.

There are three churches in Spring Valley : the Methodist
Episcopal (which in 1607 erected a new $8,000 church of con-
crete blocks), the Methodist Protestant, and the Friends'. A
new school and high school building was also built of concrete
blocks in 1907.

Claysville, or Roxanna, as it is now called, is a shipping
point on the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad. It is about two miles
below Spring Valley, and the population is about 30.

SPRING VALLEY.
M. K. Church. Main Street. Walnut Street. (Photo by Rosa E. Johnson.

View from the Mound.

126 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1963.

New Burlington, 9 miles south of Xenia, has its northern
section in Spring Valley Township, hut the larger part of it lies
in Clinton County. F. McD. T.

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
James R. Hale, Assistant State Librarian.

The first of the "Big Four" townships to be carved, as it
were, in 1802, from the then unplatted wild known ever after as
Greene County, Ohio, was Sugar Creek. In 1856 what is now
Spring Valley Township was taken from Sugar Creek, previous
to which time the citizens of Spring Valley Township went to
Bellbrook to vote at general elections which attracted large
crowds.

The Little Miami River enters the township at the northeast
and flows southward more than half the extent of the township,
to where it turns eastward and enters Spring Valley. Little
Sugar Creek, a small stream, extends from the extreme northwest
toward the center of the township where, at a point just south
of Bellbrook, it joins Big Sugar Creek which flows from the west,
and at this juncture the uniting streams become Sugar Creek
proper which, flowing southeast, empties into the Little Miami.
From this small stream, or from the abundance of sugar timber
in this locality, the township takes its name. The industries of
the township belong mostly to agriculture, and a very consider-
able acreage is given to tobacco, producing superior grades
commanding good prices. Though there have been several flour-
ing mills along the river, but one yet remains of the now almost
vanished pioneer industry. Building stone of considerable quan-
tity and quality has been quarried in the northern part of the
township.

The first settlers of the township came up from Cincinnati,
"the gateway of the northwest," and very early settlements were
made at Bellbrook and Clio. The oldest house now standing
in the township, or in Greene County, is near Clio, near the site
of the temporary hut first built by the Wilson brothers in 1796,
and was erected by these brothers for their father in 1800. On
the farm just north of Clio was located the first mill for grinding

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 127

corn. It was worked by hand by the neighbors as they in turn
would grind their own corn from which "mush" was made. Wild
animals abounded in this locality, upon which the settlers depended
for meat, and between Clio and Centreville was located what \va^
called "a bear wallow," a boggy place where the bears went to
roll themselves in the oozy mud as our modern swine are wont to
do, and where at one time, as it is related, one man killed two
bears and one deer.

At Bellbrook the settlement was made at a very early period.
The father of Dr. James Clancy, from Kentucky, settled here in
1786-7, purchased the land that became the east side of the village,
and built a log cabin on the site of the present Bellbrook Inn,
where he "kept tavern" for a number of years, building another
tavern on the same site in \7 ( )7 which was a large two-story
frame. In this building was also kept the first store and it is
related that Joseph C. Vance (who, after laying out Xenia went
to Champaign County and whose son Joseph was elected governor
of Ohio in 1836) also kept tavern in this building about 1797.
Bellbrook is the only incorporated municipality in the township;
it was laid out in 1816 but was not incorporated until 1832. The
progenitors of the village were, Stephen Bell, after whom it wa>
named (and who afterward became the mayor of Springfield),
Dr. James Clancy, and Henry Opdyke, they being owners of the
land on which the coming metropolis was to stand. In 18^0 it
flourished with a population of 502; in 1870 it was 369; in 1880
it reached 425, while in 1900 it was 352, the population of the
township for 1900 being 1368.

The first schoolhouse stood nearly opposite the present vil-
lage school building. It was a rude structure of native logs.
Janes Bain was the popular teacher of the period ; he was also a
"brewer of beer" and his malt house stood in the hollow near the
schoolhouse, so that he could teach the school and brew the beer
at the same time. The malt house was a rude structure, also
frequently given to conflagrations, on which occasions the teacher
would sound the alarm and, quickly ordering the school dismissed,
would lead the big boys and big girls of the school, as an impro-
vised fire brigade, to the rescue. Many other buildings for school

BELLBROOK.
Government Building

Bath House.
Snvri Scene. 1 1 i^li School.

Township House.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 129

purposes were erected from time to time, until in 1854 when the
brick building of three rooms, in the north part of the village, was
erected. This was quite a large and popular school for many
years. Many of the former graduates in learning were fledged
from what was known as "The Academy," which was a large
frame building and stood near the present Presbyterian church
hut was destroyed by fire in 1850. At present the village has
a special district school and the township high school located
within the town.

The various religious denominations have always been well
represented in Sugar Creek. The first church building was
erected 1>v the Baptists (Predestinarian) at Middle Run in the
extreme part of the township in 17' >A where services are yet
held. The fir>t church building in the vicinity of Bellbrook was
erected by the Associate Presbyterians at the northwest corner
of the Pioneer-Associate graveyard, in 1811. The M. E. and
M. P. denominations have flourished in the village from the be-
ginning; in 1842 the latter erected the present building and in
1X44 the former's present house of worship was erected. The
Presbyterian church was organized about 1828 and purchased
from the Pniversalists its first building, which was known as the
hell church because it had a bell in its belfry, and was removed
for the present building. The U. P. church erected in 185" die
large frame building which was destroyed by fire when known as
the Magnetic Springs Hotel, the church organization having
removed from the township. The Christian church is located
southeast of Bellbrook and that of the Disciple^ (Salem) north
of Clio. These religious organizations had their burial grounds
near the church buildings. In 1850 the Bellbrook Cemeter)
Association was formed, purchasing mortuary grounds about a
half mile north of the village and from year to year these grounds
have been well kept and beautified.

Pork packing on an extensive scale, making Bellbrook the
Porkopolis and business center of a widely extended territory.
began here about 1835. when the brick porkhouse in the village
was built. At this house were received, from the slaughter house
west of town, about 250 hogs for each working day of 12 hours.

130 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

They were hauled in long processions of farmers' wagons piled
high with the clean, white, stark bodies, noses ornamented with
blood-red icicles, and the round red wound in the white foreheads
showing where the unerring blow with the hammer had struck
them down ; these, with the noisy drivers, filled the street all day
long and often far into the night. Then came the weighing on
the sprangled arms of the beam scales just within the door of the
porkhouse ; the announcement of the weight in stentorian tones,
like the town crier at an auction ; then the busy, noisy scene within,
as the hogs were cut into hams, shoulders, sides, etc., by the huge
flying cleavers — all made quite a scene of commercial commotion
in the old town.

Two popular incidents have most conspired to make Bell-
brook famous, at least as famous as she is, the achievement of
"Sleepy Tom, the Pacing Wonder," in 1879, and the discovery of
the Magnetic Springs in 1882. This remarkable horse was a
Bellbrook village "scrub" and led a vagabond's life as a colt, and
after some efforts at putting him in training because of his natu-
ral pacing gait, he lost his eyesight and was known as "Blind
Tom," and as this gave him a sleepy appearance he received the
racing name of "Sleepy Tom." At Chicago in 1879, when he
was about twelve years old, he went in the great pacing race and
took third, fourth, and fifth mile heats in 2:16^4, 2:16, and
2:12 J 4 for a purse of $15,000. In the last heat he recorded the
best time known in the world in any gait, and immediately Tom's
name became a household word and his fame spread throughout
the civilized world, but he lived to neglected age, and perished
miserably in a burning stable "out west."

The Magnetic Springs were discovered in 1882 by the plas-
terer who was finishing the basement of the old United Presby-
terian church building, on North Main Street, for a dwelling. It
was noticed that the trowel used in the work appeared to become
magnetized after being immersed for a time in the water of the
old spring used as a well under the floor of the basement. The
water was taken to a chemist and a partial analysis was procured
at the cost of five dollars. The partial analysis was quite formid-
able in technical names for the various ingredients and appeared

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 131

especially so when placed upon large advertising posters by a
local artist and amateur promoter and placed in conspicuous
places about the village. Many citizens began at once to take the
liquid prescription for their many ailments, most always reporting
beneficial results, which were gathered as testimonials and. with
the account of the great discovery i heralded as the "lost waters"
for which Ponce de Leon searched in vain), were sent to the
newspapers far and wide. This free advertising brought a con-
tinuous stream of visitors to the village from near and far. bring-
ing all sorts of vessels with which to carry away the healing
waters. On one Sunday, during the first throes of the excitement
occasioned by the great discovery, the streets of the village were
completely filled with vehicles, as never before, the crowd being
estimated, for this one day. at five thousand or more. The old
church building was used for some time as hotel and bathhouse
but was destroyed by fire. The Bellbrook Inn was erected across
the wav. south of the original spring but near what was claimed
as another spring "just as good" as the original. The Inn was
also destroyed by fire recently, leaving the bathhouse which a >vers
the old spring as the only building to mark the spot where the
great Magnetic once flourished: but ' crushed to earth" it may
"rise again." With the magnetic water came the newspaper called
The Magnet, which was followed by The Moon, which flourished,
more or less, for some years but finally yielded to the logic of the
situation and passed into peaceful oblivion.

The taverns of the village were points about which many of
the pioneer incidents cluster. The first was the Clancy tavern a>
already mentioned ; another was called "The Mansion House."
with a very high sign post in front with the name in large letters
on it. part of which is now the last house on South Main Street,
west side: then "The Eagle Exchange" with its sign post, on the
northwest corner of the public square: and the "Green Ray Tree,"
now the brick building on the west side of North Main Street.
These were, in their time, the centers for public meetings, elec-
tions, conventions and general conviviality, and on such occasions
the large barns and yards would be filled with champing horses
with now and then a stopover stagecoach among the pioneer

132

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

vehicles. For those were stagecoaching days and Bellhrook was
on the stage line from Dayton to the Little Miami station at
Spring Valley. It was certainly a moving spectacle to see the
prancing horses, six of them to the coach, and of the best stock,
in fine harness, and each horse with a full set of bells; then to
hear the driver wind his bugle, see the passengers clambering to
their seats, perhaps a cheer would go up for some favorite candi-
date, with a parting blast from the horn as the horses would dash

THE OLD TAVERN "AS TT UST TO BE.''

Drawn by Kenneth Hale.

away or, at times, the bugler would continue in strains of beauti-
tul numbers, sending the echoes among the hills and vales, as the
coach moved on its rumbling way down the valley. The old
tavern stand on the corner, before mentioned, has yet upon the
roof, up alongside the capacious chimney, a bell hanging in its
pagoda-like house, where it has hung for more than two-thirds of
a century. The old bell has a peculiar roundelay when rung as
it used to ring, and it was long ago decided that the old bell was

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 133

trying to say: "Pig-tail done!", repeating it three limes to eaeh
measure. So that this old bell is tenderly associated with the
many pleasing reminiscences in the memory of those who lived
in the old town in the other days, and its fame is embalmed in
prose and poetry by the local historians and hards, to which
James Whitcomb Riley in his "Ponchus Pilut" has added:

" Yes, an' out in our back yard
He lie'ps 'Lindv rendur lard;
An', wite in the fire there, he
Roast' a pig-tail wunst for me —
An ist nen th' old tavurn-bell
Rung, down town, an' he says 'Well
Hear dat ! Lan' o' Canaan, son,
Ain't dat bell say " Pig-tail done !

Pig-tail done !

Go tell Son ! —

Tell dat

Chile dat

Pig-tail done ! "*

Bellbrook and Sugar Creek responded to die first roll of the
drum, or the first blast of the bugle, that called to arms in defense
of the old Hag and the Union in the Civil War. It was early in
that trying time (November, 1861) when the first soldier son
answered his last roll call, and the little village seeming to nestle-
so peacefully among the Miami hills was called to attend its first
war funeral. The following years, all during the mighty flood
tide of the great struggle, brought untold sorrow to Sugar Creek,
a loyal township of a banner-winning count)-, sending, according
to the published roster, 205 soldiers to the front.

The wandering, sons of Bellbrook and Sugar Creek do not
forget the old home, but many of them take delight in going back
to the old place to revisit the old landmarks, recall the scenes of
the long-past at the old place. In Dayton there has been for a
number of years a society of the former residents of the Bell

-In answer to an inquiry as to whether the Hoosier poet'- idea in tin'-; poem was
taken from the old tavern bell in Bellbrook. Mr. Hale has just received the following:

•• No: but tlic same kind of a country town, tavern, and bell.— for it always said
' Tig-tail done ', God bless it. Heartily but hastily yours.

James Whitcomb Riley."

A number of years ago some verses by Mr. Hale on the old bell appeared in the
Xenia Gazette, in which he exploited " Pis-tail done" for what he believes to be th" fir<i
time in print. That two different bells should say "Pig-tail done" is not utterly im-
probable and the Bellbrook bell has no need to yield priority, for, as .Mr. Hal.- says, " it
was saying it seventy or more years ago."- Ed.

134 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

brook locality known as the Gem City Bellbrook Club, organized
for the purpose of keeping green the memory of the old home.
The club for several years was championed by the venerable
Simon Sparks, who has passed to his final home leaving a ven-
erated memory. This society held a number of annual meetings
at the old home place and the spirit of these meetings went abroad
to former residents living .farther away, and in 1905, on Labor
Day, the first general home-coming for all former residents of
the locality was held, and it was a surprising success, being largely
attended by representatives from a number of states, widelv
separated, but coming together once more at the old home, for
the first time in many years, in a happy, handshaking time. Three
annual meetings have been held, all eminently successful and
growing in interest each year, with ever increasing attendance
of loyal sons and daughters of old Sugar Creek.

XENIA TOWNSHIP.

Xenia Township was organized in 1805 from portions of
Beaver Creek, Caesar's Creek and Sugar Creek Townships. It
includes a larger area than any other township in the county and
is one of the most famous for its fancy stock. Being the town-
ship of the county seat, it contains a number of county institu-
tions, such as the courthouse, jail, etc., mentioned in the historical
sketch. Situated about two miles west of Xenia are the County
Infirmary and the Children's Home. The former comprises a
three-story brick building, erected about forty years ago, set in
a farm of 105 acres and supplied with water from the city water
works. There are usually about seventy inmates in the Infirmary,
while in the Home, an older building across the road, about thirty
children are cared for. In addition to the city of Xenia, the
township contains the villages of Oldtown, Goes and Wilberforce.

Oldtown, three miles north of Xenia, has- a celebrated his-
tory which is related in the article on "The Original People of the
County," Part II. At present it is the home of about 50 people
and has a M. E. church, a school house, a flour mill, a store, and
the inevitable blacksmith shop. It is no longer a station on the
railroad.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 135

Goes owes its importance chiefly to the Miami Powder Com-
pany which has its plant there, employing about sixty men. The
town is a flag station on the Springfield and Xenia railroad and
has a school house, store, and blacksmith shop. The waters of
a large spring above the town supply its 200 inhabitants with pure
water at little cost.

Wilberforce was formerly a health resort called Tawawa
Springs, but since 1856 it has been the seat of Wilberforce Uni-
versity, which is described in a separate article. Wilberforce has
a population of 300, exclusive of the University students, and
contains some attractive residences. There are three restaurants
and a store, and a flag station on the P. C. C. & St. U. Railroad
three quarters of a mile away.

XENIA.

"Hoke"' Smith. Editor of the Xenia Republican.

When, a few years ago, a citizen of Xenia went to South
America on a business mission, he was not long at his hotel until
sought out by another who had formerly lived beneath the Stars
and Stripes and who wanted to learn the news from home. He
showed the Xenian a little old-fashioned railroad locomotive
which bore the name "Xenia" in faded letters. It had once been
in use on the old C. H. & D. Railroad when that line was a narrow
gauge, and for years had snorted and puffed its way through
Xenia. Then when its day of usefulness had ended here it had
been bought, together with several other of the old engines,
by a sharp contractor and had been shipped to Columbia, S. A.,
where it is still in service. Go where you will in the world, there
is always some evidence at hand that Xenia is on the map. The
products of onr factories go all over the world and Xenians them-
selves are everywhere. Be it a great disaster or a great cele-
bration, you will always find some Xenian in it.

The St. Lonis balloonists who sailed above Xenia some time
ago, remembered the city because of its hundreds of shade trees.
Many of the fine old trees have given way before ruthless hands
for the building of cement sidewalks and street paving, but the

Photos by F. E. McGervey and by Canby.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 137

people have jealously guarded them wherever possible and have
kept the grateful shade on nearly all the thoroughfares outside
the business district.

If you have never seen Xenia from a height it will pay you to
climb to the top of the Court House tower some day. It is like
looking at the old town through new eyes. A fine old place it
is, with its miles of shade, trees stretching in all directions, its
homes surrounded by green lawns, its stretches of cement walk
glistening white under the rays of the sun. Smoke stacks send
up their volume of smoke, proving at times a good deal of a
nuisance to the residents, but at least giving evidence of our com-
mercial activity; and everywhere there is the evidence of cleanli-
ness, prosperity, and contentment.

And if it be a bright day and the harvests about to ripen you
wdl want to spend some time up there getting acquainted with
the surrounding country and picking out familiar objects. Far
away may be seen dimly the spires of historic Antioch. You are
impressed anew with the fact that there is no more beautiful spot
than the fertile Miami valley. Xo wonder that it has been called
a modern Arcadia; the green fields sweep away in long stretches.
broken here and there by the streams along which are the syca-
mores and willows; comfortable farm houses and big barns filled
to bursting attest the generosity of Mother Earth in yielding up
her choicest fruits for us. From the horn of plenty have been
scattered the good things of earth all over this section. The fancy
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine have brought fame to
the county of Greene. Xo other farmers in the United State-
have taken so many prizes for fine stock. In the midst of such
surroundings no wonder Xenia has grown and prospered.

We have our peculiarities, to be sure. YVe have a steam
railway which runs along the principal street of the city, right by
the Court House. Long freight trains passing along the principal
thoroughfare look queer to strangers and in time past efforts have
been made to get the railroad off the street but to no purpose and.
after all, we rather like it. because we are accustomed to it.

W e are like London, England, in one respect — some of our
streets are very narrow. The man who laid out Xenia was

138 GREENE COUNTY 1S03-1908.

possessed of a streak of economy which has given us cramped
quarters in some sections.

POPULATION.

The last census, taken in 1900, gave Xenia a population of
8,696. Since that time the city has enjoyed phenomenal growth
and these figures fall far short of the population at the present
time; nor do they embrace the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors'
( )rphans' Home which lies at our doors and which is the home of
about a thousand persons. We have passed the ten thousand
mark and are still growing.

The city is divided into four wards, each of which consists
of two precincts. The present First Ward is the westernmost,
the Second next, then the Third, and the Fourth east of all, the
main dividing lines being West, Detroit, and Leech Streets. It
is well governed; the laws strictly enforced. The police force
consists of a chief and seven patrolmen.

RECENT IMPROVEM ENTS.

Within the past ten years Xenia has made long strides. It
has witnessed the erection of a splendid new court house, the
corner stone of which was laid in 1901. The old court house
had served its purpose since 18-16 and had been the scene of many
memorable events and there were a great many of the "old timers"
who gazed at it with fond eyes as its walls disappeared. Upon
its site has appeared a structure that has proven a model in con-
venience and beauty of architecture. A leading publication
recently gave pictures of a few of the model court houses in the
I nited States and the Greene Count}- structure was selected as
one of these. It is about the only instance in the country where
a court house was built within the appropriation. The commis-
sioners were authorized to sell 4 per cent bonds to the amount of
$200,000 but only $184,000 worth were required to erect and'
furnish the structure.

The building of the court house awoke civic pride in Xenia.
The building was surrounded on all sides by streets which in the

Photos by Donning.
XEXIA.
Detroit Street, looking 1 north. Market Street, looking east.

(City Hall on the left.)
Main Street, looking east.

140 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

spring became well nigh impassable. In the course of time came
the street paving. Main, Detroit, and Market Streets were paved
with brick and Second Street with asphalt, making in all about
five miles of paved streets. Prior to this improvement there had
been built a complete sewerage system, adding greatly to the city's
health fulness. Then came the construction of miles upon miles
of cement walks. The streets are well lighted.

These public utilities require the expenditure of a vast sum
of money each year. Last year it cost the people of Xenia,
including interest, the sum of $118,644.21 to make the wheels of
the city government turn smoothly. And this sum did not include
the special assessment for paving, sewerage, etc. We have been
pouring money into the public improvements. Our paved streets
cost us the sum of $197, 6C0 and the sanitary sewerage system
$80,000. This does not include several thousand dollars to take
care of the storm water.

Yet Xenia is a rich city and can well afford to make these
improvements and take care of its citizens in public utilities. Last
year there was on the tax duplicate personal property which
amounted to $1,587,863 and real estate the value of which was
$2,543,250, a total valuation of $4,130,113.

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

A building in which all may take a great pride is the fine
Carnegie library located on East Church Street, built by the gen-
erosity of Andrew Carnegie who gave $20,000 for the building
property and afterward contributed $1,350 for the furnishings.
Last year there were circulated thirty thousand volumes for home
use. Away from the noise of the city and set in a green sward
it affords a restful place where all may have access to the best of
literature.

Another public building which may prove to be a reality
before long is a Government building for which Congress has
made an appropriation of $10,000 for a site, but at this writing
the location has not yet been decided. It would be the home of
the Xenia post office and other Government offices of the Sixth
Congressional District, of which Xenia is the largest city.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 143
THE POST OFFICE.

The Xenia post office is new occupying a room in the Y. M.
C. A. building on the southeast corner of Greene and Market
Streets. The post office force consists of the postmaster, assistant
postmaster, five clerks, six city carriers, ten rural carriers, one
mail messenger and one special deliver)- messenger. The yearly
pay mil for these employees amounts to $23,840. Twenty-five
mails are received and a like number dispatched each day. Postal
receipts for the year ended March 31, 1908, were $18,827.62.
Money orders written the year ended 1907 amounted to $62,179.62.
Money orders paid the same year amounted to $50,833.71.

FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WATER WORKS.

Xenia has long been noted for its splendid fire protection.
There are two fire stations, one centrally located on Whiteman
Street, the other at Cincinnati Avenue and Second Street. There
are five regular firemen and eight pipe men who may lie depended
upon at a moment's notice to respond to calls.

Speaking of the fire department brings us to the subject of
the magnificent water system possessed by Xenia. It was built
in 1887 and there are two stations. The one on the Springfield
pike derives its supply of water from springs and the one built
later on the Cincinnati pike gets a supply of clearest crystal water
from wells. The big engines with their steady ••chug" send this
water in abundant supply to the mammoth standpipe which is
located upon high ground and affords at all times a pressure such
as few systems possess. On an average five hundred thousand
gallons of water each day are distributed to the inhabitants of
Xenia. The Company is owned and under the supervision of
local capitalists and has recently secured a renewal of its franchise
for ten years. Mr. George F. Cooper, who is the efficient super-
intendent, had charge of the construction of the plant and knows
every detail connected with this important feature of the city's
well being.

CAS A XD ELECTRICITY.

Two electric companies supply Xenia with light and power.

142 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

Natural gas has found its way to our doors and has proven a
great boon to the citizens of Xenia in its cheapness (25 cents per
thousand) and cleanliness both as a fuel and light. No artificial
gas is now manufactured in the city. At this time there are over
1,300 consumers of natural gas. It was introduced only a couple
of years ago but Xenia people were quick to appreciate its advant-
ages. Our supply of gas, which has always proven adequate,
comes from the Ait. Vernon, ( )., fields.

COMMUNICATIONS.

Xenia depends to a very large extent upon the agricultural
resources for its support and business but a number of splendid
industries have grown up. The shipping facilities have proven at
all times adequate to tempt the manufacturer. Our situation
upon the great Pan Handle system of railways, brings us in close
touch with the leading cities of the country. Electric lines make
it but a step to Springfield and Dayton. By our steam lines New
York City is only fifteen hours away, Chicago eight hours and St.
Louis nine. The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway taps
a rich coal mining country and hauls the black diamonds our way
in vast quantities.

Two telephone systems afford Xenians quick and easy com-
munication. Each one of the companies occupying the field has
approximately a thousand subscribers in Xenia while lines from
both systems radiate to all parts of the county and to the smaller
towns, proving a wonderful aid in the transaction of business.
The great majority of Greene County farmers may today be
reached within a few moments by the aid of the telephone.

THE TWINE AND CORDAGE INDUSTRY.

Xenia's principal industry and that in which more money by
far is invested than in any other single enterprise is the making of
twine and cordage. The city is known throughout the United
States as a center for the twine industry and it is a matter of
pride that the great grain-growing districts of the West and
South call upon Xenia to a large extent for the twine which binds
the grain which feeds a large portion of the world.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 143

The Hooven & Allison Company is Xenia's largest concern.
It employs 550 persons, making rope of all description and com-
mercial and binder twines and sending its products to all parts of
the United States and Canada. The remotest countries of the
earth yield raw products to the mills: the jute comes from China
and Japan; Manila hemp from the Philippines; sisal from Yuca-
tan, Mexico; also hemp from Russia and Italy and American
hemp from Kentucky. There are now three large mills in opera-
tion and in the early part of June, 1908, there was blown for the
first time to summon the employees together the whistle of one,
of the largest mills of the West. It is located on Cincinnati
Avenue and contains floor space to the extent of 120,000 square
feet. In addition to the regular channels of trade the company
maintains branch houses at Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis,
and Seattle. The Hooven & Allison Company is one of the
pioneers in the making of twine in this country, which has grown
year by year from a very feeble and primitive method of produc-
ing twine, until the present extensive industry has been achieved.
A history of the twine-making industry in Xenia would prove
interesting but it is not within the province of this article.

The R. A. Kelly Cordage Company is another of Xenia's
splendid industries along the same line. It employs a force of
100 men. Binder twine is made but the chief product is manila
rope. Its rope is of a high grade quality, the United States gov-
ernment using it in its work. Rope as large as three and a half
inches in diameter is turned out from the factory, this size being
in great demand for the drilling of gas wells. Operated under
the same management is the Kelly Machine Shops where skilled
labor is employed at good wages. Here is made what is known
as a "diaper," a machine tool, which is shipped to all parts of the
world and for which there is a steady and growing demand.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.

The Xenia Shoe Factory has spread the fame of Xenia in a
manufacturing way. The factory has been established only about
eighteen years and from a humble beginning has grown to a plant
which, when running to its full capacity, employs 300 hands and

144 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

turns out 1500 pairs of shoes each clay. Its traveling salesmen
cover a large section of the country and its products are shipped
to all parts of the United States. It has a paid-up capital stock
of $100,000.

The Xenia Fuse Factory, an adjunct to the Aetna Powder
Company, is another notable industry. There are six substantial
brick buildings devoted to tins plant, located on Home Avenue.
It would be strange that a great work like the construction of the
Panama canal were in progress and Xenia products not in some
way find their lodgement there. And thus we find the Xenia
factory shipping to that far away point the fuses that touch off
the enormous blasts which will pave the way for the ships of all
nations to pass through to the Pacific without that long tiresome
voyage around the Horn. The plant employs sixty people. The
work is light and not considered dangerous. The fuses from the
factory are in great demand all over the world. Australia, Ger-
many, Japan and far away South Africa use them in their
blasting.

The Xenia Star Nurseries located here ship away annually a
million trees. The nurseries occupy three farms, two on the Day-
ton pike and one on the upper Bellbrook pike, in all comprising
350 acres of land. The trees are shipped to all parts of the
country. $15,000 is distributed each year for labor and in a busy
season from one hundred to one hundred and fifty hands are
employed.

The Xenia Board & Paper Company employs about forty
persons. It is a branch of an Indianapolis concern. The box
board is used for the making of suit cases, paper boxes and sim-
ilar articles and the Xenia mill has a capacity of twenty tons per
day. Recently there has been installed much costly machinery,
enabling the mill to produce two- and three-ply board and greatly
increasing its usefulness.

The Hollencamp plant for making artificial ice is located at
the corner of Columbus and Third Streets. It has a capacity of
thirty tons a day and keeps our citizens reasonably cool. A cold
storage department is run in connection with the ice plant.

The plant of the George Dodds & Sons Company has the

SOME OF XENIA'S SCHOOL BI 1 1. hi Mis.
East Main Street High. Spring Hill.

McKinley (West Markel St.)

Central Hijrh.
Photo l>y Downing.

i:,i-i Market

146 GREENE COUNTY 180.3-1908.

distinction of being by far the most handsomely equipped retail
establishment for monuments and cut stone work in the United
States. The company does business in several states and as far
west as Denver.

The city has five solid financial institutions. Included in
this number are two National banks, the Citizens' National and
the Xenia National. The Commercial and Savings Bank is a
newer institution but in excellent standing. There are two Build-
ing and Loan Associations, the Home and the People's. The
utmost confidence is reposed in these monied institutions.

The Eavey Wholesale Grocery is one of Xenia's big institu-
tions. One of the most costly fires that Xenia has ever had swept
this grocery away in the early part of 1908, costing the lives of
two brave firemen, who were crushed by falling walls. A new
building of reinforced concrete has been erected on a new site,
at the corner of Third and Detroit Streets. This new building is
a splendid addition to the business property of the city.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The Xenia Public Schools have a reputation that extends all
over the State. The State School Commissioner, who has the
legal authority for the rating of high schools, has put Xenia in
the first class. So also has the association of the leading colleges
of this section, so that pupils who receive a diploma from the
Xenia public schools are eligible to enter the colleges which belong
to this association upon the diploma alone. No other tax is paid
so cheerfully as that which supports the schools. The annual sum
paid out for tuition alone amounts to $30,000 annually; for
janitor service is paid about $4,000 and a like sum for contingent
expenses. The Board of Education is composed of seven mem-
bers and there are about fifty teachers. The schools occupy six
buildings, there being two high schools, the Central and the East
Main Street, the latter being set apart for the accommodation of
colored youth. Last year the enumeration showed the number of
children of school age to be 2510; the enrollment is about 1665.
Mention of the Xenia public schools would not be complete with-
out a word as to its superintendent, Prof. E. 11. Cox. lie has

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 147

held that position for m< re than a quarter of century, being

elected in 1881 and prior in that time having served as assistant
principal of the high school. He is still guiding the public schools
with his old-time energy, foresight, and wisdom.

CHURCHES.

The many splendid churches of the city are a tremendous
factor in the life of the people. An opendiearled generosit)
marks the benevolences of the various churches and thousands of
dollars are given annually to the cause of missions and for home
work.

( )ne hundred years ago this autumn a minister of the A. R.
church preached in Xenia and two years later. 1810. a congrega-
tion was organized. That congregation became the First United
Presbyterian church just 50 years ago, when the Associate Re-
formed united with the Associate church and formed the United
Presbyterian denomination. In 98 years the congregation has
had nine pastors: John Steele, J. R. Bonner, R. D. Harper. \Y, < '..
Moorehead, T. IT. Hanna. J. H. Wright. W. ?». Barr, R. G. Ram-
say and S. E. Martin. The present membership is more than 300.
Plans have been drawn for a new house of worship.. An envi-
able record has been made by the congregation in many lines of
Christian work.

One of the beautiful church homes of the city is the Second
United Presbyterian church at the corner of Market and West
Streets. It was erected at a cost of $28,000 and has only been
occupied about a year. The church is of picturesque appearance
of the English timbered style of architecture. It was constructed
of native limestone. East year this church gave for benevolences
the splendid sum of $5,872.59. It has a membership of 305.

Christ Church Episcopal was established in Xenia 52 years
ago. It was a small congregation but a zealous devotion to duty
marked those who held its standard aloft. Last year the church
took on new life. A new church edifice has just been completed
on East Church street at a cost of $8,000. There are now 85 com-
municants, the number having double within the past year. The
church while small is beautiful in its arrangements, being of the

XENIA CHUECHES.

Fhoios by Canby.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 149

early English Gothic style of architecture. The plans for it wen-
drawn by the rector. Rev. H. J. Simpson.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church is another congrega-
tion which is worshiping in a comparatively new church. This
congregation consists of over 800 memhers. Ten years ago the
church was remodeled and converted into a beautiful structure.
On Home-Coming Sunday will he celehrated the centennial anni-
versary of its founding in Xenia.

The Reformed Church of Xenia is looking forward to this
Home-Coming with pleasurable anticipations. The pastors who
have presided over this congregation for almost sixty years are
all living at this writing. The venerable P. C. Prugh was its
pastor for 25 years and is still in the harness. He was succeeded
by Rev. S. B. Yockey who occupied the pulpit for an almost equal
length, 23 years and who is still a resident of Xenia. After him
for shorter periods have been Rev. M. L. Eox. Rev. Henry
Gekeler and the present pastor Rev. Ernest Evans. It is hoped
that all the old pastors may he present and occupy the pulpit to-
gether at Home-Coming time, representing a period of church
history as before stated of almost sixty years. The church has a
membership of 250 and the congregation has recently purchased
the lot at the corner of Detroit and Church Streets where a church
and parsonage will be erected at a cost of $30,000, leaving the old
church home at the corner of Detroit and Market Streets.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church is an offshoot from the
First M. E. Church. It was organized about forty years ago. the
church building being located on East Main Street and being
pleasant and commodious. It has a membership of about 350 and
last year gave for benevolences approximately $1,003.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized about 1826.
It has a membership of about 3-10. ddie house of worship is
located on West Market Street. It is one of the strong congrega-
tions of the city, contributing liberally to benevolences and its
membership exerting a great influence upon the community.

The Lutheran Church, on West Main Street, was organized
in 1852 and has a membership of about 70. While not so large
as some others it does earnest, active work.

XENIA CHURCHES.

Upper photos by Downing.
Lower photo by W. P. McKay.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 151

The First Baptist Church of Xenia is situated at the corner
of Market and Whiteman Streets. It was organized Nov. 2,
1844, the first pastor being Rev. T. P. Childs. This church is
especially noted for having sent out many young men and women

CATHOLIC CHIKCII.

who have become leaders in Christian work and in the missionary
field. The membership is about 170.

On May 31, 1908, was dedicated the new house of worship
for the Society of Friends. It is located on Spring Hill. After
four years of work prior to that time in Xenia the Friends felt

152 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

that they had a work to perform and earnestly set to work to
accomplish it. The membership numbers 115.

On Orient Hill there is a neat brick church erected by a
recently organized congregation of the Disciples of Christ, which
has about 40 members.

Those of the Catholic faith worship at St. Brigid's Church.
It has a membership of about 275 families, and is now probably
larger in numbers than at any time in its history. The congrega-
tion was founded in 1849 and for a time the few families who
gathered together for worship were visited by a priest at stated
intervals. Then came a permanent organization, the dedication
of the church took place 56 years ago and from that time the con-
gregation has grown and flourished. The first resident pastor
was Father Blake, who served for the long period of 35 years.

There are a number of churches in the eastern part of the
city where the colored residents of the city worship. The differ-
ent denominations have able and earnest pastors and much influ-
ence is exerted and good accomplished by these churches.

St. John's A. M. E. Church is located at the corner of Church
and Monroe Streets and has a membership of 350. The church
was organized over 50 years ago and some of the leaders in
church history have been its pastors, several afterwards attaining
the office of bishop. It is considered one of the leading churches
of the Ohio A. M. E. Conference.

The Zion Baptist Church is located on East Main Street and
has a membership of about 350. It is one of the pioneer churches,
having been organized over 60 years ago. A new building was
erected ten years ago at a cost of $10,000.

Other churches which are doing a splendid work among the
colored citizens of the city are the Middle Run Baptist, Third
Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Third M. E. Weslevan, Christian and
A. M. E.

Y. M. C. A. AND SALVATION ARMY.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Xenia has its
home at the corner of Market and Green Streets. Its spacious
airy rooms are inviting haunts for the young men of the city who
avail themselves of its generous privileges.. There are now 306

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 153

members. The Association was incorporated on June 16, 1884,
when it was reorganized. Ground has been purchased in the rear
of the present building on which a modern gymnasium building
will be erected at an early date. This building will contain swim-
ming pools, baths, gymnasium floor and running tracks. The
Y. M. C. A. owes much to Mr. Eli Millen, one of the city's vener-
able citizens for whom the evening shadows are rapidly lengthen-
ing. For many years he furnished the Association a home in the

Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, XEXIA.
Showing proposed new Gymnasium in rear.

commodious building which it now occupies and his generosity
has made it possible for it to become owner of the same.

The Salvation Army has found much work in Xenia and is
constantly aiding the sick, the discouraged, the fallen. \\ hen
poverty and cold have come upon the poor of Xenia, the Army
has been ready with free soup and other provisions and a big
dinner for the children of the poor at Christmas time. And in

154- GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

the hot days of the mid summer it has alleviated suffering by
furnishing ice and milk to the suffering children of the city. With
rare loyalty and without ceasing the band of faithful workers
seeks new recruits in the work and aid for the needy.
woman's clubs.

Xenia bears the distinction of having the oldest woman's club
in the United State-. The Woman's Club of Xenia was organized
in March 1867. It- first president was Mrs. Henrietta Monroe,
who with one other charter member. Mrs. George Ormsby, still
bold- her membership. A lecture course under the auspices of
the Woman'- Club wa- given during the winter of 1870. Paul
Du Chaillu, Anna Dickinson, Theodore Tilton and George Ken-
nan delighted Xenia audiences. Theodore Tilton. then in the
zenith of his fame, was presented by Mr-. Barlow, president of
the Club. He acknowledged the unexpected incident in a very
complimentary way, saying 'it was the first time in all his experi-
ence as a lecturer that he had had the honor and the pleasure to
be introduced by a woman." Parlor lectures and character im-
personations followed at interval-, invited guests giving a social
note to such meetings. The Club may be called a pioneer in liter-
ary collaboration. In 1887 it was determined to make the
unprecedented attempt to collaborate a story : each member con-
tributed a chapter and the result was a delightful romance named
"Our Novel." Tbe passing years have brought many changes in
Club member-hip but never interrupted it- healthful, harmonious
growth and it- many avenues of influence have in no -mall degree
stimulated the literary life of Xenia.

The Junior Woman's Club is limited to a membership of
twenty and i- organized solely for literary purposes. It meets
fortnightly at the homes of the member- and has proven of much
pleasure and profit.

PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS.

The Catharine Greene Chapter. Daughters of the American
Revolution, was organized at tbe home of the late Mr-. Betsy
Kendall King, on East Main Street, December 16. 1894, with
nineteen charter members. The Chapter now numbers in all
sixty, the resident membership i- limited to fifty, The; object of

A DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 155

the organization is not only to perpetuate the memory of those
who achieved American Independence, but also to encourage
patriotism and historical research. The graves of thirteen Revo-
lutionary heroes have been located in the county, three of these
have been marked by the Chapter and the others will be marked
as soon as sufficient data have been obtained. At different times
prizes have been given high school pupils for essays written on
historical subjects. In 1906 the Chapter placed at Oldtown a
large bowlder, properly inscribed, commemorating the running of
the gauntlet by Simon Kenton, also marking the location of the
largest town of the Shawano Indians and their Council House.
In the Carnegie Library the Chapter has been given space for a
book-case owned by the Chapter and containing their contribution
of sixty volumes of books or reference of historical value to which
others will be added from time to time.

The Lewis Post of the G. A. R. now has a membership of
103. There was a time when the organization comprised 300 but
the ranks of the veterans are being rapidly depleted and there are
few recruits now. The work falling from the shoulders of the old
soldiers is being taken up by the more lusty Sons of Veterans
( Albert Galloway Camp) of which Xenia supports a flourishing
Camp. An important adjunct to the G. A. R. is that of Lewis
Relief Corps, comprising 67 patriotic women of the city. The
work of the Woman's Relief Corps along charitable lines deserves
special mention. Lewis Corps has also placed flags in several
of the public schools of the county.

OTHER SOCIETIES.

Xenia is rich in lodges and societies, nearly every prominent
organization of the country having its society or branch here.
And among those for the betterment of the city may be mentioned
the Commercial Club. It is composed of the representative busi-
ness men of the city, its object being the worthy one of promoting
the best interest of the city.

The Xenia Driving Club has done much to cultivate a pride
in fine horses. The Association was organized in 1901, its object
being to furnish a clean sport for the citizens of Xenia and

156 GREENE COUNfY 1803-1908.

vicinity. Matinees are held every week throughout the season
with several public race meetings. It is a member of the Ameri-
can Trotting Association and numbers 110 members.

MUSIC.

Xenia can hardly be said as yet to have earned the distinction
of being a musical city. However, she possesses a number of
talented individual musicians who have received the best of home
and foreign training. The McGervey Chorus, organized in 1902
by the late F. E. McGervey as the Y. M. C. A. Chorus, gave
annual concerts until the present year and had at one time about
100 members. It is to be hoped that this organization will be
continued. The S. of V. Band, led by Walter Curry, is about
sixteen years old and its excellence is well known. It has played
in various large cities of the country and has always been enthusi-
astically received. The Xenia Military Band is a younger organ-
ization which has already attained considerable proficiency.

PUBLICATIONS.

Three newspapers occupy the field in Xenia, the Gazette
(daily and semi-weekly) and the Xenia Republican and the Xenia
Herald (weekly) ; these are treated of in the Historical Sketch.

A monthly publication of much note in the United Presby-
terian church is that of The Woman's Missionary Magazine,
issued from the job rooms of the Xenia Republican. The editors
are Mrs. W. C. Hutchison and Mrs. George Moore; secretary,
Mrs. H. C. Dean ; and treasurer, Mrs., S. M. Kelso. Over eight
thousand copies of the Magazine are printed each month. The
July number, just issued from the press, contained the proceedings
of the Woman's General Missionary Convention held at Pittsburg
and for this one number alone over four tons of white paper were
used. All the women connected with the work of issuing the
Magazine give their services without compensation whatever.

"the east end."

In the days of slavery Xenia was noted as one of the points

along the line of the "underground railroad," that mysterious

route over which the terrified and fleeing black people were aided

by their sympathizers in many a daring midnight ride. (See

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 157

the Historical Sketch). Now the eastern part of the city is almost
wholly the home of the colored race. Wilberforce University has
attracted to this city hundreds of this race who came here in
order to educate their children. Have you ever taken a trip to
the "East End?" There you may see the colored "mammy" in
all the glory of her red bandana hankerchief forming her head-
gear, clean starched gingham apron, and a face from which radi-
ates good humor and peace with all the world. And there also
may be found the "old fashioned" darky, a gentleman of the old
school, if you please, who was brought up to serve his master in
the days "befo' de Wah." Time, the great healer, has softened
for him the hardships which he underwent in the days he spent
below Mason & Dixon's line. The years that have rolled by have
mellowed for him the hard places. The big plantations and the
cotton fields all hold for him a romantic interest and he talks by
the hour of the incidents of his life in the old days. There are
few of the old timers left. A new generation has taken their
place. They have the advantages of high schools and freedom of
thought and speech and many of the colored youth of the city
have made a success in many departments of life. They are scat-
tered all over the country. Go where you will, you will find a
familiar dark face and the salutation: "From Xenia? I used to
live there."

WOODLAND CEMETERY.

Out on Dayton Hill lies that other city. Woodland Cemetery.
The green sward is kept in perfect order and those who visit the
resting place of their loved ones will find Woodland more beau-
tiful than in the days of old. The cemetery comprises forty acre*
and within it rest dead to the number of 6,818.

THE GREAT EI.OOD.

Affliction has come upon us on different occasions but the
crowning calamitv in the history of Xenia occurred on May 12.
1886. A terrific flood came on, in which the lives of 28 people
were sacrificed. The storm occurred between eight and nine
o'clock at night. Shawnee, a tiny stream which passed through a
populous part of the city, was converted by a cloud-burst into a
torrent of water which descended like an avalanche upon the

Depot

XENIA. Photos by W. P. McKay.

The pillars at the cemetery entrance are those of the old court house.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY AND ITS TOWNSHIPS. 159

homes of many living in Barr's Bottoms. At ten o'clock the fire
bells sounded the alarm and soon another alarm sounded. Dense
darkness reigned everywhere but above the roar of the storm and
surging waters could be heard the calls of those in distress. It
was a night of wild terror and horror. Huge bonfires were built,
the shadows of which gave added awe to the scene. There were
many heroic deeds performed that night in the efforts to save the
drowning, the record of which would form thrilling chapters were
it within the province of this brief sketch. Twenty houses were
swept away in Barr's Bottoms, near the Little Miami depot, only
three remaining. Orrin Morris and his wife and five children
perished. The house bearing the family floated down the stream
until it struck the solid masonry of a bridge and then all was still.
Two children of the family were rescued. The next morning the
sun came out bright and warm, disclosing a scene of utter desola-
tion. For a time Xenia was cut off from all communication with
the outside world. The office of the mayor was converted into
a temporary morgue in which lay the bodies of the dead in somber
array. Xenia has bad many other calamities but none so great
in the loss of life as the great May flood.

We have been favored in many ways. Though fire and flood
have scourged us, the people have never for an instant lost faith
in the divine guiding hand. At times we have seemed to have
gone backward in the moral scale and wrong has triumphed over
right but through it all there has been an abiding faith of the
people that what is for the best interests of the city will ultimately
triumph.

Much work for the good of the city has already been accom-
plished in the years just passed, but there is still much to be done.
The men and women who know Xenia as the "old home" want to
see it thrive and prosper and grow bigger and better. So in tbi-
Home-Coming year we welcome them with glad hands, proud of
our achievements in the past, humble in the thought that we
might have done better, and hoping that in the days to come we
may make more of our opportunities, that progress may ever
mark our path.

160 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

GREENE, THE CHAMPION LIVE-STOCK
COUNTY.

O. E. BRADFUTE.

IN no one thing has Greene County achieved greater success
than in her live-stock interest. Equipped by nature with
a most fertile soil which is productive of a great variety
of grains in their best estate, having a rolling surface with
abundance of water furnished by fine springs and magnificent
streams, underlaid with limestone and clothed with blue grass
not surpassed even by the famous Blue Grass region of Ken-
tucky — it is little wonder that her people took early to growing
high-class and improved live stock. When our grandfathers
more than seventy years ago organized the County Fair, little
did they dream that their grandchildren would be able tc make
a display of live stock, taken from within the county, the equal
of which cannot be found in any other county in the nation.
Indeed, the battle cry of the stockmen of the county has become,
"Greene County Against the Earth." The county is acknowl-
edged to be the foremost one in live stock in the State and the
statement is frequently made that within the confines of Greene
County can be seen more pure-blood registered live stock, of more
kinds and of a higher class, than can be found in any like-sized
spot on the globe. The writer has known as many as twenty
different live-stock breeders to take their stock from this county
to the Ohio State Fair and to bring home with them over $2,000
in prizes on their horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Nearly every
man had a different kind or class of stock and each stood at the
head of his class at that great fair. No other three counties
combined in the State equal this county's annual winnings on live

GREENE, THE CHAMPION LIVE-STOCK COUNTY. 161

stock at the State Fair. Several of our stockmen make a business
of exhibiting their fine stock at the great fairs and live stock
shows all over the United States and have established reputations
which are not only national but international. Each year pure-
blood live stock goes from this county to find homes in nearly
every state in the Union, and in countries across the seas.

At the time of the World's Fair at St. Louis, in 1903, five
of our live-stock men took their herds and flocks to be present
at that great show and strive for the great prizes against the
world. They brought home 140 prizes, of which about fifty
were first prizes and championships, including some of the most
important prizes given by the Fair. At the International Live
Stock Show held annually at Chicago may always be seen a good
representation of Greene County's noted stock, and each year is
brought home at least one of the coveted championships of the
show, sometimes two or more of them. A noted bull at the head
of one of Greene County's herds has been three times champion
at that great show — a record not equalled by any other bull, dead
or alive, in America. Another bull which was bred in this
county has a record almost equally good. What cattle man of
either continent does not know of Lucy's Prince and Whitehall
Sultan? A Greene County man* was one of the nine who
organized the great Chicago show and is still on the board of
directors. No county has been so well represented with officers
and directors of the leading live-stock pedigree registry associa-
tions of America as Greene, having as many as fourteen officials
in these various associations.

Greene County boasts of several stables of fine horses ; of
great herds of Shorthorn, Aberdeen-Angus, Hereford, Red Poll,
Polled Durham, Jersey, Polled Jersey, and Guernsey cattle; of
fancy flocks of Merino, Oxford Down, Southdown, Shropshire
Down, Cotswold, Hampshire Down, Lincoln, and Cheviot sheep;
of showy herds of Poland China, Chester White, Duroc Jersey,
and Berkshire swine; to say nothing of many fancy flocks of
poultry of various kinds.

One hardly dares name a list of Greene County stockmen

*Mr. Bradfute himself.— Ed.

162

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

for fear of omitting names which should be given, yet some stand
out so prominently as breeders of a State, national, and inter-
national reputation that we venture to mention such names as
Williamson, Watt, Turnbull, Kelly, Bradfute, Ger laugh, Pollock,
Bryson, Cherry, Cummins, Bickett, Foust, Lackey, Peterson,
Creswell, Dobbins, Hawkins, Ankeney, Grinnell, Andrew, Jobe,
Orr, Corry ; and many others might be given with equal propriety.
The reader, when he returns to the old home, should not
forget to visit his friends in the country and let them prove to
him that old Greene has kept pace with the world and is the home,
not only of some of the finest live stock, but also of some of the
happiest and most prosperous people, on earth.

INDIAN RIFFLE BK1DUE.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 1(33

ANTIOCH COLLEGE.

JOHN M. DAVIDSON.

TIE history of Antioch College is of in-
terest to every student of the history of
education in America. The average
citizen, even of Greene County, is per-
haps unaware that the founding of this
college and the formulation of its pol-
icy marked an epoch in the history of
college education as truly as the public
school system of Massachusetts, or-
ganized by Horace Mann, marked the
turning point in the education of the people's children in the
grammar grades. Its importance lay in its frank democracy as
opposed to the aristocratic tendencies of earlier college policy.

Antioch became non-sectarian at a time when nearly all col-
leges and universities were under sectarian control, and when
only three or four state universities were in existence. It abol-
ishd the color line at a time when the education of the negro was
thought to be impolitic, if not dangerous. It established a scholar-
ship system for the education of those who otherwise would have
been unable to secure college training, at a time when a college
career was generally considered the prerogative of the children
of fairly well-to-do parents able to spend money for the education
of their children. Finally, Antioch became the first strictly co-
educational college in the world. Oberlin, it is true, had before
this admitted women to the same class room with men in some
studies, but, under the influence of Horace Mann, Antioch was
the first college frankly to adopt the democratic policy of pre-
serving absolute equality between men and women, both in the
courses of study offered and in the requirements for graduation.

*}~**^**!^^^***

ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 165

Horace Mann, the great reformer and democratizer of the
American common school system, was the inspirer of much of the
sentiment which brought Antioch into existence, and for that
reason was selected as its first president. Upon the day of his
election to the presidency of Antioch, he was also nominated for
the position of Governor of Massachusetts. He declined the
latter honor to take up the former.

The college was organized by the members of the Christian
denomination at a convention in Marion, N. Y., in 1850. It was
incorporated in 1852, in which year Mann was elected president,
and it was opened in 1853. No institution has ever attracted to
its cause a more distinguished or notable body of supporters than
did Antioch. Among the friends and helpers attracted by her
ideals were numbered the best minds of the day. Emerson came
out to lecture. Edward Everett Hale became a trustee. Horace
Greeley, Bayard Taylor, Salmon P. Chase and others also cami-
on to lecture and help. Among her constant friends were num-
bered Chas. Sumner, Josiah Ouincy, Theodore Parker, William
Ellery Channing and Wendell Phillips. Great attention was
paid to the scholarly and original quality of the work done in the
class room and but little towards the securing of new students.
Indeed many applicants for admission were turned away for lack
of accommodation.

Its history since that time has been one of many vicissitudes.
Horace Mann died six years after his election to the presidency
and was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Hill, who was called from
Antioch to the presidency of Harvard University in 1862. The
war closed the college doors for two years and crippled the insti-
tution financially and numerically to such an extent that its
prospects for usefulness and influence, which had been so brilliant
under the administration of Mann, were for some time consider
ably impaired. It did not, however, prevent the college from
preserving its democratic and independent ideals, and keeping up
its steady, conscientious, and thoroughly scholarly work.

Its output of men who have made places for themselves in
the world of scholarship and letters has been entirely dispropor-
tionate to the numbers sent out. Pres. G. Stanley Hall, of Clark

166 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

University, the late Prof. Langley, of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, Franklin W. Hooper, founder and head of the Brooklyn
Institute of Arts and Sciences, Amos R. Wells, editor and author,
Dr. George H. Shull, biologist for the Carnegie Institute, Bergen,
the botanist, and others are types of the kind of men that have
had their training at Antioch. Original and independent thought
and creative work have been almost uniformly characteristic of
her successful students, and constitute a striking evidence of the
persistence of the democratic and independent spirit which char-
acterized its first president and brought about its foundation.

Under the leadership of Dr. S. D. Fess, who was called in
1906 to the presidency of Antioch from the University of Chicago,
the college has entered upon a career of new promise. It is
growing steadily in the number of its students, has strengthened
its faculty, and is broadening its activities and sphere of useful-
ness. Not, perhaps, since the days of the first president of the
college have the prospects for a large and vigorous institution
been so. brilliant. Improvements gradually are being added; the
college has enrolled about three hundred students this year( 1908),
and the Antioch Chautauqua furnishes instruction and recreation
for visitors from all parts of southwestern Ohio. In short, An-
tioch seems surely to have come into her own.

A word should be said about the buildings and location. The
campus faces the glen on the Neff Grounds. It comprises per-
haps ten or fifteen acres, covered by beautiful trees of many
varieties, most of which were set out under the direction of
Horace Mann. The main building is one of the most dignified
and beautiful buildings in the county, and has a perfect landscape
setting. It is in the form of a cross, one hundred and seventy
feet long, with a transept of one hundred and ten feet. It is
three stories high, besides the basement, and contains the library,
laboratories, museum and class rooms besides the chapel. Near
by stand two dormitories, and at the entrance to the campus
stands the president's house.

The distracting elements which go with a large place
are missing. "Plain living and high thinking" is the expression
which perhaps characterizes best the educational spirit of Antioch.

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE. 167

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE.

PROF. F. A. JURKAT.

EDARVILLE College is one of the in-
stitutions of higher education under
the control of the General Synod of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The college was chartered in 1887,
and after a delay of several years, was
opened for instruction on September
19, IS 1 '4. in the mansion formerly own
ed by Rev. llngh McMillan, where he
conducted an academy half a century
ago. In the following year the present building was erected and
opened, both campus and building being the gift of generous
friends, ddie college speedily took high rank. ;is is evidenced by
the fact that although its oldest graduates are still young men,
the_\' have taken prominent positions in their various professions.
The income of the college consists of tuition fees, collections
from congregations, voluntary subscriptions and offerings from
friends within and without the church, and interest of the en-
dowment funds. The practical origin of the college was due to
the liberality of William Gibson, of Cincinnati, who bequeathed
$25,000 as a foundation, in memory of his father, Peter Gibson,
for many years a prominent member and riding elder in the Cin
cinnati R. P. congregation. A few years later, Robert M.
Cooper, an elder in the Cedarville R. P. congregation, bequeathed
a two-thirds interest in his farm, and John R. Lyons, of Marissa,
Illinois, gaye $500 as a memorial for his son, James Burney
Lyons, who sacrificed his life in the Civil War. In 1005 Mr.
and Mrs. G. W. Harper, of Cedarville, gave $5,000 to found and
maintain a chair in Finance and Economics, provided the friends

168

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

of the college should raise a similar amount. The money, includ-
ing $1,030 from the Men. Whitelaw Reid, was raised, and the
chair was instituted two years later.

The college plant consists of three buildings ; the main build-
ing before mentioned, the gymnasium, and the library. The
gymnasium, fcrmerly the R. P. church building, was presented
to the college by Mr. W. J. Alford as a memorial to his parents.

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE.

Rev. and Mrs. John Alford, and was renamed the Alford Memo-
rial. In 1906 Andrew Carnegie presented the college $11,790 to
build a library. This building is nearing completion, and is one
of the ornaments of the town. It is free to the public.

The present faculty consists of David McKinney, D. D.,
President; W. R. McChesney, Ph. D., Gibson Professor of An-
cient Languages; F. A. Jurkat, A. M., Modern Languages and
History; J. R. Fitzpatrick, A. M., Mathematics and Science;
Edith Morris, A. B., German and English ; Leroy Allen, Ph. B.,

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE.

169

Harper Professor of Sociology and Economics; Mrs. [essie Rus-
sell, Music; and Frank S. Fox, A. M., Elocution.

The graduates to dale number ninety-seven. The number
of students since the third year of the college has averaged about
i me hundred.

The collegiate courses offered are two, the classical and the
philosophical, leading to the degrees of A. B. and Ph. B., re-
spectively.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY. CEBAKVTLLE COLLEGE.

Among the students' societies may be mentioned the two
literary societies, the I'hiladelphian and the Philosophic, the Y.
M. C. A., the Athletic Association, and the Gavel Club. The
latter, formed originally to train its members in parlimentary law,
manifests itself most prominently in publishing the college paper,
the ( ravelyte.

The college has exerted a profound influence upon the com-
munity, and in return is thankful that it has such fertile soil to
grow in.

THE o. S. AND S. (). HOME.

171

THE O. S. AND S. O. HOME.

R. C. BARNES, EDITOR OF THE HOME WEEKLY.

HE Home for orphans of the soldiers

and sailors of Ohio is located on the
brow of a hill standing a mile south
of Xenia. It is an institution to
which the people of Xenia are proud
to point as the home of the children of
the State's war veterans, a large allot-
ment of which were furnished by
Greene County.

The Home is reached by traction
at the terminus of Home Avenue standing some
forty odd buildings, erected to care for those left dependent by
the ravages of the Rebellion and the late Spanish-American con-
flict.

The Home farm comprises nearly three hundred acre-- of
good land, a large part of which is under cultivation. It is situ-
ated in one of the best agricultural districts of the State, ami
much of the provision for the children is raised on the land. The
dairy is one of the important parts of the farm, a herd of thirty
Holsteins furnishing milk for the institution. The rloristry de
partment is also an important branch connected with the farm.

There are between seven and eight hundred children resi
dents of this beautiful Home, about evenly divided between the
sexes. The cottage plan is used, twenty-five children in a cottage,
presided over by a matron. The life is as near ideal as can be
made, everything being done to make surroundings as home-like
as ]>' >ssible.

Special stress i> put upon the need of education, and the

THE 0. S. AND S. t). HOME. 17;;

schools are in charge of a recognized educator and a corps of
excellent instructors. The child is given an education in the
grammar grades and high school and when he leaves, is fitted
with a knowledge of the chief branches, and has had his vears
spent here filled with the mind-training so essential when he
leaves to battle against the outside world.

At the age of 14 each boy and girl is required to learn some
trade. Of the choices offered girls, the domestic economy course
includes instruction in cutting and lilting and cooki.ig, the tail* r-
ing room is open to them, and the stenography and telegraphy
departments are open to both boys and girls. The boys may
learn electrical engineering ( which includes a school of mechani-
cal drawing), blacksmithing, plumbing, printing, gardening, shoe-
making, painting, harboring, tinning: and from the machinists'
department a number of excellent workmen are sent out every
year.

Each of these departments is fitted with the best of machin-
ery and material, and under the supervision of an instructor or
foreman the boys and girls are permitted to learn the latest and
most improved manner of carrying on the work.

The hospital is in charge of Dr. \V. C. Hewitt, who devotes
his time to the work. He resides in the main hospital and has
under his charge four wards, each in charge of a trained nurse.
A thing for which the people are grateful is the interest shown
by the prominent physicians and surgeons, who volunteer to come
to the institution at any time the emergency requires. The \ ol-
unteer Consulting and Visiting Staff consists of eighteen of the
best physicians and surgeons in the State.

The boys of the Home are organized into the I [ome Battalion
consisting, of four companies, thirteen officers and 281 cadets, and
the drill and parades give the Home a military appearance.
There are 30 pieces in the band, and the}- discourse sweet music
on all special occasions.

At Christmas time, the glee of the little ones is beyond the
description of words, as they receive their kindly remembrances
from the Grand Army, the Woman's Relief Corps and the United
Spanish-American War Veterans. The day is never forgotten

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THE O. S. AND S. O. HOME. i 73

by one who sees the children come into the large dining room and
partake of a huge turkey dinner.

Memorial Day is the most impressive one of the whole year
The children have exercises in the morning for the dead that are
buried in the little necropolis by the chapel, and in the afternoon
the battalion takes part in the services of the G. A. R. in Xenia.
Few people who attend the memorial exercises in the little house
of worship can go away with dry eyes.

The children are given a month's vacation during the sum-
mer, provided they have a place to go, and in July the institution
is visited by a number of her former inmates. This annual re-
union of the Ex-Pupils' Association brings together some of the
representative men of Ohio and from other states, who look to
the institution as the "cradle of their infancy" and point with
pride to the six thousand men and women who have gone from
the Home to occupy places in the professional and commercial
intercourses of life. These reunions show the high standard of
citizenship which the State of Ohio boasts as recompense for the
large appropriations given for the support of the Home.

The Home has brought many men prominent in national and
state affairs to Xenia, and has from time to time been the gather
ing place for officials of the Department of Ohio ( ;. A. R.

Hon. R. B. Hayes, afterwards governor of Ohio, and presi-
dent of the United States, was very instrumental in the organiza-
tion of the'institution in 1869 and 1870. Hon. J. Warren Keifer,
present congressman from the Eighth Ohio District was another
of the ones who were instrumental in its organization. The first
children gathered together to form an orphans' home which after-
wards resulted in the present grand institution, were in charge of
the Grand Arm}' of the State and numbered about eighty. They
were governed, clothed and cared for by a committee from the
G. A. R. This first Board of Control was composed of I'. I'.
Ingalls, H. G. Armstrong, George B. Wright, B. F. Coates. fames
Barnett. Eli Milieu. ( i. W. Gollier. and M. S. Gunckel and' .Mrs.
Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of Governor Haves, Mrs. Henrietta L.
Monroe, of Xenia, and Mrs. Rachel While, of Springfield.

From that first Board to the present time, the men who have
governed the institution have been among Ohio's distinguished
sons. Col. J. L. Smith is in charge of the Home as superin-
tendent and Mr. T. J. Collins is the financial officer.

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.

179

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.

PRESIDENT JOSHUA II. JONES.

[IE germinal spirit that gave origination
to Wilberforce University existed sev-
eral years before it took tangible form ;
but in due time that spirit bore its full
fruit and Wilberforce University was
given birth as a seat of learning for the
black' people of the United States.

On September 21 , 1844, the Ohio
Conference of the A. M. E. Church
appointed a committee for the purpose
ot selecting a site for a seminary of learning for the Negro people.
Tin's committee selected 172 acres twelve miles west of Columbus,
Ohio, on the old National Road. This property was purchased
and Union Seminary was projected there in the name of the Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church.

On September 28, 1853, the Cincinnati Conference of the M.
I'-. Church appointed a committee whose duty it was to select a
site for the establishment of a literary institution of higher order
tor the education of the colored people. That committee recom-
mended that "Tawawa Springs," a beautiful summer resort in
Greene County, ( )hio, be purchased for the aforesaid purpose and
in May, 1856, the purchase was consummated and a school of
higher learning was established, to be known as Wilberforce Uni-
versity. The University was incorporated in August 30, 1856,
and a Board of 24 Trustees was selected, including Governor
Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, Dr. R. S. Rust of the M. E. Church,
Ashland Keith of the Colored Baptist denomination, and Bishop
Daniel A. Payne of the A. M. E. Church. The broad principle
adopted for the future guidance of the University was that.

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. 181

"There should never be any distinction among the trustees, faculty
or students on account of race, creed or color."

The University began its work in October, 1856, under the
principalship of Rev. M. I'. Gaddis. lie was succeeded by Prof.
James K. Parker, and he by Doctor Richard S. Rust. During
these early days many friends and sympathizers were found for
the University but much to the chagrin of those who were leading
in this enterprise the Civil War, which had already become immi-
nent, broke out and the life of the University was put in great
peril and finally its doors were closed and the M. E. Church with-
drew from the held. On March 10. 1863, Bishop Daniel A.
Payne purchased the property for $10,000 in the name of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the old Union Seminary
farm near Columbus, ( )hio, (referred to above) was sold and the
proceeds, faculty and pupils were merged into Wilberforce Uni-
versity and a new career in the life of Wilberforce began.

In the early struggles of the University. Bishop Payne asso-
ciated with him Rev. James A. Shorter and Prof. John G.
Mitchell. During the thirteen years that Bishop Payne was Pres-
ident, 1553 attended the University and 26 of them graduated.

Rev. B. F. Lee succeeded Bishop D. A. Payne as President
in the year 1876. lie served in that position for eight years
during which time 117'' students attended the University and 41
graduated. The growth of the institution under President Lee
was steady and healthful in all lines. In 1884 President Lee
accepted the editorship of the Christian Recorder. Philadelphia.

In 1884 Prof. S. T. Mitchell was elected President and the
growth of the University along all lines continued at a very rapid
rate. During his presidency 2. ( C4 students attended school at
Wilberforce ami 45') graduated. In 1900 President Mitchell re-
signed the presidency and took the chair of mathematics in the
University.

In 1900 Rev. Joshua II. Jones was elected President of Wil-
berforce University and has served for eight years and is still
incumbent. ( President Jones's tenure of office terminated since
this article was written, in June. 1908, and at present Prof. Scar-
borough is Acting President. — Ed.) Under his administration

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WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. 183

the University has continued to grow along all lines and is accom-
plishing much for humanity. During his administration 4673
have attended the University and 495 have graduated.

The departments of the University embrace the College,
Theological, Normal and Industrial Departments. The courses
taught are the Collegiate, Scientific, Law, Music, Theological,
Academic, Normal, Art, Business, Shorthand and Typewriting,
Military Science and Tactics, as literary courses — twelve in all;
to these are added shop-work in iron, plumbing, tailoring, dress-
making, milliner)", cooking, shoemaking, printing, blacksmithing
and carpsntry, ss industrial courses or trades courses. In the
twelve literary courses, we seek to prepare students in the educa-
tive arts; in tie ten industrial courses, we strive to prepare s'u-
dents in the occupative arts. Wilberforce University, therefore.
aims at the double purpose: first, spiritual enlargement; second,
industrial efficiency. These twenty-two courses, including the
various departments, comprise the breadth of the University's
operations. From the founding of the University until now
1 1 , .t 5 1 students have attended the University and 1.021 have grad-
uated from the various departments up to this time. These
graduates and undergraduates have gone into all parts of the
world helping in the work of human amelioration, taking rank in
the world of service and letters by the side of the besl Negro
graduates of any school in the United States. The teachers and
preachers of our race sent out by Wilberforce University stand in
the front ranks of the intellectual, moral and industrial leaders
of our country. Tuskegee Institute, Hampton Institute, Howard
University and a score of similar institutions as well as high
schools, normal schools and grammar schools throughout the
nation have felt the force and influence of Wilberforce University
through her graduates who teach in them.

Some of the best teachers in Wilberforce University are her
own graduates and some of the ablest preachers in the connection
are the theological graduates of the University who have gone
out to do honor to themselves and their Alma Water. It is note-
worhty that Wsikinya Maxeke, Charlotte Manye-Maxeke, Charles
Dube, Adelaide Tantsi-Dube. James V. Tantsi, Thomas E. Warde

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY. 185

and K. S. E. Insiadoo are hard at work in far-away Africa bring-
ing honor to themselves, our race and our beloved Wilberforce.
Special mention should be made of Rev. Peter Alpheus Luckie
who. after graduation, returned to British Guiana and founded
at his native home The Demarara Missionary and Industrial
Institute. Many are the worthy of this great institution who
deserve mention, but time forbids.

In 188" the representatives of Wilberforce University went
before the Legislature at Columbus, Ohio, and requested the
State of Ohio to aid in the maintenance of the educational work
at Wilberforce University by establishing a department at the
University, and by the concurrent action of the Legislature and
the Trustees of the University the Combined Normal and Indus-
trial Department was established at Wilberforce and by continued
concurrent action of the Legislature and the Trustees this depart-
ment has been fostered by the State to the great good of the Uni-
versity at large, the citi/A-nship of the United States in general
and the Xegro race in particular. The Legislature of Ohio has
>een generous, and only unborn generations will be able to estimate
the enormous good that is being accomplished by the State at this
institution for the black man and for the body politic through the
betterment of Xegro citizenship.

The University includes three great departments : ( 1 ) The
Theological Department which is supported by the African Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, purely and simply; (2) the Collegiate
1 >epartment which is supported by contributions from the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and philanthropic lovers of educa-
tion: (3) the Combined Normal and Industrial Department which
is Mipported by the State of Ohio. The property of the Theolog
ical Department is valued at $14,000; the property of the Col-
legiate Department, including endowments, is valued at $233,000;
the propertv of the Combined Normal and Industrial Department
is valued at $220,000; making the grand total valuation $467,000.

The entire cost to a student for tuition, board, room rent and
fuel, at the University does not exceed $117.50 per year. Wilber-
force University is the best place for the education of Negroes to
be found in the United States. The University is educative and
Christian in all of its bearings.

* j '«■

THE XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

1*7

THE XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM G. MOOREHEAD.

1 1 [S institution is one of the oldest of it-
kind on the continent, perhaps the very
oldest. Owing to the urgent need of a
ministry trained in our own country
and the inability of the mother church
in Scotland to send sufficient help, the
Associate -Presbyterian church in
America was led to establish a theo-
logical school where men might be
trained for the ministry of the Gospel.
Accordingly at Service, in Mercer County. Pa., the Seminary was
established which remains to this day in full vigor of Christian
activity. This took place in 1794 when Washington was Presi-
dent for the second time. In a little log house, with a library
quite extensive for those days, with a single professor. Dr. John
Anderson, a Scotchman by birth, a graduate of Glasgow Univer-
sity, a man- of distinguished gifts but eccentric and absent-minded
to a degree, the first Protestant theological seminar}' west of Phila-
delphia, perhaps the first in the whole land, began its career, an 1
it has continued its beneficent work now for 114 years, with no
interruption in its sessions and no cessation of instruction. In
1821 it was removed from Service to Canonsburg, l'a.. and from
thence it was transferred to Xenia, Ohio, it- present location, in
1855.

Its first home in Xenia was in the building on West Main
street now known as the ".Miami Flats," which was erected for
its special use; it was afterwards housed in the old Seminary

1S8

GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

structure on West Third street, which is at present the dormitory
for students, a fine new building having been erected recently to
accommodate the growing needs of the institution. Its library,
small at the beginning, has been added to until now it contains a
carefully selected collection of books that in quality of theological
usefulness can not easily be surpassed.

NEW BUILDING, XENIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Dormitory showing slightly in the right-

Photo by Canby

One hundred years ago, the curriculum of study was limited
almost exclusively to the single branch of Biblical Theology, to
which study gradually were added studies embracing Church
History and the original languages in which the Bible was given,
viz., I lehrew and Greek. Now some fourteen departments are
conducted each session covering the field of theological education.

TUT. XENlA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 189

At its annual meeting in May of this year the Board of Managers
established a permanent lectureship of Biblical Theology as illus-
trated by Archaeological Research, and it elected Dr. M. G. Kyle;

of Philadelphia, to this new chair. Prof. Kyle will not teach
during the entire session, hut will give a series of lectures on the
subject above-mentioned at a time to be agreed upon. This is
mentioned to indicate that it is the aim of those in charge of the
institution to equip it with every advantage that can lie secured.

Nearly one thousand students have received their theological
education, in whole or in part, within its walls, and its alumni
may be reckoned at about nine hundred. It has its sons scattered
over our "broad land from Xew England to the Pacific slope.
Its graduates are found in the foreign mission held, in the Punjab,
India, in Egvpt, and in the Sudan. I hie of the graduates of two
years ago, Elbert McCreery, is now toiling in the torrid heat of
the Egyptian Sudan, at Khartum, that the light of the glorious
Gospel may shine into the darkened minds of that heathen popu-
lace, lie is but one of a number of others engaged in the like
blessed work.

Four regular professors devote their time to instruction.
Profs. Joseph Kyle, Jesse Johnson. John E. Wishart, and William
(i. Moorehead. Prof. M. G. Kyle will be a fifth, besides tutors
in the Greek language who are employed nearly every session.
Twelve young men graduated at the last commencement, May
6, who are already under appointment to various fields; one will
go in the early autumn to India, one to the destitute whites of
the Kentucky Mountains, one to the new State of Oklahoma,
and the others to various places. Two of these young men came
to us from distant parts of the world, one, Mr. Alexander Perse,
from Xew Zealand, and the other. Mr. Hormizd Sleman, from
Van in Turkey. Both of these expect to become foreign mis-
sionaries.

A visit to the Seminary during the Home-Coming time will
be greatly appreciated by the faculty, who will welcome friends
and explain to them the Raised Map of Palestine of the Explora-
tion Expedition, a unique map indeed.

]',)0 GREENE COUNTY 1803-1908.

ORGANIZATION OF THE GREENE COUNTY
HOME COMING ASSOCIATION.

Executive Committee — J. F. Orr, Chairman; Dr. A. C.
Messenger, Vice Chairman ; Austin Patterson, Secretary ; Mar-
shall Wolf, Treasurer; Prof. E. B. Cox, Harry D. Smith. S. O.
Hale.

Committee on Promotion, Publicity and Printing —
Dr. A. C. Messenger, Chairman; William Brennan, C. L. Jobe,
R. S. Kingsbury, J. H. Whitmer. Ladies' Auxiliary Com-
mittee — Miss Helen Boyd, Mrs. Carrie Geyer, Miss Carrie
Hypes, Miss Mary Maxwell, Miss Lucy Richardson.

Finance Committee — M. L. Wolf, Chairman; George Gal-
loway, II. E. Schmidt, Judge Marcus Shoup, George R. Kelly.

Committee on Accommodations and Facilities — Harry
D. Smith, Chairman; Fisk Alexander, Jacob Kany, S. B. Le-
Sourd, John Prugh.

Committee ox Program and Decoration — S. O. Hale,
Chairman; Dr. W. A. Galloway, G. J. Graham, C. F. Howard,
T. J. Kennedy.

Committee on Societies and Organizations — Prof. E. B.
Cox, Chairman; M. A. Broadstone, William Neeld, John A.
Nisbet, B. Schlesinger, Judge H. L. Smith, W. F. Trader.

Souvenir Book Committee — Austin Patterson, Chairman;
J. M. Davidson, Mrs. IT. IT. Eavey, Marshall Lupton, Mrs. Wil-
liam Wilson.

Committee ox Relics— J. E. Jones. Chairman; L. F. Clev-
enger, George Fetz, Airs. George Fetz, George Greiner, Mrs.
Katharine Landaker, Miss Jessa Pearson.

Committee of Colored Citizens — J. M. Somers, Chair-
man; Rev. George Coble, R. E. Holmes, Jordan Robb, W. S.
Rogers.

THE FIRMS and individuals whose places of
business are shown on the following pages are
to be regarded, not as advertisers, but rather
as patrons who have made it possible for the com-
mittee to present an additional number of interesting
Greene County views. However, we think it not out
of place to remind our readers that our commerce, as
here represented, reaches far beyond the limits of the
county and that many persons living in larger cities
than Xenia have found advantage in purchasing from
us.

XENIA.

The Xenia National Bank. Photo by Canby

Officers and Directors :
C. C. Shearer, President. D. M. Stewart, Vice President.

A, S. Frazer, Cashier. J<>' in A. Nisbet, Asst. Cashier.

H. M. Barber, George Little, W. D. Wright.

193

« X.

o «_;

196

200

201

H. E. Schmidt & Co., Photo by canby

Wholesale and Retail Grocers. We keep everything good to eat.

28 South Detroit Street.

202

European Hotel, Photo by canby

5 and 7 South Dctn.it St. J. II. Berry, Proprietor.

•Juts

Jobe Brothers & Co.,

21, 23 and 25 East Main Street,

Dry Goods and Millinery. Ladies' Sviits, Cloaks and Shoes

Flint., by Downing

204

Neshitt & Weaver,

Clothing and Men's Furnishings,

13 East Main Street.

Photo by Dow Ding

205

Haller, Haines & Higgins,

Men's Clothing and Furnishings,

33 East Main Street.

Photo h> Downing

203

The J. r. Bocklett Supply Co., Photo by Downing

Plumbing, Gas and Steam Fitting. Dealers in Mill and Thresher Supplies.

4-15 West Main St., Xenia, Ohio.

j, iT

Women's Department.

Koch's Sample Shoe Store,

Xenia's largest shoe store. Factory sample shoes.

31 and 33 South Detroit St.

Men's Department.
208

Photos by Canby.

John T. Barnett,

Cor. Whiteman and Railroad Sts.,

Dealer in all kinds of Lumber, Lath and Shingles.

John T. Barnett cv Co.,

Cor. Washington St. and Home Ave.,

Manufacturers and dealers in Hard Wood Lumber.

209

F. J. H. Schell, Jeweler, Steele Building.

I'hoto hv Caiih;

Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry and Sterling Silver,
Kodaks and Kodak Supplies.

The Springfield Pike Pumping Station.

The Xenia Water Co., 28 N. Detroit St.

Officers .'Hid Dirctors;

George Little, President. John ( ). McCormick, Vice President.

Geo. F. Cooper, Sec'y and Treas.

John A. Nishet. M, p. Wolf.

The Cincinnati Pike Pumping Station.
211

Photos by Canh.v

View in reception room.

DOWNING'* ART STUDIO.

XENIA, OHIO.

View in operating room.

One of the finest and best equipped galleries in the state.
212

The Sutton Music Store,
19 Green St., Xenia, 0.

Pianos, Phonographs, Sheet Music Records,

Piano and Organ Tuning and Rebuilding.

Picljure Framing-.

13 Canbj

213

C. E. Arbosrust.

A.RBOGUST X: CO. Photo by Canby

7 West Alain Street., Allen Building.

Milliners. Mrs. E. M. Whittimjton.

H. H. Thrall, The Druggist.
43 East Alain Street, Xenia, Ohio.

214

Donges' Drug Store,

Corner Detroit and Second Streets.

Conceded to be one of the finest drug stores in Southern < >hi< i.

Robert H. Snead, 21 Green St. Photo8b J Uowni0 *

Natural Gas Fitting and Plumbing. Gas and Electric Supplies.

215

•— V.

L. S. BARNES & CO. Photo by Canby.

No. 4 Green Street. Interior Decorators

Keyes & Nesbitt.

Shoes.

No. 12 North Detroit Street., Xenia, Ohio.

Photo by Downing.

•^16

Ida S. Sinz,

-Milliner}-,

Steele Building, West Main St.

Kany, The Tailor,
No. 10 North Detroit Street.

Pliutoliy Canli;

217

John A. North,

30 West Main Street.

House heating by the celebrated Guerney system.

Sanitary- plumbing.

Photo by Canby.

The Central Electric Supply Co.,

Garage,

US S. Detroit St., Xenia, 0.

218

Photo by Downing

J. M. Fletcher

F. P. Baldner. Baldner & Fletcher,

4-2 East Main St.
Steam and Hot Water Heating. Tin and Iron Roofing and Spouting.

i isTHKi.Y Millinery,
37 Green Street.

Photoi by Caiib'

W. O. Maddux & Co.,

Dealers in Cement, Lime, Sewer Pipe and Coal.

Local Agent for C. C. & B. Pocahontas Coal.

C«»r. Detroit and Hill Sts., Xenia, 0.

Photo by Canby.

Johnson & Dean,
Funeral Directors.

Photo by Downing

Both Phones 68.

22 E. Market St.

220

mam

Hi (|i( i

WMi»iM

S. B. LeSourd, LeSourd & Smith, Attyj

Special Adjuster. Collectors.

S. B. LeSourd & Co.,

Fire, Life and Cyclone Insurance.

Thirty years in the insurance business in Xenia.

No. 6 N. Detroit St., Steele Building.

R. S. Kingsbury,
Finest Ready-to-Wear Clothing,

)hn B. Stetson Hats, Manhattan Shin-.

50 and 52 E. Main St., Xenia, 0.

221

C. S. Prazer,

Good Shoes. 17 East Main St.

Photo by Canby

E. H. Hunt,
39 West Main Street.
Bicycles, Motorcycles, Guns and Amunitior.
Light repair work. Auto tire repairing.

222

Photo by Downing

Frank B. Scott,

25 South Detroit Street,

Sheet Metal Work, Heating and Ventilating,

Tin. Galvanized Iron, Slate and Tile Roofing, Cornice and

Metal Ceilings, Warm Air Furnaces.

Wright & Carruthers,

Dealers in all kinds <>( coal.

Office, 27 S. Detroit St. Yard, S. Whiteinan St.

•J23

p Dow n hit

Thomas M. Moore,

Funeral Director.

34 East Market Street.

Photo hy Canby

TIN & SLATE ROOFING

SPOUTING
& Warm Air
Furnaces

C. C. Henrie,

Twenty years in business.
52 West Main Street.

224

NEW JASPER.

Geo. \V. Slusher,

General Merchandise, Butter, Eggs and Poultry

New Jasper, ( )hio.

225

XENIA TOWNSHIP

Scene at Oak Lawn Farm, April 2.°.. 1908, during annual sale of fine horses.
W. B. Bryson X: Sons, Proprietors.

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