Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio

Preface

HE aim of the publishers of this volume and of the author of the history has been to secure for the historical portion thereof full and accurate data respecting the history of the county from the time of its early settlement, and to condense it into a clear and interesting narrative. All topics and occurrences have been included that were essential to this object. The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives which make up the biographical part of this volume, and whose authorship is for the most part independent of that of the history, are admirably calculated to foster local ties, to inculcate patriotism, and to emphasize the rewards of industry dominated by intelligent purpose. They constitute a most appropriate medium for perpetuating personal annals, and will be of incalculable value to the descendants of those commemorated. These sketches, replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences, are flavored with a strong human interest that will naturally prove to a large portion of the readers of the book its most attractive feature. In the aggregate of personal memoirs thus collated will be found a vivid epitome of the growth of Miami County, which will fitly supplement the historical statement, for its development is identified with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable.

The publishers have endeavored to pass over no feature of the work slightingly, but to fittingly supplement the editor's labors by exercising care over the minutest details of publication, and thus give to the volume the three-fold value of a readable narrative, a useful work of reference, and a tasteful ornament to the library. We believe the result has justified the care thus exercised.

Special prominence has been given to the portraits of representative citizens which appear throughout the volume, and we believe that they will prove not its least interesting feature. We have sought in this department to illustrate the different spheres of industrial and professional achievement as conspicuously as possible. To all those who have kindly interested themselves in the preparation of this work, and who have voluntarily contributed most useful information, or rendered other assistance, we hereby tender our grateful

acknowledgments.

THE PUBLISHERS.

Chicago, July, 1909.

NOTE

All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submitted to their respective subjects or to the subscribers, frdm whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press ; and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the typewritten copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised: and these may be regarded therefore as reasonably accurate.

A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no

means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot

vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render

this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have indicated

these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately

after the name of the subject. They will all be found on the last pages

of the book.

THE PUBLISHERS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE Introductory and Descriptive 21

Introductory — First Lords of the Soil, the Mound Builders — Speculations and Traditions as to the Mound Builders — The Indians not the Aborigines — Coming of the White Man — Resistance of the Indians — Area of Miami County — Its Division into Twelve Townships^-Topography, Elevation, Drainage — Fertility of the Soil — Disappearance of the Forests — Conditions Favorable to Agriculture — Tributaries of the Miami — Geological Foundations — Prehistoric Remains— Indian Occupancy — Early Abundance of Game.

CHAPTER II. First White Man in the County, 29

The Call of the West — The Pioneer Settler — De Bienville's Expedition of 1749 — Attack on Pickawillany — Expedition of Christopher Gist — Location of Pickawillany — Washington's Journey — Expeditions of George Rogers Clarke — Experiences of Abram Thomas — Battle on the Johnston Farm — Beauty of the Country at the Time of Clarke's Expedition — Coming of John Knoop, 1797 — Pioneer Settlers.

CHAPTER in.

Formation of the Country ; The Home in Wilderness 43

Pontiac's Conspiracy — Bouquet's Expedition — Block Houses Built at Cincinnati — New York and Virginia Relinquish Charter Claims — Fort Harmar Erected — The Settlement at Marietta — Quick Settlement of the Ohio Valley — Ordinance of 1787 — Slavery Forbidden — St. Clair Made Governor — Formation of Hamilton and Montgomery Counties — Formation of Miami County — .Abrogation of the Indian Title — Wayne's Victory of the Fallen Timbers and Treaty of Greenville — The Miami Indians — The Symmes Purchase — School Districts Reserved — Sale of Public Lands on Time Payments — The First Court — Homes of the Pioneer Settlers — Pioneer Habits and Customs — Domestic Industries — Early Circulating Medium — Militia Musters — County Officials.

CHAPTER IV. Thrilling Incidents of Pioneer Life 55

Contrast of Past and Present — Emigrant Trails — Encounters with Wild .Animals — Pioneer Reminiscences — England Pays Bounty on Scalps — Indian Murders — Adoptions into the Tribes — The Moffit Boys — Col. Johnston.

CHAPTER V. Early Transportation 68

Corduroy Roads — First Gravel Road — The National Road — Braddock's Road — Early Stage Lines, Stages and Stage Drivers — Famous Taverns — Water Transportation — Freighting on the Miami — To New Orleans by River in 1819; an L^nfortunate Voyage — Dr. Dorsey's Recollections of Flat Boat Navigation — Canal Construction — The Miami and Erie Canal — Benefits of the Canal — the Old Mail Service — Postal Rates in 1816 — Postoffice Established at Piqua — The Early Postmaster — A Mail Carrier's .Adventure — A Century's Progress.

CHAPTER VI. The Townships (Western) 82

Washington, Concord, Monroe, L'nion, Newton and Newberry Townships; Their Boundaries and History — Early Settlers — Heroes of the Revolution and War of 1812 — Development of Natural Resources — First Mills, Founding of the Villages; Tippecanoe, Etc.

12 CONTENTS

CHAPTER VII. PAoE The Townships (Eastern) •.•••■ 98

Brown, Springcreek, Staunton, Lostcreek, Elizabeth. Betliel.

CHAPTER VIII. Trov. the County Seat 114

Establislimcnt of the County Seat — Rivalry Between Staun.ton and Piqua ; Troy Enters the Contest — First Survey by .\ndrew Wallace — Absence of Graft — Description of Troy in 1815 — Log Court House Built — Brick Court House Built in 1S16 — Overfield's Tavern — Queer Real Estate Transactions — William Barbee — "Squire" Brown and Otlier Early Settlers — The "Broadford War" — I'irst Railroad — Opening "of the Canal — The Cholera Scourge in 1850 — First Court of Common Picas — Troy Merchants in 1828 — The Jackson-Adams Campaign — Runaway Apprentices — .\ppearancc of tlie County Seat in 1853 — Mayors Since 1840 — Early Schools and School Teachers — Ch\irches — The Postoffice — City Government — Corner Stone of tlie Court House Laid, 1885 — Masonic Teaiiple Erected.

CHAPTER IX. Piqua, the Border City 131

Origin of the City — Its Historic Associations — An Indian Legend — Piqua Formerly Called Washington — Coming of Job Gard — Reminiscences of Josepli HiUiard — Piqua a Place of Rendezvous in the War of 1812 — Land Office Established in 1819 — Piqua Becomes a Town in 1S43 — First Election L'nder the Charter — Early Mayors — Amusing Ordinances — Population in 1826 — The Act of Incorporation — The Ewing Tavern — Early Merchants and Leading Citizens — Piqua Benefited by the Canal — Coming of the Railroad — The Hydraulic Canal — Business Statistics — The Town Hall — Tlie John Vail .-Xcademy — Early Schools — Educational Progress — Religions Institutions — Relics, of tHie Mound Builders — Military Spirit of 1861-65 — Soldiers' Aid Societies — War Memorials — Postmasters — Fire Department — City Government.

CHAPTER X. Miami in the Wars 14S

The War of- 1812^-EmploytTient of the Indians by England — Battle of Tippecanoe — Tecumseh — Services of Col. John Johnston — Results of Perry's Victory on Lake Erie — ■Miami Heroes of the War — The War of the Rebellion — Prompt Enlistments — The Gravity of the Struggle Realized — Miami Soldiers on Many Battlefields — Eleventh Ohio Volimteers — Forty-Fourtih Infantry and Eighth Cavalry — The Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry — Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry — One Hundred and Tenth O. V. I. — The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment — Spanish-American War Volunteers — Roster of Veterans.

CHAPTER XL

The Bench and Bar: Famous Trials. Etc 169

First Court Session, 1807 — First Grand Jury Impanelled — First Case Docketed — Early Lawyers — Manner of Holding Court in the Late Forties — Some Famous Cases — The Present Bench and Bar — Court Officers in ]!)08 — .Amusing Incidents.

CHAPTER XII. ElllCATIONAL 180

The Log Schoolhousc Early Teachers — First Te.xt Books — Methods of Discipline — Advent of the Salaried Teacher — Cojning of the Graded Sch.ool — Latter Day Improvements — Schools of Troy and Piqua — Educational History of the Townships — Parocliial Schools — Teachers' Examinations — Results .\ccomplished.

CHAPTER XIII. The Press: Literary .Vchievements, Etc 195

Early News Conditions— F.arly Newspapers Destitute of Local News— Their Contents — Presses in Use— The Old Time Compositor— First Newspaper in Miami Count}', The Piqua Gazette — The Intelligencer — The Miami Reporter— Troy 'i'inies— The Miami Union— Tlie Troy Sentinel — The Troy Democrat — The Daily Record— Tile Buckeye— The Enquirer and Piqua Journal^Miami Countv Democrat — The Helmet— The Daily Call— The Piqua Leader-Despatch— The Miami Post— The Reflector— The City Item— The Herald— The Stillwater Valley Gazette — Gre«nville Advocate — The Covington Gazette — The Covington Tribune— The West Milton Record— The West Mihon Buckeve— Local Literature and .Authors.

CONTENTS 13

CHAPTER XIV. PAGE Agriculture 202

Primitive Farm Macliinery of Pioneer Days — Lack of Transportation Facilities — The Early Farmers Without Wagons — Improvements Gradually Introduced — The First Crops Grown in Miami County — Livestock Easily Raised — Orchards Planted— The First Agricultural Society— Miami Represented at the State Pomological Exhibition in 1851 — The Miami County Agricultural Society — Fair Grounds Purchased — Present Condition of the Society and Roster of Officers — The Grange Movement— The Farmers' Institute— The Miami County Horticultural Society — Farm Products of Miami County — Stock Breeding.

CHAPTER XV. Public Institutions , 211

The Children's Home — Benevolence of John H. Knoop — The Schmidlapp Free Public School Library, Piqua — The Troy Free School Library — The Young Men's Oiristian Association — The Woman's Christian Temperance Union — The Young Woman's Christian Temperance Unions — Colored People's Temperance Union — Woman's Christian Association of Troy — The Ball Memorial Hospital at Piqua — The Altrurian Club of Troy — The Civic League— Regimental and Other Military Organizations — The Maryland Association.

CHAPTER XVI. Banks and Banking 321

Early Currency; Its Instability — The Old State Bank^s— The First National Bank of Troy Organized — The Miami County Bank and Troy National Bank — The Piqua National Bank — The Citizens' National Bank of Piqua — The Piqua Savings Bank Company — The Tippecanoe National Bank— The Citizens' National Bank of Tippecanoe City— Banks of West Milton. Covington, Pleasant Hill, Bradford. Etc.— Stability of Miami County's Financial Institutions. ,

Chapter XVII

The Medical Profession. P.x.'iT and Pre.sent 226

The Pioneer Doctor— Crude Methods of a CenturyAgo- Home Remedies— Charm Doctors— Bleeding the Main Reliance of the Old-Tmie "Regular" — Devotion of the Pioneer Physicians — Diseases Prevalent in Early Days— The Charlatan of Former Days — Some Early Physicians— The Medical Profession of the Present Day — The Miami County Medical Society.

CHAPTER XVIII. The Pioneer Preacher 23.5

Charles Frederick Post, the Missionary — The Presbyterians. Baptists and Catholics Early Represented — Controversialisni — Salary of the Backwoods Preacher — Hardships Endured — His Devotion — Stories of the Itinerant Preachers — The Results They Accomplished.

CHAPTER XIX. Present Religious Denominations of the County 242

Local History of the Baptists. Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans. Friends or Quakers. Episcopalians- German Baptists — Christians, Roman Cafholics, Etc.

CHAPTER XX. County Politics Old and New 2,55

Smallness of the Voting Popu.lation in Early Days— First Elective Officers— Political Parties — Methods of Electioneering — Local Issues — Some Political Editorials— The .^dams-Jackson Campaign — Coming of General Harrison in 18^7 and 1840— The Campaigns of 185r> and 1860— The Campaign of 1864— Later Presidential Campaigns — Congressional Battles — Humorous Incidents— Present Day Politics.

CHAPTER XXL

Some County History Not Generally Known 264

The General Harrison Land— The Randolph Slaves— Last Indian in Elizabeth Township— Revolutionary Pensioners— The July Fourth Celebration of 1827 at Troy— Prominent Miami County Lady— John Morgan's Raiders — A Lincoln Letter.

CHAPTER XXIL

Manufacturers of the Past and Present 272

Early Mills and Distilleries— Brick and Tile Making— Present Industries of the County.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Fraternal Orders, Building and Loan Associations, Population, Etc 278

Representative Citizens 231

Tndcx

Biograpbicai

PAGE

Albaiigh, Albert 831

Albaugh, C. M 822

Albaugh, John 831

Albery. Richard M 662

Alexander, Henry 515

Alexander, Melville W 515

Alexander, VV. H 396

Allen, Henry W 363

Allison, S. M 503

Allison, Rev. William H 459

Anderson, Charles F 681

Anderson, J. Frank 590

Anderson, Robert 590

Anthony, John 540

Anthony, William 540

Apple, George S 711

Apple, Henry D 669

Apple, Peter 320

Apple, Solomon 718

Apple, Uriah S 718

Arnold, David 699

Arnold, John 699

Arnold. John T 699

Atlas Underwear Co., The.. 772 I

Babb, Capt. Joshua L 377

Baker. John H.. M.D 354

Baldwin, William 393

Barker, Dr. J. B 611

Earnett, C. H 635

Barnhart, Elias 308

Barnhart, Tobias 308

Bartmess, James T 450

Bashore, John M 456

Bashor, S. B 359

Bausman, Dr. Charles W... 685

Bechtol, Joseph 853

Bechtol. Samuel C 853

'Beerv. Prof. Jesse . . 7''0

Bell, Elbert M ,[[ 695

Bennett, Prof. L. J 617

Benson, Austin 291

Benson. Mrs. Fern 290

Berryhill. Francis M 521

Berryhill. Samuel F 482

Billett, Charles A 314

Billingsley. John E ' 775

Billingsley, Thomas 776

Boal, Stanhope .... 535

P.AGE

Boehringer, Charles 628

Bohlender, Peter 359

Bosserman, W. W 658

Bousman, Mrs. Abigail W. .. 740

Bousman, John 740

Bowman, Joseph 464

Bowman, Joseph W 464

Bowyer, Walter E 611

Boyer, Daniel 631

Brandon, James W 456

Brandt, Joseph B 759

Branson, DeWitt C 469

Branson, John H 469

Brant, .\lfred M 751

Breidebach, Conrad W 511

Brown, Augustus S 64S

Brown, Cyrus T 362

Brown, Daniel 363

Brown, John 451

Brown, John W 365

Brown. John W 648

Brown, M. K ^451

Brown, Dr. Richard L 324

Brown, S. K 669

Brown, T. C 802

Brown, William B 669

Brubaker, Henry J 305

Brubaker, J. A. & Son 305

Brubaker, James A 305

Buchanan, A. C 290

Buchanan, Col. George 371

Burkett, Jesse 321

Burivell, R. N '. 614

Cady. N. W 436

Campbell, A. B 379

Campbell, Angus C 56.1

Campbell, Hon. Thomas M . . 408

Cantwell, W. F 824

Carroll, A. C 764

Cassel, Jacob 723

Cassel, John 723

Cassel, Joseph A 621

Caven, Georee B 714

Caven, James M 593

Caven, John F 714

Caven. John M 719

Chaffee, Charles 349

Clark, Harvey 292

Clark, John H 292

Class, C. F 440

PAGE

Class, Jacob 440

Clemm, Daniel P 539

Clemm, H. E 539

Clouse, August S 506

Coddington, A. L 628

Coddington, James H 628

Cofield, W. 577

Coleman, Dr. Hoirace.... 449 Coleman, Dr. Warren.... 443

Coles, W. H 568

Combs, Jefferson S 789

Compton, G. L., D. D. S.. 808

Compton, Isaac 808

Conrad, George W 376

Conway, Capt. John 447

Conway, J. Nelson 446

Conway, L. E 836

Coombs, George V 477

Coombs, Harry E 477

Coon, John H 636

Coon, William H 636

Coppock, Allen 707

Coppock, Allen 762

Coppock, C. Roy 696

Coppock, David C 807

Coppock, Hon. David M.. 735

Coppock. Elwood 696

Coppock, F. M 807

Coppock, Rev. Jacob 395

Coppock, Joe F 762

Coppock, Joseph C 707

Coppock. Samuel 395

Corwin, I. A 673

Cottingham, Joshua E.... 433 Cottingham, Joshua H.... 432

Cottingham. W. A 522

Courtcr, Aaron B 470

Courier, William 470

Covault, Erastus 566

Covault, William A 565

Covington Roller Mills,

The 337

Covington Woolen Mills,

The 772

Co.x, Edward S 668

Cox, Dr. W. S 668

Croft. David 568

Croft, Sherman D 568

Cromer, Elnathan 491

Cromer, William H 491

Crowley, Rev. James J.... 466