623 - LEMON

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LEMON.

This township is irregular in contour, caused by the diagonal direction of the Miami River, but its roads and farms are regularly laid out, and the country in general is under the highest state of improvement. It has not only good pikes, but the advantages of the river, the canal, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis Railway, which traverse its entire length. The Miami Valley here furnishes some of the best soil for agricultural purposes in the Symmes purchase. Dick's Creek is the principal stream of the interior of the township, and in former times was highly important for its little saw-mills, grist-mills, and occasionally a distillery. The land was rich. Corn was always raised in abundance, and to take care of the crops, of course, was enjoined as a duty. For titre purpose distilleries were established in many places. Since that time not only the interior, but the creeks, the river, and especially the first settlements were favored with the presence of these stills, which were deemed indispensable for the consumption of the vast crops of corn raised each year.

Among the early settlers of Lemon Township were the Dotys, Enochs, Shafors, Dicks, Freemans, Reeds, Stewarts, Taylors, Hugheses, Balls, Wards, Clarks, Van- nests, Vails, Potters, Johnstons, and hosts of others. They frequently came without any thing save what they wore, and had nothing except land afterward. The work consisted mainly in felling the forest trees, raising corn for bread and flax for clothing, and in improving their land as well as circumstances would permit. Of those who were very early on the ground should be mentioned the Fishers, Dotys, Freemans, Potters, Reeds, Vails, and some others, who were on the ground before 1800, and were in companionship with the brave red man of the forest.

The villages of the township are Middletown, Amanda, Excello, Lesourdsville, Monroe, and Blue Ball. The beginning of settlement was on the Little Prairie, a natural meadow that extended on both sides of the river, more than a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, the northern end coming up to. where Middletown now is. The rest of the township was covered with great forests. Symmes's northern line is in the south part of

624 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

this township. He was finally allowed as much Territory as he had paid for, and the dividing line is two miles and a quarter north of the south line of the township, and is a little south of Dick's Creek. When Daniel Doty moved in this neighborhood there was a block-house inclosed by pickets, and a few cabins on the south side of the prairie, near Dick's Creek, a little west of where the crossroads now are. His neighbors were Mr. Brady, Mr. Carson, John Reed, and John Henry.

Thomas Irwin entered and settled, in the Spring of 1,795, on the farm which he continued to own and on which he died in 1847. The lands comprising the greater part of the farms now owned by Abraham Simpson and Daniel McClellan, and all the farm belonging to the heirs of Robert Carr, were entered by David Logan about 1795, and were settled and improved by him. These lands lie south and adjoining the Irwin farm David Logan sold to Andrew Carr (father of Robert Carr alluded to above) in 1806. What is now called the Denise farm and also the Marsh farm were entered and settled by Joseph Williamson in 1796.

John Fisher, father of Robert Fisher, who died in Middletown about fifteen years ago, at a very great age, entered and settled that part of the Simpson farm which lies west of the Irwin farm in 1806. The farm recently sold by Abraham Sutphin to George W. Marsh, immediately west of what was the Williamson tract, was entered and settled by Alexander McConnell in 1796. The half section immediately west of the McConnell tract was entered and settled by Moses Rotter.

James McClellan entered and settled the half section south of the McConnell and Williamson tracts in 1807 or 1808. Several of his descendants now own and live on these lands, which they have rescued from an apparent worthless swamp, by a system of extensive draining, and brought to the highest degree of fertility. Thomas Vail built a log-house at what is now the Blue Ball, in 1821, and kept entertainment. He sold to Jonathan Emmons in 1823, who erected a sign in front of his house, which was simply a round ball painted blue. The place derived its name from this circumstance. The blue ball has been conspicuously displayed continuously ever since.

The earliest church in this township was the Little Prairie Church, of the Baptist denomination. Its site is now unknown. Local antiquaries, however, believe it was either near Mr. James Baird's place, north of Middletown, or at the lower end of the prairie, not far from Amanda. There is a discrepancy in the date of the admission of this Church. Judge Dunlavy makes it 1800, and the minutes of the Old School Baptist Association places it in 1801. In the latter year, according to the minutes, it had eleven members. The messenger was Philip Sutton. In 1805 difficulties existed between this Church and Elk Creek Church, now at Trenton, which the association could not settle. This appears to be the last notice of its existence. The present Baptist Church of Middletown was organized three years later, and has no knowledge of any earlier organization.

David Heaton was born in Morris Connty, New Jersey, December 15, 1742, and married Phebe Johnson, of New Jersey, in 1776, and in 1778 removed to Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where James Heaton was born, January 15, 1779. David Heaton, with his family, removed about the year 1783 t3 Greene County, Pennsylvania, where his son James Heaton received a common school education and studied surveying. He was married January 22, 1801, to Mary Morrell, born December 11, 1782, daughter of Jacob Morrell, of Chatham, New Jersey, and sister of Dr. Calvin Morrell of Shaker notoriety near Lebanon, Ohio. Hannah W. Heaton, daughter of James and Mary Heaton, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1801, and afterwards married Rev. Henry Baker in 1821, and resided for many years in- Lebanon, Ohio, where she died August 11, 1839.

In the Fall of 1802 David Heaton and James Heaton, with their families, removed to Butler Connty, Ohio, traveling in what was known as the " Family Barge," a flat-bottomed boat, down the Ohio River from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, landing at Cincinnati, Ohio—quite a perilous trip in those early days—and soon after settled in Butler County, near Middletown, where Mr. David Heaton purchased an eighty-acre farm, partly improved, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 11th of September, 1839, aged ninety-six years and nine months—a ripe old age.

James Heaton, with his family, also settled temporarily below Middletown, near Dick's Creek, where for a year or two he taught school, then removing to Hamilton, and entering the service of John Reily, clerk of the Circuit Court. Here he remained for several years. About the year 1808 or 1809 he was elected a justice of the peace, and in May, 1811, was appointed to succeed John Reily as recorder of the county of Butler ; he also at the same time held the office of county surveyor.

In the War of 1812 he entered the army under General William Henry Harrison, but under the immediate command of Brigadier-general John Wingate. While in the army he was, on the 8th of April, 1813, appointed by General Wingate brigade quarter-master. The army, under command of General Wingate, was stationed at Fort Saint Mary's, Ohio; and on the 13th of May, 1813, a garrison order was issued, by command of the general, creating a court-martial for the trial of such prisoners as might be brought before it. The court consisted of Lieutenat Thomas Kirkpatrick, president; Lieutenant James Sherrard and Ensign Lewis Moore, members; and Major James Heaton, judge advocate. On the back of this order is found, indorsed by the judge advocate, "On the trial held on Thomas Spencer for mutiny, etc. He got clear, thank God !"

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On the 24th of August, 1814, he was appointed brigade quarter-master, by James Mills, brigadier-general; and again on the 25th of October, 1816, was appointed to the same office by Daniel Millikin, brigadier-general. Indorsed on the back of this appointment is his resignation, as follows :

" To DANIEL MILLIKIN, Brigadier-general, Third Brigade, First Division, Ohio Militia:

" Sir,—Please accept this as my resignation of the office of brigade quarter-master to said brigade. Reason 1st. Because it is out of my power to procure the necessary equipage appertaining to said office., as pointed out by the adjutant-general. Reason 2. Because I can not see the propriety of wearing the black cockade, and am not able to see the likeness, similitude, nationality, or appropriate relevancy that cockade has to our national flag. Which reasons with me are weighty. Knowing there are gentlemen with whom my first reason would be no inconvenience, and who have no scruples as to the second, the general will not hesitate to accept my resignation.

"May 16, 1818.

" Accepted January 6, 1819.

" DANIEL MILLIKIN, Brigadier-general."

He was also appointed, September 4, 18I9, by Ethan A. Brown, governor of Ohio, paymaster of the First Regiment in the Third Brigade and First Division of Ohio militia. He was also a member of the Ohio State Senate at the time the seat of government was located at Chillicothe, and for several years after it was removed to Columbus. He was also one of the presidential electors on the Henry Clay ticket in 1824, and was appointed by the electors to convey the result to Washington City, D. Q., which was done on horseback.

James Heaton, with his family, in 1823, removed from Hamilton to the farm on which his father, David Heaton, resided, near Middletown, to take care of him and his wife in their old age, where he resided until his death, March 3, 1841, in the, sixty-second year of his age. During all the course of his active life, and in all the different positions he was placed, and in the fulfillment of all the duties of the various offices which he held, there were many to commend and none to censure.

James and Mary Heaton had born to them thirteen children, but two of whom are now living. Charles M. Heaton was born at Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, March 7, 1805, and is now residing in Washington City, D. C. James Heaton, Jr., was born at the same place, November 20, 1808, and was lately residing in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He died on the 5th of July, 1882. David Heaton, born at the same place, March 10, 1823, now deceased, entered into public life more conspicuously than either of his brothers. He received an academical education, read law, and was admitted to the bar. In 1855 he was elected to the Ohio Senate ; in 1857 removed to Minnesota, and was chosen to the Senate of that State ; was twice re-elected ; was also postmaster at Minneapolis. In 1863 he removed to Newbern, North Carolina, where he held a position as special agent of the United States Treasury Department. In 1867 he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and in 1868 was chosen a. representative from North Carolina to the Fortieth Congress, and served on the Committee on the Census ; was re-elected to the Forty-first Congress, and served on the Committee on Elections, and was chairman of that on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. He was renominated for the Forty-second Congress without opposition but a few days before his death, which occurred in Washington, June 25, 1870. His last words were, " God bless the colored people !"

John Reed, the grandfather of William Reed, and the ancestor of the Reed family in this neighborhood, cut his way through from Pennsylvanra first to Kentucky, in 1793, settling near Crab Orchard. His wife's brother, whose name was Brotherton, Was killed by the Tories in the Revolutionary War. He remained here but a year or two, and then, with his wife and family, struck out for Cincinnati. This was in 1797, and from here he moved up the Miami, and here, three miles below Middletown, at the mouth of Dick's Creek, he located. The children were David, Robert, William, and John, Jane, Christian, Margaret, and Martha.

David Reed, the father of William Reed, was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Ruth Carricks, September 30, 1766, while yet in Pennsylvania. Her people were from the north of Ireland. Their son John, their oldest child, was born in 1794, when they went to Kentucky on horseback. They brought some fine horses with them to Ohio, but four of these were stolen one night by the Indians. David, Robert, and their father followed them two days, but failing to catch the thieves, Robert and the father returned home, and David continued the search singly for three days longer, and was gone five days and nights. Upon reaching the Miami River at night, on his return, having no skiff, he took off his clothing, lashed his gun, powder-horn, and clothes to his back and swam across the stream. He was not fond of the noble red man, and, it was said, would occasionally shoot them down without much provocation. He died in 1812, and left five sons and four daughters: John, Thomas, William, Robert, David, Margaret, Jane, Elizabeth, and Ruth.

John, born 1794, was a soldier of the 'War of 1812. He was a stock raiser, giving his attention to thoroughbred animals only. This was so of all his animals, horses and cattle, sheep, fowls, hogs, and every thing, even in dogs. He raised the best breeds to be found in America, and in this way did much to elevate stock-raising in this country. Thomas C. Reed; the next son, was born September 3, 1797, and was reputed to be the first male white child born in the county. This idea was errone-

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ous, however ; he was the earliest born in Lemon Township. He was 'a carpenter, and was also a fine raiser of thoroughbred stock. He married Polly Dickey, and died in 1876. Robert Reed was born in 1804. He was also a lover of thoroughbred stock, and took a herd of short-horns with him to Illinois. He afterwards moved to Keokuk, Iowa. William Reed was born November 5, 1802. David B., the youngest, born June 12, 1812, is a farmer in Sangamon County, Illinois. Elizabeth, now living near William Reed, was born May 27, 1806. She was never married. Jane, Margaret, and Mary are dead. Three out of the five of these brothers were ruling elders in the Church to which they belonged.

William Reed was born November 5, 1802, on the old Reed 'farm, in Lemon Township. He was married to Miss Margaret Sigerson, March 28, 1820. She was a daughter of Captain Robert Sigerson. He commenced housekeeping with the usnal outfit, a spinning-wheel, a few split-bottomed chairs, a large chest, and wooden mould-board plow, but still they were happy. He subsequently purchased the farm of his uncle Robert Reed, in full view of where he was born, and paid about forty dollars per acre for it. He raised A. family of seven sons and three daughters : Mary, David Wallace, Robert S., Martha E., William, Nancy M., Thomas E., Jane E., and Alexander C. Mary died of typhoid fever when eighteen years of age. Robert S. was in Sherman's army, and was taken prisoner and starved in the Andersonville prison, from the effects of which he died July 27, 1865. Three years ago William Reed and wife celebrated their golden wedding. This was March 29, 1879. The children living were all present, except Robert S. and family, of Collinsville, Illinois, and Mrs. Bradshaw, of Mattoon, Illinois.

Mr. Reed is one of the oldest men living who were born in the county, and the venerable couple have undergone many hardships not dreamed of by the present generation, and there are few women to-day who can show finer specimens of linens blankets, and coverlets, spun and woven by her own hands, than Mrs. William Reed can do. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been consistent members of the Associate Reformed Church, near Monroe. Mr. Reed formerly had a distillery, but being satisfied of the evil of intemperance, abandoned the business, and became an organizer of the temperance movement. He also quit the use of tobacco, and has lived to see his six sons grown to manhood free from these vices, and to fill places of honor and respectability.

Mrs. Reed's grandfather was John Wallace, who was born in 1732. He left his birth-place in Virginia in 1783, and went to Kentucky, where he remained until 1800, when he came to Ohio, and settled two and a half miles south-east of Monroe, on a farm subsequently belonging to John Robinson. Polly Wallace married Captain Robert Sigerson in 180I, and raised five children. The Wallace family is a large one, and now considerably scattered. They were prominent settlers in Butler County in an early day.

John Parker Reynolds, an esteemed citizen of this township, was born in the town of Nine Partners (now Amenia), Dutchess County, New York, September 21, 1782. His paternal ancestors came from Devonshire, England, about 1650. They were stout defenders of liberty of conscience, and some of them Friends, or, as we now say, Quakers. His father, the Rev. Parker Reynolds, a Baptist clergyman, settled at Saratoga, New York, about 1790, in time for the subject of this notice to see and recollect the placing of a potash kettle to separate the water of the celebrated Congress Spring from non-medicinal water flowing into it. He was a sturdy boy, fair complexion, large, dark grey eyes, auburn hair, and a temperament of delicate sensibility. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, though not until he had acquired a fair education, he entered the printing-office of Southwick, Bostwick & Co., of Albany, New York, in which he found a fellow-worker and life-long friend, in the late John C. Wright, of Cincinnati. While becoming a skilled practical printer, he studied the higher mathematics, some of the languages, law, and music.

In 1805 he became the proprietor of what in that day was a large printing and publishing house, with book-store attached, in Salem, Washington County, in that State, and started a newspaper styled the Washington Register, continuing it until 18I7—the work all being done upon the old-time Ramage press. A Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, he adhered to principle, ultimately becoming a Whig. When leaving for the West, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons conferred upon him as a parting compliment the degree of Knight Templar, Chancellor Livingston being then the Grand Master of the order for the State of New York.

In 1818 he came with his wife to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, and in 1820 to Middletown, in this county, there entering into the hotel and soon afterward into the first forwarding and commission business in the place. As a man and a citizen he was distinguished for his uncompromising integrity, practical common sense, intelligence, philanthropy, conscientious discharge of every moral obligation, and most thorough contempt for any thing mean or questionable; and no public enterprise was undertaken without his participation and assistance. He retired from business in 1839, removing to Cincinnati in 1845, remaining there until 1849, after which he made his home in Hamilton until his death, March 21, 1858. His life was a useful one by precept and example ; his cast of mind judicial, reflective, and philosophical. With, doubtless, the frailties of human nature, in all matters of conscience he was emphatically the " stuff of which martyrs are made," never hesitating at any sacrifice when duty called. He was a thorough believer in the doctrine of personal individual responsibility, both here and here-

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after, a strong religious feeling manifesting itself, not in ritual, but by deep reverence for God and most practical philanthropy.

In the year 1827 the Legislature passed a law authorizing Jonathan Martin, Robert L. Campbell, James F. Death, John P. Reynolds, John Shafer, Carlton Waldo, and Israel F. Gibson to build a toll-bridge over the Great Miami River at the town of Middletown. Afterwards, in the year 1829, an amendatory law was passed, changing the place at which it was to be erected, and in the year 1830 another amendatory law was passed, which resulted in the building of the bridge.

The following have been the justices of the peace : Henry Weaver, William McClure, 1803; William Squier, Squier Littell, 1805 ; Ezekiel Ball, William Barkalow, 1806 ; Thomas C. Wade, 1807 ; Stephen Clark, James Tapscott, 1809 ; James Clark, Daniel Strickland, 1810 ; William Harvey, 1813 ; James Clark, 1814 ; William Harvey, James Clark, 1816; William Harvey, James Clark, 1819 ; Ezekiel Ball, 1821 ; William McClure, James Clark, 1822 ; Thomas Irwin, 1823 ; Israel T. Gibson, 1824 ; James Clark, 1825 ; John Clark, Thomas Irwin, 1826 ; David Clarkson, James Heaton, 1827 ; Thomas Irwin, 1829 ; James Clark, James Heaton, 1830; Thomas Irwin, 1832 ; James Clark, James Heaton, 1833; Thomas Irwin, 1835; James Clark, Israel T. Gibson, 1836 ; William Cotterell, 1838 ; Thomas Irwin, Hugh Alexander, 1839 ; Benjamin Co;, 1840 ; James Cook, Hugh Alexander, Anthony Noble, William W. Lightfoot, 1842; David H. Tullis, 1844; and since that date, James Cook, Anthony Noble, William Lightfoot, David H. Tullis, John H. Gordon, John L. Todhunter, David Heaton, P. P. LaTourrette, Daniel Helwig, Samuel B. Holmes, Thomas N. Russell, A. M. Sentney, John McClelland, A. Crider, R. D. Booth, M. Simpson, H. L. Henkle, John S. Todd, Edward Kimball, W. B. Hedding, James A. Johnson, F. W. Whittaker, William M. Murphy.

The postmasters have been :

Middletown - Ezekiel Ball, April 6, 1819 ; John Hughes, April 11, 1825 ; John Shafer, September 1, 1827 ; John M. Barnett, June 24, 1841; Jacob P. Achey, January 12, 1843; John J. Storms, January 13, 1844; William S. Storms, August 24, 1844; Isaac Robertson, March 8, 1845; David Heaton, April 27, 1849 ; John Harnish, December 24, 1852; Charles H. Brock, April 3, 1861 ; Lewis L. Lambright, February 5, 1872.

Blue Ball-Robert McChesney, August 15, 1844 ; John Auld, November 1, 1845 ; James R. Morrison, January 19, 1853; James Logan, September 4, 1854 ; Jesse Bond, July 30, 1858; Jones Logan, May 6, 1861 ; Benew D. Shurte, February 28, 1868 i Elder W. Piper, June 22, 1868 ; Peter D. McChesney, May 10, 1869 ; Sanford Young, September 9, 1870.

Clinton-James Ayers, May 17, 1826. Discontinued November 27, 1827. This post-office was erected at the solicitation of Colonel James Ayers and other contractors on the Miami Canal, and moved with the work.

Excello. -J. T. Gardner, November 10, 1870; discontinued September 11, 187I; re-established October 12, 1881; Robert Y. Magenerty, October 12, 1881.

Lesourdsville. -Benjamin Lesourd, May 11, 1838 ; 'Thomas Ward, Sen., August 28, 1839; discontinued February 4, 1842; re-established May 11, 1850; John S. Hankins, May 11, 1850; Wesley B. Hedding, April 3, 1851; Jacob Simpson, July 9, 1853; Lewis Emmens, October 10, 1855 ; John S. McCrary, September 3, 1857; Squire Berry, December 27, 1859; Perry Wright, January 7, 1861; James K. Webster, July 30, 1862; discontinued April 23, 1864; re-established November 10, 1870; Albert Potter, November 10, 1870; discontinued September 29, 1871.

Lemon.-Joseph S. Page, March 18, 1878.

Monroe.-Andrew Boyd, May 22, 1822; George P. Williamson, October 27, 1825; John P. Williamson, January 12, 1831; Reuben Thompson, April 30, 1833; George P. Williamson, August 9, 1833; Thomas Armour, August 8, 1835; William A. Sackett, July 27, 1837; William W. Caldwell, September 16, 1841; Peter Vlereborne, June 3, 1845; Eciward Kimball, October 24, 1849; Peter Vlereborne, November 21, 1853; Abraham Hoagland, January 5, 1858 ; Reuben V. Roll, August 9, 1859 ; Samuel W. Wilson, February 14, 1872 ; Henry C. Hill, April 13, 1874; David Keyt, November 5, 1874; David Caldwell, April 28, 1875.

MIDDLETOWN.

The original town plat of Middletown, laid out in 1802 by Stephen Vail and James Sutton, reads a# follows: "The above town is laid out in the fractional section No. 28, in township and fourth range, between the Miami Rivers. Each lot is six poles one way, agreeably to the plan, except the lots Nos. 43, 46, 47, and 50, which are six poles square. The streets are each four poles wide. The course of those running from the river is south, sixty degrees east. Water and Main Streets cross the other at right angles. North Alley and South Alley are each two poles wide. East Alley and West Alley are each one pole wide. The alleys are parallel with the streets. The streets and alleys to be perpetually kept open for public use. The lots Nos. 10 and 11, which are colored green, are set aside for the public, to be appropriated to county purposes. First, Second, and Third Streets are always to be kept open to the river."

In 1816 the first addition was laid out, as follows: "In addition to Middletown, in the county of Butler, the subscribers have laid off fifty-seven lots, of the same. dimensions of the whole lots in the old plat, excepting Lot 65, containing one hundred and fifty-six poles and four- fifths. Broad Street is five poles wide. What was called South Alley is made three poles wide and called Fourth Street, and the one south of it three poles wide and

628 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

called Fifth Street. What is called East Alley, in the old part of the town, between the lots on Broadway Street and Main Street, is continued at one Tole wide and called Middle Alley ; and the one east of the lots, on the east side of Broadway, is one pole wide and called East Alley. The streets and alleys are parallel with those of the old town plat, as recorded, and are to be opened at any time a majority of the subscribers may think necessary, as witness our hands this the twenty- seventh day of March, 1816. Broad Street is to be continued at each end thereof the same course until it intersects the county road to Franklin and the one south to Middletown, leading to Reading and thence to Cincinnati.", This It signed by Hugh Vail, Shobal Vail, John Cummings, Daniel Doty, and Abner Enoch.

Among the first settlers of Middletown are names yet familiar—Ezekiel Ball, Daniel Doty, Stephen Vail, Garret Van Vost, Moses Potter, and David Enoch. All these except Enoch were from New Jersey. He came about the year 1800, and settled on Section 23 and a fraction of 24, with his father. Abner Enoch obtained these lands by a deed in 1816, from James Monroe, then the President of the United States. Abner Enoch was one of the most remarkable men in this part of the country. He possessed natural abilities, was very energetic, and had an nnusual tenacity of purpose. He engaged in manufacturing and farming. He built one of the first mills ever on the Miami River, which consisted of a saw-mill, grist-mill, and a woolen factory, and he also built a distillery. All these mills *received water from the same race. Abner Enoch married first a Miss Piper, who died early. He then married her brother's widow. His first wife's father kept a hotel in Middletown, on the corner of Second and Main Streets. In the same house Mr. Enoch had a store at the same time. The hotel and the store were about the first of the kind in the town.

Probably the first settler in Middletown was Daniel Doty, one of the Western pioneers, who died on Monday, the eighth day of May, 1848, at his residence near Middletown, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Daniel Doty was one of the first settlers of Butler County, and amoug the first pioneers of the Miami country. He was born in Essex County, State of New Jersey, on the twenty-third day of March, 1765. His parents were respectable, honest people, in the humble walks of life, who were unable to give their children any education other than that which could be acquired at a common country school. They, however, taught them their duty to their Creator and fellow-beings, and brought them up to habits of honest industry on which, with their own exertions, they had to depend to make their way through life.

Having heard of the fine fertile country then opening in the far West, Daniel formed the resolution of exploring it and judging for himself. -Accordingly, on the tenth day of September, 1790, he left his home in the State of New Jersey and proceeded to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg), from whence he descended the Ohio River to Columbia, six miles below Fort Washington, situated where Cincinnati now is. He landed at Columbia on the twenty-third day of October following. At that time there were but two hewed-log houses in the town. They stood near the bank of the Ohio River. One of them was occupied by Major Benjamin Stites, the other by John S. Gano. Gano was captain of the militia, and Ephraim Kibby was lieutenant The company consisted of about seventy men, good and true, who were willing to risk their lives for the defense of the country.

At that time General Harmar was commander-in-chief of the military forces of the country, and John Cleves Symmes, the proprietor of the Miami country, was chief magistrate and head of the civil department. At the time Daniel Doty landed at Columbia, General Harmar was out on his expedition against the Indians, and returned to Fort Washington with his army about ten days afterward. A number of his men were wounded, among whom were George Adams and Thomas Bailey. During the years 1791 and 1792 the country was in an almost continual state of alarm on account of the Indians. Three men were killed and scalped by the Indians near Covalt's Station, on the Little Miami River, about ten miles from Columbia. Their names were Covalt, Hinkle and Abel Cook. Daniel Doty and some others went from Columbia to the relief of the station and guarded the graves while the dead were buried.

In the latter part of December, 1790, the Indians made an attack on the fort at Colerain, eight miles from Fort Hamilton, killed two men, and took some horses and cattle. An express was sent to Columbia, and the company to which Mr. Doty belonged got ready immediately and started on the run. When they got over to Fort Washington, the commandant of the fort ordered Lieutenant Kingsbury and twelve private soldiers to join them. That evening they marched four miles and encamped on Mill Creek until next morning, when they continued their march to Colerain, but upon reaching the place found the enemy gone. About two weeks after this the fort was attacked by a large body of Indians, supposed to consist of three hundred or four hundred warriors, and who invested it closely for three or four days, then withdrawing without doing much injury.

Mr. Doty was instrumental in bringing the second minister of the Gospel into the Miami country. The first preacher was the Rev. Daniel Clark, a licensed minister of the Baptist profession, who came from Pennsylvania in the Spring of 1791. The second preacher who came was the Rev. James Kemper. He lived near Danville, Kentucky. Daniel Doty and a man named French were chosen by the people to go and bring him and his family to the country. They proceeded on their way with rifles primed, their only road being a bridle-path

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for sixty miles, sleeping in the woods at night. This was in the Spring of 1792.

On the 24th of April, 1792, Mr. Doty returned to New Jersey by the way of New Orleans, coming back in 1795, and in the Spring of 1796, with his wife and children, came to Middletown, where he commenced a settlement on a tract of land, where he spent the remaining portion of his life. He built his cabin near the Great Miami River, about one mile below where the town now is. When his cabin was raised and inclosed, he had no table, chairs, bedstead, nor any boards of which to make them. He cut down timber, and split puncheons and clapboards, and made his floors out of the puncheons and doors-out of the clapboards. A table was made of a slab split Blom the tree, and supported by four round legs set in auger holes. Some three-legged stools were made for seats, and a bedstead was constructed out of saplings, with a fork or limb at a proper height from the bottom of the bed ; the lower and upper end fastened to a joist above ; in the fork or limb was placed a round pole, with the bark on, the other end being placed through a crack between the logs in the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one laid within the fork, with its outer end through another crack in the wall. Clapboards were now laid with one end on the front pole and the other end in the crack of the wall, for the bottom of the bed. He also constructed a rude cupboard out of clapboards, in which were kept their pewter dishes, plates, and spoons, but mostly wooden bowls, trenchers, and noggins, using gourds and hard- shelled squashes when gourds were seared. Pegs were inserted in various places on the wall, on which to hang petticoats and hunting-shirts. The buck-horns were fastened to a joist, for the rifle and shot-pouch, which completed the carpenter work of the building. For the accommodation of the babies, Mr. Doty cut down a large sycamore tree, out of which was constructed a cradle.

There were a few settlers in the neighborhood at the time Mr. Doty commenced his improvement, but no crops had been raised, and he went to Cincinnati the first year to buy provisions to support his family. Corn meal was worth one dollar a bushel, which was bought, packed home on horseback, and baked into johnny-cakes on a clapboard before the fire. This was their only bread. Wild game was plenty. Deer, bears, and turkeys were killed when needed.

In the Summer of 1796, while Mr. Doty was on his way to meeting, one Sunday night, he heard his dog bark, crossing the cornfield. It was barking at a wildcat on the fence. On Mr. Doty speaking to the dog, the cat turned round and jumped off the fence towards him, and he ran toward the cat. The corn being thick and high, he lost sight of both deg and cat, but soon heard the dog cry out, when Doty went in that direction, and met the cat, and the dog walking behind him. Doty went straight toward the cat, and when the cat turned round to seize the dog, he kicked the cat over, caught him by the hind leg, and placing his left foot on his breast, pressed him with all his weight upon the ground until-he was dead. Mr. Doty had killed a number of wild-cats, but thought this one was the largest he had ever taken hold of.

Mr. Doty had three encounters also with bears, in all three of which he was successful. In one instance, during the struggle the bear caught hold of him by each of his shoulders with the claws of its forefeet, when he struck it down by a blow of his fist in the bear's throat. Another time he split open a bear's head with an ax, and at another time killed a bear with a club, knocking it down first, then following up the blows until it was killed. This last encounter took place more than twenty miles from any house, and while he was on his way to New Jersey.

Daniel Doty was the first collector of taxes in this part of the country. His district was twelve miles wide from north to south, comprising two ranges of townships extending from the Great Miami to the Little Miami, comprehending the sites where the towns of Franklin and Waynesville are, and the immediate country. The whole amount of tax contained on his duplicate was two hundred and forty-four dollars. He collected it all and paid it over to Jacob Burnett, the treasurer, at Cincinnati. In discharging his duties he must have ridden near a thousand miles. He became a man of wealth and of influence. For several years before his death he himself paid a tax of one hundred and thirty-four dollars per year. He and his wife Betsey lived together on their farm near Middletown, fifty-two years, and raised a family of ten children, and before he died he lived to see the railroad take the place of the Indian trail, and comfortable brick buildings that of the wigwam and the rude cabin.

Moses Potter came in 1796, with his family, and settled first in Cincinnati. The next Spring after the departure of the Indians, he moved near Middletown, settling where Henry Reed now lives. He remained in that locality only a few months. Thence he moved two miles and a half east on a rented farm, where he stayed one year, and then to the farm occupied by Garrett Denise, one mile and a half east of the town, where he died three years after. He bought a half section' of land where he last settled, and here built a double cabin. His family consisted of two children prior to his coming to Ohio. Their names were Levi and Sarah. Jane was born April 2, 1797, being the first white child born in Middletown ; he also had Amos and Jonathan Hoel. All the children are now dead. Jane Potter married John Sutphin, a weaver, from New Jersey. He was born in 1794, came to Ohio in 181I, and was engaged on the canal between Cincinnati and Middletown, holding at first some minor position. Subsequently, for a continuons period of twenty-two years, he was superintendent on the canal,

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and again after a few years interval held the same position some time longer. He raised a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living. The family throughout is noted for its morality and high standing.

Levi Potter has three children living,-John Johnston, Mrs. Maria Sill, and Frances Marian, Amos Potter has two children living,—Mrs. Mary Cramer, of Iowa, and Mrs. Crane, of Middletown. Mr. Moses Potter came from the same neighborhood that Daniel Doty did in New Jersey, and was probably induced by Mr. Doty to emigrate to the wilderness. He also had one brother, Russell Potter, who came at the same time, but settled ter the river, near where Trenton stands.

Stephen Vail was a native of New Jersey, and 'came to Middletown in 1800. Two of his sons and a daughter arrived in Ohio the year before, and settled in Warren County, near Waynesville, temporarily. They were Shobal, Aaron, and Mary Russell, the wife of George Russell.

In September, 1799, Shobal Vail married Miss Mary Bonnell, daughter of parents who were also from New Jersey, and were among the earliest settlers of Warren County. Many of the descendants of the Bonnell family are yet there. Shobal Vail Clevenger, the distinguished sculptor, was of that family. He received his name Shobal Vail in honor of his uncle by marriage.

Stephen Vail, with the remainder of his family, came, as stated above, in 1800. The children who accompanied him were Moses, Lydia, Randall, Hugh, Sarah, and Katharina. Soon after he came he purchased a large tract of land lying on both sides of the Miami River, and commenced the erection of mills, consisting of a grist-mill, a fulling-mill, and a saw-mill. These mills were finished and in use in 1802. A destructive freshet in 1805 carried away or greatly damaged the fulling-mill and the saw-mill. The fulling-mill was rebuilt the next year.

Mr. Vail built his first cabin near the river, not far from where F. Kemp & Co.'s slaughter-house is now. He lived there but a short time, when he built another cabin on the table-land, west of and about one hundred and fifty yards from Edward Jones's present residence, and near what is now the corner of Young and Fourth Streets. This was, doubtless, the first cabin built in Middletown. In this cabin Mr. Vail died in 1808. His son Moses and daughter Lydia were the oldest of the children, and were half brother and sister to the others. Moses and Lydia settled in Warren County, and built a mill near Franklin previous to 1824. He died many years ago, and left children ; but they are scattered, and it is not known where they are. The descendants of the other members of this family settled in Middletown and vicinity.

Shobal Vail Clevenger, the American sculptor, was born in Middletown in 1812, and died September 28, 1843. In his youth he worked as a stone-mason in Cincinnati, where the figure of an angel he carved on a stone attracted attention. From Cincinnati he removed to Boston, where he executed busts of Clay, Van Buren and others. He afterward went to Europe, taking up his residence at Florence, where he executed many busts, which showed a rapid advance and gave promise that he would attain the first rank in his profession. Having been attacked by pulmonary consumption he embarked for America, but died on the passage.

Judge Ezekiel Ball was among the first early settlers, and was a man of considerable importance, holding many township offices, also being associate judge.

John Freeman settled on what was known as Abram Shaefer's farm prior to 1800. His son Thomas some years afterward purchased what has since been known as the Cullum farm and built a residence there. He was commissioned captain in the War of 1812, and took his company to Detroit in 1813. He moved to Middletown in 18I8 and took charge of the Black Horse Tavern, which had been previously kept by Jesse Crane. He remained in the tavern a year or so, and then built a flat-boat and carried a load of produce to New Orleans. John P. Reynolds succeeded him in the tavern and subsequently Mr. Hughes. Mr. Freeman was from Pennsylvania, and his wife was from New Jersey. She was a daughter of Alexander Crane.

After Middletown was laid out and a few cabins erected, Mr. Jonathan Martin came to the village and began blacksmithing. This shop was a frame building, that stood a short distance from the Baptist Church on Main Street. Mr. Simpson rented this shop of Mr. Martin in 1819, when the latter went into the dry goods business in a building where the First National Bank is now, on Main Street. Mark Dixon and Abner Enoch had stores prior to this time. Dixon's room was on the south-east corner of Third and Main Streets, and Enoch's store was on the north-west corner of Main and Second Streets. Soon after this time and as the town began to grow up the number of the stores multiplied very fast.

The first cabin in Middletown was that of Stephen Vail, on the ridge. A log-cabin was built very early near the corner of Main and Third Streets, where Oglesby & Barnitz's bank is now, and afterwards occupied by Amos Potter. Probably one of the oldest standing and the first built frame building in Middletown is the one now seen on the south-east corner of Main and Fourth Streets. .The first brick building in Middletown was the one erected for a school-house in the east part of lot No. 11. This structure was an elegant one for those days, and was about twenty by thirty feet. It was one story high, with a huge fire-place in each end for the burning of wood. In later years one chimney was taken out and the door was moved from the side to the end, while the warmth was provided from a large stove. In this house were day-schools, singing-schools, and religious meetings of different denominations on the Sabbath.

The second brick house was built by Jonathan Tullis.

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It was on the corner of Third and Main Streets, where the Merchants' National Bank is now. The erection of this house caused a little comment, as it was known Mr. Tullis was a little involved. Mr. David Heaton was desirous of expressing his opinion on the matter, and one day, while riding by, he was seen to stop and take more than a casual glance. When asked by Mr. Tullis what new points were discovered, he replied that he thought the walls leaned a little. " What way ?" asked the astonished owner. " Towards Hamilton," was the nonchalant reply. In Hamilton were the courts and the sheriff's offrce. This house was erected in 1818, and in two or three years afterwards David Enyart, who previously lived where Tobias Lefferson now lives, moved into it.

Hotels or houses of entertainment were numerous in earlier ti nes. Their " taverns," " houses of entertainment," and " coffee-houses," now come under the general terms of " hotels," " boarding-houses, with day board or rooms to let," and " saloons." First among these, and one as famous as any, was the " Black Horse," standing on Main Street, about where the post-office is now. This was kept first by Jesse Crane. Following him were John P. Reynolds and Hughes, who was styled Governor Hughes. This was prior to 18I8. John Freeman kept it in 1819. Mr. Piper, father-in-law of Abner Enoch, kept a hotel on a small scale on the north-west corner of Second and Main Streets, in part of the building used by Mr. Enoch as a store. David Enyart kept hotel in his house on Main and Third a few years, and just opposite Mr. Levi Potter kept a few years. This was where Russell's grocery now is. Prominent among the first-class houses dnring the building of the canal, was the building on the corner of Broadway and Third Streets, where the agricultural store now is. This was extensively patronized by those interested in canal contracts, and became the leading hotel for many years. Just above Russell's grocery, and on the same side, between Second and Third Streets, Mr. Phares kept hotel also. This was as early as 1815.

David Enyart came to Ohio in 1802, settling first at Princeton, and then in 1815 came to Middletown. Mr. Aaron Hamner built a one-story brick house on the northwest corner of Main and Fifth Streets in 1819 or 1820, that was afterwards sold to Joseph Treon, who was a cripple. Mr. Simpson built a brick on the south-west corner of Main and Fifth Streets in 1822 that was not only the largest in the town, but was considered the finest. Mr. Martin built the present brick of Oglesby & Barnitz's bank in 1827, and sold goods there for many years. Levi Potter, who lived just opposite, was probably the first brick-mason in Middletown.

The United States Hotel, on Main Street, was built in 1831 for a dwelling-house and coffee-house. It was then but two stories high. The second story was used to live in, while the parlor and bar-room were used for a store and coffee-room. Wilson Gilchrist sold goods in the

parlor for several years, and I. C. Faries and others, at different times, used the present bar-room for a coffeehouse. Cyrus Mitchell was the first to keep hotel. This was near 1845. His brother, James Mitchell, built the third story. Mrs. Furry now keeps the house.

The old Middletown burying-ground is near Kemp & Shafor's slaughter-house, and on the river bank. There are now but two stones the inscriptions on which are readable; that of George Russell, who died May 25, 1814, at forty-one years of age, and Moses Vail, who died at sixty-two years of age. Stephen Vail was also buried here, but his grave is not marked. His interment was in 1808.

The Middletown Cemetery originally contained four acres, in the south-east quarter of section No. 28. This ground was laid off by James Heaton, who surveyed it, thirteen lots being set aside for a potter's-field. The original trustees were Israel Gibson, John M. Barret, and Robert Campbell. This was the 30th of May, 1827.

The Middletown Cemetery Association was organized May 25, 1878. On the 4th of August, 1863, two acres were added, and again, October 11, 1869, five acres were purchased. The association, when organized under the special act of the Legislature, consisted of the following persons : W. B. Oglesby, Jos. S. Kelley, John Corsin, Thos. Wilson, Edward Jones, G. Rathman, S. V. Curtis, G. E. Wampler, C. W. Sutphin, I. C. Faries, A. D. Collins, William Sheels, William Moore, C. S. Barnitz, C. F. Gunckel, J. B. Hartley, J. J. Paller.

Of those who deserve mention in connection with the dead is the Rev. James Grimes. He was a native of the District of Columbia, born January 1, 1760, and died March 16, 1846. He came here after the War of 1812. He had two children, George and Rebecca. George was in that war, and was taken prisoner. Rebecca married William Bridge, and had two children, Ann and Susan. Ann became the mother of James Lummis. She is still living, and is now in Illinois. Susan married J. J. Pettit, and died in the Spring of 1875.

Mr. Grimes was educated at Alexandria, Virginia, became a local Methodist preacher, and was ordained deacon by Francis Asbury, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was ordained September 17, 1815. He was in the War of the Revolution seven years, and was taken prisoner by the British, but escaped by mounting a horse and riding past the guards, who fired upon him. His son George was in the navy in the War of 1812. The Rev. James Grimes was a carpenter and stair-builder. After the burning of the city of Washington in the War of 1812, he rebuilt the stairs in the capitol. He was a stout, well-built man, and when eighty years old could shingle a roof. He lived near where the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad depot is now. The house still stands.

Mr. Grimes had two wives, who were buried in this yard. His first wife, Eliza Grimes, died November,

632 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

1827, when seventy-two years of age. His second wife, Jane Grimes, was born September 27, 1776. She died in August, 1850, seventy-four years of age. Near by the grave of Mr. Grimes lie the remains of another Revolutionary soldier, Daniel Heaton.

The business of Middletown is largely in the manufacturing of all kinds of paper. The paper interest is immense, great enough to make the town one of the principal centers in the country for that kind of business. Seven great paper-mills run in full force, month in and month out, year after year, giving employment to hundreds of men, women, and children.

The first mill on the hydraulic north is that of Oglesby, Moore & Co. The mill manufactures blotting, sized, and super-calendered book, wrapping, and roofing papers. The firm members are W. B. Oglesby, William Moore, George C. Barnitz, and F. J. Tytns. The mill was built in 1833 by J. W. Erwin and brother. After two years Messrs. Tytus, Oglesby, and Barnitz then took the mill, and under the firm name of Oglesby, Barnitz & Tytus, ran it for seven or eight years. Then it passed into the hands of the present company, under - whose management it has been highly successful and prosperous. Eighty to one hundred hands are employed constantly, about twenty-five of whom are women and girls. The annnal sales of manufactured articles amount to $150,000. There are two mills in one. One is furnished with three four-hundred pound and four two-hundred-and-twentyfive-pound engines, and one seventy-two-inch Fourdrinier. It has water-power, and manufactures book and blotting paper, its capacity being five thousand pounds a day, or one million five hundred thousand pounds a year. The wrapping-mill has two four-hundred-and-fifty-pound and one six-hundred-pound engines, one sixty-eight-inch cylinder, water and steam, and makes four thousand five hundred pounds a day of wrapping and roofing paper, or one million three hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year.

The next mill south on the hydraulic is that of A. Hill & Sons. This company also carries on two mills. The first one is the Valley, and the one further down is the Globe. They are designated as No. 1 Valley Mill and No. 2 Globe Mill. The last-named mill has passed into the hands of Oglesby & Co. This mill was started in 1855, and their work was confined to the manufacture of manilla paper, of which they turned out six tons per day, or one thousand eight hundred tons a year. They employed seventy-five hands, among them twelve females, and the annual production was valned at $240,000. In the Valley Mill are six three-hundred to seven-hundred pound and one Gould engines, one fifty-six and one sixty- two inch cylinder power, water and steam. This was the first mill in the West to compete with the Eastern manilla manufactories. It was' started under great discouragements by Messrs Hill & Sons, and run at first on a small scale. The mill was stopped in July, 1881, and their business has been sold out to the Middletown Paper Company.

The next mill south on the hydraulic is that of the Tytus Paper Company F. J. Tytus, president ; W. B. Oglesby, treasurer; J. B. Tytus, secretary. This company manufactures Fourdrinier and cylinder manilla paper. The mill turns out twenty thousand pounds a day, or six million pounds a year, and the sales amount to over four hundred thousand dollars per annum. Eighty hands are employed. It was built in 1873, the firm being George W. Erwin & Co. The mill is run by water and steam, and has six hundred horse power ; fifteen rag engines, three machines. The engine is the largest in the West.

The third paper mill was built in 1855, by James P. Cecil, John L. Martin, and Joseph Sutphin, and is now owned by Sutphin & Wrenn. The firm is composed of Joseph Sutphin and A. S. Wrenn. They manufacture news and book papers, and are now very large manufacturers of heavy grades of blotting-paper. The establishment has never ceased operations since it was first started. Fifty hands are kept at work, thirty of whom are women. Fifty-five hundred pounds a day are made, and the sales are two hundred thousand dollars a year. The mill has one three-hundred pound, three four-hundred-pound, and one eight-hundred-pound engines, and one sixty-eight-inch Fourdrinier. It is run by water and steam, and its productions rank with the best made in the country. This establishment furnishes most of the paper upon which the Cincinnati dailies are printed. All these mills are located along the banks of the hydraulic, in pleasant situations, among the willows and sycamores.

Across the city, upon the canal, stands the mill of Wardlow, Thomas & Co., or the Niagara Paper Mills. The first mill was built in 1868, and burned down in September, 1872, and a new building was erected in 1880. The whole building is four hundred and sixty feet long, and eighty-six feet wide, and one main building sixty feet wide. It has two machine rooms, each thirty-five feet square, and the boiler and steam-engine room seventy feet square. The smoke-stack rises one hundred and five feet from the base. It has ten rag engines, one Gould engine, one eighty-four-inch double cylinder, and one sixty-eight-inch. It uses both water and steam, and makes manilla paper. Its capacity is from twelve to fourteen thousand pounds per day. This mill makes a specialty of flour-sacks and manilla-bag papers. It has six wells and ten driven wells, and a ten-horse-power pump that throws eight hundred gallons per minute. The water is clear and pure, the subsoil of all this locality being a gravel. They employ about forty hands.

The Harding Paper Company own the Excello Mill, which is three miles farther south. They manufacture first-class writing-paper. The officers of this company are- A. E. Harding, president; W. B. Oglesby, treasurer ;

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and William Moore, secretary. The mill is furnished with six four-hundred-pound engines and one sixty-two inch Fourdrinier. The capacity is three thousand pounds of writing paper a day, or nine hundred thousand pounds a year. At the Excello Mill one hundred and twenty- five to one hundred and thirty hands are employed, over eighty of whom are women, and the annual sales amount to two hundred thousand dollars a year. The mill was built in 1865, and the pay-roll averages one thousand dollars a week.

The magnitude of the paper interests of Middletown can be understood when it is known that about four hundred and forty hands are employed therein ; that they put on the market annually about twelve and a third million pounds of first-class goods. and derive a gross revenue of one million one hundred and ninety thousand dollars each year. The paper manufactured here is not excelled anywhere in the country.

There are at present two paper-bag factories in Middletown, both doing a good business. Mr. R. E. Johnston established th enterprise in 1873. The bags were then made by hand, one person being able to manufacture only about seven hundred a day. Mr. Johnston took William Webster into partnership this year, but at the end of six months this firm was dissolved. Subsequently Mr. Webster started up for himself. The Webster patent, or hand-helping machines, are now used by both of these firms. The R. E. Johnston Paper-bag Company employ fifty hands, have two power machines and forty hand- helping machines, and manufacture two hundred thousand bags a day, or sixty millions a year. The pay-roll is two hundred and fifty dollars per week. They manufacture the machine-made satchel-bottom paper bags.

The Webster Paper and Bag Company run a force of seventy hands, and manufacture each day a stack of bags that would make a column sixteen hundred feet high, or four and a half miles high in a year. They also use the hand-helping machines, and do a business of one hundred thousand dollars a year. They manufacture a million of bags each week.

Wilson & McCallay have tobacco works that are 140x144 feet, three stories high. This business was established here in 1870, when they had a capacity of two hundred thousand pounds, and have now increased that capacity to three million pounds per annum, and furnish employment to from three hundred and fifty to four hundred hands. They have in all the enormous floor surface of 66,480 square feet, and a large and well-furnished office. The kilns are two in number, 20x75 feet each, the floors of which are laid with thousands of feet of steam pipe. The spinners' room is 50x100 feet; machine-room, 50x70 feet; wrapping department, 60x100 feet, where all wrappers are put on by hand. The press-room is 60x100 feet, containing twenty presses, and the large engine-room, 60x60, containing an eighty-five horse power engine. The firm employs seven salesmen.

P. J. Sorg & Co. have also an immense establishment for the manufacturing of the best brands of plug tobacco. The building is located at the terminus of Third Street, at the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis depot, and was erected in 1879, the main building being 140x40 feet. In 1880 an addition was made, 50x115 feet, and in 1881 it had another addition of 50x14 feet, making in all a building of 140x395 feet, three stories high, and basement. In 188I they manufactured 1,800,000 pounds of tobacco. They employ from 275 to 300 hands, and pay an internal revenue tax of from $275,000 to $300,000 annually. The firm consists of P. J. Sorg and John Auer.

The Ling & Levoy Buggy Company began operations in 1879, erecting at that time and subsequently a building 140x100 feet. It is now a stock affair, with William Ling as president, and James Johnson as treasurer and secretary. They employ in all fifty hands, and keep two salesmen on the road. They manufacture the platform bed, the three-spring bed, the Kinkin side-bar, also the Brewster side-bar. They also manufacture a new style of spring of their patent, now coming into general use. They make 1,200 buggies annually.

La Tourrette & Co., iron and brass founders, and manufacturers of paper and tobacco machinery, carry on a business of forty thousand dollars. This enterprise was established by P. P. La Tourrette before 1860, since which time the business has constantly grown until now the foundry consists of brass works, repair shops, and a general foundry for the accommodation of all kinds of job work in addition to the manufacture of their specialties. The Middletown Pump Company has now been absorbed in that of La Tourrette & Co. The firm consists of P. P. La Tourrette, C. F. Gunckel, and F. B. Searage. They employ thirty hands.

Mr. John L. Martin and Joseph Sutphin built the flouring mill of Middletown (the only one in the place) in 1853. The mill has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels a day, and is managed by C. Sutphin. Joseph Sutphin & Son still own the property, and are supplying the trade, which extends over a vast area of country.

The American Color Printing Company of Middletown was organized in 1880, with a capital stock of $18,000, and color printing made a specialty. Theodore Marston is president, and W. W. Sullivan is secretary of the company. They employ twelve hands, and are the publishers of the Middletown Journal.

There are at present three newspapers in Middletown. Up to 1857 no successful efforts had been made in this direction, although many attempts preceded the one that finally attained success, but each in turn was short lived. The Journal, now published by the American Color Printing Company, is the oldest successful paper in the town, and it dates its birth to the year 1857, and to Mr. C. H. Brock, the grocer of Middletown, as its first proprietor. Mr. Brock carried this paper on successfully for

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fourteen years. During the war he became postmaster of Middletown, but kept its management until 1871, when he sold .out to Mr. Harkrader, and after that it passed through the management of Collins, Bowman & Collins, George H. McKee, McKee & Powell, McKee, James L. Raymond, who leased to Wendell, then to Tucker & Todhunter, then sold to Todhunter & Bonnell, who sold it to the American Color Printing Company in 1880. Mr. Sullivan is its editor. There are two others also. The Signal was brought to bear its influenoe for good on Middletown by L. F. Bowman in 1844. He kept the paper until 1881, when T. J. Ward took its management. It has always been a good, lively paper. The Middletown Herald was started March, 1882. R. M. Threlkeld is proprietor and editor.

The private bank of Oglesby & Barnitz is the oldest bank in Middletown: It was started more than twenty years ago, being at that time simply a place of deposit. On account of the great credit they had among the business community, these deposits so increased on their hands that it was deemed advisable to start a bank. It is strictly private. The Merchants' National Bank was organized September 9, 1872, with a capital stock of $50,000, which has increased since to $150,000. The officers are Charles F. Gunckel, president, and G. F. Stevens, cashier. The First National Bank was organized in 1865, with Mr. Joseph Sutphin as its president, which position he filled for many years. D. W. McCallay is now president, and Joseph R. Allen cashier. Its capital stock was at first $100,000, but it is now increased to $150,000, with a surplus of $50,000.

The Union Loan and Building Association filed its papers with the secretary of state May 6, 1875, and the first payment of dues were made June 23, 1875. The first board of trustees were P. P. La Tourrette, David Newman, James H. Jacoby, J. McFadden, Jacob Shaeffer, I. N. Foote, Robert Johnston, W. Todhunter, and Frederick Siebert. The capital stock of $1,000,000 is divided into 5,000 shares of $200 each. The company has 750 members, a paid up capital of $124,000, and have taken in and disbursed during the year 1881, $108,000. The association has been in existence 350 weeks, and has attained a magnitude second to none in the State. There are 4,700 shares held by 750 members, no one member holding more than twenty shares. It is entirely mutual and equal. The present officers are N. B. Hatch, president; Dr. R. Corson, vice-president; R. E. Johnston, treasurer, and I. N. Foot, secretary.

The building of the Hydraulic laid the foundation for the prosperity of Middleton. This enterprise was set on foot by Messrs. Erwin, Cooper and Henderson, the company organizing in 1857, at a cost of forty thousand dollars. It furnishes water power for six mills and for the Middletown water works. The organization consisted of J. W. Erwin, president; Thomas Sherlock, secretary; and J. B. Oglesby, treasurer, as the executive officers.

Thomas Sherlock's place is now supplied by J. B. Oglesby, who is secretary, agent, and manager. The hydraulic is two miles in length.

Middletown became an incorporated village in 1837, its first mayor being T. T.- Gibson. A magnificent city building was completed by November 1, 1880, at a cost of $10,031.90.— In 1874 the town put in the Holly works at a cost of $72,000 ; and in 1881 introduced the electric light, abandoning the use of gas for municipal purposes. In 1879 permission was granted to the Middletown Street Railway Company to build a road on Third Street, to connect the two depots of Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton, and Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis roads. The present officers of the town are W. B. Hedding, mayor ; Robert A. P. Kaser, clerk ; Jacob Shaffer, treasurer ; William Frost, marshal; Nicholas Graff, William Ling, James H. Cunningham, Joseph Neiderlander, and Joseph Naughton, councilmen ; A. W. Hill, chief of fire department ; W. B. Oglesby, A. W. Hill, P. J. Sorg, trustees of water works.

The Holly Water-works are quite an addition financially, as well as a benefit otherwise, to the town. They were put in at a cost of $72,000, but it supplies the city with water, runs the fire department, and clears several hundred dollars over and above all expenses annually. The water is furnished from a large well, thirty-five feet deep and fourteen feet in diameter, and furnishes an inexhaustible supply of good, cool, clear, and pure water. The pressure is sufficient to throw water one hundred feet high.

The fire department is furnished with a four-wheeled reel, Caswell make, costing $600. It has the patent drop harness, and carries 1,000 feet cotton knit hose of Chelsea manufacture. There are also 2,000 feet of rubber and leather hose in reserve. Besides this there are a hook and ladder truck, a hand-reel, and a hand-engine. The team can be hitched up and ready to leave the building in twenty seconds after the alarm of fire has been given. The pressure of the water is ninety pounds, and twenty-one streams can be brought into requisition. It will throw eight streams one hundred feet high.

The Brush electric light was substituted for gas in the Summer of 1882. The company has put up a wrought- iron tower, made of boiler iron, 210 feet in height, on which are placed eight lights, each having 4,000 candlepower, and also five other lights in different portions of the town, each having 2,000 candle-power, and two street lights. This is at a cost of $2,000 per year, and ten dollars per month for each additional street light. The whole is run by a forty-horse-power engine of P. J. Sorg & Co.'s tobacco works, which operates two machines, one of ten lights, each having a 4,000 candle power, the other sixteen each having 2,000 candle power. The brilliancy of these lights, with its softness, renders them very desirable. The lights cn the large

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tower can be seen for miles, and the power is sufficient to read large print several squares off.

The first school in Middletown was a pay school kept by Mr. Beers, who afterwards became Judge Beers, of Darke County. He started in 1805, and had for a schoolroom a room in a woolen-mill stand* near the present location of the river bridge. Another school was taught by Martha. Wilson, in 1806, in a log-house, one part of which was used as a dwelling. It was located on what was called the "Smoothing Iron," the present premises of J. K. Thomas. For some time afterward Ephraim Gray taught in the same house, and at a later day Joseph Worth. Mr. Ward had a school in a cabin near the site of the machine shop. Mr. Perry and Mr. Piper were also teachers of an early day. Subsequently Ephraim Gray built the house on Broad Street now Awned and occupied by James Wicoff, and taught in the same for some years.

In 1815, the first school-house was built on the east part of the lot, south-east corner of Main and Second Streets. It was twenty by thirty feet in size. In this house were day-schools, singing-schools, and religious meetings on the Sabbath. One of the first teachers was Jeremiah Marston, who taught from 1821 to 1824, inclusive. He was subsequently associate judge, and his son, Theodore Marston, is well-known here. The first school entirely free, was taught by Joseph Gailbreath, a native of the neighborhood, in 1837, but the schools did not continue without the aid of funds from private sources.

Before 1839, the district school had grown too large for one room, and under its auspices a Mr. Elliott taught the younger pupils in a brick building then known as the " Juniata Iron Store," and still standing on Third Street, south side, and west of the bank of Messrs. Oglesby & Barnitz. In the Fall of 1839, in this room, Mrs. Mitchell, then Miss Josephine S. Anderson, carried on this school, with Mary J. Gibson as assistant, now Mrs. Bowen, of Chicago. Mrs. Mitchell has been identified with the schools of Middletown since that time, and her record made of forty-three years in school work is one herself and friends may feel proud of. This part of the school, above mentioned, was soon moved to the barracks, then standing on the present site of the Odd Fellows' building. The barracks are now on the northeast corner of Water and Fifth Streets.

The barracks were vacated in 1849, to occupy the better rooms made vacant by Mr. Furman's removal to Hamilton. These rooms were on the west side of Broad Street, a few steps north of Third Street. In this branch of the district school Mrs. Mitchell taught continuously, excepting a year or two, and, with the help of her assistants, she had the first, graded schools. Her assistants,

after Miss Gibson, were respectively Miss Alice T. Ketchum (now Mrs. Lambright), Miss Eliza Martin (subsequently Mrs. Storms), Misses Virginia Howland, and Susan McQuiety.

In 1855 the organization changed from three directors to a board of education composed of five members. The board consisted of William B. Oglesby, Stephen E. Giffen, Edward Jones, Joseph Sutphin, and William E. Marshall. In 1872 the present noble school-building was completed and furnished at a cost of $61,000. The Middletown people are proud of it, and with reason. There is no finer structure of the kind in Ohio. It is situated in a campus of six acres of ground, beautifully laid off, and ornamented with trees, walks, and shrubbery. The house is magnificently furnished. The pupils have a library parlor, in which they have the choicest literature in the way of periodicals and books, etc. This last commendable feature was inaugurated by the present efficient superintendent, F. J. Barnard.

The growth of the public schools is shown by the following table:

The expenditures were, in 1860, $2,464.69 ; 1865, $5,514.45 ; 1870, $5,958.56 ; 1875, $8,170.05 ; 1880, $11,195.64. The value of school property was, in 1855, $6,250; 1860, $6,250 ; 1865, $6,250; 1870, $6,250; 1875, $75,000 ; 1880, $75,000. The board of education consists of Dr. John Corson, president ; George H. Hinkel, secretary ; J. G. Lummis, treasurer ; James B. Hartley, I. C. Farris, C. A. Bapst.

In the Spring of 1842 a few noble-hearted men conceived the idea of instituting an Odd Fellows' lodge at Middletown. Preparatory to that end I. F. Hand, S. F. Hallman, Lewis Young, W. W. Littell, and Joshua Hunt, made application for and were admitted to membership in Warren Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., at Franklin, and after taking degrees in that lodge all applied for and were granted dismissal cards, when they and brother David Olden, Sen., petitioned the Grand Lodge of Ohio for a charter to establish a lodge in Middletown, with the name of Hope Lodge, No. 16. Odd Fellowship was then so much in its infancy that the Grand Lodge of the State could transact all its business in one evening.

The lodge was instituted on the evening of October 25, 1842, Charles Thomas officiating as grand master, the place of meeting being the second-story of a frame house standing on Third Street. On the same evening there were three applicants initiated,—Anthony Noble, James Butler, and Frederick Shafer. About the sixth applicant accepted was brother Aaron Rodgers, who afterwards made a present to this lodge of a beautiful lot in the cemetery for the express purpose of burying indigent or transient Odd Fellows. It, however, happened by an over-ruling Providence that he was the first one buried on the lot. The lodge commenced under very flattering prospects, considering the size of the town,

636 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

which then was not over one thousand inhabitants, the first year initiating twelve members. A little carelessness is discovered in the way the lodge did the business during those first years. If a brother was behind with his dues, his note was sometimes taken instead. The initiation fee then was six dollars.

In April, 1843, the lodge rented a room on the northwest corner of Broad and Third Streets, where they stayed ten years, working successfully and in loving harmony. They then rented a room of Jacob Leibee, in his three-story building built on the same ground on which the lodge had been instituted, where they stayed until the lodge moved into the building on Main Street they now occupy. The lodge at first elected their officers every three months, but in 1846 the time was changed to six months. During the Winter of 1846 the lodge purchased the lot 'their building now stands on, it being bought first as private property by brother A. Noble and James Bowman, who afterwards sold it to the lodge for six hundred dollars. the same sum that they had given. They also repaired the house at an expense of one hundred dollars, and rented the property, from which they received considerable income.

On February 8, 1858, there was a committee appointed, consisting of W. G. Ball, George Foster, and John Hunt, to receive donations and to ascertain what money could be raised among the members for the building of a new house. A committee, consisting of I. C. Faries, J. B. Cecil, and C. H. Brock, was appointed to ask donations of sister lodges. On November I1 the building committee were instructed to contract for the erection of a building and to have a town hall over the two north store-rooms. James B. Cecil erected the new building, which cost seven thousand three hundred dollars, and the lodge moved into its new quarters about February 1, 1860. The number of shares at first reached two hundred, which was afterwards reduced to one hundred and seventy, and as soon as the house was paid for the stock was purchased for various prices, from fifty dollars to eighty-three dollars, the last to sell being C. W. Sutphin, who received the last named amount. With the exception of eight shares, owned by the Home Encampment, the lodge now owns the building. The lodge is handsomely furnished.

The minutes of the lodge since 1842 have been carefully examined by I. C. Faries for the notes from which this article was taken, and there it is found the lodge has paid out $7,302.61 for the relief of the distressed, education of orphans, and the burial of the dead. This does not include many private donations made by members of the lodge. The lodge shows a healthy and steadily growing increase, having taken into fellowship some three hundred members. The present officers are John Huss, N. G; James Stewart, V. G.; W. B. Andrews, secretary; S. C. Hartley, permanent secretary; H. G. Crowley, treasurer; trustees—David Newman, president; Charles

Sutphin, secretary ; R. S. Johnston, I. F Hand, and Frank Banker.

The Presbyterian Church dates back to 1819. On the 6th of April in that year a petition was presented to the presbytery asking for an occasional preacher and liberty to form a Presbyterian Church. The petition was granted, and the Rev. Francis Monfort was appointed to preach. On the 14th a meeting was held as preliminary to an organization, and a collector and clerk chosen. On the 29th of July, 1820, it was judged that sufficient progress had been made to form a society, and a meeting was accordingly held, at which Mr. Monfort and the -elders of New Jersey Church were present by invitation. A sessional meeting was constituted, which was adjourned to the 6th of August, and received applications for membership. The whole number of those who applied were twelve. Five of these-Mr. Archibald Campbell and his wife, Sarah Campbell; Moses W. Karr and his wife, Ann Karr, and Mrs. Jane Robinson—came by certificate from the Presbyterian Church of Dick's Creek ; four—Nathan Peppard and Mrs. Peppard, David Potter, and Miss Jane Malery-by certificate from the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Pleasant, Kentucky ; three— Mr. John M. Barnett and his wife, Jane Barnett, and Ruth Fisher—by examination. The meetings were probably in a school-room that occupied a part of the present site of the public school building, on the corner of Main and Second Streets. Here the first Sunday-school in the town had been organized on a union basis. Of this the Baptist Sunday-school is the legitimate snccessor.

The Rev. Francis Monfort became the pastor of the new organization, laboring one-half of his time for two years. In June, 1821, fifteen more persons were added, and three elders were chosen,—William McClane, Nathaniel Peppard, and Moses W. Karr. In August, 1828, two additional elders, Archibald Campbell and Ephraim Gray, were chosen. The Rev. Samuel Smith, shortly after, ministered to them, and in 1828 they began the erection of a church. A site was• purchased of Daniel Doty in the southern part of the town, and in 1832 the work was begun under the supervision of William McClane, William Judd, and Moses W. Karr. The building was of brick, forty-five feet long and thirty-five feet wide. The builder was Meeker S. Morton, and he received for it $789.53. Other expenses brought the cost up to about eleven hundred dollars. This edifice still stands, and is occupied by the German Lutheran Church. The pastors after Mr. Smith, who left about 1832, were John Hudson, Alexander Guy, and J. S. Belleville. The latter was a very eloquent and effective preacher, and at the close of the first twenty years of existence the Church had ninety-two members. G. B. Crawford was ordained an elder, April 15, 1837. The Rev. John B. Morton came to Middletown in June, 1840, and well performed his work. He remained until 1847, also preaching a part of his time at other churches

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in the neighborhood. He was succeeded by S. M. Templeton. Mr. Morton, who had not removed far, preached here a portion of his time, and in 1853 supplied the pulpit for six months. At this time the Church became entirely self-sustaining. In 1854 it began a new building, which was finished in 1856. Its probable cost was from ten to twelve thousand dollars, the building committee being Dr. G. E. Wampler, Thomas Wilson, John L. Martin, and William S. Young. About this time Mrs. James Brookfield died, leaving the Church five hundred dollars and a baptismal bowl of silver, which was made in the year 1747.

Mr. Morton continued to supply the Church until 1856, when he was again called to be its pastor, remaining until 1865. He then resigned his charge, and the Rev, G, I. Taylor acted as stated supply. In 1867 the church was remodeled, and a pipe organ added. Joshua L. Russell was made pastor in January, 1867, and on the 29th of July,. 1870, the Church celebrated its semi- centennial. In May, 1873, the Rev. J. W. Clokey became pastor. Those who have been chosen as elders since 1841 are Nathaniel Furman, Patterson Mitchell, William Mitchell, Dr. Samuel R. Evans, Dr. Peter Van Derveer, William H. Mills, Stephen 'E. Giffen, David Mumma, Horace P. Clough, Alexander Ure, Thomas Wilson, J. G. Clarke, and R. K. Mcllhenny. The Church is in a flourishing condition.

The St. Paul Evangelical Church of Middletown was erected in 1877. The society was organized in 1876, with G. Rathman president ; William Sebald, secretary, and Jacob Borger as treasurer ; D. Frisch, Philip Satterner, William Schultz, Steve Hembrauder, and Jacob Gradolph trustees. The present officers are G. Rath- man, president; G. Huff, treasurer, and Chris. Se- bald, secretary; Christ. Muller, David Frisch, Stephen Hembrauder, J. P. Weber, and John Stieber, trustees. The church building is a fine structure, costing about $11,000. This Church was formerly a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Evangelical Lntheran Church of Middletown was organized August 6, 1854, by Rev. E. A. Shultz, Hiram Henkel, Frederick Siebert, Frederick Berk, and Adam Heiland. The Rev. Mr. Shultz, after staying two years, went to Columbus, Ohio, and the pulpit was filled by Messrs. Ritter, G. H. Treel, Theis Buchols, and C. Huebner. The latter is the present pastor. The society occupies the old Presbyterian Church building which was erected in 1829, and consists of a membership of fifty families. The present officers are C. Satterner, C. Denner, J. Sixt, F. Siebert, J. G. Nichol, H. Behrens, G. Kirschbaum, and J. Frisch. H. Behrens is Sabbath-school superintendent.

The Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Middletown was built about 1851, when there were very few Catholics in the place, since which time it has gradually and steadily grown by natural increase until it now reaches some two hundred families, with excellent parochial schools attached.

The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. O'Conner, who preached from 1851 to 1855 ; Rev. T. Smith, to 1859 ; Rev. T. J. Boulger, to 1873 ; Rev. J. Bowe, to 1874 ; and F. C. Mallon, to 1875. The Rev. W. F. M. O'Rourke has filled the place since that last named date. Among the old members are the Cunninghams, Cummingses, Currans, Coyles, Clanceys, Dowds, Fays, Ferrises, Goldricks, Hannegans, Kelleys, Kanes, Logans, McCues, McCurrys, Mullens, Roaches, Raneys, Sullivans, and Tooleys.

The principal mover in the building of the neat little African Methodist Episcopal Church on First Street was Richard Edwards, one of the first members of the original society. Through his earnest wish, in the Spring of 1874, he had procured over three hundred dollars of good subscriptions. The contract was given to Messrs. Caldwell & Co., in May, 1874, and the church was finished in August of that same year. On Saturday, May 9, 1874, Bishop Payne dedicated the chapel, giving a beautiful discourse. The entire cost of the church was about six hundred dollars, all of which was raised and the church cleared of debt. The Rev. S. C. White is pastor of the little society, which only numbers a very few members. Mr. Richard Edwards is Sabbath-school superintendent.

The organization of the African Baptist Church was effected some fifteen years ago by Elder Shelton, of Cincinnati. Their building was not erected until June, 1876. The society has a membership of twenty-eight and a Sabbath-school of forty-five. Rev. Albert Wayne, a self. educated man, is the pastor.

The German Catholic Church of Middletown had its birth in 1873. Mr. Matthew Hepting, John Ritter, and John Kaiser, with the Rev. Mr. Kilgenstein, set the enterprise on foot at that time, raised a subscription, and erected a church building at a cost of five thousand dollars. Mr. Lytle served the Church as pastor from the beginning till the year 1874, the Rev. Carl Schoeppner then being in charge until 1880. The Rev. Mr. Staunlaus had the pastorate a short time, and the Rev. Angelus Hafertepe has been in charge since May, 1881. The school building was erected in 1876. Sister Boniface has the superintendence of this work. The membership of this congregation numbers about fifty families, all Germans.

There is also a Methodist Episcopal Church, of whose history we are not informed, but which dates back sixty years; and an Episcopalian Church, organized since the war.

The First Baptist Church in Middletown was organized at the house of David Heaton, August 9, 1808. It first bore the title of Salem Church, and its original officers were James Dewise, deacon, and Nathan Canfield, clerk. In June following they extended a call to Elder R. Stapleton and Samuel Dewise to preach to

638 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

them on the first Sunday in each month, attending at the house of Elisha Wade. The Church was received in the Miami Association in the Fall of 1809, On the 26th of June, I8I1, they resolved to build a house of worship, and appointed a committee, consisting of David Enoch, E. Heaton, Isaac Robbins, Jacob Deardorf, and Daniel McDonald, to select the site. They discharged this duty, choosing a place on the road from Middletown to Franklin, a mile from the former place. The contractor made the following agreement :

"I agree to build a meeting-house twenty-four by thirty feet, and thirteen feet high, and to weatherboard thl same, and put on a lap-shingle, or sawed-shingle row, one double door and windows, with sleepers, and Iwo beams for a gallery, and find the nails, for one hundred and sixty dollars, payable in whisky and wheat that is merchantable, delivered at Abner Enoch's mill, on the first day of October next, at the market price it sells for in Franklin, -and to have the said house finished by the first of next October."

The congregation worshiped in this house till October, 1826, when they removed their meetings to Middletown, and met at the house of Thomas Royal. The old frame building after that was converted into a school-house, and occupied as such till 1848. In October,• 1826, the Rev. Jacob Mulford was called to preach one Sabbath in each month. On the 9th of August, 1828, the name of the Church was changed to the First Baptist Church of Middletown. All this time there was no house of worship in Middletown of any denomination. There were three Church organizations— Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist. Each held their meetings alternately in a brick school-house about twenty-four by thirty. The Baptists held about this time some of their meetings in the upper part of a cooper-shop. In the Winter of 1828, however, the Church resolved to build a house, and obtained an act of incorporation, with Jacob Deardorf, Thomas Royal, and David Taylor as trustees. They bought a lot, and in the Spring of 1829 erected a house of forty by eighty feet. It was not finished till the Spring of 1832, its total cost being about $3,000. This building remained in use till the Spring of 1854, when it was taken down and a handsome structure put up on the same foundation. It was ready to worship in on the 1st of September.

Twelve years after this the Church found themselves very much in need of more room for their Sabbath- school. In the Fall of 1867 it added a building sixty- four by twenty-five feet to the rear of the former house, which makes the whole church cruciform in shape, and added fully one-third to its capacity. The church is arranged with especial reference to the Sunday-schools, and is arranged so that all the rooms, six in number, can be thrown into one. The cost of this addition was about $10,000. This left the Church with a debt of about $2,500, which annoyed them for a number of years. They paid it off during the centennial year. In the Fall of 1861 the Church resolved to build a parsonage on the lot they had purchased adjoining their church lot, and in 1862 completed a handsome residence at a cost of about $3,000. The church and parsonage lot is one hundred and forty feet in front, and runs back two hundred feet.

In 1836 the delegates from this Church to the Miami Association were rejected by the majority of that body. The Middletown Church, the Sixth Street Church, of Cincinnati, and the Dayton and Lebanon Churches were thrown out for " aiding and supporting Sunday-schools, Bible, missionary, tract, and temperance societies." These four Churches then met elsewhere and organized themselves as the true association. The next year they met in Middletown. The Church there then consisted of seventy-seven members. About this time six women, members of the association, handed in the following letter at a regular meeting of the Church :

" We, whose names are hereunto set, being met together to consult on matters pertaining to the First Baptist Church in Middletown, and now being of one mind, that we have been burdened with many things in the Church not according to the Word, this we present you because of your departure from the faith and practice of the regular Baptist Church, and following many ways and things burdensome to us, we intend to walk separate from all who will thus continue to walk, and we invite all our brethren and sisters to sit with us who will renounce them. Our meeting will be on Saturday, before the second Sunday in November, next, and we invite all our brothers and sisters who are of the same mind to join with us."

The members who thus protested were promptly excluded, and no further trouble was afterwarls experienced from them or from others. The association has since met in Middletown seven times.

The pastors of the Church since 1828 have been twelve in number. Six of them are dead. Jacob Mulford was pastor on October 14, 1826 ; Daniel Bryant, August 21, 1830; William T. Boynton, January 26, 1839 ; John Finlay, July 27, 1844; J. Blodgett, January, 1847 ; J. A. Ballard, March 1, 1848; J. G. Bowen, October, 1849 ; Albert Guy, November, 1853 ; D. S. Watson, October 9, 1860; F. L. Chapell, July, 1864; J. W. T. Booth, December 10, 1871 ; Thomas Cull, May 17, 1874, and Edward A. Ince, December 12, 1880. Only one member is now living who was connected with the Church when it assumed its present name, and that is Francis J. Tytus, and to him we are indebted for the historical sketch from which we have drawn the above.

A difficulty occurring in the Methodist Episcopal Church, resulted in about thirty members leaving the Church, who were Methodists in doctrine and usages. They met to consult on what was best for them to do under the circumstances. A citizen, who. had heard of

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the meeting, determined, if possible, to influence them to organize a Methodist Protestant Church, which he and a Mr. Hardesty, a minister of that Church, prevailed on them to do. Mr. Hardesty recommended the Rev. W. B. Warrington, residing in Cincinnati, as a suitable person to minister to them until the meeting of the annual conference. Mr. James Butler, being the .only one of their number acquainted with Mr. Warrington, was requested by them to go to the city and secure his services, which he did. A meeting was called in Mr. Jacob Leibee's hall, on Sunday, March 4, 1855, at which Mr. Warrington, assisted by the Rev. J. B. Walker, then pastor of the George Street Methodist Protestant Church, Cincinnati, succeeded in organizing a society, consisting of thirty-eight members. A ball, belonging to Mr. Leibee, was rented and fitted up suitably, and religious services held regularly every Sunday morning and evening. A Sunday-school was organized also, holding its sessions every Sunday morning.

At the session of the annual conference Mr. Warrington was appointed by that body as pastor for the following year, and entered heartily into the work, being determined to succeed in building a permanent Church. In December he commenced a meeting, which was protracted for eleven weeks. This resulted in ninety-seven members being added to the Church. At its close the subject of building a house of worship was agitated, and resulted in one being put up, forty feet front by sixty-five feet deep, of brick, two stories and basement above ground; and also a parsonage, eighteen feet front by thirty-four feet deep, with kitchen, the main part two stories. This also is of brick. The audience-room is finished with white walnut varnished. The basement was opened for divine service in December, 1856, and the auditorium in the Fall of 1858. Mr. Warrington was stationed here for four consecutive years. During his pastorate over three hundred persons were received into the Church. The Rev. R. Rose succeeded him as pastor in 1859, remaining two years. The following named ministers have since served the Church : J. B. Walker, E. J. Winans, T. T. Kendrick, T. J. Evans, J. W. Ellis, J. J. White, J. McFarland, R. Rose, T. B. Graham, W. G. Roberts, N. G. Oglesby, W. R. Parsons, and J. H. Dal- bey, the present pastor.

Jefferson Lodge, F. and A. M., was institnted January 18, 1827, and its charter by the Grand Lodge is dated January 15, 1828. The charter is signed by Thomas Corwin, grand master: The first meeting was held at Mark Dixon's tavern, on the south-east corner of Main and Third Streets. The installation ceremonies were performed by Mr. Corwin. David S. Davies was the worshipful master ; Israel T. Gibson, the senior warden ; John Crane, junior warden ; Charles Starr, senior deacon; John P. Reynolds, junior deacon ; John A. Gano, secretary ; Carlton Waldo, treasurer ; John Yopst, first steward and tyler, and Francis Griffrn, second steward. Besides these there were five other charter members, Squier Littell and Joseph Taylor being two of them. Among other prominent men who have belonged to this society are Vincent D. Enyart, George Dickey, Pliny M. Crume, James Bowman, James Heaton, Byron Kilbourn, Dr. Peter Van Derveer, Colonel H. Dunn, John H. Gordon, D. H. Peck, Richard H. Hendrickson, Dr. W. W. Caldwell, David Heaton, 'Isaac Robertson, L. D. Harlan, Dr. W. Webster, John L. Martin, Rev. D. S. Watson, and W. W. Phares. The third meeting, and all after that date until 1842, were held in a building which had been put up by John P. Reynolds. It is on the northeast corner of Third and Broadway, and is now occupied by Mr. Buehner and Mr. Wagner. Here, in the attic, the Masons met in secrecy during the Morgan excitement. In those times the tyler, sitting at the door with his drawn sword, was the cause of great dismay and terror to the woman servants and children of the Reynolds family, who were afraid to go to bed until the dangerous specter had disappeared for the night. The society has increased in strength and usefulness with its years, and is doing a good work.

MONROE.

The town of Monroe was laid out by John H. Piatt and Nathaniel Sackett in 1817. The house now owned by Dr. E. Kimball stands on the original ground upon which John Baker, the pioneer adventurer, built his log- cabin prior to 1800. It was a double log-house, with at, old-fashioned porch between. Baker kept the farm some years and then sold to Nathaniel Sackett, a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and this house often became the place of worship previous to, the erection of their church building. Mr. Sackett planted an orchard, and a pear tree is still standing in the yard that bears very nice, large Bartlett pears yet each year. Dr. Kimball built the new brick that stands on these grounds in 1860. The old log-house had gone to ruin, and the whole ground was thrown into cultivation years previous to the erection of his residence. John Baker died January 4, 1852, seventy-seven years old, and was buried in the old United Presbyterian Church grave-yard, just north of town. The plan of the town is shown by the following: The main road rnnning through the town from Cincinnati to Dayton, called Main Street, was laid off four poles wide. The cross streets were three poles wide, and were called Elm, Church, and Lebanon. The three alleys . running east and west were one pole wide each. An addition was laid off in January, 1819.

The town of Monroe is two hundred feet above the valley, and consequently towers above the malarial portions of the country. It had a gradual growth and a good country surrounding to support it, and naturally became a center of trade for a few miles around. The earliest settlers, John P. Williamson, Nathan Sackett, and Mr. Conover soon opened up stores to supply the trade.

640 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Sackett and Williamson probably, began the first. They kept together on the corner of Lebanon and Main Streets, and subsequently Williamson kept on Main Street, south of Conover's. Sackett quit the business in 1840. Caldwell now keeps the drug-store and post-office.

Monroe is on the old Dayton and Cincinnati turnpike road, and just half way. The travel between these points at an early day was considerable, and to accommodate the traveling public, Mr. McClure opened up a hotel on Main Street, on property now owned by Michael Scheik. He established his business as early as the year 1825, and kept tavern until he died, when Colonel Clarkson opened a, hotel on Main Street, just in front of where John P. Carson now owns. He kept a number of years after McClure, and after he died John Clark was in the same business. Elias came between the years 1830 and 1840, and erected a large house On Pike Street, called the Half-way House. It was a two-story frame, in which he entertained travelers twelve or fifteen years. The present brick hotel was built by Daniel Boggs in 1850. It was carried on a few years by him, and then rented to Joseph Boggs, who ran it a while, and since that time has run through a great many hands. Mr. Simpson built just on the opposite corner in 1845, and carried it on until 1855.

During the early period, and after the pike was built, Monroe had the most travel. Then the mail coaches ran between the two cities, while hotels and places of entertainment were scattered all along the road._ This town was one of the principal stopping points. The travel was so great competition soon sprang up, and there were three and four lines of coaches running, all at the same time. Peter and John Voorhes owned the mail-coach line, and Mr. Rucker the stage line. The usual fare from Dayton to Cincinnati was two dollars and a half, but Voorhes put on opposition coaches to the opposition rates offered by others, and the through fare at one time became reduced to fifty cents,. and it was rumored that for a while a good dinner was given besides. The mail and stage coaches had usually four horses, sometimes six, and left Dayton at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, reaching Monroe for early supper, and from there run to Cincinnati by nine o'clock that night. At one time Messrs. Voorhes, Rucker, and Stevenson had five lines, all at one time. They then had mail twice a week, but now since the railroad has come into operation Monroe receives hers once each day.

Among the manufacturers of Monroe was Peter Jotter, who was here as early as 1840, and made wagons. This business was carried on by him for many years,. and subsequently by William Jotter, his son, now the oldest citizen in Monroe; who took his place about 1872. He employs from three to five hands, and manufactures the Edgar patent gate, and also a furrowing sled or corn-marker. The Paragon Double Plow Works, owned by Charles Warner, have been in operation six years.

The blacksmith's shop was sold as early as 1859 by Peter Jotter, who built it, and it was afterwards rented and then bought by Warner, who uses it in connection with his wood-shop in the manufacture of his plows. He manufactures the one-horse and the double-horse corn plow, a patent of his own, which he is selling in quantities, doing a business of over four thousand dollars yearly, working seven hands about four months each year. He does general custom work also. The buggy factory of C. M. Hiteshue was started by him in 1875, and was bought of Frank Wilson, who built the shops about 1870. He has a paint-shop, wood-working shop, and also a blacksmith's shop, which is carried on the year round, giving employment to about five men and doing a business of five thousand dollars a year. He also does custom work.

The oldest cemetery in Monroe is just north of town, and is called the Monroe Cemetery, and was organized into an association in 1860. Its first officers were Colonel Irwin, Thomas Matson, Mr. Kyle, and Mr. Robinson. It consists of seven acres of ground, and its present officers are William Vanskike, president, and Dr. Kimball, secretary. In this yard were buried some of the earliest settlers.

John Morrow, brother of Governor Morrow, died November 26, 1846; 71 years old. John Baker, January 4, 1852; aged 77. John Lowery, October 20, 1838 ; 59 years old. John Robinson, November 28, 1841 ; aged 62. Peter Williamson, April 7, 1832 ; 65 years old. David Williamson, April 10, 1845 ; aged 78. David Reed, March 18, 1812 ; 46 years of age. Colonel James Clark, August 15, 1853i 80 years of age.

James Steward, who was killed by a tree falling upon him, his wife, and another lady, while on their way in a two-horse wagon to Cincinnati for carpets and other furniture for their new church, was buried here. He was killed May 4, 1835, and at that time was sixty-one years of age. He was a ruling elder of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he had been an active member many years.

The Mound Cemetery, just south of Monroe, but bordering on the town, is a beautiful, well laid out yard, consisting of ten acres of ground, incorporated into an association in 1859. They have, as yet, no vault, but contemplate putting in one this year. The executive officers of this association are Ayers McCreary, president ; William Linn, vice-president ; Charles Warner, treasurer and secretary.

Methodist preaching was had in Monroe as early as 1823. There was at that time no organized society, but a few of the early members petitioned to have appointments. It was then in the Miami Circuit, and preaching was had on nights once every two weeks. Father Sackett's house was then the preachers' home, and during the first year a Church was organized Among the early members of the Methodist Episcopal Church may be

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mentioned Isaac Conover and wife,.now Mrs. Kyle, John Younk and wife, Mrs. Ulm, Mrs. Floyd, Joseph Alexander, and G. P. Williamson. At first they worshiped and had class-meetings wherever they could find a place to meet.

The first appointments were filled by the Rev. Messrs. Baker and W. H. Taylor ; after which Taylor, Davidson, Crum, Adam Poe, A. Eddy, and others followed. When the membership had increased to thirty-five, they determined to build a house, and in this had some opposition, mostly from the New-Lights. The house, however, was built, and the dedication sermon was preached by Dr. Baker. His text was : " The glory of the latter shall be greater than the former house." And well has----this prediction been fulfilled. The Church increased rapidly after this. There were many earnest, devoted Christians connected with this congregation. The sainted Eliza Williams was one of the shining lights of this society, and all was harmony in the early history of the Church. Among the pioneer preachers that deserve honorable mention was W. H. Raper. He devoted his whole soul to the cause for which he labored, and his work was greatly blessed. The new brick church building was erected in 1860. The membership is now one hundred and twenty, having the Rev. James P. Shultz as pastor. The stewards are James Macready, M. D., William Gallagher, J. T. Caldwell, and A. McCreary.

The Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church is located in the village of Monroe. The exact date_ of its organization is not known, but must have been prior to the year 1802, for a subscription paper of that date comes down to us, carefully preserved by Mrs. John McLain, of Bethany, 0., whose grandfather, Mr. John Beaty, was the first or one of the first treasurers. As this paper is the oldest record we have, and furnishes a partial list of members at that time, we present it:

SWAMP CREEK BRANCH, October 6, 1802.

We, the subscribers, do promise to pay the several sums annexed to our names yearly, for our equal part for the one- third of Mr. Craig's ministerial service, the year to com-

mence when our call is accepted. N. B.—The place, or places, of worship to be fixed in the most convenient place

for subscribers :

James Kennedy, $1 00

John Beaty, 6 00

John Hannah, l 00

Joseph Stout, 1 00

John Wallace, 2 00

Robert Segerson, 50

Isaac Tullits, 50

James Beaty, 1 00

John H. Williams, 2 00

Thomas Irwin, 1 00

Samuel Gregory, 50

James Morrison, 50

Daniel Nelson, 3 00

John Robison, $3 00

John Lowry, 1 00

William Wilson, 2 00

William Long, 2 00

Johh W. Gery, .50

Andrew Christy, 3 00

Robert Reed, 1 00

John Reed, 1 50

Thomas Davis, 1 00

David Reed, 1 50

John Freeman, 1 50

John Patterson, 1 00

George Gordon, 2 00

This shows that they were an organized congregation in 1802. If they had not been they could not have called a pastor. Two years later a similar paper was prepared, having the same names and thirteen more. In this they speak of themselves as members of Swamp Creek congregation. As many of them were heads of families or represented others within the fold of Christ, it indicates that the young congregation possessed considerable strength. We do not know the exact time when the name was changed, but since 1807 it was called Mount Pleasant Associate Reformed Church, and from 1858 Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church.

It is thought that there was no settled pastor until 1808. Before this time the Church was supplied with preaching, and had the sacraments administered by a number of ministers sent to them by the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Kentucky, among whom werp Adam Rankin, the first Presbyterian pastor of Lexington, Kentucky (who was ordained in 1784), Matthew Henderson, David Proudfit, Robert Warwick, John Steele, and Robert H. Bishop. The first settled pastor was Rev. David Risk, 1808 to 1812 or 1813, who gave one-third of his time to Mill Creek (Sycamore) and one- third to Clear Creek congregation at Springborough, Warren County, Ohio. Mr. Risk died in 1818. The second Astor was Rev. S. P. McGaw, April 9, 1818, to March 18, 1840. He gave half his time to Clear Creek Church until 1838, when it was given up, and his whole time was devoted to Mount Pleasant. Death dissolved his relation with this Church. Although Monroe had always been the place of his residence, he was buried at Spring- borough, near the church where he had preached so long. There were added to Mount Pleasant during his pastorate one hundred and fifty-five members, principally on profession of their faith in Christ. But owing to a decrease by death and other causes, the membership now was one hundred and twelve.

In the year 1841 the Church made an unsuccessful call for the pastoral services of Rev. J. M. Gordon. The third pastor was Rev. John M. Graham, who was ordained and installed June 22, 1842. The relation of pastor and people was dissolved June, 1847, making a pastorate of five years, during which twenty-eight persons were received into membership, all on examination, except seven. The number of members was now one hundred. The fourth pastor was Rev. Sam. P. Berry, October, 1849, to December 9, 1850. Death soon removed this pastor. The fifth pastor was Rev. J. S. Robertson, April 6, 1852, to April 3, 1866. The sixth pastor was Rev. Samuel R. Frazier, who was ordained and installed June 11, 1867. The pastoral relation was dissolved January 1, 1872. An unsuccessful call for the pastoral services of Rev. J. Calhoun was presented to presbytery April 8, 1873. The seventh pastor is Rev. A. F. Ashton, who commenced his labors here February 14, 1874. The number added to the Church under his services is thirty-two; but death and removals have reduced the membership to ninety.

The present ruling elders are J. N. Robeson and J. W. D. Stewart, and the following is a partial list of those who have held this offrce: James Piper, John Mor-

642 - HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

row, Thomas Irwin, Joseph Stewart, Thomas C. Reed, Samuel Barnett, James Clark, Robert Reed, S. W. Stewart, John L. Hammel, James McClellan, Lawrence Monfort, and John Fisher.

The first church was built of logs, but in what year is not known. The second was a frame, larger and more comfortable, but the date of its erection is unknown. The third was brick, and larger than the second, erected . in 1833 or 1834. These were all about half a mile north of the village of Monroe, in what is now known as Mo Pleasant Cemetery. The present house was erected in 1854. It is not as large as the former one.' In 1870 or 1871 the congregation built a fine parsonage, at a cost of almost three thousand dollars. The society is free from debt.

The First Presbyterian Church of Monroe was organized in 1831. It was first called the Harmony Church. The Rev. Matthew G. Wallace and the Rev. J. L. Bell. vine were appointed a committee by the presbytery to visit the neighborhood of Monroe, and organize a Church, -should they deem it expedient. At the meeting of the presbytery, on the 18th of May, it was resolved to organize such a congregation, and Messrs. Wallace and Weaver were appointed a committee for that purpose. The organization took place on the 29th of June, the constituting members being David Williamson and wife Mary, Peter Van Dyke and his wife Anna, Mary Ann Van Dyke, Peter Williamson and wife Christiana, Garret Peterson and wife Margaret, John Williamson and wife Christiana, Christiana Stevens, Peter Bennett and his wife Mary—in all sixteen. David Williamson and John Monfort were chosen elders, having formerly been f ordained at Unity.

Since that time the pulpit has been occupied by fourteen different ministers. The list is as follows: Thomas Barr, 1831; Alexander McFarlane, 1833; James Coe, 1838; N. Bishop, 1851; S. M. Templeton, 1853; James H. Gill, 1854; J. H. Burns, 1856; James H. Gill, 1860; Edward Cooper, 1861; W. G. White, 1864; J. B. Morton, 1866; W: W. Colmery, 1867; J. D. Jones, 1873; S. C. Palmer, 1875i S. F. Sharpless, 1878.

The record of the session is: Elders—John Monfort, David Williamson, Garret Peterson, John Williamson, D. H. Tullis, Lawrence Monfort, Silas Williamson, P. P. La Tourrette, W. W. Caldwell, B. K. McElheny, Isaac Perrine, T. J. Conover, Firman Probasco, David Monfort, John K. Voorhees, John S. Todd, W. W. Compton, of whom seven are dead. The membership by certificate is one hundred and sixty-two, and on profession of faith, two hundred and twenty-four, making three hundred and eighty-six names. It celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year. For a long time an academy was sustained in connection with the Church.

The Monroe Catholic Church was built in 1869, under the supervision of the Rev. Mr. Smith. The first subscriptions were made by the Brophies, Conlons, Delaneys, Foleys, Conoleys, O'Brians, and Quinlisles. The pastors have been Messrs. T. J. Boulger, Bowe, Mallon, and W. F. M. O'Rourke, the last of whom is the present pastor.. There are about fifty families in this society.

BUTLER AND WARREN COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION.

Dr. Samuel S. Stewart, who resided in Indiana, but who was born and reared to manhood one mile north of Monroe, wished to visit the place of his birth and early manhood and wrote to Mr. Israel B. Carr, one of his earliest and, most intimate associates, in April, 1871, requesting him to call a meeting at the home of some of those of their old boyhood companions for a day that Spring, and bring together all their old associates and he would attend. Mr. Carr called a meeting for the evening of May 5, 1871, at Monroe, of all who favored such a union, which was well attended ; and they determined to have such a gathering, but to hold it in some grove near Monroe, as a basket-meeting, and publish it, inviting all the early settlers of Butler and Warren Counties, with all others who favored it.

On that day, the 19th of May, 1871, the first public or grove-meeting was held, and was a complete success. Fifteen hundred at least were present. The offrcers were as follows, having been elected that morning in the grove: President, Dr. Otho Evans, Sen. ; treasurer, A. Corson ; secretaries, J. W. O'Neal and J. S. Marshall. The main address of the day was by Major J. M. Millikin, but many short ones of scenes and incidents of the early settlement of the beautiful and prolific Miami Valley were made by the oldest persons present, to the edification and amusement of all who attended. At this meeting a permanent organization was begun ; this one having been held as a union of Butler and Warren they adopted the name of " Butler and Warren County Pioneer Association of Monroe, Ohio," and adopted a constitution, and resolved thereafter to hold reunions annually, the latter part of May or forepart of June. They have since been so held.

At this meeting offrcers for 1872 were elected as follows: President, Rudolph Flenner ; treasurer, Andrew Corson ; recording and corresponding secretary, Edward Kimball.

1873.—President, Thomas C. Reed, Sen.; treasurer, William Lynn; secretary, Edward Kimball.

1874.—President, Major William W. Elliott ; treasurer, William Lynn ; secretary, E. Kimball.

1875.-President, Major John M. Millikin; treasurer, William Lynn ; secretary, E. Kimball.

1876.—President, A. Howard Dunlavy ; treasurer, William Lynn; secretary, E. Kimball.

1877.—President, Major W. W. Elliott ; treasurer, William Lynn; secretary, E. Kimball.

1878.—President, Otho Evans, Sen. ; treasurer, William Lynn ; secretary, E. Kimball.

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1879.—President, Francis J. Tylus ; treasurer, William Lynn; secretary, E. Kimball.

1880.—President, Granville W. Stokes, Esq.; treasurer, William Lynn ; secretary, F. Kimball.

1881.– President, Colonel Thomas R. Moore; treasurer, William Lynn ; secretary, Edward Kimball.

They also have five vice-presidents. They have no initiation, monthly or yearly fees or dues, and the society is supported by voluntary contributions by those present at the annual feasts and the proceeds from renting of refreshment stands. No alcoholic, malt, or vinous liquors, or even der, is allowed on or near the grounds. These reunions have been held regularly for ten years, and the yearly attendance ranges from five to seven thousand, and has been some years estimated at over ten thousand. Their regular annual day was the last Thursday of May or the first of June, until 1878, when they changed to August to accommodate the society of Butler County Pioneers, who claimed the Spring time as theirs. They have a membership, including those who have passed away; of over six hundred.

The following is a list of most but not all of those deceased from Butler County: Judge Fergus Anderson, Judge Nehemiah Wade, Rev. Adrian Aten, Rev. J. B. Morton, Dr. Samuel S. Ste,wart, Thomas C. Reed, Sen., Mrs. Betsey Boyd, Matilda Dunn, William McChecknie, Samuel Davis, Colonel Joseph Barnett, Isaac Bennett, Joanna Bennett, Jane Chambers, Captain William Davison and his wife, Milo W. Ammons and wife Mary C., Firman Probasco, Stephen Scudder, William Smith and wife Rachel, William Culbertson, John Beaty, James Beaty and wife, David McChesney, Sarah Avery, Christopher Hughes, Elias Simpson, John D. Todhunter, David Boggs and wife Mary, Mrs. Rebecca Lynn, Joseph Boggs, Noah C. Bennett, Smith Nox, William Shafor, Sen., and wife Eliza, John Chamberlain, Sallie Beaty, Catherine Torbet, Samuel Dickey, Dr. Alfred Ayres, Benjamin Potter, James R. Stewart and wife Ann, Joseph F. Stewart and wife Prudence, John Matson and wife, Naomi Bowman, William Greinner, Aaron Long- street, Sen., Uzel Clark.

All early comers, with their descendants, and all born or permanent settlers within Butler and Warren Counties, Ohio, in or previous to 1820, of good morals, by registering their names, etc., can become members of the society.

BLUE BALL.

This name originated from a tavern sign. The place became one of the principal station-posts for the different lines of mail and stage coaches running between Dayton and Cincinnati, but the size of the town never increased beyond that of a hamlet. It lies partly in Warren County, the Presbyterian Church in Blue Ball being across the line. Sanford Young keeps a general store, and a few houses constitute the village. Red Buck was a tavern about half-way between Blue Ball and Monroe. Mr. Finkle kept hotel in this place many years. He finally moved to Hamilton, where he died.

LESOURDSVILLE.

The early occupant on these grounds was Abraham Freeman, of Pennsylvania, who was probably the first citizen of this part of the county. We 'hear of him being snugly placed, and living in a frame house, prior to 1800. He built himself a saw-mill on his land, of which he had considerable. The saw-mill was one of the first in the township, and went down as early as 1815. His house stood about where the toll-gate now is. He had four sons, John, Abraham, one who was a physician, and one other who was killed. John Freeman built the Red Buck Tavern of Lesourdsville about the year 1815. It lasted for some time.

Abraham Freeman had a half-brother, whose name was Thomas, known as Colonel Thomas Freeman. He went from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, where he settled first; then moved to Lemon Township, and settled on Dick's Creek, on the farm afterward owned by Abraham Shaefer. He raised a family of eight children. John, the oldest, was killed on the Moselle, a steamer plying between Cincinnati and New Orleans, that was blown up April 28, 1838. His body was brought to Middletown, and now lies in the beautiful cemetery of that place. The other children were Julia Ann, Alexander, Thomas, and Archibald C. The youngest and the oldest only are now living. Julia A., the oldest, was born in 1808. Archibald C. was born in 1824, and is now a grocer on Third Street, in Middletown. Colonel Thomas Freeman was a captain of a company in the Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, commanded by Colonel Zumalt, in the War of 1812. He went to Detroit at the close of the war only.

There were other settlers in this vicinity who were early comers, and of whom may be menti